ICHABOD, THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED - explores the Age of Apostasy, predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, to attack Objective Faithless Justification, Church Growth Clowns, and their ringmasters. The antidote to these poisons is trusting the efficacious Word in the Means of Grace. John 16:8. Isaiah 55:8ff. Romans 10. Most readers are WELS, LCMS, ELS, or ELCA. This blog also covers the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Left-wing, National Council of Churches denominations.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Ottoman Invasion and Coffee.
Part II of the Historical Lesson
bruce-church (http://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Islam Helped the Birth of Lutheran Orthodoxy.":
And don't forget about the second Turkish invasion of our churches - coffee, sofas and ottoman's in the nave:
Faux Harrison mentions 2nd Turkish invasion:
http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2012/06/someone-has-sent-insiders-report-from.html
Latte church with sofas:
http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2012/03/melancholy-news-from-latte-church.html
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| The barbarians are not at the gates now; they are inside the temple and teaching the students. |
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| Randy Hunter is a big cheese Church and Change guy, promoted by WELS because they are much more confessional now. |
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GJ -
1529
The Ottoman Muslim forces failed to take Vienna in 1529, which brought their invasion of Europe to a halt. However, they controlled part of Hungary, so the country was divided between royal and Ottoman Hungary.
The 1529 attempt was foiled by unusually wet European weather, which made pulling the heavy siege equipment extremely difficult. The light artillery used against Vienna did little damage. The Muslims lost much of their equipment and many of their prisoners as they attempted to withdraw.
1683
This was the last attempt to take Vienna. The Muslim forces failed to protect their own lines. Polish General Sobieski saw his chance and drove his cavalry straight into the Muslim camp. The Austrian defenders poured out of the city to join the fun. In the panicked withdrawl the Muslims left behind all their artillery, their tents, their jewels, and their bags of coffee beans.
The tradition of the Viennese coffee house developed from that victory. To this day, the best coffee beans are Arabica.
Hebrews 3 and 4 Graphics.
Lenski Commentary.
The Sharp Warning:
Harden not Your Hearts, chapter 3
Harden not Your Hearts, chapter 3
Consider Jesus in the Light of Moses, 3:1–6.
1) This is the preamble which resembles that found in 2:5–8. Moses is introduced because v. 7–19 cite the terrible unbelief that occurred on the journey through the desert under Moses. Let this story find no repetition under Jesus! We should not think that Jesus is put in contrast with Moses so that the readers are warned to forsake Moses for Jesus. They are paralleled—both Moses and Jesus are faithful. As Israel should have been faithful to Moses, so the readers should now be faithful to Jesus. In fact, the readers have a greater call to faithfulness than the unfaithful Israelites had as far as Moses was concerned because here is one greater than Moses. The two are alike, yet when they are paralleled, the greatness of Jesus must be kept in mind.
Do not Underestimate the Word of God, v. 12, 13.
12) This appendix is vital as the concluding word of both the warning voiced in chapter 3 and the promise given in 4:1–11. It is so essential because not only the warning and the promise are based on the Word of God as being “my voice,” Ps. 95 (see 3:8–11), but also because all that this epistle contains from 1:1 onward (“God spoke”) and will contain in the following chapters is based directly on God’s Word. So the writer says: Let there be no illusion in you, my readers, regarding this Word of God and what it says about Jesus; let no one think that disbelieving or disobeying this Word is a light matter. The writer has dwelt especially on Ps. 95:11 (3:8, 11; 4:3, 4), God’s oath, a most terrible Word of God. He now stresses the full power of the Word in its damning force. He has likewise dwelt on Ps. 95:7b plus 11: “Today” and “my rest,” with all the promise that lies in this Word (3:8, 15; 4:3–8). This, too, leads him to stress the power of the Word, the blessed promise of which is so mighty.
On “High Priest” see 2:17 and 3:1; the addition “great” exalts his person and his office above all the Levitical high priests of the Jews and matches the fact that he “has gone through the heavens” in his high-priestly function, into the Holy of Holies of the very presence of God. “Passed into the heavens” (A. V.) is incorrect. In the Jewish Tabernacle the high priest passed from the altar that was outside through the Holy Place and so stepped behind the veil of the Holy of Holies. So our great High Priest, in a far more exalted manner, proceeded through what we call the created heavens into the presence of God. Only his greatness and this great act are now stressed and not the blood of expiation (2:17) and its effect although the title “High Priest” involves them; these points will be treated presently. As befits the new section of the letter together with the greatness of our High Priest, his name is added, “Jesus,” which again calls to mind his incarnation, his life, sufferings, and death here on earth, but with the mighty apposition “the Son of God,” which expresses his deity. Our High Priest is infinitely great in his person and his office.
“Having him, let us continue to hold fast to the confession!” We “have” him because of his having been made the great High Priest; God has given him to us as such. “The confession” recalls 3:1 where we are bidden “to consider thoroughly the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.” He, “our great High Priest, Jesus, the Son of God,” and all that lies in this designation are the substance of the confession; κρατῶμεν means that we are to continue to hold him fast with all our “strength” by confessing our faith in him. The writer admonishes himself as well as his readers. Yet the present tense signifies that he and they have been doing this, it asks for steady continuation. The implication is that the readers have given evidence of wavering, of giving up this confession. “Keep on confessing him with heart and soul!” is the appeal.
15) We have the strongest motive for holding fast to him. The writer reverts to 2:17, 18 where he calls our High Priest “merciful,” “himself tempted and thus able to help those being tempted,” who calls us “brothers” (2:11, etc.). Our weaknesses dispose us to give up our confession instead of holding to it with strength; here is the answer that lifts up beyond any such weakness: “For we do not have a High Priest unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,” the very contrary is the case; he knows all these weaknesses from his own experience, “having been tried in all respects in like manner (as we) except for sin.” Is not his personal name “Jesus” which he bore here on earth when in his humiliation he took upon himself so many of our human weaknesses? How can we then think that he does not feel with us (συμπάσχω - sympathy - suffer with) in our weaknesses?
