ICHABOD, THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED - explores the Age of Apostasy, predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, to attack Objective Faithless Justification, Church Growth Clowns, and their ringmasters. The antidote to these poisons is trusting the efficacious Word in the Means of Grace. John 16:8. Isaiah 55:8ff. Romans 10. Most readers are WELS, LCMS, ELS, or ELCA. This blog also covers the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Left-wing, National Council of Churches denominations.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Double-Cross:
If You Were Cross about CrossRoads, You Will Be Cross about CrossWalk
CrossRoads in S. Lyons, Michigan, is a continuing testimony to the church planting genius of DP Robert Mueller and VP Paul Kuske.
The guiding lights of the Michigan District gave their blessing for WELS Pastor Rick Miller to start a congregation where its Lutheran identity was completely hidden. In fact, when I phoned Pastor Rick, he would not even identify his denominational background. "If I told you, you would run away." He never answered my question.
Mark Freier also worked CrossRoads, along with Kelly Voigt, both Church Growth studs according to The Love Shack. I don't know where Kelly went, but Mark was bragging about performing atheist and Hindu weddings (for cash) on his website, when he was not busy coaching people to be all they could be.
Pastor Joe at CrossRoads still appreciates the help he got from WELS: "As Crossroads Community Church moves into its sixteenth year of existence, we look back at the people who have led us, the founding families and the Pastors Rick Miller, Kelly Voigt and Mark Freier, and say thanks for getting us here."
The Mueller-Kuske experiment in S. Lyons--unlike Pilgrim Community in Columbus--did very well, as an Evangelical Covenant congregation! Pilgrim was euthanized, in spite of the best efforts of Floyd Stolzenburg, Roger Zehms, Paul Kuske, and all the data dumps from Fuller Seminary.
CrossRoads moved on, as they say. Now its confession of faith is eerily similar to CrossWalk in Phoenix. They do not agree verbatim throughout, but enough to see that Gunn built his page from the words of an Evangelical Covenant congregation.
Craig Groeschel (Ski's favorite) has the foundational confession of faith websty page, copied by many WELS congregations. My analysis is here.
CrossRoads belongs to the Evangelical Covenant sect now, and since 1992 has been affiliated with the Willow Creek Association. John Parlow, a frequent flyer to Andy Stanley's Drive conferences, is also a Willow Creek member. CrossRoads is in fellowship with St. Mark, Depere. DP Englebrecht, who loves The CORE, does nothing about this.
Has the light blinked on yet? Within WELS is a powerful and secretive group whose loyalties are Babtist, Evangelical Covenant, and anti-Lutheran. This Church and Change group was officially spawned at Wisconsin Lutheran College with WELS offering money. They control The Love Shack, The Sausage Factory, and Mary Lou College.
Wisconsin Lutheran College hired their new president from CrossWalk in Phoenix. Next they send an emissary to check out CrossWalk, just as Gunn runs out of money. The new president lived there, so why was a trip necessary?
I get it - a big show. Oh my, Gunn is just the person for WLC's non-Lutheran worship services. The Kudzu vine of Church Growth continues to strangle WELS.
---
"Since several brothers have asked about the status of Rick Miller, I provide the following information. Rick has asked for a release from his call at Huron Valley Lutheran High School in order to serve a group of people as their pastor and to help organize them as an independent Christian congregation. The group is composed of some former members of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Plymouth, of some former members of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Livonia, and
some people who have left LC-MS churches. The group has stated that it has a different philosophy and style of ministry, which includes drama, contemporary music and a thematic form of worship and liturgy, which allows for greater personal participation by its female members. The group has also stated that it would like to retain fellowship relations with our Wisconsin Synod."
District President Robert Mueller,
President's Report to the Conferences,
Fall, 1991
Note: the congregation has women lectors
p. 2f.
"As an independent group it does not plan to use the name 'Lutheran' in its title. It will be known as The Crossroads Christian Church...For the present, Rick Miller is still a pastoral member of the WELS...At that time [January 31, 1992, submission of a constitution] the fellowship question will be determined on the basis of the group's doctrinal statements and practices."
District President Robert Mueller,
President's Report to the Conferences, p. 3.
Fall, 1991 [GJ - Soon after forming, they joined the Willow Creek Association.]
"Would you be interested in a church that offers...Practical and Relevant Messages? Contemporary Music and Drama? Friendly People Who Are Interested in You? A non-threatening Environment Where You Can Investigate a Relationship with God? Maybe Crossroads Is For You!...Targeted for September, '92, Sunday morning 'seeker' service designed to introduce Christianity in the most practical relevant way possible!"
Crossroads Community Church,
Pastor Rick Miller (WELS)
***
GJ - CrossRoads, CrossWalk, CORE, Latte, Victory - they all sound the same, and they all sound like Groeschel, Stanley, Sweet, Driscoll, Beeson, and Stetzer.
This Gunn For Hire:
Mene, Mene, Tekel, Awesome
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Top Gunn Shrinking":
Rumor also has it that WLC's campus pastor (Pastor Strobel) recently took a trip down to Crosswalk to find out what it was about. As apprehensive as he *claimed* he was before the visit, he sure did come away with a positive impression. He even described the experience as "Awesome".
I wonder if Strobel's trip down there was more than just a visit. Could have been a recruiting mission? Strobel has started a 'nontraditional' service at WLC on weeknights. Maybe they want to go into that new service with Gunns drawn.
A hopeful part of that rumor is that several of the theology faculty at WLC are strongly against the Babtist direction that *certain* individual's are following.
***
GJ - Didn't the new WLC prez come from CrossWalk? Leviticus is clear about the dangers of inbreeding.
---
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "This Gunn For Hire:Mene, Mene, Tekel, Awesome":
The new WLC Prez DID come from Crosswalk.
---
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "This Gunn For Hire:Mene, Mene, Tekel, Awesome":
I see your crack research department is right on it again as usual. Johnson was principal at Arizona Lutheran Academy and was a member at Grace Glendale (WELS of course.
(sic - The crack teamleader of the Chicanery minders has not learned to use a second parenthesis.)
***
GJ - Johnson probably had to be a member of Grace in Glendale because CrossWalk has never been a member of the Wisconsin Synod. I imagine that ALA required its principal to be a member of the WELS.
The post above asked whether Johnson was from CrossWalk, and that was confirmed. The language used suggests friendship with, affiliation with, cuddling with, but not necessarily membership in. We know Church and Chicaneries always tell the truth and never ShamWow their mistakes, don't we?
A typical Chicanery tactic is to argue a minor, irrelevant point to obscure the main issue. The WELS laity are is no longer falling for the scams.
---
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Troubling Signs at The CORE":
CORE provides an excellent case study in everything that is wrong with WELS. Unfortunately WELS finds it almost impossible to learn from their mistakes because in their minds they don't make any.
***
GJ -
WLC Faculty Profiles are here. Mark Braun, on the theology faculty, wrote in FIC The Northwestern Lutheran about "Effective Church Growth Principles," turning the Parable of the Sower into a Fuller catechism - "We hamper the kingdom if we sow carelessly...." No retraction has been recorded. An unrepentant Mark Braun gave a sermon at the 2007 Church and Chicanery political convention.
