Seminarian Pursues Heavy Metal and Heavenly Message - Clayton-Richmond Heights, MO Patch. Megadeath!

Seminarian Pursues Heavy Metal and Heavenly Message - Clayton-Richmond Heights, MO Patch:


*Editor's note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly indicated Dave Ellefson's status with the band Megadeth. He continues to play bass with the band. This article has been updated to reflect that fact.

Concordia Seminary in Clayton welcomed students back to campus for the fall quarter last week, including many who worked for years in a profession before deciding to pursue a life of full-time church work. And while Dave Ellefson is one them, his first career is* a bit unconventional—he plays* bass in the heavy-metal band Megadeth.

Now, he's studying to be a Lutheran pastor.

Ellefson is enrolled in the school’s Specific Ministry Program (SMP). As part of Concordia’s distance learning program, Ellefson will work with a local mentor pastor, view online video lectures and take several intensive weeklong sessions at Concordia in Clayton.

In an interview with Jenny Charlesworth of AOL’s heavy-metal website Noisecreep, Ellefson described his decision to enroll in the Clayton-based seminary.

“I actually just got accepted to go into a seminary program within the Lutheran Church; they bring up people within the congregation, it's a graduate level course," Ellefson told Noisecreep. "I'm fairly well steeped in the world, and having been clean for several years, that's kind of a natural progression for my walk.”

Ellefson grew up in a Christian household. Both of his parents were active in the church. His mother’s Wurlitzer organ was the first musical instrument he spent time with. As a teenager, he traded in the church organ to spend hours with a bass guitar in his hand.

Now, Ellefson will spend his time in the pulpit.

Megadeth often is regarded as a pioneer in American heavy metal. The band formed in 1983 and, apart from a few inactive years, continues to play concerts. The band's front man, Dave Mustaine, also has returned to the Christian faith.

About this column: A weekly column dedicated to religion news in Clayton and Richmond Heights. The column name is used courtesy of Royal Oak (MI) Patch editor Judy Davids and contributor Lynne Cobb.


'via Blog this'

Gay Dean To Sue

Dr Jeffrey John at St Albans Abbey

'I'll sue Church of England if it bars me from being bishop,' says The Very Rev Jeffrey John, Dean of St Albans | Mail Online: "A controversial gay dean has threatened to take the Church of  England to court after he was blocked from becoming a bishop. The Very Rev Jeffrey John, Dean of St Albans, has instructed an eminent employment lawyer to complain to Church officials after being rejected for the role of Bishop of Southwark. Sources say the dean, one of the most contentious figures in the Church, believes he could sue officials under the Equality Act 2010, which bans discrimination on the grounds of sexuality. Such a case could create a damaging new rift within the CoE." 'via Blog this'

The Second Sunday after the Epiphany. John 2:1ff - Water into Wine

The Second Sunday after the Epiphany, 2012

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

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

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Time

The Hymn #39     Praise to the Lord                  3.1

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual       

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn # 370            My Hope Is Built            3.11

God’s Word Transforms

The Hymn #294   O Word of God Incarnate            3.31

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #309   O Jesus, Blessed Lord            3.70

KJV Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

KJV John 2:1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. 6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. 11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

Second Sunday After Epiphany

Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank Thee, that of Thy grace Thou hast instituted holy matrimony, in which Thou keepest us from unchastity, and other offenses: We beseech Thee to send Thy blessing upon every husband and wife, that they may not provoke each other to anger and strife, but live peaceably together in love and godliness, receive Thy gracious help in all temptations, and rear their children in accordance with Thy will; grant unto us all to walk before Thee, in purity and holiness, to put all our trust in Thee, and lead such lives on earth, that in the world to come we may have everlasting life, through the same, Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

God’s Word Transforms

This is the first of miracles performed by Jesus in His public ministry. Every detail is instructive, not only for the basic lesson but also for the way this connects to everything else in the Word of God.

KJV John 2:1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:

The presence of Jesus’ mother suggests that she was in charge of the wedding, the parents no longer living. In all societies, the parents host the wedding, yet Mary is the one in charge, the one worried about the lack of wine.

2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

The presence of Jesus and His disciples at the wedding is instructive. Jesus blessed marriage by being there, a significant lesson by itself for this marriage-hating era.

People think that living together is bliss, but marriage is a burden. They can buy a home and furniture together, have children out of wedlock, and still dither about marriage, because it is troublesome.

This shows a complete lack of understanding of the Word, because God instituted marriage, and God commands what is good for us. An unbeliever says marriage is a burden and full of woe. A believer says, “God blesses marriage, even in the midst of trouble.”

This verse means literally that Jesus was invited (called) so His presence means He chose to be there rather than not. The presence of His disciples also means that He had many witnesses who could later put together their eye-witness experiences with the revelation of the Holy Spirit in their preaching and in the Gospels.

