Someone sent me this picture. He or she is a layman, active in WELS.
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.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Graphic Evidence of WELS Laity Discontented with Mary Lou College Leadership
LCMS Board Minutes and Jeske
Below is a section of the official Minutes of the LCMS BCS, posted publicly on the Internet. Note highlighted paragraph. It will be very interesting to see how DP Dave gets around this, "evangelical" or not!
Page 1 of 3 Minutes - Board for Communication Services
April 27-28, 2009
LCMS International Center
St. Louis, MO
Present: Dennis Clauss, chairman; David Berger, John Bush, Ernest Garbe, Candace Mueller, Charles Mueller, Jr., Kevin Vogts Non-voting: David Strand Excused: Eileen Bishop List
Guests during the strategic planning segment of the meeting included several BCS staff members.
Chairman Clauss called the meeting to order at 8:05 AM and opened with prayer.
Welcome to Rev. Charles Mueller, Jr., appointed member replacing Rev. David Kluth..
Agenda approved by consensus, with addition of J. Connett in I. KFUO discussion.
M/S/C to approve the minutes of January 27, 2009.
Old Business
1. The Director of News and Information Services position is exempt from the hiring freeze. Salary for the position is included in the budget beginning January 1, 2010 (possibly earlier).
Roland Lovstad has been helping out in the interim. Time frame for DNIS search: applications due in early August; interview candidates in late August / early September; COP action on candidates in their September meeting. Pending their action, a board phone conference might be arranged to expedite the process. A question was raised regarding venues to be used for the announcement of the position; official periodicals of the Synod are not sufficient to get the word out to a broad constituency. While a theologically educated person is highly desirable, the position need not be filled by ordained clergy. Mix of skills might include marketing as well as journalism. Recommendations may be made to D. Clauss or D. Strand.
2. Time of Grace
The program hosted by Pastor Jeske remains the only Lutheran television program available nationally. RSO status was granted in January by the BCS, contingent upon the ToG board’s including a clergyman of the LCMS. At least one LCMS layman is currently on the board. The organization is adamant about maintaining a lay board and has resisted including any pastors. Given that RSO status is revocable if necessary, the board took the following action: M/S/C to remove the contingency of LCMS clergy presence on the board for LCMS RSO status for Time of Grace Ministry. [The operative assumption, however, is that the board will continue to have LCMS lay presence.]
3. Executive session guidelines from the February 2009 BOD minutes provided by R. Hartwig were discussed.
New Business
1. D. Clauss and Ch. Mueller reported their impressions of the "President’s Core Leadership Team Meeting" earlier in April. Included in the discussions were the proposals for LCMS
Church and Money Changers at Mary Lou College - WELS Lady Pastor Speaks
Pastor Kristen "administers the Means of Grace"
at Latte Lutheran Church.
Puff piece in FIC.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "When Kelm Taught Reformed Theology at Wisconsin Lu...":
Forget about Kelm. Today is MLC Evangelism Day.
Openening Speaker Pastor Richard Gurgel - Church and Money Changer.
At 9:30 Pastor Mark Bitter.
Pastor Bill Limmer - He and Parlow plagiarized Hybels' email.
and Kristin Koespell will conduct the panel discussion on worship and evangelism.
Isn't she the one at Hunter's church? (yep!)
In Christ,
from WELS church lady
---
From their website:
Minister of Worship - Kristen Koepsell
Home » About Us » Staff - Minister of Worship Kristen Koepsell
As Staff Minister of Worship, Kristen is responsible for planning and implementing all worship opportunities at St. Andrew. She also oversees the large corps of worship volunteers who serve in many and varied capacities each week. Music is the largest part of the worship ministry at St. Andrew, but the worship ministry also includes lay readers, dramatic and visual arts, hospitality ministries and audio/visual tech support. Kristen works closely with Pastor Hunter to study and understand biblical worship principles and practices, evaluate current worship practices at St. Andrew, and define future directions for St. Andrew’s worship ministry.
Kristen graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran College in 2003 with a B.A. in Psychology and minors in Communication and Theology. While at WLC she worked for two years in the Campus Ministry Office planning and implementing daily chapel services, organizing various musical groups for worship, and learning from Campus Pastor Nathan Strobel. She is currently pursuing Staff Ministry certification from Martin Luther College.
Kristen grew up in the Pacific Northwest and always intended to return there after college, but God had other plans for her. He has planted her firmly in the family of faith at St. Andrew and for this she is truly and deeply grateful. When she’s not writing services or running rehearsals, Kristen spends her time reading science fiction and classic literature, playing piano, writing music, taking long walks in good weather, staying connected with friends and family, and generally enjoying life.
“The best part of my job is knowing that my work directly impacts the spiritual lives of those who worship here and enables them to connect with God. I say this with a full and complete understanding (and appreciation!) of the fact that the actual work is done by the Holy Spirit through the means of grace – but it is a great privilege and a great joy to be an instrument in ‘administering God’s grace’ in the form of worship gatherings. The second most rewarding aspect of my work is assisting all sorts of members of the congregation in bringing their gifts to God and to each other as joyful offerings. How exciting it is to see brothers and sisters in Christ – of all ages! – learning and working together to serve God and His people. The interpersonal connections made and the spiritual lessons learned through this ministry are invaluable blessings from our gracious God.”
---
Mary Lou College (WELS)
Church and Change Evangelism Day at MLC 2010
last modified 2009-11-30 04:16 PMThe public is invited to attend the opening worship service and an informative panel discussion at MLC’s Evangelism Day, January 20, 2010.
Evangelism Day is dedicated to equipping MLC students to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, both in their personal lives and when they serve in the public ministry. “How Shall They Hear?” will be this year’s focus.
The opening service and the panel discussion will be held in the auditorium of the Wittenberg Collegiate Center starting at 8:30 am. The opening service preacher will be Professor Richard Gurgel of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.
At 9:30, Pastor Mark Bitter, Pastor Bill Limmer, and Kristin Koepsell will conduct the panel discussion on worship and evangelism. While you are on campus, lunch is available at the college cafeteria at a modest cost.
---
----- Original Message -----
From: jp (this is how John Parlow sends his messages)
Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2003 2:47 PM
Subject: Letter from Pastor Limmer (not sure how Limmer got added, but he was)
Dear St. Mark Family,
I have never been an early riser all my life. And so for someone like me to be tossing and turning two hours before sunrise, after a fourteen hour work day at St. Mark...well that is worth trying to figure out. Jet lag? Nope. I have been in the same time zone for weeks. Family trouble? Nope. My family still graciously puts up with all my quirks. Anxiety? The world has its share of troubles, and I like many of you, have felt the need to pray more fervently for so many who are suffering. But after reflecting on that for a little while, I knew that wasn't the root cause of my sleeplessness.
