MAY DAY

Yes, I know that May Day was yesterday. Whatever. Did you mark the occasion by making & delivering May Day treats? That was a big deal in Lincoln; an even bigger deal in Hawaii. We had a hula group at the Lutheran High School of Hawaii, & I got to see them dance at a May Day celebration at one of the Lutheran elementary schools. Quite a treat! And even though we were a piddly little 3rd tier private school in Hawaii, our hula team consistently won competitions against much larger schools.

MENTAL HEALTH MONDAY

"According to psychology, talking to yourself is actually healthy." Column by Barton Goldsmith, Norfolk Daily News, 4/25 I have a confession to make. One night when I was walking back home from St. Paul's College, I was talking to myself. My high school principal's house was on that street, & as I approached Mr. Sohl's house, he heard me talking to myself. 

"The pandemic, approaching retirement--these & other stresses of work & family life are some of the concerns that Adam Borland, a psychologist for Cleveland Clinic, helps men cope with. 'I see a lot of men who didn't receive treatment for mental challenges in their 20s & 30s,' he says. 'They've bottled things up. Then at retirement they go through a lot of life changes--to their careers, to their relationships--& they realize they need help.'

"Among the depression signs & symptoms that men (& their loved ones) should look out for when they fly into rages or become easily irritated:  When they engage in risky behavior involving driving, gambling, drugs, alcohol or sex; when they lose friends & cut off family members; or when they lack motivation on the job or with favorite hobbies. Depression also can trigger physical symptoms, including headaches, nausea, chest pain or sexual difficulties." Parade Magazine, 5/1/22

"STUDY:  Avg man rates mental health 6 out of 10; feels down 3 times a week." Drudge Report, 5/1

RESOLUTIONS:  PROGRESS REPORT

I realize that you might find my resolution reviews tedious, but I must remind you that I blog, not just to entertain & enlighten others, but also for my own mental health.

* Lose at least 12 lbs. C I gained 3 lbs in April. Too much eating out. Still, I'm on track to lose 12 lbs this year.

* Cross 2 things off my bucket list. A+ We visited Key West & Dry Tortugas NP.

* Have fruits & vegetables at least 4X/week. A

* Walk at least 4X/week. D- I've struggled with this one. Over the last month or so, I had a bout of Influence A & "non-covid coronavirus," & my hip has been bothering me a lot. Tomorrow I see an orthopedist. I'm anticipating another hip replacement.

* Publish my 365-day devotion book. B I feel a little more encouraged after talking with my Westbow representative on FRI. I have a minor copyright issue to resolve & then plans for publishing can continue.

* Write & publish another 365-day devotion book. B I'm making good progress.

GPA:  B-

LABOR SHORTAGE

Has anyone made the connection between our labor shortage & the millions of babies aborted since the SCOTUS made abortion a constitutional right when it decided Roe v. Wade in 1973? All those children would have entered our labor pool. Abortion is a great evil, & I hope the Supreme Court strikes Roe v. Wade down. I'm not under any illusion that this will end abortion, but I still pray for it to happen. I also hope & pray that God does not harshly judge our nation for perpetuating this evil.

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE CALIFORNIA

"Surge of desert surf parks stirs questions. Hours from the CA coast, surfers are hoping one of the next spots where they can catch a wave is in the desert, where summer temperatures often soar above 100 degrees. At least 4 large surf lagoons are proposed for the region around Palm Springs, which is more commonly known for art festivals, mountain hikes & golf, & has no natural waves in sight. But some envioronmentalists & residents say it isn't water-wise to build large resorts in one of the driest spots in CA during one of its driest periods in recent memory." Norfolk Daily News, 4/28 I say, who cares about water shortages & severe drought? This is an opportunity for our relatives in CA to surf without having to travel all the way to the coast.

