An Awesome Video

Man, does this bring back memories.  I wonder how many hours I wasted playing Tecmo Bowl back in the day?  It was all the rage when I was in high school.  We used to have Tecmo Bowl tournaments and play till our fingers hurt.  I've tried to describe how far video games have come to my son, who plays the latest version of Madden, but I don't think he'll ever truly get it.

Oh, and the run by Marshawn Lynch - Wow!  One of the greatest ever, especially in the playoffs!

The Gospel Is Not Enough

This video would be much mo' funny if there wasn't so much truth to it:

May 21, 2011

What, you thought the end of the world was slated for December 21, 2012? Nope! It will be May 21, 2011. Well, not exactly. On that day, the Rapture will take place. Then, for 153 days, God's Judgment will fall upon those "left behind" here on the earth. Then, after those 153 days, the universe will be destroyed with fire . . .

Here, watch this video. It will explain it all very clearly to you. I mean, all this stuff is right there in the Bible, which even tells us the exact numbers of those who will be saved and those who will be "desecrated." I can't believe I have missed all this in all my years of studying Holy Scripture. It's all so clear to me now. To think, all this time I was hung up on our Lord's statement about no one knowing the day or the hour. Silly me. Thanks for setting me straight, Prophet Camping. I know you've made predictions before this one that haven't panned out, but you really seem to have your facts straight this time.

You can read the story associated with the video here.

HT:  Fr. Alms

New Issues, Etc. Promotional Video

Michigan District Theological Conferences on Worship

A few weeks from now, the Michigan District will host the first of the three Theological Conferences on Worship they have scheduled.  You can watch a video invitation by District President Maier, and see the locations, dates, speakers, and schedule for these conferences here. 

These conferences are offshoots of the synodical conference held in January of last year to fulfill a resolution passed by our synod in convention in 2007.  I think it's a good idea for our District to have Theological Conferences on Worship, since, as Pres. Maier notes in his invitation, "there are still points of contention in how we worship."  This is most certainly true!  In the Michigan District, the largest in the LCMS, one can find just about anything that can be imagined in the worship services of her congregations, from setting up a bedroom set in the chancel to preach a Lenten sermon series on sex to High Mass, with all the smells and bells associated with it.  In the vast majority of congregations within the District that are large enough to have multiple Services each Sunday, members are offered different "types" of Services, from which they can choose, based on what they like best, to attend (e.g. Traditional Worship at 8:30 a.m., Contemporary Worship at 11:00 a.m. - some also have what they call "Blended Worship," which is supposedly a mixture of Traditional and Contemporary within the same Service).  The sad reality is that LCMS Lutherans have no idea what they're going to walk into on a Sunday morning if they are visiting one of our District's congregations and have not done a little research ahead of time.  So, yeah, having Theological Conferences on Worship in our District is a very good idea. 

However, I don't give these particular conferences much of a chance to actually address the contention about which Pres. Maier speaks.  Not when they are being organized with the idea of having us move toward A theology of worship, since that implies that we Lutherans are in search of establishing a theology of worship and do not already have one.  The synodical conference held last January was built upon the same theme:  Toward A Theology of Worship.  I wrote about that in a blog post back then, which you can read here.  After listening to all the presentations made at that conference, and speaking with several pastors and laymen who were in attendance, I think it is safe to conclude that not much was accomplished.  And I don't anticipate much being accomplished at these conferences in our District, either.  Call me a "party pooper," if you will, but when the goal is to move toward A theology of worship, as if we don't already have one, not much good can possibly be accomplished.  We should, rather, be convening to study and discuss the theology of worship we Lutherans already have, and then analyze what is being done in the realm of worship based on that theology.  That might be very productive.  As it is, the real goal of the synodical conference, and of these conferences in our District, was/is, seems to me, to develop A NEW theology of worship which accommodates a variety of theologies of worship.

But, I will go.  And I will listen and contribute.  I hope I am wrong.  Maybe some good will come of these conferences.  We'll see . . .   

Something Smells Rotten

Below is a video promo of an upcoming "sermon" series at North Point Church in Springfield, MO.

Whoopee Cushion Life Teaser from North Point Church on Vimeo

Titles for the "sermons" in this "Whoopee Cushion Life" series:

"He Who Smelt It, Dealt It"

"Pull My Finger"

"Silent But Deadly"

"Blame It on the Guy in the Elevator"

Jesus Wept!

Friday with Fisk . . . and Then Some

Bonus Time:

The Confession

Last night, I finished reading my first novel on my new Pandigital Novel that Lisa got me for Christmas.  Wasn't sure if I was going to like this new toy, since I love holding a book in my hands.  But, I have to say that it's growing on me.  I love being able to hold it in one hand and breeze through page after page.  I also love the fact that I can lay down and set it on its stand and read hands-free.  Plus, it has wifi, so I can check email and surf the net while lying on the couch - pretty cool.

"The Confession:  A Novel," written by John Grisham, was a good read.  It's about a Lutheran pastor, who has a lifelong criminal stumble into his office and confess to a murder he committed nine years ago, just days before the scheduled execution of the man the authorities wrongly convicted.  Lots of twists and turns along the way, as the pastor races with the guilty man to Texas in the hope of having him tell the truth before the authorities kill the wrong man.

All the elements one would expect from a Grisham novel:  Crime, suspense, justice, corruption, revenge, reconciliation, politics, courtroom drama, and a boat-load of colorful characters.  I could easily see this book being made into a feature film.  In fact, as I was reading it, I was picturing which actors would fit which roles as it played out on the big screen.

The only drawback:  The Lutheran pastor is not all that Lutheran, as is made evident throughout the book whenever Grisham reveals his theology.  But, that doesn't prevent it from being a good and entertaining read.   

