Lutheran Carnival

Lutheran Carnival LXX-- Sabbath Rest

2008-02-24T15:10:00.000+01:00

Thou shalt sanctify the holy-day.

What does this mean?--Answer.

We should fear and love God that we may not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred, and gladly hear and learn it.

God gave us the blessing of rest. What a wonderful gift.

Weekend Fisher of Heart, Mind, Soul and Strength sends us two links. In the first, Lent 3 with Moltmann, Weekend Fisher continues her series of Lenten posts reading through Jurgen Moltmann's classic, The Crucified God. In the second link, The Shechinah, the Presence of God, and the Messiah, the glorious presence of God in the Old Testament -- the Shechinah -- was discussed by the Rabbis of old who scoured the Scriptures for the signs of when and where the Presence of God was promised. Weekend Fisher explores how Jesus uses the same language when he refers to himself.

Dan at Necessary Roughness also sends two links. In Charles Barkley, Fake Christians, and Judging Not, he takes a look at the theological and political nature of Charles Barkley's accusation that conservatives are fake Christians. Next, in Condemned Already, he points out that the Gospel for the first Sunday in Lent is a verse short, leaving out an exclusive claim of Christianity.

Over at Putting Out The Fire , Frank compares cooking up sauces with specialty saucepans with the liturgical season of Lent’s hymnody in a post titled Lenten Hymnody, The Windsor Saucepan Of The Liturgical Church Year.

There were a large number of third-party submissions. They include:

Thinking out Loud: Soul Winning Worhisp and Perhaps We Should Survey the Top 5% of Soul Bearing Marriages

Preachrblog: Revitalization: Numbers vs. Faithfulness

Weedon's Blog: Patristic Passages of Interest for Lutherans

Cranach: Happy Presidents (or Presidents’, or President’s) Day

Drowning Myself Whenever I Can: Funerals - The highest confession of a church's theology

This Side of the Pulpit: Sensuality and the Spectacular!

House, M.Div.: Hot Sex! Adults Only! 30 Day Trial! and No Sabres of Boldness Here

The Lutheran Carnival made it to 70 carnivals. I guess I thought we'd make it this far. I don't know. I wasn't thinking about that when my wife and I started the carnival. We were just thinking this is a cool idea. Time has moved on, my wife became my wife, and we have a baby now who keeps us busy. I've thought about this for a while, and it's time for the carnival to take a rest. Participation is down, and the hosts are now having to scour the blogsphere looking for posts. I think a rest would be good. The carnival will be back. When is something that has yet to be determined. We'll let you know.

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival LXX

2008-02-19T19:49:00.002+01:00

The deadline for the seventieth Lutheran Carnival is this Friday. There have been several topics of interest, not just Lent but some of the stuff coming out of the Reporter as of late. I've also seen posts regarding 30 days of sex for married couples (don't they at least stop to eat?) and some good stuff regarding Lutheranism before Lutheranism was cool.

Send your stuff in!

Announcement for Lutheran Carnival LXX

2008-02-13T16:51:00.003+01:00

The Seventieth Lutheran Carnival is upon us!

Seventy is a nice round number in biblical history: the house of Jacob in Egypt, the number of Gideon's sons (check that out, CSPP! ;) ), the Babylonian captivity, the seventy weeks of prophecy in Daniel, and so forth.

Let's make the Carnival LXX a nice large one. In case you forgot, here's how you enter.

The Sellers Family Three will host the carnival here on February 24.

Lutheran Carnival LXIX

2008-02-10T01:32:00.000+01:00

Submissions

Four humble submissions came to the Lutheran Carnival:

James Wilson of the House, M.Div. blog takes issue with Archbishop Rowan Williams' concession that the British government should allow some aspects of shar'ia law. Usually, as the Brits would say, if you're in for a penny, you're in for a pound. Between that issue and the Pope's alteration of the Good Friday prayer, Wilson issues No Sabers of Boldness Here.

The Blair Church Project, one of the more interesting new blogs, has posted Funeral for a Friend. Our times are in His hands as she introduces us to the generous life, passionate ministry and Gospel legacy of Rev. Matthew R. Williams, a big-hearted Texas pastor and missionary who died suddenly on February 5th at the age of 38. In Funeral for a Friend, Christina provides us with an interview Pastor Matt gave in which he talks frankly about the cause of the Gospel in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

Partly in response to a book review on the Wittenburg Trail, David Bickel wrote Scripture Alone But Interpreted by Tradition? Bickel argues that tradition is not needed to intepret Scripture and make it clear, but pastors and teachers are needed to proclaim the clear Word.

Finally, I'm kicking in Expectations of Divine Law, where I note that Old Testament fear of consequence gave way to Phariseeism and finally to the desire to gain favor from God. We dare not get into a quid pro pro where we have no quid.

Update: Ryan Markel has submitted a proposal for Lutheran bloggers to unite in reading the scriptures through next year.

The Draft

Pastor Petersen of Cyberstones wrote Ashes to Ashes, We all Fall Down. He notes that he doesn't mind putting ashes on the foreheads of most people, but it bothers him a little to put ashes on the children that ask for them. Nevertheless, they will return to dust, too, and be raised again.

Keeping with Ash Wednesday, Pastor William Weedon in his Yearly Reminder tells us that the ash says, "I am dying...and so are you." The ashes reminded us that though we are dying, there is One who became our death for us that we may be His own.

Deaconess Emily Carder writes on the generic moralism that most people take for Christianity today, where Joel Osteen accepts Mitt Romney as a Christian. The Scriptures rebutt this Generic Jesus, Generic Christianity. To be Lutheran is to be Christian.

Along the lines of Luther and the Law, Pastor Charles Lehmann notes that the Ten Commandments are a repristination of natural law for Christians. Jesus broadens the Law, showing that all of us are condemned, but he doesn't leave it there. He takes our sins to the cross.

"Contemporary Christian Music is a valuable resource for the LCMS in the days of the post-modern world." Mike Baker, say what? :) Seriously, Mike analyzes CCM: Art Imitating Life, and instead of rejecting it out of hand, notes its benefit as a gauge of what people know about Christianity today.

Coming Soon

The Sellers family has volunteered for Carnival LXX.

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival LXIX

2008-02-06T07:11:00.000+01:00

The deadline for the 69th Lutheran Carnival is approaching. We have not found a host as of yet; if there is no volunteer it will be held here.

The increased difficulty in getting volunteers for hosts and submissions is causing us to consider a change in format for the Carnival. The mostly-draft Carnival I did the last time worked quite well, but it involves work that I won't be able to do every two weeks, and the Sellers will be busy with their baby girl for some time.

We are talking ideas for how you'd like to see the Carnival go on, whether it go to more of a magazine format with a selection board, or something else. We think it is important to recognize those authors and bloggers whose work is appreciated outside their normal readership of parish members and friends.

Need a Host for the Next Carnival

2008-01-30T04:31:00.000+01:00

The 70^th Lutheran Carnival will be hosted here at the mother ship, but we need a host for number 69 to be posted on February 10. We'll keep collecting posts, but we can sure use a hand.

Lutheran Carnival LXVIII Is Up

2008-01-27T07:15:00.000+01:00

Necessary Roughness is now hosting the latest Lutheran Carnival, and for once I didn't pick a dead guy. :) Radio host-speaker-writer Todd Wilken is the Lutheran we should know or at least hear.

Don't forget to link to the Carnival, so that your readers can check out the best posts from the Lutheran blogosphere over the last two weeks. I picked the Top 10 out of 27 good candidates.

Last Call for this Carnival

2008-01-25T18:07:00.000+01:00

Don't forget to submit your entries to the Lutheran Carnival. The official deadline is tonight, but I've got a head start on the post and can fudge the deadline a little bit.

I will make a list of Top Posts I found during the last two weeks and then have a section for submissions. If another link to your blog wouldn't hurt, send them in!

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival LXVIII

2008-01-23T04:53:00.000+01:00

It's Tuesday, and time to be thinking about submitting your post or someone else's to the Lutheran Carnival.

In Christian freedom, you can follow the rules. Or don't. I'll read the posts. Your opinions are valuable, and I'll use them.

