My Pileated Woodpecker Sighting

Today Sassy took off after a creature on the ground. She has no chance against birds or squirrels, but she tries anyway.

The bird landed on a nearby tree and posed in profile as if to establish a safe harbor. It was a pileated woodpecker.

Here is more information and a recording of its laughing call.

They are almost the size of crows and perhaps the silliest birds to see. The photos do not reveal the clownish look of the bird, which is probably enhanced by its impressive size.

As some of you guessed, they are the model for Woody the Woodpecker, a favorite cartoon of the past.

I have had downy and hairy woodpeckers at the suet, but I was not looking for the pileated. The pileated needs about 150 acres to feed, so they are far less numerous. Counting the dead trees in the ravine behind our house (four or more), we have the habitat.

I have heard the drumming, too, which Woody did in the cartoons. We have some holes in our siding, one seeming to hold an acorn. That may be his work.

I am glad our goofy dog scared the bird into the tree, and even happier I put up plenty of suet over the winter. That is supposed to bring them closer. The front yard has some hanging in a protected area, with bushes for cover and perching, water on the ground, Nyjer and sunflower seed feeders. As bird-watchers know, an abundance of food, water, and shelter will create a little convention site, attracting more species.

A bag of suet costs about $2 a month to maintain. I enjoy seeing the splendors of Creation, which we take for granted.

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WOODY WOODPECKER SONG
Kay Kyser
- words and music by George Tibbles and Ramey Idries
- introduced in the cartoon film "Wet Blanket Policy" and
nominated for an Academy Award
- lyrics as recorded by The Kay Kyser Orchestra

Ho-ho-ho ho ho! Ho-ho-ho ho ho!
Oh, that's the Woody Woodpecker song
Ho-ho-ho ho ho! Ho-ho-ho ho ho!
Yeah, he's a-peckin' it all day long

He pecks a few holes in a tree to see
If a redwood's really red
And it's nothing to him, on the tiniest whim
To peck a few holes in your head

Ho-ho-ho ho ho! Ho-ho-ho ho ho!
Oh, that's the Woody Woodpecker's tune
Ho-ho-ho ho ho! Ho-ho-ho ho ho!
Makes the other woodpeckers swoon

Though it doesn't make sense to the dull and the dense
And the lady woodpeckers long for
Ho-ho-ho ho ho! Ho-ho-ho ho ho!
That's the Woody Woodpecker song

------ instrumental interlude ------

Ho-ho-ho ho ho! Ho-ho-ho ho ho!
Woody Woodpecker's serenade
Ho-ho-ho ho ho! Ho-ho-ho ho ho!
On the woodpecker hit parade

Though he can't sing a note, there's a frog in his throat
All his top notes come out blurred
He's the ladies' first choice, with a laugh in his voice
He gives all his rivals the bird

Ho-ho-ho ho ho! Ho-ho-ho ho ho!
He'll be settlin' down some day
Ho-ho-ho ho ho! Ho-ho-ho ho ho!
He'll be hearin' the preacher say

For the rest of your life you'll be Woody and wife
And the choir will sing along with
Ho-ho-ho ho ho! Ho-ho-ho ho ho!
The Woody Woodpecker song.

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ELCA Seminary Kelms Wormhaven, And Blesses the Compost Bin!

LSTC has purchased five composters -
one for the backyard of each student housing unit!

On Monday February 8 during chapel, LSTC blessed the new composters.


Earth Year at LSTC

Composting is easy and makes a big impact on creation (25% of Chicago landfills are composed of material that could have been composted), and it's the Gospel. Out of death and decay, God works in creation to bring about new life. All people everywhere to take part in the great divine narrative of creation – compost!

