This article written and published by Christian News, November 2020. The introductory remarks, in italics, are from Rev. Phil Hale, the editor.
Continue readingTo my surprise, Paul McCartney’s first solo hit, “Uncle Albert” was made up of pieces from unfinished songs in the last days of the Beatles. There are 12 different sections. When I mentioned this to a musician he said, “They do that all the time.” I replied, “I knew Kid Rock ripped off “Werewolves in London” in his 2007 hit “All Summer Long”. I had abided it because he sang of summer in my northern Michigan albeit 20 years after I. Come to find out he also ripped off “Sweet Home Alabama” (songfacts.com). Well, if songwriters can weave scraps together, why can’t writers?
Continue readingRadio station XER went on the air across the border from Del Rio, Texas in 1931. It broadcast at 500,000 watts. Clear Channel radio stations in the U.S. were and are only allowed to transmit at 50,000 watts. Those of you old enough to remember car radios and night AM stations, probably remember driving cross country through the night switching from WLS Chicago, to WWL New Orleans, to WOWO Ft. Wayne. Alas, the latter hasn’t been a clear channel station for over 20 years.
Continue readingWhile saltwater fishing, If you see a feeding frenzy, you can be sure there are probably sizeable speck, reds, or other larger gamefish there. Underneath them, will be smaller fish feeding on the remains of the bait fish that the larger fish have torn to bits. I’ve seen small groups who have left bigger synods exhibit this same sort of behavior. Well, I don’t want to be that fish. Having left the LCMS, I don’t want to turn and feed on it’s detritus. And hear comes the but-
Continue readingI first mentioned Cassandra in a February 11, 2013 blog. In Greek mythology, she is given the power of prophesy by Apollo to win her love. When she cheats him, he turns this gift into a curse by causing her always to be right but disbelieved (Oxford Classical Dictionary, 211). This curse of Cassandra sums up the ministry the Lord gave Isaiah. “And He said, ‘Go, and tell this people: “Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand”’” (6:9). This is the ministry of everyone in the office to some extent, and it is a burden that can lead to a sore than can lead to an abscess of the mind.
Continue readingI didn’t even want to write up this account of my 2019 visit to a Cowboy Church in Bryan, Texas. Continue reading
“You don’t remember what your father said, but you remember what he did.” This was my first circuit counselor’s defense of deeds over creeds. He was a mid-50’s grad of the seminary. I was a new 1983 grad of the logical seminary, and I wondered did he know he Continue reading
This article was published in Christian News, June 8, 2020. I couldn’t find an online edition so I offer it here for those interested. Continue reading
I freely admit this is clickbait, but it’s also true. The following story shows how it’s possible to go from Closed to Communion to Open in less than a generation.
Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church was founded in 1985 by a Confessional Lutheran Continue reading
“The expression of their faces bears witness against them. And they display their sin like Sodom; They do not even conceal it.” So says Isaiah 3:9. This passage came to mind as I watched a show involving all flavors on the LGBTQ menu. Continue reading
