WELS Church and Change Basics. Milwaukee Members Are Waking Up to Reality

District VP Don Patterson denied he was Church and Change,
but he went to this conference and gave a presentation at another.
When Changer John Lawrenz wrote on the C and C list-serve,
Patterson cooed, "Pure gold."

Here is the PDF for the 2009 conference. Don't worry. If they remove it, I saved it and can reproduce it as a Word document, PNGs, or both. It is safe to say that most of the speakers are Church and Change Fellow Travelers. A few may be useful idiots. You will hear people deny their connections. If so, why have they worked so hard with these heretics?

Notice the URL for the brochure -

http://www.churchandchange.org/home/2384/2384/file/C&C%20program_color.pdf

As of today, the website is still active and working, but the links are hidden from view. But WELS innocents have been told there is no Church and Change. The appearance is - everything is gone. The reality is just the opposite.

Lookee here - the 2007 Church and Change conference is also preserved. Here is the URL:

http://www.churchandchange.org/home/2384/2384/files/CanCprogram.Web.pdf

I saved that one too.

Ski and Glende excommunicated a member for asking questions about all this. Here he is again.

Leonard Sweet is a New Age Methodist,
but WELS and Missouri devour his Dreck.

Oh! Oh! Here is a question about Leonard Sweet speaking in 2005. I have copied this far down on the page, because someone may de-rez this on the Net.

WELS Church and Change, Purpose

Church and Change is a growing group of WELS Christians who desire to think and work like the Apostle Paul who said, "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some."  The Church and Change group is interested in practicing and promoting innovation in ministry methods throughout the WELS especially at the "grass roots" level.

Some in WELS live and breathe music.  Some history.  Some church libraries, or mission festivals, or prison ministry, or limiting abortion.  Good! God uses all effort by his people to his glory.  Church and Change is group of committed WELS Christians who live and breathe innovation in ministry across all spectrums.  Church and Change folk are committed to Lutheran Theology as explained in the Lutheran Confessions.  However, they are thinking about, working with, and pioneering different ways to reach more people, more often, with the gospel so the Holy Spirit can do His thing.  [GJ - Just one question. What moron wrote this paragraph?]

Innovation in methodology is yesterday's news in the WELS.  Pastors, teachers, synod administrators, worker training leaders, home and world missionaries, worship leaders, computer buffs, and countless local laymen and laywomen, have been tweaking (and/or radically changing) ministry methods for years.  In every WELS generation God has raised up men and women, for reasons known only to Him, who are interested in pushing the envelope of "gospel delivery systems."  And this, long before concepts like "English" or "radio ministry" or "Parish Assistance," or "paradigm" or "long distance learning" entered WELS thinking or culture.

The goal of Church and Change is to provide a gathering point, a "home room" for WELS innovators.  Perhaps this is the same need felt by the WELS Church Librarians which led them to gather for support, encouragement, and well -- good old fashioned fellowship - one of the greatest assets in the WELS.  Do WELS administrators and WELS laypeople know about each other's efforts at innovation? The purpose of Church and Change includes inviting WELS innovators to communicate with one another, and work together where possible to avoid duplication of effort which wastes God's resources.

The world is changing rapidly.  Who are the innovators of today who will help us "make the leap from German to English" in this generation?  Hopefully, Church and Change can encourage the process of helping WELS ministries keep pace with our rapidly changing culture in America, and around the shrinking globe.

If you are currently serving as an innovator in your WELS ministry, please join us.  Encourage us.  Pray for us.  Let us know what you are learning these days.  We will happily do the same for you.

The Secret History of Church and Change: No Names Given


In 1995, a group of about 10-12 men [GJ - who?] gathered at Wisconsin Lutheran College to discuss current methods of sharing Jesus which were commonly being used in the WELS at that time.  Many at the first meeting felt that those methods of sharing Jesus were not “keeping up with” the rate of change in society.  The message of the Bible was not, therefore, penetrating society very well. [GJ - Cuz the Word cannot do it without Schwaermer help.]

John Parlow, Willow Creek Ministerium member,
attended Drive 08's Babtist Worship conference,
with Ski, Glende, Jim Buske - 8 WELS workers in all.

"Dr?" Steve Witte - Gordon Conwell quickie degree, so
he could be president of the Asian porta-seminary.

 In 1998 two men [GJ - who?] who had attended the first meeting planned a Church and Change conference in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  The next year there was a second conference in Green Bay.  About 20 people attended each year. [GJ - Witte and Parlow, doubtless, the rotten apples in Appleton]



In May 2001, WELS Parish Services applied for and received a Forward in Christ grant to conduct a three-year pilot program to address the issues surfaced by the previous two Church and Change conferences.  The three-year pilot program was designed to be a grassroots gathering of individuals who were pioneering new innovative methods of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with a changing culture. [GJ - You suckers paid to get Church and Change going, so they could network for synod, Thrivent, and foundation grants.]

Three annual conferences were planned and held beginning in 2001.  At the first conference, approximately 50 WELS members attended.  The attendance grew to 150 in the second year and 180 in the third year.  By the third year, the attendees included more than just individuals who were actively pioneering new and innovative methods for sharing Jesus.  Many in attendance wanted to learn about how to better share the gospel with the changing culture in which they served.  In addition to the three annual conferences a variety of other workshops and gatherings were held dealing with specific ministry issues such as leadership, worship, and women’s ministry.

At the final conference of the three-year pilot, held in November 2003, the conference participants enthusiastically encouraged the organizers to continue Church and Change.  A steering committee was subsequently formed from among the participants to address the future direction of Church and Change.

From November 2003 until the present the steering committee has met and drafted a proposal that addresses the future of Church and Change. 

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Ron Ash, Katy Perry, and Tim Glende
are transforming the world with their new methods.

