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.
Friday, July 8, 2016
Short Reading List for Lutheran Theology - For Laity, Pastors, and Teachers
Best Sermon Books
Lenker's edition of Luther's Sermons - These are the only sermon books needed, and they should be the primary reading material of every Lutheran layman, teacher, and pastor. The larger set, with the Postils, can be obtained with the Lenker edition, used, for a reasonable amount of money. That set is relatively difficult to obtain, but it is out there in the used market.
Best Systematic Theology
Martin Chemnitz - Examination of the Council of Trent. This work is far more enjoyable than Melanchthon's Loci, so I suggest this set for studying systematic theology. Besides, this is an excellent survey of Roman Catholic errors.
Best Essay on Justification by Faith
Melanchthon's section on Justification in the Augsburg Confession's Apology is worth reading over and over, especially to fumigate one's brain after being exposed to Halle's Universal Objective Justification, regurgitated - world without end - by ELCA, WELS, LCMS, the Little Sect, and the CLC (sic).
Best Book on Justification by Faith
Luther's Galatians Commentary. John Bunyan called this his most read book, apart from the Bible. Someone offered the fact that he saw this in a pastor's library. But was it read, studied, inwardly digested?
Best New Testament Commentaries
Lenski is the only one I would advise getting. Anything by Luther is great, but I question weighing down the shelves with unread volumes of Luther. Better to read Luther's Galatians over and over than to have the complete Luther set.
Best of the Neglected and Forgotten Authors
- Henry Eyster Jacobs has a wonderful study book on Lutheran doctrine.
- Krauth's Conservative Reformation should be studied at least once.
- Schmauk has great insights in his Confessional Principle.
- The King James Version of the Bible, aka the English version of Luther's Bible.
I have given away most of my books, because the ones I use for research are on Kindle. I do not worry about the ingratitude of a few who have received great treasures for free. The Word will accomplish God's will whether or not the recipients know what they now own.
I keep Luther's Sermons and Galatians in the car, to read parts while waiting at doctor's offices, etc.
I keep Luther's Sermons and Galatians in the car, to read parts while waiting at doctor's offices, etc.
Getting to the Before and After Photos
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| This is our car in the driveway, but the Google car photographed a front yard with the Crepe Myrtle neglected, the maple needing trimming, and no roses. The azaleas are in bloom next door. The sunny garden, on the left side of the house, is just sun-baked lawn. |
GJ: "I thought you pulled all of these maple trees up." We laughed.
Helper: "I did. Where are they all coming from? Two in the back have to be dug out now."
We often talk about how much has been accomplished. Our helper dug the first eight holes for the TV roses. We mulched that area with newspapers and shredded wood material. We also mulched along the fence perimeter, and two areas for gardening in the back.
Mrs. I is part of the gardening team, offering great suggestions for placing the roses and eliminating the front lawn. Right now her favorite calladiums are popping up for the first time, red and green ones contrasting with whites.
Another job has been trimming all the trees, pruning and mulching the Crepe Myrtle bush. Trees have offered up a mountain of trash to haul away. The branches in the backyard were hanging down to shoulder level when we arrived.
Now pruned branches are often used in landscaping. One branch had a nice framework for a spider web, at eye level, and I saw a delicate web there, right in the high traffic area for flying insects - fresh food flown in for our helper.
Safety First, Second, and Third
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| Nothing says safety like a fire truck at the front door. |
I was doing my routine work outside when our neighbor apologized for his son starting a bonfire in the backyard with scrap wood. I told him about our concern for safety with such a large fire and a stiff breeze blowing - three boys having a merry time. The nearby wooden storage buildings could have become fuel, too. We had a friendly and detailed conversation, which is enough to say for now.
We always emphasized safety first as LI was growing up. So many bad things begin with a casual disregard for consequences. One was a decision by two of them to chop with an axe and a hatchet, taking alternate swings. I said to LI, "No, that's how my brother came home with a hatchet wound. When he saw it bleeding, he shook his hand and decorated the kitchen. When we painted the kitchen ceiling years later, the spots were still there."
