WAIT & BE STRONG

"The Lord is my light & my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid . . . Hear me, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me & answer me! . . . Hide not Your face from me. Turn not Your servant away in anger, O You who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! . . . Wait for the Lord; be strong, & let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" Psalm 27:1, 7, 9, 14

EQUILIBRIUM IN MARRIAGE

"Realism demands patience & a willingness to adjust. The art of marriage, it has been said, is in maintaining equilibrium through the various changes & adjustments of life together." G.R. Slater, Men's Devotional Bible

STANDING WITH OTHERS

"From the beginning of time, God made it clear that it is not good for His people to be alone (Gen. 2:18). God designed us to be cooperative . . . During difficult times it is critical that we are walking in fellowship with other Christians. When a crisis hits, it is overwhelming to face it alone. But if we have cultivated supportive friendships, we will find strength in the comfort & encouragement of those who care about us. Interdependence is also a safeguard for us when we are lured by temptation. The consistent testimony of those who have fallen to temptation is that they isolated themselves from other believers & were not held accountable by Christian friends . . . Seek to be a person who willingly joins others in carrying out God's assignments. Strive to be the source of support & encouragement that those around you need." 

GOD'S COMMITMENT

"God is not content to have only your soul. He wants your body too. He wants all of you. Psalm 16:10 declares, 'You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead.' The resurrection proves that God does not abandon us . . . In your moment of loss & grief, God does not forsake you. In your day of trouble, He makes you to stand. In your time of anguish, He guards your heart & mind with His peace. The resurrection reminds us that God does not abandon us. We hold on to God's comforting promises . . . In His Word, God says, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb. 13:5).' The hope of the resurrection sends us the same message from God:  I will never leave you nor forsake you.'

In marriage, a man & woman pledge to model God's love by never leaving nor forsaking each other until death parts them. A loving marriage is a beautiful picture of Christ's love for the Church. The bond of marriage is the strongest bond between two people. The bond of grace between God & His people is even stronger." Christopher Kennedy, Jesus Said WHAT?

THE PROMISED COMFORT OF HEAVEN

Matthew 22:30  For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. "This is always a difficult one. Many hear this & are confused, thinking we become angels when we die. No. Jesus simply says there will be no more marrying. (What the state of the relationship in eternity will be for those married in this life, the text doesn't exactly say.) But what bothers most people is the idea that we may not recognize or be recognized by our spouse in heaven. Not so. We shall have glorious bodies like Jesus' body. His disciples recognized Him after the resurrection. We shall know & recognize each other in heaven." Rev. Matthew Harrison, The Lutheran Witness, Nov. 2022

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

"Lord Jesus Christ, You are among us in the least of our brothers & sisters. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, & open hands & hearts to respond to people with love & mercy; for You live & reign with the Father & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. Amen. Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin

A HYMN FOR TODAY

God of Grace & God of Glory, LSB #850

God of grace & God of glory, On Your people pour Your pow'r; Crown Your ancient Church's story; Bring its bud to glorious flow'r. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage For the facing of this hour, For the facing of this hour.

Lo, the hosts of evil round us Scorn the Christ, assail His ways! From the fears that long have bound us Free our hearts to faith & praise. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage For the living of these days, For the living of these days.

Cure Your children's warring madness; Bend our pride to Your control; Shame our wanton, selfish gladness, Rich in things & poor in soul. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage Lest we miss Your kingdom's goal, Lest we miss Your kingdom's goal.

Save us from weak resignation To the evils we deplore; Let the gift of Your salvation Be our glory evermore. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, Serving You whom we adore, Serving You whom we adore.

CELEBRATING THANKSMAS

For quite a few years now, our family has been celebrating Christmas at Thanksgiving. Hence, THANKSMAS! We put up Christmas decorations, wrap presents & place them under the Christmas tree--a new, "skinny" tree this year, but that's another story. We welcome our children & grandchildren, prepare & serve a mouthwatering, traditional Thanksgiving dinner, eat too much, exchange presents, & enjoy the love & fellowship that flourish in our family.

