The LCMS Went ELCA Years Ago - And Brought Their WELS Buddy Along

 

 Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, is one of the main seminaries of the decrepit and apostate Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Protestia.

New Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Survey Shows Majority Are Pro-Choice, Pro-LGBTQ

The Big Five Apostates - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic)

ELCA has a host of advocates in all areas of ministry, if it can be called that. They intermingle with LCMS and WELS through Thrivent In$urance and anything else that moves. If one questions anything about La Popessa Eaton, the entire conglomerate jumps on him like a hobo on a hotdog.

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) is a confessional (sic) Lutheran (sic) denomination that is the second largest in the country, historically viewed as serving as the conservative foil (sic) to the apostate Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)

Led by President Matthew Harrison, the denomination claimed 1.7M baptized congregants in 2023, with a reported weekly attendance of nearly 523k spread across 5.7k congregations. Notably, 45% of LCMS congregations have a weekly attendance of less than 50 people.

Pew Research, which previously published studies of the LCMS in 2007 and 2014, has released a massive new religious landscape survey on the denomination, with a sample size of 35,000 that includes 1200 Laity.

The results are dispiriting.

When it comes to homosexuality, 50% of respondents say it should be accepted, along with 50% who strongly favor/ favor same-sex marriage.

Likewise, 54% say abortion should be legal in all or most cases.

When it comes to evolution, 81% believe that humans evolved over time, either with or without God.

Lastly, when it comes to demographics, the numbers are bleak, with only 5% of members under the age of 30, and nearly half of members are senior citizens.

At the rate they’re going, merging with the ELCA in 20 years remains a very real possibility.

"Now more than ever, homosexuality is a predominant subject in our country and in our world. You may have solid views based on the Bible but still have questions on how your views pertain to life today. Or you may question how to talk to other Christians or non-Christians about your views. In the book "Forgive Us Our Sins: Homosexuality in the Light of God's Truth," the authors tackle the tough issue of homosexuality in a firm but loving way through the clear context of Scripture and also retell Scott's exodus from the gay lifestyle back to Christ. The authors avoid judgment and stereotypes by delicately balancing biblical law and gospel to provide encouragement to all believers who struggle with any temptation, not just homosexuality. Ultimately, the book provides hope and support for those who, just as Scott did, seek to turn their lives back to Christ."

Ash Wednesday Holy Communion - Tonight at 7 PM Central

 

The Hymn #154     Alas and Did My Savior Bleed                         

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

I will cry unto God Most High: unto God that performeth all things for me.

Yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge: until these calamities be overpast.

Psalm. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in Thee.

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

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that Thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent, create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual  

The Epistle

KJV Joel 2:12-19

12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. 17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? 18 Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people. 19 Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:

Gradual

Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in Thee.

V. He shall send from heaven: and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up.

Tract. O Lord, deal not with us after our sins: nor reward us according to our iniquities.

V. O Lord, remember not against us former iniquities: let Thy tender mercies speedily come to us, for we are brought very low.

V. Help us, O God of our salvation: for the glory of Thy name

The Gospel

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!

Matthew 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Praise be to Thee, O Christ!              

The Nicene Creed p. 22

The Hymn #419               O'er Jerusalem - Anna Hoppe (WELS, Augustana)

Grace without Faith Is a Disgrace

The basis for the entire universe is the opposite of what people think, promote, and garnish. That must be true, because we see the evidence around us and to some extent somewhat in us. Why? Because the Old Adam is always there with us, spawning many kinds of remedies, never enough and often far worse. Look at the way the nation's "lawmakers" refuse to be even a little bit polite. In another place of politics, the smoke grenades were tossed into the discussion - no, really. Look at Serbia. Or look at us. Half the Congressional audience refused to cheer and clap for the boy with brain cancer who wanted to be an honorary cop. 

"Amazing Grace" is often sung, and it has good intentions. However, the words obscure - hide - what the Word of God says. Every word is a tool, and so every word helps or ruins the thought. The concept is quite simple, which can be the reason for the falsehood.

