This is from Hill Country Bible Church, Pflugerville, Texas webpage titled “What We Believe.” Strict agreement with these doctrines is not required for membership at HCBC; however, we affirm these beliefs as taught in Scripture and have established them as the official positions of our Church. Continue reading
You Can Have Your Catechesis
Here is my reply to all those pastors who insist on referring to their catechism class as catechesis, a term familiar virtually to no one outside the seminary, and ought to be avoided because it sounds more like a disease someone gets than a class someone gives. Continue reading
Posted in For Pastors Only
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Dale Meyer Does George Bush
Who can forget the iconic landing of President George W. Bush on an aircraft carrier ablaze with a banner proclaiming MISSION ACCOMPLISHED? Who does not now know how utterly naïve or perhaps impolitic it was? The banner referred to the 10-month deployment of that particular aircraft carrier being completed not to the Iraq war. Continue reading
Marriage and the Altar
Nope this is not about the marriage altar, but marriage and the Communion altar. If Paul can speak of marriage and really be speaking of Christ and His Church, I can speak of marriage and really be speaking about Communion. Continue reading
Visit to A Wisconsin Synod Church
Visit to A Wisconsin Synod Church
Only it wasn’t; as my April 2015 visit to a Pentecostal church was really a visit to a contemporary one, so was this. They only mentioned WELS once, and I do mean that literally. Their printed welcome says they are “affiliated with the WELS.” I thought these contemporary worship gigs were all about being seeker and user friendly, but they don’t even bother to spell out what WELS stands for let alone tell you what Wisconsin is doing in Texas or what Evangelical is doing right next to Lutheran and what does the strange word “synod” mean. Continue reading
Posted in Contemporary Worship
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Big Dogs, Little Dogs, and Cats
Rev. Clint Poppe gave a justifiably famous presentation in 2012 on the need for pastors to be barking dogs. I would – without his permission, knowledge, acquiesce, or acknowledgement – modify some of his thoughts based on church history and empirical data. Continue reading
Posted in For Anyone who dares
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No Deeper Than a Radio Gimmick; No Newer than Ben Franklin
It took me some internet searching to find the origins of “Name it; Claim it.” You have to wade through pages of Joel Osteen and others Pentecostals. As it turns out, it’s really no deeper than a radio gimmick. Continue reading
Posted in Contemporary Worship, For Pastors Only
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Luther’s View of the Fear of God
I share these notes from Albrecht Peters’ Ten Commandments. I have always been troubled by the standard, and it seems to me fascicle, distinction between fearing God in awe and in terror. Luther you will see below speaks of servile and filial fear and at times does make sharp distinctions. But in my opinion, he too saw that it wasn’t always an easy distinction to make. I would add it isn’t always a helpful one either. Continue reading
Posted in Families
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A Whiter Shade of Pale
“A Whiter Shade of Pale” was a 1967 hit by the British rock band Procol Harum. You can’t not know this song if you like classic rock. That would be like a poet lover not knowing “The Rime of the Ancient Marnier” or a techie not knowing Apple could refer to more than a fruit. Continue reading
Posted in For Pastors Only
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Letters from the Trashcan – Confessing or Pretending?
Here’s a letter I wrote to The Lutheran Witness in June 2015. They never published it or responded at least in print. They might have online and I missed it. Continue reading
Posted in Families, Missouri Megatrends
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