A Christmas Post on New Year's Eve

Thats right! I'm posting about Christmas on New Year's Eve. Why? Because I don't really get the celebrating of a new year beginning. Certainly there are things that I am looking forward to in 2007, like my graduation, my sisters wedding, and of course FOR YOU in MN. I just don't understand why we celebrate midnight of January 1st.

The year is a very strange thing. Its the name we give to 365 days. Wait thats not even right because we have a year with 366 days every 4 years. A year is 12 months. What kind of number is 12? Wouldn't it make more sense if it were 10, a nice even number. But apparently a month is based on the moon and Years are based on the Sun rotating around the earth. Wait! I guess they found out that its the earth that goes around the Sun. So those smart scientists people decided to teach us something even it it doesn't make much sense to people like me. Maybe I will understand more through my astronomy class next semester.

But what about other ways of measuring time: Days I can understand it gets bright then it gets dark even if its cloudy. Though I am not sure why the day starts when it still dark out when it would be much easier to start when the sun rises. But hours Why are there 24 hours in a day? 24 not 25 not 50 not 20 not nice even numbers but 24. What makes up a hour? 60 minuets 60, not 100 not 50 but 60. Then they break up the minuets into 60 seconds. What do we need seconds for? All of this came from me mentioning the New Year.

So how about the Christmas part of this post?

I love music! All kinds of music I just love it. (Except rap but is that really music?) I can't get enough of singing music, listening to music, attempting to play music on my keyboard I got for Christmas. Advent is full of really Good hymns. I like Advent hymns more then I like Christmas hymns.

But why is that? With other things advent is full of good things leading up to the great things of Christmas. One thing that comes to mind is when I was younger and we used to have those chocolate Advent calenders. We got a piece of chocolate each day and then during Christmas we got a ton of it in our stockings or my favorite chocolate cookies that my aunt makes for Christmas every year. But for some reason I just like the Advent hymns more then Christmas ones.

Even though in general I do like Advent hymns more then Christmas hymns none of my favorite hymns come from the Advent section. Two of them come from the Christmas section. One of them is From Heaven above to Earth I come, and the other I have typed out below.

LSB #384

Of the Father's love begotten, ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see, evermore and evermore!

O that birth forever blessed, when the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bare the Savior of our race;
And the Babe, the world's Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face, evermore and evermore!

This is He whom seers in old time canted of with one accord,
Whom the voices of the prophets promised in their faithful word.
Now He shines, the Long expected;
Let creation praise its Lord, evermore and evermore!

O ye heights of heaven adore Him; angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him, and extol our God and King!
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert sing, evermore and evermore!

Christ, to Thee with God the Father, and, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,
Hymn and chant with high thanksgiving, and unwearied praises be:
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory, evermore and evermore!

A very blessed Christmas and New Year to you all!

Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran

A promotional DVD featuring Higher Things, the greatest Lutheran youth organization on the planet. This promotional video was filmed this summer at Higher Things' annual summer conference, The Feast in Colorado Springs, CO. Check out Higher Things online at http://www.higherthings.org

11/22/1963

Today I would like to take a moment to remember a great author, Clive Staples (C.S.) Lewis. He died November 22, 1963 after collapsing in his bedroom at 5:30pm and died a few minutes later. He is now buried in the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church in Oxford.

Media coverage of his death was overshadowed by news of teh assassination of President John F. Kennedy which happened on the same day, as did the death of Aldous Huxly.

C. S. Lewis' feast day in the Anglican calendar is November 22

RIP C. S. Lewis

Something to go along with the last post

Should I Commune at Other Churches?
By: Pastor Aaron Koch

The answer to that question depends on the other church. If you're away from the area and are unable to commune here at Mt. Zion, you should seek out a church which believes and teaches and practices what we do. The only churches in this country which have committed themselves to doing so are the congregations of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. We are not in fellowship with other Christian and Lutheran church bodies because of important differences in what we believe and teach.

You should only commune at a church that has the same teachings and beliefs as Mt. Zion does. To commune at a particular church means that you agree with what that church stands for, its doctrine. A Christian cannot commune at two different churches which do not agree in doctrine. You cannot be in fellowship both with falsehood and with the truth.

Therefore, you should not commune at a non-Missouri Synod Lutheran church or any church (even an LCMS one) which engages in or allows the existence of false teaching or practice in its midst, even if you think that false teaching is only a small matter. The fact is that no false teaching is a small matter, because it threatens the truth of the Gospel of Christ; just as you would regard even a little poison in your food to be a very dangerous thing.

This is not only a private matter between you and the Lord. By communing you are also uniting yourself with the others who commune with you and with the teaching that is proclaimed in that place. Receiving communion is a public act by which we proclaim the Lord's death until He comes (I Corinthians 11:26). May God grant all His churches to make this Gospel proclamation clearly and purely to His glory and the salvation of many!

Augustana XIV

"Our churches teach that no one should publicly teach in the Church, or administer the Sacraments, without a rightly ordered call."

Readers Edition notes- "When this article speaks of a rightly ordered call, it refers to the Church's historic practice of placing personally and theologically qualified men into the office of preaching and teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments. This is done by means of a formal, public, and official call from the Church to do so. When this article was presented, it was understood that a call into the preaching office would be confirmed and formally recognized by means of the apostolic rite of ordination (with prayer and the laying on of hands)

So why do I post that today, on Reformation Sunday? I post that because it is one of the first things that came to my mind during the church service I atended today. The Pastor of this LCMS congregation was out of town for a confirmation retreat. Unfortunately, this pastor had one of the members of the congregation the services instead of finding a pastor to fill in for him. So the congregation member basically was the "liturgist" (although there was really no recognizable liturgy) My principal who is not ordained gave the "message." Which goes against that whole preaching thing of AC XIV. The message itself wasn't very good, He brought in Luther, but no Cross or sacraments, basically no Christ. Then Communion; Surprisingly the statement was pretty good. Talking about how we receive His true Body and Blood with the Bread and the wine for forgiveness of sins. Unfortunately the non-ordained congregation member spoke the words of institution and was also the one who said the pretty weak absolution after confession. Yet, twenty of the twenty-four members of my choir communed. Even with these strictly non-Lutheran practices. Two of the people who did not commune were not LCMS although I am sure they would have been allowed to commune if they wished. Well that's all I really I am going to say about the service. Just about these actions that went against the confessions that I know my principal said that he would uphold, and the pastor who was not there said he would uphold.

Crux sola est nostra theologia!

Happy Reformation Sunday!

Pax Domini

Issues etc.

I had a wonderful opportunity last night to see a LIVE broadcast of ISSUES, ETC., a National Lutehran radio talk show. The topic was Praise and Worhsip Music. They took a few of the Top CCM songs and evaluated them. Dr. Leonard Payton gives some very good things to look for.

You can find the first hour here: http://worldwide.kfuo.org/kfuo/issues_etc6/Issues_Etc_Oct_15a.wma

and the second hour here:
http://worldwide.kfuo.org/kfuo/issues_etc6/Issues_Etc_Oct_15b.wma

Hymn Origins

Came across this discussion on one of my mailing lists, I thought I'd post it since it kind of ties in with something I will be posting later.(hopefully)

I would like to know about the origins or our Lutheran Hymns. What I would
really like to know is whether or not they were derived from music that
would have been classified as german beer drinking melodies?? I had a
discussion with another lutheran that goes to one of the large liberal
LCMS congregations here in the KC area and his argument to me was that
Luther would be turning over in his grave if he knew what we
(Confessionals) were doing in trying to preserve the traditional lutheran
worship. He basically compared my thinking to that of the Pharisees. He
said that the hymns in Luthers time were all beer drinking melodies and that
the reason for that was to bring it to the people in a language that they
would understand and that we should change with times so that we can
continue to bring it to the people in a language that they can
understand today.

