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.
11 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
11 And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Chickendale is a nickname for Springdale, a town which hatches so many Tyson products. I was phoning with a member about various happenings here. We also discussed browsers and emails being used with blogs. I am catching on slowly.
When I went out with Charlie Sue (terrier) with me to see Pat, BibleJohn's widow, we saw the owner of Doggie Daycare pulling op to a stop. "Those are beautiful English roses. I am going to keep my photos of them forever!"
So much for watching, watering, and wailing over the dried up rose gardens (front and backyards). We even earned a re-roof ad,planted in our roses!
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has announced the newly restored "Christ on the Water" painting has been returned to its original location Wiley Hall. Photo courtesy U.S. Department of Transportation
Historic ‘Christ on the Water’ Painting Returned to Original Location at U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has announced the return of the newly restored “Christ on the Water” painting to its place of prominence at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). The historic artwork, which had been relocated to the basement of the Academy’s chapel in 2023, was unveiled during a ceremony in Wiley Hall with Academy leadership and midshipmen in attendance.
“Burying this historic painting in the basement wasn’t just a mistake—it was an insult to the faith and legacy of service that built this Academy and our nation,” said Secretary Duffy during the ceremony. “By restoring ‘Christ on the Water’ to its rightful place, we sent a clear message to our midshipmen: their Christian faith is a virtue to be proud of, not something to be censored.”
USMMA Acting Superintendent Captain Tony Ceraolo expressed gratitude for the Secretary’s support, stating: “Our purpose today is to preserve a piece of the Academy’s cultural and historical legacy. We honor the past and the resilience of those who came before us. This painting is about history, remembrance, and hope ensuring that the story of our midshipmen and their wartime experiences remain part of our shared institutional memory.”
The painting, also known as “Jesus and Lifeboat,” was created by marine artist LT Hunter Wood, USMS, in 1944 for the chapel at the U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Basic School in San Mateo, California. It depicts merchant seamen adrift in a lifeboat after being torpedoed, with Jesus guiding them through stormy seas. When the San Mateo campus closed in 1947, the artwork was transferred to Kings Point.
For nearly 80 years, the painting hung in the Elliot M. See Room of Wiley Hall before being relocated in 2023 following a complaint suggesting it violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. After professional conservation that required “4 distinct separate cleanings to remove nicotine, dirt and varnish,” the painting has now been returned to its original location.
Wood, the artist, served in both the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Maritime Service during World War II. He saw action during the invasion of North Africa in 1942 before joining the Coast Guard Combat Artist Unit. His works are displayed in various institutions including the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and the U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office.
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The Four Chaplains were four U.S. Army chaplains—George L. Fox (Methodist), Alexander D. Goode (Jewish), John P. Washington (Roman Catholic), and Clark V. Poling (Dutch Reformed)—who sacrificed their lives on February 3, 1943, when the troopship USAT Dorchester was torpedoed and sank in the North Atlantic. As the ship went down, the chaplains gave their own life jackets to soldiers and were last seen linking arms and praying for the men. Their act of self-sacrifice, transcending their different faiths, has become a symbol of courage, grace, and unity in the face of death
WASHINGTON (Jan. 28, 2014) -- It was Feb. 3, 1943, and the U.S. Army Transport Dorchester was one of three ships in a convoy, moving across the Atlantic from Newfoundland to an American base in Greenland. A converted luxury liner, the Dorchester was crowded to capacity, carrying 902 servicemen, merchant seamen and civilian workers.
It was only 150 miles from its destination when shortly after midnight, an officer aboard the German submarine U2 spotted it. After identifying and targeting the ship, he gave orders to fire. The hit was decisive, striking the ship, far below the water line. The initial blast killed scores of men and seriously wounded many more.
Others, stunned by the explosion were groping in the darkness. Panic and chaos quickly set in! Men were screaming, others crying or franticly trying to get lifeboats off the ship.
Through the pandemonium, four men spread out among the Soldiers, calming the frightened, tending the wounded and guiding the disoriented toward safety. They were four Army chaplains,
Lt. George Fox, a Methodist;
Lt. Alexander Goode, a Jewish Rabbi;
Lt. John Washington, a Roman Catholic Priest;
and Lt. Clark Poling, a Dutch Reformed minister.
Quickly and quietly, the four chaplains worked to bring calm to the men. As soldiers began to find their way to the deck of the ship, many were still in their underwear, where they were confronted by the cold winds blowing down from the arctic.
Petty Officer John J. Mahoney, reeling from the cold, headed back towards his cabin. "Where are you going?" a voice of calm in the sea of distressed asked. "To get my gloves," Mahoney replied. "Here, take these," said Rabbi Goode as he handed a pair of gloves to the young officer. "I can't take those gloves," Mahoney replied. "Never mind," the Rabbi responded. "I have two pairs." It was only long after that Mahoney realized that the chaplain never intended to leave the ship.
Once topside, the chaplains opened a storage locker and began distributing life jackets. It was then that Engineer Grady Clark witnessed an astonishing sight. When there were no more lifejackets in the storage room, the chaplains simultaneously removed theirs and gave them to four frightened young men. When giving their life jackets, Rabbi Goode did not call out for a Jew; Father Washington did not call out for a Catholic; nor did Fox or Poling call out for a Protestant. They simply gave their life jackets to the next man in line. One survivor would later say, "It was the finest thing I have seen or hope to see this side of heaven."
As the ship went down, survivors in nearby rafts could see the four chaplains -- arms linked and braced against the slanting deck. Their voices could also be heard offering prayers and singing hymns.
