Exploring Luther's Theology

Luther's famous words: "In ipsa fide Christus adest." Literally, "the faith itself Christ is present". The faith not only has Christ's work as its object, but in the faith Christ is present. Christ is not only "outside" of us, but comes "in" us. Through faith, Christ lives in the human being. From Interview with the theologian Eero Huovinen, Lutheran Bishop of Helsinki by Niels Christian Hvidt and Gianni Valente.)

Amen!

Favorite Quotes

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.

Prayer

"A prayer life is a life that revolts against our natural being" fellowship concerning the urgent need of the vital groups, ch11

Letting Luther Speak

Letting Luther Speak The April 2007 A&C reviewed a recently translated book by Tuoma Mannermaa (University of Helsinki),  "Christ Present in Faith: Luther's View of Justification." Very insightful. 

Wrong photo attached to caption below, but also related to Luther. Here is a quote from A&C. 

Micah 5:2

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, / So little to be among the thousands of Judah, / From you there will come forth to Me / He who is to be Ruler in Israel; / And His goings forth are from ancient times, / From the days of eternity.)

This verse prophesies concerning the incarnation of Christ in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:4-6; Luke 2:4-7). Although Christ came forth from Bethlehem, His goings forth were from ancient times, from the days of eternity. This refers to Christ’s eternal origin and indicates that in eternity, before the creation of the earth, Christ was preparing to come forth. Christ’s appearing, His manifestation, began in eternity. From ancient times, from the days of eternity, the Triune God was preparing to come forth out of eternity into time, to come with His divinity into humanity by being born in Bethlehem as a man. His creating of all things was His preparation for Him to come out of eternity into time. This was the purpose of creation. Then, while the “locusts” were operating to consume Israel (Joel 1:4; 2:25), Christ came forth.
Mic 5:21

Christ’s going forth, His appearing, is a continuous matter. At the time of His incarnation He began to come forth. After His incarnation, He continued to go forth through His human living, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, His outpouring of the consummated Spirit (who is the reality of Christ Himself), and His spreading through the preaching of the gospel to the whole inhabited earth. All these are great steps in Christ’s going forth. His going forth has not ceased but is continuing today. Christ’s going forth, His manifestation, will consummate when He comes back with the overcomers as the mighty ones (Joel 3:11) to defeat Antichrist and cast him into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:19-20), when Satan is cast into the abyss (Rev. 20:2-3), and when Christ sets up His throne to reign as King (Matt. 25:31, 34, 40). At that time His appearing will be complete.
Mic 5:21

While Christ is on the way, He is taking care of the scattered Jews. On the one hand, Israel is under God’s chastisement; on the other hand, Israel is also under God’s shepherding care. This shepherding is God’s preservation of Israel.

*Scripture and Commentary from the Recovery Version of the Bible

Psalm 84:5

Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, / In whose heart are the highways to Zion.

Travel

USC bro house. Dope pad.  They have a cafe?

House trip to LA begins with dinner in Koreatown. 

Edward Hopper

Dear Mother,

I am glad to hear you are growing stout-I had guessed as much from your handwriting-you know it's comparatively easy to detect the writing of a fat lady. I hope however that you won't rise over two hundred. In spite of that you should be thankful that you are feeling so much better...