Church and Change Board of Directors - Ski bailed out officially, but was on the board earlier. Bruce Becker was on the board but left officially when this blog uncovered his dual role as head of WELS Parish Services/Church and Change board member. Chairman Ron Ash just happened to be followed at St. Peter's Freedom by Changers Glende and Ski.

Pastor Ron Ash	Chairman
Jeff Davis	Vice Chairman
Barry Spencer	Treasurer
Sarah Owens	Secretary
Pastor John Huebner
Brian Arthur Lampe

 

Jeff Davis will help talk your congregation into a ruinous building program,
which he will help fund with law-motivated guilt giving.
Asking about his huge fees will getcha excommunicated at Holy Word, Austin Texas.

GJ - Note how Jeske-centric this board is, with three staff members from St. Marcus - 1. Ski (formerly, taking Bishop Katie, also at St. Marcus, up to Appleton with him), 2. Barry Spencer, and 3. Brian Arthur Lampe, who is a self-appointed pastor with his own ministry business.

The board is also Appleton-based, with Ron Ash (formerly at St. Peter, Freedom) as chairman, Witte and Parlow as founders.

Tracing members and moolah is a good way to see where the power and influence are. At Willowcreek's Liberal College, three members of the board are from a non-WELS congregation - CrossWalk, Luveen, Arizona (Jeff Gunn, Church and Changer). When I published that fact, WLC changed it list of board members to hide parish affiliation. I never heard of a college having three members from the same church running the place.

DP Buchholz will someday discipline Jeff Gunn and kick CrossWalk out of WELS before it actually joins WELS. It part of a 30-year plan. Right now they are on double secret probation.

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Bailing Water has plenty of information about what has been going on.

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Paul Calvin Kelm refused to answer his own fellow clergy
when they objected to the Leonard Sweet conference.
Likewise, Ski and Glende block email from anyone who fails to genuflect to them.
"Write a letter," SP Schroeder says.

WELS Q and A

CSC: WELS Topical Q&A: The Church and Its Ministry: Music/Worship: Church and Change conference

Most Recently Posted Ask a Question
Q:	I recently was sent this copy and I am wondering if this is a WELS sponsered event. I found it a little strange to say the least, especially in some of the noted items such as "Insightful interviews with former WELS members" and the keynote speaker being Leonard Sweet. I know I received a brochure for the WELS Worhip Conference in MN this summer, so I'm wondering what this is, and what is the "Church and Change Steering Committee?" Is there a link on the synod website for the listserv this brochure speaks of?Here is the copy: 2005 Church and Change Conference November 9-11 Madison, Wisconsin The 2005 Church and Change Conference will challenge, inspire, and encourage you as a Christian and as a leader of Christians. But then, when several hundred creative WELS pacesetters gather around God's Word and share their ideas, that's what we expect would happen. We are excited to announce that world-class Christian researcher and communicator Dr. Leonard Sweet will be the keynote speaker for this year's conference. He will address the general session all day on Thursday, November 10. More information about Dr. Sweet can be found at http://www.leonardsweet.com/biocv.html In addition to Dr. Sweet, we are putting together 15-18 workshops that will cover subjects such as: * New approaches to children's and youth ministry. * Starting a contemporary worship service. * New and effective approaches to apologetics (defending what we believe). * Insightful interviews with former WELS members. * Women's ministries. * Small groups. * Preaching in today's world. * And much more... The conference steering committee is interested in hearing about workshop topics you feel are beneficial for this year's conference. Please share your suggestions with Barry Spencer at spebar@tds.net. New to this year's conference will be a Church and Change Exhibit Hall. This room will feature the latest in ministry resources! This conference is for innovative Christian leaders like yourself. Please keep it in your prayers! Mark your calendar now! Invite your friends. And stay tuned to our Church and Change listserv for information updates in the coming weeks and months.
A:	The Church and Change conference is put on by leaders of a number of WELS congregations, but it is not sponsored by WELS. Church and Change people have, however, reported to our Conference of Presidents in regard to their activities and WELS does send one of its administrators to attend the conference. The Conference of Presidents has in the past urged discretion on the part of all WELS affiliated organizations who use speakers from outside our doctrinal fellowship. We do not have a web link to connect you to information on the speaker. --- Bailing Water discussion on Church and Change, plagiarism. Waves of Nausea

Intrepid Lutherans on the Application of Jeff Gunn's Emergent Church Stealth WELS Congregation To Join the Sect

WELS disciplined Jeff Gunn by electing him to the WLC board of directors.
He has also been a featured speaker, like all the Jeske Church and Changers.

Intrepid Lutherans:

At a recent conference of WELS Pastors, a committee of Pastors, teachers, and laymen, who were asked to give their recommendations on the application of a church group for membership in the WELS, presented their preliminary report. It contained the following paragraph:


"Of particular concern to this committee, however, is that in many of the sermons we reviewed, the message of the Gospel, while present, did not predominate. Many of these sermons were designed to be practical in nature, but the practice (i.e. sanctification) of the believer was not always clearly connected with the motivation (i.e. justification) of the believer. We find this observation to be a serious concern, because if the Gospel does not predominate during the course of the sermon, there are not enough places in the rest of [the] worship format to make up for that deficit. For a congregation that has defined their target group as the unchurched, this concern is also that much more magnified."


It should be noted that this was not a "charge," or "accusation;" not something that was possibly or even probably true, but an actual "finding," that is, a "conclusion;" in other words, an observable and demonstrable fact, found to be true by fellow Pastors, teachers, and laymen.


What was even more fascinating to this observer was that this particular item, out of four areas of concern, generated the least amount of comment from the other Pastors present. Indeed, while I may have missed a comment or two during the discussion, I can't remember a single other Pastor bringing up this issue.


When I "wondered" this to a fellow Pastor, he suggested that the other Pastors didn't want to comment because they perhaps saw themselves and their own sermons in that finding of that committee! Thus, they were loathe to point a finger at a brother Pastor when they themselves perhaps felt a modicum of guilt on the subject.


