From Pastor Bischoff

Biography of Pastor Bischoff

Feel free to email Pastor Bischoff with comments or questions.

Latest updates are posted first.

(The views expressed here reflect the opinions of Rev. Frederick Bischoff and do not

necessarily reflect the official stance of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Waterford, Wisconsin)

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Posted on July 15, 2008

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS, UNCOUNTABLE BLESSINGS

 Thank you to the members of St. Peter's -- thank you to Joan!

In just a short while Lori and I will be in Door County, our favorite summer vacation destination. This year will be extra special. Thanks to your love, kindness, and generosity, our stay at our favorite resort has been given to us as a gift. That was a part of the gift you gave to mark my 25th anniversary as your pastor, an event we celebrated in late June.

That day, by the way, was a total surprise, and it touched both of our hearts. Lori and I are so very grateful for the many ways that God has blessed us through you, our dear family at St. Peter’s. It would be unfair and well nigh impossible to single out any of you for particular thanks. You have all been so good to us and so supportive of our shared ministry.

That being said, I just can’t let a mention of these past 25 years go by without a special thank you to Joan Somers, our dedicated church secretary. Joan has helped my ministry and directed my day for 22 years. She has been a blessing to our total ministry here in ways you can’t imagine. You know, secretaries aren’t supposed be called secretaries anymore. We’re supposed to call them “administrative assistants”. Well, Joan is no one’s assistant. She is our church administrator. No one knows more about the day-to-day workings of our church than Joan, and no one does more, on a daily basis, to assist the people of our congregation and visitors to our church.  Thank’s Joan!

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Posted on May 21, 2008

IS IT SUNDAY ALREADY?

Why do we make such a big deal about going to church every week?

This question is prompted by a situation that many of us have experienced at one time or another. The scene goes something like this: “My daughter doesn’t make it to church very often. When I ask her about it, she simply shrugs and says she doesn’t want to be a hypocrite about it. She says that going to church when you don’t feel like it is being dishonest to God and to yourself. ‘Besides,’ she says, ‘it isn’t as if you have to go to church every Sunday.’ What can I say to her?”

First of all, let me say something that may shock you. CHRISTIANS DON’T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING! We’ve been freed by Jesus from such mere duty, the “have to's” of knowing God only in His law and relating to God only out of fearful obligation. Jesus fulfilled our obligation to divine laws and suffered our consequences for violating it. His love inspired Christian “love to's,” not “have to's.”

I’ve often explained it this way to Confirmation and Bible classes: A Christian can do whatever he pleases, but what pleases a Christian? It is the nature of a Christian to find pleasure in doing what pleases his God and Father. The Christian in tune with God recognizes immediately that skipping church just doesn’t feel right. Every unwillingness to worship God, every refusal to hear His Word, every putting ourselves ahead of God, is sin. In fact, as the Epistle to the Hebrews warns, skipping church is one of the most serious sins. Hebrews 10: 23 and following says ... “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.”

Skipping church robs the soul of joy in praising God. It robs the spirit of the love, truth, and power God gives through His Word and Sacrament. It robs the Christian of the mutual comfort, admonition, and encouragement that comes from being gathered together with other Christians.

The best evidence for this is the statement, “I DON’T HAVE TO GO TO CHURCH!” Those are not the words of someone who considers themselves a dear child of a loving heavenly Father. Those are words of rebellion coming from a sinner who views God as a Lawmaker and Judge, not a loving Father. Those are words of independence that come from a spiritual slave, not a dearly loved child and heir of God.

But isn’t it hypocrisy to appear at worship when your human nature prefers to stay home? Isn’t it somehow dishonest to be doing one thing when you would really rather do another? Well, is it hypocrisy for a mother to sit up all night with a sick child when she’d rather be in bed sleeping? Yet that’s not called hypocrisy, that’s called LOVE! The real hypocrisy is to call Jesus our LORD and then deny His lordship over our life unless we are feeling in the mood. The real hypocrisy is to claim Christian gratitude for all of God’s blessings while living like an ingrate.

Mercifully, God forgives us for this hypocrisy. We need to confess it, not rationalize it. God does not want excuses for our lack of love for Him and His Word. And if we try, Jesus will cut through our excuses like He does when He says, “He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God” (John 8:47).

Sometimes I don’t feel much like going to church either. My heart just isn’t in it and there are a million places I’d rather be. But I go anyway, not because I “have to,” but because I “love to” -- I love my Lord and I think about what would give Him pleasure. And I have discovered something in the process: God can do remarkable things with my feelings and with my attitudes when I’m there in His house.

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Posted on March 19, 2008

IT'S A RESCUE, NOT A RUNDOWN

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,

but to save the world through him.”   John 3:17

      Police in California staged an extraordinary rescue for a stolen car. They put announcements in all of the area papers and had the make, model, and license number of the stolen car broadcast on all of the local radio and television stations. They begged for information on the whereabouts of the vehicle. They even pleaded with the thief to call the police and turn in the car.

      They were not going to these extremes to locate this car for reasons you might think. It wasn’t because this car was unusually expensive. It wasn’t because it was owned by someone rich, famous, or influential.   They were doing this because on the front seat of that stolen car was a box of crackers. Those crackers were laced with a deadly poison. The car’s owner worked for a chemical company that was experiment with a new fast-acting rat poison. He had laced the crackers with poison to run a test on it’s effectiveness. He was in a part of the city that had a large population of rats when his car had been stolen.

      The police and the owner desperately needed to get the car back — so that the thief wouldn’t snack on a cracker and die. They were actually more interested in the welfare of the thief than in the recovery of the car.

      We probably all know people in our neighborhood, our community, and maybe even our family who seem to be spending their lives running away from God. They avoid worship and Bible study. They change the subject when the topic turns to things
spiritual. Why? Basically they are afraid — afraid of God. Afraid that if they face God they will be “caught” — confronted with sins and now forced to pay some price for their misdeeds and misspent life.   To avoid the things of God, they run away from Him. They probably think they’re escaping punishment by remaining spiritual fugitives. But, the fact is, they aren’t escaping punishment at all — they actually running away from their own rescue.

      Remember that when you share the Gospel with someone. You aren’t asking them to imprison themselves — you’re actually inviting them to be free. God isn’t looking for revenge — He’s looking to rescue!

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Posted on January 28, 2008

THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:13

From what I’ve been told, the following is a true story.

Many years ago, in the children’s wing of a large hospital, there was a little girl named Elizabeth who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. He hesitated for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, “Yes, I'll do it if it will save her life.”

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled as he saw the color returning to his sister’s cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, “Will I start to die right away?” Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her. With that understanding, what a marvel of love it was that this little boy was willing to give up his life to save his little sister.

Of course, there is One who did shed His blood and give His life that we might be saved from sin and released from eternal death. For Him it was more than a transfusion — it was the pouring out of His whole life. He bled and ultimately died for that little boy, for his sister, and for each of us. He is Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrated a little more than a month ago, and whose suffering and death we will ponder once again during the upcoming season of Lent.

