Online reading and watching

This is just an accumulation of all the links in my weekly email. 
If we're going to waste hours and hours surfing the Internet, why not read things related to the Bible and Christian life? These links will get you started. Not all these links are 100% endorsed but all contain food for thought. See the "WELS related links" for purely devotional resources. ​​​​​​
That being said, the best thing you can spend time reading is your Bible. Or try listening to it using the Bible app. 
 ​​

• 1 Corinthians 15: some of the best evidence for Jesus' resurrection
• What really happened on Palm Sunday? - an interesting, very history-oriented sermon
• Another good point about "spiritual but not religious"
• The 1000 years in Revelation: a good, concise explanation
• Maundy Thursday from Our Redeemer in Madison, WI. Because they post their live-stream right away, I sometimes watch these services Sunday morning and even adjust my sermon ton incorporate a good point they make. 
• The Gospel of Matthew as a movie
• The Gospel of John as a movie - both good Holy Week watching, or over spring break
• Why young people are leaving the faith so fast, and what you can do about it. 
• Related: Church membership is in decline among Christians, and why it matters so much.
• Are you a spiritual person?
• 5 ways to worship together as a family
• 10 unrealistic expectations that can destroy a marriage
• 9 things you should know about the Dead Sea Scrolls
• I forgave. Now how to I heal (Time of Grace Sermon)
• Don't turn away from Christ's suffering
• New missionary to Ecuador, report 1, and report 2
• Details of crucifixion from a crucified man in Jerusalem
• Tools for critical thinking
• Marriage Maintenance videos
• God's purpose for your suffering
• Uplifting report from a missionary (and friend of mine) in Hong Kong
• Your local church is better than Starbucks
• State court rules professors at Christian colleges are not clergy 
• Leave some down time in your life to be still before God
• Praise and Proclaim is offering a four-week Bible Evangelism training workshop. Free, but I think you need to sign up. Peggy recommends this week's lesson about evaluating evangelism success. "New members" are not the goal, "proclaiming Christ" is the goal. 
• 3 ways grandparents can leave a legacy of faith
• 7 psalms to help you cope with life again
• Mission partners in Finland
• Don't fight temptation alone
• Darwin vs. God on the evolution of morality
• The book of Revelation comes with an answer key. This might be a good review to help you remember our Revelation series. 
• Praise and Proclaim is offering a four-week Bible Evangelism training workshop. Free, but I think you need to sign up.
• 3 questions to ask when determining what to let your kids watch and listen to
• Sharing the gospel across cultures
• 3 most overlooked evangelism skills
• 4 reasons NOT to move in with your partner (before marriage)
• Where did the idea of "millions of years" originate?
• The news as spiritual DE-formation. Do you ever trust God MORE after watching the news?
• A guide to kids and chores
• Sharks love to be petted. A good example of mankind's rule over creation expressed positively.
• Should Christian women wear yoga pants?
• 25 great novelists who affirm faith
• WELS official response to the Equality Act, mentioned last week.
• The importance of Christ's ascension. A comforting and clarifying article.
• An evening Lenten service I enjoyed last night.
• God isn't worried.
• Will my abusive Christian father be in heaven or hell? 
• In order to be balanced, one article with Christians criticism of conservatives, one article critical of American politics in general, and one article with Christian criticism of liberals.
  • Evangelicalism is growing in America, but is dividing into two types: purely political evangelicals, and those who actually read the Bible and attend church. The first group is gaining prominence but has the potential to undermine the church's work.
  • How to apply-and not to apply- "if my people who are called by my name humble themselves... then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." It's often mis-appropriated to apply to American elections. 
  • Versions of the so-called "Equality Act" has been around since 2015, but it is in the news again and could be passed into law this year. Here's a 2019 article about it. and a more recent article by a Baptist lawyer. It's conceivable, though I have no idea if it's "likely," that our school could eventually be forced to close as a Christian school if this act is passed, along with countless other Christian schools, homeless shelters, adoption agencies, etc. But there are a lot of variables, as the second article mentions, so please pray and contact your representatives if you are so moved.  
• Interesting details about Assyrian deportation practices. This is what happened to the northern kingdom of Israel in about 722 BC. 
• Blessings for our mission in Nampa, ID
• Why read Leviticus?
• When a pastor baptizes his wife. I don't agree with their theology of baptism, but the story is very engaging. 
• Church small talk was more important than I realized
• Interview with a formerly gay man who is now a pastor and wrote two books about it. Also, he has several other good short videos. such as "Is being gay genetic?"
• 8 defining characteristics of childlike faith
• George Washington's rules of civility and decent behavior. Some of this is just interesting, but it actually contains a lot of insight into keeping the 4th-10th commandments. 
• ​​Out of context: Do not judge. Good sermon from Time of Grace. 
• You can learn to be content
• Cultivating humility
• A very detailed rebuttal of universalism
• One-sentence summaries of every Old Testament book. 
• The true story of St. Valentine. WARNING: this contains an actual photo of St. Valentine.
• The reindeer herders of the Siberian forest. Alright, not much of a connection to the Bible, but it's really cool.
