Let's try this!

 For email, you might just want to tell everyone (post on the blog) that your main email is bethanylutheranworship@gmail.com.  Just something to consider.  That one works, at least compared to the EDLP one. 

We are working on it.

Trinity - 2025. Ephesians Are Encouragement from Jesus Christ.

 

I FORGOT THE SHARE BUTTON!

Hymn #428        I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus    

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto Thee daily.

For Thou, Lord, art good and ready to forgive: 

and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee.

Psalm. Bow down Thine ear, O Lord, hear me: 

for I am poor and needy.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

Lord, we pray Thee that Thy grace may always go before and follow after us and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

Gradual

The heathen shall fear the name of the Lord: 

and all the kings of the earth Thy glory.

V. When the Lord shall build up Zion: 

He shall appear in His glory. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: He is their Help and their Shield. Hallelujah!

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

Sermon Hymn #200    I Know That My Redeemer Lives

                           Ephesians Encouragement

Yesterday, I was studying for today since the Ephesians letter is so well known and easily bypassed. But this is quite dramatic. Paul worked with the Ephesians and was arrested in Rome, chained in a cell. He had some freedom in the last two years. Four of his letters are called the Prison Letters, because he wrote in confinement, a proud Roman citizen who would not give up the truth.

KJV Ephesians 3:13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Paul was suffering the worst, with no complaining, urging his distant members to accept the glory in Jesus Christ, just as he said. So we have this letter of encouragement which is aimed at the Ephesians and circulated among the tiny number of Christians, whose numbers blossomed. Paul knew from his experience along the road, earlier, that the risen Christ could convert him from violent policeman to peaceful apostle and miracle-worker. Look carefully at the section for today and see how the wording is good for all of us and opposed to the typical language of today.

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

This is a great honor, to be named after Jesus Christ, the Son of God. That is an honor from the Son of God Himself, a title very few people use and most abuse. But we are believers in Him from Holy Baptism onward and enjoy a great blessing, whether we are suffering inwardly or outwardly. When we look over the phrases we see how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are together and yet emphasizing aspects of the Holy Trinity. I pray to the Good Shepherd first because He keeps us so close to Him, in protection and in swatting evil away. The Holy Spirit teaches and guides us in the Word, and the Father unites the Trinity. We can be in great agony, physical and emotional, and yet the Godhead watches over us.

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 

Believing in Him means living with Him, heart and soul -- through faith. There is nothing without faith in Jesus the Savior, which is why our country is torn up, corrupted, dishonest, drug-addicted, and inebriated - not to mention lacking in the Word of God, the Bible, and worship. But Christ is completely in us through faith in Him, a position no one else can have. All the world religions accept everything - really! - except the One, True, God - born of the Virgin Mary, God and man, miracle worker, Teacher, suffering Lamb of God, dying for our sins, risen from the dead, and Ascended into Heaven. 

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

We know, believe, and feel the love of Christ. Faith in Him does not ask, "Am I good enough?" because faith in the Good Shepherd draws that love to us and passes it along to others. Faith is contagious and warming, energetic and attracting. 

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think (I count 7), according to the power [dynamis, dynamite, Holy Spirit] that worketh [energy, efficacy] in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Can you picture the mind of Paul in the stinking cell with chains weighing him down? And yet he was the lever that produced the first letters of the New Testament - look at all of them, just by the titles.

    Note - men of engineering and electricity. Power is the power of God, which He gladly gives us in His measure and time. It is not an abstract concept but the reality of how God conducts His work. Likewise is my favorite - energy - which is essential for all of us but especially for two men in that field. Literally "works in" means energy, which means the Holy Spirit is always (not sometimes) at work in the Word of God, whether blinding people or opening their eyes. That is why so many are mean, harsh, and ridiculing. By opposing the powerful Word of Jesus, they oppose the Messiah and all He does for us.

