WELS Leaders Finding the Latest Proof for UOJ

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Since June of 2010":

My copies of Aegidius Hunnius, Theses Opposed to Huberianism just arrived. It's going to be a late night reading...that should be worth a page read.

May those who confess the rationalist false gospel of UOJ read it and weep, and in Godly contrition turn back to Scripture and the faithful Lutheran Confessions.

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GJ - I know you will have a good post about Hunnius. Seconds later, the PR team at Mequon will find new reasons to explain that Hunnius, an orthodox Lutheran, and father of another fine theologian, was not talking about UOJ.

In a month or two, they will say in a hushed but censorious voice, "Hunnius was weak on justification."

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Febreze has left a new comment on your post "WELS Leaders Finding the Latest Proof for UOJ":

"Huber was only dealing with universal justification! That was his problem." I can see it already. I don't see, after reading this translation, how anyone can try to justify (no pun intended) UOJ.

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GJ - The few theses I have seen, sent in by early readers, are enough to force WELS, Missouri, and the Little Sect on the Prairie into an apology. But then they would have to stop stealing money from their members.

Since June of 2010

Ye Lands, To the Lord, Make a Jubilant Noise. Cantate Sunday Hymn by Ulrik Koren.The Lutheran Hymnal #44

"Ye Lands, to the Lord Make a Jubilant Noise"
by Ulrik V. Koren, 1826-1910
Translated by Harriet R. Spaeth, 1845-1925

1. Ye lands, to the Lord make a jubilant noise;
Glory be to God!
Oh, serve Him with joy, in His presence now rejoice;
Sing praise unto God out of Zion!

2. Not we, but the Lord is our Maker, our God;
Glory be to God!
His people we are, and the sheep led by His rod;
Sing praise unto God out of Zion!

3. Oh, enter His gates with thanksgiving and praise;
Glory be to God!
To bless Him and thank Him our voices we will raise;
Sing praise unto God out of Zion!

4. For good is the Lord, and His mercy is sure;
Glory be to God!
To all generations His truth shall still endure;
Sing praise unto God out of Zion!

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #44
Text: Ps. 100
Author: Ulrik V. Koren, 1874
Translated by: Harriet R. Spaeth, 1899, alt.
Titled: "Al Verden nu raabe for Herren med Fryd"
Composer: Erik Hoff, c. 1860
Tune: "Guds Menighed, syng"

Creator Spirit, By Whose Aid.The Lutheran Hymnal #236

"Creator Spirit, by Whose Aid"
by Rhabanus Maurus, 776-856
Translated by John Dryden, 1631-1700

1. Creator Spirit, by whose aid
The world's foundations first were laid,
Come, visit every humble mind;
Come, pour Thy joys on humankind;
From sin and sorrow set us free
And make Thy temples worthy Thee.

2. O Source of uncreated light,
The Father's promised Paraclete,
Thrice holy Fount, thrice holy Fire,
Our hearts with heavenly love inspire;
Come and Thy sacred unction bring
To sanctify us while we sing.

3. Plentous of grace, descend from high
Rich in Thy sevenfold energy;
Make us eternal truths receive
And practice all that we believe;
Give us Thyself that we may see
The Father and the Son by Thee.

4. Immortal honor, endless fame,
Attend the almighty Father's name;
The Savior Son be glorified,
Who for lost man's redemption died;
And equal adoration be,
Eternal Paraclete, to Thee.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymns #236
Text: Rom. 8:9
Author: Rhabanus Maurus, 856, asc.
Translated by: John Dryden, 1693, cento, alt.
Titled: "Veni, Creator Spiritus, Mentes"
Tune: "All' Ehr' und Lob"
1st Published in: Kirchengesangbuch
Town: Strassburg, 1541

Come Holy Ghost, In Love. The Lutheran Hymnal, #227

"Come, Holy Ghost, in Love"
Translated by Ray Palmer, 1808-1887

1. Come, Holy Ghost, in love
Shed on us from above
Thine own bright ray.
Divinely good Thou art;
Thy sacred gifts impart
To gladden each sad heart.
Oh, come today!

