ABORTION

One of my 2021 resolutions was to avoid useless arguments on Facebook. For the most part, I have kept this resolution with the exception of a few slip-ups. One topic that I can't let go is abortion. I realize that posts like this are like preaching to the choir. They will most likely not change the minds of those who are already pro-life or pro-abortion, but I still feel an obligation to speak the truth in love.

Since Roe v. Wade became the law of the land in 1973, million of unborn children have been sacrificed on the altar of the right to choose. One of my constant prayers is for God to forgive our nation for the holocaust that has been perpetuated. 

Those who are pro-abortion can't deny the truth of biology. The unborn baby is human. And it has nothing to do with viability. Furthermore, it is a body separate from the body of the mother. 

I think Scripture backs this up. "Thou shalt not murder" is one of the  Ten Commandments. What else is killing an unborn baby besides the unjust ending of a life that has been created by God? In Matt. 19:14, "Jesus said, 'Suffer little children, & forbid them not, to come unto Me:  for such is the kingdom of heaven.'" Certainly unborn babies fall under the definition of "little children." And when on the Last Day Jesus enumerates the acts of charity that are practiced by Christians, He says, "Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me." (Matt. 25:40) Again, certainly unborn children fall under the definition of "the least of these My brothers."

One of the fallacies promoted by those who advocate abortion is that pro-life people only care about babies until they are born. Nothing could be further from the truth. We reach out to those who experience unplanned pregnancies & provide relief for these families & their children. Many pro-lifers become foster parents. Many seek to adopt so-called "unwanted" children, but, due to the tragedy of abortion. there are far too few babies to meet the needs of those seeking to adopt.

Another argument of those who favor abortion rights is that it would be cruel to bring unwanted children into a world that would likely cause them hardship & suffering, perhaps even abuse. Of course these are realities, but I wonder what an unborn baby would choose. There are many, many children born into poverty who not only survive but flourish.

As I was practicing my daily quiet time this morning, two of my devotions stood out for me, because I think they speak to the need for us to love the unborn & to love those who are experiencing crisis pregnancies. Here they are. I hope they are meaningful for you, too.

SPEAK OUT

"Speak out for the one who cannot speak, for the rights of those who are doomed. Speak out, judge fairly, defend the rights of oppressed & needy people." (Prov. 31:8-9)

"When you see someone who is being treated badly, you have to stand up for them. As a God Guy you can't sit quietly by while other people suffer. You have to say something or do something to change what's happening. The world is full of oppressed & needy people who need the children of God to stand up for them & to take on their case. You might feel powerless & do not know where to start, but all you have to do is to look around you." Michael DiMarco, Devotions for the God Guy

DOING GOOD

"We receive Christ not only as a gift by faith but also as an example through love toward our neighbor, to whom we are to give service & do good as Christ does to us . . . A good work is good because it is useful & benefits & helps the one for whom it is done. Why else should it be called good? . . . Christ has done & accomplished everything for you, paid for your sins, secured grace, life, & salvation. Be content with Him, & only think how you can bring Him more & more into yourself & strengthen this faith. Therefore, direct all you can do & your whole life to this end:  that it be good. It is good when it is useful to other people & not to yourself. You don't need it, since Christ has done & given for you all that you might seek & desire for yourself, here & hereafter, whether it be forgiveness of sins, merit of salvation, or whatever it may be called." A Year in the Gospel with Martin Luther

DEATH & RESURRECTION

"Death isn't the end that we fear it is. Death is not everlasting--life is everlasting! Christians believe in the resurrection of the dead. And the resurrection is not some fairy tale or pious thought. Resurrection is a reality grounded in the fact that Jesus rose from the grave. putting an end to death. And just as Jesus was raised, God promises to raise us someday as well. Because of the resurrection, we do not have to fear of death or any of the ways it pops up in this world." Matthew Richard, Minute Messages:  Gospel-Filled Devotions for Every Occasion

BANISHING CHRIST FROM CHRISTMAS

"For almost 30 years, a group called Wreaths Across America has honored America’s military dead by voluntarily placing wreaths at their graves. But just in time for Christmas this year, a secularist legal group raised a stink about this attempt to honor the memory of America’s fallen. And they’ve also (temporarily) shut down Bible verses on military dog-tags. They did this because of their false, but popular, misreading of the First Amendment." Jerry Newcombe, Townhall

SPIRITUAL REVIVAL

"These past few years have been challenging, hard and, with the influx of the omicron variant this Christmas season, seemingly never-ending. It's been nearly two years since we began what was to have been a two-week pause to stop COVID-19. Since then, we've endured lockdowns, masking, sickness, death, fear, overwork, underwork, government stimulus, vaccine creation, the fast-tracking of new antiviral technology, work from home, school closures, supply-chain snafus, tight political elections, protests and rapidly changing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just to name a few items. The list is ever-exhausting.The one thing that is certain is that life's twists and turns can't always be predicted, and its pace is fast and getting faster. This is not going to change.

"We are mistrusting, disbelieving and disheartened. We have been told by both political parties that the other is evil, and that our party is right. Many of us have succumbed to cynicism and disillusionment.

"What have we learned? That when we expect the worst of others, that is often what we get. We all have grievances; we all have suffered losses; we all have experienced heartaches. If we try to pit our grievances against others, we will find ourselves in a losing battle. If we instead look for the better angels -- both within ourselves and, more importantly, within others -- possibly, just possibly, we will be able to see the light of God that shines in all of us and encourage it to shine even brighter, leading the next person to allow their light to shine as well.

"In 2022, let's look forward to a spiritual revival. One in which the goal is to help our neighbor, not by helping him realize how terrible he is as a person but by helping him realize what potential he has. That everyone has value; that everyone has a calling; and that our job on this earth is to help others see the light in themselves, as well as our light in ourselves. That is something to look forward to in the new year."  Jackie Gingrich Cushman, Townhall

PERSECUTION

Christians are being persecuted in America *

* Compliments of the Babylon Bee

> Sometimes people are mean on Twitter: It's horrible. Only Christians have to endure this treatment online. This is exactly what the early Christians must have felt like when they were burned alive!

> Starbucks still won't put "Merry Christmas" on their holiday cups:  Every morning when you pick up your double peppermint oat milk latte with extra sprinkles, you're assaulted by their godless heathen "holiday" message. Sad!

> One time a waitress got made when I tipped her with on of those fake $100 bill Gospel tracts:  Well, EXCUSE ME for trying to save your soul!

> Sometimes, the line at Chick-Fil-A are really long.

> They still haven't made an Oreo flavor that acknowledges our Christian beliefs:    We have a Lady Gaga Oreo & an LGBTQ+ rainbow Oreo, but no cookies with the Nicene Creed printed on them? We are exiles in this land.

> This week's church bulletin is folded a little crooked & it's bothering my OCD:  Someone needs to talk to Church Secretary Ethel Rutherford about this.

> They take Christian superheroes like Superman & make them gay:  Who do Christians have to look up to if not Superman?

> At least 3462 Christians, including 10 priests or pastors, were murdered in the first 200 days of 2021:  Oh wait--that was in Nigeria. Our bad.

