From My New Book “Embracing Your Lutheran Identity”

Last updated on: August 27, 2024 at 5:18 pm By Gene Veith

(A free post.) A sample from my new book "Embracing Your Lutheran Identity." In our baptism, God gives us a Christian identity. I write: "It is astonishing how directly the Bible addresses the identity preoccupations of our time—ethnicity, social status, and sex—and puts them in their place: 'For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus' (Galatians 3:27-28)." Read more

The Book You Asked For Is Now Available

Last updated on: August 26, 2024 at 2:47 pm By Gene Veith

0 Comments

(A free post.) Two years ago, I wrote a post entitled "Teaching Lutheran Identity" about a post-confirmation class I taught for our church. In the ensuing discussion, some of you Cranach readers said that I should write this up as a book and study guide, not only for youth but also for adults. Well, I took your advice. Today, CPH is releasing my new book, "Embracing Your Lutheran Identity." Read more

Monday Miscellany, 8/26/24

Last updated on: August 23, 2024 at 4:32 pm By Gene Veith

0 Comments

Putin offers conservatives sanctuary in Russia; consciousness detected in 25% of the comatose; and watch mor chikin.

Premium Content

“You can belong and never believe”

Last updated on: August 16, 2024 at 6:03 pm By Gene Veith

0 Comments

In San Francisco, the cool place to be is in church. That is to say, a church that caters to unbelievers. Not to convert them, but to accept their unbelief. This may be the next frontier in church growth strategies.

Premium Content

DISCUSS: The Democratic Convention

Last updated on: August 16, 2024 at 3:12 pm By Gene Veith

0 Comments

What are you thoughts about the Democratic National Convention?

Premium Content

Why Price Controls Cannot Work

Last updated on: August 16, 2024 at 3:08 pm By Gene Veith

0 Comments

Kamala Harris has announced her economic policy, which includes price controls. But regardless of ideology or good intentions, attempts by governments to control prices by decree have never worked and can never work. They always damage the economy and hurt ordinary people. As examples from the Nixon administration and the Soviet Union demonstrate.

Premium Content

“Ready for Either”

Last updated on: August 15, 2024 at 10:56 pm By Gene Veith

0 Comments

Tracing the origin of the story from yesterday's post about the ox who is ready for either the altar or the plough. Contrary to the popular accounts, It's not from an ancient Roman coin. But I think I have found the source.

Premium Content

The Altar or the Plough

Last updated on: August 15, 2024 at 9:01 pm By Gene Veith

0 Comments

A meditation based on a Roman coin depicting an ox that faces two possibilities: he may be called to be a sacrifice. Or he may be called to pull the plough. The inscription is "ready for either"--to be a sacrifice or to a life of humble service. This has been used in expositions of the two "cups" of James and John (Matthew 20). It also speaks of vocation.

Premium Content

Monday Miscellany, 8/19/24

Last updated on: August 15, 2024 at 4:33 pm By Gene Veith

0 Comments

The UK might extradite us Americans and put us in jail for what we post online. Judge rules that Christian schools that accept choice money can't discriminate against LGBTQs. And what happens when you try to do without Google.

Premium Content

Beyond the Political Binary

Last updated on: August 11, 2024 at 3:21 pm By Gene Veith

0 Comments

Our choice between Harris and Trump offers us a "political binary." We have a two-party system, so our politics exist in two and only two poles. No wonder we are, as they say, polarized. But the choice between Left and Right excludes the convictions of many, if not most, Americans. Research from the State Policy Network identifies seven political segments, which actually have much in common.

Premium Content