Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 9 Epistle - "The Word must be forced into harmony with the false worship to give the latter an admirable appearance, notwithstanding the worship is essentially the reverse of what it is made to appear. Similarly popery set off its abominations of the mass, of monkery and the worship of saints.."

 

And taketh he himself unto Fuller Seminary and saith, "We ran out of Germans. We must fashion for ourselves a golden truck of frozen foods, so we may sit down to eat and rise up to play." And it was so. 

Luther's Sermons - 1 Corinthians 10:6-13  Epistle. Ninth Sunday after Trinity

ISRAEL’S VICES IN THE WILDERNESS PUNISHED.

12. Proceeding, Paul recounts the vices which occasioned God’s punishment and overthrow of the people in the wilderness. First, he says, they lusted after evil things. In the second year from the departure, when they actually had come into Canaan, they forgot God’s kindness and wonderful works in their behalf and, becoming dissatisfied, longed to be back in Egypt to sit by the flesh-pots. They murmured against God and Moses until God was forced summarily to stop them with fire from heaven.

Many of the people were consumed and a multitude more were smitten with a great plague while yet they ate of the flesh they craved; therefore the place of the camp was named the “Graves of Lust.” Numbers 11. Such was the reward of their concupiscence, which Paul here aptly explains as “lusting after evil things.”

13. Truly it is but lusting after the wrath and punishment of God when, in forgetfulness of and ingratitude for his grace and goodness we seek something new. The world is coming to be filled with the spirit of concupiscence, for the multitude is weary of the Gospel. Particularly are they dissatisfied with it because it profits not the flesh; contributes not to power, wealth and luxury. Men desire again the old and formal things of popery, notwithstanding they suffered therein extreme oppression and were burdened not less than were the people of Israel in Egypt. But they will eventually have to pay a grievous penalty for their concupiscence.

14. In the third place, the apostle mentions the great sin — idolatry. “Neither be ye idolaters,” he counsels, “as were some of them.” Not simply the lower class of people were guilty in this respect, but the leaders and examples. As they led, the multitude followed. Even Aaron, the brother of Moses, himself high-priest, swayed by the influential ones, yielded and set up the golden calf (Exodus 32:4) while Moses tarried in the mount. We are astounded that those eminently worthy individuals, having heard God’s Word and seen his wonders liberally displayed, should so soon fall unrestrainedly into the false worship of idolatry, as if they were heathen and possessed not the Word. Much less need we wonder that the blind world always is entangled with idol-worship.

15. Where the Word of God is lacking or disregarded, human wisdom makes for itself a worship. It will find its pleasure in the thing of its own construction and regard it something to be prized, though it may be imperatively forbidden in God’s Word, perhaps even an abomination before him. Human reason thinks it may handle divine matters according to its own judgment; that God must be pleased with what suits its pleasure.

Accordingly, to sanction idolatry, it appropriates the name of the Word of God. The Word must be forced into harmony with the false worship to give the latter an admirable appearance, notwithstanding the worship is essentially the reverse of what it is made to appear. Similarly popery set off its abominations of the mass, of monkery and the worship of saints; and the world in turn seeks to set off that idolatry to make it stand before God’s Word.

Such is the conduct of the eminent Aaron when he makes for the people the golden calf (Exodus 32:5-6), an image or sign of their offerings and worship. He builds an altar to it and causes to be proclaimed a feast to the Lord who has led them out of the land of Egypt. They must imitate the worship of the true God, a worship of sincere devotion and honest intention, with their offering, the calf, in the attempt to introduce a refined and ennobling worship.

16. Thereupon follows what is recorded in Exodus 32:6, to which Paul here refers: “And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.” That is, they rejoiced and were well pleased with themselves, content to have performed such worship, and deemed they had done well. Next they proceed to their own pleasure, as if having provided against God’s anger. Thenceforth they would live according to their inclinations, wholly unrestrained and unreproved by the Word of God; for, as they said, Aaron made the people free.

Time for Tubby Bye-Bye! 

Lutheran Library - Alec Satin, Lutheran Librarian - Lutheran Layman Publishing Ministry

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The Seven Cardinal Virtues by James Stalker

“The idea of the seven cardinal virtues is, that among the countless excellences with which human character may be adorned there are seven which overtop the rest, and from which all the rest are derivable.

