So, um, yeah...

...Crystal is kissing a pig. Why am I not surprised???

"Ahas" During the Readings

Hate it when that happens! I want to scribble it down lest I forget it as fast as it came along. In the Babel account, humanity is active: "let us, let us, let us" and afraid "lest we be dispersed." And thus at the heart of Babel is man's attempt to reach God, to do and to work, to storm heaven by our deeds. And the Lord rejects this utterly and scatters people. When Babel is reversed it is clear that it is not our doing, but His giving which accomplishes and delivers salvation.

And in the Gospel today, when our Lord says: "the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me." The ruler of this world HAS a claim [note that the word claim is absent from the Greek; literally, he has nothing in me], has a piece of all who have sinned. As in Narnia, the traitors belong to the white witch. Jesus makes it clear that what's about to befall Him does not come about from Satan having a piece of him, for Satan can never get his clutches into Him. Rather, what our Lord "rises" to go meet is simply what His Father has commanded Him to do, and that's the measure of His love for the Father that He receives even what awaits on Calvary in obedience.

"Yeah, Father, yeah most willingly I'll do what Thou commandest" as we sing.

Patristic Quote of the Day

Just as your head takes priority over all other members of your body, and if a stone, stick, or sword is aimed at you, you raise other members of your body to deflect the blow from your head, knowing that you cannot live in this life without your head - so may you give priority over all things to faith in the Holy Trinity, Which One in essence, for without this faith no one can live the true life. -- St. Ephraim the Syrian, *A Spiritual Psalter* #57

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

God's revelation of Himself to man is for the purpose of implanting and developing within man a new life. -- H. E. Jacobs, *Elements* p. 13

Good Quote on the Hiddenness of God

In the face of this God, theology can only speak of the God who speaks to us through the history of Christ. It refuses to reconcile the inscrutable hiddenness of God and his tangible promise, which does lament death and brings about life through death. It does not try to comprehend God's hiddenness rationally but recognizes that it will always remain a mystery to us this side of the grave. Theology cannot even identify it with his wrath and judgment, because God's wrath and judgment are forms of his love. Therefore, theology cannot even understand it in the light of the distinction and inseparability of law and gospel, the gospel's promise of life and the law's threat of death. -- Oswald Bayer, *Theology the Lutheran Way* pp. 95, 96

Did I Happen to Mention?

That Dean graduated today from Seward? Congratulations, favorite Son-in-law! AND Lauren and Dean are coming home for the summer tomorrow!!! YEAH! Can't wait to beat them at Liverpool.

A New Pentecost Hymn

Holy Spirit, the wind of great power,
Source of strength and of peace and of love,
Truest Comforter, plead,
As You bring all our need
To the throne of God's glory above.
Be the light that enlightens the Scriptures;
Keep our feet from each devilish snare;
Only You can make whole
All that troubles our soul;
By Your chrism, Christ's triumph we share.
[LSB 502:4]

Cindi loves this song. I must confess, though, that I just can't get over the one part where the music is an exact match for "chim-chim-cherie-chim-cheru!"

From Tomorrow's Pentecost Liturgy

ENTRANCE HYMN:
O Holy Spirit, enter in,
And in our hearts Your work begin,
Your dwelling place now make us.
Sun of the soul, O Light divine,
Around and in us brightly shine,
To joy and gladness wake us
That we may be
Truly living,
To You giving
Prayer unceasing
And in love be still increasing. [LSB 913:1]

COLLECT
O God, on this day You once taught the hearts of Your faithful people by sending them the light of Your Holy Spirit. Grant us in our day by the same Spirit to have a right understanding in all things and evermore to rejoice in His holy consolation...

VERSE
Alleluia! Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love! Alleluia!

