Today we welcome over 200 folks to our annual conference here in Naperville, Illinois. Welcome travelers and those who may be tracking us on these posts on line. Norm, Rev. Scheer, Rev. May, Rev. Henrickson, and I will all be … Continue reading
President Harrison has just sent out a link to the latest edition of the LCMS Missions magazine. You can download the pdf here. There are three great things, actually four, about the magazine. First, notice the title. It doesn’t use that … Continue reading
We have had some incredible banquet speeches at the BJS Annual Conference but this year may take the cake, that is if you ask the speaker himself. We have had an address by President Harrison, sung theology parodies by Charlie … Continue reading
I just got back from three weeks of preaching and teaching in East Africa. I met and talked with several Bishops, pastors, other church workers and laymen. Here are 10 things I learned. Some of them are encouraging and some … Continue reading
I found the note in the picture on my chair when I got to church the other day. It is from my Principal and Assistant Principal. It was attached to an ad for some goofy spiritualist speaking at some local … Continue reading
In honor of Rev. James May, the Director of Lutherans in Africa (LIA) coming to the BJS conference this year, at one of our “No Pietists Allowed” parties we will be serving international beers. When I was over in Africa … Continue reading
There are three things that I see need to be done to move forward with the Matthew Becker case and in the following order. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the matter in the comment section below. President … Continue reading
2.15 Expulsion of a District President or Officer from Membership in the Synod 2.15.1 The action to commence expulsion of a district president or an officer of the Synod from membership in the Synod is the sole responsibility of the President … Continue reading
Progress is not the sole property of free-thinkers unteathered to Scripture like Matthew Becker or out of the traitional/liturgical box church planners like the 5/2 group. Confessional Lutherans are also progressive and I have proof. My own parish and the … Continue reading
I am not talking about voters’ assemblies. I am not talking about the true visible church of God on earth. I am not talking about the proper distinction of Law and Gospel although in one way or another all of … Continue reading
The attached video is part of a presentation by Ian Morgan Cron at the Five Two Wiki conference this fall. It has the feel of a youth convention. Here is a tweet on the video clip on the Five Two web page:
There is something incredibly beautiful in chanting “shalom”
Continue readingThe following is from an email I just received. This looks like a really great service to pastors and those laity who want to take a look. Providing valuable resources for the clergy and laypeople of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod … Continue reading
The 2015 BJS Conference cuisine has just been announced. The two day conference will include all the usuals (manly man breakfast, Chicago pizza banquet, complimentary snacks for the road, the infamous no pietists allowed parties, etc.) served with the usual … Continue reading
Why do people put Face Book blogs up on the internet and then delete comments that they don’t like? I guess it is their prerogative since it is their page but it smacks of fear and propaganda. It is peculiarly … Continue reading
I completed the D Min program at Concordia Theological Seminary a few years back and it was one of the highlights of my pastoral career. They have recently revamped the program and it looks great. I cannot recommend it highly … Continue reading
In the Gospel reading for this week in the one year series Jesus says “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” In a parallel passage in Luke 11:29-32 Jesus says “An evil and adulterous generation looks for … Continue reading
So you don’t think I am just a bomb-lobbing curmudgeon, I thought I would offer a few thoughts by way of solution to the CUS problem I identified in a post the other day. Since starting BJS a few years … Continue reading
The sprawling headline across the top of the most recent Reporter (November 2014), the official newspaper of the LCMS, brags “CUS Enrollment Hits Record 36,250 Still Climbing after 22 Years.” What do you suppose my 86 year old mother in … Continue reading
Comment #50 over on the Five Plus Two Makes Three post caught my eye. I think it is worth posting for all to read. It is from a BJS reader named Vanessa. (This is the same Vanessa who authored the … Continue reading
Rev. Chris Rosebrough is the founder and moderator of Pirate Christian Radio. He is a sharp witted and sharp thinking Lutheran. He has his own story to tell about how the 5/2 Network folks are deleting comments on their blogs … Continue reading
The 5/2 editors are deleting comments on their blogs that they apparently don’t like. (You can find these blogs at the Five Two Facebook page.) A couple of our writers have posted comments asking questions about some of the 5/2 … Continue reading
Don’t write off entrepreneurs in the church. I know some great churchy entrepreneurs such as Todd Wilken (Issues, Etc.), my partner in ministry here at Bethany, Jonathan Fisk (Worldview Everlasting), Bryan Wolfmueller (radio, publishing, comedy, etc.), and even Matt Harrison … Continue reading
In a post yesterday Martin Noland quoted John Hannah asserting that an aversion to Roman Catholicism is what makes LCMS’ers want to look like Evangelicals. I am sure that is a part of it but I think it is a … Continue reading
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hamel, Illinois dedicated its restored sanctuary on Sunday. It was devastated months ago by a fire in the church basement. The smoke from that fire ruined the sanctuary. (You can see some pictures of the restored … Continue reading
A few months ago I complained that most of the email coming out of synod and district was weighted toward the mercy end of our denominational theme of “witness, mercy and life together.” I was pleased to get a mass … Continue reading