A Woman Twits - The World Listens

Heard ppl tell Ski tonight "Love that u don't hide the fact u r Lutheran when u preach." love that we are true to doctrine & still reach ppl
about 2 hours ago from Tweetie.

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GJ - That is why they call this mission The CORE, so everyone knows it is a Lutheran Church fronted by an Imax, a popcorn stand, gourmet coffee, and Wi-Fi.

The website URL does not hide the Lutheran identity at all:

gotocore.com

I hear the strains of "O Lord, Look Down From Heaven, Behold," every time I see the website address.

Since the Pricey Executive Assistant is communicating with Ichabod via Twitter, please answer these questions:

1. How can someone study under Babtist Andy Stanley, copy Craig Groeschel's sermons, and remain true to Lutheran doctrine?

2. The comments you record seem to come from area WELS members, so did Fox Valley need a 41st WELS outlet? Wouldn't it be cheaper to have a popcorn/latte service at St. Mark Depere and get a $1 million grant from Thrivent for innovation?

PS - Thanks for removing the duct tape Flash movie from the website. That kind of "evangelism" is so old that the two of you were on trikes when Rick Miller shopped it around in S. Lyons. And it was a foolish mockery of the Word then, too.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "A Woman Twits - The World Listens":

I think you really hit the nail on the head here. The CORE is designed to take WELS members who hate Christ-centered worship from surrounding congregations and plant them in a "relevant" church where Jesus is buried under popcorn kernerls.

It is obvious from Ski's website that he is targeting people who dislike their current church. I thought he was supposed to be targeting people who HAVE NO CHURCH!

Perhaps this explains what "Pastor Tim" of Ski's sugardaddy congregation, St. Peter, did after leading chapel at Fox Valley Lutheran High School. He actually invited the entire student body of Fox Valley Lutheran High School to the CORE for worship.

When something like that happens, are we really supposed to believe Ski isn't here just to sheep steal from WELS congregations? "Hey, kids, do you think worship with Christ at the center is boring? Well, we do to! So come on down to the CORE! What's that? You already attend a WELS church? Don't worry! You won't mistake us for one of those loser churches!"

That's how the CORE "reaches" people.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "A Woman Twits - The World Listens":

This statement really bothers me:
"love that we are true to doctrine & still reach ppl"

Would you expect anything less?
Are you implying that other WELS congregations are true to doctrine and DON'T reach people?

What do you really mean by that statement?

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GJ - The pricey executive assistant is trying to say the Popcorn Cathedral of Rock is both Lutheran and reaching people. They seem to be reaching active WELS members at the moment, but the facts should not interfere with a good plan.

Tim Glende learned from Floyd Luther Stolzenburg that evangelism means taking active members from other congregations and calling it growth.

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Anonymouse has left a new comment on your post "A Woman Twits - The World Listens":

I've got a question for all of you accusing these folks of not having Christ centered worship: How many of you have attended a worship service at The CORE? How many of you have heard Pastor Ski preach a sermon? Just curious.

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GJ - Apparently, very few have heard Ski preach in Appleton. I don't need to travel there, because I can click on Craig Groeschel's or Andy Stanley's sermons.

Ski could provide a typescript of each sermon. I do that. I broadcast and save the the file. I don't have a huge grant and a price executive assistant, so why I can do this part-time when he cannot do it full-time? The fault is with Ski, not with his groupies.

Truth or Consequences: Ron Roth versus Wayne Mueller.Wayne M. Just Spoke in A-Town

Ron Roth works with Jeff Davis in charging a percentage when they raise funds through their business, which they advertise as stewardship training.

"TELL has served the church faithfully for 15 years. Three editors have served; Ronald Roth (1977-84), Paul Kelm (1985-88), and the undersigned since 1989...The lead article in the first issue of TELL was titled 'Church Growth - Worthwhile for WELS.'...The author of this article in April 1988 issue of TELL concludes, 'It's obvious by now that I believe we in WELS can profit greatly from the writings of the church-growth leaders.' ... TELL as a separate publication ends with this issue. Nevertheless, the focus of The Evangelism Life Line will continue for years to come as an integral part of the new Board for Parish Services journal - PARISH LEADERSHIP. "
Rev. Robert Hartman TELL (WELS Evangelism) Summer, 1992.

"There is no Church Growth Movement Program in our synod. Our church body is opposed to the false theology of the Church Growth Movement. We have no programs inside or outside the budget with that name. Nor do we have any programs with a different name which utilize Church Growth theology." Wayne D. Mueller, Administrator for the BPS, WELS, "A Response to 'Saving Souls vs. New Programs,'" The Northwestern Lutheran, November 1, 1991, February 1, 1992 p. 50.