If you haven't already read it, Mark Braun's article in the most recent issue of CHARIS (how's this for a flagrant act of self promotion?) talks about this tension. His quote from Koehler's "Gezetslich..." is especially to the point. I've attached the link to the online version of the article. (Source - Church and Chicanery listserve)
http://www.charis.wlc.edu/publications/charis_fall03/braun.pdf
Dr. John E. Bauer
Executive Director, CHARIS
Wisconsin Lutheran College
The First Sunday after Trinity
The First Sunday after Trinity
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship
Bethany Lutheran Worship, 8 AM Phoenix Time
The Hymn #656 Behold a Host 2.39
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual 1 John 4:16-21
The Gospel Luke 16:19-31
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #429 Lord Thee I love 2.54
The Word of God Is Sufficient
The Hymn #313 O Lord we praise Thee 2.36
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #660 Heaven is my home 2.46
"Moreover, neither contrition nor love or any other virtue, but faith alone is the sole means and instrument by which and through which we can receive and accept the grace of God, the merit of Christ, and the forgiveness of sins, which are offered to us in the promise of the Gospel." Formula of Concord, Thorough Declaration, III 31 Righteousness Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 925.
KJV 1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
KJV Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
First Sunday After Trinity
Lord God, heavenly Father, we beseech Thee so to rule and govern our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not, like the rich man, hear Thy word in vain, and become so devoted to things temporal as to forget things eternal; but that we readily and according to our ability minister to such as are in need, and not defile ourselves with surfeiting and pride; in trial and misfortune keep us from despair, and grant us to put our trust wholly in Thy fatherly help and grace, so that in faith and Christian patience we may overcome all things, through Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
The Word of God Is Sufficient
This parable, unique to Luke, gives us a portrait of the Afterlife and a clear, compelling lesson on the efficacy of the Word alone.
Jesus contrasted two people in this parable. One is Lazarus poor, miserable, and neglected by the rich man who is well fed, richly dressed, and living in wealth. Lazarus only wanted the scraps from the rich man’s table. His impoverished condition is shown by the dogs licking his sores.
Both men died, as all must. Lazarus was carried to heaven by angels, where he rested in the bosom of Abraham. The Bible portrays Abraham as the father of faith. He believed in the promised Savior; therefore, he was declared righteous. So we can see that, as miserable as Lazarus was in his own life, he believed in Christ, was justified, and inherited eternal life.
On the opposite side, the rich man died, was buried, and went to Hell, where he was tormented night and day. All those who deny Hell should be advised that they are arguing against Christ, not against human opinion. All the wise men in the world can agree that Hell does not exist, but the Word of God is not subordinated to their opinions.
Everyone knows how Christianity is mocked in the media. But when a Hindu family in America got a new house, the producers had a Hindu priest offer a prayer. They also declared during the show that faith in Hinduism would keep the family together. I wondered if the family worshiped Kali (one of 300 million Hindu gods) or thought widows should be burned alive on their husbands’ funeral pyres. Thugs got their name from those followers of Kali who strangled unwary travelers in India. Suttee is the name for having widows burned alive. Both were banished by the British.
The Biblical picture is clear – there are believers and unbelievers. All unbelievers go to Hell because they are not justified by faith in Christ. All believers inherit eternal life because they are justified by faith.
The Bible makes no other distinction. Sincere believers exist in all denominations and in unusual situations (Jews who believe in Christ but keep it from family and friends). Membership in a denomination or a church does not equal justification by faith.
God alone can make that judgment.
Even within an orthodox group of Christians, unbelievers can exist. It may be easier, knowing the right answers but not believing them. People can begin life as believers and fall away. Some people are converted, announce it to the world, and fall back into their old ways. That is why the Bible said – don’t be in a hurry to lay hands on someone for pastoral work.
Someone asked me about my friends who are Roman Catholic, Jews, Lutherans of various persuasions, and members of other denominations. I would be happy to have only those friends who believe exactly as I do, but there aren’t enough of them to go around. Actually, it is a great pleasure to hear from people all over the world, fellow believers who want to study the doctrinal issues.
This is an important statement from Luther:
"In matters concerning faith we must be invincible, unbending, and very stubborn; indeed, if possible, harder than adamant. But in matters concerning love we should be softer and more pliant than any reed and leaf and should gladly accommodate ourselves to everything." What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 412f. Galatians 2:8.
We are not allowed by the Word of God to give in or compromise about a single sub-topic in Christian doctrine. However, we should not let that affect our relationships with other people – often friends, family, parents, children and spouses. Those relationships give us the best opportunity. One is their opportunity to hear. The other is our opportunity to keep our knowledge of the Word sharp.
Shunning is the mark of non-Lutherans, although it is engrained in the smaller synods as some kind of mark of orthodoxy. It an important part of the Mennonite sect. If someone is not being a true old-fashioned Mennonite, he is avoided, given the silent treatment, and denied any business dealings with the sect. Mormons do the same thing.
“Mark and avoid” is correctly applied to false teachers, but it is wrongly used to punish people who do not follow the corporate synodical mindset today. Questioning Pope John the Malefactor in the Little Sect on the Prairie is enough to get a pastor kicked out. Yet no one on their doctrinal board mentions this a Romanism rather than Lutheran practice. Of course, anyone who even cleared his throat on the subject would find himself on the wrong end of the Left Foot of Fellowship. But that is good, because God’s Word has that affect and separates the evil from the good.
The trouble is that few want to trust the Word of God to accomplish His will. They dream that God only wills that we live in big houses, have tax-free car allowances, and enjoy surplus income. Lazarus is a plain, clear example of that not being true. There are many unfortunate people in the world, and we have opportunities to serve them, seeing Christ in our neighbor. Secondly, if we suffer privation for witnessing to the Word, that is our cross to bear. Nothing is clearer in Christ’s message – You must take up the cross daily to be My disciples.
Because people will not accept the cross offered in the world, they find themselves mired in false doctrine and explaining it away. After hearing claims about how Biblical a certain synod was, and so very strict about fellowship, I asked about the most blatant examples of false doctrine and sitting at the feet of false teachers.
The responses were alarming:
“He is my friend.”
“He is a nice guy – he isn’t a false teacher.” [The most successful false teachers are nice guys. In fact, they are downright charismatic.]
“I graduated in the same class as he did!”
“I drank a lot of beer with him.” [Proof that alcohol impairs judgment]
Friendship does not preclude the need to admonish false teachers. Friendship should motivate someone to do the very thing excused under the banner of friendship. As I have mentioned before, I can list false teachers (CGM) among the Lutherans who are now active, mouthy atheists.
The Rich Man
The portrait of the rich man in Hell teaches us many different lessons about the Afterlife. I am reminded of Luther’s statement that we can have trouble for a short time and eternal happiness, or happiness for a short time and eternal torment.
The rich man could see Lazarus enjoying the peace of eternal life, where there is no pain or sorrow, no tears.
KJV Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. 13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
The rich man, who never gave Lazarus a crumb, said, “Let him come to me a dip his finger in water and soothe my thirst. I am tormented in this fire.” Here we can see the great harmony of the Word.
KJV Luke 16:9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
Those we help in this life will speak for us in the Afterlife. Works follow faith as the fruit of faith. If we never help anyone, that speaks volumes about our faith in Christ.
The rich man had a lifetime of surplus, but he gave nothing to poor Lazarus. Now he longed for a drop of water.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
So no one from Hell is going to leave, and no one from Heaven is going to visit. The boundaries are fixed forever. There is no do-over after an abundance of mercy has been shown and God’s grace offered freely for a lifetime.
