tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56548565416698367562024-03-13T15:30:12.333-06:00Laughing MartinThe Life and Times of Isaac Martin (Izzy) Abaldy II. Isaac can be roughly translated from the Hebrew as laughter. Martin is derived from the Latin name Martinus, which is a diminutive form of Martis, the genitive case of the name of the Roman god of war, Mars. I hope you find at least a bit of enjoyment and edification in reading the musings of this laughing little warrior. -- I. M. Abaldy III. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.comBlogger512125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-52136379033006905072019-05-23T14:15:00.001-06:002023-01-21T11:26:20.890-07:00Why I am a Lutheran Pastor, but No Longer in the LC-MSThroughout the LCMS it seems the teeth have been taken out of of preaching and preachers. For at least a couple of generations now many pastors have been taught, shamed really, by the practical, seeker sensitive teachers and leaders among us to become a bunch of Cheshire Cats in the pulpit--to soft soap the Law and soft sell the Gospel lest they offend anyone and thus consign a seeker to the abyss of hell.<br />
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That simply can’t and won’t happen. God will lose nary a one of those whose names are written in His book of Life. Furthermore, it is precisely the bold preaching of Law that sears the sinful flesh and Gospel that salves the contrite soul that works salvation. It is not a preacher’s business to flatter, amuse, or market people into heaven. It is their call to proclaim the Word for what it is and let the Holy Spirit condemn or console according to God’s perfect discernment and heart for what the sinner truly needs.<br />
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Pastors are not called and sent to be salesmen of salvation, public relations consultants for Christ, or corporate builders of His Church. Christ does not need or want that—thank you very much. Salvation is not for sale. Christ’s image doesn’t need sprucing or spicing up. The Holy Spirit is a capable builder of Christ’s Church.<br />
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Furthermore, we seem to be suffering from a sort of Lutheran reductionism that manifests itself in a rejection of anything that smells slightly Catholic and a desire to embrace virtually anything and everything for the sake of “growing the church.” The truth is that Lutherans and their Confessions not only reject and condemn the papism and works righteousness of the Roman Catholic Church, but they also reject and condemn the pietism and works righteousness of the Protestants. The problem with Roman Catholicism is not that they name someone Pope. It is the power that they vest in him, and only him and his authorized agents. A papacy exists wherever the discipline of the office of the keys and calling of pastors is taken out of the hands of the congregations and controlled by a hierarchy—whether it be of popes and bishops in Rome, or presidents and executives in other Districts. Neither is Roman Catholicism the only place where you will find monks. Monks are created wherever the people of God are shamed, cajoled, or persuaded into believing that it is not enough for the Baptized Christian to simply live his life and exercise his vocation in faith as the child of God He is, according to the Ten Commandments, and instead must do something special in order to glorify God and win souls for Christ.<br />
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If we would only study and listen to Luther, and actually put his teaching into practice instead of listening to and practicing the teaching of Warren and Hybels, we might have a chance of being Lutheran once again. Let the numbers come or not based upon our faithful preaching, hearing, and living of the Word of God for the forgiveness of sins.<br />
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I would submit that this "seduction," as Luther calls it in the sermon recording linked here, is the primary problem of Missouri in particular, and greater church bodies national or otherwise as constituted by men. Their approach to ministry for "church growth" is driven by "the concern about making a living" as it is extended to and magnified by the need to feed the beast of bureaucracy and save the Synod with all her capital and investments, and the executive salaries and benefits of her various districts, boards, and parachurch organizations devoted to same.<br />
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With these things in mind, I invite you to listen to <a href="http://www.lcmssermons.com/images/aut52/CY2009/SeekYeFirst.LutheronMatthew6.33t34.mp3">my recording of Martin Luther’s treatment of Matthew 6:33-34 from Christ’s Sermon on the Mount.</a><br />
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I am convinced that the preaching, hearing, and living of this one sermon of Martin Luther--or at least more sermons like it in every pulpit and at every convention--would do more to right the Missouri Synod and the Church on earth than the passage of any resolution or election of any political leader. Politics is necessary and even good when practiced among righteous men within its proper realm. But how do we get righteous men? It is by the bold, no-holds-barred preaching of God’s Word in all its truth and purity—teaching everything He has commanded, leaving out not one jot or tittle.<br />
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Hear the Word of our Lord as preached through His humble servant, the Rev. Dr. Martinus Luther:<br />
<a href="http://www.lcmssermons.com/images/aut52/CY2009/SeekYeFirst.LutheronMatthew6.33t34.mp3">http://www.lcmssermons.com/images/aut52/CY2009/SeekYeFirst.LutheronMatthew6.33t34.mp3</a><br />
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* The text of this sermon can be found in Luther’s Works, CPH American Edition, Volume 43.I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-28541006106947195382018-11-06T13:19:00.002-07:002018-11-06T13:19:57.383-07:00<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnlrMYek6RXnm6KAOT1bAGPJjB0b14JExqUmFEhSMhRNF_rvGyqRFEspKWnzKXm7bPoVN_OTDXXQcY-54zMmkVlB-YOp_63GN_fuilpnG-EvVe5yL2a5fjghSwI75W-Yb0WX5DaXHCXY/s1600/John_Chrysostom_Louvre_OA3970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1227" data-original-width="837" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnlrMYek6RXnm6KAOT1bAGPJjB0b14JExqUmFEhSMhRNF_rvGyqRFEspKWnzKXm7bPoVN_OTDXXQcY-54zMmkVlB-YOp_63GN_fuilpnG-EvVe5yL2a5fjghSwI75W-Yb0WX5DaXHCXY/s320/John_Chrysostom_Louvre_OA3970.jpg" width="218" /></a><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and
stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your
children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,
but you were not willing! </span></i><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">See! Your house is left to you desolate; <b>Matthew
23:37-38</b></span></i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
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</span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Preaching the
admonition of Jesus from Matthew 23, John Chrysostom lays the blame of empty
churches/dwindling church rolls on those who follow the false prophets in
touting the success of the Church and pursuing the same by earthly measures and
means.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Are we listening?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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3. Then He directs His speech unto the city, in this way too being minded to
correct His hearers, and says, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/bible/mat023.htm#verse37"><span style="color: darkblue; text-decoration-line: none;">Matthew 23:37</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> What means the repetition? This is the
manner of one pitying her, and bemoaning her, and greatly loving her. For, like
as unto a <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15687b.htm"><span style="color: darkblue; text-decoration-line: none;">woman</span></a> beloved, herself indeed ever loved,
but who had despised Him that loved her, and therefore on the point of being
punished, He pleads, being now about to inflict the punishment. Which He does
in the <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12477a.htm"><span style="color: darkblue; text-decoration-line: none;">prophets</span></a> also, using these words, I
said, Turn thou unto me, and she returned not. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/bible/jer003.htm#verse7"><span style="color: darkblue; text-decoration-line: none;">Jeremiah 3:7</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then having called her, He tells
also her blood-stained <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01115a.htm"><span style="color: darkblue; text-decoration-line: none;">deeds</span></a>, Thou that killest the <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12477a.htm"><span style="color: darkblue; text-decoration-line: none;">prophets</span></a>,
and <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14308a.htm"><span style="color: darkblue; text-decoration-line: none;">stone</span></a> them that are sent unto you, how
often would I have gathered your children together, and you would not, in
this way also pleading for His own dealings; not even with these things have
you turned me aside, nor withdrawn me from my great affection toward you, but
it was my desire even so, not once or twice, but often to draw you unto
me. For how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a
hen gathers her chickens, and you would not. And this He says, to show
that they were ever scattering themselves by their <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14004b.htm"><span style="color: darkblue; text-decoration-line: none;">sins</span></a>.
And His affection He indicates by the similitude; for indeed the creature is
warm in its <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09397a.htm"><span style="color: darkblue; text-decoration-line: none;">love</span></a> towards its brood. And everywhere in
the <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12477a.htm"><span style="color: darkblue; text-decoration-line: none;">prophets</span></a> is this same image of the wings,
and in the song of <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10596a.htm"><span style="color: darkblue; text-decoration-line: none;">Moses</span></a> and in the <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12533a.htm"><span style="color: darkblue; text-decoration-line: none;">Psalms</span></a>,
indicating His great protection and care.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But ye would not, He
says. Behold your house is left desolate, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/bible/mat023.htm#verse38"><span style="color: darkblue; text-decoration-line: none;">Matthew 23:38</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> stripped of the succor which comes from me. Surely it
was the same, who also was before protecting them, and holding them together,
and preserving them; surely it was He who was ever chastening them. And He
appoints a punishment, which they had ever dreaded exceedingly; for it declared
the entire overthrow of their polity. For I say unto you, You shall not
see me henceforth, till you shall say, Blessed is He that comes in the name of
the Lord. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/bible/mat023.htm#verse39"><span style="color: darkblue; text-decoration-line: none;">Matthew 23:39</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> And this is the language of one that loves earnestly,
earnestly drawing them unto Him by the things to come, not merely warning them
by the past; for of the future day of His second coming does He here speak. . .
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5. . . . But are you on fire with exceeding desire for riches. Have the
possessions of all <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09580c.htm"><span style="color: darkblue; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">men</span></a> instead of
your own. For indeed I give you, He says, more than you seek, in opening to you
the houses of the <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15571a.htm"><span style="color: darkblue; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">wealthy</span></a> throughout
the world. For whosoever has forsaken father or mother, or lands, or
house, shall receive an hundredfold. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/bible/mat019.htm#verse29"><span style="color: darkblue;">Matthew 19:29</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Thus will you not enjoy more abundant possessions
only, but you will even remove this grievous thirst altogether, and will endure
all things easily, so far from desiring more, not seeking often even necessary
things. Thus does <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11567b.htm"><span style="color: darkblue; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Paul</span></a> suffer
hunger, and is held in <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07462a.htm"><span style="color: darkblue; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">honor</span></a> more
than when he ate. Forasmuch as a wrestler also, when striving, and winning
crowns, would not choose to give up and to be in repose; and a merchant who has
entered on sea voyages would not desire to be afterwards in idleness.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And we therefore, if we should taste
as we ought of spiritual fruits, shall thenceforth not even account the things
present to be anything, being seized by the desire of the things to come as
with some most noble intoxication.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let us taste of them, therefore,
that we may both be delivered from the turmoil of the things present, and may
attain the <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06636b.htm"><span style="color: darkblue; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">good</span></a>things to come,
by the <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06689a.htm"><span style="color: darkblue; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">grace</span></a> and <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09397a.htm"><span style="color: darkblue; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">love</span></a> towards man of <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08374c.htm"><span style="color: darkblue; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">our Lord Jesus Christ</span></a>, to whom be the <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06585a.htm"><span style="color: darkblue; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">glory</span></a> and the might, now and ever, and
world without end. <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01407b.htm"><span style="color: darkblue; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Amen</span></a>.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-65864890928896240182018-01-27T17:25:00.001-07:002018-01-27T17:25:19.247-07:00The DIDACHE: The Lord's Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations.<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Didache<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Lord's Teaching Through the
Twelve Apostles to the Nations.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I. The Two Ways and the First
Commandment.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1.</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> There
are two Ways, one of Life and one of Death, and there is a great difference
between the two Ways. <br />
<b>2.</b> The way of life is this:" First, you shalt love the God who made
thee, secondly, thy neighbor as thyself; and whatsoever thou wouldst not have
done to thyself, do not thou to another." <br />
<b>3.</b> Now, the teaching of these words is this: "Bless those that
curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for those that persecute you.
For what credit is it to you if you love those that love you? Do not even the
heathen do the same?" But, for your part, "love those that hate
you," and you will have no enemy. <br />
<b>4.</b> "Abstain from carnal" and bodily "lusts."
