New Lutheran Quote of the Day

Isaiah speaks of peace, but it is a peace that the world cannot bring, a peace the world will never usher in. This is a peace that passes understanding, for it comes not from worldly stock, but from the fruit of the Virgin's womb. This peace is delivered into our world, not merited by the world's actions. This peace is brought into our midst, made into our flesh, in the person of the Son of God.—Jeffrey Pulse, A Year in the Old Testament, p. 400.

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

Grace is obtained either completely or not at all. It is never given piecemeal.—C.F.W. Walther, Law and Gospel, p. 164.

Patristic Quote of the Day

Newly created and reborn of the Spirit by the mercy of God, let us imitate what we shall one day be.—St. Cyprian, Treatise on the Lord's Prayer, 35.

What a delight!

One of the great joys of blogging is actually getting to MEET the folk you chat with across this marvelous medium. Last night who but George Marquart should breeze into town. He took Cindi and me out for dinner and then joined us for a glass of wine at home. What a fascinating man with such a history! Odd points of connection: he knew my pastor, George Lobien, from Lobien's Bronxville days; he is a sort of (it's complicated) cousin of the famous Orthodox theologian John Meyendorff (and told me how Meyendorff's grandfather planted a big statue of LUTHER on the family estate - they were originally Lutheran); he used to live in PARAMUS (which is right around the corner from where we lived during vicarage in Garfield). He does Russian as well as English and is just an all around delightful conversationalist. Joy indeed. And he left me a goodie to read - a rabbi's take on Matthew's Gospel. The evening went by way too quickly. What a joy!

New Lutheran Quote of the Day

A person is not baptized into Christianity but into Christ, the living, risen Christ. Being a Christian means first of all belonging together with Christ, having fellowship with Him, having life from Him.—Per-Olof Sjögren, The Jesus Prayer, p. 37.

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

The sacrament itself should not be a sacrifice but a gift of God which he has given to us and which we should take and receive with thanks. For this reason I think that the ancients called this office eucharistia or sacramentum eucharistie, that is, a thanksgiving. For in this sacrament we should thank God according to the command of Christ, and we should use and receive the sacrament with thanks.—Blessed Martin Luther, AE 38:122.

Patristic Quote of the Day

The great Physician of souls, who is the ready liberator not only of you but also of all who are enslaved by sin, is ready to heal your sickness. From Him come the words, 'Those who are well have no need of a Physician, but those who are sick...For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.' What excuse have you, what excuse has anyone, when He speaks this way? The Lord wishes to cleanse you from the trouble of your sickness and to show you light after darkness. —St. Basil the Great, Letters, 46.6

Apocrypha Gem

And now bless the God of all, who in every way does great things; who exalts our days from birth and deals with us according to his mercy. May he give us gladness of heart and grant that peace may be in our days in Israel, as in the days of old. May he entrust to us his mercy! And let him deliver us in our days.—Ecclesiasticus 50:22–24 (Cf. Now Thank We All Our God)

New Lutheran Quote of the Day

The fullness of joy does not consist of getting all our wishes fulfilled. We do not get it through even the most sophisticated method of prayer, least of all through closing our list of requests with a formula such as "in Jesus' name." Rather the fullness of joy consists in having Jesus in our heart. Then we need nothing more. Then the cup of blessedness is full.—Per Olof Sjögren, The Jesus Prayer, p. 36.

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

In the first place, therefore, it is necessary that both preachers and hearers take heed to doctrine and have clear, unmistakable evidence that what they embrace is really the true Word of God revealed from heaven; the doctrine given to the holy and primitive fathers, prophets and apostles; the doctrine Christ himself confirmed and commanded to be taught. We are not permitted to employ the teaching dictated by any man's pleasure or fancy. We may not adapt the Word to mere human knowledge and reason. We are not to trifle with the Scriptures, to juggle the Word of God, as if it would admit of being explained to suit the people; of being twisted, distended and patched to effect peace and agreement among men. Otherwise, there would be no sure, permanent foundation whereon the conscience might rely.—Blessed Dr. Martin Luther, Church Postil VII, p. 325.

