Monday, October 10, 2011

R. Schultz on Denominational Leaders



rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Joe Krohn Touches on the Real Issue: Not Only Fals...":

It is difficult for some laity to believe that denominational leaders can be so brutal and dishonest. They may falsely assume that their sect will protect from the evil world which lurks outside the church walls. Carnal sins are certainly capable of ultimately producing unbelief, when left unchecked by the proper use of Law and Gospel.

Staying busy with church work can produce a type of complacency where private study of the Word is substituted with busy work. Congregational operation should be orderly and decent, but not just for the sake of the congregation. Larger congregations always run the risk of producing cliques and yes-men. Satan would much rather deceive with false doctrine from leaders than with pet sins.
There used to be a time when we were often reminded that sanctification always follows justification:
Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure
by the Cross are sanctified.


Now, we get how-to __________ Bible studies instead of study of the Lutheran Confessions.

I am convinced that many leaders are afraid that if more laity studied the BOC, their little fiefdoms would fall apart. Christians with doctrinal discernment would wield the Sword of the Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit, through the Means of Grace, can produce a fearless faith that will stand up to bullying, apostate leaders.


Joe Krohn Touches on the Real Issue:
Not Only False Doctrine, But Unbelief

Copying is the highest form of flattery,
and Tim Glende copies with glee.


LutherRocks has left a new comment on your post "Church Status « Light from Light":

Glende, Ski and the DP are symptoms of the greater problem. Just as Patterson and his DP are symptoms. The root cause is the false doctrine being taught at the seminary. Their false view of justification enables your 'axis' to teach upside down evangelism which goes hand in hand with the emergent church model. The whole of the visible church is already prostituting itself with the state...that harlot from the Revelation of St. John.

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GJ - WELS, Missouri, and the Little Sect on the Prairie have been in hot pursuit of false doctrine because the efficacy of the Word in the Means of Grace has been taught out of them. They have no trust in the Gospel itself, so a large group of professors and synodical drones are de facto unbelievers. That explains their obnoxious, brutal, and deceitful behavior, whether we are talking about Pope John the Malefactor in the ELS, the real estate moguls in the LCMS, or the disgraceful DPs and their helpless leader.

All of them would protest that they really are believers but their actions teach otherwise. I have used this blog to show the isolated and alienated that they are not alone. This is not only a pan-Lutheran problem but also a pan-denominational problem. The extent of the depravity is shown by the way the vast majority tolerate the evil.

True, 10% of the ELCA members have left already, but that should really be 90 to 98%. ELCA is crowing "Full Speed Ahead" in its magazine, because the Queen of the Seas is running at flank speed. The retired ELCA bishops are using a time machine to recreate the ALC and LCA of a few years ago, a more dilute form of poison.

The Olde Synodical Conference hangs its head in sorrow for the apostasy of ELCA, but they work closely with ELCA at many different levels. ELCA works with everyone, but so do the others. WELS has funded the United Nations and the Salvation Army.

All the Lutheran groups are mainline sects following the implicit Universalism of Knapp. So nothing is left but law mongering. ELCA hammers the law in promoting political fads. Dysfunctional WELS ministers, who treat their members like dirt, are going to "transform their communities" with law-mongering borrowed from the open Enthusiasts, crackpots who despise the Gospel but love themselves.


ELCA bishops value ecumenical partners, consider critical mission topics - News Releases - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Don't cross the queen.


ELCA bishops value ecumenical partners, consider critical mission topics - News Releases - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: " CHICAGO (ELCA) -


"We are exceedingly grateful" for the two churches' full communion partnership, the Most Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori told the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Conference of Bishops during its meeting here Sept. 29-Oct. 4.

The ELCA Conference of Bishops is an advisory body of the church that includes the ELCA's synod bishops, presiding bishop and secretary.

Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the 2.4 million-member Episcopal Church, spoke to ELCA bishops about the ecumenical opportunities for shared mission work."

'via Blog this'

Spaude Turns Down Michigan Lutheran Seminary.
Tim Glende Would Be a Good Candidate

Tim Glende could be a shepherd of tender youth.
Here is he advising Katy Perry on how to dress more modestly.

Michigan Lutheran Seminary The Rev. Timothy Spaude of St. Jacobi Lutheran Church, Greenfield, Wisconsin, announced to his congregation Sunday, October 9, that the Holy Spirit has led him to decline our governing board’s call for him to become the next president of Michigan Lutheran Seminary. The governing board called Pastor Spaude at its September 9 fall meeting on campus. The MLS Governing Board will meet by teleconference next week, probably on Tuesday, October 18, to issue another call from its list of candidates.

Ask an Expert from Fuller Seminary:
The WELS Fuller Experts Know This - They Never Went to Fuller!



AC V has left a new comment on your post "Rick Techlin Situation Shows Pathetic Wobble of WE...":

This is interesting:

My Take: This evangelical says Mormonism isn’t a cult

Editor’s note: Richard J. Mouw is President of Fuller Theological Seminary, an evangelical school in Pasadena, California.

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/09/my-take-this-evangelical-says-mormonism-isnt-a-cult/?hpt=hp_t2

Rick Techlin Situation Shows Pathetic Wobble of WELS:
Tim Glende, Ski, and Doug Englebrecht as Enthusiasts

Mark Jeske is driving this bus.

