Melanchthon Did NOT Use Ambrose To Teach UOJ. This Is NOT the Golden Casket Holding UOJ - Just the Opposite

Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV

That We Obtain Remission of Sins by Faith Alone in Christ.

103] Here and there among the Fathers similar testimonies are extant. For Ambrose says in his letter to a certain Irenaeus: Moreover, the world was subject to Him by the Law for the reason that, according to the command of the Law, all are indicted, and yet, by the works of the Law, no one is justified, i.e., because, by the Law, sin is perceived, but guilt is not discharged. The Law, which made all sinners, seemed to have done injury, but when the Lord Jesus Christ came, He forgave to all sin which no one could avoid, and, by the shedding of His own blood, blotted out the handwriting which was against us. This is what he says in Rom. 5:20: "The Law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." Because after the whole world became subject, He took away the sin of the whole world, as he [John] testified, saying John 1:29: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." And on this account let no one boast of works, because no one is justified by his deeds. But he who is righteous has it given him because he was justified after the laver [of Baptism]. Faith, therefore, is that which frees through the blood of Christ, because he is blessed "whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered," Ps. 32:1,104] These are the words of Ambrose, which clearly favor our doctrine; he denies justification to works, and ascribes to faith that it sets us free 105] through the blood of Christ. Let all the Sententiarists, who are adorned with magnificent titles, be collected into one heap. For some are called angelic; others, subtile, and others irrefragable [that is, doctors who cannot err.] When all these have been read and reread, they will not be of as much aid for understanding Paul as is this one passage of Ambrose.

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GJ - One of the fads of UOJ is the use of Ambrose to prove UOJ in the Book of Concord. I am always open to argumentation, and I enjoy seeing how one of the great theologians makes his points.

First of all, this document is literally the Defense of the Augsburg Confession. To clarify how important the 1530 confession was, the Formula of Concord authors confessed with Luther that they were "theologians of the Augsburg Confession."

Luther identified with Augsburg, and the Concordists did as well.

Melanchthon was an early member of the Reformation and a lucid defender of justification by faith. Please show me in the 1530 confession where he departed from that stance, the very stance where he was a pioneer on his own. I asked Robert Preus about that, and Preus agreed that was true.

Second - what is the title of this section in the Apology?

That We Obtain Remission of Sins by Faith Alone in Christ.

A good writer will set up his theme and follow that theme, especially where so much is at stake. Therefore, the point of this entire section is justification by faith alone. As my friends say, JBFA.

Third - Melanchthon was clearly in harmony with Luther's distinction (made in the Galatians commentary) that there are indeed two justifications:

• Justification by works.
• Justification by faith.

Is the issue in this paragraph justification without faith? No, because the Reformers never considered such a ridiculous notion. That came from Samuel Huber and other heretics. This is Melancthon, who gave up a fabulous estate (of books) to stay with the Reformation. Remaining a Catholic would have made him a hero and the owner of a priceless library.

The Romanists were (and still are) arguing for faith plus works in justification. That means, for those addled from study at Mequon, that we must have works added to be forgiven. Therefore, Melancthon used one of the great theologians of the papacy to eliminate works from the formula. 

Nor did Melancthon stumble stupidly into the fantasy land of UOJ. Did he not teach the Means of Grace in the Augsburg Confession? Did he not teach the efficacy of the Word, Law and Gospel? The pea-brains of Mequon, Bethany, St. Louis, and Ft. Wayne cannot grasp the basics of Luther's doctrine, the truths of that tiny little booklet called the Augsburg Confession.

They remind me of the ideologues ranting about health insurance as a "Constitutional right" without knowing the lack of individual rights in the Constitution itself.

So how did Melanchthon lure people into thinking this paragraph is all about UOJ?

One must take into account the mule-headed ignorance of the UOJ crowd. They know everything. They do not need to study anything. Everyone needs to listen to them, because they never stop talking, censoring, accusing, weaving and dodging, hedging and trimming.

They love John 1:29 for UOJ, but the Fourth Gospel does not say that at all. 

KJV John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Lenski:

The verb itself may mean either “to take up and bear” or “to take away,” “to remove.” For the latter compare John 11:48; 15:2; 17:15; 19:31 and 38, passages which show that this meaning is beyond doubt. If the meaning “to take up,” “to bear,” is preferred, the force of the present tense would be peculiar: the Lamb in the act of taking up. Something would have to be supplied, namely, the very thought brought out by the other meaning. For this Lamb will not again lay down its burden, will not carry its burden indefinitely, but will take it completely away. So we correct Luther’s version traegt and abide by our English versions, “taketh away.”

Lenski, R. C. H.: The Interpretation of St. John's Gospel. Minneapolis, MN : Augsburg Publishing House, 1961, S. 127.

The verse does not mean "the Lamb of God who absolves all unbelievers, without faith and without the Word." As Lenski wrote, it means not only to bear and carry those sins, but to remove them in the atonement.

UOJ salesmen are always crafty.

UOJ Storm-Puppets have a terrible hang-up with the atonement. They cannot distinguish between the atonement and justification by faith. Both become one and both become their Gospel. One must hear these addled leaders explain themselves to get the full impact of their error.

I have heard people like Wayne Mueller tell an audience of teens, "Mission work is easy. Just walk up and say to people - Yours sins are already forgiven." Luther said that people will respond to this like a cow staring at a newly painted fence.

I can tell the poor, suffering readers of Ichabod one truth - UOJ is the only dogma of WELS, Missouri, and the Little Sect on the Prairie. They cannot see anything else. Everything is explained and excused with UOJ. And UOJ is the source of their crimes, scandals, and abuse.

Likewise, they cannot find justification by faith in Romans 5, even though the theme is clearly - 

KJV Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of 

God.

I have mentioned many times that UOJists are allergic to faith, that this allergy leads to rash statements. This paragraph is their golden casket, but it contains JFBA, not UOJ. True to the theme announced in the heading, forgiveness comes through faith. They hold up this paragraph but warn against faith. Have they read this paragraph? I think not. The great Ambrose paragraph is another gem about justification by faith alone.

