Cul De Sac Birthday Dog - Charlie Sue

 

Charlie Sue and I are fixed on one or two walks a day. I can shake her leash from the back door and have her running. We came back from our walk to find a birthday party for an extended family - all generations.

A grandmother and her grandchildren came up to us. Grandmother said, "Thank you for the roses! My son brings them to me." We talked a little so I could figure out which were her sons and who lived on the quiet street. Charlie Sue loves everyone, so we moved closer to BBQ party. The children were a lot of fun. I pointed out the green, fancy clothing on one little boy, and his friend asked for color comparisons. Another boy was worried about Charlie biting. I said, "Oh no. She's a kisser!" They raised the volume and Charlie set about licking anyone she could. Lots of laughter.

I have been trying to draw our little street together through flowers.  At the Department of Motor Vehicles, the clerk said a few years ago. "You live next to my grandmother. You're the one with the roses!" I could not deny it. Roses are as rare as Arkansas football victories. Some people drive around the short street to get information on the kinds and the fragrance (overwhelming).

This is a bit touching - the couple I often saw in the early days of Sassy Sue were outside on Scott and asking about Charlie Sue. The husband said when he heard her name, "A smaller Sassy Sue." Bible John (on Joye Street) always brings up his fun with Sassy Sue and the chicken bones she loved. He tossed chicken scraps for the crows, who were very appreciative and gathered big, crowds - a murder of crows. Sassy never had problems with chicken bones and no one was going to stop her. 

Walking is under-rated - great exercise, good for Vitamin D (or D3 for the persnickety). I found the dreadmill at Planet Fitness boring, except when it threw me to the concrete floor. It was a minor fall, a major lift. I think walking is far more enjoyable and diverse for the muscles and tendons. Sassy Sue and I walked so much that one store clerk said to Christina, "I know your husband and dog. They walk by my house often. And you are on Letha?"

 Porchie expects his beautiful hair to be finger-combed.

 This was Christina's first walk after surgery. Sassy lives in the hearts of many people.

Sassy moved into the photo because everyone was laughing.

At the Dinner Table - My Parents Said - "We Are Going the Way of Rome!"

Once they start...

 Step One - 1950s

My parents were raised on the farm and went to country schools, where my mother first began teaching - at a one-room schoolhouse. They talked about Rome because they were trained in the history of the Roman Empire and took Latin as students, without any emotional or psychological damage. The four of us children were expected to take two years of Latin, because "You won't get into a decent college without Latin."

Step Two - 1960s

Once the siblings began college, only one of us took more Latin, added Greek, and became engaged - a graduation wedding. Relatives wondered why I had avoided learning a vocation (accounting, law, etc) during those 3+ years. Christina and I headed for Ontario, where I paid $150 a year for tuition. My friend from Salem Lutheran Church in Moline said, "Greg, this newspaper article says you won't have a church to serve in a few more years." He laughed long and hard and went, as many of my friends did, from Barry Goldwater fan club to socialism and worse. I loathed Goldwater for being a phony and it was later revealed that he was directly connected with the Mafia in Phoenix - and pro-abortion.

Step Three - the 1970s

I was sitting in the District President's office in 1972, the MDiv completed and a discussion about getting a pastoral call interrupted. Christina was on the line, insisting that I talk. The DP was reluctant to interrupt, but she said, "Put him on the phone." She said to me, "You are accepted at Yale Divinity for the STM." The DP became quite animated and shook my hand. I only went back to Ontario to visit, eh?

Step Four - Onward and Downwards - the 1980s

1. YDS was just starting the radical changes. Only one faculty member was a woman, and she was a Lesbian. What began as a way of opening the door to every Left-wing cause turned into an avalanche exit in every possible way. We have arrived at the basics of the Roman Empire:
2. Paganism celebrated in the worst and most obnoxious way. No details needed.
3. Men who want to be women, and women who demand their male. Ha!
4. Children used throughout America and the world - trafficking.
5. Unborn left to die - a Roman said a letter to his wife - "If it is a boy, keep him. If a girl, expose her (in the wilds)." Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East. Co-inky-dink - DEI.
6. Escapism in the form of alcoholism and drugs.
7. Charlatan "physicians."
8. Corrupt leaders from the top down, the President little more than one of the drunk and abusive lower rulers.

Linn Tonstad

Yale Divinity Professor of Theology, Religion, and Sexuality.
I would not recommend YDS or any Lutheran seminary.

The little kitties seem so harmless, one at a time. I once took away a pork bone from one of them. I sat in my chair, some distance away, at the big table. Soon I felt the tiny teeth of the kitty sunk into my big toe, with energy and enthusiasm. A warning!

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - All Saints - "If then a preacher cares more for his belly and worldly living, he does not do his duty; he stands up indeed and babbles in the pulpit, but he does not preach the truth, does not really open his mouth; if there seems to be trouble ahead he keeps quiet and avoids hitting anybody."

 

Complete - Luther's Sermon on the Beatitudes

Gospel

KJV Matthew 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

V. 1, 2. And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: and he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying:

HERE the evangelist with a formal stately preface declares how Christ disposed himself for the sermon he was about to deliver; that he went upon a mountain, and sat down, and opened his mouth; so that we see he was in earnest. These are the three things, it is commonly said, that mark a good preacher; first, that he take his place; secondly, that he open his mouth and say something; thirdly, that he know when to stop.