Reply:
If you google "Martin Luther" and "bar tunes", you 'll find out the
scoop on this old rumor that Luther took beer drinking songs and made
them into hymns. What he did was write music with lines between the
measures and those lines are called "bars". Here's an example of an
article written by Gene Veith about that subject. There were several
when I did the search.

http://www.worldmag.com/articles/9831

The Confessions say that we retain the Mass -- Luther was not interested
in trashing the tradition (like liberals today). He was interested in
correcting the abuses which had come into being over the years (sale of
indulgences, masses for the dead etc.)



Christ Centered, Cross Focused

For Devout Teachers of the Gospel

Dear Lord God, bring blessedness and salvation to the holy church which is the kingdom of Christ. Send us faithful teachers who will reveal your name to the world and who proclaim that you are gracious and merciful, forgiving us our sins for the sake of your Son. He will grant us eternal life in order that all people may rely on your grace and mercy, call upon you, and give you praise and thanks. Abolish all human doctrines and let Christ alone be our King, ruling through his gospel and making us his servants. Amen

-From Luthers Prayers

Te Deum Laudamus

I first sang this at one of the Morning Office's during my stay in Fort Wayne. It is included in the new hymnal LSB 941. and I was just listening to my Kantorie CD where they sing it. So I thought I'd Post it

We praise You and acknowledge you, O God,to be the Lord
The Father Everlasting, by all the earth adored.
To You all angel powers cry aloud, the heavens sing.
The cherubim and seraphim their praises to You bring:
"O holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth;
Your majesty and glory fill the heavens and the earth!"

The band of the apostles in glory sing Your praise;
The fellowship of prophets their deathless voices raise.
The martyrs of Your kingdom, a great and noble throng,
Sing with the holy Church through-out all the world this song:
"O all-majestic Father, Your true and only Son,
And Holy Spirit, Comforter forever Three in One!"

You, Christ, are King of glory, the everlasting Son.
Yet You, with boundless love, sought to rescue ev'ryone:
You laid aside Your glory, were born of virgin's womb,
Were crucified for us and were placed into a tomb;
Then by Your resurrection You won for us reprieve
You opened heaven's kingdom to all who would believe.

You sit in splendid glory, enthroned at God's right hand,
Upholding earth and heaven by forces You command.
We know that You will come as our Judge that final day,
So help Your servants You have redeemed by blood, we pray;
May we with saints be numbered where praises never end,
In glory everlasting. Amen, O Lord, amen!

Among the STARs

Your results:
You are Qui-Gon Jinn

Qui-Gon Jinn 76% Boba Fett 75% Darth Maul 74% Chewbacca 71% Jabba the Hutt 67% Darth Vader 66% R2-D2 65% Yoda 64% Count Dooku 64% Emperor Palpatine 62%

Overall, you're a pretty well balanced person. But maybe you focus a little too much on the here and now. Think about the future before its too late.

(This list displays the top 10 results out of a possible 21 characters)


Click here to take the "Which Star Wars character am I?" quiz...


Your results:
You are Worf

Worf 60% Uhura 55% Jean-Luc Picard 50% An Expendable Character (Redshirt) 50% Deanna Troi 45% Chekov 45% Data 39% Spock 39% Mr. Sulu 35% Will Riker 30% Geordi LaForge 30% Mr. Scott 30% Leonard McCoy (Bones) 30% James T. Kirk (Captain) 20% Beverly Crusher 15%

You are trained in the art of combat and are usually intimidating.

Click here to take the Star Trek Personality Quiz

9/11

I posted this last year but I think that it is good enough to be posted again.

http://erichmusick.com/911/

A flash presentation from 9/11/01

Sigh...

It is offical... My Chicago Cubs are the worst team in the national league. Such a sad day losing to the Pirates and falling under them by half a game today.

Finish above the Pirates Cubbies. You can do it!

A person special to me!

Im going to post something thats kind of different for me. I will be writing about a person. Hopefully in a way where you guys can apply it to yourselves.

A couple posts ago I talked about relationships. This post is about a relationship with a person which I hold very dear. Do you have that one person who is always there to talk to? Who will listen to you rant about things, or just be there to care about whats going on in your life? I have a person like that. It is someone who I talk to on a daily basis. She has helped me through many problems. I can go to her about anything. She is truly a gift from God. I can tell her things that I know she won't go around and tell everybody and his brother.

To most people she seems like a pretty happy person. For the most part she is, but like us all she has her struggles too. That is what makes our relationship even greater. It is not just one way. We are both there for each other. Recently she has been a little scared about starting college. She really has nothing to fear. She's a wonderful person: smart, friendly, good sence of humor and all around caring. I will truly miss seeing her everyday during school next year but, im sure she will be having much more fun then me. She is going into a field where she will be able to help even more people. What a gracious gift she will be for many.

I hope the rest of you have someone you talk to who is like she is. One of the most caring people I know.

Best of Luck in college and the rest of your life! God be with you in whatever you do and wherever you go!

Pax Christi

No One Told Me?

As of 8/11/06 Dunkler Geist is a year old. I didn't catch it and no one told me. I feel like such a bad blogger. Not even celebrating a year of semi-intellectual posts. This blog is awesome. It's actually more for me then it is for you readers. It gives me the opportunity to study topics and then write something about them. My spelling and grammer isn't very good, but it's readable. (At least I think so.) I hope you enjoy my posts. Though this one is pretty pointless. Give me topics to post about and hopefully I can get at least one more post up before school starts.


Happy Birthday Dunkler Geist!

Struggles and Relationships

We all go through struggles. Each and every one of us. Some greater struggles and some lesser struggles, but they take a toll on us in someway. Do we pity others for their struggles? Why should we when everyone has them. The person who should be pitied is the person who feels like they are alone.

The architecture at the Seminary in Fort Wayne focuses on two of our relationships. Relationships with others and relationship with God. The buildings are made out of diamond shape bricks -- Concordia Brick. In the dorms, classroom buildings, cafeteria, and commons the bricks are laid horizontally. Showing man's relationship with man. But in the chapel they are vertical, showing man's relationship with God.

