Randomness Becomes Order - Part Two

 

 These are Veterans Honor roses from an earlier autumn of steady rain, which I never imagined would come again.

Randomness Becomes Order in the Creation Garden - Part One

No matter what we imagine we are doing, the Creation Garden will always produce unusual and beautiful results. The basics precede the results -

• Saving organic matter, even twigs, to build the soil;
• Letting deeply rooted plants, even weeds, break up the soil and fertilize it through root hairs;
• Pruning so that the fruitful becomes even more fruitful.

I asked Big John if he wanted his rose bush to bloom more. I brought my pruning shears and invited him to watch. His large rose bush, probably a Knockout, was packed with flowers turning into hips. There was no color left, but a lot of potential. I cut off every single rose past its prime. After several rains, the bush has become spectacular with small, red flowers. The current series of storms will build it even more.

Paul speaks several times about "the faith of Jesus," but this generation of Fuller salesmen has no faith.

Congregations once grew because pastors visited the members, shut-ins and hospitalized first, home visits as well. The staff at my vicarage was expected to do that, and the senior pastor was the prime example. Fifty plus years later, the building is being converted to rental units. The website writes about how dynamic the pastor is. Hmm - I wonder who wrote that script - "Come for the personality, stay for the apartment."

Has anyone added up the millions spent on figuring out what to do? All the descriptions and plans are purely secular. 

The foundation is the Biblical sermon, unique for each service, for each pastor. Second to that is genuine Biblical teaching, not using the drivel produced by the synod, cult, or movement. 

The ridiculous material is usually the result of copying Calvinist sources, marketing, or sociology. I visit the verbose American Lutheran Publicity Bureau Online Discussion Forum (aka Old Men Sipping Ovaltine). They never even touch the basics of the Gospel, but content themselves with nostalgia and parroting the latest secular studies. 

Jesus emphasized clearly that His sermons were about faith in Him. After all, what is more effective than the source of forgiveness and salvation being the example - the Good Shepherd? The Apostles simply taught this Gospel and miracles followed. 

I believe in miracles because the Scriptures teach them and believers witness them. Remaining faithful is the foundation of Christianity, and all the fruits of the Spirit follow.