How the Sects Align Their Precious Thoughts - Ft. Wayne Seminary Hires Former ELS Member

 

"From 1991 through 2002 he served on the faculty of Bethany Lutheran College (ELS) in Mankato, and thereafter at St. Olaf College (ELCA), The University of the South, and the University of Kansas. From 2013 through 2022 he served as pastor at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Topeka, Kansas."

John Bruss has been hired to be the next president of Concordia Seminary, Ft. Wayne. One must say "Concordia Theological Seminary" to avoid being corrected by a Ft. Wayne seminarian. The St. Louis version does not require the word theological in its title. A seminary in the good old days was often a girls school, so that must be the issue for Ft. Wayne. 

The big talking point - at LutherQuest - is Bruss' former membership in the schismatic Little Norwegian Synod, aka the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. The Preus brothers, Robert and Jack, spoke against the ELS at a LCMS convention - and then joined the ELS. They were Biblical, grafting the ELS onto the LCMS tree.

Jack and Robert were Ft. Wayne presidents, Robert a few years later than Jack. I knew Robert fairly well and talked to Jack several times, the last time just before his death. 

I would like to ask any of the LCMS-WELS-ELS presidents why they gloried in extraordinary spending when they knew their graduates were shrinking as fast as the executives were spending. Marvin Schwan, my favorite ice cream vendor, had much to do with the spending, and the federal government generously allowed for monumental student loans.

I served a church where the members wanted to build an addition but did not want to refinance. They decided to raise the cash and build it themselves. Now church buildings can be bought cheap, though they are more likely to changed into a business of some sort.

The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) should merge because:

1. They teach Objective Faithless Justification;
2. They are shrinking faster than a cheap suit in the rain;
3. They can do the math - some of them schools have to go;
4. Thrivent is wooing non-Lutherans!
5. They are guided and encouraged by their Father Below.

 

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity Sunday - "Christ has here demonstrated by examples, words and deeds that human reason is altogether blind and dead before God, Hence, it cannot appreciate divine things nor desire them."

 

Veterans Honor Rose

Luther's Sermons - John 3:1-15. Trinity Sunday

II. EXPLANATION OF THIS GOSPEL; CHRIST’ S CONVERSATION WITH NICODEMUS.


I. THE CONVERSATION IN GENERAL.

1. In this Gospel you see clearly what reason and free-will can do. You may see it distinctly in Nicodemus, who was the best of the best, a prince and leader of the Pharisees, and the Pharisees held first place in their day.

They were, however, in the highest things — in spiritual life — altogether blind and dead before God, however holy, wise, good and mighty they may have been considered by men. The longer Nicodemus associates with Christ, the less he understands Christ, although he is expected to understand only earthly things and the manner of Christ’s death. Reason is so blind that it can neither perceive nor understand the things of God, nor all things which properly belong to its own sphere. This is a blow to nature and human reason, which have been rated so high by philosophy and the wise men of this world; the wise ones have said that reason always strives to attain the best.

2. God has here given us an example showing that even the best in nature must fail. In instances where human nature is at its best it is blind, not to speak of its envy and hatred. "Christ has here demonstrated by examples, words and deeds that human reason is altogether blind and dead before God, Hence, it cannot appreciate divine things nor desire them."

3. Now, Nicodemus, who is a pious and well-meaning man, cannot grasp the work and Word of God; how then would Annas and Caiaphas? He comes to the Lord at night, which he did from fear, not desiring to be called a heretic by others. From this we may conclude that he was in nature an old Adam, cowardly seeking Christ by night, and that he did not yet possess the true light. If he had been a “new man,” he would have come in the bright light of day, fearing no one. Because of his hypocrisy, the Lord deals sharply with him, cutting off his salutation and all further speech, as we shall see. Nicodemus approaches the Lord with these words: “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that thou doest, except God be with him.”

II. THE CONVERSATION IN DETAIL.

4. He thinks that he has uttered these words in all sincerity; but there is still the old life and nothing but hypocrisy. For this reason Christ will not accept his salutation, but will take from Nicodemus everything in which he feels secure and will make a “new” man of him, giving him a new heart and enabling him to walk by faith. He says to him: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

5. Christ’s words are as if to say: No, my dear Nicodemus, I am not moved by your beautiful words. You must give up your old life and become a new man. You have not the faith which you say you have; you are still afraid. Although the natural man hears the Word of God, the Gospel, and delights in it, yet it does not enter the heart. Therefore, we must slay reason and experience the new birth. This is what Christ means when he says that we must be born anew. Reason cannot understand this, wherefore Nicodemus replies: “How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”

6. Thus reason takes offense at the Spirit, imagines unreality’s and conceives of this new birth as a natural birth. Therefore Christ proceeds, explaining this birth to him to clear his misunderstanding, and says: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

7. In other words: The new birth of which I speak must be otherwise explained. I do not abolish the natural birth but I speak of a birth which is of water and the Spirit. Then he continues: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is borne of the Spirit is spirit.”

