In the second month of our house arrest, we came across the 1941 movie, "The Devil and Daniel Webster," Turner Classic Movies.
The plot is simple. Jabez Stone made a deal with Scratch to enjoy great wealth for a certain time, the end of which making Stone's soul the property of the aforementioned Scratch.
Jabez began neglecting his wife, spoiling his son, and drawing his neighbors into contracts they could not fulfill. Once he had his grand house, beautiful lady companion, and mysterious friends, the error of his deal began to grow on him.
Fortunately, the legendary Webster stopped by and insisted on Scratch facing a trial on the merits of the original contract. Scratch is played with devilish delight by the father of the famous director John Houston. The judge and jury are members of Scratch's lower kingdom, and Webster's objections are struck down.
Scratch loses his case because Webster convinced the jury of traitors that, if they had a chance to take back their deals, they would have voided their contracts with the devil.
At the end, Scratch, always prowling about, steals the fresh peach pie and sits in the tree, looking for prospects as he eats his stolen fruit. He points at the audience and grins.
Lessons Learned?
The synod leaders who watched the movie probably missed the point. They previously made their deals to dance with the Spirit of This Age. They have brought ruin and damnation from their lust to find easy answers. Now they only ask, "Are the rest of the church bodies hurting as badly as we are? Find the reasons why." |
| "I feel blessed to be affiliated with WELS." |
The Little Sect on the Prairie has already admitted it will be a footnote in history in a few years. Its abusive brother, WELS, is busy with a survey that will distract people for a few more weeks.
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| "What are some specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, timely goals for our Father Below?" |
Here are the ways LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) self-destructed for quick money and instant results.:
- Our more-better hymnal will be popular because less Lutheran.
- Our removal of the KJV and sales of the NIV/ESV replacements will make us rich.
- St. Marvin of Schwan wants earthly honors and heavenly absolution, so we will praise him out of perdition.
- Sermons, the liturgy, hymns, and creeds bring us down. Our Fuller, Trinity Divinity, and Willow Creek dummies will teach us to liberate our Lutheran sects with safe sects, without catching anything bad.
- Our estate plundering counselors will seize the money built up by traditionalists so we can spend it on experiments, new ideas, and motivate counselors with juicy commissions.
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| The S.M.A.R.T goals worked and they shunned those who dared to object. |
