A Dark Passing Cloud
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources In 1973 when the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion in the infamous Roe v. Wade case, pro-life forces warned that this decision placed us on a “slippery slope.” It…
When Normal Is Not Enough
By Pastor Robert Fleischmann, CLR’s National Director When her parents announced her birth, everyone knew life would become more complicated. Connie was born with a condition called “Down syndrome.” Genetically, most people have cells consisting 23 pairs of chromosomes. A…
Leave the Door Open – A Look at Approaching the Worldly View From a Christian Standard
By Lynn Klammer “Can you help me?” came the plea from the other side of the table. I was sitting in a college study area waiting for my kids to get out of class. As often happens when I’m just…
Is It Time Yet? – A Look at Pro-Life Activism and the Protection of Life
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, Christian Life Resources National Director I have adapted an old saying to pro-life work: being a pro-life activist is like watching a football game – with 22 men on the field in desperate need of rest, and…
Our Unique Perspective – A Look at the Conflict Between Faith and Logic
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, Christian Life Resources National Director Are you afraid to speak up? Are you worried about being mocked because you are pro-life, pro-creation, pro-Scripture and pro-Jesus? Those who oppose us often mock us for our viewpoint. They suggest…
The Acquiescence of Sin
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, Christian Life Resources National Director ac•qui•es•cence – [ak-wee-esuhns] – the act or condition of acquiescing or giving tacit assent; agreement or consent by silence or without objection; compliance. sin – transgression of divine law [Source: www.dictionary.com] In…
True Value
Mrs. Lynn Klammer The auction bill read, “Due to the tragic deaths of Bill and Edith Webber, the following will be sold to the highest bidders…” “How much do you think this is worth?” I asked my husband as I…
No More Sermons – A Look at Family Values
Rev. Mark Braun, Wisconsin Lutheran College Professor of Theology If I never hear another sermon about “family values,” it will be fine with me. That may sound like an odd thing to read in this magazine. It may seem to…
The Legacy of Love
By Mrs. Lynn Klammer One of the simplest, yet most profound, interactions I ever had with another human being came during the afternoon of an otherwise uneventful day. I had only been married for about a year, and my mother-in-law…
We Are All Socialists Now?
Rev. Mark Braun For years I thought the worst thing you can be called is “fundamentalist,” but that seems to have slipped to second place. Now the worst thing you can be called is a “socialist.” Early this year, Newsweek…
A Rescue Mission – A Look at Sin and Repentence of a Wayward Family Member
Mr. Tim Snyder, Media Services Coordinator for Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, WI Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!” (2 Samuel 12:7) The sordid account of King David and Bathsheba is a familiar one (1 Samuel 11 and 12)….
Evolution: A Fatal Equalizer
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, CLR National Director I have had the opportunity to visit the Creation Museum in Kentucky (www.creationmuseum.org) several times. If you have not seen it – go! It is an incredibly professional testimony to the creation account and…
Wretched Refuse
Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door! (Excerpted from The New Colossus…
Homesick for Heaven
Rev. Mark Braun Last summer I read Another Country: Navigating the Emotional Terrain of Our Elders, by psychologist Mary Pipher. It is probably similar to dozens of other such books. Many old people are living in a world designed for…
Devotion: Christmas Love
Pastor Aaron Mueller One of my members, in particular, loves the Christmas time of year. For him, it can’t come early enough. Ask him to shop at a store that has early Christmas displays, and he’ll even offer to drive….
Training to Care
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Conditioning is a process by which someone trains and develops the mental and/or physical endurance to face a challenge. Intellectually, we take night courses and Internet classes, pursue college degrees, and continuing…
Not My Room – A Look at Caring for and Sharing with Loved Ones
Privacy can be a rare commodity for a family of eight. When I was a child, sharing a bedroom was a fact of life. It was a special day when my parents gave me a room of my own. Now…
CDACP – Ways to Care for Others
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources How equipped are you to help care for Mom or Dad as they age or when one or the other dies? Caring is more than emotion and good intentions. Careful forethought greatly…
The Blind Leading the Blind // A Look at the Self-Help Industry
The modern self-help industry is huge. Every year Americans spend millions of dollars on books, videos, and audio recordings in the hope of fixing their broken selves. There are websites and television and radio shows that promise to cure…
My Resolution: Change the World – A Look at Spirituality in the Everyday World
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Some of you likely participated in making the traditional New Year’s resolutions. Most of those resolutions, I am sure, are praiseworthy. The top ten list of resolutions people make from year to…
Your True Identity in Christ – Seeing Yourself as God Sees You
Susan Bilitz, MA, LPC and Laurie Smrz, RN It is important to know, remember, and live by your true identity in Christ. The following Bible verses will help you see yourself as God sees you. I am a child of…
March of Dimes Boycott
For many years, Christian Life Resources has received ongoing inquiries on the position of the March of Dimes (MOD) on critical life issues. We have been studying the matter, have corresponded, and even spoken with the national MOD headquarters a…