The rich man’s requests are important for understand salvation and the Word.
The first is to have Lazarus, scorned through his life, to speak to the rich man’s brothers, who were probably enjoying the estate:
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
Moses and the prophets are sufficient to teach anyone about salvation. The Old Testament is full of Gospel promises. That is why many Jewish people believe in Christ.
The Reformed motivate people with the Law, saying such things as “How many people are you taking to heaven with you?” Just the opposite is stated here by Christ – “They have the Word of God. They can listen to the Word, instead of an ambassador from heaven.”
The rich man persisted. He must have made his money in sales:
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Here is the clearest possible teaching about the effectiveness of the Word. Everyone would agree that seeing someone rise from the dead, as the rich man proposed, would be very special.
There may even be ironic humor here, since only one man is named here – Lazarus, in a parable. One man named Lazarus did rise from the dead – in John’s Gospel, but that did not convert the religious opponents. Instead they plotted to kill Lazarus with Jesus, to liquidate the proof that Jesus fulfilled all the Messianic promises.
KJV John 12:9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
The miracle-mongers of today put on a great show, and say they inspire faith. But they really destroy faith. They pretend to take away the cross of illness, pain, and suffering. Those who are cruelly persuaded then become bitter that God will not give them permanent relief from their problems. All they need to do is offer the Word of God, and the miracles will follow. God certain provides daily miracles, as those of faith discern with their own eyes.
One of the greatest miracles of all takes place when the Word consecrates the elements, and Christ is present in both natures, human and divine, for Holy Communion. And yet this great miracle is denied and denounced by so many.
Not long ago we counted up the floods we have experienced first hand: the Mississippi in 1965, the Midland flood in 1987, the St. Louis flood in 1992-3, and the New Ulm flood in 1998. In normal weather, a bridge is taken for granted. During floods, bridges are often closed due to the dangers of crossing on one. Suddenly, a bridge is very important for a number of reasons. If all the bridges are out, all activities are curtailed.
God has given us a bridge to Christ – the Means of Grace – the Word and Sacrament. How do we know about forgiveness and have confidence in eternal life – we know that bridge has been provided. Not just one bridge but multiple bridges. Some declare – That is absurd – God does not need a bridge, let alone multiple bridges.
God does not need one, but man does, so God has firmly promised us multiple Means for obtaining His grace.
Quotations
"But the fact is, all Christian doctrines and works, all Christian living, is briefly, clearly and completely comprehended in these two principles, faith and love. They place man as a medium between God and his neighbor, to receive from above and distribute below."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VI, p. 145.
"For if I love God I love also His will. Now, when God sends us sickness, poverty, shame and disgrace, that is His will. But what do we do under such circumstances? We thunder, scold and growl, and bear it with great impatience...But God does not want this. He wants us to accept His will with joy and love, and this we are too tardy in doing."
Sermons of Martin Luther, V, p. 26.
"The Word and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are materials with which He builds. Though the dwelling is not altogether completed, yet through His grace and love it is accepted of God."
Sermons of Martin Luther, III, p. 322.
"To this end Christ is presented to us as an inexhaustible fountain, Who at all times overflows with pure goodness and grace. And for such goodness and kindness He accepts nothing, except that the good people, who acknowledge such kindness and grace, thank Him for it, praise and love Him, although others despise Him for it."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, V, p. 329.
"See, this is what James means when he says, 2:26: 'Faith apart from works is dead.' For as the body without the soul is dead, so is faith without works. Not that faith is in man and does not work, which is impossible. For faith is a living, active thing. But in order that men may not deceive themselves and think they have faith when they have not, they are to examine their works, whether they also love their neighbors and do good to them."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, V, p. 71.
"Thirdly, Christ shows love is still greater, in that He exercises it where it is lost and receives ingratitude from the majority; ten lepers were cleansed and only one thanks Him, on the nine His love is lost. If He would have made use of justice here instead of love, as men are accustomed to do and nature teaches, He would have made them all lepers again."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, V, p. 75
"This is a true definition of marriage: Marriage is the God-appointed and legitimate union of man and woman in the hope of having children or at least for the purpose of avoiding fornication and sin and living to the glory of God. The ultimate purpose is to obey God, to find aid and counsel against sin; to call upon God; to seek, love, and educate children for the glory of God; to live with one's wife in the fear of God and to bear the cross; but if there are no children, nevertheless to live with one's wife in contentment; and to avoid all lewdness with others."
Martin Luther, What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols. ed. Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 884. Genesis 24:1-4
"Love toward their mother is not so great in children as the love of their mother toward them, as the proverb has it: Amor descendit, non ascendit, Love is a plant that grows downward rather than upward."
Martin Luther, What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 138.
"The first destroyers of their own children are those who neglect them and knowingly permit them to grow up without the training and admonition of the Lord. Even if they do not harm them by a bad example, they still destroy them by yielding to them. They love them too much according to the flesh and pamper them, saying: They are children, they do not understand what they are doing. And they are speaking the truth. But neither does a dog or a horse understand what it is doing. However, see how they learn to go, to come, to obey, to do and leave undone what they do not understand...These parents will, therefore, bear the sins of their children because they make these sins their own."
Martin Luther, What Luther Says, I, p. 139.
"Therefore, do not speak to me of love or friendship when anything is to be detracted from the Word or the faith; for we are told that not love but the Word brings eternal life, God's grace, and all heavenly treasures."
Martin Luther, What Luther Says, III, p. 1411f.
"You must always have the Word of God in your heart, on your lips, and in your ears. Where the heart is idle and the Word does not ring out, the devil breaks in and has done damage before we are aware of it. On the other hand, such is the power of the Word if it is seriously contemplated, heard, and used that it is never without fruit. It always awakens new understanding, pleasure, and devotion and purifies the heart and thoughts. For these are not inert or dead but active and living words. Martin Luther, What Luther Says, III, p. 1467.
"Consequently, I say to my worst enemies: Where it is only my own person that is involved, there I am very willing to help you and to do everything good for you in spite of the fact that you are my enemy and that all you ever do for me is to harm me. But where it is the Word of God that is involved, there you must not expect any friendship or love that I may have for you to persuade me to do something against that, even if you were my nearest and dearest friend. But since you cannot endure the Word, I will speak this prayer over you: May God dash you to the ground! I shall willingly serve you, but not in order to help you overthrow the Word of God. For this purpose you will never be able to persuade me even to give you a drink of water."
Martin Luther, What Luther Says, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1480.
"The apostle does not mean to say that children are not to be rebuked or beaten, but that they are to be chastized in love; but parents are not to vent their furious temper on them, unconcerned about the way to correct the error of their children. For when the spirit has been cowed, one is of no use for anything and despairs of everything, is timid is doing and undertaking everything. And, what is worse, this timidity, implanted during the tender years, can almost never thereafter be eradicated. For since they have learned to be frightened at every word of their parents, they are subsequently afraid of even a rustling leaf or a tree."
Martin Luther, What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 412.
"In matters concerning faith we must be invincible, unbending, and very stubborn; indeed, if possible, harder than adamant. But in matters concerning love we should be softer and more pliant than any reed and leaf and should gladly accommodate ourselves to everything."