I have yet to decide which Lutheran/church father to highlight. Sunday is the commemoration date of St. John Chrysostom. While he is most certainly a figure worthy to be featured, I think more soldiers of the church militant, rather than the church triumphant, are in order. Being featured on the Lutheran Carnival isn't exactly receiving the Sabre of Boldness, but an interview would be a challenge I appreciate.

I've rambled too much. Send your posts in by Friday, January 25, for the Carnival on the 27th. I will host the carnival on the frozen tundra of Necessary Roughness.

A Carnival Refresher

2008-01-15T03:50:00.000+01:00

Lutheran Carnival I was hosted on this site on August 14, 2005. A lot of Lutheran blogs have come and gone since then, so it's time for a refresher course in submitting posts for the Carnival. The Carnival is a biweekly roundup of great Lutheran reading.

Why submit posts to the Lutheran Carnival? Several reasons:

You may have a mixed content blog. One entry you're doting on your kids, the next entry you're commenting on your favorite political candidate, another entry the Laffer curve, and people seeking religious content may want to just skip to the theological post you wrote a week and a half ago.
You recognize that you are part of a community of Lutheran bloggers that support each other. A Carnival submission is what you have to offer to this community.
You can use the soft deadlines to drive yourself into a posting rhythm. Some people write like they take pictures: the more attempts, the better they get.
The links to your site raise your Technorati rankings and may benefit slightly in the revenue department if you run ads.
If you blog within an organization such as Higher Things or CTSFW, you may reach someone you haven't thought of yet.
You read someone's blog entry that was really good and deserved recognition besides on your own blog.

And there are other reasons, which may get you accused of sanctified pride or worse. Suck it up. You chose to author a blog or three. ;) Other commentary can be found on this blog from a year ago.

All right, Dan, you convinced me. How do I submit a page?

Elle has created some basic posting instructions. I'm a little more free with the format of your submission, and I allow your nomination of other blogs because I'm comfortable with vetting a little bit. If the suggested format of post submission is stopping you from telling how good someone's blog entry is, don't worry about the format.

I will do some scouring of the Lutheran blogosphere myself. At the time of this post I have 223 Lutheran web sites between Bloglines and Google Reader. I do not have everybody. I think I only have four HT blogs. I will probably miss some good posts. I can use your help.

Thanks for your time!

Lutheran Carnival LXVII

2008-01-14T20:51:00.000+01:00

This message is a day late, but the sixty-seventh Lutheran Carnival was posted on time yesterday at Journalistic Jargon. Stop by and give her some danke schön.

It has been exactly one year since Necessary Roughness has hosted a Carnival, so the Ref is going to step it up and do some serious officiating. Your blog is likely not safe from my Bloglines- and Google-enhanced eye, unless you get enthusiastic. ;)

After my edition, the field is wide open for takers.

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival LXVII

2008-01-08T07:24:00.000+01:00

The not-as-terrible Mrs. Swede will be hosting the sixty-seventh edition of the Lutheran Carnival at Journalistic Jargon.

Have your submissions in by January 11, for the next Sunday's post.

There is a lot of good stuff out there dealing with Epiphany, so if you don't have a post of your own, nominate someone else's.

How Beautiful are the Feet...

2008-01-04T06:51:00.000+01:00

...of him (her?) who brings good news...

Mrs. T. Swede, d.v., will be hosting the first edition of the new year at Journalistic Jargon. Be sure to get your posts in by January 11th for the Carnival on the 13th.

Lutheran Carnival LXVI, Canadian-Made

2007-12-31T06:02:00.000+01:00

As Ritewinger commented on the last post, Lutheran Carnival LXVI is up and running at the Canadian blog TheoCon. Stop by, offer him a Molsen, and thank him for his time and effort.

Who will be the first Carnival host of the new year? Will it be you? Give me a holler.

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival LXVI

2007-12-26T18:41:00.000+01:00

Fast away the old year passes...don't forget to submit your posts for the sixty-sixth Lutheran Carnival! The deadline is in two days for Sunday's post at Theocon.

We Found a Carnival Host, Eh?

2007-12-22T16:13:00.000+01:00

Ritewinger, a seminary student in Alberta, has volunteered to take the next Carnival. Posts are due on the 28^th for the December 30 Carnival. Hope to see you at Theocon!

If you want to start lining your carnival date up for the new year, feel free to do so.

Announcement for Lutheran Carnival LXVI

2007-12-19T06:10:00.000+01:00

Second verse, same as the first. There will be a Carnival, we just don't know where. The deadline for submitting posts is December 28 for the December 30 carnival.

We still are taking volunteers for hosts.

Vote for Lutheran Blog of the Year

2007-12-18T05:14:00.000+01:00

Pastor Tom Chryst, a.k.a. Preachrboy, is hosting a vote for the Lutheran Blogger of the Year award at the Lutheran Blog Directory site. See the post for details.

The Lutheran Carnival web site has a hidden immunity idol, so you can't vote for it.

Lutheran Carnival LXV Is Up

2007-12-17T05:39:00.000+01:00

Wichita pastor Paul Siems has published Lutheran Carnival LXV at his blog, Not Alone.

Thanks, Pastor, for your work and mentioning your grandfather!

We need a new host for the next Carnival in two weeks. Drop me a line if you're interested.

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival LXV

2007-12-11T16:30:00.000+01:00

The beginning of Advent, the tragedy in Colorado Springs, and other events have made for some good material already submitted to the Lutheran Carnival. Don't forget to have your submissions in by Friday for the Carnival on the 16th.

Got a Host for 65

2007-12-08T19:31:00.001+01:00

We've had a couple of repeat offenders offer to host the next carnival, and I thank them. The carnival for December 16, No. LXV, will be hosted by Not Alone. Thank you, Pastor Siems, for volunteering your time and effort.

Annoucement for Lutheran Carnival LXV

2007-12-05T16:34:00.000+01:00

The sixty-fifth carnival will go on as scheduled, though as yet I don't know where. Please submit your posts through the usual lutherancarnival AT gmail DOT com by December 14th for the December 16th carnival.

If you're interested in hosting, either for the next carnival or beyond, feel free to give me a shout.

Lutheran Carnival LXIV is Up

2007-12-03T19:04:00.000+01:00

Chaplain Matthew Boarts hosts the sixty-fourth edition of the Lutheran Carnival at his blog, Living Sermons. Thanks, Chaplain!

We as of this blog post do not have a host for the next carnival. I would prefer to do my pinch-hitting while I'm on the road next year, so if you're interested, send Dan or me an email at daniel DOT sellers AT gmail.com, or dan AT necessaryroughness DOT org.

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival LXIV

2007-11-29T04:38:00.000+01:00

Chaplain Matthew Boarts will be up earlier than you will be Sunday morning, posting the sixty-fourth edition of the Lutheran Carnival. Please submit your posts and/or nominate someone else's for the conglomeration that will show at Living Sermons on December 2.

Announcement for Lutheran Carnival LXIV

2007-11-20T23:06:00.000+01:00

Chaplain Matthew Boarts has stepped up to do the next Lutheran Carnival on his blog, Living Sermons. The posts will be November 30 for the December 2 edition.

Thanks a bunch, Chaplain!

Lutheran Carnival LXIII Is Up

2007-11-20T05:15:00.000+01:00

Barb the Evil Genius has twice-cooked this Lutheran Carnival, having redone it after her computer bit it.

Barb has done a decent job and included some posts on her own, so check it out and see if yours made it. :) Thanks, Barb!

We have gone from a glut of Carnival hosts to needing one for two weeks from now! Be sure to let RandomDan or myself know if you're interested.

Oof...

2007-11-19T14:56:00.000+01:00

Barb the Evil Genius reports that her computer crashed after she wrote up the Carnival. The evil computer must not have tolerated such greatness. :)

Hopefully she can get the carnival recovered in the next couple of days, or maybe the next Carnival will be an extra-special huge one. Stay tuned...

Another Call for Posts

2007-11-17T04:50:00.000+01:00

The low count of posts that have hit the Lutheran Carnival mailbox thus far has led us to put out another call for posts.

I myself don't have something to write just yet, but I will submit a couple of posts that I believe are worth reading.

Please send in your recommendations or posts as soon as you can, to lutherancarnival AT gmail.com .

