ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton Says - If Hell Exists, ‘I Think It’s Empty’

 

“I think that doubt is just an intensifying of one’s relationship with God” — Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in “Face to Faith” podcast. | Tim Boyle / Sun-Times

Top Lutheran bishop: If Hell exists, ‘I think it’s empty’

On the first day of 1988, ELCA officially consummated the merger of the Lutheran Church in America, the American Lutheran Church, and Seminex (AELC). Time flies but apostasy moves slowly, like a slug, munching on what is alive, chewing holes wherever possible, leaving a slime trail.

One must have served time before the merger - to realize the depravity of ELCA, each part welded into place before people could grasp the great swindle. We were gone from ELCA before it happened, but discovered that WELS, Missouri, and the ELS were kissing the cloven feet of ELCA. 

And why not? They got to share in the goodness of Thrivent Insurance (another merger - LB and AAL), the National Council of Gay Churches, Fuller Seminary, and Marvin Schwan's wife problems.

Each ELCA executive was worse than the previous one, each year dragging down the numbers (it's all about the numbers) and losing money.

Former Presiding Bishops

The Rev. Mark Hanson served as presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America from November 2001 to October 2013. 

Brief Biography






The Rev. H. George Anderson served as presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America from November 1995 to October 2001.

Brief Biography




The Rev. Herbert W. Chilstrom served as presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America from its inception in 1987 to October 1995. 

Brief Biography 

+++

These three are out-going, or rather going out, each one worse than the previous one. Are millions of Lutherans not able to support the efficacy of the Word in the Means of Grace?

Isn't it appropriate - with squeals, giggles, and belches - to blend openly with ELCA? As Chemnitz wrote in his Examination of the Council of Trent, "The devil always leaves a foul stench behind when he leaves the room."

 

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 12 - "For by those who here bring the deafmute to the Lord, the office of the ministry is meant. Ministers and the Apostles lead the poor consciences of men to God. This is done in three ways, by preaching, by a godly life, and by intercession. With the Word and preaching, they are brought to God; a godly life serves to show the Word so much the mightier in its power. But the Word itself leads to Christ, though it be preached by a sinner."

 

Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, Mark 7:31-37. 

Concerning Faith and Love

PART 2. THE SPIRITUAL MEANING.

20. The people bring the poor man to the Lord, the Lord takes him to a special place, lays his fingers into the man’s ears, spits, and touches his tongue with the spittle, looks up toward heaven, and sighing, says, Ephphata, that is, Be opened! This is a lovely picture, and its meaning is good. For by those who here bring the deafmute to the Lord, the office of the ministry is meant. Ministers and the Apostles lead the poor consciences of men to God. This is done in three ways, by preaching, by a godly life, and by intercession. With the Word and preaching, they are brought to God; a godly life serves to show the Word so much the mightier in its power. But the Word itself leads to Christ, though it be preached by a sinner. Yet, a good life serves as an emphasis and a furtherance of the Gospel; while a wicked life dulls its edge. Their third duty, to pray for the people, likewise leads them on the road both to faith and to works.

21. Now if the Word go on its way in this threefold manner, it cannot fail to bring forth fruit, as God says, Isaiah 55:11: “My Word, that goeth forth out of my mouth, shall not return to me void.” This is indicated by the action of the pious persons who carry the mute into Christ’s presence; this signifies the ministers, who bring forward the sinner; then God appears, giving growth and increase, as Paul says, 1 Corinthians 3:7, He opens the sinner’s eyes, ears, and mouth. This happens in a wink of the eye, for God’s Word is like lightning, which in a moment passes from sunrise to the ends of the earth. Thus when such persons are brought to God, he gives them grace to believe.

22. This is signified by the act of laying his fingers into the man’s ears; through the Word he breathes the Holy Spirit into him, making the heart believing, decent, chaste, and holy; for the finger signifies the Holy Spirit.

23. Again, the spittle that is laid on the man’s tongue, typifies the Word of God; this is put into his mouth in order that he may be able to speak it. And this spittle, the Word of God, is a noble thing, but very bitter to the Old Adam.

