Northwoods Seelsorger

I couldn't resist using the Rev. 7 epistle reading today. It was Confirmation Sunday and the related symbolism was just too tempting: white-robed saints and the blood of the Lamb. As many Lutherans know, Confirmation Sunday is not complete without the confirmands processing in wearing white robes and red flowers. Unfortunately the robes are too often of the "graduation" type, being rented from some collegiate cap and gown provider. This only symbolically reinforces the misconception among Lutheran youth that confirmation equals graduation. In my parish they use the alternate "poncho" style robe that is sold in some church supply catalogues. Unbeknownst to me, one of the children asked the retired pastor assisting me why they had to wear those robes. And unbeknownst to him was that my sermon was intending to answer that very question. Now I don't know the particular history of the confirmation robe. In my limited reading prior to today ...

In my newspaper here in the northwoods , there was an article for the "Marian Day of Reflection," set for May 17. In the Green Bay Diocese their special emphasis will be on the theme "Regina Angelorum - Queen of Angels." I have to admit that before this I had not heard this title for Mary. Although, it does sound similar to the "Queen of Heaven" title I have heard. It has been my effort over the years to understand and give fair treatment to Catholic doctrine, even when I disagree with it. As I have stated before, Catholic doctrine is not always accurately critiqued by Protestants. Nevertheless, titles for Mary such as the above make it hard for me not to conclude that Catholic doctrine elevates this blessed mother of our Lord to heights never envisioned by sacred scripture. To better understand this teaching I found an article entitled "Mary - Regina Angelorum " and surveyed their reasoning. The article was arranged under three headi...

On April 14, in my post "We Receive only His Body and Blood and Not Him? Huh?", I openly wondered how Lutherans could talk about the received body and blood in the Lord's Supper apart from his actual and real presence. It didn't make sense. A comment to that post agreed. Well at least now I think I've received any answer to the thinking behind such a claim. In the April 23 issue of Christian News there is a report from Reclaim News, which is essentially the theological views of the Rev. Jack Cascione of St. Clair Shores, Michigan. The brief report on page 3 of CN states the following: "When Christ says, 'Take, eat, this is my body given for you' He means the body that was crucified, dead, and buried, not the resurrected body....The Lord's Supper is not about the risen Christ, it is about the crucified Christ.....We do not receive the whole Christ in the Lord's Supper, we receive His body and His blood. According to Baier , Chrst's...

Many of you reading this blog have probably never heard of Gerald Volm , although he is the founder of one of the 75 largest private corporations in Wisconsin. The company, now called Volm Companies, Inc., started out about 50 years ago in Antigo as a business providing bags to potato growers. It has expanded far beyond this, and now encompasses a variety of products including erosion fencing and windscreening for pro golfers. Still, the bag is still at the heart of the company's work. But Gerald is important to me as more than a successful businessman. For although he was the patriarch of a locally-owned international corporation that now brings in upwards of $75 million and employs at least 300, this humble man who came of age in the Great Depression, never forgot who he was as a child of God. He was a model of the Christian businessman who understood that His Lord came first, not the money or the success. And you know what? The more he gave away the more he rece...

Occasionally I take a look on the Crossings website to see what Dr. Schroeder has written. We are on different places of the theological spectrum, yet that does not mean that our convictions do not converge every now and then. His latest post is one of those. He reacts to the words of the ELCA campus chaplain, the Rev. William King, during a "campus convocation" at Virginia Tech as they recorded in an official ELCA news brief. Even before I read Dr. Schroeder's assessment, I found myself asking: Where is Christ? Where is the resurrection, the hope to eternal life through Jesus? I know that such public campuses are very diverse, but Schroeder is right - if you are the "Christian message," then proclaim it! You can read his "open letter" to Pastor King under Thursday Theology #462 - April 19, 2007 - "Topic: What NOT to Say after the Virginia Tech Massacre ." As happened at the "Yankee Stadium" affair following the T...

In a recent AP article, Pope Benedict XVI was reported as having "reversed centuries of traditional Roman Catholic teaching on limbo, approving a Vatican report released Friday that says there were 'serious' grounds to hope that children who die without being baptized can go to heaven." The report came from the International Theological Commission, which is a Vatican advisory panel. This commission recommended reassessing the traditional teaching on limbo "in light of 'pressing' pastoral needed - primarily the growing number of abortions and infants born to non-believers who died without being baptized." Limbo, according to The Harpercollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism (1995), is a "place or state of natural happiness for the nonbaptized dead." At issue for the Catholic church in developing this doctrine is " the reality of original sin and the necessity of Baptism for salvation." The doctrine of limbo was developed by m...

