Last night the Herberts family treated the Weedons to a wonderful meal and time for visiting at McGurk's in Soulard. What a great place! We'd eaten at Tucker's before (not far away), but never at this Irish pub. I set aside the Atkins for a day and enjoyed a treat of fish and chips. Cindi stuck to plan and when I saw how good hers looked, I almost wished I had ordered the same: a reuben sans bun with the thousand island on the side, and asparagus in place of chips. Good conversation and the first time that our whole families have gotten together, with that lovely Irish music in the background. I was fighting a headache on the way down, but it faded away during dinner and so the evening was quite enjoyable. It's one of Dean's favorite eating places and I can see why. I suspect we'll be back there before too long.
06 January 2007
Irish Treat
Last night the Herberts family treated the Weedons to a wonderful meal and time for visiting at McGurk's in Soulard. What a great place! We'd eaten at Tucker's before (not far away), but never at this Irish pub. I set aside the Atkins for a day and enjoyed a treat of fish and chips. Cindi stuck to plan and when I saw how good hers looked, I almost wished I had ordered the same: a reuben sans bun with the thousand island on the side, and asparagus in place of chips. Good conversation and the first time that our whole families have gotten together, with that lovely Irish music in the background. I was fighting a headache on the way down, but it faded away during dinner and so the evening was quite enjoyable. It's one of Dean's favorite eating places and I can see why. I suspect we'll be back there before too long.
Epiphany of Our Lord
Today is the glorious feast of our Lord's Epiphany (the Eastern Churches refer to it as the Theophany). I'll be preaching along these lines:
They went to the logical place, don’t you think, to discover the newborn Jewish King. Where else but in Jerusalem? The capital city! But they arrive to the party all dressed up and on time to find that there is no party whatsoever. No one is excited in the city. Business as usual. Buying and selling, marrying and being given in marriage. The daily round. And they are perplexed. “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?” they ask. To the astonished faces around them they add: “For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship him.”
When word reached old King Herod that there are rich visitors from the Eastern lands sitting on his doorstep and asking about the birth of new king of the Jews, the Messiah, he is troubled. And we are told not he alone. “And all Jerusalem with him.”
The advent of the Lord Jesus in our flesh and blood is trouble. Trouble for all who want to be kings themselves. Who want to have the say so over their lives and what they do and how they live. For He comes as King. A King is one to whom obedience is owed. Of the Messiah the Patriarch Jacob prophesied long ago: “To Him shall be the obedience of the people.” (Gen. 49) For none may call Him Lord and do as they like with their lives with impunity. On the last day He shall ask all such: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and not do the things which I say?” (Lk 6:46)
So Herod and all Jerusalem is troubled by the news, and Herod knows where to turn. He calls in the all the chief priests and scribes of the people to ask them where the Christ was to be born. Scripture gave the answer: In Bethlehem of Judea. So the prophet Micah had foretold centuries upon centuries before. Bethlehem, that insignificant little town whose only claim to fame lay in it being the birth place of King David - and that a thousand years before! - Bethlehem was the place.
Doctor Luther finds great significance in the fact that for the wisemen to find the baby Jesus they needed more than the star. They needed the Word of God. Us too. Not in the signs of nature - not in beautiful sunsets and mountain peaks shimmering with snow will we find the Lord Christ. For though these are all His and declare His glory, the place to find the Lord Jesus is in the Words that He Himself gave, in the words His Spirit inspired, in the Scriptures.
But how great is the grace of God! For after giving them the Word that pointed them directly to where the Christ was, He also added the star again. This time unfailing until it came to stand right over the place where the Child was. And how they needed that little extra confirmation. For when they got there they found a teenage mother with a little baby living in poverty. A perfectly ordinary baby. Not wrapped in “velvets soft and silken stuff.” Rather, laying on “hay and straw so rough.” Here was the long-promised King of the Jews. Was there a feeling of let-down? Of disappointment? That this King they had sought for so long and from so far should be so utterly wretched and ordinary. Just a peasant’s babe?
But look what they do! They do not say: No, this can’t be the One. This is no King. But they close their eyes to what their eyes see and they fasten before their eyes of their hearts the very Word of God. They believe, contrary to all that they see. They believe that what God has said is true. That the star has not lied. That here is the Babe whose goings forth are from ancient days, from eternity. They believe that this is the promised King come to be King not only of the Jews but of all people, of all who rest their final hope and confidence in Him. And so they fall down on their knees, yes on their faces, before the Holy Child and they worship Him upon His mother's lap.
