The Area Around Moline, Illinois

The Temptations Are Great - Those Who Resist Are Few

Someone phoned about issues in Biblical studies, one of my favorite topics. I felt energized. Biblical studies fall into two categories - in my opinion.

Category One
One is the study of the content of the Scriptures, using our vast resources in Hebrew, Greek, ancient versions, grammar, concordances, and histories.

Lenski and Luther fall into this category. The Lutheran Reformers and the Book of Concord editors also operate from this perspective.

There are American Lutheran authors from the old days of the General Council who wrote commentaries on the Bible. I know less about these men. The ALC heritage includes other authors.

What these men had in common was a reverence for the Scriptures as the actual Word of God, the unified Truth of the Holy Spirit. Yale University had men like this too (Dahl, Wilson, Malherbe) but they are gone, replaced by those in the other category.

Luther? No, let's talk about us instead.

Category Two
Modern Biblical studies are best described as creative writing seminars, as David Scaer said - and he should know. Opinions are declared without evidence, and arguments are based upon suppositions.

Universal Objective Justification is not just the dogma of ELCA-WELS-ELS-LCMS-CLC (sic). The mainline seminaries have the same hostility toward the Chief Article as the Lutheran synods.

How strange to read Herman Otten denouncing Karl Barth - or is it Charlotte Kirschbaum? - for his/her blasphemies when the same nonsense is promoted by Christian News! In fact, only the UOJ Barthians are allowed to publish in CN, with the sole except of Raymand Surburg.

Likewise, the misnamed Steadfast Lutherans blog is populated by ninnies who are so insecure in their UOJness that they must ban and banish all mention of Justification by Faith.

The effect of UOJ is to make all doctrine and practice, all worship adiaphora, matters of indifference. But oh, Age of Darkness, they are tougher than tree bark about their fetishes - like the common cup - a must!, bishops - a must!, venerating all the saints - a must!, hemi-demi-semi closed communion - a must!

Why did awful singers and worse musicians rush in to share their praise music from Maranatha Press? Because their secular, egocentric lyrics do not matter.

Why are the seminaries emptying? Because they have nothing to teach but the dead dogma of the denomination. No wonder the truly sensitive join Rome where that is done so much better.

Why are the congregations emptying? Because the ministers are poorly prepared by preening peacocks who pretend to teach Biblical studies.

Only One Reason for Praise Bands and Entertainment Evangelism - Get Rid of the Means of Grace, Which They Reject

Do not be fooled - the reason for the promotion of Praise Bands and Entertainment Evangelism is plain -

Get Rid of the Means of Grace!

What did the Lutheran revivalists of the General Synod do - they promoted emotions services and ignored the Lutheran liturgy, Lutheran creeds, Lutheran hymns, and Lutheran sermons.

Long ago, Robert Preus wrote on a poster and sent it to Herman Otten - "WELS is worse than Missouri about Church Growth."

WELS repudiated the Means of Grace under JP Meyer and other false teachers. Into the vacuum rushed the Church Growth Movment.

A traditional Lutheran service emphasizes the object of faith - the Savior Jesus Christ. Hymns really matter.

Praise bands sing any garbage they want, and no one cares. The audience sits and listen. The object of the service - faith in oneself.

What is their messages? - Everyone is already forgiven and saved.

What is their Subjective Justification? - Have faith in our message of universal absolution and salvation.

A Time of Grace Hymn To Sing

Don't you love farce?
My fault, I fear
I thought that you'd want what I want-
Sorry my dear
But where are the clowns?
Quick, send in the clowns

Don't bother they're here

Election and Justification

Searching for images, I found this one from past blog posts.

I wonder why so many chatter about Justification and Election but neither read nor comprehend the Augsburg Confession and the Formula of Concord.

Too Many Plants Are Called Weed - Joe Pye Weed Joins Butterfly Weed in the Rose Garden

 "Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me,
Starlight and Joe Pye are waiting for thee."
Here is a worse version of Foster's song.