24. Then they praise God, saying: “He hath done all things well, he has made the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak.” For wherever there is true faith, there the Spirit will not allow you any rest; you will break forth, become a priest, teach other people also, as we read  Psalm 116:10: “I believe, for I will speak.” There the heart is full, and the mouth must run over. Then when they are persecuted, they will not care.

25. But the part of the story, that Christ took the man apart from the others, looks up to heaven, has this meaning: If God does not take me alone to a separate place, and give me the Holy Spirit, so that I cling to the Word which I have heard, then all preaching is in vain. But why does this require so much that he looks up to heaven and makes use of divine power, calling upon God’s grace to come and to act? By this he teaches us that such power must come from heaven, working in the heart of man by divine strength; then help comes to him. Again the spittle which is the Word of God is a noble thing for the Old Adam. Then they go forth to praise and glorify God.

26. Thus have you learned, from the story and from its spiritual or secret meaning, that we must first hear the Word of God and thus, through the intercession of Christ, obtain a faith of our own, and then we come out, confessing this and praising God forever. May this be sufficient on this Gospel lesson. Let us pray to God for grace.

Some Synod Managers May Want To Purchase This

 

Remodeling Continues

 

Tile has been broken away, drywall will be coming today.

Future branch managers.

Odors of the Upcoming Great Collapse - Clowns Already at Work

The Faithless Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - they want everyone's gold, silver, and jewels, but they have no use for the Gospel of our Savior.

Every day, without fail, another large church emerges from its Stygian source to boast the efficacy of its Barnum and Bailey circus splendor. They have 5,000 members plus - and add to their boasting, "Watch us grow!"

KJV Exodus 32:6 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 happened when the people of Israel, after receiving the Ten Commandments, gathered their precious metals and jewels to fashion pagan idols. Aaron joined in the fun, until Moses appeared in his wrath.

The Faithless Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - have gathered around Aaron and his golden calf for many decades. The analogy is clear - God has given us the Traditional Old Testament Hebrew text and the Traditional Greek New Testament text (in short, the KJV). But the Faithless Five worship the atheists at Fuller Seminary, Trinity Divinity, Willow Creek, and more - unified by their hatred of Jesus' Promise - Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words will never pass away.

KJV 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Going back a few decades, the mega-church concept was isolated and rare. Now there is a rush in all denominations: multi-campus, supersized, fun, food-courts, hip Bibles, and adulterous. One "growther" wrecked his LCMS congregation, moved his proclivities to WELS, and nestled into a big, old church, the blind leading the blind.

These Synagogues of Satan drive faithful members away. 

One ELS-LCMS pastor told me I should publish against the Church Growth Movement, but he never did. 

The greatest joke of all from these apostates is being very sensitive about ELCA, not wanting to offend those clowns who own so much real estate. They were sure - one expert told them - that the new ELCA would donate an enormous group of dissenters that would join LCMS (laughing), WELS (gagging), the mini's puking. They Four Waltherian Cults also declined because they drank from the same River Styx. Or perhaps - the real life Cloaca Maxima, the Roman Empire's sewer.

Cloaca Maxima

ELCA Presiding Bishop Liz Eaton canned the first tranny bishop, Megan Rohrer. ELCA seminaries have been producing gay women, men, and undecided since 1987 (and before - let's be honest). The Four Waltherian Cults - LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) only object to Justification by Faith and the Means of Grace.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 12 - "Therefore it is not within our power to pray in strong confidence; the Holy Spirit does it. Whenever we pray for anyone and are able to add, “It will be done,” then it will certainly be done; but whenever we pray, we must add, “Thy will be done.” If, then, I must let it go according to his will..."

 

Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, Mark 7:31-37. 