--I never really liked the phrasing. What does it mean to have a relationship with God, many people probably don't think it means the same thing as I do. My relationship with God is all his doing, His Baptizing me into His Death and Resurrection. Him coming to me in the Divine service. His Spirit entering me to open my lips and declare His praise from my body . His putting Truth, Forgiveness of Sins, and Eternal life into my mouth. My praise isn't worthy. I can do nothing that is worthy. The only reason I am considered worthy is because God sees me through His perfect Son's Blood.---

Our relationships with other people do matter. These people we will be spending eternity with. We are here to help others, to love them, to forgive them. Christ focuses a lot on how we are to treat one another in his teachings. Love your neighbor as yourself. We can't do that perfectly. We will covet our neighbors possessions, tell lies about him, and even murder him be it with words or actions. If we do all that is our Salvation in jeopardy of course not. It's permissible but is it beneficial. Why do we keep parts of the Law? Our salvation isn't based on it. We do it because it benefits us and others. We feel good when we do something kind for someone else. At least I do. If we shut everyone out and are mean to everyone. Who will be there when need someone? Does that mean you can't dislike someone even to the point of hate? I don't like a lot of people. Those feelings don't mean anything. "I could hate you today and love you tomorrow. Those feelings don't mean anything they will die with me. If I love you in Christ, that is eternal. - Pr Dreyer

Now, to our Relationship with God. There are many songs even hymns that talk about how everything will be all right if we do this or that to God. Our struggles will be gone if we pray about them. When in actuality, when we do pray about our hardships or struggles how often is the answer no, not now, or I have a different plan for you? More often then we would like it to be. Do not be discouraged though. Throughout everything you do there will be struggle, but we are blessed with a far better comfort then any struggle we encounter. That comfort is Christ on the Cross. Christ's mangled, bloody, body is what give us forgiveness from the blackness covering us-- our sin. From that broken body of Christ also comes our white garments so that we are not naked. These white garments are the water that washed us clean at our baptism and the broken body itself with the blood that came out of its side with the water. The flesh that the Word became. The sacraments that come from that Word are the greatest comforts we have. To the world this seems foolish, but God chose what is foolish to shame the wise. He chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. He chose what is low and despised in the world even things that are not, to bring nothing things that are. So that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (I Cor. 1:27-29) This worldly foolishness, our comfort, comes from God the source of our life in Christ. Whom God made our wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption (I Cor. 1:30)

What greater comfort is there than that? Not drugs or alcohol. They just drive you deeper into breaking the relationships you have with others and breaking the relationship God has instituted with you. Struggles will come and go but know that you are not alone. Share it with ones you trust. Your pastor is a great person to talk to. If you feel lonely surround yourself with others and build relationships with them. Also, do pray about them. Pray that the Lord will help you through them. When you pray focus on the cross, that great comfort of ours.

The Lord be with you all in your struggles and in times of peace.

Pax Christi

Mark (cont.)

In between the feeding of the 5,000 and 4,000 there is the story of the Syrophoenician women's faith. Jesus makes his way into the land of the gentiles. The woman came to him and told him she had a daughter who was possessed by an unclean spirit. The women was a gentile and she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. Jesus says to her "Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and give it to the dogs." She answers him with, "Yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's curmbs." Jesus first limits his body (bread) to the children of Israel. The woman had been blessed with great faith and for that, her child was cleansed from the demon (baptism). Thus, the sacrament was opened to the gentiles with the feeding of the 4,000.

With the feeding of the 5,000 the people did not really need anything to eat, it was more of a luxury. With the feeding of the 4,000 the food is necessary. They people gathered would not make it home without fainting because of hunger. The disciples still do not understand, they ask how one could feed the people with bread in a desolate place. They have 7 loaves this time. Seven is a gentile number, it is the number of deacons that the apostles appointed to watch over the Gentiles in acts . 7 is also the number of completion, Christ giving his body completely. This points to the Lord's supper basically in the same ways as the feeding of the 5,000 did. They picked up the pieces left over. They gathered the pieces in 7 bushel baskets, bigger then the ones used at the feeding of the 5,000. 7 baskets for the gentiles and they are complete meaning it will never run out.

Thanks be to God for the opening of this wonderful mean of grace to the entire world! The Sacrament of the Altar is a great gift. Where else can Truth be placed in your mouth? The body of Christ sustaining us for eternity and the bread sustaining us for our time here on earth. Through this we receive forgiveness of sins. Without having to do anything!

I may add more to this later, if something else comes to me to post. I'll basically be putting this post and the last one together, probably adding scripture where you would have had to look it up before, before I put it up on my HT Blog.

Pax Christi

Side thing

Well since Jared yelled at me I updated the side bar thing.

Over there ------>

Eventually ill get a good post up. Soon I promise

Pax

Let's Laugh at Jon

So, there's this awesome picture of me that one of the fellow CA attendees put up on his blog http://sethanizethis.blogspot.com Yes that is me headbanging, to the Kantorei. That last night was fun.

An Awesome Hymn

TLH 329

1. From depths of woe I cry to Thee,
Lord, hear me, I implore Thee.
Bend down Thy gracious ear to me,
My prayer let come before Thee.
If Thou rememberest each misdeed,
If each should have its rightful meed,
Who may abide Thy presence?

2. Thy love and grace alone avail
To blot out my transgression;
The best and holiest deeds must fail
To break sin's dread oppression.
Before Thee none can boasting stand,
But all must fear Thy strict demand
And live alone by mercy.

3. Therefore my hope is in the Lord
And not in mine own merit;
It rests upon His faithful Word
To them of contrite spirit
That He is merciful and just;
This is my comfort and my trust.
His help I wait with patience.

4. And though it tarry till the night
And till the morning waken,
My heart shall never doubt His might
Nor count itself forsaken.
Do thus, O ye of Israel's seed,
Ye of the Spirit born indeed;
Wait for your God's appearing.

5. Though great our sins and sore our woes,
His grace much more aboundeth;
His helping love no limit knows,
Our utmost need it soundeth.
Our shepherd good and true is He,
Who will at last His Israel free
From all their sin and sorrow.

Feeding of 5,000

Mark is quickly becoming my favorite Gospel. It Might be helpful to have a bible open to Mark as you read this.

I am beginning to see how sacramental Mark is. Redemption by water is a recurring theme throughout Mark. The feeding of the 5,000 and 4,000 pointing toward communion. The feeding of the 5,000 points a lot toward psalm 23. It describes the people there as sheep. These people who are there listening and learning from the Lord. He commanded them to sit down in groups on green grass. A better translation would be He commanded them to recline in symposia. They reclined, relaxing. Symposia is having fun eating, drinking, speaking theologically or philosophically. That directly falls in line with the psalm, "He makes me lie down in green pastures." The 5,000 followed him before this when he got on a boat - He led them beside still waters. The third verse of Psalm 23 could apply to what he was teaching them restoring their souls- leading them in paths or righteousness. Verse 4 goes back to the overriding shepherd theme. Verse 5 He prepares a table - Jesus gives them something to eat and they eat until they are satisfied, until they were full. It was a feast for most of them. Finally, verse 6 points directly to what comes from what The Feeding points to, the Lord's Supper.

You might be asking, "How does the feeding point to the Lord's Supper?" Well lets look at it then. We are sheep without a shepherd covered in our own sin. Rejection God. We all have gone astray like sheep. We are all dumb like sheep, but Christ has compassion on us. He teaches us many things.

The disciples said to him "This is a desolate place and the hour is now growing late." It was most likely a desert. The disciples tried to send them away. This world is a desolate place and Christianity is frowned upon in society. The disciples take the worldly view here and want to send them away to find food for themselves in this late hour. . How often do we want to not deal with unbelievers and let them fend for themselves in these end times? But Christ does not take the worldly view. He calls for the apostles to give them something to eat. Who are the apostles in the church today? Pastors! The apostles are called to feed the people who he teaches. Pastors today feed believes through the word and sacrament. The feeding seen most physically in Holy Communion. The apostles answer with a very worldly question. "Are we to spend money equal to that of the wages of 200 days of work? Jesus tells them to go and see how many loaves they had. They came back with 5. This is just something I think but I think that the 5 loaves could correspond with the 5 wounds of Christ. The 5 places where Christ's body was broken His head from the crown of thorns, each hand from the 2 nails, his side from the spear, and his feet from the nail.

