PRAYERS FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE

"Heavenly Father, daily Caretaker of the souls of all people, put protecting arms around me as I enter this new year of grace. Guide me safely through harm & danger that may come my way, protect me from accident & sickness, & preserve me in that saving faith which will make me more than victor over all temptations, doubts, & unbelief.

"Tonight I am mindful of my many sins & transgressions & ask You to erase them, every one, by Your love & mercy through the precious blood of my redeeming Savior. In Your loving-kindness draw me closer to You that I may walk with renewed determination & strength in Your paths of righteousness, where peace of mind & the hope of heaven are my treasures & my joy. 

"Preserve in our community Your saving Gospel & prosper the work of the church established by Your Son, Jesus Christ, my Savior, that the community & the ends of the earth may know that there is no other name which saves but that of Your Son, our crucified Savior & Lord.

"You, O God, have been good to me through the years, & in Your mercy You have forgiven me my sins day after day. Grant me the grace to continue steadfast in this saving faith & to walk as a child of Your family, through Jesus Christ, my eternal Redeemer. Amen.  My Prayer Book

"Lord, make me to know my end & the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Another year of my pilgrimage has passed. I am a year nearer to my death, nearer to judgment, nearer to eternal life with Christ, my Lord. Where shall I run as the sins of the past year & the transgressions of all my years rise to condemn me? Lord, to You alone I flee for refuge in these last hours of the waning year. For the sake of Your own Son, whom You sent to be the Savior of all men, be gracious to me, & pardon my iniquity. Trusting in the merits of my Savior, I come boldly to Your throne of grace, in full confidence that there I shall obtain mercy & find grace to help in time of need. Oh, satisfy me early with Your mercy that I may rejoice & be glad all my days. Let me, in a manner befitting a child of God, conclude the old year & begin the new, a year in which You would be pleased to dwell among us continually, in Your goodness & means of grace; for the sake of You dear Son, Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.  Lutheran Prayer Book

A HYMN FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE *

* "Across the Sky the Shades of Night," Sts. 1 & 4, LW #181

"Across the sky the shades of night This New Year's Eve are fleeting. We deck Your altar, Lord, with light, In solemn worship meeting; And as the year's last hours go by, We raise to You our earnest cry, Once more Your love entreating.

"Then, gracious God, in years to come, We pray Your hand may guide us. And, onward through our journey home, Your mercy walk beside us Until at least our ransomed life Is safe from peril, toil, & cry, When heav'n itself shall hide us."

A CHRISTMAS HYMN *

* "He Whom Shepherds Once Came Praising," St. 1 & 4, LW #54

"He whom shepherds once came praising, Awed by heav'nly light ablazing, Cheered by angel news amazing:  'King of glory, Christ is born!'

"To our King, God ever reigning, Yet of Mary manhood gaining, Heav'nly gifts for us obtaining, Raise your hymns of homage high!"

GET A FLU SHOT EVERY YEAR

"One of the best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu shot every year. (Some children may need two vaccines in one season.) There are over 200 strains of flu viruses, & they can mutate, which is why a new formula is created every year . . . If you're hesitant because of an egg allergy, there are two egg-free vaccines available--Flucelax & Flublok."  

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE . . . CALIFORNIA

"In true pop-up art fashion, a nearly 7-foot-tall monolith made of gingerbread mysteriously appeared on a San Francisco hilltop on Christmas Day & collapsed the next day. The three-sided tower, held together by icing & decorated with a few gumdrops, delighted the city on FRI when word spread about its existence . . . People trekked to the park throughout the day, even as light rain fell on the ephemeral, edible art object. In one video posted online, someone took a bite of the gingerbread."  Norfolk Daily News, 12/28

EUGENICS

"It has always been common to hear medical professionals say we need to make difficult ethical choices when seeking to do triage in emergenices. Doctors are often forced to decide which of two equally deserving patients will get life-saving attention, & which will be sacrificed for the greater good. This is nothing new. There is also nothing new in the suggestion that the younger you are, the more worthy you are of treatment. The thought is that the elderly have lived their lives, & it is only fair to provide those on the lower ends of the chronological scale opportunities that their elders have already been given.

"There is also the idea that those who are disabled should be sacrificed in the interest of the able-bodied, because 'quality of life' is more important than 'life' itself. Of course, just who should determine what that 'quality' looks like is up for debate, as is the definition of 'quality.'

"As someone who has opposed abortion ever since she could understand what that was, & what it meant, I am no stranger to the arguments about quality of life. Many of those who believe that pregnant mothers who receive a diagnosis of Downs, or encephalitis, or spina bifida, or Tay Sachs, of any other debilitating conditions for their unborn children should have the right to terminate their pregnancies as an anticipatory form of euthanasia. Others believe that euthanasia on the sick, & the elderly, is compassionate. They have either convinced themselves of their sincerity, or they are blinded by a desire to reject the core principle of eugenics. And that is what Planned Parenthood does, on a regular basis."  Column by Christine Flowers in Norfolk Daily News, 12/23 

A CHRISTMAS HYMN *

* "Joy to the World," Sts. 1 & 4, LW #53

"Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive its King; Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room And heav'n & nature sing, And heav'n & nature sing, And heav'n, & heav'n & nature sing.

"He rules the world with truth & grace And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders of His love."

LET IT SNOW, LET IS SNOW, LET IT SNOW

Sometime during the night it started to snow. Norfolk is in a winter storm warning. We're supposed to receive 3-5" of snow before the end of today. Our son-in-law is no longer working for his father's construction company, so he no longer has access to snow removal equipment. Bummer.

CRIMINAL MINDS

"A Long Island man has been arrested after a Christmas morning crime spree that gave new meaning to the term doorbuster. It happened shortly before 2 a.m., Suffolk County police said, when Justin Shuffle stole a 2010 Bobcat skid loader, which is used to push snow, from a Bay Shore shopping center,. He then crashed the mini-snow plow through the front doors of a nearby Target."  Norfolk Daily News, 12/26

TRENDING

* "'Alexa,' Hypnotize Me:  Virtual hypnosis gaining acceptance."  Drudge Report

* "Military recruiting crisis looms with youth too flabby to defend nation."  Ditto

* "Prodigal son kicked back out after old Tweets surface."  Babylon Bee

* "Man assures family he'll have Christmas lights up in time for St. Patrick's Day."  Ditto

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE . . . NEW JERSEY

"Frozen-solid 15-ton whale stuck on NJ beach."  Drudge

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE . . . HAWAII

"Flower found in Hawaii is so rare, only one plant known to exist."  Drudge

COVID

"To celebrate COVID relief, McDonald's introduces the $600 McStimulus Burger."  Babylon Bee

"Clever American disguises self as transgender Middle Easterner in hopes of receiving more COVID aid."  Ditto

Today would have been my mom's 92nd birthday. She & my father raised us in "the nurture & admonition of the Lord." She was the best organist I ever heard. [Yes, I am prejudiced yet still, I think, objective.] Besides being church organist, she was also the choir director (The choir sang at her funeral.), & my grade school music teacher. She tried giving me piano lessons--I was not an exemplary student--but I trace my appreciation of music to her. My sister, brother, & I were blessed with parents who provided for our Christian education.

