Lutheran National Championship

Christ Lutheran Boys and Girls Basketball teams have both qualified for the National Championship Tournament tomorrow at Valparaiso University. Both teams play opening games at 7:30 a.m. central time.

See the brackets here

Do you "get it"?

When I was a young pastor, I thought that patience and persistence would pay off. And in some ways it has. However, now as I approach the late afternoon of my ministry, I have become more and more frustrated with Christian people who just don't "get it." Get what? Who Jesus is and what He came to do for us. Law and Gospel. Sin and Grace. Death and Resurrection. Repentance and forgiveness.

It doesn't bother me so much that unbelievers don't get it. It bothers me when Christians in other denominations don't get it. But what really bothers me is when Lutherans don't get it. This affliction is not only found among the lay but more and more among the clergy.

Somebody who seems to "get it" is Chris Rosebrough. At least he has posted an insight filled article on his blog.

In part it reads: "Tragically, the "Jesus" that is presented in the sermons that promote this definition of being a Christ Follower isn't the savior of the world who died on the cross for the sins of the world and calls all nations to repentance of their sins and the forgiveness of sins won by Christ on the Cross. Instead, the "Jesus" that is presented in these sermons is a "life coach", a training buddy and the supreme example of an emotionally well adjusted risk taking leader who lived the ultimate life of significance and purpose. This purpose-driven "Jesus" is there to help you achieve what he achieved and invites you to follow his examples and methods so that you can be Christlike too."

So do not lose heart!

Read the entire post here

Two of My Favorite Things

Two of my favorite things came together this month. Old Time Radio and Pat McManus. If you have never read Pat or listened to OTR then this might just wet your appetite.

Pat Online ~ March 2010

I don't think that I'll give it all away if I quote his last paragraph:

"The reason radio comedy worked so well is that the audience was a participant in it, running the visuals on the screens of its minds. It’s entirely possible that the imaginations of television audiences has atrophied so much that radio drama and comedy are no longer possible. Pity."

Truer words were never spoken!

Doctrine

A number of months ago I received a letter from an individual who chose to leave the Lutheran Church for a denomination that denies infant baptism and the sacramental presence of Christ's body and blood in the Lord's Supper. (I'm sure you know the rest of the story since it is repeated many times over across our land.)

Apparently social contacts, etc. trump the word of God. It saddens my heart that people are so easily deceived by emotionalism and so called status. Of course this is nothing new. Satan will use whatever means at his disposal to cause faithful Christian people to abandon the pure teachings of Scripture. Thankfully there are faithful people who by the power of the Spirit resist such pressure.

Paul McCain shared again today a translation provided by Rev. Joel Baseley that help put this issue in its proper light.

Doctrine is the chief matter in which I am defiant, not only against princes and kings, but also against every devil, and indeed, apart from that there is nothing else that preserves, strengthens, cheers, and can make my heart even more defiant. The second matter, my personal life, I myself know to be sinful to such a degree it is not worth defending. I am a poor sinner and its fine with me if my opponents are pure saints and angels. Good for them, if they can maintain it. Not that I want to be that kind of person before the world and those who are not Christians, but before God and his dear Christians. I also want to be good before the world, and I am, so much so that they are not worthy to untie my shoelaces. They shall also never be able to prove by the truth that I have lived or acted towards anyone before the world such that I was not teaching them what is good. In short, I am not someone who is too humble, nor too proud, just as St. Paul says: “I can be exalted and I can be humbled, I can suffer poverty or have enough.” Phil. 2.3. For the sake of my doctrine I am very much too stalwart, unbending and proud to the devil, emperor, king, princes and all the world, but for the sake of my life I am also humble and submissive even to every child. Whoever doesn’t know that should hear it now.

— Martin Luther, Reply to the King of England’s Blasphemous Letter. L. W. Halle. XIX. 510-11.

Printed by C.F.W. Walther in Der Lutheraner, Volume I, Number 20 (May 1845), p. 80; Translated by Rev. Joel Baseley. Register to receive copies of Pastor Baseley’s translations of Der Lutheraner, for free.

