Friday, March 6, 2015

Why Not Pay Kids To Memorize Scripture?
WELS Sinks To New Levels of Decadence

Kids - you are on your way to becoming Tetzels -
Planned Giving Counselors.
But it gets easier - forget the Word of God.
Sell forgiveness for big bucks and earn a commission.
Endorsed by Marvin Schwan.
"I think it is a great idea. More churches should do this -
a good start. Pre-evangelism."


http://www.eternalrock.org/#/home

After they have recited a Bible passage to you, they will get to put a "Fruit of Spirit" sticker on their handout. Once they have all nine passages memorized, they can turn it in to Ms. Barb for a $5 gift card! Thanks in advance for taking the time to help your kids Grow in God's Word!

Program handouts will be ready this Sunday! 






Hello? Are You Talking about WELS?
Give Me a Minute for a Horse Laugh

"That was a good one, eh Nelly?
They don't even answer certified letters!"
http://welsdocument.blogspot.com/2015/03/synod-appeals-process-what-happens-when.html?showComment=1425614587774#c4949435565422786972

  • When an active member of the church is pushed out of the synod, the entire voting assembly of the congregation should be informed, consulted and given time to consider. 
  • If an appeals is sought, the appeals board should be able to consult with the entire voting assembly of the former congregation. 
  • The former member should also be allowed to present character references on their behalf. This would provide for the greatest number of opinions and support for either side.
The help desk at WELS headquarters is staffed 24/7.
A recorded message says, "Write a letter."
That is the first step in excommunication in WELS.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Reverse Engineer the Bird Feeding and the So-Called Pests Go Away.
Perfect Show Shoveling



Two weeks ago, grandson Alex and I stuffed four pounds of suet into various mesh bags. We had some leftovers, so we scattered those lumps around the yard.

The next day, starlings swooped into the yard to play tug-of-war with suet lumps and hang from the bags while feeding. More than 30 starlings were in the yard, day after day, rising to nearby trees to wait for additional food, such as sunflower seeds and the Big Cob of corn.

They played and washed in the bird baths, and other species came for the fun.

People grasp this with no trouble, so they should easily see how well this works with so-called pests when the scenario is changed.

Let's imagine a swarm of destructive insects has arrived, or eggs have hatched and hungry larvae are eating the crops. What we see as pests are food for:

  • birds, 
  • toads, 
  • parasitoid wasps, 
  • and spiders. 
Nothing can keep them from eating the fresh supply unless we kill the supply or poison everything with sprays and detergents.We want all those pest-eaters present, welcome, and happy in our yard, because they patrol night and day, as contrasted to the panicking gardener who runs to Lowe's, buys a box of XXX, and sprays down the plants.  

Individual statistics for each species beggar our imaginations. Each individual creature is good for thousands of creatures eaten in one season. So the real answer to garden invaders is to welcome them for the beneficial creatures they feed.

Yakety Yak

Keep all the papers - they're not trash
And that will save you so much cash.
If you don't mulch that garden floor
You ain't gonna pick no crops no more.
Yakety yak
(Don't talk back)
Just finish building compost piles
Let's see organics and some smiles.
Get all that good stuff from the curbs
Or you wont' grow so many herbs.
Yakety yak
(Don't talk back)
Just pick up the birdseed and the fat
And make a spider welcome mat.
And when you finish doin' that
Pull up a chair and have a chat.
Yakety yak
(Don't talk back)
Don't you give me no weary looks
This blogger's hip, he knows what cooks.
Just build some creature-friendly nooks
And buy those Sharon Lovejoy books.
Yakety yak
(Don't talk back)


Perfect Snow Shoveling
Our snow and sleet storm from yesterday ended this morning with sunshine, blue skies, and a girl pulling her baby sister on a sled.

Our helper came over to help shovel the three driveways - ours, the Gardeners, and the Wrights. We were working on the Wrights when another neighbor came by with his shovel. We discussed how difficult it was for the husband and wife to shovel, and we finished their driveway and cars in a few minutes.

Our helper then borrowed a shovel to do his neighbor's, who lost a leg to infection.


Virtue Online - An Overview of the News - Good and Bad


http://www.virtueonline.org/diocese-ft-worth-iker-wins-next-round-property-warscliteracy-art-sewanee-outrages-alumniepiscopal

It is impossible to reconcile such decisions with the commandments of Scripture and traditional Christian morality. The Orthodox Church has condemned the aforementioned innovations as apostasy from the norms of the apostolic faith and church order as fixed by the Gospel and Church Tradition. --- Patriarchate Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk

Our mission is to introduce people to life in the Kingdom, to the range of God's effective will--where what God wants done is done. We introduce people to such a biblical understanding of discipleship: that it is literally living our lives as Jesus would if he were in our shoes, our context. --- Dallas Willard

"As I look back over fifty years of ministry, I recall innumerable tests, trials and times of crushing pain. But through it all, the Lord has proven faithful, loving, and totally true to all his promises." --- David Wilkerson

God is watching. Forget about the judgment of history. For those of you who are religious people, you have to think about the judgment of God. And don't worry about asking God to bless what you are doing. Look for what God is doing and get involved in that, because that has already been blessed. --- Bono