A Little Late, but . . .

here are a couple pics of our sanctuary decorated for Christmas, as well as for the Feast Days celebrated during Christmastide:

I Couldn't Agree More . . .

with Fr. Hollywood's endorsement and promotion of Gottesdienst. 

If you do not subscribe, you simply do not know what you are missing.  This is the one periodical I receive that I can honestly say that I read from cover to cover each time it arrives. 

You should seriously consider subscribing today! 

The Most Memorable Moment of 2010

There were lots of memorable moments for me in 2010. My nephew, Max, was born, which is a tremendous blessing from our Lord and nothing less than a miracle. My daughter, Sarah, graduated with honors from Alma High School. My Spartans went 11-1 and won a Big Ten Championship (we won't talk about the Bowl Game against Alabama - that was just plain ugly!). We had three births within our congregation: Kylie, Mabel, and Abigail. The congregation I serve threw me a wonderful and surprising 5-Year Anniversary Party. My best friend and "brother from another mother," Al, was called home by our Lord. And I'm sure if I thought long enough about it, I could mention a great many other things.

But, of all the memorable moments in 2010, the most memorable for me would have to be what happened on the afternoon of July 13. Lisa and I were sitting in front of our computers, as were a great many others around our country and around the world, waiting eagerly for the election of the LCMS President to take place. And when the screen with the results popped up, showing that Rev. Matthew Harrison had won, the feeling was overwhelming - a mixture of surprise, joy, elation, and relief all bundled together. Instant tears. And listening to our new President-elect's beautiful and humble address was something I shall never forget.

This doesn't mean that I would rank the election of President Harrison higher in importance than the things I mentioned above, or any number of other things that happened in my life in the year now gone. It just means that it was one of those rare "Do you remember where you were when . . .?" occasions; one of those very surreal moments that we experience from time to time in this vale of tears.

And for those who would accuse me, and others, of placing too much importance on this, or of elevating President Harrison to some Savior-like pedestal, you might very well have a point. But, it doesn't change the way I (we) felt that day. And, having now lived for a quarter under the leadership of President Harrison and his team, I couldn't be more pleased, and I look forward to what that leadership will mean for our beloved synod in the future.

Anyway, a little trip down memory lane:

Baptism is Groovy

Of all the blessings we Lutherans could count regarding 2010, surely the weekly podcasts of the ever-energetic and unashamedly Lutheran Pr. Fisk rank right up there. I know I am one of thousands who looks forward to Greek Tuesday (even though he follows the "other" lectionary - ahem!) and Ask Da Pastor Friday. Thanks, Pr. Fisk, for taking the time to put these exceptionally educational and entertaining videos together. Keep 'em coming! We want our WE TV!

Epiphany Greetings from President Harrison

Blessed Epiphany and New Year from President Harrison from VimeoLCMS on Vimeo.

Baptized into Christ, Part 2

Yesterday, when I finally was able to get my hands on Sarah's camera to upload the pics of the Baptisms, I ran into a snag.  Every time I tried to upload the pics, it kept getting snagged on the first pic and wouldn't proceed with the uploading, or so I thought.  After a few attempts, I disconnected the camera and started playing with it, when I noticed that there was a funky icon associated with the first pic.  It finally dawned on me that this was not a pic, but a video.  Duh!  I had no clue that Samantha had used Sarah's camera to video tape the Baptisms.  That was why it was taking so long to upload the pics.  So, I connected the camera back to my laptop and started uploading again.  After a while, the video and all the pics were all on my computer.  Then, I had the idea that I would upload the video to youtube, something that I had never done before.  So, I created a youtube account and started uploading it.  Wow!  It took 10 hours for the upload to be completed.  But, it finally went through.  Here is the result:

Baptized into Christ

This past Sunday, I had the joy, privilege, and honor of baptizing my sister, Brandy, her husband, Mike, and their child, my nephew, Maximus.  The Baptisms took place Sunday afternoon, after Divine Service and Bible Study.  They had indicated their desire to be baptized and to start going to Church, which was music to my ears, and an answer to the many prayers I have uttered for them.  I recommended that we take care of getting them baptized while they were here visiting this past weekend.  After all, why delay having them receive the washing of regeneration?

They attended the Divine Service with us Sunday morning, along with my dad and my cousin, Devon.  Always a blessing to have family together in the Lord's House.  Coincidentally (or, maybe not), the sermon had much to do with the eternal benefits of being Baptized into Christ, since we were observing the Feast of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus.  After the Divine Service, Brandy and I spoke about them getting baptized after Bible Study, but I wasn't sure if they would return or not.  And when Bible Study concluded and they hadn't shown up, I thought maybe they had decided to wait.  But, as I was on my way home, they were on their way back to our church.  I actually passed them on the way, turned around, and headed back.  Sarah had texted me to let me know they were coming, but, like a dummy, I hadn't checked my phone.  Anyway, what joy that our Lord brought them to the font, washed them clean, and welcomed them into His Divine Family!

They have been Baptized into Christ.  And, I presented them with several resources to aid them in their New Life together - a copy of The Lutheran Study Bible, Luther's Small Catechism, The Lutheran Book of Prayer, God Chose You, to go with the copy of Lutheranism 101 I had given to them a while back.  I also pointed them to a congregation in their area where I know they will be well catechized, and will hear the Holy Gospel preached in its purity and have the Holy Sacraments administered according to Christ's institution.  I pray fervently that they will faithfully attend this congregation and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom they have now been joined through the Holy Sacrament of Baptism.

A few pics:

Brandy and Mike asked Sarah and me to be Max's godparents, to which we were thrilled to agree!