Emerging Church People Are Self- Parodies

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Forward in Chicanery Magazine

 
WELS' Forward in Chicanery (FIC) is the official magazine of the Shrinkers. I was listing all the Shrinkers in each magazine. Now the online version is either crippled up or not posted.

November and December are barely up.

Here is an idea, after the FIC staff is fired:

1. Create a PDF for each month and send it to everyone.
   
2. Print a few hundred copies for libraries.
   
3. Or publish via Lulu.com, so people who wanted it could download it. That would save a lot of time and money in managing email lists - a thankless job.
   
4. Hire one or two Lutherans to write something in harmony with the Scriptures and the Confessions.
   

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Luther - A New Song Shall Now Be Begun

Lutheran84
November 19, 2008

From Martin Luther: Hymns, Ballads, Chants, Truth page 8-13: "On July 1, 1523, the infant Reformation saw executed in the Brussels market place Heinrich Voes and Johann Esch, two Belgian Augustinia...

From Martin Luther: Hymns, Ballads, Chants, Truth page 8-13:

"On July 1, 1523, the infant Reformation saw executed in the Brussels market place Heinrich Voes and Johann Esch, two Belgian Augustinian monks and followers of Luther. Since wandering minstrels and their ballads served as the mass media of the day, Luther wrote this first hymn of the Reformation as a ballad recounting the martyrdom of these witnesses. First appearing in 1523 in broadsheet for, it, along with Luther's tune, was published in Johann Walter's 1524 Wittenberg hymnal.

Tr. F. Samuel Janzow, 1913 2001
Setting by Carl Schalk
Publisher Concordia Publishing House (1982)

http://www.youtube.com/user/Lutheran84

---

LYRICS for A NEW SONG SHALL NOW BE BEGUN
Kelmed from this blog
By Martin Luther

1. A new song now shall be begun,
Lord, help us raise the banner
Of praise for all that God has done,
For which we give Him honor.
At Brussels in the Netherlands
God proved himself most truthful
And poured his gifts from open hands
On two lads, martyrs youthful
Through who He showed His power.

2. One was named John, a name to show
He stood in God’s high favor.
His brother Henry, well we know,
Was salt of truest savor.
This world they now have left behind
And wear bright crowns of glory.
These sons of God had fixed the mind
Upon the Gospel story,
For which they died as martyrs.

3. From where the Foe in ambush lay,
He sent to have them taken
To force them God’s Word to betray
And make their faith be shaken.
Louvain sent clever men, who came
In twisting nets to break them.
Hard played they at their crooked game,
But from faith could not shake them.
God make their tricks look foolish.

4. Oh, they sang sweet, and they sang sour,
They tried all their devices.
The youths stood firmly like a tow’r
And overcame each crisis.
In filled the Foe with raging hate
To know himself defeated
By these two lads, and he so great.
His rage flared high, and heated
His plan to see them burning.

5. Their cloister-garments off they tore,
Took off their consecrations;
All this the youths were ready for,
They said Amen with patience.
They gave to God the Father thanks
That He would them deliver
From Satan’s scoffing and the pranks
That make men quake and shiver
When he comes masked and raging.

6. The God they worshipped granted them
A priesthood in Christ’s order.
They offered up themselves to Him
And crossed His kingdom’s border
By dying to the world outright,
With ev’ry falsehood breaking.
They came to heaven pure and white;
All monkery forsaking,
They turned away from evil.

7. A paper given them to sign -
And carefully they read it -
Spelled out their faith in ev’ry line
As they confessed and said it.
Their greatest fault was to be wise
And say, “We trust God solely,
For human wisdom is all lies,
We should distrust it wholly.”
This brought them to the burning.

8. Then two great fires were set alight,
While men amazed did ponder
The sight of youths who showed no fright;
Their calm filled men with wonder.
They stepped into the flames with song.
God’s grace and glory praising.
The logic choppers puzzled long
But found these new thing dazing
Which God was here displaying.

9. They now regret their deed of shame,
Would like to slough it over;
They dare not glory in their blame,
But put it under cover.
They feel their gnawing infamy,
Their friends hear them deplore it.
God’s spirit cannot silent be,
But on Cain’s guilty forehead
He marks the blood of Abel.

10. The ashes of the lads remain
And scatter to all places.
They rise from roadway, street, and lane
To mark the guilty faces.
The Foe had used a bloody hand
To keep these voices quiet,
But they resist in ev’ry land
The Foe’s rage and defy it.
The ashes go on singing.

11. And yet men still keep up their lies
To justify the killing;
The Foe with falsehood ever tries
To give the guilt clean billing.
Since these young martyrs’ holy death
Men still continue trying
To say, the youths with their last breath
Renounced their faith when dying
And finally recanted.

12. Let men heap falsehoods all around,
Their sure defeat is spawning.
We thank our God the Word is found,
We stand it its bright dawning.
Our summer now is at the door,
The winter’s frost has ended,
Soft buds the flowers more and more,
By our dear Gard’ner tended
Until He reaps His harvest.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Luther - A New Song Shall Now Be Begun":

The traditions that the Crusaders hold near and dear, namely the hymns were actually contemporary once upon a time. Bach, oh yeah, was top 40 bach in the day...:)

***

GJ - The question is whether a hymn is good, not whether it is old. There are many bad, old hymns. The comment above shows an impressive lack of knowledge about how hymns are judged.

WELS Pastor Mark Walters Threatens To Shut Down Ichabod

WELS Pastor Mark Walters, from Abiding Word, Ottawa, Canada:

Greg:

Thanks for the stimulating conversation.  Would you be willing to help promote confessional Lutheranism in Ottawa by posting our website on your blog…I hope you have some nice cartoons for me.

I also pray that you discover grace…not intellectually but that it melts your heart to breathe the love of the Gospel of Christ,

Thanks,

Mark

www.abidingword.ca

[December 8, 2009]

---

GJ - The following is an email from Pastor Mark Walters, pictured above. I phoned him in case the email was fraudulent. He called back a few days later and confirmed that he sent it, that he meant to shut down Ichabod. "I am going to contact some people in the States and see what can be done. You are harming the Kingdom."

---

Subject: Let me know one thing (December 2, 2009)

pastor.abidingword@rogers.com

Greg Jackson:



My name is Mark Walters. I think I went to school with your son, Marty.



I am a pastor in the WELS and serving at Abiding Word Lutheran Church in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada



I am a VERY supportive brother of Jeff Gunn, Ski, Tim Glende, and many others that you seem to enjoy trashing.



How do I get my picture on your website so that I can join your toxic hall of fame?????????



I’m very sad that you spend your time putting up such a legalistic, judgemental (sic) website, without knowing the true facts about things.



I will do everything in my power to shut you down because you are destructive to the kingdom.



Please contact me soon.



613-824-2524



Mark Walters

***

GJ - Walters had no problem with his friend Ski going to Groeschel, Stanley, Beeson, etc for training. "Name one false doctrine from Groeschel," he demanded. I said, "Everything."

He tried the "spoiling the Egyptians" argument on me, not using those words but the concept. He claimed - Christians need other Christians and they can use their discernment, which he found somewhere in Paul. He did not seem to connect with Matthew 7, 1 Timothy 4, or 2 Timothy 4.

---


-----Original Message-----
From: Gregory L. Jackson
Sent: Tuesday, December 08, 2009 11:33 AM
To: pastor.abidingword@rogers.com
Subject: Your wish has been granted



Were you at the latest Church and Change conference? Or previous ones?



This is my regular email account.



In Christ,



Greg Jackson, PhD

---

Not at the last one…at previous ones.

