Do Muslims & Christians worship the same God? + Jesus' birth defies expectations.

Theological Thursday

Do Christians & Muslims Worship the Same God?

This is NOT the topic I intended to write about, but it is a topic that has been on my mind a lot. Events of this past year have certainly made it difficult to keep this topic far from my thoughts &, I dare say, from the thoughts of many others.

• It may be a knee-jerk reaction to condemn all Muslims for the actions of Islamic extremists, but terror invites knee-jerk reactions, even if it does not justify them.
• This issue has become so politicized that it becomes difficult for a child of God to balance love of country for love of neighbor.
• We are instructed by our Savior to love our neighbors &, in particular, our enemies. It has become too easy to consider all Muslims our enemies because of the actions of Islamic extremists. 
• That may be the root of a sincere desire to grasp at the mistaken belief that Muslims & Christians worship the same God, especially when the secular media promotes this heresy.
• This is part of a larger heresy--one that has been around forever, namely, that all religions basically worship the same God. We do not.

As I pursued my "quiet time" this morning (12/31), I followed a link off of "A Slice of Infinity," the daily on-line devotion hosted by RZIM *. It led me to an article written by Nabeel Qureshi, a former Muslim & "New York Times best-selling author of "Seeking Allah, Finding, Jesus." ** The name of the article is

Do Christians & Muslims worship the same God? [Check out the link. Please.] I strongly encourage you to read it. I do not think you will find this man to be a "hater." Rather, I think you will find his essay to be very even-handed, very thoughtful--a real attempt to help Christians & others understand the theology of Islam in contrast to the theology of Christianity regarding this issue.
* Ravi Zacharis International Ministries
** This is a book review that I have not read yet.

This is what I set out to write about today

Some scripture to consider from Philippians

"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death--even death on a cross!
      Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place & gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven & on earth & under the earth, & every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:5-11

We Celebrated Christmas Eve One Week Ago

Well, I hope you celebrated Christmas Eve. And not as a secular holiday, but as a true celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord & Savior.

Because of my own personal circumstances over this past year, I found myself during the season of Advent, leading up to Christmas, & during these actual 12 days of Christmas, really focusing on some Old Testament prophesies, plus the Christmas narratives in the New Testament, in a way that I haven't really focused before.

Christmas in our culture begins not just on Black Friday. Now the first trappings of Christmas actually are visible pretty quickly after we celebrate(?) Halloween. Christmas displays set-up in stores . . . Christmas decorations appear on houses . . . Christmas carols begin to play in the background of our holiday shopping stops . . . Santa Claus in his myriad manifestations begins to show up @ malls & other locations, enticing children & their easily beguiled parents [OK, grand-parents, too--guilty as charged!] to make photo-memories [& spend money], often including scenes of children crying in terror @ being thrust onto the lap of "jolly old [AND strangely costumed AND long-haired AND bearded AND almost always at least a little obese *] St. Nicholas.
* It would appear as if I'm looking to take a speck out of someone else's eye when I have a beam to take out of my own eye, metaphorically speaking. **
** Which I am allowed to do, because I was an English major.

Oh, & Christmas decorations start showing up in our churches usually before Christmas Eve, too.

Don't get me wrong! I love all the trappings of Christmas--the songs, the carols, the lights, setting up Christmas decorations @ home . . . TRUE CONFESSION TIME:  I do NOT like Christmas shopping, which is consistent w/my general loathing of shopping of any kind.

But as I get older, wiser [at least I'd like to think so], & especially this year during the holiday ["holy day"] season, I find myself ever reflecting increasingly on another side of Christmas.

That other side is the humble, lowly nature of so many Biblical prophecies . . . so many humble, meek, & lowly circumstances of the birth of the almighty Savior of the Universe.

• "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me one who will be ruler over Israel . . . " Micah 5:2a [Over 700 years before Jesus' birth, God uses a prophet whom we know little to nothing about to prophesy the exact location of the Messiah's birth. No "great company of the heavenly host" made this startling announcement!]
• "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign:  The virgin will conceive & give birth to a son, & will call Him Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14 [A prophecy by a "major" prophet. Now that's more like it! But wait . . . A son conceived by a virgin? A prophecy followed by an interval of 700 years?]
• "In the 6th month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledge to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her & said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.' Mary was greatly troubled at his words & wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive & give birth to a son, & you are to call Him Jesus. He will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, & He will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; His kingdom will never end' . . . 'I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered. 'May your word to me be fulfilled.'  Luke 1:26-33, 38 [An angel makes the announcement. So far, so good . . .  but to a young virgin? Not part of the royal family? Living in Nazareth, not Jerusalem? Nazareth was not exactly a large red dot on the map.]
• " . . . an angel of the Lord appeared to (Joseph) in a dream & said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, & you are give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins' . . . When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him & took Mark home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave Him the name Jesus."  Matthew 1:20b-21, 24-25  [Another angelic announcement . . . to another young peasant in Nazareth, not Jerusalem? A son of David, but also not a member of the royal family?]
• "So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house & line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledge to be married to him & was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, & she gave birth to her firstborn, a so. She wrapped him in cloths & placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them."  Luke 2:4-7  [Although the hometown of David, Bethlehem was a small, afterthought of a village, apparently lacking even a historical marker . . . Crowded because of the census, otherwise sparse in population, sparse in people's thoughts & imaginations. Certainly not a place for a baby like this to be born when Jerusalem was just a relatively easy stroll to the north. And his parents laid him in a wooden, feeding trough for animals? In today's culture, someone surely would have made a contact with social services.]
• "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, & the glory of the Lord shone around them, & they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah. This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths & lying in a manger." Luke 2:8-12  [An angel announces the birth of Jesus to . . . shepherds? Keeping watch over sheep? On a dark, Judean hillside? Why no announcement to people of importance? People living in palaces or at least mansions. That would seem more fitting for one who will "save His people from their sins."]
• "So they hurried off & found Mary & Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, & all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things & pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying & praising God for all the things they had heard & seen, which were just as they had been told." Luke 2:16-19  [Shepherds, probably dressed in less than elegant garments, probably not smelling the best having spent much of their time in the pastures with their livestock, boldly enter town to search for the Messiah. And find Him! And then they are the first who apparently glorify, praise, & provide testimony to the birth of the Christ child. Probably not testimony on the level of professional, seminary-trained preachers that we would expect . . . And did I mention that they were shepherds?]

My conclusions

I'll try to keep this brief, since this post has already gotten out of control.