We often talked about making safety first. "If it is second, it might as well be last." That prompted a comment, often made, when I pointed out unsafe practices, "That is making safety a distant last."
Now I am old enough to think, "How badly could I get hurt if this goes wrong?"
I was very young, alone in the car, when I found a way to get the car moving, without the engine on. The car began rolling down a gentle sloping drive. I still remember a neighbor rushing up, opening the door, and stopping the car.
Medicare Nurse
We had routine interviews by the Medicare nurse last year and this year. Three safety ideas were good:
- A smoke detector.
- A handle on the bathtub for getting in and out.
- A shower chair.
The nurse said, "We don't need a shower chair, but we already find it convenient." I ordered one for $30 and its construction was very good for stability. Mrs. I finds it useful, a great idea.
We have a hospital nurse program, which is very useful. Getting on the phone for the doctor means a 15 minute wait, and that is not a good channel for medical advice. If the hospital nurse thinks a problem merits attention, she can alert the physician for a quick appointment.
Mrs. I had spots on her arm, which looked like insect bites to some, poison ivy to others, but shingles to the pharmacist. The pharmacist was correct. This is a bizarre condition, a return of the Chicken Pox virus. After a week of treatment, Mrs. I called the nurse and learned that woman had it for a month and that her anti-viral meds were the only thing around to help. No, she was not a good candidate for the Terry Bradshaw shingles shot. We are using various itch remedies to help, but the condition is far more complicated than needing a pill or ointment.
Thursday, July 7, 2016
The Fault, Dear Brutus, Is Not in ELDONUTS,
But in Our Synods, That We Are Underlings
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| The Fault, Dear Brutus, Is Not in ELDONUTS, But in Our Synods, That We Are Underlings. Apologies to the Earl of Oxford (aka Shakespeare) |
Brutus asked another pastor about the effect of having bishops. The response, from someone with long experience in world missions, was that bishops were the main problem in Africa.
I contend that the Biblical concept of bishops is entirely missing from today's Lutheran bodies: large, small, and microscopic. The Biblical word literally means "look over" and therefore "supervisor," a Latin form of the same concept.
What we have today is the residue from the Western Roman Empire, centered in Rome, falling apart with the empire's officials leaving their posts in a hurry. The Church officials stepped in and took over dual roles in many places, the local bishop serving as mayor. That is a simplification, of course, but the bishops took on secular power, and the Bishop of Rome asserted authority and precedence over all other bishops, as he does today.
The Pope reigned as pope-king in many eras and ordered lesser kings around. One dodged the dogma of infallibility but Pope Pius IX had it established as official dogma, adding he did not need the decree because he had already declared the Immaculate Conception of Mary - on his own.
Coming to America
The LCA and ALC adopted the title of bishop, which the Rome-leaning liberals really wanted. The synods announced that nothing would change except the title. Wrong! Soon the former local presidents took on greater dictatorial power and began modeling the Episcopal robes they adored from the C. H. Ahmy catalogand creative designers.
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| The ELCiC bishop is keen on asserting her power,but did not worry about the CLC/ELCA/WELS Gutsche being one of her pastors. |
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| One Episcopal bishop is on the far left; the drunk driving bishop/killer is in the middle, the Presiding Bishop, Katie Schori, is on the far Left - always. |
The WELS has a system most like The Episcopal Church. The WELS District President supposedly serves a church as a pastor, but he also has a full-time, paid by the synod, assistant to do his parish work.
A WELS DP poses as a pastor. but definitely is "first among equals," as the Bishop of Rome claims, able to step in and violate the divine call by firing someone he does not like, or stepping in and protecting a Church and Change pastor mired in deep yogurt. He flourishes his infallibility by issuing declarations, like Engelbrecht supporting and praising plagiarism.
The LCMS District Presidents have deluxe office buildings and big staffs. The Missouri DPs like to wear neckties to go full-Walther, but they are no different from WELS DPs. Both styles of bishop assert their authority, power, and sanctity while refusing to supervise doctrine as they should. They are more concerned with covering up crimes and promoting synod worship.