“Ah, Lord, though you created all, How weak You are, so poor and small, That You should choose to lay Your head where lowly cattle lately fed!”
Thus might the Wise men have sung! They did not stumble at His poverty and His lowly appearance. Instead they brought out their gifts and offered them to Him. Gold - the confession of His Kingship. Incense - the confession that He is true God, for “incense owns a Deity nigh”. Myrrh - the confession that He would die, the sacrifice for the sins of all. His whole life prophesied in the gifts bestowed.
And there is in the Christian, in the one who falls down in worship of this King, the most certain desire to give to Him - yes, to give to Him as the Wisemen did of old. Here is the One who was given for us, to be Himself the bearer of our sin, the sacrifice of atonement for us, that we might stand before His Father without stain, wrinkle or blemish, a people beloved. He came to give us all. And so we desire to give to Him. But what can we give Him but ourselves? What greater do we have to give than our very hearts? To throw open the doors of our lives to Him and say to this One who came as a little Child - “Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child, Prepare a bed, soft, undefiled, a quiet chamber set apart for You to dwell within my heart” Such is the prayer of those who renounce their own rights over their lives and surrender completely to Him. And with Him that is the way it must be. No half-hearted and compromised discipleship. For we are all either Wise men who fall down in worship before the Christ and give the gift of ourselves to Him who gave the Gift of Himself, or we are Herods, out to do away with the King, so that we can be the big boss in our lives and in the lives of others - for it never stops with just us.
This Epiphany to you is given again the gift of forgiveness - forgiveness for all those times you have played the part of Herod and have killed in your heart the voice of Him who spoke, calling you away from sin and to live under His Kingship. To you He says: “Come, child, renounce all your rights and be my own and live under Me in My Kingdom in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness. Follow my Word to where I promise forgiveness to be located for you. Not now in Bethlehem but there: in the bread and the wine. Here is My Body and My Blood. For you. For forgiveness. Here I give you the very offering of Calvary’s cross that you may know that I am your King forever.” And what will you say to the kind invitation of Your King? May your answer be: “Lord, let your Light rise to shine on me and I will be yours forever.” Then truly you too will be filled with exceedingly great joy. Amen.
They went to the logical place, don’t you think, to discover the newborn Jewish King. Where else but in Jerusalem? The capital city! But they arrive to the party all dressed up and on time to find that there is no party whatsoever. No one is excited in the city. Business as usual. Buying and selling, marrying and being given in marriage. The daily round. And they are perplexed. “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?” they ask. To the astonished faces around them they add: “For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship him.”
When word reached old King Herod that there are rich visitors from the Eastern lands sitting on his doorstep and asking about the birth of new king of the Jews, the Messiah, he is troubled. And we are told not he alone. “And all Jerusalem with him.”
The advent of the Lord Jesus in our flesh and blood is trouble. Trouble for all who want to be kings themselves. Who want to have the say so over their lives and what they do and how they live. For He comes as King. A King is one to whom obedience is owed. Of the Messiah the Patriarch Jacob prophesied long ago: “To Him shall be the obedience of the people.” (Gen. 49) For none may call Him Lord and do as they like with their lives with impunity. On the last day He shall ask all such: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and not do the things which I say?” (Lk 6:46)
So Herod and all Jerusalem is troubled by the news, and Herod knows where to turn. He calls in the all the chief priests and scribes of the people to ask them where the Christ was to be born. Scripture gave the answer: In Bethlehem of Judea. So the prophet Micah had foretold centuries upon centuries before. Bethlehem, that insignificant little town whose only claim to fame lay in it being the birth place of King David - and that a thousand years before! - Bethlehem was the place.
Doctor Luther finds great significance in the fact that for the wisemen to find the baby Jesus they needed more than the star. They needed the Word of God. Us too. Not in the signs of nature - not in beautiful sunsets and mountain peaks shimmering with snow will we find the Lord Christ. For though these are all His and declare His glory, the place to find the Lord Jesus is in the Words that He Himself gave, in the words His Spirit inspired, in the Scriptures.