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival LXIII

2007-11-14T20:17:00.000+01:00

Sixty-three shall be the number of the Carnival, and the number of the Carnival shall be sixty-three.

Barb the Evil Genius will take your posts and spin, fold, mutilate, etc., them into the next edition of the Lutheran Carnival. Friday shall be the due date for the November 18 post.

Lutheran Carnival LXII Is Up!

2007-11-06T04:58:00.000+01:00

It was a little delayed, but it was worth the wait! Check out the sixty-second edition of the Lutheran Carnival at the blog of the Rebellious Pastor's Wife.

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival LXII

2007-10-31T00:35:00.000+01:00

I believe the last time the Rebellious Pastor's Wife hosted the carnival, I forgot to post the first week's reminder. Couldn't tell you what that's about. :)

Please, submit your posts for the sixty-second Lutheran Carnival by Friday the 2nd for Sunday's post.

Lutheran Carnival LXI

2007-10-22T19:22:00.000+02:00

The Master of the House, M.Div. posts the sixty-first edition of the Lutheran Carnival. Be sure to stop by and check out the latest collection of thoughtful posts from the Lutheran Blogosphere.

Thanks!

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival LXI

2007-10-17T18:03:00.000+02:00

The window for getting your posts in to the Lutheran Carnival closes on Friday. If House, M.Div. stays close to character, maybe your posts will be evaluated by a Tribal Council or divided up between men and women, but you'll never know unless you send them in. The dark blog will have the sixty-first edition up on Sunday.

Announcement for Lutheran Carnival LXI

2007-10-12T02:12:00.001+02:00

The last Lutheran Carnival was fun, but another Carnival is in the works. Gregory House, M.Div. will host the sixty-first edition.

Send your posts in to the carnival by Friday, October 19.

Lutheran Carnival LX

2007-10-07T06:00:00.000+02:00

Welcome to Lutheran Carnival LX, bringing you the best (in my humble opinion) posts from the Lutheran blogosphere over the two weeks, as well as commentary and a little-known Lutheran or church father.

Blogging as Vocation

In God at Work by Gene Edward Veith, Jr., the author reminds us that vocation is how God takes care of all his creatures. One interesting point he makes is that the the call of a vocation has two active parties: the person who is serving the call of course, and the employer who makes the call. One can't work unless someone actually has a job opening.

In light of this, is blogging a vocation?

There are certainly enough workers. WordPress.com reports nearly 1.6 million blogs at the time of this writing. Blogger has millions of their own. There are also independently hosted blogs such as NR.

There are enough readers on the internet, but certainly not enough to making blogging a paying vocation. The New York Times has recently made its TimesSelect authors free again. Google Ads cuts its first ad revenue check when a person makes $100. My blog has had ads since April, and I haven't made enough to get a check yet. The price per view just doesn't generate the revenue. Except for the monster blogs that get hundreds of thousands of hits every day, or those bloggers who get hired to write full time, blogging isn't a method where God takes care of the blogger through the provision of income.

Yet there are other ways God takes care of his children through blogs. A blogger writes on topics he thinks is important. Commenters leave their messages in return. They can be merely comments of affirmation or disgust, or they can lead to discussions on their own and provide information. I think we can all say that comment spammers are not fulfilling their vocation.

Some feel that blogging is an exercise in vanity. Possibly, but you aren't the judge of whether your blog is vain. You might actually have something worthwhile to be said. If you think some things must be said but don't have any idea how people might take them, post pseudonymously, at least for a while. See what kind of response you get. You might get support from Hamel, IL, or Emma, MO, or Conroe, TX. You might also get comments from Houston, TX; Williston, ND; or Columbus, OH. Depending on the timing, those all might be just me. Take what you can get. ;)

So blog. Comment. Support the causes of bloggers if it is within your means and desire. Definitely check the Lutheran Carnival site for examples of Biblical and confessional writing. Your visits and your submissions here make this site worthwhile. Don't forget to link to the carnival, either.

For a future Lutheran Carnival, I'd like to request that someone use Claus Harms. Too much of his stuff is in German for me to do it, but he looks like a cool guy. I was surprised C. P. Krauth hasn't been done yet, so here he is:

C. P. Krauth: American Repristinator

Charles Porterfield Krauth was born in 1823 in Martinsburg, Virginia. He attended Gettysburg College and Luther Theological Seminary at Gettysburg in 1841. He served congregations in Maryland, Virginia, the Virgin Islands, and Pennsylvania.

Krauth in 1861 began editing The Lutheran, a theological journal dedicated to restoring the Book of Concord in Christian life. The state of American Lutheranism was such that some of Krauth's teachers in seminary believed the Book of Concord was wrong on the Real Presence and baptismal regeneration. Krauth taught that Lutheran teaching was not merely a break from Roman Catholic doctrine but a return to the first principles of the Word of God.

The repristination of Lutheran doctrine led to a schism in American Lutheranism, in which the churches of the confessional revival left the General Synod. The new General Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America founded its own seminary, and Krauth was the first professor of systematic theology.

Krauth wrote the Akron-Galesburg Rule, which established rules of pulpit and altar fellowship. It stated that only Lutheran pastors could occupy the Lutheran pulpit, and only Lutheran communicants could come to the Lord's table in a Lutheran church.

C. P. Krauth died in 1883.

Source: Wikipedia

You can find what Krauth had to say about the role of error in the church here.

Start the Posts!

The Rebellious Pastor's Wife had a late edition to the previous carnival. In The Power of Assumption, RPW reflects on the assumptions that we make about people based on the little amount of time we actually see them. Some of these assumptions can be quite hurtful, and this is why we should take Luther's advice to speak well of our neighbor and explain everything in the kindest way.

In one of the relatively few appropriate uses of the D-word, Pastor Paul Siems at Not Alone wrote, Damn! Why can't I stop? A recurring insurmountable sin can cause use to question the reality of our identity as a child of God. Such "big" sins are really blessings in disguise, for they show us our Sin-Fullness, from which only God can deliver us. Pastor Siem's second post, And Who Is My Neighbor?, uses the Good Samaritan parable to show us what legalism can look like and to show us the Good Neighbor who befriends us all.

Newly installed pastor Jay Winters returns to his blog and gives us another post in his Emerging Lutheran series: Quality of Life. Pastor Winters responds to someone's concerns about why we should be worried about the next life rather than living this life to the fullest. Winters uses Romans and one of the tools in the Lutheran toolbox, "now and not yet," to show us the next life will also be a human life, but a perfect life, for eternity.

The acerbic House, M.Div., laments on Christians who don't read enough Bible to know that the Jewish God is not the same as the Triune God. In Israel is not a country south of Syria, he notes the Jewish rabbis who don't want Christians intruding upon their Feast of Tabernacles.

Aardvark Alley finally introduced another round of bloggers with its BBOV Update: Long-Awaited, Much Anticipated. This cycle of posts also included a number of commemorations, including that of Wenceslaus, Kniže of Bohemia, who's better known by most as the "Good King Wenceslas" of caroling fame.

Mrs. T. Swede has launched a new blog detailing the orthopedic problems she has had with her feet. Beautiful Feet exists to lend comfort to those seeking it. On her older blog, Journalistic Jargon, the kinder, gentler side of the Terrible Swede duo uses her confirmation verse to tell us not to be afraid, "For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Pr. Charles Lehmann offers a discussion and a sermon. In Rhetoric and Preaching, he notes that society has left Aristotle's desire to argue for the truth, whereas today people are trained to argue back and forth for sides. For Sunday, he preaches a sermon on forgiveness and the temptation to perform "spiritual accounting."

Ask the Pastor first commented on the good habit of regularly Updating the Blogroll and referred to some of the benefits all confessional Lutheran bloggers gain when our links are exchanged. From technical, he moved to philosophical and theological, musing upon the question, What's the Use of Lutheran Blogging?

Finally, I offer Citizen as Vocation, in reaction to Dr. Gene Veith's excellent book, God at Work.

Summoned to the Carnival by Third Party

Pastor William Weedon posted a banquet address given by Todd Wilken at the SID Pastoral Conference. Wilken postulates that some of the things we do in church are because we believe the caricatures others make of Lutherans. One of the newer Lutheran bloggers, Pastor Randy Asbury, cites the Wilken address and provides his own comments.

