Perfectly Protected Sheep
It just doesn’t seem fair at all to my enemies. (Not that I really want to play fair with them anyway!) What chance do my enemies have, really, when the morning begins by being wrapped ...
PSI Report on Santa Clara
Rev. Joon Ho Chung was received into WELS as a pastor through the colloquy process. The Pastoral Studies Institute of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary helped to prepare Rev. Chung for his successful colloquy into the Arizona/California ...
Four Branches April – 2019
Jump to: Exegetical Systematic Historical Practical Exegetical Theology: Stay Close to This – The Near Demonstrative in Acts 13:15-39 The Spirit opens your mouth to declare the wonderful story of “Love divine, all love ...
Thank God the Fleeting Privilege Is Still Yours!
It is a sad but very real ability of my sinful nature to turn any task - no matter how gracious a privilege it is - into a grievous burden. My life is littered with ...
Four Branches March – 2019
Jump to: Exegetical Systematic Historical Practical Exegetical Theology: The Cross as Metonymy in 1 Corinthians 1:18 The Second Lesson for Lent 4 features a particularly potent use of metonymy. The entire section of 1 Corinthians ...
Lord, Grant That I in Ev’ry Place May Glorify Your Lavish Grace!
(This is the chapel devotion for Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary on Monday, March 18, 2019) What will deter you in carrying out ministry? Will it be the frustration of that summer-camp that sees many kids eagerly ...
Four Branches February 2019
Jump to: Exegetical Systematic Historical Practical Exegetical Theology: God's New Thing The Exodus from Egypt was a tremendous act of deliverance by God. In Isaiah 43:16-21 (Lent 5C), God reminds his people of this ...
Jesus Redefines Our Best Days!
I’ve only preached on next Sunday’s gospel (Luke 6:17-26) twice in 33 years. (No doubt shorter Epiphany seasons and 20 years of professor-ing have played into that reality.) As I looked back, both times I ...
Four Branches January 2019
Jump to: Exegetical Systematic Historical Practical Exegetical Theology: The Holiness of God The doorposts and thresholds were shaking. The temple was filled with smoke. The seraphim were covering their faces and their feet. And Isaiah ...
Strength for the Calling…His…Ours!
It’s a double-edged connection. The more I see the power for Jesus’ calling of his own baptism by John, the more I will see the power for my calling(s) of my own baptism. And the ...