SPECIAL SATURDAY EDITION!

Sadly, Nebraska is like at least some other places.

Excerpt from Omaha World Herald (8/12/15):  "UNMC proud of its fetal tissue research. The University of Nebraska Med Center has been among the leading recipients of federal grants for research projects that involves fetal tissue research . . . " [I could have ignored this article or thrown this clipping away, but my conscience wouldn't let me. If you check-out my "Whimsical WED entries {formerly "Whatever WED"}, you know that a regular feature includes There is No Place Like...NEBRASKA, which always includes props for the Cornhusker State, usually at the expense of other states. Well, here is a clipping that spotlights the UNMC's fetal tissue research, & I can't help but assume, since federal grants are involved, that this fetal tissue research would include tissue from aborted babies. Not something for Nebraskans to take pride in.]

But this couldn't happen in America, could it?

Also from OWH (9/3):  "Beware euthanasia's slippery slope. If you were a psychiatrist & a chronically depressed patient told you he wanted to die, what would you do? In Belgium, you might prescribe this vulnerable, desperate person a fatal dose of sodium thiopental. Between Oct. 2007 & Dec. 2011, 100 people went to a clinic in Belgium's Dutch-speaking region w/depression or schizophrenia or, in several cases, Asperger's syndrome, seeking euthanasia. The doctors, satisfied that 48 of the patients were in earnest & that their conditions were 'untreatable' & 'unbearable,' offered them lethal injection. Thirty-five of the 100 patients went through with it . . . 
      "The very 'worrisome' trends in Europe 'should give us pause' about where the 'assisted dying' movement might lead in the United States, Lerner & Caplan write. To be sure, the Benelux countries go far beyond laws in Oregon & 4 other U.S. states that permit physicians to prescribe, not administer, a fatal dose--& only in cases of terminal physical illness . . . What's noteworthy about euthanasia in Europe, though, has been its tendency to expand its use since the taboo against physician aided death is breached . . . 'Part of the problem w/the slippery slope,' they write, 'is that you never know when you are on it.'" [This could never happen in America, right? We're a Christian nation, right?]

Is Cal Thomas a Lutheran?

Also from OWH (9/14):  "Complications of church & state. (from column by Cal Thomas) Let's get something straight. America has never been a 'Christian nation.' Those who believe otherwise have an obligation to say what part of our history was uniquely Christian. Was it when slavery was legal? How about when women were denied the vote? The Gilded Age? The Roaring '20s? America is a nation in which Christians--& every other religious & nonreligious person--have the right to practice their beliefs in private & public free of government intrusion, except in some cases of life-threatening medical conditions into which the courts have occasionally intruded.
      "It may make some evangelicals feel better to believe the country once reflected biblical principles, but despite generous quotations about 'Divine Providence' that hark back to our founding, that's difficult to prove." [Some will disagree w/me, but I think Cal Thomas happens to be on the mark here. We're warned many times in the Psalms, among other scriptures, not to put our faith in princes.]

It's Reformation Day & You Can Still Obtain Indulgences

Also from OWH (10/30):  "Pope OKs indulgences for Legion during anniversary. Pope Francis has granted a special plenary indulgence to members of the scandal-tainted Legion of Christ order as it celebrates the 75th anniversary . . . Indulgences are the ancient church tradition related to the forgiveness of sins that roughly amounts to a 'get out of Purgatory free' card. Catholics seeking them must be contrite & have a moment of deepening faith. Legion members must also renew their vows, evangelize & perform works of mercy." [I don't mean to stir up any old controversies, but seriously . . . how can a Lutheran NOT get worked up, reading about indulgences, still making the rounds as we celebrate the Festival of Reformation, October 31, TWENTY-FIFTEEN!

This News Makes Me Sad

Also from OWH (10/30):  "Cow-protection squads ready to fight. (Dateline Yadavnagar, India) Dozens of men spread across the moonlit farm, hiding behind trees & wielding long-handled machetes & hockey sticks. They are devout Hindus, ready to fight for their religion. They are lying in wait for smugglers' trucks carrying cows. 'I am a Hindu. It is my duty to protect the cows.' said Rajendra Prasad, 35, who makes religious statues. 'I will not allow anyone to smuggle cows for slaughter. Either we die or they die. But we won't let anyone eat beef here,' said Vijendra Singh, a 22-yr-old farmer." 

• While this serves to highlight a key difference [but not the only one] between Christianity & all other world religions--that our God does NOT call us to practice vigilante justice against our enemies, it's also a story that engenders great sadness....
• Because it also highlights how many are still living without God's gracious Truth in their lives.
• Ephesians 2:8-9. Happy Reformation Day!

A Talking Serpent vs. A God Who Tells the Truth

Walking in the Truth

Today's Scripture:

"For the word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does." Psalm 33:4

Today's Devotional Thoughts:

When you promise someone by saying, "I give you my word," why should he or she believe you?" If you are known as a man or woman of his or her word, it means that others respect you, because you do what you promise you will do.

God the Father promised He would send His Son to pay the terrible price for the rebellion of the human race, first committed by the first humans He created. He made that first promise to Adam & Eve perhaps only a few minutes after they directly disobeyed the first commandment He gave them. [Don't blame God! They had a choice! Read one of the saddest chapters of the Bible, Genesis 3:1-24.] *

It seemed like a simple enough commandment. "Don't eat the fruit from that one tree." I mean, after all, He was their Creator. It seems to me that He was entitled to make the rules, wasn't He? Thank about it. Of all the commandments He could have given them, He gave them one rule to follow. "Don't eat the fruit from that ONE tree." They rebelled. They chose not to follow that one, single, solitary command.

It could have meant instant death, the total annihilation of the earth, the end of the human race, the end of our future. Thanks, Adam, Thanks, Eve. **

Instead, the very first promise of the Messiah--literally the "Promised One"--is found in the earliest chapters of the Bible. (Look again at Genesis 3:15.) *** The promise comes true thousands of years later in the birth, life, death, & resurrection of Jesus Christ, God's only Son. That promise still holds true today.

Every other promise ever made by God in Holy Scripture has come true, except one--His promise to return on the Last Day to raise from the dead all who have died as His believers; to take them & all who are still alive as believers to live with Him forever in Heaven. That's called Eternal Life!

The Word of the Lord is right & true, because He is faithful in all He says. Because He has been & always WILL BE faithful in all He says. His Word is Truth.

Today's Prayer Thought:

Ask the Holy Spirit to open your mind & heart as you read the 3rd chapter of Genesis. Consider the Lord's great love for us all in promising a Savior thousands of years before the fact.