This led to me back to Father Martin once again, to see what he had to say on the matter. Of course, he had a lot to say. I have chosen just a couple of sections from only one of his writings that speaks about exactly what Lutheran preachers should be preaching. Please, read on. 


Of The Office of Preaching
by Martin Luther (1483-1546)


SECTION II. PREACHERS OF THE WORD TO PREACH NOTHING BUT THE WORD.


4. So much for the call into the office. But Christ is not speaking of that here; for something more is required, namely, that no rival or supplementary doctrine be introduced, nor another word be taught than Christ has taught. Christ says in Mt. 23:2-4: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat: all things therefore whatsoever they bid you, these do and observe: but do not ye after their works; for they say and do not. Yea, they bind heavy burdens too grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger." Although these of whom Christ here speaks were regularly appointed, yet they were thieves and murderers; for they taught variations from Christ's teaching. Christ reproves them in another place, in Matthew 15:3, where he holds up before them their traditions and tells them how, through their own inventions, they have transgressed the commandments of God, yea, totally abolished them. We have also many prophets who were regularly appointed and still were misled, like Balaam, of whom we read in Num. 22; also Nathan, described in 2 Sam 7:3. Similarly many bishops have erred.


5. Here Christ says: He who would enter by the door must be ready to speak the Word concerning Christ and his word must center in Christ. Let it be called "coming" when one preaches aright; the approaching is spiritual, and through the Word--upon the ears of his hearers, the preacher comes at last into the sheepfold--the heart of believers. Christ says that the shepherd must enter by the door; that is, preach nothing but Christ, for Christ is the door into the sheepfold.


6. But where there are intruders, who make their own door, their own hole to crawl through, their own addition different from that which Christ taught, they are thieves. Of these Paul says to the Romans (16:17-18): "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and fair speech they beguile the hearts of the innocent." Paul does not speak of opposing or antagonistic doctrines, but of those placed beside the true doctrine; they are additions, making divisions. Paul calls it a rival doctrine, an addition, an occasion of stumbling, an offense and a byway, when one establishes the conscience upon his own goodness or deeds.


7. Now, the Gospel is sensitive, complete and pre-eminent: it must be intolerant of additions and rival teachings. The doctrine of earning entrance into heaven by virtue of fastings, prayers and penance is a branch road, which the Gospel will not tolerate. But our Church authorities endorse these things,hence they are thieves and murderers; for they do violence to our consciences, which is slaying and destroying the sheep. How is this accomplished? If only I am directed into a branch or parallel road, then my soul is turned from God upon that road, where I must perish. Thus this road is the cause of my death. The conscience and heart of man must be founded upon one single Word or they will come to grief. "All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field" (Is 40:6).


8. The doctrines of men, however admirable, fall to the ground, and with them the conscience that has built upon them. There is no help nor remedy. But the Word of God is eternal and must endure forever; no devil can overthrow it. The foundation is laid upon which the conscience may be established forever. The words of men must perish and everything that cleaves to them. Those who enter not by the door--that is, those who do not speak the true and pure Word of God, without any addition--do not lay the right foundation; they destroy and torture and slaughter the sheep. Therefore, Christ says further in this Gospel: "But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his Voice."


SECTION III. A TRUE PREACHER SHOULD FIRST USE THE LAW ARIGHT AND THEN PREACH THE GOSPEL.


9. The porter here is the preacher who rightly teaches the Law--shows that the Law exists and must reveal to us our helplessness; that the works of the Law do not help us, and yet they are insistent. He then opens to the shepherd, that is, to Christ the Lord, and lets him alone feed the sheep. For the office of the Law is at an end; it has accomplished its mission of revealing to the heart its sins until it is completely humbled. Then Christ comes and makes a lamb out of the sheep--feeds it with his Gospel and directs it how to regain cheer for the heart so hopelessly troubled and crushed by the Law.


10. The lamb then hears Christ's voice and follows it. It has the choicest of pastures, and knows the voice of the shepherd. But the voice of a stranger it never hears and never follows. Just as soon as one preaches to it about works, it is worried and its heart cannot receive the teaching with joy. It knows very well that nothing is accomplished by means of works; for one may do as much as he will, still he carries a heavy spirit and he thinks he has not done enough, nor done rightly. But when the Gospel comes--the voice of the shepherd--it says: God gave to the world his only Son, that all who believe on him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Then is the heart happy; it feeds upon these words and finds them good. The lamb has found its satisfying pasture; it wants none other. Yea, when it is given other pasture, it flees from it and will not feed therein. This pasture always attracts the sheep, and the sheep also find it. God says in the prophecy of Isaiah: "So shall my Word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish all in the things whereto, I sent it" (Is 55:11).


The portions of the sermon above are taken from volume III of, The Sermons of Martin Luther, published by Baker Book House (Grand Rapids, MI). It was originally published in 1907 in English by Lutherans In All Lands (Minneapolis, MN), in a series titled The Precious and Sacred Writings of Martin Luther, vol. 12. The original title of this sermon appears below (preached by Luther in 1522 and 1523). This e-text was scanned and edited by Shane Rosenthal for Reformation Ink ; it is in the public domain and it may be copied and distributed without restriction. Original pagination from the Baker edition has been kept intact for purposes of reference.




So, my friends - how is the preaching at your church; or, brother Pastors - how are your sermons? Do they focus on the Word of Christ, and especially the Gospel? Is the law used properly; that is, to drive people to repentance and to Christ's work and mercy? Is the Gospel there, clearly and predominately, to comfort despairing souls, and lead believers into lives of thanks and praise? Or are they mostly "how to" sermons - how to live a better, easier, more prosperous, more tranquil, more pleasant life? Or do they perhaps focus a great deal on what's wrong with all the "other" churches, including some in our own fellowship; or what's wrong with the world; or how pure, noble, and untainted "we" are, etc....? Indeed, what IS going on out there with preaching these days?