Concerning Faith and Love

16. But to pray powerfully is not within our strength; for the Spirit does not always vouchsafe to us to pray with power. Paul prayed that all Israel might be saved, Romans 9:1f; why did it not come to pass? The difference lies in the faith, for the Spirit did not give it to him; had he been able to add this faith, it would surely have come to pass. For if Paul had said, “I pray for all Israel,” and had believed and said: “Lord, I am certain that thou wilt do it,” then it would certainly have come to pass. But though he often prayed for them from his heart, the Spirit did not vouchsafe, to him that he should confidently believe it. Therefore it is not within our power to pray in strong confidence; the Holy Spirit does it. Whenever we pray for anyone and are able to add, “It will be done,” then it will certainly be done; but whenever we pray, we must add, “Thy will be done.” If, then, I must let it go according to his will, I cannot suggest to him either the person, or the time, or the manner, but must freely leave it all to him; then, indeed, I am sure of it. In this manner Christ acted also, who himself prayed thus: “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me,” but at once added: “Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Matthew 26:39.

17. Therefore, when I am to pray for an entire city or community, I ought to say: “O Father, I pray for all of them.” Nevertheless, however, I must give honor to his name or will, and say: “Dear Father, I pray for these; I know it is thy will, that I should pray, that I should not despise prayer; but thy will shall be done always; for I might ask something for some one who is not worthy of it before thee; or again, I might possibly cast aside some one who is worthy; therefore do thou act according to thy divine will, for thou wilt certainly do better than I could ever conceive.” Thus you see that we cannot always add these words: It will be so. But if we are certain in our hearts that we may add: “It will be certainly so,” then it will come to pass.

18. This we see in our text. These people approach the Lord in strong confidence, praying for the poor man, and their prayer is also heard. In the same manner, when baptism is performed we see this take place in the children’s faith. There are the infants, bare and naked in body and soul, having neither faith nor works. Then the Christian Church comes forward and prays, that God would pour faith into the child; not that our faith should help the child, but that it may obtain a faith of its own. If it has faith, then after that whatever it does is well done, whether it suckle its mother’s breast, or whether it soil itself, or whatever it may please to do. But if it does not obtain faith, our faith is of no value to the child.

19. Therefore my faith can help you in no way except that it may assist you to obtain a faith of your own. Hence, to sum up all, everything depends upon personal faith, as strong as it is, so much does it need the faith and prayer of other people in order to increase in strength. Now you can easily judge, that those people were the greatest fools, who held masses and vigils with the brotherhoods; for the wise virgins have sufficient oil only for themselves, and scarcely have enough. This is a simple explanation of the story of the Gospel lesson. Now let us briefly consider the meaning which our Lord puts into it.

PART 2. THE SPIRITUAL MEANING.

Alt-Church Growth in the Missouri Synod - Games! Games! Games!They Sit Down To Eat And Rise Up To Play!

 

Covering topics on creation and stewardship, unity, perseverance, and overcoming obstacles, this series seeks to help congregants discover “how these games offer insights into faith, community, spiritual growth, and redemption.”

Notably, guests can also win one of two Xbox video game systems by entering a draw.

"Exploring Christian principles that can be found in Minecraft, Super Mario Kart, Tetris, and Frogger."

Snippet of Lutheran church (LCMS) pastor preaching during their video-game sermon series 'Game On'. See the story https://protestia.com/2024/08/15/lutheran-church-lcms-puts-on-video-games-themed-service/

Whee! Who needs the NIV when we can play games at church?
The Faithless Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic)

They love being alt-ELCA and stealth Fuller.

Progress on the Bathroom Renovation

 

Progress on the Bathroom Renovation

The drywallers came to assess the bathroom and left to get the supplies. If all goes well, I expect the original plumbers to come as soon as they can, which is probably tomorrow.

I will not try to schedule a Reformation Seminary lecture until everything is done, because of loud noises, questions asked, phone calls, etc. Everyone has been helpful, friendly, and faster than I could have imagined.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - "Therefore say: I must neither rely upon your works nor you upon mine; but I will, by my own faith, pray God to give you a faith of your own. This is what is said, that we all are priests and kings, that we, like Christ himself, may intercede for one another before God, praying for personal faith."

 

Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, Mark 7:31-37. 

Concerning Faith and Love

12. Likewise, if I were to give you a written declaration saying: “Go forth, this is my work; this shall be yours”; yet it will not help you a whit, but it will carry you into hell. In what way, then, will it help you? If I do, as these men do, who come to Christ and say: “O Lord, help this poor man, that he may receive his speech?’ They do not say: “We will hear and speak in your stead,” but they pray that Christ himself would give him speech. Likewise, if you take my part, and use your faith in such a way that it may help me to a faith of my own, this might help me; thus! thus it must be! God be thanked! Otherwise, no work nor any brotherhood, will avail.

