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 to these poisons 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 Left-wing, National Council of Churches denominations.
Today I was surprised by a facsimile of the King James Version, 1611. I wonder if the faculties of Mequon, Bethany, St. Louis, and Ft. Wayne would run screaming out the door if I brought it by in a solemn procession. The decaying and merging ELCA seminary faculties would say, "What's this?"
I am delighted with the 1611, and I am getting some old NIVs (before "all are justified" Romans 3).
Tomorrow starts "I AM" and my KJV library revealed how important that is in the 1611. The four Hebrew letters for LORD are pointed (vowel points) on purpose because the Name is sacred.
Wise guys said back in the 1960s, "Earlier translators did not know that it did not mean or even make sense as Jehovah." The author of this book said the KJV kept the lettering and style as LORD to keep it matching the original - called the Tetragrammaton (for four letters). He went on to say "No one knows the original Name."
Which is better, "Guide me now, O Thou great Jehovah" or "Guide me now, O Thou great Redeemer?" I think the modernized version is weaker, and it has to concede to "Thou" because - "Guide me now, O You great Redeemer" is ridiculous.
Getting back to I AM - its importance is especially clear when Exodus 3 predicts John 8.
I asked the OT graduate class to count how many times Abraham is named in John 8 and Romans 4. Maybe some OJ fanatics will someday note the significance too, and it all concerns I AM.
“Today there is an artificially produced conviction resulting from marketing techniques and imposed on the churches from without. This whole modern consensus maintains the Bible publishing industry must now determine the texts of Scripture.
The Church, as Professor van Bruggen has demonstrated (The Future of the Bible, 1978), has abdicated her role as guardian of the Bible and has turned such responsibility over to hirelings who market various, conflicting translations to the confusion and disarray of the Church.”
The
Authorised Version, 2012, p. 7,
Trinitarian Bible Society.
Figure 2 WELS Synod President Mark Schroeder agreed with
the convention approving ALL translations, an echo of the extra ALL in Romans 3,
2012 NIV.
“Once family devotions were general, now they are rare… Yet the need of spiritual adjustment is ever the same… But how and when? Why not the breakfast table? Surely one or two minutes may be spared. Thirty seconds of silence, then the reading of a noble sentiment from some one who has been thinking for us,—another pause,—and a few words of prayer, framed by some one with more leisure than we have, but who puts us in the mood of prayer and so starts us right upon the duties of the day,—this will bring the needed readjustment.
“Such is the plan and purpose of this little book. It is made for busy men and women, who need to begin the day with God. The quotations for each day are brief, but they are gleaned from the great Masters of thought. The prayers are from devout men of all the denominations.” — Florence Nightingale Perin
Level of Difficulty: Primer: No subject matter knowledge needed.
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“Once family devotions were general, now they are rare… Yet the need of spiritual adjustment is ever the same… But how and when? Why not the breakfast table? Surely one or two minutes may be spared. Thirty seconds of silence, then the reading of a noble sentiment from some one who has been thinking for us,—another pause,—and a few words of prayer, framed by some one with more leisure than we have, but who puts us in the mood of prayer and so starts us right upon the duties of the day,—this ...
“Only one, true Christian Church exists, and that Church is made up of all those who sincerely believe in Christ as their Savior. The true Church, then, is invisible, including members of all denominations, even those without a denomination or formal affiliation. Only God can judge the heart, so one cannot judge whether a person has saving faith from his membership in one denomination or another.” — Gregory L Jackson We are pleased to offer this book with the express approval ...
“Human reason and inclination are always in their natural state averse to the doctrine of Justification by Faith. Hence it is no wonder that earth and hell combine in persistent efforts to banish it from the Church and from the world.” — Matthias Loy Level of Difficulty: Primer: No subject matter knowledge needed. The Great Doctrine of Christianity “This great doctrine of the sinner’s justification by faith in the Redeemer of the world, who lived and suffered and ...
"Ever think of putting your sermons into book form? How about the "treasures" you have written? I think people would appreciate both."
Stage 1 starts on Sunday. The sermon will be on I AM in Exodus 3. Subsequent sermons will be on the I AM sermons and statements in the Gospel of John.
Weekly and mid-weekly sermons are normal and enjoyable tasks, so I could connect the sermons in a defined series or just as examples, the style of old homiletics books.
By focusing on a passage for the sermon coming up, I can build a book in serial form, as Dickens and others did with their serialized novels. Working on sermons and writing on a separate book topic is double the brain-load.