Martin Luther, What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 412f. Galatians 2:8.
"Doctrine is our only light. It alone enlightens and directs us and shows us the way to heaven. If it is shaken in one quarter (in une parte), it will necessarily be shaken in its entirety (in totum). Where that happens, love cannot help us at all."
Martin Luther, What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 414. Galatians 5:10.
"But this tender mercy is to be exercised only toward Christians and among Christians, for toward those who reject and persecute the Gospel we must act differently; here I am not permitted to let my love be merciful so as to tolerate and endure false doctrine. When faith and doctrine are concerned and endangered, neither love nor patience are in order. Then it is my duty to contend in earnest and not to yield a hairbreadth."
Martin Luther, What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 637f.
"But Christ was given for this purpose, namely, that for His sake there might be bestowed on us the remission of sins, and the Holy Ghost to bring forth in us new and eternal life, and eternal righteousness [to manifest Christ in our hearts, as it is written John 16:15: 'He shall take of the things of Mine, and show them unto you.' Likewise, He works also other gifts, love, thanksgiving, charity, patience, etc.]. Wherefore the Law cannot be truly kept unless the Holy Ghost is given." Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article IV, Justification, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 159. Tappert, p. 125. Romans 3:31; John 16:15.
"Moreover, neither contrition nor love or any other virtue, but faith alone is the sole means and instrument by which and through which we can receive and accept the grace of God, the merit of Christ, and the forgiveness of sins, which are offered to us in the promise of the Gospel." Formula of Concord, Thorough Declaration, III 31 Righteousness Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 925.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Book of Concord Lessons
The Book of Concord lessons are now posted on this link, which is duplicated on the left side - video list.
Quotations, The First Sunday after Trinity
The First Sunday after Trinity
"But Christ was given for this purpose, namely, that for His sake there might be bestowed on us the remission of sins, and the Holy Ghost to bring forth in us new and eternal life, and eternal righteousness [to manifest Christ in our hearts, as it is written John 16:15: He shall take of the things of Mine, and show them unto you. Likewise, He works also other gifts, love, thanksgiving, charity, patience, etc.]. Wherefore the Law cannot be truly kept unless the Holy Ghost is received through faith...Then we learn to know how flesh, in security and indifference, does not fear God, and is not fully certain that we are regarded by God, but imagines that men are born and die by chance. Then we experience that we do not believe that God forgives and hears us. But when, on hearing the Gospel and the remission of sins, we are consoled by faith, we receive the Holy Ghost, so that now we are able to think aright.
Augsburg Confession, Article III, #11, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 159.
"Therefore, do not speak to me of love or friendship when anything is to be detracted from the Word or the faith; for we are told that not love but the Word brings eternal life, God's grace, and all heavenly treasures."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1411f. Ephesians 6:10‑17.
"In matters concerning faith we must be invincible, unbending, and very stubborn; indeed, if possible, harder than adamant. But in matters concerning love we should be softer and more pliant than any reed and leaf and should gladly accommodate ourselves to everything."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 412f. Galatians 2:8.
"Doctrine is our only light. It alone enlightens and directs us and shows us the way to heaven. If it is shaken in one quarter (in une parte), it will necessarily be shaken in its entirety (in totum). Where that happens, love cannot help us at all."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 414. Galatians 5:10.
"The Christian doctrine of Purgatory was not finally worked out until the sixteenth century by the Council of Trent. Rejected by Protestants, it was an exclusively Catholic doctrine. After Trent, Bellarmine and Suarez, who were responsible for Purgatory, put forth several Biblical references in support of the newly approved doctrine." [references: 2 Macc. 12:41-46; Mt. 12:31-32; Lk. 16:19-26; 1 Cor. 3:11-15; the Corinthians passage played a crucial role in the development of Purgatory, p. 43]
Jacques Le Goff, The Birth of Purgatory, trans. Arthur Goldhammar, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1984, p. 41f.
"All believers are like poor Lazarus; and every believer is a true Lazarus , for he is of the same faith, mind and will, as Lazarus. And whoever will not be a Lazarus, will surely have his portion with the rich glutton in the flames of hell. For we all must like Lazarus trust in God, surrender ourselves to Him to work in us according to His own good pleasure, and be ready to serve all men."
Sermons of Martin Luther, IV, p. 24.
Troubling Signs at The CORE
No Comment - The Church Growth Movement in Russia
Here is the link
Support the project
The Ukrainian Bible Translation Project is wholly funded by donations from individuals and church congregations. Please help us bring God’s Word to Ukraine! Your donations are used to cover the cost of books and materials used during the translation process, and for basic living expenses for members of the translation team, some of whom do not have any other source of income.
Please contact us if you have questions about donating. Please let us know if you would like to be included on our list of donors.
Give online
One of the easiest ways to donate is using your credit card through PayPal. No PayPal account is required to donate, and any amount is greatly appreciated.
Give by mail
Send your donations to:
Roger Kovaciny
c/o Grace Bartel
4718 Regent St 94-A
Madison, WI 53705
Tax deductible donations
Donations via PayPal or to the above address are not tax-deductible at this time. To make a tax-deductible gift, please mail your check to:
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
1500 S Third Street
Columbus, OH 43207
Please enclose a note telling what it’s for, and also please notify us about the donation.
Donor List
This is a partial list of recent donors to the Ukrainian Bible Translation Project. A gift of any size makes a real difference in the lives of the members of translation team.
Anonymous
Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Columbus, Ohio
Pastor Floyd Stolzenburg, Columbus, Ohio
Dr. Floyd Stolzenburg, Columbus, Ohio
Mr. Jim Hildebrand of Columbus, Ohio
St. John’s Lutheran Church, Kendall Wisconsin (Pastor Fred Fedke)
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Ontario Wisconsin (Pastor Fedke)
Pastor Paul Heiderich, Tomah, Wisconsin
---
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "No Comment - The Church Growth Movement in Russia":
Another Ukrainian Bible Translation Project is not needed. What is going on here?
---
"The church has not wavered from its theology: The Bible is the inerrant word of God, and everything in it is to be taken literally. Stolzenburg's theology is uncompromising. 'What is written in the Bible stands.'" [Exception - The Sixth Commandment]
Sylvia Brooks, South Side Lutheran Church Goes Its Own Way, Columbus Dispatch, August, 9, 1998 p. 2C.
"I would also convey to you that I will continue to commune lodge members as long as I feel assured that they know and believe that their salvation is by faith."
"Please feel free to contact Pastors Kuske or Schumann or come and hear for yourself."
Floyd Luther Stolzenburg Letter to Emmanuel, 9-20-91, Lutheran Parish Resources letterhead "Serving the congregations of the Wisconsin Ev. Lutheran Synod"
"In the midst of all the positive, exciting things Pastor Kovaciny had to say about the mission work being done in the Ukraine, he constantly mentioned the most pressing problem, a lack of space...As he spoke to us about the many needs, he mentioned the possibility of building achurch of the approximate square footage of our sanctuary (though not nearly as elaborate) for $50,000...Pastor Kovaciny, obviously excited about the possibility, has agreed that the new church would be named Emmanuel Lutheran and would have a picture of the 'mother church' prominently displayed in the new building."
