I have noticed that since my major "Blog Reading Reduction Plan" at the end of last year, I accidentally cut a few out that I need to stay up with. Mercy Journeys by Pastor Harrison, and Get Religion are but two that come to mind. So, I've updated my blogroll, for what it is worth, which is not much, but I highly recommend these two blogs as well.

I've recently divested my blog reader of [literally] hundreds of blog sites. I have trimmed my blog reading list to only a couple dozen or so that I find, for me, to be of ongoing interest. Among these is this blog site:

My knowledge of German is only based on a several classes in college and seminary, so I make no claim to be an expert in German. I know enough conversational German to amuse native German speakers and to get myself into a lot of trouble at hotel check-in desks and dining establishments. Most memorable among my dubious accomplishments was the time I observed to my waitress that the "little swiss" is excellent, confusing the diminutive form of "Swiss" with the German word for pork.

But, my friends who are experts in German tell me this young man is doing excellent work translating German, and doing so with an alacrity that is very impressive.

So, if you are interested in getting more deeply into the spiritual life of orthodox Lutheranism, I can think of no better way than by getting to know the hymns of Lutheran orthodoxy. Matt Carver is doing a great job bringing many of these classics and treasures of Lutheran spirituality to life for English speakers. My only quibble with his translations is that he chooses to produce them in Jacobian English. I would prefer he render it in good modern English. But as I said, a quibble. You will enjoy the numerous hymn translations he has done.

December 15, 2008

Dear Fellow Blogging Lutheran Pastors,

I
read a lot of Lutheran blog sites. I particularly enjoy reading the
blogs of Lutheran pastors, like yours. You teach me a lot and I learn a
lot, from all of you. I always welcome your fraternal admonishment and
correction where you believe I am in error or where I can improve what
I'm saying.

It is in this spirit of mutual consolation and
conversation of the brethren that I feel a need to offer this open
letter and fraternal appeal.

It is of great concern to me that
there are some of you who are using your blog sites to engage in what I
would term "pious speculating."

Let me cite but one recent
example: there is a conversation going on among a group of Lutheran
pastors that are interested in preserving the historical liturgy, to
the effect that because John the Baptist's birth is observed on the
Christian calendar, this might allow a person to believe that John the
Baptist was freed from original sin on this side of glory. Obviously,
this is theological error, but the speculation is being indulged in on
a Lutheran pastors' blog site and actually being encouraged. That's but
one example.

Here then, dear colleagues, is the problem with all
this "pious speculation", and I do wish and pray you would take this to
heart. We are not in our seminary dorm rooms, or frat houses, but
rather making comments on public blog sites. Therefore, it would be my
fraternal and respectful advice that the "pious speculations" — which,
of course, in this case, are simply errors in doctrine, plainly and
simply, be avoided.

Since the blogosphere is a public square and people actually form
opinions about Lutherans from what they read, we who are pledged to
Scripture and Confessions are not to be indulging in whims, fancies,
and "pious speculations," enjoyable as it all may be when together with friends sharing a beer or two.

We
are not liturgical or theological hobbyists, or theorists analyzing
some body of assorted data. We should not be engaging in conversation
that is more along the lines of interesting pastime, and unfounded
musing for musing's sake. Rather, our blogging must conform itself to
the pattern of sound words as it is provided for us in Scripture and as
we confess it together in the Lutheran Confessions.

St. Paul
admonishes us, in 2 Tim. 1:13: "Retain the standard of sound words
which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ
Jesus."

And our Lutheran Confessions, reflecting this Apostolic
instruction, wisely note: "It is safe to hold fast both to “the pattern
of the sound words” and to the pure doctrine itself. In this way, much
unnecessary wrangling may be cut off and the Church preserved from many
scandals." (FC SD IV.36).

Dear brothers, indulging in theorizing
and speculating over matters about which Scripture and the Confessions
are silent, or unclear, is unhelpful and potentially very harmful to
the Church. What we might share in a private gathering of pastors,
where we can be admonished, corrected, or counseled, privately among
our peers, should not be put on public display on our blog sites. And
we surely, none of us, would want to put ourselves in the position of
speaking falsely and stirring up unnecessary wrangling and causing
scandals.

Thank you for your efforts in the Lutheran blogosphere.
And thank you for hearing me out as I express this word of concern and
make this fraternal appeal to you. Verbum sapienti satis est.

Your fellow bond-servant of Christ,

Paul

I know a lot of you love to put your long lists of blogs on display before men, to receive their praises. I understand. But, I, when I read blogs, I go into my blog closet, so as not to be seen by men. OK, seriously…I never put up lists of blogs for I know I will forget to include somebody. Somebody will be offended and, despite all appearances, I do not like to hurt people's feelings on a personal level, whenever I can avoid it. So, I don't do it.

But since Cyberbrethren is one of the most widely read Lutheran-specific blogs on the World Wide Wherever, meaning at least 18 spam-bots and four real humans stop by every other day or so, I do, from time to time, feel it is necessary to plug a blog, now and then. This is one of those now times. Without question, one of the most humorous, sarcastic and biting blogs I read whenever something is posted to it, is Tony Sacramone's blog. You should too. He just has a way with words. See for yourself.

