Rain + Sister Bash + Civility + Chocolate + End Times + Pork

        Thanks to a plethora of rainfall last week, plus another 2+" earlier this week, I've been able to turn off our sprinklers. It bothers my conscience to pour gallons of fresh, potable water onto grass. On the other hand, I don't want my lawn to be the bane of the neighborhood either.

Sister Bash Countdown Continues

According to my calculations, 16 days remain until the commencement of the Summer 2018 Hill Sister Bash at David & Carmen's chalet on picturesque Little Island Lake, located near Nevis, MN. It may be helpful to review these guidelines.

• Decisions made by the Sisters trump any plans made by camp followers, i.e., David & me.
• Fou-fou coffee trumps dark roast, "normal" coffee.
• Red wine is the beverage of choice.
• Political talk is strongly discouraged unless such conversations can be conducted with a modicum of civility.
• It is understood that plans made the evening before are subject to change by the next morning.
• Bug spray is a must.
• Sunscreen is a must.
• Time will be spent on the water, so water wings might be advisable.

1. A possible road trip:  Lake Itasca State Park, home of the headwaters of the Mississippi. There's more to see than just the Mississippi, which can be waded across. On the other hand, it's a 45-minute drive from Little Island Lake.
2. Eating out:  Google "Park Rapids restaurants" for a list of possible festivities.
3. Shopping:  Flea markets, bait & tackle shops

Civility + Christians

"Fundamentally, we believe (or used to) in a civil society where we don't have to get everyone to agree with us or to shut up or to keep to their kind, we just have to get along & let each other be. If we abandon community for red & blue districts, if we alienate our own relatives or neighbors for voting a certain way, if we engage in a decades long shouting match to drown out the other side instead of patiently hearing them out & responding with facts & reason instead of eyeroll emojis, if we bully & manipulate innocent third parties to punish political acts or statements & force conformity, if we overlook serious moral defects purely for political expediency, then we lose more than our credibility. We lose any hope of conservatism impacting the larger culture or federal policies. Members of the broader 'right' who insist on 'winning' will have eroded the very foundations on which conservatism rests.

          Conservatives, especially Christians, don't have any option but to 'go high.' Because when civility dies, so does conservatism.  SOURCE:  the federalist.com

Food for Thought

Omaha World Herald (6/18):  "Popcorn to ruby bars:  Chocolatiers are branching out. Sugar is portrayed as the new tobacco. Consumers are now shifting away from the iconic, sugar-filled chocolate brands that we know. From cannabis to quinoa, ruby to low-sugar, this is not your grandmother's chocolate With the market for traditional candy bars in developed countries flagging as consumers shun sugary items for healthier treats, food companies are trying to make chocolate more appealing Their tactics include gimmicks like Ritter Sport's hemp-infused Chocolate & Grass bars (they don't get you high), new flavors & colors as well as formulas that cut down on sugar."  NO COMMENT.

Theological THU::Special WED Edition

OWH (6/20):  "U.N. chief says number of nations in 'violent conflicts' highest in 30 years. The number of countries involved in 'violent conflicts' is the highest in 30 years, while the number of people killed in conflicts has risen tenfold since 2005, the U.N. secretary-general said TUE."  JESUS SPOKE OF "WARS & RUMORS" WARS AS ONE OF THE SIGNS OF THE END TIMES. IS THERE ANY DOUBT AS TO WHETHER WE ARE LIVING IN SUCH TIMES?

G.O.M.E.R. *

* Grump Old Men & Their Elucidating Rants

OWH (6/22):  "Water balloon slingshots top list of unsafe summer toys. A Boston-based consumer watchdog group has warned of the dangers to children of water balloon slingshots, lawn darts, & other summer toys . . . "  EAST COAST LIBERALS ARE DETERMINED TO TAKE ALL OF THE FUN OUT OF CHILDREN'S SUMMER PASTIMES.

Political Potpourri

OWH (6/23):  "Rep. King: 'I don't want people doing my pork who won't eat it.' Republican Rep. Steve King says he asked MN Democratic Keith Ellison--a Muslim--about Muslims working IA pork processing plants . . . King says he learned an Imam would need to grant someone a 'special dispensation.' He adds that it would be OK because 'as long as they're preparing this pork for infidels, they'll send them to hell & it must make Allah happy. King also said, 'I don't want people doing my pork who won't eat it.'"  I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT BOTH SIDES OF THIS ISSUE ARE ENGAGING IN REASONABLE CONVERSATION ABOUT IT. I SUPPOSE I'M AGAINST McDONALD'S WORKERS WHO ARE VEGANS.

