I returned from FOR YOU in MN just two hours ago! To say it was awesome would be an understatement!
This was my first (and probably not last) Higher Things Conference. I do not think that a single person there could leave without knowing the the Gospel of Christ, his Death and Resurrection, was FOR THEM!
The Conference began and ended with receiving Christ's body and blood given and shed FOR YOU! What greater FOR YOU could there be? Throughout the entire conference this was the focal point. The great gift of the Divine Service was just enhanced with wonderful chanting, singing, playing and preaching FOR YOU!
The sectionals were also wonderful! I attended Pastor Borghardts In-Depth on Christology in the Movies.
And of course what would the MN conference be without the wonderful Conference coordinator?
Thanks to everyone who was involved with making FOR YOU amazing!
Hopefully I will be able to post more later, but I have a flight to catch tomorrow morning! It's kind of fun being home for less then twelve hours at a time. :-)
1. O sacred Head, now wounded, With grief and shame weighed down, Now scornfully surrounded With thorns, Thine only crown. O sacred Head, what glory, What bliss, till now was Thine! Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.
2. Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance, Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee And flee before Thy glance. How art thou pale with anguish, With sore abuse and scorn! How doth Thy visage languish That once was bright as morn!
3. Now from Thy cheeks has vanished Their color, once so fair; From Thy red lips is banished The splendor that was there. Grim Death, with cruel rigor, Hath robbed Thee of Thy life; Thus Thou has lost Thy vigor, Thy strength, in this sad strife.
4. My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me, For it was my transgression Which brought this woe on thee. I cast me down before Thee, Wrath were my rightful lot; Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!
5. My Shepherd, now receive me; My Guardian, own me Thine. Great blessings Thou didst give me, O Source of gifts divine! Thy lips have often fed me With words of truth and love, Thy Spirit oft hath led me To heavenly joys above.
6. Here I will stand beside Thee, From Thee I will not part; O Savior, do not chide me! When breaks Thy loving heart, When soul and body languish In death's cold, cruel grasp, Then, in Thy deepest anguish, Thee in mine arms I'll clasp.
7. The joy can ne'er be spoken, Above all joys beside, When in Thy body broken I thus with safety hide. O Lord of life, desiring Thy glory now to see, Beside Thy cross expiring, I'd breathe my soul to Thee.
8. What language shall I borrow To thank Thee, dearest Friend, For this, Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end? Oh, make me thine forever! And should I fainting be, Lord, let me never, never, Outlive my love for Thee.
9. My Savior, be Thou near me When death is at my door; Then let Thy presence cheer me, Forsake me nevermore! When soul and body languish, Oh, leave me not alone, But take away mine anguish By virtue of Thine own!
10. Be Thou my Consolation, My Shield when I must die; Remind me of Thy Passion When my last hour draws nigh. Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, Upon Thy cross shall dwell, My heart by faith enfold Thee. Who dieth thus dies well!
"Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." John 19:28-30
When Jesus says "It is finished" He is saying that your salvation has been completed. Nothing more is needed!
"Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water." John 19:34
From His broken body the blood of Communion and the water of Baptism flow. The means by which we receive the gifts won for us that day.
Vs. 2-4 Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted
Ye who think of sin but lightly, Nor suppose the evil great, Here may view its nature rightly, Here its guilt may estimate. Mark the Sacrifice appointed! See Who bears the awful load! ’Tis the Word, the Lord’s Anointed, Son of Man, and Son of God.
Here we have a firm foundation, Here the refuge of the lost. Christ the Rock of our salvation, Christ the Name of which we boast. Lamb of God for sinners wounded! Sacrifice to cancel guilt! None shall ever be confounded Who on Him their hope have built.
1. O dearest Jesus, what law hast thou broken That such sharp sentence should on Thee be spoken? Of what great crime hast Thou to make confession, What dark transgression?
2. They crown Thy head with thorns, they smite, they scourge Thee; With cruel mockings to the cross they urge Thee; They give Thee gall to drink, they still decry Thee; They crucify Thee.
3. Whence come these sorrows, whence this mortal anguish? It is my sins for which Thou, Lord, must languish; Yea, all the wrath, the woe, Thou dost inherit, This I do merit.
4. What punishment so strange is suffered yonder! The Shepherd dies for sheep that loved to wander; The master pays the debt His servants owe Him, Who would not know Him.
5. The sinless Son of God must die in sadness; The sinful child of man may live in gladness; Man forfeited his life and is acquitted, God is committed.
6. There was no spot in me by sin untainted; Sick with sin’s poison, all my heart had fainted; My heavy guilt to hell had well-nigh brought me, Such woe it wrought me.
7. O wondrous love, whose depth no heart hath sounded, That brought Thee here, by foes and thieves surrounded! All worldly pleasures, heedless, I was trying While Thou wert dying.