Being the seasoned spiritual leader that I am, I finally resorted to a formula that has been a secret embarrassment to me for decades: "When all else fails...turn to God and ask for help." When I quietly breathed a prayer for insight from above, the Spirit whispered, "It is old fashioned excitement, Bill. You felt it in years past when Holy Week services were filled with a sense of anticipation and wonder and you are feeling it again now. It is a good thing. In fact, why not revel in the fact that you have been doing something for fifteen years and you love it so much that you can't sleep come ‘game day’." Duh.
Last night I prayed for Scott as I knew he would be putting on the finishing touches for the three Maundy Thursday Services. And today I'm contemplating the final rehearsals for our Good Friday services, and felt a sharp pang of sadness that it is not being broadcast all over the world. It was that touching to me. I was completely convinced that any and all who experience it will be moved to tears as I was, and as irresistibly drawn to the Crucified One. The Tenebrae services are at 12:30, 3:30 and 6:30 tomorrow.
Earlier in the day John, a few others and I reviewed the Easter message. (Remember we are at West High, 966 Shawano Ave. at 7:30 and 9:30 a.m.) As the group left my office, I sat with John and we grieved over the fact that we would only be having eight Holy Week services! All John and I could talk about was the redemptive potential of the next four days. Who knows what God might do--in how many lives?!
Friends, don't miss anything these next few days. Don't miss private promptings from God regarding what He wants you to reflect on this Holy Week. Don't miss a single opportunity to ask additional friends and family to come with you to the services. Don't miss the teaching moments with young children that this season affords. Miss a little sleep...but don't miss anything else. Deal?
Bill
[Milwaukee -- Cardinal Stritch Coll
(F) Rev Bill F Limmer
The Point of Grace, Milwaukee WI
414-963-2047
pastorbill@thepointofgrace.net
Wisconsin Lutheran Student Center Worship Facility]
---
But two and one-half hours earlier, this message had already arrived from Bill Hybels, Willow Creek Community Church:
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Hybels
To: enews@arrow.willowcreek.org
Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2003 12:08 PM
Subject: Sleepless in Barrington (from Bill Hybels)
Dear Enews Family,
I have been an early riser all my life. It goes back to growing up in a family that owned a fresh produce business. But for someone like me to be tossing and turning two hours before sunrise, after a sixteen hour work day at Willow...well that is worth trying to figure out. Jet lag? Nope. I have been in the same time zone for weeks. Family trouble? Nope. We recently returned from one of the most enjoyable vacations we have ever had. Anxiety? The world has its share of troubles, and I like many of you, have felt the need to pray more fervently for so many who are suffering. But after reflecting on that for a little while, I knew that wasn't the root cause of my sleeplessness.
Being the seasoned spiritual leader that I am, I finally resorted to a formula that has been a secret embarrassment to me for decades: "When all else fails...turn to God and ask for help." When I quietly breathed a prayer for insight from above, the Spirit whispered, "It is old fashioned excitement, Bill. You felt it in years past when Good Friday and Easter services were filled with a sense of anticipation and wonder and you are feeling it again now. It is a good thing. In fact, why not revel in the fact that you have been doing something for thirty years and you love it so much that you can't sleep come ‘game day’." Duh.
Last night I sat through the final rehearsals for our Good Friday services, and felt a sharp pang of sadness that it is not being broadcast all over the world. It was that touching to me. I was completely convinced that any and all who experience it will be moved to tears as I was, and as irresistibly drawn to the Crucified One. The first service starts tonight at 7:00 p.m. (And then we get to do it three more times on Friday--at 4:00, 6:00, and 8:00 p.m.!)
Earlier in the day God had graciously given my Easter message to me, after which the team and I reviewed the Easter program one final time. As the group left my office, I sat alone for just a moment and grieved over the fact that we would only be able to do it seven times! At the end of my workday Greg Ferguson and I did our typical run, but at a ridiculously fast pace, because all we could talk about was the redemptive potential of the next four days. Who knows what God might do--in how many lives?!
So, that's why I'm pecking at my laptop well before the guys with broken exhaust systems deliver the newspapers . . .raw spiritual amperage. And at my age...it is a good thing.
Friends, don't miss anything these next few days. Don't miss private promptings from God regarding what He wants you to reflect on this Holy Week. Don't miss a single opportunity to ask additional friends and family to come with you to the services. Don't miss the teaching moments with young children that this season affords. Miss a little sleep...but don't miss anything else. Deal?
Bill
-------------------------------
To find out about this weekend's service or what's happening around Willow Creek Community Church, visit http://www.willowcreek.org.
To unsubscribe from E-news, send a blank message to enews@willowcreek.org with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
If you have questions about Willow Creek, you can e-mail info@willowcreek.org or call (847)765-5000. Thank you.
---
From Mike Schottey, earlier:
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.
When Kelm Taught Reformed Theology at Wisconsin Lutheran College (WELS)
GJ - Below is a complete, verbatim copy of Paul Kelm's syllabus when he was teaching a course required for graduation at WLC. Are the Reformed and Pentecostals at Fuller Seminary reciprocating? Having Luther, Chemnitz, Walther on their required reading lists? Are Fuller D.Min. topics something like this? -
- Luther Was Right, Get Over It
- Pentecostalism Is Swallowing the Holy Ghost, Feathers and All
- God Works Only through His Word and Sacraments
- We Admire Everything about the Reformed, Except Their Doctrine
- Worship God in the Beauty of His Holiness
- What Can We Learn from the Means of Grace?
- Useful Ideas from the Book of Concord
GJ note: The school had a hissy-fit when one student asked to avoid the assault of false doctrine. My name was never mentioned by the student, but the school brought up my name in a weird, paranoid way. No, this student skipped Kelm on his own and then sent me the material.
WISCONSIN LUTHERAN COLLEGE
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
THE 211: The Christian Faith and Life (3 credits)
Pastor Paul Kelm, Home Phone 784-0492 (Consultation by appointment)
I. COURSE DESCRIPTION
A biblical study of the Christian’s relationship with God~ self and others, with a particular focus on the ministry and fellowship of Christians gathered to be Christ’s church.
II. COURSE OBJECTIVES
A. That students develop a more personal relationship with their God through Bible
study, reflection and discussion.
B. That students develop a clearer understanding of themselves and their gifts, as well as Christian skills for coping with life and using their gifts.
C. That students become familiar with the nature and mission of Christ’s Church,
together with the challenges and opportunities confronting contemporary churches.
D. That students evaluate several significant issues and functions of confessional Lutheran churches.
III. COURSE METHODOLOGY AND MATERIALS
A. Three distinct areas outline the content of the course: Skills of Christian Living, Is sues of Personal Christianity and Principles of Church Leadership. Sometimes students will be asked to prepare for class discussion, especially by thoughtful study of a chapter of the Bible during the “issues of personal Christianity” subjects. Most classes will be guided by a handout prepared by the instructor. Lecture, question and answer, focused discussion and small-group interaction will be the methodology employed. Students are invited to raise related issues for discussion.