Thanks,

Mark

"God: Never Get Too Big For Him." Ben Carson

Pastor Mark Walters

1575 Belcourt Blvd.

Orleans, ON K1C 1M3



Phone: 613-824-2524

Fax: 613-824-2905

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Michael Schottey has left a new comment on your post "WELS Pastor Mark Walters Threatens To Shut Down Ic...":

"Supporting brother of Jeff Gunn, Ski....etc"

That means he went to school with the whole group.

Mark Walters--WLS Class of '97
James "Ski" Skorzewski--Class of '98
Tim Glende--Class of '98

Its hard to disagree with someone when you sat next to them in class or drove them back from the bar late one night. At least, its hard when you don't have a backbone.

The reverse Ad Hominem support system of classmates is a ridiculous system. The guy is good...so he must be doing things the right way. Then you base all arguments on the guy's sterling character.

"Supportive Brother" just means these men were in COS together.

Rev. Mark Bitter on "Spoiling the Egyptians:" "While the Lord was telling Moses exactly how he wanted to be worshiped, the Israelites were worshiping like the Egyptians did."

He then went on a 10 minute binge against churches who want to use praise songs instead of psalms.

It was easy to see the classmates who were grinning and those squirming in their seats.

This was all at Evangelism Day...somewhere down the hall "Ski" was torturing minds. I skipped Kelm's key note for my own sanity.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WELS Pastor Mark Walters Threatens To Shut Down Ic...":

Congratulations!
It's just noon and you took out 2 minor trolls and now they send in the "Creeker Errand Boy" from Ontario.
Pretty good and it's just noon.

More cow bell puhleez, Pastor Jackson

I'm ROFL, keep slingin that sword
Blogging and Scholarship what a combo, only a REAL Lutheran could pull that off!

--The LCMS Church Lady

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mjleyrer has left a new comment on your post "WELS Pastor Mark Walters Threatens To Shut Down Ic...":

Nothing like empty, unexecutable threats to get your morning going eh Jacko?

If someone did shut you down I would be upset because if there's one thing that I care about as much as the church it Constitutional Liberties. This would definitely be an infringement of one.

I don't even think he could file libel against you if he wanted to. Maybe he could.

See Jacko, even the guys who don't agree with you want you stay up and running. Because if you went away, who would I have to argue with?

***

GJ - I was shocked, shocked to find out Rev. Mark was a regular at Church and Chicanery conferences. And he links to Time of Generic Grace.

He confuses satire with slander. The funny Photoshops seem to rile him more than is healthy for someone so brittle and humorless. I tried to point out the long history of satirical cartoons, going back the the 19th century at least. But Mark is slow to listen, quick to talk, quick to anger.

My suggestion is that he go to court in Ottawa and get an injunction banning anyone in Ontario from reading Ichabod. That would be fair, eh?

Muslims in Canada went after Mark Steyn. Perhaps Mark is taking lessons.

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Michael Schottey has left a new comment on your post "WELS Pastor Mark Walters Threatens To Shut Down Ic...":

OF COURSE Rev. Mark is a regular at C&C events. If my church offered to pay my way to a drinking date with my buddies, I'd take the money too!

I love when he asked about Groeschel...that quote needs to be sent, verbatim to every and all of his superiors from the Mission counselors to President Schroeder.

If this man can't test the spirits of a yahoo like Groeschel, I can't believe he is a fit expositor of God's word.

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Michael Schottey has left a new comment on your post "WELS Pastor Mark Walters Threatens To Shut Down Ic...":

Leyrer,

Speaking of logical fallacies...I didn't say he would be a bad preacher because he is trying to "shut down Ichabod."

I said I couldn't imagine a fit expositor of God's word who can't find fault with Craig Groeschel's filth pile that is LifeChurch.tv

If someone wasn't paying attention in class while Professors Fredrich and Schmidt were talking about the dangers of false teachers, how much else did they miss?

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rwiedenhoeft@wisc.edu

Pastor Jackons (sic),


What are your shortcomings?


Chairman Bob

***

GJ - I can spell. I can tell you are probably from UW Madison, perhaps a victim of Willow Creek Chapel.

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I. J. Reilly has left a new comment on your post "WELS Pastor Mark Walters Threatens To Shut Down Ic...":

Brett--

I don't think your comments would convince Anders. I went to the web page he advertised on this blog and it is apparently the work of a group who believe that the real teachings of Jesus were corrupted by the church and "The Apostate Paul." (Wow, someone besides GJ knows how to compose insulting nicknames that reduces an opponent to a stereotype.) I don't think he'd find much creedence (sic) in your quotes from Romans, Titus, Galatians, and Ephesians. Noble effort, though.

***

GJ - How delicious it must be, to post anonymous, gratuitous comments and be able to brag to fellow sots, "Look at what I published!" With enough comments posted, a semblance of proper spelling may emerge. No, wait, it hasn't so far.


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JR has left a new comment on your post "WELS Pastor Mark Walters Threatens To Shut Down Ic...":

Wow, I'm on holiday for a few days, and look what happens when I return! Trolls abound, Jews enter the fray, and Canadian pastors threaten to turn out the lights. Ichabod is the place to be!

Mr. Leyrer, I gotta give it up to you. You took a beating, but you hung in there. Great last comment, by the way. Those were my sentiments exactly! +1 for you.

Mr. Schottey, how has your outspokenness affected your standing in WELS? I'd love to "come out," but I am wary of the backlash. I'm interested in hearing what has happened to you.

***

GJ - Total freedom of expression in WELS: real diversity. Not to worry.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WELS Pastor Mark Walters Threatens To Shut Down Ic...":

GJ, all theological arguments aside, "judgmental" is in fact the proper Canadian spelling of the word. To poke fun at a pastor in Canada for using correct Canadian spelling is either intentional mean-spiritedness I'll wow the Americans who are ignorant of Canadian spelling rules) or just ignorance of Canadian spelling on your part. If one posts from the US on a British website, one is not expected to use the affectation of British spelling.

***

GJ - I love the patronizing tone of these anonymous comments. Notice how one little (sic) can rustle their chicken feathers. That little Latin word means "thus" - not "this person is an idiot." Mark is not Johnny Canuck. is he? He had the benefit of 8 years of WELS higher education, in America. I am not sure if he is returning to the Motherland or just spending a few years in exile for threatening someone else. They have some good anger management classes in Ottawa, eh?

Here's a a conveniently located one for Mark -
Anger & Emotions Management Institute,
421 Gilmour Street, Ottawa, ON K2P 0R5, Canada
(613) 231-2051‎.

My wife and I earned degrees in Canada, so we spent a few enjoyable years there. The Canadians are great people. We have many relatives there, so we know how to say Chooseday, ask for serviettes (not napkins), and smile when offered biscuits (cookies). We learned to plug our lamps into the hydro when we sat on our chesterfield. We know about British/Canadian spelling, favouring the extra vowel, in Saviour or aluminium. Spelling is our speciality.

I relish the moments when some humorless Chicanery starts lecturing in stealth mode.



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Ichabod Helps The CORE Poach

 

Groeschel: "Who cut off my left hand?"

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Church Growth Go Zunder":

St. Matthew's has had a handful of members leaving the church partly due to issues with the school been split to two campuses and how the situation was handled and then eventually closing their school completly. Almost all the churches w/ schools in the area have had a family from St. Matthew transfer there because of that reason.

The CORE also had a few members transfer from Word of Life which also dispersed its members to many churches due to the fact it closed.

Poaching implys (sic) some kind of deceitful activity to obtain members. The CORE isn't standing in some other church's parking lot handing out flyers. However, the member transfers have been people who attended The CORE and decided to make them their home church. After reading some of this blog, I'm sure a few people have attended The CORE just to see what is going on over there. Is GJ a poacher for The CORE? He is no more guilty of being a poacher by blogging all the negative comments along with the exaggerations that lead to curiosity to find out the TRUTH than the poached that attended out of curiosity.