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| The LCMS and WELS DP have winter conferences in the sunny Carib. Who pays for those extravagances? |
Authority is not taken but given, according to one Lutheran sociologist from the 19th century. I still believe that insight is valid. We are only underlings if we act like underlings. If we let bishops bully, manipulate, and lie, then the fault is not in their titles but in ourselves.
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| Why did so many LCMS Ft Wayne graduates, who read Thy Strong Word in AD 2000, take 13 years to discover the Chief Article of the Christian Faith? |
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| Why were the ELDONUTS in bed with the UOJ Rolf Synod for a long, long time? |
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Luther Days Impossible Schedule
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| The Odd Couple will sign books, even though Jessica Pratt said she cannot stand Scott Barefoot's arrogance. |
Should be fun-ny.
Sleepless in Silvis asks:
They are still going through with this? I'm wondering how much synod dollars are going into this?
They claim 50+ booths and displays? Are they all paying? Other than Thrivent who REALLY could be a valid sponsor? A member's personal business? An individual? They should declare them by now. Most conventions do especially when guests are traveling farther than intrastate.
***
GJ - Answer. I am told WELS has funded this debacle, after Pratt met with Mark Schroeder. That would help explain how this became a showcase for Church and Changers with a side-helping of sodomy.
Otherwise, there is no chance this could work, and there are still big, gaping holes in the logistics, according to my safe sources.
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| "Safe!" |
Objective of event
Welcome to Luther Days
The Luther Days Festival is one of the most exciting events
around for Confessional Lutherans and is the largest distinctly
Lutheran
festival in North America! This one-of-a-kind event is for the
entire family and brings Martin Luther and the Reformation to life by offering
participants a uniquely interactive and distinctly Lutheran
experience for all ages. The festival also embraces the heritage of the
Lutheran
Church and is an action-packed day with hands-on
exploration into the reformation, our Lutheran faith, and the German heritage of
the immigrant Lutherans.
A lot of the Master Schedule "classes"
"courses" whatever word one would use has topics that I can't say are
"action-packed" or "embraces the heritage of the Lutheran Church". Such
as:
Stressed Out But Standing Strong
Got Women-What do to with women who don't bake or make
casseroles
Hope and Healing after Porn (What about during?)
Hope and Healing after Porn (What about during?)
Dangers of Porn and the Need to Prepare (Didn't it exist before the internet?)
For Called Workers Helping our Families Reject Porn in our
Churches (One would think that all these
Porn classes apply to our Lutheran Heritage. Reject Porn in our
Churches--nothing about "at home where
most men/women view porn except for the few
brainless that have to do it at church office computers? Or is that just a poor
choice of title?) [GJ - Natalie Pratt is big on porn addiction and has put a lot of porn links on the Luther Days Twitter list. So - action-packed is right, after all.]
WELS Training Camp Rock Climbing Wall ("Got" Liability Insurance? Oops---forgot Luther was a big Rock Climbing guy)
Taste of Germany - Food Court ("Got" Liability Insurance and State Food Licenses?)
Holy Hen House- Social Gathering for WomenEither they have enough Luther subject matters or make the sessions longer. The rest of the things (Pakistan, etc could be put in a booklet)
The one that bothers me the most is "Everyone who Calls on the Name of the Lord will be Saved". Topic is on Romans 10:13 versus Matthew 7:21-23?
You could stand in line for 6 hours (assuming their will be huge masses of people with no parking) just for book signings. When Luther is there to sign a real book, I'll go.
Is this Luther Days or WELS days based on the topics? A lot of pats on the back are scheduled.
Feeling the Mulch after Two Hours of Gardening Yesterday.
Feeling the Burn Next Door
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| Sassy keeps track of all the children she knows, and they love her gentle spirit. |
Sassy wanted to walk at 6 AM, so I got a late start. Better to walk first and make coffee second than to look at her puppy eyes damning me for making her wait. The early walk is our longest one now, and she loves exploring when the child of morning, rosey-fingered Dawn appears.
Last night she fooled me, as she often does. Sassy was supposed to walk the cul-de-sac with me and go inside again. Instead, she smiled and walked into the grassy acreage of Almost Eden. I thought, "OK, she wants something different." She looks at me and smiles for permission to go where she wants. She repeated this several times, getting closer and closer to the plants, but that was still a bit of a walk.
