Dating Anniversary

Tomorrow, THU 10/31, is the 49th anniversary of my first date with Lois. It's easy to remember, because it's Halloween. We were both students at St. Paul's College High in Concordia, MO. She asked me to be her escort on the homecoming court. I must have been good luck, because she was named high school princess.

My sister Carolyn was a co-conspirator. She held Lois' hand while she called me to ask me out. No harm, no foul, Carolyn.

I must admit that I was a little peeved to find out that I had to rent a tux, but that minor inconvenience pales in comparison to 49 years of dating bliss. So next year, guess what? We'll celebrate the 50th anniversary of our first date. We want to travel someplace special to celebrate. Any suggestions?

Spam + Screen Time + Pigeons + California + Climate Cataclysm

SPAM

"No joke, Spam now pumpkin flavored. Ah, fall. The leaves are golden in the trees & crunch underfoot. The air is colder, but not bitterly so. The apples are ripening & the Spam is pumpkin spice flavored. Wait, what was that last part? Indeed, your favorite MN-based meat product is jumping on the pumpkin spice train & riding it straight to internet sensationalism. It's newest flavor addition, a limited edition Pumpkin Spice Spam, boasts notes of 'cinnamon, clove, allspice & nutmeg.'" --Norfolk Daily News, 9/27

"Americans have ample free time--waste on screens," Drudge Report, 10/29

"Share of Americans with no religious affiliation is growing. 26% in new survey describe their religious identity as atheist, agnostic or 'nothing in particular,' up from 17% in 2009." --Omaha World Herald, 10/27

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING

"New York City public schools are trying to be healthier this year, so they're no longer serving salami or bologna sandwiches. Instead, they're going with organic free-range pigeon." --Jimmy Fallon late laughs, NDN, 9/27

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE . . . CALIFORNIA

There shouldn’t be any doubt that California, susceptible to drought through its history and whipped by fierce, dry winds this time of year, is always going to have a fire problem. But there also shouldn’t be any doubt that dealing with it this poorly is the result of a series of foolish, unrealistic policy choices.

California’s overriding goal should have been safe, cheap, and reliable power, a public good so basic that it’s easy to take for granted. The state’s focus on ideological fantasies has instead ensured it has none of the above. --Rich Lowry, National Review Online 10/29

A HUMAN BODY

Far from a subject for another time or place, how might God be speaking to your physical existence even now? How does your body accompany your questions and encounters with God? Consider Christ who walked among the world as a human body, who shared a last meal and washed the feet of his friends, who set his face toward the anguish of the cross, who offered his body for the sake of yours. And who today, stands and physically calls us to come further into this bright mystery even today. --Jill Carattini, Slice of Infinity

CONTEMPT

The contempt we have for material abundance — for things such as agriculture and energy — is part of the disease of decadence. It is grotesque, and something one hears almost exclusively from the rich and the secure. The contempt for the Bill of Rights, increasingly common, is a worrisome sign of the times. --Kevin Williamson, National Review Online 10/28

CLIMATE CATACLYSM

Green New Dealers have convinced themselves that our planet faces an imminent, existential, manmade climate cataclysm – that can be prevented solely and simply by replacing fossil fuels with biofuel, wind, solar and battery energy. They achieve this state of absolute certainty largely by propagating constant scare stories while ignoring and suppressing contradictory evidence and viewpoints. --Paul Driessen, Townhall 10/28

9

THE LEFT

Only when one understands that the Left — the Left, not liberalism — has always and everywhere been a destructive force can one begin to understand what is happening to America. And the Left has damaged no group more than America’s youth. Leftists speak about “the children” — but they care about “the children” as much as the Communists cared about “the workers.” --Dennis Prager, NRO Online 10/29

Blessings on Your Thanksgiving

As we approach Thanksgiving, we are reminded of the many blessings God has given to us. The question we should be asking is, "How do we begin to thank God for all that He has done & continues to do for us?" High on our lists of thing for which to thank our Heavenly Father should be our new lives in Christ. In spite of our sinful ways, God demonstrated His awesome love for us by sending His only Son to the Cross on our behalf. We certainly will also thank Him for our families as well as our health & material blessings. How blessed we are that God provides for all we need to sustain our lives, &, through faith He provides, He gives us life forever with Him . . . 

