Beloved by God – Baptized and Justified “And behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17             One of the most clear demonstrations of Lutheran theology is the baptism of an infant.  Thereby, we practice and preach the clear Gospel that we...

The Full Circle of Baptisms and Funerals “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”   1 Peter 3:21 The gifts given in Holy Baptism are...

The Seal of Baptism – God’s Name “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14 One of my favorite “tools”...

Rev. William Blankenship, former lay deacon in Northeast Missouri, received ordination at 78 years young.   Pictured Front row L to R: Pastors Ken Schamber, President Lee Hagan, Bill Blankenship, Scott Salo, and Jacob Hercamp. Back row L to R: Pastors Wes Gehrke, Jeffrey Dock, Eric Carlson, and Mark Appold....

The Smell of Life “The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.  On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.  But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went...

Rev. Dr. Frazier Norton Odom July 23, 1937 - April 20, 2021 The Rev. Dr. Frazier Norton Odom was born to the late John Quincy and Mabel (Clausell) Odom on 23 July 1937 in Buena Vista, Alabama. He was baptized as a child at Macedonia Baptist Church in Birmingham (Ensley), Alabama in...

New Easter Outfits “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Galatians 3:27 Growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, many women would purchase hats in the Spring time.  They could wear their new hat on Derby Day, but also on Easter. It was not just a time for women...

Holy Baptism and the Easter Season “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might...