Category Archives: Theology

“Your Lucky Day”

It was a sunny day in Paris.  Our family was just leaving the Champs de Mars, the big grassy park between the Eiffel Tower and the national military academy, when a woman greeted us.  In English, which immediately put us … Continue reading

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Why Do We Confess?

Okay, I admit it:  Lutheran worship can seem a little strange.  It’s too plain for the Orthodox, and too fancy for the Reformed.  Anglicans and Roman Catholics usually catch on quickly, but many other Christians may find themselves wondering just … Continue reading

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Now With More Sermons!

I have added a couple of recent sermons to our main English Ministry website, and will add more as time allows. There’s a new link on the side of the page, or else you can click this link here. These … Continue reading

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Seeking Victory

After this they went home, and sung a song of thanksgiving, and praised the Lord in heaven: because it is good, because his mercy endureth forever. — I Maccabees, 4:24 After a great victory against their enemies, God’s people “went … Continue reading

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Hristos a înviat

In the United States, the Great Vigil of Easter is celebrated faithfully, at least in the churches Terri and I have served.  Our Vigils are by turns solemn, prayerful and joyous.  They are also elaborate and often very beautiful. But, … Continue reading

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Holy Week Pageant in Cluj

On the Tuesday of Holy Week, we joined a procession through the streets of Cluj.  While it wasn’t exactly the traditional Stations of the Cross, it was a similar idea.  Actors playing Jesus, Pilate, the Roman soldiers and the Jerusalem … Continue reading

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Come and Warm Up

I mean, no, it isn’t Scandinavia.  But this has been, by all reports, an unusually cold winter for Cluj.  And then came that great week or two — you remember, don’t you? — when the clouds blew off, the sun … Continue reading

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Bible Study for Lent

Does your life seem scattered in different directions?  Do you ever wonder what you are doing — in life, or even in the world?  God has a word for you! Our English-language Bible Study for the season of Lent is … Continue reading

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“That They May All Be One”

Most of the churches in Cluj are celebrating the international Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  We kicked it off last week with an English-language service (with some prayers and lessons in both Romanian and Hungarian).  Official visitors came from … Continue reading

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Why “Pietati”?

The Latin word pietas means faith or religious fervor.  In the dative case, pietati, it means (more or less) “[dedicated] to faith.” Lutheran churches in Romania typically don’t have names, like St. Michael’s or Holy Cross.  They are simply identified … Continue reading

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