Monday, June 25, 2012
The Ottoman Invasion Flopped,
Thanks to Confessional Crusaders.
Not To Mention How Stupid It Was
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| Randy Hunter got this as his private sandbox. Elton Stroh served as their over-paid consultant. |
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| Something new - women pastors in WELS, endorsed by John Brug. |
bruce-church (http://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Islam Helped the Birth of Lutheran Orthodoxy.":
And don't forget about the second Turkish invasion of our churches - coffee, sofas and Ottoman's in the nave:
Faux Harrison mentions 2nd Turkish invasion:
http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2012/06/someone-has-sent-insiders-report-from.html
Latte church with sofas:
http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2012/03/melancholy-news-from-latte-church.html
Fuller Has Been Their Main Post-Grad Seminary for Decades.
Shocking Results for LCMS, WELS, ELS
bruce-church (http://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "LCMS Seminary Cost Scandal: Fabulous Costs To Supp...":
SCOTT DIEKMANN comments on Northwest district of LCMS convention:
http://stand-firm.blogspot.com/2012/06/northwest-district-convention-recap.html
I was disappointed that the push for Licensed Deacons and distance seminary education continues unabated.
Islam Helped the Birth of Lutheran Orthodoxy.
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| Norma Boeckler |
churchmousec (http://churchmousec.wordpress.com/) has left a new comment on your post "The Augsburg Confession, June 25, 1530.":
'The threat of Muslim invasion drew Charles away from his plan of destroying the budding Lutheran Church.'
Thank you for the historical insight. I'd often wondered how the Reformation survived vis a vis the Ottoman Empire. It's a subject which Protestants in the West might need to expound on soon in adult classes at church.
Churchmouse
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| The Norwich three-volume set is also available in a one-volume paperback summary. This history has more gore and scandal than anyone could possibly imagine. Example - a general has an affair with the Empress, beats her husband to death, takes over as Emperor, and expels her for committing adultery with him. |
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| The Poles saved Vienna. Sobieski said, "We came, we saw, God conquered." |
GJ - Here is a good link on Muslim/Ottoman military advances during the era.
The best work on that era is The Byzantine Empire - Norwich. Owning this set is a sign of culture and distinction. I read the set three times, the one-volume version a few times. No one writes better than the British - especially history and military history. Because UOP drafted me to teach Western religion, I had to study Islam, which suddenly made Gibbon and Norwich fascinating reading. There is nothing like the curiosity of classes to fuel one's interest in reading more.
I had a similar experience with teaching Catholic/Lutheran differences in Columbus. The more I taught, the more questions I got, the more I went to the Vatican owned seminary for research.
The military might of Europe grew from 1530 to 1680, enough to repel the threat against Vienna. That was also the time between the Augsburg Confession and post-Concord orthodoxy. Lutheran Orthodoxy became entrenched because the Muslim army first drew Emperor Charles' attention away from the Germans. He still hated the Lutherans, but the Muslim threat was far greater. The threat lasted over 150 years, which kept Roman Catholic forces from concentrating on the Lutheran lands.
Are These Men Blogging or Xeroxing?
Only Two Give Credit for Their Source
http://cyberbrethren.com/2012/06/25/the-commemoration-of-the-presentation-of-the-augsburg-confession/
The Augsburg Confession, the principal doctrinal statement of the theology of Martin Luther and the Lutheran reformers, was written largely by Phillip Melanchthon. At its heart it confesses the justification of sinners by grace alone, through faith alone, for the sake of Christ alone. Signed by leaders of many German cities and regions, the confession was formally presented to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at Augsburg, Germany, on June 25, 1530. A few weeks later Roman Catholic authorities rejected the Confession, which Melanchthon defended in the Apology of the Augsburg Confession (1531). In 1580 the Unaltered Augsburg Confession was included in the Book of Concord.
http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1351904 - PT McCain!
The Augsburg Confession, the principal doctrinal statement of the theology of Martin Luther and the Lutheran reformers, was written largely by Phillip Melanchthon. At its heart it confesses the justification of sinners by grace alone, through faith alone, for the sake of Christ alone. Signed by leaders of many German cities and regions, the confession was formally presented to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at Augsburg, Germany, on June 25, 1530. A few weeks later Roman Catholic authorities rejected the Confession, which Melanchthon defended in the Apology of the Augsburg Confession (1531). In 1580 the Unaltered Augsburg Confession was included in the Book of Concord.
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GJ -
Those Glock-carrying sharp-shooters on Glock Talk must be impressed with McCain's great scholarship - until they copy his text into Google Search. Haha. Try it for yourself. No wonder McCain loves to post his own original invective and invented facts on Glende's toxic copy-cat blog. Birds of a feather do flock together. Both boys are unrepentant plagiarists, UOJ fanatics, and CG Enthusiasts. Their bosses support them in their plagiarism, too.
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http://graceneligh.blogspot.com/2012/06/today-church-commemorates-presentation.html
The Augsburg Confession, the principal doctrinal statement of the theology of Martin Luther and the Lutheran reformers, was written largely by Phillip Melanchthon. At its heart it confesses the justification of sinners by grace alone, through faith alone, for the sake of Christ alone. Signed by leaders of many German cities and regions, the confession was formally presented to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at Augsburg, Germany, on June 25, 1530. A few weeks later Roman Catholic authorities rejected the Confession, which Melanchthon defended in the Apology of the Augsburg Confession (1531). In 1580 the Unaltered Augsburg Confession was included in the Book of Concord.
http://aardvarkalley.blogspot.com/2012/06/presentation-of-augsburg-confession.html
The Augsburg Confession, the principal doctrinal statement of the theology of Martin Luther and the Lutheran reformers, was written largely by Philipp Melanchthon. At its heart it confesses the justification of sinners by grace alone, through faith alone, for the sake of Christ alone.