13. Therefore say: I must neither rely upon your works nor you upon mine; but I will, by my own faith, pray God to give you a faith of your own. This is what is said, that we all are priests and kings, that we, like Christ himself, may intercede for one another before God, praying for personal faith.

Thus, if I happen to notice that you have no faith of your own, or a weak faith, I go and ask God to help you to obtain faith, not by giving you my faith and my works, but your own faith and your own works; so that Christ may give him all his works and salvation through faith, as he hath given them to us by faith.

14. That is the meaning of the saying of Christ, John 16:26-27: “I say not unto you that I will pray the Father for you; for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father.” This is a beautiful addition, as though he would say: I have prayed for you, and have entreated God that he would give you what is mine. Therefore know my name. For through my prayer he has accepted you and has given you faith, so that henceforth you may pray for yourselves, and I need not do it; provided that you do it in my name. Here he has crowned us, dedicated and anointed us with the Holy Spirit, so that we all are priests in Christ, and may exercise the priest’s office, go before God and pray for one another. This is what St. Peter means in writing thus in his First Epistle, 1 Peter 2:9-10: “Ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may shew forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, which in time past were no people, but now are the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

15. Hence we may all say: Christ was my priest, who prayed for me and purchased faith and the Spirit for me; therefore I am also a priest, and must go on praying in the world, that God may give faith also to this and that person. So we conclude, that we shall obtain whatever we earnestly pray for in the true faith, as the Lord says, John 16:24: “Ask, and ye shall receive.”

Delays Continue in the Bathtube Renovation Project

 

I wonder if The Faithless Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic), can spell Jakob Spener and explain how they fell into the Slough of Despond.

First I was hearing the schedule of Monday-Tuesday, which accomplished a lot. However, that was only half the project. Next is drywall and various other items, such as replacing some hardware. That is likely today, but not official. Likely things will be done today (drywall) and Friday (putting everything back together). I can put together two Reformation Seminary lectures on John either on Friday or Saturday, God willing.

I enjoy doing the lectures and appreciate your responses.

Fuerbringer - Walther's nephew - got it right. Notice that the date is five years before the disastrous Brief Statement of 1932, which included and welded Objective Justification into the Synodical Conference. Gausewitz' Small Catechism was published in 1927. 

"These presidential posts obviously received much attention when obituaries had to be written in 1927 for this outstanding leader in our Lutheran circles, who died suddenly in the Grace sacristy just before the Holy Communion service on Sept. 4. More important, however, then and especially later was the service Gausewitz rendered through work on the synodical Catechism. The first special Catechism project that engaged the attention of Carl Gausewitz was working on a Synodical Conference committee charged with the responsibility of editing Luther’s Small Catechism. The committee was busy at the turn of the century.13"

Carl Gausewitz: Church Man and Catechist
By Edward C. Fredrich

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 12 - "But it may effect this, that it will assist you to obtain a faith of your own, which will help you. Furthermore, even if Christ did die for us, and pledged and gave his body and life, blood and flesh for us, and became our advocate; yet it would avail nothing, unless we believe in him."

 

Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, Mark 7:31-37. 

Concerning Faith and Love

9. Therefore, by all means beware of the preachers whom you have often heard among the monks, who approach a dying person and say: “Behold, my brave fellow, do not despair; if you have committed sins, be sorry for them; but in order that you may fare so much the better, I will make you a present of my righteous life and my good works.” If now, the dying person accept such a gift, he is as much a fool as the other, and with all these works, he 'will go to the devil'. Therefore, beware of such consolation, and say: If you are willing to serve me with your good works, approach God and speak thus: O heavenly Father, by thy grace I am now believing; therefore, I pray thee, my God, give also unto this poor man a faith of his own. This might help me; but that you would give me your own faith, this you cannot do, neither would it help me. You will have enough to do to be saved by your own faith.