Last night we worshipped at our home congregation, Grace Lutheran in Norfolk, Nebraska. Pastor Wilke delivered an inspiring sermon, & we joined with our brothers & sisters in worship, Word, song, & Holy Communion.

It seems trite to list what we're thankful for this time of year, but it's traditional, it's my blog, & I'm going to do it anyway. DISCLAIMER:  Whenever listing those things I'm thankful for, there's always the danger of forgetting someone or something. It's not that I'm ungrateful--it's that I'm not as cognitively sharp as I once was. [Yes, I was cognitively sharper at one time.] So, here goes.

I'm thankful for the many material blessings we enjoy--way more than I ever imagined. Shelter, clothing, food, health, & so much more. I'm thankful for living in a country where we enjoy many freedoms, & I'm thankful for those who serve in the military & help us preserve those freedoms. This includes 2 nephews who serve in the Navy, & a son-in-law who serves in the Nebraska Air National Guard. I'm thankful for the leaders we have who seek after what is truly good & are not driven by wrongful motives.

I'm thankful for Lois, my wife, who is a faithful help-meet. I'm thankful for our children & their spouses, whom I also count as my children, & our 5 grandchildren. I'm thankful for family: siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, their families. I'm thankful for so many good friends, & I'm thankful for the brothers & sisters who are part of the fellowship we enjoy at our church. I'm thankful for faithful pastors.

I'm thankful for the opportunities that God has given to Lois & me to serve in our church. I'm thankful for the spiritual gifts & fruits of the Spirit that He gratefully bestows on us. And I am very thankful, very grateful, for His grace & mercy, the forgiveness & salvation won for us by our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. I'm thankful for His Holy Word, Baptism, the Lord's Supper, & the blessing f prayer. I'm thankful for those who take the time to read my sometimes insufferably long posts. And now it's time to move on.

A READING FROM PSALMS

"I will sing to the Lord all my life, I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. How many are Your works, O Lord! In wisdom You made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures.These all look to You to give them their food at the proper time. When You send Your Spirit, they are created, & You renew the face of the earth." Psalm 104:33; 24, 27, 30

A PRAYER FOR THANKSGIVING DAY *

* Source:  Lutheran Book of Prayer

"Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good & His mercy endures forever. Lord God, heavenly Father, You have created us & endowed us with all that we are or have as a pure gift of Your 'fatherly, divine goodness & mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me.' You sustain us from day to day with the gifts of daily bread in the food that we eat, the family that surrounds us, the friends we enjoy, the country where we live, & countless other benefits that we constantly receive from Your open hand.

"On this Day of Thanksgiving, cause us to gratefully remember the good gifts that You shower upon us. Deepen in us knowledge of Your goodness, & awaken our hearts to praise You for all Your gifts, especially the forgiveness of sins that You have purchased & won for us & the whole world in the atoning death of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Keep us mindful of Your mercies every day, & grant that we may thank, praise, serve, & obey You not only with our lips but also with lives dedicated to the service of our neighbors. To You, O Lord, Father, Son, & Holy Spirit, be all honor & glory, praise & thanksgiving, now & forever. Amen. 

A HYMN FOR THANKSGIVING

For the Fruits of His Creation, LSB #894

For the fruits of His creation, Thanks be to God. For His gifts to ev'ry nation, Thanks be to God. For the flowing, sowing, reaping, Silent growth while we are sleeping, Future needs in earth's safe-keeping, Thanks be to God.

In the just reward of labor, God's will is done. In the help we give our neighbor, God's will is done. In our worldwide task of caring For the hungry & despairing, In the harvests we are sharing, God's will is done.

For the harvests of the Spirit, Thanks be to God. For the good we all inherit, Thanks be to God. For the wonders that astound us, For the truths that still confound us, Most of all, that love has found us, Thanks be to God.

