Five Years Ago…

…I got a most unexpected phone call to from my youngest daughter. She called to tell me that my brother, James Maupin (Maup), had just died back in Virginia. She was rather distraught. Her cousin had let her know and she hated to be the one to break this news. But I told her then that sad as the news was, his death was hardly unexpected. He was in quite rough shape when saw him the previous month for his youngest daughter’s wedding which I was blessed to perform. He was weak, couldn’t stand for long periods of time, and just looked unhealthy. He’d been through rounds of chemo and such some years back for lung cancer. Vietnam had taken its toll on him (as on so many others). But it seems that he just had a massive coronary that July morning. He dropped dead outside, and that’s the way he would have liked it. He was living on land that had belonged to our father and grandfather before him. He left behind his wife, Nancy, two sons and a daughter, and six grandchildren. All of whom were heart-broken. As also were his oldest brother, his sister, and his younger brother. So many wonderful memories and fun time with Maupin. Amazingly, not too long ago, my cousin posted a video clip. Maupin is in it (as is my also deceased brother Joe). Maup’s got the light hair; Joe the dark. Their wives, Peggy (blond) and Nancy (dark) also show up here. They are harassing one of my Uncle’s poor sheep! 

Rest in peace, my brother!

New Toy

Just purchased an iPad Pro 12.9 inch with Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil. I’ve saved up my blow money for it. I actually got it mostly for the bigger screen real estate and the larger keyboard for easier typing. I loved my little iPad Air, but this one gives a lot more space. I’m working on a book this summer that will be coordinated with illustrations and I wanted to be able to have the pictures side by side with my text as I wrote. I figure this larger screen will do the trick! It’s speedy, has great screen, and yet is still quite portable. 

Apple’s set up for transferring files is the essence of simplicity. Simply bringing the old iPad near to the new one, follow the instructions on the screen and in a matter of less than an hour, my entire content was transferred and my old iPad wiped clean for trade in. Slick!

And another Making the Case Conference is in the rearview mirror…

…but it was a great joy. Stellar line up of speakers, of course. Loud and joyous singing at Compline, Matins, the Hymn Sing and the Divine Service. Got to meet lots of new friends and catch up ever so briefly with old friends. I look forward to it every single year. It’s exhausting (to a native introvert like myself; lots and lots and lots of people time). And I’m tickled pink when it’s behind us and it mellows into memories. Here are some random pics:

Happy 41st to Us…

… and how is that even possible? 

That Was a Wonderful, Crazy Week

A true whirlwind. 

SATURDAY:  Leave Hamel, drive to Logan Ohio, so…

SUNDAY: …we can attend Emmanuel Lutheran in Lancaster for Pentecost. Was so blessed to hear our old friend, Mark Raddatz, preach and preside. Also to meet some fans of The Word Endures. Then the drive to Maryland.

MONDAY:..Memorial Day, we celebrated with Cindi’s sister Deb and many of her children and grandchildren, with Cindi’s sister Dee and family, and with Aunt Sandy. 

TUESDAY…Cindi and I enjoyed a Salvadoran lunch with my brother Joe’s widow, Peggy. Was so great catching up with her! Then in the evening, dinner and games with the Dillons, Quades, and Aunt Sandy. We played Farkle. 

WEDNESDAY…after rush hour, we headed down to Richardsville Virginia, the town my family was from. We visited with my sister and her family (including several of her great-great grandchildren). We always used to tell Sissy how much she looked like Grandma Bess (my dad’s mom). No more. She has become the spitting image of my mom! I visited family graves and my mom’s family’s home. Walked over to my brother Maupin’s widow’s home and was blessed to run into two of his children and one of his grandchildren. We visited for a while, but when the bugs started chewing on us, headed back to Sis’s screened in porch. We waited around to see if the whippoorwills would sing, but alas, they were silent that evening. We spent the night at a great Air B&B in downtown Fredericksburg.

THURSDAY…after a late breakfast at Cracker Barrel with Sis, Jimmy and great grandson Brayden, we headed back to MD, giving thanks many times over that we don’t live in this area anymore and convinced we could never do it again. Traffic insane! We had a quiet supper with the Dillons, Quades and Aunt Sandy.

FRIDAY…a trip to check out the Museum of the Bible. I was a bit disappointed. Not a lot of rare manuscripts on display at all. Lots of facsimiles. And even a Nestle Aland Greek NT under glass (????). Aunt Sandy joined us for dinner one more time and we got in a game of five crowns.

