Ecclesia College - Legislators OK request from state bureau to hire counsel to handle requests from U.S. investigators

Legislators OK request from state bureau to hire counsel to handle requests from U.S. investigators:



"“Unpublished memoranda, working papers, and correspondence” of lawmakers are exempt under the state Freedom of Information Act, according to the law.

The request comes after federal indictments of two former lawmakers — Sen. Jon Woods, R-Springdale, and Rep. Micah Neal, R-Springdale.

Ecclesia College President Oren Paris III of Springdale is accused of paying kickbacks to Woods while Woods was a legislator. Woods, in turn, paid then-Rep. Micah Neal in some cases, according to the indictment. Neal pleaded guilty to public corruption charges Jan. 4.

Paris passed the kickback payments through Randell Shelton Jr., a consultant from Alma, a business partner Paris hired on behalf of the college, according to the indictment. The college is not named in the indictment, but it says Paris is the president of a nonprofit operating a college in Springdale.

Attorneys for Woods, Paris and Shelton have entered not-guilty pleas on behalf of their clients."



'via Blog this'

Finally - A Pan-Lutheran Litany for All To Use - No Charge

Stormtroopers agree - it's all symbolic.

Leader: The other Lutheran groups  are terrible. They cover up crimes, protect their friends, and teach false doctrine.
The People: So do we!

Leader: The other Lutheran groups use the worst translations of the Bible.
The People: So do we!

Leader: They go to schools that feature false doctrine and worship there.
The People: So do we!

Leader: The other Lutheran groups use slander, malicious gossip, threats, excommunication, and property theft to keep everyone in line.
The People: So do we!

Leader: The other Lutheran groups talk about grace and forgiveness.
People: So do we!

The Leader: But they condemn and criticize and shun.
The People: So do we!

The Leader: The other Lutheran groups beg and plead for money from the government, the life insurance companies, and foundations.
The People: So do we!

The Leader: The other Lutheran groups are hypocrites. Do I hear an Amen?
The People: Amen. We are dead indeed!

Raus!

Greek Lesson - John 8:21ff

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John 8

21 ειπεν ουν παλιν αυτοις ο ιησους εγω υπαγω και ζητησετε με και εν τη αμαρτια υμων αποθανεισθε; οπου εγω υπαγω υμεις ου δυνασθε ελθειν

22 ελεγον ουν οι ιουδαιοι "μητι αποκτενει εαυτον?"  οτι λεγει οπου εγω υπαγω υμεις ου δυνασθε ελθειν

23 και ειπεν αυτοις - υμεις εκ των κατω εστε, εγω εκ των ανω ειμι; υμεις εκ του κοσμου τουτου εστε, εγω ουκ ειμι εκ του κοσμου τουτου

24 ειπον ουν υμιν οτι αποθανεισθε εν ταις αμαρτιαις υμων, εαν γαρ μη πιστευσητε οτι εγω ειμι, αποθανεισθε εν ταις αμαρτιαις υμων

note that the post-positive γαρ shows us where the break is, before its use.

Angel of the Lord - Exodus 3 - Burning Bush - Name of God - I AM.

Exodus 3:13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.

25 ελεγον ουν αυτω "συ τις ει?" - και ειπεν αυτοις ο ιησους την αρχην ο τι και λαλω υμιν

26 πολλα εχω περι υμων λαλειν και κρινειν, αλλ ο πεμψας με αληθης εστιν, καγω α ηκουσα παρ αυτου, ταυτα λεγω εις τον κοσμον

27 ουκ εγνωσαν οτι τον πατερα αυτοις ελεγεν

28 ειπεν ουν αυτοις ο ιησους, οταν υψωσητε τον υιον του ανθρωπου, τοτε γνωσεσθε οτι εγω ειμι, και απ εμαυτου ποιω ουδεν αλλα καθως εδιδαξεν με ο πατηρ μου, ταυτα λαλω

29 και ο πεμψας με μετ εμου εστιν, ουκ αφηκεν με μονον ο πατηρ, οτι εγω τα αρεστα αυτω ποιω παντοτε

30 ταυτα (αυτου λαλουντος) πολλοι επιστευσαν εις αυτον

31 ελεγεν ουν ο ιησους (προς τους πεπιστευκοτας αυτω ιουδαιους) εαν υμεις μεινητε εν τω λογω τω εμω, αληθως μαθηται μου εστε

32 και γνωσεσθε την αληθειαν και η αληθεια ελευθερωσει υμας

33 απεκριθησαν αυτω σπερμα αβρααμ εσμεν, και ουδενι δεδουλευκαμεν πωποτε! πως συ λεγεις οτι ελευθεροι γενησεσθε?