HYMN OF THE DAY
Come, Holy Fire, comfort true,
Grant us the will Your work to do
And in Your service to abide;
Let trials turn us not aside.
Lord, by Your pow'r prepare each heart,
And to our weakness strength impart
That bravely here we may contend,
Through life and death to You, our Lord, ascend.
Alleluia! Alleluia! [LSB 497:3]

INTERCESSIONS
And we beg You to bless and sanctify by Your Holy Spirit’s power the bread and wine we bring before You that they become for us, through our Savior’s Words, His true Body and Blood, the nourishment of eternal life...

PREFACE
It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all time and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who ascended above the heavens and, sitting at Your right hand, poured out on this day the promised Holy Spirit on His chosen disciples. For all this the whole earth rejoices with exceeding joy. Therefore with angels and archangels...

DISTRIBUTION OF OUR LORD'S BODY AND BLOOD
O sweetest Love, Your grace on us bestow,
Set our hearts with sacred fire aglow,
That with hearts united we love each other,
Ev'ry stranger, sister, and brother.
Lord, have mercy! [LSB 768:2]

POST COMMUNION PRAYER
...and we ask You not to forsake Your children, but always to rule our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that we may be enabled constantly to serve You...

Rain

I'm beginning to think about building that ark...

Hey! We Know Him!

That's St. Paul's own David Sander (well, USED to be St. Paul's own David Sander). Check it out:

click here

Best wishes, David, for a successful election!

Pentecost Homily - Take 2

Homily for Pentecost 2008

Words. Amazing how much of the Bible deals with words. In our first reading today, we heard about mixed up words – folks babbling to each other – as God introduces the confusion of languages to humble human pride, as a check on the wickedness we egg each other onto when we can communicate together flawlessly. Why are there different languages? The Bible’s answer is to keep us from being even more naughty than we already are.

And words are big again in our second reading, as Babel goes into stunning reverse. With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the 50th day after our Lord’s resurrection from the dead, comes speaking. As tongues of flame divide and rest on each of the apostles, and they are filled with the Holy Spirit, what do they do? They begin to speak – speaking as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Spirit of God is yaker. He talks. He’s not silent. He speaks and what He speaks about through the Apostles is one thing: “the mighty works of God” that He accomplished in Jesus Christ. The Spirit wants to talk about Jesus. Find yourself a spirit who wants to talk about something else – something more relevant maybe, like about you, and what you’ve got is NOT the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is all about words that give you Jesus.

And after the crowd heard these mighty works of God in their own languages – the very undoing of Babel – some begin to discount and discredit the whole thing. “They’re just drunk” people begin to say to each other. Using human words and wisdom to try to discount the wisdom and words of God. Peter doesn’t let them get away with it, though.

Up he stands – same fellow that hid behind closed doors a few weeks ago, same fellow who denied his Lord out of fear of a young girl – and now he speaks and what bold words! “Give ear to my words” he cries! “These men are not drunk as you suppose. It’s what God spoke through Joel coming to pass. The Lord is pouring out His Spirit on one and all and they all prophesy, they all speak out, the Spirit gives them words and you ALL need to hear these words, because they are the great promise of God: Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved!”

Words, words, and more words Peter speaks and in all of them the Holy Spirit is present, active, at work. Hearts cut to the quick. Repentance given. Faith engendered and that day 3,000, heeding Peter’s words, land splash in the water and receive Baptism – the gift of rebirth and new life and they become yakers too, talking to others constantly about Jesus and about the great things God has done for us all in and through His Son.

And what do you think we find in the Gospel for the day? More about words! Jesus kicks it off by telling his disciples – remember, it was Maundy Thursday and they were just finishing up in the Upper Room and ready to head to the Garden – Jesus tells his disciples: “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.” Jesus, the Word made flesh, came into our flesh bringing along words. Words, he says, that arise from the heart of God the Father. Words for us to keep and to treasure. Words that are not just “sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Words formed by the Holy Spirit and that crackle with the life of the Father and the Son. Words that, when we let them find a home in us, bring with them the Blessed Trinity.