SATURDAY…long trip to Lauren and Dean’s. All was going smoothly till horrible accident closed the interstate for an hour before we got to Indy. Not sure, but suspect some of those in the crash perished. The ambulance came with sirens and lights and left rather quietly and not hurriedly with no siren. May the Lord have mercy on them all! We pulled into St. Paul’s Dieterich just after six and enjoyed a lovely visit with Herberts grandchildren and Lauren and Dean.

SUNDAY…after the Divine Service at St. John’s Dieterich, where my son-in-law Dean presided and gave out the gifts, we returned to parsonage for a late breakfast, and finally hit the trail for home. We got here about quarter to two, quickly unpacked, and ran over to the dairy to pick up yoghurt and fresh milk. I’m glad things are quiet for a couple days before our regular routine resumes. Tomorrow we’re heading out for dinner to celebrate our 41st anniversary. 

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

It is on God’s Word alone that we will one day be judged, so it must now guide our faith and life. If we allow it to light our path continually, we will not go astray. And if we have strayed from the path out of weakness, this light will always bring us back. Therefore, we must let the humble prayer of faithful Samuel be our prayer as well: “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.”—God Grant It!, p. 440. 

Lewis

I believe, to be sure, that any man who reaches Heaven will find that what he abandoned (even in plucking out his right eye) has not been lost: that the kernel of what he is really seeking even in his most depraved wishes will be there, beyond expectation, waiting for him in ‘the High Countries.’ In that sense it will be true for those who have completed the journey (and for no others) to say good is everything and heaven is everywhere.—Business of Heaven, p. 134

[He’d read his Thompson, no? 

‘All which I took from thee I did but take,

Not for thy harms,

But just that thou might’st seek it in My arms.

All which thy child’s mistake

Fancies as lost, I have stored for thee at home:

Rise, clasp My hand, and come!’]

Catechesis: On Predestination

He [God] will also strengthen, increase, and support the end of the good work that He has begun in them, if they cling to God’s Word, pray diligently, abide in God’s goodness, and faithfully use the gifts they have received.—FC SD XI:21

Lewis

Because we love something else more than this world, we love even this world better than those who know no other.—Business of Heaven, p. 130.

Catechesis: Adiaphora

We also believe, teach, and confess that at a time of confession, when the enemies of God’s Word want to suppress the pure doctrine of the Holy Gospel, God’s entire church, indeed, every single Christian, but especially the ministers of the Word, as the directors of the community of God, is bound by God’s Word to confess the doctrine freely and openly.—FC SD X:10

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

It is not the hearing of the sermon that saves a person, but the doing of what was preached, the keeping of the Word. In short, the doing of the Word is faith.—C. F. W. Walther on James 1:22ff. (God Grant It!, p. 425)

Patristic Quote of the Day

These are the voices of the church from which every church had its origin; these are the voices of the metropolis of the citizens of the new covenant; these are the voices of the apostles.—St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3.12.5

A very happy Mothers’ Day…

…to all the wonderful moms I’ve known. Particularly my own, Mildred Hume Mastin Weedon! She was a remarkable woman in so very many ways. I realized with shock today that in this picture of us together, SHE’S the same age I am now. Wow. How did that happen? She was a big old tease who, like all her family, loved to laugh! She poured out such love on all her children!

And then my “other” mom: Joanne DeVries, who was as much a good friend as a mom. We had so very much fun together across the years! 

Also to my wife, Cindi, who just continues to be THE super mom par excellence. 

To my two daughters and my daughter-in-law, each of whom approach motherhood in their own unique way, but in their different approaches each being a blessing to my sweet grandchildren.

To my sister, Marie (usually just called Sissy), who was like a second mom to me. I remember her and Jimmy picking up after the first day of kindergarten, just days before their marriage. Can’t even count the number of trips they took me on when I was little! 

To my “Church” moms: Mil Gerni (Burlington), Wilma Henke and Clara Wehrend (Hamel), all now deceased, but like my own mom, never forgotten!  Each of these ladies felt zero compunction about giving their pastor “a talking to” when they felt it was called for, and I remain grateful for them all!

This Week’s Numbers

Summary for this week (Monday through Friday)

Miles walked: 25 (a bit more than 5 miles per day)

Times running down and up the staircase in our house: 130+ (keeps heartrate up while I walk!)

Pushups: 15,000

Pull-ups: 372

45 lb. KB swings: 372

High Intensity Interval Training: 1 hour (1/2 Tues; 1/2 Thurs)

As I told Craig today, one of things I really look forward to in retirement is being able to do my workouts without concern about fitting it around my work schedule. As I said in post a few days ago, I don’t ever want to do the workout prior to doing, but I sure do love how great it feels when it’s done!

