Sorry, Bruce Foster - 5,000 Views Today

 Bananas Foster is the WELS connection with ELCA.
He does not like my yuuuuuge numbers, so I apologized.

Faith | While it's yet day - What Does It Mean To Be a Christian?

Faith | While it's yet day:





"What does it mean when someone tells you they are a Christian? Just about anything. The word Christian has been stretched and redefined so many times that about the only message it conveys is that a person has some kind of belief about Jesus Christ.

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

You’ve probably heard someone with the best intentions say, “As long as you’re a good person, you’ll be fine in the end.” But is this doing good things enough? Can it make you right before God and undo all the wrong you know you’ve done even to this very day?"



'via Blog this'

East of Eden - Another Fine Walk with Sassy. Almost Eden Gardens and Nursery. Scholars Divide on Crepe or Cape Myrtle

Sassy and I had a long walk today, at her insistence. I let her take the lead since I have shortened her walk on hot, humid mornings. Today we enjoyed the cool from the brief rain yesterday. Sassy went down a favorite street, headed toward the fire station and smiled. That means a plan. We crossed Joye Street and headed past the fire station toward Almost Eden Gardens and Nursery - her goal.

I thought we were late to see Opie the dog and his Chief of Staff, Almost Eden himself. But there they were, watering the plants. Sassy and Opie friended each other again and carried out a mini-tag game. Opie howled softly to encourage me to pet him. He put his little muzzle in the air, "Ow-wooo." That is the first dog I have seen to howl for petting.

We are actually south of Almost Eden, but there is no South of Eden movie. I never saw East of Eden but remembered the movie title.

This time we talked about social media, Crepe Myrtles, KnockOut roses, and birds. He told me about how much Goldfinches love Crepe Myrtle seed. We looked over and saw a Mockingbird harvesting some seeds from the Crepe Myrtles.

We are both dealing with Bermuda grass invasions, plus all the other weeds. Rain has been pretty good, with plenty of sun in-between, so weeds are enjoying the benefits.

KnockOut roses seem vulnerable to a disease that is different from the feared Rosette disease. I looked all over the Net for answers to KnockOuts looking great and suddenly dying. I dug two out recently, after a good spring bloom. What looked like frost damage was simply the first sign of die-off. Almost Eden gave me some brief Yoda-like insights. "Once that starts, it's over."

And he was correct. I pruned those two KO roses until they were completely KOed. The rest of them burst into new growth and bloom after a 50% prune.

Great Expectations Hosta.

Meanwhile - Hosta Garden Preparation
We now have the Hosta garden carpeted with cardboard - and some pine needles on the sunniest row with the Blueberries. Blueberries are more productive with acidic soil and that will not hurt the Hostas.

Two rows of Hostas took off right away, with plenty of rain and some soaker hose contributions.

I said NO! to wood mulch in the backyard. We are using whatever falls from trees, so we will be rewarded with free mulch in another month or so. The neighbors are so kind to put their leaves in green, recycling bags.

Mrs. I is still talking about me stopping in Midland to grab bags that seemed to be full of leaves, tossing them in the trunk, with LI and my wife cringing in the car. Is it more noble to buy something similar from Lowe's, Walmart? I think not.

 Blue Hawaii - one of 8,000 cultivars.

Swamp Fox Matters, And History Is More Important Than Misleading Myths

I read this book when I was about 9, because my mother subscribed to
two series of books for us - and I devoured them all.
Landmark Books were biographies of historical figures.

We enjoy watching "Legends and Lies," a series on Fox where O'Reilly never seems to shout and offers edifying material.

Mrs. Ichabod said, "There is a show about a Southerner on Legend and Lies."

I said, "Swamp Fox?"

She said, startled, "How did you know? Gretta von Susteren did not know when O'Reilley asked her."

I answered, "I read the book, 60 years ago. His name was Marion, I think."

Washington crossed the Delaware to surprise
the hung-over German mercenaries.

Francis Marion was the first American military leader to apply guerrilla warfare to the battle against the British. He was so successful that his efforts were equal to George Washington's. The winter at Valley Forge and the surprise party for the Hessians on Christmas morning, 1776, the Battle of Trenton is part of collective memory, but Marion is often overlooked.

Absent Washington and Marion, it is doubtful America would have won its complete independence from the British. Today the Army Rangers model their force according to the principles advocated by Marion.

When Little Ichabod was growing up, we discussed history often. I had a Time Life series about WWII and a collection of battleship books. Our son had every military book he and I wanted, even actual Army books on understanding the M-60 tank. Movies were fun when Nazi equipment rolled by and he said with great scorn, "Those aren't German. Those are repainted American machines!"

LI's military knowledge got us invited to a live shoot of the 8 inch M110 self-propelled howitzer. All the kids and parents there were military, but when one asked the road speed of the howitzer, LI's arm shot up. He answered when the officer could not, "Forty miles per hour." The entire group laughed at the officer covering his face. He also answered the question about howitzer's being different from tanks - giving three reasons in a loud clear voice.

Later, when my wife worked at an engineering firm, Gulf War I broke out and they needed to know about Russian rockets, delivery modes, range, and accuracy. We had it all at home because military rockets are important too. The youngest person there, LI was the go-to guy for all the engineers with questions - and he shared his books. One engineer said to me, "This Gulf situation must be heaven for you and your son." I said, "Yes, it shows how study clarifies everything."

Troubling Fake History - Really Mythology - Synodical Conference

The official histories and tales told about the LCMS are so full of lies that I can hardly start.

SP Mark Schroeder, MDiv (Sausage Factory), solemnly declared that WELS has always been and continues to be an orthodox Lutheran denomination,

ELS members and pastors tell one another that they are far superior to WELS.

The LCMS imagines that Walther began Holy Mother Synod, graciously giving his bishop several options, even though an armed kidnapping is not considered "offering options" even today. But why tell the truth when myths are entertaining and motivating?

Unfortunately, the myths motivate the wrong actions and support false doctrine. Although Walther left the motherland as a fugitive from the law, he is portrayed as the leader of the Stephanite exodus, which only took place once the bishop was fired and placed under house arrest for his sexual abuse of multiple young women and his misuse of church funds.

Pietistic Church Growth gimmicks
thrived under the late Ralph Bohlmann,
the late Al Barry. They are on steroids
with Matt the Fat Harrison.