ELECTION 2024

You may have noticed that I don't make nearly as many political posts as I used to. Why not? I realize that my incisive & insightful comments rarely changed any minds & fell on deaf ears, mostly preaching to the choir. Having said that, I will be voting for those candidates & initiatives that align most closely to my conservative values positions. I may not like a candidate personally, but I can't abide a candidate who favors unrestricted slaughter of the unborn. So, there you have it.

ROAD TRIP UPDATE

Hard to choose our most favorite road trip so far this year. Our trip out west for our niece's wedding celebration & sibling reunion ranks right up there, despite my unfortunate fall & need to be rescued by Bellevue Fire & Rescue. So does our recent cruise to Europe, which included London, ports in Spain, France, Malta, Sicily, Pompeii, Rome, & the unlimited drink package on Princess Plus. We're making a trip to Lincoln this week, but I usually don't include these as qualified road trips. I'm representing OGT at the Nebraska District LCMS Middle School Gathering in Lincoln.

LET'S TALK ABOUT CORNHUSKER FOOTBALL

Let's not.

SURGERY UPDATE

I had a surgical procedure in Omaha on 10/23 to decompress 2 nerves in my neck. It was a little more complicated than anticipated, since the surgeon had to go through the back of my neck instead of the front, due to concerns by my cardiologist. [Don't ask.] One nerve was pinched a little more severely than the other. I did have to begin a course of steroids for some inflammation this past week, but I've been off painkillers for several days. Not allowed to bend my neck or twist from side to side or lift more than 10 lbs for awhile. I'm coping.

RESOLUTIONS REVIEW

> Lose weight. A. I know, low-hanging fruit, but I've lost some significant weight over the last month, so there's hope.

> Limit myself to no more than 2 cups of coffee per day. B.

> Visit at least 1 NP or NM this year. A+.

> Limit my reading to 1 partisan news source per day. B.

> Avoid picking fights on Facebook. A.

> Walk at least 4X per week. B-. I did a lot of walking on our road trip to Europe last month--18,000 steps one day!

> Finish writing & publishing a devotion book. B. I'm excited to announce that LifeLight Publishing has accepted my proposal to publish "Buzzwords," another 365-day devotion book. I'm working on my final edits now.

> G.P.A.    B. 

TRENDING NEWS *

* From the Babylon Bee, your trusted source of fake news

> Nation anxiously waits to see which side will be denying election results.

> Dad says results of Halloween candy inspection could be delayed up to 2 weeks.

> Nation takes solace in fact that no matter who wins election, the political text messages will stop. COMMENT:  I deleted 20 of those texts today, & that just represents the last week. Sheesh!

TODAY'S QUOTE

"The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism." Norman Vincent Peale [Uncle John's Awesome 35th Anniversary Bathroom Reader]

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Compliments of Reader's Digest, Nov. 2024

I work in a nursing home, & one morning I was helping a gentleman who was particularly hard to wake. As I coaxed him to sit up & get ready for breakfast, he fixed his twinkling blue eyes on my face & said, "My, you're pretty! Have I asked you to marry me yet.?" "No you haven't," I replied, shyly. "Good," he said, "because I can't put up with this every morning!" 

MENTAL HEALTH MONDAY

Just a quick reminder that I blog in order to inform & entertain, but also as a strategy to help me cope with my anxiety & depression. So, I hope you find my post worthwhile . . . just remember it's my post, & you'll have to indulge me.

2024 RESOLUTIONS REVIEW

* Lose weight. F. Still gaining weight. Just read that people who weigh 2-3 times a week tend to be more successful at losing weight. Maybe I'll give it a try. Or maybe I could practice more self-restraint?

* Limit myself to no more than 2 cups of coffee per day. C+

* Visit at least 1 National Park and/or National Monument. A+

* Limit my reading to no more than 1 conservative source per day. B. I think this bears some clarification. I made this resolution, not because I've turned to the dark side, but because political commentary--ANY political commentary--adds to my anxiety level. I can only tolerate so much.

* Avoid picking fights on Facebook. A.

* Walk at least 4X per week. C. I've been doing a little better. On OCT 5, Lois & I embark on an epic road trip [more below], & our excursions will force me on this one.

* Finish writing & publishing another 365-day devotion book. B. I finished writing "Buzzwords" earlier this year. I submitted proposals to several publishers, hoping to avoid the need to self-publish again, which is spendy. I'm waiting to hear back from Concordia Publishing House. And, I'm excited to say that Lighthouse Publishing has accepted my proposal & I will begin the publishing process with them soon.

G.P.A. C+

ROAD TRIPS

I'm heading to Omaha later tonight to pick up the little woman from Eppley Airfield. She's returning from the annual Hill Sister Bash, this year in Charleston, SC, & this year including 2 sisters-in-law. They had a couple dicey days weather-wise, due to torrential rains & a tornado warning associated with Hurricane Helene. Aside from some power outages, resulting in some serious caffeine withdrawal issues, things turned out okay. 