He commanded them to sit down in groups. So they sat down in groups of fifties and hundreds. That would have been about the size of a church at the beginning of Christianity. The fifties and hundreds could also refer to how the Romans ran things in their army. Pointing to the church militant.

After they were seated, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. He broke the five loaves(his five wounds) and gave it to the apostles to distribute to the people. Just as he gives his body to us all, and charges the apostles(pastors) with the task of distributing it.

They all ate and were satisfied. No one was left out! Everyone had their fill. The disciples picked up 12 baskets of extras. 12 baskets one for each tribe of Israel whom the apostles over saw. 5,000 men ate, I'm not sure how important that number is but I think it shows that there will always be a remnant of Israel. Jews who believe in the true God; Father, Son, and Spirit.



Ill continue with more from mark in the next couple posts.

Christ Academy

I just posted some basic things about my experience at Christ Academy on my Higher Things Blog. http://blog.higherthings.org/jkohlmeier/ Ill probably have some posts reflecting on things I learned or other things that come to mind soon. But tonight I am tired, and sleep seems like a good thing. Hope you didn't miss my posts too much!

Pax Domini

Serenity

Just recently I watched the movie Serentiy. I must say it is one of the best movies I've seen. At one of my friends houses we watched a few episodes of Firefly also. It is probably one of the best TV shows ever made. It's a shame it only lasted one season.

So enough about the movie and show, except I recommend that everyone watch it.

Serenity- How does one become serene? Just go somewhere, you never find someone who is in a state of serenity. People are always running around. They always have something to do, or somewhere to go. A person can see thousands of people in a day and be too busy to even smile at one, much less talk to them. There is always some type of stress people have, be it from school, from work, from a relationship with friends, relationship with family, or just how the media is influencing them. People have no time! So how does one become peacefuly. Some might say death, but why does death give us peace? How does death set us apart from all the stress and business from this world.

(by now you should be saying, "This is a Jon post, wheres the Theology?" Well here it comes"

God! I sign some of my posts and emails with Pax Domini. I got this idea from a person I met through Higher Things. Pax Domini is "God's Peace." Philipeans 4:7 says, "And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." So how does one become serene? Through Jesus Christ. The peace he acheived for us on the cross. The peace He gives to us in His Word and Sacraments. What greater comfort is there then the Cross of Christ for us as Christians? What is more soothing to our minds and ears then the Word of God? What food and drink gives us benifits that even come close to the Body and Blood of Christ? What greater comfort can we have then knowing that we were baptized into Christ's Death, buried with him, and rise again with him?

So I leave you once again saying Pax Domini, The peace of God will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus

The Theology of Lifehouse

Sick Cycle Carousel

if shame had a face I think it would kind of look like mine
if it had a home would it be my eyes
would you believe me if I said I'm tired of this
well here we go now one more time

I tried to climb your steps
I tried to chase you down
I tried to see how low I could get down to the ground
I tried to earn my way
I tried to change this mind
you better believe that I have tried to beat this

so when will this end it goes on and on
over and over and over again
keeps spinning around I know that it won't stop
till I step down from this for good

well I never thought I'd end up here never
thought I'd be standing where I am
I guess I kind of thought that it would be easier than this
I guess I was wrong now one more time

I tried to climb your steps
I tried to chase you down
I tried to see how low I could get down to the ground
I tried to earn my way
I tried to change this mind
you better believe that I have tried to beat this

so when will this end it goes on and on
over and over and over again
keeps spinning around I know that it won't stop
till I step down from this
sick cycle carousel
this is a sick cycle yeah
sick cycle carousel
this is a sick cycle yeah

so when will this end it goes on and on
over and over and over again
keeps spinning around I know that it won't stop
till I step down from this for good

so when will this end it goes on and on
over and over and over again
keeps spinning around I know that it won't stop
till I step down from this for good
sick cycle carousel
sick cycle carousel
sick cycle carousel
sick cycle carousel

Now thats a pretty awesome song, don't you think. Its kind of sad when secular rock music is better then CCM when it comes to theology. This sick cycle of sin just keeps going on and on, I keep sinning over and over again. It keeps spinning around I know that this wont stop, till I die. I love metaphors, I love music. I love summer. You may get an actually deep post sometime this summer, but for now the brain is resting.

Summer

Well, well, well.. my junior year is over. Now here is summer, which promises to be a lot better then last summer. 'Why?' you ask. This summer I actually have things to do. One of the things im looking forward too the most is my spending two weeks in Ft. Wayne for Christ Academy. I dont really have anything else planned, but the summer should be full of reading, watching movies (POTC II!!!), hanging out with friends, video games, Exaulted and maybe dragon Lance role playing. This should be the best summer yet. Which will hopefully lead into a great senior year! To those who are newly graduated, good luck in whatever you are doing. The Lord bless you in everything you do. Continue recieving Gods Word and his Body and Blood as often as you can.

Have a wonderful summer!

Pax Domini

P.S You graduates don't forget your old friends.


TLH 220
1. Jesus, my great High Priest,
Offered His blood and died;
My guilty conscience seeks
No sacrifice beside.
His powerful blood did once atone,
And now it pleads before the throne.

2. To this dear Surety's hand
Will I commit my cause;
He answers and fulfils
His Father's broken laws.
Behold my soul at freedom set;
My Surety paid the dreadful debt.

3. My Advocate appears
For my defense on high;
The Father bows His ears
And lays His thunder by.
Not all that hell or sin can say
Shall turn His heart, His love, away.

4. Should all the hosts of death
And powers of hell unknown
Put their most dreadful forms
Of rage and mischief on,
I shall be safe, for Christ displays
Superior power and guardian grace.

The DaVinci Code

When I grow up I want to be Pastor Borghardt. He has an awesome post on the Higher Things website about the DaVinci code. If you plan on or have read the book or seen the movie, you should read it.

http://higherthings.org/?article=1475


Pax

Corpus Depicted on Cross

This was in the HT Reflection for today, I just thought it was awesome:

"This is why there is always a corpus, a body, depicted on the cross. We all know that Jesus rose from the dead. We’re in the middle of the Easter season, after all. We keep saying it to each other and to the world: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Yet we always depict the cross with a corpus, the lifeless body of Jesus.The world finds the crucifix bizarre, macabre, weird. What an ugly symbol! But viewed through baptismal eyes, this is the symbol of victory, the emblem of our salvation. This is the bronze serpent held high on a stick on which snakebitten Israel look and lived (St. John 3:14; Numbers 21:8-9). This is our death by which we die to sin. This is our life by which we live for righteousness. Those horrible wounds are the wounds of our healing. The resurrection of Jesus is the evidence that His death is the victory over Death.The cross of Jesus is the tree of life, planted in the Zion, the Church, from which the nations may come and eat of its fruits and live. Even its leaves are for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:1-2) . The fruits of that saving treeare yours in the Holy Supper, where Jesus gives you the fruits of His sacrifice – His broken Body, His shed Blood, for you, for your forgiveness and life."

It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to you, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God. On the tree of the cross you gave salvation to mankind that, whence death arose,thence life also might rise again and that he who by a tree once overcame likewise by a tree might be overcome, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Preface for the Passion of our Lord)


1. Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide,
For round us falls the eventide;
Nor let Thy Word, that heavenly light,
For us be ever veiled in night.

