HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!

Today Lois & I are celebrating the 50th anniversary of our first date. We were both attending St. Paul's College High in Concordia, MO. She had been elected to the high school homecoming court but needed an escort. My sister--thanks, Carolyn--convinced her to ask me. Carolyn told her that I couldn't say no. The predictable happened. Only later did I find out that I had to rent a tux. Lois was elected High School Princess, & the rest is history. Fifty years of dating bliss!

We celebrated by going to the Black Hills several weeks ago. We also went out to eat at Jerry's Hilltop Cafe, about 20 miles north of Norfolk, last night, for their world-famous Friday night fish fry. Sadly, we got there & it was closed, so we settled for Whiskey Creek. We did treat ourselves to mango margaritas.

Lois got me a set of headphones for my iPad, so she doesn't have to listen to me play YouTube videos. I got her a nice card. (I guess the earphones were a present for her, too.)

HUSKER MANIA

There is no joy in Huskerland. Unless you live in Nebraska, you probably don't understand our love for Nebraska football. We were supposed to play Wisconsin today. They cancelled, due to COVID concerns. Since their 1st string QB is out with an injury, & their 2nd & 3rd string QB's & head coach are out with COVID, there is some understandable suspicion about this decision. So Nebraska lined up a game with Tennessee Chattanooga but had to ask permission from the Big 10, since a decision had been made not to allow games with non-conference opponent. The Big 10 COP predictably refused to honor this request, so Nebraska fans are REALLY, REALLY ticked. There is renewed talk of Nebraska leaving the Big 10 & rejoining the Big 12. Just thought you'd like to know.

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

"No matter what happens, God is sovereign. The God who gave us Barack Obama and Donald Trump could choose Biden or Trump. God's will be done. The God who brought bread from Heaven and water from rocks and raised you from the dust of the Earth and stitched you together in your mother's womb is going to still be on His throne ruling the universe the day after the election. Too many of you are convinced the country is going to hell in a handbasket if your guy does not win. Well, I have read the end of the book, and I don't mean this to be a spoiler alert, but everybody is going to hell without a handbasket, except for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ, not a politician or a political party. 

"So calm down. Yes, you have a civic obligation to vote & participate in the process. But God has a plan & is sovereign & is in charge, & His will be done, not yours. So, calm, & trust in Him. Politicians are going to disappoint you every time."  Erick Erickson, Townhall, 10/30 

I have a prediction. If Biden wins, we'll find out right away, & there won't be any riots. If Trump wins, we won't find out for weeks, & there will be riots.

"Chelsea Handler patrols polling places to make sure no Black people are voting for Trump."  Babylon Bee

"Democrats hand out extra ballots to trick-or-treaters."  Ditto

TRENDING

"Exorcisms:  increasingly frequent."  Drudge Report

"Turkey farmers in limbo as Americans scale back Thanksgiving."  Ditto We're still going to have a turkey with all the trimmings.

WAYWARD TORTOISE IS BACK HOME

"A 200-lb tortoise named Sparkplug that escaped from a pen in Alabama is back home after a journey across two counties & one soybean field. Sparkplug, a 60-yr-old African spurred tortoise that lived in an enclosure in Etowah County (AL), pushed its way out of the fenced pen last week. A motorist who spotted the animal on the side of the road took it to his 200-acre spread in Marshall County, owner Ty Harris said. Harris found out what had happened after using social media to spread the word about Sparkplug, but there was still the matter of finding the tortoise on the land where he'd been released. A big, roaming tortoise leaves tracks, & area farmers were able to see where Sparkplug had plowed through soybean fields. The man who initially released Sparkplug into the wild found the tortoise & returned it to Harris on Saturday."  Norfolk Daily News, 10/29

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* courtesy of Reader's Digest, Oct. 2020

"My neighbor was working in his yard when a car came crashing through his hedge & ended up on his front lawn. He rushed to help the driver, an elderly lady. 'You appear a bit old to be driving,' he said. 'I am!' she replied proudly. 'I'm so old that I don't even need a license anymore.' 'Really?' he asked skeptically. 'And how did you manage that?' 'The last time I went to my doctor,' she explained, 'he asked to see my license. Then he said, 'You won't be needing this anymore,' cut it up, & threw it away. So I thanked him & drove home!'"