OUR LEADERS

"A friend of mine from back east once told me what he said was wrong with the country. 'Readers are leaders,' he said. 'Unfortunately, our leaders don't read.'" Column by Michael Reagan, Norfolk Daily News, 4/25

DEPT. OF SHAMELES JOKE-STEALING *

* Courtesy of Reader's Digest, Dec 2021/Jan 2022

"It's sad when the only person who can tell me 'I know what you want' is my barista."

APRIL SHOWERS

It finally happened! We had a knock-down drag-out thunderstorm in Norfolk last night, complete with thunder & lightning. Can't remember the last night this happened. And there's a pretty good chance that we'll get rain off-and-on throughout the weekend. My prayer continues to be that God would bless us with the weather we need & help us cope with the weather we get.

CRIMINAL MINDS

"Israel's Ben Gurion Airport erupts in panic after American family shows up with artillery shell . . . The family said they found the shell in the Golan Heights & intended to bring it back as a souvenir." Fox News Online

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

"Pennsylvania school district 'appalled' at drag show during after-school LGBT club." Fox News Online

"Disinformation Board detects high levels of disinformation coming from mysterious white building in Washington, D.C." Babylon Bee

"Biden administration announces student loan forgiveness will be paid in Kohl's Cash." Babylon Bee

MORE WISDOM FROM THE BABYLON BEE

Reasons Why It's Way Better to Just Let the Government Take Care of the Poor

* There's literally no other way to care for the poor.

* The government is known for it compassion & mercy in all things.

* Just look how happy all the people on welfare are.

* The government is very efficient & always accomplishes its missions.

* Thousands of government bureaucrats need something to do with their time.

* Nobody knows the people in your community better than a government living 2,000 miles away.

* Poor people are completely incapable of rising to any challenge or living a life of meaning.

* Welfare is so successful, its rolls grow more & more every year.

DAD JOKES *

* Compliments of Reader's Digest, Dec 2021/Jan 2022

> Just so everyone's clear, I'm going to put my glasses on.

> A generous army general walked into a bar & ordered everyone around.

> I lost my job as a stage designer. I left without making a scene.

> Fran & her friends named their band Duvet. It's a cover band.

> Dave lot his wife's audiobook & now he'll never hear the end of it.

RON DESANTIS

"MSNBC column sounds red alert over DeSantis:  'Most dangerous figure in American politics.' Fox News Online  Well if that's what MSNBC says. I trust them almost as much as I trust the Babylon Bee.

COVID

"Covid deaths no longer overwhelmingly among unvacced." Drudge Report

SEX EDUCATION

"If inflation feels like we’ve returned to the 1970s, the current education culture war more resembles the early 2010s, when arguments over abstinence-only or comprehensive sex education filled op-ed pages. Sex education is once again the issue du jour. Unlike the previous decade, however, this argument centers on gender ideologyand sexual expression . . . 

"To begin, there are two points worth noting: First, research finds that a general overview of sex education (via basic anatomy and physiology) delays the onset of sexual activity and reduces risky behavior; second, polls find that a plurality of voters across demographics support this basic form of sex education. This debate is not an “if” issue but rather a “what, how, and when” issue. The problem isn’t whether kids should learn about the birds and the bees. The problem with many sex-ed curricula is that they go far beyond that stated goal, do so increasingly early, and incorporate sensual and graphic elements considered inappropriate for minors . . . 

"Left-wing teachers would bristle were we to inject conservative Christian views into the classroom. Parents equally bristle when teachers force contentious claims into publicly funded institutions. Any curriculum in a public school is, by design, stamped with the approval of that state’s department of education, provided for by each taxpayer, and presented to young, impressionable minds.

When sex education becomes a means to incorporate hyper-progressive views on gender, sex, and behavior, it ceases to be ideologically neutral material necessary for development. Activism presented to students as moral education, often in direct opposition to the standards of their parents, smacks of the Pied Piper of Hamelin rather than the classic American teacher." Daniel Buck & Anthony Kinnett, National Review Online

MERCY ME

Lois & I attended a Mercy Me concert in Sioux Falls on THU night. It was outstanding! Besides Mercy Me, we also so Andrew Ripp ("Jericho Walls") & Ren Collective. They're from Northern Ireland, so they have cool accents. And what's not to like about a band whose instruments include a ukulele, banjo, fiddle, trumpet, & sundry other exotic instruments.