* Do I believe in a talking serpent? A literal Adam & Eve vs. a Creation Myth? Yes, as a matter of fact I do. Why? God is a God of His Word, & His Word is Truth!
** Let's not kid ourselves. Go back & read Genesis 3 again. What was the temptation? All the serpent had to dangle in front of them was the notion that they could eat the fruit & BE LIKE GOD! Isn't that we all secretly crave? To be like God? To be a law unto ourselves?
*** If you read this verse several times & still scratch your head, join the club. "Enmity between you & the woman...between your offspring & hers?" God is foretelling the eternal battle between Satan & His evil plans and God & His plans for our good. "He will crush your head...you will strike His heel?" Jesus God's Son will pay the price for our sins by dying on the cross, but it will be a hollow victory for Satan, as Jesus will rise in triumph from the dead, crushing Satan and conquering sin, death, & Satan on our behalf.

Whimsical Wednesday

Whimsy

Excerpt from Norfolk Daily News (10/15/15):  "Never comfortable w/suing nephew, woman says. The New York City woman vilified for suing her 12-year-old nephew over a broken wrist she suffered when he jumped in her arms to greet her four years ago at his birthday party said Thursday she was 'never comfortable' w/the lawsuit.
      "Jennifer Connell appeared on NBC's Today show along w/her nephew, Sean Tarala. She said she wanted her nephew's parents' homeowners insurance to pay her medical bills, but under Connecticut law she could only sue an individual." [I think I may have included an item about this lady in a previous post, so this is my follow-up.]

Also from NDN TV Week "late laughs" from The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon:  "Facebook went down yesterday for the second time in a week. In fact, it's gotten so bad, people are holding up their babies to strangers & shouting: 'Do you like this?'" [I am not above joke-stealing.]

Excerpt from Omaha World Herald Go Magazine (10/15):  "7 Campaign-Worthy Costumes. For some, cat ears are enough. But not you. You set the bar higher for Halloween. You try to be the creative one, the one who comes decked out in a homemade costume that perfectly blends pop culture w/timely politics. Nailing it feels good. If you can scrounge up the right supplies, these outfits could score you a few extra laughs this year.
"#1: Lady & the Trump. Republican Donald Trump + the spaghetti scene from "Lady & the Tramp". Trump slurping noodles w/a female from whatever demographic he offends next. This costume alone
gives him a 2-pt bump in the polls, because politics.
"#2: Hillary Rodman Clinton. Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton + NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman. Pant suits, meet your maker. If ever there was a way to spice up Clinton's campaign, hair dye & facial piercings a la Rodman might just do the trick. Plus, relations w/North Korea would improve. Just sayin'." [I suppose this was also suited for the politic item below.]

Also from OWH Go Magazine (10/22):  "9 Oh-So-Familiar Fall Photos. "Wake up & smell the pumpkin spice. Fall is here. But that's likely been obvious for a while now--just check Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat. The leaves. The lattes. The apple orchards. The pumpkin patches. Something about autumn strips our creative impulses of originality. We scroll through the same photos, again & again. We like. We comment. We favorite. We perpetuate the endless cycle of attention seeking. So, calling more attention to the attention-seekers, here's a sampling of the Photos You Will Undoubtedly See on Social Media This Fall.

1. A treeline in transition. Street, boulevard, woodland--doesn't matter. Look at the colors!
2. Booted feet near fallen leaves. They're red! They're yellow! They're brown!
3. The Outfit of the Day selfie, featuring jacket & scarf. Bonus points for a gray sky/treeline backdrop.
4. A friend's infant or toddler seated in a pumpkin patch.
5. A friend's infant or toddler dressed as a pumpkin on Halloween.
6. The pumpkin your friend's infant or toddler carved 'all by herself.'
7. An apple cinnamon or pumpkin spice beverage. This will be in a mug OR in Starbucks' special fall drinkware w/the caption 'My favorite time of year,' or some variation.
8. Candy corn of any variety w/the above caption(s).
9. And the Nebraska specific (but no less egregious) couple cuddling in a big rocking chair at Vala's Pumpkin Patch." [A quick check of Facebook led me to check off the first 6 before I lost interest.]

Criminal Minds

Also from OWH (10/12):  "Stolen giant pumpkin returned to grower. A giant pumpkin that was brazenly stolen from the yard of a residence in South Dakota has been found & returned. Matthew Murraine told the Black Hills Pioneer that a man found a 100-lb pumpkin in a rural area near Spearfish & returned it to him.
      "Murraine says whoever took it had tried to carve it. On Sept. 18, someone backed a vehicle up to Murraine's house & made off w/one of the two large pumpkins that he had been growing at his home all summer. The theft drew national attention, which surprised Murraine. He said he just wanted people in Spearfish to know. Murraine followed his original plan & donated the pumpkin to another family." [In retrospect, I suppose there's no other way to steal a 100-lb pumpkin except brazenly. DEPT OF IMAGINARY CONVERSATIONS:  Neighbor: What is this? Joe: I'm donating this 100-lb pumpkin to you. Neighbor: Wait . . . what?]

Food for Thought

Also from the OWH (9/26):  "It's time to end the tyranny of olive oil. On a weekend morning not long ago, I found myself in the kitchen,whisking eggs while a pan absorbed the heat from a light flame. I was making breakfast for a few friends. The mood was light. The coffee was dark. Music played in the background, & everyone sat silently, anticipating the meal.
      "That is, until I reached for the butter. 'That's a lot of butter,' one friend muttered from behind a newspaper. 'Is there any olive oil?' another asked. 'Yeah, I would really prefer olive oil,' a third joined in. 'If that's OK,' he added, softening the demand.
      "I looked down at the poor marginalized, misunderstood stick of coagulated deliciousness. And then back up at the table, where the butter skeptics sat. Three rather slender men in their late twenties, terrified of a little dairy fat. 'Fine, I'll make my eggs separately' I said, audibly disappointed. 'But I'm not sharing.'" [I switched from margarine to butter years ago because, frankly, it just plain tastes better. And it tastes better than olive oil, too. And I wouldn't share either. In fact . . . DEPT OF IMAGINARY CONVERSATIONS II:  Me:  Help yourself. The poptarts are in the cabinet above the refrigerator! Dorks.]

There is no place like . . . 

Florida?

Excerpt from Norfolk Daily News (9/29/15):  "Hungry monkey. A monkey that escaped its owner's home in an Orlando suburb chewed on its neighbors' mail, pulled molding off a police car & rocked back & forth on a street sign. Zeek was caught when his owner returned home a short time later." [Better a monkey chewing on your mail than an alligator, right? Paul, Kathy, Jerry, Anita, et al?]

California?

Also from OWH (10/26): "Canceled wedding leads to feast for the homeless. After a California couple called off their wedding the bride-to-be's family decided to turn the $35,000 extravagant event into a feast for the homeless. The bride's mother...said that rather than cancel the reception, they invited Sacramento's homeless for a once-in-a-lifetime meal earlier this month at the Citizen Hotel, one of the city's finest venues." [Were they allowed to serve water? Inquiring minds want to know.]

