Children of the Heavenly Father

Jesus and the children - by Norma Boeckler.

http://www.semicolonblog.com/?p=5907

Garrison Keillor: “I once sang the bass line of Children of the Heavenly Father in a room with about three thousand Lutherans in it; and when we finished, we all had tears in our eyes, partly from the promise that God will not forsake us, partly from the proximity of all those lovely voices. By our joining in harmony, we somehow promise that we will not forsake each other.”

Children of the Heavenly Father
Safely in His bosom gather
Nestling bird nor star in heaven
Such a refuge e’er was given

God His own doth tend and nourish
In His holy courts they flourish
From all evil things He spares them
In His mighty arms He bears them

Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord His children sever
Unto them His grace He showeth
And their sorrows all He knoweth

Though He giveth or He taketh
God His children ne’er forsaketh
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy

Lo their very hairs He numbers
And no daily care encumbers
Them that share His ev’ry blessing
And His help in woes distressing

Praise the Lord in joyful numbers
Your Protector never slumbers
At the will of your Defender
Ev’ry foe man must surrender.

Lina Berg, as she was known to her friends, wrote and published hymn lyrics even as a child. She was a sickly child and of ten had to stay at home while the rest of her family attended the Lutheran church where her father was a pastor. When LIna was twenty-three, she accompanied her father on a boat trip and watched as he fell from the boat and drowned before her eyes.

After that experience, Lina wrote the other hymn for which she is most known in the English-speaking world, Day By Day.

Day by day and with each passing moment
Strength I find to meet my trials here
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best!
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure
Mingling toil with peace and rest. *** GJ - The senseless violence in Connecticut today has affected the entire nation. When people have expressed how difficult it must be to lose two daughters,Bethany and Erin Joy, as we did, I have mentioned how much worse it is to lose a child from an accident, and worst of all - to violence. We had the advantage of trying everything possible, even using tests the health insurance had never heard of at the time (gas chromatograph mass spectrometer). Many therapies were attempted, and both girls gained the attention of doctors from the Cleveland Clinic to Harvard to Switzerland. We enjoyed our daughters' love, and they were adored by many who came to cheer them up and found themselves cheered instead. These Connecticut parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers, police officers, and medical professionals will suffer the worst kind of grief in the coming years. Those who campaign in self-righteous anger, using the crisis for more laws, will not help.  America has embraced godlessness, extreme violence, drug and alcohol abuse. Our great and wise ones engage in constant mockery of anything decent, inspiring, or patriotic. I feel assaulted by a constant display of vampire images and occult veneration. Every heritage except the Judeo-Christian is honored.
We will continue to suffer from this kind of violence as long as we sow the weed seeds of self-destruction.

Bethany filled Ida's life with joy.
Ida was her nurse.

Erin Joy grabbed her bear for the Midland Daily News photographer.
She had a big fan club in town.

Richard Bliese resigns as president of ELCA's Luther Seminary - News Releases - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Richard Biese earned his MDiv at Seminex,
the first (but not last) gay Lutheran seminary.
WELS UOJ theologian Richard Jungkuntz chaired the board of Seminex.
Jenswold and Lindemann's buddy in Fox Valley is another Seminex MDiv.

Richard Bliese resigns as president of ELCA's Luther Seminary - News Releases - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:


ELCA NEWS SERVICE
December 11, 2012
Richard Bliese resigns as president of ELCA's Luther Seminary
12-75-MRC

      CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Dr. Richard Bliese has resigned as president of Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., according to a Dec. 10 announcement from the seminary. Luther is one of eight seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Bliese served as president since 2005.

      “Throughout this church there are members deeply grateful for the gifted pastors and lay leaders who have been prepared for ministry during Dr. Bliese's tenure as president of Luther Seminary,” said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop.

      “Dr. Bliese's consistent priority was for Luther Seminary to prepare evangelical leaders to serve God's mission in a rapidly changing and increasingly diverse context. He was committed to developing partnerships with congregations with particular focus on stewardship, leadership and preaching,” said Hanson.