8. These words cannot be grasped by reason, which seeks to explain the words “Spirit” and “water,” speculating how such birth may be. Here it sees nothing in the nature of a birth and therefore plays the part of a fool by saying: How can a man be born of water and the Spirit? Indeed, such a source would produce but water-bubbles.

9. Now, Christ speaks and destroys reason, saying: “Art thou the teacher of Israel, and understandest not these things?” You should teach others the spiritual birth, that they might become righteous, but you yourself do not understand it. He defeats reason and the whole law and says: My friend, do you not know how these things can be? It is plain to me, as it was also to the prophets, who corroborate my words. Renounce your reason and close your eyes; cling only to my Word and believe it. Again he says: “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born anew. The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

10. As if to say: You presume to judge spiritual things by your reason, and at the same time you cannot understand the simple things of nature. He calls Nicodemus’ attention to the wind. No philosopher or scientist has ever been able to comprehend and describe the nature of the wind — where it has its beginning or where it ends. We cannot see where the wind comes from, or how it blows past us, or how far it goes. Now, if we cannot by our reason fathom those things which we see daily in nature, much less will we be able to fathom with our reason the divine works which God accomplishes within us.

11. How a man is born anew may easily be told in words. When, however, it is a question of experience, as it was here with Nicodemus, then it is a hard matter to understand and it requires effort to attain the experience. It is easy to say: We must blind our reason, disregard our feelings, close our eyes and only cling to the Word — finally die and yet live. But to persevere in this, when it becomes a matter of experience and when we are really tested, requires pains and labor. It is a very bitter experience.

12. An example of this new birth we have in Abraham, whose son was to inherit the world and whose seed was to be like the stars in heaven, as was promised him in Genesis 15:5 Then God came and commanded him to slay his son. Now had Abraham acted as reason dictated, he would have concluded thus: Aye, God has given me this seed, by which he has promised to increase my family, and now he commands me to offer him up as a sacrifice. Surely, God cannot command this; it must be the devil. But Abraham slays reason and honors God, thinking: God is so powerful that he can raise my son from death and increase my family through him. or he can give me another son, or effect his purpose in some other way, which I do not know. So Abraham commends all to God. Here Abraham leaves his old life and surrenders himself to God, believes in him and becomes a new man. Then the angel comes and says to him: “Abraham, Abraham, lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him,: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me,” Genesis 22:11-12. Abraham could not have imagined that God would thus come to his rescue; nay, he had already in his heart slain his son.

13. Now, the beginning of this birth was in baptism. The water is baptism; the Spirit is that grace which is given to us in baptism. The result of this birth is clearly seen in the hour of death or in times of test by poverty and temptation. He who is born of the flesh fights to defend himself, looks hither and thither, employs his reason to make his living. But he who is born anew reasons thus: I am in God’s hands, who has preserved and nourished me before in a wonderful manner: he will also feed and preserve me in the future and save me from, all sorrow and misfortune.

14. When we are about to die we feel that we must depart and we know not whither; the house of shelter is not ready and we know not whether it will be a white or a black house. For where there is flesh and blood, there is still the old Adam, who does not know where he shall go, whether below or above, to the left or to the right; on what he should rest his soul and depart. Then there is anxiety and misery in the nature of a real hell; for the torment of hell is nothing but fear, terror. dread and despair. But if I believe in God and am born anew, I close my eyes and do not grope about.

I am willing that the condition of the soul be changed entirely, and I think:

O God, my soul is in thy hands; thou hast preserved it during my life and I have never known where thou hast put it. neither do I wish to know, to which place thou wilt now assign it. I only know that it is in thy hands and thou wilt take care of it. Thus we must abandon the life of the flesh and enter into a new life, being dead to the old. This is a real dying and not merely a painful sensation, like the scratching off of a scab, as the philosophers have said; and they have compared the entering upon the new life with the rinsing of a pot by the cook. There must be a real change and an entire transformation of nature, for the natural state and natural feeling must be completely overthrown.

Brighten Up the Yard with Hummingbirds And Roses

 

I worked on this project for some time. First I transplanted clethra along the fence, so the shrubs would gradually provide a stop for hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Summer Sweet, as they call it, took hold over the winter and grow slowly. I have one or two spares in the front yard, plus a large, wide shrub.