And the great task of the Holy Spirit when Jesus sends Him would be to help and guarantee that the apostles would remember and pass on those life-giving words. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

Whenever we read from one of the Holy Gospels we are reading the fulfillment of that promise. The holy evangelists fork over to us the words that our Lord brought from heaven so that those words can live inside of us. And when that happens, the Father and Son move in through those Spirit-inspired words. And when we have Father and Son living in us in the Words brought to remembrance by the Spirit, we have the peace that Jesus was talking about: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you…let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

How’s the peace in your life? I can promise you this: if the peace is absent, it’s because you’ve forgotten to let the words Jesus brought live in you, bringing you Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Those words drive out all the fretting, all the anxiety, all the fear, all the anger and upset. None of those things can make it in the presence of the Blessed Trinity. Those words bring peace. Let them live in you and you will find out how utterly true that is.

Those words bring you peace because what they show you is that the Father has loved you from before time began; and that seeing you in your need, in your sin, in your failures and rebellions, He didn’t cast you off or give up on you. No. He sent His Son to bring you forgiveness, to carry your sins to death in His body on the tree so that you might die to sin and live for righteousness. And when His Son’s work of salvation was all through, He didn’t sit back and wait for you to make the first move. He poured out His Spirit – the yaking Spirit – so that you would come know firsthand the love that God has for you. The more the words live in you, the more the peace reigns in you, and you know that God uses even the difficult, trying, disappointing, frustrating and infuriating moments to bless you and so you begin to grow into a peace that is unshakable.

Perhaps no greater peace can ever come to you than comes through the words Jesus spoke that night when He took the bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it. My body for you, My blood for you for the forgiveness of sins. Yes, let those words of the Spirit live in you and you will know peace. And you’ll also have the Spirit living in you who always wants to tell others through you about the mighty deeds of God in Jesus Christ – our Crucified, Risen, Ascended, Reigning and Returning Lord, to whom be glory forever in His holy Church by the Holy Spirit now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Homily for Pentecost

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful people and kindle in us the fire of your love. Amen.

It was on this day, the fiftieth day from the first Easter, that the Lord Jesus kept His promise and poured out His Holy Spirit. In mighty roar of wind and crackle of flame, the Spirit descended and filled the disciples with power. Miraculously they began to speak in languages they had never learned, declaring the mighty deeds of God in Jesus Christ. When the crowds began to think they were drunk, Peter took to the pulpit and preached the first Pentecost Day sermon. From Peter's preaching that day 3,000 souls were baptized and thus Pentecost is called the birthday of the Christian Church.

But if the work of God the Holy Spirit in the Christ's Church began with great fireworks and drew much attention to itself, it has continued quiet and almost unobserved. When the Spirit comes at Baptism, there is no wind, no flame. Merely the splash of water and the quiet promise from the Word of God that forgiveness has been given and a kingdom bestowed, together with a new birth. Likewise, when the Spirit comes to us through the Word, there is no impressive display. Only the quiet and indepth work of imparting faith and forgiveness, and conforming our lives to Christ.

It is the quiet work of the Spirit that Jesus speaks about in today's Gospel. Remember the context. This is Jesus' farewell to his disciples. It is taking place at the Last Supper and as they walk on their way to the Garden where He will be betrayed. He says to them that night: "If anyone loves Me, He will keep My word; and My Father will love him and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me, does not keep My words, and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me."

Those are not words of manipulation, but of rock solid fact. We love Jesus as we keep His words. As His words find a home in our hearts, we will know the love of the Father, and the Father and Jesus Himself come and live in us. That is because the Words of Jesus are the words that His Father gave Him to give to us, that our God might live in our hearts by faith. That we might actually be His temples on the earth.