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to
reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by
making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
Colossians 1:19-20

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Posted on December 3, 2007

LOVE CAME DOWN AT CHRISTMAS

Christ's birth is proof that God's love is unconditional.

A young man wrote his sweetheart a love letter:

Dear Jennifer,

I love you so much I’d climb the highest mountain just to see your smile. I’d swim the deepest river, infested with piranhas, just for one of your kisses. I’d cross the widest seas for one of your hugs. I’d cross the burning desert just to look upon your face.

With unending love,
Frank

PS: I’ll be over to see you next Friday if it doesn’t rain.

So much for unconditional love.

But so it is for all of us. Our words, expressed in prose and poetry, song and soliloquy, often sound empty and hollow when compared with our actions. How wonderful that God is not that way.

Imagine if God spent the centuries promising His people a Savior — the Messiah who would save them and all who believed from sin, death, and the power of the devil. And imagine if that day never came. “God, where is your promise? Where is the One you promised to send us who would save us from our sins?”  And imagine if God answered, “Oh, well, you see, I’ve been very busy ... and I haven’t been feeling all that well ... and I was rethinking my position on the matter ... and, well, it’s raining today.”

But God didn’t put it off, nor did He allow rain or snow or even our sinful hearts to delay Him from sending His Son, born in Bethlehem, to be our Savior and Lord. Yes, our God is a God of words and promises. But He is also a God of action — a God who stands by His promises and does exactly what He says He will do. This is what we celebrate in the weeks ahead. “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son.” He gave ... and nothing would get in the way of His gift to us of His Son, our Savior. Now that’s unending love.

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Posted on September 25, 2007

PRAYERS FOR THE UNKNOWN

Praying for people we don't know with needs of which we are unaware.

Needs. The church has them. I have them. You have them. Everyone has needs. Sometimes the needs become serious and critical, like when we’re facing a serious illness or a difficult surgery. What do we do when we find out that people that we know are facing one of those critical needs in their life? We reach out. We offer support. And we pray for them. We pray for them in our divine services, mentioning them by name as we place their needs before our gracious God. And we pray for them personally in our daily prayers.

But how do we deal with unknown people facing unknown crises and bending under the strain of needs that are unknown to us? I suppose the easiest thing to do is nothing. How can we pray for people we don’t know who have needs we aren’t aware of? Well, why can’t we? No, we don’t know them. No, we don’t know the heartaches they face. But God does.

I propose that all of us, as a church and as individual Christians, make a renewed effort to place before God those people, known only to Him, who are facing troubles in their lives known only to Him. At any given time in my ministry, I have known of people in our congregation or community who were in the midst of turmoil and difficulty. That difficulty was not always physical or the kind of trouble or crisis that they would want shared. Family breakups. Mental or emotional crises. Financial problems. Drug or alcohol addictions. Legal problems. These are not exactly the type of problems that some people want announced to the congregation before the Sunday prayers, or shared with anyone, for that matter. Yet their crises are no less real and no less devastating than the heart surgeries and chemotherapies that we include in our prayers. Many times I know of people who desperately need our prayers, yet my promise to them of confidentiality prevents me from sharing their needs with you. I’m sure there are also people in our congregation who are keeping their hurts from everyone, including me.

What can we do? I said it earlier. Pray for them anyway. Along with all the petitions we place before God, let us also take time to ask God to watch over, help, and heal those people who are not known to us or who are facing heartaches in their lives that are not known to us. God doesn’t need information or details from us to work His wonders. He has all the inside information He needs. We, on the other hand, need to open our hearts to the needs of all people, even the people or the special needs we don’t know.

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Posted on July 12, 2007

IS THE POPE CATHOLIC?

Benedict XVI says, "You bet I am!"

Well, Pope Benedict XVI has gone and done it now and, boy, are people upset!  He pronounced earlier this week that the Roman Catholic Church is the only true church .  He said that the Eastern Orthodox Church was close to correct, but still in serious error.  And He said that all other churches, particularly Protestant (i.e. Lutheran) Churches are not churches at all and only lead people to heresy, falsehood, and hell.  You can check out the article here:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19692094/from/ET/ .

The cries of protest against his words were swift and angry.  How dare he?  Even a large segment of Roman Catholics are upset.

To which I say, "What is the big deal?"   Has everyone forgotten that this is what the Roman Catholic Church has always believed, taught, and proclaimed?  Has everyone forgotten that this is why Pope Leo X gave Luther the boot and why every Vatican Council since then has repeated the pronouncement that we are condemned to hell?  This is not new.  We believe that we are saved by God's grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone.  It is for this precise teaching, which is built upon the solid foundation of the Bible, that we have been condemned by the Roman Catholic Church for 500 years and have been repeatedly told that we are a heretical and false sect and not a church at all.

A couple of years ago a long-time member of our congregation left our church because, in a sermon, I had "accused" the pope of saying the very thing he said earlier this week.  I wonder if this former member read the pope's pronouncement.  If he did, I hope he finally understands that my words were not accusations, but simply telling it like it really is.

The official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church is that we (Lutherans) are all heretical, false, and bound for hell -- every one of us -- because we believe in the biblical doctrine of justification by faith and because we refuse to bow down to the pope and his authority.  Can you understand?  I really couldn't care less what a guy in a fancy robe and pointy hat thinks of me or that he takes upon himself the authority to damn me to hell.  What is and always has been most bothersome is why he does this.  It is not because of who I am, it's because of what I believe.  He condemns me for believing the Gospel and, in doing so, he ends up condemning the Gospel itself.

I know there are a lot of Roman Catholics out there (including a number of priests) who don't hold to what the pope said.  God love them.  Yet the fact remains that this is what "Holy Mother Church" teaches and if they disagree with it they are not good Catholics by their church's own definition of what makes a good Catholic.  I wonder how these dissenting Catholics reconcile their opposition to the pope's decree with the basic foundations of their church, namely the primacy of the pope and his infallibility, the teaching that "Holy Mother Church" is the only saving church, and the foundational teaching of the Roman Catholic Church that faith alone in Jesus Christ does not save, but to it must be added obedience to the "Holy Father," submission to the church, and the necessity of good works to supplement what they consider is the incomplete atonement of Christ.

All I can add is this:  Thank you, Pope Benedict XVI for once again clearing up any misunderstandings about what your church teaches by putting it in writing.  The man is dead wrong, but you have to admire him for having the guts to say what he believes.

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Posted on November 8, 2006

WISCONSIN'S PROPOSED MARRIAGE AMENDMENT

The outcome ...

Well, the good news out of yesterday's election was that the Marriage Amendment passed.   59% voted yes, 40% voted no.  As a result of this vote the state's constitution will now say that only marriages between "one man and one woman" will be recognized in the state.  Let the lawsuits begin!

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Posted on October 19, 2006

WISCONSIN'S PROPOSED MARRIAGE AMENDMENT

Nothing will change???

