KFUO's Statement On Canceling 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, Program Etc." programs from the "Issues" archive on this website. Thank you sincerely for your continued support of KFUO's radio ministry."

Ok, we still don't who or why! I guess we are supposed to trust that a proper decision was made. Something is very, very wrong here. Anytime any entity, whether it is a business or synod, has to delay a statement upon firing two employees, especially if they ran the a successful program like Issues, Etc., there is something else going on that needs to be brought to light.

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And if you think it's just me that's got a migraine over this, go read Dan at Necessary Roughness, Der Bettler at Hoc Est Verum, Pastor Weedon, Pastor Snyder, Pastor Cwirla, and Pastor Asburry for more insight on this appalling act.

Also, Pastor Esget has a great idea in response to President Kieschnick's question out of this months reporter; "How do we share the Gospel with youngsters who are plugged into their iPods most of their waking hours?". Pastor Esget proposes that the synod, which already owns a radio station, maybe come up with an informative program that inform those young ragamuffins through things like, maybe podcasts...

Update:

For any good joke to be funny there has to be a tiny little bit of truth hidden in there somewhere. If you enjoy gallows humor, Horn+Swoggled hits the nail smack dab on the head. Scandal and insensitivity indeed…

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Update #2

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Timotheos over at Balaam's Ass has a good post where he points out that the outrage over the Issues, Etc. cancellation is not just a Lutheran issue. He links to a number of reformed, PCA, nondenominational folks who are similarly expressing outrage over the loss of a clear voice in the wilderness.

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Update #3

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Here's an online petition to show your support for Issues, Etc., and to speak out for reinstating the program. Sign the online petition here.

Issues, Etc. Canceled

From Pastor Weedon’s Blog comes this sad news:

Today's a black day in the LCMS. Today the Synod ordered the cancellation of the popular radio show Issues, Etc. without stating a reason why, and terminated the employment of Pastor Todd Wilken, the show's host, and Mr. Jeff Schwarz, the show's producer. Folks, I don't know about you, but I do not think we can sit by and let this happen.

There was no finer program on in the radio medium that taught what orthodox Christians believed, taught and confessed, period.

Who wants to bet me that the monies that were used to fund Issues, Etc. will be allocated to print up glossy pocket mission prayer pals and slick brochures. Who wants place a wager that when all is said and done and “explained” it will be said that this was done to bring the good news to that most important demographic that we seemed so infatuated with; the unchurched and people who actually say don’t like church? Ya wanna take me up on that wager? If so, drop me a line, I need the cash.

Update:

The Wittenberg Trail has set up a PayPal account for Todd Wilken and Jeff Schwarz, who are jobless:
A message to all members of The Wittenberg Trail
The Wittenberg Trail is organizing a drive to offer financial support to Pastor Wilken, Jeff Schwarz and their families during this difficult time.
The WT has a secure Pay Pal account set up. Please indicate “Wilken/Schwarz” in the donation comment section.
Please log into the Wittenberg Trail and click on the “Donate” button on the right side of the screen.
Visit The Wittenberg Trail at: http://wittenbergtrail.ning.com

Update #2

Funds to Support the Wilken and the Schwarz families
Can be sent to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Box 247, Hamel IL 62046. Just mark it Wilken/Schwarz Fund. Folks, they've given us so very, very much. Let's see them through this. (If Paypal is more convenient, you can also donate through that at the Wittenberg Trail). And also let's make sure that President Kieschnick, the Board of Communication Services, and KFUO know that we want to see this show returned to the air.

Update #3

The person who made the decision to cancel Issues, Etc. was Mr. David Strand, Executive Director of the Board for Communication Services. Here is Mr. Strand's contact information: David L. Strand
Executive Director Board for Communication
(314) 996-1200
david.strand@lcms.org
Why not give Mr. Strand a call? I know I will.

Meet The Peepsmaster

After our Sunday night study on Calvinism and it’s tenets, arguably the biggest influence on Americanized Christianity, we took a break and the kids ate what else? Why, pizza of course of course. Then came the games!

Then began our peeps themed Olympics with cool sports competitions like “Chubby Bunny”, the peep flick, and the highlight of night, peeps jousting in the microwave. Yes the microwave!