BENEFITS OF RELAXATION *

"Relaxation techniques are a great way to help with stress management. Relaxation isn't just about peace of mind. Relaxation is a process that decreases the effects of stress on your mind & body. Relaxation techniques can help you cope with everyday stress & with stress related to various health problems. Practicing relaxation techniques can reduce stress symptoms by:

> Slowing your heart rate

> Lowering blood pressure

> Slowing your breathing rate

> Reducing activity of stress hormones

> Increasing blood flow to major muscles

> Reducing muscle tension & chronic pain

> Improving concentration & mood

> Lowering fatigue

> Reducing anger & frustration

> Boosting confidence to handle problems

* I received this information at an outpatient program at Bryan Hospital in Lincoln, NE.

Techniques for Stress Reduction *

> Visualization:  Form mental images to take a visual journey to a peaceful, calming place of situation

> Progressive muscle relaxation:  Focus on slowly tensing & then relaxing each muscle group

> Autogenic relaxation:  Repeat words or suggestions in your mind that may help you relax reduce muscle tension

> Deep breathing

> Massage

> Meditation

> Tai chi

> Yoga

> Biofeedback

> Music & art therapy

> Aromatherapy

> Hydrotherapy

* I found this information by googling "relaxation techniques" & going to mayoclinic.org.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

We started watching "The Chosen," which is available on Pure Flix. There's also an app for it. It is the story of Jesus. Although not always faithful to the Gospels, it adds an interesting perspective to many accounts. It also has a powerful message.

WHAT I'M READING

On Saturday night I finished reading "To Wake the Giant:  A Novel of Pearl Harbor," by Jeff Shaara. The other day I made a flippant comment about Pearl Harbor. That was in poor taste, & I'm sorry. The last chapters of the book are especially somber & sobering. When we lived in Hawaii, the townhouse we rented in Aiea was just a half mile up from Pearl Harbor. You could see the Arizona Memorial from the balcony outside our 2nd floor bedroom. We visited the monument several times during our years there. After watching a video & visiting the museum, you boarded a launch which took you out to the actual memorial, which straddled the sunken battleship. The outline of the battleship was still clearly visible in the water, & an oil slick still coated the water. [The Arizona had a full tank of over 100,00 gallons of fuel oil when it was sunk, & that fuel oil has been slowly leaking from the ship all these years.] At least 2,467 men died in the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941; & at least 1,177 died on the U.S. Arizona. I think at least 900 are still entombed on the ship. It feels like a sacred place.

Last night I started reading "The English & Their History," by Robert Tombs. 

A CHRISTMAS READING

"When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, & if a son, then an heir through God." Gal. 4:4-7

GOOD NEWS

"In the face of the bad news of our world and in our lives, the good news of God should resound in our hearts and minds as we enter the Christmas season: God is with us, God is pleased with us, and God loves us! Jesus inaugurates the reign of good news, his shalom, even in the face of bad news. We can embrace the good news of God's reign even in the midst of crisis. And we can live the good news as we continue to hope in the God who has dwelt among us. "In the world, you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Glory to God in the highest!" Margaret Manning Shull, Slice of Infinity

THE POWER OF CHRISTMAS

"Christmas has a power over those who observe it, and those who do not, that is unlike any other holiday or event. The other 364 days of the year we can be caught up in affairs of world-shaking significance, but on Christmas it is as if all systems shut down and we are given a chance to focus on something of greater significance than the headlines or the vacuous babble of television. Perhaps for some this Christmas, the touch will take."  Cal Thomas, Townhall, 12/24

A CHRISTMAS HYMN *

* A Great & Mighty Wonder, Sts. 1, 2, 4

"A great & mighty wonder, A full & holy cure:  The virgin bears the infant With virgin honor pure! Repeat the hymn again:  'To God on high be glory And peace on earth to men!'

"The Word becomes incarnate And yet remains on high, And cherubim sing anthems To shepherds from the sky. Repeat the hymn again:  'To God on high be glory, And peace on earth to men!'

"Since all He comes to ransom, By all be He adored, The infant born in Bethl'em, The Savior & the Lord. Repeat the hymn again:  'To God on high be glory And peace on earth to men!'"

A CHRISTMAS HYMN *

* Come, Your Hearts & Voices Raising, Sts. 1, 2, 6, LW #48

"Come, your hearts & voices raising, Christ the Lord with gladness praising; Loudly sing His love amazing Worthy folk of Christendom.

"Christ from heav'n to us descending And in love our race befriending; In our need His help extending, Saved us from the wily foe.

"Gracious Child, we pray, oh, hear us, From Your lowly manger cheer us, Gently lead us & be near us Till we join your choir above."

CHRISTMAS DAY

Derek, Rachel, & Bentley came over for Christmas dinner. We Zoomed with the rest of the family, even Craig in Texas. We enjoyed ham, cheesy potatoes, crescent rolls, oriental salad, green beans, & pie. Rachel made the potatoes & pie. Now we get to eat ham & cheese sandwiches & leftover salad for the next few days. That makes me happy.

After supper we watched Bentley open presents. We gave him another Christmas banana. This time we wrapped it in a box, so he couldn't guess it. [We gave him a Christmas banana on Christmas Eve, & I told him the story of Bob the 4th Wiseman & the Christmas banana he gave Baby Jesus. Bentley wasn't all that impressed.]

WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING

We planned to spend a couple of nights at the Lied Lodge in Nebraska City, Monday & Tuesday. I cancelled this morning because of our forecast. Norfolk is supposed to receive 6.5" of snow from Tuesday into Wednesday. Nebraska City is supposed to receive 9+". Derek doesn't work for his dad anymore, so he no longer has access to snow removal equipment. I guess we'll have to break down & buy a snow blower, but we won't have time before this blizzard hits.

WHAT I'M READING

I finished reading "1861:  The Civil War Awakening," by Adam Goodheart. If you're a Civil War buff, it would be a great read. Now I'm reading "To Wake the Giant:  A Novel of Pearl Harbor," by Jeff Shaara. I can hardly wait to find see how it turns out.

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE . . . NEBRASKA

The Omaha World Herald reported that, according to the census, Nebraska lost 5,000 people during the last decade. We don't care, since it limits the number of people moving here from blue states. [No offense, California.]

"Minister has 260 Nativity scenes on display at his home . . . Nativity scenes--260 of them--fill the dining room at the Rev. Gale Dorn's home in Axtell. They even spill out into his living room." Omaha World Herald, 12/25

"Arctic blast could bring snow, but not like 2009 . . . For Christmas 2009, Omahans hunkered down in a sudden, enforced quarantine as a blizzard roared outside."  Ditto, 12/23. COMMENT:  We flew out from Omaha to Florida on the day that the storm commenced. We left on one of the last flights before the airport shut down. While we were in Ft. Walton Beach, spending time with Jerry & Anita, Rachel sent us a picture of our driveway. There was a drift which blocked the garage door, & we wondered how we would make it into the garage when we returned. The shuttle driver helped us shovel out our car when we got back to Omaha. We arrived home to find the driveway cleared. Derek, Rachel's boyfriend at the time, had cleared it. We told Rachel that he was The One. 

PRAYERS FOR CHRISTMAS DAY

"O God the Father, I praise You for the gift of Your Son, who was born in poverty & lowliness in Bethlehem so that I mighty enjoy the riches of Your grace & the exaltation of sonship with You.

"O God the Son, I adore You for humbling Yourself to be my Savior, for bearing my sins in Your own body, & for rendering to my Father in heaven a perfect satisfaction for my sins.

"O God the Holy Spirit I glorify You for having made my heart a home for the Savior of the world & for bringing the eace of forgiveness to my soul through faith in Him who s the Prince of Peace.

