The Day of Pentecost 2023.

  

Bethany Lutheran Church

Springdale, Arkansas

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

The Day of Pentecost, 2023

The melodies are linked in the hymn name. 

The lyrics are linked in the hymn number.

• The melody site is linked here.
• TLH Lyrics are linked on the Bethany Lutheran Hymnal Blog

The Hymn #1         Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty    
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

The Spirit of the Lord filleth the world: Hallelujah!

Let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Psalm. Let God arise; let His enemies be scattered: let them also that hate Him flee before Him.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

O God, who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending to them the light of Thy Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who with Thee and the Holy Ghost liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Thou sendest forth Thy Spirit, they are created: 

and Thou renewest the face of the earth. Hallelujah!

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful: 

and kindle in them the fire of Thy love.

The Gospel 
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn # 224   Luther - Come Holy Ghost, God and Lord 

The Holy Spirit Takes 

From the Father and Son, Teaching Us

The Communion Hymn #227       Come, Holy Ghost, in Love 
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #309       Kingo - O Jesus Blessed Lord

In Our Prayers

• Sarah Buck is undergoing diagnostic tests and treatment. 
• The flowers are in honor and in memory of our soldiers who gave their lives for our country.
• Prayers continue for the Way, Shrader and Cruz families, and for those with metabolic and stress disorders.
• Ten Super Large and ten large KJVs were delivered Saturday to be distributed.

KJV Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

 From Norma A. Boeckler

KJV John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. 25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

Pentecost Monday Text
KJV John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

The Holy Spirit Takes 

From the Father and Son, Teaching Us

KJV John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Before His death, Jesus predicted that He would leave them and give them unlimited expansion of His Kingdom. Because Christianity is world-wide, we take for granted its spread, but this started from the Apostles taking Jesus' Gospel method plus the groups and individual converts from Jesus' own ministry. The wording of many healing miracles suggest to me that those individuals were well known to the early Church.

One trouble people have with early Christian history is the lack of details and history of what the Apostles did. One cause is the ancient artifacts crumbling and disappearing. The other cause is the emphasis upon Jesus' work and teaching, which is so important that our normal concept of the news - even when honestly reported - is overshadowed, as it should be. People become acquainted with the verses and overlook how important a few words can be. 

If there are difficulties, the rationalists dismiss the story. If the story is well known, the rationalists dismiss the story for being too good to be true. 

The Trinity (which the rationalists refuse to acknowledge) is clearly found in this one paragraph. The Father and Son will abide in the believer, because the Spirit has brought the Father and Son to the individual. This explains several things to use, which are vital for the Christian believer.

People know the Father and Son, their true characteristics through the Spirit. That is very concise - this happens through the baptism of babies, plus teaching and preaching to those who are older and already baptized. Every Christian believer has the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit is always active in the Word of God, so we learn about the Father and Son.

Westcott and Hort proved how dangerous it was for them to dabble with the Greek New Testament text. Wescott believed that the whole world would eventually absorb Christ and make everyone part of a universal truth. That is clearly against the Scriptures, which he had a major role in corrupting. Hort, an active fanatic and self-made expert, favored Mary over Jesus and said so. That is a good example of "the Spirit without the Word," someone making "christian" claims without the Scriptures backing up the claims. Tischendorf, Westcott, and Hort gave the world the utterly corrupt Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament of today. All your modern New Testaments are based on the denial of the miraculous, the divine, and faith in Jesus - yea even the Beck Bible and the "Brug" Bible. Everyone who buys an RSV, ESV, or NRSV is paying money to the Drag-Marxist National Council of Churches. So, yes, it does matter.

God promised that He would always preserve His Word, so those who think otherwise despise the Word, no matter how many titles of dignities they have, including the Fuller DMin.

Most importantly, The Father and Son abide in the believer through the work of the Holy Spirit. The simple, basic word "abide" means to remain, not just to stop by. Those who lose their trust and become apathetic about Jesus Christ no longer abide. Because we are fickle and easily distracted, we need to continue in the Word and give God's Word due honor in giving us truth and guiding our way.

24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. 

There is a direct relationship between loving Jesus Christ and keeping (guarding) His sayings. The word for keeping is also used for guarding a prison or guarding a treasure. It is not casual and flippant, temporary and used only when convenient.