2. In these last days of sore distress
Grant us, dear Lord, true steadfastness
That pure we keep, till life is spent,
Thy holy Word and Sacrament.

3. Lord Jesus, help, Thy Church uphold,
For we are sluggish, thoughtless, cold.
Oh, prosper well Thy Word of grace
And spread its truth in every place!

4. Oh, keep us in Thy Word, we pray;
The guile and rage of Satan stay!
Oh, may Thy mercy never cease!
Give concord, patience, courage, peace.

5. O God, how sin's dread works abound!
Throughout the earth no rest is found,
And falsehood's spirit wide has spread,
And error boldly rears its head.

6. The haughty spirits, Lord, restrain
Who o'er Thy Church with might would reign
And always set forth something new,
Devised to change Thy doctrine true.

7. And since the cause and glory, Lord,
Are Thine, not ours, to us afford
Thy help and strength and constancy.
With all our heart we trust in Thee.

8. A trusty weapon is Thy Word,
Thy Church's buckler, shield and sword.
Oh, let us in its power confide
That we may seek no other guide!

9. Oh, grant that in Thy holy Word
We here may live and die, dear Lord;
And when our journey endeth here,
Receive us into glory there.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #292

The Gospel of Judas

Well, today I finally got around to watching The Gospel of Judas which I taped a while ago. Its interesting and instead of writing about it. I give you a link to Pastor Cwirla's post on his Blogosphere.

http://blog.higherthings.org/wcwirla/article/1372.html


edit: Here is another good resource for it: http://www.csl.edu/Resources_Audio_GospelofJudas.aspx

Christ is Risen!

Death?

TLH 198

Oh, where is thy sting, Death? We fear thee no more;
Christ rose, and now open is fair Eden's door.
For all our transgressions His blood does atone;
Redeemed and forgiven, we now are His own.


This past week one of the people in my handbell group lost her father. The choir sang the verse above during "He's Risen, He's Risen, Christ Jesus, the Lord. C. F. W. Walther wrote great words of comfort in this verse. There have been many deaths this past year. One that sticks out for me is the death of Nathan Charles. It hit many people I know. The second line "Christ rose, and now open is fair Eden's door." Through Christs ressurection heaven is open to us. All of us. Those who have died heaven is open to also.

The blood of Christ, which at the Lambs High Feast we drank of today, atones the world of sin. Christ died for us. Through baptism we are baptised into His death. He Lives! Therefore we to shall live through all eternity!

Christ is Risen!

A blessed Eastertide to you all!

Christ is Risen

At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing
office hymn, 17^th cent.

At the Lamb’s high feast we sing
Praise to our victorious king,
Who has washed us in the tide
Flowing from his pierced side.
Alleluia!

Praise we him, whose love divine
Gives his sacred blood for wine,
Gives his body for the feast
Christ the victim, Christ the priest.
Alleluia!

Where the paschal blood is poured,
Death’s dread angel sheathes the sword;
Israel’s hosts triumphant go
Through the wave that drowns the foe.
Alleluia!

Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,
Paschal victim, paschal bread;
With sincerity and love
Eat we manna from above.
Alleluia!

Mighty Victim from the sky,
Hell’s fierce powers beneath you lie;
You have conquered in the fight
You have brought us life and light.
Alleluia!

Now no more can death appall,
Now no more the grave enthrall;
You have opened paradise,
And your saints in you shall rise.
Alleluia!

Easter triumph, Easter joy!
This alone can sin destroy;
From sin’s power, Lord, set us free,
Newborn souls in you to be.
Alleluia!

Father, who the crown shall give,
Savior, by whose death we live,
Spirit, guide through all our days;
Three in One, Your name we praise.
Alleluia!

Easter Vigil

It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places, with all our heart and mind and voice, praise You, O Lord, Holy Father, almighty everlasting God, and Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

For He is the very Paschal Lamb who offered Himself for the sin of the world,
who has cleansed us by the shedding of His precious blood.

This is the night when You brought our fathers, the children of Israel, out of bondage in Egypt
and led them through the Red Sea on dry ground.

This is the night when all who believe in Christ are delivered from bondage to sin and are restored to life and immortality.

This is the night when Christ, the Life, arose from the dead. The seal of the grave is broken and the morning of the new creation breaks forth out of night.

Oh, how wonderful and beyond all telling is Your mercy toward us, O God, that to redeem a slave You gave Your Son.

How holy is this night when all wickedness is put to flight and sin is washed away.

How holy is this night when innocence is restored to the fallen and joy is given to those downcast.
How blessed is this night when man is reconciled to God in Christ.

Holy Father, accept now the evening sacrifices of our thanksgiving and praise. Let Christ, the true light and morning star, shine in our hearts, He who gave light to all creation, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

(Collect for the Vigil of Easter)

Good Friday

Psalm 22

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from the words of my groaning?

2 O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, and am not silent.

3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the praise of Israel.

4 In you our fathers put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.

5 They cried to you and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not disappointed.

6 But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by men and despised by the people.

7 All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads:

8 "He trusts in the LORD;
let the LORD rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him."

9 Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you
even at my mother's breast.

10 From birth I was cast upon you;
from my mother's womb you have been my God.

11 Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.

12 Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

13 Roaring lions tearing their prey
open their mouths wide against me.

14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted away within me.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.

16 Dogs have surrounded me;
a band of evil men has encircled me,
they have pierced my hands and my feet.

17 I can count all my bones;
people stare and gloat over me.

18 They divide my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.

19 But you, O LORD, be not far off;
O my Strength, come quickly to help me.

20 Deliver my life from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dogs.

21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
save [d] me from the horns of the wild oxen.

22 I will declare your name to my brothers;
in the congregation I will praise you.

23 You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

24 For he has not despised or disdained
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.

25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows.

26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;
they who seek the LORD will praise him—
may your hearts live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,

28 for dominion belongs to the LORD
and he rules over the nations.

29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.

30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.

31 They will proclaim his righteousness
to a people yet unborn—
for he has done it.



O Sacred Head Now Wounded (TLH)

1. O sacred Head, now wounded,
With grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded
With thorns, Thine only crown.
O sacred Head, what glory,
What bliss, till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory,
I joy to call Thee mine.

2. Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee,
Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee
And flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish,
With sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish
That once was bright as morn!

3. Now from Thy cheeks has vanished
Their color, once so fair;
From Thy red lips is banished
The splendor that was there.
Grim Death, with cruel rigor,
Hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou has lost Thy vigor,
Thy strength, in this sad strife.

4. My burden in Thy Passion,
Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression
Which brought this woe on thee.
I cast me down before Thee,
Wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee;
Redeemer, spurn me not!

5. My Shepherd, now receive me;
My Guardian, own me Thine.
Great blessings Thou didst give me,
O Source of gifts divine!
Thy lips have often fed me
With words of truth and love,
Thy Spirit oft hath led me
To heavenly joys above.

6. Here I will stand beside Thee,
From Thee I will not part;
O Savior, do not chide me!
When breaks Thy loving heart,
When soul and body languish
In death's cold, cruel grasp,
Then, in Thy deepest anguish,
Thee in mine arms I'll clasp.

7. The joy can ne'er be spoken,
Above all joys beside,
When in Thy body broken
I thus with safety hide.
O Lord of life, desiring
Thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy cross expiring,
I'd breathe my soul to Thee.

