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A Sampling of What Publishers Receive

From First Thoughts

My day job is serving as the Publisher at Concordia Publishing House in Saint Louis, Missouri. We’ve been around since 1869, serving as the publishing arm of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. One of the more interesting “benefits” of my position is that I receive, daily, let us say, . . . . Continue Reading »

What is Daily Renewal All About?

From First Thoughts

On the importance of the daily renewal of the Christian:“Sin is forgiven in justification, but it still retains its roots in our heart. If the Christian therefore does not renew himself daily, his heart must soon become wild again, like a tree which is not pruned, or like a garden which is not . . . . Continue Reading »

Happy Martin Luther King Day

From First Thoughts

It is time once again for me to make my annual comments about Martin Luther King day. Sadly, every year when I do this I get the same sort of responses, no matter how hard I try to be clear on why this day is so important to so many of our African-American brothers and sisters, and, why it is so . . . . Continue Reading »

This is How a Pastor Responds to Haiti

From First Thoughts

While I appreciate the pronouncements from those who mean well and are saying the right thing, I think what I prefer the most are the deeply pastoral remarks I’m hearing from active parish pastors. Let me share but one from a colleague in the ministry who shared these remarks with his . . . . Continue Reading »