1. Kaimi at Times and Seasons delivers a winner on evening sunsets. How often the Creator of all paints the most beautiful masterpieces. To see such extraordinary canvasses should cause anyone to turn “from vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein.” I was with Paul yesterday in the book of Acts. Yes, there are beautiful places in Turkey. But Paul would have gaped with mouth wide open if he were to live and see the beauty that we enjoy quite frequently in the American West. The big skies testify that God is no chimera.

 

2. Idahoan Jettboy writes an “Open Note to Conservative Christians”; actually, it is more of an LDS warning to the religious right that if they don’t behave, he and other LDS will pull out altogether. But the healthy skepticism is already there. Everyone should realize that the right-wing political groups in America are just as badly in need of a loving, all-sufficient Savior as anyone else. We need humble Christian Democrats passing out gospel literature at glittery Republican conventions. America desperately needs a saving gospel that transcends the rancor and clamors of our earthly depravity and finiteness and truly delivers us. I am glad for conservative Christian coalitions like ‘Together for the Gospel’. It is the LDS apostles, not LDS politicians, who need to be forthright and honest in how they agree and disagree with those passionate in the t4g movement.

 

3. And thinking about a wolf in sheep’s clothing, FAIR is sniffing one out in this latest book review.

 

4. Mormanity seeks to build up LDS purpose and perspective in the fall in Genesis. It’s interesting because our church family has just covered Genesis 1-3. Jeff even spotlights an Erwin Lutzer book. So can I share another book by Lutzer for LDS? It’s called Seven Reasons to Trust the Bible. I will mail a copy to anyone interested. I don’t understand why we need the extra latter-day revelation tacked on to Genesis. Does the LDS corollary bring any enriching supplementation? I sincerely believe it spawns a thousand more questions for one already genuinely embedded in genesis doctrine.

 

5. Yet in addition to Lynnette’s thoughtful and honest post for LDS on “Romanticizing the Reformation“, I feel inclined to print the English translation of one of my favorite items in the Luther-Room in the City Museum of Worms.

 

This is the entry of Martin Luther in the Bible of the princely House of Ols from the year 1541:

John 5:20 (= 5:39 according to modern verse enumeration)

“You search the Scriptures, for you think you will find eternal life there, and they themselves bear witness to me.”

 

This means that . . .

since we ourselves consider the Holy Scriptures to be the Word of a salutary God, which can save us eternally, so ought we also to read and study their contents so that we will find testimony about Christ there. It is as Paul says in Romans 10, “Christ is the end of the Law.” And Psalm 40, “In the book it is written of me that I ought to do your will, O God.”

 

Now whoever does not study the Scriptures (as Christ here commands us) can know nothing of eternal life. For he lives without the Word of God, without which the reason can neither rightly think nor speak anything of eternal life.

 

However, whoever studies their contents but does not find Christ there, this person also cannot attain eternal life, whether he likewise learns to speak much about it or even hope in it – for example, as the Jews do, just as Paul says in Acts (History of the Apostles) 24; likewise, the monks and everyone who would wish to be saved through works. For the Scriptures testify of Christ that only he who believes in him will be saved. Isaiah 53: “God has layed all of our sins on him.” In like manner, in accordance with his knowledge, he will justify many, etc.

 

Martin Luther

By his own hand

I express my gratitude to the following organizations for their patronage in establishing the Luther-Room: Evangelical Church in Hessen and Nassau; Historical Society (Altertumsverein Worms), Rheinelektra, Rheinmove and Rohm-Plexiglas.

 

6. Pre-existent spirits: Geoff at New Cool Thang questions the infinite amount of pre-existent spirits, while Presbyterian Henry Perkins questions the LDS doctrine of pre-existence altogether.

 

7. And last of all, I tip my hat in respect to the author, Andrea, of “It’s all about poop.” It’s funny. Yet in all seriousness, it shows a family who cares.