Deaconess Emily Carder delivers a blog entry titled, Commanding Obedience. In it she teaches her kids about the creation of the world. Most intriguing is her assertion that when Christ gives us a command, he also gives us the means to fulfill that command.

If you're a Harry Potter fan, you might appreciate Pastor Rick Stuckwisch's reaction to the Expecto Patronum spell. The cry for help from an external source has Christology hidden in it.

Next Time...

The blog House, M.Div. has dibs on Lutheran Carnival LXI. Pray for mercy. :)

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival LX

2007-10-03T23:27:00.000+02:00

The Lutheran Carnival web site will host the sixtieth edition of the Carnival. There have been some excellent posts already written, and we'd like to see you submit yours by Friday.

Lutheran Carnival LIX Is Up

2007-09-26T05:46:00.000+02:00

You've probably heard, but Full Throttle is hosting the current carnival. Thanks DWC!

The mother ship will host the 60th edition.

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival LIX

2007-09-18T16:32:00.000+02:00

"...and the number of the Carnival shall be fifty-nine."

Don't forget to send your posts in to lutherancarnival AT gmail.com by Friday evening for Sunday's edition. The disgruntled world citizen will host the 59th edition at Full Throttle and an Empty Gas Tank.

Announcement for Lutheran Carnival LIX

2007-09-13T08:10:00.000+02:00

I think that's how you represent 59... :)

Full Throttle and an Empty Gas Tank will host the next edition of the carnival. The carnival is set for September 23, "In Which" d.w.c. will include the posts up to September 21.

Can Never Have Enough Hosts

2007-09-10T04:48:00.001+02:00

I am surrounded by baby toys (and a wooden Moose) as the first of two baby showers occurred today. With all the excitement (good and bad), I haven't put together the schedule for the next ten carnivals. This while hoping to get the schedule filled all the way to the end of December. Doh!

LC LXI-- Hosted by House, M.Div. Posts are due by October 19th. Carnival up by October 21.

LC LXII-- Hosted by Rebellious Pastor's Wife. Posts are due by November 2nd. Carnival up by November 4th.

LC LXIII-- Hosted by Barb the Evil Genius. Posts are due by November 16th. Carnival up by November 18th.

LC LXIV-- Hosted by Living Sermons. Posts are due by November 30th. Carnival up by December 2nd.

LC LXV-- Hosted by Not Alone. Posts are due by December 14th. Carnival up by December 16th.

LC LXVI-- Hosted by TheoCon. Posts are due by December 28th. Carnival up by December 30th.

LC LXVII-- Hosted by Journalistic Jargon. Posts are due by January 11th, 2008. Carnival up by January 13th, 2008.

LC LXVIII-- Hosted by Necessary Roughness. Posts are due by January 25th, 2008. Carnival up by January 27, 2008.

LC LXIX-- Hosted by ???. Posts are due by February 8th, 2008. Carnival up by February 10th, 2007.

LC LXX-- Hosted by Lutheran Carnival. Posts are due by February 22, 2008. Carnival up by February 24th, 2008.

Lutheran Carnival LXIII is Up

2007-09-10T02:51:00.000+02:00

The latest episode of The Lutheran Carnival is now available at the Moose Report.

Thanks for your time and sharing your father with us.

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival LVIII

2007-09-04T17:12:00.000+02:00

With school starting back up and football coming back to Saturdays and Sundays, most everyone's summer vacations should be wrapping up.

Just as Michigan reminded us not to look to far ahead, this is your reminder not to look past the next carnival, which is due Friday the 7th. I'm sure you've got another good post in you between now and then.

Did you learn anything cool this summer? Are you in a teaching vocation, confirmation or otherwise? Entering seminary? Send us a post about expectations, cool things you encountered, or a nice adult beverage you discovered.

The Mooooooooooooooose Report will display the results on Sunday, September 9.

Announcement for Lutheran Carnival LVIII

2007-08-29T16:45:00.000+02:00

The Lutheran Carnival continues its trek through the WELS-o-phere with The Moose Report. The standard rules apply. Send your submissions to lutherancarnival AT gmail DOT com by Friday, September 7 for the September 9 edition.

Lutheran Carnival LVII

2007-08-26T06:42:00.000+02:00

Lutheran Carnival LVII is now up at Random Intolerance. The next host is The Moose Report. Posts are due by September 7. The Carnival will be up September 9.

News on LC XVII

2007-08-25T01:38:00.000+02:00

For those of you who haven't sent in an entry, I'll be accepting entries until tomorrow evening. It might be 9 or 10pm before I get to working on the carnival, so please send your entries in to lutherancarnival at gmail Dot com. Please make sure to send in your entries using the format. It helps me out, especially since I will be hosting with a time crunch.

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival LVII

2007-08-23T14:58:00.000+02:00

This reminder is just a tad late, but do recall that tomorrow is the deadline for the Lutheran Carnival. Random Intolerance will host. I've already sent in a couple of third-party nominees, and you may want to also along with your own entries.

Announcement for Lutheran Carnival LVII

2007-08-14T17:00:00.000+02:00

The triple threat of Dan the Geologist (not me), Intolerant Elle, and child have volunteered to take the next edition of the carnival, which will be hosted at Random Intolerance.

The traditional deadline for submissions is August 24 for the August 26 posting, but you might want to start your submissions a little early to give these guys a little slack. :)

Lutheran Carnival LVI is Up

2007-08-13T18:04:00.000+02:00

The 56th edition of the Lutheran Carnival is now available at The Children of God. Emily has done a great job with the carnival. Check out what she has to say and the great posts in this edition. Give her some thanks, too. :)

The next Carnival will be hosted by the "unified team" that is Random Intolerance.

Last Call for the Carnival LVI

2007-08-10T18:52:00.000+02:00

Emily reported to me that there weren't very many posts coming in to her mailbox yet. I did find a problem with the forwarding, but there haven't been a lot of posts coming in.

Please send your entries to lutherancarnival AT gmail DOT com so that we can take advantage of Emily's talents! :)

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival LVI

2007-08-07T14:43:00.000+02:00

Both RandomDan and myself have been remiss in not announcing the next carnival, hosted by Emily at The Children of God. Emily is a terrific thinking blogger ( I hate memes :) ) and is sure to deliver some good information alongside the posts you send her.

Emily has an announcement post up.

Search your posts and the posts of your friends for good stuff. I know for a fact that there are good (in the "both/and" and "not/not yet" way :) ) Lutheran blogs out there that don't submit their own posts. Grab one of theirs and report it, whether or not you provide your own.

Submissions are due Friday for Sunday's post.

Lutheran Carnival LV Is Up

2007-07-30T02:14:00.000+02:00

Prepare Ye hosts the fifty-fifth edition of the Lutheran Carnival.

Thanks, Coach!

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival LV

2007-07-26T00:33:00.000+02:00

The deadline for Carnival LV is just two days away. Don't forget to turn in your posts at the normal address, lutherancarnival AT gmail.com.

The Coach at Prepare Ye will post the Carnival Sunday.

Thanks!

We also thank those who have volunteered to fill out the rest of August, but think ahead! These carnivals come and go too quickly. :)

Announcement for Lutheran Carnival LV

2007-07-19T03:15:00.000+02:00

"God, as some cynic has noted, is always on the side of the winning football team." -- Heywood Brown

The Coach and seminarian at Prepare Ye will host the fifty-fifth Lutheran Carnival. I am personally giving him permission to use a football theme if he so desires. :)

Send your entries in to the Lutheran Carnival by July 27 for the July 29 edition.

We Can Use More Hosts

2007-07-17T03:30:00.000+02:00

I hate to continue to beg for hosts, but I need to. The simple fact is Elle is pregnant and the baby is due in Late October/Early November. As much as I would like to think everything will go well(s), I'm still preparing for the worst. What does this mean? I really need to have have all the spots sewn up to December ASAP. I know, projecting out whether you can host a carnival or not in December when its July is a little presumptuous. Once my daughter is here, however, the carnival will take a backseat to everything. I'm going to be one busy and tired dad for a while. Dan can handle things, but I would rather him having to do as little as possible during that time. He does a lot to help me out anyway, and I probably rely too heavily upon him at the moment anyway. This is what I need. If we can get two more volunteers for September, we can start working from there. The dates are September 9 and September 23. If you can help out on those dates, I would appreciate it. Email either me (daniel dot sellers at gmail dot com) or Dan (dan at necessaryroughness dot com).

