Happy Reformation Day, Happy Christmas, and Autumn Greetings!
Reflections: In the last blog post "2021 Vaughnsville Craft and Vendor Show Vendor List 3," I briefly discussed, what the Vaughnsville Craft and Vendor Show is and what Reformation Day is all about. For this blog, I want to briefly state, what Lutherans believe, teach, and confess, since I'm a Lutheran and since Martin Luther started both the Reformation and Lutheran Christianity on October 15, 1517. For an extensively history of Martin Luther, I would advice ordering a copy of my First History Book Martin Luther, William Tyndale, James Ussher, and their Work in Classics: With Other Christian Essays or you pick up a copy for just $20 at the 2021 Vaughnsville Craft and Vendor Show on Saturday October 30, 2021 between 11 AM and 5 PM at the Vaughnsville Community Center at 115 E. Findlay Street aka State Route 12 in Vaughnsville, Ohio. I will autograph all of my original books, which I have written and published, at the 2021 Vaughnsville Craft and Vendor Show, except A Survey of Classical Mythology, since it's sold out. My goal is to reprint A Survey of Classical Mythology sometime in 2022, if fake-President Joe Biden doesn't get all killed or get us into another Great Depression. However, copies of The Ten Year Anniversary Edition of my First Book The Adventures of Richard McMurphy for $20 a copy, The Rising of The Moon Book 1: Changing Tides Part 1 and The Rising of The Moon Book 1: Changing Tides Part 2 for 2 books for $10, The Rising of The Moon Book 2: Faith, Hope, and Love for $10 copy, and my First History Book Martin Luther, William Tyndale, James Ussher, and their Work in Classics: With Other Christian Essays for $20 a copy will all be available and autographed by me. I listed the other vendors below after the reflections and after our Scripture Reading. WE WILL BE INSIDE OF THE VAUGHNSVILLE COMMUNITY CENTER!!!
Now on to Lutheran Theology, Lutherans believe, teach, and confess many of the same Doctrines, which a lot of Christians also believe, teach, and confess. Lutherans agree with our fellow Christians on the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity, which the belief in One God in Three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Lutherans agree with other Christians, that Jesus is a Historical Figure, Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, Jesus died on the True Cross on Calvary to save every single person from their sins, Jesus resurrected from the dead on Easter Sunday, and the four Gospel writers St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, and St. John wrote similar and yet unique historically accurate history books about Jesus. Lutherans agree with other Christians, that Jesus is equally God with the Father Yahweh and the Holy Spirit and that Jesus is the Son of God.
Lutherans agree with other Christians, that abortion is both murder and a sin. Lutherans agree with other Christians, that marriage is between one man and one woman, who love each other and who are in a faithful covenant together before both the Triune God and the Church. Divorce is a forgivable sin and reconciliation between husband and wife is to be sought at all cost. However, sadly, due to humanity's brokenness and our fallen sinful natures, divorce is sometimes a necessary evil. Lutherans agree with other Christians, that sex is ONLY to take place within the bounds of traditional marriage, so virginity is highly encouraged and honored within Lutheran Christianity and Christianity in general.
