ICHABOD, THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED - explores the Age of Apostasy, predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, to attack Objective Faithless Justification, Church Growth Clowns, and their ringmasters. The antidote to these poisons is trusting the efficacious Word in the Means of Grace. John 16:8. Isaiah 55:8ff. Romans 10. Most readers are WELS, LCMS, ELS, or ELCA. This blog also covers the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Left-wing, National Council of Churches denominations.
Marvin Schwan, of Schwan Foods, might have paid for the swan serving as product placement, very clever. Marvin donated tons of money to the LCMS, WELS, and ELS. None of the officials were concerned about him dumping his wife for the wife of one of his executives.
The official name - International Center - is often replaced with its nickname - The Purple Palace. I visited it once or twice. I ran into one of the Church Growth guys going inside to meet with the district presidents, his pride gushing and overflowing. I wonder if he has added up the numbers since that time, or should I say "added down?"
Two people wanted to know about the nickname Purple Palace. I volunteered to find some interior shots, and none showed up at first. The color is overwhelming, so it was tempting to give the expensive palace a nickname. Do not blame me. My sister-in-law thought it was very purple too. "No wonder it has that name!"
One LCMS pastor said the very expensive staff members, from their federation of groups put together to build it, were no longer filling the building. It only makes sense that increasing costs of everything are going to make people expendable over time. The Purple Palace is now 40 years old.
Does anyone else find it odd that the LCMS-WELS-ELS doctors of doctrine all fell down to kiss the feet of Marvin Schwan? Each sect is so fussy about the other two, but they are all one with the Big Bucks and cover-ups.
OPM sounds like opium - Other People's Money. The three sects are hotter than Georgia asphalt for other people's money. I visited the newly built chapel at the St. Louis Seminary. The gift book had a full page for Marvin Schwan. Wasn't he a Bethany College alumnus and a WELS member?
With the voice of singing declare ye and tell this:
utter it even to the end of the earth. Hallelujah!
The Lord hath redeemed His servant Jacob: Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Psalm. Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:
sing forth the honor of His name; make His praise glorious.
The Gloria Patri The Kyrie p. 17 The Gloria in Excelsis The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
O God, from whom all good things do come, grant to us, Thy humble servants, that by Thy holy inspiration we may think those things that be right and by Thy merciful guiding may perform the same; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and Gradual
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
V. Christ, who hath redeemed us with His blood:
is risen and hath appeared unto us. Hallelujah!
V. I came forth from the Father and am come into the world:
again, I leave the world and go to the Father. Hallelujah!
The Ascension Holy Communion Service is Thursday, May 9th, 7 PM Central Daylight.
Randy Anderson, Pastor Jim Shrader, Chris Shrader, Sarah Buck, Lorie Howell, Kermit Way, Callie and her mother Peggy, those suffering from emotional distress and those with metabolic disorders.
Thursday is Ascension Day, 7 PM Holy Communion.
Next Sunday is Mother's Day.
KJV James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
KJV John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. 25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. 26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: 27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. 28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. 29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. 30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
Individual Prayer
KJV John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
There is one religious institution or practice which is often ignored, even though there is nothing that can get in its way - individual prayer. Apart from faith in Jesus Christ, there can be no prayer at all. Nothing can take away prayer, and it is encouraged for all who believe in the Savior.
We are living in an era where anything goes, so prayer is stifled because of unbelief. The last few chapters of the Gospel of John are directed toward the disciples and us. As if nothing more could be said, Jesus has individually encouraged each disciple and each believer to ask for God's help, no matter how small the matter may seem to be.
Because faith in Christ is opposed and hated, prayer can be stifled by the general attitude of the population. But because faith is rejected and mocked, prayer is that much more appreciated and always bearing spiritual fruit.
A good time to pray is at night before sleep. The reason is - no distractions and plenty of things to consider. During the day is always good but our days are crowded with work and all the distractions of life. There are many things we can count, problems we can face, thanksgiving to God for blessings.
This section of the Fourth Gospel shows us how the disciples became fully informed about their future, because they were trained to be followers of Jesus but also encouraged by what would happen in the future. Their new life was with the Son of God, who called them into service. Jesus' resurrection and ascension meant He would govern His kingdom from heaven, His holy angels carrying the work directory - always the Word with faith.
The Holy Spirit teaches us the work of the Father and the Son.
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
This is one of the many Promises of God. When we ask in faith, we receive. That relationship continues, so we become more trusting in God and also receive more from Him, according to His will. The more we receive from God, the more joy we experience. That builds our trust in God, as the word - confidence - literally means - with faith.