Lutheran Carnival LIV is Up!

2007-07-16T14:47:00.000+02:00

Pastor Snyder has posted the fifty-fourth edition of the Lutheran carnival on the Ask the Pastor blog. The carnival features the first Lutheran migrants to Australia and contains a lot of posts for your viewing pleasure.

Loose Ends

2007-07-09T18:32:00.000+02:00

Ask the Pastor has noted that he has a House Rules page for Carnival LIV. You are still free to send confessional Lutheran posts to the carnival, but ATP also wants to hear about your vacations, good and bad. Wasn't there an Aardvark some time back who said there was no vacation from vocation?

I would also like to thank the people who stepped up after Ask the Pastor to finish out the carnivals for July and August. The next three carnivals will be hosted by Prepare Ye, The Children of God, and Random Intolerance.

Announcement for Lutheran Carnival LIV

2007-07-06T04:27:00.000+02:00

Lutheran Carnival LIV will be hosted by one of the starting pitchers of the Lutheran blogosphere, Ask the Pastor. Pastor Snyder will take your posts until July 13 (though he can be a little forgiving) for the July 15 edition.

We also have a new blog bringing up the last post of July, but after that it's all open. Don't worry about having as much information as Pastor Snyder -- you won't. Just sign up and enjoy learning something new. :)

Lutheran Carnival LIII Is Up!

2007-07-01T05:41:00.000+02:00

Barb the Evil Genius has delivered an excellent fifty-third edition of the Lutheran Carnival, featuring a Lutheran from Transylvania! Check it out, send your thanks, then sign up to host a Carnival of your own.

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival LIII

2007-06-28T21:29:00.000+02:00

Act now! Don't delay! :)

Tomorrow is the deadline for submissions to the fifty-third Lutheran Carnival. Barb the Evil Genius has demonstrated with leniency with her deadline for one particular Aardvark, but it could be a trick! She is an Evil Genius after all!

Please turn in your best stuff or nominate someone to be displayed in the cornflower blue of her blog. :)

Featured Carnival!!!

2007-06-23T15:16:00.000+02:00

Some of you probably know about the blogcarnival site, but some of you may not. This site is specifically for people who want to post links to their carnivals at one place. We do get some submissions from people who read about our carnival there every once in a while. Anyway, we will be the featured carnival this upcoming Saturday. The last time this happened, we had a traffic spike. I expect Weekend Fisher will get a second spike a week from today.

Anyway, the blogcarnival site has been helpful in keeping this train we call the Lutheran Carnival rolling. Go by and check it out. You might find another carnival you'll be interested in.

Announcement for Lutheran Carnival LIII

2007-06-19T20:12:00.000+02:00

Lutheran Carnival LIII will be hosted by Barb the Evil Genius at her web site. The seamstress will put all the pieces she gets from now until June 29 for the July 1 carnival.

Be sure to check out the dates and sign up for a carnival. :)

Lutheran Carnival LII

2007-06-18T05:52:00.000+02:00

Lutheran Carnival LII is now up at Heart, Mind, Soul, and Strength. Please thank her for volunteering and the hard work. The next host is Barb the Evil Genius. Posts are due on June 29. The Carnival will be up on July 1 (Happy Canada Day).

We can still use volunteers after Barb. If you're interested at hosting the carnival, check here and let us know what date you can host.

Oops

2007-06-14T13:10:00.000+02:00

We never posted LC LI on this blog. Here it is. Sorry about that.

Also, we never got around to announcing the next carnival. LC LII is being hosted by Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength. Posts are due tomorrow at 7 pm CDT (0000 UTC Saturday). Remember the posting guidelines, and be sure to send your entry in!

Announcement for Lutheran Carnival LI

2007-05-24T07:35:00.000+02:00

The Moose Report will host Lutheran Carnival LI. Posts are due on June 1 for the following Sunday's conglomeration.

Thanks also to the Weekend Fisher for volunteering for LII. The rest of you, check the schedule and send us an email with your choice of dates!

Lutheran Carnival L

2007-05-20T05:40:00.000+02:00

I know. Doing the carnival twice in a row is a little bit of overkill. It is not the first time, however, I have done this. I did it with the first two carnivals. Back then, the carnival was a weekly endeavor. There's probably enough bloggers now to support a weekly carnival, if everyone would submit.

Anyway, most carnivals rarely reach their 5th carnival, let alone 50th. Somehow,this thing has managed to chug along, mostly in spite of me.

Who do you list for a Lutheran you should know but don't when you've hit 50? I'm not sure I ever thought that far ahead. Rather than list a Lutheran you should know but don't, I want to thank a couple of bloggers. First off, thank you to Dan at NR for helping keep things running when I became less than interested in the carnival and more interested in getting married. He also makes sure announcements go out and things don't become totally chaotic here. I also would like to thank Pr. Snyder. He was a big help when the carnival began, and is probably the only one who has sent in links to every carnival.

Laughing Martin, a newer blog, send in two links. His first, Is Synod an Oxymoron, he lists some theses of his own. I'm not sure how many there are. His second post, Worship Always Teaches Something: What will it be among US?, the pastor discusses worship and what it teaches us.

Next, we have Quicunque vult with Celebrating Mothers. Deaconess Carter discusses the mother of modern feminism and how she did theology.

Rev. Cwirla actaully preached a Mother's Day Sermon. It happens to be better than 99.999% of Mother's Day sermons.

Necessary Roughness sends in two links. In the first, Letting Kids Watch, Dan discusses the importance of letting 4-year-olds view what is going on in the chancel during worship to gain an appreciation and encourage participation. His second link is called Homiletics for Mother's Day and Father's Day. The way some preachers preach on Mother's Day and Father's Day can leave men wanting for Gospel. He challenges his readers to examine their Mother's Day sermons for signs that Christ is hidden away. (ed. I know some Magpies who would agree with him.

Confessing Evangelical sends in From Augsburg with Love. John H suggests that many Reformed Christians tend to underestimate the differences between Lutheranism and the Reformed faith, particularly as regards the Lord's Supper. He argues that this "misunderestimation" leads Reformed Christians to overlook the potential contribution that Lutheran theology (or "Augsburg evangelicalism") could make, not least for those tempted towards Rome.

Aardvark Alley sends in two links: Sorry Mom and BBOV Passes Two Hundred Twenty-Five. Aardvark Alley continues posting commemorative hagiographies and other items relating to the Church Year. Along with them, the Aardvark also revised the Mother's Day essay Sorry, Mom as an encouragement for all God's children to also be faithful to Holy Mother Church. He also celebrated the growth of quality confessional Lutheran blogging and his own Big Blogroll O' Vark by noting that the BBOV Passes Two Hundred Twenty-five.

Ask the Pastor also sends in two links: Five Blogs That Make Me Think and The Cross in Christian Art. Pastor Snyder must have been busy with other things, because his fortnight's output was only two posts. In one of them, he took a thoughtful look at the feeds he reads and chose the Five Blogs That Make [Him] Think. In a more traditional Ask the Pastor post, he also answered a question about the symbolism behind various representations of The Cross in Christian Art.

Heart, Mind, Soul and Strength also sends in two posts: Song of Solomon and The Prostitute Justified by Works: The Book of James.

What Did Jesus Do send in Law and Gospel in Hosea. In this post he takes a look at how Law and Gospel is taught in the story of Hosea's marriage to Gomer, found in the first three chapters of the book of Hosea.

Finally, we have Random Intolerance. In Mission Minded?, I discuss how Kirk Cameron uses Law and Gospel more effectively as a witnessing tool. I also extol (ed. more like berate) our pastors to tell us how to witness rather than telling us to witness and then letting us figure out the how. The second post is The Cost of Providing. Elle discusses the benefits of staying at home and the myth that both parents must work for a family to keep its head above the water.