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY REMEMBRANCE

Today would have been my mom's 93rd birthday. [Did I get my math right this time, Carolyn?] Here are a couple of my favorite memories. My brother Mark & I often tried to get her to laugh at the table, when she was drinking her iced tea. If we were successful, she would spit her ice out. Perhaps my greatest memory, however, was watching her play the organ & direct the choir at St. Paul's in Concordia. I was always very proud of her musical prowess. After her stroke, which rendered her unable to continue playing the organ & directing the choir, I think this was her greatest loss. I miss her.

A FUNERAL

We attended the funeral of Steve Stortz today at Christ Lutheran in Norfolk. He died on 12/19, from COVID-related complications. He served on the staff at Christ Lutheran School in Norfolk from 1986-2019, so Lois served alongside him for many years. He was her principal from 2008 to 2019, when he took at call to Iowa. [The year she retired.] His wife Charlene was our science teacher at Lutheran High Northeast during our first year of operation, 1997-98.

Funerals at LCMS churches rarely disappoint, & today was no exception. Steve's servanthood as a Commissioned Minister in the LCMS was commemorated, but the focus was on Jesus. We are comforted with the sure knowledge that He conquered death. There is a heaven, & there will be a joyful resurrection. The sermon especially focused on death & resurrection:  Christ's righteousness, not Steve's.

Funerals remind me of my own mortality. They also cause me to hearken back to the funerals of our niece Ashley, my father, & my mother, Lois' father & mother, & our grandparents. In the midst of grief, we have a sure hope of eternal life with Jesus.

We sang "Earth & All Stars," a hymn I want sung at my own funeral. These stanzas were a fitting proclamation of God's "marvelous things."

(St. 1) Earth & all stars! Loud rushing planet! Sing to the Lord a new song! Oh, victory! Loud shouting army! Sing to the Lord a new song! He has done marvelous things.I too will praise Him with a new song!

(St. 5) Classrooms & labs! Loud boiling test tubes! Sing to the Lord a new song! Athlete & band! Loud cheering people! Sing to the Lord a new song! He has done marvelous things. I too will praise Him with a new song!

Knowledge & truth! Loud sounding wisdom! Sing to the Lord a new song! Daughter & son! Loud praying members! Sing to the Lord a new song! He has done marvelous things. I too will praise Him with a new song!

Children of God, dying & rising, Sing to the Lord a new song! Heaven & earth, hosts everlasting, Sing to the Lord a new song! He has done marvelous things. I too will praise Him with a new song!

CHRISTMAS CORRESPONDENCE UPDATE

For those of you who have been anxiously awaiting my annual, epic, Christmas letter, hopefully you will not have to wait much longer. Although I finished our 2021 chronicle weeks ago, I have procrastinated, as usual, putting together everything & mailing it. Hopefully today or tomorrow.

HEADACHES

I did garner some sympathy when I posted about my cluster headaches. My neurologist did phone in a prescription for prednisone, but it's not ready yet. Hopefully I'll receive some relief soon.

WHAT I'M READING

I recently finished reading a biography of Martin Luther:  "Martin Luther - Renegade & Prophet," by Lyndal Roper. Very, very fascinating. I learned a lot that I didn't know. Now I'm reading "The War That Ended Peace - The Road to 1914," by Margaret MacMillan. It's a little cumbersome, but if you like history, like I do, it's probably worth your time.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

Our favorite CBS shows are on hiatus, so we've been watching "Deep Space 9" & "Chicago Med" on Netflix. We find that "Chicago Med" matches our experience in the emergency room. All the doctors & nurses look like celebrities. We also watched "The Chosen Christmas Movie" on PureFlix. I strongly recommended it for the songs by Christian musicians & the portrayal of Mary & Joseph's experience & Jesus' birth in Bethlehem.

THE ADVENT OF CHRIST

"For Christians, the Christmas season is a unique time of joy associated with the birth of the savior Jesus Christ, whose life, death and resurrection makes possible a personal and intimate relationship with God. Jesus was born a Jew, and his teachings were built on the foundation of the Torah and the Old Testament. Thus, Christians and Jews have much in common and share a natural mutual affinity. But what came from Christ also benefited and deeply affected people of diverse beliefs in every part of the world. 

"The fact is that Christ affected history with such impact that He split time in two, dividing all human activities and events into happening before His coming (called B.C.) or after His coming (called A.D.). No one else in all of human history did this. Christ had to have had a supernatural impact on the world for that to be accepted.

"History shows that Christianity and its Church have brought about more changes for the advancement and benefit of people than any other force or movement in history by an immeasurable factor. What is particularly surprising are the myriad achievements made by committed Christians, which non-believing secular-minded people also applaud . . . 

"Suffice it to say that life both at home and around the world would no doubt be qualitatively worse today if Christ had never been born and Christianity had not become the greatest spiritual force ever to inspire creative beauty and advance the care and development of people. Indeed, there is reason to sing “Joy to the World.” Scott Powell, Townhall

TURKEY TALES

The only downside about our Thanksgiving celebration was the size of our turkey. Through no fault of our shopper, the turkey was just enough to feed ourselves & our brood of kids & grandkids, so, no leftover turkey for sandwiches. Thankfully, Orphan Grain Train gave me a turkey for Christmas, which Lois prepared on Christmas Day. Since we didn't have to share it with anyone, there was plenty of leftovers for her world-famous turkey noodle soup & for turkey sandwiches. And, yes, I am that shallow.

HEADACHES

WARNING! Shameless plea for sympathy ahead! I suffer from cluster headaches, which are like migraines on steroids. They're called "cluster" headaches, because they tend to come in clusters. I usually get a cluster of clusters twice a year, & I've been getting 1 or 2 headaches every day for the past few weeks. Symptoms are always the same. They start with a pressure or twinge above my left eyeball. If I take medicine right away, they're usually gone within 20-30 minutes. If I don't, they get bad--really, really bad, as in the teeth on the left side of my mouth ache, my left eye waters, & it feels as if an ice pick is being shoved through my skull through my forehead. I just called the neurologist. Sadly, she is booked until April, but I'm hoping she'll prescribe a course of steroids, which often break the cycle. If they don't bring relief for my headaches, at least I'll be more buff.

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE . . . GREENLAND?

"STUDY:  Gene found in people from Greenland makes ice cream as healthy as broccoli." Drudge Report A reason to check out your DNA via ancestry.com.

YULETIDE NEWS

"Oh No! The ghost of Christmas future just showed up & he's wearing a full hazmat suit!" Babylon Bee

"With supply chain issues, families forced to settle for being thankful that God came to earth to save us." Babylon Bee

"Reminder:  Husbands, it's time to start Christmas shopping." Babylon Bee

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Compliments of Reader's Digest, Sept. 2021

"Why do football players only dance when good stuff happens? Just once I wanna see a QB theow an interception & do a sad, interpretative dance."

"'I ran a half marathon' sounds so much better than 'I quit halfway through a marathon.'" 

"You should be able to play defense at bowling."