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GJ - Wayne, some day you need to sit down with Ron Roth, hold his hand, and tell him that someone is lying. Sort it out before you speak to another so-called Evangelism conference.

This is for all those who got their Brett Favre jerseys in a knot about publishing last year's agenda for the Anything Goes District Evangelism event: It is the same Church and Chicanery agenda each year. The faces may change a bit, but the doctrine is consistently Schwaermer. Ski spoke last year and this year, on the same topic. Next year will probably be: "Ski on alternative worship, based on his experiences at St. Markus, at the Popcorn Cathedral of Rock, and at CrossRoads in S. Lyons, Michigan."

"I'm Doug Englebrecht,
and everyone knows,
Anything goes!"

Update On So-Called Stewardship Training: Church and Change Board Member Jeff Davis

Church and Change board member Jeff Davis works with Ron Roth, one of the patriarchs of Church Growth in WELS.


The things I learn each day!

Jeff Davis' stewardship training consists of raising money for a percentage of the loot, about 3 to 4%! Holy Moley! (Bruce Church will call Holy Moley a typo and tell me I meant to say Holy Money. However, there is an ancient Greek herb used with pagan religious rights. Holey moley is kosher, in a manner of speaking.)

This is the Code of Ethics for Fund Raising Counsel. Note the part in red:

Code of EthicsFRCI adheres to the standards of practice and code of ethics, as outlined by the Giving Institute (formerly the American Association of Fund Raising Counsel--AAFRC).

Standards of Practice


•FRCI provides service to non-profit organizations that serve the public’s best interest.
•FRCI engages clients that represent the broadest interests of society such as: religious, educational, health care, human service, arts, cultural, humanitarian, environmental, international, and other organizations benefiting humankind.
•FRCI offers services which advance the goals of a client and which directly relate to philanthropy, such as studies, campaign management, annual development programs, planned giving, strategic planning, direct mail, telemarketing, management services, executive search, public relations, marketing and communications, software developers, organization development/management, prospect research, and training. FRCI and its principals participate in the philanthropic community.
Professional Code of Ethics


•FRCI believes it is in the best interest of our clients that:
•Initial meetings with prospective clients should not be construed as services for which payment is expected.
•No payments of special consideration should be made to an officer, director, trustee, employee, or advisor of a not-for-profit organization as compensation for influencing the selection of fundraising counsel.
•No payments of special consideration should be made to an officer, director, trustee, employee, or advisor of a not-for-profit organization as compensation for influencing the selection of fundraising counsel.
•Fees should be mutually agreed upon in advance of services.
•A flat, fixed fee is charged based on the level and extent of professional services provided. Fees are not based on the amount of charitable income raised or expected to be raised.
•Contracts providing for a contingent fee, a commission, or a fee based on percentage of funds raised are prohibited. Such contracts are harmful to the relationship between the donor and the institution and detrimental to the financial health of the client organization.
•Fundraising expenditures are within the authority and control of the not-for-profit organization.
•FRCI feels it is in the best interest of clients that solicitation of gifts is undertaken by Board members, staff and other volunteers.
•Subsequent to analysis or study, FRCI should engage a client only when the best interest of the client is served.
•FRCI should not profit directly or indirectly from materials provided by others, but billed to the FRCI, without disclosure to the client.
•FRCI does not engage in methods that are misleading to the public or harmful to their clients; do not make exaggerated claims of past achievement; and do not guarantee results of promise to helps clients achieve goals.
•Any potential conflict of interest should be disclosed by the firm to clients and prospective clients.
•FRCI will not acquire or maintain custody of funds and/or gifts directed to client organization.

The Giving Institute says specifically:

Fees: What specific professional fees will be billed? What is the billing schedule? What additional expenses will be reimbursed by the client, up to what amount? Fees should always be based upon services rendered. Never allow fees to be based upon the goal of the campaign. Contingency fundraising is prohibited by premier firms and eschewed by ethical consultants.

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GJ - I imagine that people think someone from the synod is coming to help them figure out their future and accomplish their goals. Jeff Davis is on the synod boards and writes about his various activities except on his Church and Change bio. The two organizations above say, "Check references," but the most basic information about Jeff is missing from Church and Change. Why?

The pastor, circuit pastor, and district president have a fiduciary duty relationship with the congregation, which is the strictest standard of the law. There can be no conflict of interest in the handling of money.

The pastor, circuit pastor, and district president are engaging in a misdirection of the eyes. They are promoting or supporting a pan-Lutheran percentage-based business and making it look like stewardship training.