 My favorite Lutheran theological journal, Logia, is now blogging. Check out their new web site, and blog site. Congrats Logia!

Pastor Matthew Harrison has finally stepped into the 21st century and is now officially a Lutheran blogger. Check it out.

I'm glad to see Harrison coming out of his shell and being a bit more extroverted. I am looking forward to his recounting his truly incredible experiences as he travels the world on behalf of LCMS Human Care and World Relief.

He is the only person in the world, I would venture to guess, who plays banjo and translates Luther and 16th century fathers, at the same time!

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night wondering which
version of Flash your visitors use? Or Java? Or how many screen colors
they can display? No? Good, if you did you would be a very odd
person.

I’ve used various statistical tracking services on my blog sites over
the years. But then, I discovered Google Analytics the other day. Game over. ‘Nuff
said. That’s all she wrote. The end. Hasta, la vista, baby. Once again,
Google rules. All hail Mighty Google! Seriously, folks, if you have not
heard about Google Analytics, you are in for a stunning surprise. To get started, go here and set your blog up in it and you
are off and running. If you are using StatCounter, or SiteMeter, or any other service for that matter, Google Analytics blows them all away and, the best part? It’s free.

I am particularly intrigued by the world map it shows, which you can zoom in on down to the level of individual cities. Here, for example, is where people came from who visited the Cyberbrethren blog site during the past four days:

OK, so Pastor Weedon started this. He occasionally will ask for a "radio check" to see who is listening/reading out there. I thought it would be fun to do the same. Looking at the last 365 days, I see that Cyberbrethren had 605,000 page loads and 362,000 unique visitors. So, if you are a reader of this blog site, it is time to come out of lurk mode for a moment and say hello. Where are you? Who are you? What do you do? Let’s hear a bit from the Cyberbrethren reading community. Thanks for reading! I’m looking forward to hearing from readers and getting to know you.

A new conversation is underway at the Blog of Concord, on the First Part of the Smalcald Articles, "The Awe-Inspiring Articles on the Divine Majesty."

As if the Lutheran blogosphere needed a new blog site, I’ve started one anyway. It is not really a "blog" in the traditional sense of that term. It is devoted to one thing, and one thing only: the Cranach altar painting in Weimar, Germany. I’ve gathered a number of resources on this painting, and on the art of Lucas Cranach and the subject of Lutheran Reformation art in general, and I’ll be sharing what my research has turned up, as well as offering specific comments on this painting. If you find it useful, feel free to mention this new blog site on your blogs. I wanted a place on the Internet to showcase this magnificent painting precisely for the sake of what it is all about: Christ and His Gospel. So, come on over and pay a visit to this new blog site.

Hasten thyself over to the blogsite: Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions and take a look at the new post there. We are moving on to the Smalcald Articles in our discussions. The introductory post has words and pictures! Something for everyone. Be there, or be square, or something like that.

Something rather amusing has been happening in the past few months. Apparently, there are a group of rabid Pit Bull lovers (pun intended) who love their aggressive pooches so much that they spend quite a bit of time scouring the Internet looking for anything, that in any way, presents their pups in a less than positive light. I mean, the fact that the beasts have a propensity for tearing people to shreds, particularly young children, notwithstanding, I’ve been told by Pit Bull lovers that they are actually the most gentle and loving animals on God’s green earth! It’s been amusing to me how many comments this blog site has received all because well over two years ago I put up a photo of a fierce dog with a post titled, "Theological Pit Bulls" devoted to a description of a certain breed of Calvinist blogger who apparently spends hours every day attacking any blog site, anywhere, that rejects Calvinism’s T.U.L.I.P. theory. So, now, at least once a week or so, I get the kind of comment recently put here from a pit bull owner decrying my terrible portrayal of their favorite canine. I usually erase them along with the other spam the site gets a lot of. I let one go through so you could see it. It’s pretty funny.

My fellow Lutheran blogger, Anthony Sacramone, bewailed the Amazon Kindle and referred First Things blog readers to my blog site. So, if any of you manage to make your way over here, welcome.

The first post of the new year is available now on the "Blog of Concord," which is the worlds oldest and largest blog site devoted exclusively to an ongoing conversation about the Lutheran Confessions. Well, ok, it’s the only one too, but hey, that’s how these things get hyped on the Internet. So, pay us a visit and offer your comment or observation. Join the roundtable conversation. Plus, you can check out our nifty new page banner, custom designed for us by Jen.

Do you know what "social networking" is? Social network, for you aging persons like me, is *the* thing on the Internet. Heard of Facebook? MySpace? All you young whipper-snappers reading this stop your snickering now! Show respect to your elders.

Have you wanted to try social networking? Well, here’s your chance. Join me and, as I send this note, about 250 other people on "The Wittenberg Trail" social networking site. If you want to know, just click on through to The Wittenberg Trail. Happy trails to you!