During this Thanksgiving season, it is easy for us to give thanks for our families, our homes, our clothing, & our food. These blessings are very visible to us However, there are other blessings for which we should be thankful, but we may need to be reminded to give thanks because we sort of take them for granted. For example, when is the last time that you thanked God for the air that you breathe, the smell & tase of fresh coffee in the morning, the beauty of flowers or the beauty of a sunset, the excitement from a college or pro football game, the joy of holding a baby? The list could go on forever. --Steward Builders

Hypocrisy + Education + Impeachment + Polar Bears

HYPOCRISY

One of the most vocalized reasons for rejecting Christianity is the hypocrisy of its followers. And where it is not sound reasoning to reject a religion by its abuse, the thought is perhaps a legitimate expression of confusion. When what we think about God does not inform what we think about people or child rearing, business or pleasure, how can we proclaim the eternal importance of the message? Doesn’t it follow that something of eternal significance is significant enough to permeate every moment of time? It is like operating as if the underpinnings of a house have nothing to do with the shape or characteristics of any of the rooms. --Jill Carattini, Slice of Infinity

EDUCATION

To make matters worse, special-interest groups have captured many instructional materials and steered classrooms away from content-based teaching and toward subjective analyses of race and oppression. Schools are not helping students become productive citizens.

Want proof? The 2019 Annenberg Public Policy Center Civics Survey found that more than one in five respondents could not name any branch of the U.S. government. One-quarter could only name one branch, which means nearly half of adults cannot even begin to explain how our government operates. --Lindsey Burke, National Review Online

IMPEACHMENT

But impeachment and removal inevitably requires Congress to exercise judgment — even if it is in short supply. --Ramesh Ponnuru, NRO

POLAR BEARS

Polar bears are at their highest population levels in memory: as many as 31,000 of them. They’ve survived multiple ice ages, interglacial periods and warming episodes. They are hardly endangered. --Paul Driessen, Townhnall

Free-for-All Friday

Math + Growing Up + Loonies + Canada + Screen Time

MATH

You hated math as a kid, but you see now why you needed to learn it. These days, cashiers can’t calculate the right change without the register, people can’t figure out how many miles they can get on a full tank of gas, nobody knows how to calculate the tip, and nobody can calculate the cost of carpeting a room per square foot. In school you felt relieved that you weren’t the dumbest kid in class. Now it feels like you’re constantly encountering the dumbest kid in class everywhere you go. --Jim Geraghty, National Review Online 10/23

GROWING UP

You just want your kids to be happy and grow up prepared for the real world. You know that if you’re not ready, the real world will beat the stuffing out of you. --ditto

THE LOONY BIN

Yet, as the 2020 Democratic field vies for who can be the looniest of the loony bin, the professional, snobby, and over-educated elite that infest the party is starting to show. It’s quite simple. For liberals, if you’re not college-educated, you’re trash who shouldn’t be acknowledged or listened to because what could you possibly know, right? --Matt Vespa, Townhall 10/23

ANONYMOUS SOURCES

How many dozens, maybe hundreds, of television and print reports have been based on "anonymous sources"? How many times have we read about the reporter's conversation with "multiple" or "six" or "more than a dozen" or some such number of sources? Why can't a single one come forward? Why must we find out, after digging and digging, that their most recent whistleblower has vanished from the scene?--Brent Bozell, ditto

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE . . . CANADA

Air Canada announced last week that it will no longer use the phrase "ladies and gentlemen" on board its flights. The policy is part of a "commitment to respect sexual identity, diversity, and inclusion," the company said in an internal memo. Instead of the gender-specific "ladies and gentlemen" (and "mesdames et messieurs" -- all announcements on Air Canada are in English and French), flight attendants are to address passengers as "everybody" and "tout le monde." LGBTQ groups are delighted. Most other people are not. --Dennis Prager, ditto

SCREEN TIME, CAFFEINE TIME

"WIRED GENERATION:  Screen time linked to greater caffeine, sugar consumption." --Drudge Report 10/24

Whimsical Wednesday

RECONCILED

The apostle Paul, who described himself as “the chief of sinners,” often talked about this God in pursuit. In what is perhaps the apex of his letter to the Romans, Paul writes: “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous person; though perhaps for the good someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates God’s own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by his blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through him. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of the Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” --Margaret Manning Shull, Slice of Infinity *
*Slice of Infinity contains devotions written by Ravi Zacharias' ministry team

WHIMSY

• "Lawyers argue elephant should have same rights as human" Drudge Report
• "Tim Tebow suspended for using performance-enhancing Bible verses:  The Babylon Bee

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"America's pile of uneaten bacon is biggest in 48 years"  Drudge Report

Anxiety + Norwegians

ANXIETY

Bills, deadlines, obligations and responsibilities. We all have plenty of reasons to stress out on any given day of the week, but most people are able to put their worries aside for at least a couple of hours each day and relax. That, however, is much easier said than done for people who suffer from chronic anxiety. Interestingly, a new study conducted at Penn State University finds that especially anxious people may actually choose not to relax due to a fear that letting go of their worries for a few hours will result in even more anxiety if something bad happens.

