Christmas Letter 2021: Part 3--Theology

Happy Christmas and Advent Greetings!

Theology Reflections: Theology is one of my greatest passions and it is the work of all Christians. Theology is not merely the job of pastors and bishops, rather it is also the work of us laity, whether you feel called to be a pastor or not. Sadly, many Lutherans, Roman Catholics, and many other Christians have gotten the heresy of clericalism wedged firmly in their brains. Clericalism, which is the belief, that Christians are to solely rely on their pastors to get their theology without any self-study, is not at all Biblical and it is not at all consistent with Martin Luther’s teaching of “the priesthood of all believers.” Martin Luther had no intention of keeping the Words of The Holy Bible foreign to the laity. Martin Luther wanted us to read and study the Holy Scriptures and by doing so we would learn theology. Theology is for both Christian clergy and Christian laity. Neither group should shy away from learning and proclaiming the truths of Holy Scripture.

Some of my favorite Christian Doctrines are the Holy Trinity, the Gospel, Holy Baptism, Young Earth Creationism, and the Virgin Birth of Jesus the Messiah, vocation aka callings aka life’s work, and the Two Kingdoms aka the Three Holy Estates. The Holy Trinity is critically important, because this Doctrine best explains, Who and the What the Christian God is. The Holy Trinity is One True and Holy God in Three Holy Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I have worked very hard to resurrect God the Father’s actual Name of Yahweh for quite a few reasons: 1. Yahweh is a great Name, 2. Yahweh is Jesus’ Father, and 3. Due to the resurrection of various forms of Paganism with a large variety of gods and goddesses, I want to be specific, when I am talking about God the Father, so I address God the Father as “Yahweh,” “Merciful Yahweh,” and “Heavenly Father Yahweh.”

Jesus died to save every single person from death, Hell, Satan, Satan’s demons, Original Sin from Adam and Eve, and their own personal sins and He resurrected from the dead, so that the Christian Religion would not be in vain. Holy Baptism is the thing, which Yahweh, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit use to deliver the Salvation, Which Jesus won on the True Cross on Calvary. Holy Baptism literally saves people from death, Hell, Satan, Satan’s demons, Original Sin from Adam and Eve, and their own personal sins. St. Peter wrote in Chapter 3:21-22 the following: “3:21 The like figure whereunto even Baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ: 22 Who is gone into Heaven, and is on the Right Hand of God; Angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him” (KJV 1611). Our earth is only 6,025 years old and I’m an Ussherite on Creationism. I elaborate on James Ussher and his dating for the creation of the world in my First History Book Martin Luther, William Tyndale, James Ussher, and their Work in Classics: With Other Christian Essays, which we will discuss further in a little bit. I’m very passionate about the Virgin Birth of Jesus the Messiah to His Mother Mary, because it is such a beautiful and amazing Doctrine and it is one of the biggest uniting Doctrines for Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox Christians.

Let us read the Holy Gospel of St. John Chapter 20:1-7:

"20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the Sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the Sepulchre. ² Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, 'They have taken away the Lord out of the Sepulchre, and we know not, where they have laid Him.' ³ Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the Sepulchre. ⁴ So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the Sepulchre. ⁵ And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. ⁶ Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the Sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, ⁷ And the napkin, that was about His Head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself" (KJV 1611).

OIL PRESS CHRISTMAS SALE at JFC and The MENAGERIE: I'm putting copies of my Christian Romance Novel and First Book The Ten Year Anniversary Edition of "The Adventures of Richard McMurphy" and my First History Book "Martin Luther, William Tyndale, James Ussher, and their Work in Classics" on sale 20% off of their price of $20 all month long in December 2021, so you will pay $16 plus tax at BOTH JFC and The Menagerie both in St. Marys, Ohio. This OIL Press Christmas Sale is exclusive to JFC and to The Menagerie and/or directly through me (567) 712-8026, if you have exact change or if you pay with card or if you get $4 in used books as well. NOTHING else marked 162 is on sale. Everything else marked 162 will remain the same prices as marked. Both JFC and The Menagerie will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. JFC is open Tuesdays through Thursdays 10 AM to 5 PM, Fridays 10 AM to 6 PM, and Saturdays 10 AM to 3 PM and JFC is closed Sundays and Mondays. The Menagerie is open Sundays noon to 4 PM and Mondays through Saturdays 10 AM to 6 PM, but sometimes Thursday hours vary.

December 2021 Book Signing:

1. I'll be having a Christmas Book Signing at Jen's Furniture and Collectibles (JFC) on Saturday 12-18-21 from 11 AM to 3 PM. (This event is sadly cancelled due to a family emergency.)

January 2022 Book Signings:

1. I'll be having a two book signing called the Winter Book Festival at Jen's Furniture and Collectibles TBA in January 2022.

MAILING CHECKS TO ME FOR BOOKS: I am now accepting checks through the mail for $15 for copies of each book: The Rising of The Moon Book 1: Changing Tides Part 1, The Rising of The Moon Book 1: Changing Tides Part 2, and The Rising of The Moon Book 2: Faith, Hope, and Love. $15 checks will cover the cost of each book and shipping. Please include a note with your check saying, which books you want to buy off of me with your check. Checks may be written out to me, James O'Flannery, and mailed to James O'Flannery 1524 Crayton Avenue Lima, Ohio 45805. I also can meet up with you, if you live in the following Ohio communities, Lima, Cridersville, Vaughnsville, Fort Jennings, Columbus Grove, St. Marys, Minster, New Bremen, Delphos, and Ottoville, and sell you books directly. For my latest book Martin Luther, William Tyndale, James Ussher, and their Work in Classics: With Other Christian Essays, I will be accepting checks for $20 and $25. The checks must be for $25 ($5 covering shipping if you don't live in Lima, Cridersville, Vaughnsville, Fort Jennings, Columbus Grove, St. Marys, Minster, New Bremen, Delphos, or Ottoville. If you live in any of those communities and if you're willing to meet up with me in any of those communities, then $20 checks via the mail or $20 cash in-person or credit cards and/or debit card payments for $20 in-person work too. The same holds true for The Ten Year Anniversary Edition of The Adventures of Richard McMurphy; $20 and $25 checks.

My Green Irish Angel Statues: My Green Irish Angel Statues are really cute! They are only $1 each and they make great gifts. I have three kinds: 1. Cross-Bearing Angels, 2. Praying Angels, and 3. Angels Holding Butterflies. I like the Cross-Bearing Angels the best, because they are carrying Crosses. Each one bearing a Cross reminds us, that Jesus died on the True Cross to save every single person from death, Hell, Satan, Satan's Demons, Original Sin from Adam and Eve, and their personal sins. They're available exclusively at The Menagerie behind Beer Barrel in the St. Marys Business Complex in St. Marys, Ohio.

Stores Carrying My Books:  My books, which I’ve written and published, are also available at the following stores: Brunner News Agency on Flanders Avenue in Lima, Ohio, Jen’s Furniture and Collectibles (JFC) on High Street in St. Marys, Ohio, The Menagerie at 1178 Indiana Avenue behind Beer Barrel in the St. Marys Business Complex in St. Marys, Ohio, Readmore Hallmark Stores out at Eastgate Plaza and on Elm Street in Lima, Ohio, and in the Shop section of my website ohioirishlutheranpress.com .

Thank you!

James W. O’Flannery, President and Founder of Ohio Irish Lutheran Press (OIL Press)