2. Come, tenderest Friend and best,
Our most delightful Guest,
With soothing power.
Rest which the weary know,
Shade mid the noontide glow,
Peace when deep griefs o'erflow,
Cheer us this hour.

3. Come, Light serene and still,
Our inmost bosoms fill,
Dwell in each breast.
We know no dawn but Thine;
Send forth Thy beams divine
On our dark souls to shine
And make us blest.

4. Exalt our low desires,
Extinguish passion's fires,
Heal every wound.
Our stubborn spirits bend,
Our icy coldness end,
Our devious steps attend
While heavenward bound.

5. Come, all the faithful bless;
Let all who Christ confess
His praise employ.
Give virtue's rich reward,
Victorious death accord
And, with our glorious Lord,
Eternal joy.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #227
Text: Exek. 36:26
Author: Latin author unknown, c. 1200
Translated by: Ray Palmer, 1858
Titled: "Veni, Sancte Spiritus"
Composer: Felice de Giardini, 1769
Tune: "Italian hymn"

Tennis coach and substitute teacher faces child porn charges

This LCMS teacher was file-sharing, like Joel Hochmuth  at WELS  headquarters.
My detective friend says the criminals will plea  bargain by turning in their file-sharing pals.

Tennis coach and substitute teacher faces child porn charges:


ST. LOUIS • A tennis coach at Lutheran North High School and occasional substitute teacher in the Parkway School District was indicted in federal court here Wednesday on a charge of possession of child pornography.

Richard Ambler, 49, of Florissant, was caught after pictures and videos containing child porn accessible via a peer-to-peer file sharing website attracted the attention of an investigator in Maryland, according to a court affidavit that accompanied a criminal complaint Monday.

After downloading porn from what later turned out to be Ambler's account on Feb. 14 and April 2, FBI agents traced his IP address and on April 25, searched his home and seized a computer, the affidavit says.
Ambler told agents that he thought he had more than 1,000 pictures and videos and had exchanged nude pictures with people claiming to be underage on Craigslist personal ads, the affidavit says.

Ambler was due in court Thursday for a hearing to determine whether he will be held in jail until trial, but the hearing was postponed to Friday.

Reached by phone, Ambler lawyer Vanessa Antoniou said that Ambler will plead not guilty, adding, “We'll have to look at the evidence.”

Lutheran North could not be reached for comment Thursday afternoon, but a Dick Ambler is listed on the school's website as the boys tennis coach and Parkway District spokesman Paul Tandy said that the FBI told them Ambler coached at Lutheran.

Tandy said Ambler was removed from Parkway's substitute teacher list after the FBI contacted the district.
Ambler had worked off and on as a substitute in middle and high schools since the 2009-2010 school year and passed a full background check before he began working, tandy said.

He said that there had been no complaints to the district about Ambler.


Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/tennis-coach-and-substitute-teacher-faces-child-porn-charges/article_79144a8a-954d-11e1-a737-0019bb30f31a.html#ixzz1twubT1kv


'via Blog this'

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http://www.kmov.com/home/Parkway-subsitute-teacher-indicted-on-child-porn-charges-150082995.html


ST. LOUIS (KMOV) -- A tennis coach from a North St. Louis County school, who was also a substitute teacher in the Parkway School District, has been federally indicted for possessing child pornography.

It's certainly easy to fear the worst in a case like this, but U.S. Attorney Richard Callahan says no local students were victims in the child pornography.  He says more charges -- both federal and state -- are possible.

The federal indictment reads like a horror tale to parents:  a teacher and coach admitting to sharing child pornography online for several years.

Federal agents say Richard Ambler, 49, told them that he preferred boys 12 to 16 years old, which is unsettling news for parents at Lutheran High School North where Ambler coached boys tennis.
"I'm totally shocked," Norman Holman said.  "We had no idea.  Nobody has heard anything about it.  It's the first I've heard of it, so I'm just stunned."