A Joyous Cantate

as ten young people were confirmed in the holy faith. Here is the opening procession in which the Confirmands follow the cross as the congregation sings St. John of Damascus’ hymn: “Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain.”

This morning, as I fixing the coffee…

 Moonset. 

Then as I was enjoying my coffee…sunrise. 

I am in love…

…with my new Bible. It was very (as my kids would say) “spendy,” but it’s so worth it. I now have a beautiful ESV with Apocrypha in genuine calfskin leather.  And the Apocrypha is NOT stuck at the end, but placed squarely between the Testaments, exactly where Dr. Luther put it in his Bible. I’ve become increasingly leery of having “study notes” supplied by a publisher in a Bible, and I’m pleased to say this one has only the ESV textual notes and within the margins the wonderful Cambridge system of cross-references. It’s not quite as comfortable in my hand as my KJV with Apocrypha (which is just the perfect fit). Preserving the ESV’s layout of poetical lines also means that the print had to be a tad smaller. But for anyone who is looking for an ESV with Apocrypha (remembering that all Lutheran Bibles originally had those books included), this one is simply top notch. 

On Bodily Discipline

1 Corinthians 9:27 (ESV). But I discipline my body and keep it under control…

My body doesn’t like working out. My body prefers sitting in a chair and mindlessly surfing the internet or reading a good novel or binge watching something. But what my body prefers is something that gets regularly ignored. Some years ago I got into the habit of working out (especially M-F). When I was working at the International Center, my noontime workout was how I kept my sanity! I used to joke: Oh, I work at my gym. They’re amazing! They provide an office for me for use before and after workouts.

It took some thinking when I started working from home again, trying to decide the best time to workout. It didn’t seem to work to do the same noontime slot. So I shifted to early morning. Usually I have my cup of coffee and enjoy the sunrise, pray from The Treasury of Daily Prayer with Cindi, pray Matins (using the KJV schedule), do readings from Book of Concord and some devotional material (currently Lewis and Walther) and then finish up coffee and puzzles (yes, addicted to Wordle, Worldle, Quardle, Knotwords, Blossom, and Nerdle). Then before anything else, it’s time to workout, time to make the old bod do the stuff that it doesn’t ever want to do, but which ends up giving me tons of energy and makes me feel so much better.

Lately, I’ve been doing a circuit in the house. By the time I’m done, I’ve climbed down and up the stairs 24 times, and walked all around the interior. I start off with 25 pushups. Walk around and down. Do anywhere from 5 to 9 pull-ups and 5 to 9 45 lb. kettlebell swings. Then run up the stairs and back into my study to record this. Then I walk around again, sprinting up and down the stairs, and maybe catching a drink of water. Then time to do pushups again. That’s my regular Monday to Friday. Add to this, I aim for at least five miles walking each day (and hit that most days). So this week, thus far, I have walked about 25 miles, done 1200 pushups and 320 pull-ups and kettle bell swings each. I’ll rest Saturday and Sunday (though will try to get the walking in) and then resume again next week. And then there’s Tuesdays and Thursdays! That’s when I do what my body does not merely dislike, but actually “loathes, despises and abominates” (anyone recognize that?): 30 minutes of high intensity interval training. I do that using the Apple Fitness app. It’s a killer. I have a love/hate relationship with trainer Jamie Ray.

The cool thing is that discipline, as many have noted, has a way of spilling over in our lives from one area to another. So from exercise to sleep, from sleep to dietary choices, from dietary choices to financial decisions, and so on. But I think it makes great sense to start with disciplining the body, making it do hard work, and ignoring its pleas for “hey, let’s take it easy” and “lighten up, will you?” I think it’s simply a great place to start. I know that I cannot imagine a life now where my workout wasn’t a regular feature of my week. And let me stress that at the beginning of regularly working out, it was nowhere near the intensity I’m doing now. What matters is making that body MOVE and ignoring it’s whiney “but I don’t WANT to.” What matters is to learn to say, “Tough, body, YOU are not in charge; you WILL do as you are told. Got it?”

P.S. One more thing my body doesn’t particularly enjoy? Cold showers. But I end every shower with over a minute of nothing but cold water hitting the skin all over. Like the workout, despite the body’s protests, it ends up making you feel simply great!

Patristic Quote of the Day

Everywhere creation offers obedient service to its Creator. The stars indicated his birth; clouds overshadowed him in his suffering, received him in ascension, and they will accompany him when he returns for judgment.—St. Bede, the Venerable, Commentary on Acts 1.9b

Proverbs 4:18

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. 

