March Feasts and Commemorations
Here follow the upcoming commemorations and feast days that I hope to post. For those wanting to look ahead, I provide a dated list of the March sanctorial calendar. Most of these are observed by The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. Each is linked to last year's post. Perhaps due in part to March always being part of Lent and, occasionally, Eastertide, this month has fewer commemorations than do most.

  1 Dewi of Mynyw

  7 Perpetua and Felicitas

  17 Pádraig of Ireland

  19 Saint Joseph, Guardian of Our Lord

  25 The Annunciation of Our Lord

  31 Joseph

Technorati Tags: Church Year | liturgical calendar | sanctorial calendar | Christianity | Christian | Lutheran | Lutheranism | March | Christian feasts | festivals | saints' days | biography | hagiography | commemoration | theology | historical theology | history | Church history | Christian history | Bible history | biblical history | Aardvark Alley  ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments |

  + Matthias, Apostle + 24 February, New Testament

After the Ascension of Our Lord, Jesus' followers at Jerusalem chose Matthias to replace Judas: "And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:26)" Apart from the information given in the first chapter of Acts (vv. 12-26), we know nothing about him.

One extra-biblical account says that Saint Matthias was slain by cannibals in Ethiopia; another traditions claims that he was stoned and then beheaded by Jews in Jerusalem. This account lends itself to his customary symbol in religious art: The sword from his beheading is superimposed over a book or scroll representing Holy Scripture.

Lection

Psalm 134
Isaiah 66:1-2
Acts 1:15-26
Matthew 11:25-30

Collect

Lord God, heavenly King, whose chose apostles have witnessed to us regarding Your resurrection, grant that Your Church, ever preserved from false teachers, may praise Your wonderful works and walk in the power of Your resurrection; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Technorati Tags: Saint Matthias | St. Matthias | Apostle Matthias | Matthias | Judas | apostle | martyr | martyrdom | Church Year | liturgical calendar | Christian | Lutheran | commemorations | biography | hagiography | historical theology | Church history | Aardvark Alley  ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments |

  Worth a Read (or Several)
I just discovered Staring at the View, an almost three year old blog written by a Christian who last year became Lutheran. Much of it explores various aspects of Islam and is rich with contrasts of forgiveness and hope rather than jihad and despair.

I'm debating whether to include Staring at the View on the blogroll — in either category — and welcome your comments on that. However this plays out, I'm certain that I'll continue to drop by and enjoy the View on a regular basis. Consider A Family United. This recent post, written by a Lutheran, shows how a Mormon lawyer initiated a Muslim family's pilgrimage toward Christianity ... interesting, to say the least.

Technorati Tags: Aardvark Alley | Big Blogroll O' Vark®™© | BBOV | blogroll | blog roll | Lutheran | confessional Lutheran  ¶ 19:25 | 1 comments |

  + Polycarp of Smyrna, Bishop and Martyr + 23 February AD 156

Born around AD 69, Saint Polycarp was a central figure in the early church. Said to be disciple of the holy evangelist and apostle Saint John, he provides a link between the first generation of believers and later Christians, including Saint Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, who later wrote of him. Saint Ignatius of Antioch also knew and wrote to him. His home town of Smryna (modern Izmir, Turkey) was one of the seven churches addressed in Revelation (see 2:8-11 for the details).

After serving for many years as bishop of Smyrna, Polycarp was caught up in a local persecution of Christians. While willing to be martyred, others encouraged him to flee. However, he was later arrested, tried, and executed for his faith on 23 February c. AD 156. An eyewitness narrative of his death, The Martyrdom of Polycarp, continues to encourage believers in times of persecution.

According to the ancient records, he was tried solely on the charge of being a Christian. When the proconsul urged him to save his life by cursing Christ, he replied: "Eighty-six years I have served Him, and He never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?" According the the customary reckoning of his birth and death, this means that he must have been baptized as an infant, raised as a Christian, and lived his entire life as in the Faith. His fidelity follows the encouragement given by the Lord to the church in Smyrna in Revelation 2:10, "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. (ESV)"

The following prayer is recorded as his immediately prior to the fire being kindled for his martyrdom: Lord God Almighty, Father of Your blessed and beloved Son Jesus Christ, through whom we have received knowledge of You, God of angels and hosts and all creation, and of the whole race of the upright who live in Your presence: I bless You that You have thought me worthy of this day and hour, to be numbered among the martyrs and share in the cup of Christ, for resurrection to eternal life, for soul and body in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit. Among them may I be accepted before You today, as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, just as You, the faithful and true God, have prepared and foreshown and brought about. For this reason and for all things I praise You, I bless You, I glorify You, through the eternal heavenly high priest Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son, through whom be glory to You, with Him and the Holy Spirit, now and for the ages to come. Amen.