10. This you may see in the case of the foolish virgins, who, when their lamps went out, said unto the wise virgins: “Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out.” Then did the wise ones answer and say: “Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you.” Matthew 25:8-9. In that case I am in need even of more faith for myself; how then could I share it with another? For my own faith must stand before God’s judgment, and must fight so hard and cleave so firmly to God’s mercy, that the sweat will run down its face, if it is to prevail. That is the true meaning of St. Peter’s words, 1 Peter 4-18: “The righteous is scarcely saved, where then shall the ungodly appear?” For when death makes its onslaught, then such fear and agony will seize him, that he can scarcely with all his strength, stand for himself and be kept in faith. Hence it is greatly to be deplored that they have established so much deception, putting monks’ cowls upon the dead, and inventing other foolish things, by which they led poor souls straightway to perdition. Beware of them.

11. Now this I say, that you may know how far the faith of others may be of use to us, and how your own faith can help you. Other people’s merits will help you to attain a merit of your own, and nothing more. And though all the angels, yea, the mercy of God itself, were ready to stand for you, it would avail you nothing, unless you cleave unto it with a faith of your own. But it may effect this, that it will assist you to obtain a faith of your own, which will help you. Furthermore, even if Christ did die for us, and pledged and gave his body and life, blood and flesh for us, and became our advocate; yet it would avail nothing, unless we believe in him. But he can assist us in this way, that he appears before the Father and says: “O Father, this have I done for mankind; do thou give them faith, in order that they may enjoy it.” This then, will help us, if we feel assured that his works and merit are our own. In the same manner one should also speak of the other saints, that no saint’s intercession and merit avail unless we ourselves believe. You observe this also in our lesson. There lies the poor man, unable either to speak or to hear. They who bring him to the Lord can speak and hear. But they cannot make him speak by their hearing and speaking, and even though they all had come near him and said: “We will speak and hear for you”; yet he would, in spite of this, have remained speechless and deaf continually, and would never have been able to speak.

Two Kinds of Polls - Be Sure To Keep Them Straight

 

One of the political science guys explained polls this way, so listen up.

Published polls are broadcast solely to influence people. Any live poll-taker can ask questions like, "Does Trump frighten you?" In fact, one of these experts at Forbes did not even do any research. He made up the questions and the "votes."

Internal polls are the research the politicians have paid for. The internal polls are not given out to the media or the public, so the candidates do not get confused by their own dreams and the phony statistics.

The soi-disant Lutheran synods are exactly the same. The managers know what is going on, but they publish future statistics, dreams, and hopes to distract the members from the disaster. They caused it with Objective Faithless Justification and mocking the Augsburg Confession.

"Those lovable ELDONUTs!"

Would someone develop a simple list of The Faithless Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) numbers? A banker would not last long, if his numbers were as bad as the Lutherans for so many years. The poorly educated presidents/bishops/presiding bishops should be ashamed to grab so much money and fail to teach Biblical doctrine, faith in Jesus Christ and the efficacy of His Word.

No Reformation Seminary Lecture Today - Due To Very Loud And Unpredictable Repairs

 

No Reformation Seminary Lecture Today - Due To Very Loud And Unpredictable House Repairs.

Tomorrow should be good.

Happy Birthday, Johann Andreas Quenstedt!

 

Dear Johann Andreas Quenstedt,
Please straighten out the Objective Faithless Justification crowd. It is pitiful to see the Chief Article of Christianity crushed and mangled by Bishop Stephan and CFW Walther and their followers.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 12 -

Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, Mark 7:31-37. 

Concerning Faith and Love

6. This we may also learn here in these good people. They do not need this work themselves, nor do they look to themselves, but to the poor man, and think how they may help him; they seek no reward, but act independently and freely. Thus you should by right do likewise; if not, you are no Christians. Therefore consider carefully how love is here described, that it takes upon itself the care of others. If we accept this lesson, it will be well for us; but if not, then God will punish us with blindness, as he has been doing, to our grief, for nearly four hundred years. This much we say briefly concerning faith and love. Furthermore, we must now, in the fourth place, treat of the faith of other persons.