• Prophecies of the Messiah were made on God's terms, not humankind's expectations.
• The birth of the Messiah took place on God's terms, not humankind's expectations.
• The Christ child was born into the world in the most humble of circumstances, save for a glorious announcement made by angels . . . but made to shepherds in the most unlikely of places.
• Jesus' birth was completely in keeping in the nature of one who was born to "save His people from their sins," i.e., one who was born to die on the cross.
• Lutherans, of which I am one, focus on a theology of the cross, * not a theology of glory.

* This is a Wikipedia source, but it includes Martin Luther's teachings re:  the "theology of the cross." In my humble opinion, that excerpt is "orthodox."

Taboo word + Bacon-flavored seaweed + Best food court + Nuns with guns

Whimsy

From Norfolk Daily News (12/17/15):  "Digital assistants face off in 'talking' tests . . . Finally, a personality test. I challenged each to tell a joke. Siri had the best answer. 'If I told you a joke in my language, I'd have to explain it.' Then I tried the famous line from '2001: A Space Odyssey' in which astronaut Dave Bowman tells the ship's computer: 'Open the pod bay doors.' Cortana knows the right answer: 'I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that.' But Siri had a better one: 'Doesn't anybody knock anymore?'" [Lois asked Siri to tell a joke & got this response: "Two iPhones walked into a bar. I forget the rest." No, I'm not making this up."]

From Omaha World Herald (12/27/15):  "Fluency in taboo words may not be social defect. A bigger vocabulary is a bigger vocabulary, whether you are quoting Shakespeare or cursing like a sailor. That is the takeaway from a report, recently published in the journal Language Sciences, that suggests fluency in 'taboo words' is correlated w/having a larger vocabulary.' The finding goes against some prior research & much popular thinking that sees cursing as a defect. Researchers & authors have argued that people who curse a lot are lazy, have a more limited vocabulary & lack education & self-control." [For what it's worth--taking into account that I'm only on my 2nd cup of coffee this morning--I am on the side of "popular" thinking. Expecting anything more clever than that from me? That would require me to use taboo words.]

Whimsy:  Special Star Wars Edition

Also from OWH "Go Magazine" (12/17):  "The Influences of Star Wars. George Lucas has admitted that 'Star Wars' is a compilation of many, many things. Here are a few works that influenced the series.

• "A Princess of Mars" {published 1912}
• "Buck Rogers" {comic debut 1929}
• "Flash Gordon" {comic debut 1934}
• "Stagecoach" & "The Wizard of Oz" {released 1939}
• "The Hero w/a Thousand Faces" {Published 1949}

[I am providing this excerpt as a special service to Star Wars geeks, & I mean that in the most affectionate way possible. I've heard what happens to people who dis Star Wars geeks.]

Criminal Minds

Also from OWH (12/26):  "Lincoln fugitive caught after she drops in on neighbors. A 36-yr-old woman hiding from deputies was caught after she fell through the ceiling of an adjoining duplex unit in Lincoln, authorities said. Kristina Frerichs was taken to a hospital after her fall . . . & then to jail . . . Deputies said they saw Frerichs through a window at her residence but couldn't find her when the duplex owners let them in. Deputies said residents on the other side of the duplex soon reported that someone had fallen from the attic through the ceiling of their living room. Frerichs was found hiding at the bottom of a nearby staircase." [Don't you just hate it when someone drops in on you unannounced?]

Also from OWH (12/27:)  "Crash rate of driverless cars exposes glitch in programming. The self-driving car, that cutting-edge creation that's supposed to lead to a world without accidents, is achieving the exact opposite:  The vehicles have racked up a crash rate double that of those w/human drivers. The glitch?
      "They obey the law all the time, w/o exception. This may sound like the right way to program a robot to drive a car, but good luck trying to merge onto a chaotic, jam-packed highway w/traffic flying along well above the speed limit. As the accidents have piled up--all minor scrape-ups so far--the arguments among programmers @ places like Google & Carnegie Mellon University are heating up:  Should they teach the cars how to commit infractions from time to time to stay out of trouble?"  [I contemplated using this for a devotional topic, then came to my senses.]

Food for Thought

Also from OWH (12/16):  "New ingredients are swimming your way for 2016. Tiny fish, tart plums & coconut syrup. Ready for a taste of 2016? Since we're all a little tired of hearing about bacon *, Brussels sprouts & cauliflower steaks, let's look forward to some of the flavors & foods that will be popping up in the coming year . . .
* It's hard to imagine getting tired of hearing about bacon.

1. "Little Fish. Two things are going on here. First, the trend in seafood is to eat lower on the food chain. It's good for the oceans; it's good for the fishing industry . . . So expect to see lots of anchovies & sardines & expect to see them in starring roles." [Two comments:  Eating lower on the food chain has worked for sharks for millennia, right Nick? Secondly, I love anchovy pizza. It broke my heart when Sam & Louie's closed in Norfolk, because it was the only place in town where you could get a slice of anchovy pizza.]
2. "Seaweed. Sure, there was a lot of hype this year about the new seaweed that supposedly tastes like bacon, but I'm not holding my breath for that. Because in the meantime we have nori, the seaweed that often is pressed & dried in sheets . . . " [Two comments:  How did I miss seaweed that tastes like bacon? Secondly, we were introduced to nori when we lived in Hawaii. It's palatable but reminded us of the fish food we used to feed our guppies.]
3. "Alternative Sugars. Avoiding high-fructose corn syrup is getting a little easier, in part because a growing number of soda companies are returning to pure cane syrup . . . " [Uh, chemically it's still sugar, right?]
4. "Umeboshi Plums. "These are the fruit of the ume {pronounced OO-may} tree {a relative of the rose}. They resemble small apricots, but they can't be eaten raw.That's why most of them are salted, fermented & dyed red using shisho leaves. The resulting 'plums' have an intensely sour-salty flavor that can be weirdly addictive." [This is just plain wrong on so many levels.]
5. "Grains & Legumes. This has been building for a couple years now. It all started w/the quinoa craze. Now all sorts of crazy grains & legumes {or seeds masquerading as them} are popping up. And so we have farro & teff, millet & triticale, not to mention more common wheat berries & rye berries being cooked & consumed straight up {rather than turned into floor}." [I've actually had quinoa. That's all. I've actually had quinoa.]

There is No Place Like . . . 

Florida?

Also from OWH (12/8):  "Pig w/pink toenails reunited w/his people. A friendly pig w/pink toenails spotted last week in a FL flower bed has made it all the way home. Clearwater police reported on social media . . . that Louie's owner was located, & the pig was reunited w/his family . . . police posted a photo of the manicured porker on their Facebook & Twitter pages. The pig was in the custody of the SPCA until his owner claimed him. Police didn't publicly identify the owner." [Rumor has it that the owner wasn't publicly identified because PETA objects to the practice of toenail-polished pigs.]

Colorado?