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Church Status « Light from Light":

Certainly shows how split the entire Synod is in doctrine and practice. Glende and Patterson have simply been teaching and acting as they've been taught in the (W)ELS college and Seminary. Just as the current students will when they get their chance at exercising excellence in making disciples. It's also been a great example at just how impotent the Synod administration, clergy and laity are in dealing with the doctrine and practice of the Baptists, Methodists and New Age Religion in their churches. What a pathetic display. 

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Luther Rocks: Occupy The WELS




Luther Rocks: Occupy The WELS:

'via Blog this'

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GJ - People are shocked at the abusive behavior of The Episcopal Church, USA, earmarking $22 million to sue their own congregations and ministers.

The behavior of leaders in WELS, Missouri, and the Little Sect on the Prairie is no different. They are unbelievers. They will protest that label, but nothing else explains their greed and their timidity in promoting sound doctrine. Nevertheless, they are lions when it comes to defending false doctrine.

Gephart Funeral Home: Obituaries -
Pastor John (Slick) Brenner, 94 Years Old

Gephart Funeral Home: Obituaries: "Pastor John F. Brenner
(August 10, 1917 - October 7, 2011)

Pastor John F. Brenner


Pastor John F. Brenner

John Frederick Brenner, the only son of Pastor John W.O. Brenner and his wife, Anna F. (Raether), was born on August 10, 1917, in Milwaukee Wisconsin, and was called home to heaven on Friday, October 7, 2011 in Bay City, Michigan at Brian’s House. John was baptized by his father on August 22, 1917, and confirmed in the faith on May 22, 1932. He attended elementary school at St. John Lutheran School, enrolled in 1932 in the preparatory department of Northwestern College in Watertown, Wisconsin, and graduated from the college in 1940. Pastor Brenner finished his formal training for the pastoral ministry at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Thiensville, Wisconsin in 1943."

Since there were not enough pastoral calls for the graduates during the World War II years, Pastor Brenner taught in the one-room classroom at Calvary Lutheran School, Thiensville from the fall of 1943 until April of 1944. At that time he received and accepted his first call into the pastoral ministry. During his forty-seven years as a Lutheran pastor, he was privileged to serve congregations in Hillrose, Colorado (Trinity, 1944-1946), Pewaukee, Wisconsin (Christ, 1946-1949), Battle Creek, Michigan (St. John, 1949-1953) and Bay City, Michigan (St. John, 1953-1990.) After his retirement from the public ministry he became a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Saginaw.

Pastor Brenner also served in various capacities on both the synodical and district levels in the WELS. One of the great joys of his ministry was serving as a supervisor in the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary vicar program from 1970-1985. Fifteen seminarians spent their vicar year with him at St. John in Bay City.

On August 29, 1945, John married Ruth H. Frey, daughter of Pastor Immanuel P. and Elizabeth H. (Janz) Frey, in Denver, Colorado. Ruth faithfully served as his helpmeet through more than 56 years of marriage, until she passed away on December 21, 2001. Together John and Ruth loved to open their home to young pastors and their families, offering them support, friendship and mentoring. They both were grateful for God’s blessings through service to the church, and freely encouraged both those serving in the ministry and those preparing for service.

Their marriage was blessed with four children: Ann (Raymond) Arnold, Brown Deer, Wisconsin; Deborah Priebe, Bay City, Michigan; Prof. John M. (Patricia) Brenner, Mequon, Wisconsin; Barbara (Pastor Marcus) Manthey, Saginaw, Michigan; nine grandchildren: Pastor Matthew (Elisabeth) Arnold, Oconto Falls, Wisconsin; Laura Biesterfeld, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Sarah (John) Heathcock, Racine, Wisconsin, Michael (Lisa) Priebe, Saginaw, Michigan; Benjamin (Natalie) Priebe, West Melbourne, Florida; Jessica (Daniel) Hill, Saginaw, Michigan; Katie (Mathew) Visaggio, North Fort Myers, Florida; Mollie Priebe, Bay City, Michigan; Nathanael Brenner, Mequon Wisconsin; and fourteen great-grandchildren: Christian, Noah, Peter and Emma Arnold; Micah, Jacob and Grace Biesterfeld; Lauren and Julia Heathcock; Logan Priebe; Arabella Priebe; Silas and Adelaide Hill; and Laura Visaggio. A fifteenth grandchild, Baby Boy Priebe, is expected in January 2012. Pastor Brenner is also survived by a number of brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth (2001); his parents, Pastor John (1962) and Anna (1979) Brenner; his sister, Dorothy Brenner (1989); his son-in-law, David Priebe (2009); and numerous sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

Visitation will take place at Gephart Funeral Home on Midland Street in Bay City on Thursday, October 13, from 7-9 p.m. and on Friday, October 14, from 2-9 p.m., as well as at the church an hour prior to the funeral service. The Funeral and Rite of Committal will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 15, 2011 at St. John Lutheran Church, Mountain and Jane Streets in Bay City. Officiating will be Pastor William Brassow and Pastor Carl Otto of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Saginaw with private interment in Oak Ridge Cemetery

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: the Michigan Lutheran Seminary Foundation to establish a scholarship or grant in memory of Pastor John and Ruth Brenner for students continuing in preparation for the public ministry; to the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (Saginaw) Ministerial Education Endowment Fund, or to the St. John Lutheran Church (Bay City) Ministerial Student Trust Fund.

