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Though my birth happened nearly three years after Apollo 11, I am intrigued by space flight and the moon landings.
The JFK Presidential Library is doing a real-time review of Apollo 11. Go here to follow.
Sic satis superque
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Can you believe this story?
Seriously, it sounds like something hot off the presses of The Onion.
Give her credit. She wears her theology (sic) on her sleeve.
Sic satis superque
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One of the favorite punching bags of certain faithful Lutherans is the "Brief Statement" of 1932. Yes, there are those who hold to this document as the sine qua non of what it means to be faithful. I don't know if I'd call the Brief Statement a sine qua non document, but it's quite important.
My Sunday Morning Summer Study has been going through the Brief Statement to see whether or not the LC-MS still holds to what she once held "back in the day". Some might mock me for doing such a thing. Go ahead, mock me. What we're finding out is that the Brief Statement is a fine confession of the faith and is prophetic too. For example:
22. Since it is only through the external means ordained by Him that God has promised to communicate the grace and salvation purchased by Christ, the Christian Church must not remain at home with the means of grace entrusted to it, but go into the whole world with the preaching of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments, Matt. 28: 19, 20; Mark 16:15, 16. For the same reason also the churches at home should never forget that there is no other way of winning souls for the Church and keeping them with it than the faithful and diligent use of the divinely ordained means of grace. Whatever activities do not either directly apply the Word of God or subserve such application we condemn as "new methods," unchurchly activities, which do not build, but harm, the Church.
There is no need for the Ablaze! (TM) movement (sic). Here we see what the Lutheran congregation should be doing. The Lutheran congregation doesn't need a prime directive from headquarters. The Lutheran congregation preaches the Gospel and administers the Sacraments. That's how she wins souls for the church and keeps them.
The Brief Statement is a fascinating document. It is orthodox to the core and a faithful exposition of what LC-MS Lutherans believe, teach, and confess. You won't hear me bad-mouth what the document says. You may hear me bad-mouth people who take the document too seriously or not seriously enough.
How long has it been since you read the Brief Statement?
Sic satis superque
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When I think of freedom, I think of Merle Haggard. It's time to pull out the box set and enjoy one of the greatest living country singers.
Here's one of my favorite Merle Haggard songs. It's an appropriate song for where our country is right now.
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The preaching of the Biblical faith has nothing to do with trying to prove the Bible or its claims or seeking to substantiate the geocentric theory or attempting to resolve the differences in body counts of ancient battles. The only proof the Bible has is in the witness of the Holy Spirit and the proof of faith, which is no proof at all. The only foundation of the faith is Jesus Christ. The Bible does not speak about itself, but speaks of us instead and of our God and of God acting in His Son for our salvation. We are baptized into His name. Salvation is by faith which is in Christ Jesus. These things are written so that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ and that believing we may have life through His name. The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord, and we know our faith is founded on Jesus Christ, our God and Lord. This is the joy and edifying of Christ's holy people, that Christ gives them life, establishes them on the Rock that is himself, and summons them to the obedience of faith, not to the swallowing of proofs. This is the joy and edifying of Christ's holy people, that Christ speaks the strong word: "Fear not, little flock." The crushing burden of their sin has been transferred to stronger shoulders, their enemy death has been defeated with a cross-shaped spear thrust through its bosom, and the gravestone has been rolled away to give us an eternity of celebration.
The preaching of the Mighty Word is preaching to the joy and edifying of Christ's holy people. It is Jesus Christ, the Living Word, whose impelling "Follow Me!" calls us to faith and gathers us as His own holy people. It's His promise of "Be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven" that snaps the chains of bondage. It is Christ's summons "Come forth" that breaks the power of death. The church is gathered by the Holy Spirit through the power of the Mighty Word. "I cannot by my own understanding or any power in me believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him. But the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel." The Gospel, Luther said! Not a summary of news events gleaned from the morning headlines, not a series of short stories to illustrate the power of positive thinking, not a doctrinal dissertation against the devilish prophets, but the Gospel. Through the Gospel, by the power of the Holy Spirit, comes the miracle of faith and the miracle of a gathered people. God works, God acts, God moves, God changes human hearts by the foolishness of preaching.
--The Mighty Word, p. 23
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I have four of the nine volumes of "The Preachers Workshop Series" printed by CPH in 1977. Volume one is "The Mighty Word" by Alton Wedel, erstwhile pastor of Mount Olive Church in Minneapolis, MN.