We’ve all had the feeling. You’re sitting down for some quiet relaxation and a thought pops in your mind; did you remember to finish that chore, or pay that bill? Its common for people to feel like they’re forgetting something, but for many suffering from anxiety this is a constant, creeping feeling of impending doom that makes it nearly impossible to relax for fear of something awful happening while they are slacking off.

According to researchers, people who are particularly prone to negative emotion changes, such as quickly shifting from feeling relaxed to overwhelmingly afraid, are most at risk of feeling anxious while being led through relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga. Michelle Newman, the study’s author and a professor of psychology at Penn State, refers to this tendency as “relaxation-induced anxiety.”

“People may be staying anxious to prevent a large shift in anxiety, but it’s actually healthier to let yourself experience those shifts,” Newman explains in a release. “The more you do it, the more you realize you can do it and it’s better to allow yourself to be relaxed at times. Mindfulness training and other interventions can help people let go and live in the moment.”

The study is also noteworthy because it illustrates how relaxation strategies intended to help people feel better may result in a worse state of mind and more anxiety among certain people.

“People who are more vulnerable to relaxation-induced anxiety are often the ones with anxiety disorders who may need relaxation more than others,” comments psychology graduate student Hanjoo Kim. “And of course, these relaxation techniques were meant to help, not make someone more anxious. Our findings will hopefully serve as a cornerstone for providing better care for these populations.” --John Anderer, studyfinds.org

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE . . . NORWAY

"Norwegians told to pee in shower to save water"  Drudge Report, 10/18

Family

FAMILY

Now matter how difficult life becomes, we belong in families. There may be times when we let down those we love & fail people who care the most, but through it all we discover a group of people who make us feel that we belong, who say, "What happens to you matters to me." Thus we stand together & face all of life with a confidence born of a sure identity in the family . . .

In spite of the pain, frustration & embarrassment, the unavoidable world of life in the family is still God's gift. The caring, nurture & confidence that comes from being seen at our worst & still knowing that we belong is His gift to us. It is the place where we can...love one another over the long haul. It is a place where we see His power & grace demonstrated over & over again. --John Westfall, Men's Devotional Bible


VACATION

The dictionary defines the word “vacation” as “a period of time devoted to pleasure, rest, or relaxation.” Though I imagine it happens less often than not, it seems the ideal vacation would come to an end just as the life we left behind begins to seem preferable. Yet even if it is with reluctance that we let go of our last vacation day, most of us can imagine why we must. By definition, a vacation is something that must come to an end. To vacate life as we know it on a permanent basis would be called something different entirely.

Though we know that the days of a vacation or holiday are short-lived, we nevertheless enjoy them. Even as they fade away into the calendar, they are remembered (and often nostalgically). That they were few does not hinder their impact. On the contrary, a few days devoted to relaxation are made valuable because of the many that are not.

And we know this to be true of life as well—that it is fleeting, makes it all the more momentous.  --Jill Carattini, Slice of Infinity

Free-for-All Friday

CHINA

Westerners, who apologize when Islamists kill cartoonists and journalists for supposedly insulting Islam, do not say a word when China puts a million Muslims into re-education camps, bulldozes Islamic cemeteries, and shuts down mosques.

Loud human-rights lions in Europe turn into kittens when it is a question of Chinese organ-harvesting, forced abortions and sterilizations, and the jailing and execution of dissidents.

American environmentalists demand a radical shutdown of the current fossil-fuel-based U.S. economy. They say little about greenhouse-gas emissions from China, the biggest polluter in the world by far.

Outspoken NBA athletes and hip Hollywood celebrities damn the Second Amendment, curse their president, and boycott states they find politically incorrect. But they become abject cowards when it comes to China.

Loud college students who disrupt campus speakers and forbid free speech never say a word about the horrendous human-rights record of China. They ignore strident Chinese expatriate student supporters on campus.

College deans who weigh in on global morality say nothing about Chinese gulags or crackdowns against Hong Kong.

