St. Antony’s Cave

This being a presidential election year politics is amped in the secular news.  This being an “off” year in the LCMS with neither District nor Synod conventions (Honestly, who but bureaucrats isn’t thrilled by this?) means in LCMS-ville politics are now ramping up.

Abraham Lincoln, so the story goes, once won a court case by saying in his summation to the jury nothing more than, “The prosecution has the facts of the case 100 % correct, but they have come to the wrong conclusion.”  (more…)

Saul Bellow in his novel Herzog quotes what he says is an old song, “There are flies on me; there’s flies on you, but there ain’t no flies on Jesus.”  O yes, there were (more…)

There are shows aimed at men and shows at women.  While, as far as I know, no one has thought of a derisive term for movies aimed at men such as “Male Movie” or “Testosterone Tape,” we do have the derisive term “Chick Flick.”  Now that my sons are out in the working world, I am left alone with women to watch movies.  I find no pleasure in watching a movie and waiting to cry; however, there is even less virtue in watching a typical male movie and waiting for other people to die.  Still when watching the things my wife and daughters opt for I find myself dying not crying. (more…)

Several people have sent the following response of Mollie Ziegler Hemingway to President Kieschnick’s “letter to the editor.”  Here is my reaction. (more…)

 Several members sent me Radio Silence by Mollie Ziegler Hemingway in the March 28 Wall Street Journal.  Here is what troubles me: (more…)

Here is my latest attempt to view the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod in the best light possible.  It comes from the realm of photography, digital photography to be precise. 

 Have you noticed how common freaky pictures of celebrities are?  They are caught on camera with some of the most ghoulish looks imaginable.  Go to Drudgereport.com and see how he habitually captures Hillary Clinton with an unflattering expression.  Why is this? (more…)

Find out the principle of authority for a group and you’ve found out what is at the rock-bottom of their belief system. In truth, denominations tolerate a wide range of beliefs as long as what you believe doesn’t compromise their principle of authority. (more…)

Once again the LCMS in convention reaffirmed the doctrine of closed Communion.  Oops.  I forgot the president of the LCMS has determined that there is no “doctrine” of closed Communion.  There is only the practice of closed Communion as opposed to the practice of open Communion.  This is utter nonsense and leads right to where the ELCA started from.  Let me show you how.

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August 14, 2007

The Commission on Theology and Church Relations
The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
1333 South Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, MO 63122-7295

Dear Commission:

Thank you for your letter of February 15, 2007 and the copy of “CTCR Response to Expressions of Dissent (2004-2006).”  Our congregation studied these thoroughly for 12 weeks during our Sunday morning Bible class time.  A response should be forthcoming from the congregation.  What follows is my response.

You declined to address our concern about open communion and revivalistic worship saying that you did not believe these fell into the category of dissent from Synod’s position.  Perhaps our concerns are not part of the Synod’s official position, but they were part of President Kieschnick’s official report to the Synod, and the Synod in convention officially accepted them.

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Our Synod in convention resolved to establish a Specific Ministry Pastor Program with resolution 5-01b. This is how it was reported through my district. “This program allows for alternate programs to become ordained as a pastor. Members of both seminary faculties were involved in the drafting of this program and the program has the full blessing of both seminaries.” The report went on to say this will enable congregations to ordain youth pastors, music pastors, etc. Apparently, the word “minister” isn’t good enough any longer. (more…)