Quantcast
Channel: Ichabod, The Glory Has Departed
Viewing all 11684 articles
Browse latest View live
↧

Do Not Stand So Close to the Excavation

May 14, 2018, 7:24 am
$
0
0
 We knew Jaroslav Pelikan at Yale. Soon after, I met his father and brother in Cleveland.

Questions come in from people who are being swindled by the UOJ hoaxers. The situation reminds me of Pastor Pelikan, father of the Luther scholar, who was doing the commital at the grave site. Just as he was finishing, he felt the earth give way. He deftly jumped across and landed on solid ground.

At the next funeral, the family asked him, "Pastor Pelikan, will you do the graveside ceremony of leaping over the grave for us?"

Professor Pelikan said, "That is how quickly traditions get established."

The UOJ hoaxers try to pull the innocent into their traps by quoting Luther selectively. One must always remember - Spinning a new doctrine from a brief quotation is bound to be deceptive and wrong.

An example of this can be found in the 50 page bloviation of Jay Webber, trying to make Luther an advocate of Halle's Objective Justification - Universal Forgiveness without Faith.

 The improvement gang and correction guys want to take us as far away from the Gospel as they are. They do not trust the efficacy of the Word.


"Jesus Is All Forgiveness" and "You Are Already Forgiven"
Naturally we should start with the Gospel of John, the Epistles of Paul, Genesis 15, or anywhere in the Bible.

But they pull out these Luther quips to build their case, like the time I stacked book boxes on empty cardboard boxes to keep the books dry. The basement floor became wet and the foundation crumbled, tumbling the book boxes into the water. Thus Webber and his coven of ignorant, false teachers tumble into the swamp they have constructed for everyone else.

So let us start with Luther since they want to lead with their weakest hand. What was Luther arguing against?Answer - the Roman Catholic dogma of faith requiring works to satisfy God, not that all the works in the world are enough. 

Opposing the papal portrayal of Jesus as an angry, vengeful Judge, Luther repeated the Johannine portrait of Jesus - He has died for all our sins, so trust that He is all forgiveness.

What is sin in the Teaching of Jesus? The Spirit will convict the world of sin - "because they believe not on Me."


Basic Luther
Since everyone claims a quia subscription to the Book of Concord, let's give theQuia Marias a lesson from the Confessions. The Formula of Concord commended Luther's Galatians Lectures for further study of Justification by Faith. Webber mentioned the work but clearly has never read it, and certain has not understood it if he did.


Basic Paul
If St. Paul teaches Justification without Faith, parallel with Justification by Faith, he contradicts himself and Genesis 15.



Really Basic Biblical Doctrine
What we call Lutheran doctrine is simply what the Scriptures teach. The Holy Spirit works through the Word and only through the Word, so there is no magical poof where everyone in the world is forgiven and saved without faith. When they define their magical poof, they contradict each other, reminding us of how the UOJists hate each other and scrap like junkyard dogs fighting over a wounded rat. Poof! - when Jesus died? when Jesus rose? when the angels announced His birth?

Applying filters for "understanding" the Word - that comes from the Pope and his legion of followers, from Calvin and his confused disciples.

No wonder the graduates of the Concordia Seminaries either run to Rome and the others align with Fuller Seminary. It depends on which dogmatic foundation seems most appealing to the poor, misguided UOJists.

↧
Search

Mail Carrier Hands Out Advice on Growing Roses. One Way a Gardener Can Get Big Hips

May 14, 2018, 2:42 pm
$
0
0
 Creation Gardening - By Him Were All Things Made.


The warm weather has prompted a burst of rose blooms. First the wild roses bloomed in profusion - three of them. They have small, dark red flowers, so colorful that the mail carrier asked about them.

His daughter recently said, "I want to grow roses, but I do not know how." He told her, "I have a book for you, but you have to give it back." He smiled, because I gave him two copies of Creation Gardening.

The small, bargain roses are blooming. I think one is called Home Run. The veteran Easy Does It rose began blooming on Saturday, but just for color - short stems so far. I need some longer stems for the vase.

Buckwheat is getting even for being mowed down last summer. It engulfed the roses to such an extent that our Laotian neighbors laughed and pointed at my rose buckwheat garden. The buckwheat plants grew so tall, they covered the Lincoln (very tall) roses. Buckwhat is sensitive to cold, but many seeds survived the winter. They tend to exclude weeds, so I am going to let them have their way for now.

Hostas are gained in two ways. The tiny ones I planted last fall are popping out of the ground, so my despair is disipating. The established ones from the backyard and Mrs. Gardener's are in great shape and ready to bloom in the rose garden this year. I have permission to thin out her hostas, so I will spread more around when I get a good idea about the survival of the little ones.

People think a front yard of roses is odd, but people ask about it all the time. No one drives up to a yard and says, "Is that grass?"

 The hybrid teas were not ready for vases, so I bought a dozen roses just for the neighbors - $10 at Walmart.


Roses for Mother's Day
This is the third year I gave roses to each neighbor on our cul-de-sac for Mother's Day. Our SuperMom got a big bunch - she has four daughters, which I call the Esses. S1 played with Sassy, then S2, and now S3 fusses over her. The baby is not quite ready for Sassy's barking and kissing, but that may develop when the dog to child ration changes.

Ranger Bob takes flowers to the cemetary as often as he can, so Sassy and I took the other bunch of flowers to his house. We prayed for John and Pat in church - she got her rose. Another rose went to a police officer's wife a few blocks away.

