ROAD TRIP UPDATE 

Tomorrow we embark on our last road trip of 2023. It will be our second trip to FL this year. We're flying to Ft. Walton Beach for a week with Lois' little sister Anita, Jerry, our brother-in-law, & I think we'll get to see our niece & godchild Lia, too. Our last visit there was over 10 years ago. We managed to escape, which was blocked by a 7-ft drift. On our drive back to Norfolk, we wondered how we were going to get back into the house. We got home, & the driveway had been cleared by Rachel's future husband Derek. I don't remember if they were already engaged, but we told her, "He's the one!" [He no longer has access to a high-loader, but he still ranks in our Top 2 Sons-in-Law.

Looks like it will be chilly & rainy there, but we'll cope. Besides a visit with beloved family members, we're looking forward to Christmas worship at Jerry & Anita's church, a dip in their hot tub, & an expedition to find a HI license plate--the only one missing from our list this year. Hopefully, we'll get to do some post-Christmas sale shopping--I'll probably stay home with Jerry.

BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES OF ALL TIME *

* Ranked by Fox News Online, 12/21

1, Miracle on 34th St.

2. A Christmas Carol

3, Elf

4. It's a Wonderful Life

5. White Christmas

6. Scrooged

7. A Christmas Story. My favorite! I never get tired of watching it.

CHRISTMAS BY THE NUMBERS *

* Courtesy of today's Omaha World Herald

Where consumers shop:  1. Online [58%], 2. Department stores, 3. Discount stores, 3. Grocery stores, 4. Clothing stores, 5. Local/small businesses, 6. Electronic stores, 7. Craft stores, 8. Outlet stores, 9. Thrift stores.

Top 10 gift card types:  1. Restaurants [30%], 2. Bank-issued, 3. Department stores, 4. Coffee shops, 5. Entertainment, 6. Online merchants, 7. Grocery stores/gas, 8. Electronics stores, 9. Food delivery, 10. Book stores. [If you're ever wondering what to get me for Christmas, this would be my #1 choice.]

Top toys on Santa's list:  For girls, Barbie. For boys, Lego.

Festive sounding places in the U.S.:  Mt. Holly, NC; Holly Hill, FL; Garland, TX; Snowflake, AZ. [These are all states where our families live. Ever visited there?]

Popular plants of the season:  Poinsettia, Christmas Rose, Mistletoe, Holly. [You may be interested to know that when we lived in Hawaii, we would order a poinsettia from church for Christmas, then plant it outside. Can't do that in Nebraska.]

According to the 2023 Christmas Price Index accounting for the "12 Days of Christmas," the total cost would be $46,729.86 [up 2.7%]. The most expensive? 10 Lord's a Leaping, $14,539.20.

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE FLORIDA

"FL man claims to be Captain America with top secret info to get onto Air Force Base, DOJ says." FNO, 12/21

HERE'S TO YOUR HEALTH

"Secret to happy life? SLEEP!" Drudge Report, 12/21

TRENDING NEWS FROM THE BABYLON BEE

> New Seventh-Day Adventist Chick-fil-A closed Saturday, open Sunday.

> Accordion player denied spot on worship band again.

> Investigators beginning to suspect Claudine Gay's novel "Larry Potter & the Sorcerer's Rock" may have been plagiarized.

LAST-MINUTE GIFTS YOU CAN BUY AT A 24-HOUR WALGREENS TO SWEEP YOUR WIFE OFF HER FEET *

* Source:  The Babylon Bee, your trusted source of fake news

> Bunion cream

> Lottery ticket [There's a 0.00000001% chance this will be the greatest gift she's ever received.]

> Combination flashlight/radio/waffle iron

> Rapid COVID-19 test [Democrats only]

> Xanax [This will help calm her down after she finds out you only got her Xanax.]

> Pregnancy test [Wives love taking these.]

> 18-oz bag of Flamin' Hot Funyuns [the gift that keeps on giving long after they're eaten]

> 28-pack of hearing aid batteries [This will show her you're thinking about a long future with her.]

> Bottle of 1000 multiple vitamins [a great way to show you love her & that you've noticed she needs some more energy during the day]

> Walgreens ballpoint pen [The lady at the counter will probably give it to you for free if you ask nicely.]