Thank you to all who submitted posts and to all who read the carnival. The next carnival will be hosted by my sister-in-law at The Moose Report. Due to timezone changes, posts are due by 7pm ADT (10pm CDT or 0300 UTC Saturday) June 1 (June 2 UTC). I know there are some Australian Bloggers out there somewhere. I calculated the time for Sydney, and it's 1300 (1pm) Sydney time. Maybe we can get one or two of you all to submit with that info.

I also want to mention we have no volunteers to host after The Moose Report. If you would like to host, email either daniel DOT sellers AT gmail DOT com or dan AT necessaryrougness DOT org. We appreciate the help.

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival L

2007-05-16T23:54:00.000+02:00

Fast approaches the deadline for the golden edition of the Lutheran Carnival. Submissions are due just two days from now for the post on Easter 7.

Announcement for Lutheran Carnival L

2007-05-09T22:14:00.000+02:00

Here's a carnival number we can all agree on.

The fiftieth Lutheran Carnival will be held here on the mother ship. I don't know if both of us Dans will be cooperating, or if RandomDan wants to do it all again. :)

The first carnival was held on January 1, 2005. Two years and four whole months is a good amount of time. Have you had any changes of opinion or any enhancements on things you have written in the past? This might be a good opportunity to revisit topics.

Perhaps you'd like to do some prognosticating. We won't slay you for wrong answers, but it'll be fun to review on another anniversary.

The deadline is May 18 for the May 20 carnival.

Lutheran Carnival IL (or XLiX)

2007-05-06T15:55:00.000+02:00

Lutheran Carnival IL is now up at Random Intolerance. Thank you to everyone who sent links. The next carnival will be hosted here. Posts are due by May 18th. The carnival should be up by May 20th.

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival XLIX

2007-05-01T19:16:00.000+02:00

(Thanks, Herr Bettler, for the correction)

The forty-ninth edition of the Lutheran Carnival will be hosted by the triple thread of RandomDan, IntolerantElle, and their youngling-in-training at Random Intolerance. Please have your posts on by this Friday night/Saturday morning for the May 6 posting.

Also, please take a look at the next list of spots in our rotation and pick one that's convenient for you. When you've got one, send one of us (daniel DOT sellers AT gmail DOT com) or (dan AT necessaryroughness DOT org) and let us know.

Announcement for Lutheran Carnival IL

2007-04-25T04:29:00.000+02:00

Lutheran Carnival IL will be hosted at Random Intolerance. Yes, I get to host the Cinco de Mayo carnival (sort of). Anyway, get your posts in by 11:59 Friday night (read midnight Saturday morning or 0500 Saturday UTC). I extended the deadline slightly because, the truth be told, I may not get to the carnival until Sunday morning. I'll explain it all in the carnival. If I can manage.

Call for Hosts

2007-04-25T04:01:00.000+02:00

We've almost made it to 50 carnivals. Considering how many carnivals never make it past their 5th edition, we're doing really well. Now we're looking for hosts for carnivals 51-60. It is now first-come, first-served when it comes to hosting. You can either email me (daniel DOT sellers AT gmail DOT com) or Dan (dan AT necessaryroughness DOT org) and we'll get you on the list. As a reminder, please do not email the Lutheran Carnival email address with anything but links.

LC LI-- Hosted by The Moose Report. Links due by June 1. Carnival up by June 3.

LC LII-- Hosted by Weekend Fisher. Links due by June 15. Carnival up by June 17.

LC LIII-- Hosted by Barb the Evil Genius. Links due by June 29. Carnival up by July 1.

LC LIV-- Hosted by Ask the Pastor. Links due by July 13. Carnival up by July 15.

LC LV-- Hosted by Prepare Ye. Links due by July 27. Carnival up by July 29.

LC LVI-- Hosted by The Children of God. Links due by August 10. Carnival up by August 12.

LC LVII-- Hosted by Random Intolerance. Links due by August 24. Carnival up by August 26.

LC LVIII-- Hosted by The Moose Report. Links due by September 7. Posts due by September 9.

LC LIX-- Hosted by Full Throttle. Links due by September 21. Posts due by September 23.

LC LX-- Hosted by Lutheran Carnival. Links due by October 5. Posts due by October 7.

Thank you to everyone who volunteers!

Lutheran Carnival XLVIII

2007-04-22T15:31:00.001+02:00

Lutheran Carnival XLVIII is now up at Living Sermons. He worked on it during a trans-pacific flight. Please let him know you appreciate the work. The next carnival shall be hosted at Random Intolerance. Posts are due by May 4th. The carnival will be up on May 6.

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival XLVIII

2007-04-18T00:19:00.000+02:00

It may be tax season, but you don't get to file an extension for Lutheran Carnival XLVIII, held at Living Sermons. In fact, because Chaplain Boarts will host the Carnival from Japan, I recommend that you get your posts in a day earlier than usual. :)

The deadline is Friday (Japanese Friday?) for Sunday's post.

Announcement for Lutheran Carnival XLVIII

2007-04-11T15:32:00.000+02:00

Living Sermons will host Carnival edition 48. It's always tough to follow the Aardvark, so help Chaplain Boarts out and prepare to send things in from your blog and from others. The April 22 carnival needs its posts by Friday, April 20.

Aardvark Alley: The Fast Ends, The Carnival Begins Anew

2007-04-09T14:21:00.000+02:00

Aardvark Alley brings forth a spring-sized Lutheran Carnival XLVII in Aardvark Alley: The Fast Ends, The Carnival Begins Anew.

Thank you, Pastor, for all your hard work.

The next carnival for April 22 is still up for grabs! Hosting a carnival is easy (usually)! Check out the Instructions for Hosts and let us know what you're capable of! :)

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival XLVII

2007-04-04T19:16:00.000+02:00

The Lutheran Carnival for Holy Week will be hosted at Aardvark Alley. Posts are due Friday for the Sunday post.

I've already recommended one post, but there are more out there. Plus, there are some new Lutheran blogs that are discuss Christian involvement in the secular realm. I hope to see some good stuff from them, too. :)

We Still Need One More Host

2007-03-31T03:49:00.000+02:00

After the Aardvark, we still need a host for the April 22nd Carnival. If you are willing to help, please email either Dan or I. We appreciate the help.

Announcement for Lutheran Carnival XLVII

2007-03-28T22:07:00.000+02:00

His Hairy Long-Snoutedness the Aardvark will be hosting the forty-seventh edition of the Lutheran Carnival on that Marauding Marsupial of blogs, the Aardvark Alley. It is meet, right, and salutary that you should nominate someone's post for the carnival or submit your own over the next week and a half.

The official deadline is April 6 for the April 8 carnival. Even though the Aardvark has cut people some slack in the past, let's not count on it this time. :)

Lutheran Carnival XLVI Is Up

2007-03-25T15:23:00.000+02:00

Feel like you could use a good drink? Check out the forty-sixth edition of the Carnival on jWinters.com Blog. Seminarian Winters highlights Dr. Robert Cade, one of the inventors of Gatorade, who happens to attend the church where Winters served his vicarage. After taking in a good commercial, show some love and leave some comments.

Thanks for your time and effort, jW!

The next carnival will be hosted by Aardvark Alley.

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival XLVI

2007-03-19T22:29:00.000+01:00

The Lutheran Carnival, full of theological tight-rope walkers, musicians, lions, and even a few clowns, makes its way over to jWinters.com Blog for Sunday's post. No bearded ladies were sighted this close to the deadline, which is Friday, March 23.

Two people have already submitted posts, and we look forward to seeing the rest! You can email your entry to lutherancarnival AT gmail.com, and it will get there.

Announcement for Lutheran Carnival XLVI

2007-03-14T05:08:00.000+01:00

The forty-sixth edition of the Lutheran Carnival will emerge over at jWinters.com Blog. Seminarian Winters will take posts until March 23 for the March 25 super-post.

We've got one more spot to fill, the April 22 edition, before we start a new series of carnivals. I would like to thank everyone who has hosted so far, especially those of you who stepped up lately to host for the first time.

Lutheran Carnival XLV

2007-03-11T21:25:00.000+01:00

Lutheran Carnival XLV is now up at Carol Rutz's Annexe. Please thank her for all the hard work and maybe read the carnival too!) The next Carnival will be hosted by jWinters.com. Posts are due by March 23rd. The Carnival should be up by March 25th.