The mark of true preaching. Persecution or opposition is a mark of every true Christian preacher ... The Old Testament prophets found it so, men like Amos, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. So did the New Testament apostles. And down the centuries of the Christian church, until and including today, Christian preachers who refuse to distort or dilute the gospel of grace have had to suffer for their faithfulness. The good news of Christ crucified is still a 'scandal' (Greek, *skandalon", stumbling-block), grievously offensive to the pride of men. --- John R.W. Stott
If, in the enlightened perspectives of tolerance, equality and sexual anti-discrimination, Parliament (UK) sees fit to 'pardon' those who were once found guilty of gross indecency, why, in the enlightened perspectives of theological ecumenism, spiritual sophistication and religious anti-discrimination, will they not pardon those who were once convicted and executed for heresy? Not enough votes in it? ---- Archbishop Cranmer blog




Dear Brothers and Sisters
March 6, 2015

After a bitter, seven-year legal dispute, state District Judge John Chupp ruled Monday that Episcopalians, led by Bishop Jack Iker who broke away from the national Episcopal Church, are entitled to an estimated $100 million in property in the 24-county Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth.

Fort Worth-area Episcopalians, who remained loyal to the national Episcopal Church and reorganized the diocese under Bishop Rayford High, have the right to appeal the decision.

"We are grateful for the ruling in our favor. It is clear that both church laws and Texas laws have been rightly applied in this dispute," Iker proclaimed.

The schism occurred in 2008 when Iker and a majority of the 56 churches in the diocese broke away from the national church over issues including ordaining of gays and lesbians. Now Iker's group is a part of the Anglican Church in North America.

Chupp's order reversed his 2011 ruling declaring that the property belonged to the national Episcopal Church for use by the Fort Worth group that chose to remain affiliated with the New York-based denomination.
Chupp's earlier decision was based on what are called "deferential" principles, meaning that state law should defer to the rules of hierarchical religious institutions. An Episcopal Church law, called the "Dennis Canon," states that church property belongs to denomination, not local dioceses.

The Texas Supreme Court overturned that decision and ordered Chupp to rehear the case on "neutral principles" that govern nonreligious organizations. That favored Iker's group, which several years ago passed several local diocesan ordinances declaring that the Fort Worth diocese, not the national church, owned the property in the diocese.

Suzanne Gill, a spokeswoman for Iker's group, announced an appeal of the decision is expected. "This will likely go to the 2nd Court of Appeals in Fort Worth ... and possibly to the Supreme Court again."

Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church
has destroyed, murdered, and scattered the flock.
Remember that Selective Outrage is
a component of Selective Diversity.
She is a one-hit wonder and will retire from office.


*****
The outrage continues at Sewanee: the University of the South -- from gay marriages to porn movie showings to the latest piece of outrage. Officials at Sewanee excitedly unveiled a massive golden clitoris statue in the main library at the Episcopal Church-affiliated liberal arts school in Tennessee. It will be there for two weeks. Following the unveiling, there was a reception.

The sculpture is part of a project called "CLITERACY" by feminist artist Sophia Wallace. She has presented her work in exhibitions throughout the U.S. and abroad, at the Kunsthalle Wien Museum, Art Basel Miami, Scope NY, Taschen Gallery, Aperture Gallery, and more. Her work has been reviewed in the New Yorker, Salon, and Hyperallergic, among others, and has been recognized with awards such as the Critic's Pick Award at the Griffin Museum. Not a single Christian university or theological college in the U.S. has embraced this sexualized "art". Only the Episcopal Church's one university.

The Cliteracy "Art" outraged Alumni and Friends. VOL sent an Open letter calling upon Dean McCardell to remove this monstrosity and apologize to parents.

According to an official announcement, CLITERACY will disrupt not only the silence of its setting, but also the overall cultural silence surrounding female bodies in a phallocentric society.

A few days later, the following was reported in the Sewanee Purple campus newspaper. Laci Green comes to Sewanee advertising "The Best Sex Ever."

"My hope is that you will be given some tools, ideas, and information in order to have whatever you would consider the best sex," Green started. The lecture followed a simple outline, addressing anatomy, health, and consent. Noticeable 'ewwwwws' were heard when Green presented a photo of a vulva. "What is that? A vagina? It's actually a vulva -- which is the technical term for the outside."

A large portion of the section that followed was dedicated not only to eliminating "ew" as a reaction to a healthy vulva, but also to debunking myths about vulvas and sex, including the myth that longer labias are a result of a woman having more sex. "Sometimes I'll hear 'Um she just had a lot of sex. She's just a slut.' Honey, no. The myth that you get longer labia from more sex is just a myth," Green announced. She also destroyed the idea that if a vagina is more open and wet, the woman is more sexually active. To the contrary, if a woman's vagina is not wet and open, it is likely that she is not aroused.

"Trying to find a good picture of an average, front-facing, unerect penis was nearly impossible," Green explained when the talk turned to the male anatomy. "The average size of a penis is 5.5 inches. Most teenagers will assume the average size is 7-8 inches, usually thanks to porn." She then went on to explain how societal pressure to measure masculinity based on penis size is completely unfounded. "Not only is it something you shouldn't have to worry about, but size also has very little to do with pleasure. It's all about how you use it."

Other topics Green discussed included masturbation and STIs. On the subject of STIs, Green said "STDs are normal, preventable, and often curable. But STDs are especially shamed because they are usually gotten from sex." The most common STIs on college campuses are Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Genital Warts, and Herpes. The best way to avoid getting an STI is to use protection every time. She said STDs were NORMAL!!

