Extreme Theology

Pirate Christian Radio is Sailing Circles Around KFUO AM

Maybe the reason why Jerry Kieschnick is threatening to sue Todd Wilken and Jeff Schwarz is because Pirate Christian Radio's broadside against KFUO AM has left the LCMS's radio station dead in the water and Ablaze™.

According to Quantcast, Pirate Christian Radio's internet traffic in the U.S. is substantially higher than KFUO AM's. In fact, since PCR's launch on June 30, 2008 KFUO AM has never had a day where their web traffic has exceeded that of Pirate Christian Radio's. The graphic below from Quantcast tells the story.

Furthermore: Pirate Christian Radio broadcasts on the Live 365 radio network. PCR competes with 288 other talk radio stations in the Live 365 network. Live 365 ranks all of its stations on a daily basis and just two weeks after Pirate Christian Radio launched it broke into the top ten and has never left. Click Here to See Today's Live 365 Radio Network Rankings.

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Kieschnick Threatening Lawsuit Agaist Todd Wilken and Jeff Schwarz

Sorry for the inside the LCMS baseball post. However, this information needs to get out.

Last march the LCMS cancelled the Issues, Etc. radio program. It created a huge brouhaha and ultimately the Issues, Etc. radio program was resurrected and their audience is larger and stronger than ever.

Apparently, this isn't sitting well with LCMS President Gerry Kieschnick who is now threatening a lawsuit against Todd Wilken and Jeff Schwarz over the Issues, Etc. trademark (a trademark that the LCMS abandoned in 1999 and a trademark that the LCMS has no intention of ever utilizing again)

What is the real reason why Kieschnick wants to sue Todd and Jeff? He wants to silence them.

Time for Faithful Pastors to Go On the Attack!

They say the best defense is a good offense. After listening to Julia Duin regarding how people are quitting church in droves because it's been dumbed down (thank you very much Purpose-Driven Movement and Seeker-Sensitive Movement).

As an entrepreneur I always see bad news as opportunities. This is not any different. This is the time for faithful Bible preachers to reach out to those who are quitting church and offer them something they haven't been able to get... A good Biblical Meal. Here is a simple post card marketing idea that I think will help get the message out.

When the World Has More Discernment Than the Church

How is it that pagans have more 'spiritual discernment' than millions of 'professing christians'?

Time for More Cost Cutting Measures at KFUO AM!

Since the Missouri Synod claims that Issues, Etc. was cut for "financial reasons" AND Issues, Etc. is now 100% independently funded, I think it is time for the next round of cost cutting measures for KFUO AM.

KFUO AM needs to cancel The Afternoon Show and fire Diane Summers and the Rev. Steve Siegel and put Issues, Etc. back on the air in its normal time slot.

This would save KFUO AM at least $150,000 per year in employee overhead (and probably even more in production costs). Issues, Etc. may even be willing to pay a 'nominal fee' for the air time at KFUO AM. That being the case, KFUO AM could be making a profit during the afternoon time slot rather than losing money.

As I see it, canceling The Afternoon Show is the ONLY financially responsible thing for KFUO AM to do.

The Debut of the NEW Issues, Etc.

Today is the day! It feels like Christmas!

The New Issues, Etc. Debuts at 3:05PM CST.

Pirate Christian Radio is having a special "Pre-Game Show" an hour before the debut.

Thank You to Rick Warren and Saddleback

Yesterday I had the opportunity to meet with Rick Warren. This meeting was made possible by the generosity of Rick Warren and Saddleback Church. I want to personally thank Rick Warren for the invitation and his generosity with his time and resources. He was truly a gracious host.

Many of the readers of this blog would like details regarding the meeting. Here is what I would like to say on the matter...the meeting with Rick Warren lasted for a little over an hour and was a face to face with myself and Bob DeWaay of Critical Issues Commentary. The tone of the meeting was wonderful. Warren was genuinely interested in getting to know us and he was receptive in hearing both Bob's and I's concerns and critiques of his doctrine and practices. Never once did the conversation turn hostile or angry and Warren was more than willing to answer and address our toughest questions and most serious concerns. Both Bob and myself focused our comments on the Gospel and were encouraged by Warren's receptiveness to both listen to and interact with our concerns.

Neither Bob nor myself were required to sign a non-disclosure and we are being provided with a recording of the conversation. However, I have NO intention of making that recording available to the public because I do not believe that to be appropriate nor would it be in keeping with the spirit of the meeting or the love of Christ.

Over the next week or so, I will be writing a Biblical critique of some of the content of the Purpose-Driven conference. The purpose of this critique is to continue a Biblically grounded dialogue so that we all may wrestle with and engage the Word of God in order that errors within the Body of Christ may be corrected and the good news that Jesus Christ was crucified for our sins may be proclaimed so that we all may be called to a life of repentance AND the forgiveness of sins (Luke 24:44-47).

Grace and Peace to you all in Jesus Christ,

Chris Rosebrough

Changing the LCMS

Aside from a theological degree I also hold a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University. The emphasis of my graduate degree was Change Management. As someone who has experience and expertise on this subject I am going on the record by saying that I am 99.9% convinced that LCMS President Gerry Kieschnick is engaged in a full scale, strategic campaign to radically overhaul and change the LCMS.