"Nothing will change!"  That's what the T.V. ads say, urging Wisconsin residents to vote "no" on the Marriage Amendment that will appear on the November ballot. They say that if this amendment to the State's constitution is defeated, nothing will change. In one sense, that's true. Our state's constitution now says that marriage is between "a husband and a wife."   If the "no" votes win, that's the wording that will stay in the constitution. But isn't that good?  Isn't that enough to safeguard marriage in Wisconsin?  After all, that's the way it's always been.  The proposed amendment (which those television ads want you to defeat) replaces "hushand and wife" with "one man and one woman."

Man, woman, husband, wife -- what's the difference?

Perhaps a real-life example will help explain the difference.

Last week gay congressman Gary Studds died in Massachusetts. Here is what the Associated Press printed: "Studds died at Boston Medical Center several days after he collapsed while walking his dog, his husband said." Did you catch that? Rep. Gary Studds was a man -- a man who had a "husband".  Apparently he was the "wife" in their gay relationship.

Now look at the State of Wisconsin's wording again -- marriage shall be between "a husband and a wife." That's what Massachusetts' constitution says too, and gay marriages are apparently allowed provided the couples decide which one of them will play the "husband" and which will play the "wife."  It appears that the term husband need not be limited to only the male anymore, nor wife to only the female.  Do we want that in Wisconsin?

The television ads tell us that nothing will change if we vote "no".  The fact is, only if we vote "yes" on this amendment will nothing change.   If we vote "no" nothing may ever be the same again.

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Posted on September 25, 2006

LUTHERAN SERVICE BOOK

Impressions of the New Hymnal

That’s the name of the new hymnal that has been published by our synod. A couple of Saturdays ago, Kristin Novaez, Bertha Neumueller, Vicar and Krista Elliott, and I attended a workshop on this new hymnal, which is titled the "Lutheran Service Book" (LSB).  Wow! What a terrific new worship resource! In the weeks and months to come I will be sharing more with you about this new hymnal. Right now, just let me make a few exciting observations about the Lutheran Service Book:

Our familiar page 15 service, which we know and love so well, is in LSB. Yet, along with it, there are four other excellent Sunday service liturgies.

Matins and Vespers, two other services familiar to us, are also in the LSB.

Luther's Small Catechism is in the LSB. This will provide us with an opportunity to utilize and incorporate this excellent teaching tool into our worship, when appropriate.

Complete Orders of Service are printed in LSB for weddings, funerals, baptisms, and confirmations. Instead of just sitting in the pew listening, the congregation now has the opportunity to participate and follow along in these special services.  Most of our favorite hymns remain in the LSB. The LSB also uses the same familiar melodies to these hymns that we know and love.

About a dozen hymns in LSB have the German words along side the English words, including the hymn “Silent Night”. There are also about a dozen hymns that have the Spanish words along side the English.

Many great new hymns are in the LSB. All of them are doctrinally solid, yet many of the new hymns have more upbeat, yet easy-to-sing, melodies.

LSB contains many great old hymns that are missing from our present hymnal, including "How Great Thou Art" and “Go Tell It On The Mountain”.

Am I excited about LSB? Yes, I am. It offers the same page 15 liturgy found in our present hymnal, and thus the comfort of the tried, true, and familiar. Yet it also provides so much more opportunity for variety.  Of course, variety is only good if it remains Christ-centered and doctrinally sound. The LSB is all of that and more — in each new liturgy and in every song. And in my opinion the LSB is far superior to the synod's last hymnal, Lutheran Worship (the "blue" hymnal). I encourage you to go to this web site for more details and information: http://lsb.cph.org

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Posted on June 19, 2006

SOUTH WISCONSIN DISTRICT CONVENTION

Results & Impressions

      The South Wisconsin District Convention is now history.  It was held Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday of last week at Concordia University in Mequon.  Marty Wogaman attended with me as our lay voting delegate.  When you see Marty, please thank him for taking three days out of his life to represent us at the convention.  Marty was an excellent delegate.  He was well-studied on the issues and represented our congregation admirably.  Marty and I will be working up a little summary sheet on the convention that will appear in the next church newsletter and I'll post it here too.

     You've probably heard by now that I didn't win the election for District President.  I came in second to Pastor John Wille from Tomah.  Pastor Wille is a good guy -- approachable and pastorly.  Keep him and his family in your prayers.  It was an honor for me to be nominated and to receive so much support, but as I said to delegates and voters who approached me after the election results were in (mistakenly thinking that I needed to be consoled), "I get to preach and celebrate the Lord's Supper on Sunday!  I get to stay a parish pastor!"  This is what I've done for 25 years and I am truly thankful that, God willing, I can continue to keep doing it for a while longer.  I was elected 2nd Vice President (a jump from 4th VP).  I am glad for that.  The Vice Presidency is the best of both worlds.  It allows me to keep doing what I love to do, namely, be your pastor.  Secondly, enables me to keep my nose in the business of the South Wisconsin District by sitting on the Board of Directors and by assiting the District President as his advisor and representative in the district.  From that position I hope to continue to have influence on the decisions that the District makes.

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Posted on May 24, 2006

SOUTH WISCONSIN DISTRICT CONVENTION

Convention Workbook Is Now Online

The South Wisconsin District Convention will be held on June 11-13 at Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin.  The Workbook for the convention is now online and can he found here.  Click on the "Resources" link and then on the "Workbook" link.  Please note that the workbook is in .pdf format and is over 2MB, so please be patient as it downloads.

As I stated in my March 16th post (below), my name stands in nomination for District President and District Vice President.  As a nominee, I was asked to submit an article for inclusion in the workbook answering the question:  "What is your hope for the future of the district?"  I have cut and pasted below my answer as it appears on page 110 in the workbook.

Hopes for the District: The District needs to be placed on sound financial footing. Increased giving must be encouraged and cuts in staff and programs on all District levels must be explored and implemented until expenses match contributions. It is paramount that the District leadership be financially open with, and accountable to, the congregations of the District. Unity in doctrine must be the hallmark of our District.  Confessional integrity must be expected of all of our called workers and  congregations. All programs, ministries, practices, methodologies, and associations undertaken by our District, its individual congregations and its individual called workers must conform to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. The District president and vice presidents must not be afraid to speak the truth in love to pastors, congregations, and synodical leaders. I am a parish pastor. I aspire to be nothing else. But the Lord has his will and I humbly submit to that good and perfect will. Should I be re-elected Southeast Region vice president, I pledge to work with the new District president and serve our District with love, honesty, humility, and integrity, using the gifts with which God has blessed me.

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Posted on May 16, 2006

"THE DA VINCI CODE"

Why you shouldn't bother

The human mind is an amazing thing. It can capture a picture or an experience and lock it way to be retrieved a thousand times, sometimes on purpose, sometimes on it's own. For example, some years ago I happened upon a web site that showed a video of a man being beheaded by Muslim terrorists. I had no intention of watching it -- I happened upon the site for other reasons and before I realized what was happening the horrible video played out before me. It wasn't more than 10 seconds long and I probably looked away in 5 seconds, but the picture remains in my mind. I will never get it out. I live with it. Perhaps you have all had similar experiences -- a picture, an incident, a memory that will never go away.

