Abide in My Word

President Obama's Statement on 39th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

2012-01-23T23:33:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, President Obama released the following statement regarding the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade:

As we mark the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we must remember that this Supreme Court decision not only protects a woman’s health and reproductive freedom , but also affirms a broader principle: that government should not intrude on private family matters. I remain committed to protecting a woman’s right to choose and this fundamental constitutional right.

While this is a sensitive and often divisive issue -- no matter what our views, we must stay united in our determination to prevent unintended pregnancies, support pregnant woman and mothers, reduce the need for abortion, encourage healthy relationships, and promote adoption. And as we remember this historic anniversary, we must also continue our efforts to ensure that our daughters have the same rights, freedoms, and opportunities as our sons to fulfill their dreams.

Here is the statement, revised to reflect reality:

As we mark the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we must remember that this Supreme Court decision not only ~~protects a woman’s health and~~ gives women the right to kill their babies in the name of reproductive freedom, but also affirms a broader ~~principle~~ evil: that government should not ~~intrude on private family matters~~ protect the defenseless and innocent among us. I remain committed to protecting a woman’s right to ~~choose~~ murder her unborn baby for the sake of convenience and ~~this~~ ~~fundamental constitutional right~~ will continue to pretend as though the Preamble to our Declaration of Independence, which states that all men are created equal and have been endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, had never been written.

While this is a sensitive and often divisive issue -- no matter what our views, we must stay united in our determination to prevent unintended pregnancies, support pregnant woman and mothers, reduce the need for abortion, encourage healthy relationships, and promote adoption. And as we remember this historic anniversary, we must also continue our efforts to ensure that our daughters have the same rights, freedoms, and opportunities as our sons to fulfill their dreams, except, of course, the 1.2 million daughters and sons who are killed annually by abortion so that they do not interfere with the rights, freedoms, and opportunities of our daughters and sons who should not have to endure the inconvenience of having, and raising, children unless they choose to do so.

A Few Recent Videos from President Harrison

2012-01-15T16:22:00.000-05:00

A Blessed Lord's Day!

2012-01-15T15:52:00.000-05:00

We were blessed this morning to witness our Lord's grace, mercy, and love at work in the washing of water with the Word, as our dear sister, Lexie, was Baptized into Christ. Lexie was also confirmed and received the Holy Eucharist with us for the first time. Could there be a more fitting Gospel than the account of our Lord changing the water into wine at the wedding at Cana in Galilee to accompany these marvelous gifts? A truly remarkable Lord's Day at Peace in Alma! Some pics:

A Fisktacular Response to a Flawed Video

2012-01-15T14:56:00.001-05:00

If you haven't seen this yet, this is a video that went absolutely viral, getting over 11 million hits since being posted just five days ago on January 10. Below this video is a most excellent response by Pastor Fisk of Worldview Everlasting fame. I love all of Pastor Fisk's videos, but I'm pretty sure that this one has moved to the top as my personal all-time favorite. Just perfect!

So, watch the first video and see what you think. But, then, watch what Pastor Fisk has to say about it, which is right on the money.

My Favorite Christmas Hymn Is . . .

2011-12-24T15:31:00.000-05:00

"What Child Is This" (LSB 370), because I love the tune, but moreso because it contains the best, most awesomest hymn stanza ever, which gets at the heart of the real meaning of Christmas:

Why lies He in such mean estate

Where ox and ass are feeding?

Good Christian, fear; for sinners here

The silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,

The cross be borne for me, for you;

Hail, hail, the Word made flesh,

The babe, the Son of Mary!

Beauitful Video!

2011-12-24T11:11:00.000-05:00

Pr. Rick Sawyer and the children at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and School in Brandon, MS made this excellent video a few years back. Wow! Simply sublime. "We know how to give good gifts to our children. So does God." God delivers His Gifts to us via His Holy Word and Sacraments, through which we receive Jesus Christ and the forgiveness, life, and salvation He won for us. And, this Promise if FOR YOU and FOR YOUR CHILDREN. I love how the video shows the kids running to the Christmas tree to get their presents in the beginning, and then shows them running to the altar to get their Gift of Jesus toward the end. They rush to the Christmas tree to get gifts, but then they rush to the Tree of Life to get the greatest Gift of all - the very Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, given and shed for us on the Tree of the Cross. Beautiful!

God will be delivering His Good and Divine Gifts to His children all over the world tonight and tomorrow. Rush to the true Christmas Tree - the Tree of the Cross - and receive the Christmas Present He has for you - His Son and the salvation He won for you. For in every Church around the world where the Holy Eucharist is celebrated according to Christ's institution, there is Bethlehem, the House of Bread, for there is where the Bread of Life, Jesus, is mangered upon the altar, wrapped in the swaddling cloths of bread and wine, for you.

Bethlehem will be found at Peace Lutheran Church in Alma, MI tonight at 7:00 p.m. (Service of Lessons and Carols) and 11:30 p.m. (Midnight Mass), and again tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. (Divine Service). O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant! O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem; Come and behold Him born the King of angels: O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

A Fisky Friday

2011-12-24T10:16:00.000-05:00

Divine Humility and Love

2011-12-22T08:53:00.001-05:00

Not a palace, but a stable. Not a cushioned crib, but a feeding trough for animals (a manger). Not in a rich powerful city, but in lowly Bethlehem. Not to rich, powerful, royal, and influential parents, but to a simple carpenter and lowly maiden. Not with great fanfare, pomp, and circumstance, but while the world slept unaware—the only announcement made by the angels to shepherds in the fields. This is how the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity made His entrance into our flesh in order to bear our sins and be our Savior. It is nothing short of amazing! Hearing the remarkable details of our Lord’s birth never gets old, which is why the Church continues to sing, “Marvel now, O heav’n and earth, that the Lord chose such a birth” (“Savior of the Nations, Come” - LSB 332, st. 1).

Marvel, indeed! God is born a baby! The Eternal Word of the Father, the very Creator of all things, the One who spoke creation into existence, descends from heaven to be born into His creation. In Mary’s arms, nursing from her breasts, is God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God. He humbles Himself to assume our human flesh and become dependent upon the milk of His mother and the care of his earthly father, even while He continues to hold the entire universe in His tiny little hands. If this does not cause you to marvel, nothing will!

The Divine Humility of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, is truly a marvelous thing to behold. The holy angels are taken aback by it and long to delve into what they perceive to be the mystery of mysteries. They have seen the One who lies seemingly helpless in a manger in all His glory. They know Who this Baby named Jesus really is, and it amazes them to see Him in this manner. Not only that, but they know the reason God takes on human flesh and is born into this dead and dying world, namely to save sinful humanity, and they cannot help but sing His praises. As they gaze upon Almighty God, their Lord and Master, wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a dirty, feeding trough, they marvel not only at His Divine Humility, but at His Divine Love for sinful mankind, for it is that Divine Love which moved Him to subject Himself to such humility.

The Divine Humility and Love we see on display in Bethlehem on that Holy Night long ago continued to be exemplified in our Lord Jesus throughout His salvific pilgrimage to our sinful world. He did not come seeking honor and fame, but to serve and love God and neighbor completely and perfectly in our place. He did not come to conquer the world and establish a mighty earthly empire, but to do battle with, and defeat, sin, death, and the devil on our behalf. He did not come to be served, but to serve. The One who chose to be born in such low estate lived in poverty throughout His time here, relying upon His Father to provide for His every need. He had no place to lay His head. He had no accumulation of material possessions. There was nothing about His appearance that would draw people to Him. In short, the Divine Humility we witness at His birth continued throughout His earthly life.

Of course, the ultimate picture of our Lord’s Divine Humility and Love is seen in Jerusalem thirty-some years after His ignoble birth. We see it when He washes the feet of His disciples. We see it when He sweats blood while praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, submitting to His Father’s will. We see it when He submits to being arrested. We see it when He is spit upon, beaten, mocked, and severely flogged. We see it in His silence before Caiaphas and Pilate. We see it when He carries His own cross to Golgotha outside the city gates. We see it when He allows Simon of Cyrene to assist Him in carrying His cross. We see it when the nails are driven through His hands and feet. We see it when He hangs on that cruel instrument of torture, gasping for air. We hear it in the Words He utters from the cross, and we see it when He takes His last breath and dies.

And it’s all amazing; it’s all something to most definitely marvel over, for this is God Himself, Incarnate in human flesh, Who is born in such low estate, lives in such poverty, and dies such a heinous death. It becomes all the more amazing (if it’s possible to ponder anything more amazing than God living and dying as a Man) when we consider that He did it all for us—for you, for me. He humbled Himself and assumed human flesh to live as your substitute; to hunger and thirst as you hunger and thirst; to be tempted as you are tempted; to experience pain and suffering as you experience pain and suffering; to be mocked and suffer injustice as you are mocked and suffer injustice; to even suffer death as you suffer death. All of it because He loves you with a Divine Love beyond our human comprehension. All of it to rescue you from the eternity you deserve because of your sins. All of it to win for you forgiveness, life, and salvation. All of it because He desires that you spend eternity with Him in perfect peace, comfort, and joy.

Dearly beloved, as we make our way to Bethlehem to celebrate our Savior’s birth, let us take our cue from the holy angels and ponder the mystery of our Lord’s Incarnation. Let us follow the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary and treasure this mystery in our hearts, pondering with great wonder and joy the reason our God humbled Himself to be born into this sinful world in our human flesh. He came to live and die for you, dear friends, each and every one of you. In Divine Humility and Love, He came to save you by living the life you fail to live and by dying the death you deserve to die for your sins. This is the true “reason for the season,” the true meaning of Christmas.

But, let us not stop at pondering and treasuring up in our hearts this great mystery, as if this was all just some bygone story to be cherished, remembered, and passed on to others. This is no legend or fairy tale or epic saga to warm our hearts and lift our spirits as we roast chestnuts around the fire. This is no “Hallmark Special” to talk about as we sip our eggnog and open presents. Our Lord lives! His Divine Humility and Love is still on full display and still as active today as it was two millennia ago, for the same God who assumed human flesh and was born of the Virgin Mary, the same God who lived to serve and love God and neighbor, the same God who allowed Himself to be treated shamefully and put to death, continues to come to us in Divine Humility and Love as we gather in His Name for Divine Service. It should not surprise us that He makes no flashy appearance in our midst, but instead comes among us humbly and hiddenly, wrapped in the swaddling cloths of His Holy Word and Sacraments. That’s His way. And He comes to us in Divine Humility and Love to deliver the forgiveness, life, and salvation He accomplished for us. This, too, is the meaning of Christmas.

“Marvel now, O heav’n and earth, that the Lord chose such a birth.” Yes, marvel away at that! But, marvel, too, that our Lord chooses to continue to meet us in His Church in Divine Humility and Love to deliver to us His Divine Gifts. Marvel and come, at His gracious invitation, to receive His Gifts and to be filled with His Divine Humility and Love!

A Holy, Blessed, and Merry Christmas to you all!

Sacred Music for the Christmas Season

2011-12-22T08:40:00.002-05:00

Children's Christmas Program

2011-12-21T22:58:00.000-05:00

We held our Children's Christmas Program this evening and all the kids did a fabulous job sharing the story of our salvation with us. Special thanks to our Sunday School teachers, Carol, Sharyn, and Annie, for getting them prepared. Some pics:

Greek Tuesday on the Holy Gospel for Christmas Day - John 1:1-18

2011-12-21T07:50:00.000-05:00

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). Not, ". . . and the Word was a god," but, ". . . and the Word was God." Jesus is the Eternal Word of the Father, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God. He is of one substance with the Father. God is born on Christmas Day. God. Not a god. Not a created being. God. God lives in our human flesh. God lives as a perfect human being, fulfilling all the demands of the Law in our place. God bears our sins and is our Savior, taking our sins upon Himself and putting them to death by dying on a Cross. God dies. God is placed in a tomb. God rises from the tomb on the third day and appears to His disciples multiple times over the course of forty days. God ascends into heaven in human flesh, bearing the scars of our salvation, to rule over all things. God will come again in great glory on the Last Day.

That's the Gospel. Jesus, the Son of God and Mary's Son, is the "I AM" who spoke to Moses, the Word through Whom all things were made in the beginning, despite the protestations of both ancient and modern Arians. The context in John 1 makes this clear. The rules of grammar make it clear in that section, as Pr. Fisk points out. And, Scripture makes this clear time and time again throughout. Today is the Feast Day of St. Thomas, Apostle. St. Thomas, upon seeing and touching our Resurrected Lord, declares, "My Lord and My God" (John 20:28). St. Paul refers to Jesus as "our great God and Savior" (Titus 2:13). St. Peter does the same (2 Peter 1:1). And, Jesus identifies Himself as God time and time again in the Holy Gospels. The Jews in His day knew exactly what He was saying of Himself. One of the reasons they wanted to kill Him is precisely because they knew that He was claiming to be Yahweh in the flesh, God Incarnate. You can't miss this. It's all over the place.

The irony is that heretics of old and present try to use the first verse of the Holy Gospel according to St. John to assert that Jesus isn't God, but a god, when the very purpose of that verse and all that follows it in that Gospel is to make vividly clear that Jesus is God. Already in St. John's day, there were heretics harassing the Church, claiming that Jesus wasn't God. St. John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, sets them straight. He is very clear. Jesus Is God. It is nothing short of amazing that anyone would try to deny that this is what St. John testifies. But, you know, heretics gonna heretic. That will never change until our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, returns in great glory on the Last Day and the Truth is revealed to all.

Until then, may those of us who have been gifted with the faith to confess the truth about Jesus give thanks, rejoice, and cling to Him as our only source of rescue from sin, death, and the devil. May we ponder in our hearts, with Blessed St Mary, the Great and Mighty Wonder of God being born in our human flesh to bear our sins and be our Savior. May we, with the holy angels, marvel at this glorious mystery. May we, with St. Thomas, declare about Jesus, especially as we receive Him in the Holy Supper, "my Lord and my God!" Amen.

Better Late than Never . . .

2011-12-18T08:32:00.000-05:00

It is still Advent, after all . . .

Also, if you have not done so yet, give Pres. Harrison's article in the December issue of The Lutheran Witness a read.

The Evidence Strikes Back

2011-12-18T08:15:00.000-05:00

Great video by Pr. Fisk. I've been reminded lately, in various ways, how hypocritical are many who simply dismiss the Bible and the Christian faith without examining the evidence. They are quick to point out how ignorant Christians must be to believe what the Bible says and confess the tenets of the Christian faith. They see this as akin to believing in myths and fairy tales, deriding Christians for being superstitious fools. But, in so doing, they put their own ignorance on full display, for they have not even given the evidence a passing glance and have no clue what they're saying. In reality, then, they are guilty of their own accusations against Christians, for they have blindly put their faith in the myths and fairy tales of men, who foolishly approach the Bible and the Christian faith with a whole boat-load of self-designated presuppositions and draw conclusions upon those presuppositions, which are in no way, shape, or form rooted in reality. Oh well. Such is life in this dead and dying world.

A GREAT Hunt!

2011-11-22T14:19:00.001-05:00

Just returned last night from a week in the woods . . . and what a week it was! My dad and I were the only ones in camp for the first few days, as my Uncle Art had to work and didn't arrive until Thursday afternoon, and Aaron (my son) had basketball tryouts all week. So, it was just the two of us heading out to our blinds Opening Morning, and neither of us ever dreamed we would have the success we had that morning.

Around 7:20 a.m., I had a pretty good size buck stroll into my area. He was behind my tree stand and to my right. I could see his rack and was hoping that he'd keep coming down the runway that I've nicknamed "Suicide Lane." But, he didn't. He turned south and headed down toward the swamp, never giving me a shot (way too thick back there). A little early Opening Morning excitement, but nothing more. I thought for sure I had missed the one chance I'd have that day to bag a buck. I was wrong.

An hour later - about 8:20 a.m. - another buck came strolling into my area almost exactly where the first buck had been. But, unlike the first buck, this guy didn't turn and head toward the swamp, but kept coming down "Suicide Lane." When I spotted him behind me and to my right, I stood up in my stand, using the tree as cover, and readied myself for a shot (as I had done just an hour earlier with that first elusive buck). When I saw that he was going to come down "Suicide Lane," I picked the second shooting lane and waited for him to walk right into my cross-hairs, and when he did, I fired and hit him good. He bolted toward the swamp, but only made it about 40 yards before I heard him go down. There are few feelings that compare to the feeling of knowing that you just bagged a good buck!

I waited until 8:45 a.m. before getting down out of my tree stand to go find the buck. My plan was to go find him, field dress him, drag him over to my stand, and get back up there and hunt the rest of the morning. But, just as I stood up to hook my rifle up to the rope and let it down, I spotted a huge deer on the hill out in front of me. So, I slowly sat back down and grabbed my rifle. I couldn't see the deer clearly through the bright sunshine and dense fog that had just rolled in. I was pretty sure it was a big buck, but couldn't be positive. I had the deer in my scope for a good couple of minutes and could have easily shot it several times, but not knowing for sure what it was, I let it go. It mosied down into the swamp, heading right toward where the buck I had shot had fallen. So, I waited for about 15 minutes and got down out of my stand and headed over to where I had shot the buck:

He wasn't a very big buck - probably only 2 or 3 years old, but he had a nice, symmetrical rack, and had a little drop-tine starting, which is rare, and which made him a 9-pointer, not an 8-pointer, as I had originally thought. But, what was so exciting about this buck for me was that this was my FIRST buck ever! I hunted a few times with my dad and uncle when I was a teenager, but didn't start doing it consistently until my early twenties. This was the 11th deer I've killed (actually, 12th - I killed a buck a few years ago at my uncle's place, but we never found him), but the first buck (actually, second buck - I killed a button buck a few years back, who was on a dead sprint through my area and I thought he was a doe, but that doesn't really count) I've successfully bagged. Pretty cool, to say the least. I've had opportunities to go and hunt on private land, where I'm sure I could have bagged a buck a long time before now, but I've always wanted to get my first buck on the state land we've been hunting now for about 15 years. I've had a few chances to do so in years past, but never succeeded until this year. Very exciting!

Anyway, back to our unbelievable Opening Morning story . . .

So, I found my buck and just began field dressing him when I heard my dad shoot. What the heck? Could it be? Could he have just shot a buck, too? No. That could never happen. But, then again, my dad never fires his rifle unless he's shooting at a big buck. So, I figured he had taken a shot at a buck and probably had one down - unless there was someone else hunting real close to him, which is always a possibility when you're hunting on state land. So, I went back to field dressing my buck, knowing that he would call me if he had one down. And, sure enough, a few minutes later, my cell phone rang. My dad had a big buck down. Wow! Who woulda thunk it? Both of us with bucks down on the same Opening Morning - unbelievable!

I finished field dressing my buck, dragged him over to my tree stand, and headed over to my dad's blind. I couldn't believe what a monster he had taken down. Huge! Big Bad Swamp Buck! He said that he first saw a doe coming down a runway to the left of him, toward the swamp. Then, he caught a glimpse of this monster out of the corner of his eye a few minutes later, coming down a runway in the same direction as the doe had been traveling, only nearer to his blind. My dad kept perfectly still until the big guy passed his blind to his left, only 20 yards or so away. The buck stopped and did that majestic pose big bucks do, looking up what we call "8-Point Hill." My dad said the big fella looked a little nervous and he was worried that maybe he had sensed him. But, when the buck stopped posing, he turned his head to the left, looking down toward the doe that was still hanging around, and my dad, a lefty, brought his rifle up quickly and shot the monster right-handed, and he dropped right there. This was the second monster buck my dad killed in the last five years - with a nice 8-pointer in between - and so we have given him the nickname, "The Most Interesting Deer Hunter in the World," to go along with his other nickname, "The Man Who Slew Brutus."

So, we had two good bucks down before 9:15 a.m. on Opening Morning. As I said above, we would never have believed it possible to have such success. But, now we had to get these bucks out of the woods - and so, the work began. We left the game cart back at the cottage and there was no way we were going to drag both of these guys out by the horns. So, we decided that we would go drag my buck out, load it up in the truck, and then I would go back to the cottage, get the cart, and drive my truck back to meet my dad, who would stay behind with his buck.

When I finally made it back to my dad's blind, he told me that he had just seen an even bigger buck walk through his area while he was lounging in his blind waiting on me. So, that made five bucks the two of us saw that morning. For one of us to see a single buck in a morning is rare; to see five in the same morning is simply unbelievable.

We eventually got both bucks back to the cottage and hung. We were exhausted. Dragging my buck out without the cart was quite the chore, and even though we had the cart to get his monster out, it was still pretty tiring. By the time we got everything done (bucks hung and cleaned out, everything washed up, the tenderloins, hearts, and livers all sliced up and ready to cook, and showered and cleaned up ourselves), it was nearly 4:00 p.m. Needless to say, we skipped the afternoon hunt that day. :)

As you can see from the pictures above, the buck my dad bagged made my buck look like a baby. I joked with him when I first saw the monster he bagged that we should just throw mine back. :) But, really, my buck was an average sized buck; it just looks small next to the monster my dad killed. Anyway, after getting all cleaned up, the hearts and livers all sliced up and bagged in milk to soak a couple of days, we feasted that evening on fresh tenderloins - simply delicious!

Dad and I decided to skip the second day of the hunt, too. We had two bucks hanging and the second day is notoriously slow, so we slept in, lazed around most of the morning, went into Greenville to do a little grocery shopping, then vegged out the rest of the day and evening, watching old movies and such - pretty relaxing day.

We skipped the next morning hunt as well and waited to go out in the afternoon with Art, who arrived at camp at around 1:00 p.m. that day. We probably should have just stayed in, as it was very cold and windy, and none of us saw a thing that afternoon.

The next morning was a lot nicer, weather-wise, and filled with tons of action, at least for me. I had a mama and two youngins (a little doe and a button buck) come in about 7:45 a.m. The button buck almost walked right under my tree stand, and mama and little girl came within 10 yards before mama noticed me. You can't see it in the video very well, but mama starts stomping her front hoof to let junior (button buck) know to come back to her, so that they could get out of Dodge. Junior was totally oblivious to the danger mama sensed and just pranced around like he owned the woods. Lots of fun watching these three. Video is a little shaky - was holding my iphone 4 in one hand and turning to watch the button buck. Wasn't trying to be very still; just enjoying the action. :)

Then, about a half hour later, I had another mama and two babies come out of the swamp to my right. I wasn't sure what they were at first, so I got on them with my scope. When I realized that there were no antlers on any of them, and that none of them were all that big, I picked up my camera to try to get some video, but all I got was their tails heading into the thickets behind me.