8. Mighty King, no time can dim Thy glory! How shall I spread abroad Thy wondrous story? How shall I find some worthy gifts to proffer? What dare I offer?
9. For vainly doth our human wisdom ponder, Thy woes, They mercy, still transcend our wonder. Oh, how should I do aught that could delight Thee! Can I requite Thee?
10. Yet unrequited, Lord, I would not leave Thee; I will renounce whate’er doth vex or grieve Thee And quench with thoughts of Thee and prayers most lowly All fires unholy.
11. But since my strength will never more suffice me To crucify desires that still entice me, To all good deeds, oh, let Thy Spirit win me And reign within me! 12. I’ll think upon Thy mercy without ceasing, That earth’s vain joys to me no more be pleasing; To do Thy will shall be my sole endeavor Henceforth forever.
13. Whate’er of earthly good this life may grant me, I’ll risk for Thee; no shame, no cross, shall daunt me; I shall not fear what man can do to harm me Nor death alarm me.
14. But worthless is my sacrifice, I own it; Yet, Lord, for love’s sake Thou wilt not disown it; Thou wilt accept my gift in thy great meekness Nor shame my weakness.
15. And when, dear Lord, before Thy throne in heaven To me the crown of joy at last is given, Where sweetest hymns Thy saints forever raise Thee, I, too, shall praise Thee.
Such a beautiful hymn that we do not get to sing that often. It speaks of the crucifixion - of how this pain is for us. Throughout the Lenten season and especially Holy Week people try to “sin less” then end up focusing more on themselves, on how sinful they are, then on the Gospel. That Gospel which came physically to all mankind on that Friday and still comes physically to each of us through the sacraments. This Thursday we remember the day when Christ first instituted The Sacrament of the Altar. Each time we partake in the Lord’s Supper the Gospel is being put directly in our mouths, you receive the forgiveness that was won FOR YOU on the cross. You receive the same blood that flowed from Christ’s side when his body was broken. How wonderful the Gospel is!
Though hymns like the one above sound “depressing” musically, they carry the wonderful message from the Gospel. This sinless son of God chose to die for us. We who forfeited our own lives. In his love Jesus felt complete and utter loneliness, and also felt the full hammer of God’s Wrath all For You! And For Me Too!
Throughout this holy week keep that at the front of your mind. Christ Crucified for the Forgiveness of your sins.
I don’t up date enough so I though I would talk about my day yesterday since it is kind of fun and exciting. Yesterday, I went on a field trip down south, actually to a lot of you its pretty North, but south of Milwaukee. Chicago! It always shocks my friends when they find out I wasn’t born in, nor have I lived in Chicago. This probably has a lot to do with me liking all the Chicago sporting teams more than the Milwaukee teams.
Well to the trip, It was a combined Humanities and History of Drama trip. We began at the Art Institute of Chicago. Recently, I have become pretty intrigued with art, at least older art. Of course I really liked the “religious” paintings and sculpture but I also really liked just wandering around and looking at different styles of things. Contemporary art is very interesting, some things you like, some you don’t, and some things are just plain weird.(Like the 22min video of a guy pointing into a mirror)
After the Art Institute we saw “Wicked.” It is a very good musical but it wasn’t as good as when I saw it in New York on Broadway on Choir Tour a couple years back. I like the first half much more than the second half. Maybe because the ending just ruins the Wizard of Oz for me. Its just always amazing to see the talents of the actors and musicians.
That’s all for now, Hopefully I will update more so all my faithful readings have something to read.
Pax Christi
I am listening to The Reason Release Date: 09 December, 2003
A few posts ago I wrote about how I didn't understand celebrating the New Year. Now a 'holiday' almost as wide spread as New Years which I also don't get.
Perhaps its because I'm single that I don't understand the reasons that one day in February couples go out and by each other flowers or chocolate. Even in my own high school they use valentines day as a fundraiser of sorts. You have the option to buy a flower for someone else and on Valentines day (named after the patron saint of flowers and chocolates?). Then they distribute them in the ever-so-romantic way of calling out peoples names at lunch and having them walk up and get the flowers.
So what is so great about Valentines Day? Is it just that fun to go waste money on flowers that will die or chocolate that will be eaten? Maybe, I'm just not understanding or maybe I just have a different opinion of love.
If you're looking for an article with some depth to it and not just me talking about how I don't get the reason for the holiday and think its stupid, head over to Rev. Cwirla's Blogosphere where he wrote a post that is much more thought provoking than mine.
I now leave you with a quote on love that has fast become a favorite of mine:
"I could love you today and hate you tomorrow, those feelings don't mean anything they change like the wind and will die with me. If I love you in Christ THAT is eternal."