Floyd Luther Stolzenburg, "From the Mission Committee, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Kremnetz, Ukraine, Emmanuel Lutheran Church #899, August, 1999 1500 South Third Street, Columbus, Ohio 43207-1000
"EMMANUEL SAVES BIBLE SCHOOL! A SPECIAL MESSAGE was just received from Pastor Kovaciny to let us know that Emmanuel's Mission offerings have rescued their Bible School this summer!...[Pastor Kovaciny] writes to tell us about it. 'As we looked forward to an even more successful program this coming summer, we were told by our sponsoring organization that our Bible School budget had been cut by $8,000. It seems that some people in charge believe that we have been too successful and they need to put their funds toward programs in other areas which are lagging behind.' (Pastor Kovaciny)"
Floyd Luther Stolzenburg, Cornerstone Emmanuel Lutheran Church Columbus, Ohio June 1998
"From the Mission Committee...Good News from the Ukraine Reproduced at the bottom of this page is the masthead from the Ukrainian Lutheran, which has now been published by our mission in Ukraine for two years and grows in circulation with each issue."
Floyd Luther Stolzenburg, Cornerstone Emmanuel Lutheran Church Columbus, Ohio November 1996
"We supplied funds for our missionaries in the Ukraine, and the Gideons." Sherry Huffman, Sunday School Floyd Luther Stolzenburg, Cornerstone Emmanuel Lutheran Church Columbus, Ohio February 1999 "...the Ukraine project of Thoughts of Faith (Pastor Kovaciny)" Use of mission funds.
Charlotte Proctor, treasurer Floyd Luther Stolzenburg, Cornerstone, Emmanuel Lutheran Church Columbus, Ohio November, 1995
"All designated funds for Thoughts of Faith are spent on the program for which they are designated by the donor. Funds not designated by the donor are used to pay for administrative expenses. Thoughts of Faith would like to thank our congregation for our support towards this important work in spreading the gospel throughout the world."
Floyd Luther Stolzenburg, Cornerstone, Emmanuel Lutheran Church Columbus, Ohio November, 1995
"Pastor Kovaciny, in an effort to respond to our request, set a copy of the third quarter treasurer's report of the Ukrainian congregation, signed by the treasurer and written in his own hand. We thought you might enjoy seeing it! You should be aware that our budget offering goes to pay for Pastor Kovaciny's salary and expenses through 'Thoughts of Faith,' the radio ministry which has been bringing the Gospel to the Ukraine for many years...."
Floyd Luther Stolzenburg, Cornerstone, Emmanuel Lutheran Church Columbus, Ohio January, 1995
"Since the salary of Pastor Kovaciny and their basic expenses are paid through the 'Thoughts of Faith' ministry, we will continue to include the overall work in our regular budget."
Floyd Luther Stolzenburg, Cornerstone, Emmanuel Lutheran Church Columbus, Ohio October, 1994
"Consultant, Lutheran Parish Resources, Inc., Columbus, Ohio, 1985-1991, as a consultant for this program, I worked with the training of pastors and lay people for effective ministry in leadership skills, Sunday School organization and teaching, youth ministry, outreach, stewardship and care ministry. I continue to work with supervision of some of these programs. Senior Pastor, Salem Lutheran Church and School, Florissant, Missouri, 1976-1985. (nothing said about being removed from the ministry) Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church and School, St. Charles, Missouri, 1968-1976. Floyd Luther Stolzenburg 2904 Maryland Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43209-1157 614-235-5200.
"Pastor Kovaciny, obviously excited about the possibilities, has agreed that the new church would be named Emmanuel Lutheran and would have a picture of the 'mother church' prominently displayed in the new building."
Floyd Luther Stolzenburg, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Columbus, Ohio #899 for August, 1999 1500 South Third Street Columbus, Ohio 43207. $50,000 to be raised.
"A major part of LPR involvement currently centers around assistance with Beautiful Savior's establishment of a new experimental mission on the west side. Named 'Pilgrim Community Church' by the committee from Grove City, the new congregation will maintain solid Lutheran doctrine without an up front emphasis on the Lutheran name. All materials identify sponsorship by Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church." [note: in very, very small print] On the same page, artwork for the area Reformation service at St. Paul's: "STANDING WHERE LUTHER STOOD"
LPR UPDATE October, 1989.
"Initial services will be less formal than our traditional worship services. LPR Director Roger Zehms has been requested by Beautiful Savior to serve as pastor of the new mission with Floyd Stolzenburg serving as evangelist and music consultant. Please include this new approach project in your prayers."
LPR UPDATE October, 1989.
"Mr. Floyd Stolzenburg will serve under Rev Zehms providing such services as are appropriate for a person who is not 'CRM.' As a layperson Mr. Stolzenburg can under appropriate supervision do anything that a layman in your congregation can. -- We also reject any inference that Pastor Zehms will not be able to stand up to pressure from Mr. Stolzenburg, or from the donor who provides the funds for LPR. -- We also question the procedure in which the reason for Mr. Stolzenburg's resignation has been broadcast, even though the issues had been addressed by LPR." [Not true. People were told Floyd had a Scriptural divorce, that the divorce was the fault of his first wife.]
Pastor Paul Kuske Letter to the Ohio Conference Pilgrim Community Church, sponsored from Grove City by Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church Fall Conference, Gibsonia, 1989
"Lutheran Parish Resources, Inc. (LPR) is dedicated to the concepts of the Church Growth movement only insofar as they agree with the Scriptures and as taught by the WELS--that is, Church Growth with Lutheran theology rather than Evangelical, and without the typical Church Growth emphasis on quantitative measurement of growth. Kent R. Hunter's definition of 'Church Growth' justifies the use of this term in describing LPR: 'Church Growth: That science which investigates the nature, function and health of Christian churches as they relate specifically to the effective implementation of God's commission to make disciples of all peoples (Matt. 28:19). Church Growth is simultaneously a theological conviction and an applied science,....' Foundations for Church Growth, p. 187.
David G. Peters, "Lutheran Parish Resources: Pilot Program in Church Growth," Mequon: Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, April 27, 1987 p. 1.
Happy To Post a Correction
I have written about the Wisconsin Synod participating in religious activities with ELCA, through Thrivent funded events.
That policy changed with the new administration. I am pleased to issue a retraction. The past is not always normative. WELS is no longer doing that, so the synod will reap many benefits long-term.
The Snowbird leadership conference (Mischke) and the Joy Radio Show (Mischke) were two examples hard to deny, but they were denied. ELCA published a Snowbird photo of Mischke posing with the LCMS president and the ELCA Archbiship. ELCA also put out a news release about Joy being the first joint ministry of ELCA-WELS-LCMS.
Snowbird is where the three church bodies organized the Cross-Cultural Ministry project, also funded by insurance money. The WELS booklet for that wild hair project was so bad that synod leaders confiscated it.
The AAL Church Membership Initiative (1993) was a little tougher to track down, but I found the notebooks at the Mary Lou College library. That effort involved all three groups in a massive study about membership losses and how to prevent them. WELS executive Wayne Borgwardt worked with Rev. Mary Ann Moeler-Gunderson (ELCA, of course) and Rev. Lyle Mueller (LCMS). At one point ELCA's Martin Marty addressed them all in Orlando, Florida - site of Exponential - The Art of Movements, by the way. The BMers (Becoming Missional) are lining up like sacrificial lambs--or wolves--for that convention.
I recapitulated those painfully bad mistakes to show that WELS is finally going in a new direction. To continue that way, the membership needs to repudiate error and support sound doctrine.