We even had an adult entry into the jousting event with what can only be described as the “Peep of Doom”. While said peep didn’t live up to its much-heralded reputation, fun ensued and was had by all.

And the winner of all three events was, drum roll please, Ben: this year's Peepsmaster extraordinaire. Congratulations Ben on your hard fought victory, we salute you fine sir!

Calvinism and Peeps, oh yeah!

Infestation Problems

Hey all! Just so everyone is aware, I needed to turn on comment moderation due to a witch infestation problem after today’s snide comments from the last post. No, really, witches, I wouldn’t kid ya. They just ain't happy...

I guess this means that I going to lose my non-bombastic status, eh Dan@NR? Darn, I was doing so good...

Update:
The only people that have ever had their comments deleted on this blog are those who denied Christ. In that respect, nothing has changed.

Just because comment moderation is turned on doesn’t mean that the comments aren’t being logged.

If anyone wishes to have a discussion with me on the nature of who a Christian considers family, and if you can do it without the hateful and venomous language that I’ve seen in the last day, my email is at the end of my blogroll. I’ll be more than happy to chat once you’ve calmed down and start acting like a reasonable adult.

And finally, I just don’t sense the happy…

Things I Learned Last Week, On The Periphery

One thing is certain, you can’t pick your relatives.

The whole wages of sin thingy, really isn’t all that well understood by Americanized Christianity.

I was previously unaware of how much of an offense it is being called a sinner to those outside the faith. Even the first line of Amazing Grace, which states “that saved a wretch like me” is enough to hurt somebody's feelings.

I was previously unaware that there is a difference between Wicca and witches (hey, hey, hey, not my side of the family).

Witches do not seem to be the happiest bunch of folks, really.

I think witches like to shop at Hot Topic. The Goth look might come across as sorta cool on a teenager, but on middle aged women, it just looks sad.

Witches say they can perform magic, but if you lose your composure after toning your sarcasm down to almost nothing for six days straight, and if you ask for a card trick or two, they become really less than pleasant and will want you removed from any scheduled festivities. Go figure…

On the brighter side, I love my family more than I’m capable of properly communicating. They adopted me long ago for reasons that I cant seem to understand. They kept telling me that there was no way they could thank me for being there for them. I kept saying the debt on my part was far from being paid. Eventually I had to say that the love we have for each other would not allow debts. We do for each other because that is what we do.

I started missing them as soon as I climbed into my truck to go home to be with my missus who I also missed more than words could express.

Old Jewish Quote of the Day

How we deal with death is at least as important as how we deal with life, wouldn't you say?—J.T.Kirk, 8130.3, commenting on the Kobayashi Maru Scenario

What I Learned At An Evangelical Wake

Les’s wake was held last night. There where some rough parts with family members angry about who might be included in the receiving line. But the evening ended about as well as it possibly could.

The one odd thing that struck me occurred after the viewing was over and only Anne, the kids and their wives or girlfriends, two or three members of Anne’s church, and myself remained. Their Pastor read a little bit of scripture and led the bunch of us in a prayer that was longer than most Lutheran sermons these days.

And then, the odd thingy, they broke out singing their favorite hymnody. And not just singing the melody but these folks were singing harmony as well. And unlike what I usually hear in many Lutheran churches today, they sang joyfully. I swear the ten of them sang louder and clearer and with more joy than even my own congregation is capable of at a midweek service.

I believe that most Lutherans would be put to shame if asked to sing ten entire hymns without their hymnals and sing them well or even in parts. With such a rich tradition in hymnody it would stand to reason that most Lutherans should at least be able to keep up with ten evangelicals, but that just sadly isn’t the case.

We certainly differ theologically with most evangelicals in America today, but one thing I think is clear, they love Jesus and are better about communicating that than most of us.

So, You Want Me To Cry?

So, you want me to cry do you? Well, here’s how you do it; just tell me and your children that you would like it if I could be introduced as your brother to everybody at the wake and memorial service of your husband. That should definitely accomplish the mission. My friends really deserve better friends than me.

A Quick Update

My dear friend Anne and I were able to take some time this morning and do a short devotion. I had asked her the Saturday night if she would object to Matins and she thought that it would be nice. It’s too bad that I couldn’t find my stupid hymnal. I normally keep one in my truck just for giggles but when I went out there it was nowhere to be found.