This lesson is a corrective because an anti-marriage, anti-woman attitude was already present and came into the Christian Church as monasticism. Within a few centuries the visible church made it a sin for the clergy to marry, even though Peter and the disciples were married. Paul was probably a widower. The classic Jewish attitude was that every person should be married because marriage was blessed by God through the Word.

3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

The lack of parents suggests that the bride and groom had little money. They ran out of wine, which was a crisis. The normal beverage was wine, so this was more than a bother. Mary’s substitute role comes into play because she took it upon herself to fix the problem. She knew Jesus could change the situation.

This is also a good prayer in that Mary did not tell Jesus what to do, unlike the modern church entertainers of today. She told Him what the problem was. Mostly we think we will be happy if we have our plans fulfilled, so it is tempting to tell God exactly what we need and when we need it.

The result of faithful prayer is that we see how God answers problems in His own way, since He is a good manager with many years of experience. We often see that He was already answering our plea before we thought to ask, as the prophets promised and Paul affirmed.

4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

This verse teaches us that Jesus addressed His mother twice in the Gospel of John. Both times He called her “woman” rather than “mother.” Some translators soften this with “dear woman” and so forth. His address is rather abrupt, and shows us, just as it does at the cross, that Jesus is her Lord. The Roman Catholics turn this around and have Mary bossing Jesus as His mother – she commands as a mother! That is very sad and sick, because it diminishes Jesus and creates a caricature of Mary as lord over the Savior. The erroneous attempt to honor Mary dishonors the Word, which teaches otherwise.

This is worth noting because John’s Gospel may have been written down last. He was associated with Ephesus and became the surrogate son of Mary, taking care of her needs. There could have been a Mary cult developing, because it certainly broke out later. This addresses the problem early on, because the Holy Spirit teaches us before we even need to know the lesson taught.

Jesus abrupt address is a paradox, a seeming contradiction. He seems to resist doing anything but immediately addresses the problem. Lenski interprets the verse as “This is my role and not yours,” which is as good as anything else proposed. His hour is the crucifixion and resurrection, so His statement can be seen as declaring His readiness. The steps He must take are laid out in the Old Testament and ordered by God the Father. And yet his is not the pagan concept of Fate. Someone asks and God responds.

This is true today. Total passivity makes people accept slavery. The Protestant Reformation freed people from the slavery of the mind, as if each person had a fated role – very nice for the people on top. God set people free through a Medieval monk who pledged himself to live in a stone cell and obey his lord and master, the pope. But the Word taught him to teach the truth, and that set Europe free from the tyranny of the pope and his brutal reign.

We cannot tell God how and when to act, but we can trust in Him as our loving and gracious Father, who will listen to our needs because of His only-begotten Son.

5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

Mary did not know how Jesus could fix the problem, but she trusted Him to do it. In an era when there is so little faith, and people brag about forgiveness without faith, Mary’s response is an example for everyone.

This also shows very clearly that Mary was in charge of the wedding. As the substitute mother, she wanted the ceremony to go well. It reminds me of a traditional Indian Christian wedding we attended. The bride’s mother was and is the nicest person on earth, full of smiles and humor. During the wedding I watched her supervising the details, and her look reminded me of an eagle ready to swoop down on any missed detail.

Mary entered the picture this way. God promised her the Savior’s birth, without normal conception. This was accomplished by the Holy Spirit through the Word – the Virgin Birth. God became man, and she knew that better than most. Therefore, how could there be a problem with the Messiah present?

It is a long-standing tradition in secular politics that a request to a ruler, even a president, must be answered. That was featured in the fictional Winds of War TV series when the young hero spoke up and asked the president, FDR, to address a problem. The president had no choice but to get involved. But that was more of an example of opportunism while Mary is showing trust in Jesus.

6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water.

The miracle is well known to everyone even though it is only found in John’s Gospel. The details teach us about how Jesus revealed Himself as the Messiah and began to build the disciples’ faith in the Word of God. The huge pots held 60 to 100 gallons of liquid. They were empty, so the servants knew that they were drawing water from the well and pouring the water into the jars. At that point only Jesus and the servants knew what was happening.

8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

The servants knew they put pure water into the jars, but the steward of the feast did not. He was in charge of the food and wine, so he needed to check on the new supply. Wine was often spoiled by age, turning into vinegar, so some merchants added lead to hide the change. (Antifreeze has been used in recent times – both are a bad, bad idea.)

The response of the steward is funny in an ironic way. He complains that the best wine should have been served first, when it would have been appreciated more. But he was a bit angry that the best was saved for last. Thus the water turned into wine is not only a unique miracle but one with special marks – abundance (up to 600 gallons) and quality.

