Whimsical Wednesday

Christmas Programs...Advent...Burping Cows...More

CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS:  PAST & PRESENT

We had quite a treat the past few days. On FRI we watched Hadley's Christmas program at Trinity Lutheran in Lincoln. On SUN we watched Brianna's Christmas concert at Messiah Lutheran, also in Lincoln. Yesterday (TUE) we watched Bentley's kindergarten program at Christ Lutheran in Norfolk.

Bentley had a speaking part as the innkeeper. He nailed his one line. I appreciated the recitations taken from Luke & Matthew. Some traditional Christmas songs were sung, including "Away in a Manger."

When I was growing up, the children's Christmas program at St. Paul's Lutheran in Concordia, MO, was held on Christmas Eve. We recited scriptural passages from the OT prophets, Luke, & Matthew. We sung traditional Advent & Christmas hymns.

And when the program was over, we traipsed through the chancel & received our bags of peanuts, candy, & usually an orange.We walked back to our home, a teacherage just two houses down from the church, retired to my brother's bedroom, & waiting (im)patiently for our parents to put the presents under the Christmas tree. Ah, nostalgia!

ADVENT THOUGHT

In spite of a world easily consumed by sorrow and sadness this season, those who anticipate the arrival of the source of all joy recognize that the harvest of joy is sown in tears—tears that are redeemed by the one who “for the joy set before him endured the cross and suffered its shame” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus, the joy of the world, was not immune to tears. The “tidings of comfort and joy” would come as that God entered into our suffering and was not removed from it. God enters the exile of this world every Advent Season offering deliverance and salvation. --Margaret Manning Shull, Slice of Infinity

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"SHOCK:  Skewered dog kebabs sold by Vietnam vendors at meat market." --Drudge Report

'TIS THE SEASON

"Angels in heaven rejoice as House Democrat Converts to Republican Party."  Babylon Bee

"Santa Claus accused of quid pro quo for giving children gifts in exchange for good behaior."  Babylon Bee

WHIMSY

"People have more 'digital conversations' than speak face-to-face." Drudge

"Burping cows get the green light to join carbon-offset market. A garlic & itrus feed supplement that lowers the green house gases burped out by cows is giving garmers the chance to become global carbon traders." --Omaha World Herald, 12/16

CELL PHONES

Ah, parenting in the Internet age: It’s an experience full of mystery and wonder! Whether you’re at the local school, a youth sporting event, or a kid’s birthday party, it’s common to see groups of young children, sometimes as young as third or fourth grade, huddled blank-eyed over their collective smartphones. It’s a sight to behold, really, but it pales in comparison to the paralyzing realization that ultimately comes next: No matter how hard you work in your own house to protect your kids — no Internet, no iPads, and no smartphones of any sort — there is no way to prevent some kid with a smartphone from someday giving your child their first eyeful of hard-core Internet porn . . . 

But what if you’ve already given your kid a smartphone? That’s okay. You can take it away. Give them a shiny new replacement phone that doesn’t access the Internet, ignore the whining, and voila! You’ve made the world a better place. --Heather Wilhelm, National Review Online