I met our neighbors from Scott at Walmart. They said, "Sassy's owner!" Their son retired as a Colonel in the Army, after serving in Afghanistan. I tried to tell our neighbors about Joe Pye Weed soaking at home.

I was energized from getting the plants before doing some erands, and I could picture them soaking up the rainwater in the rainbuckets. Normally I use the rain-filled wheelbarrow for that, but it was drained  for the Mountain Mint transplanting.

We are now getting summer heat and spring rain, so everything is bursting from the soil - and roses galore are budding, some blooming.

The Growers' Exchange is my source for herbs, and that is all they sell. The Joe Pye plants arrive in perfect shape, carefully arranged in the box and kept in place by the packing.

Whenever plants arrive, I think, "I should have ordered more." When I am half-way done, I say to myself, "Why so many?"

The plan is to use tall plants - Joe Pye - to serve as air bases for beneficial insects and butterflies. Like Hostas, the JPWs can be divided later - and may seed themselves (horrors! free plants). The two I raised last year showed an ability to bloom well the first year and come back strong after a tough winter for Arkansan plants.

The stirring of Creation in the spring is fun to watch. The moles begin their digging and mixing of the soil. The robins decided to take over the Crepe Myrtle. Today Mrs. Robin gave me the dickens for being near her home. I thought, "My entire front yard is your food dish, espeically when I water."

All the Myrtles greened up and began growing early.

Ministers garden - I believe - because they see the results from past labor as reason to keep going. Luther wrote his stupendous Gospel of John sermons when he was supposedly retired and wanted to spend time doing what old men do - tend the garden.

So I was planning puny Joe Pye starts and admiring the roses and Hostas already developed so well. In fact, I used the rose cones stored in the Town Car trunk for protecting the Joe Pye.

 Butterfly Weed is a Monarch favorite,
so I have a few in the rose garden.

Easy Planting with Good Results
Here are ways to get things planted for successful growrh:

• Whatever the source, Walmart or the Net, Lowe's or a gardening center, soak the plant in rainwater for several hours. Overnight can be too much or yield a mucky mess.
• Think in advance about places to plant, so the objectionable top layer is reduced to compost with cardboard, newspapers, or wood mulch.
• Once the hole is dug and the plant in place, surround the little one with newspapers or cardboard around the stem.
• Place a layer of wood mulch on the cardboard or newspaper layer, to keep it in place and add wood decomposing to the soil.
• Use something like a rose collar to keep people from trampling the newbie.

 Collars snap and unsnap easily, protecting plants against winter kill, weed-eater kill, pedestrian kill, and rabbit kill.

Coordination on a Global Scale
Everything in the yard is triggered by weather conditions, so the gradual unfolding of spring came rapidly this year. Birds do not nest in a bush devoid of leaves, but they claim their home when the leaves give them cover.

Rain and warm weather build the mold and bacteria which serve as the bread of life. A specialist in infectious diseases pointed out to us how antibiotics kill the beneficial bacterial that protect us against painful and irritating rashes from fungus. When he was done, I asked, "So I should eat the toast that falls on the floor?" He tried not to smile.

The microbes feed everything living on a higher scale, so spring weather may come slowly but the results are exponential. Lest we stop with Creation itself, we should always consider how coordinated all the plants and animals are - as if by Design. The early weeds and mints flower to feed the bees and beneficial insects we need. The birds manage the growth of insects by feeding on them and delivering them to their young, just when the insect population explodes.

When earthworms are plucked from the soil, they make room for more of the same. As one retailer explained, "We get customers out the door fast so we have room for more to come in."

The more we learn about this management system in the garden, the more we appreciate the infinite complications and dependencies.

 Elderberries grow easily and also have medicinal properties.
Mine bracket the tool shed brought over by Ranger Bob.

