Thursday, May 14, 2020

From the Bethany Lutheran Hymnal Blog - Be Still My Soul -
Lyrics and Three YouTube Videos

Norma A. Boeckler's Art Books




"Be Still, My Soul"
by Catharina von Schlegel, 1697-?
Translated by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897

1. Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

2. Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

3. Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears;
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay
From His own fulness all He takes away.

4. Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Hymn #651
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Psalm 46:10
Author: Catharine Amalia Dorothea von Schlegel, 1752, cento
Translated by: Jane Borthwick, 1855
Titled: "Stille, mein Wille"
Composer: Jean Sibelius, b. 1865, arr.
Tune: "Finlandia"








Obnoxious Weed Day - Some Are Born Bad

 Borage grows easily and attracts beneficial insects - aka Bee Bread.

One weed - now a tribe - has formed a colony in the butterfly garden. The yellow flowers produce seed, but the plant spreads through its roots.

As every gardener knows, if the good plants are doing well, the obnoxious weeds are spreading faster than the latest fib from synod headquarters.

The blessing of weeds is their immediate take-over of bare soil, their robust growth a sign of healthy soil, and their roots feeding the soil population.

Was it foolishness that drove my ancestors to break up the prairie grass soil of Illinois and Iowa, fast-tracking the modern polished steel plow? Not at all. The soil was so rich that a man jumping down from a wagon would feel the ground shimmy like a giant pudding under his feet.

The wealth of the Great Plains soil came from centuries of prairie grass, with roots 30 feet deep, the herds of bison consuming and processing the nitrogen rich plants. God created an area of rich farmland, absent trees, that was only rivaled by the Ukraine. Grass, soil creatures, and herds of buffalo provided a future food source for millions and farm implement jobs for thousands. In fact, John Deere's efforts along the Mississippi promoted even more factories and brought Swedish immigrants to work them.

Seeing the rainy days ahead, I decided to wipe out this weed in a series of lightning strikes - not with Round Up, but with my lopping shears. I walked about the three garden spaces and chopped them off at ground level. Soon the plants were on the ground donating the nitrogen they used before to invigorate the soil again.

Living roots feed the soil, so I know that - by divine decree - those roots will make the soil even richer as they struggle to rebuild the colony of weeds. They will return, but so will I.

Comfrey is the Borage's cousin - with similar flowers - but serves as a bully plant for filling in spaces the weeds want to grab.

One permanent solution is to grow bully plants. I coined that term for desirable plants we want to grow then regret their size and vigor.

The Beauty Berry bushes that I once watered in the dry season - they have grown in girth - like church officials. The single Comfrey - that cousin to the Borage flowers - has grown with age, mostly at the waistline.

 The Beauty Berries are photogenic - and birds love them in late fall. The plants become impressive bushes in time.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Greek Lesson - Finishing John 1 - Last Lesson for Now


Note - class - I did not know that the brewing virus crisis would change my teaching load dramatically. I need to stop the Greek class for now. I am finishing two online classes and starting three.

This will be the last class for now. You know I love teaching Greek. It will continue to some extent in the weekly sermons.

GJ
REVIEW

42 και ηγαγεν αυτον προς τον ιησουν, εμβλεψας δε αυτω ο ιησους ειπεν, "συ ει σιμων ο υιος ιωνα; συ κληθηση κηφας," ο ερμηνευεται πετρος

43 τη επαυριον, ηθελησεν ο ιησους εξελθειν εις την γαλιλαιαν και ευρισκει φιλιππον και λεγει αυτω "ακολουθει μοι"

44 ην δε ο φιλιππος απο βηθσαιδα εκ της πολεως ανδρεου και πετρου

45 ευρισκει φιλιππος τον ναθαναηλ και λεγει αυτω [ον εγραψεν μωσης εν τω νομω - και οι προφηται] ευρηκαμεν ιησουν τον υιον του ιωσηφ τον απο ναζαρετ
Note - Luther observed the divinity of Jesus is mined from the gold ore of the Books of Moses. Let that sink in.
46 και ειπεν αυτω ναθαναηλ "εκ ναζαρετ δυναται τι αγαθον ειναι?" λεγει αυτω φιλιππος "ερχου και ιδε."