Patristic Quote of the Day

The 'tree of life' signifies Christ, whom we know by the Holy Spirit and through the Holy Spirit, and whom we worship by the Spirit and the Spirit in Him. Through Him, the twelve fruits of the apostolic chorus give to us the inexhaustible fruit of the knowledge of God.—Andrew of Caesarea, Commentary on the Apocalypse, 22.2

So Where Do You Want to be Buried?

We were talking about this on the way home from hospital today. I confessed to Cindi and Bekah that  it seems odd to me to be buried away from Richardsville. Crowded into that little cemetery opposite Richardsville Methodist Church lie so very many whom I have known and loved over the years: my mom and dad, my brother, both sets of grandparents, every last one of my aunts and uncles (save Uncle Edgar, who - thanks be to God! - is still walking around), my mother's grandparents, my cousins, my mom's aunts and at least one of my dad's. Yet for all that, I've chosen to be buried at St. Paul's when the time comes. Richardsville is "home" in the since that it is where my family roots will always lie, but bury me with my fellow confessors of the Augsburg Confession here in Hamel beside the non-stop roar of traffic along I-55. I trust that on the day of the resurrection, we'll find each other soon enough no matter where our mortal clay is planted, and well, this place has become home of another sort.

Poor Joanne

is back in the hospital. She was having trouble breathing. What that poor thing has been through! And Dave too, right by her side. Please remember them in your prayers!

Loving

Listening to Lutheran Public Radio. What a gift!!!

New Lutheran Quote of the Day

We can discuss election legitimately only as a comprehensive unitary concept (SD XI:13-14) and only in connection with God’s total plan for our salvation.—Dr. A. C. Piepkorn, Memorandum on Election

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

Because confession and private absolution is a highly necessary thing in the church and through it the benefits of Christ are applied to each individual, the same are thus also to be retained in their correct use in the church. Therefore no one shall go to the sacrament of the altar, unless he has presented himself to the priest and confessed himself a sinner and received private absolution.—Martin Chemnitz, Jacob Andreae, Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel Church Order

Patristic Quote of the Day

Again, the expression, I through the Law died unto the Law, may be understood in another sense: the Law commands all its precepts to be performed, and punishes the transgressor; therefore we are all dead to it, for no man has fulfilled it. Here observe, how guardedly he assails it; he says not, the Law is dead to me; but, I am dead to the Law; the meaning of which is, that, as it is impossible for a dead corpse to obey the commands of the Law, so also is it for me who have perished by its curse, for by its word am I slain. Let it not therefore lay commands on the dead, dead by its own act, dead not in body only, but in soul, which has involved the death of the body.—St. John Chrysostom, Homily on Galatians 2

Patristic Quote of the Day

And we, too, being called by His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified by ourselves, nor by our own wisdom, or understanding, or godliness, or works which we have wrought in holiness of heart; but by that faith through which, from the beginning, Almighty God has justified all men; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

What shall we do, then, brethren? Shall we become slothful in well-doing, and cease from the practice of love? God forbid that any such course should be followed by us! But rather let us hasten with all energy and readiness of mind to perform every good work. For the Creator and Lord of all Himself rejoices in His works.

--St. Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians, paragraphs 32,33

Sawyer's First Thanksgiving

A Different Thanksgiving

The joys of the day: singing in the choir with the bells; the beautiful thanksgiving hymns and also Matins; family gathered around the table being typically obnoxious with lots of laughter; liverpool (even though Meaghan was most unkind and beat us all - massively, I mean, massively).

The sorrows of the day: the missing folk (Dean, Lauren, Sawyer—though we did get to Facetime) and seeing how difficult it was for poor Jo (even eating and drinking can come as a challenge not to mention holding onto her cards).

Figuring things out in the new (and smaller) space was a bit of a challenge. We used a buffet approach and that worked well. Our dining area is impossibly tight when the table is opened all the way, so without loading the table with the food, we were able to keep it a size smaller and leave all the food on the counter.

Thoughts for future Thanksgivings or Christmases: we're heading for simpler.  Less food (I think I've given up on stuffing or dressing - Cindi and I are about the only ones who eat it; and four pies for 8 people just because each kid has a different "favorite must have"? Um, no. Now we've got pies sitting around the house that no one will eat - think they'll end up next door. Dave has a sweet tooth.).  Two tables for cards instead of 8 people playing a single game to speed things along (the Turkey effect was well underway before we came close to finishing).