World Evangelism Broadcast from America

Al Qaeda declares Coptic priest Zakaria Botros "one of the most wanted infidels in the world"


And offers 60 million for his head. More on Islam's Public Enemy #1. "Exclusive: Al Qaeda targets leading Arab evangelist operating in the U.S. for preaching the Gospel to Muslims," by Joel C. Rosenberg for Flashtraffic, September 9 (thanks to Erick):

You have probably never heard of Father Zakaria Botros. But you need to know his story. He is far and away the most-watched and most-effective Arab-American evangelist focused on reaching the Muslim world, and by far the most controversial. The Rush Limbaugh of the Revivalists, he is funny, feisty, brilliant, opinionated, and provocative. But rather than preaching the gospel of conservatism, he is preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. And his enemies do not simply want to silence him. They want to assassinate him.

Last week, I had the honor of interviewing Botros by phone from a secure, undisclosed location in the United States, where he now resides. He told me that he had just learned that an al Qaeda website had posted his photograph and named him one of the "most wanted" infidels in the world. The Radicals have even put a bounty on his head. The Christian Broadcasting Network reported the figure was as high as $60 million. Botros does not know for certain. But just to put that in context, the U.S. bounty on Osama bin Laden's head is "only" $25 million.

Why are the Radicals so enraged by an elderly Coptic priest from Egypt who is in his 70s? Because Botros is waging an air war against them, and he is winning.

Using state-of-the art satellite technology to bypass the efforts of Islamic governments to keep the gospel out of their countries, Botros is directly challenging the claims of Muhammad to be a prophet, and the claims of the Qu'ran to be God's word. He systematically deconstructs Muhammad's life, story by story, pointing out character flaws and sinful behavior. He carefully deconstructs the Qu'ran, verse by verse, citing contradictions and inconsistencies. And not only does he explain without apology what he believes is wrong with Islam, he goes on to teach Muslims from the Bible why Jesus loves them and why is so ready to forgive them and adopt them into His family, no matter who they are or what they have done.

If Botros was doing this in a corner, or on some cable access channel where no one saw him or cared, that would be one thing. But his ninety-minute program - a combination of preaching, teaching and answering questions from (often irate) callers all over the world - has become "must see TV" throughout the Muslim world. It is replayed four times a week in Arabic, his native language, on a satellite television network called Al Hayat ("Life TV.") It can be seen in every country in North Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, as well as all throughout North America,Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. And not only can it be seen in so many places, it is seen - by an estimated fifty million Muslims a day.

At the same time, Botros is getting millions of hits on his multiple web sites in multiple languages. There, Muslims can read his sermons and study through an archive of answers to frequently asked questions. They can also enter a live chat room called "Pal Chat" where they are not only permitted but encouraged to ask their toughest questions to trained on-line counselors, many of whom are Muslim converts to Christianity who understand exactly where the questioners are coming from and the struggles they are having.

As a result, Botros - on the air only since 2003 - has practically become a household word in the Muslim world. An Arabic newspaper has named him Islam's "Public Enemy #1." Millions hate him, to be sure, but they are watching. They are listening. They are processing what he is saying and they are talking about him with their friends and family. When Botros challenges Radical clerics to answer his many refutations of Islam and defend the Qu'ran, millions wait to see how the fundamentalists will respond. But they rarely do. They prefer to attack Botros than answer him. Yet, the more the Radicals attack him, the more well-known he becomes. The more well-known he becomes, the more Muslims feel compelled to tune in. And as more Muslims tune in, more are coming to the conclusion that Botros is right and in turn are choosing to become followers of Jesus Christ. Botros estimates at least 1,000 Muslims a month pray to receive Christ with his telephone counselors. Some of them pray to receive Christ live on their air with Botros. And this surely is only the tip of the iceberg, as it represents only those who are able to get through on the jammed phone lines. There simply are not currently enough trained counselors to handle each call.

[...]He does not believe all Muslims are Radicals, but he does believe all Muslims are spiritually lost, and he wants desperately to help them find their way to forgiveness and reconciliation with the God who made them and loves them.

"I believe this is the hand of God," Botros told me. "He is directing me. He shows me what to say. He shows me what to write on…the web sites. He is showing me more and more how to use the technology to reach people with his message of redemption."

Posted by Raymond

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GJ - He does this without conferences in Rio?

Fast Track Pastoral Training

By Larry Beane


Here is an example of what I believe is in store for any church body that pursues a dumbed-down theological track for pastors - especially one that limits personal exposure of candidates to faculty and seminary colleagues, and/or rushes candidates through a truncated academic program based on a delusional and hysterical argument of a "clergy shortage."

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GJ - WELS calls it Staph Ministry, and it is spreading fast. Martin Luther College is their "College of Ministry," so every student is a minister. All the women are ministers. They graduate as ministers and the male teachers are ordained.

Not to worry. The Staph Ministers are guided by Lawrence Otto Olson, who studied at Trinity in Deerfield and Fuller Seminary. His limited publications are cries of exultation for the triumph of Church Growth in WELS and Missouri, with various comments mocking the efficacy of the Word.

Larry, thou hast conquered.

Staph infections are deadly and contagious.

Jeske Needs $12 Million

"Everything has to change." Mark Jeske

Jeske featured at LCMS District Meeting

Snapshots

Siebert Lutheran Foundation has provided critical dollars towards capital campaigns to schools like St. Marcus School in Milwaukee that are educating some of the city's most impoverished children.

St. Marcus School, a college prep school serving predominantly low-income African American students, is dedicated to instilling students with wisdom, a sense of dedication and self-discipline, a positive attitude and Christian faith. Over 70 percent of students live in homes with single parent women heading their households and qualify for the federal school lunch subsidy program.

Currently, the school is undergoing a capital campaign seeking $12 million for campus expansion and improvements to the school as well as programs that will enhance their education and outreach services. These additions will allow enrollment to grow to 600 students in a state of the art educational facility.

"The Siebert Foundation values education in a Christian environment and St. Marcus's mission," said Siebert Lutheran Foundation President Ron Jones. "We see this as a privilege to be part of the future of their expansion and for additional students to attend this exceptional school."

In fall 2008, the Foundation made a three-year historic operational and programmatic commitment to support the school: $1,000,000 for the building additions and $105,000 for the College Prep Center (CPC). The CPC provides students with behavioral and academic enrichment from 4:00pm until 8:30pm where individualized small group homework support, a nutritious dinner and light recreation are provided under direct supervision of an educator.

The vast majority of St. Marcus's K4 through 8th grade students participate in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program which allows low-income students to attend private schools.