Here is how Wedel ends Chapter Four:
The sermon is one element of worship, the kerygma one means of grace. The Mighty Word is also in the liturgy, the absolution, the water of the font, the bread and wine. Word and Sacrament are mutually inclusive. They belong together. No denying it that many of our pastors and many of our people regard the liturgy, the hymns, the prayers as warm-up calisthenics for the sermon, and they see the Holy Supper as an appendage to the service four times annually, in some places following the benediction and dismissal of the hurried and the harried. There are just as many who "enjoy" the liturgy, the vestments, the ceremonial, the body language of worship, and there is something to be said for this, for Christian worship is not a "spiritual" experience alone. It involves us totally, or it does not involve us. If Muslims can remove their shoes in sacred places, Christians can at least get on their knees. There are not a few whose thing is music, some loudly screaming for the best and others just as loudly for the worst, and never the twain shall meet. But all these are elements of worship that are more than framework for the sermon, and the sermon is more than a quiet hour between the noises of the music, and the Table of the Lord is more than a thin spread of peanut butter. The Mighty Word is here. Let the preacher and the celebrant, the organist and choir, the ushers and the acolytes, the worshipers and those who hang around for other reasons - let them celebrate the Presence of the Christ as in the presence of the Christ.
---"The Mighty Word", page 31
Sic satis superque
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We should certainly be impressed by these beautiful comparisons and pictures [in Luke chapter 15], and such winsome and comforting words, so that from them we may learn to find comfort when a bad conscience and our sins accuse us. For we humans are all sinners and there isn't a one whom the devil hasn't frightened into the wilderness, nor anyone who after his baptism hasn't gone astray like a lost sheep and thus sinned against his God. Where there is sin, there the person is terrified before God. It is sin's nature to produce a frightened, discouraged spirit, troubled by disgrace and punishment. So, human reasoning, as well as the Law's teaching, forces the conclusion that God is at enmity with sinners. A heart that knows itself to be guilty naturally feels fright, turns from grace, and anticipates punishment. But at this point is where power lies, that we, against our hearts and consciences, join with Christ to say, I am a poor sinner, that I will not deny; however, I will not for that reason despair, as though God did not want me, because my Lord Jesus Christ says that a poor sinner is just like a little sheep that has lost its shepherd and gone astray. Christ will not let such an erring sheep be lost, but will look for it and carry it back to the other sheep. That is attestation that because of sin he is not about to throw us out, but will rather, with all perseverance, endeavor to rescue us from sin and restore us again to grace. Moreover, he declares that he himself, along with the angels in heaven, will rejoice when sinners come to repentance and are converted.
--House Postil, Volume 2, page 254
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I'm sick of being overweight.
The best thing that's worked for me is Weight Watchers. My wife and I are too cheap to buy into the program, so we do the best we can by counting points and exercising. I lost 25 pounds last fall on Weight Watchers, but fell off the wagon at Christmas. I've probably gained half that back.
My problem is lack of exercise. I'm lazy. I can't stand to walk in humid weather. I can't stand to exercise outside of bowling or golf. We're too cheap to join a health club. We're too cheap to buy exercise equipment.
Another problem is my sweet tooth. I love pop. Lately I've been drinking Zevia Root Beer sweetened with Stevia. It takes a couple of cans to get used to the all-natural taste. I like it and am glad our organic buying club sells it. However, I like pop too much. It's not a 12-pack a day love, but more of a 2 cans a day love. I don't consider myself a caffeine addict but I love the taste of pop. The same can be said for ice cream. We buy half-fat ice cream but I have two-plus servings a day. Not good. When summer comes I eat frozen fruit pops. That can't be much better except for the fruit I get.
Maybe I'm a candidate for The Biggest Loser, where they force you into doing things you don't want to do. I need a drill sergeant in the house to yell at me to eat right and lose weight!
A friend of mine pointed me to SparkPeople. It's free (our kind of price!!!) and helps you track what you're doing. Perhaps I'll try it.
Sic satis superque
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My congregation recently finished a unique approach to Sunday School.
The idea was born of frustration and dwindling numbers. Our Sunday School was dying a slow death. There are not many children in the congregation. The Adult Bible Study was also dwindling in numbers. Not many adults attend. Added to the problem was confirmation instruction held after Divine Service.