• A new attack. Believing the Bible's account of creation is now a "conspiracy theory" according to Snopes and AP. Here's a longer, detailed rebuttal article. Please beware the recent expansion of labels like "hate speech," "disinformation," "conspiracy theory," etc., to refer to any non-mainstream opinions. This is very easily turned against Christians, and this article documents one instance. I'm sure someone is already labeling the resurrection a "conspiracy theory" and original sin "hate speech." Could this lead to deplatforming Bible-confessing churches? I would assume so, but we'll have to pray there is a bottom to the slippery slope we're riding. Yet...
• The world's fastest growing evangelical movement is in Iran.. So on the other hand, don't worry about potential persecution. If it happens, God will continue to bless his church. The worst anyone can do is send you to heaven. The Iranian Christians aren't afraid, we don't need to be either. 
• ​The false gospel of assuming the worst
• 10 things all grandparents need to hear
• Wives: respect your husband!
• New world mission fields recognized
• WELS annual report 2021
• Time of Grace Sermon: Jesus in three words
• God is your father in heaven
• Why worship should include corporate confession. From a non-Lutheran source. It's nice when other people see the same thing. 
• Why we don't want sermons to always talk about current events.
• Tips to deal with a spouse who is driving you crazy. Kelly, you should read this one.  
• Bible promises for parents of prodigals.
• Will Christian schools be denied accreditation for denying "science" if they teach the Biblical creation?  Only time will tell, but there are people at the UN suggesting it. 
• Will "White supremacy" be he next attack on orthodox Christianity in America? Once again, only time will tell, but we should aware many people are already using this argument. Unfortunately, we should expect religion to be politicized like everything else in our society. 
• Composting is now a legal form of burial in WA. I'm not sure what to think, and the Bible is neutral about this, but it's something new to consider in end of life planning.
• WELS home missions update
• WELS world missions update
• WELS congregational services update
• WELS support services update
• Increasing abortion is near the top of Biden's agenda. Please note that talking about abortion isn't a "scare tactic" used by Republicans. It's a very real issue and your vote can actually help save, or help destroy, millions of innocent lives.
• Sanctity of Life Day:  Post-Abortion guilt and God's forgiveness
• Three things single parents wish you knew
• Penal Substitutional Atonement: Still the best explanation of Jesus' death and resurrection
• Does platypus DNA prove evolution?
• You can join two sessions in an evangelism webinar.
• New mental health study shows church is essential. "According to a new poll, mental health has tanked across the board during this year of mayhem, except for one group: those who regularly attend church."
• Another counter to the mainstream narrative: Complementarian Christian men do more housework. 
• Is ET calling us?
• Resist the Pharisee temptation in social media. 
• America is a mess. What does the Bible say?
• Top six anxiety management strategies
• A funeral in Africa
• Five lessons from the Jewish roots of the Christian faith - REALLY good!
• God bless you this week!
• Dance floor where John the Baptist killed unearthed.
• The best faith-based movies of 2020.  NOTE: I have not watched any of these, nor do I plan to, but maybe some of you are interested in this. So don't blame me if they are lame/heretical. 
•  As long as we're at it, my brother highly recommends The Chosen, which you can watch on a special free app.
• 3 ways to participate in missions without leaving town
• And if that inspired you, here's the WELS missions page. Don't forget you are always welcome to help at The Vine too. 
• Video discussion: Evangelizing GenZ. Parents might also want to watch this to think about how to help their kids stay in the faith. 
• Lies about God series from Time of Grace: God doesn't care. This is a good series, here are more. 
• This year I'm more excited for Epiphany than I was for Christmas. 
• Sort of new: Evening Encouragement  videos from Time of Grace. You might want to subscribe. 
• And this short video series: Finding Joy In All Circumstances
• Principles for today from Luther's "Whether Christians should flee from a plague"
• A congregation is not an audience
• Reaching the Hmong in Alaska
• Principles for today from Luther's "Whether Christians should flee from a plague"
• A congregation is not an audience
• Reaching the Hmong in Alaska
• From Lawyer to Pastor
• 10 issues the gospel solved in the Corinthian Church
• What Christians should know about loneliness
• Supreme Court agrees: Religious organizations cannot be subject to stricter COVID restrictions than other businesses. Those who said, "If Home Depot is open, the church should be too" were just vindicated by the Supreme Court.
• Seven Psalms that teach us about love (ties into this week's sermon)
• A pastor (and good friend of mine) struggles with virus fatigue, but finds hope in Jesus
• Recent Washington COVID restrictions
• We need church to form us, not affirm us
• The Human Rights Campaign Demands that the Biden Administration Deny Accreditation to Christian Colleges and Schools. 
• 10 things you should know about the sexual revolution
• The case for civility
• A good one for our times: Video Sermon: From Fear to Peace
• Augustine on the days of creation.
• Locating the seven cities of Revelation. This will be helpful soon. 
• How long does it take to read each book of the Bible? Not as long as you'd think
• New Testament texts on Genesis 1-11
• Praying Psalm 63. A good example for praying any Psalm.
• Home Missions funds three new missions
• Three ways to pray for our enemies
• Loving difficult neighbors is not optional for Christians
• Christ-centered wedding blessings, written by a friend of mine in China
• Sermon: Divide and Unite. Recommended by a member about avoiding legalism in the church.
• What in the world is God up to now?
• YouTube Revelation Bible study from a church I attended in Madison.
• Eight Years of Blessings in Lafayette, Indiana. 
