tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69680942024-03-07T12:25:19.164-08:00Larry DevichSola Gratia, Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura<br>
Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone
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1 Corinthians 2:2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
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Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.comBlogger602125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-5851534078482719602007-08-27T15:44:00.000-07:002007-08-27T15:47:12.046-07:00Last Post Here - Next post at "The Angry Gnome"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.devich.org/uploaded_images/angry-gnome-703633.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.devich.org/uploaded_images/angry-gnome-703626.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This will be my last post on this blog. I'm moving my blog over to <a href="http://larry-devich.blogspot.com/">The Angry Gnome</a> for various reasons. So if you want to read what I'm writing now go there!Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-70957466085009868672007-08-22T20:55:00.000-07:002007-08-22T21:04:10.807-07:00What is with that "Facebook" thing?OK, so I have a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/">Facebook</a> account? So what? I suppose if I was a social type who had dozens of friends who all were on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/">Facebook</a> it might make sense, but the truth is I can barely read the tiny font they use, it's not very intuitive and I will probably never use it again :-) Except I know this one guy who is using it who will probably force me to mess with it constantly by sending me messages on it. Or, if I'm lucky, maybe not!<br /><br />My objection is that it seems pretty confined and controlled, you have to use their methods for everything, it's all "form based" and I'm more a free form sort of guy I guess. Or so it seems to me at the moment.<br /><br />It could just be I'm too technologically challenged, or it could be that it's really geared for a younger generation, or both probably.Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-7302713213313900312007-08-22T20:45:00.000-07:002007-08-22T20:49:59.037-07:00Golden Gate Renaissance Faire<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.devich.org/uploaded_images/masks-761936.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.devich.org/uploaded_images/masks-761934.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#000000;">Lora, Serenity and me are all going on Saturday, I don't know if Mike will be going or not though.<br /><br />Brave knights clad in shining armor thundering down the list on their spectacular horses at ferocious speeds trying to knock one another off. Stilt walkers, jugglers, fire- eaters and jesters perform over-the-top stunts. Swordsmen expertly wield their weapons in the daily sword tournaments. A court of justice dispenses punishment to children who did not mind their parents and husbands or wives who did not express their love enough times. Mud diving peasants kissing the feet of passing by patrons who happen to take the moment to peruse the scene. Two courts battling for power and prestige, Nobles in incredible, colorful garments of golds, silks, and velvet. The fourth annual Golden Gate Renaissance Faire, in San Francisco, CA., held August 25-26th is the ultimate Renaissance bash, a lively Dionysian party, where the guests enjoy turkey legs, exotic food, and drink as they banter with the myriad performers filling the streets. The event sports one-of-a-kind shows, music, and comedy.<br /><br /><br /></span>Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-41317588867281466372007-08-22T13:42:00.000-07:002007-08-22T13:47:15.120-07:00Modern Cosmology: Science or Folktale?This story in American Scientist is fascinating. It illustrates the uncertain nature of much that I had once accepted as "Scientific Fact" such as "The Big Bang." What I had thought was established fact turns out to be weak speculation! For me in my current phase of trying to fit what I "know" of science with God's word this is actually pretty good news :-)Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-52656800309918925762007-08-22T09:40:00.000-07:002007-08-22T09:52:12.629-07:00Sequoia ParkSerenity and I went to Sequoia National Park last week. I went and picked up an inexpensive digital camera before we left and will be posting photos soon.<br /><br />Here is one from Crystal cave with Serenity and her camp-friend Nicole.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.devich.org/uploaded_images/Kings-Canyon-August-2007-120-791026.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.devich.org/uploaded_images/Kings-Canyon-August-2007-120-790312.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />More later...<br /><br />Also, I got roped into a Facebook account by a friend, I'm not even sure what the point of that sort of thing really is. I suppose if all of your family and friends were on it then it might make a certain amount of sense, but most people I know are only marginally aware of the existence of Facebook. In fact, although I have an account there I am not sure why :-)Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-29392956731478336142007-08-10T08:40:00.000-07:002007-08-10T08:55:10.932-07:00Happy Saint Larry's Day!Today is the traditional commemoration of Saint Larry...