What to do? Combine the three classes into one big happy family! The younger children and adults sit in with the confirmands as a support system for their instruction. The adults learn a little something along the way, as do the younger children. My daughter knows the Lord's Prayer and Apostles' Creed...and she is nearly five!
Problems? Yes. We did lose one family that did not care for the approach.
Results? Quite good. The confirmands liked having adults present during the class. Many of the adults thought their attendance would be distracting. Not so. They ask good questions that get the children thinking. They also challenge the pastor to dig deeper into Scripture now and then. This approach also helps keep the adults in Scripture and the Catechism.
An extra bonus is treats! A different family signs up each week and brings food ranging from donuts and fruit to a full breakfast, not to mention the "sacrament" of hot coffee and cold juice. It's fun to see what family will bring what food and drink each week.
If your Sunday School and/or Sunday Bible Class is shrinking, please consider the intergenerational approach. It's given new life to our Sunday morning pre-Divine Service time. It's also brought our small congregation a little closer together as we study God's Word and Luther's Small Catechism.
If you want to talk about how to do an intergenerational Sunday School, e-mail me privately at fatherdmj AT gmail DOT com. I'd be happy to talk to you about it. It's been a lifesaver for my parish. Perhaps it might work for you.
Sic satis superque
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I've been reading a chain of books that have a strand of contemplation and meditation on Sacred Scripture. First was Eugene Peterson's The Contemplative Pastor. Now it's Grace Upon Grace by John Kleinig and Towards a Renewed Priesthood by Arthur Middleton. Peterson is Presbyterian, Kleinig is Lutheran, and Middleton is Anglican.
Peterson puts contemplation in the Word, but not toward the Sacraments. Kleinig rightly puts contemplation in the Word toward the objective Means of Grace. Middleton is influenced by Eastern Orthodox thinking and the contemplatives in his communion (Evelyn Underhill and Michael Ramsey). Middleton puts contemplation in the Word toward the Means of Grace as well as a mystical union that might be considered outside the Means of Grace...an experience of God through contemplation.
I'm not comfortable with the word "experience" as a Confessing, Faithful Lutheran. Professor Kurt Marquart (RIP) used to say that mysticism begins in "myst", centers on "i", and ends in "cism" (sic). I'm not comfortable with Lutherans "experiencing" the Gospel in Word and Sacrament. Same goes for "encountering" Christ in Word and Sacrament.
We don't experience or encounter God as much as God coming to us in a specific way through specific means. When we lose the specificity of the Gospel in mystical, extra-sacramental ways or when we deny the efficaciousness of the Sacraments and focus on nuda Scriptura, we lose the delicate balance of Word and Sacrament. We also enter the realm of doubt and pious speculation...a dangerous place to be.
Peterson and Middleton have excellent things to say. I am comforted by their words. But I wince now and then when I read Middleton. He is so close, yet his dabbling in mysticism brought from the Eastern Church and "Anglicized" to fit his communion points the reader away from the sure thing of Word and Sacrament. Middleton rightly points the reader to the Eucharist and the Divine Office as the ways piety are shaped. But when he uses experiential talk, I am concerned about the certainty of the forgiveness of sins...another topic Middleton doesn't talk much about.
Kleinig puts contemplation into the life of the church but anchored to God's Word and the Sacraments, the Means of Grace that God feeds His people, forgives their sins, and gives them new life.
I recommend all three books. I wish I was better at being actively contemplative. I stew over the sermon text all week. I suppose that's as close as I get to active contemplation. Such contemplation points me to the Gifts, the Sure Thing Jesus gives His holy people.
Sic satis superque
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...than hearing a Communion rail full of people say "Amen" after I say "Depart in peace".
Sic satis superque
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Intimates of the owner of this blog know my dad was manager of Associated Lumber in Du Quoin, IL for 27 years (1966-1993). He inherited a bookkeeper, secretary, salesman, and all around girl Friday named Janet Wright. Today marks 50 years of employment for Janet at Kimmel-Schwinn/Associated Lumber. My hometown newspaper has a great story about Janet.
I recall when my dad was down with back trouble in 1989. Janet came to the house and brought paperwork for dad. The same happened a couple years before when dad was down with hernia surgery. I could say that dad couldn't get anything done around the shop without Janet's help. She was the glue of the operation...and still is!
Congratulations, Janet!
Sic satis superque
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