Members - ask yourselves the simple question: Does the Gospel predominate in the sermons I hear? Also, ask your Pastors if they begin their sermon work in the original languages of the Bible, and how much time and effort and planning they put in to their sermons. Pastors - ask yourselves the same questions.


Again, and as always, comments and questions are invited and encouraged.


Pastor Spencer


'via Blog this'

Whom do you ape?
Luther or Rick Warren

The WELS Church and Changers Are Unraveling Fast

The recent hissy-fits from Appleton-Fox Valley WELS are revealing. They are signs of frustration, coming from the emotionally immature and the doctrinally bankrupt.

Some signs are:

• They engage in personal attacks, by name, against people whose sin is posting in a friendly way on this blog.
• They imagine that insults directed at an entire state make them more sophisticated, as if their culture of beer and floozies can be made more urbane by comparison.
• These Church and Changers give away their real character - not their interest in the Gospel, but a passion to tear down anyone who seems to be a threat to their empire.
• Their New NIV has become their tarbaby. They have to promote it, because the corrupt, porno-mytho translation supports their false doctrine. However, most people are aware of the laughable quality of the NIV business. Do not mention billionaire Murdoch - mind you. They will force it upon WELS, but that will finish off their publishing business.
• Their SP only appears in Christian News - front page! - to denounce the truth on this blog, making him the first Lutheran primate to defend a homosexual video, with the odd defense that his MLC boys were mocking gaity.
• Their precious UOJ is falling apart, due to historical research done by their own people. Oh yes - sad news for the Changers. The two key discoveries about their precious UOJ have come from within: Knapp and Huber. I wish I could name my helpers, but no one wants to deal with the savage bullies led by John Lawrenz, Steve Witte, John Parlow, Wayne Mueller, Paul Calvin Kelm, David Valleskey, Frosty Bivens, Larry Olson, James Huebner, and many others.
• They are backing away from the normal language of UOJ - everyone saved and forgiven without faith. They hint at it but avoid their favorite terms, doubtless because too many people now realize it is doctrinal fraud and anti-Christian teaching.
• Don Patterson and Tim Glende have become friends on Facebook and shown their common cause by excommunicating people who questioned matters and asked for meetings. They ducked meetings, trashed the members, and kicked them out. Oh the love of Jesus burns bright in the Changers' hearts.

Long-time WELS Layman Reacts to Joe and Lisa Krohn's Excommunication

Bwana Patterson drops another dangerous vegetarian in darkest Africa, while WELS foots the bill for his vicars, year after year.

Caleb on WELS:

Here they can beat the hell out of two Christian people who in faith bring up a theological issue and use them as an object lesson for others to view who might want to think for themselves and question doctrine and practice.   Yet they will not adjudicate or refract Mark Jeske’s apostacy thru the reverse side of that theologically pharisaical prism and drag him through the same scrutiny as Joe and Lisa.

So at the end of Mark Jeske’s life, I was musing to myself, when he has to meet his maker and is convicted of his abject and arbitrary apostasy;  by his own theology he can say “Hey Lord”  you know already  I was forgiven for the sins I was convicted before I was born, and you being all knowing and all; --surely new “I was just kidding.”  

Hey everybody gets a pass, and besides you just were not around during my lifetime and because of my aura, I just had to take the big “G” on and have it monogramed on my sweatshirt.  People just kept throwing theological spit balls at me like “efficacy of the Word of God” ; they just did not know what they were talking about.  They were all leaving the church but I came to their rescue; not any efficacy of the Word, but “me” and my peeps and Thrivent and Church and Change and popcorn and pop singers in short skirts.  So what if we became sinners to get sinners in our temple of sin, we packed them in didn’t we?  Hey!! ask the Holy Spirit if He didn’t know me;---Hey !!!! keep those flames off me!!!! Hey isn”t that Schliermacher, Bultman, Heideigger and Barth, what in tarnation are they doing here?

All we had was the Bible which we (along with my buddies Schaller, Koehler, and Pieper) could twist and bend like a Philadelphia Lawyer.  Thank God we tossed the confessions aside as they were so tedious and obstructive—got in the way really as my head hurt every time some layman spouted them out or some other relic of a pastor had this permanent wedgy in his shorts and made us read them;--yuk gag me with a spoon.   

The Wawautosian way was much better than what the paper popes threw at us in seminary—albeit they didn’t bother us too much with that stuff.    It was so much easier this way;  speaking to the “corporate Christian population” every Sunday spewing slogans like a totem pole at a liquor store selling cheap liquor with its soporific potions on of how to deal with life’;s little coughs and calamities from week to week.

Yes kind of like Time of Grace (Wrath) which was the only elixir that soothed the down trodden’s soul from week to week.   Yet I didn’t let things like visitations, administering the means of grace; such as individual confession and absolution,  slow me down as we had to many fish to fry in communicating to the masses.    Oh wait a minute;  confession and absolution was instructive if I needed to get something on somebody;  then I would make an exception. 

It was the “Efficacy of Mark Jeske’s elixir which funneled true Christianity to the visible church every week, now this was a Ponzi scheme that actually worked.  There was always an unlimited supply of people whose brains you can twist like a pretzel.  In other words, we didn’t worry about who went out the back  door because there is always a reservoir of people you could entice through the front door.  It was easy, all you had to do when people left thru the back door is lower the tolerance level of sin to get them running thru the front door.  Hey I wonder if those slot machines were installed in the Narthex of the church before I left!!!!  Darn it all I bet Pastor Heubner got them at Grace.   Oh so much work to do and so little time on this earth to do it. Lord just did not have enough time  

Front door evangelism was always the best.  You could always speak in positive and glittering generalities and you really did not have to get real deep in biblical scholarship in preaching and teaching as long as you hung on to the “culture”s apron strings.  You didn’t have to bother with the folks going out the back door as they were a waste of time anyway; all that visiting, having to pull out that dusty old bible and try to administer the law and the Gospel to one individual sinner---yuk not cost effective at all.  Too much time spent when there were other opportunities (souls) to save.

