Not playing that game

Well, I guess no more pictures for this here blog. Blogger is owned by goggle, and they’ve now made it clear that the only way you can post pics is if you allow them to track you across the internet. Just not interested in that. Besides, this old blog is coming up on its 20th year since the first posting. I’m definitely thinking about letting it lie mostly dormant. There’s some old stuff on there that might prove useful to some, so I won’t be deleting it (until google makes its NEXT demand that merely maintaining it requires them to be able to track you.) But there’s always the “Way Back” machine to find old posts if need be. But for now, just expect a lot more silence over here. 

First Time in a Long Time

Well, I finally cleared my desk of extra writing assignments. At the moment, I have nothing on deck other than writing and recording podcasts and Issues, Etc. shows. And boy does it ever feel GREAT! I won’t last long, because next year’s Advent devotional will be looming come this Advent, but from now till then I am going to enjoy the slower pace. 

Patristic Quote of the Day

Where did you learn to philosophize in such a manner about Christ? The Jews crucify Him, who knew the law, but you, inexperienced in this, call God the condemned one and worship the crucified.—St. John Chrysostom, Sermon on the Repentant Thief

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

Instruction for a pious and virtuous life is the central teaching of every religion except Christianity. But in the kingdom established by Christ, the main thing is the forgiveness of sins. In order that all people may obtain this forgiveness, the Son of God became a man and died on the cross. This was the real purpose of His entire great work on earth.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 789.

Lewis

When you are arguing against Him you are arguing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all: it is like cutting off the branch you are sitting on.—Business of Heaven, p. 261.

Catechesis

If the invocation of the saints were taught with the greatest caution, even such speculation is dangerous. Why defend it when it has no command or testimony from God’s Word? Indeed, it does not even have the testimony of the most ancient writers.—Ap XXI:33

Patristic Quote of the Day

Today, brothers, Adam was expelled from paradise because of disobedience; today, he will be brought back into paradise. And the thief is a witness. A thief went out, and a thief came in; the one who stole salvation from the cross. I know, I have spoken before about the thief, but the word of the cross has various stories. That thief will be put to death by the wood, and this thief plucks salvation from the wood. He did not take possession of earthly things alone but also of heavenly ones, not by his power but by conquering through faith. For this is the voice of the Lord saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is taken by force, and those who take it are seizing it.’—St. John Chrysostom, The Thief on the Cross

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

It is no wonder that thoughtless Christians do not desire private absolution. The wounds of their sins do not burn them, and thus they do not desire the soothing balm.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 788.

Lewis

Christianity agrees with Dualism that the universe is at war. But it does not think this a war between independent powers. It thinks it is a civil war, a rebellion, and that we living in a part of the universe occupied by the rebel.—Business of Heaven, p. 258, 259.

Catechesis

Granted, the blessed Mary prays for the Church. Does she receive souls in death? Does she conquer death? Does she make alive? What does Christ do if the blessed Mary does these things? Although she is most worthy of the most plentiful honors, yet she does not want to made equal to Christ. Instead she wants us to consider and follow her example.—Ap XXI:27

And it is OFFICIAL!

We love you, Kloe Ibisch! 

Patristic Quote of the Day

Therefore, realizing all these things, and considering how much gain we make from this, let us do everything and arrange everything in such a way that we reconcile with those who are already our enemies, prevent those who are to become so, and make our friends more secure. For love is the beginning and end of every virtue.—St. John Chrysostom, On the Prayers of Christ

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

Woe to those whose Christianity consists in nothing more than habitually going to church and other religious exercises or in experiencing a sense of excitement and a lasting interest in religion, without securing a clear knowledge of the right doctrine. Our text tells us that these are children who are “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 778.

Lewis

One reason why many people find Creative Evolution so attractive is that it gives one much of the emotional comfort of believing in God and none of the less pleasant consequences.—Business of Heaven, p. 255. 

Catechesis

The consciences of the pious will not have sure comfort against the terrors of sin and death, and against the devil tempting with despair, if they do not know that their confidence lies in the forgiveness of sins freely for Christ’s sake. This faith sustains and enlivens hearts in that most violent conflict with despair.—Ap XX:85.

Patristic Quote of the Day

So, too, Paul says about Christ that, since He was free by nature and a genuine Son, He did not, as if He had taken something by robbery, hide His equality but willingly took on the form of a bondservant. For He knew and was fully convinced that this action would not harm His glory in any way. He was not a usurper, nor did He grasp at equality. Equality was His from the beginning, not something acquired and then relinquished, but something immovable and secure. Thus, He remained in the same glory He had as a Son in relation to the Father.—St. John Chrysostom, Homily on Christ’s Prayers

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

He looks alone upon the certain, never-changing Word. This is the precious thing of which our text speaks: an established heart that is not carried about by various and strange doctrines. Blessed, blessed is the person who has attained this treasure! His ship of faith safely, unwaveringly, steers into the harbor of eternal peace, even if the stormy winds of false doctrine rage violently against it and even if the waves of persecution rise ever so high.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 774, 775.

Catechesis

It is also a myth that Christian perfection consists in not holding property. For Christian perfection does not consist in contempt for public ordinances, but in the inclinations of the heart, in great fear of God and in great faith. Abraham, David, and Daniel, even in great wealth and while exercising power, were no less perfect than the hermits.—Ap XVI:61

Lewis

One of the moderns said that reality is ‘incorrigibly plural’. I think he is right. All things are from One. All things are related—related in different and complicated ways. But all things are not one.—Business of Heaven, p. 256.

Patristic Quote of the Day

I say these things so that we may not be troubled when we see either ourselves or others in adversities. For if we bear everything that happens with gratitude and courage, everything will certainly turn out for the good and bring us much benefit.—St. John Chrysostom, Homily on the Prayers of Christ