***

GJ - The original anonymous claim was the Ski announced from Day One that he would never take members from a WELS church. Yet he only offered services when active WELS members could attend his movie theater with popcorn entertainment.

---

JR has left a new comment on your post "Ichabod Helps The CORE Poach":

One thing I still don't understand is why the CORE had to set up shop in Appleton. If Ski's methods are so wonderful, and he wants to reach people by doing everything short of sinning, then why put this church in the synod's backyard?

If numbers are all that matter, wouldn't it have been better to set up the CORE somewhere with little to no Christians? Wouldn't it have been better to put this church somewhere that WELS wasn't already established?

The inconsistencies in the philosophy of these guys and the application of said philosophy are too numerous to mention.

***

GJ - I will try to explain it in a few paragraphs. JR, you are asking pertinent questions. That makes you impertinent in the eyes of the Shrinkers.

First of all, everything they do and say is a lie. They know it, and they enjoy deceiving people. They are not Lutheran, and they know it, but they fasten their belts around their ears and say, "You are hitting below the belt. Foul!" whenever someone asks about their doctrine and practice.

My intuition tells me they knew they were doomed long before Mark Schroeder was elected. They knew someone would force open the books and find out what an appalling mess they made out of the Schwan gifts. I wonder if Gurgle went overseas so he could bury the real books under a Yumyum tree.

The CORE was started as the escape vehicle for the WELS Church and Change fans in A-Town. If everything went badly, they could have a legal entity from which to start over without all the pain of meetings, corporate papers, etc. The Seminex gang did that, creating a foundation called FLUTE to be their vehicle, although that particular vehicle did not lure enough rats out of Missouri.

Outreach? There is a WELS church a block away doing real outreach. The CORE filled their movie theater (only at night) with WELS members. I don't have the latest figures but the first reports made Bernie Madoff seem frugal and selfless. Ski, Glende, Bishop Katie and other WELS workers take off to Schwaermer training conferences more often than Hollywood stars enter rehab. They are addicted to the buzz of the hive.

Mark and Avoid Jeske wants his own little denomination, or perhaps a core group to take with him wherever he goes. Katie and Ski are Jeske products, loyal as Shelties. Church and Change is a Jeske operation, based on board members alone, although some hit their cloaking device for effect, magically disappearing (Becker and Ski). Watch Jeske and everything will make sense. He is featured on the LCMS websty. That is a pretty big hint. Jeske's classmates have gone over to Missouri and they are also CG. One is a Missouri DP, etc.

Another interesting approach would be to follow the money. How much did Ski sell his home for in Milwaukee? Did it sell at market or way above? Who bought it? And who sold him a home in A-Town? Where is all this loot coming from, to fund The CORE - certainly not from 9 new members in about a year. They couldn't afford to pay the lease and utilities.

People respond most to the money issues, but the real issue is doctrine. These people, pastors and laity alike, have been pried loose from Biblical doctrine. Their only comfort is a brotherhood of deception, laziness, and fraud. I would love to know who started it. Ron Roth was a founder, but who else was involved? That would be good for a real dissertation, not a DMin by Steve Witte, although that has some gems in it.

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Just Five Minutes with Luther? - That Would Be a Good Start

FIVE MINUTES A DAY WITH LUTHER

** Now available in book form: http://lcmssermons.com/about5mins.php **

December 8

Psalm 119:101-102   I have restrained my feet from every evilway, That I may keep Thy word.  I have not turned aside from Thine ordinances, For Thou Thyself hast taught me.

    *    *    *

When Bullinger once remarked to Luther that those who attributed too much to the literal Word sinned against God and His almighty power as the Jews did in naming the ark God, Luther corrected himin the following manner:

You err in that you cut asunder and separate the Word and the Spirit; you separate those that preach and teach the Word from God who works the same; you also separate the ministers who baptize from God who commands it; and you think that the Holy Ghost, is given and works without the Word, which Word, you say,is an external sign and mark that finds the Spirit of which the heart is already in possession.  According to your false opinion, if the Word does not find the Spirit, but is heard byan ungodly person, then it is not God's Word, and thus you define the Word not according to God who speaks it, but according to how people entertain and receive it.  You will only grant that such is God's Word which purifies and brings peace and life; but when it does not work in the ungodly, then it is not God's Word.  You will not yield that God's Word is the

instrument through which the Holy Ghost works and accomplishes His work and prepares a beginning to righteousness or justification.  But I say, teach, and acknowledge that the Word,

whether it produces fruit or not, is, nevertheless, God's strength, which saves all that believe. 

It (the Word) is the power of God to save

From sin and Satan and the grave;

It works the faith which firmly clings

To all the treasures which it brings.

---

Cuda.

aka Pastor Robin Fish

It isn't whether we win or lose, it is "Do we stand faithfully?"

View online at http://lcmssermons.com/5mins.php?d=2009-12-08

These daily readings are now available in book form;read about it at http://lcmssermons.com/about5mins.php.

***

GJ - The post above is the essence of Biblical theology, Luther's theology, and the Book of Concord. No one can embrace Enthusiasm (UOJ, Receptionism, Church Growth) and be faithful to the Word of God, which carries Christ the way a cradle carries a baby. Sever the Holy Spirit/Word/Sacrament connection and the cradle is demolished.

What Would Jesus Do? He would not abandon the divinely inspired Word for the so-called wisdom of man.

How Did the Turtle Get on the Fencepost?

Watch for the Quaker Foster on Lutheran CG blogs.

LOL you must have hit a nerve, you're attracting "flame thrower trolls", now.

Have a look at this, Willow Creeker denounces Willow Creek for serving up Mystic[ism] Pizza. [from Richard Foster]

http://www.mfairladyblogspot.com/2008/06/protestant-no-more-willow-creek.html

LCMS Pastor doing the same thing:

http://markschulz.typepad.com/just_mark/2009/10/three-great-books-on-spiritual-disciplines.html [Loves Richard Foster]

Mark Schulz is the "Golden Boy" of the LCMS NID, so much for church purity.

Lone Survivor - Our Heroic SEALs

Marcus Luttrell, Navy Cross

Lone Survivor is Marcus Luttrell's account of a battle in Northern Afghanistan, where the members of his Navy SEAL team were killed in a ferocious battle, and he was stalked for days by the Taliban, who hoped to capture and kill him.

George W. Bush pinned the Navy Cross on Luttrell.

Universal bought the movie rights.
A brief, though not entirely accurate account of the battle, can be found here. That blog page also has many photos and videos on it.

I have a signed copy of Lone Survivor, on loan from LI.  Another SEAL said to LI, "You met Luttrell!"


I have been a fanatical reader of military history for many years. The Midland Library had a fantastic collection. I created my own over a period of time, specializing in battleships. I have sold, swapped, or given away boxes of military books. We raised our son on military history, too, buying those huge books on armor, carriers, jets, missiles, and artillery, a good investment.

I have read many accounts of SEAL training and their exploits. I know two SEALs. One told me in class introductions that he was in the Navy. I asked him the ship name and followed by asking what he did. He named the ship and said, "Sharpshooter." I asked the family expert, "How can he be a sharpshooter on a ship?" The response was, "Ask him about BUD/S."

I did, and he confirmed he was a SEAL. That is how modest they are about their past. The other SEAL did the same thing to me, identifying a ship and clamming up. I got more information out of Opus Dei. That is just one characteristic of SEALS and military heroes in general. Another student, very small in stature, told me very little about himself, but later said he did the first military parachute drop into enemy territory since WWII. I had the honor of teaching many military men and women in Yuma (and still do in Arkansas and online). In Yuma I had so many Marines that I would say "Listen up, maggots!" because they were used to verbal abuse and liked it.

Mrs. Ichabod and I met an Army Ranger at the hotel in Yuma, so I told the Marines this story, "I met a Ranger and said the Marines could take him on in a bar fight any time he selected." They said, "That's great, and you will be there to help us."