As the talk concluded, Green reminded the audience that respect and enjoying oneself are the foundations of the "best sex ever." Afterwards, a large portion of the audience lined up to take photos with Green and/or the large blue dildo. In order to make safe, healthy sex as easy as possible for everyone on campus, free condoms are always available at the Wellness Center, while free condoms, lube, and dental dams are always available at the Women's Center.

By sponsoring the STD preventing dental dams, Sewanee is admitting the kinds of sex it encourages are unsafe.
No mention is made of what the Bible has to say about sex before marriage. Apparently, that was of no concern to Green. Fornication is now normal. Not a word of rebuttal from Dean McCardell has been heard either.

Sewanee University Chapel -
truth on the scaffold,
error on the throne.

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF REGENTS
We call upon Dean John McCardell, Chaplain Thomas MacFie, Diversity Change Agents Benjamin and Hamilton, Bishop Alexander, Jon Meacham, and All Regents by Name to either apologize for this dangerous sickness and promise it will never happen again, or come out and admit that "Civility and Respect" demands of them that they affirmatively and actively support vile sex addictions for teens and lesbian pornography for all.

The question must be asked: What is Sewanee doing to curb the growing spread of teen STDs and AIDs on Campus? Would they allow this at their own successful businesses?

We call upon them to remove this so-called piece of art from the premises of this Episcopal University, apologize to alumni and parents and vow it will never happen again.
Write to Dean John McCardell here: vc@sewanee.edu

*****
Chapel design and Photoshop by Norma Boeckler.


A Church that is no longer able to say "it is written" has placed itself in great spiritual danger, but that is where the Anglican Communion is headed, according to Kenya Archbishop Eliud Wabukala and GAFCON chairman in his Lenten letter.

Citing a review of Living Reconciliation, by CofE theologian Dr. Martin Davie, a book written to promote the "Continuing Indaba" project, Wabukala said the book is not faithful to the Bible's teaching that reconciliation has evangelism at its heart. What the writers are really concerned about is institutional unity; they simply assume that the deeply divisive promotion of same sex relationships by such Churches as the Episcopal Church of the United States is not a barrier to full and continued fellowship.

According to Dr. Davie, "The New Testament's emphasis is not on people learning to live with what divides them, but learning to live out what unites them." The New Testament teaches that reconciliation with one another flows from reconciliation with God through repentance and faith in the gospel message. It does not make sense to call for reconciliation in the Church while, at the same time, accepting behavior the Bible says excludes people from the Kingdom of God unless they repent.

He concludes that the path recommended by the authors of Living Reconciliation is "effectively a blank check for the acceptance of any and every possible form of deviation from New Testament Christianity."

*****

Four Episcopal laypersons have written a letter to the Deputies of the 2015 Episcopal Church General Convention asking for an accounting of the $20 million spent on litigation in 94 civil lawsuits. Their letter reads:
We were among the 5,000 signatories of an unanswered petition requesting an accounting and transparency from the Church in spending more than $20 million dollars of church funds for litigation in 94 civil lawsuits. Five dioceses and hundreds of parishes wished to depart the Episcopal Church with their property but the Presiding Bishop and her chancellor abruptly ended peaceful negotiations for departure and filed civil lawsuits to seize those properties. Over forty of the lawsuits involved actions against parishioners who voluntarily served as vestry members or other leadership positions. In several cases, the Presiding Bishop was seeking the personal assets of these parishioners for monetary punitive damages causing undue and unjust personal financial hardship and mental suffering to them. In the past two decades, an estimated 1.5 million Episcopalians transferred to another Anglican Church, left for another denomination, or left the Christian faith altogether and more than 500 Episcopal Churches have closed.
Further, more than 700 former clergy and 12 Bishops were defrocked or suspended from their ordained ministry when they sought transfer to another Anglican Church. By misuse of the canons, and without a hearing or trial, the Presiding Bishop extinguished the right of those clergy to exercise the gifts and spiritual authority conferred in ordination at the Anglican Church body where they have transferred. Countless lives were shattered and relationships destroyed by these actions, for these good men and women did not take their solemn vows of ordination lightly, and they were unjustly defrocked for it.

Two Dioceses, the Diocese of Pittsburgh and the Diocese of South Carolina, saw the harshness of the Presiding Bishop's action against her Brothers and Sisters in Christ and lessened the Abandonment charge to "restrict [the] exercise of ministry" only within TEC.

We seek an end to these unprecedented unjust acts by an appropriate resolve and executed by this 2015 General Convention committing the Episcopal Church to make full restitution for these actions, with the 94 lawsuits withdrawn from secular courts and all associated court costs paid for by the Episcopal Church. We call for the Convention to support those Dioceses and parishes wishing to depart from the Episcopal Church, to go with your blessing, recognizing that departing are members in good standing and the convention supports their quest to transfer and/or become recognized members of the Anglican Communion if they so desire.

To our 700 Clergy Brothers and Sisters, realizing the church can never make amends for what the Church has done, we call for the Episcopal Church to begin a process of healing and conciliation for all concerned at the diocesan level and the church begin with all rights and privileges of ordination totally restored.

Finally, to all members of the church, we call for the Episcopal Church to communicate an apology for misleading your members, for lack of transparency in your leadership roles and hold yourselves accountable for all these actions, with the assurance this will never happen again.