The family wishes to thank those that cared for John at Luther Manor in Saginaw this past year and at Brian’s House in Bay City the last two days of his earthly life. We rejoice that our father, grandfather and great-grandfather is safe at home with our Savior and we joyfully await the blessed reunion in heaven! “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain!” Philippians 1:21


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GJ - I found John Brenner to be immensely likable - frank, funny, and willing to stand up for sound doctrine. The Shrinkers hated him and called him a "legalist" behind his back.

Anyone can see the shift from men like Brenner and Corky. Brug and Sparky Brenner (Slick's son) are both get-along go-along guys. That entire generation has undone anything good accomplished before. Look at John Lawrenz compared to his father, Mark Jeske a worse version of his father.

Church Status « Light from Light

Church Status « Light from Light:


IMG_8807 csed
Saint Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church in Freedom, WI (WELS) was my life-long home congregation.  (St. Peter’s daughter congregation is The CORE in Appleton, WI).
In the Spring of 2011, the leadership of St. Peter Congregation terminated my fellowship with the WELS as a persistent errorist based on two letters that I wrote.  Those two letters are linked below:
They said in a certified letter that they removed me as a persistent errorist because in those letters I publicly disagreed with Pastor Glende and the Northern Wisconsin District Presidium on three doctrinal issues:
  1. I said that plagiarism was a sin, and that Pastor Glende was guilty of plagiarism.
  2. I said that God does not need our service: in other words, the means of grace are sufficient.
  3. I said that in the light of faith Christians cannot choose to believe God’s Word: in other words, from beginning to end, faith is 100% the gift of God.
Because I believed that these positions were not doctrinal error, I appealed.  However, the Northern Wisconsin District Appeal Board denied my appeal without explanation.  (Because the Appeal Board’s written decision contained no explanation, I believe their decision was based on politics, not principle).  Now, I have three choices:
  1. Sin against my conscience by renouncing the above true Christian doctrine, and then presumably rejoin St. Peter Congregation.
  2. Refuse to publicly recant the true Christian doctrine, and remain excluded from the WELS forever.  (The WELS Constitution §§ 8.30(c) and 8.50(e) would forbid my return).
  3. Disregard the District Appeal Board’s ruling and the WELS Constitution (§§ 8.30(c) and 8.50(e)), and continue indefinitely in triangular fellowship with other WELS congregations who agree with me in doctrine.  (Currently, this is where I am).
In summary, the leadership of St. Peter Congregation terminated my fellowship with the WELS because I questioned the methodology and doctrine of Pastors Glende and Skorzewski and the Northern Wisconsin District Presidium’s defense of their false doctrine and practice.
I did my best to resolve these issues in a brotherly way by spending years attempting to meet privately, and then after years of private effort, by ultimately bringing these concerns to the Church.  In return, the leadership of St. Peter Congregation terminated my fellowship with the WELS as a persistent errorist.
Lord, have mercy.
For further reading:


'via Blog this'

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WELS church lady has left a new comment on your post "Church Status « Light from Light":

Brother Rick, bet it all on number 3! It has been my understanding that more than one WELS congregation has offered communion and thus has extended a bold act of Christian love. This is a testament that validates the fact that a significant portion of pastors and laity alike are standing against the Glende, Ski, and DP axis. This speaks tremendeous volumes. What can the DP do? Shut down these other churches that are in fellowship with Rick. No! That would be World War III. May God be with Rick and his family.

In Christ,
Rebecca

Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity, 2011 -
Luke 7:11-17




The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity, 2011


Pastor Gregory L. Jackson


Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Time


The Hymn #  191                 Christ the Lord                      2:97
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 #188                Hallelujah                   2:20     

Thankfulness toward God

The Communion Hymn #  206            Jesus Christ, My Sure Defense  2:81
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 #   212     A Hymn of Glory                                    2:93

KJV Ephesians 3:13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. 14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

KJV Luke 7:11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Lord God, heavenly Father, who didst send Thy Son to be made flesh, that by His death He might atone for our sins and deliver us from eternal death: We pray Thee, confirm in our hearts the hope that our Lord Jesus Christ, who with but a word raised the widow's son, in like manner will raise us on the last day, and grant us eternal life: through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Thankfulness toward God

Luke 7:11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

Each miracle recorded has one or more lessons for us. The Gospels are so full of spiritual wisdom that each point could be expanded upon many times over.

Many Gospel narratives dispel the notion that the miracle did not really happen as recorded. That is what happens when an alien philosophy is imposed on the revealed Word of God. Although the self-appointed expert has another view to impose on the passage, the plain words of the Bible come through anyway.

One rationalistic spin is that people became healthy because of their faith in this charismatic figure Jesus. They thought they were sick but then imagined they were healthy when they came close to Him. Therefore, the term “faith-healing” has been used in derision, to speak about the primitive people who had such a strange view of God.

Many Gospel passages show that God comes to us. Nothing is clearer than in the raising of the dead. In this vivid example, Jesus comes upon a funeral where the widow is weeping for her only son. She has already lost a husband and now, her protector and source of economic support is gone too.

Here we have no request from anyone. Certainly the dead man did not have faith in Jesus. It takes the Word to create this faith. The widow was not asking but mourning her loss and fearing her future.

This illustrates the famous Isaiah passage, that He is already answering us before we even ask, and Paul’s reminder that God gives more than we can even imagine.

