Tyndale’s ad in the September 24, 2022 issue of WORLD for their Every Man’s Bible is one word, ”Fortitude”. ‘Fortitude’ is a manly word. Growing up boys would tease each other about their ‘intestinal fortitude’, AKA ‘guts’, or lack thereof. So with this manly, masculine word ‘fortitude’ they advertise their Every Man’s Bible with a quote of 1 Cor. 16:13. Continue reading
Even when I was in the LCMS, I thought this. What we all waked together in, what we were really a synod in more than name only, was the Concordia Health and Retirement Plans. A confessional pastor observed after I made this remark in the 1990s, “Oh, like the Roman burial societies.” Christians formed these legally because they were not church, per say. And synodical health and retirement plans aren’t church either but are they even good business? Continue reading
I’ve been on 2-year quest, odyssey really, to answer for myself if Rome still teaches ex opere operato. Based on the quote below from Rome’s official catechism of 1994, I doubt it. Continue reading
I grew up when the marks of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod were the “L’s”. Lutheran Layman’s League, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, and Aid Association for Lutherans. You saw these “L’s” and you knew you were home where, to steal from Garrison Keillor, “all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average.” I was asked recently what I thought about the above named offering from the Lutheran Hour Ministries. In a word: you know how video killed the radio star? It’s going to slaughter theology. Continue reading
If you’re going to listen to Pete Seeger’s antiwar anthem, written in 1955 but made popular in the 60’s, listen to the Kingston Trio’s 1962 version. Songfacts.com says, “Pete Seeger wrote this song as a call for peace. Continue reading
It’s baack, and you’d sooner have a poltergeist than this spirit. I’ve predicted for over 20 years that the Charismatic Movement that disrupted Christendom from circa 1965 – 1980 would be back. It was driven to the Side-Show Bob of Televangelism where it self-destructed in their opulent, decadent, and bizarre lifestyles. Then Joel Osteen picks up the mantle and succeeds by only being Pentecostal in private while preaching the health, wealth, success, and happiness that he has can be yours. But as Paul says, he seeks you only so that you will seek him all the more (Galatians 4: 17). Continue reading
Caution, disclaimer, advisory if you think there is nothing to laugh at in regards to Covid and/or politics, stop reading, now. Continue reading
The trolley problem is a thought experiment in ethics in which in a fictional scenario an onlooker has the choice to save 5 people in danger of being hit by a trolley, by diverting the trolley to kill just 1 person. The term is often used more loosely with regard to any choice that seemingly has a trade-off between what is good and what sacrifices are “acceptable,” if at all. English philosopher Philippa Foot introduced this version of the trolley problem in 1967, but philosopher Judith Thompson of MIT coined the term Trolley Problem (Merriam Webster.com/wordplay). Continue reading
I struggle to write concise blogs of my visits to other churches. Pflugerville Community Church is just like the dozen other Contemporary Worship churches I have visited. The leaders all, including the LCMS and WELS churches, address the congregation as ‘church’ not people of God, as it was in the 90’s. For example, “Good morning church.” “Let me tell you church.” And this go around I noticed the prominence of the pastor, worship leader, music minister, introducing themselves like so: “It is my privilege to be a – insert job here – at -insert church here.” They must all be dipping from the same well as they all dress, speak, and act the same. Yet all of them think of themselves as “independent” because they are non-denominational. Continue reading
For centuries, the practice among Lutherans has been to ask the sponsors on behalf of the infant to be baptized to confess the faith and renounce the devil for him. Once ordained in 1983, I used the liturgy as then TLH had it and later Lutheran Worship. The Lutheran Service Book has it likewise, but like all their other tweaks, they made it longer. I used this order a few times in the Bible Belt surrounded by active and maybe even activist, Baptist. I could not answer how my asking infants if they renounced the devil and believed in the Triune God any different from their believer’s Baptism. I couldn’t explain how that practice meshed with the Lutheran acceptance of Baptismal Regeneration. I still can’t. So for 35 or better years I have left those questions to the sponsors out of the rite. Continue reading
