New Lutheran Quote of the Day

The Spirit of truth makes the impossible possible. -- Bishop Bo Giertz, *To Live with Christ* p. 331

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

The devil is a scoundrel who furtively sneaks up behind us to see if he can somehow divert us from prayer. So we must prepare ourselves to oppose him and allow nothing to deter us. -- Blessed Martin Luther, Homily for Rogate (House Postils II, 106)

Patristic Quote of the Day

He raises up from the depth of sin those who have fallen from resurrection. He accomplishes all things by His powerful touch. He shepherds, He enlightens, He nourishes, He leads, He heals, He raises up. He calls all things from non-existence into being; once things are created He keeps them in existence. Thus God's blessings reach through the Son. -- St. Basil the Great, *On the Holy Spirit* par 19.

In preparation for Rogate

Is it not very interesting that the Sunday when the Church reads St. James' famous words about being doers of the Word and not mere self-deceived hearers, that the command of our Lord in the Gospel reading is: ASK! (And it is, I believe, the only Sunday whose name derives from the Gospel reading). Rogate! ASK! says our Lord. DO IT! St. James chimes in with. Love it! I honestly believe that if we cannot begin with obedience in the matter of prayer, we will not make progress in any other area of our Christian walk - for progress depends on learning to depend on the Blessed Trinity and not on ourselves. In other words, prayer!

What is he saying up there?

A friend asked that the other day. He meant the communion prayers. So here they are and now you know. As the congregation sings the Agnus Dei, I use this adaptation (and shortened) version of the traditional prayers as I prepare to receive the Sacrament and then after receiving:

Lord, I am not worthy to receive You into myself; but speak only the word and Your servant shall be healed.

The very Body of Christ, given for me. Amen.

I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

The very Blood of Christ, shed for the forgiveness of my sins. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, may this, Your most holy Body and precious Blood, which I, an unworthy sinner, have received, be to me for the forgiveness of all my sins, for strength in resisting temptations, for service in Your kingdom, and finally for the glories of life everlasting.

Glory to You, Lord Jesus Christ, my King and my God! Glory to You! Amen.

Cantate

brought such joy in the music today. Carlo blest us (as usual) with fabulous organ pieces for prelude (Voluntary I by Stanley), offering (Nun Freut Euch by Wechmann), and postlude (Festal March by Kroeger). The choir sang their hearts out on "First Song of Isaiah" - and the only complaint I heard was from members of the congregation itching to sing along with them - we all love that piece! Wow, did the choir ever do a FANTABULOUS job. It might just be my imagination but it sure sounds like the congregation sings the celtic alleluias louder each week. And we sang with great joy together "From All that Dwell" and "Dear Christians, One and All" and "At the Lamb's High Feast" and "Praise to the Lord" and "He Is Arisen, Glorious Word!" Paschal joy still gushing full and strong like an ever-flowing stream, five weeks out from the "feast of feasts" as the queen of seasons bright still renders its unique and brightly shining joy.

Why Harrison?

Listen to this. Pastor Harrison's words to the Fort Wayne community yesterday. That's why, folks. Sweet Gospel poured forth to a hurting community and irrepressible joy in the Lord. It's time.

HT: Cyberstones.

Seminary or Not?

An interesting article by my neighbor and friend, Pastor Heath Curtis. Give it a read and chime in. Provocative, as usual.

Praise You

The glorious company of the apostles praise You. The goodly fellowship of prophets praise You. The noble army of martyrs praise You. The holy church throughout all the world does acknowledge You: The Father of an infinite majesty; Your adorable, true, and only Son; Also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter.

--from the Te Deum at Matins (LSB 223)

A Beautiful Day

for finishing up the home-bound communions and sick calls. Got to do a bit more than 2 hours worth of driving under that bright blue sky and in the warm sunshine. The solitude in the car and the beauty of nature and the joy of bringing the undying Body and Blood of the Savior to those who need it most, well, it makes for a most joy-filled day. Glory to You, O Lord! Glory to You!