Yesterday I got back from a visit to Niobrara & Ponca State Parks in Nebraska. That adds up to 14 road trips for me thus far. And on OCT 5, Lois & I embark on a cruise that will include time in London, several ports in Spain, Malta, & Italy, & a stop in Rome. If all goes well, you'll be getting travelogues from me!

SPEAKING OF NATURAL DISASTERS

I am privileged to work for Orphan Grain Train, a domestic & international relief agency that ships food & other humanitarian aid across the country & overseas. We are beginning the process of sending relief to areas hit hard by Hurricane Helene. One of the unique things about OGT is that 98% of your donation is directly spent for relief--only 2% is spent on administrative costs. If you have any interest in helping us provide relief, I encourage you to check out our website:  ogt.org. 

FOOTBALL FOLLIES

Yesterday I watched my grandson Bentley's YMCA team lose. He plays both ways on the line. He was disappointed but held his own. Our grandson Calvin threw a TD pass in his flag football game. Our granddaughter Claire kicked 2 goals in her soccer game. [They call soccer "football" in England.] Chiefs won. Cornhuskers won. 

TODAY'S AWESOME TRIVIA

The 7th-largest pyramid in the world is the Bass Pro Shop in Memphis, TN. SOURCE:  Uncle John's Awesome 35th Anniversary Bathroom Reader

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING

"My 9yo on Shark Tank:  'It's a shirt, but look, it's also a napkin!'" SOURCE:  Reader's Digest, July/Aug 2024

LIFE THOUGHTS IN THE CHURCH YEAR

"The God of the Gospel leaves no one alone. So the Christian fellowship does not ignore or avoid its members in distress. We fetch cups of cold water for each other (Mark 9:41). We absolve & intercede for each other (James 5:14-16). We assist in preserving surprise pregnancies instead of abandoning them to abortion. And we serve in terminal diagnoses instead of dismissing them to assisted suicide." SOURCE:  Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin

THE WIT & WISDOM OF CAL THOMAS

"This suggests that making money & indulging in things that give one personal pleasure with little regard to how it affects others & the unity if the country is now the highest priority for many . . . Cultural elites demand we must accept any & every idea & form of human behavior (except conservative religious & political ideas) . . . If political leadership represents what the masses believe--from entitlement to other people's money, to no restraints on human behavior--that reflects who we are. We get what we deserve. What has become paramount are personal desires, not the greater good." SOURCE:  Column in the Norfolk Daily News, 9/28

RIB REPORT

If you followed my recent travelogs, recounting the adventures & misadventures of our trip to Montana & back, you know about my mishap while hiking the Fox Creek Trail in the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho. I hit a patch of loose gravel, tumbled down an embankment, & had to be pulled back up by Ketchum Fire & Rescue. The result was lots of abrasions & pretty awesome bruises, which modesty prevents me from showing you. I was pretty convinced that I had broken a rib until an x-ray this week revealed I only suffered a bad bruise. God is good!

ROAD TRIP REDUX

With the completion of our road trip to Montana for our niece's wedding in Corvallis & also including traverses across & into S. Dakota, Idaho, & Wyoming, our current tally is 14 road trips. Next on the list? Later this month Lois will join her sisters & two sisters-in-law for Sister Bash in Charleston, SC, while I take a couple days to visit Niobrara & Ponca State Parks in NE. [In hindsight, I should have adopted a New Year's resolution about road trips.] Speaking of resolutions . . . 

2024 RESOLUTIONS REVIEW

> Lose weight. F. Despite this immodest goal, I've gained 2 lbs this year. Too much eating out on our recent road trip.

> Limit myself to no more than 2 cups of coffee per day. C.

> Visit at least 1 national park or monument this year. A+. With the addition of Craters of the Moon NM in ID & Fossil Bluff NM in WY, our total this year is 3.

> Limit my reading to 1 conservative source per day. C.

> Avoid picking fights on Facebook. A. I'm rather proud of myself.

> Walk at least 4X per week. D.

> Finish writing & publishing another devotion book. B. I submitted a proposal to Concordia Publishing House but won't find out their decision for at least 12 weeks.

GPA:  C+

BEST DRINK IN EVERY STATE *

* Source:  Reader's Digest, July/Aug, 2024 [The opinions of this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of this blogger.] {I'm only including states where family lives.}

Arizona:  Lemonade

California:  Wine [duh]

Colorado:  Hot chocolate

Florida:  Orange juice [also, duh]

Iowa:  Nehi grape

Minnesota:  The Bootleg ["Al Capone & other notorious mobsters sipped this concoction of citrus, sugar, & fresh mint because it packed the right punch to mask the burn of bootlegged liquor."]

Nebraska:  Kool-Aid [actually invented in NE]

North Carolina:  Cheerwine ["This cheerful cherry soda--nope, no wine in Cheerwine--is the official soft drink of the National Barbecue & Grilling Association."]

Texas:  Horchata

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

Lois & I are watching back episodes of "The Resident," streaming on Netflix. B. I recently finished watching, also on Netflix, a docuseries about the 72 most dangerous animals of Latin America & a docudrama entitled "Wyatt Earp & the Cowboy War." B, C. Now I'm watching a documentary about Hope [not Han] Solo & U.S. Soccer. Too early to tell.