Rev. Michael Wolfe Hamma (1836-1913) | Historical Archaeology at Wittenberg

 During his time in Altoona Reverend Hamma became the President of the General Synod in 1897.

Rev. Michael Wolfe Hamma (1836-1913) | Historical Archaeology at Wittenberg:

Rev. Michael Wolfe Hamma (1836-1913)

Rev. Michael Wolfe Hamma is one of Wittenberg’s most famous graduates. He dedicated his life to service as a Lutheran pastor and a patron of Wittenberg’s theological education. Hamma Divinity School is named in honor of him. The first two buildings that housed the Hamma Divinity School were built with funds donated by Rev. and Mrs. Almira Hamma and his second wife, Mrs. Clara Hamma.

Reverend, Michael Wolfe Hamma, D.D. was born in Richland County, Ohio, on 25 December 1836 to David Hamma and Susanna Wolf Hamma. David Hamma’s father, Balthazar Hamme, fought in the Revolutionary War from 1777-1778 in the 1st Battalion, 4th Company, York County Militia. David changed the spelling from Hamme to Hamma sometime before he married Susanna on 8 November 1821. The Hammas had eight children, six sons and two daughters. The first seven children were born in York, Pennsylvania, and the family then moved to Richland, Ohio, sometime in 1832-1836, where Michael, their last child was born. The family lived three years in Richland, Ohio, before moving once more to a sixty-acre farm near Yellow Springs, Ohio. This is where David and Susanna lived the rest of their lives and buried; their grave markers are still present at Glen Forest Cemetery in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

After growing up in Yellow Springs, Ohio, Michael Hamma continued his education at Wittenberg College where he received his A.B. in 1861 and graduated from the Seminary in 1862. He received his license from the Miami Synod in 1862 and ordained by the same in the following year. During the time before his ordination, Reverend Hamma married his first wife Almira V. Crothers on 9 February 1862. The marriage license indicated they were married in the State of Ohio, Clark County Probate Court.

Almira was born 28 May 1840, in Frankfort, Clinton County, Indiana, to John P. and Elizabeth Crothers, a wealthy family. The Crothers family moved sometime in 1850-1860 from Indiana to Springfield, Clark County, Ohio according to the 1860 Federal Census and Almira was the eldest of five daughters.

From 1862-1863, Reverend Hamma was pastor in Euphemia, Ohio just north of Lewisburg near Dayton. On 26 November 1862, Ellie E. Hamma was born, the couples’ only child mentioned. Ellie lived only nine months and died on August 8th in 1863 and the reason for the infants’ death not given. The burial was at Roselawn Cemetery, Lewisburg, Preble County, Ohio, USA, at Plot: Section 1, Row 60, and Grave 26. No other records indicate Rev. Hamma fathered other pregnancies or other children.

In 1863, Reverend Hamma became pastor in Bucyrus, Ohio about half way to Lake Erie from northern Columbus and served until 1867. During this time, Reverend Hamma received his A.M. from Wittenberg College in 1864. Another move came in 1867 to Reading, Pennsylvania where he became pastor for two years until 1869 when he and Almira moved back to Springfield, Ohio where he served as pastor of the English Lutheran Church (now the First Lutheran Church) until 1878. It seems Reverend Hamma was quite an international traveler. Almira, was mentioned on her husband’s passports on a few occasions, suggesting she may not have accompanied the Reverend on all of his excursions. A passport of Almira Hamma’s gave an address that she was from the County of Clark, in the State of Ohio, in 1872. The Hammas traveled to Europe spending several months in Norway and Sweden, and letters from Reverend Hamma, part of Wittenberg University’s archives, are written about travels to Palestine and other areas of the Middle East as well. Reverend Hamma even wrote a poem about the sphinx in Egypt. In 1871, Reverend Hamma became president of the Wittenberg Synod and in 1876; Reverend Hamma received his Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) from Wittenberg College.

