Victory of the Penguins

Victory of the Lamb - Church and Changers:

Sunday was our very first Bible Quest at Showtime Cinema. We lerned (sic) how penguins teach us to care for other. Philippians 2:4 “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Victory of the Lamb
Victory's first Worship at Showtime was a big hit. Come back again this next Sunday for worship at 9:30am but make sure you come early for Fellowship by 8:45am or whenever you can.Sun 7:57pmVictory of the Lamb

(Tim) I just want to thank everyone who helped out today. It was great to see it all come together. I walked into the Theater at 7:30 and had my nose involved in setup inside and walked out at 9:00am to see the lobby transformed. I saw phenominal (sic) work on setting up the electronics. everybody pitched in and it was great...I only wish we could have had the same crew working on my lawn this fine day.

Bible Quest

Please Read This: Veterans of Drive 08 and 09, Willow Creekers, and Fullerites

Martin Chemnitz, editor of the Book of Concord,
primary author of the Formula of Concord,
student of Luther and Melanchthon

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Doug Englebrecht - It's 10 PMDo You Know Where You...":

Two years ago I joined the local WELS church after having been Baptist most of my life. I do believe what I was taught in confirmation classes and could see where my old church had gone astray. I am sad to watch as my new church is drifting slowly but surely to look and act exactly like my old church. What is the alternative? I am at a loss.

***

St. Paul, Muskego (WELS) has the logo for Fireproof Your Marriage on its front page. The graphic boasts that the movie came from the same folks who produced Facing the Giants. For those who missed Facing the Giants, the plot revolves around a football coach at a Christian academy who has a losing team, a disastrous car, a childless marriage, and a bummed-out look on his face all the time. He yields himself to God (the only sacrament among the Reformed) and:

1. His wife gets pregnant.
   
2. His team starts winning.
   
3. Grateful parents buy him a brand-new truck.
   
4. The entire campus of the school breaks into little prayer groups.
   
5. He smiles.

Needless to say, Peter Pan-denominational is a Church and Change activist, using The Simple Church, which is--naturally--Babtist.

Why the Shrinkers Cannot Win, If the Word Is Applied

The Shrinkers of Church and Change get their power from the gullibility of members and pastors, but also from their proven history as liars, bullies, and slanderers.

One pastor said that he is like many others, afraid to lose his position by speaking out. Why is that? Read a few nasty-grams from the Shrinkers. They never disclose their names, but they are busy on the legendary WELS grapevine spreading stories about anyone who dares to question them while covering up for their pals.

Some may imagine that Ski, Glende, Buske, and Katy are the only WELS workers coming back from Drive 09, the Babtist conference in Atlanta. Since Parlow went to the last one, we can assume plenty of the Chicanery leaders were there as well. They identify with the Babtists. They read Babtist books (when they read), listen to Babtist tapes and podcasts, and buy Babtist programs.

The Shrinkers are Pietists, not the Biblical Lutherans they pretend to be. They cannot abide being examined by someone who knows comparative dogmatics. (Nota bene: they cannot spell comparative on their own website. They cannot do what they cannot spell.)

If a Doctrinal Pussycat cannot expose the doctrinal errors of the Shrinkers, he could leave the ministry because he is not "apt to teach," a requirement for pastoral ministry.

I have yet to see a single refutation from a Shrinker sent to this blog. The Church and Chicanery comments boil down to:

1. You are wrong (no reasons given).
   
2. You use lies and half-truths (no examples given).
   
3. You are a bad person.
   
4. Obscenities.
   
5. You are angry and bitter. But, I hear WELS pastors read Ichabod every day and laugh their heads off.
   
6. Bad spelling, bad grammar, bad sentence structure.
   
7. Starbucks uses real whipped cream, so you are wrong.
   
8. Britain's Got Talent is 100% honest, so you are wrong again.

Question of the Year, From Anonymous

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Cover Story versus The Facts":

Who is Brett Meyer? And what qualifies him more than anyone else to judge what the Bible has to say about justification and women participating in the worship service? It's not enough to say "I'm right and you're wrong." Show us your credentials, Brett.

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GJ - This is funnier than Anonymous saying, "You are a gutless coward." All the nasty, vindictive, and obscene comments come from Anonymous. I am sure there are a few of them with that pen name. What qualifies them? I post the comments to show what Church and Change has done for WELS.

I also get long, Scripture-filled statements on my need to repent, signed Anonymous.

When I quote the false teachers verbatim, Anonymous tells me this is a violation of the Eighth Commandment and Matthew 18. However, Anonymous knows exactly what is going on in my mind, reading my evil thoughts, and denouncing me for those imagined thoughts, feelings, and motivations.

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More toxic waste from--you guessed it--Anonymous:

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Question of the Year, From Anonymous":

My guess is, GJ, that those who don't sign their name have known you in the past. They know what kind of person you are, they know how twisted your reasoning can be, and they know how you have ruined reputations first in Christian News and now on your blog. Can you blame them for not signing their name? Everyone who has known you realizes exactly what you would do to their reputation. Don't act so naive.

***

GJ - Several things drive these people wild:

1. They do not like being found out or quoted, and quotations are my speciality.
   
2. They hate citations from Luther, Chemnitz, Chytraeus, and the Book of Concord.
   
3. They loathe the laity who have figured them out. For instance, marketing specialists know that the Shrinkers are just dabbling in marketing.
   
4. They believe, but their hides bristle (Epistle of James).

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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Question of the Year, From Anonymous":

(DEEP RESONATING VOICE)Who is Anonymous? Who beckons me forth to show my credentials?

Dear Anonymous, you ask, "what qualifies (Brett)... to judge what the Bible has to say about Justification and women (reading the liturgy) in the worship service?"

First, I'm not judging Scripture but the false doctrine of wolves who, wrapped in the freshly shorn wool of young souls, teach and practice against the Word of God. It is Pastor Schewe and his ilk that say God's Word, Christ, is unclear and grey. The very source of all Christian doctrine and the very Word of God, which is the supreme Judge and Foundation of Christian faith, has been declared muddy and uncertain by these false teachers.

Second, 1 John 4:1 says, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." Beloved refers to everyone who by grace, through faith, trusts alone in Christ for the forgiveness of sins. This is my confession and as such am included in 'Beloved' and intend to test the spirits whether they are of God. I will also speak openly, using my name, because I am confident that I confess the Words of Scripture and Christian doctrine as declared to all men in the Bible and correctly explained in the unaltered Lutheran Confessions. If I know that I speak and confess Christ's doctrines how can I not boldly do so using my real name and reject the shame that comes from fearing what the world may do to me because of my confession.

Third, I'm not the first to make these confessions of Christian faith concerning women teaching the congregation in the Divine Service. Martin Luther states in “Lectures on 1 Timothy” (Luther’s Works, Vol. 28) 1 Tim. 2:11. “Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. I believe that Paul is still speaking about public matters. I also want it to refer to the public ministry, which occurs in the public assembly of the church. There a woman must be completely quiet, because she should remain a hearer and not become a teacher. She is not to be the spokesman among the people. She should refrain from teaching, from praying (ie: leading in prayer) in public. She has the command to speak at home. This passage makes a woman subject. It takes from her all public office and authority.” The Confessions condemn UOJ as enthusiasm and the quotes supporting this are endless and can be found on Ichabod.