---
Anonymous has left another gratuitious comment on your post "Happy To Post a Correction":
Wow, will miracles never cease? Jackson offers a correction? Too bad you're several years late.
What about the hundreds of other half-truths and outright lies you've printed on this site?
***
---
Anonymous has left a comment on your post "Happy To Post a Correction":
The Shrinkers are very unhappy also with Ichabod. Ichabod has uncovered them and their supporters. Ichabod has shown me and certainly many others for whom and what they are. Good job Mr. I.
Psssst---you know now a lot of WELS folks will feed you more info for Ichabod and that will make the wolves howl like hell.
***
GJ - I like it when the Shrinkers lie. They are easy to refute. They are not howling about mistakes - but about their intended victims learning the truth.
Did I quote them in error? Are the links not working? They should stop bragging so much.
Soul Wow: Satire Becomes Reality - An Actual Roman Catholic Ad
ForzaMigliozzi
April 02, 2009
Forget that ShamWow guy, Father Vic, from SoulWow shows what we really need to do to get clean from the inside out. Visit SoulWow.com and get that almost baptized feeling! Do it Today! This offer ...
Forget that ShamWow guy, Father Vic, from SoulWow shows what we really need to do to get clean from the inside out. Visit SoulWow.com and get that almost baptized feeling! Do it Today!
This offer is extended! Contact your local Roman Catholic Church today for times.
Go to Soulwow.com. Do it Today!
Agency: Forza Migliozzi, llc.
http://www.forzam.com
***
GJ - My PhotoShopped satire is here.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Open a Can of Whiskey Tango When You Attend Exponential -
Endorsed by VP Patterson
A Little Leaven
Exponential 09 Conference to Feature a Speaker Whose Biggest Regret is Not Clubbing a Church Lady With a Baseball Bat
The Exponential 09 church planters conference has invited Gary Lamb of Revolution Church in Canton, GA to be one of the featured speakers. Gary Lamb is on the record saying that one of his biggest regrets is that he didn't club a church lady with a baseball bat, punch her husband in the face and set fire to the church organ.
Gary Lamb has no business being a pastor or a conference speaker. The LAST thing the church needs is Lamb teaching other pastors how to be like him.
Here is the relevant sound bite from the "sermon" where Gary Lamb shared this sick 'regret'.
Lamb's lust for murderous violence doesn't end here. Read what Lamb wrote on his blog to the person who stole one of his church's trailers.
To the people who stole our trailer:
First let me say, God loves you. Second let me say we forgive you. We really don’t want to forgive you, but God says we should so we do. Third of all I want you to know that I think you are scum bags. I think you are lowlife degenerates who need a good butt kicking. Matter of fact I feel so strongly about the fact that you need a good butt kicking that I am volunteering to do it. I hope you believe in God because you should get on your knees and cry out to Him like never before because if we find you, I can promise we will kick the crap out of you. It won’t be pretty, it won’t be over quickly, and it will be very painful. I know that doesn’t sound very nice but I feel pretty strongly that is what you need.
---
Gary Lamb -Gary is the Founding Pastor and Lead Pastor of Revolution Church in Canton, Ga. Started on August 15th, 2004, RC has quickly become known for it's (sic) crazy passion to do whatever it takes to reach those who are disconnected from church. In it's (sic) 4 years of existence, RC has grown to over 1,000 people in weekly attendance, has launched a second campus, and over 70% of those in attendance were previously unchurched before attending Revolution for the first time. Prior to starting RC, Gary started a church in Ames, Iowa. He has a huge passion for church planters and works as consultant for a church planting group in Georgia and teaches church planters at the West Ridge School of Church Planting in Hiram, Ga.
***
GJ - Gary Lamb will speak at the Exponential Conference. Last year, VP Don Patterson--in his capacity as doctrinal supervisor and guru to The Sausage Factory--shepherded a group of WELS workers to the last confab in Orlando. There they listened to Babtist Ed Stetzer and hired him for Church and Change.
Whiskey Tango is code for White Trash.
Deep Cleansing Breath:
Now Try To Read "Airport"
Without Screaming in Pain
---
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Deep Cleansing Breath: Now Try To Read "Airport" W...":
The airport analogy is straight from Reggie McNeal. Can't the WELS ever be original?
http://www.pastorkenkelly.com/2008/12/reggie-mcneal-conference.html
Reggie has spoken at our church on several occasions. His talks always challenge me to re-think how we do church and how I live the Christian life. Today was no exception. His talk was based on his newest book The New Missional Renaissance which will be released late next month. Here are some takeaways.
* Henry Blackaby was right. We need to join God in what He's already doing. God is having a great time out there. The question is whether we want to play.
* 3 convergences that are creating a missional renaissance: the rise of an altruism economy, the desire for personal growth, and spiritual awakening.
* We're in a culture that wants to talk God and not church.
* Three shifts needed: from internal to external focus in ministry; from program-driven to people development; from church-based leadership to kingdom-focused leadership.
* The church needs to be like the connecting hub of an airport. The hub is not the destination. We've made the church the destination place instead of the hub that sends us into the world with the gospel.
---
BHM: Project Airport
Our mission counselors and cross-cultural consultant planned Project Airport to assist our District Mission Boards to better serve their missions. Part of the reason for inviting every DMB member to attend was that many new men have been elected to their position who were not present for the original training (back in the previous century) in the Barnabas Project, a very useful and helpful tool for shepherds.
The airport theme was chosen because of so many parallels between equipping, supporting, maintaining and making improvements in airline service and in our service to our missions and missionaries.
As we planned, we began to realize the benefit of bringing together in one place (actually, two places: Denver and Chicago) not just DMB members, but also all those who are or can be involved in assisting our missions, missionaries, and congregations who have the potential to start new mission ministries. So we invited District Presidents, Synodical Council (SC) district representatives, the Board for Parish Services (BPS) Administrator, Commission on Adult Discipleship (CAD), Commission on Evangelism (CoE) and WELS Kingdom Workers (WKW) to attend. We really appreciated the gracious response to our invitations. All told, our WELS VP, 6 district presidents, our BPS Administrator, 4 SC men, 5 CAD, 12 CoE, and 64 DMB members attended the workshops. It was a well-rounded group that actively participated in the breakouts and seemed to appreciate the opportunity to grow and work together for the sake of our Lord Jesus and his kingdom.
Throughout both gatherings, we were enriched and uplifted with consistently inspiring devotions from the word of our God. The analogies to airplanes and airports were many, creative, and seemed exceedingly appropriate to our church as we followed the themes of “Trusting God’s outreach promises” (Cares), “Sometimes it’s hard to get off the ground” (Westra, Gauger), “It takes a lot of people for an airplane to fly”(Hagedorn), “The value of regular maintenance” (Geiger, Fisher), and “Working with God to set missions free to fly”(Birkholz). The singing was wonderful, both with and without accompaniment.