 Rugosa for rag-like leaves. I don't see that either.
But they are easy to grow and enjoy.

Rugosa Roses Will Give the Gardener Big Hips
The old-fashioned roses have fewer blooms but larger hips (the seed-pod or fruit of the rose). I got some rugosa roses from Direct Gardening and put them where they had rather poor light and eratic watering. I transplanted the rose this spring and it burst into bloom.

Rugosa roses are as tough as they come, so I may get more in the future.

 Home Run - early color.

↧
↧

For Campanologists - The Love and Promotion of Church Bells

May 14, 2018, 4:56 pm
↧

Tis a Good Thing I Watered Key Flowers Yesterday. The Storm Is Coming - Has Arrived

May 15, 2018, 5:29 am
$
0
0
 The upside-down Nuthatch was designed to make feeding from the bark that much easier. Likewise, squirrels are engineered to max their speed and ability in trees and designed with split image eye lenses to judge distance to my bird feeders. From Norma A. Boeckler

I used to depend on Mr. Gardener's weather reports, because Weather.com and Accuweather (sic) seldom agreed. Worst of all the weather sites overreport the next rain, which means we often see the storm sail on from Oklahoma to Eastern Arkansas.

When Mr. Gardener got on his riding mower and grimly cut down the growth of his lawn, as if the storm was about to break, I knew the rain was coming.

Yesterday I began by watering the enormous Cat Mint mound that started last year and decided 2018 was its leap year. The combination of mint roots and clay soil meant I wanted some soft soil to move most of it to the Butterfly Garden (the sunniest area) and to share with others. Ranger Bob has two cats and I told him how one comes over just to rub herself against the Cat Mint. Our dentist's mother also wants Cat Mint. Do not worry - I could start a business from that one mound and I have more besides.

I decided to soak most of the rose garden, just in case the "maybe rain" forecast turned out to be another fantasy. As Ishmael wondered in Moby Dick, "Did you ever feel like the whole world was a practical joke and you were the butt end of it?"

I heard thunder and rain last night, and the rain continues. The radar suggests that rain will continue today a bit, a prelude to rain tomorrow.

Ranger Bob, in spite of his work in landscaping, hates rainy days. However, I love to see a long, slow rain. Watering and then seeing the water bill can make anyone appreciate free rainwater expertly applied, packed with usable nitrogen compounds, lacking chlorine - God's best liquid fertilizer, guaranteed not to burn. However, flooding may occur.

Some organic gardening book probably calculates the fertilizer laid down by one rainstorm over several states. The amount of water itself is impossible to imagine.

Rain is like news, good and bad - I cannot control the rain, only what I do about it. Every plant serves to channel rain downward, which is very good, so that also means storing the water in its tissue. Every creature is mostly water and also stores the rain. A good rainstorm is captured by the growth of plants, bacteria, protozoa, mold, earthworms, and all soil creatures. The plants also build channels for the water to penetrate more deeply and be stored.

Some say "Boo hiss" when they hear about clay soil, but God made clay soil to hold a lot of water and to exchange mineral ions easily. When I am ankle deep in super-saturated clay mud and possibly falling over, I am not so keen on clay. Nevertheless, clay plus organic matter is the best foundation for most crops.

This is where I have to put in a good word for the God-created and wind-sown weeds - and the weeds squirrels work hard to plant and manage. Weeds are Guardians of the Soil (a classic work that will crush your bias against weeds). Weeds build the soil and hold it in place. They often have taproots that send rain water deep into the soil. Squirrels manage most of mine, by planting nuts where they will be watered most - under a rose bush. So cute, not. But I counter their trickery by cutting deep-rooted weeds at the soil level, a landscaper's trick. It uses no toxins, keeps the roots at work, and prevents the little trees from becoming a nut plantation.

 That is my Lowe's feeder, but not my photo.


Pleasant Surprises
Ranger Bob had too much storage on his property, so he asked, "Do you want a storage shed?" I always thought that would be great for gardening tools and convenience. Soon we were carrying it over from his place, and he was painting it white, black, and silver. He loves to paint.

When I spotted a roll-top desk, never used, in his barn, he offered to bring it over on his truck. Three of us could barely manage it, and it barely fit. He likes to work on cars and fix things, but hates paperwork. I help him with taxes and dealing with various bureaucrazies.

Someone was watching our service and a prayer was answered, so he wrong a long letter about it. There are so many consequences of broadcasting the Word - one never knows.

From Norma A. Boeckler

↧

If thou but suffer God to guide thee | Comfort for Christians

May 15, 2018, 5:54 am
$
0
0
George Neumark - inspired a Bach chorale.


If thou but suffer God to guide thee | Comfort for Christians:




"Lyrics Permalink
“If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee”
by Georg Neumark, 1621-1681
Translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878

If thou but suffer God to guide thee
And hope in Him through all thy ways,
He’ll give thee strength, whate’er betide thee,
And bear thee through the evil days.
Who trusts in God’s unchanging love
Builds on the Rock that naught can move.

Be patient and await His leisure
In cheerful hope, with heart content
To take whate’er thy Father’s pleasure
And His discerning love hath sent,
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To Him who chose us for His own.

Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving,
Perform thy duties faithfully,
And trust His Word, though undeserving,
Thou yet shalt find it true for thee.
God never yet forsook in need
The soul that trusted Him indeed.