They are Biblical, these UOJ fanatics - The blind lead the blind and fall into a pit.

The message of the atonement is the Gospel, and the Gospel is received through faith.

Oddly enough, the UOJ Enthusiasts resort to Decision Theology, as Walther did, when they say that to be forgiven, one must make a decision in favor of universal absolution.

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Pastor emeritus Nathan Bickel has left a new comment on your post "Melanchthon Did NOT Use Ambrose To Teach UOJ. This...":

Ichabod -

Nice mini commentary! I think you make the point how corrupted teaching is fomented and promulgated by corrupted leadership.

One of the major reasons for this corruption is, from the wrong interpretation of the text. You illustrate this (by quoting Lenski) when it is shown how John 1:29 is [only] translated to mean, “takes away.”

"Takes away" as Lenski says, can also be, "taking up," "bearing." Thus it is very easy to understand why the Lutheran theological academia crowd of universal objective justification enthusiast zealots, become entangled with their false doctrine. They overlook one of the basic hermeneutical tools which non seminary students of the Scriptures, use effectively; that being, comparing Scripture to Scripture.

Allow me to do some comparing Scripture with the John 1:29 Scripture:

I'll add the corollary comparing Scripture of Isaiah 53:4 - "Surely He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows....."
Also: 1 Peter 2:14 - "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body....."

The emphasis in John 1:29 is on "bore;" or, "bare." Not on erasing [taking away] as the myopic UOJ disciples would have their congregations mistakenly believe.

Finally, you say:

".....Oddly enough, the UOJ Enthusiasts resort to Decision Theology, as Walther did, when they say that to be forgiven, one must make a decision in favor of universal absolution."

Yes! That is spot on. I've stated this "decision" mentality in another way in another comment. But, you have zeroed in on that aspect of UOJ mesmerized fixation - and, it can be traced to C.F. Walther as you adeptly illustrate with his black and white pic; and quote.

One other thing: Thinking of what you stated about WELS Wayne Mueller misleading teens, by saying:

"Mission work is easy. Just walk up and say to people - Yours sins are already forgiven." I say to that - No wonder why Lutherans in general have for umpteen years been bereft of much mission success; because their approach is man orientated rather than Holy Spirit led. The corruption of preaching universal objective justification to the sinner is as about as successful as telling an ugly wart hog that she can transform himself into a respectable farm sow.

Nathan M. Bickel

www.thechristianmessage.org

www.moralmatters.org

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Pastor emeritus Nathan Bickel has left a new comment on your post "Melanchthon Did NOT Use Ambrose To Teach UOJ. This...":

Ichabod -

I just thought of something. I thought how the universal objective justification error is being continually reinforced in WELS [and other Lutheran church bodies]

Part of the liturgy song quite frequently, is:

"Lamb of God; You 'take away' the sin of the world........"

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bruce-church (http://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Melanchthon Did NOT Use Ambrose To Teach UOJ. This...":

UOJer's hit new low: The Gospel equals free beer:

http://steadfastlutherans.org/?p=22337


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bruce-church (http://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Melanchthon Did NOT Use Ambrose To Teach UOJ. This...":

UOJers play to antinomian instincts with Rev. Fisk's new book:

http://steadfastlutherans.org/?p=22372

Broken: 7 "Christian" Rules That Every Christian Ought to Break as Often as Possible

http://www.cph.org/p-19471-broken-7-christian-rules-that-every-christian-ought-to-break-as-often-as-possible.aspx?SearchTerm=broken

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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Melanchthon Did NOT Use Ambrose To Teach UOJ. This...":

Here's a recent comment from Joe Krohn - JBFA anathamatizer and UOJ advocate:

Joe Krohn said...
Christ came to save the world and not condemn it.

If I were a thirsty man and found a well, the well would not be real unless I drank from it.

There is no comfort in your gospel, fellas.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012 11:09:00 PM GMT+10:00

http://extranos.blogspot.com/2012/08/uojers-deny-they-are-huberites-at.html

The rationalism of UOJ in a teeny tiny nutshell.

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LPC said...

Joe,

I do not know what your metaphor is all about. At least this is what I know, the well is real whether you drink from it or not. Your action does not make something real or false.

Lastly, what you have is a gospel of false comfort, would you prefer that? Your formulation of the Gospel denies the faith created by the HS through the MoG.

In fact in your formulation, the MoG does not mediated such that the person comes to faith and thereby get justified at the point of faith. Your MoG declares already a reality that happened to them be they believe it or not.

Your position is inconsistent with your own doctrine of universal absolution/justification. Huber was a better theologian than you folks, for he rightly deduced that if universal absolution is true all the rest are superfluous, which is quasi-universalistic.

LPC

Open versus Closed Discussions:Hate-Filled UOJ Fanatics Hate the Truth

Martin Luther - a new theologian to study - for Mequon graduates.

Pope Paul the Plagiarist says that I rob people of the comfort of forgiveness without faith. Lenski used to call that "carnal security." If I have robbed the poorly taught of their carnal security, I am pleased.

The UOJ Enthusiasts have been trying to silence me for many years, even though I have no position to threaten them, no money to give or deny.

In contrast, I want people to study the crafts and assaults of McCain, Cascione, Werning, Olson, Kelm, Valleskey, and Moldstad. The only way to defeat false doctrine is to know their weapons, take away those weapons, and throw the Gospel down in defeat. And bounce the rubble.

UOJ leaders hate discussion, unlike the Means of Grace people. I am thankful that the obdurate ignorance and false claims of the crypto-Universalists have gotten me into a study of the post-Reformation era. P. Leyser? I knew who he was. I used to own his edition of the Examination of the Council of Trent, in Latin. The book is now in a secure, undisclosed location. 

