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.
21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
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22 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
Some photographers collected light coming through dark clouds. They looked great but they seemed tough to capture.
I learned this week that everyone and everything had to be an algorithm. We were once told that we should vary words instead of beating them death. Now I am on the alert for an algorithm I can use with grace, tenacity, and ... what was that name? I will remember later.
The Confession of Sins The Absolution The Introit p. 16
Introit
O almighty God, who hast knit together Thine elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of Thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, grant us grace so to follow Thy blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that we may come to those unspeakable joys which Thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love Thee; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Gloria Patri The Kyrie p. 17 The Gloria in Excelsis The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
O almighty God, who hast knit together Thine elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of Thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, grant us grace so to follow Thy blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that we may come to those unspeakable joys which Thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love Thee; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and Gradual
Oh, fear the Lord, ye His saints:
for there is no want to them that fear Him.
V. They that seek the Lord:
shall not want any good thing. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
V. Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden:
and I will give you rest. Hallelujah!
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord! Praise be to Thee, O Christ! The Nicene Creed p. 22
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 #657Beautiful Savior
Today we remember - Walter Boeckler, who supported Luther's doctrine and independent congregations; Gary Meyer, who participated in our first Ustream services; Brenda Kielher, who with her parents Cliff and Cleo Kiehler, helped start Bethany in New Ulm, Minnesota; and Gladys Jackson Meyer, who supported Bethany from the beginning and enjoyed helping out. Carl Roper supported independent congregations from the beginning. Carol Olsen, Lori Howell's mother, who worshiped with us, passed into eternal life on October 8th. 2021. Christina Jackson met her Savior August 22nd, 2021. Besides these, we have many others we name in our hearts, beloved, deeply missed, children, relatives, friends. Randy Anderson asked for more about Luther and Justification by Faith. He passed into eternal life on May 12, 2024. Charkes Kotten, Glen Kotten's father, died recently.
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In Our Prayers
Pastor Jim Shrader. Dr. Lito Cruz and his wife Lynne are having some challenges.
Strive for Saints
I taught a lot of college students who did not understand the words they used. If I said too much, they stormed off to a superior and found out I was correct. They were so cleansed of religion that they did not recognize what they were saying. Christ-mas as in Mass? Holy Communion? Holidays seemed to be neutral to them, until they heard Holy Days!
I grew up on TV dinners, Swanson TV Dinners, spawned in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and remembered as The Swanson House to this day. We were the pioneers and other kids were stuck with eating "dinner table" food. My own age group envied our ability to watch a black and white TV show while eating supper from a folded tray - with wobbly legs.
In contrast, the wisdom of the Beatitudes comes from the Spirit in the Word.
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The proud and haughty may create a great impression on others, but God looks upon the soul and already knows the truth.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
We have so manylosses, and accounting is so high. The disadvantage is losing someone, an increasing number. Mourning comforts us, reminds us of the souls in heaven, and realizes sharply - and often with great love - what that means.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. The meek are the ones most likely to be kind, thoughtful, generous, etc. Psalm 37.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Sincere about our faults and sins, God moves us through the Gospel to satisfy our need for forgiveness.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Just as pride dominates the proud, so do the merciful create mercy themselves, a growing habit.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. The only way to see God is to watch, pray, and observe how God teaches us.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Children in their innocence beg others not to hurt and reject others.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. If we are punished for knowing and believing the Word of God, then we are aiming at our final destiny.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Attacking God's truth and His teaching will be rewarded wealth, riches, honors, and many perks.