This is one of those questions I have discovered that hasn't received much attention. Maybe for good reason, maybe not. However, it came up in Bible class recently and again at our winkel this month. The question I am referring to has to do with the handful of people who were raised from the dead in both the Old and New Testaments, and what their state was between death and resurrection. In other words, did they go to heaven, and if so, why would they be recalled from such a glorious place? The resurrections, are, to wit: 1.) The raising of the widow's son in Zerephath under the prophetic ministry of Elijah (1 Kings 17:17ff). 2.) The restoring to life of the Shunamite's son during the prophetic ministry of Elisha (2 Kings 4:32ff). 3.) The raising of Jairus ' daughter (Mark 5:21-24, 35-43; Luke 8:40-42, 49-56) 4.) The raising of the widow's son in Nain (Luke 7:11-17). 5.) The raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-44) 6.) The opening of tombs following Jesus...

We have heard in the recent past of the strife currently affecting the unity of the Anglican community. Conservatives within this communion have served ultimatums demanding change from their more liberal counterparts, especially those in the U.S. Episcopalian church who are pushing the envelope on homosexuality. Will this church be able to maintain its unity as is? Stay tuned. The story is still unfolding. As it is also for the Presbyterian Church (USA). The New Wineskins Association of Churches recently voted on Feb. 7 to "initiate a significant shift in the Reformed world" ( Christianity Today , April 2007.) This dissenting group has "voted unanimously to ask the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ( EPC ) to create a transitional, non-geographic presbytery for congregations leaving the PCUSA . The arrangement would run for five years. The EPC's General Assembly will note on the proposal in June." The EPC is a "small denomination with 185 chu...

With recent events Boy Scouts have come again in the news - but in a good way. At the Virginia Tech shootings, one victim by the name of Kevin Sterne, who was described as an "Eagle Scout," was credited with helping to save his own life by improvising a tourniquet for his bullet riddled leg (see story here. ) In another story a bit before, scouts ended up calling authorities to save a couple of people whose fishing trip went awry ( "Scouts Return to Scene of River Rescue "." ) There are an amazing number of accounts of Boy Scouts as exemplary citizens doing extraordinary deeds of charity and service. My son is in Boy Scouts and I am honored to be able to serve on the troop as a parent volunteer. With each activity and camp out I see additional examples of character and skill building that are helping to make him into a solid citizen and a responsible man. For some of the boys in my troop we have become a secondary family, and many a male leader b...

While many have now moved beyond Easter into other anticipated springtime rituals, the church has only begun its lengthily celebration. However, the reality of Easter stretches far beyond even this 'season.' It is an event that became real for each believer in the tomb and womb of Baptism. And this reality is a daily reality where dying and rising are part of the rhythm of life. As Luther has taught us from Romans 6, we know that "the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and newness of life." By God's grace we die each day to the slavery sin demands of us and the darkness of death's creeping shadow. Yes, we sin. And yes, we die. But these are not the defining aspects of our life in Christ. They do not have dominion in the Kingdom in which we live. The call of death, though, is the voice of ...

First of all, let me say that my heart goes out to the many devastated families who lost children in this unexpected slaughter. It is difficult to capture the horror such an event evokes, even in our calloused and violence-numbed age. I pray that those who grieve are people of faith who can find true comfort in the Risen Christ through whom we have eternal life. It is now reported that they know the killer ( Cho Seung -Hui), and that he was a 23-year old English major at Virginia Tech who displayed his deeply troubled mind in his creative writing. There may have also been some domestic issues as well. The details, it appears, are still sketchy. Authorities are rightly guarded about saying too much. But aside from the immediately personal "motive," may I venture another perspective? The massacre of 32 people in cold-blooded murder for whatever "reason," is simply the work of pure evil. A retired FBI profiler on the morning news said that mass murderers...