WHAT I'M READING

While we were at the Big Hole National Battlefield in Montana, I picked up "Battlefields of Montana." I just caught up with the "Battle of Little Bighorn." No matter how many times I read about this battle, things never turn out well for Custer & the 7th Cavalry.

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING 

* Courtesy of Reader's Digest, May 2024

"My biology report titled 'Your Intestines:  How Your Digestion Works' was marked down a grade. Turns out I'd forgotten the colon."

"When someone hands me a flier, it's kinda like he's saying, 'Here, you throw this away.'"

TODAY'S AWESOME TRIVIA *

Source:  Uncle John's Awesome 35th Anniversary Reader

"The makers of Post-it Notes claim the correct way to use Post-its is to peel them with the sticky strip running vertically, not across the top."

POLITICAL POTPOURRI FROM THE BABYLON BEE *

* Your trusted source of fake news

> Democrats to replace Kamala on ballot with ABC moderators

> Kamala prepares for debate by googling "What does a president do?"

> Moderators call timeout to huddle & discuss strategy with Kamala

> Nation eagerly anticipates two brightest minds in country meeting in respectful, productive dialogue

The Bee fact checks last night's debate

* Trump:  "Hello, my name is Donald Trump." False. His name is Donald John Trump. While it's unclear why Trump would deliberately withhold his middle name, one thing is certain. Donald Trump is a liar.

* Trump:  Trump supporters didn't kill anyone on Jan. 6. False. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was killed 13 times that day.

* Harris:  "I'm doing a great job." False. She's doing a GREAT job.

* Davis:  "In some states in this country it is legal to kill a baby after its born." False. Well, technically it's true, but it sounds bad. So let's say false.

* Muir:  "Good night." False. It was not a good night, David. IT SUCKED.

2024 RESOLUTIONS REVIEW

I understand that you may have no interest whatsoever in my review of my New Year's resolutions, but it's a helpful barometer for me, so here goes.

* Lose weight:  A.  I've lost 3 lbs this year. Nothing to brag about, but still.

* Limit myself to no more than 2 cups of coffee per day:  C.

* Visit at least 1 national park or monument this year:  A.  We visited Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, FL, with Lois' sisters Kathy & Anita in FEB.

* Limit my reading to 1 conservative source/day:  C.

* Avoid picking fights on Facebook:  B.  I'm pretty pleased with myself. Recently I read a post by someone who posited that it was unfortunate that the shooter failed to take out President Trump. It took a heroic effort, but I didn't respond.

* Walk at least 4X/week:  D+.  I've been severely hampered by neck pain although I did get in 4 walks this past week. Today I have an appt with a neurosurgeon, & I'm hopeful there are some solutions.

* Finish writing & publishing a devotion book: C. I finished writing "Buzzwords," another 365-day devotion book, but I'm having the dickens of a time finding a publisher. 

GPA:  B-

ROAD TRIP PROGRESS

We've made 13 road trips thus far, with 5 more on the horizon. Our most recent one was our annual grandkids' weekend, this year in S. Dakota, outside Sioux Falls. Toward the end of this month we're headed to MT for our niece's wedding, & we'll include some side trips.

CRIMINAL MINDS

"Man arrested for spaghetti attack on mother." Drudge Report

TODAY'S TRENDING HEADLINES 

"Referee warns Olympic women's boxing finalists not to punch each other in the testicles." Babylon Bee

"Facebook renamed more accurate 'Keeping-track-of-people's-birthdays-book.'" Ditto

"Jesus explains to disciples that they are always sheep in His parables because sheep are really, really stupid." Ditto

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

"Kamala bravely fields hard-hitting questions from reporters about where she got that adorable blouse." Babylon Bee

"Biden says if Trump was such a great president, how come he couldn't stop 9/11." Ditto

TODAY'S TRIVIA *

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

"Those who know say that leopard urine smells like popcorn." 

"In 2015, President Barack Obama legalized private asteroid ownership."

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING:

* Compliments of Reader's Digest, May 2024

"Good moms let you lick the beaters after making brownies. Great moms turn them off first."

"Whatever you do, give 100%. Unless you're donating blood."

NO EXCUSE FOR MEDIOCRITY

"To call myself a Christian & then not strive to be the best I can & do the most I can with what has been given me would be the height of hypocrisy. Being a Christian is no excuse for mediocrity or passive acceptance of defeat. If anything, Christianity demands a higher standard, more devotion to the task." Orel Hershiser, "Men's Devotional Bible

OUR STRONGHOLD

"The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when He delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand . . . The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The Lord helps them & delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked & saves them, because they take refuge in Him." (Ps. 37:23-24, 30-40)

Our Lord does not abandon us, His children, to the schemes of the wicked, but on the Last Day, He will fulfill our salvation & eternally deliver us from our enemies of sin, death, & the devil." Rev. Peter Jurchen, ed. "Engaging the Psalms:  A Guide for Reflection & Prayer"

