Divinely Called by Whom

Elton Stroh


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Assisting God’s People with Pursuing His Mission

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Freddy Finkelstein has left a new comment on your post "Divinely Called by Whom":

It appears he hasn't been called by anyone, certainly by no congregation. Maybe he claims an immediate call, directly from God? If so, where are the signs and miracles? Maybe he could proffer his source of funding as "miraculous"...

No, this isn't a "ministry" as much as it is a business for a washed up, former "Perish Services" consultant, currently without a Call. Consulting, if you didn't know it, is what "people who know better" do for "people who don't" -- who don't know what they are doing or why they ought to be doing it. Not that consultants actually do anything as consultants other than offer their opinions -- they offer advice because they know better, people believe it, and are willing to pay them money for it. How many of our pastors "don't know what they are doing, or why they ought to be doing it" and are willing to announce this fact by hiring the services of Rev. Stroh? I guess we'll find out.

I am a consultant by profession, but I would be ashamed to start such a business expecting that my family, friends and church members would be my primary customers -- that they would pay me for my opinions. This is the way multi-level marketing works in practice for most folks who try it -- buy into the program and then sell to your family and friends. Yes, I've been invited to share enough "cups of tea" to discuss a "business proposition" to recognize a scam, and this sounds just like another such "tea party." Maybe Rev. Stroh has spent too much time in the Scriptures to recognize that his business advisors are asking him to behave like an Amway salesman. Maybe he hasn't spent enough time in the Scriptures to understand that ministry isn't for sale.

Freddy Finkelstein

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Jukjs2 (http://openid.aol.com/jukjs2) has left a new comment on your post "Divinely Called by Whom":

Its obvious this Stroh person wants to create the WELS version of Terry Tieman's semi-official Transforming Congregations Network in the LCMS. Tieman does a great job of destroying congregations and intimidating pastors in Missouri's Mid-South District.

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Scott E. Jungen has left a new comment on your post "Divinely Called by Whom":

WOW! What a racket! I don't have a call either, maybe I can start a consulting ministry too. It sure beats getting a "real" job.

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September 2010

Dear people of God:

After prayerfully seeking God’s direction, receiving support and encouragement from many within WELS, and being contacted by a number of congregations after the decision was made to defund Parish Assistance and the news was widely announced (Together e-newsletter, Forward in Christ, etc.), I have decided to launch a new consulting ministry.

I plan to do this in partnership with our District Presidents, the Congregation and Ministry Support Group (CMSG), and others who have an interest in assisting our congregations. My goal, through these partnerships, is for this consulting ministry to be a blessing to congregations so that, in and through them, God is glorified and – by the Spirit’s power – more people come to know, love, serve, and share Jesus.

Crossroads Consulting Ministry will not be Parish Assistance (PA) with a new name, and it will not be a “synodical program.” I will continue to offer a comprehensive planning process, but it will be significantly modified based, in part, on the findings from the Turnaround Churches in the WELS research project. I will also offer a streamlined ministry planning process. Both processes will be custom designed around the needs and desires of client congregations and will include (1) an analysis of current reality, (2) the development of short- and long-range ministry goals, and (3) strategic implementation.

Additionally, services will be provided in response to specific requests. Examples of these services include developing multi-site ministries, coaching/mentoring, leadership development, organizational realignment, organizing staff for maximum effectiveness, team building, and assisting with conflict management. Some additional information – Core Understandings and Key Values – is attached.

If you would like to help me get the word out that the new Crossroads Consulting Ministry is now being launched, I would appreciate it. Also, if I can be of any service to you or your congregation in the future, please let me know.

Compelled by Christ’s love,

Elton

Pastor Elton C. Stroh, Director/Consultant
Crossroads Consulting Ministry

ecstroh@frontier.com phone: 608-837-3819
251 Luther Drive . Sun Prairie, WI 53590-1310

Core Understandings and Key Values


Crossroads serves with the following core understandings:

. God, through his Means of Grace (the Gospel in Word and Sacrament), produces saving faith and transforms lives when, where, and how he pleases.

. Church health is largely dependent on the spiritual growth of God’s people and Spirit-filled leaders are the most competent leaders.

. God desires that his people and his congregations have a sense of urgency and passion for sharing the Gospel in their communities and throughout the world.

. Congregations often grow larger audiences for the Gospel when they are willing to explore and implement innovative strategies appropriate within their changing ministry contexts.

. Those who are eager to learn and establish partnerships that promote Gospel ministry are often blessed and become a greater blessing to others.



Crossroads serves with the following key values:

. Biblically Grounded: Everything we say and do must be consistent with God’s Word. (1 Corinthians 4:1-2)

. Outreach Oriented: God wants all to be saved and those who know him to be his messengers, so we proclaim Christ to the world. (1 Timothy 2:4, Mark 16:15-16, Matthew 28:19-20)

. Eager to Serve: Compelled by the love of Christ, we are eager to serve and sacrifice for the benefit of others, especially the lost. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

. Fully Committed: Because we serve the Lord, we do our best with whatever we attempt to accomplish. (Colossians 3:23-24)

. Ministry Partners: We view working with other believers as a partnership in the Gospel. (Philippians 1:3-8)

. Body Ministry: We strive to help all believers recognize and use their personal Spirit-provided gifts to serve one another and their Lord. (1 Corinthians 12:1-27)



Crossroads assists congregations by helping them identify their strengths, address their concerns, design and communicate a compelling vision, and develop intentional strategies for enhancing their outreach and nurture ministries.