      Bliese “built upon Luther's strong faculty with new appointments that brought ecumenical and global perspectives. He led Luther through the expansion of distance learning offerings while maintaining a commitment to the benefits of learning in a seminary community that gathers for worship, study and conversation,” said Hanson. “I thank God for Rick's leadership.”

      The Rev. James M. Lindus, chair of Luther’s board of directors, expressed gratitude for Bliese’s leadership and “for all Rick has done during his years at Luther Seminary.”

      Bliese’s “compelling vision, unwavering commitment to Luther Seminary’s mission and aggressive strategic plan have helped the seminary maintain a healthy enrollment of students, a stellar faculty and strong financial support from loyal and dedicated donors,” said Lindus.

      While the seminary continues to function at “a high level,” said Lindus, Luther is facing “a difficult combination of challenges, not unlike those faced by many other institutions of higher education. These challenges include deferred maintenance charges related to aging buildings, the costs of delivering a wide variety of educational programs and a nationwide drop in the number of students attending seminaries.”

      Lindus said that the transition in leadership comes at a time when the financial performance of the seminary has lagged expectations. The seminary is taking positive measures to ensure its financial health, which has included the naming of an interim chief financial officer.

      Prior to his presidency, Bliese was the seminary’s dean of academic affairs and associate professor of missions from 2003 to 2005. Before joining Luther, he served as the director of graduate studies and as the Augustana Heritage associate professor of global mission and evangelism at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, an ELCA seminary. While there, Bliese served as a part-time pastor at St. Andrews Lutheran Church, Glenwood, Ill.

      A graduate of Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, Bliese earned a master of divinity degree from Christ Seminary Seminex, St. Louis, in 1981. His first call as an ordained pastor was to St. Stephanus Lutheran Church in Herne, Germany. After serving four years there, he accepted a position with the United Evangelists Missions in Germany as director of the continuing education program for pastors and evangelists in Zaire and Rwanda.

      From 1986 to 1990, he led a small urban congregation in Bukavu, Zaire, and focused on directing continuing education programs at the Centre D'Accueil Protestante Ecumenical Center, School for Evangelists in Zaire and Rwanda. There he established the center’s schools of music, evangelism and language, and co-founded a regional development office for research and technical assistance.

      After 10 years overseas, Bliese returned to the United States and earned a master of theology in 1992 and a doctorate in confessional theology from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in 1995.

      In addition to his teaching and pastoral career, Bliese has led mission and evangelism seminars and workshops as an independent consultant, administered the Hein-Fry Lecture Series, and served as president of the Center for World Christian Interaction. He has published articles throughout the world and co-edited “The Dictionary of Mission: Theology, History, Perspectives” (1997) and was co-editor of “The Evangelizing Church: A Lutheran Contribution (2005).”




'via Blog this'

Norman Teigen Encountered the LCMS Kool-Aid Krew on the ALPB Forum

Walther pretended he suddenly found out about Stephan's adultery, but Stephan left Frau Pfarrer in Germany and traveled to America with his young mistress, Louise Guenther.

Norman Teigen has left a new comment on your post "Walther Said - "Slavery is good!"":

The responses on the ALPB Forum on this subject have been interesting. I had written that my comments on the NY Times had been published. I was brought to task for that and apologized because they had been transmitted, not published.

One really nasty commentator this morning questioned my faith. I was quite surprised by this but felt gratified by some who supported my attempt to get into a historical question. By this afternoon the offensive post had been removed.

It's really strange, isn't it, how some people feel that their particular ideas on a certain subject are sacrosanct. Doesn't say much, does it, about the intellectual breadth of those people.

***

GJ - Bishop Stephan's crimes are well known. So are Walther's. But the hagiographers tell a completely different story. Their lies explain why the good ol' Synodical Conference is  in the dumper today, why the biggest deceivers and plagiarists get the most money - while workers starve and students enslave themselves to student loans.

Walther and Stephan had nothing against slavery. Neither do the Concordia Seminary profs.

