Goldmines, Gems, and Treasures - Next the Pearl of Great Price and the Pearls

 Norma A. Boeckler designed the covers and interior of Treasures from Luther's House Postils.

Janie Sullivan has the files for Treasures from Luther's House Postils. I asked her to take her time since she has just moved into a new apartment. This will yield:

1. The large format, full color collection of quotations from the household sermons of Luther;
2. A Kindle ebook version for 99 cents;
3. A free PDF of the book;
4. A merger of the three volumes of sermons and the Treasures  in a low-cost Kindle and a free PDF.

I asked my father why he made long johns with vanilla icing and regular bread donuts (circular) with the same dough and the same icing. He said, "Because people have their favorites. The more we offer, the more they like the selections."

• The Lost Dutchman's Goldmine
• Gems Mined from Luther's Sermons
• Treasures from the House Postils.

Even Jay Webber, bereft of any knowledge of Luther, solemnly announced that Luther's Galatians was "an important book." Yes, it is so important that he utterly ignored its content in his epic fail essay. In contrast, John Bunyan said the Galatians commentary was his most read book, after the Bible.

I have several projects in mind for the near future, including CFW Walther: The American Calvin. However, having a modern and inexpensive Galatians - full-sized - struck me as a priority. The public domain translations are very much in KJV English, which is no problem for me, but a barrier for many people. Also, a public domain version in plain English would be easier to translate.

Since the Gospel is the Pearl of Great Price, Matthew 13, it only seems right to collect Luther's pearls from this great book. He said his books could be burned, except for the Small Catechism and Galatians. I read every page of it to Mrs. Ichabod, and we both enjoyed it.

I said yesterday, "I don't have much in valuables, but I can offer a goldmine, gems, treasures, and pearls from Biblical, Lutheran doctrine." Mrs. Ichabod thought that was a good alternative and far more lasting. 

Missionary Work in the US of A

We sent a large box of books to the Philippines, for Pastor Jordan Palangyos to use.

A lot of missionary work needs to be done in America, since the LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC sic oppose Justification by Faith while pretending to be Lutherans.

Three orders went out to conservative Lutherans to provide them with doctrinal books that agree with the Reformation. Each person has an opportunity to reach others who might gain from them.

Other circumstances have allowed people to give away the Gems to acquaintances, friends, members, visitors.

Thank you everyone who contributes because we either give away the books or sell them at the author's price, non-profit.

Our student/seminary editions are in black and white so we can distribute large numbers for very little. The Gems can be shipped in large quantities for $3 each, which includes shipping and local taxes.

Progress on Luther's Sermons

Lutheran leaders and Luther - but we do pay them, far too much.

Volume 6 had a cover issue, which is being fixed.

Volume 7 is with our finishing editor, Janie Sullivan.

Volume 8 is being illustrated by Norma A. Boeckler. After that, I will add the gems and send the file to Janie Sullivan.

Next -

Gems Mined from Luther's Sermons will be compiled as the final volume, selections from each of the 8 volumes. That will be all color and a good way to introduce people to Luther's sermons. Every pastor should have it for sermon illustrations. They cover the entire church year, Gospels and Epistles, and not from the papal three-year invention. The papacy is the Antichrist, so Lutheran leaders go to Rome for leadership in worship.

Prayers without faith ne'er to Heaven go.
I never agreed with CN's anti-Christian UOJ.

After that -

The Commentary on John, Greek and KJV, will be prepared. This is not intended to be one of those 1500 page editions, but a basic guide and introduction.

Luther's Two Catechisms - planned.

Luther's Galatians Commentary -  planned.

Lutheran dictionary - planned.

How Calvinism Ruined the Protestants - being worked on, but will follow the ones named above.

Where Thieves Break Through and Steal

 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal...Matthew 6:19

We had two inches of rain, capped by snow that stayed on the grass overnight. The birds were eating energetically before the storm and during the storm. The weather system turned our area cold again, so the birds continued to eat at the feeders.

I keep changing the configuration to reduce squirrel dominance. My latest  consists of hanging feeders from Lowe's, two side by side, a third hanging near the kitchen window.

I took away the squirrel stepstool by taking the finch feeder off the pole and placing it on the basket. "Fooled them again!" I said as I looked over the new layout. Why feed squirrels or birds far from me or squirrels nearby?

This morning I saw the seed can lid off and a lot of empty sunflower seed cases on top of the seeds. "Fooled me again!"

I could not determine where the squirrels pried the handle down from the can, which is essentially the lock - or I left the handle down.

 This unrehearsed photo is what I often see in the yard.
They know I am bringing seed, want to check up on me,
but also like a safe escape route.

People have called me St. Francis,
so I created this image,
which deeply offended the Fox Valley AA clergy.

The birds definitely welcome me into the backyard. They flutter up to their roosts, but watch what I am doing. They return to feeding within minutes now, and I enjoy that. I can turn around from the computer and see cardinals, goldfinches, and house finches feeding merrily. At the kitchen sink I saw a grackle swoop up to the feeder and land, with no intention of leaving his meal.

Both of the six-foot wide swings bounce with traffic. Birds love to land on the swing, near the feeder, to line up for food and check for their safety.

Yesterday, one goldfinch stayed on the swing looking into the bedroom. I approached. He did not flinch or fly away. I got the message. The feeder was empty and he wanted it filled.

The birds and squirrels perform all day for us, without needing a ton of food. For one thing, I have a yard where there is an abundance of worms, bugs, spiders, seeds, and fruit for them to enjoy.

Pokeberries and elderberries have something in common. Both harbor beneficial insects when blooming and feed birds when fruiting. They also spread easily.

