BibleJohn Passed into Eternal Life Yesterday

 

I sat next to his wife, with Ranger Bob on my right. Many came to the funeral from his church and neighborhood. BibleJohn enjoyed nicknames, and he especially liked the one used to make things simple.

Years before, I got to know them on long walks with Sassy Sue and shorter ones with Christina. Sassy made a point of not giving a kiss, if that would get some laughs - and it did.

John became RangerJohn because he wanted to know if I used the KJV all the time. He began talking about giving away Super Large Print KJVs for people. Bethany Lutheran Church contributed, so he told me how he got so many strangers to have a Bible. His approach was simple and effective, going from door-to-door, people walking on the sidewalk, anyone who moved.

1. Do you have a Bible? Big smile.
2. Answer - No.
3. Would you like one?
4. What does it cost? This reduced tension and increased interest.
5. They are free!
6. Do you have anyone else who needs one?

Word got around and many cases of KJVs were passed out for individuals, including those those in prison - men and women - who were in groups to go straight. Mistakes were made in buying cases of KJVs with varying size and cost. BibleJohn did not like small KJVs because the print was so small. The women's group wanted them for their own children.

That is background for the funeral. One of BibleJohn's friends came up to the coffin and then came over to speak to the widow. After talking about John, the friend said something like this - "Your husband passed out Bibles! Everyone talked about it. He even gave cases to the prison! Can you believe that? Prison!" He had a big smile about the impact of one, retired, diabetic retired person.  

Charlie Sue walked over to BibleJohn's home today, visiting RangerBob on the way back. She was not on a leash near the cul de sac. Charlie just went up to the screen door and wagged her tail for Lady and Fat Cat. There is a long trail of losses from a short walk (Letha to Joye), from the woman who was emergency baptized by Christina to the ending at BibleJohn's home. He asked for the KJV Audio Bible his last night. He grinned from ear to ear at the thought.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 12 - "Paul prayed that all Israel might be saved, Romans 9:1f; why did it not come to pass? The difference lies in the faith, for the Spirit did not give it to him; had he been able to add this faith, it would surely have come to pass."

 

The gleeful LCMS, WELS, and ELS apostates gather to reject
Justification by Faith, the Chief Article. 

Luther's Sermons - Mark 7:31-37.
Twelfth Sunday after Trinity

TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

16. But to pray powerfully is not within our strength; for the Spirit does not always vouchsafe to us to pray with power. Paul prayed that all Israel might be saved, Romans 9:1f; why did it not come to pass? The difference lies in the faith, for the Spirit did not give it to him; had he been able to add this faith, it would surely have come to pass. For if Paul had said, “I pray for all Israel,” and had believed and said: “Lord, I am certain that thou wilt do it,” then it would certainly have come to pass. But though he often prayed for them from his heart, the Spirit did not vouchsafe, to him that he should confidently believe it. Therefore it is not within our power to pray in strong confidence; the Holy Spirit does it. Whenever we pray for anyone and are able to add, “It will be done,” then it will certainly be done; but whenever we pray, we must add, “Thy will be done.” If, then, I must let it go according to his will, I cannot suggest to him either the person, or the time, or the manner, but must freely leave it all to him; then, indeed, I am sure of it. In this manner Christ acted also, who himself prayed thus: “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me,” but at once added: “Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Matthew 26:39.

17. Therefore, when I am to pray for an entire city or community, I ought to say: “O Father, I pray for all of them.” Nevertheless, however, I must give honor to his name or will, and say: “Dear Father, I pray for these; I know it is thy will, that I should pray, that I should not despise prayer; but thy will shall be done always; for I might ask something for some one who is not worthy of it before thee; or again, I might possibly cast aside some one who is worthy; therefore do thou act according to thy divine will, for thou wilt certainly do better than I could ever conceive.” Thus you see that we cannot always add these words: It will be so. But if we are certain in our hearts that we may add: “It will be certainly so,” then it will come to pass.

18. This we see in our text. These people approach the Lord in strong confidence, praying for the poor man, and their prayer is also heard. In the same manner, when baptism is performed we see this take place in the children’s faith. There are the infants, bare and naked in body and soul, having neither faith nor works. Then the Christian Church comes forward and prays, that God would pour faith into the child; not that our faith should help the child, but that it may obtain a faith of its own. If it has faith, then after that whatever it does is well done, whether it suckle its mother’s breast, or whether it soil itself, or whatever it may please to do. But if it does not obtain faith, our faith is of no value to the child.