Still, I wonder that night if those words didn't move the disciples to despair. How wonderful the promise that the Lord Jesus and the Father would dwell in them with the words of Jesus - but oh, how hard to remember the words! How difficult to let them sink in and find a home in the soul! And now He was talking about leaving. He told them that He had only a little time left with them. True, He has the words of everlasting life, but what will become of those words when He is no longer there speaking them to comfort and cheer their hearts? What then?

So Jesus promises them more. "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." What they could not do on their own - remember the words of Jesus - that the Holy Spirit will enable them to do. He will take the words of Jesus and He will call them again to their minds.

That He did. Already witness the power of Peter's preaching on the Day of Pentecost! He boldly cites the prophet Joel and announces: That's what has happened this very day. The Spirit has been poured out. And the Spirit did more than just remind the Apostles' of what Jesus had said. He enabled them to understand what Jesus said with penetrating insight. He opened up the Old Testament to them and showed them how it was all full of Jesus Christ, how it all pointed to Him and to His finished work of redemption. And more, He caused their preaching of the Word to be with power. Through their words He convicted the world of sin, (Brethren, what must we do?) and then showed the righteousness of Christ as God's remedy for our pardon (Repent and be baptized!).

In the precious words of the Bible, we have the fulfillment of Christ's promise to the disciples. The Spirit came on them as promised. The Spirit proved to be a Helper indeed. By His work in their lives, they were divinely helped to remember the very words that Jesus Christ Himself had spoken and taught. They wrote those words down - again by the same Spirit. They are His words as well as theirs. And He is powerfully active in them. Through the preaching of His Word, God the Holy Spirit still gathers Himself a church and sustains the very life of that Church for as long as it is in this world on pilgrimage.

That's why you can take all the programs for fixing this or that that's gone wrong with the Church and throw them away. They are utterly worthless. What sustains and keeps the Church going is the Word of God alone, where the Spirit of God alone speaks, confronting our sin and giving us forgiveness through Christ's blood.

And what joy that can give to your life today, my friends! The world we live in has lost the ability to look at anything and say: "That's right" or "That's wrong." Our society can only speak of "values" and making "value judgments". All that used to be black or white is dissolved into a murky gray. But into that murk, the Word of God still cuts with a sharpness that outrages the world. The Spirit there speaks the Law with uncompromised conviction. The Holy Ten Commandments still stand. And the reason an action is right or wrong is because God says so. If God were to decree that picking up purple straws on Wednesday afternoons was a sin, then it would be a sin indeed. The comfort you have in this, people of God, is that the Spirit has given you a record that is utterly reliable, absolutely inerrant and infallible. It will not lead you wrong. God the Holy Spirit speaks in His Scriptures with utmost clarity for your life.

But as much as He there witnesses to the Law, to show us our sin and to guide us in holy living, He much more in His Scripture witnesses to Jesus Christ himself. Points to Him as the One and Only Savior we have, who took our sins in His own body on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness and find healing in His wounds. So it is above all a book of comfort. Fitting indeed, for Christ ends today's gospel with these words: "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled; neither let it be afraid."

Trouble and fear. Two things that cannot hang around where the Holy Trinity makes His dwelling. Where the Father and the Son abide in those who live in the Spirit's words, letting those words find a home in them, trouble and fear disappear. Oh, not that troubles won't come in this world. Of course they will. But that in the midst of worldly trouble, God's people know a heavenly peace. The peace that can only come from the Spirit Himself, filling our hearts. The Spirit who dwells in us as the words of Jesus dwell in our inmost hearts. If you don't have that peace inside, you need to ask if you are letting the words of Jesus live in you.

This Pentecost Day, dear friends, make it your resolve to let those Words of the Spirit find a home in you. Feed on them in your hearts. They will give you peace like the world cannot give. They come to you directly from the heart of God the Father, delivered by your Lord Jesus, and guaranteed by His Spirit - alive with the life of the Holy and Blessed Trinity, whose presence is peace indeed and to whom be glory through endless ages. Amen.