"The DaVinci Code" is a hoax, based on lies. Plain and simple. The book, by Dan Brown, and the movie, directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, tells a lurid and vivid story and paints a picture of our Lord, Mary Magdalene, and others that probably has never crossed your mind before. Yet, if you read the book or see the movie those pictures will be placed in your mind. You can deny their reality. You can say, "Well, it was just a movie." But the fact is, for some of you, each time you read the Gospels or hear Mary's name mentioned, the picture will return. You may not believe the picture. Your heart and mind may tell you that the movie is false and the Scriptures are right. But the fact remains -- the picture will come back to you. It is with that understanding that I have decided that I will not see the movie.

Today's edition of The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has an excellent critique of the book and movie. It quotes scholars who debunk the premise and details of the fictional story. I would invite all of you to read the article here.

I have also included links below to some very accurate and worthwhile critiques of the book. The first one is the most concise, but all of them are brief and easy to understand. If you decide to see the movie or read the book, these articles may help to explain the lies that will be placed before your eyes and into your minds. If you do not plan to read the book or see the movie, these articles will aid you in helping those who have seen the movie and are now confused.

Crosswalk
Crisis Magazine
Institute for Religious Research
Answers In Action
Beliefnet

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Posted on March 16, 2006

DISTRICT CONVENTION

My Name Stands In Nomination

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Posted on February13, 2006

EVOLUTION SUNDAY

Holy Darwin?!?!

Yesterday, throughout the United States, hundreds of churches celebrated Evolution Sunday.  The emphasis is rather simple ... and deathly wrong -- namely that there is no conflict between evolution and biblical Christianity.  Take a look at the Denver Post article for the actual details and then head over to Dr. Veith's blog for analysis.  Just scroll down to the post titled: "The Feast of St. Darwin" (that title is tongue-in-cheek, by the way).

I would just like to add one comment here that is often overlooked by Christians.  Belief in evolution (and it is a belief -- with no scientific proof to its credit) takes more than just denying what the Bible says about creation.  To believe in evolution you must deny the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.  For a person to say, "Well, I believe in that evolution stuff, but I also believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior," only shows that this person has not thought things through or is just too stupid to figure it out.

The Bible says that death is the result of sin. "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned"  [Romans 5:12 ].  It also says that Jesus came into this world to deliver us from the consequences of sin, namely death.  "For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ" [Romans 5:17]. 

Here's the crux of the matter:  Evolution states that death  has been occuring for millions of years.  Therefore death was a part of this world long before Adam and Eve sinned.  Therefore death is not the result of sin, but a natural occurance.  Therefore Jesus did not come into the world to redeem us from death.  After all, why would He save us from something that is normal and natural, something that He, as Creator, apparently designed into the system a billion years ago?

Therefore -- if evolution is true -- if death preceeded the fall of Adam and Eve into sin -- then Jesus died for nothing and is, in reality, no Savior at all.  Teach this distinction to your children.  Some naive folk believe that the first chapter Genesis is the only casualty of evolution, when, in fact, the entire Gospel falls if evolution stands.

By the way, if you would like more great information that combats the theory of evolution and gives solid evidence for God's creative work, go to the web site for THE INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH.  It's an excellent pro-creation web site filled with pages of useful information by some of the leading scientists in the world, who just happen to believe that God created the world in six days.

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Posted on February 2, 2006

SOUTH WISCONSIN DISTRICT CONVENTION UPDATE

Overtures From Our Congregation

On June 11-13, 2006 the 51st Convention of the South Wisconsin District of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod will convene on the campus of Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon, Wisconsin.  Over the next few months I will be posting updates here about things to watch for at the convention.  But for now, I  have posted thirteen overtures or resolutions that our congregation is submitting to the convention for consideration and adoption.  Most of these overtures are written to correct or reverse the abberant direction our district and synod has travelled in the past several years.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THESE RESOLUTIONS

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Posted on Reformation Day, October 31, 2005

THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD DOCTRINE

I found this while surfing Rev. Paul McCain's blog site this morning (see post below for the link to Pastor McCain's web site). What a wonderful quote from Dr. C. F. W. Walther, the first president of the Missouri Synod.  What a wonderful encouragment these words are to confessional pastors who are being hounded to stop insisting on pure doctrine and start saving souls. 

"It is true, brethren, as you well know, that in our day it is common for people to say, 'Emphasizing doctrine so much only harms and hinders the kingdom of God, yes, even destroys it.' Many say, 'Instead of disputing over doctrine so much, we should much rather be concerned with souls and with leading them to Christ.' But all who speak in this way do not really know what they are saying or what they are doing. As foolish as it would be to scold a farmer for being concerned about sowing good seed and to demand of him simply to be concerned about a good harvest, so foolish it is to scold those who are concerned first and foremost with the doctrine, and to demand of them that they should rather seek to rescue souls. For just as the farmer who wants a good crop must first of all be concerned about good seed, so the church must above all be concerned about right doctrine if it would save souls." (C.F.W.Walther, "Our Common Task: The Saving of Souls" [1872])

These words of Walther serve as an indictment of the Missouri Synod's entire "Ablaze" movement, which has committed millions of dollars to tally a "harvest" with no concern whatsoever as to the quality of the "seed" that is to be sown.

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Posted on October 20, 2005

DOES BEING LUTHERAN STILL MATTER?

I would like to call your attention to an article written by Pastor Paul T. McCain on his blog site Cyberbrethren Lutheran Blog.  It clearly, forthrightly, and succintly answers the question, "Does being a Lutheran still matter?"  If you know the answer to this question, read the article -- it will provide encouragement and support.  If you don't know the answer to this question, by all means, read the article -- it may very well save you someday from abandoning the Gospel for the works righteousness of either the Roman Catholic Church or what passes as modern Protestantism.  You can find Pastor McCain's article here.  By the way, Pastor's McCain's blog site is well worth a weekly visit.  I would encourage you to bookmark it.

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Posted on September 12, 2005

TEXAS CONFESSIONAL LUTHERAN FREE CONFERENCE

The Texas Confessional Lutheran Free Conference was held on September 9-10 in Brenham, Texas.  The theme for the conference was "Contending For The Faith".  Three exellent papers were presented there, all dealing with the crisis we continue to face in The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.  Links to those papers can be found here:

         Paper by Dr. Laurence White:  "Contending For The Faith: An Historical Case Study Of Doctrinal Change Within The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod"

         Paper by Rev. Daniel Preus:  "Contending For The Faith -- Present Challenges"

         Paper by Rev. Richard Bolland:  "Contending For The Faith -- Future Outlook"

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Posted on August 11, 2005

SISTER CHURCH ADMONISHES THE LCMS

It's uncomfortable, but understandable, when another Lutheran synod criticizes The Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod for its doctrine or practice.  We are different from WELS, the ELS, the ELCA, and others.  We are not in fellowship with these churches.  We cannot commune at their altars, nor they at ours.  Our pastors cannot preach in their pulpits, nor they in ours.  So, when they speak out against something we have said or done, it's easy to take it with a grain of salt.  After all, they're not like us.  We shrug it off saying, "Well, they have some kind of ax to grind."

