Hope for the Lazy

Am I fast enough, strong enough, good enough?

One source was quick to tell me that the doctrinal study being initiated by WELS, which actually mentions the Means of Grace, was not polluted by a statement from Wayne Mueller. I theorized that the caution about lazy pastors relying on the Means of Grace was ipsissima verba Muellerorum (Wayne and Adam). I was wrong, but I was not exactly invited to that meeting. I can be provocative and entertaining without being omniscient.

So I pondered the new data. Still, I wondered, what is better - a ferociously active false teacher or a phlegmatic minister relying on the Means of Grace?

The real issue is whether the graduates of the Sausage Factory believe in the efficacy of the Word. I am prepared to answer that with a resounding, "No." The last three decades have been devoted to installing the Church Shrinkage Movement, its crafts and assaults, its demonic doctrines and methods, at every level of WELS, just like the LCMS.

The Little Sect on the Prairie and the Lavender Lutherans of ELCA have also participated in this little game.

Someone who believes in the efficacy and power of the Word will broadcast the Gospel everywhere, not trusting in his own abilities but in the Holy Spirit at work. Someone who trusts in the Means of Grace will not second-guess God, boss Him around, demand signs and wonders, or become discouraged from the scorn and derision of others within and without the fold.

As Roger Kovaciny once said, "The way to get more milk from a cow is to give her more food, not pull harder on her teats." I added, "And I have the sorest teats in town."

A complete doctrinal change has to take place in WELS and Missouri before Church Shrinkage can be surgically removed as the cancer it is.

The Church Shrinkage Movement is a counterfeit. One can yell "Bad, bad, bad" and get nowhere. People can make little jokes and have no effect.

The best answer is to look at the great doctrinal statements of the Lutheran Church (Book of Concord, Luther, Chemnitz) and compare them to the moronic blasphemies of the Church Shrinkage Movement. Anyone familiar with Lutheran doctrine is going to be disgusted by the claims and antics of Church and Change. But much has to be done.

Congregations need to study the original doctrinal statements (BoC) and great sermons of Luther, not Wiki-welsia pamphlets quoting WELS leaders. To be able to lead congregations, pastors have to study the Book of Concord, Luther, and Chemnitz. Teaching promotes study, and study promotes teaching.

The pastors also need a lot more of tentatio. They have to go to meetings and confront false doctrine instead of whispering quips to each other during the coffee hour. Faith in the efficacy of the Word makes people bold, as Luther said.

Guess Where "Tendrils" Can Be Found?

One of my contacts found the Tendrils paper, mildly critical of Church Growth in WELS, at the Church and Change site.

Here it is:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/church_and_change/files/


To read the files, one must be a member. To be a member, one must ask permission. Clever? I asked permission today. No response so far. If they let me join, Ichabodians will be the first to know.

The children of darkness are wiser in this generation than the children of light. Church and Changians want their bovine and ovine followers to know the score, as in Know the Enemy, even if the enemy is milder than oatmeal, as tepid as lukewarm tea.

Strange Convergence

The hilarious video posted below should encourage people to study the genre of Contemporary Christian Music, better described as Contemporary Charismatic Music, or even Contemporary Cult Music.

The Way International is a quasi-Christian cult. Their videos, linked here, are exactly like the entertainments of the Church Shrinkage Movement.

The Tendrils paper, mildly critical of Church Shrinkage in WELS, lavished praise professional quality of the CGM services. Supposedly the Church Shrinkage congregations offer high production values in their entertainments.

I have attended two of the most famous: Willow Creek in Chicago, Community of Joy in Phoenix. Their Seeker (or Sneaker) Services were boring, superficial, slick, and dull to the point of nausea: Amateur Hour...far far far Off-Broadway.

The services were entirely lacking in the Gospel. That is the only important point.

WELS members should be alarmed that their own ministers are training members to drift over to The Way International, Pentecostalism, the Charismatic Movement (Pentecostalism in the mainline denominations), and Mormonism.

"There he goes, exagerating again."

1. Item - Mark Freier, once a WELS pastor highly promoted by dunderheads in the synod, is now performing weddings for atheists and Hindu couples. Daddy Rev. Ron Freier was deep into CCM. I saw the set-up, the pit band, the audio equipment.
   
2. Item - Crossroads in South Lyons, Michigan, started by WELS pastors, is now completely or honestly unLutheran. So are those three pastors.
   
3. Item - Coral Gables, Florida. The church building was sold to the Roman Catholics.
   
4. Item - the closeted Calvinists in WELS have been persecuting Lutheran doctrine for 30 years.
   
5. Item - the unionists of WELS have arranged a bevy of union programs and services, from the pan-denominational worship conference at an ELCA college to the various ELCA-LCMS-WELS evangelism and worship programs (Joy Radio show) over the years.
   
6. Item - WELS had a bunch of missionaries turn Pentecostal at once. It was somewhere in the Pacific, so no one noticed. Those who did notice were told not to talk. Shall Pentecostalism in WELS be told to speak softly in the Pacific, lest they be heard on the streets of Milwaukee?

Liturgical Lutheran worship is Christ-centered and glorifies God through the Means of Grace. The liturgy is Scriptural. The hymns are doctrinal, inspiring, and uplifting. The sermon brings the Savior together with the individual, because the efficacious Word conveys Christ to the listener and the listener to Christ.

Closeted Calvinists make fun of traditional worship because they do not believe in the efficacy of the Word. They do not wish to glorify God but themselves. Thus they are always scornful of traditional Lutheran practices. They substitute what they have copied from their Pentecostal-Evangelical pals, who copy from the world of entertainment.

This Video Recommended by NorthWest

NorthWest would probably rather not be named. He sent me an email, telling me how hilarious this video was.

I can picture this at the next Church and Change conference.

Howza come the Issues in WELS website is dark, but Church and Change still has one?

Closing down Church and Change is the responsibility of all WELS pastors and laity. If they wait for an authority figure to do it, the purging will never take place. False doctrine is either a cancer or gangrene, depending on how one translates the passage. Either way, surgery is required, not PR.

FDR was a terrible president in many ways, but he was a clever politician. One group met with him. He said, "You have convinced me. Now go out and force me to do it." That is how it will happen in WELS. If the pastors and laity force the issue, Church and Change will be known forever after as Pocket Change.

The only growth created by Church and Change is the increase in false doctrine.

The staff of The Love Shack has grown rapidly, too...while the synod shrank.

***

GJ - I did a little research on The Way International. Some of their leaders have been accused of plagiarism and sexual assault. They sound like the Church Shrinkers I know.

I think The Way had a campus near Howe, Indiana. We used to drive by the sign, which featured a finger pointing up. No, not that one, the index finger.

The video went viral after it was featured on Talk Soup TV. The video is still on The Way's website: The Renewed Mind Is the Key.

No Longer Active

The Issues in WELS website is no longer active. For questions, please contact Larry Ellenberger.

***

GJ - They never were active...more like contemplative monks. Synod Pope Gurgel showed up to say "Boo!" and they went into hiding, locking the door, for fear of the news.

I was hoping they would post their Tendrils paper on their site. If someone has a Word copy of it, or a PDF, please send it so I can share it with the public.

Positive Side of Bank Bailout

No papers, but a bulwark of the economy - Precious.

Last year I made a Ninja loan to Precious, our Shetland Sheepdog. A Ninja loan means No Income, No Job - Accepted!

Now Precious has defaulted on this $10 million loan. No problem. I am going to sell it to the federal government. I will even accept a slight discount on it. Otherwise I would be unable to do business.

Mrs Ichabod wants to know how the banks passed a law to make it difficult for an individual to declare bankruptcy, but they now want laws to make it impossible for banks to become bankrupt.

I said, "Just as De Tocqueville warned, they learned they could vote themselves money in a democracy."

