Luther on Deuteronomy 4:1-43

October 24, 2013Bible studyDeuteronomyMatt Maldre

My Kindle notes and clippings from the 4th chapter of Luther’s Works, Vol. 9: Lectures on Deuteronomy by Martin Luther verse 2: You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.… Read the rest

Never forget Deuteronomy 4:1-10

October 23, 2013Bible studyDeuteronomyMatt Maldre

[Deuteronomy 4:1]?And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you.… Read the rest

God helps those who help themselves (or…)

July 23, 2013Bible studyMatt Maldre

God helps those who help themselves. A phrase we’ve all heard. Something about it seems theologically incorrect about it. First, God helps everyone. God loves everyone, including nonbelievers. Since God is alive and active in our world, He is constantly engaged with everything that happens.… Read the rest

Money and the pursuit of happiness

July 10, 2013UncategorizedMatt Maldre

Do you go to less baseball games because of the cost? It’s really crazy. For a family of four to go to a game at Wrigley Field with parking and food, it costs $298.20. Yet people still pack into Wrigley every year.… Read the rest

The Stanley Cup is our culture’s Golden Calf

June 25, 2013UncategorizedMatt Maldre

(photo courtesy of vader773) Do we worship the Stanley Cup? Hear me out on this, because this is an issue I’m torn on. I’m excited about the Stanley Cup being in Chicago. It’s fun! But… The Stanley Cup visited my workplace three years ago.… Read the rest

The power of the Pope and conciliar thinking

March 18, 2013Bible studyMatt Maldre

One of my high school classmates and fellow cub scouts, Greg Syler, is now a pastor. He wrote an excellent article about the new Pope Francis, “Real power, shared authority – Francis and Lumen Gentium.” Greg brings up interesting insights like: Part of me wonders if Benedict resigned because he knew that the reforms he dreamed of could only come about from the heart of one who embodied those ideals, one who grew up in that church, one who was younger than he.… Read the rest

25 reasons why Pope Francis is cool

March 13, 2013UncategorizedMatt Maldre

Pope Francis rides a bus every day Anyone who rides the bus is cool. Anyone who joyfully rides the bus is WAY cool. Everyone thinks driving a car is a right. Or that it’s a staple. Not Pope Francis. He turns down driving a car.… Read the rest

Hebrews 6:4-6, Christians who fell from faith

March 12, 2013UncategorizedMatt Maldre

This is a piece of Scripture that causes much debate, so if you believe I’m in the wrong, please explain why in the comments. There are some people that say that Hebrews 6:4-6 is not talking about Christians. For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.… Read the rest

Is faith a line?

February 27, 2013UncategorizedMatt Maldre

I keep hearing “crossing the line of faith.” That makes me wonder if they think faith is a line. Or that faith is an area. Faith is a gift. The Bible has no references to faith being a line. I think I need a better understanding of what exactly this “line of faith” means.… Read the rest

Painting of Jesus’ Baptism in the Jordan River

January 17, 2013UncategorizedMatt Maldre

Charles Henrickson of steadfastlutherans posted a painting of Jesus’ baptism. I like the artwork in this blog post. When I picture Christ’s baptism, I imagine John and Jesus in a vast body of water like the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago.… Read the rest

Christian notebook

Thoughts on God from a Missouri Synod Lutheran artist