I Tour the World - You Don't - But You Get To Pay for It

One of the greatest privileges I have had is to visit the world mission fields where our synod works to proclaim the gospel. Even though you may not have the opportunity to visit those places yourself, it's important for all members of our synod to get a glimpse of the work we are doing around the world and to see how God is blessing those efforts.

Am I a Soldier of the Cross - A Follower of the Lamb? Must I Be Carried to the Skies on Flowery Beds of Ease?WELS Victory of the Lamb Says - "Yes!"

This idiotic ad was leaked by a WELS congregation. 

Hat tip to:

http://welsdocument.blogspot.com/2014/12/comfy-chairs-important-in-wels.html


www.victoryofthelamb.com


"Am I a Solder of the Cross"
by Isaac Watts, 1674-1748

1. Am I a solder of the Cross,
A foll'wer of the Lamb,
And shall I fear to own
His cause Or blush to speak His name?

2. Must I be carried to the skies
On flow'ry beds of ease
While others fought to win the prize
And sailed thro' bloody seas?

3. Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace
To help me on to God?

4. Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord!
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.

5. Thy saints in all this glorious war
Shall conquer though they die;
They see the triumph from afar
With faith's discerning eye.

6. When that illustrious Day shall rise
And all Thine armies shine
In robes of victory through the skies,
The glory shall be Thine.

Hymn #445
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: 1 Cor. 16:13
Author: Isaac Watts, 1721
Composer: Thomas Ests, 1592
Tune: "Winchester Old"

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http://victoryofthelamb.com/expect/

WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT WHEN COMING TO WORSHIP AT VICTORY OF THE LAMB?

• Enjoy Hospitality – Goodies, coffee and all kinds of yummy stuff. All completely free… just like grace!
• Dress Comfortably – Wear clothes. Whether they’re in style… that’s up to you!
• Casual Atmosphere – Reclining movie theater seats with cup holders. Need we say more? No.
• Serious Faith – We take God very seriously, but try not to take ourselves too seriously.
• Modern Worship – Relevant messages, musical variety, helpful videos.
• Ancient Roots – Sacraments, Scripture, Jesus at the center… always.
• Brings the Kids – Bible Quest is a safe, fun kids’ ministry for all kids ages 18 months – 5^th grade. Otherwise feel free to bring them into church. We’ll have a live service feed in the lobby in case you feel they’re getting too rowdy.
• Relax – There are other people like you. We’re all just getting guidance for our lives and learning about how much God loves us.
• Truth – You want a doctor who’s going to be honest enough to help you, right? Don’t you want a church that will do the same?

***

GJ - The joke is on me, I guess. Their beliefs are copied from the brochure I wrote and offered to lend to anyone who wanted to use it. Some of the wording is changed.

More on Tim Glende Helping To Close His Savoy, Illinois WELS Mission

Sherrie Rardin Nate, I am not saying the church should or should not have sold their building. The only thing I will say on that they were forced into it and if you want to know more privately, please message me. What I am saying is that you have a church, an established church that has existed for over 30 years, that had long-time (some lifelong) WELS members in it that asked over and over the course of three years (before they were at risk of losing their building) for help in training, outreach and other growth measures, and received nothing back, not even responses most of the time. I can tell you my personal feelings on that but won't post them here as it would be hard to be construed constructive. 

I personally saw some of the letters drafted requesting some of this help. When a pastor, who has been the head of committee on relief, a circuit pastor AND a one-time pastor of this congregation goes to leadership for answers and they tell him to mind his own business, something is not on the up and up. 

When the DP, who has also served this congregation and was, in fact, its starting pastor, says he does not understand it and has been told it is not his district now, there's a problem.

***

GJ - Glende was the primary cause in bankrupting the Savoy parish, because he put them into debt for a new building that he was not around to leave. No, he took off for St. Peter in Freedom. 

But he wanted Savoy closed down as a bad memory of his pastoral bullying and ineptness.

WELS Wit Is So Dry - Almost Not Even There - If You Know What I Mean

"Now that we know your worthless opinion,
feel fee to leave us alone to finish wrecking WELS."