KJV Romans 5 -

5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Many clergy and laity have shunned me and argued against me (the Bible actually) based on Romans 5. "Justified by faith" simply means that the faith created by the Gospel marks us as forgiven through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Faith means complete trust in the Savior, the Good Shepherd, the Son of God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We know all is ours in faith because the Bible starts with the Father ordering Creation and the Son executing each command. That is not obscure but as clear as can be. The Father ordered Light before the sun and galaxies existed, and the Son executed the command. Thus the universe was utterly dark without the Son making Light happen. And so it continued in the Six Days, which were real days, not Daylight imaginary time.

Genesis 1 proves this, though most are blind to it. "And there was Light." Dad may fall down the basement stairs because he did not turn on the switch. Genesis 1 makes it plain that there are two phases - ordering Let there be Light and execution "And there was light."

Verification comes from John 1 -

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same [very emphatic] was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

To absorb this - Read Psalm 1, where the Law (Torah) is encompassing, not simply The Law. (Like the grace error) Torah means Teaching, including Law, Gospel, and Blessings.

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the Teaching (Torah) of the Lord; and in his Teaching (Torah) doth he meditate day and night.

grace = access by faith 

Go over these phrases that are marked and keep returning to them. Grace means forgiveness, blessings, removal of pain, guilt and sorrow, joy from overcoming burdens, and so forth. 

Access is a plain old word. Don't look it up - it's just access. I have an appointment at the tuxedo shop. One thing is sure - I will look very strange if I am wearing gardening clothes and floppy shoes. Access can mean a meeting place, so it is extremely powerful because it is the Spirit at work in the Word. So if we look at troubles, sins, catastrophes, sorrows, pains, we have access by grace to brush those things away - and to grow the fruits of the Spirit (John 15).

Christina wore a Swedish crown, donated to Augustana through Sweden.
She had access to the crown.

The Hymn #312        Lord Jesus Christ Thou Living Bread                           

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 #370            My Hope Is Built

Do You Like the Left-Wing? Your Denomination Is the Left Wing of Congress.Deal With It!

 

When a large group pouts and fumes and makes faces, they have surrendered, so far gone that they echo each other's foolishness.

The Left-Wing in America is almost identical to the snarling and whining of the mainline Lutherans - The Big Five Apostates - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic). The faux-Lutherans are quite similar to the faux-Democrats.

The Big Five are all Scriptural! They spend money on 10 or more corruptions of the KJV Bible because they can make more money for themselves with daily paraphrasing and higher profits.

The Big Five are overflowing with grace! Not at all. The only access to God's grace is faith in Jesus Christ, Romans 5:1-2. They keep saying "Grace! Grace! Grace!" while denying Justification by Faith, which begins at Genesis 15 and goes through the entire Bible.

The Big Five are mission minded! Yes, they love to have their favorite buddies sent around the globe, pan-handling all the sources they can garnish. They come back home to brag about how much they have suffered.

They love Luther! Once a year - or less - they mention Luther and get out a worn copy of Luther's Sermons to prove they actually read a page or two. What's that smell? They are going back to Holy Mother Rome. They will not be content until they are all one in the bosom of their Father Below.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - First Sunday in Lent - "What were it if the whole world were full of bread, still man does not live by bread alone, but more belongs to life, namely, the Word of God. The words, however, are so beautiful and powerful that we must not pass over them lightly, but carefully explain them."

 

Luther's Sermons - Matthew 4:1-11.
Invocavit. First Sunday in Lent

10. Thirdly, behold how Christ resists this temptation of bread, and overcomes; he sees nothing but stones and what is uneatable, then he approaches and clings to the Word of God, strengthens himself by it and strikes the devil to the ground with it. This saying all Christians should lay hold of when they see that there is lack and want and everything has become stones, so that courage trembles, and they should say: What were it if the whole world were full of bread, still man does not live by bread alone, but more belongs to life, namely, the Word of God. The words, however, are so beautiful and powerful that we must not pass over them lightly, but carefully explain them.

