WWRD? - What Would Robert Do?

R D Preus Evangelical Luthern (sic) High School

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Basso Profondo

The lowest level of the male voice - sounds like the governor of Arizona.

Some Eastern Orthodoxy Scenes

Good travel music for semi-poping pastors.

In Thee Is Gladness

WELS members who hum along are guilty of breaking fellowship.

Augustana Synod History - Lindsborg, Kansas

The video has some interesting history from the Swedish Augustana Synod. Lindsborg was such an important destination for Swedes coming to America that they said, upon arriving in New York City: "If this is New York, what must Lindsborg be like?"

Oh! Oh! Oh! I Just Discovered a New Church Growth Principle

C. Peter Wagner, the Dan and Paul Kelm Professor of Church Growth,
Fuller Seminary

Ascension in Escondido, California (WELS) has discovered a new Church Growth principle - bad spelling to attract WELS members moving to California. It works this way - The search engines use the HTML code to find websites and categorize them.

Can you imagine poor Jacob Struwwelpeter trying to find a WELS Lutheran church when he has spelled the word Lutheran wrong all his life?

"Maw, Paw. I can't find no WELS Luthern church here in Excondido. I am coming home to Peewaukee."

"No, son. Check your spelling. You can't help it. You went to a WELS prep school."

So some of you are thinking I am making this up, just to have a little fun about the superior WELS educational system? Look at the code for that church.

Escondido is spelled Excondido, as in "Ascention (sic) Lutheran Church, Excondido (sic)."

The title of the home page is ASCENSION LUTHERN (sic) CHURCH, SCHOOL, so that title opens up in the browser, making WELS Lutherns feel at home.

Spelling Bee-zerk: Does Anyone in WELS Know How to Spell?

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WELS and Mormonism":

Ithought (sic) that jesus (sic) taught not to accuse falsely. I know masny (sic) Mormons who are more Christian than this.

***

GJ - Three pratfalls in two sentences. But wait, there's more.

From the official WELS website:

WELS Topical Q&A: Roman Catholic Luthern(sic)-Catholic Pages

And also -

Saints:
How do the WELS Lutherns (sic) view the Saints? How are the Saints in Luthern (sic) viewed differently than in the Catholic religion? How important is St. Michaels in the WELS Luthern (sic) religio...

And a synod-minder on Bailing Water:

Anonymous said...
The main blended worship workshop is being done by Rev. Aaron Christie. If you know anything about Rev. Christie, he is very, very traditional when it comes to worship. But he acknoweldges that there is good art being produced today. For example, I doubt that the Rev. Christie would use nothing but the Common Service to celebrate Holy Communion. However, he might, on occasion, subsitutite a piano version of the Gloria in Excelsis for the one in Christian Worship. Look up the website of his church in Antioch, IL, and you'll see the rich heritage of Lutheran worship he strives to share with his membership. His knowlege of Luthern (sic) worship has few equals. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt, rather than assuming he's going to suggest you worship with blended mush.

April 18, 2008 9:05 PM

One can read posts from WELS all over the Net, not without shame:

Get you (sic) facts correct, because as usual, I have to correct you. The paragraph that starts "The national discussion" is from the Northwestern Luthern (sic) magazine printed by our synod.

The Formula of Concord - Better Than Handfuls on Purpose

Chytraeus, a Formula of Concord author and editor, would outshine any seminary professor today, but Lutherans have forgotten him and the other Concordists.

I spotted this commentary called Handfuls on Purpose in a Lutheran pastor's study. I said, "What's that?" He said, "It's a Pietistic commentary a lot of us use." In a rare moment of bluntness, I said, "Get rid of it and read Luther." He gave the set away soon after. He returned to Luther.

Why read garbage from the anti-Lutherans when the Formula of Concord is our ruled norm of faith? We only have so much time to study, so why would we waste our hours with flea-brains? Here are some samples of what we should study:

Formula of Concord

J-163

"Therefore, before the conversion of man there are only two efficient causes, namely, the Holy Ghost and the Word of God, as the instrument of the Holy Ghost, by which He works conversion. This Word man is [indeed] to hear; however, it is not by his own powers, but only through the grace and working of the Holy Ghost that he can yield faith to it and accept it."
Formula of Concord, Epitome, II, Of the Free Will, #19, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 791. Tappert, p. 472. Heiser, p. 219.