Signed by leaders of several German cities and regions, the confession was formally presented to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at Augsburg, Germany, on 25 June 1530. A few weeks later Roman Catholic authorities rejected the Confession, which Melanchthon defended in the Apology of the Augsburg Confession (1531). In 1580 the Unaltered Augsburg Confession was included in the Book of Concord.
A fitting verse for the 481st anniversary of the presentation of the Augsburg Confession. According to a brief synopsis in The Treasury of Daily Prayer, the Augustana (as it is also called), "the principal doctrinal statement of the theology of Martin Luther and the Lutheran reformers, was written largely by Philip Melanchthon. At its heart, it confesses the justification of sinners by grace alone, through faith alone, for the sake of Christ alone. Signed by the leaders of many German cities and regions, the confession was formally presented to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at Augsburg, Germany, on June 25, 1530. A few weeks later, Roman Catholic authorities rejected the Confession, which Melanchthon defended in the Apology of the Augsburg Confession (1531). In 1580, the Unaltered Augsburg Confession was included in the Book of Concord." [Dr. GJ says - This is correct scholarship. Note the credit at the beginning and the quotation marks. Those two items distinguish scholarship from plagiarism. Quit trying to fool an English teacher, you lazy Lutheran bloggers. Copying is fine, as long as it is done honestly.]
http://weedon.blogspot.com/2010/06/commemoration-of-presentation-of.html [Date - 2010]
From the Treasury and our Synod's Website:
The Augsburg Confession, the principal doctrinal statement of the theology of Martin Luther and the Lutheran reformers, was written largely by Phillip Melanchthon. At its heart it confesses the justification of sinners by grace alone, through faith alone, for the sake of Christ alone. Signed by leaders of many German cities and regions, the confession was formally presented to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at Augsburg, Germany, on June 25, 1530. A few weeks later Roman Catholic authorities rejected the Confession, which Melanchthon defended in the Apology of the Augsburg Confession (1531). In 1580 the Unaltered Augsburg Confession was included in the Book of Concord.
[Dr. GJ says - This is also correct format. The source is cited, followed by a colon, so Weedon is saying - "The following is directly from these two sources." Although a shortened description of the source might be confusing to an non-Lutheran, nothing keeps the curious from finding out the complete citation. I do not own the book but looked at it on the Net.]
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LPC has left a new comment on your post "Are These Men Blogging or Xeroxing? Only Two Give C...":
Glock Talk must be impressed with McCain's great scholarship
Scholarship? What scholarship?
Scholarship? Hahahahaha. ROFLOL.
LPC
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GJ - I knew a pioneer in polymer chemistry who used to say, "Shallow waters make a lot of noise." I am continually astounded at the enablers. Glende's DP officially approves plagiarism of false teachers in his Exurge Domine bull.
McCain's $300,000 (annual salary) boss disciplines me for pointing out McCain's plagiarism. I gave him the evidence, chapter and verse. I did everything except place yellow crime-scene tape around the blog. That could be a future Photoshop.
Comments about the Fox Valley WELS School Business
quercuscontramalum (http://quercuscontramalum.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Lutheran churches propose new academy | Appleton P...":
What drives this nonsense are anecdotes floating among the pastors that there are WELS schools (in Brigadoon?) charging $8000 per year in tuition (and to taxpayers) which supports the church budget and not the other way around.
Here's the Nouveau Formula:
+ Missional anxiety
+ Overpaid, bloated staff upsets "ministry balance"
+ Masses of unemployed/underemployed MLC grads
+ No fear of congregational debts
+ Pretending tuition assistance is available
+ Holding kids hostage to make sure jacked up tuition is paid
+ Blaming parents' "bad stewardship" for refusing $3000 in tuition
+ Separating budget away from Voters ("shut up and pay")
+ Universal Forgiveness / Anything Goes ™
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= Charging money to "make disciples"
Why not charge a fee to receive Communion? Really, why not? Jesus never said we *couldn't*, so it MUST be okay to do so, right?
What's next, installing coffee bars right in the narthex? Jesus wouldn't really mind His Church making a little coin right outside the sanctuary. Or hawking praise band CD sales right from the pulpit. The profits DO support His Missionified Missional Called Workers after all.
Maybe sell little commemorative certificates and charge a fee for absolution of sins too.
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rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Lutheran churches propose new academy | Appleton P...":
I am surprised that no one said that the school was a mission arm and thus the independent nature of it. The Titanic is sinking. It is very top heavy. Notice that the name Lutheran is not in the school title. Hope Christian Schools in Milwaukee has left the WELS. It got what it wanted with no Lutheran name in the title and ultimately became truly independent. There is severe mission creep here. The congregation no longer wishes to serve its members. It would rather loosely support an independent school that has reached out to the community. The tuition cost of Foundation was what used to be the tuition of an area Lutheran High School 15 to 20 years ago. We have come to expect nothing less from the armpit of the WELS - Appleton and the Fox Valley.
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WELS church lady has left a new comment on your post "Lutheran churches propose new academy | Appleton P...":
Where is the practice of good stewardship in these ventures? Was this the idea that Parlow had floated aroung a couple of years ago? Listen, my three children attend Calvary Lutheran Chruch and School in Dallas. The school is supported by three area WELS churches. The children from the three churches pay NO tuition, as the school is funded through the offering budgets. Calvary is not a venture capitalist/get-rich-quick kind of institution. We are a Chrsitian school(with Lutheran in our title). Parents, myself included, volunteer as aids, tutors, and etc. Our substitute teachers are actually retired teachers and housewives who taught before starting their families. Most of these ladies, with a few exceptions, are DMLC/MLC graduates.