But I did not know anything about Leyser. He was chosen as an expert on justification by faith early in his career. He was an editor of the Book of Concord, 1580. And he demolished the UOJ of Samuel Huber. Note - there were conferences on justification during and after the Reformation. Those conferences led to the superb discussion of The Righteousness of Faith in the Formula of Concord.

This is how sad and sick Lutherdom has become - most Lutheran pastors and few Lutheran leaders have any grasp of the Formula of Concord. 

Lutherans have never been afraid of study and discussion. Papalists hate study and discussion. 

Looking Forward to the Galatians Commentary Study

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "New Bible Study - The Galatians Commentary of Luth...":

Looking forward to this study. Luther's Commentary on Galatians abolishes the false gospel of Universal Justification.

Here's a link to Luther quotes dealing with lies within the church. This one defends our claim that the Lutheran Synods and apostate clergy and laity who promote and defend the 100% false gospel of UOJ are of the devil (acknowledging that there are churches, pastors and laity who do not confess the Christ denying doctrine of UOJ and are still of Christ's Church. But there are few and fewer still who are willing to stand openly with Christ and publicly defend His Chief and Central doctrine of Scripture. A person cannot remain on the fence for long because it indicates a lack of faith and trust in God's Word and leads others to act in the same offensive manner.

Luther
"But to return to our point: They must themselves admit, whether they like it or not, that the church of Christ neither lies nor deceives... Therefore the holy church cannot and may not lie or suffer false doctrine, but must teach nothing except what is holy and true, that is, God's word alone; and where it teaches a lie it is idolatrous and the whore-church of the devil" (LW 41:214).

And many more...enjoy!
http://www.ccmverax.org/LutherLies.htm#Church 

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GJ - Thanks for the link, Brett. 

New Bible Study - The Galatians Commentary of Luther

Brett trumped my suggestion with this free edition:

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "New Bible Study - The Galatians Commentary of Luth...":

Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians (1535)
by Martin Luther
Translated by Theodore Graebner
(Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1949)

http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/luther/gal/web/gal-inx.html 

This text was prepared by Laura J. Hoelter for Project Wittenberg by Robert E. Smith and is in the public domain. You may freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any comments or suggestions to:

Rev. Robert E. Smith
Walther Library
Concordia Theological Seminary.

E-mail: smithre@mail.ctsfw.edu
Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA
Phone: (260) 452-3149 - Fax: (260) 452-2126
This is the printed version of the Graebner, if you want to buy a book.
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Kregel edition

 I was suggesting the Kregel green paperback, Luther's Galatians Commentary. I am going to post and use the Graebner edition instead.

http://www.alibris.com/booksearch?qwork=1202209&matches=28&cm_sp=works*listing*title

This link seems to be the same one, the Kregel:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0825431212/ref=dp_olp_used_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=used

We will start the Sunday after this. We are finishing Hebrews 13 this Sunday.

I will be preparing an orderly set of graphics based on the Kregel, using those quotations and page numbers.

Another option is the American Edition, which is two volumes. That is more expensive, even on the used market. But if you have it - hey.

And there are other editions and the Kregel. The one I have posted on the blog (links above) is a shorter version. I wonder if it was an earlier effort. I have not found out yet.

The larger version is a late commentary, very mature in expressing Luther on justification by faith.

Another source for the green Kregel edition:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1635019.Commentary_On_Galatians

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Pastor emeritus Nathan Bickel has left a new comment on your post "New Bible Study - The Galatians Commentary of Luth...":

Ichabod -

Are you going to post a comment on the Steadfastscrubbing .org "Lutheran" website alerting them of this Luther [online] treasure, since they have been forbidden by their moderators and the McCaininites from accessing this site?

***

GJ - Steadfast blocked me without telling me. Some time ago I posted one or two non-threatening things, part of a discussion.

Abusive Churches: Leaving Them Behind

Pastoral care in abusive church bodies.

Abusive Churches: Leaving Them Behind:


In a previous article called Abusive Churches, I discussed the characteristics of abusive churches.(1) As a result of the questions and feedback I have received, I felt it might be helpful to share some positive steps to recovery from an abusive church experience.

Leaving an unhealthy church situation can leave some very deep scars. One example of the collateral damage is a very painful exit process. Those who leave an unhealthy church situation suffer isolation, bitterness, embarrassment, grief, and anger. This is coupled with confusion and wondering how God could let this happen. They also chide themselves for getting into such a group and staying in the organization as long as they did.


'via Blog this'

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Pastor emeritus Nathan Bickel has left a new comment on your post "Abusive Churches: Leaving Them Behind":

Ichabod -

This is an excellent article which you have linked. I especially like what it says about "abusive leaders." Sadly and pathetically, so, I believe that is happening in many Christian churches; Lutheran churches, included.

Here, is the portion of what I am referring [to]:

Excerpt:

>>>>>>>> ........ Abusive leaders use their position to demand loyalty and submission. Ken Blue states, "I have heard many pastors say to their congregations, 'Because I am the pastor, you must follow me.' Their demand was not based on truth or the God-directedness of their leadership but on their title. That is a false basis of authority . . . any appeal to authority based on position, title, degree or office is false. The only authority God recognizes and to which we should submit to is truth." ....... <<<<<<<<

http://www.batteredsheep.com/abusive_02.html

I still think that what seminaries and Bible [leader] schools lack is a practical training for their perspective pastoral graduates. Would that these schools pumping out candidates to fill Christian pulpits have "on the job" training on sheep farms, learning the whole process of tending and caring for a sheep fold. So much of the Scripture's terminology is related in Shepard and sheep metaphors. Also, in that same vein of thought, it would not hurt for perspective pastors to work in some vineyards; learning the cycle of planting to wine press pressing.

Finally, - and, I hate to refer again to the common error, now rampant in Christendom; that being, the preached and promulgated error of General Universalism; but, I see how that destructive doctrine hinders the full fledge teaching and preaching about the Holy Spirit. And, when pastors ignore the Holy Spirit; they become abusive. I believe that there is a direct linkage.