But what happens when we are admonished by a church body with whom we are in fellowship?  We are in fellowship with The Lutheran Church - Canada.  We are partners, sisters, if you will.  We can share altars and pulpits with them.  What happens when a sister church, a valued part of our larger family, takes strong issue with something we've said or done?  I believe in such cases we would be wise to listen and listen carefully.  Here is not a church body with an ax to grind, a church with some inbred hostility toward us, a church with a history of looking for opportunities to take issue with us, a church that relishes every opportunity to scold us.  Here is a church that loves the LCMS, that cares about us, that has shown that love by being in a warm and sharing relationship of fellowship with us for many years.

In June of this year The Lutheran Church - Canada met in convention.  Copied below is a resolution that was adopted by our sister church to the north.  It is a serious resolution.  It is reason for our LCMS leaders to reflect and to repent.  Will we in the LCMS take this resolution seriously, or will we ignore it?  I pray that our LCMS leadership will read it, take it to heart, and be moved by it to repent and to thank our sister church in Canada for loving us enough to speak the truth to us.

Here is the resulution, presented and adopted by The Lutheran Church - Canada at their 2005 convention:

OVERTURE 1.08   To Offer Fraternal Admonishment to The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod

WHEREAS it is the nature of church fellowship that those who are part of that fellowship are co-responsible for all public doctrine and practice of the member church bodies; and

WHEREAS altar and pulpit Fellowship is currently enjoyed by Lutheran Church–Canada and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod; and

WHEREAS this fellowship is based on a complete agreement in doctrine, including matters dealing with unionism and syncretism; and

WHEREAS according to the constitutions of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and Lutheran Church–Canada, conditions for acquiring and holding membership in the Synod, include the renunciation of unionism and syncretism of every description (Article IV:2); and

WHEREAS The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod has approved the participation of the president of the Atlantic District of the LCMS in a unionistic worship service that included not only representatives of heterodox church bodies but also Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Jews; and

WHEREAS the LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters has made an official binding decision declaring that since the president of that district acted on the advice of his ecclesiastical supervisor he cannot be charged with violating God’s Sacred Word thereby placing the opinion of the ecclesiastical supervisor above the opinions of the Word of God; and

WHEREAS to remain silent and to fail to warn our sister church body about the nature of its sin is not only unloving but also makes Lutheran Church–Canada a participant of that sin (Ezekiel 33:8-9); and

WHEREAS if this matter is not resolved it might jeopardize the fellowship that Lutheran Church–Canada enjoys with The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod which has been blessed in so many ways; therefore be it

RESOLVED that Lutheran Church–Canada meeting in convention fraternally admonish our sister church body, The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod to adhere to the confessional standards of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and renounce all forms of syncretism and unionism; and be it further

RESOLVED that the members of Lutheran Church–Canada offer prayers to God that the unity of the holy catholic church would be manifested by the church on earth as it renounces all sin and error and subscribes unconditionally to Holy Word of God and the Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

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Posted on July 14, 2005

WORSHIP OR DIVINE SERVICE?

“Something has changed. Something looks different and I just can’t put my finger on it.”  Perhaps you’ve said that as you’ve looked at the sign on our front lawn as it's pictured on the home page of our web site or the church calendar also found on our web site.  Or perhaps you haven’t noticed at all.  Something has changed. Worship has changed!

“It has? No, it hasn’t! It’s the same as always.”

Well, the event hasn’t changed. The activity that takes place on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings hasn’t changed. But the name has changed. Where the church sign and the web site and the calendar used to say Worship, it now says Divine Service.  A different name for the same thing — why?   Okay, let’s explain.

The word “worship” is a good word, a biblical word, and certainly an appropriate word to describe what goes on in church on Thursday and Sunday. The word worship comes from the old English word “worthship”. The idea is that we attend a worship service to show how much God is “worth” to us. We value Him, we praise Him, we honor Him, and so we “worship” Him. As my pastor once said to us in confirmation class, “How much is God worth to you? You answer that question every Sunday morning when you decide to either stay in bed or go to church.”

Okay, so “worship” is a good word. Then why did we change it? Well, we found a better word (two words, actually). And those two words are: “DIVINE SERVICE”

Why are those words better? It’s all a matter of history and of emphasis.  Divine Service had been the name for our Sunday morning activity long before the word “worship” became the popular name to use. In fact, in Germany, the term “Gottesdienst” (literally “God’s Service”) has been used since the time of Luther and is still the preferred name.

So, Divine Service has history on it’s side. It also has emphasis. While “worship” places emphasis on us and what we do during that hour in church (we value, we honor, we worship), Divine Service (or “God’s Service”) places the emphasis on God and what He does for us during that hour.  You see, for that hour on Sunday morning (or Thursday evening), we aren’t doing for God — God is doing for us. God comes to us and He serves us in His Word and in His Sacraments. We aren’t the givers — God is!  We attend that church service so that the Divine (God) may Serve us — see, Divine Service!  We are the receivers and God is the Giver.

That simple name change really changes the emphasis, doesn’t it? We don’t go to church to do God a favor (I wonder how many of us actually think that). We attend so that God can do us a favor. We enter the church with an empty sack so that God can pour into it all of the blessings of life, peace, and forgiveness that He has brought for us that day — all given to us in His Word and Sacraments. Who would want to sleep in and miss a chance for that?

God serves us, so let’s call it what it is — it’s God’s Service.

It’s Divine Service!

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Posted June 27, 2005

PASTOR ANDREW THOMPSON INSTALLED

Yesterday (June 26) I had the opportunity to attend and participate in Pastor Andrew Thompson's installation as Associate Pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Wayside, Wisconsin.  Pastor Thompson vicared here at St. Peter's from August 2004 to August 2005.  You can see a few pictures from the event by clicking HERE.

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Posted May 18, 2005

HELLO, GOODBYE

“Hello. Hello. I don’t know why you say goodbye, I say hello.”  Remember those words?  If you do, you’re really old — like me. They are the lyrics to that old Beatles song, “Hello, Goodbye.” Hello and goodbye. The beginning and the end of something as simple as a phone call or as complicated as a life-long relationship, or anything in between.  In the next few weeks and months we will again be saying “hello” and “goodbye” to several special servants of our Lord.

Goodbye to Mr. Jerry Jiter, our school principal. Thanks, Mr. Jiter, for caring for our children and for your leadership in the midst of a “rocky” couple of years. Your talents, warmth, and love for the Lord and His precious little ones will be missed.

Hello to Mrs. Tiffany Van Sliedrecht, our new principal. Your dedication to our school and its children over the past several years has been a source of encouragement and inspiration to all of us. The Lord has blessed you and blessed us through your ministry among us. It is with excitement and anticipation that we look forward to your leadership as our new principal. We pledge you our cooperation, our respect, and our prayers on your behalf.

Goodbye to Mrs. Kim Leinweber, our kindergarten teacher. We’re glad this is only a temporary goodbye. You are leaving us for a year to finish your teaching course work, but you will return next year, and for that we are most grateful.