Fourth, although Walther taught the miserable doctrine of UOJ he did provide a faithful sermon on this very subject. Walther, "Oh my friends, if you had recognized some time ago, that the office of judge belongs by right to you, you would not have fallen into such great and so many errors. Your preachers went the way of error, and in false trust in man you followed them without first examining them. How sad the results have been! Therefore, know and guard your rights; examine everything and keep what is good. This, however, leads me to the second point of our meditation. It is this: If the judgment over the shepherds belongs to the sheep, they have to know the true doctrine and be certain of it."

Now this is just to Anonymous - you need to read this sermon. http://www.cfwwalther.com/heck/walther13.htm

In Christ,
Brett Meyer

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Ayn Rand has left a new comment on your post "Question of the Year, From Anonymous":

And tell the "original" Anonymous poster to stop stealing the opening lines of my novels.

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Stan Eukrich has left a new comment on your post "Question of the Year, From Anonymous":

I'm glad people are seizing on this useless ad hominem stuff.

Credentials? How about "literacy" for a start? I'll cook for a large party and someone will ask me, "How do you know how to cook so well?" Usually I just say, "I can read." Mr. Meyer can also read--you know, that thing we're encouraged to do with the Scriptures? It's really as simple as that.

I wish I had grown up reading the Confessions...I was WELS-educated from first to twelfth grade and I don't think I could've spelled "Concord" if you spotted me "C-n-c-r-d."

Incidentally, Acts 17 does not tell us the Bereans presented credentials to St. Paul, though this may be an argument from silence...

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KJV Acts 17:10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. 13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Question of the Year, From Anonymous":

Keep writing GJ and Brett. Everyone is able to read your vile bile and get a good sense of the sickness that permeates you both. When you have some time, paste a picture of Brett and yourself onto the southern ends of the north-bound horses. That's where they belong. You both are horse hinies and play the role equally well! Brett is not even a pretend pastor like you, Greg? He is pretty impressive! Maybe you should award him an Ichabod Jr. badge of honor!

Now, I've got to go. I'm going to make sure my wife gets the singing out her system at home, so she does not utter a sound at worship this week - you understand, that sillence thing! Shhhhhhh! Or, maybe humming is allowed since no one would confuse it with teaching? I'm going to see what Luther and Walther wrote about it. Maybe it is ok, so long as no guitar is involved? What about kazoos, are they liturgically neutral? I'm soooooooo confused!

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I. J. Reilly has left a new comment on your post "Question of the Year, From Anonymous":

I'm a bit of a newbie to this site, but I've noticed that most of the people who post do so anonymously, no matter which "side" they happen to be on. Are those on G.J.'s "side" who post anonymously doing so because they are afraid of "the other side," or are they doing so because they are afraid they'll eventually post something that will draw the ire of Gregory the Great, the Pope of Bethany? I suspect that it may be the latter.

I can't do what ten people tell me to do, so I guess I'll remain the same.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Question of the Year, From Anonymous":

I have an idea. If you would openly allow all posts to your blog be seen, without censorship or first needing approval, I am sure more people would openly post NON-anonymously.

Try it.

***

GJ - You betcha. I should let obscene material through, cussing, foul words. I am sure people would start putting their real names on those messages. They are not random messages either. They are clearly partisan, from the Church and Changers.

Also, I get messages designed merely to promote a blog or website. There is already enough spam out there.

I have an idea - start your own blog and follow your rules. Soon the potheads, dweebs, stoners, and crackheads will beat a path to your URL.

One Crusty Hold Out Against Ordaining Women Disagrees with Church and Change, WELS

A Latvian Bars Ordaining Women
By ALESSANDRA STANLEY,
Published: Wednesday, August 3, 1994


The oldest working pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia is 93. The youngest, ordained this year, is 18. The Archbishop of Latvia says the shortage of pastors in his country is so extreme that he has to take anyone he can get.

Except women.

In defiance of his predecessor in Latvia and almost all the larger Lutheran churches around the world, Archbishop Janis Vanags refuses to ordain women.

"It is true we need pastors very much," the Archbishop said, "but it is better to do without them than to do something against the will of God."

The rock-hard views of the 35-year-old Archbishop, who was elected six months ago, have bitterly divided Latvia's largest denomination. Deeper Than Usual Rift

Many other Protestant denominations are divided over the ordination of women. The Missouri Synod of the Lutheran Church, one of the largest in America, still refuses. But the rift seems deeper here, where the Lutheran Church is so closely identified with Latvian nationalism.

Mostly, the battle reflects a trend throughout the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe: Even after the collapse of Communism, faiths forged in persecution remain far more conservative than those nurtured in the West.

The issue of ordination of women is not just an internal dispute in Latvia. The issue has also alienated the Latvian-based church from branches in Europe and the Americas that were established by Latvians who fled the Communists in 1940.

This is particularly true of the American branch, a church that grew large and prosperous in exile. Talk of reuniting the Latvian church and its exile branch has stopped, and instead, some Western church leaders are quietly planning to cut back on money sent to Riga. Dispute in Estonia

The same dispute simmers in neighboring Estonia, where only 4 of the country's 100 pastors are women. But there, the Archbishop does not openly oppose ordination. In Lithuania, too, women can be ordained.

"I know of no other place where the ordination of women was started, and then stopped," said Archbishop Elmar Ernst Rozitis, who from Germany heads the Latvian Lutheran Church abroad. "At this time I see no real possibility of a resolution."

Sarmite Fisere, who became a pastor in 1989, the day the Synod in Latvia voted to ordain women, is particularly frustrated.

"It makes no sense," said Ms. Fisere, one of nine women who were ordained before Archbishop Vanags took office. He has not interfered with their work.

Latvia, with 2 million inhabitants, has about 300,000 Lutherans and only 89 ministers and 39 lay preachers to guide them. Ms. Fisere, for instance, is the only Lutheran minister in the village of Ogre (population 28,000). "The need is so deep, and the people have accepted us women completely," she said. Infecting Young Pastors

She said Archbishop Vanags's views were infecting many young pastors, who, she said, were increasingly conservative.

She said, "In my opinion, Vanags is too young and inexperienced."

Ms. Fisere and the Archbishop were seminarians together at the Faculty of Theology at the University of Latvia in the mid-1980's, in the early days of perestroika, when the authorities gingerly began relaxing the strictures against religious activity but still punished those who pursued the new freedom too eagerly.

The Archbishop, who was a chemist, said he lost his job and apartment when he began working as a lay preacher. Ms. Fisere said she was accused of anti-Soviet agitation in the seminary and was almost kicked out. They both took part in the nonviolent revolution that led to Baltic independence in 1991. At Odds With West

The Archbishop is also at odds with his male counterparts in the Western branch of the Latvian church, who have been working alongside women pastors since 1970.

"We in the exile church have put quite a bit of pressure on the Archbishop over this," said Vilis Varsbergs, a Chicago-based church leader who in August will become dean of the theological department of the University of Latvia, which is where the Lutheran seminary is situated. "But it has been resented."

Archbishop Vanags's position on the ordination of women was known before he was elected by the Latvian Synod of Bishops, and most Western church leaders favored the candidacy of Archbishop Rozitis. But most Latvians, including even liberal church leaders, preferred a lifelong resident of Latvia. Many Women in Seminary

More than a third of the students in the Lutheran seminary in Riga are women, and no one is quite certain what will happen when the first women come up as candidates for ordination.