> Old lady reading glasses with a long neck chain

> A bottle of perfume that might convince her you went somewhere other than Walgreens.

ARE MARRIAGES WITHOUT CHILDREN HAPPIER?

"Several TikTok videos about DINKs have gone viral recently. They feature self-described DINK (double-income, no kids) couples, proudly talking about their child-free and carefree life, which includes spontaneous vacations and “snobby hobbies like skiing and golfing.”

"While we respect their personal choices, the underlining message these types of videos are sending is troubling. Essentially, the message is that marriages are better without children and children are a big time drain and financial burden. This is misleading. Among Americans ages 18 to 55 (the group who are most likely to have young children at home), married adults with children are the happiest. Nearly four in ten married parents (37 percent) say they are very happy with their lives, compared with 27 percent of married, childless adults . . . 

"It is true that children require a considerable amount of care, and married parents have less free time compared with their childless peers and single adults, but research shows that more free time doesn’t always translate to more happiness. Even though they have less free time, married parents tend to spend more of the free time they do have socializing with others and less time in front of screens, and these factors contribute to their higher levels of happiness . . . 

"It is about time for the U.S. to adopt family-friendly policies to boost fertility rates. A society with a declining population is not sustainable, and the cost of raising children should not solely fall on families and parents. By implementing supportive measures such as paid parental leave, a generous child tax credit, and flexible work arrangements, the government and businesses can contribute to a more family-friendly environment for working families." Wendy Wang, National Review Online, 12/21

AN ADVENT PRIMER

A friendly reminder . . . We are still in the season of Advent. Christmas is still a few days away. Advent is a penitential season. We no longer look for Baby Jesus. The manger is empty! Rather, we look for Christ's return on the Last Day. Like the Lenten season, Advent is a time when we reflect on our sin. We remember that Jesus was born a human, just like us. Because of our sin, He died on the cross--the penalty that should have been ours. But He rose from the dead on that first Easter Sunday. We are forgiven & saved! We look forward to Jesus' return. We do not have to dread His return, because He will come "to judge the living & the dead." He will return to take His people with Him to heaven to live there with Him for all eternity.

JESUS IS CAPABLE

"Jesus is capable of bringing life to any person, society, or culture no matter how hardened or hostile they have become to the Gospel. Even the most calloused sinner will discover that Jesus know how to penetrate the heart & bring life where there was only bitterness. The work of Jesus in a person's live may seem fragile at first; but like the mustard seed, it will eventually grow into something strong.

"As you pray for someone you care about, don't be discouraged if this person has not responded to Jesus. Just as a tender plant finds a way to grow in a hard & unreceptive environment, so the love of Jesus has the ability to emerge in a life that seems completely unresponsive." Henry & Richard Blakaby, "Experiencing God Day-By-Day

VERSES FOR ADVENT

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous & having salvation. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you (Zech. 9:9; Ps. 118:26). Lutheran Worship

PRAYER FOR THE 4TH SUNDAY IN ADVENT

"Stir up your power, O Lord, & come among us with great might; & because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let Your bountiful grace & mercy speedily help & deliver us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. Amen. Lutheran Worship

AN ADVENT HYMN

Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord, LW #33, Sts. 1, 4, 5, 7

Let the earth now praise the Lord, Who has truly kept His word And at last to us did send Christ, the sinner's help & friend.

Welcome, O my Savior now! Joyful, Lord, to You I bow. Come into my heart, I pray; Oh, prepare Yourself a way.

As Your coming was in peace, Quiet, full of gentleness, Let the same mind dwell in me Which is Yours eternally.

Then when You will come again As the glorious King to reign, I with joy will see Your face, Freely ransomed by Your grace.

ROAD TRIP UPDATE 

Tomorrow we embark on our last road trip of 2023. It will be our second trip to FL this year. We're flying to Ft. Walton Beach for a week with Lois' little sister Anita, Jerry, our brother-in-law, & I think we'll get to see our niece & godchild Lia, too. Our last visit there was over 10 years ago. We managed to escape, which was blocked by a 7-ft drift. On our drive back to Norfolk, we wondered how we were going to get back into the house. We got home, & the driveway had been cleared by Rachel's future husband Derek. I don't remember if they were already engaged, but we told her, "He's the one!" [He no longer has access to a high-loader, but he still ranks in our Top 2 Sons-in-Law.