"O blessed Trinity, on this holy day give me a humble & contrite heart that I may joyfully claim the babe of Bethlehem as my Lord & my God. Remove from me the tattered robes of my own righteousness, & adorn me with the spotless garment of Christ's righteousness.

"Use every gift received this day from loving friends to remind me of the gift of a Savior so that my heart may rejoice & my tongue can sing, 'Glory to God in the highest!'

"Help me to cradle the Christ Child in my heart, O Holy Spirit, & give me the grace & strength to love & adore Him all the days of my life. Amen."  My Prayer Book

"Lord God, gracious Father, who in the fullness of time sent Your Son to become man, to assume human flesh like mine & become my Brother, I thank You for Your truth & Your fatherly goodness in giving us this Savior. By His birth, death, & resurrection, we are delivered from sin, death, Satan, & hell. I beseech You, keep me until the end in true knowledge of my Redeemer, that with the holy angels, I may rejoice at His nativity & on the Last Day when He comes again, I may behold Him, together with You & the Holy Spirit, in glory & majesty, world without end. Amen."  Lutheran Book of Prayer

A CHRISTMAS HYMN *

* Welcome to Earth, O Noble Guest," St. 1 & 5, LW #38

"Welcome to earth, O noble Guest, Through Whom this sinful world is blest! You turned not from our needs away! How can our thanks such love repay?

"O dearest Jesus, holy Child, Prepare a bed, soft, undefiled, a holy shrine, within my heart, That You & I need never part."

PRAYERS FOR CHRISTMAS EVE

"Almighty God, heavenly Father, I thank You for Your unspeakable gift to mankind in the birth of the Christ Child at Bethlehem, as announced by the angels this holy night. May the mystery of the Word made flesh fill my soul with wonderment & yearning that like the shepherds I may hurry to worship at His manger bed. Change my heart from a busy inn that has no room for Your Son, that it may be a quiet chamber kept for Him.

"Help me in the spirit of true repentance to rejoice in my Savior's birth that in genuine faith I may join in the song of the angels, share the delight of the shepherds, & adore Him with the Wise Men. Grant that Christ may be born again to me this holy night that the truth, love, & redemption He brought may henceforth abide in my heart & life. Like Mary, may I keep all these things & ponder them in my heart always.

"And as You have made me a partaker of His glory here, grant that I may share His glory there. In Jesus' name I ask it. Amen."  My Prayer Book 

"O great & glorious Redeemer, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, we praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we give thanks to You for Your great glory. O Lord God, Lamb of God, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, King of kings & Lord of lords, Emmanuel, God with us! For You only are holy; You only are the Lord; You only, O Christ, with the Holy Spirit, are the most high in the glory of God the Father. But chiefly on this most holy of nights we adore You for leaving the glory that You had with the Father before the world began. We humbly ask You, by the holy mystery of Your incarnation & nativity, to deliver us, good Lord. You who came that we might have life & be saved from our sin, be gracious to us & save us. Let the glad tidings we commemorate this night be made known to all people. Amen." Lutheran Book of Prayer

A CHRISTMAS HYMN *

* Of the Father's Love Begotten," LW #36

"Of the Father's love begotten Ere the worlds began to be, He is Alpha & Omega, He the source, the ending He, Of the things that are, that have been, And that future years shall see Evermore & evermore.

"Christ, to You, with God the Father And the Spirit, there shall be Hymn & chant & high thanksgiving And the shout of jubilee:  Honor, glory & dominion And eternal victory Evermore & evermore! 

"CHRISTMAS STAR"

I blogged yesterday, if I remember correctly, that we were taking Bentley, our 7-year-old grandson, to view the conjunction of Saturn & Jupiter yesterday. After being clear all day, it got cloudy about an hour before we took off, so it was a big bust. Oh, well. We know that the real Star of Bethlehem couldn't have been a planetary conjunction. Anyway, we went to Sonic, treated Bentley to a mango slushy & shared an order of cheese curds.

And to all you who got to view this celestial event . . . it sucks to be us.

I WONDER . . . 

There's a lady named Margarita who's often at physical therapy the same time I am. Every time I hear her name, I get thirsty. Is that racist?

PANDEMIC BABY BOOM

"Doctors are expecting a baby boom in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report."  Omaha World Herald 12/21

VOLCANOES

"Volcano erupts on Hawaii's Big Island, draws crowds." Lois & I got to visit Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. We were able to walk on a boardwalk right up to the edge of the Kilauea caldera, where you could see the lake of lava far below.

STRESS EATING

"Experts offer tips to keep from stress eating your way through pandemic:

* "Filling up on protein & healthier foods at mealtimes, so you don't have room for all of the things that are tempting you. Something like a steak with a broccoli side . . .                                                                   

* "Get enough sleep so you feel better, so you feel less stressed . . .  

* "If you need a pick-me-up, turn to nuts, beef sticks, popcorn or carrots . . . 

* "Reserve a day or two each week to enjoy a treat. Take your time while eating it, savoring every bite, & then hide the rest away . . . 

* "When your favorite holiday finally arrives, indulge for those 24 hours--not the week before & after--& then get back to a healthier diet . . . 

* "Tear up our sourdough bread recipes & move on to something new."  OWH, 12/21 

TRENDING

* "STUDY:  Airplane noise at night could quickly trigger deadly heart problems." Drudge Report

" Archaeologists unearth Mary's frankincense & myrrh diffuser."  Babylon Bee

* "Jupiter & Saturn fined for not obeying social distancing." Ditto

* "Moderna vaccine rejected since it also works on white people." Ditto

* "Alligators can regrow their tails. Alligators can regrow their tails, according to a new study. Researchers have discovered that the reptiles, which date back to dinosaur days & can grow 14' long or more, can regenerate themselves--not unlike geckos or the tuatra of New Zealand." Omaha World Herald, 12/20

STIMULUS RELIEF

> "Congress finally reaches stimulus agreement:  Every American will receive a coupon for $5 off at Applebee's." Ditto

> "Pelosi announces every $600 check will come with free slice of pie." Ditto

> "God compensates Job with $600 stimulus check." Ditto

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE STEALING *

* Courtesy of Reader's Digest, Nov. 2020

"Fruit cocktail is the most disappointing of all the cocktails."

HOLIDAY ANXIETY

" . . . the holidays are not always easy, & this year we will have unique challenges as we navigate a COVID-19, socially-distanced holiday season. Many of us have or are currently making hard decisions about being with our family this year. Many of us are already feeling the grief that is bubbling up inside as we approach the holiday season. Below are a few offerings to consider this year:

* "Cry:  Grief is often followed by crying & is a healthy outlet . . . Crying has also been shown to complete stress cycles. So grab some tissue, & allow yourself the gift of release.

* "Allow:  Invite grieving, joy & all the feelings in between to the kitchen table this year. When discomfort joins you, place a hand over your heart & allow the sensations to arise, & just notice as they come & go.

* "Boundaries:  Get clear on your goals this holiday season pertaining to getting together or not, & what this looks like for you. Communicate this with those who may be impacted & ask that your wishes be honored.

* "Creativity:  Can't or don't want to meet in person? Zoom, or talk on the phone! [NOTE:  We've been zooming with Lois' siblings every Sunday afternoon for some time now. And we've been Facetiming fairly often with our son Nathan & his family.]  Drop off goods to a loved one's home. Never liked cooking to begin with? Cater food in. Feeling comfortable sitting outside? Offer options that make you feel safe & comfortable, even if it's outside the box! [NOTE:  Sitting outside this time of year isn't really an option where we live.]