Why are we becoming more like China than China is like us? --Victor Davis Hanson, National Review Online 10/17

RONALD REAGAN

Democrats love to say things like, “Ronald Reagan wouldn’t be conservative enough for the modern Republican Party.” They say this in an attempt to make the point that the Republican Party has “moved so far to the right,” but they don’t really give any examples. President Reagan supported tax cuts, the modern Republican Party supports tax cuts. President Reagan was pro-life, the GOP is pro-life. President Reagan worked to strengthen the military, so do Republicans today. --Derek Hunter, Townhall 10/17

THEOCRACY

No one is calling for a theocracy. But a free country comprised of citizens with strong moral values grounded in (for example) Judeo-Christian belief is not a theocracy. If, as we so often hear, it is not the job of the government to "legislate morality," then morals, values and principles must have some other source. Our government should be protecting citizens whose lives are a reflection of their religious beliefs and practices. The U.S. Constitution requires it. The stability of our country and our culture depend upon it. --Laura Hollis, Townhall 10/17

RELIGION

While our identification with a specific religion has declined as a nation, we still overwhelmingly (87%) believe in God, according to Gallup. And, while we are surrounded by pressures -- political, social, environmental, economic -- many of us (49%) believe "religion can answer all or most of today's problems." --Jackie Cushman, Townhall 10/17

Pastor Appreciation Month

     God spoke the Ten Commandments to Moses at Mt. Sinai in 1446 B.C. In His speaking, God said, "Remember the Sabbath day, to . keep it holy" (Ex. 20:8) Luther asks, "What does this mean?" & answers, "We should fear & love God so that we do not despise preaching & His Word, but hold it sacred & gladly hear & learn it" (Luther's Small Catechism).
     Following His Baptism & temptation in the wilderness, "Jesus began to preach" (Matt. 4:17). Jesus spent much of His earthly life preaching--preaching is that important!
     St. Paul instructs us as to how God gives saving faith:  "For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? . . . So faith comes from hearing, & hearing through the word of Christ" (Rom. 10:13-14, 17).
     Preaching & hearing the Word of God is a most sacred event. What takes place in preaching is beyond the comprehension of this world. God's people go to church to hear God speaking to them. Martin Luther tells us that "Christ Himself is present when I preach" (AE 23:386).
     This is the significance of a pastor being a called & ordained servant of the Word--standing in the stead of our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ, the living Word. And so today, in 2019, God continues to preach the Word into the ears & souls of His people. Through the preached Word, the Holy Spirit is continually creating & sustaining saving faith in His dear children." --Rev. James Baneck, Lutheran Report 10/19

Whatever Wednesday

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

In the eyes of conservatives, kneeling during the anthem was disrespectful to the flag and to the country, regardless of the motive. The objections were separate from the debate about the prevalence of police brutality and racism — although kneeling defenders no doubt had their suspicions. The point was that the national anthem was a moment for all to rise above particular divisions and stand united in pride and appreciation for the blessing to live in this country. --Jim Geraghty, National Review Online 10/15

GOD & HUMAN AFFAIRS

We think of God as a significant player in human affairs. Did he create man and woman? He might, in that event, have useful thoughts on the mission of man and woman, and their relationship to each other. If so, there would seem to be the need to hear him out -- even to act upon his ideas. So the founders certainly thought. The men who made America -- George Washington, John Adams, James Madison, Patrick Henry and so on down the line -- made room in its institutions and civil guarantees for whatever obligations and responsibilities God might lay upon the people of America. --Bill Murchison, Townhall 10/15

SOCIALISM

If socialist wannabes in America fail to look at the facts, the United States might finally succumb to socialism. The American Left’s love affair with Scandinavian socialism is dangerous because it holds the possibility of hoodwinking enough of the populace into voting to replace the capitalist system that made America great with the socialist system that made Stalin all powerful and the people all hungry. They say the republic dies when the majority discovers it can vote to take other people’s stuff. Let’s hope that day remains elusive. --Rand Paul, NRO 10/16

MEN & WOMEN

Cultures around the world show very similar differences between men and women. Men are more likely to seek status; women are more likely to take care of children. Women are more likely to stay in the home; men are more likely to do dangerous, aggressive things like go to war. --John Stossel, Townhall 10/16

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

The First Amendment of the Constitution is about protecting religious liberty. It is not about banning religion from American public life. Too often, in these confused times, it has been interpreted as the latter. --Star Parker, ditto

Mental Health Monday

"To eliminate churches' unfair tax exemptions, Trump declares everyone tax-exempt," Babylon Bee, 10/14

