Preachrblog

Per FoxNews (ironically): Bob Edgar, the general secretary of the National Council of Churches, asked Baptists to walk together “in the footsteps of Jesus” and address the challenges of “fear, fundamentalism, and FOX News.” Gee, I thought our struggle was against "Sin, Death, and the power of the Devil"

The Girl Is Dead, The Mourners Weep Tune: Komm, Gott Schoepfer (“Creator Spirit, Heavenly Dove” Hymn # 156 from Lutheran Worship) The girl is dead, the mourners weep, But Jesus says, “She only sleeps.” Tenderly takes her by the hand, “Talitha Koum!” our Lord commands, A widow’s son, his funeral dirge, With Jesus’ foll'wers come to merge, The coffin touched, by Christ’s own hand, “I say to you, arise, young man!” When Lazarus, entombed for days, The Lord said, “Take the stone away” His pow’r o’er death, he leaves no doubt, To Lazarus, Christ says, “Come out!” As Sunday comes at break of dawn, The mourners think he’s dead and gone, But lo, he’s risen, he’s alive! And now he lives, no more to die! And at the font, Old Adam drowns, Christ’s seal is placed upon our brows, As Word and water cleanse all sins, Our life eternal there begins. Someday the trumpet blast will sound, And all the vault of heav’n resound, As Christ commands, once more to rise, And takes us with him to the skies. ©...

"The Lord Slept Peacefully at Sea" Tune: Tallis' Canon (“All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night” Hymn # 484 from Lutheran Worship) Based on Mark 4:35-41 The Lord Slept Peacefully at Sea, When his disciples made the plea, “O, Teacher, can’t you see, we’ll drown?” As wind and wave crashed o’er the bow. Then Jesus rose and spoke his will, To wind and wave, “Be Quiet! Still!” His fearful foll’wers stood amazed, As Jesus asked, “Have you no faith?” O Lord, when swamped by sin and death, We call on you with anxious breath, And bid you waken to our prayer, Calm us by your true presence there. All praise to him who calms the storms, Who loves, forgives, renews, reforms, Who slumbered once in death’s cold sleep, But rose to quicken us, indeed. © Thomas E. Chryst, 2006.

While doing some research on Luther as a favor to a friend, I came across the Roman Catholic site "New Advent" (of which many are already aware), and I found this interesting passage (below) in its entry on Martin Luther . The part I bolded, I think, is actually a fair articulation of Lutheranism (though not complete, of course). Read the whole entry if you want a good headache. Or, for a completely Christ-less treatment of their diagnosis of Luther ( and a total migraine) read the entry on scrupulosity . Of course this self-willed positiveness and hypochondriac asceticism, as usually happens in cases of morbidly scrupulous natures, found no relief in the sacraments. His general confessions at Erfurt and Rome did not touch the root of the evil. His whole being was wrought up to such an acute tension that he actually regretted his parents were not dead, that he might avail himself of the facilities Rome afforded to save them from purgatory . For religion's sake he was re...

Presentation of the Augsburg Confession (June 25th, 2006) Romans 10:5-17 “Heart, Mouth, Feet, Ears” Heart, Mouth, Feet, Ears. Perhaps a strange title for a sermon. But in our reading from Romans 10, Paul touches on all these parts of our bodies, in their various functions. And it all has to do with the good news of Jesus Christ, in whom we believe. Today we also commemorate the “Presentation of the Augsburg Confession”. On June 25th, 1530, the teachings of the Lutheran Church were first publicly confessed in this historic document. I suppose most of us have never read the Augsburg Confession. Maybe you haven’t even heard of it. But it is foundational to our identity as Lutheran Christians, as its teachings give a true and clear summary of what scripture teaches. For instance, “[our churches] teach that men cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works, but are freely justified for Christ's sake, through faith, when they believe that they are receiv...

This one's just for fun... What if the Bible were used for "reality TV" show ideas? We might see.... REALITY programming? The Bachelor: (in Australia, “The Bridegroom”) Roses are doled out left and right as our Bachelor explains – “They are all part of ‘the Bride’ – the men too!” Fear Factor: Angel Gabriel as guest host, but loses his job after continually encouraging “Fear Not!” Next Week: Firey Furnace Challenge. Average Joe: A Tax Collector, A Fisherman and a Zealot compete for top honors. Twist at the end. Last will be first. The Biggest Loser: St. Paul makes his case: beaten, stoned, imprisoned, “thorn in the flesh”. Oh wait, this is about losing weight??? Joe Millionaire: Afterlife episode set in “Abraham’s Bosom”, special guest Lazarus. See how it ends! Trading Spouses: Will the “She’s my sister” line work a 3rd time? Find out in this week’s episode. Canaanite Idol: There are many “Idols”, but don’t be fooled! Go for the real thing. The Appren...

Uh oh. Another mainline protestant body with a really bad idea. Per FoxNews : "BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The divine Trinity — "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" — could also be known as "Mother, Child and Womb" or "Rock, Redeemer, Friend" at some Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) services under an action Monday by the church's national assembly." What's interesting to me is that "naming someone" is a sign of your authority over them. God called the light "day", and the dark "night". Adam named the animals (and woman, by the way). Parents name their children. Jesus was named by - only by God himself (through the angel)! So what does it say when man (or the PCA) decides to re-name God? I'm sorry, I thought GOD got to name himself. Maybe they can make a little extra money for the parish by auctioning off the naming rights to God for a year. "I baptize you in the name of Citibank, E-Harmony, and Starbucks!"...

