Reports/Reviews

Wonderful Day

July 11, 2010

Today saw the culmination of several efforts which have occupied my time lately. Hana, a woman from Ethiopia and the mother of two students at our parish school, was confirmed and received her first Communion today. Also, Robert Kieselowsky was installed as vicar at Immanuel at today’s Divine Service. It is a convertible vicarage, meaning [...]

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The League of Faithful Masks

December 15, 2009

We were privileged to have Dr. Uwe Siemon-Netto speak at Immanuel last Sunday. He is the director of The League of Faithful Masks: Center for Lutheran Theology and Public Life. The idea behind the phrase “faithful masks” comes from Luther’s terminology of God working through us in our various callings. I’m not sure of the [...]

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Manhattan Declaration

December 7, 2009

I read and signed the Manhattan Declaration today. I would encourage you to read and consider signing as well. The three issues it treats – life, marriage, and freedom of conscience – are the critical public issues of our time.

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Suffer the little children?

December 4, 2009

Our congregation has been richly blessed with growing numbers of infants and small children. I want those children to be in the Divine Service, and I try to encourage that. This, of course, has led to a somewhat noisier atmosphere during worship, sparking a discussion about the best way to handle it (if, indeed, it [...]

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Bible software: Mac

November 30, 2009

A friend recently asked a group of pastors about using Bible software on a Mac. Here is my response: Because I’m a moron, I’ve managed to buy extensive resources in both Accordance and, more recently, Logos. (I also dropped a few denarii on BibleWorks for PC a few years ago.) In my opinion, Accordance is [...]

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Thrivent hates me and has a devious, wicked plan for my life

November 27, 2009

In an earlier post, we saw how Thrivent promotes the anti-Christian belief that only the soul lives after death, without a bodily resurrection. In the same pile of questionable materials for my review, I found another publication by Thrivent seeking to make my life miserable on a much more practical level. A book called Step [...]

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Welcome Home!

November 21, 2009

I am rejoicing at the news that Rev. Charles McClean, a member of Immanuel, has been reinstated to the clergy roster of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Congratulations, Fr. McClean!

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Because what men really need is a picture of sexy legs to help them grow deeper in Christian faith

October 3, 2009

The only thing sadder than Oak Leaf Church (really? Oak Leaf?) using soft porn images to get guys into church is the fact that they are so late to the game. Really, if you’re going to do the trendy thing, try to get in early. This train left the station awhile back. Click here to [...]

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His blood's for you?

February 7, 2009

I love the Crummy Church Signs blog, but for some reason this submission of mine didn’t make the cut. (For you locals, this church is on Franconia Road near Van Dorn St., almost across the street from sister congregation St. John’s Lutheran Church.) Besides the obvious blasphemy (and the image I have in my mind [...]

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Gerry Connolly's no-good, horrible, really bad joke

January 24, 2009

Gerry Connolly was the chairman of Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors. Under his leadership, taxes have soared and the county is in deep trouble financially, with a projected $400,000,000 deficit in the new fiscal year. For this, the wise voters of nothern Virginia elected him to congress. There will be a special election on Tuesday, [...]

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