Some could stay in academia, teaching theology. Archbishop Rozitis said he would ordain Latvian women if they came to Germany with the intention of working outside Latvia, but he said he was not ready to defy Archbishop Vanags's authority and ordain women to return and work as pastors in Latvia.

"That would start off a very tense time between our churches," he said. "It is hard to do something, and just as hard to do nothing."

Archbishop Rozitis said there was another, more drastic step.

The World Lutheran Federation, the Lutheran umbrella group in Geneva, could vote to suspend the Latvian Church, in an echo of steps taken in 1984 against two white South African churches that refused to reject their nation's apartheid system. Federation 'Not Our Pope'

But even that prospect did not seem to shake Archbishop Vanags. "I hope they will not go that far," he said calmly. "But they cannot tell us what to do. The president of the World Lutheran Federation is not our pope."

Seated beneath a portrait of Martin Luther in his office in the church consistory, an elegantly renovated building that was used as a Soviet Army barracks during the Soviet occupation, the Archbishop explained his stance.

"It's not that I don't think women are just as capable as men -- they often get better marks than men in the theological faculty," he said. "But we have to follow what the Bible tells us, we can't impose our ideas of human rights or equal rights."

The Archbishop declined to cite specific passages in the Bible that prohibit the ordination of women. "If I cite a specific passage, others would react and say it can be interpreted differently. It would not be serious." Mr. Varsbergs argued that whatever biblical strictures could be found against women as members of the clergy were the word of men -- not God. "Prohibitions against women reflected the cultural situation in Greece at that time," he said. To the conservative argument that Jesus did not have female apostles, Mr. Varsbergs replied, "If you apply that standard, then gentiles shouldn't be ordained, either."

Calling the dispute "the most divisive issue in the history of our church," Archbishop Vanags called on the other side to give in. "If I were a woman and my wish to become a pastor was dividing the church," he said, "then I would give up this demand."

Photo: The Lutheran Archbishop of Latvia, Janis Vargas, has reversed his predecessor's stand and refuses to ordain women as pastors, dividing his denomination. Recently the Archbishop said although the church needed pastors, "it was better to do without them than to do something against the will of God." (Chuck Nacke for The New York Times) Map of shows the location of Riga, Latvia.

Correction: August 9, 1994, Tuesday An article last Wednesday about the refusal of the Lutheran Archbishop of Latvia to ordain women misstated the name of the church's world body. It is the Lutheran World Federation. A picture caption with the article misstated the Archbishop's name. It is Janis Vanags, not Vargas.

ELCA Seizing Church Property

Admit it - you read Ichabod for the funny pictures posted.

Pew — this stinks! Congregation is homeless in church fight
By Mike McLaughlin
The Brooklyn Paper


The Brooklyn Paper / Kate Emerson
The congregation at Bethlehem Lutheran Church at 490 Pacific St. in Boerum Hill is now homeless, thanks to a bizarre dispute.

Mother of God! A splintering fight for control of a Lutheran church in Boerum Hill has left the dwindling congregation homeless.

Members of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church and the Metropolitan New York Synod, which oversees local congregations, have been tussling for control of the Pacific Street church for several years, but last week, the fight became public when some congregants rallied outside of the Lutheran organization’s Manhattan headquarters, claiming that the synod had seized their place of worship.

“They’ve been shut out of their own church without any recourse,” fumed the Rev. Norman David, a visiting, and renegade, pastor from Massachusetts who organized last Tuesday’s protest to regain control of the 1874 church. “The Synod thinks they can lord it over you and seize your property.”

The fight is complicated because not only is it being waged in civil court, but the two sides are contesting each other by the arcane rules of this branch of the Lutheran Church. Some of Bethlehem’s most-vocal critics want to dissolve their connection with the Synod — and need two votes by a two-thirds majority to do so.

One secession vote has already happened and a second is scheduled for May, David said.

The Synod claims that the whole congregation does not want to secede, but merely that some rogue members do. The Synod also does not recognize the outcome of the first alleged vote, nor the appeals from David and Muriel Tillinghast, the president of the Boerum Hill church’s congregation. (If her name is familiar, it’s because she was Ralph Nader’s running mate in the 1996 presidential race.)

The feud goes back to 2003, David said, when members of the congregation felt the Synod had become hellbent on shutting the church and appointed a pastor allied with the Synod leadership.

Lawsuits and countersuits followed. Events boiled quietly over in early January when the Synod changed the locks on the church, driving the small congregation to hold its services at Zion German Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brooklyn Heights.

The Synod claims the building is in disrepair and is too hazardous for the congregation, and that members of the congregation have not allowed the Synod to make improvements. However, the only complaint on file with the city’s Buildings Department says that a stone parapet, which tumbled to the sidewalk and a public parking lot in 2007, has been resolved.

David and Tillinghast said the Synod wanted to shut down Bethlehem Lutheran Church to sell the property for a handsome profit, but they’ve fought back to keep their flock intact.

“They pay their own way and hold their own services,” David said, talking about the $160,000 budget the congregation ran on in 2008.

But Tillinghast herself wants to raze the 136-year-old church and redevelop the site.

“What I’d like to do is to have a new edifice, one that is 21st century. We’re dealing with a 19th-century church that didn’t have a maintenance program. We keep it going and it’s not so bad,” said Tillinghast. “We’d like to support entrepreneurial development in our neighborhood with artists and small offices. We want the church to be a hub.”

And she and her plans, known as the so-called “Vision,” have not had the full support of congregation, which is down to about two dozen voting members last year.

No one from the Metropolitan New York Synod would consent to be quoted for this article.

Perhaps a higher power will have to intervene.


Updated 05:46 pm, April, 30 2009: Story was updated to include more context about Muriel Tillighast.

Doug Englebrecht - It's 10 PMDo You Know Where Your Pastors Are?

Doug Englebrecht, DP, Northern Wisconsin--Anything Goes--District

Glende, Ski, and Katy are larning evangelism from the Babtists in Atlanta.

Buske is there too, but he is from Milwaukee.

Ski, Buske, and Parlow were there last year for Drive 08. Have you read Ski's blog about worshiping with Andy Stanley and how awesome that was?

WELS found enough spine to shut down the Waldo Werning-Kent Hunter love fest, but promotes Babtist touchy-feely decision theology?

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Doug Englebrecht - It's 10 PMDo You Know Where You...":

President Engelbrecht:
Please act on this.

Thank-you.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Doug Englebrecht - It's 10 PMDo You Know Where You...":

Pastor Englebrecht, where are your pastors and even more importantly - where is your spine? If you are not willing to do your job, please resign and let someone who is willing to keep a close eye on wayward pastors do that job for you! These pastors who prefer to learn from people with whom WELS is not even in fellowship with should be disciplined and made an example of as to keep others from getting the same idea. I personally am on the brink of severing my own lifelong membership with the WELS. Not that I am leaving WELS but that they have left ME. I anxiously await this upcoming synod convention and expect to see a harsh condemnation of this type of activity followed by not just lip service, but serious consequence to those who would try to hijack my church now or in the future. Without that, sadly I fear I can no longer associate with a church body that doesn't practice what it preaches.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Doug Englebrecht - It's 10 PMDo You Know Where You...":

Two years ago I joined the local WELS church after having been Baptist most of my life. I do believe what I was taught in confirmation classes and could see where my old church had gone astray. I am sad to watch as my new church is drifting slowly but surely to look and act exactly like my old church. What is the alternative? I am at a loss.