I headed us behind the earthen berms, where top soil had created a paradise for wild flowers, weeds, insects, and birds. I was trying to see if they had Poison Hemlock, as I did earlier. Once past the berm we were among the gardens, fruits, and bushes. I heard a sound - perhaps Little Almost Eden. Then I realized the game. Sassy can detect her friends from our front yard, goes on alert, and strives to meet them. This time she only heard them and worked her way into a reunion.
The dog Opie, Little Almost Eden, and Grampa walked into view. The dogs had a happy meet and greet, and the rest of us talked about dogs and gardening. I knew it was a former dairy farm, but I also learned our house was the area where they grew grapes. Sassy soon become warm and tired, so we said goodbye and walked home. She stretched out on the cool floor to get comfortable again.
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| Our Crepe Myrtle blooms look like pink Christmas trees. |
Feeling the Mulch
I joined our helper at 6 AM yesterday in spreading as much mulch as possible in the main rose garden. We had a lot of fun kidding each other as we worked. This morning I felt the results in the back of my legs, but it is far more productive than the sterile exercise possible in a gym.
Unlike the rest of the neighborhood, I coddle our Crepe Myrtle bush. Before the rain I watered it slowly at the base to bring out the blooms, which are big, fluffy, and pink. Now that it is almost in full bloom, I built a new base of fertilizer for future health and beauty.
- Basement layer - the clippings, sticks and leaves from the maple tree.
- Ground floor - a bag of cow manure compost from Walmart.
- First floor - newspaper and brown paper to discourage grassy weeds.
- Top floor - a bag of cyprus mulch from Walmart.
I have built organic material pyramids under the Crepe Myrtle many times before, and the ground always ends up level. While some of this may be blown away by the wind, most is composted into the ground by soil creatures while providing a bird feeder and spider haven.
God has sorted out who does what during these stages of decomposition and feeding. This is where the Creation gardener gets to observe the unique functions of each creature, but also the careful engineering and design of each form of life, and finally the expert management that makes them all work together.
Does your wood mulch invite bugs? Spiders will cast a net over the mulch on the first day and birds will poke through to catch some. Starling beaks are fashioned so they spring them open to flip leaves and twigs to expose bugs.
Did a dog vomit on your mulch? No, that is a slime mold called Dog Vomit, and it is actually doing some cleanup duty before disappearing. Our Army veteran buddy picked it up just before I called it Dog Vomit, swore, and asked, "Why didn't you tell me?" I laughed and said, "Not Sassy's. That is a slime mold that forms on wood mulch."
Is your mulch pile under the plant shrinking? That is the divine example of Project Management, a skill we teach - and pay big money for - in our daily lives of labor and rest. But the Creating Word has this all arranged in advance so the necessary recycling of all living things will feed the next generation of plant and animal life. Nitrogen and manure heat up the pile under the bush. Wood scraps alone can heat up enough, in huge piles, to start a fire. (That was always a problem with coal and perhaps a reason why the Titanic went down in 1912, trying to burn off the simmering coal piles.)
The more we know about this, the better we can let our gardens take advantage of what was established by the Word at Creation.
Feeling the Burn
During the day I felt the heat and smelled the acrid smoke of lumber burning next door. The kids built a large bonfire out of scraps, breaking a bevvy of laws:
- Scrap lumber cannot be burned.
- A burn permit is required for legal fires, like burning brush.
- The fire cannot be within 50 feet of combustible buildings (one on each side).
- A hose must be near the fire - none visible.
- The fire must be tended at all times, never left alone.
- No fires before dawn or after sundown. They previously had many outdoor fires at night, but that practice stopped.
The nearby station sent a truck over with three men. They arrived in minutes after I described the situation. The firemen came out of the truck looking very grim. Soon one boy was dousing their bonfire. I am not sure if the boys earned a ticket for their efforts, but the scrap pile was thoroughly extinguished and the outside quiet for the rest of the day.
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| Slime Mold looks like dog vomit, but it is following its own engineering and doing its job. |
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