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

The Nehemiah Project

Here is an interesting article about The Nehemiah project. It was featured on NPR. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has over 20 years' involvement in such pursuits. LCMS World Relief and Human Care Executive Director Matthew Harrison has moved our church to do incredible things in the US and around the world.

Low-Cost Brooklyn Housing Sees Few Foreclosures

by Jim Zarroli

Yvonne Ziegler had an apartment in a central Brooklyn housing project and a decent job in an office. But like a lot of New Yorkers, she figured she'd be renting forever. Owning a place seemed beyond the realm of possibility.

Thanks to the Nehemiah project, a church-run affordable housing program, Ziegler now owns a trim, neatly maintained three-bedroom house, where she lives with her elderly mother in the Brooklyn neighborhood known as East New York. The program has built more than 4,000 houses in Brooklyn and the Bronx since the 1980s.

"When it came to light that these churches were building affordable houses and how low the mortgages were, I thought, 'Well, maybe this is something I can aspire to,' " Ziegler says.

The Nehemiah project, named for the biblical prophet who rebuilt the Temple of Jerusalem, has provided a bulwark of stability in neighborhoods once devastated by arson and neglect. That's been especially true during the mortgage crisis. In a part of the city where foreclosures topped 10 percent last year, few of the program's homeowners have defaulted on their loans.

Read the entire article here.

St. Luke, The Evangelist

On October 18 we remember that God has truly blessed the Christian Church through the work of St. Luke, The Evangelist. He was St. Paul’s companion. He researched the life of Jesus in order to write the Gospel bearing his name. In his research he may have talked to Mary or someone very close to her so that he is able to tell us about the manger and the shepherds. Many parts of our worship come from Luke such as: The Benedictus—Song of Zechariah, Luke 1:68-79; The Magnificat—Song of Mary, Luke 1:46-55; The Gloria in Excelsis—Luke 2:14; and The Nunc Dimittis—Song of Simeon, Luke 2:29-32. Many other well know events in the life of Christ are recorded by Luke such as: Jesus words to the thief on the cross, “This day you will be with me in paradise,” Luke 23:43 and that in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus’ sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground, Luke 22:44. St. Paul calls Luke the Beloved Physician, Colossians 4:14. As Paul’s companion he witnessed St. Paul fight the good fight of faith and records his activities in The Acts of the Apostles. The sweet message of salvation through Christ that the Holy Spirit directed St. Luke to write comes to us like water in the wilderness.

Here is a reading from the Book of Concord for St. Luke, Evanglelist:

The Formula of Concord, The Epitome

Article III, The Righteousness of Faith Before God, 4.

We believe, teach, and confess that our righteousness before God is this: God forgives our sins out of pure grace, without any work, merit, or worthiness of ours preceding, present, or following. He presents and credits to us the righteousness of Christ’s obedience [Romans 5:17-19]. Because of this righteousness, we are received into grace by God and regarded as righteous.

Lutheran Survey Results - Concordia University Wisconsin

Check out Lutheran Survey Results - Concordia University Wisconsin

Religion and politics are always ticklish subjects but here is an interesting look at the LCMS and ELCA. I was surprised that the LCMS turned out to be as far right as the study indicates and also surprised that the ELCA turned out to be as far left.

This makes the ELCA's actions this summer seem much more understandable. As to the LCMS, I would be interested to know how various groups in leadership compare to the attitudes of the general population of clergy and lay.

Sunday, Oct 11, 2009 - Some thoughts on the Rich Young Man

The first thing I noticed is that LSB cuts the Gospel lesson in half. October 11 is the 19th Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 23 B. The appointed Gospel is Mark 10:17-22 which makes no sense to me. This pericope occurs in LW on Pentecost 21 but it is the entire section, Mark 10:17-30. Likewise in RCL Proper 23 and ELCA Pentecost 23 the entire reading is included but ending at the 31st verse (Mark 10:17-31). In LSB we have to wait until next week to finish the story and hear Jesus’ explanation (LSB Proper 24, Mark 10:22-31).

This is the account of The Rich Young Man. I cannot imagine how one would properly preach on this account without including the second half of the story. And then what does one do next week? I solved the dilemma this year by putting the account back together this week. What will I do next week? Fortunately this year, next Sunday is St. Luke, the Evangelist and the appointed Gospel is Luke 10:1-9 so I won’t have to figure this one out until three years from now.

What’s the point of this event? Clearly the issue is not being able to recognize one’s own sinful condition. Unfortunately most will get hung up on the fact that the young man is rich and will conclude that Jesus is speaking against riches. Dividing the pericope in the manner of LSB only reinforces this mistaken notion. You cannot understand Jesus’ encounter with the rich young man without hearing this dialog between the disciples and Jesus in verses 26 and 27: They were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

Who can be saved? No one! (by their own thoughts, words or deeds.) It is only God’s action in Christ through the cross that makes salvation possible!