Looks like it will be chilly & rainy there, but we'll cope. Besides a visit with beloved family members, we're looking forward to Christmas worship at Jerry & Anita's church, a dip in their hot tub, & an expedition to find a HI license plate--the only one missing from our list this year. Hopefully, we'll get to do some post-Christmas sale shopping--I'll probably stay home with Jerry.

BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES OF ALL TIME *

* Ranked by Fox News Online, 12/21

1, Miracle on 34th St.

2. A Christmas Carol

3, Elf

4. It's a Wonderful Life

5. White Christmas

6. Scrooged

7. A Christmas Story. My favorite! I never get tired of watching it.

CHRISTMAS BY THE NUMBERS *

* Courtesy of today's Omaha World Herald

Where consumers shop:  1. Online [58%], 2. Department stores, 3. Discount stores, 3. Grocery stores, 4. Clothing stores, 5. Local/small businesses, 6. Electronic stores, 7. Craft stores, 8. Outlet stores, 9. Thrift stores.

Top 10 gift card types:  1. Restaurants [30%], 2. Bank-issued, 3. Department stores, 4. Coffee shops, 5. Entertainment, 6. Online merchants, 7. Grocery stores/gas, 8. Electronics stores, 9. Food delivery, 10. Book stores. [If you're ever wondering what to get me for Christmas, this would be my #1 choice.]

Top toys on Santa's list:  For girls, Barbie. For boys, Lego.

Festive sounding places in the U.S.:  Mt. Holly, NC; Holly Hill, FL; Garland, TX; Snowflake, AZ. [These are all states where our families live. Ever visited there?]

Popular plants of the season:  Poinsettia, Christmas Rose, Mistletoe, Holly. [You may be interested to know that when we lived in Hawaii, we would order a poinsettia from church for Christmas, then plant it outside. Can't do that in Nebraska.]

According to the 2023 Christmas Price Index accounting for the "12 Days of Christmas," the total cost would be $46,729.86 [up 2.7%]. The most expensive? 10 Lord's a Leaping, $14,539.20.

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE FLORIDA

"FL man claims to be Captain America with top secret info to get onto Air Force Base, DOJ says." FNO, 12/21

HERE'S TO YOUR HEALTH

"Secret to happy life? SLEEP!" Drudge Report, 12/21

TRENDING NEWS FROM THE BABYLON BEE

> New Seventh-Day Adventist Chick-fil-A closed Saturday, open Sunday.

> Accordion player denied spot on worship band again.

> Investigators beginning to suspect Claudine Gay's novel "Larry Potter & the Sorcerer's Rock" may have been plagiarized.

LAST-MINUTE GIFTS YOU CAN BUY AT A 24-HOUR WALGREENS TO SWEEP YOUR WIFE OFF HER FEET *

* Source:  The Babylon Bee, your trusted source of fake news

> Bunion cream

> Lottery ticket [There's a 0.00000001% chance this will be the greatest gift she's ever received.]

> Combination flashlight/radio/waffle iron

> Rapid COVID-19 test [Democrats only]

> Xanax [This will help calm her down after she finds out you only got her Xanax.]

> Pregnancy test [Wives love taking these.]

> 18-oz bag of Flamin' Hot Funyuns [the gift that keeps on giving long after they're eaten]

> 28-pack of hearing aid batteries [This will show her you're thinking about a long future with her.]

> Bottle of 1000 multiple vitamins [a great way to show you love her & that you've noticed she needs some more energy during the day]

> Walgreens ballpoint pen [The lady at the counter will probably give it to you for free if you ask nicely.]

> Old lady reading glasses with a long neck chain

> A bottle of perfume that might convince her you went somewhere other than Walgreens.

ARE MARRIAGES WITHOUT CHILDREN HAPPIER?

"Several TikTok videos about DINKs have gone viral recently. They feature self-described DINK (double-income, no kids) couples, proudly talking about their child-free and carefree life, which includes spontaneous vacations and “snobby hobbies like skiing and golfing.”