* "Self-Care:  Care for yourself. Tend to your inner wellness by cultivating nourishing self-care options that soothe & rejuvenate your spirit. Remember, self-care is more than just a spa day; it is learning the ways you can self-soothe & nourish during life experiences."  Omaha World Herald, 12/13

CRIMINAL MINDS

"Sheriff officials say they've busted an illegal winery that was operating at a municipal sewarge plant in a small north Alabama town."  OWM, 12/19

OLYMPICS

"Breakdancing became an official Olympic sport on MON. The International Olympic Committee's pursuit of urban events to lure a younger audience saw street dance battles officially added to the medal events program at the 2024 Paris Games."  OWH, 12/13

VIRGIN RIVER

"Q: Do you know if or when 'Virgin River' will resume? The end of Season 2 left us hanging--literally--in the wind. This was a wonderful show, & I cannot be the only one who loved watching it. A: At this writing (Dec. 17), there is no official word about a third season for the drama based on the series of noels by Robyn Carr. But considering how successful it has been for Netflix, & how much the show's principals have been talking about plans for another season, AND how willing the show was the load the Season 2 finale with cliffhangers, I'd expect it to come back next year. Since Carr has published 21 novels in the series so far, there appears to be plenty of story to tell."  TV Q&A by Rich Heldenfels, OWH, 12/20

PANDEMIC

"Remote learning pitfalls emerge. Many Nebraska teachers report 'little student success' as kids struggle. The pitfalls of remote learning are glaring like Clark Griwwold's Christmas light display. While some Nebraska kids managed to keep pace academically from home the first semester, other remote students fell so far behind that they're failing or at risk of it, according to teachers & school leaders. Generally, the students who struggled most were those who also struggled in the classroom before the pandemic, particularly those without parental support & encouragement, they said. But teachers said that even some normally successful students have found remote learning difficult as well."  OWH, 12/20

"A big question:  Can kids get the vaccine before next school year? Children won't get the COVID-19 vaccines until there's enough data from studies in different age groups. The studies will stretch into next year."  OWH, 12/20

HUSKER NATION

Even though Nebraska came from behind to beat Nebraska last Friday, there's only so much comfort one can derive from another 3-5 season. And it's been announced that although the Cornhuskers are eligible to accept a bowl invitation, players have voted to stay home. They're worn down, & many of them haven't seen family for months. I don't blame them.

PLANS

We plan to take Bentley, our 7-old grandson [He belongs to Derek & Rachel in Norfolk.] to see the "Christmas Star" tonight, & to take in some of the Christmas decorations around town. Tomorrow we're heading for Lincoln. We'll visit Sarah & the girls--Craig is in TX--& also get to visit with John, Lois' little brother, & his wife Lori. They're from North Carolina & are visiting Lori's family. We plan to attend Christmas Eve worship on Christmas Eve & hope the Broders will join us. We're having Christmas dinner with the Broders on Christmas Day [ham, cheesy potatoes, et al.]

ROAD TRIPS

I've added these trips to our bucket list:

> Paul's missionary journey tour

> Europe river trip

We now have enough road trips on our list to take us into our 90s.

PRAYERS *

* From My Prayer Book [first two prayer], which I received as a gift from my pastor for confirmation, & Lutheran Book of Prayer [last prayer].

"'Thy Word is truth,' gracious Lord & Father, the only truth which makes us wise to salvation through faith in the crucified Savior. I praise You, Lord God, for this revelation of Your love & the saving Gospel of my redemption through Jesus' blood. May nothing be more precious to me than Your Word. May I at all times reach for my Bible when I need guidance & counsel, comfort & strength, healing & forgiveness.Help me to grow in understanding & knowledge of Your revelation & feel at home with Psalms & prophets, Gospels & Epistles.

"Grant that the number of those increases who daily read Your Word & find through Christ of Calvary peace of heart & mind & directives for Christian living. May I at all times speak of this hope which is in my heart & continue to row in knowledge of You & Your will; for Jesus' sake. Amen."

"Gracious Lord, I thank You for Your Word of salvation for it is a 'lamp unto my feet & a light unto my path.' Grant that I may love it, understand it, believe it, & living according to it.

"Make the Bible my comfort & guide. Open my heart & mind when I read Your Word that its sacred message may take root & grow. Help me to regard all faithful pastors & teachers as Your representatives, & strengthen my faith through their preaching & teaching.

"Teach me to regard Sunday not only as a day of rest from my labors, but also as a day on which I may gladly hear & learn Your holy Word. Help me today, & at all times, to seek & find You as You have revealed Yourself in the Scriptures. Grant that I may daily worship & glorify You as my Creator, my Redeemer, & my Comforter; through Jesus Christ. Amen."

"O Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory, King of kings & Lord of lords, the Son of the living God & Son of David, come. Come now to Your Church that You have purchased with Your blood. Come with Your gracious presence, that we may rejoice in You. Come & rule over us, that we may serve You. Come with Your love, humility, & perfect obedience, & let Your lowliness become our glory. Come into the midst of Your people & bless us, for we are Your heritage. Forgive us our sin, & do not angrily cast away Your servants, for You are meek & gracious. Clothe us with the holy righteous one & our Helper. Satisfy us with the abundance of Your mercy, for You did become poor for our sakes, that by Your poverty we might be made rich. Hear us, Lord Jesus, for the sake of Your holy name. Amen.

CHRIST'S AUTHORITY

"Because Jesus is the Christ, He has the authority to demand obedience to His word. Jesus summons men to follow Him, not as a teacher or a pattern of the good life, but as the Christ, the Son of God." Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Men's Devotional Bible

CHRIST'S GLORY

"Christ's glory was hidden, even as He was revealed--from the flight to Egypt to His boyhood in Nazareth; from a humble baptism by John (who was shocked that the Savior of the world would seek Baptism from him) to temptations in the wilderness, to preacher of repentance & the Good News, to the opposition of all the powerful of Israel, to attempts at His life, plots to confound & kill Him, to suffering in the garden, betrayal, capture, trial on false charges, conviction by a mere mortal, crucifixion, ridicule even on the cross, last words & death. The Son of God's divinity flashed forth here & there--at His baptism, transfiguration, in His miracles & miraculous words--but His glory was hidden. God's Word records this state of affairs in an upside-down way. 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be gloried," said Jesus, speaking of His very crucifixion (John 12:23). "Truly this man was the Son of God," said the Gentile centurion, as he stared at the dead Savior (Mark 15:39)." Rev. Matthew Harrison, The Lutheran Witness, Dec. 2020

HOSANNA NOW THROUGH ADVENT *

* Lutheran Worship #16, St. 1 & 4

"Hosanna now through Advent With loving hearts we sing, For Jesus Christ is coming To be His children's king.

"So when we see You coming With angel in the sky, Hosanna, loud hosanna Shall be Your children's cry."

COVID

"As if we needed another reason to lose faith in the expert class, here is a medical ethicist in the New York Times discussing the CDC’s rollout of the coronavirus vaccine:

Harald Schmidt, an expert in ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania, said that it is reasonable to put essential workers ahead of older adults, given their risks, and that they are disproportionately minorities. “Older populations are whiter,” Dr. Schmidt said. “Society is structured in a way that enables them to live longer. Instead of giving additional health benefits to those who already had more of them, we can start to level the playing field a bit.”

