US Army Retiree, ex-pat Buckeye, Naturalized Texan. Lutheran (Missouri Synod). TTRPG player (at least I try). VDMA. Christus Rexhttps://bsky.app/profile/paulvmenz.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/paulvmenz.bsky.social/post/3mu5v6nhc2s2kAugustine was not a pioneer. He came to faith through the Scriptures – especially St. Paul’s epistles. He was brought to the waters of Holy Baptism by his bishop’s preaching (St. Ambrose) of those same Holy Scriptures. #Lutheran #LCMS https://revlarrybeane.substack.com/p/todays-devotion-22128 Aug 2026 17:28 +0000at://did:plc:kmvo53ftwfc4e6cag65gojc2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu5v6nhc2s2khttps://bsky.app/profile/paulvmenz.bsky.social/post/3mu3pxcpwnc2ohttps://bookofconcord.cph.org/en/smalcald-articles/third_part/article_ii/ [contains quote post or other embedded content]27 Aug 2026 20:49 +0000at://did:plc:kmvo53ftwfc4e6cag65gojc2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu3pxcpwnc2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/paulvmenz.bsky.social/post/3mu376efbns2rSt. Monica was God’s instrument for this great work. She was known for her prayers, patience, and counsel. She refused to engage in gossip, spoke only well of others, and was a peacemaker. -Rev. Larry Beane #Lutheran #LCMS https://revlarrybeane.substack.com/p/todays-devotion-74927 Aug 2026 15:49 +0000at://did:plc:kmvo53ftwfc4e6cag65gojc2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu376efbns2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/paulvmenz.bsky.social/post/3mtz7vnigts2pThe world makes use of marketing, psychological pressure, “hard sell” tactics, emotional manipulation, etc. But Paul makes it clear that Christian evangelism is simply a matter of stating “the open statement of the truth.” -Rev. Larry Beane #Lutheran #LCMS https://revlarrybeane.substack.com/p/todays-devotion-d2c26 Aug 2026 20:57 +0000at://did:plc:kmvo53ftwfc4e6cag65gojc2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtz7vnigts2phttps://bsky.app/profile/paulvmenz.bsky.social/post/3mtz7txnf5k2p#Lutheran #LCMS #Gottesdienst https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/2026/8/26/ceremonies-teach-and-sesame-street-ruined-christian-worship26 Aug 2026 20:56 +0000at://did:plc:kmvo53ftwfc4e6cag65gojc2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtz7txnf5k2phttps://bsky.app/profile/paulvmenz.bsky.social/post/3mtwgzbpmts232026 can suck it! RIP Dolly 😭25 Aug 2026 18:26 +0000at://did:plc:kmvo53ftwfc4e6cag65gojc2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtwgzbpmts23https://bsky.app/profile/paulvmenz.bsky.social/post/3mtw5k3km2k23To those who are stuck in the letter of the Law apart from grace, those who are pursuing righteousness by works rather than “through faith” (Eph 2:8) in our Lord’s blood and atonement, the Gospel remains veiled. —Rev. Larry Beane #Lutheran #LCMS https://revlarrybeane.substack.com/p/todays-devotion-ab025 Aug 2026 15:37 +0000at://did:plc:kmvo53ftwfc4e6cag65gojc2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtw5k3km2k23https://bsky.app/profile/paulvmenz.bsky.social/post/3mttmuz3qmc2zFor the end result of our faith is not a wallowing in pain, but rather a triumph of comfort. Paul compares the Christian faith and life to a traditional triumph parade, so beloved by the Greco-Romans. —Rev. Larry Beane #Lutheran #LCMS https://revlarrybeane.substack.com/p/todays-devotion-72224 Aug 2026 15:33 +0000at://did:plc:kmvo53ftwfc4e6cag65gojc2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mttmuz3qmc2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/paulvmenz.bsky.social/post/3mts26tusjk2nTonight in D&D: my monk makes an intelligence saving throw (barely, the DC is 17), but failed a Dexterity save (rolled a natural 2, +8) #DnD24 Aug 2026 00:26 +0000at://did:plc:kmvo53ftwfc4e6cag65gojc2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mts26tusjk2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/paulvmenz.bsky.social/post/3mtp4qgz4f22gBuilt on the Rock, the Church doth Stand. #Lutheran #LCMS https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/2026/8/22/the-latest-from-lutheran-identity22 Aug 2026 20:34 +0000at://did:plc:kmvo53ftwfc4e6cag65gojc2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtp4qgz4f22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/paulvmenz.bsky.social/post/3mtlx7hdotc2hWe all need each other. Every part, every member, every person was designed by God. Every man, woman, boy, and girl has a purpose, a teleology – an intended destiny according to God’s will. No person is an accident. —Rev. Larry Beane #Lutheran #LCMS https://revlarrybeane.substack.com/p/todays-devotion-1a921 Aug 2026 14:17 +0000at://did:plc:kmvo53ftwfc4e6cag65gojc2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtlx7hdotc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/paulvmenz.bsky.social/post/3mtjkhurgrk2wFor the church’s mission is not to make a profit, to provide jobs, to give return on investment to shareholders, and to outperform other firms through marketplace competition. —Rev. Larry Beane #Lutheran #LCMS https://revlarrybeane.substack.com/p/todays-devotion-f4320 Aug 2026 15:23 +0000at://did:plc:kmvo53ftwfc4e6cag65gojc2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtjkhurgrk2whttps://bsky.app/profile/paulvmenz.bsky.social/post/3mtjkdlatgs2wThe Holy Supper is not a mere “tradition of men,” but is rather a traditioned “commandment of God” (Mark 7:8). It has been conveyed to us by means of a handing over (tradition) by the apostles and evangelists. —Rev. Larry Beane #Lutheran #LCMS https://revlarrybeane.substack.com/p/todays-devotion-d6920 Aug 2026 15:21 +0000at://did:plc:kmvo53ftwfc4e6cag65gojc2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtjkdlatgs2whttps://bsky.app/profile/paulvmenz.bsky.social/post/3mthrwbrrws2hOk, ELCA....your move on the readings for the 13th Sunday after Pentecost. #Lutheran #LCMS #IssuesEtc #LuthersSmallCatechism #LuthersLargeCatechism #BookOfConcord https://issuesetc.org/2026/08/18/looking-forward-to-sunday-morning-three-year-lectionary-thirteenth-sunday-after-pentecost-pr-peter-bender-8-18-26-2303/19 Aug 2026 22:31 +0000at://did:plc:kmvo53ftwfc4e6cag65gojc2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mthrwbrrws2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/paulvmenz.bsky.social/post/3mtgihufug226This is exactly how our Lord saw the Law and actually kept it perfectly – unlike the Pharisees, who kept the letter of the law but spurned its spirit, something Paul will mention explicitly in his next letter to Corinth -Rev. Larry Beane #Lutheran #LCMS https://revlarrybeane.substack.com/p/todays-devotion-24d19 Aug 2026 10:10 +0000at://did:plc:kmvo53ftwfc4e6cag65gojc2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtgihufug226https://bsky.app/profile/paulvmenz.bsky.social/post/3mtcbmodrkk2dTheir idolatry included the worship of the golden calf....– In fact, they were worshiping an idol by worshiping God in a way that He did not want to be worshiped. That worship was entertainment... —Rev. Larry Beane #Lutheran #LCMS https://revlarrybeane.substack.com/p/todays-devotion-99617 Aug 2026 17:56 +0000at://did:plc:kmvo53ftwfc4e6cag65gojc2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtcbmodrkk2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/paulvmenz.bsky.social/post/3mt4n4szevc2tA good explanation from a Pastor friend of mine. #Lutheran #LCMS https://revlarrybeane.substack.com/p/lutherans-as-evangelical-catholics15 Aug 2026 12:06 +0000at://did:plc:kmvo53ftwfc4e6cag65gojc2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt4n4szevc2t