We did all this effectively and efficiently.  I even administered business concepts like goals and objectives to achieve the greater goal in God’s (my) Kingdom. We even had it down to a “unit cost analysis” determining how much it cost to get a soul in the barn so if our unit cost went  up we could always smooze the people at thrivent;--in a Christian sense of course, and they would always pony up with some manna.  I even got on the board of control;---talk about real efficacy.  What really started to piss me off however is when someone  suggested to implement those concepts to evaluate me personally.  Of course I would have not of that.  After all Jesus was beyond scrutiny.            

And then there were all the criticisms from the so-called orthodox side of the Church. This is where St. Machiavelli was most instructive.  It was so easy to keep the sheep in line with just a modicum of theological thuggery, extortion, back biting and slander;  all in the name of the Lord of course.  You see we have socialized the people in the WELS with regard to the law—10 commandments if you will , that they must actually accept a second set of books, one for the Priesthood; and one for the membership.  Kind of puts the scrutiny on them and off us;-so to speak—tee hee just a little priestly humor Forgive my impertinence.

Your eminence after all these wonderful works I have performed in my life as your vicar on earth how can you judge me as nothing other than one of your saints.  All the downtrodden we reached, drug addicts, pimps, whores homosexuals, divorced, weak in spirit, (ex Lutheran ministers);  all those classes of unbelievers who would not have come to their Lord except thru me and my peeps.   All were told they were forgiven before they were born so whatever they are,  or did (or will do in the future?) is past, just make a decision to come to Christ and all is forgiven.  Now once you accept this we will go to the sanctification side of the coin (church work, giving money ect) and you will be on your way.  Your eminence,  what could be better than that?  My Gosh this is better than the Roman Church could have concocted.—Hey what are all these popes doing here anyway? 

Hey !!!,  where are Joe and Lisa, why aren’t they down here.  Hey!!! open the door its getting hot down here.

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Baazboy wrote: Caleb, Welcome to the WELS. Now, leave an offering so we can get matching Thrivent funds.

When WELS Offers Money Management Courses, Think Prairie du Chien: Millions Spent for a Prison

bruce-church (http://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Judgment Day Approaches for the LCMS Seminaries":

http://www.wi-doc.com/prairie_du_chien.htm

INSTITUTION INFORMATION
The State of Wisconsin purchased this facility in 1995 to be used as a Juvenile Correctional Institution for non-assaultive male youthful offenders. The main grounds and the majority of the buildings were originally constructed in the mid 1900s. The facility originally served as a Jesuit High School and later as a Lutheran Preparatory High School. Due to the decreases of juvenile offender population in the Division of Juvenile Corrections, the Legislature in the 1997 Senate Bill 113, authorized the Department of Corrections to temporally utilize this facility for the Division of Adult Institutions.

WELS Worship Conference Reports

2138 has left a new comment on your post "WELS Convention Poster":

Sermons from Day One:

The Palm Sunday sermon was by Pastor Treptow. My impression was that it was primarily a law-obedience sermon. Here were his main points: We should worship the King with unquestioning obedience (go get the donkey), with creativity (robes and palm branches), and with spontaneous shouts of praise (hosanna in the highest). Maybe one small reference to Christ’s cross. I didn’t hear anything about the depravity of my condition; rather, I heard about how we sometimes feel uncomfortable when we don’t want to sing out loudly.

He started off with a Bill Cosby reference about the Lone Ranger, and how Tonto would always “get the snot beat out of him.” He then compared that to how we also might want to tell Jesus not to ride into Jerusalem, because, “You’re going to get the snot beat out of you!” He made humorous references to the smell of a donkey, and how it might trample on someone’s good cloak, and how some didn’t know that there was a “dress code” that day.

I guess I didn’t hear why I was supposed to worship the King; rather, I should get over my inhibitions and creatively shout some praises without questioning why.

The Maundy Thursday sermon was by Pastor Zank. This sermon used Law and Gospel well. His main point: we are heirs of the Holy Supper, and ought to cherish its use. He discussed the Corinthian abuse of the Supper, but then discussed how Satan loves it when we also attend Communion bearing grudges and being otherwise unprepared, to our soul’s harm. God would have every right to take his Holy Supper from us, and not give it back until we showed ourselves worthy. He made very clear gospel proclamations, about how Christ’s death on the cross redeemed man from all his sins, including the sin of abusing the Supper. He said that Communion is a testament to the other people in the congregation—man, woman, child, visitor—of our unity.

He began with a story of his grandfather handing down to 10-year-old Joel a family heirloom—a golden pocket watch—that he had received from his grandfather, and that he hoped would get passed on to his grandson someday. He didn’t tell the whole story at once, but artfully weaved the story in and out of his sermon, telling how he abused that watch, and eventually broke it. He tied that into our own sins and abuse of Communion. While his parents fixed the watch and kept it until he was old enough to be trusted, we thank God that he doesn’t wait until we can be trusted before entrusting us with his Holy Supper. We receive the very forgiveness that we so desperately need in the Sacrament. It is not “more special” forgiveness than what we receive in Absolution, but it is “more of the same”—a strange way to put it, almost making it sound ordinary. But he was guarding against the abuse of puffing ourselves up with pride and turning Holy Communion into a ritual that makes us look good. It is only God pouring out his love and mercy on us poor, miserable sinners!

2138 has left a new comment on your post "WELS Convention Poster":

Sermons from Days 2-3:

The Easter Morning sermon was by Pastor Cherney. “Be honest: what would you have expected to see if you had come to the tomb?” So begins the sermon. We put ourselves in the women’s shoes as they travel to the tomb that first Easter morning. He talks about some of the things that some go to church to hear—how the church can fix their families, their finances, their communities, etc. “And after all that fails to work, then people are right back in the sludge pit they were in before.” Rather, when they come to church, tell them something really amazing—He is risen.