Also from OWH (12/28): "After honest busboy turns in cash, fans give him a tip. A struggling CO busboy who returned $3,000 in cash that he found on the floor is getting a big tip. People impressed w/Johnny Duckworth's honest have raised more than $3,800 through gofundme.com.

      "Duckworth found the cash @ Randy's Southside Diner in Grand Junction & handed it over to his boss . . . The money was in an envelope behind a booth. There also was a bank ATM slip inside, & the bank was able to return the money to its owner, who gave Duckworth a $300 tip. Duckworth said he never thought of keeping the money. 'I work for a living.'" [I am genuinely impressed.]

Nebraska!

Also from OWH (12/26):  "Westroads food hall to open Tuesday. Flagship Commons, Westroads Mall's new food hall, will open TUE . . . The 21,000-sq-ft space situated between the AMC multiplex & Younkers department store will offer 8 restaurants, some new & some familiar, w/fast-casual & full-service options.

      "It will have a full-service bar; new locations for Aromas Coffeehouse, Blatt Beer & Table, & the Amsterdam Falafel & Kabob; plus 5 new concepts, including Yum Roll by Blue Sushi Sake Grill, Yoshi-Ya ramen, Weirdough Pizza Co., Juan Taco, & a custom salad station, Clever Greens." [Key words:  "full-service bar," "Blatt Beer & Table", "Blue Sushi Sake."]

Political TUE:  Special Wednesday Edition

Also from NDN (12/9):  "Nun's deer kill brings online backlash. A Roman Catholic diocese has taken down the Facebook photo of a nun w/a 10-pt buck she bagged after the posting drew criticism, some of it vulgar, from animal-rights & anti-hunting activists, the diocese said. Sister John Paul Bauer killed the deer on Nov. 30, the first day of hunting season.

      "The photo posted on the Erie (PA) Diocese's FB page showed her, wearing her nun habit, at the back of a pickup truck holding her trophy deer by the antlers. Initial comments were largely positive . . . But as the page neared 1.5 million views, animal rights activists began taking offense . . . many of those who oppose hunting posted vulgar comments, using profanity & even an obscene photograph . . . " [That's what I love about hunting opponents--their carefully measured, well-reasoned responses.]

Whimsy from Another Source

I'm not above harvesting shameless, amusing excerpts from other sources. My source is Reader's Digest, Dec 2015/Jan 2016.

From "Famous Quotes, Unabridged":  Two things are infinite:  the universe & human stupidity; & I'm not sure about the universe. But that might just be me being stupid." Albert Einstein

From "Life in These United State":  A Twitter exchange between an angry customer & an apologetic Domino's Pizza:  Customer: Yoooo I ordered a Pizza & Came with no Toppings on it or anything, Its Just Bread  Domino's: We're sorry to hear about this!  Customer (minutes later): Never mind, I opened the pizza upside down :/

From "That's Outrageous":  A North Carolina college student was arrested for using counterfeit money. What gave her away was the signature on the bill. It's supposed to be the name of the secretary of the Treasury. Instead, it was signed "Moe Money."

Reflections on Christmas + Depression + Anxiety + Bonus Features

Mental Health Monday

Christmas Reflections

I started writing this on the morning of Christmas Eve. We're getting some snow! It's not supposed to amount to more than an inch or two, but it's making it look very nice outside. The odds of a White Christmas in Nebraska? Actually the odds are against it. I like looking at it. I don't like shoveling it, driving in it, or walking the dog in it. When we moved to Hawaii in 1993, we were told that we would miss the snow. We didn't miss the snow.

I took the dog out for his early morning walk. It was what I label a "power walk," meaning we did what I consider the shortest walk possible in order to give him the best opportunities possible to "post his messages" (if you catch my drift). He doesn't seem to mind the snow or the cold, & it actually didn't feel all that cold.

Before taking him for a walk, I finished most of my "quiet time," which included readings from "Martin Luther Day by Day," "Lutheran High Northeast Advent Devotions [an exceptionally well-written, thoughtful devotion entitled, "Sing to the Lord," based on Psalm 98], today's on-line devotion from Slice of Infinity, hosted by RZIM, plus some liturgical propers for Christmas Eve & Christmas Day from Lutheran Worship.

Lois pointed me to some Christmas columns from writers to National Review Online--most of which were more theological in nature than political. [SEE below.] I booted up a Youtube from Mercy Me, performing "I Heard the Bells," & Lois played a Youtube of Lauren Daigle performing "Noel." All of these sources contributed to a very meaningful quiet time for me.

Update #1:  Now I'm typing this on SAT 12/26. Looks like we got another 4" of snow overnight.

Update #2:  And I'm wrapping this up on MON 12/28. When I took Sammy on his early morning walk today, temperature was 8. Wind chill was -3. Didn't check other temps, but I'm pretty sure we could have finished #1, had I taken the time to do a LECKBAND TEMP CHALLENGE. We were still in a winter weather warning when we went to bed last night with 6-10" of snow possible; now they've backed off the forecast to a winter weather advisory w/2-5" more likely by the end of today. We started getting some light snow around 10:00a It's 11:30a now. Whatever.

Reflections on Depression

I've come a long way since last Christmas. A year ago I was on an indefinite medical leave from my responsibilities as head administrator at Lutheran High Northeast, due to an advanced case of "burnout" in laypersons' terms [chronic clinical depression in mental health terms]. I had somewhat reluctantly accepted the decision of my Board to take a leave of absence at least until January. My wife, whose advice I should have taken sooner, my District President, & the people who worked closely with me were all of one mind, but I hadn't quite come to terms with it yet.

In fact, at this point a year ago I was still thinking along these lines:  Yippee! The extra time away from the office means time to catch up! No meetings . . . No daily interruptions & "administrivia" . . . Did I understand that things had piled up so badly at school that I couldn't function effectively?  

Well, yes, perhaps a part of me did, yet I wasn't fully embracing how serious my condition was affecting not just myself but others. That realization wouldn't come until later in January when Lois & I attended a Shepherd's Canyon Retreat in Arizona, later in January. [Any reflections about that retreat are reserved for a future blog.]

A year later I'm no longer associated with LHNE, & I've accepted it. I've come to terms with my chronic, clinical depression, even while I wonder why, after experiencing various degrees of "burnout" & dealing with chronic depression for years, this particular episode hit so hard & rendered me unable to return to my professional ministry.

Here are my insights. Do with them what you will. [It's still MY blog.]

