Said most simply

the certainty is not in our possession, but in God's gracious giving.  Faith doesn't cling to what has been; it clings to Him who promises and delivers exactly as He promises.

New Lutheran Quote of the Day

He bears our punishment for our sin, the forsakenness of God.  Anyone bearing his or her own sin is finally lost, but not Jesus.  He is bearing not His own sin, but ours; He is not opposite God, but doing the will of the Father.  He won't let go of us and He won't let go of God.  -- Dr. Norman Nagel, Selected Sermons, p. 315.

New Lutheran Quote of the Day

Cherish thou the love of Him, who for love of thee entered the virgin's womb. -- Blessed Johann Gerhard, Sacred Meditation XIII

Patristic Quote of the Day

If love leave us, the whole body is rent in pieces. -- St. John Chrysostom, Homily 23 on Romans

New Lutheran Quote of the Day

This we have to face, yet death is a fact that, for all its finality, is not the final fact.  You have not faced death fully until you have faced the death on Calvary. -- Dr. Norman Nagel, Selected Sermons, p. 314.

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

But faith is not a mere opinion or empty profession; it is a lively apprehension of Christ as He is set forth in the Gospel. -- Blessed Johann Gerhard, Sacred Meditation XII

Patristic Quote of the Day

Do not then suppose that you are lowered by needing another man. For this exalts you the more, this makes you the stronger, and the brighter too, and the more secure. -- St. John Chrysostom, Homily 22 on Romans

New Lutheran Quote of the Day

He calls with a call that fetches men out of their cells into the glorious liberty of the sons of God.  He calls with a call that many reject, for He takes no prisoners in His company.  God came to set the captives free.  There can be pain as we hold back, clinging to the chains, but the chains are broken and He would have us free.  -- Dr. Norman Nagel, Selected Sermons, pp. 131.

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

Consider, O my beloved soul, the excellency of Faith, and then give thanks to God, from whom alone it comes.  Faith alone unites us to our Savior, so that we derive our spiritual life, our justification, and our salvation from Him, as the branches draw all their sustenance from the vine.  -- Blessed Johann Gerhard, Sacred Meditation XII

Patristic Quote of the Day

For it is not enough to show mercy, but it behooves us to do it with a largeness and an ungrudging spirit, or rather not with an ungrudging, but even with a cheerful and rejoicing one, for not grudging does not amount to rejoicing. -- St. John Chrysostom, Homily 21 on Romans

Discovery

When cheddar has been aged at least 5 years, it has an unbeatable sharp taste.  Major yum.

Little Joys

Had a very early hospital call this a.m.  Got to DesPeres Hospital just after 5.  And there above the hospital, the stars were shining.  They were positively shimmering in the crisp air.  I wanted to stop right there and break out into "Creator of the Stars of Night!" but I was already a few minutes later than I had intended.  On the way home, though, another joy:  to watch the sun leap up.  We have trees in the way here at the house, so it peaks through them first.  But out on the open highway there was nothing to block it.  It shone with vigor - not a cloud in the sky.  "The day from on high shall dawn upon us to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death."  Such matchless beauty in each one.  God made them for signs.  Signs point to something beyond themselves, and so do the stars and the sun.  They point us to Him who is Uncreated Light of Light and who shone among us the light of His love to call us to an eternal home with Him!

New Lutheran Quote of the Day

Then Luther learned to know God as the one cast on the arms of Mary and the cross.  The Greek cages for God and humans were broken.  Augustine's heavenly and  earthly letter and spirit were replaced by the Law and the Gospel, God's two ways of dealing with His people.  This liberated Luther from attempting to cage God.  He was exposed to all of God:  the inexplicable and wrathful God, the God of the manger and the cross.  When the blows of God fell on him, Luther crept to the cross and clung to God, his Savior and brother, clinging to God against God.  -- Dr. Norman Nagel, Selected Sermons, pp. 308, 309

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

If the Savior by His death paid such a precious ransom for us, what He accomplish for us by His life and active intercession? -- Blessed Johann Gerhard, Sacred Meditation XI

Patristic Quote of the Day

After discoursing at large upon the love of God toward man, and pointing out His unspeakable concern for us, and unutterable goodness, which cannot even be searched into, he next puts it forward with a view of persuading those who have received the benefit to exhibit a conversation worthy of the gift. -- St. John Chrysostom, Homily 20 on Romans

From Starck's upon St. Michael's

O gracious God, grant Your Holy Spirit that I may not grieve these creatures of Yours by my sins, nor drive them from me by reckless living, forcing them to stand far off and to forsake me because of my wickedness.  Grant that even in this life I may become like the angels by serving, praising, obeying, and glorifying You, so that at last I may be like the angels also in the joys and bliss of the life that never ends.  Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven - let this prayer resound in my ears and in my heart from now and forevermore.  My God, let Your holy angels remain with me in death that they may carry my soul to Abraham's bosom and accompany me to glory.  There let me forever be in their fellowship and company, rejoice with them over Your glory and majesty, and chant with them:  Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of hosts!  And so I will praise You for this and for all Your blessings forever and ever.  (p. 115)

Made My Day

A parishioner told me today that he didn't use to appreciate the music in church so much.  "But," he said "with the new hymnal, I look forward to it.  I just love to sing and hear the harmonies around me.  It's great."  Sigh.  Now THAT is music to this pastor's heart.  Is there any joy on this earth that compares to standing in the midst of God's people and singing together a joyous hymn of praise to the Blessed Trinity?  I sure can't think of one!

Michaelmas Anticipated

Today we anticipated Michaelmas (actually falls on Wednesday).  The children of Trinity-St. Paul sang the first three stanzas of Melanchthon's hymn on the angels:  "Lord God to Thee We Give All Praise" and it was like listening to angels sing!  Their little voices floated down over the congregation with the joy of heaven ringing in them.  We also had the unspeakable joy of seeing Carter and Callie Cunningham baptized into Christ, adopted into God's forever family, and receive forgiveness of all sins.  Pastor Gleason gave us much joy in the holy angels:  "let Your holy angel be with me that the evil foe may have no power over me."  What with Baptism and extra music, the liturgy ran long - I think it was close to a full 1 and 1/2 hours.  At the end, though, Carlo gave us a stunning Bach postlude (well, actually prelude, but you get the idea).  After the liturgy, the TSP parents threw a surprise baby shower for our beloved Mrs. Schkade - due soon!  I came home and grabbed a bite to eat, prepared next Sunday's bulletins, and then had a counseling appointment.  Then it was time to teach Catechism:  today we covered commandments 9, 10 and the close of the commandments.  Came home for dinner and have absolutely nothing to do this evening, save for savoring and remembering the joys of the day.  Glory to God who sends His holy angels to tend His children and keep them safe!

And Another Year...

...with no fieldworker assigned to St. Paul's.  We were so blessed last year when returning student and now Pr. Samuel Powell, managed to get transferred to this parish for fieldwork, but as of right now, we have no students assigned at all.  Such a pity, for the parish loves having them here so very much (as do I).

New Lutheran Quote of the Day

That membership [in the catholic church] is powerfully expressed as you worship your way through the liturgy, which is the pattern of worship in which you join your fellow members in the catholic church of many centuries and many places.  This reaches its climax in the Holy Communion when we acknowledge ourselves to be together with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven. -- Dr. Norman Nagel, Selected Sermons, p. 307.