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival XLV

2007-03-07T07:03:00.000+01:00

Time marches on...until the deadline for Carnival XLV held at Carol Rutz's Annexe. Even if you don't have a video What the Frell, Carol will gladly take your posts until Friday evening.

Announcement for Lutheran Carnival XLV

2007-03-02T02:21:00.000+01:00

This week has flown by so fast I have yet to write my book report. :)

Next week's Lutheran Carnival will be hosted at <Bad Carol> Carol Rutz's </Bad Carol> Annexe. Please have your posts turned in March 9 for the March 11 edition. Carol suggests a "What the Frell" theme: check out her post for more information.

We also need bloggers for April. Check out the dates and sign up! Thanks for your time.

Lutheran Carnival XLIV Is Up

2007-02-25T14:33:00.000+01:00

The Rebellious Pastor's Wife delivers the ultimate player-hater in Major League Baseball: the only person ever to perform an unassisted triple play. Check out her post for that and for the other great readings from around the Lutheran blogosphere.

Thank you, R.P.W.! :)

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival XLIV

2007-02-20T20:09:00.000+01:00

The deadline for the forty-fifth edition draws close. The Rebellious Pastor's Wife reports one submission so far. I know a lot of us like to wait until the very end, but for her sanity, please give her a head start. :)

The deadline is Friday, for Sunday's edition.

Announcement for Lutheran Carnival XLIV

2007-02-14T18:28:00.000+01:00

The forty-third Lutheran Carnival will be hosted by the Rebellious Pastor's Wife. The February 25 carnival needs to have its posts in by February 23.

After this carnival and the next, the field is wide open for anyone who wants to host a carnival. Please send inquiries to lutherancarnival AT gmail.com if you are interested.

Lutheran Carnival XLIII is Up

2007-02-11T06:23:00.000+01:00

St. Charles Place is no longer just an unimproved property, now that it's hosting Lutheran Carnival XLIII.

Thank you Charles for a unique important Lutheran and for the cool new look you've been sporting lately. :)

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival XLIII

2007-02-07T04:26:00.000+01:00

February 9 is the deadline for the forty-third edition of the Lutheran Carnival, hosted at St. Charles Place. Sinner-Saint Charles will have the post up on the 11th.

As Ed McMahon used to say while he was hawking American Family Publishers, "Come on, send it in!" :)

Announcement for Lutheran Carnival XLIII

2007-02-02T03:02:00.000+01:00

Charles at the newly renovated St. Charles Place has volunteered his time to publish Lutheran Carnival XLIII. Posts are due February 9 for the February 11th edition.

If you haven't hosted a Carnival before or haven't hosted one in a long time, check out the list and see when you have time. You'll get to promote your favorite Lutheran, whether he (or she) wears silk around his (or her) neck or not. :)

Carnival XLII Is In the House

2007-01-27T20:16:00.000+01:00

House, M.Div. hosts Lutheran Carnival XLII a day early. Go over there and thank him for his time, if just to irritate him. :)

House features a live Lutheran, Dr. David Adams, and divides the carnival up into Physicians, Residents, and Patients.

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival XLII

2007-01-25T05:23:00.000+01:00

Friday is the deadline for the 42nd edition of the Lutheran Carnival, hosted by House, M.Div. I doubt he will be as generous with the Overtime as I was. :)

Recently I checked some of my blog stats and noticed that I was still getting hits from last year's Lutheran Carnivals. Unlike articles served by RSS feeds, the carnivals stay until a particular blogger chooses to delete. If a post means something to you, send it in.

Carnival Feedback

2007-01-17T01:07:00.000+01:00

Aardvark Alley and the Theology Geek have questioned whether there has been a decline in confessional Lutheran blogging. If you haven't already, visit those sites and offer your input.

In the comments at Aardvark Alley, one of the most-read bloggers in the Lutheran community has this to say about the Lutheran Carnival:

As for the "Carnival" ... I really don't know what the point of it is since anyone with a feed reader can easily keep up with every Lutheran blog site out there, quickly and conveniently. So, I wouldn't stress over that one too much either.

I'm going to agree with Pastor McCain on this point. Having a Bloglines roll of 150+ Lutheran blogs alone, it is easier and faster than for someone to wait two weeks, collect submissions, and reformat them into a post.

The Carnival can do and sometimes does do more than that, and I think we need to focus and improve on these differences for the Carnival to continue. If I may be so bold, it might be interesting to see if the Carnival's strengths can be utilized so as to make it attractive to people like Rev. McCain to host. If you shoot for the stars and miss, you may still land on top of the world. :)

So, what can the Carnival do that Bloglines/Feedster/Google Reader cannot?

The Carnival highlights the host. While hosting a carnival one can develop a theme, write a blurb about a famous church father, provide commentary on submissions, recommend other posts by the same author, and/or provide a topic to write on.

He or she also reads the posts to verify that any theology falls within the Confessions. For a layman, that last duty is probably the hardest, and the host may learn something new if a submission doesn't quite look right. I've rejected posts before on a theological basis. Forty-one posts into the carnival, that isn't much of a problem any more.

For most people, hosting the Carnival results in a traffic spike, bringing more people to the blog. My spike was about 35 unique visitors over the daily average. Readers discover the new host blog and add it to their blog rolls (unless they use the BBOV, and then Pastor 'Vark adds it for them). :)

Along the same lines, hosting the Carnival results in more people reading the host's posts and getting to know the host better. This may be a positive thing when people read one's comments on other blogs and make snap judgments about the person. Readers get to increase their sample size of the host's writing. This is a benefit that even the most seasoned bloggers can realize.

Most blogs I know don't have an elder at the door asking if you're a particular denominational stripe. I suspect NR has a lower Lutheran-to-others ratio than whatever average exists for Lutheran blogs. Mine is not a theology-only blog. Non-Lutherans who read our blogs may click on some of the links and find the theology that drives us.

Thus far the reasons I've given are admittedly self-centered. The Carnival is not only for the host but for those who submit posts.

One knows two things right off the bat about people who submit posts to the Lutheran Carnival:

If they read the rules, they say they subscribe to the Lutheran Confessions, and
They think their topic is worth discussing.

If what the person has to say is beneficial, they should be promoted. Pastor McCain is right that RSS readers make it easy to identify new posts, but they also make it easier to ignore posts. "Catching up" is almost too easy. An interesting post can be missed, either because the blogger shows only excerpts in his RSS feed, or the shear volume of information is simply not to be processed by the human brain. :) These guys need feedback, and being the recent host I am probably chief sinner in not going to the submitters' sites and leaving complements. I did spend some time reflecting on Long Eye Moose's post and giving constructive criticism. Sometimes people blog because a) they write better than they speak, or b) they are in a situation where they think the world is screwed up and they need confirmation, or c) I'm just projecting onto all of you, or d) all of the above.

The host has the opportunity to make the submitters better, or the host has a chance to learn from the submitters.

So if you don't want to host a Carnival for yourself, host it for the other people in the Lutheran blogosphere. The more people confess the truth, the better. The more people we teach and gently correct when a particular doctrine seems astray, the better.

Announcement for Lutheran Carnival XLII

2007-01-17T00:57:00.000+01:00

Lutheran Carnival XLII will be hosted at House, M.Div. Until further notice, posts are due Friday, January 26th, at 6 p.m. Central Daylight Time. The Carnival will be up some time on Sunday, January 28th.

Thank you, all who participated in the current carnival.

Lutheran Carnival XLI

2007-01-14T16:55:00.000+01:00

The 41st edition of the Lutheran Carnival is up at Necessary Roughness.

Reminder for Lutheran Carnival XLI

2007-01-09T05:23:00.001+01:00

This Friday is the deadline for the next Lutheran Carnival, hosted at Necessary Roughness. I've gotten some good stuff, including another Lutheran with an autistic child. I'm still pondering how to handle that post; it may need more treatment than a mere link and description.