Collect

O God, the maker of heaven and earth, who gave to Your venerable servant, the holy and gentle Polycarp, boldness to confess Jesus Christ as King and Savior, and steadfastness to die for the Faith, give us grace, following his example, to share the cup of Christ and rise to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Technorati Tags: Polycarp | Saint Polycarp | St. Polycarp | Polycarp of Smyrna | Saint Polycarp of Smyrna | St. Polycarp of Smyrna | Smyrna | martyr | martyrdom | Saint John | Saint Irenaeus | Irenaeus of Lyons | Saint Ignatius | Ignatius of Antioch | Church Year | liturgical calendar | Christian | Lutheran | commemorations | biography | hagiography | historical theology | Church history | Aardvark Alley  ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments |

  The BBOV Rolls On The Big Blogroll O' Vark®™©

After one huge update and two follow-ups, we have two more confessional Lutheran blogs for your dining and dancing pleasure.

First, welcome to Liturgy, Hymnody, and Pulpit Quarterly. As the name suggests, others screen your possibilities and share their discoveries. They also have a Facebook page for you to check out.

We also celebrate adding Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming. Along with announcements and the like, you can read Pastor Paul Cain's sermons and follow links to the audio.

If you're not sure what to make of the BBOV or wonder about the benefits of being listed and of listing others' blogs, please read the first three links under Aurous Effluence in the sidebar. Those who'd like the Big Blogroll O' Vark®™© can either email me or copy the list from the Alley's source code (click View | Page Source or Control+U in Firefox or View | Source in Internet Explorer).

For all those enrolled in the BBOV, links back are certainly appreciated. And don't forget that all of those listed benefit when you use the entire blogroll. Also, if you'd like to graphically point to the Alley and the Big Blogroll O' Vark®™©, you may use the above design from St. Charles the Illuminous or one of these blog buttons:

• 


• 

Each of these buttons measures 80x15 pixels. Should you choose to use one, please link back to either the main Aardvark Alley URL or else to the post What Is the BBOV.

Finally, if you own or know of a Lutheran blog demonstrating a quia confessional subscription and would like me to consider it for inclusion, please leave a comment. And again, for more information about why this stuff benefits confessional Lutheran blogging, morality, and other worthwhile endeavors, please check out the first three links under Aurous Effluence in the sidebar.

Technorati Tags: Aardvark Alley | Big Blogroll O' Vark®™© | BBOV | blogroll | blog roll | Lutheran | confessional Lutheran  ¶ 22:17 | 1 comments |

  A Few More for the BBOV The Big Blogroll O' Vark®™©

We're picking up a few more newbies. These come both from others' suggestions and from my own discoveries as I continue boldly to seek out new life-forms and new civilizations theology, thinking, and humor blogs.

If you're not sure what to make of the BBOV or wonder about the benefits of being listed and of listing others' blogs, please read the first three links under Aurous Effluence in the sidebar. Those who'd like the Big Blogroll O' Vark®™© can either email me or copy the list from the Alley's source code (click View | Page Source or Control+U in Firefox or View | Source in Internet Explorer).

CONFESSIONAL LUTHERAN BLOGS

New Additions

   †   Behold Your God — Sermon audio from Anthony Voltattorni, "Husband, Father, Lutheran Pastor, Jedi Knight"
   †   Sermons of Rev. John Drosendahl
   †   St. Athanasius Lutheran Church — Sermons, Catechesis, and Devotions
   †   We Are All Beggars — Thoughtful theology from Pastor Voltattorni

ALSO RECOMMENDED

New Addition

   †   Bishop Barbie and the Brave New Church — Scathing sarcasm meets liberal Lutheranism

FINALLY ...