"Milwaukee is in desperate need of high quality educational options for its children," says Henry Tyson, superintendent for St. Marcus School in Milwaukee. "St. Marcus will succeed in its effort to provide a top quality education for 300 more children because of the bold support of the Siebert Foundation. Before that grant was awarded we thought we could do it. Now we know we can. The impact will be enormous."

In providing funding when times are tight for gifting and donations, the Siebert Foundation's contributions are a major achievement and clear message that they are committed to putting Milwaukee's children on the path to college.


"The Siebert Lutheran Foundation has been a partner with St. Marcus School for over fifteen years," explains Siebert Lutheran Foundation President Ron Jones. "We are grateful for the life changing education opportunity that St. Marcus avails to low-income students."

The Four Horsemen of St. Marcus ride to battle for Church and Change, with an emphasis on Change.

"No WELS in the future" - Blame It on Rio

"The vicar conducted the service today and mentioned in his sermon how bad things are in WELS. He even said that there may not even be a WELS in the future because of all the cutbacks and such."

In past, WELS had four preps, two colleges, a seminary, and very low tuition. But The Love Shack was just a love nest: Carl and Gladys Mischke in an office at the bottom of the stairs at NPH.

Graduation at The Sausage Factory meant getting all the tuition money back that was paid in - prep, college, and seminary. That meant the young shepherd and his shepherdess could have a nest egg to start in their first parsonage. WELS ended the practice because it was "too expensive."

Har, har. No one thought it too expensive to have conferences all over the world for the lucky few. One conference brought missionaries from all to meet in South America. One friend told me a well known pastor fell off the wagon there. Blame it on Rio?

Each year the synod got smaller and The Love Shack staff got larger. I recall 1988 or later being the first year when they suddenly needed an executive to head Perish Services. That had to be Wayne Mueller, recently vamoosed from the seminary. Things got worse, so he was upgraded to Synod Veep, a position WELS has left vacant for months. In fact, many people were visibly relieved when Wayne quit in a huff.

I recall Slick Brenner upset over all the money wasted by Perish Services. No one else was. I suggested buying direct from Fuller Seminary, to save overhead.

People who count the cost have teleconferences and online meetings. How many meetings would take place if each participant paid his own way? I am sure the rebuttal is something like this - "But we had a foundation or Thrivent grant. We had to spend the money or someone else would." I doubt that any grant pays the entire cost. Why would any synod to the right of ELCA want to take Thrivent money?

I plan on attending a conference in California. A company is sponsoring it for free to train us in an Internet business. Mrs. Ichabod and I will go in August, deo volunte, and pay our own expenses.

All our routine meetings are done with GoToMeeting or a similar technology. We talk to each other, see someone operate his computer, send messages, and spend very little of our own money.

WELS has slowly strangled its own schools for a chance to look like ELCA - to have a large staff and meetings around the world. The synod will find many ways to get by without spending on so many luxuries.

The pastors who enjoyed a free education took that away from the younger students so the elders could have free trips to exotic locations (but not Apache Land) and fat synod positions.

The Feast of the Holy Trinity

The Shepherd and his sheep, by Norma Boeckler.

The Feast of the Holy Trinity

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Worship, 8 AM Phoenix Time

Note – if you are having trouble reading Ichabod or the Bethany blog, Google is reporting problems not yet fixed - as of this post. One solution is to download and use the Firefox browser (much faster working than Internet Explorer). The free download site is : http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/ie.html
I made changes to Ichabod, which have helped.

The Hymn #246 Holy, Holy, Holy 3.35
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 Romans 11:33-36
The Gospel John 3:1-15
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Athanasian Creed p. 53
The Sermon Hymn #245 God Loved the World 4.6

The Little Gospel and Justification by Faith

The Hymn #378 All That I Was 4.4
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 #27 Oh, Bless the Lord 4.21

KJV Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

KJV John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Tuesday of Whitsun Week
KJV John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Trinity
O Lord God, heavenly Father: We poor sinners confess that in our flesh dwelleth no good thing, and that, left to ourselves, we die and perish in sin, since that which is born of the flesh is flesh and cannot see the kingdom of God. But we beseech Thee: Grant us Thy grace and mercy, and for the sake of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, send Thy Holy Spirit into our hearts, that being regenerate, we may firmly believe the forgiveness of sins, according to Thy promise in baptism; and that we may daily increase in brotherly love, and in other good works, until we at last obtain eternal salvation, through the same, Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

The Little Gospel and Justification by Faith
KJV John 3: 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Tuesday of Whitsun Week (after the Day of Pentecost) obscures one of the great passages of the Bible, John 3:16-21. The most famous passage of the New Testament is reserved for a day that is seldom observed today

Some think of John 3:16-21 as the Apostle’s summary of what Jesus said. There were no quotation marks in the original texts. The paragraph, 3:16-21, is the logical continuation of the discussion with Nicodemus, John 3:1-15.

The beauty of this passage is that it could easily be Jesus speaking or John summarizing, because there is no difference between the Word of Christ and the doctrine of the disciple He loved. But I agree with Lenski that everything points to this great passage being the actual words of Christ. The meaning may be the same, but the authority is even greater when we give credit to Christ for saying it.

I ran verses 14 and 15 together with 16 to show how the Little Gospel summarizes so well the discussion with Nicodemus.

Verse 14 – The crucifixion of Christ is like Moses lifting up the serpent to bring people back to life, by death trampling on death, as the Greek Orthodox say.
Verse 15 – Faith in Him means not perishing, but rather enjoying eternal life.
Verse 16 – The reason is encapsulated in the Little Gospel.

The Scriptures teach us that the Word of God conveys Christ to us, to show us the Gospel, to create and sustain faith.

A. For God so loved the world

First we have the motivation – For God so loved the world…
This is the mystery of God’s grace. It is a mystery because we only know it through the Holy Spirit’s revelation. Human reason cannot comprehend it. Proof is the attitude of all world religions toward God. In each and every case God must be appeased by man’s sacrifices and good works, self-torture and human sacrifice. God’s basic state is anger toward man, according to these pagan religions. His anger may be lessened, but man is always at fault, so more works must be done.

In contrast, Jesus re-emphasized what we know from the Old Testament. This was largely lost by His time, since Judaism had devolved into a religion of works, for many people. The Old Testament shows us that love is God’s basic attitude toward the world.

KJV Exodus 34:6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

KJV 2 Chronicles 30:9 For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.

KJV Psalm 103:8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

KJV Joel 2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

KJV Jonah 4:2 And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.

In the fullness of time, God revealed how He would show that love.

B. that he gave his only begotten Son

This is the simplest clause, describing the crucifixion as an act of giving. This was foreshadowed in Genesis, when Abraham gave his only son on Mt. Moriah.

Genesis 22: 11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

For centuries God taught His people about sacrifice an only son, and providing a substitute. The Angel of the Lord told him about the substitute.