NEW

47 ειδεν ο ιησους τον ναθαναηλ ερχομενον προς αυτον και λεγει περι αυτου, "ιδε αληθως ισραηλιτης εν ω δολος ουκ εστιν"

48 λεγει αυτω ναθαναηλ, "ποθεν με γινωσκεις?" απεκριθη ο ιησους και ειπεν αυτω, "προ του σε φιλιππον φωνησαι οντα υπο την συκην, ειδον σε"

49 απεκριθη ναθαναηλ και λεγει αυτω, "ραββι συ ει ο υιος του θεου συ ει ο βασιλευς του ισραηλ"

50 απεκριθη ιησους και ειπεν αυτω "οτι ειπον σοι ειδον σε υποκατω της συκης, πιστευεις? μειζω τουτων οψει"

51 και λεγει αυτω "αμην αμην λεγω υμιν - απ αρτι οψεσθε τον ουρανον ανεωγοτα και τους αγγελους του θεου αναβαινοντας και καταβαινοντας επι τον υιον του ανθρωπου"

Lenski's point - Son of Man has no political connotations.

Creation Gardening - Weeds, Guardians of the Soil

 Do not laugh - this is a classic.


I enjoy most weeds. They come and go with the season, and few are truly obnoxious. There is no reason to become herbicidal just because the garden does not look like a magazine cover. Here are some kind and gentle observations about common weeds.

Weeds break up soil and supply nutrients through their root system. They also protect the soil surface from wind erosion.

Poke Weed is a salad eaten in the South, provided the leaves are boiled twice. The berries may be a bit toxic - they are rumored to be good for people. I found them insipid, not tempting enough to make me healthy or sick.

 The Poke berries grow fast wherever the plant appears, even in sidewalk cracks.

Besides the obvious insects, Poke provides shelter for many more kinds. The branches are good for perching and preening birds.


Poke Weed
They claim Poke can grow 30 feet tall, but its strength comes from growing anywhere, airborne by its consumption and planting by birds. I have seen it growing and flowering in sidewalk cracks, but flourishing beyond belief in the front and back gardens.

Poke berries are loved by 60 species of birds, so a tree branch or trunk is a natural starting point for their takeover. I cut them off at soil level in the rose garden, so they become mulch. In the backyard garden areas they are free to grow.

 The roots for beverage, the flowers for wine, the leaves for salad, the seed fluffs for hummingbird nests - and some try to kill them?

Dandelions
These vilified and herbicided herbs - yes herbs - have not been pulled or sprayed in the rose garden. They do not spread as feared by so many. Their taproots are good for the soil and their blooms serve the hummingbirds for nesting material. They are good for salad greens and dandelion wine, without being garnished by 2-4tx-75DDT toxins. I do not harvest them for food or wine, but I enjoy their cheerful flowers and good manners.



Wild Strawberry - 
The Friendly Blanket of Green with Tiny Rubies
I found our yard supporting wild strawberries, blooming and fruiting in the deepest shade of the house. I had the same reaction as the Swedes landing in New York - "If this is New York City, what must Lindsborg, Kansas be like?" I transplanted wild strawberries before realizing that the birds were better at it than I. Add stumps, Creation Gardeners, and the birds will plant their favorites.

I now have masses of them in the back gardens, where I throw seeds for the birds and, and in the rose garden, where they get plenty of rain, watering, and sun. Their growth is dense on top and the roots shallow, like their larger relatives, which I am not allowed or tempted to eat.

The Green Wall
And the Rustic Fence
The distant back yard was largely unusable. Ranger Bob and Mrs. Ichabod conspired to place the tool shed in the middle, halfway back. "Aha," I thought, "We can put a rustic fence up from the dying tree we cut down.

All I did was stretch the logs across the middle of the backyard, with the tool shed in the middle. Ranger Bob had backyard landscaping ideas - and so did I. The birds loved the various levels and quirky branches of the logs. Besides that, logs on the soil foster decaying wood soil life - sowbugs, pillbugs, earthworms, beetles, toads to feed and toads as food.

Later, Bob looked out the backdoor and said, "Your plants are perfect." I said, "Bob, the birds planted the green fence for me."
Today, in mid-May, the green wall they planted is 10 feet tall, graced by the two elderberry bushes I planted on each side of the tool shed.

The far backyard area is a delightful (to wildlife) tangle of weeds, orphaned Butterfly Bushes, berry plants, etc.


Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Patience with Joy - Matthias Loy - Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry



“One thing more our text mentions as needful, that we be “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness.
“They are wonderful words. We have such great riches in Christ and are waiting for the full enjoyment of our everlasting inheritance in heaven. And now we are to have sufferings and afflictions, and are to learn the lesson of patience, and even to pass through our tribulations with joyfulness.
“You see we are not quite ready yet for the heavenly glory. We still need the fiery trials of earth to burn away the dross that tarnishes our life. Of course the flesh does not like the purifying fires, and we are apt to complain of the hardships endured; and the enemy strives hard to induce us to look upon them as evidence that God is not dealing kindly with us.
“Watch and pray, that you may not be overcome by such temptations. God is guiding you securely, and the treasure of grace which you possess must be effectual in you to move you to patience and make you strong to endure these trials with joyfulness, while you look at the things in store for you after the time of your trials is past and you enter upon your eternal inheritance.
From: Loy, Matthias. Sermons on the Epistles For the Sundays and Chief Festivals of the Church Year. Columbus, Ohio: Lutheran Book Concern. 1900. LutheranLibrary.org

Those Clever Gardening Catalogs - Fall Bulbs Entice as Spring Blooms Fade

Nothing sets up fall ordering like the fading of the spring, hardy bulbs.

The rain began dripping down yesterday as I went out to empty some rainwater storage. Do not laugh (followed by even more laughter). I put rainwater on the new Joe Pyes because so little rain was coming down. I also did an audit. One was missing entirely - not crushed, not chewed, just gone. Rabbits? Birds? Sassy? The garden police are divided, which means, I do not know. That is a price we pay when planting.

Norma Boeckler said the deer got her Little Joe Pye plants, and Alicia said the deer eat everything outside, especially the deer-proof ones.

The gardening crew told me the flowers and bulbs I shared were growing. They looked for some of the oriental lilies they planted in our yard, and were pleased to see the stalks up and leafed out. We compare notes on roses, lilies, whatever is shared.

I told them, "This year - estate planting!" I figure daffodils are the best candidates for a large bag of them planted all over the front yard. For those with front yards in grass, daffodils can be planted in the lawn, bloom and fade before the first lawn-mowing.

Daffodils do not taste good to critters but they are great in the yard and in the vases.
 Grape Hyacinths come in varieties of blue, white, and mixed colors.

Tiny bulbs like grape hyacinths (neither grapey nor hyacinthy) are very inexpensive in small or estate orders. They can be placed in groups or planted near the daffodils as markers. They seem to last for many years, unlike some other tulips.

Roses and Roots
Easy Does It bloomed before the wild roses, and now the wild roses are competing with dark red and bright red blooms. I was eager to dig up all the wild roses, but they have blended into a wall of Mountain Mint and Spirea bushes, both having grown beyond belief or foresight.

Crepe Myrtles grow rather slowly.

So much has happened quickly that I have to catch up with pruning the non-glamorous plants. Myrtles still have seed pods on them. Removing the pods will help the plants bloom this year.  I counted one row of them dead, but they began to grow from the ground up again. Another row, along the Gardener fence, has three colors of inter-twined Crepes planted together, so I should get some interesting displays in time.

One farmer group convinced me that deep roots really matter, even when the original plants are removed later. The roots account for 75% of the nutrition added to the soil, so deep roots break up the clay soil and add organic matter without kudos or expense. One way to use - and not be bullied - by a deep rooting plant/weed is to cut it at the base to end its meddling or at least to slow down its above ground growth.


Bethany Lutheran Hymnal Blog - New Features

 Norma Boeckler's Christian Art Books


The first step was getting all the public domain hymn details posted, one per page.

I added information so people could easily find all the hymns and hymn translations of:
  1. Luther
  2. Melanchthon
  3. Selnecker
  4. Gerhardt
  5. Kingo
  6. Loy
  7. Winkworth
  8. Neale
I am improving the data gradually, so that feature (called labels) is more inclusive, diverse, and transparent. I realize you have not heard those terms for several hours.

Norma Boeckler is adding her beautiful new graphics to the hymn blog, so I am also adding the tune, a YouTube version, and extra information where it is possible. I dislike abbreviated Scripture citations, so that will wipe out Ps., Gen., and Is. from the original copy and paste. 

Last night Christina and I were singing the hymns as I picked up YouTube versions and alternate tunes.