11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

This was a miracle that could not have been ignored. Many guests were present. The steward of the feast and the servants experienced it. The guests and disciples were eye-witnesses. One does not run out of wine and have 600 gallons without people asking, discussing, and marveling about it. And who could keep such a thing silent?

This miracle alone explains why Jesus attracted such crowds, some out of perverse desire for another spectable, but others because they sensed and believed He was the Messiah long promised.

Religious literature not included in the Old Testament promised that the Messiah would bring an era with vines having a thousand clusters, each cluster having a thousand grapes, and each grape having a thousand measures of wine. In other words, there was an expectation of abundance. God does provide an abundance, especially of grace, but also enough for us to live and prosper and share.

This was the beginning of Jesus’ miracles, and the disciples believed on Him.

KJV John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 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.

What is sin? The Holy Spirit convicts us of not trusting in Him. That is the foundational sin.

The answer to that sin is created by the Gospel. The Spirit works faith in our hearts and strengthens that faith.

We see in the example of the disciples that they believed in Him yet faltered. We are fallible and weak, too. So the Word of God directs us to trust in Him. Abiding in Word means we will bear fruit (John 15). He will prune us to make us more fruitful.

The Word of God transforms.

How can bread and wine be the Body and Blood of Christ?

If the Word can turn water into wine, then the Real Presence is simply another example of the Word transforming. Strangely, people create some kind of barrier between on miracle and the other.

And they look for miracles on Sunday (getting up from a wheelchair) while denying the miracle clearly taught – This is My Body, give for you for the forgiveness of sin.

The Word of God creates faith in Christ, which transforms everything in this life. Those who do not believe only see difficulties and answer them with money. They scoff at those who lack their answers. As one man said, “I am already living in paradise. I don’t need faith.”

One woman told me, “I don’t want children. They are work and cost money. I want to take care of me.” I thought, “They are lucky not to have you as a mother.”

Mothers know that they look fondly at the times they did the most menial tasks for their children. Fathers remember buttoning buttons and wondering, “When will he do this for himself?” Only later the same individual is running vast networks and helping poor dad with the home computer.

Faith is a gift from God, created by the Gospel, the work of the Holy Spirit. As Luther said, “No man is so good that he can deserve forgiveness, but no sin is so evil that it cannot be forgiven by God.”

An abundance of the Gospel will always mean an abundance of forgiveness and the fruits of the Spirit. That is how the Word of God transforms, turning ordinary water into extraordinary wine.

For the Choir

The Myth	The Truth
Martin Stephan was an orthodox Lutheran	He was a Pietist who managed cell groups.
Walther was an orthodox Lutheran	Walther, a Pietist, joined Stephan’s cell groups. They were all Pietists.
Nothing was wrong with kidnapping children.	Walther had to run from police warrants, and Mrs. Buenger was imprisoned.
No one knew Stephan was an adulterer.	Stephan was under house arrest just before leaving for America. Everyone knew.
Stephan was a false teacher.	All the clergy, including Walther, pledged their loyalty and obedience to the bishop.
Loeber and Walther were shocked to find out Stephan was an adulterer.	Stephan left his ailing wife and  children in Dresden, brought his mistress to America.
Stephan left the Society in shambles.	Robbing Stephan of his land, gold, library, and personal effects bailed them out.
Stephan had eczema and other mysterious symptoms.	Stephan was a syphilitic, whose symptoms were treated in Europe. The disease broke out anew in America. The latency period was over.
The chalice belonged to the Society.	The chalice was a personal gift to Stephan.
The noble Walther rescued the Society with his brave, Biblical, Lutheran approach.	Walther took advantage of the situation which he helped create, and benefited from the crisis.
Concordia Historical Institute	LCMS Myth Machine – even though they possess the actual documentation.

Stop for the Satire, Stay for the Doctrinal Quotations

Parlow, Jeske, Kelm, and Patterson
entertain without edifying.

LutherRocks has left a new comment on your post "1580 Has Upgraded His Identity": 


You guys are preaching to the choir for the most part because it is anti-UOJers that partake here on a daily or weekly basis I would surmise. I do pray however that there are misguided laymen (and even clergy) that do come here not for the satire, but for the solid confessional posting by Dr. Jackson and his commenting audience. And I pray that they can take it to heart. I was one of the misguided at one time.

I truly believe that the ambiguity of UOJ afforded the WELS the excuse to excommunicate us since we did have quite a long laundry list of practices that were leading Holy Word (and Christ the Rock for that matter) away from its sworn oath to uphold teachings in the Book of Concord (and ultimately Scripture). All in the name of church growth. Ha!


I can not say for sure because I do not know their hearts, but it seems to me there are those who are leading Lutherans away from pure teachings to Universalism. The rest are paralyzed by fear (or are ambivalent) and will paint themselves into a corner eventually by setting precedents (or going along with them) as was the case with us.


