Mark Jeske Disciple Roger Zehms - Accepts Call to West Des Moines. St. Louis, Columbus, WELS Lutherans for Life, Russia, Texas. "I've been everywhere, man."

------------------------  C A L L S   A C C E P T E D  -----------------------

Zehms, Rev Roger R         Beautiful Savi - West Des Moines IA  03/17/2015

Mequon Class of 1966

Which included Wally Oelhafen, the late Keith Roehl, and Ted Olsen.

The blog updated this fast-moving pastor,
divorced and remarried.

---

In other news - Buske rejected the call to the Playboy Club in Appleton, aka St. Peter, Freedom-to-scratch-any-itch.

Ichabod Running at about One Million Views Per Year

Springdale Strong!

Ichabod reached 3 million views last July 26th.

Views are now about 1 million per year.

From One of the WELS Illuminati - In Defense of Pentecostal Praise Bands

Why I Won't Quit the Praise Band

Please note: This post is a direct response to the post "Why I Quit the Praise Band" by Pastor Eric Andersen found on the blog Steadfast Lutherans. It is not meant to be a personal attack on Pastor Andersen's character or faith, but instead to disagree with the content of his article.

If you'd prefer to listen to this post read aloud, please click here. 

"Lutheran" is not a style. "Lutheran" is a manner in which you understand God, the Bible, the world, and yourself. The divine service and other trappings of the historical Lutheran church are distinctively Lutheran, sure, but they in and of themselves are not requirements for being distinctively Lutheran. To be distinctively Lutheran one must understand God in the same way that the Lutheran church fathers did - by faith alone, through Scripture alone.

I'm alright at guitar, piano, and bass. I know some stuff about setting up a sound system. I've played for a lot of worship events. I've done a lot of research in the genre of contemporary Christian music. During my time at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary I undertook a project to find 20 songs of a contemporary nature (that is, they sounded like the music the majority of Americans listen to, sing along with, and enjoy on a daily basis) that would be useful at the seminary. A select few of those songs can be found at wlsworship.net (realize, please, that most of them are hymn-like, not because I couldn't find other things but because you have to take baby steps when leading the whole seminary family in a new direction.)

So, I've spent some time with the issue of contemporary music styles in a Lutheran congregation's worship services. It hasn't been easy for me, because the genre is new and young and there is resistance from many good, trustworthy, godly people I admire. But I'm not going to quit, and here are some of the reasons.