WE ARE BLESSED

"We are poor, miserable sinners all. And yet, we are blessed. We are blessed by a true confession of the Scriptures. We are blessed by pastors & teachers who believe the Scriptures. We are blessed by enormous resources. We are blessed by great seminaries. We are blessed by Christian leaders at our Concordia universities. We are blessed by growing parochial schools. And we are blessed by thousands of faithful families who love Jesus. Bottom line:  We are blessed to know the Gospel of forgiveness in Jesus. O Lord, take not Your mercy from us. O Lord, stay with us for it is evening. O Lord, thank You for Your blessings. Let it rain, Lord. Thank You! Keep sending us the showers. O Lord, spare us what we deserve." Rev. Matthew Harrison, "The Lutheran Witness, Dec. 2023"

TODAY'S PRAYER

"O God, the Protector of all who trust in You, without whom nothing is strong & nothing is holy, increase & multiply Your mercy on us that with You as our Ruler & Guide we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. Amen." Collect for the 10th Sunday after Pentecost, "Lutheran Worship"

A HYMN OF CONFESSION

"To You, Omniscient Lord of All," LW #234, Sts. 1 & 3

To You, omniscient Lord of all, With grief & shame I humbly call; I see my sins against You, Lord, The sins of thought, of deed & word. They press me sore; to You I flee:  O God, be merciful to me!

O Jesus, let Your precious blood Be to my soul a cleansing flood. Turn not, O Lord, Your guest away, But grant that justified I may Go to my house, at peace to be:  O God, be merciful to me!

LIFE THOUGHTS

"Surprise pregnancy & terminal diagnosis confront us with our own weakness. It even leads some to exclude embryos or incapacitated persons from humankind & execute them because of their weakness. Almighty God promises, 'My power is made perfect precisely in your weaknesses.' His grace radiates in human frailty, & the blessings He brings in every life more than make up for what we cannot." Grace Lutheran Church bulletin

RESOLUTIONS REVIEW 2024

* Lose 2 lbs. A. I've lost 2 lbs. Not too impressive, but still counts.

* 2 or less cups of coffee per day. C.

* Visit at least 1 national park and/or 1 national monument. A. In FEB we visited Castillo de San Marcos NM in St. Augustine. We plan to visit Craters of the Moon NM in Idaho, on our way back from our niece Katie's wedding in Corvallis, MT.

* Limit my reading to 1 conservative source per day. C.

* Avoid picking fights on Facebook. A-. I'm pretty proud of myself.

* Walk at least 4x per week. D. 

* Finish writing & publishing a devotion book. B. I've finished writing "Buzzwords," another 365-day devotional, & today I'm sending off my first submission to a Christian publishing house.

GPA:  C+

ROAD TRIPS

We head to CA this week. We'll spend time in Kingsburg, south of Fresno, where her sister Wanda & husband John live--also where our niece & godchild Teresa & her family live. Next weekend Lois & her sister will head to Mission Springs to help out with another Joni & Friends Retreat. [You should Google J & F. You'll be glad you did!] I'll get to hang out with my brother-in-law. I assume you're eager to read about our road trips thus far in 2024, so here goes.

> JAN:  MN for a visit with our son Nathan & his family. IA for a visit with my brother Mark, his wife Christy, & our niece & godchild Christal & her family.

> FEB:  FL for a visit with Lois' sister Kathy; also a side trip to St. Augustine, which I'd happily visit again, accompanied by Lois' sister Anita.

> MAY:  Another trip to MN to visit our son & his family, plus a couple of days in St. Peter. Also a trip to Sioux Falls, SD, to enjoy a comedy show by our favorite comedian, Nate Bargatze.

> JUNE:  A trip to Concordia, MO for Lois' St. Paul's College Class of 1974 50th class reunion; yet another trip to MN, this time to visit Lois' brother David & his wife Carmen, also my cousin, at their lakeside villa on Little Island Lake, east of park Rapids. And our annual family reunion with our kids & grandkids, this time in Omaha.

> JULY:  Our aforementioned trip to CA.

> PREVIEW:  AUG:  Our annual weekend with grandkids, this year just outside Sioux Falls. A trip to MT for our niece Katie's wedding, joined by siblings & more. SEP:  While Lois' & her sisters [plus 2 sisters-in-law] gather for Sister Bash in Charlotte, SC, I think I'll be going to our grandson Calvin's Grandparents Day at Trinity Lone Oak Lutheran School in Eagan, MN. OCT:  Lois & I will be on a Princess Cruise which will include 2 days in London, stops in Spain, Italy, Malta, & a day in Rome. DEC:  Lois, her brother John & sister Kathy will be in Washington, D.C. for Wreaths Across America. Not sure if I'll do my own little road trip.

FAVORITE DRINKS FROM EVERY STATE

Not sure I agree with all these choices, but here's what Reader's Digest, July/August 2024, chose. [I limited my entries to states where our family lives. I hope I didn't miss any.]

> Arizona, lemonade

> California, wine. "No duh."

> Colorado, hot chocolate.