We are in the end times. Lord, come quickly, thy will be done.

You think I am a Tele-Tubbie?

***

GJ - SP Schroeder immediately assured his sect that Joel Hochmuth was forgiven his many felonies, but nothing was done about the recent excommunications for questioning Church and Changers. The only sin is questioning Holy Mother Immaculate Synod or its infallible priesthood.

1580 Has Upgraded His Identity

UOJ promotes Fuller Seminary,
and Fuller Seminary teaches UOJ.

FC Ep V has left a new comment on your post "Quashing Justification by Faith - Bivens of the Sa...":

I changed my profile name. I used to be "1580" and now I am the following.

In my experience, there are some who still try to stick to the terms of UOJ yet still say that we receive the Spirit (forgiveness of sins, salvation, etc.) through the Means of Grace. To me, these are the conservatives.

At the same time, there are those, who, in their pastoral theology, teach that all are forgiven before repentance and the Means of Grace (which is of course pure Enthusiasm). With this teaching it degrades the Means of Grace and opens the door to a pure Calvanistic thinking of the Means of Grace (just a remembrance and symbol of what happened 2,000 years ago)

If it were up to me, I would do away with the terms UOJ (to prevent confusion) and just stick to how the BIBLE (yes I capitalized that on my own) and the Confessions speak. Luther warned against using the language of Philosophers to teach the laymen. Because of UOJ it has led us to Calvinism (just a remembrance of the forgiveness of sins already distributed at Calvary) or at best it says that Objective Justification is the Atonement. Either way it's a dangerous way to speak, in my opinion. I say that we should stick to how the Bible teaches and how the Confessions speak of Justification.

***

GJ - UOJ is clever, three different ways, because "Error loves ambiguities."

A - Those who know what it really means are quite smug in their elitism and they protect their turf.

B  - Those who read the Book of Concord, Gerhard, Chemnitz, and Luther can easily assume that OJ is just another term for the atonement. The Stormtroopers do not mind, because ultimately terms shape thoughts. That is why we say such silly things as "chairperson" and "people of different abilities."

C - Many laity and clergy do not know the great theologians at all, so they do not realize the scam. If they feel uneasy, they lack the tools to show what is wrong with UOJ.

That is why the Stormtroopers blow up when someone examines what they are really teaching. The best thing to do is make them defend their Biblical passages, which fall apart faster than locust exoskeletons left behind on a tree.

Clearly, the Olde Synodical Conference teaches Huberism, a heresy. Even with access to all this material, they continue to defend and promote their favorite false doctrine.

B. Teigen, one of their own, carefully examined how the Synodical Conference adopted the heretical position on the Lord's Supper. How did they respond? WELS and the Little Sect on the Prairie beat him like a rented mule.

No wonder people are flocking to leave Schwan's lapdogs behind.

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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "1580 Has Upgraded His Identity":

Can a person still be considered a conservative Lutheran when churches in their fellowship excommunicate Christians faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions regarding the central doctrine of Christian faith - Justification by Faith Alone?

Mark Jeske and Time of Grace make a mockery of the (W)ELS confession and everyone sighs. Jeske and the ELCA tell everyone to Change or Die and they all just look away.

Call them what you want but when they stand silently within the Fellowship while Christ's Church is persecuted by that Fellowship then they are not conservative.

***

GJ - Brett, beatings will continue until morale improves.

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FC Ep V has left a new comment on your post "1580 Has Upgraded His Identity":

I agree. When it comes down to it "liberal" or "extremist" UOJ-ers can't be tolerated. Especially when people like Joe Krohn and and the lawyer from Appleton were excommunicated on an unscriptural basis.

I guess when I speak of "conservative" UOJ-ers I mean those who, in their heart confess Justification by faith alone, but still try to use the terms "Universal" or "Objective" when defining that. I think this comes from WELS' insistence on using those terms, which lead to a layman's confusion and ultimate demise. (I've had many discussions with WELS' layman who have been taught to adhere to the terms "UOJ." When we get into a deep discussion it is exposed that they, in their heart, adhere to Justification by faith alone. So again, I say that these terms should be deleted for the sake of the Church.)

***

GJ - Because the term Objective Justification really means universal absolution, OJ should be abandoned and rejected and repudiated - no excuses. No one is required to use false and misleading terms from false doctrine. Galatians 1:8 was the motto of the Reformation - "even if an angel from heaven..." and we know synod leaders are not angels.

In fact, one WELS loyalist agreed with me that DPs and their minions are unbelievers in their words and actions. Why submit to those who go through the motions to keep their salaries, benefits, and Thrivent funded perks?

From 1580 - The UOJ Enthusiasts Do Not Even Think Like the Concordists

1580 has left a new comment on your post "Quashing Justification by Faith - Bivens of the Sa...":

I meant, "They [the UOJ Enthusiasts] don't speak in the terms or even ideas of [The Book of Concord]. That's what I meant to say.