Next I planted a number of David Austin roses along the fence and in the wild garden, so more people could see the blooms. My neighbor across the street yelled, with a big smile, "Thank you for the flowers!" I said, "There are a lot more coming."

The lectures and Greek lesson always have roses, and they are given away. I often take several samples to various houses, too, which is fun. Father's Day is a handy time to drop off a sample at each home.

Queen of Sweden, David Austin Rose

I put up four hummingbird feeders along the fence, adding another to view from the kitchen window, and another in the front yard. Hummers guard their favorite feeders and wait high up in the trees to dive down and scare the hummer competition away.  

Some birdfood trays are available here and there, front and back. 

In moving hostas from the front to the back I accidentally duplicated them, because their roots start over again. That gives the front and back gardens a place to give hosta flowers feeding hummers easily and at different times, not all at once.

Clethra - I was growing them without knowing anything about them.

What Next?! Archbishop Elizabeth Eaton Glories in the United Methodist Split, So Similar to the ELCA's Collapse

Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the ELCA, has issued a pastoral letter on the United Methodist Church (UMC) General Conference, which concluded last week in Charlotte, N.C., after having been postponed since 2020. “For 15 years we have accompanied our full-communion siblings in the UMC through joyous and challenging times,” the letter read, in part. “We know firsthand the pain of debate, disaffiliation and division that they have experienced. Yet we also know the hope-filled renewal of Christ’s church.”

The letter continued: “With each day’s news we witnessed our partner church emerging strengthened, revitalized and united. Several actions will shape the future of the UMC. These include the adoption of a plan for worldwide regionalization to restructure the UMC as a truly equitable, diverse and global church, which now goes to annual conferences for ratification.” Regionalization will allow for unity within the worldwide UMC structure, Eaton said, even as members hold diverse opinions on actions taken. Those actions included:

• Lifting a 40-year ban on the ordination of practicing homosexual clergy.
• Lifting restrictions on clergy to officiate at, and on congregations to host, weddings between adults of the same gender.
• Eliminating from the UMC’s Social Principles the assertion that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.
• Broadening the definition of marriage to be between either a man and a woman or two consenting adults.

“These significant actions and the UMC’s witness to the ecumenical vocation we share come as we celebrate 15 years of full communion,” Eaton said.

Read the full letter.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity Sunday - "He defeats reason and the whole law and says: My friend, do you not know how these things can be? It is plain to me, as it was also to the prophets, who corroborate my words. Renounce your reason and close your eyes; cling only to my Word and believe it."

 

Luther's Sermons - John 3:1-15. Trinity Sunday

II. EXPLANATION OF THIS GOSPEL; CHRIST’ S CONVERSATION WITH NICODEMUS.


I. THE CONVERSATION IN GENERAL.

1. In this Gospel you see clearly what reason and free-will can do. You may see it distinctly in Nicodemus, who was the best of the best, a prince and leader of the Pharisees, and the Pharisees held first place in their day.

They were, however, in the highest things — in spiritual life — altogether blind and dead before God, however holy, wise, good and mighty they may have been considered by men. The longer Nicodemus associates with Christ, the less he understands Christ, although he is expected to understand only earthly things and the manner of Christ’s death. Reason is so blind that it can neither perceive nor understand the things of God, nor all things which properly belong to its own sphere. This is a blow to nature and human reason, which have been rated so high by philosophy and the wise men of this world; the wise ones have said that reason always strives to attain the best.

2. God has here given us an example showing that even the best in nature must fail. In instances where human nature is at its best it is blind, not to speak of its envy and hatred. Christ has here demonstrated by examples, words and deeds that human reason is altogether blind and dead before God, Hence, it cannot appreciate divine things nor desire them.

3. Now, Nicodemus, who is a pious and well-meaning man, cannot grasp the work and Word of God; how then would Annas and Caiaphas? He comes to the Lord at night, which he did from fear, not desiring to be called a heretic by others. From this we may conclude that he was in nature an old Adam, cowardly seeking Christ by night, and that he did not yet possess the true light. If he had been a “new man,” he would have come in the bright light of day, fearing no one. Because of his hypocrisy, the Lord deals sharply with him, cutting off his salutation and all further speech, as we shall see. Nicodemus approaches the Lord with these words: “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that thou doest, except God be with him.”

