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.
Sunday, October 12, 2025
Saturday, October 11, 2025
Trinity 18, 2025.
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
Introit
Reward them that wait for Thee, O Lord:
and let Thy prophets be found faithful.
Hear the prayer of Thy servants: and of Thy people Israel.
Psalm. I was glad when they said unto me:
Let us go into the house of the Lord.
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
O God, forasmuch as without Thee we are not able to please Thee, mercifully grant that Thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and Gradual
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
From Lord to Lord
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 #56 Christ Who Comes with Heaven Adorning
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 #56 Christ Who Comes with Heaven Adorning
Announcements and Prayers
- Therapy, diagnosis - Lorie Howell, Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris, Sarah Buck, Dr. Lito Cruz and family.
KJV 1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
KJV Matthew 22:34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
Eighteenth Sunday After Trinity
Lord God, heavenly Father: We are poor, miserable sinners; we know Thy will, but cannot fulfill it because of the weakness of our flesh and blood, and because our enemy, the devil, will not leave us in peace. Therefore we beseech Thee, shed Thy Holy Spirit in our hearts, that, in steadfast faith, we may cling to Thy Son Jesus Christ, find comfort in His passion and death, believe the forgiveness of sin through Him, and in willing obedience to Thy will lead holy lives on earth, until by Thy grace, through a blessed death, we depart from this world of sorrow, and obtain eternal life, through Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
Only One Lord
KJV Matthew 22:34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Jesus took over the debate to make the Sadducees look foolish, effectively. This is one of the long-standing hobbies in Judaism, to see who can debate most favorably. The person who silences the other wins - and it can be fun. A lady in grocery-mobile bumped lightly into my cart at the check-out. She said, "Watch out. I have a doctor." I said, "I have a lawyer," and she laughed with the others behind her. In traditional English, that is called rhetoric. So in this case the crowd wanted to see who would ultimately win. There are a number debates like that in the Gospels. John 9 is a complete story and also humorous.
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
These are the two great loves - love for God the greatest of all, and love for our neighbor as much as we love ourselves. These are great and overwhelming. So many things get in the way of what matters the most. We can easily make the smallest the most significant. My change away from Old Testament teaching is a concentration of Scriptures alone.
So - as we tiptoe into Revelation, the Scriptures throughout the Bible reflect upon that mysterious and final book of the Bible. Revelation - without doubt - the most beautiful and most overwhelming of all the Scriptures. Right in the middle is the Virgin Mary and the Infant. No wonder the Rationalists mock the birth of Jesus and the Crucifixion. The
Lorie Is in the Highly Specialized Hospital
Lorie is dealing with a very difficult cancer, which also has a very specialized treatment, with pills swallowed to address the malady. I am asking that you pray for Lorie, Terry, members, family, and friends.
"Gracious Heavenly Father, give her speedy cures for this malady and comfort to give her wellness. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Bethany Lutheran Church, Springdale, Arkansas
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Reading the Revelation of St. John
Revelation can be one of the most perplexing of the New Testament books. The following can help to see how Revelation itself is gathering of the entire Bible - not to be avoided.
1. John was the "Apostle Jesus Loved," so his work, through the Holy Spirit has special value for all of us. He wrote the Fourth Gospel, 1 John and 2 John and 3 John, with Revelation as final work of the New Testament.
2. I have had two very interesting sets of Lenski's New Testament commentaries. The first one had Revelation with partially burned covers torn, held together with tape. The recipient of that set, when I sent it to him, found the Book of Revelation to be quite interesting and appropriate.
3. My current Lenski set is worn but in good shape. However, the Revelation volume is so shiny new in every way that I wonder if that reader ever touched it. Those two must be the extremes.
4. It would be a great shame for anyone to bypass the last volume because of its sweeping passages and phrases from the Bible.
5. I would start Revelation with Chapter 12, which is the center of Human Destiny. That is when Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary and the Christian Faith began to grow with astonishing speed, starting from Judaism and spreading to the world through the written New Testament, preaching, and teaching.
6. The first eleven chapters of Revelation include a critique of cities of that era.
7. The end of each chapter has a very good transition into the next chapter, such as Chapter 11's last statement.
11:19 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.