***

GJ - UOJ is an alien philosophy, and it cannot be harmonized with justification by faith. Mequon Mordor has already given away their game by putting warning labels on justification by faith passages, endorsing the feminist-UOJ NNIV, and seeing all ministry as defined by Fuller Seminary, Craig Groeschel, Peter Drucker, and Andy Stanley.

They are antagonistic about faith while abusing the term. That is because they look to Walther, who only had a bachelor's degree from a rationalistic university, as the greatest theolgian of the Lutheran Church. In contrast, Luther earned a doctorate in Biblical studies and was already a supervisor of monasteries before the Reformation began.

Walther was the equivalent of Paul McCain, a paucity of academic training and parish experience, a surplus of ambition. No wonder the copy and paste blogger defends Walther with such venom.

Walther's double-talk is widely copied today, so it must be effective. Stephan's son was a "Judas" for returning to Dresden to help and comfort his ailing mother. But Walther could visit the fleshpots of Europe to glory in his unethical and felonious usurpation.

Quashing Justification by Faith - Bivens of the Sausage Factory - Another Fuller Alumnus

Bivens and Valleskey always networked.
Both went to Fuller and denied it.
Both are UOJ advocates.

AC V has left a new comment on your post "Caution! Caution! - Ignore the Clear Justification...":

Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WELS) professors sure are allergic to even a hint of justification by faith. Here's Forrest Bivens cautioning readers to a statement Adolf Hoenecke made in his commentary on Quenstedt's view of Christ's righteousness:

He says that the imputation is so powerful that through it the sinner is considered righteous before God's judgment just as if he had rendered the obedience himself (or, just as if he had done it himself). This thought he then develops in this way: The essence of imputation is a real assessment, which absolves the sinning man who believes in Christ [N.B.: this could be misleading] from all his sins before the divine tribunal and actually ascribes to him in a judicial way the righteousness of Christ. - (Hoenecke III, pp 344-345, English edition pp 328-329)

"Getting The Right Message Out – And Getting It Out The Right Way With Special Emphasis on Public Worship and Classroom Instruction" By Forrest L. Bivens; Prepared for and delivered to the Pastor-Teacher-Delegate meeting of the Ohio Conference of the Michigan District on January 20, 2003 in Cincinnati, OH.

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AC V has left a new comment on your post "Caution! Caution! - Ignore the Clear Justification...":

Now I don't know if Bivens' "[N.B.: this could be misleading]" is quoting Hoenecke or Meyer, Hoenecke's student. Either way, it seems the "cautions" to justification by faith alone just keep getting passed on generation after generation.

Brett Meyer - Interesting Paul McCain Link

Paul McCain - All hat, no cattle.

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Complete Rough Draft of Chapter Four - Luther vers...":

The link to McCain's rant on the ALPB forum is a good read. His persistance in undermining the account combined with the lack of addressing the facts and sources presented in the book is pathetic.

There's something to how he gushes with delight over Pope worshipping Nuehaus, is overjoyed at gaining a seat at the Antichrists table and fitfully attacks revelations concerning the American Pope. Begs the question if there's jesuit types in the Lutheran Synods.

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boc1580@gmail.com

Posted by Rev. Paul T. McCain at May 16, 2010 16:57
Pastor Sauer, why do are you assuming that the information being relayed by those trying to salvage Stephan is accurate, factual and true? It doesn't do much for the credibility of the ALPB to be promoting this stuff.

I have examined the voluminous amount of evidence in the Concordia Historical Institute about the theological and moral failings of Stephan, and, to say the least, it is facile to suggest that he was the "victim" of the seal of the confessional being broken. The lie that the Saxons only knew of Stephan's infidelity because what was allegedly "confessed" has been spread by certain ALPB board members for some years.

He was a corrupt bishop, unfaithful to his wife, and left his followers, literally, struggling for their lives on a frontier he promised them would be a sort of Lutheran utopia.
[GJ - Walther and Company robbed Stephan of all his money after the Society failed to run its finances well. The approximately 4000 gold coins went a long way toward bailing them out. Walther also stole the 40 acres of land given to Stephan - by stealth, of course. After robbing Stephan, threatening him, and kidnapping him at gunpoint, the Saxons left him seriously ill in a hovel with $100 cash and a few tools "to make his living." They made out like bandits because they were.]

The best thing that ever happened was when he was sent packing across the river. Walther and other repented of their sin of abandoning their calls and congregations in Germany, and realized that they had been misled by Stephan.

I'd caution you against buying into the "Stephan flat earth society" types who are attempting to put forward a mythical Stephan.