Everything from Jesus is from the Father as well. They teach and act in harmony, the Spirit teaching us about this Father/Son relationship.

25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The great puzzle is solved. How can the Fourth Gospels be in harmony with each other. People cannot get a small book done without errors and contradictions. And how can hundreds of predictions in the Old Testament come true in the New Testament? 

The answer has been given time after time, but ignored by the "great and wise." The Spirit helped the Apostles and Paul with the divine message. The Spirit also inspired all other writers of the Bible. Many struggle to make their rationalistic notions fit the Bible, or make the Bible's new editions fit their notions. The Scriptures are eternal. Reliable Bibles give us the confidence to say, "This is the Word  of God."

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 

Peace is not the cause but the result of faith in Jesus Christ. Faith gives us access to God's grace through His Son, and that is the source of peace - God's absolving of our sins because Jesus atoned for them. We strangely turn that around and yell, "Calm down!" at people - which is not calming. Or - "Stop being so nervous" which is equally ineffective. A lot of things make us anxious and worried; dwelling on them does not help. Starting with these Promises from Jesus Christ is always good. What God promises is always good in the long run, even when it looks hopeless at first. 

Loving the Savior is a sure way of leveraging blessings, the ones which really matter. I arranged for 10 more Super Giant KJVs. While I was telling Big John that, he said, "I met a lady..." She has a prison ministry for women? "Yes, I need medium KJVs for her two groups." I said, tentatively, "Two groups?

He tells me the stories of people finally having Bibles they can read with the Large Print. "Now I can read a Bible," he quotes one person saying, his face beaming. 

How can there not be blessings from that?

Exaudi Sunday 2023

 

Bethany Lutheran Church

Springdale, Arkansas

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

 

The Hymn #145              Jesus Refuge of the Weary              

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Hear (Exaudi), O Lord, when I cry with my voice: Hallelujah!

When Thou saidst, Seek ye My face, 

my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek: 

Hide not Thy face from me. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Psalm. The Lord is my Light and my Salvation: 

whom shall I fear?

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

Almighty, everlasting God, make us to have always a devout will toward Thee and to serve Thy Majesty with a pure heart; 

through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. God reigneth over the heathen: 

God sitteth upon the throne of His holiness. Hallelujah!

V. I will not leave you comfortless: 

I go, and I will come again to you, and your heart shall rejoice. 

Hallelujah!

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #523      Why Should Cross and Trial Grieve Me?

Energy of the Word

            

The Communion Hymn #314         Lord Jesus Christ, We Humbly Pray - Henry Eyster Jacobs

The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #370           My Hope Is Built

In Our Prayers

• Dr. Lito Cruz, his wife, daughter, and grandson, Pastor Jim Shrader and his wife Chris, Kermit and Maria Way, Callie and her mother Peggy; those with stress and metabolic disorders.
• Glen and Esther Kotten have returned from the Philippines.

 Graphic by Norma A. Boeckler

1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:  27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. 16:1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.  2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.  3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.  4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

Luther’s Two Sermons for Exaudi

Energy of the Word

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

The Holy Trinity is taught with special clarity in the Gospel of John. Those passages are not only taught to explain the Apostolic Age, but also to guide us in this age, because the end is closer than when we first believed. Note that this verse shows the Holy Spirit coming from the Son and the Father - send and proceed.

Someone was asking about the establishment of the Church of Rome. The history of the Roman Empire clarifies that. When Rome fell to the barbarians in the 400s (AD), the creaky bureaucratic structure fell apart and the clergy filled in. When the Church was involved in the Pelagian controversy in that century, St. Augustine said, in Latin, "Roma locuta, causa finita est. Rome has spoken, the case is closed." 

The visible Christian Church slowly shifted its authority from the Scriptures to a man-made structure - the papacy - with its elaborate structure, bishops, powers, and soldiers. The Biblical words are used today but the emphasis is upon the infallibility of the Pope, the Church of Rome, and everything from the past. ELCA and the LCMS crave the trappings of the papacy, elaborate ceremonies wrapped around false doctrine, incense, and glorious costumes.

Jesus did not say the "Holy Spirit at work through men" but the Holy Spirit at work through the Word of God. The Spirit does not speak of itself, but serves as the advocate for the Father and the Son, which are in harmony with each other. 