Lutherans believe, teach, and confess, that the Creation Stories in Genesis Chapters 1 and 2 are literal and historical accounts of the beginning of world history and evolution is a damning heresy leading people to Hell. The world was created in six literal days and the world is around 6,000. Lutherans agree with other Christians on Young Earth Creationism. Lutherans also agree with other Christians, that Heaven and Hell are real places. Holy Angels work for Yahweh, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and demons are fallen angels, who work for Satan. Lutherans agree with other Christians on the basic understandings of Holy Angels, Satan, and Satan's demons. Satan and his demons are schmucks and they are sadly real creatures in active rebellion against Yahweh, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
Lutherans also disagree with other Christians on several doctrines. Lutherans disagree with other Christians on the Sacraments, Eschatology aka Study of the End Times, alcohol, the Virgin Mary, and many other doctrines. Lutherans believe, teach, and confess two to three Sacraments: Holy Baptism, Holy Communion, and Confession and Absolution. Holy Baptism is water, God's Word, and the Holy Spirit uniting to save Christians, Holy Baptism can be administered to infants, children, teenagers, and adults, and that all three styles of Holy Baptism, which are immersion, pouring, and sprinkling are all valid forms of Holy Baptism. Most other Christians will disagree with Lutherans on all or some of those points. Lutherans believe, teach, and confess the Real Presence of Jesus in the Bread and Wine of Holy Communion and that the Bread and Wine are the Literal Body and Blood of Jesus and yet they remain Bread and Wine. Lutherans have three types of Confession and Absolution. Lutherans can confess their sins directly to the Holy Trinity, Lutherans can confess their sins at the beginning of the Mass in and through the Liturgy without saying, what their sins are out loud, and Lutherans can seek Private Confession and Absolution with their pastor(s) or bishop(s). The Holy Trinity forgive the sins of Lutherans in all three forms on Confession and Absolution. Lutherans are amillennial in our Eschatology, which means, that the Rapture and the Second Coming of Jesus are the same event and that there is no 1,000 Year Reign of Jesus, because Jesus, even though it doesn't always look like it, has been reigning over the earth since His Literal and Historical Resurrection from the dead. Lutherans believe, teach, and confess, that drinking alcohol is not a sin, but we discourage people from being alcoholics and/or worshipping alcohol. Lutherans believe, teach, and confess, that the Virgin Mary is the Mother of the God, as in God the Son Jesus Christ, but she is not the Mother of Yahweh or the Holy Spirit. Some other Christians agree with us on the Virgin Mary, but some disagree with us.
Lutherans believe, teach, and confess, that Christians are saved by Grace Alone through Faith Alone. However, some Christians want to add their own good works in as a requirement for Salvation. This is has two names Pelagianism and "Gospel Plus." "Gospel Plus" is the lesser of the two evils. Lutherans retain the Mass, like Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Orthodox Christians, but the Lutheran Mass differs both theologically and linguistically from the Roman Catholic Mass, Anglican Mass, and Orthodox Mass. Granted Lutherans are also divided and not all Lutherans will agree with what I said, that we believe, teach, and confess. Sadly, Jesus warned, that we will not all agree, when He promised to bring the sword instead of peace. Some Lutherans will be saying "Yes, yes" and "Amen, Amen," as they read this blog post, while other Lutherans will pick and chose, where they agree with me on and what they disagree with me on. Plus, I did not give an extensive listing of Lutheran Doctrines and I didn't summarize The Holy Bible or The Book of Concord, so I did not cover all of the Lutheran Doctrines. Reading The Book of Concord is its entirety is the best way to understand the historical understandings of all our doctrines.
Let us read Ephesians Chapter 2:1-10:
"2:1 And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in Mercy, for His Great Love wherewith He loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by Grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His Grace in His Kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by Grace are ye saved through Faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the Gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained, that we should walk in them" (KJV 1611).
Final Vendor List for the 2021 Vaughnsville Craft and Vendor Show:
(Vendors are listed in the order in which they signed up and paid for their tables and booths.)
***WE WILL BE INSIDE OF THE VAUGHNSVILLE COMMUNITY CENTER!!!***
- James O'Flannery
- President and Founder of both Ohio Irish Lutheran Press (OIL Press) and Ohio Book Mart & More (OBM&M): Local Author and Used Book Dealer
- Lima, Ohio
- Larry Wren
- Local Author
- Elida, Ohio
- Colleen Spoltman
- Independent Paparazzi Consultant: Jewelry Dealer
- Lima, Ohio
- Rachael Scheele
- Independent Wreath Maker
- Lima, Ohio
- Charlie "Rock" Rohrbacher
- Independent Antique Dealer
- Delphos, Ohio
- Heidi Pence
- Independent Home Décor Dealer
- Fostoria, Ohio
- Kelley Powell
- Independent Sewing Lady Making the Following Items by Hand:
- Baby Bibs and Burp Cloth Sets, Potato Pockets, Bowl Cozies, Eyeglasses Cases, Rice Heating Pads, Women's Scarves, Baby Hooded Towel and Wash Cloth Sets, Coasters, and Mug Rugs
- Findlay, Ohio
- Jim Flannery
- Independent DVD Dealer
- Lima, Ohio
- Todd Croft
- Todd's Collectibles
- Lima, Ohio
- Vaughnsville Athletic Association
- They will be selling pop and hotdogs out by the baseball diamond, while we will be inside of the Vaughnsville Community Center, and they will be CASH-ONLY!
- Vaughnsville, Ohio
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.
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)