34 απεκριθη αυτοις ο ιησους αμην αμην λεγω υμιν οτι πας ο ποιων την αμαρτιαν δουλος εστιν της αμαρτιας

35 ο δε δουλος ου μενει εν τη οικια εις τον αιωνα; ο υιος μενει εις τον αιωνα

36 εαν ουν ο υιος υμας ελευθερωση οντως ελευθεροι εσεσθε

37 οιδα οτι σπερμα αβρααμ εστε,  αλλα ζητειτε με αποκτειναι οτι ο λογος ο εμος ου χωρει εν υμιν

38 εγω ο εωρακα παρα τω πατρι μου λαλω και υμεις ουν ο εωρακατε παρα τω πατρι υμων ποιειτε

39 απεκριθησαν και ειπον αυτω ο πατηρ ημων αβρααμ εστιν; λεγει αυτοις ο ιησους ει τεκνα του αβρααμ ητε, τα εργα του αβρααμ εποιειτε αν

40 νυν δε ζητειτε με αποκτειναι ανθρωπον ος την αληθειαν υμιν λελαληκα ην ηκουσα παρα του θεου; τουτο αβρααμ ουκ εποιησεν

41 υμεις ποιειτε τα εργα του πατρος υμων; ειπον ουν αυτω "ημεις εκ πορνειας ου γεγεννημεθα -  ενα πατερα εχομεν τον θεον

42 ειπεν ουν αυτοις ο ιησους ει ο θεος πατηρ υμων ην ηγαπατε αν εμε; εγω γαρ εκ του θεου εξηλθον και ηκω; ουδε γαρ απ εμαυτου εληλυθα αλλ εκεινος με απεστειλεν

43 διατι την λαλιαν την εμην ου γινωσκετε οτι ου δυνασθε ακουειν τον λογον τον εμον

44 υμεις εκ πατρος του διαβολου εστε, και τας επιθυμιας του πατρος υμων θελετε ποιειν; εκεινος ανθρωποκτονος ην απ αρχης και εν τη αληθεια ουχ εστηκεν, οτι ουκ εστιν αληθεια εν αυτω; οταν λαλη το ψευδος εκ των ιδιων λαλει,οτι ψευστης εστιν και ο πατηρ αυτου

45 εγω δε οτι την αληθειαν λεγω ου πιστευετε μοι

46 τις εξ υμων ελεγχει με περι αμαρτιας ει δε αληθειαν λεγω διατι υμεις ου πιστευετε μοι

47 ο ων εκ του θεου τα ρηματα του θεου ακουει δια τουτο υμεις ουκ ακουετε οτι εκ του θεου ουκ εστε

48 απεκριθησαν ουν οι ιουδαιοι και ειπον αυτω ου καλως λεγομεν ημεις οτι σαμαρειτης ει συ και δαιμονιον εχεις

49 απεκριθη ιησους εγω δαιμονιον ουκ εχωn αλλα τιμω τον πατερα μου και υμεις ατιμαζετε με

50 εγω δε ου ζητω την δοξαν μου; εστιν ο ζητων και κρινων

51 αμην αμην λεγω υμιν εαν τις τον λογον τον εμον τηρηση θανατον ου μη θεωρηση εις τον αιωνα

52 ειπον ουν αυτω οι ιουδαιοι - νυν εγνωκαμεν οτι δαιμονιον εχεις  - αβρααμ απεθανεν και οι προφηται και συ λεγεις εαν τις τον λογον μου τηρηση ου μη γευσεται θανατου εις τον αιωνα?