Thank You Alec Satin for All These E-Books! Devotional Readings from Luther's Works For Every Day of the Year - Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry – "Faithful to the Reformation"

John N. Lenker's work lives on - Hamma Divinity School graduate, the school now merged with Lenski's Cap Seminary. Trinity ELCA Seminary, the merger of Hamma-Cap, is shrinking down to nothing.

Devotional Readings from Luther's Works For Every Day of the Year - Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry – "Faithful to the Reformation":

PDF

EPUB (Apple, Kobo)

Kindle

Early Kindles

"Dr. Lenker, of blessed memory, who did so much to make Luther’s House Postil and other sermons available in English, repeatedly wrote, “Read Luther! The Faith of the Fathers in the Language of the Children!” Yet many people turn away from Luther after trying to start with Bondage of the Will. A much better way to begin is with Luther’s Sermons.

Rev. John Sander collected this book of daily devotions out of love for the Christians of America. He writes:

“Luther and his work are not known in this country as they should be. America does not realize what an inheritance she has received from Luther and the Lutheran Reformation. The best way to understand Luther is to have Luther himself speak. His writings are so extensive that there is no trouble in finding something profitable for almost every occasion and condition in life.

Dedication
This Lutheran Library republication of Devotional Readings from Luther’s Works is dedicated to R. K., without whom this book might well have been forgotten.

Sample
We see many pious hearts that are always sad and downcast, tormenting and alarming themselves with their own thoughts, and being on the verge of despair because of the temptations of the devil. Where, say the world and our own flesh, do you find under these circumstances the Holy Spirit whom you Christians laud so much? A Christian should be wise here and not judge things according to his own thoughts and feelings; he should keep to the Word and the comfort of the preaching which the Holy Spirit gives to all poor and distressed hearts and consciences. God does not desire you to be sad or alarmed, but joyful and comforted with the certain promise of his grace, which the Holy Spirit offers you. – Martin Luther, from the May 22nd entry.

Download the E-book

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EPUB (Apple, Kobo)

Kindle

Early Kindles"

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Heating tools on scaffolding may have ignited roof of Milwaukee church

A heating tool left on the scaffolding may have caused this disaster.

Heating tools on scaffolding may have ignited roof of Milwaukee church:



"The blaze that destroyed Milwaukee's historic Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church may have been started by heating tools that had been placed on adjacent scaffolding and ignited the roof, a Milwaukee Fire Department official said Wednesday.

Milwaukee Deputy Fire Chief Dave Votsis said that was the working theory. But Fire Chief Mark Rohlfing stressed at a news conference later that the investigation is ongoing.

"We know there were roofers here, and they had equipment. And we know it started in the roof," Rohlfing said. Investigators have yet to conclusively link the fire to the roof work, he said.

Fire officials on Wednesday estimated damage to the structure at $13 million, and an additional $4 million in damage to its contents."

 Trinity Lutheran Church, downtown Milwaukee

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Pastor of sister church blocks from Trinity Lutheran: ‘Any of these churches are a spark away from a fire’ | FOX6Now.com

Pastor of sister church blocks from Trinity Lutheran: ‘Any of these churches are a spark away from a fire’ | FOX6Now.com:



"St. John’s on the Hillside Lutheran Church

When you take a look at the crawl spaces at St. John’s on the Hillside Lutheran Church near 8th and Vliet in Milwaukee, you can understand how the Trinity Lutheran Church went up in flames so quickly.


Pastor William Schaefer

“Any of these churches are a spark away from a fire,” said Pastor William Schaefer.

Pastor William said his congregation formed just a year after Trinity.

“It’s just about six blocks as the crow flies,” said Pastor Schaefer.

Once known as the “City of Steeples,” Milwaukee has lost part of its skyline after Tuesday’s fire.

“Broke my heart. Honestly — it’s like my sister losing a home,” said Pastor Schaefer."

 Church and Change or Die! rules.