The Easter Evening sermon was by Pastor Degner. Jesus used the powerful Word of God to “connect the dots” from the Old Testament to his cross and resurrection for the Emmaus disciples that Easter evening. He spent quite a bit of time extolling God’s Word and its power, sharper than any two-edged sword. And yet, are pastors afraid to use it on the delinquent member? When we visit, do we make small talk and talk about everything else, but forget to preach God’s Word? Rather, try going back every week for eight weeks, and preach God’s Word. He closed by mentioning how he’s beginning to see why the pastors in their 60s still have that “fire,” and why he does too—with the Word of God, we need not fear.

The sermon for Good Shepherd Sunday was by Pastor Patterson. We long to be there in heaven! Started with a story about an elderly woman with lots of heartache—“why am I still here, pastor?” He stated in his sermon that everyone will not go to heaven; only those who believe. He ended his sermon, with something like, “We will keep holding on to the Shepherd’s hand, and be the best sheep we can be. Amen.” He did not stand in the pulpit, but walked back and forth in front of the altar as he spoke.

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Quotes from “Recruiting Choir Members and Vocalists” by Professor Tiefel: “Public worship that works well for both nurture and outreach includes: excellent preaching; a suitable worship space; friendly and engaged people; a solid repertoire of hymns, old and new, which proclaim the gospel clearly and which the people sing accurately and enthusiastically; the stability of a liturgical framework without the staleness of identical worship each week; a unified service that reflects a seasonal emphasis and highlights a specific facet of the gospel in both spoken word and vibrant song; the saving gospel set to a variety of musical forms from different times and places within the Holy Christian Church.”

Questions: Do we cater our worship to visitors in the name of “outreach”? Are “friendly and engaged people” overemphasized in today’s church? Is the proclamation of God’s Word in the liturgy ever “stale”?


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AC V has left a new comment on your post "WELS Worship Conference Reports":

"He did not stand in the pulpit, but walked back and forth in front of the altar as he spoke."

Because it's about ME and how INTERESTING and ENGAGING I I I I am! Just like the TV preachers, Enthusiasts all.

Holy Baptism

bored has left a new comment on your post "Come On, WELS - I Have the Graphics You Need To Co...":

Howdy Brett.

If you wanna go on record saying the WELS, LCMS etc are not Christian churches I suppose that's up to you.

Since you're not claiming that these churches are devoid of Christians perhaps you ought to consider your choice of words. There are plenty of churches of every denomination in which true justification is being taught (despite however much the pastor thinks he believes UOJ). To those churches, the "kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out" attitude will look arrogant and ridiculous, because it is, and because their experience with the WELS (for example) is something far different than yours: you see far more of the seedy and heterodox "intelligencia" who work tirelessly to corrupt truth than do ten average welsmen.

Jesus spoke in a totally different way to the woman at the well than he did to the pharisees. We sinners can take note of that, and add on several more tons of humility because we each are corrupt. It is possible to be kind without degrading the substance of what you're saying. And being charitable and sensitive is not attempting to usurp the Efficacy from the Word.

It's neither charitable nor accurate to say that there are no Christian Churches in the WELS or LCMS or the Roman Church. Better than telling a Roman Catholic or WELsian that technically they aren't Christian, would be to gently show them how their church departs from Scripture.

Save the edicts and the ire for the people who are trying to make antichristian churches of the very very many Christian churches.


***

GJ - These matters are worth debating.

Ichabod is devoted to discussing apostasy, and the Synodical Conference parts are apostate, including the micro-mini splinters. Even the ELS is little more than a splinter, consisting of a dead ice-cream maker, his endowed mini-college, and a few elderly parishes.

Although WELS is officially a UOJ sect, I know from various contacts that church workers reject and repudiate it, just as they reject and repudiate the Church Shrinkage Movement. Wisconsin deviancy is proven by the fact that the Wisconsin Sect persecutes faithful pastors, teachers, and members. The Krohn and Techlin excommunications are two obvious examples, but there are many more.

I have also documented WELS church workers murdering and molesting, a worship professor engaged in drunk driving, and other notorious crimes. Does anyone think I Google the Net for WELS crimes? No, people report the facts and help me document them.

The only proper way to address the problems is to apply the Word in the context of the Lutheran Confessions. That is done in various ways.

Many can only serve as faithful church workers where they are, but they are happy to see their ideas and insights in print. For various reasons, they cannot be out in the open as I am. In the past I used Christian News, which all the synods use, too. But they did not want me to use Christian News to tell the truth.

They really worked overtime to silence me, and the effort continues, poisoning the well. The idea is to make anything associated with me or this blog so toxic that it is dismissed out of hand. The weakness of this gambit is the abundance of Internet evidence. The poor slobs cannot help bragging and posting, so I have the facts in their own words, Tweets, and blogs.

If Brett seems harsh, it may be from his attempts to make up for all the silent Lutherans. Brett's words may remind Lutherans of how little they have done. He went to various clergy to address their perversion of justification. He set up the video services, which have been denounced repeated by... (the pope? ELCA? the UUA? the Babtists?) the "conservative" Lutherans. Doing something positive, even on a modest scale, makes them angry, bitter, and jealous.

But that is the problem with opposing falsehood. The meek compromiser seems to be the harbinger of peace, but he is really the worst trouble-maker, kicking the problems away for a moment, allowing them to return in worse form later.

No one shuns the get-along-go-along guy. They like him and clap him on the back.

Church and Change opponents volunteered me to go to two different C and C conferences. If I had been nearby, I would have gone, for the entertainment value alone. But why did they not go? And if they did, why did they not scream to heaven above? I know the Changers howled in unison, just like a pack of wolves, every time I identified their tactics when I was in WELS. They still snarl, growl, and bite where they can.