For all those enrolled in the BBOV, links back are certainly appreciated. And don't forget that all of those listed benefit when you use the entire blogroll. Also, if you'd like to graphically point to the Alley and the Big Blogroll O' Vark®™©, you may use the above design from St. Charles the Illuminous or one of these blog buttons:

• 


• 

Each of these buttons measures 80x15 pixels. Should you choose to use one, please link back to either the main Aardvark Alley URL or else to the post What Is the BBOV.

Finally, if you own or know of a Lutheran blog demonstrating a quia confessional subscription and would like me to consider it for inclusion, please leave a comment. And again, for more information about why this stuff benefits confessional Lutheran blogging, morality, and other worthwhile endeavors, please check out the first three links under Aurous Effluence in the sidebar.

Technorati Tags: Aardvark Alley | Big Blogroll O' Vark®™© | BBOV | blogroll | blog roll | Lutheran | confessional Lutheran  ¶ 21:33 | 1 comments |

  + Martin Luther, Doctor and Reformer + 18 February AD 1546

Martin Luther, born on 10 November 1483, in Eisleben, Germany, initially began studies leading toward a degree in law. However, after a close encounter with death, he switched to the study of theology, entered an Augustinian monastery, was ordained a priest in 1505, and received a doctorate in theology in 1512.

As a professor at the newly-established University of Wittenberg, his Scriptural studies led him to question many of the church's teachings and practices, especially the selling of indulgences. His refusal to back down from his convictions resulted in his excommunication in 1521. Following a period of seclusion at the Wartburg castle, Luther returned to Wittenberg, where he spent the rest of his life preaching and teaching, translating the Scriptures, and writing hymns and numerous theological treatises.

Of course, Luther didn't work alone. First of all, he knew that the Holy Spirit, working through the Word, was principal actor in the Reformation, and said, "While I slept, or drank Wittenberg beer with my friends ... the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that no prince or emperor ever inflicted such losses upon it. I did nothing; the Word did everything." However, his "friends," including Philipp Melanchthon, Nicholas Amsdorf, Johannes Bugenhagen, and others contributed mightily to the cause. Meanwhile, his prince, Frederick III of Saxony, defended him. Finally, he probably received no earthly support greater than that of his beloved wife Katie.

We remember and honor his lifelong emphasis on the Biblical truth that for Christ's sake God declares us righteous by grace through faith alone. He died on 18 February 1546, while visiting the town of his birth.

Please visit Xrysostom for The Life of Martin Luther: A Chronology. A number of recommended books and web sites are included along with this biographical outline.

Lection

Psalm 46
Isaiah 55:6-11
Romans 10:5-17
John 15:1-11

Collect

O Lord God, heavenly Father, pour our Your Holy Spirit on Your faithful people, keep them steadfast in Your grace and truth, protect and comfort them in all temptation, defend them against all enemies of Your Word, and bestow on Christ's Church Militant Your saving peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Technorati Tags: Martin Luther | Doctor Martin Luther | Dr. Martin Luther | Lutheran | Lutheranism | Christianity | Christian | Reformation | Lutheran Reformation | Book of Concord | Lutheran Confessions | Small Catechism | Large Catechism | Smalcald Articles | hagiography | biography | Church history | historical theology | exegetical theology | Bible translation | practical theology | hymn writing | liturgics | German history | European history| Aardvark Alley  ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments |

  + Philipp Melanchthon + 16 February AD 1497 – 19 April AD 1560

Philipp Melanchthon, a brilliant student of the classics and a humanist scholar, was appointed to teach along with Martin Luther at the University of Wittenberg in 1518. At Luther's urging, Melanchthon began teaching theology and Scripture in addition to his courses in classical studies.

In April of 1530, Emperor Charles V called an official meeting between the representative of Lutheranism and Roman Catholicism, hoping to effect a meeting of minds between two opposing groups. Since Luther was at that time under papal excommunication and an imperial ban, Melanchthon was assigned the duty of being the chief Lutheran representative at this meeting. Thus, he made the primary verbal and written defenses of the Evangelical (Lutheran) position. We especially remembered and honored him as the author of the Augsburg Confession, which was officially presented by the German princes to the emperor on 25 June 1530, as the defining document of Lutheranism within Christendom. Following the Roman Catholic response, Melanchthon wrote the Apology (Defense) of the Augsburg Confession.