Two things make Lone Survivor special. I hope it wins many different book awards. One is the co-writer Patrick Robinson, who is one of the best military writers of this age. Every week for a long time I looked for Robinson's latest book to appear at Barnes and Noble. When I saw him listed as the co-writer, I knew this would be a fine book. There are writers and fighters, but precious few writer-fighters.

The second great quality of Lone Survivor is the voice of Marcus Luttrell. Only a gifted writer could cooperate and let the author's true voice come through. LI said the book sounds just like Luttrell, who spoke at a meeting in Bentonville, Arkansas. In NWA, everyone stops by, including Al Gore (sigh).

I have read many accounts of SEAL training, but this is the best one of all. I knew the basics from other books, but this description alone was worth publishing by itself. I also appreciated Luttrell's personal history (Texas) and the support his town gave his grieving parents, when he went missing.

No one can do justice to Luttrell's account of the firefight with the Taliban. Luttrell is a Christian and often gives credit to God for watching over him and his rifle during the battle and the amazing aftermath. He was stalked and should have died, but he continued to evade and escape, until he literally fell into the hands of friendly villagers, who would not give him up to the Taliban. The Taliban did arrive and torture him, but they were kept from capturing and killing him. The entire village risked their lives for this stranger.

One interesting anecdote is the drop of supplies by America, so Luttrell could communicate back to them. He was MIA but not presumed dead. The Taliban captured a cell phone and tried to use it. The military knew the wrong person had it, and used the signal to drop some explosives, lots of them.

Once Luttrell was found by American forces, he provided spotting for aircraft as the Taliban descended upon the surrounded forces. Needless to say, the entire Taliban force was obliterated.

I hope this review is one small contribution in making Lone Survivor a best-seller and military classic.

---

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Lone Survivor - Our Heroic SEALs":

If you like military history, then I'm sure you're familiar with Victor Davis Hanson. His book on the Peloponnesian War, "A War Like No Other" is just brilliant.

***

GJ - Someone has improved upon Thucydides account? I will look for the Hanson book. The original, still in print, still makes my hands clammy when I read it. I say to myself, "Calm down. It's over man." I agree with those who say Thucydides is the greatest historian of all time. The greatest in the English language is Gibbon.

More Satisfied Readers

Two students decided to tell me off. One is from Martin Luther College. The other is a member at Willow Creek Chapel in Madison, Wisconsin.

There must be a rotation set up, because the new comments started when the guy in Garland, Texas went silent.

Here is one:

TShinnick has left a new comment on your post "Church Growth Go Zunder":


So, St. Matthew's worship attendance is down three years in a row, and one family transfers to The Core and they're actively poaching members? Perhaps there are just some people at St. Matthew's that don't like some things about the church. I definitely know of more than one family that has transferred from St. Matthew's to another WELS congregation in the city. Does that mean that those congregations are actively poaching members? Of course not. It means that those people desire the truth of the Word of God without the aspects of St. Matthew's that they don't like. This sounds exactly like the mission of the Core...to provide people with the truth of God's Word without the barriers that might get in the way.

Beware, Zinders has a blog. But at least now he has some readers.

At Willow Creek Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin, this prophet unburdens himself:

Pastor Jackson,

I think it's time somebody judged you for a change, specifically in the context of pastoral qualities and attitudes. For one thing, you're arrogant, which I don't think should be a quality in any pastor. For another, your actions (at least as shown by the blog "Ichabod...") don't model those of Christ.

You mention in your biography how the rudeness of the seminary appalled you. Do you realize how rude you are sometimes? I think there's a Bible passage that goes along the lines of "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" I realize none of us are perfect. I myself am certainly a terrible sinner, but I think before we go around judging others, we need to evaluate our own lives and what we're doing wrong. (Matthew 7:1 - Do not judge, or you too will be judged.) Maybe this is the sin that plagues you the most, but I encourage you to tone it down a bit.

Although it's cliche, remember "What would Jesus do?" Would he really waste his time writing a blog like this, or would he lovingly (and personally) correct those who were wrong and then continue to spread the Gospel?

I encourage you to re-read Romans 12: 17-21 and 1 Peter 3:9.

Fellow Follower in Christ,

Matthew Zimdars

I am glad Zimdars brought up What Would Jesus Do? That particular movement is associated with the novel, In His Steps, one of the best-selling novels of all time. The movement and the novel are the essence of Pietism.

I have never puzzled over whether Jesus would blog. As Luther wrote, He always used the Word. I dedicated the Bethany blog to sermons and quotations, and I see that those readers include people from all over the world, especially the Third World.

Ichabod is polemical and the purpose is clearly defined, yet people with problems in reading comprehension denounce me for explain how and why the glory has departed.

Zimdars needs to read the Scriptures with discernment. Jesus denounced false teachers as wolves in sheep's clothing. No less an authority than Steve Kurtzahn called your retired seminary president, Valleskey, the same thing.

Jesus' broadside against the Pharisees is recorded in Matthew. Someone with the same name should be more familiar with the contents of St. Matthew's Gospel.

The Enthusiasts want to be known as Bible Christians, but they delete large portions of the Scripture, such as calling false doctrine "cancer." Oooh, that's harsh. Paul told the law-mongers invading Galatia that they should keep on cutting, if they are so keen on circumcision. Gross and unloving? - probably, in the eyes of Matthew the Younger.

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And that Fox, Weathervane, or Wolf (Luther to George Major):

Fox Mulder has left a new comment on your post "More Satisfied Readers":

Pastor,

Here you beat around the bush and don't address his topic of your rudeness which you don't seem to think a problem. There is a difference between being stark, bold, and upright about the sins of others (if they are sins) and degrading people to nothing more than faces you can put in an "Icha-cat" picture. Especially rude is that you don't know most of these men. You may have met them, you may have corresponded, but these is no relationship there. If one existed then you would feel much worse about these such men, who love the Lord and people. You may argue that because they distort scripture they have no love for God, but they don't see it that way. Also, in your response to Matthew's comment you bring up a certain book which isn't good, but Matthew never asserted that he had read the book or even known about it. Please recognize the difference between frankness and rudeness and treat people with gentleness and respect.

***

GJ - They say that dodging a bullet and living is quite a thrill, but can it compare to getting a string of anonymous nasty comments from someone promoting love? I wonder who else gets poison pen letters from Fox.

Clearly he identifies with the slain martyrs of Church and Chicanery. They seem to retain 100% employment, because the confessionals are not as ruthless as they are.

Someone wrote about Pope John the Malefactor extending the Left Foot of Fellowship to Rolf (not Rolph or Rolp) Preus, but His Holiness did that to several pastors and got himself banned from a number of ELS congregations.

No one has ever reached the nastiness, vengeance, and slander levels of WELS/ELS Chicaneries. I count Pope John as a holdover from the Wayne Mueller WELS presidency. (He still thought he was prez when Schroeder was elected.) The Chicaneries are incredibly foul and dishonest while yelping whenever someone gets close to the truth of their actions and words.

The Chicaneries have deprived many pastors of their livelihoods, simply because those pastors were faithful to the Word and the Confessions. The Chicaneries have done their deeds in the worst possible way: slanderously, sneakily, self-righteously.

Meanwhile, false teachers and adulterers (often the same, since they adulterate the Word and their marriages) are protected, defended, promoted, idolized, and held up as examples for others.

One WELS pastor asked some pointed questions, confronting Valleskey about CG deceit. Soon after, Valleskey threatened him. After that, the man was without a call, and he was not someone who could drop into any secular job. The Shrinkers do not want to remove someone permanently. They want to break him emotionally and financially, reduce him to crawling back, and hold him up as an example to those who might dissent from the Schwaermer line.

