Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Roses or Galatians? - Why Not Both!

Today I have new roses to tend and Galatians to write. These are some of the books published by the Lutheran Librarian, Alec Satin.


One member told me he looked for the morning post, and he lives on the Left Coast - more pressure to post early.

One reader is getting tips about gardening from this blog - more pressure from the gardeners.

It might rain today - more indecision!

Yesterday was sunny and dry. The Veterans Honor roses were opening as fast as popcorn in hot coconut oil. Ranger Bob came by for coffee, settling various accounts (books, parts, mowing payday loans - all interest free). He was pointing all the new roses - having just taken the Sunday crop to honor his step-father's grave. That was a 48 hour blooming time.

Later I went around to the new plants that seemed to be struggling and a bit weak. The new Joe Pyes were getting slug holes and the Red Daisies were not strong yet. I took buckets of rain water around to pour on each emergency case. One Veterans Honor rose was especially  weak, so I included that plant, an early donor.

One member kids me about using up the rainbarrels before each rain. That serves a double purpose. The mosquitoes lose their chance to reproduce and the weak plants get hydration and nitrogen just before a rainfall (if it happens). Storms often roar through Springdale to water areas east of us. As neighbor John likes to say, "It rained, just not here."

Mulch adds to this protection, keeping moisture down and harsh sun away from the base of the plant. Plants are like people (the name of a classic book) - they do not like being roasted in the sun.

Organic mulch will always feed the soil, and wood mulch is especially good in the long run. For instan soil improvement and moisture retention, I like Peat Humus (Stinky Peat), which is tamed manure mixed with peat moss.


Congregations are failing because they are seen with materialistic eyes and therefore provide no nurture. Wuhan Flu proved that churches could continue online (not a secret for Bethany) because the chief functions are based on the Gospel, not the budget.

If the pastors would drop all committees and use the time to visit people with the Word, and to see sick and shut-ins all the time, the congregations would be healthy instead of sick and dying.

But alas, the synod officials - trusted with millions of dollars - are anxious to mine the fools-gold by playing up to family trees. If a pastor has a drunken close encounter with a utility pole - boom - he is suddenly a world missionary who travels the globe for free.

"Do us a favor - send him back - soon."