11. These words Christ quotes from Deuteronomy 8:3, where Moses says: “Thy God humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by everything that proceedeth out of the mouth of Jehovah doth man live.”

That is as much as to say: Since God permits you to hunger and you still continue to live, you ought indeed to grasp the thought that God nourishes you without bread through his Word; for if you should live and sustain yourself by bread alone then you must continually be full of bread. But the Word, that nourishes us is, that he promises us and causes it to be published that he is our God and desires to be our God.

12. Thus now the meaning of Moses and of Christ is: Whoever has here God’s Word and believes, has both blessings; the first, where he is in want and has nothing, but must suffer hunger, that Word will sustain him, so that he will not die of hunger nor perish, just as well as if he had abundance to eat; for the Word he has in his heart nourishes and sustains him without eating and drinking. But has he little to eat, then a bite or slice of bread will feed and nourish him like a kingly meal; for not only bread but the Word of God also nourishes the body naturally, as it creates and upholds all things, Hebrews 1:3. The other blessing he will also enjoy, namely, that finally bread will surely be at hand, come whence it will, and should it rain from heaven like manna where none grows and none can grow. In these two thoughts every person can freely trust, namely, that he must in time of hunger receive bread or something to eat, or if not, then his hunger must become so moderate and bearable that it will nourish him even as well as bread does.

13. What has been said of eating and feeding the body should be understood also of drinking, clothing, house, and all our needs: namely that although he still permits us to become naked and suffer want for clothing, house etc., clothing must finally be at hand, and before it fails the leaves of the trees must become coats and mantles; or if not, then the coats and garments that we wear must never grow old; just as happened to the Children of Israel in the desert Deuteronomy 8:2-4, whose clothing and shoes never wore out. Likewise the wild wilderness must become their houses, and there must be a way where there is no way; and water, where there is no water; stones must become water. For here stands God’s Word, which says: “He cares for you;” and St. Paul in 1 Timothy 6:17: “God giveth us richly all things to enjoy;” and Matthew 6:33-34: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Be not therefore anxious for the morrow.” These and like words must continue true and stand forever firm.

14. All this one may indeed learn from his own daily experiences. For it is held, and I almost believe it, that there are not as many sheaves of wheat grown as there are people living on the earth; but God daily blesses and increases the wheat in the sack, the flour in the tray, the bread on the table and in the mouth, as Christ did. John 6:12 f. It is also noticeable that as a rule poor people and their children are fatter and their food reaches farther and agrees with them better than is the case among the rich with all their provisions. However that the godless at times suffer need, or in times of famine many die of hunger, is caused by a special plague as pestilence, war etc. In other ways we see that in all things it is not the food, but the Word of God that nourishes every human being.

DJ - Honorary Secret Service Agent - Brain Cancer

 

Free Republic - TwitterX ^ | 3/5/2025 | TwitterX User Mike Johnson

The night was electric, pulsing with the raw energy of a nation clawing its way back from the abyss. Donald Trump stood at the podium, a lion surveying his den, commanding the chamber with the weight of history pressing against his shoulders. The air was thick with expectation, with defiance, with the unshakable spirit of America refusing to be broken. And then, the moment came—the kind of moment that strips away the political filth and reveals the soul of a country.

A boy named DJ, clad in the crisp uniform of a police officer, stood proud and unwavering, though the cruel grip of fate had marked him for battle against something far more ruthless than any criminal—brain cancer. His father, a cop, watched with pride as his son, too young to understand the horrors of bureaucracy, stood before the most powerful men and women in the nation, believing in something greater than himself.

Trump, never one to miss the chance to honor the real beating heart of America, did what no other president in modern history would have dared. He made DJ an honorary Secret Service agent—not as a political stunt, not as a hollow gesture, but as a symbol of everything that still makes this country great. Here was a boy who, despite all odds, still dreamed of serving and protecting. A boy who saw the badge not as a mark of oppression, but of justice. A boy whose bravery outshone the cowards who sat in the shadows.

The chamber erupted. The walls of Congress shook with applause, the very rafters of democracy trembling under the force of true, unfiltered emotion. People stood, tears in their eyes, clapping until their hands stung. But not everyone.