In regards to community students. These tend to be families that generally live within a mile or two radius of the church/school. Time is spent talking with these families. Those that may not have adequate finances, but want their child to have a Christian eduacation, are not turned away as there is "anonymous" help that can be offered. Most families that were without a church home, have become members of Calvary. To God be the glory!
Last, we do have a preschool class at Calvary. NO INFANTS! This is for capable three year olds and four year olds. Unlike the K through 8th program, the preschool does charge a tuition for everyone. This fee is VERY reasonable(aka it's cheap bro') Basically, we all help one another when it comes to the school.(rides, home baby sitting for smaller children...YOU NAME IT!) Stewardship involves more stregnth then money.
In Christ,
Rebecca
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WELS church lady has left a new comment on your post "Lutheran churches propose new academy | Appleton P...":
"Hope Christian School has left WELS!" Sorry to hear that Rlschultz. There is no excuse for ruining our schools in such a manner. Jeske serves Milwaukee. Hey Pastor Mark Jeske, when are you going to shut down the Time Of Grace program. You better listen to me: I KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT HOCHMUTH AND SO DO YOU! IF PRES. SCHROEDER IS INVOLVED, PERHAPS HE IS BEING PLAYED AS A FOOL, THEN I WILL BE ASKING FOR HIS RESIGNATION. YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE. LAST TIME WAS A LOVING WARNING, BUT THIS TIME YOU SCAMMERS BLEW IT!!! BIG TIME!!! I KNOW YOU GOT THE PERSONAL EMAIL THAT I SENT.
Pastor GJ, please publish this comment.
In Christ,
Rebecca
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rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Lutheran churches propose new academy | Appleton P...":
Rebecca,
I used to belong to a WELS congregation which operated in the same manner as Calvary. That has long since changed. My wife and several other mothers in the congregation with younger children used to do in home child care. It was fairly common to get a phone call from the pastor asking for permission to give out our phone number to a prospective member. That has since changed as this congregation now operates a full time day care.
Gracechurch in Milwaukee has a coffee bar not in the narthex, but right around the corner from it. I also have heard Koine's CD's being hawked from the pulpit.
There is also an error in my post. Appleton is not where Foundation will be. Wrightstown and DePere are south of Green Bay. In the broad sense of the term, it is part of the Fox Valley.
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Report from X:
Our WELS church claimed they were starting a parochial school, but they only started a pre-school. They insisted on calling it a Christian Academy - not a Lutheran school.
We are in competition with other pre-schools, so the tuition is low. Most of the children are not members, so we are subsidizing day care for non-members.
It is a good deal for those who are employed by the pre-school "academy." The state mandates certain jobs, so the right ladies get paying jobs to subsidize non-member working moms.
How much does it cost us? The school will not tell us. They have their own part of the building and we are not allowed there. We are not welcome there. The pre-school costs are dragging down the whole congregation. The voters are not allowed to know the separate costs of the school. That is top secret.
We were not told the truth about keeping it as a pre-school business. We never would have started it.
We also paid a big fee to a WELS "consultant" to tell us how to do this.
Lutheran churches propose new academy | Appleton Post Crescent | postcrescent.com.
Ashamed of the Name Lutheran
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| Celebrate the Augsburg Confession with a pan-denominational academy. WELS is getting more confessional all the time, says SP Mark Schroeder. |
Lutheran churches propose new academy | Appleton Post Crescent | postcrescent.com:
DE PERE — Local Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod churches hope to offer better programming and services by building a joint school.
St. Mark Lutheran Church in De Pere and Green Bay and St. John Lutheran Church in Wrightstown plan to open the Foundation Christian Academy to serve students prekindergarten to eighth grade for the 2014-15 school year.
The idea is to create a central school that will offer religious studies while also providing the educational programming, such as music courses or special education classes, that individual church schools can’t afford on their own, officials said. Current schools likely would close.
“Lutheran schools across the country are facing significant challenges,” said Jeremy Bock, president of the proposed new school. “The current funding model has served us well but is not sustainable.
“An area Christian school serving the needs of multiple congregations draws from a larger pool of students. We are losing schools and closing schools across the country. We need to consider a new model.”
St. Mark School, on the other hand, has seen growth. It served 225 students in kindergarten through eighth grade in 2010-11, and 237 this past school year. Administrators project 265 students for the 2013-14 school year, based on the number of members with young children.
The school will charge tuition, expected to range from $2,600 to $3,400, he said. The goal is to reduce current support from the congregation — 45 percent to 60 percent, on average — for Christian education to only 25 percent of the operating budget for each, he said.
Lisa Everard, who has two children attending St. Mark School, supports the idea of a new school.
“Christian education is something that’s very important to my family, teaching the right values and the right morals,” she said. “This opens up the opportunity to more families, to families who may belong to churches that don’t have schools. I was blessed. I had a Christian education all my life, and I wanted our kids to have it as well.”
Bock said the group hopes to encourage more Lutheran churches to join the partnership as plans move forward.
The new academy would sit on an independent campus and would not be tied to any congregation, nor would it be limited to Wisconsin Synod families. Busing would be available.
The group plans to locate the school in Lawrence or the southwest area of De Pere.
Fox Valley Lutheran High School in Appleton serves as the Wisconsin Synod secondary school for elementary schools in the Fox River Valley and Green Bay areas.
Fundraising efforts have started, Bock said.
The first phase of the project is expected to cost $12.4 million, and future expansion could cost an additional $3 million. About 75 to 100 prekindergarten and kindergarten students, and 300 in first through eighth grades could be enrolled during the first phase, he said, and the second wave would make room for another 150 students.
