More on the Astounding Success of the Church Growth Movement in LCMS-WELS-ELS

 Matt the Fatt has slimmed down the LCMS - it is lean and mean, like him.
He even gratuitously insulted the dying CN editor who helped him become Synod Pope.

The LCMS Website has posted the latest membership totals for our Synod.

2020.........1,861,121 Baptized members

2010.........2,310,235 Baptized members

 This was posted on Facebook by Matt the Fatt's pals.

How Many Are Starting To Miss the Geneva Gown?

 

 BTW, in this photo of Rev. Jacob Benson (center) at his installation at St. John's Lutheran Church in Lovell, WY, Wyoming District President John Hill is the person wearing the off-center cope. I couldn't find the identity of the others, including the pastor wearing the ruff collar (common in Scandinavian Lutheran churches). No, that one guy is not Eldona bound, more like the Ukraine.

One LCMS pastor is signaling interest in ELDONA.
Don't ask how I know.

Humor Department - Category, Heiser's ELDONUTS

The Right Reverend James Heiser, STM, claimed on his own video tape that he knew nothing about Objective Justification until Rydecki was being tossed out of WELS. The tell (as they call it in spycraft and poker) is the gulp as he tries to sell the deception - he does not believe his own lies. We were discussing OJ on the phone before 2000, and he sold copies of Thy Strong Word where the differences are laid out.

This is the latest - Hollywood Heiser - the archbishop in the Philippines. His outfit would feed a family for a year, if converted into the local currency. Get your bishop's uniform here.

"The pride, luxury, and profligacy of the clergy, led not a few laymen to ask if better and more certain guides were not to be had. Many of the troubadours were religious men, whose lays were sermons."

Wylie, J.A. . The History of the Waldenses (p. 16). Kindle Edition. 

Creation Garden Roll Call - Heavy Rains Help

 

Borage is called bee bread, for providing so much food for the insects.
They form seed easily and re-seed the garden. Growing some will increase the beneficial insect population.

We had more rain yesterday, after the mowing. Ranger Bob brought over a bunch of iris blooms for Christina, and we had coffee on the porch. Sassy Sue has an official spot where she made her bed of leaves and grass. She likes to listen and bark out orders for treats.

The new plants coming up, greening up, and blooming are:

1. Roses - budding and blooming, most of the rainbow clearance roses are looking strong and good.
2. Joe Pye Weeds - are just starting to rise from their winter quarters .
3. Alium - grown up and opening the flowers.
4. Grape Hyacinth - are finishing their blooming season.
5. Clethra - leafed out in a few days, lightly pruned for faster growth.
6. Dandelions - their seed parachutes are used by hummingbirds, which are sipping from the five (5) feeders. 
7. Shasta Daisies - are slowly forming the plant but not budding yet.
8. Yarrow - are robust in the butterfly garden (meaning - could be a pest in the future).
9. Comfrey - is very robust in the butterfly garden. Cousin borage below.
10. Cousin borage - is blooming from last year's seed drop, very tall.
11. Lilies, which seemed to die underground last year, are now growing well. 
12. Cat mint has turned into a large patch of luminous tiny purple flowers for the bees.
13. Likewise, bee balm has formed larger patches than last year and is about to bloom.
14. Ajuga weed has almost finished its attempted takeover of the garden.
15. Wild strawberries have bloomed and will soon have fruit for the birds and squirrels all summer.
16. Ten maple trees were growing in on small space, looking suspiciously like a squirrel food bank. They were uprooted.
17. Ivy pulled some tall grass weeds while they were staying. She wants a garden.
18. I planted hosta, more hosta, lambs ear, and astilbe - all for the shade garden in back.

The fragrance of Clethra is sweet and cinnamon. Some call it Sweet Spice or Summer Sweet. Butterflies and bees love it, and garden visitors enjoy catching that Cinnabon aroma, as if coming from a bakery at rush hour.