Pastor Hagedorn kept the fast-paced conference on its rather tight schedule. Ten different presenters led the workshops. The airport/airplane analogies continued. The workshops were presented according to five consecutive categories, each one building on the previous one:
• Outreach Orientation (awareness-possibilities upon taking off)
• Outreach Orientation (development/foundation—getting plane ready to fly)
• Awareness of our Culture and Community (aware of fellow passengers)
• Partnership and Connections (co-workers needed in order to fly)
• One on One Impact Training (pilot and crew)
Awareness
MC Schulz took off with quite a list of God’s grace at work among us through the many and varied examples of new mission starts and ministries associated with home missions and NA Outreach. CAD Administrator Kehl reviewed NAO with us and then led a breakout session encouraging us to consider ways to broaden its impact. You will notice the enthusiastic responses which were posted on newsprint around the conference room.
Foundation
Cross Cultural Consultant Kehl then led us in a lively session and breakout focused on the spiritual foundations which lead individuals and churches to be outreach oriented.
Culture
MC Schulz brought us into the 21st century culture, helping us to understand our world and giving us some great questions for us to consider as we work to share the news of Jesus with those who think differently than we (possible new passengers on our plane). Hispanic Consultant Roth helped us get into the shoes of today’s immigrants with a card game that got everyone confused, and Hmong Coordinator Piepenbrink helped us realize an Asian perspective on our BHM guiding principles for cross cultural ministries.
Partnership and Connections
CoE Administrator Hintz helped us realize the value of a good ground crew as he outlined a model outreach-minded congregation. Pastors Roth and Piepenbrink outlined their services. Pastor Warnecke from WKW's touched on the many ways they are available to serve our mission fields. MC Schulz offered a look at some of the new and innovative ways in which mission ministries are starting these days. We then were broken out into small groups to consider how and where each of our districts might start new ministries. After that, Mel explained how we can get money for all this, if there’s any available.
One on One Training
With the big picture concerning “flight plans” established the previous day, Tuesday helped us focus our attention on the “crew”: our missionaries and leaders. MC Schulz and John Tappe took us on an excellent guided tour of the Barnabas program, showing us how they use its many tools to encourage and assist the men on the front lines and how there is more than enough material on its pages to help every DMB member become a more able and helpful shepherd to those they serve. It should be mentioned that the two men had recently reviewed, edited, and updated the Barnabas manual.
MC Schuppe offered some useful helps on mentoring, gleaned from his personal experience and study, and MC Huebner led us through some coaching approaches (with assistance from Mrs. Christy Geiger’s materials) which seem to be bringing blessings to many. Districts were then asked to work together to decide on which kind of approach (shepherd/mentor/coach) or combination of approaches they might use to best serve their missions/missionaries.
Where, from here?
We noticed throughout the day and a half there was little of the “in and out” traffic and sidebar conversations one sometimes witnesses at conferences as attendees sometimes seem to be wishing they were elsewhere. We give our God thanks for the high level of the quality of the presentations and devotions and the attendees’ enthusiastic participation in breakouts and small groups. The blessings of district coworkers (evangelism, CAD, DMB, etc.) learning, thinking, and planning together seemed apparent. We heard desires expressed for more of this kind of thing.
We are today making all the tools, breakout group responses, information, devotions and PowerPoint presentations from Project Airport (including the newly updated Barnabas Project) available to the BHM members on a CD.
We trust that the information was and is helpful and encouraging to all who attended. It sometimes happens that one attends this kind of workshop, is exposed to some things, but then goes home and becomes so busy again that the notebook sits on the shelf.
Our expectation is that there are those who put what they learned to good use right away when they arrived home. We need to continue to find new ways to encourage our sister churches to seek to start new mission ministries. The tools we’ve just been given are invaluable for that purpose.
We also trust that the sights of every DMB were raised. We can continue to grow as shepherds, using the Barnabas Project materials. Perhaps some are choosing or will choose a mentoring or coaching approach. We are right now looking for those with whom we could work together on pilot projects, intentionally making use of the shepherding/mentoring/coaching approach. We will figure out a way to prioritize it in our schedules so we can work alongside you (if you should so desire). Just let us know.
May God continue to bless the after-effects (jetwash?) [flatulence!] of Project Airport!
MC’s Schulz, Schuppe, and Huebner and CCC Kehl
***
GJ - Does anyone wonder why everything crashed? The pilots are Schwaermer, buzzing here and there, blowing money to introduce the same old Fuller babble as if Enthusiasm were invented in Milwaukee last week.
Another Reason To Cut the Technology Budget
Easter Sermons Are Easy
By Martin Spriggs:Bio on April 13, 2009
Ran across an interesting article about the average attention span of someone listening to a lecture (or sermon as the case may be). It’s called Kill lecture boredom through science from the Speaker Confessions blog. The results are based on a very small study of monitoring heart rates of students. While the results are not concrete enough to publish is a scholarly journal, I think we all might agree with them. He comes to two conclusions: 1) 20 to 30 minutes is the sweet spot amount of time for lectures, and 2) if you go longer, do something different every 20 minutes to regain people’s attention.
While most sermons hit that “sweet spot”, some would argue that the sermon is at the heart of a 60 minute period of time (the service) through which we are trying to hold the attention of the congregation. Throw in the fact that we hold services on a Sunday (read weekend) morning, many are sitting on uncomfortable pews, the under 5 year old crowd offers pretty stiff competition, etc. and you find a challenge worthy of the best public speakers.
All of us are fresh off Easter services, and I for one find it very easy to “tune in” to Easter sermons. Adrenaline is high. Hymns have a peppy contrast to those we’ve been singing over the last 6 weeks of Lent. Churches are full. Yet there are other times of the church year that I have to admit my heart rate drops pretty low by the end of a sermon.
Here are the tips the article offers. Some could be applied to the sermon. 1) Ask a question and look for a show of hands, 2) Give them a challenging problem to solve, 3) Show a short film, 4) Move to a new spot on the stage. Essentially, anything to help reset their attention cycles.
Obviously some of these same principles apply to Bible class and even when you are writing content for your website. If they are “tuned out” your breath is wasted. Maybe you have some good ideas to share?
***
GJ - Did you get a buzz out of those ideas?
WELS Imprint has a few dozen posts. I have 2,600 - without a salary, benefits, or training at Willow Creek. Or Trinity Deerfield. Or Fuller Seminary.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Another Reason To Cut the Technology Budget":
And Martin Spriggs graduated at the top of his class.... At WELS the quality goes in before the product goes out. Do you believe it?
Awesome Vision
New Vision an Awesome Calling
By Dr. Joel Nelson - Bio on February 16, 2009
WELS Commission on Youth Discipleship (CYD) recently adopted a new vision statement. The statement expresses the awesome calling CYD has as a Parish Services unit and the fervent desire it has for our entire church-body: Every congregation actively partnered with parents to nurture youth: their perspective, potential, and place in the body of Christ.
The word perspective recognizes that youth have points of view, opinions, ideas, and dreams from which the church can learn. The word potential recognizes that youth have abilities, talents, attitudes, and energy through which the church can benefit. The word place recognizes that youth must be valued, included, empowered, and engaged in ministry, making themselves and the church whole.
***
GJ - Copying more would violate the Geneva Conventions about the use of torture on civilians. Nelson has a degree in education from Cardinal Stritch.
When will the word awesome be officially banned from the English language? Soon, I hope.
PS - Bruce Becker, Wayne Mueller, and Peter Kruschel still have their bios on the WELS website. Is Martin Spriggs waiting for their return?
Top Gunn Shrinking
Some facts conveniently overlooked or not known by Joe Krohn, who gets his misinformation from buddy Don Patterson:
- CrossWalk was not allowed to join the district for many reasons.