2. What can these anxious cares avail thee,
These never-ceasing moans and sighs?
What can it help if thou bewail thee
O’er each dark moment as it flies?
Our cross and trials do but press
The heavier for our bitterness.

4. God knows full well when times of gladness
Shall be the needful thing for thee.
When He has tried thy soul with sadness
And from all guile has found thee free,
He comes to thee all unaware
And makes thee own His loving care.

5. Nor think amid the fiery trial
That God hath cast thee off unheard,
That he whose hopes meet no denial
Must surely be of God preferred.
Time passes and much change doth bring
And sets a bound to everything.

6. All are alike before the Highest;
‘Tis easy to our God, we know,
To raise thee up, though low thou liest,
To make the rich man poor and low.
True wonders still by Him are wrought
Who setteth up and brings to naught.


Hymn #518 in The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Ps. 55:22
Author: Georg Neumark, 1640
Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt.
Titled: “Wer nur den lieben Gott laesst walten”
Composer: Georg Neumark, 1640
Tune: “Wer nur den lieben Gott”"



'via Blog this'
↧
↧

The True Church by Emanuel Greenwald - Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry – "Faithful to the Reformation"

May 15, 2018, 6:18 am
$
0
0


The True Church by Emanuel Greenwald - Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry – "Faithful to the Reformation":



"About Emanuel Greenwald
“Emanuel Greenwald was born near Frederick, Maryland, Jan. 13, 1811, and was, like the prophet Samuel of old, dedicated by his pious parents to the holy office from his earliest infancy. His theological studies were pursued under the private supervision of Rev. David F. Schaeffer, who similarly prepared no less than fourteen other young men, in his own parsonage, for the work of the ministry.

“Dr. Greenwald’s first parish was New Philadelphia, Ohio, and all the adjoining country within a radius of fifteen miles in every direction. At one time he supplied fourteen preaching points on Sundays and week-days. In 1842 he was elected as the first editor of the Lutheran Standard, and from 1848 to 1850 he was the president of the English District Synod of Ohio.

“The years 1851 to 1854 were spent in the city of Columbus, during which time he held many responsible positions on important boards, committees, etc. In September, 1854, he accepted a call to the pastorate of Christ Church, Easton, Penn., which he faithfully served for twelve years. His fourth and last parish was Holy Trinity Church of Lancaster, Penn., in which he labored from May, 1867, up to his death in December, 1885. He began preaching every Thursday evening at a mission point in the northern part of the city, which soon developed into Grace Church, and afterwards started another mission in the western section which was the nucleus of Christ Church. An assistant being necessary for the increasing field, Rev. Charles S. Albert served in this capacity, then Rev. David H. Geissinger, then Rev. John Rumple, then Rev. C. Elvin Haupt, then Rev. Ezra K. Reed, then Rev. Charles L. Fry. Long after his own generation will his memory continue to be revered as an ideal pastor and a man of pre-eminent saintliness. C. L. F.1

Download the E-book

EPUB (Apple, Kobo)"



'via Blog this'
↧

A Great Hymn of Encouragement - And Not from Paul Gerhardt!

May 15, 2018, 7:29 am
$
0
0

 This hymn is sometimes called the hymn Paul Gerhardt did NOT write, but could have written. So let's celebrate George Newmark.
 http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Neumark.htm

Georg Neumark (Hymn-Writer, Composer)
Born: March 16, 1621 - Langensalza, Thuringia, Germany
Died: July 18, 1681 - Weimar, Germany
Georg Neumark was educated at the Gymnasiums in Schleusingen and Gotha. He received his certificate of dimission from the latter in September 1641. He left Gotha in the autumn of 1641, along with a number of merchants going to the Michaelmas Fair at Leipzig. He then joined a similar party going from Leipzig to Lübeck, planning to proceed to Königsberg and enroll at the university there. After passing through Magdeburg, they were attacked by bandits on the Gardelegen Heath, who robbed Neumark of all he had with him, except his prayer book and a little money sewed up in his clothes.

Georg Neumark returned to Magdeburg, but could not find a job there, nor in Lüneburg, Winsen, or Hamburg, to which in succession the friends he made passed him on. In the beginning of December he went to Kiel, where he found a friend in Nicolaus Becker, a fellow Thuringian and then chief pastor at Kiel. Day after day passed without an opening, till about the end of the month the tutor in the family of judge Stephan Henning fell into disgrace and fled from Kiel. On Becker’s recommendation, Neumark got the job, and this sudden end of his anxieties was the occasion of the writing of his hymn Wer nur den lieb­en Gott lässt walten.

Georg Neumark passed the time happily in the Henning home until he had saved enough to proceed to Königsberg, where he enrolled June 21, 1643, as a law student. He remained five years, also studying poetry under Dach and maintaining himself as a family tutor. During this time (in 1646) he again lost all his belongings, this time by fire. In 1648 he left Königsberg, was for a short time in Warsaw, and spent 1649-1650 at Thorn. He was then in Danzig, and September 1651 in Hamburg. By the end of 1651 he had returned to Thuringia, and was noticed by Duke Wilhelm II of Sachse-Weimar, the president of the Fruitbearing Society, the principal German literary organization in the 17th Century. The Duke, apparently in 1652, appointed Neumark as court poet, librarian, and registrar of the administration at Weimar; and finally secretary of the Ducal Archives. In September 1653 Neumark was admitted as a member of the Fruitbearing Society, of which he became secretary in 1656. In 1679, he also became a member of the Pegnitz Order. In 1681, he went blind, but was permitted to keep his posts until he died.