TRUE PEACE

"The kind of peace Jesus brought was a personal reconciliation between God and man, not necessarily peace between man and man.  In fact, because of who Jesus claimed to be – the Christ, the Messiah, the one and only Son of God – it elevated conflict and division to biblical proportions between man and man, man and governments, man and learned culture, and between man and his most intimate relationships:  Family.   Some men, cultures, governments, and families can be deeply committed to things that are completely false, and they demand that you fall into line.  Or else.  Love them, then build boundaries.  God comes first . . . 

"Christians are peacemakers, but when you all but force them to defy God’s will, you’ve breached sacred territory.  Under the cover of equity and civil rights, wokeness pressures Christians to put other things first. Christians are instinctively law-abiding people.  But when you force them to obey laws that conflict with God’s immutable laws, don’t be shocked when a more muscular Christianity kicks in . . . 

"The Christmas message should remind us to do the same.  Drop the fear.  Something sacred is being destroyed in America.   With all the ruthless loss, suffering, and death that the woke crowd and their protectors have unleashed on good, hard-working, law-abiding people in this country, now is not the time for a misguided, milquetoast, misunderstood peace." Will Alexander, Townhall

CHRISTMAS TALES VIII

Every family develops its own Christmas traditions, like opening presents on Christmas Eve or choosing to open them on Christmas morning. With our own children, a family tradition involved traveling to visit family over the Christmas holidays. We lived in Lincoln, Nebraska, so we would set off to visit Lois' parents in Kansas, followed by a visit to my family in Concordia, MO. We also frequently visited David [Lois' brother] & Carmen [his wife, my cousin] & their kids over the holidays. During one infamous Christmas break, we all came down with pink eye, & had to receive prescription eye drops more than once. What a joy it was to pin Sarah down on the bed while we administered the drops.

RANSOMED

Isaiah 43:1-3a  "But now the Lord who created you, O Israel, says, 'Don't be afraid, for I have ransomed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine. When you go through deep waters & great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned . up--the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, your Savior, the Holy One of Israel." The Living Bible

DEATH

"Jesus did little preaching or teaching about death. He didn't see death as a roadblock to our relationship with God. Jesus emphasized life & its fulfillment. His own death was overcome by His victorious resurrection. Jesus didn't say much about what happened to people after they died, but He promised everlasting life to all who believed in Him." Philip Williams, Men's Devotion Bible

THE NATURE OF FAITH

"But it is the nature of faith that it does not judge or reason by what it sees or feels, but by what it hears. It clings to the Word alone, & not at all to sight or appearance . . . Thus it happens that whoever believes in Christ must perceive riches in poverty, honor in dishonor, joy in sorrow, life in death, & hold fast to them in that faith which clings to God's Word & expects this." A Year in the Gospels with Martin Luther  I find this especially relevant as we celebrate our Savior's birth. If we judged Jesus' birth by reason or by what we see or feel, we would reject Him as the Son of God & Savior of the world. Who would expect the Savior to be born in barn & placed in a feeding trough? He was born into poverty. Many would have considered His birth a dishonor--not at all worthy of God. Yet, as we consider the Christ Child, our faith is focused on a God who loved us so much that He was born a human baby.

FORGIVENESS

"In the world, everyone seems to love pointing fingers & casting blame, but they refuse to call anything sin--& so there is no forgiveness . . . The world is about condemnation unto damnation; the Church is about conviction unto forgiveness. The world seeks vengeance for a wrong; the Church seeks redemption from a wrong. So while the world continues to accuse & blame, Christians gather in the safe ark of the Church to drag our sins before the throne of grace so that we might be separated from guilt & disgrace--forgiven." Matthew Richard, Minute Messages

A SAVIOR IS BORN

"Good vs, evil, moral failure followed by redemption, forgiveness, unconditional love, sacrifice, equality, free will, liberty; these are concepts deeply ingrained in the human spirit regardless of a person’s religious beliefs.They are the themes of great novels and movies. Civilizations have been established on their principles—“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, the Pursuit of Happiness...”

"These are not concepts that evolved on their own, millennia after we supposedly crawled out of the primordial soup. They are what set us apart from the animals, what negate the law of the jungle, turning Neo-Darwinism’s "survival of the fittest” on its head . . . 

"Satan tried to silence the message and The Messenger in another garden—Gethsemane. Herod tried in Bethlehem when he ordered the slaughter of the innocents. The Romans and the Jews tried it on that dark day when the Son of God hung on a cross between Earth and Heaven.

“It is finished,” Jesus cried and all thought they had finally succeeded. But three days later, an empty tomb proved them wrong and changed history forever. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” Merry Christmas everybody." Gregory Rummo, Townhall, 12/25

A CHRISTMAS PRAYER

"O God, our Maker & Redeemer, who wonderfully created us & in the incarnation of Your Son yet more wondrously restored our human nature, grant that we may ever be alive in Him who made Himself to be like us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God now & forever. Amen." Collect for Christmas Day, Lutheran Worship

CHRISTMAS HYMNS

Now Sing We, Now Rejoice (LSB #386, Sts. 1 & 4)

Now sing we, now rejoice, Now raise to heav'n our voice; He from whom joy streameth Poor in a manger lies; Not so brightly beameth The sun in yonder skies. Thou my Savior art! Thou my Savior art!

Oh, where shall joy be found? Where but on heav'nly ground? Where the angels singing With all His saints unite, Sweetest praises bringing In heav'nly joy & light. Oh, that we were there! Oh, that we were there!

Joy to the World (LSB 387, St. 4)

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.

A Great & Mighty Wonder (LSB #383, St. 1)

A great & mighty wonder, A full & holy cure:  The virgin bears the infant With virgin honor pure! Proclaim the Savior's birth:  "To God on high be glory And peace to all the earth!"

What Child Is This? (LSB #370, St. 1)

What Child is this, who, laid to rest, On Mary's lap is sleeping Whom angels greet with anthems sweet While shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the king, Whom shepherds guard & angels sing; Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe the Son of Mary!

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (LSB #393, St. 1)

Infant holy, Infant lowly, For His bed a cattle stall; Oxen lowing, Little knowing Christ the Child is Lord of all. Swiftly winging, Angels singing, Bells are ringing, Tidings bringing:  Christ the Child is Lord of all! Christ the Child is Lord of all!

Once in Royal David's City (LSB #376, Sts. 1 & 4)

Once in royal David's city Stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother lid her Baby In a manger for His bed:  Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.

And our eyes at last shall see Him, Through His own redeeming love; For that child so dear & gentle Is our Lord in heav'n above; And He leads His children on To the place where He is gone.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Is there a time of year that's any more special? I'm thinking "not." Lois & I attended the candlelight Christmas communion service at Grace last night. It's always a special service, featuring communion, Christmas hymns, & readings--also Touch of Brass. Here's praying that you & yours have a blessed Christmas.
 

CHRISTMAS TALES IV

When I was growing up in Concordia, we went back to the house after the Christmas Eve children's service. [Our teacherage was just 2 houses down from St. Paul's.] Dad & Mom dismissed us to our brother's room, where we munched on the peanuts & candies that were distributed at the end of the service. Dad & Mom put the presents under the tree, & we anxiously awaited the knock on the door. [We were orthodox Lutherans, so we didn't believe in Santa.