Nathan M. Bickel

www.thechristianmessage.org

www.moralmatters.org

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solafide (http://solafide.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Abusive Churches: Leaving Them Behind":

I agree that there needs to be more emphasis on actually serving the needs of the flock instead of the constant pedestal building that happens, especially in the WELS schools.

Very few pastors overseeing vicars and teachers overseeing student teachers concentrate on the really important things. They're all too worried about learning how to write a sermon (they can't do this before vicar year?! seriously, I know pastors who spent weeks getting a vicar's sermon up to par) or teaching that perfect math lesson. Of course, these aspects are important, but the most important aspect is preaching and teaching the Gospel.

As I said, MLC is too busy building and putting teachers on pedestals with advanced degrees and certifications, and the "pastor" has always been put on a pedestal, and now WLS grads are making sure people know that they are better - they know Greek!

Denominations That Abuse Their Members and Pastors

"Anathema sit!"

Various articles on the Net remind me how abusive the denominations are today. The more they rely on the hierarchy, the more abusive they are. Nevertheless, congregations and pastors accept this for the most part, because they fear the abuse turning on them.

Pope John gave Rolf Preus a vacation
and got rid of him during the "vacation."
Ministers should take a stay-cation when this option is offered.

Pope John the Malefactor forced congregations to accept the newest variation on church and ministry. If not, the pastor and congregation would be kicked out of the Little Sect on the Prairie. After doing as much damage as possible, John Moldstad went on a trip around the world, at ELS expense, to see the Lord's work first-hand, taking some pals along.

The Episcopal Church is a leading example, mortgaging their headquarters so they can sue their own congregations and bishops. The ELCA has used similar tactics to enforce its rules, bragging about their reconciling attempts with those once denied rostered status.

There is no divide between the extreme Left and the so-called conservative groups. As the ELS has shown, even a tiny sect will bully and threaten people into submission.

Abusive Characteristics:

"A central feature of an abusive church is control-oriented leadership. The leader in an abusive church is dogmatic, self-confident, arrogant, and the spiritual focal point in the lives of his followers."

Control is everything in ELCA, WELS, the ELS, the CLC (sic). There may be illusions of participating, even with voting, but everyone knows the outcome before it starts. The process (see ChurchMouse) is there to eliminate dissent and to promote acceptance of the agenda.

The bishops, DPs, Circuit Pastors and camp followers have no concept of humility. Even the mildest questioning throws them into towering rages. They could tear up trees by their roots, as Luther once wrote.

"Abusive churches are characterized by the manipulation of their members. Manipulation is the use of external forces to get others to do what someone else wants them to do. Here manipulation is used to get people to submit to the leadership of the church. The tactics of manipulation include the use of guilt, peer pressure, intimidation, and threats of divine judgment from God for disobedience. Often harsh discipline is carried out publicly to promote ridicule and humiliation."

Shunning is the most obvious method used in various church bodies. Ministers and congregations fear being tossed into the outer darkness. They know from the past what it means to have 99% of their friends go silent or hostile. Best friends will even phone or visit to open up more wounds. One Missouri pastor told me how he lost all his friends the moment he left, only to get them back (as if nothing happened) years later when  
he rejoined. Bill Bischoff in St. Louis could not stand the fact that he could no longer take out books from his seminary library when he joined the LCR. He came back to Missouri. His wife could go to the ladies' meetings again. What joy. She even spoke to the national meeting. Acceptance - the fatted calf killed in thanksgiving.

Ridicule and humiliation? I have witnessed so many examples that I hardly know where to start. WELS likes to drive pastors out, break them, and welcome them back as shell-shocked survivors lucky to have any job at all. The prodigals who return will never murmur again - or be in contact with those who do. 

The shunned will hear all kinds of fanciful stories leaked to their friends. If they object to this, they are "bitter."

"The third characteristic of abusive churches is the rigid, legalistic lifestyle of their members. This rigidity is a natural result of the leadership style. Abusive churches require unwavering devotion to the church from their followers. Allegiance to the church has priority over allegiance to God, family, or anything else."
I translate this as Ten Thousand Unwritten Rules. One is - never question the leadership about anything. A minister can embezzle, molest children, or murder his wife. False doctrine is no problem - it is a resume enhancer. But if he questions the leaders, he is on the radar for elimination. 

People will say, "Write a letter," as SP Schroeder urges (meaning - Don't bother me). Or - you have to sit down with that person and explain what is wrong. But those are simply first steps toward being shunned, humiliated, and removed. And shunned some more. And having the family members and friends shunned for not joining in the shunning.

"In churches like these, people begin to lose their personal identity and start acting like programmed robots. Many times, the pressure and demands of the church will cause a member to have a nervous breakdown or fall into severe depression."

Another part of this is being a Keeper of the Lies. A pastor may be known for an openly degenerate life, but the lies about him must continue because the truth would reflect badly on Holy Mother Church. The professor was not arrested for being a drunken driver because the lawyer got that charge erased. Nobody went to Fuller because I just said so.

What I have found most disturbing is the robotic responses of WELS pastors to the same issue, a verbatim response. If D. James Kennedy's name came up, the response was, "He is an Arminian. At least they accept the universal atonement. The Calvinists have a limited atonement." I had two different men say the same words, in completely different circumstances. Another one was, "Don't say capitalist. Say free enterprise." One pastor said that, then another weeks later. The effect of such responses is to stifle independent thinking, even in the use of certain terms. I find it spooky and unsettling.

Many times the required response is a lie, and everyone knows it. To identify the lie as a deception means one is leaving the reservation, which is not allowed.

"...abusive churches usually denounce all other Christian churches. They see themselves as spiritually elite. They feel that they alone have the truth and all other churches are corrupt." 

Each Lutheran sect denounces all the others while working with all the others. The "conservative" Lutherans supposedly know all about the errors of Babtists, Meffdists, and the rest, but they spend an inordinate amount of time and money studying ministry with those same errorists. Do not point that out. Oh no. It is like the Mormon faculty member who wrote that the Mormon faculty at the Mormon college drank Coke all the time. Death threats followed.