<br /><br /><h3><em>Laurence, Deacon and Martyr</em></h3> <p><em>Early in the third century A.D., Laurence, most likely born in Spain, made his way to Rome. There he was appointed chief of the seven deacons and was given the responsibility to manage church property and finances. The emperor at the time, who thought that the church had valuable things worth confiscating, ordered Laurence to produce the "treasures of the church." Laurence brought before the emperor the poor whose lives had been touched by Christian charity. He was then jailed and eventually executed in the year 258 by being roasted on a gridiron. His martyrdom left a deep impression on the young church. Almost immediately, the date of His death, 10 August, became a permanent fixture on the early commemorative calendar of the church.</em> <span style="font-size: 9pt;">[From "<a class="" href="http://www.lcms.org/?3779%20">Commemorations Biographies</a>," <em>Lutheran Service Book,</em> LCMS Commission on Worship]</span></p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />I am on vacation now. I'm taking a weeks vacation because Serenity's day care is on vacation next week so it seemed best that I take the time off as well. Yesterday we did nothing at all to speak of. Laundry, grocery shopping (I'm going back to my preferred diet, vegetarian) and Serenity practiced riding her bike without training wheels a bit. <br /><br />Today we will be going to <a href="http://shopping.escrip.com/cgi/go.plx?cl=1&clpid=5400&clmid=3198&cluid=46106cd513b7&clbid=">Six Flags -Discovery Kingdom</a> up in Vallejo, used to be Marine World. We went last week as well, it was a blast! We got 6 visit passes because they cost the same amount as the single visit tickets. There are lots of animal exhibits and shows and dozens of rides for the little kids and for Lora there are monster roller coasters. Weather is supposed to be in the upper 70s there today so I'm looking forward to a pleasant day.<br /><br />On Monday I plan to take Serenity up to <a href="http://www.nps.gov/seki/">Kings Canyon</a> to camp for a few days, we'll see the Giant Sequoias and probably visit <a href="http://www.sequoiahistory.org/cave/cave.htm">Crystal Cave</a> as well. <br /><br />Sadly there will be no photos of any of this since my camera was stolen and I have decided not to replace it until I can afford a good <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_single_lens_reflex_cameras">DSLR</a> with multiple lenses...<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-12718818824675670262007-08-06T04:57:00.000-07:002007-08-06T04:58:45.224-07:00True terrorism<span style="font-family: times new roman;font-family: times new roman, times, sans serif;font-size:100%;" ><strong>ON THIS DAY</strong></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">, </span></span><span style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman, times, sans serif;font-size:100%;" >Aug. 6, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, that instantly killed an estimated 66,000 people in the first use of a nuclear weapon in warfare.</span>Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-3873258038908363652007-08-01T08:20:00.000-07:002007-08-01T08:35:04.608-07:00The Holy SpiritI was reading this morning and when I came across this passage I had a bit of an epiphany,<br /><p>"<i><span lang="en-us">In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,</span> <span lang="en-us">so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.</span> <span lang="en-us">In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,</span> <span lang="en-us">who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.</span> </i>" (Ephesians 1:11-14, ESV)</p> <div style=""> <div id="ftnCitation" style=""> <p style="margin: 0in;"><a title="" style="" href="#_ftnrefCitation" name="_ftnCitation"><sup><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--></span></sup></a><i>The Holy Bible : English standard version.</i> 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.</p><br />The epiphany that I had was in regard to the meaning of being "sealed with the promised Holy Spirit." I pondered that for a long time, trying to imagine just what that "seal" might look like. Was it some feeling of assurance one got? Maybe it was speaking in tongues? But then it came to me that it was nothing other than the very presence of faith in my heart at all! Faith is not our own work but is given to us through or by the Holy Spirit, thus the seal is the fact that we have faith. If we have faith, we know we have the Holy Spirit. :-)<br /><p style="margin: 0in;">Or at least that is how I see it.<br /></p></div></div>Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-105284245123138202007-07-28T07:57:00.000-07:002007-07-28T07:58:16.795-07:00<h3><em>Johann Sebastian Bach, Kantor</em></h3> <p><em>Johann Sebastian Bach (1685<span style="font-family: arial;">-</span>1750) is acknowledged as one of the most famous and gifted of all composers past and present in the entire western world. Orphaned at the age of ten, Bach was mostly self-taught in music. His professional life as conductor, performer, composer, teacher and organ consultant began at the age of nineteen in the town of Arnstadt and ended in Leipzig, where for the last twenty-seven years of his life he was responsible for all the music in the city's four Lutheran churches. In addition to his being a superb keyboard artist, the genius and bulk of Bach's vocal and instrumental compositions remain overwhelming. A devout and devoted Lutheran, he is especially honored in Christendom for his lifelong insistence that his music was written primarily for the liturgical life of the church to glorify God and edify his people.