Faithfully,
Bradley Hutt, former Senior Warden, Christ Episcopal Church, Clinton, MD.
Bill Boniface, former Senior Warden, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Croom, MD.
Nancy Virts, former Senior Warden, All Faith Episcopal Church, Charlotte Hall, MD.
Bob McCarthy, former Senior Warden, St. Georges Episcopal Church, Valley Lee, MD.

*****
Brent Bozell, III


Conservative activist and media critic L.Brent Bozell, in an interview at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) over the weekend in National Harbor, Maryland, predicted that "an effort [will be made] within three years" to bring criminal charges against a priest or a pastor for "talking about traditional marriage."
The founder and president of both the conservative Media Research Center and Cybercast News Service warned in a 20 minute speech from the main stage at CPAC on Friday that "the radical left" is trying to "destroy the last vestiges of freedom in America," evidenced by, among a list of other things, the belief that "there's only one morally acceptable position on gay rights."

Asked to elaborate on his thoughts, Bozell said that in the "radical left" world view, "there are the oppressors and the victims, and the oppressors are Christians, and the victims are the ones they are oppressing for not abiding to the dictates of the state.

"I think it's very dangerous," he continued. "I'm not going to be at all surprised to see an effort made within three years, an effort made somewhere against a priest or a pastor for talking about traditional marriage and for calling homosexuality a sin. I will not be at all surprised if there are criminal charges brought against one of them."
Bozell also condemned laws barring discrimination against LGBT people in public accommodations, such as bakers or florists, saying the state "should have no say" in the matter.

*****

The University of the South's School of Theology has launched a new seminary program, EQB Fellowship, to address seminarians' debt. The university's motto, Ecce Quam Bonum ("How good it is"), is shortened from "How good it is when brothers and sisters dwell together in unity" (Ps. 133).

EQB Fellowship program will create a new model of sustainable living and learning in a residential community for 12 seminarians. Students will receive full scholarships, including living expenses, which will allow them to graduate debt-free and provide a rich environment for leadership formation. Students will live in EQB House on the University of the South's campus.

Four students will be admitted to the program each year, beginning in the 2015-16 academic year, with a maximum of 12 overall. These 12 students will be selected for their commitment to change-the-world ventures for the Church of the 21st century.

The real question is: What they will learn while there and what impact will it have on a dying denomination that is rapidly aging and whose congregations are now under 70? If the recent blast by pipsqueak Sewanee theologian Paul A. Holloway against a giant like N.T. Wright is any indication, this EQB program might not be worth much, if anything.

*****

Knox was not one to dabble in public relations.

Cardinal Raymond Burke, a senior American churchman in Rome who has been one of the most outspoken critics of Pope Francis' push for reform, is roiling the waters yet again, this time arguing that the Catholic Church has become too "feminized."

Burke, who was recently demoted from the Vatican's highest court to a ceremonial philanthropic post, also pointed to the introduction of altar girls as why fewer men are joining the priesthood.
"Young boys don't want to do things with girls. It's just natural. I think that this has contributed to a loss of priestly vocations."

Perhaps Cardinal Burke should take a long hard look at the Episcopal Church, the most feminized, sodomist church in modern history and only getting worse, as to what he and his church can look forward to. Masculinity is almost a swear word in TEC these days.

*****
The two-headed calf -
Rome or Fuller Seminary?


The big news this summer at General Convention will be the Marriage Task Force, which calls for revision of the marriage canon into gender-neutral language.

The proposed change would allow clergy to solemnize same-sex unions. The A050 Task Force on the Study of Marriage is recommending that the 2015 meeting of General Convention authorize Episcopal Church clergy to officiate at same-sex marriages.

The task force proposes the change in its just-released Blue Book report by way of a resolution (numbered A036) that would revise Canon I.18 titled "Of the Solemnization of Holy Matrimony" (page 58 of The Episcopal Church's canons).

The revision removes, among many edits, the language of I.18.2(b) that requires couples to "understand that Holy Matrimony is a physical and spiritual union of a man and a woman." Removing that and other gender-specific language from the canon, the report says, in satisfying the mandate in the group's enabling resolution that it "address the pastoral need for priests to officiate at a civil marriage of a same-sex couple in states that authorize such."

Section 3 of Canon 18 would be rewritten to, in part, remove the requirement that the couple sign a declaration stating they "solemnly declare that we hold marriage to be a lifelong union of husband and wife as it is set forth in the Book of Common Prayer."

The revision would recast the requirement in the canon's first section that clergy conform to both "the laws of the state" and "the laws of this Church" about marriage. The rewritten portion of that section would require that clergy conform to "the laws of the State governing the creation of the civil status of marriage, and also to these canons concerning the solemnization of marriage."

It is fair to say that this will pass with little fuss except from a handful of orthodox bishops and deputies. It's a forgone conclusion really. It will be heralded as a great step forward for gays in the church and America. Nobody really cares what Archbishop Justin Welby thinks or how this will impact the Global South. TEC doesn't care. Of course, the Episcopal Church will carry on about "shared conversations" and "generous orthodoxy" -- the latter not even Rowan Williams could get his head around. There will be the endless talk of Indaba and living into our differences and so on. TEC is determined to walk apart and so has GAFCON. This act will just be another point of departure.

*****

Malcolm Muggeridge was a serial groper who "caused much hurt to those close to him," his niece admitted in an article that appeared in the Daily Telegraph. The former deputy editor of the Daily Telegraph was "anything but a saint in his first sixty years," says Sally Muggeridge, but his conversion to Christianity was "genuinely life changing."