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ALPB Forum

Johannes Andreas Quenstedt

Re: CFW Walther and Slavery

« Reply #52 on: Today at 03:43:46 PM »

• Quote

Getting back to the topic, I recall hearing stories from those who were in conversation with folks who lived in that period of time. Evidently it was common place for slaves in St. Louis area to be paraded around totally naked so that the more buff and attractive men and women could be sold at the highest price possible. I also came across a depiction of slavery in St. Louis in which William Wells Brown, a former slave, writes:

"I shall never forget a scene which took place in the city of St. Louis, while I was in slavery. A man and his wife, both slaves, were brought from the country to the city, for sale. They were taken to the rooms of AUSTIN & SAVAGE, auctioneers...Several slave-speculators, who are always to be found at auctions where slaves are to be sold, were present. The man was first put up, and sold to the highest bidder. The wife was next ordered to ascend the platform. I was present. She slowly obeyed the order. The auctioneer commenced, and soon several hundred dollars were bid. My eyes were intensely fixed on the face of the woman, whose cheeks were wet with tears. But a conversation between the slave and his new master attracted my attention. I drew near them to listen. The slave was begging his new master to purchase his wife. Said he, "Master, if you will only buy Fanny, I know you will get the worth of your money. She is a good cook, a good washer, and her last mistress liked her very much. If you will only buy her how happy I shall be." The new master replied that he did not want her but if she sold cheap he would purchase her. I watched the countenance of the man while the different persons were bidding on his wife. When his new master bid on his wife you could see the smile upon his countenance, and the tears stop; but as soon as another would bid, you could see the countenance change and the tears start afresh."

"From this change of countenance one could see the workings of the inmost soul. But this suspense did not last long; the wife was struck off to the highest bidder, who proved not to be the owner of her husband. As soon as they became aware that they were to be separated, they both burst into tears; and as she descended from the auction-stand, the husband, walking up to her and taking her by the hand, said, "Well, Fanny, we are to part forever, on earth; you have been a good wife to me. I did all that I could to get my new master to buy you; but he did not want you, and all I have to say is, I hope you will try to meet me in heaven. I shall try to meet you there." The wife made no reply, but her sobs and cries told, too well, her own feelings. I saw the countenances of a number of whites who were present, and whose eyes were dim with tears at hearing the man bid his wife farewell." - -http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/county/stlouis/slavery.htm

Surely C.F.W. Walther should have been aware of such heart wrenching stories. That he did not both mention and condemn such practices in his writings is a horrific tragedy.

It is interesting that C.F.W. Walther also states in his Lehre und Wehre article on slavery:

The same spirit which in Europe declared the rank of princes to be an outrage in this century, who strove to depose them and replace them with democracy as the only rightful order; this same spirit compels them here to denounce slavery as a degradation of free-born man. It drives them to communism,demanding women’s emancipation (though they quite clearly agree that the female, according to God’s order, is in a certain kind of slavery). Every Christian who aids these agitators concerning slavery, is in the service of this radical-revolutionary spirit. (emphasis added)

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Johannes Andreas Quenstedt

I suspect that C.F.W. Walther was influenced by his Moravian background. Moravian missionaries, especially in the Caribbean, owned and used slaves. 

I understand that Scandinavian immigrants were given theological and ethical exhortations from Europe to not settle in places where there was slavery.  It is interesting that (according to census data) when Walther settled in Perry County there was a higher percentage of slaves in relationship to the rest of the population, than in other areas close by. 

Walther was in deep theological error about the institution of slavery. And the church today should both acknowledge it and repent of it.

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Quote
We can admire the good things he did and wrote while acknowledging his errors and deploring his wrongs.  If interested, we can also examine how he came to the erroneous positions he did so that we might be able to avoid similar mistakes.

Good point. How did C.F.W. Walther come to his erroneous position? You can get a clue from the following statement by Walther (emphasis added):



We therefore hold that abolitionism, which deems slavery a sin and therefore considers every slave holder a criminal and strives for its eradication, is the result of unbelief in its development of nationalism, deistic philanthropy, pantheism, materialism, and atheism. It is a brother of modern socialism, Jacobinism and communism. Together with the emancipation of women it is the rehabilitation of the flesh. As proof of this blood-relationship it suffices to point not only to its history, but also to the close union between abolition-minded representatives of Christianity and the abolitionist tendencies of anti-Christians and radical revolutionaries in church, state, and home. The more their non-religiosity increases and reaches the pinnacles of theoretical atheism and indifferentism, the more fanatically they fight for the principle of slave emancipation.

