Rev. Dr. John Samuel Loum March 18, 1948–October 26, 2022 Rev. Dr. John Samuel Loum was born on March 18th, 1948, in Banjul, The Gambia, West Africa, to Guy Sangster Loum (deceased) and Marian Coker née Johnson (deceased). Rev. Dr. John Loum was a citizen of the United States of...

What to Expect When You’re Expecting And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.  Revelation 22:7 Immediately after learning that my wife was pregnant with our first child, we went to the bookstore and purchased the popular book,...

The Second Martin Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,...

Hope for All Saints After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with...

Rev. Mark D. Martin April 17, 1957 – October 21, 2022 Rev. Mark David Martin, 65 years of age, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, October 21, 2022, in Independence, Missouri. Rev. Martin was born in Midland, Texas in 1957 to Barbara Coy Martin and Herschel Raye Martin, both deceased. Rev....

Singing with Luther Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  Colossians 3:16 As Lutherans across the globe commemorate the Reformation this weekend, the strains of A Mighty Fortress will...

Luther the Preacher The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.  Isaiah 40:8 On March 6, Martin Luther returned to Wittenberg from his exile at the Wartburg Castle on account of the unrest that had grown during his absence.  Fellow university professor Andreas...

More Lessons from Luther Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.  Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Psalm 25:4-5 In March 1522, Martin Luther returned from his...

God’s Word for All People For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from...

Caring for Our Church Workers in Need ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit...

DR. RALPH L. GEISLER April 15, 1938 – September 13, 2022 Ralph L. Geisler, asleep in Jesus, Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at the age of 84. Beloved Husband of the late Anita J. Geisler (nee Hemmingson); Father of Gregory D. (Melissa) Geisler, Cheryl L. (David) Laaker, Timothy R. (Jennifer) Geisler;...

On the Road Together “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures.”  Luke 24:32 Synod means “on the road together.”  The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is comprised of congregations, ministers of religion – ordained (pastors) and ministers...

Rev. Mark Wenger Sept 7, 1951–Sept 12, 2022 Mark Paul Wenger was born on September 7, 1951, in Boonville, MO to Rev. Gilbert and Elsie Wenger. He was born into a loving family of two sisters and two brothers: Kathleen Lenz (the spouse of Gale Lenz) of Boonville, Missouri; Geraldine...

Visitation and Oversight “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.  Acts 15:36, 41 One of the most difficult aspects of the COVID-19 restrictions was the prohibitions of hospital...

Freedom and Order And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42 Immediately after his account of the Day of Pentecost, St. Luke describes the worship life of the church at Jerusalem.  From its very infancy, the Church had...

Strong Defense And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,...

Lutheran Schools Making Disciples for Life Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end...

A Compassionate God, A Compassionate People The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”  Exodus 34:6 This verse is how God describes Himself to Moses after Moses has broken the two stone...

Laborers Needed Command and teach these things.  Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.  Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 1 Timothy 4:11-13 While Paul’s letters to Timothy...

A Banner for the Nations He will raise a signal for nations far away, and whistle for them from the ends of the earth; and behold, quickly, speedily they come!  Isaiah 5:26 According to naval history, the word ensign “comes from the Latin word insignia that means emblem or banner. ...

Unity for a Purpose I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.  1 Corinthians 1:10 On April 26, 1847...

Linda Dressler January 28, 1953 – July 21, 2022 Linda Kay Dressler, 69, of Altenburg, Missouri passed away suddenly on Thursday, July 21, 2022 in Perryville, Missouri. Linda was born January 28, 1953 in Wood River, IL to Delmar A and Marcella C (Smith) Schoenleber. She and Steven L Dressler...

Martha’s Mistake Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord,...

Ordinary Time And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground.  He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.  Mark 4:26-27 Pastors love preaching the life of Christ.  From the prophecies of the...

Trust Not in Princes, But the Lord Will Reign Forever Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.  When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.  Blessed is he whose help is the...