7. You know the fundamental truth is, that man cannot be just and acceptable before God, save alone by faith. So that they have lied and spoken falsely who have taught heretofore that we may deal with God through our works. Moreover it was much more foolish that they taught us to rely upon the works and faith of other persons, pretending that nuns, monks and priests can help other persons by their wailing which they perform in their cloisters at night, and that in this manner they can help other people and distribute their treasures. Therefore, let everyone here remember, that no one dare undertake to be saved by the faith, or by the work of another person; in truth, it cannot be done by the faith or work of Mary, or of any saint, yea, not even by Christ’s work and faith, but through your own personal faith. For God will not permit Mary, or any other saint, not even Christ himself, to take your place, in order that you might be godly and righteous, unless you believe for your own self. If Christ’s faith and work will not do it, you will much less accomplish it by the work or faith of all the monks and priests. Hence our Gospel lesson gives us an occasion to speak of the faith of others. For here we read that they led this person to Christ in their own faith and work; the man did nothing toward it, but merely suffered it to be done.

8. Therefore let everybody mark well, that he can never be saved through another person’s faith. But it of course may happen, that by the faith of other persons you may be brought to a faith of your own. Likewise the good works of other persons may be of service to me to obtain works of my own. Therefore those lie, who declare that we may be saved through the works or faith of other persons, whether we ourselves believe or not.

No, this is not so! Unless you yourself draw out from God’s kindness and mercy a faith of your own, you will not be saved. Thus it must be; otherwise no other person’s faith or works avail, not even Christ, though he is the Savior of all the world; his kindness, his help will do you no good whatever, unless you believe in it, and are enlightened by it.

Tom Fisher's Ewe And Lambs

 

"I Am Jesus' Little Lamb"
by Henrietta L. von Hayn, 1724-1782

Tune - Weil ich Jesu Schaeflein bin - linked here

1. I am Jesus' little lamb,
Ever glad at heart I am;
For my Shepherd gently guides me,
Knows my need, and well provides me,
Loves me every day the same,
Even calls me by my name.

2. Day by day, at home, away,
Jesus is my Staff and Stay.
When I hunger, Jesus feeds me,
Into pleasant pastures leads me;
When I thirst, He bids me go
Where the quiet waters flow.

3. Who so happy as I am,
Even now the Shepherd's lamb?
And when my short life is ended,
By His angel host attended,
He shall fold me to His breast,
There within His arms to rest.

Hymn #648
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: John 21:15
Author: Henriette L. von Hayn, 1778
Translated by: composite
Titled: "Weil ich Jesu Schaeflein bin"
1st Published in: Brueder Choral-Buch, 1784
Tune: "Weil ich Jesu Schaeflein bin"

Dear Pastor Jackson, 

Thank you for praying for my recovery and also God's healing for my little niece Jordi.

I am making steady progress in my recovery. My little niece Jordi has come home from the hospital and is doing well with her new inhaler. 

Now thank we all our God

With heart and hands and voices,

Who wondrous things hath done,

In whom His world rejoices;

Who from our mother's arms

Hath blessed us on our way

With countless gifts of love

And still is ours today

Oh, may this bounteous God

Thro' all our life be near us,

With ever joyful hearts

And blessed peace to cheer us

And keep us in His grace

And guide us when perplexed

And free us from all ills

In this world and the next!

All praise and thanks to God

The Father now be given,

The Son, and Him who reigns

With them in highest heaven:

The one eternal God, 

Whom earth and heaven adore!

For thus it was, is now,

And shall be evermore.

(Now Thank We All Our God, The Lutheran Hymnal, CPH, 1941, Hymn 36)

In Christ,

Tom Fisher

Dr. Lito Cruz And Family Live in Australia. Everyone Wants To See the Australian Break-dancer

 

The top judge of the Olympic breaking competition has thrown his support behind Rachael Gunn of Team Australia, after her unorthodox routine in Paris divided the internet.

Gunn, who competes under the name Raygun, was eliminated from the B-Girls competition after scoring zero, prompting both ridicule and praise for her unique style.

"Breaking is all about originality and bringing something new to the table... and this is exactly what Raygun was doing," Martin Gilian said in defence of the athlete, who has also been commended by Australia's Prime Minister for "having a go".