• Video: Visiting Mt. Sinai
• Why Sunday is not a Christian version of the Sabbath
• Jesus Christ according to the New Testament's most quoted Psalm
• What different denominations teach about the End Times and Revelation. This will nicely supplement our Revelation series. 
• Jesus found me
• We're experiencing another Reformation, but not in a good way
• Joe Rogan's example for believers. Never saw myself posting that. 
• From KKK to Christian
• How to I love my adult child who just came out of the closet
• How to be a "gay" Christian. Summary: Just stay celibate and be a normal Christian.
• Your  neighbor's new creed: In this house, we believe...
• Check out this album that puts all the songs from Revelation to contemporary music. I've enjoyed this album for 20 years. It will enhance your experience as we work through Revelation in church. 
• Sadly, it seems that COVID has made Christians less engaged in their faith. If that's you, time to get back into God's Word!
• The hardest part of sharing the good news is.... opening your mouth. 
• You can't be a saint by yourself. It takes a Christian community.
• Why was Jesus raised on the third day? An interesting take on a tricky question.
• Peer review in creation research ... answering a common objection
• Five myths about about Bible transmission and translations. ... parents, your kids will be subjected to all sorts of arguments undermining their faith throughout college if not high school. It's worth reading this kind of stuff so you can respond. 
• What Christians should know about CRISPR genetic scissors. I didn't know anything about this but I thought I'd share. Maybe this is a new issue we'll have to consider in light of scripture. 
• The Church's wisdom in the voting booth ... this should help you chill out a little bit if you're over stressed
• 2020 is a great year for the church
• Four lessons for Christians from It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
• Hmong mission in Vietnam update
• The Seventh Seal in Revelation: another example of bad interpretation
• The opportunity has never been greater
• The frightening facts about wiccans in the United States
• A new social push is coming to discourage and shame large families
• The importance of loving discipline for your children
• When someone says, "I'm homosexual"
• Did the Bible borrow from other ancient Near Eastern creation stories? Your kids will hear this in college. Can you respond intelligently? If not, maybe read this. 
• EXAMPLE OF FALSE TEACHING: What does the Israel peace treaty say about the third temple and the end times? You see a ton of these articles from fairly mainstream sources. That's part of the reason we're going through Revelation now. Please understand, I don't endorse this article, I think it's silly. 
• Why Christians don't go to church, and why they must
• "It happened here" great video devotions with footage from the holy land and archaeological background. While we don't have Bible study going on now, consider this as a way to grow in Biblical knowledge. 
• Male and Female in God's World: A summary of what we believe scripture teaches about being male and female.
• ​Watching Our Nation Burn (by one of our pastors in Boise)
• The Lost Tribe of Manasseh in ....India?!! Interesting video. 
• What it means to have a pastor, part 2
• Church planting momentum in Japan
• Spewing out the lukewarm
• What does "the truth will set you free" really mean?
• "My Christian Life", a new Forward in Christ series you can read for free
• Can protecting my health become an idol? Yep, anything can!
• Book review: On the Road with Augustine. A good one for the more literary-minded. 
• Where is God when your dog dies?
• WELS and the Presbyterian church compared
• A major retraction issued too late: Gender transitioning does NOT improve mental health. 
• Can a fertile Christian couple decide in good conscience that they don't want children?
• How the Bible was written, an analogy
• The discipline of gratitude -- not a Christian article per se, but still a good article about the value of gratitude that can help us. 
• Author YouTube Interview: The Devil and Karl Marx.  I found this fascinating. The most helpful insight is that Marxism did not begin as an economic system so much as a godless religion specifically opposed to Christianity. 
• Older women, your church needs you
• Another survey reveals that a large percentage of American Christians are ignorant about the Bible, including on some key doctrines such as Christ's divinity  This is the result of stressing emotional experiences over teaching.
• An opportunity to give to your Lutheran brothers and sisters in Kenya
• Epidemics in ancient Mesopotamia
• Theophilus: Second-Century Christian Apologist
• Nice YouTube on ancient Caesaria by the sea, and important New Testament site
• Will we recognize others in heaven?
• PARENTS: a new, even worse reason to cancel Netflix. Let's not let Hollywood normalize child sexualization, and not let our kids view this kind of stuff accidentally.
• ​A married mom and dad DO matter. A new secular study study from Canada verifies religious assumptions
• You can watch the archives of this LWMS missions conference if you missed it
• Addressing a common myth: The council of Nicaea did NOT invent the canon of Scripture
• Netflix is getting worse and worse. Protect your children!
• 89% of doctors in Belgium support killing a newborn with a disability. You shouldn't be surprised, they have lost the gospel and embraced evolution, so why should they value the lives of the disabled? We're headed this direction. 
• 5 ways to see if the news is helping or harming you.
• Christians and QAnon. Don't join this political cult!!! It presents a false god, encouraging you to fear, trust, and love other things more than the LORD. It also sounds very similar to anti-Satanist hysteria in the 80s that turned out to be completely false. If you've been drawn towards QAnon, please read this article by a reasonable Christian man with an open mind. Also, consider sharing this with people posting crazy stuff on Facebook.
• Roman Catholic teaching and salvation
• A letter to wives wondering: "Is it abuse". Probably this doesn't apply to you, but might it help you talk to someone you know who is in an abusive situation? 
• Adam, Jesus, and the Canon of Scripture. 