II. THE CONVERSATION IN DETAIL.

4. He thinks that he has uttered these words in all sincerity; but there is still the old life and nothing but hypocrisy. For this reason Christ will not accept his salutation, but will take from Nicodemus everything in which he feels secure and will make a “new” man of him, giving him a new heart and enabling him to walk by faith. He says to him: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

5. Christ’s words are as if to say: No, my dear Nicodemus, I am not moved by your beautiful words. You must give up your old life and become a new man. You have not the faith which you say you have; you are still afraid. Although the natural man hears the Word of God, the Gospel, and delights in it, yet it does not enter the heart. Therefore, we must slay reason and experience the new birth. This is what Christ means when he says that we must be born anew. Reason cannot understand this, wherefore Nicodemus replies: “How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”

6. Thus reason takes offense at the Spirit, imagines unreality’s and conceives of this new birth as a natural birth. Therefore Christ proceeds, explaining this birth to him to clear his misunderstanding, and says: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

7. In other words: The new birth of which I speak must be otherwise explained. I do not abolish the natural birth but I speak of a birth which is of water and the Spirit. Then he continues: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is borne of the Spirit is spirit.”

8. These words cannot be grasped by reason, which seeks to explain the words “Spirit” and “water,” speculating how such birth may be. Here it sees nothing in the nature of a birth and therefore plays the part of a fool by saying: How can a man be born of water and the Spirit? Indeed, such a source would produce but water-bubbles.

9. Now, Christ speaks and destroys reason, saying: “Art thou the teacher of Israel, and understandest not these things?” You should teach others the spiritual birth, that they might become righteous, but you yourself do not understand it. He defeats reason and the whole law and says: My friend, do you not know how these things can be? It is plain to me, as it was also to the prophets, who corroborate my words. Renounce your reason and close your eyes; cling only to my Word and believe it. Again he says: “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born anew. The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

10. As if to say: You presume to judge spiritual things by your reason, and at the same time you cannot understand the simple things of nature. He calls Nicodemus’ attention to the wind. No philosopher or scientist has ever been able to comprehend and describe the nature of the wind — where it has its beginning or where it ends. We cannot see where the wind comes from, or how it blows past us, or how far it goes. Now, if we cannot by our reason fathom those things which we see daily in nature, much less will we be able to fathom with our reason the divine works which God accomplishes within us.

11. How a man is born anew may easily be told in words. When, however, it is a question of experience, as it was here with Nicodemus, then it is a hard matter to understand and it requires effort to attain the experience. It is easy to say: We must blind our reason, disregard our feelings, close our eyes and only cling to the Word — finally die and yet live. But to persevere in this, when it becomes a matter of experience and when we are really tested, requires pains and labor. It is a very bitter experience.

12. An example of this new birth we have in Abraham, whose son was to inherit the world and whose seed was to be like the stars in heaven, as was promised him in Genesis 15:5 Then God came and commanded him to slay his son. Now had Abraham acted as reason dictated, he would have concluded thus: Aye, God has given me this seed, by which he has promised to increase my family, and now he commands me to offer him up as a sacrifice. Surely, God cannot command this; it must be the devil. But Abraham slays reason and honors God, thinking: God is so powerful that he can raise my son from death and increase my family through him. or he can give me another son, or effect his purpose in some other way, which I do not know. So Abraham commends all to God. Here Abraham leaves his old life and surrenders himself to God, believes in him and becomes a new man. Then the angel comes and says to him: “Abraham, Abraham, lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him,: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me,” Genesis 22:11-12. Abraham could not have imagined that God would thus come to his rescue; nay, he had already in his heart slain his son.

Charlie Sue Helps Me with the Roses, Hummingbirds, and Weeds

 

Charlie had a lot of fun this afternoon. I needed some hummingbird poles for the feeders, already had plenty of fuel for them, but was short on a few feeders. They take a beating over time, so I threw the groady ones away. Charlie began by chasing me around the yard, leaping to the air, and gently brushing my left hand. I found a beat-up ball from the neighbor and tossed it. She grabbed it and ran full speed in circles. 

 Joe Pye Weed is great for birds and butterflies. 
Pokeweed is even more generous toward birds.

Part of her routine is to lose the precious object and make me guess where it is, among six other balls deep in her hideouts. I have found her stash with three balls, different colors, at the base of the meanest rose one could imagine. Her buddies at Doggie Day Care had a similar bunch of three balls, also near the fence in a cluster. 

Clethra or Summer Sweet or Sweet Spice is a small shrub that can grow big with tiny flowers reserved for hummers and butterflies.

Charlie supervised me while I spread some red wiggler worms on the David Austin roses. They are producing a bouquet a day, so I like to help out their quiet earthmovers. My rainwater expert always suggests distributing the best source of fertilizer for the roses - rainwater (you guessed?). Early in the spring there is not so much need, but I like to keep the skeeters from having luxury breeding grounds. 

