Fear of speaking the truth
Every so often, even a cynical pessimist like myself is given cause for optimism. There are good men in our seminaries. The remnant will not be left without proper care. For that I am thankful.
The immediate reason for this surge of optimism is this post over at Outer Rim Territories.
In the past while, it seems as there has been a shakedown of sorts at the sems, as the political climate in Synod (which is, sadly, derivative of the larger cultural climate) has had a chilling effect on any discourse amongst blogging-inclined seminarians. This is, IMO, both unfortunate and misguided. Better that seminarians should learn through discussion and be open to the opportunity for loving correction, than they should learn to keep their mouths shut, “go along to get along”, and “cooperate to graduate”.
We, the sheep, need bold confessors & proclaimers of the Truth, not company men!
You see, though, the Truth can — and will — be twisted by the enemy. That does not mean that it should not be loudly proclaimed and taught.
Timidity must not be tolerated, much less encouraged.
I thank God for the sure hope & knowledge that we will be sustained. (even as my sinful self cowers in fear & wallows in despair… that guy gets drowned every day!)
-ghp
Beggars All ist tot
Beggars All — long a bastion of quality in the Lutheran blogosphere — is dead & gone.
Read this thread at LutherQuest for some details.
They’ve struggled with the factors that drove them to shut things down for good before (as I recall the “sabbatical” from a year or so ago…), so this isn’t completely surprising to me.
It does, however, leave me conflicted. And, I must be honest, it angers me. I think they’ve copped out a bit. I think the argument that blogging and/or the internet is a “black hole” is disingenuous at worst and wrong-headed at best. Neither do I think that the vocation-based argument is all that valid.
I just wanted to get this entry out, as both a statement of thanks for the good that Beggars All did in the blogosphere, and as an expression of my immediate/raw reaction to its demise.
It’s a damn shame.
It’s possible that I’ll more fully develop my thoughts, particularly if there are any comments that warrant such efforts. But it’s also possible that I won’t.
‘Cause, after all, I’m just a softie who blogs about inconsequential stuff like realitytv & other stuff that merely interests me…
Feh.
-ghp
TAR:10 - Cow lips & intersections
A good episode, but I’m just not in a bloggy state of mind…
- I liked the introduction & execution of the Intersection twist. ErGo didn’t seem too thrilled at teaming with the Blondes, but they made the best of it, made quick work of the Detour task, and came out ahead because of it — there’s no way they would’ve finished as quickly if they’d have teamed with either of the other BackPack alliancemates.
- The Blondes rock. They are currently the only team showing the smarts & gumption necessary to win this race. IOW, they are actively doing what’s necessary to take the race by the throat & impose their will, rather than acting in a more passive way.
- Too bad the Intersection couldn’t have resulted in both KY and KarLyn/AL being eliminated. They’re both weak teams that have no business still being in the race. They deserve each other… losers.
- It’s always nice to see it when the Fast Forward is positioned with a strong strategic component - i.e., when it’s not just a rubber stamp to a big lead. Smart racing on the part of the Blondes & ErGo, combined with the repulsive nature of eating cow lips, erased any advantage that the FF might’ve offered.
- Interestingly, the Blondes are running the race like the stereotypical “strong guys” teams of the past, while the Abercrombies (Tyler & James) are filling the traditional “girly” teams of the past role.
Like I said, in all this was a nicely executed & presented episode — very enjoyable.
Next week, however, looks like it’ll at least have one segment that is a pain-in-the-ass to watch, as the previews showed KarLyn/AL getting a weepy, “heart-tugging” video message from home. Blech.
-ghp
On being Lutheran
Mea culpa — I didn’t post anything about Reformation Day yesterday. 
So, I’ll make up for it by directing you to two great posts over at Cyberbrethren: We Should Not Refuse to Walk in Our Fathers’ Footsteps & Does Being Lutheran Matter?
I’ve said it before, I’m saying it now, and I’ll say it again: Thank God I’m Lutheran! For there is no clearer explication of the Gospel of Christ Jesus given us in the Bible than what was boldly confessed in the Book of Concord. We must never be seduced by the temptation to trade away the rich birthright of the faith handed down by the Fathers for the pottage of cultural “relevance” and/or temporal popularity.
Such temptations promise much but deliver little, and what little is delivered is so fleeting as to be ephemeral and useless. If provides no comfort against the onslaught of daily life. It gives us no protection against the sin that batters us mercilessly.
Only Jesus Christ, and Him crucified gives us any hope, comfort, or protection. And nowhere is that good news delivered any more clearly than in the Lutheran Church!
-ghp
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