• Clinical depression is a very real illness. There are many places you can go on-line to check out symptoms, which I've shared before. I have found webmd to be a  helpful web site. Ditto the Mayo Clinic web site. 
• HOWEVER, there is no substitute for a diagnosis by a mental health professional, & by mental health professional, I'm talking about a psychiatrist.
• A general practice physician or p.a. can certainly diagnose & prescribe medication for depression, but a psychiatrist is a specialist, & I personally favor a specialist for a mental health diagnosis & treatment, just like I would favor an orthopaedic specialist if you think you've torn your ACL.
• I believe that chronic behavior is not necessarily a choice; it can be rooted in brain chemistry.
• A psychiatrist's role is primarily to diagnose, prescribe, & manage medications, not to provide therapy.
• Therapy is what you get from a mental health counselor--someone credentialed to provide therapy for someone suffering from chronic depression.
• Not everyone benefits from medication, but there is no shame in taking medication. If chronic depression is organic, it's no different than taking medication for diabetes or high blood pressure. 
• Not everyone benefits from therapy. In my case, a combination of therapy & medication seems to have worked best.
• If you associate "therapy" with a descriptor like "touchy-feely," think again. This is particularly true of cognitive behavioral therapy, which is primarily the kind of counseling I've experienced.
• Symptoms vary. I've always characterized my major symptoms as problems sleeping, major feelings of apathy, wanting to isolate myself from others, & general anxiety; as contrasted with walking around w/a cloud of doom & gloom following me around. I've never experienced feelings of self-destruction, but I know what it's like to not care whether I live or not. [At least I don't THINK it's the same thing.] 
• Getting outside & exercising helps. Daily walking has made a difference for the better with me. Using the treadmill when the weather is stinky is second best. At least when I'm on the treadmill I can watch t.v.

Summary:  I'm in a better place than I was a year ago at Christmas. I'm still not where I'd like to be. I've accepted--again--that chronic depression a life-long condition. There is a family history of it. It's easy to fall back on it as a crutch & use it as an excuse, which is not right. Writing, whether it be blogging or writing devotions for Orphan Grain Train or LHNE, definitely helps me. 

Reflections on Anxiety

Squirrel update:  Our horde of evil squirrels seem to think that unprovoked raids into our backyard can go unchallenged this time of year, especially when it's snowing and/or there is snow on the ground, like this morning. [Remember--I originally began this blog on Christmas Eve, then continued on SAT 12/26 & wrapped it up on MON 12/28.] Little do they realize that Sammy apparently takes little heed of the snow or cold, so when he starts barking excitedly, whether near the patio doors upstairs or at the outside door in the basement, we know what's afoot [a-paw?]. Either the little woman or I gladly unleash him to wreak havoc on these forces from the Dark Side. He invariably makes quick work of the threat, dispersing these nefarious creatures up into the highest branches of our pine trees. At least temporarily.

Personal circumstances update:  In early November, Liberty Mutual, the insurance company that manages my disability claim through Concordia Plan Services, notified me that in the opinion of THEIR board-certified psychiatrist I no longer met their criteria for a disability & should be able to resume my responsibilities as FT administrator @ Lutheran High Northeast. * That meant no more disability payments. They explained how to file an appeal, which I did, which included documentation from my mental health providers. The fact of the matter? Returning to my position @ LHNE is not an option, & I have accepted that I am not capable of resuming my duties as a FT administrator @ any Lutheran High School, even if I wanted to. Strangely, I have lost little if any sleep over this circumstance, & I attribute this to much prayer, the additional opportunities for "quiet time" over the past year, & my wife's resolute faith. That's progress, right? 
* Among other things cited in their letter, were these claims: {1} I've denied feeling depressed. {2} I've been able to participate in normal family activities, like family vacations. {3} I've been writing song?!

Medication update:  While I still take medication for my general anxiety disorder, I've cut back a little lately & so far haven't noticed any ill affects. Another sign of progress, right?

License plate update:  Despite my trip to Lincoln last week [I attended Brianna's band concert on THU 12/17 & participated in a GAC mtg on FRI 12/18.], I did not spot a New Hampshire license plate. Lois drove into Omaha for her appt w/her eye surgeon on MON 12/21. Ditto the results. We have a brief, 2-day "getaway" to Sioux Falls coming up, Dec 28-30--probably our last, best chance to spot this elusive license plate. * We take heart in the knowledge that we didn't spot our last license plate in 2014 until Dec. 30. Regardless, I don't seem to be losing any sleep over this either.
* Except now we're in a winter storm "hazard", including a possible 5-8" of snow on Friday. Take a deep breath, Paul. **
** Did I mention our hotel reservation is non-refundable? Breathe in with the nose, out through the mouth. ***
*** Wax on . . . wax off.

Hotel soap update:  Some of you know [especially if you are a member of my immediate family] that I collect [harvest] motel-hotel soap. Despite not attending as many conferences this past year, I still have plentiful reserves on hand, thanks to a few road trips, fewer yet conferences, counter-acted by some family vacations, & a few out-of-town weddings. While I'm currently out of motel-hotel shampoo & conditioner, I do not count on these "perks," since the resources that are supplied rarely last more than 3-4 days anyway, whereas the right motel-hotel chain provides soap that can last up to a week. Also don't seem to be losing any sleep over thhis either.

Christmas card & letter update:  At approximately 5:55p (CST) on Christmas Day, I finished signing & sealing my 2015 Christmas cards & letters. If you have followed any of my other blogs, you know that I did NOT get any cards or letters out for 2014, breaking a long-standing tradition. What's left to do? Hopefully on Saturday I put them all in the mail, although I have a batch that I will have to take to the post office & check to see if they need extra postage. * My nieces, nephews, & personal children are being gifted with a bonus Christmas insert, as recompense for the lack of a family letter last year.
* At about 11:30a (CST) on SAT 12/26, I put Batch #1 into our mailbox. Batch #2, which includes most immediate family members, has yet to be dispatched, because I have to take them either to the post office or Hy-Vee--which has a postal station & mail drop--to see if they need additional postage. When you get them--AND YOU WILL--you'll see why. **
** LATE-BREAKING UPDATE! I did, in fact, make it to Hy-Vee on SAT 12/26, & I'm happy to report that Batch 2 made it into the mail before the 2:00 mail pick-up time!

I recommend these sources of Christmas wisdom, insight & joy to you.

From YouTube:

• Search for Lauren Daigle's performance of "Noel." You can find a copy of this song w/the lyrics. You can also find a live version.
• Search for Mercy Me's version of "I Heard the Bells." I couldn't find a live version.
• Search for Casting Crown's live version of "I Heard the Bells." Very powerful. Gave me goose bumps!
• Search for Jars of Clay's live version of "Little Drummer Boy." Also very powerful. Also gave me goose bumps {at least the first 6 times I watched it.}

From National Review On-line:

Wait! Before you dismiss the following sources just because of the National Review label, I chose columns [with the exception of Jonah Goldberg's] that are all about Christmas & NOT partisan or political in nature. And if you take the time to read Jonah Goldberg's article, while it is partisan & political, I think you will find much to like about it. Pinky promise!