"While we respect their personal choices, the underlining message these types of videos are sending is troubling. Essentially, the message is that marriages are better without children and children are a big time drain and financial burden. This is misleading. Among Americans ages 18 to 55 (the group who are most likely to have young children at home), married adults with children are the happiest. Nearly four in ten married parents (37 percent) say they are very happy with their lives, compared with 27 percent of married, childless adults . . . 

"It is true that children require a considerable amount of care, and married parents have less free time compared with their childless peers and single adults, but research shows that more free time doesn’t always translate to more happiness. Even though they have less free time, married parents tend to spend more of the free time they do have socializing with others and less time in front of screens, and these factors contribute to their higher levels of happiness . . . 

"It is about time for the U.S. to adopt family-friendly policies to boost fertility rates. A society with a declining population is not sustainable, and the cost of raising children should not solely fall on families and parents. By implementing supportive measures such as paid parental leave, a generous child tax credit, and flexible work arrangements, the government and businesses can contribute to a more family-friendly environment for working families." Wendy Wang, National Review Online, 12/21

THE MESSAGE OF ADVENT

"As the King returns to His Holy City in victory, the voice in the wilderness calls out to clear the way. John's 'baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins' (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3), was a call to prepare every heart for Christ's coming. God's Law continues to call us to repentance so that His saving Gospel may reside in our hearts. Christ has conquered sin, death, & the power of the devil for us. Behold, He is coming again." (Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin) 

MAGIC

"The magic of a thankful spirit is that it has the power to replace anger with love, resentment with happiness, fear with faith, worry with peace, the desire to dominate with the wish to play on a team, self-preoccupation with concern for the needs of others, guilt with an open door to forgiveness, sexual impurity with honor & respect, jealousy with joy at another's success, lack of creativity with inspired productivity, inferiorities with dignity, a lack of love with an abundance of self-sharing." (Donald Demaray, Men's Devotional Bible)

GOD PROTECTS & SAVES

"Blessed be the Lord! For He has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The Lord is my strength & my shield; in Him my heart trusts, & I am helped; my heart exults, & with my song I give thanks to Him." (Ps. 28:6-7) "Facing personal crisis, David realizes he is unable to protect & save himself. He needs God to be his strength & shield. As sinners, we cannot save ourselves. We recognize our helplessness & need for God's grace. Our Savior comes, giving us His strength & protecting us from our enemies by paying the penalty for our sins." (Rev. Peter Jurchen, Engaging the Psalms)

THE PROMISED COMFORT OF HEAVEN

Matthew 24:30  Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, & then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, & they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power & great glory. "Christ will return at the last judgment, visible to all, to judge the living & the dead. Christian's are covered in Christ's righteousness, & shall rise to eternal, physical life." (Rev. Matt Harrison, The Lutheran Witness, Nov 2022)

EXPERIENCING GOD DAY-BY-DAY *

* Devotions by Henry & Richard Blakaby

Loving the Spectacular:  "The world loves the spectacular. God has proven that He is certainly capable of the extraordinary, but He often chooses to work through the ordinary & seemingly insignificant. In this way He demonstrates His love & His power . . . We seek spectacular displays of God's power. We must learn to view success as God does. God is interested in the heart; He is pleased with obedience."

Impossible Situations:  "There will be times when obeying God will lead you to impossible situations. If you look at your own skills, knowledge, & resources, you will become discouraged. However, when you became a Christian, God placed His Spirit within you. You now have the resources of heaven at your disposal. The success of your endeavors will not depend on the way you use your own resources but on how you obey the Spirit of God." MY COMMENT:  Lutherans believe that we become Christians--not when we ask God into our lives--but when we are baptized.

Access:  "As a Christian, you have everything you need to live a holy & abundant life (2 Peter 1:3-11) . . . Everything you need to live a victorious, joyful, & abundant life is found in the Holy Spirit who resides within you (Gal. 5:22-23). According to Peter, each Christian, by faith, has access to these qualities:  goodness, knowledge of God, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, & love . . . If we continue to lack self-control when God has made it available, we rob ourselves & those around us . . . The key to all that God has made available to us is our faith. We must believe that God wants to build those qualities into our lives . . . If you lack any of these qualities, ask God to work them into your character, so that you will be more like Christ." 