Hello to Mrs. Carolyn Fish, our new 5th - 7th grade teacher. Your reputation as a caring Christian teacher preceeds you, and we look forward to the blessings that God will bestow upon our school through your ministry among us.

Goodbye to Vicar and Katie Abatelli. Though we should be getting used to the comings and goings of our vicars and their families, we all still grow attached to the young men and women the Lord sends among us. Each of our vicars and their wives is unique, and each holds a special place in our hearts and memories.

Hello to Vicar Ryan Meyer and is soon-to-be-wife, Cathy. We eagerly await your arrival in August and we pray that your time among us will be a blessing to you.

Goodbye to Dorothy Hollister, our talented and dedicated organist and friend. Dorothy won’t be leaving for her new home in Florida until the end of September, but we are already saddened by the departure of someone who has filled our worship with music for two decades. Many a worshiper, or a wedding couple, or a grieving widow, has found joy and inspiration and healing in music that the Lord allowed you to share with us.

(We are now in need of a church organist -- any help you can provide would be appreciated.

Please email me with inquiries or information.  Thanks!)

Goodbye and hello. May God continue to bless all of us as He works His gracious will among us.

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Posted April 7, 2005

SPRING PASTOR'S CONFERENCE  WRAP-UP

Just a quick update on the Spring Conference in LaCrosse.  It was a good conference.  Both Dr. Scaer and Dr. Burreson gave excellent presentations.  Also delightful was the time spent with my fellow pastors.  Good food, good cigars, good "adult beverages" and good conversation.

As noted in the post below, President Kieschnick was there and, as also noted, he took questions submitted in writing ahead of time.  The good news was that he addressed just about every question that was submitted, even the tough ones.  The bad news was that, once again, his answers were quite fluid and vague.  I submitted a question.  "Considering that you are a member of Concordia Lutheran Church in Kirkwood Missouri where women regularly distribute communion, would you care to comment on how you feel about women distributing the sacrament?"  His answer, in a nutshell, was this:  Personally, I don't like the practice, but since our governing body allows it, I tolerate it.  I wish he would have allowed follow-up questions.  I would like to know why he doesn't like it.  If his reasons are Scriptural (as mine are) then he has no business tolerating it.  And if he sees no Scriptural prohibition, why not?  It's certainly there as plain as day.  He made the whole issue sound like one of taste or personal preference, instead of what it is, a question of doctrine.

Quite frankly, the cat and mouse game is getting very tiresome.

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Posted March 29, 2005

SPRING PASTOR'S CONFERENCE

April 3-6 in LaCrosse, WI

I am looking forward to attend this year's spring conference for the pastors of the South Wisconsin District of the LCMS, held in LaCrosse.  It's always great to be able to hear some good conference speakers and to sit around and talk with "the brethren."

Main speakers this year will be Dr. David Scaer, professor at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana and Dr. Kent Burreson, Assistant Professor at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.

One interesting note is that Dr. Gerald Kieschnick, our synod president, will be there on Monday with a Q&A session scheduled.  I'd like to ask him to clarify a few things about "the elephant in the parlor," but that opportunity probably won't happen.  The last time he visited our district he insisted that questions be submitted in writing several hours prior to his speaking session.  He did a very savvy job of sorting the questions, completely ignoring some very serious questions that were submitted, yet finding it fitting to include a question that someone asked about his dog.  His Q&A session this time is scheduled to last only one half hour, so I don't expect anything profound.

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Posted March 29, 2005

UPCOMING SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT

I will be speaking at a conference of concerned South Wisconsin District pastors and laypeople on Saturday, April 9th.  I have been asked to present the same paper that I presented at our congregational forum on November 28,2004 and at our Circuit Convocation on February 13th of this year.  I will, of course, include updates on situations that have changed in our synod since those presentations were first made.

If you would like the time and location of this April 9th conference, please email me and I will be happy to share that information with you.

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Posted on March 9, 2005

Updated on March 16, 2005

Updated (yet again!) March 22, 2005

CIRCUIT CONVOCATION UPDATE

COP Hears Our Concerns

I have been in email correspondence with South Wisconsin District President Rev. Dr. Ronald E. Meyer concerning last month's meeting of the Council of Presidents (COP).  As noted in the February 15th post below, President Meyer said he would take our concerns to the COP for discussion.  He shared with me, in an email, a brief update on what happened.  With his permission, posted here is a copy of that email (printed in "red").  (NOTE:  Since this email was first posted here on March 16th, there has been no end to the calls I have received from individuals who have no idea what President Meyer is talking about.  I'm confused as well.  However, in the interest of providing some clarity, although perhaps to no one other than me, I have posted my comments within his text.  My comments are in "blue.")

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The concerns as raised at the Convocation were shared in the discussions that occured in the context of the COP meeting as I had suggested. (Actually, taking our concerns to the COP was not President Meyer's "suggestion."  At the February 13th Convocation we were the ones who petitioned him to do so.  At the very most he consented.)  The 8.01a issues were surfaced in the midst of a training period. Mr. Ted Kober of "Ambassadors of Reconciliation", who provided the training for the newly named "reconcilers" of the Synod's districts over a three week period January-February, was present to train the District Presidents for their potential role as members of Appeal Panels. (In other words, our concerns were only voiced in the context of other related business.  If such topics had not come up at the COP meeting, apparently our concerns would not have been shared.)  An emphasis again was made there on the fact that 8.01a separates the ecclesiastical supervision issues from the reconciliation procedures that previously had been confused [mixed together] in the by-laws.  (In reality, 8.01a does something far different than just separate "ecclesiastical supervision" from "reconciliation procedures."  It takes the authority to judge shepherds out of the hands of the sheep and places it in the hands of the District Presidents.  8.01a is not merely some kind of housekeeping resolution, but one that fundamentally shifts authority from 2.5 million laypeople to elected officials.)

Other items were raised in the context of discussions that took place addressing the various issues being talked about and experienced around the church both in the midst of formal presentation and dialog as well as in a variety of less formal conversations that take place around the meeting time. The formal times took place under a few different Agenda items, namely - 1] "Areas of Concern in the Church", including prayerful consideration given to the concerns that were gathered from all the members of the COP, (I assume this means that our other concerns were shared here.  Or perhaps not.  Regardless, it appears that we are not going to be told what conclusions were reached by the COP after their "prayerful consideration.)  2] "Guidelines on Service of Women" that included presentation and dialog exchange with members of the CTCR and 3] a report and dialog guided by the COP's "Convention Action Committee."  (I would like to know what the content of this "dialog" was.  Considering that it was the CTCR that hopelessly muddled the synod's understanding of the role of women in the first place, I'm sure they were less than stellar in explaining themselves.  The "Convention Action Committee"???   Who are these people and who decided they they should "guide" the COP?  Is it just me, or does it seem that there are more committees than there are people in the synod?)