CHRISTMAS TALES V

Lois' family opened presents on Christas Eve, too. After the family got into the car to go to church, her dad & mom always had an excuse for going back into the house while the kids waited. When they all got back from church, surprise! There were presents under the tree!

CHRISTMAS TALES VI

While Dad & Mom were in the Good Shepherd Home in Concordia, our family, along with my brother & sister & their families, would spend some time over Christmas break there. We exchanged presents. After a gift exchange one year where every one received a gift card, we decided to retire that tradition, which I found to be sad. Also, one year over Christmas break, we traveled to K.C. & had dinner at a restaurant. Later that night, just about everyone but Lois & me threw up. It was a less than merry Christmas.

CHRISTMAS TALES VII

The same year when we spent Christmas at Lois' parents in Ulysses, KS, we traveled 50 miles for a Christmas Day service, since their church didn't have services. It was really cold, really icy. Since Lois was nursing Nathan, we sat in the pack pew i church. As I recall, there were only 2 other families in church that morning.

THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING

"In the beginning was the Word." (John 1:1)

"The  one who was born in tiny Bethlehem is the center of the cosmos! In Him & through Him, all things were made, & all things are sustained. And what makes this Word--Jesus--even more special? He came for you. Lord Jesus, this world can seem chaotic & unpredictable. Keep us centered in You, for You are our stability, consistency, forgiveness, & glory. Lord in Your, hear our prayer. Amen."

WE REALLY NEED CHRISTMAS

'Don't we need some Christmas this year? Don't we need some 'peace on earth & goodwill to mankind?' Don't we need the appearance of angels, the sudden joy of shepherds & the blessed hope of a baby whose very name means salvation? . . . Too often, we find ourselves focusing on what we're against. There's a need for that, but as Christmas approaches, how about if today we focus on what we should be for . . . The world still sits in shadows. Death casts its shroud. Misfortune is still present. Yet, whatever the generations bring, the light of Jesus still shines." Editorial, Norfolk Daily News, 12/24

TWO PRAYERS FOR CHRISTMAS DAY

My Prayer Book

"O God the Father, I praise You for the gift of Your Son, who was born in the poverty & lowliness of Bethlehem so that I might 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 peace of forgiveness to my soul through faith in Him who is 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."

Lutheran Book of Prayer

"Lord God, gracious Father, who in the fullness of time sent You 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 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."

A CHRISTMAS HYMN

Where Shepherds Lately Knelt (LSB #369)

Where shepherds lately knelt & kept the angel's word, I come in half-belief, a pilgrim strangely stirred; But there is room & welcome there for me, But there is room & welcome there for me.

In that unlikely place I find Him as they said:  Sweet newborn babe, how frail! And in a manger bed:  A still, small voice to cry one day for me, A still, small voice to cry one day for me.

How should I not have known Isaiah would be there, His prophecies fulfilled? With pounding heart I stare:  A Child, a Son, the Prince of Peace for me, A Child, a Son, the Prince of Peace for me.

Can I, will I forget how Love was born, & burned Its way into my heart--unasked, unforced, unearned, To die, to live, & not alone for me, To die, to live, & not alone for me?

CHRISTMAS TALES I

I think it must have been 1979. We were in Chicago. Lois' sister Anita was staying with us while she completed a degree at Concordia River Forest. We decided to stay for the Christmas Eve midnight service at Grace, I think because we were singing in choir. We figured that since we had 3 drivers, we could handle driving overnight to Concordia. Well, I started driving, & by the time we reached the south edge of Chicago, Lois & Anita were both sleeping, so I drove most of the way.

CHRISTMAS TALES II

We were at Lois' parents on Christmas Eve in 1982. Nathan was a baby. Their congregation didn't have Christmas Eve worship, since their pastor decided to spend Christmas with family out-of-town. So, we had our own service in their home. We sang Christmas hymns & read Christmas passages. 

CHRISTMAS TALES III

I don't remember the year. We were in Concordia. Mom was already in the Good Shepherd Home. My brother Mark & I & Dad went to the midnight service at St. Paul's. Although it was bittersweet, it's a memory I'll treasure.

CHRISTMAS IS FOR SINNERS

"You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." (Matt. 1:21)

"Had there been no sin on earth, there would have been no need for Christmas. If there had been no sinners, there would have been no need for Jesus to come. Christmas is not for the boys & girls on the nice list. In fact, there is only one list:  sinners. Christmas is for sinners because Jesus comes only for sinners.

"Rejoice! God does not meet you & your sins with lumps of coal, twigs, or salt. He doesn't even meet you with His wrath. He meets you with the Righteous One--Jesus Christ--who came to save sinners from their sin. Lord, thank You that Christmas is for us. Grant us continual forgiveness of sins for Jesus' sake. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen." [Matthew Richard, Minute Messages]

TWO PRAYERS FOR CHRISTMAS EVE

From "My Prayer Book":  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 angel 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 the 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.

Lutheran Book of Prayer

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.

A CHRISTMAS HYMN

All My Heart Again Rejoices (LSB #360, Sts. 1, 5, 6)

All my heart again rejoices As I hear Far & near Sweetest angel voices. "Christ is born!" their choirs are singing Till the air Ev'rywhere Now with joy is ringing.

Softly from His lowly manger Jesus calls One & all, "You are safe from danger. Children, from the sins that grieve you You are freed; All you need I will surely give you."

Come, then, banish all your sadness! One & all, Great & small, Come with songs of gladness. We shall live with Him fore'vr There on high In that Joy Which will vanish never.

STILL ADVENT

Today is the last day of the Advent season. Advent is actually a penitential time in the church year. It's preparation, not for the birth of our Savior, but for Jesus' return. It's almost Christmas--but not quite yet.

THE CHOSEN ONE

Isaiah 42:1-4  See My servant, whom I uphold; My Chosen One, in whom I delight. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will reveal justice to the nations of the world. He will be gentle--He will not shout nor quarrel in the streets. He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the fainthearted, those tempted to despair. He will see full justice given to all who have been wronged. He won't be satisfied until truth & righteousness prevail throughout the earth, nor until even distant lands beyond the seas have put their trust in Him." The Living Bible

MARRIAGE

"Marriage is a stage on which real love--the kind the apostle Paul described as the greatest virtue--can be enacted for the world to see:  the kind of love that enables us to endure wrong with patience, to resist evil with conviction, to enjoy the good thins with gusto, to give richly of ourselves with humility, & to nourish another's souls with long-suffering." Larry Crabb, Men's Devotional Bible

CHURCH BODIES & DENOMINATIONS

"The New Testament knows nothing either of different 'church bodies' or 'denominations,' each having its own doctrines, or of the idea of 'choosing' a church that suits one's particular understanding. The church or 'flock' is one (John 10:16); & the church is not joined as an active choice by a prospective member but added to as a result of the Holy Spirit's work (Acts 2:41)" Rev. John Sias, The Lutheran Witness, June/July 2021

AN ADVENT HYMN

Savior of the Nations, Come (LSB #332, Sts. 1, 6, 7)

Savior of the nations, come, Virgin's Son, make here Your home! Marvel now, O heav'n & earth, That the Lord chose such a birth.

