If you haven't seen this, the recent "live" White Horse Inn taping in Oceanside was video-taped.

Lord willing, we may do this with all our future broadcasts.  Imagine actually seeing Rod's facial expressions while the Reformed talk about Romans 9!

Here's the link.   Click here: The White Horse Inn: Know What You Believe & Why You Believe It 

Here's a link to Mike Horton's interview (taped today) with M. Z. Hemingway regarding her essay in the Wall Street Journal dealing with the LCMS's unexplained removal of "Issues, Etc."   Hemingway nails it! http://www.whitehorseinn.org/mp3/whiissuesetc.mp3

This is not merely a battle over a radio program, but this is an important skirmish in a larger battle over the future of the LCMS.  While the LCMS bureaucrats claim that canceling the broadcast is a matter of simple economics, the evidence increasingly points to the fact that "Issues, Etc.," was an obstacle to those within the LCMS with an agenda to move away the LCMS away from Lutheran confessionalism.  

When the denominational president proudly proclaims "this is not your grandfather's Lutheran Church," it means the LCMS president wants his church to look like Saddleback!

As Reformed Christians, we need to watch this matter carefully, along with the Enns situation at Westminster Theological Seminary (Click here: A Word to Students in the Midst of Controversy « Heidelblog).  In some ways these are two different manifestations of the same issue--are we going to remain confessional, and are we willing to pay the price to do so?

While I am not a Lutheran, "Issues, Etc." is a great program.  It does my Reformed heart good to read through the petition of those wanting "Issues, Etc." to remain on the air, and who have boldly professed their love for the gospel and justification sola fide.  If that is not a testimony to the power of the gospel, I don't know what is!   

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. 

If you are enjoying the current White Horse Inn series "Christless Christianity" (Click here: The White Horse Inn: Know What You Believe & Why You Believe It) then you might enjoy this. 

Dr. Rod Rosenbladt's lecture "The Gospel for Those Broken By the Church" is now available as an MP3 (for a nominal fee--$3.45).

This is must listening for any of you who have gone to church seeking the comfort of the gospel, only to be burdened by the law (without the relief of the gospel) or distracted by the trivialities of modern American evangelicalism.

If you've ever listened to the White Horse Inn, you know that Rod has a real place in his heart for all of you bruised reeds (Matthew 12:20) and this lecture is a must-listen.  You can order and download it here (Click here: The Gospel For Those Broken By The Church (MP3)

A snippet from Mike Horton's recent lecture at the 2007 Miami Pastor's Conference has been posted on YouTube.  Check it out. 

It was great to see Michael on 60 Minutes!  Just a couple of thoughts about the interview . . .

Out of nearly four hours of taping Mike got about 3 minutes of air-time.  Too bad that so much of that was spent watching Mike climb the stairs of my beloved Alma Mater (Westminster Seminary California).  I had hoped CBS would give Mike a chance to tell the audience about the true gospel, but then again we can't expect too much from CBS.  At least they gave someone (like Mike) a chance to respond.  What they did use from Mike was germane and to the point.  Did anyone else notice that Bryon Pitts looked like he was gonna hurl at several points while interviewing Osteen?  Obviously, he wasn't buying it. 

The gospel always seems to lose out in heavily edited interviews like this, especially when the guy not preaching it can cry on command and seems so sincere and bent on being positive, even if its "not his ministry" to tell people the truth about the human condition and what Jesus has done to save us from our sins.  If you are interested, there are some great resources dealing with Osteen's fluff "gospel" on the White Horse Inn webpage (Click here: osteen2).

On the lighter side, just so you know, Michael's already caught a fair bit of flack from his friends.  As one noted Reformed theologian pointed out, "Osteen’s theology may indeed be popcorn theology, but it appears that he can bench press more than Horton can."  Michael has already promised to spend more time in the gym and will challenge Osteen to a rematch.  Maybe the only Reformed guy who can currently out-bench Osteen is James White.

I also wonder if Joel hasn't been chuggin' down a few cans of Pat Robertson's famous Diet Shake.  Pat claims to leg press some 1000 lbs (if I recall).  That Joel Osteen can actually bench press 300 lbs was the real surprise of the interview.  Everything else was pretty much as I expected. 

It is also no surprise that thousands of people will flock to an arena to be enthralled with a light show on the ceiling, a pop concert, and to hear a dynamic message about how they can reach their potential.  Joel's very good at what he does, but it is an absolute shame that doesn't include preaching Christ and him crucified.  That makes him an "evangelist" without an evangel.  That Best Life Now drivel rings pretty hollow in light of eternity.