Breaking, which debuted at the Paris Games, is not on the programme for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 12 - "For the Word first sets forth to us the mercy and goodness of God; then faith causes us to cleave unto it with a firm confidence, and to obey the Word. For we are now conscious of this in our hearts, and are satisfied; for as soon as we believe, we are already with Christ in this inheritance, and are justified."

 

Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, Mark 7:31-37. Concerning Faith and Love

Text:

KJV Mark 7:31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. 32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. 36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; 37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak. 

PART 1. THE STORY OR EXAMPLE ITSELF.

2. First, the story or example before us is good in itself, for here we see that many persons received the poor man, as though his distress were their own, bringing him to Jesus to be helped. By this, both faith and love are shown to us. Faith, in that they had heard of the Lord before, that he was kind and compassionate, and helped all those who came to him. For the Word must first have been heard, and must first have entered the human heart, showing us the mercy of God in such a way that we depend upon it. Therefore the Word of Christ must here also have taught these people this; otherwise, where it does not come, there faith and works are all in vain.

3. And though this gospel lesson, like the preceding one, does not state that they had previously heard the tidings of the Gospel, yet we must nevertheless conclude, and the fact proves it, that they must have previously heard the good tidings and Gospel of Christ the Lord, through which they believed. For that is properly the Gospel which is called good tidings, a good report, not that which is written on paper, but that which is proclaimed in the world and becomes known by the living voice. Thus doubtless they had heard that Christ was kind, friendly, and helpful, willing to aid everybody; this was the beginning of their faith. Thus you must earnestly search the Gospel, and you will always find, that the tidings must first go forth and lead us to God, in order that he may’ lay the first stone; otherwise, all is lost. In the next place, you will learn that because they have clung to the tidings and trusted them for their comfort, they went thither, and hoped to receive of him what they had heard.

4. Now you here observe the nature of faith which grows out of the Word. For the Word first sets forth to us the mercy and goodness of God; then faith causes us to cleave unto it with a firm confidence, and to obey the Word. For we are now conscious of this in our hearts, and are satisfied; for as soon as we believe, we are already with Christ in this inheritance, and are justified.

5. In the third place, this Gospel lesson describes the works of love in this, that these people go and care for the poor man, just as Christ, without their merit, and without their doing, sends forth his Word, and spreads abroad his goodness and mercy. Thus as they have laid hold and drank from the fountain, they again flow forth freely, and also impart themselves to their neighbor freely and without any merit. Thus love should do its work, not as though it needs it, but devotes itself solely to the benefit of its neighbor, as Paul, among other things, speaks to the Corinthians about love, Corinthians 13:5: “Love seeketh not its own”; and to the Philippians he says, Philippians 2:4: “Not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.”

The Eleventh Sunday after Trinity - 2024.

YouTube 

Bethany Lutheran Church

Springdale, Arkansas

Pastor Gregory Jackson

The Hymn #342          Chief of Sinners

The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

God is in His holy habitation: 

He is God who setteth the solitary in families.

The God of Israel is He that giveth strength: 

and power unto His people.

Psalm. Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered: 

let them also that hate Him flee before Him.

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

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve, pour down upon us the abundance of Thy mercy, forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

Gradual

My heart trusteth in God, and I am helped: 

therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; 

and with my song will I praise Him.

V. Unto Thee will I cry, O Lord, my Rock: 

be not silent to me; hear the voice at my supplications. 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Lord, Thou hast been our Dwelling Place in all generations. 

Hallelujah!

The Gospel              

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

The Sermon Hymn #282                   Lord Jesus Christ

Jesus Taught Justification by Faith

The Communion Hymn #207   Like the Golden Sun Ascending - Kingo

[Some parts of the Danish rural population firmly held to Kingo's hymns during the Pietist and Rationalist periods, contributing to their survival.]

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 #575                       Before the Lord We Bow - F. Scott Key                 

In Our Prayers

• Diagnosis and Treatment - Maria Way - two stents; Doc Lito and his wife, Phoenix their grandson - surgery; Sarah Buck, Lori Howell, Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris.  
• Ten more KJVs are arriving soon. 