1. Praise music is suitable for congregational singing. Some of it. Just like some hymns are suitable for congregational singing and some need to be led by a cantor or choir. Fortunately, our predecessors in the church did the good work of filtering out the good hymn melodies from the bad ones. This, actually, is the same work Lutheran contemporary worship leaders do when they say "no" to overly syncopated songs with inconsistent syllabification from verse to verse and "yes" to the ones that find their way onto the lips of congregations quite naturally. Chris Tomlin is a first tenor, Todd Agnew is a second bass, but they didn't copyright their songs to be used only in certain keys, and the fact that millions of people sing their songs at the top of their lungs on a daily basis suggests to me that they are suitable for singing. When Lutheran worship coordinators and worship compendium developers do their work, they'll go ahead and find the keys that fit the majority of voices, making all melodies that are suitable for singing suitable for singers.
2. The text, not the music, should be primary. With this principle I am freed to explore all genres of music - every piece that has ever been written in participation in the family of God, and as an administrator of the means of grace filter out the stuff that won't be helpful and keep the things that will. Limiting myself to a certain segment of the music that has been written would not only limit my options, but it would limit my audience only to people who find a certain style of music to be culturally intelligible.
   Most of the confessional Lutheran people who have written songs for congregations have written hymns, yes - but not all, and not because they carefully researched every genre of music and determined that the chorale was the best and only form of music suited to communicating the truth of God in poetry. As the world and the church continue to diversify, the outward trappings of it (like musical style) will diversify right alongside it - because the core message, not the style, will be primary.
3. When we're at church, we're on regular ground. Regular people come and hear a universal message, and ever since the temple curtain tore in two there is no such thing as designated, particularly holy ground. If there were, though, it would be (as "holy" defines) set apart, distinguished - not by it's style, but by it's purpose, it's results, and most importantly by the God who deigns to make it such. It is he alone who sanctifies anything.
   Please don't get the impression, though, that I'm saying "anything" can be reverent. There are two basic factors that make something reverent: first, it follows the culturally defined norms that communicate reverence, and second, it's message or subject matter is reverent. (You can have somber sounds, organs, orchestras, distortion pedals, or choirs, but you're never going to make singing Blest Is the Man Whose Bowels Move reverent.)
   In the context of Christianity, reverent subject matter will generally come from reminding people of the grand difference between God and us - in power, in love, in everything. No matter what, it will come from the truths of God that he's given us in his Word. It is limited in that way. The culturally defined norms for reverence, however, are only limited to the experience and expectations of the people present at a given worship event, leaving a huge space for variety in style. Reverence is not limited to one style. Quiet and contemplative music can be reverent. Huge concertos with full orchestras can be reverent. Rock music can be reverent. Just because a certain kind of music doesn't communicate reverence to you doesn't mean that it isn't reverent to some other segment of the population (possibly even a significant segment of the population.)
   When I was a vicar, we had solid, traditional music, usually led by organ. One Sunday, a young couple came to visit. My wife and I were excited because, though the congregation I vicared at was friendly and we still hold all of them dear, there weren't that many couples our age. In speaking with them after the service, though, their main reaction was, "You have horror movie music." For them, the organ didn't mean reverent - it meant Dracula.
   The point is, people don't leave themselves behind when they are at worship. They aren't suddenly lifted into a mood or mindset that is transcendent of their regular life. In worship, we "rise up" and meet God, sure, to some extent, but in an equal or even greater way he comes down to meet us, where we are and where we need him. That is the meaning of Gottesdienst.
4. 7/11 songs communicate differently. It's not my intent to advocate too strongly for highly repetitive songs with a simple meaning, but there is a power in repetition that doesn't affect people's minds the same way that lots of good content all-in-a-row does. Repetitio est mater studiorum (repetition is the mother of learning) after all. It even exists in the liturgical  or rite-oriented realm - in the Agnus Dei or the Sanctus, and even the simple fact that many rite-oriented worshiping congregations are repeating the same songs and texts week after week, so that the people will know them when they are older.
   As a side note, when the song "Trading My Sorrows" says "Yes, Lord. Yes, Lord. Yes, yes, Lord" those words are used as a reference to Christ's "Verily, verily" or "amen, amen" in the gospels and are a powerful approval of the message of the verses, which is a lesson in contentment and even in the theology of the cross: "I'm trading my sorrows, I'm trading my pain, I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord." That message is exactly what God wants from us - take the focus off of our lives, put it on the grace of God.
5. Theology matters, and praise songs have it. Not all of them, not perfectly. Thankfully I have been theologically trained and can filter out the bad, which is the work of the minister of the means of grace and the reason a hymnal doesn't include every hymn that's ever been written.
   And for those who would point to the genre of Christian contemporary music and say it lacks theological depth and fullness, I would say this: What do you expect? It's mostly lay-people who aren't Lutheran who are writing this stuff! Paul Gerhardt was not the first to write hymns, but he brought the task to a new and rarely paralleled level. If Lutherans, both pastors and laypeople alike, would stop rejecting diverse genres of worship-useful music wholesale, we would start to see our theologians, pastors, and other theologically trained individuals churn out Gerhardt-worthy (or nearly) texts in diverse and modern styles. Lutherans wrote the greatest Lutheran hymns, and it will be Lutherans who write the greatest contemporary songs. )And we could be 20 years further in this process if you'd stop holding our creative minds back with needless guilt over "acceptable" styles of the worship event.) 
6. The Church is Catholic, but not homogeneous. The Church is wildly diverse. God is always 100% the same, but people aren't. Culture and communication vary. Speaking of communication, I think the world of cellphones can teach us a lesson about what worship can look like in our time. Some are advocating for an iOS (Apple's mobile operating system) approach to worship. Let's create one, excellent, somewhat universal product so there is only one option for everybody. Let's force them to use that option even when it doesn't match up with the way they think. Let's point at the wide adoption of that product as proof that it is the only valid product and let's suggest that a top-down approach will serve all.
   Some, on the other hand, are taking an Android approach - one that could be defined by Android's tagline, "Be together, not the same." We are to be united by having one faith, one hope, one Lord - not by having one service, one style or one practice. Part of the beauty of the Gospel is that it transcends tribe, race, or culture. God didn't save us so that we could be perfectly in sync with all other Christian people. He did it so we could in sync with him, which would in turn make us much less divisive toward one another.
   If we, in fear, suggest that all people must hold to a certain practice that has proven true in the past, we are putting the cart before the horse. Liturgy and hymnody don't maintain orthodoxy. People do, because God, in his grace, chooses to use certain individuals and his Word to keep the Church on track. All the glory for this is his - not the liturgy's or some hymns'. For us to suggest that a certain neutral practice of any kind is bound to lead people astray is fear-mongering and misguided.
   
   The Church consists of the communion of saints, a communion that transcends time and culture. The liturgy, on the other hand, as it is typically practiced in the majority of confessional Lutheran congregations, does not transcend time and culture, which is precisely the reason the liturgy is often rejected today. The liturgy we have today has been passed down through the generations, and through that process has adapted and changed in ways our forefathers would not recognize, but would certainly deem appropriate. Pure doctrine drawn from God's Word is the very best Christian tradition and the highest expression of the continuity of the Church from generation to generation. Since we are in communion with the Church of every age, it is only natural that the God we worship would not be radically different than that of previous generations. Not to be confused, of course, with the way we worship.
   