• Hey, friend, it'll be alright
• Is our country spiraling out of control?
• The failure of the idol of science
• Video devotions with Pastor and Mrs. Hein. I started watching just to check it out, and finished almost 2 episodes. I highly recommend it if you like to watch YouTube. I think it will appeal to younger people, perhaps consider forwarding it to a child or grandchild. 
• Video: How to deal with anger and frustration
• Could Jesus go viral on TikTok? 
• Reaching out to Muslims and Hindus in India - In some place the gospel is spreading faster than COVID
• Lutherans for Life - our pro-life organization
• Heraclitus, original proponent of an eternal universe. Many "modern" ideas are actually ancient
• The Dead Sea Scrolls: A surprisingly detailed and helpful overview from Answer in Genesis
• Support mission work by donating to this endowment
• What's it like to be WELS in college these days? Video discussion. Helpful ideas for our church. 
• Are Aliens Real?
• Video: A walk through the Judean desert
• Video: an unbeliever sends his kids to a Christian school, 10 years later he's training to be a pastor. Let's pray that this can happen here. 
• Anxiety, depression, and the comfort of Christ
• How to pray about anxiety
• Time of Grace has an excellent new contributor
• COVID is leading Americans to turn away, not towards, Scripture. Don't let that be you!
• 8 Psalms set to 7 melodies
• 5 books by the church fathers you should read
• 8 things the Bible says about itself
• Chinese Christians face new pressures to renounce the faith. "In May, an official in the eastern province of Shandong stormed into the home of a local Christian. While inside the Christian's home, the official posted portraits of Mao Zedong and Xi Jinping and reportedly said, “These are the greatest gods. If you want to worship somebody, they are the ones." It's happening again!! Pray for Christians in China...
• Uighurs of China: A People in Peril.   And while you're at it, pray for everyone in China. 
• Gideon's Fleece: Discerning or Disobedient?
• WELS distributes almost 500K of humanitarian relief this year
• The Evangelistic power of listening and asking
• How do I respond when someone says, "God told me this" or "God is guiding me to do that"?
• Here's another article I wrote for this seminary publication about Haggai
• Updates on the WELS mission in India
• A former Muslim's evangelism efforts here in the US
• Was Paul against getting married?
• Grumbling is not a minor sin
• It takes a village to help single parents
• How to more wisely consume the news. I agree with all this. 
• Good news politically: The Supreme Court's 15-Case Winning Streak on Religious Liberty
• Here's something I wrote last month for the seminary. It's about how some events in the book of Ezra parallel the COVID situation. 
• How do I explain to a relative that living together outside of marriage is a sin?
• 9 Things you should know about Lutheranism (by an evangelical, but accurate)
• Supreme Court delivers two more victories for religious liberty
• Canceled: How the Eastern honor-shame mentality traveled West and what Jesus says about it.
• Pliny Persecutes Christians AD 112
• The Magdeburg Interpretation of Romans 13: A Lutheran Justification for Political Resistance
• Taste and See - an online missions convention, is available to watch
• Counterfeit gods: a popular book looks at materialism, approval, career, relationship, political, and happiness based idols in our society. 
• Beth Shean - a holy land devotion
• How certain Christian assumptions still guide our secular culture
• Hope is alive! A message for our times
• 5 novels every Christian should read.
• Compelling reasons to trust a 2,000 year old book
• The difference between American and Christian freedom
• 2020 Christian Supreme Court Summary: Religious Liberty Winning, Pro-Life Losing
• When God calls us to adapt
• A Lutheran looks at Baptists
• A devotion book written by Luther in a time of plague
• Northwestern Publishing House - what it is, why you should use it
• Cremation vs. burial
• Didn't mere humans give us the canon of scripture?
• Keep witnessing. God's still pursuing. 
• A very obscure Biblical site possibly discovered
• Starting a church during a pandemic
• 9 things you should know about Buddhism
• When a Lesbian athiest at Yale came to Christ
• Book review: Brand Luther. How Luther was at the forefront of 16th century marketing
• Why we miss congregational singing
• How will evangelism change as America becomes post-Christian? [I think Washington already is]
• Ravi Zacharias, RIP
• ​5 reasons why Christians should care about economics
• Is it important to know the exact age of the earth? Depends what you mean by "exact"
• Why don't we have women pastors? A succinct explanation.
• Get a free digital issue of Forward in Christ
• We need prophets, not partisans. I may have shared this before. 
• a YouTube video about the history of the Nicene Creed. I've been saving this one for a slow season. 
• WELS Family devotions, newly updated and expanded for families stuck at home. It's better than many books you could buy, and it's free. 
• Does Satan send individuals into your life to torment you?
• Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced courses of study to learn about defending your faith
• 10 ways to use sleepless nights for God's glory
• 30 edifying things for Christians to watch while on lockdown. I HAVEN'T WATCHED ALL THESE but thought someone might appreciate it. 
• China on course to become world's most Christian nation. China's in the news a lot, this is a good reminder. 
• New family devotions from WELS. These are newly improved under the assumption more people might use them right now. Short, suitable for adults, but including questions for children of different ages and a few hymn verses.  
• The book of Revelation is on some people's minds right now. Here's a 12-part self-study on the book from the Forward in Christ magazine about a year ago. 
• Jonah Bible study taught by former WLS professor
• Why scripture alone and not scripture + tradition?