Thought for Today:  THE SAINTS & THE PERVERSE

“With the pure Thou dost show Thyself pure; and with the crooked Thou dost show Thyself perverse.” Psalm 18:26

“Because the pure, that is, the believers, can use all things in a holy & blessed way to sanctify & purify themselves.”  Martin Luther Psalm by Psalm, Concordia Publishing House, 2017.

Whimsical Wednesday

Marathon Runners + Laughter + Political Potpourri + Real Christianity

Wednesday Whimsy

Omaha World Herald (6/21):  "Research finds surprising result about marathon runners, arthritis. A new study comes to the somewhat counterintuitive conclusion that marathon runners have less arthritis than non-runners."  GOOD NEWS FOR MY SON NATHAN WHO RUNS MARATHONS.

OWH (6/22):  "Air Force base finds gun, not missing explosives. Minot Air Force Base in N.D. has recovered a missing machine gun but not some lost military explosives. Officials discovered the M240 weapon, missing since May 16, TUE at an airman's off-base residence . . . The Minot base also is missing ammunition for an automatic grenade launcher. It fell off a vehicle on an American Indian a reservation on May 1.  MY SON-IN-LAW CRAIG IS IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSFERRING FROM THE NEBRASKA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD TO AIR NATIONAL GUARD. I CAN NEITHER CONFIRM NOR DENY THAT THIS STORY HAS ANY CONNECTION TO HIS PENDING TRANSFER.

Better Health, Concordia Health Plan, Summer 2018:  "Get High on Ha Ha, Part II . . . Laughing--specifically in 'negative ways'--can also be used to detect health conditions.

• An increasingly twisted sense of humor & laughing at inappropriate times could be an early indication of dementia.
• Uncontrollable laughter could be a warning sign of a brain injury or a symptom of a serious neurological condition.

"You can create moments to add laughter to your day by spending time w/friends who make you laugh, by having a 'joke-a-day' calendar, by reading humorous books; or by watching a TV show or movie that makes you laugh."  COMMENT:  I enjoy spending time w/brothers, sisters, in-laws, & sisters who have a good sense of humor. Favorite movies that make me laugh? Airplane, Naked Gun, Twister.

Political Potpourri

Just a thought or two about the newest tactic of progressives:  seeking to publicly shame members of the current presidential administration.

1. Their uncouth behavior betrays a human nature that is hopelessly & helplessly angry at heart.
2. These attacks will only serve to alienate the majority of Americans.

Here's a thought for those who have animosity toward DT & his administration. How about trying to engage in reasonable dialogue instead of resorting to extremist behavior that is more indicative of countries that lack our democratic foundation. (That would be "democratic" with a small d.)

Wit & Wisdom of Cal Thomas *

* A favorite partisan pundit

"Here's a verse that might have benefited Harvey Weistein, Bill Clinton, Roy Moore & Al Franken, just to name a few:  'Those who plow iniquity & sow trouble reap the same. He who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption' (Gal. 6:7-8). On the other hand, there is this verse: 'He who sows righteousness will have a sue reward' (Prov. 11:18)
          "Human behavior from the beginning has verified these ancient truths. Such things once were taught in most schools, many homes & places of worship, but political correctness, encroaching liberal theology & a social gospel of 'good works' has replaced them for many & the consequences are increasingly evident.
          "Having abandoned what might be labeled a spiritual GPS for guiding us through this life & offering instructions on how to attain a better reward in the next, we are witnessing what unrestrained men (& they are mostly men) are capable of doing."

Thought for Today:  A Lifestyle that Shines

"People are starved for real Christianity. They are not necessarily impressed by traditions, rituals, labels, forms, arguments, majestic buildings, or family loyalties. They do notice & respect acts of compassion, generosity, acceptance, & unrepaid kindness. The hot-button words today;  real, authentic, genuine."  From Time of Grace, "Shine Like Stars," by Rev. Mark Jeske