This Angel was not an ordinary angel, but the pre-incarnate Son of God, as we can tell from these verses:

KJV Genesis 22:15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

The Father-Son relationship was emphasized already with the first patriarch, the man of faith (Romans 4). So we see the father-son relationship on the human level with Abraham and Isaac, which helps us understand the giving of the Son by the Father.

The Little Gospel has always been used as a brief summary of the entire Bible, and we can understand why.

C. , that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

There are two alternative – perishing and eternal life. Dying might have been used as one alternative, but that would have been in harmony with many pagan religions and cults, where Hell does not exist. Eternal life is the alternative to perishing in Hell, always languishing in the knowledge of God’s power and deriving no comfort from it.

Eternal life is based upon one thing along – faith in Christ.

"Nowhere in the Bible is any man constituted or declared righteous ‘without faith, before faith.’” R. C. H. Lenski, Romans, Augsburg Publishing House: Minneapolis, 1963, p. 382. Romans 5:19-20.

"They [the false teachers] fared like a man who looks through a colored glass. Put before such a man whatever color you please, he sees no other color than that of the glass. The fault is not that the right color is not put before him but that his glass is colored differently, as the word of Is. 6:9 puts it: You will see, he says, and yet you will not see it."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 644.

"To this incline your ears, and be persuaded that God speaks through men and forgives you your sins; this, of course, requires faith."Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed. John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, II, p. 200.


"It is a faithful saying that Christ has accomplished everything, has removed sin and overcome every enemy, so that through Him we are lords over all things. But the treasure lies yet in one pile; it is not yet distributed nor invested. Consequently, if we are to possess it, the Holy Spirit must come and teach our hearts to believe and say: I, too, am one of those who are to have this treasure. When we feel that God has thus helped us and given the treasure to us, everything goes well, and it cannot be otherwise than that man's heart rejoices in God and lifts itself up, saying: Dear Father, if it is Thy will to show toward me such great love and faithfulness, which I cannot fully fathom, then will I also love Thee with all my heart and be joyful, and cheerfully do what pleases Thee. Thus, the heart does not now look at God with evil eyes, does not imagine He will cast us into hell, as it did before the Holy Spirit came...." Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 279. Pentecost Sunday. John 14:23-31.


"Faith is that my whole heart takes to itself this treasure. It is not my doing, not my presenting or giving, not my work or preparation, but that a heart comforts itself, and is perfectly confident with respect to this, namely, that God makes a present and gift to us, and not we to Him, that He sheds upon us every treasure of grace in Christ." Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV. #48. Of Justification. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 135. Heiser, p. 36.


"These treasures are offered us by the Holy Ghost in the promise of the holy Gospel; and faith alone is the only means by which we lay hold upon, accept, and apply, and appropriate them to ourselves. This faith is a gift of God, by which we truly learn to know Christ, our Redeemer, in the Word of the Gospel, and trust in Him, that for the sake of His obedience alone we have the forgiveness of sins by grace, are regarded as godly and righteous by God the Father, and are eternally saved." Formula of Concord, Thorough Declaration, III. #10. Of the Righteousness of Faith before God. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 919. Tappert, p. 541. Heiser, p. 250.


"For neither you nor I could ever know anything of Christ, or believe on Him, and obtain Him for our Lord, unless it were offered to us and granted to our hearts by the Holy Ghost through the preaching of the Gospel. The work is done and accomplished; for Christ has acquired and gained the treasure for us by His suffering, death, resurrection, etc. But if the work remained concealed so that no one knew of it, then it would be in vain and lost. That this treasure, therefore, might not lie buried, but be appropriated and enjoyed, God has caused the Word to go forth and be proclaimed, in which He gives the Holy Ghost to bring this treasure home and appropriate it to us. Therefore sanctifying is nothing else than bringing us to Christ to receive this good, to which we could not attain ourselves."The Large Catechism, The Creed, Article III, #38, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 689. Tappert, p. 415. Heiser, p. 194.

If the UOJ Stormtroopers had this verse alone, they might be able to shoehorn their favorite opinion into the clear meaning of the Word. Unfortunately for them, Scripture interprets Scripture. The verses following make hash out of their crypto-Universalism.

John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Those who turn Jesus into the Lawgiver are mistaken, because God’s sole purpose was to send His Son for the salvation of the world. Those who believe are not condemned, but unbelievers are condemned already – because they do not believe in the Name of Christ.
Justification means the declaration of innocence. That cannot happen apart from faith, as all faithful Lutherans taught until the Age of Pietism mixed Calvinism with orthodox doctrine.

Unbelievers are condemned and God’s wrath rests upon them. It is true that God’s only-begotten Son has died for all people, but when the treasure of this Promise is distributed by preaching and teaching, man’s obstinate will and the snares of Satan cause the treasure to be brushed aside.

KJV John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

The state of righteousness can only come from God, but righteousness is not declared to the entire world apart from the Means of Grace. That is the purest form of Enthusiasm – to say the entire world lives in a state of grace without the Means of Grace. Strangely, the Stormtroopers like Pope John (Moldstad0 the Malefactor condemn those who do not join them in teaching Universalism. Who has kicked out more pastors and congregations as a percentage of his realm than Pope John?

The Stormtroopers tell me, “Everyone in the world is forgiven, but they are not really forgiven until they have faith.” Forgiven but not forgiven = nonsense. Lutheran UOJ ends up with Universalism and complete doctrine apathy.

That is like the Roman Catholic Gospel of “forgiven, but not paid for, and you will pay for those sins for thousands of years in Purgatory.”

Separating the Holy Spirit from the Word is always going to lead to foolishness, because the errors arising are going to be defended, not the truth of the Word.

Jesus teaches us in Little Gospel about justification by faith, the simplest and clearest possible doctrine. Even though the unbelieving world hates God, God’s nature is love. That is a startling revelation but also a comforting one. The crucifixion of Christ is God giving His Son for us, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.

To make His teaching even more vivid, plain, and compelling, the Savior gave us the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion to convey this forgiveness
in visible form, united with the power of the Word.

Catastrophic Failure of WELS School System Proven By Stampede To Fuller, Willow, Trinity Deerfield, Stanley, Stetzer, Sweet, Beeson, et al.

The Alma Mater (nursing mother) of Enthusiasm - the WELS budget, fattening the piglets with your offering money, Thrivent grants, and Schwan loot.

Valleskey and Bivens studied at Fuller to teach at Mequon.

Olson got a DMin from Fuller to head the Staph Ministry program at MLC.

WELS initials--We Heart Trinity--are carved twice in the catalogue at Trinity Deerfield.

Parlow and Trapp are Willow Creek members.

Glende, Ski, and Katie trained at Granger, Drive 08-09, Catalyst, and Seattle (Driscoll?).