But how great is the grace of God! For after giving them the Word that pointed them directly to where the Christ was, He also added the star again. This time unfailing until it came to stand right over the place where the Child was. And how they needed that little extra confirmation. For when they got there they found a teenage mother with a little baby living in poverty. A perfectly ordinary baby. Not wrapped in “velvets soft and silken stuff.” Rather, laying on “hay and straw so rough.” Here was the long-promised King of the Jews. Was there a feeling of let-down? Of disappointment? That this King they had sought for so long and from so far should be so utterly wretched and ordinary. Just a peasant’s babe?
But look what they do! They do not say: No, this can’t be the One. This is no King. But they close their eyes to what their eyes see and they fasten before their eyes of their hearts the very Word of God. They believe, contrary to all that they see. They believe that what God has said is true. That the star has not lied. That here is the Babe whose goings forth are from ancient days, from eternity. They believe that this is the promised King come to be King not only of the Jews but of all people, of all who rest their final hope and confidence in Him. And so they fall down on their knees, yes on their faces, before the Holy Child and they worship Him upon His mother's lap.
“Ah, Lord, though you created all, How weak You are, so poor and small, That You should choose to lay Your head where lowly cattle lately fed!”
Thus might the Wise men have sung! They did not stumble at His poverty and His lowly appearance. Instead they brought out their gifts and offered them to Him. Gold - the confession of His Kingship. Incense - the confession that He is true God, for “incense owns a Deity nigh”. Myrrh - the confession that He would die, the sacrifice for the sins of all. His whole life prophesied in the gifts bestowed.
And there is in the Christian, in the one who falls down in worship of this King, the most certain desire to give to Him - yes, to give to Him as the Wisemen did of old. Here is the One who was given for us, to be Himself the bearer of our sin, the sacrifice of atonement for us, that we might stand before His Father without stain, wrinkle or blemish, a people beloved. He came to give us all. And so we desire to give to Him. But what can we give Him but ourselves? What greater do we have to give than our very hearts? To throw open the doors of our lives to Him and say to this One who came as a little Child - “Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child, Prepare a bed, soft, undefiled, a quiet chamber set apart for You to dwell within my heart” Such is the prayer of those who renounce their own rights over their lives and surrender completely to Him. And with Him that is the way it must be. No half-hearted and compromised discipleship. For we are all either Wise men who fall down in worship before the Christ and give the gift of ourselves to Him who gave the Gift of Himself, or we are Herods, out to do away with the King, so that we can be the big boss in our lives and in the lives of others - for it never stops with just us.
This Epiphany to you is given again the gift of forgiveness - forgiveness for all those times you have played the part of Herod and have killed in your heart the voice of Him who spoke, calling you away from sin and to live under His Kingship. To you He says: “Come, child, renounce all your rights and be my own and live under Me in My Kingdom in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness. Follow my Word to where I promise forgiveness to be located for you. Not now in Bethlehem but there: in the bread and the wine. Here is My Body and My Blood. For you. For forgiveness. Here I give you the very offering of Calvary’s cross that you may know that I am your King forever.” And what will you say to the kind invitation of Your King? May your answer be: “Lord, let your Light rise to shine on me and I will be yours forever.” Then truly you too will be filled with exceedingly great joy. Amen.
Whew! Am I Relieved!
You are 100% Lutheran! This is most certainly true.
Nicely done! Martin would be proud of you! You may or may not have room for growth in understanding Lutheran terminology and culture. Good thing Salvation is by Grace and not by merit. We can add nothing to what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. But it never hurts to learn a little more about the church on earth. Thanks for taking the quiz!
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05 January 2007
Kept with Christ
In the Lossky entry below, I quoted from the Small Catechism the opening words of the third article's explanation, words that ended:
"In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Church on earth *and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith*"
The Spirit keeps us with our Lord in the one true faith. To borrow a phrase: Was ist das?
I think that the Catechism here bears witness to a foundational truth that is too ofen forgotten: to be a Christian is not merely to believe *in* Christ; it is to believe *with* Christ. To be a Christian is to share His faith in the Father, His understanding of the mission the Father sent Him on. In short, it is (quoting the Blessed Apostle) to have "the mind of Christ."