Not asking means not receiving, and so humanity goes deeper and deeper into falsehoods, false religion, false hopes, and false words.
25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
We have the advantage of all the Gospels, more than enough letters from Paul, more writings from Peter and from Hebrews (either Paul or Apollos). But that is just the beginning. The Scriptures in the New Testament sense mean 39 books of the Old Testament. They are the Promises of God about the complete picture of the Messiah - the anointed King. Read Psalm 22 and 23 together. They are songs about the atoning death of Christ in Psalm 22 and His gentle leadership in Psalm 23.
Many statements of Jesus to the disciples were difficult to follow and understand during His earthly ministry. However, they were the basis for realizing those Promises when He rose from death and ascended to Heaven. We are all careless with the Promises until we realize what they mean in times of stress and turmoil.
26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: 27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
Whether we pray in the Name of the Father or of the Son, we are praying to the Trinity, the Spirit helping and guiding us. Many people have questioned the basics and asked me if I actually believe those things. I say, "Of course I do." I get my training from small children, who say it so plainly, so clearly, "Jesus is God - He can do anything."
Jesus has explained that to us. "Unless you believe as a child, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God." Because God the Father loves us, we also believe that Jesus comes directly from God the Father. That seems so simple, and it is. Nothing is more frequently and defiantly attacked than the divinity of Jesus Christ and His miracles. Just when we thought no more false teaching could have been throne at the Son of God's power and mercy, even more attacks rise up.
Here is
the great wisdom of Hollywood,
the unbelieving seminaries,
the snip and clip Bibles sold at outrageous prices.
Bound up together, they have an explanation for all their doubts, and they are great missionaries of doubt, explaining away everything. The truth of God's Word makes them rage. Instead of pursuing the truth, they condemn and destroy.
The modern Bibles erase words, phrases, verses, and larger sections like Mark 16:9-20. The Westcott-Hort Greek New Testament starts out Mark 1:1 -The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ...erasing the Son of God.
The love of God gives us faith in Him, and great spiritual benefits come from this. Whether people snicker or rage about the Word of God, they are only confirming their hardness of heart and perhaps their fear that it may actually be true.
27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. 28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
We live in a terrible time of violence, distrust and fear. Satan is that much more angry and anxious as his time draws near. Everyone who believes in Jesus Christ defeats the forces of evil, which build up in the last days, not because the demonic is so strong but because the Kingdom of Satan is so weak before the Savior.
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
Paul felt the terrible burden of his thorn in the flesh, and his opponents mocked him for it.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. 30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
Jesus knew His disciples would face more than they could imagine, but He strengthened them with faith, and it all came together in the locked room, the time after the Resurrection, and His ascent, which we will celebrate on Thursday.
"The first is, that we have from God his promise or his permission to speak to him, and that we remember the same before we pray and remind God of it, thereby encouraging ourselves to pray in a calm and confident frame of mind.
In the second place, it is necessary that we never doubt the pledge and promise of the true and faithful God.
In the third place, if one prays doubting that God will hear him, and only offers his prayers as a venture, whether it be granted or not granted, he is guilty of two wicked deeds. The first is, that he, himself, makes his prayer unavailing and he labors in vain. The other wicked deed is, that he regards his most true and faithful God as a liar and an unstable and doubtful being; as one who can not or will not keep his promise; and thus through his doubt he robs God of his honor and of his name of truth and faithfulness.
In the fourth place, some say: Yes, I would gladly trust that my prayer would be heard, if I were only worthy and prayed aright. My answer is: If you do not pray until you know and experience that you are fit, then you will never need to pray.
In the fifth place, one should so act in this confidence of prayer as not to limit God and specify the day or place, nor designate the way or measure of the prayer’s fulfillment; but leave all to his own will, wisdom and almighty power. Then confidently and cheerfully await the answer, not even wishing to know how and where, how soon, how long, and through whom."
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
Dr. Jackson, thank you so much for responding! John 1:3 is one of my favorite scriptures. It implies the difference between what begins to exist versus the One who has always existed. In essence, there is one thing that did not come into being or just begin to exist. That is God!
When the 2022 Churchwide Assembly voted last summer to form the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC), which will recommend how to restructure the ELCA’s governing process, it reached back four decades for a name. The original Commission for a New Lutheran Church, which met between 1982 and ’87, was a mammoth research project that held forums across the country, reviewed over 12,000 letters from Lutheran faithful, and processed responses from the synod, district and national conventions of three Lutheran denominations hoping to merge. Its work led directly to the creation of the ELCA, so the branding of this new commission feels nothing less than epochal.