For You are the Father's Son Who in flesh the vict'ry won. By Your mighty pow'r make whole All our ills of flesh & soul.

From the manger newborn light Shines in glory through the night. Darkness there no more resides; In this light faith now abides.

A PERSONAL NOTE

Today would have been my dad's 91st birthday. He was a godly man. He & my mother brought my brother, sister, & I up "in the nurture & admonition of the Lord." I will always appreciate how they taught the faith, modeled the faith, & provided for our Christian education. They would have been delighted to know our adult children & grand-children.

CHOSEN

Is. 41:8-10  "But as for you, O Israel, you are Mine, My chosen ones; for you are Abraham's family, & he was My friend. I have called you back from the ends of the earth & said that you must serve but Me alone, for I have chosen you & will not throw you away. Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with My victorious right hand." The Living Bible 

HUSBANDS

"Headship means responsibility & initiative:  responsibility to act in love; initiative to act in service. As Christ acted in self-giving love & self-humbling service (giving us a whole new meaning to 'headship'), so husbands take the initiative in building an atmosphere of loving, self-sacrificing service." David Augsburger, Men's Devotional Bible

SANCTITY OF LIFE

"The Scriptures clearly declare the liveliness our Lord brings even when unborn (Luke 1:41). Not only does He bestow this love explicitly upon every embryo, but He makes it a reason for rejoicing (Luke 1:44). Let the whole world think us fools (Ps.80:6)--only let us still leap, delight, & speak loudly in celebration of the sanctity of life!" Life Thoughts in the Church Year, Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin, 12/19

A CONFIDENT CONFESSION

"He confessed, & did not deny, but confessed, 'I am not the Christ.'" (John 1:20)

"To confess is to declare or speak openly. To confess is to speak with a free tongue about the truth--about reality . . . We confess the reality of what happened. And what happened?

"What happened is that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, & was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day, He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven & sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living & the dead.

"All of this happened in real time, space, & history. Therefore, we confess it because it is true. And so, just like John the Baptist, who points away from himself to Christ, we Christians point away from ourselves to Jesus & what He did for us & the entire world."  Matthew Richard, Minute Messages

AN ADVENT HYMN

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, St. 7 (LSB #357)

O come, Desire of nations, bind In one the hearts of all mankind; Bid Thou our sad divisions cease, And be Thyself our King of Peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

ERRATA

In my post on 12/19, I memorialized my dad. I claimed that it would have been his 91st birthday when, instead, it would have been his 95th birthday. My fastidious sister clued me in. Yes, I am mathematically challenged.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"McDonald's customers ride exercise bikes as they dine." Drudge Report, 12/20

"McDonald's forced to ration fries." Drudge, 12/21

CRIMINAL MINDS

"FL man kicked off U.A. flight for wearing women's underwear as COVID-19 mask." Fox News Online, 12/17

"REVENGE:  Enraged monkeys kill town's entire population of 250 dogs . . . by dragging them to the top of buildings & dropping them off 'out of revenge' after pups killed one of their infants in an Indian village." Drudge Report, 12/17

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE . . . CALIFORNIA

"[Bay area] car owners leaving trunks open to avoid forced entry by thieves." Drudge, 12/17

 . . . LIKE FLORIDA

"FL couple saw bees coming out of shower; massive hive of 80,000 in wall." Drudge, 12/17

"FL proposes 24-hr-day alligator hunting." Fox News Online, 12/15

. . . SOUTH DAKOTA

"S. Dakota bank apologizes for stunt featuring teachers scrambling for $1 bills." msn.com, 12/14

. . . NORFOLK

"Mountain lion sighting confirmed in Norfolk." Norfolk Daily News, 12/15. It's true! We even saw the picture on social media.

. . . AMERICA

"Nearly 1 in 5 Americans admit they've made money decisions based on horoscopes:  Survey." Fox News Online, 12/19

TRENDING

"Mom gives birth to 'TESLA baby' while vehicle drives on autopilot." Drudge, 12/17. Another reason to buy a Tesla. 

"Man who doesn't like whiskey sells 4,000-piece mini whiskey bottle collection for $40,000." Fox News Online, 12/16

"We're cursing more. Blame COVID?" Drudge Report, 12/20

YULETIDE NEWS

"Lately, I've started seeing all the usual Christmas decorations, books, gift suggestion, articles, foods & complaints about all the usual Christmas decorations, books, gift suggestions, articles & foods. Some say they're too over the top, some say it's too early, & some say it's not enough . . . [Christmas] really is the most wonderful time of the year. But the one thing I can't snuggle up to is that Elf on the Shelf. As a child of the 1960s & 1970s, I had no idea that it was actually a 'thing' until I started seeing that grinning little imp showing up in all of my Facebook feeds. The thing that bothered me the most is this elf looked 'aware.' He had an expression that reminded me of the doll in that 'Twilight Zone' episode with Telly Zavalas, the one where she gets her revenge by 'accidentally' showing up on the staircase & sending him hurtling to his death." Column by Christine Flowers, Norfolk Daily News, 12/14

"Progressive family leaves milk, cookies, & rapid COVID test for Santa." Babylon Bee

FORCED APOLOGIES

"In this era of social activism spearheaded by the Joe Biden administration, it's becoming more common for liberals to demand others to apologize for the actions of their ancestors. These individuals are being told that apologizing for the presumably bad historical acts that may have been committed against a variety of demographic groups is the right & proper thing to do. Ignored are the valid protestations that there was never any intent to offend anyone or any group. It's gotten out of hand. Either apologize for something you didn't do or risk facing the wrath of liberal social activists.

"We could focus on the fact that forced apologies undermine the sacred Judeo-Christian tenets of confessions. In Catholicism, for example, asking for forgiveness for something you didnt do is, in effect, worthless . . . What concerns us today is that in addition to demanding apologies, too many in society then pay far too much attention to scrutinizing the apologies by politicians, athletes, celebrities & business leaders. Those who should know better are entrapped in the process of chest-beating--at least some of whom feel no choice but to publicly apologize for the actions of previous generations. In other words, it's not enough to apologize. Those apologies must be evaluated &, in effect, scored to see if they measure up to the social activists." Commentary, Norfolk Daily News, 12/14

LIBRARY BOOKS 

Shocking Books Currently Available in Public School Libraries *

* Courtesy of the Babylon Bee

> The Little Engine That Could Change His Gender

> Gay, Dog, Gay

> Gay Clifford

> The Joy of Cooking Only the Foods That belong to Your Own Culture

> How to Disobey Your Dumb Racist Parents

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Compliments of Reader's Digest, Sept. 2021

"I have a smart frige. I pin its homework on my children."

"A real smart TV would increase the volume when you start eating chips."

"My favorite novel is The Hunchback of Notre Dame. I just love a protagonist with a twisted back story."