“So far the support has been very positive,” Bock said.
The new school would include improved technology, labs and art space, as well as teachers who are specialists in certain areas, such as special education or music.
— Patti Zarling writes for the Green Bay Press-Gazette; on Twitter @PGPattiZarling
'via Blog this'
One Day of Rah-Rah Before the Augsburg Confession
Is Forgotten for Another Year
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| The Coburg kept Luther safe during the Augsburg Diet. |
Today marks the anniversary of the Augburg Confession. My wife and I graduated from Augustana College, given the Latin name of the Augsburg Confession. The Swedish Lutherans who came to America were Pietists who quickly learned that the Confessions were a better guide than their cell groups. Influenced by Passavant and one of their own (trained at the Columbus seminary), they became more orthodox and confessional over time. The Augustana Synod honored the Lutherans Confessions in its church name, its primary college, and its seminary. They had 400,000 members when they merged with the LCA in 1962.
Many SynConference pastors will have their rah-ray day of celebration, marking another anniversary of this confession of faith. They will continue to wage war against justification by faith, even though their highly esteemed justification without faith is nowhere to be found in the Scriptures, Luther, or the Book of Concord.
Their UOJ is found in Samuel Huber and Halle University's Pietism. Gone are the days when a church leader had to be learned, a study of Christian doctrine and an expositor of the Scriptures. Now they are little more than insurance salesmen for Thrivent, lackeys of the Fuller Seminary crowd, and servants of their Father Below.
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| Luther described a Synod of Crows while he was cooped up in the Coburg. Did he foresee the SynConference Pietists proclaiming their imagined orthodoxy in their Pietistic Geneva gowns? |
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| Does anyone sing this and mean it today? |
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| Chemnitz rescued Selnecker from doctrinal compromise, so there is hope for SynConference - not much - but some. |
The Augsburg Confession, June 25, 1530.
Men risked their lives to confess the truth before their warrior emperor, Charles V, who hated the Lutherans.
The threat of Muslim invasion drew Charles away from his plan of destroying the budding Lutheran Church.
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| Emperor Charles V - "I speak Latin to my counselors, Spanish to God, and German to my horse." Notice the inbred Hapsburg jaw, which made closing his mouth difficult. |
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Jerry's Kids: From Penn State to the State Pen.
Institutional Cover-Ups in the SynConference and Catholicism:
Penn State
Most people realize that Penn State knew all about Defensive Coach Jerry Sandusky using his boys' charity to find, befriend, and rape boys. Penn State knew for at least 20 years. One account said that Sandusky still had an office in the athletic building until he was arrested. Here are some notables in the scandal, including a prosecutor who completely disappeared from the face of the earth. And so did his hard drive.
Many think Sandusky's predation was only part of a child prostitution ring. A similar one was broken up in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1973. The ring-leader was a Disciples of Christ staffer at their Ecumenical Continuing Education Center.
Where do the photos and videos come from, the ones that WELS staffer Joel Hochmuth was swapping with like-minded friends all over the Net? They come from boys being raped by predators like Sandusky.
Here is an article about Penn State's liability.
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| The cardinal sins before dying. Bevilacqua shredded evidence of his priests' abuse of children. |
Roman Catholics World-wide
The Church of Rome was known for moving predator priests around in 1987. The headlines began, but nothing much was done, except for punishing those who opposed it. The survivors began networking and putting together the facts. Enormous lawsuits were settled, and yet the same stories continue.
Clearly the Roman attitude is - a priest can do no wrong, and and a bishop is just plain infallible. Stories have erupted about Roman Catholic churches and institutions where children were preyed upon without ceasing. Any attempt to stop the criminal behavior is met with denial, silence. That continues to be Roman Catholic policy.
The Catholic bishops have engaged in some face-saving tactics, but the lawsuits and criminal trials continue. The latest to be convicted is a monsignor. The Very Reverend Monsignor Lynn was in charge of clergy appointments, so he was very much like a WELS or LCMS District Pope. His cardinal shredded incriminating documents, which is the policy of Missouri Synod District Popes. Some might call that felony obstruction of justice, but the prelates--whether Lutheran or Catholic--consider it good business.
When the Boston situation erupted, the man in charge of covering up for predatory priests, Cardinal Law, was promoted to Rome. Some say that vast numbers of clergy records are now stored in the Vatican, a sovereign state immune to subpoena from the US.
Father Maciel, Legion of Christ founder, never lost his popularity with Pope John Paul II, because his order was so lucrative in raking in the dough - $20 billion in assets. Maciel molested boys in the charity that he began (like Sandusky), fathered two children with one lady, and also abused one of his sons. He abused drugs, too.
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| Sandusky is preparing for a busman's holiday in prison. Paterno met his Maker already. |
SynConference Lutherans
The LCMS and WELS are as dishonest and abusive as the Roman Catholics, without the excuse of celibacy vows. Of course, the ELS follows behind, no different but statistically irrelevant.
When I made that point in Christian News, WELS SP Mark Schroeder immediately forced an apology from Herman Otten. The occasion was my review of Randy Engel's Rite of Sodomy, volume I, about Roman Catholic predators.
After the forced apology, the Joel Hochmuth scandal erupted, with the Director of Communications arrested by the FBI for file-swapping the most vile, disgusting graphics anyone could imagine. The Love Shack might well be compared to the Vatican during the reign of the Borgia popes.
SNAP said:
TMJ4 reports that Waukesha police arrested Joel Hochmuth, Director of Communications for the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, for reports of child pornography. The FBI cyber crime task force determined that child pornography was being downloaded by someone inside of Hochmuth’s residence.
Hochmuth is expected to appear in court today as Waukesha detectives continue to search the hard drives of his computers for additional evidence of child pornography. We applaud the efforts of the FBI and the Waukesha Police Department in their efforts to keep our children safe.