"If any man smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other cheek
also," and thou wilt be perfect. "If any man impress thee to go with
him one mile, go with him two. If any man take thy coat, give him thy shirt
also. If any man will take from thee what is thine, refuse it not," not
even if thou canst. <br />
<b>5.</b> Give to everyone that asks thee, and do not refuse, for the Father's
will is that we give to all from the gifts we have received. Blessed is he that
gives according to the mandate; for he is innocent; but he who receives it
without need shall be tried as to why he took and for what, and being in prison
he shall be examined as to his deeds, and "he shall not come out thence
until he pay the last farthing." <br />
<b>6.</b> But concerning this it was also said, "Let thine alms sweat into
thine hands until thou knowest to whom thou art giving."</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">II. The Second Commandment: Grave
Sin Forbidden.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">But the second commandment of the teaching is
this: <br />
<b>2.</b> "Thou shalt do no murder; thou shalt not commit adultery";
thou shalt not commit sodomy; thou shalt not commit fornication; thou shalt not
steal; thou shalt not use magic; thou shalt not use philtres; thou shalt not
procure abortion, nor commit infanticide; "thou shalt not covet thy
neighbor's goods"; <br />
<b>3.</b> Thou shalt not commit perjury, "thou shall not bear false
witness"; thou shalt not speak evil; thou shalt not bear malice. <br />
<b>4.</b> Thou shalt not be double-minded nor double-tongued, for to be
double-tongued is the snare of death. <br />
<b>5.</b> Thy speech shall not be false nor vain, but completed in action. <br />
<b>6.</b> Thou shalt not be covetous nor extortionate, nor a hypocrite, nor
malignant, nor proud, thou shalt make no evil plan against thy neighbor. <br />
<b>7.</b> Thou shalt hate no man; but some thou shalt reprove, and for some
shalt thou pray, and some thou shalt love more then thine own life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">III.
Other Sins Forbidden.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1.</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> My child, flee from every evil man and from all like him. <br />
<b>2.</b> Be not proud, for pride leads to murder, nor jealous, nor
contentious, nor passionate, for from all these murders are engendered. <br />
<b>3.</b> My child, be not lustful, for lust leads to fornication, nor a
speaker of base words, nor a lifter up of the eyes, for from all these is
adultery engendered. <br />
<b>4.</b> My child, regard not omens, for this leads to idolatry; neither be an
enchanter, nor an astrologer, nor a magician, neither wish to see these things,
for from them all is idolatry engendered. <br />
<b>5.</b> My child, be not a liar, for lying leads to theft, nor a lover of
money, nor vain-glorious, for from all these things are thefts engendered. <br />
<b>6.</b> My child, be not a grumbler, for this leads to blasphemy, nor
stubborn, nor a thinker of evil, for from all these are blasphemies engendered.
<br />
<b>7.</b> But be thou "meek, for the meek shall inherit the earth;" <br />
<b>8.</b> Be thou long-suffering, and merciful and guileless, and quiet, and
good, and ever fearing the words which thou hast heard. <br />
<b>9.</b> Thou shalt not exalt thyself, nor let thy soul be presumptuous. Thy
soul shall not consort with the lofty, but thou shalt walk with righteous and
humble men. <br />
<b>10.</b> Receive the accidents that befall to thee as good, knowing that
nothing happens without God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IV. Various Precepts.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1.</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> My child, thou shalt remember, day and night, him who speaks the
word of God to thee, and thou shalt honor him as the Lord, for where the Lord's
nature is spoken of, there is he present. <br />
<b>2.</b> And thou shalt seek daily the presence of the saints, that thou
mayest find rest in their words. <br />
<b>3.</b> Thou shalt not desire a schism, but shalt reconcile those that strive.
Thou shalt give righteous judgement; thou shalt favor no mans person in
reproving transgression. <br />
<b>4.</b> Thou shalt not be of two minds whether it shall be or not. <br />
<b>5.</b> Be not one who stretches out his hands to receive, but shuts them
when it comes to giving. <br />
<b>6.</b> Of whatsoever thou hast gained by thy hands thou shalt give a ransom
for thy sins. <br />
<b>7.</b> Thou shalt not hesitate to give, nor shalt thou grumble when thou
givest, for thou shalt know who is the good Paymaster of the reward. <br />
<b>8. </b>Thou shalt not turn away the needy, but shalt share everything with
thy brother, and shalt not say it is thine own, for if you are sharers in the
imperishable, how much more in the things which perish? <br />
<b>9. </b>Thou shalt not withhold thine hand from thy son or from thy daughter,
but thou shalt teach them the fear of God from their youth up. <br />
<b>10.</b> Thou shalt not command in thy bitterness thy slave or thine
handmaid, who hope in the same God, lest they cease to fear the God who is over
you both; for he comes not to call men with respect of persons, but those whom
the Spirit has prepared. <br />
<b>11.</b> But do you who are slaves be subject to your master, as to God's
representative, in reverence and fear. <br />
<b>12.</b> Thou shalt hate all hypocrisy, and everything that is not pleasing
to the Lord. <br />
<b>13.</b> Thou shalt not forsake the commandments of the Lord, but thou shalt
keep what thou didst receive, "Adding nothing to it and taking nothing
away." <br />
<b>14.</b> In the congregation thou shalt confess thy transgressions, and thou
shalt not betake thyself to prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of
life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">V. The Way of Death.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1. </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">But the Way of Death is this: First of all, it is wicked and full
of cursing, murders, adulteries, lusts, fornications, thefts, idolatries,
witchcrafts, charms, robberies, false witness, hypocrisies, a double heart,
fraud, pride, malice, stubbornness, covetousness, foul speech, jealousy,
impudence, haughtiness, boastfulness. <br />
<b>2.</b> Persecutors of the good, haters of truth, lovers of lies, knowing not
the reward of righteousness, not cleaving to the good nor to righteous
judgment, spending wakeful nights not for good but for wickedness, from whom
meekness and patience is far, lovers of vanity, following after reward,
unmerciful to the poor, not working for him who is oppressed with toil, without
knowledge of him who made them, murderers of children, corrupters of God's
creatures, turning away the needy, oppressing the distressed, advocates of the
rich, unjust judges of the poor, altogether sinful; may ye be delivered, my
children, from all these.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">VI. Against False Teachers, and Food
Offered to Idols.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1. </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">See "that no one make thee to err" from this Way of the
teaching, for he teaches thee without God. <br />
<b>2.</b> For if thou canst bear the whole yoke of the Lord, thou wilt be
perfect, but if thou canst not, do what thou canst. <br />
<b>3. </b>And concerning food, bear what thou canst, but keep strictly from
that which is offered to idols, for it is the worship of dead gods.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">VII. Concerning Baptism.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1.</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Concerning baptism, baptise thus: Having first rehearsed all
these things, "baptise, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Ghost," in running water; <br />
<b>2.</b> But if thou hast no running water, baptise in other water, and if
thou canst not in cold, then in warm. <br />
<b>3.</b> But if thou hast neither, pour water three times on the head "in
the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost." <br />
<b>4.</b> And before the baptism let the baptiser and him who is to be baptised
fast, and any others who are able. And thou shalt bid him who is to be baptised
to fast one or two days before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">VIII. Fasting and Prayer (the Lord's
Prayer).</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1.</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Let not your fasts be with the hypocrites, for they fast on
Mondays and Thursdays, but do you fast on Wednesdays and Fridays. <br />
<b>2.</b> And do not pray as the hypocrites, but as the Lord commanded in his
Gospel, pray thus: "Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name,
thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, as in Heaven so also upon earth; give us
today our daily bread, and forgive us our debt as we forgive our debtors, and
lead us not into trial, but deliver us from the Evil One, for thine is the
power and the glory for ever." <br />
<b>3.</b> Pray thus three times a day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IX. The Eucharist.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1.</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> And concerning the Eucharist, hold Eucharist thus: <br />
<b>2.</b> First concerning the Cup, "We give thanks to thee, our Father, for
the Holy Vine of David thy child, which, thou didst make known to us through
Jesus thy Child; to thee be glory for ever." <br />
<b>3.</b> And concerning the broken Bread: "We give thee thanks, our
Father, for the life and knowledge which thou didst make known to us through
Jesus thy Child. To thee be glory for ever. <br />
<b>4.</b> As this broken bread was scattered upon the mountains, but was
brought together and became one, so let thy Church be gathered together from
the ends of the earth into thy kingdom, for thine is the glory and the power
through Jesus Christ for ever." <br />
<b>5.</b> But let none eat or drink of your Eucharist except those who have
been baptised in the Lord's Name. For concerning this also did the Lord say,
"Give not that which is holy to the dogs."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">X. Prayer after Communion.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1.</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> But after you are satisfied with food, thus give thanks: <br />
<b>2.</b> "We give thanks to thee, O Holy Father, for thy Holy Name which
thou didst make to tabernacle in out hearts, and for the knowledge and faith
and immortality which thou didst make known to us through Jesus thy Child. To
thee be glory for ever. <br />
<b>3. </b>Thou, Lord Almighty, didst create all things for thy Name's sake, and
didst give food and drink to men for their enjoyment, that they might give
thanks to thee, but us hast thou blessed with spiritual food and drink and
eternal light through thy Child. <br />
<b>4. </b>Above all we give thanks to thee for that thou art mighty. To thee be
glory for ever. <br />
<b>5.</b> Remember, Lord, thy Church, to deliver it from all evil and to make
it perfect in thy love, and gather it together in its holiness from the four
winds to thy kingdom which thou hast prepared for it. For thine is the power
and the glory for ever. <br />
<b>6.</b> Let grace come and let this world pass away. Hosannah to the God of
David. If any man be holy, let him come! if any man be not, let him repent:
Maranatha ("Our Lord! Come!"), Amen." <br />
<b>7.</b> But suffer the prophets to hold Eucharist as they will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">XI. Concerning Teachers, Apostles,
and Prophets.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1.</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Whosoever then comes and teaches you all these things aforesaid,
receive him. <br />
<b>2.</b> But if the teacher himself be perverted and teach another doctrine to
destroy these things, do not listen to him, but if his teaching be for the
increase of righteousness and knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord. <br />
<b>3.</b> And concerning the Apostles and Prophets, act thus according to the
ordinance of the Gospel. <br />
<b>4.</b> Let every Apostle who comes to you be received as the Lord, <br />
<b>5.</b> But let him not stay more than one day, or if need be a second as
well; but if he stay three days, he is a false prophet. <br />
<b>6.</b> And when an Apostle goes forth let him accept nothing but bread till
he reach his night's lodging; but if he ask for money, he is a false prophet. <br />
<b>7.</b> Do not test or examine any prophet who is speaking in a spirit,
"for every sin shall be forgiven, but this sin shall not be
forgiven." <br />
<b>8.</b> But not everyone who speaks in a spirit is a prophet, except he have
the behaviour of the Lord. From his behaviour, then, the false prophet and the
true prophet shall be known. <br />
<b>9.</b> And no prophet who orders a meal in a spirit shall eat of it:
otherwise he is a false prophet. <br />
<b>10.</b> And every prophet who teaches truth, if he do not what he teaches,
is a false prophet. <br />
<b>11.</b> But no prophet who has been tried and is genuine, though he enact a
worldly mystery of the Church, if he teach not others to do what he does
himself, shall be judged by you: for he has his judgment with God, for so also
did the prophets of old. <br />
<b>12.</b> But whosoever shall say in a spirit "Give me money, or
something else," you shall not listen to him; but if he tell you to give
on behalf of others in want, let none judge him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">XII. Reception of Christians.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1.</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Let everyone who "comes in the Name of the Lord" be
received; but when you have tested him you shall know him, for you shall have
understanding of true and false. <br />
<b>2. </b>If he who comes is a traveller, help him as much as you can, but he
shall not remain with you more than two days, or, if need be, three. <br />
<b>3.</b> And if he wishes to settle among you and has a craft, let him work
for his bread. <br />
<b>4.</b> But if he has no craft provide for him according to your
understanding, so that no man shall live among you in idleness because he is a
Christian. <br />
<b>5.</b> But if he will not do so, he is making traffic of Christ; beware of
such.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">XIII. Support of Prophets.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1.</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> But every true prophet who wishes to settle among you is
"worthy of his food." <br />
<b>2.</b> Likewise a true teacher is himself worthy, like the workman, of his
food. <br />
<b>3.</b> Therefore thou shalt take the firstfruit of the produce of the
winepress and of the threshingfloor and of oxen and sheep, and shalt give them
as the firstfruits to the prophets, for they are your high priests. <br />
<b>4.</b> But if you have not a prophet, give to the poor. <br />
<b>5.</b> If thou makest bread, take the firstfruits, and give it according to
the commandment. <br />
<b>6.</b> Likewise when thou openest a jar of wine or oil, give the firstfruits
to the prophets. <br />
<b>7.</b> Of money also and clothes, and of all your possessions, take the
firstfruits, as it seem best to you, and give according to the commandment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">XIV. Christian Assembly on the
Lord's Day.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1.</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> On the Lord's Day of the Lord come together, break bread and hold
Eucharist, after confessing your transgressions that your offering may be pure;
<br />
<b>2.</b> But let none who has a quarrel with his fellow join in your meeting
until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice be not defiled. <br />
<b>3.</b> For this is that which was spoken by the Lord, "In every place
and time offer me a pure sacrifice, for I am a great king," saith the
Lord, "and my name is wonderful among the heathen."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">XV. Bishops and Deacons; Christian