We are convinced that kingdom-minded leadership and greater lay involvement are essential for prioritizing and pursuing Christ’s make-disciples mission.

Healthy congregations have a clear sense of mission, capable and spiritual leadership, an energized membership, and a strategic plan to reach the lost and grow people in Christ.

WELS Members Pay for Church and Change Magazine - FICKLE

I get nostalgic for the good ol' days, when my WELS contact told me, from SP Gurgle hisself, that WELS Church and Change was finished, gone, shut down.

I replied, with the certainty of one who studies websites and websties, "Why is Church and Change registering people for their next conference, from the WELS.net website?"

Now many eyes are open and people report such things to me. Nevertheless, I have to remind people that the Changers have the best scam of all - they have the entire synod paying for their glossy propaganda magazine, formerly the Northwestern Lutheran, later Forward in Christ (FIC), finally Forward in Christ, Lutheran - pronounced - FICKLE.

FICKLE is prominently staffed with Church and Money Changers, advocates of Fuller Seminary doctrine. Since no one objects and the practice continues, I can only assume WELS is a Union church, to use Jay Webber's definition. There are are few dissenters, but they are few and scattered.

Here are the current contributors, after the recent non-purge of Enthusiasts:

Jim Aderman, a founder of Church and Change, fired from his church, is still doing a lengthy (interminable!) series on the Ten Commandments.

F. Bivens still teaches at The Sausage Factory and serves as front-man for why Lutherans need training at Fuller Seminary, his alma mater.

Tom Trapp had modeled everything after Willow Creek and even had his campus ministry as a member of the Willow Creek denomination. It did save on their tuition costs. Try to say that without laughing out loud.

Don Patterson took a bunch of WELS workers to Exponential and is now encroaching a nearby mission with his own project. Guess who is helping him waste more money? The expert - Ex-SP Gurgle.

Peter Panitzke has his church a member of a Babtist organziation, The Simple(ton) Church.

James Mattek, plus some of the children of aging Shrinkers.

***

GJ - "That may be somewhat true of the past, but he is exaggerating." I decided to add one of the common talking points. Concede a little while denying the truth.

WELS members - you pay while the Changers prey.

David Timm Promotes New Tentacle in Growth of Jeske Synod:Would That Include Don Patterson? Yup.

Elton Stroh continues to do CG consulting.
Free or for a fee?

From: Patty Eagon [mailto:peagon@wkw.wels.net]
Sent: Friday, September 03, 2010 1:28 PM
To: peagon@wkw.wels.net
Subject: New Consulting Ministry - Crossroads

Dear Friends,

The attachment is an announcement for Crossroads Consulting Ministry. This is purely informational and personal from me to you. The attachment explains the detail of what is offered. I simply want you to know I believe this is a valuable asset available to those who choose to use it.

Dave Timm

Almost a retired person

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

I’m eager to announce the availability of a new consulting ministry, and I invite you to remember it in your prayers. More information is provided in the PDF attachment.

Ready to serve,

Elton

Elton C. Stroh, Director/Consultant

Crossroads Consulting Ministry

ecstroh@frontier.com phone: 608-837-3819

251 Luther Drive s Sun Prairie, WI 53590-1310

_____________________________________­_____

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Here is their websty:

http://nextdisciple.com/giahomepage.html

Familiar names are:

Mark Jeske

Don Patterson

Organizational Status:

Grace in Action has currently applied for 501c3 status through the Internal Revenue Service. We are in the final stages of this process and can receive donations at this point that would be tax deductible. Please see the "Donate" page for more details.

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GJ - I think Jeske is forming an independent organization that can double-dip from Missouri and WELS, like their money raising scheme - Cornerstone. They can also pull out if they wish, if things get too tough on them. Given the current leadership, that is most unlikely.

Goes Together Like a Horse and Carriage

David Jay Webber said...

Yep on the banjo/guitar summit.

Objectively speaking, ELCA ceased to be an identifiably Lutheran church when it entered into formal altar and pulpit fellowship with various liberal Reformed churches, on Reformed terms. Since then it has been what we have always called a "Union church." "Lutheranism" in some form is perhaps still one school of thought among many in the large conglomerated ecumenical ecclesial "thing" that ELCA now belongs to, by virtue of its official ties with the United Church of Christ, the Reformed Church in America, the Presbyterian Church USA, the Moravian Church, the Episcopal Church, and most recently the United Methodist Church. But ELCA as such is not a Lutheran Church by any objective, historical, theological definition of Lutheranism. It is, as I said, now a Union church. Its embracing of homosexuality does not place it outside of Lutheranism, since it was already outside of Lutheranism. Its embracing of homosexuality goes further than this, by placing it outside of natural law and common human morality.

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Try, try, try to separate them
It's an illusion
Try, try, try, and you will only come
To this conclusion

Love and marriage, love and marriage
Go together like a horse and carriage
Dad was told by mother
You can't have one without the other.

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GJ - Jay Webber has identified why Missouri, WELS, the Little Sect on the Prairie, and the CLC (sic) should all amalgamate. They are Union churches, in fellowship with the Babtists and Pestecostals by virtue of their promotion of CG/Emergent Church.

ELCA is definitely Union, but it is openly, honestly, lovingly, lavender Union.

The sects listed above are secretly, dishonestly, spitefully, closeted Union. And they all work with Thrivent, too.

I love it when outsiders take the CLC (sic) seriously at their word. They are also mixed up with Thrivent. They also love CG.

This is an easy and logical conclusion: If ELCA is Union by virtue of its doctrine and practice, so are the others. They go together like a horse and carriage. They have married the Spirit of This Age, so they are doomed to be Widows in the Age To Come.