I am trying to avoid elevator-music versions of hymns. 

Later I will add German YouTube versions and some non-TLH hymns in the public domain.


Monday, May 11, 2020

Heaven Is My Home

  Norma Boeckler's Christian Art Books



"I'm But a Stranger Here"
by T. R. Taylor, 1807-1835

1. I'm but a stranger here,
Heav'n is my home;
Earth is a desert dread,
Heav'n is my home.
Danger and sorrow stand
Round me on every hand;
Heav'n is my fatherland,
Heav'n is my home.

2. What though the tempest rage,
Heav'n is my home;
Short is my pilgrimage,
Heav'n is my home;
And time's wild wintry blast
Soon shall be overpast;
I shall reach home at last,
Heav'n is my home.

3. There at my Savior's side
Heav'n is my home;
I shall be glorified,
Heav'n is my home;
There are the good and blest,
Those I love most and best;
And there I, too, shall rest,
Heav'n is my home.

4. Therefore I murmur not,
Heav'n is my home;
Whate'er my earthly lot,
Heav'n is my home;
And I shall surely stand
There at my Lord's right hand.
Heav'n is my fatherland,
Heav'n is my home.

Hymn #660
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Hebrews 4:9
Author: Thomas R. Taylor, 1836, alt.
Composer: Arthur S. Sullivan, 1872
Tune: "Heaven Is My Home"




Sir Arthur Sullivan

His hymns and songs include "Onward, Christian Soldiers."


Matthias Loy on Being a Singing Church - Plus One of His Great Hymns

 Norma A. Boeckler



From Matthias Loy. Sermons on the Epistles:

Ours has always been a singing Church. In the days of the Reformation, as historians tell us, our people not only preached the great truth of salvation from the housetops, but sang the precious Gospel of grace and truth into the hearts of the people in the fields and in the workshops, their hearts being full to overflowing and finding their natural vent in the songs of Zion. 

She is the singing Church still, and her hymns are to this day the admiration of all who are able to appreciate the beauty and the power of sacred song. Let us avail ourselves of the treasures which are ours, and speak to ourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody in our hearts unto the Lord, thus fixing our attention upon the things which make for our peace and enrich the soul, and confessing our dear Saviour before the people and making His praise glorious in the land. 

You perceive, my brethren, that we do not realize the idea of our text when we never sing the songs of Zion at home, and in our churches leave them to the choir, who may or who may not make melody in their hearts unto the Lord, and who may be interested in the service only as a musical performance designed to delight the audience, as in a concert hall or opera house. That is a desecration of the Church against which Christian people should set their faces. Our singing is to be part of our worship; if we would walk wisely we must engage in it in the same way as in the prayers offered at the altar in Jesus' name. 

If any of us cannot sing, so as to sound the praises of God, we can at least make melody in our hearts to the Lord, and thus comply with the aspiration of the psalmist. "Let the people praise Thee, O Lord, let all the people praise Thee." Psalm 67:3. In this respect too it behooves us to walk circumspectly, lest we become indifferent to the worship of the Lord and embrace the delusion that this can be done by proxy. Be wise, and let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. This will then find joyful expression in the songs of Zion for edification in your homes and in your church.

From The Lutheran Librarian and The Lutheran Library

"The Gospel Shows the Father's Grace"
by Matthias Loy, 1828-1915

1. The Gospel shows the Father's grace,
Who sent His Son to save our race,
Proclaims how Jesus lived and died
That man might thus be justified.

2. It sets the Lamb before our eyes,
Who made the atoning sacrifice,
And call the souls with guilt opprest
To come and find eternal rest.

3. It brings the Savior's righteousness
Our souls to robe in royal dress;
From all our guilt it brings release
And gives the troubled conscience peace.

4. It is the power of God to save
From sin and Satan and the grave;
It works the faith, which firmly clings
To all the treasures which it brings.

5. It bears to all the tidings glad
And bids their hearts no more be sad;
The heavy-laden souls it cheers
And banishes their guilty fears.

6. May we in faith its tidings learn
Nor thanklessly its blessings spurn;
May we in faith its truth confess
And praise the Lord our Righteousness!