ONE MESSAGE FROM A SECULAR SOURCE *

* Source:  National Review Online

We must face the problems we have today. They include an epidemic of drug deaths killing over 100,000 Americans a year and shortening our life expectancy, a broken education system that is forming America’s youth to despise their inheritance, steeply declining rates of marriage and religious faith, and a culture that still takes the lives of hundreds of thousands of unborn children each year — a different kind of death of despair. We have a failure to pass on responsibility from one generation to the next. This is reflected in the lack of wealth accumulating in younger generations, who should be risking their resources for ventures of their own — the great enterprises of tomorrow. It’s also reflected in the prospect of an election between two old men that strong majorities of the country would rather not be president again. Declining fertility rates foreshadow a society quite unlike those celebrated by Adams and Lincoln — a society aging and shrinking. And then, when we look beyond our shores, we see an international scene profoundly unsettled with wars and the rumors of wars.

More fromTHE EDITORS

Harry Reid’s Judiciary

New York Gives Up on High-School Education

"These problems require statesmen of courage and character, and a strong civil society to meet them. They also require a people who are conscious of the blessings they have been given. And so, we commend our readers and ourselves to contemplate the awesome material progress of our times. We live longer than our grandparents. We make new lifesaving and -enhancing discoveries every year. We see tremendous advances in the space race, made by American companies. Like John F. Kennedy, we are thankful for our arms which give us so much security. And we commend our readers to be thankful for one another. We see Americans, with vigor, rising up to reform or rebuild institutions that have failed them. How fitting then to have a day marked out for us, as a nation, to thank God for the blessings we need, and the ones we never would have thought to ask for ourselves, the gifts He saw fit to give us in his Providence. Happy Thanksgiving!" The Editors

HERE I GO AGAIN *

* Once again, the devotional thoughts that I encountered during my quiet time really spoke to my heart.

It was the beginning of the 2014 school year at Lutheran High Northeast, & I was sinking fast. I was burning out, suffering from clinical depression, exacerbated by some physical ailments. I was working at school until 6:00 every night. Pretty soon I was working on SAT mornings, then all day on SAT. Then it was all SUN afternoon. As I worshipped on SUN morning, I was growing increasingly agitated by my to-do list, which was getting hopelessly long. I was spending virtually no time at home in Word & devotion & prayer. And the worse things got, the more I added to my time & efforts at school.

Things came to a head, when an intervention was staged. I began professional therapy & took a leave of absence. Lois & I went to a Shepherd's Canyon Retreat. All helpful, but still I wasn't catching on. I kept asking my Board for another month of leave until ultimately my Board told me that it was in my best interests & the school's best interest that I not return.

I was devastated, but I was led to understand that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who have been called according to His purpose. [SEE Rom. 8:28] It was hard to see it at the time, but I was "forced" into a quiet time each morning when I could spend unhindered time with the Lord. The end of my ministry at Lutheran High turned into my ministry at Orphan Grain Train. I think, in hindsight [which is always 20/20], that my departure from Lutheran High was, in fact, a blessing for the school & a blessing for me. It was a good thing for both my mental & spiritual health. I continue with my morning quiet time, & my ministry at OGT continues.

Trust me when I say that I'm not indulging in a pity party. My experience is a cautionary tale. And I pray that my message may touch some other lives.