In a letter to the Telegraph, she said the transformation saw him adopt a more austere lifestyle and give up meat, sex, smoking, and drinking.

His niece, who is the international president of the Malcolm Muggeridge Society, says he was reportedly nicknamed "The Pouncer" within the BBC and was also described as "a man fully deserving of the acronym NSIT -- not safe in taxis".

She said the society had "never sought to paint Muggeridge other than a man with very great gifts but also some serious flaws. The latter caused much hurt to those close to him, particularly his wife, my aunt Kitty."
It was therefore "all the more remarkable, perhaps, that Muggeridge was able to effect such a life-changing transition in his sixties to born-again Christian, adopting a much more spartan lifestyle: not only giving up sex, smoking and drinking but also becoming a vegetarian."

I knew Malcolm and Kitty Muggeridge in the late 60s when I met him at an Anglican Retreat Center near Robertsbridge in Sussex. It was at the time of the Czech invasion by the Soviets and a group of young Czech Christians had fled the country to start new lives in England. When we met there was an instant connection. He later invited me to his home where I met Kitty, his wife. They took me - a young man without family who had left his home country of New Zealand to study abroad - under their wing. Over the following two years, I was repeatedly invited to their country home away from the temptations of London. They cared for me as their son during that time. All their children had long since grown and gone. I did a television show with Malcolm, Why Christianity with people like A.J. Ayers fulminating against Christianity. We bonded further.

After his conversion, of course, Muggs, as he was affectionately known, was totally faithful to his wife Kitty (but they previously had what might be described as an open marriage for many years.) She had a child by another man and Muggs himself was certainly promiscuous in his unregenerate years. Their lives were changed through their encounter with Christ. They touched neither wine nor meat, and did not smoke. Both chose to live celibately, faithfully reading the Book of Common Prayer each day.

This scurrilous attempt to blacken Muggeridge because of recent revelations of celebrity Brits like Jimmy Saville and Stuart Hall, both sexual perverts and pedophiles, is outrageous both to the Muggeridge legacy as a Christian who was once described by the Rev. John Stott as a "prophet" and to the contribution he made to the Christian cause at a time when England was fast heading towards modernity and paganism. His critics forget that St. Mugg was a groper when he was one of them, and stopped when he was one of us! He was, then and now, a light in the darkness. I loved them both and treasure their memory.

*****

There were two notable deaths in The Episcopal Church this week and both wrought havoc in their own way on the church. The first was the author of Are you Running with Me Jesus Malcolm Boyd, activist-writer priest who died at 91 in Los Angeles. He was ordained one of the first openly gay priests whose partner was with him when he died. His books made him moderately famous as did his sexuality at the time.

The other death was the former Bishop of Long Island Orris Walker, one of the truly great disasters of our time, right up there with Charles Bennison.

In 2009 I wrote that the Long Island Episcopal Bishop faced Presentment Charges if he did not step down.
Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, made a phone call to Walker, and in a no holds barred conversation she told the bishop, a man who has been in and out of rehab for years with serious drinking problems, that he was out, finished as bishop, and that any attempt by him to hold on for three more years following the election of a new bishop would invite canonical charges.

Specifically, she informed Walker that he had better bow out gracefully and fade away, or the House of Bishops would formally look into the voluminous charges against him, not the least of which were his numerous cases of failure to comply with the canonical visitation to parishes.

Walker took the conversation to heart and reluctantly agreed.

For years, Walker and his diocese have been plagued with sexual scandals chronicled in Penthouse magazine, Standing-Committee mandated forensic audits for misuse of his diocesan credit card, constant financial failures, and numerous closed parishes. The list is endless. Any and all critiques of his ministry were struck down with the bloody shirt of racist allegations. Neither man will be missed, both contributed to the ongoing destruction of The Episcopal Church.

*****

VOL doesn't just need the same set of readers making donations to the cause, we need new readers who have been reading VOL for years to step up to the plate and make a contribution. Thousands of you come each day to the website, but few make a tax deductible donation. We are far and away the biggest Anglican voice on the block, according to Alexa rankings, so please take a moment to make a donation to keep these weekly digests coming into your e-mail and a website (where you are free to make comments) on stories of the day. Most websites have curtailed comments because of the extremism of certain commentators. VOL will not do that. We will delete bad or offensive comments, but we encourage lively debate on the issues.

Here's how you can help. You can send a snail mail check to:
VIRTUEONLINE
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P.O. Box 111
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Or you can make a contribution through VOL's PAYPAL link here: http://www.virtueonline.org/support-vol/
Thank you for your support.
In Christ,
David

Here Is the Real Issue in One Graphic, WELSians

Glende and Ski went to Michigan Lutheran Seminary together.
Glende vicared for Mark Jeske. Ski was on the Jeske staff with Bishop Katie.
Ski was on the board of Church and Change -
And Ron Ash (St. Peter, Freedom) was chairman of the C and C Board.
Bruce Becker moved from heading Perish Services in WELS
to working for the Mark Jeske Mob, you know, like overnight.

From 2007 - Pope John the Malefactor and the ELS Meltdown


Pope John the Malefactor was born John Moldstad, Jr. When the Evangelical Lutheran Synod threatened to slip away from the consecrated and consecrating hands of WELS, the insiders voted out the First VP, who would have replaced Pope George the Malleable. Moldstad was voted in. Kincaid Smith boasted about this accomplishment, which made its way into Christian News. Moldstad's previous boast was becoming a Bethany Seminary professor without graduating from college.

