The Call Process in the LCMS

Because very few people (even within the LCMS) understand how the call process works, especially for first calls, I thought I would try and explain how it works for those who are interested. What it most definitely is not is a send-out-resumes, interview, get-a-job process. Some church bodies work that way. It is also not [...]

Loehe on Preaching

[from pp. 396-397 of The Minister's Prayer, edited by John Doberstein (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1986)] In preaching, the church does not aim to support the holy Word by human art, but the chief matter is not to hinder its power and operation and not to impose upon the Word any kind or manner of operation [...]

Call Day

Finally, after five years (including my STM year), the day has come.  Just a few hours until I receive my call into the Office of the Holy Ministry. A fitting meditation for today, as well as for all vocations in this world, is Dr. Joel Biermann’s sermon given yesterday in the chapel.  Go here, launch [...]

Michael Moore has Values!

The scariest quote I’ve seen in recent days comes from Michael Moore in the pages of the May 3-17 issue of Rolling Stone.  In the midst of a bunch of interviews largely lamenting the passing of the sixties generation–Tom Wolfe and Bob Dylan among the exceptions–Michael Moore is quoted as saying, “The good news is [...]

Turning Back the Tide?

I’m not too optimistic about turning a culture of death into a culture of life.  But perhaps we had a glimmer of hope today.  The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to uphold the 2003 partial-birth (what else could it be called?) abortion ban.  If nothing else, the re-election of George Bush in 2004 had this consequence, [...]

“Redefinitions”

This from Satis Est, an ELCA blogger.  I can’t say I’m surprised, but Christian charity compels us to pray for both the agenda-driven agitators and those who are trying (in vain, perhaps) to hold back the flood with their hands. Timotheos

“Religion Without Truth”

Stanley Fish is not a Christian, but he understands the claims of Christianity better than some Christians. Discussing the recent Time piece on teaching the Bible, he writes: Stephen Prothero of Boston University, who is cited several times by [author David] Van Biema, describes the project and the claim attached to it succinctly: “The academic [...]

Comment Change

I have changed the comment process so you don’t have to register to comment.  I will, however, moderate them.  If I get too much spam, I will have to change back, though.  Thanks. Timotheos

The Issue, Part II

[Read the first part here.] Why do all, or nearly all, of our (Lutheran–but a very convincing case can be made that the mainline denominations are simply further along the degeneration caused by a Law/Gospel polarity) problems stem from the central issue of failing properly to distinguish Law and Gospel?  Think about your conversations on [...]

The Issue

The other day, Pr. Petersen asked what the next big issue would be in the LCMS.  On what would future generations, he wondered, look back and ask, “What could they have been thinking?”  He proposed infant communion.  I am opposed to that practice for a few reasons.  One, I think that it is impossible for infants to recognize the [...]