From a Reader - Someone Finds the Book of Concord Relevant and NOT Out of Date

Here are two jewels:

Augsburg Confession, Article IV, Justification:

Also they teach that men cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works, but are freely justified for 2] Christ's sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor, and that their sins are forgiven for Christ's sake, who, by His death, has made satisfaction for our sins. 3] This faith God imputes for righteousness in His sight. Rom. 3 and 4.


Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Law and Gospel, paragraph 21:

For everything that comforts, that offers the favor and grace of God to transgressors of the Law, is, and is properly called, the Gospel, a good and joyful message that God will not punish sins, but forgive them for Christ's sake.

What's the gospel? 
A good and joyful message of forgiveness to transgressors of the law.

How and when are said transgressors of the law freely justified? 
When they believe that they are received into favor, and that their sins are forgiven for Christ's sake, who, by His death, has made satisfaction for our sins.
It's pretty clear what Book of Concord Lutherans believe.  At least according to the Book of Concord.  And the Scriptures.

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Here's a copy of Schmid's Doctrinal Outline in Microsoft Word format,
https://community.logos.com/forums/t/49680.aspx

May be of use to you.

After a century of ministry, the once largest Methodist church in Virginia comes to an end | Faith

After a century of ministry, the once largest Methodist church in Virginia comes to an end | Faith:



GJ - Could this be a reason? Methodists are far from Wesley now.

NORFOLK

Thousands of souls once worshiped at Park Place United Methodist Church. Only a dozen or so gray-haired holdouts are left – the vestiges of what was once the largest Methodist congregation in Virginia.

Mortality and white flight claimed the rest of the flock. The remnants abandoned the 1,000-seat sanctuary long ago – they gather in a tiny chapel, down the hall from all that stained-glass stillness.

Now, the elderly congregation is calling it quits; Sunday was the last sermon for its retiring pastor, Steve Wall-Smith. Title to the property is being turned over to Methodist missions. Members will shuffle off into the sunset.

'via Blog this'

Proof That Someone Reads This Blog - From 2009. Enhanced with New Graphics

Oops, wrong graphic. This one is for all the comments from Church and Chicanery zombies.

Lesli Frank has left a new comment on your post "The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name: Stealth Con...":

I would personally like to thank you for your thorough investigation of these churches and pastors. Often times when my family and I go on vacation, other than sound emphasis on God's word, we don't really know what we are going to experience when we go to a WELS church. Because of your reporting, we now know that if we are in the areas of these churches you have highlighted here, we will most certainly attend them. We are always looking for the congregations that are looking to preach and live out the gospel message that Christ died to give us the freedom to follow Him. While most churches claim that and may very well do that, it seems that those that are willing to acknowledge that God himself gives no preference over traditional or contemporary, and He certainly doesn't state that either is wrong and that really appeals to us. May all of these churches and their pastors be blessed according to God's promise to those persecuted for His namesake. To God be all the glory.



GJ - Clearly this family thinks worship is an adiaphoron. Now they can have snacks and softdrinks at many WELS churches, like Victory of the Lamb, and Bible study with booze, too. See the links in the left column.

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GJ - Once I told Doctrinal Pussycat Robert Mueller what a church member related to me. She said, "When my husband and I worship at WELS churches in Florida, the only way we can tell they are Lutheran is from the sign outside." That was 20 years ago. (27 years ago now)

Mueller glared at me. He claimed I was the "only one having problems with the Church Growth Movement." When I mentioned Pastor Stern's problems with CG, Mueller and Oelhafen immediately began making fun of Stern. I thought, "So this is how the Wisconsin leaders act?" And that was not the most disgusting moment by far.

WELS Pastor Jon Stern does not seem to be feeling fabulious
when posing with Scott Barefoot. Thanks to WELS' new
direction under Mark Schroeder,
they can say "Bottoms up!' with conviction.

I hear positive comments from a wide variety of people, included ordained pastors with some clout. No ELS, WELS, or LCMS pastor is allowed to be caught thinking. The officials remove the pastor by any means possible (since the officials reject the Means of Grace) and spew their venom on him and his family. I have seen it many times over. Next they justify their criminal behavior as saving their beloved Holy Mother Synod from harm. The results speak for themselves.

So I get a lot of positive remarks from all over, by phone, email, and even in person.

And there is this one:

"A friend alerted me to your slander. Please remove my name and image from your web site. I did not attend the Exponential conference. Get your facts straight.

Sincerely,
Ben Golisch"

I am checking it out with my source. I will make the correction if it is correct. The comment was anonymous and could have come from anyone, including Gunga Don. I do not think people have control over their published photos.

Pastor Ben fails to mention his co-pastor Stelljes being at Exponential. Stelljes is directly related to VP Gunga Don Patterson's Church and Change Network. Daddy Stelljes is a member at Holy Word, an ironic name for Patterson's nest of Enthusiasts.

CLC Pastor David Koenig is a big fan of Church Growth, false doctrine,
David Valleskey, and Larry Olson - but I am repeating myself.
Gutsche has been a pastor in ELCA, ELCiC, WELS, and the CLC,
but ELCA kicked him out when he was arrested and charged.

For years Valleskey peddled the lie that he never went to Fuller. He even claimed that his study of Church Growth was forced upon him when he gave his Figs From Thistles paper (which WLQ subsequently published). He had been teaching CG at The Sausage Factory for some time already, and his class notes clearly showed that he was completely smitten by Church Growth. When CLC (sic) Pastor David Koenig got him to admit going to Fuller, Valleskey was furious that Koenig told me the truth in writing. Of course, Koenig was also mad as a hatter about my publication of the truth. Church Growth never advanced by being honest with anyone.