Meanwhile I am taking steps to begin individual online tutoring. Currently, online classes are like initiation for Skull and Bones - waiting anxiously and being tapped - "Skull and Bones, yes or no!" followed by a chase to headquarters.
Classes are added (yes or no!) and sometimes dropped (no reason given).
Our new learning system is impervious to power outages, but a bit slow.
I began grading and doing that online stuff, like "Talk to campus tech to find out why your computer does not get along with HAL 9000." I was never trained in how to manage a student's computer, which I cannot see, or the university's distant web servers. "Who just broke into the server room? Jackson! Get out of there!"
Final edits will soon be done on -
The King James Version: Apostolic Texts, Precise Translation versus Fraudulent Texts and Heretical Translations.
I am on the cusp of a new book - The I AM Sermons in the Gospel of John.
I will begin the book by making each sermon in Lent related to those passages. Norma A. Boeckler already created the illustrations for them. That will be handy for pastors in future years, and good for anyone to study.
All space fans went to this movie in 1968. I took Christina. Most of the students are familiar with HAL 9000's hostile attitude.
KJV Joel 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. 17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? 18 Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. 19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:
KJV Matthew 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Glad Hearts, Mercy and Love
KJV Matthew 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
We cannot doubt that Jesus knew how to poke fun at people who put on a show but do not mean it. I read about the eternal "look" of the Jesuits, painted like long, dreary shadows. They were so intent on putting on their pious faces while doing evil.
This is often the case for those who want to impress others but have no motive except to appear outwardly pious. The Gospel is quite different, because God shows us our sinful natures, our weaknesses, and teaches us about His grace through Jesus Christ.
17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
This is part of the long sermon we call the Sermon on the Mount. Each section is concise and yet is full of details and images for us to remember. Jesus teaches us in stories and images, which are so easy to remember and call up in our minds.
One seminarian in Canada like to wear a poncho all the time, and he did so with great gravity, no light-heartedness. He led a procession to the chapel altar, wearing that. Later, at lunch, because he still had it on, I said, "So you are still wearing your liturgical garments?" He did not smile. Later, he led the future pope up at their convention and wore the same melancholy (but full of pride) Jesuit look.
If people are going to fast, they should do it privately and otherwise show a happy and bright face. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine. KJV Proverbs 17:22. Looking for rewards on earth and booking them like deposits in a heavenly bank - that is human nature rather than God's will.
There is a fuss at a Missouri college, doubtless because big gifts have allowed them to go their own way and ignore their Biblical traditions. Likewise, WELS is bragging about their Schwan gifts (down to the penny), doubtless proud because they absolved the unrepentant Marvin Schwan for his shenanigans.
Everything looks great with the best scenery, lighting, and makeup, until the outwardly is gone and substance remains - just the opposition of the intention.
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
This is a vital passage, which is why we hear it every Ash Wednesday. Our nature is is accumulate treasures on earth and to think of them being our security and comfort, or perhaps the joy we anticipated for the future - that deam-whatever.
I put on a long face and Ranger Bob said, "What's wrong?" I said "My Porsche is sinking in the ocean, in that ship full of cars, and they cannot stop the fires." He began laughing. Some wrote, "Those cars are worth diving down for - they are instant treasures."
No, the real treasures are Christian friendships, mutual help, sharing the joy of our neighbors and relationships. There is more security in a reliable friend than in all the man-made security devices and plans on earth.
The Scriptures are the treasures because they come from God, work God's will, and last forever. The word "treasures" is used in the Book of Concord several times (6 or more) as another way of saying "God's Gospel Promises."
Where are we apart from the Gospel Promises and Blessings of God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ? And where are we without the clear, and everlasting Word energized by the Holy Spirit?
The unrepentant sinner can feel like he is carrying a terrible load when he does not know God's Creation, humanity's problems, and the grace of Jesus Christ. When we are relieved of a great physical burden, or financial burden, nothing compares to the relief of knowing and experience the relief of forgiveness, complete and full, paid for by Jesus Christ.
Knowing that grace, because the Word teaches us, we can never be too anxious, weighed down, or afraid. Most of the things we worry about never happen. Some are real but many are invented by manipulators and marketing mavens.
We should be honest about feeling weighed down and look at it frankly. Some are overworked. Some are in poor health from bad habits, not even knowing the cause. But there is nothing more energizing than feeling God's strength and the fact of drowning our sins in the ocean of His grace - gone forever.
We like that Christmas morning joy of anticipating only the best under the shedding pine tree. And that is ours when we look at God's blessings, confess our sins, and rejoice in the Gospel of the Savior.
A joyful life gives joy to others, and that spreads because it is the Fruit of the Spirit.