Church and Change Day at Martin Luther College

Actual sign from Church Sign Generator - they spelled Babtist wrong.

Read the PDF and weep.

I have a converter and may convert the document into Word. I don't think I can convert the presenters into Lutherans.

Fireproof Babtist Film - Big Hit in WELS, Loved by FIC, Promoted by NPH

From the Editors Who Promoted Latte Lutheran Church:
Fireproof, a movie about a firefighter who is considering divorce, received mixed reviews when it was released last September. Some critics said the movie was a bit gimmicky and melodramatic; others called it uplifting and impressive. Members of Reformation, San Diego, Calif., however, saw it as a way to reach out to the community.

“It has a solid Christian message about the importance of doing marriage the way God designed it to be done and ‘fireproofing’ your marriage against the temptations of the devil, the world, and your sinful nature,” says Kevin Schultz, pastor at Reformation. So the congregation decided to organize a Fireproof campaign, complete with a six-week sermon and Bible study series on marriage.

To advertise the series, the congregation mailed out 5,000 postcards to community members. “We had 127 visitors attend, many of which were unchurched or first-time guests,” says Schultz. At the end of each sermon, Schultz gave separate assignments to the couples and to the singles in the congregation that they were to do during the week.

Overall, Schultz says reactions were positive. One couple facing difficulties in their marriage said the series reignited their desire to work on their marriage instead of giving up on it. Others said it gave them a renewed commitment to their marriage. A divorced woman from the community listened to the sermons on tape and said they taught her how to “do marriage right” if she remarried and motivated her to start attending her church regularly again.

“I think this campaign helped our congregation see once again how God’s Word can change people’s lives and, in this case, their marriages,” says Schultz. “It certainly brought a new excitement to the congregation during the six weeks of the campaign. It also provided a great opportunity for members to get involved by inviting their friends and neighbors to come and hear how God’s Word is relevant to their life today.”

Volume 96, number 3, 03-1-2009, category: news. FIC


Fireproof was advertized at Bethany, Appleton, on The CORE calendar.

Firepoof was studied at St. Marcus.

Fireproof My Marriage website

Fireproof Pietistic Cell Group Kit

Fireproof NPH kit - based on the movie. The same Babtists who did "Facing the Giants" produced this one. The cinema students in the graduate program at Regent University thought "Facing the Giants" was hilariously bad. The cinema professor agreed.

Victory of the Lamb (C and C) Tim Felt-Needs. Loving Fireproof.

Bloomington is fireproofing.

***

GJ - How about a new series? - Fireproof Your Divine Call!

The Four Horsemen of St. Marcus

Lampe, Ski, Becker, Spencer--Church and Chicanery Board Members, Past and Present--Working for St. Markus/Time of Grace, Mark Jeske.
Bishop Katy beams down on them.

KJV Revelation 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. 3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. 5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. 7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

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Anonymouse has left a new comment on your post "The Four Horsemen of St. Marcus":

GJ, have the men in white jackets come for you yet? Keep posting your terribly ridiculous pictures, and they'll be knocking on your door sooner than you think!

***

GJ - I do get a few anonymous outpatients sending comments. Thanks for the encouragement.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Four Horsemen of St. Marcus":

I love the pictures. Can't get more ridiculous than Ski's love for non-Lutherans.

How can the synod turn a blind eye to Ski? to Patterson's cloning network? to Jeske's grant mill?

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Four Horsemen of St. Marcus":

How appropriate that the rider of the black horse measures out the grains and oil (popcorn & butter) ... and that the four horsemen are galloping right off the cliff together.


+Diet O. Worms

The Cover Story versus The Facts

The CORE News and Events

(still listed as of today on their websty).

April 17
Wildwood Film Festival
The CORE will be hosting one evening of the Wildwood Flim Festival. This festival features local filmmakers and will be held on April 17th at 6:30 and 9:00 pm. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door. For more information visit www.wildwoodfilmfest.com

The Cover Story:

I. J. Reilly has left a new comment on your post "Films at the Mission Church":

The Wildwood Film Festival had absolutely no connection to the Core except that it took place in the same location where the Core is conducting its ministry. This isn't the best analogy, I know, but it's kind of like when a church will let its building be used as a polling place. Hey, I would imagine that some pretty ungodly men and women received votes that were cast in a church building. This was not an event that was promoted among its church members as a church event. I agree that the organizers of the festival should have been more careful about the films they presented in that venue, but Ski really had no idea of what the movies would be like before the event took place.

Welcome to the camp, I guess we all know why we're here!

---

The Facts:

if u r in appleton & looking for something to do tonight come on down to The CORE 4 the Wildwood Film Festival. Starts at 6:30 & 9:00
about 4 hours ago from TweetDeck

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Cover Story versus The Facts":

FACT: The CORE hosted this event and The CORE asked for its members to staff the event. It was NOT just a use of the facilities. The CORE gave approval for this function. The CORE could have denied having this held. It knew the content of the films and still hosted it.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Cover Story versus The Facts": The CORE also promoted the Wildwood Film Festival on its website.The CORE said it was hosting the event.


There's a church in the valley leased by Wildwood
No lovelier spot in A-town
No place is so dear to my childhood
As the Popcorn Cathedral of Rock.

(Oh, come, come, come, come)

Come to the church leased by Wildwood
Oh, come to the church in A-town
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the Popcorn Cathedral of Rock.

How sweet on a clear Sabbath morning
To listen to a Rock and Roll band
Its tones so loudly are calling
To the Popcorn Church built on sand.

(Oh, come, come, come, come)

Come to the church leased by Wildwood
Oh, come to the church in A-town,
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the Popcorn Cathedral of Rock.

There, close by the church in old A-town
Lies the doctrine I loved so well
We buried her beside the Willow Creek,
Cause we thought Schwaermer doctrine was swell.

(Oh, come, come, come, come)

Come to the church leased by Wildwood
Oh, come to the church in A-town.
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the Popcorn Cathedral of Rock.

There, close by the side of Craig Groeschel,
Near Driscoll, Stetzer, Stanley, and Sweet,
When they bury the last Lutheran synod,
Church and Change will shout, "That's neat!"

(Oh, come, come, come, come)

Come to the church leased by Wildwood
Oh, come to the church in A-town
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the Popcorn Cathedral of Rock.

---

Wildwood Film FestivalFriday, April 17th
Shows at 6:30 and 9:00pm
"The CORE" (formerly the Big Picture Theater)
Appleton, Wisconsin

The Northwestern

---

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Questions for DP Englebrecht and the WELS COP":

There was quite a stink here in A-Town a couple years back when the WELS congregations didn't/wouldn't/couldn't participate in a Thrivent-sponsored Habitat for Humanity drive. (Perhaps it wasn't only in A-Tizzle fo' shizzle, dawg, yo,.)

Why? Each day Habitat for Humanity opens with prayer before the hammers swing. It is contrary to our confession of faith to engage in such simple religious activity with other groups.