   So, why won't I quit the praise band? Because I'm Lutheran, and to be Lutheran is to point all people to Christ by whatever means available. 

This article was written by Kent Reeder, pastor of Illumine Church in Rock Hill, SC. If you comment, I'll respond.

Roll Call - A Little Story about Creation

When the birds were fashioned by the Creating Word, they had personal counseling about their future roles. They were all told that only so many talents, abilities, and looks, could be available - but not everything in one package.

Peacock by Norma Boeckler

The Peacock.
"You will be one of the most beautiful birds of all. People will collect your feathers. They will use your image as the symbol of color. They will put you in parks and admire you and photograph you."

"But?"

"You will not be very bright. You used up the quota with beauty and your ability to display it in such a spectacular way."

Starlings

The Starling
"You will be very pretty with speckles and also very smart. You will imitate any sound you like. I am giving you a strong beak and a voracious appetite for bugs and seeds. You will use these qualities in flocks and develop vast armadas of birds."

"That sounds good. What is the downside?"

"You will be loathed for being so successful. Very few will appreciate your abilities, you IQ, your keen appetite for killing insect pests."

"I would rather have the talents shifted. I want to awe people like the peacock said he would."

"One more thing. You will get the murmuration. People will stand and stare at your ability to form enormous geometric patterns in the sky with your flock. They will video you and gape at the beauty of these flights."

Grackle in bright sunlight

The Grackle
"You will be smart and talkative like your cousin, the starling. You will be even larger and look black. I am giving your a powerful beak for breaking into the soil and getting your food."

"That sounds rather humdrum, no offense meant."

"None taken. I decided to give you yellow eyes to contrast with your black feathers, and glistening head. When the sun falls on you just right, your head will be iridescent, even your body."

Bluebird - by Norma Boeckler

The Bluebird
"You will be so popular that people will admire you more than they see you. You will be a brand name, part of famous songs, photographed, drawn, and painted. People will buy live and dried worms to attract you and build houses to attract you. Besides that, your song will be enchanting."

"What's the hitch?"

"You will be somewhat rare. You will do well where woods meet large lawns, so that will limit your population. But you will always be in demand, always popular. Don't tell the others, but no one will ever say - I spotted a grackle today."

Cardinals - by Norma Boeckler

The Cardinal
"You will have a very powerful beak for eating seeds. Other birds will have to break open seeds with a great effort. You will sit at the feed and crack them open with ease. Your colors will be spectacular. The males will be bright red all year around. The females will be a delicate brown, not as showy but still elegant. People will name their sports teams and even their prelates after you ."

"That sounds good, but where are we going to be short?"

"Shy. You will be terribly shy most of the time. If the other birds are in the front yard bathing, you will be way in the back. And you will be terribly jealous of your reflection during mating season, always pecking at mirrors, thinking some other cardinal wants your girlfriend and your yard."

More later, upon request.

Mulching Works - God Himself Mulches His Trees with Leaves. He Does Not Rake Them Away or Burn Them

"You don't mulch?
Do you even garden?"

Brett Meyer wrote about a simple but effective way of improving the growth and health of a fruit tree. They piled leaves under a cherry tree last fall. Far more fruit is developing this spring.

One effect of mulching is to keep people off the soil under trees. One old-fashioned orchard owner said, "Never disturb the soil under the trees."

That rule recognizes the delicate soil food web prospers when the conditions are right. Most of the food for all trees comes from the top 12 inches of soil. "Ah, but what are those deep roots for? - some wonder. The deep roots reach down deep for water and minerals, but most of the food is  in the rich, top foot of soil.

Trampling down the soil is going to break up the delicate fungi structures that travel between decaying matter and the plant roots. Fungi tubes are the interstate highway system of soil. Bacteria have spectacular growth rates, but they can barely move on their own. The larger creatures can do far better than bacteria, but there is nothing like the fungi tubes for forcing the decay of organic matter and channeling it to where the plant roots promise  carbon in exchange for water, nitrogen, and other compounds.

Compacting the soil slows down the soil food web. We have to do some walking on or around the garden, but limiting the trampling is good. We can do that with stepping stones, mulch, and garden fencing. Soil mulched all winter will be springy and soft, because all the soil creatures have fed on the mulch and each other for months. Eventually the leaves or wood mulch will be rotted away and pulled down into the top layer of soil.

That minor effort of mulching makes a permanent difference in the soil, because the creatures multiply and swap nutrition with each other. Every single one is a feeder and food. The plants or trees take up what they want but they return it to the soil as leaves and roots. Since solar energy turns into leaves, bark, fruit, and seeds, the food rains down on the soil, with contributions from plant and tree creatures.

As I wrote in Thank You Very, Mulch, the growth of creatures in the soil means that much more moisture can be held in the top foot of soil. Mulch holds water above, slows down wind and solar evaporation, and fosters water retaining creatures below.

