ICHABOD, THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED - explores the Age of Apostasy, predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, to attack Objective Faithless Justification, Church Growth Clowns, and their ringmasters. The antidote is trusting the efficacious Word in the Means of Grace. John 16:8. Isaiah 55:8ff. Romans 10. Most readers are WELS, LCMS, ELS, or ELCA. This blog also covers the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the National Council of Churches.
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"Either SOLA SCRIPTURA or POPERY or SO-CALLED EASTERN ORTHODOXY! No other alternatives are possible for the Christian Faith!"
Readers are bound to ask, "What happened to Justification by Faith? The Chief Article of the Christian Faith? Robert Preus taught that in his last book."
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| My neighbor from the former dairy farm started me on Clethra. He was proud to see the bushes growing in my backyard. When he saw that I had poison hemlock, he laughed, "Just don't eat it." It was sent away, wrapped up. |
This morning I worked over the links on the left column of Ichabod in order to emphasize the positive. Everyone already has access to the denominations, even if they have no access to grace - due to lack of faith in Jesus Christ. Bellowing "grace!" without faith is a carnival cry.
Most clergy will say, "Not enough people for the upcoming Ascension Day." We have a big solution for a little audience - 1s and zeroes. Almost everything is comprised that way, a bonus of nostalgia. Everyone with the Internet can enjoy the Ascension Day hymns and liturgy, even a sermon. Zoom has its complexities, broadcasting live and storing with YouTube, but even the geezer squad can get it going and solve the problems.
I have nothing new to say about the Big Five Apostates, all bundled in Thrivent Insurance and elderly annuities. Therefore, it is best to spend time about the past, even if the faithful are small in number today.
Yesterday I had the grungy delight of moving a Clethra closer to the bird feeders in the front yard. My new perspective inside let me watch the feeders through the living room window, with Charlie Sue on my lap. Both of us were pleased. She got to watch the birds close up and stuck to me like Velcro.
The task was loosening the extra Clethra around several times, then lying down to cut the roots loose. I had the empty space cleared and that was easy. I poured water from the rain-barrel into the hole and placed the plant for its new adventure, more rainwater added.
KJV Isaiah 55
8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Those verses alone should smash and scatter the Church Growth follies of Luther-dumb, but the peddlers are immune. They occupy the high places and despise those who visit the sick and dying, teach the Catechism, and study the King James Version.
So what good is the Clethra? Catnip for pollinators! Its flowers are so tiny that the smallest insects hide within them. The fragrance attracts the bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Smaller birds land within the bush for safety and rest. Best of all, human garden visitors will inhale the Cinnabon aroma, many feet away.
Lacking the concept of Creation, the Father-Son-Spirit in Genesis 1, our modern day growth experts have no idea why their mausoleums are crumbling. Christine and I visited the Purpose Driven Babtist Church by chance and listened to the Rev. clown prince (Rick Warren) make people laugh. We also attended the fabulous Willow Creek Community Adultery Church - Bill Hybels. I wondered where the cross was, absent in the "ahem" worship area. Expensive food followed in the swine court. Not good food, but expensive food.
My friend from Dow Chemical came by our house in Midland, to see the supposed Silver Queen corn I was growing from of a deep area of compost. He doubted my story at the same time we were going back behind the garage. "Silver Queen tends to be short." He stopped and looked up at the stalks. All I did was accumulate the power of God's creatures turning organic matter into a hotel for greedy Silver Queen seeds.
If people do not comprehend Creation, they will not understand the power of God's Word.
Luther's Sermon for ROGATE - FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER
7. In the fifth place, one should so act in this confidence of prayer as not to limit God and specify the day or place, nor designate the way or measure of the prayer’s fulfillment; but leave all to his own will, wisdom and almighty power. Then confidently and cheerfully await the answer, not even wishing to know how and where, how soon, how long, and through whom. His divine wisdom will find far better ways and measures, time and place, than we can devise, even should we perform miracles. So, in the Old Testament, the children of Israel all trusted in God to deliver them while yet there was no possible way before their eyes, nor even in their thoughts; then the Red Sea parted and offered them a way through the waters, and suddenly drowned all their enemies. Exodus 14.
8. Thus Judith, the holy woman, did when she heard that the citizens of Bethulia wished to deliver the city to their enemies within five days if God, in the meantime, did not help. She reproved them and said, Now who are ye, that have tempted God? They are not designs by which one acquires grace; but they awaken more disgrace. Do you wish to set a time for God to show you mercy, and specify a day according to your own pleasure?
Judith 8:10-12. Then the Lord helped her in a wonderful manner, in that she cut off the head of the great Holofernes and dispersed the enemies.
9. In like manner, St. Paul says that God’s ability is thus proved, in that he does exceeding abundantly above and better than we ask or think. Ephesians 3:20. Therefore, we should know that we are too finite to be able to name, picture or designate the time, place, way, measure and other circumstances for that which we ask of God. Let us leave that entirely to him, and immovably and steadfastly believe that he will hear us.