Nebraska!

Also from the NDN (10/12):  "Record highs. Record high temperatures were shattered across the state Sunday, including in Norfolk. Norfolk's high of 98 broke the previous record of 89, set in 1995 & 1956. Norfolk wasn't the only place w/a record high temperature. Lincoln's high of 94 broke the previous record of 89, set in 1989, & Omaha's high of 91 broke the mark of 87 set in 1995." [As I type this entry a mere two weeks later, it is 52 degrees outside. Forecast? Glad you asked. Low tonight 42. High tomorrow {10/28} 53. Low tomorrow night 30.]

"Political Tuesday" is Gone . . . But Not Forgotten

Also from OWH (10/15):  "Albright dismisses Trump's criticism. She tells Bluffs audience that Hillary Clinton & Obama restored American's reputation." [Those of you who know my political inclinations may be surprised to see this in print, but I agree w/Madeline Albright. She-who-shall-not-be-named & our president have restored America's reputation . . . to the first part of the 1800s, when the British Navy was stopping American ships & shanghai-ing our sailors into British naval service; & the Barbary pirates were kidnapping American citizens from ships off the coast of Tripoli {now Libya} & holding them for ransom.]

Also from OWH (10/20):  "'Clock kid' visits White House for Astronomy Night. Ahmed Mohamed, the Texas teenager arrested after a homemade clock he brought to school was mistaken for a bomb, capped a whirlwind month with a visit to the White House on Monday. [Have any of you actually seen pictures of this whiz kid's homemade clock? I saw my first pictures last Thursday night on TV.

• It looks like a the kind of science project I would have helped my son make at 7:30 a.m. on the day of a science fair, having just found out from my son that it was the day of a science fair.
• It was not a stretch of the imagination to say that it actually looked like an amateurish attempt at a homemade IED.
• No, I'm not kidding. I would have said the same thing if this kid's name was John Smith.]

Where is Truth To Be Found?

Today's scripture

"Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words or He will rebuke you & prove you a liar." Proverbs 30:5-6.

Today's devotional thoughts

We've looked at The Truth. We haven't talked much yet about what it means to "Walk in the Truth." Today I want to focus on the source of The Truth.

Lutherans--and we are not the only Christian denomination who believe this doctrine--teach that the only source of God's Truth is God's Word. The Old Testament writer of the Book of Proverbs affirms this in today's scripture reading when he states that every word of God is flawless.

"Flawless" means without fault; without error. "Every" means, well, it means just what it says.

The writers of the Bible--prophets, evangelists, apostles--were inspired by the Holy Spirit to write The Truth, the very words of God. The very inerrant words of God, as inspired by God Himself.

We all understand how important it is to "source" our material. I love reading history, & I just finished a book about the great Chicago's World Fair, held in the 1890s. The author, while not an eyewitness, used references written by first-hand witnesses to the fair. He turned to sources such as books, newspaper articles, and interviews written by or given by the people who designed & built the architectural masterpieces, "invented" the Ferris Wheel, introduced the world to shredded wheat. By using testimony from those sources, the author's words carry special weight.

And so it is with Holy Scripture. We can read God's inerrant, inspired scripture & know without a doubt that we are reading The Truth, because the ultimate Source, the Author, is God Himself, speaking to us through the writers of the Bible.

In a world when we never know whether what we see or hear can absolutely be trusted, it gives me great comfort to know that there is an absolute source of Truth. It is the only Truth from a God that can be absolutely trusted, absolutely believed, & absolutely known to be true. Why? Because it contains the story of His great love for us--a love that led Him to send His Son Jesus to take our punishment for sin & make it possible for us to be forgiven & saved.

Whenever another person, another church, or another religion comes along & teaches an added word from our God or another god that adds to God's Truth or changes God's Truth or develops an entirely different or new truth--we can know without any doubt that we are listening to a false truth--a truth that is coming from Satan & is meant to draw us away from Jesus Christ, God's Son, our Lord & Savior:  the ONLY Way, ONLY Truth, ONLY Life.

Today's prayer thought

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in your reading of God's Word to grow your faith & guard you from following the false truths of those who would lead you to follow a path away from the one True God!

Today's scripture

"[An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream & said to him], '[Mary] will give birth to a Son, & you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.'"  Matthew 1:21

Today's devotional thoughts  

First of all, I'm "walking it back" a little today. No, I'm not "walking back" The Truth. However, the title of my previous devotional--"Everyone's Going to Heaven, Right? Not so Fast!"--may have been a little jarring. May have sounded a little confrontational. May have even caused some readers to stop right there & decide, "I'm not reading any further!

I hope you weren't one of those readers. In any case, I'm going to "walk it back a little today."

Secondly, this passage may sound familiar to some who recognize it as one we usually associate with the Christmas story *. An angel has already told Mary that she--a virgin ***--will conceive the Christ-child by the power of the Holy Spirit. Yes, that might rattle your typical, young virgin.

She tells her fiance', Joseph, about this supernatural message. As you might suspect, he finds it a little difficult to accept that she has conceived a baby by the power of anything other than basic human biology. It may be the 1st century A.D., but he knows that he is NOT the father.

And before you know it, an angel appears to Him in a dream & reassures Joseph that all is as it appears.

Here comes the shocker. Joseph accepts the angel's word in faith as The Truth, even as Mary accepted the angel's word in faith as The Truth.

Two quick lessons to consider.

• One involves the nature of The Truth:  Jesus was not an uncommon name at that time. It was basically the Greek form of the Hebrew word Yeshua or Joshua, translated as "one who saves."
• The angel adds just a little more, well, a LOT more, when he declares to Joseph that the boy will be named Jesus, because "He will save His people from their sins."
• Yeah, you might say that raises the stakes a "little," because it gets to the heart of who Jesus is & will be . . . the Messiah, the Savior who will take away the sin of the world!
• Second point:  Can you wrap your head around the absolutely, fantastic, incredible, impossible circumstance of the words conveyed by these angels--along with the manner in which they were conveyed to Mary & Joseph . . . 
• . . . Two relatively simple, uneducated, poor, Judean peasants??

Yet God worked such faith in their hearts! They heard. They believed The Truth. Is it really that simple?

It IS that simple. God has worked that Truth in your heart through baptism and/or His Word. Or He is waiting to work that Truth in your heart, because He loves you so much--He wants you to know The Truth & set you free!

Today's prayer thought

Give thanks for the example of the simple faith given to Joseph & Mary that enabled them to believe The Truth. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to The Truth about Jesus, found in God's Holy Word; to strengthen your faith in Jesus as your Lord & Savior

* Only 56 shopping days till Christmas, IF I counted correctly. **
** I was a secondary English major, NOT a math major, for which I do NOT apologize!
*** Yes, THAT kind of virgin. The real deal.

Everybody is going to heaven, right? Not so fast!