• Why it's better to avoid home communion
• Poll: Coronavirus a wake-up call from God
• Making the sign of the cross
• WELS Connection in March-- a new church in western Wisconsin, with ROBOTS!
• WELS Connection in Apirl  -- the seminary
• Lutheran pastor tortured for Christ -- full movie!
• Don't waste your family quarantine
• His Robes for Mine - song by MLC choir
• God is just waiting to be asked
• Two people died from coronavirus they caught at a church choir practice - this makes me feel better about not meeting!
• Details about crucifixion
• 6 ways to lead your family during coronavirus
• What does God say about sickness?
• How Psalm 91 speaks to your coronavirus fears
• CS Lewis on coronavirus
• 8 things coronavirus should teach us
• 9 ways to love your neighbor in this pandemic
• Book: The executioner's redemption
• Resources from NPH during the covid shutdown
• Mental health support is available if you need it right now
• Turn fear into a friend by letting it turn you to Christ
• 9 things you should know about the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic. Some sobering similarities, but also some key differences. 
• As we face COVID-19 from the WELS 
• New Study finds that religious schooling has amazing lifelong effects
• January 2020 training in Hanoi
• A journalist in an country unfriendly to Christianity converts
• Spokane county is growing and is expected to continue. So many opportunities for outreach!
• Parents sue WI public school for allowing children to 'transition' without informing the parents. Yikes! Be engaged, parents!
• We need prophets, not partisans. "One of the byproducts of tribalization in politics is that one’s political identity slowly becomes preeminent, shaping one’s religious identity rather than the other way around."
• ​I can't wait to get out of heaven
• The Bay Psalm Book: America's First Book
• Looking closely at speaking in tongues
• We're living in a tough philanthropic climate
• What you should know about polygamy in America
• Two observations on the book of Job
• Where is God in a world of so much death and suffering?
• A great "Life of Luther" Podcast. Hours of listening. By WLC professors. 
• Another WELS church in Milwaukee! Short but interesting. This pastor uses a unique preaching style too. 
• Does James really contradict Paul?
• The next two seem harsh and judgmental, but on the other hand, marriage is the most important decision we ever make, and many young people don't give it enough thought and effort:
• 10 Types of Women Christian Men Should Never Marry
• 10 Types of Men Christian Women Should Never Marry
• Deconstructing De-conversion stories
• The authenticity of 2 Peter
• What Christians should know about late term abortion
• ​How to know if you've made an idol out of politics. Convicting for Democrats and Republicans alike.
• First WELS leadership conference a success, even though I wasn't there.
• Your gifts, God's blessings, 2020
• Another take on the sermon on the mount (video sermon)
• How to read the book of Job (in preparation for the Thursday Bible study)
• Five ways difficult children are a blessing for you
• How does Joseph foreshadow Jesus (esp. for our Thursday morning group)
• Is the ending of the gospel of Mark authentic? This issue is well known to pastors and theologians, but many laypeople are unaware that it is an issue. 
• The engine that drives a good marriage
• Why does God care who I sleep with? It might seem ridiculous to you, but many people really wonder this. 
• What about Adam and Eve's kids getting married?
• 3 reasons to visit an elderly person soon
• Christians and cremation
• Lord's Supper and membership
• Behind most addictions lies a "river of pain"
• Why you can't be a Freemason and a member of our church
• Peggy and Albert, both on the evangelism committee, encourage everyone to read this about how to gain an audience to share God's Word with someone.
• In case you missed it: the new Forward in Christ website
• How St. Augustine saved this guy's life
• Poverty and Education: What being poor does to the brain
• Lord, Energize your church in 2020
• Does God want me to stay in a toxic relationship?
• Wisdom isn't found on Google
• Spiritual unity in south Asia
• What about people who never heard the gospel?
• Dying out: The Last of the Samaritans. This video is amazing. It will blow your mind. 
• Does WELS teach "transubstantiation"? 
• Beware of taking your sorrows to alcohol instead of to God
• What about people who don't hear the gospel?
• The NEW Forward in Christ website
• Why you need sermons that don't apply directly to you
• FAQ about the Methodist Church splitting
• How sex became king in the USA
• Learn how to disagree agreeably
• The Smithsonian take on the Wise Men
• What are frankincense and myrrh?
• The frankincense trail - a full hour, perhaps a bit too much 
• Five myths about the three wise men
• Why the three wise men were likely Arabs - besides bringing gifts that all originate in Arabia
• ​Do not be afraid! No, seriously! Do not be afraid. 
• For some, Christmas is an emotional struggle. Be on the lookout for the lonely and hurting this season.
• Struggling with doubt this Christmas?
• What the right timing for an infant baptism?
• Israelite Ambassadors to Assyria: this sheds some light on Micah and Isaiah
• Funding secured for WELS theological education facility in Vietnam
• Another person in the Bible found attested in archaeology
• How to love God by getting more sleep: the holidays are a great time to REST!
• Understanding Christianity - an introductory website by some anonymous WELS pastors. I'm not sure why they decided to be anonymous, but I found some of their pages helpful when teaching the Bible Basics Class this week. 
• Good sermon on John the Baptist
• Six Messianic Expectations, One Messiah
• One congregation's Thanksgiving outreach
• Richard Dawkin's latest case for outgrowing God, and a rebuttal
• Q&A: Does God hate the sin or the sinner? 