I just had an unusual Instant Messenger (IM) conversation with someone who contacted me out of the blue. Read our brief exchange below, and tell me, how would you have answered? I'm not sure I gave the best or the worst, but I think it's worth discussing: candlelightman4: dose your church except gay im lookin for a church Preachrboy: what do you mean candlelightman4: sorry im new to area candlelightman4: im agay man Preachrboy: we believe active homosexuality is against the teaching of the Bible candlelightman4: ok thanks Preachrboy: no problem candlelightman4: i just wonded thanks god bless candlelightman4: sorry to bother you Preachrboy: no bother candlelightman4: have agreat day Preachrboy: you too candlelightman4: thanks

Pentecost 2 – (June 18th, 2006) Mark 2:23-28 “On the Sabbath…” I. Introduction – “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you.” These words from our Old Testament reading, which we have come to know as the 3rd commandment, form the backdrop for our Gospel reading from Mark 2. There Jesus discusses with the Pharisees, the application of the command – and the reason the Sabbath day was given. The word “Sabbath” literally means, “Seventh”. But it has come to mean also a “day of rest”. As we consider this in light of our own observance of the Sabbath, perhaps we can ask three fundamental questions about this holy day. The Sabbath, “When is it?”, “Why is it?” and “WHO is it?” II. When is it? -Creation and the first Sabbath To understand the Sabbath day, we must go back to creation itself. In the first chapters of Genesis we read how God created the Heavens and the Earth, and everything in them, including man and woman, by his Word, in just 6 days. “On ...

10 years ago Brenda and I were joined in Holy Marriage at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Greenwich, CT. Life has taken us many places since then, but God has blessed us both greatly along the way. And she is still the love of my life! "A wife of noble character is her husband's crown" Pr. 12:4a

Was busy adding the Lutheran Blog Directory to the Wikipedia page on Lutheranism , when I found this interesting passage regarding the LCMS: "There are internal struggles within the LCMS, but this, in turn, is prompting what is considered by some a new reformation within that body." Reformation? Really?

Not much to report today. I left the convention early because I am suffering from a major head-cold or something. I also have little voice yet, and was not a voting delegate anyway. So I may or may not go tomorrow, but I will post here what I learn when I learn it. The only resolution worth mentioning was the overwhelming passage of the "Ablaze! goals" for the district. 1.5 million is our "share" now, I suppose. Oh, and some more of those resolutions made it back out of Omnibus, particularly the ones relating to the objectionable CCM opinions (the ones never dealt with by the last Synod convention). The floor committee returned them with some substantial changes from the overture's original intent. We will see what happens....

Today was the opening of our convention here in the South Wisconsin District. The following were elected: Rev. John Wille, District President 1st VP Rev. Randy Raasch 2nd VP Rev. Fred Bischoff 3rd VP Rev. Jeff Meyer (son of retiring DP Ron Meyer) 4th VP Rev. Larry Myers (defeated sitting 1st VP Jack Struve by a narrow margin- about 2 votes?) Motions to remove overtures from omnibus resolution have begun. So far, only the overture on homosexuality was sucessfully removed, and sent back to the floor committee. More attempts will certainly follow. Other than the schedule running about an hour over, and some minor difficulties with the electronic voting (vis-a-vis the number of delegates registered), not much has happened yet. I will report again tomorrow.

Lutheran Carnival XXV is up at Journalistic Jargon.

The Day of Pentecost – (June 4th 2006) Ezekiel 37:1-14 “Can These Bones Live?” Ezekiel the prophet spoke to a people of Israel who must have felt without hope. They had lost the battle for Jerusalem. They were removed from their homeland, and living in exile. The temple had been destroyed. It must have seemed hopeless. As a nation, they were as good as dead. As God’s chosen people – it seemed pretty hopeless that God would still keep his promises – for them to prosper, and live in that land, and especially that the seed of Abraham would bless all nations. Ezekiel must have had a hard time preaching and teaching those hopeless people. But as God shows Ezekiel the vision of the dry bones, and Ezekiel retells the story – we see that even the most hopeless situation is not beyond the power of our God in Jesus Christ, who speaks his powerful word, and whose spirit brings life to the dead. Perhaps you know someone who has had a “near death experience”. The heart stops, the line goes flat, an...

Pentecost Sunday, (Whitsunday), in the Year of our Lord 1985. The short one on the left with the bad haircut is yours truly. The fine pastor who confirmed this youngster is the Rev. Walter Schoenfuhs, of St. James Lutheran Church in Overlea, Maryland. As we confirm 8 young people at Grace Lutheran in Racine, Wisconsin tomorrow, I pray the Lord will keep them in their baptismal faith. And perhaps, someday, post an embarassing picture like this one in fond reminiscence.

My good friend and internet "pen-pal" St. James the Hoosier , has completed a project in the twilight of his vicarage. Here's a photo of the mural he painted in his "spare time" there. You can go to his blog and comment, where he also has it posted. For such artistic talent to be wasted on a vicar... ah what a shame.....