Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

Of course, the natural light of the sun or of fire cannot make dense bodies such as clothing, walls, rocks and the like, translucent; but the divine, uncreated, supernatural light is immeasurably more subtle, brilliant, and bright. It made Christ's raiment white as snow and shine brilliantly. -- Blessed Johann Gerhard, Postilla II:278

Patristic Quote of the Day

He teaches us that we must diligently continue the practice, and in the form of a parable plainly shows that weariness in prayer is to our loss, while patience therein is greatly to our profit: for it is our duty to persevere, without giving way to indolence. -- St. Cyril of Alexandria, Homily on Luke 11

What a Crazy Week

this has been! All the travelling with Lauren's graduation over the weekend (8 hours out to Seward on Friday; 8 hours home on Saturday) and the usual round Sunday with Mother's Day thrown in there to boot. Monday was booked solid (teaching, daycare chapel, workout, finishing up presentation for TAM) and wrapped up with two meetings in the evening (Daycare board and elders). Tuesday was up at 4:30 and heading out for Kearney to present at the Augustana Ministerium - that was a five hour trip. Back home from that yesterday about five, and then a boatload of email to catch up on. This morning after Matins got Joanie set on bulletin for this weekend and finished up bulletin for Baccalaureate for the High School, off to exercise, home to finish up bulletin for Ascension Day, off to meet with Frieda's family, home to prepare funeral bulletin, Sunday's Bible Class, and the TSP Graduation bulletin and locate an organist for TSP's service and pray Vespers. Still on the docket either for tonight or tomorrow is Sunday's homily and the funeral homily. So it's only 5 p.m. and I already feel like heading to BED!!! Funny, though, how the Daily Office and the workout routine are havens of peace in the midst of all the running about.

Patristic Quote of the Day

For verily we must not say of one clothed with the Spirit, that he curseth those who are infirm and sinful:----for it is not fitting for the saints to curse any:----but rather that he prays this of God. For before the coming of the Saviour we all were in sin: there was no one who acknowledged Him Who by nature and verily is God. "There was no one doing good, no not one; but they all had turned aside together, and become reprobate." But because the Only-begotten submitted Himself to emptiness, and became flesh, and was made man, sinners have perished, and exist no longer. For the dwellers upon earth have been justified by faith, have washed away the pollution of sin by holy baptism, have been made partakers of the Holy Ghost, have sprung out of the hand of the enemy; and having bidden as it were the hosts of devils to depart, dwell under the yoke of Christ. -- St. Cyril of Alexandria, Homily on Luke 7

New Lutheran Quote of the Day

The sins of our fellow Christians, their failures and their mistakes, are all opportunities and occasions for intercession. Let me put it quite concretely: when I fail as a pastor, I don’t need your condemnation or your indulgence. What I need is your support, and you give it best through your prayers. -- John Kleinig *Grace Upon Grace* p. 202

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

For in all Christians He [the Holy Spirit] will effect and produce these two things: First, He will convince and assure their hearts that they have a compassionate God; secondly, He will enable them to help others by their supplication. The result of the first is that they are reconciled to God and have all they need for themselves. Then, when they have this, they will become gods and will be saviors of the world by their supplication. Through the spirit of compassion they themselves will become children of God; and then, as children of God, they will mediate between God and their neighbor, and will serve others and help them attain this estate too. AE 24:87

Must Read Post

by Dr. Stuckwisch:

The Heart of the Holy Scriptures

Sigh. Wouldn't it be awesome to me a member of Emmaus in South Bend and get these goodies dropped on you on a regular basis?

Thoughts on Lutheran Unity

This is from Krauth, page 265 of *The Conservative Reformation*:

In showing that the Augsburg Confession is the Symbol of our time, the Formula of Concord rests its authority on its being "the unanimous consent and declaration of our faith." The private opinion of individuals, however influential, can in no sense establish or remove one word of the Creed of the Church. Any man who, on any pretence, gives ecclesiastical authority to private opinions, is robbing the Church of her freedom. She is to be held responsible for no doctrines which she has not officially declared to be her own.

Add to this, the wise words of Dr. Piepkorn:

The Book of Concord itself indicates that no further creedal statements are necessary. Three and three quarter centuries of Lutheran experience testify to the rightness of this position. (The Sacred Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, p. 104)

If there is ANY hope for unity and concord within and between Lutheran jurisdictions, we simply MUST renounce the temptation to insist that others hold opinions that we hold that are that: theological opinions and not the dogmas of our Churches drawn from the Sacred Scriptures and confessed in our Symbols. There is not a single "modern" corruption of the faith against which our Symbols' Confession of the doctrine of Sacred Scripture does not fully resource us.

Half a century ago or so, Sasse pointed out that the problem with Missouri and all the Synods of the Synodical Conference was that they assumed the Symbols and hence unwittingly ignored them. I propose that if Lutherans are going to get their act together when it comes to the thorny questions that confront us, we can do no better than prayerfully calling upon the Holy Spirit to take the Sacred Scriptures to heart as our Rule of Faith and embrace once more the Confession of that Rule which we call the Augustana. Satis est. It really is.

