Lutheran Witness: August 2019

In its August issue, The Lutheran Witness focuses on the theme “Joy:fully Lutheran.”

Contents

From the President: Pray without ceasing

Features:

Easy Joy? — Sharla Fritz

Seven Reasons to Be ‘Joy:fully Lutheran’ — Ryan P. Tinetti

Discover the Joy — Bart Day

‘For the Good of the Church’ — Megan K. Mertz

Branches of the True Vine — Erik M. Lunsford and Kevin Armbrust

Historic Trinity: 180 Years of Joyful Service — Steven Albers

Light in the Darkness — Dan Dinkel

Departments:

world views: A monthly news column from Gene Edward Veith

searching scriptures: What Joy?! — Timothy Pauls

bene+diction: More Than a Feeling — Sarah Ludwig Rausch

From the editor

“Rejoice always.”

Simple words. As a matter of fact, a simple verse to memorize (that’s the whole verse). Yet many of us long for moments of joy, let alone “always” joy. When the apostle says we are to rejoice always, it seems far-fetched or even impossible, as though joy is something we achieve or obtain. Joy, however, is given by the giver of every good gift. And just as His gifts are primarily through His Son, Jesus, so is the gift of joy.

This month’s Lutheran Witness is full of joy. Not every story is happy. Not every story is simple or easy. Yet in all that we do, Lutherans confess that God’s grace in Christ is joy. The God whose revelation is the suffering servant is not absent when His people suffer. As we struggle, we praise Him and rejoice in His love in Jesus.

But this life does have times of happiness and palpable joy. In those moments we praise God and share that joy with those around us. I pray that something herein might encourage you to return once again to His Word and find therein His joy.

Joy:fully Lutheran

Kevin Armbrust
Interim Managing Editor, The Lutheran Witness