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***

GJ - I get all busted up when Team Jeske steals a congregation and its endowment fund, using those funds to pay the lawyer for the theft. But that's just me - I'm sentimental.

 I knew about it before the theft took place.

Weed and work in the Woods: The Senator's hijinks took advantage of Ecclesia's rare designation | Arkansas Blog

 Guilty, guilty, guilty.

Weed and work in the Woods: The Senator's hijinks took advantage of Ecclesia's rare designation | Arkansas Blog:

"The most colorful scheme described by federal prosecutors in the recently completed trial of former state Sen. Jon Woods was a gimmick to direct marijuana tax money to Ecclesia College.

Woods, who was found guilty earlier this month on federal corruption charges related to kickback schemes, including to Ecclesia, tried to sneak language into the medical marijuana amendment that would have directed money straight to the tiny Bible college in Springdale, according to testimony at the trial. "I think it is great to take money from Satan and Kingdom of darkness and put it to Kingdom of God use," then Ecclesia President Oren Paris III, who pleaded guilty for his own role in the kickback scheme, told Woods.

The novel gimmick — first reported by the Arkansas Blog — would have put language specifically designating some of the tax revenues from medical marijuana to go to grants for federally recognized "work colleges," an unusual designation that only seven liberal arts colleges in the U.S. have. These schools make up the "Work Colleges Consortium." The key for Woods was that Ecclesia was the only such college in the state, allowing the senator a mechanism to direct money straight to Ecclesia without ever putting the school's name into any of the language.

I suspect I am not the only one who had no idea what a "work college" was until it turned up in the news. It turns out...it's a pretty interesting concept! (Amusingly, some of the seven members of the Work Colleges Consortium are polar opposites of Ecclesia, such as the famously hippie college Warren Wilson).  The program is distinct from the need-based federal work-study program; at work colleges, all students are enrolled in the program, with jobs on campus, typically working 8 to 15 hours per week. "

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Ecclesia took out $1 million loan in February 2017, backed by properties bought with GIF help | Arkansas Blog

 

• ECCLESIA COLLEGE: Financially troubled school took out $1 million loan in midst of scandal, secured by properties taxpayers had helped pay for.

Ecclesia took out $1 million loan in February 2017, backed by properties bought with GIF help | Arkansas Blog:



"According to county property records, Ecclesia College took out a $1 million loan from Centennial Bank on February 28, 2017. The loan was backed by two properties that Ecclesia had purchased in 2013. Those properties were aided by nearly $700,000 in public General Improvement Fund (GIF) money, directed by ten legislators in 2013 and 2014.

Two days after Ecclesia took out the loan, on March 2, Oren Paris III, then the president of the college, was indicted, along with former state Rep. Micah Neal and former state Sen. Jon Woods, accused of participating in a kickback scheme to funnel GIF money to the college. Paris and Neal eventually pleaded guilty; Woods was found guilty on 15 of 17 counts earlier this month.

I asked Ecclesia College spokesperson Angie Snyder about this loan: What was the money spent on? Was it used to reduce other mortgages? Was any of it used in the criminal defense of Paris or in the civil litigation against the college stemming from an FOIA request related to the GIF documents? She has not replied.

I also contacted Travis Story at the Story Law Firm, which represented Paris after his criminal indictment and Ecclesia in the FOIA case. He has not responded.

The two properties that secured the loan are 4095 Highway 112 and 3870 Als Drive. Those are the two tracts, totaling nearly 50 acres, that the GIF money at the center of the scandal was allotted for.

The school purchased the 25.5 -acre property listed as 4095 Highway 112 in November of 2013 for $500,000. The school later received $200,000 in public money in 2014 to help pay for that property, all of it directed by Woods and Neal.

Ecclesia purchased the 23-acre property listed as 3870 Als Drive in December of 2013 for $675,000. The school received $492,500 in public money in 2013 and 2014 to help pay for it. Woods directed $200,000 of that. "

Read more about Ecclesia  here on the Arkansas Blog.


