Rev. Ray Hulett

@WmWeedon Quite, indeed. I don’t know if it will come up, but the connection between the “quiet time” method of private devotion and front loading the service with singing is worth diving into, IMO.

Began a series today on Issues on Worship, Adiaphora, and the BOC. We only got through initial history and AC in the first part. Not sure when it will come out. I hope to show that those who insist you can drive a hard line between doctrine and practice are deceived. Quite.

After over half a century as a congregation in Fremont and almost two decades as an LCMS congregation, we are sad to announce that the ministry of Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church is coming to an end. We are inexpressibly grateful for all that Our Lord has done for us and our community over the many years, and we pray that His blessing would continue to be upon the city of Fremont that many more would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Our final services schedule is as follows: Sunday, April 12th: Bible Study - 9 AM Divine Service - 10 AM Sunday April 19th: Bible Study - 9 AM Matins - 10 AM Final Divine Service - 3 PM "Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip [us] with everything good that [we] may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."

@TheDonStein The only thing I care about is the comfort I get from knowing even Jesus’s hair turned white from the stress of it all 😅

…ok? What is this supposed do to our celebration of the God-Man who has rescued all peoples, nations and tribes?

Guys, THIS is the pamphlet our Lutheran brother and sister in Finland are being persecuted for sharing. I say, we should make sure that it is shared everywhere! media.lhfmissions.org/file/lhf-missi…

I've decided to join the Anglican church. I'm tired of losing, of being a part of ever shrinking Churches. And I'm pretty sure this new lady Bishop can turn it around. Also, Anglican answers sounds fine.

@serenitynow @RogueCenturion I wish I could say that’s surprising but having seen the reaction of one congregation that left the LCMS, I’d wager they didn’t even know they were Lutheran much less what being Lutheran means 🫤

@serenitynow @OzLutheranChick Yikes 😬

"[The] power and operation of Baptism... is nothing else than putting to death the old Adam, and after that the resurrection of the new man, both of which must take place in us all our lives, so that a truly Christian life is nothing else than a daily baptism, once begun and ever to be continued. For this must be practised without ceasing, that we ever keep purging away whatever is of the old Adam, and that that which belongs to the new man come forth. But what is the old man? It is that which is born in us from Adam, angry, hateful, envious, unchaste, stingy, lazy, haughty, yea, unbelieving, infected with all vices, and having by nature nothing good in it. Now, when we are come into the kingdom of Christ, these things must daily decrease, that the longer we live we become more gentle, more patient, more meek, and ever withdraw more and more from unbelief, avarice, hatred, envy, haughtiness... This is the true use of Baptism among Christians, as signified by baptizing with water. Where this, therefore, is not practised, but the old man is left unbridled, so as to continually become stronger, that is not using Baptism, but striving against Baptism… Therefore the old man goes unrestrained in his nature if he is not checked and suppressed by the power of Baptism. On the other hand, where men have become Christians, he daily decreases until he finally perishes... And here you see that Baptism, both in its power and signification, comprehends also the third Sacrament, which has been called repentance, as it is really nothing else than Baptism. For what else is repentance but an earnest attack upon the old man [that his lusts be restrained] and entering upon a new life? Therefore, if you live in repentance, you walk in Baptism, which not only signifies such a new life, but also produces, begins, and exercises it. For therein are given grace, the Spirit, and power to suppress the old man, so that the new man may come forth and become strong." - Luther's Large Catechism

Hans hilariously hits on why I am not a big fan of letting people hide behind euphemisms. Link in the following post.

@garonnevik The “quiet time” idea is pseudo-sacramental spiritualism at odds with Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions anyway. You were right to stop chasing it 👍

I go to church and hear the Bible preached every Sunday--and Wednesdays in Lent. I teach a Bible study on Wednesdays too. I write articles about the Bible in my vocation. I enjoy reviewing Bible memory work through the audio Bible on walks--weather/health dependent. I listen to podcasts on the Bible. I recite the psalms to myself in my head when I'm struggling to fall asleep. I have discussions about the Bible with my kids when they have questions. I pray throughout the day. I do not have a "quiet time" and for that I always FEEL like I'm not in my Bible enough. My life is not quiet, and orderly. It's seasonal and overwhelmed. I am not a monastic, I'm a mom. And I also think that by nature, it's never going to feel "enough." The more time I spend in God's word, the more humbled and needy I see myself. It took me years to see that dynamic, and stopped chasing the illusive "quiet time" feeling/structure and just be a part of my church that feeds me regularly.

Yup: For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Having listened to the recent Lead Time podcast, I can say with experience and confidence (as a kid I even attended Rob Bell's megachurch as a child): more people DOES NOT equal a healthier church. For many reasons it can mean the opposite

Not just upsetting your previous worldview, but in doing so it often (usually?) means accepting that teachers you held in high esteem were wrong in their teaching. It’s a connected but separate issue that can be just as difficult to overcome: Not only was *I* wrong, but *they* are/were wrong.

This is part of what happened on my journey to Catholicism. I outright told my roommate at the time, a Catholic, that if I accepted some of the propositions I had rejected my whole life, it would require flipping my entire worldview on its head.

All News Letter subscribers get to tell me how wrong I am in my discord server!

The Canon of Scripture has always been 66 books

Good works: the Lutheran view

@PastorBowman Matthew 18 is the answer, just as John 20 and Matthew 18 are the answer to Matthew 16. Possession of the Church; use according to calling and office.

Me trying to find where it says the promise of John 20:23 applies only to the disciples and isn't a part of all the things Jesus gave in His authority (Matt 28:19)

A Fat Tuesday gift for you all! Donall and Conall Meet William Lane Craig

I once had a fever and hallucinated that an army of potato soldiers was charging at me from the foot of my bed, always charging, never reaching me. When it finally woke my parents, I remember seeing my younger brothers in the other bed kind of freaked out at the things I was crying out. All that to say I approve at drawing the line at hallucinating 👍😅

I’m pretty pro let fevers work, but NGL, I do draw the line at hallucinating chalkboards. I know Tylenol is supposed to be the more effective anti-pyretic, but she tends to respond more to Motrin, so that’s what she got.—and then she slept finally. 😮‍💨 Anyways, God bless pediatricians who hear that a child is running out the clock on those initial 24 hours and then squeeze said child into their schedules.

@PastorBowman Thought that, too. But it fits what “kid friendly” seems to be defined as these days given what I see online 🫤

I'm really struggling to put together family-friendly and Kid Rock. They really don't seem to go together.

Join us tomorrow for Bible Study @ 9AM followed by Divine Service @ 10 AM: The Transfiguration of Our Lord: Small Catechism: 9th Commandment Old Testament: Exodus 34:29–35 Psalm: 2 Epistle: 2 Peter 1:16–21 Gospel: Matthew 17:1–9 "[Peter] was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.'” Amen. Photo courtesy of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod

Our assurance in faith is not “I have decided to follow Jesus,” but “He who promised is faithful.”