"My friend decided to walk to the edge of the earth to prove that it's flat. He came around eventually."

 

It's 8:00a. I'm killing time, waiting for the sprinkler guys to show up & shut down our sprinklers for the season. P.S. Our snow is mostly gone, & it's supposed to get a little warmer.

WHAT I'M READING

* I'm a newspaper junkie. We subscribe to two newspapers:  the Omaha World Herald & the Norfolk Daily News, which is the best newspaper for a city our size that I've ever seen.

* I finished reading "The Frozen Hours, A Novel of the Korean War," by Jeff Shaara. I recently finished another novel by him about the Battle of Shiloh.

* Last night I started reading "1858:  Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, & the War They Failed to See," by Bruce Chadwick. I read the first chapter. It looks promising.

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

As much as I'm dreading the outcome of the election, I'm looking forward to--I think--the election being over & done with. I'm afraid that if Trump gets re-elected, there will be riots. If Biden & the Democrats win, heaven help us.

TRENDING

> "Americans renouncing citizenship up 234%."  Drudge Report

> "More & more escape:  buyers seeking open-space fuel housing boom in West."  Ditto

> "Walmart pulls guns off shelves as precaution."  Ditto

> "STUDY:  Optimism prevents memory decline."  I had a comment to make, but I can't remember what it was.

> "Cathedral hosts memorial service for 'enormously popular' stray cat."  Ditto

> "Girl Scouts introduce 'Peaceful Protests' badge for girls who throw their first Molotov cocktail." Babylon Bee

> "Apostle Peter accused of holding super spread event on day of Pentecost."  Ditto

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE . . . CALIFORNIA

> "San Fran's once-vibrant downtown empty."  Drudge

 GOD IS GOD

"God is God and that human autonomy must be recognized to lie somewhere beneath God's sovereignty. That is to say, whereas a human being cannot rightfully determine the length of time allotted for another in this world, the Creator has the sovereign prerogative to number our days—a fact we implicitly recognize whenever we accuse others of "playing God." Moreover, without a morally perfect Being responsible for the creation of the universe, we have no grounds for recognizing any act as immoral, so any such pronouncements must be made on the basis of God's moral nature and commands . . . 

"God, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, is worthy of all our devotion and love. We must also remember that God executes perfect justice, as both the Old as well as the New Testaments demonstrate. Not only is the innocent, sinless Son of God sacrificed for the sake of humanity, but the just reward of eternal separation from God incessantly sought by those who reject God is also affirmed in the New Testament. Until the Spirit and truth of the gospel strips us of all our fleeting fortitude, presenting us before God bereft of any hope outside his mercy and grace, we will never lack excuses for resisting Him."  J.M. Njoroge, Slice of Infinity

PRAYER

"Praying means to stop expecting from God that same small-mindedness which you discover in yourself. To pray is to walk in the full light of God, & to say simply, without holding back, 'I am man & You are God.'"  Henri Nouwen, Men's Devotional Bible

THE SPIRIT

"The Spirit brings about a different state of affairs:  The Spirit creates genuine Christ-like, sacrificial love, which brings joy  patience, hope & kindness, & in which we bear each other's burdens. This is what the Spirit is already doing. We don't have to wait. In Christ, we already bear this fruit."  Rev. Andrew Das, The Lutheran Witness, Oct. 2020

SNOW, TEMPERATURE RECORDS BROKEN

"The weekend's preview of winter weather resulted in three new climate records for Norfolk on SUN. According to the NWS office in Omaha/Valley, Norfolk received 4" of snow, topping the previous record of 2.7 inches set in 1997 . . . In addition to record snowfall, Norfolk also set temperature records for Oct. 25. The high temperature reached 27 degrees on SUN; the previous record was 35, set in 1957. The low temperature dipped to 17, meeting the previous record low set in 1942."  Norfolk Daily News  The NWS recorded 4.5" of snow in Woodland Park, which is just outside Norfolk. I also correctly predicted that we received 4" of snow.

GO LADY EAGLES!

The LHNE Lady Eagles VB team defeated Norfolk Catholic in the Class C2 subdistrict championship at LHNE last night, 3 sets to 1. It was the 3rd time the Lady Eagles have beaten the Lady Knights this year. LHNE advances to the District championship on THU. Even if they lose, they not only have enough power points to go to State, they will also undoubtedly be seeded #1. There's a good chance they will meet Norfolk Catholic again, who will probably be seeded #2.