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Massive fire causes $17M damage to Trinity Lutheran Church; ‘Nonetheless, the building is still standing’ | FOX6Now.com

 The building itself was saved and some contents.
The main tower is 200 feet high.

Massive fire causes $17M damage to Trinity Lutheran Church; ‘Nonetheless, the building is still standing’ | FOX6Now.com:

 When they opened the doors after the fire was out,
the picture of Jesus was the first thing they saw.

"Chief Mark Rohlfing said at a news conference the fire caused an estimated $17 million in damage — $13 million to the building itself and another $4 million to the contents within the building. Rohlfing said the fire started on the roof — which was under construction at the time. There are reports heating tools caused the fire, but Rohlfing indicated the cause of the fire remains under investigation."

...

Reverend Jonah Burakowski of Trinity Lutheran Church indicated the congregation is committed to restoring or rebuilding the church at the same corner.

Reverend Jonah Burakowski

“It is an absolute loss for Trinity Lutheran Church and the congregation that gathers here, but at the same time, the building is just one piece of the ministry puzzle,” Rev. Burakowski said.

Burakowski said the building may look marginally or substantially different from what it used to — depending on how things work out.

“Nonetheless, the building is still standing,” Rev. Burakowski said. “It is a testament to those who built the building 140 something odd years ago, but more so to the fire department that came in and were able to address the fire really early, to prevent fire from getting behind the brick or into the brick and causing the walls to collapse.”

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Greek Lesson - Romans 2:12 - 24. 7 PM Central Daylight Tonight

 Romans 4 and Galatians 3 -
Children of Abraham by Faith.

Parsing Link

Romans Lenski - Download and save public domain PDF.

12 οσοι γαρ ανομως ημαρτον,  ανομως και απολουνται, και οσοι εν νομω ημαρτον δια νομου κριθησονται

alpha - negation. Look for sigma as future.

13 ου γαρ οι ακροαται του νομου δικαιοι παρα τω θεω αλλ οι ποιηται του νομου δικαιωθησονται

Notice parallel with James in language and message - hearers, doers.

14 οταν γαρ εθνη τα μη νομον εχοντα φυσει τα του νομου ποιη, ουτοι νομον μη εχοντες εαυτοις εισιν νομος

Seems, tangled, pretty clear though.

15 οιτινες ενδεικνυνται το εργον του νομου γραπτον εν ταις καρδιαις αυτων, συμμαρτυρουσης αυτων της συνειδησεως και μεταξυ αλληλων των λογισμων κατηγορουντων η και απολογουμενων

Many cognates: ergonomics, graph, martyr, logic, category, apology

16 εν ημερα οτε κρινει ο θεος τα κρυπτα των ανθρωπων κατα το ευαγγελιον μου δια ιησου χριστου

crypt, anthropology, Evangel

17 ιδε συ ιουδαιος επονομαζη, και επαναπαυη τω νομω, και καυχασαι εν θεω

onoma  name; 

18 και γινωσκεις το θελημα και δοκιμαζεις τα διαφεροντα - κατηχουμενος εκ του νομου

catechism - find it in this verse

19 πεποιθας τε σεαυτον οδηγον ειναι τυφλων, φως των εν σκοτει

Opposites make it easier to translate.

20 παιδευτην αφρονων, διδασκαλον νηπιων, εχοντα την μορφωσιν της γνωσεως και της αληθειας εν τω νομω

Pediatrics, Morphology, didactic,  

21 ο ουν διδασκων ετερον, σεαυτον ου διδασκεις; ο κηρυσσων μη κλεπτειν κλεπτεις

Hetero, kerygma is like a town crier, hence preaching, kleptomaniac

22 ο λεγων μη μοιχευειν μοιχευεις, ο βδελυσσομενος τα ειδωλα - ιεροσυλεις

Hebrew uses verb/noun combinations, as we do.

