Milkweed and Monarch Butterflies in the Creation Rose Garden

I did not see much from the Monarch butterflies until a few days ago. True to his Osage heritage, Ranger Bob spotted a swarm of butterfly caterpillars on the butterfly plants in front of the patio. They were just hatched out, not plump yet.

For years I have promoted butterfly plants, especially those catering to Monarchs, but also any plant listed as a pollinator. The result has been an overwhelming mixture of scents and butterflies of all types frolicking about. Bees consider me a good friend and never sting. Of course, I do not yell at them and swing utensils at them.

Hummingbirds have added to the delights. 

Christina ordered a front yard of roses, so they add to the overwhelming fragrance as well. 

I suggest being patient with the Monarch weeds promoted by garden suppliers. They are worth the wait.

Lutherdom Explained by Two Major, Successful Onslaughts

The Lutheran sects of America are overwhelmingly Calvinist and Papal, blended together in their hatred for the Biblical Reformation of the 16th century. As Chemnitz wrote in his Apology of the Book of Concord - the non-Lutherans who broke from Luther were not Reformers but wannabees! The copycats feigned fidelity to the Bible but they wanted a copyright for their strange and contradictory claims. Thus Zwingli established the foundation of Calvinism by rejecting the efficacy of the Word and the Means of Grace.

Although many Babtists teach faith in Christ, the burrowing Babtist-Calvinists seem to be taking over in the name of covenant. Covenant means God will only prosper those who give 10% and more to God - "He won't bless you unless you bless Him."

• Hast thou not noticed that all the modern Bad Bibles are variations on doubt, Zwingli, and Calvin? 
• And the Bad Bible Boosters (RSV, NRSV, ESV, NIV and Beck) mock the King James Version?
• And that the KJV unifies Christendom instead of dividing and destroying?

The origin of the Bad Bibles is the KJV Revision of 1881, as illustrated above. In short, the worst apostate leaders in America and Britain beat down the conservatives and the very limited scope of the Revision. They created such a horrible, dishonest Revision that no one would buy it once they saw the contents. Nor could anyone fix the Revision because the Biblical harlots were striving for total control.

Fifty years later, the Revision popped up again, like a bloated pig inflated by its death in a flood (which we saw during the St. Louis, 1993 flood. The 1930s hailed modernism, cooperating with every sect, and lusting for merger. Like the Methodists, the Lutherans figured out that they could steal all the assets by making the conservatives march away in a fury, leaving almost everything behind, keeping their old hymnals and little else.

The Lutheran blogs and discussion groups today are laughable, with almost no content, no Reformation knowledge, and no sense of humor. They used to rage against the efficacy of the Word in the Means of Grace, but now they rest on their flaccid fannies and praise one one another for their leadership. 

The apostate sisterhood has been capitulating to the Zwingli Calvinists for almost 100 years:

1. Bad Bibles
2. Worsening Hymnals
3. Constant digs against the Reformation.

ELCA-LCMS-ELS-ELDONUTs Love Dress-Up Day

The orans or angel pose seems to have spread its infection to the quasi-Lutherans. 

One historian called it "sinuflecting toward Rome," sneaking and snaking toward Roman Catholicism while tugging along the denomination. That was the plan of Cardinal Newman, and it worked fairly well. After all, he wrote "Lead Kindly Light," a hymn suited for all religions.

The Lutheran Church in America promoted the sisterhood first, awkwardly at first. At the Ad Fontes Holy Communion service, Synod President James Crumley looked strangely at the female pastor using the extreme orans pose, bowing toward the communion elements.

Christina and I did not participate, but wondered afterwards how much wackier worship was going to be in the future. We saw the same sort of Romanizing at Ft. Wayne, with David Scaer marching down the aisle in a big ceremony, as if in a trance.

When two WELS pastors side-stepped over to the LCMS, one posed in his pink cope - or was it rose? WELS finally abandoned their Geneva (black) gowns in favor of Vogue gowns. Progress?

At an ELS installation, the pastor genuflected toward the elements. Missouri began using incense. ELDONA regressed from Eastern Orthodox threads down to Almy Roman Catholic costumes - enhanced by EO haybale beards.

Lutherans have been buying Roman Catholic Bibles and promoting the Apocrypha for decades. Let's face it - the Apocrypha is boring and uninspired. 

"Ask the Pastor" should be banned until Lutherans have exhausted the treasures of the Bible and repudiated the detritus of the Revision.

No words - they even found a way to top Liz Eaton, with ELCA's United Not-Lutheran Seminary.

Matt the Fatt:

"Oh, I could sing a sonnet

About my bishop's bonnet

If I had some donuts

At the ELCA parade."