J-164

"And although God, according to His just, strict sentence, has utterly cast away the fallen evil spirits forever, He has nevertheless, out of special, pure mercy, willed that poor fallen human nature might again become and be capable and participant of conversion, the grace of God and eternal life; not from its own natural, active [or effective] skill, aptness, or capacity (for the nature of man is obstinate enmity against God), but from pure grace, through the gracious efficacious working of the Holy Ghost." Luther, Psalm 90.
Formula of Concord, SD, II, #20. Free Will. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House 1921, p. 889. Tappert, p. 525. Heiser, p. 243.

J-165

"Thirdly, in this manner, too, the Holy Scriptures ascribe conversion, faith in Christ, regeneration, renewal, and all that belongs to their efficacious beginning and completion, not to the human powers of the natural free will, neither entirely, nor half, nor in any, even the least or most inconsiderable part, but in solidum, that is, entirely, solely to the divine working and the Holy Ghost, as also the Apology teaches."
Formula of Concord, SD II. #25. Free Will. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 891. Tappert, p. 526. Heiser, p. 244.

J-166

"For this reason we shall now relate, furthermore, from God's Word how man is converted to God, how and through what means [namely, through the oral Word and the holy Sacraments] the Holy Ghost wants to be efficacious in us, and to work and bestow in our hearts true repentance, faith, and new spiritual power and ability for good, and how we should conduct ourselves towards these means, and [how we should] use them."
Formula of Concord SD II. #48. Free Will. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 901. Tappert, p. 530. Heiser, p. 246.

J-167

"Now, all who wish to be saved ought to hear this preaching [of God's Word]. For the preaching and hearing of God's Word are instruments of the Holy Ghost, by, with, and through which He desires to work efficaciously, and to convert men to God, and to work in them both to will and to do. This Word man can externally hear and read, even though he is not yet converted to God and regenerate; for in these external things, as said above, man even since the Fall has to a certain extent a free will, so that he can go to church and hear or not hear the sermon."
Formula of Concord, SD, II, #52. Free Will. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House 1921, p. 901f. Tappert, p. 531. Heiser, p. 246.

J-168

"Now, although both, the planting and watering of the preacher, and the running and willing of the hearer, would be in vain, and no conversion would follow it if the power and efficacy of the Holy Ghost were not added thereto, who enlightens and converts the hearts through the Word preached and heard, so that men believe this Word and assent thereto, still, neither preacher nor hearer is to doubt this grace and efficacy of the Holy Ghost, but should be certain that when the Word of God is preached purely and truly, according to the command and will of God, and men listen attentively and earnestly and meditate upon it, God is certainly present with His grace, and grants, as has been said, what otherwise man can neither accept nor give from his own powers."
Formula of Concord SD II. #55-56. Free Will. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 903. Tappert, p. 531f. Heiser, p. 246.

J-169

"The other eating of the body of Christ is oral or sacramental, when the true, essential body and blood of Christ are also orally received and partaken of in the Holy Supper, by all who eat and drink the consecrated bread and wine in the Supper—by the believing as a certain pledge and assurance that their sins are surely forgiven them, and Christ dwells and is efficacious in them, but by the unbelieving for the judgment and condemnation, as the words of the institution by Christ expressly declare...."
Formula of Concord, SD, VII. #63. Holy Supper. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House 1921, p. 995. Tappert, p. 581. Heiser, p. 270.

J-170

"For the true and almighty words of Jesus Christ which He spake at the first institution were efficacious not only at the first Supper, but they endure, are valid, operate, and are still efficacious [their force, power, and efficacy endure and avail even to the present], so that in all places where the Supper is celebrated according to the institution of Christ, and His words are used, the body and blood of Christ are truly present, distributed, and received, because of the power and efficacy of the words which Christ spake at the first Supper. For where His institution is observed and His words are spoken over the bread and cup [wine], and the consecrated bread and cup [wine] are distributed, Christ Himself, through the spoken words, is still efficacious by virtue of the first institution, through His word, which He wishes to be there repeated."
Formula of Concord, SD VII, #75. Holy Supper. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 999. Tappert, p. 583. Heiser, p. 270f.