> Florida, orange juice. Another "no duh."

> Iowa, Nehi grape

> Minnesota, The Bootleg. "Al Capone & other notorious mobsters allegedly sipped the concoction of citrus, sugar, & fresh mint because it packed the right punch to mask the burn of bootlegged liquor."

> Nebraska, Kool-Aid. "In 1920s Nebraska, entrepreneur Edwin Perkins" invented the powder."

> North Carolina, Cheerwine. "Affectionally nicknamed the Nectar of North Carolina, this cheerful cherry soda (nope, no wine in Cheerwine) is the official soft drink of the National Barbecue & Grilling Association."

> Texas, Horchata. Our grandson Bentley, a native Cornhusker, loves this drink.

TODAY'S TRIVIA *

* Compliments of Uncle John's Awesome 35th Anniversary Bathroom Reader.

"What is utepils? A Norwegian term that means 'enjoying a beer outside in a sunny day.'" According to Ancestry.com, I have some Scandinavian DNA, so I claim Norwegian ancestry.

HELICOPTER PARENTS *

* Source:  Reader's Digest, May 2024

"I once had a 2nd grade parent complain to the administration that they liked last year's teacher much better. I had taught this same student in 1st grade."

"A mom complained to my principal because she didn't like my fun Friday bubblegum font. I had to change it."

"A parent wrote, 'Since my child sees a speech pathologist for the half-hour before lunch, I'd appreciate it if you didn't teach anything new until he returns to the classroom.'"

" A mom, concerned that her kindergartner son wasn't drinking enough water, asked me to check the toilet after he used it so I could monitor the color of his urine & report back to her."

"I once had a parent accuse me of eating their kid's lunch & claimed they had an audio recording of me doing it."

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

I've been trying really, really hard to avoid political content, but I reached my breaking point this week. I mostly read reviews of the Trump-Biden debate, but I did watch a clip of Jill Biden escorting her husband off the stage at the end of the debate. God help us.

"Cutting out the middleman:  Dems will just have Trump debate Biden's teleprompter next time." Babylon Bee

"KJP claims Biden still had jet lag from driving that big rig around in the '60s." Ditto

"State Department reaches out to enemy nations requesting they only attack between 10:00 a.m. & 4:00 p.m. EST." Ditto

THE MEANING OF PATRIOTISM:  "Now that the smoke from the fireworks displays has faded, it seems like a good time to reflect on where we have come from and where we are as a nation . . . Our nation was born and paid for with the blood of Americans who laid down the plow and the hoe to pick up the musket and face down and defeat, at the time, the world’s greatest war machine.

"Our country grew, sometimes in fits and spasms, learning to be the nation of ideals our founding documents laid out. It took a great civil war costing the lives of hundreds of thousands from the North and the South to rid America of the stain of slavery. And many decades afterward, to finally accept people of color as equals. We fought in two world wars, many smaller ones, over our two-hundred-plus-year history. Each conflict is costly in American lives, and some are costly to the American spirit. But we persevered . . . 

"Today, we find ourselves in a similar circumstance: taxation without real representation, as it was with colonial life under British rule. We find ourselves now being ruled by career politicians who seem to care little about us. Their sole interest appears to be all about maintaining political control for themselves and, therefore, control over the lives of all Americans . . . 

"While the Marxists of today don’t refer to themselves as “Bolsheviks”, they are more likely to call themselves names like ‘The Squad’, ‘Progressives’, or ‘the Democrat Party’, their goals are not much different from the Bolsheviks of Russia. Control of the people. They themselves are sad and angry people whose sole enjoyment is being able to forcefully impose their will on others. That truly brings them the only joy they experience in their otherwise empty lives. So what do we do about America’s version of the Bolsheviks? Do we lay down our plows and hoes and pick up our muskets once again, as was done back in 1776 against the British?  Or do we beat them at their own game?

"Do we organize and fight against the “fundamental transformation” they wish to impose? Do we close our borders like a steel trap and forcibly (if necessary) return all illegal aliens to their place of origin? Do we empower our police to take back our streets? Do we remove the social justice warriors from our military and replace them with real warriors who understand that their job is to protect and defend America and not to be a proving ground for unpopular and ineffective social experimentation? Do we let our politicians know that we’ve had enough?  Do we intend to enact our own term limits, and do we need to amend the Constitution? All we have to do is vote out the career politicians who line their pockets and serve their interests over their constituents. And if voting doesn’t work, then do we investigate them and hold them accountable for the crimes they’ve committed?  The answer to all of those questions is an unequivocal and resounding YES!   We have the power to change things ourselves and commit to doing it.

"Much hard work lies ahead, but as it was then with the Bolsheviks in Russia, we the people far outnumber them now, we need to start acting like it.

To quote that famous American and founding father Patrick Henry, “I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death”."  Column by D.W. Wilber, Townhall

RESOLUTIONS REVIEW, FRIENDLY PHOTO COMPETITION, JUNE 3:  I really don't expect you to read my 2024 resolutions review, since mostly I post my monthly review to serve as my own yardstick. However, you might be interested to know the final results of my friendly photo competition. Besides, it's my post, so I can do whatever I want with it.