8. What language shall I borrow
To thank Thee, dearest Friend,
For this, Thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity without end?
Oh, make me thine forever!
And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never,
Outlive my love for Thee.

9. My Savior, be Thou near me
When death is at my door;
Then let Thy presence cheer me,
Forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish,
Oh, leave me not alone,
But take away mine anguish
By virtue of Thine own!

10. Be Thou my Consolation,
My Shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy Passion
When my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee,
Upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfold Thee.
Who dieth thus dies well!

"John 18:33But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken"

Today we look at the crucifixion of Jesus. Good Friday one of the most holy days of the Church year. It was foretold in the Old testament. It is the day when Christ saves us! "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Those are the words he speaks on the cross. Even when he is dead Salvation comes through him. John 18:3bringinging a sudden flow of blood and water." The sacraments! Through Christ's dead body comes the sacraments. The holy water used in baptism. His precious blood that yesterday. "When he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to the disciples and said 'Take. Eat. This is my Body" Through this broken body comes the blood that makes us white as snow and the water that washes us clean and clothes us with Christ.

Without Christ's Crucifixion our Faith is futile. Truly his laying his life down on the cross is the purest gospel we have.

Pax Christi

Maundy Thursday

Introit
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord
How can I repay the Lord
for all his goodness to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord.
Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his saints.
O Lord, truly I am your servant;
I am you servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains.
I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
and call on the name of the Lord.
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord.


O Lord, We Praise You

2. Your holy body into death was given,
Life to win for us in heaven,
No greater love than this to you could bind us:
May this feast of that remind us!
O Lord, have mercy!
Lord, your kindness so much did move you
That your blood now moves us to love you.
All our debt you have paid;
Peace with God once more is made.
O Lord, gave mercy!

Passion Hymn

Passion Week is my favorite week of the church year. It contains amazing hymns! But most of all it presents the Gospel in the purist form. Christ on the Cross.

What better image do we as Christians have then the image of Christ beaten, bloody, and dead on the cross? The Cross where Christ becomes the biggest sinner yet was without sin. He confesses for everything we do. For what everyone ever has done or ever will do. You lied to your parents, What does Christ say when the Father is on the brink of releasing his justice on us. Christ says "(insert your name here) didn't do anything. I did that. I also did what Suzy did and Joe he didn't do anything either. I did all those things." Then Christ takes the blow for us. He willingly takes our fate upon himself. He willingly lays down his life. He alone has the authority to lay down his life. NO ONE takes it from him. The Father has given him authority to lay his life down and take it up again. (John 10:17-18)

This Passion week don't focus on how we need to "act better" there is no way we can. This week Rejoice! For while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.(Romans 5:8)

Have a blessed week as you observe Christs Passion.

1. The death of Jesus Christ, our Lord,
We celebrate with one accord;
It is our comfort in distress,
Our heart's sweet joy and happiness.

2. He blotted out with His own blood
The judgment that against us stood;
He full atonement for us made,
And all our debt He fully paid.

3. That this is now and ever true
He gives an earnest ever new:
In this His holy Supper here
We taste His love so sweet, so near.

4. His Word proclaims, and we believe.
That in this Supper we receive
His very body, as He said,
His very blood for sinners shed.

5. A precious food is this indeed,--
It never fails us in our need,--
A heavenly manna for our soul,
Until we safely reach our goal.

6. Oh, blest is each believing guest
Who in this promise finds His rest;
For Jesus will in love abide
With those who do in Him confide.

7. The guest that comes with true intent
To turn to God and to repent,
To live for Christ to die to sin,
Will thus a holy life begin.

8. They who His Word do not believe,
This food unworthily receive,
Salvation here will never find,--
May we this warning keep in mind!

9. Help us sincerely to believe
That we may worthily receive
Thy Supper and in Thee find rest.
Amen, he who believes is blest.

Not a Tame Lion

"One day you'll see him and another you won't. He doesn't like being tied down--and of course he has other countries to attend to. It's quite all right. He'll often drop in. Only you mustn't press him. He's wild, you know. Not like a tame lion."

I recently bought The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. It is quickly becoming my favorite movie. I read the books regularly. You can get something out of the books each time you read them. I'm finding out even through the few times I've seen the movie that seeing differnt things each time holds true with the movie also. The movie is extremely close to the book. Yet from my point of view they are extremely different. Many of the symbolisms are the same, but some of the dialogue has changed. You can see one thing in the way the dialogue is in the book, and something else in other places in the movie. I find different symbolisms in the book then in the movie. Then when I see the movie I find things I didn't see in the book. Some of the symbolisms I see in both the book and the movie. I don't know if C. S. Lewis meant them to be there (in the case of the movie either Andrew Adamson or people who worked on the script).

I recommend that if you have not seen it yet that you do. It is a great movie in both that it sticks to the story line as written in the book, extraordinarily closely, and it is great as far as movies go. Everything from the beautiful locations, battle scenes, costuming, to the way Aslan was presented in both appearance and personality (for lack of a better word).

As was brought up in my theology class to day, truly Aslan (God) is not a tame lion. From the human perspective, the way God works is illogical. Of ways to save the world why send your only son to die, therefore cracking the stone table? Why save the world at all? Why make it appear that some of your prophets are just crazy men? Thankfully God does work in illogical ways, or mankind would be in a serious predicament.

Pax Domini

Glory Be to Jesus

Well, I now have 3 blogs so I'm not sure how often I will be updating this one. Be sure to check out the Higher Things Blogs at http://higherthings.org/discussion/blog.html

Now how about a Lenten Hymn!


1. Glory be to Jesus,
Who in bitter pains
Poured for me the life-blood
From His sacred veins!

2. Grace and life eternal
In that blood I find;
Blest be His compassion,
Infinitely kind!

3. Blest through endless ages
Be the precious stream
Which from endless torments
Did the world redeem!

4. Abel's blood for vengeance
Pleaded to the skies;
But the blood of Jesus
For our pardon cries.

5. Oft as earth exulting
Wafts its praise on high,
Angel hosts rejoicing
Make their glad reply.

6. Lift we, then, our voices,
Swell the mighty flood,
Louder still and louder
Praise the precious blood!

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #158

Where in the World is God?

A crucial question plagues the world today: "Where in the world is God?" The skeptics put it this way: "Where in the world is God, anyway?" For them the tragedies and perplexities of life are just too overwhelming. They can't make any sense out of it-- how a God who is supposedly good and all powerful could allow such things to happen. In fact, they're not at all sure that there is a God.

But for us, its not a question of the existence of God--it's simply a matter of where we can get in touch with God. The problems of life and the nagging burden of sin make this question an urgent one. We all need to know: "Where in the world is God? How can we contact him?"

There's nothing we human beings would rather do than climb up into heaven and get the straight scoop from God. But this arrogant idea that we can get in touch with God through our own power ignores the fact that there is a great barrier between God and man: the wall of sin built by man himself. That wall is so high and so strong that no human effort can penetrate it. That's why i's so laughable that people would eventalk about coming to God on their own.

But, though we could not come to him, he has come to us. God, the creator of teh hole universe, came down to planet earth. he came in lowly weakness, clothed in human skin and bones. And even though it meant death--even a horrible death on the cross--he humbled himself so that he could take all our guilt on himself and remove forever the barrier of sin.

This is the God we have. He comes into this world to rescue us. He shoulders his cross and carries our sin in his own sinless body and then ultimately dies our death. Remarkable, isnt it? This God of ours will stop at nothing to give us his love.

