To My Dear and Loving Husband

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole Mines of gold
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that Rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompetence.
Thy love is such I can no way repay.
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let's so persever
That when we live no more, we may live ever.

- by Anne Bradstreet

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When I was in high school and read this poem for the first time, I thought "that's the kind of love that I want to have for my husband." I read it every once in a while and thank God that I do. But....I can't say it better than Mrs. Bradstreet

Lutheran Carnival XXVIII is up!!! Thanks to Vicar Chaz Lehmann for hosting!!!

Happy Anniversary, Honey.

It was probably about 15 years ago right about now, that I was up at Arrowhead Lutheran Camp, and I went to 7-11 with my good friend, Jeff, whom I'd met that year. It seemed like we'd always known each other. In some ways, we had. The Lutheran world is a small world (cue music!) and we had many of the same friends.

Anyway, I digress. We got out of the car, and I saw this great dog. An Alaskan Husky with peachy brown spots. I said "That's a cool dog. I want a dog like that." "Why don't you get a boyfriend?" he asked. "They're easier."

I don't know if I was more taken aback by the idea that he was telling me that he was interested in filling that role, or at the very idea that a boyfriend is actually easier than a dog (with a dog...you've won the majority of the battle once you stop them from chewing on things and have them housetrained). I don't think he knew what he was saying, either...exactly. (I'm more cat-like...he had to win my heart with backrubs...purrr).

But within a couple of weeks, we'd had our first kiss and now, 12 years ago today....we were married. Despite some hard times, five babies (3 in Heaven), and some tremendous joys , it has been the most wonderful 12 years of my life. You're not easier than a dog, Sweetie.....but you are a much better friend. God has blessed me completely in you.

At our church, the pastor has recently been considering going a little more radical in our worship services.....

(just kidding....the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo came and brought us some animals to enjoy at our Vacation Bible School....since the theme was looking for treasure, I guess they decided to bring animals you might find when digging for that treasure...we had some frogs and a hedgehog too! Ewww and hissing cockroaches!)

Communion Worthiness Revisited

In my last post on communion, a vicar named Greg posted a very interesting response. There were a lot of questions and considerations in it, and I must admit, I had some difficulty adequately replying in the “comments” section. Since there were a lot of issues brought up, obviously the response is even longer. If you’d like to see his original post, it is here. I tried to edit what I could. I did ask Greg for permission to post parts of his note, but did not hear back. He will undoubtedly learn that the life of a pastor means that plenty of times, opinions that are NOT his will be attributed to him, so I took the liberty of doing so anyway, since he did already choose to post publicly.

As a part of a synod, what impact might there be on other congregations (community, circuit, district, etc.) when the decision is made to welcome children to the table on an individual basis?

I see two issues as being pertinent. Maybe you could share others. First, when a young communicant visits a congregation and comes to the table. Knowing this is not always the practice, parents often take the lead and contact the pastor before Sunday, and ask if the child may commune at his church. I have also seen a pastor handle this well at the table. When he got to my son, he simply asked “confirmed?” and when I shook my head no, he simply blessed him and moved on.

The other issue is if a family transfers in. This can be a bigger issue. But I think that it is a good situation for raising the issue, because a congregation should have a process for confirmation only because they have thought about it and believe that it is right….not because it is what we have always done. Considering how many of our confirmation practices were developed during the ages of Pietism and Rationalism, its about time that we looked at them again.

At any rate, the congregations will have to face this issue. In the Agenda for the new hymnal, there is a Rite of First Communion, which was determined to be a need since over 25% of all LCMS congregations are now separating first communion and confirmation.

(regarding his student) For the sake of good order, might it be helpful to ask her to refrain until she is confirmed with her class?

Absolutely….but we are not quite talking about the same thing. I am talking about children who have been baptized in the faith and raised in the faith…hopefully catechized by their parents or in school and believe in the real presence; are aware of their sinfulness; have a basic understanding of the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostle’s Creed, and the Words of Institution. These are the general requirements that Luther specifies for admission to the table…for all Christians. This kind of knowledge is easily attainable for your average seven or eight year old (and often younger) whose parents read and discuss a small section of the catechism on a regular basis and pray Luther's Evening Prayer with their kids. Of course, the pastor still has the responsibility of examining anyone who wants to come to the table.

But then our children are strengthened by one more Means of Grace that God gives us and commands all believers to partake in. In this world which the devil prowls so visciously, getting our children to that point should be of the utmost importance, to further strengthen their faith, and to not delay it any longer than can be otherwise justified.

