www.ChristDeaf.org
The Mustard Seed
Archive

Since November 2001, we have posted The Mustard Seed on the Internet.
The following links are to archived issues and articles of the Web edition.
2001       2002       2003       2004       2005       2006       2007       2008       2009      2010
Ruth Peterson's art
Devotional Articles
Editorials
Ask Pastor
Christ/Deaf history
Travelogues


Ruth Peterson's art
Cover art
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
20082009
Chris the Teaselnut
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
20082009
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Devotional Articles
Holiday topics
Our Jewish Roots
People in the Bible
People in history
Current events
True stories
Campus Ministry
Other popular articles


Holiday topics
        New Year (January)
               2003   "A New Year Blessing" (Fruit of the Spirit)
               2004   "New Year's Resolutions"
               2005   "Running the Race" (The story of Pheidipides)
               2006   "A Fresh Start"

        Valentine's (February)
               2002   "A though for Valentine's Day'
               2003   "Love isn't just for lovers" (Campus Ministry)
               2007   "Marriage Busters"
               2008   "Practical Love"
               2009   "Money and Marriage"

        Easter  (March & April)
               2002   "It's Empty!"
               2003   "Something important happened"
               2004   "Whose Messiah?"  (Isaiah 53)
               2005   "Of Course He Isn't Safe" (Chronicles of Narnia)
               2006   "Resurrection Power" (Mel Trotter)
               2007   "A dying man's prayer" (Dr. Samuel Miller)
               2008   "He surrendured"  (John Willfinger)

        Mothers' Day (May)
               2002  "A Mother's Secret of Success"
               2003  "The Other Side of Motherhood"
               2005  "Eunice"
               2006  "My Tribute" (Part 1)
               2007  "An Unexpectant Mother" (Gladys Aylward)
               2008  "Finding a New Mother" (Amy Charmichael)
               2009  "A Mother's Prayer" (Mary Bright > Bill Bright)

        Fathers' Day (June)
               2002  "That boy is so lucky!"
               2004  "Fathers and Sons"
               2006  "My Tribute" (Part 2)
               2007  "Disappointed Fathers" (Dutton Lane)
               2008  "The Father of a Prodigal"

        July 4
               2002  "Rights & Responsibilities" (Dr. Peter Marshall)
               2003  "Religion, Politics, & History" (Marshall/Manuel series)
               2004  Sam Adams
               2005  Independence for Whom? #1 (William Wilberforce )
               2006  Independence for Whom? #2 (J.Q. Adams)
               2007  Independence for Whom? #3 (J.Q. Adams)
               2008  Independence for Whom? #4 (Joshua Giddings)
               2009  John Adams vs John Quincy Adams

        Reformation Day (October)
               2002  "The other October holiday"
               2003  "Confused!"
               2004  "Man of Faith?"
               2006  "Heretic!"  (William Tyndale)
               2007  "The Parable of Two Landlords"
               2009  "Happy Halloween Reformation Day"

        Thanksgiving Day Proclamations (November)
               2001  Part 1 - 1627 William Bradford
               2002  Part 2 - 1777 Continental Congress
               2003  Part 3 - 1780 Continental Congress
               2004  Part 4 - 1789 George Washington
               2005  Part 5 - 1795 George Washington
               2006  Part 6 - Aug 1863 Abraham Lincoln
               2007  Part 7 - Nov 1863 Abraham Lincoln
               2008  Part 8 - Nov 1894 Abraham Lincoln
               2009  Part 9 - 1930 Herbert Hoover

You can read ALL of our nation's Thanksgiving Day proclamations
at www.pilgrimhall.org/ThanxProc.htm

        Christmas (December)
               2001  "St. Nicholas did it!"
               2002  "Servants" (Ebed-Melech)
               2003  "Christmas Gifts" (the real St. Nicholas)
               2004  "Peace on Earth?" (What else did the angels say?)
               2005  A Christmas Story (Luke 1, Matthew 1)
               2006  "Whose Birthday is it?"
               2007  "A Deaf Christmas Party"  (Rev. Alan Rork)
               2008  "Peace Child" (Don Richardson)

Our Jewish Roots
9/07    
Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot
4/08Passover
10/08Simchat Torah
3/09Purim
4/09First Fruits (Hag ha Bikkurim)
12/09Hanukkah

People in the Bible  (*Campus ministry articles)