Nine Million Views and Counting

Thomas Jefferson: On Banks

I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.
Thomas Jefferson, Letter to the Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin (1802)3rd president of US (1743 - 1826)

Does This Photo Need a Caption?

How many things are wrong in this Eucharist, which is probably Episcopalian?

The Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity

Eighteenth Sunday After Trinity

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Bethany Lutheran Worship, 8 AM Phoenix Time

The Hymn #40 Yigdal
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual 1 Corinthians 1:4-9
The Gospel Luke Matthew 22:34-46
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #199 Easter Hymn

God at Work

The Hymn #331 Old Hundreth
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #200 Duke Street

KJV 1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

KJV Matthew 22:34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
Eighteenth Sunday After Trinity
Lord God, heavenly Father: We are poor, miserable sinners; we know Thy will, but cannot fulfill it because of the weakness of our flesh and blood, and because our enemy, the devil, will not leave us in peace. Therefore we beseech Thee, shed Thy Holy Spirit in our hearts, that, in steadfast faith, we may cling to Thy Son Jesus Christ, find comfort in His passion and death, believe the forgiveness of sin through Him, and in willing obedience to Thy will lead holy lives on earth, until by Thy grace, through a blessed death, we depart from this world of sorrow, and obtain eternal life, through Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

The God of Abram Praise

Jewish Christians understand better than anyone:
that Christianity began before time;
that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are portrayed through out the Old Testament;
that the entire Old Testament is beginning of the New Testament Gospel story.

There are two entirely different responses by Jewish believers to the Gospel. One response is found in many different written sources. An example was about this passage – Jesus gave an answer that can also be found among the famous Jewish rabbis. The Torah can be summed up as love God, love your neighbor. The same sources go on to say that other rabbis miraculously healed people. (In fact, miracle rabbis are commonly discussed in the modern novels of Isaac B. Singer.)

The other response is quite different. Many Jewish believers realize that everything in the Old Testament points to Christ, that the Trinity is taught throughout the Old Testament, that the Son of God appears everywhere in the Old Testament.

The questions being asked in this passage are part of Jewish Passover tradition. The male leader of the meal (the rabbi, if he is there) is asked three questions, each question designed to stump him. Then he asks a question to stump his audience. This is part of the Jewish intellectual tradition, which serves them so well in different fields.

This Gospel passage shows Jesus asking the final question, stumping his hearers.

What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?

This is a passage to stump anyone, especially a non-believer. It seems to be a word play, so many people just dismiss it as unimportant. But it features a theme found in the book The Jewish Trinity, about the Trinity in the Old Testament.

In the Old Testament and New Testament, God the Father is Lord, God the Son is Lord, God the Holy Spirit is Lord. Each person is addressed as Lord, but there is one God.

All the three-part passages of the Bible make sense, when we find God’s attributes described in groups of three, or God revealed in threes.

What can be more Trinitarian than the Aaronic blessing?

The Lord (Father) bless you and keep you.
The Lord (Son) make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you.
The Lord (Holy Spirit) lift up His countenance and give you peace.

KJV Numbers 6:22 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 23 Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, 24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. 27 And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.

So the passage from the Psalms used by Jesus makes perfect sense when the names of God are used:

KJV Psalm 110:1 {A Psalm of David.} The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

The Father said to the Son, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.

KJV Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
KJV Hebrews 1:13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

KJV Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

This is expressed in different words, but with the same theme (total submission to Christ at the end):

KJV Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

So when Jesus asked about this passage from the Psalms, the Jewish opposition was silenced. As someone once pointed out, there are three levels of response to a thought:

1. The audience agrees. So there was already general agreement.
2. The audience is angry. This means that something new has been said, so everyone is stirred up and thinking about it, discussing it among themselves.
3. The audience is silent. The idea has such an impact that no one can talk.

The silence does not mean that no one was converted by the Word. We know from many different sources that large numbers of Jews became Christians, creating a crisis in Judaism. Chemnitz has an interesting note that the Talmud was begun to stop the inroads of Christianity. Nevertheless, Christianity has had great appeal to Jews throughout history.

What does this passage mean for us?

The Holy Spirit is always at work, bringing Christ to us and us to Christ. Every phrase from the Word is Jesus coming to us, bringing forgiveness, hope, strength, and comfort to us.

The righteousness of Christ comes to us through the Word. Believers receive the blessing of complete and full forgiveness each and every day (Small Catechism, Creed).

In giving us His righteousness, Christ gives us some of His nature. Original sin means we are still selfish and self-centered, but the Gospel leaven works in us to make us more loving, patient, forgiving, and generous with others. The New Creation (the believer) takes over from the Old Adam and subdues, as much as possible, that sinful nature.

Repentance and faith in the Gospel is that constant renewal taking place to fulfill the will of God. Sin is suppressed, but never extinguished. Nevertheless, we must always emphasize that the Gospel is the cure for besting sin. The Law cannot be. The Law performs the diagnosis but does not heal or give the power to resist temptation.

The reason is that the Old Adam can be frightened into being outwardly good, but the New Creation, the believer, wants to serve God and loves the Word. The Gospel moves people to love the Son, to love His Word, to love following Him as the Good Shepherd, as “anxious for Him as He is for us.” (Luther)

---

David Chytraeus, Concordist


J-554

"How is a person justified before God? This occurs solely by faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ; that is, freely, not because of any works or merits of one's own but only because of the one Mediator, Jesus Christ, who became the sacrificial victim and propitiation on our behalf. By this sacrifice, man obtained forgiveness of sins and became righteous; that is, God-pleasing and acceptable. His righteousness was imputed to man for Christ's sake, and man becomes an heir of eternal life when he believes with certainty that God gives him these blessings for the sake of His Son."

David Chytraeus, A Summary of the Christian Faith (1568), trans., Richard Dinda, Decatur: Repristination Press, 1994. p. 105.



"Christian righteousness is the forgiveness of sin, the imputation of the righteousness of Christ and acceptance to eternal life. It is free, not the result of any virtues or works but is given solely because of Christ, the Mediator, and apprehended by faith alone."

David Chytraeus, A Summary of the Christian Faith (1568), trans., Richard Dinda, Decatur: Repristination Press, 1994. p. 106.



"Scripture therefore uses these words, 'We are justified by faith,' to teach both: 1) What the reason (or merit) for justification is, or what the blessings of Christ are; to wit, that through and for the sake of Christ alone we are granted forgiveness of sins, righteousness and eternal life; and 2. How these should be applied or transferred to us; namely, by embracing the promise and relying on Christ by faith alone."

David Chytraeus, A Summary of the Christian Faith (1568), trans., Richard Dinda, Decatur: Repristination Press, 1994. p. 107.



Martin Chemnitz, Concordist


J-555

"But when we are speaking of the subject itself, it is certain that the doctrine of gracious reconciliation, of the remission of sins, of righteousness, salvation, and eternal life through faith for the sake of the Mediator is one and the same in the Old and in the New Testament. This is a useful rule which we must retain at all costs: The doctrine, wherever we read it, in either the Old or New Testament, which deals with the gracious reconciliation and the remission of sins through faith for the sake of God's mercy in Christ, is the Gospel."

Martin Chemnitz, Loci Theologici, 2 vols., trans. J. A. O. Preus, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1989, II, p. 459.



"Therefore God, 'who is rich in mercy' [Ephesians 2:4], has had mercy upon us and has set forth a propitiation through faith in the blood of Christ, and those who flee as suppliants to this throne of grace He absolves from the comprehensive sentence of condemnation, and by the imputation of the righteousness of His Son, which they grasp in faith, He pronounces them righteous, receives them into grace, and adjudges them to be heirs of eternal life. This is certainly the judicial meaning of the word 'justification,' in almost the same way that a guilty man who has been sentenced before the bar of justice is acquitted."