Synod President Mark Schroeder and his homosexual Director of Communications, Joel Hochmuth, sent out a letter to everyone denouncing ELCA's honest stance on homosexuality. That letter was still posted on a WELS congregation's websty long after Hochmuth was arrested for swapping man-boy rape files with other degenerates. When I pointed out the irony, the letter disappeared from the congregation's websty - but I had already preserved it on this blog.

Try bringing that up at the next circuit meeting.

"The sixth characteristic follows naturally. Because abusive churches see themselves as elite, they expect persecution in the world and even feed on it. Criticism and exposure by the media are seen as proof that they are the true church being persecuted by Satan. However, the persecution received by abusive churches is different from the persecution received by Jesus and the Apostles.

Jesus and the Apostles were persecuted for preaching the truth. Abusive churches bring on much of their negative press because of their own actions."

Abusive church bodies hold themselves above the rest, so the leaders cannot be questioned and the lies must be kept in their secure lock-box. They do not teach the cross, but glory in their material achievements instead. Yet they sigh and moan about how difficult it is to be so pure among so many swinish denominations - the same ones where they worship and study.

Animal Farm is a good allegory for the denominations today.
I told one pastor years ago, "You are Snowball." He agreed.

"The seventh characteristic of abusive churches is that they tend to target young adults ages 18-25 who are in the middle class, well educated, idealistic, and often immature Christians. Young adults are the perfect age group to focus on because they are often looking for a cause to give their lives to, and they need love, affirmation, and acceptance. Often these churches will provide this, and the leaders frequently take the role of surrogate parents."

This is why parents should keep their children from abusive parochial schools. The purpose of those schools today is to promote the worship of Holy Mother Synod, to establish bullying and conformity in the next generation. The younger the children start, the more time the abusers have to mold them into denominational robots.

The education is decidedly third-rate, but provided at Ivy League prices.


"The eighth characteristic is a painful and difficult exit process. Members in many such churches are afraid to leave because of intimidation, pressure, and threats of divine judgment. Sometimes members who exit are harassed and pursued by church leaders. The majority of the time, former members are publicly ridiculed and humiliated before the church, and members are told not to associate in any way with any former members. This practice is called shunning.

Many who leave abusive churches because of the intimidation and brainwashing, actually feel they have left God Himself. None of their former associates will fellowship with them, and they feel isolated, abused, and fearful of the world."

I have to ask SynConference innocents - Do you really want to keep your children in a sect where evidence is routinely and systematically destroyed? Where people are ordered not to discuss the felonies of their felonious church leaders? And the confessionals agree to delete the facts?

If you really believe the true Church is invisible, then you will not let the visible organization bully you into submission.

There are great short-term rewards for going along with the abuse. The synod leaders will erase evidence against you and play stupid with the police. For some leaders, that is not too much of an effort. The leaders will also reward those who going along with the abuse and do a little rib-kicking themselves. Do you covet a better call? Back-stab a friend and rejoice in it. Would you prefer foreign missions? Kick and jab, or play dumb.

However, the abusive sect that rewards abusers will also toss them out for various reasons or no reason at all. Many clergy and laity have found themselves on infinite hold after being loyal attack Yorkies.

The long-term rewards mean bearing the cross. The Old Adam is tortured rather than soothed. It is not pleasant to know how much dross there is to consume.

The gold refined is the spiritual wisdom of the Word. Then one discovers the real Apostle Paul, the Anfectungen of Luther, the life story of Paul Gerhardt. The five-minute thumbnail sketches are gone, replaced by another understanding.

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Pastor emeritus Nathan Bickel has left a new comment on your post "Denominations That Abuse Their Members and Pastors...":

Ichabod -

Excellent commentary on this denominational abuse of pastors and the laity!

It is so true what you say:

"If you really believe the true Church is invisible, then you will not let the visible organization bully you into submission."

Furthermore, I think for the most part, pastors and church members aren't often perceptive of Scripture's predictions [including Jesus' words] being played out in today's culture. Persecution is expected from the world; but the hardest to bear, comes from the visible church. It is most difficult to bear because it smacks of an "Et tu, Brute?" fashion.

And, if a church going Christian is not [spiritually] stabbed, directly; there is the subtle [spiritually abusive] shunning process (which you point out) which is the prolonged "molesting" process of outright denial of that Christian's presence; validity and importance in the overall [invisible] Body of Christ.

Nathan M. Bickel

www.thechristianmessage.org

www.moralmatters.org 

San Francisco archbishop-elect arrested for drunk driving | Reuters

"I'll beat this rap.
Mequon loaned me their best DUI lawyer."

San Francisco archbishop-elect arrested for drunk driving | Reuters:

"(Reuters) - San Francisco Archbishop-elect Salvatore Cordileone, known for a conservative stance on same-sex marriage, has been arrested in his native San Diego for drunk driving, police said on Monday."

'via Blog this'

The 1982 Justification Essay by Dr. Robert Preus

Dr. Robert Preus always taught UOJ?
In 1982 he offered the best quotations against it,
the same ones used in Justification and Rome.

Dr. Robert Preus' 1982 essay about justification is linked here.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5009355/Robert%20Preus%20-%20Justification_essay.pdf

If someone would like to reproduce this in Word format, I can post it so the entire essay is easier to read and share.

Let me know if you have the time and inclination - gregjackson1948@qwest.net

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Medium Rare wrote this:

Okay, just thought maybe I should read through the Preus paper:

When I hit this line I stopped; 

His anger has been stilled and He is at peace with the world, and therefore He has declared the entire world in Christ to be righteous.

I have to say "How in the world could a theologian come up with that?"

What part of the Bible does that line up with?  As I said earlier.

John 6: 32-71  paints an entirely different picture.

As we both know , it was just one giant step for pietists, called "Lutheran", toward going completely for Universalism.   

I can't figure out what is farther off. Calvinist that deny the real presence etc. or Pietist (called Lutheran) that teach that all were declared righteous 2000+ years ago.    Oh my!  