To take his place, that means that he assume a position as a master or preacher, who can and ought to do it, as one called for this purpose and not coming of his own accord, but to whom it is a matter of duty and obedience; so that he may say: “I come, not hurried hither by my own purpose and preference, but I must do it, by virtue of my office."

This is said as against those who have heretofore been causing us so much vexation and tribulation, and indeed are still doing it, namely the factious spirits and fanatics, that are running up and down through the country, poisoning the people, before the pastors or those in office and authority find it out, and thus befoul one family after another until they have poisoned a whole city, and from the city a whole country. To guard against such sneaking renegades one ought not to allow any one to preach who has not been duly and officially appointed; also no one should venture, though he should be a preacher, if he hears a lying preacher in a popish or other church, who is misleading the people, to preach against him; nor should any one go about into the houses and get up private preachings, but he should remain at home and mind his own official business, or keep silent, if he neither will or can publicly take his place in the pulpit.

For God does not want us to go wandering about with his word, as though we were impelled by the Holy Spirit and had to preach, and thus were seeking preaching places and corners, houses or pulpits, where we are not officially called. For even St. Paul himself, though called as an apostle by God, did not want to preach in those places where the other apostles had preached before. Therefore we are here told that Christ boldly and publicly goes up upon the mountain, when he begins his official ministry, and soon afterwards says to his disciples: “Ye are the light of the world;” and: “Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light to all that are in the house”. For the office of the ministry and the word of God are hence to shine as the sun, and not go sneaking and plotting in the dark, as in the play of blind-man’s buff; but all must be done in broad daylight, that it may be clearly seen that both preacher and hearer are sure of this, that the teaching is rightly done, and that the office has been rightly conferred, so that there is no need for concealment. Do thou likewise. If you are in office, and are commissioned to preach, take your place openly and fear nobody, that you may glory with Christ: “I spake openly to the world, * * in secret have I said nothing.” John 18:20.

But you say, “How? Is no one then to teach anything except in public? Or is the head of a family not to teach his servants in his house, or to have a scholar or some one about him who recites to him?” Answer: Certainly, that is all right, and all just in place. For every head of a family is in duty bound to teach his children and servants, or to have them taught. For he is in his house as a pastor or bishop over his household, and he is commanded to take heed what they learn, and he is responsible for them. But it is all wrong for you to do this away from your own house, and to force yourself into other houses or to neighbors, and you should not allow any such sneak to come to you and to carry on special preaching in your house for which he has no authorization. But if any one comes into a house or city let him be asked for the evidence that he is known, or let him show by letter and seal that he has been duly authorized. For one must not trust all the stragglers that boast of having the Holy Spirit, and insinuate themselves thereby here and there into the homes. In short, it means that the gospel, or the preaching of it, should not be heard in a corner, but up upon a mountain, and openly in the free daylight. That is one thing that Matthew wants to show here.

The next thing is that he opens his mouth. That belongs (as above said) also to a preacher, that he does not keep his mouth shut, and not only publicly perform his official duty so that every one must keep silence and let him take his proper place as one who is divinely authorized and commanded, but also that he briskly and confidently open his mouth, that is, to preach the truth and what has been committed to him; that he be not silent or merely mumble, but bear witness, fearless and unterrified, and speak the truth out frankly, without regarding or sparing any one, no matter who or what is struck by it.

For that hinders a preacher very much if he looks about him and concerns himself as to what the people do or do not like to hear, or what might occasion for him disfavor, harm or danger; but as he stands high up, upon a mountain, in a public place, and looks freely all around him, so he is also to speak freely and fear nobody, although he sees many sorts of people, and to hold no leaf before his mouth, nor to regard either gracious or wrathful lords and squires, either money, riches, honor, power, or disgrace, poverty or injury, and not to think of anything further than that he may speak what his office requires, even that for which he stands where he does.

For Christ did not institute and appoint the office of the ministry that it might serve to gain money, possession, favor, honor, friendship, or that one may seek his own advantage through it, but that one should openly, freely proclaim the truth, rebuke evil, and publish what belongs to the advantage, safety and salvation of souls. For the word of God is not here for the purpose of teaching how a maid or man servant is to work in the house and earn his or her bread, or how a burgomaster is to rules a farmer to plough or make hay. In short, it neither gives nor shows temporal good things by which one maintains this life, for reason has already taught all this to every one; but its purpose is to teach how we are to attain to that life, and it teaches thee to use the present life, and to nourish the belly here as long as it lasts; yet, so that thou mayest know where thou art to abide and live when this must come to an end.

If now the time comes for preaching of another life that we are to be concerned about, and for the sake of which we are not to regard this one as if we wanted to remain here forever, then contention and strife begin, so that the world will not endure it. If then a preacher cares more for his belly and worldly living, he does not do his duty; he stands up indeed and babbles in the pulpit, but he does not preach the truth, does not really open his mouth; if there seems to be trouble ahead he keeps quiet and avoids hitting anybody. Observe, this is why Matthew prefaces his account with the statement that Christ, as a true preacher, ascends the mountain and cheerfully opens his mouth, teaches the truth, and rebukes both false teaching and living, as we shall hear in what follows.