Pentecost Eve

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up. Alleluia! God is our salvation. Alleluia! [Introit]...

Almighty and ever-living God, You fulfilled Your promise by sending the gift of the Holy Spirit to unite disciples of all nations in the cross and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ. By the preaching of the Gospel spread this gift to the ends of the earth [Collect]...

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Alleluia [Verse]...

O Source of uncreated light,
The bearer of God's gracious might,
Thrice-holy fount, thrice-holy fire,
Our hearts with heavenly love inspire:
Your sacred, healing message bring
To sanctify us as sing. [Hymn of the Day]

Mollie and the Job Advertisement

click here

Patristic Quote of the Day

For by the expression, so loved, and that other, God the world, He shows the great strength of His love. Large and infinite was the interval between the two. He, the immortal, who is without beginning, the Infinite Majesty, they but dust and ashes, full of ten thousand sins, who, ungrateful, have at all times offended Him; and these He loved. Again, the words which He added after these are alike significant, when He says, that He gave His Only-begotten Son, not a servant, not an Angel, not an Archangel. And yet no one would show such anxiety for his own child, as God did for His ungrateful servants. His Passion then He sets before him not very openly, but rather darkly; but the advantage of the Passion He adds in a clearer manner, saying, That every one that believes in Him. should not perish, but have everlasting life. For when He had said, must be lifted up, and alluded to death, lest the hearer should be made downcast by these words, forming some mere human opinions concerning Him, and supposing that His death was a ceasing to be, observe how He sets this right, by saying, that He that was given was The Son of God, and the cause of life, of everlasting life. He who procured life for others by death, would not Himself be continually in death; for if they who believed on the Crucified perish not, much less does He perish who is crucified. -- St. John Chrysostom on John 3:16

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

It is in his body that Jesus offers the sacrifice. It is in his body that we draw near to God. The temple in which we now worship God is the body of our Lord Jesus Christ. The very body, born of Mary, crucified for us and raised from the dead is fed to us. We are created into his mystical body,joined to Christ the Head. In him and in this mystical body we worship God. Therefore, says Hebrews, let us hold fast our confession. -- Kenneth Korby, *Lord Jesus Christ, Will You Not Stay* p. 354

Patristic Quote of the Day

Boldness: from whence? As sins (he means) produce shame, so the having all things forgiven us, and being made fellow-heirs, and enjoying so great Love, [produces] boldness. - St. John Chrysostom, Homily 19 on Hebrews (specifically commenting on 10:19ff)

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

So the worship and divine service of the Gospel is to receive gifts from God. -- Apology of the Augsburg Confession V:189

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow...

...I refer to the link that gave the job description of the position that KFUO was looking to fill. Hmm. As Dr. Luther would ask: "Was ist das?"

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

Faith is the forsaking of all that is not God or of God, and the seeking for and cleaving to God alone. It is taking God to myself as my all, and commending my all to God, in life, death and eternity. The Faith of regeneration destroys faith in ourselves and in the world, and leaves alone Faith in God,, with all that this Faith comprises. The change designated by Regeneration causes one to give self to Him to whom formerly one had been entirely adverse or hostile. -- H. E. Jacobs, *Elements of Religion* p. 169

Patristic Quote of the Day

For as soon as we are baptized, the soul beams even more than the sun, being cleansed by the Spirit; and not only do we behold the glory of God, but from it also receive a sort of splendor. Just as if pure silver be turned towards the sun's rays, it will itself also shoot forth rays, not from its own natural property merely but also from the solar lustre; so also does the soul being cleansed and made brighter than silver, receive a ray from the glory of the Spirit, and send it back. -- St. John Chrysostom on 2 Corinthians 3

What do you expect from a reporter?

Mollie has a few more questions behind the answers to the questions:

More Questions

Hmm.

