Great morning devotion by Pastor Paul Prange. Great illustration of Muslim public school student who was visiting in his MLS classroom who felt Christ’s suffering and death was totally unfair. Great illustration of grace.

Awesome essay on the efficacy and power of the means of grace from former classmate Professor John Brenner of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Great applications for the mission field and for my use with home missionaries as well as in all congregations and with all pastors of our synod.

Another great devotion by Pastor Paul Prange to start our afternoon. It is great to sit at his feet since at one time he was a summer vicar for me in the South Atlantic District. What joy this brings as I thank God for the privilege of watching these men grow in to the marvelous servants of God they have become! It also is a reminder that I am getting just a little older.

Two very stirring reports on Home Missions by Pastor Chuck Westra, Chairman of the Board for Home Missions, and then on World Missions by Pastor Dan Koelpin, Administrator of the Board for World Missions. Great statistics and the tremendous need and opportunities before us to reach out to the lost in our nation and in our world.

We also had many elections and started floor committee reports and resolutions.

In the evening we had an Open Hearing on the Ad Hoc Commission Report. Much of the discussion centered on Section 4: Pursuing excellence among called workers. There were many questions asking for clarification and for rationale. My whole ministry has been one of continuing education. Many people would say I needed it. To which I would rightly agree. There was also discussion on the tuition situation at MLC and WLS and the debt load many of our graduating students have as they enter the public ministry. How times have changed since I graduated in 1977 – without any debts! Of course, as we heard from Professor John Brenner in his essay, we are no longer in “the horse and buggy” days or even in “the auto and telephone” days.

Lighten up in Christ and live your life for him.