GLOBAL WARMING

"Arctic blast brings -29 degree cold to Montreal" Drudge Report, 10/27

TRENDING

"Billionaire investor accused of blaring 'Gilligan's Island' theme song to torment neighbor" Ditto

"Dodgers win COVID season" Drudge, 10/28  SORRY, NICK.

"AOC calls for doubling the size of court by adding 3 judges" Babylon Bee

"Parents worried they'll have to raise their own children as government schools shut down" Ditto

 A PRAYER FOR PEACE

"O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, & all just works proceed, give to Your servants that peace which the world cannot give that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments & also that we, being defended by You, may pass our time in rest & quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen."  Lutheran Worship

ANOTHER PRAYER

Heavenly Father, bless us with the leaders we need. Save us from godless leaders. In Jesus' name. Amen.

LECKBAND TEMP CHALLENGE

Results based on Wunderground at 8:20a, CST.

(1) Norfolk, 25 (includes our daughter Rachel)

(2) Ventura, IA, 19 (our niece Christal)

(3) Beatrice, NE, 20 (my sister Carolyn)

(4) Lincoln, NE, 21 (my daughter Sarah)

(5) BALMIEST LECKBAND, Eagan, MN, 25 (my son Nathan)

It looks like we may have gotten 4-5" of snow from Saturday night into early this morning.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

We finished watching "Northern Rescue" on Netflix. Now we're watching "Heartland," which we are enjoying. It's about a horse ranch.

WHAT I'M READING

I finished reading, "A Blaze of Glory:  A Novel of the Battle of Shiloh," by Jeff Shaara. I've started reading "The Frozen Hours, A Novel of the Korean War," also by Jeff Shaara.

TRENDING

* "60M have already voted." Drudge Report

* "Man steals bulldozer, knocks down fence--to destroy Biden sign."  Ditto

* "Stressed freshmen missing quintessential college experience."  Ditto

* Democrats propose stopping coyotes by distracting them with decoy roadrunners."  Babylon Bee

* "Biden:  'Trump will be finished as soon as we have the debates.'"  Ditto

* "Intelligence experts concerned media may tamper with election by asking Biden questions."  Ditto

TURNING OUR THOUGHTS TO GOD

"Everyone has noticed how hard it is to turn our thoughts to God when everything is going well with us . . . Our as a friend of mine said, 'We regard God as an airman regards his parachute; it's there for emergencies but he hopes he'll never have to us it.'"  C.S. Lewis, Men' Devotional Bible

THE CERTAIN GOSPEL

"Christian certainty is not found in persons, feelings, sentiments, reason, positions, human actions, laws, social arrangements or even the ten Commandments. These all must serve the Gospel. They remain in their own created domain, functioning as God intended them to function.They have no claim on the Christian conscience. And they certainly were not intended to--nor in fact have any right to--be the source of certainty in our relationship with Almighty God, Father, Son & Holy Spirit. As soon as they make any claim for or against our eternal salvation, they must be put back in their place, even ignored. Why?

"St. Paul gets to the crux of the matter at Galatians 2:16:  'A person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.' On this verse, Luther commented, 'A Christian is not someone who has no sin or feels no sin; he is someone to whom, because of his faith in Christ, God does not impute his sin.' Luther continued, 'Th first step in Christianity is the preaching of repentance & the knowledge of oneself. The second step is this:  If you want to be saved, your salvation does not come from works; but God has sent His only Son into the world that we might live through Him. He was crucified & died for you & bore your sins in His own body.'"  Rev. Matthew Harrison, The Lutheran Witness, Oct. 2020

HOPE

"The three prongs of Christian life are faith, hope, and love. It is easy to emphasize faith and love whilst ignoring or neglecting hope. Yet hope is essential and unyielding. As the writer of Hebrews proclaimed, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf." Christian hope is infectious; it is real, it is secure, and it is a valuable signal to a world full of shallow hopes or no hope." Stuart McAllister, Slice of Infinity 

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE . . . IOWA

"Shrimp raised in an old Iowa mall. A new business has taken up residence at the old factory outlet mall in Story Cit, & its mission may surprise you. Midland Co. is a seafood company using sustainable environmentally friendly methods to raise shrimp for Midwestern customers."  Norfolk Daily News, 10/15