RESOLUTIONS REVIEW

> Lose weight. A. I gained weight during May, but my net loss thus far is 4 lbs.

> Limit myself to no more than 2 cups of coffee/day. C-.

> Visit at least one National Park or National Monument. A.

> Limit myself to checking out no more than 1 conservative news source/day. B-. This has been & continues to be a challenge.

> Avoid picking fights on Facebook. A. I'm rather proud of myself.

> Walk at least 4x/week. D+. I've been hampered by neck & shoulder issues. I've received 2 epidural injections & 1 radio ablation. Results are slow. I see my pain specialist tomorrow, so I hope we can discuss options.

> Finish writing & publishing a devotion book. B. After multiple edits, I finally finished writing "Buzzwords," another 365-day devotion book. Finding a publisher comes next, & this may be a challenge. I'd rather not have to self-publish again. That's not cheap.

G.P.A. B

FRIENDLY PHOTO COMPETITION, FINAL RESULTS

You may or may not remember that I recently posted a picture of our new refrigerator next to a picture of me & asked you to "like" or comment on your favorite. My picture won out, barely, so "thank you" to my faithful followers. As to the rest of you? You know who you are.

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Lois & I celebrated our 49th wedding anniversary on May 31, & we've received over 50 "likes" & comments, record-breaking results & much better than the results of my friendly photo competition. We were in Lincoln on FRI night & celebrated with some of our closest friends.

CHRISTIAN CROSS FESTIVAL

This coming SAT 6/8 is the annual Christian Cross Festival at Skyview Park in Norfolk. This year's headliner is Jordan Feliz. I'll be there helping to represent OGT, so maybe we'll run across each other.

ROAD TRIPS

This coming SUN Lois & I are heading to Little Island Lake near Park Rapids, MN, where we'll spend most of the week with her brother David & his wife Carmen, my cousin. Great locale & time for rest & relaxation!

IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING

I've avoided posting anything about the Trump trial & war in the Middle East. I'll be brief.

* I consider the trial verdict to be a joke & hope that it will be overturned on appeal. Regardless of what you think of our former President, & I don't think see how any reasonable person can approve of a hopelessly biased prosecutor, judge, & jury.

* I deplore the loss of life, especially among Gaza civilians. But I also deplore the loss of life when Hamas invaded Israel, butchered civilians, took & abused Israeli's, including the mass rape of women. It's hard for me to condemn Israel for wanted to wipe out an enemy that has sworn to kill all Jews.

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

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

"I accidentally gave my wife a glue stick instead of her lipstick. Now she's not talking to me."

"How do you think the unthinkable? With an itheberg. 

JOY IS OUR BIRTHRIGHT:  A PERSONAL CONFESSION

I confess . . . Too often I let my chronic anxiety get the best of me. I find it hard when I find my circumstances bringing me down. And I find it hard to find joy as I follow current events, not just in our country but also abroad. So, as often happens, what I encountered in my quiet time today was something I needed. Here goes . . . 

"If there is anything that ought to characterize the life of a Christian, it is joy! . . . Don't deny yourself that which is your birthright as a child of God. Don't be satisfied with a joyless life. There ought to be in every Christian a deep, settled fulness of the joy of Christ that no circumstances of life can dispel. This comes as you allow the Holy Spirit to express Himself in your life. One of the fruits of the Spirit is joy (Gal. 5:22). This is is unlike any happiness that is produced by the world. It fills you & permeates everything you do.

"Jesus did not pray that you would merely be happy or even that you would escape grief. He prayed that you would have the same joy that the Father had given Him:  a divine joy, a joy that comes from a deep & unwavering relationship with the Father. It is a joy that is grounded so firmly in a relationship with God that no change in circumstances could ever shake it. This is the kind of joy that Christ is praying will be in you." Henry & Richard Blakaby, "Experiencing God Day-By-Day"

2024 RESOLUTIONS REVIEW'

> Lose weight. A. I've lost 10 lbs so far this year. CAVEAT:  I'm not sure a colonoscopy prep is an acceptable weight-loss plan.

> Limit myself to no more than 2 cups of coffee per day. D. I guess there are worse vices to indulge in.

> Visit at least 1 National park or Monument this year. A. We toured the Castillo de San Marcos NM in St. Augustine last FEB. I think I can better this grade, because we have plans to tour Craters of the Moon NM in Idaho on the way home from our nieces wedding in Montana.

> Limit myself to reading 1 conservative news source per day. B-. I always check out Fox News Online, which some would consider a partisan news source. [For the record, I don't think it is.] Ditto the Drudge Report; also Townhall, which I confess is pretty partisan. And the Daily Wire, also somewhat slanted, I guess. [Maybe a B- is too high, but it's my resolutions review, not yours.

> Avoid picking fights on Facebook. B+. I did post a comment in response to a post where someone wondered why people who accept the science of solar eclipses won't accept the science of climate change. Seriously? Apples to oranges. He responded to my comment, & then I shut it down, so I'm pretty proud of myself.

