My strings were pulled!
The last two weeks I have talked with Bill Holeman three times. While I wasn’t looking, somehow I became his West Coast “Buy the Book” representative. On the third call, Bill told me that “my” sales had fallen flat and others (namely, those in the East and East Coast) were ahead of me (honest, I didn’t even know I was in the race). And, Bill wasn’t too happy with my answer when he asked if I was reading his book. I told him, “of course I am reading it. I found near the end of the book the dedication page and a chapter by Joyce—so that’s where I started.” When he asked why I started there, I looked for a quick way out and said, “I’m saving the best for last.” Bill was satisfied, but now I’m in Joyce’s dog-house. Would you like to help a guy with his foot in his mouth? Please—buy Bill’s book, “Preacher Bill—the Dummy in the Middle.” He is asking $10, which is entirely contributed to Youth Haven Bible Camp. Individual orders require an additional $4 for postage and handling (for bulk orders, contact the Holemans). Bill is also personalizing each book, if you so desire. Please hurry…Bill will probably call me again Monday morning!

A Mighty Fortress
A week ago, Pastor Don Thomas included a hymn in his Daily Doorstep Devotional entitled, “God is a Stronghold and a Tower” by Martin Luther. Not recognizing it, I went to the Cyberhymnal.org website and found the familiar tune. And the words also seemed to fit what I knew as “A Mighty Fortress.”

You have probably figured out that curiosity got the better of me and I began to do some investigating. This “battle hymn of the Reformation” has been translated into English some 70 different times. Without much effort, I found five versions that have endured to the present. I put the words in side-by-side columns for comparison. Pastor Rigsby and I enjoyed looking at how the same German words were variously phrased in English. Some were more literal, others took great liberty to fit the meter and express the idea. I suppose there’s something to learn here about translation, it’s difficulty, and the nuances of word meanings. In fact, Luther’s song is Psalm 46 made sing-able.

Later in the week, I was re-introduced to one of Luther’s contemporaries, Nicholas Copernicus. You remember Copernicus! He was the first to re-discover and reluctantly theorize in writing that the earth revolved around the sun, instead of the earth being the center of the universe. What Copernicus claimed was as reformational in the church and society as was Martin Luther declaring “the just shall live by faith.” If you have access to the internet, you can read this short article here. This is a chapter from a book entitled, “131 Christians You Should Know.” (there I go again…promoting another book…how does this happen?).

Here is the real oddity about Luther and Copernicus. It has been variously told that Martin Luther, so convinced that salvation was by faith alone without any effort or works contributed by man, found it impossible to believe Copernicus’s “theory” that the sun, instead of the earth, was the center of the universe.

This will make your head spin
Maybe there is another oddity I should mention. If a scholar today proposed, with many convincing arguments and proofs, that Copernicus was wrong, and declared that the earth really is the center of the universe, no one would believe him. That we live in a heliocentric universe is so, well, universally accepted; and with all of our technology, so verifiable. The scientist who would mention such nonsense would be mocked, ridiculed, and scorned as endlessly as the guy spelling potato, tomato, or whatever it was (and he’d probably be wrong both with and without an “e”).

Yet, the “Christian” world is still divided today over whether we are made right with God (justified) by grace through faith alone, only by the meritorious, substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ, without any contribution or admixture of works by man, as Martin Luther claimed (and God Himself presents in His Scriptures…now there’s a book I most heartily, unreservedly recommend).

It is odd that an important, however less significant, truth is now believed without question, calculated with precision and is necessary to navigate man in and out of Space. But the most eternally significant destiny defining truth, after all these years, is still defiantly doubted, vigorously debated, and ardently disbelieved. Yet, “…it pleased God by the foolishness of [what is] preached to save them that believe.” I suppose that makes every saved believer a “dummy.”

If it is true that what we believe to be the truth makes us dummies, then I quote Henry, Homer, or the dummy in the middle, “us dummies got to stick together!”

Interrupted by the War!
We were unable to print the bulletin last week due to the war. It seems that the entire country was shut down for two days. When I was able to order toner for the copier on Wednesday, I could not be assured we would have our supply before Sunday. I can’t figure out why a gauge can’t be included on these complicated machines. We have a fuel gauge in a car. About that war, of course, I mean the Revolutionary War, what else?

Preacher Bill…the Dummy in the Middle
Don’t miss reading any of the missionary letters today, especially the fragmented notes concerning Bill Holeman. To hear him tell it, he wrote a book about his life and ministry in Kentucky while in the hospital two weeks ago. Then asked me if I knew how he felt at age 35. Not knowing, I gave him my “with my fingers” answer. Then he accused me of stealing that from Henry and Homer (honest, I got it from Carlos Castellanos). I suppose I should have had more pity on Bill when he told me he sold his book from the trunk of his car. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why Bill had to sell from the trunk. I would think by now those Kentuckians would accept him as one of their own and let Bill stand next to the trunk like everyone else. Although, visions of the trunk lid closing did flash across my mind with Bill calling out, “I want a drink of water.” Maybe Bill is just setting us up for his sequel book, “The Revenge of Homer and Henry.”

Enough nonsense. If you would like a personalized copy of Bill’s excellent work, make contact today! All the information is in the letter. Bill is donating all the proceeds to Youth Haven Bible Camp. More details are in the letter.

Shameless Plug
For some of you this next commercial is a repeat (only because some were not privy to it the first time; forgive the repetition). I have finally finished the Israel DVD I have been working on since the last part of January. If you would be interested in viewing the DVD, I have a copy that can be borrowed. I understand that the Post Office conveniently provides mail service in both directions so you who might be interested, yet are more remotely located, can participate as well, if you are so inclined!

Smile
Yes, we have been at the beach each Friday since June 23. I have added a few photos on the website. Click here. I will be adding a few more this week (as soon as I get my camera back from the youth). We have enjoyed pleasant evenings, tasty food (some are even plotting to start a chain of “Beach Cuisine” restaurants and are negotiating with me to train their staff). Their decorating ideas are also interesting, but I don’t think In-n-Out or McDonalds has anything to worry about (then again, what do I know?).

It has also been nice to have others come in from out of town. It is not true that they came specifically to go to the beach with us—who started that rumor? My (favorite) niece, Sarah, and her friend, Kristine; my mom and dad have come twice, bringing this time an uncle and aunt from Texas (Bobby and Patsy), cousin and young’uns (Dennette—[Tony flies for the Air Force], Daron, and Jonny). My (favorite) sister-in-law (Danite) also brought her brood and their “friends” (Joshua, Aaron, Matthew; Daniel, Chase, and Kyle). They were introduced to the wildly popular “Tackle Ball”® invented for the beach at the beach by Kevin Moon. Teri Lopez has also come a couple of times with her kids and an assortment of their friends.

This reads like I am hacking merchandise and promoting leisure. Need a book? Contact Bill Holeman. Borrow a DVD? Contact me. Looking for cheap entertainment? Join us Friday at Huntington State Beach (between lifeguard stations 14 and 13). [What do you know, there's no room for my name…go figure].