"This is what happens when “science” and the racial identitarianism of the modern intellectual Left collide. “Historically,” says the Times, the committees tasked with deciding this sort of thing relied on “scientific evidence to inform its decisions.” Nowadays, members are “weighing social justice concerns as well.” It would be merely obscene if ethics professors were theorizing about saving — or, rather, not saving — lives based on race. How long before half-baked social science is being used by technocrats in positions of power and influence to ration medical care? You know who else is a “medical ethicist” at the University of Pennsylvania? Ezekiel Emanuel, a Biden adviser on medical issues, who believes human beings are bits of GDP that have no real purpose once they hit a creaky 75 (with an exception made, no doubt, for the 78-year-old president-elect). Emanuel and Schmidt, in fact, co-authored a textbook titled, “Rationing and Resource Allocation in Healthcare.”

"The CDC data, by the way, show it would save the most American lives to prioritize Americans over the age of 65 rather than essential workers. Emanuel might object because people are approaching the end of their usefulness. Schmidt might dissent because they may skew too white." David Harsanyi, National Review Online

> "College student recruited to keep schools open."  Drudge Report

> "Global herd immunity will take 2 or 3 years." Ditto

TRENDING

> "Appeals court rules zoo elephant not entitled to 'human rights.'"  Ditto

CHRISTMAS STAR?

> "Jupiter, Saturn merging in night sky closest in centuries." Ditto

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE . . . CALIFORNIA

> "California declares Christmas caroling a felony." Babylon Bee

ORPHAN GRAIN TRAIN

Some of you know that since 2015 I have worked for Orphan Grain Train. [I write devotions for them.] OGT is a humanitarian aid organization, located in Norfolk, Nebraska. We ship relief supplies to both domestic & international locations. Those supplies include food, clothing, school supplies, medical equipment, & more. We are closely affiliated with Mercy Meals, which produces & ships a high-protein food mixture that includes rice, iron, & minerals. We can ship those products for 8 cents a serving. Over the years we have shipped relief supplies to 37 states & 69 countries.

Perhaps the most notable feature of OGT is that we are volunteer-based. For every $1 we receive in donations, 98 cents goes directly for humanitarian relief. That's right--only 2 cents of every dollar is used for administrative expenses.

For more information go to ogt.org.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

We started watching The Crown. In fact, we binge-watched, & last night we watched the final episode of this season. SPOILER ALERT:  Prince Charles is a jerk! We're still watching Heartland & our CBS shows:  NCIS, NCIS New Orleans, Blue Bloods, Seal Team, FBI, FBI Most Wanted. Lois has been watching Hallmark Christmas movies, so I guess I will be watching them soon, too.

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE . . . NEW YORK

> "NY weighs retroactive tax on wealthy." Ditto

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE . . . CALIFORNIA

> "CA population growth record low." Ditto

SAD

> "More military families seeking food assistance." Ditto

AOC

> "AOC:  Pelosi, Schumer need to go." Ditto

SCARY

> "Satellite can peer inside buildings." Ditto

A SIGN OF THE END TIMES?

> Antarctica rocked by 30,000 tremors in 3 months, Chilean scientists say." Ditto

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

* "New Tesla to run exclusively on Liberal tears." Babylon Bee

* "Buttigieg defends transportation credential by revealing he has played tons of Mario Kart 64." Ditto

CHRISTMAS

* "Dad excited to see what he got his kids for Christmas." Ditto

COVID

* "NYC restaurant mocks Cuomo by hosting dinner in storm." Drudge Report, 12/17

* "Millions of women agree to take vaccine after it's disguised as essential oil." Drudge

DR. JILL

* "Man chokes in restaurant, Dr. Jill Biden springs into action to deliver educational lecture." Ditto

RELIGION

* "New Calvinist fortune cookies tell you if you're elect or not." Ditto

* "Scholars discover translation error:  Root of all evil actually gluten." Ditto

* "Unforgivable sin actually dancing, Baptist scholar claims." Ditto

ANTI-SCIENTIFIC GENDER THEORIES GAINING GROUND

"On Nov. 22, New York Times columnist Charles Blow unleashed one of the most bizarre tweets in recent memory. 'Stop doing gender reveals,' he stated. 'They're not cute; they're violent. All we know before a child is born is their anatomy. They will reveal their gender. It may match your expectations of that anatomy, & it may not. If you love the child you will be patient, attentive & open' . . . 

"And gender, contrary to the idiotic, pseudoscientific paganism of the gender theory set, is not some free-floating set of biases we bring to the table. Males & females have different qualities in a variety of functions, attitudes, desires & capabilities. To reduce children to genderless unicorns simply awaiting hormonal guidance from within piles absurdity upon absurdity." From column by Ben Shapiro, Norfolk Daily News, 12/8

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes." (Psalm 118:8-9)

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen . . . Get rid of all bitterness, rage & anger, brawling & slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind & compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:29, 31-32)

JESUS

"God gives His only-begotten Son so that we would not perish He gives His Son for us so that we can be received as sons of God by grace. The Father called Him from the womb, from the body of His mother (Isaiah 49:1) with the name Jesus because He would save His people from their sins (Matt. 1:21). There can be no rebirth without the birth of the sinless Son. There can be no eternal life with God unless the promised offspring obeys to the point of death. He had to be counted as a stubborn son so we could be reckoned as obedient offspring. 

He took up residence in the womb of the Virgin so that He could be placed in the tomb of the earth. The Seed of the woman had to be sown into the ground in order to sprout forth in new life for us. He ascended like a young plant, & like a root out of the dry land (Isaiah 53:2). Because of the suffering & success of the Son, the Father waters the thirsty ground & pours out His Holy Spirit upon all His offspring (Isaiah 44:3). 

TODAY'S ADVENT HYMN

"Prepare the royal highway; the King of kings is near! Let ev'ry hill & valley A level road appear! Then greet the king of glory Foretold in sacred story:  Oh, blest is He that came In God the Father's name!" Prepare the Royal Highway, LW #27

HYPOCRISY

"I understand that we are a divided country, & I have no problem with the divisions when they impact governance & fundamental rights. I will bring the full weight of my anger against legislators who push for liberalized abortion laws, against women who make false accusations against female jurists & lawyers they do not like, against men who are selective with their misogyny. But that is what I will do at the public level, at the level where dissent is effective, necessary & appropriate. What I will not do is carry this over to my personal interactions with friends (the easy part) & strangers (much harder), because that will require hypocrisy, & there is nothing that I despise & devalue more than hypocrisy."  Column by Christine Flowers in Norfolk Daily News, 12/11

COMMENTS:  I struggle with this in the comments I make & excerpts I post in my blog. I am going to try to stop making sarcastic comments in both my blog & my posts on Facebook. But is my blog "at the public level?" Isn't it my duty to speak out & present arguments for my convictions? What do you think?

OUR RIGHTS

"In totalitarian societies, governments suppress the church & religious worship. That's because dictators believe citizens should worship them as the highest authority & not a Higher Authority, which they view as a threat to their power & position. In the United States, the threat to religious liberty has been under siege for some time. The recent gift to believers from the Supreme Court may be a temporary reprieve from the government's assault on faith & conscience. The narrow 5-4 ruling serves as a warning the threat is not over . . . When government sets itself up as the ultimate authority on all thing, including the right to gather & worship freely, other liberties can quickly be at risk. If the First Amendment is to be challenged, even watered down when it comes to faith & practice, why not impose stricter controls on speech & the press, as is done in totalitarian states? Once the principle is accepted that rights are established by government, it is a very short step for government to take them away."  Column by Cal Thomas in Omaha World Herald, 12/9

I'm writing this on Sunday, while eating an egg salad sandwich for lunch. (Sorry, Mark.) I call my Monday blog "Mental Health Monday," mostly because I do it for my mental health. It takes the place of journaling.