Cyberbrethren: A Lutheran Blog by Paul McCain

Defiant in Doctrine, Repentant in Life

On Being a Pastor

In some ways the pastor is like the prow of a ship cutting the waters of the churning sea. One never knows what he will encounter when the next wave crashes.

One of the waves that this pastor encounters is a multiplicity of false notions about the Christian faith. These notions seem to come from Lutherans immersed in the "evangelical" media (I use the term "evangelical" in the sense of the popular media and not its proper meaning.) or enamored with the commercial church. This is one of the reasons that I tackled the project of introducing the Lutheran Confessions to Christ Lutheran Church. It is my belief that when people read the the Book of Concord (devotionally for edification) that they will be purged of this self-help, self-righteous, Gospel of Success theology.

Of course "the road is long with many a winding turn" but one key trait of a pastor (and Christians in general) is perseverance. Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, and Jesus all confronted the same mode of self-centeredness.

Today I came across a post on Cyberbrethren: A Lutheran Blog by Paul McCain in which he quotes Nicolaus Selnecker on faith. If anyone would like to understand my ideas concerning the work of a pastor, he would do well to read these six points. Rather than only link to the blog, I am posting it here in its entirety:

---------------
One of the authors of the Formula of Concord, Nicolaus Selnecker, penned these thoughts to help those who were suffering particular trials and temptations because of their weak faith. It was reprinted in Der Lutheraner. Thanks to Pastor Joel Basely for his translation.

When our faith is experienced very weakly in our hearts, we should, as God’s Word itself teaches us, do the following things:

1. Recognize that faith is God’s work and his gift, 1 Thess. 3.; John 6.

2. Inquire and examine ourselves if we gladly want to believe, and if we wish that our faith would be stronger and better. If this desire is present, then God’s work and his power is present, as St. Paul bears witness, that God also works this desire in us. Therefore even a weak, poor desire is God’s work.

3. Pay attention to the foundation and the bedrock of our faith, which is not our feelings, our nature, our strength, worthiness, word and service, but rather solely the service, innocence, satisfaction, obedience, suffering, bleeding and death and the blood of JESUS Christ, which we grasp, hold and appropriate to ourselves by faith, as through an instrument, a means, a hand. Obviously, a little weak toddler grasps an expensive ring with his weak little fingers just as surely as a big, strong Sampson can grasp that ring with his big fist. Yet it is one and the same ring that is not made less through the child’s weakness nor made greater by the strength of mighty Sampson. It is and remains one ring, that is, the ring of the service, of the satisfaction of Christ for the weak and for the strong, yes, even more for the weak than for those who let themselves imagine they’re strong.

4. Realize that the dear prayer from out of a humble heart is heard above all after the example of that afflicted man who had a poor child who was possessed and to whom the LORD said: “If you could believe then you would be helped. For all things are possible for those who believe.” “Oh LORD, (said the beleaguered father, weeping fervent tears), I believe, help my unbelief.”

5. Know that the Holy Ghost himself works and supports, heats up and gives courage to our prayer, sighing and tears, that it proceeds effectively and presses through the clouds and fills God’s ears. As Paul bears witness in Romans 8 that the Holy Ghost aids us in our weakness and advocates for us with unutterable groans and we cry out through him, “Abba, Father.” Therefore he is called the Spirit of prayer and of grace, Prov. 12, who bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children.

6. Receive the comforting promise that God the LORD will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoldering flax. Mt. 12.

If we would take to our hearts these six little points, we will be able to endure and overcome by God’s grace the trial that comes to us by our weakness of faith or, at last, after all, we will arrive at our salvation through the greater adversities yet to come. For as we live, so shall we die and so shall we be saved.

Source:

Instruction for Those Who are Afflicted because of their Weakness in Faith. (Taken from Nicol. Selnecker’s Conc. Funeb. I. P. 130.) Reprinted in Der Lutheraner, April 1845.

What to Do When Your Faith Feels Weak

Cyberbrethren: A Lutheran Blog by Paul McCain

ne'er the twain shall meet

I recently ran across a great description of the difference between popular evangelical Christian thought and authentic Christian thought in a post by Gene Veith on his blog Cranach: The Blog of Veith titled: The emergent church meets the “Spirituality of the Cross”

In this blog Veith posts a long comment by an individual named Dan. It is well worth the read. But if you've ever wondered why there seems to be such a deep divide between people who want to change the Lutheran Church to be in step with the fad Christianity and those who want to preserve Law and Gospel proclamation here as a wonderful paragraph.