Three Statues for the Great Kidnapper - Plus Large Doses of Hagiography

Both of these minor children died later in America.
The niece was allowed to hang around Bishop Stephan, STD ,
and his young female groupies.
Is that why LCMS had a Walther League? Ugh.

Pastor emeritus Nathan Bickel has left a new comment on your post "Walther Said - "Slavery is good!"":

Ichabod -

At least the non religious secular Penn State had enough smarts and honesty to remove Joe Paterno's statute. But, the LCMS, apparently has no godly shame.

Thank you for pointing out this historical reality. It seems the more that is divulged about C.F. Walther; the more bizarre LCMS becomes, for standing by the man who tolerated Bishop Stephan's marital infidelities. Shame on the leadership of the LCMS for perpetuating the Walther myth!

LCMS - Tear down his graven images! Show some self respect!

Nathan M. Bickel
www.thechristianmessage.org
www.moralmatters.org

Walther solved the financial crisis of the sex cult by robbing Stephan of all his gold.
Zion on the Mississippi shows that the clergy knew all about Stephan's adultery.
"Discovering it from a confession" was a big, honking lie.

Charitable Deductions May Finish Off One LCMS Seminary

Thrivent loot is just like lottery money -
where does it all go?

bruce-church (https://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Judgment Day Approaches for the LCMS Seminaries":

2013 is really shaping up to be judgment day for the LCMS seminaries. President Harrison said that neither of the seminaries would close under his watch, but since then the govt has stopped subsidizing student loans to the extent that the govt doesn't pay interest while the student is in school, and the interest rate may climb in the future, and now the charitable deduction might be reduced or even eliminated in order to bring down the deficit. The Washington Post notes that Lutheran Services has been lobbying against that:

==========

White House, nonprofit groups battle over charitable deductions

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/white-house-nonprofit-groups-battle-over-charitable-deductions/2012/12/13/80e67400-43f2-11e2-9648-a2c323a991d6_story.html

But the White House is also looking to limit the charitable deduction for high-income earners, and that has prompted frustration and resistance, with leaders of major nonprofit organizations, such as the United Way, the American Red Cross and Lutheran Services of America, closing ranks in opposing any change to the deduction.

“It’s all castor oil,” said Diana Aviv, president of Independent Sector, an umbrella group representing many nonprofits. “And the members of the nonprofit sector I represent don’t want any part of it. It’s a medicine we’re not willing to drink.”

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LCMS seminary students borrow excessively to overpay their professors salaries.
Does anyone notice this scam?
Not when the top two at CPH make more than $500,000 in salaries and benefits.

Hogs Take Wisconsin Coaches To Replace Petrino Staff

Everyone hailed the firing of Coach Petrino,
whose face was explained as a close encounter with his mistress' fiance.
I thought he would become a WELS mission counselor or Planned Giving Counselor.

bruce-church (https://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Bobby Petrino, Jessica Dorrell talked frequently, ...":

UW-Wisconsin football takes a big hit over Joe Petrino's adultery. WI loses its head coach Bielema to Arkansas, and then Bielema hires away WI's defensive coordinator.

Petrino lost his $3.5 million head coaching job at Arkansas, and now he accepted a coaching job at Western Kentucky for a quarter of his previously salary. Also, he's locked in for four years or else he has to pay a $1.2 million penalty.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/ncaa/12/10/bobby-petrino-western-kentucky.ap/index.html

Western Kentucky gave Petrino a four-year deal with a base annual salary of $850,000. If he terminates the deal at any time, he must re-pay the university $1.2 million in six monthly payments starting the month after he leaves.

Bielema hires Ash to run defense:
http://www.katv.com/story/20320037/bielema-hires-ash-to-run-defense