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.
I suggest using individual Psalms, selected randomly, and often built up in various lists.
People tend to use the same ones and therefore find the new and old Psalms striking in their relevance.
Earthset
8 O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Psalm 91 is striking to many, if they have not already gone over the poem carefully.
Psalm 37 - in my opinion - has a lot more humor and jest.
37:1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
We know about fretting, so here is the solution to mankind's perpetual problem with fretting.
“Save some for Inky,” the Roper children chant at meal times after their father found and brought home an abandoned baby crow. Two years later, their parents find an injured wild bird, take it to a wildlife rehabilitator, and begin the process of becoming rehabilitators themselves. What they find is that the most difficult part of rehabbing is not working with the birds. The public, who know little about wild birds, can hamper a bird’s healing and even become a danger to their lives.
...a man saw an injured pigeon... “But I didn’t touch it,” the man said. “I didn’t want to catch rabies.” I explained to the man that rabies can be caught from...wild and domestic animals. Birds...cannot catch nor carry rabies. I then asked the man to pick up the bird and bring it to us in a covered box. “You want me to touch that bird?” the man asked...and hung up.
An injured bird may need immediate attention from the person who found it, and that could be YOU! Suggestions are included as to how to help the birds.
Please pray God will end the wars quickly. Pray God will restrain wicked warmongers in the United States, Israel, Russia, and other countries.
Satanic, insane war rhetoric coming now from our own country is murderously unthinkable. Pray God will restrain our own government and Israel from committing unthinkable war atrocities by using the most horrid weapons imaginable.
Satan is a murderer. God is for life and peace. Satanic men promote and glorify war, murder, and unthinkable destruction.
God has promised to cause wars to cease to the end of the world. We must pray with firm unwavering faith in God's promise to end wars.
Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
"It’s too bad that people aren’t interested in reading books anymore. We can probably that the school system for not encouraging mind to use books instead of phones for reading. Our generations seems to be the only one that does now. Too bad.
I’m am sure thankful for the books you have sent me over the years, I still go back to them every once in a while for reference or just to re read it once again. It’s too bad that people aren’t interested in reading books anymore. We can probably thank (edit) the school system for not (edit) encouraging minds to use books instead of phones for reading. Our generations seems to be the only one that does now. Too bad.
I’m am sure thankful for the books you have sent me over the years, I still go back to them every once in a while for reference or just to re-read it once again."
GJ - What do they call Lutherans who publish authors and then erase them?
Tomorrow morning is Easter Sunday! There was a great earthquake as the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled back the stone and sat upon it. His face was like lightning and his clothing as white as snow. Ponder the words of God's angel: "He is risen from the dead."
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. Matthew 28:1-10
Christ rose from the dead for your benefit. He is at the right hand of God the Father to be your high priest forever. He is your advocate with the Father forever. He promises to raise you from the dead on the last day.
Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord. Ezekiel 37:13-14
Christ rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples, but they were terrified. Here Christ proves He is true God and true man in one person. He ate some food. He urged His disciples to grab a hold of him. He urged them to "handle me". He wanted them to be certain He is true man.
And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. Luke 24:36-53
The Confession of Sins The Absolution The Introit p. 16
Introit
As newborn babes: desire the sincere milk of the Word.
Hear, O My people, and I will testify unto thee:
O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto Me.
Psalm. Sing aloud unto God, our Strength:
make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
The Gloria Patri The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who celebrate the solemnities of the Lord’s Pascal Feast kindled with heavenly desires; may ever thirst for the Fountain of Life, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and Gradual
Gradual
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
This is the day which the Lord hath made: we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Christ , our Passover: is sacrificed for us.
Let us keep the feast: with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Hallelujah!
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 #187Christ Is Arisen
Christ is arisen, from the grave's dark prison.
We now rejoice with gladness; Christ will end all sadness. Lord have mercy.
All our hopes were ended
Had Jesus not ascended.
From the grave triumphantly.
For this, Lord Christ, we worship Thee. Lord, have mercy.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
We now rejoice with gladness
Christ will end all sadness. Lord, have mercy. Amen.
Prayers and Announcements
Medical care - Pastor Jim Shrader, Sarah Buck, Doc Lito Cruz and his family.