My neighbor sent the Jehovah's Witnesses to my door, and the two ladies began to detract from the Holy Trinity. JWs - "Those are the words of the Bible, but I think..." I said, "You start with the words but you do not agree with the meaning of the Bible."

Jesus' farewell sermons are extremely important, because He prepared the Apostles for their work on earth with Jesus at the right hand of God.  In short order they had the Gospels and Letters, which were copied, translated, and also put into lectionary books. No other ancient book was copied so often and translated so quickly, with great precision.

27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

The written New Testament was supplemented at first by the living witnesses of the Apostles and those who saw and heard the risen Christ. Their preaching and martyrdom spread the Gospel in all directions. At all times they were being taught by the Father and the Son, through the Spirit at work in the Word. The Word had the effect of converting people to faith in Jesus Christ or persecuting the believers because of their hardness of heart. 

I can name two Lutheran pastors who taught Church Growth with fanaticism and then became loud, proud atheists. That happens when people listen to the Father Below, especially clergy.

16:1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.  2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

The verb offended is not translated well in modern English. The skandalon in Greek is the trigger of the trap, which releases it with fatal results. Jesus has prepared the Apostles so they do not find these hardships the reason to stop believing in the Good Shepherd. . A modern version is, "I prayed to God to keep this from happening, and He did not answer my prayer." Lacking what Jesus taught about prayer and no longer trusting in Him, those persons have sprung the trap - and they often brag about losing their faith because of one thing that did not turn out well for them.

In fact, many Christians were persecuted and killed, so the Gospel spread even faster because of hostility, anger, and imprisonment. Paul was imprisoned and held for a long time, ending in execution, but that did not stop the spread of Christianity. England was Christian long before the Norman Invasion (1066 AD, William the Conqueror defeated Harold the Unready). 

There has always been persecution, and yet that has continued to spread the Christian Faith.

3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

Having no faith triggers hatred and vengeance, and that is especially true when people have fallen away from belief in the Father and the Son.

People have proven that all the outward appearances do not accomplish much. Jesus has no teaching about those things, much of it established in the Old Testament. But those were all focused on the future Gospel. The Passover Meal is filled with references to the future Lord's Supper and to Jesus Christ. 

One church was going to be built by a famous architect, Alden Dow. It was going to be a real gem, though small, a first unit. They were still talking about it years later, because it got too expensive to build and they replaced it with an inexpensive building, which is no longer a church at all. I recently visited it with Google Earth.

4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

The preparation is easily found, starting with John 10. Those chapters are what we really need to know as the completion of the first three Gospels. We would be lost without them, which is why the apostates, Unitarians, and Rome wannabees are so confused. They either reject the plain truth or they cover every important thing up with their ornate and elaborate schemes to develop a new gospel they like: self-centered apostates, man-centered Unitarians, Rome-centered bureaucrats.

In an age where everyone worries about energy, the truest energy is the efficacy of the Word. If the car will not start, it is often the energy lacking in the battery - or the gas tank run out of gas. All the gadgets in the world will not make up for lack of energy (en-ergos, efficacy) in the car.

The Bible is packed with energy that is not used or even imagined. As a joke I used to complain that the Petroleum Princess moved away from the richest source of energy in the world, Williston. Some thought it would never be used, due to various difficulties, but one person risked his money and began the operations.

Luther:

Besides, God desires to have his name praised and his kingdom developed and extended. Therefore, we must praise his name, confess our faith and win others to do the same, so that God’s kingdom may be extended and his name praised.

2. Thus, faith must be exercised, worked and polished; be purified by fire, like gold. Faith, the great gift and treasure from God, must express itself and triumph in the certainty that it is right before God and man, and before angels, devils and the whole world. Just as a jewel is not to be concealed, but to be worn in sight, so also, will and must faith be worn and exhibited, as it is written in 1 Peter 1:7: “That the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire,” etc.

The efficacy (energy) in the Word moves us to see the world and the next life as God's will and work.

Ascension 2023

 Bethany Lutheran Church

Springdale, Arkansas

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

The melody is linked to the name of the hymn.
The lyrics are linked to the Bethany Lutheran Hymnal page.

The Hymn #212        A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing  

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? 

Hallelujah!

This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven: 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Psalm. Oh, clap your hands, all ye people: shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to have ascended into the heavens, 

so may we may also in heart and mind thither ascend and 

with Him continually dwell; who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual    Acts 1:1-11

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. God is gone up with a shout: 

the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Hallelujah!