• Is it okay to confess that Jesus descended into hell? Yes, but it's nice to see a non-Lutheran explain this well.
• Is there a traumatic brain injury survivor in your church?
• New WELS campus ministry in Waukesha, WI. Maybe one day we could have one...
• Faith is not wishful thinking, it is defiance
• Bible study from Forward In Christ: the incarnation of our Lord
• Recovery is possible in Christ--don't give up! (from Forward in Christ)
• Parent conversations: how can we nurture a proper view of "stuff" (from FiC)
• Your neighbor is probably a Unitarian Universalist
• Inmates thankful for Jesus
• Thursday Bible study people: this is where Judah lived during Genesis 38
• When did the decline in marriage actually begin in America?
• Want a miserable life? Confuse Law and Gospel
• 8 ways older believers can invest in younger believers
• Do you feel unworthy? Good. 
• Interesting Christian review of the movie Frozen, with a positive take
• I try to avoid taking political stands, but I simply had to share this. Enough is enough. 
• How God makes a pencil
• How to be a Christian woman of influence (book review)
• Putting the Thanks back in Thanksgiving
• Questions/guidance for the Christian family considering adoption
• Sharing Christ in dark places
• Gospel outreach opportunities in Africa
• Close or closed communion? I'd like to give a shout out to Dave Sauer who asked me this same question.
• A good sermon on John 6 and the scandal of the incarnation
• Did you catch this free Bible study on Revelation from Forward in Christ. Here's the whole series. 
• 3 Ways to Teach Scripture to Children, all of which, incidentally, are done every day at our school
• A story of conversion
• Transformed by Truth: A book for teenagers and why and how to read the Bible for yourself. Most adults could probably use it too. 
• ​Encountering the Holy Land
• How did Jesus suffer eternal punishment in only 3 hours?
• Christians can struggle with homosexuality too-- one lady's story
• What the persecuted church can teach Gen Z
• Four lies that hinder evangelism
• Did you know that the life of a synod president is similar to Indiana Jones? 
• Sharing Christ in dark places
• Gospel outreach opportunities in Africa
• Close or closed communion? I'd like to give a shout out to Dave Sauer who asked me this same question.
• A good sermon on John 6 and the scandal of the incarnation
• Did you catch this free Bible study on Revelation from Forward in Christ. Here's the whole series. 
• 3 Ways to Teach Scripture to Children, all of which, incidentally, are done every day at our school
• A story of conversion
• Transformed by Truth: A book for teenagers and why and how to read the Bible for yourself. Most adults could probably use it too. 
• Don't watch this because I might steal it for reformation day
• A lot of you have asked me about Hong Kong
• Building Bridges between preschools and schools
• What is the most important decision you will make today? Written by my classmate and friend, recommended by one of our members. 
• Luther and Melanchton - we'll talk about this during Bible study hour
• The Psalms are special for counseling
• When Christianity doesn't work
• The Samaritan woman and the barrier-smashing Savior
• ​Witnessing Scenarios, great advice, with specific examples, for outreach
• Do Christians, Jews, and Muslims worship the same God? 
• WELS Q&A, Is the husband the wife's "boss"?
• Headship and Submission: Timeless Principles, Challenging Applications by a WELS lady professor at WLC
• Focus on the Family: submission of wives to husbands
• A WELS seminary student's master's thesis about women in the church
• Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: a free, good book online
• You thought I was exaggerating about the possibility of future persecution in the USA? A British tribunal just found that belief in Genesis is incompatible with human dignity. 
• Want to teach your kids about Jesus? China says no.
• Religious Freedom is a Christian Idea
• I believe in the resurrection of the body - sermon
• "Your will be done" - some thoughts
• Why science does not "disprove" the Bible
• There's no more important job than being a mother in the first three years, argues this book. It's not based on the Bible, which would support the thesis, but on the latest scientific and statistical research. Mom's don't give up! You're doing the most important and possibly hardest job on earth!
• ​Don't sell your birthright for sex. Thursday Bible Study attenders will appreciate this application of Genesis 25.
• When mommy guilt threatens to crush you
• 10 financial to-dos before your first wedding anniversary Mike and Tiffany aren't the only one's who might enjoy this.
• Video: An introduction to Biblical Jerusalem
• Some short but good thoughts on prayer
• Magic School Bus's misleading take on human evolution 
• Serious Bible study is for teens too
• Does God exist? A two hour debate
• Does the Old Testament Endorse Slavery?
• Another Biblical figure found in archaeology
• Proceedings of the 2019 WELS convention
• A common denominator in de-conversions
• Encouraging conversions stories from WELS missions
• Sermon: The Joy of Serving
• Does your church feel like a home?
• Retiring the "gay gene" hypothesis in Science.
• Is there really anti-Christian discrimination in America?
• Is my job the problem or am I just discontent? 
• From gay to gospel
• What do we take away from influential Christians leaving the faith? An excerpt: "Therefore, instead of putting all our energy into proving God’s existence with evidence, I believe we must show the goodness of God."
• College Freshmen, commit to a church!
• Building Bridges, Not Barriers: an online evangelism course you can take for free. If there is interest we could have a class on this at church. 