I do not apologize for knowing too much about how these thugs work. I have experienced and watched them in action. They are sniveling cowards who work in packs, anonymously, because not one can admit to what he really believes or disbelieves. They prance around direct questions so adroitly that they must take to heart this verse, "A soft dancer turneth away wrath."

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rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "More Satisfied Readers":

Pastor Jackson,
It sounds to me like they are tag-teaming you. Don't they know the rules? Two guys on each side, only one wrestler from each side in the ring. I think that Luther once said something like - "I thank God for my adversaries". He sharpened his knives on them.

***

GJ - Mr. Schultz, I am happy to expose the tactics of the Chicaneries for everyone to see. They are rude, crude, and immune to the rules of logic, grammar, and spelling. Almost every day I get comments with various crude insults - four letter words, body parts. One was so bad I sent it to only one person, so he could see how frightened the Chicaneries are.

My intuition is this - the older Chicaneries are having the young guys do their dirty work for them, manipulating them. "Oh, I wish I could say something to that blogger, but it's too risky right now." So the hotshot tries to make his bones so he can be included in the Mafia called Church and Change.

I heard the Chicaneries were forced to tell SP Schroeder everything they were doing, and they were not happy about it. The leaders can easily be determined from the Listserve comments and the conference attendance.

Limber Up Those Smile Muscles for the UOJ Stormtroopers

Giving Up in WELS

Congregation Mission Offerings
Our congregations have been expressing their thanks to God through their gifts of love and faith in support of the mission of the synod to proclaim the gospel to more and more people. Congregation Mission Offerings for November were 26% higher than November offerings the previous year. Even in a time when the economic climate is still filled with uncertainty, when many of our members are experiencing unemployment, and when congregations are facing their own financial struggles, Congregation Mission Offerings received through November are at 99% of year-to-date commitments made last January. We thank God for moving his people to express their thanks to him in this way. We thank congregational leaders for keeping the synod's work before our people. And we thank you for your faithful support of our mission to proclaim God's grace in Jesus.

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Michael Schottey has left a new comment on your post "Giving Up in WELS":

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa233/shredtastical/I-see-what-you-did-there.jpg

Sprung From ELCA

Many secular organizations have come from congregational involvement in various issues.

This is expanding as semi-demi-quasi-church organizations like Bethel New Life in Chicago claim corporate, governmental, and church funds.

The original Inner Missions of the Lutheran Church sought to combine ministry with providing for various needs (nursing homes, orphanages, soldiers' and sailors' missions, hospitals). The political activists moved in and Lutheran Social Services became one of these Non-Governmental Organizations where vast amounts of money was gathered because the government matched church funds.

Lutheran Social Services has been known for working with Missouri and ELCA at the same time. There were efforts to un-splice this relationship, but I doubt whether that lasted.

Long ago, Lutheran Social Services provided abortion counseling (not pro-life) and adoption services for people who vacation at Fire Island Pines.

ELCA Congregations Begin To Boycott ELCA Benevolence: Stories Ripped from the Pages of the ELCA Archives

What took so long?
Non-WELS readers know it should read "You're fired."

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CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) acted Nov. 15 to reduce the 2010 churchwide current fund spending authorization by nearly $7.7 million, 10 percent less than the budget authorized by the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. The council's action eliminated 40.75 full-time equivalent positions, of which six were vacant.
The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies. It met here Nov. 13-15.
The action reduced the current fund spending authorization for 2010 to $69,022,800. The 2009 assembly authorized $18.7 million in World Hunger spending for 2010, which was unchanged.
Nearly all churchwide units were affected by staff reductions or reassignments of staff, said the Rev. M. Wyvetta Bullock, ELCA executive for administration, in a report to the council. She said 23 executive staff positions and 18 support staff positions were eliminated. To respect their privacy, the names of people affected by the reductions will not be made public by the churchwide organization, Bullock said.

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Party in the ELCA

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a revision to the reinstatement process for former clergy and other professional leaders who were removed from the church's official rosters for disciplinary reasons or resigned in lieu of discipline -- solely because they were in a lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationship.
The change, adopted Nov. 15, applies to former ELCA associates in ministry, deaconesses, diaconal ministers and ordained ministers.

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In Fargo, N.D., the Rev. Ronald Bock, senior pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, and Dr. Joel Kangas, a local dentist and member, gave interviews to a television news crew about their congregation. They wanted people in the Fargo-Moorhead area to know their congregation is open to everyone. They wanted to say that St. John "seeks to encourage, reflect and grow community in Christ" -- as its mission statement says.

They also wanted residents to know there's another side to the news reports they've been reading and hearing about in Fargo in the past month. At least three other large ELCA congregations in town have declared they will redirect mission support funds away from the ELCA: Hope Lutheran Church, First Lutheran Church and Pontoppidan Lutheran Church.

But don't count St. John among them. The congregation intends to increase its giving to the ELCA.

Why? Because members have always had a "high view" of mission support, Bock said in an interview. And it was painful when the congregation had to reduce its giving a few years ago to meet mortgage costs, he said. Since then, they've been working their way back up.
For 2010 Bock said St. John's budget proposal will likely be about $510,000. Overall benevolence, which includes mission support, could be set at $48,000. If so, that would represent an increase of $13,000 over 2009.

That doesn't mean that all of the congregation's 1,100 baptized members agree with the assembly's decisions, Bock said. Members have many opinions. But what binds them together is not whether they always agree -- it is that have been called by Christ in baptism to be together, Bock said.
"We're hanging together. That's what the church ought to be about," he said.

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CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Two former presiding bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have appealed to members to pray for unity of the church and its mission, and to contribute financial gifts to support the ELCA.
"Our troubled world needs the Good News of the Gospel and all that flows from it," wrote the Rev. Herbert W. Chilstrom and the Rev. H. George Anderson, in a Dec. 3 e-mail message. "Our differences must not divide us at a time like this. We are absolutely certain that we can continue to live together and serve as one family in the ELCA."

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Missed Opportunities To Stop the CG Juggernaut

The Sausage Factory turns out Enthusiasts because the professors love the Enthusiasts painstakingly etched into this graphic.

The Word and the Confessions can rescue Lutherans from the Slough of Despond, but nothing else will.

Below are some missed opportunities in WELS, when hordes of pastors and laity should have rioted, waving pitchforks and torches:

1. Ron Roth and others began their TELL newsletter in 1977, to promote CG.
   
2. David Valleskey was hired at the Sausage Factory.
   
3. Paul Calvin Kelm went from editing TELL to heading Evangelism at the Love Shack.
   
4. All the Mission Vision fiction.
   
5. Every new hire at the Love Shack.
   
6. Perish Services expanding under Wayne Mueller.
   
7. Wayne Mueller denying in print that there was any CG in WELS, but also claiming the CG in WELS was confessional. GA grad? You betcha.
   
8. Perish Assistants.
   
9. Wayne Mueller voted out of the VP slot, the VP-elect getting the vapors, and Mueller voted back in. Groundhog Day.
   
10. Lutheran Parish Resources starting in Columbus, thanks to DP Mueller and VP Kuske, with Stolzenburg and Zehms in charge.
    
11. Pilgrim Community Church, Columbus, started by Kuske, Zehms, Stolzenburg.
    
12. CrossRoads in South Lyons, also started by DP Mueller, with help from Rick Miller, Mark Freier, Kelly Voigt.
    
13. CrossWalk in Phoenix, Jeff Gunn.
    
14. Cross-Something in Chicago.
    
15. Latte Lutheran, with Randy Hunter.
    
16. Rock and Roll, with Doebler.
    
17. African safaris and free vicars with Don Patterson.
    
18. Taking Lutheran out of various names, such as the hymnal, the magazine, the emerging churches above, WELS Lutherans for Life.
    