B. Each student will develop a Bible study, based on a specific chapter of the Bible and for a specific audience. Chapter and audience options are listed later in this syllabus. Bible studies will be graded according to the following criteria: 1) How well did this study bring out the main truths of the chapter in a detailed outline or narrative that both explained and illustrated these truths? 2) Is this study relevant to the audience selected? 3) Does this study involve the audience in the study through effective questions, discussion starters, action involvement, etc.? 4) How clear and practical are the applications of the chapter’s truths to life? 5) Does this study clearly relate Jesus Christ to the chapter and to the Christian’s life? 6) How creative and engaging is this study? Bible studies are to be turned in no later than September 23.
C. Each student will deliver an oral book review of six minutes in class. Book choices are listed later in this syllabus. The book review should include: the title of the book and a brief introduction of the author; a clear statement of the major premise/point/purpose of the book; at least four significant secondary or supporting arguments the author raises: an explanation of what value the book has to a Christian life and/or a church leader: a theological evaluation of the book (Is it biblically accurate and doctrinally correct?). Finally, the book review must convince the instructor that you actually read the book. The book review is due on or before Wednesday, October 21.
D. Students will complete an interview, analysis and summary project in teams of two. Options are listed later in this syllabus. Students must register their choice of project with the instructor by Wednesday, September 30, and must submit the written summary - no less than four typed, double-spaced pages with interview sheets attached - by Wednesday, November 18.
E. A research paper on one issue or aspect of congregational life and ministry is due on or before Wednesday, December 9. This paper must be not less than five typed, double-spaced pages of original composition. Two copies must be submitted, one of which will be returned. The paper should combine research, evaluation and the clear presentation of a thesis or strategy. Research should include interviews, essays, articles and books. At least five different sources must be cited in the bibliography. A list of suggested subjects is included in this syllabus. However, students may choose their own subject, with the approval of the instructor. The subject matter of each student’s research paper must be established with the instructor by Wednesday, November 4.
F. There will be no exams.
G. Texts for this course are available in the bookstore and include:
THE HOLY BIBLE
IV. EVALUATION AND GRADE
Completion of all course requirements assures a C. Grading above a C will be based on the level of thoroughness, thought and clarity in each area of course requirement. The grade will be compiled with approximately 20% weight attributed to each of five areas: the Bible study, the book review, the team interview project, the research paper, and class contribution. Failure to complete all of the course requirements will result in an F. Late submission of any required assignment will lower the final grade by as much as one-half of a grade point (A to AB, AR to B, etc.) for each week or portion thereof overdue.
Because class preparation and discussion rather than examinations are an essential means of evaluation as well as education, each unacceptable absence from class will lower the final grade by as much as one-half of a grade point.
Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty will mean failure of this class, and may result in expulsion from the college. Academic integrity means that you will not attempt to use one paper for two classes without prior agreement with both professors.
[GJ - That does not apply to St. Mark, Depere, Wisconsin sermons and emails. Or to the clergy there. Or even to this course, copied from the Reformed.]
V. ATTENDANCE POLICY
Attendance at each class period is expected.
Absence from class must be excused with the instructor, in person. prior to the class to be missed where anticipated or in the following class when unanticipated.
Illness, family crisis and participation on in college-sponsored extra-curricular events are acceptable excuses. Issues of personal discipline and responsibilities to other educators or employers are not in themselves acceptable excuses for absence.
Habitual absence or dishonesty in reporting absence can result in a failing grade. Repeated late arrival is a disruption of the class and an expression of poor sell-discipline. Without prior explanation, repeated late arrival will be treated as an absence.
VI. COURSE OUTLINE
Week One:
Week Two:
Week Three:
Week Four:
Week Five:
A. Instruction and overview
B. SKILLS: Personal Bible Study
B. SKILLS: Christian Prayer Life
A. SKILLS: Christian Encouragement B. SKILLS: Christian Conflict Resolution
A. SKILLS: Christian Values Choices
B. SKILLS: Christian Witness
A. SKILLS: Apologetics
B. SKILLS: Christian Decision Making
Week Six:
A. ISSUES: Repentance. Psalm 51
B. ISSUES: Sell-Image. Psalm 139
Week Seven:
Week Eight:
ISSUES:Sanctification. Romans 6-7
B. ISSUES: Character Formation. H Peter 1
A. ISSUES: Christian Hope. Romans 8
B. ISSUES: Christian Sexuality. I Corinthians 6:9 - 7:18
Week Nine: A. ISSUES: Christian Giving II Corinthians 8 and 9
(B. ISSUES: Being Sure John 3)
Week Ten:
A. Book Reviews B. Book Reviews
Week Eleven: A. LEADERSHIP: What’s A Leader?
B. LEADERSHIP: Understanding Ministry
Week Twelve: A. LEADERSHIP: Mission and Vision
B. LEADERSHIP: Analyzing a Church
Week Thirteen: A. LEADERSHIP: Philosophy of Ministry
B. LEADERSHIP: Organizing Ministry
Week Fourteen: A. Interview and Summary Sharing
B. LEADERSHIP: Involving Members in Ministry
Week Fifteen: A. LEADERSHIP: Small Group Ministry
B. LEADERSHIP: Leading Change
VII. OPTIONS FOR THE BIBLE STUDY ASSIGNMENT:
Audience Options:
high school-aged youth; college students: young adult singles; married couples; families with children aged 4-10; and adult Bible class at your church; young mothers; business men and women; a men’s Bible class; a women’s Bible class; seniors.
Assume that the class for which you are preparing your study consists of ten people, is lay-led, and runs for 45 minutes.
Bible Chapter Options:
Genesis 3: Genesis 15; Exodus 3; Numbers 14: Deuteronomy 6; Joshua 24;
II Samuel 7; Nehemiah 9; Psalm 40; Ecclesiastes 9; Isaiah 40; ‘Jeremiah. 31;
Ezekiel 3; Hosea 11; Matthew 13; Luke 10; John 6; Galatians 3;
Ephesians 2; Philippians 3; Colossians 3; 1 Thessalonians 4: I
Timothy 6; Hebrews 12: James 1; I Peter 4; I John 4; Revelation 22.
Viii. BOCK REVIEW OPTIONS
Generating Hope by Jimmy Long (InterVarsity Press)
The Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren (Zondervan)
The Contemporary Christian by John Stott (InterVarsity Press)
Renewal for The 21st Century Church by Waldo Werning (Concordia)
The Body by Charles Colson
A Church For The 21st Century by Leith Anderson (Bethany House)
Inside Out by Larry Crabb (NavPress)
Entertainment Evangelism by Walt Kallestad (Abingdon)
Effective Church Leadership by Kennon Callahan (Harper and Row)
Church Without Walls by Jim Petersen (NavPress)
Getting Together by Em Griffin (InterVarsity Press)
Christ Esteem by Don Matzat (Harvest House)
Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald (Olive Nelson)
Fit Bodies Fat Minds by Os Guinness (Baker).