Martin Chemnitz, Loci Theologici, 2 vols., trans. J. A. O. Preus, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1989, II, p. 482. Ephesians 2:4



"Yet these exercises of faith always presuppose, as their foundation, that God is reconciled by faith, and to this they are always led back, so that faith may be certain and the promise sure in regard to these other objects. This explanation is confirmed by the brilliant statement of Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:20: 'All the promises of God in Christ are yea and amen, to the glory of God through us,' that is, the promises concerning other objects of faith have only then been ratified for us when by faith in Christ we are reconciled with God. The promises have been made valid on the condition that they must give glory to God through us."

Martin Chemnitz, Loci Theologici, 2 vols., trans. J. A. O. Preus, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1989, II, p. 495. 2 Corinthians 1:20



"Therefore this apprehension or acceptance or application of the promise of grace is the formal cause or principle of justifying faith, according to the language of Scripture."

Martin Chemnitz, Loci Theologici, 2 vols., trans. J. A. O. Preus, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1989, II, p. 502.



"We must note the foundations. For we are justified by faith, not because it is so firm, robust, and perfect a virtue, but because of the object on which it lays hold, namely Christ, who is the Mediator in the promise of grace. Therefore when faith does not err in its object, but lays hold on that true object, although with a weak faith, or at least tries and wants to lay hold on Christ, then there is true faith, and it justifies. The reason for this is demonstrated in those lovely statements in Philippians 3:12: 'I apprehend, or rather I am apprehended by Christ' and Galatians 4:9: 'You have known God, or rather have been known by God.' Scripture shows a beautiful example of this in Mark 9:24: 'I believe; help my unbelief.'"

Martin Chemnitz, Loci Theologici, 2 vols., trans. J. A. O. Preus, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1989, II, p. 503. Philippians 3:12; Galatians 4:9; Mark 9:24.



"For we are not justified because of our faith (propter fidem), in the sense of faith being a virtue or good work on our part. Thus we pray, as did the man in Mark 9:24: 'I believe, Lord; help my unbelief'; and with the apostles: 'Lord, increase our faith,' Luke 17:5."

Martin Chemnitz, Loci Theologici, 2 vols., trans. J. A. O. Preus, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1989, II, p. 506 Mark 9:24; Luke 17:5.



"But because not doubt but faith justifies, and not he who doubts but he who believes has eternal life, therefore faith teaches the free promise, which relies on the mercy of God for the sake of the sacrifice of the Son, the Mediator, and not on our works, as Paul says in Romans 4:16: 'Therefore it is of faith, that the promise might be sure according to grace.'"

Martin Chemnitz, Loci Theologici, 2 vols., trans. J. A. O. Preus, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1989, II, p. 507. Romans 4:16



"Thus when we say that we are justified by faith, we are saying nothing else than that for the sake of the Son of God we receive remission of sins and are accounted as righteous. And because it is necessary that this benefit be taken hold of, this is said to be done 'by faith,' that is, by trust in the mercy promised us for the sake of Christ. Thus we must also understand the correlative expression, 'We are righteous by faith,' that is, through the mercy of God for the sake of His Son we are righteous or accepted."

Melanchthon, Loci Communes, “The Word Faith.” Cited in Martin Chemnitz, Loci Theologici, 2 vols., trans. J. A. O. Preus, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1989, II, p. p. 489.



Jacob Andreae, Concordist



"Concerning the article on the justification of the poor sinner in God's sight, we believe, teach, and confess on the basis of God's Word and the position of our Christian Augsburg Confession that the poor, sinful person is justified in God's sight—that is, he is pronounced free and absolved of his sins and receives forgiveness for them—only through faith, because of the innocent, complete, and unique obedience and the bitter sufferings and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, not because of the indwelling, essential righteousness of God or because of his own good works, which either precede or result from faith. We reject all doctrines contrary to this belief and confession."

Jacob Andreae, Confession and Brief Explanation of Certain Disputed Articles. Cited in Robert Kolb, Andreae and the Formula of Concord, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1977, p. 58.



"Indeed, it has been proved more than sufficiently from the Scriptures of the prophets and apostles in the Old and New Testaments that the righteousness which avails in God's sight, which poor sinners have for comfort in their worst temptations, cannot and should not be sought in our own virtues or good works; nor will it be found there, as was proved above against the papists. Instead, it should be sought only in Christ the Lord, whom God has made our righteousness and who saves all believing Christians and makes them righteous through knowledge of Him."

Jacob Andreae, The First Sermon, On the Righteousness of Faith in God's Sight. Cited in Robert Kolb, Andreae and the Formula of Concord, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1977, p. 67.



"That is enough on the first article concerning which the theologians of the Augsburg Confession have quarreled with each other. Although it was a very scandalous controversy, nonetheless God, who lets nothing evil happen if He cannot make something good out of it, has produced this benefit for His church through the controversy: The chief article of our Christian faith, on which our salvation depends, has been made clear, so that there is not a passage in the Old or New Testament which has not been considered and discussed."

Jacob Andreae, The First Sermon, On the Righteousness of Faith in God's Sight. Cited in Robert Kolb, Andreae and the Formula of Concord, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1977, p. 76.

Robert Preus, the UOJ Critique

Universal Objective Justification advocates, called Enthusiasts in the Book of Concord, have the same story, which revolves around a peculiar doctrinal error
from 1850 on.

From Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant (second edition):

However, Preus clarified the true meaning of justification in his final book, Justification and Rome, which was published posthumously. Preus wrote this definitive comment:

"But the imputation of Christ's righteousness to the sinner takes place when the Holy Spirit brings him to faith through Baptism and the Word of the Gospel. Our sins were imputed to Christ at His suffering and death, imputed objectively after He, by His active and passive obedience, fulfilled and procured all righteousness for us. But the imputation of His righteousness to us takes place when we are brought to faith."

Preus immediately followed the statement above with a quotation from Quenstedt, one of his favorite orthodox Lutheran authors:

It is not just the same thing to say, “Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us” and to say “Christ is our righteousness.” For the imputation did not take place when Christ became our righteousness. The righteousness of Christ is the effect of His office. The imputation is the application of the effect of His office. The one, however, does not do away with the other. Christ is our righteousness effectively when He justifies us. His righteousness is ours objectively because our faith rests in Him. His righteousness is ours formally in that His righteousness is imputed to us.

Preus also quoted Abraham Calov with approval:

"Although Christ has acquired for us the remission of sins, justification, and sonship, God just the same does not justify us prior to our faith. Nor do we become God's children in Christ in such a way that justification in the mind of God takes place before we believe."

Original LCMS Catechism, 1905:
Justification by faith, in the original sense, was taught in the official catechism of the Missouri Synod, and then was gradually changed:

#305 Why do you say in this article: I believe in the Forgiveness of Sins? Because I hold with certainty that by my own powers or through my own works I cannot be justified before God, but that the forgiveness of sins is given me out of grace through faith in Jesus Christ. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also true justification. Psalm 130:3-4; Psalm 143:2; Isaiah 64:6; Job 25:4-6 (Q. 124).

Brian Mueller, New Boss at Grand Canyon University: LCMS Background

Mueller, former boss of the University of Phoenix, credited with moving UOP Online to amazing levels of growth (300,000 total students),
is now at GCU.

Video Link Now Available
From the first Chapel of the 2008/2009 school year…
with CEO Brian Mueller!

Click Here to view:

Brian Mueller joined Grand Canyon University in 2008, and brings over 25 years of teaching, enrollment, and leadership experience in higher education to his position of Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Mueller graduated from Concordia University with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with majors in Theology and History, and a Master of Education. Centered in Seward, Nebraska, Concordia’s Mission Statement is to be a Christ-centered learning community for students preparing to be dynamic servant leaders in the church and world. Mr. Mueller spent 7 years as a high school instructor in the areas of History, Theology, Sociology and Psychology, as well as being the head basketball coach. He taught in a Catholic school in Michigan for 2 years, followed by 5 years at a Lutheran High School in Colorado. In 1983, he accepted a position as Head Basketball Coach for Concordia University, where he also taught in the Education Department for 4 years.