CRIMINAL MINDS

"Nose bitten off. A Dubuque man faces charges after police say he bit off th nose of another man during a fight. Blayre Ward, 24, of Dubuque, was arrested just after midnight Saturday on suspicion of willful injury, assault causing injury harassment, & other counts . . . "  Norfolk Daily News, 10/20

"Man wearing Burger King crown yells N-word on Jet Blue Flight" Drudge Report

DIET SOFT DRINKS

"TaB, original diet soft drink, gos own the drain. Coca Cola Co. will no longer produce TaB, its original diet soft drink." Omaha World Herald, 10/17  Comment:  I never drank TaB. In fact, even though I drank Diet Pepsi for awhile, I never liked the taste of diet soft drinks. I am philosophically opposed to them.

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

"Thousands of witches to cast 'spell' on Trump for Halloween" Drudge Report

"Americans frantically buying military gear before election" Ditto

"With mic muted, Trump corrects Biden with tweets" Babylon Bee

"Biden aides forced to use the spray bottle again" Ditto

"World turns to Christianity after learning there are no politics in heaven" Ditto

TRENDING

* "Narrow-minded, single-issue Israelite won't shut up about opposing Baal worship" Babylon Bee

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING

"The mayor from Jaws is still the mayor in Jaws 2. It is so important to vote in your local elections" Reader's Digest, 9/20

THE SAGA CONTINUES

Even after two epidural & one facet injections, my neck continues to plague me. Sometimes it hurts so much that I have trouble holding up my neck. So, I saw the neurosurgeon again last THU. He gave me two options. (1) Physical therapy for 4 weeks.(2) Surgery. This would involve fusing two vertebrae together that are slipping. However, there is no guarantee that this procedure would work, & there are some pretty serious, possible complications. I chose the PT.

SPIRITUAL LIFE

"Perhaps this knowledge can give new insight into his words: I am the vine; you are the branches...Remain in me, and I will remain in you...no branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine...remain in my love...I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.(3) The spiritual life, like our development as human beings, is about the process. Just as in farming, much of that process involves watching and waiting, tilling and cultivating the land, even getting our hands dirty or suffering the wounds inflicted by thorn or insect. There are no short cuts for a bountiful harvest." Margaret Manning Shull, Slice of Infinity

A GOD OF LOVE & FORGIVENESS

"Observations from the Old Testament should be enough to convince us that God is a God of love & forgiveness. He desires to forgive, not because He is under some constraint." Charles Stanley, Men's Devotional Bible

 ROAD TRIP FINIS

Our trip back yesterday was uneventful, except the temperature dropped to 37 at several points. (The forecast high was 51.) We didn't have time to stop at Wall Drug, so I didn't get my 5 cent coffee & buffalo burger. We also didn't have time to do Badlands. I was just there last month on the WJAG bus tour of the Black Hills. Lois & I were there last year on our trip back from Glacier.

It was a great vacation. Here are some highlights.

* Best meal:  hibachi steak & lobster from Fuji Japanese Steakhouse.

* 2nd best meal:  charcuterie board from Prairieberry Winery.

* Best wine:  Pumpkin Bog, which we sampled at Prairieberry Winery near Keystone.

* Best treat:  Dark Chocolate Cookie & Chocolate Pecan Fudge, which we bought in Keystone.

* Best drive:  Custer State Park Wildlife Loop & the road through the Black Hills National Forest on the way to & back from Custer.

* 2nd best drive:  The Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway.

* Best mixed drink:  The bloody mary I had at Sliders Bar & Grill, the restaurant attached to our hotel.

* Most unique weather:  Temperatures in the 20s & snow on several days.

MORE ROAD TRIIPS?

Lois & I are planning a trip to San Antonio with David & Carmen in early January; also a trip to Minnesota to visit Nathan, Laura, Calvin & Claire in January.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

Northern Rescue on Netflix.

WHAT I'M READING

> "Ernie's War:  The Best of Ernie Pyle's World War II Dispatches." If you enjoy books about WW II, it's a must read. It's a unique perspective of the war.

> Now I'm reading "A Blaze of Glory:  A Novel of the Battle of Shiloh," by Jeff Shaara.