The Speed of the HP Laser Printer!

Best Buy's Three Hour Delay

Recently I had Best Buy over for some issues. That ended with setting up a new printer so the active computers could use the same printer. Yesterday, I needed to print up the pharmaceutical list for the infusion nurses. I did everything and yet the printer did not hum and whirl. I tried twice and gave up, using the stone age ink pen for the list. Three hours later, I checked email and the printer suddenly lit up, printing two clear examples of the list I created - and "printed" - three hours earlier in Word. 

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 12 - "And this spittle, the Word of God, is a noble thing, but very bitter to the Old Adam."

 

Link to the Complete Sermon - Luther's Sermons - Mark 7:31-37. Twelfth Sunday after Trinity

PART 2. THE SPIRITUAL MEANING.

20. The people bring the poor man to the Lord, the Lord takes him to a special place, lays his fingers into the man’s ears, spits, and touches his tongue with the spittle, looks up toward heaven, and sighing, says, Ephphata, that is, Be opened! This is a lovely picture, and its meaning is good. For by those who here bring the deafmute to the Lord, the office of the ministry is meant. Ministers and the Apostles lead the poor consciences of men to God. This is done in three ways, by preaching, by a godly life, and by intercession. With the Word and preaching, they are brought to God; a godly life serves to show the Word so much the mightier in its power. But the Word itself leads to Christ, though it be preached by a sinner. Yet, a good life serves as an emphasis and a furtherance of the Gospel; while a wicked life dulls its edge. Their third duty, to pray for the people, likewise leads them on the road both to faith and to works.

21. Now if the Word go on its way in this threefold manner, it cannot fail to bring forth fruit, as God says, Isaiah 55:11: “My Word, that goeth forth out of my mouth, shall not return to me void.” This is indicated by the action of the pious persons who carry the mute into Christ’s presence; this signifies the ministers, who bring forward the sinner; then God appears, giving growth and increase, as Paul says, 1 Corinthians 3:7, He opens the sinner’s eyes, ears, and mouth. This happens in a wink of the eye, for God’s Word is like lightning, which in a moment passes from sunrise to the ends of the earth. Thus when such persons are brought to God, he gives them grace to believe.

22. This is signified by the act of laying his fingers into the man’s ears; through the Word he breathes the Holy Spirit into him, making the heart believing, decent, chaste, and holy; for the finger signifies the Holy Spirit.

23. Again, the spittle that is laid on the man’s tongue, typifies the Word of God; this is put into his mouth in order that he may be able to speak it. And this spittle, the Word of God, is a noble thing, but very bitter to the Old Adam.

24. Then they praise God, saying: “He hath done all things well, he has made the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak.” For wherever there is true faith, there the Spirit will not allow you any rest; you will break forth, become a priest, teach other people also, as we read  Psalm 116:10: “I believe, for I will speak.” There the heart is full, and the mouth must run over. Then when they are persecuted, they will not care.

Hebrews 9 - Daily Verses - And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament...

 

Nota bene - Daily medical assistance, IV infusion at the hospital, is being provided for a neighbor, so the remaining Hebrews chapters will be posted by chapter.

Hebrews 9

1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.

3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 12 - "Christ was my priest, who prayed for me and purchased faith and the Spirit for me..."

 

Link to the Complete Sermon - Luther's Sermons - Mark 7:31-37. Twelfth Sunday after Trinity

9. Therefore, by all means beware of the preachers whom you have often heard among the monks, who approach a dying person and say: “Behold, my brave fellow, do not despair; if you have committed sins, be sorry for them; but in order that you may fare so much the better, I will make you a present of my righteous life and my good works.” If now, the dying person accept such a gift, he is as much a fool as the other, and with all these works, he ‘will go to the devil. Therefore, beware of such consolation, and say: If you are willing to serve me with your good works, approach God and speak thus: O heavenly Father, by thy grace I am now believing; therefore, I pray thee, my God, give also unto this poor man a faith of his own. This might help me; but that you would give me your own faith, this you cannot do, neither would it help me. You will have enough to do to be saved by your own faith.

10. This you may see in the case of the foolish virgins, who, when their lamps went out, said unto the wise virgins: “Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out.” Then did the wise ones answer and say: “Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you.” Matthew 25:8-9. In that case I am in need even of more faith for myself; how then could I share it with another? For my own faith must stand before God’s judgment, and must fight so hard and cleave so firmly to God’s mercy, that the sweat will run down its face, if it is to prevail. That is the true meaning of St. Peter’s words, 1 Peter 4-18: “The righteous is scarcely saved, where then shall the ungodly appear?” For when death makes its onslaught, then such fear and agony will seize him, that he can scarcely with all his strength, stand for himself and be kept in faith. Hence it is greatly to be deplored that they have established so much deception, putting monks’ cowls upon the dead, and inventing other foolish things, by which they led poor souls straightway to perdition. Beware of them.