J-171

"Also, Tom. III, Jena, Fol. 446: 'Thus here also, even though I should pronounce over all the words: This is Christ's body, nothing, of course, would result therefrom; but when in the Supper we say, according to His institution and command: 'This is My body,' it is His body, not on account of our speaking or word uttered [because these words, when uttered, have this efficacy], but because of His command—that He has commanded us thus to speak and to do, and has united His command and act with our speaking."
Formula of Concord, SD VII, #78. Holy Supper. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 1001. Tappert, p. 583. Heiser, p. 271.

J-172

"Now, it is not our faith that makes the sacrament, but only the true word and institution of our almighty God and Savior Jesus Christ, which always is and remains efficacious in the Christian Church, and is not invalidated or rendered inefficacious by the worthiness or unworthiness of the minister, nor by the unbelief of the one who receives it."
Formula of Concord, SD VII, #89. Holy Supper. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 1003. Tappert, p. 585. Heiser, p. 272.

J-173

"1. That the human race is truly redeemed and reconciled with God through Christ, who, by His faultless [innocency] obedience, suffering, and death, has merited for us the righteousness which avails before God, and eternal life. 2. That such merit and benefits of Christ shall be presented, offered, and distributed to us through His Word and Sacraments. 3. That by His Holy Ghost, through the Word, when it is preached, heard, and pondered, He will be efficacious and active in us, convert hearts to true repentance, and preserve them in the true faith. 4. That He will justify all those who in true repentance receive Christ by a true faith, and will receive them into grace, the adoption of sons, and the inheritance of eternal life." ..."God in His purpose and counsel ordained [decreed]:
Formula of Concord, SD, XI. #15. Of God's Eternal Election. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 1069. 2 Corinthians 5:19ff. Tappert, p. 619. Heiser, p. 288.

J-174

"And this call of God, which is made through the preaching of the Word, we should not regard as jugglery, but know that thereby God reveals His will, that in those whom He thus calls He will work through the Word, that they may be enlightened, converted, and saved. For the Word, whereby we are called, is a ministration of the Spirit, that gives the Spirit, or whereby the Spirit is given, 2 Corinthians 3:8, and a power of God unto salvation, Romans 1:16. And since the Holy Ghost wishes to be efficacious through the Word, and to strengthen and give power and ability, it is God's will that we should receive the Word, believe and obey it."
Formula of Concord, SD XI. #29. Election. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 1073. 2 Corinthians 3:8; Romans 1:16. Tappert, p. 621. Heiser, p. 289.

J-175

"For few receive the Word and follow it; the greatest number despise the Word, and will not come to the wedding, Matthew 22:3ff. The cause for this contempt for the Word is not God's foreknowledge [or predestination], but the perverse will of man, which rejects or perverts the means and instrument of the Holy Ghost, which God offers him through the call, and resists the Holy Ghost, who wishes to be efficacious, and works through the Word, as Christ says, 'How often would I have gathered you together, and ye would not!' Matthew 23:37."
Formula of Concord, SD XI. #41. Election. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 1077. Matthew 22:3ff.; 23:37. Tappert, p. 623. Heiser, p. 290.

J-176

"Moreover, the declaration, John 6:44, that no one can come to Christ except the Father draw him, is right and true. However, the Father will not do this without means, but has ordained for this purpose His Word and Sacraments as ordinary means and instruments; and it is the will neither of the Father nor of the Son that a man should not hear or should despise the preaching of His Word, and wait for the drawing of the Father without the Word and Sacraments. For the Father draws indeed by the power of His Holy Ghost, however, according to His usual order [the order decreed and instituted by Himself], by the hearing of His holy, divine Word, as with a net, by which the elect are plucked from the jaws of the devil. Every poor sinner should therefore repair thereto [to holy preaching], hear it attentively, and not doubt the drawing of the Father. For the Holy Ghost will be with His Word in His power, and work by it...."
Formula of Concord, SD XI. #76-77. Election. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 1089. John 6:44. Tappert, p. 629. Heiser, p. 293.

