Why Are the Swedish and Norwegian Lutheran Colleges So Highly Rated in America?

 Synodical Conference colleges have been used to keep the family secure and the alcoholics working. Hazing at Northwestern College meant abusing The Sprinter. Your pastor will explain, or more likely, change the subject.

 https://www.walkermn.com/news/religion/the-scandinavian-heritage-the-scandinavian-colleges-in-america/article_6ae5e160-3c28-11e9-a72f-032440a0df6a.html

I did not want to pay for the article, but the lead was intriguing, especially because it quotes a famous leader from the LCA side of Lutherdom - George H. Gerberding - see the Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry.

George H. Gerberding - see the Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry.

DO NOT PANIC - Written in Large, Friendly Letters. How To Start Reading Greek,

ΚΑΤΑ ΜΑΡΚΟΝ 1 1550 Stephanus New Testament (TR1550)

1 αρχη του ευαγγελιου ιησου χριστου, υιου του θεου

2 ως γεγραπται εν τοις προφηταις ιδου εγω αποστελλω τον αγγελον μου προ προσωπου σου ος κατασκευασει την οδον σου εμπροσθεν σου

3 φωνη βοωντος εν τη ερημω ετοιμασατε την οδον κυριου ευθειας ποιειτε τας τριβους αυτου

4 εγενετο ιωαννης βαπτιζων εν τη ερημω και κηρυσσων βαπτισμα μετανοιας εις αφεσιν αμαρτιων

A. Start by learning the alphabet and reading the text out loud. We will read it out loud in class too.

B. Look for words you know or words based on the Greek. Mark 1:1 - I see archaeology - the beginning of history; Good News, also good and angel; Jesus Christ; theology.

Basic translating means - Translate the words you know and guess the rest. In simple passages we already know the other words - or at least we think we do. This approach gives us a sense for the Greek rather than that slow style of 

1. What does this word mean?
2. How do I parse it?
3. What is the grammar rule?

The slow style means that a few learn Greek or Latin or German in spite of the teacher. The fast style or immersion is used for quick, effective ability in the new language. We don't have the luxury of total immersion, but we can repeat how we first learned our language.

Children learn language by hearing it and learning what it means in its context. "No" to a small child means "Let's start debating."

PS - "DO NOT PANIC - Written in Large, Friendly Letters." That is the beginning of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, a great satire novel.

The article (the) tells us the case and number of the word it is with, making Greek especially easy.

WELS Bailing Out with Parochial School "Evangelism" (Ha) and Voucher Subsidies (Haha!)

Gender fluidity follows truth fluidity.

Good morning Pastor Jackson,

    The WELS Titanic may be sinking but the band plays on. Most members probably believe that it is business as usual in the WELS but decreasing membership equals decreasing offerings. You have to wonder if the leaders are using fuzzy math like poor economists. Back in the mid 80's when our child began attending a WELS elementary school, about 60% of the congregational budget went to the school. The members were given priority over non-member families for the enrollment of their children. There was no tuition for members' children. There was a book rental fee of $125 annually per student and a few other minor expenses. The school existed primarily to serve the members. 

I understand that coincidence does not produce causation. But I also realize that many actions can produce unintended consequences. The paradigm shift occurred when the talk started about the school being a mission arm of the congregation. The LES was often no more than a one room schoolhouse, especially in rural settings like Trinity.

"Everyone is jealous of our outstanding educational program."

Then the school choice/voucher program was set up in Wisconsin. It was designed to give parents an alternative to failing public schools. In 2009, I left one WELS parish because of the manner in which they were fleecing their members to get their multi-million dollar expansion. Shortly thereafter, that church and Shoreland Lutheran High School became participants in the voucher program. Before all of this, the church's enrollment was typically between 100 to 125 students, mostly from member families. Presently, the church has about 200 students with well over half coming from the school choice program. This translates as non-member enrollees. 

In the mid 90's when our oldest began at the high school, the tuition was about $2500 per year per student. Additional support came in from the 20 congregations in the federation. The area Roman Catholic high schools had a price tag that was double that amount. Now, the cost is approaching $7000 annually per student at Shoreland. 

The enrollment is close to the same number with over half of the Shoreland students being school choice participants. If a parochial school wants to participate in the choice program, they must allow student to opt out of religious instruction if they want to. What about the Lutheran school being a "mission arm" of the congregation? What happened to that idea?