Abraham..............
4/06
*

Daniel..................
10/02
*  3/07*
              
Ebed-Melech........ 12/02

Jonah.................... 9/03 *

Eutychus...............
9/04

Gomer & Hosea...
4/05

Eunice..................
5/05
Timothy................4/09

People in history  (*Campus ministry articles)
             
Pheidipides................   1/05

Alexander the Great...
  4/06*

Caesar Augustus........
  3/06*

St. Nicholas............... 12/01

St. Patrick.................   3/03, 3/07, 3/09*  

Martin Luther............ 10/03, 10/04, 6/07, 10/07, 10/07*
10/09  

William Tyndale.........
10/06, 10/09  
  Sam Adams...............   7/04

John Newton.............
  3/06

William Wilberforce...   7/05

John Quincy Adams...   7/06, 7/07, 7/09  

Hudson Taylor...........
  9/06

Dwight Moody..........
10/06*

Jim & Betty Elliott......
  5/06*

Andrew Foster..........   6/0311/04*

Arland Williams, Jr....
  3/07  

Gladys Aylward........
  5/07
Amy Charmichael......  5/08 
Joshua Giddings........  7/08
Bill Bright..................  5/09
John Harper..............  5/09
Jeremiah Lanphier.....  7/09  
Ken Taylor................10/09  

Current Events
10/04     
"Why Hurricanes?" (Campus)
    (following the summer of four storms to hit Florida)
2/05
"Why!?" (following the western Pacific tsunami)
10/05
"Just go do it!" (on Hurricane Katrina relief efforts)
10/05
"Surprise!"  (Campus)
   (on the announcement of I. King Jordan's retirement)
11/06

"Campus Protests" (Campus)

True Stories
 ...reported by the people who actually experienced them.
3/02     
"It's Empty!" (Josh MacDowell)
4/02
"Lost... Where?" (Elvira Nachtigal)
10/02
"Homework" (Dr. Howard Hendricks); *Campus
3/03
"Something important happened" (Rev. John Reinke)
9/03
"I can't go home"
10/03
"Confused"
2/04
"Write in the Bible?"
4/04
"Whose Messiah?"
2/06

"Then what?..."  (Pastor Friedrich)
5/07

"Looking for a summer job" (Pastor Friedrich)*
12/07

"A Deaf Christmas Party" (Rev. Alan Rork)
1/08"Who Owns Whom?"  (Dr. Carl Becker)
9/08"The Dot"  (Eric Stewart)
12/08"Peace Child"  (Don Richardson)

Campus Ministry
2/02     
"What is truth?"
3/02
"Religion & Violence"
4/02
"Can God Think?"
5/02
"Summer Plans"
10/02
"Challenges" (Daniel)
10/02
"Homework" (finding your life partner)
11/02

"World View"
1/03

"Disciple = Student?"
2/03

"Love isn't just for lovers"
3/03

"Battles in Bible Lands"
4/03

"All Roads Lead to Rome?"
5/03

"Why am I here?"
9/03
"Changes and Choices" (Jonah)
11/03

"Knowledge vs Wisdom"
12/03

"Final Exams"
4/04

"Counter Culture"
5/04

"Honorary Degrees?"
9/04

"A  Prayer For The Beginning of a New Semester"
10/04
"Why Hurricanes?"
11/04
"Honoring Andrew Foster"
12/04

"Students With Two Faces"
2/05

"Why would anyone want to become a Christian?"
3/05

"The Owner's Manual"
4/05

"Questions for God"
5/05

"Light at the End of the Tunnel"
9/05

"Decisions"
10/05
"Surprise" (Dr. Jordan's retirement)
11/05

"Givers & Takers / Servants & Masters"
12/05

"Train Wreck"
1/06

"Victim or Victor?"
3/06

"Beware of the Ides of March!"
4/06

"Alexander, Not-so-Great"
5/06

"Going to the Altar" (Jim & Betty Elliott)
9/06

"Your first (and biggest) test"
10/06

"Daniel in the Lions' Den"  
     (Dwight Moody & Gerald Lander)

