Sam Osterloh

Mr. Osterloh has finally gotten a blog. I cannot promise it will be often, but I can promise it will often be good. Wisdom shall flow from his keyboard and the masses shall become learned (you must pronounce this learn ed for the full effect).

Check out Sammy here.

I copy his second post here - just cause I like it:

Gaewyn and Osterloh

One of my favorite people in all of history is a guy named Gaewyn. He was born on the Roman frontier on the British coast in around 385 AD. His father's name was Calpornius, a deacon son of a Celtic priest. When he was 16, marauders came from Ireland and attacked Gaewyn's village. Many people were killed and Gaewyn was taken away to Ireland. There he was sold into slavery where he was tasked with herding pigs. There in the pig-pen, the Lord met him, and he came to faith. When he was 22, the Lord revealed to him in a vision that he would be able to escape his slavery and that some 200 miles away he would find a boat and be able to return to Britain. Everything unfolded just as he had seen it in the vision.! His parents were overjoyed at his return. But not long after, an angel, named Victoricus. appeared to Gaewyn bearing letters. The letters were from Ireland and the angel began to read, "Oh dear boy, won't you come and minister among us!" Gaewyn's response was to the Lord was to return to the people who had stolen him away into slavery and bring them the Gospel. He sought formal training and took a new name, Pat, as he began his missionary venture.

Pat's struggle with the pagan order of the time began during the Celtic springtime fire festival known as Beltane. The ritual commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the High King's fire, from which all the other fires in the land would be lit. The lighting of the pagan fire coincided with the lighting of the Easter fire, a holy fire, on Easter eve. According to history, Pat lit an Easter fire on a nearby hill. The High King sent nine chariots to vanquish Pat and put out his fire. Circling counter to the sun's path, the chariots attacked, but were unable to prevail against the holy fire. The king then gave Pat passage to share the Gospel throughout Ireland.

In his lifetime hundred's of thousands were converted and churches were planted all over Ireland. He is one of the great missionary figures of all time! In a political move, the Roman Catholic church sough to bring the Celtic church under it's rule, and in exchange, granted Pat Roman Catholic sainthood.

Of course you know him...St. Patrick...one of the most disfugured characters in all of history...He wasn't Irish and he wasn't Roman Catholic, and certainly, he didn't drink green beer! But, he did use the three leaves of the cloverleaf to explain to the Irish about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit...the Trinity!

And oh, by the way, my name....Osterloh...it's German and it has a distinct meaning associated with the story of Gaewyn. Osterloh is an old low German name and referred to the person who was the Easter (Oster) Fire Lighter (loh). Like Gaewyn (Patrick) I seek to use my life to be a Fire Starter, lighting the holy fire as I go!