Such a share in the mind of Christ is pure gift of the Holy Spirit, but it a transfiguring gift. Learning to live by faith in the Father's promise of resurrection. Learning to live by faith in Christ's convictions about sufferings being endured with patience and offered as obedience to the Father. Learning to live by faith that love is the foundation of the Father's every action - the "opus propium" of God, if you will - even when it seems so impossible to believe. The faith of Christ is what held onto the Father through the bitter sufferings of the cross, never letting go. Even there it was still "Eli" - note the "i" - MY God.
If we remember that the forming of this faith within us is the gift of the Holy Spirit alone, we see the importance of the Church's continual prayer: Veni creator Spiritus! Come creator Spirit! Come form in us the mind of Christ, come keep us in Jesus' own faith that we may share in the triumph of His resurrection!
"In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Church on earth *and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith*"
The Spirit keeps us with our Lord in the one true faith. To borrow a phrase: Was ist das?
I think that the Catechism here bears witness to a foundational truth that is too ofen forgotten: to be a Christian is not merely to believe *in* Christ; it is to believe *with* Christ. To be a Christian is to share His faith in the Father, His understanding of the mission the Father sent Him on. In short, it is (quoting the Blessed Apostle) to have "the mind of Christ."
Such a share in the mind of Christ is pure gift of the Holy Spirit, but it a transfiguring gift. Learning to live by faith in the Father's promise of resurrection. Learning to live by faith in Christ's convictions about sufferings being endured with patience and offered as obedience to the Father. Learning to live by faith that love is the foundation of the Father's every action - the "opus propium" of God, if you will - even when it seems so impossible to believe. The faith of Christ is what held onto the Father through the bitter sufferings of the cross, never letting go. Even there it was still "Eli" - note the "i" - MY God.
If we remember that the forming of this faith within us is the gift of the Holy Spirit alone, we see the importance of the Church's continual prayer: Veni creator Spiritus! Come creator Spirit! Come form in us the mind of Christ, come keep us in Jesus' own faith that we may share in the triumph of His resurrection!
Continuous Justification
I had occasion to write to a friend recently about this topic, so I thought: why not blog it?
This past year I read Eduard Preuss' little book on justification from cover to cover. VERY good read - first recommended to me by Pastor Robert Schaibley. Why had I never read it in seminary? Let alone heard of it, and it's famous story? You see, it was shortly after writing this masterpiece on justification that Eduard left his position at Concordia Seminary and swum the Tiber. What a scandal that caused! Especially since his work on justification is really without par.
But his personal history aside, one thing he spoke of that I very much appreciated was "continuous justification." His point was that we shouldn't say or think "faith justifIED" me before God but that "faith justifIES" me. Certainty of salvation can be spoken of, he would argue, but only in the present, because that's where the faith lives that holds to the glorious promises of God in Christ. It doesn't hold onto them as an act that was once for all time, but clings to them daily for dear life. He clearly allows for the reality of the fall from faith - for those in our Lord's parable "who believed for a while"- and yet Preuss' presentation succeeds in not robbing the Christian of comfort, while at the same time not providing an iota of comfort to our rebellious flesh.
I bring the whole thing up because I think it is an area that Lutherans could very profitably recover in their teaching. The book is so worth reading - if you can get your hands on a copy. Fort Wayne has reprints of it, I believe.
This past year I read Eduard Preuss' little book on justification from cover to cover. VERY good read - first recommended to me by Pastor Robert Schaibley. Why had I never read it in seminary? Let alone heard of it, and it's famous story? You see, it was shortly after writing this masterpiece on justification that Eduard left his position at Concordia Seminary and swum the Tiber. What a scandal that caused! Especially since his work on justification is really without par.
But his personal history aside, one thing he spoke of that I very much appreciated was "continuous justification." His point was that we shouldn't say or think "faith justifIED" me before God but that "faith justifIES" me. Certainty of salvation can be spoken of, he would argue, but only in the present, because that's where the faith lives that holds to the glorious promises of God in Christ. It doesn't hold onto them as an act that was once for all time, but clings to them daily for dear life. He clearly allows for the reality of the fall from faith - for those in our Lord's parable "who believed for a while"- and yet Preuss' presentation succeeds in not robbing the Christian of comfort, while at the same time not providing an iota of comfort to our rebellious flesh.