19. Time of Generic Grace, with Jeske.
    
20. Charis, Church and Change.
    
21. The CORE.
    
22. Steve Witte on the Asian board.
    
23. Jim Huenbner, First VP.
    

--- mjleyrer has left a new comment on your post "Missed Opportunities To Stop the CG Juggernaut": I find it ironic that you refer to the WLS as "The Sausage Factory" because they all come out the same but you continue to gripe about the differences between WELS churches. Kinda contradictory don't ya think?

*** GJ - I got the nickname from Jay Webber. He told me the ELS calls Mequon "The Sausage Factory" because they all come out the same. That GA-induced conformity has been useful in conforming everyone to Church Growth doctrine - false doctrine. Back in the old days, if they did not get enough from Valleskey, they got a dose a week after graduation, when a seminary was forced upon all graduates. If that was not enough torture, they will ordered back a year later for another dose - from Paul Calvin Kelm, Larry Oh!, and future first VP Huebner. So you missed the point, again.

--- mjleyrer has left a new comment on your post "Missed Opportunities To Stop the CG Juggernaut": Okay... but the nickname is still totally off because I know plenty of WELS pastors who are anti Church Growth. I don't think Jay was in all seriousness when he said that. Maybe just a joke. *** GJ - I would like a list of the articles or papers they have published against Church Growth, starting with Jay's list.

--- Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Missed Opportunities To Stop the CG Juggernaut": In the Peoples Bible Teachings, Church-Mission-Ministry, Prof. Armin Shuetze Has a few things to say concerning church growth: "By its emphasis on addressing the "felt needs" in a society, it shifts away from the inportance of proclaiming forgiveness in Christ by a proper use of law and gospel with ultimate goal of eternal life in heaven. "In the felt needs approach ... sanctification becomes the means to fulfill the prospect's need for acceptance, fulfillment, and a better life through the victory over sin." "God has not promised that everyone who hears the good news will come to faith. The church cannot expect more success than its Lord." "How do we measure succeess ? And growth? Even one sinner who repents and turns in aith to the Lord Jesus causes rejoicing in heaven." "In the 1950's a missionary in India for the Disciples of Christ, Donald McGavran, was troubled by the lack of numerical growth. His concerns began what has become known as the Church Growth Movement." There is much more I could quote. I recomend you read the book for yourself. Schuetze echoes the same thing that Pastor Jackson has been saying. The CG pastors could learn from this book. In Christ, from WELS church lady *** GJ - John D. Schuetze has published a Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly article where he emphasizes the Means of Grace. I hope he has good connections, because a lot of WELSians are allergic to that message.

--- mjleyrer has left a new comment on your post "Missed Opportunities To Stop the CG Juggernaut": First I would like to say that there are probably papers written against it and secondly, even if there WEREN'T papers that doesn't mean you can just write off every pastor in the synod. There are those in the WELS that are against C&G. It just isn't fair to put a giant black mark on the entire synod just because there's no one writing papers. I'm not trying to defend C&G, I dislike it as much as you do but I do have to defend a sister synod. Yeah papers are a good way to oppose something in your synod but there is leading by example. I think that's what most of them do. *** GJ - It is indeed comforting to know that there are "probably papers written against" Church Growth. If I wrote off every pastor in WELS or put a black mark on the entire synod, I would not bother posting. I spend little time on the LCMS and even less on the ELCA, because both are far gone. Perhaps someone could write a paper about the Appleton Dumbling gang. Or, they could lead by example and kick the Enthusiasts out.

WELS Appleton (Fox Valley) Demonstrates Dangers of Unsafe Sects

Shh. Nobody knows where we good our good stuff.

Would you fly across the US to hear a guy in a Mickey Mouse shirt?
If so, you belong in Church and Change.
Ron Ash chairs C and C - Ski was on the board.
Ski, Glende, and Bishop Katie went to Seattle for a "pastor conference" with...?

Ski taking in members from another WELS CG church? That is just the beginning.

The problem with aping the worst of the Reformed is this - Whatever WELS tries to do, the pure Enthusiasts have done better.

All the work of Ron Roth, Paul Calvin Kelm, David Valleskey, Fuller Bivens, David Hartmann, James Hueber, Larry Oh! Olson, and the spineless DPs has gone toward training people to be Enthusiasts. Missouri, the ELS, and the CLC (sic) are doing the same thing.

Once the Half-Way Enthusiasts find out where the good stuff is, they will bolt for greener pastures.

In a decade, the Fox Valley WELS CG congregations will either be empty of members or in fellowship with Unitarian-Universalists. Sure, it may take a little longer than that, but it will happen.

Anti-Confessionalism is inherently anti-Biblical.

"The modern radical spirit which would sweep away the Formula of Concord as a Confession of the Church, will not, in the end, be curbed, until it has swept away the Augsburg Confession, and the ancient Confessions of the Church--yea, not until it has crossed the borders of Scripture itself, and swept out of the Word whatsoever is not in accord with its own critical mode of thinking. The far-sighted rationalist theologian and Dresden court preacher, Ammon, grasped the logic of a mere spirit of progress, when he said: 'Experience teaches us that those who reject a Creed, will speedily reject the Scriptures themselves.'"
Theodore E. Schmauk and C. Theodore Benze, The Confessional Principle and the Confessions, as Embodying the Evangelical Confession of the Christian Church, Philadelphia: General Council Publication Board, 1911, p. 685.

MLC Concert on Ustream - You Missed It

http://www.wels.net/streams-media/live/audio-only/mlc-music

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TR has left a new comment on your post "MLC Concert on Ustream Now":

Glad to see you got my comment in time. I hope you enjoyed the concert!

***

GJ - It was great, breathtaking in parts.

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TR has left a new comment on your post "MLC Concert on Ustream - You Missed It":

Diet O. Worms,

The school records the concert each year and makes it available on CD for $10 (paying for copyrights and shipping). Contact Dr. John Nolte (noltejp@mlc-wels.edu) for more information.

Apologies to Doris Day

Hear Doris Day sing the newest Church and Change hymn.

Once I had a secret love
That lived within the heart of me
All too soon my secret love
Became impatient to be free

So I told a friendly star
The way that dreamers often do
Just how wonderful you are
And why I'm so in love with you

Now I shout it from the highest hills
Even told the golden daffodils
At last my heart's an open door
And my secret love's no secret anymore

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Hi Professor,

not trying to be contentious, but weren't you the one defending SP Schroeder before? What do you mean to turn him into a flower child? Don't get it.

DK
***

GJ - Flower child? The first graphic shows a morganatic (secret) marriage between Jeske and Kieschnick. The first stage of this relationship had Jeske involved in lecturing at Concordia U. (LCMS, Mequon), participating in a joint service with the LCMS, and speaking at a Missouri district meeting.

I thought the old Doris Day lyrics fit the new situation, with Jeske promoted on the home page of the Missouri Synod. "Now my secret love's no secret anymore."

The "friendly star" is Bruce Becker, an expert in explaining fellowship principles.

"Now I shout it from the highest hills
Even told the golden daffodils."

At some point Jeske has to explain to Schroeder, and the Wisconsin State DPs that he is a Missouri pastor now. Therefore, the three DPs and the SP are the daffodils.

I still think SP Schroeder is doing a great job, and I do not envy him at all.

WELS and the Episcopal Church USA - A Comparison

Bishop and Presiding Bishop, Episcopal Church, USA

The Episcopal Church USA officially opposed women's ordination, so bishops ordained a few women, then took a vote. They won.

The WELS officially opposed women's ordination. Brug and a bunch of pastors gave papers claiming, strangely, "there is nothing in the Bible against women being pastors." Church and Change skipped ordination (as far as we know) and simply installed women pastors, including one who says in her bio that she "administers the Means of Grace."

Bishop Robinson and his friend.