AN ADVENT PRAYER

"Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. Amen." Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin)

TODAY'S HYMN

"How Shall They Hear," Who Have Not Heard" (LSB 831, Sts. 1, 2, 4, 5)

"How shall they hear," who have not heard News of the Lord who loved & came; Nor known His reconciling word, Nor learned to trust a Savior's name?

"To all the world," to ev'ry place, Neighbors & friends & far off lands, Preach the good news of saving grace; Go while the great commission stands.

"Lord, here I am:"  Your fire impart To this poor cold self-centered soul; Touch but my lips, my hands, my heart, And make a world for Christ my goal.

Spirit of love, within us move; Spirit of truth, in pow'r come down! So shall they hear & find & prove Christ is their life, their joy, their crown.

 Y-M-C-A!

Yes, I realize that I already posted earlier today, BUT I AM PUMPED! I just got back from the Norfolk YMCA, where I watched my intrepid grandson Bentley play his first basketball game of the season. He plays on the Rebels, a team of 3rd graders & fellow 4th graders. [I understand that "Rebels" is not a very politically correct name, but there are no rebel flags on their uniforms, & their coach has yet to teach them the rebel yell. But I digress.] Score is not kept, but I think the other team scored more baskets than we did. Bentley scored a few of his own. Curiously, he dribbles right-handed but shoots left-handed. Although the quarters are 8 minutes long, mercifully, there is a running clock. Here's what else I learned. Although you are allowed to intercept a pass, you are not allowed to steal the ball directly from your opponent. Man-to-man defense [in the loosest sense of the term] is required, but no full-court pressure. And apparently you are permitted to run with the basketball. As befits our culture, chaos is allowed to ensue, as long as the boys have fun. The 1 ref is a volunteer, & I am not allowed to direct disparaging remarks toward him. And there you have it.

PEARL HARBOR

Over 2,400 service members & civilians died when the Japanese attached Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. From the upstairs window of our townhouse in Aiea, HI, we could see the U.S. Arizona memorial. While over 330 crew members survived the bombing of this battleship, the death toll was 1,117. We visited the memorial several times. After watching a film in the visitors center, you embark on a shuttle to the actual memorial, which straddles the sunken ship. The outline of the ship is still clearly visible underwater, & oil still seeps from the fuel tanks, which were full when the ship sunk. The names of all the crew members who died are engraved on a wall in the Memorial. It is a very solemn, sobering experience. You can still see bullet holes in some of the buildings on Hickam AFB, & there used to be a cross that was erected on the pass that the Japanese planes flew over in the Waianae Mts. If you are ever in Hawaii, you need to make this one of your stops.

My mother Janet was a teenager in Lodi, CA, on Dec. 7, 1941. She wrote about it in her diary, which my sister Carolyn has. Her family, along with many others, were deathly afraid that CA was going to be the target of a Japanese invasion, & households were ordered to observe a blackout after dark.

On to some lighter, less sobering news.

WE'RE HAPPY!

Our son-in-law Craig, who serves in the Nebraska Air National Guard, has safely returned from Qatar, where he's been deployed since SEP. Truly an answer to prayer!

MOUNTAIN LION KILLED

"A mountain lion that was struck & killed on I-394 in suburban Minneapolis WED was originally from northwestern Nebraska." (Norfolk Daily News, 12/8) While the article goes on to claim that this was accident, I can't help wondering. MN is a blue state. NE is a red state. Kinda makes you wonder.

OH, THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL

It's 38 degrees at 9:36a, here in Norfolk, NE. Wind chill makes it feel like 28, & we are in a wind advisory. The high is supposed to reach 42. We'll see. We woke up to a raging snowstorm this morning. Well, heavy snow. Heavy flurries. Okay, flurries. But there appears to be 1" of snow on our deck!

