Preachrblog

We attended St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Kingsville. A fine church. During Pastor Wollman's sermon, my three-year-old daughter whispered to my wife, "Mommy, let's just go home. Daddy can teach us this stuff later." Kids... gotta love 'em!

14 th Sunday after Pentecost Sunday August 21 st , 2005 Matthew 16:13-20 “Secret Identity” I. Introduction – Dear Pastor Richter, Christian friends of St. John’s . Thank you for the privilege and honor of letting me share the word with you today. Of course, for our family it’s a special occasion that brings me to town, as my brother Zach and wife Nicole mark the baptism of their little one, Peyton, and her formal entrance into the kingdom of God . And though it is Peyton’s baptism that brings me here today, today I also want to share words of encouragement in the faith with all of you a message that is not just about our family, but a message for all of us in the family of Jesus Christ. I read a familiar passage from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 16: In our reading here, Jesus asks the question, “Who do men say that I am?” And the disciples give all the popular answers. But only Peter gave the right one. By the inspiration of the Holy Spir...

On vacation in Baltimore, reading the Baltimore Sun, where Benedict XVI is quoted as telling the R.C. youth in Cologne, Germany: "The happiness you are seeking, the happiness you have a right to enjoy, has a name and a face: It is Jesus of Nazareth." Happiness? You have a right to it? Well at least Jesus is the answer, not Mary, but really, is this a true statement he is making here? Happiness is Jesus? Happiness is a right? I don't think it's even in line with Roman Catholic theology, let alone the truth of Scripture. On the plus side, Fox has this blurb at the end of a story about the Pope's recent visit to a synagogue: He said it was important not to paper over differences: "I would encourage sincere and trustful dialogue between Jews and Christians, for only in this way will it be possible to arrive at a shared interpretation of disputed historical questions, and above all to make progress towards a theological evaluati...

Lutheran Carnival I has been released. Is "released" the right word? posted? published? invoked? unleashed?

Rev. Paul McCain's "Cyberbrethren" blog has a helpful summary of the ELCA Sexuality resolution from this week's convention. You can read it here.

The ubiquitous poem "Footprints in the Sand" has apparently undergone an update. I just received the following forwarded email: (my comments on this follow) FOOTPRINTS...A New Version Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together. For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace. But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns. For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling His consistently. You and Jesus are walking as true friends! This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus' are now walking precisely in His steps. Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one. This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The...

No, not the homosexuality one. This was the agreement for "Interim Eucharistic Sharing" with the United Methodist Church. As reported here , NO ONE VERBALLY OPPOSED THIS MOTION! I suppose this illustrates in another way the great divide between the ELCA and LCMS. While Missouri struggles with its understanding and application of Church Fellowship issues, ELCA has continued its march toward full-blown ecumencial relations with just about every church body it can. I guess for 94% of the ELCA delegates, it doesn't really matter whether Christ is truly present in the meal? O well, nothing new there.

Yes, and you can watch the 8 minute clip online. Read more here .

Apparently there was an extended first night voting session, in which the factions fought about the ground rules for the convention. Specifically, will a 2/3 majority be required on various resolutions? After reading this report , I'm still not sure I understand who's winning, but it sounds like it might be the pro-homosexual faction. More to come in the next few days, for sure...

"In the Land of Tyre and Sidon" Tune: Naar Mit Oie (“Come to Calvary’s Holy Mountain” # 96 form Lutheran Worship) (all) In the land of Tyre and Sidon Came a local Cannanite, Desperate now this foreign pagan, To relieve her daughter’s plight, Soon the Lord she would entreat, Falling at the Savior’s feet. (women) “Son of David, Lord have mercy, For my daughter suffers sore, As a devil has beset her, And I cannot find a cure, Help me Lord, my child now save, Cast the demon far away.” (men) “Only to the lost of Israel, Was I sent, to give them bread, Is it right to starve the children, So the dogs instead are fed?” Would the Lord send her away? What then would the woman say? (women) “Yes Lord, it is right and fitting, That the Master feeds his own, But beneath the table sitting, Dogs eat crumbs that fall from sons,” Trusting Jesus’ mercy great, So his answer she awaits. (men) He who died for all the nations, Paid his blood on Calv’ry’s tree...

Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi. The idea that your worship affects your beliefs (and vice versa). There's certainly some truth there. I would like to suggest a new Latin-esque soundbyte: Lex Hang-around-y, Lex Credendi Call it peer pressure, call it influence, whatever. I have noticed that who you hang around with also tends to affect your theology. For good... or for ill. 1) This has been true for me. a. Who I "hang" with : As I have been a pastor for 6 years now, those pastors around me have had an effect on my perspective. Not that I have essentially changed what I believe (I am still a Lutheran, I still hold to my ordination vows, the confessions, etc...). But I do think differently about theology, the LCMS, and being a pastor. b. What I read : Reading from many sources, but especially making use of the treasure of good Lutheran theology available on the internet, I have also shaped my views over the years. In fact, I probably read more now than I did in seminary. 2) This ...

Pentecost 12, August 7th, 2005 “Fear or Faith?” Matthew 14:22-33 Introduction- It’s a fearful story. Not really a ghost story, but the disciples thought it was a ghost. When Jesus came walking on the water toward their boat. They were afraid. They cried out in fear. Jesus calmed the fears. “Don’t be afraid. It’s just me!” Peter – for whatever reason we can only guess – decides he wants in on this water-walking. “If it’s really you Lord, tell me to come out there too!” Pretty fearless of him, right? Oh, it goes fine for a little while, but then Peter saw the wind, and he was… afraid… and began to sink. “Lord save me” he cries, and of course, the Lord does. And Peter’s fear is once again removed. And when they step into the boat, all of a sudden the wind dies down, the waves smooth out,, everything is peaceful, and fear is gone. Today’s Gospel puts fear in our face. And it reminds us of this problem with which we all struggle at various times, to varying degrees. Fear. But...

Lutherans and Blogging. These are a few of my favorite things. New Lutheran Carnival site sounds interesting. Check it out at: http://Lutherancarnival.blogspot.com

Youth love music. To work with kids at all in anyway is to know something about their music, and what music they are listening to and why. Often, Christian teenagers must wrestle with the question of what kind of music they will listen to, and in particular, how “Contemporary Christian Music” (CCM) fits into their mix. I’m not talking here about what music we use in worship. That’s a whole different can of worms. For now let’s just consider the music will be for our private listening enjoyment. My kids at church are often surprised when I tell them, "I don't listen to Contemporary Christian Music." When it comes to youth ministry in the LCMS, there seem to be at least two differing approaches to this. One, (what I would call the “mainstream” LCMS way of thinking) seems to be “Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater”. In other words, that CCM has a generally redeeming value, and just needs to be “Lutheranized”. Case in point, the following quotation from our sy...

St. James the Hoosier A new blog by my buddy Jim, a St. Louis Seminary student about to go on vicarage. I talked him into starting a blog, and it looks like I have created a monster. On a side note, the Lutheran Blog Directory is approaching 100 blogs listed! WOW! Maybe I will have some virtual give-away to the lucky 100th lister. Stay tuned.

"Lord Jesus Walked Upon the Waves" Tune: Steht auf, ihr Lieben Kinderlein ("How Blessed Is this Place, O Lord" -LW# 327 Based on Matthew 14:22-33   Lord Jesus walked upon the waves,  While fear shook the disciples’ nave,  “A ghost, a ghost!” the twelve did cry,  “Fear not,” he said, “For it is I!”    Then Peter spoke, “Lord if it’s true,  Then bid that I should come to you,”  The Lord said, “Come”, and Peter went-  Out of the boat made his descent.  His walk was sure, so short a time,  For Peter saw the wind was high,  He sank beneath the pounding wave,  And cried for Jesus Christ to save.  A strong hand then pulled Peter out,  A question then, “why did you doubt?”  “Oh you of little faith” said he,  His message, simply “trust in me”.  Lord at the cross you calm the wind,  You still the storm of all our sin,  And by your blood you quell our fears,  Your scarred hand wipes away our...