No, across the aisle sat the Democrats, cold as corpses, eyes hollow, mouths twisted into grimaces of disdain. Not a single clap. Not a single nod of respect. Not an ounce of humanity. These are the same people who weep for criminals, who kneel for thugs, who scream about “justice” while letting chaos swallow the streets. But when a little boy with brain cancer stands before them, embodying everything they should pretend to care about—innocence, courage, sacrifice—they sit there like rotting statues, rigid in their hatred for everything that doesn’t fit their twisted ideology.

It was more than politics. It was a glimpse into the soul of the enemy. They couldn’t stand because standing would mean acknowledging something greater than themselves. It would mean admitting that Trump was right. That honor still means something. That America is still alive, still breathing, still roaring despite their every attempt to smother it beneath their boot.

That moment was bigger than all of them. Bigger than the swamp, bigger than the lies, bigger than the poison dripping from every Democrat's forked tongue. DJ stood there, stronger than the entire party combined, smiling as the President of the United States honored him. And they sat there, sneering, because they knew—deep in the blackened pits of their soulless chests—they would never know what it’s like to be that brave, that good, that true.

They will be remembered for that silence. The people saw. The people will never forget.

The hug.

Reformation Seminary Lecture - John 19, Part 1. 10 AM

KJV John 19, Part 1

19 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.

2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,

3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.

5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.

7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;

9 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.

10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?

11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was Jesus Of Nazareth The King Of The Jews.

20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Temptation of Christ - "Secondly, the tempter came forward and attacked Christ with these very same cares of food for the body and with the unbelief in the goodness of God, and said: “If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread,” as if he should say: Yes, trust thou in God and bake and cook nothing; only wait patiently until a roasted fowl flies into your mouth; do you now say that you have a God who cares for you; where is now your heavenly Father, who has charge of you? "

 

Luther's Sermons - Matthew 4:1-11.
Invocavit. First Sunday in Lent

5. This narrative, however, is written both for our instruction and admonition. First, for instruction, that we should know how Christ has served and helped us by his fasting, hunger, temptation and victory; also that who ever believes on Christ shall never suffer need, and that temptation shall never harm him; but we shall have enough in the midst of want and be safe in the midst of temptation; because his Lord and Head triumphed over these all in his behalf, and of this he is assured, as Christ says in John 16:33: “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

God, who was able to nourish Christ forty days without any food, can nourish also his Christians.

6. Secondly, this is written for our admonition, that we may in the light of this example also cheerfully suffer want and temptation for the service of God and the good of our neighbor, like Christ did for us, as often as necessity requires it; which is surely accomplished if we learn and confess God’s Word. Therefore this Gospel is sweet consolation and power against the unbelief and infamy of the stomach, to awaken and strengthen the conscience, that we may not be anxious about the nourishment of our bodies, but be assured that he can and will give us our daily bread.

II. THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST.

7. But as to how temptation takes place and how it is overcome, is all very beautifully pictured to us here in Christ. First, that he is led up into the wilderness, that is, he is left solitary and alone by God, angels and men, by all creatures. What kind of a temptation would it be, if we were not forsaken and stood not alone? It is, however, painful when we do not feel anything that presents its back to us; as for example, that I should support myself and have not a nickel, not a thread, not a twig, and I experience no help from others, and no advice is offered. That means to be led into the desert and to be left alone. There I am in the true school, and I learn what I am, how weak my faith is, how great and rare true faith is, and how deeply unbelief is entrenched in the hearts of all men. But whoever has his purse, cellar and fields full, is not yet led into the desert, neither is he left alone; therefore he is not conscious of temptation.