Unfortunately, Melanchthon's desires for peace within Christendom led him to later rewrite and weaken some of the Augsburg Confession's language. The resulting Variata were palatable to some who disagreed with certain Lutheran teachings and allowed for false teaching to infiltrate Lutheranism. Ask the Pastor details some of this in a post on the Unaltered Augsburg Confession.

Lection

Psalm 46
Isaiah 55:6-11
Romans 10:5-17
John 15:1-11

Collect

O Lord God, heavenly Father, pour our Your Holy Spirit on Your faithful people, keep them steadfast in Your grace and truth, protect and comfort them in all temptation, defend them against all enemies of Your Word, and bestow on Christ's Church Militant Your saving peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Note: We commemorate Philipp Melanchthon's birth date because his death date often conflicts with Holy Week or Easter observances.

Technorati Tags: Philipp Melanchthon | Augsburg Confession | Apology of the Augsburg Confession | Defense of the Augsburg Confession | UAC | Unaltered Augsburg Confession | Formula of Concord | Diet of Augsburg | Lutheran | Lutheranism | Christianity | Christian | Reformation | Lutheran Reformation | Martin Luther | Book of Concord | hagiography | biography | Church history | historical theology | German history | European history | Aardvark Alley  ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments |

  + Philemon and Onesimus + 15 February, New Testament

Philemon was a prominent first-century Christian who owned a slave named Onesimus. While the name "Onesimus" means "useful," Onesimus proved himself "useless. (Philemon 11)" He ran away from his master and perhaps even stole from him (v. 18).

Somehow, Onesimus came into contact with the apostle Paul while the latter was in prison (possibly in Rome). Perhaps he knew that Paul and Philemon had a friendship and went to Paul in order to protect himself from harsh treatment should he be returned home. In any event, through Paul's proclamation of the Gospel he became a Christian. After Onesemus confessed to the apostle that he was a runaway slave, Paul directed him to return to his master and become "useful" again, as Paul had already determined him to be (v. 11).

In order to help pave the way for Onesimus' peaceful return home, Paul sent him on his way with a letter addressed to Philemon, a letter in which he urged Philemon to forgive his slave for having run away and to "receive him as you would receive me (v. 17)" Paul encourged Philemon to think of Onesimus "no longer as a slave ... but as a beloved brother. (v. 16)"

The letter was eventually included by the church as one of the books of the New Testament.

Those looking to Scripture for a definitive statement on slavery find mixed messages in this brief epistle. While Paul seems to urge Philemon in the direction of treating Onesimus as a freedman, he certainly leaves open the option that Onesimus might be returning to slavery, albeit in a much-improved situation.

Technorati Tags: Philemon | Onesimus | Saint Paul | St. Paul | Apostle Paul | Paul | epistle | brotherhood | slave | slavery | freedom | Church Year | liturgical calendar | lectionary | Christianity | Christian | Lutheran | Lutheranism | Christian feasts | festivals | commemoration | theology | Christology | Holy Baptism | Baptism | sacraments | sacramental theology | historical theology | exegetical theology | Church history | Bible history | Bible | Scripture | Word of God | God's Word | New Testament | Acts | Aardvark Alley  ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments |

  + Saint Valentine, Martyr + 14 February A.D. 270(?)

Details of ancient Christianity are sketchy since for much of the Church's early years, it was a crime to be a Christian and records were hidden or kept purposely incomplete to protect believers. Thus, the story of Saint Valentine, as well as those of many others ancient believers, must be pieced together from fragmentary evidence.

Some ancient accounts record a physician and priest living in Rome during the rule of the Emperor Claudius II. This Valentine become one of the noted martyrs of the third century. It seems that his main "crime" was joining couples in marriage. Specifically, Valentine married Roman soldiers. Evidently, Claudius thought that single men made better soldiers while Valentine and the Church resisted the immorality of less-permanent relationships.

The commemoration of his death, thought to have occurred during the year 270, became part of the calendar of remembrance in the early Western Church. Tradition suggests that on the day of his execution for his Christian faith, he left a note of encouragement for a child of his jailer. The note was written on an irregularly-shaped piece of paper which suggested the shape of a heart. This greeting became a pattern for millions of written expressions of love and caring that now are the highlight of Valentine's Day in many nations.