Pastor Matt Ruesch Interview

Pr. Ruesch knocks it out of the ball park in this wonderful interview with Dr. Shawn Baker. Check this out! 

Lewis

We are taught that the incarnation itself proceeded ‘not by the conversion of the godhead into flesh, but by taking of manhood into God,’ in it human life becomes the vehicle of Divine life. If the Scriptures proceed not by the conversion of God’s Word into literature, but by taking up of a literature to be a vehicle for God’s Word, this is not anomalous. —Business of Heaven, p. 118.

Patristic Quote of the Day

It is perfectly evident that the church is one in all its saints and that the faith of all the chosen is the same, of those who preceded and who followed his coming in the flesh. We are saved through faith in his incarnation, passion and resurrection that have been accomplished.—St. Bede the Venerable, Homilies on the Gospels, 11.5

Catechesis

This personal union does not exist nor can be thought of without such a true communion of the natures. Nor just the mere human nature—whose property it is to suffer and die—has suffered for the sins of the world, but the Son of God Himself truly suffered. However, He suffered according to the received human nature. In accordance with our simple Christian faith, He truly died, although the divine nature can neither suffer nor die.—FC SD VIII:20

Patristic Quote of the Day

It was certainly a great and indescribable source of joy, when, in the sight of the heavenly multitudes, the nature of our human race ascended over the dignity of all heavenly creatures. It passed the angelic orders and was raised beyond the heights of the archangels. In its ascension, our human race did not stop at any other height until this same nature was received at the seat of the eternal Father. Our human nature, united with the divinity of the Son, was on the throne of his glory.—Pope St. Leo the Great, Sermon 73

Catechesis

Consider this majesty, to which Christ has been exalted according to His humanity. He did not first receive it when He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. He received it when He was conceived in His mother’s womb and became man, and the divine and human natures were personally united with each other.—SD VIII:13

Lewis

It is his [St. Athanasius’] glory that he did not move with the times; it is his reward that he now remains when those times, as all times do, have moved away.—Business of Heaven, p. 117. 

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

For whoever has truly recognized that he has earned hell with his sins cannot possibly be dissatisfied his lot, however unfavorable it may seem. He must remember that no matter the circumstances, they are better than he merits. As the book of Lamentations expresses it, “Why should a living man complain, a man, about the punishment of his sins?”—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 394.

Patristic Quote of the Day

He said, ‘Repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name beginning from Jerusalem.’ The disciples could not see this. They could see Christ talking about the church that would be. When Christ said something they could not see, they believed him. They could see the head, but they could not see the body. We can see the body, but we believe about the head. They are two: husband wife, head and body, Christ and the church. He showed himself to the disciples and promised them the church. He showed us the church and ordered us to believe about himself. The apostles saw one thing, but they did not see the other. We also see one thing and do not see the other. Having the head there with them, they believed about the body. Having the body here with us, we believe about the head.—St. Augustine, Sermon 229.1

Patristic Quote of the Day

Although he did taste food after his resurrection, it was not in obedience to any law of nature. He did not feel hunger, but at the appointed time, he confirmed the truth of the resurrection by showing that the flesh which had suffered and that which had risen were the same.—St. John of Damascus, Orthodox Faith 4.1

Good Reminder for All (but especially pastors!)

Do not fail to weep and mourn with those who mourn. Do not hesitate to visit a sick man, because for such deeds you will be loved. In all your affairs, remember the end of your life, and then you will never sin.—Sirach 7:34-36

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

The sorrow with which they [true Christians]are continually visited is the means God employs to keep them with Christ.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 392. 

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

In this way, the Christian church takes the time which God has created and offers it to God through Christ who has redeemed it. The daily and annual cycles of the feast and fast constitute the means by which the church, inspired through the ages by the Holy Spirit, does this. It is the church’s way of “redeeming time.” The Christian Year by Edward Horn, p. 12.

Patristic Quote of the Day

If we are sheep, we conquer; if we become wolves we are overcome. So long as we continue to behave as sheep, we are victorious. Even if ten thousand wolves surround us, we conquer and are victorious. But the moment we become wolves, we are conquered, for we lost the Shepherd. He is the Shepherd of sheep, not of wolves. If he leaves you and goes away, it is becomes you do not allow him to show his power.—St. John Chrysostom, Homily 33 on St. Matthew (Thanks, Jerry, for the reminder!)