Speaking of concerts, here are the other Christian artists that Lois and/or I have seen over the years:  tobyMac, For King & Country, Casting Crowns, Zach Williams, Big Daddy Weave, Cain, Sanctus Real, Matt Maher, Hawk Nelson, Building 429, Jordan Feliz, & more that we couldn't remember. Impressed? You should be.

SPEAKING OF HOTELS

We stayed in the Holiday Inn & Suites near the Sioux Falls Airport. The room was nice--plenty of room. Since we were able to use Hotels.com points, it only cost us $57. And that included the purchase of 2 breakfasts! The last 2 times we've stayed in hotels, we've had to purchase breakfast--a trend I'm not sure I appreciate. Also, they only left us one bar of soap, which keeps them from getting a 5-star review from me. Well, that & having to pay for breakfast. I was able to harvest the shampoo, conditioner, & body lotion. Also, I've noticed that the hotels we've stayed in most recently have not provided free newspapers. What's with that?

CAPITALISM

Prepare for me to vent. I've read a few FB posts lately that have called for capitalism to be destroyed & our culture reinvented & reimagined. Well, capitalism certainly has its flaws, but more people have been raised from poverty due to capitalism than by any other economic system. If we destroy it, with what do we replace it? Socialism? Please. And who gets to decided how our system is reinvented & reimagined. Social justice warriors? Please.

DOG NEWS

We decided to eat sausage, cheese, & Hawaiian sweet rolls for supper last night instead of going to a. restaurant in Sioux Falls. Lois bought these supplies in Norfolk. She put the sausage & cheese in the refrigerator & left the rolls in our cooler. Sammy, supposedly man's best friend, somehow managed to get the lid off & ate all the rolls. I admit--I'm somewhat fond of the animal--but he is a dork.

DEVOTION BOOK

I think I posted not long ago that I had successfully forwarded my 365-day devotion book & supporting materials to Westbow Press. It took awhile, but I finally heard from them, & it turns out that I've used too much copyrighted materials, which I should have guessed. Anyway, I have a  phone call with Leandra Drummy, my publisher contact, any minute now. I'll fill you in after we've talked. Back in a little bit . . . So, here's the scoop. It turns out that the only issue is that I need permission from Orphan Grain Train to publish material that I have previously published with them. That is a load off my mind. I am very much relieved. Progress has been made!

WEATHER

Nebraska is one among many other states that is suffering from extreme drought. We've also experienced quite a few wind warnings, which have contributed to fires. Although our wildfires pale in comparison to those farther west, we've had wildfires that have burned tens of thousands of acres. A town in Northeast Nebraska had to be evacuated for a brief time. One fire in south central & south western NE are still being battled. Two firefights have been killed & several more seriously injured. 

Madison County, where we live, experience 4-6" of rain on THU. This happened in southern Madison County, so Norfolk wasn't affected. It hailed so much south of us that we saw a picture on FB of so much hail covering U.S. 81 that it looked like it was covered with snow. We have a chance of rain tonight & over the next few days, which we badly need, but there's also a chance of severe t-storms.

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

"I'm a dad who want schools to teach kids how to read--not how to be gender fluid." Fox News Online

"Biden canceling student debt would make inflation worse, expects warn." Ditto

"President Zelensky insulted by Biden's offer of only $33 billion in weapons when he gave the Taliban $86 billion." Babylon Bee

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE CALIFORNIA

"Homeless encampment in Oakland goes up in flames." Fox News Online

"National security expert:  Biden must revive Trump's 'energy dominance' to put Putin in his place." Ditto

LIKE CHICAGO

"Chicago's wealthy neighborhoods hire private police as crime rises." Drudge Report  We lived in Chicago from 1975 to 1980, but, in case you're wondering, not in a wealthy neighborhood.