Beginning of Chapter 12
12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
We should remember the ending of each chapter and the beginning of each.
Norman Rockwell
I had one of those famous Normal Rockwell experiences, reminding me of one of his famous works. It began with a college student - writing class. Years later, one son was fixing computers as a hobby, the other repairing cars. Three computers were upgraded within an hour.
The former student wondered about two very heavy items I wanted to pass along. Soon the second student came over, and the student's husband was there, with a little boy there to rev up Charlie Sue, terrier extraordinaire.
The freezer was not too heavy for them, so an ultra-heavy coffee table was soon uplifted in two parts. I did my part, a very small part, and the three pieces were loaded.
Charlie Sue was eager to show up The Park! - so we had to chase her around to get everyone back (using only part of the cul-de-sac).
Soon everyone was packed up and off they went to home, a great example of the whole family working together with only a few words and the pick-up.
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| Charlie Sue, famous park hunter. |
Friday, October 10, 2025
Various Changes in Life
I was thinking that Grand Canyon University teaching would continue, but 20 years there (and 20 years at University of Phoenix) were enough for wear on the eyes. I saved toward retirement and aimed at more through worship, the blog, etc.
I am reaching the 77-year mark, thanks in part to the doctor showing how I had decreased cholesterol and foolishly increased blood sugar. A member started me on walnuts (anti-cholesterol) - and Dr. Fuhrman did the same on greens, beans, vegetables, and nuts.
Our congregation is just starting to use Gmail as a version of email. Instant response works well. It looks like we will have other tools working.
I am looking forward to a computer helper.
Thursday, October 9, 2025
Reformation Seminary - Revelation - Chapter 13 KJV
13.1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
HAPPY 36TH ANNIVERSARY!
Some food ideas -
- Begin with greens and vegetables instead of desserts, breads, and puddings.
- Dairy, cheeses of all kinds, yogurt, whipped cream - ba-a-a-a-d.
- Binge diets (ha-ha) and binge eating are equally harmful and useless.
- The all-American meal is largely fat, salt, and sugars.
- Weigh every day at the same time and record it.
- Some meat daily is good.
Reformation Seminary - Revelation 12 KJV - 9 AM Today
12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
Alpha and Omega - This is the beginning and the end. (Revelation 1:8)
These are visions, for us - not chronological scripts.
2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
This wonder is scary!
4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
Birth is the reality of the Incarnation.
5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Dragon fights, prevailed not
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Monday, October 6, 2025
Getting Ready for Revelation 12 at 9 AM Tomorrow (Tuesday)
9 AM Tuesday
This chapter is central to Revelation and the Bible. The earlier chapters are quite difficult. However, this second part clarifies.
The early chapters cover the very beginning, before the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the future expanse of the Christian Faith and the effects to destroy it are revealed.
Explaining is less difficult and the rest of the book is especially dramatic.
Sunday, October 5, 2025
All Quiet on the Cinco de Mayo Front
It could not be quieter! I took a vase of roses over to our Asian friend.
"But I don't have for you!"
I said, "You gave me roses!"
In spite of more dry, warm days, the Enchanted Peace is flourishing.
Friday, October 3, 2025
Trinity 17 - 2025 - Chosen - From Faith to Faith - and Faith Comes by Hearing
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
Righteous art Thou, O Lord: and upright are Thy judgments.
Deal with Thy servant: according to Thy mercy.
Psalm. Blessed are the undefiled in the way:
who walk in the Law of the Lord.
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Lord, we beseech Thee, grant Thy people grace to withstand the temptations
of the devil and with pure hearts and minds to follow Thee, the only God;
through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and Gradual
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord:
and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.
V. By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made:
and all the host of them by the Breath of His mouth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
V. The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. Hallelujah!
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Unity of the Triune God
8. By faith I call Thy holy Table
The testament of Thy deep love;
For, lo, thereby I now am able
To see how love Thy heart doth move.
9. What higher gift can we inherit?
It is faith's bond and solid base;
It is the strength of heart and spirit,
The covenant of hope and grace.