No one has yet to take up the Garrison Keillor topic, so if you write one you may already be the winner for best topical post! :)

A Note on LC XL

2007-01-05T15:04:00.000+01:00

There have been a couple of comments asking whether I received some late submissions to the carnival. I did, but since I extended the deadline, I had to cut things of at some point. Last Saturday on 7 PM (0100 Sunday UTC, GMT, or Zulu) I had to stop taking submissions. There was also one person who submitted three links from his blog (we were allowing three links from other blogs. The two link from your own blog rule still applied.) I'll make sure the extra submission makes it to the next carnival. Even with that cutoff, the carnival was still put up a little late (I personally aim for 12pm CST aka 1800 UTC). If, for some reason, you don't want your late submissions to be in the next carnival, let Dan at NR know.

Announcement for Lutheran Carnival XLI

2007-01-02T21:11:00.000+01:00

Be a sinner/saint and post boldly! I am hosting Lutheran Carnival XLI at my own blog, Necessary Roughness. Full details are on this post. The deadline has been pushed a couple of hours on January 12 for the January 14 edition.

Don't wait until overtime to send your submissions in. :)

Lutheran Carnival XL

2006-12-31T21:56:00.000+01:00

The 40th episode of Lutheran Carnival is now here. Can you believe it, 40. I thought, at times, this thing might not last. There have been a few carnivals where I wondered. Anyway, we received a lot of submissions, so let's get started.

Unfortunately, many hosts have not done a "Lutheran you Should Know But Don't" for a while. It is unfortunate because there are three or four people I can think of at the top of my head that could be done. This is one of them.

Michael Praetorius was an organist, musician, and composer. The son of a Lutheran Pastor, he studied theology at the University of Frankfurt an der Oder, and was a well know musician who died wealthy and left his money to the poor. He is probably the best know Lutheran musician after Bach.

As is my normal procedure, I am posting the links from earliest received to latest received.

First up is Poor Miserable Sinner with his post called Life - God's Plan. This post is in honor of life Sunday.

Next is Not Alone with the post The Reason for the Season. The reason for the season (Christmas) is more personal than people often think. People often think that Christ must be put back into Christmas. But what we really need is to put US back into Christmas, connected to Christ by the means by which Christ is already given in Christmas. Read how Jesus is the cause or source for the season and how the real reason for the season is US, and how Christ continues to come to us and for us during this blessed season. Pator Siems also sent in A Christmas Divorce. Joseph and Mary nearly were divorced on account of Christmas, but the Word of God turned them from this so that in Christ a wonderful Christmas divorce was declared for all the world.

Necessary Roughness sends us A Question on Sanctification. Dan asks the confessional Lutheran blogosphere if sanctification includes our efforts at sinning less, and is this in tension with the Lutheran Confessions which seem to state that sanctification is the forgiveness of sins and reception of Holy Communion.He also sent Pope Benedict's Urbi Et Orbi. Dan takes a look at the Pope's Christmas address, full of prayers for the nations. He notes the speech consistently refers to Jesus as the Savior, but it could benefit from a better treatment of sin than just national unrest.

The post St. Luke 2:1-20 - Christmas Eve 2006 was a third party submission from Bloghardt's Reflector. Pastor Borghardt preaches the incarnation of Christ and delivers the Gospel to a congregation that included non-churchgoing parents of kids in a Christmas program.

Next up is Hoc Est Verum with Lutherans Apologize for Past Mistakes. A parody of the ELCA's recent apologies to Mennonites for past opposition to Anabaptists.

Another 3rd party submission is from Little Loci and the post Advent 3 - No Such Thing as the "Lost". This is a sermon delivered by the Rev. Ryan Fouts on the Third Sunday of Advent. In it, he refutes the idea of there being those who are "lost" versus those who are "saved."

A Begger at the Table submits two posts. In his first, Nativity Thoughts, Pastor Klages tears a stripe off of the "Wise Men Still Seek Him" phrase. He the gives us If It's Friday..., where, on a less serious note, Pastor Klages invokes both Tim Hortons (a Canadian coffee-and-donut chain) and the Dukes of Hazzard in one of his most highly commented posts ever. Get in on the action! (ed. Tim Horton's is so good. I just wish they'd head south. They put Starbucks and Krispy Creme to shame.)

Old School Confessional brings us the post Whose Line Is it Anyway. Preaching is more than just the delivery of a sermon. It involves the whole process of preparation and delivery. This post once again addresses the issue of borrowed or downloaded sermons and their inappropriate use by preachers in our churches. It invites, and in fact, requests comments from any and all readers. (ed. This post now has the distinction of being submitted twice. It was submitted by the author and by a third party.)

Putting out the Fire sends the post The Infant Priest Was Holy Born. Frank writes a post that looks back to the miracle at Bethlehem, and then forward to the Eucharist by the way of the cross with his thoughts on a hymn by Pastor Chad Bird.

Horn+swoggled is back to his usual funny ways with Liturgy Card Girls Highlight Blended Worship. Here's the latest way to draw men back to church. He also sends Church Closes Nativity "Box". The Christmas Eve children's program at a New Hampshire church was canceled because of doctrinal concerns.

Ask the Pastor sends in two posts: Putting the "X" Back in Xmas and Do not Neglect the Gift. In Putting the "X" Back in Xmas, Pastor Snyder rejects the excesses of those who attempt to remove Christ and all other trappings of religion from the American holiday scene and those who appear to misunderstand the proper use of Christian symbolism. Also at Ask the Pastor, the Rite of Installation and the Office of the Holy Ministry are examined in Do not Neglect the Gift.

We also have more 3rd party submissions. The first of these is Northwest Seelsorger. In the post New Textbook Acknowledges Religion's Place in History, Pastor Don Engebretson expresses gratitude and, perhaps, a bit of surprise that a New Textbook Acknowledges Religion's Place in History as he comments on the publication of Unto a Good Land, a new college-level history text.

The next is Susan's Pendulum. Hail, Highly Favored Lady, says Susan. An Advent carol and the day's readings led the author of Susan's Pendulum to consider just what it was that made the Blessed Virgin Mary "highly favored."

Two more links come from Cantor's Padded Balcony: More Comments Shared in Christian Love and 3500 Members. One begins to understand why a certain Cantor needs his Padded Balcony after reading More Comments Shared in Christian Love, a summary of some of the invective he's received because of his unflinching Lutheran worldview. If his responses don't turn the tables completely, 3500 Members, his report on the ghastly state of the local megachurch certainly lets us see that even when we're wrong, Lutherans are probably more right than is most of Christendom.

Aardvark Alley sends in two links: O Emmanuel and David. Aardvark Alley, in cooperation with Rev. Cwirla's Blogosphere, completed a week long meditation upon the O Antiphons of Advent with O Emmanuel. He also continued the regular hagiographies, completing the schedule for the Year of Our Lord 2006 with David, King of Israel.

House, M. Div. sends us two posts: God's Own Child I Gladly Say It and Is Outrage. In " God's Own Child I Gladly Say It," he offers his thoughts on the recent baptism of Violet Affleck. In " Is Outrage," House interrupts Fr. Vasily Vaseilovich to offer some thoughts on a recent brawl at a "holy" site of Eastern Orthodoxy.

Finally, I offer up a blast from the past. In 2004 on my old blog, I wrote a post on the Office of the Holy Ministry and Closed Communion. I used the Small Catechism to prove that those pastors who are unwilling to use the binding key have no buisness using the losing key. They also have no buisness distributing the Lord's Supper. From the new blog Random Intolerance, my wife wrote Christmas Eve No Law Service. My wife points out the gospel reductionism in a sermon preached at a former church of mine.

That's all for the 40th Carnival. Number XLI is being hosted by Necessary Roughness. Remember, we are still looking for hosts for the next 10 carnivals. If you can volunteer, we can use it.

Deadline Extended

2006-12-29T06:21:00.000+01:00

Due to the lack of submissions, I am extending the deadline to this Saturday (December 30Th) at 7 PM CST (0100 GMT Sunday). Even if you do not want to send in your own posts, consider that you can send in three third party links this time. If you haven't sent in a link or haven't sent in a link for a while, please do.

On a different note, we have received the occasional link from a person or two who are not Lutheran. Please understand that we are here to promote Lutheranism. While we appreciate your apparent willingness to participate, please understand we cannot use any links you send in.