tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.comments2024-03-18T12:54:19.748-05:00Pastoral MeanderingsPastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger22289125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-81289398565262786482024-03-18T10:58:09.456-05:002024-03-18T10:58:09.456-05:00Having been raised Baptist, and come through the v...Having been raised Baptist, and come through the very Calvinistic traditions of Presbyterianism, and then Reformed Baptist, I am not the typical Lutheran. The penchant for explaining everything logically (such as Christ can’t be present in the Eucharist bodily; he’s at God’s right hand…) and practically (whatever works…) is ridiculous. Maybe more Lutherans should have to attend those Protestant churches for a couple of months more faithfully than they do the Lutheran church. They could get a feel for the logic and practicality. That would cure most, hopefully, and the ones who never come back likely shouldn’t have been Lutheran to start with.Janis Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02947508427040251166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-26908311851838917952024-03-16T13:32:53.363-05:002024-03-16T13:32:53.363-05:00When we begin asking for proof texts (Where does i...When we begin asking for proof texts (Where does it say that? Who says we should?) on things indifferent, our focus is off. We want to do what makes us feel comfortable, not what teaches truth.Janis Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02947508427040251166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-4557642909002304192024-03-11T09:42:24.179-05:002024-03-11T09:42:24.179-05:00I recognize the church, which I frequented in the ...I recognize the church, which I frequented in the years 1979 to 1981, when living in London (England): St. Etheldreda, Ely Place, Hatton Gardens, London. It was the chapel of the medieval mansion of the Bishop of Ely. During Elizabeth I's reign the then Bishop of Ely was forced to make a long lease of the property to various lay magnates, including Sir Christopher Hatton and Lord North. In the early seventeenth century the palace houses the Spanish Embassy, and the chapel was its chapel. Later the neighborhood went downhill; the palace was destroyed, and the chapel was out to various uses, sacred and profane, before being purchased on behalf of the Catholic Church in 1874, and restored for Catholic worship. A bomb falling nearby during the Blitz destroyed all the window glass, which was restored in the 1950s. In a passageway near the church there is a small pub, The Old Mitre, which has occupied those premises since 1546. For more, see:<br /><br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Etheldreda%27s_Church,_London <br /><br />https://www.yeoldemitreholborn.co.uk/<br />William Tighehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09043433059401608468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-60800295665433998812024-03-11T08:54:33.851-05:002024-03-11T08:54:33.851-05:00I also am trying to make more room on my bookshelv...I also am trying to make more room on my bookshelves but for every 10 I get rid of, always by donating or passing onto friends, 12 more seem to appear. This Friday and Saturday, the nearby United Methodist church is having their annual used book sale. The people at that church are real readers, with books on all topics, from best selling novels to serious nonfiction tomes. Last year, I was going to limit myself to 3-4 books. Then a smiling woman walked up to me, handed me a large paper grocery bag and encouraged me to "Fill up this entire bag with as many books as it can hold, only $5!" <br /> MildredMabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03122873995483573876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-55994634865362130232024-03-04T06:57:43.542-06:002024-03-04T06:57:43.542-06:00"I wonder if this lack of access has some inf...<i>"I wonder if this lack of access has some influence over the rage in folks who resort to violence."</i> <br /><br />Such "folks" are typically Muslim or anti-semitic terrorists, radical leftists who want Dementiajoe to move even further to the treasonous left, Soros-paid rioters, and/or Demonicrats who lack impulse control. Sometimes, those folks are just DeepStaters intimidating American citizens or infiltrating peaceful conservative groups.Carl Vehsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00348831096001668813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-91141834326537372682024-03-02T20:08:49.316-06:002024-03-02T20:08:49.316-06:00"We churn out people with useless degrees in ...<i>"We churn out people with useless degrees in nonsensical disciplines like gender studies."