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BOC1580@gmail.com

Posted by Rev. Paul T. McCain at May 18, 2010 13:00

Again, I would respectfully challenge your assumption that the "history" you are reading it, in fact, true, objective, complete and accurate. I would prefer to regard the accounts, reports, records and history that we have on the issues surrounding Stephan, written by eye-witnesses, to be much more reliable than the ex post facto explanations of those now attempting to portray Stephan as treated wrongly, unfairly and, as you say, with "duplicity." 

Let's take but one small example. It calls for a great deal of credulity (that's a word, right?) to accept the assertion that Stephan personally owned a jewel encrusted chalice and it was "stolen" from him by Walther and company. 

[GJ - Ludwig Fuerbringer wrote that Stephan was given one chalice - personally - and that it was still being used by Walther's old congregation, Trinity. Ownership and theft - proven.]

You continue to assert the "seal of the confessional" was broken. I challenge that assertion. The documentation I've read indicates that the women involved in the adulterous behavior by Stephan spoke of this behavior privately to others, and it was not simply a matter of a sacramental confession/absolution being divulged. 

I know how important, even necessary it is, for the ALPB to posture itself as a source of "objective" history of The LCMS, but I think we all know better than that. 

Simply put, I find this effort now to attack Walther and other LCMS fathers as being the perpetrators of evil against Stephan to be more than a little disingenuous, and predicated a lot of speculation, conjecture, rumor and reporting of half-truths. 

Am I really to believe that a descendant of Stephan is capable of providing objective historical analysis with full, complete unbiased documentation for all his assertions? 

Perhaps, to demonstrate good faith in its call for "repentance," the ALPB could own up to its complicity in the underhanded, deceptive tactics used by Tietjen and his inner circle in trying to foist on The LCMS the myths that what was going on in the classrooms at Concordia Seminary during the Seminex era was simply a matter of "fundamentalism" taking hold in the Synod. Perhaps the ALPB would be willing to repent of its covering up the truth of what happened then, in its complicity in advancing falsehoods, half-truths and simply lies about what was actually being taught? I would find that gesture to be a demonstration of the ALPB's willingness to do more than take potshots at The LCMS. 

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BOC1580@gmail.com

Posted by Rev. Paul T. McCain at May 20, 2010 12:30

I have now had a chance to read through major portions of the book, from which, apparently LUTHERAN FORUM will be publishing excerpts. It is a book that was self-published by a retired psychologist, a descendant of Walther. It's only endorsement comes from a United Church of Christ minister, with a blurb on the back cover. 

The web site listed in the article is run by another Walther descendant ,a radical feminist lesbian composer and amateur theologian of some sort of another. Why do I mention this? Every assertion must be weighed and evaluated on its own merits, but it is also important to recognize the worldview bring brought to anyone's particular presentation of an issue. 

[GJ - Paul McCain is neither a pastor nor a theologian, but he fashions himself as both. He was in charge of the Concordia Historical Institute, but he has no regard for the facts. He does not mention that one Stephan descendant was a Lutheran Hour speaker, quite a honor for anyone.]

Based on my reading of this self-published book, and review of the web site forum, and other web sites associated with Dr. Stephan, see, for example: lifemissionassociates.com There we read that Dr. Stephan is: "a passionate advocate of inclusive texts, and texts written with a Lesbian- and gay-friendly perspective." We also learn that the artist: 

"uses a wide range of themes, from celebration of the Vagina (Ave Pudendum) to a new choral Cantata written with the help of a grant from the Thanks Be to Grandmother Foundation, Mater in Memoriam, for SSAA and Chamber Ensemble, or for SSAA and Piano. This piece is noteworthy as it treats the mother-daughter relationship from a Lesbian perspective, while maintaining a universal appeal for non gay audiences." 

In other words, I doubt we can expect to find any sympathy for the orthodox, confessing Lutheranism that Stephan and Walther both wanted to promote from sources like this. Which makes me wonder how objective their analysis and scholarship actually is? 

I would simply say that the kind of "evidence" marshaled in the book is very much biased, tilted toward trying to prove what has already been assumed as fact, and makes use of what are frankly, quite dubious sources, a lot of hear-say evidence, that is all every bit as unreliable as any hagiography of Walther that ALPB rightly eschews. 

[GJ - The evidence discounted by McCain is primary evidence, actual documents in the possession of his previous employer, the Concordia Historical Institute. Historians treasure primary documents, but McCain is not a historian.]

I'm surprised ALPB would actually provide a platform for this kind of truly second-rate "scholarship," contained in the book and the frankly quite bizarre musings from the web site, and the web site owner. 

Honestly, as I look through the pages of a certain Missouri-based weekly newspaper, I am accustomed to seeing this kind of axe-grinding conspiracy-theorizing that one finds routinely in that publication. I am surprised to see ALPB indulging in what is little more than the same. I would have thought ALPB might have considered having the purported "scholarship" being offered to be peer reviewed carefully by reputable and knowledgeable experts in the history of the Saxon immigration. 