WED'S WEATHER

"USA records most hurricane-force gusts in single day." Drudge Report, 12/16

It's not often--like maybe never--that we get weather like we did on WED. The day started with a high wind warning. Christ Lutheran, where Bentley our 8-yr-old grandson attends 2nd grade, dismissed at 1:30, due to the weather report. Since his parents were both working, I picked him up. The plan was for me to take him to supper & church, but church was cancelled, also due to the weather report. Soon we found ourselves in a severe T-storm warning & tornado watch. The sirens went off twice, so we spent some time in the basement. The temperature was in the 50s when I left Orphan Grain Train. By the time I went to bed, the temperature had dropped to 27 with a wind chill of 10. Luckily, I glanced outside, because the top of the mailbox had blown into the street. We had gotten some precipitation, & the driveway had glazed over. I slipped & slid my way to the street but had to walk back to the house on the front lawn, because I couldn't navigate the driveway. I know that some of my readers spent time in their basements because of tornado warnings, too. And my heart goes out to those who suffered loss in the tornadoes that swept through Kentucky & other locations.

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA

"Wreaths across America brings people together, deserves support, not derision." Fox News Online, 12/16 KUDOs to Lois' sister Kathy. Her late husband Paul, a veteran of the Marines, is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Kathy & her daughter Jocelyn will be joining with hundreds of other volunteers to lay wreaths on every grave today. And for those who are criticizing this endeavor, all I can say is that I wish you had the same respect for those who served our country.

COVID

"Man jabbed 10 times--in day!" Drudge Report, 12/14

"More Americans left religion during pandemic." Drudge, 12/14

HERE'S TO YOUR HEALTH

"Exercise may be more powerful than meds for anxiety treatment." Drudge, 12/14

TRENDING

"STUDY:  Average person just as smart as brain surgeons, rocket scientists." Drudge, 12/14

"Rudolph changes name to Rolanda, dominates female reindeer games." Babylon Bee

"Chris Wallace expected to double CNN's viewership to 4." Babylon Bee

THE LATEST YULETIDE NEWS *

* Compliments of the Babylon Bee

COVID Christmas Carols

> I'll Be Vaxxed for Christmas"

> It Came Upon a Mandate Clear

> Silent Media

> Do You Fear What I Fear?

> What Variant is This?

> Have Yourself A Lonely Little Christmas

> God Rest Ye Boosted Gentlemen

> It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Wuhan

> Santa Claus Is Staying At Home

> Jab To The World

> Fauci The Vaxman

> Mary Did You Know (About The Vaccine Mandate)

> Sanitize The Halls

> O Come, O Come, Dr. Fauci

Christmas gift ideas for your leftist child

> Brand new gender

> Allowance increased followed by tax increase

> Battery-powered police car to flip over & set on fire

> Vaccinate Me Elmo doll

> Coal:  This will prevent conservatives from buring it in power plants & destroying the planet

WHY

It's always my hope that my Theological THU & Sunday Meditation posts will be edifying for those who read them. However, I post them as much for my own edification as others'.

COMFORT

Isaiah 40:1-2  'Comfort, oh, comfort My people,' says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem & tell her that her sad days are gone. Her sins are pardoned, & the Lord will give her twice as many blessings as He gave her punishment before." The Living Bible

CARELESS WORDS

"Careless words stab like a sword, but the words of wise people bring healing." (Prov. 12:18)

"Humility--the thought that life isn't all about you--brings wisdom & kills pride. It makes the effort to consider the heart, mind, & even soul of others, & so it chooses its words wisely. If you want to stop your foolish talk, then don't talk. Silence isn't usually offensive, except when someone is expecting you to speak. But keeping your mouth shut when your deepest desire is to speak your mind is wisdom. It might be hard to talk less, & if it is, then think about not speaking at all." Michael DiMarco, Devotions for the God Guy

THE RULE

"The rule is this:  Christians are people who remember their own weaknesses & failure. They are under reconstruction. So they offer hope & forgiveness to people who fall & who need Jesus' healing grace & hope." Donald Joy, Men's Devotional Bible

THE CHURCH

"And the church is still here. Jesus still calls His sheep, & the sheep hear His voice, believe the Gospel & walk in love. The holy church exists wherever sinners gather at the font & are sealed with God's name in Holy Baptism, wherever a called servant of Christ announces the grace of God to sinners in Christ's stead, & wherever sinners gather in repentant joy at the altar of Christ to receive His body & blood for the forgiveness of sins & eternal life. In this Christian church, the saints believe the same Gospel & have the same Christ & the same Holy Spirit." Rev. Jason Lane, The Lutheran Witness, June/July 2021

THE TRUE GOD

"However, when Christians call on Him, they call on the true God, namely, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who reveals Himself to people through His Word. Besides, they have sure trust & confidence against doubt that God is gracious to us & grants our prayers for the sake of this Mediator, His dear Son . . . We see that He is well-pleased when faith clings only to Him & that (if faith becomes weak) He will take care that it is not lost." A Year in the Gospel with Martin Luther

PRIDE & HUMILITY

"Pride focuses on the weaknesses of other people, on their bad parts instead of their good. But God has no patience for pride, & when it's in your life, He promises trouble. Pride comes before the fall because pride removes God as Lord & all hope for success. Pride is worship of self, but humility is worship removed from self  turned toward God . . . Be careful that you don't make being good more important than loving God. When you make loving Him number one, there is nothing you do that He won't forgive, nowhere you have fallen that He can't lift you up from if you just take His outstretched hand. Don't be so proud that you reject His gift." Michael DiMarco, Devotions for the God Guy

SINCE YOU ASKED

A headline in yesterday's Norfolk Daily News:  "Jussie Smollett guilty verdict is latest in polarizing political cases." It didn't have to be so. When his claims that he was assaulted by two racists wearing MAGA hats were first publicized, politicians, including our future president, immediately chimed in, proclaiming their horror. Even our then-president chimed in. And the drive-by media? Of course they did everything they could to echo Smollett's claims. [Just like they did re:  Kyle Rittenhouse?] Well, the trial thoroughly debunked his claims. Evidence was conclusive. He perpetuated a hoax & suffered the consequences. So, when are those politicians & the media going to admit that they were wrong?

"Not again:  Smollett claims he was assaulted by two prison guards in MAGA hats." Babylon Bee

YULETIDE NEWS

"Christmas cookies by the numbers:  Guess how many cookies Santa eats on Christmas Eve . . . The number of cookies eaten by Santa on one night every December in America is estimate at 300 million, according to no less an authority than Paul Deen, host of Fox Nation's 'At Home with Paula Deen.'" Fox News Online

TRENDING

"Bible now includes warning that it may contain spoilers for 'The Chosen.'" Babylon Bee

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE  . . . FLORIDA    

"FL woman charged with DUI after driving through golf course in wild police chase." Fox News Online

. . . BOSTON

"Boston University student newspaper editorial argues 'outright abolishing' campus police might improve safety." Fox News Online

. . . CALIFORNIA

"And, to show what happens when you defund the police, destroy the morale of your officers and threaten them with vaccine mandates that result in them quitting their jobs, arrests in Los Angeles in 2021 so far compared to 2019 are down 34 percent. The criminals have gotten so bold that even progressives living in gated and walled mansions in Beverly Hills are starting to wake up and demand more police protection.

