What did the settlers have as they moved into the Midwest and began turning prairie soil - the best in the world - into farmland? Their plows were almost useless in the rich soil, but John Deere fixed that. They had tiny print prayer books and hymnals, inexpensive Bibles, and relatively few pastors.
The only way to have a congregation was to visit, teach, and preach. Unlike the city-slickers of today, the Midwestern pioneers knew about seed and soil, rainwater and harvests. One only needed to apply some effort to the seed and soil, and the living seed germinated and grew. Fickle rains started the crops when they needed water most, and finished the crops when the grain was forming, wheb vegetables and fruits were ripening.
The Bible is a closed book for those who think food grows in supermarkets. Gardeners and farmers recognize that the Scriptures consistently and repeatedly teach the power and efficacy of the Word - illustrated by Creation and exemplified by thunderstorms.
I remember Aunt Grace grinning as she pointed at the Iowa thunderstorm headed toward their farm. The crops would thrive and the animals would feed from the wealth of the Noel farm.
But today, the visible church is run by people who know more about cologne and the latest sure-fire programs than they do about Creation, the Word, and God's approach to growth.
A farmer gets up early, plows and plants, and knows there will be a harvest. The modern clergy buy expensive programs, often sold by their overlords in the synod office, and expect a harvest from no visiting, no hand-crafted sermons, and no teaching of the Word.
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| Rev. Dr. Capon - "I'm here from headquarters and just got my DMin from Fuller. You are probably wondering why this new program costs so much. It works, I tell you. And if it does not, you are doing it wrong." |
Labor in the Creation Garden is often followed by nothing in particular, a time of waiting and frustration. The best plants take their time to show their colors. Iris may not bloom until the second year. Roses may bloom once the first year and then recuperate. Birds seem far too wary to visit.
I wondered about the five (5) feeders for Hummingbirds. I did not see birds feeding until August. The feeder outside the kitchen sink is now turned into Hummingbird Theater, with two birds darting about in their peculiar left-right, up-down flights, looking me over. As I told Christina, "They are thanking me and guaranteeing future supplies of food."
Sassy does the same during coffee prep time. She walks into the kitchen, her nails clicking on the floor, sits down, and smiles. "You want food?" She grins.
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| Is the Rio Samba Rose worth a little extra work? |
Yesterday we visited the Rio Samba roses at Ranger Bob's house. He keeps fresh water for Sassy and all creatures outside, and Bob's water is better than mine - from the way she enjoys it. I did a very close inspection of both plants, bought from a rainbow (all colors) clearance sale
#1 rose - In bloom, the leaves were clearly chewed by slugs.
#2 rose - No apparent growth, but still green. I got close enough to see one tiny green leaf starting to unfurl. Dormancy begone. Roots are working. Bring on the stored rainwater.
The Sass and I went back to the house, filled a large watering can, and returned to water both plants. Today both plants were much better and #2 looked even perkier. They will get a second watering.
I remember Aunt Grace toting a watering can so heavy that she stuck her opposing arm out for balance. "This one is too heavy for you. I will let you use the hose."
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| 1. The Word of God is never void (always effective). 2. The Word will always accomplish God's will. 3. The Word will always prosper God's will. Worshiping the synod and extolling its infallibility? - just the opposite. |
The ministers who feel discouraged - and we all do at times - should consider again the many passages about Creation:
- The entire Universe fashioned by the Word, the Logos, Genesis 1 and John 1 (1:3 in particular).
- The inevitability of rain and snow coming down, a visual comparison to the efficacy of the Word. Isaiah 55:8ff.
- The Sower and the Seed, which teaches - sow the living seed of the Word instead of soil testing like a city-slicker. Matthew 13.
- Paul planted, Apollos watered, and Who gave the growth?
And the laity and teachers, likewise. Pick a gardening project, very limited, and see what planting and doting on the project will accomplish.
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| Edible Borage flowers quickly turn into seed and start new plants, just what the impatient newbie gardener needs. |
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| Buckwheat is as fast and prolific as Borage. I sow rather than plant the seeds of both. |
Examples - borage and buckwheat grow very fast and attract beneficial insects. Watch them every few days. Store rainwater and see what that does.
The same thing can be done with a sermon -
- Teach each verse in the lesson. Prepare far more than can be said in 20 or more minutes. Lenski and Luther, not the watered down mush from various publishing houses.
- Write out the entire sermon. Writing = thinking. There is no substitute.
- Use the passage as the outline and preach without any manuscript.
- Repeat all year plus Advent and Lent and Ascension.
The farm (congregation) may take years of work, and the labor may not seem to be accomplishing much. However, the Word will have its effect, even if the benefits - the fruits of constant labor - appear much later.
Discouraged comes from impatiences and means "lost courage." Faith makes us bold, and nothing makes us bolder and more patient than the Word of God. The Word of the Gospel is so carefully explained to us in the Scriptures and enhanced by faithful writers like Luther, Chemnitz, Lenski, Loy, and Schmauk.