The Once and Future Church by Loren Mead (The Alban Institute)
Why Nobody Learns Much. of Anvtbinng At Church and How To Fix jt
by Thomas Schultz (Group)
Three Generations by Gary Mcintosh (Fleming Revell)
Effective Church Leadership: A Practical Sou,rce Book by Lee Harris
It’s A Different World by Lyle Schaller (Abingdon)
Reflections ot a Contrarion by Lyle Schaller (Abingdon)
Strategies For Change by Lyle Schalller (Abingdon)
A Primer on Postmodernism by Stanley Grenz (Eerdmans)
Gentle Persuasion by Joseph Aldrich
User Friendly Churches by George Barna (Regal Books)
Darwin On Trial by Philip Johnson
Connecting by Paul Stanley and J. Robert Clinton (NavPress)
XI. OPTIONS FOR INTERVIEW AND ANALYSTS
1. Interview 15 or more students at an urban university to determine religious attitudes and beliefs, with a view toward analyzing how to do evangelism with young adults. Teams will develop a questionnaire, interview students face-to-face, summarize conclusions and suggest implications for evangelism.
2. Interview 12 or more high school juniors or seniors who no longer attend church, though they were confirmed, to determine why they dropped out and how the church might better serve them. Teams will get names from churches or pastors, develop a questionnaire (for personal or phone interview), conduct interviews, and draw conclusions re why dropout occurs and how the church can better prevent it.
3. Attend a voters meeting in 3 different churches, then interview the pastor and two
key lay leaders from each church to determine what is effective and what is ineffective in the decision-making process of churches. The written summary will be based on the interviews and personal observation.
4. Conduct a door-to-door canvass until 12 or more unchurched people have been located for interviews to determine what about the church turns unchurched people off. Teams will develop an interview or questionnaire format (while open-ended questioning should be included; multiple choice questions will assure some meaningful response), conduct the canvass and interviews, summarize and prioritize reasons why the unchurched remain so, and draw conclusions for the church’s mission today.
5. Interview 12 or more elderly church members, 4 in nursing homes, 4 in senior
apartments and 4 in their own homes, to determine what are their spiritual
perspectives and personal needs and how the church can better serve its elderly.
Teams will develop a basic interview format (personal or phone), gather the names of elderly members from one or more pastors, conduct interviews, compare responses and summarize.
6. Interview 12 or more new members (joined within the last year) from at least 3 churches. 4 transfers from sister churches, 4 who had been members of a different Christian church and 4 who were new to Christianity, to determine how well they have been assimilated into their churches and what facilitates assimilation of new members. Teams will, gather names and addresses and phone numbers from three or more pastors, develop an interview format, conduct interviews, compare responses from the three groups, summarize conclusions and draft suggestions for churches,
7. Interview 12 or more young, single members of at least 3 churches, with a balance of male and female as well as those who are members of the congregation in which they grew up and those who’ve recently joined a different church, to determine the level of involvement of young singles and what they believe would make the church more effective at involving young singles. Teams will gather names and addresses or phone numbers from three or more pastors, develop an interview format, conduct interviews, summarize and compare responses, and develop suggestions for the church.
8. Interview 10 or more Christian business leaders or professionals to determine what are the challenges facing Christian leaders in the business world, what are the ways in which they witness their faith, how can they best serve their churches, and how they balance the responsibilities to family, work; church and community. Teams will gather the names and addresses or phone numbers of business leaders - both male and female, draw up an interview format, conduct the interviews, compare and summarize responses, and draw conclusions for future Christian business leaders and for the church.
9. Interview 10 or more Christian public school teachers to determine what are the challenges to Christianity they’ve encountered, the ways in which they witness their faith, and what they believe the church can do to reach the non-Christian children they teach. Teams will gather the names and addresses or phone numbers of teachers, draw up an interview format, conduct the interviews, and summarize findings.
10. Interview 10 or more home missionaries to determine the challenges in church planting, the strategies that have been successful, and the kind of support or assistance that the church can best provide. Teams will gather the names and phone numbers of missionaries, develop an interview format, compile and compare responses, and draft conclusions for the church.
11. Interview 8 or more Christian psychologists or social workers to determine their assessment of the most significant problems facing families, children and adults, as well as what they believe the church could do to more effectively prepare people for these problems. Teams will gather the names and addresses or phone numbers of Christian psychologists or social workers, develop the interview format, conduct the interviews, and summarize findings.
12. Students may propose additional interview, analysis and summary projects, but must have instructor approval before proceeding.
NOTE: WLC students are NOT to be included in the people you interview.
X. SUGGESTED SUBJECTS FOR RESEARCH PAPER
1. "Staff Ministry” what’s the future?
2. The Parish Nurse: real holistic health.
3. The Lutheran Deaconess - past and future.
4. Why do para-church agencies develop and are they a good idea?
5 Family Ministry: who’s doing what, how?
6. The annual stewardship program - what it is and if it works.
7. Programmatic approaches to evangelism - pros and cons.
8. Keys to cross~cu1tural ministry.
9. Ministry among the urban poor - how are we doing?
10. Peer counseling programs in the church - possibilities and pitfalls.
11.Prison Ministry: Describe several working models.
12. The “Mega-Church’ is bigger better?
13 Lutheran confirmation should it be changed?
14. Campus ministry: can a regular congregation do it?
15. Church-planting strategies: what’s new and what works?
16. Special ministries for the handicapped - what and how.
17. 12-Step programs in the church - pros and cons.
18. Deferred giving: is this the answer to the church s financial crunch?
19. Why the Sunday school is in decline and what should be done about it.
20. Tuition in the Lutheran Elementary School - trends and implications.
21. “Seeker Service” - definition and evaluation.
22. Assimilation and retention - principles and methods.
23. The Church Growth Movement: can we lean anything from it?
24. Does the church have a place in cyber- space?
25. Religious publishing: Should the market drive decisions?
26. Religious broadcasting - issues and trends that affect the future.
27. Christian day care - issues and questions confronting congregations who are
considering it
28. Legal issues and concerns confronting churches in a litigious and secular society.
29. Conflict in the church: avoiding it and resolving it.
30. YOUR IDEA. with instructor’s approval
LCMS Story on Time of Grace
KFUO-AM airing a new showKFUO-AM is now airing "Time of Grace," a weekly program featuring Pastor Mark Jeske, senior pastor at St. Marcus Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, Wis.Each week, Pastor Jeske delivers a Bible-based message providing the hope and truth of God's Word in down-to-earth "straight talk." Tune in at 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays to KFUO-AM 850 in St. Louis or listen wherever you are online at http://www.kfuoam.org/
| About "Time of Grace""Time of Grace," a service organization recognized by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, is an outreach media ministry founded in 2001 by a small group of committed, focused Lutheran Christians. The sole mission of this nonprofit organization has always been to share the good news of Jesus Christ with as many people as possible through the most advanced technology available.To most effectively accomplish that goal, "Time of Grace's" centerpiece ministry is a weekly, 30-minute television program. It is the audio portion of this program that will be broadcast on KFUO-AM 850. |
Cell Groups Growth Pietists
You're so fine, a golden mine.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Time of Generic Grace Update":
Lay led cell groups are great for training pietists. I know. I was one.