Where Do You Cast? – A Look at Anxiety and Worries
Kimberly M. Chastain, MS, LMFT Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). I dont know if you have ever been fly-fishing or maybe you have seen it on TV. When you go fly…
Hooked on Internet Pornography
Mr. Timothy Snyder He’s a respected member of the community, a successful businessman, a loving husband, and a devoted father. He’s a model citizen who hides a dark secret. In the dead of night, he goes to his den to…
The Value of a Thanksgiving Tradition
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Thanksgiving is a great time of year for my family. First of all, it takes place in the fall. There is something warm and inviting about the colors of fall and the…
God Does Not Play Favorites
In Acts 10:34 Peter learned that God does not play favorites. He did not send his Son to die just for the Jews, or the Pharisees, or even just for his followers. God sent his son to die for…
The End is Near // A Devotional Thought on Christ’s Return
Prof. John F. Brug, Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Every age thinks that the end is near. Since at our death our fate is sealed, I have often wondered if the imminence of the Last Day has to do more with the…
How Can I Say ‘I Care’?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources The feisty side of me hates the phrase, “I care.” Don’t misunderstand. I am not against saying it. But I object to its use without meaning. It sounds more like a catchy…
Christian Life Resources Abortion Position Statement
Preamble Abstract Background Terminology The Issues Section 1: What the Scriptures Say About Human Life Human Beings are Unique and Prized in All God’s Creation Human Beings Consist of Body and Soul Human Beings Exist in the Womb Protecting the…
Love by Proxy is Not Enough Anymore!
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources I suppose well-meaning Christians can differ with this title by arguing “love by proxy” is never enough. Be that as it may, the reality is that our society has steadily migrated to…
The Value of Self-Esteem
Pastor Rolfe F. Westendorf We want to reject the misuse and the distortions of self-esteem, not waste the value that the concept provides. Some years ago, social scientists recognized what most have known for a long time people who are…
All Stressed Out
As a Christian, you have an edge in coping with stress! You’re stuck in traffic. Horns honking, motorists screaming. It’s Monday. You worked all weekend, but you’re still behind deadline. You have to run errands. Then the meeting at church….
The Problem is the Altar
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources (Leviticus 18:21 NIV) “Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God, I am the LORD.” The story of…
Bible Study: God Is Pro-Life
Bible Study: God Is Pro-Life (Student’s Guide) The title for this Bible study is both an overstatement and an understatement. It is an overstatement for us to say that God is pro-life, if we identify God’s will with the political…
Q&A on Sudden Loss and Grief
QUESTION: My little girl was killed by a drunk driver a few months ago. I have continued suffering in the agony of the loss and can’t understand this whole situation. Why did a loving God allow my innocent little girl…
Thoughts and Prayers for Selected Scripture Readings on Life
David praises God for his all-seeing knowledge of us and for his marvelous creation of us. God is the Creator of life. All life is given by God, regardless of the circumstances (rape) or the condition (handicapped). All life…
Respect for the Lord’s Gift of Life
Family values become such only as they are owned and shared by husband and wife, passed along intentionally to children, reinforced by siblings and grandparents, applied to concrete issues and decisions, practiced in the life-style of the family. It is…
The Meaning of the Term
God States Life Exists at Conception
When does life begin? We Christians often speak of life in the womb, yet fail to justify our position. It doesn’t hurt to review why Scripture has convinced us that life exists at conception. The first point to make is…
Embryonic Stem Cell Research: People’s Arguments and A Christian’s Response
When People Say: “Embryonic stem cell research is necessary to further the work toward a cure for deadly diseases or injuries.” All of us likely fear that one of those “deadly diseases” may strike someone we love or ourselves. We…
Q&A on Cutting
QUESTION: A number of students at my high school are “cutters.” Why do they do that? ANSWER: “Cutting” has become a popular behavior among some of today’s youth, but few adults know much about it or understand it. “Cutting” is…
Leading Cause of Death?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources We tend to think biologically when it comes to death. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) the top five leading causes of death in the United States are: Heart disease: 647,457…
Treasured: A Look at Caregiving and Alzheimer’s Disease
Linda Lawrence Editor’s Note: This is fifth in a series of articles written by Ms. Linda Lawrence that addresses the challenges and blessings in caring for an aging parent. Mom has lived in a nursing home since her Alzheimer’s progressed…
Alzheimer’s Became a Blessing? – A Look at Caregiving and Alzheimer’s Disease
Linda Lawrence Editor’s Note: This is fourth in a series of articles written by Ms. Linda Lawrence that addresses the challenges and blessings in caring for an aging parent. When asked what I most feared, I always answered: “Having my…
How Can I Be A Caregiver?: A Look at Caregiving and Alzheimer’s Disease
Linda Lawrence Editor’s Note: This is the third in a series of articles written by Ms. Linda Lawrence that addresses the challenges and blessings in caring for an aging parent. I love my Lord, and I love solitude. But now…
Hug Your Mother: A Look at Caregiving and Alzheimer’s Disease