</em> <span style="font-size: 9pt;">[From "<a class="" href="http://www.lcms.org/?11034">Commemorations Biographies</a>," <em>Lutheran Service Book,</em> LCMS Commission on Worship]</span></p>Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-90696413309344852322007-07-27T09:13:00.000-07:002007-07-27T09:31:11.561-07:00Sophie Scholl - Die letzten TageLast night I watched "Sophie Scholl - Die letzten Tage". It is a movie about the last days of a young woman in Nazi Germany who had the courage to stand up against the regime there and try to convince her fellow Germans that Hitler was leading them into destruction. I had heard of Sophie Scholl some months ago and wanted to see this movie and this was the first chance I had to get the DVD. The movie was quite well done, even though you know from the start that they are going to be executed you are able to feel their terror and admire their defiance. It is good to know that there were at least a few Germans who had the courage to oppose evil back then.<br /><br />While the current American Empire is not nearly so brutal as the Nazi regime it is still engaged in evil wars of conquest. It is good to know now that, like Sophie Scholl in 1943, there are those today like <a href="http://www.thankyoult.org/">1st Lt. Ehren Watada</a> who are standing up to the current evil regime of the American Empire. Lieutenant Watada is not likely to be executed but he could end up in prison for refusing to fight in an illegal and immoral war.Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-57014800350613449172007-07-23T07:56:00.000-07:002007-07-23T08:01:51.039-07:00Harry PotterOver the weekend I did a Harry Potter marathon of sorts :-) <br /><br />On Friday night at midnight I was at Borders and had my copy of the new Harry Potter book by 12:05, number 15 in line. I started reading it when I got home and finished it Sunday night at about 11:45, less than 48 hours after picking it up. Also on Sunday night I went and watched the new Potter movie for the second time :-) <br /><br />The movie was pretty good, better without the 6 year old squirming next to me, I saw more of it this time. ;-/<br /><br />The book is great, I am very pleased with the way she wraped things up, very well done in my opinion.Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-86432549358632491572007-07-14T22:13:00.000-07:002007-07-14T22:24:39.861-07:00My cousin Debbie stopped by with her daughter Mary this evening, they are out in the Bay Area from New York. We went over to <a href="http://www.beststeakinthewest.com/">Cattlemen's Restaurant </a>for dinner, good food as always. I took along my camera and had the waitress take a picture of our group, Mike, me, Lora, Serenity, Debbie and Mary. You will notice there is not a photo here though. That is because I left the camera at the table when we left. That made this a very expensive dinner, a $700 camera down the tubes. I called back to ask if it had been found and they said no one saw it, yeah, right. Since I have no proof I can't make any accusations, suffice it to say I just won't be back to <a href="http://www.beststeakinthewest.com/">Cattlemen's again. </a><br /><br />Personally I think they ought to change the name to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highwayman">"Highwayman's"</a> instead.<br /><br />I'm bummed. I like taking pictures, it's my main hobby. Of course I tend to look at this as an opportunity to get an even better camera :-) It will be some months before I can afford to do it but I'll take the opportunity to do some research and get one I really want. All will be well, God is in control, I'm certainly not!Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-87821472853239698962007-07-14T09:10:00.000-07:002007-07-14T09:11:28.198-07:00<span lang="EN-US">Thus you see how rich a Christian is, that is, one who has been baptized! Even if he would, he could not lose his salvation, however much he sinned, unless he refused to believe. For no sin can condemn him save unbelief alone. All other sins, so long as the faith in God’s promise made in baptism returns or remains, are immediately blotted out through that same faith, or rather through the truth of God, because he cannot deny himself if you confess </span><span lang="EN-US">him and faithfully cling to him in his promise.<br /><br /></span><a style="" href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span style="vertical-align: super;"><span style=""></span></span></a> <div style=""> <div style="" id="ftn1"><div style="margin: 0in;"><a style="" href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span style="vertical-align: super;"><span style=""></span></span></a><span id="__spanCitationData">Luther, M. (1999, c1959). <i>Vol. 36</i>: <i>Luther's works, vol. 36 : Word and Sacrament II</i> (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, Ed.). Luther's Works. Philadelphia: Fortress Press.</span></div></div></div>Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-62896162045441744272007-07-05T06:12:00.000-07:002007-07-05T06:23:32.994-07:00The Fourth of JulyYesterday, on the 4th of July, Lora, Serenity and I all went and saw <a href="http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&cf=info&id=1808490293">Ratatouille</a>. One of the better animated films of the year I think, very enjoyable. Then Serenity and I had some Pizza at a local by the slice place near the theater.