45 minutes later, I had two does run right down the runway I call "Suicide Alley" (not to be confused with "Suicide Lane") to the left of me. But, neither of them were very big and I decided to let them go. Didn't get video because I was enjoying a nice cup of hot cocoa and didn't feel like putting it down. :)

So, that's 8 deer I saw (at least 6 of which I could have easily shot), and all before 9:30 a.m. Then, just before 10:00 a.m., I spotted a huge deer coming down off of the hill in front of me, moving pretty rapidly. I decided right away that if this deer gave me a shot, I would take it. Couldn't tell if it was a buck or a doe at first, but it was huge. It came down to my left, a couple of runways further out than "Suicide Alley," and when it hit what I thought to be an opening, I took a shot and the deer dropped dead in its tracks. I was pretty amazed that it dropped - she was on a dead run and it was a 70-yard shot with my grandpa's shotgun I had never hunted with before. I literally had about 5 seconds to take aim and shoot. Here's a pic of me standing where I shot her and looking at my tree stand:

While the pics don't do it justice, trust me when I say that this was one huge doe (bigger than the 9-pointer I shot Opening Morning). When I took her to the Amish gentleman who does all of our processing, she was bigger than most of the bucks he had in his barn. Of course, my dad's monster was by far the biggest deer of all.

My dad and I stayed in that afternoon, while Art headed out to hunt in my tree stand, since that's where all the action had been that day. Unfortunately, he didn't see anything that evening. I told him to give my stand another try in the morning, since we were all sure that he would at least be able to bag a doe there and get some meat for the freezer.

Aaron joined us that night, but he wanted to sleep in on Saturday morning. Plus, we wanted Art to hunt in our tree stand that morning. So, Aaron and I stayed in. He slept in, while I got up with dad and Art and got some work done as they headed out for the morning hunt.

About 11:00 a.m., I texted Art to see what was going on, but didn't get a response. I tried calling him, too, but he didn't answer. So, I called my dad to let him know that I couldn't get in touch with Art, and he said that he would go over to my tree stand to see what was going on. He called me a while later to let me know that he was at my stand and that Art's stuff was there, but there was no sign of Art. He said he was going to get up in my stand and wait for Art to return. A while later, Art finally called me back and told me that he had gotten down about 10:30 a.m. to take a walk and do some stalking, and that he ended up getting a little turned around. He knew he wasn't far from Stanton Road, so I told him to make it there and that I would call dad and have him go pick him up. But, when I called dad, he didn't answer. I tried calling him a few times, but no answer. Ten minutes later, he called me back and told me that he couldn't answer the phone because he was watching a big buck travel out of the swamp and right behind my tree stand. He took a picture of the fella, but his head was right behind a tree, and you can't see his rack. He tried taking a video, too, but accidentally hit the record button twice, so while he thought he was getting great video, his camera was actually on Standby. :) Anyway, Art was kicking himself for getting down, since he could have easily bagged this big buck had he just stayed put in my tree stand. My dad couldn't shoot him, because he had only purchased a regular firearms license and had already filled that tag. In fact, he hunted the rest of the week without a rifle, but with only his camera.

Aaron and I headed out to my stand for the evening hunt, while Art headed to his stand in the swamp, and dad went exploring. Aaron was going to be the shooter if we saw a buck. He had my grandpa's 30-06 and had practiced shooting with it earlier that day, and, amazingly, the kid put two in the bullseye from about 50 yards (that's my boy! :).

But, unfortunately, none of us saw a thing that evening. Sunday and Monday were the same. No action. No deer seen by anyone. But, given that we had bagged two nice bucks and a huge doe during the week, it was a GREAT hunt, to be sure. And, we have been blessed for many years in a row now to be able to enjoy a delicious heart and liver dinner while at hunting camp.

So, the 2011 hunt is one for the record books for the Messer Camp. Two Opening Morning bucks is something we've never been blessed to accomplish, nor something we ever expected to accomplish. Already looking forward to the 2012 hunt! Hopefully, Art will have better luck, and maybe next year will be the year Aaron is able to bag his first deer. Whatever the case, we have another year's worth of cherished memories to go along with all those stored up from the past. Man, I love spending time with my loved ones in the woods each year - doesn't get much better than that!

This is what the BoD of the MNS District has sold . . .

2011-11-11T17:10:00.000-05:00

Contemporary Worship Came from Others

2011-11-11T16:54:00.000-05:00

What is almost always missing in our ongoing worship debates is an honest assessment of the genesis of what has become known as contemporary worship among Lutherans. It seems that many are wont to conveniently ignore the fact that this genre of worship was developed by non-Lutherans who adhere not only to a different theology of worship, but a completely different theological system (different exegetical, different systematic, different historical, different practical theologies). This did not originate with Lutherans, but came from those whose theology is purposefully not centered upon Christ and the blessed means of grace through which faith in Him is created and sustained, but rather is centered upon man and the experience and enthusiasm created to elicit a decision/response from those in attendance to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. In other words, for all attempts to prove otherwise, this genre of worship is not Christ-centered, but man-centered - and PURPOSEFULLY so.

This is because those who led the charge to turn worship into an experiential, enthusiastic, emotional-manipulating, feel-good, fun-fest do not believe Jesus is Present in their "worship experiences." That's the whole point, the whole basis for this genre of worship. Jesus is "up there," not here. We need to reach Him. We need to let Him know how much we love Him. We experience His love in return as we feel Him touch our hearts. And, if the worship is powerful enough, then that experienced love we feel in our hearts will lead us to commit ourselves to Jesus, make Him our personal Lord and Savior, and leave with the intent to live for Him in this world. It's all about you. Your feelings. Your emotions. Your decision. Your choice. Your commitment. Your life. Jesus is nothing more or less than the object of your affection and the arbiter of your feelings. It is little wonder that the vast majority of contemporary Christian praise songs focus on feelings and employ heart-language, since, well, they are simply the subjective experience and shared feelings of their authors put before others in the hope that they, too, will share that experience and those feelings.

You can slice and dice this all you want in the attempt to Lutheranize it, but that dog just won't hunt. You cannot adopt the practices of those who adhere to a completely different theology and avoid having your confession of the faith marred in the process. The attempt by so many Lutherans to do this today is not only an exercise in futility, but a sad commentary on how our theology is so grossly misunderstood and unappreciated. That so many Lutherans are willing to sell their birthright for a cup of "worship experience" is something I shall never fully comprehend.

So it is that the oft-attempted argument in our worship debates that this is not about theology is disingenuous, at best, and malicious, at worst. I mean, no one can possibly argue against the fact that the contemporary worship adopted by Lutherans came from those who adhere to a different system of theology. In fact, those who initiated the flirtation with contemporary worship knew this full well. It was kinda the point at the time. Those other Christians who worship differently than we do seem to be onto something. Their numbers are growing and people seem to be really responsive to their way of worship, so let's check that out and see if it's for us. Besides, we're really getting sick of the whole page 5 and page 15 thing; something new and fresh would be most welcome!

Thus did the first generation of contemporary worshiping Lutherans begin their flirtation with the Church Growth Movement (CGM) and its principles, which find their zenith in man-centered, man-pleasing, experiential, enthusiastic, and entertaining, feel-good, contemporary worship. This first generation of contemporary worshiping Lutherans knew exactly what they were doing. Many of them even went and got themselves degrees in "church growth" from places such as Fuller Theological Seminary. They read all of the classic CGM texts, attended contemporary worship seminars, and set about the business of establishing a new genre of worship among Lutherans. And this is precisely because they bought into the false theology of those who tickled their fancies and provoked their envy. They wanted to be like those others, theology be damned. That's a fact, and it is easily proven, given that we're not talking about some historical era in some distant past, but events which have taken place just in the past 20-30 years. The advent of contemporary worship among Lutherans in our synod can be traced back to the 1980s. Yes, there was already some flirtation being done in the 60s and 70s (and there has always been a bit of this ever since there have been Lutherans), but this movement did not begin to gain traction within our synod until the 80s. So, it is still brand new among us, and it is easy to trace just how it happened to infiltrate our synod, especially since many of those among that first generation of contemporary worshiping Lutherans are still among us, and still making the same arguments they made back when they began flirting with this stuff.

The amazing thing to witness in all this is how the second generation of contemporary worshiping Lutherans among us engage in our ongoing worship debates. Unlike their predecessors, they are convinced that the genre of worship to which they adhere is Lutheran through and through. This is a testimony of the first generation's effectiveness in embedding this genre of worship into our life together as a synod. Call them pioneers or innovators or what have you, no one could possibly deny the success they've had in convincing Lutherans to accept and embrace this genre of worship. When they began their flirtation, one could hardly find an LCMS congregation that had a contemporary worship service available, but now it has become increasingly difficult to find LCMS congregations that do not have one. That's not bad for a movement that is only a few decades old. Those who dreamed of the days when you wouldn't have to attend a methobapticostal worship service to "feel the presence of the Spirit at work" have had their dream fulfilled, and then some, for not only can you find this sort of worship service all around the synod today, but those who have taken up their mantle today are convinced that this is decidedly Lutheran.

But, it is not Lutheran. That's my point. That's the point that gets glossed over in our worship debates time and time again, as a plethora of red herrings and straw men are invoked to keep us from getting at the heart of the matter. Try as they might (and they do try!), the second generation of contemporary worshiping Lutherans will never be able to deny the fact that what they now embrace and falsely believe to be perfectly Lutheran is the warmed-up porridge their predecessors sold their birthright to obtain. At the end of the day, this is about theology, no matter how vehemently are those who argue to the contrary.

What would be refreshing would be to hear the second generation of contemporary worshiping Lutherans argue their case with the honesty in which their predecessors argued theirs. They wanted something different. They believed that we Lutherans needed something different. They didn't shy away from making that known. They said things like, "The hymnal does not appeal to unbelievers"; "The liturgy is outdated and turns people off"; "Worship needs to primarily be about reaching the lost, not feeding the found"; "Worship should be fun and entertaining, so that people will long to come"; "We need to change our ways, lest the Church fade away and die"; "Everyone should be a minister," and so forth. And, they said these things knowing full well that they were saying that we needed to learn from those whose theology differs from ours. Our theology needed to change. That was the point. But, today's generation says all of these things and more, maintaining that, in doing so, they are expressing our theology, refusing to admit that all of these things are based on a theology foreign to ours.

And, for this reason, dialogue is stifled. How in the world can you have fruitful dialogue with those who refuse to be honest? When the basis for dialogue is, "We're exactly the same theologically, but just have vast differences in how we express that theology," as if doctrine and practice are as different from one another as night is from day, there is little chance of the conversation going anywhere. And, that's what we see, time and time again. The second generation of contemporary worshiping Lutherans have systematized what their predecessors introduced, and the key systematic principle is that doctrine and practice can be neatly kept separated. Indeed, it is this systematic principle that provides the convenient cover up to the reality which lies underneath, enabling today's generation to live with the fact that their predecessors partook of a theology foreign to ours. The separation of doctrine from practice is akin to the "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain" ploy used by the wizard of Oz. As long as that curtain remains in place, there is no dialogue to be had. And, as long as that curtain remains in place - as long as doctrine and practice are viewed as two separate things - this:

will amazingly be seen as flowing from, and expressing, the same theology as this:

'Nuff said.

Pancakes for ULC Pics

2011-11-08T18:35:00.000-05:00

Pics taken this past Sunday as the elders and I cooked and served pancakes and sausages to raise money to send to our brothers and sisters in Christ at University Lutheran Chapel. We had a pretty decent turnout for our small parish (although I didn't take any pictures of the crowd, since I was busy serving and lack the ability to multitask) and were able to raise $306.00 just at the breakfast, with another donation or two coming in the next day or so, and we'll be sending whatever the total ends up being to ULC on Friday.

Lutheran Satire - Kenny, the Sacramentarian Kindergartener

2011-11-07T03:33:00.000-05:00

Pancakes for ULC

2011-11-05T12:44:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow morning, the elders and I will be making pancakes and sausage for breakfast at the church, joining many other congregations around our synod in an effort to raise funds to support our brothers and sisters in Christ at University Lutheran Chapel. For any who may not understand the need for this fundraising effort, you can visit the Pancakes for ULC site, which also has links to other sites you can visit to bring you up to date. Also, below is the letter that was written by President Harrison and sent to all LCMS pastors back on October 13 urging us to support ULC.

Breakfast will be served at 8:30 a.m. Pancakes, sausage, coffee, and orange juice are on the menu. All the food has been graciously donated, and all donations received will be sent to ULC. Hope many will join us!

Pastoral Letter Regarding Campus Ministry

The Seventeenth Week after Pentecost
October 13, 2011

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! (Psalm 133:1)

Dear Brothers in Christ,

The church is losing her young people. This is a concern we all share. While some fall away during high school, by far the greatest losses occur during the college years. Our young adults are bombarded by a secular worldview that is antagonistic to their Christian faith. College campuses have become a place where the truth of God’s Word is mocked, the divinity of Christ is questioned, and the church is scorned.

While the Synod has a tremendous system of Concordia colleges and universities, the vast majority of our young people attend secular institutions of higher education. Showing great foresight, past generations gave of their resources to establish campus ministries at major universities throughout the nation. However, over the years, as both local and national support has decreased, a number of campus ministries have been dissolved or closed. The recent events surrounding the sale of University Lutheran Chapel in Minneapolis, Minn., a vibrant and thriving campus ministry, are but another tragic chapter.

After too many years of being distant from campus ministry, the Synod is prepared to take leadership once again. The Synod cannot do campus ministry, but we can give voice to the importance of campus ministry, encouraging, supporting, and coordinating it wherever it is taking place.

As I write, the Office of National Mission is assembling a campus ministry task force, and plans are underway to host a future national campus ministry conference. We look forward to collaborating with many wonderful people who are already laboring tirelessly in this essential ministry and fertile mission field.

Now is the time to renew our efforts. While many have faithfully labored in campus ministry, they have not always received our support. The Synod simply cannot afford to sit on the sideline while faithful campus congregations are being closed. College students need Word and Sacrament ministry. They need faithful pastors and workers who will care, teach and prepare them for life in, but not of, the world. In short, they need Jesus.

The Office of National Mission will ensure that a larger voice is given to campus ministry so that it is valued and supported throughout the Synod once again. Investing in campus ministry invests in the future of the Church; it shepherds our young people when they need us most and builds up future leaders in the church.

As you are able, I encourage you to invest in the future of University Lutheran Chapel in Minneapolis so campus ministry can continue to flourish at the University of Minnesota. While the building they have utilized for campus ministry for over 60 years will be sold, the Word of the Lord will never be silenced. The Minnesota South District has encouraged them to continue ministry in that place. Please consider making a contribution to help see that this happens. You can donate directly through their website, or by sending checks through the mail to:

University Lutheran Chapel
1101 University Ave. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
612-331-2747
www.ulcmn.org

This is not the time for us to abandon campus ministry, but the time to more fully embrace and expand it. Please continue to support all the campus ministries throughout the Synod, and encourage the development of new campus outreach where none is taking place. Let us together be about keeping the souls of our precious children and bearing witness in an increasingly godless culture. What an exciting and dynamic place to be engaged in witness, mercy, and life together!

Finally, please join me in praying for the youth of our church:

Gracious Father, Your Son grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and all people. Bless, guide, and govern the children and young people of Your Church by Your Holy Spirit, that they may grow in grace and in the knowledge of Your Word. Grant that they may serve You well and usefully, developing their talents not for their own sakes but to Your glory and for the welfare of their neighbor. Protect and defend them from all danger and harm, giving Your holy angels charge over them, through Jesus Christ our Lord. (For Young Persons, LSB 315)

May God bless and guide our increased efforts to care for Christ’s sheep throughout their college years so they may be preserved in the one true faith. If you would like to share ideas or thoughts as we move forward, please contact Rev. Bart Day, Executive Director of the Office of National Mission (bart.day@lcms.org).

Sub cruce,

Pastor Matthew Harrison
Let’s go! Mark 1:38

Difference That Don't Make a Difference

2011-11-04T16:15:00.000-04:00

The second part of this WE episode reminds me of a paper I wrote at seminary for Dr. Cameron Mackenzie, titled, "Zwingli and Calvin On the Lord's Supper: The Same, but Different." While Zwingli and Calvin approached the Lord's Supper in radically different ways, they do end up arriving at the same conclusions. And, Pr. Fisk is right - their conclusions do not agree with Lutherans in any way, shape, or form.

Godspeed to Pr. Fisk as he makes the move to the Chicago area next week to begin serving the saints in Naperville!

President Harrison at the Open Forum for the ACNA-LCMS Dialogue

2011-11-04T13:19:00.000-04:00

Finally got around to watching Pres. Harrison's speech at the recent Open Forum for the the ACNA (Anglican Church in North America)-LCMS Dialogue, which took place at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne last week. Great stuff from our president! We are truly blessed to have him at the helm in our synod right now. He speaks directly to the challenges and issues we face today, and does so from a decidedly, and unapologetic, Lutheran perspective, which is extremely refreshing, since this sort of approach has been, and remains in many places, absent among synodical leaders.

I give a hearty "Amen" to everything Pres. Harrison says here. The only thing I wish he would have addressed is the challenge/problem of clergy debt, which seems to be something that continues to be neatly swept under the synodical carpet. I'm not saying that our beloved president is unaware or unconcerned about this, but I do wish he would address it, as I think he is in the unique position to actually be heard by those who either don't see it as the HUGE problem it is or simply choose to ignore it. I'm all for opening up our seminaries to international students, which would enable our awesome seminaries to share, as Pres. Harrison aptly says, "the best Lutheran theology in the world." Amen to that! Let's do it! But, at the same time, let us not overlook the need to figure out how to increase our funding to our seminaries for the benefit of our own future clergy, so that they do not have to endure the trials and tribulations that come with exiting our seminaries saddled with immense debt. In fact, I think this needs to be addressed before we open up our seminaries to more international students - or, at least, in unison with that admirable goal. I mean, if we can raise an additional million dollars through matching funds to support an influx of more international students, it would be a real shame if we did so while neglecting our own clergy.

I've heard from/about several brother pastors just in the last few months who have had to take on an additional job to support their family, since the congregations they serve are unable to support them to the extent that they need to be supported. And, in most cases, this is due to the fact that these brothers came out of seminary with 80-100 thousand dollars of debt. In other words, they would be able to serve these congregations full time on the salaries these congregations can afford to pay, but given their debt, they simply cannot.

This is one of the biggest challenges/problems we face in our synod today and, sadly, besides the odd blog post here or there, we don't hear much about it at all. As I said, I'm all for inviting international students to our seminaries where they can learn our theology and take it abroad, but let's work on taking care of our own, too. After all, as I know Pres. Harrison and others know full well, seminary education is one of the three main pillars upon which our beloved synod was built, and that pillar has all but been destroyed. It's time to work at putting that pillar firmly back in place, lest we eventually become no different than the Baptists, the majority of whose pastors work full-time jobs and preach on Sundays. Having a clergy roster of full-time parish pastors is a blessing we should do everything we can to keep in place, and it would serve us well to vigorously (to use a synodical catchword) be about the business of doing so. I, for one, am sick of the excuses I hear about the economy and the decrease in congregational giving and such, when the reality is that less than 1% (or something like that) of our synodical budget goes to funding our seminaries. Yes, the economy is bad and, yes, congregational giving is down, but these are not the reasons why many brother pastors have to find other jobs. Had they emerged from seminary without debt (or, at least, manageable debt), they could afford to support their families and serve their congregations based on the salaries their congregations could afford to pay them. Wait, did I already say that? Oh well. I said it again. Because, it's true. And, it's a truth that no one is talking about in our synod - at least, not out loud, so that we're aware the conversation is taking place. Thus, as much as I support everything our beloved president says in the excellent speech embedded in three parts below for any of you who have not been blessed to heart it yet, I am concerned that he did not address this significant issue. I hope he, or other synodical leaders, soon will.

That's NOT What the Lutheran Reformation Was About

2011-11-04T10:44:00.001-04:00

It is true that of all the church bodies which have left the papacy, it is precisely the Lutheran Church which is accused of retaining many papal abuses and of having been the least successful in cleansing itself. It is pointed out, for example, that in our church priestly clothing, church ornamentation, pictures, altar, crucifixes, candles, confession, the sign of the cross, and the like are still apparent. But, my friends, whoever regards these innocent things as vestiges of the papacy knows neither what the papacy is, nor what the Bible teaches. The very fact that the Lutheran Reformation was not aimed at indifferent adiaphora, but retained those things which were in harmony with God's Word, shows that it was not a disorderly revolution, but a Biblical reformation.

- C.F.W. Walther

What is also true is that, of all the church bodies, the Lutheran Church, despite appearances, is the only one which thoroughly rejects the works-righteous system of salvation to which the papacy adheres. This is indeed ironic, considering that the Protestants who criticize Lutherans for being "too (Roman) Catholic" actually differ little from Rome in understanding how sinners are saved, also adhering to a works-righteous system of salvation, which requires man's cooperation. For both Rome and Protestants, Jesus has done His part, but it's up to man to do his part if he is going to be saved. Lutherans alone completely reject man's role in his salvation, giving all credit to Jesus Christ, who lived the perfect life in our stead and paid the full price for our sins with His atoning Blood on the Cross. Protestants think that, by ridding themselves of the liturgy and vestments and ceremonies and lectionaries, etc., they have completed what Lutherans have only done in part, i.e. finished the Reformation and cleansed itself completely from the abuses of the papacy. But, they are wrong, and the only reason they believe this is because, as Walther states, they know neither what the papacy is nor what the Bible teaches.

But, sadder than this is the fact that even many who call themselves Lutheran today fall under the same delusion that has kept the Protestants from understanding what the Reformation was really all about. Like the Protestants, these Lutherans falsely believe that the way to cleanse ourselves of the abuses of the papacy is to rid ourselves of the historic liturgy, priestly clothing, church ornamentation, altars, crucifixes, private confession and absolution, making the sign of the cross, and so forth. They, too, are wrong and know neither what the papacy is nor what the Bible teaches.

Thus, does the saying ecclesia semper reformanda est ever remain relevant among us. The Church must always be reforming. Lutherans of every generation need to continuously revisit and be catechized to understand what it means when we confess that we are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, the chief doctrine which was rediscovered by Dr. Luther and stood at the heart of the Lutheran Reformation. It is precisely for the sake of that chief article of the faith that our Lutheran forefathers did not abolish the Mass or the usual ceremonies and customs that long found a home within the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, but simply corrected some of the abuses that had crept in under the papacy. To think that they wished to rid themselves of any and all things Roman Catholic is to completely misunderstand their theology and intent, as Karlstadt and other radicals learned from Dr. Luther himself.