James Stalker

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An Exposition of the Gospels of the Church Year on the Basis of Nebe By Edmund Jacob Wolf

“…this complete and orderly supply of doctrinal material will be a safeguard to the pulpit and an enrichment of its ministrations to the faith and life of the pew. I send forth this volume with the prayer that the Holy Ghost may bless it to the edification of the Church.

Edmund Jacob Wolf

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The Two Babylons. Papal Worship Proven to be the Worship of Nimrod and His Wife by Alexander Hislop

“It has always been easy to show that the Church which has its seat and headquarters on the seven hills of Rome might most appropriately be called ‘Babylon’, inasmuch as it is the chief seat of idolatry under the New Testament, as the ancient Babylon was the chief seat of idolatry under the old.

Hislop, Alexander

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The Letters of Martin Luther, Selected and Translated by Margaret A Currie

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Currie, Margaret

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Deathbed Scenes: The Christian's Companion on Entering the Dark Valey

A book of vignettes of those who have passed on to eternal life with the confidence of their faith. Timothy East is a greatly comforting author, best known for his book, The Evangelical Rambler.

Timothy East

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Reformation Seminary. Jesus and the Church - Visible and Invisible

 

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KJV Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona (Johnson): for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter (Rocky, a small rock), and upon this rock (rock ledge) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Two Basics

Puzzle - why is Jesus' majesty hidden at this point.

Son of Man controversy - an excuse to make Jesus an ordinary man, or at best, a prophet. This denial of His divinity has been the twisted structure of Gospels ever since.

Reading Hebrews - Do They Dare Read Hebrews 11?

Hebrews is unique in the New Testament, an eloquent appeal to Jews who were growing weak and doubting about the risen Christ.

Garhardt's beautiful hymn cites the Hebrews passages above - "A Pilgrim And A Stranger."

How do the anti-faith salesmen of the Walther Four sects deal with this verse?

A Church Growth fanatic from WELS was frightened when I mentioned Peter Drucker tapes, which he seemed to grasp as as Holy Writ. Fairy tales for children always have a magic formula, and Drucker fits the role. 

Our congregation went through Genesis and Exodus, Sunday after Sunday, for a long time. The Epistle for the upcoming Holy Communion service is from 1 Corinthians 10. Luther noted that the Exodus in the Old Testament is the greatest act of God, except for crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote, Trinity 9 Epistle, "Their example Paul here, with great earnestness, holds up to the world as a warning against carnally and confidently presuming upon the grace and goodness of God because we have already received of them."

 

Luther's Sermons - 1 Corinthians 10:6-13.
Ninth Sunday after Trinity

ISRAEL’S CARNAL SECURITY A WARNING TO US.

6. Their example Paul here, with great earnestness, holds up to the world as a warning against carnally and confidently presuming upon the grace and goodness of God because we have already received of them. In unmistakable colors the apostle portrays the teaching of this striking and important, this weighty and specific, example. Rightly viewed, there certainly is no greater, more wonderful, story from the creation of the world down to the present time, nothing more marvelous to be found in any book — except that supremely wonderful work, the death and resurrection of the Son of God — than this history of a people led by God’s power out of Egypt, through the wilderness and into the promised land. It is filled with the remarkably wonderful works of God, with striking examples of his anger and of his great kindness.

7. Referring to these examples, Paul goes on to imply: “As Christians and baptized, you should be familiar with them. If you are not, I would not fail to bring them before you for reflection on what befell other people of God, according to the Scripture record. They were our fathers, a noble, intelligent and great company and congregation of men, numbering over six hundred thousands, not counting wives and children.”

They, Paul tells us, were termed, and rightly, the holy people of God. God designed their welfare; and through Moses, their bishop and pope, they had the Word of God, the promise and the Sacrament. Under Moses they were all baptized, when he led them through the sea, and by the cloud, under the shadow of which, sheltered from the heat, they daily pursued their journey.

At night a beautiful pillar of fire, an intense lightning-like brilliance, protected them. In addition, their bread came daily from heaven and they drank water from the rock. These providences were their Sacrament, and their sign that God was with them to protect. They believed on the promised Christ, the Son of God, their guide in the wilderness. Thus they were a noble, highly-favored and holy people.