So I just ended up putting something together out of the Pastoral Care Companion that I’d been using since I’d arrived. She added two or three Psalms after I was finished with my bit and I found a little peace hearing the Word on the Lord’s Day. With all that was going on, being mobbed by well intentioned people who would just want to wish the family well just wasn’t something to look forward to. A Matins-lite devotion just hit the spot.

Regarding the Pastoral Care Companion , what a terrific resource that little book is. I had used it when I was “up” with Les his last two nights. Through the tears and a bit of blubbering I chanted many of the Psalms and read all I could until I was no longer able to focus on the text because of the lack of sleep. It was invaluable to me in the respect that it focused my attention on God’s word and not where I would veer off to given my attention span.

The picture in the post is serious proof that I’m definitely not in the huat south this week. All that snow came down on my truck in only one night. Anne has informed me, in very clear terms that “I’ll take you "out" if you go outside one… more… time in your shorts and without anything on your feet". Frankly, I’ve just been having fun playing Hobbit.

A Saint Called Home

Leslie died in Christ at 1:10 this morning. He leaves behind his wife of twenty-five years Anne and three children Christopher, David, and Jonathon. In addition, he is also survived by a daughter Cricket from a previous marriage and three sisters Dorothy, Linda, and Judith.

These folks have been my friends for thirty two years. Les and Anne are second only to my wife in helping me find my way back to the Church. They are my family in every sense of the word.

While we differed in our theological tradition, Les understood and confessed his faith in the atoning work of Christ. Based on that confession, there is no doubt that he rests with the Lord. After years of being very sick, he’s earned the right to rest before the last day when we are all given our new bodies, made perfect for eternity.

I will miss him very, very, much. But this world of needles, sickness, pain and suffering thankfully didn’t last long. As Dan over at Necessary Roughness likes to say, put another one in the win column.

Please keep Anne and the kids in your constant prayers.

My patience for tolerating people who would lead folks away from Christ and for those who want to make for themselves a brand new and relevant Jesus in tune with today cultural sensitivities, ended tonight.

Bad News

I received some bad news last night. My dear friend Anne called me to say that I needed to move up my arrival to visit Les as he was no longer responding to dialysis treatments for kidney failure. I drove all night long to be there for my friends. thirteen hours in a car just ain't fun anymore.

Needless to say I’m about exhausted. Please keep the whole family in your prayers, they’ll surely need it over the next few days. I still don’t know what to say to or for them though. Right now I'm just listening to whichever one of them that wants to talk. Maybe that’s the point and I need not follow the advice of Job’s friends who while well intentioned, proved that running one’s mouth isn't always the best way to comfort someone.

The Official Ablaze! Firefighter Gets His Uniform

Last week I posted a photo of myself somewhere (but not here) and immediately heard from two fine individuals who wanted to know where my fireman’s suit was. Huh? The picture I put up was of me at a family reunion of sorts last summer. I was just sitting out on a patio in a t-shirt and shorts, which by the way, is my normal attire away from work and church even if it just so happens to be thirty degrees out. Anyways…

“Frank, where’s your fireman’s outfit?” and “Where’s the suit and hose to put out all those fires Frank?” were two question that were thrown at me. Ha! These guys get the joke! Gosh I love folks with my skewed sense of humor!

I know they were joking around but what if they weren’t? I guess these might be valid or fair questions since I was dubbed the Official Ablaze! Firefighter(TM) some time ago. I’ve had more than my fair share of fun with that idea to be sure and after some consideration, the questions got me a thinkin’. What to do, what to do? Uh oh, there I go thinking again.

But here’s my problem, I’m not a fireman, I’m a metrologist. That means there is no way I would even have access to the gear necessary to even pretend that I was a fireman. So when I decided entertain the idea that I should post a picture of myself as the Official Ablaze! Firefighter(TM), I turned to the best tool at my disposal, Gimp, a Photoshop type program that is absolutely free. I was able to cut and paste myself and the blog’s logo into a pretty convincing picture in just under three hours. Not the quickest job, but it got done. That was last week.