Webber forgot to mention working with Floyd Luther Stolzenburg in Columbus, where Roger Kovaciny (another Shrinker) exhibited all the signs of fellowship in order to raise money for Webber's project in the Ukraine. That would make Webber a Union hero of sorts.

The Proper Aim of Preaching

Unless you have the faith of a child, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God.


I just read this on a blog:

KJV John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Yes, it was my blog, but that should not detract from its value.

Based on this passage, pastors should aim their messages at increasing faith rather than undermining it.

The UOJ Stormtroopers, advocating justification without faith, grace without the Means of Grace, paved the way for the Emergent Church takeover of today. When a Doctrinal Pussycat complains about the Emergent Church in his backyard, like CrossWalk in Phoenix--and does nothing--the apostates have already run.

The results can be seen at The SORE in Appleton, the WELS showcase for Emergent Church popcorn theaters. Victory of the Lamb and Latte Lutheran are two more. They are WELS when raking in the cash from Daddy Warbucks and the synod, but generic for the public.

Someone photographed the interior of The CORE during his visit. Two quotations, lovingly painted on the wall, gave away the works righteousness of its lupine pastor.*

One is verbatim from Groeschel: "In order to reach those who (sic) no one else is reaching, we'll have to do things no one else is doing." Bad grammar too!

This is pure works-righteousness. Reaching, whatever that means, is justification for anything that follows, using such logic. We know from observation that reaching in the Emergent Church means luring members away from sister congregations, luring them with love seats and lattes, movie theaters and popcorn.

Do not neglect the doing. We are doing things. Fidelity to the Word? That is not on the agenda, because "no one else is reaching...."

Two - St. Francis is quoted on the SORE wall as saying "Preach the Gospel always, use words when necessary." This fortune cookie wisdom has been slopping around the Emergent Church tank for a long time. Pay someone's toll on the highway! Buy their lunch! Look at their expression! "I'd like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony." My choice would be Gerhardt, of course.

The Christian Church is a mouth church, as Luther said, relying on speaking the Gospel and teaching it correctly, not reviving the works-righteousness of the Pharisees. The Shrinkers are obnoxious bullies, thugs, thieves, and liars. Have I mentioned that today? No? But that is good to remember because such behavior is the fruit of works-righteousness.

The point of the sermon is not to justify bad behavior by doing something so noble that it avoids all criticism, but to teach child-like faith.

Faith is not a virtue but trust in God's Word, which conveys Christ to us. Luther warned against the Enthusiasts who talk about Jesus all the time but tear down the bridge He uses to reach us - the Means of Grace.

The Shrinkers mock the efficacious Word, so I mock them by quoting them.

*Landlord, after canceling the lease - "That's my last mission painted on the wall,
I scraped but cannot get it off at all." (Browning, My Last Duchess, more or less)

Wormhaven Gardening Book Available Free from Lulu.com

The Wormhaven Gardening Book has emerged in time for people to dream about their gardens all winter.

Click here to download the PDF for free or buy the printed copy.

Wormhaven is based upon my experiences learning about organic gardening. The result is a book about gardening for the whole family, with many projects for children included.

The Biblical principles of Creation can be seen clearly in the way everything works together. With some experience--and careful study of my book--anyone can grow flowers and food with the best.

Tim Otten was a major factor in getting this into print the first time, just as he was with Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant.

All my books are available as free PDFs, and I have no objection to them being shared everywhere.

Yale Medical School, where I worked once upon a time, had a great summary of guys who were all hat and no cattle. "He has no bibliography." (Trans - he has never published anything of value.)

That also applies to those who want to control the synods but have no aptitude to teach and no energy to study and contribute. You know them - they are the Shrinkers. The pathetic drivel they produce is copied from others.

Do You Have the Spiritual Gift of Handing Out Free Popcorn and Drinks?The SORE Can Help

The spiritual gift of surfing - why not?Here is a visit to The SORE.


From: The CORE <info@gotocore.com>
To: ichabod@cox.net
CC:

_Using Our Spiritual Gifts_

This is where we all end up – standing in a hallway, surrounded by doors
waiting to be opened. The hallway is life; the doors are the many
opportunities to serve. Ephesians 6:7 says, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you
were serving the Lord, not men.”

But how can I serve? There are so many choices. How can I know which to
pick?

Here at the CORE, there are many options. One is helping with Concessions.
If you’re interested, you can sign up for once or twice a month.

Host Families is another option, geared towards the families of the CORE.
Those interested can donate food and serve dinners during the fall. We serve
dinners for the less fortunate; which is also used as a time to fellowship
among members and attenders.

Video Editing and Producing is what our videos go through before being
presented. There are a lot of creative projects being planned that will
require editing and producing. These projects will go through January.

Do you enjoy music? Do you play an instrument, or sing? Our Music Ministry
is looking for gifted individuals. If interested, speak with our music leader,
Joe Beausoleil.

Do you enjoy meeting people and directing them where to go? We need Greeters
to welcome people in and point them to the free popcorn and soda.

You may still be asking, “What is my gift? How can I use it? Where can I use
it? Where can I best serve God?”

To use your spiritual gifts means to do what you know how to do. Do what
you’re good at, and do it to honor God. 1 Peter 4:10 says, “Each one should
use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering
God’s grace in its various forms.” We were created with various gifts. Those
gifts, or talents, are meant to serve God.

If you want to learn more about using our gifts given by God, there is a
series called “Gifted” coming this fall. It runs from November 7 – 21. Take
time to pray about the options available.