Although the CTCR came out with their booklet in December of 2006 on their response to "Expressions of Dissent," I only got around to addressing it with my winkel this month. Aside from the issues themselves (which would be several additional posts alone), my question involves how to interpret what the Synod expects regarding assent to official resolutions of the Synod. In other words, it seems as if it's not enough simply to not agree. You actually have to teach and speak in support of the resolutions even if you don't agree with them. Otherwise, find a new church. Synod bylaws indicate that synodical resolutions "are to be honored and upheld until such a time as the Synod amends or repeals them." Then they quote the 1971 Resolution 2-21 which says that "the Synod expects every member congregation to respect its resolutions and to consider them of binding force (Bylaw 1.09 b)...." Furthermore, it states that "If a member cannot ...

This Sunday's Gospel was one of those texts that requires multiple sermons. There is simply too much to cover in one 15 minute proclamation. If you didn't hear it or can't remember it, the text is John 20:19-31 . A list of points to ponder and fodder for future sermons or Bible classes: -- "Peace be with you!" - Jesus' Easter greeting is repeated no less than three time in this text. Its importance to the church is obvious each time the celebrant shares the Pax Domini after the Consecration, elevating the chalice of Christ's blood for all to see. True peace comes only through the shed blood of our Lord which paid for the sins that separated us from God. Romans 5. Furthermore, his greeting is an absolution as well. These ten men were locked behind closed doors for fear of the Jews. They had abandoned their master, and one had openly denied him. Certainly they were crushed with guilt and shame. Yet here is Jesus declaring divine peace to t...

Back in March the Concord site again addressed an issue that has been bugging them: Lutherans should not refer to recieving Jesus Himself in the Sacrament, but only his body and blood - if I'm understanding them correctly. Check out their review of one of CPH's children's books on the Lord's Supper here . They take issue with the author's phrase "This Jesus places His real self in the bread and wine - the real presence - for us." Now I may be dense, but when did we as Lutherans start talking about the body and blood of Christ apart from his actual presence? I'm lost. I didn't think that you could separate the two. Yet those who take issue with the book above accuse those of speaking this way of leaning toward Rome. Huh? I'm lost.

I was the recipient the other day of a demo DVD from Higher Things , an organization that serves high school and college-aged youth in the Lutheran church. Higher Things and their magazine (first rate!) were familiar to me already, but I have to commend the producers of the DVD. They did a great job of presenting this absolute gem of an organization. My daughter was pleased to go to their summer conference last year in Colorado and loved every minute of it, especially the worship. In a day when so many see confessional Lutherans as capable of only criticizing and condemning, this positive blessing goes unnoticed by the critics, or so it appears. But they should be commended highly for their tireless work with the Lutheran youth of today. They are making a difference and I only wish that the powers that be were more supportive of their efforts. If you are interested in learning more, their web site can be found here .

Easter Sunday is a high point in the life of the church, and for any pastor it is the pinnacle of worship. But for one little congregation in Daphne, Alabama, this was an Easter they will not forget. The account of their Easter worship that day demonstrates in a powerful, but simple way, the true beauty of the unity of the faithful and the grace of the blessed Office of the Ministry. Beyond these few comments you will have to read the story for yourself. It is on the blog "Chaplain To the World." ------------------------------------ BTW, I have not been writing this week due to the fact that I have been out in the woods turkey hunting - or attempting to do so. The weather has been strange with an unexpected April snow storm, and I think that it's confused these birds. At any rate, I'm still hopeful that I'll get a tom by week's end. I'll keep you posted.....

So how does America's citizenry fare with general knowledge of the Bible and world religions? According to Stephen Prothere, head of the department of religion at Boston University, our illiteracy in these areas as a nation is "a major civic problem." In an interview for U.S. News & World Report (April 9), Pothhero was questioned about how a nation often acknowledged as the most religious of modern industrial nations could be among the most ill-informed on matters of religion. "While chose to two thirds of all Americans regard the Bible as a soruce of answers to life's questions," they note, "only half can name even one of the New Testament Gospels. Similarly, in a land of growing relgious diversity, only 10 percent of U.S. teenagers can name the world's five major religions." Surprisingly he lays much of the blame not at the feet of secularists or government rulings banning prayers and Bible reading in school - traditional targets - ...