"All in all, Veith challenged me to think critically about my presuppositions. He showed me that I was simply chasing after another fad, setting myself up for another disappointment and further disillusionment. All the while I was seeking authenticity, truth, community, experiences with God, and to be used by God. Veith made it clear that I have been misdiagnosing the issue altogether. The problem isn’t a lack of these things, the problem is sin. The answer is the cross. This is the only true spirituality. This is the only true contentment. I must seek Christ, all these other things flow only from that. When we put the cart before the horse we end up with another man-made institution, even if it meets in homes."

Avatar

I cannot think of the "Avatar" without thinking of its Hindu origin. I suspect that most don't make the association and I need to get over it.

Christianity Today's Leadership Journal has an interesting article titled:

Avatar and Becoming Mature in Christ

What a not-so-Christian movie says about the goal of the Christian life.

The author, John Ortberg, writes:

Sometimes we get so immersed in the X's and O's of church work that we forget to step back and ask what 's the real reason we're doing all this. Paul has great clarity on it, and is more concise than usual: "so that we may present everyone mature in Christ."

If your church is looking for a big hairy audacious goal, this will do for starters.

The scale: everyone.

The outcome: mature in Christ.

That's not common language in our day. So recently I have asked church leaders in a number of settings to take a few moments to describe what someone who is "mature in Christ" looks like. Certain words always make the list: loving, joyful, peaceful, forgiving, serving, courageous, loyal, humble, generous.

His thesis is that the heroes in Avatar (the movie) display these characteristics.

I may have to watch it when it comes out on DVD.

More Baby Q

Got our baby time yesterday.

Baby Quardokus

Find more photos like this on Christ Lutheran Church and School Net

Thrivent Financial to supplement Lutheran gifts for Haiti

President Gerald B. Kieschnick of the LCMS has announced that Thrivent Financial will supplement Lutheran gifts for Haiti. Our door offering will be matched $1 for every $2 contributed. Thrivent Financial has pledged to contribute as much as $1 million to this effort.

Here is a portion of President Kieschnick's letter to congregations.

To: The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod From: President Gerald B. Kieschnick Subject: Special Announcement, Thrivent Financial to supplement Lutheran gifts for Haiti Date: January 15, 2010 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, It is with a grateful heart that I write this update regarding support for Haiti earthquake response. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans announced today a 50-percent matching gift - $1 for every $2 its members contribute - to Lutheran disaster relief agencies including LCMS World Relief and Human Care in St. Louis and Lutheran World Relief in Baltimore. Thrivent Financial has pledged to contribute as much as $1 million to this effort, which they are calling "Helping Haiti." This campaign may generate $3 million for desperately needed earthquake relief efforts in Haiti - $1 million from Thrivent Financial added to $2 million or more from its members. Here are ways to give to Haiti earthquake relief that will qualify for the matching gift: LCMS World Relief and Human Care in St. Louis: Online: https://catalog.lcms.org/givenow/Gift_input.asp?ID=800 Phone: 888-930-4438 (toll-free) Mail: LCMS World Relief and Human Care, P.O. Box 66861, St. Louis, MO 63166-6861 (Mark checks "Haiti Earthquake Relief")

use the following link for the entire letter.

http://www.lcms.org/ca/www/enews/forward.asp?m=8379

Latest News on Haiti from LCMS World Relief

Here is a link to the latest news on the work of the LCMS World Relief in Haiti.

Check there often. It will be updated continually.

The Earthquake in Haiti: Again, the ‘Why’ Question

Here's a great article by John T. Pless titled "The Earthquake in Haiti: Again, the ‘Why’ Question" from the Lutheran Witness online.

As I write these lines, the world reels with the news of a devastating earthquake in Haiti that has left a death toll numbering in the thousands. In this impoverished nation, the magnitude of suffering cannot be measured.