While watching Jeff Dunham on Facebook, I realized something. Masks can make anyone a ventriloquist. 

LIVING NATIVITY

Our four LCMS churches in Norfolk got together & presented a living Nativity yesterday in the parking lot of the DeVent Center. There were various stations depicting the Christmas story. There were even a live donkey, colt, goats, & sheep. Bentley was a sheep. Not a live sheep. He seemed to enjoy it, even though it was really, really cold. Lois was an angel for awhile. I wimped out. When we were done, we took Bentley to Sunset Plaza Mall, where Rachel works at Claire's. Thanks to Rachel we enjoyed treats from Pretzel Maker. Then we brought him home, where he & Lois played hide-&-seek. Indoors. Seriously.

A MOVIE WORTH SEEING

On SAT we watched "Priceless" on Netflix. It's a movie about sex trafficking, & stars one of the brothers who head up For King & Country. You should watch it. You should also check out pricelessmovement.com. They are affiliated with Compassion International. I think you'll be glad you did.

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* courtesy of Norfolk Daily News latelaughs, 12/11

"Baskin Robbins has brought back its turkey ice cream cake. Because all kids are like, 'If only our favorite treat looked more like a dead bird carcass.'"  Jimmy Fallon

THE COVID GRINCH

"Sorry, COVID-19, but you're not going to stop our Christmas cheer this year. You remind me of the Dr. Seuss Christmas Classic, 'How the Grinch stole Christmas' . . .   The year isn't over, but we know from early numbers that people are giving more than in previous years, in particular to food banks, to groups that focus on housing & to mutual aid groups, which are more grassroots efforts, neighbors helping neighbors,' reports Marketplaces's Marielle Segarra . . . 

"I've got new for you, COVID:  We're going to prevail over you. In fact, we already have. Because the true outcome of your disruptiveness has been to bring out the best in most of us--to bring out our Christmas cheer in abundance. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some Christmas carols to sing."  Column by Tom Purcell, Norfolk Daily News, 12/12

SANTA

"NHS commercial terrifies children by showing Santa dying of COVID."  Drudge Report, 12/12

YOUR HEALTH

* "People who drink 6+ glasses of water daily happier, more successful."  Drudge, 12/12

* "STUDY:  Climbing 4 flights of stairs in under 60 seconds indicates optimal heart health." Ditto

* "Beards may grant owner supernatural abilities, study finds."  Babylon Bee

CHRISTMAS

> "Local family enraged they can't attend their once-a-year church service this Christmas."  Ditto

THE HOLY FAMILY

> "Holy family arrested in Egypt for violating travel restrictions."  Ditto

WHAT I'M READING

Sorry, I know this is getting tedious. It's part of the nature of my OCD. I quit on "The Bridges of Andau," a novel by James Michener about the Hungarian uprising in 1956. It was just too dark. When reading it at bedtime, I'm convinced it was getting in the way of my falling asleep. So on SAT night I started reading "1861:  The Civil War Awakening," by Adam Goodheart. Much, much better . . . & I fell asleep okay.

 AN ADVENT DEVOTION

I write devotions for Orphan Grain, so I hope you will indulge me. We're in the season of Advent. I used to wonder why during the weeks before Christmas--the Advent season--Scriptural readings were so gloomy. So much talk about the end times! Why wasn't there more talk in church about Christmas?

According to dictionary.com, the word "advent" means "a coming into place, view, or being; arrival." Now it's beginning to make sense. The season of Advent is all about the arrival of Jesus at the end of the world. We certainly celebrate the birth of our Savior. God became one of us, Immanuel, God with us. He came into the world to rescue sinners from sin, death, & Satan. And He will come again.

I don't know about you, but this whole COVID pandemic has made me much more cognizant of death. There have been worse plagues in the history of humankind, but most of us have never experienced a plague as bad as this one.

Yesterday during my morning "quiet time," I read an Advent devotion, written by C.M. Zorn in Crumbs:  Short Devotions for Every Day of the Year, published by Concordia Publishing House in 1914, which explains the archaic language. Here is the excerpt that really spoke to me.

And furthermore remember that death transports thee in a moment into the presence of the Lord. In death thy body knows of no time, though it is still within the bounds of time. And thy living soul will then no longer dwell in time, but in eternity. And what on earth is a long time is but a moment in eternity. Thus, as I have said, death transports thee in a moment into the presence of the Lord. How near at hand is the coming of the Lord Jesus!

Our Lord & His apostles seemingly spoke of the imminent return of the Kingdom of the Lord. That's been over 2,000 years ago. So what happened? Well, the kingdom of the Lord comes for believers when they die. Their souls are taken to heaven. That' what C.M. Zorn is talking about when he writes, "And thy living soul will then no longer dwell in time, but in eternity." 

I take comfort in these words. I hope you do, too.

AN ADVENT HYMN:  SAVIOR OF THE NATIONS, COME [LW #13]

Savior of the nations, come, Show Yourself the virgin's son. Marvel heaven, wonder earth, That our Lord chose such a birth.

Father's equal, You will win Vict'ries for us over sin. Might eternal, make us whole; Heal our ills of flesh & soul.

Glory to the Father sing, Glory to the Son, our King, Glory to the Spirit be, Now & through eternity.

ELECTION FRAUD

My comments on yesterday's blog re:  election fraud sure touched a nerve. I'm sorry . . . No matter what the courts rule, I pretty much stand by my comments. At the very least you have to admit that there were voting irregularities. As far as DT conceding the election, I didn't include any references to that in my blog. Regardless of how I feel, there is no requirement for the president to concede the election to the president-elect. And, I might add, there were those who were encouraging Biden to refuse to concede the election if Trump won.

I regret a comment I made in responding to some comments I received. I replied, "At least I know people are following me on Facebook." I think I sounded snottier than I meant. What I meant to say was, "I'm grateful that people follow my posts, since I put much time & effort into them." Truce? No hard feelings?

Soon I'll be making a list of New Year's resolutions for 2021. I already have some in mind. I'm considering a resolution not to engage in political conversations on Facebook, except for those re:  abortion. I cannot abide failing to respond to pro-abortion posts & comments.

OMELETTES

I made 3-egg omelettes for Lois & me this morning. They really turned out sloppy. Three eggs were one too many. When we lived in Hawaii I used to make cheese omelettes on Saturday morning. Then there was the morning I made omelettes with leftover nacho cheese. You'll have to ask my children how they turned out. [C'mon . . . Nathan, Sarah, Rachel . . . They weren't really that bad, were the4y?]

EGG SALAD

Sorry, Mark. I hate to distress you by writing about egg salad. I'm helping Lois make egg salad today. We go through it pretty fast, since I have such a taste for it. 

TU CASA, MI CASA

Last night we had supper at Tu Casa. [We've eaten there before.] It's pretty reasonable, & you get ample portions. Lois had some kind of soup. It had pollo in it. [I think that's Spanish for chicken. Correct me if I'm wrong.] It also had part of a corn-on-the-cob. She said it was good. I had seafood fajitas, which included fish, shrimp, scallops, octopus [Don't knock it till you've tried it.], & oysters. It was delicious. I asked for a box to take leftovers home, then forgot to take it with me. It sucks to be me.