Linda Lawrence Editor’s Note: This is second in a series of articles written by Ms. Linda Lawrence that addresses the challenges and blessings in caring for an aging parent. When Dad died, my husband and I invited my mother, who…
Drifting: A Look at Parenting and Alzheimer’s Disease
Linda Lawrence Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of articles written by Ms. Linda Lawrence that addresses the challenges and blessings in caring for an aging parent. Mom’s pinched face and fidgeting fingers catch my attention as…
Burdens and Christian Optimism
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, CLR National Director Despairing elders may come to the conclusion to terminate their own lives. Their acts of self-killing are often shrouded in euphemisms about wishing to “die with dignity” and “ceasing to be a burden” on…
Christian Life Resources’ Euthanasia Position Statement
This Christian Life Resources Position Statement on Euthanasia was adopted by the organization’s National Congress to state its position on issues that are addressed by CLR, in this case, on the subject of euthanasia. Christian Life Resources Position Statement on Euthanasia PREAMBLE…
When Bad Things Happen to Good People
Hundreds of innocent people die in a plane crash. A man is struck down by cancer in the prime of his life. Tragedies such as these cause us to ask, “Why would God allow such terrible things to happen?” Bad…
Playing God: A Most Deadly Game
By Pastor Glen Schaumberg “If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman so that she delivers her child prematurely, but there is no harm to either the mother or child, the man should pay the fine her husband put…
Don’t Just Sit There!
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources The legalized killing of unborn children through abortion has been a part of the American landscape since January 22, 1973. The death toll has surpassed 62 million babies. Now you know….
Nothing to Fear
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources “I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.” (Philippians 1:23) The Apostle Paul struggles with two desires when writing the…
When God Is Calling
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Margaret entered the intensive care unit by way of the hospital’s emergency room. For over two decades, Margaret, or “Maggie” as her friends call her, wrestled with cancer. It began as…
I Know the Plans I Have for You – Cassie Husby’s Journey
By Pastor Jeremy Husby UPDATE: On November 18, 2013, Cassie Husby received “the call” and surgeons performed a double-lung transplant. We thank the LORD of Life for this gift! Pills. Oxygen. Nebulizer treatments. IV antibiotics. Sit down and rest. Cough….
Father in Alcohol Recovery Gives Perspective to Those With Other Addictions
John Cook, Marriage and Family Counselor at Wisconsin Lutheran Christian Counseling, Milwaukee, WI A father in recovery writes to his wife and children. His perspective can be applied to those involved with other addictions. To My Family, Whom I Love……
Adopted by My Parents… and God
Rev. Paul Prange Before a couple adopts a child, they may wonder how to tell the child that he or she is adopted. Do you wait until you think the child can understand the concept? What words do you use…
When Life Seems to Have No Meaning
Pastor Bruce Wietzke Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb? We know such a question is not uncommon in our world. We live among a people who not only may ask such…
The Book of Jonah and Our Mission to an Ungodly Nation // Bible Study
Introduction Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria, was rampant with wickedness. Although we do not have all the details of what went on in the city, it is enough to know that God’s patience toward the city began to…
Trouble During Holy Week // A Devotional Thought
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources “He became obedient to death, even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8) As I write this devotion, we are in the middle of Holy Week. I have come to see Holy Week…
The Father and Issues of Life and Death
When abortion is marketed to the general public its advocates emphasize the autonomous right of the woman to make this decision. Society has so bought into that notion that in 1976 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the father of…
Tragedies, Statistics, and Making a Difference
Rev. Mark Braun In a conversation with U.S. ambassador Averill Harriman, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin allegedly said, “The death of one person is a tragedy; the death of millions is a statistic.” Stalin would seem to be an expert on…
Looking Down the Road
In the Old Testament, Adam and Eve demonstrated shortsightedness when they ate the forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). When Cain killed Abel (Genesis 4), he failed to consider the consequence of his action. Lot never considered…
Faith and Planned Parenthood
By Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources In 2015 The Center for Medical Progress secretly video recorded conversations with executives from Planned Parenthood. The topic was the gruesome practice of selling fetal body parts to researchers. The expose made national…
Fatal Flaw
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources The tenets of evolution and creation conflict on many points but none as significantly as on the reality of original sin. The Lutheran Catechism defines original sin as: “The guilt…
The Conscience Side of Life
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Simply speaking, Christian Life Resources divides its work into two areas – service and conscience. The service area involves the work we do in our care centers, the presentations we give, and…
The Shepherd Restores a Soul: A Look at Caregiving and Alzheimer’s Disease
Linda Lawrence Editor’s Note: This is the sixth and final installment in a series of articles written by Ms. Linda Lawrence that addresses the challenges and blessings in caring for an aging parent. My mother was like a lost lamb, struggling…