<br /><br />We tried to go to <a href="http://www.ebparks.org/parks/shadow_cliffs">Shadow Cliffs</a> lake for a swim because it was about 100 degrees by then, but the place was so full you couldn't get near it to park. <br /><br />Serenity suggested we go to the <a href="http://www.ci.dublin.ca.us/DepartmentSub.cfm?PL=Rec&SL=swim">Dublin Pool </a>so that is what we did, it was not nearly so crowded as the lake!<br /><br />In the evening we all went to the San Ramon fireworks show, it was a lot of fun and Serenity met a nice little girl she played with for hours there named Anya, or Onya... not sure of the spelling :-) In any case that was our day, fun and hot and long.Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-34960735686475281832007-07-02T06:23:00.000-07:002007-07-02T06:43:27.238-07:00At the county fair...Lora is the red dot at the top near the sun :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.devich.org/uploaded_images/Fair-2007-005-780545.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.devich.org/uploaded_images/Fair-2007-005-779781.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Serenity made friends with the bike riding balloon artist...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.devich.org/uploaded_images/Fair-2007-037-774009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.devich.org/uploaded_images/Fair-2007-037-773344.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Then Serenity was able to meet one of the rarest dogs in the world, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Guinea_Singing_Dog">New Guinea Singing Dog</a>, there are just over 100 of these wild dogs left in the world. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.devich.org/uploaded_images/Fair-2007-135-786453.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.devich.org/uploaded_images/Fair-2007-135-785863.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-16781502484809176142007-07-01T10:49:00.000-07:002007-07-01T11:32:23.902-07:00Today I am off of work, even though it is Sunday. This is both a good thing and, quite probably, a harbinger of things to come. I have known for a long time that there are several people on the Homeowners Board who want to save money by cutting my hours, it seems they have taken Pat's current vacation as an opportunity to test out the idea.<br /><br />My initial reaction was anger, but that didn't last very long. I have decided to leave it in the hands of the Lord instead. He will most certainly provide for me and mine. In fact just this morning as I was reading my normal readings, not looking for any such comfort but finding it given to me out of the blue:<br /><br /><h5>Matthew 6:25-34<br /></h5><h5>Do Not Be Anxious</h5><span class="sup" id="en-ESV-23305">25</span><span style="color:red;">"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?</span> <span class="sup" id="en-ESV-23306">26</span><span style="color:red;">Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?</span> <span class="sup" id="en-ESV-23307">27</span><span style="color:red;">And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?<sup>[<a title="See footnote g" href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206&version=47#fen-ESV-23307g">g</a>]</sup></span> <span class="sup" id="en-ESV-23308">28</span><span style="color:red;">And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,</span> <span class="sup" id="en-ESV-23309">29</span><span style="color:red;">yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.</span> <span class="sup" id="en-ESV-23310">30</span><span style="color:red;">But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?</span> <span class="sup" id="en-ESV-23311">31</span><span style="color:red;">Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'</span> <span class="sup" id="en-ESV-23312">32</span><span style="color:red;">For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.</span> <span class="sup" id="en-ESV-23313">33</span><span style="color:red;">But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.</span> <p><span class="sup" id="en-ESV-23314">34</span><span style="color:red;">"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.</span> </p>Clearly I have nothing to worry about. If my hours are reduced and I no longer must work on Sunday's, why this could be the will of God, that I look to him for help and that I join with the congregation on Sunday mornings. If it doesn't happen, well so be it. Either way I know that God is in control of everything that happens. I could always get a second job on Thursday, Friday and Saturday if worst came to worst. Or a new job altogether for that matter. Heck, if I were to be let go I could get unemployment for a while during my job search, that would be all right with me too. :-) Whatever happens I'm not worried about, though there is just a bit of tension in my neck at the moment, but I'll let the Lord have that as well ;-)<br /><br />Today we are all going to the <a href="http://www.alamedacountyfair.com/fair/">Alameda County Fair</a>. I'll post about that later tonight, if I have the energy. Next Sunday, which I have off as well under the new vacation schedule, is the Church BBQ, which I will be able to attend this time, I can see this as a good thing really, a really good thing!Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-53406682148237080932007-06-27T08:09:00.001-07:002007-06-27T08:09:25.333-07:00<h1 align="center">June 27</h1> <h3><a class="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyril_of_Alexandria"><em>Cyril of Alexandria</em></a><em>, Pastor and Confessor</em></h3> <p><em>Cyril (ca. A.D. 376<span style="font-family: arial;">-</span>444) became archbishop of Alexandria, Egypt, in 412. Throughout his career he defended a number of orthodox doctrines, among them the teaching that Mary, the mother of Jesus, is "rightly called and truly is the Mother of God"--Theotokos, "the God-bearer" (Formula of Concord, VIII, Ep VIII, 12). In 431 the Council of Ephesus affirmed this teaching that the Son of Mary is also true God. The writings of Cyril on the doctrines of the Trinity and the person of Christ reveal him to be one of the most able theologians of his time. Cyril's Christology influenced subsequent church councils and was a primary source for Lutheran confessional writings.</em> <span style="font-size: 9pt;">[From "<a class="" href="http://www.lcms.org/?3778%20">Commemorations Biographies</a>," <em>Lutheran Service Book</em>, LCMS Commission on Worship]</span></p>Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-11991649806757163962007-06-25T04:52:00.001-07:002007-06-25T04:58:38.921-07:00<h3 style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>The Presentation of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augsburg_Confession">Augsburg Confession</a></em></span></h3> <p><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>The Augsburg Confession, the principal doctrinal statement of the theology of Martin Luther and the Lutheran reformers, was written largely by Phillip Melanchthon. At its heart it confesses the justification of sinners by grace alone, through faith alone, for the sake of Christ alone. Signed by leaders of many German cities and regions, the confession was formally presented to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at Augsburg, Germany, on June 25, 1530. A few weeks later Roman Catholic authorities rejected the Confession, which Melanchthon defended in the Apology of the Augsburg Confession (1531). In 1580 the Unaltered Augsburg Confession was included in the Book of Concord.</em></span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >[From "<a class="" href="http://www.lcms.org/?3778%20">Commemorations Biographies</a>," <em>Lutheran Service Book</em>, LCMS Commission on Worship]</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">You can read the </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.bookofconcord.org/augsburgconfession.html">Augsburg Confession here.</a><br /></span></p>Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-35197372523500902392007-06-24T06:17:00.000-07:002007-06-24T06:19:38.801-07:00Proverbs 24:11-12<span style="font-style: italic;" id="en-ESV-17091" class="sup">11</span><span style="font-style: italic;">Rescue those who are being taken away to death;</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;" id="en-ESV-17092" class="sup">12</span><span style="font-style: italic;">If you say, "Behold, we did not know this,"</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> and will he not repay man according to his work?<br /><br /></span>I think this might be applied to our sharing the gospel with the lost.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-21831121722315410942007-06-23T22:12:00.000-07:002007-06-23T22:22:07.051-07:00Saturday night...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.devich.org/uploaded_images/Fireworks-012-789925.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.devich.org/uploaded_images/Fireworks-012-789336.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here it is, Saturday night and I had just gotten Serenity quiet and in bed at around 9:30. At 9:45 this is what was outside of my bedroom window! Needless to say Serenity was soon out of bed :-) We watched from the back yard and then from inside the house where it was more comfortable. I wish I'd known it was coming, I wouldn't have wasted the effort getting her all calm and comfy in bed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.devich.org/uploaded_images/Fireworks-003-761227.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.devich.org/uploaded_images/Fireworks-003-760660.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-49347485592225170562007-06-23T06:45:00.000-07:002007-06-23T07:02:53.577-07:00Vegetarian Lions and Steak in Heaven<p>"<i><span lang="en-us">So God created man in his own image,</span> <span lang="en-us">in the image of God he created him;</span> <span lang="en-us">male and female he created them.</span> <span lang="en-us">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 lang="en-us">And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.</span> <span lang="en-us"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 255, 51);">And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” </span> And it was so.</span> <span lang="en-us">And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.</span> </i>" (Genesis 1:27-31, ESV) </p><a style="" href="#_ftnCitation" name="_ftnrefCitation"><sup><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--></span></sup></a><div style=""><div id="ftnCitation" style=""><br /><p style="margin: 0in;">So when God first created the animals they were all vegetarians. I wonder what a vegetarian Lion would be like? Or a vegetarian crocodile? Did their teeth change after the fall? After all, when you look at a carnivore today they don't look to be suited for chomping vegetation. How very strange to imagine that the original intent was for the lion and the lamb to lie down together, as they will in the new earth...</p><br /><p>"<i><span lang="en-us">The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,</span> <span lang="en-us">and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,</span> <span lang="en-us">and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;</span> <span lang="en-us">and a little child shall lead them.