Where in the world is God? We have a God who comes down to meet us in the word of his gospel. Even to touch and handle the living flesh of Jesus is not beyond our reach, for he condescends to attact his word of promise to the earthly elements of bread and wine. And in that Word made visible, we have athe sign and seal of our redemtion and the encouragement to faith and hope and love. "For you," he says to every weary soul weighed down by sin and plagued by trial, "for the forgiveness of your sin." The real presence of Jesus in his Holy Supper is not some dry doctrine, but liveing reality. We have his Word on it.

Where in the world is God? Not far away. In the precious gospel of Jesus, his Son, he is in your mouth and in your heart, throughout this Lenten season, and even into eternity.


Jesus, I will ponder now on your holy passion. With your Spirit me endow for such meditation. Grant the I in love and faith may the image cherish of your suffering, pain, and death that I may not perish. Amen.

-Taken from "Triumph at the Cross" by Rev. Dr. Harold L. Senkbeil-

Fasting During Lent?

"The season of Lent lasts for 40 days, from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday. Sundays are not counted because every Lord's Day is a "little Easter" in the Church. Lent corresponds to the 40 days that our Lord Jesus fasted in the wilderness, in which He overcame the temptations of the devil. "

What do you all think of fasting or giving up something for Lent? I dont give up anything for Lent, but I know some reasons people do. So I ask, First, Do you give up anything for Lent. and second, what are your reasons for doing it?


Lord, Who throughout these forty days
For us didst fast and pray,
Teach us with Thee to mourn our sins
And close by Thee to stay.

As Thou with Satan didst contend,
And didst the victory win,
O give us strength in Thee to fight,
In Thee to conquer sin.

As Thou didst hunger bear, and thirst,
So teach us, gracious Lord,
To die to self, and chiefly live
By Thy most holy Word.

Abide with us, that so, this life
Of suffering over past,
An Easter of unending joy
We may attain at last.

Ash Wednessday

“Almighty and everlasting God, our Father, because You hate nothing that You have made and You forgive the sins of all those who are penitent, create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain from You, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.” (Collect for Ash Wednesday)

As Epiphany Comes to and End

How about one last hymn.



Hail, O Source of every blessing,
Father of all humankind!
Gentiles now, your grace possessing,
In your courts admission find.
Grateful now we fall before you,
In your Church obtain a place,
See your glory and adore you;
Praise your truth and laud your grace.

Once far off but now invited,
We approach your sacred throne;
In your covenant united,
Reconciled, redeemed, made one.
Now revealed to eastern sages,
See the Star of Mercy shine;
Mystery hid in former ages,
Mystery great of love divine.

Hail, O all inviting Savior!
Gentiles now their offerings bring;
In your temples seek your favor,
Jesus Christ, our Lord and King.
May we, body, soul, and spirit,
Live devoted to your praise,
Glorious realms of bliss inherit,
Grateful anthems ever raise!

LW 84

Yay South Dakota

Feb 22, 7:48 PM (ET)


SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota (Reuters) - South Dakota's
state senate voted on Wednesday for an abortion ban
aimed at giving the conservative-tilting Supreme Court
an opening to overturn rulings granting women the
right to the procedure.

Only an unlikely veto by Republican Gov. Michael
Rounds could prevent the legislation from becoming
law, people on both sides of the issue said.

"We hope (Rounds) recognizes this for what it is: a
political tool and not about the health and safety of
the women of South Dakota," said Kate Looby of Planned
Parenthood, which operates the sole clinic providing
abortions in South Dakota.

"If he chooses to sign it, we will be filing a lawsuit
in short order to block it," she said after attending
the afternoon debate at the state capitol in Pierre.

Proponents have said the law was designed for just
such a court challenge.

The timing is right, supporters say, given the recent
appointments of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice
Samuel Alito to the high court. The two conservatives
could pave the way to a decision overturning Roe v.
Wade, the 1973 ruling said women have a constitutional
right to abortion.

The high court said on Tuesday it will rule on whether
the federal government can ban some abortion
procedures, a case that could reveal whether the court
reshaped by President George W. Bush will restrict
abortion rights.

Five states have proposed similar bans, but South
Dakota's legislature was the first to pass a law,
which threatens to punish doctors who perform
abortions with a five-year prison term and $5,000
fine.

Proposed amendments to the law to create exceptions to
specifically protect the health of the mother, or in
cases of rape or incest, were voted down. Also
defeated was an amendment to put the proposal in the
hands of voters.

The bill as written does make an exception if the
fetus dies during a doctor's attempt to save the
mother's life.

Two years ago, Rounds vetoed a similar bill, saying it
would wipe out existing restrictions on abortion while
it was fought in the courts. A rewritten bill lost
narrowly.

Some legislators opposed to abortion rights questioned
whether it was premature to challenge Roe v. Wade, and
said litigation would prove expensive for the sparsely
populated state. An anonymous donor has offered $1
million to the state to defray the costs of
litigation.

Ahhh... Rant on synods

I begin this rant with something that has recently happened in the ELS. Rev. Rolf Preus was suspended by the ELS synodical president. The synod later told his congregation that they had the choice between their pastor or the synod. Ultimatly they chose the synod. But, what really makes this worse is that before the congregation voted him out of ministry there, they had another vote. In that ballet they UNANIMOUSLY voted that he was preaching the Word of God in its truth and purity and rightly administering the sacraments. Yet they voted him out because they didnt want to be kicked out of the synod. Why has the synod become more important then scripture. This can be seen in the ELS, ELCA, and the LCMS to name a few. Luke 10:16 says "He who listens to you listens to me, he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." So what does that say about that congregation? Here ends the Rant on the ELS.

Now to my synod the LCMS. Basically, what this is about is how the LCMS is full of people who want to please everyone. They will try to please everyone whether it holds to scripture or not. This whole ABLAZE thing its just trying to get more and more members. What do they do with these people once they are members. Absolutly nothing! They dont try to catechize them. Or teach them anything. The Methodists had something like this a couple years ago called Ignite. They are now basically unitarians. To end this part I leave you with some quotes from Klemet Preus' book: The Fire and the Staff...

"An effective church is one in which the Spirit works through the Word and Sacraments. We cannot become more "effective" then the Spirit already is. But we can "efect" faith by the Gospel and teh Sacraments. An effective church, a successful church, is one where the Word is taught and the Sacraments administerd. Our success as minsisters or as churches ismeasured only by whether we consistently and purely teach this Word and rightly administer Baptism and the Lord's Supper."

No where does that say anything about being successful by the number of members. To those of you who are in the ministry or studying to enter it, I pray you will stay strong in the Word. Those of you who do will most likely face persecution. Major cuts in pay if you arent suspended or voted out. Stay strong in the Word and do not break from it. The Lord be with you.

The Liturgy

I love the Liturgy! Now some of you might be saying, "Why, its so boring?" Others may be saying, "Yeah thats just what youve known your whole life." Still others may be saying, "you just really dont like contemporary ways of worship so the liturgy is the only thing left."

So why do I love the Liturgy so much? What makes it so special? Its Biblical! The entire thing a biblical way of worshiping. Now, lets break down the liturgy. Because it is what I have been using most recently I'm going to use Divine Service I (DSI)

The liturgy is broken up into three parts: The Preperation, The Service of the Word and The Service of the Sacrament.