CHURCH GOES UP IN FLAMES AFTER ATTEMPT TO SMOKE OUT WILD ANIMALS GOES AWRY

"A rural church in east-central Iowa has been destroyed in a fire sparked by an attempt to smoke out a wild animal that had gotten inside, firefighters said . . . It took seven fire crews & several hours to fully extinguish the blaze, fire officials said. The church was established in 1867 . . . "  Omaha World Herald, 10/15

OUR BROTHER'S KEEPER

"For, while man is a sinner, God has implanted within each of us a conscience, & with it we become responsible for our own actions & chargeable with the responsibility to do mercy, seek justice & walk humbly before our God. We cannot escape the fact that we are our brother's keeper."  John B. Anderson, Men's Devotional Bible

OUR FOCUS

"There are many things you could be anxious & worried about--race relations, politics, pandemics & so much more. Only when we sit at the feet of Jesus, focus on Him & hear His Word can we get the right perspective. We only learn to love our neighbor because Christ loved us (1 John 4:13-21). We trust not in the legs of man (Psalm 147:10) or the power of princes (Psalm 118:9; 146:3) because we fear, love & trust in God above all things. With our eyes thus focused on Jesus & our ears tuned to His Word, we can live in true peace, free from anxiety & trouble, regardless of the chaos around us. Jesus is the good portion, & He will not be taken from you."  Rv. Roy Askins, The Lutheran Witness, Aug. 2020

THE GREAT COMMISSION

"Whenever we think about sharing the gospel, two issues immediately present themselves. The first has to do with content: What is it that needs to be said? The second has to do with communication: How will I say it? Sometimes we also talk about motivation: Why should I say anything at all? The last question becomes increasingly relevant as more and more Christians fear that evangelism is not worth losing one’s friends. All of these issues are important. All of them must be addressed. For the words of the Great Commission are clear: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."(1)

"However, there is one part of sharing the gospel that we rarely hear about. The command to go and make disciples was given to us by a person, by Christ himself. The gospel was not given to us based on our ability to share it. In fact, the Great Commission is sandwiched between two such reminders. Before Jesus tells us to go, he says, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (28:18). And then after he tells us to go he powerfully reminds us, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (28:20). Thus, communicating the gospel is first about remembering the authority, power, and presence of the one who calls us to speak . . . 

"Maybe the questions we often ask about evangelism call for a shift in focus. Communicating the gospel as we go about our lives is a command that we have been given. But it is a command given by the one who longs most that the world will hear. It is God who speaks, God who convicts, and God who makes disciples of broken lives. Our gospel has come to us not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with deep conviction. Thus, we do well to ask: Who is it we dare and yet long to speak of? How are we describing this God who is like no other? And most significantly, who are we relying on to do so." Michael Ramsden is President of RZIM.

OUR LAWN

We water our lawn a lot, plus use a lawn service. This makes me feel guilty, but we live in a neighborhood of immaculate lawns. Without tons of water & chemicals & fertilizer, our lawn would stick out like a sore thumb. I guess you could say that I'm the victim of peer pressure.

HEADACHES

I haven't had a cluster headache now for quite some time. You might remember that earlier this year I had a nasty cluster of clusters. I credit a change in medications & a course of steroids, & divine intervention.

ROAD TRIP

Lois & I leave tomorrow for a trip to the Black Hills. We're staying in Rapid City. Our plan is to visit Custer State Park, Jewel Cave National Monument (which we've never been to), the Crazy Horse Memorial (which we've never been to), & Devil's Tower (which we visited quite a few years ago. We hope to hike a lot. It will depend a lot on my neck, which has really been bothering me a lot. I see a neurosurgeon next THU.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

After the current season of Call the Midwife ended abruptly, we tried out MI5. We quit after 2 episodes. It was too graphic & violent for us. We switched to Virgin River, which we are enjoying a lot.

WHAT I'M READING

I finished reading "OperationVengeance," an account of Americans shooting down Admiral Yamamoto's plane in WW II. It was called "Operation Vengeance," because Yamamoto was the originator of plans to attack Pearl Harbor. Now I'm reading "Ernie's War--The Best of Ernie Pyle's World War II Dispatches.