Reproof.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1.</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Appoint therefore for yourselves bishops and deacons worthy of
the Lord, meek men, and not lovers of money, and truthful and approved, for
they also minister to you the ministry of the prophets and teachers. <br />
<b>2.</b> Therefore do not despise them, for they are your honourable men
together with the prophets and teachers. <br />
<b>3.</b> And reprove one another not in wrath but in peace as you find in the
Gospel, and let none speak with any who has done wrong to his neighbour, nor
let him hear a word from you until he repents. <br />
<b>4.</b> But your prayers and alms and all your acts perform as ye find in the
Gospel of our Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">XVI. Watchfulness; the Coming of the
Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1.</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "Watch" over your life "let your lamps" be
not quenched "and your loins" be not ungirded, but be
"ready," for ye know not "the hour in which our Lord
cometh." <br />
<b>2.</b> But be frequently gathered together seeking the things which are
profitable for your souls, for the whole time of your faith shall not profit
you except ye be found perfect at the last time; <br />
<b>3.</b> For in the last days the false prophets and the corruptors shall be
multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall change to
hate; <br />
<b>4.</b> For as lawlessness increaseth they shall hate one another and
persecute and betray, and then shall appear the deceiver of the world as a Son
of God, and shall do signs and wonders and the earth shall be given over into
his hands and he shall commit iniquities which have never been since the world
began. <br />
<b>5.</b> Then shall the creation of mankind come to the fiery trial and
"many shall be offended" and be lost, but "they who endure"
in their faith "shall be saved" by the curse itself. <br />
<b>6.</b> And "then shall appear the signs" of the truth. First the
sign spread out in Heaven, then the sign of the sound of the trumpet, and
thirdly the resurrection of the dead: <br />
<b>7.</b> But not of all the dead, but as it was said, "The Lord shall
come and all his saints with him." <br />
<b>8.</b> Then shall the world "see the Lord coming on the clouds of
Heaven."</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-50704399961430984582017-12-28T13:33:00.003-07:002017-12-28T13:43:43.238-07:00On the Fourth Day of Christmas Our Dear LORD Gave to Us<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: white;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">December
29: The <span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Holy Innocents, Martyrs</span></span></u></b> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ftlstxni3OldOXbE3sLQygSOCZHmouDHDlNdYFFb1mLovZor6O15KgCDIoHYgOu0DT20l6PsVd5M6bRSiFJwrIOS39jJbmanJWxc1jglPx5Y2CEEW05BVjzpoWMtxvegWVbnquUWkdM/s1600/HolyInnocents.FlighttoEgypt.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="588" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ftlstxni3OldOXbE3sLQygSOCZHmouDHDlNdYFFb1mLovZor6O15KgCDIoHYgOu0DT20l6PsVd5M6bRSiFJwrIOS39jJbmanJWxc1jglPx5Y2CEEW05BVjzpoWMtxvegWVbnquUWkdM/s320/HolyInnocents.FlighttoEgypt.png" width="232" /></span></span></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Matthew
2: 16-23 <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by
the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in
Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to
the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.<b><sup>17 </sup></b>Then
was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: white;"><b><i><sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">18 </span></sup></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">“A voice was heard in Ramah,<br />
weeping and loud lamentation,<br />
Rachel weeping for her children<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">she
refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="background-color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: white;"><b><i><sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">19 </span></sup></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">But
when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in
Egypt, <b><sup>20 </sup></b>saying, “Rise, take the child and his
mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life
are dead.” <b><sup>21 </sup></b>And he rose and took the child and
his mother and went to the land of Israel. <b><sup>22 </sup></b>But
when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father
Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew
to the district of Galilee. <b><sup>23 </sup></b>And he went and
lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the
prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<u><span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Martin Luther writes: <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">We resist evil with the ministry of the Word [in Christ’s kingdom
of the Church] and sword [in Christ’s kingdom of the world], and yet, the evils
which cannot be averted we bear to our great advantage but to their detriment
and destruction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">In regard to this line
of thought there is also a celebrated dictum of Gregory: “The ungodly do good
to us by doing evil.” And Augustine says of the infants slain by Herod that an
enemy with his whole strength and all the resources of his kingdom could not
have benefited the children more than by killing them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Accordingly, God humbles those who are His to exalt them: He kills
them to make them alive; He confounds them to glorify them; He makes them
subject to raise them up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: white;"><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Still the question
persists</span></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">, “How can a loving God
allow such horrible things to happen?” For some, the question is an excuse for
atheism. For others, a cry of pain in the midst of trying times, or even a
prayer for faltering faith. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">For the Baptized, the
answer as touched upon by Luther, Gregory, and Augustine above, is to be found
in the Word of God and Him made flesh to dwell among us even now in our
suffering. As always, God has the bigger, global, intergenerational, eternal
picture in mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: white;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 8pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I
in the place of God?</span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"> <span class="text">As for you, you meant evil against me,
but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should
be kept alive, as they are today. <b>Genesis
50:19-20</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: white;"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 8pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.</span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"> <span class="text">And his
disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his
parents, that he was born blind?”</span> <span class="text">Jesus
answered, </span><span class="woj">“It was not that this man sinned, or his
parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. <b>John 9:1-3</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: white;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 8pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation,
or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?</span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"> <span class="text">As it is written,<br />
“For your sake we are being
killed all the day long;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">we are regarded as
sheep to be slaughtered.”<br />
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who
loved us. <b>Romans 8:35-37</b></span></span></i><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: white;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 8.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">So to keep me from becoming conceited
because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given
me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from
becoming conceited. . . . For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with
weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I
am weak, then I am strong. <b>2 Corinthians
12:7, 10</b></span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: white;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 8.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against
himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.</span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"> . . . <span class="text"> God is treating
you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? . . .
He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. <b>Hebrews 10:3, 7, 10</b></span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"><span class="text" style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: white;">lm</span></span></div>
</div>
I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-21807676232355824822016-01-19T14:51:00.002-07:002016-01-19T14:54:07.476-07:00The DIDACHE: Catechism of the Apostolic Church<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<br /></div>
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The Didache
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Lord's Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations.
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<a data-mce-href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/Cceu1ge7qZKF3RU0CyspYct5oJRZq0TNwC4IqTyd3acGYBN1RJOsuZuaNdwDOA64w-EQVi1X-Sig6BURKutkI4tHj4gs1l7z/Didache.Montage.jpg" href="http://api.ning.com/files/Cceu1ge7qZKF3RU0CyspYct5oJRZq0TNwC4IqTyd3acGYBN1RJOsuZuaNdwDOA64w-EQVi1X-Sig6BURKutkI4tHj4gs1l7z/Didache.Montage.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_self"><img class="align-left" data-mce-src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/Cceu1ge7qZKF3RU0CyspYct5oJRZq0TNwC4IqTyd3acGYBN1RJOsuZuaNdwDOA64w-EQVi1X-Sig6BURKutkI4tHj4gs1l7z/Didache.Montage.jpg" src="http://api.ning.com/files/Cceu1ge7qZKF3RU0CyspYct5oJRZq0TNwC4IqTyd3acGYBN1RJOsuZuaNdwDOA64w-EQVi1X-Sig6BURKutkI4tHj4gs1l7z/Didache.Montage.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="300" /></a>I. The Two Ways and the First Commandment.
<br />
1. There are two Ways, one of Life and one of Death, and there is a great difference between the two Ways. <br />
2. The way of life is this:" First, you shalt love the God who made thee, secondly, thy neighbor as thyself; and whatsoever thou wouldst not have done to thyself, do not thou to another." <br />
3. Now, the teaching of these words is this: "Bless those that curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for those that persecute you. For what credit is it to you if you love those that love you? Do not even the heathen do the same?" But, for your part, "love those that hate you," and you will have no enemy. <br />
4. "Abstain from carnal" and bodily "lusts." "If any man smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other cheek also," and thou wilt be perfect. "If any man impress thee to go with him one mile, go with him two. If any man take thy coat, give him thy shirt also. If any man will take from thee what is thine, refuse it not," not even if thou canst. <br />
5. Give to everyone that asks thee, and do not refuse, for the Father's will is that we give to all from the gifts we have received. Blessed is he that gives according to the mandate; for he is innocent; but he who receives it without need shall be tried as to why he took and for what, and being in prison he shall be examined as to his deeds, and "he shall not come out thence until he pay the last farthing." <br />
6. But concerning this it was also said, "Let thine alms sweat into thine hands until thou knowest to whom thou art giving."
<br />
<br />
II. The Second Commandment: Grave Sin Forbidden.
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1. But the second commandment of the teaching is this: <br />
2. "Thou shalt do no murder; thou shalt not commit adultery"; thou shalt not commit sodomy; thou shalt not commit fornication; thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not use magic; thou shalt not use philtres; thou shalt not procure abortion, nor commit infanticide; "thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods";
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3. Thou shalt not commit perjury, "thou shall not bear false witness"; thou shalt not speak evil; thou shalt not bear malice. <br />
4. Thou shalt not be double-minded nor double-tongued, for to be double-tongued is the snare of death. <br />
5. Thy speech shall not be false nor vain, but completed in action. <br />
6. Thou shalt not be covetous nor extortionate, nor a hypocrite, nor malignant, nor proud, thou shalt make no evil plan against thy neighbor. <br />
7. Thou shalt hate no man; but some thou shalt reprove, and for some shalt thou pray, and some thou shalt love more then thine own life.
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III. Other Sins Forbidden. <br />
1. My child, flee from every evil man and from all like him. <br />
2. Be not proud, for pride leads to murder, nor jealous, nor contentious, nor passionate, for from all these murders are engendered. <br />
3. My child, be not lustful, for lust leads to fornication, nor a speaker of base words, nor a lifter up of the eyes, for from all these is adultery engendered. <br />
4. My child, regard not omens, for this leads to idolatry; neither be an enchanter, nor an astrologer, nor a magician, neither wish to see these things, for from them all is idolatry engendered. <br />
5. My child, be not a liar, for lying leads to theft, nor a lover of money, nor vain-glorious, for from all these things are thefts engendered. <br />
6. My child, be not a grumbler, for this leads to blasphemy, nor stubborn, nor a thinker of evil, for from all these are blasphemies engendered. <br />
7. But be thou "meek, for the meek shall inherit the earth;" <br />
8. Be thou long-suffering, and merciful and guileless, and quiet, and good, and ever fearing the words which thou hast heard.
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9. Thou shalt not exalt thyself, nor let thy soul be presumptuous. Thy soul shall not consort with the lofty, but thou shalt walk with righteous and humble men. <br />
10. Receive the accidents that befall to thee as good, knowing that nothing happens without God.
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IV. Various Precepts.
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1. My child, thou shalt remember, day and night, him who speaks the word of God to thee, and thou shalt honor him as the Lord, for where the Lord's nature is spoken of, there is he present. <br />
2. And thou shalt seek daily the presence of the saints, that thou mayest find rest in their words. <br />
3. Thou shalt not desire a schism, but shalt reconcile those that strive. Thou shalt give righteous judgement; thou shalt favor no mans person in reproving transgression. <br />
4. Thou shalt not be of two minds whether it shall be or not. <br />
5. Be not one who stretches out his hands to receive, but shuts them when it comes to giving. <br />
6. Of whatsoever thou hast gained by thy hands thou shalt give a ransom for thy sins. <br />
7. Thou shalt not hesitate to give, nor shalt thou grumble when thou givest, for thou shalt know who is the good Paymaster of the reward. <br />
8. Thou shalt not turn away the needy, but shalt share everything with thy brother, and shalt not say it is thine own, for if you are sharers in the imperishable, how much more in the things which perish? <br />
9. Thou shalt not withhold thine hand from thy son or from thy daughter, but thou shalt teach them the fear of God from their youth up. <br />
10. Thou shalt not command in thy bitterness thy slave or thine handmaid, who hope in the same God, lest they cease to fear the God who is over you both; for he comes not to call men with respect of persons, but those whom the Spirit has prepared.