> Walk at least 4X per week. C-. Following the radio ablation procedure on my neck last week, I really slacked off. The surgeon told me I would most likely feel worse before I felt better, & he was right. However, this last week I started experiencing les discomfort, so I'm hopeful I can get back on track.

> Finish writing & publishing a devotion book. C-. More on that below.

G.P.A. C+

MY BETTER HALF

Kudos to Lois! I am so proud of her! She is a certified Stephen Ministry trainer, & she has been training 5 people in our congregation to be Stephen ministers. [If you're not familiar with this program, you should Google "Stephen Ministry."] She already put in hours of study to qualify as a trainer. Now she is putting in hours of training with this group. Not only does this involve lots of review & lesson-planning, it includes 4 to 5 hours of training every week. Her group deserves kudos, too. This is no small commitment.

OUR GRANDDAUGHTER

Our oldest granddaughter Brianna will be walking at Northeast Community College's commencement this next FRI. She took classes last year & stayed with us. Because she picked up some college credits in h.s. & took overloads & summer classes at NECC, she technically graduated at the end of the summer, but she decided to walk along with some of the good friends she made. She enrolled at Concordia Seward, my alma mater, last fall, & will actually be ready to student-teach & graduate at the end of the 24-25 school year. And she just turned 21! Can you tell I'm a little proud of her?

SPEAKING OF GRANDDAUGHTERS

Our granddaughter Hadley, Brianna's baby sister & 8th grader at Lincoln Lutheran Middle School, was in the cast of their spring musical. Not to brag, but she really distinguished herself. And she's running track, specifically hurdling. Can you tell I'm a little proud of her, too? Lois is going to her track meet in Fremont tomorrow. Wish I could go, but my neck issues make it difficult to sit in the bleachers all day. 

Speaking of granddaughters, our 3-yr granddaughter Claire is in the advanced studies program at Children's Country Day in Eagan, MN, where her mother is co-owner & co-director.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

We finished watching the Mission Impossible series. I'd rate it a solid B+. We stopped watching Scorpion, because Lois & I found ourselves endlessly debating which was more believable:  M.I., Scorpion, or Hallmark movies. We keep up with our Paramount+[CBS] procedurals, but we were bitterly disappointed to learn that NCIS Hawaii is being cancelled. Mu choice would have been The Equalizer, which we stopped watching already last year because it was becoming hopelessly woke. We started watching The Lincoln Lawyer, which came highly recommended by some of our siblings. It's pretty compelling, although sometimes profane.

WHAT I'M WATCHING

I've been watching back episodes of Monk on Netflix. We may have watched it off & on when it first aired, but I don't remember many episodes, & I am really enjoying it. [A-] I've been watching sports docuseries, also on Netflix. I just started watching a limited series about college basketball scandals. [B] And I occasionally watch episodes of FBI True, also on Netflix. [B+]

WHAT I'M READING

It's taking me forever to plough through "Modern Times:  The World from the Twenties to the Eighties," by Paul Johnson. Slow going, but I've learned a lot. Sadly, I can't compete with my daughter Sarah, who is a voracious reader. Yesterday I started reading "A Walk in the Woods," an account by Bill Bryson about his attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail. He's a favorite author, & I read this book years ago. [Maybe I'd get "Modern Times" finished faster if I limited myself to one book at a time.] I decided to reread it after watching the theatrical movie over Christmas with Lois' sister Anita & our brother-in-law Jerry.

DEVOTIONAL BOOK PROGRESS

I'm doing my 4th editing of "Buzzwords," which I actually finished writing over a year ago. I decided to go through it one more time after attending a presentation by 2 authors at the Norfolk Public Library. I'm proud to say that I know 1 of them, who is also a member of our church. After listening to them talk about how important it is to adhere to a style manual, I figured I better go back one more time. For example, I decided I better switch from "&" to "and." And I'm still finding errors! I'm not sure it pays to attempt this if you are suffering from OCD. 

WEATHER REPORT

We've received some much-need rain over the past 2 weeks, including t-storms & torrential downpours. And we've been in 2 tornado warnings, NOT watches. The second time it happened, we spent an hour in the basement, something we rarely do, but after the sirens went off & we got weather alerts on our devices, we decided that discretion was the better part of valor. A tornado did heavy damage to an athletic facility southeast of Norfolk, well away from us. A tornado hit the ground & did some damage northeast of Lincoln, where our daughter Sarah & her family live. A train suffered damage & some businesses were demolished west of Lincoln, in a location we are very familiar with. [We lived in Lincoln from 1980-1993.]

If you follow the news, you've seen pictures & videos of the tornado damage that struck towns northwest of Omaha, Minden, IA, & in OK. Omaha's Eppley Airfield suffered some damage--none to the terminal. When you see images of the destruction in NE & IA, you can only wonder that there was only 1 fatality & mostly minor injuries. Sadly, 4 persons died in OK.

