Faith
In reading the reading for today from my bible reading plan, I was drawn to Leviticus 19. I’ll admit that I usually skip reading this book, since it seems so foreign to us. That is one of the main reasons that I chose to do a bible reading plan. I am glad that I did.
We know that Exodus and Deuteronomy have the ten commandments, but what I had forgotten – for it has been a long time since I read Leviticus, is what is in chapter 19. Titled in my study bible as “A Call to Holiness”, it reminds me of the way God wants me to live my life. I am reminded of a number of things…
This past weekend I had an opportunity to go on my first youth leader staff retreat. It was quite an interesting weekend. We went up to a “resort” – well sort of – at Lake Delavan. We even got to see some snow!
We have learned a lot of the history of Reformed churches over the previous couple of days. Now we will take a look at one last group of the Reformed church traditions in the US…which is the Presbyterians. The Presbyterians continue the history of the Reformed tradition tracing their history to Switzerland and the ministry of Ulrich Zwingli. You may recall that we talked about Ulrich on Friday. Preeminence is still assigned to John Calvin and the church live that he established in 1530’s Geneva. Presbyterians represent the influence of Reformed traditions as expressed in the British Isles.
Continue reading about Distinctly Presbyterian, with a British accent
http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2008/06/why-im-lutheran.html
Ok, so I saw this post on Father Fisk’s website. I don’t know if Father Bischof has a blog (if he does, I haven’t a clue where it is!), but he is a phenominal theologian.
Having tried to escape Lutheranism back in my pre-College degree days, I experienced the sentiments that Pastor Bischof has. It seems I can figure out enough reasons to stay away from the other Churches, and it all was because, well, they were not Lutheran.
So, check out this blog posting!
There is an old joke that Pastor’s only work one day a week (and only a few hours at that!), but the truth is far from what we see. Have you ever had a meeting with your Pastor late at night? When you hit a crisis, do you seek guidance from your Pastor? How about visiting the homebound? Writing and researching the sermon? Preparing the service? Sounds like a little more than just a few hours on Sunday… It’s not an easy job, considering that the Pastor is responsible for the spiritual well-being of his flock. At your job, does whether or not you provide "good service" make an eternal difference? Let’s think of it this way… remember the last time you were at our famous burger chain (which we will call McDowell’s)… How often to you approach the counter to be greeted with a grunt (if your lucky) and have to repeat the order to the clerk, who in the end mixes it up… Yes, it has happened. (Of course, even at other places than McDowell’s) Perhaps you will be so upset that you will never return to the business, whether simply this location or the whole company.
Continue reading about A tale from Pastor Ingvist and McDowell’s – Pray for your Pastor
Well, this past week another LCMS pastor has gone “east”. Rev. Benjamin Kjendal has announced he is seeking membership in the Orthodox Church. Pastor Kjendal is a very smart, caring young pastor. It is a shame that he is leaving our church. He writes:
At times Jesus asks us to drop all that we have to follow him. For every Christian, that may be something different, but for me and my family that means leaving the Missouri Synod and seeking fellowship in the Orthodox Church. Although this will mean that I can no longer be a pastor here, it does not mean that I will stop loving each of you as God’s children.
Whilst I was in Fort Wayne, Pastor Jonathan Fisk posted a new newsletter about his parish. It is an exciting opportunity for the people of this community which (I guess) is somewhere around 1 hour or so west of New York. (Pastor Fisk can correct me if I am wrong).
If you don’t know about Our Savior Perryville, I encourage you to check this newsletter out. Pastor Fisk is a very well respected young missionary Pastor from the “good” seminary 
in St. Louis. He is in a congregation that (as he describes) has been on a decline for nearly a decade or so. His job is to support and encourage the people at Our Savior while developing a mission plant nearby. A gigantic task at the least!
Which reminds me of an article from my district’s newspaper (which I still have to this day). It’s been relegated to the deepest archives of the Northern Illinois District webpage, so I quote it here…
Door-to-door evangelism still works
By Laurie O’Connor Stephans, Staff Writer – Originally published in The Northern Light, November 2000
In today’s high-tech, fast-paced world, Madison Avenue has convinced many of us that the slicker approach is always going to be the most convincing. But what works when you’re trying to sell a car isn’t necessarily the best way to try to bring new people into your church.
Continue reading about Musings from a Mission in NJ – Remember Evangelism Still Works
I received a mark the calendar card for my fifth year anniversary from graduating at North Central Colelge. I thought I would reflect on the churches in which I have attended at least once since June 2002, when I graduated:
In St. Louis, Missouri
- Chapel of the Cross Lutheran , North St. Louis County (as seminary fieldworker under the direction of Fr. Jonathan Stein)
- St. John’s Lutheran Church, Ellisville
- Concordia Lutheran Church, Kirkwood
- Chai V Shalom Lutheran Congregation, Clayton (when it was at the LHM bldg)
- Ebenezer Lutheran Church, North St. Louis City
When I was at the seminary I had found a wonderful book by Rev. Charles McClean called the Conduct of the Services. Unfortunately, I never was able to find the book in print. Well, until just recently. Seminarian Powell mentioned that the book was back in print – thanks to Father McClean and Redeemer Press. I ordered the book (the cover is just gorgeous in itself) and received it a couple of weeks back.