Our standards for the children that we have raised in the faith since infancy are often harder than the ones we have for adults who have lived their entire lives separated from proper doctrine. Four to eleven weeks as opposed to two years? Some churches require papers and speeches from their 13 year olds that they wouldn’t dream of asking their adult confirmands. And these are from people that we have seen grow in the faith since birth.

You should explain to your student that when she partakes of the body and the blood of Christ that she is confessing that she believes what everyone else here at the table believes. The purpose of the class is to go over that, so that when she does take communion, she is aware that she is confessing that she believes the same thing (namely, who God is (Apostles Creed), what he does for us (Lord's Prayer), that we are sinful and need a Savior (Ten Commandments) and in the Real Presence (Words of Institution), because by partaking, she is confessing that she is one in faith with us.

So often, when using 1 Corinthians 11 to "stretch" the agreed upon understanding of "close" communion, people ignore the fact that Paul is writing to a specific congregation, and that those individuals he is addressing have been previously taught. So, if Paul sees it fit to withhold the Supper from members of a congregation, might it follow that we may need to do the same-youth or adult?

Yes, and the EXACT same argument you are using (though you have made it clear it is not your argument, but one you hear from liberals) was the one that the Catholic Church used to justify withholding the blood of Christ/wine from the laity in Holy Communion in Luther's time....pretty much word for word.

There is a difference between withholding the Lord’s Supper from someone who is in unrepentant sin, which is what was going on in 1 Corinthians 11, and just withholding it because they are not the age that the current school of thought thinks is appropriate. If a child knows what is needed and desires the comfort and forgiveness that Holy Communion gives, he should be admitted to the table.

As for the argument that I Corinthians 11 is addressed to one congregation, Luther says specifically regarding this particular chapter:

“What could be more ridiculous and more worthy of our precious friar’s intellect than to say that the Apostle wrote that passage, and gave that permission, not to the church universal, but to the church at Corinth, a local church?....When the church universal accepted and read the epistle, and obeyed it completely, did it not also obey this passage? If we admit that any epistle of Paul’s, or a single passage in them, does not pertain to the church universal, all Paul’s authority is nullified….Away with the idea that there is a single syllable in the whole of Paul which the whole church is not obliged to follow and obey. That was not the view of the Fathers, up to the perilous present.” - The Babylonian Captivity of the Church

What did Luther, Melancthon, and the other reformers mean when they confessed that "he who believes" takes his rightful place at the Sacrament? Did they commune children before they had received proper, sometimes years, of instruction? No, in fact, those who had not received sufficient instruction left the sanctuary just prior to the "Service of Holy Communion."

I know that the ancient church had catechumens and non-believers leave before the Lord’s Supper, but I honestly do not know of the church in Luther’s time. Also, children of believers did not leave. Parents still needed to watch their children, whether they communed or not. From what I've read, it was common in Luther and Melancthon’s time for the focus of the sermon to be on catechizing the congregation regarding Holy Communion EVERY time they celebrated Mass, since the people had never been educated as to what they were doing, other than it was a work required by God. Then, after the sermon, the congregation partook of the Lord's Supper. The baptized faithful were not kept from the table while they were being educated. Consider Luther's patience over several years while he allowed some to continue taking only the bread because their faith was so weak.

The increasing strictures that were put on communing children were a result of contamination by reformed doctrine (see Confirmation in the Lutheran Church, by Arthur C. Repp, 1964). Melancthon and Bucer, two who set up standards for confirmation of youth, were influenced by Erasmus, according to Repp. Luther and those who followed him closely weres against confirmation as a rite, because they did not want it confused with the Catholic teaching that it was a sacrament and necessary for salvation. Luther eventually acquiesced, but only with clear understanding that it was different and not necessary.

Thank you for your thoughts. You’ve made me think on many things. I really enjoy discussion on this topic and I look forward to continuing to learn.

God bless

go to part III

Now if Only Drysdale had Been Here.......
I hate to admit it, but I have to say, I think it was appropriate that they beaned YOU last night, Shawn. I even said it to my husband when you came to bat in the 7th inning.

I mean, it had to be done. Sure, you're nice, not to mention really really cute but it had to be done. Your team hit Nomar THREE times and Russell Martin once. Someone had to be hit, and since you'd been a thorn in our side for the years you were here....it was only appropriate that you received a 95 mile per hour fastball in yours....just this once.










Sometimes, when you are your team's most consistent hitter, it means you have to be the one who takes one for the team (and you are very consistent...when you played for us, you consistently hit the ball right into the double play I'm so glad that you are in a place where you are comfortable now). I know it was hard for you to adjust to Playing in L.A. and all, but it hasn't seemed to be tough for Nomar.....and he's not too hard on the eyes, either.
(isn't he so cute with Mia, here!)