Texas Free Conference

The schedule and papers (linked) can be found here.

Daniel Preus, et al.

Dan was First Veep of Missouri, pushed out by the Kieschnazis in spite of saying nothing and doing nothing for the entire term.

***

The site still has this note: "There is also a lot of written material, anti-CG, anti-unionism, Means of Grace, on Pastor Gregory L. Jackson's site, http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Pantheon/7366." That site is so old I do not know how to log on anymore. I am guessing it was done around 1999.

The Sleep of Reason

The Sleep of Reason, by Goya

KJV Luke 16:8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

Several sources in WELS have told me that "calls are few and far between now."

I was astounded. "How can that be, after 30 years of Church Growth in WELS?" The WELS schools are all in trouble with sky-high tuition. Parochial schools are closing faster than bars after a Carry A. Nation visit. Congregations are merging to disguise how many are failing.

My quip drew a "LOL" from Pennsylvania. Finally the Wisconsin Sect went sour on their Church Shrinkage Movement. As Jesus admonished us, the non-believers are often wiser than the Christians.

Non-believers would have canned or caned the Church Shrinkage leaders for their poor results. All those CGM clowns ever talked about was growth, but they never produced the statistical growth they used to swat the conservatives.

Non-believers would have asked, "Why did we do so well previously when we are hitting the skids now?"

Reason must be captive to the Word, but that does not mean we should abandon common sense.

The Church Shrinkage leaders were never for anything. They were and are against:

1. The Lutheran Confessions;
   
2. The Inerrancy of the Bible (in lock-step with Fuller);
   
3. The Clarity or Perspicuity of the Word (g-r-e-y areas of Scripture, dontcha know);
   
4. The Efficacy of the Word;
   
5. The Means of Grace;
   
6. A scholarly educational system (because any idiot can be a Church Shrinker).

Church Shrinkers are definitely for unionism. Apostates are unionists; unionists are apostates. Reu had that figured out 100 years ago. A True Blue WELS member can listen to a Roman Catholic priest teaching the Word at a WELS college (WLC) and say, without blushing, "That c-a-n be understood correctly."

Church Shrinkers say they want love, but they really promote hatred. That is why I call the WELS headquarters The Love Shack. Church Shrinkers are angry, hateful, and completely intolerant of anyone who disagrees with them in the slightest. While crying out "Slander! Eighth Commandment! Matthew 18!" they violate the laws of common decency with their facile fabrications.

Contending for the Faith

"The sleep of reason breeds strange monsters."
Title of a famous painting.

Apostasy did not take over the Purple Palace, or ELCA's highrise, or the Little Schoolhouse on the Prairie, or The Love Shack by accident. Two forces worked together in each case.

1. One was the zeal of the apostates, who for various reasons, hated the Faith and wanted to convert the synod to their causes.
   
2. The other was the lethargy, indolence, timidity, and ambition of the conservatives, who gladly exchanged their doctrinal birthright for a bowl of soup, whether the bargain was a call, a committee position, or synodical prestige.

Pope Kieschnick was working on his goals many years ago when he eyeballed Herman Otten and said to him, "So you are the man who makes or breaks synodical presidents?"

Now Pope Jerry the Omnipotent has over-reached himself. Missouri may toss him out, but his supporters will unite behind Kieschnick. The question is whether self-congratulating conservatives can overturn the Kieschnick machine when apostates unite around causes while conservatives divide according to personalities.

The only chance for reform may be in the Wisconsin Sect, where SP Mark Schroeder is making some progress at The Love Shack. Various reports from all over WELS tell me the laity and pastors are pleased with his leadership. The Mueller-Gurgel-Valleskey combine is not going to accept defeat quietly. The Church Shrinkers have placed their men and women all over the synod. They work lock-step in forwarding their agenda, which is anti-Lutheran, anti-Means of Grace, pro-unionism. How else can one explain Wisconsin Lutheran College (home of Church and Change) inviting a pedophile Roman Catholic archbishop to give a special lecture?

Working against WELS is that old habit of keeping incompetents in office, because tossing them out suggests an error was made. Gurgel was the dream candidate of conservatives a few years ago, as I love to remind certain people. Wayne Mueller was so bad that WELS broke its own rule and voted him out as synod first veep, only to have the winner tuck tail and run from office, letting Mueller return as "re-elected" - when in fact he was unelected.

Contending for the faith is the only issue. Whenever someone tries to promote another aspect of false doctrine, in any given synod, the wary should rise as a group and fight it down. Mostly, the contented conservatives let one person deliver the talking points alone, so they can remain under cover.

No matter how bad things are now, they will only get worse without a fight. A house does not clean itself. An engine does not repair itself. A synod does not get better and better with neglect.

Those who seem to contend alone should not despair. There is something in Shakespeare or the Bible about bearing the cross. That applies specifically to hardships accompanying the teaching of the pure Word. Not even bishops are spared (see the Episcopalian story).

God's gracious will is behind the experience of the cross. Yesterday I was recalling the absolute insanity of some people in the LCA. I am grateful that circumstances compelled me to experience the old Synodical Conference in all of its glorious decay. All of the strutting, preening, and bragging (John Seifert, John Lawrenz, Kincaid Smith) was so much hot air, but I got the chance to know sincere Lutherans. The Church Shrinkers (Kuske, Robert Mueller, Stolzenburg, Larry Olson, Valleskey, Bivens, Huebner, Roth, Werning, Hunter) introduced me to the Book of Concord in a way no graduate school could.

Alarming is the myth that synods control the ministry. Any pastor can sit down, teach the Word, and gather a congregation. Given the circumstances, defenestration is good for the resume, although a temporary setback in income. In November I will be able to make a full-time income teaching, without leaving home. Mrs. Ichabod and the Shelties think that is great.

Defenestration is the best way to pare down the Christmas card list. Real friends stick around.

Most pastors are afraid of their own synoda, but the synods should be terrified of the pastors' wrath. Let me paint a picture. Suppose I were to be invited to lecture at The Surrendered Fort, The Sausage Factory, or the Little Schoolhouse on the Prairie. Would there be massive protests, burning torches, waving pitchforks? Of course. The same thing should happen when even one point of sound doctrine is disputed anywhere at any time, from the circuit level to the carpeted and scented hallways of synodical headquarters.

Episcopal Presiding Bishop Decapitates Bishop

"Don't worry - we have your six."

SALT LAKE CITY: House of Bishops Votes to Depose Bishop Duncan 87 to 36 with Four Abstentions

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
9/18/2009

The Episcopal Church House of Bishops today passed a resolution formally requesting that the Bishop of Pittsburgh, the Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan be deposed from the Episcopal Church for abandoning the communion of the church.

By a vote of 87 to 36 with four abstentions the HOB overwhelming moved to have the evangelical catholic bishop removed as a bishop from TEC. It is now up to Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori to officially depose him. She is expected to do that before The Diocesan Convention in 2 weeks.

The Rt. Rev. Dorsey Henderson, president of the Title IV Review Committee changed his vote yes to no after the vote was taken, a source has told VOL.

Springfield Bishop Peter Beckwith described the debate for deposition as "shallow".

"They were blaming Bishop Duncan saying he needed to be deposed because he said terrible things about the House of Bishops."

"I have never seen so many retired bishops at a HOB meeting. The majority voted for deposition. The hypocrisy was incredible. They talked about standards and being accountable and holding each other accountable, but they never saw that anything they did was wrong or that they were culpable for their actions."

Beckwith rose to say that he supported a statement put out by the Bishop and Standing Committee of the Diocese of Albany that, among other things, called for an end to litigation and depositions.

"I support that document fully and without reservation. To proceed with the action will be a gross misuse of power and miscarriage of justice and will be seen by a great many as an ecclesiastical lynching. I am embarrassed to be a part of it.

