Blessed Easter!

 

Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

I'll post more tomorrow . . . a recap of this Lenten season . . . 

But for today rejoice and rest in the glory of our Saviour!

Did Jacob Ever Find Out?

We've been reading through the narrative of Joseph in Egypt in Morning Prayer and today we heard when Jacob finds out Joseph is still alive. He and all his family will now go to Egypt and live there under Joseph's care.

So I was thinking today, and wondering . . . did Jacob ever find out exactly what happened to Joseph? Did Joseph's brothers finally confess what they had done to their father? Did Joseph throw his brothers under the bus? Jacob must have asked Joseph what happened! How did he get to Egypt? How had he escaped from the beast that bloodied his coat of many colors? What did Joseph say? Throwing his brothers under the bus doesn't seem in character with Joseph, and covering their sin would be in keeping with his Christ-likeness. We're not told if Jacob ever found out. But I'd sure like to know how that conversation went . . .

My Prediction . . .

So the president of my seminary alma mater resigned and they are in the process of selecting a new president. Their website says that 42 people were nominated and 19 let their names stand. Those names are listed there. That list will now be whittled down to 5 or so, and from them the new president will be elected. Frankly, not all are qualified to be president of a seminary, which should eliminate them. Some are good at playing political games, which might include them, but shouldn't. (I'm not going to list those names here!) There are then some who are qualified, but would they do a good job as president? Time will tell. Anyway, here's my prediction for the short list (in alphabetical order), or at least, what I think it should be - we'll see how close I get. :-)

Charles Gieschen, Jamison Hardy, Jeffrey Pulse.

(Name I'd like to include, but am not: Gregory Todd)

Nadab and Abihu

Who? Abi-who?

Glad you asked! Nadab and Abihu were two of the four sons of Aaron, the brother of Moses, in the Old Testament. After the people of Israel came out of Egypt and came to Mount Sinai, God gave them the instructions for the building of the Tabernacle, and the priesthood, and the sacrifices. Aaron and his four sons - along with Eleazar and Ithamar (and their sons after them), were to be the priests.

I was reading about their ordination this morning (all five of them). It took seven full days (Leviticus 10). Then, on the eighth day (that's significant!), when they were to begin their service, Nadab and Abihu decided not to do what God told them to do, not to listen to the Word of God, but do what they wanted. The took their censers and offered "unauthorized fire" before the Lord. And they were consumed by fire. Big deal? It was to God. Don't mess with God's holiness. Their priestly career didn't even last one day! I knew that story; what I did not remember was that it happened so suddenly - on their first full day of priesthood!

It reminded me of Genesis. God created all things in six days, and on the seventh day, He rested. Then, right away (on the eighth day?), we read that Adam and Eve decided to do things their own way, not listen to the Word of God, and ate the forbidden fruit. And God had said, On the day you eat of it, you shall surely die. They did. Not physically (like Nadab and Abihu), but spiritually (a greater death than physical death). Their relationship with God was broken. 

Both happened right away. Sin (and satan!) wastes no time. It reminded me of something GK Chesterton (I think) said: Heterodoxy cannot wait and is always in a hurry; Orthodoxy is patient and waits for the Lord. And, I would add, listens to the Word of God. A good reminder for us, this Lenten season.

Book

I just finished reading this book, Forerunners of the Reformation: The Shape of Late Medieval Thought Illustrated by Key Documents by Heiko Oberman. The thesis of the book is that many of the issues spoken and written during the Reformation had their roots in discussions and disagreements already in the Middle Ages. These were not issues that just popped up out of nowhere. I guess there was a time when that was the prevailing thought among some. In my doctoral studies I realized pretty quickly that was not the case. So this book wasn't surprising to me. However, it was interesting to read what various theologians wrote in the 13-15th centuries in their own words. I especially appreciated the discussion regarding Scripture and Tradition and whether there are two sources of truth or only one; and if only one, the relation of Scripture and Tradition, and the multiplicity of views on that. Johann von Staupitz's chapter was also very interesting. Being Luther's superior in the Augustinian Order, you can clearly see Luther's thoughts in his writing. Not an easy book, but worthwhile for learning more about the background of the Reformation and the undercurrents that influenced events and how folks regarded Luther. 

Virginia State March for Life

According to the Virginia Capitol Police, approximately 3,000 - 3,500 people gathered on the State Capitol grounds in Richmond yesterday for the 6th Virginia State March for Life. The weather was perfect, the crowd energized and friendly, and the planners did a great job! Everything went well and without a hitch. 

Our LCMS contingent met at Grace Lutheran Church in Chester for a pre-march Matins service.

Pastor Douthwaite preaching at Matins.

From there we took a bus up to the Capitol for the rally . . .

. . . and marched through downtown Richmond.

We also met some fellow LCMS-ers who had come with other groups, but saw our signs and came over to meet us!

This year was our first year trying to really organize and encourage Lutherans across the state to come to this march. Hopefully, now we can build on this year and have an even bigger presence next year! Hope you'll be one of them and join us!

Ash Wednesday

Happy Lent! 

Our new 2024 Lenten Life Calendar kicks-off today - check it out! 

And . . 

Only one week until we march again!

Join us!

Click here for more information.