[GJ - The Perry County LCMS shrine claims, as Herman Otten's grandson wrote, that Stephan was given three choices upon his adultery being discovered. He was given no choices, pronounced guilty by a kangaroo court set up by Walther, robbed and kidnapped - forced to leave the state. The LCMS founders committed many felonies, and Walther led them.]

Disappointing, is an understatement.

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BOC1580@gmail.com

Posted by Rev. Paul T. McCain at May 20, 2010 15:11

Pr. Sauer, at the risk of repeating myself: My opinion of the "sources" cited is that they are more along the lines of rumor, gossip, hear-say and other heavily biased accounts of the events, obviously aiming at painting the actions of Walther and company in the worst possible light, and Stephan as the persecuted victim. That is what I meant when I stated that the "evidence" presented in the book is "very much biased, tilted toward trying to prove what has already been assumed as fact, and making use of frankly, quite dubious sources, a lot of hear-say evidence" the sources and evidence strike me as unreliable as any hagiography of Walther that ALPB rightly eschews. 

While you perceive my reporting of the background and positions of the persons writing a book and hosting a web site to be an "attack" I would simply restate that I believe that it is important to, consider the sources, of the information ALPB is apparently so interested in promoting and pushing. 

It strikes me as more than a little disconcerting that the ALPB would be promoting the work of a person who composes this kind of choral piece: http://www.naomimusic.com/pages/order/yeltonRhodes.php 

I believe it is worth evaluating a person's interests, passions and worldview as one evaluates their (sic) credentials to speak knowledgeably, objectively and fairly on the matter of Martin Stephan.

[GJ - Paul McCain, who lied about working secretly with Herman Otten, will teach the ALPB about being honest, fair, objective, and Evangelical.]

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BOC1580@gmail.com

Posted by Rev. Paul T. McCain at June 20, 2010 09:38 The problem, Pastor Peters, is that while the book may be a "good read" it is sloppy scholarship, putting forward a bunch of rumors and speculations, with a bundle of hearsay evidence, asserting things that simply are not true.

And Lutheran Forum's complicity in promoting shoddy scholarship and endorsing a book, and a web site, run by a person whose credibility is nill is an unfortunate choice on their part.

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Stephan History Posted by Pastor Peters at June 21, 2010 21:33 BTW the person who called me up and told me it was a gotta read book was David Scaer!

Concordia Lutheran Church founder Merkens dies - San Antonio Express-News

Guido Merkens, one of the megachurch pastors in the LCMS.

Concordia Lutheran Church founder Merkens dies - San Antonio Express-News:

Pastor Guido Merkens, who founded the city's largest Lutheran church and served there for more than four decades, died Wednesday night surrounded by his family.

He was 84.

Merkens came to San Antonio in 1951 to establish the city's first Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregation.

Concordia Lutheran Church became the largest congregation in the denomination under his tenure, and continues to be among its biggest nationwide.

Merkens was born in South Dakota, the son of a pastor who moved his family to Pittsburgh for ministry assignments.

As a young man, Merkens delivered groceries, loaded boxcars on trains, drove school buses and was a bartender.

He studied at the University of Pittsburgh; Concordia University in Bronxville, N.Y.; and Concordia Seminary and Washington University in St. Louis.

He was ordained in St. Louis on Sept. 9, 1951, and was sent to start a congregation in San Antonio.

“I knew he wanted to go to a place and start a church from scratch, not reap the benefits of something that was already established,” said the Rev. Bill Tucker, Concordia's current senior pastor. “Clearly the Holy Spirit planted that seed in him.”

The mission church began in an area near Basse and Blanco roads with 37 members.

To Merkens, a former baseball standout, incorporating athletics into the church was imperative, so Concordia Lutheran built an air conditioned gymnasium in 1960.

“They come to play, they stay to pray,” many recall Merkens saying.

The congregation grew to 4,000 members under his leadership. It's now located on a nearly 50-acre complex on Loop 1604 and Huebner Road and has more than 6,000 members.

Merkens was regarded as a church growth expert and conducted hundreds of seminars on that topic around the nation and in 14 countries.

The author of seven books, he also was vice president of the denomination for 15 years.

In 1993, he announced he would “reposition” into other areas of ministry at the church and prepare for his successor.

The Rev. William G. Thompson took over as senior pastor in 1994 and led the congregation to its current location. Tucker succeeded Thompson in 2001.

All the while, Merkens continued to support the church and other ministries.

“He never saw himself as actually being retired,” Tucker recalled. “He saw himself as being transitioned into other parts of ministry.”

After he left the church, Merkens devoted his time to consulting and speaking at conferences as an associate with Pathway Lutheran Ministries.

