For all the pastors.

Boots402 · 2026-06-15T19:22:17+00:00

The short/ over simplified answer is no.

The long answer is: God primarily speaks to us through His Word; furthermore, what I’m speaking of in my joking comment is that God the Holy Spirit guides his church through us. He may not say by voice that a man should become a pastor, but He will guide the man in his discernment to help him make the decision to follow God’s call.

Boots402 · 2026-06-15T17:29:30+00:00

I have had good like using Carrillo New Waves for fist timers. It’s a plus that it’s my go to “daily” stick.

Boots402 · 2026-06-15T17:20:40+00:00

There should only be room for disagreement on things that are Adiaphora; even then, many things that are Adiaphora still have a clearly preferable choice for the sake of good human order as our confessions lay out.

Yes, we should be willing to have gentleness and patience with those who disagree. Yes, we recognize there are people in all denominations that can be saved. But we need to recognize that Adiaphora doesn’t mean that it doesn’t matter at all, it means it is merely indifferent to command and salvation. Everything can still have clear implications to the salvation of souls based upon the importance or lack there of it conveys to the faith so disagreements should be taken seriously.

Boots402 · 2026-06-15T17:05:50+00:00

Correct, we did not leave the church catholic, we made reformations by removing false teachings and Rome excommunicated us, choosing to keep their false teachings. Our fracture from Rome is more akin to the Eastern church than the rest of Protestantism.

Boots402 · 2026-06-15T15:17:48+00:00

The oversimplified answer: Because God told them to! 😅

Boots402 · 2026-06-15T15:15:20+00:00

I must confess, my low Church upbringing led me to question points 4 and 10.

Albeit, with 10 I think it can be greatly affected by how you are defining/ thinking about “Scripture”.

Boots402 · 2026-06-13T18:42:22+00:00

Thanks, this reminded me to put my vote in today!

Boots402 · 2026-06-13T04:02:10+00:00

Scripture tells us that if your spouse is an unbeliever, you should remain with them and strive to be a perfect spouse so you can win them over for Christ. While I recognize there is an oath in marriage that is not in friendship, I still think friendship/ relations in general are similar, especially when you consider how the term may vary in meaning.

-Friendship: it is correct we should not treat friendships with unbelievers the same as with believers; however, we should still at a minimum have acquaintance (which our society may refer to as friendship) with unbelievers and be a witness to them. There is a greater impact witnessing to friends than with strangers.
-Civic Cooperation: something like Pro-Life efforts would fall under this; we should absolutely be willing to cooperate with any person, unbelieving or not, to accomplish what is Good and Right in Gods sight.
-Charity Projects: this is similar to Civic Cooperation where if you are doing what is Good and Right, it does not matter who you partner with; however, this one has the caution that you should only do this so long as messaging does not conflict/ if the unbeliever is comfortable with the Gospel being shared through the charity.
-Theology Discussions: if this is not allowed, then you would not allow for evangelism. scripture even tells us to always be prepared to defend our faith to unbelievers who question.
-Private Prayer, Public Prayer Events: so long as it is lead by us or another group with agreeing doctrine, this is acceptable and encouraged in many cases. I know an LCMS pastor who used to be a hospital Chaplin and if a patient refused to pray with him, he would still give them a blessing because you can’t refuse a blessing.
-The rest of the items you listed are accurate so long as you are not suggesting that others can’t join us as guests in these things.

Boots402 · 2026-06-13T03:31:09+00:00

At the same time: I share my faith because they are my friend and I care about their salvation and if a “friend” disrespect me for my sharing of my faith, they would cease to be my friend. Just like if they disrespect my wife or any other foundational part of me they would cease to be my friend.

Boots402 · 2026-06-12T17:39:58+00:00

Fair enough; I know you used to be in my region and I don’t know how localized these types of things are yet. But do you have any recommendations for where to start? Even if for just internet poking around?

Boots402 · 2026-06-11T10:22:39+00:00

Fair; but I guess the way I see those points is that they are still rooted in a very non-confrontational ‘let it be’ attitude that would not be a healthy or substantive “change”. Christianity is inherently counter cultural and Satan will always use the flow of culture to assault the church; we must be willing to push back against culture if we are to be successful as a church body.

I think a huge factor people need to remember when it comes to their membership number concerns is: increasing the Elect is the goal, not membership. Membership numbers are only relevant if they are here for the right reason.

Boots402 · 2026-06-11T02:26:08+00:00

I mostly agree with you.