• The Vine was featured on the WELS website
• The comfort of the two kingdoms. An excerpt: "But it is also a comfort to know, perhaps especially in a time so marked by rancor and political division like our own, that the symbols and situation of our shared politics are not the places we find our identity. As Christians, marked with the cross of Christ and stamped by the Holy Trinity in Baptism, our identity is outside of politics itself, since our identity is outside the Law as well."
• ​See Pastor Schultz's son's sermons online
• The essay from this year's synod convention. It's looking to the future of our church body and the church in America and how to address the problems we face. 
• Six myths about introverts. This might help you better love the introverts in your life. 
• Interesting take: Woodstock was a secular worship service
• A good sermon on Genesis 15
• Why are many Christian parents abandoning their children?
• Yale Professor, "The Origin of Species Is Exactly What Darwin Cannot Explain." 
• The value of a baptismal font
• Should we pray before meals at restaurants?
• The biography of another Hmong Lutheran pastor in Vietnam
• Mormonism's plan of salvation
• The top 5 witnessing posts last year from Truth in Love ministries:
  • Patience in Planning
  • Jesus as Example vs. Substitute
  • Proclaim or Explain
  • Don't back up the dump truck
  • Bear Your Testimony
• The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (our denomination) has a biannual convention is going on now and you can watch every boring minute archived, read every document, etc. Look for Pastor Schultz in the background. He's there. 
• Sick of your job?
• An interesting fossil and one take on its apologetic implications
• ​Learn all about Mormonism: its differences with traditional Christianity and how to talk to Mormons about your faith. From Truth in Love, a WELS ministry. Peggy has gone on mission trips with this WELS mission in Salt Lake City, and we may try to organize a trip in the future. 
• And a reminder that Truth serves Love
• An American (Lutheran) chaplain to the convicted Nazi war criminals
• https://www.1517.org/ is a treasure trove of solid Lutheran teaching, focused on the cross and Jesus for you. They have podcasts, videos, online courses, and reading material. 
• The Athanasian Creed and its Importance
• An Interview with the head of WELS Hmong Ministry
• An Interview with a Vietnamese Hmong Pastor about his past persecution
• Evangelism is not a Solo Sport
• True Freedom on Independence Day
• Learn How to Disagree Agreeably
• June Thank You Letter from Evergreen
• Part of my homework for the pastors' conference next week: Seven Theses on Reformation Hermeneutics. It's about how salvation by grace through faith is the thread that ties all of scripture together and the key that unlocks its message. You might enjoy it too. 
• See where recent seminary graduates were assigned
• Why is personal evangelism so rare?
• Calming your heart when angry
• I think our budget and meetings are great. I'm not sharing these next two because I see a problem, but only because they are interesting food for thought: 
• Perspectives on a Church Budget
• How to Run Effective Church Meetings
• ​To All My Fellow People Pleasers
• What Does It Mean to Honor Your Father and Mother?
• Too Distracted to Be Evangelized?
• YouTube: Can Science Explain Everything by John Lennox
• YouTube: Can We Trust the Gospels by Peter Williams
• YouTube: Cold Case Christianity by Jim Warner Wallace
• YouTube: The Existence of God by Peter Kreeft
• YouTube: Responding to the New Atheists by Ravi Zecharias
• Book: History, Law, and Christianity
• Book: Handbook of Christian Apologetics
• Book: The End of Reason: A Response to the New Atheists
• There is a lot of bad and mediocre Christian praise music out there, but also a lot of good material. The challenge is finding the good stuff. Fortunately, some Lutheran pastors are trying to help congregations out with that. May the People's Praise You is their latest recommendation. This song is based on a Psalm and had a nice melody, at least to me. If you're interested in helping find good contemporary Christians songs fitting for worship, please let me know.  
• Godly Answers for Anxiety
• WELS congregational services has been mentioned in recent council and elders meetings. It has good resources, some of which we will use in the fall. 
• SHOCKING study: Married, religious people are most satisfied with their love lives. God already knew that, of course. 
• And another EVEN MORE SHOCKING study: People who wait until marriage for sex have the most satisfying love lives later in life. You would almost think God knew what he was doing...
• Another bit of Biblical history confirmed by archaeology: Rehoboam's Wall discovered at Lachish. 
• An embarrassing picture of me. I forget which sub-page it's on, but if you click around I'm sure you'll find it. 
• My new favorite sermon podcast, St. Marcus, Milwaukee. 
• Don't give until it hurts, give until...
• In the sermon on Easter I mentioned Louis Lapides and Stan Telchin, two Jewish men who converted to Christianity after studying Messianic prophesy. A man with a similar story with a current podcast that I enjoy, though I don't agree with all his theology, is Michael Brown. 
• What Luther would say to Silicon Valley. 
• A Lutheran school in inner city Milwaukee
• Don't worry about "forgiving yourself." 
• What flat-earthers tell us about the Bible
• Kind of strange, but good: A Christian family made a video game about watching their son die from cancer. This 15 minute video tells about it. I think it might appeal to some of you, and might be shareable with non-Christians. I shed a few tears watching it, and couldn't help myself but to watch the whole thing. 
• I have heard good reviews of this new book challenging Darwinian evolution from the standpoint of recent discoveries in DNA.
• Freedom for the Captives, a WELS organization committed to protecting children from abuse and empowering abuse survivors.
• Genetic echoes of Genesis 3
• Ancient Israelite Fashion
• How can we become a "Recovery Friendly Church" (a new WELS initiative)? Talk to me if you're interested in this. 