The new group of 35 rostered ministers and laypeople from across the church will conduct a more condensed version of the original group’s investigation, examining “statements of purpose” and “principles of organization” for all three expressions and conducting nationwide research and listening forums. Ten synods sent memorials to the 2022 Churchwide Assembly requesting the commission. “The governing documents, constitutions, bylaws, and continuing resolutions of the ELCA do not allow [congregations, synods and the churchwide organization] to reorganize quickly to meet the changing realities for effective mission in today’s world,” wrote the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod in language that was echoed by the other nine.
When the next churchwide assembly convenes, in summer 2025, the CRLC will present its findings and recommend whether the church should then mount a special reconstituting convention without delay.
“Church itself has changed. The people coming to church have changed, and the systems necessary to support the work the church is doing have changed”
Appointed in April, the commission met in person for the first time in mid-July, convening for three days at the Lutheran Center in Chicago. Not long after that, its co-chairs, Carla Christopher and Leon Schwartz, sat down for a Zoom meeting with Living Lutheran to discuss the commission’s work. Both expressed excitement at the first gathering of the commission and stressed the urgency of their task.
***
GJ - The LCA pastors said their merger in 1962 was modeled after the General Motors corporate structure. The 1987 ELCA merger was more like the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, because the Seminex faction was given leverage for all the big decisions. They were the smallest in size and got the greatest proportion of everything. They were the radicals' radicals, who came close to removing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit from ELCA constitution. The Holy Trinity won the title, but only by a small margin of votes.
Notice the ELCA box with the three-fold Change motif. That reminded me of the WELS' Church and Change stealth operation, where the WELS Church Growth stars predicted the utter doom of their abusive sect until and unless everything changed. They even sold trinkets and promoted their underground Church and Change movement on the WELS website.
Although WELS and LCMS have done everything right, according the genius con artists of Fuller Seminary, their church bodies have plummeted in numbers, no matter what they claim. How could all of them lose so many members at the same time. They had the doctorates (sic) in Church Growth from Pasadena, Ft. Wayne, and St. Louis. Yes, even Robert Preus endorsed the Ft. Wayne version of Fuller, although he said WELS was even worse than LCMS in Fuller intoxication.
Barna had Lutheran pastors giving this disgusting book to members. The clear message of Church Growth - "We will wreck the Gospel of faith in Jesus Christ by slowly increasing the heat until the old fuddie-duddies are boiled alive." Where were the animal rights people? I wondered.
I had a lot of fun tracking down the main culprits: their conferences, their funds, their publications, and their flame-outs. Pasadena veterans did not appreciate being described with so much attention and so many curated quotations.
When the next churchwide assembly convenes, in summer 2025, the CRLC (Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church) will present its findings and recommend whether the church should then mount a special reconstituting convention without delay.
This sold well - WELS published it. Sadly, the Church and Changers did not approve and wanted it squashed. They were getting Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant ready to print when they suddenly changed their minds.
Deluded?
I was absolutely astounded when I read ELCA
Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton’s response to the
recent action taken by the United Methodist Church
to affirm the historic Christian view
of marriage and human sexuality.
Speaking of the very different vote
that the ELCA took nearly ten
years ago, she said, “Yet, though a
controversial decision at the time,
our 2009 action has brought
strength and blessings for our life
and mission beyond what we could
have imagined a decade ago.” [emphasis added]
How in the world could she make a statement like
that when she wrote the following in the February
2019 issue of “Living Lutheran”?
“Our congregations are growing older and smaller.
At least 40 percent of our congregations have an
average weekly worship attendance of 50 or less.
ELCA membership decreases by 70,000 people a
year, or roughly the loss of a synod per year.
Clergy retirements outnumber new candidates for
ministry.
Financial pressures and building maintenance
create stress.
There is a dearth of people in their 20s and 30s in
our pews.”
18. And here we also see that to “believe in Christ” does not mean to believe that Christ is a person who is both God and man; that does not help any one. But that this same person is the Christ; that is, that he went forth from the Father and came into the world, and again leaves the world and goes to the Father. The words mean no less than that this is Christ, that he became man and died for us, rose again and ascended to heaven. Because of this office of his, he is called Jesus Christ, and to believe this concerning him, that: it is true, means to be and to abide in his name. There follows further in this Gospel: “His disciples say, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no dark sayings.”