Would that more Lutherans had the desire to study, learn, and understand their own heritage. Not only would this benefit them greatly, but it would be a great blessing to Lutheran pastors today, who have studied and do understand our heritage, and eagerly desire to share it and pass it on to those they serve. As it is, many Lutherans are content with maintaining their limited understanding, which is often filled with false assumptions and presumptions, especially if some well-loved pastor of yesteryear had misinformed them, whether knowingly or not. But, this is not a new problem we face today. Walther faced it in his day. So did Luther. And, so will Lutherans 100 years from now, should our Lord tarry. Thus, does the Church do well always to pray: Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Lutheran Satire - Jim, the Anabaptist Fireman

2011-10-26T08:45:00.000-04:00

"Everybody knows that babies are flame retardant until they reach the age of accountability" - Exactly! :)

"Little Giants" is Bested

2011-10-26T07:03:00.000-04:00

For the second year in a row, my Spartans have dazzled the college football world with what will surely go down as the best finish of the year. Last year, it was the "Little Giants" fake field goal for a game-winning TD in OT against Notre Dame. I didn't think that unbelievable play could be bested, but I was proven wrong. The "Rocket" Hail Mary the Spartans used to defeat Wisconsin this past Saturday is a tad better than last year's "Little Giants," given the improbability of pulling it off and the drama of having to go to instant replay to overturn the call on the field that Nichols came up short. But, perhaps even more impressive than pulling off the last second miracle to pull out the victory is the fact that Sparty overcame an early 14-0 deficit to take command of the game, using a safety, a blocked field goal, a fourth down conversion for a TD, and a blocked punt for a TD to do so. After defeating Ohio State and the other team from our state in the Big Ten in consecutive weeks, it looked early on like this was going to be a let-down game for Sparty. But, they hung in there and exploded to not only get back into the game, but to find themselves in a dominant position, leading Wisconsin by 14 with less than ten minutes to go. The offense sputtered a bit down the stretch, which allowed Wisconsin the chance they needed to come back, but just the fact that Wisconsin had to come back after Sparty spotted them a quick 14 points was mega impressive for this fan. Oh, and for all the talk about Sparty's lack of discipline and dirty play in the week leading up to this big game, maybe the most impressive thing about their stunning victory over Wisconsin was that they did not commit a single penalty. Not one. Zero. That's huge!

So, now it's on to Nebraska to face a tough Huskers team, which will round off the toughest October schedule not only in the Big Ten, but in all of college football. I just hope Sparty has a little more gas in the tank and is able to play well in this huge road test. If they do, they could very well come back from corn husker land with a perfect October record and in solid control of the Legends division. They have the ability on the defensive side of the ball to stop Nebraska and give them fits, but will they? I think so. My prediction: MSU 27 NEB 17. But, we'll see. :)

Anyway, here's the play that bested last year's "Little Giants." Enjoy:

Multi-Level Marketing Christianity

2011-10-21T17:42:00.000-04:00

Many moons ago, my wife, Lisa, and I ran a successful home-based business. It was a direct selling, multi-level marketing business. We did pretty well at it for several years and, for a good year or two, we had a Top 25 team within the company. We received many accolades and awards, prizes (several free cruises), and hefty monthly commission checks. Sometimes, I really miss those checks. :)

One of the mottoes we learned, taught to others, and lived by while running our business was: "Some Will, Some Won't! Who Cares, Who's Next?" In a multi-level marketing scheme, the focus is always on building your downline. Recruit, recruit, recruit! The more you bring in, the bigger the residual income. And, the more brought in by those you bring in, the bigger the residual income. Not everyone you bring in will catch the vision. Some will. You focus on them, at least a little. Some won't. You can't waste your time focusing on them at all. But, really, your focus is on those potential recruits - who cares, who's next? You're always after more. The more you get, the more successful you are.

This is not to say that Lisa and I didn't care about those on our team. We did. We invested in them. We worked with them. We helped them. We rewarded them. I think we ran some of the most successful team meetings within the company during our heyday. We were generous with our blessings and eager to help others, genuinely desiring for them to experience the success we had been blessed to experience. But, the very nature of this type of business is that the way you provide help to those within your team is to motivate them to get out there and sell and recruit, to live by the motto: "Some Will, Some Won't! Who Cares, Who's Next?"

While living by this motto has its place when running a multi-level marketing business, it has no business at all within our Lord's Church. And yet, this is exactly the motto by which those congregations who have bought into the principles of the Church Growth Movement live. They may not come right out and say, "Some Will, Some Won't! Who Cares, Who's Next?" but everything they do reveals that this is, indeed, the motto by which they're living.

I know. I've lived this, too. My home congregation went the way of the Church Growth Movement years ago and everything we said, thought, and did became about recruiting more members (which was dressed up in the pious language of "reaching the lost for Jesus"). Outreach, outreach, outreach! That's all we ever heard. That's why we existed. It got to the point that the pastor and other leaders of the congregation would just come right out and tell people that, once they're in, their ~~job~~ calling was to go out and ~~get more people to join~~ reach the lost for Jesus. When once we had Divine Services and Bible Studies focused on feeding Christ's flock, now we had Worship Experiences and Outreach Seminars focused on "growing" the church. It was quite a transformation to witness, and it wasn't long before both Lisa and I began saying to each other, "What's the difference between what's going on at our congregation and what we're doing in our business?" We couldn't think of many differences at all. Just replace a few words here and there and the same mottoes and visions were shared between our business and our congregation.

All of this was brought to mind today as I was browsing the Michigan District website and saw this article, which will be the feature article in the October/November edition of the District's magazine, "Michigan In Touch." If you click on that last link, you will notice that the cover of this edition will have a picture of the praise band of Messiah Lutheran in Clio leading what they're calling "nXt" worship (which is described in the article found at the first link).

What we see highlighted here is what I call "Multi-Level Marketing Christianity." The main focus is on getting more "recruits" (which, again, is dressed up in the pious language "reaching the lost for Jesus"). Don't believe me? Listen to how Pastor Erik Cloeter answers the question, "What is nXt?":

“I meet many people who come to church, join, and say, ‘OK, I’m a Christian ... so what’s next?’ At Messiah, the answer has always been to reach out to those who still don’t know Jesus and to help them connect with God in a real way.”

Do you see it? Now that you're a Christian, what's next for you is to reach out to those who still don't know Jesus and help them connect with God in a real way. That's your job, your calling, your mission. And, we have created just the "captivating worship experience that breaks down typical church stereotypes" that will appeal to unbelievers, who really don't want anything to do with Jesus and His Church. Go and invite them to come to this "captivating worship experience," which is "truly unique" and "doesn't look, sound, or feel like a traditional or contemporary worship service," for they will find this "worship experience" to be "something unlike what they may have experienced in the past."

Yeah, it's what we used to tell potential recruits about our home-based business. "This direct selling company is unique. It's not your typical pyramid scheme, but a new and improved, dynamic multi-level marketing plan, which offers you the unique opportunity to succeed, like no other company out there today." The point was to remove the stigma so many feel regarding these types of businesses and get them to believe that this is totally different. Same thing with the "nXt" worship marketing: "This isn't your typical Christian worship stuff here. Oh no! We have something new and exciting to offer. We have chairs, instead of pews, a stage, instead of a pulpit, LED smart lights, media screens, instead of stained glass, and best of all, a live band that will rock your socks off!" The point is to remove the stigma so many feel about Jesus and His Church. This is a different kind of Jesus and a different kind of Church. You'll LIKE this Jesus and Church. You'll be entertained, moved, and leave on an emotional high, much like what happens when you go to see your favorite band perform a concert. And - wait for it - you'll really want to go and invite your friends to come and experience this Jesus and Church, which is what's next for you now that you're a Christian and have experienced God in a real way through this "captivating worship experience."

And, as if all of this marketing is not enough to entice unbelievers to give this Jesus and this Church a shot, the added marketing ploy of getting people to buy into the idea that this kind of "worship experience" is only for serious Christians, who have strong faith, is employed - "nXt is for the people who have strong faith and want to express that faith." Again, same thing we said when enticing people to join our business: "This kind of business is for those who are serious about wanting to succeed; those whose commitment and dedication and work ethic is strong," and so forth.

The article goes on to say, "While the allure of the service is its willingness to boldly challenge the status quo, the heart of the message is what keeps people coming back." This is typical Church Growth Movement nonsense, for it posits the absurd idea that we can lure unbelievers in by giving them what they want and like in the Church, while keeping the heart of the message - Jesus and the salvation He won for us and comes to deliver to us - in tact. Um, no. Doesn't work that way. Even a seven-year-old knows this. The allure of the service IS the heart of the message. People aren't coming because of Jesus, but for the show. Duh! That's the whole reason you have "boldly challenged the status quo" in the first place - to give them something unique, captivating, exciting, and different. It worked. Good job! They've come and will keep coming, so long as you keep captivating and exciting them. Take away the show and see whose left. Remove the smart lights, stage, band, etc., and just give them Jesus, and see how many remain.

Not only that, but the dirty little secret no one ever likes to talk about when it comes to all this "creating a church for people who don't like church" stuff is that the turnover rate is enormous. The "get down with Jesus" approach just doesn't last. You might get 100 new ~~recruits~~ members in a year, but 30-50 get sick of it and leave. But, who cares, who's next, right? You gained 50-70, so, in the words of Charlie Sheen, "Winning!"

But, even if this, or other congregations like it, can boast that their turnover rate is low and their retention rate is high, there is another aspect here which proves that the whole "the allure of the service draws them in, but the heart of the message keeps them coming back" idea is a myth. Have these "strong in faith" Christians move away from your area, and they will seek out a congregation that "rocks out with Jesus" the best in their new area. The flirtation with the Church Growth Movement among Lutherans has been going on long enough for us to look at the hard data and draw this conclusion. I have seen it personally a number of times. People who have spent years in a "get down with Jesus" LCMS congregation will not seek Jesus where He has promised to be found - in water, Word, Bread, and Wine - but where they have always experienced Him - in their feelings and emotions, manipulated as they've been by smart lights, motivational messages, dramas, skits, testimonials, and, of course, the super-duper, rock-your-socks-off, praise band. This is because, contrary to belief otherwise, the allure of the service (the gimmicks and fads and multi-media entertainment, supported by the killer praise band) IS the heart of the message.

The article concludes with a quote by Pr. Cloeter, in which he describes the church being like a hospital for sinners, a place for those in need of a Healer and Savior, so that they can ask for and receive forgiveness from Jesus the Christ, the Healer and Savior they need. All well and good, to be sure. The Church is a Hospital, Jesus is the Healer and Savior we need, and the forgiveness, life, and salvation He bestows upon us via His Holy Word and Sacraments is the eternal medicine we sick sinners need. But, then, Pr. Cloeter takes all of this away with his concluding remarks: "Everyone is welcome. Come as you are, but leave transformed to reach out to others like you - others who need Jesus. They're nXt!"

So, for all the pious talk about the Church being a Hospital and Jesus being the Healer and Savior you need, that's not really where the focus is. The focus is on you leaving transformed to reach out to others who need Jesus. Recruit, recruit, recruit! Tell others about how cool this "captivating worship experience" is. The more you get to come, the more successful a "Jesus Follower" you will be. In this Multi-Level Marketing Christianity, the essence of being a Christian is bound up in being a good ~~recruiter~~ faith-sharer. The problem is that your faith is in the lights and the stage and the praise band.

If you go to the website of Messiah, Clio, the homepage has the following welcome message:

We are a Bible-believing congregation, representing a dynamic community of faith, hope and love that exists to "Make More and Better Disciples For Jesus" through Word and Sacrament. We desire to glorify God by introducing Jesus Christ to as many people as possible and to grow them up in Christ using the most effective means to impact our culture, making a positive difference in this generation. We invite everyone to share God's joy and peace and partner in touching people in our community and world through biblical teaching, service and life changing ministries.

Does this Bible-believing congregation consist of, or merely represent, a dynamic community, etc.? Just weird language there. But, the Multi-Level Marketing Christianity comes through in that the reason this dynamic community exists is to "make more and better disciples for Jesus." The use of the preposition "for," instead of the preposition "of," is not to be overlooked. To make disciples FOR Jesus is a different thing than to make disciples OF Jesus. When you exist to make disciples FOR Jesus, what you're really saying is that discipleship consists of assisting Jesus in reaching out to the lost (Recruit, recruit, recruit!; Outreach, outreach, outreach!), as if Jesus needs disciples to accomplish His salvific work. He doesn't. Really. He's got things under control.

Now, I'm sure some would criticize me here for picking nits, especially since the statement claims that the way more and better disciples are made for Jesus is through Word and Sacrament. See, these are Lutherans. They mention Word and Sacrament. Why be so critical? Well, because what follows the reference to Word and Sacrament in the statement shows that they do not believe that the Holy Word and Sacraments are enough. Other means are necessary, namely "the most effective means to impact our culture, etc."

This is how it is with Multi-Level Marketing Christianity. Jesus simply isn't getting the job done His way. We need to help Him out. We need to come up with more effective means to make dynamic disciples for Jesus, the kind of dynamic disciples who will buy into our vision that being a dynamic disciple is all about bringing in more and more (oh, and better - don't forget the better!) disciples, who will catch the same vision (which comes through the unique and captivating worship experience) and become dynamic disciples and go out themselves to get more, etc. It's all about growing the downline by infecting recruits with the desire to be recruiters - it's what congregations like this become all about; the same thing the home-based business Lisa and I used to run was all about.

And, sadly, this is what the District I belong to believes should be advertised among us, complete with a picture of Multi-Level Marketing Christianity on its magazine's cover and a lead article praising it. No thanks. I'll stick with Jesus and His way of making disciples, via His Holy Word and Sacraments alone. Not with additional allurements and trappings. Not with the help of gimmicks and fads. Not by giving unbelievers what they desire and like, but by preaching the Gospel in its purity and administering the Sacraments according to Christ's institution. I'll let Him do the rest. He's pretty good at what He does. He can handle it. And, as a pastor, I've been called not to follow the motto, "Some Will, Some Won't! Who Cares, Who's Next?," but to feed, care for, and protect the sheep He sends me to serve, not with food of my own innovation and imagination, but with Him, who is the Bread of Life. After all, I got out of the multi-level marketing business years ago.

Peace Book Club

2011-10-19T11:46:00.000-04:00

Last night, our newly established Peace Book Club met for the first time, and, I have to say, it was positively delightful. We discussed the book, "Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel," by Ray Keating, which everyone in the group thoroughly enjoyed reading, and which is a book that lends itself well to much pertinent discussion, especially among Lutherans. We talked about ecumenism, relativism, secularism, radical Islam, politics, environmentalism, terrorism, torture, parish life and the pastor-parishioner relationship, temptation, the "inside baseball" of the LCMS, which is explored in the book, denominationalism, RC-Lutheran relations/differences, C.S. Lewis, and more. And, of course, we shared with one another our favorite parts of the book, the characters we loved and hated, and all the other stuff that comes with discussing books as a group. As I said, it was positively delightful.

We decided that we were going to give each book we read a rating of 1-5, 1 being the lowest, 5 being the highest. We gave "Warrior Monk" a solid 4, and very much look forward to the next installment in the adventures of Pr. Stephen Grant.

We also decided upon our next book. Since I have often mentioned C.S. Lewis' "The Screwtape Letters" in Bible Studies and other settings over the years, Sharyn suggested that we make this our next venture, and everyone agreed, since no one has yet taken me up on my invitation to read that classic. So, "The Screwtape Letters" it is. And, since some in the group may get through that book fairly quickly (although there is certainly much depth there, to be sure), the additional option of giving Lewis' "Mere Christianity" a read before next we meet was suggested as well, although we will focus our attention on "The Screwtape Letters" for our next discussion. So, it is C.S. Lewis month for the Peace Book Club, which will next meet on Tuesday, November 22.

Already looking forward to it!

Let the Little Children Come to Me . . .

2011-10-17T17:36:00.001-04:00

This is simply awesome! I had the privilege of meeting this boy's dad, who is a brother pastor, last week in Kewanee. Enjoy.

Pastor Appreciation Dinner

2011-10-17T16:12:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, the congregation I serve held a Pastor Appreciation Dinner, which was hosted by our wonderful Ladies' Guild. It is such a blessing to be serving Christ's flock at Peace in Alma. I am always awestruck by the love and generosity I see time and time again among the people I am blessed to serve. We are a small, struggling parish, but mighty in faith, hope, and love, and I am extremely thankful and appreciative to our Lord for placing me to serve here. I pray that this beloved flock knows that I love and appreciate them every bit as much as they love and appreciate me, and that they know how thankful Lisa and I are for the cards, gifts, and touching words shared with us yesterday. I can only echo the words of St. Paul and say, "I thank my God always for you!"

Some blurry iphone pics:

Four in a Row!

2011-10-17T15:10:00.000-04:00

In case you missed it, my Spartans extended their winning streak over that other team in the Big 10 from our state, whose name we do not utter 'round these parts, to four. Yeah, that's right - four in a row. That means that the Spartan seniors have never lost to that other team, while that other team's seniors have never beaten us. Gotta love it! :) Sparty handled the other team with relative ease on Saturday. The game really wasn't as close as the final score, which turned out to be 28-14. Sparty had several dropped passes, two fumbles on big runs, and several bonehead penalties, which allowed that other team to stay in the game. I hope Coach D works on fixing these mistakes this week, as we have Wisconsin coming in for a huge Saturday night game this week, and we won't be able to afford such things against them.

Our defense is stronger than it's been in a long time, our offense can be really good, but needs more consistency, and we've been holding our own on special teams. We'll see where we're at after Saturday's huge test, but we're all alone at the top of the Legends division and control our own destiny at this point (and, having defeated conference foes Ohio State and that other team from our state, we own tie-breakers against them, so we're in a great position to win our division and get into the first-ever Big 10 championship game - we could be seeing a preview of that game this Saturday night). Exciting times to be a Spartan fan, for sure.

GO GREEN! GO WHITE!

(Not sure how I feel about the new "Nike Pro Combat" uniforms they debuted Saturday - being the traditionalist I am, I don't like them that much; but, they did defeat that other team while wearing them for the first time, so I like them a lot - so torn :)

Gottesdienst Central

2011-10-17T14:28:00.000-04:00

Last week, I had the awesome privilege of again attending the annual Gottesdienst Central conference at St. Paul's in Kewanee, IL, where Fr. Burnell Eckardt serves. Wow! What an absolutely delightful and most edifying trip this was, as I knew it would be, this being my fifth consecutive year of attending. I wasn't able to make it there in time for the Autumn Choral Vespers or Oktoberfest banquet on Sunday evening, but was there for both full days of the Conference on Monday and Tuesday. We began both of those days being fed upon our Lord in Word and Sacrament at Holy Mass (on Monday, Fr. Eckardt served as Celebrant, Fr. Mark Braden served as Deacon, and Dr. William Weinrich served as Preacher; on Tuesday, Fr. Eckardt served as Celebrant and Preacher). We also gathered together on both days at Noon to pray the Office of Sext, and concluded each day with Vespers. I know I've said this before, but I do cherish those opportunities to sit in the pew and be fed, especially when the Services are as beautiful and reverent as were these.

The Keynote Speaker this year was Dr. William Weinrich (Prof. at Concordia Theological Seminiary in Ft. Wayne). I hadn't had the opportunity to sit at Dr. Weinrich's feet and learn from him since I had him for Early Church History back in 2001, but I was quickly reminded of the brilliance I encountered back then. As Adriane Dorr wrote on her blog the other day, "he’s (1) brilliant, (2) engaging, and (3) brilliant and engaging." I seriously cannot remember when I have had my brain exercised so thoroughly. I learned a ton and was given much to ponder as Dr. Weinrich spoke on the theme, "Baptism in the Gospel of John." Here are just a few of the things given us to ponder during his presentation:

More occurrences of "Father" in John than in the rest of the NT combined.
Marriage is the controlling metaphor for God's relationship with man throughout Holy Scripture - already in Gen. 2:24, we see what St. Paul draws our attention to in Eph. 5, namely that the Son of God, the Eternal Word of the Father, unites Himself to His Bride (His Church) in a One-Flesh Union, which shall never be rent asunder. Just as Eve was made from the rib taken out of the side of Adam, so it is that Christ's Bride is made from the water which flows forth from His (the New and Second Adam's) side on the Cross into the baptismal font. There, in Holy Baptism, we are made One Flesh with our Bridegroom, Christ - as St. Paul says time and again, we are "in Christ." No wonder the first sign in the Gospel according to St. John happens at a wedding in Cana, where water is turned into wine (hmmm - water and wine - sounds Sacramental, doesn't it?). We are brought into a One-Flesh marriage with Christ by water (Holy Baptism) and kept in that marriage by blood (Holy Eucharist), which, of course, we're told by St. John flowed from the side of our Bridegroom when He was pierced upon the Cross. Beautiful stuff - and tons more could be fleshed out here (pun intended)!
Cannot separate Christ from His Bride (Church) - thus, all Ecclesiology is Christology. Where Christ is, there is His Church; where His Church is, there is Christ. Perhaps we should consider this truth before we go messing with the Church, as if it is ours to do with, and change, as we please. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and since He and His Bride are One, His Church is the same yesterday, today, and forever, too. Those who busy themselves with "creating a church for people who don't like church" are, at the same time, presenting a Jesus for people who don't like Jesus. Those who live by the motto, "The Church must change or die," are, at the same time, living by the motto, "Jesus must change or die," which is absurd, since Jesus utterly defeated sin, death, and the devil on the Cross, which is validated by His glorious resurrection from the tomb on the third day. Jesus lives. Sin, death, and the devil threw everything they had at Him, and He emerged the Victor. And since Jesus unites Himself in a One-Flesh Union with His Bride, His Church, the gates of hell shall not prevail against her. So much to ponder here.
All the "signs" given in the Gospel according to St. John point to, and are connected with, the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. They are not simply "miracles" provided to direct us to the truth of Jesus' Divinity, but deliberate "signs" pointing us to His redemptive work, the point being that our God doesn't save in secret, but out in the open - His redemptive work is seen by all, though not all see it for what it is. Again, much to ponder here.
Read the accounts of Jesus' Baptism alongside of Isaiah 11. Cool stuff.
"You don't read the New Testament; You eat and drink the New Testament. And, thus, YOU (being united to Christ) are the New Testament." Wrap your mind around that nugget for a spell.
"When the Father speaks, He speaks Jesus" - this is an eternal truth, for Jesus is the Eternal Word of the Father. The Prologue of John does not merely refer to the beginning of this created universe, which was spoken into existence by the Word, but to the reality of the pre-existence of the Eternal Word, through Whom all things were made, and by Whose becoming Flesh and Tabernacling among us, we are re-made in Him.
"Jesus is the Enfleshment of Divine Will."
"'The Salvation of the World' is a Name for Jesus."
"Jesus' Baptism is the Eschatological fulfillment of John's water baptism."
Paschal Lamb of OT is a main symbol in John's Gospel (and in the Synoptics), but it is not the best symbol for the Church to employ to point to Christ, since when we think of the Paschal Lamb today, we do not think of a four-legged lamb, but a two-legged Man. Dr. Weinrich noted that, for this reason, the Early Church banned symbols of a lamb. Had never thought about this - very interesting. Best symbol for the Church is, of course, the Crucifix, for there is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. An empty cross is NOT a symbol of the resurrection, as many seem to believe. Without the corpus (body) of Christ, it is, really, just a symbol of Roman execution.
Read chapter 24 of Sirach alongside of Prologue of John. I did this. Wow!
In OT, Glory of God in tablets of stone; In NT, Glory of God now in Flesh. The Torah becomes Flesh and dwells among us. Gives one furiously to think upon Jesus coming not to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it, and upon all of those Scripture passages which speak of the heart of stone becoming heart of flesh, and how the stones would cry out regarding the salvation which comes in Christ.
John 4 - the Samaritan woman at the well - is not a "how-to" lesson on evangelism (as is so often thought of today), but catechesis on who Jesus is, and how one gets in on the salvation He brings - it's all about Baptism - go figure!
John 19:30 - "He gave up His Spirit" is a bad translation. Should be, "He handed over the Spirit." I already knew that much, but I had never really pondered the importance of this to the extent that I should have. These three testify: Spirit, Water, Blood. Water and Blood pour forth from Jesus' side on the Cross. He hands over His Spirit, who will work through that Water and Blood to create out of Jesus' side His Bride, the Church. This verse is packed with immense sacramental theology and is not simply an indicator that Jesus died. Our salvation comes from the Cross, from where the Spirit is handed over to dispense the fruits of this Tree of Life which flow out of Christ's side. Changes the way we read "from above" in John 3. That "from above" has a specific reference - the Cross! Great stuff!
"Father, glorify Your Name" = "Father, Crucify Me." The Cross is not "plan B," but is God.
"God doesn't reveal Himself in miracles, but in Man." Deep!
And so much more . . .