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11. But do you who are slaves be subject to your master, as to God's representative, in reverence and fear. <br />
12. Thou shalt hate all hypocrisy, and everything that is not pleasing to the Lord. <br />
13. Thou shalt not forsake the commandments of the Lord, but thou shalt keep what thou didst receive, "Adding nothing to it and taking nothing away." <br />
14. In the congregation thou shalt confess thy transgressions, and thou shalt not betake thyself to prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life.
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V. The Way of Death.
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1. But the Way of Death is this: First of all, it is wicked and full of cursing, murders, adulteries, lusts, fornications, thefts, idolatries, witchcrafts, charms, robberies, false witness, hypocrisies, a double heart, fraud, pride, malice, stubbornness, covetousness, foul speech, jealousy, impudence, haughtiness, boastfulness. <br />
2. Persecutors of the good, haters of truth, lovers of lies, knowing not the reward of righteousness, not cleaving to the good nor to righteous judgment, spending wakeful nights not for good but for wickedness, from whom meekness and patience is far, lovers of vanity, following after reward, unmerciful to the poor, not working for him who is oppressed with toil, without knowledge of him who made them, murderers of children, corrupters of God's creatures, turning away the needy, oppressing the distressed, advocates of the rich, unjust judges of the poor, altogether sinful; may ye be delivered, my children, from all these.
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VI. Against False Teachers, and Food Offered to Idols.
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1. See "that no one make thee to err" from this Way of the teaching, for he teaches thee without God.
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2. For if thou canst bear the whole yoke of the Lord, thou wilt be perfect, but if thou canst not, do what thou canst. <br />
3. And concerning food, bear what thou canst, but keep strictly from that which is offered to idols, for it is the worship of dead gods.
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VII. Concerning Baptism.
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1. Concerning baptism, baptise thus: Having first rehearsed all these things, "baptise, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost," in running water; <br />
2. But if thou hast no running water, baptise in other water, and if thou canst not in cold, then in warm. <br />
3. But if thou hast neither, pour water three times on the head "in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost." <br />
4. And before the baptism let the baptiser and him who is to be baptised fast, and any others who are able. And thou shalt bid him who is to be baptised to fast one or two days before.
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VIII. Fasting and Prayer (the Lord's Prayer).
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1. Let not your fasts be with the hypocrites, for they fast on Mondays and Thursdays, but do you fast on Wednesdays and Fridays. <br />
2. And do not pray as the hypocrites, but as the Lord commanded in his Gospel, pray thus: "Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, as in Heaven so also upon earth; give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debt as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into trial, but deliver us from the Evil One, for thine is the power and the glory for ever." <br />
3. Pray thus three times a day.
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IX. The Eucharist.
<br />
1. And concerning the Eucharist, hold Eucharist thus: <br />
2. First concerning the Cup, "We give thanks to thee, our Father, for the Holy Vine of David thy child, which, thou didst make known to us through Jesus thy Child; to thee be glory for ever." <br />
3. And concerning the broken Bread: "We give thee thanks, our Father, for the life and knowledge which thou didst make known to us through Jesus thy Child. To thee be glory for ever. <br />
4. As this broken bread was scattered upon the mountains, but was brought together and became one, so let thy Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into thy kingdom, for thine is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ for ever." <br />
5. But let none eat or drink of your Eucharist except those who have been baptised in the Lord's Name. For concerning this also did the Lord say, "Give not that which is holy to the dogs."
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X. Prayer after Communion.
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1. But after you are satisfied with food, thus give thanks: <br />
2. "We give thanks to thee, O Holy Father, for thy Holy Name which thou didst make to tabernacle in out hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality which thou didst make known to us through Jesus thy Child. To thee be glory for ever. <br />
3. Thou, Lord Almighty, didst create all things for thy Name's sake, and didst give food and drink to men for their enjoyment, that they might give thanks to thee, but us hast thou blessed with spiritual food and drink and eternal light through thy Child. <br />
4. Above all we give thanks to thee for that thou art mighty. To thee be glory for ever. <br />
5. Remember, Lord, thy Church, to deliver it from all evil and to make it perfect in thy love, and gather it together in its holiness from the four winds to thy kingdom which thou hast prepared for it. For thine is the power and the glory for ever. <br />
6. Let grace come and let this world pass away. Hosannah to the God of David. If any man be holy, let him come! if any man be not, let him repent: Maranatha ("Our Lord! Come!"), Amen." <br />
7. But suffer the prophets to hold Eucharist as they will.
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XI. Concerning Teachers, Apostles, and Prophets.
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1. Whosoever then comes and teaches you all these things aforesaid, receive him. <br />
2. But if the teacher himself be perverted and teach another doctrine to destroy these things, do not listen to him, but if his teaching be for the increase of righteousness and knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord. <br />
3. And concerning the Apostles and Prophets, act thus according to the ordinance of the Gospel. <br />
4. Let every Apostle who comes to you be received as the Lord, <br />
5. But let him not stay more than one day, or if need be a second as well; but if he stay three days, he is a false prophet. <br />
6. And when an Apostle goes forth let him accept nothing but bread till he reach his night's lodging; but if he ask for money, he is a false prophet. <br />
7. Do not test or examine any prophet who is speaking in a spirit, "for every sin shall be forgiven, but this sin shall not be forgiven." <br />
8. But not everyone who speaks in a spirit is a prophet, except he have the behaviour of the Lord. From his behaviour, then, the false prophet and the true prophet shall be known. <br />
9. And no prophet who orders a meal in a spirit shall eat of it: otherwise he is a false prophet. <br />
10. And every prophet who teaches truth, if he do not what he teaches, is a false prophet. <br />
11. But no prophet who has been tried and is genuine, though he enact a worldly mystery of the Church, if he teach not others to do what he does himself, shall be judged by you: for he has his judgment with God, for so also did the prophets of old. <br />
12. But whosoever shall say in a spirit "Give me money, or something else," you shall not listen to him; but if he tell you to give on behalf of others in want, let none judge him.
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XII. Reception of Christians.
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1. Let everyone who "comes in the Name of the Lord" be received; but when you have tested him you shall know him, for you shall have understanding of true and false. <br />
2. If he who comes is a traveller, help him as much as you can, but he shall not remain with you more than two days, or, if need be, three. <br />
3. And if he wishes to settle among you and has a craft, let him work for his bread. <br />
4. But if he has no craft provide for him according to your understanding, so that no man shall live among you in idleness because he is a Christian.
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5. But if he will not do so, he is making traffic of Christ; beware of such.
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XIII. Support of Prophets.
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1. But every true prophet who wishes to settle among you is "worthy of his food." <br />
2. Likewise a true teacher is himself worthy, like the workman, of his food. <br />
3. Therefore thou shalt take the firstfruit of the produce of the winepress and of the threshingfloor and of oxen and sheep, and shalt give them as the firstfruits to the prophets, for they are your high priests.
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4. But if you have not a prophet, give to the poor. <br />
5. If thou makest bread, take the firstfruits, and give it according to the commandment. <br />
6. Likewise when thou openest a jar of wine or oil, give the firstfruits to the prophets. <br />
7. Of money also and clothes, and of all your possessions, take the firstfruits, as it seem best to you, and give according to the commandment.
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XIV. Christian Assembly on the Lord's Day.
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1. On the Lord's Day of the Lord come together, break bread and hold Eucharist, after confessing your transgressions that your offering may be pure;
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2. But let none who has a quarrel with his fellow join in your meeting until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice be not defiled. <br />
3. For this is that which was spoken by the Lord, "In every place and time offer me a pure sacrifice, for I am a great king," saith the Lord, "and my name is wonderful among the heathen."
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XV. Bishops and Deacons; Christian Reproof.
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1. Appoint therefore for yourselves bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, meek men, and not lovers of money, and truthful and approved, for they also minister to you the ministry of the prophets and teachers. <br />
2. Therefore do not despise them, for they are your honourable men together with the prophets and teachers. <br />
3. And reprove one another not in wrath but in peace as you find in the Gospel, and let none speak with any who has done wrong to his neighbour, nor let him hear a word from you until he repents. <br />
4. But your prayers and alms and all your acts perform as ye find in the Gospel of our Lord.
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XVI. Watchfulness; the Coming of the Lord.
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<b>1.</b> "Watch" over your life "let your lamps" be not quenched "and your loins" be not ungirded, but be "ready," for ye know not "the hour in which our Lord cometh." <br />
2. But be frequently gathered together seeking the things which are profitable for your souls, for the whole time of your faith shall not profit you except ye be found perfect at the last time; <br />
3. For in the last days the false prophets and the corruptors shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall change to hate; <br />
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4. For as lawlessness increaseth they shall hate one another and persecute and betray, and then shall appear the deceiver of the world as a Son of God, and shall do signs and wonders and the earth shall be given over into his hands and he shall commit iniquities which have never been since the world began. <br />
5. Then shall the creation of mankind come to the fiery trial and "many shall be offended" and be lost, but "they who endure" in their faith "shall be saved" by the curse itself. <br />
6. And "then shall appear the signs" of the truth. First the sign spread out in Heaven, then the sign of the sound of the trumpet, and thirdly the resurrection of the dead: <br />
7. But not of all the dead, but as it was said, "The Lord shall come and all his saints with him." <br />
8. Then shall the world "see the Lord coming on the clouds of Heaven." <br />
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<br />I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-53171161703032929622015-07-26T14:10:00.000-06:002015-07-26T14:11:52.779-06:00God's Rainbow Promise--It's Not What the GLBTs Say It IsIn today’s OT lesson God tells Noah--and all mankind who would born of him and his family to repopulate the earth to what it is today:
"I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth… When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” [Genesis 9:13, 16]
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IOW, He will withhold his wrath from destroying the whole earth in this fashion again. And to this day He has. Not only has He withheld His wrath from using a flood to destroy the earth and all that is in it, He unleashed the total fury of His wrath on His only begotten Son—you know, the One who miraculously fed the 5000; the One who walked on water and saved the disciples from the winds on the sea; the One who sanctified all water for Baptism with the forgiveness of sins into the kingdom of God.
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Yes, that's what the rainbow stands for—not the adulterous lust of men for men and women for women, but the love of God for sinners and even for those who have taken His rainbow and rebelliously use it to stand for their sin. Don’t let an adulterous world redefine God’s love. And don’t let your fears stand in the way of God’s redemption.
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To hear and/or read the entire sermon preached to the saints at Christ Lutheran-Elkhart, KS and Faith Lutheran-Hugoton, KS for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, "Take Heart; It Is I," click on this link. <a href="http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=4247">http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=4247</a>
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Have a great week knowing the world's worst storms and your worst fears have their end in Christ Jesus.