Stay-cation + Laughter + Pit Bulls

MENTAL HEALTH MONDAY

          It's been raining since 9:30a. We've already gotten 3/4" of rain, according to wunderground, with up to 4" in the forecast. So, it's a rather gloomy day, which is contributing to a "blah" mood--but that doesn't mean I'm in a depressive state. Everybody gets a blah mood from time to time. Lois & I are enjoying(?) a "staycation" today thru WED. I spent about a half hour at Orphan Grain this morning, dropping off materials from our display table at the LWML Convention @ LHNE on Fri-Sat & visiting briefly with a few staff members. I put in 15 minutes on the treadmill when I got home & hope to put in another 15 minutes by the end of the day. Lois & I did some work to get 2 guest rooms ready for more company this next weekend, & we plan to tackle the garage, where we have expended little to no effort over the past couple years.
          We enjoyed a family get-together over the weekend. SAT was Bentley's birthday party--he turned 5 last THU. Nathan, Laura & Calvin AND Craig, Sarah, & the girls stayed with us, so our house was lively. Nathan & I did some fishing later on SAT afternoon. Results were meager. We fished for a little over an hour & only caught 3 bass. [For those of you keeping score, he caught 2 to my 1, but I caught the first & biggest fish.]
          More company is on the way this next weekend. David (Lois' little brother) & Carmen & Aunt Mabel will be here in transit from Texas to Little Island Lake on SAT. Lois' other little brother John will be here; also Sarah, Brianna & Hadley. There's a chance for rain, but hopefully it will hold off, because Big Bang Boom is SAT night.

Conversations with my Grandsons

Laura, who had gone to get Calvin, age 2, from his crib:  "Calvin gave me a crumb that he found & said, "Here, Mommy.'" (Pause)
Calvin:  I found it in my nose.

Get High on Ha Ha, Part I

"Laughter may not be the best medicine, but research shows it is good medicine. Here's why:

• Laughing releases dopamine & endorphins, giving you a natural high & helping you deal better with pain.
• A good laugh raises your heartbeat 10-20%, exercises your heart, works your stomach muscles & burns calories.
• In social settings, laughing together becomes a shared activity that puts people at ease & helps build relationships.
• Laughter relaxes your arteries helping your blood flow more freely thus lowering your blood pressure.
• Finally, laughter lowers stress, fortifies your immune system & helps fight depression." SOURCE:  Better Health, Concordia Plan Services, Summer 2018

Dept. of Shameless Joke Stealing

Norfolk Daily News "late laughs," (6/22):  "KFC announced it is running out of gravy. When they heard, people in Wisconsin rushed to the local Red Cross to donate."  (James Corden, Late, Late Show)

          "I saw that Corona is now making a low-calorie beer that's 40% lighter than other light beers. When asked how they were able to do it, Corona said, 'It's just water.'" (Late Night with Seth Meyers)

One More for the Road

NDN (6/23):  "Delta:  No pit bulls as service animals. Delta Air Lines said it's no longer allowing passengers to fly with 'pit bull type' dogs as service or support annimals . . . "  COMMENT:  This announcement received immediate push back from P.E.T.P.B.T.D. *

* People for the Ethical Treatment of Pit Bull Type Dogs".

Cheez-Its + Death-Defying Raccoom + Naps

Dept. of Shameless Joke-Stealing

Reader's Digest "Wanted: The Backstory" (May 2018):  "Spotted in a variety of public places, these notices left us with just one question. What happened?

• "Because of the incident on No. 14, Cheez-Its are no longer allowed in the cafeteria!
• "Ouija Boards & seances are not allowed to be performed in this shop!
• "In light of recent events, no oreos will be allowed in the library.
• "NO: yo-yos, bullwhips, rollerblade shoes, spurs, candy."

There Is No Place Like . . . Minnesota

Omaha World Herald (6/18):  Raccoon back in wild after death-defying climb. A raccoon that became an Internet sensation by scaling a 25-story office tower in downtown St. Paul was safely trapped & released into the wild." COMMENT:  There's a 25-story office tower in Minnesota?

P.S.A. *

Better Health (Concordia Plan Services, Summer 2018):  "Napping Is Good for Your Health
Several small studies have pointed to the benefits of napping . . . Obviously, not everyone can take a nap during the work day, but if on the weekends you feel the need for a nap, keep this in mind:

• "Try not to nap too late in the day. Your body clock may think you're shutting down for the night, making it harder to shake off the drowsiness when you wake up. If it's already evening & you can't keep your eyes open, plan on going to bed 30 minutes to an hour earlier than normal.
• "Keep Naps Short. Anything longer than 10-20 minutes can put you into the deeper stages of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, causing you to wake up more groggy & tired. The more tired you are, the faster you'll slip into REM stage, so if you are severely sleep-deprived (from multiple late nights) keep your nap time to no longer than 10 minutes."