23 ος εν νομω καυχασαι δια της παραβασεως του νομου τον θεον ατιμαζεις

Boasting often comes up in Paul

24 το γαρ ονομα του θεου δι υμας βλασφημειται εν τοις εθνεσιν καθως γεγραπται

The Name of God is sacred. Judaism Name, rather than just God

-- Next lesson --

25 περιτομη μεν γαρ ωφελει εαν νομον πρασσης εαν δε παραβατης νομου ης η περιτομη σου ακροβυστια γεγονεν

26 εαν ουν η ακροβυστια τα δικαιωματα του νομου φυλασση ουχι η ακροβυστια αυτου εις περιτομην λογισθησεται

27 και κρινει η εκ φυσεως ακροβυστια τον νομον τελουσα σε τον δια γραμματος και περιτομης παραβατην νομου

28 ου γαρ ο εν τω φανερω ιουδαιος εστιν ουδε η εν τω φανερω εν σαρκι περιτομη

29 αλλ ο εν τω κρυπτω ιουδαιος και περιτομη καρδιας εν πνευματι ου γραμματι ου ο επαινος ουκ εξ ανθρωπων αλλ εκ του θεου

1550 Stephanus New Testament (TR1550)

Let It Rain - Garden Bursting into Bloom and New Plants

 Cat Mint - this is leap year for mine.

We had a good rain yesterday, with more predicted for today and tomorrow. I watered the Cat Mint to move it and dug up one gigantic plant today.

A fun part of Creation Gardening is seeing how the plant follow their engineering and succeed in their particular corner of God's world.

Wiki:

Lyrics as published in 1861 in A Garland of Songs:

We plough the fields, and scatter the good seed on the land;
But it is fed and watered by God's almighty hand:
He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain.

Chorus All good gifts around us
Are sent from heaven above,
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord
For all His love.

He only is the maker of all things near and far;
He paints the wayside flower, He lights the evening star;
The winds and waves obey Him, by Him the birds are fed;
Much more to us, His children, He gives our daily bread.

Chorus
We thank Thee, then, O Father, for all things bright and good,
The seed time and the harvest, our life, our health, and food;
No gifts have we to offer, for all Thy love imparts,
But that which Thou desirest, our humble, thankful hearts.

Chorus

Verse 3 was revised to make it better suited to the harvest in Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1868 Appendix:

We thank Thee, then, O Father, for all things bright and good,
The seed time and the harvest, our life, our health, and food;
Accept the gifts we offer, for all Thy love imparts,
But what Thou most desirest, our humble, thankful hearts.

The hymn references Acts 14:17 (verse 1), James 1:17 (chorus), Psalms 65:7 and Matthew 6:26 (verse 2, line 3).

 Imagine Mountain Mint shoulder high and buzzing with beneficial life.

More on Cat Mint - and Mountain Mint
Last year was leap year for Mountain Mint, an even taller plant, so the roots are deeper and tougher.

Since watering combined with rain, I decided to dislodge one Cat Mint and cut some Mountain Mint away from its mother lode.

In both cases, the soil was soft, but the roots were more like tangled cords. I had to go deep, as they say at GCU, to get under the roots and bring them up.

This meant I could set up several Cat and Mountain Mint locations in the Butterfly Garden, the area first known for crabgrass weeds, then for a disastrous hay bale mess, and next - a tomato plant massacre.

The hottest and sunniest garden area, usually on the south or west side, is good for tomatoes (pests allowing) and corn (ditto) or butterfly plants. 

I decided on mints that mound instead of Catnip and othermints than take over the entire yard. Mints have tiny flowers that attract bees and other pollinators.

Good mints - Cat Mint, Mountain Mint, Bergamot (purple).

Bad mints - Cat Nip, Peppermint, Scarlet Bee Balm. 
Scarlet Bee Balm would be good in an area that is going wild. The floppy plants will form a lot of red flowers and attract Hummingbirds and bees. And it is easy to remove later.