I so look forward to Dr. Weinrich's commentary on John, which will be issued in three volumes. From what we heard of him on Monday, it promises to be exceptional.

And, we had the added joy of spending the afternoon and early evening at Fr. Eckardt's house, sitting and chatting some more with Dr. Weinrich and each other over beer and snacks. Simply sublime.

On Tuesday, Fr. Eckardt led us in a study of the rubrics and approach to the Liturgy to confess the Real Presence of Christ. Great presentation and discussion. A few thoughts from that include:

The OT formula, "The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob," is Trinitarian (Abraham representing the Father, Isaac the Son, and Jacob the Holy Spirit). Very interesting.
The Divine Name "I AM" (verbal form of YHWH - Yahweh) is not complete until the Son of God is named Jesus, where "I AM" is Fleshed out (literally) and becomes, "I AM (the God who) Saves" (Jesus means, "Yahweh Saves").
The Hebrew word "Manna" means, "What is it?" The answer comes when Jesus says, "This is My Body; This is My Blood."
The Greek word "estin" ("is") in the Verba is not needed, but is included for emphasis - "This IS My Body; This IS My Blood."
There is a long history in the Church of using specific rubrics to confess the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Sacrament. Elevation and genuflection at the Consecration are a part of this history. One need not elevate the Host and Chalice or genuflect before our Lord on the altar, but this is done both in adoration of our Lord and to confess the reality of His Presence, over and against the abomination of false teachings (e.g. the bread and wine merely representative or symbolic of Christ's Body and Blood; the abomination of Receptionism, which falsely teaches that Christ's Body and Blood are not Present until it is received by the communicants). Employing specific rubrics/ceremonies to confess the Real Presence of our Lord agrees with what we confess in our Lutheran Confessions, namely that ceremonies are employed to teach the people what they need to know about Christ. The most important thing they need to know about Christ is that He IS there among them in His very Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist.
We discussed several of the practices we witness today which present problems or potential problems for teaching and maintaining what we confess about Christ in the Sacrament, such as: Infrequent celebration of the Sacrament, mishandling the reliquae, laymen distributing, use of individual cups, indiscriminate use of vestments (or no use at all), free-standing altars and poor architecture, use of cheap, overly sweet wine, etc. We ran out of time and were not able to cover all of these thoroughly, but the point is that our practices surrounding the Sacrament of our Lord's very Body and Blood are vitally important. This isn't about being "liturgical pietists" or riding favorite "hobby horses," but about putting into practice what we say we believe about the Sacrament for the sake of the people we serve, that they may know that their Lord IS Really Present among them. Those who are wont to be critical of us Gottesdiensters need to ask themselves if the lack of specific rubrics and ceremonies regarding the Sacrament has served our people well over the years.

Anyway, it was a fantastic conference and, as the people I am blessed to serve would testify, I came back fired up, ready to share what I had learned and been given to ponder. Already looking forward to next year!

In addition to being fed upon our Lord in Word and Sacrament, and in having my brain exercised to the max by all the wonderful teaching, discussion, and conversation over those couple of days, I was blessed to get to see, greet, and visit with, several brothers and sisters in Christ. As a special treat, I got to meet and get to know one of my Polycarpian brothers, Fr. Jay Watson, who made the trip from Kansas. And, I got to sit and chat with a couple of wonderful ladies I had met at past conferences and with whom I have remained in contact via the interwebs, Michele Keehner and Susan Fink. I even got to experience an Adriane Dorr sighting, but wasn't able to chat with her, since she had to leave early to head over to Ft. Wayne, and there were just too many people lined up to talk with her while she was there. Oh well, maybe next time. ;)

Issues, Etc. - Reformation Week 2011

2011-10-05T23:52:00.002-04:00

I will be listening. You should, too!

October Newsletter Article

2011-10-05T23:39:00.000-04:00

From the Desk of Pastor Messer

“Lord, Keep Us Steadfast In Your Word”

Our Lord Jesus said: “If you abide in My Word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).

Abiding in the Word, dear friends in Christ, is what the Reformation was all about. It was the Holy Spirit who guided our beloved Dr. Luther, the Blessed Reformer, in his study of God’s Holy Word, and allowed him to rediscover the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, which had been all but forgotten during the Middle Ages. When Dr. Luther was brought to realize that we are justified not by our own works, but by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, it was as if heaven itself had been opened to him and he could hear the choirs of angels and saints singing praises to the Lord. He had long been haunted by the image of Jesus Christ as a ruthless judge who demanded the impossible, and then punished those who did not achieve it. But now, as he discovered the Holy Gospel in the pages of Holy Scripture, He came to know Jesus Christ not as that ruthless judge, but as his loving Savior—the One who lived the perfect life he couldn’t live, and died on the cross to pay the full price for all of his sins. What joy filled Dr. Luther’s heart!

That same joy should fill our hearts as well, my friends, for we still have the glorious Good News of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, taught and preached in our midst. That is not as common as you might think. We live in a day and age when the Holy Gospel is every bit as hidden away and obscured as it was in Dr. Luther’s day. Tune in to those claiming to be Christian teachers on the television or radio and you will likely hear Jesus being promoted as a mere example to follow, or as a “life-coach” cheering you on to better living and greater blessings. Visit many Protestant congregations (and even, sadly, many “Lutheran” congregations) and you will hear the same sort of teaching coming from the pulpits (or stages). You will be motivated to “Live Your Best Life Now” or “Become a Better You” or to live a “Purpose-Driven Life,” and so forth, the focus being completely on what you need to do and how you need to live as a Christian. Rather than Law and Gospel sermons based on a lectionary, you will be subjected to messages on such topics as money management, good parenting, healthy eating, relationship building, and even on how to have good sex. The Good News about what Jesus has done, and continues to do, for you is rarely heard (if ever!), the idea being that Jesus did His part, but now it’s up to you to do your part.

Oh yes, dear friends, the same joy that filled Dr. Luther’s heart should fill ours, for against the rising trend to forsake the Gospel in favor of the Law-focused, Me-centered agenda which has been adopted by many—an agenda that lures many away from the truth by promoting itself as new and hip and relevant and useful, etc.—we still have the Holy Gospel preached to us in its purity and the Holy Sacraments administered to us according to Christ’s institution.

Let us never take this for granted, but heed our Savior’s exhortation to abide in His Word. To abide in His Word means that we never outgrow, or move beyond, the Holy Gospel. As long as we breathe in this vale of tears, we remain in desperate need of the salvation won for us by the perfect life and death of Jesus. We never stop being sinners this side of heaven, so we never stop needing a Savior. We abide in His Word when we cling to Him in faith as our only hope. We abide in His Word when we return regularly to where He promises to be for us—in the Divine Service, where He delivers to us the forgiveness, life, and salvation we need by means of His Holy Word and Sacraments. In short, we abide in His Word by placing ourselves in His continuous care, for our Lord Himself accomplishes for us, and in us, what He demands. He feeds and nourishes us, strengthens and preserves us, and keeps us in the faith—and all this by the very same Word in which He would have us abide.

Thus, do we Lutherans ever pray, in the words of Dr. Luther’s famous hymn, “Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word.” For the Good News is not only that our Lord Jesus has done everything necessary for our salvation, but that He continues to keep us in the one, true faith through His gracious and merciful Service to us here and now. He promised to be with us always, and so He is—with us in His written, preached, and taught Word, and with us most intimately in His very Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist.

Let us give hearty thanks to God as we approach our annual celebration of Reformation Day for preserving among us the true and saving Gospel. May we learn to cherish it as Dr. Luther did, realizing that the saving Gospel of our Lord Jesus opens up for us sinners the way to eternal life in the Paradise of His Kingdom, which shall have no end. May we be moved and empowered by the Holy Spirit not only to cherish the Holy Gospel, but to defend it, and to support it with our time, talents, and treasures, so that it may continue to be preached, taught, and delivered here at Peace Lutheran Church in Alma, MI until our Lord Jesus Christ returns in great glory on the Last Day! Amen.

A Blessed Reformation Celebration to You All!

Your Servant in Christ,

Pastor Messer

Jesus Only

2011-10-05T23:30:00.000-04:00

You know what the best part of this sermon is? It doesn't begin with, "Greetings to you on behalf of the 6,000 congregations, whatever-thousand pastors, whatever-thousand church workers, etc. etc. of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod . . ." Okay, so maybe that's not the best part, but it sure is refreshing. :) I love that when our current Synodical President steps into a pulpit, he does so to preach the Law in its full severity and the Gospel in its full sweetness - yes, refreshing indeed! Enjoy:

So Great . . .

2011-10-02T14:40:00.001-04:00

to have Mary back at the organ this morning for Divine Service as we celebrated the Festival of St. Michael and All Angels. We were without an organist three of the past four weeks, as she underwent, and has been recovering from, shoulder surgery. The first week, we spoke the whole Service, including the hymns, which was fine, but just not the same as singing the liturgy and hymns. The second week, we were blessed to have Karen, who is the organist at our sister (actually, mother) congregation in Wheeler, fill in, which was wonderful. The third week, the choir led us in singing the liturgy and hymns a capella, which was beautiful, but still not the same as having organ accompaniment. Last week, we employed The Concordia Organist for the first time ever, which we were able to purchase thanks to a couple of generous donors. We had a few kinks in the beginning, but things went fine for the second half of the Service, although it would definitely take some getting used to were we to use that resource on a regular basis. But, today, with Mary back at the organ, it felt like being back home again. Truly wonderful. And, to have her return for the Festival of St. Michael and All Angels was all the more special.

If you and your congregation are blessed with a faithful, dedicated, Lutheran organist, who loves the liturgy and hymns and desires to play them to the best of his/her ability, and to the glory of God, do remember to thank him/her often. Such organists are a true treasure to Christ's Church, and are, sadly, becoming rarer and rarer these days.

So, THANKS, Mary - Great to have you back!

Dr. Collver at St. Michael's in Prague

2011-10-02T14:09:00.000-04:00

For more info, see Dr. Collver's blog.

ULC Responds to Memorandum from MNS Treasurer

2011-09-30T23:12:00.000-04:00

Click here to read the notes from ULC regarding the Memorandum they received from the MNS District Treasurer.

President Harrison Speaks . . .

2011-09-30T18:26:00.003-04:00

Earlier today, President Harrison posted the following statement regarding the sale of ULC on the Witness, Mercy, Life Together blog:

Concerning the Sale of University Lutheran Chapel

Friday, September 30, 2011

Dear Friends in Christ,

In the course of the September meeting of the Council of Presidents, Minnesota North President Don Fondow and I requested of President Lane Seitz a meeting with himself and the Minnesota South District Board of Directors. Of the several concerns raised by the then-impending sale of the University Lutheran Chapel property, President Fondow and I were in agreement that it was unwise to disregard the resolution of the joint pastors’ conference requesting that any decision to sell the property be made at the Minnesota South District Convention. We were seeking to share this and other information directly with the board. President Seitz quickly offered us options for the meeting and was polling his board for an agreeable date. However, President Seitz later informed me that the individual authorized by the Board to sell the property had signed documents to that end at very nearly the same time as President Seitz was working to find an agreeable date for us to meet with the board.

The Life Together which we enjoy is fragile and often fractured. This action makes it even more so. There is no question that the Board had the right to do what it did with the property. Unfortunately, this action is difficult, even impossible to separate from ongoing dissensus in the district about what it means to be Lutheran, very similar to our larger challenges as a Synod. We have a long way to go in this regard. God help us.

I wish to state my hearty thankfulness for ULC. I have met more delightful and engaged Lutherans from this campus ministry around the country than any other. They are occupied in all manner of professions and active in church. We need many more campus ministries just like ULC. The army of clergy and now deaconesses who have come through ULC is astounding.

I would urge that all who are concerned about ULC turn away from judging motives, as difficult as that may be. This action comes as no surprise to anyone close to the situation. It’s time to turn toward ULC’s future, a future I support.

It is also time to have more brotherly conversations around the Word of God and to implore the Lord of the Church to grant greater harmony in what it means to be Lutheran. Together, let us hear and heed the apostolic word: “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:9–10).

Pastor Matthew C. Harrison, President
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

I am grateful that President Harrison released this statement. I know many will be critical, believing that he should have let DP Seitz and the MNS BoD have it with both barrels, showing them their sin, admonishing them, and calling for their repentance. And, maybe those critics will have a point. Maybe his statement could have been a little stronger. But, I actually think this is about as perfect a statement as he could have made right now, and just further reveals why we are blessed to have him at the helm in our synod right now. Like it or not, he simply can't "gas off" about how he personally feels about this situation, but must choose his words carefully, keeping in mind his larger goal of addressing our synodical divisions and working toward greater unity around the clear and compelling Word of God when the Koinonia Project gets going. Plus, this statement is just further evidence that we are blessed with a synodical president who has a true pastoral heart and is a fine churchman.

Besides all that, I think President Harrison makes it clear in this statement where he does stand, even though it may not be in as strong a fashion as many would prefer. I mean, the opening paragraph makes it clear that he has concerns about the sale of ULC and desired to express those concerns, along with MNN DP Fondow, directly to the MNS BoD. He comes out and says that both he and DP Fondow thought it was unwise for the MNS BoD to proceed with the sale, disregarding the resolution passed by the joint pastors' conference to bring this matter to the MNS District Convention next summer. And, in the next paragraph, he acknowledges that the MSN BoD's decision to proceed with the sale has made our life together more fragile and fractured, and that it is impossible to separate this action from the ongoing dissensus about what it means to be Lutheran in that district (and in synod). In other words, that President Harrison is not a fan of this move is very clear, and is made all the clearer by his positive statements regarding ULC, pointing out that we need many more campus ministries like this one, which has been such a blessing to our synod over the years.

And, even as he urges us not to judge motives, he recognizes how difficult that will be, since "this action comes as no surprise to anyone close to the situation" (i.e. those who have a different understanding of what it means to be Lutheran have been trying to sell ULC for years, and precisely because ULC has stood for a Lutheranism to which they are opposed). Thus, yes, we do need to have more brotherly conversations around the Word of God and implore our Lord to grant greater harmony among us regarding what it means to be Lutheran. President Harrison nails it here, for he makes it clear that this action by the MNS BoD to sell ULC is not really about money or expanding campus ministry, but about competing understandings of what it means to be Lutheran.

And so, I'm very pleased with the statement. The Old Adam in me would have rather had President Harrison write: "DP Seitz and the MNS BoD are doo-doo head, non-Lutheran, jerks!" But, the New Man in me recognizes this as the pastoral and churchman-like statement it needed to be. Plus, I doubt that this is over. We may very well hear more.

Just my take.

"You Spin Me Right Round, Jesus!"

2011-09-29T15:03:00.000-04:00

Just like Moses? Um, no. Holy Ghost Hoedown? Not so much. Putting your hands in the air like you just don't care. Exactly.

Blasphemous? Certainly.

Jesus wept.

HT: Gottesdienst Online.

Homily for the Feast of Sts. Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs

2011-09-29T09:36:00.000-04:00

Here is the homily I preached last night as we observed the Feast of Sts. Cosmas and Damian:

THE FEAST OF SAINTS COSMAS AND DAMIAN

28 September Anno + Domini 2011 (Observed)

Luke 21:9-19 (Wis. 3:1-8; Rev. 14:1-5)

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Saints Cosmas and Damian were twin brothers and physicians. They were also Christians. They went from place to place providing medicine to those in need, and didn’t charge for their services. They were well loved by the brethren.

But, word came to the authorities during the reign of Diocletian that these brothers and physicians were Christians, and they were ordered to renounce Christ or suffer the consequences. Refusing to renounce Christ, suffer they did. According to tradition, they were shackled in chains, burned, stoned, hung on crosses, and shot with arrows. Amazingly, they survived all of that. Even more amazingly, they still refused to renounce Christ. Finally, the authorities, perplexed that these men wouldn’t die, beheaded them. And in so doing, they thought that they put Saints Cosmas and Damian to death. They didn’t. Instead, they set them free and ushered them into the bliss of paradise, where they live to this day.

Our Lord builds His Church upon blood – His own blood, shed on the cross for all sinners, and the blood of His martyrs, which is shed to bear witness to His salvific life, death, and resurrection. During the severe persecution of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, when Christians were being tortured and put to death in great number, Christ’s Church grew. The blood of these martyrs, including Saints Cosmas and Damian, was like miracle grow for the church. In Christ’s kingdom, suffering produces glory, weakness is strength, humility is power, the last are first, and death leads to life. That’s how things work, and the world shall never understand this.

Our Lord is still building His Church upon blood. Do not think that martyrdom is a thing of the past. Just this week, we have been reminded that the persecution of Christians is still happening around the world. An Iranian Christian pastor is facing execution for refusing to renounce Christ and pledge his allegiance to Allah, the mythical and false god of Muslims. By the time I preach this sermon, this brother in Christ may have already been put to death, which will mean entrance into the bliss of eternal life for him. And if that does happen, look for the Church in Iran to grow, even as it continues to grow throughout the world where Christians endure suffering and are being persecuted and killed.

You know where the Church is not growing? Here in America or anywhere in the West, where ease of life and freedom of religion are prevalent. It is, rather, declining, and at a rapid rate. And this, dear friends in Christ, is the cross we are called to bear. We are not threatened with death for refusing to renounce Christ, but we are persecuted all the same, tempted by the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh to pay little mind to our faith and to join the crowd in satisfying our own sinful and fleshly desires. The conditions are ripe for a great turning away from the faith when ease of life and freedom are prevalent, and the devil is Johnny-on-the-spot to help facilitate this falling away, even raising up many who claim to speak for Christ to accomplish his will, leading them to make the Church more worldly so that one can barely tell the difference between a pop concert and worship in many places today, and so that one can hardly tell the difference between the messages preached by the plethora of false prophets on the scene and the messages of self-help, motivational speakers. The devil has been wildly successful in getting many to buy into his lies, so that they see the Church as just another place of entertainment and Jesus Christ as nothing more than a life-coach or cheerleader who roots you on so that you can indulge your selfish desires, fulfill your fantasies, and live your best lives now.

This, dear friends, is our cross, our persecution, our call to martyrdom, for while we may not be asked to renounce Christ or be put to death physically, that same temptation and threat is cast upon us, so that we are asked to renounce true faith in Christ and join the crowd, which leads to spiritual death. We have not yet been forced to resist these temptations to the point of bloodshed, but they are no less real and no less threatening. For, in the end, that Christ builds His Church upon blood is not merely about the blood itself, but about the confession, the witness, the testimony that blood makes. We are called, even without the threat of physical bloodshed, to withstand the temptations all around us and make the good confession of the faith, and, rest assured, we will be persecuted for doing so.

And like Saints Cosmas and Damian, and all those who have been slain for Christ through the years right up to the present day, we shall not be free from the darts of the devil, the sinful world, and our own sinful flesh, which often falls prey to the temptations and joins the crowd, until our hearts stop pumping blood throughout our bodies. Until then, we have but one avenue for sustenance and strength as we wend our way through the wilderness of this sinful world, and that is Jesus Christ our Lord, who graciously and mercifully feeds us with the sweet honey of His Word, and prepares a Table for us in the midst of our enemies, that we may feast on His very Body and Blood. There is our strength. There is our food. There is our peace and joy, amidst the many sorrows and sufferings we must yet endure this side of glory.

Fix your eyes on Jesus, you Cosmases and Damians, you beloved martyrs, repenting daily of your sins and clinging ever to the Lamb of God who has taken your sins away. You will be hated. You will be persecuted. You will suffer much in this world. You will even be delivered up by parents and brothers and relatives and friends. Yes, even those who are supposed to be your supporters and allies will be your persecutors at times, as our brothers and sisters in Christ at University Lutheran Chapel have sadly had to learn recently. But, you have had the Divine Name written on your foreheads and have been covered in the blood of the Lamb. You are part of the 144,000 beautifully pictured in Revelation, the redeemed of the Lord. You belong to Christ. He will sustain you. He will keep you. He will not allow a hair on your head to perish, for He will strengthen you to endure. And your endurance will soon gain your lives, and you will dwell with Saints Cosmas and Damian, and all the saints and angels, in glory unspeakable.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

MNS District Signs Purchase Agreement

2011-09-28T22:41:00.001-04:00

No wonder no one from the MNS District BoD could be reached for comment since they voted unanimously (remember that, would ya - UNANIMOUSLY!) to list the ULC property for sale two weeks ago. They already had themselves an agreement in the bag, as evidenced by the notification ULC received from the District Treasurer today that a purchase agreement was executed with Doran Development, LLC. That purchase agreement was executed FIVE DAYS AGO, on September 23, just 10 DAYS AFTER the resolution was passed UNANIMOUSLY to list the property for sale. The fact that the pastor and congregants at ULC were not notified of this executed purchase agreement for five days is just the latest unchurchly, unChristian move on behalf of this BoD, which is made up of Lutheran pastors and laity. There have been many such moves along the way in this long, sad saga - Pr. Kind and ULC not being informed about the formation of the Campus Ministry Task Force way back when, being locked out of the conversation and decision-making time and again, as these Lutherans thought it proper Christian behavior to enter into Executive Sessions, rather than deal with their brothers and sisters in Christ face-to-face, the notification by District President Seitz given to Pr. Kind in a 5 a.m. email the day after the BoD passed the UNANIMOUS decision to list the property, and the hiding and unwillingness to comment these last two weeks. The whole thing, from beginning to end, has been handled not like Christians should handle things, but rather as if these Christians were nothing more than a corporate board, representing a secular business.

