The Canadian Inventor of the Basketball

 

A Profound But Simple Lesson from Abraham and Paul - On Faith

Krauth, largely forgotten, knew this well. 

 

Romans 4 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Abraham is the Father of Faith, trusting in God that He would fulfill the Promises, not only with himself and his wife, but a million times over with his descendants, including a great nation, King David, and the King of Kings - Jesus.

4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Paul, the great scholar of the Old Testament, knew and proclaimed forgiveness through trust in God - faith - only through faith and never without faith.

6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

Many people dance around this topic, by wrestling with it or by giving the topic a new and twisted lesson. But works do not equate forgiveness no matter how often they are displayed at conventions and other confusions.

8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

More than one has looked for forgiveness in works, personal suffering, and many other efforts, but Faith in Christ is the key, not the works of man.

13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

It does not work just to proclaim grace when there is no faith in the Savior. Oddly enough, people have often concentrated on their grace but without the pivotal message  - only by trust in Him.

17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Forgiveness equals righteousness, faith does not earn righteousness. 

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

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.

The World Has Always Loved Artwork

 

I was encouraged to use art from the earliest days. Our elementary school promoted it, and a traveling teacher's art expert added to those efforts. My mother taught there too, at Garfield Elementary School. I worked the arts with speed but without any enthusiasm. I was even hauled off to special art sessions - at public libraries - but I asked if I could please read news magazines instead. Those were the glory days of Life, Look, and Time magazines. Saturday Evening Post was for the home, and there were more items with heavy glossy photos and art.

But at last, I was turned over to Latin, a skill we had to study, because "You aren't going to get anywhere in life without Latin!" Most Latin students groaned but they heard at home, "No Latin, no college, no nothing. Are you studying every day? What!?"

Latin opened us to English grammar and Roman culture - wars, generals, confiscated art, architecture, wild animals released into the Coliseum. 

Strangely, we started with Latin first with high school and moved into Greek in college, but that was almost exclusive for future pastors. My Greek classes were 100% seminary bound, but some of them groaned and dropped out.

I missed artwork but I continued with Greek, very handy in history, grammar, and many more subjects. Too bad the classics are almost completely lost now.

The very beginning - They show that scholars use - Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and German. But who will know in the future and design the art?

Happy Birthday and God's Blessings Today - Artist Norma A. Boeckler

https://norma-boeckler.pixels.com/

The headline from India speaks for itself.

Norma Boeckler's Christian art is loved the world around.

The Good Samaritan

The Star of Bethlehem

I thought telescopes and binoculars were the greatest. We had some of those and went to the Chicago Adler Planetarium for the biggest and best at that time.

Strangely one expert was quite upset, because fellow scientists did not like the Planetariums being used to encourage the Christian Faith. They were no longer laughing at the Star of Bethlehem. It was the wrong emphasis, I guessed.

Our society has drifted away from Creation, even though the details are quite clear at all levels. The soil contains billions if we dare to observe what is happening all the time. There is even a bonus for common sense - cut flowers, use rainwater, and watch the neighbors respond. Most physicians enjoyed them - others did not. "I am not in your league," one doctor said.

KJV Matthew 2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Thoughts about the Four Gospels - Each One Unique But Also - in Harmony

 Students and professors like to fall into combat concerning the Four Gospels, with an additional treat called the Synoptics. That Greek term (Greek for seen together) is used for Matthew, Mark, and Luke since those three Gospels are closely associated. However, most academics use the alarm weapon of What's Wrong! while missing the important points after a few hours of working over the topic.

The Gospel of John does not need to be used as wrong when it too has wonderful passages and clarifying words. Readers will understand when they are told by know-it-alls that John's Gospel can be attacked the same as Luther's works. Better to study both carefully rather than be a know-it-all. 

Here are some thoughts about the Four Gospels during this very special season.

Matthew - The Christian Faith began while fulfilling the Gospel through the works of the Old Testament. The 39 Hebrew books were waiting to be used for the whole truth when the 27 Greek New Testament books were written down and spread rapidly.

Matthew is a solid reminder that the first Gospel is foundational for the early Jewish believers, spectacular miracles in the midst of those touched by the first saints - Mary, Joseph, the Wise Men. And the Star annoys the astronomical message to this day.