BREAKING NEWS

"Travis Kelce flew all the way to Argentina to see Taylor Swift in concert . . . After the show, she comes off stage & he's there. She runs, jumped into his arms. And then, he ran her back 57 yards for a touchdown. It was incredible." (Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Source:  latelaughs in the NDN, 12/8)

CRUISE NEWS

Lois & I have been on a few cruises; I know some of you have been, too. So, you might be interested to see these 10 Things Polite People Never Do On Cruises (msn.com)

1. Argue in the cabin

2. Pretend the cruise is a personal yacht

3. Hog lounge chairs We've witnessed this, & it's frustrating.

4. Spread germs

5. Skip the tip

6. Constantly complain

7. Drink too much

8. Let kids run wild

9. Hoard food

10. Dress inappropriately Lois made sure I wore a dress shirt & dress slacks on formal dining nights. We saw some men in tuxes. Seriously?

MOST FUN CITIES IN AMERICA (NDN, 12/7)

"To help Americans find the cities with the greatest selection of cheap, fun activities, WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities across 65 key metrics, ranging from fitness clubs per capita to movie costs to the avg business hours of breweries." [I've listed the cities Lois & I have visited.]

1. Las Vegas, 2. Orlando, FL, 3. Miami, , 5. San Francisco, 6. New Orleans, 8. Chicago, 9. Honolulu, 12. Denver, 13. Portland, 14. St. Louis, 15. Washington, D.C., 17. Tampa, 19. Houston, 20. Los Angeles; also 45. Omaha, 74. Lincoln, NE.

CRIMINAL MINDS

"Cops putting trackers in packages to catch porch pirates." (Drudge Report)

"Woman shouts 'Happy Holidays' before bear spraying store employees." (Drudge)

NEWS FROM IOWANIA

"Controversial Satanic altar on display in IA state capitol bldg." (Drudge) I couldn't help noticing that Des Moines was not on the list of most fun cities.

TRENDING NEWS FROM BABYLON BEE *

* Your trusted source of fake news

"Hunter Biden indicted for not paying taxes on his bribes."

"Husband insists John McClane inflatable a Christmas decoration."

"Google Maps adds 'avoid poop' option for California."

"Archaeologists discover Little Drummer Boys' drum cage."

"Husband becomes Jehovah's Witness to get out of putting Christmas lights up."

"Ron DeSantis turns in killer performance slashing Trump's lead to 39 points."

"Democrats say they need immigrants to replace all the Democrats they aborted."

"Public educators warn low literacy rates may prevent kids from reading about gay sex.

LIBERAL PARENTING

A widely ignored study from Gallup and the Institute for Family Studies shows that children who are raised in politically liberal households are more likely to suffer mental health problems than kids from conservative homes . . . 

“Conservative and very conservative parents are the most likely to adopt the parenting practices associated with adolescent mental health. They are the most likely to effectively discipline their children, while also displaying affection and responding to their needs,” writes Rothwell. “Liberal parents score the lowest, even worse than very liberal parents, largely because they are the least likely to successfully discipline their children . . . 

"What is it about faith and political ideology that correlates so strongly with the mental health of children? One factor that deserves attention is the presence or absence of biblical principles that define the respective worldviews of parents." Scott Hogensen, Townhall

WELCOME TO ADVENT!

Advent is a time to rejoice over the birth of our Savior Jesus. What it is NOT is a preparation for Jesus' birth. The manger is empty. Advent is that season in the Church year when we penitentially reflect on Jesus' return. God promised throughout the Old Testament that the Messiah would be born. Those prophecies came true. Some of those same prophets, along with Jesus Himself, foretold of Jesus' triumphant return on the Last Day. We know that this promise will come to pass, because all of the Lord's other promises came true. The Last Day will be fearful, but Christians have no risen to fear Jesus' return. Ultimately, the message of Advent is the message of the Gospel. It is the message of what God has done for us, will continue to do for us; & His return will be His final act of salvation as He takes His people with Him forever in heaven.

SPIRITUAL SICKNESS & HEALING

"Just because we are spiritually sick, or just because we are near a place of healing, does not necessarily mean we want to be made well. We may attend church regularly, but choose to remain sinful. Our generation has taken many of the activities that the Bible identifies as sin & has labeled them as addictions or character flaws or the result of an abusive upbringing. We act as if having an addiction is sufficient excuse for disobeying God's commands. As Christians, we are no longer helpless victims of our sin. There is no sinful habit or past hurt that is beyond the healing touch of our Lord.

