Not playing that game

Well, I guess no more pictures for this here blog. Blogger is owned by goggle, and they’ve now made it clear that the only way you can post pics is if you allow them to track you across the internet. Just not interested in that. Besides, this old blog is coming up on its 20th year since the first posting. I’m definitely thinking about letting it lie mostly dormant. There’s some old stuff on there that might prove useful to some, so I won’t be deleting it (until google makes its NEXT demand that merely maintaining it requires them to be able to track you.) But there’s always the “Way Back” machine to find old posts if need be. But for now, just expect a lot more silence over here. 

First Time in a Long Time

Well, I finally cleared my desk of extra writing assignments. At the moment, I have nothing on deck other than writing and recording podcasts and Issues, Etc. shows. And boy does it ever feel GREAT! I won’t last long, because next year’s Advent devotional will be looming come this Advent, but from now till then I am going to enjoy the slower pace. 

Patristic Quote of the Day

Where did you learn to philosophize in such a manner about Christ? The Jews crucify Him, who knew the law, but you, inexperienced in this, call God the condemned one and worship the crucified.—St. John Chrysostom, Sermon on the Repentant Thief

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

Instruction for a pious and virtuous life is the central teaching of every religion except Christianity. But in the kingdom established by Christ, the main thing is the forgiveness of sins. In order that all people may obtain this forgiveness, the Son of God became a man and died on the cross. This was the real purpose of His entire great work on earth.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 789.

Lewis

When you are arguing against Him you are arguing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all: it is like cutting off the branch you are sitting on.—Business of Heaven, p. 261.

Catechesis

If the invocation of the saints were taught with the greatest caution, even such speculation is dangerous. Why defend it when it has no command or testimony from God’s Word? Indeed, it does not even have the testimony of the most ancient writers.—Ap XXI:33

Patristic Quote of the Day

Today, brothers, Adam was expelled from paradise because of disobedience; today, he will be brought back into paradise. And the thief is a witness. A thief went out, and a thief came in; the one who stole salvation from the cross. I know, I have spoken before about the thief, but the word of the cross has various stories. That thief will be put to death by the wood, and this thief plucks salvation from the wood. He did not take possession of earthly things alone but also of heavenly ones, not by his power but by conquering through faith. For this is the voice of the Lord saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is taken by force, and those who take it are seizing it.’—St. John Chrysostom, The Thief on the Cross

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

It is no wonder that thoughtless Christians do not desire private absolution. The wounds of their sins do not burn them, and thus they do not desire the soothing balm.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 788.

Lewis

Christianity agrees with Dualism that the universe is at war. But it does not think this a war between independent powers. It thinks it is a civil war, a rebellion, and that we living in a part of the universe occupied by the rebel.—Business of Heaven, p. 258, 259.

Catechesis

Granted, the blessed Mary prays for the Church. Does she receive souls in death? Does she conquer death? Does she make alive? What does Christ do if the blessed Mary does these things? Although she is most worthy of the most plentiful honors, yet she does not want to made equal to Christ. Instead she wants us to consider and follow her example.—Ap XXI:27

And it is OFFICIAL!

We love you, Kloe Ibisch! 

Patristic Quote of the Day

Therefore, realizing all these things, and considering how much gain we make from this, let us do everything and arrange everything in such a way that we reconcile with those who are already our enemies, prevent those who are to become so, and make our friends more secure. For love is the beginning and end of every virtue.—St. John Chrysostom, On the Prayers of Christ

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

Woe to those whose Christianity consists in nothing more than habitually going to church and other religious exercises or in experiencing a sense of excitement and a lasting interest in religion, without securing a clear knowledge of the right doctrine. Our text tells us that these are children who are “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 778.

Lewis

One reason why many people find Creative Evolution so attractive is that it gives one much of the emotional comfort of believing in God and none of the less pleasant consequences.—Business of Heaven, p. 255. 

Catechesis

The consciences of the pious will not have sure comfort against the terrors of sin and death, and against the devil tempting with despair, if they do not know that their confidence lies in the forgiveness of sins freely for Christ’s sake. This faith sustains and enlivens hearts in that most violent conflict with despair.—Ap XX:85.