What does this mean? HT: Pr. Watt

Thoughts from a Friend

A friend shared with me the other day that he wonders if people who are always angry are such, at least in part, because they carry around in their hearts a picture of God being angry with them. I shared with him that I have thought the same for some time. Luther once said something along the lines of "He is toward you as you picture Him to be." I think I'd go further and say: "We are (and become ever more) as we picture Him to be toward us."

When we know Him as the God whose heart of hearts was revealed for us upon the Cross we understand the OT cry: "The Lord, the Lord, gracious and merciful!" That's the deepest truth there is about Him: His love, His mercy, His kindness extended to us in the defeat of our enemies through the gift of His Son.

We hold to that, we cling to that, and as we do, it changes us. Really and truly. It changes us as He works in us to bring our hearts in line with the beating heart of this entire universe - the heart that poured forth blood and water when a spear opened it on Golgotha - blood and water to bring us a share in His own unending life.

I am reminded of the beautiful Christmas carol by Gerhardt:

Should we fear our God's displeasure,
Who to save, freely gave
His most precious treasure?
To redeem us He has given
His own Son, from the throne
Of His might in heaven. [LSB 360:3]

Yes, it is true as St. John wrote: "We love, because He first loved us." Lord, help us grow in this love and drive all fear and sinful anger from our hearts!

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

As the Holy Spirit imparted Himself to the Apostles in the form of fiery tongues, so also will He be a fiery eagerness for God's Word and every good work in those in whom He resides. - Blessed Johann Gerhard, Homily for Pentecost

Patristic Quote of the Day

This is the meaning of, the Spirit gives life. The former [the law] makes its captive dead from being alive, the latter renders the man it has convicted alive from being dead. For, come unto me, you that labor and are heavy laden, (Matt. xi. 28.) and, He said not, 'I will punish you,' but, I will give you rest. For in Baptism the sins are buried, the former things are blotted out, the man is made alive, the entire grace written upon his heart as it were a table. - St. John Chrysostom on 2 Cor. 3

Wyoming District Pastoral Conference weighs in

Questions Regarding “Issues, Etc.”

Whereas, the radio program “Issues, Etc.” on KFUO AM was a blessing to many residents of the Wyoming District LC-MS and other listeners within the range of KFUO and of the other stations which carried this program in syndication, and on the worldwide web, keeping us abreast of current issues at the intersection of theology and American culture, and helping us to respond to these issues in a truly biblical, evangelical, and Lutheran way; and

Whereas, “Issues, Etc.” has been an uncommonly excellent vehicle for broadcasting some of the best teaching that our synod has to offer to the world; and

Whereas, the Executive Director of the Board for Communication Services without consulting his supervising board, canceled the program “Issues, Etc.”, and terminated its host, the Reverend Todd Wilken, and its Producer, Mr. Jeff Schwarz; and

Whereas, this decision has caused much “anxiety, worry, and consternation...in the Synod” (Statement from LCMS President – April 21, 2008) as evidenced by an online petition of over 7000 signatures; therefore be it

Resolved, that the Wyoming District Pastor's Conference, gathered at Rock Springs, Wyoming, in order to help resolve the ongoing controversy in our Synod, submits the following questions to the President of Synod, the Board for Communication Services (BCS), and the Council of Presidents:

1. The Council of Presidents and Executive Director of the BCS both released statements which claim that the terminations were handled in a Christian and Compassionate manner. How is it an exercise in Christian Compassion to terminate two individuals who had served in this capacity for nearly a decade, on such short notice, and during Holy Week?
2. How does summarily firing a man who was not simply an “at will employee” but also one who had a Divine Call reflect a confessional understanding of the Office of the Holy Ministry?
3. If this decision was made, as has been stated, for purely stewardship and programmatic reasons, why was the Treasurer of Synod (stewardship) and the full BCS (programmatic) not consulted?
4. Given concerns for the 8th Commandment as we deal with issues such as these, why was the decision to discontinue “Issues, Etc.” and the consequent firing of Rev. Wilken and Mr. Schwarz no immediately followed by a statement which clearly indicated that such termination was in no way related to their job performance or any other personal issues with these faithful men?
5. In light of the admitted “anxiety, worry, and consternation” which this decision has caused, and in light of synodical bylaw 1.5.1.3 that “all staff of corporate Synod and every agency of the Synod shall be sensitive in their activities to taking or giving offense, giving the appearance or impropriety, (or) causing confusion in the Synod...” what actions has Dr. Kieschnick taken or does he plan to take to remedy this situation by reversing actions of Synod staff which have broken this bylaw according to his mandate in bylaw 3.3.1.2.c, “He shall call up for review any action by an individual officer, executive, or agency that, in his view, may be in violation of the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod.”?