V. Thou hast ascended on high: 

Thou hast led captivity captive. Hallelujah!

The Gospel                        Mark 16:14-20

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #656       Behold a Host 

Three Times - Ascended into Heaven

The Hymn #341       Crown Him with Many Crowns       

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #294            O Word of God 

In Our Prayers

• Pastor Jim Schrader and  his wife Chris, Kermit and Maria Way, Callie and her mother Peggy, and others facing stress and metabolic disorders.
• Our duly elected President and the military.
• The Columbus Lutheran journals are greatly appreciated by readers - thanks to Alec Satin, the Lutheran Librarian.

 

The Ending of Luke's Gospel

KJV Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. 50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

[The ending of Luke fits with the opening of Acts, which Luke also wrote. Luke's two contributions comprise 25% of the New Testament.]

KJV Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

The Gospel for the Ascension

KJV Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Ascension Prayer

O Jesus Christ, Thou almighty Son of God, who art no longer in humiliation here on earth, but sittest at the right hand of Thy Father, Lord over all things: We beseech Thee, send us Thy Holy Spirit; give Thy Church pious pastors, preserve Thy word, control and restrain the devil and all who would oppress us: mightily uphold Thy kingdom, until all Thine enemies shall have been put under Thy feet, that we may hold the victory over sin, death, and the devil, through Thee, who livest and reignest with God the Father and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Three Times - Ascended into Heaven

KJV Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

Some may think there is but one description of the Ascension. Seldom is the passage mentioned from the Gospel of Luke's ending. And there is one more - the ending of the Gospel of Mark, Mark 16:19, just one verse!

That adds up and it is very important, which is clear from the neglect of this sacred event. Christ ascending to Heaven is just as important as His Virgin Birth, but people have taken away the wonder, the miraculous and said, "Hardly anyone attends an Ascension Day service."

Note how this has become unimportant to so many. Those who doubt the Bible, as transmitted in hundreds of languages, have dismissed the ending of Mark - or questioned it, since scholars are divided. The same type ignores the Virgin Birth of Christ because they deny miracles, especially God becoming man. In addition, because they find the Incarnation a problem, they dismiss the Ascension as well.

These attitudes add up to people ignoring the significance of the Ascension of Our Lord.

Acts 1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Note what Abraham Malherbe, a Biblical genius, said in class at Yale Divinity. Paraphrased - "Everyone in academics makes fun of the Acts of the Apostles, but when they publish their histories of the New Testament, what do they use as the dates of the Apostolic Era? The Acts of the Apostes!"

That is extremely important in writing history - having an anchor date which establishes all other dates. One cannot have it both ways - publishing precise dates and denying the truth revealed in those dates. As Christina said to the Harvard trained New Testament teacher (who denied the Resurrection) "How can you distribute communion when you deny the Resurrection in class?"

All these events, going back to Creation itself, are revealed and in harmony as the truth - and they build our confidence, our faith in Jesus Christ.

A quotation from Luther explains how all this works, and it pertains to those going through a very challenging time with illness and episodes very difficult understand and address. This is based upon Isaiah 30:19 and Psalm 118, Day by Day We Magnify Thee.

The disciples were broken and crushed by that same experience Luther describes, so terrible and engulfing that they could only continue by God's help. My wife and I had that experience once, with Bethany, and experienced it all over again with Erin Joy. Everything seemed so different with Erin, so many reasons to say, "It can't happen again." Then the medical warnings and hints began, even in our denials, hopes, confusion, fears. I prayed for it not to be true and prayed many times over, "If the same thing is happening to Erin, help me be a good father and pastor."

We tried our best to enjoy every minute of Erin's life, and that is why I was always happy to pray for children with difficult disorders, rare problems, long and stretched out times of medical and emotional battles. We met many of those invisible - but suddenly visible - people who were experiencing the same things. We were all shut out of normal life in a polite and reasonable way, but shut out, and we had one great tent where everyone with similar agonies could speak candidly and say, "We love this heaven sent child." In that tent we met those who also had unique and complicated problems - and there was no cure.

6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

Isn't that the Big Question? The question we cannot hear answered is the ultimate puzzle - from God the Father. 

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 

The answers of today's life cannot be revealed, so we are left with faith in God the Father, God the Son, the truths revealed through God the Holy Spirit.