The blackness of unbelief is this – that those without faith do not see that God has compassion on them, cares for each one of them, and provides the means for their forgiveness and salvation. Unbelievers act toward God the way a spoiled child does in the midst of a tantrum. When the spoiled child gets what he has been demanding with shouts, tears, and pounding the floor, from an all-too-understanding parent, he knocks it away. So the unbelievers demand God’s miracles and never see them. They demand examples of God’s love and compassion, but anything they see only makes them more bitter. They jeer at Christians who suffer any kind of setback, unable to see the fruits of the Christian life.

Central to God’s compassion is the crucified Messiah, dying for the sins of the world. That is the Gospel, the message of reconciliation. God has already taken care of the problem of sin, before we believed or even thought to ask. That is the part unbelievers hate the most. They say, “I cannot believe in a God who requires the sacrifice of His Son.”

The widow’s son was simply incapable of faith at that point, and his grieving mother was overwhelmed with sorrow and fear. Therefore, Jesus came to her because of His compassion for her:

Luke 7:13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

I often discuss with students how our emotions use up our energy. That is, we can be so afraid and frustrated that a relatively simple task becomes impossible. In the struggles of life, this is compounded by complexity. And yet, the plain answer from the Word of God is – trust in His compassion. He already has been planning an answer, one far better than anyone can imagine.

Weep not – that is a good beginning. The alternative is to place one’s worries, anxieties, and crises before the merciful Father in Heaven. All the passages in the Bible that deal with fear also have this admonition – trust in the Lord.

That is why Luther said, “You have as much faith as you have laughter.” Anxious people do not laugh. We learned from our baby Erin Joy that we can laugh or cry about situations. Laughing is a lot more fun. In fact, we often laughed so hard that tears came to our eyes, and she laughed even more because of it.  Because of this, she lit up the places where she stayed. One nurse said, “Erin, tell your parents what happened today.” The event was that nurse carrying a tiny baby, tripping on a hose, and falling on the floor. No one was hurt. Erin loved spills. As soon as the story started, Erin began to laugh. That built up more and more as the tumble was described. We were howling with laughter, especially since nurses would say, “Your daughter is a sadist.”

Of course, a baptized baby has faith, because the Gospel plants faith in hearts of those who listen and receive the message of salvation. Babies have enormous intelligence but not the stubborn rationalism that makes adults refuse the grace of God with pride and arrogance.

Sometimes people tell us, or we tell them, in faith, “This misadventure will bring blessings. Trust in God for the outcome.”

Ministers grieve that they are not in those high and mighty places where they think influential people work. The church building is too humble. The location is something like Prairie Flats, far away from headquarters. The material circumstances mean nothing for God’s Word, incarnate in a stable. How does a minister move from Christmas Day to moaning about worn carpeting in the church? It is the Old Adam in all of us, fighting against child-like faith.

The only way to beat down that Old Adam is to build up faith through the Word of God. The word of man destroys faith. The Word of God builds faith in Him.

14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

This is a perfect illustration of the efficacy of the Word. Jesus touched the bier and everything stopped. People felt His power. No one could miss it. Although Jesus normally assumed the appearance of an ordinary man, He drew people to Him with His grace and compassion. His divinity was never absent, even when He chose not to display it.

First He stopped the procession of grief. A crowd always attended a burial, party from support, but also from curiosity. In any small town, a burial is a community event. Friends and relatives who could travel would also be there to show respect and love.
Therefore, this miracle had many witnesses from all walks of life. This was a public display of the power of the Word. Jesus only said one sentence and raised the dead to life again.

Can the Word of God bring people back to life?

KJV John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

One Sunday School teacher was puzzled over how this could happen if cannibals ate Christians and became converted later. How would God handle this? I asked, as a student in the class, “Is that more difficult than dealing with dust and those lost in the ocean or fires?”

15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And He delivered him to his mother.

Some would like to say the young man was in a swoon and not really dead. The raising of Lazarus illustrates the folly of that interpretation. As one Lutheran used to say, “Any excuse will do.” That is, when someone refuses to believe the Word, any excuse for that unbelief will do.

Luke 7:16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 17 And this rumour [GJ – literally – This Word went forth] of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

When the people realized they were in the presence of God’s power, they were afraid. They knew they were at the turning point of history, if God was visiting them. That filled them with awe, wonder, and fear.

This also explains why such large crowds followed Jesus and made His opponents angry. The Word went forth, converting people, causing them to trust in Him. They longed to see and hear Him.

The application of this miracle is best explained by Luther himself.


Luther had this to say about the miracle:
8. So it was in the case of this widow, in whom God lets himself be known, as to what kind of a God he is, what he thinks of us, and what we must think of him. This woman has two misfortunes around her neck. First, she is a widow. This is misfortune enough for one woman, that she is forsaken and alone, and has no one to whom she dare look for comfort. And therefore God in the Scriptures is often mentioned as the Father of the widow and orphans, as in Ps. 68, 6 and 146, 9: "God setteth the solitary in families. The Lord preserveth the strangers and orphans, he delivers the widow." Again: she has an only son about to die, who should have been her comfort. Now, God comes and takes away her husband and son. She had much better have lost house and home, yes, her own life, than her son and husband. But the Lord turns it around. While the husband lived the woman did not appreciate what a blessing a husband was; but when he died she first became aware of it. When he lived, she thought: 0, other women have husbands, too! And thought her husband was like other husbands. But afterwards when he was dead, she became aware what kind of a man she had lost.

