Whimsical 4th of July Wednesday

Prayer for 4th of July + Sister Bash Update + Movie Review + More

Prayer for Independence Day *

          "O God, our help in ages past our Hope for years to come, I give You grateful thanks on this anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence for the priceless blessings of liberty that with Your help were won for me by my ancestors. Stir up within me, I pray You, a new appreciation of the life, liberty & pursuit of happiness I enjoy in this land of the free, & a greater readiness to serve my nation with my talents. Teach me, above all, to treasure that precious freedom of conscience & worship, without which other liberties would not long survive. May I never contribute to the loss of these dearly won blessings by my own selfishness ambition, or indifference.
          "Teach me furthermore, O Lord, that the enjoyment of freedom brings with it the responsibility to serve. To that end make me willing to respect the laws of my country, to serve my fellow citizens well in any office of trust to which I may be elected, to exercise faithfully my privilege to vote, & to give my loyal support to all public institutions.
          "Bless all those in authority. Give wisdom & faithfulness to those in positions of leadership. Preserve them from becoming the prey of selfish pressure groups, & give them willingness to serve the interests of the public.
          "Grant enduring peace to our country & its institutions so that Your Gospel may be able without hindrance to turn the hearts of all from the bondage of sin to the freedom won by the blood of our precious Redeemer, in whose name & for whose sake we ask this. Amen."
* Source:  My Prayer Book, Concordia Publishing House, 1957

Countdown Continues

• According to my calculations, 10 days remain until the Summer 2018 Hill Sister Bash at David & Carmen's chalet, located on picturesque Little Island Lake near Nevis, MN.
• I have it on good authority that one or more flea markets will make shopping possible, so that's one worry, Sisters, can cross off their list.
• B.Y.O.F.F.C.*

* Bring your own fou fou coffee

Wednesday Whimsy

Omaha World Herald (12/30/17):  "Shopping:  What to buy when during the year. July.

• "APPAREL. If you don't want to wait for end-of-summer sales, buy clothes in midsummer . . . "  ATTENTION SISTERS! See comment above re: flea markets.
• "PATRIOTIC ITEMS. Retailers like a reason to celebrate . . . " IF YOU WAITED UNTIL TODAY TO BUY 4TH OF JULY-THEMED APPAREL, you will be richly rewarded.
• "PERSONAL ELECTRONICS . . . "  My trophy wife is contemplating a new iPad, so I hope(?) she reads thIs. 

Movie Review

Brianna & I watched Jurassic Park:  Fallen Kingdom last night. Despite mixed reviews, I would give it 4 ****, especially if you

• Aren't bothered by a plethora of stereotypical characters, including both protagonists & villains.
• Aren't bothered by a plot that is fairly predictable.
• Love special effects.
• Love seeing bad guys devoured by prehistoric reptiles.
• Love watching a move that keeps you constantly sitting on the edge of your seat.
• Love seeing a movie with a happy ending . . . or does it?

In a nutshell:  Heroes get double-crossed. Dinosaurs get stolen for nefarious purpose. Dinosaurs escape. Bad people get eaten. Heroes save the day.

Dept. of Shameless Joke Stealing

Norfolk Daily News 'late laughs" (6/29):  "A man in Pennsylvania was arrested for stealing meatballs from a man's garage. I can't tell who's weirder, the guy who stole meatballs, or the guy who keeps them in his garage." (Tonight Show w/Jimmy Fallon)