How to Compost


Compost needs four elements to be successful:

* Nitrogen: fruit and vegetable scraps (but no meat or dairy)
* Carbon: dry leaves (maintenance staff is now saving dry leaves for us!) or paper, newspaper, cardboard
* Oxygen: please turn the compost with the handy hand crank when you add to it
* Moisture: should take care of itself, if you see compost is very dry, add a small amount of water

Did you know you can compost egg shells, tea bags, dryer lint, hair, and fur?!?

For a complete list and more information, visit:

www.epa.gov/waste/conserve/rrr/composting/index.htm

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GJ - Do not reach for your asthma inhaler. They do not really believe in Creation in ELCA. But it is worth a year's tuition to see a compost bin being blessed in a chapel service.

The person who posted this knows very little about composting. Moisture does not take care of itself! The bins illustrated will dry out fairly quickly. They would best be fed with green plants and leaves, and some soil.

Egg shells do not compost and do not improve the soil. I give them yahoos a few months before the bins stink or dry out. People are probably shouting in the communal laundry room:

"Save that lint. People are starving all over the world and you won't compost the lint!"

Research Summary - Justification by Faith Alone:Luther versus the Pietists

Cover by Norma Boeckler

Research Summary – Justification by Faith

The debate must be understood in the context of the efficacy of the Word in the Means of Grace—emphatically denied and ridiculed by the Reformed—but clearly taught in the Scriptures, the Confessions, and the post-Concord theologians.

God only works through the Word, and His grace comes to us only through the invisible Word of preaching and teaching, the visible Word of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. Contrary opinions are labeled Enthusiasm in Luther and the Book of Concord, and Enthusiasm is roundly condemned in both.

Reconciliation is a synonym for the Atonement, showing us that Christ has paid for the sins of the world. Some other associated words are ransom, redemption (two different verbs with two different meanings), and propitiation.

Justification means the declaration of God’s forgiveness, received through faith, so there is a difference—always confused by UOJ—between forgiveness won by Christ and forgiveness declared.

UOJ, in all its forms, teaches that the entire world was absolved from sin, at the death of Christ, or at His resurrection. UOJ emphasizes forgiveness without faith, without the Word, grace without the Means of Grace.

Therefore, UOJ is the Midwestern version of Calvinism – we believe because we are already saved. WELS even had an evangelism campaign where the banners proclaimed to the public – I Am Saved, Just Like You.

UOJ advocates argue fatuously that one must embrace their Calvinistic opinion or be branded Calvinists! They teach that the Biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone is the equivalent of Calvin’s Limited Atonement.

UOJ tries to rescue itself from the charge of Universalism by arguing double justification – one where the entire world is absolved without faith, the second where the individual is absolved with faith. Although this is closely related to Calvinism, it is often expressed as Decision Theology – You are already forgiven, now decide whether to believe it (J. P. Meyer, WELS).

UOJ already existed in the English translation of Knapp’s theology book, widely used in America and Europe, in English and German, before the Synodical Conference began. Knapp was a Pietistic Lutheran at Halle University. Pietism is unionistic, indifferent about doctrine, and profoundly influenced by Calvinism.

C. F. W. Walther had many fine characteristics, but he became a believer through Pietism and never completely escaped the thought-patterns of Pietism. He criticized many Pietists but never Spener, the founder of Pietism. To be fair, Spener was considered untouchable among 19th century Lutherans.

Lutherans in all synods were lax in teaching the efficacy of the Word in the Means of Grace. For that reason they have succumbed to various forms of Enthusiasm and Pietism:

1. The Ecumenical Movement.
2. Pentecostalism and the Charismatic Movement.
3. The Church Growth Movement, aka Emerging Church, aka Becoming Missional.
4. New Age occult concepts – Paul Y. Cho, Leonard Sweet, and others.
5. Lay-led cell groups, often called home Bible study groups, share groups, koinonia, care groups, and whatever else markets the concept.
6. Receptionism, which denies the power of the Word in the consecration of the elements of Holy Communion.
7. “Everyone is a minister”, confusing the priesthood of all believers with the preaching office.