Walking in the Truth

Today's scripture

[Jesus said to Nicodemus], "For God so loved the world that He gave His one & only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one & only Son." John 3:16-18.

Today's devotional thoughts

Before we start to consider Walking in the Truth, we better have a solid trip on what, exactly, is The Truth. 

John 3:16 is considered one of the most beloved passages from the Bible. Some of you may know it by heart. Some may remember it as one of the first passages you memorized. 

For some first time readers, I encourage you to just let the words soak in.

It's all about God's grace--His undeserved love for us. He loves us so much that He sent His one & only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not die forever but live forever. 

The verses that follow are equally important, because a rampant false teaching has been around forever & is only getting more widespread & harder to contend against. These verses emphasize that it is ONLY through Jesus Christ & Him alone that we have forgiveness & life.

You don't want to believe that, and neither do I. It is tempting & easier to believe that it doesn't matter what God you follow or what you believe as long a you are sincere or--and maybe this is the worse false doctrine of all--God is surely going to save anyone who leads or tries to lead a pretty good life. Because nobody's perfect. Right? Right?!

That "truth," whether you & I like it or not, whether the world likes it or not, is NOT God's Truth as found in the Truth of Scripture. Just as Jesus shared with Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling Council [otherwise known as the Sanhedrin], who came to Jesus under the cloak of night for fear he would be seen by Jesus' enemies, He shares with us today by His disciple, eyewitness & New Testament evangelist, John. 

Jesus is the Savior--the Christ [anointed one]--and He alone is the one Way that leads to forgiveness & salvation--Life with God forever, even after death. And that's the Truth!

Today's Prayer Thought

Ask Jesus to "open the Scriptures" to you & especially others, who are desperately looking for the Truth.

Bitter Temperatures? Bitter Disappointment?!

Leckband Temp Challenge

Before I went to bed last night, a quick weather-check revealed that our forecast low of 29 degrees, coupled with our first hard frost warning of the year, gave me every reason to believe that the Leckband's of Norfolk, NE, would win the first significant Temp Challenge of the "frost season." Alas, it was not to be.

Based on the noaa website, at 7:29a (cdt), all temps in F, ratings follow.
#1:  Beatrice, NE, 32 
#2:  (tie) Ventura, IA; Norfolk, NE, 33
#4:  Eagan, MN, 34
#5:  Lincoln, NE, 35
#6:  Balmiest Leckband's, Garrison, IA, 36

Hat's off (or stocking caps on) to Beatrice. I can't remember the last time you won a Temp Challenge!

Whose truth can we count on?

Walking in the Truth

Today's scripture:

"Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life & imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday & today & forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings." Hebrews 13:7-9a

Today's devotional thoughts:

According to Dictionary.com, the definition of "truth" is "the true or actual state of the matter; conformity with fact or reality; a verified or indisputable fact; the state or character of being true; actuality or actual existence; an obvious or accepted fact; truism; platitude; honesty; integrity."

Nice dictionary definition, but consider this.

• Before the late 1400s, an obvious, accepted fact was that the world was flat. Until someone proved that it wasn't.
• Another indisputable fact was that the earth was the center of the universe. The famous "man for all seasons" Galileo even spent time under house arrest for daring to suggest that it wasn't. Until others proved that it wasn't.
• As recently as when I was growing up [OK, some of you may not consider it all that recent], Pluto was indisputably a planet. Until it wasn't.
• Do you really wanna get me started on politicians & the truth? Yeah, me neither.

Suffice it to say that there is really no one on earth--never has been & never will--who can be absolutely, positively counted on to discover, know, & express the truth, the whole, truth, and nothing but the truth, 100% of the time! [And don't get me started on "settled science either!]

Where does that leave you & me? How can we know anything about the truth about Truth? What is it? Where can it be found?

The New Testament writer shares some scriptural truth with us. Earthly truths change & cannot be counted upon. The examples & integrity of human leaders, heroes, & yes, sad to say, even some Christian "role models" you may know & whom may have let you down, cannot always be counted upon. *
* Although the writer of Hebrews was very confident that the Christians who first spoke the Truth about Jesus to these people led lives of integrity & godly witness.

Jesus Christ is the real deal. He never changes! His Truth remains the same. Always has been. Always will be. The Messiah prophesied by Old Testament prophets, witnessed by New Testament apostles & evangelists who spoke & wrote by the inspiration of God Himself--well, they held up Jesus, the Son of God, as the Way, the Truth, & the Life. [Don't just take my word for it. See what Jesus' disciple John, an eyewitness, has to say in John 14.6.]

Today's prayer thought:
Give thanks & praise to the Lord for the Truth proclaimed in scripture, even as the truth we encounter from so many other sources proves to be shallow, even completely false. Ask Him to open our hearts & the hearts of many others to the source of God's Truth--Jesus Christ--the Truth that never changes.

More new dog adventures + Carrots & Nazis + Settled Science + California vs Nebraska + Throwing Down the Gauntlet

Whimsy

New Dog Odyssey:  On SAT 10/10, I ventured into the backyard & scooped up 7 doggie "Facebook messages," if you catch my drift [returning to a previous theme]. Yet I found it much more satisfying than following my dog around our surrounding neighborhoods, as well as the hiker-biker trail around nearby Skyview Lake, "message carrier" in hand, pausing while he delivers a "message," scooping it up, then carrying the aforementioned "message" in the aforementioned "message bag" until we reach an appropriate receptacle, which sometimes isn't until we reach home. * Do I need to draw you a picture? **
* Example:  This morning (10/14), as we were walking adjacent to Bel Air school @ approximately 7:45a, he stopped to deliver a major "message--if you catch my drift--as parents & children were arriving. There I was, furtively encouraging my animal to "pick up the pace," so to speak, so I could quickly "secure the crime scene," so to speak, before the bulk of students & parents arrived. Yes, in case you're wondering, it IS all about me.
** As an aside, there doesn't seem to be any discernible pattern re:  where he leaves his aforementioned "messages, if you catch my drift, in our backyard. Next to our 4 stately pine trees, fence line, the posts supporting our deck . . . makes no difference to Sammy. Also helps me sharpen my eyesight.

Excerpt from Norfolk Daily News (10/6):  "Happy horses. Carrots might no longer tempt horses at one Oregon rescue ranch--because they've been munching on tons of them for days. The Bend Bulletin reported that the facility in the central city of Bend accepted a donation of 44,000 lbs, or 22 tons, of carrots after a truck carrying them crashed." [According to my unnamed source, these horses achieved a remarkable transformation in the improvement of their eyesight within a matter of 48 hours!] *
* Please don't bother to correct me. I already know that this was a myth put out by our own intelligence agencies during WW II, trying to forestall the Nazi's discovery that we had developed capabilities re:  night-time radar. The word was out . . . OUR airmen were eating tons of carrots! Stupid Nazis.

