Category Archives: Missouri Megatrends
Boy Scouts of America and Their Open Doors
Why should it surprise us that the Boy Scouts of America have dropped their ban on openly gay scouts? For over a hundred years they thought a belief in a Supreme Being was a sufficient confession of the true God. … Continue reading
Of Heroism and Hand Grenades
On May 16, 1968 Donald E. Ballard Corpsman U.S. Navy won the Medal of Honor. His unit was ambushed. While applying a field dressing, an enemy solider tossed a grenade into his group of men. Shouting, “Grenade!” Ballard vaulted over … Continue reading
Clergy, Laity, Men and Women
Historically Lutheran’s correctly said that said there is no divine distinction between clergy and laity. The pastoral office is a divine institution, but the pastor himself is no different than a layman. He is given no indelible mark in ordination … Continue reading
He’s No Abe Lincoln
If you don’t know the history of this type of phrase Google, Yahoo, or Bing your way to Quayle-Bentsen 1988 debate. In sum, it is a famous putdown where Senator Bentsen assures Vice-President Quayle that he in fact is no … Continue reading
Not so Strange Bedfellows
What do the Boy Scouts, the military chaplaincy, women voting, and shared prayer services in times of national tragedy have in common? The world loves them and can see no reason not to be enthusiastic about them. This is Jerry’s … Continue reading
We’re Emerging but into Where, What, Whom?
The January 2013 Texas District Supplement to the Lutheran Witness trumpets the 25th annual Church Extension Fund conference in April. The keynote speaker is Dr. Leonard Sweet. He is a world renowned leader of the Emergent Church movement, and that’s … Continue reading
American Lying
“’I do not believe that any who shall be so fortunate as to be received into heaven through the atonement of our blessed Savior will be asked whether they belonged to the Presbyterian, the Methodist, the Episcopalian, the Baptist, or … Continue reading
Of Broadway Plays and Joint Prayer Services
In 1969 there was a Broadway play “in which two male homosexuals make open love onstage…” The performance beat the charge of obscenity because while the two were thus engaged they talked about Vietnam. The play met the then litmus … Continue reading
A War of Words
Do you consciously say “chairwoman” or “spokeswoman?” How about making sure you refer to him or her and always having to follow up with he and she? You could resort to what Anthony Burgess does in his book 1985. He … Continue reading
Is Living Together “just another sin”?
In light of what the LCMS Catechism says about the office of the keys, I think every lay person has a right to know whether their pastor knowingly communes those living together, i.e. committing fornication. Here’s what the LCMS says … Continue reading