Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

This special Independence Day edition of Headlines features multiple rounds of patriotism-themed headlines, with two fabricated by the host and one real headline. The guest’s challenge is to identify the real headline, which serves as a springboard for a deeper theological discussion. This episode explores the limits of patriotism and what it means to submit to governing authorities as duty to God. The Rev. Jacob Hercamp, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Noblesville, IN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to explore patriotism-related headlines. To learn more about Christ Lutheran, visit www.clc-in.org.Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

With Jacob dead, the brothers fear Joseph's revenge. They even fabricate a message from their father, begging Joseph's forgiveness. But Joseph weeps at their words and speaks one of Scripture's most profound theological statements: "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive." Joseph sees beyond human schemes to divine sovereignty. He promises to provide for them and their children, speaking kindly to comfort their hearts. As Joseph dies at 110, he echoes his father's faith, making his brothers swear to carry his bones out of Egypt when God visits them. Genesis ends with a coffin in Egypt, but with eyes fixed on the promised exodus. The Rev. Kelly Krieg, pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Brenham, TX, joins guest host Rev. Doug Griebenaw, Mission Advocate for KFUO Radio, to study Genesis 50:15-26. To learn more about Bethlehem, visit www.bethlehemwmpenn.org.Genesis isn’t just the start of the Bible; it’s the foundation of everything. Creation, sin, judgment, grace, covenant, and promise all take root in this remarkable book. The stories are ancient, but their truths are eternal.In this new series from Thy Strong Word, Pastor Phil Booe and his guests walk verse by verse through Genesis, exploring how God reveals Himself as Creator, Judge, and Redeemer. From the grandeur of the cosmos to the struggles of ordinary families, Genesis introduces us to a God who speaks, acts, and keeps His promises. So, whether you’ve read it a hundred times or are just now cracking it open for a serious look, this series will help you see Genesis with fresh eyes—and a deeper faith.Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

With his final breath, Jacob commands his sons to bury him in the cave of Machpelah with Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah. This last request reveals where his heart truly lies—not in the prosperity of Egypt but in the promises of God. Joseph honors his father with a royal Egyptian funeral: forty days of embalming, seventy days of mourning, and a massive funeral procession including Egyptian dignitaries. Yet this grand Egyptian send-off ends in a simple cave in Canaan. Even Pharaoh's servants witness that Israel's hope lies not in Egypt's glory but in God's covenant promise. The journey to bury Jacob becomes a prophetic rehearsal for a greater exodus to come. The Rev. Roger Mullet, pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Buffalo, WY, joins guest host Rev. Doug Griebenaw, Mission Advocate for KFUO Radio, to study Genesis 49:29-50:14. To learn more about Prince of Peace, visit princeofpeacebuffalo.org.Genesis isn’t just the start of the Bible; it’s the foundation of everything. Creation, sin, judgment, grace, covenant, and promise all take root in this remarkable book. The stories are ancient, but their truths are eternal.In this new series from Thy Strong Word, Pastor Phil Booe and his guests walk verse by verse through Genesis, exploring how God reveals Himself as Creator, Judge, and Redeemer. From the grandeur of the cosmos to the struggles of ordinary families, Genesis introduces us to a God who speaks, acts, and keeps His promises. So, whether you’ve read it a hundred times or are just now cracking it open for a serious look, this series will help you see Genesis with fresh eyes—and a deeper faith.Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Jacob gathers his twelve sons for his final prophetic blessing—though for some, it sounds more like judgment. Reuben loses his preeminence, Simeon and Levi are scattered for their violence. But when Jacob reaches Judah, the prophecy soars: "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him." This messianic promise identifies the tribe from which David and ultimately Christ would come. Each son receives words that will shape their tribal destiny. Some are difficult to understand, but all are part of God's sovereign plan. The dying patriarch speaks not his own wishes but God's revealed will for the future of His people. The Rev. Bryan Stecker, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Waconia, MN, joins guest host Rev. Dustin Beck of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX to study Genesis 49:1-28. To learn more about Triinity Lutheran, visit www.trinitywaconia.org.Genesis isn’t just the start of the Bible; it’s the foundation of everything. Creation, sin, judgment, grace, covenant, and promise all take root in this remarkable book. The stories are ancient, but their truths are eternal.In this new series from Thy Strong Word, Pastor Phil Booe and his guests walk verse by verse through Genesis, exploring how God reveals Himself as Creator, Judge, and Redeemer. From the grandeur of the cosmos to the struggles of ordinary families, Genesis introduces us to a God who speaks, acts, and keeps His promises. So, whether you’ve read it a hundred times or are just now cracking it open for a serious look, this series will help you see Genesis with fresh eyes—and a deeper faith.Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Joseph brings his sons to the dying Jacob for a blessing, carefully positioning Manasseh, the firstborn, at Jacob's right hand. But Jacob crosses his hands, placing his right hand on younger Ephraim's head. When Joseph tries to correct this apparent mistake, Jacob refuses: "I know, my son, I know." This deliberate reversal echoes throughout Genesis—Abel over Cain, Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau—God consistently choosing the younger, the weaker, the unexpected. Jacob adopts Joseph's sons as his own, granting them full tribal status in Israel. The crossed hands of blessing point forward to another wooden cross where all God's promises find their "Yes" and "Amen." The Rev. Dr. Matthew Tassey, pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Shawnee, OK, joins guest-host Rev. David Boisclair of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Overland, MO to study Genesis 48. To learn more about Redeemer Lutheran, visit redeemershawnee.org.Genesis isn’t just the start of the Bible; it’s the foundation of everything. Creation, sin, judgment, grace, covenant, and promise all take root in this remarkable book. The stories are ancient, but their truths are eternal.In this new series from Thy Strong Word, Pastor Phil Booe and his guests walk verse by verse through Genesis, exploring how God reveals Himself as Creator, Judge, and Redeemer. From the grandeur of the cosmos to the struggles of ordinary families, Genesis introduces us to a God who speaks, acts, and keeps His promises. So, whether you’ve read it a hundred times or are just now cracking it open for a serious look, this series will help you see Genesis with fresh eyes—and a deeper faith.Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

The famine intensifies until all Egypt and Canaan have no money left. Joseph implements a systematic plan: first accepting money, then livestock, then land, and finally the people themselves in exchange for grain. Some see harshness here, but Joseph saves countless lives while securing Egypt's future prosperity. As Jacob nears death, he makes Joseph swear to bury him not in Egypt but with his fathers in Canaan. Even in his final days, Jacob's faith looks beyond the present blessing to the promised inheritance. The Rev. Steven Theiss, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Genesis 47:13-31. Genesis isn’t just the start of the Bible; it’s the foundation of everything. Creation, sin, judgment, grace, covenant, and promise all take root in this remarkable book. The stories are ancient, but their truths are eternal.In this new series from Thy Strong Word, Pastor Phil Booe and his guests walk verse by verse through Genesis, exploring how God reveals Himself as Creator, Judge, and Redeemer. From the grandeur of the cosmos to the struggles of ordinary families, Genesis introduces us to a God who speaks, acts, and keeps His promises. So, whether you’ve read it a hundred times or are just now cracking it open for a serious look, this series will help you see Genesis with fresh eyes—and a deeper faith.Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Judah goes ahead to prepare the way, and Joseph meets his father in Goshen. The reunion is deeply emotional—Joseph weeps on his father's neck "a good while," and Jacob declares he can now die in peace. Joseph wisely prepares his brothers for their audience with Pharaoh, instructing them to identify as shepherds, knowing this will secure them land in Goshen, separated from Egyptian society. When Pharaoh meets them, he grants them the best of the land and even offers employment for the capable among them. At 130 years old, Jacob blesses Pharaoh—a beautiful picture of God's promise that through Abraham's seed, all nations would be blessed. The Rev. Dr. Michael Nielsen, pastor of Salem Lutheran Church in Barron, WI, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Genesis 46:28-47:12. To learn more about Salem, visit stjohnsnp.org.Genesis isn’t just the start of the Bible; it’s the foundation of everything. Creation, sin, judgment, grace, covenant, and promise all take root in this remarkable book. The stories are ancient, but their truths are eternal.In this new series from Thy Strong Word, Pastor Phil Booe and his guests walk verse by verse through Genesis, exploring how God reveals Himself as Creator, Judge, and Redeemer. From the grandeur of the cosmos to the struggles of ordinary families, Genesis introduces us to a God who speaks, acts, and keeps His promises. So, whether you’ve read it a hundred times or are just now cracking it open for a serious look, this series will help you see Genesis with fresh eyes—and a deeper faith.Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Jacob sets out for Egypt but pauses at Beersheba, on the very edge of the Promised Land, to sacrifice, worship, and seek assurance from YHWH as he heads out of Canaan into Egypt. There, God speaks to him in visions of the night: "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation." With divine reassurance of his covenantal promise, Israel takes his entire family (seventy persons in all) down to Egypt. More than a list of names, this genealogy shows the growing seed of God's promise to Abraham taking root. Four hundred years later, these seventy will have become a mighty nation, ready for the Exodus. The Rev. Tim Winterstein, pastor of University Lutheran Church in Bloomington, IN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Genesis 46:1-27. To learn more about University Lutheran, visit www.indianalutheran.com.Genesis isn’t just the start of the Bible; it’s the foundation of everything. Creation, sin, judgment, grace, covenant, and promise all take root in this remarkable book. The stories are ancient, but their truths are eternal.In this new series from Thy Strong Word, Pastor Phil Booe and his guests walk verse by verse through Genesis, exploring how God reveals Himself as Creator, Judge, and Redeemer. From the grandeur of the cosmos to the struggles of ordinary families, Genesis introduces us to a God who speaks, acts, and keeps His promises. So, whether you’ve read it a hundred times or are just now cracking it open for a serious look, this series will help you see Genesis with fresh eyes—and a deeper faith.Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Unable to control himself any longer, Joseph sends out every Egyptian and reveals himself to his brothers. "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" Terror grips them—the brother they sold into slavery now holds their lives in his hands. But instead of vengeance, Joseph offers theological perspective: "Do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life." Three times he emphasizes that God, not they, sent him to Egypt. This stunning declaration of divine sovereignty and human forgiveness becomes one of Scripture's most powerful pictures of reconciliation. Joseph weeps, embraces his brothers, and sends them to bring Jacob to Egypt with Pharaoh's full blessing. The Rev. Jacob Hercamp, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Noblesville, IN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Genesis 45. To learn more about Christ Lutheran, visit www.clc-in.org.Genesis isn’t just the start of the Bible; it’s the foundation of everything. Creation, sin, judgment, grace, covenant, and promise all take root in this remarkable book. The stories are ancient, but their truths are eternal.In this new series from Thy Strong Word, Pastor Phil Booe and his guests walk verse by verse through Genesis, exploring how God reveals Himself as Creator, Judge, and Redeemer. From the grandeur of the cosmos to the struggles of ordinary families, Genesis introduces us to a God who speaks, acts, and keeps His promises. So, whether you’ve read it a hundred times or are just now cracking it open for a serious look, this series will help you see Genesis with fresh eyes—and a deeper faith.Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Joseph orchestrates one last test. He has his silver cup planted in Benjamin's sack and sends his servant to “discover” it as the brothers depart. They rend their garments when the cup is discovered, and they are hauled back to Egypt. Would they abandon Benjamin as they once abandoned him? That’s part of the test. But something has changed. Judah, the same brother who suggested selling Joseph—now offers himself as a slave in Benjamin's place. His impassioned plea reveals a transformed heart, as he speaks of their father's grief and his own guarantee of Benjamin's safety. This substitutionary offer echoes through history, pointing to Judah's descendant who would offer Himself for the sins of the world. Joseph's testing has revealed what he needed to know: his brothers are no longer the men who betrayed him, and the heart of Christ is seen in both Joseph and Judah. The Rev. Dan Torkelson, pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Madison, WI, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Genesis 44. To learn more about Mount Olive Lutheran, visit www.molc.us.Genesis isn’t just the start of the Bible; it’s the foundation of everything. Creation, sin, judgment, grace, covenant, and promise all take root in this remarkable book. The stories are ancient, but their truths are eternal.In this new series from Thy Strong Word, Pastor Phil Booe and his guests walk verse by verse through Genesis, exploring how God reveals Himself as Creator, Judge, and Redeemer. From the grandeur of the cosmos to the struggles of ordinary families, Genesis introduces us to a God who speaks, acts, and keeps His promises. So, whether you’ve read it a hundred times or are just now cracking it open for a serious look, this series will help you see Genesis with fresh eyes—and a deeper faith.Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.