The content of religious publications is the same as the content of religious preaching. Most of it is meager, bland, and unsavory fare, intended more for the passing of time than for the profit of souls. However, in one edition of such a publication from last year, one apparently desires a commendation that goes beyond all reasonable expectation. Even the editor himself, speaking about the articles in his own publication, says that it would be immensely boring if one should read the same article in another publication; therefore it was vital not to print the same article in two papers. Its content is therefore usually not of the quality that it was “blessed” to read it. Neither was it “interesting” but rather “without any significance”; it even had the opposite effect: it was “boring,” “very boring.” Indeed, the content of the article was of such little merit that the editor thought it fitting to describe it as “immensely boring,” to discover the article in another publication! Imagine if it were boring to read the words that proceeded from Jesus’ mouth one more time! Imagine if it were boring to read in the psalms of David or in the epistles of the apostles one more time! Just imagine if that were immensely boring!!! The Scriptures say, “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God . . . .” In the same way, the person who writes should write as the oracles of God and in the power that God gives. Then it will be blessed and nourishing food instead of something with which to fill the publication for the satisfaction of the flesh. If one is not able to do it, one should, to the glory of God’s name and for the adornment of the doctrine of Christ, cease publication of the paper, hoping that God will lead someone else to write something that is viable; something that can nourish hungry souls; something that never becomes boring when you find it another time. Amen.Elias Aslaksen