This does not go unnoticed by the birds. The supreme air command of the Creator looks down on this scene and finds an abundance of food and nesting material. Birds settle where they can feed their young the porterhouse and strip steak of baby bird food - grubs, caterpillars, insects, and earthworms.

A mulch plantation below means a bird population above.

Suet baskets are ideal for delivering
string and lint for bird nests.

Readers' Comments

Some of you are addicted to cat photos,
and this is one of the best.

Businessman:
"It is a pleasure to contribute to your work of proclaiming the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, by means of Bethany Lutheran Church and the Internet.

I read your sermons, download your books and watch the services during the week, with great humbleness to your teaching. Let me encourage you to continue proclaiming Justification by Faith Alone and Historic Lutheran doctrine, in a world dripping with the venom of the unregenerate and false teachers.

May God continue to use you to correctly teach His Word, educate and mentor His Sheep who, are always vulnerable to attack from the wolves."

That is pretty overwhelming, to have such a kind letter arrive in the mail. Others have written or said similar things, which repudiate the claim that no one reads this blog. And - that no one agrees with Justification by Faith Alone.

WELS Layman:
"I was at a WELS institution of higher education and reading Ichabod. I did not burst into flames or anything else the leaders tell the students will happen - if they read your blog."

That still makes me laugh.

Brett Meyer:
I admonished him for building a new version of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, when I am trying to teach simple gardening. He wrote back:

"...I have to channel my creativity at home.  But I'm incorporating the lasagna method of gardening in the boxes.  Using leaf, wood mulch, paper and horse/cow manure layered on top - with the lawn on the bottom.

Amy said yesterday that our cherry tree has never bloomed so full.  Last fall we followed your ideas and piled leaves around the tree in the front yard.  They're about half their former height now."

 

Judica Sunday, The Fifth Sunday in Lent, 2015. John 8:46-59. Before Abraham Was, I AM

Judica Sunday, The Fifth Sunday in Lent, 2013

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Time

The Hymn #12                 This Day                                         4:80  

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 Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #40            The God of Abram Praise                         4:94 

Before Abraham Was, I AM

The Communion Hymn #305:1-5            Soul Adorn Thyself             4:23

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 #410               Jesus Lead Thou On                   4:27

KJV Hebrews 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

KJV John 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? 49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. 51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? 54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Prayer

O Lord Jesus Christ, we thank Thee, that of Thine infinite mercy Thou hast instituted this Thy sacrament, in which we eat Thy body and drink Thy blood: Grant us, we beseech Thee, by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not receive this gift unworthily, but that we may confess our sins, remember Thine agony and death, believe the forgiveness of sin, and day by day grow in faith and love, until we obtain eternal salvation through Thee, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Before Abraham Was, I AM

KJV John 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

This is the Gospel lesson that unites the seven I AM sermons in John's Gospel.

• John 6:48 I am that bread of life. KJV
• John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. KJV
• John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. KJV
• John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. KJV
• John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: KJV
• John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. KJV
• John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. KJV

3 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

2 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

4 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

Exodus 3 establishes that the Angel of the Lord is God, not just an angel. Lutherans have always stated that the Angel of the Lord is the Son of God before the Incarnation. Not only is Christ taught throughout the Old Testament, He is also there in the Old Testament. Who was the figure in the oven with Daniel? One like a son of man.

Moreover, the Burning Bush has two natures, like Christ. The bush had its natural form but also a fire that did not consume it. 

This is a Gospel lesson that deals with faith and how unbelievers respond to faith in Christ. There is no question about the theme of this passage, no subtle message or sub-text.

John 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 

When unbelievers hear the Gospel and obstinately refuse to believe the message, they respond by attacking the speaker. One couple was angry with me because I said "In the Name of Christ I forgive you your sins" in the liturgy. And they were Lutheran. They were responding from unbelief and not even listening to the language of the liturgy. They brought it up and they were offended. Who are you to say sins are forgiven? Instead of hearing God's grace in the Gospel, they found sin and error.

John's Gospel is clearer about the immediate opposition of the religious leaders. It is easy to see why. Matthew, Mark, and Luke give us preaching texts and a narrative about many events. John's Gospel shows the three-year ministry of Jesus and offers many additional sermons. Cleansing the Temple was early, and so was the polarization, because Jesus taught faith in Him, righteousness through Him. 

The religious leaders opposed Him because they did not belong to God. They belonged to the devil instead, as Luther wrote in his sermon on this text. This is easily transposed to our times, because many religious leaders are just the same. They reject the Scriptures and the clear truth of the Word of God because they belong to their Father Below and only wish to spend a life of ease with fat bellies and synodical perks.

Do they meet at a trailer park and give the surplus to the needy? No, they spend their winter vacation in a luxury resort in the Caribbean (LCMS and WELS), because after all, it is THEIR money.