11/06

"Campus Protests"
12/06

"What's next?"  (Prayer of St. Francis)
1/07

"God Spits on the Ground"
2/07

"Civil Disobedience"
3/07

"So where do you get wisdom?"
4/07

"Gnosticism"
5/07

"Looking for a summer job"
9/07

"Dare to be different"  (What is culture)
10/07

"If you want to learn something, teach it!" (Luther)
11/07

"Roots of Racism"
12/07"Prove it!"  --  Evidence for the truth of the Bible (5 parts)
5/08"Does God have a plan for your life?"
9/08"The Practical side of faith" -- Divine guidance series
3/09"The School of Hard Knocks" (St Patrick)
4/09"Timothy"
5/09Reflection on the passing of members
     of the campus community
9/09"Responding to Temptation" series

Other articles
  2/03     
"Shake Well Before Using"
3/04
"Looking in the Mirror"
5/04
"Sowing and Reaping"
6/05
"Termites"
1/07

"A Pair of Parables"
1/09"The Story Behind the Nicene Creed"
1/09"Why So Many Churches?" (part 1)
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Editorials
by Don Peterson
Culture (social & moral issues)
Church teaching & practice, faith & Christian life
Holiday & Lighthearted Topics

*Editor & Pastor: point/counterpoint

     

Culture (social & moral issues)

11/01


re: Turning the other cheek (responding to 9/11 attacks)

6/02


re: assisted suicide*

12/02
"Dilemmas" (responding to people who do evil.)

4/03


re: war in Iraq

5/03


re: war in Iraq

11/03


Gambling*

12/03


Pacifism: Dr. Stanley Hauerwas

5/04


re: Theocracy

6/04


"Tolerance," re: same-sex marriage*

9/04


"Polls ...Polls ...Polls ad nauseum"

10/04


"Flip-Flop ???"

4/05


re: Theocracy vs. Democracy

3/06

"Life" (part 1) (embryonic stem cell research)
4/06

"Life again..." (embryonic stem cell research*)
5/06

"The Slippery Slope..." (embryonic stem cell research*)
6/06

"Quandary" (how to deal with illegal immigration)
11/06

"Thy Will Be Done"   (Religion & Politics)
3/06

Noah Markham
 (in-vitro firtilization & embrionic stem cell research*)
5/07

Lying
1/08Prenatal genetic testing
3/08"Affluenza"
6/08"Bad News..."
10/08Politics and Religion
6/09"Is America a Christian Nation?"
9/09"Health Care"
 


Church teaching & practice, faith & Christian life

1/02


re: witnessing to non-Christians

3/02


re: cuts in Deaf missions

4/02


Stewardship  (also 7/07)

5/02


More about stewardship

7/02


Overcoming giants (fear of witnessing)

9/02


"Show Me the Way" (describing God)*

10/02


re: prayers for football games

1/03


re: cuts in Deaf missions

6/03


"What is in a title?"

7/03


"Charity begins..."

9/03


"Thank God..."

10/03


"I Am Rich!!!"

2/04


"Suitcase Christians"

11/04


re: Pride

2/05


re: the Tsunami.. Was it an act of God?

7/05


"Water... Water..." re: Baptism

10/05


"Evolutionary Intelligent Design"*

2/06

"Love?  What is Love"
9/06

"What would like to hear God say...?"
10/06

Interpreting the Bible
1/07

Why do bad things happen?
2/07

Peace
4/07

Grace
6/07

"Why did I join the Lutheran Church?"
7/07

"Why must our church treasury
          always be so short of money?"
9/07

"Why must so many Christian denomination feel that
          they are THE way to worship our Lord?"*
10/07

A bolt of lightning (Luther & Peterson)
11/07

More about the ER and the Editor's heart
2/08When bad things happen...
4/08"Deadly Sins"
5/08"Scars"
7/08"Where am I now??"
9/08John Templeton
11/08"In the beginning..."  (Creation & Evolution)
1/09"Wisdom"
4/09"Coincidence?"
5/09"Forgiving"
 


Holiday & Lighthearted topics

12/01


re: Sustaining the spirit of Christmas

2/02


re: Translating hymns

11/02


Odds 'n' Ends

2/03


re: Love

3/03


Tidbits from "Joyful Noiseletter"

1/04


"What are you doing with your dash?"

3/04


"Happiness"

4/04


A guest editorial

7/04


"Too Little, Too Much?"

1/05


"I Resolve To ..."

3/05


"Tradition! Tradition!"

5/05


re: Memorial Day

6/05


"A merry heart..."

6/05

"Ramblings..."  (re: TNIV Bible translation)

9/05


"Kindness"

11/05


"Thanks Be..."