The President of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, Mark Schroeder, told TMJ4 that “this is not in keeping with the Joel Hochmuth he knows. And he is praying it is all some kind of misunderstanding”.
Although this sentiment may be understandable because the Synod President appears to be a friend and colleague of Hochmuth, it is important to keep in mind, as we are again learning from the recent developments at Penn State University, that those who prey on children are often respected members of the community. Friends, neighbors, and colleagues often find it impossible to believe that someone they know and respect could be capable of causing harm to a child. It is important to remember that most child predators are not lurking in the bushes; they are people who have often gained the trust and admiration of parents and their children.
If the charges against Hochmuth turn out to be credible it is important to know what steps the Synod President, Mark Schroeder, is going to implement to protect children. Schroeder should immediately notify the congregations of the Synod of the charges that have been made against Hochmuth. He should explain to his members and to the community how reports of sexual misconduct are handled by the Synod. In addition Schroeder should reach out to his members and encourage them to report any suspicions they have of possible misconduct by Hochmuth to law enforcement officials.
Missouri Synod leaders encouraged Darwin Schauer - a known, convicted sex predator to enter its alternative (drive-by) pastor program and take a small parish, where he molested again. When the facts came out, SP Harrison ordered silence and its ovine pastors silenced themselves. The Steadfast Lutherans care more about Holy Mother Missouri than they do the children in their own denomination. Silence and forgetting makes it go away.
SNAP wrote:
SNAP blasts LCMS officials, calls for criminal investigation
POSTED BY BARBARA DORRIS ON APRIL 16, 2012 · FLAG
It is deplorable that Darwin Schauer was hired as a pastor when officials knew that he had abused children in the past. Charges of negligence should be brought against these officials for placing this predator in a situation where he easily could – and did – abuse another child. We hope that justice will be served for the newest victim of this predator.
We applaud Rev. Don Kirchner for taking the fight to the LCMS church and district officials and getting to the truth of this situation. Yet Kirchner should not be acting alone; law enforcement officials should be investigating to see what laws, if any, were broken when these officials hired a known sex offender and put him around children. We hope that anyone – whether involved with the LCMS church or not – who may have any knowledge of Schauer’s crimes or the complicity of LCMS church and district officials (such as District President Don Fondow) to immediately report what they have seen, suspected, or suffered to police.
Read the story here: http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/234531/group/homepage/
Darwin Schauer is still in LCMS worker directory on 24 June 2012:
Here are two articles about Schauer:
Schauer story: part 1 of 2Schauer story: part 2 of 2:
Places mentioned in above article:
from: Blackduck, MN to: Lake George, MN
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| David Scaer, Concordia Seminary, Ft. Wayne |
 |
| Paul Scaer, once a Missouri pastor, is named in a lawsuit that was sent to me. Paul has met his maker, too. He died of AIDS as an ELCA member. |
bruce-church (https://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Jerry's Kids: From Penn State to the State Pen.Ins...":
Lawyer in Minneapolis for rape victims of church leaders or people in power:
http://www.facebook.com/AndersonAdvocates
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Third Sunday after Trinity.
Luke 15:1-10. Lost Sheep, Lost Coin
The Third
Sunday after Trinity, 2012
Pastor
Gregory L. Jackson
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship
Bethany
Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Time
The Hymn # 652 I Lay My Sins on Jesus 1.24
The
Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual
The
Gospel
Glory
be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The
Sermon Hymn #436 The Lord’s My Shepherd
1.33
You Are the Silver Coin
The
Communion Hymn # 190 Christ Is Arisen 1:52
The
Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn # 350 Jesus the Very Thought of Thee 1:53
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn # 350 Jesus the Very Thought of Thee 1:53
KJV 1 Peter
5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt
you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be
sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith,
knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in
the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal
glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect,
stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion
for ever and ever. Amen.
KJV Luke 15:1
Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And
the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and
eateth with them. 3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of
you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety
and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders,
rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends
and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep
which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one
sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need
no repentance. 8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one
piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till
she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends
and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found
the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the
presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Third Sunday After Trinity
Lord God,
heavenly Father, we all like sheep have gone astray, having suffered ourselves
to be led away from the right path by Satan and our own sinful flesh: We
beseech Thee graciously to forgive us all our sins for the sake of Thy Son,
Jesus Christ; and quicken our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may abide in
Thy word, and in true repentance and a steadfast faith continue in Thy Church
unto the end, and obtain eternal salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy
Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world
without end Amen.
First
Luther Sermon on Luke 15:1ff
Second
Luther Sermon on Luke 15:1ff.
You Are the Silver Coin
Lenski:
Luke
again offers only enough information to indicate how Jesus was prompted to
utter the following parables. The time, the place, and the other circumstances
are immaterial. Once before, in 5:30, the same class of men raised the same
objection. See 3:12 on the publicans [tax collectors]; the open transgressors
were classed with them, being notorious sinners of various kinds in a society
that was very different from ours, in which the Pharisaic, ostentatious type of
holiness dominated the public and by contrast made men like these tax
collectors, etc., practically outcasts.
One
of the marked features of Jesus’ ministry was the attraction of these outcasts
to him. The Pharisees and the scribes only scorned and damned them, but the
holy Jesus had a way of salvation open for them, one that, indeed, condemned
their sins in no uncertain terms but at the same time opened the divine way of
remission for all sins. So they drew near to him in numbers (all) and did this
continuously at the present time as the periphrastic imperfect states. They
kept drinking in his words eagerly, therefore we have the durative present
infinitive.
Lenski,
R. C. H.: The Interpretation of St. Luke's Gospel. Minneapolis, MN :
Augsburg Publishing House, 1961, S. 793.
