Behind the Zion Curtain

God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Dave Thomas

The ELCA Confession of Faith, subtitled “What we believe in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,” has as its first article, “This church confesses the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” ELCA Lutherans share this belief in the Holy … Read More

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Blessed Trinity, God | 7 Comments

Worshiping within a cross

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Dave Thomas

We talk a lot about worshiping at the foot of the cross, and praying around the cross, but did you know that at Elim Lutheran Church, and also at many other churches, we worship within a cross?

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Christianity, Church-as-cross, Cross, Elim Lutheran Church, Satellite photo, worship | 1 Comment

And a little child shall lead them….

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Dave Thomas

Every day, I pick my wife up when she gets off work. While I am waiting for her to come out, a school bus pulls up across the street, and children get off the bus. By the sizes of the … Read More

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Birmingham, Bull Connor, Martin Luther King Jr., Racism | 2 Comments

A new church year has begun

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Dave Thomas

As I write this, it is November 30. The last Sunday of the church year, Christ the King Sunday, was last Sunday. Sunday, December 2, is the First Sunday in Advent. The word “Advent” is an anglicized version of the … Read More

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Advent, Christ the King Sunday, Seasons of the year | 2 Comments

What’s a Cult? Who’s a Christian?

Posted on November 6, 2012 by Dave Thomas

Lately, there has been much discussion about whether the LDS religion is a cult, mostly by mean-spirited people who do not want to see Governor Romney elected president. I think it is time to explain what a cult is.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Christianity, Cults, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Theology | 16 Comments

Lutherans – the OTHER Evangelicals!

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Dave Thomas

We’ve been hearing a lot over the years about the “evangelical bloc” and the “evangelical voters.” Every time I hear that, I am tempted to grind my teeth, because the term “evangelical” is being misused.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Evangelicals, Harold Chilstrom, Lutherans, Mark S. Hansen | 8 Comments

WWJD is the wrong question

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Dave Thomas

For the last several years, I’ve been seeing the acronym WWJD in more and more places. I can’t remember when I saw it first, but now it seems to be cropping up everywhere. The four letters stand for the sentence, … Read More

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Christianity, Example, God, Humans, Jesus Christ, WWJD | 10 Comments

Thank you, Lord, for potato peels

Posted on June 6, 2012 by Dave Thomas

I’m one of the members of the congregation of Elim Lutheran Church who has been commissioned to take Holy Communion to members who are home bound or hospitalized.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Elim Lutheran Church, Gratitude, Holy Communion, Hunger, Saying grace | 2 Comments

God is real — and He answers prayers

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Dave Thomas

I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. (Psalm 17:6 NIV) Some years ago, I was the fourth and fifth grade science mentor teacher for the Ogden City … Read More

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Answered prayers, God, Ogden City schools, Prayer | 18 Comments

Electing a bishop, electing a president

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Dave Thomas

I just returned from the Rocky Mountain Synod Assembly, where we elected a new bishop. I can’t help but compare the process sadly to the ongoing process for electing our next president.