10. This feast is manna, wealth abounding
Unto the poor, to weak ones power,
To angels joy, to hell confounding,
And life for us in death's dark hour.
11. Thy body, given for me, O Savior,
Thy blood which Thou for me didst shed,
These are my life and strength forever,
By them my hungry soul is fed.
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 # 361 O Jesus, King
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 # 361 O Jesus, King
In Our Prayers
- In treatment - Lynne Cruz and family, Sarah and Ed Buck, Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris Shrader. Alicia Meyer is getting better.
- Pastor Jackson will be visiting the Elder Center in Springdale.
- The emails are being collected and set up for communication.
Gospel
KJV Luke 14:1 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him. 2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy. 3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? 4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go; 5 And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day? 6 And they could not answer him again to these things. 7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, 8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; 9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. 10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. 11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Seventeenth Sunday After Trinity
Lord God, heavenly Father: We beseech Thee so to guide and direct us by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not exalt ourselves, but humbly fear Thee, with our whole hearts hear and keep Thy word, and hallow the Lord's day, that we also may be hallowed by Thy word; help us, first, to place our hope and confidence in Thy Son, Jesus Christ, who alone is our righteousness and Redeemer, and, then, so to amend and better our lives in accordance with Thy word, that we may avoid all offenses and finally obtain eternal salvation, through Thy grace in Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God. world without end. Amen.
Substitute Epistle, KJV Galatians 3
Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Having time to spend outside the formal classroom is a great experience. I wanted to speak about these verses first, as an example of people missing the most important messages. People my age wondered about "from faith to faith." This is the key statement about the Faith of Jesus.
There have been many mistakes making Jesus out to be the great punisher. In many churches it was easy to have children and adults as objects of punishment, often extreme, or demanded harsh lessons. This not and was not the approach of Jesus as Faith. People respond to the Faith of Jesus, which is His true calling.
We see that so easily in children. Babies turn to see where mother is, smile in that direction, because mom has because that Someone has something good and loving to make life sweet. So it is Jesus as the First Faith to give faith to the individual. He is always ready to forgive in a world which needs forgiveness. The Faith of Jesus invites and encourages.
Paul raced hard in writing to tell the Galatians they were completely wrong. They wanted the righteousness of forgiveness, not the false guidance of works. Notice that Paul grew up thinking only of Mosaic Law and determined to enforce it - and he did. For that reason, and the miracle of Christ appearing before a horrid hater made Paul a believer and saint through Faith.
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
There are only two approaches, the Law itself and Faith in the Messiah. Very few follow this today because they look at objects and accomplishments and buildings and honors. Look at how they have crumbled! In fact, like the Crystal Cathedral, they have crumbled in only one lifetime and changed religions. It is the Church Growth fanatics (I studied the top CGM books at one Lutheran seminary - which crumbled too!) They knew what they were doing and how to make it happen in only a few years, and they did that to all of them - ELCA The irony is great, because the women leaders of the seminaries drove out the men - whose male leadership established the foundations of the ALC, LCA, etc.
The family is the same. When individuals go off to pursue their version of the Dream, they may have great theories for the future. However, the inability to share, help. sacrifice, and love will almost always make for a rickety vehicle. We know how bad people can be but that is not solved by vengeance, stink-eye, or threats.
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. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
It is good to say that the Galatians took this to heart. They were so completely clobbered that the problem did not spread. The great thing about prayer is that we have so many chances to follow Jesus in His Faith, wherever we are, whatever time it is. Example - Praying for
- Spouse, children. relatives, and friends. Pastors and teachers who believe in Jesus Christ.
- Faithful leaders, farmers, those with special medical issues.
- Politicians who need guidance and faith.
- And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
- 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. And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
This passage from Galatians binds us from Abraham to the present. He prayed for the impossible when he and Sarah for their only son - impossible. But how did that miracle take place? Abraham trusted in God and the miracle took place. And even when it was too difficult to imagine, Abraham trusted in God when the only son was about to be sacrificed. Therefore, Faith in God is the keystone for everything in the Old and New Testaments.
Galatians 5: 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
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