Lection

Psalm 95:1-7a
Ezekiel 18:1-9
1 Peter 4:12-19
John 2:1-11

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, who kindled the flame of Your love in the heart of Your holy martyr Valentine, grant to us, Your humble servants, a like faith and power of love, that we who rejoice in his triumph may profit by his example; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Technorati Tags: Valentine | Saint Valentine | St. Valentine | Saint Valentine's Day | St. Valentine's Day | Valentine's Day | Claudius II | martyrdom | martyr | Church Year | liturgical calendar | sanctorial calendar | Christianity | Christian | Lutheran | Lutheranism | Christian feasts | festivals | saints' days | biography | hagiography | commemoration | theology | practical theology | hymnody | liturgics | hymnody | hymn | historical theology | history | Church history | Christian history | European history | Italian history | Roman history | Roman Empire | Aardvark Alley  ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments |

  + Aquila, Priscilla, Apollos + 13 February, New Testament

Aquila and his wife Priscilla (Prisca) were Jewish contemporaries of Saint Paul. They traveled widely, perhaps in part for business reasons but later certainly because of unrest and persecution in Rome. They went to Corinth and met the apostle, who joined them for a time in the tent-making trade (Acts 18:1-3).

Priscilla and Aquila, in turn, teamed with Paul in his mission of proclaiming the Christian Gospel. The couple later traveled with him from Corinth to Ephesus (Acts 18:18), where the two of them established a home that served as hospitality headquarters for new converts to Christianity.

Apollos was one of their numerous Jewish pupils in the faith. Apollos was an eloquent man: "Being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus. (Acts 18:25)" Apollos later traveled from Corinth to the province of Achaia, where he showed "by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus. (Acts 18:28)"

We especially remember these three for their great missionary zeal.

Technorati Tags: Aquila | Priscilla | Prisca | Apollos | Rome | Corinth | Ephesus | Achaia | Saint Paul | Acts | Acts of the Apostles | Christianity | Christian | Lutheranism | Lutheran | Christian feasts | festivals | saints' days | biography | hagiography | commemoration | theology | historical theology | exegetical theology | Church history | Bible history | Bible | Scripture | New Testament | Aardvark Alley  ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments |

  Obligatory Follow-up BBOV Update The Big Blogroll O' Vark®™©

It never fails: As soon as I update the blogroll, more new blogs roll in. A few of these were lost in the Alley's spam filter on Gmail, a couple others are related to one of the new listings, three were familial suggestions or corrections submitted by Pastor Alex Klages, and the others were ones I mined over the past couple days.

If you're not sure what to make of the BBOV or wonder about the benefits of being listed and of listing others' blogs, please read the first three links under Aurous Effluence in the sidebar. Those who'd like the Big Blogroll O' Vark®™© can either email me or copy the list from the Alley's source code (click View | Page Source or Control+U in Firefox or View | Source in Internet Explorer).

CONFESSIONAL LUTHERAN BLOGS

New Additions

   †   Благая Весть (Good News) — Russian Language
   †   Благая Весть Facebook Page
   †   Brandywine Books
   †   Confessions of a Lutheran Pastor's Wife
   †   The High Mid Life
   †   Kelly's Blog
   †   Lily's Corner
   †   O My Soul, Why So Depressed Within Me?
   †   On Location
   †   Pastoral Meanderings
   †   Steeped in Hope
   †   A Study of Christian Doctrine
   †   A Study of Christian Doctrine Facebook Page
   †   Zion Hears

RECOMMENDED LUTHERAN LINK

New Addition

   †   Doxology: The Lutheran Center for Spiritual Care and Counsel

FINALLY ...

For all those enrolled in the BBOV, links back are certainly appreciated. And don't forget that all of those listed benefit when you use the entire blogroll. Also, if you'd like to graphically point to the Alley and the Big Blogroll O' Vark®™©, you may use the above design from St. Charles the Illuminous or one of these blog buttons:

• 


• 

Each of these buttons measures 80x15 pixels. Should you choose to use one, please link back to either the main Aardvark Alley URL or else to the post What Is the BBOV.

Finally, if you own or know of a Lutheran blog demonstrating a quia confessional subscription and would like me to consider it for inclusion, please leave a comment. And again, for more information about why this stuff benefits confessional Lutheran blogging, morality, and other worthwhile endeavors, please check out the first three links under Aurous Effluence in the sidebar.