I bring the whole thing up because I think it is an area that Lutherans could very profitably recover in their teaching. The book is so worth reading - if you can get your hands on a copy. Fort Wayne has reprints of it, I believe.
Update on Marianne
Marianne's second surgery went off without incident; the sponges were removed and she showed no more signs of bleeding. Dr. says that the next 24-48 hours will be critical - I believe the danger is still primarily infection. Please continue to keep her in your prayers. Thanks!
A Prayer Request
My brothers and sisters in Christ,
Marianne, our parish's organist and my secretary, is in grave condition. She had surgery before Christmas to remove a section of the intestine. Sometime since that surgery, the intestine ruptured and infection spread throughout the abdomen. She had surgery late last night, faces another one today, and, well, just please pray for her. Aside from being a very beloved member of St. Paul's parish, she is a dear friend. Thanks.
Marianne, our parish's organist and my secretary, is in grave condition. She had surgery before Christmas to remove a section of the intestine. Sometime since that surgery, the intestine ruptured and infection spread throughout the abdomen. She had surgery late last night, faces another one today, and, well, just please pray for her. Aside from being a very beloved member of St. Paul's parish, she is a dear friend. Thanks.
04 January 2007
Old Lutheran Quote of the Day
The human race has been so created and then so redeemed that we as the image and temple of God might celebrate the praises of God. For God wills to be known and worshipped. - Philip Melanchthon, *Loci Communes*
Patristic Quote for the Day
This is He whom seers in old timeChanted of with one accord,
Whom the voices of the prophets
Promised in their faithful Word.
Now He shines the long-expected;
Let creation praise its Lord
Evermore and evermore.
--Aurelius Prudentius Clemens (348-c. 413)
LSB #384, st. 3
Lossky on Tradition
Lossky is one of my favorite non-Lutheran theologians (he's Orthodox). He has a comment on Tradition that I've found remarkable for some time and thought I'd throw it out for anyone who wants to comment. It comes from his marvelous little essay "Tradition and Traditions" in *In the Image and Likeness of God* (SVS Press 1985). He writes:
"The pure notion of Tradition can then be defined by saying that it is the life of the Holy Spirit in the Church, communicating to each member of the Body of Christ the faculty of hearing, of receiving, of knowing the Truth in the Light that belongs to it, and not according to the natural light of human reason."
Now, am I just imagining things, or is there here perhaps a true kinship with the Explanation of the Third Article from the Small Catechism?
"I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him, but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way, He calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith."
Thoughts?
"The pure notion of Tradition can then be defined by saying that it is the life of the Holy Spirit in the Church, communicating to each member of the Body of Christ the faculty of hearing, of receiving, of knowing the Truth in the Light that belongs to it, and not according to the natural light of human reason."
Now, am I just imagining things, or is there here perhaps a true kinship with the Explanation of the Third Article from the Small Catechism?
"I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him, but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way, He calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith."
Thoughts?
03 January 2007
Peace...
During Advent, our Wednesday Vespers replaces our usual Wednesday Bible Study and Compline. So we haven't prayed Compline together for many weeks. Tonight it was refreshing for the six of us to stand there in the semi-darkness of that lovely sanctuary and let the peace of God flow over us and soothe our hearts and minds, singing those ancient words.Today was a busy day: matins; meeting with insurance adjustor about the damage to roof and organ; pastor's study group and lunch; visit to Marianne (please keep her in your prayers) on which I had the joy of Pastor Rethwisch's company (it reminded me how much I miss him being around!); office work and then Vespers; off with Rebekah to Clarinet lesson and while she was there I filled the van and had do some quick shopping; then back to dinner; Bible Class and Compline. It seemed the day was quite "rush-rush" and so it felt wonderful to stop at the end and bask in the psalms, hymn, reading and prayers of Compline. "Into your hands, O Lord..." indeed!
Now Bekah is needing help with some German, and then off to bed. An early day tomorrow!
02 January 2007
Patristic Quote for the Day
The holy catholic Church condemns anyone who says that the human flesh of our Lord is not to be worshipped and adored as the flesh of the Lord and God. - St. Athanasius the Great, cited in *Catalog of Testimonies* in Concordia, p. 662 [MPG, 76:350C, 1211)
Old Lutheran Quote of the Day
[I just love this one!]
