Letters to the editor
June issue touches (mostly good) nerve Food piece debated; others cite end times, confirmation, call process
JUNE 2013 •
www.thelutheran.org • $2.50 ®
Hearing faith in everyday life 14
‘Borning Cry’ guy 16
Complex Lutheran history in Civil War 28 You bless what? 34
Food & faiitth Story 20, study guide 26 h
Keep up the good work I am not surprised that The Lutheran won five awards for articles in the past year (June, page 8). The magazine is far superior to any other Christian magazine I receive. It is heartwarming to hear of the humanitarian work done by Christians around the world, as well as to be informed of religious news here and there, be it positive or nega- tive. You don’t “beat the drum” for one point of Christian view or the other but present factual, relevant material to
promote independent thinking. Barb Foster Portland, Ore.
I enjoyed the June issue of The Lutheran so much. I start with the obituaries, then go to the articles. This issue had several that were excellent: the life of John Ylvisaker, “End times” by Barbara Rossing, the Lutheran church during the Civil War, the work of Seafarers International, the blessing of surfboards and our food supply. All
very good. Thank you. The Rev. Dennis N. Nelson Shawano, Wis.
Give food a break In “The trouble with food” (June, page 24), the author nitpicks through all the things that might possibly be negative about our abundant food supply, even to feeling guilty about those strawber- ries in January and, of course, taking a swipe at big business and the profit motive along the way. Let’s rejoice in strawberries 365 days a year instead of just a few weeks in the summer and give thanks for all we have and for the
industry that provides it. Rich Peters Loveland, Ohio
On target I wish to say Amen and thank you to Valerie E. Hess for “End ‘shotgun’ confirmation” (June, page 49). As a parish pastor, I agree completely. We want confirmation to be a time of learning and fun. Anyone forced to do confirmation will most likely not last long in the church. Wouldn’t it be great if our youth remembered this occasion as a great time of deepening their faith?
Olin K. Sletto Elgin, Ill.
Wait for it I have served congregations as an intentional interim pastor over the past 20 years. Many people have been interested in the second coming of Christ (June, page 18). I remind them that since the time of Paul people have claimed to know when Jesus will return. Zero percent have been right. The odds that someone will be right in predicting the second coming in the future are about the same. As pointed out: “About that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven,
48 The Lutheran •
www.thelutheran.org nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mat-
thew 24:36). The Rev. Robert Kleinke Woodbury, Minn.
Living well & true
“Hearing faith in our everyday lives” (June, page 14) is on the mark except for one point on which my late wife Berna- dette would disagree. When one of her professors at seminary characterized her as “dying well” of cancer, a term used several times in the article, Bernadette responded: “People just don’t get it. It isn’t about the dying; it’s about living well and being true to God’s call.” Her response clearly reflected her faith and the life she led to its very end. We are to discern, to the best of our ability, God’s will for our lives. We are to live well and celebrate every minute and always be
faithful to God’s call. Michael Kulikauskas Carlisle, Pa.
Room to wiggle
Recent letters on hymns (May, page 20) reminded me of a rule we had 50 years ago. The first and last hymn in the service should be familiar. If you start a service with a “challenge” members lose their focus; if you end the service with the congregation struggling with the hymn they may not come back. In
the middle you have some wiggle room. The Rev. John A. Buerk Buffalo, N.Y.
Not # I yet The article on the pope (May, page 49) refers repeatedly to Pope Francis I. The proper name of this pope is Francis. He’s not Francis I until there is a suc- cessor who is Francis II. In the mean- time we should be praying for Pope
The
The
The
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52