8. Secondly, the tempter came forward and attacked Christ with these very same cares of food for the body and with the unbelief in the goodness of God, and said: “If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread,” as if he should say: Yes, trust thou in God and bake and cook nothing; only wait patiently until a roasted fowl flies into your mouth; do you now say that you have a God who cares for you; where is now your heavenly Father, who has charge of you? Yea, it seems to me he lets you in a fine condition; eat now and drink from your faith, let us see how you will satisfy your hunger; yea, when you have stones for bread. What a fine Son of God you are! How fatherly he is disposed toward you in that he fails to send you a slice of bread and permits you to be so poor and needy; do you now continue to believe that you are his son and he is your father? With like thoughts he truly attacks all the children of God. And Christ surely felt this temptation, for he was no stock nor stone; although he was and remained pure and without sin, as we cannot do.

9. That Satan attacked Christ with the cares for daily food or with unbelief and avarice, Christ’s answer proves, in that he says: “Man shall not live by bread alone;” that sounds as if he said: thou wilt direct me to bread alone and dost treat me as though I thought of nothing but the sustenance of my body. This temptation is very common also among pious people, and they especially feel it keenly who have children and a family, and have nothing to eat. Therefore St. Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:10 that avarice is a root of all kind of evil; for it is a fruit of unbelief. Do you not think that unbelief, care and avarice are the reasons people are afraid to enter married life?

Why do people avoid it and live in unchastity, unless it be the fear that they must die of hunger and suffer want? But here we should consider Christ’s work and example, who suffered want forty days and nights, and finally was not forsaken, but was ministered to even by angels.

Jen Psaki - Ga-Zillion Funds Via Her Sister

Jen Psaki

 

Sand Castles

 

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Matthew 4:1-11 - "Christ rather followed the example of Moses, who fasted also forty days and nights, when he received the law of God on mount Sinai. Thus Christ also wished to fast when he was about to bring to us, and give expression to, the new law. In the second place, Lent has become mere mockery because our fasting is a perversion and an institution of man. For although Christ did fast forty days, yet there is no word of his that he requires us to do the same and fast as he did."

 

Luther's Sermons - Matthew 4:1-11.
Invocavit. First Sunday in Lent

Text

Matthew 4:1-11. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he afterward hungered. And the tempter came and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him into the holy city; and he set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, if thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and, On their hands they shall bear thee up, lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Jesus said unto him, Again it is written, Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him unto an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and he said unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him; and behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

I. THE FASTING OF CHRIST.

1. This Gospel is read today at the beginning of Lent in order to picture before Christians the example of Christ, that they may rightly observe Lent, which has become mere mockery: first, because no one can follow this example and fast forty days and nights as Christ did without eating any food. Christ rather followed the example of Moses, who fasted also forty days and nights, when he received the law of God on mount Sinai. Thus Christ also wished to fast when he was about to bring to us, and give expression to, the new law. In the second place, Lent has become mere mockery because our fasting is a perversion and an institution of man. For although Christ did fast forty days, yet there is no word of his that he requires us to do the same and fast as he did. Indeed he did many other things, which he wishes us not to do; but whatever he calls us to do or leave undone, we should see to it that we have his Word to support our actions.

2. But the worst of all is that we have adopted and practiced fasting as a good work: not to bring our flesh into subjection; but, as a meritorious work before God, to atone for our sins and obtain grace. And it is this that has made our fasting a stench and so blasphemous and shameful, so that no drinking and eating, no gluttony and drunkenness, could have been as bad and foul. It would have been better had people been drunk day and night than to fast thus. Moreover, even if all had gone well and right, so that their fasting had been applied to the mortification of the flesh; but since it was not voluntary, and it was not left to each to do according to their own free will, but was compulsory by virtue of human commandment, and they did it unwillingly, it was all lost and to no purpose. I will not mention the many other evils as the consequences, as that pregnant mothers and their offspring, the sick and the weak, were thereby ruined, so that it might be called a fasting of Satan instead of a fasting unto holiness. Therefore we will carefully consider how this Gospel teaches us by the example of Christ what true fasting is.

