Nasty Deer

The only predator left for the whitetail deer in our area:

Guns would be much better.  Venison sausage would be much better.
Spending time contacting the insurance company and getting repair estimates?  Not so good.

Thankful at least that no one was hurt, the car was not totaled, and that we found a reputable body shop where we can take the car already next week.  (The place that gave us the first estimate told us it would be March 17 or later.)

Matthias

Born Tuesday.
Baptism scheduled not this Sunday, but next.
Mother and baby are both doing fabulously.

Link to "Why I'm Not Eastern Orthodox"

So I can find this article later:
A young man's explanation of differences between Eastern Orthodoxy and Lutheran teaching, and why he decided to remain Lutheran instead of change to EO.

A Blessed Dying to Self

The Lutheran approach to [theosis/divination] is categorically opposite from the way the Orthodox tend to think of it.

This is the process of theosis:  God keeps on taking things away from you, one after the other.  And every time He takes something else away, He says, "You still have Me, and I'm enough."  And the day is going to come when He takes away your breath.  And He's going to say, "But you still have Me, and I'm enough."  And this is theosis.  Not this infinite climbing up, but this finding that having Him really is enough.  He gives Himself fully to you.  And if you have Him, you have everything you need.  And He gives Himself fully to you.  The older you get, the more you get this thing about TakingAway; the sorrows mount.

You live more and more from Him, and less and less from your old Adam.  This is progress in sanctification.

 Pastor Weedon 

at the Redeemer conference, 

at the 5-6 minute mark

Despicable Offerings

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.
A broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.  (Ps 51:17)

Overall, it's not okay to give broken stuff to God.

In Leviticus (chap 22) God tells His people that the animals they sacrifice cannot be lame or ill or damaged.  In Malachi (chap 1) the Lord rips into the priests for defiling the altar with lame and blind sacrifices. 

How different it is with our hearts!  Not only is brokenness acceptable, but being broken is the only acceptable way.




Weedon summarizes Kleinig's book Grace Upon Grace:

God keeps on taking things away from you, one thing after another.  And every time He does, He says, "But you still have Me, and I'm enough."

about 5:20 on the you-tube video