Yet Valleskey denied going to Fuller when I asked him after he gave his horrible paper at the Ohio conference.

Later, Valleskey even claimed I never spoke to him, a common WELS accusation aiimed at any public criticism of their published false doctrine. Of course, that was also a fabrication. I had to corner Valleskey, who tried to escape my probing questions. That claim about never speaking to Valleskey was passed on by Doctrinal Pussycat Nitz, whom Frosty Bivens called "the second most spineless DP in WELS."

A Midland circuit pastor asked, "Who is the most spineless?"

Frosty said, " Robert Mueller."

Later, Tim Buelow related his shock at Bivens openly criticizing an official. Normally the officials all treat each other as infallibly led by the Holy Spirit. One pastor even said, "I am not going to argue with the Circuit Pastor. The Holy Spirit appointed him." When ex-convict DP Ed Werner was choosing CPs who would wink at his criminal behavior, was that the work of the Holy Spirit?

DP Ed Werner was known for molesting girls in his congregation.
WELS did nothing until he was convicted, thanks to a new generation
of victims and their mothers.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Proof That Someone Reads This Blog with Discernmen...":

How ironic that the Doctrinal Pussycat is now filling a vacancy in Florida! He'll fit right in there.

Getting the Long, Drenching Rain Promised

Roses and grapes respond to pruning the same way.
These are Europeana roses.

We had a combination of relatively little rain - plus grass encroaching the roses. We solved the second issue by pulling some Bermuda grass, placing newspaper and cardboard, and adding another layer of cypress mulch where needed.

The fence roses were looking lean, so they received almost all stored rainwater in time for the initial rainstorm, which did not last long enough for a generous rain. I gave the roses plenty soaker-hose water under that mulch, so they perked up right away. Mr. Lincoln roses began producing more roses.

Our helper, when he got a vase of roses for his wife, asked, "What is the name of that strong smelling roses?"

"Stinkin' Lincoln," I said. He laughed.

Our helper said, "That rose fills the whole room." I said, "Yes!" and made a choking sound.  Mr. Lincoln has everything going for it - spectacular growh, perfect buds, classic rose fragrance, and beautiful roses in full bloom.

Our chiro's secretary loves rose fragrance, so they get some Mr. Lincolns each time. We were low on Mr. Lincoln blooms, but now they are back. Mrs. Gardener also loves them. Weather permitting, she will get some today.

The falling KnockOut petals show that some branches need pruning
to make them even more fruitful.

KnockOut Roses - 50% Off
Readers may recall that my video of the front garden showed KnockOut rose blooms peaked and even dropping petals. I am glad that showed up, because I have been pruning the blooms all the time. The heat made them bloom and finish fast.

Unlike most KO owners, I execute the 50% prune in early spring and mid-summer. Our helper cut them in half.

"Cut all of them in half?"

I said, firm in my conviction, "Yes, 50% off all the KnockOuts. Leave no blooms. This will encourage new growth and they will all bloom at once."

Once again, this is John 15:1ff at work. The deadwood is pruned away while the fruitful branches are pruned to make them even more fruitful.

Peace roses remind us that
peace is the chief attribute of the forgiven believer.

The True Vine

15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes (GJ - cleanses), that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the Word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will[b] ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Mr. Lincoln is the classic rose
that delivers beauty, abundance, and fragrance.

With yesterday's rain and today's soaker, the KnockOuts will be especially hydrated and fertilized for a new bloom cycle and display of color. Even now the drenching rain is pouring down, one of those rains that will soak a person running to the car, no matter how fast he runs.

Like the Matthew 7:15-21 lesson coming up on Sunday, this parable illustrates the difference between faith and unbelief.

People do not face the fact that deadwood on a rose will never get better, and they act as if pruning roses will hurt the plants. This parable illustrates the reality of deadwood being taken away, withering, gathered up, and destroyed. We piled up the KnockOut cut branches and put them in the garbage, because that helps prevent the spread of disease.

The pruning to allow more fruit is a bit obscured in translation. The Greek word is "cleanse" and it is used again when Jesus says, "You are already cleansed by the Word I have spoken to you." I not only studied Greek for years but also wrote out a translation of the entire Fourth Gospel, Mark and Revelation as well, plus Galatians. I have the Greek text for this passage open at the moment.

Like most parables, this one seems obscure at first. That was Jesus' intention. As we study it in time, each phrase takes on more meaning.

Like Matthew 7:15-21, this passage encourages the use of the Word and trust in the  Word. What does this mean - 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing" - except to remain in the Means of Grace?

The fruitful believer is not defined as one who is on 15 parish committees and a synodical board or two. He is not described as a "disciple-maker." The fruitful one dwells in Christ through the Word and Sacraments. The abundant fruits of the Spirit come from the abundance of God's Word, which inevitably have an effect, both in converting and damning, in enlightening and damning.

No wonder that Scriptural sermons make people so upset they call the district president to "remove this stone from our shoe" as the mobsters say. But Scriptural sermons must bear fruit, whether in pruning away the unbelievers or in refreshing and encouraging growth in the believers.

Falling in Love roses offer white and pink petals,
fragrance, and a mean set of thorns.