A Better World Is at Hand

By Robert Schmidt* The nation was bitterly divided. On one side were the religious nationalists who wanted to make Israel great again. Realists were on the other side. They recognized that the future was in the hands of the Roman military which could enable and control world trade. Heightening the tension was the threat of…
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Evangelical – What’s in a Name?

Rev. Eugene Brueggemann We live in a country and in a time when the religious word evangelical has been politicized. It is a term traditionally used to describe an expression of Protestantism which has thrived in this country practically from its beginnings. It emphasizes evangelism and a more or less literal reading of the Bible….
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Objective and Subjective Justification: How Shall We Be Judged?

Rev. Dr. Norman Metzler Emeritus Professor of Theology, Concordia University, Portland September 2021 The whole topic of eschatology, or the last things, has seen a renaissance within theology at least since the mid twentieth century, and continues to arise in recent theological reflections. The related issue of the extent of salvation and the possibility of…
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Quo Vadis Daystar?

Rev. William Shimkus Editor’s Note: Rev. Shimkus graduated from Christ Seminary-Seminex in 1977. He has served parishes in Illinois, Washington, Idaho, Hawaii, and Oregon. In addition, he served 23 years as a chaplain in the Army Reserve, primarily in hospital ministry. He has also served on the board of Holden Village. In his retirement he…
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Living in the Rear-View Mirror (A Sermon)

Rev. Dr. Steven Albertin Editor’s Note: The following sermon was proclaimed “live” on the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost (July 11, 2021), by Rev. Dr. Steven Albertin at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Seymour, Indiana. Dr. Albertin is a retired Lutheran pastor who lives in Zionsville, Indiana. The text on which the sermon is based is the…
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Sermon at the Funeral of Pastor Richard Gahl

Editor’s Note: Pastor Richard Gahl was a longtime participant in Daystar. He was the author of “Diakonia” and “Listening,” which are available elsewhere in The Daystar Journal. A native of Chicago, Pr. Gahl attended Lutheran schools and graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in 1965. After serving as a pastor to LCMS congregations in Indiana…
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Rethinking Christ’s Mission to America

Robert Schmidt Several years ago, I attended a “Rethinking Forum” in Pune, India.  It was about rethinking Christ’s mission to Hindus.  Traditionally the Christian church did well among the Dalits, sometimes called the untouchables.  These had little or no status in Hindu society and welcomed the Christian message.  Connected with the Dalit congregations and coming…
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Thinking about Judas

Rev. Joseph Hughes Editor’s Note: The following sermon was preached at Peace Lutheran Church, West Salem, Oregon, on Maundy Thursday, April 1, 2021. In addition to serving as the pastor of Peace, Rev. Hughes is the chaplain for the Fire District of Silverton, Oregon. My friends, When I read the Maundy Thursday Gospel my heart…
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The Kingdom Church

Dr. Robert Schmidt Editor’s Note: For an preliminary article to this one, see Dr. Schmidt’s earlier essay, “Evangelism of the Kingdom,” The Daystar Journal (Summer 2019). Jesus’ Evangelism Message Jesus’ good news was that God’s Kingdom was at hand, it was near. It was good news because the people knew the promises of the prophets….
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