New Lutheran Quote of the Day

This life, which flows from Him to us, is also full of joy, the great joy of living in a world whose innermost nature is mercifulness, forgiveness, and love. It's the joy of knowing that Christ has made it possible for even the greatest sinner and the most miserable wretch to be God's child. It's the joy of knowing that there is nothing that can separate us from God when we trust in Jesus and stay with Him. -- Bishop Bo Giertz, *To Live with Christ* p. 327

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

Pride is a scorching wind drying up the fountains of divine grace in the heart; beware then of lifting up thyself with pride, lest thou deprive thyself of the influences of God's grace. -- Blessed Johann Gerhard, Sacred Meditation XXXIV

Patristic Quote of the Day

Lord God, give us peace - for you have granted us all things - the peace of quiet, the peace of the Sabbath which has no evening. -- St. Augustine, *Confessions* XIII, 35

These Wednesday Evenings

find us studying together how the Apostles preached the resurrection in the book of Acts. I love doing these studies. So much to learn about preaching. The importance of stating clearly the events of the Kerygma, but above all driving to the point of it all: forgiveness of sins. Amazing how Peter does this in Acts 2 and 10 and Paul in Acts 13. I'm convinced you don't have a decent sermon if you short either side. Tonight was Acts 13 and I was struck how the Holy Spirit taught two truths in the end:

YOU judge YOURSELF unworthy of eternal life, when you reject the Gospel.

and

All those who were appointed to eternal life believed the Gospel.

On the last statement, I wonder sometimes if we hear it correctly. The emphasis, I would think, is upon believing the Gospel discloses one to be an heir of the life that does not end.

Afterward, some of us gathered in the chancel to pray Compline and to ask the Lord's blessings on the end of the day - I always think of Compline as a practice run of my funeral. What joy and peace come to us through those wondrous psalms, hymn, and prayers.

New Lutheran Quote of the Day

The communion of saints was a fact long before it became a doctrine. -- Berthold von Schenk, *The Presence* p. 129.

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

Holy joy is the picture of God, while worldly sorrow is the picture of Satan and the exact opposite of faith. -- C. F. W. Walther, *God Grant It!* p. 394.

Patristic Quote of the Day

We rely on the true mercy of God; you, on your own false virtue. -- St. Augustine (Contra Julian, p. 173)

Kinda Surreal

to attend Vicarage Assignment Vespers at the Seminary today. Lots of memories. Dean and Lauren are staying put - Our Redeemer in Overland, Missouri. Lauren already is part-time secretary/part-time teacher in the school there. Pr. Russ Wise, who serves there, was at one time vicar in Dean's parent's church, Holy Cross, Collinsville.

The service itself was...interesting.

Winning the prize for odd: floating streamers that accompanied the processional cross. Think very Valpo-y and you get the idea. So out of place that one scarcely could decide between snorts of outrage or guffaws at the silliness thereof. Sorry, Concordia Seminary and with all due respect to my friend, the Reverend Dean of the Chapel, but that is just dumb.

Winning the prize for sad: the complete absence of the Gospel being proclaimed to the gathered vicars-to-be and deaconess intern and the congregation. Here is the root source of the problems of the LCMS, folks. It's a preaching crisis.

Winning the prize for worst piece of music: Alabare, sung at the pace of dirge. Really, if you're going to use a piece of music from another culture, at least learn a bit about TEMPO! I've heard folks butcher "Listen!" in just the same way. Grr.

Okay, venting off.

The choir was outstanding on the Psalm, Prof. Utech did a beautiful job in reading the lesson, and the prayers were reverently offered by President Meyer.

I think about those goofy streamers, though, and just shake my head... The image of cheerleaders with pom-poms keeps surfacing...

Oh, and scrounging

around in the innards of my computer and dumping junk files has resulted in amazing savings. I went from having 7 gigs free (yikes!) to having more than 80 gigs free. I feel like my MacBook just got a new lease on life!

Hey, I won!

Soundbite of the week for Issues, Etc. You can check it out here.