"If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee"
by Georg Neumark, 1621-1681
Translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878

1. If thou but suffer God to guide thee
And hope in Him through all thy ways,
He'll give thee strength, whate'er betide thee,
And bear thee through the evil days.
Who trusts in God's unchanging love
Builds on the Rock that naught can move.

2. What can these anxious cares avail thee,
These never-ceasing moans and sighs?
What can it help if thou bewail thee
O'er each dark moment as it flies?
Our cross and trials do but press
The heavier for our bitterness.

3. Be patient and await His leisure
In cheerful hope, with heart content
To take whate'er thy Father's pleasure
And His discerning love hath sent,
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To Him who chose us for His own.

4. God knows full well when times of gladness
Shall be the needful thing for thee.
When He has tried thy soul with sadness
And from all guile has found thee free,
He comes to thee all unaware
And makes thee own His loving care.

5. Nor think amid the fiery trial
That God hath cast thee off unheard,
That he whose hopes meet no denial
Must surely be of God preferred.
Time passes and much change doth bring
And sets a bound to everything.

6. All are alike before the Highest;
'Tis easy to our God, we know,
To raise thee up, though low thou liest,
To make the rich man poor and low.
True wonders still by Him are wrought
Who setteth up and brings to naught.

7. Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving,
Perform thy duties faithfully,
And trust His Word, though undeserving,
Thou yet shalt find it true for thee.
God never yet forsook in need
The soul that trusted Him indeed.

Hymn #518
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Ps. 55:22
Author: Georg Neumark, 1640
Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt.
Titled: "Wer nur den lieben Gott laesst walten"
Composer: Georg Neumark, 1640
Tune: "Wer nur den lieben Gott"

***

GJ - This is a great hymn for those going through a time of trial. The anniversary of the Reformation gave me plenty of reasons to be completely disgusted. The attitude of 100% of the Lutherans was - "Let's get this over with so we can ignore Luther with impunity."

An ELCA pastor teaching the deluded souls at a Jeske conference was a good example of this. She said, "I am already tired of the anniversary."

WELS/ELS cannot give up their position against Luther, because we all know - from these two sects only - that Sig Becker and JP Meyer were far superior to Luther in their theological insights from the Bible or wherever they found their theses.

Matt the Fatt's LCMS has stolen a march on the competition by publishing a catechism that gloriously explains - as Mrs. Matt did to me - that there is an Objective and a Subjective Justification - yes, everywhere but the Bible, Luther, and the Confessions. Thus the Oblates of Walther Immaculate have sealed the fate of their dying sect.

What troubles me is -

  • Everyone has access to the English version of Luther's Bible - the King James Version, plus various KJV updates.
  • The Book of Concord teaches Justification by Faith and commends Luther's Galatians Lectures.
  • Various theologians have repudiated OJ/SJ.
  • All the clergy have access to a wealth of theological and Scriptural books but show no inclination to deal with the issues.








↧

Fire breaks out at downtown Milwaukee church - TMJ4 Milwaukee, WI

May 15, 2018, 4:00 pm
$
0
0






Fire breaks out at downtown Milwaukee church - TMJ4 Milwaukee, WI:


 Trinity is the mother church of Lutheranism in Milwaukee, its congregation having been organized in 1847. Ceremonies on July 7, 1878, marked the laying of the cornerstone, and Trinity Lutheran was consecrated April 11, 1880. Cost of the church, including all furnishings, glass, and organ, was $43,500.
Trinity Church is a highly decorative and vigorous example of the Victorian Gothic style. The interior is notable for the broad spaciousness of its vaulted auditorium and for the extraordinarily fine craftsmanship of its wooden trim, fittings, and furnishings. Particularly remarkable are the sweeping staircase in the north tower, the organ casing, the lofty, canopied pulpit, the altarpiece, and the doors.



"Crews were called out to 1046 N. 9th Street, which is Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church.







'via Blog this'

----

Follow Up


"We did have one when they were remodeling this building right there -- it did go to a third alarm. I did talk to (the City of Milwaukee's Department of Neighborhood Services) who handled building inspection and spoke to the pastor of the church -- so the church is fully remodeled three or four years ago. Whenever you have a large wooden structure and fire, that's always a concern," said Smith.
Smith said it's too early to say where the fire started. He said the initial call was for a fire on the roof at 3:45 p.m.
Smith said firefighters weren't going inside "for safety and the fear of collapse."
"We're gonna fight this fire from the exterior before we even attempt to get in the building," said Smith.
There was no damage to any other buildings, and no other businesses had to be shut down, but fire personnel were stationed at some surrounding businesses out of precaution.
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated State Historic Site. The building was declared a Milwaukee landmark in 1967, a State Historical Landmark in 1979 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
↧
Search

Photos of Historic Trinity Lutheran Church, LCMS - Before the May 15, 2018 Fire

May 16, 2018, 2:43 am
↧
↧

Destroying the Foundations of Biblical Study. Rebuilding the Foundations

May 16, 2018, 4:31 am
$
0
0

Many posts come from discussions with readers. Today I show how the foundations of Biblical study have been destroyed by the Evangelicals and Lutherans. But they can be repaired.