SITTING AT JESUS' FEET

"It is good to want to serve Christ as an expression of love for what He has done for you. Yet when your activity consumes your time & energies so that you have no time for Him, you have become too busy. You may think . . . that if you don't do the work it won't get done. That may be true, but Jesus taught that your highest priority must be your relationship with Him. If anything detracts you from that relationship, that activity is not from God. God will not ask you to do something that hinders your relationship with Christ. At times, serving God & carrying out His mission is the best way to know & experience God. At other times, it is more important to sit quietly at His feet & listen to what He is saying." Henry & Richard Blakaby, "Experiencing God Day-By-Day"

THE ANSWER

"Yes, Jesus is the answer, & it's precisely because He is the answer that we can venture out. Because He is Lord of all, we can walk into all & find Him Lord." John Fischer, "Men's Devotional Bible

A WORD FROM PSALMS

"O Lord, I love the habitation of Your house & the place where Your glory dwells. Do not sweep my soul away with sinners, nor my lie with bloodthirsty men, in whose hands there are evil devices, & whose right hands are full of bribes. But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; redeem me, & be gracious to me. My foot stands on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the Lord." Psalm 26:8-12

APPRECIATING WHAT WE HAVE

"When we desire less, we are more content with what we do have. Coveting puts us in a state of discontentment with an insatiable appetite for more, making contentment impossible. Those who are content enjoy what they have rather than complain about what they don't have. We don't need to be more to be thankful for; we just need to be more thankful." Steward Builders

LIFE THOUGHTS FOR THE CHURCH YEAR

"Many around us despair because the world pressures them into the violence & fraud (Zeph. 1:9) of viewing death as a solution to difficulty. In the sanctity of every human life, we have riches to spare  (Matt. 25:15). Gospel hope & joy are not just for us to possess. Jesus brings us to faith & life to proclaim & put into practice." Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin

CONTROLLING TIME

"Today is a very important day to make our lives meaningful. Yesterday is history, & tomorrow may never come. At some point in life, we start asking, 'Where did the months & the years go?' Time is an irreplaceable commodity that God grants us, a precious period of opportunity for fulfilling the purposes for which we exist. Living as stewards, we realize the importance of time & use it properly. Wise use of time starts by living a life for Christ. If our time, energy, & focus are only on material wealth or other worldly successes, our time has been wasted." Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin

DIVISIONS

"When division happens in your life--in your family, church, or comminity--it's not over. God can still bring about good. He may lead the disagreeing parties to repentance, personal growth apart from one another, & ultimately reconciliation. Or He might produce a new relationship or a new ministry or a new movement in society that would not have happened under previous conditions.

"We should not seek division. Jesus did not seek division. But we also should not despair when division happens. God is still at work for good. Because of that truth, we can find true peace in Christ even in turbulent circumstances." Christopher Kennedy, "Jesus Said WHAT?"

THE UNITY OF MARRIAGE

"I've heard [marriage] compared to the Holy Trinity. In a mystery of the faith, God is three in one. In a mystery of the faith, husband & wife are two in one, so to speak. Paul . . . writes, 'This mystery is profound (Eph. 5:32). In marriage, God joins together husband & wife, uniting them for a lifetime 'till death us do part.'" "Jesus Said WHAT?"

DO YOUR DUTY & THANK GOD

"Thank God for the work He has given you to do. Do your duty every day as though you were in His presence. Be industrious, capable, dependable . . . Then these words will be fulfilled also in your life. Thou hast been faithful in little things, I will set thee over greater." O. Hallesby, "God's Word for Today"

THE PROMISED COMFORT OF HEAVEN

Mark 16:19 "Jesus . . . was taken up into heaven & sat down at the right hand of God." "Just where is heaven? Where is God's right hand? This means God's power, which is everywhere, by which He sustains all things. Because of Christ's divine & human natures combined in one person, He is, as God, everywhere. He is present with His saints to uphold faith & hear their prayers in the most horrid, forgotten, filthy dwelling in the world. In Christ, heaven has hold of us no matter what earthly hell we face. And joy eternal await us." Rev. Matthew Harrison, The Lutheran Witness, Nov. 2022

THANKFULNESS IS FOUNDATIONAL

"Thankfulness is foundational to the Christian life. Thankfulness is a conscious response that comes from looking beyond our blessings to their source. As Christians, we have been forgiven, saved from death, & adopted as God's children. There could be no greater reason for a grateful heart! . . . We, too, have been healed & made whole by the Savior. We are free to enjoy the abundant life the Savior has graciously given us . . . God looks for our thanks. Our worship, prayers, service, & daily life ought to be saturated with Thanksgiving to God (Phil. 4:6)." "Experiencing God Day-By-Day