HERE'S TO YOUR HEALTH

"STUDY:  Perfect amount of sleep really is 7 hours." Drudge

MORE FROM BABYLON BEE

Upcoming Netflix show sure to bring back subscribers

> Queer Eye Goes to Junior High

> The Drag Queen's Gambit

Job alternatives for soon to be fired Twitter content moderators

> White House press secretary

> Jr. pronoun enforcer at your local middle school

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Compliments of Reader's Digest, May 22

" I can't do small talk. I just asked the lady cutting my hair what she does for a living."

"Lot of people texting audio messages theses days, & I fear it's a slippery slope to going back to phone calls."

BOASTING

Jeremiah 9:20-24 The Lord says:  “Let not the wise man bask in his wisdom, nor the mighty one in his might, nor the rich man in his riches. Let them boast in this alone:  That they truly know Me, & understand that I am the Lord of justice & of righteousness whose love is steadfast; & that I love to be this way.” The Living Bible

SEXUAL BEHAVIOR

"How could we have expected to preserve symbiotic relationships between men & women when the rules governing our sexual behavior turned upside down? Family disintegration was inevitable." James Dobson, Men's Devotional Bible

LIFE THOUGHTS

"The Gospel of Jesus Christ reverses expectations. The Lamb once slain now reigns (Rev. 5). The persecutor gets converted (Acts 9). Empty nets bring abundance in (John 21). Dancing emerges from mourning (Ps. 30). Applied to life issues, this reveals what we call control--'my body, my choice'--as actually captivity, & God holds precious what we regard as paltry. Where we see only darkness & death, He has sown life & light." Grace Lutheran Church bulletin

LAW & GOSPEL

"Before the Gospel comes, everyone understands that the Law demands our works & that we must satisfy it with our works. That understanding produce either hardened, arrogant dissemblers & hypocrites, harder than any stone water jar, or anxious, troubled consciences . . . The Gospel explains the Law in this way:  It demands more than we can do & wants to have a different man than we are, one who can keep it. That is, it demands Christ & promotes Him, so that through His grace we become different people in faith, people like Christ, & then do truly good works. Thus the true understanding & meaning of the Law is to lead us to the knowledge of our inability & to drive us to seek grace & help not from ourselves, but from another--namely Jesus."  A Year in the Gospels with Martin Luther.

WHAT WE ARE MADE FOR

"Everything you do can & should be evidence of (Jesus) . . . So today make a fresh start & decide that everything in your life happens so that you can be a Bible to the people around you. How you react will be your witness. What you say & how you say it all will impact the kingdom. This isn't more than you can handle; it's what you were made for." Michael DiMarco, Devotions for the God Guy

JUDGING

"Don't judge others for their weaknesses. If the only thing you can control is yourself, then complaining about the sins or weaknesses of other people is a waste of your time. No matter how much you whine about them to how many people, you aren't going to change them . . . The sins of other people will get more & more obvious the closer you draw to God, but so will your own sins, so concentrate on those & leave the sins of others to them . . . And while we're to judge right from wrong (see 1 Cor. 2:15; 1 Thess. 5:21) & to avoid sin at all costs, we are not to spend our strength on judging others when there is plenty of sin within us that needs to be addressed." Michael DiMarco, Devotions for the God Guy I confess that I have a real problem with this. All too often I see the specks in the eyes of others, while ignoring the planks in my own eyes. I find it extremely hard not to judge those with whom I disagree, but that is wrongful. I also need to remember that responding judgmentally to others will not likely change them.