"Have you gone yea after year without receiving spiritual healing? God is capable of freeing you, but you may have become comfortable in your sin. You may not want to be healed. If you really want to receive spiritual health, God can give it today. He wants you to ask Him." Henry & Richard Blakaby, "Experiencing God Day-By-Day"

LIFE THOUGHTS FOR THE CHURCH YEAR

"Surprise pregnancy intimidates, & terminal diagnosis terrifies because they darken the future. But Jesus the Savior looks through walls & sees around corners (Mark 11:2-3). He has promised abundant & everlasting life as the one who both secuRes & supplies the means. God is faithful & will sustain (1 Cor. 1:9); can we confirm it with our testimony (1 Cor. 1:6)?" Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin

STEWARDSHIP CORNER

"During Advent as we prepare our minds & hearts for the birth of Jesus, we are reminded of how John the Baptist prepared the people for the coming of Christ. John the Baptist, who lived during the time of Jesus, was God's special messenger. When people were questioning who he was, he said, 'I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord' (John 1:23).' In his ministry, John the Baptist warned people about being greedy. Greed will keep us from sharing our clothes, food, & money with people in need. Jesus shared the same message when He said, 'Take care, & be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions' (Luke 12:15)." Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin

A PRAYER FOR THE 1ST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

"Stir up, we implore You, Your power, O Lord, & come that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins & be saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live & reign with the Father & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. Amen." Lutheran Worship

AN ADVENT HYMN

On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry, LW #14, Sts. 1, 3, 5

On Jordan's bank the Baptists's cry Announces that the Lord is nigh; Awake & hearken, for he brings Glad tidings of the King of Kings!

We hail You as our Savior, Lord, Our refuge & our great reward; Without Your grace we waste away Like flow'rs that wither & decay.

All praise to You, eternal Son, Whose advent has our freedom won, Whom with the Father we adore, And Holy Spirit, evermore.

2023 RESOLUTIONS REVIEW

You may not find my monthly reviews riveting, but they are a useful barometer for me. Plus, it's my blog.

> Average 1 road trip per month:  A+. Already met & exceeded.

> Lose 5 lbs:  C-. Lost-to-date = 2 lbs. Got off to a great start this year. Not so good the past couple of months. I blame road trips, Thanksgiving, a sad lack of self-discipline. DEC will make or break this one.

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

> Avoid desserts:  C. Thanksgiving was a killer.

> Publish my "Buzzwords" devotion book:  C-. I finished writing them & reviewing them once. My fearless editor [that would be Lois] reviewed them. I've doing my final edits, which I think I will complete before the end of the year, but it's doubtful I will find a publisher by 12/31.

> Write my "Chapter & Verse" devotion book. B. All devotions have been written & proofed by me. Net step is for Lois to proof them.

GPA:  B-

BUCKET LIST PROGRESS

We did add to our NP list. That's probably gonna do it for the year. In the foreseeable future, I see us crossing off tours of TX & CO, an Alaskan cruise, & more NPS. We signed up for a trip to the Holy Land next OCT. Not too sure about that one.

WHAT I'M READING

I recently finished reading "Crazy Horse & Custer," by Stephen Ambrose, one of my favorite authors. I've probably read at least 3 or 4 books about Custer & the Battle of the Little Bighorn, but I learned some new stuff. I started reading "Modern Times:  The World from the Twenties to the Eighties. Slow going. I'm 36 pages into a 734-page book. I'm having a hard time getting into it, but I paid big bucks for it, so I'll persevere.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

We've watched a couple of movies lately, one, based on a true story, about the espionage that fooled the Germans into thinking the Allies were going to invade Greece instead of Sicily in WW II. Loved it. The other was also based on the true story of how in 1960 Israelis kidnapped Adolph Eichmann, one of the architects of the Nazi's Final Solution, from Argentina & brought him back to Israel, where he was tried, convicted, & hanged. Very good, but not a feel-good movie.

