Geek Spaces

Here’s my prediction straight from my rear on the future of Issues Etc.

The leadership of KFUO will “capitulate” to the Issues Etc crowd by putting in a theological radio program with a more “rounded” show lineup. The Jesus First/Daystar groups will have direct say in what can not be said and the focus will change to more Bible Studies and talk about missions; less criticism or other religions or Christian movements (church growth). The former staff, Wilken et al will be brought on as consultants and possibly in their old roles, but that will die out quickly either due to conflicts with the programming or because their services are no longer needed.

I’m going to re-write this. What’s the point of this post other than to be pessimistic?  I think it’s time to stop griping about the state of the synod and start doing something about it.  I understand that there are some plans underway, and that there are many ideas.  However, I think the odds of bringing back IE are nill and so are getting straight answers from the synodical bureaucracy.  They have too much to loose to be honest and we should move on, yet not forget especially when it comes time to vote  in a few years.

There are those who want to make the LCMS into a new evangelical collective and not enough confessional pastors nor enough well catechized  laymen to do much about it.  What we are facing is the reaping of decades of neglect in the pulpits of the LCMS.  There have been too many potlucks and pleasant sermons and too few hours of teaching the Word and the confessions.  Too many times, doing it like we always have is a death sentence because the congregation is fat, lazy, and ignorant of the confessions other than it being a book on the pastor’s shelf; and it’s been that way as long as people can remember.  Bringing in a praise band “for the kids” is a more logical move from their current situation than asking people to change by thinking about something theologically deep.  Quite frankly, that scares people because it’s a mental and personal investment rather than just a simple monetary investment.

So, I’m rambling again.  Let’s just say that something must be done to educate the laity in the doctrine of the church and in the Scriptures themselves.  When they hunger for it, they’ll want more.  Issues Etc did a good job of that because it crossed congregational and denominational lines.  With that gone, we need to keep up the same (shall I say) mission.

I must be too tired because I can’t stop laughing.

To my farty boss and his bowels.

I hear you.

I hear you in there.

I hear you farting. Shifting in your leather chair. Trying to muffle your bodily noises in your vibrating chair pad (which is creepy enough).

Worse: I smell you.

The first day you did this, I thought someone had burned a Lean Cuisine Salisbury Steak in the microwave. The second day, I stupidly asked you if you smelled “that vile odor”.

You blushed and said, “I have this little problem when I am stressed, excited, or eat a lot of protein in the mornings…” and thus began the Awkward Relationship I Have With Your Bowels.

Man, I am your assistant. I can help with the stress factor, that’s sort of my purpose. But listen, can’t you lay off the protein bars and egg whites and ostrich sausage in the mornings? Can you eat them, say, at lunch or at night, and torture your family and pets with the resulting stench?

I am tired of burning candles in my office like I’m some kind of fucked up Wiccan trying to ward off the Samhain Fart Satyr. I dread bringing you files because I don’t ALWAYS hear you and sometimes am very unpleasantly surprised by the greasy cloud that surrounds your work area.

I really like you. You’re a great boss. You take great care of me. But this has to stop before I burst a blood vessel in my eye from holding my breath when I come close to you. See a gastroenterological specialist already; I’ll even make the appointment!

Thanks to Craigslist

is something that I don’t have, though I wish I did.

One of my first posts after joining a Lutheran church was, “Where are the Lutheran Founders?” I wrote,

“I doubt that many Confessional Lutherans would accuse Southern Baptists of being to rigidly doctrinal. In fact, I’m sure that many see Southern Baptists as being the stereotypical, fire and brimstone, alter call, anti-intellectual, fundamentalists. However, there is a group in the SBC called the Founders that want to see Baptists go back to their theological roots. They hold conferences, fraternals, and learning courses for those who want to know about their historic confessions. Yes! It is true that historic Baptists even have confessions!

So what I want to know is, where is the Lutheran equivalent? Is there an organized movement to educate and motivate clergy and laypeople alike about the importance of the historic liturgy and about the fallacy of “seeker sensitive” worship?”

It’s been very nearly 3 years since I wrote that, but the question remains. Where is there an organized movement to educate and motivate clergy and laypeople alike about the importance of the historic liturgy and about the fallacy of “seeker sensitive” worship?” We have groups like Cat41 and SSP. We have communities like the Wittenberg Trail and LutherQuest, but where’s the organized front that stands for the Lutheran Confessions? Confessional Lutherans are fragmented physically and fraternally. What are we doing to see the truth being confessed in unity?

Perhaps, I should have titled this post, Where is the confessional Jesus First and Daystar?