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

God chose the time for time and eternity to meet, and time can never be the same again. The liturgy of the Christian Church recognizes this fact and seeks to relate all time to the redemptive purposes of God. The Christian Year by Edward Horn, p. 8

Patristic Quote of the Day

The reason, you see, that they had despaired of Christ was that they had seen him dead. He, however, opened the Scriptures to them, so that they would realize that if he hadn’t died, he couldn’t be the Christ.—St. Augustine on Luke 24 (Sermon 236.2)

Lewis

In denying that sexual life, as we now understand it, makes any part of the final beatitude, it is not of course necessary to suppose that the distinction of sexes will disappear. What is no longer needed for biological purposes may be expected to survive for splendour.—Business of Heaven, p. 112. 

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

Fellowship between orthodox and heterodox produces the following result: the orthodox become more indifferent to the errors of the heterodox, and the heterodox become more indifferent to the truth of the orthodox. Error triumphs, and the truth is lost.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It! P 383.

On the Use or Action

Nothing has the nature of a Sacrament apart from the use instituted by Christ or apart from the action divinely instituted… The use or action here does not mean chiefly faith. Nor does it mean the oral participation alone. It means the entire external, visible action of the Lord’s Supper instituted by Christ: the consecration or words of institution, the distribution and reception, or oral partaking of the consecrated bread and wine, of Christ’s body and blood. Apart from this use, it is to be regarded as no Sacrament, like when the bread is not distributed in the papistic Mass but is offered up as a sacrifice or enclosed, carried around, and exhibited for adoration.—FC SD VII:85-87

Lewis

The evangelists have the first great characteristic of honest witnesses: they mention facts which are, at first sight, damaging to their main contention.—Business of Heaven, p. 111. 

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

Wherever Christ’s Word is still valued and reverenced, Christ has His believers, even if false preachers pervert and falsify it. Christ is not a poor king who reigns only in one city, province or country. Wherever in all the world the Word of grace sounds, there He makes subjects for Himself and establishes the holy kingdom of His Church in defiance of the gates of hell.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 379 

On the Impossibility of “Internet Communion”

Christ’s command “This do” must be observed unseparated and inviolate. This embraces the entire action or administration in this Sacrament. In an assembly of Christians bread and wine are taken, consecrated, distributed, received, eaten, drunk, and the Lord’s death is shown forth at the same time. FC SD VII:83, 84

Lewis

A man really ought to say, ‘The Resurrection happened two thousand years ago’ in the same spirit in which he says, ‘I saw a crocus yesterday.’ Because we know what is coming behind the crocus. —Business of Heaven, p. 109.

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

Only one thing is necessary to belong to the one flock that saves. A person must listen to the voice of Christ and recognize Him as the only Shepherd of his soul, accepting Him and remaining with Him. Whoever is with Christ is in the true Church, and his salvation stands unshakably firm and certain.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, pp. 376, 377.

Homily

I was privileged to preach at a Bach Easter Vespers at Concordia Seminary today. The readings were for last Sunday (Quasimodogeniti) as was the Cantata, Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ, sung so beautifully by the American Kantorei. The seminary’s Laudamus choir, led by Greg Gastler, assisted with the psalm and Magnificat and did some alternate stanzas with the congregation. Dr. Jon Vieker was the liturgist. Kantor Matthew Gerhardt was the organist. 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

People loved by God, it was sort of a toss off comment, purely parenthetical, in the Tractatus, but it was utterly profound. Philipp Melanchthon, after arguing that his theological opponents were trashing true divine services, stops short. He seems to recall that his readers might not get what he intends by that term “true divine services.” So he clarifies, glossing with: “that is, the exercises of faith struggling with despair” or a tad more expansively in the German: “faith’s struggles with unbelief and doubt over the the promise of the Gospel.”  (Par. 44) True divine services: faith’s workout to hold onto the Gospel promise against the multitudinous temptations to despair.

 

I can’t help but wonder if our reluctant confessor at Smalcald had in mind the traditional readings for Quasimodogeniti on which our music for today is based when he wrote that parenthesis? And I can’t help but wonder if J. S. Bach had Melanchthon’s comment in view as well. My faith knows the Savior’s victory, Still my heart feels strife and battle, My salvation, appear then! 

 

What is the victory that has overcome the world? Our faith. Past tense. Has overcome. Done. But what a struggle we have to believe that, to hold onto that faith, and to make it our own. Indeed, that is an exercise and struggle well beyond the ability of anyone of us to pull off by our own. As the Small Catechism says so starkly: “I believe that… I cannot believe….” 