So, too, when her son was bright and well, she did not appreciate the blessing of God, but as soon as he died, she then first saw what a treasure she had lost. Before she did not desire to spend on him; but now, since he is dead, she spends all she has and even herself upon him. And thus it is also with us. There are many of you who do not expend ten dollars that your child may be reared better; if the child dies the parents wish and say: 0 would to God he were alive, I would give many hundred dollars! Why did you not give something before that he might have learned a little? What is the reason you do not appreciate the grace and blessings of God? In short, the world remains world, and it will not change into anything else.

Luther often brought up the importance of thankfulness toward God for all we have, instead of indifference or bitterness about what we imagine we lack. All our earthly woes are brief, and they often bring the fruits of spiritual blessings. We know two little girls in this area who barely survived birth. They have many problems, but they are happy as can be. I asked their mother, “Do they like coloring books?” She said, “They love to color.” I went to the car and got two of Norma Boeckler’s coloring books for The Story of Jesus in pictures. The mother gasped at how good the illustrations were, as our friend did in Moline. She received two for herself and her granddaughter. She said, “I don’t want color, I want to color.”



The Gospel messages consists of rocks tossed in a pond. The waves go forth in all directions. Some run into interference, just as the Word always does in every place. And yet the message moves on.

Thankfulness makes us more directly toward God because it means thanking God. Unhappiness comes from blaming ourselves and others, not thinking of what God accomplishes in the worst of circumstances.

One man filled me in on what I suspected. At one time I thought being an editor at a Lutheran publishing firm would be great. But later I realized that looking at and working with the writings of others would make me pretty tired of the whole enterprise by the end  of the day. I happened to sit at a faculty meeting with a former editor of a big publishing firm. He knew Jackie Kennedy and worked with her. I told him about my theory of editing, that no one goes home from the job and writes. He said, “Believe me. Editors never write.”

Book printing has come unglued, probably from the success of e-books and the work of the late Steve Jobs. Everyone (but me) wants in iPad. That innovation means people can read books wherever they want, instead of being needing to carry them, keep track of them, haul them to new locations. The Word has taken flight even more than ever before, because of the shift from old-fashioned printed.

At our reunion I delighted in telling people, especially a famous minister, about our little church. My friend from the class has been everywhere in America and all over the world, since he is ordained and also a great singer. His mouth fell open as I described how to use a $100 camera and a computer to reach the world and record services at the same time.

The last thing people imagine, when they have marble altars, is hooking up a little camera in a little room to reach the world with the Gospel message of Christ.

The Work of the Holy Spirit is the Word of God

"Whoever comes to faith can only say that the Holy Spirit comes when and where and to whom He pleases at the time He pleases. He comes when and where He pleases, and also gives a person as many gifts as He pleases."
            What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 665.

"That we may obtain this faith, the Ministry of Teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. For through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Ghost is given, who works faith, where and when it pleases God, in them that hear the Gospel, to wit, that God, not for our own merits, but for Christ's sake, justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ's sake. They condemn the Anabaptists and others who think that the Holy Ghost comes to men without the external Word, through their own preparation and works."
            Augsburg Confession, V. #1-2. The Ministry. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 45. Tappert, p. 31. Heiser, p. 13.

 "He [Paul] thus extols co-laborers that they [the Corinthians] may not despise the external Word as if they were not in need of it or knew it well enough. For although God might accomplish all things inwardly by the Spirit, without the external Word, He has no intention of doing so. He wants to employ preachers as assistants and co-laborers and to accomplish His purposes through their word when and where it pleases Him. Since, then, preachers have the office, name, and honor of being God's assistants, no man is so learned or holy that he may neglect or despise the poorest preaching; for he does not know when the hour will come in which God will perform His work in him through the preachers."
            What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed. Ewald M. Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House 1959 III, p. 1118. W 17, II, 179; SL 12, 436; sermon #3572; 2 Corinthians 6:1-10

UPDATE 1-Dalai Lama: China is built on lies, run by hypocrites | Reuters



UPDATE 1-Dalai Lama: China is built on lies, run by hypocrites | Reuters: "Oct 8 (Reuters) - China is built on lies and its officials are hypocrites, the Dalai Lama said on Saturday, speaking via videophone after visa problems prevented him from joining Archbishop Desmond Tutu's birthday celebrations in South Africa."

'via Blog this'

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Roger Williams obituary: Pop pianist Roger Williams dies - latimes.com



Roger Williams obituary: Pop pianist Roger Williams dies - latimes.com: "The son of a Lutheran minister, he was born Louis Weertz on Oct. 1, 1924, in Omaha and grew up in Des Moines.

At 3, he toddled toward the piano and just started playing, Williams often recalled.

While majoring in piano at Iowa's Drake University, he began developing a style that was a fusion of jazz, classical and pop.

When a school official overheard him playing the show tune "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," he was expelled because the school had a "classics only" policy, Williams later said."

'via Blog this'

***

GJ - Roger Williams was an LCA member originally, a member of St. John's in Des Moines. The pastor at the time--Henry Opperman--was later my supervisor in Canada, returning to Kitchener, Ontario. At St. Peter in Kitchener, the largest Lutheran congregation at the time, we always had a liturgical service and stood for every verse of every hymn.