Notes:
Hymn #297 from The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: John 3: 16
Author: Matthias Loy, 1863
Tune: Herr Jesu Christ, dich
1st Published in: "Cantionale Germanicum"
Town: Dresden, 1628

 Lutheran Library Link


 Lutheran Library Link

I remember the big white house on Steiner Street, and my little sister Dagmar, and my big brother Nels, and Papa. But most of all, I remember Mama

Gladys Parker, co-ed, 1931 - she left home to attend Normal and become a teacher. Prints of this photo were saved in the original folder from the photographer.

“I remember the big white house on Steiner Street, and my little sister Dagmar, and my big brother Nels, and Papa. But most of all, I remember Mama.”
Fiftiesweb.com

We watched TV a lot, and I remember watching this series. We have watched the movie several times, recognizing Barbara Bel Geddes as the author/narrator and future Miss Ellie on Dallas.

The series and movie were very much in harmony with Moline and Rock Island, Illinois, where the Augustana Synod had so many congregations, a college and seminary, and earlier its headquarters. We even tried to imitate the Swedish accent of those who came over from the old country.

My mother dreamed of bettering herself by becoming a teacher. She was proud of her farm heritage and physical strength. She did not use a glove playing the outfield. "Hardball," she mentioined. Many times she spoke of her introduction to teaching in a one-room country school. She had to handle all ages and keep everyone engaged and behaved. Mom often regretted the consolidation of schools, because she thought highly of the country schools and the old-fashioned curriculum.

Mom continued her education and finished a college degree at Augustana, part-time, over 10 years. She went on to earn an M.A. at the University of Illinois, where her father studied agriculture.

I remember going with her to my interview for attending kindergarten at Garfield School, a few blocks away, where she taught, once baby brother was in school. She had a long vacation from us when he was born, and I remember coming down the stairs to see her with the baby, when I was two years old.

Our house was ideally located across from Wharton Field House, still one of the largest venues in the Midwest. Whitey's Ice Cream was two blocks away, next to Dairy Creme. The Hasty Tasty restaurant was the same distance, along with hardware stores and the forbidden candy store we loved to visit. I often saw Guy Johnson on the way to school, and lots of other Boomers lived nearby.

We had great teachers at Garfield, the largest grade school in Moline. Only one teacher was a psychopath, and I did not have her, except for spelling. She went nuts on me during a spelling bee, yelling, "You don't know whether you are coming and going. Sit DOWN!" My classmates enjoyed repeating her smack down verbatim, and Mom loved hearing me imitate Miss D's distinctive rants.

I remember one student coming up to me and saying, "Greg, your mother is a school teacher and your father makes donuts. You are so lucky!" I am happy to say that Mom was loved by all her students, from the most able to the ones who needed rescuing. I was around Garfield early and late and witnessed some disciplinary episodes. More frequently, I heard the Garfield teachers speak lovingly of "their children." They wanted the best for their children and went all out to prepare the classroom and organize their materials to benefit them.

 Garfield Grade School

 Garfield Arms 

At one MHS reunion, a Garfielder told me about a student who spit at another student. My mother had that boy spit into her handkerchief repeatedly. Next she rubbed it all over his face. He never spit again. After I heard the story, that same person sat down at our table. He said, "Greg, you should write a book about your mother. She was a remarkable teacher."

Mom wanted to teach at a university, but she needed a doctorate to earn tenure. She taught at Coolidge Junior High (RIP) and was offered classes for those who needed help in academic discipline. She told the principal, "Only if I can hit them." He came unglued, "No! we cannot hit students." She said, "Forget it." He found out that it was OK if each set of parents signed a statement allowing corporal punishment. They were happy to do that.

Mom really enjoyed serving as the boot camp DI, shaping students who were having trouble for one reason or another. One needed an operation and she told the parents. That was performed and he began doing well. She used her knuckles to rap students on the head, sometimes enhanced with a big ring. She may have used the trapezoid muscle pinch. A little bit pain went a long way, and the so-called problem students adored her class.


To be clear, Mom only used a little physical pain, which showed she meant what she said. At one reunion, a Garfield student from her class asked about that huge rock ring she used on him. Christina was wearing it. He said, "Hit me with it. Old times." He became an engineer because Mom's sixth grade class built a working model of the Panama Canal. Many years later he visited the Panama Canal and was excited to see it worked exactly the way their model did. "That's why I became an engineer, Greg. Your mother's class."

