“Lutheranism must change or die” is how the Rev. Dr. Lawrence Rast summarizes the 1840s hysteria of a General Synod Lutheran seminary professor named Benjamin Kurtz (1795-1867)…

Those who read and preach during the Divine Service ought to be careful to avoid dramatization, to say nothing of stand-up comedy.

All things are good. But especially good are the created things of our God and Savior: whatever the age sees, whatever the soul considers, whatever reason explains, whatever the hand touches, whatever the understanding comprehends. Indeed, whatever humanity possesses. For what is more multiform than the beauty of the heavenly expanse? What is more bedecked with flowers than the form of the earth? What is more dazzling in its course than the chariot of the sun? What carriage is more beautiful than the heavenly orb of the moon? What work is more marvelous than the music richly emitted by the stars? What is more serviceable for travel than the friendly winds? What mirror is clearer than the light of day? What living thing is worthy of more honor than man? Therefore all things are good, especially the things created by our God and Savior.