Eldon Winker July 28, 1941 - February 14, 2021 Reverend Eldon K. Winker asleep in Jesus on February 14, 2021, at age 79.  Faithful servant in ministry for 36 years serving St. Salvator Lutheran Church, Venedy, IL; Redeemer Lutheran Church, Mountain Home, AR; First Lutheran Church, Blytheville, AR; Faith Lutheran...

Death Stinks Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.”  John 11:39 Death stinks.  Spouses, children, families, and congregations all understand.  Literally and figuratively, death stinks.  Sometimes death...

Larry Allen Burgdorf June 9, 1930 - February 12, 2021 Rev. Lawrence "Larry" Allen Burgdorf, of Saint Charles, MO, was taken to his heavenly home, surrounded by his family, on Friday, February 12, 2021 at the age of 90.  Originally from Thief River Falls, Minnesota, Rev. Burgdorf was elected and...

Jesus Revealed  And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”  Mark 9:7 No one in Mark’s Gospel seems to understand who Jesus is.  Let me be more precise, the only ones who seem to know who Jesus is are the demons! ...

A Day in the Life And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her.  And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left...

Sent to Serve “[T]he Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 Students across the country are celebrating National Lutheran Schools Week with special events all week long.  In normal years these activities range from chapel services...

SENT TO SERVE! National Lutheran Schools Week is here for most schools across the Missouri District, running January 24-30, 2021.  This year’s theme is “Sent to Serve” is based off of Matthew 20:28 “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life...

A Simple Call “Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.  And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”  And immediately they left their nets and followed him.” Mark...

Listening to the Word of the Lord at a Wedding Reception “On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no...

January 8, 2021 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh! I pray that in the Lord Jesus Christ you find comfort and hope during these difficult times! Where do we turn with all that is happening in our world and...