This Gospel
contains the teaching we hold and boast of as our chief doctrine, which is
called the true Christian teaching, namely, the doctrine of grace and
forgiveness of sins, and Christian liberty from the law. It is a very loving
and friendly admonition to repentance and the knowledge of Christ. And it is
ever a pity, that a godless, impudent person should be permitted to hear such
an excellent, comforting and joyful sermon. And yet it is more sad, that every
one graduates so soon in it and masters it so that he thinks he knows it so
well that he can learn nothing more from it. Yet God, our Lord, does not permit
himself to become vexed or weary in repeating it yearly, yea, every day, and
enforces it as though he knew nothing else to preach, and as though he had no
other skill or art. While we poor, wretched people immediately become so
overlearned, so satisfied, tired of it and disgusted besides, that we have no
longer a desire or love for it.
Jesus
repeatedly told the crowds that He did not come to teach those who were already
righteous or healthy in their own eyes, but those who were hungry for the
medicine He had to offer.
We all know
what that is like. When we are sick, with a burning throat, or another ailment,
we do not ask about the weather for the trip to the doctor and pharmacy. We do
not shop for a discount on the medicine. We want the treatment and the medicine
as soon as possible, and we feel immediate relief.
One problem
with antibiotics is that they work so fast that people forget to take the whole
course of medicine and can end up worse off than before.
The religious
are always separating themselves into two classes. They are the righteous ones,
based on works, and cannot associate with the unclean. What was true of the
Pharisees then is just as true of the Pietists now. The real issue is the same –
how does one become forgiven, how to have the righteousness of God, the peace
that passes all understanding?
KJV Luke 15:1
Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And
the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and
eateth with them.
Verse 1
reveals the great crime of Jesus. The tax collectors and the open sinners
clamored to hear Him. They were attracted to His gracious manner and His willingness
to be with them. Looking around, they did not see the gratuitous sneer, the
monkey face that told them they were the unclean beast in the midst of the holy
ones. Everyone seemed to be in the same situation.
An open
sinner was someone whose carnal sins were so obvious that no one questioned it.
That might include a life of crime, drunkenness, immorality, and so forth.
Those whose sins are on the inside like to look down on those who are open and
obvious sinners.
The tax
collectors were easy to hate, because they extorted tax money to pay for the
occupation forces from the despised Roman Empire. It was bad enough to have
powerful soldiers enforcing the law, but to think that the citizens paid for
the privilege – that was too much. Because of the system of tax farming, as it
was called later in Europe, the tax collector did better if he forced more
money out of the Jewish people. We no longer have that. Instead we have tax
agents who get promotions for getting a better yield from those they audit.
Jesus knew
what the Pharisees and scribes thought about this. The murmuring is not for His
benefit but for ours. Doubtless the eager throngs felt the disapproval and saw
the religious leaders muttering to one another. “He welcomes sinners! He sits
down to eat dinner with them!”
Shunning is
an effective way to control people who do not think for themselves. In academic
life, the wrong thought expressed in the open can eliminate promotions and
tenure. In politics, people refuse to be leaders, for fear of the organized
campaign of hatred sure to follow.
Church
leaders have harnessed the power of the Pharisee. Few dare to agree with the
dissenter or to be seen with that person. I had lunch with a friend at a WELS
convention years ago. He said later, “You made me the most popular person
here.?” I asked how. He said, “Everyone is coming up to me, saying – how do you
know him?” It was not meant to be a friendly question. I have had people make a
point of not seeing me, making a face at me, even glaring across a large
auditorium at me.
Anyone who
thinks that forgiveness comes from conformity in this world is blind to Paul’s
admonition – Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the
renewal of your mind.
Jesus knew
the mindset of the Pharisee, which is a natural outgrowth of seeing
righteousness as based on works. That was not true Judaism, but it was the
spirit of the times, which made others all the more hungry and thirsty for true
righteousness.
If you think
that was aimed at the Pharisees and the Jews alone, you must think they are
sitting around reading the Gospel lessons. This parable is aimed at the
Pharisee in all of us and also aimed at those who feel the grip and terror of
their sins.
3 And he spake this parable unto them,
saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them,
doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which
is lost, until he find it?
These
parables are so compelling that no one can disagree with their factual
foundation. However, the problem remains in interpreting them. As Luther said,
we grow tired of the Gospel and no longer pay attention to its wisdom. Worst of
all, people recite this and then act as if the opposite were true. For
instance, their definition of “open transgressor” is one who is known to
disagree with the synod or the pastor. Excommunicate! – and they do. But they
turn around and absolve the unrepentant abuser because it is good for public
relations.
We enjoy
having shepherding dogs, because their software tells them to protect us and
care for us. All three gather at the front door and bark away the delivery man,
who is there to harm us, according to their barks. When Precious, the Shetland
Sheepdog, ran away from me and lost herself, I asked Sassy Sue to find her. I
opened the back door, and said to Sassy, “Find Precious.” Sassy ran to the spot
where Precious was and guided her to the front door.
When Precious
was lost, I immediately wanted to find her. That was the only thing on my mind.
We have all kinds of critters in the woods behind our house, and she is older
and more fragile. When an animal is lost, we do not worry about the ones still
safe, saying, “Most of them are fine.”
We go help the lost one.
Jesus
question can only be answered one way, even among the most hardened. Any
person, any Pharisee would go find the sheep – and not rest until it was found.
Jesus is clearly saying, “This is God’s work, to rescue the lost, not to praise
the secure and satisfied.”
5 And when he hath found it, he
layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he
calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice
with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
Here are
several actions that identify God’s attitude toward the forgiven sinner. The
lost animal wants to be found soon enough. It is helpless and more needy by the
moment. Little Precious has the agility and speed to escape my grasp. When the
three of us reached the front door, Precious looked around for an escape route,
because she imagined she was in trouble with me. She sat down instead, content
to trust me to take her inside.