• A personal way of sharing faith (new WELS book)
• Psalms of Lament, for when we're depressed
• Missed some sermons on Luke? This is the (next?) best thing for reading through Luke. 
• Three doctrines to help share the gospel with Mormons. 
• We have two Mormon missionaries at our door yesterday. You probably will one day. Read the info at this WELS ministry's website to learn what to say and how to act to be most effective in your witness.  ​
• Great article on the proper view of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. They go against the tends in American Christianity, but they are gifts from Jesus to the church to bring great comfort. 
• 8 tips for inviting people to church
• An academic article about salt in ancient Palestine and its meaning in Jesus' parables. Yes, I realize you're probably not interested, but I can't help myself. 
• The following 8 websites provide resources to defend Christianity from critics. They were recommended in a recent publication for WELS pastors:
• Cross Examined
• Gary Habermas
• Ravi Zecharias
• Reasonable Faith
• Stand to Reason
• The Veritas Forum
• Thinking Fellows
• Library of Historical Apologetics
• Talking about technology with your kids
• Psalm 51, a great Psalm to read in Lent
• The Casual Bible has great Bible maps, some of which I use in sermons
• Here is a devotional book made by some WELS pastors for Lent
• New archaeology is revealing more about the Edomites
• This chart shows you how long it will take to read each book of the Bible. Handy!
• Undercover video: talking about the Trinity with Mormons in Hawaii
• How dieting has turned into religion for many Americans
• WELS Christian Aid and Relief helps with humanitarian crises around the nation and world
• Elijah's depression and David's depression (articles on depression by WELS pastor)
• VIDEOS: Unlocking the secrets of the Holy Land
• YouTube: A nice version of Psalm 91. 
• YouTube: Witnessing to a gay couple live. Well-done. 
• YouTube: The world's first film in ancient Babylonian. 
• Koine is a WELS band that puts classic hymns to contemporary music. They are putting all their music online for free!! If you have ideas about how we could use their material, please let me know, especially if you're willing to play or learn to play guitar. 
• The Notable Podcast is probably the most highly recommended Bible study podcast I know of. It's two WELS pastors talking through books of the Bible. The only negative is that they have only gone through two books so far. But they are back to producing and going through the book of Job. 
• Ten passages to memorize for the hospital. 
• If you miss the Forward in Christ but don't want to pay for it, subscribing to the free biweekly WELS "Together" newsletter will still keep you up to date with WELS affairs. 
• Shouldn't I be happy? From WELS authors. 
• That Gillette ad and Jesus
• The best single-volume introduction to apologetics. I think reading this might give you confidence facing objections as you share your faith. 
• Why are young people dropping out of church? Ultimately, it's the devil, the world, and their sinful natures. But this gets into more specific issues. 
• Is evangelism harder than it used to be? Is this a trick question? Read to find out. 
• A good sermon on spiritual body building by my friend.
• A good sermon on being chosen by God by a well known WELS pastor.
• How Total Depravity Changed My Life
• Five Lessons from the Persecuted Christians in China
• Beating Bad Habits with a New Identity
• 2018's Top 10 Finds in Biblical Archaeology 
• You can trust the historical reliability of the gospels
• Christians get depressed too
• Lots of Bible reading plans
• Ideas on how to enact your new Bible reading plan
• If your Christmas Eve worship was elsewhere, you might have missed this very interested information about the original manger. 
• Is there any historical evidence for Caesar's census decree or the necessity of traveling back to your homeland? 
• A WELS blog recommends this video dramatizing the Christmas story. 
• Here is a weekly radio program/podcast produced by several WELS pastors, including my former roommate. 
• The unicorn of the sea declares God's glory. No, I haven't lost it. 
• This article relates how times our changing and Christians needs to adjust our assumptions. One quote really rang true: "There was a day when you could fairly safely assume that once young adults got married and had a child, they would automatically come back to church.Those days are gone or largely gone... The average unchurched person doesn’t think about going to church anymore than the average Christian thinks about going to synagogue. It just doesn’t cross their mind."
• Our own Anna Barton has started a blog.
• Bibles make great Christmas gifts, and Bible reading is a great New Year's resolution. Here are some good options:
  • Buy this Bible to read in one year
  • Or in two years
  • Or buy Bibles and other Christian books here
  • The Spirituality of the Cross (a good Lutheran book at the lay level)
  • Two books by a WELS professor defending the Bible and Christianity against common objections. Great for advanced teens or college students. 
• Family peace at the holidays from our WELS counseling organization
• Experiencing anxiety? You're not alone, and God has the answer.  
• Modern evangelicals are rediscovering the usefulness of the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds. We confess these frequently in church, and for good reason. 
• Hollywood is getting more and more anti-Christian. One WELS pastor asks, "Why am I giving them my family's money and attention?"
• In a similar vein, If you don't want your kids exposed to porn at an early age, cancel Netflix!!!
• Speaking of porn, we don't discuss it much in church even though statistically it's ruining American lives and marriages at epidemic rates. Here are some resources for those struggling. 
• Archaeology is slowly proving the Bible is right about King David (despite theories otherwise). Here's a video about recent developments. 
• How Jesus celebrated and fulfilled Hanukkah. 

Possible evidence for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by a meteor.