Well "you woke me up"! :-)

***

GJ - My response is that the essay is a mixture of UOJ and JBFA. The interesting part is his early use of quotations that obliterate UOJ. I will post those below. They appeared in Justification and Rome, many years later. However, the book contains no UOJ.

Quoted in the 1982 essay, page 7,
and in Justification and Rome.
Furtive UOJ can be found asserted on page 9 of the essay.

This is a paragraph on page 12 of the essay.

From Virtue Online - Getting Rid of Incompetent Leaders

Bishop Bennison witnessed his own brother abusing a young girl and  did nothing.
The LCMS has a similar case, involving a pastor witnessing his relative abusing a boy.

New GC2012 Resolution could force PA Bishop Charles Bennison out of office

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
August 27, 2012

The 77th General Convention of The Episcopal Church passed an historic resolution in Indianapolis recognizing that when the relationship between bishops and dioceses is severely strained, sometimes to the breaking point, there is a way out that includes getting rid of the diocesan bishop. The canonical process of Resolution B021 prescribes methods for ending an episcopal relationship.

This now allows the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, if it so chooses, to finally get rid of Bishop Charles E. Bennison without using any of the Title IV disciplinary canons.

Resolution B021 was the result of a call (via Resolution B014) from the 2009 meeting of General Convention on how to help dioceses and bishops resolve their differences.

The failure of dioceses stuck with bad or deficient bishops (and there are a slew of them) has been a sticking point for years as there has been virtually no way of getting rid of a bishop except for public adultery which is still deemed scandalous. (What you can do is divorce your wife, take her to the altar and ecclesiastically unmarry her, then run out and find a man to marry if you are of the same sex.) But good old fashioned adultery is still a no-no in The Episcopal Church even though the late Bishop of New York, Paul Moore, engaged in an extensive homosexual affair while married with nine children. It was known by many that Moore committed adultery, but he was never exposed. He was inhibited by his successor, Bishop Richard Grein, though the charges against Moore were never made public. Grein was caught in an adulterous relationship, divorced his wife, and married another woman. 

As well as pansexuality, gross incompetency has been the hallmark of many a bishop. The good folk of Western Michigan are just waiting for Bishop Robert Gepert to go having left in his wake busted churches and a financial deficit.

The passage of Resolution B021 Convention offers a way to help bishops and dioceses reconcile or dissolve an episcopal relationship.

Resolution B014 (from 2009) noted in its explanation, The toll of that lack is "enormous," and comes in the form of "bishops and their families leaving stigmatized and without the gratitude and caring of the dioceses they have served, members of Standing Committees exhausted and ill-used, dioceses being left demoralized and split by factions, and the name of the church often compromised for lack of a more humane process." A better description of the situation in The Diocese of Pennsylvania could not be found.

If a diocese and bishop do decide to invoke the canon, such a decision allows any party to ask the presiding bishop to intervene and assist in resolving the disagreement or dissension. The presiding bishop then begins a process - including the possible use of a consultant or licensed mediator - meant to lead to reconciliation. If the parties agree to reconcile, they must define the "responsibility and accountability for the bishop and the diocese," according to the new Section 9.

In addition, the bishop, or two-thirds of the Standing Committee or a two-thirds majority vote of the Diocesan Convention can begin a process to dissolve the episcopal relationship. The reasons for the dissolution must be given in writing to the presiding bishop, along with a report of any mediator or consultant who might have been engaged. That notice sets in motion a series of steps that would last a matter of months. The presiding bishop may require further attempts at mediation and reconciliation. If there is still no resolution, a committee of one bishop (appointed by the presiding bishop) and one priest and one lay person (appointed by the president of the House of Deputies) from outside the diocese is to be convened to recommend a resolution of the matter. The committee could recommend that the episcopal relationship continue or that it should be dissolved.

The recommendation would have to be approved by two-thirds of the members of the House of Bishops present and eligible to vote at the house's next regularly scheduled or special meeting. If that majority does not agree, the committee would have to recommend another resolution to the same meeting, which would then be voted on at that meeting.

"In terms of church time, this thing moves at lightning speed," the Rev. Ledlie I. Laughlin, a Pennsylvania deputy and chair of the diocese's Standing Committee, told the Episcopal News Service.

Laughlin, the rector of St. Peter's Church in Philadelphia, said he followed the formulation of the eventually approved process "and was invited to participate in some of the conversations as edits were being made along the way.

"My guess is that the exercise of this canon will be rare, but in cases where it might be necessary, it could help spare undue damage to a diocese and the episcopal relationship," Diocese of Ohio Bishop Mark Hollingsworth, who proposed B021, told ENS. "Most likely, having the canon will incent a speedier resolution before having to invoke it."

The Pennsylvania Standing Committee has been at odds with Bishop Charles Bennison since the mid-2000s over concerns about how he has managed the diocese's assets and other issues.

More than once the Standing Committee has called for Bennison's resignation, including the day he returned to work in August 2010 after the church's Court of Review for the Trial of a Bishop overturned a lower church court's finding that he ought to be removed from ordained ministry because he had engaged in conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy. The review court agreed with one of the lower court's two findings of misconduct, but said that Bennison could not be deposed because the charge was barred by the church's statute of limitations.

In September 2010, the Standing Committee asked the House of Bishops for its "support and assistance" in securing Bennison's retirement or resignation. The bishops later that month called for Bennison's "immediate and unconditional resignation." The next day, Bennison refused. He remains the diocesan bishop.

Bennison has no guilt or shame. As a sociopath, he feels no compunction to resign despite his appalling behavior concerning his brother's sexual abuse of a minor and the way he has treated Anglo-Catholics and Evangelicals in the diocese. He rides rough shod over the Standing Committee, his behavior ameliorated only marginally by bishops Rodney Michel and Alan Turner.

