Lenten Greetings and Happy Patrick's Day!
St. Patrick Reflections: St. Patrick lived from A.D. 372 to A.D. 466. He was the First Bishop of Ireland. A bishop is a pastor, who serves the Holy Trinity as a pastor over other pastors. A bishop is basically a supervisor for other pastors. Patrick preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Pagan Irish, so they could become Christians. God the Holy Spirit used Patrick to call and enlighten them through the Gospel.
He was raised in a Christian home, but he strayed away from the Faith as a young boy. He trusted in himself and in his family’s wealth. He had forgotten about the Holy Trinity. He had forgotten, that God the Father Yahweh had sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the True Cross to save us from our sins. Patrick was kidnapped by Irish pirates and slave traders and he was sold into slavery, once he reached Ireland.
In Ireland, Patrick learned their language called Mayo Irish and he worked as a shepherd to serve his slave master. While in the hills of Ireland, he turned back to the Holy Trinity, Who are our God. Yahweh, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are the Holy Trinity. Patrick prayed all the time. Yahweh then told him, that soon he would returned to his homeland called Roman Britain. Patrick walked hundreds of miles and he crossed the island, we call Ireland.
Patrick hitched a ride home on a ship and, when he returned to his family’s villa in Roman Britain, they threw a big party for him. They did this, because Ireland was a rough country and people were typically unable to escape her at that time. After the party was over, Patrick was called into ministry to be a bishop and a missionary to the Pagan Irish. He entered a monastery, which is a place, where monks and other servants of the Gospel can live, and over the course of a few years he became a deacon, then a priest, which is basically the same thing as a pastor, and finally he became a bishop. He returned to Ireland and he preached the Gospel to them, that Jesus died on the True Cross to save us from our sins. We just need to confess this truth and we need to ask the Holy Trinity to forgive us of our sins, but we cannot do either one of these things without experiencing the waters of Holy Baptism.
The Pagan Irish worshiped many different gods and goddess, which they believed to be extremely powerful. Patrick came along and he told them, that there is a better God to worship. That God is the Holy Trinity. We have One True God, but in Three Holy Persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “I and the Father are One.” Jesus tells us, that He and Yahweh are equally God. We also know from both The Holy Bible and the Three Ecumenical Creeds, that the Holy Spirit is also equally God with Yahweh and Jesus.
They created the world and all that is in it. They either directly created things or they have humans help Them in this creative work. That means, that the Holy Trinity sees, that certain things like books, computers, automobiles, trains, and other manmade things need to be created, so They use people like us to do these things. Without Yahweh, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, nothing could exist. Evolution is a lie and anyone, who promotes evolution and tells you, that it is a scientific fact, is lying to you. Evolution is heresy aka a false doctrine. Evolution takes away our Hope of Eternal Life in Heaven, but the Holy Trinity created us and we glorify Them for that and for so much more.
Jesus died for every single person, who has ever lived. No one deserved this, but we are not saved, because we deserve it, rather we are saved, because Yahweh, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit love us and Jesus died to save us from Hell and our sins. Jesus’ Death, Burial, and Resurrection from the Dead are the things, which reconcile us and which make everything alright between us and Yahweh. Yahweh is our Heavenly Father and He accepts Jesus’ Sacrifice to atone for our sins and this erases them forever. We must confess our sins to Yahweh, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, but we cannot do this with experiencing the waters of Holy Baptism.
We must live by the Five Solas. The Five Solas are all in Latin and they are Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Solus Christus, and Sola Deo Gloria. Sola Scriptura is Scripture Alone. Sola Gratia is Grace Alone. Sola Fide is Faith Alone. Solus Christus is Christ Alone. Sola Deo Gloria is Alone for God’s Glory. The Five Solas were coined by Martin Luther and these phrases were later adopted by John Calvin in the 1500’s, so they came onto the scene later than St. Patrick’s life, but he would not have disagreed with them. These Solas are true expressions of Christianity. We are all sinners and Jesus died for us. Amen.
Let us read Romans Chapter 5:1-11:
“5:1 Therefore being justified by Faith, we have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By Whom also we have access by Faith into this Grace, wherein we stand, and rejoice in Hope of the Glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, Hope: 5 And Hope maketh not ashamed; because the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, Which is given unto us.
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth His Love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by His Blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the Death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His Life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom we have now received the Atonement” (KJV 1611).
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 or 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 Jen's Furniture and Collectibles (JFC) on the corner High Street and Chestnut Street in between Circle K Gas Station and Zion Lutheran Church (NALC) 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, Wagner's IGA Grocery Store in Minster, 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)