Charlie looked over each handful of worms - not too excited about them. The moles are the true worm farmers. They not only eat them but sometimes also store them in a bank. That is another example of Creation at work. Earthworms are vital and moles are great at chasing them and feeding on them. Those who hate moles would rather have them than Charlie, a ferocious hole-digger and menace to moles. The vet (who never heard of Patterdale dogs) laughed at my description of Charlie digging at fuel speed and sniffing carefully for an extra meal of mole. 

Porchie is probably too warm to chase around on days like this, but little Dustbin loves the word "RACE!" He loves to chase a ball thrown on our side, but he is now quite happy to initiate and dare Charlie to run along the fence with him. That lasted a short time, but Charlie had to energy to jump at me from behind and grin at her fun.

One hummingbird feeder is completely set up. Tomorrow I hope to get three more going. The four are parallel to the Doggie Day Care Fence and surrounded by roses, hosta, crepe myrtle, and clethra. Hummers especially love crepe myrtle, hosta, and clethra. Poke weed and Joe Pye Weed are already six feet tall, so they will welcome all kinds of birds, front and backyard the rest of the summer.

 Dustmop loves to race with Charlie. He is about half of her size but has great ambitions.

 Charlie is always smiling outdoors. This is a rare, serious look.

Hostas are already blooming with flowers few would notice, but they are loved by hummers. My initial hostas have spread in the shade and in the sun. They are fun to watch grow and leave a new plant when I try to dig them out of the front yard. Nope, they reproduce by the roots, even a root fragment longing to grow. I may put more in the far backyard, even if they look finished off after a hot dry summer.

Parable - The True Vine - John 15 - 11 AM Today

 

YouTube

15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman (george) .

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

Stephanus Greek - John 15

15 εγω ειμι η αμπελος η αληθινη και ο πατηρ μου ο γεωργος εστιν

2 παν κλημα εν εμοι μη φερον καρπον αιρει αυτο και παν το καρπον φερον καθαιρει αυτο ινα πλειονα καρπον φερη

3 ηδη υμεις καθαροι εστε δια τον λογον ον λελαληκα υμιν

4 μεινατε εν εμοι καγω εν υμιν, καθως το κλημα ου δυναται καρπον φερειν αφ εαυτου εαν μη μεινη εν τη αμπελω ουτως ουδε υμεις εαν μη εν εμοι μεινητε

5 εγω ειμι η αμπελος υμεις τα κληματα ο μενων εν εμοι καγω εν αυτω ουτος φερει καρπον πολυν οτι χωρις εμου ου δυνασθε ποιειν ουδεν

6 εαν μη τις μεινη εν εμοι εβληθη εξω ως το κλημα και εξηρανθη και συναγουσιν αυτα και εις πυρ βαλλουσιν και καιεται

7 εαν μεινητε εν εμοι και τα ρηματα μου εν υμιν μεινη ο εαν θελητε αιτησεσθε και γενησεται υμιν

8 εν τουτω εδοξασθη ο πατηρ μου ινα καρπον πολυν φερητε και γενησεσθε εμοι μαθηται

9 καθως ηγαπησεν με ο πατηρ καγω ηγαπησα υμας μεινατε εν τη αγαπη τη εμη

10 εαν τας εντολας μου τηρησητε μενειτε εν τη αγαπη μου καθως εγω τας εντολας του πατρος μου τετηρηκα και μενω αυτου εν τη αγαπη

The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) Have Apostatized - Step by Step

 

The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - have fallen from the Faith. This happened slowly - with superb harmony step-by-step, from their Father Below. 

First Step - 

Destruction of the Greek New Testament by Adopting the Fake Tischendorf Codices

What do all the mainline denominations and the Big Five hate, despise, and reject with all their powers? The answer is - the King James Version of the Bible.

All of the other English Bible translations are promoted by the professors - who have little Latin and less Greek - RSV, NRSV, ESV (licensed by the Marxist gay National Council of Churches), NIV (once owned by Rupert Murdoch, etc. etc. 

Readers - do not despair about how many years of Greek it takes to prove this. Have you ever smelled a skunk's pungent odor? Not enough people drive down country roads to experience that, even in an air conditioned car. "What is that?" Answer - A skunk was hit and killed. "Open the windows!" Answer - that will only make it worse. 

WELS warned readers about the snip and clip Bibles, using this graphic. But this graphic demonstrates the NIV, which the Big Five use with the giddiness of a sixth grade girl. 

