tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post8956911812011847670..comments2024-03-27T15:47:46.091-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: Some sobering thoughts. . .Pastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-69788792377640774332016-09-30T13:52:04.182-05:002016-09-30T13:52:04.182-05:00The LCMS needs to invest more resources evangelizi...The LCMS needs to invest more resources evangelizing Latinos living in our neighborhoods rather than going overseas to Africa to appease their conscience. Jorge Viramonteshttp://www.ylm.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-12802354236161383532016-09-21T17:36:49.194-05:002016-09-21T17:36:49.194-05:00Providing day care is essentially subsidizing peop...Providing day care is essentially subsidizing people's decision to not raise their own children. <br /><br />You write like a pagan. People understanding God and the nature of the world God created will influence 25 year olds in a way that encouraging them to leave their children will not. <br /><br />But what would I know, I only have five children ages ten and under. <br /><br />David Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11966977894876326659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-52396951012534058062016-09-21T16:09:08.587-05:002016-09-21T16:09:08.587-05:00Perhaps LCMS could do more to attract more Millenn...Perhaps LCMS could do more to attract more Millennials (the only demographic group in the prime childbearing age, 18-35) by promoting family friendly perks. Such as low cost day care, assistance in purchasing minivans and child safety seats and diapers. The Millennials aren't making a lot of money and are burdened with heavy student loan debt and many aren't even able to move out of their parents' basements. Many might like to have children but don't see it as more than a pipe dream. Old guys grumbling about birth control are not going to influence 25 year olds to reproduce. Mabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03122873995483573876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-8102799568067717782016-09-21T11:55:54.133-05:002016-09-21T11:55:54.133-05:00The Book of Common Prayer gets it right, which is ...The Book of Common Prayer gets it right, which is what we were married with:<br /><br />...duly considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained.<br /><br />First, it was ordained for the procreation of children, to be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the praise of his holy Name.<br /><br />Secondly, it was ordained for a remedy againſt sin, and to avoid fornication; that such persons as have not the gift of continency might marry, and keep themselves undefiled members of Christ’s body.<br /><br />Thirdly, it was ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort, that the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity.David Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11966977894876326659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-34751628988180467852016-09-21T11:39:19.972-05:002016-09-21T11:39:19.972-05:00I've been to many LCMS weddings where the issu...I've been to many LCMS weddings where the issue of children is brought up in the service as an "if." "If" with God's will, children are produced. And here's the rub. These young couples who are married don't have kids saying it must not be God's will. When you make child-bearing into an "if" instead of an obligation that comes with marriage, what do you expect? My idiot brother is married with no kids thinking that marriage is only about love for a spouse. I was married in the traditional Greek Orthodox Rite where the producing of children is mentioned everywhere as an integral part of what constitutes a sacrifice to one another and an embracing of God's gifts. So, the next time you complain about the LCMS in particular about lack of kids, look to your own service books and your own rites of marriage and maybe consider that there is a link.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07737698278079495810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-8341384340780082542016-09-21T09:21:03.622-05:002016-09-21T09:21:03.622-05:00White demographics are down because the bulk of th...White demographics are down because the bulk of the white population has embraced a culture of death and sterility, as evidenced by abortion and a fixation on birth control. God says children are a blessing but white Americans think now that they know better and a more affluent lifestyle is a greater blessing. Also contributing is a toleration for divorce and remarriage (arguably the one major error of the Reformation).David Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11966977894876326659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-56943393894532033932016-09-21T08:52:23.553-05:002016-09-21T08:52:23.553-05:00This article on demographics is reinforced by obse...This article on demographics is reinforced by observation. When one walks through the mall these days in many communities, you can see that the presence of white Americans is overshadowed by many other ethnic groups. So then....how long will they refer to the other groups as "minorities," when in fact the white Caucasian is rapidly being outnumbered? Now we can understand how native Americans felt when they saw an endless number of ships coming from Europe to colonize and rule what they had believed was their eternal homelands and birthright. It is a matter of demographics indeed, populations shift, new cultures arrive, and social tensions rise. These things are out of our control in many ways, and a part of God's sovereign design for the growth and existence of nations. However, today we have a weak political class of inept leadership which has no idea how to control borders and orderly immigration, and unassimilated groups who do not respect our sovereignty. While most groups do eventually assimilate peacefully, the radical Muslim elements do not, and will direct violence and terror against those who do not share their psychosis and sordid religious extremism.John Joseph Flanaganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06596324816480709495noreply@blogger.com