Patristic Quote of the Day

So, too, Paul says about Christ that, since He was free by nature and a genuine Son, He did not, as if He had taken something by robbery, hide His equality but willingly took on the form of a bondservant. For He knew and was fully convinced that this action would not harm His glory in any way. He was not a usurper, nor did He grasp at equality. Equality was His from the beginning, not something acquired and then relinquished, but something immovable and secure. Thus, He remained in the same glory He had as a Son in relation to the Father.—St. John Chrysostom, Homily on Christ’s Prayers

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

He looks alone upon the certain, never-changing Word. This is the precious thing of which our text speaks: an established heart that is not carried about by various and strange doctrines. Blessed, blessed is the person who has attained this treasure! His ship of faith safely, unwaveringly, steers into the harbor of eternal peace, even if the stormy winds of false doctrine rage violently against it and even if the waves of persecution rise ever so high.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 774, 775.

Catechesis

It is also a myth that Christian perfection consists in not holding property. For Christian perfection does not consist in contempt for public ordinances, but in the inclinations of the heart, in great fear of God and in great faith. Abraham, David, and Daniel, even in great wealth and while exercising power, were no less perfect than the hermits.—Ap XVI:61

Lewis

One of the moderns said that reality is ‘incorrigibly plural’. I think he is right. All things are from One. All things are related—related in different and complicated ways. But all things are not one.—Business of Heaven, p. 256.

Patristic Quote of the Day

I say these things so that we may not be troubled when we see either ourselves or others in adversities. For if we bear everything that happens with gratitude and courage, everything will certainly turn out for the good and bring us much benefit.—St. John Chrysostom, Homily on the Prayers of Christ

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

As our love for God and our neighbor is the summary of the Law, so is Christ’s love for us the sum of the Gospel.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 771. 

Lewis

If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be without meaning.—Business of Heaven, p. 254. 

Catechesis

Christ’s kingdom is spiritual. This means that the knowledge of God, the fear of God and faith, eternal righteousness, and eternal life begin in the heart. Meanwhile, Christ’s kingdom allows us outwardly to use legitimate political ordinances of every nation in which we live, just as it allows us to use medicine or the art of building, or food, drink, and air.—Ap XVI:54

Patristic Quote of the Day

Solitude is not just a physical location but also a state free from clamor and disturbances.—St. John Chrysostom, Homily on Christ’s Prayers

A Very Late “Aha!”

Thirteen times the phrase occurs in the Pentateuch, “a land flowing with milk and honey.” I always kind of thought it was an odd phrase. Why “milk and honey”? 

Silly me. I’m 63 years old and I don’t think until this very day did I ever try them together. So I went out to the farm to pick up our Saturday raw milk dairy supply thanks to these wonderful creatures (and also picked up some free range eggs):

I got home and poured myself a glass, and put in a teaspoon of this marvelous honey (harvested locally by our friends; and held by that sweet little pooh bear, Grandson Emmett):

And WHAT a discovery! Now I know why “milk and honey” went together as a sign of the promised land! Pure yumminess. A natural milkshake! Awesomeness!!!!

Patristic Quote of the Day

If someone asks you, ‘Do you worship the crucified one?’ answer with a cheerful voice and a joyful countenance, ‘Yes, I worship, and I will never cease to worship.’ And if they laugh, weep for them because they are deranged. Give thanks to the Lord because He has bestowed such benefits on us that no one can learn without divine revelation. Therefore, even if someone laughs, it’s because the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit.—St. John Chrysostom, Sermon on the Holy Cross

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

Woe to the free church in which the manifest, wanton transgressors of the commandments of God, the servants of vice, and those who openly do not listen to the voice of Christ are tolerated without censure. There the blessing of church freedom becomes a church curse.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 766

Lewis

This thing which I have called the Tao, and which others may call Natural Law or Traditional Morality or the First Principles of Practical Reason or the First Platitudes, is not one among a series of possible systems of value. It is the sole source of all value judgments. If it is rejected, all value is rejected. If any value is retained, it is retained.—Business of Heaven, p. 251. 