Mark - Many overlook the Second Gospel, but that makes the careful readers more diligent. Annoyed by so many miracles? And similar to Matthew and Luke? Mark's readings are not a burden but a series of examples where the divinity power of Jesus the Son of God is revealed. Many students of Mark realize that the details are revealing, not tedious or repetitive. 

I have told graduate students that Jesus prayed by Himself very early before dawn. One student knew Mark well and grew quite upset about my statement. "I have never seen that in all my work on Mark!" I let him narrow it down to Mark 1. Soon he came back with Mark 1:35, when the disciples told Jesus to get to work.

“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. And Simon and they that were with Him followed after Him. And when they had found Him, they said unto Him, All men seek for thee.”

Episodes in Mark and the other Gospels are overlooked because of familiarity with those verses.

Luke - The Virgin Birth of Jesus in Luke 2 is a beautiful reminder - making us wonder, "Where did Luke come from? He gave us 25% of the New Testament in give us Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Luke by itself could be the gem of the New Testament, but add the tremendous historical study of the Acts, by itself (though alone) in historical and religious value.

John -  If Matthew and Luke are seen together, how much is greater Genesis and John? - those two books begin verses with Creation and the Trinity. In terms of harmony, both introductions unify the Bible and help us remember what matters most.     

Fourth Sunday in Advent - Revised for Reading Alone - 12-21-2025

 

The Revised - from 2018 - Fourth Sunday in Advent, 2025

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Christmas Eve Service at 7 PM Central Standard Time

Sing Along with the Prepaid Video

Bethany Lutheran Church

Hymn tunes are only embedded in the hymn name below.

 

The Hymn #477                    Lord Jesus Thou             

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 Sermon Hymn #90               Come, Your Hearts              

Rejoice! Rejoice!

The Hymn # 103 – Luther          To Shepherds             

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 #95                Savior of the Nations              

KJV Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

KJV John 1:19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Fourth Sunday In Advent

Lord God, heavenly Father, it is meet and right that we should give thanks unto Thee, that Thou hast given us a more glorious baptism than that of John the Baptist, and hast therein promised us the remission of sins, the Holy Spirit, and everlasting life through Thy Son, Jesus Christ: Preserve us, we beseech Thee, in such faith in Thy grace and mercy, that we may never doubt Thy promise, but be comforted by the same in all temptations: and grant us Thy Holy Spirit that we may renounce sin, and ever continue in the righteousness bestowed upon us in baptism, until by Thy grace we obtain eternal salvation, through the same, Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true Good, world without end. Amen.

Lenski, p. 698:

Luke tells the story of the founding of the church in Philippi (Acts 16:18, etc.). The first convert, Lydia, seems from the very beginning to have made this church liberal and generous in appreciation of Paul's work. After her baptism she insisted on lodging Paul and his assistants in her home. Prompted by the same spirit, this church soon sent gifts to Paul who was then in Thessalonica (Phil. 4:15, 16); the present epistle returns thanks for a gift sent by the Philippian church by the hand of Epaphroditus while Paul was in Rome. Now that Paul's appeal to the emperor is in process of being heard, this gift helped to increase his joy. The church had grown and prospered. We learn of no disturbance that was due to either persecution or aberration in doctrine and in life.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

KJV Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Luther:

2. Joy is the natural fruit of faith. The apostle says elsewhere (Galatians 5:22-23): “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control.” Until the heart believes in God, it is impossible for it to rejoice in him. When faith is lacking, man is filled with fear and gloom and is disposed to flee at the very mention, the mere thought, of God. Indeed, the unbelieving heart is filled with enmity and hatred against God. Conscious of its own guilt, it has no confidence in his gracious mercy; it knows God is an enemy to sin and will terribly punish the same.

This famous passage begins with two imperatives, Rejoice always, and again Rejoice!

Unbelievers are not jolly. Even though they might wear the label Christian - or even Lutheran - they are deadly serious, quite grumpy, and unlikely to appreciate a joke. 

If they cling to false doctrine, they put themselves into dead peril. One error leads to another and soon the tiny filaments of faith are lost too. Without trust in the Means of Grace, and individual loses grace and enters the realm of sin, judgment, despair, and foreboding. 

Through faith in the Gospel, God renews our spirits with forgiveness, which shows us His grace. 

The Gospel Word is essential, because 

1. it heals our past, 
2. energizes our present, and 
3. prepares us for the future.