Finally, I would share that all of our devotional and prayer time together focused on "Nurturing Relationships - Synod as Nurture" with each new segment dealing with a different part of the COP's "To Restore Harmony and Trust" statement.  ("Synod as Nurture"???  Who comes up with this stuff, Rev. Lovejoy?  The last time our leaders in St. Louis turned their attention to me it was not offer nurture, but it was rather in the form of a memo from President Kieschnick to the District Presidents to smack down on those malcontents who signed the "That They May Be One" document.  Which leads me to "Harmony and Trust."  I think that trust will be restored only when things like this are explained.  It's easy to say "Play nice" when you're holding all the cards and some of those cards weren't even the deck when the game began.  And why is it that whenever our leaders say that trust and harmony must be restored, they're always looking at me as if I'm the one who can't be trusted.  I would love harmony.  But, in the paraphrased words of St. Augustine, "In this world of so-called true opinions, let truth itself beget harmony.")

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I leave it to each of you to study and digest the content of President Meyer's report.  If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to post them here.  (Note:  Be sure to click on "New Entry" in the upper right-hand corner of the box so that you post will appear.)

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Posted on February 15, 2005

LAST SUNDAY'S CIRCUIT CONVOCATION (FORUM)

Wrap-up and Assessment

Last Sunday (Feb. 13th, 3:00 PM) we hosted a special circuit-wide forum here at church.  (See the post below dated December 11th for details on the agenda).  About 350 people from over a dozen congregations were in attendance.  Our South Wisconsin District President, Rev. Dr. Ronald E. Meyer, was our guest.

Rev. John Berg, counselor for circuit 26 led the opening devotion.

President Meyer was then given an opportunity to share a few opening remarks.

I then came to the podium and spent about 30 minutes sharing our serious concerns regarding the four issues on the agenda:

(1) Our inability, as a synod, to deal with those who teach false doctrine.
(2) The debate between the Board of Directors and the Committee on Constitutional Matters.
(3) The expanding role of women in the church.
(4) The synod’s inability to define or deal with syncretism and unionism.

My arguments were basically the same ones I presented at our congregational forum held on November 28, 2004 (see posts below dated November 15 and November 30).  My presentation can be found here.

Rev. Dr. Meyer was then given the opportunity to respond to these issues, after which those in attendance were given an opportunity to ask Dr. Meyer questions.

The convocation concluded at about 5:30 PM.

My impressions of the convocation.  They are mixed.  On the positive side, President Meyer said that he would take our concerns to the Council of Presidents and our synodical President, Dr. Gerald Kieschnick, when he meets with them next week.  I am encouraged by President Meyer's promise to take these issues to those who have the power to address them and initiate moves back to biblical orthodoxy.  I look forward to contacting President Meyer in a couple of weeks to see how that went.  On the neutral side, in the past several days quite a few people have called me and said that that President Meyer often didn't answer the questions that were addressed to him.  His answers were often very "fluid" and tangential to the specific questions asked.  On the negative side (at least from my standpoint), was the answer that President Meyer gave when asked this question by a member of the audience, "If you could have voted at the July synodical convention on the four issues we have addressed today, which way would you have voted on each item?"  President Meyer's answer was that he would have voted "yes" on each issue.  In other words, he is in agreement with the convention's decisions on each issue in contention.

What happens now?  We keep confessing the truth and pressing the issues.  We see how the Council of Presidents and President Kieschnick react and respond to the issues we raised as they will be be shared next week by President Meyer.  We continue to pray, to seek God's guidance, and we continue to explore all the options that are open to us as we labor for the Lord and His truth in a synod that is without a doubt standing at a critical crossroad between orthodoxy and heterodoxy.

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Posted on February 15, 2005

SCHOOL FINANCIAL SITUATION

I have written a letter to all of the members of our congregation concerning the financial situation of our school.  You can read that letter here.

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Posted on December 11, 2004

SPECIAL CIRCUIT-WIDE FORUM

FEBRUARY 13th

3:00 PM

On November 28th we held a special congregational Forum here at church to discuss many of the serious problems we are facing in our synod. (See the following two posts below.)  The turn-out was extremely encouraging. You may recall that four issues were discussed in some detail.

(1) Our inability to deal with those who teach false doctrine.
(2) The debate between the Board of Directors and the Committee on Constitutional Matters.
(3) The expanding role of women in the church.
(4) The synod’s inability to define or deal with syncretism and unionism.

If you would like a refresher on that November 28th Forum, click here, or view a VHS video tape of the event (available from the church office).

One outcome of this Forum was the strong feeling that we need to have our District President, Rev. Dr. Ronald E. Meyer, join us to discuss these issues and to listen to our concerns. He has consented to do this and will be here at church to meet with us on Sunday, February 13th at 3:00 PM.

This will be a “Circuit Forum” and not just a congregational Forum. This basically means that more pastors and laypeople from our two circuits (Racine & Kenosha Counties) will be in attendance than those who attended in November. Some pastors and laypeople will no doubt share our concerns. Some may, quite frankly, be unsure of the issues or the seriousness of them.  And some, unfortunately, may very well be in favor of the changes that are occuring in our synod.  This will be a chance for us to listen, and to respectfully, yet boldly, let it be known to a wider group (and to our District President himself) just where we stand. We need an equal or greater turn-out than we had in November. Please make every effort to attend.

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Posted on November 30, 2004

FOLLOW-UP ON LAST SUNDAY'S

CONGREGATIONAL FORUM

Here are a few statistics concerning last Sunday's congregational forum.  (See the post dated November 15, 2004 for details on the purpose and agenda for this forum). 

140 people registered, but judging by the number of tables we set up, there were probably closer to 160 people in attendance.

The people who registered and attended represent eight congregations:  St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Waterford; St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Union Grove; St. John Lutheran Church, Racine; Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Greenfield; Lamb of God Lutheran Church, Pleasant Prairie; Our Savior Lutheran Church, Burlington; Messiah Lutheran Church, Kenosha; and Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Wauwatosa.  In addition to yours truly, there were three pastors in attendance, including Rev. John Berg, our Circuit Counselor, who provided wise and insightful help in the question and answer portion of the forum.

The forum was video taped.  Copies will be available soon for anyone who wishes to borrow one.

I have also posted my presentation notes from the forum.  They can he found here.  They are in .pdf format.  Obviously, these notes don't include all of the questions and discussion that made this forum worthwhile, but they do give the gist of my part in the forum.

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Posted on November 15, 2004

SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL FORUM

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28th

3:00 PM

In the past few months I’ve shared with many of you the serious problems we are facing in our synod. If these things bother you, you’re not alone. These concerns are shared by many in our congregation. Basically two questions are being asked.

(1) What are the issues?
(2) What can we do about it?

In an attempt to answer these questions a special congregational forum has been scheduled. It will be held on November 28th, at 3:00 PM. It is critical that all of you who share these concerns be there.  A copy of the agenda can be found here.

Initially this was going to be a circuit-wide forum with representatives from many of our sister congregations in Racine and Kenosha counties. However, because District President Meyer will not be there, and for other reasons, most of these congregations have backed out. We hope that a forum can be planned for spring, at a time when President Meyer will consent to join us. That’s all well and good, but I feel we must go ahead with this November forum, even if only our people and perhaps a few pastors and laypeople from other congregations attend. It’s important to discuss the two questions posed above.