Registration for the ELCA’s 2012 Youth Gathering to open - News Releases - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

"Have fun, kids, because
you are already forgiven."


Registration for the ELCA’s 2012 Youth Gathering to open - News Releases - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:

'via Blog this'


Online registration opens Oct. 9 for the 2012 Youth Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The gathering will be July 18-22 in New Orleans with the theme of “Citizens with the Saints.” The ELCA hosts churchwide youth gatherings every three years.

Registration opens online only at 2:00 p.m. EDT and will close on May 26, which is also the deadline for final payment. There will be no onsite payment option in 2012.

The registration fee is $315 per person and includes inspirational sessions in the Superdome, Community Life activities, service learning experiences and community-based justice projects. A $150 nonrefundable deposit per person is due at the time of registration.

At the Gathering, youth and adults will be invited to step into a global community of interactive learning through the program area called “Practice Peacemaking.” The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center will be transformed into a learning space where participants will engage in multi-sensory opportunities that will invite them to reflect on God’s value of everyone, particularly those who are marginalized by society.
Young people are invited to participate in this event by accompanying neighbors next door and across the world.

A Definitely-Abled Youth Leadership Event will be July 16-18 at the Astor Crowne Plaza New Orleans. The event offers time for participants to acclimate and orient themselves to the city of New Orleans before the Gathering begins.

Any teenager going into the ninth through the 12th grade or having just graduated from high school at the time of the Gathering is eligible to register as part of a congregational group. Registration for the Definitely Abled Youth Leadership Event will open with the Gathering registration on Oct. 9.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Mollie Ziegler Hemingway: Twenty-First Century Excommunication - WSJ.com

Mollie Ziegler, LCMS





Mollie Ziegler Hemingway: Twenty-First Century Excommunication - WSJ.com
:

"When the Church of the Good Shepherd in Binghamton, N.Y., left the Episcopal Church over disagreements about what the Bible says about sexuality, the congregation offered to pay for the building in which it worshiped. In return the Episcopal Church sued to seize the building, then sold it for a fraction of the price to someone who turned it into a mosque."

'via Blog this'


The presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church
is suing every parish and bishop who opposes her reign of terror.

Bishop Jefferts Schori says this new Anglican group is encroaching on her church's jurisdiction, and she has authorized dozens of lawsuits "to protect the assets of the Episcopal Church for the mission of the Episcopal Church." The Episcopal Church has dedicated $22 million to legal actions against departing clergy, congregations and dioceses, according to Allan Haley, a canon lawyer who has represented a diocese in one such case.
Now the Episcopal Church has upped the ante: It has declared that if congregations break away and buy their sanctuaries, they must disaffiliate from any group that professes to be Anglican.

Identifying the Signs of Apostasy:
Grade Your Congregation and Synod



I published a few articles about the Episcopalians recently, causing me to think about how close they are to the Lutheran situation. A number of fatal characteristics are at work in those Lutheran groups that still congratulating themselves on how faithful they are. The following list fits any denomination, including the Lutheran franchises:
  • The most prominent theologians of the past are largely ignored, dusted off only for anniversaries.
  • The true leaders of the denomination are widely known as heretics, and they glory in their ability to teach against whatever their group claims to believe and practice.
  • The schools have been turned over to incompetents whose only virtue is their fidelity to the new thinking.
  • Serious doctrinal issues are ignored at all costs, but even the slightest criticism of false doctrine is addressed with voices quaking with rage, "You are destroying the love and unity of our fellowship."
  • The periodicals and journals are so bland that no one pays attention to them.
  • The leaders, at various levels, are helpless to do anything about false doctrine and practice, but they assassinate anyone who dares to raise a question about their poor leadership.
  • Women are in authority over men and teaching men, with women's ordination a fact or already de facto in place.
  • Clergy think of their careers first, fearing the synodical leaders, who step in and get rid of them at the drop of a hat.
  • A divine call may be discussed, but it is really a position in the franchise. The leaders feel justified in meddling with any congregation that threatens to become conservative, but they defend and protect those on the other side.
  • The real leaders are part of overlapping lobbies that push the denomination according to their agenda.
  • Open communion is either considered a right for anyone who happens to drop in, or portrayed as a way to include more people as members.
  • Respectful worship is despised while entertainment is promoted as "the way to grow," an absolute necessity.
  • Sermons are replaced with coaching sessions, bad imitations of pep talks from business meetings.

Luther Rocks: “Playing the Pharisee Card” - Issues, Etc.



Luther Rocks: “Playing the Pharisee Card” - Issues, Etc.: "Nicely done! It is a couple years old...but relevant still.

Sample Article: “Playing the Pharisee Card” - Issues, Etc.

The Real Pharisees?"

'via Blog this'

WELS Meditations Agrees with ELCA:
Everyone Is Already Forgiven





AC V has left a new comment on your post "Does Born Lutheran Count? How Is Steve Jobs Diffe...":

Here's a current example of how UOJ is used in the WELS. In the Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 devotion from the WELS Meditations booklet, the author explains Matthew 18:18 "...whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.":

The author correctly quotes Luther from the Small Catechism: "The use of the keys is that special power and right which Christ gave to his church on earth: to forgive the sins of penitent sinners but refuse forgiveness to the impenitent as long as they do not repent." The author even quotes Jesus in John 20:22,23, "If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

Got that? All very good. But then the author says (I will highlight the UOJ subterfuge): "Lutherans are very familiar with the keys. After all, they are used in worship every Sunday. In the Confession and Absolution, we confess our sins and, upon this confession, the pastor forgives our sins just as Jesus told his disciples to do." All very good so far, but then he goes on: "That's the loosing key - the guilt of our sin is removed." See how only the "guilt" is removed? Why? The author goes on: "The pastor assures us that, for Christ's sake, God has already forgiven us all our sins...That's how the called worker uses the keys on a regular basis."