I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-91775248758773865662015-07-14T17:21:00.000-06:002015-07-14T17:23:34.178-06:00The High Cost of Free MammogramsThis is simply barbaric.<br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jjxwVuozMnU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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At the 3 minute mark of this video recorded by the non-profit organization, <a href="http://www.centerformedicalprogress.org/">Center for Medical Progress</a>, Planned Parenthood Federation Senior Director of Medical Services, Dr. Deborah Nucatola, is shown feeding her face and slurping wine while she speaks of a lot of people wanting the livers and lower extremity muscle tissue of the in utero babies she slaughters for the harvest.<br />
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"Nucatola is seen in the video having lunch with actors posing as buyers who are interested in purchasing the body parts of babies who have been aborted. The Planned Parenthood senior staffer notes how abortion procedures are modified to ensure that requested body parts can be collected."<br />
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Not that there's anything wrong with that as long as you are giving free mammograms. Free, meaning somebody whose complaint can't be heard is paying for it. Which in turn means even if they did perform a free mammogram here and there without charge, which they don't, there are hundreds of thousands of babies who paid the ultimate price.<br />
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With that, I commend this request from the Center for Medical Progress to the reader:<br />
Hold Planned Parenthood Accountable for Their Illegal Sale of Baby Parts<br />
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<br />I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-80389682260086002822015-07-04T12:30:00.000-06:002015-07-05T18:42:31.164-06:00When Church Mirrors Culture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Asked by a complimentary follower to write an "America Is Still Great" piece on his blog, nationally known columnist Matt Walsh responded:</div>
"I’m sorry but I can’t give you exactly what you want, unless you want something better and truer than the sort of fraudulent ‘hopefulness’ and ‘optimism’ most people seek these days. . . . They want it like funnel cake: sweet, empty and quickly digested. I could give you that, but I won’t. I could write patronizing, pandering nonsense telling you everything is fine, this country is awesome, and the future will be bright and filled with lollipops and puppy dog farts. <br />
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"But what good would it do, besides win me some PR points? If you want hope, it needs to be planted firmly in truth, or else it’s like administering morphine while you die of kidney failure. It’ll make you feel better for a time, but it won’t save you."</div>
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What Mr. Walsh says about the American electorate also applies to the pop-Christianity out there, and could easily be spoken by any faithful Lutheran pastor and echoed in the congregations that maintain and "contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints," as per Jude v. 3.</div>
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Our Lutheran churches and pastors don't tell you to, "Be happy, it's all good"--or, for that matter, to "Be good and it's all going to be happy." One look around, one newscast, tells you otherwise. And if that's not enough, the truth of Eden lost and fallen man cannot be overcome by any amount of happy thoughts or the power of optimism. That truth is that "the wages of sin is still death (Romans 6:23) , just as it has been since the man and woman God first created perfect to live forever, decided they needed something better and truer than everything God had created for them.</div>
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The message of Scripture, the Good News the Church has been given to proclaim to the world and by which the baptized believer is saved, is much better and truer and more substantial than anything those charismatic politicians and pop-Christian motivators have to offer. </div>
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We have something far better, a hope for which we eagerly, yet patiently wait in faith along with the litany of the faithful saints of which Scripture speaks:<br />
"And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect." Hebrews 11:39-40</div>
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Our Lutheran churches and pastors exist for the sole purpose of delivering that which sinful men need most, that without which they cannot be saved, and that from which the other ancillary gifts of the Spirit proceed-- the grace of God in Christ Jesus that forgives sins and gives eternal life to all who believe it. </div>
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"1] So that we may obtain this faith, the Ministry of Teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. 2] Through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Spirit is given (John 20:22). He works faith, when and where it pleases God (John 3:8), in those who hear 3] the good news that God justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ's sake. This happens not through our own merits, but for Christ's sake.<br />
4] Our churches condemn [all churches and teachers] who think that through their own preparations and works the Holy Spirit comes to them without the external Word." [Augsburg Confession Article V: of The Ministry]</div>
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If you want hope, firmly planted in truth, that doesn’t just get you through the day but lasts forever, find a Lutheran Church and pastor that deliver the goods week after week, Sunday after Sunday, in the Word and Sacrament of the Divine Service. </div>
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We leave the funnel cakes and puppy dog farts to others--or at least save them for our picnics and bazaars.</div>
<br />I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-1045732194517114982015-06-20T19:31:00.001-06:002015-06-20T20:00:06.587-06:00It's Not a Black and White Thing<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The following “Note to Readers”
was posted by the <u>Baltimore Sun</u> earlier this month in response to an email scam that falsely attributes a race baiting article entitled, "The Black Dilemma," to them and their columnist, Ian Duncan. It first started
circulating online in September 2014, when the <u>American Rennaissance</u>
blogazine first posted the article written by Anthony Bryan on the 23<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>rd</sup>
of that month.<span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="sewjf6xufkgthu8"></span><span class="sewjf6xufkgthu8" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span class="sewjf6xufkgthu8"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">June 11, 2015</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">An essay posted on the Internet titled "The Black
Dilemma" includes incorrect attribution suggesting it came from The
Baltimore Sun. The Sun did not write, publish or have any other association
with it.</span></span><br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Copyright © 2015, The Baltimore Sun*
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In
addition to the false attribution of this article to the </span></span><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Baltimore Sun</span></u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> and its columnist, p</span><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%;">lease
note that </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">the original source of “The Black Dilemma” article, <u>American
Rennaissance</u>, is devoted to the philosophy of racism and unique cultures
based upon race that pits said races against one another as incompatible at
best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I certainly appreciate and
share the concern about the civil unrest that is being stirred up by the folks
in Washington and elsewhere who want us to believe that all men were not created
equal, as per our Declaration of Independence; in the image of God, as per
Genesis 1:26-27; and have taken it upon themselves to fan the flames of racism
for political gain and earthly wealth—all in the name of altruism and pursuit
of a perfect society.
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">But, dear reader, please don’t buy into the
idolatry that has created this golden calf of racism. Two wrongs do not make
anything right, they only exacerbate each other and carry us deeper into
falsehood and further separate us from the God who not only created us but has
redeemed us in Christ Jesus, His only Son, our Lord. </span></div>
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</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgroFNtKnYvVkxE4F2dpZD1futzfMvSTpFc7oNKX80R350B3v6iYbpQNq3_SZUR8osNuIFlemTrcEE4woPanMvt_9Ld_vRDTNrEVelY5dUSD50SBj4bRuvn9D9LWGgg9_nT7u1Y5yietAM/s1600/adam-christ-composite-hans-baldung-grien.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgroFNtKnYvVkxE4F2dpZD1futzfMvSTpFc7oNKX80R350B3v6iYbpQNq3_SZUR8osNuIFlemTrcEE4woPanMvt_9Ld_vRDTNrEVelY5dUSD50SBj4bRuvn9D9LWGgg9_nT7u1Y5yietAM/s1600/adam-christ-composite-hans-baldung-grien.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">There is only one race, born of Adam, created by God in His image. Though we
have lost that image in Adam’s fall, still (according to Paul, the apostle of
our Lord) God <span style="line-height: 115%;">desires all people <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">to</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">be</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">saved</span> and <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">to</span> come <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">to</span> the
knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).” </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Neither you
nor I are any different than any other person on earth—past, present, or
future—in regard to virtue, morality, or godliness no matter the color of skin, nation or continent of origin, or culture
of upbringing in the eyes and heart of the One True God, as Paul again tells us
in Romans 3:22b-25a. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“For
there is no distinction:</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <span class="text">for all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God,</span> <span class="text">and are justified
by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,</span> <span class="text">whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received
by faith.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Furthermore, as Baptized
children of God and members of His body the Church, we and “</span><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%;">as
many of [us] as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <span class="text">There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>]</sup>
nor free, there is no male and female, [neither Black nor White], for you are
all one in Christ Jesus.” [Galatians 3:27-28]</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The
dilemma the United States of America faces today is not that it has mixed a bad
culture with a good culture, or black with white, but that its people as a whole and across cultures have
become godless with everyone doing whatever is <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">right</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">in</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">his</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">own</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">eyes<b>.</b></span>“ [Deuteronomy
12:8. See also Judges 17:6, 21:25; Proverbs 21:22, et al.] Or more to the
point, once again in Paul’s inspired words: “<span class="text">they [have]
exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature
rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” [Romans 1:25] As a
result, God has given “us (as a nation) up to dishonorable passions.” And as
you can see from the rest of this portion of Paul’s letter to the Christians at
Rome, while it is a black and white matter of right and wrong, truth v. lies,
it is most definitely not a black and white matter of race. While the depth and
breadth and severity of the matter might well differ from culture to culture,
Paul’s list of depravity and debasement is hardly limited to one skin color or
another. He writes in Romans 1:26-32:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span class="text">“For
their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;</span> <span class="text">and the men likewise
gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one
another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the
due penalty for their error.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span class="text">“And
since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased
mind to do what ought not to be done.</span> <span class="text">They were filled with all manner of
unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder,
strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,</span> <span class="text">slanderers,
haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to
parents,</span> <span class="text">foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.</span>
<span class="text">Though they know God's righteous decree that those who
practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to
those who practice them.”</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Need I mention this week's Charlotte massacre suspect, Timothy McVeigh,
Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, Peter Singer, Margaret Sanger, Brigham Young, etc.? Or
on the other side of the coin, Herman Cain, Lt. Col. Allan West, Thomas Sowell,
Walter Williams, Condoleeza Rice, Clarence Thomas, the Tuskegee Airmen, George
Washington Carver, Booker T. Washington, e.g.?<br />
<br />
But all historical and anecdotal evidence aside, as I preached to the saints
here in the southwest corner of Kansas two weeks ago Sunday, each of us has
enough of our sin that we best not become like the Pharisee of Jesus’ parable
thanking God we are “not <span class="woj">like other men, extortioners, unjust,
adulterers, or even like [that Bruce Jenner guy/gal, or those inner city
rioters and looters].”</span> There is no sin but our own than can separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus—and that only if we do not acknowledge and
confess it as our own most miserable fault and condition.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, my dear reader, as I also preached on that Sunday:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“Let’s
not forget those words of this crazy savior of ours who really is the Son of God
that tells us all:<br />
<span class="woj"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘For God did not send his
Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be
saved through him.’”</i> [John 3:17]</span></span><span class="woj"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span class="woj"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“The
world includes Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner, and all those around us [again, </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">no
matter the color of skin, nation or continent of origin, or culture of
upbringing<span class="woj">] whose vanity we [like Adam and the Pharisee of
Jesus’ parable] often use to hide from God, and thus keep God hidden from us.