8. But with the great mass of the people, how long did faith last? No longer than until they came into the wilderness. There they began to despise God’s Word, to murmur against Moses and against God and to fall into idolatry. Whereupon God vindicated himself among them; of all that great nation which came out from Egypt, of all the illustrious ones who assisted Moses in leading and governing, only two individuals passed from the wilderness into Canaan. Plainly, then, God had no pleasure in the great mass of that host. It did not avail them to be called the people of God, a holy people, a company to whom God had shown marvelous kindness and great wonders; because they refused to believe and obey the Word of God.

The prospect was good when they were so wonderfully and gloriously delivered from their enemies, and had at Mount Sinai received from God the Law and a noble order of worship — their prospect was good for them to enter into the land; they were already at the gate. But even in that auspicious moment they provoked God until he turned them back to wander forty years in the wilderness, where they perished.

9. Their punishment was wholly the result of their odious arrogance in boasting in the face of God’s Word, of their privileges as the people of God, upon whom he daily bestowed great kindness. “Do you not recognize,” they bragged, “the holiness of this entire congregation, among whom God dwells, daily performing his marvelous wonders ?” In their pride and defiance they became stiff-necked and obstinate enough to continually complain against Moses and to oppose him whatever course he took with them. Thus they day by day awakened God’s wrath against themselves, forcing him to visit them with many terrible plagues. These failing to humble, he was compelled to remove the entire nation. Many times God would have destroyed them all at once had not Moses prostrated himself before him in their behalf and with earnest entreaty and strong supplication turned aside his wrath. Because of their perversity, Moses was a most wretched and harassed man. “The man Moses was very meek, above all the men that were upon the face of the earth.” Numbers 12:3. For he was daily vexed with the defiance, disobedience and opposition of this great company of people; and further, he had to witness and endure for the entire forty years the numerous and awful plagues sent upon his people, his heart being filled with anguish for them. Then, too, it was his continually to withstand God’s wrath.

10. Terrible indeed is the thing we learn of this famously great people — God’s own nation, unto whom he reveals himself, to whom God and Christ himself are revealed; a nation God governs and leads by his angels; a people he honors by wonders marvelous beyond anything ever heard on earth of any nation. As Moses says in Deuteronomy 4:7: “What great nation is there, that hath a god so nigh unto them, as Jehovah our God is in all things we call upon him?” Yet all who came out of Egypt and had witnessed the mighty wonders God wrought among themselves and among their enemies, fell and glaringly sinned; not according to the measure of the mere weakness and imperfection of human nature, but they sinned disobediently and in willful contempt of God. Hardened in unbelief unto insensibility, they brought upon themselves overwhelming punishment.

Daily Luther Sermon Quotes - Trinity 9 Epistle - "Paul’s occasion and meaning in writing this epistle was the security of the Corinthians. Conscious of their privileged enjoyment of Christ, of baptism and the Sacrament, they thought they lacked nothing and fell to creating sects and schisms among themselves. Forgetting charity, they despised one another."

 

Luther's Sermons - 1 Corinthians 10:6-13.
Ninth Sunday after Trinity

TEXT:

1 CORINTHIANS 10:6-13. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer. 11 Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.

CARNAL SECURITY AND ITS VICES.

1. Here is a very earnest admonition, a message as severe as Paul ever indited, although he is writing to baptized Christians, who always compose the true Church of Christ. He confronts them with several awful examples selected from the very Church, from Israel the chosen people of God.

2. Paul’s occasion and meaning in writing this epistle was the security of the Corinthians. Conscious of their privileged enjoyment of Christ, of baptism and the Sacrament, they thought they lacked nothing and fell to creating sects and schisms among themselves. Forgetting charity, they despised one another. So far from reforming in life, and retrieving their works of iniquity, they became more and more secure, and followed their own inclinations, even allowing a man to have his father’s wife. At the same time they desired to be regarded Christians, and boastfully prided themselves on having received the Gospel from the great apostles. So Paul was impelled to write them a stern letter, dealing them severity such as he nowhere else employs. In fact, it seems almost as if it were going too far to so address Christians; the rebuke might easily have struck weak and tender consciences with intolerable harshness. But, as in the second epistle, seeing how his sternness has startled the Corinthians, he modifies it to some extent, and deals tenderly with the repentant.

3. However, in the striking Scripture examples of the text here, he sufficiently shows the need for such admonition to them who would, after having received grace, become carnally secure and abandon the repentant life.