In light of this, the reading from the Book of Concord that I have chosen for this Sunday is:

The Smalcald Articles
Part II, Article I, The Chief Article, 1-5.

The first and chief article is this:
Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, died for our sins and was raised again for our justification (Romans 4:24-24).
He alone is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29), and God has laid upon Him the iniquities of us all (Isaiah 53:6).
All have sinned and are justified freely, without their own works or merits, by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, in His blood. (Romans 3:23-25).
This is necessary to believe. This cannot be otherwise acquired or grasped by any work, law, or merit. Therefore, it is clear and certain that this faith alone justifies us. As St. Paul says:

For we hold that one is justified by faith apart form works of the law. (Romans 3:28).
That He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. [Romans 3:26].

Nothing of this article can be yielded or surrendered, even though heaven and earth and everything else falls [Mark 13:31].

For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)
And with His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

Upon this article everything that we teach and practice depends … Therefore, we must be certain and not doubt this doctrine. Otherwise all is lost…

(The ellipsis in both places are references to the pope and I made the determination that those comments would detract from the purpose of this reading in the setting of Sunday morning.)

Reading from the Book of Concord for Propper 22 - Pentecost 18

We read from the Book of Concord each week. I try to find a reading that reflects the Bible readings of the day. I've decided to post them on my blog each week so that others may reflect on them.

Luther’s Large Catechism--The Sixth Commandment, 206-208

Understand and mark well how gloriously God honors and praises this estate [of marriage]. For by His commandment He both approves and guards it. He has approved it above in the Fourth commandment, “Honor your father and your mother.” But here He has (as we said) hedged it about and protected it. Therefore, He also wishes us to honor it [Hebrews 13:4] and to maintain and govern it as a divine and blessed estate because, in the first place, He has instituted it before all others. He create man and woman separately, as is clear [Genesis 1:27]. This was not for lewdness, but so that they might live together in marriage, be fruitful, bear children, and nourish and train them to honor God [Genesis 1:28; Psalm 128; Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4].

Therefore, God has also most richly blessed this estate above all others. In addition, He has bestowed on it and wrapped up in it everything in the world, so that this estate might be well and richly provided for. Married life is, therefore, no joke or presumption. It is an excellent thing and a matter of divine seriousness. For marriage has the highest importance to God so that people are raised up who may serve the world and promote the knowledge of God, godly living, and all virtues, to fight against wickedness and the devil.

The other lessons for this week are:
Old Testament Reading Genesis 2:18–25
Epistle Reading Hebrews 2:1–13
Holy Gospel Mark 10:2–16

Is Everyone Endowed With The Inner Light?

From: The Aroma Of An Empty Bottle
by Carl E. Braaten

My second suggestion is that the ELCA has succumbed to the same ailment as liberal Protestantism. What is that? Modern Protestantism is an amalgamation of historic Christianity and the principles of the Enlightenment, its rationalism, subjectivism, and anthropocentrism. The underlying assumption is the neo-gnostic belief in the innerdwelling of God, such that everyone is endowed with the inner light that only needs to be uncovered. The light of truth does not shine through the Scriptures and the Christian tradition as much as through scientific reason and individual experience. This is what happened in Minneapolis: appeals to reason and experience trumped Scripture and tradition, punctuated with pious injunctions of Lutheran slogans and clichés. The majority won. And they said it was the work of the Spirit, forgetting that the Holy Spirit had already spoken volumes through the millennia of Scriptural interpretation, the councils of the church, and its creeds and confessions.


(Emphasis mine)


This insight from Braaten is key to understanding not only the ELCA but many of the other protestants around us (both liberal and conservative).

People think that their experiences are authentic revelations from God rather than needing the Holy Scripture.

How the ELCA Left the Great Tradition for Liberal Protestantism

Here is an insightful analysis of the ELCA published online by Christianity Today. I think that you will find it interesting.

How the ELCA Left the Great Tradition for Liberal Protestantism
There is no authoritative biblical or theological guidance in the church. There are only many voices.
Robert Benne | posted 9/02/2009 09:21AM

Quote of the Day

The Book of Concord’s confession of the Lord’s Law and Gospel is so destructive of the world’s religions that it is ever under attack both blatant and subtle, with the latter ever the more sinister.

Dr. Norman Nagel

The Lord’s Supper in the Theology of Martin Chemnitz

Forward to
The Lord’s Supper in the Theology of Martin Chemnitz by Bjarne Wollan Teigen

Dr. Scott Murray on Promises

Scott Murray really has a handle applying God's Word to living in today's world. His "Memorial Moment: He Promises" is a good example.

I would do it an injustice to try to summarize it here. I encourage you to read his daily devotion.