Bureaucrat to English Dictionary

So far, the only "official" communication from the LCMS about the cancellation of "Issues, Etc." was the rather lame statement posted on the "Issues, Etc.," website, to the effect that the program was canceled due to "business" and programmatic "reasons."

But the LCMS president, Gerald Kieschnick, has issued his own statement.  “The KFUO decision transpired with my awareness but neither by my order nor at my direction.”

This is about as bad as it gets--typical bureaucrat-speak, placing President Kieschnick on par with any politician.

But if you look this up in the "Bureaucrat to English" dictionary, the meaning is perfectly clear.  "Of course, I am behind it.  But if you think I'm gonna take the fall for this, you're crazy."

As one of my Lutheran friends pointed out, the great irony is that President Kieschnick's evasion of responsibility, actually robbed his largely German underlings of their best and most often used excuse--"I was only following orders." 

"Issues, Etc." -- Update

For the latest news on the situation regarding "Issues, Etc." go here:  Click here: Bring Back Issues Etc.  This blog is updated regularly, has all the latest news, links, and instructions about how to register your protest.

If you haven't, be sure to sign the on-line petition (now over 4300), and keep sending emails to the "powers that be."  If you have a moment, read through the names and comments in the on-line petition.  People from every age, station in life, ethnicity, and background, all describe how much they love hearing the gospel.  It is very encouraging. 

There are some encouraging signs that this decision may be reversed (or at least the board of communications will be forced to reconsider).  But it is vital that we keep up the pressure--especially before that meeting.   What makes the biggest impression on an LCMS bureaucrat is an email from someone who is not LCMS, but who enjoys "Issues, Etc." and who then takes the time to send an email of complaint.  Bureaucrats hate to be questioned.  So, by all means, question them!

Some Interesting Links . . .

Isn't it great that the Pope is Catholic!  Benedict XVI prays for the conversion of Israel, and then baptizes a Muslim convert to Christianity.  People get mad and he doesn't care.  He is the Pope, after all.   Click here: German Jewish leader criticizes Pope over prayer | Reuters.  Click here: News | Africa - Reuters.com.  Now, if only we can get him to re-think this justification business.

This is just plain wrong.  To the great joy of boomers everywhere, the band Boston is going on tour.  OK.  But with a new lead singer--Michael Sweet, formerly of Stryper.  How can I ever get that image of the black spandex with the yellow stripe out of my mind.   Click here: Sleaze Roxx: Boston Kicks Off Summer Tour With Stryper Vocalist

My favorite blogger, Peter Abraham, has a great post on the ten people you want to avoid the next time you go to a baseball game.  I've sat next to every one of these guys!  Click here: The LoHud Yankees Blog

Who Said That?

"The fact that brief exposure to a message asserting that there is no such thing as free will can increase both passive and active cheating raises the concern that advocating a deterministic worldview could undermine moral behavior."

Leave your guesses in the comments section below.  No google searches! 

Update on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 05:44PM by Kim Riddlebarger

This is the conclusion of Drs. Kathleen Vohs and Jonathan Schooler, in the January issue of Psychological Science).  This is explains why Calvinists don't just believe in total depravity--we exemplify it.

He Is Risen!

A Reading for Easter -- Luke 24:1-12 (ESV):

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,  but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.  And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,  that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”  And they remembered his words,  and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 0 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.  But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

A Collect for Easter (Approved for use in the URCNA Hymnal):

Holy Father, giver of all perfect gifts, we join the heavenly choir to herald the news that you have defeated the powers of sin, death, and condemnation by the victory of Jesus Christ your Son over the grave. We confess that the circumstances of this present age often rise up to testify against the promise that you have declared in your Word. Nevertheless, we bring the experience of our hearts under your judgment: You have raised Jesus Christ from the dead as the first fruits of the whole harvest at the last day. As in his resurrection you have brought the new creation into this passing evil age, raise us up and seat us with Christ—in this life, through faith, and in the next, beholding with our own eyes the resurrection of our bodies in life everlasting. All of this we pray, with joy and thanksgiving, in Christ’s name. Amen.  

Good Friday -- "Father, Into Your Hands"

For Good Friday, a reading from Luke 23:44-49 (ESV). 

It was now about the sixth hour,  and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,  while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!”  And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.  And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.

The Collect for Good Friday (The Book of Common Prayer):

Almighty God, we ask you now to graciously look upon your people, for whom our Lord Jesus was betrayed and given over into the hands of wicked men, to suffer death upon the cross for us and for our sins.   Lord you have made all men and women and do not desire the death of a sinner, but rather that they should turn from their wickedness and live, have mercy upon all those who neglect your gospel, and especially have mercy upon your ancient people Israel; take from them ignorance of the gospel, hardness of heart and contempt from of your word, return them to Christ, so that all Israel may be saved; and so that they, together with believing Gentiles, might be joined together into one flock, under one shepherd, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, Amen.

A  Collect for Good Friday (proposed for URCNA hymnal):

Our Father, who so loved the world that you gave your only-begotten Son, we acknowledge and marvel at your mercy.  Even while we were enemies, you reconciled us; even while we were strangers, you made us co-heirs with Christ of all eternal blessings; even while we stood condemned, you redeemed us; even while we were imprisoned, you delivered us from the tyranny of sin, death, and the devil.  On this solemn occasion, we loathe our miserable estate and celebrate your marvelous grace.  Beneath the cross of Christ, we come to know that ours is the guilt, but yours the forgiveness; ours the condemnation, but yours the gift of justification; ours the bondage, yet yours the freedom of adoption and new obedience.  Even the faith with which we confess our dear Savior’s sacrifice was won for us by his death.  Therefore, we cry out to you in sorrow for our sins and in thanksgiving for your gift.  Give us the grace, we pray, to receive again this word of the cross which alone can refresh us on our pilgrim way, and send us out again into the world as witnesses to “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Sign the "Issues, Etc.," Petition

Apparently, there is great angst in the LCMS headquarters due to the out-pouring of complaints in response to the cancellation of "Issues, Etc." 

