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