Brett Meyer went to Emmaus Conference. He could have excused himself, told me he was too busy. He might have said, "I tried their parishes and gave up." Instead, he helped in the purchase and distribution of 60 books on justification by faith. He spent the time talking to everyone who care to spend the time. Many laity were shocked at the perversion of justification being taught in their synods.

Perhaps if Harrison, Schroeder, and Pope John spent less time denouncing this blog and more time in study and teaching, their members would know more than "Holy Mother Synod is infallible." Harrison, truly the big dog of the three (in money, members, schools) had a chance to have a long discussion with Brett. Instead, Harrison exchanged a few words, glanced at one book, and walked away. Out of touch with the laity, he chose to stay out of touch.

Oh, those danish roll and coffee Thrivent-funded meetings - so much more comfortable, albeit fattening!

If the day came, when people like Brett were in the majority, or at least represented a significant group, the false doctrine would be beaten back and adulterous millionaires would be on the run.

But that has not happened yet, so a few of us will make up for the rest, signing our names, accepting the consequences.

Harrison, Schroeder, Pope John - you are rebuking the wrong people.

Church and Change, Purpose and History

WELS Church and Change, Purpose

Church and Change is a growing group of WELS Christians who desire to think and work like the Apostle Paul who said, "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some."  The Church and Change group is interested in practicing and promoting innovation in ministry methods throughout the WELS especially at the "grass roots" level.

Some in WELS live and breathe music.  Some history.  Some church libraries, or mission festivals, or prison ministry, or limiting abortion.  Good! God uses all effort by his people to his glory.  Church and Change is group of committed WELS Christians who live and breathe innovation in ministry across all spectrums.  Church and Change folk are committed to Lutheran Theology as explained in the Lutheran Confessions.  However, they are thinking about, working with, and pioneering different ways to reach more people, more often, with the gospel so the Holy Spirit can do His thing.  [GJ - Just one question. What moron wrote this paragraph?]

Innovation in methodology is yesterday's news in the WELS.  Pastors, teachers, synod administrators, worker training leaders, home and world missionaries, worship leaders, computer buffs, and countless local laymen and laywomen, have been tweaking (and/or radically changing) ministry methods for years.  In every WELS generation God has raised up men and women, for reasons known only to Him, who are interested in pushing the envelope of "gospel delivery systems."  And this, long before concepts like "English" or "radio ministry" or "Parish Assistance," or "paradigm" or "long distance learning" entered WELS thinking or culture.

The goal of Church and Change is to provide a gathering point, a "home room" for WELS innovators.  Perhaps this is the same need felt by the WELS Church Librarians which led them to gather for support, encouragement, and well -- good old fashioned fellowship - one of the greatest assets in the WELS.  Do WELS administrators and WELS laypeople know about each other's efforts at innovation? The purpose of Church and Change includes inviting WELS innovators to communicate with one another, and work together where possible to avoid duplication of effort which wastes God's resources.

The world is changing rapidly.  Who are the innovators of today who will help us "make the leap from German to English" in this generation?  Hopefully, Church and Change can encourage the process of helping WELS ministries keep pace with our rapidly changing culture in America, and around the shrinking globe.

If you are currently serving as an innovator in your WELS ministry, please join us.  Encourage us.  Pray for us.  Let us know what you are learning these days.  We will happily do the same for you.

The Secret History of Church and Change: No Names Given


In 1995, a group of about 10-12 men [GJ - who?] gathered at Wisconsin Lutheran College to discuss current methods of sharing Jesus which were commonly being used in the WELS at that time.  Many at the first meeting felt that those methods of sharing Jesus were not “keeping up with” the rate of change in society.  The message of the Bible was not, therefore, penetrating society very well. [GJ - Cuz the Word cannot do it without Schwaermer help.]
 
 In 1998 two men [GJ - who?] who had attended the first meeting planned a Church and Change conference in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  The next year there was a second conference in Green Bay.  About 20 people attended each year. [GJ - Witte and Parlow, doubtless, the rotten apples in Appleton]

In May 2001, WELS Parish Services applied for and received a Forward in Christ grant to conduct a three-year pilot program to address the issues surfaced by the previous two Church and Change conferences.  The three-year pilot program was designed to be a grassroots gathering of individuals who were pioneering new innovative methods of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with a changing culture. [GJ - You suckers paid to get Church and Change going, so they could network for synod, Thrivent, and foundation grants.]

Three annual conferences were planned and held beginning in 2001.  At the first conference, approximately 50 WELS members attended.  The attendance grew to 150 in the second year and 180 in the third year.  By the third year, the attendees included more than just individuals who were actively pioneering new and innovative methods for sharing Jesus.  Many in attendance wanted to learn about how to better share the gospel with the changing culture in which they served.  In addition to the three annual conferences a variety of other workshops and gatherings were held dealing with specific ministry issues such as leadership, worship, and women’s ministry.

At the final conference of the three-year pilot, held in November 2003, the conference participants enthusiastically encouraged the organizers to continue Church and Change.  A steering committee was subsequently formed from among the participants to address the future direction of Church and Change.

From November 2003 until the present the steering committee has met and drafted a proposal that addresses the future of Church and Change. 

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Church and Change Board of Directors - Ski bailed out officially, but was on earlier

Pastor Ron Ash	Chairman
Jeff Davis	Vice Chairman
Barry Spencer	Treasurer
Sarah Owens	Secretary
Pastor John Huebner
Brian Arthur Lampe

 

GJ - Note how Jeske-centric this board is, with three staff members from St. Marcus - 1. Ski (formerly, taking Bishop Katie, also at St. Marcus, up to Appleton with him), 2. Barry Spencer, and 3. Brian Arthur Lampe, who is a self-appointed pastor with his own ministry business.

The board is also Appleton-based, with Ron Ash (formerly at St. Peter, Freedom) as chairman, Witte and Parlow as founders.