The Preperation

The Preperation begins with the Prelude. The Prelude is a musical peice that helps draw us into an atitude of prayer and praise.

Ringing of the bells - The ringing of the bells calls God's people "to enter the lord's gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise" (Psalm 100:4).

A hymn of invocation is sung - This hymn is one of praise, prayer, or reflection on the season of the church year. We are a "singing church" so here we follow the advice Paul gives us in Colossians 3:16 "..As you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.."

The Invocation - During the Invocation we call upon God to be with us. It shows our worship of the Triune God and helps us to remember our Baptism in His name. (Matthew 18:20, 28:19)

The Confession of Sins - We examine ourselves and publicly confess our sins. Confession at the beginning of the service creates a climate of acceptance. In spite of our sins, we are accepted by God.
I John 1:8-10 "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins adn purify us from all unrighteousness."

Absolution - Jesus said to his disciples, "If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven" (John 20:23). The pastor speaks for God and announces God's cleansing forgiveness to those who made confession. Again here the Trinity is mentioned as forgiving us.


The Service of the Word

The Introit- Introit in Latin means "he enters into." The Introit is a part of a psalm or a hymn that announces the theme of the day and begins the Service of the Word. The Introit traditionally consists of an Antiphon(refrain), a psalm, the Gloria Patri, and the Antiphon is repeated.
Romans 16:27 "To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen."

The Kyrie - Kyrie in Greek means "O Lord." It is a cry to the Lord for help and strength. In ancient times, the crowds would shout "Lord, have mercy" as the King entered their town. The church has taken over his prayer to greet its King Jesus Christ in the church service. As the people so long ago expected help from their King, so we Christians expect help from our Savior.
Matthew 20:31 "..Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"

The Hymn of Praise - The hymn of Praise give the congregation the opportunity to praise God and express joy because Jesus is our victorious Savior. During Advent and Lent, the hymn of praise is omitted. ('This is the feast' would fall under the Hymn of Praise also)
Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

The Salutaion - In the Salutation, the pastor and the congregation great each other in the Lord's name.
Ruth 2:4 "The Lord be with you, The Lord bless you they called back"
Luke 1:28 "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

The Collect - The main thoughts of the day are collected, or summarized in this short prayer.

The First Lesson - The first reading is from the Old Testament, except during the Easter season when it is from the Book of Acts. This reading usually relates to the Gospel of the day.

The Gradual - Gradual means "step" in latin. It is a scripture passage for each season of the church year. It is a response to the First Lesson and a bridge to the Second Lesson. Sometimes a psalm is sung or spoken.

The Second Lesson -The second reading is from one of the epistles (letters) in the New Testament.

The Verse - A verse from the holy scriptures is usually sung in preparation for the reading of the Gospel. There are general verses as well as specific verses for the seasons of the church year. (In DS I it is just Alleluia, Alleluia. But the one in DS II comes from John 6:68 "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.")

The Holy Gospel -The Gospel Lesson is a selection from the accounts of the life of our Lord recorded by the four evangelists, St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, and St. John. Because Christ is with us in the Gospel reading, we stand to honor his presence. We also sing versicles (short verses) before and after the reading of the Gospel. On certain festival days the minister may read the Gospel while standing among the people (in the center). He may be accompanied by torches who proclaim Jesus and his word as the "light of the world" and a processional cross.

The Creed - After hearing the word of God read and proclaimed, the worshiper responds with his confession of faith in the words of the Nicene Creed. It is customary for the Nicene Creed to be spoken when Holy Communion is celebrated and on major festivals. The Apostles' Creed is used at other times.
1 Corinthians 15:1 "Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand."

The Hymn of the Day - This hymn follows the theme of the readings and set the stage for the sermon.

The Sermon - The Pastor proclaims God's Word. He stresses both what God demands of us (the Law) and what God does for us through Jesus Christ (the Gospel).

The Offering - The gifts of God's people are a response to God's blessings "as God has prospered them" (1 Corinthians 16:2). Our offerings are for the support of the church. They enable the church to provide the written and spoken word of God, Christian education, and pastoral care, food, clothing, shelter, and a helping hand to those in need.

The Offertory - As the offerings are brought to the Lord's table, the worshipers sing the offertory to express gratitude for all God's blessings, dedicate themselves to God, and request His continued blessings.
Pslam 51:10-12 "Create in me a pure heart O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation adn grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."

The Prayers - This prayer in the service follows the directive of the Apostle Paul to young Timothy, a pastor: "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for Kings and all those in authority, that we may live in peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." I Tim 2:1-2


The Service of Holy Communion

The Preface - Preface means "introduction." The pastor and people get ready to celebrate the Holy Meal by greeting each other and with an exhortation as how to celebrate the meal.
Lamentations 3:41 "Let us lift up our heartsand our hands to God in heaven"

The Common Preface - These words state why we should give thanks using words and ideas appropriate for the season of the church year.

The Sanctus - Sanctus is Latin meaning "Holy." The Sanctus contains words from Isaiah's vision of God (Isaiah 6:3) and the crowd's response on Palm Sunday when Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem (Matthew 21:9). We join them in spirit by singing their words as we anticipate Christ’s coming in the sacrament.

The Lord's Prayer - We pray to God as our Father using the prayer he taught us. (Matthew 6:9ff)

The Words of Institution - The pastor speak/chants the words which Jesus spoke when He instituted the Supper with His disciples in the Upper Room. With these words the bread and wine are consecrated, that is, set apart for God's use in the special meal. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20.)

The Peace - The greetings of peace which Jesus spoke on the first Easter is shared before we approach the altar to receive Him. In the Lord's Supper, the body and blood of Christ are truly present in, with, and under the bread and wine. ( John 14:27; John 20:19-21.)

The Agnus Dei - Agnus Dei is a Latin phrase meaning "Lamb of God." John the Baptist spoke these words as he pointed to Jesus coming toward him (John 1:29). As Christ comes to us in the Holy Supper, we recognize him as the Lamb of God sacrificed for us to free us from the bondage of sin and death.

The Administration of the Supper - As we kneel at the Lord's Table, the pastor invites us, "Take, eat; this is the true body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, given into death for your sins. Take, drink, this is the true blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, shed for the forgiveness of your sins." After we receive the Sacrament we hear the comforting words spoken by the pastor, "The body and blood of our Lord strengthen and preserve you in the true faith to life everlasting." We respond, "Amen," for this is our sincere desire. Its is a good practice to offer a silent prayer of thanks when we return to our pews. While the meal is being distributed, the congregation and/or the choir sing hymns.

The Post-Communion Canticle - "Lord, now let Your servant go in peace," or an appropriate hymn is sung. The purpose is to offer our thanks and express our faith in what God has done for us and promised to do for us in the future.
Luke 2:29- 32 "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for the revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Isreal."

Post-Communion Collect - Once again we express our appreciation to our gracious God for giving us this Holy Meal through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Psalms 107:1 "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good his love endures forever"

The Benidiction - The benediction spoken by the pastor is the Aaronic benediction, the blessing God first gave to Aaron and the other priests to speak to thew people of Israel. Jesus Christ, our High Priest, has come to us in a special way through this Holy Meal. The blessing is God's promise that Christ will go with us as we leave the church and return to the world to serve Him. We sing "Amen" to affirm the blessing; "So be it -- it is true!" (Numbers 6:23-27)



So there you have it the Liturgy, the biblical way to worship. I would add a hymn but I doubt that many of you have even made it this far.