Excerpt from Omaha World Herald (10/10):  Which franchises have the most box office upside? 15. Iron Man. 14. Mission Impossible. 13. Pirates of the Caribbean. 12. Bond, James Bond. 11. Ice Age. 10. Star Trek. 9. Spider-Man. 8. Despicable Me. 7. X-Men. 6. Fast & Furious. 5. The Avengers. 4. Jurassic. 3. Avatar. 2. Transformers. 1. Star Wars. [Before you bite my head off, I am only reporting, not commenting re:  this list & it's ranking. I will say that I was initially crushed that I did not see The Naked Gun & Airplane among the franchises listed, but then I realized. Without Leslie Nielsen, you'd have no franchise. Am I right?

Settled Science

97% of the world's scientist's agree that global warming is man-made! How do I know? Check out this testimony from the President of the Sierra Club.

My Favorite Taglines from the Drudge Report *

From Thu 10/8:  "800-lb man kicked out of hospital for ordering pizza."

From Tue 10/13:  "Woman sues 12-year-old nephew over hug that broke wrist."

* Seriously...who's got time to read the articles?

Criminal Minds

Also from Drudge Report (10/10):  "Armed robbery suspect tries using UBER as getaway vehicle." [And, no, I didn't bother reading this article either.]

Food for Thought

Also from NDN (10/7):  "McDonald's serving breakfast all day long."  [Best fast food breakfast? Two McD's sausage burrito w/mild picante sauce + large coffee. Yes, McD's coffee is the real deal! Second best? Egg McMuffin w/pancakes & sausage running a close 3rd.] *
* Lois, I promise this is based on nostalgia, not my regular, current practice. **
** Maybe it would be more accurate for me to say that I can neither confirm nor deny that I occasionally treat myself to breakfast @ the big arches, if time permits.

There is No Place Like . . . 

California?

Excerpt from Parade Magazine (10/11):  "Oktoberfest: American Style. Who doesn't love a festival that celebrates beers, brats & polka dancing? Make your way to oktoberfestinformation.com to find one near you. Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest, Big Bear Lake, CA. Every weekend from Sept. 12-Oct. 31, the mountain town of Bear Lake is transformed into a scene out of Germany, complete w/authentic German entertainment, food &, of course, steins of beer.           bigbearevents.com/oktoberfest.

Nebraska!

Also from OWH {Go Magazine} (10/8):  "Celebrate Gumbo Day with Shucks. * Shucks is celebrating Monday's National Gumbo Day with flights, or small servings of various recipes. The restaurant will serve gumbo Mon, Tue, & Wed @ its Omaha locations. The gumbo will be available in a variety of flavors & will be served in a cup, a bowl or a flight. The varieties, all made in house from scratch, include the original, made w/shrimp, Andouille sausage, chicken & okra; the turducken, made w/turkey, duck, chicken, corn & red peppers; the crawfish, made w/crawfish, house-made smoked tasso, & a red roux; alligator, made w/seared alligator meat & sausage & tri-colored peppers; & a root vegetable gumbo made w/sweet potato, parsnips, carrots, red onion potato, parsnips, carrots, red onion and collard & mustard greens." [National Gumbo Day was MON 10/12, so if you are reading this now for the first time, you already missed it. And, no, I don't feel sorry for you. I can't do EVERYTHING for you.]
* That would be Shucks w/locations in Omaha at 1218 S. 119th St, 16901 Wright Plaza, & 1911 Leavenworth St. That would be Omaha, Nebraska, NOT Louisiana. As in, "LOO-SEE-ANUH, just about a mile from TEX-AR-KAN-UH." **
** If Alan Wollenburg is reading this, nice picture of cotton fields in southeast Missouri. I for one did not know that they grew cotton in Missouri. ***
*** Did you know that we grow hops in Nebraska?

Throwing Down the Gauntlet

The high temperature in Norfolk, NE, was 98 degrees on SUN 10/11, as reported in the OWH on MON 10/12. I did not do a Leckband Temp Challenge last Sunday, so my crack team of temp consultants has advised me that I cannot do a Temp Challenge in retrospect, even though this is MY blog.

I will, however, challenge ANYBODY on EITHER side of the LECKBAND or HILL family [I apologize for shouting, but I let this get me a little worked up. I better check to see if I remembered to take my medicine this morning.] to top that temperature last SUN 10/11!

Hearing none, I declare Norfolk, NE, winner of the "Generic" Temp Challenge on SUN 10/11.

We're Sinners--That's the Truth--There's Hope--That's the TRUTH!

Walking in the Truth

Today's scripture

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will purify * us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:8-9
* Cleanse or forgive

Devotional thoughts

Here is the Good New--the Gospel--in Jesus Christ.

• We are sinful people. [Wait...that's good news?!]
• We are sinful not just from birth. The Bible teaches that we inherited our parents' original sin from the moment of conception. [Don't take my word for it. SEE Psalm 51:5.]
• We can deny it, make excuses about it, ignore it, but it is what it is. [Good News? Still waiting. . .]
• God is a holy & just God. He cannot & will not accept sin, and He cannot & will not tolerate sinful people. [What Good News?!]

Except through the love of His Son Jesus, who came into the world to be our Savior; who came into the world because He loved sinners! And still loves them today!

We confess our sins knowing that it is by Jesus' work alone that we are able to be forgiven & saved. THAT is God's gift to us through faith, which also comes to us as a gift.

THAT, my dear brothers & sisters, is God's Truth.

Prayer thought  

Confess your sins to Jesus. Ask for His forgiveness. Know without a doubt that He loves you and forgives you. Know this because it's the Truth!

Want some more Good News?  

Check out John 3:16.

Isolation is not good...Concerns about memory (if I remember correctly)...Red rules!

Isolation

Excerpt from "The Creator's Tapestry" *:  "Individual personhood, therefore, must be distinguished from the fullness of humanity. Every individual is fully human, but an individual alone cannot express the fullness of humanity. St. Augustine argued for peace & unity in society in the remembrance that all men were created from one man, and 'this fact should teach mankind to preserve a harmonious unit in plurality.'" [City of God, Book 12, 27.]
          MY COMMENTS:  One symptom of depression, maybe not universal but very common, is a feeling of isolation. In fact, it is very common for someone suffering from clinical depression to not only feel isolated but to actively seek to isolate himself or herself from other people. Why? 

• In my case, I just didn't want to be around other people many times. 
• I felt like I couldn't COPE being around other people. 
• I felt very, very self-conscious. 
• I felt like other people knew that I was feeling depressed, inferior--knew that I was barely treading water & sinking fast.
• Did I mention that someone who is chronically depressed is not typically thinking rationally? Yes, I believe I have mentioned that.
• My excerpt from "The Creator's Tapestry" is meant to highlight that isolation is not meant to be our natural state.
• We are meant to be in & around others. We are meant to be in relationships. We are not meant to be socially isolated. It's not healthy for us.
• A sign you MAY ** be suffering from depression:  You can't bear the thought of getting out of bed. You can't bear the thought of leaving the house. At one time you liked going to social gatherings & spending time with others. That time is getting harder & harder for you to remember.