KJV 1 Corinthians15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

KJV Luke 18: 9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Jesus Taught Justification by Faith

KJV Luke 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

This is, of course, a parable, and yet it is so true to life that it reflects the attitudes of our era - and it was just as true back in the days of Luther, and the Old Testament too. The parable concept makes it a perfect example of self-righteousness compared to faith in Jesus Christ.

If a university has a need, the managers seek people with the money to fund the projects. They are delighted to put that person's name on new buildings. Fuller Seminary had someone so evil, and yet they carved his name on the building he funded. So proud, so impressive...but they had to chisel off that marbled name when he was convicted of his crimes. I could name two others among the Lutherans - and the names remain on the buildings, and yet their names remain, but their denominations are failing at a fast pace.

We can can hear God's Word in this parable, because human nature does not change. God does not need the glitz and glamor of another building. It is fascinating to see how many seminaries have been merged into one campus in New Haven, mergers of mergers, such as Yale Divinity merging with the Episcopal seminary, merging those two into Andover Newton, which was once Andover Seminary and Newton Seminary. Andover (liberal Baptist) was at Harvard for a time, too.

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

Luther pointed out that this Pharisee is a model of the Law, an example of righteousness. Paul was the same way, before his conversion. Even today there are many who repudiate faith in Jesus Christ and brag about their high standing in Lutherdom. There are many ways to describe the modern Pharisees. First of all, they are ranked highly among their peers, and look down on the ordinary ones. Although they distinguish one synod from the others and even look down on their supposed brothers (the two LCMS seminaries, the Gettysburg and Philadelphia seminaries,  and the WELS and ELS seminaries) their greatest love is for the Church Growth clowns of all the seminaries. PS - I have been at all six of those seminaries, but alas, not at Fuller. 

The publican is a tax collector, and we can see the same burdens today, where people with very little money are taxed heavily and persecuted, even while the superwealthy are given loopholes that make their taxes minimal. Those agents who can get more out of their targets are rewarded and given promotions, more money for themselves. 

The Jews of that era were paying taxes to the Roman Empire, and Rome did not tolerate any opposition. Jesus knew that the destruction of Jerusalem was coming, marked first by His resurrection, fairly soon the first Christians were driven away before the destruction of the city in 70 AD. Jerusalem was destroyed and the early Christians spread out, to take the Gospel to the corners of the earth.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

Before his conversion Paul gathered up Christians to be punished. It was God's will to reveal the risen Christ to Paul, which helped him combine his new work with Jews and Gentiles. We can imagine what the believers said about Paul - "Him? An apostle? How can that be?" And Paul became a champion Epistle author and also someone who suffered greatly from being persecuted and scorned by false teachers who wanted to destroy the faith of new Christians.

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Jesus pointed out the people should not advertise their fasts or their donations. He did not want sour faces or looking at the fine points of donating, down to mint, cumin, and dill, Matthew 23:23. One thing we should remember in our explorations of the Bible - the unity of the authors with the main author being the Holy Spirit, which gives the Bible harmony and unity. Jesus said, the Spirit will teach from the Father and the Son, and a Harvard graduate could not find the Trinity in the New Testament. I mention that often because this came up with someone who was troubled about the Trinity and learned this from Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant.

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

This fits Luther's comparison clearly. We are worriers. We are anxious about the future. That can easily increase blood pressure and make us forgetful as we fret about this and that. Luther's simple phrase is - We do the work, God worries for us. That is a perfect description of faith in Jesus Christ, Who did everything for us; who can serve as his own savior? To imagine we can fix the future is a mighty colossal achievement. Peter says, 

1 Peter 5:1 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Those of us with more candles on the cake can easily look back and look at all the miraculous things we have experienced. Since God is watching over us, the Good Shepherd providing for the sheep and driving away the wolves, we can look back and say how did that happen? Many times the bad has become good, so good we have to be thankful for the final outcome.

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

One was justified - by faith! - a verse invisible to the Objective Faithless Justification crowd. This is the sample offered by Jesus Christ. The humble person has faith in God; the one who praises himself will be humbled.

How Christianity Built the Framework for the Constitution

Ninth Amendment

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Tenth Amendment

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.