I remember one person at a self-study group who was not wanting to do a WELS produced study (current bilge not withstanding)- just wanted to study the Bible and organically come to the "right" conclusions without the "directing" effect of a Bible study guide. He grew WELS and was very solid and should have known better. He now resides in the world of Ev Free.
Sweet deal huh?
***
GJ - That's nothin'. The Michigan District of WELS started CrossWalk in S. Lyons as a Church Growth, cell group growing, entertainment-style sect...and now the whole congregation is Evangelical Covenant.
Deputy Doug has a whole district that is E. Free. The Evangelical Free Church--which grew from Swedish Augustana Pietism--should draft him as a theologian.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Take The CORE Survey
Dinner waits at Ski-ville when Spongebob Squarepants is on the tube.
Here at The CORE we are looking for better ways to keep in touch with you and perhaps some new ways for you to interact during worship. Your help in answering the following 5 quick questions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
1. Do you use texting on your cell phone?
2. Would you be interested in receiving text message updates of important events or messages from The CORE? (note: we wouldn't go crazy, we promise! only the important stuff such as canceled events, special event reminders, etc)
3. Is your cell phone a smart phone? (aka blackberry, iphone, android, etc?)
4. If your phone is a smart phone, do you use the YouVersion Bible app?
5. Regardless whether you currently use the YouVersion Bible app, would you consider using it to take sermon notes, submit prayer requests, ask questions, etc?
***
GJ - Using a smart phone, future WELS transfers can check whether the latest tidbit is from Groeschel or Stanley or Sweet or Stetzer or Granger Community or Driscoll - or from Jeske copying the previously named Schwaermer.
St. Peter Freedom is getting transfers from local WELS congregations, transfers to St. Peter/The CORE. Fox Valley - reaching out to raid the henhouse.
Many rest easier at night, knowing Deputy Doug is watching over the Anything Goes District.
Deputy Doug
Second Teigen Blog
Redneck houseboat.
Norman Teigen has a new blog. I am spelling it out and linking it, because there are a lot of Shrinkers reading this blog.
http://lutherancolportage.blogspot.com/
I have listed it on the left. Google updates with thumbnails, a nifty feature available only with blogs, not with websites.
I am listing my Moline blog a little longer. I will keep it going but take it off the list. So far I seem to be the only person blogging about that city, where I was born. I am happy to say that this area, Northwest Arkansas, is very much like the Moline I remember.
Recently a neighbor yelled her head off at me because Sassy barked at her dog, coming right up to the door and carrying on a canine debate about who was a true loser. The lady screamed out the door, "Get your dog outta my yard, and get her on a leash." Today, she was out in her front yard. She made a point of smiling at me, at Sassy, and at me again. People are very polite and gentle here.
Patterson's Pet Mission Is Hungry
Dom Perignon Patterson, VP of His district,
wants to be the next Doctrinal Pussycat.
He attended the latest Church and Change conference.
A church designed to meet you where you’re at.
We’re a group of people who just “came as we are” and discovered the adventure of the Christian Life. At our church, we want you to come as your are too. We worship on Sundays at 10 AM at the Old Settler’s Association Building in Round Rock, TX.
We’re casual!
When you visit CTR , dress casually and comfortably. We’re more interested in meeting you just as you are than we are in seeing you stylin’ in a power suit, or struttin’ that new skirt from the fashion stores. You’ll feel right at home in jeans or shorts.
We’re hungry!
Our Cafe’ Rock provides snacks, with coffee, bagels, donuts, fruit, and juices. If you didn’t get a chance to have breakfast, don’t worry! You can count on us to hold you over till your next big meal!
We’re friendly!
We strive to create a warm, friendly environment for you. We won’t surprise you by asking you to stand up or stick out in any way. We also won’t ask you to give us any money. We want you to be able to check us out without feeling singled out. No Pressure!
We’re relevant!
Our messages are meant to apply to your everyday life. They’re practical and filled with comfort. We believe that everyone needs to know what God expects of us, and what God offers us in His love. If you come to CTR, you’ll hear just what God has to say about this – straight from His Word, the Bible! With our upbeat music and our fun and creative worship, you’ll go home encouraged and equipped each week!---
Jeff Gunn is on the board, with two other CrossWalk members,
at Willow Creek College, WELS, Milwaukee.
CrossWalk, Phoenix, Arizona
Worship
We're casual!
When you visit CrossWalk, the very first thing we want you to know is that it's OK to relax. You can dress casually and comfortably if you'd like. You'll feel right at home in jeans or shorts. On the other hand, if wearing a suit and tie seems best to you, then bring it on! We simply want you to come as you are and hear loud and clear—you matter to God!We're hungry!
Bring an appetite. Our CrossWalk Cafe puts out a huge spread every Sunday, with great coffee, bagels and donuts, along with fruit and juice for the health-conscious. If you didn't get a chance to have breakfast, don't worry! You can count on CrossWalk to feed you body and soul!We're friendly!
We strive to create a warm, friendly environment for you. We won't surprise you by asking you to stand up or stick out in any way. We also won't ask you to give us any money. We want you to be able to check us out without feeling singled out. No pressure!We're relevant!
Our messages are meant to apply to your everyday life. They're practical and filled with comfort. We believe that everyone needs to know what God expects of us, and what God offers us in his love. If you come to CrossWalk, you'll hear just what God has to say about this—straight from his Word, the Bible! With our upbeat music and our fun and creative worship, you'll go home encouraged and equipped each week!
Time of Generic Grace Update
These are Doug Engelbrecht's personal notes that he sends to Northern Wisconsin District pastors after each meeting:
Time of Grace has convinced the LC-MS to change the designation of Time of Grace from a RSO to a service organization that is recognized by the LC-MS. According to the information we have received from Time of Grace, there are specific exemptions for TOG, which would not have the normal expectations of an RSO, causing a violation of church fellowship principles. President Rutschow will continue to work with TOG to make sure that fellowship principles are not being violated by the endorsement of the LC-MS.
***
GJ - Not exactly the Formula of Concord, is it?
Now if we can only turn Mark Jeske into a Lutheran, someone who no longer promotes that idiot Mark Driscoll.
---
Update!
I have learned from several sources that nothing has been settled with Mark Jeske. The report above is considered misleading spin.
Jeske is expanding his market, due to a lack of funds from Schwan, Thrivent, and the foundations.
Jeske is going to LCMS venues (their favorite term in Church and Change) to raise money. That means worshiping with them and agreeing with them, in congregations and district meetings. Jeske already participates in union services with Missouri and Habitat for Humanity.
Kingdom Workers and CrossWalk in Phoenix have both canceled Mark Jeske as a speaker. KW is having their confab in Phoenix. They lined up His Grace a year early, but the lay leadership wanted him off the menu - due to the current situation.
CrossWalk may have been encouraged. Everyone knows, anything goes, at CrossWalk.