Communion Hymn # 313      O Lord We Praise Thee

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
Hymn #657             Beautiful Savior   

                    Prayers and Announcements

• In our prayers - Sarah and Ed Buck, Pastor Jim and Chris Shrader, Dr. Lito Cruz and family, notably Lynne.
• Dr. Kermit Way celebrated his 86th birthday.
• The parsonage mail is 1104 Letha Drive.
• The parsonage phone can reach many people.

 

                     Luther's Sermon on the Epistle, Ephesians 3:13-21        

Ephesians 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power [dynamis, dynamite, Holy Spirit] that worketh [energy, efficacy] in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

KJV Luke 7:11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Lord God, heavenly Father, who didst send Thy Son to be made flesh, that by His death He might atone for our sins and deliver us from eternal death: We pray Thee, confirm in our hearts the hope that our Lord Jesus Christ, who with but a word raised the widow's son, in like manner will raise us on the last day, and grant us eternal life: through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen

Emailing - Still Working on It

 I am still working on how to connect with emailing.

Zoom offers emailing, so that might work well in some cases.

Accura Sounds

 

I was in the office area when I heard a throbbing sound more like an aircraft. My stomach felt the reverberations. Kids from two houses ran toward the sound. It was an Accura, I was told. The price seemed to be around $50,000. Lights are lit underneath the body of the auto, very impressive at night,

A front headlight was smashed earlier but it was mostly fixed up. 

Reformation Semnary Lecture - Revelation 9 - Parts A and B. 10 AM Central

 

9 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.

2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.

6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.

8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.

10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.

11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.

18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.

20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Working on Email

My email crashed and did not come back. Once upon a time I had Thunderbird email (inexpensive and easy to use. Then I went to the inexpensive later version - Betterbird, yes very corny. 

Emails are ultimate now.

I was working on Google Workspace, which did not go well with me. I was resting on those thoughts with Charlie when GW went blank, perhaps fearing an initial use would have to move faster.

Microsoft 365 is supposed to be good.

I would like to see something straightened out. 

I just ordered two books on Microsoft emails, one a summary, the other more complete.

Reformation Seminary Lecture on Revelation 8 -10 AM

 

When a sudden and violent storm blew at the large ELCA church, during "The Vote," the steeple reminded many of Revelation in threats and fears.

8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;

9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;

11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

New Garden Emerges from the Rains

 

The heat and lack of rain combined to make the garden areas barely alive. Even when actual rain began to fall, normal growth failed to emerge. The new roses began tentatively, timidly, torturously. Finally, I had roses for Doggy Day Care and my Asian friend across the street. 

My mushrooms began to sprout and provide some approval. She said - "I am coming over tomorrow!" Oddly enough, I had bags of grocery store mushrooms in the deep freezer, as if they should keep providing until New Year's Day. That is one of those casual mistakes of routinely buying more mushrooms, which have the double role of opposing cancer and improving stew. Onion! My farm-bred parents said, "You don't know what's good for ya. You don't know how good you have it. You know what's wrong?!" Inevitably - "You are spoiled! Spoiled ROTTEN!" 

I expect even more storms today, and the backyard continues to absorb more rain. The reluctant roses now have beautiful booms in various places. The much-maligned Joe Pye Weed has been trained down to the soil level for the rest of the season. They have been defeated by cannas, which provided free stops for hummingbirds. 

Roses showing up now are Veterans Honor, Fragrant Cloud, Queen of Sween, Elizabeth, and some heavily scented English roses. Ketchup and Mustard - as a rose - was only good for one blooming for the season. 

Emails Useful

 

Start today - it's easy

If you need help, there's 24/7 email, chat and phone support from a real person.

greg.jackson.edlp@gmail.com    Alec

bethanylutheranworship@gmail.com  Zach

gmail

Google Workspace | Gmail

Gmail - justgoodapp

B. Biblical

We are in our fifth day of rain after a summer of drought. The soil seems dry enough to absorb even more water than expected.

I was thinking overnight about the drought of Biblical knowledge and teaching. The Book of Revelation (starting Chapter 8 tomorrow) is vivid, displaying what the final  times will offer. It is a combination of the Savior's work as the Creating Word (Genesis 1 and John 1), and His condemning reaction against unfaith or anti-faith.