Of the 902 men aboard the U.S.A.T. Dorchester, only 230 survived. Before boarding the Dorchester back in January, Chaplain Poling had asked his father to pray for him, "Not for my safe return, that wouldn't be fair. Just pray that I shall do my duty...never be a coward...and have the strength, courage and understanding of men. Just pray that I shall be adequate."
Although the Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart were later awarded posthumously, Congress wished to confer the Medal of Honor but was blocked by the stringent requirements which required heroism performed under fire. So a posthumous Special Medal for Heroism, The Four Chaplains' Medal, was authorized by Congress and awarded by the President on January 18, 1961.
It was never given before and will never be given again.
10:1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
The ophthalmologist quite happy with his exam of my eyes. He was surprised with the eye pressure and shocked at the body weight change - minus 55 pounds.
He asked how that happened. I said, "Greens, beans, vegetables, fruit, only a little meat eat day, walnuts - but no pizzas, burgers, and all the other."
He said - now listen up - "Everything that you eat like this is improving each part of your eyes." He listed all the happy parts of the eyes derived from healthy food,
For email, you might just want to tell everyone (post on the blog) that your main email is bethanylutheranworship@gmail.com. Just something to consider. That one works, at least compared to the EDLP one.
The Confession of Sins The Absolution The Introit p. 16
Introit
Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto Thee daily.
For Thou, Lord, art good and ready to forgive:
and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee.
Psalm. Bow down Thine ear, O Lord, hear me:
for I am poor and needy.
The Gloria Patri The Kyrie p. 17 The Gloria in Excelsis The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
Lord, we pray Thee that Thy grace may always go before and follow after us and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and Gradual
Gradual
The heathen shall fear the name of the Lord:
and all the kings of the earth Thy glory.
V. When the Lord shall build up Zion:
He shall appear in His glory. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
V. Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: He is their Help and their Shield. Hallelujah!
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord! Praise be to Thee, O Christ! The Nicene Creed p. 22
Yesterday, I was studying for today since the Ephesians letter is so well known and easily bypassed. But this is quite dramatic. Paul worked with the Ephesians and was arrested in Rome, chained in a cell. He had some freedom in the last two years. Four of his letters are called the Prison Letters, because he wrote in confinement, a proud Roman citizen who would not give up the truth.
KJV Ephesians 3:13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Paul was suffering the worst, with no complaining, urging his distant members to accept the glory in Jesus Christ, just as he said. So we have this letter of encouragement which is aimed at the Ephesians and circulated among the tiny number of Christians, whose numbers blossomed. Paul knew from his experience along the road, earlier, that the risen Christ could convert him from violent policeman to peaceful apostle and miracle-worker. Look carefully at the section for today and see how the wording is good for all of us and opposed to the typical language of today.
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
This is a great honor, to be named after Jesus Christ, the Son of God. That is an honor from the Son of God Himself, a title very few people use and most abuse. But we are believers in Him from Holy Baptism onward and enjoy a great blessing, whether we are suffering inwardly or outwardly. When we look over the phrases we see how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are together and yet emphasizing aspects of the Holy Trinity. I pray to the Good Shepherd first because He keeps us so close to Him, in protection and in swatting evil away. The Holy Spirit teaches and guides us in the Word, and the Father unites the Trinity. We can be in great agony, physical and emotional, and yet the Godhead watches over us.
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Believing in Him means living with Him, heart and soul -- through faith. There is nothing without faith in Jesus the Savior, which is why our country is torn up, corrupted, dishonest, drug-addicted, and inebriated - not to mention lacking in the Word of God, the Bible, and worship. But Christ is completely in us through faith in Him, a position no one else can have. All the world religions accept everything - really! - except the One, True, God - born of the Virgin Mary, God and man, miracle worker, Teacher, suffering Lamb of God, dying for our sins, risen from the dead, and Ascended into Heaven.
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
We know, believe, and feel the love of Christ. Faith in Him does not ask, "Am I good enough?" because faith in the Good Shepherd draws that love to us and passes it along to others. Faith is contagious and warming, energetic and attracting.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think (I count 7), according to the power [dynamis, dynamite, Holy Spirit] that worketh [energy, efficacy] in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Can you picture the mind of Paul in the stinking cell with chains weighing him down? And yet he was the lever that produced the first letters of the New Testament - look at all of them, just by the titles.
Note - men of engineering and electricity. Power is the power of God, which He gladly gives us in His measure and time. It is not an abstract concept but the reality of how God conducts His work. Likewise is my favorite - energy - which is essential for all of us but especially for two men in that field. Literally "works in" means energy, which means the Holy Spirit is always (not sometimes) at work in the Word of God, whether blinding people or opening their eyes. That is why so many are mean, harsh, and ridiculing. By opposing the powerful Word of Jesus, they oppose the Messiah and all He does for us.
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 Hymn #657 Beautiful Savior
Prayers and Announcements
In our prayers - Sarah and Ed Buck, Pastor Jim and Chris Shrader, Dr. Lito Cruz and family, notably Lynne.
Ephesians 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power [dynamis, dynamite, Holy Spirit] that worketh [energy, efficacy] in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
KJV Luke 7:11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.
SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Lord God, heavenly Father, who didst send Thy Son to be made flesh, that by His death He might atone for our sins and deliver us from eternal death: We pray Thee, confirm in our hearts the hope that our Lord Jesus Christ, who with but a word raised the widow's son, in like manner will raise us on the last day, and grant us eternal life: through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen
I was in the office area when I heard a throbbing sound more like an aircraft. My stomach felt the reverberations. Kids from two houses ran toward the sound. It was an Accura, I was told. The price seemed to be around $50,000. Lights are lit underneath the body of the auto, very impressive at night,
A front headlight was smashed earlier but it was mostly fixed up.
2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.
19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