Special Note: The Packers don’t have a game on this afternoon. You will not miss a Packer game by attending this forum.

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Posted on October 27, 2004

Melrose Park Conference Update

The Free Conference that I attended in Melrose Park, IL was extremely beneficial and instructive.  If you would like to read the many fine papers that were presented there, go to the Consensus website.  Of particular interest is the paper presented by Rev. Glenn Huebel.  It's worth the time.  I have also posted my sermon for Reformation Day, which touches on the issues raised at the Conference.

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Posted on September 6, 2004

Critique of "The Purpose Driven Life"

In my sermon yesterday I touched on the dangers inherent in the popular book by Rick Warren, "The Purpose Driven Life."  People have since asked for a more detailed critique.   I would direction your attention here, to a transcript of a radio program called "Issues, Etc."  It is rather lengthy, but will provide an excellent analysis of the book and the theology behind it.

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Posted on August 30, 2004

Pastor Heath Curtis Ordination

I had the privilege and opportunity to preach for the Ordination of Pastor Heath Curtis, our vicar for 2002-2003.  The service was yesterday, August 29th, at his new church, Trinity Lutheran Church in Burr Ridge, Illinois.  I have posted a copy of the sermon I preached.  You can find it here.  (Note:  In the church year, yesterday marked the Commemoration of the Beheading of John the Baptist.  Pastor Curtis picked those readings for his Ordination.  Believe me, writing a sermon for an ordination based on the text where John the Baptist lost his head was a challenge.)

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Posted on August 25, 2004

Crisis Update:  Melrose Park Conference

My reservations and registration are complete for the October 21-23 conference in Melrose Park, IL.  It's being called the "Chicago Free Conference."  Scheduled speakers include Rev. Daniel Preus (former First Vice President of the LCMS whose letter appears at the end of the August 3rd post below), Dr. Kurt Marquart and Dr. Lawrence Rast (both are professors at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN), Dr. David Adams (professor at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis), and Rev. Todd Peperkorn (pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church in Kenosha).  Other speakers are also scheduled.

Details concerning the Chicago Free Conference, including topics to be presented, can be found here.

I will keep you informed of further developments.

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Posted on August 3, 2004

Crisis Update

By now most of you have probably read my article printed below (July 15).  You are aware of the things that have transpired at the recent Synodical Convention and the disturbing path that our synod seems to be walking. You also know where I stand on these issues.

What I want you to know now is what I plan on doing. First of all, the one thing I don’t plan on doing is nothing. To ignore certain convention decisions, or to simply shrug our collective shoulders and hope it all just goes away will only allow our synod to move toward the day when our beloved LCMS becomes indistinguishable from the ELCA, the UCC, or other denominations that have exchanged the truth of God’s Word for the expediency of worldly lies. I have to be honest and tell you that I don’t know yet what I plan to do. All I know now is that I don’t plan to bury my head in the sand, nor do I plan to immediately walk away from the Missouri Synod, though that day may come.

I am taking steps to clarify what I must do by gathering with like-minded people to look at the issues and the options. On August 16th I will be meeting with area pastors in Racine to study the issues brought to light at the convention. Then, on October 21-23 I plan on spending three days in Melrose Park, Illinois, meeting with pastors and lay people from all across our country to discuss three critical areas: (1)   What happened at the 2004 Synodical Convention and what does this mean? (2) How can we teach the truth to a wayward Church. (3) Where do we go from here?

I pray that these two meetings will be used by our Lord to instruct and lead us out of our confusion into some kind of understanding and clarity. I will keep all of you informed.  In the meantime, please continue to keep me, our congregation, and our dear Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod in your prayers.

NOTE : I recently received an open letter from Rev. Daniel Preus. You will recall that Pastor Preus was the First Vice-President of our Synod who spoke so clearly and biblically concerning the “Prayer for America (Yankee Stadium)” event and was defeated in his bid to be Synodical President at the recent convention. His letter can be found here and is worth reading.

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Posted on July 15, 2004

Crisis in the LCMS

As I write this, the 62nd Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod is concluding. Results can be found on the synod’s web site (www.lcms.org). I would like to share a few of my impressions and reactions to the Convention.

Elections

Dr. Gerald Kieschnick was re-elected as synod President, receiving 53% of the votes cast. As you know, President Kieschnick approved, supported, and defended Atlantic District President David Benke’s participation in a unionistic and syncretistic worship service at Yankee Stadium shortly after the events of 9-11. At the time, Vice- Presidents Rev. Daniel Preus and Rev. Wallace Schultz correctly questioned Rev. Benke’s participation. Both of these fine pastors and theologians were defeated in their election bids at the convention.

Elected to replace them as 1st and 2nd Vice-Presidents were Rev. William Diekelman and Dr. Paul Maier. Also elected as 3rd through 5th VP’s were Dr. Dean Nadasdy, Dr. Robert King, and Rev. David Buegler. With the lone exception of Dr. King, these men have spoken, to greater or lesser degrees, in support of Dr. Benke’s decision to worship with Muslims and other non-Christian clerics and later stating that Muslims also worship the true God. Some of these men have ties to groups within our synod which have the stated goal of moving our synod toward the ordination of women and developing full fellowship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), which has women pastors, funds abortions for their clergy and supports the gay lifestyle.

With the exception of 4th Vice-President Dr. King and Rev. Raymond Hartwig (who was re-elected as synod Secretary), confessional Lutherans no longer have a voice in the halls of leadership in our beloved synod.  In other elections, a number of conservatives were elected to the synod’s Board of Directors. However, a resolution was passed that removed most of the Boards decision-making power.

 

Decisions & Directions

A new church-growth program called “Ablaze” was passed. Based on gimmicks and feel-good ideas used by many non-denominational churches, 100 million dollars was approved to fund it for the next six years. This was approved despite the fact that our synod is in serious financial shape, so much so that dozens of foreign missionaries have been called home in the past two years because of lack of funding.

A resolution regarding ecclesiastical supervision was passed. Simply put, District Presidents are no longer answerable to anyone but the Synodical President, and he cannot be questioned or disciplined except every three years by the synod meeting in convention.

On the Positive Side ...

The convention affirmed that marriage is between “one man and one woman” and soundly rejected gay marriage.

We’ve declared fellowship with the Kenyan Lutheran Church (Kenya, Africa).

The convention voted to urge congregations to provide greater financial support for men and women training to be pastors and parochial school teachers.

The convention also approved a new hymnal, set for production in the next year or so. It includes our current liturgies (pages 15, 32, & 41) as well as many of our present hymns, along with new liturgies and hymns.

Conclusions

In many ways our synod is moving in some very disturbing directions. It appears to be fracturing. Only God knows what the future holds. May He have mercy on us and restore to us again the exclusive truths of His infallible and inerrant Word.

As for us, may we watch and pray. May God give us the courage to stand up, not for what is expedient, popular, faddish, or politically correct, but for what is true and pleasing to the one holy Triune God. And may He give us the wisdom to see, and the willingness to bear, whatever such faithfulness to Him and His Word may cost us. If you have any questions or concerns about what you read here or on the synod’s web site, feel free to give me a call.