_Neighborhoods and Small Group_

The schedule for the small groups begins the week of September 12th.
Postcards can be found in the lobby under the Neighborhoods poster. If you
are interested in joining a group, please contact us at info@gotocore.com.

_New Member Welcome_

The CORE is proud to sheepsteal 7 new members and 2 confirmation students. As
part of their welcome, we will be playing video's of their story and how God
led them to our church. We are all just a small part in the Lord's big
story. Show your support for our newest members by welcoming them into the
congregation officially on September 12th; which is also the beginning of
our "Be The Church" series.

_Looking Ahead_...

_"Be The Church"
_September 12th - 26th

_"...And Other Dark Things"
_October 3rd - 31st

_Miss a sermon? No worries. Click [1]here to listen to the podcasts or
subscribe in iTunes._
Links:
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“As your faith is strengthened you will find that there is no longer the
need to have a sense of control, that things will flow as they will,
that you will flow with them, to your great
delight and benefit.” - Emmanuel Teney


_Do you know someone who might be interested in hearing about what God is
doing at The CORE?
Forward this newsletter to them today._
The CORE 215 E Washington St. Appleton, WI 54911
920-364-0200
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Jesus Priceless Treasure Published on Lulu

I have done the initial publishing work to get Jesus Priceless Treasure on Lulu.com.

Here is the link, which provides a free PDF download.

I decided to follow my mentor Bill Gates in letting everyone beta-test the latest effort. Your comments and suggestions are welcome.

I asked the artist Norma Boeckler to add her illustrations to the final version. The cover will be improved, too. Having me design a cover is like letting Obama improve the economy.

I am trying to show the Shrinkers how to reach thousands with the efficacious Word instead of consuming millions with their insatiable demands for money.

Publishing the book cost exactly nothing and is available 24/7 to anyone.

Invited To Speak To the Unitarian Universalist Church

I found your problem - fur stuck to the motherboard.

"Alone in the world" (as one anonymouse sourpuss claimed), with only 1250 friends on Facebook, I teach about 1,000 students each year.

One of them invited me to speak at her Unitarian-Universalist Church in Glendale, Arizona. Visitors to our home doubtless remember the little buildings within a short walk of our house. One was for worship. The other was for religious education. No kidding. That is what the second building said. Did you expect, "Christian Education"? I pointed out that it would be difficult to fly to Phoenix for a talk.

Oddly, this was my second, unsolicited invitation to speak to the UUA. In Columbus I had an invite to conduct the entire service my way and bring my own organist. I suspected this was more of a reverse zoo situation, where the audience got to view a changing selection of invited speakers.

This recent invitation came because I provided a PowerPoint for the online class on Secular Humanism, including such figures as the Science Guy and Isaac Asimov. Right now I am teaching six new religion classes. I get to present whatever content I want in addition to the required readings. Some students request books. Just recently a police officer asked for Angel Joy. She became a quadriplegic from a car accident.

I point out to my friends that my polyglot, very mixed culture classes never rail at me for my Lutheran views. They do not start blogs to attack my daughters and defame people I know. They are quite appreciative.

Imagine the reaction to an invitation for me to speak at one of the Syn Conference schools! They welcome homosexual archbishops, papist bishops, former Lutherans who became papists, and Shrinkers of every non-confession. There is only one voice they would never tolerate. The natives would march with torches and pitchforks.

Do not worry. I would rather speak to the Unitarians. They might not have such closed minds.

Rogue Lutheran Began By Reading Ichabod

Craig Groeschel and fan.
Rogue Lutheran:

About my blogging.......it just kind of fell in my lap and I ran with it. If someone had already been writing about the NID I never would have put myself in the public arena.

I did not take up blogging about Lutheran apostasy for ‘Grand Publis Aclaim’ (term I learned from fill in the blank faux Lutheran handouts to discourage speaking out prior to a church voter meeting).

I spent some time in a business where Druckerisms and the Total Quality program was easy for me to recognize. I realized I was being deceived and the internet offered information;  just not enough Lutheran information.

But I did stumble upon Ichabod, and even though it was WELS oriented there was a ton of information.  Especially helpful were the posts related to past events in LCMS that helped me backfill missing years. The pattern of defection from the Faith and the deception is all in there. Missourians should data mine that site. The pattern is the same, across all denominations and sects. Transformational LINOS are integrating another belief system in the Missouri synod. They are so big on signed covenants they forgot one (from the business community):  the covenant not to compete.  

A few Lutheran bloggers are sending out warning signals to fellow Lutherans or other Christians, but it would be great to see more. It annoys me that some public Lutherans dance around the apostasy in ambiguous vague generalities and refuse to acknowledge public errors or call attention to it in a direct way. The persons being damaged by false doctrine are individuals seeking the gospel truth  and the rebellious Lutheran pastors should be identified for withholding same. 

The legacy Lutheran media (Lutheran Witless) reads like a society column from a 1950 newspaper. It is not news you can use in this current state of Lutheranism.

The LCMS NID basically put me in this trick bag and inspired this blog.  When I discovered deception and confronted my pastors they basically treated me like some addled old lady, patting me on the head with “Tut tut, there’s no church growth Willow Creek operation in here”.  

The crux of the matter was and still is this, do I walk with these misguided fools or stand up to it? Am I going to walk the talk or turn into a comatose pietist just to identify with some aberrant form of Lutheranism.  Some principles are extremely value laden, as in worth more than life itself so there’s just some Schlitz you don’t eat. 

I’ve got no regrets about taking the plunge and I have never been an activist type. If lay people were addressing this issue there would be no need for my blog.