---
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Time of Generic Grace Update":
Damage control is pretty obvious in this sentence.
"Time of Grace has convinced the LC-MS to change the designation of Time of Grace from a RSO to a service organization that is recognized by the LC-MS."
RSO is an acronym for Recognized Service Organization. So - did we just hear that Time of Grace moved from a LCMS Recognized Service Organization to a service organization recognized by the LCMS? Huh?
The confessional factions of the LCMS must also cringe at the thought of Time of Grace being recognized as a service organization by the LCMS. Here's a little parlor game so you can cringe as well: 1) Drink a swig of beer every time you see a Gospel message in the October-December TOG messages (http://www.timeofgrace.org/recentmessage.php). 2) See how much beer remains in the first can when you finish reading.
***
GJ - Two Nazarenes and a Mormon took the beer test mentioned above and stayed cold, dead sober.
Paul Kelm Effect: Freddy Finkelstein on Lutheran Colleges
Freddy Finkelstein has left a new comment on your post "Willow Creek Wisconsin Lutheran College Hires Geez...":
Given the growing expense involved with college education, it is prudent for parents to begin planning ahead of time, so I have been planning for my children's college education for some time, now. For what it is worth, even though my children are 8 years, minimum, from college age, WLC has already been ruled out of consideration. At this point, the only Lutheran college under serious consideration is Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, MN (ELS). I have visited the campuses and spoken with professors and admission counselors at both WLC and BLC, I have met several students and graduates from both colleges, including students of WLC from my own congregation, and I am far more impressed with Bethany at this point, both academically and confessionally speaking. I am particularly impressed with the Confessional activism of some Bethany professors -- the involvement of some here, being characteristic of those I've met. By comparison, the overt "Schwaermer" activism that proceeds from WLC does not help them, Charis having been one such glaring example of it. These influences do trickle down to the students. In fact, all of the students who have been sent to WLC from our own small congregation in the past six years or so (roughly 30% of our high-school grads), have been lost to these influences, while the students I have met from Bethany seem to be hotly Confessional by comparison. Yes, students, your words and actions represent the primary influences that have shaped you -- your college, high-school, church, family, etc. -- and, based on your words and actions, others rightly form judgments regarding those influences.
Yet, I am not blind to the reality that change is possible. According to my contacts in LCMS, there are two relatively conservative Concordia colleges left, Wisconsin and Irvine, and having spoken with a few Confessional professors from Concordia Wisconsin over the years, and several of their students, I am duly impressed, and am eager to see how the future may shape the reality of Lutheran education in LCMS and elsewhere in America. In the end, if I am going to purchase a specifically Lutheran education for my children, I am not going to be suckered into paying for one that is not calculated to produce, and which does not demonstrably produce, Lutheran confessors. Merely providing an education in a "Lutheran" environment is not sufficient -- that is to pay extra for only an adjective, and for just that I can purchase a positively excellent education at St. Olaf in Northfield, MN. Otherwise, there are many other very fine sources of education available.
So there is my open letter to the WLC Board. I'm not going to waste my time personally engaging fruitless discussion with a group of men whose public decisions demonstrate an undying commitment to CGM and other forms of enthusiasm. Their minds are already made up, the direction their leadership is taking them is evidence of this fact. Instead, I'll point out that WLC is not WELS, per se, but is only affiliated with WELS as an external organization, apparently sharing in a fellowship arrangement with WELS; and I'll suggest that maybe it's time WELS begin independently reconsidering that arrangement -- which would, of course, impact the member congregations of the WLC corporation and prompt them to exert appropriate influence.
I'll vote with my patronage, and encourage others to do the same.
Freddy Finkelstein
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+Diet O. Worms has left a new comment on your post "Paul Kelm Effect: Freddy Finkelstein on Lutheran C...":
A few years back, a waitress approached and struck up a conversation after seeing me reading a Bible over lunch. (How's that for efficacy!) Eventually we found that we were both WELS, and that she had just graduated from WLC and was studying further to start a career in substance abuse counseling. I asked her impression of the WELS school, and her first response was, "It is way too easy to get pot."
***
GJ - That will be called slander, Diet O. Worms.
---
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Paul Kelm Effect: Freddy Finkelstein on Lutheran C...":
the reason chapel is poorly attended is because it reeks of reformed theology and practice!!My niece just graduated from WLC and while there attended the local wels church St.Johns, she couldn't stomach the chapel worship.
signed,
confessional Lutheran pastor's wife
***
GJ - The Reformed emphasis is coming from the WLC board of directors. WLC has been on a unionistic bent for a long time.
Someone asked me today, "Why such a huge board? Is that normal for higher education?" I think the board is huge to give more power to a few people - divide and conquer. Besides, each board member is expected to bring in money or influence. Joe Kennedy (the patriarch) was on the Notre Dame board, but he did not give much money. They threw him off.
Monday, January 18, 2010
One Web Article Sums Up the Entire Cast of Chicanery Heroes
This web article gathers together all the famous names drooled over by WELS Church and Change, whose poster-boy is Paul Calvin Kelm.
And they denounce the whole bunch.
Would that we lived in such times that Lutheran faculty members could do the same thing. Instead, they are too busy supporting their heretic pals while igniting the fagots under the feet of confessionals.
Willow Creek Wisconsin Lutheran College Hires Geezer as Second Campus Pastor:
Church and Change Has Its Own College
01/18/10 - WISCONSIN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN SYNOD - 8:43 am
P A S T O R - C A L L - R E P O R T
01/12/2010 - through - 01/18/2010
Kelm - Paul Calvin, age 65 (DMin, Church Growth, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis) - WLC - Milwaukee WI - 01/12/2010 - Campus Pastor. Resume: recently canned as Perish Services expert, The Love Shack.
Wisconsin Lutheran College (WELS when the mood strikes it) stacked its board of directors with CrossWalk, Phoenix people.
CrossWalk is not even a member of WELS and will not ever be a member of WELS, from what I hear from Phoenix. But CrossWalk is the poster-child for Church and Change: hiding its identity, refusing to have Holy Communion services, relying on entertainment and other gimmicks.
The board put Pastor Jeff Gunn, Church and Change hero, on the board. They hired one of his members to be the new president of the college. They also asked an additional member from CrossWalk to be on the board. Normally a board would not have two members from the same church serving at once, but CrossWalk--lovechild of Willow Creek and Fuller--has three. When I posted this information from the WLC website, they changed the list to hide membership information. Ichabod effect.
Let's face it - Paul Calvin Kelm at age 65 is a geezer. I can say that because I am a geezer at 61. I would never put myself forward as a college campus chaplain at my age. But there is a reason WLC did this - to spite the elected leadership of the Wisconsin Synod.
At first they had only one person on the list for a second pastor - Jeff Gunn, because Gunn was facing unemployment with his funding drying up. Gunn did not get the call, but Ski's pal Buske (Gospel Lighthouse, Drive 09 and who knows what else) did.