The Episcopal Church USA officially opposed homosexual priests and bishops - at least if they were out in the open. They finally enthroned Robinson, who celebrated with his male partner and his daughter (from when he was married). That caused an uproar across the world and a split in the world-wide Anglican communion.

The WELS opposed ELCA's latest support of homosexual and lesbian pastors. When the Martin Luther College video, "Party in the USA," was embedded in this blog, there was a huge uproar - against this blog. Wisconsin Luther College's student newspaper printed a front-page editorial, disguised a news, backing up the poor innocent students who naively made a worse video than the Fire Island Pines troop. The gaydar dish was installed Photoshoppingly, to help guard against future video pratfalls.

Church Growth Go Zunder

Fox Valley has confirmed that Ski is taking members from local WELS congregations. So much for "doing anything--short of sin--to reach the unchurched."

The Shrinkers illustrate the journalistic term I learned a few decades ago. When one tabloid gets readers with a particular type of story or photograph, its rival "goes under" the previously established barrier in search of new readers. "Goes under" means lowering the standards.

A Shrinker church goes under, to sheep steal. The ALC used to do that with WELS and Missouri. So did the LCA. If Missouri and WELS have closed communion, the new mission has open communion. If lodge members have been bumped off the membership list, the new mission takes them in and sympathizes. As one LCA mission boss said, "That town only had WELS and Missouri there before we came. They never heard the Gospel before."

Shrinkers have no conscience, so they gleefully take members from their own denomination. That is why Larry Oh's old congregation in Love's Park is moving away, because another WELS congregation was set up nearby. Apparently, Love's Park went Lutheran after Our Staph Infection left, so LP had to be punished.

Stadler was famous for taking in members from WELS congregations, members who were being disciplined. Eventually Stadler and his fellow pastors, Iver Johnson and Mike Albrecht, left. Logia put Albrecht on the board. I think Albrecht was on an ELCA magazine board at the same time. Oh, those Confessional Lutherans.

The CORE is ideal for all those WELS members trained in Pietism and Enthusiasm. Hate the liturgy and creeds? Go to CORE. Need to be tickled and entertained? Go to CORE. Prefer Groeschel to Luther? Go to CORE. Favor women's ordination? Talk to Bishop Katie.

But CORE is not so dumb that they will compete with normal WELS services. That would leave the gigantic, expensive movie theater ("20 sub-woofers!") almost empty.

Geometry students figure the Appleton pie now has more slices in it. That does not make the pie bigger. Enormous amounts of money have already been spent to make each slice smaller. That is the Shrinkage Movement at a glance. For confirmation, look at the statistics for WELS and Missouri, ever since they started sending all their leaders to Fuller and Willow Creek.

The joke is on the Synodical Conference, because second rate Lutherans make fourth rate Babtists. Whatever Lutherans think they can do in going under each other, the Babtists have already done it and done it "better," as judged by their peers in apostasy.

The CORE is not the first Emerging Church in Appleton. It is the fourth or fifth, the others being well established. That is where Ski went during his initial exile from Milwaukee. He was going to the Appleton Alliance worship services and hoping against hope he could hear the big guy preach there.

Nor is The CORE the first Shrinker WELS church in Fox Valley. Many of them are already thoroughly infatuated. St. Mark Depere is a member of the Willow Creek Association. Perhaps those other WELS congregations lack a movie screen, popcorn machines, gourmet coffee, and ice cream. Is that really enough to make people forget they are hearing recycled Groeschel material?

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TShinnick has left a new comment on your post "Church Growth Go Zunder":

How has it been "confirmed that Ski is taking members from local WELS congregations"? While I have not attended the core, I have heard from multiple people who were present at services shortly after they opened their doors that at some point in the service Ski plainly stated that if anyone was an active member of another congregation that the core was not for them, but that it was, instead, there for those who were not involved in a church proclaiming God's grace in its truth and purity.

I'm interested as to the source that has confirmed your presupposition.


***


GJ - That is an old WELS trick:
1. I can't believe it, so prove it's true.
2. Demand the source.
3. Attack the source, because not even a videotape is good enough.

I am sure Ski or Bishop Katie could offer a list of actual, communing members, along with their previous memberships.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Church Growth Go Zunder":

If you go to St. Matthew Appleton's website www.stmatthewlutheran.com, select "File Downloads", and select the December newsletter, they have listed a family that indeed did transfer to the CORE. This is ironic, since St. Matthew is probably the second most CG congregation in the Valley next to St. Peter Freedom / CORE... 

***

GJ -

Yes indeed, Gary and Connie Vanden Heuvel transfered to The CORE in October. 

 

But St. Matthew cannot possibly claim Church-Growthiness. The same newsletter shows worship attendance down three years in a row, membership down three years in a row, and the budget $17,000 in the red.

Brothers of John the Steadfast Photoshop Kieschnick's Book

Is Missouri Better Off Under Kieschnick? Will Jeske be the first rat to swim toward a sinking ship?


The original artwork can be found here. (Mequon graduates, left click the link. Thanks.)

Once again, I have to ask, "What do the Church Growth numbers tell us about the stated aims of the Movement?" Fuller's Ponzi scheme may be bigger than Bernie Madoff's.

Years ago, family friends went to me at my mother's funeral. They were LCMS and on my mailing list. They thanked me for the doctrinal bulletins, which were emailed in those primitive days. They were supporting their conservative Missouri pastor, but afraid the apostates in the district and congregation would drive him away.

WELS members should take note of the doctrinal unity established through Fuller, Willow Creek, Trinity Deerfield, and other beehives of Church Growth. Those who are filled with Enthusiasm are united across synod lines. They read the same books, pervert worship the same way, and think in the same categories. Sometimes WELS pastors think they are entering paradise to leave Wisconsin and join Missouri. In reality, they are accelerating their abandonment of Biblical doctrine. After Missouri will come ELCA or a Babtist group. Then atheism. Jungkuntz led the way.

I am not saying WELS is the fortress of Lutheran orthodoxy - far from it. Look at the State of Wisconsin DPs - all Schwaermer. But, as one General Council theologian wrote - those who abandon the Confessions will soon abandon the Scriptures as well. Pietism turns into atheism in one or two generations.

Second Sunday in Advent

The Holy Trinity, by Norma Boeckler

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Second Sunday in Advent":

Thank you. Our pastors need to start "Kelming" you. You belong in a pulpit.
PW

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The Second Sunday in Advent

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Time


The Hymn # 58 – Gerhardt O Lord 4:49
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 Romans 15:4-13
The Gospel Luke 21:25-36
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #71 Watchman 4.9

My Words Will Not Pass Away

The Hymn # 304 An Awesome Mystery 4.6
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 # 647 O Little Town 4.13

Second Sunday In Advent
Lord God, heavenly Father, who by Thy Son hast revealed to us that heaven and earth shall pass away, that our bodies shall rise again, and that we all shall appear before the judgment seat: We beseech Thee, keep us by Thy Holy Spirit in Thy word; establish us in the true faith, graciously defend us from sin and preserve us in all temptations, that our hearts may not be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, but that we may ever watch and pray and, trusting fully in Thy grace, await with joy the glorious coming of Thy Son, and at last obtain eternal salvation, through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

KJV Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: 9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. 10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. 11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. 12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. 13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

KJV Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. 29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. 32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

My Words Will Not Pass Away

This Gospel gives us both a warning and great comfort.

The warnings about the end times give many different clues but also tell us not to predict. Whenever crises stir up the world, people think about the end times.

When the papacy was bent on destroying the Lutherans, and faithful men were burned at the stake, leaders wondered if the end times had arrived. That was when Lutherans still called the pope the Antichrist instead of having his archbishop teach Lutherans about the Word of God (WLC, Milwaukee; similar examples in the ELS, LCMS).

Martin Chemnitz, in his Examination of the Council of Trent, referred to “the last days of an insane, old world.”