Minnesota South Board of Directors Weighs In

Resolution – Minnesota South District Board of Directors – “To Restore Issues, Etc.”
May 6, 2008

Whereas, Issues, Etc. was aired Sundays on KKMS 980 serving the Twin Cities and KSUM 780 serving south-central Minnesota; and

Whereas, Issues, Etc. received its largest audience through its website archive on kfuoam.org and through podcasting; and

Whereas, Issues, Etc. has not only been a great blessing to the pastors and laity of the Minnesota-South District through the radio and Internet but has also served as an outstanding outreach program worldwide bringing many people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ; and

Whereas, Issues, Etc. brought the Christian faith in its truth and purity to a spiritually starving world and served as an excellent Christian apologetics program in a secular world; and

Whereas, there is extensive public support for the continuation for Issues, Etc.; and

Whereas, we wish to demonstrate Christian concern for Rev. Todd Wilken, the show’s host, and Mr. Jeffrey Schwarz, the show's producer; therefore be it

Resolved, that the Minnesota-South District Board of Directors on this 6th day of May, in the year of our Lord 2008, give thanks to God for the work of Issues, Etc. and the hard work of Pr. Wilken and Mr. Schwarz; and be it finally

Resolved, that the Minnesota-South District Board of Directors officially petition the Board for Communication Services to revisit the decision to cancel Issues, Etc. by reinstating both Pr. Wilken and Mr. Schwarz to their positions and restoring Issues Etc. to its weekday and weekend programs.

Want Issues Archives?

Check here!

ISSUES!

Read it and weep, folks...

Last Newsletter
I regret to inform you that due to programmatic and business decisions, World Mission has decided to cease employing me as a missionary in West Africa. This decision came as a shock to me and my family as it may also be a surprise to you.

World Mission has been pressuring me to move on and inform you as soon as possible. One reason is that I would be without a paycheck and insurance soon after we have a baby due in July. We hope that by the grace of God we could have another call in place when my salary and benefits terminate at the end of August 2008.

The decision leaves three newly planted churches in Burkina Faso without a theologically trained leader and also the Lutheran Church of Togo without a missionary which they had been awaiting for six years. Please keep all these people involved in your prayers.

Last Project
Please check out our website (www.mayfamilyintogo.com) as there is still a project that could be accomplished in Burkina Faso and West Africa. Judy Stroeh, a member of a supporting congregation in Cincinnati, Ohio and an environmental consultant, visited us during the last week of April. Working in collaboration with Proctor & Gamble, she brought out a product called PUR which purifies water. The product is very inexpensive, about one to two cents per 10 liters of purified water. One simply adds the contents of PUR to the river or well water and then it is stirred for five minutes. The PUR contents cause all impurities to congeal and sink to the bottom of the container. Then the water is filtered through a piece of cotton and 99.99% of all dangerous elements are eliminated.