I was surrounded by teachers as I grew up - going to PTA, waiting in the school library at times, teachers' meetings at our home, and lots of teacher talk. I was hesitant about teaching community college students straight out of high school, but I learned how much fun a classroom could be. That led me into online teaching and many opportunities teach all types of classes.

My boss at Glendale Community College said, "Our teachers are being steam-rolled by the students. The are letting the students intimidate them." He paused and said, "But that is not a problem with you." I thought to myself, "I learned from the best." Every so often I tossed a soft white board eraser toward an errant student and gave him my basilisk stare. My nephew said, "Uncle Greg. We can't do that in New York."

Mom was very happy to live with us in New Ulm and make the move to Phoenix. That is where I began by taking computer classes and moved into teaching at two universities. She was so pleased to hear that I made the move that was just out of her reach. But it was growing up among teachers and being surrounded by books that made that possible.

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Mother's Day Roses - And Feeding the Cardinal Mama

Today, everyone on the block got an Easy Does It rose or two in a Panera vase. The roses all had stems of 12 inches or more. One was special, with six blooms on one long stem. That went to Misty, the mother of four wonderful girls, with husband Lee - a family of six. Photo by Misty.

We knew the two Easy Does It rose bushes would produce for Mother's Day. The families on our cul-de-sac enjoy receiving them on their doorsteps at 7 am - or whenever they get up. Ranger Bob said once, "Why did I get one. I am not a mother." I said, "Bob, you have a mother. Even in heaven she is still your mother." This year he got the only Veterans Honor red rose in bloom, and he took it to the cemetery.



The Cardinal Mama Stopped By - 
The Sunflower Seeds Flowed

I was in and out of the kitchen when I saw a female cardinal feeding on the almost empty barrels where I place the sunflower seeds.

How could I neglect her on Mother's Day? I brought out an empty rose vase (Panera) and filled it with black sunflower seeds. I refilled the barrel tops and scattered the seeds in the garden and grass for supper. That allows more critters to eat at once.







Cantate, The Fourth Sunday after Easter, 2020. The Holy Spirit - Word - Will Convict the World of Sin



Cantate, The Fourth Sunday after Easter, 2020



Pastor Gregory L. Jackson




The Hymn #458        
Our Father – Luther                    
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 #462      I Love Thy Kingdom           

The Word Convicts the World


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 #657                        Beautiful Savior                     



In Our Prayers -
  • Treatment and recovery - Rush Limbaugh, Kermit Way, Christina Jackson. Recovery - John Hicks.
  • Stable - Tom Fulcher, Diane Popp's brother-in-law.
  • Treatment and recovery - Randy Anderson, Andrea's father, is making good progress in his treatment.
  • Pray for our country as the major trials continue. And help all those suffering from economic difficulties.
  • Greek Class - Wednesday, 7 PM.
  • The Bethany Lutheran Hymnal texts are finished. All the hymns have their own pages. Norma A. Boeckler is providing art for them. Typo alerts are welcome.

   
        

Fourth Sunday After Easter

Lord God, heavenly Father, who didst through Thy Son promise us Thy Holy Spirit, that He should convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment: We beseech Thee, enlighten our hearts, that we may confess our sins, through faith in Christ obtain everlasting righteousness, and in all our trials and temptations retain this consolation, that Christ is Lord over the devil and death, and all things, and that He will graciously deliver us out of all our afflictions, and make us forever partakers of eternal salvation, through the same, Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

The Epistle
KJV James 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the Word of Truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls.

The Gospel
KJV John 16:5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

John 16
και ελθων εκεινος ελεγξει τον κοσμον περι αμαρτιας και περι δικαιοσυνης και περι κρισεως
περι αμαρτιας μεν οτι ου πιστευουσιν εις εμε
10 περι δικαιοσυνης δε οτι προς τον πατερα μου υπαγω και ουκ ετι θεωρειτε με
11 περι δε κρισεως οτι ο αρχων του κοσμου τουτου κεκριται