World war and weather catastrophes have made people wonder if the end times had finally arrived.

Jesus’ address in Mark 13 emphasizes not being fooled by pretenders when the end times threaten. Many people were fooled when the year 1000 AD came around, because they took the number from Revelation literally.

This passage has a different emphasis – the great terrors mean the Savior is returning:

Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

We take for granted the serene calmness of the night skies. When the sun and the moon change, with world-wide political crises, and the oceans roaring – people will be terrified.

26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Once the normal state is changed, and our calm world disappears, the rest of the calamities can only be imagined. Although we can never predict, our emotions can easily focus on many types of disasters.

We accept the relative calm of the natural world as our due, seldom realizing how much this depends on God’s gracious will. All power lies within His hands, so whatever we see is the result of His governance.

Everything is perfectly balanced for life on earth to prosper. The sun’s warmth, the moon’s effect on the seas, and the atmosphere are all exactly right. One little example is the reflective surface of the moon. If it were normally reflective (like other satellites), it would be too bright and have an adverse effect on the cycle of life. So would a different gravitational pull. All these complications, working perfectly together, point to the God’s Creation and management, rather than evolution.

When everything was nearly perfect, before the Flood, man took the prosperity and ease of life as normal, and became utterly evil. We know that a Florida-like climate existed all over the planet, so all forms of life grew in abundance, but thankful hearts were rare. Rehwinkel’s The Flood is quite instructive about the pre-Flood era. Who knows what life-easing technology existed then, when people lived for centuries?

We live in a much tougher climate than the time before the Flood, but we Americans are blessed with a unique combination of resources, weather, and soil. Slight changes in weather patterns make people all too aware of how much we are harmed by the slightest variations.

We cannot even imagine what it means to have the great powers of heaven shaken.

27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

When Christ returns, as the Word reveals, no one will have any doubt about the truth of the Scriptures. Although Christianity takes a beating in the world press, it is world-wide and remains the largest religion of all, in spite of being preceded by other religions, such as Buddhism and Hinduism.

My understanding is that the pagan religions of the world are perversions and mockeries of the original true religion revealed to the Biblical patriarchs. (Evolutionists see polytheism starting first, followed by monotheism, with the best and final stage being an ethical atheism! That is like saying a rusty car, left alone, will become a shiny new car. I see the pagan religions as the rusty cars, sometimes barely recognizable.)

Philippians 2 will be fulfilled at the return of Christ:

KJV Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Every knee will bow and everyone confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

The return of Christ will be a great terror for unbelievers, but a great comfort for believers:

28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption [GJ – release] draweth nigh.

Here is the same word for redemption (setting us free, release) - NKJ 1 Corinthians 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God -- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption –

Christ is a terror to guilty unbelievers, but salvation to those justified by faith. The same epiphany will divide the world into believers and unbelievers, for final judgment. Eternal damnation will be the knowledge of God without His comfort, plus far more. Eternal salvation will mean reunion with all believers at the Throne of the Lamb.

This has been revealed to us so our hearts do not fail when the calamities come. Nothing is worse than being without hope, and this knowledge from the Holy Spirit gives us hope.

The Parable
29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

This brief parable encourages us in our discernment. People know when a tree buds and begins to flower and fruit. This does not require secret knowledge. Even those who are oblivious to nature are aware of these signs of spring and summer. Likewise, when the global calamities come, it is a sign of hope, rather than despair, for believers. Even thought the time is delayed, the increase of catastrophes is enough to make us hopeful rather than frightened.

In the last week, Dubai declared it could not pay on its huge debt. Dubai is part of the oil-rich Emirates. They built the largest skyscraper in the world, a new train system with very few passengers, and incredible numbers of office buildings and residential buildings, all 50% empty. Many buildings have stopped, partially completed. That is just one snapshot of a worldwide debt and real estate catastrophe.

32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

“This generation” has been used to justify the notion that the New Testament is wrong about the return of Christ, that this had to be patched up in other places. That would be true if “this generation” meant precisely what the skeptics want it to say. But 2 Peter says 1,000 years is like a day, and a day like 1,000 years to the Lord. So that means two days have elapsed, in the divine count, not 2000 years.

In history, we are still in the Roman era, one generation. All of the things we value come from the Roman Empire, and they filched the best from the Golden Age of Athens.

Egypt and Sumer were so long ago that they have little influence on our customs, our language, science, and arts. (“Walk like an Egyptian” is still popular at Mequon.) That was truly another age and we have very little left from that era.

In contrast, the Roman era continues. America was founded by men who read The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, a best-seller at the time. Our Founders were educated in Latin and studied Roman history. Hitler called his era the Third Reich, using Rome as the first. At the time of WWI, the ruler in German was the Kaiser (based on the word Caesar, one Roman name for rulers). In Russia, the ruler was called Czar, also based on “Caesar.” We have Czars in America, appointed by the president.

33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

Verse 33 is found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. As I mentioned many times before, since the Bible is so concise, every phrase means something important. Repeating the same phrase or verse is especially important.

Those who belittle the Word of God by replacing it with their words are fighting against one of most important revelations of the Bible. All of this stuff that people value so much will not last. Everything will pass away. Granite and marble monuments with brass plates will be gone. Nothing will last, except the Words of Christ.

Because the words of Christ will outlast heaven and earth, they should be valued accordingly. Yet we find the revealed Word of God bent and twisted to serve the carnal needs of man. One of the current fads is to say, “God told me…” That is another example of Enthusiasm. God has one revelation – the Scriptures. He has not given a license to people to make up whatever they want and call it a vision or revelation from God.

Luther’s Large Catechism:

91] For the Word of God is the sanctuary above all sanctuaries, yea, the only one which we Christians know and have. For though we had the bones of all the saints or all holy and consecrated garments upon a heap, still that would help us nothing; for all that is a dead thing which can sanctify nobody. But God's Word is the treasure which sanctifies everything, and by which even all the saints themselves were sanctified. At whatever hour, then, God's Word is taught, preached, heard, read or meditated upon, there the person, day, and work are sanctified thereby, not because of the external work, but because of the Word, which makes saints of us all. 92] Therefore I constantly say that all our life and work must be ordered according to God's Word, if it is to be God-pleasing or holy. Where this is done, this commandment is in force and being fulfilled.

100] For let me tell you this, even though you know it perfectly and be already master in all things, still you are daily in the dominion of the devil, who ceases neither day nor night to steal unawares upon you, to kindle in your heart unbelief and wicked thoughts against the foregoing and all the commandments. Therefore you must always have God's Word in your heart, upon your lips, and in your ears. But where the heart is idle, and the Word does not sound, he breaks in and has done the damage before we are aware. 101] On the other hand, such is the efficacy of the Word, whenever it is seriously contemplated, heard, and used, that it is bound never to be without fruit, but always awakens new understanding, pleasure, and devoutness, and produces a pure heart and pure thoughts. For these words are not inoperative or dead, but creative, living words. 102] And even though no other interest or necessity impel us, yet this ought to urge every one thereunto, because thereby the devil is put to Right and driven away, and, besides, this commandment is fulfilled, and [this exercise in the Word] is more pleasing to God than any work of hypocrisy, however brilliant.

Application
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

So many celebrities are eager to prove the validity of these words from Christ. These three verses are the practical application of this lesson. Dangers that make us unprepared for the coming of Christ include carousing, drunkenness, and being overwhelmed with the cares of this life.

A snare grabs wildlife (or human targets) suddenly and traps them. We have all seen movies where the hero is suddenly hoisted into a tree in a big net. The snare has found its target. When people are consumed with their material needs or with hedonism, they are also caught in the snare and unprepared for the return of Christ.

Watchfulness and prayer are necessary, that we remain with the True Vine and stay fruitful through the Gospel Promises so generously given to us.