 Tischendorf was a con artist who manipulated the facts to make himself a great hero.


Text Criticism of the New Testament, aka Lower Criticism
The foundation - in the modern age - came from Count Tischendorf and the Wescott/Hort team. These three men led the field in creating a pseudo-science of text critcism with their own ideas, which are really assumptions. This field of study centers on the New Testament.

For example, one assumption - which they call a rule - is that the shorter reading is better than the longer one. But that does not bear the weight of a few questions. A story can be shortened or lengthened by retelling it. Length does not change its veracity.

Another assumption is that the more difficult reading for traditional Christians is the better one. That means one account is more factual and mythical elements were added over time. So a miraculous healing began as someone thinking he was sick, then thinking he was healthy after meeting Jesus. The rationalists like Mark's Gospel, because they think Mark is early.

A third assumption is that the mass of manuscripts preserved by the Greek, Byzantine Church are inferior to the ones discovered and promoted by Count Tischendorf. The eevul Orthodox Greeks must have suppressed the good ones that the Count found and promoted.

The Bible is better preserved than any other ancient text of any kind, and we have earlier versions of the Bible than we do of more modern books.  However, the modern translations follow Tischendorf, Wescott, and Hort. The KJV Bibles (older and newer) do not.

Canon Criticism
Jews and Christians have regarded the books of their traditions as canonical, rejecting the other ones as questionable. Making a big study of this leads the apostates to say with glee, "There could be 20 books in the entire Bible - or 100! It is not God's Word to man, but man's word about God."

Scepticism fuels canon criticism, and canon criticism supports scepticism - as long as the facts are concealed. An apostate will seize upon any factoid to support his attitude that the Bible is just one more religious book.

 "Charlotte, vas dat your knee?"
The Great Barth at work - teaching the Bible contains the Word of God. He conveniently erased the Sixth Commandment.


Higher Criticism - The Historical-Critical Method - HCM
All Biblical "scholarship" today is concentrated in the Historical-Critical Method, which by definition treats the Bible as any other book.

That means every issue is debatable.

  1. Did Paul write Romans? Did he hate women? Rather - how much did he hate women? 
  2. Did Jesus ever consider Himself divine? 
  3. When did the Trinity really develop as dogma - and how did that change the original New Testament texts?
  4. How do we separate the mythical from the historical in the Bible?
  5. How did Hellenistic philosophy influence the Gospel of John?
  6. How did Paul turn Jesus the Rabbi into the Son of God?
  7. Etc. etc. etc. So much baloney and it gets far worse with the HCM gurus supporting the Lavender Mafia.


The old mainline schools like Princeton and Yale were orthodox a century or more ago. Now all the university departments and seminaries are 100% HCM.

Fuller Seminary is the dedicated to this modernism and remains the guiding light of Protestantism - especially the "conservative" Lutherans: LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic). Roman Catholics are HCM and Eastern Orthodox do not care.



How To Repair the Foundations
I am an expert in desserts, after growing up in a bakery and enjoying between-the-snacks snacks all day long. Donuts and cookies make someone hungry for cookies and donuts, which is why we took food breaks.

We ate real meals away from the bakery. Nothing kills an appetite for donuts, cookies, and candy like meat, potatoes, vegetables, and salad.

The only way to fix the problem among Lutherans is to return to the text, in Hebrew where possible, in Greek often. All the theories have been published and they will be recycled every few years. The only certainty we have, as Nils Dahl stated in class, is "The text!"

 Nils Dahl studied under Bultmann and debated Bultmann's assumptions - Dahl taught "The Text!"


The Text!
Ministers should be studying the text of the Bible (not helper books written by synod simpletons) and the laity should be as studious. That alone will kill the appetite for corn sugar candy delivered by the religious press. It also prevents the foothold false doctrine is always seeking.

NT Greek
Greek is easy to learn and to teach. The WELS pastors are supposedly infallible, as Tim Glende claimed, because "They. Study. Greek!" Why not teach Greek to their children and also the congregation? Not everyone wants to learn NT Greek, but why hold back?

What a difference, to study the actual text and compare parallel verses? All the text-based scholarly books make sense - Lenski, Kittel, dictionaries, etc.

The English language is formed from Greek, Latin, and German, which are also the theological languages. At the very worst, a language education will make someone far more appreciative of our English language, medicine, law, and science terms.

The Quia Marias talk about the Confessions. Do they teach the text of the Confessions? I doubt it.

Here is a beautiful church sign:

NT Greek Taught Here
Book of Concord Lessons
The Vulgate is not vulgar - Learn Latin

Yes indeed, this Age belongs to the Ignorant, the Greedy, and the Self-Deluded, but we do not need to surrender to them without a fight. The best weapon is the Word, sharper than any two-edged sword.


↧

Note - Historic St. John Lutheran Church Is Just North Of - Across 145 - Historic Trinity Lutheran LCMS, Milwaukee

May 16, 2018, 5:04 am
$
0
0
 WELS kicked Historic St. John Lutheran Church out of the synod over an act of petty vandalism. Under Mirthless Mark Schroeder, they stole it back - with the endowment. The last I heard, they still had two members.





 We can give you a deal on the rental fees.


 St. John is possibly more beautiful than Trinity was.

Mark and Avoid Jeske wanted to buy this altar at one time, long ago, when he was high church instead of clown church.