But what about the binding key? The author goes on: "But when a member refuses to repent of his sin, the body of Christ is authorized by Jesus to declare that the person has locked himself out of heaven." So, the binding key is given to the impenitent to "lock himself out" of heaven? Where does it say that in the Bible?

It all fits hand in glove in with the teaching of UOJ. You are forgiven whether you know it or not, whether you believe it or not. You are not actually forgiven of your sins by Word and Sacrament, you are only assured that your sins were forgiven on the cross 2000 years ago. You can't actually be refused forgiveness and therefore be in your sins. Forgiveness is already yours. You can only reject its benefits.

Cancel my subscription...

David R. Barnhart: ELCA MEMBERSHIP FROM 1987 THROUGH 2010

Changer John Lawrenz, WELS,
anointed Changer Steve Witte, to keep the WELS Asian porta-sem apostate.
ELCA started its decline the same way, with the buddy system.
It only takes one generation.


David R. Barnhart: ELCA MEMBERSHIP FROM 1987 THROUGH 2010:

'via Blog this'

Geoerge Erdner summarized the statistics this way:

Pastor Barnhart posted some stats on the number of members and congregations for each year of the ELCA's existence, obtained from ELCA Office of the Secretary. If anyone disputes the data, let him kvetch to the Office of the Secretary, not those who repeat that information.

In 2010, based only on reported losses of membership, the ELCA lost 268,182 members. That's 6% of the membership from the prior year. The two preceding years only saw losses of 2%. (All percentages rounded to whole numbers.)

From 1988 to 1998, the ELCA's losses were less than 1 single percent. Those small losses added up, but it was still a rather slow rate. From 2000 onward, it was at least 1% for most of the first years of the decade, then 2% a year for the latter half of the decade, then the dam burst.

One can only imagine how much worse the losses would be if congregations didn't usually wait a few years to consider people who just stopped showing up as gone.

When it comes to congregation losses, there were only two years when the losses came to more than 1%. Then, in 2010, it jumped to three percent. There was a net loss of congregations in 2010 of 353. There are already 309 congregations gone this year, and it's only October.


Also from George Erdner, same thread:


Here's what the totals are up to, as of today:

Left ELCA = 583
Leaving ELCA = 57
Total Left & Leaving = 640


New Non-ELCA Start = 218


ELCA New Wine = 22 [apparently new ELCA parishes where the old one left ELCA and took the property with it]

Thursday, October 6, 2011

VirtueOnline - News - Exclusives - The Invisible Hand Is Writing On the Episcopal Church Wall

The Episcopalians and the Syn Conference Lutherans
are enjoying the same feast.
"He who dances with the Spirit of This Age
will be a widower in the Age To Come."


VirtueOnline - News - Exclusives - The Invisible Hand Is Writing On the Episcopal Church Wall: "American author Walter Russell Mead, a leading foreign policy expert, has written a piece for the American Interest in which he declares that an invisible hand has been writing on the nation's wall of late, and the message is scaring the markets. "The markets should be scared; there is real trouble afoot, and the world's political and economic leaders are terrifyingly out of their depth," he writes.

According to Mead, the message being sent to the markets, the kings and rulers of this earth, the Davoisie and the bankers, the economic sages and the lords of finance by the invisible hand that shapes us like a potter's wheel is this:

MENE MENE TEKEL UPHARSIN, "You have been weighed in the balance and found wanting." Now your punishment begins.

"The thin rhetoric of a backward looking president, the obstreperous negativism of an opposition better at rejecting what it hates than building or even conceiving what it needs, the lotus-eating educational formation that cuts us off from our past, and the incessant noise of a superficial pop culture: none of this is worthy of America at its best and none of it will help us now."

'via Blog this'

ELCA presiding bishop says building trust is key work of this church - News Releases - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

ELCA presiding bishop says building trust is key work of this church - News Releases - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: " For the ELCA, inviting Sayyid Syeed from the Islamic Society of North America served as a "powerful witness in a culture and world where religious differences so often breed cultures of distrust," Hanson said.

"Brett, you were not invited -
on purpose."

The presiding bishop also highlighted the strengthening of relationship between the ELCA and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, which has its roots in conversations among leaders of both churches for the past five years. This dialogue culminated in a festive, meaningful joint worship service and summit with members of both churches "proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, living, reconciling and setting us free," said Hanson."

'via Blog this'

"A Teacher Affects Eternity; He Can Never Tell Where His Influence Stops.”
- Henry Brooks Adams

Bruce Johnson (l.), George Small (c.), and Jim Krohn
were part of the Garfield Gashouse Gang,
denounced by Mr. McAllister at John Deere Junior High.


I was talking to George Small, one of my more hilarious friends from Garfield and John Deere. I asked, "Have you recovered from the Panama Canal?"

On Facebook, someone just posted the newspaper article where George and others were working on a mock-up of the Panama Canal.