Augustine - On Lutheran Seminary Professors

Leonard Sweet, Methodist Seminary Professor of Wikiletics, invitee for Church and Church (WELS), New Age guru.

"From this earthly city issue the enemies against whom the City of God must be defended. Some of them, it is true, abjure their worldly error and become worthy members in God's City. But many others, alas, break out in blazing hatred against it and are utterly ungrateful, notwithstanding its Redeemer's signal gifts. For, they would no longer have a voice to raise against it, had not its sanctuaries given them asylum as they fled before the invaders' swords, and made it possible for them to save the life of which they are so proud."
Augustine, The City of God, Garden City: Image Books, 1962, p. 40.

Name the Next Conference at Concordia, Ft. Wayne

Neuhaus: I didn't convert. I finally became the papist I always was. Old LCMS pastor: Bosh.

The upcoming confessional conference at Concordia Seminary, Ft. Wayne--ironically called The Fort--needs a name to market it to the right group of LCMS pastors.

Here are some suggestions, from the movie industry:

Going My Way

The Shoes of the Fisherman

Angels with Dirty Faces

Voyage to Italy

Quo Vadis? (Where Are You Going?)

The Bells of St. Mary

Mass Appeal

Justification by Faith

J-145

"But after man has been justified by faith, then a true living faith worketh by love, Galatians 5:6, so that thus good works always follow justifying faith, and are surely found with it, if it be true and living; for it never is alone, but always has with it love and hope."
Formula of Concord, Epitome, III, #11. Righteousness of Faith, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 795. Tappert, p. 474. Heiser, p. 220.


J-146

"If anyone says that justifying faith is nothing else than trust in divine mercy, which remits sins for Christ's sake, or that it is this trust alone by which we are justified, let him be anathema [damned to Hell]." [Session Six, Canon XII]
Martin Chemnitz, Examination of the Council of Trent, trans., Fred Kramer, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1971, I, p. 460.

J-147

"If anyone says that a man is absolved from sins and justified because of this that he confidently believes that he is absolved and justified, or that no one is truly justified except he who believes that he is justified, and that through this faith alone absolution and justification is effected, let him be anathema [damned to Hell]."
[Sixth Session, Canon XIV]
Martin Chemnitz, Examination of the Council of Trent, trans., Fred Kramer, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1971, I, p. 551.



J-148

“Therefore justification does not require the works of the Law; but it does require a living faith, which performs its works.”
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed. Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 721.

J-149

“He that hears the Word of Christ in all sincerity, and adheres to it in faith, will also soon be clothed with the spirit of love.”
Martin Luther, 8, 1572, cited in P. E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible, New Testament, 2 vols., St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, II, p. 251.

J-156

“Just as Paul says to the Colossians, 2:12, that faith is efficacious through the power of God, and overcomes death: Wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God. Since this faith is a new life, it necessarily produces new movements and works. [Because it is a new light and life in the heart, whereby we obtain another mind and spirit, it is living, productive, and rich in good works.”
Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article IV, #250, Justification. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 191. Tappert, p. 143. Heiser, p. 53.

Drought Ends, Grand Canyon Floods

Hoover Dam, one of the greatest of all engineering projects.

For the last ten years we have been experiencing the drought in Arizona, the water behind Hoover Dam dropping to alarming levels.

Rain has been so constant this year that reservoirs are all filling up and Lake Mead, created by Hoover, is recovering.

Grand Canyon flooded when an earthen dam broke. Scouts had to be airlifted out. They claimed to be prepared, but they stayed near water after torrential rains and repeated warnings from the park rangers.

Computer Virus Attack

I had an encounter with Spydawn or Defender or Antivirus2009. The malware goes by various names. The beginning is a pop-up that warns the computer needs virus protection. The idea is to make the user go to the website and buy the virus software, when in fact the virus itself is blocking access to the Internet.

I removed the program, edited the registry (first time) and saw the nasty bug return, worse than ever. Finally I went to a store and bought the latest Norton software and webroot. I don't think I needed Webroot Spy Sweeper, but it made me feel better at the time. Once installed, those two programs quashed the virus and the problems stopped. The malware icon is still in the icon tray - persistent little bug.