"This Thing Which Is Come to Pass," by Kevin Williamson. Decidedly NOT political.
"Washington Irving's Christmas," by Rich Lowry. Also decidedly NOT political. Includes     some historical insights about our celebration of Christmas.
"Christmas 2015:  History within History," by George Weigel. Very theological & NOT         political.
"The Only Christmas Gift That Matters," by Myra Adams. Very thought-provoking.     Contains historical, theological, & Christian apologetical insights.
"The War on Christmas," by Jonah Goldberg. Warning! This column is overtly political. HOWEVER, it's worth reading & contains some great insights, especially considering that Jonah Goldberg is Jewish & admittedly not a Christian. Here are three quotes from his column. [I hope they inspire you to read the entire column.]

• "Lastly, let me just say that I love Christmastime & I take no offense whatsoever when someone says to me, 'Merry Christmas' . . . If you know someone is not Christian or hates Christmas for some reason, & you say 'Merry Christmas' out of spite or vindictiveness, rather than with joy & good cheer, then you are the one putting the 'ass' in Christmass."
• "And take comfort in the knowledge that the Christmas haters are not merely losers, they are losing."
• "And by all means, let us redouble our efforts in our defensive war against relativism or the relentless erosion of our culture by political correctness. But there are other days of the year to have those arguments. The whole point of Christmas is not to have arguments. That's what Thanksgiving dinner is for."

A new song!

Walking in Truth during the 12 Days of Christmas

First, a correction. In my SAT 12/26 devotional I mistakenly referred to Jan. 5 as the 12th Day of Christmas AND Epiphany. January 5 might be the 12th Day of Christmas, but it is NOT Epiphany. We celebrate Epiphany on Jan. 6. Sorry for the confusion.

Today's scriptural thoughts

"Sing to the Lord a new song . . . Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples . . . "  Psalm 96:1, 3

"Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand & His holy arm have worked salvation for Him. The Lord has made His salvation known & revealed His righteousness to the nations . . . "  Psalm 98:1-2

"Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song . . . Let them praise His name with dancing & make music to Him with timbrel & harp . . . "  Psalm 149:1a, 3

"Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down the sea, & all that is in it, you islands, & all who live in them . . . "  Isaiah 42:10

Today's devotional thoughts

Hark the herald angels sing! Betcha a dollar you sang this favorite hymn at a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day service. Here's the rub. If you read the familiar account of Jesus' birth in Luke 2:1-20, carefully, carefully read & re-read the part where the angels announce the birth of Christ in Bethlehem. 

They announce the birth for sure. It doesn't say anything about singing. But I digress. And it has nothing to do with the point of my devotion anyway.

"Sing to the Lord a new song!" We read & heard these familiar words during Advent, as we prepared to celebrate the birth of our Savior. Chances are you may have read or heard them again during a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day service. 

Singing Christmas music is such a special part of the Christmas celebration that it hardly seems necessary for the psalmists & prophet to remind us to "praise the Lord" & "sing." But we're not told to sing just any song. We're told to "Sing to the Lord a new song." [WARNING! This may require some metaphorical thinking!]

And why would that be worth noting? It would be worth noting because:

• On that very first Christmas Eve or Day a new song was sung.
• It was a new song because after hundreds of years of silence--God's last Old Testament prophet Malachi had spoken over 400 years earlier--the long awaited Messiah was born . . . a new song!
• A new song, because He was born after hundreds, thousands of years of testimony, dating back to the Garden of Eden [See Genesis 3:15.], a Savior had been promised. That's an old prophecy!
• And God's people had waited . . . and waited . . . and waited . . . How many old men & women had died with their dreams of seeing the Messiah in person left unfulfilled? 
• A new dawn broke upon the earth on that first Christmas morning, & while the angels may not have sung a new song, I can't help but think that the shepherds sang a new song of praise as they returned to their flocks, having witnessed the miracle of the Messiah, come to earth as a little baby boy.
• We, too, are able to sing a new song, because this little baby boy was born to grow up, live the holy life that you & I could never live, die the bloody death that you & I should have died, took the punishment that you & I deserved--death on the cross-- then conquered death when He rose on the 3rd day.
• "Sing to the Lord a new song!" Truly a song unlike any other 

Today's prayer thoughts

I choose stanza 7 from one of my favorite hymns, "Earth & All Stars," (LW #438):
Children of God, dying & rising,
Sing to the Lord a new song!
Heaven and earth, hosts everlasting,
Sing to the Lord a new song!
He has done marvelous things.
I too will praise Him with a new song!

Oh, that we were there? He is Immanuel!

Walking in the Truth during the 12 Days of Christmas

Note:  The 12 days of Christmas run from Christmas Day, Dec. 25, thru Epiphany, Jan. 5. [I'm an English major, not a math major, but I think I'm correct.]

A Meditation Inspired by a Christmas Eve Service

Lois & I attended the 3:00p, "Lessons & Carols Worship Service" on Christmas Eve at our home congregation, Grace Lutheran Church in Norfolk, Nebraska. We've come to truly appreciate this special worship service. The traditional scripture readings from both the Old & New Testament . . . special Christmas carols & hymns, both familiar & new . . . a Christmas homily that always seems to touch our hearts in a special way.

Throughout Thursday's service I experienced many thoughts, memories, emotions, some of which I'm sharing in this meditation.

Stanza 2 from the opening hymn, "O Come, All Ye Faithful:"

Highest, most holy, Light of Light eternal,

Born of a virgin, a mortal He comes;

Son of the Father now in flesh appearing!

O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

An insight shared by our associate pastor, Rev. Chris Asbury, during his homily:  "I've heard of many babies who grew up to be kings. He was the only King who became a baby."

Memories of a special Christmas Eve service, many, many years ago.

Lois & I spent Christmas Eve with her parents in Ulysses, KS, located about 80 miles about 80 miles west & south of Dodge City. If memory serves me correctly, her brother John was there; her sister Anita, too. Maybe her brother David. Can't remember if we had any of our children yet. [Like I said . . . many, many years ago.]

      This special "service" took place inside her parents' trailer home, & there was a certain degree of indignation that accompanied it. The pastor of their church had taken their congregation by surprise when he had announced some weeks earlier that he would not be present to lead worship on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. What? Unheard of! After many years serving many congregations at this time of year, he decided it was time to spend Christmas Eve & Christmas Day with his family.

      Not everyone in his congregation understood or accepted. There were hurt feelings, my in-laws' feelings included, & I don't remember doing anything to ameliorate those feelings. [As I look back, it strikes me that I was looking for specks in someone's eyes when perhaps their were planks in my own eyes that needed fishing out.]