The process agreed to by this meeting of convention in B021 is akin to the mechanism for a parish that finds itself in serious conflict with its rector (Title III.9.12-13). It will be added to the "Of the Life and Work of a Bishop" canon of Title III, the church's policies regarding ordained ministry. The addition becomes effective Sept. 1.

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bruce-church (http://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "From Virtue Online - Getting Rid of Incompetent Le...":

Another way to get rid of incompetent leaders:

http://www.zootpatrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/pope-mugshot-53753.jpg

A. Berean and the Difference

A. Berean has left a new comment on your post "Formula of Concord. III. Righteousness of Faith. S...":

I'm tired of this back-and-forth among these Lutheran dogmaticians between whether it's the merit of Christ that is offered by the Means of Grace and received by faith, or is it the verdict of justification (Walther) which is offered and received. Hasn't anyone ever noticed that difference??

***

GJ - Mr. Berean, you are making the Walther formula too much like Knapp's.

A. Berean : verdict of justification (Walther) which is offered and received.

Walther and his circle emphasized complete world absolution while Knapp's formula (as interpreted by Woods) sounded more like redemption/atonement being the Gospel message offered. The best way to see what people mean is to look at their explanations. Those additional claims are everything. The UOJ fanatics strive to out-absolve the rest, making Hitler and Judas guilt-free saints in Hell.

Some use the term OJ when they really mean redemption/atonement/propitiation. They give that interpretation away when they respond this way, "You reject OJ? Then what about expiation, propitiation, atonement?"

That is the problem with Objective Justification, General Justification, and Universal Objective Justification.
The correct, plain Biblical phrase of justification by faith has been turned into a philosophical construct that must be "carefully presented," as Jay Webber claims.

Most will still hear sound doctrine when a felony-stupid dogma is taught, because the Word teaches us to trust in God, not in man. Closeted, ordained unbelievers like this ambiguity, so they continue to spin the language and go back to justification by faith when it suits them and keeps them employed. The same principle is known in ELCA, where most of the congregation continues to believe in the articles of faith even though the pastors teach Tillich, Barth, and tree-worship.

Now that I mention it, the same is true of WELS and Missouri. The pastors teach UOJ while the congregation hears forgiveness through faith in the crucified Savior.

One way to undermine the congregation's trust in the Means of Grace is to promote Church Growth, appealing to the Old Adam, success, and money. Once material success becomes the goal, despising the Means of Grace is easy.

"Everyone else is doing so well. We are held back by the liturgy. We need a rock band, no organ, no liturgy, and a practical, fix-it message."

Gradualism has worked well in the Synodical Conference. Objections to Church Growth have been few, scattered, and easily ignored. Now it is so entrenched that no one dare confront the obvious problems, especially since Thrivent and Holy Mother Synod fund the worst examples.

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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "A. Berean and the Difference":

"The UOJ fanatics strive to out-absolve the rest, making Hitler and Judas guilt-free saints in Hell."

True - but you forgot to include the AntiChrist. Per the false gospel of Universal Objective Justification - the Antichrist has been absolved of all sin ~forgiven! declared guiltless and righteous in Christ. He is no longer under the wrath of God but in God's Grace as His dear child. Oh...if he would just believe it!

My bad - please include the end times False Prophet, Helena Blavatsky, Alistor Crowley, JZ Knight...

Missouri and WELS answer, "Yes, of course we will permit it!"

UOJ Contradicts the Formula of Concord: Case Closed

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Serious Laughter from Paul McCain. Plagiarist Ratt...":

Brett Meyer: 
McCain has shown himself to be an enemy of Christ through his perversion of the Gospel, and enemy of the Holy Spirit through his degradation of the Holy Spirit’s faith and a Universalist by his confession, promotion an defense of Universal Objective Justification (General Justification as (W)ELS DP Jon Buchholz likes to call it). Salvation is directly tied to the forgiveness of sins, being regarded as just and righteous by God. Also reconcillation with God comes through faith alone. The whole unbelieving world was not reconciled with God through the perfect substitutionary atonement of Christ.

The Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord

III. The Righteousness of Faith

Christian Book of Concord:

“16] This righteousness is offered us by the Holy Ghost through the Gospel and in the Sacraments, and is applied, appropriated, and received through faith, whence believers have reconciliation with God, forgiveness of sins, the grace of God sonship, and heirship of eternal life.”

In context:

8] Therefore, in order to explain this controversy in a Christian way by means of God's Word, and, by His grace, to settle it, our doctrine, faith, and confession are as follows:

9] Concerning the righteousness of faith before God we believe, teach, and confess unanimously, in accordance with the comprehensive summary of our faith and confession presented above, that poor sinful man is justified before God, that is, absolved and declared free and exempt from all his sins, and from the sentence of well-deserved condemnation, and adopted into sonship and heirship of eternal life, without any merit or worth of our own, also without any preceding, present, or any subsequent works, out of pure grace, because of the sole merit, complete obedience, bitter suffering, death, and resurrection of our Lord Christ alone, whose obedience is reckoned to us for righteousness. [BM – note that this absolution of sins is tied to the righteousness of faith]

10] These treasures are offered us by the Holy Ghost in the promise of the holy Gospel; and faith alone is the only means by which we lay hold upon, accept, and apply, and appropriate them to ourselves.

11] This faith is a gift of God, by which we truly learn to know Christ, our Redeemer, in the Word of the Gospel, and trust in Him, that for the sake of His obedience alone we have the forgiveness of sins by grace, are regarded as godly and righteous by God the father, and are eternally saved. [BM – UOJists teach God declaring the unbelieving world forgiven and righteous by the atonement of Christ but not saved. BOC and Scripture tie the forgiveness of sins and the declaration of being righteous (having Christ’s righteousness) with eternal salvation. It is Universalism to teach that the whole world has been, by God’s divine and perfect verdict, to be forgiven of all sin and righteous because to be declared forgiven and righteous by God is eternal life.]