Anyone can smell the skunk in the modern assaults on the Greek New Testament. The so-called scholars even show us what they have removed from the Traditional Text. They slice away the text to justify their dynamic equivalence translations, using footnotes to justify their mischief.

KJV Mark 1:1 1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 2 As it is written in the prophets

Westcott-Hort Greek NT - 1 αρχη του ευαγγελιου ιησου χριστου [omits Son of God] 2 καθως γεγραπται

A reader can find all this in the NIV sponsored Biblegateway.com

What's in your sect's publishing efforts?

                Second Step - Destroying the Reformation

The great Reformation leaders were Luther, Melanchthon, and Chemnitz. The Big Five loathe all three, as proven by their lifeless promotion of the Reformation's 500th Anniversary. They have changed from Here I Stand to Here We Rot. When they are not racing over to Fuller Seminary to enhance their synodical perks, they are sinuflecting to Rome so they can purchase their gorgeous costumes and precious incense.

Sinuflecting is a clever term invented to describe Church of England priests snaking along the path to the Vatican. It worked very well for Rome.

These are just a few of the modern English Bibles, all eager to water down and toxify the Traditional Text of the New Testament. If any single one of these is so good, why do the rest have to alter the modern, scientific Bible, loved by the Tischendorf and Westcott-Hort fan club groupies?

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity Sunday - "Here divinity is also ascribed to the Holy Spirit, since I may trust or believe in no one but God. And I must trust only in one who has power over death, hell, the devil and all creatures, whose authority withholds them from harming me, and who can save me. None will suffice except one in whom I may trust absolutely."

 

Luther's Sermons - John 3:1-15. Trinity Sunday

8. We can. therefore, have no surer foundation for our belief in the divinity of Christ than that we enwrap and enclose our hearts in the declarations of the Scriptures. The Scriptures gradually and beautifully lead us to Christ; first revealing him to us as a man, then as the lord of all creatures. and finally as God. Thus we are successfully led to the true knowledge of God. But the philosophers and the wise men of this world would begin at the top and so they have become fools. We must begin at the bottom and gradually advance in knowledge, so that the words of Proverbs 25:27 may not apply to us: “It is not good to eat much honey; so for men to search out their own glory is grievous.”

9. Our faith in these two persons, the Father and the Son, is therefore sufficiently established and confirmed by passages from the Scriptures. But of the Holy Spirit, the third person, we read in Matthew 28:19 that Christ sent forth his disciples, saying to them: “Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Here divinity is also ascribed to the Holy Spirit, since I may trust or believe in no one but God. And I must trust only in one who has power over death, hell, the devil and all creatures, whose authority withholds them from harming me, and who can save me. None will suffice except one in whom I may trust absolutely.

Now, Christ in this passage commands that we should also believe and trust in the Holy Spirit; therefore he must be God. In the Gospel according to John, Christ speaks frequently to his disciples of the Holy Spirit, his power or existence.

10. In Genesis 1:2 we read: “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” But this passage is not as clear as the one last quoted; the Jews attack it and affirm that the word “spirit” in Hebrew signifies “wind.”

11. David says in Psalm 33:6: “By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the Spirit of his mouth.” Here it is quite clear that the Holy Spirit is God, because the heavens and all their hosts were made by him. And, again, David says in Psalm 139:7-8: “Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there.” Now, this cannot be said of any creatures — that it is everywhere and fills the whole world — but only of God, the Creator.

12. Therefore, we cling to the Scriptures, those passages which testify of the Trinity of God, and we say: I know very well that in God there are the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; but how they can be one I do not know, neither should I know it. This may suffice for the first part. Now we will come back to the Gospel and say something on that in the time that is left us.

Iowa Wind Turbine vs. Tornado - May 21, 2024

 

Bringing Joy, Good Will, And Worthwhile Acts into Each Day

Porchie and Dustmop entertain Charlie, who even waits in a drizzle to play with them.
Racing along the fence is great fun for everyone.

Someone asked about ways to be cheerful in the light of so many disasters around us. I could name them, but they are widely known and generated on purpose. For instance, I have experienced companies deliberately cheating on a bill. One company overcharged me by 50%, and I had their own email proving how far off they were. The first response was the muddled lying used by companies now, if not their AI robot, then a humanoid with an even lower IQ. I twice told one company that "No, I do not want to renew...ever." They billed me $900!  At the same time, a computer company billed me $250. I settled all three falsehoods simply by talking about "legal responsibility" and "fraud." 