PREPARING FOR DEATH

"I have often heard people say that they are not ready to die. It is true that many of us still have long lists of what we would like to accomplish, but this will be as true at your last hour as it is while you read this article. Your work on earth is never done. Being ready to die is not about accomplishing everything on your bucket list. Being ready to die is having faith in Jesus. Being ready for the Judgment Day is trusting His death & resurrection for your salvation. If you believe in Jesus, you are ready to die--even if you do not think so." Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller, The Lutheran Witness, Sept. 2021

AN EASTER HYMN

Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia (LSB #466, Sts. 1, 2, 5)

Christ has arisen, alleluia. Rejoice & praise Him, alleluia. For our Redeemer burst from the tomb, Even from death, dispelling its gloom. (Refrain)

(Refrain) Let us sing praise to Him with endless joy; Death's fearful sting He has come to destroy. Our sin forgiving, alleluia! Jesus is living, alleluia!

For three long days the grave did its worst Until its strength by God was dispersed. For He who gives life did death undergo; And in its conquest His might did show. (Refrain)

Christ has arisen; He sets us free; Alleluia, to Him praises be. Jesus is living! Let us all sing; He reigns triumphant, heavenly King. (Refrain)

SANCTIFIED & APPOINTED

Jeremiah 1:4-5  "The Lord said to me, 'I knew you before you were formed within your mother’s womb; before you were born I sanctified you & appointed you as My spokesman to the world.'” The Living Bible

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

"But do not fear, baptized saint! You shall not fear the dark valley of death or that wolf of death, for Jesus is the Good Shepherd . . . Jesus truly lays down His lie for the sheep. He did this of His own accord. He did this because He is the Good Shepherd. He did this because He has a steadfast, solid, & dying love for you. He did this because He cares for his sheep. Prayer:  O Good shepherd even when the wolf of death is near, grant me comfort to know that You are with me & will never forsake me. Lord, in Your mercy, hear my prayer. Amen." Matt Richard, Minute Messages

ROLE MODELS

"Parents are the most important role models in their children's lives, for good or bad." Mike Singletary, Men's Devotional Bible

AN EASTER HYMN

Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds, (LSB #465, Sts. 2 & 3

Eternal is the gift He brings, Therefore our heart with rapture sings:  "Christ has triumphed! He is living!" Now still He comes to give us life And by His presence stills all strike. Christ has triumphed! He is living! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

O fill us, Lord, with dauntless love; Set heart & will on things above That we conquer through Your triumph; Grant grace sufficient for life's day That by our lives we truly say:  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

ROAD TRIPS

Kansas Road Trip Addendum:  Although we did enjoy the delicious cuisine at Asian House Restaurant in Overland Park last SUN, I do have one bone to pick with them. I ordered a Sapporo beer, which is advertised as a Japanese beer. It seemed the logical thing to do. Lo & behold, Lois perused the bottle & discovered, much to my chagrin, that it was bottled in Canada. That's right . . . I was the victim of false advertising. In fact, it is also bottled in the US & Vietnam. It's not even produced in Japan. What the hey! I was going to make a stink about it, but Lois told me to chill.

Sioux Falls:  Lois & I are heading to Sioux Falls tomorrow for a Mercy Me concert. Really looking forward to it.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

At the beginning of the new TV season, we decided not to watch NCIS Hawaii, even though we faithfully watched NCIS New Orleans & continue to watch NCIS [probably our favorite show]. We were turned off by NCIS Hawaii's same-sex relationship sub-plot, which is gratuitous & totally unnecessary. Well, after a crossover episode from NCIS, we reluctantly decided to give it a try. Except for the aforementioned politically correct subplot, it's actually pretty good. Characters & plots are fleshed out, & we love seeing the Hawaiian scenery, which we miss. So, there you have it

POLICE

"Police officers hand out cash to help pay for families' groceries in California." Fox News Online Another reason to defund the police, right?

COVID

"Fauci:  US is 'certainly' out of the 'pandemic phase.'" Fox News Online This must be a bitter disappointment for him.

WILDFIRES

"Deadly US wildfires fueled by windy weather continue to threaten communities." FNO 2 firefighters have been killed fighting wildfires in Nebraska, & several have been critically injured. 