ABSURDITY

While the world as we know it is indeed disordered and damaged, and to find answers in the world itself is absurd, God does not abandon us to absurdity. Into this world, into its pain and confusion, God, too, became flesh and dwelt among us. And it ended for Jesus as tragically as anything we observe under the sun. He went to the cross with the full force of every ugly, honest reality of Ecclesiastes on his shoulders. And he stood with us in that darkness, giving us an equally severe image of a God worth seeking in the midst of it. --Stuart McAllister, Slice of Infinity

SOCIALISM

Socialism is guilty of a fatal conceit: It believes its system can make better decisions for the people than they can for themselves. It is the end product of a 19th-century prophet whose prophecies (such as the inevitable disappearance of the middle class) have been proven wrong time and again. --Lee Edwards, National Review Online

NBA

The same league that pulled its all-star game out of Charlotte, N.C., over a contentious transgender bathroom law has no problem partnering with a country that fights diversity at the point of a gun. --Jonah Goldberg, NRO

But for now, the NBA is exposed. When push comes to shove, it is not progressive. It does not love liberty. It’s a crass commercial enterprise masquerading as a value-laden league. Its “bravest” voices — those who are ready, willing, and eager to uncork angry screeds against domestic political foes — have trouble making the mildest of statements against truly horrific human-rights violations. How “complicated” are concentration camps, exactly? Keep this up, and the NBA may well find that its craven appeasement of 10 percent of its revenue market will cost it dearly with the 90 percent who truly pay its multi-billion dollar bills. --The Editors, NRO

PARTISANSHIP & THE MEDIA

The partisanship of politics is no longer just about the issues. It now includes the media and social media framing the issues. A chorus of voices — especially influential media voices — can escalate the most mundane situation into something dire. We’re not talking about politicians murdering people in these hyped up stories. Murder stories should generate outrage. In contrast, we’re talking about behavior that has not yet been investigated, much less prosecuted. --Rachel Alexander, Townhall

Friday Free for All

LECKBAND TEMP CHALLENGE

It's time for the first Temp Challenge of the season. Here are the results, based on weather.com @ 8:28a.

• #6) Garrison, IA (my brother), 39  BALMIEST LECKBANDS
• #5)TIE, Eagan, MN (my son Nathan), 36
• #5) TIE, Lincoln, NE (my daughter Sarah), 36
• #5) TIE, Beatrice, NE (my sister), 36
• #2) Ventura, IA (my niece Christal), 35
• #1) Norfolk, NE (Paul & Lois & my daughter Rachel), 31 [We are also in a freeze warning, beginning @ 10:00p tonite.]

ROAD TRIP

Today we head to Lincoln with our grandson Bentley. Tomorrow we plan to take Bentley & our granddaughters Brianna & Hadley to the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. Last summer Lois bought a grandparents pass which included free admission for grandkids, & now that pass will pay for itself. We feel really blessed that we (1) have such a great relationship with our grandkids; & (2) we can take them along on road trips like this.

FREE FOR ALL

• "Environmentalists have new target:  toilet paper"  --Drudge Report, 10/10
• "Cat cafe burglarized; cats sat & watched"  --Drudge, 10/11
• "NBA now requiring all players to stand for Chinese national anthem" --Babylon Bee, 10/11
• "New law requires you to listen to Greta Thunberg before you purchase gasoline" --ditto
• "In response to growing number of fistfights, London mayor bans hands" --ditto

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

• "Global Chick-Fil-A death count climbs to 0" --Babylon Bee, 10/11
• "Trump releases heartfelt statement honoring fallen McRib" ditto

HOLLYWOOD

Hollywood once gave us blockbuster epics, brilliant Westerns, great film noirs, and classic comedies. Now it endlessly turns out comic-book superhero films or pathetic remakes of prior classics. --Victor Davis Hanson, National Review Online 10/10

EXCOMMUNICATION

We all know people, whether we’re related to them or choose to associate with them, who support Democrats. It’s no big deal. It is grounds for excommunication on the left. --Derek Hunter, Townhall, 10/10

Friends + Sex + Social Media + Hollywood

TRENDING

"Survey:  average American hasn't made new friend in 5 years." Drudge Report, 10/9

SEX

"A person's sex is an objective & unchangeable fact. To claim otherwise is simply a lie.  --Terence Jeffrey, Townhall 10/9

SOCIAL MEDIA

"In our culture today, a social media post can be considered the gospel truth without any intellectual value." --Salena Zito, ditto

HOLLYWOOD

"In any case, Hollywood seems to have a blind spot when it comes to evil. They're made many films about the Nazis, but Tinseltown has virtually ignored the greatest mass murder cult in history--communism. --Robert Knight, ditto

Resolutions Update + Giant Pigs + Multiple Thoughts for Today

RESOLUTIONS UPDATE

I'm making some progress in my resolutions for 2019.