Yet... yet... called pastors from the Fox Valley go to outright Enthusiastic worship services -- with alter (sic) calls of public profession of faith and the laying on of hands --, exclaim about it to the www.world, seek help on how to build churches from the son of the director of the California Southern Baptist Convention, and get mezmerized by who-knows-what spirit by the awesome praize band.


Concerned WELS laymen, I'm talking to you. This is what WELS synod tolerates now. Your donations & your church's donations to synod pay the salary of the men - MEN - who are supposed to put their foot down. But they won't.

Perhaps 'tolerate' isn't the right word. WELS synod encourages it. You are the one tolerating it, with your silence.

+Diet O. Worms

---

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "The Cover Story versus The Facts":

Diet, I don't think WELS has any problem with Habitat for Humanity. Here is Pastor Mark Jeske giving the blessing with Habitat for Humanity.

Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity
Friday, May 18 - afternoon
Home Blessing
As I return to the site Friday afternoon, I see the William's new home clean as a whistle and ready for occupancy. I am introduced to Dakari, Kayin and Amaris, Gloria and Bashambas' children. They are precious. Darkari makes his first trip up the ramp constructed especially for him; he is loving it. Kayin and Amaris are bouncing around, unable to contain their excitement. Kayin pulls Carmel Builders President, Tom, by the pants leg into what will be his new room. "I'm going to paint my room blue and green—my favorite colors", he exclaims.
Crowds are gathering now - preparing for the home dedication service. County Executive, Scott Walker, along with leaders from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity and the Carmel Builders Crew to celebrate the dream of home ownership for the Williams Family. Pastor Mark Jeske from Time of Grace Ministry gives a blessing and we all give thanks!
As I listen, I am reminded that what has been built this week is more than walls and a roof. Together, many hands with one vision have built a home. In the process we have formed community and laid a foundation for community to grow and thrive. This is really what it's all about and what Habitat is all about. Helping hands pulling together to truly make a difference in people's lives.
There's no better reason to celebrate!

http://www.thriventbuilds.com/homes/diary/index.html

Although WELS themselves have said this:
"Another concern is Habitat’s desire to be an ecumenical organization, that is, an organization with “a concern to reunite the divided Christian family” (p. 80). But this reuniting is not done on the basis of a careful study of the Scriptures. In his book, Fuller approvingly quotes the slogan, “Doctrine divides, service unites” (p. 80). He says unity comes about when people of diverse religious beliefs work together to build homes for the poor. “Maybe, just maybe, God wants to use ‘the theology of the hammer’ as a means to draw his divergent family closer together” (p. 79). This statement and others like it come close to making the building of homes for the poor a means of grace." Paul Janke, pastor at St. Peter, Modesto, California

http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?1712&cxDatabase_databaseID=1&id=8719&magazine=Forward%20in%20Christ


***

GJ - I think all the DPs have had alter calls. They thought they were going to get tutored. Ditto the Sausage Factory professors.



---

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Cover Story versus The Facts":

Most of the people attending the Wildwood Film Festival could probably use a good dose of Jesus. What better way to plant a seed. But I would say by the way all of the pompous asses carry on here, you need Jesus more. Satan is crouching at your door. Read Galations 2. Then read it again. And then read it again for good measure before it is too late. I don't know, maybe it is too late. There are no hearts of Jesus here. I think the Father, Son and Holy Ghost have left for the coast...fleeing from this blog.


Needed - more relational, relevant, and real signage.

St. Marcus Leads the Way Downhill

WELS.net promotes Mark Jeske, who promotes Church and Change. Church and Change exists to lead people into the apostasy of Enthusiasm, which is always Unitarianism or worse in the next iteration.

Factoids from the St. Marcus congregational meeting, June, 2008.

1. Only 25 attended. I know mission churches with better meeting attendance.
   
2. They had a gayla community auction, which raised $170,000. Did they purchase a business license for that?
   
3. UPS Driver Brian A. Lampe is doing youth work for the congregation. He is the fourth St. Marcus person to be on the board of Church and Change. Why not just call it St. Marcus and Change?
   
4. Bishop Katie worked as a volunteer at St. Marcus before heading to A-town with Ski.
   
5. Ski's new call to A-town is mentioned and calling a new pastor.
   
6. They are Fireproofing marriages. They wouldn't be introducing Lutherans to Pietistic cells groups and Decision Theology...not at St. Marcus? I forgot - they sent Ski and Katie to Granger Community Church for training, Ski to Drive 08 for even more training, and Ski to Catalyst for dessert.
   
   ---
   
   Brian Lampe, CEO of CEO Ministries.
   
   
   From: Brian Lampe
   To: church_and_change@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Sunday, January 4, 2009 4:24:40 PM
   Subject: [church_and_change] Your (sic) invited!
   
   
   
   Generation of Reformation '09 Christian Rally
   
   March 21st 2009
   
   Best Western Suites Brookfield, WI
   
   $45.00 per person includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, beverages, and materials
   
   We are excited to announce the fifth annual Christ Empowered Opportunities Christian Rally. This workshop is designed with men and women in mind, we invite all believers young and wiser to join in the festivities on Saturday March 21st 2009 [incoherent, run-on sentence]. This year’s theme is “Generation of Reformation" You will hear an (sic) amazing message’s (sic) from Pastor Mark Jeske, Luke Thompson, Tracey Lampe, Pastor Ski from “The Core” , David Timm, Pastor Borgwardt, and Mike Nichols. Our workshops are tailored to meet and build the need’s (sic) of all Christians. What God offers us through our WELS churches is the greatest most powerful source that will impact our lives, Christ Jesus! Today is the day to break history of the restraints placed on past and today’s generations by Satan and reform our way of life through a more intimate relationship through our Savior Christ! [GJ - Say what?] We pray that God move your heart to attend our workshop, so that we can encourage and build one another in the faith that was given to us by the sacrifice of God’s own Son Jesus! You can download our flyer at CEO-ministries. com or call 414-915-3211
   
   God Bless you
   
   Brian Arthur Lampe
   
   ---
   
   "Brian Arthur Lampe delivers a one-two punch to the devil and his schemes with his high powered, enthusiastic, energetic life-applying Biblical motivational speaking. We are on a quest for authentic God. By including Brian Arthur Lampe, you will have more than just a rally or a Bible study. You and your congregation will be providing men, women, and youth with an encouraging process that teaches them how to live lives of authentic Christianity as modeled by Jesus Christ and directed by the Word of God."
   
   Christian Speaker Network describes Brian's denomination as Christian. I would add that he is an Enthusiast.
   
   
   Brian A. Lampe, CEO of CEO Ministries.

---

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Questions for DP Englebrecht and the WELS COP":

God runs all things in the universe as did the computer in the movie "The Matrix." No matter how hard C&C tries to shift that "locus of control" to themselves, they will fail.

Many Thanks To the Research Team Tonight

Irrelevant, but real and relational.

I hope you follow the Twitters I have linked on the left side of the blog. I try to keep up with various events, but the growing research team for Ichabod simply overwhelms me with new information and links. Everything I posted tonight came from those researchers. Call them Legion, for they are many. That is why Church and Chicaneries may try to shut down the leaks, but they cannot. Too many people are reporting from various locations. One expert was in awe of the research from another expert, a doctor of divinity. They do not know each other and I do not share names. People just want to get the facts out.