HERE'S TO YOUR HEALTH

"Daily blood pressure pills could be replaced by injection." Drudge Report

TRENDING

"Wine-loving nun named world's oldest person!" Drudge

"Concerning rise in people starting conversations on airplanes now that masks not required." Babylon Bee

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE FLORIDA

"FL becomes least affordable place to live." Drudge

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

"Youth voters not pleased by EITHER party." Drudge

DANGEROUS CULTS *

* Courtesy of Babylon Bee

> Doctor Who fandom Should we be worried about you, Kathy?

> Climate change alarmists

> The weirdos still wearing masks

COVID

"FL judge voids mask mandate for planes." Drudge Report, 4/19

"CDC drops all countries from high-risk covid category." Drudge, 4/19

"EPA used COVID-19 relief funds for grants promoting 'green infrastructure' 'environmental justice.'" Fox News Online, 4/20 Of course they did.

"Disney World lifts last mask requirement." Ditto

"Airline passengers celebrating mask mandate decision put Biden in a tough spot." Ditto

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"White Castle celebrates 101st anniversary of the slider." FNO, 4/20 Don't knock it until you've tried one.

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

"University to pay prof $400,000 after reprimanding for refusing to use student's pronouns." Drudge, 4/19

HERE'S TO YOUR HEALTH

"Studies:  Multivitamins have NO health benefits?" Drudge, 4/19

TRENDING

"Satanic Temple loses effort to set up elementary school club." Drudge Report, 4/20

"New implant could link thoughts with computer." Ditto

CRIMINAL MINDS

"Man charged with inhumane killing of free-roaming donkey." Drudge, 4/20

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE CALIFORNIA . . . 

"State of California rejects 100% of biology textbooks for staying there are only two genders." Babylon Bee

. . . LIKE FLORIDA

"The Florida Department of Education has removed dozens of mathematics textbooks from state classrooms, citing the “divisive concepts” and “unsolicited strategies of indoctrination” included in the works. The department announced Friday that 54 textbooks would be removed from elementary and pre-school classrooms after their publishers’ requests for approval were denied. Of these, 28 were denied for including “critical race theory” concepts, the department said. Critical race theory, per Florida law, is an ideology which makes students “feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of…race, color, sex, or national origin.” In March, the Florida legislature passed the ‘Stop W.O.K.E. Act’ to ban its instruction in public schools, a measure awaiting Governor Ron DeSantis’ signature." Arjun Singh, National Review Online, 4/19

ON THE BORDER

"U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) apprehended 23 illegal immigrants on the U.S. terror watchlist along the southern border, in 2021." Arjun Singh, NRO, 4/19

VERACITY OF THE BIBLE

"God says to each of us, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow.” (Isaiah 1:18) The Bible passed down to us today is unchanged from the oldest known manuscripts unearthed near the Dead Sea. It is more sure (a more sure word of testimony) than the witness of the Apostle’s own senses. (2 Peter 1:16-19) And more powerful than the personal account of one resurrected from hell itself if sent to give warning of eternal punishment. (Luke 16:29) Many wish to debate the veracity of the Bible, but unless you’ve read the Book from Genesis to Revelation at least once, you’ve no right to debate the subject. Jesus comes to each of us with his pierced hands and side and asks “be not faithless, but believing.” (John 20:27)

"Faith that bridges the gap between God and man, that brings about a personal reconciliation is faith in the person and work of Christ. (Romans 2:23-26) When Thomas was confronted with the incontrovertible evidences of Christ, as we are confronted with the incontrovertible evidences of the Word, he reacted by confessing the lordship of Christ in his life, turning from his sinful pride and faith in empirical evidences, so-called. And turned to Christ, his sacrificial death, and his atoning resurrection. He appropriated the free gift of justification by faith alone in Christ alone and exclaimed, “My Lord and my God.” (John 20:28)" John Nantz, Townhall, 4/19

ABORTION RIGHTS

"In a recent Washington Post op-ed, Jewish abortion activist Shira M. Zemel argues that abortion opponents are “seeking to impose their religious views on all of us” and “to encode their theology into the laws of our nation.” Even as she derides pro-lifers for praying outside of an abortion business in Falls Church, Va., Zemel notes that the First Amendment protects their right to demonstrate and her religious freedom to practice Judaism. This much is certainly true.