Patterson organzied a pilgrimage of WELS workers to Exponential.

Kelm fought for space cadet Leonard Sweet to teach WELS about the Word of God via Church and Change, then found himself hired a perish consultant at The Love Shack.

The initial invitation and hire for C and C 2009 was Babtist Ed Stetzer, but Shrinkers were ordered to dis-invite him.

Maybe some WELS leaders will go to Advance, thinking I never heard of that one (Stetzer, Driscoll, the usual suspects), but I have.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Is the FIC Editor in Bed with Church and Change?":

One would assume that the "need" for "change" in WELS is because its leaders are suggesting that the "unchanged" synod was a failure.

We are led to believe that missions are a failure because they are not meeting their self-funding deadlines. We are led to believe that missions are a failure if they do not use church growth ideals. We know our mission program is a failure, otherwise it would not need "church growth immersed" mission counselors.

We are led to believe that worker training is a failure. Why else would so many seminary and administrative leaders go to Fuller, Willow Creek, and the like?
The impression is given that if MLC and WLS were doing their job, we, especially our "best" leaders, would not need to go to school to experience worker training elsewhere.

Since our seminary and administrators are demonstrating by their practice that WELS' efforts to do mission work and train workers are by and large failures, and that they cannot "change" away from that failure from within, we can understand the collapse of the system as we hae (sic) known it.

Of course, this collapse will force "change." Obama said America needed change and we are getting it in politics. We are told WELS needs change, and we are, of necessity, going to get it. I don't think Lutheran conservatives will be any happier with coming changes in WELS than political conservatives are with changes in American politics.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Catastrophic Failure of WELS School System Proven ...":

Who masterminded the failures so successfully?

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GJ - That is an insightful question. Clearly an organization was building in 1977, and many people knew it. When I helped with the Orthodox Lutheran Forum (WELS) in the 1980s, one person said, "We should have dealt with these issues 10 years ago."

TELL marked the open espousal of Enthusiasm, 1977. Another turning point was Ted Hartwig's Isaiah essay and the lack of discipline for his espousal of the Historical Critical Method.

In the 1980s, everyone knew the score, because they were feeding me documents from all over and I was publishing the quotations in Christian News. I would not list Valleskey, Kelm, Bivens, Huebner, and the main villains, nor would I list their enablers - Mischke, Gurgel, and the Doctrinal Pussycats. The real culprits are the parish pastors who ducked the issues for 20 years, as if the Kudzu Vine of Enthusiasm would stop growing and choking the synod.

Some of the people being fired right now are the ones who chose to silence themselves when they knew the truth. Others were glad to switch sides to get a promotion or that coveted call. If the Kingdom of France was worth a Mass, as Henry of Navarre said, then a call overseas was worth a denunciation.

---

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Catastrophic Failure of WELS School System Proven ...":

Thank you for your candid response and validation of things I saw and suspected back in the 70s and 80s. What I observed shocked me very deeply at the time. At a succession of conferences and confabs I saw grown men shifting their consciences and gratitude from Christ and to a few tyrannical pastor/ leaders. You know the names.

Their obeisance to a few Alpha leaders turned me off to WELS. As they competed with each other for the turn of a sanctimonious phrase, they looked like the asses they are. Emphasis on growth and expansion caused building worship to really take off. I had the suspicion then and am totally convinced now that the pastors were surrendering themselves to evil in hopes of better securing themselves within WELS.

In summary WELS is now reaping what pastors sowed with such apathy, complacency, and faith in their peers instead of in God. May God have mercy on them for the many souls they have misled throughout the years.

President Reagan's Normandy Beach Memorial

Reagan rehearsed this speech until he could give it without breaking down. Someone said, "There wasn't a dry eye in 50 miles."

President Reagan's Speech at Pointe de Hoc, Normandy

Ronald Reagan -- Pointe de Hoc, Normandy, June 6, 1984 (The 40th anniversary of D-Day)

We're here to mark that day in history when the Allied peoples joined in battle to reclaim this continent to liberty. For four long years, much of Europe had been under a terrible shadow. Free nations had fallen, Jews cried out in the camps, millions cried out for liberation. Europe was enslaved, and the world prayed for its rescue. Here in Normandy the rescue began. Here the Allies stood and fought against tyranny in a giant undertaking unparalleled in human history.

We stand on a lonely, windswept point on the northern shore of France. The air is soft, but forty years ago at this moment, the air was dense with smoke and the cries of men, and the air was filled with the crack of rifle fire and the roar of cannon. At dawn, on the morning of the 6th of June 1944, 225 Rangers jumped off the British landing craft and ran to the bottom of these cliffs. Their mission was one of the most difficult and daring of the invasion: to climb these sheer and desolate cliffs and take out the enemy guns. The Allies had been told that some of the mightiest of these guns were here and they would be trained on the beaches to stop the Allied advance.

The Rangers looked up and saw the enemy soldiers -- at the edge of the cliffs shooting down at them with machine-guns and throwing grenades. And the American Rangers began to climb. They shot rope ladders over the face of these cliffs and began to pull themselves up. When one Ranger fell, another would take his place. When one rope was cut, a Ranger would grab another and begin his climb again. They climbed, shot back, and held their footing. Soon, one by one, the Rangers pulled themselves over the top, and in seizing the firm land at the top of these cliffs, they began to seize back the continent of Europe. Two hundred and twenty-five came here. After two days of fighting only ninety could still bear arms.

Behind me is a memorial that symbolizes the Ranger daggers that were thrust into the top of these cliffs. And before me are the men who put them there.

These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war.

Gentlemen, I look at you and I think of the words of Stephen Spender's poem. You are men who in your 'lives fought for life...and left the vivid air signed with your honor'...

Forty summers have passed since the battle that you fought here. You were young the day you took these cliffs; some of you were hardly more than boys, with the deepest joys of life before you. Yet you risked everything here. Why? Why did you do it? What impelled you to put aside the instinct for self-preservation and risk your lives to take these cliffs? What inspired all the men of the armies that met here? We look at you, and somehow we know the answer. It was faith, and belief; it was loyalty and love.

The men of Normandy had faith that what they were doing was right, faith that they fought for all humanity, faith that a just God would grant them mercy on this beachhead or on the next. It was the deep knowledge -- and pray God we have not lost it -- that there is a profound moral difference between the use of force for liberation and the use of force for conquest. You were here to liberate, not to conquer, and so you and those others did not doubt your cause. And you were right not to doubt.

You all knew that some things are worth dying for. One's country is worth dying for, and democracy is worth dying for, because it's the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man. All of you loved liberty. All of you were willing to fight tyranny, and you knew the people of your countries were behind you.