So is the school.  Ambler was in his second season with the tennis team when the school got a call from the FBI on Friday.  Ambler was fired.      

"He did go through all of our screenings that the Lutheran High School Association requires of all coaches, and he passed all of those," Association President Tim Hipenbecker said.  "We have not had any issue in terms of that."

Promptly after our interview, the school started a mass phone call alert to parents.
Ambler was also a substitute teacher at middle and high schools in the Parkway district since 2009, but he's now lost that job too.  Both districts say Ambler had passed full background checks, which makes sense because he hadn't been caught yet.

That allegedly happened in February and April when an undercover federal agent in Maryland said he found Ambler sharing child porn online.  The agent said Ambler used the screen name "Shyboi1111" and admitted to owning more than 1,000 pictures and videos.  Court records state that Ambler also admitted to exchanging nude photos with people claiming to be underage on Craigslist personal ads.
"At least parents can take some comfort in the fact that there's no evidence at this point that any students were victimized," Callahan said.

State charges could also surface.  According to the affidavit, Ambler also admitted to attempting to molest an 11-year-old friend of his son during a sleep over at his Florissant home in 2008.
Callahan says federal agents seized Ambler's laptop and a hard drive, both of which are still undergoing forensic testing to scour for more images and evidence.  The federal investigation is not over.

Gerhardt - Oh, Enter Lord, Thy Temple. The Lutheran Hymnal #228

"Oh, Enter, Lord, Thy Temple"
by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676

1. Oh, enter, Lord, Thy temple,
Be Thou my spirit's Guest,
Who gavest me, the earth-born,
A second birth more blest.
Thou in the Godhead, Lord,
Though here to dwell Thou deignest,
Forever equal reignest,
Art equally adored.

2. Oh, enter, let me know Thee
And feel Thy power within,
The power that breaks our fetters
And rescues us from sin;
Oh, wash and cleanse Thou me
That I may serve Thee truly
And render honor duly
With perfect heart to Thee.

3. Thou art, O Holy Spirit,
The true anointing Oil,
Through which are consecrated
Soul, body, rest, and toil
To Christ, whose guardian wings,
Where'er their lot appointed,
Protect His own anointed,
His prophets, priests, and kings.

4. Thou, Holy Spirit, teachest
The soul to pray aright;
Thy songs have sweetest music,
Thy prayers have wondrous might.
Unheard they cannot fall,
They pierce the highest heaven
Till He His help hath given
Who surely helpeth all.

5. Thy gift is joy, O Spirit,
Thou wouldst not have us pine;
In darkest hours Thy comfort
Doth ever brightly shine.
And, oh, how oft Thy voice
Hath shed its sweetness o'er me
And opened heaven before me
And bid my heart rejoice!

6. All love is Thine, O Spirit;
Thou hatest enmity;
Thou lovest peace and friendship,
All strife wouldst have us flee;
Where wrath and discord reign,
Thy whisper kindly pleadeth
And to the heart that heedeth
Brings love and light again.

7. Our path in all things order
According to Thy mind,
And when this life is over
And all must be resigned,
Oh, grant us then to die
With calm and fearless spirit
And after death inherit
Eternal life on high.

Hymn #228
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Acts 2: 17
Author: Paul Gerhardt, 1653, cento
Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt.
Titled: Zeuch ein zu deinen Toren
Composer: Johann Crueger, 1653
Tune: Zeuch ein

The Purpose of the Fourth Gospel

Nathan Bickel Does His Homework on the Second Luther Sermon for This Sunday

Pastor Jackson,

What better way to read a Luther sermon, with some good warm coffee and a family pet that does not feel threatened by Luther.