Technorati Tags: Aardvark Alley | Big Blogroll O' Vark®™© | BBOV | blogroll | blog roll | Lutheran | confessional Lutheran  ¶ 00:40 | 2 comments |

  + Silas + 10 February, New Testament

Saint Paul chose Silas, a leader in the church at Jerusalem, to accompany him on his second missionary journey from Antioch to Asia Minor and Macedonia (Acts 15:40). Silas, also known as Silvanus, was imprisoned with Paul in Philippi (Acts 16:16-40) and experienced the riots in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9) and Berea (Acts 17:10-15).

They were apart for some length of time, after which he rejoined Paul in Corinth (Acts 18:1-5). Apparently, he remained there for an extended period.

One account stands out for most readers of the New Testament. The time Paul and Silas shared in the Philippian prison gave them a special opportunity to proclaim the Gospel. God freed their bonds during an earthquake but they refuse to escape and instead saved their jailer from committing suicide because of his responsibility for them. The Lord used these two and the surrounding events to witness to the jailer about His love and forgiveness through Christ Jesus. Working through the Gospel, the Holy Spirit brought him and his household to faith in Jesus and led them to be baptized.

Aside from these accounts, the Scriptures record little else about Silas and his relationship with Paul.

Technorati Tags: Saint Silas | Silas | St. Silas | Saint Paul | St. Paul | Apostle Paul | Paul | Acts | Acts of the Apostles | Christianity | Christian | Lutheranism | Lutheran | Christian feasts | festivals | saints' days | biography | hagiography | commemoration | theology | historical theology | exegetical theology | Church history | Bible history | Bible | Scripture | New Testament | Aardvark Alley  ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments |

  At Long (Okay, At Very Long) Last ... A BBOV Update! The Big Blogroll O' Vark®™©

Thanks to all those who continue to blog, particularly to our new additions and to those who keep me posted about changes. After our extended hiatus, we boast twenty-some new entries, including one that's returned after extended absence, new URLs and names, and a number of dormant or dead blogs being dropped, including another (sigh) being removed from the Big Blogroll O' Vark®™© after renouncing the Evangelical Catholic confession for Eastern Orthodoxy. Parentheses show reason for dropping each.

There's no longer an "inactive" category ... either folks are blogging or they aren't. I've also added, changed, and deleted several of the non-Confessional Lutheran blogs and other sites and will make note of them following the Quia Lutheran changes. Change of special note include the end of the Augsburg Aggregator and the Evangelical Aggregator.

With such a large number of changes, I'll not include extended introductions but encourage you to discover them for yourself and decide which, if any, are your cup of tea ... or coffee ... or whatever else floats your liver.

If you're not sure what to make of the BBOV or wonder about the benefits of being listed and of listing others' blogs, please read the first three links under Aurous Effluence in the sidebar. Those who'd like the Big Blogroll O' Vark®™© can either email me or copy the list from the Alley's source code (click View | Page Source or Control+U in Firefox or View | Source in Internet Explorer).

CONFESSIONAL LUTHERAN BLOGS

New to the Show
 †  All for Hymn
 †  Bioethike
 †  Brave Grace
 †  Concordia Classical Academy
 †  Διαθηκη (Back from the beyond)
 †  e-Baznica (Latvian)
 †  From Virtue to Grace
 †  Intrepid Lutherans
 †  Keeping and Treasuring the Word
 †  Pastor Matthew Lorfeld
 †  Lutheran Kantor
 †  Lutheran Truth
 †  Lutheran Writer
 †  Raggedy Lamb
 †  Rastaman Vibrations (Our favorite Lutheran historian)
 †  Renascentes Musae
 †  Saint and Sinner
 †  Sermon Guy
 †  Sinner and Saint
 †  Theologia Crucis
 †  Time Out (From Dan at Necessary Roughness)
 †  Utah Lutheran
 †  Wild Boar from the Forest