3. The Scriptures present to us two kinds of true fasting: one, by which we try to bring the flesh into subjection to the spirit, of which St. Paul speaks in 2 Corinthians 6:5: “ In labors, in watchings, in fastings.” The other is that which we must bear patiently, and yet receive willingly because of our need and poverty, of which St. Paul speaks in 1 Corinthians 4:11: “Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst,” and Christ in Matthew 9:15: “When the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, then will they fast.” This kind of fasting Christ teaches us here while in the wilderness alone without anything to eat, and while he suffers his penury without murmuring. The first kind of fasting, one can end whenever he wills, and can satisfy it by food; but the other kind we must observe and bear until God himself changes it and satisfies us. Hence it is much more precious than the first, because it moves in greater faith.

4. This is also the reason that the Evangelist with great care places it first:

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, that he might there fast and be tempted, so that no one might imitate his example of their own choice and make of it a selfish, arbitrary, and pleasant fasting; but instead wait for the Spirit, who will send him enough fastings and temptations. For whoever, without being led by the Spirit, wantonly resorts to the danger of hunger or to any temptation, when it is truly a blessing of God that he can eat and drink and have other comforts, tempts God. We should not seek want and temptation, they will surely come of themselves; we ought then do our best and act honestly. The text reads: Jesus was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness; and not: Jesus himself chose to go into the wilderness. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Romans 8:14. God gives his blessings for the purpose that we may use them with thanksgiving, and not that we may let them lie idle, and thus tempt him; for he wishes it, and forces us to fast by the Spirit or by a need which we cannot avoid.

Daffodils Are Blooming - March 3, 2025

 

Ah, yes. You almost wanted to plant daffodils last fall. The ground was either dry and hard to manage or soggy and discouraging. Oh - and the bulb packages were so expensive. 

Some bargain bags might arrive very late, the chilling winds less than welcoming. As one helper said, "You have enough daffodils." That has become a garden joke mantra, along with "You have enough roses." I am third generation in growing flowers, so I will face the wind and pollens steadfastly.

Impulsively, I planted enough Joe Pye Weed to welcome every butterfly and bee in Northwest Arkansas. I coddled Clethra until I began to realize their aggressiveness once planted, coddled, earthwormed, and manured. 

An anti-gardener said, "You paid money for a weed? Honeysuckle? I had to tear it out!" I set aside a sunny patch next to the garage. I obtained cow squares to support the vines. I was given a rain barrel to water the honeysuckle and the roses. The fragile looking vine now looks like it is going to cover the county in time.

Clethra aroma? Cinnabon!

The Beautiful Girls

 

Bethany had big smiles and plenty of mischief, even though she could not speak words or even roll over. Nurses loved to call her Angel for her natural, blond, curly-cue hair.

Bethany was easy to pose with a smile. All she needed was to hear her Aunt Maria's voice saying "Bethany!" The photographer did just as well, because Bethany loved her so much

I was teaching a class where the students had already earned advanced degrees in nursing, medical care, therapy, and specialties. We got into a discussion about Bethany Joan Marie (Angel) and Erin Joy (Joy...to the max). 

This Angel photograph featured Angel's curly blond hair, beautiful smiles, perfect eyesight, and adoring mother Christina. Bethany loved the photographer.

Joy

We prayed that Erin Joy would be healthy, but also that we would create as much happiness as possible if the same undiagnosed condition repeated itself. Joy was the perfect echo of Luther writing "You have as much laughter as you have faith." We got to know some really sour Lutheran, LCMS, WELS, and CLC (sic) potentates.

They certainly found ways to make us laugh as often as possible. When a CLC (sic) official sent a letter around that I was showing contempt for their official statements, I denied it, writing back, "No I am doing my best to hide it." (They did not catch the humor.) 

Yes, we had a nurse scold us for having too much fun with Erin Joy in her room. After I got my beat-down, Erin listened to us whispering the crimes and the potential punishments.

Can a tiny child absorb so much? I placed her along-side a former pilot, who was slowly dying of disorder similar to hers. I got so involved with him that Erin began to cry for lack of attention. I explained that to the pilot, who said very slowly, "She has to learn to take her turn." I said in a semi-serious response, "YOU tell her!" Erin laughed from hearing her priority recognized - the baby of the family, the entertainer, the patient with all the nurses on her side.