MURRIETA: Pastor loses football bet | Breaking News | PE.com - Press-Enterprise:
A pastor presided over services Sunday in a San Diego Chargers jersey and a skirt.
It was the result of a bad bet.
Pastor Chris Deknatel, of Promise Lutheran Church in Murrieta, is a diehard fan of the Baltimore Ravens. In the week before his team took on the Chargers on Dec. 18, he was confident in a Baltimore win, church member Chris Groll said in an email.
So Groll made a bet with his pastor.
If the Ravens won, Groll would wear a skirt and Ravens jersey to church on New Year’s Day.
If the Chargers, won the pastor would wear a skirt and a Chargers jersey during his sermon.
The Chargers won their third straight game that night, beating the Ravens 34-14.
Deknatel paid off the bet Sunday and preached a sermon on humility. He donned the dark-colored skirt and a blue Drew Brees No. 9 jersey and posed for photos afterward with church members wearing San Diego Chargers garb.
“Promise Lutheran Church has the best pastor around,” Groll said.
'via Blog this'
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El Cid has left a new comment on your post "Oh - How Pukey Cute - MURRIETA: Pastor loses footb...":
Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
I am a long-time reader of this blog, confessional Lutheran, and vice chairman of Promise Lutheran Church.
A commenter in the local paper noted: "This short piece does not show the impact that this simple bet had on this pastors congregation. Was it in fun? Yes. Life should not be all serious, as we live in God's Grace and Mercy, not under the law. But what was even better was the lesson on humility that came along with it. We all have fallen short, and should not condemn ourselves nor others, as God does not condemn us, but sent his Son to save US! Where is the problem in taking a simple day-to-day occurrence and teaching many others about His Saving Grace, instead of condemnation? For no one person is above any other, so should they not put themselves, nor allow others to put them above anyone."
Regarding our altar/chapel and your readers' criticism: We are in a California county ravaged by double-digit unemployment and an historic real estate collapse. Our altar and furnishings were made out of love by our members and staff. And our meeting area is the common space of our preschool.
I assure you that our doctrine is sound and consistent with the Bible and the Book of Concord. Our assembly is one dedicated to the love of God, one another, and the building-up of the Lord's Church. Our Pastor teaches the Word correctly and administers the Sacraments rightly.
The Good News of Christ is proclaimed at Promise Lutheran Church.
I can be reached at montemail89@gmail.com.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Anthony Monteforte
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GJ - Cute gimmicks are the notae of Arminians. Lose the praise band and the cross-dressing, and we can talk.
10 comments:
The praise band in the background tells me all I need to know about this guy. "Run away! Run away!"
Why should the sheep of a flock have to undergo the crap that the called shepherd chooses to fling at it instead of tending that flock as The Shepherd would?
Since this is an LC-MS congregation, then why is the WELS logo on the altar parament (sorry, too obscure a term, the "cloth-thingy hanging from the table up front where you put the flowers and offering baskets")?
Promise altar:
http://promiselutheran.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/worship3.jpg
WELS logo:
http://www.wels.net/sites/wels/files/WELSlogo_fullcolor_print_prefsize.jpg
I'm sure there are some copyright issues there. Or perhaps WELS obtained RSO status for its logo that I'm not aware of?
Promise does what it claims other churches do, namely look down on other churches not like them. This page on the church's web site is taken straight out of Pietism's playbook:
"Are you tired of the self righteous, better than everyone else churches that point fingers while hiding their sins!"
"If you think like this, then come and help me build a better church, a genuine church without a bunch of phonies."
http://promiselutheran.com/church/im-new-here/
It has come to this (note: not an Onion story):
Michigan Minister Opens Tattoo Parlor in His Church
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/01/07/michigan-minister-opens-tattoo-parlor-in-his-church/?test=latestnews#ixzz1ilrsptLG
Re tattoo church, it gets worse. Watch the video:
http://www.fox11online.com/dpps/news/strange/pastor-opens-tattoo-parlor-inside-michigan-church-ob12-tvw_4033498
In keeping with the tattoo and spirituality trend, how about just going to church, Biebs?
Justin Bieber Gets Big Jesus Christ Tattoo on His Leg
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/01/06/justin-bieber-gets-big-jesus-christ-tattoo-on-his-leg/?test=faces#ixzz1ilw9AXdD
Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
I am a long-time reader of this blog, confessional Lutheran, and vice chairman of Promise Lutheran Church.
A commenter in the local paper noted: "This short piece does not show the impact that this simple bet had on this pastors congregation. Was it in fun? Yes. Life should not be all serious, as we live in God's Grace and Mercy, not under the law. But what was even better was the lesson on humility that came along with it. We all have fallen short, and should not condemn ourselves nor others, as God does not condemn us, but sent his Son to save US! Where is the problem in taking a simple day-to-day occurrence and teaching many others about His Saving Grace, instead of condemnation? For no one person is above any other, so should they not put themselves, nor allow others to put them above anyone."
Regarding our altar/chapel and your readers' criticism: We are in a California county ravaged by double-digit unemployment and an historic real estate collapse. Our altar and furnishings were made out of love by our members and staff. And our meeting area is the common space of our preschool.
I assure you that our doctrine is sound and consistent with the Bible and the Book of Concord. Our assembly is one dedicated to the love of God, one another, and the building-up of the Lord's Church. Our Pastor teaches the Word correctly and administers the Sacraments rightly.
The Good News of Christ is proclaimed at Promise Lutheran Church.
I can be reached at montemail89@gmail.com.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Anthony Monteforte
Mr. Monteforte,
Re: "I assure you that our doctrine is...consistent with the... Book of Concord."
You might want to brush up on the BoC to see whether your worship service passes the smell test.
"At the outset we must again make the preliminary statement that we do not abolish the Mass, but religiously maintain and defend it. For among us masses are celebrated every Lord's Day and on the other festivals, in which the Sacrament is offered to those who wish to use it, after they have been examined and absolved. And the usual public ceremonies are observed, the series of lessons, of prayers, vestments, and other like things." Apology XXIV:1
"Of Usages in the Church they teach that those ought to be observed which may be observed without sin, and which are profitable unto tranquillity and good order in the Church," AC XV:1
"...the Mass is retained among us, and celebrated with the highest reverence. Nearly all the usual ceremonies are also preserved...The people are also advised concerning the dignity and use of the Sacrament...Forasmuch, therefore, as the Mass with us has the example of the Church, taken from the Scripture and the Fathers, we are confident that it cannot be disapproved, especially since public ceremonies, for the most part like those hither to in use, are retained;" AC XXIV
"...in doctrine and ceremonies nothing has been received on our part against Scripture or the Church Catholic. For it is manifest that we have taken most diligent care, that no new and ungodly doctrine should creep into our churches." AC Conclusion
"But we cheerfully maintain the old traditions made in the Church for the sake of usefulness and tranquillity; and we interpret them in a more moderate way,..." Apology XV:38
Mr. Monteforte,
I just listened to your pastor's sermon of 1-15-12. I have to say he's got Pietism down pat. Very "me" centered. Certainly he looks the part of a mega-church wannabe Evangelical. I would think this is a very dangerous statement, not in keeping with the Scriptures and the Book of Concord:
"You want joy in your life? Love God. Love God intensely. You get that down and all the rest will fall into place."
You can find that at 07:35ff in the video posted on your blog:
http://elcidridesagain.blogspot.com/2012/01/true-love-sermon-john-15-on-1162012-at.html
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