• Not to read any partisan diatribes re:  the 2020 elections. Some days I do better than others.
• Add to our list of National Park visits & cross something off our bucket list. Last month we crossed off Teddy Roosevelt & Glacier National Parks.
• Lose 10 lbs. Only 6 lbs to go.
• Treat Sammy with more patience. I think I'm doing pretty well.
• Help put out all of our Christmas decorations. Lois & I will put up Christmas decorations before the kids visit us at Thanksgiving.
• Work out at least 3X per week. I've been in a slump lately.
• Continue spending an hour of so in "quiet time" each day. I'm doing well.
• Write a devotion book for the 2019 Orphan Grain Train convention. Mission accomplished.

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE . . . CHINA

"China breeding giant pigs the size of polar bears. [What if they start breeding polar bears the size of elephants?]


THE GOSPEL CRIES OUT

There is glory in the death of Jesus Christ, in the suffering of God, because in his unmerited suffering, like a seed that falls to the ground and dies, there are roots shooting down to water that cleanses and life bursting abundantly forth from a burial that would not constrain him. This is precisely what the gospel cries out over the unmerited suffering of communities and a world overcome with evil and cynicism. And so you find that not only is redemption possible, but forgiveness can be extended because the glory of the cross, the transforming yield of life that can be held in God’s death, is actually holding you. --Jill Carattini, Slice of Infinity


THE AMERICAN PAST
The American past has had its share of both hypocrisy and nobility. Truthfulness demands that we acknowledge both. Americans were hypocrites in extolling liberty and grounding our national identity to a significant extent in it, while at the same tolerating or even embracing slavery. But, over time, the principles and rhetoric of freedom proved powerful tools against slavery. --Rich Lowry, National Review Online


WE'VE ALL MADE MISTAKES

I’ve been overwhelmed lately with this “cancel culture” business. If someone discovers you’ve looked the wrong way once in your life, it’s all over. People set out to destroy you. That’s not the way we are meant to live. We’ve all looked the wrong way. We’ve all made mistakes. We’ve all sinned. And we all will again. One of the great glories of life is that we can begin again. Our sorrow for our sins and awareness of our weaknesses keeps helping us get better and be better on this journey of life with all its challenges. But increasingly we forget this. More and more, it seems, the loudest voices in culture won’t make room for growth and redemption. And so people despair — they think they are stuck. And things on the news don’t help, as we’re all sucked into more terrible news and anger. Kathryn Lopez, NRO

Free-for-All Friday

Human Suffering + Climate Change + Trashing Politicians + Trending

ROAD TRIP

Lois & I are heading to Holyoke, CO, today. I'm making a presentation about Orphan Grain Train tomorrow morning. It's a whirlwind trip, since we have to return tomorrow after lunch.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“In a deeply paradoxical way, full of a mystery that blinds by its brightness, Jesus Christ, the God-human, displays the love of God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—by taking on our human suffering and terror. Christ, the God-human, takes on the path of human suffering so that we are not pioneers in the darkness, so that we are not in free fall. Instead, even when our suffering seems senseless, even when we feel like we are in free fall, we can look to Christ to see, hear and taste that we are still in the ever-faithful, ever-loving hands of God.” --Margaret Manning Shull, Slice of Infinity

CLIMATE CHANGE

For more than 50 years Climate Alarmists in the scientific community and environmental movement have not gotten even one prediction correct, but they do have a perfect record of getting 41 predictions wrong. --Michael Brown, Townhall 10/3

CHRISTIANS & POLITICS

Perhaps instead of trashing politicians they don't like and revering other ones, politically conservative Christians should contemplate another powerful verse: "I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered on behalf of all men, for kings and all those in authority, so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior..." (1 Timothy 2:1-3) --Cal Thomas, Townhall 10/3

TRENDING *

* Compliments of The Babylon Bee

• Experts warn we have only 12 years left until they change the timeline on global warming again
• All Democrats drop out of presidential race since the world is ending from climate change & there's no point
• New California law requires separate restrooms for people who . think they are Napoleon Bonaparte
• Southern Baptist softball league implements "Once Safe, Always Safe" rule for baserunners