CORONA UPDATE

As of 12/11, Madison County has 3488 confirmed cases, along with 30 deaths. There's an article in the Omaha World Herald this morning, announcing that hospitalizations seem to be stabilizing. I still do not believe everything I read about the effectiveness of mask mandates, although Lois & I are following Norfolk's mandate pretty faithfully.

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE STEALING *

* compliments of Reader's Digest, Nov. 2020

Here are some "tried-&-failed" excuses for missing work.

* "I got my fingers stuck in a bowling ball."

* "I had a dream that my cat died, & now I'm afraid to leave her."

* "I rolled out of bed & knocked myself out, so I missed my alarm." 

* "I accidentally got on a plane."

* "My goldfish was ill."

* "My football team lost last night." [Husker fans can relate to this one.]

* "I needed a few hours to get the alcohol in my blood down to a legal level."

CHRISTMAS

Christmas Day is only 2 weeks from today! I think we're joining to share a turkey or ham dinner with the Broders. I'm working on our Christmas letter & hope to finish it by this weekend. When will I actually get it in the mail? I'm not even trying to guess.

"Bethlehem to hold midnight mass without public."  Drudge Report, 12/11

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE . . . FLORIDA    

"Police respond to 'break-in,' find music video shoot. Police in South Florida descended on what they thought was an armed break-in at a men's clothing store TUE morning after people were spotted with rifles--but officers arrived to find a music video filming, all with the store owner's knowledge. The guns were not real & the men holding them were actors in a video." 

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE . . . TEXAS

"Texas governor announces cowboy hat mandate."  Babylon Bee

TRUMP

*Brilliant Trump annexes Greenland, grants it 271 electoral votes."  Babylon Bee

WHAT I'M READING

Aren't you fascinated by what I'm reading? I finished "The Bridges at Toko-Ri:  A Novel, by James Michener about the Korean War. SPOILER ALERT:  I did NOT like the ending at all. Now I'm reading "The Bridge at Andau," also by James Michener. I'm not sure I like it. It's about the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, so we already know how it ends. It's pretty depressing.

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

"18 states support TX attorney general's bid to reverse Biden win." COMMENT:  I have very mixed feelings about this. I will always believe that in too many states & cities the voting was highly irregular at best, corrupt at worst. On the other hand, I think if the results were reversed, I believe there would be massive riots. I do find it ironic that the same voices telling us we should just accept the results never accepted the results of the 2016 election. I just pray for justice to be done; that God would bless us with the leaders we need & help us cope with the leaders we get. [I also pray that we retain our majority in the Senate.]  

OUTER SPACE

* "Former Israeli space security chief says extraterrestrials exist."  Drudge Report, 12/10

* "Roswell investigator found 'indestructible debris not made by human hands." Drudge, 12/11

MAN'S BEST FRIEND

* "Dogs may share diabetes risks with owners."  Drudge, 12/11

* "They don't understand human speech as well as we think."  Ditto

TRENDING

"STUDY:  Consuming wine, cheese may reduce cognitive decline."  Drudge, 12/11

"Kaepernick teams up with Ben & Jerry's."  Ditto

FORGIVENESS

"The joy of this truth is that once I can believe that forgiveness for myself, then I can believe it for anybody. I have new eyes to see beyond my neighbor's sin & love him or her with the love of Christ."  John Fischer, Men's Devotional Bible 

CHRIST NOT WORKS

"We cling to Christ's blood that atones for all our sins & that makes all works done in faith good & pleasing to our heavenly Father. As Paul proclaimed: "We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ" (Gal. 2:16). Our good works please God not because they are perfect or because of the amount of good works we have done, but because they are done in faith in Christ. Those works are covered by the blood of Christ--& they are truly good works because of our Lord Jesus Christ. So at the end of our life, it is not the number or greatness of our good works that we cling to. We cling to Christ alone."  Rev. Andrew Packet, The Lutheran Witness, Sept. 2020

AN ADVENT HYMN

"Come, O long expected Jesus, Born to set Your people free; From our fears & sins release us By Your death on Calvary. Israel's strength & consolation, Hope to all the earth impart, Dear desire of ev'ry nation, Joy of ev'ry longing heart.

"Born Your people to deliver, Born a child & yet a king; Born to reign in us forever, Now Your gracious kingdom bring. By Your own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts alone; By Your all-sufficient merit Raise us to Your glorious throne."  Come, O Long-Expected Jesus," LW #22

TRENDING

> "Help at last:  House Relief Bill will provide free 'Going Out of Business' signs to small business owners."  Babylon Bee

> "Movie studio accidentally releases uplifting, inspirational move."  Ditto

> "Man brilliantly defuses argument by telling wife to calm down."  Ditto

WHAT I'M READING

* I finished reading "The Patriots:  Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, & the Making of America," by Winston Groom

* Now I'm reading--in fact I'm almost done with--"The Bridges at Toko-Ri:  A Novel," by James Michener.

SUCCESS

After our thwarted attempt to get Chinese food on FRI night, we stopped at Hy-Vee after church on SAT evening. There was a line at the deli, but eventually I was able to get an Asian Rice Bowl with sesame chicken for Lois. None of the main entrees appealed to me, so I got a couple of egg rolls & crab rangoon. [I'm really into health foods.]

EGG SALAD

I mentioned the other day that I've really been into egg salad. [Not literally.] Lois made homemade egg salad on SUN. [I've already finished it.] I must say that it was the equal of Hy-Vee's egg salad. Way to go, Lois!

CRIMINAL MINDS

"Man's apartment is trashed after girlfriend learns of his cheating. Early FRI, a man returned to his north-central Omaha apartment to find that it had been ransacked. The Christmas tree by the front door had even been overturned. The man, who is 20, reported the damage to Omaha police He told officers who came to the apartment . . . that he thought that his girlfriend, also 20, had caused the damage. Why did he think that? Well, the man said, a few hours before, she had found out that he had been cheating on her with a mutual friend."  Omaha World Herald, 12/5

CHARLIE BROWN

"Silly as it may sound, 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' offers a helpful lesson during this holiday season. Despite so much that has gone wrong--despite COVID-19's never-ending unpleasantness & restrictions--we can still choose to be cheerful. We can bring gifts to elderly neighbors who've been stuck inside, send donations or food to those in need, & just be thankful for what we have & not dwell so much on what we've lost. We're all Charlie Brown this Christmas. So, let's find the good in our grief this year!"  Tom Purcell, OWH, 12/5

COVID

"NYC bar owner who defied COVID-19 restrictions arrested. An owner of a New York City bar that was providing indoor service in defiance of coronavirus restrictions was arrested after a sting in which plain-clothes officers went inside & ordered food & beverages, the city sheriff's office said. . . The tavern is in an area designated by Gov. Andrew Cuomo as an orange zone because of spiking COVID-19 rates & was not supposed to be serving customers indoors. But the owners had declared the bar an 'autonomous zone,' a nod to protesters who claimed control over a Seattle neighborhood in June. The bar has been fined thousands of dollars as it continued to serve patrons inside & to operate past the 10 p.m. curfew for restaurant service . . . "  Norfolk Daily News, 12/3

"Americans couldn't resist the urge to gather for Thanksgiving, driving only slightly less than a year ago & largely ignoring the pleas of public health experts, who begged them to forgo holiday travel to help contain the coronavirus pandemic, data from roadways & airports shows."  NDN, 12/4

A PERSONAL COMMENT

Given the events of the last four years, the recent campaign, & the results of the election, I find myself praying more & more for our government & leaders. I continue to pray that God would bless us with the leaders we need & to help us cope with the leaders we get; also to save us from leaders who would seek to subvert His will. 