Background for the Gospel
We should value most the sermons of Jesus, and pay close attention to the ones recorded by "the disciple Jesus loved," John. Jesus entrusted His mother to John, so we should have the same trust in the sermons of Jesus in the Fourth Gospel. Those sermons are relatively short, so we also realize how powerful each verse is, sometimes even a tiny word like "a little while" - mikron - used seven times in this chapter. In the same way, "about" is used three times. Even today, the repeated use the of same word is used for emphasis. (Greek rhetoric = English rhetoric, the art of expressing thought in words, as midwifed by the Romans, who copied everything Greek.) 
If we know nothing, or we are confused, why not return to the source? Instead of reading 15 how-to books, we could read 15 verses or so and learn so much more about how the Spirit is at work today.
Jesus told His disciples in advance that after leaving His local, public ministry, He would send the Spirit to manage the world ministry of the apostles, the ones "sent." Instead of the Gospel being concentrated in the sermons and miracles of Jesus in one location or another, the Word would spread through the apostles and even more through the written New Testament Scriptures.
The core message of all this work, which we experience today is here - is found in three phrases.
8 And when he [the Holy Spirit] is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.



The Word Convicts the World


KJV John 16:5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

The Father sent the Son, and soon the Son will send the Spirit to guide and help the disciples sent (sent  = apostles) to the world. In His farewell sermon, Jesus was preparing His disciples, who were grieving His departure. Their reality was not correct, so they were confused and saddened. However, this lesson was kept before them by the Holy Spirit to guide them and us in all the work of the Gospel.

In His three years with the disciples, Jesus prepared them for this. We can imagine that this seemed like an ordinary rabbinical school in many ways. They would follow and learn, and it would be more glorious in the future. However, Jesus' public ministry of three years was rather limited because He was establishing His teaching of faith in Him and backing them up with miracles that could only come from God Himself.

The future would mean them scattering all over the Roman Empire, often compelled by active persecution. How would they duplicate the work done through Jesus? Would they try to satisfy the "felt needs" of people? Would they entertain them first and then show them how they were real, relevant, and relational? No, their entire work, instead, is condense in three phrases.

This must be deep because hardly anyone teaches these phrases or teaches them directly. They almost seem invisible in this era of gimmicks, programs, and goals. The preposition used is the one used when Paul was answering certain questions - about tongues, about marriage, about the end times. Now we just copy the email, so we have lost that bit of rhetoric. Here the KJV uses "of."

8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

The Holy Spirit always works through the Word, and the Word is never without the Spirit. That is why programs, gimmicks, and entertainment fall flat.

Of sin, because they believe not on me

The definition of sin is foundational for all the work of the Christian Church. Even a cursory glance at the Gospel of John shows how true this was of Jesus' public ministry. Every part of the Gospel is about faith in Him, and the rejection of faith in Him.

One could say with Luther that all the struggles of the world are involved in this phrase - to convict the world of sin because they do not believe on Him.

Sin is using fossil fuels and eating meat. There are hundreds of new condemnations which are used to convict people of being evil, even though there is no reason or Scripture behind those novelty laws.

But this believing on Him must have a powerful hold on people, because so many are hostile to it. That is what divides the entire world - not race or nationality, not clean or foul air - but faith in Christ. Those who believe in Him as their Savior are members of His Kingdom. Those who do not are associated with their Father Below.

2. In the first place, we see here that the world is accused of blindness and ignorance. All those who are without the Holy Spirit, however wise they may be in matters pertaining to the things of this world, are, before God, fools and blind. They do not like to hear this; and when they are told that their doings are of no account before God, it displeases them and makes them angry, because they insist that they are in possession of reason and the natural light, which God created in them. But what does this matter to us? There are the Scriptures and the Word of God plain and clear, that the Holy Spirit is to come to ‘convict the world, because it does not know what sin, righteousness and judgment are. Thus it is determined, there it stands; let be angry who will, Christ does not care.

3. It is much to be deplored that the world is convicted, not only because of its sin and want of righteousness, not being able to judge rightly, but that it does not acknowledge nor see this, to say nothing of its endeavor to alter the matter. Oh, how completely the praise of all comes to naught, who, while they endeavor to make other people pious, know not themselves what sin is! Let us take, for example, at the present day, all the schools of learning and the learned men and see whether they can tell us what that one little word “sin” is? For who has ever heard that not to believe in Christ is sin? They say, it is sin if one speaks, desires or does something against God’s will and commandment. But how does that correspond with this saying of Christ: It is sin because they do not believe on me? Therefore, they are easily convicted of the fact that they know not what sin is; and if they be ever so learned, they will not be able to explain this text.