CRIMINAL MINDS

"Backyard nudity is a no-no, police tell west Omahan. Omaha police had to remind a west Omaha man this weekend that being nude in his backyard violates decency standards--especially in view of neighborhood children."  Omaha World Herald, 10!13

VISITOR NOT WELCOME

"Police in southern Germany say a woman got a shock while airing out her home when a 10-inch Chinese mitten crab scurried in through the open door."  Norfolk Daily News, 10/12

SCOTUS

* Dems invite kid dressed as street orphan to ask ACB why she is taking away his health care" Babylon Bee

* Senator Hirono demands ACB be weighed against a duck to see if she's a witch" Ditto

* Democrats hiss in terror as ACB pulls out crucifix" Ditto

TRENDING

> "L.A. Lakers hold victory parade in Beijing" Babylon Bee

> "Trust in science wanes, another casualty of pandemic" Drudge Report, 10/12

> "10 million have already voted"  Drudge, 10/3 Comment:  But we have nothing to worry about voter fraud, right? Right??

> "Stir-crazy 'passengers' gobble up tickets to dine in parked jets" Drudge, 10/3

> "People turn to hugging cows for therapy" Ditto

> "Divorce surges amid pandemic" Ditto

> "Wearable tattoo:  sensors imprinted directly onto skin" Ditto

> Democrat proposing to his girlfriends says he won't reveal possible on adultery until after the wedding" Babylon Bee

"Fisher-Price releases 'My First Peaceful Protest' playset with house you can actually burn down" Ditto

 A PRAYER

"Bestow Your grace on all nations of the earth. Bless especially our country & its inhabitants & all who are in authority. Let Your glory dwell in our land that mercy & truth, righteousness & peace may everywhere abound. We commend to You the care of all our schools & ask You to grant that our children may grow in useful knowledge & Christian virtue & bring forth wholesome fruits of life. Amen."  Lutheran Worship

BREAD

"Subway bread isn't bread, Irish court says Ireland's Supreme Court has ruled that bread sold by the fast food chain Subway contains so much sugar that it cannot be legally defined as bread."  Norfolk Daily News, 10/3

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

Or what we're NOT watching. Last night we watched the last episode of this season's Call the Midwife. It ended much too soon for our liking. We watched the movie Greater last night. I highly recommend it. Now we plan to start watching It' Just Us. My cousin Carmen recommended it.

FACEBOOK

I am continuing to hide comments on Facebook that I find particularly inane. I find it highly satisfying.

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* compliments of Reader's Digest, Oct. 2020

> "As desserts go, you can't beat cobbler. Tastes good, makes shoes."

> "Bought quick oats, then my roommate showed up with instant oats. I will not be humiliated; I must find an even sooner oat."

TRENDING

* "NFL to flag teams for mask violations" Drudge Report

* "Trump & Biden agree to a socially distanced debate using soup can telephones" . Babylon Bee

* "Biden insists he won't reveal his position on hair-sniffing until after election" Ditto 

 THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE . . . FLORIDA

* "'Beast of snake': Huge python caught in Everglades could set new record" Drudge Report, 10/8

* "Man attacked by shark while swimming off Miami Beach"  Ditto, 10/9

PHILLY

* "1,500 birds flew into Philly skyscrapers one day last week" Ditto

TRENDING

* "Therapist warns 'Election Stress Disorder' spreading" Drudge, 10/8

* "Joe Biden congratulates Michelle Obama on debate performance" Babylon Bee

* "Kamala Harris' rating plummets as people realize they'd have to listen to her voice for next 4 years" Ditto

* "Florida recount finally wraps up, Al Gore declared President" Ditto

* "Cracker Jack change to more politically correct 'Caucasian Jack'" Ditto

CORONAVIRUS

"Florida teen arrested for not wearing mask at school. The lawyer for the family of a 16-year-old boy who was arrested last month after refusing to wear a mask at a central Florida high school, called the incident 'government abuse' of a teen suffering from panic attacks" Norfolk Daily News, 10/7

CRIMINAL MINDS

"Ex-jail employees charged for playing 'Baby Shark' on repeat. Two former Oklahoma jail employees & their supervisor face misdemeanor cruelty charges after investigators found they forced inmates to stand handcuffed for hours & listen to the children's song 'Baby Shark' on repeat. . . "  NDN, 10/7

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

After finishing 7 seasons of Without a Trace, we started watching Call the Midwife. Last Wednesday's episode was especially sad. A newborn baby was born with a fatal heart defect & died within a few days after birth. It reminded us of our baby boy born who was stillborn.

