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.
Tom Fisher's sheep teach us about the 500 examples of sheep and shepherding in the Bible.
Boomers grew up with ancient history, limited by texts with tiny print and classes with dreadful movie projectors. Now we can enjoy vast technology topics with all the best information, color, sound, and...that has slipped away.
I decided to warn the entire planet about how little we know about the past, the rise and fall of great empires. Do not read St. John's Revelation if people fail to realize the tapestry of nations - I took English History 101. Those artistic marvels teach England and the world with enormous detail - not accidental.
Once upon a time Ichabod had a big run on a particular post. That involved the concept of Jesus' mother "offering Jesus as a sacrifice" and serving the Holy Mother as a priest. One astute reader complained that I was drawing attention to use for Lutherans.
The Church of Rome is encouraging more Marian interest, doubtless because of the starving mainline Protestants. One can only shake so many pine branches and smoke pots for thrills.
20:1And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
[Satan bound for 1,000 years]
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Monday through Wednesday was a series of "fixing the computers" to "this one better work. I can recall at least five (5) repairs from OzarksGo, which deals with the Internet and Wi-Fi. They were actually going to come to my house! if it happened again!
Early this morning I gave it a try for both computers. I only got the black and white version. I tried again and the normal computer personality came to life. They are friends once more.
Today we will be now on Revelation Chapter 20. The last two chapters will be next week, Tuesday and Thursday. If someone wants to follow the content, try Revelation chapters 12 and 20-21-22.
I have had repeated problems with the Internet, on and off, Monday - Wednesday. OzarksGo has promised a personal visit if it happens again. I am saying that because it is hard to convey computer problems when the computer or computers are down.
19And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
3 And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
I am thinking about the change in churches, which crept up slowly, pounced on everyone, and retreated to note their abandoned church buildings.
A member of our congregation, yet far away, discussed the collapse of a very large church in his area. They were previously red hot and the pride of Fuller Seminary. Now they are more like the locust shells that hang on trees with perfect outlines and nothing inside.
That forlorn member said, "I know what happened. It was all Church Growth!" I might have been tempted to say to him, "Purpose Driven!" Or - "Robert Schuller!" Or - "Willow Creek." I knew about 20 of them (thanks to their gushing books) and visited Purpose Driven hisself - Rick Warren. (Hisself is a correct pronoun to use with carnival clowns.)
We saw the Purpose Driven street sign, pulled in, and attended part of a session. Christina talked us into the paid-for session on the basis of my journalism history. WELS clergy were trained to echo Valleskey, Kelm, Cho, and other nonsenses. They had to pay the fees, no doubt.
Now they have a shortage of members and pastors.
One thing is needful - the Means of Grace - and they hardened themselves against that, so ardently that they do not know its efficacy.
PS - Willow Creek Community Church makes the rest of the Church Growth clergy quite mild and restrained.
21:1And 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.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
The Confession of Sins The Absolution The Introit p. 16 The Gloria Patri The Kyrie p. 17 The Gloria in Excelsis The Salutation and Collect p. 19 The Epistle and Gradual
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 #259Flung to the Heedless Winds
Prayers and Announcements
Lori Howell; Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris Shader; mourning the loss of Glen Kotten's father.
KJV Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
KJV Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Romans 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.
Collect
O almighty, eternal God: We confess that we are poor sinners and cannot answer one of a thousand, when Thou contendest with us; but with all our hearts we thank Thee, that Thou hast taken all our guilt from us and laid it upon Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and made Him to atone for it: We pray Thee graciously to sustain us in faith, and so to govern us by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may live according to Thy will, in neighborly love, service, and helpfulness, and not give way to wrath or revenge, that we may not incur Thy wrath, but always find in Thee a gracious Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
Luther's Protest -
Meaning a Positive (pro) Testimony (test)
Sermon Part 1 - Grape Press to Gospel Miracle
Martin Luther (b. 1483) that sums up the role of the printing press in the Protestant Reformation: “Printing is the ultimate gift of God and the greatest one.” (History.com)
England and Germany got into printing very slowly because the numbers were so small. But Luther's 95 Theses printed over 5,000 copies in two weeks (1517) Luther's prolific German established his language instead of clinging to Latin, which was the norm of scholars.
The two countries expanded printing into more languages, and more presses came from more broadsheets (one page), books, and customers. I used to ask college students about the Renaissance era highway signs and books they had at home - they didn't!
Thousand-Year Effect on the Christian Faith
Medieval communication was very limited and extremely expensive, provided only for a few volumes and mostly one language - Latin. That era can be covered from Augustine's death in 430 to Luther's death in 1546.
Rome controlled its power, language, and dogma through the Pope, cardinals, bishops, and priests, very much like the ancient Roman armies and its punishments. Augustine said about a debate, "Rome has spoken; the case is closed."
Part 2
The hippies, then and now, seldom offer positive testimonies. Luther was an unusual man with great capabilities. He was trained at first to serve as a lawyer, town magistrate. But Luther was caught in a terrible storm (1505) and thought he would die. He prayed to be sent into the priesthood and he was soon welcomed into the very strict Augustinian order which comforted him in many ways.
Luther's father did not want a priest for his father, and later made a point about his son having children. (Luther thought about having children and Katherine von Bora sealed the bargain, 1525.)
The early Luther (monk and priest) immersed himself in obeying the Church of Rome and becoming obedient to its demands. But he was also among many who compared the Scriptures against the Vatican, raised at Wittenberg University into the professor's job of teaching the Bible itself rather than a thousand years of fog and disorder.
Justification by Faith in Jesus Christ
Many of us - though not enough - have labored to teach Lutherans what the so-called leaders have tried to force - the truth of the Apostle Paul and Luther against the ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC...and some other sects. All of them insist - one way or another - that the entire world has been absolved of all sin, without faith, in Jesus Son of God.
The Apostle Paul was furious, as he wrote, that
Galatians 3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
What about forgiveness? Is forgiveness there without the Good Shepherd, without the flock trusting, believing, loving the Savior? And yet clergy are shocked that they are without a genuine Gospel, without members!?
Nothing is more comforting than forgiveness through faith in Son of God. People can go through great turmoil with humility and trust in Jesus. In most cases, one person asks for forgiveness, which makes the other partner ask forgiveness as well.
An abundance of forgiveness rests upon the Lord Himself, because
5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faithinto this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
I said it before - "Everyone wants access," and that was more than two thousand years ago. The grace we have is by faith in Jesus.
Where are all the methods, without faith in Him?
Where are the magical chemicals, guaranteed for success?
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