I Will Make Thee--After a Grant-Writing Seminar--Fishers of Grants

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "I Will Make Thee--After a Grant-Writing Seminar--F...":

Ya'll need to stop picking on Don. Until this blog exposed him he was perfectly content with fishing for the grants.

Questions about WELS and Asia

Read this eye-opening report on our buddies, the Chinese Communists.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "ELS and WELS Remember the Tiananmen Square Slaught...":

"Graduates without jobs at The Sausage Factory are told to go teach English in Red China if they want jobs."

Actually, pastors with jobs also clamor for $$ to take excursions to China as well.

Case in point, read Mark Cordes' account of teaching "all three languages from Genesis 1" to Chinese students for 2 weeks (http://www.nycrossofchrist.org/home/140001589/140001589/Mission%20Connection%20Article.pdf) with Leon Piepenbrink and his Babpist nephew.

My three questions are:

1. Don't we already have a seminary in Hong Kong, missionaries with Chinese language skills in Taiwan, and Friends of China and Kingdom Workers already working in China? Why does Piepenbrink need to accumlate more vacation pictures and rack up more frequent flier miles? Who is paying for his jet-set ministry?

2. Did the WELS coffers purchase his Babpist (sic - should be Babtist - the errant spelling implies an angry Babtist) nephew's plane ticket? His nephew is "also serving as interim minister for Palo Verde Baptist Church." (http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/8260.php)

3. How much money was spent with the result that "By the end of our two weeks,some who had requested triple the hours of instruction could pick out several Hebrew words and explain them"? If this minimal instruction is all that is required for an all-expenses paid trip to China, where do I sign up?

4. Why is Piepenbrink allowed to set up ministry posts in Thailand without informing the WELS missionaries already working in Thailand? (http://www.hmongministry.net/missionworkinthailand.html) Why spend the $$ to fly all the way to South East Asia when we ALREADY HAVE MISSIONARIES THERE?

5. Who is allowing this insanity to continue?

ELS and WELS Remember the Tiananmen Square Slaughter

Twenty years ago, China slaughtered peaceful demonstrators.

This Statue of Liberty was their rallying symbol. Is it ours?

Tiananamen Square Twenty Years Later

Lutheran high school to educate students from communist nation

By Kathy Walsh Nufer • Post-Crescent staff writer • June 4, 2009


APPLETON — Fox Valley Lutheran High School already draws a large contingent of international students, but will widen its welcome mat this fall when it hosts students from mainland China.

FVL has been authorized to do so through the Chinese Outreach in Christian Education program endorsed by the Chinese government.

So far three students are lined up for fall.

FVL's school community is "thrilled" about the partnership, said guidance director Tom Welch. "With this new program, the Chinese are not only embracing education in the United States for their students, but seeking that within Christian schools."

Traditionally, the Chinese government has been restrictive about which U.S. schools it allows Chinese students to attend, Welch said, so it speaks well of FVL's reputation in serving international students, as well as the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, or WELS, system.

Two other WELS high schools will educate Chinese students.

Joshua Yu, a WELS pastor in Wauwatosa, initiated the program. He said religion still is a sensitive topic for China's communist government, and Chinese typically practice their faith privately.

"It's unique for us to teach their kids about the Bible," Yu said. "Traditionally, we sent missionaries to other countries. Now they are coming here and paying us to teach them."

Yu said many Chinese seek an American education.

"Only 30 to 40 percent of high school graduates there have the opportunity to go to universities, so middle-class families want to send their kids overseas," Yu said.

That includes business and government officials.

FVL already has a thriving International Studies Program.

In 2003, the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services approved FVL as a host school, and 32 international students from two dozen countries directly enrolled in the school this past year, and eight more foreign students attended school there through traditional exchange programs.

Yu has high hopes for the Chinese outreach program, saying it is much better to expose students to other cultures when they are in high school as opposed to college.

"This can bring very good results," he said. "The next generation will be more understanding of each other and there will be more friendships."

FVL will offer cultural enrichment, plus assist with college planning, as most of these students will go on to U.S. universities.

Like other FVL students, they must attend religion class, Welch said. Host families and local congregations will support their religious training.

"We have had a lot of new host families come forward, excited about this opportunity for ministry," said Laura Gucinski, assistant program coordinator.

Gucinski, who also is arranging for FVL's first student from Zimbabwe, thinks the school's growing diversity provides a "richer experience for both our students and new international students."

Chinese students will pay FVL's international student rate of about $7,500 annually, plus $4,000 housing compensation for hosts.

That's helpful in these financial times, said Welch, "But our real focus is on the ministry. Christ said go make disciples, but in this case it's open your doors because they are knocking."

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Two Americans in China
New Ulm-based professors teach at Chinese university; come back with stories

These future leaders will be able to explain away China's baby and adult genocide in articulate English, thanks to Bethany Lutheran College.

By Kremena Spengler — Staff Writer
POSTED: May 31, 2009

Tom and Judy Kuster, who live in New Ulm and teach in colleges in Mankato, taught in a Chinese university for six weeks earlier this spring. Tom, a professor at Bethany Lutheran College, taught debate, and Judy, a professor at Minnesota State University, taught accent modification. The Kusters (center) attend an appreciation dinner with Chinese students.

Bethany fosters exchange in global economy

"Bethany's initial exchange agreement with United International College in Zhuhai, China, in 2007 was the direct result of a concerted effort to expand our connections with China," says Kathy Bruss, Study Abroad Coordinator, Bethany Lutheran College. "The speed and the degree to which China has become such an economic force in the economy of the world have left higher education lagging behind in preparing its students for those interactions. It wasn't a coincidence that our first professor to teach at UIC last spring was a business professor, Dr. Janet Moldstad. Two of the three students who studied there during the same semester were business majors. Since the curriculum at UIC is taught in English, it makes for easy exchanges between our two campuses. Currently we have four students planning to study at UIC in the spring of 2010.

"We were extremely pleased that Dr. Tom Kuster and his wife Judy were able to spend six weeks teaching at UIC this spring," said Bruss. "Having a professor actively teaching on campus helps to promote collaborative projects between our two schools and it helps the students to become interested in studying at that professor's school. It also enriches the classroom lectures with new perspectives when the professor returns home. Communications is an ideal department for the professor to have had significant experiences abroad, but really the experience enriches any field.

"This past fall semester Bethany had five UIC exchange students. Study abroad students are unique in the sense that they are already seasoned college students and are highly motivated to take advantage of the opportunities of being abroad for a semester. Each student was paired with an American student mentor who helped to integrate the students quickly and maximize the interactions of our American students with them. Therefore even students who are unable to study abroad are enriched.