I appreciate how you ring out the UOJ belief among Lutherans by using Nazi and Red Chinese Communist picture language. Such is the "nth" degree, if we were to take seriously the UOJ position. Yet, I can understand why you may fall in disrespect by the UOJ crowd, as they apparently don't care to admit their over emphasis on the grace of God, at the expense of the Scriptural teaching of the Holy Spirit's work of bringing the lost soul to personal faith in Christ.

Now for some smattering comments on Luther's sermon text:

Luther says:  ".....Their hearts are cleansed by faith,...."

According to the UOJ crowd, this statement by Luther is anathema. It flies in the face of the absolution granted by each UOJ pastor after the congregational confession of sins.

Yet, Luther substantiates with Scripture. And, we must remember, his explanation to the 3rd Article of the Apostle's Creed: 

"......In which Christian church, He daily and richly forgives sins to me and all believers..........."

So true what you point out, Pastor Jackson:

".....But there is also a paradox. We remain sinful and weak, because of the Old Adam in us all, but Christ gives us His forgiveness through the work of the Holy Spirit in the Gospel....."

UOJ adherents get into big trouble because they don't understand "paradox." And, the Scripture is full of them. Hence, they utilize their sinful human reasoning, rather than simple trust (belief / faith) in the Word. Luther would take modern day UOJS out behind the woodshed and give them a good sound thrashing!

When Luther talks of faith in this sermon, he talks of it in the sense of the Apostle Paul's inspirational writing (under the Holy Spirit). Faith is unseen - yet, real. That, which is seen, is temporal. It's again the Spirit who gives wings to vibrant faith. Feeling is unessential, because faith is divine. It is that which truly believes and "bestirs itself cheerfully to believe the things it neither feels nor ‘can measure with all its powers inwardly or outwardly." [Luther]

Finally, it is so clear, when Luther says:

"If we believe that Christ made satisfaction for our sins and that his satisfaction is ours, that is then the righteousness. When we are free from sin, and are just and pious, then the world, Satan and the flesh will arise and contend and battle against us...."

What comes to mind after reading this, by Luther, are 3 groups, and a short [true] story:

Group 1 - Those who believe (by faith) that "Christ made satisfaction for our sins and that his satisfaction is ours, that is then the righteousness." [Luther]

Group 2 - Those who need to prove to themselves that they (somehow) believe. These are the type that needs externals, such as an altar; an altar call; a day of remembrance of "personally receiving the Lord."

Group 3 - Those who acknowledge belief, based upon Scripture's declaration of Christ's atoning work. They then accept this as their modus operandi perception and take it for themselves, and call it faith. Their "faith" is in the absolution often announced at communion services. Their belief is confused, because they emphasize Christ's finished work upon the Cross but kick the Holy Spirit to the gutter curb. It's as if they have stopped in their understanding at Christ's death and resurrection and ignore Christ's Words in the Gospel of John about the Comforter, Holy Spirit, who not only creates personal faith, but nurtures that faith to the end.

Now, my personal story in relation to the above 3 groups:

My aging mother took up my dear Baptist brother's offer to live in a cozy trailer home next to his house in the country. Mom often said that after Dad died, she wished she would have moved sooner. She loved the convenience of one floor with all facilities just steps away.

As the routine would have it, Joyce and I would come on Wednesday and take Mom to the senior's group. There we would eat and then play euchre afterwards. From there, we took Mom to do her weekly grocery shopping. When we would return to her trailer, we would play Scrabbles with Mom, before she would become sleepy.

It so happened that the one afternoon, my dear Christian Baptist brother stopped in. To Joyce and my surprise, he engaged Mom in the familiar Baptist question:  "But, Mom - how do you know that you are 'saved'?" To that, my mother stopped my brother cold, in his conversation tracks, by emphatically responding:  "Because, I believe God's promises!"

There was no more further conversation on my brother's part. Mom had made her point. In all my years of academic seminary study and other educational learning and reading, I have never heard a more beautiful and concise confession of personal faith! (And, of course, I'm biased. She was [is] my mother).

Nathan M. Bickel – emeritus pastor

www.thechristianmessage.org

www.moralmatters.org