As we know, calls for more law and order by liberals are rare. But that’s what happens when the nice shops in your nice neighborhood – the ones on Rodeo Drive, for example – get hit by the smashers and grabbers." Michael Reagan, Townhall

RIGHT TO LIFE

"The case for life is pretty simple: It is wrong to intentionally kill an innocent human being. Pro-life advocates are happy to engage abortion-choice advocates on these issues, but they are not interested. This is especially true when they own the levers of government. Why debate when they have everything to lose and nothing to gain?" Marc Newman, Townhall

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

"Biden sends two guys holding horse reins to help defend Ukraine Border." Babylon Bee

"Beto surges to the lead for governor of TX in poll of Californians." Babylon Bee

OMICRON

Here's Everything You Need to Know about Omicron, compliments of Babylon Bee

> It was originally to be called the 'Xi Jinping created COVID in a lab' variant but was renamed so as not to offend China.

> Omicron was ultimately named after its inventor, Bob Omicron, who works at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

> Everyone who gets Omicron has a 100% chance of dying someday at some point in the future. Not necessarily of COVID, but of something. It's a guarantee.

> Has killed far fewer people than Democrats lockdown policies so far.

> Omicron is far worse than other variants, unless you count deadliness, contagiousness, & severity of symptoms.

> Studies have found that people who are concerned about Omicron are 729% more likely to be scared little whiny babies.

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING

"According to a new study, going to bed too early or too late may disrupt the body's natural rhythm & increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. So, just to be safe, let's randomly change our clocks twice a year for no reason." Late Night with Seth Meyers, latelaughs, Norfolk Daily News, 12/10

5 MYTHS THAT CAN TRASH YOUR HOLIDAYS *

* Compliment of Focus on the Family

> Every holiday fathering with family is filled with peace & goodwill.

> Connecting during the holidays will compensate for disconnection throughout the year.

> Taking time out of the busyness for you & your spouse is selfish.

> Family gatherings should look like a scene from a Hallmark movie.

> You can take Christ out of Christmas.

MORE YULETIDE NEWS

"'World's most expensive ugly Christmas sweater selling for nearly $40K. A holiday sweater made from silk, 24-carat gold, diamonds & Swarovski crystal is being sold by a U.K.-based artist who made it himself." Fox News Online

"Labor shortage may mean no Santa." Norfolk Daily News, 12/8

TRENDING

"Cold weather states struggling to hire snowplow drivers." Drudge Report

"Tesla scrutinized after drivers play video games." Omaha World Herald

"Want to know how old a whale is? Check out its earwax, which builds up over time & hardens into a tubular plug. Take a cross section of the plug & count the number of concentric rings. It's like tree ring dating, just wetter." Reader's Digest, Sept. 2021

CRIMINAL MINDS

"Mom stole daughter's identity to start college, date young guys." Drudge Report

"Slithering 'snake burglar' steals thousands from business in CA. Police were looking for a man dubbed the 'snake burglar' who wriggled his way through a Southern CA business & fled with several thousands dollars. Surveillance video showed the man slithering on his belly at the Rustic Roots salon at around 5 a.m. last FRI after apparently getting into the business through a rooftop fire escape." Norfolk Daily News, 12/4

CLIMATE CHANGE

"New Greta on the shelf doll will track your climate sins." Babylon Bee

COVID

"New Pfizer punch card lets you get free sub sandwich every 10th booster." Babylon Bee

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE NEW ZEALAND

"A couple in New Zealand recently grew a potato that was about 17 lbs & named it Doug. It's what many in New Zealand are calling 'our top story tonight.'" Seth Meyers, latelaughs, NDN 12/3

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING

"President Biden returned to the White House this morning after spending the weekend at his beach house in Delaware. Things must be pretty rough in Washington if you think to yourself, 'you know what would be great? The beach in November!'" Seth Meyers, latelaughs, NDN 12/3

STRENGTH & SALVATION

"But to us, O Lord, be merciful, for we have waited for You. Be our strength each day & our salvation in time of trouble." Is. 33:2, The Living Bible

GOD TURNS TOWARD US

"Sometimes people treat a relationship with God like a hunt for a gold nugget. As long as I collect a few mountaintop moments, I should be set, right? But the truth is, our whole life long, God is turning toward us in Jesus. Through His life & teaching, through His death on the cross & resurrection from the dead, Jesus won a great treasure--gold-standard forgiveness, love, & commitment. And by the Holy Spirit, He is turning toward us." Rev. Michael Zeigler, The Lutheran Layman, Fall 2021

UNDER RECONSTRUCTION

"The rule is this:  Christians are people who remember their own weaknesses & failure. They are under reconstruction. So they offer hope & forgiveness to people who fall & who need Jesus' healing grace & hope." Donald Joy, Men's Devotional Bible

WHERE IS THE CHURCH?

"Against our current relativistic doubt, our Lutheran Confessions state: 'We do say that this Church exists:  truly believing & righteous people scattered throughout the whole world. We add the marks:  the pure teaching of the Gospel & the Sacraments.' In other words, the true church with true saints can be found in the world, namely, where we find the voice of Christ with His gifts of forgiveness given & received, & the saints of God abiding in love with one another, wherever & whenever that may happen. Unlike the cynic who doubts that there is a true church or that the truth of God can be known or that anyone truly possesses the pure Christian confession, Lutherans boldly confess the one, holy Christian church. They do not compromise or lower the doctrinal standards of Holy Scripture to bring about some kind of man-made unity." Jason Lane, The Lutheran Witness, June/July 2021

THE GIFT OF AUTHORITY

"The human heart is wild & lawless. And since we have wild hearts, we love when there is no authority over top of us--we love anarchy. And anarchy loves to see the world burn. That is why the Lord blesses societies with the gift of authority . . . 

But who is our authority? The Lord has seen fit to institute fathers, mothers, police officers, judges, the military, teachers, pastors, legal guardians, employers, & government officials to be our authority. What this means is that those in authority are gifts to us. They are gifts to protect us from our own wild heart & from other people's wild hearts. And that is why we pray for those in authority & thank God for making these people His representatives one earth--representatives who work for peace."  Matthew Richard, Minute Messages:  Gospel-Filled Devotions for Every Occasion

JOY

"The fear of the Lord leads to a joy that must be expressed back to Him. Experience more of God by learning more about Him." Michael DiMarco, Devotions for the God Guy

THE GIFT OF LIFE

"If humanity is in charge of dictating & defining what makes life valuable, then the Lord God is excluded. When we remove God, when He is not the one who defines the importance of life, humans have consistently made it clear that we find some lives less important than others:  genocide, abortion, euthanasia. Every life is valuable because humankind was originally created in the image of God. Even though we marred the image of God through sin, life is still valuable because every human life is one for which Jesus died. Humanity does not & cannot assign value to life--the Lord does. Because life is precious, valuable, & treasurable to the Lord, He not only bled & died for humanity, but He also longs to protect the gift of life in saying, 'You shall not murder.'" Matthew Richard, Minute Messages

It seems as if everyone is anxiously awaiting the results of the Supreme Court's decision re:  Mississippi's law restricting abortion. So am I. It seems like "murder" is a harsh term to use for abortion, but that is what it is. We are called to love our neighbor, & unborn children may be our most vulnerable neighbors. I hope & pray that the Court upholds this pro-life law. I also hope & pray that Roe v. Wade is struck down. I cannot help but think that the millions of babies aborted since 1993 will bring judgment upon our nation. I also cannot help but think that if Roe V. Wade is struck down, there will be massive turmoil. God's people should be ready to respond to this turmoil & continue to proclaim that all life is precious in His sight, regardless of the outcome of the Court's decision.