12/05

"Give and Take"
1/06

"Happy New Year!"
7/06

"Five People"
3/08"When is Easter?"
2/09Reflection on Alzheimer's Disease.
10/09"July 24..."
11/09"Humor as Medicine"
[top]

Ask Pastor
Bible text & interpretation
Heaven, angels, end of the world
Church teaching & practice; Christian life
Culture (social & moral issues)
Holiday topics

*Editor & Pastor: point/counterpoint
   

Bible text & interpretation

12/01


"If you sin, will the Holy Spirit depart from the body and after asking for the forgiveness then will the Holy Spirit return to the body?"

1/02


"Can you explain Psalm 104:30 ... 'When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth'?"

2/02


"Did Lucifer (Satan) sin against God before Earth was created or after? Can you give me some Bible verses related to this?"

5/02


"What translation of the Bible do you recommend?"

11/02


"The Bible has been translated so many times, how can we be sure the Bible we have today is accurate?"

5/03


"I got an Email the says that the Garden of Eden was in the part of the world that is now Iraq. Is that true!?"

9/03


"Does God ever change His mind?"

3/04


"Did Jesus marry Mary Magdalene?" [Responding to The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown]

7/04


"Did Jesus suffer in hell?" (follow-up to a question about The Passion of the Christ)

9/04


"People talk about John 3:16. Why do they fail to go on to verse 19 and the rest of the chapter?"

1/05


"You talk about Paul's letters as though Paul himself wrote them. I had the impression from LCMS doctrine that Paul and all other writers are simply acting as stenographers for God."

4/05


"How do deaf churches deal with the stories and prophecies about healing of deaf people in the Bible?"

6/06

"Is the Gospel of Judas true?"
9/06

"What is happening in Israel?!"
10/06

"What happened to the Ark of the Covenant?"
11/06

"In the story of Daniel in the lion's den, Daniel said his prayers in public (Dan. 6.10). Was he wrong for doing that?"

1/07


"I really don't know much about the Bible. I was never really taught it when I was growing up.  Is there a way I can start learning now?"
4/07

"The lost tomb of Jesus?"
1/08"What does begotten mean -- as in John 3:16, only begotten Son?"
9/08"Why did God put the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden?"
10/08....the other tree  -- the Tree of Life.
11/08 "Pastor, last month you said that the Torah is the first five books of the Bible.  I was taught tha Torah means Law.  What is the connection?"
1/09"Sometimes I read about a brother of Jesus. Is that true?  Or did someone just make that up?"
5/09"I don't believe the Bible, because half the people who wrote it were liars, adulterers, or murderers."
6/09"Who made God?  Where did He come from?"
9/09What should be the correct sign for "Moses?"
11/09"Does the Bible say anything about dinosaurs?"
 

Heaven, angels, end of the world

3/02


"When we go to heaven, will we understand the reason why things happened the way they did on earth?"

4/02


"What does your church teach about the Rapture?"

10/02


"Do you think that a good person who does not believe in Jesus still can go to heaven?"

1/03


"What is your position on reincarnation?"

4/03


"When we die, do we go immediately to heaven? Or do we 'sleep' until Jesus comes again?"

7/03
"What is your opinion about guardian angels?"

10/03


"Do you believe in ghosts?"

3/05


"What does the Bible mean when it refers to 'heaven?'"

7/06

"Do animals have souls? Can they go to heaven when they die?"
7/07

"Is there difference between a person's soul and spirit?"
2/08"What is heaven like? What will we do there?"
3/08"Why does the Bible say that we will receive rewards in heaven?  I thought we are saved by grace, not by works, and that heaven is a place of equality."
4/09"When Jesus comes again, and our bodies rise to life, will we have the same bodies that we have now? Or will we get new bodies?"



Church teaching & practice; Christian life
9/02

Describing God*
2/03
"The Ten Commandments say 'Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.' So why does your church break this Commandment by worshipping on Sunday instead?"
6/03
"In your Lutheran worship, why do you say some of the same things every Sunday? Why don't you use more of your time teaching the Bible?"
2/04
"How do you Sign the word 'Grace'?"
6/05
"What do Lutherans teach about Free Will?"
7/05
"I have trouble telling my atheist and agnostic friends about Jesus. How can I tell them without being offensive?"
11/05
Evolution*
1/06

"If God never changes His mind, then why pray?"
2/06

"For a person to be saved, do we need to accept Jesus only as Savior?  ...or as Savior AND Lord?"
4/06

