The Challenge Is To Be Both Faithful and Fruitful

Perhaps the best news out of the 2007 Houston Convention of the LCMS is that the middle is widening.

Votes that win elections or pass resolutions by very thin margins suggest two sides about equally matched. Votes that win by two thirds or three quarters, as so often happened this past July, don’t necessarily mean that one side has overpowered the other.

They suggest that the middle has widened. More delegates are willing to consider the merit of issues. In July this meant resistance to many efforts to end a discussion early on by calling the question. Strong majorities mean that the trust level is up. Delegates had greater confidence in the synodical leadership that shaped the convention agenda and resolutions.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the 40 years of sharp conflict in the LCMS are finally over? Dare we hope that future LCMS conventions will be boring?

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Baptism

The wife and I have been walking the steps that Jesus walked. We are in Israel now, and just a few days ago we were at the Jordan River. We had the chance to renew our baptismal vows. This was an amazing experience!

We are bringing back with us some river water to baptize our soon to be born grandchildren. The experience will live on through them.

More to come from Jerusalem.

Happy Father's Day!

What's in the box? You're looking at it!

Since they never seem to know where on the globe I am, Matt and Dawn created a blog for me. Their hope is that I will post a picture and/or some text every once in a while (maybe a post from each place I go). Along with the new blog, I have a new gmail account: (dsluecke@gmail.com).

Truth be told, this blog post actually came with the blog...a 'starter post' until "I" get more into blogging.

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Matt and Dawn