Rik Krahn So Christian, I guess your rant leaves me wondering: if we are so clearly and obviously of a different spirit, then why are you here? Do you also hang around Roman Catholic pages, arguing transubstantiation with them? Argue zippers in Amish discussion groups? It sounds a little to me like the Packer fan who frequents a site dedicated to improving the Bears, and his regular contribution is to remind them that "The Bears still suck!"

***

GJ - In case you are new to WELS, the above statement, from WELS Discusions on Facebook, is an invitation to leave WELS, to be quiet, or both.

The Church Growthers in WELS, Missouri, and the Little Sect took over their denominations, lying about it. They own the schools, DPs, and SPs. Their money-man Mark Jeske is on the Board of Directors of Thrivent.

They got there by constantly carping about everything, by undermining anyone in legitimate authority. They made sure their guys got to be in charge. Now that they control everything, the only proper responses are:
1. Agree.
2. Apologize.

Love, Love, Love Karate Kid for Sermons. I May Use Dog Vader for My Sermons. Attend services at Amazing Love Church (WELS) in Franklin, IL If You Want To See Parts of The Karate Kid Movie During the Sermon

Source for this scoop - OK, I kelmed it.

http://welsdocument.blogspot.com/2014/12/watch-karate-kid-during-wels-sermon.html

From a WELS News Report:
http://www.wels.net/news-events/amazing-love-dedicates-church

Amazing Love, Frankfort, Ill., dedicated its new church building on May 19 in a special evening worship service.

...As [Pastor] Blumer notes, “None of this gospel outreach would be possible without WELS Church Extension Fund and WELS Home Missions. Through Congregation Mission Offerings, our congregation got our start. We hope to come off subsidy as soon as possible, but we are so thankful for that support!”

He continues, “WELS Church Extension Fund, its granting process, and its extraordinary gift of $80,000 were also a huge part of where we are today. There were other churches looking at our current facility, but they didn’t have such financial support.”...

http://www.wels.net/news-events/amazing-love-dedicates-church

A BRIDGE (WELS) Too Far

Find more reasons to increase your meds at this URL -

http://welsdocument.blogspot.com/2014/12/new-religious-experience-at-wels-church.html

Muskego church offers a bridge to new religious experience
St. Paul's Church broadens its target audience with contemporary effort

By Jane Ford-Stewart

Oct. 14, 2013
Muskego Now News

http://www.mymuskegonow.com/news/muskego-church-offers-a-bridge-to-new-religious-experience-b99115009z1-227739191.html

Muskego — People who don't think they would be welcome at church are just the people that St. Paul's Church, Muskego, is looking for.

They might be people people with an inordinate number of tattoos or body piercings who think others would not accept them. People with bad religious experiences. Or simply people who are looking for something more in their lives but have found traditional church-going unsatisfying.

Instead of the sanctuary, The Bridge services will be held in the St. Paul's school gym, chosen as a more familiar venue for folks not accustomed to churches. The gym entryway takes them through the coffee shop, which will offer fresh-brewed coffee before, after and even during the service. Jeans and T-shirts are just fine.

Inside, visitors will find upbeat Christian music played by a live band in which the Rev. John Backus will play acoustic and electric guitar and will deliver the sermon later. The sermons themselves will be conversational, in keeping with the informal style of the service.

The idea is to be more of a concert setting that incorporates a message and a prayer, said Sally Wallner, St. Paul's community outreach coordinator.

"We'll be ramping the music up for The Bridge and be rocking and participating," she said.

But the goal is a serious one.

"We want to show people what it means to be loved and safe," Backus said.

At some time or other, everyone has found out what it means to be broken and frustrated, he said, and Christianity can give answers.

"Spiritual matters are also practical matters," Backus said.

"We offer hope and help," Wallner added.

Based on a study the church bought from a research firm, church officials estimate that 8,000 Muskego residents are not involved in their Christian faith.

The goal is to reach them by keeping potentially off-putting religious symbols and practices at a minimum to let the love that is the real message shine through, Wallner said. St. Paul's even has dropped the evangelical Lutheran parts of its full name for general purposes, she added, though it is still formally St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church and School.

St. Paul's already has a contemporary service with contemporary Christian music in addition to a traditional service. But The Bridge will be even farther along the contemporary lines, Wallner said. The sermons, however, will be on the same topics as at the other two services.