The whole idea behind a second pastor is to turn the college into a church, even though the students already have their own WELS memberships. The college said it was specifically to set up more Pietistic cell groups, something Kelm has used to drive his synod into the sub-basement.
The students appreciate their Lutheran heritage, even if Kelm does not. There is little interest in aping the Deformed, which has been the substance of Kelm's entire miserable career.
Some achievements of Paul Calvin Kelm:
- His son left WELS for Missouri.
- His divorced brother had a Shrinker church in Indianapolis and left WELS for Missouri, with a sweetheart deal where he barely had to show up for classes at St. Louis to pass colloquy.
- He earned a drive-by DMin in Church Growth at St. Louis, and fashions himself a "Dr" - even though a DMin is the equivalent of an STM degree, if that. His bud Larry Olson took four courses at Fuller and wrote a paper to get the degree.
- He served exactly one parish on his own, a hundred years ago.
- His other parish experience was at St. Mark, Depere, where he was also a member of the Willow Creek Ministerium by virtue of the congregation's membership in the Willow Creek Association (broke off - Ichabod effect).
- He promoted Deformed theology as editor of TELL, leveraging his influence in false doctrine as head of Evangelism for WELS.
- He had previous posts at WLC. Why did he not stay?
- He has been a leader of Church and Change, fighting hard for the Leonard Sweet conference and refusing to answer anyone who objected. For Kelm, Matthew 18 is for suckers. Sweet, a notorious New Ager Methodist, was in fact the lead speaker for WELS Church and Change. Do not complain, WELSians - you funded C and C with your offering money.
If people want their Lutheran children influenced by a man who mocks Lutheran doctrine, they should do nothing. They having been doing nothing for 30 years, so they are good at that.
If they want something different, they should write to the WLC board and Synod President Schroeder.
WLC Board:
Mr. Gary Drska* Muskego, Wis. [needs to buy a vowel]
Mr. Ryan Barbieri Sussex, Wis.
Dr. Gerald Fischer Bethesda, Md.
Mr. James Fischer Waukesha, Wis.
Rev. Kenneth Fisher Milwaukee, Wis.
Mr. Ned Goede Milwaukee, Wis.
Rev. Jeff Gunn Phoenix, Ariz. CrossWalk gets subsidized quarters at Arizona Lutheran Academy.
Rev. Mark Henrich Milwaukee, Wis.Rev. Dennis Himm Grand Blanc, Mich.
Mr. Charles Kluenker Roseville, Calif.
Mr. Philip Leyrer New Ulm, Minn.
Mr. Scott Mayer Franklin, Wis.
Mr. David McCulloch Suttons Bay, Mich.
Mr. Kent Raabe Brookfield, Wis.
Dr. William Raasch Wauwatosa, Wis.
Mr. Paul Rosenow Temecula, Calif.
Mr. C. Daniel Stefferud Los Angeles, Calif.
Rev. Paul Steinberg Milwaukee, Wis. [Mark and Avoid Jeske plant]
Mr. Gary Stimac The Woodlands, TexasMr. William Treffert Pewaukee, Wis.
Mr. W. Andrew Unkefer Phoenix, Ariz.
Mr. Daryl Weber Germantown, Wis.
Dr. Ronald White Fort Myers, Fla.
Mr. Mark Wrightsman Stillwater, Minn.
Mr. George Zaferos Watertown, Wis.
Dr. Daniel W. Johnson accepted the call to become the president of Wisconsin Lutheran College in June 2008, and arrived on campus this past October. He succeeds Dr. Timothy Kriewall and becomes the third president of Wisconsin Lutheran College.
Dr. Johnson, an educator, spent the past nine years as principal and head administrator at Arizona Lutheran Academy in Phoenix, Arizona. He served as a guidance counselor and teacher at Shoreland Lutheran High School in Somers, Wisconsin, before his call to Arizona. He served as a principal at Christ the Lord Lutheran School in Clearwater, Florida, and in his first called position, he served as a teacher at Nebraska Lutheran High School, Waco, Nebraska.
---
WELS Headquarters -
414-256-3888 or sending mail to:
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, 2929 N Mayfair Road Milwaukee, WI 53222.
mjleyrer has left a new comment on your post "Willow Creek Wisconsin Lutheran College Hires Geez...":
"His divorced brother had a Shrinker church in Indianapolis and left WELS for Missouri, with a sweetheart deal where he barely had to show up for classes at St. Louis to pass colloquy."
And this has what to do with Paul? Oh, absolutely nothing? That's what I thought. Holding Paul accountable for what his brother does is just asinine.
***
GJ - Is that your dad on the WLC board? I think you should talk to him about doctrinal problems there. WLC seems to like every denomination except WELS. They had Martin Marty (ELCA) lecture there. They hosted the homosexual, corrupt Archbishop Weakland and his priests for a series of public lectures (and lied about it).
Blood is thicker than doctrine in WELS. That is why I mentioned Dan Kelm. The ELS hissed and mewed about Dan but did nothing. I posted the gushing story about his church in Christian News.
---
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Willow Creek Wisconsin Lutheran College Hires Geez...":
Sorry to see you have to use word verification now. Why the change?
Did some Church shrinkers nail you with a spambot?
I've always thought the current WLC Campus Pastor was a naive but conservative guy. I'm sad to see this evidence of the opposite.
What's your opinion? Do you think (as I do) that he had to have been involved in the decision to call Kelm?
***
GJ - Spam comments have increased, so I put in word identification. I do not blame the Schtinkers for that. They are too dumb to lock down security on Facebook, so I doubt whether they are running spambots. They have trouble with English, so I think code is beyond them. Besides, they want to destroy churches and souls, not computers.
I do not know too much about WLC. There are genuine Lutheran students and faculty there, but the board is pure Schwaermer. They have been behaving like ELCA wannabees for some time. ELCA has a lot of colleges already. They do not need another.
---
mjleyrer has left a new comment on your post "Willow Creek Wisconsin Lutheran College Hires Geez...":
Okay... but the point still stands that you listed what Dan did in Paul's "accomplishments." Which just seems kind of petty.
***
GJ - Is your father on the WLC Board of Schwaermerei? That would explain your prolific, if misguided, campaign.
Rich Gurgle's son was posting in a similar vain.
---
Professor Leyrer's press agent, mjleyrer, has left a new comment on your post "Willow Creek Wisconsin Lutheran College Hires Geez...":
Maybe it could be [GJ - redundant] that WLC added a second campus pastor because they [GJ - plural pronoun for singular subject] wanted to increase chapel attendance and increase a Christian atmosphere on the campus [GJ - Everyone is a WELS member. OK, maybe you have a point there]. I know a lot of people that go there and I know that chapel is poorly attended [GJ - needs rewording, awkward and verbose]. I think it was a good idea to add a second chaplain. [GJ - That settles the question.]
I don't get why you complain about EVERYTHING Jacko. You don't change anything, your words fall on def ears and it's not like you would ever set foot on the campus anyway. [GJ - Run-on sentence] You're like the kid who colors on the wall to get attention. [GJ - What do you call a semi-educated youngster who posts comments almost daily?]