"Where Zemel goes wrong is when she insinuates that access to abortion is protected by the First Amendment’s religion clauses, suggesting that because her religious worldview licenses abortion, it is therefore a matter of religious freedom that she be permitted to access it. She doesn’t bother to explain or defend this argument in detail, but merely hints at it in passing. More troubling is how Zemel indulges in a favorite lazy slander of abortion supporters, claiming throughout that the Christianity of some pro-lifers means that opposing abortion is an effort to “impose religious views” on the nation. (This is a topic with which Ryan Anderson and I grapple at length in the first chapter of our book out in June.) For one thing, the pro-life movement is hardly a Christian monolith — there are agnostic pro-lifers, atheist pro-lifers, Muslim pro-lifers, and, for that matter, Jewish pro-lifers. If the pro-life movement is attempting to impose religion on the nation, it remains unclear what religion that might be.

"Meanwhile, Zemel conveniently ignores that every law imposes some view of morality. Surely most of the laws that Zemel supports manage to impose a view of morality that coincides with Christian teaching. Laws against theft comport with Catholic doctrine as much as laws against abortion do, yet I’ve never managed to find an abortion supporter who opposes anti-theft laws on the basis that the Bible forbids stealing and therefore that such laws are impositions of religion. Even laws against tax evasion or running a stop sign comport with some vision of morality. All laws do. The proper question isn’t whether laws “impose morality” or whether that morality comports with one religious tradition or another; the question is whether our laws enforce a good moral vision or a bad one." Alexandra DeSanctis, National Review Online, 4/20

CRIMINAL MINDS

"Teens offering free squirts of hand sanitizer to shoppers in Brandford--but it's super glue." Bored Panda

ON THE BORDER:  ERRATA

Yesterday I posted on FB about the Border Patrol intercepting 7 people on the Terrorist Watch List. Lois informed me that it was 23, NOT 7. I apologize for my fake news.

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Compliments of Reader's Digest, Dec. 2021/Jan 2022

There is an order of monks that is sworn to silence. But each year, one monk is allowed to say two words. The day arrives & a monk stands up & says, "Oatmeal lumpy." The abbot then declares the session over. The following year, another monk stands & says, "Oatmeal fine." A year later, it's a third monk's turn. "I quit," he says. The abbot is shocked. "Why?" The third monk replies, "I can't stand the constant bickering."

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY

"Last week, reporter Christopher Rufo released footage of top Disney employees vowing to inject their radical LGBTQ agenda into children's programming. Disney producer Latoya Raveneau told an all-hands meeting that her team works to push a 'not-at-all- secret gay agenda' in programming aimed at kids & sought to add 'queerness' to such content . . . And people reacted. #BoycottDisney began to trend on social media. We at the Daily Wire committed to spending $100 million to develop children's content that would be safe for kids--content dedicated to traditional values, where parents wouldn't have to worry about prescreening content for messages about non-binary 5-year-olds . . . The takeaway, according to the social Left, is that anyone who defends traditionalism in child-rearing--or anyone who simply doesn't want children turned into targets of sexual propagandizing--is the true cultural aggressor. This is a transparent lie. And it's a lie that won't redound to the benefit of those who seek radical change. If they wish to pose the rubric of gay rights against parental rights, gay rights are likely to suffer. If they wish to suggest that LGBTQ freedom extends to teachers initiating children into sexual conversations without parental permission, parents are unlikely to go along for the ride , , , For too long, Americans have planted their heads firmly in the sand, hoping that the forces of the free market would militate against the cultural hijacking of corporate institutions. Instead, corporations built by entrepreneurs have been hijacked by woke employees & a feckless managerial class. The blowback will be real, & it should be real. And if that means parents swearing off Mickey Mouse, increasingly they will." Column by Ben Shapiro in Norfolk Daily News, 4/8

IS THERE A GOD?