Pope John has been kicking men and congregations out of the ELS, albeit with great sadness expressed. Observers doubt the melancholy nature of the act since John does this so often and with such alacrity. In each case the congregation could have stayed while issues were worked out. His Grace, Bishop John Shep, kicked out of Thoughts of Faith and the Ukraine, told me a few years ago, "John is a walk-the-plank type of guy. Just wait."

The most famous case involves River Heights, Minnesota, where Rolf Preus (son of Robert Preus) was the pastor. Rolf criticized the ELS attempts under Orvick to adopt the Wisconsin Synod's false doctrine about the ministry. When Pope John the Malefactor replaced Orvick, he went to the River Heights congregation and issued an ultimatum. The congregation must leave the ELS, suspend Preus, or fire him. Threatened as they were, the congregation suspended Preus. Moldstad maneuvered until Preus was fired after that. The Antichrist in Rome has that kind of power, but no congregation should hand their power to call over to an official.

Several other pastors were forced out by Moldstad, according to ELS Bad Boy:

  1. Immanuel, Audubon, Minnesota. Pastor forced out.
  2. Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. Pastor forced out.
  3. Fertile, Minnesota - congregation left the ELS. Served by Rolf Preus.
  4. Crookston, Minnestoa - congregation left the ELS. Served by Rolf Preus.
  5. Faith in Litchfield left the ELS with its pastor.
  6. Brockdorf was suspended, then left the ELS with his congregation.
  7. Lanier was suspended. He left the ELS with his congregation.
  8. Lawson Jr. was suspended. He left the ELS with his congregation.
  9. Williamsburg, Iowa, was kicked out with its pastor, for opposing Moldstad.
  10. Pastor Lehenbauer resigned from the ELS roster because of his opposition to false doctrine in the ELS.


Add to this list a few closings for various reasons. The ELS is tiny, so the ejection of so many pastors and congregations must be alarming to the survivors. Another pastor is in the Moldstad crosshairs, so that would probably mean another congregation. ELS Bad Boy says that Moldstad would look like a chicken and smell like a roof if he showed up at some congregations.

One reader asked, "When will they vote Moldstad out?"

Another one wondered, "Why didn't Moldstad make any noise when Roman Archbishop Weakland was an honored speaker at Wisconsin Lutheran College?" Answer - Professional courtesy.

The good news is that the congregations freed from the embrace of WELS/ELS/Fuller will have a chance to proclaim the Gospel through the Means of Grace.

The Techlin Case - No One Addressed the Real Issue

 http://welsdocument.blogspot.com/2015/03/synod-appeals-process-what-happens-when.html?showComment=1425594862793

But the congregation itself gave no scriptural or doctrinal basis, either--the Board of Appeals could not "incorporate by reference" (to use a lawyerly term) what did not exist in the first place.

The entirety of the reasoning for the congregation (and therefore the Board of Appeals, since they have no other ground to stand on--the DP's letter also makes it clear that this is the supposed "doctrinal basis"), went like this:

1) Techlin questioned Glende's unusual practices, especially those which seemed to come from heterodox sources and reflect those sources in their doctrinal content
2) Glende is WELS
3) Therefore, Techlin must be questioning WELS teachings

Nevermind that Techlin's entire concern revolved not around "WELS teachings", but specifically actions that Glende took which do not appear to be in line with WELS or any other Lutheran theology. Nevermind that Glende's circuit pastor at the time agreed with Techlin (and still does). THIS is the doctrinal crux of the question and it was never addressed by the congregation, the Board of Appeals, or the DP. No one.

---

Here are the links to documents from the Anything Goes District.

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http://welsdocument.blogspot.com/2015/03/synod-appeals-process-what-happens-when.html?showComment=1425592814355

A Clarion Call For Faithfulness To The Word
And
For Faithfulness To The Tenor Of The Gospel
A Presentation And Discussion Of Various Concerns
That Have Been Raised Recently In Our Midst

What is it that has prompted this clarion call to faithfulness, over and above the encouragement that is continually given to all pastors in our synod to “watch your life and doctrine closely.”8 Over the past couple of years a number of issues and concerns have been brought before the District Presidium by various individuals, involving doctrine, practice, and approaches to ministry. Some of them were cleared up immediately, some were the result of misunderstandings and miscommunication and
were resolved through extensive discussion, some fall under the category of legitimate differences of opinion on approaches to ministry, and some called for continued evangelical warnings to the brethren to help them avoid straying from the Word, the Lutheran Confessions, and the tenor of the gospel. It must be stated that at no point in time did the District Presidium find false doctrine being espoused or promoted by anyone. However, through extensive discussion of these matters it became clear that it would be to the benefit of all the brothers in the District to join the discussion, to be the beneficiaries of the fruit of the discussions the District Presidium has already had on these matters, and to receive guidance, direction, and evangelical warning in regard to them, so that we all may continue to be faithful to the Word and faithful to the tenor of
the gospel.
Pastor D.J. Engelbrecht
NWD Pastoral Conference
October 25-26, 2011

From Me (Tony Kubek Jr.) Excerpt from A Clarion Call For Faithfulness…page 2. The document is 18 pages long. If the entire doc is desired, perhaps it can be obtained through a NWD pastor or its presidium. The sentence in the above excerpt that begins with the words (It must be stated...) clarify the misgivings some have. The presentation by the former NWD DP to the district's pastors reflects, precisely, the concerns Mr. Frederick "Rick" Techlin, expressed to his former pastors and congregation. Several pastors and I, who stand with Rick, met with the NWD Presidium, area circuit pastors and WELS President, Pastor Mark Schroeder to discuss the issues highlighted in the paper. The "warnings" and "admonishments" in the presentation validate Rick's concerns.