The Rev. Peter Frank, Pittsburgh Communications Director said Bishop Duncan will not contest the vote. "The Standing Committee will now be the ecclesiastical authority through the diocesan convention."

The following is a list of those who voted against the motion to depose Bishop Duncan: They are Albany, Dallas, Western Kansas, Central Florida, SC, Suffragan Bishop of Alabama, Tennessee, Southwest Florida, Easton, MD, Montana, NJ, Milwaukee, Nthn. Indiana, OK, VA, RI, NW Texas, Eastern TN, Mississippi. Louisiana and Western LA.

END

PITTSBURGH: Statement from the Standing Committee
Document Actions

The Standing Committee announces its intention to function as the Ecclesiastical Authority for the Diocese.

Statement by the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh Regarding the Deposition of our Bishop, Robert Wm Duncan, Jr., by the House of Bishops - September 18, 2008.

We are profoundly disappointed by this action, and view it as yet another tragic rejection of the historic faith of our diocese and the majority consensus of the Anglican Communion.

We continue to believe that the House of Bishops has clearly misapplied and misinterpreted the canons as we stated to the Presiding Bishop in our letter of May 28.

In light of this unfair and improper action to "depose" our bishop, we now assume our responsibility under the canons to be the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Bishop Duncan will continue to support the work of our diocese under the terms of his administrative employment agreement and within the bounds of his deposition, providing many of the services that he previously performed for the diocese. Our diocesan convention of October 4 will go forward as planned, at which the canonically required re-alignment vote will be taken.

We understand that Bishop Duncan has been received as a member in good standing of the House of Bishops of the Province of the Southern Cone. We rejoice at this news.

The Standing Committee asks that the clergy and people of Pittsburgh pray for the Duncans, the diocesan staff and the elected leadership of the diocese in the days ahead. We stand firmly on the promise of Holy Scripture found in Romans 8:28.

"We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

The Rev David D. Wilson,
President St. David's Church, Peter's Twp PA
The Rev. Karen B. Stevenson
Trinity Church, Washington PA
The Rev. Geoffery W. Chapman St. Stephen's Church, Sewickley PA
Mr. Wicks Stephens, Secretary Trinity Cathedral, Pittsburgh PA
Dr. Theresa T. Newell St. Stephen's Church, Sewickley PA
Mrs. Gladys Hunt-Mason St. Stephen's Church, McKeesport PA
Mr. Kenneth Herbst St. Peter's Church, Butler PA

*****

STATEMENT OF JOHN H. LEWIS, JR. ATTORNEY FOR BISHOP DUNCAN

The so-called "deposition of Bishop Duncan is illegal, unfair, and unchristian.

It is illegal because it violates numerous Canons of The Episcopal Church:

1) There has been no "abandonment." Past precedents of the Episcopal Church show that the "abandonment" Canon cannot be used to punish a Bishop's intentions;

b) The Canons require that any facts be considered by a Review Committee. Here, the Presiding Bishop has used facts from the committee she created to seize the property of orthodox dioceses and parishes;

c) The Canons require that a Bishop be inhibited before the matter can be submitted to the House of Bishops. Bishop Duncan was not inhibited; and

(d) The Canons require that any vote to depose must have the vote of the majority of Bishops entitled to vote. Here, the vote was only by a majority of those present.

It is unfair because Bishop Duncan was denied his fundamental right - the right to a church trial. He has been denied that right because the Presiding Bishop believes that his "deposition" will assist her in her desire to seize the property of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

It is unchristian because Bishop Duncan is being punished for his faithful submission to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

*****

BISHOP DUNCAN'S STATEMENT ON HIS "DEPOSITION"

It is a very sad day for The Episcopal Church. It is a sad day for me, a faithful son of that church.

Nevertheless it is also a hopeful day, hopeful because of the unstoppable Reformation that is overtaking the Christian Church in the West. It is also a hopeful day for me personally as I am unanimously welcomed into the House of Bishops of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, an act applauded by Anglican archbishops, bishops, clergy and people all around the world.

The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh will move forward under its new Ecclesiastical Authority, its Standing Committee. That body will carry the diocese through to our realignment vote on October 4. With the success of that vote, it will be possible that we be joined together again as bishop and people.

I offer my deepest thanks to the company of saints all around the globe who have sustained me, my work and all who are dear to me in these days.

Robert Duncan
END

International Finance Meltdown

If only this worked with the finance people.

The first hint of the mortgage meltdown came to me when I was teaching a supervisor in building homes. He was firing crews right and left. "No one can afford our homes. There will be a big sell-off at the end of the year." That was the end of 2006. Then a friend told me the subprime money funds had evaporated in early 2007. Soon the dominoes started to fall.

Now, almost two years later, world finance has come unglued, after several massive interventions. One person explained it well to us non-experts. The go-go banks started with $1 and borrowed $40 against it. They bought mortgage bundles with the $40 but found the bundles were worth $17 when the underlying liar-loans began to stink. Now they had lost their initial $1 and owed $40 for $17 worth of securities. Meltdown.

The Western governments are using their treasuries (our taxes) to bail out these improvident bankers. I do not have an MBA, a CPA, or a business degree, but I was shocked that all the major banks were giving mortgages to people without having their income verified. In Phoenix everyone was buying homes with liar loans and flipping them for a quick profit to other fools. Like all pyramid schemes, they ran out of fools all at once. A lot of homes were sold to illegal immigrants, using teaser rates, so the officers knew that the homes would be foreclosed in one year or two. Most Mexicans, especially illegal Mexicans, do not make enough money to afford a home. Loan officers who objected to this fraud were by-passed.

In my memory we have had the commercial property/ savings and loan meltdown, where the federal government arranged a massive bail-out, though nothing like the current one. Before that Carter froze bank accounts because of banks' greed or incompetence. We also had the bail-out on Mexican loans, where the government gave Mexico $40 billion to pay their loans, in effect giving American banks $40 billion.

The new bail-out will subsidize the entire world economy and soak up tax dollars for many years to come. Interest rates will be almost zero for some time to come. All securities have lost value. Right now people are buying US obligations that pay virtually no interest, just to be safe.

These developments will have profound effects on synodical funds and people's retirement. A number of people have told me how everyone is very cautious about spending anything.

Just before the meltdown became obvious to the average person, Wall Street gave itself $65 billion in bonus money, then began reporting huge losses (which were not even close to the truth). The excuse was - "We have to reward performers to keep them working for us." I imagine the bonus babies were the financial geniuses who ran Bear Stearns (now gone), Lehman Brothers (dead after 150 years), AIG (80% socialized by the feds), and Merrill Lynch (sold to prevent bankruptcy). Some think CitiBank will fold or combine. Washington Mutual is on the ropes already.

One professor jumped me in the teacher's lounge. He said, "I can never retire now. Have you lost anything in the market?" That was a year ago.

I said, "Not a dime. I had nothing in the market."

I plan on working as long as I can, deo volunte. Online teaching and publishing are ideal for that plan. I wonder if anyone will trust the financial institutions again. I had a bit of trouble cashing an out of state check. The credit union teller said, "Have you cashed checks from this source before?"

I said, "Don't worry. It's not an AIG check."

In 1988 I used my two favorite bank jokes, which are only good during a crisis.

One - "I stopped at my bank today and they couldn't cash a $20 bill."

Two - "I got a new account at Chase yesterday, but I had to give them a toaster."

The cashier at Sam's Club laughed out loud. Now the jokes are funny again, but people will suffer because of it, far more than ever before.

My father had an expression he used whenever the weather was bitterly cold in Moline: "It's colder than a banker's heart today."

---

PS - How much will he make this year?

Question/Comment: Last year Lehman Brothers' CEO Richard Fuld, Jr. made $71 million. Today his company collapsed. How much will he make this year?

Paul Solman: I don't know about this year. You've covered last. In 2006, according to Forbes.com, he was the 5th highest-paid CEO in America: "Total Compensation $122.67 mil; 5-Year Compensation Total $375.81 mil."