 

And I suspect Thomas would have uttered his own loud Amen to that. It’s not that he didn’t want to believe what the others were telling him. I’m sure he did. He just found that he couldn’t. Not on his own. Maybe it all sounded just too much like wish fulfillment. Like when you want something to be true so so very badly that you just kind of persuade yourself to pretend that it is; but deep down you know you’re just pretending. And Thomas couldn’t do that. He was from the ancient equivalent of Missouri, he was a “show me” kind of guy. He states in no uncertain terms the only way he can be convinced is if he sees Jesus with his own eyes (echos of Job) and traces the marks of His crucifixion in His hands, and then thrusts his hand (there’s something oddly violent about that word in Greek) into the gaping hole on the side of the Savior’s body. 

 

Now, it’s always dangerous to set our own terms, of course, when dealing with God. Pretending that we’re in a position to give God the conditions under which we’ll credit Him with having spoken the truth to us! I wonder if that is at least a part of the reason that Jesus let the man stew in his own doubts and fears for a solid week. He could have appeared to him on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday; on Thursday or Friday or most fittingly on Sabbath. Belief, faith, however, it appears, comes not on our terms, but on His, and above all not on our schedule but on His. 

 

How did a younger Melanchthon express that in the Augustana? “For through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Ghost is given, who works faith, where and when it pleases God (ubi et quando visum est Deo), in them that hear the Gospel.” (AC V). The “where it pleases God” is “in them that hear the Gospel.” So, let us not make the mistake of a Calvinist and assume that there are some to whom God is not willing to give the gift of saving faith. You know, the idea that most folks sadly missed out on the election lottery held by the Trinity before time began. No, the One who will appear eventually to Thomas wills “that all be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” So the problem isn’t with God and His election. Rather, the problem is with Thomas being truant from that Sunday assembly where beyond their fears the Risen One appeared in their gathering and spoke His peace to them, a peace anchored in his wounds. Faith arises THERE. On His schedule. Where the Gospel is heard.

 

So Jesus lets Thomas stew for a solid week, the whole octave. Then finally come the 8^th day, it’s dejavu all over again. The second Sunday of Easter, when the disciples are again gathered, and this time including Thomas. The doors again closed, but no mention of fear. And Jesus appears once more, speaks peace, shows the wounds, and finally He turns to the the truant from the gathering the previous Sunday. He graciously invites him to touch and handle and even thrust in his hand if he must. But did he? Did he dare to touch the scars and probe with his hand that wound on the side of Jesus’ glorified body? Well, if he did, John doesn’t relate it. What he does relate is that in that assembly, in that gathering, where the Risen One manifested Himself to His disciples, Jesus spoke peace and Thomas was brought from unbelief to bold confession: “My Lord and my God!” 

 

And that, people loved by God, is the vital point for you and me: no one gets rid of unbelief by laying down hoops for Jesus to jump through. In fact nothing you SEE will ever get the job done. You get rid of unbelief in a far simpler and infinitely more gracious way. Not through the eye, but the ear. Unbelief is chased away by coming together, in fear or not, on the Lord’s Day, gathering with His people, and there Jesus STILL comes into the midst (where even just two or three are gathered) speaking His word of PEACE. He speaks the peace that is anchored in His wounds, secured by His cross, and which He delights to deliver to you! And this Word of peace from the Risen One is the only thing that can put to flight the fears and doubts, because His Word is stronger than your fears and doubts. His Word is the Spirit’s instrument and also and especially the word attached to the water (Baptism) and the blood (Eucharist), both of which testify that Jesus’ victory is yours. This is the Holy Ghost’s arena, where it is His delight to give the faith that overcomes the world, His gift to those who gather to hear the Gospel, the word of peace from the lips of Him who died but is alive forevermore. 

 

And this not only in the sense of general preaching, but in the private absolution. At the time of J.S. Bach, the people so frequently recurred to the Beichtstuhl, the Confessional Chair, to make known their sin and to hear from the pastor the word of forgiveness, that extra pastoral staff had to be added just to hear all the confessions. J. S. Bach went often himself. And after confessing his sins, these are the words he would have heard from his pastor:

 

The Almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ would be gracious and merciful to you. He wants to forgive you all your sins, and this because His dear Son, Jesus Christ, has suffered for them and died for them. In the name of the same Lord Jesus Christ, because He has mandated me to do this, in the power of His words, where He said, “Whosoever sins you forgive, they are forgiven,” I say to you that all your sins have been forgiven. They cannot hold you captive. They are altogether forgiven as abundantly and completely as was won for you by Jesus Christ, through His suffering and death, and which He has commanded to be proclaimed in all the world through the Gospel. And this is now said to you, to comfort and strengthen you, as I now speak to you in the name of the Lord Christ, for you to receive gladly, setting your conscience at peace, as with a faith that cannot be shaken: your sins are surely forgiven you, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Go forth in peace. Amen.