New Roles, New Billings
 †  andē-blah-g (Was Green Underground)
 †  A Beggar at the Table (New URL)
 †  T. Emmett Bramwell (New URL)
 †  Burr in the Burbs (Was Burr in the Burgh)
 †  Center for Lutheran Theology and Public Life (Was Concordia Sem. Inst. on Lay Vocation)
 †  Crafty.Learning (New Name and URL; was Crafty Wright's)
 †  Cyberbrethren (New URL)
 †  Food Freak (Was Speak with Me)
 †  Glosses From An Old Manse (Was Acromaticus)
 †  God's Word for Today (Was Word for Today)
 †  Ryan Markel (New Name and URL; was Ryan's Blog)
 †  The New Anti-Jacobin (Was The Boy's Own Paper)
 †  Outer Rim Territories (New URL)
 †  Receiving Good Gifts from God (New URL; was Blessed and Content — and Disabled)
 †  Carol Rutz's Annexe (Was Bad Carol)
 †  StarboCho (New URL)
 †  Thirtying Toward Thirty (Was Useless Rhetoric ...)
 †  Rev. Tucher (New URL)
 †  Jay Winters (New URL)

Curtain Closed
 †  AC 24: News from the Counter-Pietism Unit (Gone)
 †  Albino Peacock (June 2007)
 †  All in Faber (Gone)
 †  All the Fulness (June 2008)
 †  Always Yes (April 2008)
 †  Angry Lutherans (May 2009)
 †  The Anonymous Lutheran (Gone)
 †  Ask a Lutheran (Private)
 †  Bailing Water (June 2010)
 †  Pastor Mason Beecroft (Private)
 †  Steven S. Billings (April 2009)
 †  Black Cloister (Private)
 †  Blogosphere Underground (Gone)
 †  Blogustana (Gone)
 †  Busy Nothings (Aug 2009)
 †  Cafe Diem (Aug 2008)
 †  Cantor's Padded Balcony (2006)
 †  Chaplain To The World (January 2010)
 †  Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions (Jan 2010)
 †  Concordia TheoBLOGical Seminary (Feb 2010)
 †  Concordia Reader (July 2007)
 †  Cross Theology (Nov 2009)
 †  Cross+Wise (Gone)
 †  Cruciform Confession (Gone)
 †  David Creates with Legos; God with Logos (Toast)
 †  Des Moines 360 (Apr 2008)
 †  Ex Tenebris Lux (Gone)
 †  The Fireside (Jan 2008)
 †  The First British Lutheran Blog Ever (Mar 2008)
 †  First Person Life (Apr 2008)
 †  Franck Flotsam (Aug 2009)
 †  Friends of Mercy (June 2009)
 †  Geek Spaces (Dec 2008)
 †  General Scuttlebutt (Gone)
 †  Gladius Spiritus (Gone)
 †  Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto (Gone)
 †  The Grateful Christian (Sept 2010)
 †  k heinz designz (May 2010)
 †  Helmets Required II (Apr 2010)
 †  Here I Stand (Gone)
 †  The Heresy Hunter at Concordia (Private)
 †  J. Random Hermeneut (Gone)
 †  Hermeneia (Nov 2008)
 †  Hoc est verum (Private)
 †  Holy Holy Hymnody (Private)
 †  The Home Files (Aug 2010)
 †  Homestead Lutheran Academy (Aug 2010)
 †  House MDiv (Gone)
 †  House of Many Blessings (Oct 2010)
 †  I Could be Wrong (Gone)
 †  Intolerant Elle (Gone)
 †  Journalistic Jargon (Jan 2009)
 †  Katie's Beer (Gone)
 †  Kelly's Blog (Gone)
 †  Pastor Kozak (Aug 2010)
 †  Latif's Memoir (Gone)
 †  Lilac Rose (Sept 2010)
 †  Line Drive Down the Right Side (Sept 2008)
 †  Little Mouse on the Prairie (Mar 2008)
 †  Living in Canaan (Jan 2009)
 †  Living Sermons (Sept 2008)
 †  A Long Walk with Martin Luther (June 2010)
 †  A Lutheran Beggar (Jan 2009)
 †  Lutheran Enigma (Sept 2008)
 †  A Lutheran Grandson (Aug 2009)
 †  Lutheran Lucciola (Private)
 †  Lutheran Lucy (Oct 2008)
 †  Lvtheranvs Latine Profitens (Gone)
 †  A Man with Only a Word in His Pocket (Private)
 †  Meditations (July 2008)
 †  The Minnesota Lutheran (Gone)
 †  Mother Hubbard's Cupboard (June 2009)
 †  Musical Ramblings (May 2008)
 †  My Babblings (Private)
 †  Nerd Heaven (Mar 2010)
 †  NightlyKnitter's LotazStitches (Sept 2010)
 †  Mark Nispel (Dec 2008)
 †  Not Worthy (May 2010)
 †  Notes to Myself (Gone)
 †  The Old Parson (Gone)
 †  Old School Confessional (Jan 2009)
 †  Original Evangelical (Gone)
 †  Our Seneca (Oct 2008)
 †  Paredwka (Gone East)
 †  Pistol Packin' Presbytera (Oct 2008)
 †  Planet Augsburg (July 2009)
 †  Preaching among the Harvesters (Nov 2009)
 †  Priestmanship (Private)
 †  Quipspot (May 2009)
 †  Rapp Files (Private)
 †  St. Charles Place (Gone)
 †  Save the LCMS (Oct 2009)
 †  Scyldings in the Mead Hall (Private)
 †  Share Unit (June 2010)
 †  Shepherd's Ponderings (Dec 2009)
 †  Socratic Stammtisch (Apr 2008)
 †  Spiritus Gladius (Sept 2009)
 †  Super-Sonic Platonic (Oct 2008)
 †  Tarheel Lutheran (Apr 2008)
 †  Tear Down the High Places (Oct 2009)
 †  Tell the Good News about Jesus (Mar 2009)
 †  Tentatio Borealis (Sept 2008)
 †  Terrible Swede (Apr 2007)
 †  The Theological Organ (May 2009)
 †  Theo[logical] Universe (Sept 2010)
 †  TheoCon (July 2009)
 †  Theomony (Gone)
 †  Three Heirarchies (Dec 2008)
 †  Treaties on Clockwork Silence (Feb 2008)
 †  Trouble in Paradise (Sept 2007)
 †  Uvulapie's Girl (Gone)
 †  Volume 11 (Gone)
 †  WDJD (Private)
 †  Whey Lay (Oct 2008)
 †  The Wolf Pack (June 2010)
 †  The Wretch (Apr 2008)
 †  The Wurst Blog (Gone)