      In any case, Lois & I came prepared with Christmas carols, hymns, & scripture readings. And you know what? It was okay. It was better than okay. It was reverent. It was intimate. It was worshipful. It was family. Better than a "real" worship service in a "real" church? I can't remember or recall how my in-laws felt, but I felt that I was part of something special that Christmas Eve. Immanuel with us in His Word & in our hearts.

A prophecy from Isaiah:  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; & the government shall be upon His shoulder, & His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Another special Christmas Eve memory.

My brother Mark & I accompanied my dad to a candlelight communion service at our home congregation, St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Concordia, MO. I can't recall the specific year, but it must have been after Mom had gone into the Good Shepherd Nursing Home because of her stroke.

      I remember some generic details . . . at least I think I do. [When you've been to as many Christmas services as I have, one service & its details tends to run into another.] Where was I? Oh, yeah . . . the larger-than-life Christmas trees with the traditional decorations up front on either side of the altar . . . the additional, festive decorations throughout the church, the hymns & carols, the readings, the liturgy, the Eucharist.

      And here's what I remember with the warmest of emotions . . . sharing that special worship service with my brother & father--my father who was celebrating what had to be a most lonely & difficult Christmas with his dear spouse of so many years absent from church, absent from home. We sat by him, stood with him, sang with him, prayed with him, took communion with him, worshipped with him, walked to & from church with him . . . Memories that I will always treasure. Immanuel with us in His Word & in our hearts.

Stanza 3 from "O Little Town of Bethlehem:"

How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is giv'n!

So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heav'n.

No ear may hear His coming; but in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him, still the dear Christ enters in.

The Christmas Truth Recorded in Matthew

Matthew 1:18-25 [Sorry--you gotta follow the link.]

The Christmas Truth Recorded in Luke

Luke 2:1-20  [Ditto.]

My closing thoughts are not my own

Stanzas 1 & 4 from "Now Sing We Now Rejoice:"

Now sing we, now rejoice, now raise to heav'n our voice;

He from whom joy streameth poor in a manger lies;

Not so brightly beameth the sun in yonder skies.

Thou my Savior art! Thou my Savior art!

Oh, where shall joy be found? Where but on heav'nly ground?

Where the angels singing with all His saints unite,

Sweetest praises bringing in heav'nly joy & light.

Oh, that we were there! Oh, that we were there!

Seriously? On Christmas morning?!

Leckband Temp Challenge

What can I say? I got up to walk the dog &, as I always do, I checked the temperature. When I did, my heart soared [well, skipped a beat, which was a little scary] & I felt a rare surge of competitive juices flow. Norfolk had a chance to be #1! Without even consulting my crack team of temperature consultants, I quickly sprung into action.

In the spirit of Christmas, however, I paused. I made a quick decision--also w/o consultation--deciding to bestow not just one honor this morning, but two! Here goes.

Based on the NOAA web site @ 8:17a (CST), all readings in F, ratings:

#1, Norfolk, NE, 14/wind chill 5
#2, Lincoln, NE {daughter Sarah}, 21/no wc
#3, Ventura, IA {niece Christal}, 24/14
#4, Rochester, MN {son Nathan, daughter-in-law Laura}, 25/18 *
* Alert readers will have noted that Nathan & Laura do NOT live in Rochester. His in-laws the Gustafsons do. I think they are spending Christmas there. Congratulations! You are my first Honorary Christmas Temp Challenge Participants of the Day!
#5, Garrison, IA {brother Mark}, 26/20
#6, Eagan, MN [under normal circumstances, son Nathan}, 29/23
#7, Beatrice, NE {sister Carolyn}, 26/no wc
#8, BALMIEST HONORARY CHRISTMAS LECKBAND'S, Aiea, HI, 74 **
** Congratulations to the Gowens! Mitch was our pastor at Our Savior, Aiea. Mitch & Nancy were & still are, I hope, good friends. I also hope they grasp the full nature of this achievement.

Devotional thoughts for Christmas

Walking in the Truth on Christmas Eve

Today's scripture

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned . . . for to us a child is born, to us a son is given . . . He will reign on David's throne & over His kingdom, establishing & upholding it with justice & righteousness from that time on & forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this."  Isaiah 9:2, 6a, 7b

" . . . and [Mary] gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths & placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, & they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.'"  Luke 2:7-12

A few devotional thoughts for Christmas

• Some of my ancestors, possibly some of yours, lived as "barbarians" ages ago in the forests & fields of Northern Europe. The image of "people walking in darkness," combined with the image of having "seen a great light," deeply resonates with me.
• "For unto us a child is born . . . " Foretold by the prophet Isaiah centuries before the birth of Christ--this prophecy evokes warm memories of children's Christmas programs . . . the Christmas Eve programs from my youth; my own children's Christmas program & more recently my grand-children's programs.
• It is the "zeal of the Lord Almighty" that will establish & uphold a Kingdom of justice & righteousness--certainly unlike any earthly & secular kingdom. These are words of great comfort as we view the wrecks of countless earthly civilizations throughout history & the failure of current kingdoms & governments to secure an early peace for us.
• The "zeal of the Almighty" led God the Father, in His almighty, transcendent wisdom, to choose a young, poor, humble virgin to give birth to the Messiah. You & I would have assumed a birth to a royal mother--a queen, not a peasant.
• We also would have assumed a royal birth in a royal castle in a royal city--not a humble birth in a nondescript village in a lowly animal shelter . . . "royal" infant surrounded by the stink of livestock & wrapped in whatever cloths were on hand.
• And we would have assumed a royal broadcast--a major proclamation throughout the land, throughout the nations! Angels are good . . . but the first announcement is made to unsavory shepherds in a dark Judean pasture, either very late at night or very, very early in the morning? Doesn't God understand how to do publicity?

Today's prayer thoughts

I recall the words from a favorite Christmas hymn, O Little Town of Bethlehem, LSB #361, St. 3:

"How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is giv'n!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heav'n.
No ear may hear His coming; but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him, still
The dear Christ enters in."

This is a pre-holiday plethora of whimsy, Part II

Christmas Whimsy

From Parade Magazine (12/13/15):  Facts gleaned from "Oh, Christmas Tree (Parade Picks)":

• "The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree--The exquisite 550-lb Swarovski star topper...is made of 25000 crystals, 720 LED bulbs, 44 circuit boards, & 3,000 ft. of wire. [I can neither confirm nor deny that our tree in downtown Norfolk is flashier.]
• "The White House Tree . . . And celebrate your own White [House] Christmas w/the White House Historical Association's official 2015 ornament, which honors President Calvin Coolidge & the first national Christmas tree lighting in 1923. [Do they know that he was a Republican?]
• "Country Music Trees. Hankering for a Christmas tree just like Dolly Parton's? You can bid on a tree decorated by Dolly [or other music stars, including LeAnn Rimes & Little Big Town] as part of Parade of Trees:  a Dazzling Gaylord Opryland Resort. ["Hankering." A word I definitely associate w/the season.]
• "Blame It On Charlie Brown. The popularity of the aluminum Christmas tree introduced to the mass market in 1959...took a nosedive when A Charlie Brown Christmas first aired in 1965. (In the show, Charlie Brown & Linus choose a humble real tree over a flashy aluminum model.) [And Linus quotes Scripture in this special! Would anyone dare produce a tv special like this one today? I'm just sayin'.]

