Why Are ELCA Seminaries Shrinking?

 

Bryan Dean Wilson, 64, of Chicago, passed away March 11.

Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Bryan graduated from Washington High school in Cedar Rapids before earning his B.S. in Biology from Mount Mercy University, also in Cedar Rapids. He subsequently worked towards his Master of Divinity in Theology from he Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

Bryan loved biking and hiking, watching Star Trek, eating good food and listening to classical music and opera.

Beloved son of the late Benny Dean Wilson and Arlene Idaella Wilson (nee Ames); eldest brother of Barbara (William) Morris of Cedartown, Georgia, and Douglas Wilson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Fond uncle of Emma Kathryn Wilson of Miami, Florida, and Benjamin John Wilson of Chicago.

Former spouse of 17 years to Bob Brown of Chicago.

Bryan's cremated remains will be scattered on Lake Michigan privately this summer.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Trevor Project at thetrevorproject.org .

Arrangements are by Inclusive Funeral Care at 773-370-2959 or InclusiveFuneralCare.com .

Some Nutritious Steps in Escaping the Sugar-Fat-Salt Diets of Prepared Foods, Desserts, and Snacks

 You were going to get a round tuit, so here it is.

The two most powerful weight additions come from fast food "restaurants" and pizzas frozen or delivered. Doubtless the ubiquitous popcorn and corn snacks add more than their share, given the rows of huge bags at WM and their small snack bag traps on the way to the cash register. The venus fly traps are nothing compared to all the small bags of potato chips and everything else, lined up, ready to snag anyone who even looks at them.

My first step was frequently marking down my weight on the Google calendar. 220 lb, etc, allows a quick search over time for lb in the magnifying glass image, to see where the poundage is going. That gives me reason not to indulge, but it takes time to lose the craving of junk food and respond to good (low salt, low fat, low sugar) food.

My vegetable consultant directed me to a masterpiece on cooking, which gave a historical biography on our well known and obscure spices - The Spice Cook Book. Day and Stuckey. I gave up on the pathetic WM spice, display so I began looking over Amazon for variety and sizes and cost.

• Cinnamon - is tree bark - live with it - good on old fashioned oat meal. Adding sugar makes us want more sugar, not a good idea.
• Allspice - has a heavenly odor, reminding me of doughnuts, also good for oatmeal.
• Anice - seeds have a sweet somewhat licorice flavor and fragrance, good in Jackson Stew.
• Basil - has a wonderful aroma when fresh, less when dried. The fragrance encourages happiness.
• Bay Leaf - I have not tried so far.
• Caraway - is often found on rye bread but it is used with many other foods.
• Cardamom - is a ginger, potent, great in Greek Easter bread, and many other foods. Very popular in India.

To be continued...

Did You Skip Pi Day?

 

I think there is a typo in there, somewhere.

Do the Lutheran Managers - Who Do Not Lead - Teach Themselves or the Gospel? Ask the Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic)

 

Who elected Presiding Bishop Liz Eaton Secretary of State for America?

ELCA holds the advantage for Thrivent Gift Bags and for Their Clergy Leading Conferences.

Someone who looks over the ELCA website will find himself mired in the politics of the State Department, USA. But it is more like St. Peter's throne in Rome - not that he ever lived there - issuing edicts about every country, every policy, another snore-a-thon. However, this is a clear signal, that ELCA loves nothing more than policy, road trips, Marxism, and gender confusion.

The Big Five ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) managers offer little more education than the repeat-after-me clergy they manipulate. Anyone who goes beyond collecting Thrivent lessons is considered dangerous and destructive, a special honor considering what they have done to their clergy and schools. The recent letter from a Missouri Synod pastor, tossing angry insults at a faithful member, is a good indication of how the managers operate. The temptation is too great - to sling venom instead of paying attention and answering from the Scriptures and Book of Concord.

The Big Five remind me of various Roman Catholic fraternities - such as Opus Dei and the Jesuits - assuming a superior air and malicious tactics. Lutherans have the ALPB Online Ovaltines. Some make sure of listing their special fraternity - the Society of the Holy Trinity - STS - always listed in their signatures. 

Other groups include the LutherQueasies, who claim they are on a quest, but they have not found Luther yet - nor have they quoted him more than once a year. Steadfast Lutherans and various Facebook beehives have nothing to teach except the Book of Concord  - opposing it with their tiny little educations. 