11. Now this I say, that you may know how far the faith of others may be of use to us, and how your own faith can help you. Other people’s merits will help you to attain a merit of your own, and nothing more. And though all the angels, yea, the mercy of God itself, were ready to stand for you, it would avail you nothing, unless you cleave unto it with a faith of your own. But it may effect this, that it will assist you to obtain a faith of your own, which will help you. Furthermore, even if Christ did die for us, and pledged and gave his body and life, blood and flesh for us, and became our advocate; yet it would avail nothing, unless we believe in him. But he can assist us in this way, that he appears before the Father and says: “O Father, this have I done for mankind; do thou give them faith, in order that they may enjoy it.” This then, will help us, if we feel assured that his works and merit are our own. In the same manner one should also speak of the other saints, that no saint’s intercession and merit avail unless we ourselves believe. You observe this also in our lesson. There lies the poor man, unable either to speak or to hear. They who bring him to the Lord can speak and hear. But they cannot make him speak by their hearing and speaking, and even though they all had come near him and said: “We will speak and hear for you”; yet he would, in spite of this, have remained speechless and deaf continually, and would never have been able to speak.

12. Likewise, if I were to give you a written declaration saying: “Go forth, this is my work; this shall be yours”; yet it will not help you a whit, but it will carry you into hell. In what way, then, will it help you? If I do, as these men do, who come to Christ and say: “O Lord, help this poor man, that he may receive his speech?’ They do not say: “We will hear and speak in your stead,” but they pray that Christ himself would give him speech. Likewise, if you take my part, and use your faith in such a way that it may help me to a faith of my own, this might help me; thus! thus it must be! God be thanked! Otherwise, no work nor any brotherhood, will avail.

13. Therefore say: I must neither rely upon your works nor you upon mine; but I will, by my own faith, pray God to give you a faith of your own. This is what is said, that we all are priests and kings, that we, like Christ himself, may intercede for one another before God, praying for personal faith.

Thus, if I happen to notice that you have no faith of your own, or a weak faith, I go and ask God to help, you to obtain faith, not by giving you my faith and my works, but your own faith and your own works; so that Christ may give him all his works and salvation through faith, as he hath given them to us by faith.

14. That is the meaning of the saying of Christ, John 16:26-27: “I say not unto you that I will pray the Father for you; for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father.” This is a beautiful addition, as though he would say: I have prayed for you, and have entreated God that he would give you what is mine. Therefore know my name. For through my prayer he has accepted you and has given you faith, so that henceforth you may pray for yourselves, and I need not do it; provided that you do it in my name. Here he has crowned us, dedicated and anointed us with the Holy Spirit, so that we all are priests in Christ, and may exercise the priest’s office, go before God and pray for one another. This is what St. Peter means in writing thus in his First Epistle, 1 Peter 2:9-10: “Ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may shew forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, which in time past were no people, but now are the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

15. Hence we may all say: Christ was my priest, who prayed for me and purchased faith and the Spirit for me; therefore I am also a priest, and must go on praying in the world, that God may give faith also to this and that person. So we conclude, that we shall obtain whatever we earnestly pray for in the true faith, as the Lord says, John 16:24: “Ask, and ye shall receive.”

Fifty Years Ago and Year Two.Bells for the Campanologist

Campanology is the scientific and musical study of bells. It encompasses the technology of bells – how they are founded, tuned and rung – as well as the history, methods, and traditions of bellringing as an art. It is common to collect together a set of tuned bells and treat the whole as one musical instrument. Wikipedia

 Campanologist - someone who loves and studies bells.

 

I was pushing a wheelchair today and later watching the use of IV antibiotics for a dangerous circulation problem. Surgery and procedures saved one or both legs.

Everyone talks about medical advances so I thought about 50 years ago, when Christina and I were both working at Yale Medical School. She was a researcher for a well known professor and writer of children's books, on the staff of the Yale Medical Child Study Center. I was a lowly xeroxer for the Yale Medical School Library. Researchers asked for journal articles. I went into the dark basement stacks and found the journal for xeroxing. 

We were great friends with Bruce and Betsy Wenger, not realizing he graduated at the top of his class at Yale Medical. 

Christina and I took the Yale shuttle bus over to the medical campus, sometimes together, sometimes solo. One stop was at Baskin Robbins, when they still made real ice cream. 