</span> <span lang="en-us">The cow and the bear shall graze;</span> <span lang="en-us">their young shall lie down together;</span> <span lang="en-us">and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.</span> <span lang="en-us">The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,</span> <span lang="en-us">and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den.</span> <span lang="en-us">They shall not hurt or destroy</span> <span lang="en-us">in all my holy mountain;</span> <span lang="en-us">for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord</span> <span lang="en-us">as the waters cover the sea.</span></i>" (Isaiah 11:6-9, ESV) </p><a style="" href="#_ftnCitation" name="_ftnrefCitation"><sup><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--></span></sup></a><div style=""><div id="ftnCitation" style=""><br /><p style="margin: 0in;">Which means, I suppose, that there will be no steak dinners in heaven! That's no big deal to me since I'm not much of a carnivore, but I'm sure there are others who will find this idea distressing :-)<br /></p></div></div></div></div>Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-48549065685761557162007-06-12T07:40:00.000-07:002007-06-12T07:59:45.311-07:00So yesterday I said, "I'm not going to rant today" and then ranted away anyway :-/ Sorry about that. I do think that what I said about government in general is true, that we are enjoined to obey it by the command of God but that because it is violent and corrupt we are wise to avoid being involved in it personally. To be consistent I will try my best to refrain from commenting on what government does since I'm unwilling to engage in conflict with it. If I were not a Christian I would be an anarchist and would strive to<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> destroy</span> the government. Since I<span style="font-style: italic;"> am </span>a Christian I will keep silent toward it and obey and pray.Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-39487695522529684112007-06-12T04:36:00.000-07:002007-06-12T04:46:00.421-07:00<span id="en-ESV-16721" class="sup">Proverbs 12:1 </span>Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,<br /> but he who hates reproof is stupid. (ESV)<br /><br /><span id="en-ESV-26660" class="sup">John 14:6 </span>Jesus said to him, <span style="color:red;">"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">(ESV)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The world hates Jesus, and Christians, because of this <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">exclusive</span> claim. If you do not come to the Father through Jesus Christ, you cannot come to Him at all and are damned forever.</span><br /></span>Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-48918613445886418672007-06-11T16:38:00.000-07:002007-06-11T16:47:19.538-07:00Bush and AlbaniaI didn't think it was possible but my opinion of the Shrub has sunk to a new low.<br /><br />The vile evil Emperor Shrub, in alliance with the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/121818.stm">Terrorist KLA</a>, has declared that <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20070610-0949-bush.html">the American Empire will help them to steal Kosovo from Serbia</a>. What a jerk and a joke. The Albanians will hold on to Kosovo only so long as the Evil American Empire holds it for them. As soon as the American Empire collapses, and it most certainly will, the Serbs will wipe out the Albanians and take back Kosovo. <br /><br />Gee, I didn't want to rant today but Emperor Shrub is just too evil and stupid to be ignored.Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968094.post-14941596165032126942007-06-11T07:43:00.001-07:002007-06-11T08:09:27.893-07:00<span id="en-ESV-26650" class="sup"></span><span style="color:red;">"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.</span> <span id="en-ESV-26651" class="sup"></span><span style="color:red;">By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."<br /></span>John 13:<span id="en-ESV-26650" class="sup">34-35 (ESV)<br /><br />This is posted because I was about to start a little anti-government rant and decided instead to look at what I read at 4:45 am today instead. So there we have it, love, not rant. :-)<br /><br />Now, my rant was to be about the idea I had of calling my Senators today to ask them to support an <a href="http://www.savenetradio.org/">Internet Radio</a> bill that would preserve Internet Radio in the face of a new regulation implemented by the government that would destroy independent net broadcasters and return control of the music to giant corporations exclusively. <br /><br />I was going to call them, but it made me feel dirty just to contemplate it. In my mind government remains an evil thing and to participate in it is simply wrong. This in spite of the Lutheran teachings on the <a href="http://concordia.typepad.com/vocation/2006/12/goodbye_utopia_.html">"Two Kingdoms" </a>that I would<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> like</span> to believe, but that I honestly do not. I don't find the arguments there to be compelling at all. <br /><br />I believe that we must <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">obey </span>governments of course, but it seems to me that we ought to avoid touching them as much as possible because they are little more than naked violence at heart. <br /></span>Larry Devichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671152672813458918noreply@blogger.com0