As far as I know the only other layperson blog in the NID  (Chicagoland) talking about apostasy isAblaze for Christ. This person has chronicled problems with ELCA, homosexuals, racism, and Wheatridge the RSO  since 1998. It is worth your time to read it.

It bewilders me to know that in this densely populated area  there is just me and the Ablaze for Christ man speaking out against error in the NID.

The people hijacking faith are just waiting it out for the whole brouhaha and the old guard to die off. That’s why it is ignored.   I’m on self-imposed Leper status, and it works for me.  I can’t be in the same stall with fake Lutherans.  I have nothing in common with timid Lutherans either.

I do wonder if there are enough real Lutherans left in this denomination to make a difference?  

I’m still thinking through this denominational loyalty thing. I know I’ll never worship in that transformational LCMS church again and I am really disappointed with Lutheran pastors that just ‘go with the flow’. As far as truth in advertising goes, the Synod did little to warn or protect me from getting sucked into an apostate form of Lutheranism. There should be a proficiency exam for elders, my experience with them left me very underwhelmed. 

I’m disinclined to parse through the different ‘affinity groups’ in the LCMS, too. Too much work. I think something will open up for me, though.

I just write to alert others, I’m not a professional writer (it shows) and my techno blogging skills are primitive (it shows).  If I can put up a blog, anybody can. The point is that Missouri is dishonest and secretive.  I’m all  about alerting others to sinister forces and outing deceivers.

There are numerous patterns to follow because the script is from outside the denomination.  The leadership is not particularly clever or original, this is all based on second-hand ideas leftover from evangelical outliers. 

Every now and then I think I’m going to stop blogging, and along pops up some really bold and asinine statement from the pen of a LINO pastor and I just have to take a swing at it.  See link.  If you look at that post, ask yourself could that LINO pastor cite a more anti-Lutheran source?

I was amused that I got the attention of Charlie Mueller, Jr.  Thanks for the blog traffic, Charlie.

The establishment types fear the mob (pew sitters) will wise up and they worry about losing their private fiefdom.  This is the Google Age, according to Dr. Sweet, and the hive-like information system is here to stay whether we like it or not. We live in a panoptic society; more bloggers will come online and I can step down.

I don’t do divination (you’d have to see Lutheran Pastor Stutz for that) but whatever happens, let the record show that a vocal minority was not deceived by the shenanigans.

This is a battle for the mind just like the Apostle Paul said it was and Dr. Luther said the following about fake Lutherans slinking around in church among the faithful sowing discord and problems.

It is by your silence and cloaking that you cast suspicion upon yourself. 

If you believe as you declare in my presence, then speak so also in the church, in public lectures, in sermons, and in private conversations, and strengthen your brethren, and lead the erring back to the right path, and contradict the contumacious spirits; otherwise your confession is sham pure and simple, and worth nothing. 

Whoever really regards his doctrine, faith, and confession as true, right, and certain cannot remain in the same stall with such as teach, or adhere to, false doctrine; nor can he keep on giving friendly words to Satan and his minions. 

A teacher who remains silent when errors are taught, and nevertheless pretends to be a true teacher, is worse than an open fanatic and by his hypocrisy does greater damage than a heretic. Nor can he be trusted. He is a wolf and a fox, a hireling and a servant of his belly, and ready to despise and to sacrifice doctrine, Word, faith, Sacrament, churches, and schools. 

He is either a secret bedfellow of the enemies, or a skeptic and a weathervane, waiting to see whether Christ or the devil will prove victorious; or he has no convictions of his own whatever, and is not worthy to be called a pupil, let alone a teacher; nor does he want to offend anybody, or say a word in favor of Christ, or hurt the devil and the world.”

Martin Luther, F. Bente, Concordia Triglotta, Historical Introductions to the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, St. Louis Missouri,  CPH, 1921, p. 94.

Part II will address disinformation in the Steele video-- there’s a deceptive New Age piece of Schlitz in there.

Excellent Point by Greg!: Luther's Troubling Statement Eviscerating UOJ

"Jack, show me the way back to Kokomo.
No Jedi mind tricks, please."

Gregory DeVore said...

I found your Luther quotes on Objective Justification facinating and persuasive. There is one quote though that seems to militate against objective justification at least in the sense that Luther here handles Romans 5 differently then we do. This is from Luther's Sermon on John 1 in Lenker's translation:"And I cannot reject this interpretation; for St. Paul also speaks in like manner in Rom. 5, 18: "As through one trespass the judgment came unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness the free gift came unto all men unto justification of life." Although all men are not justified through Christ, he is, nevertheless, the only man through whom justification comes." To find this on the web in context see http://www.orlutheran.com/html/mlsejo1.html. Luther seems to speak here in a way that I would not since I believe in Objective Justification.

***

GJ - Father Jack, OP, has copious words to assure his disciples that UOJ is pure, refined gold. Speaking ex cathedra from his part-time position at a Roman Catholic college, Jack enthralls people like fellow layman Paul McCain. The other Jack, Cascione, is equally firm on Knapp's double-justification.

EastCoast Questions Whether Glende Can Be Anonymouse/Fake Ichy

Eastcoast:
OK, I've made up my mind, the fake Ichy is NOT Glende. Simply could not be. He is far too obvious to put together something like this.


Thus, it must be one of his or Ski's members, or another area C&C type Pastor.

Why not run a contest - "Find the Fake-o-bod!" Give prizes of say - donate a month's supply of popcorn to The SORE in the winner's name. Second prize - the butter and salt. Third prize - three front row seats and robot helmets to do a "Mystery Science Theater" running commentary during the "service"(sic). Be a hoot! Maybe the real guy will come forward just to win!