* The Creator's Tapestry:  A Report of the Commission on Theology & Church Relations. The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. December 2009, page 42.
** I am not a clinical specialist. You need a specialist to tell you whether you are suffering from clinical depression, because there are things that can be done to make you better.

Problems with memory

Excerpt from Omaha World Herald (10/12/15):  "It's not you:  'Digital amnesia' affects both young & old . . . An interesting & scary study that has just come out from Europe documented a forgetfulness phenomenon it calls 'digital amnesia.' Young & old, we're outsourcing our brainwork to digital devices, & memories are the worse for it . . . Neuroscientists & others have been studying how new technology affects the brain's memory power for quite awhile. Apparently, new technology can change our old brains quickly.
      "According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, the avg human attention span was 12 seconds in 2000. Now it's 8.25 seconds. A goldfish has a 9-second attention span--if by some chance you're still playing attention . . . "
      MY COMMENT:  Clinical depression & general anxiety disorders--both of which I've confessed to you that I've had diagnosed--can have negative effects on memory. Medications used to address these conditions can also have side effects that also affect memory. That's why it's so important to consult a mental health specialist about diagnosis & medications.
      On top of my mental health conditions & the medications I take to help me cope, I also have to contend with how my use of technology might also be negatively affecting my memory? This seems to be causing me additional anxiety.

Boosting your brainpower

Excerpt from Parade Magazine (10/4/15) *:  "23 Ways to Boost Your Brainpower. (2) Write in red ink. A fascinating new study from the University of Regensburg in Germany found that the color red 'binds' into our memory better than other colors--making it ideal for recalling what's on your to-do list."
* This was actually part of a Walgreen's advertising insert.

      MY COMMENT:  English teachers are notorious for turning their students' compositions into "bloody rags" through the generous use of red ink to circle & cross out mistakes, make comments, include "helpful" suggestions *, and more. This "fascinating new study" would seem to suggest that I contributed to many of my students' brain power in ways that transcended the mere teaching of composition.
      For what it's worth, I subscribe to this method & use it myself in all manner of ways:  on to-do lists, calendars, flyers, etc.
* I can neither confirm nor deny reckless accusations that some suggestions may have appeared to the thin-skinned as acerbic & sarcastic.

Remember--when you point a finger at someone else . . .

<intended for SUN 10/11>

Walking in the Truth

Today's scriptures *:  [The Jews who had believed Jesus], "answered Him, 'We are Abraham's descendants, & have never been slaves of anyone. How can You say that we shall be set free?' Jesus replied, 'Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.'" John 8:33-34   "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8. ***
* There are many worthy translations of the Bible to choose from. I'm most familiar with the New International Version (NIV), so unless I note otherwise, that is the version from which I quote. **
** I also post most of my scriptural links from the Bible Gateway link, which gives you a variety of scriptural versions to choose from. Just be aware that some versions are translations from the oldest, most reliable manuscripts in the original Biblical languages, while some are paraphrases. Translations are typically considered more reliable.
*** Not the same New Testament Gospel which I've been using for some references. St. John is also credited with writing three letters or epistles:  1st John, 2nd John, & 3rd John. The theme verse for these devotions--Walking in the Truth--is from his epistle, 3rd John, verse 4.

Devotional thoughts:  John 8:33 should sound familiar, because we read it in yesterday's (10/10) SAT devotional. Yesterday's scripture provided two very important insights.

• It is very possible to listen to Jesus but fail to hear what He has to say to us.
• It is very possible to listen, read, & study His Word in the Bible, yet never quite take it all in.
• It is very possible to never quite accept it, never quite believe it, never quite apply it to our lives.
• Remember that yesterday's passage began with these words:  "The Jews who HAD believed Jesus." [I'm counting all 4 bullet-points as Insight #1, since it's my devotion.]

Secondly, When they scoffed at Jesus by asserting that, as descendants of Abraham, God's chosen people, they had ALWAYS been free, what they were saying was NOT the truth!

• Many times in their history they have been enslaved, oppressed, & conquered.
• At this particular time in history, they might not have literally been enslaved & in chains, but the Romans had conquered & occupied their land.
• The original, Promised Land, given to their forefathers ages ago, was a mere shadow of its former glory.
• For all practical purposes, they might as well have been enslaved, because a Roman governor & the power of Roman soldiers kept them in obeisance to Rome & they paid taxes to Caesar. [And I'm counting these 4 bullet-points as Insight #2, ditto my previous aside.]

Were they lying to themselves? Totally in denial? More importantly, were they lying face-to-face to the Son of God?

Quick time out! This is no anti-semitic screed. St. John was a Jew. Jesus Christ was a Jew! When we refuse to accept the truth that we are sinful people who do sinful things & commit sinful acts that hurt & offend others, not to mention offend the almighty Ruler of the Universe, are we lying to ourselves? Are we in denial, & are we lying face-to-face to the Son of God? Probably not a wise thing to do.

I don't know about you, but that makes me shiver.

Prayer thought:  Ask Jesus to confront us with His Truth that we are sinful people who commit sins so that, when confronted with this Truth, we confess it & seek His forgiveness.

A personal aside:  If you find these devotions helpful, meaningful, insightful in any way, maybe you could pass them along to someone or others whom you think might benefit from them? I am NOT looking to glorify myself. Promise! I am seeking to humbly, glorify the God of Truth. Pinky promise!

What? Jesus is suggesting I am not truly free?

WALKING IN THE TRUTH

Today's scripture:  "To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to My teaching you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been slaves of anyone. How can You say that we shall be set free?'" John 8:31-33

Devotional thoughts:  In Thursday's devotional the focus was on v. 32, where Jesus said, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Today we add some context.

Jesus was speaking to some Jews who HAD believed in Him. Apparently some HAD been following and listening to Him. Apparently they had WANTED to be His disciples, but something had changed. 

And so He challenges them. "If you HOLD to My teaching, then you are really My disciples."

They reveal what's really in their hearts and minds when they reply in shock, What? How can You say, Jesus, that we shall be set free by YOUR truth? After all,

• We're Abraham's descendants!
• We've never been slaves of anyone!

Oops. They've conveniently forgotten a few facts.

• The people of Israel had been slaves of the Egyptians for approximately 400 years before God sent Moses to lead them out of slavery & into the Promised Land. * That's a part of their treasured legacy! (The Exodus, not the slavery.)
• It was only a few hundreds years before the current time that God's People had been delivered from exile & returned to a small sliver of that original Promised Land. That's a time most of them probably would have liked to forget.
• Even as Jesus was speaking to them, the Jewish people were under the political & military domination of the hated Roman Empire.