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Minister-founded-N-Side-landmark-2499537.php#ixzz1jP2Gm1VC

'via Blog this' --- Gratuitous note from ELCA pastor/WELS pal: "I'm sure that you came across this obit. Will wait for you to share the true story complete with all the dirty little secrets that the LCMS covers up."

Pipe organ the pride and joy of Faith Lutheran - Carthage, MO - Carthage Press

Pipe organ the pride and joy of Faith Lutheran - Carthage, MO - Carthage Press:

CARTHAGE, Mo. —

If you ask Tim and Sarah Buelow to count the 2011 blessings for them and their church, the Faith Lutheran pastor and his wife would undoubtedly list pipe organ among them.

Although delivery of the two-story Bosch Pipe Organ was made to the Carthage church last September and fine tuning continues to take place, excitement over the new addition has yet to fade.



“There are 1,300 pipes and each pipe has to be individually voiced with a couple of adjustments,” the Rev. Buelow said. “The man making the adjustments was called back to his electrical engineering job at Michigan State University, so he comes back when he can.”

Very few people are qualified to do the fine tuning.

“Up until the end of the 19th century, a pipe organ like this was the most advanced piece of engineering that man had invented,” Buelow said. “When you think about all these connections and interwoven pieces, it is just an engineering marvel.”

Sarah Buelow, who serves as the church organist, agrees.

“It is like having a live orchestra instead of just an electronic one like we have had,” she said. “The pipe organ is much more inspiring. It is like getting live feedback, whereas with the electronic organ I don’t get any feedback and don’t know what my audience is hearing. I can hear the pipes talking to me.”

She added that while most churches are going away from organs, there has been a bit of a renaissance with pipe organs.

“We have suggested  that the Carthage Chamber of Commerce put this on its list of local destinations because as a tracker organ this is unique,” she said.

Faith Lutheran bought the organ from Redeemer Lutheran Church in Flint, Mich.

To say the Buelows were overjoyed at getting such a musical marvel would be a huge understatement.

“The pastor at that Michigan church said the organ had been on their insurance policy for $750,000 and all we had to pay was $25,000 for the organ and $25,000 to have it moved and installed,” the Rev. Buelow said.

The organ was made in Kassel, Germany, in 1971 and bought directly from that site by Redeemer Lutheran parishioners, who were looking for the best quality German-made organ they could find.

“Organs can last 300-plus years and this one is only about 40 years old,” Buelow said. “When you combine this engineering marvel of all of these wonderful things that God gave us in creation and the agility that God gave the human mind, you have something to give praise back to God.”

'via Blog this'

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raklatt (http://raklatt.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Pipe organ the pride and joy of Faith Lutheran - C...":

The biggest concern might be the difference in climate between Flint, MI, and Carthage, MO. Once the tracker mechanism adjusts to the differences and the fellow from MSU finishes tweaking, Faith should have a fine instrument.

Trackers do give feedback to the organist though they may require a bit more effort than electrical keyboard systems. Pushing down a key operates the mechanical linkage that opens the valve at the foot of a pipe along with others if couplers are in use. The leverage of the linkage is such that some strength is required.

The system is very similar to that which must have been in use in Luther's time.

A good organ is the best instrument to lead a congregation in song.

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GJ - Yes, an organ is ideal for the support of hymns. That is why the Emergents want a rock band instead. An organist must have talent, training, and experience. A rock band just makes noise with percussion instruments. My college students conceded that orchestra musicians can play rock - and some do. But very few rock stars would last five minutes in an orchestra. To demonstrate, I screamed and did a loud TWANG on my air guitar. I said, "How much talent does that take?" The students loved it and asked for a repeat.

Next week I had Mr. Bose play them Pachebel's Canon. They were transfixed and wrote down the name of the piece.

Pietism and Methodism « Churchmouse Campanologist

Wesley and Zinzendorf

Pietism and Methodism « Churchmouse Campanologist:


"John Wesley and the Moravians


At Oxford in 1729, John Wesley’s brother Charles, George Whitefield and other students formed a society called the Holy Club. John Wesley, older and by then ordained in the Anglican Church, had already begun devoting his life to the pursuit of holiness."


'via Blog this'


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GJ - C. F. W. Walther belonged to a Holy Club at Leipzig, but he left that Pietistic circle for Stephan's Pietistic circle.


The Saxon migration was a Pietistic enterprise, not Lutheran orthodoxy at all.


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churchmousec (http://churchmousec.wordpress.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Pietism and Methodism « Churchmouse Campanologist":

Thank you very much, Dr Jackson, for the mention and for the priceless illustration of Wesley and Count von Zinzendorf together -- brilliant!

If it hadn't been for your writing about pietism, I would probably have ignored it.

Many thanks!

Churchmouse