Whimsy:  Special Star Wars Edition *

From Omaha World Herald (12/13/15):  "'Star Wars' memories." 

• (From Eileen Williamson, La Vista, NE) "The first time my brother & I went to see it was in Little Rock, AR. We didn't know what 'Star Wars' even was. I have one of those very detailed memories, so I remember riding in the car w/my family & complaining that I didn't want to see a movie about a horse. I thought my parents were saying 'Star Horse . . . ' 
• (From Rachel Jacobsen, Omaha) "My dad is the one who remembers. I will warn you, he's known for hyperbole. His claim is that he took me to see 'The Empire Strikes Back'...when I was not yet 2 yrs old. I was born 8/23/78, & it was released in May of 1980. He says he had to take me into the lobby every time Darth Vader came on screen because he was too scary . . . 
• (From David Jacobsen, Rachel's Father, Omaha) "I'll just add that the experience was so incredible for Rachel; it shaped her love of movies for the rest of her life."

Also from OWH (12/21):  "Dating service for 'Star Wars' fanatics. For 'Star Wars' fans who are looking for love in Alderaan places, Ryan Glitch has a solution:  sci-fi speed dating, which he hosts at Comic-Cons around the country. In 5 years of geek speed-dating, the events have led to 112 couples who are dating seriously; 43 couples who are currently engaged; & 74 couples who have tied the knot. 'Our 19th baby was just born,' Glitch said."

* No comments necessary. I'm just providing a public service.

Criminal Minds

Also from OWH (12/14/15):  "After finding drugs, police arrest man who called them. A 21-yr-old man who called police to report an attempted burglary wound up being arrested himself . . . The officers who responded asked if they could look around for a suspect. While doing that, the officers saw marijuana stems & seeds & later found 2 grams of the drug. The man who called police was arrested on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance." ["You have the right to remain stupid . . . "] *
* My blog consultants have chided me for being unnecessarily harsh. I apologize, IF my comment offend any stupid criminal.

Also from OWH (12/21):  "Man wearing Santa hat sticks up Raising Cane's. You'd think someone w/enough Christmas spirit to wear a Santa hat in public would give instead of take. A guy robbed Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers restaurant near 72nd & Dodge Streets early SUN morning. He wore a ski mask, a brown hooded jacket, dark pants--& a Santa hat . . . After taking cash from the register, he fled on foot. Police are continuing to investigate. The robber also wore a scarf."  ["But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight--'Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!'" Clement Clarke Moore.]

Food for Thought

From 'Ask Dr. Roach' in Norfolk Daily News (12/19/15):  "Hot peppers, onions OK for child to eat. Dear Dr. Roach: My 4-yr-old grandson enjoys eating raw onions, jalapeno pepper slices & all kinds of hot spicy foods. Is this normal? I worry that this is going to harm the lining of his stomach in some way. He eats other normal foods, but at such a young age, I don't think it's good for him. W.G. Answer:  A normal diet for a 4-yr-old depends on culture. Raw onions & peppers are not harmful . . . I think any raw vegetable is healthier than the sugar-laden sodas I see some 4-year-olds drinking." [Not so fast! I would choose sugar-laden sodas over asparagus. And brussels sprouts. Also beets.]

There is No Place Like . . . 

California?

Also from OWH (11/13; yes, I realize this is a little dated):  "When it doesn't rain, the bears pour forth into town. Tourists & animal lovers hoping to see a bear in Sequoia National Park this fall probably stand a better chance of spotting one in this tiny town at the park's entrance. Three Rivers (CA) is literally crawling w/hungry bears driven down from the mountains by drought in search of food to fatten up for winter. Everyone seems to have photos of the creatures on their phones or anecdotes of encounters."  [In a related story, one man was allegedly arrested for offering a bear a drink of water.]

China?

Also from OWH (11/21; yes, also a little dated):  "China plunging into toilet business w/bells, whistles. 'Innovation' is the buzzword of the moment in Beijing, w/the government putting special emphasis on connecting every part of life to the Web as a way to boost the economy & create jobs. Now, even the humble public restroom is getting pimped for what authorities call the 'Internet Plus' era.
      In time for World Toilet Day on THU, Beijing literally rolled out a red carpet at a prototype new public loo that bears little resemblance--in sight or smell--to the often odoriferous & sometimes downright squalid facilities many inhabitants of the Chine capital endure. 
      Resembling a bright, shiny mini-mart, the new facilities feature services including an ATM, a lounge w/vending machines, a computerized telephone contraption for paying utility bills, plus an electric-car charging outpost, & recycling receptacles for paper & plastic bottles." [Chinese facilities . . . a bigger threat to American than global climate change?!]

New York!

Also from OWH (12/8):  "Man finds wedding cash on road, returns it to newlyweds. A newlywed says she's shocked that a New York man went to the trouble to return a wedding envelope containing $200 that he found alongside a road. Peter Palushaj of Thornwood, spotted the envelope while driving in Tarrytown on Oct. 11. It read, 'Mr. & Mrs. Goldstein' & contained 10 $20 bills & a note to 'Dave & Teresa.' A guest had dropped it on the way to the wedding. A quick check led Palushaj to the couple's online wedding registry & the bride's Facebook page . . . He sent her several FB messages, which she discovered only last week. The new bride told the Journal News if it hadn't happened to her she wouldn't believe it"  [There is no place like New York?! I may have indulged in just a wee bit too much egg nog last night.]

Theological THU . . . Special WED edition

Also from OWH (11/12; also a little dated):  "Maybe an apple didn't bring down Adam, Eve. "In Genesis, the Bible mentions the 'forbidden fruit.' Commonly identified as any apple, many people contend that it was actually a quince.
      "The quince's Mideast origin, as well as its fuzzy daffodil-yellow skin & a lemony perfume as penetrating as musk, make it a strong candidate for the fruit that tempted Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden.
      "Don't take a bite! Fresh, a quince is tart, slightly astringent & dry." [I can't help but think that this is false doctrine. I've seen way too many paintings that show Eve holding an apple.]