God has not only called us on our sin and called us out from it to know and
believe in Him, He has called us out to go and reveal Him, His love, and His
salvation to those we know who are still in hiding and therefore are hidden
from the love that God has for them in Christ Jesus; the love that forgives the
sins that it has uncovered, the love that calls sinners out of hiding to
deliver them out of that sin and leave it behind, the love that gives eternal
life to you, the love that desires to give that forgiveness and life not just
to you, but to every sinner so that they with you might no longer be lost and
hidden in the crazy blasphemy and vanity of sin.</span></span><span class="woj"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span class="woj"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“Dear
Baptized of Christ & Faith, go therefore back into the vanity and craziness
of the world in which we all live as God ‘s forgiven children, not hiding any
longer, but to forgive others as we have been forgiven to deliver us from the
vanity and craziness of sin and into the sanity and blessed peace of eternal
life—in the name of the </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Father and of the + Son and of the Holy
Spirit.”</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Please don’t let the hatred of this depraved and
fallen world drag you back out of your Baptism and into its pit of competitive
cultures and mistaken identities. You are God’s beloved child. You are being born
again--along with all those Baptized into the body of Christ that is His holy
Christian Church on earth--to live in His love now and forever. As a member of
the body of Christ here on earth, you are also sent back into your world to
extend that love of God in Christ Jesus to those who have yet to hear and know
of His love and His deliverance from the depravity of this world and its
various cultures, all of which lead inevitably to death. <br />
<br />
Yes indeed, dear Baptized, as a child of our Father in heaven, Christ lives in you and fills you with His Holy
Spirit in order to continue to bring you with all His elect out of the
blackness of our (that is, every man’s) sin and into the marvelous light of His
truth that brings salvation from the culture of death and deliverance into His
kingdom of eternal life. <br />
</span>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">*</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bal-note-to-readers-20150611-story.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bal-note-to-readers-20150611-story.html</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">**http://www.amren.com/about/issues/</span>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Graphic: "Adam and Christ," a composite by the author of two paintings by Hans Bauldung Grien (Austrian painter, 1484/85-1545), </span><a href="http://www.jesuswalk.com/christ-power/images/hans-bauldung-grien-adam316x800.jpg"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> "Adam"</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (1520-23, left), Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest (Szepmuveseti Muzeum); and </span><a href="http://www.joyfulheart.com/easter/images/hans-bauldung-grien-crucifixion550x800.jpg"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> "Crucifixion"</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (1512, right), Linden panel, 152 x 104 cm, Staatliche Museen, Berlin. </span><a href="http://www.jesuswalk.com/christ-power/images/hans-baldung-grien-adam-composite609x702.jpg"></a></span></o:p></span></div>
I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-29933611494098120612015-04-27T15:06:00.001-06:002015-04-27T15:06:08.371-06:00My Own Know Me—for There Is No Other<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xISQRvOlcCpbtOQ5VlUPgiQOGFcJFhoPq1_ioUVbt8YvTiHdq1J_OvKqT8zl2NKDaM9BSoWMarg1b-iwmbY9YMAuWpv7Ej5kL7OVdGF42JJCVvBcEV5D5RKUrhcJGVbxCNmBPwKNJqw/s1600/Jesus.good-shepherd.german.2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xISQRvOlcCpbtOQ5VlUPgiQOGFcJFhoPq1_ioUVbt8YvTiHdq1J_OvKqT8zl2NKDaM9BSoWMarg1b-iwmbY9YMAuWpv7Ej5kL7OVdGF42JJCVvBcEV5D5RKUrhcJGVbxCNmBPwKNJqw/s1600/Jesus.good-shepherd.german.2.png" height="320" width="215" /></a></div>
The One who was the Perfect Sacrificial Lamb is now the Good Shepherd—leading us so we can follow where He has gone and come back out on the other side.<br />
<br />
And it is a good thing, too. For it is not only that rich young man that had too many possessions to want to follow Jesus. We are all simply too rich to follow where He has gone. By our own thinking, by our own feeling we just have too much to lose.<br />
To follow Jesus means to suffer, die, and be buried. Who wants that?<br />
<br />
So Jesus--having gone there, done that and, more than having the souvenir t-shirt but even wearing and bearing the scars in His hands, feet, and side--has risen to be our Good Shepherd leading us by His voice where we fear to go.<br />
<br />
To hear and/or read this sermon preached at Christ Lutheran-Elkhart, KS and Faith Lutheran-Hugoton, KS for The Fourth Sunday of Easter, "My Own Know Me—for There Is No Other," click on this link. <a href="http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=4147">http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=4147</a><br />
<br />
Graphic: German Cathedral art, details unknown.I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-29775496743310625782015-04-22T21:44:00.001-06:002015-04-22T22:15:02.676-06:00EARTH DAY THROUGH A SCRIPTURAL LENS<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_5538674f039136a99442955">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSqc0rjszjgwlde-aNM978u-4nJYTteBTdnBwBgq0-r8pXkcvLQIfGGcBG9mKjK32zGMvyfYVPp9gbc-hjlr9aX9g3M9E5ikid7pwP-hMxQk96_cKijGlbNWqCItg2zC0n9pATD_1op4/s1600/raffaello-creation-of-animals-detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSqc0rjszjgwlde-aNM978u-4nJYTteBTdnBwBgq0-r8pXkcvLQIfGGcBG9mKjK32zGMvyfYVPp9gbc-hjlr9aX9g3M9E5ikid7pwP-hMxQk96_cKijGlbNWqCItg2zC0n9pATD_1op4/s1600/raffaello-creation-of-animals-detail.jpg" height="278" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Creation of the Animals," by Raffaello ca. 1518-19, Palazzo Ponteficio- Vaticano.</td></tr>
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<strong>Psalm 96:1-6</strong> [ESV]<br />
Oh sing to the LORD a new song;<br />
sing to the LORD, all the earth!<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> 2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name;<br /> tell of his salvation from day to day.<br /> 3 Declare his glory among the nations,<br /> his marvelous works among all the peoples!<br /> 4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;<br /> he is to be feared above all gods.<br /> 5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,<br /> but the LORD made the heavens.<br /> 6 Splendor and majesty are before him;<br /> strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.</span><br />
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<div class="text_exposed_show">
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"><strong>Genesis 1:26-28 </strong>[ESV]</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$1:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$2:0">Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that cre</span></span><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$0:0">eps on the earth.”</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$0:0"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAkD78oiuUzHbI1KeygUC8JjexlWYNqG3b5355eMPFoR16hXTwrg65qLYSzAjCQU5hMwgOtAJzvtd06EU3g48pvOZGxCBbV4tFg_Pva_0nNYO6qYC0he1jF-WBpj-yz07DmjcULndKhc/s1600/Adam_naming_animals_Monastery+of+St+Nicholas+AnapausasGreece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAkD78oiuUzHbI1KeygUC8JjexlWYNqG3b5355eMPFoR16hXTwrg65qLYSzAjCQU5hMwgOtAJzvtd06EU3g48pvOZGxCBbV4tFg_Pva_0nNYO6qYC0he1jF-WBpj-yz07DmjcULndKhc/s1600/Adam_naming_animals_Monastery+of+St+Nicholas+AnapausasGreece.jpg" height="161" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Adam Naming the Animals," medieval panel of anonymous origins in the Monastery of St Nicholas Anapausas, Greece.</td></tr>
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$2:0">2</span></span></span></span></span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$2:0">7 So God created man in his own image,</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$3:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$4:0"> in the image of God he created him;</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$5:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$6:0"> male and female he created them.</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$7:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$8:0">28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<strong>Genesis 3: 17-19</strong> [ESV]<br />
<span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$2:0">And to Adam [the LORD God] said,</span><br />
<span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$4:0">“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife</span><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$1:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$2:0"> and have eaten of the tree</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$3:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$4:0">of which I commanded you,</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$5:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$6:0">‘You shall not eat of it,’</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$7:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$8:0">cursed is the ground because of you;</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoqmSMnU9H78ZsUUWDTgOrFUBYYtQDehvSu4PXr_uRkpBBZjnxi4TNfznc0qyGLdkkmVRnf33jxcbWSWTYWMoTmciixV-NO5ZHplh4gSPz5P9-p-_ph7w1oDI0uFYTvKM5YhNRz3N6DA/s1600/God-cursing-Adam-Eve-Serpent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoqmSMnU9H78ZsUUWDTgOrFUBYYtQDehvSu4PXr_uRkpBBZjnxi4TNfznc0qyGLdkkmVRnf33jxcbWSWTYWMoTmciixV-NO5ZHplh4gSPz5P9-p-_ph7w1oDI0uFYTvKM5YhNRz3N6DA/s1600/God-cursing-Adam-Eve-Serpent.jpg" height="354" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"God Curses Adam, Eve, and the Serpent," anonymous artist.</td></tr>
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$12:0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$12:0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$10:0"> in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$11:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$12:0">18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$13:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$14:0"> and you shall eat the plants of the field.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254578663107:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$12:0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$16:0">19 By the sweat of your face</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$17:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$18:0"> you shall eat bread,</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$19:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$20:0">till you return to the ground,</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$21:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$22:0"> for out of it you were taken;</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$23:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$24:0">for you are dust,</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$25:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254823269222:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$26:0"> and to dust you shall return.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"><strong>2 Peter 3:10-13</strong> [ESV]</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$1:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$2:0">But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyoHXGO2xST7fQFl3LccESB4IQxRdgh7_QqooJDzyk-LcltgVN5TQPmaYENpZWGKr0L0105c73hGvv6S4QsJ0R1iVBByLGmJVxy2zW8P2kQEtYjXX-ya_szhtfn94a_RgguoXPDgeCdE/s1600/Michelangelo_-_Fresco_of_the_Last_Judgement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyoHXGO2xST7fQFl3LccESB4IQxRdgh7_QqooJDzyk-LcltgVN5TQPmaYENpZWGKr0L0105c73hGvv6S4QsJ0R1iVBByLGmJVxy2zW8P2kQEtYjXX-ya_szhtfn94a_RgguoXPDgeCdE/s1600/Michelangelo_-_Fresco_of_the_Last_Judgement.jpg" height="400" width="335" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sistine Chapel fresco of "The Last Judgement," by Michelangelo.</td></tr>
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$4:0">11 Since all these t</span></span><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$0:0">hings are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254996153544:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254996153544:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254996153544:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254996153544:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"><strong>Isaiah 65:17-18</strong> [ESV]</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254996153544:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$1:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254996153544:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$2:0">“For behold, I create new heavens</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254996153544:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$3:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254996153544:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$4:0"> and a new earth,</span></span></span></span> </div>
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"></span></span></span></span><br /></div>
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed">
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEoUdkTSSmXqitJHBwp1Kc5h-zthq6VG9i9f9HkBE5CXK7xoK9dRTXH_MeCN9cDtkVJJv9j8fYGHCT56Osc8K_nlw7xJGcL3CpLg8TR3l00-rOjsPQQENacEsns4Oisaj4y0kNyDmKss/s1600/AllSaintsAltarPieceDrurer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEoUdkTSSmXqitJHBwp1Kc5h-zthq6VG9i9f9HkBE5CXK7xoK9dRTXH_MeCN9cDtkVJJv9j8fYGHCT56Osc8K_nlw7xJGcL3CpLg8TR3l00-rOjsPQQENacEsns4Oisaj4y0kNyDmKss/s1600/AllSaintsAltarPieceDrurer.jpg" height="400" width="362" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dürer, Albrecht (1471-1528), The Landauer Altarpiece, All Saints Day, 1511 oil on panel (detail), Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria.</td></tr>
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</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254996153544:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254996153544:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254996153544:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254996153544:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254996153544:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$2:0">and the former things shall not be remembered</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254996153544:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$3:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254996153544:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$4:0"> or come into mind.</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254996153544:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$5:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254996153544:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$6:0">18 But be glad and rejoice forever</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254996153544:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$7:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254996153544:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$8:0"> in that which I create;..."</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205254902991215:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0">