The parable
shows the basics of God’s actions. He pursues the lost, frightened, weak one. God
comes to us with the Gospel. He makes sure that we hear the Word of God, that
we have teachers and preachers. If we drive them out and starve them, that is
our problem, one we have created for ourselves. That is the situation today,
when few can find a traditional Lutheran worship service where the historic
creeds, liturgy, hymns, and sermon emphasize the Means of Grace.
That loss was
not God’s doing but man’s. I have watched it happen for 40 years while the
clergy did nothing. In fact, the Lutherans have been far weaker in saying
anything than the Calvinists, who are disgusted with this turn of events.
First of all, the shepherd rejoices at finding the
lost sheep. The self-righteous walk by on the other side, sneering at the
person who is lost in sin.
Secondly, he places the weakened sheep on His
shoulders. This represents how God carries the weakened sinner back to a place
of healing. Once again, this is God’s act. The sheep resting on the shoulders
reminds us of faith.
Like sheep,
we are both dumb and stubborn. We get ourselves into trouble that way. When we
recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd we trust in His goodness and relax in
His care.
Thirdly, he invites his friends and neighbors
to rejoice with him, declaring my lost sheep has been found.
This shows
the divine grace of our Savior, because we as humans are likely to denounce the
sinner for being lost and scold him no end for getting himself into trouble.
One girl from a Fundamentalist sect got drunk all the time, because it was one
way to drive her parents crazy. They scolded her no end. One night she came
home and passed out on the floor, in a pool of her own vomit. Her parents took
care of her, cleaned her up, and did not say a word. She woke up clean in fresh
clothes in her bed. She said, “That is when I realized my parents really loved
me.” Of course they loved her when they scolded her, but she did not want to
see the love. The last act opened her eyes.
People often
look at God that way. They see every negative experience as God’s condemnation,
perhaps because they only think in terms of the Law, even when rebelling
against the Law. In questioning God’s goodness they fail to see the goodness,
the grace freely offered and the constant help always there.
The last
verse is a pointed barb against the self-righteous –
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy
shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and
nine just persons, which need no repentance.
The false
concept is – God must be happy with me because I am so good, and I wish
everyone could be just like me. Jesus corrects this by saying that the
rejoicing over a lost sinner repenting is greater than those 99 who need no
repentance.
Left unsaid
but clear to everyone is this – we all need repentance. If we think otherwise,
we are righteous only in our own eyes.
Repentance
does not mean – change your ways. In
the New Testament it means sorrow for sin and faith in the Gospel. From
forgiveness comes the power to fight against temptation. Man by himself is
unable to do it. The Christian’s life is one of contrition for sin and faith in
the Gospel promise of forgiveness.
The silver coin
8 Either what
woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a
candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
One thing we
have in common is losing something. And we search for it everywhere. I needed
my birth certificate so I went through hundreds of photos and old documents
looking for it.
This part of
the lesson is so important that the person who knows it, remembers it, and
applies it will have the Gospel in a few words. Why did Jesus switch genders
and make the main person a woman? This is the art of the divine parable. Men
identify with the shepherd, women with the lost coin.
There are
three actions:
1.
Light
a candle.
2.
Sweep
the whole house.
3.
Seek
diligently until the coin is found.
Have you
crawled under the bed with a flashlight? Have you cleaned the entire house to
find one thing? Have you kept looking until you found the lost object?
This shows
the nature of God, to do everything possible to reclaim us. Luther – as always –
put the lesson in a few word – You are the lost coin in His hand.
You are that
unique soul so precious to God that He must grasp you again when you are
slipping away. One college student said, “I took my lessons for granted until I
was taught by people who hated God’s Word. Then I realized how easily faith was
stolen away.”
I see all
these remedies for self-esteem, but they do not include the Gospel. The Gospel
says, “You are that silver coin in God’s hand.” Have you wandered away or run
away. He has lit a candle to find you in the darkness, so you see His light
again. He is sweeping the house in search of you. He may use your friends or
families or co-workers to reclaim you. He may use the most obnoxious person you
know to say the right thing at the right moment. If you are still distant,
rebellious or indifferent, He will search until you are in His grasp again.
9 And when she hath found it,
she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice
with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto
you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that
repenteth.
And when you
are found, God does not scold but rejoices. The angels of God do not scold but
rejoice.
21.
Therefore, when you feel your sins gnawing at you, and feel your heart
trembling and agitated, place yourself beside the publicans where they are
standing. These are the very ones who shall receive the Gospel. Do so joyously,
and say: “Oh, God! it is thy word that says there shall be joy in heaven over
one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine righteous persons,
who need no repentance, and that all the righteous and angels are to interpose
and cover up sins. Now, Oh, God! I have come to this that I feel my sins. I am
already judged. I need but the one Shepherd who seeketh me; and I will
therefore freely venture on thy Gospel.”
22. It is
thus that you come to God. You are already the sheep placed upon his shoulders.
You have found the Shepherd. You are the piece of silver in the hand. You are
the one over whom is joy in heaven in the presence of all the angels. We are
not to worry, if we do not experience or feel this at once. Sin will daily
decrease, and its sting will drive you to seek God. You must struggle against
this feeling by faith, and say: “Oh, God! I know thou hast said this, and I
lean upon thy Word. I am the sheep and the piece of silver; thou the shepherd
and the woman.”
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churchmousec (http://churchmousec.wordpress.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Third Sunday after Trinity. Luke 15:1-10. Lost She...":
Thank you, Dr Jackson, for this commentary, which is highly appropriate for our times.
Never in my life have I seen so many exalting themselves above others, which also serves as a mirror for my own sins of self-righteousness.
Churchmouse