 

I don’t know about you, but if that got put into my ears every time I went to confession and named my shame, I’d gladly run there to expose it all! Those are fighting words! Words that overcome, because they are words of faith in the Gospel promise. A personal sermon for the penitent. 

 

And in this way the battle against unbelief is won. Jesus speaks and His word does its faith-creating job. We have to but drop our silly conditions and give ear to His words. Jesus made this clear earlier in John: “I pray for those who will believe in me through their words.” And “my sheep hear My voice and I give them eternal life and they shall never perish.”

 

So that’s you and me. And though we often pray in tears like the father of that poor child: “Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief!”, you must know where He answers that prayer, and when He helps our unbelief: precisely where we, the water washed, gather around Him, attending to the Spirit’s Word and drinking the blood, and where He continues through His called servants to speak to us His absolving Gospel both publicly and privately, for in these places and in these ways He delivers us the words that alone can chase unbelief far away, and bring His peace into our hearts. 

 

As we heard in the cantata today, Du Friedenfürst, Herr Jesu Christ, “Yet it almost seems that the remaining enemies, whom I find too great and only too frightening, do not let me stay in peace. But if You have won the victory for me, then fight You Yourself by my side, by Your child. Yes, indeed, already we feel in faith that You, the Prince of Peace, will fulfill in us Your Word and work.” (Recitative 5)

 

His word, His work, His saving name, His saving faith, His saving peace. All His. All gift. And so all yours. Here. Wherever the Spirit’s words bring Jesus, and with Him the victory that overcomes the world. For here faith wrestles with doubt and despair over the promises of the Gospel, and here faith overcomes.

 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

We had a most wonderful time

…in Jamaica. Not long, but it was completely relaxing. The water at our resort was more like a lake than the Caribbean Sea (due to the coral reef). That meant we could look down even when it was up to our necks and clearly see the bottom and the amazing fish that swum around. All was awesome! That is, until the trip home. The only thing I’ll say is: if you get offered a deal on Frontier, run the other direction as fast as you can. I’m sorry, Southwest. Never again!

A few pics: 

A most blessed happy birthday…

…to this young lady. Each year she is blessed with turning a year older some six months before I do. Love you to the moon and back, Cindi. I am so very thankful that we have been able to travel this crazy journey together. I don’t even remember how many moves (Maryland to Maplewood; a different place in Maplewood; Garfield; Maplewood; Burlington; Mebane; Worden; Hamel - I guess that makes 8!); three wonderful children; three wonderful spouses for our youngsters; and 12 adorable grandchildren. To say we have been blessed would be such an understatement. Thank you for being my sunshine, mi Sol!

AND on Good Friday at Tenebrae

Megan blessed us with this lovely version of Handel. 

Easter triumph, Easter joy!

We gathered in the school courtyard for the blessing of the new fire, which I attempted to capture on my iPhone. You can watch it here. After heading into the Church (and many of us relighting our candles), the liturgy continued with the Service of Light, the Service of Readings (yes, all twelve of them, plus two sung canticles), Reception of New Members (yeah!!!!!), Service of Prayer, Service of the Eucharist. Pastor gave us St. John Chrysostom’s incomparable homily. It was long, exhausting, and completely joy filled. 

We headed home and enjoyed some snacks to break the Triduum fast before we hit the hay. This morning, choir gathered at 6 to practice, and Easter Matins was held at 6:30. Pastor was liturgist and vicar served up a delightful homily on John 20 that missed none of the Old Testament allusions in that account. I realized his preaching reminded me quite a bit of Johann Gerhard’s sermons with their frequent OT illustrations. I’m certain it is the only Easter homily I’ve ever heard that wrapped up with Song of Songs! Beautiful.

After a fine Easter breakfast served by our Walther Leaguers, and one more choir practice, the Mass of the Resurrection began. We were joined by a guest trumpeter who just sent things, well, over the top. Our regular trumpeters are always a blessing, but this guy… Awesome! The whole weekend the organ’s new zimbelstern played for our Gloria in Excelsis, for Sanctus, and for any doxological stanzas. Pastor gave us an excellent sermon framed by some comments of the Dean of Westminster about not seeing the Queen again. Um. WRONG! As he preached the truth of the resurrection to us from all the readings, the joyful hope that Christ’s resurrection brings our hearts just grew and grew. I’m so glad that Elizabeth would have not hesitated to correct the Dean, “Oh, but my dear sir, we shall most certainly see each other again.”