Tracing members and moolah is a good way to see where the power and influence are. At Willowcreek's Liberal College, three members of the board are from a non-WELS congregation - CrossWalk, Luveen, Arizona (Jeff Gunn, Church and Changer). When I published that fact, WLC changed it list of board members to hide parish affiliation. I never heard of a college having three members from the same church running the place.

DP Buchholz will someday discipline Jeff Gunn and kick CrossWalk out of WELS before it actually joins WELS. It part of a 30-year plan. Right now they are on double secret probation.

Dave Kehl and Waldo Werning and WELS Womens Ministries

WELS church lady has left a new comment on your post "Waldo Werning, LCMS, Reveals His Church Growth Net...":

Dave Kehl is advisor to the WELS Womens Ministries. Wake up people! If you are lucky to attend one of these workshops, you had best keep your wallet on a chain. A string of garlic around your neck would not hurt either.

If Joe Krohn is reading this post, could he ask Mrs. Krohn to share her comments regarding the deaconess program. (I did not want to share email contents without permission)

In Christ,
from WELS church lady

Heavens to Betsy, Amy

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "This Is Your Hero - Mark Jeske - WELS and LCMS":

Jeske is the Emergent New Age front man for the (W)ELS/LCMS common law merger. If he wasn't, he wouldn't still be there. Same with the Jeske's illegitimate offspring, Ski and Glende.

What does Jeske teach about Heaven?

"Q: What will we do there - sit on clouds and sing eternal praises?"

"Pastor Jeske: To me that's one of the most pathetic images of heavenly life, so injurious to our faith that it must haven been designed by Satan's P.R. team. Heaven will not be boring!"

When I asked Time Of Grace why Jeske would make such blasphemous statements they said his comments were taken out of context. Then proceeded to make the same remarks.

Good morning Brett,
Thank you for your email and for taking the time to contact us. I wish I could tell you that Pastor Jeske has time to respond to all questions and contact we receive at Time of Grace, but unfortunately that is not possible. The Time of Grace team, however, appreciates all contact and will respond to the best of our ability.
The quote you mention below, if taken as is, and out of context, would certainly appear to be somewhat disturbing. What could possibly be wrong with singing eternal praises to our God in heaven? However, in context, the point of Pastor Jeske's response is that Satan has done a very good job of detracting from our anticipated heavenly joy by painting heaven as boring
and anti-climactic. Honestly, who wants to sit on a cloud and sing all day?
And we've all heard the jokes about the good ole rascals down in hell having a great time living it up with their sinful ways. Sounds like a subtle scheme of Satan's to make us question the goal of our heavenly home and make us think that this world is the best it's gonna get, instead of embracing the fact that the best is yet to come. No wonder we get so attached to this world and can't bear to consider our mortality.
Through Pastor Jeske's messages I have a newfound anticipation of the currently unimaginable joys that await me in heaven. God has been silent with all the details, but as Pastor Jeske explained in the rest of his answer to that question - it won't be boring!
Thanks again for your interest, I hope this response has been helpful.
Blessings,
Amy

Amy Brinkman
Time of Grace Ministry
PO Box 301
Milwaukee, WI 53201
414-562-8463 phone
414-562-8464 fax
timeofgrace.org

CrossWalk's Jeff Gunn - He Rice Stand.The Last Belch from the Pepsi Generation - We Hope

Jesus Is My Rice

2010-07-22T22:52:00
 
So an acquaintance I was talking to this last week related how he had to jump in the pool to try and save his puppy.  Apparently, the puppy was not a very sure swimmer yet.  He did in fact save the puppy from drowning, but unfortunately the cell phone in his pocket was not so fortunate.

This acquaintance had heard that if a cell phone gets wet, you can dry out the phone by sticking it in a bowl of rice.  The rice apparently has the ability to absorb the moisture and draw it out even from the interior of the phone.  Well, according to this acquaintance of mine, it works!  His formerly drowned phone was restored to full use.

I got to thinking that I could use some rice.  There are a lot of things I drown in—some regularly, some just from time to time.  Here’s a short list:

• Sin
• Temptation
• Guilt
• Shame
• Self-pity
• Anger
• Sorrow
• Anxiety
• Grief
• Frustration

I’ll stop with my “top ten.”  Maybe you can relate.  Maybe you have some things that threaten to drown you too.

So let me share my rice with you.  When I’m drowning in these things, I look for Jesus.  And then I drop myself into him.  How I do this is usually called “repentance” in the Bible.  When I repent, I “dry out” in a three-step process.  Dropping yourself into Jesus is a process you can adopt too:

• First, be authentic with Jesus.  Pray and tell him what you are experiencing.  If it’s sin, own up to it.  If it’s guilt or shame, be real and admit what you’ve done wrong.  If it’s worry or grieving or frustration over hurts and challenges in your life, then open up your heart to Jesus and tell him what you feel.  Jesus will absorb your sin and take it to himself.
• Second, receive Jesus’ forgiveness.  When Jesus died on the cross, the entire world was forgiven.  That means you.  The person who repents of his sin can know beyond any shadow of a doubt that all sins are forgiven already through Jesus.  Jesus will absorb your doubt and give you assurance that your sins too are fully forgiven.
• Third, ask for the Holy Spirit’s strength to do what you cannot do by your own strength.  And then, with the Spirit’s support and strength working in you, commit to living a changed life.  Don’t go back.  Move ahead and Jesus’ blood and righteousness will absorb your past way of life.  The good news of Jesus will power you on to live a new, courageous and adventurous life—to the glory of God.
  

Every now and then I like to look at other translations and paraphrases.  Here’s one that struck my eye this week.  See if you don’t think it’s telling you that Jesus makes good “rice”:

“Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating, cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself. Do you remember the Scripture that says, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"? That is what happened when Jesus was nailed to the cross: He became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse. And now, because of that, the air is cleared and we can see that Abraham's blessing is present and available for non-Jews, too. We are all able to receive God's life, his Spirit, in and with us by believing—just the way Abraham received it.”  (Galatians 3:13-14, The Message)