Also, it has been reported that President Harrison requested a meeting with the MNS BoD before they made any more decisions, but it seems that, with this action, they have thumbed their noses at him and went ahead with their plans. I guess even the Synodical president does not merit their respect and consideration.

Take a look at the resolution and the memorandum linked above. Is there any evidence in either of these documents that they were produced by Christians? They just read all legal- and business-like. But, that really gets at the heart of the problem here, as Pr. Kind mentioned in an interview on Issues, Etc. a couple of days ago, namely that there is a difference in theology evident here. The members of the MNS BoD have bought into a different theology, one that is foreign to our Lutheran theology, which is evidenced not only by their actions throughout this tragedy, but by the grand plans they have for the future of campus ministry in their District, which will involve raising up students to be "ministers/missionaries," so that they can, you know, carry out the so-called Great Commission, because we all know that it is fulfilled when students "share their faith" (you know, "make Gospel contacts," and all that jazz) with other students. Who needs a chapel with a pastor sent by Christ to serve the Word and Sacraments? That just ain't "missional" enough. We need to come up with a strategy, produce some pie charts, focus on the numbers, create a new bureaucratic position, sell out our brothers and sisters in Christ, and really get to the business of saving souls for Jesus. We'll watch a few "Campus Ministry videos," consult a few "consultants," do some super-duper demographics studies, and come up with a new and improved "missional" scheme. And, in this "missional" scheme, the end justifies the means, so if there are a few casualties along the way, even if they're "friendly casualties," so be it. A chapel where our Holy Lord has visited/continues to visit His people becomes nothing more than an asset that can be sold away in this "missional" scheme, and the fact that this so-called "asset" was GIVEN by the faithful so that Christ would be Present with His Holy Word and Sacraments on the University of Minnesota campus is a point lost on those so focused on this scheme. I guess what I posted on my Facebook page a few days back is true: "Missional" = Reaching the lost by forsaking the found.

As Fr. Peters said in his post on this, SHAME on the MNS DP and BoD! Shame on them for the way they've behaved throughout this fiasco. Shame on them for acting like sneaky corporate executives, rather than Christians. Shame on them for forsaking our theology and buying into the church-growth crap that considers Word and Sacrament Ministry expendable and replaceable. Shame on them for thumbing their noses at our synodical president and at the many people in our synod to whom they have refused to respond.

Please keep Pr. David Kind and the congregants and students our Lord serves through him in your prayers. And, consider sending them a donation. They're going to need it to relocate or rebuild in the near future, as their Holy House of Prayer will be bull-dozed to make room for housing soon.

And, as Pr. Weedon reminded everyone, please keep the MNS DP and BoD in your prayers, too, that they would be led to repent of their actions in this mess.

This whole thing just sickens me, as I know it does many others. But, our Lord will work good even out of this mess for His faithful. I pray that ULC will emerge on the other side of this ridiculousness stronger than ever before. Lord, grant it, in Jesus' Name. Amen!

Kyrie, Eleison!

2011-09-28T15:23:00.000-04:00

St. Michael Liturgical Conference

2011-09-27T18:34:00.002-04:00

What an absolute joy it was to attend the 14th Annual St. Michael Liturgical Conference at Zion, Detroit yesterday. We were treated, as always, to a stunningly beautiful Divine Service, during which our gracious and merciful Lord dispensed His divine gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation to us via His Holy Word and Sacraments. Fr. Mark Braden (Zion, Detroit), who has one of the most beautiful voices known among Lutheran clergy, served as Celebrant; Fr. David Petersen (Redeemer, Ft. Wayne), who is thought by many, myself included, to be one of the best preachers we are blessed to have in our synod, served as Preacher (always a cherished experience to hear the Word of God preached by Fr. Petersen); Fr. Eric Forss (Immanuel, Howell) served as Deacon; Fr. Joel Basely (Emmanuel, Dearborn) served as Subdeacon; Dcn. David Muehlenbruch (Bethany, Ft. Wayne) served as Master of Ceremonies; and Bp. David Stechholz (Bishop/President of the English District of the LCMS) served as Officiant. The Divine Service had all of the pomp and circumstance (or smells, bells, and whistles, as some say), complete with the employment of Crucifer, Torch Bearers, and Thurifer, that many modern Lutherans sadly thumb their noses at, but that this Lutheran absolutely adores. As I said, stunningly beautiful!

We also gathered together to pray the Divine Office at Sext before lunch and Solemn Vespers at the conclusion of the day, both of which were also stunningly beautiful. Fr. Braden's homily at Solemn Vespers was especially edifying; I hope it will be posted at Zion's website in the days to come.

The Keynote Address was given by Fr. Charles McClean (Immanuel, Alexandria, VA - where Fr. Chris Esget serves), whose theme was: "The Conduct of the Services: Revisited" (Fr. McClean studied under, and was a colleague of, Fr. Arthur C. Piepkorn; both men have produced guidelines to liturgics and rubrics that contain a treasure trove of information for Lutheran pastors as they conduct the Divine Service and Daily Offices, which are made available by Redeemer Press in a single volume).

So great to meet Fr. McClean and to hear him speak in person. He began his presentation by taking a nostalgic trip down memory lane, sharing stories from his childhood about what life was like in his home parish in Baltimore, and sharing stories about his relationship with Fr. Piepkorn, and how he believes that some today paint a picture of Fr. Piepkorn that doesn't accurately reflect the image of the man he knew well, especially regarding his work on liturgics and rubrics, which, according to Fr. McClean, was not something Fr. Piepkorn produced in some dictatorial way, but as a humble servant who honestly wished to provide a guide for reverent conduct of the Divine Service by Lutheran pastors. Very interesting to hear Fr. McClean speak about these things, as I've often heard the kind of criticisms of Fr. Piepkorn he referenced.

Fr. McClean stated that his goal, which was the goal of Fr. Piepkorn, and which, in his opinion (mine, too), should be the goal of every Lutheran pastor, is to conduct the Divine Service (and Daily Offices) in such a way as to create "an unmistakable atmosphere of the deepest reverence." Reverence should be non-negotiable for Lutherans, who believe, teach, and confess that their Lord Jesus Christ is Himself Present. Fr. McClean referenced the excellent book written by Fr. John Stephenson on "The Lord's Supper" in the "Confessional Lutheran Dogmatics" series, where Fr. Stephenson makes it vividly clear, using Holy Scripture and our Lutheran Confessions, that Lutherans believe, teach, and confess that, during the Divine Service, we are "admitted into the realm depicted in Revelation 4 and 5." And, since we believe, teach, and confess this, our practice ought to bear this out. Fr. McClean wondered aloud, as I and so many others have often done, how the practice we see in so many LCMS congregations today, especially in the administration of the Holy Eucharist, can be reconciled with what we believe, teach, and confess. Do Lutherans who confess their belief that what we receive is the very Body and Blood of Jesus, but whose practice is irreverent and nonchalant, really know what they're confessing? For that matter, do they really believe what they're confessing? And, even if they do believe what they're confessing, are those who witness their irreverence and nonchalance brought to believe what they're confessing? I mean, we Lutherans believe that the purpose of ceremonies is to teach the faithful what they need to know about Christ. What are we teaching the faithful to know about Christ when we are irreverent and nonchalant in our administration of Christ Himself in the Sacrament?

Fr. McClean noted that the abuses we now see surrounding the Holy Eucharist among Lutherans (open communion, using other elements, irreverence, etc.) were simply unheard of fifty years ago. That is not to say that there weren't abuses here and there, but that such abuses were rare. Whether or not this or that pastor and congregation employed this or that ceremony during the celebration of the Holy Sacrament, nearly all were reverent in their conduct, for they believed what they confessed, that they were dealing with the very Body and Blood of Jesus. Can we honestly say the same thing when looking at the landscape of today's LCMS? Hardly! In fact, as soon as someone plays the "Reverence Card" these days, they are met with scorn and ridicule by those who have come to believe that reverence is in the eye of the beholder. Fr. McClean lamented what he called the "Baptistification of the Missouri Synod," which has caused us to truly lose sight of what we say we believe, teach, and confess, namely that Jesus IS Present among us in the Divine Service. I share his lament. It truly is a sad thing to see many Lutheran pastors and congregations showing no more reverence to the Most Holy Sacrament than those who do not believe that Christ is Present.

Besides reverence, Fr. McClean spoke about the importance of continuity. I was reminded of the presentation given by Dr. David Scaer at last year's Liturgical Seminar in Kewanee, IL, where he spoke about the need for Lutherans to retain and maintain catholicity, not only in confession, but also, and most especially, in practice. This is something that needs to be reiterated time and time again in our day and age, when catholicity is pushed aside to make way for innovation, especially when it's most often not even innovation, but the borrowing of practices done by those who don't share our Lutheran confession of the faith. Like it or not, you cannot faithfully read our Lutheran Confessions without having the catholic principle come screaming through. Lutherans have never been (until recent times, sadly) innovators, but those intent on remaining in the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church. Our Lutheran forefathers had absolutely no interest in starting a new church, but simply corrected the abuses which had crept into the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church. In fact, they go to great pains in our Confessions to make this clear, for they were being accused by Rome of doing this very thing. Thus, they made sure to make clear that they were not abolishing the Mass or the beautiful traditions and ceremonies of the catholic church (except those that had been brought in by Rome and militated against the Holy Gospel). Again, given what we see being done all around us by those bearing the name Lutheran today, can we still make this confession with a straight face?

During his Keynote Address and during the Q&A Workshop we had with him, Fr. McClean also spoke about verses populum vs. ad orientem (he's an ad orientem proponent), church architecture and decor, private confession and absolution, and provided some interesting historical tidbits regarding the Common Service and the changes which have been made to it over the years. A couple of real gems that I shall soon not forget:

"You can't chant the praises of something you know nothing about"

(speaking of the importance of pastors going to private confession).

"This is such a beautiful house. Is this where God lives?"

(a comment a VBS student made to his pastor in his home parish in Baltimore years ago - Fr. McClean was speaking to the importance of having sacred space confessing itself to be sacred through Christian architecture and decor).

In addition to learning at the feet of Fr. McClean, we were blessed to attend three other Workshops throughout the day: "The Proper Use of Incense," led by Fr. Braden; "Chanting the Gospels," led by Kantor Daniel Reuning of Redeemer, Ft. Wayne; "Rubrics for the Laity," led by Mr. Allen Kerkes, Organist in Residence at Zion, Detroit. Interesting and informative, all. I especially enjoyed Fr. Braden's presentation on incense, during which he touched upon not only the use and rubrics, but also the meaning and history, of incense in the Liturgy - learned much I didn't know in that one.

It was a wonderful and edifying conference. So glad to have had three members of our congregation attending with me, all of whom expressed their deep appreciation for having attended. It was great to see so many familiar faces and do some catching up or simply share greetings and well wishes (Prs. Petersen, Braden, Voltattorni, Zeile, Basely, Dave and Mary Ellyn Lambert, Jennifer Balaska, and many more), and I had the pleasure of meeting several new brothers and sisters, including Dr. Michael Anderson, fellow Polycarpian, whose online writings I have long cherished, and Pr. David Gallas, whose genius is behind many of the Issues, Etc. promotional videos.

Yes, indeed, it was a great day! Already looking forward to next year . . .

From President Harrison

2011-09-25T20:49:00.000-04:00

In case you missed these . . .

Pres. Harrison's September Message - "Bringing Children to Know Jesus":

Pres. Harrison's Sermon at the Opening Service of Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, with the Installation of Dr. Lawrence Rast as President:

Entertainment Worship Conference

2011-09-25T15:37:00.001-04:00

For those of you interested in learning how to turn worship (which, ahem, means "to prostrate oneself in reverence" - the pastors in the video should have learned that at seminary) into a really cool, hip, rad, me-centered, entertaining emotion-fest, this might be the conference for you (Lutherans should steer clear, though):

This Just In: This Fisk Character Is Good!

2011-09-25T15:08:00.000-04:00

Lutheran Satire Vid: Save ULC! Edition

2011-09-25T14:55:00.001-04:00

Wouldn't it be great if Lutherans quit trying to find "magic beans" and just stuck with the means of grace?

More Media Coverage of the ULC Sale

2011-09-21T21:31:00.000-04:00

And the written article that goes with the video can be found here.

Last line of the article: "There was no response to a phone call and email to the board."

Cannot Be Reached For Comment

2011-09-20T22:54:00.000-04:00

I was going to blog about this earlier, but got busy and haven't been at my computer all day. And, now I guess I don't really need to, since Fr. Peters beat me to the punch in his post, "Some Transparency Please" (great minds, and all that). He is right. Synodical leaders who will not speak up and give their take on unpopular decisions they make, especially when many in our synod are angry and grieving, lose their integrity, and make our synod look horrible to the world looking on (of course, maybe these leaders think there are just a few people upset and not worth their time to answer - they did think only 39 people listened to Issues, Etc., after all). There have been a few newspaper articles written about the decision made by the MNS District BoD to sell University Lutheran Chapel, and each one notes that representatives from the MNS District could not be reached for comment. It's just maddening. And sad. And pathetic. And so very unchurchly! And, as Fr. Peters notes, it just breeds suspicion and mistrust. It's how the corporate world does things, not the church.

And don't patronize us by telling us that we just don't understand how things work, that sometimes unpopular decisions need to be made, and that there is some fancy-schmancy protocol that must be followed. Puh-lease! I'm a pastor. I can't imagine making an unpopular decision that affects the congregation I serve and then going incognito. I bet the same synodical leaders who refuse to speak up would think me to be a rotten, unloving, stubborn, arrogant pastor, were I to do so. How in the world is it different with them?

I've also begun hearing people pleading with our synodical president to speak up on this issue. I think they're right. It's time. If nothing else, he should exhort the "leaders" in the MNS District to explain themselves and answer the criticisms they're receiving. But, I think he should also speak out himself. I have absolutely been loving how open and transparent he and his staff have been since they took the helm of our synod, and you would be hard pressed to find a more ardent supporter of this administration than me, but not hearing from them when such a controversial issue is rattling our synod is bringing back eerie memories for many, myself included.

For those who cannot be reached for comment, maybe a read of John 3:20-21 is in order.

SynodoBot

2011-09-19T08:27:00.000-04:00

You've met Synodocat. He's the "brains" of the synodical operation. He meets with church consultants, reads all of the relevant pop-Christian books, loves Contemporary Christian Music, believes worship should be a fun-filled, emotional, celebratory "experience," adheres to the principle that the end always justifies the means, which leads him to spend much of his time in "Executive Sessions" seeking input from his cronies and from lawyers on how best he can carry out his plan to make the synod more relevant and appealing to the unbelieving world (i.e. creating a church for those who don't like church). Synodocat is convinced that God needs his help and the expertise he has acquired from church consultants and lawyers to move the synod along in the right direction. The Holy Word and Sacraments are okay, but they're just not enough to get the job done. Every time Synodocat snaps his fingers, people go to Hell, after all, and he believes that it is his solemn duty to teach the synod to love the lost and to vigorously go about the task of winning souls for Jesus. Synodocat makes it a point to emphasize the fact that we do not have time for incessant, internal purification, and creates newfangled words like "missional" to describe his vision for the synod ("missional" appears to be a catch-all word encompassing everything we do to make the church more appealing to lost souls, that we may win them for Jesus; when you think "missional," think "whatever it takes"). On paper, Synodocat holds a quia subscription to our Lutheran Confessions, but, in practice, he holds a quatenus subscription. Heck, the truth is that Synodocat hasn't read the Confessions in years, since he's too busy reading and learning from the Rick Warrens and Kent Hunters out there (wait, aren't Rick Warren and Kent Hunter a little dated? Exactly!). Synodocat believes that to be a "missional" synod, everyone must be a "minister" and a "missionary." Synodocat loves the so-called "Great Commission" (Matt. 28:16-20) and believes it is fulfilled whenever a Christian (i.e. a "minister"/"missionary") tells someone about Jesus, an interpretation which results largely from ignoring verses 16-18 of that famous passage, which, in turn, leads to a misunderstanding of verses 19-20 (well, that, and the fact that Synodocat has learned to interpret the passage from modern "evangelicals"). As Synodocat fulfills what he believes to be his Divine Purpose in moving the synod down the path of his vision, he enjoys the many perks that come with the job (free lunches, awards and accolades, lodging in luxury hotels, a large expense account, and a six-figure salary, just to name a few - these perks are blessings from God for fulfilling his "sacred duty"). There is much more that could be said about Synodocat, but this short intro should suffice for our purpose here, which is to introduce you to SynodoBot.

Synodocat does the thinking, SynodoBot does the enforcing. Synodocat is the "brains," SynodoBot is the "muscle." So, for example, let's say Synodocat makes a decision to, I don't know, cancel the most popular radio broadcast on the synodically operated radio station. Synodocat cannot be bothered to execute this decision, so he sends SynodoBot to do so. Synodocat needs to maintain deniable plausibility, so SynodoBot is called upon to break the news to the employees of that radio broadcast and to the synod at large. Or, let's take a look at another example: Let's say Synodocat wants to sell the chapel and other property used by one of the synod's most faithful and effective Campus Ministries, so that he can use the money from that sale to put into place the plan he has developed for campus ministry in his district, a plan that meshes well with his idea of "everyone a minister/missionary," since it involves raising up students to be "missionaries" on many campuses throughout the district, and so forth. Again, Synodocat cannot be bothered to execute this decision, so he looks upon SyndoBot to do so. Synodocat may send an email at 5 a.m. to the faithful pastor who serves at the Chapel to be sold, but it will just be to announce that SynodoBot will soon be enforcing the decision made in "Executive Session." SynodoBot will take over from there, and Syndocat will be unavailable for comment until that decision is executed, making sure not to answer his phone and to set his email up to deliver automatic responses. This may not seem like the most churchly way of doing things, but, remember, the end justifies the means, and when the end is to create a new and improved, relevant and appealing synod/district, where the "mission" is to win souls for Jesus by doing "whatever it takes" (i.e. "being missional"), well, you can't be bothered with being churchly. I mean, there are people dying without Jesus out there! This is no time to worry about being churchly! So, Syndocat devises the scheme and SynodoBot executes it. It really is a genius system. Here's a pic to illustrate the system at work:

How To Be a Biblical "Scholar"

2011-09-18T17:01:00.000-04:00

Fisktacular

2011-09-17T19:45:00.000-04:00

ULC to be Sold (or, Synodocat Strikes Again!)

2011-09-14T16:27:00.001-04:00

Back in April, Pr. David Kind and the members he serves at University Lutheran Chapel (ULC), located on the campus of the University of Minnesota, learned that the "Campus Ministry Property Task Force" of the Minnesota South District (MNS) had formulated a plan to sell the ULC property (along with the property at Mankato State University). The plan was formulated behind closed doors, as neither Pr. Kind nor representatives from the ULC congregation were privy to its development, even though they were promised that they would be. When they learned of the plan, they brought it to light and began a "Save ULC" campaign. Oh yeah, an important detail not to be missed is the fact that the plan was unveiled on Holy Tuesday, which brought back many eerie memories for those of us who were shocked and dismayed at the sudden cancellation of "Issues, Etc." on Holy Tuesday a few years back. You can read more about this in a blog post I put up here back in April.

In May, the MNS Board of Directors (BoD) passed a resolution to have the District Treasurer hire a commercial real estate broker to determine the true market value of the ULC property and report back to the BoD, and to have the congregation at ULC research its ability to purchase the property from the MNS at the fair market value, which they currently rent. The fact that this property was GIVEN by generous donors so that there would be a congregation located on the campus of the University of Minnesota, where students and Lutherans in the area could receive the gracious gifts our Lord delivers via His Holy Word and Sacraments, seemed to be lost on the MNS BoD. I mean, those faithful donors did not GIVE to this cause as a real estate investment, but to support the Ministry and Mission of Christ's Church. But, whatever. Fine. If ULC needed to raise the money to purchase the property that was, again, GIVEN, they would go to work at doing so. And so, they did. They initiated a campaign to raise the money for this purpose.

But, alas, it matters not. The MNS BoD is seizing on the opportunity to cash in now. They have a developer interested in the land (that was GIVEN by generous donors - wait, did I already mention that?!) and believe they can sell it for $3.2 million, so the beautiful chapel where our Lord has served His sheep from font, pulpit, and altar will just have to be demolished, and Pr. Kind and those he serves will just have to find someplace else to gather in the Name of our Lord.

How are such decisions reached, you ask? In the same manner the infamous "plan" was unveiled - behind closed doors. The president of the congregation at ULC tried to attend the MNS BoD meeting yesterday, but the BoD immediately went into Executive Session. "Um, yeah, we're going to be talking about the future of your congregation and, like, you know, we don't want you there to hear what we have to say, because, like, we're going to have to make important business decisions that, like, you probably won't be too hip on, so, you know, you're not invited."

How utterly shameful that a BoD of a District of our Synod invokes the very unchurchly way of "doing business" behind closed doors. To hide in Executive Session is nothing but cowardly and no way to do things in the church. But, the shameful and unchurchly way of "doing business" doesn't end there.

How is it that Pr. Kind and the members he serves are informed of the decision made by the BoD to sell the property? By an email sent to Pr. Kind by MNS District President Lane Seitz at 5 a.m. this morning. Yeah, that's right. An email. At 5 a.m. "Um, yeah, we're going to need you to go ahead and start making other arrangements soon, because, um, we've decided to go ahead and sell the property where you're located. Um, yeah." How utterly cowardly and, again, unchurchly. So much so that if a District President doesn't understand how cowardly and unchurchly this is, he really shouldn't be serving as a District President. But, I digress.

