Ash Wednesday - The Beginning of Lent.

Bethany Lutheran Church 

7 PM Central Time 

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Lyrics from the Bethany Hymn Blog are embedded in the hymn numbers.

The melody is linked in the hymn title.

The Hymn #154     Alas and Did My Savior Bleed                         

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

I will cry unto God Most High: unto God that performeth all things for me.

Yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge: until these calamities be overpast.

Psalm. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in Thee.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that Thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent, create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual  

Gradual

Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in Thee.

V. He shall send from heaven: and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up.

Tract. O Lord, deal not with us after our sins: nor reward us according to our iniquities.

V. O Lord, remember not against us former iniquities: let Thy tender mercies speedily come to us, for we are brought very low.

V. Help us, O God of our salvation: for the glory of Thy name.

     

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #370            My Hope Is Built

Treasures in Heaven

The Hymn #311        Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior                           

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 #657                 Beautiful Savior 

Prayers and Announcements

• Treatment and recovery - Pastor Jim Shrader (surgery), Randy Anderson, Lori Howell, Kermit Way, Sarah Buck.
• The Zoom computers work now, perhaps due to a mike & even more "upgrades." Zach Engleman and Glen Kotten spent hours going over the sound issue.
• 

The Epistle

KJV Joel 2:12-19

12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:

16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

18 Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

19 Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:

The Gospel

Matthew 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 

17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

              Treasures in Heaven

Matthew 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 

    This is a wonderful statement about pretending to be pious as a display for everyone else, as if such works really meant much. Everything begins with faith in Jesus Christ, not appearances. Jesus' response if funny - they have their reward.

17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

    Some people like to fast, but to do that as sanctification is bogus. One bishop said fasting was mandatory and I questioned that. People can make up new religions by going against the Savior and savoring the Law. 

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

    People have taught me that we should give to people rather than sell to people. I have written about a friend in grade school whose clothes were secretly gathered among mothers so he could have enough to ware. When I asked why my clothes were being removed from my modest pile, my mother said, "None of your business." When I pressed for a answer in situations like that, she said. "You're not old enough." That meant so much to the family that the grade school boy wrote about it and said people should mention his name to encourage others and themselves. He ended up the head of our high school class, a star athlete, and a full scholarship winner to attend Yale University. My other grade school friend said, "We don't have garage sales but give aways. No questions, no prices." That is a great way to help others and clean up the house.

    Treasures in heaven are the key statement in this passage. The true treasures in life are intangible, based on faith, generosity, helping and delighting others. We obtain those treasures through faith bearing - like the Grape Vine, John 15 - the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Or, we could say, bearing treasures through the Means of Grace - The Word of God and the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion.

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

    That is the great storehouse, Scrooge McDuck but with the tangibles. Some people are so caring that they act upon the needs of others and strengthen others by what they say. Luther commented too that the cranky, difficult people who oppose the Gospel - not all of them are clergy - are energizing the faithful to be serious about the treasures in the KJV. That has more gems that all the jewelry stores in LA. Nobody can steal the treasures in heaven. Most importantly, our hearts are with our treasures. If they are are material things, the hearts will go there, often forever. If they hearts are with the blessings of God's Word, they will keep those treasures and God's Word will keep them.

Let Not the LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) Brag They Are Not ELCA - They Are on the Same Spiral Path Downward And Share the Same Habits

 

Yes, they have worked and planned together since Eaton was elected.

Scott Barefoot with everyone but Lassie.

The Synodicals - proudly bearing the banner of Walter and his syphilitic Bishop Stephan - are going the same way as the ELCA seminaries and colleges, the congregations and managers. 

James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. (NIV, so the Synodicals can understand it.)

Thrivent is clearly steering the synods and other entities down the same path. 

Does anyone gain from the Thrivent freebies?

Only the managers gain from the "called" Giving Counselors, who step into a home and have the elderly sign an Irrevocable Charity Remainder Trust. That means Granny and Grampy just signed off a big chunk of their equity and no lawyer can get it back. The counselors have to pass an insurance license, and you can bet it is guided by Thrivent, which almost went bankrupt from their previous insurance problems with Universal Life.

Point not your fingers at ELCA if you are involved with Thrivent, its shenanigans, its crafts and assaults.

Before and After - Presiding Bishop Liz Eaton - Mysterious Leave of Absence

Before - Liz was elected in 2013

After - Two photographs were published showing a singular lack of joy in her work.

The ironic caption reminds everyone - why silent about the leave of absence for up to six months?

Four months after Eaton's leave-of-absence began, the Lutheran Forum Ovaline Newsletter asked the question, what is going on? Given the Ovaltines' knowledge of all things ELCA, the author should have known. Officially, ELCA is being silent and the Ovaltines wonder why nothing is being explained. The ELCA Constitution allows for a leave-of-absence and a male pastor has filled her role. Why such a stretch, four months, six months!? That anticipated quite a serious situation. The announcement and temporary replacement came after the leave-of-absence started. That suggests a serious crisis, as the photos suggest.

