tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978485750390455025.post5056982509761251813..comments2023-05-25T07:17:05.918-04:00Comments on Abide in My Word: In case you haven't heard by now . . .Rev. Thomas C. Messer, SSPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13740553600700598394noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978485750390455025.post-37740551172632218272011-04-27T14:56:22.353-04:002011-04-27T14:56:22.353-04:00Pastor Messer - What was great for you was a true ...Pastor Messer - What was great for you was a true blessing for me. No distance is too great when you know Christ is waiting for you at the end of your journey. The Service of the Word, the Seven Words of Christ from the Cross, the Litany, the Procession of the Sacred Cross and to finish, the Service of the Sacrament brings more joy than a Lutheran should have on Good Friday. Then, to join in koinonia with members of your congregation afterwards was real fellowship. My thanks to you and your congregation - all praise, honor and glory to our risen Lord and Savior.<br />He is Risen! Alleluia.<br />DennisDennis Peskeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10453626099945639267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978485750390455025.post-8274850529514097672011-04-27T12:18:26.746-04:002011-04-27T12:18:26.746-04:00@Dennis: Most excellently stated, my friend! I s...@Dennis: Most excellently stated, my friend! I simply cannot help myself from making the connection between the synodical bureaucrats who plot in secret and try to hide their plans under the cover of darkness and the Jewish religious leaders and authorities who did the same when plotting and planning to do away with our Lord. Of course, making that connection means that I am a most grievous sinner, guilty of violating the 8th Commandment for failing to put the "best construction" on the actions of these synodical bureaucrats. Be that as it may, the connection is there. To plot and plan in secret is not the way of our Lord and we, His disciples. One wonders what would have happened with this had someone from ULC not stumbled upon the BOD Minutes of the MNS District in late March and learned of the existence of this new, secret Task Force. Members of the ULC and CLC were promised that they would be part of any talks related to their campus ministries, but knew nothing of this new secret Task Force and their newly developed plans. Most deviously sad! Kyrie Eleison, indeed! <br /><br />Btw, it was great to have both you and Pr. Larry Wright with us for our Noon Divine Service on Good Friday.Rev. Thomas C. Messer, SSPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13740553600700598394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978485750390455025.post-14428038910165673182011-04-27T11:52:39.174-04:002011-04-27T11:52:39.174-04:00@The Renegade: I think you hit the nail most squa...@The Renegade: I think you hit the nail most squarely on the head. At the end of the day, after all the pious platitudes and urgent utterances, it comes down to whether or not one believes the Holy Word and Sacraments are capable of doing what God Himself says they do. Whenever I hear so-called "missional leaders" expressing the need for the church to change this and that in order to be more "effective" and "impactful," I am reminded of Abraham and Sarah "helping God out" by introducing Hagar into the equation - how'd that work out for them?Rev. Thomas C. Messer, SSPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13740553600700598394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978485750390455025.post-40404390177431471032011-04-27T11:40:47.621-04:002011-04-27T11:40:47.621-04:00"I have spoken openly to the world. I have s...<i>"I have spoken openly to the world. I have said nothing in secret.</i>John 18:20 This was the testimony of our Lord and Savior to Caiaphas.<br /> <br />I cringe whenever a Board or Task Force in our Synod declares <i>"In the interest of open communication and transparency"</i> followed quickly by <i><b>confidential</b> copies of the documents</i> in the same sentence.<br /><br />Open and transparent is Christ hanging on the Cross for our sins or the empty tomb on Easter Sunday; confidential is the way of the Sanhedrin operating under the cover of darkness. To twist St Paul's admonition of "decent and good order" as a justification of darkness is an affront to the Light of the World. Kyrie Eleison.<br />He is Risen! Alleluia.<br />DennisDennis Peskeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10453626099945639267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2978485750390455025.post-75046174458748199642011-04-26T22:06:30.074-04:002011-04-26T22:06:30.074-04:00Well, the very fact that there really isn't a ...Well, the very fact that there really isn't a word "missional" is plenty of indication that whatever some of these so-called leaders are doing, it isn't following the biblical guidance on the Church's mission of making disciples through baptizing and teaching to observe all Christ has commanded. It basically comes down to their unspoken but all-too-clear doubts that the Word of God is capable of doing what God says it is capable of doing, and their beliefs that it must be "enhanced" and "contextualized" to be "effective" and "impactful".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com