Church of England Apologizes to Darwin

Church of England apologises to Darwin

Anglican Church’s neo-Chamberlainite appeasement of secularism

Published: 20 September 2008(GMT+10)

Creation on the Web

This weekend’s feedback is in response to a number of queries about the Church of England (Anglicans) officially apologizing to Darwin. However, they don’t speak for all attenders of this church, since many of them are still faithful to Scripture and are appalled by their ‘leaders’. There are numerous mistakes in the article by the official CoE representative, a Rev. Dr Malcolm Brown, on the official CoE website, and Jonathan Sarfati replies point-by-point.

Good religion needs good science
by Rev Dr Malcolm Brown, Director of Mission and Public Affairs Church of England

The trouble with homo sapiens is that we’re only human. People, and institutions, make mistakes and Christian people and churches are no exception.

Indeed, as the CoE has officially shown with this craven apology—as if apologies for the past are meaningful, given that both Darwin and those who allegedly wronged him are long dead. And who does he really speak for? Certainly not the large numbers of Anglicans who still believe the Bible.

When a big new idea emerges which changes the way people look at the world, it’s easy to feel that every old idea, every certainty, is under attack and then to do battle against the new insights.
Such superficial psychologization may be touching, but in reality, philosopher Daniel Dennett calls Darwinism a universal acid that ‘eats through virtually every traditional concept’—mankind’s most cherished beliefs about God, value, meaning, purpose, culture, morality—everything.

The church made that mistake with Galileo’s astronomy, and has since realised its error.

The church indeed made a mistake with Galileo … adopting the prevaling scientific framework of the University Aristotelians, and adjusting their theology to fit.

It can get tedious to see compromising churchians trot out the Galileo affair as an excuse for their compromise. The church indeed made a mistake with Galileo, but exactly the opposite of what Brown thinks. The church’s trouble was adopting the prevailing scientific framework of the University Aristotelians, and adjusting their theology to fit. When Galileo challenged the prevailing scientific framework, his scientific enemies persuaded the Church that he was attacking the Bible, which he was not.

***

GJ - This is no time for tongue-clucking. The American Lutherans have not been able or willing to teach Luther's doctrine. Creation by the Word is foundational for all Christian theology. Teaching against Creation runs parallel to advocacy for soi-disant abortion and homosexual rights.

LCMS Plans Drive Swede To Drink

"A stiff one, none of that lite stuff."

Dear Greg,

You may have been made aware of the recent "white paper" sent out by Barney and his friends at the Purple Palace entitled, "Walking Together - The LCMS Future." All congregations were sent a copy of these proposals. While they are not law yet, I have little doubt that much of the document will become law in time - once the right people are directed on how they should vote when given the opportunity. Below are some of the document's highlights (better known as the means for giving greater power to Pope Jerry):

1. Creating new "executive staff" positions in each district office - executives who are "to report directly to the president of the Synod."

2. "Allow congregations with more than 750 confirmed members to be represented by two additional delegates [to synodical conventions] for each additional unit of 750 confirmed members or majority thereof."

3. "Determine each district' number of delegates according to that district's exact percentage of the total number of congregations and communicants in Synod."

4. When referring to the proceedings of a national convention, one of the regular items of business is listed as, "The Divine Call of the president, vice presidents, and secretary." (At least the Roman Pope is still elected!)

5. That conventions will take turns being "focused" and "general." Focused conventions will have their agendas determined by the Synodical President and District Presidents alone. (And you thought Vladimir Putin was a powerful dictator.)

6. "Doctrinal resolutions of special significance require a two-thirds vote for adoption." (Women's ordination, anyone?)

7. Allowing circuits to be formed by various means, including by size of congregation, affinity group, or by any other method deemed most appropriate..." (What is an "affinity group?")

8. Increasing the number of districts to 100 or reducing the number of districts to 20. (There are 35 districts currently.)

Also, there is a proposal to change the name of the synod "to better reflect who we are today."



The Swede needs a drink...

Jewish Version of Star Wars To Be Filmed

Jewbacca will take over as the star, since Hans Solo has aged considerably. 

(Associated Press) Many people thought the Star Wars franchise was at an end, with increasingly expensive, pompous, and tedious films in the can.

Hollywood moguls said, "We had a Black Wizard of Oz. Why not a Jewish Star Wars? We can have Jedi Rabbis and Iranian Stormtroopers. McCain looks just like Yoda. He could do a cameo."

Lehman Brothers promised to finance the picture by selling limited partnerships to former investors in Florida condos. For some some reason, the money has come up short so far. Still, backers are hopeful.

Jefferts-Schori Competing with Pope John the Malefactor

PITTSBURGH: Episcopal Bishop Robert Duncan Faces Judgment Day

News Analysis

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
9/14/2008

ET TU, HOUSE OF BISHOPS? It would seem so. The final betrayal, without a trial, will take place this week when bishops of the Episcopal Church take a vote to remove the orthodox Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan from ministry for abandoning the Communion of the Church, the Episcopal Church that is, not the Anglican Communion and certainly not the faith of the church which he holds more dearly than life itself.

Bishop Robert Duncan's ecclesiastical death is the clear objective of the presiding bishop. In a letter to the clergy and people of the diocese Duncan wrote, "Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori made it clear that there will be a vote to depose me from the ministry of the Episcopal Church."

The charge against Bishop Duncan, initiated by five priests and sixteen laypeople of the Diocese of Pittsburgh is led by the liberal priest and pathological opponent of orthodoxy Dr. Harold Lewis of Calvary Episcopal and an implacable foe of Bishop Duncan who has spent the last two years litigating against this godly Evangelical Catholic bishop. The "evidence" in the case put forward by the House of Bishops Property Task Force, is drawn directly from the Calvary litigation.

"We have long suspected that a principal purpose in the Calvary litigation was to have me removed, by whatever means, before the realignment vote. Whatever the purported evidence, I continue to maintain that the House of Bishops '"vote'" will be a gross violation of the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church," said Duncan.

Indeed it is. Mr. John H. Lewis, Jr. Bishop Duncan's attorney wrote VOL pointing out that the Presiding Bishop and her chancellor are violating the canons of The Episcopal Church in order to "remove" Bishop Duncan prior to the diocesan convention in October. The move is clearly political in intent and nature.

Lewis called the action "improper" because Duncan's actions are only "intentions". He cited the failed attempt to depose San Joaquin Bishop John-David Schofield, as a case in point. He further argued that both The Episcopal Church and the Province of the Southern Cone (under whose authority Duncan would come under) are members of the same "communion"- the Anglican Communion.

Lewis noted that the real intent of using this particular canon was to use the Task Force on Property disputes - not the Review Committee - for the purpose of seizing property. The Canons state that the case of an "inhibited" bishop must be referred to the HOB for action. Bishop Duncan has not been inhibited, let alone deposed. Jefferts Schori tried once before to inhibit him, but failed to get the consent of three senior bishops so had to drop it, albeit temporarily. Now she has returned with a vengeance.

"In these circumstances, I concur with my Chancellor and the Parliamentarian that any ambiguity in the canon should be resolved in favor of making this important provision (deposing Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan) work effectively and that the discipline of the Church should not be stymied because a majority or nearly a majority of voting bishops are no longer in active episcopal positions in the Church and their attendance at meetings is hampered by age, health, economics, or interest in other legitimate pursuits," wrote Jefferts Schori. You can read her full statement here: http://tinyurl.com/55bk3l

Back wrote Lewis, "The canons clearly distinguish between a majority of those present (the requirement when acting on a bishop's request to resign) and a majority of bishops entitled to vote (the standard for deposition) it also is reasonable that there would be a higher standard for involuntary separation. The presiding bishop concedes an 'ambiguity' but says that the Canon has to mean what she says it means in order for it to 'work effectively'. In other words, she doesn't have the votes to depose Bishop Duncan so the canon has to be twisted in order to achieve her goal of removing Bishop Duncan before the diocesan convention."