ELCA released a video with Liz featured and added, "This was taped before the leave of absence began."

As I have suggest before, Eaton started a blaze that is now consuming ELCA. I recall her uppity remarks about the 2009 ELCA vote to go all out for all genders. As a local bishop in Ohio, she was publicly sarcastic about people cringing over that vote. Nothing much was going to happen. But it was more like the signs of a tsunami - quiet at first, no worries, the water is actually receding. But then - run, run, run!

They had the keen idea to recruit a new set of male pastors -

Heterosexual men were not going to rush to spend large amounts of money where they would not feel welcome among the feminine males and the masculine females. Seminary enrollments declined anyway and those institutions have caved in, moved to smaller headquarters, and even sold the property, as the Lutheran School of Theology.

There were a few women bishops at first, but now they dominate ELCA's bishop roster. The male bishops list their wives and children, but the female bishops are silent about their domestic relationships. I might have missed that detail. I hope someone fills me in. 

Guy Erwin became the first acknowledged homosexual ELCA bishop - also an Osage Indian. Just as quickly, he became the president of the United (but divided) Seminary in Philadelphia. The previous seminary president was a woman, which was heartening to many, but she had a serious hetero past, which defenestrated her. Megan was there when Guy was promoted to pastor to bishop in California. Megan is suing ELCA for forcing her to resign as bishop. She was stricken from the role of pastors and is now working at Glide Memorial "Church" - as anti-Christian as it can be, but that is ELCA's natural role now.

My conclusion is - the upheaval in California and Eaton's reaction combined to create an ongoing crisis among various political groups in ELCA. Yanking Rohrer from her position - and the pastoral role - made it that much easier to focus on Eaton. Nobody seems to be "Reconciling in Christ," their strange slogan, given what they promote.

"In 1867, Krauth and his schoolmate Rev. William Passavant founded the General Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The General Council had seven regional bodies which had withdrawn from the General Synod.

During Krauth's lifetime, the LTSP was at Franklin Square.^[4] In 1889 it moved to Mount Airy.^[4] In 1908 its new library there was dedicated as the Krauth Memorial Library in memory of Krauth.^[4]"

^{Yes, Erwin is now the president of the Philadelphia/Gettysburg Seminary.} 

^{I was interviewed for a job at the Philadelphia Seminary and happily dodged that bullet.}

Schmauk was president of the Philadelphia Seminary and a superb author. Augustana College in Rock Island gave him an honorary degree. I refuse to accept Augustana's mail.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Lent 1 - "That means to be led into the desert and to be left alone. There I am in the true school, and I learn what I am, how weak my faith is, how great and rare true faith is, and how deeply unbelief is entrenched in the hearts of all men."

Complete Sermon -> Matthew 4:1-11.
Invocavit. First Sunday in Lent

INVOCAVIT. FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT

God, who was able to nourish Christ forty days without any food, can nourish also his Christians.

6. Secondly, this is written for our admonition, that we may in the light of this example also cheerfully suffer want and temptation for the service of God and the good of our neighbor, like Christ did for us, as often as necessity requires it; which is surely accomplished if we learn and confess God’s Word. Therefore this Gospel is sweet consolation and power against the unbelief and infamy of the stomach, to awaken and strengthen the conscience, that we may not be anxious about the nourishment of our bodies, but be assured that he can and will give us our daily bread.

II. THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST.

7. But as to how temptation takes place and how it is overcome, is all very beautifully pictured to us here in Christ. First, that he is led up into the wilderness, that is, he is left solitary and alone by God, angels and men, by all creatures. What kind of a temptation would it be, if we were not forsaken and stood not alone? It is, however, painful when we do not feel anything that presents its back to us; as for example, that I should support myself and have not a nickel, not a thread, not a twig, and I experience no help from others, and no advice is offered. That means to be led into the desert and to be left alone. There I am in the true school, and I learn what I am, how weak my faith is, how great and rare true faith is, and how deeply unbelief is entrenched in the hearts of all men. But whoever has his purse, cellar and fields full, is not yet led into the desert, neither is he left alone; therefore he is not conscious of temptation.

8. Secondly, the tempter came forward and attacked Christ with these very same cares of food for the body and with the unbelief in the goodness of God, and said: “If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread,” as if he should say: Yes, trust thou in God and bake and cook nothing; only wait patiently until a roasted fowl flies into your mouth; do you now say that you have a God who cares for you; where is now your heavenly Father, who has charge of you? Yea, it seems to me he lets you in a fine condition; eat now and drink from your faith, let us see how you will satisfy your hunger; yea, when you have stones for bread. What a fine Son of God you are! How fatherly he is disposed toward you in that he fails to send you a slice of bread and permits you to be so poor and needy; do you now continue to believe that you are his son and he is your father? With like thoughts he truly attacks all the children of God. And Christ surely felt this temptation, for he was no stock nor stone; although he was and remained pure and without sin, as we cannot do.