↧

In That Day | Comfort for Christians

May 16, 2018, 7:08 am
$
0
0




In That Day | Comfort for Christians:


"In That Day
15 May 2018 in Devotions on Martin-luther-1483-1546, Sanctification

From Devotional Readings From Luther’s Works For Every Day Of The Year compiled by Rev. John Sander. LutheranLibrary.org edition in preparation.

There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; mens hearts failing them for fear. Luke 21:25, 26.

The signs preceding the judgment day are many and great. They will all be fulfilled, even though none or very few men take note of or esteem them as such. Two things must take place according to the Word and prophecy of Christ and the apostles: first, many and great signs will be made manifest; second, the last day will come unawares; the world will not expect it, even though that day be at the door. Though men see those signs and be told that they are signs of the last day, still they will not believe. Some, indeed, will see it and it will be those who least expect it. That there will be such security and indifference among men we prove from the words of Christ and the apostles. Christ says: “Take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare, for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of the earth.”

From these words it is clear that men in great measure will give themselves over to surfeiting and drunkenness and the cares of this life, and that, drowned as it were in these things, they will rest secure and continue to dwell on the earth as if the dreadful day were far away. For were there no such security and heedlessness, that day would not break in unawares. But he says it will come as a snare by which birds and beasts are caught at a time when most concerned about their food and least expecting to be entrapped. In this figure he gives us clearly to understand that the world will continue its carousing, eating and drinking, building and planting, and diligently seeking after earthly things, and will look upon the day of judgment as yet a thousand and more years off, when, in the twinkling of an eye, they may stand before the terrible judgment bar of God. Whatever other signs may appear before Christ’s coming, I know that, according to Christ’s words, surfeiting and drunkenness, building and planting, buying and selling, marrying and giving in marriage and other cares of this life will be in evidence."



'via Blog this'
↧

Hot spots reported Wednesday morning at historic Milwaukee church gutted by fire

May 16, 2018, 8:43 am
↧
↧

Let It Rain - Garden Bursting into Bloom and New Plants

May 16, 2018, 9:01 am
$
0
0
 Cat Mint - this is leap year for mine.

We had a good rain yesterday, with more predicted for today and tomorrow. I watered the Cat Mint to move it and dug up one gigantic plant today.

A fun part of Creation Gardening is seeing how the plant follow their engineering and succeed in their particular corner of God's world.






Wiki:

Lyrics as published in 1861 in A Garland of Songs:
We plough the fields, and scatter the good seed on the land;
But it is fed and watered by God's almighty hand:
He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain.
Chorus All good gifts around us
Are sent from heaven above,
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord
For all His love.
He only is the maker of all things near and far;
He paints the wayside flower, He lights the evening star;
The winds and waves obey Him, by Him the birds are fed;
Much more to us, His children, He gives our daily bread.
Chorus
We thank Thee, then, O Father, for all things bright and good,
The seed time and the harvest, our life, our health, and food;
No gifts have we to offer, for all Thy love imparts,
But that which Thou desirest, our humble, thankful hearts.
Chorus
Verse 3 was revised to make it better suited to the harvest in Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1868 Appendix:
We thank Thee, then, O Father, for all things bright and good,
The seed time and the harvest, our life, our health, and food;
Accept the gifts we offer, for all Thy love imparts,
But what Thou most desirest, our humble, thankful hearts.
The hymn references Acts 14:17 (verse 1), James 1:17 (chorus), Psalms 65:7 and Matthew 6:26 (verse 2, line 3).


 Imagine Mountain Mint shoulder high and buzzing with beneficial life.


More on Cat Mint - and Mountain Mint
Last year was leap year for Mountain Mint, an even taller plant, so the roots are deeper and tougher.

Since watering combined with rain, I decided to dislodge one Cat Mint and cut some Mountain Mint away from its mother lode.

In both cases, the soil was soft, but the roots were more like tangled cords. I had to go deep, as they say at GCU, to get under the roots and bring them up.

This meant I could set up several Cat and Mountain Mint locations in the Butterfly Garden, the area first known for crabgrass weeds, then for a disastrous hay bale mess, and next - a tomato plant massacre.

The hottest and sunniest garden area, usually on the south or west side, is good for tomatoes (pests allowing) and corn (ditto) or butterfly plants. 

I decided on mints that mound instead of Catnip and othermints than take over the entire yard. Mints have tiny flowers that attract bees and other pollinators.

Good mints - Cat Mint, Mountain Mint, Bergamot (purple).

Bad mints - Cat Nip, Peppermint, Scarlet Bee Balm. 
Scarlet Bee Balm would be good in an area that is going wild. The floppy plants will form a lot of red flowers and attract Hummingbirds and bees. And it is easy to remove later.


↧

Greek Lesson - Romans 2:12 - 24. 7 PM Central Daylight Tonight

May 16, 2018, 12:25 pm
$
0
0
 Romans 4 and Galatians 3 -
Children of Abraham by Faith.


Parsing Link

Romans Lenski - Download and save public domain PDF.