Wisconsin's new governor, Democrat Tony Evers has issued several executive orders recently. This is one of them:

The Latest: Opposition to Evers' plan for voucher schools

***

GJ - My expert in this field saw it coming decades ago. Once WELS coveted gubmint funds, the path to perdition was paved with a thick layer of Fool's Gold.

SP John Brenner would not take a dime from the gubmint, not even for the milk program. 

Where is WELS now? Martin Luther College is training dumb kids in how to run Diaper Changing "Christian" Academies. No, really. They have a building just for that.

The Laity Have Seen the Light - The More the OJ Salesmen Push Their Errors, The More Obvious the Toxin Is

Pastor Greg, I was struck with how disjointed, unconnected and mis-applied the common passages used to “prove” UOJ are and how easily laypeople either just believe something because their Pastor tells them or because their church body produced a paper or a statement.  Contrast that with how harmonious Scripture is and how little “proving” needs to be done for Justification by Faith when you let the Word of God speak for itself……

Justification of the World – try to find God actively and forensically declaring the world righteous in here

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.  John 1:29 KJV

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.  2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.  John 19:30

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  Romans 5:18 KJV

Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.  1 Timothy 2:6 KJV

Faith Counted as Righteousness – Harmonious

And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.  Genesis 15:6 KJV

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.  Romans 4:3 KJV

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.  Romans 4:5 KJV

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.  Galatians 3:6 KJV

And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.  James 2:23 KJV

Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.  And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.  Psalm 106:30-31 KJV

The Just Live by Faith - Harmonious

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.  Habakkuk 2:4 KJV

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.  Romans 1:17 KJV

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.  Galatians 3:11 KJV

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.  Hebrews 10:38 KJV

Righteousness of Faith - Harmonious

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:  Romans 3:22 KJV

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:  Romans 4:11 KJV

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.  Romans 4:13 KJV

What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.  Romans 9:30 KJV

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.  Galatians 5:5 KJV

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  Philippians 3:9 KJV

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.  Hebrews 11:7 KJV

The Gospel of Mark in Greek - Starts Ash Wednesday - Continues in MidWeek Lenten Services. Aimed at Beginners

Following the midweek services, which are recorded, we will study St. Mark's Gospel in Greek. I will simply move from the final hymn to the lesson.

I will save each video link in the Facebook page for Greek, but people can also look them up by date. We will continue when midweek services are over.

This set is aimed at beginners, so we will start slowly.

1. NT Greek is easy! It only needs time for the brain switch-over.
2. Start with the alphabet, then reading out loud.
3. Grammar is simple. I downplay grammar, emphasize time on the Greek text alone.
4. Do not write in the English words above or in the text.
5. Do not use an interlinear text (Greek-English).
6. Do not leave your KJV Bible open, but you may use it rarely for emergencies.
7. Paine covers the basic grammar issues, using John's Gospel. Get a used copy here - about $15 - 25. Or from Alibris - as little as $7 plus shipping. (Use the low to high price filter.)

Bethany New Testament Greek Lessons on Facebook



New Testament Greek is fun, easy, and gives us an enormous vocabulary in medicine and science. Our entire Western civilization is based upon the Golden Age in Greece (especially Athens) - and Alexander the Great spread this through conquest.

Greek was the universal language of commerce and culture at the time of Christ. Any decent Roman citizen knew Greek. Later, St. Augustine wrote in Latin but often quoted in Greek.

The Founders of America knew Latin and Greek.

"Rome had the drains, but the Greeks had the brains."

 The Parthenon in Athens

Caution! This Luther Quotation Will Topple All Objective Justification Salesmen and Church Growth Foxes

[22]  Also St. Paul in Rom. 12:7 says: "Whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith." That is, all doctrines must harmonize and agree with faith, so that nothing be taught but faith. He who has not this faith cannot judge of any doctrine correctly, for here the carnal minded who are smart and worldly wise are incompetent, only pious spiritual hearts can do that...

 

[25]  Therefore learn well to be on your guard, and thoroughly examine all doctrines, whether they rightly teach, and apply this chief and fundamental doctrine, that is, whether they preach Christ correctly and purely. For you will certainly find among all factions and sects, that they always either omit this article entirely, or bring something with it to which they lead the people as though that were particularly necessary to salvation.

 

From Luther's Church Postil, "Eighth Sunday After Trinity. Third Sermon: Matt. 7:15-23. Concerning False Teachers"