</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"><strong>Revelation 21:1-5</strong> [ESV]</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$1:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$2:0">Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$2:0"></span></span></span></span> </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNkvMLE_zeVhQeBXf_3y95qIHjJdpeDqRWtQoBjhB-JBK_AK9PBP_F3AkOrePiu2wV5U06PCEKdQugeWp2F-3-UDYi3MdUnELJEhJt4NNAi0mmefFxHUCtk-1BIqJE_K-1szigVzg7Dg/s1600/JohnsHeavenRevelation.Gerung.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNkvMLE_zeVhQeBXf_3y95qIHjJdpeDqRWtQoBjhB-JBK_AK9PBP_F3AkOrePiu2wV5U06PCEKdQugeWp2F-3-UDYi3MdUnELJEhJt4NNAi0mmefFxHUCtk-1BIqJE_K-1szigVzg7Dg/s1600/JohnsHeavenRevelation.Gerung.jpg" height="332" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Vision By John of Heaven" by Matthias Gerung, c. 1530.</td></tr>
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$2:0">2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for </span></span><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$0:0">her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$1:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$2:0">5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$2:0"></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255012393950:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$2:0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255067395325:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255067395325:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255067395325:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255067395325:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"><strong>Job 19:25-27</strong> [ESV]</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255067395325:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$1:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255067395325:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$2:0">For I know that my Redeemer lives,</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255067395325:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$3:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255067395325:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$4:0"> and at the last he will stand upon the earth.</span></span><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255067395325:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255067395325:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255067395325:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$1:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255067395325:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$2:0">26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed,</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255067395325:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$3:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255067395325:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$4:0"> yet in my flesh I shall see God,</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255067395325:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$5:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255067395325:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$6:0">27 whom I shall see for myself,</span><br data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255067395325:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$7:0" /><span data-reactid=".cv.1:3:1:$comment10205254360937664_10205255067395325:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$8:0"> and my eyes shall behold, and not another.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5yF3g4elb7SpNfruidO3i_BneiGz7IQESpvvU7Fgzz5mhNuYcjjj_SH78USshC9ACYjSBkAQwsMGS5PPUFUbiZamISoNP_ohKUxOlk0BmMpuaHrVAG9mKncuIbesSBNh9YkcYmLSbJ4/s1600/the-resurrection-of-christ-rubens.1612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5yF3g4elb7SpNfruidO3i_BneiGz7IQESpvvU7Fgzz5mhNuYcjjj_SH78USshC9ACYjSBkAQwsMGS5PPUFUbiZamISoNP_ohKUxOlk0BmMpuaHrVAG9mKncuIbesSBNh9YkcYmLSbJ4/s1600/the-resurrection-of-christ-rubens.1612.jpg" height="278" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Resurrection of Christ," by Peter Paul Rubens, 1611- 12.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-89328276816726866712015-04-19T18:28:00.000-06:002015-04-19T18:52:10.199-06:00Touching GodFrom the beginning, the relationship of God to man has been one of touching. When God touches man, His touch accompanied by the breath of His Spirit gives life.<br />
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The crowning creative work of the Father is accomplished through touch as we see depicted in Michelangelo's breathtaking fresco that graces the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.<br />
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<a href="http://api.ning.com/files/HMrNkLH2ZKMMnMEgreaxeh-ectJADQ2UJNHYrXeYPJZ7eb-Yva8-hJSND5waRiiIJ3URltwcWci4V9Fm3EPSXoDA-KRGQdIg/Creation_of_Adam_Michelangelo.jpg" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://api.ning.com/files/HMrNkLH2ZKMMnMEgreaxeh-ectJADQ2UJNHYrXeYPJZ7eb-Yva8-hJSND5waRiiIJ3URltwcWci4V9Fm3EPSXoDA-KRGQdIg/Creation_of_Adam_Michelangelo.jpg?width=450" width="450" /></a>However, shortly after creation, man makes the decision that God’s touch is not enough and he seeks to touch God. There we see that when man touches, or seeks to touch God, it brings death.<br />
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To hear and/or read this sermon preached at Christ Lutheran-Elkhart, KS and Faith Lutheran-Hugoton, KS for The Third Sunday of Easter, "Touching God," click on this link. <a href="http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=4141" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=4141</a><br />
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Graphic: "The Creation of Adam" is a fresco painting by Michelangelo, which forms part of the Sistine Chapel's ceiling, painted circa 1511–1512.I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-81525001410917205872015-04-12T19:34:00.000-06:002015-04-19T18:53:53.108-06:00The Relevancy of the Word: You are ForgivenJesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." Now when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. <br />
So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." John 20:19b-23 <br />
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<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="291" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/1508519_401065233407488_1534943108091398755_n.jpg?oh=cee1fd5e401ccc1fd254f8e377f3fbd2&oe=55DC5002&__gda__=1436371097_d7f0f961c9101b6880f60a1d8bd4ae0d" style="height: 291px; width: 421px;" width="421" /><br />
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This Gospel is for all of you who want your pastor to make the Word of God relevant in your life, in today’s world. This Gospel is for everyone who is looking to find purpose for his life. This Gospel is for everyone who wants their best life now. This Gospel is for anybody and everybody who wants to know how to get to heaven. In this little Gospel we are given the answers to all these questions, concerns, and heartfelt desires. <br />
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To hear and/or read this sermon preached at Christ Lutheran-Elkhart, KS and Faith Lutheran-Hugoton, KS for The Second Sunday of Easter, "The Relevancy of the Word: You Are Forgiven," click on this link. <a href="http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=4132">http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=4132</a><br /><br />Graphic: “The Incredulity of Thomas” by Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn; detail from a 1634 oil on panel (53 × 51 cm) in the Pushkin Museum, Moscow.I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com1Elkhart, Kansas36.97236111685929 -102.6562500000000612.520090616859289 -143.96484400000006 61.424631616859287 -61.347656000000057tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-74514875875496377412014-12-16T14:03:00.002-07:002014-12-16T14:06:45.924-07:00A READING FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD for ADVENT 4: RORATE COELI <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfmM_foFwHmsxh_o59-uTTj6-DDGuv-NDuUD1n0zf203CgOs_CWyeU0DF0uiGGA_Ab2bSaShN_xXDjvjNIxqmxehlAlYyjBJ2cwYrEAZqJJDuVkf7yDJhSTyW5SuapTuz170fw_1glaE/s1600/Advent4.2014.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfmM_foFwHmsxh_o59-uTTj6-DDGuv-NDuUD1n0zf203CgOs_CWyeU0DF0uiGGA_Ab2bSaShN_xXDjvjNIxqmxehlAlYyjBJ2cwYrEAZqJJDuVkf7yDJhSTyW5SuapTuz170fw_1glaE/s1600/Advent4.2014.png" height="245" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-57858573426046868772014-10-26T22:24:00.000-06:002014-10-26T22:25:29.889-06:00"The Son Sets You Free"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJU5VxfOLVOoQbM2I4T7WMp3HMJveQbcGl-6WEOVz-pzy9XWhUeUfrudtmC1d_mF_hnRndPjh9Kh9oKI4UkhU6ZQk7N4XVOu_P3eAweWlcDTKsj9Pv6vvEYwDTWXtInK_uh5sgAAQTL8/s1600/luther95theses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJU5VxfOLVOoQbM2I4T7WMp3HMJveQbcGl-6WEOVz-pzy9XWhUeUfrudtmC1d_mF_hnRndPjh9Kh9oKI4UkhU6ZQk7N4XVOu_P3eAweWlcDTKsj9Pv6vvEYwDTWXtInK_uh5sgAAQTL8/s1600/luther95theses.jpg" height="320" width="298" /></a></div>
The problem 497 years ago in 1517,was the same problem of Adam and Eve who fled from the forgiveness of the loving God who created them in the beginning. It was the same problem of the Israelites. It is the same problem of the Church today and through the ages until the Last Day. It is the problem that has led to the closure of this congregation. It is the problem--the evil--of losing, replacing, rejecting the forgiveness of sins for the pursuit of happiness and our own self-centered, me generated ideas of worship. <br />
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In Luther’s Day the church had replaced the forgiveness of sins with things like indulgences and purgatory related to the works of men purchasing and working off the debt of sin. In our day we have largely replaced the forgiveness of sins with our own strength of faith and love for God. <br />
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To hear and/or the entire sermon preached for The Reformation, 'The Son Sets You Free," click on this link. http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=3919<br />
<br />I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-9521731079818760862014-10-19T21:12:00.001-06:002014-10-19T21:13:34.440-06:00“What Do You Think about the Christ?"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisC01a22CHJH5zlsObSj0mAZ2Wcs-uT89MmIXrwP1HosL7Hdn5cT3P2hH6mgti_GPLVQ-i5jx3LLXrl5bOgsR8ciZw48GAAUGs3vDT5ZdBAeLA7IIQEj5prRj3NSkXWUHJW6SdilH4Ujs/s1600/Jesus+and+Pharisees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisC01a22CHJH5zlsObSj0mAZ2Wcs-uT89MmIXrwP1HosL7Hdn5cT3P2hH6mgti_GPLVQ-i5jx3LLXrl5bOgsR8ciZw48GAAUGs3vDT5ZdBAeLA7IIQEj5prRj3NSkXWUHJW6SdilH4Ujs/s1600/Jesus+and+Pharisees.jpg" /></a></div>
“What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” 43He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, 44 “‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet’? [Psalm 110:1]<br />
45 If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” 46And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions. Matthew 22:43-46<br />
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Jesus has stumped the teachers. Ha! Wouldn’t that be fun? Wouldn’t you just love to do that at school sometime? Imagine so surprising your teacher that she can’t even ask you anymore questions—for the whole rest of the year!<br />
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But Jesus isn’t just trying to get the Pharisees off His case or make fun of them so they leave Him alone. Even though His teachers, the Pharisees, hate Jesus, He wants to save them. Even though they are the ones who are going to lie about Him and make Him die on the cross, He wants them to that He is the Christ—the very Son of God the Father in heaven who has sent Him to die for them—and for you.<br />
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To hear and/or read the entire sermon preached for the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity, “What do you think about the Christ?" click on this link. <a href="http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=3914">http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=3914</a><br />
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[Graphic: “Jesus Teaches the Pharisees,” unknown artist.]I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-89846128663651899312014-10-15T13:45:00.003-06:002014-10-15T13:47:14.396-06:00How's This for Being Relevant and Contemporary?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG88VxPVIR6HkcgIqieQqOooPSvkXRVr-WdCKCZbU6vDvW-A_qgBW8FTiGIyY8FVsS_BkdBhc-Wr9-BQYP9T1YKfHaa73EmR5FvNqIDz7QovINBInoRQfg827K1Ju8iLHit66kVzp0B_E/s1600/Carlos+Borromeo+Signismomdo+Caula+Administering+the+Sacrament+to+Plaque+Victims.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG88VxPVIR6HkcgIqieQqOooPSvkXRVr-WdCKCZbU6vDvW-A_qgBW8FTiGIyY8FVsS_BkdBhc-Wr9-BQYP9T1YKfHaa73EmR5FvNqIDz7QovINBInoRQfg827K1Ju8iLHit66kVzp0B_E/s1600/Carlos+Borromeo+Signismomdo+Caula+Administering+the+Sacrament+to+Plaque+Victims.jpg" height="320" width="248" /></a></div>
Did you know that, according to our Lutheran teaching and practice of the faith, every time we pray, "Give us this day our daily bread," in the Lord's Prayer, we pray that our Father in heaven would give us faithful government leaders to "vanquish the Turks," i.e., Islamists, and that He would "preserve us from all sorts of disaster to body and livelihood, like lightning, hail, fire, flood, poison, plague, cattle disease, war and bloodshed, famine, destructive beasts, wicked men, and so forth?" [Luther's Large Catechism explanation to the Fourth Petition of the Lord's Prayer as cited below from "Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions," Concordia Publishing House.*]<br />
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How do you get more contemporary and relevant than that with what we are facing in the Ebola and Islamic viruses invading our United States of America?<br />
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[Graphic: "Carlos Borromeo Signismomdo Caula (Roman Catholic Priest) Administering the Sacrament to Plaque Victims," artist unknown to this author.]<br />
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* The Fourth Petition of the Lord's Prayer.<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="para71"></a><a href="http://bookofconcord.org/lc-5-ourfather?setSidebar=min#para71"><span style="color: #598a83;">71]</span></a> Give us this day our daily bread. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="para72"></a><a href="http://bookofconcord.org/lc-5-ourfather?setSidebar=min#para72"><span style="color: #598a83;">72]</span></a> Here, now, we consider the poor breadbasket, the necessaries of our body and of the temporal life. It is a brief and simple word, but it has a very wide scope. For when you mention and pray for daily bread, you pray for everything that is necessary in order to have and enjoy daily bread. On the other hand, you also pray against everything that interferes with it.... <br />
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<a href="http://bookofconcord.org/lc-5-ourfather?setSidebar=min#para74"><span style="color: #598a83;">74]</span></a> There is, indeed, the greatest need to pray for earthly authority and government. By them, most of all, God preserves for us our daily bread and all the comforts of this life. Though we have received from God all good things in abundance, we are not able to keep any of them or use them in security and happiness if He did not give us a permanent and peaceful government. For where there are dissension, strife, and war, there the daily bread is already taken away, or at least hindered.... <br />