- The District Mission Board did not start CrossWalk. Some local churches did with a Board of Directors, just like Baumler's model C and C parish. The Perish Assistants at The Love Shack promote this business model.
- Actually, a BoD for Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries, Inc. (check the Arizona State corporation commission web site) was formed from WELS members at Emmanuel, Tempe, and a couple of other WELS churches.
- CrossWalk has a Board of Directors making the decisions once everyone--women and children combined--has a say.
- CrossWalk has received all its money from Thrivent, wealthy WELS members, and grants.
- Gunn was never a tent-maker, in spite of what FIC claimed.
- The money for CrossWalk has dried up under the new district leadership, and Gunn is out of ammo.
- One rumor is that he is headed for that garden of apostasy, Wisconsin Lutheran College, to head a real campus church.
---
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Busta Gut Speaks His Mind":
Confidential to Greg - The point was it is God growing Crosswalk as they HAVE been faithful to the Word. I know you enjoy being the Lone Ranger of Lutheranism and all, but the hallmark of faithfulness to the Word isn't always non-growth. Sometimes you seem to wear it like a red badge of courage. :)
Joe Krohn, Rock N Roll
***
GJ - Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Joe. You tried to start a blog and you failed, so you coat-tail this one. You need to parrot my words. I am honored. But please try to read with comprehension and discernment. The only qualification is faithfulness to the Word, entirely lacking in your bunch of plagiarists, false teachers, and grant-grubbing frauds.
According to your measuring stick, Gunn is now a mere spitball in the war against the Means of Grace.
Meanwhile, Joe brags he can read minds: "I know you enjoy..."
---
Clueless Joe Krohn has left a new comment on your post "Top Gunn Shrinking":
Greg,
You're always good for some laughs when I have downtime at work and I have nothing better to do, so why not indulge you at least for today. You live for these moments. Especially when you get your whitie tighties in a bunch about all of us 'apostates'.
To your facts...
Crosswalk's membership in WELS is pending just like Christ the Rock's because of the model. It doesn't jive with the WELS constitution of governing. I'm not really sure how this can be construed as non-biblical.
The were no funds to start CW so laypeople did with the approval of the DMB. Again, where is this a sin?
From what I recall of non-profit incorporation, all churches are required to file articles of incorporation. The articles are typically signed by the officers of the church who are laypersons. I guess you have been out of the loop for awhile.
The BOD does form a consensus based on input from the congregation. Is this sinful?
I didn't think it was a sin to accept offerings from WELS members. As far as grants and other gifts, it depends on where you draw the line and how legalistic you want to be.
The original call as it was drawn up was to be half time minister and he was to get another job to supplement his income. This is referred to as a tent minister and not maker. It's based on the Paul model. I'm assuming you were being facetious, but just in case. Obviously the FIC article was written before the changes in ministry.
As far as money drying up and Jeff Gunn taking another call; well that remains to be seen.
Joe Krohn
***
GJ - Joe, a tent minister would minister to tents. Someone with WELS spelling acumen would say, "Past tents? Future tents?" Paul actually made tents to supplement his meager income, so a worker/pastor is called a tent-maker, a maker of tents, not a minister to tents. I will concede that illiterates in Church Growth may say--or even write--tent minister, but that does not keep the image evoked from being comical.
Please don't tentsup if I use a theological word correctly.
---
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Top Gunn Shrinking":
Would anyone else hire the Top Gunn? He comes with so much excess baggage.
***
Church and Chicaneries Have Minders Assigned To Clean Up CG Messes And Lob Stink Bombs
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Church and Chicaneries Have Minders Assigned To Cl...":
And what a mess CG makes! Handicapped to reasoning by cliché and trite remarks, they better serve the Devil than Christ as they run the ministries into the ground. Oblivious to the mess they make, they paste on Goody Two-Shoes smiles while they promote their pastoral and leadership services to the members. It works like a charm.
***
GJ - So true. And they have been and still are using paid synodical positions to promote the Church and Chicanery agenda.
If y'all don't know that agenda by now, you haven't been reading Ichabod or the websties of these soi-disant leaders.
Busta Gut Speaks His Mind
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Church and Change Board Members Learned Secrecy an...":
Ken,
If you are basing your post on what you read here, then all you are doing is expanding the base of ignorance that grows on this blog like a fungus.
I was there at Crosswalk from the time Jeff Gunn received the call in early 2004. We met weekly on Sunday nights in the library at ALA in Bible study and fellowship often after attending our traditional Lutheran churches in the morning. So there were no canceled services.
You may not agree with the worship form at a church like Crosswalk, but making an off the cuff remark about it being pentecostal in nature further exposes your ignorance. It shows that you have never attended there. It is a rare occurrence if there is even clapping during the songs much less the rest of the service. Lutherans are funny that way. It's pretty low key. Jeff Gunn's sermons are solid in the Word and the Lutheran doctrine.
We did have a ramp up period during the summer of 2004 because there were some details to work out. We had some homework to do as we wanted it to be different and yet be faithful to Lutheran doctrine. We were being careful. We started in the library with 10-20 folks and the last I heard Crosswalk has 500+ on any given Sunday in worship. If you want to blame anyone or point the finger I guess it would have to be God because it is His fault.
That little rag tag group that met in the ALA library on Sunday evenings studying scripture and having pot-luck suppers are some of my fondest memories. We should all be so blessed.
Joe Krohn
***
GJ - I am always happy to see Joe sign his posts. "What is so rare as a day in June?" - A signed Church and Change comment.
Is CrossWalk Lutheran? Proof is missing.
The last I heard, Rock N Roll in Round Rock had 30 in attendance, after 3 years of grants, freebies, and copying sermons from false teachers. Two full-time staff members? Wowie wow. I want Mrs. Ichabod to get $50k to be my assistant. Where does she apply? Staph Ministry? Fuller? Trinity Deerfield. Mars Hills? GCC?
Confidential to Joe - it's not the numbers - but faithfulness to the Word. Paul the Tent-maker has something to say about that.
No, I Can Read the Book of Concord and Your Evil Websites
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Church and Change Board Members Learned Secrecy an...":
Anon 7:54 am
Have Jackson call them evil because he can read hearts. Just ask him.
***
GJ - Obviously WELS is divided. Like the terrorists of 1993, who bombed the WTC the first time, the Chicaneries declared war on WELS and few paid attention.
These divisions are good because the Jeske-Patterson-Parlow-Kelm-Valleskey crowd do not like Lutheran worship, Lutheran confessions, or Lutheran theologians. I can tell what they love when Chicanery Board Member Ski, sponsored by Chicanery Board Member Ash, needs this training in one year to start The CORE:
- Drive 08 - Stanley.
- Drive 09 - Stanley.
- Granger Community Church - Beeson.
- Catalyst - Stanley and Groeschel.
- Seattle - probably Driscoll of Mars Hill.
Church and Change Cats Always Meow For More
rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Ichabod Stats Spike on June 9th":
The money changers, and the Church and Changers, (are they one in the same?) both need to be driven from the temple. The laity was being blamed even in the good economic times. When the offerings didn't line up with the expenses generated by grandiose expansion plans, and the subsequent cost overruns, the laity was blamed for being tight-fisted. Because of the subtle doctrine of leadership infallibility, it was never their fault. It is coming back to bite them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)