Church and Chicanery refused me for their odious listserve, but somehow I got their best--or worst--material anyway. I am sure they have their super-secret ultra-controlled list, but the bad news is going to come out anyway. Jeske's church is going downhill with economy. Parlow could not get his two locations united - due to lack of funds (denied anonymously, of course - thanks, John). Ski packed his CORE with WELS members and pastors (not very BM of him) and took off for Drive 09 with Katy, Buske, and Glende.

Kudu Don Patterson is a big success - at asking for money. He brags about having a big congregation with a big staff on one hand and stretches out the other hand for more synod subsidy. Someone questioned whether Patterson wants to become Synod President. I know from many credible sources that Church and Chicanery is trying to oust SP Mark Schroeder. To do that, they need a candidate. Perhaps I am wrong about their choice, but I could remedy that with an announcement from them.

Oh, I just remembered - they cannot even announce their keynote speaker in November of this year, and Babtist Stetzer got the gig in August of 2008.

They have a postcard and jpg but no speaker announced!

The buffoonery of Church and Change is shown by their list of board members. Jeff Davis, who raises money from WELS church for a percentage of the take (the Jewish method) has a photo and no bio. Ski has no photo and no bio. Brian A. Lampe has no bio and no photo. Bruce Becker disappeared from the board. All the information hidden is still available on Ichabod. Use the Google search tool at the top to find names, events, facts. That is the only way I can find things now.

The most read articles are linked on the left.

The people who have hissy-fits can disagree all they want with my opinions. I am courteous enough to link information and quote verbatim.

The difference between plagiarism and research is the citation. I do not claim the words and sermons of others as my own. The Church and Changers do, and they want big bucks for their "mission work."

Ichabod Prophesy Has Come True, Again

B-16 has a plan, and it is working well.

Pope Benedict XVI: 'Luther Was Right'
"Luther would have been amazed at the efforts of the Vatican today to put the Bible back into the heart of the Roman Catholic Church," writes Jeff Fountain of Christian Today.

Fountain reports that during Pope Benedict XVI's recent weekly public addresses in St. Peter's Square, he quoted Martin Luther in declaring "Sola fide," that salvation is by faith alone.

According to this report, Benedict affirmed that Luther had correctly translated Paul's words as 'justified by faith alone' -- the well known sola fide.

It was disagreement over the doctrine of salvation by faith that sparked the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, splitting Christianity in Western Europe. "Yet, said the Pope, it was indeed biblical to say, as did Luther, that it was the faith of a Christian, not his works that saved him."

By defining "faith" as "identification with Christ expressed in love for God and neighbor," Pope Benedict qualified his statement, noting that the Apostle Paul had written about such faith in his letters, especially the one to the Philippians.

According to Fountain, the Pope highlighted the fact that prior to his Damascus Road conversion, Paul had strictly adhered to all the Pharisaical laws and rules. However, after meeting the Lord Jesus in his vision, Paul began leading a lifestyle of faith alone.

Fountain goes on to explain that last October, bishops from around the world were called to Rome for a three-week synod to discuss how to promote prayerful reading, understanding and proclamation of God's Word. "Pope Benedict XVI himself kicked off the synod with a round-the-clock Bible reading marathon lasting a whole week, by reading the opening verses of Genesis. Twelve hundred readers took part, including Orthodox and Evangelical leaders."

"So now Benedict is personally leading the way to encourage Catholics to engage with Scripture," Fountain writes. "The theme of the synod was 'The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church.' The pope told the gathered bishops that true reality was to be found in the Word of God."

According to Fountain, the Bible Society of the UK has been assisting the Vatican to promote the reading of Scripture through the Lectio Divina Project. This resource for Catholics provides notes and prayers to go with weekly lectionary readings of the Sunda Mass. You can download this resource at http://www.biblesociety.org.uk/l3.php?id=251.

Fountain tells how he flew to Switzerland recently for an interconfessional gathering of "Together for Europe." "Talk of the synod there prompted someone to quote Cardinal Kaspers' recent statement: 'The Word divided us; the Word must unite us.'"

"We began to dream about how Christians in Europe could celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017 - less than nine years away - as a prophetic statement by Catholics and Protestants together that the Word that once divided us is now uniting us again."

Fountain concludes joyfully, "That would be a giant step toward the fulfilment of Luther's original dream of a Bible-centred Church!"

Read Jeff Fountain's full article, Luther, Rome and the Bible

---

GJ - Years ago I wrote to Father Neuhaus that he could become the pope and announce, after years of study, that Luther was right. He was skeptical about being elected, and I was skeptical about such an announcement.

B-16 is a master propagandist. The Church of Rome has been successfully appealing to Lutheran pastors, especially McCain's Missouri buddies, to sign up with the Antichrist. The Vatican simply cannot overturn infallibility and reverse course. This article is smoke and mirrors, an example of inner reservation: faith means what the pope believes - faith plus works.

Watch the Church and Chicaneries Lose Funds

St. Marcus is one of the leading Church and Chicanery congregations, with three staff members on the C and C board at one time.

St. Marcus blog:

Another Call
4/29-09 at 3:30 pm by: Paul Steinberg
We called another pastor -- for the fourth time. This time the Spirit led us to call Pastor Jared Oldenburg who serves right now in Washington State. We are praying for him to come. I am praying for him to come.

[GJ - Layman's note: "Oldenburg is the WELS pastor that
was attending Reggie McNeil's seminars and using Lyle Schaller's Parish
Paper garbage." McNeil is a BMer.]

But this call meeting was a little different. Due to loss of jobs of St. Marcus members and the down economy, our offerings are less than last year. At last Sunday's call meeting we discussed how the budget will look and saw that if a 3rd pastor does come as we pray, we will have to make cuts in order to pay him and not fall behind financially. All this is true even without Brian Davison's Wandani position being replaced. Now we will be asking our new third pastor to lead Wandani into the future where hopefully we will be able to afford a new staff person to lead it.

We'll see. There's no guarantee that this pastor will come or the next one or anyone. But there is a guarantee that the Spirit will send us the right person at the right time. That can make all of us content as we wait.

Pastor Paul

***

GJ - The bad news for the economy just keeps coming in. The FHA will have to be bailed out because they also went gangbusters into bad mortgages (Wall Street Journal report). Already the consensus is that most people lost 50% of their investments, IRAs, etc in this last meltdown.

Big congregations have large staffs, which have to be cut when a recession hits. This downturn is far more than a recession. The bad news is global and the world leadership is too incompetent or corrupt to fix matters.

St. Marcus relies on Thrivent money, lots of foundation grants, and who knows what else. The people most likely to give have been swindled out of their life savings or their jobs are threatened, or both of the above.

Also from the WS Journal: "The U.S. is expected to direct about 10 of the 19 banks undergoing government stress tests to boost their capital, a move that officials hope will quell fears about the solvency of the financial sector.

The exact number of banks affected remains under discussion. It could include Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Citigroup and several regional banks. At one point, officials believed as many as 14 banks would need to raise more funds to create a stronger buffer against future losses, but that number has fallen in recent days.

Representatives from Wells, Bank of America and Citi declined to comment."