12] Therefore it is considered and understood to be the same thing when Paul says that we are justified by faith, Rom. 3, 28, or that faith is counted to us for righteousness, Rom. 4, 5, and when he says that we are made righteous by the obedience of One, Rom. 5, 19, or that by the righteousness of One justification of faith came to all men, Rom. 5, 18. [BM – here is where the BOC condemns the deception of UOJ when it falsely twists Romans 5:18 into a justification of the unbelieving world. The BOC here teaches that Romans 5:18 is the same as declaring Justification by Faith and that faith is counted to the believer as righteousness. Nowhere does Scripture declare the unbeliever justified or righteous but rather the unbeliever is declared to be under the Law, alive to sin and dead in sins and also abiding under the wrath and condemnation of God.]

13] For faith justifies, not for this cause and reason that it is so good a work and so fair a virtue, but because it lays hold of and accepts the merit of Christ in the promise of the holy Gospel; for this must be applied and appropriated to us by faith, if we are to be justified thereby. [BM – condemned is the UOJ teaching that if man is justified solely by faith then faith is a synergistic work of man.]

14] Therefore the righteousness which is imputed to faith or to the believer out of pure grace is the obedience, suffering, and resurrection of Christ, since He has made satisfaction for us to the Law, and paid for [expiated] our sins. [BM – condemned is UOJ’s teaching that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to the unbelieving world out of pure grace in the obedience, suffering, and resurrection of Christ.]

15] For since Christ is not man alone, but God and man in one undivided person, He was as little subject to the Law, because He is the Lord of the Law, as He had to suffer and die as far as His person is concerned. For this reason, then, His obedience, not only in suffering and dying, but also in this, that He in our stead was voluntarily made under the Law, and fulfilled it by this obedience, is imputed to us for righteousness, so that, on account of this complete obedience, which He rendered His heavenly Father for us, by doing and suffering, in living and dying, God forgives our sins, regards us as godly and righteous, and eternally saves us. [BM – again the forgiveness of sins and being regarded as Godly and righteous is eternal salvation. Condemned is UOJ’s teaching that unbelievers can be forgiven all sin, regarded as righteous by God but not saved but bound for Hell if they don’t believe it’s already true.]

16] This righteousness is offered us by the Holy Ghost through the Gospel and in the Sacraments, and is applied, appropriated, and received through faith, whence believers have reconciliation with God, forgiveness of sins, the grace of God sonship, and heirship of eternal life. [BM – therefore unbelievers do not have reconciliation with God applied or appropriated without faith]

17] Accordingly, the word justify here means to declare righteous and free from sins, and to absolve one from eternal punishment for the sake of Christ's righteousness, which is imputed by God to faith, Phil. 3, 9. For this use and understanding of this word is common in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament. Prov. 17, 15: He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord. Is. 5, 23: Woe unto them which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! Rom. 8, 33: Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth, that is, absolves from sins and acquits. [BM – these condemnatory remarks are made directly to the UOJists because they stand guilty of perverting the Gospel of Christ]
http://www.bookofconcord.org/sd-righteousness.php 

Anti-gay marriage advocate arraigned, accused of child molestation | Breaking News | Wisconsin Gazette - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) News

Anti-gay marriage advocate arraigned, accused of child molestation | Breaking News | Wisconsin Gazette - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) News:

Written by WiG
Aug 27, 2012

Caleb Hesse

A donor to the anti-gay Proposition 8 campaign and youth leader in his evangelical church has been arraigned on charges that he molested boys over many years.

Caleb Douglas Hesse, 52, of Yucca Valley, Calif., was arraigned earlier this month on four felony counts of lewd acts upon a child. Additional charges were to come, according to a release from the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office.

Hesse, if convicted, faces a maximum sentence of 45 years to life in prison.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

A news release from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said Hesse was a first-grade teacher at the Friendly Hills Elementary School in the Morongo Unified School District from 1987 until recently.

He also is a youth volunteer with the Evangelical Free Church in Yucca Valley, according to the sheriff. Through his work at the church, Hesse allegedly was involved in “countless overnight outings that took place throughout California.”

Hesse’s alleged victims were on those outings, according to investigators.

“The crimes are believed to have occurred between the early 1980s and as recently as one week ago,” the sheriff’s news release dated Aug. 18 said. “Some of the victims may now be 30 (to) 40 years old.”

A database of donors to Proposition 8, the 2010 ballot campaign to amend California’s constitution to ban same-sex marriage, shows Hesse as a contributor.

Authorities were asking people with information, including other possible victims, to contact the sheriff’s department at 909-387-3615.

'via Blog this'

False Teachers Find Comfort in False Doctrine, Instead of Teaching the Means of Grace

Instead of posting this graphic, which anyone can borrow, Paul McCain finds comfort in the offscouring of Pietism - Universal Objective Justification. Quoting the gunslinger hisself:

I urge and warn all those who read this blog and my Facebook page to avoid any such discussions and to flee from any false teachers who would rob you of the comfort of the Gospel.

and more -

Rejoice in this beautiful explanation of the doctrine of objective justification written by the Rev. Dr. Robert Preus, in 1981.

But McCain does not rely on Luther, the Book of Concord, or his hero Andreae. Instead, he cites the early Robert Preus and not the later Preus, where UOJ is repudiated with quotations from the orthodox Lutheran fathers (post-Concord, not post-Perryville).

The Biblical Means of Grace are comforting - the Word and Sacraments. UOJ fanatics are allergic to faith, the Means of Grace, and the efficacy of the Word. In other words, they have an immediate reaction to Biblical, Lutheran doctrine. Rash statements follow.

Comforting.

Disturbing.

Comforting.

Bizarre.

Comforting.

Universalistic and Babtist,
contradictory and confusing.

Comforting.

McCain's mentor - scary.

Comforting.

Enthusiastic!

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There is a new comment on the post "I Did Not Know That".
http://www.geneveith.com/2012/08/24/i-did-not-know-that/

Author: Paul T. McCain
Comment:
I learned a year or so ago that Highway Exit numbers were also mile numbers on the highway. So, if you know you have to get off at Exit 29 and you are at exit 19, you have ten miles to go.