It has been pointed out that there is still hope for ULC, since the resolution passed yesterday (which you can read here) by the MNS BoD was to sell the property by the end of the calendar year for no less than $3.2 million, but not to a specific developer/entity. In other words, this is not a done deal and the ULC could raise the $3.2 million and make an offer to purchase the property (that was GIVEN!). But, the writing on the wall sure seems to indicate that there is a developer already waiting in the wings to purchase the property. And so, it sounds to me like the resolution crafted in "Executive Session" by the BoD was intended to be vague, so that when the District Treasurer, who, according to the same resolution now has the power to broker a deal that meets the requirements of the resolution without further BoD approval, makes the deal, it can be said, "Well, we gave you folks at ULC a chance to make an offer, but you couldn't come up with the $3.2 million fast enough, so we had to take this other deal." I know, I know, I'm not putting the best construction on things. Yeah, well, the construction I am putting on things is based on how things have been done to this point, right up to the "Executive Session" yesterday and 5 a.m. email this morning.

This whole fiasco is beyond disappointing. It is downright disgusting. A thriving congregation and campus ministry should not have to endure such shenanigans. They should be supported and encouraged, not threatened and discouraged. And, since the MNS District Treasurer made clear at the District's Pastor's Conference in May that the District was not in a financial crisis, this move on the part of the BoD is all the more disgusting, since we are left to conclude that this has more to do with opposition to the "style" of ministry being done at ULC right now - you know, that nasty traditional stuff, what with the Holy Word and Sacraments and all - than with money. Indeed, the plan for campus ministry imagined by the "Campus Ministry Task Force" of the MNS District revealed back in April was one of those non-Lutheran, "missional" things, where students become "missionaries" to "reach the lost" and "win people for Jesus" - you know, like the modern "evangelicals" do things. Um, students are not missionaries. They are students. Campus Ministry is not something for them to do, but something our Lord does for them. Really, this is all basic stuff. That those who call themselves Lutherans do not realize this is as absurd as it is amazing. But, that they are willing to sell the property where congregants and students have been, and continue to be, extremely well served by our Lord is evidence that they don't get it.

But, enough. I would go on, but I've probably already said too much and am afraid of what I might say if I continue on. For more information on this ridiculous fiasco, you can visit the ULC website (where there is an option to donate to the cause of saving the chapel), or read posts on the Steadfast site here and here.

Someone on facebook mentioned that the whole "Executive Session" thing reminded them of the scene from "The Godfather" below. I concur.

Is Battle Cat Twirling Wrong?

2011-09-04T13:39:00.000-04:00

Comparison Fail: Joseph Smith and Martin Luther

2011-09-03T01:08:00.000-04:00

20 Minutes Well Worth Your Time . . .

2011-08-31T00:12:00.002-04:00

Another Classic

2011-08-30T23:36:00.000-04:00

First Communion

2011-08-30T23:23:00.001-04:00

This past Sunday, we were blessed to witness the Rite of First Communion Prior to Confirmation, as three of our younger parishioners, Myka, Farrah, and Savannah, received the very Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Sacrament for the first time. This is the second group of youngsters to go through our First Communion Class since we adopted our new policy last July, and these three young ladies did an outstanding job preparing. It was a pure joy to instruct, examine, and absolve them in preparation for Holy Communion, and I could not be more pleased with, or proud of, them. Well done, ladies!

Heavenly Father, whose Son Jesus Christ loved the young and called them to Himself, we ask You to bless Myka, Farrah, and Savannah. Strengthen them in the faith through the Sacrament of Christ's body and blood so that they may grow spiritually and bring forth the fruits of faith in a life of love toward others to the praise and honor of Your holy name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Rite

2011-08-27T15:57:00.000-04:00

I finally got around to watching the movie, The Rite, starring Anthony Hopkins and little known actor, Colin O'Donoghue. I had read the book by Matt Baglio, The Rite: The Making Of A Modern Exorcist, upon which the movie is "loosely based," last month, so I was looking forward to seeing the film. It was okay. I might have enjoyed it more had I not read the book first (isn't that always the case?). I just thought the movie went a little overboard in the attempt to dramatize the subject matter the author of the book treats seriously, and that extra-dramatization, which I do understand is necessary to produce a feature film, made it too unbelievable. At the same time, Anthony Hopkins is his usual brilliant self in the film and his performance alone makes the movie worth the time. Here's a trailer of the film (below the trailer, I'll be commenting on specific aspects of the movie, so if you haven't yet seen the movie and plan on watching it, don't read those comments :).

In the book, journalist Matt Baglio, who is living in Rome, hooks up with a Roman Catholic priest from America, Fr. Gary Thomas, who is sent to Rome by his bishop to be trained as an exorcist. This is due to a directive issued from the Vatican that every diocese around the world eventually needs to have a trained exorcist, since they have seen a great increase in demonic possessions and do not have enough exorcists to handle them. America has only a few in the whole country, and so Fr. Thomas is sent in the hope that he will be trained as an exorcist and come back to America to share his experiences and open eyes to the need to have trained exorcists here. As Baglio reports, RC bishops in America do not take this very seriously; many do not even believe in demonic possession.

Baglio writes the book as a non-fiction documentary, reporting the exploits of Fr. Thomas as he comes to Rome and has his eyes opened to a whole new world he never imagined existed. Fr. Thomas is a seasoned priest with strong faith, but is a bit skeptical about the whole exorcist enterprise. He attends classes and seminars led by experienced exorcists, but it is only when he hooks up with Fr. Carmine, an experienced exorcist living in Rome, that he comes to believe in the reality of demonic possession and the need for exorcists. Fr. Carmine does several exorcisms daily and Fr. Thomas is there to witness them (Baglio was invited to witness a few himself). At first, he remains skeptical, as people are brought in and Fr. Carmine prays The Rite, but not much seems to happen. He also wonders why the same people come in weekly and don't appear to experience any change in their condition. It's almost like going to therapy on a weekly basis. But, eventually, he witnesses things that he cannot explain and comes to believe that demonic possession is a very real thing.

Besides reporting on the adventures of Fr. Thomas, Baglio includes a lot of information based on the research he did into this whole subject. Part of that research included interviewing many seasoned exorcists, many psychologists (both those who believe in demonic possession and those who don't), and many bishops and priests (and other church leaders). I found his reporting in these sections, which are spattered throughout his book, to be some of the most interesting reading. Is demonic possession real? When do you know it is occurring? How do you differentiate between possession and psychosis? And so forth. As you might imagine, there are answers all over the board on all these questions, and the many other questions that arise when exploring this topic. It really does make for fascinating reading, especially for a Lutheran pastor like myself, who doesn't encounter the need to ever put too much thought into this subject.

One of the things I found most interesting about the book was the fact that seasoned exorcists report that liberation from demonic possession is a lengthy process, often taking months or years, not hours or weeks. In the movies, someone is possessed, the exorcist comes in and the demon is thrown out. Not so in reality, according to these exorcists. They may pray The Rite over the possessed a hundred or more times before the demon(s) is/are cast out. Interesting . . . and theologically problematic for this Lutheran (more on that below).

Another interesting tidbit is the fact that seasoned exorcists treat each case with initial skepticism. Just because someone comes in and claims to be possessed doesn't mean that an exorcism is performed. In fact, that is quite rare. Almost always, there is a period of investigation done before going ahead with an exorcism, which also can only happen when permission from the bishop is granted. That period of investigation includes some initial testing by the exorcist himself, trying to find some signs that can ensure him that possession is happening (Baglio reveals some tricks of the trade used by exorcists to this end - e.g. splashing unblessed water on the person to see if there is a reaction, etc.). After these initial tests by the exorcists, they still do not usually proceed with The Rite, but send the person to be examined by a psychologist and/or psychiatrist to get his/her/their take on the matter. One of the things emphasized throughout the book is the need for exorcists to find psychologists and psychiatrists they can trust and with whom they can work (those who believe that demonic possession is real, of course). Often, the psychologist and/or psychiatrist will try to treat the person with counseling, hypnosis, and medication first. Only after none of this works and the psychologist/psychiatrist is convinced that it is possible that possession is the source of the person's woes will that person be referred back to the exorcist, who will then commence with The Rite, if granted permission by his bishop. In other words, what we see in the movies, and even in this movie, which is loosely based on Baglio's book, is not what happens in reality.

As I said above, the fact that exorcisms almost always take months and often years before liberation occurs is theologically problematic. This is especially due to the reason given for why liberation takes so long, namely that it depends not only upon the strength of the demon(s) and the reason/source of the possession, but also upon the cooperation of the one possessed. This certainly lines up well with Roman Catholic theology, which puts much of the onus of salvation upon individuals (faith+works=salvation), but not so much with Lutheran theology, which confesses that all of the work for our salvation is completed by Christ, and that we play absolutely no role in our salvation (faith in Christ alone=salvation - and even that faith is not our doing, but a gift from above). Thus, it is hard for me to accept the notion that liberation from demon possession involves the cooperation (work) of the one possessed. Liberation from demonic possession very much becomes an intra nos (within us) affair, and as a Lutheran, I'm all about the extra nos (outside us) work of our Savior through His Holy Word and Sacraments to create and sustain us in the faith. So, as I said, theologically problematic for this Lutheran. And, what does this say of our Savior, that it takes months/years to be liberated? Do we have a weak Savior, who is unable to liberate those possessed until/unless they do their part? Perhaps the reason liberation often takes so long is because the exorcist is filling the possessed with the idea that they have to do their part (fulfill the obligation of attending Mass regularly, receiving the Sacraments, praying daily, doing good works, etc.) and it is not until the possessed come to understand that they can't do it and end up throwing themselves upon the mercy of our Lord that they experience liberation. Just a theory. ;)

I also found many of the causes of demonic possession cited in the book to be troubling and theologically problematic. I certainly do not deny the danger in which people place themselves when they engage in things related to the occult, but exorcists in the book claim that people can become possessed due to a curse pronounced upon them by others, or by innocently coming into contact with some cursed object, and other ways like this that are a bit too superstitious and fantastic for me to take all that seriously. And I especially struggle with the idea that a baptized child of God can be affected by such things.

This is related to what made the movie a bit far-fetched for me. The main character in the movie is a seminarian named Michael Kovac, who enters the seminary not because he believes he is called to the priesthood, but to get away from the family business (morticians). This is a far cry from the main character in the book, Fr. Gary Thomas, who is a seasoned and faithful priest (although Fr. Thomas did have experience working in a funeral home before entering seminary). Seminarian Michael writes a letter of resignation just before graduating from seminary. He lacks faith. He doubts. He doesn't believe he can serve as a priest. But, he is talked into taking a trip to Rome for exorcism training by his superior before throwing in the towel. He reluctantly agrees and he remains a skeptic and doubter until the very end of the movie when he is called upon to exorcise a demon from the priest, Fr. Lucas (played by Anthony Hopkins), who he has been shadowing throughout the movie (much like Fr. Thomas shadowing Fr. Carmine). But, unlike the book, where Fr. Thomas is honestly seeking to learn from Fr. Carmine and has his skepticism quickly quenched, Seminarian Kovac not only remains skeptical until the very end, but looks upon Fr. Lucas, who is supposed to be his teacher and mentor, as nothing but an eccentric quack and trickster. The point of the movie is not so much about the reality of demon possession and exorcism, but about a doubting, would-be priest coming to faith. And the way he is brought to faith is what makes the movie far-fetched, for it takes the priest he's supposed to be learning from becoming possessed to get him there. Just a bit much, I thought. Although, as I said above, Anthony Hopkins is brilliant and carries the movie.

Interestingly, in interviews, Fr. Gary Thomas praises the movie "for its positive portrayal of the Church and for its witness to the power of faith." Author Matt Baglio applauds the movie as well. Both state that there are obvious differences and concede that the movie involves a lot of over-dramatization and follows a different plot than the book, but they believe it captures the essence. I guess they know better than me, but I thought the movie was too much of a departure from the book and a little too over-the-top. Oh well.

In the end, I really don't know what to make of the book (and movie). On the one hand, it covers a topic that fascinates me and gives me much to ponder. On the other hand, the theological issues create larger hurdles than I can jump. Do the devil and his minions exist? Absolutely, they do. I believe that wholeheartedly. Is demonic possession a possibility? Absolutely; otherwise, the biblical account is a fraud. Did Fr. Gary Thomas and journalist Matt Baglio witness things during exorcisms that are unexplainable? I'm sure they did; I have no reason to doubt them. But, what those things were, and whether or not they were caused by actual demon possessions, I can't know. But, what I struggle with the most, as mentioned above, is the whole theology involved here. The exorcist, when praying The Rite, talks about the power of Christ compelling the demon(s) to leave the possessed, but what they really mean, seems to me, is that the power of Christ is only tapped into and effective based on the power/faithfulness of the exorcist himself, and on the power/faithfulness of the possessed being exorcised. That's problematic for this Lutheran. At the same time, I readily admit my ignorance on this topic and would love to walk a mile in Baglio's shoes, going to Rome and witnessing the training involved for potential exorcists and to sit in as actual exorcisms are conducted. I think that would be fascinating.

An Oldie, but a Goodie, from Pr. Cwirla . . .

2011-08-26T19:38:00.001-04:00

Top Ten Reasons Why We Use the Liturgy

By The Rev. William Cwirla

(posted at Higher Things)

Why the Liturgy? First a definition and a disclaimer. By “liturgy” I mean the western catholic mass form as it has been handed down by way of the Lutheran Reformation consisting of the five fixed canticles – Kyrie, Gloria in Excelsis, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei. Pardon the Greek and Latin, but it sounds cool and we still use ‘em. “Liturgy” also includes the assigned Scripture texts for the Sundays, feast days, and seasons. Most of what I will say about the liturgy of the Divine Service will pertain to “liturgical worship” in general.

Now, why do we worship according to the western, catholic liturgy?

It shows our historic roots. Some parts of the liturgy go back to the apostolic period. Even the apostolic church did not start with a blank liturgical slate but adapted and reformed the liturgies of the synagogue and the Sabbath. The western mass shows our western catholic roots, of which we as Lutherans are not ashamed. (I’d rather be confused with a Roman Catholic than anything else.) We’re not the first Christians to walk the face of the planet, nor, should Jesus tarry, will we be the last. The race of faith is a relay race, one generation handing on (“traditioning”) to the next the faith once delivered to the saints. The historic liturgy underscores and highlights this fact. It is also “traditionable,” that is, it can be handed on.
It serves as a distinguishing mark. The liturgy distinguishes us from those who do not believe, teach, and confess the same as we do. What we believe determines how we worship, and how we worship confesses what we believe.
It is both Theocentric and Christocentric. From the invocation of the Triune Name in remembrance of Baptism to the three-fold benediction at the end, the liturgy is focused on the activity of the Triune God centered in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. Worship is not primarily about “me” or “we” but about God in Christ reconciling the world to HImself and my baptismal inclusion in His saving work.
It teaches. The liturgy teaches the whole counsel of God – creation, redemption, sanctification, Christ’s incarnation, passion, resurrection, and reign, the Spirit’s outpouring and the new life of faith. Every liturgical year cycles through these themes so that the hearer receives the “whole counsel of God” on a regular basis.
It is transcultural. One of the greatest experiences of my worship life was to be in the Divine Service in Siberia with the Siberian Lutheran Church. Though I spoke only a smattering of Russian, I knew enough to recognize the liturgy, know what was being said (except for the sermon, which was translated for us), and be able to participate knowledgeably across language and cultural barriers. I have the same experience with our Chinese mission congregation.
It is repetitive in a good way. Repetition is, after all, the mother of learning. Fixed texts and annual cycles of readings lend to deep learning. Obviously, mindless repetition does not accomplish anything; nor does endless variety.
It is corporate. Worship is a corporate activity. “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” The liturgy draws us out of ourselves into Christ by faith and the neighbor by love. We are all in this together. Worship is not simply about what “I get out of it,” but I am there also for my fellow worshippers to receive the gifts of Christ that bind us together and to encourage each other to love and good works (Heb 10:25). We are drawn into the dialogue of confession and absolution, hearing and confessing, corporate song and prayer. To borrow a phrase from a favored teacher of mine, in church we are “worded, bodied, and bloodied” all together as one.
It rescues us from the tyranny of the “here and now.” When the Roman world was going to hell in a hand basket, the church was debating the two natures of Christ. In the liturgy, the Word sets the agenda, defining our needs and shaping our questions. The temptation is for us to turn stones into bread to satisfy an immediate hunger and scratch a nagging spiritual itch, but the liturgy teaches us to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
It is external and objective. The liturgical goal is not that everyone feel as certain way or have an identical “spiritual” experience. Feelings vary even as they come and go. The liturgy supplies a concrete, external, objective anchor in the death and resurrection of Jesus through Word, bread, and wine. Faith comes by hearing the objective, external Word of Christ.
It is the Word of God. This is often overlooked by critics of liturgical worship. Most of the sentences and songs of the liturgy are direct quotations or allusions from Scripture or summaries, such as the Creed. In other words, the liturgy is itself the Word of God, not simply a packaging for the Word. Many times the liturgy will rescue a bad sermon and deliver what the preacher has failed to deliver. I know; I’ve been there.

Ten is one of those good numbers in the Bible signifying completeness, so I’ll stop at ten. I’m sure there are more.

More Than You Ever Wanted to Know . . .

2011-08-26T19:02:00.000-04:00

about Seventh Day Adventists in today's "AskdaPastor2.0" by Pr. Fisk. In one of my classes at CUAA several years ago, we were required to pick a Christian denomination and do a detailed report on it, which included having to both attend worship and interview the pastor (or at least one of the leaders). Not knowing all that much about Seventh Day Adventists at the time, I chose to study them. The worship service I attended was one of the quirkiest things I've ever experienced. It began with a time of prayer, where people spontaneously gathered into groups and prayed out loud all at the same time. Then, there were a series of testimonials, wherein people spoke about how they had given up this or that sin and were now following God's commandments. Some songs were song and then the message was preached. The main thrust of the message was that we had to keep the Law just like Jesus did, and there was a lot of talk about how worshiping on Saturday proved that they were the remnant being preserved by God for Jesus' imminent return. It was just weird - not a whole lot of structure to it, and not a single drop of Gospel to be found anywhere. The pastor was gracious to meet with me after the service and allow me to interview him. I was quite shocked to hear what he had to say about Jesus, namely that the whole point in His coming to earth was to show us what we had to do to please God and make it to heaven. He also informed me that he had properly put away all sin in his life, just as all true Christians must eventually accomplish if they have any hope. And, again, there was a lot of talk about how important it was to worship on Saturday (Pr. Fisk is right, this really is their material principle). Anyway, given what I saw in practice and what I learned in my studies and from the pastor in my interview, I'd say that Pr. Fisk gives a pretty accurate synopsis of the group in this video. And, his use of the hamster on the wheel as a metaphor for what happens when we place ourselves back under the Law and believe that our keeping the Law earns our salvation is brilliant.

No Clergy at Ground Zero

2011-08-26T18:22:00.000-04:00

A great post by Pr. William Cwirla regarding the decision made by NYC Mayor Bloomberg to not allow clergy to participate at this year's 10th anniversary memorial events of 9/11 can be read here.

President Harrison's Sermon . . .

2011-08-26T18:18:00.000-04:00

at St. Paul, Hamel last Sunday, where he served as guest preacher and celebrant as the congregation celebrated the 25th anniversary of Pr. Weedon's ordination, is an excellent example of the kind of finger-pointing, "YOU!" preaching he has been promoting since taking the helm as our president last year. You simply cannot escape from the damning Law he preaches in this sermon. Your only hope is Jesus, who has fulfilled the Law in your place and paid the full price for all of your sins with His precious blood on the cross. It is a perfect example of the kind of Law and Gospel preaching that should be heard every Sunday from all Lutheran pulpits, and it is evidence that our President not only talks the talk, but walks the walk, preaching what he exhorts all of us to preach. What a blessing to have him leading our synod at this time.

You can listen to the sermon here.

Great Column by Ann Coulter

2011-08-26T17:26:00.000-04:00

A FB friend alerted me to this column by Ann Coulter posted on her website a couple of days ago: "The Flash Mob Method of Scientific Inquiry." I don't always agree with Ann, and certainly her rhetoric can be a little over-the-top, but she nails it in this column. It has been frustrating and perplexing to see the ignorance surrounding evolution on full display in the media the last several years. I believe Ann is right about Chris Matthews, namely that he doesn't have a clue what evolution really is. He's not alone. This is the case with the vast majority of those who cling to this false theory and use it as a litmus test to determine whether or not political candidates are "intelligent" enough to stand for office. The game is played thusly: Evolution is treated as an irrefutable, scientific fact and anyone who will not acknowledge it as such is ridiculed as an ignorant, crazy person. Bill Maher has been playing this game for years.

But, Ann reveals in this column the inconvenient truth that is cleverly hidden like the dirty little secret it is by those who play the game, namely that they have no clue what they're talking about. That's why, as Ann reveals, you never hear them actually arguing their case. They simply declare anyone who does not believe in the Darwinian theory of evolution crazy, and move on, as if their declaration settles the matter. It's a neat game they play, and everyone should easily see right through it and recognize it as nothing more than a game, but sadly many do not. In much the same way that Hollywood has managed to change the American mindset regarding homosexuality by making sure to represent homosexuals in the story-lines of virtually every show produced the last several years, giving the impression that the percentage of homosexuals in our society is far greater than it actually is (studies show that it is still less than 3% of our population), and implying that it is nothing more than an acceptable, alternative lifestyle, the liberal politicians, media personnel, celebrities, and academics, have managed to convince many (if not, most) Americans that evolution is fact, not theory, without even attempting to provide arguments or "facts" to back up their claim. It's all rather amazing to behold, really.

It reminds me of the encounter I had with a college science professor many years ago. She kept referring to the theory of evolution as if it was an unquestionable fact. I kept reminding her that it was a theory, not a fact. After a few weeks of me getting on her nerves, she asked to speak to me privately after class one day. We went to her office and had a conversation that I doubt I'll ever forget, since, during the course of our conversation, she made it clear that she really had no clue what the theory of evolution is. She had never read Darwin's, "The Origin of Species," couldn't recount the different laws of thermodynamics, had trouble articulating the difference between micro- and macro-evolution, and just outright butchered Darwin's position on natural selection. At that time, having been a passionate student of the Creation vs. Evolution debate, which involved reading many books from both sides of the aisle (I even made the painful trek through Darwin's "Origin"), it was clear that I knew a ton more about evolution than she did. How she managed to get a degree and find herself teaching science at the college level is a mystery. In any event, when it became clear to her that she was not just dealing with some religious kook, but with someone who had studied this matter intensely, she ended our conversation rather abruptly. But, she also did back off on the comments she made in class and never gave me a problem again. So, at least something came of it. :)

Anyway, the only reason I include that little trip down memory lane is because I do believe it relates to the point Ann makes in her column. The dirty little secret about evolution is that the ignorance runs even deeper than the game played by popular liberals in the media - it is found in academia as well. And, I don't base this simply on the single encounter with the college professor shared above, but on what I have seen and heard from elementary and high school teachers, and other college profs, over the years. Many (if not, most) who end up teaching Darwin's theory of evolution do not really know and understand what it is. My theory for why this is the case is simple: They are not taught Darwin's actual theory of evolution, but an abridged and edited version of it. And my theory for why this is the case is simple, too: Scientists have long known that Darwin was wrong on many points. That's the dirtiest of the dirty little secrets on this issue, dirtier than the ignorant game-playing we see everywhere today. In fact, as Ann also rightly notes in her column, the fact is that, according to Darwin himself, his theory should be completely cast aside, for he himself made clear that if future scientific discovery proved certain aspects of his theory false, the whole theory should be canned.