Exponential Blogs

As you know, VP Don Patterson organized a WELS pilgrimage to the last Exponential. His response to me, so far, has been limited to writing, "You are a fool and a liar." He earned his PhotoShop bunnysuit by having a pagan Easter egg hunt at his church - to celebrate what exactly? Well, the kiddies love it. And it's not as violent or expensive as a zebra hunt.

Following are some blogs for keeping up with Exponential this year. They were supplied by a WELS layman not entirely happy with WELS Enthusiasm and those who promote false doctrine by their slavish devotion to false teachers.

Cory Whitehead has some comments on Craig Groeschel, who makes some WELS pastors hotter than Georgia asphalt.

Doug Foltz swoons about the Art of Movement. If only the Enthusiasts would teach what Isaiah 55:8-10 teaches about the Holy Spirit and the Word. But that would make them Lutherans.

Dan Mastrapa says listening to Groeschel is like "drinking from a fire hose." This site provides a whole list of bloggers blogging about Exponential.

Dave Ferguson rhapsodizes about Exponential on this blog.
WELS member: "Interesting that the Francis Chan speaker is trying turn the churches away from watching 'the numbers.' Hmmmm....."

Here is a taste of Exponential ignorance, with religious misspelled in the video:

Acts 1:8 sets the stage for a reading from "Jesus With Dirty Feet." From the opening session of the Exponential Conference. www.exponentialconference.org I think they borrowed that idea from one of Ski's sermons, about getting down in the mud. Or maybe he borrowed it from them?

Official video of Francis Chan's introduction at Exponential:

Embarrassing for all Christians. These Becoming Missionals and Emerging Church fanatics simply ooze a loathing for the Christian Church and faithful members. This is just a new marketing approach for what Fuller originally offerred - a way to topple Jesus from His throne while talking about Jesus all the time.

Questions for DP Englebrecht and the WELS COP

What does DP Englebrecht of the Anything Goes District
have to say about these questions?
Rev. Douglas J. Engelbrecht
Northern Wisconsin District President
nwdpwels@sab.wels.net
920-722-6712

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Bishop Katie Attends Drive 09 This Week: Ski, Busk...":

This is just plain wrong, Wrong, WRONG! I am outraged and saddened. We cannot trust the pastors in WELS. Why are these men not removed from WELS? Who is caring for the souls in The CORE while the pastor and assistant are gone? Why didn't this group go off to a WELS conference to study the Lutheran Confessions? I can't trust anything the WELS' pastors say anymore. The membership of WELS has been victimized by the leadership. WHY is the leadership of WELS allowing this to go on? How can the Presidents let these men take care of souls when they return? If WELS is Lutheran why are the pastors learning from prominent non-Lutherans? Why are they not learning from Scripture? Why are they learning the ways of men? Don't you know how you are confusing and driving away the very souls you once evangelized? Don't you know how much you are hurting the members? Don't you know the despair you are leading us into? Some of us have left Baptist and Evangelical churches to join WELS. We are being very very hurt by this stuff. We don't know where to turn for pastoral counsel.

---

rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Traitorous Ski, or the Enablers?":

My guess is that few congregations will give the WELS power meisters an ultimatum. There is a strong but subtle undercurrent of fear that is quite rampant throughout the synod. Most fear being given the left foot of fellowship. Remember that the divine call has a lot of human intervention from the DP's. This type of intimidation has been a long time in the making. However, we should still pray about it that the Lord will use this for the benefit of his Kingdom, no matter what the outcome.

---

Follow the WELS gang at Drive 09 on their Twitters:

Pastor Tim Glende, St. Peter's, Freedom, Wisconsin.
The 5 Seasons is a great place to debrief at the end of a great day in Atlanta.
about 2 hours ago from txt
Just had chili slaw dogs for lunch. If you are ever in Atlanta make sure you hit the Varsity.
about 12 hours ago from txt

Pastor Jim Buske (also at Drive 08), Gospel Lutheran Lighthouse.
No Tweets so far. Ski is on the Lighthouse board.

Bishop Katie, The Core, A-town.

What a night. Still trying to process @andystanley 's talk at Drive. Headed to bed and hoping I get to stay there till morning.
13 minutes ago from Tweetie
Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups. (via @tommytrc)
20 minutes ago from Tweetie
Hangin in the ATL with some great people. Yes they're out there. So awesome to be a part of the awesome things God is doing right now.
about 1 hour ago from Tweetie
@toddfields one word: phenomenal! God is great!
about 1 hour ago from Tweetie in reply to toddfields
Just talked with @loswhit. He's as real in person as he is on the web. That's good stuff. Love authentic people!
about 2 hours ago from Tweetie
"it is well with my soul"!!
about 2 hours ago from Tweetie
@tonymorganlive breakout one starts 8:30
about 5 hours ago from Tweetie in reply to tonymorganlive
Dinner at the Golden Corral. Got to have a salad. Probably the healthiest food I'll get for 3 days. I'm a happy girl now.
about 6 hours ago from Tweetie
Walk in 2 register. tell the guy we r from The CORE. He (clay) says I've been praying 4 u. pulls a card from his pocket with r name on it.
about 7 hours ago from Tweetie
Ready to take on the next three days after a nap and clean clothes. Does wonders!
about 7 hours ago from Tweetie
@loswhit I'm there #drive09
about 11 hours ago from Tweetie in reply to loswhit
First meal in the ATL - The Varsity. Now just drivin round the city.
about 13 hours ago from Tweetie
On the ground in Atlanta. Long ride to the gate now. In desparate need of a nap.
about 15 hours ago from Tweetie
Up at 2:30 and headed to the airport now for a 6am flight. Not a morning person but this is a good reason to be up early.
about 19 hours ago from Tweetie

Ski, Popcorn Cathedral of Rock, A-town.
@loswhit I'm here in the ATL 4 Drive 09
about 8 hours ago from twitterrific in reply to loswhit

This Tweet is from Carlos, on the staff at Northpoint/Buckhead:
So there you have it.
I have joined arms/signed a deal with Integrity Music to write some kick booty, make you sweat, get out of your chair and leave the church building to actually do something for the Kingdom songs.

Jay King, Stephen Brewster, Chris Estes and all the peeps at Integrity. It’s time to create culture and change the world.
And it is all going to go down here…
On ragamuffinsoul.com
You ready for the ride?
Los

---

Cost for four people?

Tuition paid to the Babtists x 4 = $1,000.
Jet fare x 4 = $2,000.
Hotel and meals x 4 = $2,000.

Thus, $5,000 (roughly) was blown on this Schwaermer conference. Compare the cost to a Lutheran pastoral conference, a fraction of the cost. But hey, how many take-aways can anyone get from one of those?

The CORE Grand Opening

This PhotoShop was prophetic, almost like Twilight Zone.

• The CORE Grand Opening
On Sunday, April 19, 2009, I returned to The CORE for the grand opening. Immediately upon entering the doors, I was hit by the smell of fresh popcorn. There was more popcorn for the grand opening of The CORE as a church than there was for the film festival, however, there were also a lot more people on hand than were there for the festival.

There was standing room only at The CORE as a large number of WELS members came to see this different style of worship. Even Pastor Ski commented on the large number of pastors in attendance.

The service began with a crystal clear projection of The CORE’s new logo on their extra-large movie screen surrounded by lightning and electricity sound effects. Immediately, it was clear that The CORE’s video was going to far surpass the quality of the video at the film festival. “Pastor Ski” (Skorzewski) then joked that The CORE doesn’t have a bell, so they use lightning and electricity sound effects instead.