12 οσοι γαρ ανομως ημαρτον,  ανομως και απολουνται, και οσοι εν νομω ημαρτον δια νομου κριθησονται
alpha - negation. Look for sigma as future.
13 ου γαρ οι ακροαται του νομου δικαιοι παρα τω θεω αλλ οι ποιηται του νομου δικαιωθησονται
Notice parallel with James in language and message - hearers, doers.
14 οταν γαρ εθνη τα μη νομον εχοντα φυσει τα του νομου ποιη, ουτοι νομον μη εχοντες εαυτοις εισιν νομος
Seems, tangled, pretty clear though.
15 οιτινες ενδεικνυνται το εργον του νομου γραπτον εν ταις καρδιαις αυτων, συμμαρτυρουσης αυτων της συνειδησεως και μεταξυ αλληλων των λογισμων κατηγορουντων η και απολογουμενων
Many cognates: ergonomics, graph, martyr, logic, category, apology
16 εν ημερα οτε κρινει ο θεος τα κρυπτα των ανθρωπων κατα το ευαγγελιον μου δια ιησου χριστου
crypt, anthropology, Evangel
17 ιδε συ ιουδαιος επονομαζη, και επαναπαυη τω νομω, και καυχασαι εν θεω
onoma  name; 
18 και γινωσκεις το θελημα και δοκιμαζεις τα διαφεροντα - κατηχουμενος εκ του νομου
catechism - find it in this verse
19 πεποιθας τε σεαυτον οδηγον ειναι τυφλων, φως των εν σκοτει
Opposites make it easier to translate.
20 παιδευτην αφρονων, διδασκαλον νηπιων, εχοντα την μορφωσιν της γνωσεως και της αληθειας εν τω νομω
Pediatrics, Morphology, didactic,  
21 ο ουν διδασκων ετερον, σεαυτον ου διδασκεις; ο κηρυσσων μη κλεπτειν κλεπτεις
Hetero, kerygma is like a town crier, hence preaching, kleptomaniac
22 ο λεγων μη μοιχευειν μοιχευεις, ο βδελυσσομενος τα ειδωλα - ιεροσυλεις
Hebrew uses verb/noun combinations, as we do.
23 ος εν νομω καυχασαι δια της παραβασεως του νομου τον θεον ατιμαζεις
Boasting often comes up in Paul
24 το γαρ ονομα του θεου δι υμας βλασφημειται εν τοις εθνεσιν καθως γεγραπται
The Name of God is sacred. Judaism Name, rather than just God

-- Next lesson --
25 περιτομη μεν γαρ ωφελει εαν νομον πρασσης εαν δε παραβατης νομου ης η περιτομη σου ακροβυστια γεγονεν
26 εαν ουν η ακροβυστια τα δικαιωματα του νομου φυλασση ουχι η ακροβυστια αυτου εις περιτομην λογισθησεται
27 και κρινει η εκ φυσεως ακροβυστια τον νομον τελουσα σε τον δια γραμματος και περιτομης παραβατην νομου
28 ου γαρ ο εν τω φανερω ιουδαιος εστιν ουδε η εν τω φανερω εν σαρκι περιτομη
29 αλλ ο εν τω κρυπτω ιουδαιος και περιτομη καρδιας εν πνευματι ου γραμματι ου ο επαινος ουκ εξ ανθρωπων αλλ εκ του θεου
1550 Stephanus New Testament (TR1550)

↧
Search

Massive fire causes $17M damage to Trinity Lutheran Church; ‘Nonetheless, the building is still standing’ | FOX6Now.com

May 16, 2018, 2:25 pm
$
0
0
 The building itself was saved and some contents.
The main tower is 200 feet high.




Massive fire causes $17M damage to Trinity Lutheran Church; ‘Nonetheless, the building is still standing’ | FOX6Now.com:

 When they opened the doors after the fire was out,
the picture of Jesus was the first thing they saw.


"Chief Mark Rohlfing said at a news conference the fire caused an estimated $17 million in damage — $13 million to the building itself and another $4 million to the contents within the building. Rohlfing said the fire started on the roof — which was under construction at the time. There are reports heating tools caused the fire, but Rohlfing indicated the cause of the fire remains under investigation."

...

Reverend Jonah Burakowski of Trinity Lutheran Church indicated the congregation is committed to restoring or rebuilding the church at the same corner.
Reverend Jonah Burakowski
“It is an absolute loss for Trinity Lutheran Church and the congregation that gathers here, but at the same time, the building is just one piece of the ministry puzzle,” Rev. Burakowski said.
Burakowski said the building may look marginally or substantially different from what it used to — depending on how things work out.
“Nonetheless, the building is still standing,” Rev. Burakowski said. “It is a testament to those who built the building 140 something odd years ago, but more so to the fire department that came in and were able to address the fire really early, to prevent fire from getting behind the brick or into the brick and causing the walls to collapse.”


'via Blog this'
↧

Ecclesia took out $1 million loan in February 2017, backed by properties bought with GIF help | Arkansas Blog

May 16, 2018, 3:35 pm
$
0
0
 
  • ECCLESIA COLLEGE: Financially troubled school took out $1 million loan in midst of scandal, secured by properties taxpayers had helped pay for.

Ecclesia took out $1 million loan in February 2017, backed by properties bought with GIF help | Arkansas Blog:



"According to county property records, Ecclesia College took out a $1 million loan from Centennial Bank on February 28, 2017. The loan was backed by two properties that Ecclesia had purchased in 2013. Those properties were aided by nearly $700,000 in public General Improvement Fund (GIF) money, directed by ten legislators in 2013 and 2014.

Two days after Ecclesia took out the loan, on March 2, Oren Paris III, then the president of the college, was indicted, along with former state Rep. Micah Neal and former state Sen. Jon Woods, accused of participating in a kickback scheme to funnel GIF money to the college. Paris and Neal eventually pleaded guilty; Woods was found guilty on 15 of 17 counts earlier this month.