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<a href="http://bookofconcord.org/lc-5-ourfather?setSidebar=min#para76"><span style="color: #598a83;">76]</span></a> ... On this topic anyone might indeed make a long prayer. With many words one could list all the things that are included, like when we ask God to ... give wisdom , strength, and success to emperors, kings, and all estates, and especially to the rulers of our country and to all counselors, magistrates, and officers. Then they may govern well and vanquish the Turks and all enemies.... <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="para78"></a><a href="http://bookofconcord.org/lc-5-ourfather?setSidebar=min#para78"><span style="color: #598a83;">78]</span></a> On the other hand, we ask that He would preserve us from all sorts of disaster to body and livelihood, like lightning, hail, fire, flood, poison, plague, cattle disease, war and bloodshed, famine, destructive beasts, wicked men, and so forth...."<br />
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<br />I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-6252655583639052562014-10-12T13:40:00.002-06:002014-10-12T13:40:17.394-06:00Two Questions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kcGLFPGaZX9gcOUwg39TDexeCF_kanzQ_4c_TkPsF3-_eGbnzQ_ob_pHQC46kD5JEvc2pXCRg_7i69-KQ_bpClJcosQjB0-RMf3oOlavf-A10T06KdLmrWzZyiwUpUiQG8Z5nLvdW3Q/s1600/JesusHealsManwithDropsy.Icon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kcGLFPGaZX9gcOUwg39TDexeCF_kanzQ_4c_TkPsF3-_eGbnzQ_ob_pHQC46kD5JEvc2pXCRg_7i69-KQ_bpClJcosQjB0-RMf3oOlavf-A10T06KdLmrWzZyiwUpUiQG8Z5nLvdW3Q/s1600/JesusHealsManwithDropsy.Icon.jpg" height="320" width="195" /></a></div>
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Nice guys finish last. I don’t need to tell you that. You see it and live it every day. <br /><br /> Very likely you’ll go home today and watch a contest or two or three--or even more if you have the NFL package and PIP--where the winner, the guy or t<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show">eam that finishes first, is often the one who can bend and push the rules to the limit; break the rules in such a way as to not get caught; or who simply doesn’t care, figures the officials can’t/won’t catch you every time, and even if they did they’ll become numb to it after a while and won’t want to disturb the flow of the game. <br /><br /> ...You love your spouse and family, your boyfriend or girlfriend, you watch out for and help your buddies and sacrifice for their welfare and one day you find out they are cheating on you or have dumped you. Heck, even at church you look around and feel like you are finishing last while other churches seem to be flourishing. <br /><br /> Maybe being nice, doing what is right, playing by the rules, and living by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God isn’t such a great idea after all. I mean even Jesus broke the rules. Isn't that right in the Gospel lesson we heard today? <br /><br /> To hear the entire sermon preached for the Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity, "Two Questions," click on this link. <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Flcmssermons.com%2Findex.php%3Fsn%3D3909&h=oAQGEkfIN&enc=AZO5DnuTcNjGhHrOw_cFCZawM6Zwge8nxv-jl_YlJtbL0uPugEubNjAh95Tdq6lB0pleQyRwqv5Z5350SXjiF3AYaHh8YBu3NwBM8psId3-3BtUyLu15nOvuXIAi5xU1ddPSPQhOMi8XMFC2U6RsK0kl&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=3909</a><br /><br /> [Graphic: “Jesus Heals a Man with Dropsy,” Church Icon.]</span></div>
</span>I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-63252084576958141262014-10-05T15:20:00.001-06:002014-10-06T09:52:30.379-06:00"What Have You against Me?" <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcaIFmqXSz5pmiZ5ZsvldwqFoqHETg7TMursziue4zg2dvI2VDT6jOlJO06nIFxLqbqD7t31VA_pLsrWlev0xnRxN9HcoLiMCWnOT3uVeJuO3zj9BlavY9DLX56ewIcGDGEL1gK5_qtg/s1600/JesusRaisestheWidowsSon.photobyBPHildesheim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcaIFmqXSz5pmiZ5ZsvldwqFoqHETg7TMursziue4zg2dvI2VDT6jOlJO06nIFxLqbqD7t31VA_pLsrWlev0xnRxN9HcoLiMCWnOT3uVeJuO3zj9BlavY9DLX56ewIcGDGEL1gK5_qtg/s1600/JesusRaisestheWidowsSon.photobyBPHildesheim.jpg" height="320" width="246" /></a></div>
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"After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill. And his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. 18And she said to Elijah, 'What have you against me, O man of God?'" 1 Kings 17:17–18</div>
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"What have you against me?" That is the question of every sinner, born of unbelief.</div>
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...All three of our Scripture lessons today reveal to us how God has visited and continues to visit His people. Perhaps more importantly for us, they reveal *why.* And most importantly of all, they reveal that God is not against us *when* He visits His people.</div>
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To hear the entire sermon preached for the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity, "What Have You against Me?" click on this link. http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=3904</div>
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[Artwork: “Jesus Raises the Widow’s Son,” photo of the Hildesheim Cathedral, built A.D. 1010-1020.] <span class="sewkeuyfjq8hrdl"></span><span class="sewkeuyfjq8hrdl"></span></div>
I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-42549253174098280142014-09-28T22:15:00.002-06:002014-09-28T22:15:50.394-06:00What Does Tomorrow Hold?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8VrkQqcYNQFOgXwi2Wh4wr5xsRSPJYDGcS403LZanM31ZkS9DsqmNKHiBOdZLxqdmRD9cR57rb6mYH_OgBkQLn3XZTfdRhlQjDdsLWMzou80MRJU65CwdAcgOiaYEpBhgUkK4AUu3Q8/s1600/NicolaesMaes.b1634d1693.ElijahandtheWidowofZarephath.oiloncanvas.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8VrkQqcYNQFOgXwi2Wh4wr5xsRSPJYDGcS403LZanM31ZkS9DsqmNKHiBOdZLxqdmRD9cR57rb6mYH_OgBkQLn3XZTfdRhlQjDdsLWMzou80MRJU65CwdAcgOiaYEpBhgUkK4AUu3Q8/s1600/NicolaesMaes.b1634d1693.ElijahandtheWidowofZarephath.oiloncanvas.png" height="320" width="319" /></a></div>
What does tomorrow hold? That’s the question on everybody’s mind that is behind Jesus’ question of His disciples on the mountainside: “Why Are You Anxious? “ <br /><br />This is a powerful and important question our Lord asks His disciples up on the <span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show">mountain. Notice He doesn’t ask “if” the disciples are anxious. He asks them, "Why Are You Anxious?" <br /><br /> It is one He asks every one of His baptized children. "Why Are You Anxious?" And it is one He asks of you, His beloved ones gathered at Trinity today as we approach the close of our congregation at the end of October and the uncertainty that tomorrow holds. "Why Are You Anxious?" <br /><br /> Again, it isn’t a matter of "if," or "whether or not" you have anxiety right at this moment, but when —because it happens to us all, including those closest to the Lord like the disciples to whom He is speaking in our Gospel reading today--"Why Are You Anxious?" <br /><br /> To hear and/or read the entire sermon preached for the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity, "What Does Tomorrow Hold?," click on this link. <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Flcmssermons.com%2Findex.php%3Fsn%3D3901&h=QAQHbUuas&enc=AZO_YGXqzQf8v4oqF8qCr9UNio6BUwtJpSXaD_RDV1QoSeEiI78ft1SlbYWvd-0LrWB5u9xECBzl3gK8qhDIXJXXrwKFmrAAt0QX9NzSlv-8AGZosKIHJWhJMggVulSh3u83UM4kBvB2X3ALaHiQO4_v&s=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=3901</a><br /><br /> [Artwork for today's OT reading: "Elijah & the Widow of Zarephath," oil on canvas by Nicolaes Maes—b.1634, d.1693.]</span>I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-55189333786776408672014-09-21T20:02:00.001-06:002014-09-28T22:14:20.732-06:00“Rise and Go Your Way”TEXT: <a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Luke%2017.19" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #003366;">Luke 17:19</span></a> An [Jesus] said to the [thankful Samaritan leper], “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”<br />
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Dear Baptized and Cleansed Ones of God,<br />
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“Rise and go your way!” This is what the Lord, your God, is telling you every time you hear the words and name by which you were born again from above and into the kingdom of heaven--in the name of the Father ,and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.<br />
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To hear and/or read the entire sermon preached for the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity, "Rise and Go Your Way," click on this link. <a href="http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=3896" rel="nofollow">http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=3896</a>I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-9931919922786701652014-09-15T11:49:00.003-06:002014-09-15T12:33:29.143-06:00“And who is my neighbor?”TEXT: And behold, a lawyer stood up to put [Jesus] to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”<br />
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29But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”<br />
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It’s a great question the lawyer asks, isn’t it? "And Who Is My Neighbor?"<br />
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The simple answer is--yes, you guessed it--Jesus. Ah, but unlike the lawyer, we don’t have Jesus standing right in front of us. Or do we?<br />
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<a href="http://api.ning.com/files/YkTQKvQouuo2jxJUylfao1RIEL9rUew7njIrCKk*oTo2G4Eb9O*NqcaR2C7yt3baQydGNbeexXgSv5-rHVdR5UhyTHw2InXU/GoodSamaritan.jpg" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://api.ning.com/files/YkTQKvQouuo2jxJUylfao1RIEL9rUew7njIrCKk*oTo2G4Eb9O*NqcaR2C7yt3baQydGNbeexXgSv5-rHVdR5UhyTHw2InXU/GoodSamaritan.jpg" width="450" /></a><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Artwork: “Le Bon Samaritain,” by Aimé Morot,1880.]</span></em> </div>
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To hear and/or read the entire sermon preached for the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, "And Who Is My Neighbor?," click on this link. <a href="http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=3886" rel="nofollow">http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=3886</a><br />
<br />I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-36801354576372637082014-09-07T22:10:00.004-06:002014-09-07T22:10:50.369-06:00"Be Opened" <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week the tax collector showed us how the Lord lifts up the lowly and only the lowly. This is the life of Baptism, the life of repentance and forgiveness of sins that is a daily thing by which “the old Adam in us should by daily contrit<span>ion and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge (come forth—be opened up like a butterfly) and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever. As St. Paul writes in Romans, chapter 6: 'We were buried with Him through Baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.'” <br /><br />Now today, as we approach another anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack on our soil, our Gospel not only shows us the healing of one deaf and mute 2000 years ago, but speaks God’s Word to us today so that our sinful Ears, Mouths, Hearts, and even heaven itself “Be opened” to us now.<br /><br /> To hear the entire sermon preached for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, "Be Opened," click on this link. <a href="http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=3879" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0066cc;">http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=3879</span></a></span>I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-60609480127945364522014-08-31T13:34:00.004-06:002014-08-31T13:39:05.392-06:00“God, Be Merciful to Me, a Sinner!”<div style="text-align: left;">
“God, Be Merciful to Me, a Sinner!” is the confession, attitude, and prayer life of the Christian.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatUPtchUqgvbngpmcYdbO_5uCPEWXPPuIAKvAevQTyLPjHkdfd6xoT9i8q2N-1z3sBhG-cdEFxONsCtULa-Jcn_AXq5jxczNPsE8y8v9EvpfD9yo2HTVi6GgYqF8EO7pNA7l3tu-I65o/s1600/Pharisee_and_the_publican.Dore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatUPtchUqgvbngpmcYdbO_5uCPEWXPPuIAKvAevQTyLPjHkdfd6xoT9i8q2N-1z3sBhG-cdEFxONsCtULa-Jcn_AXq5jxczNPsE8y8v9EvpfD9yo2HTVi6GgYqF8EO7pNA7l3tu-I65o/s1600/Pharisee_and_the_publican.Dore.jpg" height="320" width="268" /></a>It’s not much of a slogan, or mission statement. It doesn’t have a lot of pop and sizzle. It’s not going to fill a football stadium or build a television empire. <br />
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But it is the confession, attitude, and prayer life of the Christian and the church of God in Christ Jesus. “God, Be Merciful to Me, a Sinner!” </div>
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...While the world began their long holiday celebration this past week, the Church commemorated the lives of St. Augustine [August 28] and St. Monica [August 27], his mother; as well as the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptizer [August 29]. Each of these are related and help us understand the mercy of our Lord and the working life of the Christian.</div>
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To hear and/or read the entire sermon preached for the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity, “God, Be Merciful to Me, a Sinner!,” click on this link. <a href="http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=3873">http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=3873</a></div>
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I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654856541669836756.post-4432391017020575232014-08-24T14:27:00.002-06:002014-08-24T14:42:12.261-06:00"In Whom There Is Nothing False"<span class="userContent"></span><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_53fa4a741e9fc9d39197720">
<span class="userContent"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapcLy97Z0qBs7qeaT1tQOQ_6ZJAFrS5PHIarzy8bFGYlbdJSWcVc_6sQ1rrZzX5X2Ft2Wj2hz-3Z6obfnczVPzRKrb0M0_yBeAUe7FzsVWoEZ7hVXdqWxOlbnPkMoSEYy3qFGM_KbYJk/s1600/St_+Bartholomew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapcLy97Z0qBs7qeaT1tQOQ_6ZJAFrS5PHIarzy8bFGYlbdJSWcVc_6sQ1rrZzX5X2Ft2Wj2hz-3Z6obfnczVPzRKrb0M0_yBeAUe7FzsVWoEZ7hVXdqWxOlbnPkMoSEYy3qFGM_KbYJk/s1600/St_+Bartholomew.jpg" height="320" width="191" /></a>Church tradition speaks of St. Bartholomew as an evangelist to the peoples of India and Armenia, and report him to have been flayed alive and beheaded, then crucified upside-down for his trouble. Fittingly, Bartholomew is the patron saint o<span class="text_exposed_show">f tanners. <br /><br /> The account of St. Bartholomew being skinned alive is the is often portrayed by artists by posing him with a large knife, holding his own skin—by the face, as in Michelangelo's Last Judgment wherein the artist has turned Bartholomew into a self portrait. One might conclude that Michelangelo aspired to that level of faith and could consider his fresco adorning the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel to be a prayer etched in stone. <br /><br /> And the composite character of Nathanael and Bartholomew of Scripture and Christian tradition gives, along with Michelangelo's rendering of the saint, provides us with a fitting illustration of every Christian... <br /><br /> To hear and/or read the entire sermon preached for St. Bartholomew, Apostle, click on this link. <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Flcmssermons.com%2Findex.php%3Fsn%3D3867&h=vAQFpK3kf&enc=AZNGjPcJUMxPAHuKfHoctYu2RaeFNRg1dyrjZ_D_5qTWltjWSqid-XlECybf_gqG2BKViZQelzwjWXfXk5WuP1uPihRGzjmx1z5g0R9Owk_RdtRra75wXMYYZfv-XZZBkMstFz0UN430oaf1fc-BqL9S&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=3867</a></span></span></div>
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</span><br />I. M. Abaldy IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198500481151915918noreply@blogger.com0