The Lutheran Review

One Month Reflection: This Blogger's Words

About a month ago, I started this blog.  This is or was not my first blog.  I have been involved with blogging since March 2005.  I have been a personal blogger, contributing blogger, and I have helped with editing and giveaways on blogs.  I have made "blogging friends" throughout the country. 

When I decided to tackle the "Lutheran" issues, I wanted to take my passion for all things Lutheran and start a blog that would highlight Lutheran finds on the Internet. 

I come from a Lutheran family (LC-MS).  My father, brother, and a first cousin are LC-MS pastors.  I am a deaconess graduate of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.  Since graduating in 2005, I have been a stay at home mom mostly with a few part-time stints as a guest lecturer at Concordia Seminary and a distance education assistant for a now defunct Ablaze! program called the the Ablaze! Connection. 

The Lutheran Review began when my life was at a crossroads.  I would like to find a Call, but I love being a stay at home mom. 

My goal with The Lutheran Review is to review finds that are labeled Lutheran with a few personal interest twists.  There is an internal struggle going on within the LC-MS.  I read both sides on a frequent basis, and this blog is my attempt to look at the big picture. 

I do not label myself or my blog so called "Confessional", "Pentecostal",  or anything of the like.  I am a student of the LC-MS, and I have a great appreciation for my upbringing in the Lutheran Church.

With that in my mind, I approached my father, a retired pastor, to help with my blog by writing  devotions; that turned into daily devotions.  What a gift that I get to work on a project with my father.  I know in the years to come these devotions will be treasured by my family and friends.   

What are the future goals for this blog? Devotions by my father and others, giveaways, more finds, more blogger features, and a continue review of all things labeled Lutheran.      

This Blogger's Words: Concordian Sisters of Perpetual Parturition

Blogging attracts writers and thinkers from all aspects of life.  When those writers are mothers well-versed in theology, life and humor, what you get is the blog, Concordian Sisters of Perpetual Parturition. 

Why start a blog? One of the founders answered, "We're just a set of domestically disoriented refugees of the higher education system who felt lonely in our living rooms surrounded by ever-increasing numbers of kids."

"We like hearing ourselves and each other talk, and thought others in the same boat might be interested in puzzling over it along with us."   Hopefully, the Concordian Sisters will continue to enjoy hearing themselves talk, because they are enjoyable to hear. 

View: Concordian Sisters of Perpetual Parturition

This Blogger's Words: I Can Dig It

No two blogs are alike and Deaconess Kelly's I Can Dig It blog celebrates many of the blessings she enjoys in her everyday life.

Dcs. Kelly shares her love for Scripture, hymns, and theology alongside her joy for great food, travel, and games.   

As to why Dcs. Kelly started this type of blog, she says this, "My blog was actually inspired by my boyfriend who has a similar type blog.  I thought it was such a cool idea to have a place to share about the things I like and have that reminder to myself and others of all the blessings God gives us!"

I Can Dig It, is a wonderful reminder to be thankful for the little things and that joy is all around us.

"This blog for me has been such a celebration of the blessings God gives.  I am always thinking of things to add, and with each post, comes gratitude for something God has provided from His Words in the Scriptures, to the incredible people God has placed in my life, to delicious food and drink, to the various forms of entertainment that exist etc.. All of us from time to time don't appreciate what we have.  All of us from time to time take things for granted or are not content.  This blog reminds me continually of the amazing things God blesses us with.  And I hope for those who stumble across it, it reminds them there is much to be thankful for and points them to God's goodness and love.  And perhaps people reading my blog learn about something new (to them)  that they might come to enjoy."

View: I Can Dig It

This Blogger's Words: Steadfast Lutherans

This week's featured blog/website is The Brothers of John the Steadfast.   The mission of the website is as follows:

"The Brothers of John the Steadfast, brings together Lutheran laymen to defend and promote the orthodox Christian faith which is taught in the Lutheran Confessions, provide financial support for Christian new media (e.g. Issues, Etc.), and to support other endeavors selected by its membership that defend and promote the cause of confessional Lutheranism." (website excerpt)

The organization's website features regular columns and quarterly journals, reading groups and chapters throughout the country, and individual members.  When asked why this group was started Pastor Rossow stated, "A few years ago I talked to Pastor Wilken about starting a men's group to support Issues Etc. We both thought it was a good idea but then we never did anything about it.  With the cancellation of the show I determined it was time to launch the organization."

The Brothers of John the Steadfast is a fairly new website, and Pastor Rossow shared what he enjoys so far, "The thing I appreciate most about the website is reading all the great comments by the laity and seeing them grow in their knowledge of scripture and the confessions thanks to our 4 bloggers and 25 columnists."

View: Steadfast Lutherans

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This Blogger's Words: Respublica

The Respublica blog, written by Diane Meyer, just celebrated its 4 year blogversary this week.  Diane reflected on her blog's origin. 

"It was the summer before the 2004 presidential election and I had gotten interested in many of the political bloggers, especially those who were invited to attend the two presidential conventions.  The 2004 convention year was the first time bloggers were given journalistic access to the convention ( by invitation) and I thought the insight they brought was so much more interesting than the normal television news reports."

"So I decided to create a blog with a more local point of view, Collinsville, Metro East, St. Louis, Illinois, Missouri, etc. even though I couldn't, and still can't, resist some national posts.  The first day I set up an account with Blogger, but was only a couple of hours into it when I realized I did not care for that format.  I looked at several blog companies and settled on Typepad.  That first day I had no idea about the future of the blog, it took several hours to come up with a name, design, sidebar items and all the rest."   

"It took me only a couple of days before I knew I loved blogging.  I learned as I went along on how to use 'feeds' and Google to attract readers.  Little by little I branched out my categories, adding subjects I was interested in like food, the seminary, pets, sports, etc.  Each of those categories seems to bring a different set of visitors to the site."

Diane, seamlessly connects and shows her passion for politics, the Lutheran church, food, and more in her blog. While keeping her tone friendly and lighthearted, Diane shares important and interesting news around the country, with a special focus on the Metro-East area. 

"What I enjoy the most is how much I have learned by having a blog.  I've only missed posting one or two days during the four years and those two days were due to the death of my father.  Posting means doing a lot of reading in newspapers, on other blogs, going to meetings, attending events, and with each of those things I've filled up on an almost ridiculous amount of facts, opinion, and understanding.  And just as good, I've been able to meet and talk to so many people who read the blog, people I probably would never have come across otherwise."

View: Respublica

This Blogger's Words : Weedon's Blog

The Lutheran Review is beginning a new periodic series titled, "This Blogger's Words".   A featured blogger will share some thoughts on blogging (why they started, what they enjoy about blogging, etc.). 

Our first featured blogger is Pastor William Weedon from St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hamel, IL. 

"I started blogging at the encouragement of my friend, Dr. Erich Heidenreich.  He had a blog (with two others) that I commented on from time to time.  When I started mine, he gave me some publicity on Beggars All and I've pretty much been blogging ever since."

"What I enjoy most is hard to say:  I certainly feel the need to write and write often.  And I don't restrict myself to what I write on - sometimes doctrine, sometimes liturgy, sometimes family, sometimes events of the day in the parish.  I don't try to polish my writing for the blog (no smart comments!); I just put it out there.  And right along with the need to write, has been the unexpected joy of meeting friends - the many folks I've come to know through their commenting on the blog."  '

Pastor Weedon mixes daily Patristic Quotes and Old Lutheran Quotes, with sermons, glimpses of his family life and his love for being "green". 

View: Weedon's Blog