9. That Satan attacked Christ with the cares for daily food or with unbelief and avarice, Christ’s answer proves, in that he says: “Man shall not live by bread alone;” that sounds as if he said: thou wilt direct me to bread alone and dost treat me as though I thought of nothing but the sustenance of my body. This temptation is very common also among pious people, and they especially feel it keenly who have children and a family, and have nothing to eat. Therefore St. Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:10 that avarice is a root of all kind of evil; for it is a fruit of unbelief. Do you not think that unbelief, care and avarice are the reasons people are afraid to enter married life?

Why do people avoid it and live in unchastity, unless it be the fear that they must die of hunger and suffer want? But here we should consider Christ’s work and example, who suffered want forty days and nights, and finally was not forsaken, but was ministered to even by angels.

10. Thirdly, behold how Christ resists this temptation of bread, and overcomes; he sees nothing but stones and what is uneatable, then he approaches and clings to the Word of God, strengthens himself by it and strikes the devil to the ground with it. This saying all Christians should lay hold of when they see that there is lack and want and everything has become stones, so that courage trembles, and they should say: What were it if the whole world were full of bread, still man does not live by bread alone, but more belongs to life, namely, the Word of God. The words, however, are so beautiful and powerful that we must not pass over them lightly, but carefully explain them.

Another Step in Zoom

 I was not able to get sound out to the recipients tonight, but I learned  a lot from Glen Kotten about sharing. He showed me how the computer could send music better than the mikes and speakers. Zach Engleman also helped with observation about what was working or not.

I will be practicing that tomorrow and talking with Zoom about various points I need to know.

Thank you for your patience. Ash Wednesday will be a communion service at 7 PM.

We learned tonight that I could post the Zoom link with the page for the service, very simple for everyone but I will send out the service on Word and an email with the link and all those numbers.

Shrove Tuesday Tonight - Last Tuesday Before Lent. Tuesday, 2-13-2024. 7 PM. Sound Restored.

Bethany Lutheran Church 

7 PM Central Time 

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Lyrics from the Bethany Hymn Blog are embedded in the hymn numbers.

The melody is linked in the hymn title.

The link appears in emails and should here as well:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86227705823?pwd=jSY2T2zUSjTVMD42Eak3vpz8lvOVh9.1

The broadcast will begin at 6:30 PM the service at 7 PM.

The Hymn #301   Kingo    He That Believes                         

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Be Thou my strong Rock: for an house of defense to save me.

Thou art my Rock and my Fortress: therefore for Thy name’s sake lead me and guide me.

Psalm. In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in Thy righteousness.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

O Lord, we beseech Thee, mercifully hear our prayers and, having set us free from the bonds of sin, defend us from all evil; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual  

Gradual

V. Thou hast with Thine arm redeemed Thy people: the sons of Jacob and Joseph.

Tract. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands: serve the Lord with gladness.

V. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving.

V. Know ye that the Lord, He is God.

V. It is He that hath made us and not we ourselves: we are His people and the sheep of his pasture.

     

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #148      Lord Jesus Christ, My Life

The Famous 1 Corinthians 13 Chapter

The Hymn #311        Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior                           

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 #657                 Beautiful Savior 

Prayers and Announcements

• Treatment and recovery - Pastor Jim Shrader (surgery), Randy Anderson, Lori Howell, Kermit Way, Sarah Buck.
• Sound has been restored to two computers.
• Janie Sullivan is finishing the latest book - My Good Shepherd, Jesus' Titles of Majesty, graphics by Norma Boeckler.
• Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, 7 PM.
• 

The Epistle. 1 Corinthians 13

Luther's Sermon for this passage.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

The Gospel. St. Luke 18:31-43

Luke 18:31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:

33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.

37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.

40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,

41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

The Famous 1 Corinthians 13 Chapter

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

    Many people think of 1 Corinthians 13 as the love chapter, and it is often used at weddings, such as Prince Charles and Diana's. Although the chapter is a classic and good for many applications, Luther says it was aimed at preachers and teachers, haughty and strutting around. All of us over 50 years of age have seen these people rise and fall with the greatest of ease. Some are still on the rise, no matter how much they ignore the basics of the Christian Faith.

    So we often hear the question used on the comedy show, "Do you know who my father is?" Luther reminds us that a large share of those who serve as pastors and teachers fall away over time. Various temptations and trials scatter them in different ways.