"One of the best outcomes of our exchange agreement is something that I refer to as reciprocal kindness," said Bruss. "The Kusters benefited from this when the parents of a UIC student who had studied at Bethany in the fall invited them into their home and took them to dinner. How often does that happen when you are only in a country for six weeks! The reciprocal kindness factor helps to speed up the process of intercultural understanding, which after all, is our primary goal."

NEW ULM - One thing Judy Kuster unwittingly accomplished in China was bring brisk business to a small plumber's shop.

Kuster, a communication disorders professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato, spent six weeks in that country this spring, teaching at the United International College in Zhuhai, Guangdong.

She did so along with her husband Tom, a professor at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato who teaches debate.

Each taught in their respective field.

Back to the plumber's shop:

Judy taught a course in accent modification. To help students hear themselves as they pronounced the English words, she invented a simple curved device from a piece of pipe and an elbow she bought at a plumber's shop. Students would speak into the pipe, and the device would channel the sound into their ear, to help modify their accent.

A Chinese colleague loved the device - and commissioned the plumber to make another 200!

"I left a legacy in China," Judy laughs.

---

Tom and Judy's teaching stint was part of an exchange program for students and teachers sponsored by the Private College Council, of which Tom's school, Bethany Lutheran College, is part.

The United International College is a new, experimental school - a four-year liberal arts college in a land of mostly trade and tech schools. Its first class graduates this year.

Liberal arts colleges went away in China during the 1950s Cultural Revolution but are now being revived.

The United International College is unique, in that all instruction takes place in English.

It boasts a very diverse international faculty - with professors from New Zealand, Australia, England, Ireland, India, Germany, Norway, Uzbekistan, Tanzania, Iran, Korea, and states such as Alabama, Georgia, Minnesota...

The school was recently upgraded to a higher tier in the Chinese college rating system - second to the top, the Kusters believe. That means its students - whose admittance is based on a competitive exam - are very bright.

The school has 5,000 students.

Technology at the college is "wonderful," with Internet access and up-to-date projection equipment, the Kusters said.

---

Judy taught in a club format. Clubs - a co-curricular alternative to regular courses - are popular in Chinese universities - and fit in with the limited length of Judy's stay.

About 120 students joined Judy's two clubs. The clubs met twice a week for an hour. In addition, Judy worked with several students in smaller groups; and held 32 one-and-a-half-hour individual sessions.

"I was amazed at how many were very eager to join my clubs; how studious they were; how hard they worked; and the kind of progress they made," Judy said.

Tom, the source of the primary connection to the Chinese school, taught his specialty area, debate. He coached 62 students.

The course culminated in a two-night tournament - the first ever English debate - with 10-20 debates on 10 topics watched by audiences of 150-200 people.

The students were were respectful, appreciative and easy to connect with, say the Kusters.

Teachers in China, the Kusters observed, appear to receive "automatic respect" from students - respect seems to be the "default mode."

"You have to work to keep it, and you can lose it, but you have it to start with," said Judy.

Something else also impressed her about students - the young women appeared to wear very little make-up.

Their faces shone with "inner beauty," she said.

Many students cried when the Kusters were leaving, and asked when they would come back.

The two professors left China "loaded with gifts."

"This exchange of politeness, gratitude and respect is one of the most important aspects of the [inter-college exchange] agreement," said Tom.

---

Zhuhai is in the province of Guangdong in the Pearl River Delta, on the South China Sea. It is a ferry ride from Hong Kong and a bus (or boat) ride from Macau (a peninsula).

Originally a collection of several fishing villages, Zhuhai grew into a metropolis of several million people after being declared an economic development zone.

Yet its neighborhoods retain some of their small-town feel, the Kusters said.

Zhuhai is culturally different - in a sense more conservative and less "westernized" - than either formerly Portuguese Macau or formerly British-ruled Hong Kong.

---

The Kusters lived in a three-bedroom condominium - "more room than we needed" - in a gated community in Zhuhai.

Having formed warm relationships with students and their families, the Kusters experienced some unique cultural exposure.

Students shared local food specialties from care packages (duck gizzards was one), for example.

One family - of a student who spent a year at Bethany - took the Kusters out to a unique restaurant. The restaurant's "backyard" looked like a street lined with the stalls of various seafood vendors. Octopus, lobster, crab and many other fish species were literally alive for patrons to choose from.

The food that patrons chose was then prepared inside to their specifications. Some of the food was just a little "exotic" to the unexperienced palate, chuckles Judy.

(A restaurant called "Mr. Pizza," as well as the ever popular KFC, provided a link to the more familiar.)

---

The Kusters had already made a previous trip to China; so they did less of "the tourist thing."

Instead, they worked "very, very hard" during the six weeks, often staying at school till 8 or 9 p.m. to prepare for the next day.

The experience was "intense" - but then, they had put the rest of their lives "on hold," so they could do it, says Judy.

Still, the Kusters brought back a collection of cultural observations.

Judy learned to be careful with compliments - after admiring a lady's shawl on a boat ride, she got presented with it, for example. In return, she gave the woman's young son a handful of U.S. coins for his collection. "People would give you the shirt off their back," said Judy.

Tom was amazed at how inexpensive some things were.

The pair would order two or three dishes to share in a restaurant and take enough home for supper, all for $5-$6.

---

The Chinese experience gave both Tom and Judy intriguing insights into their own teaching.

One was the clearer realization that they cannot make assumptions about foreign language - or, indeed, any - learners. While very competent in the more formal aspects of the English language, some of their students would have a difficulty expressing everyday concepts - the word "comb" might be unfamiliar, for example.

Students might have trouble grasping a meaning - yet not too eager to ask questions.

"You have to make it easy for them to ask - and then they would," said Judy.

Tom relied a lot on paraphrasing material, visual projection, PowerPoint presentations, diagrams and hand-outs - presenting the same information in a variety of formats.

He says he is more aware now that some of the same observations may be valid of his students stateside. "One simply cannot make assumptions."

"It is very important to be flexible - be ready for whatever comes," notes Judy.

***

GJ - One of many researchers wrote this comment about the Bethany article:
Read and weep. How naïve or "discernment challenged" can ELS Bethany College be to be participants in such an endeavor as United international College exchange program with mainland China? Do they not realize that by helping some of the brightest of China's students to develop skills of English language and debate, that they are helping to prepare China to even more ability to dominate the U.S. as they openly say they intend to do. Do they not understand the implications of doing that while China persecutes Christians who worship outside the communist controlled officially sanctioned churches? Do they not realize how the leaders of China must smile at how gullible the Bethany and ELS Christians are? How pathetic and naïve are the glowing reports of the cultural experiences of the Bethany in the exchange program, for they know not what they do. Or if they do know what they are doing, it is even worse.

Someone from the Little Sect on the Prairie will say this is not happening or it is misunderstood.