George said, "Recovered? That is why I became an engineer. Your mother had us create this model of the Panama Canal and she explained everything, how the gates and locks and everything else worked. It was tactile experience. I told myself - this is what I want to do. And I became an engineer. And later, I got to see it myself. It was exactly the way we were taught and worked just as your mother told us. It was fantastic."

Robert Millman, Michael Rothweiler,
George Small, and the late Terry Carlson worked on the model
in this Moline Dispatch article.


Then George brought up my mother's ring with the rock embedded in it. She reversed it in her hand and used it to clonk students who were not behaving. "I remember your mother's ring."

I said, "My wife wore the ring for the dinner tonight."

George got more excited. "She has it? Where is your wife? Excuse me. I have to go see it."

I walked over in a minute or two. Chris told me that George asked her to clonk him twice on the head. He claimed that one crack in the ring probably came from his head. More than one of her students brought up "the ring" at various times.

George and I, not to mention many others, talked about the great teachers we had in the Moline system. They agreed that we got the benefits of a very large private school with the best teachers. They went out of their way to do things for the students, such as taking them on overnight trips.

People often bring up Mary Copeland, Liz Copeland's mother, as one of their favorite teachers. Steph Sundine told a reporter that she got into music through Mrs. Leland, the singing teacher at Garfield with the angelic voice. Many guys were in the Moline Boys Choir - Lawrence Eyre, Bruce Johnson, Greg Keller, John Robeson, and more. Their director, Fred Swanson, had a PhD in music.

Alan Hoffman, our PhD rocket scientist, was encouraged by Mr. Goar at MHS to study physics. That chem-physics class was a riot, in and out of class.



Rex Bullock, whose entire ministry has involved singing, mentioned the musical ability of Mr. Partridge at MHS. There was no field, vocation, or skill that students could not pursue. We had so much available that we took it for granted, but everyone agreed, "We were prepared for college and anything else we wanted to do."

John Robeson, PhD, the late Margaret Carr, and Jim Patronagio
showed off their skills in this Line O Type article.
Mary Parsons, Debbie Mitchell, Rosemary Flatley, Jackie Ozanne,
Dean Parker,and Lawrence Eyre are also mentioned.
The class crushed my science hopes but launched a career in writing song parodies.

Does Born Lutheran Count?
How Is Steve Jobs Different from the Syn Conference Leaders?
Lutherans Do Not Adopt Fuller Seminary Doctrine.
Is John Brug Lutheran?

John Brug, Sausage Factory, endorses women's ordination
in a book lavishly praised by Herman Otten.


AC V has left a new comment on your post "Steve Jobs: Ex-Apple CEO Dies - ABC News":

Was [Lutheran]. Correct.

http://www.adherents.com/largecom/fam_lutheran.html

I thought someone would correct me about the late Steve Jobs being Lutheran. Acey is arguing the point that one's confession is one's affiliation. Being born Lutheran or even confirmed Lutheran does not count. I agree, although the vast majority of Syn Conference Enthusiasts do not.

Someone who is Lutheran cannot attend Fuller Seminary unless he has given up the Faith. Even worse, his confession is gratifying to the false teachers there, because he is saying, "You have something to teach me." Artful Dodger wanted to know how Notre Dame study was different from Fuller Seminary enrollment. Academic study does not pretend to tell people what to believe or even how to practice one's faith as a pastor or theologian. Seminary study does directs its students into the doctrine and practice represented by that school.

For example, Fuller Seminary endorses women's ordination. If someone speaks against women being in authority over men, a seminary committee will administer discipline--and if necessary--extend the Left Foot of fellowship. Notre Dame was liberal Protestant overall, even among the Roman Catholics, but they could not do anything about my mocking of their love for Tillich and other rascals. The issue was whether I could learn the material and articulate a position. I used my study there for additional study of Roman Catholic doctrine, for writing a book comparing Lutheran doctrine to Catholic and Protestant errors.

Most leaders of the Lutheran Reformation were trained in Medieval Romanism. Luther--gasp!--earned a doctorate from a Roman Catholic school, since that was the only choice at the time. Besides, he was a Roman Catholic monk and priest. What he taught was different from what he learned, and his studies gave him background for distinguishing between sound doctrine and false doctrine. Luther could run circles around the rest in handling Medieval philosophy as a tool to defeat the claims made on the basis of Medieval philosophy.

Fuller Seminary has prospered over the decades by brain-washing denominational leaders into accepting their assumptions, that congregational work is just a matter of statistics and marketing, with no reference to the efficacy of the Word.

Church Growth leaders are lucky to have an IQ in the triple digits. That is why the Lutheran Shrinkers claim to be "conservative" and even "confessional." In the Syn Conference, being born ELS or WELS or LCMS is equal to being orthodox. Wisconsin limits that to being born in Packerland and starting school in a Wisconsin (state and synod) parochial school. They really do not have those anymore. They are "academies" fighting for babies and toddlers to pay deluxe salaries and benefits for their teachers.

So-called "confessional" Lutheran professors like John Brug endorse women's ordination and do nothing about students and relatives basking in Groeschel Enthusiasm. Is Brug a Lutheran? He not by confession - nor does he use his position to correct error. He has a cushy job teaching a few students for a few hours each week.

Steve Jobs died a Lutheran by Syn Conference standards. At least he was honest about his apostasy.

How is Steve Jobs different from John Brug or Frosty Bivens?