Luther:

Paul’s purpose in this chapter is to silence and humble haughty Christians, particularly teachers and preachers. The Gospel gives much knowledge of God and of Christ, and conveys many wonderful gifts, as Paul recounts in Romans 12 and in 1 Corinthians 12.

When we read those opening verses, it makes sense why Paul is so flamboyant about so many extreme behaviors - speaking in tongues, prophecy, all knowledge, and all faith. Anyone would say "Wow!"

We should definitely dwell on the spiritual riches from the Word of God, but they should be shared with others, not in the attitude of "Look at what I know." Many people quietly read, pray, and study, sharing in a humble way what God has done and continues to do.

So many people pounce on Paul today and run him down, not caring that he risked his life over and over, suffered taunts and derision from fake leaders, and ultimately died at the hands of the Roman Empire. One incident gave him more time in prison and he wrote that much more of the New Testament for us to understand. 

The spiritual heroes and heroines paid a terrible price to speak for the truth. William Tyndale was tortured in prison and killed for translating the Bible. Henry VIII ordered it, but the same king soon had to aim at having an English Bible. King James officially started the KJV, but Tyndale ended the Latin only Bible. And now King James is slandered by those who do not like his best seller, the Authorized Version.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Some would say, Oh charity is the wrong word, we have to say LOVE, though love is used for everything, including food, celebrities, and football clubs. I know more than one rich person who made sure the gift was displayed with that person's name - prominently, repeatedly, boldly. After 2,000 years we have the same things going on as Paul observed and felt in his day. He was severely depressed (in my opinion) from all the abuse, betrayals, and spitefulness, people who wanted to upset his work and boast of it. That gave use the Galatians Epistle, which clearly teaches Justification by Faith, just like Romans. 

Many clergy have said in a haughty way, "We are saved BY GRACE! through faith." They do not realize they are following ELCA, where grace is pitted against faith, as if grace is the only good and faith is an afterthought. Yet Paul teaches faith in Jesus Christ giving us access to grace. All the spiritual treasures come from faith in our Savior. 

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

This section is a gracious reminder of how we should be as believers in our Good Shepherd. Jesus was more than kindly with everyone, including His accusers who waited for a chance to ridicule or talk back at him, even when He healed people His opponents could not help. It is strange that celebrities become that way because they are obnoxious in so many ways. People cheer them on. They scramble for a high position, biting and scratching others - in a sense.  We should not be happy about evil but rejoice in the truth. We should not let ourselves be provoked and should not think of evil.

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

The Holy Spirit's eloquence in this passage is striking and often repeated in various setting. Love - in all its forms - bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things. Paul preached the Gospel in the face of opposition from his own people and the overwhelming paganism of the Roman Empire. They were all living on the edge, as we are today. Rome existed 700 years before Paul started his missions. What could he do against so many, especially when false teachers were eager to take away his members? And how could they feel secure in such a situation? Paul invoked the power of love, and the fruits of the Spirit.

In building up the enduring power of God's love Paul dismisses what does not last - man-made prophecies, ecstatic speech will fade just as it has these days in the Assemblies of God, special knowledge - what we predict and imagine - that will pass away too.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Paul could not predict how his life would end. To this day we have a mixture of ideas about his last day, including a third missionary trip. This was not recorded and kept, unlike our vast collections of books and computerized data, because Paul's work was kept on leather and papyrus, the Gospel moving from Christ to the apostles to the next generations.

His journeys remind me that he wanted to be everywhere at once, and could not, but loyal copyists carefully spread his word. Persecution and martyrdom spread that Word even faster.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

This passage is beautiful and poetic. We love the children in our little group. Parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents get to watch the time zoom by, children at all stages. They remind us of earlier years, and things we could not even imagine. The "glass darkly" is a reference to the limited reflections the Romans had, not like our reflective glass, so powerful that office buildings have been shaped to beam (accidentally) overbearing heat and light on people below - in London, Las Vegas, and Texas. 

We think we know a lot, as a nation and world, but God alone sees into the future of His Creation.

All my predictions have been wrong. People laugh that I never wanted to live in Minnesota and Arizona, and yet we moved to Minnesota and Phoenix, and came to a rest in Springdale, the home of Tyson Chicken. My friend from Salem Lutheran Church in Moline told me, about 1966, that I would not have a church in the future because so many would vanish. The three LCA churches I served, which were doing well, are either an apartment house (Cleveland), a business (Sturgis, Michigan), or an empty shell waiting to be sold (Midland, Michigan). 

I learned about being a Lutheran from those clergy, synodicals, and professors who hated Luther, the Reformation, and the Bible. Luther said it best - that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has nothing bad and condemning against us. He took on all the evil of the world, all the hatred and torture and death, so that faith in Him would give access to His grace (Romans 5) and take away our sins.

Faith in Christ is so feeble now in our nation that nothing should surprise us. Nevertheless, we can trust in Him to be our guide, Good Shepherd, and friend.