19. Here you see that to speak “plainly” (“frei heraus”), or to speak in clear terms, means to speak without parables, or without dark and covered words. And the good disciples think they understand very well what he tells them, that Christ comes from the Father and goes to the Father; but they do this as good, pious children of Christ. They are easily able to understand it, and in love they tell him so. In ordinary conversation, people sometimes say to one another Yes or No, or give assent, saying, It is so, and in a sense one understands, even though he is still far from the meaning of another’s words. In such case the conversation is without hypocrisy and in true simplicity. The Evangelist hereby shows what a beautiful, plain, friendly and loving life Christ led with his disciples, since they were so very able to understand him. Then the disciples say further: “Now know we that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee.”
20. That is, you anticipate and explain yourself and speak no more in parables, concerning which we must question you; for you know in advance where we are lacking in understanding. All this reverts to the fact that they wished to ask what the “little while” meant, and he noticed it and explains by saying that he must go to the Father; which they still did not understand, and yet it was clearer than his words: “A little while and ye will not see me.” Now, because he saw their thoughts — that they wished to question him — they confessed that he comes from God and knows all things, so that we need not to ask him, for he himself sees very well where the trouble is.
Schmauk would have been expelled from Mequon WELS, Bethany ELS, and the Missouri fun factories. Let us avoid corny swag and goofy church names that hide their supposed confession of faith.
Ski and Glende were very close at Michigan Lutheran Seminary, where they sponsor a cross-dressing cheerleader event each year, preparing them for GA hazing.
Bishop Elect Timothy R. Oslovich: Tomorrow, May the Fourth Be With You.
CHICAGO (April 30, 2024) — The Rev. Timothy R. Oslovich, Vernon, Conn., was elected April 27 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Alaska Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, April 26-28, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Anchorage.
Oslovich was elected on the fifth ballot, with 52 votes. The Rev. Susan Halvor, manager of the Spiritual Care Department at Providence Alaska Medical, Anchorage, received 49 votes.
Bishop Shelley Wickstrom
The Reverend Shelley Wickstrom was elected to serve as Bishop of the Alaska Synod at the 2012 Alaska Synod Assembly at Joy Lutheran Church in Eagle River. The Rev. Shelley R. Wickstrom is retiring after serving as bishop since 2012. Her last day will be June 30.
Hence, he adds: “The hour cometh when I shall no more speak unto you in dark sayings (parables), but shall tell you plainly of the Father.”
14. That is, what I now speak to you, while in the body, and my parables ye understand not, which I will thoroughly explain to you through the Holy Spirit. I will plainly speak of my Father, that you may then understand who the Father is and what my going to the Father means. You will clearly see how I ascend through suffering into the Father’s life and into his kingdom; that I sit at his right hand and represent you and am your mediator; that all this is done for your sake, that you may likewise come to the Father. “I shall tell you plainly of the Father” is not to be understood to mean that he will tell us much about God’s divine nature, as the sophists fancy; for that is unnecessary and the divine nature of God is incomprehensible. But Christ will tell us how he goes to the Father, how he takes upon himself the kingdom and government of the Father; as a king’s son returns to his father and assumes the government of the kingdom. Christ says further: “In that day ye shall ask in my name.”
15. For then, in your many tribulations, you will have not only reason to pray, but will also know and perceive what my name is and how you should esteem me. Then will you be taught by praying itself what you now do not at all understand, and that hitherto you have never prayed.
Therefore, he adds: “And I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father.”
16. How, then? Will Christ not be our mediator? Shall we not pray in his name? How lovingly and sweetly the Lord can speak, and woo us to himself, and, through himself, to the Father! Here he, himself, explains how it will be when we pray in his name: “Ye,” he says, “have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father.” That is, ye love me and know me; have me and my name and are in me as I in you. For Christ dwells in us, not because we can think, speak, sing or write so much about him; but because we love him and believe in him. We know that he is come from the Father and returns to the Father; that is, how he emptied himself, in his passion, of all his divine glory and returned again to the Father in his kingdom, for our sake. This faith brings us to the Father, and thus all then is done in his name.
17. So we are sure that Christ needs not to pray for us, for he has already prayed for us. We, ourselves, may now approach through Christ, and pray. We no longer need a Christ who prays for us. This one Christ is enough, he who has prayed for us and accomplished this work. Therefore, he says: “The Father himself loveth you.” It is not your merit, but his love. He loves you, but for my sake, because you believe on me and love me, that is, he has regard for my name in you. Hence, thereby have I fulfilled my office, and you are now brought, through me, to where you may yourselves, in my place, appear in his presence and pray. It is not necessary that I still pray for you. These are marvelous words, that we, through Christ, become like Christ and are his brethren, and may glory in being children of his Father, who loves us for Christ’s sake. He says in John 1:16, ‘Grace for Grace,” that is, God is gracious unto us, because he is gracious to Christ, who is in us and we in him.