Catechesis

After this look of wisdom and righteousness has deceived people, then countless evils follow. The Gospel about the righteousness of faith in Christ is clouded over, and empty confidence in such works succeeds. Then God’s commandments are clouded over. These human works assume the title of a perfect and spiritual life. They are preferred more than the works of God’s commandments (works of one’s own calling, the administration of the state, the management of a family, married life, and the bringing up of children). Compared with those ceremonies, the latter are judged to be ungodly, so that they are exercised by many with doubting consciences. For it is known that many have left the administration of the state and married life to welcome these human ceremonies [i.e., monasticism] as better and holier.—Ap XV:25, 26

Patristic Quote of the Day

Christ came once and found our ancient document, which Adam had written. He brought the beginning of the debt; we have increased it with our sins afterward. There was a curse, sin, death, and the condemnation of the Law written in that document; Christ abolished all these and canceled them. Therefore, Paul cries out, ‘Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.’ He did not say He wiped it out but nailed it to the cross so that not even a trace of it should remain. That’s why He did not obliterate it but tore it up. The nails of the cross tore it up and destroyed it so that it would become useless forever.—St. John Chrysostom, Third Sermon on the Newly Illumined

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

The Church is not in the state as Church, but as a group of individuals who remain citizens of the state. Officials of the state can be in the Church, not as authorities with their laws and outward powers, but as Christians and brothers, and therefore alike in power and right with all other Church members.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 763.

Lewis

Those who know the Tao can hold that to call children delightful or an old man venerable is not simply to record a psychological fact about our own parental or filial emotions at the moment, but to recognize a quality which demands a certain response from us whether we make it or not.—Business of Heaven, p. 250.

Catechesis

Although the Holy Fathers had both rites and traditions, they did not maintain that these are useful or necessary for justification. They did not cloud over Christ’s glory and office, but taught that we are justified by faith for Christ’s sake, not for the sake of these human services.—Ap XV:20

Patristic Quote of the Day

Do you want to learn the power of this blood from another source? Look from where it flowed initially and from where it had its source, from above the cross, from the side of the Lord. For, it is said, ‘When Jesus was dead but still hanging on the cross, a soldier came and pierced his side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water. This was the symbol of baptism and of the mysteries. Therefore, it did not say, ‘Blood came out,’ but ‘Blood and water.’ Why? Because, from both of these, the Church is born, ‘the water, for regeneration, and the blood, for sanctification, the Spirit’s manifestation.’ And the symbols of the baptism and the mysteries came from the side. From the side, therefore, Christ formed the Church, just as He formed Eve from the side of Adam.—St. John Chrysostom, Sermon 3 on the Newly Illumined.

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

If the Church is to survive, Christians must come together to study God’s Word, pray jointly, offer praise and thanks to God, and use the holy Sacraments in common. If Christian did not do this, they would despise the Word and Sacraments, which alone sanctify them, and they could not obtain the promise of Christ: “For where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among them.” (Matt 18:20).—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 759-60.

Lewis

But thirdly we have the view which St. Francis expressed by calling his body, ‘Brother Ass.’… Ass is exquisitely right because no one in his senses can either revere or hate a donkey. It is a useful, sturdy, lazy, obstinate, patient, lovable, and infuriating beast; deserving now the stick and now a carrot; both pathetically and absurdly beautiful. So the body.—Business of Heaven, p. 249.

Catechesis

God has presented Christ with the promise that, because of this Mediator, and not because of our righteousness, He wishes to be gracious to us.—Ap XIV:9

Patristic Quote of the Day

For this reason, indeed, we baptize infants, though they have no sins*, so that sanctification, righteousness, adoption, inheritance, brotherhood, and being members of Christ, becoming a dwelling place of the Spirit may be added.—St. John Chrysostom, Sermon 3 on the Newly Illumined

*Chrysostom was speaking here of volitional sins, sins committed in defiance of God’s will which one knows and understands, but chooses to ignore.

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

The Sabbath was a model of the rest of Christ in His grave at the end of His work of redemption, as well as a model of the perpetual Sabbath Christ wants to bring about in the hearts of His believers until He brings them to the eternal Sabbath of heaven.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 757

Lewis

If two instinct are in conflict, and there is nothing in a creature’s mind except those two instincts, obviously the stronger of the two must win. But at those moments when we are most conscious of the Moral Law, it usually seems to be telling us to side with the weaker of the two impulses. You probably want to be safe much more than you want to help the man who is drowning: but the Moral Law tells you to help him all the same.—Business of Heaven, p. 248, 9.

Catechesis

In this matter our consciences are not in danger. Since we know that our Confession is true, godly, and catholic, we should not approve the cruelty of those who persecute this doctrine. We know that the Church is among those who teach God’s Word rightly and administer the Sacraments rightly. The Church is not with those who try hard to wipe out God’s Word by their orders and also put to death those who teach what is right and true.—Ap XIV:26, 27.