TODAY'S PRAYER

"O God, almighty Father, You have shown to the world Your love in the most glorious sacrifice of Your beloved Son. Fill us with the same sacrificial love that we may offer our resources for the sake of Your kingdom & the salvation of many; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. Amen." Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin

A HYMN OF THANKSGIVING *

* We sang this at the end of communion today. One of my favorite hymns!

Sent Forth By God's Blessing, LSB 643

Sent forth by God's blessing, Our true faith confessing, The people of God from His dwelling take leave. The Supper is ended, O now be extended The fruits of this service in all who believe. The seed of His teaching, Receptive souls reaching, Shall blossom in action for God & for all. His grace did invite us, His love shall unite us, To work for God's kingdom & answer His call.

With praise & thanksgiving To God ever-living, The tasks of our ev'ry-day life we will face. Our faith ever sharing, In love ever caring, Embracing His children of each tribe & race. With Your feast You feed us, With Your light now lead us; Unite us as one in this life that we share. Then may all the living With praise & thanksgiving Give honor to Christ & His name that we bear.

JUDGMENT? OR DISCERNMENT?

"Judge not, & you shall not be judged. Condemn not, & you shall not be condemned. Forgive, & you will be forgiven." (Luke 6:37) In our culture which rejects absolute truth, we are admonished not to judge. Who am I to judge those who support abortion? Who am I to oppose same-sex marriage & the transgender agenda? Well, Scripture does warn us not to judge, but it may not be that simple. I confess--I am prone to judge others, so the devotion I read during my quiet time this morning really spoke to my heart. Here's what I read.

"There is a difference between judgment & discernment. God sees people's hearts & knows their motives (Prov. 16:2) Only God can accurately judge those who deserve punishment. Ultimately, Christ will sit in judgment upon us all in the day of judgment (2 Cor. 5:10)

"One problem is that we like to sit in the judgment seat & pronounce condemnation upon those whom we think have sinned! Scripture commands us not to judge or condemn others, for we cannot be judgmental & redemptive at the same time. It is difficult to pray sincerely for someone while you are judging them . . . 

"God commands us not to judge others, but He does want us to be discerning . . . Scripture commands us to avoid associating with scoffers or fools (Prov. 22:10; 17:12). Unless we are able to identify scoffers & fools, we cannot obey God's command. That is not being judgmental; it is being discerning. As Christians, we have been instructed to observe the lives of others, so that we can help them while avoiding any sinful influence." [Henry & Richard Blakaby, "Experiencing God Day-By-Day"]

LIFE THOUGHTS FOR THE CHURCH YEAR

"Jesus often meets us in unexpected moments (Matt. 25:10). He even sometimes hides in surprise pregnancies or terminal diagnoses in order yo rescue & bless. So, we dare not ignore the poor & needy neighbors who cry out for deliverance (Ps. 70:1, 5) from abortion & assisted suicide. If we do indeed love the Lord's salvation, then let us say so." Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin

GOD IS FAITHFUL

"He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it" (1 Thess. 5:24). "God never calls us to do something without faithfully keeping His word & enabling us to do it. We are not always faithful to do what God tells us, but He remains faithful & stands by His word to fulfill what He has promised (Is. 46:11) . . . 

"Trust in the character of God. It is His nature to be faithful. The testimony of His people throughout the ages is expressed by the psalmist, who declared:  'I have been young, & now I am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor is descendants begging bread'" (Ps. 37:25).