I've taken the time to read through his actions, writings, statements and the suggestions of his Blue Ribbon Task Force and am convinced, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he is following a well scripted, well planned Change Initiative, the goal of which is to insure that the LCMS becomes and will forever remain a purpose-driven / church-growth denomination.

Not only am I convinced that is what President Kieschnick is doing, I can also show you what stage we are at in the process and what to expect next.

Are you ready for this?

Here it goes...

The Change Management process that Kieschnick and the consultants that are advising him are using is straight out of John Kotter's book "Leading Change". This book is considered to be the BIBLE for change management and in my professional opinion, Kieschnick and his consultants are following Kotter's approach STRAIGHT DOWN THE LINE.

Below I've reproduced a scan from page 21 of Kotter's book. This page contains the entire outline of the change process.

I've put a red dot next to the step that the LCMS is currently on.

That means that the VERY NEXT THING that Kieschnick is going to do is attempt to completely change the structure of the LCMS in order to consolidate power and eliminate those structures that would undermine his change agenda.

That means we should expect to see a formal proposal for a complete overhaul of the top structures of the LCMS along with plans to grant sweeping and unprecedented powers to President Kieschnick. The rationale that will be given for making these sweeping changes will more than likely be a financial crisis. The case will be presented by saying something like...

"We are experiencing a financial crisis in the LCMS that has become so acute that we've been forced to recall missionaries from the field. But as we examined the underlying causes of these financial short-falls we've discovered that the current structure of the LCMS has significantly contributed to the financial problems that we are currently facing. Therefore, we have come to a cross roads and must make a decision. We can either continue with the status quo which got us into the current crisis or we can take bold action that will insure the on-going success of our synod through the 21st century and on into the future. Therefore, I (president Kieschnick) am proposing sweeping changes in the business structures of the synod. These changes will insure that we don't experience the financial shortfalls that we've been experiencing for the past few years and will also make us a more agile and responsive synod so that we can more effectively adapt to the ever changing culture that we seek to reach with the message of Jesus Christ."

The changes that will be proposed will more than likely involve granting more unilateral decision making powers to the president (especially as it pertains to key executive positions within the synod), the creation of a new bureaucracy that is directly accountable to the President and one that cannot be influenced by district presidents, a complete overhaul of the money distribution process, and a complete overhaul of how convention delegates are determined so that Kieschnick's political rivals have absolutely NO CHANCE of regaining power and undoing these changes.

Those who oppose the changes will be branded as divisive and Un-Chrisitan while those who support it will never actually be told what power and accountability structures they will be surrendering up in order to remedy the crisis. These changes, if ratified, will in effect create a Synodical Dictator and/or a Lutheran Pope.

If President Kieschnick's proposed structural changes are adopted THEN there will be NO WAY to stop his change agenda. The future of the LCMS depends upon successfully preventing Kieschnick from changing the power structures of the LCMS. If that is not accomplished then confessional Lutherans will have lost the LCMS forever.

Financial Scandal Brewing in the LCMS?

HOLY COW!

Yesterday President Kieschnick wrote a letter to the editor of the Wall Street Journal and justified the cancelation of Issues Etc. by claiming that the show lost $250,000 per year.

But the Save the LCMS website has just uncovered documents that are potentially explosive.

It turns out, that what Kieashnick wasn't telling anyone was that his administration had been borrowing MILLIONS of dollars from other ministry budgets to pay for their own operating expenses and to offset the MILLIONS they were losing on the Fan Into Flame initiative.

What is going on in St. Louis??

It is time for an accounting here.

Ya'll need to read these two stories:

Kieschnick Paid for Ablaze by Borrowing MILLIONS from Other Ministry Budgets

Finances Etc.

Evolve 08 - Reporting from the Conference

On Sunday I travelled to Cumming, Georgia to attend the Evolve 08 Conference hosted by ChurchPlanters.com.

The purpose for my trip was to research this movement and open up dialogue.

Evolve 08 is the conference to be at if you are one of the new generation of church pastors and leaders. Those in attendance reads like a who’s who of the top names and ‘rock stars’ of this movement; Dave Anderson, Gary Lamb, Mark Batterson, Darrin Patrick, Gabe Lyons, Chris Elrod and Steven Furtick.

The conference itself is not a business only affair. Before each keynote address key leaders face each other in a Guitar Hero single elimination challenge.

What I’ve learned at this conference about this new generation of pastors is information that I would have never come across while reading their blogs, listening to their sermons or reading their church’s doctrinal statements. The information that I stumbled upon could only be found by sitting down and having a face to face conversation or sharing a meal.

I had hoped to be able to blog report on the conference in real time. But, after finishing day one of the conference and while preparing for day two I realized for the first time that I actually ‘get’ what this movement is about and understand why they are doing what they are doing. This does not mean that I am in agreement with them, but this new piece if information has already had such a profound impact on what I think about this movement that I want to take a few days to process it and bounce it off of a few colleagues before I begin writing about it.

You can view photos from the event that I have been taking by clicking here.