Yesterday morning, someone who I’ll only identify as CB, delivered a real, regulation firefighter’s suit; coat, pants, gloves, the works, to the Official Ablaze! Firefighter(TM). The suit was taken out of service on a schedule and was just sitting in a closet. CB thought I might enjoy being able to take a real picture in a real suit instead of altering an existing one’s pixels.

Yeah, I’m gonna have fun with this as soon as I deal with next weeks unpleasantries. Thank you CB, you made my day and cheered me up a little.

Unexpected Phone Calls, Sorrow, And The Comfort Of Lenten Hymnody

My morning started off very, very badly. About fifteen minutes before I was to leave for church I received a phone call from my oldest friend, Anne. She was calling me to request my presence when her husband comes home from the hospital to die. Anne’s husband Les has been on dialysis for kidney failure for many years now and he’s well past the average time that most people with his condition survive. Simply put, Les is at the point where the dialysis no longer does what it is supposed to. In six days he will come home for the last time to die with his family. Anne and Les consider me to be the not so sane younger brother, their three children all call me Uncle Frank, and for this reason, because I’m considered family, I too will be there at his passing.

This is not the way I expected my Sunday to start. Who knew? Not me I assure you. So needless to say I went off to church not in the right frame of mind. Fortunately, God’s gifts through His promised means of grace are not dependent on me being in the right frame of mind. The preached Word does what it does in spite of my emotional state whether it be distressed and cheerless or joyful, it makes no difference. Thankfully the Word of the Lord is not subjective but rather objective and alive and active. The comfort of God’s undeserved gift of grace through faith in Christ preached purely did what it was intended to, it comforted me.

And the closing hymn comforted me as well. I’ve written at length about my love of Lenten hymnody because of the focus on Christ’s passion and his journey to Jerusalem to offer Himself up as a sacrifice for all poor miserable sinners, like me and the rest of the planet. Our closing hymn was My Song Is Love Unknown by Samuel Crossman, written in 1664 was found on page 430 of our hymnal, LSB.

My song is love unknown,
 My Savior’s love to me;
 Love to the loveless shown,
 That they might lovely be.
 O who am I, that for my sake
 My Lord should take frail flesh and die?

He came from His blest throne
 Salvation to bestow;
 But men made strange, and none
 The longed-for Christ would know:
 But O! my Friend, my Friend indeed,
 Who at my need His life did spend!

Sometimes they strew His way,
 And His sweet praises sing;
 Resounding all the day
 Hosannas to their King:
 Then “Crucify!” is all their breath,
 And for His death they thirst and cry.

Why, what hath my Lord done?
 What makes this rage and spite? 
He made the lame to run,
 He gave the blind their sight,
 Sweet injuries! Yet they at these
 Themselves displease, and ’gainst Him rise.

They rise and needs will have 
My dear Lord made away; 
A murderer they save,
 The Prince of life they slay,
 Yet cheerful He to suffering goes,
 That He His foes from thence might free.

In life, no house, no home
 My Lord on earth might have;
 In death no friendly tomb 
But what a stranger gave.
 What may I say? Heav’n was His home; 
But mine the tomb wherein He lay.

Here might I stay and sing,
 No story so divine; 
Never was love, dear King!
 Never was grief like Thine. 
This is my Friend, in whose sweet praise 
I all my days could gladly spend.

What a beautiful confession it is that repeats back in song the very story that is the good news for a fallen world. This Lenten hymn comforted me every bit as much as the reading of this morning's Scripture readings. I pray that I’m in some way able to share that same comfort that I sung this morning very soon with those I love dearly.

Please keep Anne and Les, my oldest friends, in your prayers.

Another Soul Winning Church?

The picture in this post is of a little country church that I pass by on the way home every night. Last week they put the following message up on their roadside board; Don’t be God’s weakest link. I wonder if the LCMS Commission on Worship would like to interview them to see what visible signs they have nailed down to insure that they will not be God’s weakest link. Sure they aren’t Lutheran (they are nondenominational Church of God of Prophesy) but heck, why should that matter? I mean, to make sure we are doing things the right way we are inviting people that admit that they don’t even like church to help us with church. We (LCMS types) are especially worried about the retention of youth to the point where we try to emulate the culture so as to be relevant with the little ragamuffins. Not sure what I’m talking about with the whole soul winning thingy? Go here for a refresher.