Also from OWH (12/17):  "Christian prof is suspended for saying Muslims have 'same God.' Wheaton College has suspended a tenured professor who said Christians & Muslims share the same God. Larycia Hawkins, a political science professor at the private evangelical Christian college west of Chicago, announced last week that she would wear a traditional headscarf as part of her Advent devotion to show support for Muslims who have been under greater scrutiny since mass shootings in Paris & San Bernardino, CA."  [As I've said before in another blog, let's ask any Muslim if he or she thinks Christians & Muslims worship & pray to the same God.]

Political TUE . . . Special WED edition

Also from OWH (12/12):  "Atheists outflank Nativity effort. There's no room in the rotunda for a Nativity scene this Christmas. The Grinches who stole Christmas are two atheist groups, which had already booked the display space at the NE State Capitol for the week of Christmas. The conflict inspired a verbal spat on FRI as the Thomas More Society, for the 2nd straight year, erected a Nativity science on the 1st floor of the Capitol rotunda. The display will have to be taken down Dec. 18 because Omaha & Lincoln atheist groups, in AUG, had already schedule displays for Christmas week."  [And I'm quite confident that in the same spirit of being true to their convictions, these atheists will refuse to take the paid holiday of Christmas off.]

Also from OWH 'TV Q & A' (12/13): "Q: Why did MSNBC cancel 'The Alex Wagner Show,' 'The Ed Show' & Al Sharpton's show? Was it poor ratings or what? A:  First of all, the network didn't kill all those shows. It cut back weeknight telecasts of Sharpton's 'PoliticsNation' to a single weekly showing--@ 8:00a Sundays. But it has made a strategic (& ratings-driven) change. As Variety reported in AUG,'MSNBC has sought to move away from the progressive analysis [?] & viewpoint that once fueled it to new heights' in favor of 'programming aimed to burnish the reporting of NBC News.' The gradual turnaround comes not only after MSNBC ratings have tumbled in recent years . . . " [I confess to never having watched Alex Wagner or Ed. I have watched Al Sharpton while channel-surfing. I've also seen him occasionally as a guest on other programs. I could only take him in short doses. His reasoning, logic, not to mention his grammatical & syntactical . . . well, maybe I better just stop. All emphases are added.]

Also from OWH (12/15):  "Did judge err in sentencing assailant to study Islam? After a [Boston] landlord was convicted of pushing her Muslim tenant down a flight of stairs, a judge ordered her to respect the rights of all Muslims & to take an introductory course in Islam. Now the highest court in Massachusetts is being asked to decide whether the judge violated the landlord's constitutional rights."  [I have no issue with this. I'll be eagerly waiting to see if the same judge sentences the next thief who shows up in his courtroom to enroll in a course on the Ten Commandments.]

Political TUE . . . Special WED Edition:  Our President's Legacy [CAUTION:  May contain adult language!]

Also from NDN (12/9):  "U.S. says Iran tested ballistic missile last month. A U.S. official says Iran tested a ballistic missile last month in at least the 2nd such test since lasts summer's nuclear agreement...Ballistic missiles are especially sensitive w/Iran because they could provide the delivery system for a nuclear warhead. The test may reflect an effort by Iranian hard-liners to derail the nuclear pact."  [Well, we wouldn't want to trample on the sensitivities of their hardliners, would we?]

Also from OWH (12/10):  "Climate talks are at odds with reality." (excerpt from editorial re-printed from Orange County Register) " . . . President Barack Obama, on the opening day of United Nations' Climate Change Conference in Paris, said that the event was a 'turning point...the moment we finally determined we would save our planet' . . . Although some sort of agreement likely will be hammered out in Paris, the only real turning point at hand is that Obama soon will be gone from office.
      "For one thing, the climate data used to justify Draconian regulations are just not reliable. Writing this year in the Telegraph of London, Christopher Booker detailed how, for 30 years 'the official temperature records...were systematically 'adjusted' to show the Earth as having warmed much more than the actual data justified.'
      " . . . Then there's the difficulty of getting an agreement w/developing nations, who need fossil fuels to lift their people out of poverty . . . In CA, we have seen that carbon taxes have funded the high-speed rail boondoggle. Assembly Bill 32 & other laws have increased energy costs so high that 15% of people in Tulare & other counties suffer 'energy poverty,' meaning 10% or more of their incomes go to energy...That's a major reason CA now has the nation's  highest poverty rate. Such is the reality beyond the greenhouse-gas emitting conference in Paris."  [No, no, no . . . Global climate change is settled science. Right? Right?!]

Also from OWH (12/21):  "Shootings push Obama to move on gun violence. On the afternoon that he decided to launch perhaps the most controversial effort of his 2nd term--gun control by executive order--President Barack Obama took one look at remarks written for him to address a mass shooting in Oregon & warned that he would go off script. 'I'm just going to riff off it. I'm pissed,' one aide recalled Obama saying before he strode off to talk to reporters."  [And we all know that people intent on using guns to commit violent acts are now trembling, trembling, I tell you, at the knowledge that our President is p----d!]

LECKBAND TEMP CHALLENGE

Based on NOAA web site, 8:10a, all readings in F:

#1, Ventura, IA {my niece Christal}, 27/wind chill 15
#2, Norfolk, NE {includes my daughter Rachel}, 27/16
#3, Lincoln, NE {my daughter Sarah}, 27/19
#4, Eagan, MN {my son Nathan}, 31/24
#5, Garrison, IA {my brother Mark}, 31/25
#6, BALMIEST LECKBAND, {my sister Carolyn}, 32/24

NOTES:  

This may be the first time I've blogged, using this label. It speaks to the less savory, competitive side of me & may reflect on my OCD tendencies, as well. I hadn't intended to post this today, but while conducting research w/the help of my crack team of temp consultants, as part of my efforts on behalf of honoring members of the Hill family this morning, I was struck by how close the results were. 
      I often check the weather before I go to bed at night, also when I get up in the morning, just to prepare myself, both psychologically & physically, for my early morning walk with our dog Sammy. This can evolve into a full temp challenge project when it looks like Norfolk can finish #1 by virtue of the most extreme temperature and/or weather conditions in either the coldest or hottest times of the year. I use highly sophisticated measuring devices that would take me way too long to explain in the limited space available to me.
      I typically only check-out locations where immediate members of the Leckband family reside:  

• My sister Carolyn & her husband Matt in Beatrice, NE.
• My brother Mark & his wife Christy in Garrison, IA.
• Their daughter Christal, my niece, & her family in Ventura, IA.
• My son Nathan & his wife Laura in Eagan, MN (Twin Cities).
• My daughter Sarah & her family in Lincoln, NE.
• My daughter Rachel & her family live in Woodland Park, just outside Norfolk, so they fall under the Norfolk category.