The Hermit and the Blackbird
By Donavon Riley
03/27/26
11mins

The Hermit and the Blackbird

Lent exists because we are forgetful creatures. We forget how hungry we really are.
Getting Over Your Moral Superiority
Daniel Emery Price
Daniel Emery Price
03/26/26

Getting Over Your Moral Superiority

The Pharisee valued fasting and giving tithes, but could not find value in his fellow sinner.
The Original Sin of Preaching: The Constant Craving for a Useful God in Pulpit and Pew
Magnus Persson
Magnus Persson
03/25/26

The Original Sin of Preaching: The Constant Craving for a Useful God in Pulpit and Pew

God is not a tool in our hands. He does not exist to serve our goals, our metrics, or our platforms.

All Articles

Brian W. Thomas
Brian W. Thomas
04/29/16

What's The Big Deal About The Liturgy? (Part 1: Basic Grammar)

Over the next few months, I invite you to join me in looking at what the Bible and the Lutheran Confessions have to say about the subject of worship through the lens of language.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
04/27/16

An Address to the Graduating Devils of Discordia Seminary

Brothers, the rich and diverse education you have received has more than adequately prepared you for the ministry of temptation to which you have been called.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
04/22/16

The End of "As If" Christianity

“As if” Christians aren’t allowed to reflect; that they’re not kind, generous, brave, or loyal. They’re not living up to the example of biblical saints.
Dominick Santore
Dominick Santore
04/20/16

The Prosperity of the Gospel

I started writing this article about a friend, her struggles through cancer, and the pain of an unfortunate and severe fall that landed her in a hospital, requiring months of rehabilitation.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
04/19/16

The Cocktail of Worship and Doubt

But on the mountain in Galilee, where we encounter a very different side of God, doubts overtake us. Why?
Larry D. Hughes
Larry D. Hughes
04/14/16

Why Do The Youth Leave The Church?

This story is all-too-common, and illustrates a key dynamic driving the youth out of church.
Daniel Emery Price
Daniel Emery Price
04/11/16

Sinners Get To Wear White

Years ago a young woman approached her pastor with a request. It wasn’t a strange request. She simply asked if he would perform her wedding ceremony.
Steven A. Hein
Steven A. Hein
04/08/16

The Not-So-Empty Tomb of Jesus

Should we consider the tomb of Jesus completely empty, or just somewhat empty?
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
04/04/16

Imagine...

Imagine a church's mission statement is: "You Don't Have to Fake It Till You Make It." That is, you walk into church and an usher hands you a bulletin
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
04/01/16

Taking My Children to Visit God at the Zoo

There’s something appealing about a caged deity.
Dominick Santore
Dominick Santore
03/31/16

Repentant Enough

If you’ve been in church long enough, you might have seen the worst of someone’s unrepentant sin get them kicked out, cast out, excommunicated or “handed over to Satan so their flesh might die and their soul might live.”
Steven A. Hein
Steven A. Hein
03/30/16

Being Lured Away From Justification

There is an unfortunate, but familiar pilgrimage that entirely too many have taken—servants who have offered strong confession and service in the pure Gospel, but who then have doctrinally gone astray.
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