Graduates without jobs at The Sausage Factory are told to go teach English in Red China if they want jobs.

A recent book on Mao estimates that he had 50 to 100 million people murdered to protect his regime. The current regime still persecutes Christians and all other religions, but they have fellowship with ELS/WELS leaders who also worship money.

Some Views from The American Spectator

From The American Spectator:

Staid Lutherans never get as much attention as the more flamboyant Episcopalians, but the 4.7 million Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will meet in August at its quadrennial General Synod in Minneapolis. Currently the ELCA affirms that "all single rostered people, including those who are homosexual in their self-understanding, are expected to abstain from sexual relationships" and, by common understanding, prohibits same-sex unions. A denominational task force, liberal dominated as such committees always are, is urging the Synod to authorize ordination for persons in "lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships." Wary of following the Episcopal Church into schism, and cautious by nature, Lutherans may refer this recommendation to still more stupefying study and dialogue.

More decisively, the 7.9 million (in the U.S.) United Methodist Church has consistently voted to prohibit same sex unions and sexually active homosexual clergy, while affirming sex only within traditional marriage. Its General Conference last year reaffirmed these stances, but thanks to votes by delegates from Africa, where there are 3 million United Methodists. Virtually unique among U.S. Mainline denominations, over a third of United Methodism's members are outside the U.S. If current demographic trends continue, the denomination will have a majority overseas in the near future.

Liberal United Methodists, most of them from declining churches, realize they will never persuade conservative Africans. So liberal bishops and others have proposed partly separating the U.S. church from the Africans with a new U.S. only "regional conference" to decide U.S. church business without African interference. This Spring, local United Methodist conferences in the U.S. and around the world are voting on this plan. Approval by two thirds of all individual votes is required, and so far, the "global segregation plan" is falling short. If it fails, United Methodism seems dead set against accommodation of same-sex unions.

Moving in the opposite direction, the 1.1 million United Church of Christ (UCC) became the only major U.S. denomination formally to endorse "equal marriage rights for all" at its General Synod in 2005. It urged local churches "to consider adopting Wedding Policies that do not discriminate against couples based on gender." But the loosely confederated denomination cannot enforce its policy on member congregations, and probably most local UCC churches do not celebrate same-sex unions. After the vote, the UCC's more traditional Puerto Rican synod voted to withdraw from the UCC, as did over 250 local churches, helping to make the UCC one of America's fastest declining denominations.

***

GJ - We left the LCA before the ELCA merger took place. ELCA began with 5.3 million baptized members and now boasts 4.7 million members. Many ELCA leaders were involved in Church Growth too, along with parish pastors. Norm Berg rattled off the names of ELCA leaders he worked with, and Robert Mueller knew the top dogs from his board membership with Lutheran World Relief.

I think the radical new proposals will pass at the ELCA convention.

Is the FIC Editor in Bed with Church and Change?

The FIC editor ran a puff piece on the Latte Church run by Randy Hunter. Church and Change (see F. Bivens) used to write most of FIC, but the number of Shrinkers writing for the magazine has shrunken in June. Still, it's neat to have the denominational editor in your pocket. The Church and Changers always write about how much everything has to change, so I highlighted the word in red.


Should the church change? Part 3


Author: John A. Braun, FIC Editor


No. Yes. Maybe. The third answer gets more complicated. We must understand two principles. First, we are not free to alter the Scriptures, the Ten Commandments, or anything else God has clearly revealed to us. Second, we are free to do anything that God has neither forbidden nor commanded. So then can we change anything that God has left open to us?

The apostle Paul advises, “ ‘Everything is permissible’—but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible’—but not everything is constructive” (1 Corinthians 10:23). Just because we can change things does not mean that we should.

If the change does not build faith but instead troubles the faith of our brothers and sisters in Christ, we might choose not to change. If a change is necessary, we will go about making the change in such a way that it does not destroy the faith of believers.

As God’s people we must understand that we are all intertwined as part of his church here on earth. We know that without faith in Jesus there is no hope of forgiveness, life, or salvation. None of us wants to do something that will destroy the faith of another. So we are careful about what we do. Love for others in God’s household guides us in our discussions of proposed changes so that what is adopted—if it is a change or not—is beneficial and constructive to the others in Christ’s church.

As believers we are also concerned about what those outside the visible church think of our changes. Two examples: We might be free to serve beer or wine after our congregational meetings, but we don’t. That would give the wrong impression of our beliefs to those who do not know us. And we don’t immerse people at Baptism either. Certainly we can, but that might give the impression that we hold a view of Baptism that requires immersion, and that is not biblical. So we don’t.

We have to ask difficult questions when thinking about change. Does our action imply that we have changed our beliefs? Do our changes make us just like everyone else and minimize the teachings God has led us to hold dear? Do changes amount to little more than a “bait and switch” strategy? In other words, do we change to attract others who expect us to be like the church down the street but then we require them to switch to a host of Bible teachings not believed by the church down the street?

Sometimes change in our practice has a way of influencing change in our beliefs too. For example, as Lutherans we believe that the gospel is the center of all we do. Our liturgy helps us maintain that focus with the readings and sermon. We create worship that gives the gospel a central place. What happens to that emphasis when the focus shifts to provide entertaining experiences in worship? If we don’t change do we become elitists who treasure only 16th-century music? Yet adopting other forms might remove the gospel from center stage. Certainly we are free to change, but maybe the change will not be beneficial to God’s people. These are tough questions.

Once we think the church needs change, we come to the beginning of the discussion, not the end of it. We may not all agree, but we all need to treat one another with love and respect in the debates and discussion.

We must be careful about making changes in those things which God has given us freedom to change. Yes, we are free to change, but not all changes are beneficial.

***

GJ - The Straw Man is there for everyone to savor. Those favor only 16th century hymns are elitists. Of course the statement is turned into a question so the editor can waffle on that point too. Still, the object is to throw poop in the face of those who favor classical hymns that glorify God. Braun does not want to be burdened with elitists, so I imagine from his meretricious editorial that he favors staring at a screen full of Randy Hunter while a lady plays at being a pastor.

---

From Part I, by Braun:

The question is loaded. I found the question in a brochure that challenged the church’s response to some moral questions. Our contemporary world asks us to change and keep up rather than sink back to traditional ideas that no longer apply and appear to be outdated.

But it’s a fair question and needs an answer. The idea of change is raised about issues that are just as volatile as contemporary moral dilemmas. Should the church change its worship forms? Should we change our approach to attract more people? Do we change to meet the challenge of our postmodern or post-Christian audience?

More of the same, Part II.

***

GJ - Just asking questions? So coy.

---

Anonymous wrote: FIC is all about change and slamming us elitists for being Lutheran. You can quote me on that. I think if Schroeder goes down then WELS is gone for sure.