"That's why the foremost teacher of the Church, Gregory of Nasianzus [NOTE!] composed the sufferings of Christ into a tragedy which he entitled, 'The Suffering Christ.'" - Johann Gerhard, *An Explanation of the History of the Sufferings and Death of Christ* p. 3
"That's why the foremost teacher of the Church, Gregory of Nasianzus [NOTE!] composed the sufferings of Christ into a tragedy which he entitled, 'The Suffering Christ.'" - Johann Gerhard, *An Explanation of the History of the Sufferings and Death of Christ* p. 3
You might just live in the country, if...
...you take your hound dog for a two mile walk down Church Road in the middle of the day, and you meet only one truck, see and hear two trains in the distance, and walk past a telephone pole that is humming so loudly even a pastor who is losing his hearing can hear it!
Lectio Divina: From Isaiah 62
You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest, and *give him no rest* until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth. (Is 62:6,7)
To put the Lord in remembrance.
Is it to remember God or to remind Him?
The prophet teaches us: "yes."
Similarly then in the Eucharist, done "as the remembrance" of our Lord. Is it that we remember in the Eucharist the self-giving King of Calvary? Of course, but is it also that we remind the Father of the self-giving of His Son? Of course!
Thus the Church always makes her prayers "through Christ our Lord." We make the remembrance commanded, both to us and to our loving God. Not implying, of course, that He ever forgets or could forget, but rejoicing always that when God remembers, He acts in mercy.
"Your grace alone, dear Lord, I plead
Your death is now my life indeed,
For You have paid my ransom." LSB #555, vs. 6
Behold, your salvation comes. Behold, his reward is with him and his recompense before him. And they shall be called The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord, and you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.
Glory to You, Holy Father, for the gift of Your Son, who ever pleads His ransom of us before Your throne as our Advocate! Glory to You who have given us so perfect a salvation! Glory to You who call us to remember that mercy and to rejoice in reminding You of it constantly! Glory to You forever!
To put the Lord in remembrance.
Is it to remember God or to remind Him?
The prophet teaches us: "yes."
Similarly then in the Eucharist, done "as the remembrance" of our Lord. Is it that we remember in the Eucharist the self-giving King of Calvary? Of course, but is it also that we remind the Father of the self-giving of His Son? Of course!
Thus the Church always makes her prayers "through Christ our Lord." We make the remembrance commanded, both to us and to our loving God. Not implying, of course, that He ever forgets or could forget, but rejoicing always that when God remembers, He acts in mercy.
"Your grace alone, dear Lord, I plead
Your death is now my life indeed,
For You have paid my ransom." LSB #555, vs. 6
Behold, your salvation comes. Behold, his reward is with him and his recompense before him. And they shall be called The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord, and you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.
Glory to You, Holy Father, for the gift of Your Son, who ever pleads His ransom of us before Your throne as our Advocate! Glory to You who have given us so perfect a salvation! Glory to You who call us to remember that mercy and to rejoice in reminding You of it constantly! Glory to You forever!
01 January 2007
All of Us
That's David (blue), Bill (green), Bekah (brown), Lauren (green), Cindi (blue). Don't ask me how Bekah ended up brown, but we're calling it a shade of green. : )
Lucy's Favorite Time of the Day...
...NOT!!!!!
Hey, but at least she smells a bit better. For at least 24 hours...
Hey, but at least she smells a bit better. For at least 24 hours...
Patristic Quote for the Day
And was his coming, as a man might suppose, in power, in terror, and in dread? Not so; it was in gentleness and humility. As a king sending a royal son, so He sent him; as God He sent him; as Man to men He sent him; and that because He was fain to save us by persuasion, and not by compulsion - for there is no compulsion found with God. His mission was no pursuit or hounding of us, it was an invitation to us; it was in love, not in judgment that He sent him (though one day He will indeed send him to judge us, and when who shall abide the day of his coming?). - Epistle to Diognetus, par. 7
Old Lutheran Quote of the Day
Christ was not subjected to the Law because of His Person, especially since He was the Lord of the Law according to His divine nature. Also, according to His human nature - conceived without sin by the Holy Spirit - He was born without sin. The fact that He subjugated Himself under the Law through circumcision was done by Him for our sake, so that He might therewith redeem us from the Law. - Johann Gerhard, Sermon upon the Circumcision of Christ (Postilla, p. 124)
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