Music

"The vibrations on the air are the breath of God speaking to man's soul. Music is the language of God. We musicians are as close to God as man can be. We hear his voice, we read his lips, we give birth to the children of God, who sing his praise. That's what musicians are." --Ludwig van Beethoven

"Without music, life would be an error." --Friedrich Nietzsche

"I have no pleasure in any man who despises music. It is no invention of ours: it is a gift of God. I place it next to theology. Satan hates music: he knows how it drives the evil spirit out of us." --Martin Luther



"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them." (Acts 16:25)

"So that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name." (Romans 15:9)

"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to him, all you peoples." (Romans 15:11)

"So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind." (1 Corinthians 14:15)

"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise." (James 5:13)

"Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: 'I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. [...] The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.'" (Exodus 15:1-2)

"Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I will sing to the LORD, I will sing; I will make music to the LORD, the God of Israel." (Judges 5:3)

"Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to your name." (2 Samuel 22:50)

"They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem. [...]" (1 Chronicles 6:32)

"David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers to sing joyful songs, accompanied by musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals." (1 Chronicles 15:16)

"Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts." (1 Chronicles 16:9)

"Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day." (1 Chronicles 16:23)

"After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: 'Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever.'" (2 Chronicles 20:21)

"Men cry out under a load of oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful. But no one says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night?'" (Job 35:9-10)

"Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land." (Song of Solomon 2:12)

"Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." (Isaiah 12:2)

"Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back. For the grave cannot praise you, death cannot sing your praise; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness. The living, the living—they praise you, as I am doing today; fathers tell their children about your faithfulness. The LORD will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the LORD." (Isaiah 38:17-21)

"Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, he displays his glory in Israel." (Isaiah 44:23)

"But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you." (Psalm 5:11)

"Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD." (Psalm 27:6)

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." (Psalm 28:7)

"Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name." (Psalm 30:4)

"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." (Psalm 32:7)

"[The LORD] put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD." (Psalm 40:3)

"By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life." (Psalm 42:8)

"Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises." (Psalm 47:6)

"For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise." (Psalm 47:7)

"But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God." (Psalm 59:16-17)

"Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings" (Psalm 63:7)

"Those living far away fear your wonders; where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy." (Psalm 65:8)

"The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing." (Psalm 65:13)

"I remembered my songs in the night" (Psalm 77:6)

"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." (Psalm 90:14)

"Let the rivers clap their hands, Let the mountains sing together for joy." (Psalm 98:8)

"The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." (Psalm 118:14)

"Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge." (Psalm 119:54)

"Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy." (Psalm 126:5)

"Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds." (Psalm 149:5)

Another Issues, Etc. Petition

Last spring, the Missouri Synod fired Jeff Schwartz and Rev. Todd Wilken and ended the well-followed radio show Issues, Etc all without explanation.  Now the LC-MS seems to be again getting its hands dirty and threatening Mr. Schwartz and Rev. Todd Wilken, despite already having kicked the show off KFUO airwaves and out of the synod.  Please sign this petition for Synod leave them alone and discontinue illegitimate pressure over the Issues, Etc. trademark.

The petition is at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/trademark/

It reads as follows:
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _


To President Gerald Kieschnick and the Board of Directors of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod:

The mistreatment of Pastor Todd Wilken and Mr. Jeff Schwarz at the hands of the LCMS is an untenable and un-Christian situation which this petition seeks to address.

Regarding the matter of the pending trademark application for the Issues, Etc. name:

- The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod allowed the trademark of the Lutheran talk radio program Issues, Etc. to lapse in 1999. After the cancellation of Issues, Etc. by the Synod in March of 2008, the Synod's Board for Communication Services recommended that ownership of the Issues, Etc. name be transferred to Host Todd Wilken and Producer Jeff Schwarz. The Director of the Board stated that he had no future plans to use the Issues, Etc. name, and hoped that the show would "continue to be heard through other communication channels." As requested, Pastor Wilken submitted a formal letter to the Synod requesting that they transfer the trademark, though the trademark had lapsed. After being informed by Pastor Wilken and Mr. Schwarz that they planned to resume the show using the Issues, Etc. name, and that a trademark application for that name had been filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by Mr. Harry Madsen, a supporter of the show, the Synod voiced no opposition to their plan.

- The Synod has now inexplicably reversed its position and filed a letter opposing the trademark application, and has indirectly threatened Pastor Wilken and Mr. Schwarz via LCMS lawyers with a personal lawsuit, statements to the contrary notwithstanding.

While Pastor Wilken and Mr. Schwarz have always discussed matters that in any way reflect on the Synod in an exemplary, measured, and Christian fashion, both before and after the cancellation of the show, the same cannot be said of the behavior of the Synod. The threat of a lawsuit initiated by the LCMS against fellow Christians, whether by the leaders themselves or attorneys hired by the LCMS, is a shameful act, and is in fact a sin, as taught by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:1-8. This action causes the Synod to appear vindictive, dishonors our Lord, and hinders the ministry being carried out by the Issues, Etc. team.

Therefore, we, the undersigned, respectfully request that the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod immediately drop its opposition to the trademark application for the Issues, Etc. name, cease all consideration of bringing a personal lawsuit against Pastor Wilken and Mr. Schwarz, and offer to them the Synod's blessing on their endeavors.