The Gospel Heals Our Past

God heals us two ways, by forgiving our sins and wiping them out forever. That gives us the motivation and reason to forgive others. Both kinds of unforgiveness will weigh us down. "The guilty flee when no one pursues." If we keep going back to blame others for harm in the past, we dwell in that and live in that. We should definitely avoid toxic people, and there is no reason to pronounce forgiveness on the unrepentant - that only hardens their hearts. But Paul is an example of seeing the worst of outcomes as a reason for rejoicing, because that thin veil that separates us from eternal life was opening before him. And he could see the results of proclaiming the Gospel.

The Gospel Energizes Our Present

The utility company does not "turn on the electricity" after an outage. They like to say, "The lines are energized." That verb is from the Greek for "working in." The Gospel works in our present and gives us the power and motivation to spread the Word in various ways. Someone gave me the three-volume What Luther Says when I was first ordained. I have the beat up set, which was the beginning, with Luther's Sermons, of all the quotations I gathered.

When I think about the work ahead for doing more of this, I think of that one present, how valuable that was over the years, helping me think through the various issues.

The Gospel energizes our present by making us thankful for what God has given us, all of which makes us what we are today. The spiritual opposition is far more valuable in teaching us than spiritual harmony, which we certainly can enjoy. As beginners we wonder, Why do people want to upset the apple-cart and act like demons of hate? Eventually, with enough study of the Word, we see that is the sign of the Gospel's success. Luther explained it well.

The Gospel Prepares Us for the Future

Wherever we are at the moment, the past has prepared us for that life. We do not know it at the time. But later, it dawns on us, "The ship away from Ninevah has tossed us to the whale going to Ninevah, and here we are."

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 

This word moderation is difficult at first but makes sense when examined. It is more like forbearance or yielding - not insisting on our own way. If we act with the strictest justice, we can cause the most injury. Sometime we realize that we have been too insistent on something very minor, and the other has given way without a protest. That makes us more willing to be yielding too. That spreads as surely as staking out claims and cries of justice. As we always said as kids, "That's not fair." My answer to that cry of outrage was, "Quote President Carter. Life's not fair. Unquote." That was met with additional complaints. "How sharper than a serpent's tooth is an ungrateful child. King Lear."  Response - I never want to hear that again.

In an unusual best-seller, My Utmost for His Highest, the author said, reflecting this message - "The Christian life is not one of claiming rights but giving up rights." The source of those meditations was a minor post in Egypt, of all places. But where will the great books of tomorrow come from? Harvard, Yale, Princeton, ND? They wear soft robes and march with great solemnity.

We are always near Judgment Day, one way or another. The Lord is at hand. What value is anything material or any earthly honor? We watched a show where someone got a singular honor from the Masonic Lodge in England, which was shown to be fading. We both asked, "That is a big deal?" It depends on where our values are. Jesus spoke about treasures in heaven, something that comes up in Gerhardt's hymns. His treasures were in heaven so we sing his hymns all the time, and the ones which are not his are influenced by him in a singular way.

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 

Careful has changed a bit in meaning, but started as full of care, but we can easily say - Do not be anxious about anything. At the same time, Paul urges people to make known their requests to God. A pattern of prayer will show over time that God takes the care away by taking care of many important details in our lives. Prayer is based on trust in the Gospel, and prayer increases that trust, not only in the great challenges of life, but the ordinary details as well. I could not imagine how the 8 volumes of Luther could get done in the midst of everything else. And I wanted to go to Megiddo and swear, "Never again." And then another Luther project started, and it is close to being done.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Luther:

40. This peace of God is beyond the power of mind and reason to comprehend. Understand, however, it is not beyond man’s power to experience - to be sensible of. Peace with God must be felt in the heart and conscience. How else could our “hearts and minds” be preserved “through Christ Jesus”? To illustrate the difference between the peace of God and the peace comprehensible by reason: They who know nothing of fleeing to God in prayer, when overtaken by tribulation and adversity and when filled with care and anxiety proceed to seek that peace alone which reason apprehends and which reason can secure. But reason apprehends no peace apart from a removal of the evil. Such a peace does not transcend the comprehension of reason; it is compatible with reason. They who pray not, rage and strive under the guidance of reason until they obtain a certain peace by fraudulent or forcible removal of the evil. Just as the wounded seeks to be healed. But they who rejoice in God, finding their peace in him, are contented. They calmly endure tribulation, not desiring what reason dictates as peace - removal of the evil. Standing firm, they await the inner strength wrought by faith. It is not theirs to inquire whether the evil will be short or long in duration, whether temporal or eternal; they give themselves no concern on this point, but ever leave it to God’s regulation.