The Work of God Will Go On
It is not me who convinced anyone to believe in Christ, it was the Holy Spirit who called, gathered, and enlightened others to come to the knowledge of the truth. He is the one who will take care of what has been started. Part of the continued care will come from the leaders that He raised up here in Burkina Faso. Three men; Leopold, Joseph, and Espoir, have been training with me to continue the teachings of Christ. Joseph and Espoir will depart for the Lutheran Seminary in Togo starting in August. The studies last three years after which they will return to shepherd these new congregations. Leopold, the elder, will lead the congregations in their absence. It is very important that you keep these infant congregations and young leaders in your prayers.

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
1 Corinthians 3:7

Thank you for your support
As many of you know, our family endured many tribulations and struggles in our two years on the field. We had many health issues and struggled adapting to the extreme weather and culture differences. You have been along side us, praying for us and supporting us all along the way. Although there were many struggles, you can see from our newsletters and website that many successes and joys have been seen.

The majority of the family will be leaving in two weeks time to join Tiina’s parents in Finland so that she can give birth in a comfortable and supporting environment. I will continue training the leaders and try to pack up the house during the month of June. We hope to visit a number of congregations this fall to present what God has done in these two years and also to thank those of you who we can in person. Our entire family wishes to thank you for all your love and support.

Your brothers and sisters in Christ,
The May Family (James, Tiina, Maggie, Tristan, Sarai, Sofia, and baby May)

PRAYER REQUESTS
We always need your prayer support. At this time we ask your prayers for;
Praise God for many conversions and baptisms. Pray that all may continually be strengthened in the faith that Christ has given them.
Our family in transition; it is not easy to pack up and move, especially so quickly and with a pregnant momma and four little kids running around.
Concordia Lutheran Church in Tingandogo, Sognaaba Lutheran Church, and the Refugee Lutheran Church as they grow in knowledge and faith.
Espoir, Leopold, and Joseph, as they prepare to become ministers of God’s Word.
That others may be raised up as leaders of the church to lead the growing number of converts.
Those we know, that we may continue working with them and encourage them in the Christian faith.
Those we meet, that we may have opportunities to share the Gospel.
Our faith, that the Risen Lord and Savior would strengthen us.

To be added to or removed from this mailing list, send an e-mail message to rev.jamesmay@yahoo.com with the word ADD or REMOVE in the subject heading.

Purple Iris and Yard Woes

I can look out my office window and see a purple iris blooming right at the side of the garage. I don't know why, but they always remind me of things Japanese. Maybe the top of the flower looks a bit like that traditional get-up the Japanese women wear. Today too Cindi and I noticed the standing phlox were beginning to bloom - they're a huge butterfly attractor. And speaking of "not so nice" - we noticed that our little fish pool in the backyard has become a massive mosquito breeding ground. YUCK. We need to get that cleaned up a.s.a.p.! Cindi and Bekah invited me outside to see what they thought were hundreds of thousands of "tadpoles." Not so much. I recognized them in horror and dumped a ton of bleach into the thing, but it didn't seem to kill them off as I wished it had. Mosquitoes have always regarded me as a tasty treat, and I'm not about to BREED the danged things out there for feasting on me!!!

Another Mollie Interview...

...this one is about 2/3 of the way through - the poor interviewer, however, seems not to believe the Scriptural teaching about infant Baptism. Pity! "The promise is for you and for your children..."

click here

From this Weekend...

Ron and Erica Olson, aka Mr. and Mrs. Terrible Swede

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

To poor, sad-hearted sinners - I repeat it! - not a word of the Law must be preached. Woe to the preacher who would continue to preach the Law to a famished sinner! On the contrary, to such a person the preach must say: "Do but come! There is still room! No matter if you were a Judas or a Cain, there is still room. Oh, do, do come to Jesus!" Persons of this kind are the proper subjects on whom the Gospel is to operate. - C. F. W. Walther, *Proper Distinction*

Patristic Quote of the Day

Christian soul, brought to life again out of the heaviness of death, redeemed and set free from wretched servitude by the blood of God, rouse yourself and remember that you are risen, realize that you have been redeemed and set free! - St. Anselm of Canterbury, Meditation on Human Redemption