Closer to home, senseless workplace murders, seemingly random violence, and cases of child abduction and sexual assault culminating in murder have become an all too common feature of the daily news. Recent memories of 9/11, the tsunami in Asia, and Hurricane Katrina are compounded with countless personal tragedies that press people to ask the ancient question, “Why is there suffering?” More existentially put, “What did I do to deserve this?”

Finish the article here.

LCMS response to the earthquake in Haiti

As I receive word about the LCMS work in Haiti, I'll try to pass it along.

January 14, 2010 .................... LCMSNews -- No. 4

LCMS World Relief to assist Haitians; mission teams, missionary OK

By Linda C. Hoops

As estimates of the loss of life and destruction in Haiti emerged following Tuesday's magnitude 7.0 earthquake, LCMS World Relief and Human Care (WR-HC) began responding, while members of LCMS congregations prayed for the safety of their mission teams who were in the Caribbean nation at the time of the quake.

"The unfolding drama in Haiti calls for unlimited mercy on the part of the people of the LCMS. The needs are urgent and overwhelming right now," said Rev. Glenn F. Merritt, WR-HC director of disaster response. "I appeal to God's people to respond as generously as possible during this most difficult time."

Haitians piled bodies along the devastated streets of their capital, Port-au-Prince, on Wednesday after the strongest earthquake to hit the nation in more than 200 years crushed thousands of structures, from schools and shacks to the National Palace and the U.N. peacekeeping headquarters. An untold number of people were still trapped.

Haitian President Rene Preval said the devastation was so complete that he estimated the death toll would run into the thousands. International Red Cross spokesman Paul Conneally said an estimated 3 million people may have been affected by the quake and that it would take a day or two for a clear picture of the damage to emerge..

Safe after the quake is a missionary family, Alyssa Stone and her two daughters, who live west of the capital where the shaking wasn't as strong. Stone is a deaconess intern from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne.

Also reported as safe are at least three short-term mission teams in Haiti from LCMS congregations and mission organizations in Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, and Wisconsin.

The article continues here.

Book of Concord Reading for The Second Sunday after Epiphany

The Gospel for this coming week is the Wedding at Cana and Jesus changing water into wine. However, the Epistle is 1 Corinthians 12:1–11 which includes: no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. This is a perfect opportunity to read:

Luther’s Small Catechism, The Apostles’ Creed, Explanation of the Third Article.

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him. But the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian Church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise up me and all the dead and will give eternal life to me and to all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.

Book of Concord Reading for The Baptism of our Lord

The Large Catechism, Part IV: Baptism 77-79; 84-86


Our Baptism abides forever. Even though someone should fall from Baptism and sin, still we always have access to it. So we may subdue the old man again. But we do not need to be sprinkled with water again [Ezekiel 36:25-26; Hebrews 10:22]. Even if we were put under the water a hundred times, it would still be only one Baptism, even though the work and sign continue and remain. Repentance, therefore, is nothing other than a return and approach to Baptism…

For this reason let everyone value his Baptism as a daily dress [Galatians 3:27] in which he is to walk constantly. Then he may ever be found in the faith and its fruit, so that he may suppress the old man and grow up in the new. For if we would be Christians, we must do the work by which we are Christians. But if anyone falls away from the Christian Life, let him again come into it. For just as Christ, the Mercy Seat [Romans 3:25], does not draw back from us or forbid us to come to Him again, even though we sin, so all His treasure and gifts also remain. Therefore, if we have received forgiveness of sin once in Baptism, it will remain every day, as long as we live. Baptism will remain as long as we carry the old man about our neck..

Where's Walther

By popular request, here is the latest "Where's Walther" photo.

Book of Concord Reading for Epiphany

If you are looking for a Book of Concord reading for Epiphany, you could do worse than

The Formula of Concord (SD), Article VIII, The Person of Christ, 6

We believe, teach, and confess that God’s Son from eternity has been a particular, distinct, entire, divine person. Yet He is true, essential, perfect God with the Father and the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time He received also the human nature into the unity of His person. He did not do this in such a way that there are now two persons or two Christs. Christ Jesus is now in one person at the same time true, eternal God, born of the Father from eternity, and a true man, born of the most blessed Virgin Mary. This is written in Romans 9:5, “from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever.”