The jokes and statement of mission were followed by a period of introduction and prayer. The praise band then took over with the first praise song: “God of Wonders” by Chris Tomlin.

The following player plays a low quality recording of some sample music from the grand opening: “At the Name of Jesus.”


Then there was a confession of sins called “Forgive Us, Renew Us, Lead Us,” a reading from the Book of Jonah, a collection of gifts followed by applause for the praise band, and then the sermon entitled: “Urban Legends: There are Many Ways to God.”

As part of the sermon message we watched a five minute video of Pastor Skorzewski asking people, “How do you get to heaven?” The answers were all basically the same: Be a good person. Pastor Skorzewski’s sermon did deliver law and gospel.

Here is a link to a pdf of The CORE’s grand opening bulletin along with a sermon outline:

The CORE Grand Opening Bulletin

After the sermon, Pastor Skorzewski asked the audience for prayer requests. Then after some specific prayers and the Lord’s prayer, the praise band concluded with “The Voice of Truth” by Casting Crowns. Here is the refrain and bridge from that song:

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, “Do not be afraid!”
The voice of truth says, “This is for My glory”
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth.

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth.

After this song, Pastor Skorzewski gave the Benediction, and then concluded with a number of closing comments, including giving away prizes to the winners of a number of naming contests: The winning name for the video blog was “EnCORE,” and the winning name for the newsletter was “COREspondence.”

Finally, there was a period of fellowship and food in The CORE’s lobby.

Films at the Mission Church

How man pot-smoking, tree-hugging literati joined this weekend?

Wildwood Film Festival at The CORE

My first visit to The CORE was on Friday, April 17, 2009 for the Wildwood Film Festival. I saw both film sessions at The CORE, and my favorite movie was Maine Story. The movie was shot in Maine, but the main actress was from Wisconsin, and she was talented and natural.

Some characters in Maine Story did take the Lord’s name in vain, but I was also straining to hear the dialog. I’m not sure whether The CORE or the Festival was in charge of projecting the films, but I thought the picture and sound quality were sub-par, especially during the first session. During the second session, one of the film makers yelled, “Volume!” and the volume was turned up making the second session easier to hear.

The biggest disappointment for me was Autumn. I thought this might be my favorite movie, and was looking forward to maybe fifteen minutes of sharp beautiful autumn photography. Unfortunately, Autumn seemed like it was less than 60 seconds of blurry footage. I was disappointed.

The final movie at the CORE was The Hungry Bull. The Hungry Bull is a feature length movie that was superbly acted, well directed, and was also accompanied by excellent local music. However, it was also very vulgar. Based on the previews, I was expecting the “F” word and some vulgar images, but I think The Hungry Bull set an all time “F” word world record, among other words. There was also nudity along with sexual activity on camera.

The Festival organizers said that all the films were about a PG-13 rating, but I disagreed. There was one nude scene in particular that in my opinion could have earned The Hungry Bull an NC-17 rating from the MPAA, if the movie had been rated. That scene was supposed to be funny, but there are some things I’d rather not see. Overall, I did not like The Hungry Bull because there was too much moral darkness.

A good chunk of the discussion period after the second session was about the amount of vulgarity in The Hungry Bull. The first questioner was a gentleman who indicated that he hears that sort of language at work every day, and felt that while some vulgarity in a movie can help to make a point, he thought that The Hungry Bull over did it. He also noted that The CORE was a church, and should be a place of hope, not despair. The movie makers explained their decisions to portray the characters in the way that they did, and one of the Festival organizers also noted that everything was discussed and cleared with Pastor Skorzewski in advance.

During the time period I was writing this post, Pastor Skorzewski was unavailable to comment, but Pastor Glende said that Pastor Skorzewski

did not clear everything as was claimed. One of the organizers even apologized for that movie which was so vulgar … pastor Ski didn’t approve the movie and the promises made regarding the content was not the way it played out.

The director of Happy Boy said that he had made a decision to avoid vulgar language, specifically the “F” word, because he did not want to limit his audience. Happy Boy was an amusing comedy and my second favorite picture of the Festival.

Traitorous Ski, or the Enablers?

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Baby D - With Andy Stanley,Your Drive 09 Host":

That traitorous picture of Ski in fellowship with Andy belongs in every WELS church to remind members to watch for wolves.

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GJ - Ski is just a wolf cub. The enablers, the senior wolves should have their photos in a mugshot book prepared for every Lutheran congregation. I already prepared some in the senior mugshot category.

Ski, Buske, Glende, and Katie are proof that false teachers have labored in unity for decades to bring about that kind of event, where Lutherans run to Babtists to be trained in evangelism. Patterson organized a WELS group to go to Exponential last year.

Give credit where it is due: Patterson, Valleskey, Brivens, Tiefel, Radloff, Hagedorn, Olson, Huebner, Kelm, Parlow, Witte, Wayne Mueller, and the spineless DPs who let it all happen.

Also - face the fact that apostates work together and protect one another. Conservatives form a circle and start shooting.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Bishop Katie Attends Drive 09 This Week: Ski, Busk...":

WELS, fire all traitors to the Word, now.

WELS Wins in the Courtroom, Loses in Spellcheck

"We can't teach there either?" A recent interview revealed that Sigfried and Roy are both...German.

WELS in the news
In the Feb. 2 edition of "Together," Pres. Schroeder addressed a court ruling in favor of California Lutheran High School, Wildomar, Calif., which had been sued for its decision to expel two female students for engaging in conduct characteristic of a lesbian relationship. The April 29 issue of the San Fransisco (sic) Chronicle reported that the state Supreme Court has now denied review of an appeal.

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GJ - Do locals call the paper the Sissy?

Bishop Katie Attends Drive 09 This Week: Ski, Buske, Glende Join Pilgrimage

Drive 09, May 4-6, Atlanta.
@loswhit three pastors from Milwaukee and I want take you to dinner (your choice) on Wednesday after Drive. You game?
2:54 PM May 1st from Tweetie in reply to loswhit
Ski will be there too!

The St. Peter's bulletin says that Pastor Glende will be at a pastors' conference this week. That sounds intentionally misleading.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Bishop Katie Attends Drive 09 This Week":

Good luck, Katie. Bring back a new word for Pastor Ski besides the word awesome.

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GJ - And dude - which I heard a Cleveland mortician using in 1973, as in "I took my dudes to Chi-town."

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Bishop Katie Attends Drive 09 This Week: ":

You guys really are pathetic and uninformed. If you're going to slam ministries you would think you could get the story straight. What does Don have to do with the CORE?

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GJ - VP Don Patterson, supposedly associated with doctrinal discipline, is a closeted member of Church and Change. Ron Ash, who just retired from St. Peter's (Tim Glende) has been the chairman of Church and Change. St. Peter's called Ski to be the Bishop of the Popcorn Cathedral of Rock. Ski, Parlow, and Buske (among others in WELS) were at last year's Babtist Drive 08 Conference. This year Glende, Buske, Ski, Katie--and others--are at Drive 09. I do see some tenuous connection between Patterson, running for SP as a Babtist, and Ski Inc clowning around in Atlanta with the Babtists.