I asked Ecclesia College spokesperson Angie Snyder about this loan: What was the money spent on? Was it used to reduce other mortgages? Was any of it used in the criminal defense of Paris or in the civil litigation against the college stemming from an FOIA request related to the GIF documents? She has not replied.

I also contacted Travis Story at the Story Law Firm, which represented Paris after his criminal indictment and Ecclesia in the FOIA case. He has not responded.

The two properties that secured the loan are 4095 Highway 112 and 3870 Als Drive. Those are the two tracts, totaling nearly 50 acres, that the GIF money at the center of the scandal was allotted for.

The school purchased the 25.5 -acre property listed as 4095 Highway 112 in November of 2013 for $500,000. The school later received $200,000 in public money in 2014 to help pay for that property, all of it directed by Woods and Neal.

Ecclesia purchased the 23-acre property listed as 3870 Als Drive in December of 2013 for $675,000. The school received $492,500 in public money in 2013 and 2014 to help pay for it. Woods directed $200,000 of that. "


Read more about Ecclesia  here on the Arkansas Blog.


'via Blog this'
↧
↧

Weed and work in the Woods: The Senator's hijinks took advantage of Ecclesia's rare designation | Arkansas Blog

May 16, 2018, 7:14 pm
$
0
0
 Guilty, guilty, guilty.




Weed and work in the Woods: The Senator's hijinks took advantage of Ecclesia's rare designation | Arkansas Blog:



"The most colorful scheme described by federal prosecutors in the recently completed trial of former state Sen. Jon Woods was a gimmick to direct marijuana tax money to Ecclesia College.

Woods, who was found guilty earlier this month on federal corruption charges related to kickback schemes, including to Ecclesia, tried to sneak language into the medical marijuana amendment that would have directed money straight to the tiny Bible college in Springdale, according to testimony at the trial. "I think it is great to take money from Satan and Kingdom of darkness and put it to Kingdom of God use," then Ecclesia President Oren Paris III, who pleaded guilty for his own role in the kickback scheme, told Woods.



The novel gimmick — first reported by the Arkansas Blog — would have put language specifically designating some of the tax revenues from medical marijuana to go to grants for federally recognized "work colleges," an unusual designation that only seven liberal arts colleges in the U.S. have. These schools make up the "Work Colleges Consortium." The key for Woods was that Ecclesia was the only such college in the state, allowing the senator a mechanism to direct money straight to Ecclesia without ever putting the school's name into any of the language.

I suspect I am not the only one who had no idea what a "work college" was until it turned up in the news. It turns out...it's a pretty interesting concept! (Amusingly, some of the seven members of the Work Colleges Consortium are polar opposites of Ecclesia, such as the famously hippie college Warren Wilson).  The program is distinct from the need-based federal work-study program; at work colleges, all students are enrolled in the program, with jobs on campus, typically working 8 to 15 hours per week. "



'via Blog this'
↧

Pastor of sister church blocks from Trinity Lutheran: ‘Any of these churches are a spark away from a fire’ | FOX6Now.com

May 16, 2018, 8:13 pm
$
0
0






Pastor of sister church blocks from Trinity Lutheran: ‘Any of these churches are a spark away from a fire’ | FOX6Now.com:



"St. John’s on the Hillside Lutheran Church

When you take a look at the crawl spaces at St. John’s on the Hillside Lutheran Church near 8th and Vliet in Milwaukee, you can understand how the Trinity Lutheran Church went up in flames so quickly.


Pastor William Schaefer

“Any of these churches are a spark away from a fire,” said Pastor William Schaefer.

Pastor William said his congregation formed just a year after Trinity.

“It’s just about six blocks as the crow flies,” said Pastor Schaefer.

Once known as the “City of Steeples,” Milwaukee has lost part of its skyline after Tuesday’s fire.

“Broke my heart. Honestly — it’s like my sister losing a home,” said Pastor Schaefer."

 Church andChangeor Die!rules.



'via Blog this'

***

GJ - I get all busted up when Team Jeske steals a congregation and its endowment fund, using those funds to pay the lawyer for the theft. But that's just me - I'm sentimental.

 I knew about it before the theft took place.

↧

Heating tools on scaffolding may have ignited roof of Milwaukee church

May 17, 2018, 4:15 am
$
0
0
A heating tool left on the scaffolding may have caused this disaster.




Heating tools on scaffolding may have ignited roof of Milwaukee church:



"The blaze that destroyed Milwaukee's historic Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church may have been started by heating tools that had been placed on adjacent scaffolding and ignited the roof, a Milwaukee Fire Department official said Wednesday.

Milwaukee Deputy Fire Chief Dave Votsis said that was the working theory. But Fire Chief Mark Rohlfing stressed at a news conference later that the investigation is ongoing.

"We know there were roofers here, and they had equipment. And we know it started in the roof," Rohlfing said. Investigators have yet to conclusively link the fire to the roof work, he said.

Fire officials on Wednesday estimated damage to the structure at $13 million, and an additional $4 million in damage to its contents."

 Trinity Lutheran Church, downtown Milwaukee


'via Blog this'
↧
Viewing all 11684 articles
Browse latest View live
Search
<script src="https://jsc.adskeeper.com/r/s/rssing.com.1596347.js" async> </script>