If anyone questions them, they are far worse than the Pharisees in their hatred and vindictiveness. Victims should pray to be delivered to the Scribes and Pharisees rather than the synodical leaders. As one layman, "May God have mercy on you, because we won't."

Those are the works of unbelief.

48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

The religious leaders answered Jesus with name-calling. This one is a a double. Samaritan is the worst kind of insult. Added to that - you are demon-possessed. The speaker at the Emmaus Conference, Jay Webber, told a pastor not to listen to me because "Jackson has a demon." The pastor ignored the ad hominem attack, studied the Word of God, and saw justification by faith everywhere in it.

Ironically enough, we had a member there, who lives only a few minutes from the momentous Emmaus Conference location. He brought free books and that united or ignited some of the traditional Lutheran elements still around in WELS-LCMS-ELS. One never knows at the time.

An effort can seem to be a complete failure, like the peas and sunflower seeds I planted, but God's Word has a life of its own and carries out His will as He determines. The plants were growing - I did not know it.

Opposition and shunning make us feel that nothing is working, but that is the desired effect wished by unbelievers. But no weapon fashioned by man can harm the Word of God. In addition, as the NIV translates one prophesy in Isaiah, "The betrayers will be betrayed." Romans 1 says almost the same thing.

49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. 51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 

Did Jesus teach everyone was already forgiven and saved (Jon Buchholz) or did He teach faith in Him?

Nothing is more gracious than God promising that forgiveness and salvation come through faith in Jesus.

1. Faith can vary. A child has perfect faith -  but is unable to explain the non-reciprocity of the Two Natures. (Relax kids - I almost always turn it around. Simply put, the divine nature is not limited by the human nature of Christ. Thus a wall does not keep Him from being in a locked room.)
2. A professor may explain the non-reciprocity of the two natures and not have faith. It is not book knowledge but trust in the Promises. 
3. Everyone has doubts at times, as Luther expressed about the Real Presence, and yet we are not condemned for having doubts but directed to the Word.
4. We cannot be perfect in all respects, yet we still receive perfect forgiveness.

Keep My saying - guard My saying. Trust His Word.

52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

This tirade climaxes with the example of Abraham, who is the exemplar for the Old Testament - that first patriarch. That is also why the entire Bible uses him for justification by faith - Genesis 15, Romans 4, Galatians.

If you want to teach the truth, be prepared to have all kinds of insults screamed at you. The really good ones are whispered in the background, so no one gets credit.

54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.

Jesus taught them clearly - "Long before Abraham ever existed, I AM (God)." If you think this confession is ambiguous, look at the reaction.

59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

The universally hated religion, by unbelievers, is the Christian Faith. Mild and innocuous versions are tolerated a bit. But doctrinal Christianity is condemned all over, within and without. Look at how often Christian sermons teach everything but faith in Christ, from activism of all types to condemnations of obvious sin or newly invented sin, to love of the denomination (or parish) and not love of God in Christ.

Man casts off the easy yoke of justification by faith and puts on the heavy yoke of justification by works. It is one or the other. Those who teach justification without faith are teaching justification by works, no matter how many layers of fleece they wear.

Luther's Sermon for Judica Sunday

Luther's Sermon for JUDICA. FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT


German text: Erlangen edition 11:143; Walch 11:774; St. Louis 11:566.

TEXT:

John 8:46-59. Which of you convicteth me of sin? I say truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth the words of God: for this cause ye hear them not, because ye are not of God. The Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon? Jesus answered, I have not a demon; but I honor my Father, and ye dishonor me. But I seek not mine own glory; there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my word, he shall never see death. The Jews said unto him. Now we know that thou hast a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my Word, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our Father Abraham who died? and the prophets died: whom makest thou thyself? Jesus answered, If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing: it is my Father that glorifieth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God; and ye have not known him: but I know him.; and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be like unto you, a liar; but I know him and keep his Word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad. The Jews therefore said unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and thou hast seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I AM. They took up stones therefore to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.

CONTENTS:

CHRIST’S DEFENSE AGAINST HIS ENEMIES.
I. HOW AND WHY CHRIST IN HIS DEFENSE DEMANDS AREASON WHY HIS ENEMIES DO NOT BELIEVE

* It is required of a teacher that he be blameless in his life and teachings 2-8.

II. HOW AND WHY IN HIS DEFENSE HE PASSES SUCH ASEVERE JUDGMENT UPON HIS ENEMIES

1. The judgment itself 4.

2. How and why the Jews cannot endure such Judgment 5.

III. HOW AND WHY CHRIST IN HIS DEFENSE DID NOT ESTEEM HIS OWN LIFE,BUT POWERFULLY DE FENDED HIS TEACHINGS

* How teachers should comfort themselves in the face of the shame they must endure because of the true doctrine 7.