Whose truth is at stake here? Whose credibility is in question here? Lest you & I become a little too smug, one more truth will soon be revealed. These people are victims of a much more serious slavery . . . and so are we!

Prayer thought:  Give thanks that in Jesus, who has searched for us when we don't know how or where to search for Him, truth & freedom can be found.

* The first 12 chapters of the 2nd book of the Bible, Exodus, are a fascinating historical account (also God's inspired Word}, which describe how the Hebrews (Israelites) had been enslaved & how God raised up a great prophet--Moses--among them & steered Moses through a course of events that led to the delivery--the "exodus"--of God's people out of Egypt & toward the Promised Land.

We all want to be free . . . but are we?

Walking in the Truth

Today's scripture:  "[Jesus said], "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Devotional thoughts:  We love our freedom. When writing daily devotions for my high school students last year, I was writing to an audience who, for the most part, could hardly wait--or so they thought--to be free from parents, free from high school, free from rules, constraints...I think most of you can relate.

Let's be honest. All of us long for freedom even now. Yet even here in the U.S.A., land of the brave & home of the free, we are not absolutely free to do whatever we want, whenever we want, to whomever we want.

Jesus is not talking about truth that brings about this kind of freedom. He's talking about God's Truth, a MUCH better truth...a truth that can set us free from the power of sin, death, & Satan. 

Oh, yes. I believe that there is a devil, and he is alive & well & hard at work among us. The Truth that Jesus Christ died to set us free & rose again from the dead is a guarantee that those who are blessed with this Truth will be free forever.

Prayer thought:  Seek the Lord's wisdom as you search the scripture to find His Truth.

WARNING!

Don't take my word for it! If you read John 8:31-38 in context, it may help your understanding. Reading the entire Gospel of John would be even more helpful, but this is not for the faint of heart!

My grandson's verbal skills, Tag & Prozac, Scary Lucy, Crickets for Lunch?

Whimsy

When I pick up my two-year-old grandson from day-care, we have this little routine, which I'm proud to say I started. It goes like this. We start driving down the street, & he suddenly exclaims, "Bigguck!" That is "Bentley" for "Big truck." Or he might just yell, "Guck!" This happens because, as a way to amuse him when I started picking him up [which is occasionally, not regularly, when both Rachel & Derek have to work late], I would point to trucks & say, "Look! There's a truck!" Sometimes I would say, "Hey, truck!" Sometimes, "Hi, truck!" Pretty soon he was imitating me. He doesn't quite have that T-phoneme * down yet, but he's getting there.

Now it's not unusual for him to initiate this conversation. He'll suddenly point ahead, for example, & say, "Bigguck!" Sure enough, as I look ahead at cross traffic, I may catch a glimpse of a large, semi-, often a cattle truck, & he's nailed it. I'm so proud!

Lately I've added a new twist to add to his vocab-acquisition skills. I point to trucks, especially pick-up trucks, and say, "Look, Bentley! A RED truck." Or, "Hey! It's a WHITE truck." It's taking him a little while to catch on, but, c'mon, cut him some slack. He's only two-years-old.

Now, this next anecdote is just a little disquieting to me. Bear with me. It's NOT a digression. As I was walking the dog down Skyline Drive early this morning, a pick-up truck passed me. The words formed in my head instantaneously. "Look, Sammy! A RED truck!!" Fortunately, I did not verbalize those words aloud, but my thinking process, particularly because it happened instantly & without thoughtful deliberation, has given me some pause. 

Hey, did you catch that? Pause? Sammy? Paws? Sometimes I just crack myself up.
* Sorry if I got a little too linguistically complex for you there. **
** And I don't even know if I used "phoneme" correctly. I took my last linguistics course in the late 1970s.

Tag is bad for children:  That's right. You read it here first! [This could explain why, as someone who played tag at recess for hours, I'm taking Prozac.]

Excerpt from Omaha World Herald (10/7):  "Bob Saget to appear in Broadway play 'Hand to God'. Edgy & irreverent comedian Bob Saget is returning to Broadway--as a pastor...the former 'Full House' star will replace star will replace Marc Kudisch as the pastor in the play that features a satanic hand puppet . . . " [We watched Full House w/our kids pretty faithfully. Sometime after that series ended, I became aware of just how raunchy Bob Saget was as a comedian. I read this excerpt & I couldn't help myself. Not to be judgmental, but, I did throw up in my mouth a little. Nice role model. And don't get me started on the twins!]

There is no place like . . . 

New York?

Excerpt from Omaha World Herald (10/7):  "It's a role 'scary Lucy' was born to play: Frightening people at Halloween. A bronze statue of Lucille Ball that has drawn worldwide scorn will be placed in a mall near her western New York town as part of the shopping center's annual Haunted house event." [If you haven't been aware of this statue until now, follow the link. You'll see why no comment is necessary.]

Criminal Minds

Excerpt from Norfolk Daily News (9/29):  "Not happy. A McDonald's customer in New Mexico was not loving it when employees mistakenly put pickles on his order. Police in Carlsbad said officers had to squash a public disturbance at the fast-food restaurant after the customer began harassing employees over the mistake. Workers told police the man raised his voice & started throwing things off the restaurant's counter." [Imagine the reaction if they had forgotten the onions!]

Food for Thought

Also from NDN (10/6):  "Crickets for lunch. A food truck at the University of Connecticut is serving roasted crickets. The Daily Campus reported the university's dining services are advertising the insects as organic, not genetically modified & earth friendly. The crickets are high in protein & low in fat. They're a source of B vitamins, iron & zinc . . . " [Okay, okay! You had me at "organic." But seriously...are there crickets who are NOT earth friendly? DEPT. of IMAGINARY CONVERSATIONS:  Dept. of Homeland Security Advisor: Mr. President, we have reason to believe that there is a dire threat to our country in the form of crickets who are NOT earth friendly. POTUS:  Blame George Bush!]

Truth for Children (Don't be offended!)

Walking in the Truth

Scripture reading:  "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." 3rd John v. 4.

It's time to start taking a look at Bible passages that talk about truth. Here is something to keep in mind. It will be very important to know what we mean by the word "truth."

• There is a dictionary definition of truth. 
• There is a (somewhat) commonly understood, if vaguely, concept of truth that our culture too easily embraces.
• And then there is God's Truth.

Once we have a handle on that, it will make it much easier to understand what St. John meant when he wrote, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." Hopefully, you are not offended by being addressed as "children." You may be young men & women. You may be, well, you may be more like my age. Hopefully, you will not be offended by being addressed as children, because that's the term used by St. John.

St. John's definition of "children" is all God's sons & daughters, all who have been called into God's family. That would include the tiniest baptized baby. That would include someone as old as, well, we'll leave it at that . . . for now.