WHAT WE'RE EATING

Last night Lois made her world famous chicken Alfredo, with mushrooms & peppers. Tonight we plan on picking up a gourmet vegetarian pizza from Papa Murphy's.

WHAT I'M READING

I just finished reading "The Right Side of History" by Ben Shapiro." Now I'm reading "Operation Vengeance:  The Astonishing Aerial Ambush that Changed World War II."  It's about the shooting down of Admiral Yamamoto's plane.

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* courtesy of Reader's Digest, Oct. 2020

"If you don't have a panini press, just heat up your corduroys & sit on your sandwich."

"If smoking is so bad, why does it cure salmon?"

WHERE IS GOD?

"God has indeed been revealed plainly in the reality of a redemptive plan and action. The gospel is described as a mystery now made known. Many Christians can recall moments, or even seasons spanning years, where God has been plainly and clearly at work and life has been saturated with the presence and grace of Father, Son, and Spirit. Faith isn't a blind faith, but a response to the evidence. It is based on real events that can be investigated. A leap in the dark has never been the offer, as it is about stepping into the light."  Tom Price, Slice of Infinity

THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS

"There is only one thing that matters. That is whether you love Jesus now & believe that He saved you by dying for you on the cross."  Gerdid Oosterveen, Men's Devotional Bible

A LUTHERAN PERSPECTIVE

"Your Lutheran perspective is like a vista. You have doubtless seen them as you drive down the road; you pull over, hike up a small hill & watch the countryside open up before you. You get a better perspective on the situation. You are not looking through something; you are looking at something. Lutherans look to Jesus. Do not look at the news & chaos through Jesus. Rather, look at Jesus only (Matt. 17:8). Look & listen to the one thing necessary--Jesus Christ. Let us sit with Mary at the feet of Jesus, not worrying & fearful, anxious over the trials & tribulations of days yet to come, but confident & certain in the One who has already come & given His life for us."  Roy S. Askins, the Lutheran Witness, Aug. 2020

CHRIST CARES

"Only Christ, my Friend, could possibly care enough to draw me to Himself, to bring me back gently to my Father, to patiently lay dow His life for me that I might come to know Him."  W. Phillip Keller, Men's Devotional Bible

INFORMED, NOT ANGRY

" . . . a publication that shares your biases does not mean that it deserves your trust. As conservatives have begun to see 'mainstream' news outlets as less reliable, a cottage industry of news charlatans & snake-oil salesmen has sprung up to monetize that distrust. Any outlet that tries to convince you it is the sole voice of truth should be approached with extreme caution.

"In all of this, strive to achieve two things. First, supply yourself with a media diet that will help you stay generally abreast of current events. That helps you to exercise your vocation as an American citizen. Second, bear in mind that this is only a secondary vocation. Our first loyalty belongs not to any political or media team but to Christ & His church . . . 

"The biggest problem with the news media is not political bias, unreliable facts or overly sensationalized news. The biggest problem is its view of the world:  A ceaseless, all-encompassing, life-or-death struggle between radically opposed political forces. From The New York Times to Fox News to the internet's fringiest blogs, they tempt the reader o dive into that struggle a though is the most important fight there is.

"As children of God, we know the ultimate struggle is not between flesh & blood (Eph. 6:12). The ultimate struggle does not occur between the weather report & the next sitcom but against the 'spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.' While the fights among political parties & media outlets continue interminably, Christ has already won the final struggle against the devil. And regardless of the news cycle, Christ gives this victory to you.

"In light of this victory your task is straightforward:  Stay abreast of the political struggle while rejecting its self-proclaimed status as the ultimate struggle. To exist in this tension is not easy. But it is part of the tension Christ calls us to endure in our daily lives:  to forsake the world while living in it, to be as wise as serpents without ceasing to be innocent as doves."  Andrew Egger, The Lutheran Witness, Aug. 2020

WHAT I'M WATCHING

I've watched two more John Wayne movies, while I wait for Lois to get back home. On WED I watched Rio Lobo. Last night I watched Maclintock, another John Wayne movie (not one of his better movies). In continuing the John Wayne theme, tonight I plan to watch Big Jake

TRENDING

* "Man knifed cousin during argument over almond milk" Drudge Report, 10/1

* "Scientists warn cats spread Covid" Ditto

* "Army rolls out new weapon:  strategic napping" Ditto

* "67-year-old woman takes down intruder: 'I had cane against throat'"  Ditto

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Courtesy of Reader's Digest, July/Aug 2020

"A scientist walks into a pharmacy & says, 'Give me some prepared tablets of acetylsalicyclic acid.' 'Do you mean aspiring?' asks the pharmacist. 'The scientist slaps his forehead. 'That's it! I can never remember the name.'"