Thus, the inconvenient truth for those who continue to ignorantly cling to Darwinism is that science has proven the theory false. That's also the irony in the ignorant game-playing being done. Those playing the game do so in the attempt to reveal the ignorance and craziness of their opponents when, in reality, their blind, ignorant adherence to a theory they do not understand, which their "god," named "science," has proven false, is truly ignorant and, I might add, a little on the crazy side. As Ann notes: "If Darwin were able to come back today and peer through a modern microscope to see the inner workings of a cell, he would instantly abandon his own theory."

This is most certainly true. A single cell is so complex (containing an intricate machine with precise gears, etc.) that we do not possess the math to calculate the odds of it coming into existence by chance. In fact, it is quite appropriate to say that it would be impossible for a single cell to develop by chance, given what science has revealed to us, which really leaves us with two choices: 1) There is a Creator, or 2) Aliens from a distant universe sent living cells to Earth way back when. Of course, if you opt for the second choice, you are left to try to explain how it is that that Alien civilization came into existence. But, hey, at least you will avoid being labeled ignorant and crazy for believing that there is an Almighty Creator responsible for the origin of all things (Oh, the ignorance and craziness of such a radical belief!). Or, you could opt for the third choice with the vast majority of liberals today, which is really not a viable choice given what science has revealed to us - just ignore the evidence and go on pretending like what has been proven false is fact and label everyone who believes otherwise ignorant and crazy. If you're adamant enough about it, you might even get your own TV show, after all! Reminds me of this:

A Preview of My Sermon for this Sunday . . .

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Latest Lutheran Satire Vids . . .

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"Your rejection stings like the venom of a thousand demons" - Hilarious!

On Vacation

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No, not me. I just returned last week from a wonderful, two-week vacation, which began with our annual "Messer Weekend" at our home with family and friends, included a trip down to "Almost Heaven" West Virginia to visit my kin, and was rounded off by camping with friends several days at Jackson's "Greenwood Acres Family Campground." Fun times and very refreshing - didn't open my laptop the whole time (almost :)!

The vacation to which I'm referring here is the vacation from church discipline the LCMS has been enjoying for a great many years. Seriously, when is the last time a clergy member of the LCMS was removed from the clergy roster for false teaching? Is that even possible today, with the convoluted dispute resolution and dissent processes currently in place? Does anyone even know how all that stuff works anymore?

I honestly cannot recall hearing about any rostered clergy member in the LCMS being removed for false teaching in the past few decades. I mean, I know of many cases of rostered clergy being removed or placed on restricted status for other reasons (immoral life, pastor is too Lutheran for the congregation, etc.), but I know of no cases where the reason for removal has been false teaching (even though some removals are advertised as such).

And this is certainly not because there aren't false teachers on the clergy roster of the LCMS. There are. And no one has to go "heresy hunting" to find them. They just speak out loudly and publicly - and proudly.

The most recent example of this is the public proclamation of Dr. Matthew Becker, an LCMS pastor, who serves as an associate professor at Valparaiso University and as vacancy pastor at a congregation in that area. Dr. Becker has been publicly advocating for the ordination of women for some time now. He has written articles about this, blogged about it, and entered discussions on the topic in various forums to present his views. He has even made it known that he teaches his students that Scripture does not forbid the ordination of women and boasts of changing many minds over the years. Additionally, he has also boldly declared that he is in agreement with the ELCA theologians who signed their social statement on sexuality, which led to the 2009 decision to allow for active homosexuals in a committed relationship to be ordained and serve as pastors.

Some time ago, a brother LCMS pastor, after attempting to call Dr. Becker to repentance for his false views, filed charges against him with his District President. According to Dr. Becker, those charges were dropped, because Dr. Becker has filed an official dissent with the CTCR (Commission on Theology and Church Relations) of the LCMS on the topic of women's ordination, and the dissent process must be allowed to play itself out before charges against him could be filed (or something like that).

Meanwhile, I guess it's okey-dokey for Dr. Becker to continue to spew forth his false teachings around the blogosphere and in the classroom. That he has filed an official dissent makes him untouchable and protects him from discipline, evidently. One would think that a rostered clergy member of the LCMS in dissent would be told that he could not speak publicly against the position of the LCMS on the matter until the issue was settled. I mean, if a brother pastor cannot bring him up on charges of false teaching while the dissent is in place, it seems reasonable, not to mention fair, that the dissenting pastor should be ordered to hush up about things until his dissent is answered.

But, this whole matter just brings to light the real problem that plagues our synod, namely that we simply don't practice church discipline any longer. In fact, those who lament this reality and call for a return to faithful church discipline are labeled "radicals" and "heresy hunters" and "purists." They are accused of wanting to "purge" the synod of everyone that doesn't believe exactly as they do in their own, self-conceived "purity cult."

This, too, was evidenced in recent discussions around the blogosphere where Dr. Becker was making his false teachings known publicly. The LCMS forbids the ordination of women, based on the clear Word of God (just like the vast majority of Christendom, by the way). The issue has been studied and debated. A decision has been reached. We do not ordain women, not because women are inferior to men or somehow incapable of performing the functions of the pastoral office, but simply because God has said "No" to this in His Word, and call us crazy and kooky, but we still believe, teach, and confess that Holy Scripture is the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God, and the sole source and norm of Christian doctrine and practice.

So, it should not be surprising that, when an LCMS pastor comes along publicly advocating for the ordination of women, other LCMS pastors and laity state that he should either leave our fellowship and join up with others (like the ELCA), who have abandoned God's Word and the confession of the Church for 2,000 years on this (and other) issues, or be removed from our clergy roster if he refuses to leave. And yet, those who opined in this non-surprising way during recent discussions were ridiculed and chastised by other LCMS pastors and laity, as if they were nothing but rude, obnoxious, unloving people for even suggesting the idea that an LCMS pastor, who publicly teaches false doctrine and refuses to be called to repentance for doing so, should either leave or be removed.

How long will the LCMS lounge around in beach chairs, taking a vacation from church discipline? Like many others, I am hopeful that the upcoming Koinonia Project will have positive results in addressing many of the issues which divide our synod. But, I am worried that those positive results will not come if we get bogged down in addressing issues that have already been decided among us, and if we do not make it clear that those who are in opposition on decided issues cannot remain in our fellowship. In other words, we do not need to add the topic of women's ordination to the list of things to be discussed and decided. That has been discussed and decided already. It's a non-issue. Those who disagree should be called to repentance. And, if they will not repent, they should leave of their own volition to seek fellowship elsewhere where their false teachings will be embraced or be removed from our clergy roster.

I wonder if there is anything an LCMS pastor could teach publicly that would result in his removal from our clergy roster. I mean, if a well-known and outspoken LCMS pastor/professor can publicly teach false doctrine and boast of leading many others away from the truth without suffering any repercussions, what hope is there of preventing an average parish pastor of teaching falsely about any number of doctrines and leading many astray? Of course, we're supposed to have a system in place to prevent this very thing from happening. We elect District Presidents and Circuit Counselors, who are supposed to serve as Ecclesiastical Supervisors. They are, according to the LCMS Constitution, supposed to oversee the doctrine and practice of the pastors and congregations under their purview, visiting those pastors and congregations to make sure their doctrine and practice is in line with Holy Scripture and our Lutheran Confessions. But, would anyone honestly argue that this is what actually happens in practice? I've been a pastor for over six years and have never been visited by my District President or Circuit Counselor to ensure that the doctrine and practice where I serve is in line with what we Lutherans believe, teach, confess, and practice. I'm betting that the vast majority of my brother LCMS pastors around the country would reveal the same. The only time most LCMS pastors will hear from their District Presidents or Circuit Counselors is if members of the congregations they serve bring to their attention that there is conflict and strife in their congregations. Thus, our District Presidents and Circuit Counselors really serve not as Ecclesiastical Supervisors, but as Conflict Resolution Specialists. And, sadly, when they are invoked to deal with conflict within a congregation, doctrine and practice often take a back seat to pragmatics in the attempt to solve the conflict.

Thus, we deny in practice what we affirm on paper (which can be said about a great many things among us). We talk a good game about church discipline, but do not walk the talk. The end result is madness, where each LCMS pastor can teach and do what is right in his own eyes, much as things were in the time of the Judges. And, as long as we remain on our convenient vacation from church discipline in our synod, there will be no advance toward the sort of unity and peace the vast majority of us covet. As I said, I share the hope of many that the Koinonia Project will have positive results among us, but when false teachers among us are allowed to openly and publicly put forth their false teachings without any repercussions, and when those who call for repercussions are ridiculed as crazy people, the hope I have is diminished. And, if filing an official dissent with our CTCR means that one can boldly spout forth his false teachings for all the world to see without fear, as if his official dissent makes him untouchable, well, our problems run even deeper than I had imagined.

It's time to wake up from our slumber and come back from our vacation, which, of course, means that I must be a "radical, heresy-hunting, unloving, purist." Maybe so. But, then, the same would have to be said of our Lutheran forefathers, who were not big fans of having false teaching going unchecked among them. So, I'll happily accept being called names and ridiculed with my fathers in the faith, just as I'm happy to be called names and ridiculed by the world and many who claim to be Christians for my adherence to God's Word on the topic of women's ordination. It's expected, after all. Jesus told us that we'd be hated. He also warned us to beware of false prophets. And, we've been told ahead of time in His Word that, in the last days, a great apostasy would come, during which many would turn away from the truth to follow after myths that would scratch their itching ears, and that many would call what is evil, good, and what is good, evil - and all that. So, you know, "Here I stand." I'm a Lutheran, after all.

Issues, Etc. Pastors' Roundtable on Luke 5:1-11

2011-07-21T23:15:00.003-04:00

I had the privilege of joining Pr. Timothy Landskroener and host, Pr. Todd Wilken, on Issues, Etc. this afternoon for a Pastors' Roundtable on Luke 5:1-11 (the Holy Gospel appointed for this Sunday in the Historic Lectionary).

I love this text. Here, our Lord Jesus Christ shows us how He will establish, and bring people into, His eternal kingdom, namely by the Holy Gospel as it is preached in its purity and administered according to His institution via the Holy Sacraments. No gimmicks or fads. No need for creativity or imagination. No enticing bait or fancy lures. Just the "net" of His Holy Gospel cast out into the "sea" of the world to catch "fish" (sinners) and bring them into His "boat" (Church). And He will do the casting of this "net" through the men He calls and ordains into the Office of the Holy Ministry, like Peter and the sons of Zebedee, who will serve in His stead and by His command, preaching repentance and the forgiveness of sins in His Name, baptizing, catechizing, and feeding His lambs. It's a pretty straight-forward evangelism program, really. I say we go with it! :)

You can listen to the Pastor's Roundtable below or click here.

Pres. Harrison's Sermon at New Missionary Sending Service

2011-07-20T17:21:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite blogs . . .

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is Concordian Sisters of Perpetual Partuition. I think I was first alerted to this blog by Pr. Weedon on his blog a few years back, and I have been an enthusiastic follower ever since, checking in often to hear the musings of the faithful and talented ladies there, whose posts are always intriguing and thought-provoking, and put forward in what I believe to be some of the best and imaginative writing to be found among Lutheran bloggers, artfully combining wit and humor with a seriousness and reverence for the topics upon which they delve. It really is a wonderful blog and I highly recommend that you add it to your reading list.

Plus, it was on this wonderful blog that one of my favorite blog posts of all-time was posted back in February, which I include in full here for your reading pleasure. The way the ever-talented Rebekah tells the tale of her attempt to complete the seemingly mundane task of taking out the trash on this particular occasion is pure genius - poetic, creative, skillful, and absolutely hilarious! There are a plethora of posts on the more serious side of things I could include as a sample of the posting there, but I'm going with this one, since, as I said, it's one of my favorite blog posts of all-time. :)

And that's how it is

Many nights ago, I had a trash bag full of trash. EVER so full of trash. Trash largely of a nature of which we have spoken here before; namely, the trash of others which they are unable to trash. We will call it "füdtrash," received as it was in such vast quantity as to prohibit its total consumption or quartering. Warm was this füdtrash, and squishy.

Excepting one year of our married life, my husband and I have not taken trash to the corner in a marital trash can like a proper man and wife but rather have shared a dumpster with other families and/or institutions. This night occurred not in that year of propriety. Excepting occasional exigent trips to dumpsters, my husband takes out the trash like a proper man, but again, we speak not of a night of propriety. There were reasons for this: a long day of physical labor on his part, an overstuffing of trash bags on my part for which I did not wish to be reprimanded again, the loathing of Wifekind to ask Mankind to take out the trash.

This reprimandible overstuffing found my feeble self dragging my füdtrash along the ground from dwelling to dumpster. It found me propping my warm, overstuffed füdtrash against the dumpster while I opened the lid. It found me swinging my squishy füdtrash back and forth, putting that momentum paragraph from ninth grade science and the more memorable thingy on my teacher's desk to good use. It found me mustering strength for a final heave. It found my füdtrash arcing promisingly, then embarrassingly evacuating itself out the bottom of the misused bag all over the ground.

Alas. Alas.

Shared dumpster. Traffic in vicinity of shared dumpster guaranteed in morning (barring certain eschatological events, which history now shows did not occur). Ground thickly covered in warm füdtrash and distinctive, incriminating personal items. Basic human decency. My path was clear.

Thus did I run back to my dwelling and return to the scene of my crime with a plethora of bags. Bags for my hands, bags for my füdtrash, bags for my bags. And in the dark night, I felt along the ground for my trash. I gathered my trash to me. I picked up the fluttering Tootsie Roll wrappers and the greasy junk mail, the overnight diaper and the pineapple top, the off-brand Kleenices stiff with their ministry and the off-brand Gladware that broke when it fell out of my overstuffed freezer. Most of all, I gathered up my warm füdtrash. Out of the grass did I rake up with baggéd fingers my reconstituted potato flakes, my quivering gravy. Under the quarter moon did I gather my trash even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings. I put my trash in new bags, and did toss these understuffed bags easily into the dumpster. Verily, they floated above me like jellyfish on the wing.

My amiable consort, missing me at last, called to me from our dwelling, but I assured him all was well. I found a hose, and hooked it up, and sprayed the lingering füdtrash into a more considerate arrangement for the morning's sure traffic. I closed the dumpster. I walked home.

And through it all my heart quickened not, neither did my nose burn; yea, my soul was at peace: for no child wept, and no child tugged at me, and no child whined, and no child bickered, and no child needed to be nursed, and no child bled, and no child painted another's sweater, and no child frolicked in the litter box, and no child profaned his trousers, and no child consumed an ink cartridge, for every child slept and no child knew. Wherefore I devoted myself wholeheartedly to the task and completed it well and satisfactorily, free of panic, wrath, or interruption; and I went to sleep at once and in good cheer.

In Memoriam + Georgia Spindler (6/17/1922 - 6/30/2011) +

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A post a couple weeks past due. We said goodbye for now to a dear sister in Christ and Charter Member of our congregation, Georgia Spindler, a couple of weeks ago. Georgia was called home by our Lord on June 30 peacefully and quietly in her room. Her health had been deteriorating for the past year, as her heart was weakening and she was placed on full-time oxygen. But, that didn't slow this amazing woman down much. She remained active in many ways at the nursing home in which she lived (Masonic Pathways here in Alma), volunteering her time to help with mail delivery, assist in the library, and participate in the many functions held daily there (basket-weaving, bingo, and other games/activities). She really was quite an amazing woman.

But, the most amazing thing about Georgia was her steadfast faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, which was always on full display whenever I had the privilege of visiting this dear saint. No matter how she felt, no matter how poor her health, she was always uplifted in spirit, and always made it known how blessed she was by our Lord. She wasn't able to attend church for the past couple of years, which was hard for her, since she had been attending Divine Service regularly for so many years, so she really looked forward to having Word and Sacrament brought to her, and it was always a blessing for me to do so.

I regret the fact that I wasn't able to bring these blessed means of grace to Georgia and visit with her one last time before her departure. Knowing that I was going on vacation the following week, I tried to catch up with Georgia a few times in the week leading up to that. I spoke with her on the phone the Thursday before she was called home, and she told me that she wasn't feeling well and asked me to call on her again at the beginning of the next week. I stopped by her room on that Monday, but she wasn't in, and I called several times on Tuesday and Wednesday, but got no answer. I was worried about her, thinking maybe she had been admitted to the hospital and I just hadn't been notified yet, so I called the hospital on Thursday morning, but she wasn't there. So, I called her room again that morning, but still no answer. Before leaving that afternoon for vacation, I sent an email to our elders, letting them know that I hadn't been able to reach Georgia and asking them to check in on her and let her know that I would catch up with her upon my return. One of our elders, Terry, called me and told me that he had been able to catch up with her and pay her a visit on Monday and that, while she seemed a little weaker than normal, she seemed to be doing well. So, I decided to take one more stab at catching up with her before leaving town.

When I got to the nursing home and went to the elevator to go up to her room, I about had a heart attack when I saw her name posted on the "Dearly Missed" bulletin board posted by that elevator. I couldn't believe it. I was informed that she had died sometime that morning, probably around 11:30 a.m. I wasn't the only one shocked by her sudden departure. The nurse from her floor told me that everyone was a little taken aback. Georgia seemed just fine that morning, following her normal routine, going to breakfast, doing some of her volunteer activities, before heading back to her room to rest before lunch. Little did anyone know that she would be graciously falling asleep in our Lord that morning. And while I regret that I wasn't able to visit with her one last time, I am eternally thankful to our Lord for taking our dear sister to be where He is so quickly, quietly, and peacefully. He is good! His steadfast love and mercy endure forever!

Georgia will be dearly missed. She was one of the sweetest ladies I have ever been blessed to know. Her steadfast faith was an inspiration to all who knew her. She knew that her Redeemer lives and was fully confident that He would call her home in His way and in His time. And so He did.

+ Rest eternal, grant Georgia, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon her! +

After talking with the Funeral Home director handling the arrangements for Georgia, I headed over the the cottage to spend time with family over the weekend of the 4th, but spent time there preparing for Georgia's funeral service and the sermon I would preach. We held her funeral at Peace on Tuesday, July 5, and we were thrilled to see so many more than we anticipated attend. It was truly a most blessed day, as we mourned the departure of our dear sister, but celebrated the life she now lives in heaven, resting with all the saints until the Day of our Lord's Glorious Return.

Here is the sermon I preached (you can listen to audio of the sermon here). The Hymn of the Day was "I Know that My Redeemer Lives," which was one of Georgia's favorites:

IN MEMORIAM
+ Georgia H. Spindler (6/17/22 - 6/30/11) +
5 July Anno + Domini 2011

"Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled”
John 14:1-6

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

"Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives!”

Dear family and friends and brothers and sisters in Christ of Georgia, our dearly departed sister in Christ, it is that sentence which gave Georgia the sweet joy by which she lived her life in this vale of tears; the sweet joy that was obvious to those blessed to know her; the sweet joy felt by those blessed to spend time in her presence. Georgia knew that her Redeemer lives.

And because Georgia knew the sweet joy of this sweetest of sentences, our Lord Jesus Christ speaks the joy of another very sweet sentence to you who mourn Georgia's departure this morning: "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Our Lord Jesus sets these words before you this morning to bring you joy in the midst of your sorrow, for these words are His sure and certain pledge - His guarantee, His promise - that He prepares a place in His Father's House for all who believe in Him, for all who know Him as their Living Redeemer, and that, at the appointed time, He does come and take them to Himself, that where He is they may be also. Our Lord is faithful to His promises. He never lies. He always comes through. And so we can be absolutely certain that this past Thursday morning He took our beloved Georgia home to the place He had prepared for her in His Father's house, and that she is now with our Lord and all the saints who preceded her and all the holy angels in heaven, experiencing unknowable bliss, peace, and comfort.

What makes us so sure of this is that Georgia confessed her faith in Jesus Christ in word and deed. She was baptized into this faith on November 11, 1952. She was confirmed in this faith on December 15, 1953. She was sustained in this faith throughout her earthly pilgrimage right up to the end by the ongoing reception of our Lord's Word delivered via preaching, the liturgy, and the Holy Sacrament of our Lord's Body and Blood. And this faith, given to Georgia as a blessed gift from above, was on full display for all to see. I highly doubt that anyone could possibly come to know Georgia without also coming to know that she was a Christian, who placed her trust in our Lord Jesus Christ.

I say this, dear friends, because I want to make vividly clear what Georgia herself would want me to make vividly clear, namely that she is now in heaven not because she was a sweet person who lived a good life, but solely because she had faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Georgia would have you hear our Lord's words this morning, exhorting you to believe in Him and to know that no one comes to the Father except through Him.

She would have you know that she was a sinner who needed a Savior. Georgia was quick to point this out to those who would praise her for her kind and gentle demeanor, her sweet and loving heart. I remember a visit I had with her a couple of years ago. As I was getting ready to leave, I hugged her and told her that she was one of the sweetest persons I had ever been blessed to know, to which she responded with a smile, "Well, I guess you need to get to know me a little better, Pastor. I am a poor, miserable sinner, as I confessed to you a little bit ago before receiving the Lord's Supper.” "Nevertheless,” I said, "I'm sticking with my assessment. You are a sweetheart,” which was meant by the quick-witted response: "And I'm sticking with mine, that I am a poor, miserable sinner.”

I'm still sticking with my assessment: Georgia was one of the sweetest persons I have ever been blessed to know. But, her assessment of herself was right as well. She was a poor, miserable sinner, just like you and me. That's why we commit her body to the ground today. She was infected with the disease of sin, an infection that she inherited upon conception, an infection she was born with, the same infection every human being inherits upon conception and is born with, ever since our first parents, Adam and Eve, fell into sin in the Garden of Eden. And that infection leads to death, for as it is written, "The wages of sin is death.” It seems almost out of place to say this when speaking of someone as sweet as Georgia, but the reality is that she died because she was a sinner, even as there is no escaping that reality for any of us here. We are all sinners and we will all die. The casket at the front of the nave this morning serves as a powerful object lesson for us; a stark reminder of the reality we all face as sinners.