The Anonymous "Sad and Frustrated" Gives Away His Hostility and Dishonesty

Sure, Anonymous.
Matthew 18 and the Eighth Commandment.
Have you applied the same to your worm's-eye view of WELS Documented?


http://welsdocument.blogspot.com/2015/03/all-points-of-view.html#comment-form

I was not even thinking of the Techlin case specifically. I was thinking of the dozens of topics already brought up on this forum. As I asked in my first post, can you document any real positive result this blog has had? 

[GJ - I think this is the same person who sent hostile comments laced with sanctimonious Biblical quotations that only underlined his absurd point of view. Since this character does not want to reveal his name, I will assume it is the same Pietistic synod-minder.

Anonymous anonymously demands a single "positive result" of the WELS Documented Blog. I have seen many already. For anyone interested, the editors have gathered, verbatim, a lot of content from around the synod. Does anyone else do this? No. And they link everything besides.

They also list and link a variety of blogs, which is always handy.

Stalin is dead, so there is no reason to resurrect him. Tis not a sin to discuss issues in a free country. Poor Anonymous thinks discussion is a sin, so he disagrees with the Apostle Paul and all the Apostles, who discussed issues in their own time.

I thought Anonymous, who quotes Scripture so selectively and deceitfully, was aware of this.

1 Corinthians 11:18  For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

Acts 15 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

No less an icon than CFW Walther, B.A., wrote The Sheep Judge Their Shepherds. Has Anonymous never read this sermon? I think not. He is too busy tithing mint and cumin, Matthew 23:23.]

You can try to moderate all you want, but a half-truth or lie spoken in a nice way will still get past you. And you, like many others, have no way of determining the truth.

[GJ - Who appointed this bloke to judge on his own, anonymously, stealthily? Was he ordained to flog the blogs?]

You also missed my point about the hypothetical member leaving because of a loss of confidence in the pastor. That was hypothetical. I was asking how you can rest knowing that this blog may do the same thing in regard to how people view their synod.

[GJ - The sheep should judge the shepherds - and the synods as well. Walther was quite generous in his criticism of everyone and every synod. But Anonymous knows better.]

Your example of the benefits of speaking personally to the pastor also proves my point. The people discussing various "injustices" and bad decisions and improper behavior here on this blog are doing anything but talking to the very people who offended them. The format makes it easy to avoid doing what it right.

[GJ - I will cite Anonymous as my reason to avoid sitting down with him, holding his hand, and telling him his sins. Did he do that or did toss stink bombs?

Perhaps, enchanted by his shrine to Holy Mother Sect, he has not heard how often people have used all the proper channels, written letters, met with others - yea even the Synod President, as Walther would say - without any good effect. Ask the Intrepids. Ask Rick Techlin. Ask me. No, Anonymous would never ask me about Stolzenburg's unholy alliance with Webber, his ability to be colloquized without even being a member of WELS, his defenestration from the LCMS, the lawsuit against him. Nor would Anonymous ask how many talked and wrote to WELS leaders about Fuller dogmas forced upon them, the deaf ears, the blind eyes, the Left Foot of Fellowship extended in love.]

Maybe an answer to your last question can be found in Scripture: Proverbs 26:20 "For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases." I'm afraid blogs like this are what provides the wood.

[GJ - No, pious scorn-master. Self-righteous prigs like you provide endless fodder for ceaseless and useless disputes, because the synod-minders are experts in avoiding the real issues.]

Or this: 1 Timothy 5:13 "Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house [or blog to blog], and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.

[GJ - That is the role of synod-minders, making sure nothing worthwhile is tolerated for a moment.]

Or this: Proverbs 6:16-19 "There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers."

[GJ - There you go again, Pharisee of the Pharisees. Did you confront the Holy Mother WELS about Tabor murdering his wife via his mistress, Al Just murdering his, WELS lying and covering up both, even defending Just at his farce of a trial? Did you speak to the Schwan people about his abandonment of his wife and her subsequent death? Do you sit down with Mark Schroeder and speak to him about Joel Hochmuth's felonies?]

Or this: Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

In the end, you don't get it. You are doing damage. You are hurting people. Yes, you are hurting, not helping, your synod, flawed as it is.

[GJ - So true of you, Anonymous. You have not posted anything worthwhile in your screeds, which are like bird droppings on a windshield, annoying and messy. When the next child is abused, the next seminarian molested by his fellow students, the next girl or woman used by the WELS pastors who consider them their own, you will be there, wagging your crooked finger at the victim, blaming the assaulted, exonerating the criminal, and praising Holy Mother Sect.]

Sad and frustrated

[GJ - I will happily provide additional commentary, facts, and examples, whether Anonymous comes out of the closet or continues to hide among the nighties.]


Waiting for it in the next comment.