God Had No Hands But Yours, No Wallet But Yours: Does Commercialism Really Help?

From: Christine Safranek

To: undisclosed-recipients:

Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 2010 1:23 AM

Subject: St. Marcus Lutheran requests your help!

Hello Pastors, School Administrators and Fellow WELS Employees,

I hope this email finds you well. I am reaching out to you on behalf of St. Marcus Lutheran School and the
exciting contest that Kohl's is running- called Kohl's Cares for Kids where they are about to award $10 million
to 20 schools! The winning schools will be determined on the basis of votes on Facebook. The winnings of
$500,000 each will go to the schools with the most votes on Facebook and we need your help.

As it stands now, none of these philanthropic dollars will stay in Wisconsin, it is all going to New York, Florida,
California...out of state! So we need your involvement, your friends involvement and your friends' friends involvement!

Administrators from St. Marcus have taken to the roof of St. Marcus School in Milwaukee and ARE NOT coming down
until the school earns enough votes to reach and stay in the top 20 schools in the nation for the KOHL'S CARES
CONTEST on Facebook! Their intent is to not only call attention to this contest and ASK YOU TO VOTE, but to make
a broader statement about education. No matter where you live, worship or go to school, working together can
accomplish amazing things for students! As an urban Lutheran school, winning $500,000 will enable St.Marcus
to expand their campus, to serve and minister to over 600 students and families with a Christian education!

St.Marcus Lutheran is the only WELS school in the top 40 schools at present. You can vote for St. Marcus
Lutheran and also vote for your favorite WELS school at the same time. Each person gets 20 votes, with 5
being the max votes per school.

CAN WE COUNT ON YOUR 5 VOTES? WILL YOU PASS THIS EMAIL ON TO YOUR STAFF/MEMBERS TO VOTE?

Time is of the essence, because the contest ends this Friday! Thank you for your support!
Your votes CAN make a difference and help bring a Christian education to thousands of children in
Southeastern Wisconsin!

Please Vote 5X for St. Marcus!

Christine Safranek
Development Director
St.Marcus Ministries

414.267.8361 (o)
414.750.6498 (c)
www.stmarcus.org

========================================

Voting Directions:

1. Go to the Kohl's Cares Facebook Page, and click the big button "VOTE NOW".

2. You will receive a "Request for Permission" from Kohl's Cares, Click "ALLOW".

3. Come back to these directions and click on the St. Marcus Voting Page to vote for St. Marcus.

4. You will see St Marcus Lutheran School on the left side of the page, go ahead and click on the button
"CAST A VOTE"
5. A prompt will come up asking you to "LIKE" Kohl's to continue. Click the "LIKE" button.

6. Click again on the button labeled "CAST A VOTE" until you've reached the limit of 5.

7. Click on the "SEARCH SCHOOLS" text at the top of the screen to vote for more schools.

You will not be prompted for anything else at
this point, the next 15 votes will go straight through!

This email has been processed by SmoothZap - www.smoothwall.net

Because They Do Not Believe

KJV John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Lenski:

The thought is not that the world knows nothing about sin. Its daily crime list contradicts that, as well as its moralists with their repressive and reformatory measures. What the world lacks and the Spirit supplies is something that goes far deeper, something that actually convicts in regard to sin. This is not the fact that sin is sin, or that the real essence of sin is unbelief. The Spirit is not to repeat the work of Moses in preaching the law. The conviction in regard to sin lies in one direction: “inasmuch as they do not believe in me.” Yet note that this is the capital sin. For to believe in Jesus is to be saved from sin, to have sin forgiven; and thus not to believe in Jesus is to remain in sin, to perish forever in sin. The Spirit’s work in regard to sin is to confront the world with the terrible fact of its unbelief in Jesus, which means, with the fact that this unbelief leaves it in its damnable sin, doomed and damned forever, in other words, that only he who believes escapes from his sin. This conviction in regard to sin naturally operates in two ways. It will crush some hearts so that they will be frightened at their unbelief and cry out like the 3,000 at Pentecost, “Brethren, what shall we do?” Acts 2:37, and thus be led to repent and to believe. Or it will further harden those who resist this conviction; they will go on, convicted though they are, more obdurate than before, fighting against this conviction until they perish. In this the Spirit will do exactly what Jesus did in 7:33, etc., and again in 8:22–24: “I said, therefore, unto you that ye shall die in your sins; for except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”

Some fix their attention on the phrase “concerning sin” and thus fail to see the significance of the word “believe” in the elucidating clause, “inasmuch as they do not believe in me,” with its implication that this unbelief leaves them in their sin, and that faith, and faith alone, relieves them of their sin. Thus we get those interpretations which turn only on the word “sin,” unbelief as the greatest sin, the real nature of sin, and the like. But the Spirit uses “me,” Jesus; believing and not believing in Jesus apply to Jesus, unbelief in him and faith in him to the world’s sin—if possible, to save the world from sin, otherwise to brand the world with the conviction of its damning unbelief.

Lenski, R. C. H.: The Interpretation of St. John's Gospel. Minneapolis, MN : Augsburg Publishing House, 1961, S. 1082

---

Every so often (daily) I hear someone whining about this blog containing so much Law. The name above is not The Glory of Holy Mother Synod but The Glory Has Departed. One numbskull thought the departed glory applied to his particular sect! The glory of tiger meat, dry heaves, and torturing younger students - moistened eyes. Not quite. The glory is the Means of Grace.