53 μη συ μειζων ει του πατρος ημων αβρααμ οστις απεθανεν και οι προφηται απεθανον - τινα σεαυτον συ ποιεις

54 απεκριθη ιησους εαν εγω δοξαζω εμαυτον η δοξα μου ουδεν εστιν; εστιν ο πατηρ μου ο δοξαζων με, ον υμεις λεγετε οτι "θεος υμων εστιν"

55 και ουκ εγνωκατε αυτον, εγω δε οιδα αυτον; και εαν ειπω οτι ουκ οιδα αυτον εσομαι (future middle) ομοιος υμων ψευστης; αλλ οιδα αυτον και τον λογον αυτου τηρω

56 αβρααμ ο πατηρ υμων ηγαλλιασατο ινα ιδη την ημεραν την εμην και ειδεν και εχαρη

57 ειπον ουν οι ιουδαιοι προς αυτον πεντηκοντα ετη ουπω εχεις και αβρααμ εωρακας

58 ειπεν αυτοις ο ιησους αμην αμην λεγω υμιν πριν αβρααμ γενεσθαι, εγω ειμι

Note the impossible grammar of this, unless....

59 ηραν ουν λιθους ινα βαλωσιν επ αυτον; ιησους δε εκρυβη και εξηλθεν εκ του ιερου διελθων δια μεσου αυτων και παρηγεν ουτως

Non-reciprocity of the second genus. His divine nature was not limited by His human nature.

1550 Stephanus New Testament (TR1550)

Misleading Theories Lead People Astray - Gardening and Theology

 Pirate Bugs are tiny enemies of aphids.

Dr. Lito Cruz blogged about scientists and their theories. That reminded me about the agricultural experts discovering aspects of Creation that eluded them for the last century.

Synthetic fertilizer will make plants grow better, especially when the correct NPK ratio is observed for the crops, which vary in their needs.Nitrogen can make a plant grow without producing fruit. Most of us have put lawn fertilizer on grass and noticed how it became greener and denser. Conclusion - man-made fertilizer is good, even though the pioneering scientist - Liebig - saw that the original outcomes were misleading and the theory wrong. Never-mind, he launched an international industry.

Justus Liebig is Mr. N-P-K.
Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium.

Only recently, soil scientists have taken note of the essential work of soil fungus, whose strands are thinner than a human hair and invisible to the naked eye. Moreover, fungal contributions cannot be easily observed in a lab.

Likewise, organic growers re-discovered the value of manure, mulch, and compost. They had good results, but gave more credit to the larger creatures of the soil -  like earthworms - than to the fungus they could not see. One earthworm per shovel of soil was considered a key  measure of fertility.

Now the scientists realize soil fungus has many powerful effects:
Breaking down the most complex plant compounds, like wood and bark;
Distributing useful chemicals and water to plants;
Fighting plant disease.

The log rotting on top of the soil is feeding many plants, attracting soil creatures, perhaps sheltering a toad, and providing bugs for bird food.

Others have argued that cover crops are essential for renewing the soil, because 75% of the organic matter in soil comes from roots.

Since these results can be measured scientifically, it is easy to compare the Liebig theory with Creation. Whether one starts from

1. The complex relationship of fungus and soil microbes, or
2. Replacing toxins with beneficial insects, or 
3. The regeneration of soil through cover crops, or 
4. Abandoning the plow - 

Creation explains why those new approaches work so well, whether among Christian believers or not, for the sun shines equally on the just and the unjust.

Dr. Cruz' article reminds me of a professor who knocked us off our assumptions that something was true because everyone said it was. He would offer something from Judaism and then point out the exceptions. He let us plant our flags on everyone's established truth, then blew up the assumption. His final observation was: "Every Harvard graduate gives the same test - short answer, matching, and an essay question." And I thought, "That's my Old Testament professor from Augustana."

 Where do we find cell groups
instead of the Means of Grace? - Pietism.
Where do we find Justification by Faith
instead of UOJ? - Pietism

In Theology
What intrigued me about the WELS clergy in Columbus, Ohio was their smug ignorance and their utter hatred for Lutheran doctrine. Something had to explain how the entire cluster of congregations was running on hypocrisy, so utterly superior to everyone but doing exactly what ELCA, the LCMS, and the Pente-Babtists were doing. Albeit a day late and a dollar short.

The answer was - their complete disregard and contempt for the efficacy of the Word in the Means of Grace. At this point they have already caught up with the early ELCA's commitment to all things radical. The LCMS and WELS are tearing apart their own sects while celebrating the Reformation's 500th by saying, "Here We Stand in our CPH Stockings - Sign Up for a Charitable Annuity Trust from Thrivent."

 Buy yours and a doggie t-shirt at CPH.