We started watching "New Amsterdam," but put it on hiatus. Way too woke & PC. Last night we started watching "Scorpion." It has potential. We're continuing to watch "Star Trek Voyager," probably not the strongest entry in the Star Trek world, but entertaining. I started watching "Bass Reeves," streaming on Paramount+, & I'm liking it. Watched the 1st two episodes of the latest NCIS spinoff, "NCIS:  Sydney."  Looks good. Learning lots of Australian slang. Still waiting for our other Paramount+ shows to resume.

CHRISTMAS TREE CONUNDRUM

On NOV 29 I shared a post about my plans to leave the Christmas tree up & festoon it with ornaments commemorating other holidays throughout the year. I listed Presidents Day, Groundhog Day, Valentine Day, Arbor Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, & Kwanzaa. I invited my readers to share additional suggestions, & did they ever come through! Other suggestions included Easter, Thanksgiving, St. Patrick's Day, Halloween, Memorial Day, Mardi Gras. More suggestions are welcome!

EVs? NOT SO FAST!

"Electric vehicles have proved far less reliable, on average, than gasoline-powered cars, trucks, & SUV's, according to the latest survey by Consumer Reports, which found that EVs from the 2021-2023 model years encountered nearly 80% more problems than did vehicles propelled by internal convention engines. Consumer Reports said EV owners most frequently reported troubles with battery & charging systems as well as flaws in how the vehicles' body panels & interior parts fit together . . . Consumer Reports noted that lingering concerns about reliability will likely add to the issues that give many buyers pause when considering a switch to the new technology, joining concerns about higher costs, too few charging station, & long charging times." Norfolk Daily News, 11/30

WHY WE LIKE OUR SENATOR

Words from Washington, U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts on Oct. 7 attack

"After viewing uncensored video footage of Hamas' terror attack against Israel that killed at least 1,200 Israelis & 33 Americans, Ricketts, a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations had this to say:

"Words can only begin to describe just how horrific, ruthless, barbaric, & shockingly inhumane Hamas' Oct. 7th attack was. We saw uncensored footage from Hamas terrorists shooting unarmed civilians, dismembering soldiers, & bodies of murdered & burned children. We heard terrorists calling their parents to brag about the number of Israelis they murdered. I hope Israel is successful in bringing each of these terrorists to justice. They'll be doing humanity a favor. We must support Israel's efforts to destroy Hamas so Oct. 7th never happens again." NDN, 11/30

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING

"I love the New York City Marathon. It's the only time you can brag about finishing in 34,000th place." Jimmy Fallon

TRENDING NEWS

"Private jets heading to Global Warming Conference frozen on runway" Drudge Report

"Millennials need $525,000 a year to be happy?" Ditto

MORE TRENDING NEWS FROM THE BABYLON BEE *

* Your trusted source of fake news

"Texas Court rules marriage invalid if 'Cotton Eye Joe' not played at wedding reception."

"Two climate change activists dead after gluing themselves to Ark of the Covenant."

"Canada offers lethal injection option for cold & flu season."

"Chinese state media proclaims Gavin Newsom winner of debate."

"Chick-fil-A, Buc-ee's, Hobby Lobby merge to form most popular store of all time."

BEST THINGS TO SAY WHILE YOUR WIFE IS IN LABOR *

* Source:  Babylon Bee

1. Eve really screwed this up for you ladies, huh?

2. All this blood is making me woozy, I need to lay down.

3. My mom is here to video.

4. I'm sorry the epidural didn't work, but I believe in you.

5. I'm almost at the hospital, the drive-through was super slow.

6. Just think, we'll do this five more times.

7. I'm sorry, this is all my fault.

TODAY'S AWESOME TRIVIA *

* Source:  Uncle John's Awesome 35th Anniversary Bathroom Reader

"Those who know say tht the brain has a similar texture to warm scallops when touched."

"Every second, 995 photos are uploaded to Instagram."

AWESOME DAD JOKES *

* Also courtesy of Uncle John's Awesome 35th Anniversary Bathroom Reader

"My only plans for today are to go buy some new glasses with my wife. After that, we'll see."

"Poor Phillip lost his lip in an accident. Now we just call him Phil."

"I just found the absolute worst page in the entire dictionary. The words I saw were disgusting, dishonest, disingenuous, & disgraceful."