When nominal Lutherans refuse to teach the Means of Grace, blush at rejecting false doctrine, and play games with every doctrinal question, the glory has departed. 

John 16 clarifies that the first and most important work of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world of its unbelief in Christ. The work of the Holy Spirit is exclusively in the Word, and the Word works only with the Holy Spirit, never apart from the Spirit.

The amalgamated Pietists (Synodical Conference guys) think sin revolves around fast women, slow horses, and questioning the shopworn edicts of their dead synodical leaders. To question Walther or Pieper is the deepest, most depraved sin of all. When WELS plays that card, remember that they promote the thoughts of a known atheist in their Holy of Holies, the Essay File.

UOJ fails the test of this passage, more pointedly than any other. The Stormtroopers of apostasy want their disciples to understand everyone being absolved, ever since 30 AD. 

Forget Abraham as the father of faith. Doesn't work with UOJ. 

UOJ teaches that all unbelievers are forgiven, justified, declared innocent, given the status of guilt-free saints. The fragments of the Syn Conference teach this with great conviction, although few of the  laity ever agree with the ridiculous contradictions of this opinion.

UOJ proves its apostasy by railing against faith, even though the purpose of John's Gospel--and entire Bible--is to move people to faith in Christ as their righteousness. The proclamation of the Word, both Law and Gospel, accomplishes this.

The Syn Conference seminaries are in league with the forces of destruction because they refuse to teach this simple to understand passage. Instead, they brain-wash students thus: 

"Everyone is already forgiven. It is a sin to talk about faith. God has already forgiven the entire world. They have to accept this or not." There are some variations in this tommyrot, but the basics are the same.

Instead of faith being essential, faith is dangerous and bad and a danger to one's faith. The fun part is that any sin (except questioning the synod) is already forgiven. A pastor can have an affair with a troubled, vulnerable married woman and be promoted to mission counselor. That is their version of the Gospel. How popular is that with the clergy? Very.

The Intrepids Are Doomed - Endorsed by Tim Glende

Suffering from the crabs in Seattle,
Glende and Ski attended a passtor's conference.
But WELS was not hosting one anywhere.
Marc Driscoll, the cussing pastor?

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2010

A Welcome New Blog

If you haven't seen it yet, we would encourage our readers to visit the new Intrepid Lutherans website. We would especially invite you to read the following posting:

http://www.intrepidlutherans.com/2010/08/pietism-and-ministry-in-wels-brief.html

Unlike Dr. Gregory Jackson's blog, "Ichabod, the Glory Has Departed," IntrepidLutherans.com offers scholarly insightful articles on the church growth movement, pietism and other issues affecting confessional Lutheranism in our day.

***

GJ - Abandon hope if Glende endorses anything, albeit anonymously.

This may be a sign of repentance.

Stay tuned.

Why Purchase Hell When Heaven Is Given Away for Free?

My title is from a statement by Luther - so many purchase Hell by their works when they can have Heaven for free.

I was debating these matters by IM on Facebook last night. I seem to have a lot of conversations that way, often very late. They tear me away, reluctantly, from grading student papers.

Hygienic doctrine (aka sound doctrine - look at the Greek) teaches us how God does everything through the Means of Grace. I found a little piece by Prof John Brenner, published in FICKLE, on that topic. I did not swoon, because I saw no antitheses. If Sparky really believed what he wrote, he would have added: "So why are we promoting Reformed and New Age doctrine at this school and around the synod?"

Satan wants the sheep fed, fat and tender, but not warned.

All false doctrine devolves into a system of works, which is our default belief system. That is why works-religion is so popular and works-salesmen attract crowds. The Gospel is thinly sown. When people have their self-justification taken away by preaching the Means of Grace, they are just as furious as the Pharisees who trusting in their own righteousness. No longer does it matter than someone is fifth generation WELS--or, as they said in Byzantium--born to the purple. No longer does the acreage of the parking lot matter.

He got a grant? God grant him spiritual wisdom instead.

When Lutherans teach works religion--via their heroes Hybels, Warren, Sweet, Groeschel--they touch the hearts of the audiences, by hardening them even more. The works-preachers harden their own hearts too. A few decades of this sick doctrine and an entire synod is destroyed while the vultures feast on the bones. No discernment is left. No one has the will to stop the cackling carrion birds.

Luther is inexpensive. Luther is free. I would rather spend the rest of my life reading Luther than crack open a book from the latest works salesman.

Bullying Is Not Going To Work

Tim Glende hates the kitteh pictures, so keep sending them, Sine Nomine.


rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Antinomianism - The Law Is Obsolete":


I believe that President John Adams once said that "facts are stubborn things". There are those timid ones who will always avoid conflict, even to the point of abandoning their faith. In the WELS, blood is often thicker than doctrine. Digital photos of pastors with a Playboy model will circulate for a long time on the Net. Pietistic shunning and lame attempts to discredit a reliable source no longer work today. WELS pastors and laity can tell the truth to each other publicly and privately without worrying about a water carrier asking - "who told you?". The WELS brainwashing tools are powerful. But the Word of God is quicker and more powerful than any double edged sword.

When I first witnessed bullying, deception, and intimidation by WELS called workers, I was taken aback. Finally, I realized that much of management in private sector employment behaves in a more ethical manner. Hourly employees were permitted to voice their opposition to management, if done so respectfully, without fear of reprisal. In fact, at my present employer, the Federal anti-retaliation law is displayed on the company bulletin boards, as required by law.