The Presiding Bishop is out for blood and won't rest till Duncan's ecclesiastical head is removed from his shoulders and is out of the diocese. She has neither civility nor polity on her side, just raw vengeance. "If the presiding bishop really believes that Bishop Duncan's statements and 'intentions' violate the canons, then she should follow the honorable course prescribed by the canons, announce a presentment and give him a trial," Lewis blasted back.

That, apparently is the last thing Jefferts Schori wants. She rules the House of Bishops with a rod of iron. Few, if any, bishops will stand up to her. She makes her predecessor Frank Griswold look like a declawed pussycat. He hated confrontation. She wallows in it.

"There are two things I would say, and one thing I would ask. First, whatever happens on Thursday as to my status, the Diocese will carry forward under rules long-ago established. If I am 'removed,' the Standing Committee will be the Ecclesiastical Authority", said Duncan.

The Pittsburgh diocese is scheduled to vote Oct. 4 at its diocesan convention on whether to secede from the Episcopal Church and realign with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone in South America. While there are two factions opposed to leaving TEC, the overwhelming majority stand with Bishop Duncan.

Duncan said in his letter that even if he is removed, leaders of the Pittsburgh diocese will carry on with the secession vote. Duncan and his supporters say that the U.S. church's consecration of an openly avowed non-celibate priest to the episcopacy in the person of Gene Robinson was the final line in the sand.

Duncan's opponents have made it equally clear that even if a majority of Pittsburgh Episcopalians vote to withdraw from the Episcopal Church, the National Church will continue to have a Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Several hundred Pittsburgh Episcopalians met at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Mt. Lebanon on Saturday and said they planned to stay with the Episcopal Church

"The beginnings may be a trifle rough but we have the will and the people to proceed," said Mary Roehrich, a member of St. Andrew's Church in Highland Park. "...This diocese will not be liberal or conservative. It will have significant numbers of people of all theological stripes," said one newspaper report.

The presentation was made by an organization called Across the Aisle, a coalition of clergy and lay people that formed seven months ago, after Duncan announced he would seek to have the Pittsburgh Diocese break from what he feels is a liberal-leaning Episcopal Church.

Across the Aisle has "made a first cut at a budget and, in so doing, have made support for parishes, parish initiatives and mission development a high priority," said Joan Gundersen, a member of the Church of the Redeemer, Squirrel Hill.

A standing committee of four lay people and four clergy will lead the reorganized diocese until a new bishop can be selected, said Rev. James Simons, rector of St. Michael's of the Valley in Ligonier and chairman of the Across the Aisle steering committee.

The legal battle over the $43 million in assets that the national church says the diocese holds in trust will become the lynchpin of the deposition of Bishop Duncan by the Presiding Bishop. Across the Aisle is working in cooperation with the national church.

Mrs. Jefferts Schori's particular animus for Bishop Duncan has no parallel. She has not gone after Ft. Worth Bishop Jack Iker, Bishop John-David Schofield (San Joaquin) or Bishop Keith Ackerman (Quincy) with the same degree of ferocity that she has gone after Bishop Duncan. There is a peculiar hatred for Duncan born no doubt because of his leadership of Common Cause Partnership bringing together orthodox dioceses and parishes in the Episcopal Church under an umbrella movement, and for his unquestioned leadership in the upcoming North American Anglican Province.

Clearly the remaining orthodox in The Episcopal Church are on a collision course with the Episcopal Church's revisionist leadership. There is no going back for either the pansexualists who are bent on moving the church forward in a direction at odds with the vast majority of Anglicans worldwide or Anglo-Catholics and Evangelicals in TEC who see little or no future for themselves in the present church. By the end of the year Anglo-Catholicism will cease to exist at a diocesan level. Then it will be Evangelicals who will face the music.

The following are confidential documents concerning the inhibition and deposition of Bishop Robert Duncan from Bishop Dorsey Henderson of the Title IV Review Committee to the Presiding Bishop.

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/DuncanCert.pdf

The following is a statement from Bishop Duncan's attorney John H. Lewis Jr.

http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=8994

The following is Bishop Duncan's Pastoral Statement to his clergy and laity

http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=8987

END

NPH - Logos Software Great with PCs

Teigen cat sulking - Mac software not ready yet.

Mark Buske has left a new comment on your post "NPH Fires Back":

Pastor Jackson,

The integration of the Logos format with word processors is nearly seamless. It works very well in the Windows environment.

Those of you with Macs will have to wait until Logos gets a more fully developed program. The Mac version is currently in alpha but is downloadable (if you want to take a look) from their site at www.logos.com.

Mark Buske
NPH Marketing Director

***

GJ - Computers are a great tool for theological research. So far I seem to be the only one to database quotations. I hope I am wrong about that. A simple database (now 31 years old) holds 3,000 quotations. I often use them to verify what has been published in the past. Books get misplaced. Journals are difficult to move. Magazines are thrown away. Conference papers may get filed, then lost. Megatron, my database, remembers.

Bailing Water Everywhere

Photo borrowed from Norm Teigen - Chicago area

Dog Dials 911 for Owner Having a Seizure

Warning - your monitor may blur while reading this.

Dog dials 911 after owner suffers seizure

Lindsey Collom - Sept. 13, 2008 10:34 PM

The Arizona Republic

A German shepherd has been credited with saving its owner from serious harm or death by placing a call to 911 this week.

Scottsdale police say a service dog named Buddy dialed emergency dispatch Wednesday when his owner, Joe Stalnaker, began to have a seizure.

Stalnaker's condition resulted from injuries he received during military service.
He adopted Buddy as an 8-week-old puppy and trained him to retrieve the phone when seizure symptoms manifest. If Stalnaker has blacked out or cannot place the call himself, Buddy uses his teeth to press programmed buttons until a 911 operator is on the line.

Buddy, now 18 months old, can be heard whimpering in an audio recording of the 911 call placed about 11:45 a.m. Emergency responders arrived at the home about two minutes later.

Stalnaker told reporters that it was the third or fourth time that Buddy has made a 911 call. A statement from Scottsdale police said Stalnaker was in the hospital for two days but has recovered.

"Buddy, he basically gives me my independence," Stalnaker said during an interview. "He's my world. He's my best friend, no question. He's always there, and I just hope I can be as good to him as he's been to me."

Rev. Bruce Becker, Church and Change: WELS Love Shack Administrator

No man can serve two masters, so which one is his favorite?

Church and Change Website
Bruce currently serves as the administrator for WELS Parish Services. He has also served as the WELS Adult Discipleship Administrator, [The Love Shack] as a parish pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church of Brillion, WI, and as a mission pastor in Springville, NY. He is married to Linda and has four children. They are members of Morning Star Lutheran Church, Jackson, WI. Bruce has been actively involved with Church and Change since 1998.

***

GJ - Note how Bruce Becker's name comes up in an old posting in denying the efficacy of the Word, which is common, perhaps mandatory, in the Church Shrinkage Movement:

A message from a WELS pastor, forwarded by an anonymous source:

“Just a quick note to keep you up to date on the current "efficacy" controversy in the WELS. Pastor Howard Festerling has now been formally suspended from the ministerium of the WELS, officially for the crime of being "divisive and contentious," contrary to Titus 3:10. But the real issue was his refusal to accept the following statement from a Conference paper by Pastor Bruce Becker, to wit:

"The proclamation of the Gospel is not always effective because of us."

He labeled Becker's comment as "heresy," and said any, including the DP, who accepted it were heretics also. After a year of maneuvering and wrangling over words, Howard is now out. He is appealing, but since they refuse to talk about the real issue and only want to discuss his "divisiveness," there's not much hope.