IV. HOW CHRIST IN HIS DEFENSE ASCRIBES AVERY POWERFUL EFFICACY TO HIS DOCTRINE

1. Whether this efficacy is ascribed to the Word of the Law or of the gospel.

2. The nature of this efficacy 9-13.

3. The foundation and reason of this efficacy 14-15.

1. This Gospel teaches how hardened persons become the more furious, the more one teaches them and lovingly stirs them to do their duty. For Christ asks them here in a very loving way for a reason why they still disbelieve, since they can find fault neither with his life nor with his teaching. His life is blameless; for he defies them and says: “Which of you convicteth me of sin?” His teaching also is blameless; for he adds: “If I say truth, why do ye not believe me?” Thus Christ lives, as he teaches.

2. And every preacher should prove that he possesses both: first a blameless life, by which he can defy his enemies and no one may have occasion to slander his teachings; secondly, that he possesses the pure doctrine, so that he may not mislead those who follow him. And thus he will be right and firm on both sides: with his good life against his enemies, who look much more at life than at his doctrine, and despise the doctrine for the sake of the life; with his doctrine then for the kind of life he leads and will bear with his life for the sake of his teaching.

3. For it is indeed true that no one lives so perfect a life as to be without sin before God. Therefore it is sufficient that he be blameless in the eyes of the people. But his doctrine must be so good and pure as to stand not only before man but also before God. Therefore every pious pastor may well ask: Who among you can find fault with my life? Among you, I say who are man; but before God I am a sinner. This Moses also boast in <041615 Numbers 16:15 that he took nothing from the people and he did them no injustice. Samuel did likewise in 1 Samuel 12:3 also Jeremiah and Hezekiah, who rightly boasted of their blameless life before the people, in order to stop the mouths of blasphemers. But Christ does not speak thus of his doctrine, he says not: “Who among you can find fault with my doctrine”; but “If I tell you the truth.” For one must be assured that his doctrine is right before God and that it is the truth, and accordingly care not how it is judged by the people.

4. Hence the Jews have no ground for their unbelief than that they are not the children of God; therefore he passes judgment upon them and says: “He that is of God heareth the words of God; for this cause ye hear them not, because ye are not of God,” that cannot mean anything else than that you are of the devil.

5. The Jews could not stand this, for they wished to be God’s children and people; therefore they are now raging and slander both Christ’s life and his doctrine; his doctrine, in that they say: “Thou hast a devil,” that is, thou speakest moved by the devil and thy doctrine is his lie; and they slander his life, in that they say, “Thou art a Samaritan,” which sounds among the Jews worse than any other crime. In this way Christ teaches us here the fate that awaits us Christians and his Word; both our life and our doctrine must be condemned and reviled, and that by the foremost, wisest and greatest of earth. Thus one knows the corrupt tree by its fruits, as they, under the pretense of being good, are so bitter, angry, impatient, cruel and mad as to condemn and pass sentence, when one touches them at their tender spot and rejects their ideas and ways.

6. What does Christ do here? His life he abandons to shame and dishonor, is silent and suffers them to call him a Samaritan; while he takes pains to defend his doctrine. For the doctrine is not ours, but God’s, and God dare not suffer in the least, here patience is at an end; but I should stake all that I have and suffer, all that they do, in order that the honor of God and of his Word may not be injured. For if I perish, no great harm is done; but if I let God’s Word perish, and I remain silent, then I do harm to God and to the whole world. Although I can not now close their mouth nor prevent their wickedness, I shall nevertheless not keep silent, nor act as if they are right, as I do about my good life, so that they retain their right. Although they do me injustice at the time, yet it remains right before God. Further, Christ excuses himself, and says: “I have not a demon,” that is, my doctrine is not of the devil’s lies; “but I honor my father,” that is, I preach in my doctrine the grace of God, through which he is to be praised, loved and honored by believers. For the evangelical office of the ministry is nothing but glorifying God, Psalm 19:2: “The heavens declare the glory of God” etc. “But you dishonor me,” that is, you call me the devil’s liar, who reviles and dishonors God.

7. Why does he not say: I honor my father, and ye dishonor him; but says: “Ye dishonor me?” Impliedly he proves by this, that the father’s and his honor are alike and the same, as he and the Father are one God; yet along with this he also wishes to teach that if the office of the ministry, which God honors, is to be duly praised, then it must suffer disgrace. In like manner we will also do to our princes and priests; when they attack our manner of life, we should suffer it and show love for hatred, good for evil; but when they attack our doctrine, God’s honor is attacked, then love and patience should cease and we should not keep silent, but also say: I honor my Father, and you dishonor me; yet I do not inquire whether you dishonor me, for I do not seek my own honor. But nevertheless be on your guard, there is one who seeks it and judges, that is, the Father will require it of you, and judge you and never let you go unpunished. He seeks not only his honor, but also mine, because I seek his honor, as he says in 1 Samuel 2:30: “Them that honor me I will honor.” And it is our consolation that we are happy; although the whole world reviles and dishonors us, we are assured that God will advance our honor, and therefore will punish, judge and revenge. If one could only believe it and persevere, he will surely come. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man keep my word, he shall never see death.”