If they are building up fury in the costumer, I know it is a confidence scam - knowingly cheating so the customer will slam down the phone and give up. In case anyone wonders, the best way is to cheerfully and politely suggest the doom developing for the crooks. They want a tantrum with empty threats. I may say, "I have already talked to my attorney," but I would rather stir their imagination. The credit union sued me for $200 that was already paid, using a lengthy, attorney letter with various threats. I stated the facts on their voicemail, mentioned my attorney, and got two apologies, the second one especially gracious and apologetic.

We have to stand up for ourselves with dishonest people in the short run. In the long run they have to face God Himself for their chicanery.

Worthwhile Acts

I post on this blog every day, starting with the Daily Luther Sermon Quote. I am happy to hear all the responses and I enjoy each one myself. 

I was going to slow down on blogging but one reader said that many were counting on it for information. I never expected more than 20 readers per day, and now there is a larger group. Our congregation has grown rather than shrinking, so I know we are doing something wrong!

This is not a gardening neighborhood, so I share the excesses. I used to take roses to all the doctor appointments but now I take them to neighbors and Bible John's wife. Mother's Day is for every mother getting roses. Christina said, "Grass is boring. Make the front yard a rose garden." I have had people stop their cars and ask about it. I give Creation Gardening to people.

This is the happy corner, which now has the ID of Christina for her first day at Augustana College, the day we met. I told my brother I was going to ask for a date and maybe marry her. She said "Maybe?" when I told Moline friends, 40 years later. One Moliner (same dorm) told everyone that Christina could not stop saying my name over and over. She said, "I don't remember that!" We all laughed that much more.

Norma A. Boeckler's garden.

ALPB Ovatines Shocked at the Latest Bad News Bears

 

The ALPB Online Forum continues its solemn march into higher education oblivion. I just wrote about California Lutheran (ELCA) firing its president and hiring John Nunes (LCMS/ELCA) as a temporary president. His credentials include closing the NYC LCMS college, so he is going to be in demand to close a few more schools in a few more years.

The Forum Letter is a bit shocked about how far their ELCA buddies are taking liturgy. More reports are coming in, all parading the same package. I could copy a few paragraphs, but today's Big Five shock - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC - only stirs up boredom, ennui, and despair.

In other news, the failing LCMS college in Ann Arbor has announced cutting its athletic program (yawn) when they previously promised it would continue another year. Colleges do not implement or dissolve programs overnight. Claiming it was going to last one year more (Les Mis) is the same as ending in one year. 

Once upon a time an engineering firm asked for everyone to meet in the conference room. A witty guy asked, "Will this be for resume writing?" They were being absorbed by a much larger firm. Nothing was named but people were looking ahead, and it did happen.

Reformation Seminary - New Testament Greek Lesson - Beatitudes

 

Click here for all previous YouTubes

Matthew 5:1 ιδων δε τους οχλους, ανεβη εις το ορος και καθισαντος αυτου, προσηλθον αυτω οι μαθηται αυτου

ochlophobia, cathedral, math

2 και ανοιξας το στομα αυτου, εδιδασκεν αυτους λεγων

stomach; didactic

3 μακαριοι οι πτωχοι τω πνευματι οτι αυτων εστιν η βασιλεια των ουρανων

pneuma, pneumatic, pneumonia; Basil; Uranus

4 μακαριοι οι πενθουντες οτι αυτοι παρακληθησονται

"called close beside"

5 μακαριοι οι πραεις οτι αυτοι κληρονομησουσιν την γην

6 μακαριοι οι πεινωντες και διψωντες την δικαιοσυνην οτι αυτοι χορτασθησονται

dipsomania

7 μακαριοι οι ελεημονες οτι αυτοι ελεηθησονται

eleemosynary - works of mercy

8 μακαριοι οι καθαροι τη καρδια οτι αυτοι τον θεον οψονται

Kathy

9 μακαριοι οι ειρηνοποιοι οτι αυτοι υιοι θεου κληθησονται

Irene, 

10 μακαριοι οι δεδιωγμενοι ενεκεν δικαιοσυνης οτι αυτων εστιν η βασιλεια των ουρανων

11 μακαριοι εστε οταν ονειδισωσιν υμας και διωξωσιν και ειπωσιν παν πονηρον ρημα καθ υμων ψευδομενοι ενεκεν εμου

12 χαιρετε και αγαλλιασθε οτι ο μισθος υμων πολυς εν τοις ουρανοις ουτως γαρ εδιωξαν τους προφητας τους προ υμων

I.

Copy a Greek word into the search, add Strong for sorting out and Thayer for definitions.

That will give you a page of examples and explanations for that Greek word.

II.

Always look for Greek words that are common English words - Irene, pneumonia, Uranus. People who learn NT Greek have a much higher score on English exams, IQ tests. 