But, the burning flame of the Paschal Candle by the casket reminds us of another reality, namely that the death we will all endure because of sin has lost its sting. For that flame symbolizes the Light of the World, our Lord Jesus Christ, who came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary to live the perfect, sinless life we can't live, and to go to the Cross to suffer and die in our place, to pay the price in full for all of our sins with His holy and precious blood. And we know that our Redeemer was victorious over sin, death, and the devil, because He rose from the tomb on the third day. Our Redeemer lives! What sweet joy this sentence gives! Sweet joy because death has been swallowed up in victory. Death has lost its sting for we who believe in Jesus Christ. The One who lived, died, and rose for us declares, "I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.”

Let not your hearts be troubled, dear friends. Georgia believed in Jesus. Even though she has died, she lives on, not just in our thoughts and memories or in our hearts, and not in some imaginary "better place” we need to create for ourselves to make her departure from us less painful, but her spirit lives on - really lives on - in heaven, where she rests with all the saints and waits with them and all the holy angels for the Day of our Lord's glorious return, when her body which we commit to the ground today will be raised, together will the bodies of all believers, incorruptible and imperishable to dwell with our Lord in His eternal kingdom, where there will be no more pain, no more tears, no more suffering, no more mourning, for there will be no more sin, but only perfect peace, comfort, and joy - eternal life in body and spirit the way our Lord intended when He first spoke our universe into existence and formed us from the dust of the earth.

This is why we don't mourn like those who have no hope. We mourn, to be sure. We will certainly miss Georgia. We have, and will, shed tears over her departure. There is no shame in that. Jesus wept over the death of His friend, Lazarus, and it's okay for us to weep over the death of our loved ones and friends, too. Thus, when our Lord says, "Let not your hearts be troubled,” He is not saying, "Don't be sad, don't cry, don't mourn,” but rather, "Don't be sad and cry and mourn like those who have no hope. Georgia is Mine. She was gifted with faith to believe in Me. She lives. I have taken her to be with Me. Believe it, and be comforted in your time of sorrow.”

That would serve as a fine ending to my sermon this morning, and I'm sure Georgia would be thrilled if I ended there. She once told me, "When this old ticker of mine finally stops working and I die, please don't blather on about me when you preach at my funeral. Just preach about Jesus.” But, I would be remiss not to mention a few things about our dearly departed sister. And, besides, I'm really not violating Georgia's wishes in doing so, since it is only because she was gifted with faith in Jesus that these things are worth mentioning.

Things like the fact that she and her husband, Emil, were Charter Members of our congregation, both of whom served Peace actively and faithfully in a variety of ways until each was called home by our Lord. Georgia played an instrumental role in the formation of our Ladies' Guild and used her time and talents to serve that Guild faithfully for as long as her body allowed her to do so. She served as secretary of our congregation for a time, served on the Altar Guild for many years, and remained loyal to the congregation she helped found, by the grace of our Lord, through both the bad times and the good times, which are par for the course with every congregation within the Church Militant, this side of heaven.

Georgia loved to serve. She was a certified Braille Transcriber, and loved to help the blind and those with impaired vision. She was very active in the St. Louis Library over the years, which not only stemmed from her love to serve, but from her passion for reading. Boy did Georgia love to read. She read the Bible regularly and faithfully, along with Portals of Prayer and other devotional literature, but she also always had a stack of books she was reading whenever I visited her. Her love of books and reading continued right up to the end, as she continued to help with the library at the Masonic Home, even after she was on oxygen full-time.

That's one of the things that always impressed me about Georgia, that she remained active till the end, helping with the library and mail delivery and in other ways at the Masonic Home. She considered the fact that she was able to do these things as a genuine blessing from our Lord, and most certainly they were.

Another impressive thing about Georgia was the love that she had for her family. She didn't have children of her own, but she loved and remained close to her nieces and nephews and their families. I doubt I ever had a visit with Georgia when she failed to mention her nieces and nephews and what they and their families were up to. She loved you all very much and greatly appreciated the fact that you stayed in touch with her and checked in on her.

As I said, mentioning these things - and many other things could be mentioned, like Georgia's love of knitting, golf, bowling, fishing, camping, and much else - these things are a testimony to the faith Georgia had in her Lord Jesus. That faith is by far the most impressive thing I was blessed to behold. I noticed that faith right away in Georgia and it was always on full display whenever I was blessed to be in her presence. It is that faith which allowed her to get through the pain and difficulty of having Emil called home by our Lord on Christmas Day in 2004. I remember my first visit with Georgia, when she was still living in the apartment at Masonic that she and Emil were living in when he died, and how she spoke of his death with full assurance and confidence that he had gone home to the Lord and that she would see him again. And what joy she is surely now experiencing, having been reunited with Emil and with other family and friends who preceded her in death.

And that, dear friends, is how Georgia would have you view her departure. She has gone home to our Lord. She was ready for this. She knew the day would come and she was not the least bit afraid of it, because she trusted in our Lord's promises. The same promises that are for you. You are sinners, all of you, but you have been redeemed by our Lord Jesus Christ. Repent, and believe in Him. Cling to Him as your Savior and I guarantee you that you will see Georgia again.

"Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives!”

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

My First "Call Off" in Six Years

2011-07-18T19:56:00.000-04:00

Well, almost six years . . . next Sunday, July 24, will be my 6th Anniversary of my Ordination and Installation as Pastor of Peace Lutheran Church. There have been times during those six years that I didn't feel well on Sunday mornings, and a few of those times I felt like "death warmed over" and would have liked nothing more than to crawl back into bed, but I always managed to get to Church and conduct the Divine Service . . . until yesterday.

I drove home from the campground (we were having our Peace Camping Weekend) Saturday night, took a shower, and passed out. Got a good night's rest and woke up around 7:00 a.m. not feeling so well and with my right eye swollen shut. Still, I was bound and determined not to let this get the best of me. I'd just have to lead the Service with one eye. But, after practicing my sermon a few times, my head just started aching something fierce and I felt nauseous. So, about 8:00 a.m., I called Miguel, who would be serving as elder, and broke the news to him that I wasn't going to be able to make it. He was a real trooper. I sent him my sermon and the prayers, and we walked through the Service, noting which parts would be omitted and such. He told me not to worry about it and that he was happy to cover things. And, from what I've heard from those who have sent me well wishes is that he did a fabulous job. So great to have elders like him to count on in a crunch like this.

Anyway, the reason for the illness and swollen eye is poison ivy. I got under our deck last Monday to pull weeds and just laid right down in the stuff, I guess. I put sweats and a sweatshirt on, and wore gloves, but it still got me - and got me good. It didn't start coming out until Thursday night, but I had felt sick (soreness in the right side of my throat and headaches) for a few days prior. I just thought it was my tonsils acting up, but it was the poison ivy working its way through me, which finally started appearing Thursday. It is all up and down the right side of my body, which was the side I was laying on under the deck while pulling weeds. Talk about itchy! But, I would have been fine had it not gotten on my face. It is not fun at all waking up with an eye swollen shut. And, it remained swollen shut all day yesterday and was still that way this morning. So, my wife ordered me to go to the doctor. I went this afternoon and the doc told me that it was one of the worst cases of poison ivy she had seen in a long time, and that it was good that I came in, since it's dangerous to have it on your face and around your eye. She gave me a steriod shot and prescriptions for steriod pills and antibiotics, and just a few hours later, my eye is already feeling much better. I can see out of it again!

Next year, there will be no crawling under the deck for me. I'm thinking lots of Round Up will be in order! :)

A few pics of my ugly, disfigured mug:


This is what I looked like on Sunday morning.

Still no improvement this morning.

Just 4 hours after the steroid shot - steroid shots are cool! :)

Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel

2011-07-13T23:26:00.000-04:00

So, I heard some buzz about this book and purchased it last October. But, it sat on my bookshelf unopened until last week when I took it with me over to the cottage and finally cracked it open. I could hardly put the thing down and finished it a couple of days later. What a fun, intriguing read!

Ray Keating has created a unique and memorable character in Pr. Stephen Grant, who is an ex-CIA agent turned LCMS pastor, and the story he weaves together in this book is both wildly entertaining and thought-provoking. Adventure, politics, theology, humor, temptation, suspense, romance - this book has it all, and then some. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it from beginning to end, and look forward to future adventures with Pr. Stephen Grant.

If you're looking for a fun read that will not only entertain you, but also give you much to ponder, this is it. I love the fact that Pr. Grant serves St. Mary's Lutheran Church, and that the LCMS President in the book is named Harrison Piepkorn (things that make you go, "hmmm"). And, I really enjoy Keating's style of writing, especially the way he has the characters in the book interact with each other, which makes the reader feel like he's part of that interaction, and the way he lets us in on what's going through Pr. Grant's mind throughout the book, which provide for some of the most humorous, but oh so true, moments. I'd say more, but you'll just have to read if for yourself. :)

So, give it a read, friends. You won't be disappointed. You can order it here or here.

Hey, this would be a great book for members of a congregation to read and then discuss together - hint, hint! :) Maybe a certain congregation could even use this book to launch the book club they keep talking about starting someday.

A UCC "Flash Eucharist"

2011-07-13T13:50:00.002-04:00

And Jesus wept.

One year ago today . . .

2011-07-13T00:45:00.000-04:00

Still get emotional when I watch this.

The Latest Lutheran Satire Vids . . .

2011-07-11T11:59:00.000-04:00

Pres. Harrison on Church Art . . .

2011-06-28T00:33:00.000-04:00

at Historic Trinity in Detroit.

Clever Church Signs

2011-06-28T00:30:00.000-04:00

Congrats, Pastor Schian!

2011-06-27T01:06:00.000-04:00

This afternoon (yesterday afternoon, now), I had the privilege of attending the Ordination of Aaron Schian into the Office of the Holy Ministry, which took place at Immanuel, Frankentrost, where I did my vicarage. Great to be back at 'Trost for the day and visit with some dear friends on this most blessed occasion! Pastor Schian served as Crucifer for my Ordination/Installation and Pastor Mark Loest, who serves at 'Trost and was my Vicarage Supervisor, ordained me into the Office of the Holy Ministry, as he also did Pastor Schian today. It was wonderful to be able to participate in the laying on of hands today as our Lord sent another laborer to work in His vineyard. Pastor Schian received the Divine Call to serve as pastor of Zion Lutheran Church and School in Owego, NY, where he will be Installed on August 7. I am confident that the saints in Owego will be well served by their new pastor and pray our Lord's richest blessings upon Pastor Schian as he begins his service there in August. Some pics of the occasion:

New Members at Peace

2011-06-21T22:58:00.000-04:00

This past Sunday, we were blessed to welcome two new members into our fellowship, as Gabriel and Amy Blair were brought in via the Rite of Confirmation during Divine Service. These two were an absolute pleasure to work with throughout the catechetical process - diligent in their studies and always bringing lots of questions with them each week. Pastors love lots of questions, by the way - just not those infamous "quick questions" five minutes before Divine Service is to begin. :) Anyway, I couldn't be more thrilled that we have now welcomed Gabe and Amy into our church family, although I am going to miss our Mondays together. :(

On our last Monday together (June 13), Amy came in concerned about the baptism she had received years ago. In the process of filling out the informational paperwork and Affirmation of Faith, she paid a visit to the website of the congregation where she was baptized and didn't like what she saw there at all. Turns out, her concerns were justified, as she had been baptized in a Oneness Pentecostal congregation that doesn't believe in the Holy Trinity, but "in one God, eternally existent in three personalities, identified by the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." They believe that the Trinitarian view of the Godhead is a pagan invention of the early church and adhere to the ancient heresies of Modalism, Monarchianism, and a touch of Arianism. They are not Christians, but a cult, much like Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, etc. Anyway, after we took some time to research this and found out that Amy had not received a Christian Baptism, I filled the font, got vested, and baptized Amy in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, per her request, with myself and Gabe bearing witness to the work of our Lord in rebirthing her with water and the Spirit. Then, we publicly recognized the Holy Baptism at the beginning of the Divine Service on Sunday and the two of them were Confirmed later in the same Service. A pretty eventful last catechetical session, to say the least, but blessed beyond measure, to be sure.

Some pics of our newest members:

The Blair Family (Gabe, Amy, Gabe Jr., and the girls, Savannah and Farrah, who were Baptized this year at Easter Vigil)

Gifts: Compact TLSB's with names imprinted from our Ladies' Guild, and a wall crucifix to hang in their home.

On Lutheran Fathers - The Latest Lutheran Satire video

2011-06-21T08:22:00.002-04:00

I'm a Roman Catholic?

2011-06-21T08:16:00.000-04:00

I received an email last week from a Lutheran layman who accused me of being a Roman Catholic. The basis for his accusation were some comments I made regarding the Holy Sacrament of our Lord's Body and Blood in a recent thread over at BJS. Evidently, if one believes that the Body and Blood of our Lord are Present at the moment of consecration, and that His Body and Blood remain Present until what has been consecrated has been consumed, one is a Roman Catholic.

Not only that, but those of us who masquerade as Lutherans, but who are really Roman Catholics at heart, are responsible for all the problems in the LCMS. I think that's just a little much, actually. I mean, surely we pretend-Lutheran-Roman-Catholics-in-disguise are not to blame for all the problems. But, whatever.

Here is the accusation:

Reverend Messer,
I am greatly disturbed by the many pastors like you in our synod today who are obviously Roman Catholic, but not honest enough to admit it and leave. Your recent comments about the Lord's Supper on the Steadfast site show that you definitely hold a Roman Catholic, and not a Lutheran, view of the Supper. Roman Catholics believe that the bread and wine are immediately changed into Christ's body and blood at the priest's consecration, not Lutherans. Roman Catholics elevate and genuflect at the consecration, not Lutherans. Roman Catholics believe that Christ's body and blood remain after the distribution, not Lutherans. I wonder what they are teaching at our seminaries these days, because there seem to be a lot of young guys like you coming out with Roman Catholic beliefs, rather than Lutheran beliefs. That's a real shame. I feel sorry for the members of your congregation who are being served by a pastor who follows the doctrines of the Antichrist. Why don't you, and all those other closet Roman Catholics in our synod, do us Lutherans a favor and go join up with the Pope and his church, since you love his teachings? You papistical pastors are responsible for all the problems in our synod. Please stop spreading your venom among Lutherans and leave!!!

First of all, this layman never heard me say that I believe that the bread and wine are "changed into" Christ's Body and Blood "at the priest's consecration." Contrary to his false accusations, I am a Lutheran. I do not adhere to the doctrine of Transubstantiation. I also do not adhere to the belief that the priest's/pastor's words affect the consecration, as if the power to "change" the bread/wine into Christ's Body/Blood resides in the priest/pastor. Rather, I believe, teach, and confess, with all Lutherans, that the Body and Blood of Christ are sacramentally united to the bread and wine when Christ Himself speaks His Word at the consecration. When our Lord Jesus Christ says, through the pastor, "This Is My Body; This Is My Blood," the bread and wine are His Body and Blood. He says it. They are. Lutherans do not delve into philosophical attempts to explain the mystery of this sacramental union. We simply confess that the bread and wine, consecrated by Christ, are His Body and Blood given to us Christians to eat and to drink for the forgiveness of our sins.

Secondly, because, as a Lutheran, I believe that when Christ speaks His Word over the bread and wine, His Body and Blood are Present, yes, I do, as the celebrant, elevate and genuflect. By doing so, I confess that what I elevate and kneel before is Christ Himself. I am not holding up mere bread, but the Body of Christ. That is not mere wine in the chalice I elevate, but the Blood of the Lamb. What I hold in my hands, and what lies upon the holy altar after the consecration, IS the very Body and Blood of Christ, and I believe it is good, right, and salutary to kneel before my Lord and Savior in worship and adoration. Likewise, when I face the congregation, holding the Body and Blood of Christ in my hands, and say, "The Peace of the Lord be with you always," I am confessing that the Prince of Peace Himself, our Lord Jesus Christ, has been faithful to His promise to "be with us always," since He is, right then and there, with us in His very Body and Blood. When the congregation responds, "Amen" (so glad we did away with the "And also with you" at this point), they are confessing, "Yes, this is so; the Peace of the Lord, Jesus Christ, our Savior, is with us here and now in His very Body and Blood." Then, immediately following this, the congregation joins in praying to our Present Lord for mercy and peace by singing the Agnus Dei ("O Christ, Thou Lamb of God that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy on us . . ."). I'm pretty sure that all of this is most assuredly in line with what we Lutherans believe, teach, confess, and practice.

Thirdly, I have no word from our Lord telling me that His Body and Blood do not remain sacramentally united to the consecrated bread and wine after the Distribution. For this reason, the Church has historically treated what remains of Christ's Body and Blood (commonly referred to with the Latin word, "reliquae") with great reverence and respect. It was common in the early church to reserve some of the reliquae in order to take Christ's Body and Blood to the sick and shut-in (St. Justin, Martyr, for instance, says, ". . . and there is a distribution [of Christ's Body and Blood] to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons."). Another practice throughout history in the Church has been to reserve the reliquae against the next Communion, but such reservation was practiced reverently, the reliquae being reserved in a fitting receptacle and never mixed in with unconsecrated bread and wine. And still another faithful practice in the Church has been to consume what remains immediately following the Distribution, in order to avoid any possible scandal which might arise with what remains of our Lord's Body and Blood.

That third practice is the one Dr. Luther himself advised and the one I follow. After everyone present in the Divine Service has partaken, I consume what remains and reverently cleanse the sacramental vessels, so that there remains nothing left of our Lord's Body and Blood to deal with after the Service. I believe this is the safest and wisest practice, but as I have pointed out several times over the years in debates regarding what to do with the reliquae, it is not a widely held practice in our synod today. The vast majority of LCMS pastors and congregations practice some form of reservation, many of which I find less than salutary (e.g. storing consecrated hosts in a jar in the sacristy cabinet; mixing consecrated with unconsecrated hosts, as if there is no difference between them; putting consecrated hosts/bread in a bag and storing in the freezer; throwing used individual cups with remnants of Christ's Blood in the garbage; pouring consecrated wine down the drain; I've even heard of the practice of throwing consecrated hosts on the ground outside to feed the birds).

With less than salutary practices of reservation or disposal like these, it is understandable how Lutheran laypeople would develop the belief that what remains after the Distribution is not Christ's Body and Blood. But, again, where is the word of the Lord which says so? Also, it must be pointed out that it would seem odd for Dr. Luther to give the advice to consume what remains if what remains is nothing but bread and wine. If that was the case, who cares what we do with it? Throw it away or feed it to the birds or put it back in the jar with unconsecrated hosts. But, Dr. Luther was an "Is means Is" kind of fella, like all good Lutherans, and so advised that we deal with the reliquae as Christ's Body and Blood, which is what it "Is." It must be further pointed out that our own Lutheran Altar Guild manuals, right down to the present day, implore us to deal with the reliquae in a reverent and respectful manner, as if we are dealing with Christ's Body and Blood. We are advised to either consume what remains or to reserve reverently in a fitting receptacle and never to mix consecrated with unconsecrated hosts. And, if we're not going to consume what remains of Christ's Blood, the advice is to reverently pour what remains on the ground. Oh, and our Altar Guild manuals also advise us never to use plastic, throw-away individual cups for Distribution of Christ's Blood, not only because these tend to lead to the abuse of throwing remnants of Christ's Blood in the garbage, but also because they are not fitting vessels to carry our Lord's Blood. The advice is to employ the chalice, but that if you are going to use individual cups, they should be glass and should be reverently cleansed after the Distribution. But, I digress.

Now, it never fails that when this debate is initiated among Lutherans, some will point to the "usage clause" in FC X and try to make the claim that here we confess that the Body and Blood of Christ are only Present during the Distribution within the Divine Service, as if the point of the "usage clause" there is to nail down a specific time-frame of our Lord's Sacramental Presence. But, that is hardly the case. What we are confessing against in FC X is the abuse of consecrating for the sole purpose of adoration, as the Roman Catholics are wont to do by housing consecrated hosts in a tabernacle or monstrance purely for Eucharistic Adoration or to be paraded around in Corpus Christi parades, and not for Distribution. We say, "No!" to that. Our Lord did not institute the Sacrament of His Body and Blood for that purpose, but to be given to us Christians to eat and to drink for the forgiveness of our sins. But, to try to use the "usage clause" in FC X to argue for a specific time-frame of our Lord's Sacramental Presence is an exercise in futility, since our Lutheran forefathers are in no way addressing that in this article.

What really is at play here is the error of Receptionism, which is an error to which many unknowing Lutherans adhere, believing that the Body and Blood of our Lord are not Present until they eat and drink, and only remains Present until the last person present in the Divine Service has eaten and drunk. But, Lutherans have always believed, taught, confessed, believed, and practiced that the Body and Blood of our Lord is Present the moment He speaks His Word over the elements and remains so until it is all consumed. To call me, or any other Lutheran, a Roman Catholic for confessing this is to misunderstand what Lutherans believe.

Fourthly, what I learned at seminary was what Lutherans believe, teach, confess, and practice, and this in contrast to what other Christians believe, teach, confess, and practice, other Christians including Roman Catholics.

Fifthly, I have four children, ranging from the ages of 21 to 14, so I'm not exactly sure the whole "young guy" thing applies to me, but I appreciate the sentiment.

Sixthly, I do often feel sorry for the members of the congregation I serve, since I am a wretched sinner prone to make many mistakes and completely unworthy of the Office to which I have been called and ordained, but not because I follow the doctrines of the Antichrist.

Seventhly, I cannot follow this layman's advice and join the Pope and his church because I vehemently reject many of the doctrines taught by the Pope and his church, since, well, I am a Lutheran.

Eighthly, I reject the notion that I am a "papistical pastor," but even were that true, I highly doubt that pastors like me are responsible for "all the errors in our synod." As I said above, that's a bit much, methinks.

Ninthly, if what I believe, teach, confess, and practice is "venom," then I am wholly committed to spreading that "venom" for as long as our Lord grants me the ability to serve. Of course, what this layman calls "venom," I simply refer to as Lutheranism and, in true Lutheran fashion, state: "Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me!"

Now, where did I leave my rosary? I need to locate it so that I can say my morning prayers to our Holy Mother. :)

Xp Men: First Class

2011-06-12T21:52:00.000-04:00

Introducing Mr. Oblivious

2011-06-12T21:47:00.002-04:00

The Original John Calvin

2011-06-05T14:58:00.000-04:00

"I'm a Calvinist; I'm certain about everything . . . except if Jesus died for me." :)