8. By these words he spoils it entirely, in that he does not only defend his doctrine as right and good, which they attribute to the devil; but also ascribes such virtue to his teaching that it becomes a powerful emperor over Satan, death and sin, to give and sustain eternal life. Behold here, how divine wisdom and human reason conflict with one another. How can a human being grasp the thought, that a corporeal, an oral word should redeem forever from death? But let blindness run its course; we shall consider this beautiful saying. Christ is speaking here not of the word of the law, but of the Gospel, which is a discourse about Christ, who died for our sins etc. For God did not wish to impart Christ to the world in any other way; he had to embody him in the Word and thus distribute him, and present him to everybody; otherwise Christ would have existed for himself alone and remained unknown to us; he would have thus died for himself.

But since the Word places before us Christ, it thus places us before him who has triumphed over death, sin and Satan. Therefore he who grasps and retains Christ, has thus also eternal deliverance from death. Consequently it is a Word of life, and it is true, that whoever keeps the Word shall never see death.

9. And from this we may well understand what Christ meant by the word “keep;” it does not refer to such keeping as one keeps the law by good works; for this word of Christ must be kept in the heart by faith and not with the fist or by good works, as the Jews in this case understand it; they fearfully rage against Christ, that Abraham and the prophets are dead; they know nothing of what it is “to keep,” “to die” or “to live.” And it is not called “to keep” in vain; for there is a conflict and battle when sin bites, death presses and hell faces us; then we are to be in earnest in holding firmly to the Word and let nothing separate us from it. Thus see now how Christ answers the Jews and praises his own teachings. You say, my Word is of the devil and wish to sink it to the bottom of perdition; on the contrary I say to you that it has divine power in it, and I exalt it higher than the heaven of heavens, and above all creatures.

10. How does it then come to pass that man does not see nor taste death, and yet Abraham and all the prophets are dead, who notwithstanding had the Word of God as the Jews say? Here we must give attention to the words of Christ, who makes the distinction that death is a different thing than to see or taste death. We all must face death and die; but a Christian neither tastes nor sees it, that is, he does not feel it, he is not terrified before it, and he enters death calmly and quietly, as though falling asleep, and yet he does not die. But a godless person feels and experiences death, and is terrified before it forever. Thus to taste death may well be called the power and reign or the bitterness of death, yea, it is the eternal death and hell. The Word of God makes this difference. A Christian has that Word and clings firmly to it in death; therefore he does not see death, but his eyes are filled with the life and the Christ in that Word; therefore he never feels death. But the godless possess not that Word, therefore they see no life, but only death; and they must also feel death; that is then the bitter and eternal death.

11. Now Christ means here that whoever clings to his Word will in the midst of death neither feel nor see death, as he also says in John 11:25: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me though he die, yet shall he live,” that is, he will not experience real death. Here we see now what a glorious estate it is to be a Christian, who is already released from death forever and can never die. For his death or dying seems outwardly indeed like the dying of the godless, but inwardly there is a difference as great as between heaven and earth. For the Christian sleeps in death and in that way enters into life, but the godless departs from life and experiences death forever; thus we may see how some tremble, doubt and despair, and become senseless and raging in the midst of the perils of death. Hence death is also called in the Scriptures a sleep. For just as he who falls asleep does not know how it happens, and he greets the morning when he awakes; so shall we suddenly arise on the last day, and never know how we entered and passed through death.

12. Let us take another example. When Israel marched out of Egypt and came to the Red Sea, they were free and experienced no death, but only life. However when King Pharaoh arrived behind them with all his forces, then they stood in the midst of death, then no life was in sight. For before them was the sea, through which they could not pass, behind them King Pharaoh, and on both sides of them high mountains; on all sides they were seized and enclosed by death, so that they said to Moses: “Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness?” Exodus 14:11, so completely and wholly did they despair of life. Just then Moses came and brought them God’s Word that comforted them in the midst of death and preserved them alive, when he said in verse 13: “Fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of Jehovah, which he will work for you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more for ever.” They clung to this Word and held out until victory came; through it life appeared in the presence of death, because they believed the Word, that it would come to pass, and relying upon it they marched into the midst of the Red Sea, which stood on both sides of them like two walls. Then it came to pass that nothing but life and safety were in the sea, where before there were only death and danger.

For they would have never become so bold as to go into the sea, had it divided a hundred times, if God’s Word had not been present, which comforted them and promised life. Thus man triumphs over death through the Word of Life, if he cleaves to it and believes, and marches into death with it.