House from Jesus' Time found in Nazareth

Jesus was born in Bethlehem but he was raised in Nazareth. Today the Israel Antiquities Authority has released news that for the first time a home from Jesus' time in Nazareth has been found. It was found next to the Church of the Annunciation as excavation was being done to prepare for the building of "The International Marian Center of Nazareth"

According to Yardenna Alexandre, excavation director on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "The discovery is of the utmost importance since it reveals for the very first time a house from the Jewish village of Nazareth and thereby sheds light on the way of life at the time of Jesus. The building that we found is small and modest and it is most likely typical of the dwellings in Nazareth in that period. From the few written sources that there are, we know that in the first century CE* Nazareth was a small Jewish village, located inside a valley. Until now a number of tombs from the time of Jesus were found in Nazareth; however, no settlement remains have been discovered that are attributed to this period."

Read the article here from Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It is interesting to imagine that Jesus may have visited this house during his life in Nazareth.

[*Note: There is a concerted effort to replace A.D.--"The Year of our Lord" with CE-- "Common Era" which I reject. However, I would never change a quotation.]

Book of Concord for Advent 3

Here is a suggested Book of Concord reading for the Third Sunday in Advent.

Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article IV, 80, 81

Christ is not received as a Mediator except by faith. Therefore, by faith alone we receive forgiveness of sins when we comfort our hearts with confidence in the mercy promised for Christ’s sake. Likewise, Paul says in Romans 5:2, “Through Him we have also obtained access” and adds, “by faith.” Therefore, we are reconciled to the Father and receive forgiveness of sins when we are comforted with confidence in the mercy promised for Christ’s sake.


May we continue to be comforted not only throughout Advent but always!

Comfort, Comfort Ye My People
Johann Olearius, 1611-84; tr Catherine Winkworth, 1827-78, alt.

1 “Comfort, comfort ye My people,
Speak ye peace,” thus saith our God;
“Comfort those who sit in darkness,
Mourning ’neath their sorrows’ load.
Speak ye to Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for them;
Tell her that her sins I cover
And her warfare now is over.”

2 Yea, her sins our God will pardon,
Blotting out each dark misdeed;
All that well deserved His anger
He no more will see or heed.
She hath suffered many_a day,
Now her griefs have passed away;
God will change her pining sadness
Into ever-springing gladness.

3 Hark, the herald’s voice is crying
In the desert far and near,
Calling sinners to repentance,
Since the Kingdom now is here.
O that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way;
Let the valleys rise to meet Him
And the hills bow down to greet Him.

4 Make ye straight what long was crooked;
Make the rougher places plain.
Let your hearts be true and humble,
As befits His holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord
Now o’er earth is shed abroad,
And all flesh shall see the token
That His Word is never broken.

Public domain

Scott Murray's "Memorial Moment"

I'm a great fan of Winnie-the-Pooh. Mostly because I, like him, am a bear of very little brain. That's probably why I post so few original items. However, I am able to recognize greatness. Scott Murray is one of the best devotional writers that you will encounter. His devotion today, "Don't Despair," is just one example. He writes:

I remember with great vividness being caught up in the "charismatic movement" of the late 1970s. For a teenager this movement was attractive, because it emphasized emotions and experience over all things. The hallmark of the teen years is that they are filled with passionate involvement in the budding adult emotions and experiences, which make it a time fraught with struggle and trouble. It is hard enough being a teenager, but harder yet when a teen is enticed into believing that Christianity is merely about their personal experience of faith. The charismatic movement pointed the individual back to his own heart for support in struggle, sustenance in trial, and certainty of salvation in the midst of guilt. This is exactly the wrong direction to point the growing adolescent. First, because it reinforces the perversely natural interest in the interior life that is characteristic of a developing teen. Interiority needs to be overturned or turned out of itself to a life that is exterior to itself. Another's life must become the focus of those who are by nature self absorbed. Second, the Christian faith specifically calls on us to turn away from ourselves in repentance, to hate our own life, and to lose it, in favor of the life of that Other.

Faith cannot be established on the whims and feelings of the immature heart. God calls us out of ourselves to the maturity of confidence in the Word of Christ.

Read the more of this devotion here