After the liturgy we headed home to a delicious Greek themed Easter: cheeses, then Lamb-beef-feta balls with tzaziki, chicken souvlaki, baklava and a whole bunch of other goodies. The children got to enjoy their second easter egg hunt of the day. And then folks dispersed. So glad that we got to spend the day with two of my three children’s family (sniff, sniff, missed my eldest’s crew), and that they got to spend it with us and Opa (Cindi’s dad). Another four generation feast for the books. 

Love days like this…

…woke up by 5. Made pot of coffee and drank it. Prayed Matins. Read my Book of Concord, some Lewis, and some Walther. Then 30 minutes of HIIT. Followed that up with 300 push ups, 30 pull ups, 30 45-lb kettlebell swings, and 3 miles of walking. Quick shave and shower (cold!), then up to the Church to lead the Maundy Thursday Mass. A quick interview with Aubrey and Austin on the topic of language. Home to fix more coffee and write podcast for May 2. Now I’m done writing till Easter Tuesday. Still up: have to teach in the school at 1:30 (more of John 7 and into 8) and then back for the evening Maundy Thursday Mass with stripping of altar. A wonderful Feast Day indeed! Here’s praying that all of you have a blessed celebration of the Three Days and Easter!

My sister just sent me…

…this picture. It was Thanksgiving in 1980. I believe my friend, Linda Hayes, took it for us. And it reminded me we have only two pictures that include all five siblings, and we have exactly NONE with all five siblings AND our parents. Kind of hard to believe!

38 Years…

… miss you, my brother!

The Joy of Emmett William Ibisch’s Baptism…

…God’s own child!

https://youtu.be/sHXxNTG-KuY (big thanks to Paula for the video! The song was originally written for Rebekah’s baptism many moons ago.)

Granddaddy’s Bible

My sister asked me a week or so ago if I’d like to have my grandfather’s Bible. He was the Chancellor I was named after, born in 1879. I told her I’d love to have it. She sent it to me. And as I looked over its pages, and read between the lines I think I saw something I’d never thought about.

He received or purchased this Bible when he was 40 years old, according to the inside cover: 1919 with his name. In the front of the Bible he had copied out a single verse, as though to console himself: “Blessed are ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” From the Lucan beatitudes. 

I thought about that a bit. The man was 40. His father (a Civil War vet who contracted TB) had died at a sanitarium for those with consumption a month before he turned 11. He had never been married. He had no children. And he was rather impoverished. He was comforting himself that at least in the next age he would be blessed, even if not in the present age. I found that profoundly sad.

He did have quite a change in fortune, however. Even though he was 40, the following year he proposed to Bessie James Maupin (herself 36) and she accepted and they were married on her birthday, February 14th. Ten months later they had a son, my father. And my mother’s father (a long time family friend of my dad’s mom) helped them purchase the home that my dad grew up in. 

So, in the long run, Chancellor Weedon lived into his 90’s and was blessed with two boys (both of whom made it home from WWII) and eight grandchildren and he even got to see some of his great grandchildren. But I do wonder if he’d have received any of those blessings for the awesome gifts they are in this present age, had he not consoled himself with the future kingdom and realized that it would be blessing enough, indeed blessing far more than he could ever dream. And how like our God to make a gift to such a man of many earthly blessings besides! Because he sought first the kingdom, “all these things” were indeed “added” unto him.

This morning, the KJV reading schedule…

…directed me to Deuteronomy 28, and I noticed something I don’t recall ever paying attention to before. The chapter, of course, records the blessings and the curses that will follow either from Israel’s faithfulness to the covenant or her faithlessness. And right there in verse 26, we read:

Deuteronomy 28:26-26 (KJV) And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray [them] away.

The words evoke, in a way, the covenant that God made with Abram in Genesis 15:11 and how he drove away the birds of prey from the sacrificial animals. But then also consider this verse a bit later in the same chapter:

Deuteronomy 28:49-49 (KJV) The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, [as swift] as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand. 

So, in consequence of Israel’s unfaithfulness to the covenant, Yahweh foretells through Moses the country will be like a dead corpse on which “the birds” will feed, and then that there will come a nation to Israel flying like an eagle. I think then that Deuteronomy 28 gives you the key to understanding Jesus’ mysterious words in Luke 17:37-37 (KJV) And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body [is], thither will the eagles be gathered together. Faithless Israel, the Lord was saying, would be left as food for the eagles. And what exactly was upon the top of the Roman standards? Ah, yes. The eagle. Check it out here.