"Regardless of how bleak your present circumstances are, do not lose hope. No one has ever experienced unfaithfulness on God's part! Allow time for God to reveal His faithfulness to you. Someday you will reflect on what God has done & praise Him for His absolute faithfulness to you." ["Experiencing God Day-By-Day"]

ANGER

"Few things are more destructive to Christians than anger. Anger causes us to lose our self-control & to say & do things we would otherwise never consider. Anger, if allowed to remain, turns into bitterness that eats away at our hearts. Scripture consistently commands believers to put away anger & lists it as one of the sins of the flesh (Eph. 4:31).

"That does not mean that we cease to have strong convictions or lose our desire for justice. It does mean that we refuse to allow the sins of others to cause us to sin. Anger does not bring about God's redemptive work; far more often it hinders what God is working to accomplish." ["Experiencing God Day-By-Day"]

ANXIETY

"Ir's nothing to be anxious; but in everything by prayer & supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Phil. 4:6). "'In nothing be anxious,' says the apostle. Can he mean that literally? Yes; but of course he says this only to the children of God. A child of God is one who sits, as it were, in the lap of God, held by the eternal arms. God Himself whispers in our ears:  'You are my child; & I care for My children. Simply come to Me & ask for the things you need.'

"'I protect My children. Neither people nor the devil shall be permitted to touch you without My permission; & they shall not be permitted to do anything to you but that which is beneficial to you.' Is it not thus that God whispers into your ears also?" [O. Hallesby, "God'sWord for Today"]

LOVING GOD OR LOVING OUR PARENTS?

As is often the case, I came across something in my morning quiet time that I really needed to hear.

"The 4th Commandment reminds us that God doesn't want us to despise our parents. He wants us to love & honor our parents & by extension to love our family members as His gifts to us. But that love must always be subordinate to our love for Him.

"For many of us, our problem is not that we love our parents too much but that we love them too little. When children disrespect their parents, they break God's commandment. When adult children somehow think that the they've somehow 'outgrown' their parents or surpassed them in wisdom, their egos have overrun God's commandment. When adult children ignore their elderly parents' needs in their twilight years, those children have disregarded God's commandment.

"We can repent of these sins, amend our ways, & renew our commitment to love & honor our parents. With the Lord's help, reconciliation can happen. You can strive for a healthier relationship with your mom or dad, 'forgetting what lies behind & straining forward to what lies ahead'" (Phil. 3:13).

"If your mom or dad has already gone to be with the Lord & you're feeling regret over what you may have done or left undone, believe God's Word that all your sins are forgiven & that all whose souls rest with Christ are at perfect peace. A loving mother or father would not want their children to be trapped in guilt. More so, your heavenly Father wants to lift you out of guilt by His grace in Christ. Embrace the full forgiveness He gives you in your Savior." [Christopher Kennedy, "Jesus said WHAT?"] 

PRESERVING THROUGH DIVISION

"Why would Jesus cause painful division in the family now? Because He wants to save us from a more painful & eternal separation, not only from loved ones but most significantly from God! Jesus' highest priority is our eternal salvation. Nothing compares.

"In the ultimate act of love, Jesus gave His life on the cross to save your soul. One the cross, as Jesus took upon Himself the sins of the world, He endured alienation from His Father, crying out, 'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?' (Mark 15:34)" He suffered so that we would be spared from eternal punishment & be filled with true peace through the gift of everlasting life in Him." ["Jesus said WHAT?"]

A HYMN FOR TODAY

Lord of All Nations, Grant Me Grace, LSB #844, Sts. 4 & 5

Give me Thy courage, Lord, to speak Whenever strong oppress the weak. Should I myself the victim be, Help me forgive, rememb'ring Thee.

With Thine own love may I be filled And by Thy Holy Spirit willed, That all I touch, where'er I be, May be divinely touched by Thee.