This error is taught so well in all the denominations that clergy and loyal laity can hardly face the facts of their error. To sin is not belonging to the correct church denomination (or sub-set in the denomination). That corrupted truth is true because it was taught by someone important to them and nobody else. How many people know who Edwad Preuss was? Those who think they know him are unaware that he repudiated the doctrine being admired. So fickle is history, fame, and loyalty to a group.

Faith in Christ means the complete forgiveness of sin, so that our lives are not motivated by the Law and making up for sin - paying for our sin - but willingness and happiness in serving others. So the Gospel preaching imparts faith in Jesus and His atoning death for our sin.

Where sin is vanquished, so is death. Eternal life springs up wherever the Gospel is taught and believed. Although plenty of fat clerics want to sell forgiveness at a steep price, forgiveness cannot be bought. That is the same as saying, "Jesus did not do enough for my salvation, I must a little more, or millions more." The praise of clergy is a joke too when the praise is bought and paid for.

The presence of faith is attested by hostility, "correction" by others, and cold shunning. I have heard, from doctoral students in Christian theology - "You don't believe in the resurrection of Christ, do you?"

At the same time, another priest, one who teaches all over the world, writes, "I still have the Luther set you gave me, and I read it all the time." I wonder, because I gave the same set to an ELS pastor, who really wanted it - Which one is the sincere believer? God knows.

Even during the Reformation, some priests said to dying members, "Forget all that you have been taught. Trust only in Jesus the Son of God to forgive your sins." But now Rome seems best at attracting non-believing Lutheran pastors.

I have heard the conviction of many, such as the "Lutheran" layman who said, "You don't believe in the immortality of the soul?!" - I said, "I certainly do."

A visiting sect missionary, denying the divinity of Jesus, said, "How can God pray to God. I can't understand that." I said, "Neither can my dog." He got so upset that he said Rev. Jim Jones (Disciples of Christ) was a Lutheran. He stomped out, furious.

In academic circles, and in all the Lutheran seminaries with students, the future pastors are taught against faith. However, smells and bells, high church theatrics, are essential.

10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

Who are the righteous in the Bible, Old and New Testament? They are the ones believing in Christ, before His incarnation or after. The only true righteousness is the righteousness of faith.

The ultimate proof of the divinity of Christ is His resurrection. To this day, even some of the worst sceptics will concede that the empty tomb is a historical fact. Their opinions do not matter, but it shows how much the revelation of His rising from the dead is powerful today. Fakes are ultimately exposed, like Peter Popoff who had one scam long ago and now sells his magic water.

The entry of Jesus with Lazarus into Jerusalem was earth-shaking by itself. His death was publicizing, known, witnessed. The tomb stood open with the great stone lid on the ground before the opening. Look inside. No one was there. No corpse could be found. But hundreds saw and heard the risen Christ.

The empty tomb spoke eloquently - "Now do you believe?" Certainly, many reject even that. But the Word converted Simon Greenleaf when he studied the Gospels to show how many contradictions were there in the resurrection accounts.

Jesus had faith. Paul wrote about that in Romans, Galatians, and Philippians. We are justified by the faith of Jesus. Dr. Cruz and I were discussing that last night. The Greek is clear. The faith of Jesus, genitive, shows possession. 

Our Justification by Faith began with the faith of Jesus.

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

Romans 1:17 has always baffled Biblical students, whose faith does that mean, from the faith of the apostles? 

11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Luther:
19. In the third place, the Holy Spirit is to convict the world in respect of judgment , that is that the world does not know what right is. For who has ever heard the definition of this right to be, because the prince of this world hath been judged? The prince of the world, to be sure is the devil, which one may readily see in his government.

What Jesus teaches is contrary to all the wisdom of the world, and we know the unbelieving world is simply a mass of contradictions but overall very happy with evil, corruption, lies, greed, and oppression.

Mothers have a singular opportunity and role in teaching faith to their children. This is a multi-generational day, because many of us are thinking of our mothers who taught us. Some lost their mothers early and always felt that loss. And we think about the young mothers and their roles today.

There have never been more aids to faith and more obstacles. It was not so easy after WWII, when everything was changing. I grew up knowing a lot of teachers who taught the youngest children in grade school, had children the same age, and then on Sunday taught Sunday School. 

There are many ways to teach, and mothers have a powerful impact on society by teaching faith in Jesus. Children are especially eager to learn at an early age, and those impressions and lessons last a lifetime.