</i> <br /><br />These people end up working at fast-food joints until they're replace by robots and get their student loans forgiven by a White House occupant. Some join public school boards that introduce perverted indoctrination into public schools.<br /><br />"... vo-tech for white collar professions<i>. It is this that has killed the dreams of a Christian university not simply for Valpo but for institutions of the LCMS as well. How do you finance what you cannot sell?"</i><br /><br />The Valpo Provost noted that "we have too many majors, minors, and graduate programs for the number of students and faculty that we have" and is looking at <a href="https://t.e2ma.net/webview/g32bun/8a9a26f09e8335a53b15c0ad06317119" rel="nofollow">discontinuing up to 28 such programs</a>. Looking at the many programs/degrees offered at <a href="https://www.cuw.edu/academics/index.html" rel="nofollow">CUW</a> and <a href="https://www.cuaa.edu/academics/index.html" rel="nofollow">CUAA</a>, one wonders if the pelethora of degrees affects their financial stability.<br /><br /><i>"So say goodbye to the once vaunted protections of tenure."</i> <br /><br />Tell that to CUW tenured Professor Gregory Schulz. <br /><br /><i>"In the end, even Ivy League schools know that the pool of potential undergrads gets smaller every year.</i>"<br /><br />Starting in 2025, there will be the demographic enrollment cliff that colleges and universities will face.Carl Vehsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00348831096001668813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-18641351201643057122024-02-26T12:32:40.240-06:002024-02-26T12:32:40.240-06:00On February 5-6, 2024, Francis, the talking pope,...On February 5-6, 2024, Francis, the talking pope, and his international Council of Cardinals <a href="https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/vatican-news/pope-invites-anglican-woman-bishop-council-cardinals-meeting" rel="nofollow">continue their discussion of women's role in the church</a> at the Vatican. <br /><br />Among the participants in the discussion were: <br />- Bishop Jo Bailey Wells, deputy secretary-general of the Anglican Communion; <br />- Salesian Sr. Linda Pocher, a professor of Christology and Mariology at Rome's Pontifical Faculty of Educational Sciences "Auxilium," and <br /> - Giuliva Di Berardino, a consecrated virgin and liturgist from the Diocese of Verona, Italy.<br /><br />According to the article, the Vatican has not shared details about the discussions on the role of women in the church nor the texts of presentations made at the meeting.Carl Vehsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00348831096001668813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-35713337881223382422024-02-24T11:47:43.971-06:002024-02-24T11:47:43.971-06:00Feminism is willing to kill anything that smacks o...Feminism is willing to kill anything that smacks of “The Patriarchy.” Janis Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02947508427040251166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-57588293249745107512024-02-22T10:41:55.764-06:002024-02-22T10:41:55.764-06:00Looks like Lutherans are not immune to Open Theism...Looks like Lutherans are not immune to Open Theism, or any other false doctrine men influenced by demons can cook up. Paul’s warning to keep watch over yourselves and all the flock needs heeding now more than ever.Janis Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02947508427040251166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-88050329750469547062024-02-22T06:39:06.825-06:002024-02-22T06:39:06.825-06:00"Only recently I have heard it not once but a...<i>"Only recently I have heard it not once but a dozen times. The Old Testament reference was spoken of as a reading from the Hebrew Bible."</i><br /><br />From LCMS (or other) Lutherans or frpm those in other church bodies?Carl Vehsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00348831096001668813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-29087970151769162132024-02-19T07:59:42.681-06:002024-02-19T07:59:42.681-06:00Thanks be to God that we have faithful pastors to ...Thanks be to God that we have faithful pastors to help us to understand His Word. A saved sinnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14072863590202648566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-17357944329192975692024-02-16T15:47:20.590-06:002024-02-16T15:47:20.590-06:00saw this right before this: https://www.pastormatt...saw this right before this: https://www.pastormattrichard.com/2024/02/these-hands-are-meant-to-bless-why-my.htmlNathan Rinnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13994922104672096902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-79737475193671664292024-02-13T06:38:52.468-06:002024-02-13T06:38:52.468-06:00For those perverted gaslighters, this is why we ne...For those perverted gaslighters, this is why we need to reopen insane asylums... and for such government officials, build more gallows.Carl Vehsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00348831096001668813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-82510537916527084142024-02-10T12:01:25.478-06:002024-02-10T12:01:25.478-06:00Like the XXXA, the Methodist Church of Great Brita...Like the XXXA, the Methodist Church of Great Britain has nothing to do with Christianity.Carl Vehsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00348831096001668813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-31542394639621938482024-02-09T06:44:10.083-06:002024-02-09T06:44:10.083-06:00"Maybe we all need a grand divorce in the Met...