The Bible holds everything we need to know and far more than we can contain. Nevertheless, people grab for entertainment and even better - for churches' drive-in coffee and car repair (LCMS, Midland, Michigan). As Luther observed, our actions and thoughts are meaningless without faith. How many times have I heard about the numbers!?

Fellow seminary students (Waterloo, Ontario) would ask me, "Why are you studying GREEK?" We had a great old professor (Otto Heick) who taught faith in Jesus Christ, but now they have only a few students in that same building, where dogs are provided to cheer up the chapel. Theology is absent, but cute.

Trinity 15 - 2025. In Memory of Charlie Kirk

In Memory of Charlie Kirk 

 

xxxx

The Hymn # 575                      Before the Lord We Bow               

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Behold, O God, our Shield, and look upon the face of Thine anointed: 

for a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand.

Psalm. How amiable are Thy tabernacles, 

O Lord of hosts! My soul longeth, 

yea, even fainteth, for the courts of the Lord.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

Keep, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy Church with Thy perpetual mercy; and because the frailty of man without Thee cannot but fall, keep us ever by Thy help from all things hurtful and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual 

Gradual

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord: 

and to sing praises unto Thy name, O Most High.

V. To show forth Thy loving-kindness in the morning: 

and Thy faithfulness every night. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Praise waiteth for Thee, O God, in Zion: 

and unto Thee shall the vow be performed. Hallelujah!

      

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

The Sermon Hymn #581                    All Ye Who on Earth

American Freedom Came from the Scriptures

The Communion Hymn #224      Come Holy Ghost, God and Lord

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 #577               God Bless Our Native Land

Announcements and In Our Prayers

• Enzo Meyer finished his fourth year at Grand Canyon University campus in Phoenix. And - the Meyer girls held a tea party.
• Diagnosis and treatment - Sarah Buck, Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris, 
• Kermit Way is celebrating his birthday today!
• We may have an email solution.

KJV Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

KJV Luke 17:11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Fourteenth Sunday After Trinity

Lord God, heavenly Father, who by Thy blessed word and Thy holy baptism hast mercifully cleansed all who believe from the fearful leprosy of sin, and daily dost grant us Thy gracious help in all our need: We beseech Thee so to enlighten our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may never forget these Thy blessings, but ever live in Thy fear, and, trusting fully in Thy grace, with thankful hearts continually praise and glorify Thee; through Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

                                    American Freedom 

                        Came from the Scriptures

Those who came over from England came with KJV Bibles, printing, and resistance to English tyranny. The path comes all the way from the Old and New Testaments.

St. Paul - Freedom Came from Paul to Luther

Paul was highly regarded as a Jewish scholar and Roman citizen. The Risen Christ converted Paul  - and the new Apostle began the rugged work of preaching to Jews and non-Jews, converting them and also enraging them. Paul showed our future world that freedom could move through manage societies and languages, always with the truth of freedom through faith in the Savior. 

Martin Luther - Freedom given from the Elector and then to Scriptures

Luther was the perfect example of slavery to kings, monks, and popes. Unfortunately for many, Luther began to see that the Scriptures were far more powerful than the other books and teachers so appealing to Medieval teachers. 

    The Elector was short on the votes for the Roman Catholic ruler, so Luther had the leverage on the better votes 500 years ago. The winepress - soon a printing press - sent Luther's work all over Europe and in all languages.

Tyndale - English, Burned at the Stake - Freedom and the Future KJV Bible

"Tyndale had written on topics like justification by faith."

    The best translator for the English Bible became the hidden translator and the invisible translator. But now we can trace what was done in the midst of all those attempts at that time. Tyndale refused to lie about his work, and he was killed then burned at the stake. "Lord open the king's eyes!" - his final words. So Tyndale was not embossed on the KJV Bible but its beauty and clarify were.

    

Freedom KJV America - Patriots - The Parker Honors

    They have traced a relative back to the Patriots, men who risked their lives to escape from English tyranny and enjoy their freedom.