RESOLUTIONS REVIEW

How am I doing with my 2021 New Year resolutions? Glad you asked.

* At least 8 road trips. A+

* Give up French fries. B+

* Get a DNA report from Ancestry.com. A

* Do my PT exercises at least 3X per week. D-

* Avoid useless FB arguments. C+

* Add to our National Park & bucket lists. A+

* Lose at least 10 lbs. F

GPA = B-

CRIMINAL MINDS

"FedEx 'debacle':  Driver dumped packages into Alabama ravine at least 6 times police say." msn.com, 12/1

"Hundreds of children brawl at trampoline park." Drudge Report, 12/1

BIZARRE MEDICAL FACTS . . .  

* You won't believe are true, msn.com, 12/1

> Gamers make good surgeons.

> You lose your sense of smell when you're asleep.

> In 2008, about 2,000 in the U.S. went to the hospital with bagel-related injuries.

TRENDING

"Woman allegedly breastfed cat on Delta flight as horrified passengers looked on." msn.com, 11/30

"Pro-Choice activists play music & shout louder in hopes Baal will hear them." Babylon Bee

"Progressive elves stage walkout in protest after Rittenhouse added to 'Nice' list." Babylon Bee

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS . . . 

* For your conservative child, Babylon Bee

1. Red Rider .50 caliber sniper rifle:  BB guns are for puny liberal wusses.

2. Leftist tears sippy cup:  Your child is never too young to practice owning the libs & preparing to someday own a leftist tears tumbler, wherever they may be sold.

3. Donald Trump Magic 8-Ball:  Young ones can receive wise guidance like, "Wrong. Totally wrong. Pathetic. Next question?" And "Absolutely not, total disaster, believe me."

4. Lego Keystone pipeline play set:  At least your offspring can enjoy a make-believe world free of soaring gas prices.

5. Coal:  Beautiful, clean coal will remind your child not to destroy entire working-class communities in the name of green energy.

6. Traditional homemaker Barbie dream house:  Let Barbie extol the virtues of raising children in a loving home. (Ken doll with lawnmower sold separately.)

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HAWAII

"Blizzard warnings in effect for Hawaii as potent storm wallops islands." Drudge Report It may be hard to believe, but Hawaii does get snow. When we lived there, we witnessed snow on top of the volcanoes on the Big Island--Mauna Loa & Mauna Kea.

COVID

"Man tries to avoid getting Covid jab with fake silicone arm." Drudge Report, 12/3

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Compliments of Reader's Digest, Sep 2021

Getting Even with the One You Love

"I know it sounds mean, but when I'm mad at my wife & want to lash out, I open a bottle of some condiment when there's already one open."

"Instead of telling my husband I'm annoyed with him, I'm just gonna put strawberries in a salad."

"My husband ticked me off, so I sent him a picture of the thermostat set to 72 degrees."

"The next time my linguist boyfriend ticks me off, I'm just gonna say 'irregardless' & sew what he does."

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE CHICAGO . . . 

"Chicago reports 40 tragic bullet accidents over weekend." Babylon Bee FYI! Lois & I lived in Chicago from 1975-1980.

. . . SAN FRANCISCO

"San Francisco stores hold 100% off Black Friday sale." Babylon Bee

MAJOR DISASTERS FROM HISTORY *

* And how the media reported them, compliments of the Babylon Bee

French Revolution:  Hundreds of guillotine accidents reported.

Tiananmen Square:  Man killed in collision with tank.

OJ Simpson:  Pair of gloves strangles OJ's wife.

Aztec human sacrifice:  Native peoples discover innovative way to reduce carbon footprint.

Pompeii:  Trump destroys Pompeii

Oklahoma City bombing:  Fertilizer mishap at government building.

9/11:  Shortsighted contractors build Towers in path of oncoming planes.

Herod killing babies:  Strong attendance at pro-choice rally in Bethlehem.

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Compliments of Reader's Digest, Sept. 2021

"Dubious claims my toddler made this week:"

> He invented the thumbs-up. 

> Only "some" lizards can read. 

> He forgot how to eat carrots. 

> His day care allows swords.

ADVENT

Today is the 1st Sunday of Advent. According to dictionary.com, an "advent" is "a coming into place, view, or being; arrival." Although it's tempting to think of Advent as preparation for Christmas, in the Church year, it is much more than that. It is a preparation for the Lord's second coming. 

AN ADVENT PRAYER

"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 & follow 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 garment of Your righteousness, for You are the only 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." Lutheran Book of Prayer

AN ADVENT HYMN

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, LSB #357, Sts. 1, 7

O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Desire of nations, bind In one the hearts of all mankind; Bid Thou our sad divisions cease, And be Thyself our King of Peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

NOTE:  "Emmanuel" means "God with us," & "Israel" refers to all believers, who are waiting for Emmanuel to return & take us to heaven for eternity.

A RAVISHINGLY BRIGHT FUTURE

"The children of this world are looking into a dark future; & they will be cast into eternal darkness. We children of God, believing the Word of God, are looking into a ravishingly bright future, & we shall be received into eternal light . . . Why do we not rejoice more exceedingly, more exultantly, because we are to go there, away from here? Because our faith is weak. But still, the Spirit, the Spirit of God, who dwelleth in us, helpeth our infirmities . . . We are only pilgrims here. Hallelujah! We seek the eternal city that is to come, & shall find it. Hallelujah!" C.M. Zorn, Crumbs

NOTE:  Today I finished this devotion book, which I've been using in my daily quiet time for the past year. Although the language is often archaic, it is a book of meditations faithful to God's Word, & I have found it to be spiritually nourishing.

THE LIGHT OF CHRIST

"Every baptized Christian is obliged by his baptismal promises to renounce sin & to give himself completely, without compromise, to Christ, in order that he may fulfill his vocation, save his soul, enter into the mystery of God, & there find himself perfectly in the light of Christ." Thomas Merton, Men's Devotional Bible

ONE

"God has in all times & places gathered His church by the voice of Christ through the voice of His preachers, from Adam to Abraham, from Moses to Christ & His apostles & those whom He still sends today. Therefore, the church cannot be merely a human institution with human ceremonies no matter how pious those ceremonies may appear. The church is from start to finish created & sustained by Christ with His Word & Spirit. This means the church is not simply an ideal to strive for, but the real embodiment of St. Paul's words,'one body & one Spirit ... one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God & Father of all.'" (Eph. 4:4-6) Jason Lane, The Lutheran Witness, June/July 2021