People would say, "The time will run so fast, you will not believe it." Those people have passed into eternal life, including my favorite professors and the pastor/bishop who helped ordain me.

Two years ago today, Christina transitioned to eternal life. That makes me think of many Yale episodes, trivial but fun, all adding up to the best of memories. Her professor, Joan Fassler, died young from cancer. Joan's husband, Leonard, lived until 2021. 

Leonard was the surprise person on the sidewalk in Chicago when Christina and I found ourselves walking behind him and two other businessmen. She was sure it had to be Lenny. I whispered, "He is a New York lawyer!" I conceded it was possible, so I yelled, "LENNY!" He turned around and mutual recognition lit up. Christina hugged him, and his friends said, "Lenny. Strange beautiful young women run up and hug you! What a gift!"

He helped in the legal battle to break up AT&T. He also kept us up to date about his dear wife.

Incredible Means "Cannot Believe It." Lutheran School in Wauwautosa, Wisconsin.Which Synod? Anyone? Anyone?LCMS

 

Pilgrim Lutheran is a part of LUMIN Schools. President and CEO Shaun Luehring issued the following statement to FOX6 News:

As a faith based, Christ-centered network, LUMIN Schools is comprised of Christian team members united by our mission. We strive to be a network of schools that is Christian in every sense of the word. Therefore, we expect our staff to represent Jesus Christ and the mission of LUMIN Schools – not only in their work, but in their personal lives as well.

LUMIN takes the physical, emotional and spiritual safety of our students incredibly seriously. To that end, we conduct background checks on all candidates prior to employment. We share our expectations around standards of conduct with all teachers and employees, and execute regular trainings to ensure our expectations, policies and procedures are understood in practice.

Recently, LUMIN leadership received information indicating that a Pilgrim Lutheran School teacher violated our standards of conduct. We immediately shared the information with local authorities and began an internal investigation. Within 24 hours, members of LUMIN’s administrative team met with the teacher and determined there had been a violation of the LUMIN Schools Standards of Conduct leading to immediate termination.

On August 15, the Brown Deer Police notified LUMIN that their investigation uncovered additional information and the former teacher was placed under arrest. 

Efficacy of the Word - Ephesians 3 - Including Greek for the Majority of Pastors, Bishops, and District Presidents Who Never Studied Biblical Languages or Luther.

 

 

King James Version

KJV Ephesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. 

Stephanus Traditional Ephesians 3 

16 ινα δωη υμιν κατα τον πλουτον της δοξης αυτου δυναμει (able) κραταιωθηναι δια του πνευματος (through His Spirit) αυτου εις τον εσω ανθρωπον (in the inner man)

3:17 κατοικησαι τον χριστον (dwell with Christ) δια της πιστεως (through the Spirit) εν ταις καρδιαις υμων (in your hearts)

18 εν αγαπη ερριζωμενοι και τεθεμελιωμενοι ινα εξισχυσητε καταλαβεσθαι συν πασιν τοις αγιοις τι το πλατος και μηκος και βαθος και υψος

19 γνωναι τε την υπερβαλλουσαν της γνωσεως αγαπην του χριστου ινα πληρωθητε εις παν το πληρωμα του θεου

20 τω δε δυναμενω υπερ παντα ποιησαι υπερ εκ περισσου ων αιτουμεθα η νοουμεν κατα την δυναμιν (power of the Holy Spirit) την ενεργουμενην εν ημιν (at work in the Word in us)

21 αυτω η δοξα εν τη εκκλησια εν χριστω ιησου εις πασας τας γενεας του αιωνος των αιωνων αμην

Explanation

This is well known as a passage about the power of prayer, even more appreciated with the efficacy of the Holy Spirit in the Word. The Bible consistently repudiates false doctrine, but many plunge ahead anyway with their schemes, without a map and without more than a clue about the meaning of these verses.

As shown by Thy Strong Word, the Spirit/Word union is taught throughout the Scriptures, Luther's writings, the Book of Concord, and many historic hymns.

The Church of Rome gives all earthly power to the Pope and his massive bureaucracy. The non-Lutheran Protestants often rely on the length and emotion of prayers. Some are so separated from the text of Ephesians 3 that they neglect the Word and rely on the Holy Spirit without the Word. 

The weakness and apostasy of the institutional Lutherans is shown by their aping of Calvinism and Romanism, their repugnance toward Luther, the German Reformation, and the Book of Concord.

The two, neglected key words from this passage are power (referring to the Holy Spirit) and (worketh - referring to the Word). 

When the Father commanded the Creation, Six 24-hour Days, the Son as the Word executed the Commands. This is clearly shown and mostly ignored by Church Growth (sic) and Rationalism.