Everyone would be happy to go these churches, if only they taught the Apostolic New Testament (not the slice and dice modern ones) and actually taught Luther, Melanchthon, and Chemnitz. Yes, I am going too far. However, the more they "improve," the worse it gets.

Oct 4

By Bishop Amy Current

The ELCA Conference of Bishops (COB) met September 26-30 at the Lutheran Center in Chicago. (See the official news release on the ELCA website)

We gathered in rich worship prepared and led by the bishops of Region 3(Tri-otas). We engaged in dialogue around tables around such topics as Eucharist practices, racial and gender justice, candidacy, and Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church. The COB received reports from Churchwide staff and COB committees, elected COB Executive Committee and ELCA Church Council liaisons, and spent time in mutual support, fellowship, and collegial community. During these elections, I was elected to serve on the COB Executive Committee for a four-year term and I was elected to represent Region 5 Liason Bishop for the ELCA Church Council (completing a vacated two-year term). I pray that I will faithfully represent our synod and church in these roles.

2023 – 36 of 66 bishops are female (55%)

1. Wilma Kucharek (2002)
2. Elizabeth Eaton (2007)
3. Shelley Wickstrom (2012)
4. Ann Svennungsen (2012)
5. Tracie Bartholomew (2013)
6. Suzanne Darcy Dillahunt (2013)
7. Patricia Lull (2014)
8. Katherine Finnegan (2017)
9. Deborah Hutterer (2018)
10. Patricia Davenport (2018)
11. Idalia Negrón (2018)
12. Laurie Skow-Anderson (2018)
13. Sue Briner (2018)
14. Lorna Halaas (2019)
15. Laurie Larson Caesar (2019)
16. Shelley Bryan Wee (2019)
17. Regina Hassanally (2019)
18. Constanze Hagmaier (2019)
19. Laurie Jungling (2019)
20. Susan Candea (2019)
21. Leila Ortiz (2019)
22. Ginny Aebischer (2020 SC)
23. Amy Current (2020 SE IA)
24. Tessa Moon Leiseth (2020 E ND)
25. Amy Odgren (2020 NE MN)
26. Joy Mortensen-Wiebe (2020 SC WI)
27. Laura Barbins (2020 NE Ohio)
28. Anne Edison-Albright (2020 E Central WI)
29. Brenda Bos (2021, SW CA)
30. Paula Schmitt (2021, Allegheny)
31. Dee Pederson (2021, SW MN)
32. Staci Fidlar (2022, Northern IL)
33. Clair Burkat (2022, Interim Bishop in the Sierra Pacific Synod)
34. Meggan Manlove (2023, NW Intermountain)
35. Becca Midweek-Conlin (2023, Arkansas/Oklahoma)
36. Phyllis Milton (2023, Virginia)

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Lent 5 - "For they would have never become so bold as to go into the sea, had it divided a hundred times, if God’s Word had not been present, which comforted them and promised life. Thus man triumphs over death through the Word of Life, if he cleaves to it and believes, and marches into death with it."

 

Complete Sermon - Lent 5 - Judica. Fifth Sunday in Lent. John 8:46-59. Christ Defends Himself Against His Enemies

12. Let us take another example. When Israel marched out of Egypt and came to the Red Sea, they were free and experienced no death, but only life. However when King Pharaoh arrived behind them with all his forces, then they stood in the midst of death, then no life was in sight. For before them was the sea, through which they could not pass, behind them King Pharaoh, and on both sides of them high mountains; on all sides they were seized and enclosed by death, so that they said to Moses: “Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness?” Exodus 14:11, so completely and wholly did they despair of life. Just then Moses came and brought them God’s Word that comforted them in the midst of death and preserved them alive, when he said in verse 13: “Fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of Jehovah, which he will work for you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more for ever.” They clung to this Word and held out until victory came; through it life appeared in the presence of death, because they believed the Word, that it would come to pass, and relying upon it they marched into the midst of the Red Sea, which stood on both sides of them like two walls. Then it came to pass that nothing but life and safety were in the sea, where before there were only death and danger.

For they would have never become so bold as to go into the sea, had it divided a hundred times, if God’s Word had not been present, which comforted them and promised life. Thus man triumphs over death through the Word of Life, if he cleaves to it and believes, and marches into death with it.