***

GJ - Telling the truth suppresses the criminal element, the clergy who violate the law and continue in office, the way DP Ed Werner did. One pastor managed a DWI and a world missionary call within a short period of time. How arrogant is that, to thrust a drunk upon a trusting population in the name of Christianity?

Absolving the unrepentant only hardens their hearts, but that is done without remorse by those with similarly hardened hearts. Or, as my pappy used to say, "There is no love like the love of one drunk for another."

Meanwhile, the anonymous grapevine corrupts the criminal element, driving away decent members and pastors while protecting felons. Many WELS people know how they demanded the truth about Mrs. Tabor being murdered, only to have The Love Shack protect the murderer and move him to a new call in Escanaba, Michigan - to serve a congregation there!

Must Read Groeschel Article

Craig Groeschel Hisself.

Copycat blogger Tim Glende is also a copycat preacher of Groeschel.

The Intrepid Lutherans have posted a brilliant essay on Craig Groeschel's doctrine. Every Lutheran should read it. Lutheran DPs should act on it.

Here are resources to use:

1. Intrepid Lutherans post.

2. My fact page with links provided.

3. A visit to The SORE.

Twelve years of WELS training...down the drain.
Ski does Groeschel dishonestly - each week.

Catalyst WELS with all the Wisconsin Sect favorites - Groeschel, Warren, Andy Stanley.

Will Some Lutheran Leaders Please Stand Up

UOJ Stormtroopers read their favorite journal each week.

The blessed reign of Matthew Harrison, LCMS Synod President, begins shortly. He is a pleasant scholar with a sense of humor. He has already made a favorable impression on many Missouri Synod members, with the possible exception of Mark Jeske.

Some people think they are Lutherans because their families were and they have remained attached to something where the name Lutheran has not been effaced. Others imagine they are Lutheran because they have a sentimental regard for such things as the liturgy, confirmation, and tiger meat.

The Reformation began under Luther and continued under the Concordists because the leaders taught the truth but also condemned false doctrine in no uncertain terms. That quality is entirely lacking today. All the Lutheran synods (even the ELCA partners) began embracing Reformed and New Age doctrine through the Church Growth Movement, starting in the 1970s. The Concordia Ft. Wayne seminary even endorsed Church Growth Principles, as WELS and Missouri did.

Which leader in 40 years has condemned the Church Growth Movement as utter rot? Christian News endorsed and sold Valleskey's CG textbook. Bohlmann let CG grow. Barry-McCain did nothing, said nothing. Kieschnick fanned the flames. WELS SP Nauman allowed TELL to start and endorsed it. WELS SP Mischke did what he was told and promoted it, via Paul Calvin Kelm.

The ELS is known for strutting about how confessional they are. Orvick on CG? He promoted it by having Valleskey endorsed. Pope John the Malefactor? Oh please. The Concordists would not have let that ninny sweep the floors, let alone run the Little Sect on the Prairie.

"Apt to teach" is a requirement for all pastors. If a man cannot teach sound doctrine, he should resign from the ministry, whether he is a parish pastor or a District President, a mission manager or a CP.

KJV 1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

KJV 2 Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

Apt to schwaffle is now the requirement. The schwaffle term is slang for dancing around a topic, waffling with a German accent.

Note that WELS condemns people, not false doctrine. Members and pastors are afraid to state their questions and opinions in public, lest they be hit by the Shrinker Slime Machine, which operates 24/7 anonymously and targets the entire family, yea unto the fifth generation.

Those who cannot or will not condemn false doctrine have already condemned themselves. They brag about the calls they have in the filing cabinet or their synod-paid trips abroad, but they are not apt to teach.

The Word is always efficacious, even among synod officials. What they handle so casually has a way of acting upon those who treat it as a toy.

The fake blogger has condemned the Intrepid Lutherans:

"With the IL site, we did catch hints of mistrusting the called leaders of the WELS. If that's really the case, it is truly unfortunate."

The anti-Lutheran doctrine of the fake blogger shines through the shiny Dreck of Glende's blog. Everyone should trust the called leaders (Roman Catholic doctrine) not the Word of God.

---

Scott E. Jungen has left a new comment on your post "Will Some Lutheran Leaders Please Stand Up":

Mr. "Fake Blogger",

I'm going to make it very simple for you. How can I trust the leaders of the WELS? Let's just look at the last thirty years: we have a school system that is a shadow of its former self, millions of dollars have been spent with little if anything to show for it, and allowed Church Growth and sectarian worship to flood into our churches. Thankfully, by the work of the Holy Spirit, I trust in the efficacious Word of God, and not men.

If that makes me "unfortunate", well, too bad. If I trusted only in men, I would have left the WELS a long time ago.

---

bruce-church (https://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Will Some Lutheran Leaders Please Stand Up":

The reasons the shrinkers give for encroaching on another's parish is, stated positively, we are doing more to reach the lost in their parish, and stated negatively, the established church is not doing enough to reach the lost in their parish. However, this doesn't wash because they could take their shrinker program to a ton of parishes not served by the WELS.

This brings us to the real reason the shrinkers start their new churches near established churches. According to church growth theory, one needs to start to build one's church upon scaffolding, i.e., stable members. So they are taking scaffolding from the established church. That's saves 25 years of work and teaching right off the bat.

Thus, a good part of church shrinking can be summed up in one rhetorical question: who wants to be a Paul when he can be an Apollos?:

1Co 03:6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.

10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.

***

GJ - Bruce, I would say it is more like, "Who wants to be a shepherd when he can be a wolf?"

Apollos and Paul believed in the efficacy of the Word. The First VP of WELS does not. The previous First VP was also a Shrinker. That does not happen by accident.