In memory of Randy Anderson, Walter Boeckler, Carl Roper, Gary Meyer, Christina Jackson, Gladys Meyer, Lori Howell's mother, Bethany Joan Marie, Erin Joy, and many others.
Pray for our country as major trials continue. Help all those suffering from economic difficulties and emotional distress.
The Bethany Hymnal Blog finished six years ago, with Norma Boeckler's art, ever since April 2020. 89,391 total views.
Caravaggio
KJV 1 Corinthian 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
KJV Mark 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. 5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. 7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. 8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
Easter Sunday
Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank Thee, that of Thine ineffable grace, for the sake of Thy Son, Thou hast given us the holy gospel, and hast instituted the holy sacraments, that through the same we may have comfort and forgiveness of sin: We beseech Thee, grant us Thy Holy Spirit, that we may heartily believe Thy word; and through the holy sacraments day by day establish our faith, until we at last obtain salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
Life Everlasting
KJV Mark 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
The rationalists, skeptics, doubters, and modernists love to pursue the facts in front of them, because they love to ignore and resist what is there in the text. They want to stop at Mark 16:8 so they can ignore the rest of that Gospel. Therefore, anything else gives them discontent, arguing, and denying.
This attitude begins with lack of faith, which is quite powerful in these days. Apart from trusting in all that is revealed in the entire Bible, nothing makes sense for the rationalistic mind. The women at the tomb trust, they have faith, but they do not grasp it all at once. Still they listen to the angels there and run back to tell the disciples, who nevertheless have their doubts - very much like Thomas on the first round of doubting.
The women wanted to tend to the body because that was polite and reverend, finishing what they expected to be true, showing their love for Jesus and expressing their loss. The four Gospels as a whole reveal their doubts because the reality is so great to absorb. However we say, "I can't believe it!" or "I am incredulous!" Many things happen which are described as "It's a miracle."
2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
The women were not afraid. They were up very early to pay their respects and to see Him one more time, making Him presentable, unlike the torture of the cross. They brought along the sweet spices but were too shaken to consider moving the enormous stone lid. However, they did not give up but asked, "Who will roll the stone lid aside (or perhaps flatten it on the ground?" both impossible for the ladies.)
Notice that they did not give up, only asking in faith how this could be done? How many miracles have been rejected because the individuals or congregations could not imagine something being accomplished...beyond all hope, why try? why ask in the Name of Christ? When we moved the boulder away from the Poinsettia house, it took three men and equipment to move it.
4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
The sun was just starting to rise, so the effect was dramatic. The fear that they could not do anything was being erased by the sun itself. They did not run away, as most people would do - and as the soldiers did - but continued in faith to see what had
happened. We often worry or fear or deny what is offered to us in faith, ignoring "Heaven and earth may pass away but My Word will never pass away."
5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
So many atheists and doubters miss the clear text, blinded by their own doubts. My first New Testament professors (Harvard ThD, Princeton PhD) denied the second angel and called that the proof that Jesus did not rise from the dead. "On the right side" does not deny the second angel but assumes that fact. The women were afraid because they went from mourning their beloved friend and not knowing what was next. Fear has a powerful effect on us. Even minor, unpleasant surprises can leave us weak, doubting, afraid, and eager to get away.
6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
First the angel tells them to have faith (do not be afraid - a theme throughout the Gospels). Jesus is named, described as crucified, risen! and not in the grave but clearly revealed by the angelic Word.
The staccato phrases are filled with divine energy:
Go Tell the disciples - and Peter
He goes before you into Galilee
There you will see Him.
As He said.
8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
There was confusion also among the disciples - and fear. The door was bolted shut where they were - (like my house in Bella Vista, because a previous occupant was justifiably afraid of an in-law).
What is great and glorious comes from the Scriptures, far too much to absorb in a lifetime, but nevertheless far greater than anything generated by man. Either we have trust in the Scriptures or demean and reject the Word of God. Many have gone before us. We all think of them and their impact on us. A large-scale poll would probably offer this result - "I should have valued that person as a child of God and a follower of Jesus the Son of God." That is especially important for older relatives, even parents and grandparents. There is a commandment, not just a suggestion (but now almost erased) in the Ten Commandments:
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