13. Likewise Christ also says here in replying to the Jews, that Abraham and the prophets still live and they never died, but have life in the midst of death; they however only lie and sleep in death. For “Abraham,” he says, “rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.” Thus, the prophets also saw it. Where and when did Abraham see it? Not with his bodily eyes, as the Jews interpret it, but with the sight of faith in the heart; that is, he recognized Christ when he was told in Genesis 22:18: “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” Then he saw and understood that Christ, born of his seed through a pure virgin, so as not to be cursed with Adam’s children but to remain blessed, should suffer for the whole world, cause this to be preached, and thus overwhelm the whole world with blessing etc. This is the day of Christ, the dispensation of the Gospel, that is the light of this day, which radiates from Christ as from the sun of righteousness, and shines and enlightens the whole world. This is a spiritual day, yet it arose at the time Christ was on the earth in the flesh, a day like Abraham saw. But the Jews understood nothing about such a day because of their carnal minds, and hence they reviled Christ as a liar.

14. Therefore Christ proceeds farther and gives the ground and reason why it is just his Word and not the word of anyone else, that giveth life, and says it is because he was before Abraham, or in other words, because he was the one true God. For if the person who offered himself as a sacrifice for us were not God, it would not help or avail anything, even if he were born of the Virgin Mary and suffered a thousand deaths. But the fact that the Seed of Abraham, who gave himself for us, is also true God, secures blessing and victory for all sinners. Therefore Christ speaks, not of his human nature that they saw and experienced; for they could easily see he was not yet fifty years of age, and did not live before Abraham. But with that nature by which he existed long before the time of Abraham, by which he existed also before all creatures and before the whole world. Just as he was man according to his spiritual nature before Abraham, that is. in his Word and in the knowledge of faith was he in the saints; for they all knew and believed that Christ, as God and man, should suffer for us, as is written in Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yea and for ever;” and in the Revelation of John, 13:8: “The Lamb of God that hath been slain from the foundation of the world.” Yet now he is speaking here especially of his divine nature.

15. But here reason is terribly offended and becomes mad and furious because God should become man; this reason cannot harmonize and understand. And this is the article of faith to which the Jews still in our day can not reconcile themselves, hence they cannot cease their throwing stones and their blasphemy. But Christ also continues on the other hand to hide himself from them and to go out of their temple, so that they cannot see nor find him in the Scriptures, in which they search daily. Again, this narrative is not a little terror to all who are so foolhardy about the Scriptures and never approach them with a humble spirit. For even in our day it happens that many read and study in the Scriptures and yet they cannot find Christ, he is hid and has gone out of the temple. And how many there are who say with their mouth that God is become man, and yet they are without the Spirit in their hearts; who whenever tested, prove that they were never in real earnest. This is sufficient on this subject.

Asparagus Planted While Peas and Sunflowers Make a Surprise Appearance. Rain Predicted Tonight

I was planting peas in early February, but never saw them under the mulch. I also planted a wide row of sunflower seeds, but did not expect them to survive the cold and squirrels. I pawed through the thick wood mulch several times to see the Little Green Sprout.

Today I began raking back the mulch and saw a tiny sprout, then another. Soon it was clear a line of sprouts was coming up - not weeds - but peas. Mrs. Ichabod said, "Only a line?" I admitted, "I planted a wide row. a lot more will come along now."

Asparagus crowns arrive as a big disappointment. They are shipped dry and  look dead. I checked a few places about asparagus planting on the Net since it has been about 20 years since ordering them. Dry ones are common, so I decided to soak mine in rainwater - which the mop bucket gathered by accident. They plumped up a bit in a few minutes.

Many gardening experts make a big deal about planting them - no wonder few even try. I simply dug holes, placed each crown on its side, and tamped the soil down gently. As readers might have guessed, the soil was goofy with earthworms. They had shelter, rain, snow, and food all winter. Clay is very fertile soil, and earthworms will make it even better.

Besides the asparagus along the fence, I will go vertical up and down. The peas will grow now, but Mrs. I really wants beans, so I have Blue Lake pole beans to plant along with the peas. They will bloom later or even with the peas, both climbing the fence. Outside their parallel rows will be a line of carrots.

Closer to the house along the fence, will climb scarlet runner beans, simply to attract hummingbirds, who love their flowers. Nearby are the bee balm plants (hummingbird friendly) and some others to be planted when they arrive.

The onslaught of bare root rose plants will arrive soon enough. That will be fun, since the soil is damp and easy to dig. I need a John Deere shovel to get the clay off, but otherwise have no complaints.

Daffodil bulbs are really the flower in a case, ready to bloom.

Daffodils should bloom next week.

Veteran, Tank Gunner
Our veteran neighbor talked about how he had to sleep in when he really wanted to do some landscaping in his yard. I said, "Get up earlier. Someone stole your autumn leaves."

He said, "My brother finally worked on them. They were there since October."

I said, "No, I stole them." His eyes widened. "Your brother offered me leaves a long time ago, saying I was known for playing with earthworms. I took them for my straw bale garden and they worked out fine.?

Using lively language, he described how many weed killers and barriers he used for his rose beds and still had a weed takeover. "Look at that *&$^@!" I said nothing.

It's that time.