ROAD TRIP ROUND-UP

Our return trip from Wichita Falls, TX on OCT 31 was uneventful. HIGHLIGHTS:  (1) Spending time with Lois' little brother David & Carmen, his wife & also my 1st cousin. (2) Spending time with Lois' little sister Anita & our brother-in-law Jerry. (3) Getting to see Katie, our niece, & Seth, her significant other. (4) Watching the Rangers win games 1 & 3 of the World Series. (5) Watching the last 5 minutes of the Cornhusker's victory over Purdue. (6) Feasting at my favorite Chinese buffet in TX. (7) Receiving an early Christmas present from David & Carmen:  a bushel of hotel soap, shampoo, & conditioner. LOWLIGHTS:  (1) Watching the 4th quarter of the Chiefs' miserable loss to Denver. (2) Watching the Rangers get blown-away by the D-Backs in game 2 of the World Series. Thankfully they won games 4 & 5 to triumph in the World Series. (3) The horrid weather. It was colder in WF on SAT than it was in Norfolk & the Twin Cities, where our son Nathan & his family live. 

2023 RESOLUTIONS REVIEW

> Average 1 road trip/month:  A. After our trip to TX at the end of OCT, we've completed 12, with remaining trips planned for Lincoln later this month & FL in DEC. 

> Lose 5 lbs:  C+. Due to a weight gain over the past few months, I've really slipped, & that's all you need to know.

> Add to our National Park list:  A. We visited Biscayne NP in FL in FEB.

> Avoid desserts:  B.

> Do my PT exercises & walk at least 4X/week:  C-. I walked a lot in preparation for & during our trip to Greece & Turkey, then regressed, then started walking again this week.

> Publish my "Buzzwords" devotion book." C-. I stalled at doing the final proof, so it looks pretty certain that this won't happen.

> Write my "Chapter & Verse" devotion book.  B. Finished, but I still need to proof it.

> GPA:  B-.  I really need to step it up in NOV & DEC.

WEATHER

Norfolk received 4" of rain while we were in TX. Downpours are the result of global climate change. No, wait . . . Droughts are the result of global climate change. No, wait . . . The devastating fire in Maui was the result of global climate change. No, wait . . . The devastating fire in Maui was caused by human error. Ahhhhh!

CRIMINAL MINDS

"Man is accused of biting police dog . . . The police dog did not require medical attention." Omaha World Herald, 3/3

WORLD SERIES

"God rewards only team that doesn't have a Pride Night with World Series win." Babylon Bee

TRENDING NEWS FROM THE BABYLON BEE *

* Your trusted source of fake news

> Dad sadly informs kids a robber broke into their home & stole their Reese's Cups.

> Terrifying haunted house where they rip humans limb from limb actually just a Planned Parenthood.

> Weird:  Halloween over but Colin Kaepernick still pretending to be a FB player.

> Palestinian protester tries to argue with skinhead but they just agree on everything"

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE FLORIDA 

"One-of-a-kind FL Man Games include evading arrest obstacle course, beer belly FL sumo, Weaponized pool noodle mud duel, Category 5 cash grab." Fox News Online

WAYS TO SCARE OFF CALIFORNIANS LOOKING TO MOVE INTO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD *

* Brought to you by the Babylon Bee

> Offer them sweet tea.

> Show off a cool gun you're packing.

> Invite them to your church this Sunday.

> Show them your house & the several acres you live on.

> Point out how many houses in town have American flags.

> Show off your Trump 2020 & 2024 bumper stickers.

BACON

"Kevin Bacon, a missing PA pig, returns home after actor Kevin Bacon's public plea." FNO

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

"Bidenomics:  More people handing out IOUs to trick or treaters." Babylon Bee

ARE YOU AS GOOD AS YOUR WORD?

"In a survey of nearly 2,000 Americans, 58% of respondents admitted that they've used a word to try to sound smarter--despite not knowing what it meant." Reader's Digest, Sep 2022 That's barbaric, heinous, diabolical, grody, nefarious, atrocious!

TODAY'S TRIVIA

"All members of the British royal family are descendants of Vlad the Impaler, the 15th-century Romanian despot who was the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula." Uncle John's Awesome 35th Anniversary Bathroom Reader