Is there a place for humor in church, especially in the pulpit? Such is the question that guest essayist Peter M. Berg wrestles with in a recent article in the Passiontide /Easter issue of Gottesdienst under the title "Ha! Ha! Among the Congregants." He observes that "cute, self-effacing humor" seems to be increasing with pastors in our time, in part, he would observe, to please the people and project themselves as "a regular guy." Even confessional pastors have fallen prey, as such humor was all too common even at chapel at the recent Symposia in Ft. Wayne this January, according to Berg. The heart of the issue for Pastor Berg, though, is the nature of God's House as a "holy place" deserving of proper reverence. "Finally," he writes, " isn't that the root of the problem: a loss of the sense of the holy? So convinced that grace is ours and beyond our losing, we trifle with grace." I can understand and sym...

On the night before the mass of the Resurrection of Our Lord, the church historically observed a vigil service at which the newly catechized were baptized. Lutheran Worship made an effort to restore this ancient practice to the LCMS , at least through its agenda rite in the early 80's. I experienced my first vigil at my home church in Wausau , Wisconsin not long before my graduation from the seminary in 1987. It was introduced by Dr. John Brunner , who is now president of the Eastern District. He was also the first to wear a chasuble in that parish, as I remember. I did not participate in another vigil until my last parish in Traverse City, Michigan, another larger church. Dr. Charles Gieschen was the senior pastor of that parish who not only taught me again how to do the liturgy (according to Harry Krieger specifications!), but opened to me a rich liturgical heritage in a beautiful church edifice. Processing into a darkened sanctuary, led by the newly lit Pascal Cand...

COLLECT FOR THE DAY Almighty God, graciously behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, to be given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death on the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. IT IS FINISHED Throughout Lent I have been preaching on the Seven Last Words from the cross. Although this is technically the 6 th word, it seemed the most appropriate of the last words to reserve for today. For here his work finds its completion. Actually his entire life has been leading to this point in time. He was born to live and die on our behalf. It has been over 30 years of often quiet, unnoticed labor - living under the law, living to fulfill the law. It culminates as the skies above darken and veil the earth in deep sadness , and our dear Lord must now enter into the utter blackness of hell's pit. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" he cries from Psal...

COLLECT OF THE DAY O Lord Jesus, since you have left us a memorial of your Passion in a wonderful sacrament, grant, we pray, that we may so use this sacrament of your body and blood that the fruits of your redeeming work may continually be manifest n us; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. THE HOLY SUPPER BEGINS Today receives its name, curiously enough, from the "command" of Jesus to "love one another," from the Latin mandatum . This command to love is recorded only in the Gospel of John, along with the traditional foot washing that is still practiced in some parts of Christendom. However, the focus of today is more specifically the institution of the blessed Sacrament of Holy Communion, or the Lord's Supper. The Three-Year series Gospel is Luke 22:7-20. This account would actually play well for a Reformed preacher this evening. Given the fact that Jesus' words from the cross "Father forg...

COLLECT OF THE DAY Merciful and everlasting God the Father, who did not spare your only Son but delivered him up for us all that he might bear our sins on the cross, grant that our hearts may be so fixed with steadfast faith in our Savior that we may not fear the power of any adversaries; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lies and reigns with your and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. THE BETRAYER The Gospel for the One-Year Series is Luke 22:1-23:42. In the Three-Year Series it is Matthew 26:16-25. Both accounts record the revealing of the betrayer during the Passover seder . However, the One-Year Series also includes the institution of the Lord's Supper, which duplicates the Gospel in the Three-Year Series tomorrow ( Maundy Thursday.) Therefore, these devotional thoughts will concern mainly the Matthew 26 account. Judas has always been a fascinatingly tragic figure in the Passion. The only non-Galilean in the group, it seems that he was desti...

COLLECT FOR THE DAY Almighty and everlasting God, grant us grace so to pass through this holy time of our Lord's Passion that we may receive the pardon of our sins; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. PREACHING IN JERUSALEM CONTINUES - The Glory of the Son The Three-Year reading continues yesterday's Gospel from John 12, with verses 20-36. The One-Year Series has verses 24-43. The thoughts here will combine both readings. Our section begins with the Greeks who had sought out Philip and expressed a desire to "see Jesus." Many years ago I saw the words of the Greeks printed and placed on a pulpit, visible only to the preacher. The idea was that every time he proclaimed God's Word the hearers should "see Jesus." Although probably not the true application of this passage, it makes a valid point. The Scriptures as well as all preaching is first and foremost a...