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Third Mid-Week Lenten Service, 2015



Third Mid-Week Lenten Vespers, 2015


Pastor Gregory L. Jackson


Bethany Lutheran Worship, 7 PM Central Time 

The Hymn # 159  Go to Dark Gethsemane            2.30
The Order of Vespers                                             p. 41
The Psalmody                   Psalm 2                  p. 128
The Lections                            The Passion History
                                                 John 8

The Sermon Hymn # 479       Zion Rise                    2.13

The Sermon –     I AM the Light of the World
 
The Prayers
The Lord’s Prayer
The Collect for Grace                                            p. 45

The Hymn # 654       Now the Day Is Over             2.7

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.
14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.
26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.
28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.

 I AM the Light of the World

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

We know "light" is an important word, because everyone wants to take it away from the Son of God and attribute "light" to their delusions.

The Enlightenment was a time when rationalism took over Europe and ministers gave sermons on building bridges and other practical matters - because they had nothing to say about matters of faith - just like today.

The Enlightenment had taken over the training of ministers when CFW Walther went to Leipzig University (where he earned his only degree, a bachelor's). 

Morningstar is associated with Christ but also with Satan, who is named Lucifer in a derivation of the morningstar name. This is appropriate because Satan always apes the Christian faith in every way possible. Thus the Satanists use Christian rites backwards and say such things as Bless God instead of God bless.

In the name of human reason, the most absurd and evil things take place because people think they are free from the restraints of society when they are in fact obsessed with those restraints, enslaved by their rebellion.

This sermonic exchange is something the unbelievers like to make fun of. In fact, I had a logic book that liked to use exchanges like this. The sayings of Jesus are comforting and strengthening for believers, but they offend unbelievers.

I AM - this a divine claim, because I AM is the Name of God. Moses asked, "What is Your Name," and the Angel of the Lord (the Son of God, before the Incarnation) answered, "Tell them I AM sent you."

The statement is triadic, which makes it easier to remember, when seen as poetic stanzas. 
  • I AM the light of the world: 
  • he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, 
  • but shall have the light of life.
The Son of God is defined as the source of all wisdom and understanding. This is the ultimate claim, and it is extraordinary. This claim excludes the idea is nice, or is a placebo, or is something sentimental and sweet and nostalgic.

That means, if Genesis 1 and John 1 say Jesus is the Creating Word, then every single plant, animal, microbe, and mineral was created through Christ - and nothing was made apart from Him - all in six 24-hour days.

There can be no compromise between this article of faith and the rationalistic view of evolving Creation over millions of years and other such nonsense. The Evangelicals were already compromising on evolution in the 19th Century, which shows how shaky the Protestant foundations became, long ago.

  • he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, 

Those who follow the Savior will not walk in darkness. Faith in Him means having our lives illuminated by the Gospel He gave us, and that light truly matters.

When something is lost or missing, the first thing we want is a bright light that will distinguish between one thing and another. Walking in darkness is no fun either. I used to take Sassy outside at night to get something - in Bella Vista with no street lights. I could not find anything or see our dog in the dark. Finally I got a little LED light on the key change. 

Walking in darkness is allegorical - it means tripping and falling - and it can also mean being scared. "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil."

"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet."

This light is true Christian understanding, which quite the opposite of human wisdom.

  • but shall have the light of life.
Darkness and light. Good and evil. Falsehood and truth. John's Gospel highlights what the Savior teaches, in the most basic language, so that no one needs to feel puzzled, confused, or conflicted.

13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.
14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
The opposition of the Pharisees made it easy for Jesus to clarify His message, which was and is the Father-Son relationship.
If someone rejects this relationship, the statements by Jesus are easy to ridicule. We often ridicule what we do not understand. But these truths are revealed by the Holy Spirit, so believers can easily grasp what is being taught. After all, the Bible has hundreds of references to the Trinity, and many more about the Father-Son relationship. Believers understand this spiritually, so this is Jesus explaining it further.
The Two Persons (Father and Son) agree. That is one point Jesus makes. And the Third Person bears witness to this (the Holy Spirit). 
Let us assume for a moment that Jesus is the Son of God. He knows Who He is, and where He has come from. How can anyone argue with that? We have no way to grasp His divine experience and He cannot prove it to us with facts.
One fake on TV said today that He went to heaven and obtained two books to help with translating (very Mormon-like). He wanted to take another one, but was not allowed - an extra chapter of John's Gospel. Was that new to you, too?
Maybe later this fake will reveal it to us, for a price. He raised a baby from the dead too, and he was so full of the Presence one day that people fell down all around him.
If the Pharisees died without faith, they could NOT say, "No fair, You did not tell us about being the Son of God." But Jesus did and many were converted. How could they be converted when His experience and sermons were so different?
Jesus' miraculous healings were so dramatic and public that thousands saw the power of God manifested in many forms - healing and raising the dead, command over nature, and defying the laws He established - water into wine, walking on water, helping Peter to walk on water, and finally - rising from the dead.

19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.
26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.
28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.

Jesus compassion included both teaching the truth about Himself and final judgment against unbelievers. The opposition continues so he warned them against dying in unbelief.  This included a reference to the future crucifixion - lifting up the Son of Man, because He knew He would rise from the dead. What He taught the disciples nurtured their faith in the darkest days. What He taught the Pharisees condemned them if they did not believe.
And yet, many believed on Him. Jesus taught the Gospel plainly and planted faith in their hearts. He did not appeal to them or try to figure out their felt needs. He taught:
  1. There is only One Truth.
  2. He is the Truth and the Life-giver.
  3. Believing in Him brings true wisdom and eternal life.