"Do Lutherans teach that we must be 'born again?' "
5/06

"The newspaper said that doctors tested prayer and they said prayer doesn't work."
2/07

"I don't like to say, 'Goodbye.' I prefer to say, 'See you later.' "
6/07

"Deaf or Death?"
9/07

What is the "Church"?*
10/07

"I attended the Lutheran School for the Deaf, but they didn't teach me about Martin Luther.  Why?"
2/09"Why do you baptize babies?"
3/09 "I go to church every week.  So why do I need to also read the Bible at home?"
7/09"Who was Jerome, and what role did he have in compiling the Bible?"
10/09"How do you respond to Martin Luther's anti-Semitic statements?"
 

Culture (Social & Moral Issues)

6/02


Assisted Suicide*

7/02


"What is your position on cloning and stem cell research?"

9/02


"I have read about the Lutheran Church's conflict over the interfaith prayer service in New York after 9/11. What is happening?"

3/03
"…Christians are brainwashed!"

11/03


"Is gambling a sin? What about the lottery?"

1/04


"Is investing in the stock market the same as gambling?"

3/04


Response to the popular book, The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

4/04


"What is your opinion about TV evangelist? Is it true they always want money and do they use it for the good cause? What about Robert Schuler?"

6/04


"Tolerance" (re: same-sex marriage)*

5/04


"What do you think about The Passion of the Christ movie?"

11/04


"It appears that St. Paul permitted slavery in the New Testament. Would he condone it today?"

2/05
"What is difference between marriage, common-law marriage, and living together?"

5/05


LCMS policy on terminating artificial life support.

9/05
"What does the Bible say about different races of people?"
10/05
"Racism & Deafness"
3/06

"I understand that Martin Luther supported the persecution of the Anabaptists.  Has the LCMS ever issued an apology for this persecution?"

3/07


Response to editorial on Noah Markham  (in-vitro firtilization & embrionic stem cell research)*
11/07

"Is smoking a sin? What about drinking alcohol?"
4/08"Should Christian parents allow cochlear implants in their deaf children?"  (two parts)
5/08"Pastor, how do you answer a vegetarian  who says that killing animals for food is immoral?" (two parts)
 

Holiday topics
 
Christmas

12/02


"Is Jesus' birthday really December 25?"

12/03


"Christmas Myths"

12/04


"If the Bible condemns astrology, then why did God lead the Wise Men with a star?"

12/05


"Who is 'Kris Kringle?'"

12/06


"What do the gifts from the Wise Men represent?"

12/07


"Where did the Three Wise Men come from?"
12/08"An atheist Christmas message?"
12/09"Xmas?"
 
Halloween

10/03


"Do you believe in ghosts?"

10/04


"What is your opinion about Halloween?" 


For more in-depth articles on theological, social, and church issues,
read the FAQ (frequently asked questions) at www.LCMS.org.
[top]


Christ/Deaf history

6/03

 

Our stained glass windows

6/04

What happened long ago...
[top]

Travelogues

1/02

 

Family Reunion in Mexico
    by Diane Munoz

11/02

A Trip to The Country in the Shape of a Lady's Boot
    by Diane Munoz
1/03

EGYPT:  The Cradle of Civilization
    by Jim and Dot Casterline
4/03

Life & Ministry in Macau
    by Diana Lei
7/03

A Cochlear Implant "Journey"
    by Mary Bagby
1/04

Deaf Culture Fellowship Cruise
    by John & Carolyn Mason
4/04

Italy Again
    by Diane & Tony Munoz
10/04

Scandinavian Heritage Tour
    by Jim Casterline
2/05

Land of the Morning Calm... Growing up in Korea
    by Ward Pettis
7/05

A Tour of Greece and Turkey
    by Diane Munoz
7/06

A Visit to the Low Country (coastal South Carolina)
    by Dot Casterline
10/06

Alaska Adventure
    by Ward Pettis
3/07

A Tour of Egypt
   by Diane Munoz
2/08Puerto Rico
   by Alice Hagemeyer
9/08China Tour
   by Diane Munoz
10/08Summer Mission  in Macau
   by Karen Friedrich
2/09The Alpine Jewels Tour
    by Agnes Sutcliffe
5/09Memoirs of a Guinea Pig
    by Don Peterson

You can also read mission field reports from Ghana, Africa,
at www.deafjesus.org.

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