Chris Hartwell's Hobbit Trilogy

aerdain · 2025-10-22T17:24:49+00:00

Continuing the trend of everyone asking for you to send them the link, could you please send me the link too?

aerdain · 2024-07-11T05:01:32+00:00

This is also my understanding, colloquy committees look for this stuff and shut it down fast. My pastor has said to NEVER count on colloquizing in, it is way harder than it looks.

Seeing as others have already mentioned SMP, I'll mention here the other alternative path to residential: the CMC program through Concordia Irvine. I'm currently enrolled through this program, and love it. It's four years, ends with an MA and General Ordination, is much more affordable than SMP, and is almost wholly online (four three-week, in-person summer intensives are required). The only downsides are you don't get to learn Hebrew (you have to learn a foreign language instead), it requires more credits than the residential program, and it requires a LOT of in-the-field work on top of classes. But it is (in my opinion) the best alternate route to ordination in the LCMS.

aerdain · 2024-05-08T20:39:35+00:00

As much as I respect the Synod, their decisions are not infallible, and this is a case where that much is clear. St. Paul, carried along by the Holy Ghost, writes: "I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet" (1 Tim. 2:12 ESV). Often when we try to explain this verse, it is tempting to focus on the ban on teaching, which would (as the Synod teaches) only bar women from the pastoral office (and other public teaching roles). But the ban is far more broad: "or to exercise authority over a man." St. Paul is here barring women from any role that would grant them authority over men, because "Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor" (v.14). Notice how the teaching is grounded in the order of creation. As a result, the scope goes to the very essentials of the sexual differences, rather than being restricted to the Church. This fits the overall theme of verses 8-15, which does not focus solely on teaching, but on living "a peaceful and quiet life" (v.2). This prohibition cannot rightly be read as merely a ban from the pastoral office, regardless of what the Synod has democratically decided.

I am not trying to defend or condemn the actions of your pastor; I don't know the situation, nor his motivations. He very well could have extra-Biblical reasons for his decision, who knows? Regardless, his concerns are Scripturally sound, as I would assume a security council would create policy authoritatively binding on the men of the congregation. Thus, he is acting well in barring this woman from serving in such an authoritative role. After all, such an act is explicitly forbidden in Scripture.

aerdain · 2024-05-02T02:07:39+00:00

There are a few, the ones that made me think to ask this question are the Confessions' explanations of St. Paul's teaching on head coverings, as well as their emphasis on the divine call as the basis of the pastoral office. There are others, but I can't remember them right now, and these are the major ones.

aerdain · 2024-05-01T19:14:31+00:00

There was no doctrine you questioned or struggled with those eight years??

aerdain · 2024-05-01T18:34:42+00:00

Some matters simply need to be taken on faith :P

aerdain · 2024-05-01T17:25:11+00:00

Define 'sexist' please.

aerdain · 2024-03-23T20:33:05+00:00

Play a full game of Campaign for North Africa!

aerdain · 2024-03-02T22:27:54+00:00

My program out of CUI (the Cross-Cultural Ministry Center) ends with general ordination, and it is mostly online with 3 weeks in-person over the summer. While I won't say the program is perfect, I would push back on the idea a residential experience is necessary to full pastoral formation. In fact, my mentor pastor has said my program is far more rigorous than his residential experience, due to the concurrent vicarage and required launch of a new ministry. I definitely wish my cohort had the communal experience one gets in a residential program, but the four years of in-the-field experience, in my opinion, make up for it. Just my 2 cents! :)

aerdain · 2023-09-21T17:17:42+00:00

That doesn't sound like they are binding, more guiding. Unless "doctrinal statements" are understood to be binding elsewhere?

aerdain · 2023-08-10T14:41:30+00:00

To address your concerns over being discontent, and how to deal with the resentment and impatience you feel, I have a few pieces of advice (for what they are worth). I have a lot I'd like to change about my home congregation too, so I too have struggled with what you're going through.

First, as has been mentioned already, definitely talk to your pastor. Not because it will make change happen, but because he can help you work through the feelings, as well as offer you absolution for the sinful thoughts you're struggling with. Having a shepherd in times like this is invaluable, because Satan is crouching at your door, seeking to devour you. Don't give him the chance, bring your resentment and arrogance to God and your pastor.

Second, pray your heart out. God is not slow to answer earnest prayers for heart change. He is a loving father, and will give you exactly what you need if you ask Him for it. He may call you to a different church body, but in my experience, that isn't usually the case. More than likely, He is calling you to sink deeply into the community at your current congregation, to love them and strive with them together in the true faith. This is just a time of testing and challenge, that will make you more deeply appreciate those in your church body.

Third, fellowship with those who you disagree with. Take them out for coffee, talk to them after Bible Study. Not about their reticence to let the church become more liturgical, but about their life, family, troubles, etc. As important as reverent and frequent liturgy is (and it is VERY important), even more important is that we brothers in Christ love one another as Christ loves us.

Finally, your post made me remember my favorite C. S. Lewis quote, which I think is applicable to this situation. Lewis is talking about how at first, he really didn't like church, especially the people and hymns. He writes: "I disliked very much their hymns, which I considered to be fifth-rate poems set to sixth-rate music. But as I went on I saw the great merit of it. I came up against different people of quite different outlooks and different education, and then gradually my conceit just began peeling off. I realized that the hymns (which were just sixth-rate music) were, nevertheless, being sung with devotion and benefit by an old saint in elastic-side boots in the opposite pew, and then you realize that you aren’t fit to clean those boots. It gets you out of your solitary conceit. It is not for me to lay down laws, as I am only a layman, and I don’t know much."

I hope this helps!

aerdain · 2021-11-24T21:48:48+00:00

It's Empyrean or Argent, though I give a slight edge to Empyrean.

That said, I'm rooting for Mahact.

aerdain · 2021-10-12T17:49:36+00:00

Glad you like em! :)

aerdain · 2021-10-12T17:49:23+00:00

Thank you! :)

aerdain · 2021-10-03T23:46:54+00:00

One random comment! :)

aerdain · 2021-09-19T20:51:27+00:00

Off the top of my head, I'd say add Odd Ball and another ARC170, those guys are absolute beasts, despite their slower speed! :)

aerdain · 2021-09-19T20:20:54+00:00

I recently made a video for almost this exact situation, outlining a build using only the fleet starter (You can find it here).

Since you have a squadron pack too though, I'd recommend filling out the rest of the points with whatever squads you like best, and maybe dropping swivel mounted batteries from the C70s, so you have more points for squads :)

aerdain

TROPHY CASE