"But if there is no God and we are simply the products of an unguided evolutionary process (rather than being created by God in His image), there would be no such thing as justice. Or goodness. Or absolute morality.

"As C. S. Lewis reflected on his mindset as an atheist, “My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust? If the whole show was bad and senseless from A to Z, so to speak, why did I, who was supposed to be part of the show, find myself in such violent reaction against it? . . .”

"He continued, “Of course I could have given up my idea of justice by saying it was nothing but a private idea of my own. But if I did that, then my argument against God collapsed too -- for the argument depended on saying that the world was really unjust, not simply that it did not happen to please my private fancies. Thus in the very act of trying to prove that God did not exist -- in other words, that the whole of reality was senseless -- I found I was forced to assume that one part of reality -- namely my idea of justice -- was full of sense. Consequently atheism turns out to be too simple. If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be without meaning.” Michael Brown, Townhall, 4/18

THE MEANING OF THE CROSS

"The prophet Isaiah said it so beautifully, hundreds of years before Jesus’ death: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). What a message! We sinned. He died. We deserved the punishment. He took it on Himself. That is the meaning of the cross." Michael Brown, Townhall, 4/17

FREEDOM OF RELIGION

"Democrats’ record of hostility toward religion is fundamentally opposed to the majority of Americans’ convictions and the values that form the foundation of the American experiment. Worshipping freely and living out our beliefs in the public square is the reason our Founding Fathers enshrined religious liberty in the First Amendment. As Americans gather to celebrate Passover and Easter, we’re reminded of just how much our country needs the message of the hope, peace, and joy that can only come through faith." Ronna McDaniel, Townhall, 4/ 17

THE CORE OF OUR NATION'S SOUL

"Darkness either overcomes you or it compels you to shine your light to repel it.  Americans face this choice as we are bombarded with social issues that require us to examine the core of the nation’s soul. Whether you believe the United States is a Christian nation founded on Judeo-Christian principles or not, the universally accepted norms of right and wrong remain until they are upended. The far left in our nation is actively attempting to eradicate core beliefs by confusing children of their gender and God-given sex, by emasculating men, by making race an idol, and by worshipping at the altar of abortion. The movement to eradicate foundational biblical principles is influenced by the demonic (darkness) and Maryland and California now lead the way.

"As if the horrors created by abortion-on-demand causing the slaughter of 60+ million babies since Roe v. Wade in 1973 were not enough, Maryland and California legislators drafted bills moving through their legislatures that go a step further – they attempt to create laws that avoid civil and criminal liability for the murder of children. In these bills, they attempt to shield from prosecution a mother and any third parties who assist her in murdering her child from 7 to 28 days after birth (“perinatal period”).  This is called infanticide and getting away with murder. These bills are indecent and should not even be considered in a moral society. And there’s the rub . . . 

"What is unspoken and most diabolical is that the proposed laws in these states will have a disproportionate impact on black babies. In the United States, 44% of abortions are performed on black babies. Consequently, it stands to reason that the infanticide bills proposed in Maryland and California will disproportionately murder black babies after they are born.  The far left is quick to denounce anyone who opposes indoctrinating children with critical race theory in schools as racists, but they are eerily quiet when it comes to the wholesale slaughter of black babies in and out of the womb, as proposed.  The objective reality is that California Assembly Bill 2223 and Maryland Senate Bill 669 are the kind of discriminatory bills that should be deemed unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment (Equal Protection Clause) of the U.S. Constitution." Marc Little, Townhall, 4/17