New Lutheran Quote of the Day

The Golden Rule wasn’t given by Jesus as a general ethical principle for all people, but as wise direction for God’s children who have access to their heavenly Father through faith in Him. Since I am a child of God, I know that the best things I could ever hope to receive from fellow Christians is their prayers. It’s the greatest favor and kindness that they could ever show me. But the opposite is also true. By praying for God to forgive them when they sin, I show my love for them and for God. I therefore fulfill the Law and the Prophets when I don’t pass judgment on others but pray for them instead. That is my mission in life as a holy person. I can ask our heavenly Father to supply others with what they lack. I can seek His grace for my sisters and brothers in Christ. I can knock at the door of my heavenly Father and bring them into His presence. So by the practice of intercession we fulfill the Golden Rule. - John Kleinig, *Grace upon Grace* p. 201

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

Never think that you are kneeling or standing alone, rather think that the whole of Christendom, all devout Christians, are standing there beside you and you are standing among them in a common, united petition, which God cannot disdain.” Luther, AE 43:198

Patristic Quote of the Day

Whatever good work a man undertakes, if he perseveres in it, he will attain rest. But prayer is warfare to the last breath. - Agathon, *Saying of the Desert Fathers* p. 21

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

This one true God is merciful, for Christ says that God has given us His Son out of love. All of nature bears witness to God's benevolence, because He did not bring forth creation for His own sake, since within Himself He is perfect for all eternity, but He did this solely to share His benevolence with others. God's benevolence is a precious fountain that pours forth unceasing gifts and blessings, yet itself is never diminished. -- Johann Gerhard, *Postilla* II:15

Is Leviticus Getting You Down?

My friend, Paul McCain, and I were yacking about the readings in Treasury from Leviticus. There are a few points in the recent readings that I think are well worth noting.

First, verse 8 in both yesterday's (Lev. 20) and today's (Lev. 21): "The Lord who sanctifies you; keep the commandments!" I note the same train of thought in Philippians 2: Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Sanctification comes from living in the presence of the Holy One, but that leads to the keeping of His commandments, and always rejoicing in the blood of atonement for our sin.

Second, the intense interest in physicality in the holiness codes teaches us the importance that God attaches to our bodies. This theme runs from start to finish in Scripture. It fits so well with asking God for daily bread before we even ask for forgiveness in the Our Father.

Third, the whole matter of what is suitable for the priests comes to great "aha" when you remember that this is what the New Covenant lifts you into: you now are members of God's royal priesthood, who have access to the holy place, and offer the incense of prayer and eat the holy bread that God provides. When we never forget that God has given US this inner access to His presence, much of Leviticus lights up!

Can't Help But Note

the joyful coherence between continual justification (a la Edward Preuss) and Kleinig's oft stated "you can't possess it, but must constantly receive it" in *Grace Upon Grace.* YES! He draws the analogy with birth and starting to breathe; we literally go on living because we go on taking in the oxygen which is not our creation, but a free gift of God, and without which we would simply die. So our taking in of the Holy Spirit - ongoing, constant, never a possession, but always a Gift waiting to be in-breathed.

New Lutheran Quote of the Day

Our basic spiritual problem is that we have bad hearing. -- John Kleinig, *Grace Upon Grace* p. 126

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

There is only One out of all people, who was perfectly righteous before God by His own work: the Man, Jesus Christ. He was not righteous for Himself, for He is God and does not require His own righteousness. He gives it away, gives it to all who desire it and will receive. He gives it to all who believe in Him. -- C. F. W. Walther, *God Grant It!* p. 407

Patristic Quote of the Day

Many have believed in Christ, and celebrate the holy festivals in His honour; and frequenting the churches they also hear the doctrines of the Gospel: but they lay up in their mind of the truths of Scripture absolutely nothing. And it is with difficulty that the practice of virtue is brought with them even to this extent, while of spiritual fruitfulness their heart is quite bare. These too shall weep bitterly, and gnash their teeth; for the Lord shall deny them also. For He has said, that "not every one that says unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of My Father Who is in heaven." -- St. Cyril of Alexandria, Homily on Luke 13

Still Tired

from our long trip - 16 hours of driving between Friday morning and Saturday evening! Today, though, we were treated to hear Chris Loemker play for our services and Pr. Gleason offer the homily. I spent the early afternoon catching up on bulletins for Church and Baccalaureate, responding to email, and the late afternoon snoozing. Then we had Dave and Jo over (they just got in from Seward at 5 this evening) and we ate dinner and played some Liverpool. Yes, Cindi won again. Even on Mother's Day she doesn't let up! I'm utterly and completely wiped and am shortly heading to bed. Hopefully will have energy to get through tomorrow's round: Matins, two units in school, daycare chapel, workout, finish up presentation for Augustana Ministerium, Vespers, St. Paul's Early Childhood Learning Center Board meeting, and Elders meeting. Then off to Kearny, Missouri for the meeting of Ministerium. And all the while that Kleinig book is BEGGING to be devoured, and there is no time!!!

New Lutheran Quote of the Day

Because of her attention to her son, Mary has become the model for us in our practice of meditation. -- John Kleinig, *Grace Upon Grace* p. 118

A Few More Pics from Lauren's Graduation...