4. The text should properly include the beginning of this tenth chapter, which is read in the passage for Third Sunday before Lent. He begins with: “I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual food; and did all drink the same spiritual drink .… Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.” Then follows our text here — “Now these things were our examples.”

5. As we said, the admonition is to those already Christians. Paul would have them know that although they are baptized unto Christ, and have received and still enjoy his blessing through grace alone, without their own merit, yet they are under obligation ever to obey him; they are not to be proud and boastful, nor to misuse his grace. Christ desires obedience on our part, though obedience does not justify us in his sight nor merit his grace. For instance, a bride’s fidelity to her husband cannot be the merit that purchased his favor when he chose her. She is the bridegroom’s own because it pleased him to make her so, even had she been a harlot. But now that he has honored her, he would have her maintain that honor henceforth by her purity; if she fails therein, the bridegroom has the right and power to put her away.

Again, a poor, wretched orphan, a bastard, a foundling, may be adopted as a son by some godly man and made his heir, though not meriting the honor.

Now, if in return for such kindness the child becomes disobedient and refractory, he justly may be cut off from the inheritance. Not by the merit of their devotion, as Moses often hinted, did the Jews become the people of God; they were ever stiff-necked and continually rebelled against him.

God, having chosen them and led them out of Egypt, urgently commanded them to serve him and obey his Word. But when they failed to fulfil the commandments; they had to feel the terrific force of his punishment.

The Eighth Sunday after Trinity, 2024.

 

Bethany Lutheran Church

Springdale, Arkansas

Pastor Gregory Jackson

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The melodies are linked in the hymn titles.

The lyrics are linked in the hymn number.

• The melody site is linked here.
• TLH lyrics are found at the Bethany Lutheran Hymnal Blog.

The Hymn #261          Lord Keep Us Steadfast           

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

We have thought of Thy loving-kindness, O God: 

in the midst of Thy Temple.

According to Thy name, O God, 

so is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth: 

Thy right hand is full of righteousness.

Psalm. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised: 

in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness.

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

Collect

Grant to us, Lord, we beseech Thee, the Spirit to think and do always such things as are right, that we, who cannot do anything that is good without Thee, may by Thee be enabled to live according to Thy will; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth...

The Epistle and Gradual      

Gradual

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

V. In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: 

let me never be ashamed. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Give ear, O My people, to My Law: 

incline your ears to the words of My mouth. Hallelujah!

 

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

The Hymn #268             Zion Mourns   

Deceit Always Feels So Good - For a Short Time

The Communion Hymn #463      For All the Saints

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 #586                      A Pilgrim and a Stranger - Gerhardt

Prayers and Announcements

• The altar flowers are in memory of Christina Jackson, whose birthday was on July 20th. 
• Medical supervision - Sarah Buck, Kermit Way, Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris, Lorie Howell.  
• God Bless Donald Trump in light of the assassination attempt. Pray for honest, elections and renewed dedication to the US Constitution, where state legislatures control their elections.

              

KJV Romans 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

KJV Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Link ->Luther's Three Sermons on Matthew 7:15ff - Beware of False Prophets

Eighth Sunday After Trinity

Lord God, heavenly Father, we most heartily thank Thee that Thou hast caused us to come to the knowledge of Thy word. We pray Thee: graciously keep us steadfast in this knowledge unto death, that we may obtain eternal life; send us now and ever pious pastors, who faithfully preach Thy word, without offense or false doctrine, and grant them long life. Defend us from all false teachings, and frustrate Thou the counsels of all such as pervert Thy word, who come to us in sheep's clothing, but are inwardly ravening wolves, that Thy true Church may evermore be established among us, and be defended and preserved from such false teachers, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Deceit Always Feels So Good - For a Short Time

KJV Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

This is one of the most famous statements in the Bible, even in world literature. "Beware" literally means "look out for," which we often say about food in the store, or used cars, or politicians, or cheating football teams. People say - "Be wary of..." The image is portrayed many similar ways - a soft, white sheepskin worn as the cloak over a wolf, whose muzzle is dripping in saliva, eyes bloodthirsty. Parts 1 and 2 of Matthew 7:15 go together, like the salesman who said he could give the church a copier for free. He went over the script many times, even getting a bit angry with me for being so stupid. Not long after that someone said to me, "I hope you didn't fall for that free copier scheme. It is a big scandal."