* Public Service Announcement

Thought for Today

CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY STRUGGLES

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.”  1 Pet. 2:9

“Being redeemed by the cross of Christ means that God has claimed for us our promised value. Claiming that promised value for each other is part of our vocation as daughters & sons of God. It is also the glue that binds us together when human forces would divide.”  At the Crossroads: Devotions for Lent, by David Kehret, Creative Communications for the Parish, 2016.

THU Edition of Whimsical WED

Welcome to Summer + Smelly Nebraska + Virtue

Today is the first day of summer. It was 58 degrees outside when I got up this morning. There is no place like Nebraska. Which brings me to . . . 

There Is No Place Like . . . Nebraska

Omaha World Herald (6/16):  "The scent of our state? For $30, you can find out. Pricey Nebraska-branded candle claims to smell like 'football leather' & 'hay.' Does Nebraska have an overall smell? And if so, what does that smell smell like? Corn? Football? Hard-won pragmatism? Hog farms? Soybeans? . . . Perhaps a $30 candle can shed some light on the matter. Homesick, a company that sells candles that purport to smell like states, has made a Nebraska candle. Which I bought. For $30 . . . It is 13.75 ounces of soy wax poured into a glass roughly the size & shape of a beer can (Go Big Red). It has between 60-80 hours of burn time. Its ingredients are scents of lemon & bergamot (a fragrant citrus fruit), subtle undertones of cedarwood, patchouli, & rose, & with a spicy tonka bean finish. A tonka bean . . . is a seed native to Central America . . . 
        "This, then, is what the Nebraska candle claims to smell like:  'notes of rich football leather, fresh cut hay & rolling thunderstorms . . . " COMMENT:  What about the scent from the cattle feedlots of Cuming County, which borders Madison County on the east--location of Norfolk?

Norfolk Daily News (6/19):  "Attend Carp-O-Rama @ Branched Oak SRA. Anglers of all ages interested in learning al aspects of carp fishing are invited to attend Carp-O-Rama on June 23 at branched Oak State Recreation Area (SRA) . . . Carp caught by anglers will be used in demonstrations on cleaning, preparing & cooking the fish. The cooked fish then will be served as a free lunch. Other activities include fish printing & Dutch oven cooking demonstrations . . . Carp is an excellent fish for beginning anglers to pursue because they are plentiful statewide, & the required equipment is relatively simple. The strong-fighting fish also is not restricted by bag, possession limits or size limits." COMMENT:  This recipe for carp was passed along to me many years ago by a fisherman from Lincoln, NE. Take a piece of balsa wood & slather it in butter. Place a medium size carp on it. Bake for 30 minutes. Throw away the carp. Eat the balsa wood.

. . . California

OWH (6/14):  "Initiative to split California projected to make ballot. An initiative that seeks to split CA into three states is projected to qualify for the state's NOV ballot . . . It would create the states of Northern CA & Southern CA & a narrow central coast strip retaining the name California. Even if voters back the initiative, an actual split would require several more steps including approval from Congress. COMMENT:  Another reason why it's important for Republicans to retain control of the House & Senate. We don't need 4 more Democratic senators + a plethora of more Democratic representatives.

Wisdom & Wit of Cal Thomas *

* One of my 2 favorite partisan pundits

"Who decided traditional virtues were no longer viable & should not be taught to schoolchildren? Was a study conducted that found young people were being damaged from learning how to live & respect one another? Were they expected to catch these virtues on their own without guidance from elders? If so, why do we teach table manners, not interrupting when someone else is talking, sharing & many other things to counter what our lower nature doesn't teach us . . . 
        "In the train wreck of our present culture, we are witnessing the failure over the last 50 years to instruct & disciple our children in ways that as adults they are more likely to embrace the values that can lead to a virtuous life. Why did we expect any other outcome after mostly abandoning these virtues? If you penalize & discourage virtuous things you will get less virtue; conversely, if you subsidize & encourage virtue, you will get more of it.
        "The scandals playing out in newspapers & on TV speak to this. The question now is will we 'repent,' as the Scriptures advise, & seek a new path which, in fact, is a very old path that leads to a more virtuous life, or continue down the current path which leads to destruction?"

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:  A SHADOW OF PROTECTION

“Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings.” Psalm 17:8

“ . . . the shadow of the wings is the learning of Scriptures, in which there is rest for those who devote themselves to this learning.” Martin Luther Psalm by Psalm, Concordia Publishing House, 2017.