OTHER BLOGS

Now Appearing
 †  Bad Vestments
 †  The Bleat
 †  The "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks
 †  Joyfully Thriving
 †  Rants from Mommyland
 †  Stuff Fundies Like

A Different Guise
 †  BlogWerks (New URL)
 †  The Dawn Patrol (New URL)
 †  JollyBlogger (New URL)
 †  WorldMag.com (New Name and URL; was World Magazine)

End of the Run
 †  The Beast's Lair
 †  The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns
 †  The Cubicle Reverend
 †  The Dawn Treader
 †  The Educational Tour Marm
 †  Haunted by the Holy Ghost
 †  Melancthon Sins Boldly
 †  Melanie Francis
 †  Part-Time Pundit
 †  Stingray
 †  The World of Doorman-Priest

AGGREGATORS, DIRECTORIES, AND RELATED SITES

Add
 †  Blogdom of God

Drop
 †  Augsburg Aggregator
 †  Evangelical Aggregator
 †  WeBlogALot

RECOMMENDED LUTHERAN LINKS

Change
 †  Liturgical Calendar of the LCMS

Drop
 †  Consensus
 †  Cross+Wise

GRAPHICS AND BLOG BUTTONS

Change
 †  World Magazine (see above)

Drop
 †  Blog Catalog
 †  Blog Rankings
 †  Blogstreet
 †  Blogwise
 †  Cross+Wise
 †  Evangelical Aggregator
 †  Feeds for All
 †  Flookie
 †  Geek Philosopher
 †  Get Blogs
 †  Hornswoggled
 †  Postami
 †  Read a Blog
 †  Red State
 †  Spam Daily News
 †  Truth Laid Bear
 †  Wil's Domain

FINALLY ...

For all those enrolled in the BBOV, links back are certainly appreciated. And don't forget that all of those listed benefit when you use the entire blogroll. Also, if you'd like to graphically point to the Alley and the Big Blogroll O' Vark®™©, you may use the above design from St. Charles the Illuminous or one of these blog buttons:

• 


• 

Each of these buttons measures 80x15 pixels. Should you choose to use one, please link back to either the main Aardvark Alley URL or else to the post What Is the BBOV.

Finally, if you own or know of a Lutheran blog demonstrating a quia confessional subscription and would like me to consider it for inclusion, please leave a comment. And again, for more information about why this stuff benefits confessional Lutheran blogging, morality, and other worthwhile endeavors, please check out the first three links under Aurous Effluence in the sidebar.

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