<i>"Maybe we all need a grand divorce in the Methodist style. Offer some cash and some weak institutions to those who want to erode the faith from within and let all Christians depart for groups that are consistently and authentically Christian."</i><br /><br />Because that's the severance package the New Testament Church was told to use?!?Carl Vehsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00348831096001668813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-29954775325222463992024-02-08T11:34:57.065-06:002024-02-08T11:34:57.065-06:00Pastor, be careful citing papers from MDPI. Th...Pastor, be careful citing papers from MDPI. This is one of those "research paper mills" where academics and scientists pay to have their papers published. If you are going to advise your congregation on medical matters, you would do better to use sources from respected medical journals like JAMA or The Lancet. I asked a friend who is a retired epidemiologist what he thought of MDPI and he replied that he has taught workshops for medical professionals and academics on being careful when they received spam emails, offering to publish their research papers, "for a reasonable charge." Citing a research study from MDPI does not inspire respect and confidence.Mabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03122873995483573876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-19843359383856886162024-02-08T09:25:52.675-06:002024-02-08T09:25:52.675-06:00Perceptive commentaryPerceptive commentaryPastor Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07697426056486016435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-1681597134795460692024-02-08T06:56:23.991-06:002024-02-08T06:56:23.991-06:00"A parody of ecumenism. . ."
Another me...<i>"A parody of ecumenism. . ."</i><br /><br />Another meeting of the Antichrist with fellow antichrists.<br /><br />It would have been more interesting if the article had been written about the <a href="https://reporter.lcms.org/2024/lcms-els-wels-hold-annual-informal-meeting/" rel="nofollow">Lutheran meeting</a> a couple of months ago between the leaders of the LCMS, ELS, and WELS. The three synods have been meeting annually for the past 11 years and were once in altar and pulpit fellowship, but broke apart over sixty years ago.<br /><br />A Report the group issued back in 2015 noted there would not be any formal A&P fellowship talks in the near future, given the disagreements between the church bodies concern the doctrine on the pastoral office, prayer fellowship, roles of men and women, cooperation in externals, and international church relationships.<br /><br />These were pretty much the objections raised back in the 1960s.Carl Vehsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00348831096001668813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-3138113060364973372024-02-04T20:49:26.163-06:002024-02-04T20:49:26.163-06:00Yes, I think the informing of oneself that you des...Yes, I think the informing of oneself that you describe is a pastoral responsibility (not perhaps for all pastors) -- but guiding Lutherans to be Lutheran comes ahead of it. I know you'd agree.Wurmbrandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17345523517796356674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-23761963205260173392024-01-30T14:33:21.638-06:002024-01-30T14:33:21.638-06:00“…death was always (as) a dark and unwelcome visit...“…death was always (as) a dark and unwelcome visitor,…” May I suggest that we must (not should) differentiate between our own death and causing somebody else’s. When our Lord told His Disciples on Maundy Thursday, John 14:28, “If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father,” He said something that the Church has ignored throughout its history.<br />Also, 1 Cor. 15:54-57, “54But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55“O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Is victory a “dark and unwelcome visitor.”?<br />Where we mourn, our Lord rejoices and the Gospel teaches us to rejoice. When our Lord mourns, we rejoice, as when Lazarus was raised from the dead, because we do not understand the Gospel.