A PRAYER FOR GOVERNMENT

"Lord God, as I pray for all who are in authority, I thank You especially for the form of government given us in our beloved country. Give me the grace with my fellow citizens to value the officers & the magistrates of our government as those sent by You. Instill in me that respect & honor due them. Lord, endow them with wisdom for their several duties, with a spirit of sacrifice for the common welfare, with mercy & justice, with uprightness & kindliness. Correct the evils of selfishness, greed, a vain desire for honor, or abuse of power among us as well as in the other governments of the world. Grant that the true purposes of government may prevail, safeguarding peace & prosperity, so that we may live soberly & uprightly in Your sight & have opportunity to tell of You & Your kingdom. These petitions I direct to You because in Jesus I know You as my Father & Lord. Amen."  Lutheran Prayer Book

REAL MEN

"A real man will treat his wife right. He will be a servant rather than a master. He will do the right thing because it's the right thing. He will give 100% no matter what he's called upon to do."  Mike Singletary, Men's Devotional Bible

CHRIST'S RETURN

"As we wait for Christ's return in our death or on the Last Day (whichever comes first), we do so fearlessly, hopefully & courageously. With Christ's victory as our own, Paul describes this new life as 'steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain'" (1 Cor. 15:58).

MISADVENTURES

We set out last night for the new Chinese restaurant in Norfolk. Alas, when we arrived at Asian Cuisine Express, no parking was available, & the line for the drive-thru was backed up beyond the parking lot. So we headed for the Imperial Palace at the Sunset Plaza Mall food court. Alas, there were at least a dozen people waiting in line. We ended up getting pretzel bites at Pretzel Maker. 

Speaking of food, I've developed quite a taste for egg salad sandwiches. I've been buying egg salad at Hy-Vee. [It's delicious!] Lois informs me that we are going to make our own egg salad, since it will be much cheaper.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

We're watching our favorite shows on CBS again, along with Heartland [on Netflix], but we also started watching the 2nd season of Virgin River on Netflix. SPOILER ALERT:  There is a river, but not everyone is a virgin.

CHURCH

We started going to church at Grace on Saturday evenings. There aren't as many people, so social distancing is more possible. We're also attending Advent services on Wednesday night; also not very many people. [We miss Advent suppers.] I'm still attending adult Bible class on Sunday mornings, & Lois is still leading her parenting class on Sunday mornings.

MASKS

Norfolk has adopted a mask mandate, which is required for all public gatherings, including churches, stores, restaurants, etc. There's a $25 fine for violations. There are still a few people who don't wear masks at church. I went to The Abbey (our Christian bookstore) to buy a baby card a few days ago. There was a sign on the door saying that masks were required. At Hy-Vee there's a sign on the door saying that masks are strongly recommended. Go figure. Here's what I find interesting. The COVID rate where mask mandates are in place doesn't seem to be any better than places where mask mandates are not in place. Hmmm.

ROAD TRIPS

Last night Lois made reservations for airline flights to California in March. We will be visiting Wanda, her oldest sister, & John, our brother-in-law, who live in Kingsbury. We're hoping to visit Yosemite & Kings Canyon National Parks. We're also hoping to visit Teresa, our niece, & her family. She also lives in Kingsbury, too. We'll also see our newest grand-nieces, Trinity & Mercy (twins), born in September.

Last night Lois showed me information about a train trip from Vancouver to Calgary, which includes the Canadian Rockies. She sold me, so I've added it to my bucket list.

WHAT I'M READING

I mentioned the other day that I started reading "The Patriots:  Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, & the Making of America." It was sounding more & more familiar. Last night I realized that it was because I've read biographies of Hamilton, Jefferson, & Adams. Lois & I also watched a mini-series about John Adams a few years back.

WHAT I'M READING

I was going to start reading Stephen King novels until I was at the library a couple days ago. I couldn't resist checking out "The Patriots:  Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, & the Making of America."  I'm a sucker for interesting-looking history books.

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

"Ocasio-Cortez sells 'Tax the Rich' merch."  Drudge Report

"Selfless Democrats go to fancy restaurants, parties to show public what not to do."  Bablylon Bee

CHRISTMAS

"'Christmas Star' to light up sky for first time in 800 years."  Drudge

2020

"2020 rated worst year ever, provided you never lived at any other time in history."  Babylon Bee

COVID

"In late October, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a survey that found self-reported use of face masks increased from 78 percent in April, to 83 percent in May, and reached 89 percent in June. Even if people are exaggerating how often or how well they wear a mask, only about ten percent of Americans were willing to say: “No, I don’t wear a mask.” Around that same time, a HealthDay/Harris survey found 93 percent of Americans said they sometimes, often, or always wear a mask or face covering when they leave their home and are unable to socially distance — and of that amount, 72 percent said they always do so. A National Geographic and Morning Consult poll from earlier in the month found similar results.

"People may not always be perfectly honest with pollsters, but we can see the evidence every time we go to the grocery store, or doctor’s office, or anywhere else we go. By any available measure, a solid and perhaps overwhelming majority of Americans regularly wear their masks indoors. (Anecdotally, I’d say I see fewer people wearing it below their nose, too.) A handful of conflicts about wearing masks in public places have gone viral on social media, creating the perception that these clashes are ubiquitous. How many times have you shopped for groceries this year? And how many times have you seen someone making a scene over refusing to wear a mask?"  Jim Geraghty, National Review Online

"President-elect Joe Biden said Thursday he will ask Americans to wear face masks for 100 days after his inauguration in January to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

“The first day I’m inaugurated to say I’m going to ask the public for 100 days to mask,” Biden told CNN’s Jake Tapper. “Just 100 days to mask, not forever. One hundred days.”  Brittany Bernstein, NRO

PHILANTHROPHY

"We should not allow our generous impulses to lure us into imposing destructive policies (student-loan forgiveness leads the current list) or to lull us into accepting the ineffectiveness and dysfunction of the institutions we entrust with the public’s resources. It is a relatively easy thing for rich people, or a rich society, to look at someone’s Christmas wish-list and check off a few boxes, making everybody feel a little better. It is a more difficult and higher kind of philanthropy to build the kind of institutions — and the kind of society — that will help people to prosper in the long term. We need clear thinking on this, urgently."  Kevin Williamson, NRO

FACEBOOK

"USA Today has a "fact-checking" team that is run and weaponized by Facebook to limit or censor social media posts. But amazingly, the standard employed isn't whether something is factual or nonfactual. It seems to be whether someone is a Democrat or not."  Tim Graham, Townhall

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

"Americans cherish religious freedom. And the COVID-19 crisis has reminded people of faith, especially how much they value this critical First Amendment right. For me, a Christian, the past eight months of lockdowns have underscored the importance of in-person worship or, rather, the importance of fellowship in nurturing one’s spiritual life. 

"As David Mathis, a pastor and executive editor of Desiring God, says, “Worshipping Jesus together may be the single most important thing we do. It plays an indispensable role in rekindling our spiritual fire and keeping it burning. Corporate worship brings together God’s word, prayer, and fellowship, and so makes for the greatest of God’s ongoing grace in the Christian life.”  Ken Blackwell, Townhall