Lee Clark

[Lee Clark @Iteryx]

@NASCAR_Memes_ This is true.

We got to see 3 very good Phoenix races this weekend.

However, only 1 of the championships seemed right - the Truck Series.

An absolute abomination happened in Cup today.

Eliminate the Playoffs and Overtime Rules.

[Lee Clark @Iteryx]

@EricEstepp17 I'm sorry Eric, but no. This is an absolute travesty. Kyle Larson won because of circumstances, not performance today.

We need to call this what it is - an abomination.

I've rarely been this disappointed in anything before.

Absolute abomination.

[Lee Clark @Iteryx]

@jeff_gluck It is just the format. The fact that Zilisch won 10 races isn't relevant in this format. You need to be one of 4 to survive to Phoenix and then finish ahead of the other 3. Personally, I think it is the incorrect championship format for motorsports, but it is what we have.

[Lee Clark @Iteryx]

@Stephen19718352 @HansFiene I would think this is a ELCA church or some other church that calls itself "Lutheran" but doesn't adhere to the 1580 Book of Concord that defines what we actually believe. I understand the frustration though - I wish they would drop the "Lutheran" label.

[Lee Clark @Iteryx]

@Acolyte_1 Same here.

[Lee Clark @Iteryx]

@jeff_gluck @chaseelliott I agree. Full season points for championships is the correct way to decide a motorsports champion. Chase's comments on how we don't have to be like everyone else and if someone runs away with it are 100% correct.

[Lee Clark @Iteryx]

@Protestia If someone told me there was Divine Service followed by Bible Study in that building, I'd be there. I'd hope that they had some leftover red cups from the old days to use at the Fellowship Meal. 😀

[Lee Clark @Iteryx]

@EricEstepp17 When I was younger, I never liked the idea of finishing under caution and was excited for the Overtime rules. Now, I understand why they did it in the past and think it should be brought back. This is motorsports - not every week needs to be an exciting finish.

[Lee Clark @Iteryx]

@EricEstepp17 Yes sir.

[Lee Clark @Iteryx]

@nascarcasm Sir, I second the motion.

[Lee Clark @Iteryx]

I think the #Poptartsbowl is what America needed. We are healing. Thanks @PopTartsUS

[Lee Clark @Iteryx]

@Protestia Our confessional Lutheran Church had our Cantata today. We read Scripture, sung hymns, listened to our bell choir and vocal choir. Then we observed the Lord's Supper. It was vastly superior to this kind of worldly nonsense.

[Lee Clark @Iteryx]

@kalezelden I am a confessional Lutheran. I think I have heard it stated we are "cessationist adjacent". God can definitely do miracles, but I am not sure about specific people doing them. Sadly, with as many charlatans out there, I am not sure we could tell the difference anymore.

[@Jonathan McAdam Fisk @RevFisk]

2/2 Jubilee

The Indulgence System: A “Treasury” for the Faithful

The indulgence system is complex, and at its core is the “treasury of merits.” According to Church doctrine, this treasury is like a spiritual bank, containing the merits of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, the virtues of the Virgin Mary, and the accumulated good works of the saints. Since these figures have led lives of such extraordinary virtue and sacrifice, the Church teaches that their spiritual “merits” have created an overflow of grace. This treasury, according to doctrine, is infinite because Christ’s redemptive work is infinite.

The Church believes it has the authority to access and distribute these merits to the faithful through indulgences, reducing the “temporal punishment” a person must undergo for sins already forgiven. Temporal punishment, in Catholic teaching, refers to the lingering consequences of sin that remain even after guilt has been absolved in confession. Indulgences supposedly draw from this treasury to alleviate or even erase these effects, offering spiritual relief to the individual.

To receive an indulgence, the faithful are often required to perform specific acts of devotion, prayer, or charity, demonstrating their repentance and desire for purification. These acts are seen as “transactions” through which the merits in the treasury can be applied, connecting the individual with the Church’s authority to distribute spiritual benefits. But as the Augsburg Confession reminds us, indulgences create a give-and-take dynamic—a “gift” that asks for something in return.

The Reformation’s Wake-Up Call

Martin Luther wasn’t impressed. In 1517, he challenged what he saw as abuses in the indulgence system, especially the idea of “buying” forgiveness. Luther’s message? True forgiveness comes through faith, not transactions. The Council of Trent later adjusted indulgence practices, emphasizing they require repentance and confession, but the core structure of indulgences remained.

Financial and Architectural Legacy of Jubilees

Jubilee years drew large crowds of pilgrims, and the financial boost was significant. Funds raised were often directed toward major building projects, like the rebuilding of St. Peter’s Basilica, involving artists like Michelangelo. These projects left a physical legacy—chapels, fountains, and museums—that merged the spiritual with the architectural.

Modern Jubilee: A “Free Gift” Meets Modern Marketing

For the 2025 Jubilee, the Vatican introduced Luce, a cartoon mascot to connect with young people, created by tokidoki co-founder Simone Legno. Luce, in her yellow raincoat and muddy boots, represents resilience on a spiritual journey. She will even represent the Vatican at Expo 2025, aiming to convey hope through pop culture.

But look closer: while Luce may seem like an effort to reach the younger generation, it taps into a familiar trend—marketing faith to children. It mirrors how the rosary has been marketed as a central tool of devotion, focusing on the veneration of Mary, despite the Bible’s clear warning against idolatry. The Papal Jubilee itself has no roots in Scripture, no foundation in the New Testament, yet it is presented as a tradition with authority.

With Luce, we now see pop culture and faith colliding, creating brand loyalty at a young age and wrapping Jubilee’s message in entertainment. This approach speaks to the marketing adage that selling to children makes the best profits—a tactic so dangerous it was illegal in ancient cultures, where protections kept young minds free from manipulation. And as the Augsburg Confession would caution, indulgences have always been a transaction disguised as a gift, a system that takes as much as it gives.

The 2025 Jubilee offers a blend of tradition without biblical foundation, indulgences marketed as gifts, and pop mascots for children. It’s a reminder to look carefully, discern what’s real, and recognize when faith risks becoming a spectacle rather than a truth.

[Lee Clark @Iteryx]

@Protestia I am LCMS. For the most part, we stick with the historic liturgy, but we do have congregations like this that have embraced contemporary worship and other shenanigans. Explains why they are large, probably aren't preaching the Law and Gospel... sad to see.

[Lee Clark @Iteryx]

@Jules31415 I already wasn't going to watch it and I was suspicious of it anyway. I see my suspicions were true. I actually laughed - they can't help themselves.

[Lee Clark @Iteryx]

@DennyBurk Andy Stanley is a very gifted communicator and speaks in a very slippery way. A note about the space he is in: gray background, small screen for text, no Bible on stage, no natural light allowed in. An appropriate environment for a false teacher.

[Lee Clark @Iteryx]

@bobpockrass Yes!

[Lee Clark @Iteryx]

@PR0GRAMMERHUM0R This is most certainly true.

[Lee Clark @Iteryx]

@Truckin_Bassets @TALLADEGA I was there too! Wife and I love your pics!