Believe it or not, the people that you disagree with are still saved, they are still going to heaven and they still have faith in Christ. [GJ - Run-on sentence. Everyone is forgiven - except me.] They have the one thing needful. You're not doing anything for anyone. [GJ - I have provided a platform for bloggers who cannot get an audience, so they try to hijack this one.]
***
GJ - That was amusing. I did not find a direct response to my question - "Isn't your father on the board at WLC?"
Evasion is a common tactic among the Shrinkers in WELS. Ask a direct question and they will launch their feeble personal attacks.
If I were his father and serving on the board of WLC, I would quote Nathan Lane in The Producers - "Don't help me."
I am glad someone is willing to draw attention to this latest travesty. I see a replay of the last drama, where SP Schroeder advised Perish Services not to call someone. When they insisted, he advised them not to call a polarizing figure. Bruce Becker, who soon took off for Jeske-land, had Paul Calvin Kelm hired. The call was kept a secret, even though the Love Shack is not a big building. The insubordinate Becker let the Synod President read the news when everyone else did - in the Monday Call Report. I told a friend that WELS was the only synod where the call report was dramatic.
The Chicaneries began lying about their deceit - a double-whammy from the Schtinkers. They claimed Schroeder knew, calling their own elected leader a liar. I love it when cowards do something like that. I double-checked with several sources and found (no surprise) that Becker did keep it a secret.
I wonder if Professor Leyrer's press agent could answer this question - "Did the WLC board hear similar advice - not to call a second pastor? And did they keep this call a secret from the Synod President?"
Sunday, January 17, 2010
The Second Sunday after the Epiphany
The Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship
Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Time
The Hymn #39 Praise to the Lord 3.1
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
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn # 370 My Hope Is Built 3.11
Water into Wine – God’s Word Transforms
The Hymn #294 O Word of God Incarnate 3.31
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 #626 O Happy Home 3.65
KJV Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
KJV John 2:1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. 6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. 11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
Second Sunday After Epiphany
Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank Thee, that of Thy grace Thou hast instituted holy matrimony, in which Thou keepest us from unchastity, and other offenses: We beseech Thee to send Thy blessing upon every husband and wife, that they may not provoke each other to anger and strife, but live peaceably together in love and godliness, receive Thy gracious help in all temptations, and rear their children in accordance with Thy will; grant unto us all to walk before Thee, in purity and holiness, to put all our trust in Thee, and lead such lives on earth, that in the world to come we may have everlasting life, through the same, Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
Water into Wine – God’s Word Transforms
This Gospel selection has several different lessons in it.
As Luther preached, the Gospel shows that Jesus honored and blessed marriage. He was invited and come with His disciples.
During the Middle Ages, the Church promoted monasticism and stopped allowing priests to be married. They liked to refer to the papacy as the Chair of Peter, but they did not want their priests to have mothers-in-law, as Peter did. (Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law in the Gospel of Mark.) But I learned at Notre Dame, that priests were married at the time of the Reformation. A tax on married priests made a lot of money for the pope. However, that semi-official approval was removed during the Counter-Reformation.
The concept of the law in Roman Catholicism is puzzling to Protestants. The rules are very strict and broken all the time. A man can be married and have several children, but his marriage is annulled if he is rich, powerful, and generous to those who hold the Office of the Keys. (For a Lutheran example, see Marvin Schwan and his marriages.)
Marriage was considered a low estate, one where someone never reached the spiritual blessings of religious vocations. Every step up the ladder was more spiritually blessed than the lower levels. Ordinary nuns and priests lived at a much higher level than the laity. Bishops and cardinals were above the priests. The pope was (and supposedly is) the Vicar of Christ, with the keys to heaven.
Luther changed the idea of the family by pointing out that everything done in faith glorified God. Moreover, since he was trained at a Roman Catholic university, he knew how to unravel their enslaving arguments. The works they promoted were pathways to Hell, not Heaven. One of his best comments on the entire Roman Catholic system of sanctification was this – “They purchase Hell when they could have Heaven for free.”
Pietists shun what they do not approve and they shun whomever they do not approve. Jesus, by attending this marriage, showed His divine approval of the married state. Nor was Peter rejected as a disciple because of his marriage. People debate about Paul being previously married and widowed. That is a historical question and not a doctrinal one. Some language in his letters and rabbinic tradition would argue that he was married at one time. Traditional Jews and Muslims believe that all people should be married.
Today we have just the opposite, an odd parallel to Medieval Romanism. Marriage is shunned because people can postpone the end of their hedonism until middle age, as Luther observed. They shun marriage so they can have more money and freedom. And they shun marriage because it may not work out perfectly. They trust only themselves and not the Word. Lacking faith in God’s Promises, they end up with the very aspects of life they fear the most.
Luther compared turning water into wine that same miracle where God transforms a couple through marriage. God blesses marriage far beyond anyone’s expectations, with an abundance difficult to measure.
Miracle of the Word
This miracle also shows that Christ could and does transform instantly through the Word. There is no difference between the will of God and the Word of God.
The conversation between Jesus and His mother could be interpreted as a battle of wills, but that ignores His divine knowledge of people. In being reluctant – My hour has not yet come – He encouraged His mother to say, “Do whatever He says.”
The actual miracle is so clear that no one could claim it was a trick. Even today there are ways to pour liquids together and get a quick change of color.
The men knew they drew water to fill the containers, because they did it themselves. They drew from the water and carried it to the host of the feast. Not only was it wine, but it was such good wine that he scolded the groom for saving the best wine until last. He should have served that first.
In the Christian faith, the one doctrine ignored the most and taught against the most is illustrated here - God’s Word is always effective. The Word accomplishes far more than we can expect or hope. No barrier can stop it.
When people deny the Real Presence in communion, or the power of the Consecration by the Word, they are denying this very doctrine.
When they trust in human inventions instead of faithfulness to the Word, they are rejecting what is clearly taught here.
When Pietists teach that God absolved the entire world, without the Word, they are going against the clear teaching of the Scriptures and making up something never stated or implied in the Word.
Luther used the term Enthusiasm to describe all false doctrine, which separates the Holy Spirit from the Word.
To counter our doubts about God’s ability, power, and compassion, all we need to do is meditate on these miracles of the Word.
This was probably a poor family, since Mary seems to be in charge of the wedding, not the bride or groom’s parents. Another measure of their poverty is running out of wine, which would be a social disaster for the time. By today’s standards, they should not have been married, because of their lack of money. And yet, Jesus graced their marriage by being their with His disciples and by performing the first of all His miracles.
Against Rome
Jesus’ address to His mother, “Woman,” often softened by translators, is repeated at the crucifixion.
Before the development of Mariolatry, the Word showed everyone that Jesus as Lord addressed His mother as “Woman.”
Medieval error elevated Mary above Jesus and turned Christianity into a Mary religion, as it still is today. One of the first signs of a Lutheran pastor joining Rome is his obsession with Mary.
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