<br />Peace and Joy!<br />George A. Marquart <br />gamarquarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12732022122214378758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-48566553306104448922024-01-28T21:01:54.692-06:002024-01-28T21:01:54.692-06:00Lutherans often get this wrong because they sound ...Lutherans often get this wrong because they sound like Protestants. Protestants talk as if the Bible were God's message to humanity for each individual to pick up and read. I don't understand sola Scriptura that way any more. Church and Bible go indissolubly together. The Church is custodian of the canon, and She points to Scripture alone as authenticating Her message of Law and Gospel. Lutherans are not Protestants -- as the word is now used -- and the re-Lutheranizing of the Lutheran Church is needed (and, I believem is happening). We are not Roman Catholics or Orthodox who point to tradition outside the Bible to show that our doctrine is the true Faith, that is, the whole counsel of God, His Word that stands forever. We are not Protestants with a "leave a Gideon Bible in a hotel room" idea -- not to say that leaving Gideon Bibles per se is wrong as a help towards bringing people to the saving faith, which is found in Holy Church. I would be grateful for comments that show me to be wrong if I am wrong.<br /><br />Dale NelsonWurmbrandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17345523517796356674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-63816693093546014632024-01-28T13:29:06.063-06:002024-01-28T13:29:06.063-06:00"The Vatican document is pretty clear on this...<i>"The Vatican document is pretty clear on this. The blessings cannot “be performed with any clothing, gestures, or words that are proper to a wedding.”</i><br /><br />The Missouri Synod was also pretty clear in the past about the Galesburg Rule. Then came the notion of "selective fellowship" and the hairsplitting distinction of "partaking" vs "taking part" in the Lord's Supper, and the acknowledged "Once in a lifetime" exception, which now has occurred several times within my lifetime.Carl Vehsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00348831096001668813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-77046413528311090972024-01-28T09:12:00.460-06:002024-01-28T09:12:00.460-06:00It's easier for synodical conventions and admi...It's easier for synodical conventions and administrative officials to issue doctrinal slogans and phrases, especially in resolutions and videos, than it is to enforce such positions on those who claim to be in the synod but do not really mean to adhere to such doctrinal positions. <br /><br />The Synod may have passed a convention resolution against the demonic D.I.E. propaganda, but the Synod has yet to purge D.I.E. from its university campuses and, after 700+ days, force one of its universities to return a professor, who warned about D.I.E. in LCMS schools, to his teaching position from which he was wrongfully suspended.Carl Vehsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00348831096001668813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-33761531920556721972024-01-24T07:06:58.336-06:002024-01-24T07:06:58.336-06:00Not mention in your article was the reason for the...Not mention in your article was the reason for the fine.<br /><br />The Department of Education <a href="https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-office-federal-student-aid-fines-grand-canyon-university-377-million-deceiving-thousands-students" rel="nofollow">fined GCU</a> after "[a]n FSA investigation found GCU lied to more than 7,500 former and current students about the cost of its doctoral programs over several years. GCU falsely advertised a lower cost than what 98% of students ended up paying to complete certain doctoral programs."<br /><br />These extra costs these students paid totaled to more than $50 million. Using this scale, the $37.7 million fine doesn't seem too much.Carl Vehsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00348831096001668813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-45528391787062984442024-01-19T08:35:32.355-06:002024-01-19T08:35:32.355-06:00"Starting a tradition is not something you or...<i>"Starting a tradition is not something you or anyone can do."</i><br /> <br />All traditions have a beginning, that is they are started by someone at some time somewhere. Even the word "tradition" has an etymological beginning at the 14th century, from a 13th century Old French <i>tradicion</i>, and an earlier Latin <i>traditionm</i> going back to the Proto-Indo-European *<i>tra-</i>, variant of root *tere-" and <i>dare</i> "to give" (from PIE root *do- "to give").Carl Vehsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00348831096001668813noreply@blogger.com