 Jessical Walliser has more plans for sharing her insights.

Someone suggested using a beer and detergent combination against rose pests. I countered with Attracting Beneficial Bugs, by Jessica Walliser, a Facebook friend.

Our senior proof-reader is finding that giving away copies of Creation Gardening is quite easy. I just sent more, and regular readers are getting their copies fairly soon now.

There is no doctrinal difference between

1. Creation Gardening, 
2. Thy Strong Word, and the upcoming 
3. Lost Dutchman's Goldmine. 

All three books teach the efficacy of God's Word.

Man has all kinds of bad solutions for the yard. Before chemical fertilizers and pesticides, successful farmers used composted manure and natural cures. In one narrative from The Wormhaven Gardening Book, a farmer gathered his animal manure in a pit, mixed it with soil and plant material, and let the earthworms do the work. When he spread this composted material, the birds gathered to pick up the earthworms and other delights of finished compost.

Since the Bible is not a gardening book, does it not make sense that Creation Gardening is another approach to the ministry of the Word?

Let us look at a few man-made cures for congregations:

• Revivals - the idea is to get people all worked up, emotional, fainting, and repenting. The excitement soon wore off.
• Union churches - Why not get the Calvinists and Lutherans to form union congregations, the way they did in Europe? So little to separate the two! Many LCMS and WELS followed suit by joining the Willowcreek Community Churches organization.
• Pentecostal and charismatic fervor. Those stuffy mainlines gave up the Holy Spirit, miracles, and the Son of God for Lent - and then some. So why not act like we just swallowed the Holy Spirit, feathers and all - speak in tongues, dance around? Pentecostal fervor faded - even in the Assemblies of God - and that is like McDonalds going vegan.
• Entertainment! People want to have fun - that will bring them in. Add popcorn, peanuts, and Cracker Jacks. They ate themselves fat and they never came back! The Community of Joy, which sounded like a house of ill repute - and it was - folded faster than a Hillary 2020 sweatshirt factory. Ten thousand members and Joy collapsed.
• Business methods! Management by Objectives. Ya know, Rev, the church should be run just like a business. Fuller Seminary certainly was, and they got this MBO fever injected into ELCA, WELS, Missouri, even the gangrenous CLC. Every sect that adopted Fuller methods began dying on the spot.

Beautyberries are for the birds - only.

One Way To Promote Books - And It Matters a Great Deal - Reviews. Search Engine Optimization

 Click here for the Pastor Gregory L. Jackson author page,
pick a title, and write a review.
For each one, an angel will get his wings.

The social media work through big data. They associate things together, which makes the most popular ones come out on top in searches. That explains why people began complaining about this blog coming out on top in all searches of Lutheran topics, not to mention Lutheran graphics.

The answer is Search Engine Optimization. I use links within all articles to build up SEO.

As the graphic above shows, even a brief review will help a title come up in searches.

 Norma Boeckler's Amazon page is here.
Click and write a review.

Now Shipping - Creation Gardening - Two Copies Each

 Creation Gardening is sold retail on Amazon
and their Kindle e-books.

Creation Gardening is in print now, but I have not seen the print copy yet.

Today I am sending out two free copies of Creation Gardening to each of our regular members and friends.

I am making a list, checking it twice. If I overlook you, let me know. Or, if you are anxious about getting your copies, just email me at greg.jackson.edlp@gmail.com

Let me know right away if you want more than two.

They are full color on the inside, so they take more time to print and ship.

Our marketing efforts are designed to get free and low-cost books to people. Members and friends have been very generous, so it is far better to send out $5 gardening books than to expect people to pay $20 retail.

The Lost Dutchman's Goldmine is being finished, God willing, in the next few weeks.

Luther's Sermons

A recent discussion with a reader fixed me on a new target - publishing the Lenker set of Luther's Sermons, print and Kindle. I have seen outrageous prices for this public domain set, which makes it difficult for anyone to obtain it. In fact, I ordered the old seven-volume set for one person and they only delivered one volume of it.

Since it is the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, vendors have decided to mine the gold for themselves.

In contrast, we can make it available at cost, four volumes for about $32.

Immediately after, a reader wrote this:
I read about your proposal to publish Luther's Sermons. That's the main reason I came and continue reading the blog - for his sermons, accessible in one place. I've already mentioned I'd much rather have a physical copy to highlight, underline and write notes in the margins. For $32, that's a real bargain. This is a great service to Lutheranism and I may have to pick up several sets to hand out. I'll be on the lookout for more information. 

Now It Belongs to the Printers - Creation Gardening: By Him Were All Things Made Is Finished

Luther's Biblical Doctrine of the Word - partially finished.

Onward Toward Completing The Lost Dutchman's Goldmine . The Finishing Editor Has Creation Gardening

Janie Sullivan is the third wire on the Martin Chemnitz Press aircraft carrier, snagging errors missed by the author and the proof-reader - landing yet another book and ebook on Amazon.

Later today I will read that sentence and think, "Too much coffee - or not enough."

I can thank four ladies for making this book possible -

1. My wife Christina made excellent suggestions about planning and expanding the rose garden. One of my friends said, "Under a maple?" That was my response - but it worked very well. Who said replace the front lawn with roses? She did.
2. Norma Boeckler's art, on the cover and inside, is matched by her beautiful garden. That cover is her garden, and she shares her Creation art with people every day on Facebook.
3. Virginia Roberts has been proofing my blog posts, and she proof-read the book, going over it a second time for final edits.
4. Janie Sullivan is the finishing editor, who gets the Word file ready for Amazon and Kindle e-books.

 Luther's Biblical Doctrine of the Word