Three rules for learning Greek - repetition, repetition, repetition.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity - "This word signifies that there are three persons in God. It is a heavenly mystery which the world cannot understand. I have often told you that this, as well as every other article of faith, must not be based upon reason or comparisons, but must be understood and established by means of passages from the Scriptures, for God has the only perfect knowledge and knows how to speak concerning himself."

 

Luther's Sermons - John 3:1-15. Trinity Sunday

Text: John 3:1-15 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

I. THE HOLY TRINITY.

1. Today we celebrate the festival of the Holy Trinity, to which we must briefly allude, so that we may not celebrate it in vain. It is indeed true that the name “Trinity” is nowhere to be found in the Holy Scriptures, but has been conceived and invented by man. For this reason it sounds somewhat cold and we had better speak of “God” than of the “Trinity.”

2. This word signifies that there are three persons in God. It is a heavenly mystery which the world cannot understand. I have often told you that this, as well as every other article of faith, must not be based upon reason or comparisons, but must be understood and established by means of passages from the Scriptures, for God has the only perfect knowledge and knows how to speak concerning himself.

3. The great universities have invented manifold distinctions, dreams and fictions by means of which they would explain the Holy Trinity, and have made fools of themselves. We shall therefore quote only passages from the Scriptures in order to determine and establish the divinity of Christ. In the first place, we quote from the New Testament, where we find many proof texts; for instance, John 1:1-3: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made.” Now if he is not made, but is himself the Maker, he must indeed be God. John also says afterwards: “And the Word became flesh.”

4. Again, we quote from the Old Testament, where David says, in Psalm 110:1: “Jehovah saith unto my lord, Sit thou at my right hand,” that is, sit upon the royal throne and be a lord and king over all creatures, all which must be subject to thee — “until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” In Psalm 8:4-8, we read: “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him but little lower than God, and crownest him with glory and honor. Thou makest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.” That means: Thou hast made him Lord of the whole world. Paul explains this passage, in Ephesians 1:20 and Colossians 2:9-10, in a masterly way. Now, if God has set him at his right hand and made him lord of all in heaven and on earth, he must indeed be God; for it would not be fitting that he should set him at his right hand and give him as much power over all creatures as he himself possesses, if he were not God. God will not give his glory to another, as he says in Isaiah 48:11. Thus, we have here two persons, the Father, and the Son to whom the Father has given all that is subject to him. To “sit at the right hand of God” means to be over all God’s creatures; he must therefore be God to whom is given all this.

5. God has also commanded us not to worship strange gods. Now, we read in John that, according to the will of God, we should honor the Son even as we honor the Father. These are the words of John 5:19-23, where Christ says to the Jews: “Verily, Verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing: for what things soever he doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner. For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and greater works than these will he show him, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth the dead and giveth them life, even so the Son also giveth life to whom he will. For neither doth the Father judge any man, but he hath given all judgment unto the Son; that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father that sent him.” These are, to my mind, truly clear and distinct words concerning the divinity of Christ. Now, as God commands that we should have only one God, and should not render to any other creature the glory which belongs to God and is due him, and yet he gives this glory to Christ, Christ must indeed be God.

6. Paul says in Romans 1:2-4: “The Gospel he promised afore through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; even Jesus Christ our Lord.” Therefore, according to the flesh he began to exist, but according to the spirit he existed from eternity, although it was not clearly understood before; as it was not necessary that we should make a God of him, but only that we should declare and understand that he is the Son of God. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, as Christ himself says in John 16:13: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth.” And elsewhere the Evangelist writes, John 17:1-5: “These things spoke Jesus; and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that the Son may glorify thee: even as thou gavest him authority over all flesh, that to all whom thou hast given him, he should give eternal life. And this is life eternal, that they should know thee the only true God, and him whom thou didst send, even Jesus Christ. I glorified thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which thou hast given me to do. And now, Father. glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”

7. We also read in Psalm 2:8: “Ask of me, and I will give thee the nations for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” He is truly enthroned king of all. He is God’s child, and the world it subject to no other prince or king. Likewise, in another psalm, David openly calls him God, when he says: “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of equity is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” Psalm 45:6-7. God will make no one such a king who is not God, for he will not give the reins out of his hands; he alone will be the Lord over heaven and earth, death, hell, the devil and all creatures. If he, then, makes Christ Lord of all that is created, Christ must truly be God.

8. We can. therefore, have no surer foundation for our belief in the divinity of Christ than that we enwrap and enclose our hearts in the declarations of the Scriptures.