Another Reason for WELS Budget Problems

Glende, Ski, and Katie went to Seattle for "a pastor conference," but WELS was busy with graduation at MLC and The Sausage Factory that week. Church and Change loves Driscoll, so maybe they went there.
Dying to know - Tweet us. Thnx. Ur gr8..

Here is a link about WELS budget problems.

Ice Cream, Ice Cream, Ice Cream

Craig Groeschel, Life Church, trained at a Disciples of Christ seminary. Like the Babtists, the Disciples are opposed to
infant baptism and baptismal regeneration.
Screaming is a substitute for content.
Look at those neck veins pop.

Bishop Katie's Blog:

On Sunday Ski said or rather shouted (if you were there you know I’m serious) “Churches want to put out their hand to help people out of the mud, but that’s not what our Savior does. Our Savior climbs in the mud with you and pulls you up and helps you out. That’s what we’re about.”

The Buffalo Bills sound better.

---

Look what I found at The CORE website -

The Core's:
Confessions

We all have sicknesses within us that seem to eat us up inside. These range from anger and bitterness to envy, guilt, and pride. The first step in receiving forgiveness for these sins that lurk deep within is confessing them. Please use the form below to anonymously confess the sickness that is eating at you from within. Also, please feel free to read other people's confessions using the tags on the right side of the page and pray that God may give those individuals the strength to heal from their sicknesses.

Use the form below to make your anonymous confession:

***

GJ - Posted with the confession form is a graphic almost exactly like the one I downloaded from Craig Groeschel for The Sickness Within. Don't worry - I signed the license agreement.

The sermon theme for this Sunday is: The Sickness Within, Control. That happens to be in the same order as the one I downloaded from Craig Groeschel. When other denominations copy Groeschel, they even use the same number for each sermon. Control is #4, while pride was #3.

The Sickness Within - Control - Watermark Community Church.
"This podcast is a production of Watermark Community Church. Our church was designed for those who had given up on the local church."

Does that sound like Ski? Just a little?

Ichabodians, members of WELS have given vast sums of money to clone a Groeschel/Stanley cell in Appleton, in Fox Valley where they hardly need one more WELS congregation. Or one more Emerging Church. A-town has several of those. Ski went to the Alliance one several times, as he Tweeted.

Naturally, the money was given directly to this badly needed mission in Fox Valley, to finance:

1. A huge movie theatre with a myriad of sub-woofers.
   
2. Two full-time staffers who do minimal work.
   
3. Five conferences Ski has attended, not to mention three at least attended by Katie.

Church and Change has been doing this for a long time, diverting funds for their own pet projects, or draining the synod coffers directly. Ask them how they do this. They are the dominant element at The Love Shack, The Sausage Factory, and Martin Luther College. The provide seminars for their disciples at their conferences.

So, when more pastors are canned permanently due to lack of funds, count up the money Church and Change has diverted to their Wild Hair Missions Department.

---

Vatican laments drop in confessions


VATICAN CITY (AP) - A Vatican official is lamenting that many faithful no longer confess their sins, and says some confuse a psychologist's couch for a confessional booth.

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GJ - Ski, Groeschel and the Antichrist are singing from the same page of the hymnal on this one. I think anonymous Internet confessions are the way to go, especially since Ski can check on the IP addresses, find out who wrote them, and shake them down for bigger offerings. Hey, it worked with Schwan.

PS - Why am I posting Ski's borrowed sermon themes faster than they Tweet them at The CORE? Can't two full-time staffers find time to send out the name of the latest borrowed sermon?

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Ice Cream, Ice Cream, Ice Cream":

Don't worry about Ski baptizing babies, Craig. He doesn't use the sacraments at all.

All his new members already were baptized in other WELS churches, where he is drawing them from (how strange for a "mission" congregation). And as for the Lord's Supper, he's just as ashamed of that as he is of his Lutheranism.

So don't worry. He's just like you.

Church and Chicaneries Covered with Flopsweat, Longing for Revenge

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Crocodile Tears from Real Crocks":

I have attended many of the conferences along with many WELS pastors, teachers, DPs, CPs, and sem profs. I'm sure I saw you there as you would be the one with the scowl on your face and cowering in the corner hoping not to be discovered. Meeting under cover with your fellow Ichabod plants planning and plotting the next attack.

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GJ - I wonder what got this person's didies in a bunch.

Teigen Claims Teigen As His Only Source, Proving Teigen Correct

Norman Teigen has left a new comment on your post "Outside the Framework of WELS Fellowship":

I think that you have consistently misrepresented the ELS in the Weakland matter. Your reporter (your son) is misinformed. My reporter (my cousin) is my source.

Norman Teigen
ELS layman
[Disclaimer: i am not an official spokesman for the ELS.]

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GJ - I was not writing about Archbishop Weakland at Bethany, but Dr. James Shannon. Erling Teigen arranged for Shannon, an ex-bishop of the Church of Rome, to march with the faculty and speak at the dedication service of the Ylvisaker Center.

Rolf Preus' response some time ago was to say, "Erling Teigen does not have an ecumenical bone in his body, and Greg Jackson knows it." So Rolf is not only a mind-reader, but a long-distance one at that.

My first source is the Mankato Free Press, where Bethany proudly announced this ecumenical event. I also had this in my file for some time, because a CLC pastor spoke to Erling about this, after seeing the clear intent in the newspaper article. Erling's response was, "I thought we were friends." So Matthew 18 is a hostile act when talking to an ecumenist.

My second source is the Bethany annual, which was deceptively silent about Shannon's religious affiliation and other pertinent details. The college yearbook for 1994-5 showed "Dr. James Shannon speaking with student body representatives."

My third source is my son, who witnessed the religious procession, with Roman Catholic Shannon marching with the Bethany faculty and speaking at the service.

Erling or others would have us believe that a married ex-bishop is no longer a Roman Catholic, likewise that an obviously religious service became a secular meeting when the ex-bishop rose to speak.

Erling is not a reliable source for anything where he is involved. He published a letter in Christian News calling me a liar because I accurately reported the Little Sect parting with WELS about their joint hymnal project. It never happened, according to Erling! A Bethany Seminary student (not my cousin or son) contacted me to laugh about the denial. It was widely known that the ELS quit the project when WELS would only let them have two (2) hymns in the new feminist hymnal. CW still carries the information about the Joint Hymnal Project. Joint as in...ELS and WELS, of course.

I am not surprised that the ELS still denies the obvious. They like to pose as the confessional side of the WELS-ELS duet, but they do the same things. They have also had women leading worship at their chapel. They have their own Church and Change congregation. The Little Sect has their own doctrinal board so they can worry about the doctrinal errors in WELS. As Bugs Bunny says, "It is to laugh."