Oh, yeah, it's important for you to know one more thing about me. In order to know where I'm coming from in these devotions, you need to know that I believe the following:  the Bible is the inspired Word of God. There, I said it. We can argue about the details as we roll along.

Prayer thought:  Ask for the Holy Spirit's blessing as we study Holy Scripture together, that we may grow in our understanding of God's Truth, grow in our understanding of what it means to walk in God's Truth, & put into practice walking in God's Truth. It will be an adventure!

Picky eating & mental health; Social media comments can haunt--but maybe not like coffee!

Anxiety re:  Picky eating

Excerpt from Lincoln Journal Star (8/3/15):  "Most picky eating harmless. But study says it can be a signal of young children's emotional woes. Parents of picky eaters take heart:  New research suggests the problem is rarely worth fretting over, although in a small portion of kids it may signal emotional troubles that should be checked out. Pre-school-aged children who are extremely selective about what they eat & who dislike even being near certain foods are more likely than others to have underlying anxiety or depression, the study found. But only 3% of young children studied were that picky . . . 
      "Most typical pickiness, including kids who just refuse to eat their vegetables [I will admit that I am not the world's greatest vegetable fan & don't eat remotely enough of them.] is probably merely 'normal dislike,' . . . These are kids who typically outgrow their pickiness as they mature.
      " . . . young children w/moderate pickiness are probably more likely to outgrow the problem than the severe group, although more research is needed to confirm that . . . 
      "Compared w/children who aren't fussy eaters, depression & social anxiety were at least 2x more common in kids w/severe pickiness attention deficit behavior & separation anxiety [spadbsa?] * symptoms  were more common in moderately selective kids." 
      MY COMMENT:  I don't want to mention any names, ** but I am closely related, either by marriage or blood, to several people who would fall into the category of severely to moderately picky. I think some of them have improved since childhood. They know who they are & should probably take these comments to heart.
* Is this a new mental health diagnosis that I am unaware of?
* Ooo, ooo, it's such a temptation, I can hardly stand it. I'll always remember the first Thanksgiving meal we hosted that involved two in-laws or future in-laws. Enough said. ***
*** Well, maybe not quite. When I was growing up, as food was passed around the table, I seem to remember someone who, I'm sure from altruistic motives, would often refrain from helping himself/herself to certain dishes w/the excuse, "Maybe I should wait until this dish has gone around to everyone, just to make sure there's enough for everyone. And, no, the other members of the family did NOT let this person get away with it, regardless of how pure the motives were.

Anxiety re:  On-line comments

Excerpt from Omaha World Herald (9/9):  "Comments online can come back to haunt you. Is it worth the risk? That's the question some professionals are asking themselves when it comes to using social media.
      "The risks & pitfalls of social media have been a frequent topic of water-cooler discussions across Nebraska the past week. the UNL hired former Omaha TV personality Jon Schuetz to be the new Memorial Stadium PA announcer only to dismiss him days later. A university official discovered a 9-month-old Facebook post in which Schuetz derided Chancellor Harvey Perlman following last year's firing of the head FB coach." [Wait . . . what? Comments made on social media can come back to haunt you? Oh, crap!]

Anxiety re:  Coffee

Excerpt from Norfolk Daily News (10/2):  "Little coffee OK, just don't drink too much. (Column by Sara Pfeifer). Coffee may taste good & get you going in the morning, but have you ever thought about its effects on your health? Coffee has been blamed for many things in the past, such as stunting growth, heart disease & cancer, but recent research indicates there are many health benefits that outweigh the potential risks of consuming coffee . . . Studies also have shown that coffee has health benefits such as reducing risk for Parkinson's disease, Type 2 diabetes & liver disease. It may also improve cognitive function & decrease the risk of depression . . . So if coffee is healthy for us, should we drink as much it as we can?
      "If you want to avoid adverse side effects from caffeinated coffee, the answer is no. The research shows that high consumption of unfiltered coffee . . . can also result in adverse effects, such as anxiety symptoms, especially in those w/pre-existing anxiety disorders . . . Up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day, or about 4 cups of brewed coffee, appears to be safe for most healthy * adults . . . " [All emphases added.]
* I have a diagnosed general anxiety disorder, so I'm not sure I qualify as a "healthy" adult. I'm just sayin'.

MY HISTORY W/COFFEE:

• Although both my parents were coffee drinkers, I did NOT grow up drinking coffee with one exception.
• During the summer before my senior year in high school, I worked the graveyard shift at a truck stop restaurant. We had a six-warmer coffee machine, & the rule was, "Never run out of coffee." If we miscalculated, some of that coffee "cooked" for too long & became very strong. I drank coffee that summer while I worked, but as soon as my job ended, even before the end of the summer, I stopped drinking coffee.
• One summer, after I was married, Lois & I happened to be visiting my parents in Concordia, MO. Dad was out of town; I can't remember why. We ended up having to take Mom to the hospital in Sweet Springs for what turned out to be a bleeding ulcer. While she was in the hospital, she suffered a severe headache, which baffled the doctors at first until it was diagnosed as caffeine-withdrawal. But I digress . . . slightly.
• My caffeine "addiction" began with the advent of Mr. Coffee. My first call was to Luther North High School in Chicago, & it was during my tenure there that every office suddenly acquired a Mr. Coffee machine.
• Not only that, but whenever I stopped by an office--& I assume that I was not the only one--I would be offered a cup of coffee. It would have been rude to refuse, right?
• Soon, Lois & I began brewing coffee at home on Saturday mornings & drinking coffee at church on Sunday mornings. We were hooked.
• Ever since those days in the late 70s, I have been a coffee drinker, varying from 1-2 cups to probably the equivalent of a full pot of coffee per day.
• It didn't keep me from acquiring Type 2 diabetes, & it didn't prevent me from acquiring clinical depression.
• I have tried & been successful @ decreasing my coffee-intake from time to time, but rarely have I managed to drop below 1-2 cups of coffee per day.
• Right now I'm in a cycle of 3-4 cups per day, according to MY definition of a "cup."
• I DO understand that caffeine can be a hindrance to those who suffer from anxiety. I justify it by focusing on the "improved cognitive function" mentioned above.
• TRUE STORY:  We have always had coffee available in the LHNE school office and/or workroom. One year, many years back, I began getting a low-grade headache in the early afternoon. After about a week, I complained about it in front of a member of the office staff, who let slip that our administrative assistant at the time * had decided that "we" needed to cut back on our caffeine. She had made a unilateral decision without consulting ME to start brewing de-caf coffee. I was not happy, & we soon started brewing caffeinated coffee again. My early afternoon headaches went away almost immediately.

* She knows who she is. **

** A former admin assistant, not the current one, just to clarify. ***

*** I don't hold a grudge. ****

**** As far as she knows.