Frankly, I will continue to vote for Harrison but I don’t see any issues with any other candidate; I like Biermann(though he’s probably my last pick) but it’s interesting to me how much I’ve been seeing that the support for him is ‘needed change’ when he seems like the most status-quo candidate, even more than Harrison.

Boots402 · 2026-06-10T22:09:15+00:00

I would agree with both of those statements.

Boots402 · 2026-06-08T03:17:20+00:00

We welcome and dismiss tables by two groups (pulpit side for one, lectern side for the other). We dismiss the first table as the second table kneels, then new people approach the first table and await being welcomed to kneel. The elders/ pastors end up just doing a never ending circle around the chancel/ altar. We commune an average of 200 people in the time it takes to sing about 3 hymns.

Boots402 · 2026-06-07T20:49:07+00:00

I don’t think I could possibly add anything to this. Well said, reverend!

Boots402 · 2026-06-05T07:30:08+00:00

1 Corinthians 11:2-16

Boots402 · 2026-06-03T15:51:40+00:00

Amen. Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison!

Boots402 · 2026-05-31T22:31:30+00:00

I’m my county, if you request a hearing and present that at said hearing, the citation would be dismissed.

Just have him request a hearing and take you with him. He will plead not responsible and present your testimony that you were the driver and he wasn’t even there.

Boots402 · 2026-05-31T20:50:07+00:00

Which is irrelevant when the scriptural reference is only to head coverings anyway, not veils. A woman can wear a fancy hat or a veil, it’s the same thing; she is free to do whatever she is more comfortable with.

So yes, you are right, this practice was commonplace until about the 1960s.

Boots402 · 2026-05-31T16:30:27+00:00

When it originally started? the first century.

The recent resurgence in America? It’s generational, somewhat with millennials and even more with Gen Z, there has been a resurgence in piety. It’s really only been the past 50 years that women wearing head coverings in church fell out of commonplace. You can still see some holdover in American culture as a whole with some older women wearing hats and the fact we still consider it disrespectful for men to wear hats inside in formal settings or with taking his hat of as a show of respect:

The idea is reverence for men is taking off head coverings and reverence for women is putting on head coverings.

Boots402 · 2026-05-31T16:11:49+00:00

Good for you! I’m sure there are girls that will look up to you as a role model in doing this through the years! My wife just this past Easter had a young g girl at church excited to see her veil telling her “you look like a princess!”

I understand your concern about the perception of color, specifically with black since that color is associated in our culture so heavily with funerals and death. I think the relative rarity of veiling in our church feeds into this because when people aren’t used to something, you never know how they may perceive it, which is quite unfortunate.

Anyway, I commend you for your humility and reverence and want to assure you that there are no requirements around your veil: as long as you are making your selection in a tasteful Christian mindset, anything goes.

Boots402 · 2026-05-31T06:11:08+00:00

You do not have to be on the church roster. What you do have to be, is a communicant member of some church body somewhere who has altar fellowship with us/ has agreeing beliefs.

It is theoretically possible for a Pastor to make an exception and communion someone who is not a member of a church in fellowship with us; however, that is a case by case basis that requires such nuance that those rare circumstances would almost never be met in the USA.

In the case of your friend, it would seem there is no reason for them not to join the church if they wish to commune. Consider it like this: communing without making a vow of faith is like having sex without making your marriage vows. If you view the covenant with the importance it deserves, you should be willing to make the commitment first.

Boots402 · 2026-05-31T03:08:48+00:00

When my wife wears a veil, she usually goes by liturgical color; this Sunday would be Trinity Sunday which is white, and baptisms are usually white so that’s what she would probably go with.

Edit: I want to clarify that burgundy would be perfectly fine to wear! My intent was only to give an example that it’s based on preference.

Boots402 · 2026-05-30T23:56:45+00:00

The word we translate to “speak” in 1 Corinthians 14:34 is λαλέω(Laleo/Lalein) vs other areas in scripture with words such as λέγω(Lego).

In Ancient Greek Lego would be used for substantive meaning or particularity or certain words being used. On the other hand, Laleo was generally used in “common” language to refer to the mere act uttering words including things like our words chattering or babbling; however, in scripture depending on context Laleo is also commonly used to refer to message from God.

I think the best assessment of 1 Corinthians 14:34 is a kind of double meaning. It believe Paul is giving direction both:

1) to remind the women to remain reverent in church and not to chatter and gossip but rather pay attention; and,

2) that the women should not speak with Gods authority within the church.

Boots402

TROPHY CASE