13. Likewise Christ also says here in replying to the Jews, that Abraham and the prophets still live and they never died, but have life in the midst of death; they however only lie and sleep in death. For “Abraham,” he says, “rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.” Thus, the prophets also saw it. Where and when did Abraham see it? Not with his bodily eyes, as the Jews interpret it, but with the sight of faith in the heart; that is, he recognized Christ when he was told in Genesis 22:18: “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” Then he saw and understood that Christ, born of his seed through a pure virgin, so as not to be cursed with Adam’s children but to remain blessed, should suffer for the whole world, cause this to be preached, and thus overwhelm the whole world with blessing etc. This is the day of Christ, the dispensation of the Gospel, that is the light of this day, which radiates from Christ as from the sun of righteousness, and shines and enlightens the whole world. This is a spiritual day, yet it arose at the time Christ was on the earth in the flesh, a day like Abraham saw. But the Jews understood nothing about such a day because of their carnal minds, and hence they reviled Christ as a liar.

Here Is the YouTube Conversion 3-13-2024

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5zimC9Dxi0

Midweek Lenten Service - March 13, 2024

 

Bethany Lutheran Church

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

This is the Zoom link

YouTube Link for This Service

The Hymn #649        Jesus Savior Pilot Me

The Order of Vespers                                             p. 41

The Psalmody                          Psalm 23                                           
The Lection                            The Passion History

                                               

The Sermon Hymn #436             The Lord's My Shepherd

The Sermon –    Psalm 23, Isaiah 40, and John 10

KJV Isaiah 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

KJV Psalm 23 

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Nothing is quite as appealing as the the figure of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. The shepherd references are so numerous that we can overlook them. Jesus quoted the Old Testament saying from Zechariah - "Strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered."

I enjoy quoting the 23rd Psalm in Old Testament class. Many students say it is their favorite Psalm. It is the one my mother taught me, and I read it to her just before she passed into eternal life. Know that we connect ideas with images, God shows us in many different ways what this theme, the Shepherd, means.

• The Lord is my Shepherd, so I am lacking nothing.
• He provides the necessities of life, which are abundant in this great land.
• He builds us up again after difficult times, the paths of righteousness are faith in Jesus.
• Even when facing death I am secure, because He is always with me. He comforts and protects me.
• Opponents act fearsome, but the Shepherd protects me and His flock.
• Life is one series of blessings, and I will enjoy heaven in eternity.

King David was a great poet and hymn writer. Some students concentrate on his worst characteristics, which were almost unthinkable, but he eloquently repented and gave us his great songs of contrition. When one minister wanted to deliver warnings to a clergy group, he quoted David's psalms of sorrow for sin.

The Psalms are the background for our great hymns, and they are short passages that we can use for all the episodes of our life - about Creation, family, difficulties, and our life with the Good Shepherd, here and in eternal life.

The Good Shepherd watches the flock (John 10).

 
The Prayers

The Lord’s Prayer

The Collect for Grace                                            p. 45

The Hymn # 653  Now the Light Has Gone Away

Prayers and Announcements

• In our prayers - Randy Anderson now at home, Sarah Buck, Lorie Howell, Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris, Kermit Way. Alicia Meyer still has breathing problems. 
• The Zoom services will start 30 minutes early with music. Everyone should have a link with the Word version sent around. 
• When a service is over, Zoom converts it for YouTube. There is some delay, but it can be quickly loaded to the blog, spanking new.
• Services will be first on Ichabod, then copied as YouTubes on another blog, Reformation Seminary on yet another third blog. Everything starts on Ichabod, and it is neater to collect those videos on distinct sources. The Bethany Hymnal Blog has 65,000 views.
• The university has continued more Old Testament courses.

Pastor James Shrader Thought Two Doses of the Augsburg Confession Would Help Those Wandering in Objective Justification Land.

 

 That Augsburg Confession?

Yes, that Augsburg Confession.

I tried it countless times, even trying the Scriptures, but I got no results from those hardened hearts.

Rolf Preus Is Battling St. Paul's Justification by Faith And Dr. Lito Cruz

 

This intended for those who have never understood or taught Justification by Faith, the Chief Article of Christianity.

It all began when Jake Zabel the lieutenant of Magnus fired a post in CLF as if lamenting the fact they are branded as a micro-synod.

Here is what Rolf Preus said