Many other men in the WELS know about this – [names omitted] etc... Also, many, even in Howard's own district agree with him, but are afraid to speak up. As they put it to him, "Look what happened to you!"

It is certainly yet another sad day in the WELS. The downhill grade of the slippery slope into reformed theology is increasing almost daily now. Whither WELS? Only God knows!

Have a great weekend.

END OF QUOTATION

***

Church and Change Bragging, or Confessing Their Guilt?
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.

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.

---

Lutherans Imatating (sic) Evangelicals
Craig Parton, author of The Defense Never Rests, is interviewed on KFUO. He staunchly defends the Lutheran liturgical approach to worship. Note: this is an audio file.

[GJ - Evangelicals can spell.]
---


Christian Life Resources
Christian Life Resources has information on life issues (abortion, euthanasia, infanticide) - all from a scripture-honoring perspective. Included are references to current and past news releases, Bible studies and devotions, and photos.
[GJ - Not included on the website - How to Dump Your Wife, Marry Your Secretary, and Still Lead Christian Life Resources.]

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Church From Scratch
In this project, we will start by looking at Biblical principals and Biblical approaches. Then we will examine some relevant, cultural and common-sense truths and misconceptions that pertain to ministry. Then we will look at what God’s people, families, non-Christians and Families of disciples truly need to know God and carry out his ministry. After that, we will use these principals to consider some possible approaches to ministry. It is our prayer that this project brings glory to God and can help in some small way to further revitalize the ministry of God's Church among us in America.

[GJ - Scratch is a synonym for Satan, so this is aptly titled.]

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Church and Change Idea Exchange (Bad news -
This is just a small sample)
Church in Trouble? Conference Breakout 101.... Extreme Makeover: Church Edition

Pastor Adam Mueller


Is your congregation stuck in the mud? Has attendance plateaued? Are offerings stagnant? Maybe your congregation needs an extreme makeover.

Email: pastormueller@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.crosswalkinlaveen.org/

[GJ - Adam is the son of Wayne Mueller, ex-VP.1 of WELS]

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Churches - How to Build One From Scratch
Pastor Jeff Gunn


Crosswalk - Phoenix, AZ
Pastor Gun is also a great resource for:

Marketing a Church a Target Community
Small Groups - Starting them Successfully
Contemporary Music - Doing it up
Outreach Methods - Getting Involved
Researching Alternative Ministry Methods and Models - How To Do It and Pull Workable Ideas From It

Email: jeff@crosswalkinlaveen.org
Website: http://www.crosswalkinlaveen.org



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Conference Keynote Speaker: Breakthrough Thinking in WELS Ministry
John Di Frances


From John’s experience, the Evangelicals are great at connecting with people, but are often lacking in the depth and solid foundation of biblical truth. John joined a WELS congregation because he is convinced that WELS teaches the truth of God’s Word. But he has also observed that WELS isn’t necessarily very good at connecting with and engaging people or being seen as relevant to life today by non-Christians. John is personally convinced that WELS can impact our world in ways that surpass the impact of the Evangelical movement. But to do so will require some break-through thinking.


Email: jdf@difrances.com
Website: http://www.difrances.com



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Congregation -Conference Breakout 103.... Growing Your Congregation’s Staff from Within
Dr. Lawrence Olson (DMin, Fool-er Seminary)


The WELS Congregational Assistant Program (CAP) encourages and equips members, men and women alike, for a broader ministry within a congregation.
WELS Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI), which guides and assists men from a broad cultural spectrum through their pre-seminary and seminary training.

Email: OlsonLO@mlc-wels.edu

Website: http://www.fuller.edu----------------------------------------

Contemporary Music - Doing it up
Pastor Jeff Gunn


Crosswalk - Phoenix, AZ
Pastor Gun is also a great resource for:

Marketing a Church a Target Community
Small Groups - Starting them Successfully
Outreach Methods - Getting Involved
Churches - How to Build One From Scratch
Researching Alternative Ministry Methods and Models - How To Do It and Pull Workable Ideas From It


Email: jeff@crosswalkinlaveen.org
Website: http://www.crosswalkinlaveen.org/



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Contemporary Worship - Conference Breakout 501....
Creating Irresistible Environments with Contemporary Worship


Pastor John Parlow

Explore transferable principles that will help you build a church for outsiders to come to and hear truth that makes a difference now and for eternity. Now is the time to shed ethnic rationalizations, personal preferences, and doomsday attitudes that are offered as excuses for outreach failures. The truth is the Gospel is timelessly relevant, the church and its representatives may or may not be relevant; the Gospel is timelessly efficacious, the church and its representatives may or may not be effective. Let’s talk about building ministries that are dangerously Christian. [GJ - Confidential to Parlow and Kelm. Plagiarism is against the law, dangerously so.]

If you are interested in getting your hands on this conference workshop PowerPoint or want more information, email the speaker by selecting the link below!

Email: john.parlow@stmark-depere.org
Website: http://www.stmarkpartners.org



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Contemporary Worship - Conference Breakout 506....
Your Guide to Starting Your Own Alternative Worship Experience


Pastor James “Ski” Skorzewski and Staff Minister Brian Davison

Changes are taking place in the worship world. There still remains a strong interest in blended and contemporary worship among many in our midst. A number of WELS congregations have been conducting blended or contemporary services for years. This workshop will provide help and guidance from someone who has undertaken the process at St. Marcus in Milwaukee. Topics to be discussed include how to begin a blended/contemporary service in a small/traditional congregation so that everyone is blessed; recruiting musicians, vocalists, and technical persons; equipment needs; stage presence; best music to use at the start; copyright matters; music/worship sources (websites, friends, etc…); use of contemporary liturgies; establishing a WELS network for those interested in helping each other with materials, ideas, and encouragement; and the awakening need for more joyful experiential worship in our midst.

If you are interested in getting your hands on this conference workshop PowerPoint or want more information, email the speaker by selecting the link below!

Email: brian.davison@stmarcus.com, james.skorzewski@stmarcus.com
Website: http://www.stmarcus.com



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Corporate Ministry - CEO
Brian and Tracy Lampe


It is hard to recognize that relationships should be encouraged and that work life needn’t be separate and distinct from one’s personal life. In truth, we all bring our personal lives to work each day and often talk about them with our colleagues. Even those who don’t share what’s going on outside the workplace bring their moods or attitudes to the office. Leaders and managers recognize that each employee is a whole person with a private life that accompanies him or her to work. Ignoring this reality prevents office and its staff to maintain a prepared, productive, and polished team.

CEO also has programs for:
Men's Ministry
Student's Ministry
Couples Ministry
Parent's Ministry

Email: Brian@CEO-Ministries.com
Website: http://www.ceo-ministries.com/corporate.html



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Couples Ministry - CEO
Brian and Tracy Lampe


The Lampe’s vision is for every home to be impacted with God’s love and to mature. You will hear life changing results as they share the victories through Jesus in their marriage and to be able to minister truth and healing to other marriages.

CEO also has programs for:
Men's Ministry
Parent's Ministry
Students Ministry
Corporate Ministry

Email: Brian@CEO-Ministries.com
Website: http://www.ceo-ministries.com/couples.html



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Creative Arts
Jonathan Favorite


Director of Worship Arts
Crosswalk - Phoenix, AZ

Jonathan specializes in getting the talent excited with a church. Starting groups for:
Music
Techs
Graphic Arts
Video Production
Photography

Phone: 602-304-0072
Email: jonathan@crosswalkinlaveen.org
Website: http://www.crosswalkinlaveen.org/



-----------------------------------------




Feature Contact______
Graphic Arts
Jonathan Favorite
Director of Worship Arts, Crosswalk - Phoenix, AZ

Jonathan specializes in getting the talent excited with a church. Starting groups for:
Music
Techs
Creative Arts
Video Production
Photography

Phone: 602-304-0072
Email: jonathan@crosswalkinlaveen.org
Website: http://www.crosswalkinlaveen.org