The source for this warning is the Old Testament. The faithful prophets were killed by furious people who did not adhere to the Word of God. False prophets were loved, honored, and praised. 

We have this problem today, not only in the gigantic and short-lived super-congregations, but also in denominations. The obvious, boastful mainline denominations of the National Council of Churches (which brought you the RSV, NRSV, and ESV Bibles) also praise their own Sodom and Gomorrah policies. Add to the list - ELCA, which forged the 1987 merger this way with quoatas, but also WELS, which made that a policy in their college and also with Time of Grace's Pastor Novotony, who followed Mark Jeske. These denominations are enjoying catastrophic failure while hanging onto their royal income, perks, and benefits.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 

People make fruits a narrow topic - figs, grapes, apples, oranges, bananas, watermelons, but the word is bigger than that. Seeds provide fruit through flowers. As one Scott's Lawn and Garden executive said, "Grass flowers, too. You just don't notice it." We would not call Polycarp "Fruity" today - but rather "Fruitful." Weeds grow like crazy, winding around the plants and flowers I am trying to grow, and weeds are sterile from our perspective - productive but not tasty or beautiful.

We farmers know the difference, so also believers must as well.

 John Deere now rejects toxic DEI.

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 

This is especially clear, because fruit come from the Spirit at work in the Word, while works never go past the level of weeds. Entire world religions concentrate on works while fruits come from the living Seed - the Word. Every so often I find a weed that has grown up, almost overnight, and is 6-9 feet tall, so I cut it at the base, making the remainder shrivel up. Enormous winding vines start with fragile stems and get easily snipped with scissors.

The basis for fruitfulness among Christians is not working hard or proving success but faith in Jesus Christ. Starting with something - like "do you know who my father is?" - or, "look at my church's growth!" - will lead nowhere in God's Kingdom and God's Heaven. False teaching is like decoy weeds - which suggest potential but end up being a menace.

The Bible is complex and rather long, with the Old and New Testaments wound together and woven together. As I teach my graduate students, the Old Testament is the foundation for everything in the New Testament, and the New Testament is derived from the entire Old Testament. Both are interwoven, which is why so many want to study the entire Old Testament and see this phenomenon for themselves. 

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

KJV John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? 31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

John's Gospel fills in the irony of the Sermon on the Mount, because the Fourth Gospel enhances the message of that great Sermon. They must believe on Him! And the crowd, not yet believing says, "Which miracle will you show us so we can see and believe it. Top the manna miracle to prove it." Jesus responded in John 6 - not Moses but God Himself. So they said "This is a hard saying!"

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

The future is grim for those who carry on like magicians with cloaks, costumes, and magical canes (for the fakery). Now they have cassocks, albs, crosiers ($700+ crosses), mitres ($645 fish hats), chasubles ($2,000), rings ($2,000 to $4,300), and

pectoral crosses ($2,000 to $7,300).

This passage is toward the end of the Sermon on the Mount, the ending - The House on the Rock, which is the foundation of believing and teaching the Word. And that is the great blessing of the Lord. No matter how grim things might be, we are kept sound and safe by the Foundation, not our own deeds. That is clear in the confrontation with Jesus and Peter. "On This Rock I will build My Church," where Rock clearly means an enormous rock ledge while the name Peter is related but means pebble. Jesus did not establish the Christian Church on one pebble, the pope, but on rock ledge of His Creation.

Fourth Amendment - US Constitution Bill of Rights

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

This is one of the most important of the inalienable rights in the Bill of Rights. These rights are born with us, not given to us or taken away from us. It is an everyday action we should and must honor. A warrant is a reason to ask someone to be searched, even at the exit of a store. I ask them, "What is the Fourth Amendment of our US Constitution?" Few can answer that, which is an opportunity to teach them the Fourth Amendment. A warrant is written reason or a formal reason to ask for a search. Not objecting to the search (having no reason to endure one) is the same as welcoming the search. Since most are unaware of this priceless part of our United States, it is good to keep it appreciated and honored.

When a police officer stopped us in a tiny town on an empty street he ended up asking if he could pet Sassy Sue, who adored everyone. He heard that we were low on gas and drove ahead of us to the gas station - a very nice experience for someone going the wrong way on a one way street. I think it was Nah-VAY-dah. I was excruciatingly polite, of course.