So, please keep those emails and phone calls rolling in (see below)!  Nothing worse to a bureaucrat than an email box full of complaints--the sure sign of a PR disaster!   

There is also an on-line petition you can sign--be sure to identify your church (especially if you are not LCMS).  The goal is 5000 + names.   If you haven't signed yet, be sure to sign it soon.  I'm told this is having a real impact!

 Click here: Issues Etc. Petition

For the latest information on Rev. Wilken, Jeff Schwarz (the program's producer) and attempts to keep "Issues, Etc.," on the air,  Click here: Bring Back Issues Etc.

Maundy Thursday -- "The New Covenant in My Blood"

For Maundy Thursday -- A reading from Luke 22:14-23 (ESV):

And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him.  And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.  For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”  And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves.  For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”  And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”  And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.  But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.  For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”  And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.

From Calvin's Sermon, "The Resurrection of Jesus Christ" (from Sermons on the Saving Work of Christ, Baker, 1980, 196).

"When, then, we come to approach this Holy Table, by which the Son of God shows us that he is our meat, that he gives himself to us as our full and entire nourishment, and he wishes that now we participate in the sacrifice which he has once for all offered for our salvation, we must see to it that we do not bring to it our corruption and pollutions to be mixed with it, but we renounce them, and seek to be fully purified, so that our Lord Jesus may own us as members of his body, and that by this means also we may be partakers of his life.  That is how . . . we must make use of this Holy Supper which is prepared for us.  That is, it may lead us to the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and then to his resurrection, and that we may be assured of life and salvation, as by the victory he has obtained in rising from the dead.  Righteousness is given to us, and the gate of paradise opened to us, so that we may be boldly approach our God, and offer ourselves before him, knowing that always he will receive us as his children." 

How to Help Our Friends at "Issues, Etc."

Several friends who know how the LCMS works,  have written me about how we can best respond to the cancellation of "Issues, Etc."  Calls and emails will have great effect.  Please take the time to do this!

First, if you have benefited from "Issues, Etc.," tell them so, and express your disappointment at their decision.

Second, if you are not LCMS, be sure to let them know that.  Emails and calls from non-LCMS folk will have the most impact.

Third, let them know your thoughts about the way this was done, and how it negatively impacts your impression of the LCMS.  Church bureaucrats are especially sensitive to criticism of their methods.

The two people who need to hear from us soon are:

LCMS President, Rev Dr Gerald Kieschnick, 314 996 1402, president@lcms.org

and,  

David Strand: (LCMS Board of Communications), David.Strand@lcms.org

Please take a minute and send them both an email!  Maybe, we can turn this around!
 

Update on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 03:23PM by Kim Riddlebarger

KFUO has posted the "official reason" for the cancellation of "Issues, Etc."

For programmatic and business reasons, the decision was made  this week to discontinue the "Issues, Etc." program on KFUO-AM.  We look forward to bringing you new programming in this time slot  in the near future. Also, we thank "Issues" host Rev. Todd Wilken and producer Mr. Jeff Schwarz for their years of service on behalf of the station. Those interested may still download past "Issues, Etc." programs from the "Issues" archive on this website. Thank you sincerely for your continued support of KFUO's radio ministry.

After looking this up in my "English to Bureaucrat" dictionary, I now know that "business reasons"  is a phrase which can be rendered "follow the money."  If there is some debt in the LCMS worrying the bureaucrats, my guess is (and this is only a guess) that they want to sell the station and its valuable license. 

Update on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 03:28PM by Kim Riddlebarger

Here's a link to a blog with the latest info.  Be sure to read the testimonials posted on Pastor Weeden's blog.  If you don't think justification sola fide is a practical doctrine, this should change your mind!  Click here: Bring Back Issues Etc

LCMS Pulls the Plug on "Issues, Etc."

The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod's Board of Communications suddenly pulled the plug today on our friends @ Issues, Etc.  Both Rev. Todd Wilken and his producer Jeff Schwarz, were both let go without advance notice.  

All of the White Horse Inn regulars, along with Ken Samples, regularly appear on that program.  Todd and Jeff are great guys, and more importantly, defenders of justification sola fide.  According to reports from several Lutheran pastors who broke the news on their blogs, apparently, there is no scandal of any sort, and the program does not lose money.

I'll keep you posted if and when someone devises some sort of protest or response.  I don't know the Lutheran world very well (much less the internal politics which led to this), but apparently, there is already great outrage on the part of many Lutherans, who see Issues, Etc.  as the LCMS' only successful outreach to those outside Lutheran circles.

Please be in prayer for Rev. Wilken and Jeff Schwarz!

Yet another reason to dislike denominational bureaucrats (as if I need another reason), who always act in self-preservation, even if it means throwing overboard those actually preaching Christ to the masses.  And, of course, they do this right before Easter and without warning.   Amazing. 

Update on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 08:45PM by Kim Riddlebarger

Those of you who want to do something by way of protest, here's the contact info.    My e-mail missive to Mr. Strand probably will not change his mind, but it sure made me feel better . . .

Synod: 888-843-5267
KFUO: 314-725-0099

David Strand: (LCMS Board of Communications)
David.Strand@lcms.org

Synod's address:
1333 S. Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, MO 63122-7295
infocenter@lcms.org
800-THE-LCMS