RESOLUTIONS UPDATE

* Write a 365-day devotion book. Done. I had hoped to publish it, but there are too many complications. It would be very expensive to self-publish. Since I used quotations from the NIV, which is copyrighted, I would need to get permission from the editors.

* Average one road trip per month. With my trip to the Black Hills last month, & Lois' trip to Sister Bash in California, we have achieved this goal. We have a trip planned for Rapid City later this month, & we may take a trip over the Christmas holiday.

* Add to our National Park & bucket list. Since our Alaskan cruise got cancelled, & we would have visited Denali & Glacier Bay National Parks, this resolution won't be accomplished.

* Lose at least 10 lbs. I regressed in September. I have 7 lbs to go. I'm going to have to pick it up during these last 3 months of the year.

* Work out t least 3X per week. I'm not getting this done.

* No politics in my Mental Health MON blog. There were some early missteps, but I've done much better. 

* Receive a DNA report from Ancestry.com. Still staring at the kit on the dining room table.

* Cut back on coffee. My goal was no more than 2 cups of coffee per day, & no coffee after noon. I've done pretty well.

REHAB

I have COPD. I just "graduated from pulmonology rehab on WED. Now I'll start one month of rehab 2X per week for a month.

FISH

I plan on going to Jerry's Hilltop Cafe--located about 20 miles north of Norfolk--tonight. They are known for their FRI night fish fry. It's been on my personal bucket list for some time.

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

I didn't watch the presidential debate on TUE night, because I don't have cable. I have read reactions to the debate. The consensus seems to be that both candidates were disgraceful. I am so sick of politics that I hardly read any partisan columnists any more, even my favorite ones. Also, I've taken to hiding Facebook posts from those who make inane comments. I don't bother responding most of the time. It makes me feel better. I can hardly wait for this campaign to be over. My prayer is that God's people show up & vote their consciences. I pray that God would bless us with the leaders that we need.

 A PRAYER

"Grant to our president success against our enemies. Grant him wisdom & understanding to administer his duties & office in peace & happiness. Grant to all elected & appointed leaders good counsel & the will & ability to preserve this land & this people in tranquility & justice. Especially aid & guide the governor of this state,  under whose protection You have sheltered us, that being protected against all harm, the administration may be blessed & we can live free from evil & disloyal people. Grant grace to all the people to serve our leaders loyally & obediently. Grant to all of us diligence in our vocation & charity in our dealings with one another. Amen.  Lutheran Prayer Book

TRYING TO BE FAITHFUL

"You alone, Lord, can reach out to me & save me. You alone. I can only keep trying to be faithful, even though I feel faithless most of the time. What else can I do but keeping praying to You, even when I feel dark . . . "  Henri Nouwen, Men's Devotional Bible

VOTING

"When you cast your ballot, consider the following triage:  First, your overriding responsibility is to your nearest neighbor who has the most acute need. The defenseless neighbor faced with imminent death has a more pressing need for justice than the one who may lose access to a favorite meadow where he likes to stroll. Second, the protection of human life outweighs the enhancement of human life. Third people always rank ahead of animals; & fourth, the stuff we accumulate & want to keep always ranks last. Fifth, & finally, respect for each human person, or basic fairness, ranks ahea of any alleged right to keep what is 'rightfully yours.' Christians know that what they have belongs to God, & every one of their nearly 8 billion neighbors is someone for whom Christ died--someone to whom we owe justice in the temporal realm & someone to whom we owe the proclamation of the Gospel in the spiritual realm . . . 

"There is something sacred about voting--it is a holy task given to you by God & done for the sake of your neighbor. Cast your ballot wisely, selflessly & confidently. Seek God's justice for your neighbor & God's grace for you as you follow your Lord into the thick of a messy & broken world that He is eager to save."  Joel Biermann, The Lutheran Witness, Aug. 2020