Jews have traditionally raised money based on percentages. Our Jewish friend offered to raise money for our church or any Lutheran group I knew. I said, "Randy, we do that ourselves." Jewish literature shows that the fund-raiser often pockets more than his agreed-upon percentage. See the works of Isaac B. Singer, Nobel Prize for Literature, for examples.

In the LCA, their in-house group, Lutheran Laymen's League, had a group of fund-raisers who all charged a weekly fee plus expenses. Larger churches required more time, but the fund-raiser never had dollar signs in his eyes when he helped develop pledges from millionaires. I worked in several of the campaigns in a very large church. I developed a strong dislike for the whole idea of pledging.

I also knew people from the Giving USA group. They really looked down on percentage payment. The conflict of interest problem was obvious.

When Pentecostal churches raise money, they invite stewardship gurus to manipulate their congregations. The gurus sign pledges themselves. Why not? They are working for a percentage. When the cards are gathered and counted, one of them will say to the other, "Bob I am not happy with my pledge." The other Bob says, "I am not happy either. Will the usher look up my card so I can tear it up." The Bobs tear up their pledge cards with great drama. Then they turn to the emotional audience, "Do you want yours back too?" The poor members are whipped into tearing up their pledges and writing bigger ones.

I know a Prosperity Gospel couple who discovered a $70,000 IRA they knew nothing about. They gave their minister a check for $10,000 after cashing the IRA (paying a penalty and the taxes). I begged them not to do it, but they forged ahead and later ran into huge cash-flow problems.

Do you remember the WELS stewardship video a few years ago? A man said, "God won't help me if I don't help Him." Ron Roth was running stewardship then.

If a congregation is tempted to give a percentage of the campaign to a professional fund-raiser, I suggest they contact a fee-based business and compare the cost for a set fee plus expenses.

We are entering a second Great Depression. More bad news is coming. This is a time for congregations to "Make do or do without."

Northwestern College in WatertownNeeded a Dean Like This

"Zero point two... Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son."

Ski Responds, By Whining

Ski and his beloved Rosebud (also seen in his Twitter photo).

Greg "Rampage" Jackson defeats the Dean of Mean. You go Greg!
about 8 hours ago from twitterrific


@ggergg only the greatest dip ever! glad you guys came over tonight
about 9 hours ago from Tweetie in reply to ggergg [Apparent reference to Buffalo Dip]

It's good that Ski and his pricey executive assistant have learned to use technology to make their parties more effective.

When WELS churches are cut off from mission support from a lack of funds, will they look at the Popcorn Cathedral of Rock as the Parable of the Sower and the Seed?

No, they will think of the Parable of the Prodigal Son, without the godly contrition and return to the gracious Father.

Or they will consider Jesus' reference to the tower and not counting the cost before starting.

KJV Luke 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

One of Ski's followers said he would too big for the bankrupt Imax he is now leasing with Other People's Money. Ski will outgrow the Popcorn Cathedral of Rock.

Yes, he will be bigger than:

1. Kuske's Pilgrim Community Church.
   
2. Coral Springs, Florida (now a Roman Catholic parish).
   
3. CrossRoads Community Church (now an Evangelical Covenant parish).

"Dream big!" as his mentor John Parlow* likes to say.

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*Partner on the Drive 08 Road Trip to venerate and learn from Babtist Andy Stanley. Be sure to check the link and examine all the photos. Many photos will not copy, and they are very revealing.

O Mega Little Flock: Fear Not the Foe

KJV Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?


"0 Little Flock, Fear Not the Foe"

by Johann M. Altenburg, 1584-1640

Translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878

1. O little flock, fear not the Foe
Who madly seeks your overthrow;
Dread not his rage and power.
What though your courage sometimes faints,
His seeming triumph o'er God's saints
Lasts but a little hour.

2. Be of good cheer; your cause belongs
To Him who can avenge your wrongs;
Leave it to Him, our Lord.
Though hidden yet from mortal eyes,
His Gideon shall for you arise,
Uphold you and His Word.

3. As true as God's own Word is true.
Not earth nor hell with all their crew
Against us shall prevail.
A jest and byword are they grown;
God is with us, we are His own;
Our victory cannot fail.

4. Amen, Lord Jesus, grant our prayer;
Great Captain, now Thine arm make bare,
Fight for us once again!
So shall Thy saints and martyrs raise
A mighty chorus to Thy praise,
World without end. Amen.

Hymn #263 The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Luke 12:32
Author: Johann M. Altenburg, 1632, asc., ab.
Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1855, alt.
Titled: "Verzage nicht, du Haeuflein klein"
Tune: "Kommt her zu mir"
Melody: German, c. 1400