A Strange New World Emerges as the Nominal Lutheran Clergy Disappear and Move Toward Rome

 There are times when a visit to C. M. Almy's might be a better choice than Goodwill.

When I started this blog, I posted that mass bells were busting up that old gang of mine: Neuhaus, Wilken, Salzman, Pelikan. 

ALPB published that requests for new graduates as pastors were double the supply.

ALPB Online Discussion Board - "The Ovaltines"

Joined Roman Catholic Church 

 1. Richard J. Neuhaus (1990) LCMS, Seminex, ELCA, close friend of Wilken, LCMS, below. 

2. Robert L. Wilken (1994)..Professor at University of Virginia 

3. Leonard Klein (2003) 

4. Phillip M. Johnson (2006) 

5. Bruce Marshall..Professor at St. Olaf 

6. David Fagerberg..Professor at Concordia College, Moorhead 

7. Richard Hutter..Professor at Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago 

8. Mickey Mattox..Professor at Marquette University 

9. Michael Root (2010)..Professor at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, ELCA 

10 Russell Saltzman (2016) 

 Joined Orthodox Church 

1. Jaroslav Pelikan (1998).. Professor at Yale University, LCMS trained, later ELCA 

2. Jay Rochelle..Professor at Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago. Even the LSTC organ went Catholic! 

3. David Smith 

4. J. Thomas Shelley (2015) 

5. John Fenton - editor, LCMS Lutheran Service Book

God's Creation Garden

 

 Empress Hosta - too big?

I had a surprise when I looked over the newly trimmed Rose Garden. I saw a trio of blue hosta plants, young and growing well. They looked just like the ones I transplanted to the green fence area, where I have shade and sunlight. Like several other hostas, these three left enough root stock to start over, even though I imagined  I dug up the entire plant.

Another surprise was seeing a hosta plantation in the green fence area, along the chain-link fence, etc. We had a real drought last fall, but these came back like steroid test samples. It was a combination of transplanting and watering.

 Blue Elegens is popular.

Hostas are fascinating with so many different styles, colors, and leaf textures. King Charles III and I are quite fond of them for use in semi-shade, but even more for their hummingbird attracting flowers. Mr. Gardener got me started on hostas for hummers, so I have increased the population of both.

Many efforts to grow new hostas have failed, thanks to rabbits and other creatures, but enough plant remains to coax the remnants into mature examples.

Never Ignore a Dog at a Hardware Store

I was at Lowe's garden center to browse when I spotted a small grey terrier sitting on his pillow in a cart. He showed a great interest in me, stood up on his pillow and leaned toward me. I stretched out my right hand knuckles since they serve as a reliable safety test with nippy dogs. He began licking off each knuckle, as if I had recently kneaded bread dough at home. When that was done - very thoroughly - I began to lower my arm. No! He reached out and with his paw gently pulled my arm back for another round of affection. I was impressed that he used his claws so gently.

So many delightful things happen all the time. 

Lady, perhaps a Doberman and Chihauhau mix, came over to visit with Ranger Bob. I call Lady a Dobie-wa-wa since she has acute guard dog habits and a small, energetic frame, bulging big eyes. Next door the Great Pyranee, always looking for attention, ached for a race along the fence. I had to start them going, but once they got in gear, they were racing in big circles along the fence and around the yard.

Clethra, the Cinnabon bush, is leafing out. One failed in the front yard, but several others are growing, along with the original. Also called Sweet Spice, Summersweet, and Poor Man's Soap.

Daily Lutheran Sermon Quote - Jubilate Sunday - "A Little While"

 

Link to Luther's Jubilate Sermon

7. The first "a little while" in that he says, "A little while, and ye shall behold me no more," they could soon afterwards understand, when they saw that he was taken prisoner and put to death, but the second "a little while" in that he says: "And again a little while, and ye shall see me," that they could not understand, and we also cannot understand it. Yea and when he says: "Because I go to the Father," that they understand still less. Thus it also goes with us: although we know and hear that trials, misfortune and sorrow endure but a little while, yet we see that it constantly appears different than we believe. Then we despair and waver, and cannot be reconciled to it. We hear and we know very well that it shall not last very long, but how that result shall be accomplished we can never understand, as the disciples here cannot understand it.

8. But since they are unable to understand it why does Christ relate it to them or why is it written? In order that we should not despair but hold fast to the Word, assured that it is indeed thus and not otherwise, even though it seems to be different. And although we do at times depart from the Word, we should not therefore remain altogether away from it, but return again, for he makes good his Word. Even though man cannot believe it, God will nevertheless help him to believe it, and this he does without man's reason or free will and without man adding anything thereto. Yea, the Evangelist tells us that the disciples could not understand the words the Lord spake to them; how much less could they understand his works which followed afterwards. So very little does the free will and understanding of man know of the things pertaining to the salvation of the soul. These temporal things the free will can perceive and know, such as the cock crowing, which he can hear and his reason can also understand it; but when it is a question of understanding the work and Word of God, then human reason must give it up; it cannot make head or tail of it, although it pretends to understand a great deal about it. The glory thereof is too bright, the longer he beholds it the blinder he becomes.