Understanding is an important word in Paul's letters. We are to use our education and knowledge, not judge everything by our emotions, which are unreliable and volatile. The peace that God gives us is far beyond human understanding, and yet we can see it is one of the primary fruits of the Spirit.

This verse is called the Votum because it is a prayer, often used to end a sermon (in a liturgical church). So this is Paul's prayer for his members in Philippi and a pastor's prayer too.

Mediterranean - The Most Effective Way To Spread the Gospel

 

KJV Acts 28:30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

I should have known about the ending of the Acts of the Apostles, because the most active and fearless evangelist was Paul himself. Most people do not pay as much attention to all of Acts, and it is easy to forget the quiet ending, even though we assume he was executed - the how and the where are not known. Who would want to highlight the death of that unique and restless apostle?

The shocking ending - no finale - reminded me again - of Paul having a "parsonage" for two years because of his Roman citizenship. He had peaceful access to those who wanted to visit the apostle and share his communications.

Now we get to the Effective part. 

God managed the Mediterranean Sea, long before the Roman Empire and other civilizations amounted to much. What better place for the evangelists to use ships and highways to take the Great Commission to everyone! 

Look at the setting of Ephesus, and its well known place in the Mediterranean. Paul did not just drop by, but stayed to establish the Christian Church there, two and one half years. That gave him and the growing number of believers a great opportunity to communicate with so many people from "all over the world" because of the Mediterranean. 

So many books and maps highlight Ephesus alone that it is worthwhile to measure the distance, joy, and anguish of those early years. 

Christmas Days - Two Candlelights

 http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/search/label/Christmas%20Day%202022

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Christmas Eve 2021

http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/search/label/Christmas%20Eve%202021

OOOOOOOOOO

Reading the Word of God with Child-Like Delight

 

I had the enjoyment of teaching world religion and Old Testament at two online universities, University of Phoenix and Grand Canyon University. 

Old Testament was especially worthwhile because anything from the outline could also be used in discussed for the New Testament. 

KJV John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

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

This is simple in language but vast in its meaning. Nothing is better than translating one language (Greek) into English, especially because Jesus undoubtably spoke Greek, the language that would influence the Western world and therefore English itself.

My GCU students enjoyed the cross-over from Old to New Testament. Nothing quite equals Creation, Genesis 1, and John 1 - the opening Gospel of Creation, the Triune God expressed in both Testaments, how many centuries apart? 

Both Genesis and John clearly express the Holy Trinity, but the befuddled mainline minds of seminary professors and students always cloak the Word of God with their opposition to the efficacious Holy Spirit (hardening rather than enlightening). 

I did some Greek study at Augustana College, Rock Island, but Waterloo Seminary was not keen on Greek or Hebrew, the later giving me the Hebrew award because I was the only one to take the class. 

Plain English (KJV) is very easy to understand in simple words that carry the power of God's Word. I taught Genesis 1 just as I covered John 1 to graduate students and confirmation students. "All things were made" is quite impressive, even more with All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

The openings of Genesis and John are the same truth with slightly different terms. The Son of God and the Holy Spirit are in both beginnings and many more passages together throughout the  Testaments. 

I quoted Luther on this point - "The Old Testament is the foundation. The New Testament is a series of sermons that teach us what the Old Testament means." (paraphrased)

 

Efficacy Motherlode - Various Writers,

 

Nothing is quite as complicated as thinking "What should be written down with at least some form of clarity?" One author - Francis Bacon - said, "Writing makes an exact mind." 

More than one person might have said, "Trying to marketh it down doth make a slow and tangled mind...who knocked over the inkstand?"

Our sixth grade class had desks with wooden desk tops that included a place for the ink bottle. That was around 1959, and the tops were well carved. We ached to have individual ink bottles and insisted that we needed that tool. But "No! Too messy! This is1959!" We soon had cartridge pens that linked ink and soon they were banished.

We used ballpoint pens and made them last until the computer age crept into place. My parents were born around 1910, so they had a lot of stories about the good old days on the farm, before electricity, so there was nothing we could top about those days - especially the Great Depression. 

I wonder where written books will go from here.