The Son of God - the Logos - created everything in the universe in Six Days. The Holy Spirit hovered over Creation and serves to teach us what belongs to the Father and the Son. 

Ephesians 3 - especially verse 20 - combines the work of the Spirit and the divine power of the Word. 

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us...

When we pray at the beginning or end of the day, we should name all those we know who have special problems, challenging health issues, anxieties, and requests for God's guidance. The greatest burdens can become the greatest blessings. Do not ask me how or when. That is handled by Management and beyond our comprehension. 

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 12 - Mark 7:31-37 - "You know the fundamental truth is, that man cannot be just and acceptable before God, save alone by faith." - ELCA,WELS,ELS,LCMS, CLC (sic) Deny This

 

Link to the Complete Sermon - Luther's Sermons - Mark 7:31-37. Twelfth Sunday after Trinity

Thus love should do its work, not as though it needs it, but devotes itself solely to the benefit of its neighbor, as Paul, among other things, speaks to the Corinthians about love, Corinthians 13:5: “Love seeketh not its own”; and to the Philippians he says, Philippians 2:4: “Not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.”

6. This we may also learn here in these good people. They do not need this work themselves, nor do they look to themselves, but to the poor man, and think how they may help him; they seek no reward, but act independently and freely. Thus you should by right do likewise; if not, you are no Christians. Therefore consider carefully how love is here described, that it takes upon itself the care of others. If we accept this lesson, it will be well for us; but if not, then God will punish us with blindness, as he has been doing, to our grief, for nearly four hundred years. This much we say briefly concerning faith and love. Furthermore, we must now, in the fourth place, treat of the faith of other persons.

7. You know the fundamental truth is, that man cannot be just and acceptable before God, save alone by faith. So that they have lied and spoken falsely who have taught heretofore that we may deal with God through our works. Moreover it was much more foolish that they taught us to rely upon the works and faith of other persons, pretending that nuns, monks and priests can help other persons by their wailing which they perform in their cloisters at night, and that in this manner they can help other people and distribute their treasures. Therefore, let everyone here remember, that no one dare undertake to be saved by the faith, or by the work of another person; in truth, it cannot be done by the faith or work of Mary, or of any saint, yea, not even by Christ’s work and faith, but through your own personal faith. For God will not permit Mary, or any other saint, not even Christ himself, to take your place, in order that you might be godly and righteous, unless you believe for your own self. If Christ’s faith and work will not do it, you will much less accomplish it by the work or faith of all the monks and priests. Hence our Gospel lesson gives us an occasion to speak of the faith of others.

For here we read that they led this person to Christ in their own faith and work; the man did nothing toward it, but merely suffered it to be done.

8. Therefore let everybody mark well, that he can never be saved through another person’s faith. But it of course may happen, that by the faith of other persons you may be brought to a faith of your own. Likewise the good works of other persons may be of service to me to obtain works of my own. Therefore those lie, who declare that we may be saved through the works or faith of other persons, whether we ourselves believe or not.

No, this is not so! Unless you yourself draw out from God’s kindness and mercy a faith of your own, you will not be saved. Thus it must be; otherwise no other person’s faith or works avail, not even Christ, though he is the Savior of all the world; his kindness, his help will do you no good whatever, unless you believe in it, and are enlightened by it.

Local Church Tries Bold New Tactic Of Just Teaching The Bible - From the Babylon Bee

 

Local Church Tries Bold New Tactic Of Just Teaching The Bible

CHURCH·Aug 21, 2023 · BabylonBee.com

GASTONIA, NC — A local church found a new surge in popularity after making the revolutionary decision to forego its normal attempts to appeal to the masses and instead just start teaching the Bible.

"I don't know why we didn't think of this before," said Steve Borden, lead pastor at Abundant River of Faith and Life. "We've done all the other stuff for years — carnivals, classic car shows, sermon series built around clips from popular movies — but it turns out what people actually need in their lives is to hear God's Word. Who would've thought?"

The church had struggled to bring people through the doors on Sunday mornings for the last decade, resorting to revamping its presentation with fog machines, theatrical staging, lighting worthy of a touring rock band, gourmet espresso drinks, and trendy, topical, life-improvement messages. "We thought that would really help us draw new people," Pastor Borden said. "All that ended up happening was filling the building with a bunch of people who loved coffee and free daycare for their kids."

Things changed when one humble congregant (who requested to remain anonymous) suggested the pastoral staff begin just teaching lessons from the Bible itself. "It was a night and day difference," Borden said. "We actually started seeing people's lives change, as if preaching from the Bible has some kind of divine power to really reach a person's heart. They didn't teach me this in seminary. Wild stuff!"