Orphan Grain Train, the organization that I work for, is working to provide relief services & supplies to these locations. If you are interested in supporting our efforts, check out our web page:  ogt.org. Over 98% of your donations to OGT go to direct relief efforts, & not to administrative costs.

HAVE YOU NOTICED?

My political content has diminished, which you may have noticed, & I hope you're not disappointed. Frankly, my posts weren't making me feel much better, they didn't seem to be changing anyone's minds, & I felt that I was mostly preaching to the choir. It is what it is. [Frankly, I hate that cliche'.] And it's my blog.

TRENDING NEWS & COMMENTARY

"The ruins that could prove the Bible was true," Drudge Report. Frankly, I don't need no ruins to convince me that the Bible is true. 

"Iran offers scholarships to students expelled from US, European universities over anti-Israel protests." Fox News Online. Hang on a second . . . Didn't we give Iran billions of dollars in unfrozen assets? I sure hope they're not using THIS money. And I hope these students can use these funds to pay off their student loans, so they can take more classes from pro-Hamas professors.

"National pickle shortage tied to extreme weather in Mexico." FNO. I hope our president regrets putting clamps on our domestic pickle industries.

TRENDING NEWS FROM THE BABYLON BEE * 

* Your trusted source of fake news

"Church softball team lovingly prays for Jesus to heal blind ump."

"Congressional Democrats demand $40 billion for UCLA border security."

"King Solomon dies of old age waiting for 700 wives to decide on restaurant."

"New study finds most effective treatment for depression watching scrawny Libs get absolutely manhandled by police."

"Essential life skill your kid will learn at an Ivy League university:  How to pitch a Coleman pup tent purchased from Walmart by George Soros."

"Reasonable demand from students occupying campus buildings:  That campus be designated a gun-free, banana-free, Jew-free zone."

"Highly effective way to remove protesters from your campus:  Run around screaming 'I'm unvaccinated!' & coughing everywhere."

MORE GROANERS *

* From "Uncle John's Awesome 35th Anniversary Bathroom Reader

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

"I always wanted to be archaeologist. Now my career is in ruins."

"I failed math so many times I can't even count."

WHAT GOD WANTS

"The idea is that each of us has a responsibility before God to care for himself as God's person. Not just physically, but spiritually, emotionally, relationally, morally, intellectually, & so forth . . . If you work to meet the legitimate needs of your family, then you are fulfilling something important that God wants done in the world." Doug Sherman & William Hendricks, "Men's Devotional Bible"

GOD WILL RESCUE, DEFEND, FORGIVE

Let them be put to shame & disappointed altogether who rejoice in my calamity! Let them be clothed with shame & dishonor who magnify themselves against me! Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy & be glad & say evermore, 'Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare of His servant!' Then my tongue shall tell of Your righteousness & of Your praise all the day long." (Ps. 35:26-28)

"David appeals to God Almighty as divine warrior & righteous judge. He prays that God will come to His defense & rescue him from those who were once close friends but who now accuse, slander, & condemn him. The Lord forbids that we accuse an innocent person (8th Commandment), which would cause him or her to be wrongly punished in body, property, or reputation (see Prov. 22:1). He bids us to err on the side of the Gospel in the case of our neighbor, unless guilt is clear (see Matt. 18:15-18). As we endeavor to treat our neighbors fairly & with mercy, our merciful Lord justifies us according to His righteousness." Rev. Peter Jurchen, "Engaging the Psalms:  A Guide for Reflection & Prayer"

CONTENTMENT

"Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." (Phil. 4:11)

"Our world promotes dissatisfaction with our lives. We are constantly bombarded with newer & better things that will make our lies more complete if only we could obtain them! If we listen to the world, we will always be comparing the lifestyles & possessions of others with our own, & we will always be dissatisfied. If our contentment comes from possessions, activities, or other people, these can be altered or removed. If our contentment comes from our relationship with Christ, there is absolutely nothing that can take that away." Henry & Richard Blakaby, "Experiencing God Day-By-Day"

TODAY'S PRAYER

"O heavenly Father, we rely on Your grace & protection in the midst of sin & the wicked works of those who test our faith. Your Word is truth. Do not allow courage to build in the hearts of our enemies, who despise Your Word & Your Son. Do not let them proudly boast, 'Where is your God?' Answer, we pray, those who oppress Your Holy Word. Amen." Engaging the Psalms

WIELDING OF AUTHORITY

"It is no wonder that there are so many pitfalls in the exercising of authority; he who wields authority wields a God-given weapon, & he must constantly be on guard lest he misuse it for selfish ends. Authority must never be exercised in an arbitrary, unreasonable manner." J.H. Waterink, Men's Devotional Bible

JESUS MADE SIN?

For He made Him who knew no sin to be siN for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Cor. 5:21)

"As Christians we are grateful to be forgiven of our sins. We are thankful we have been adopted as God's children. Yet we will never comprehend the awesome price that Jesus paid to cleanse us of our sin & to give us His righteousness. How abhorrent was it for the sinless Son of God to have every sin of humanity placed upon Him? What love was required for the Father to watch His only Son bear the excruciating pain of our sin upon the cross? . . . The plight of humanity is that nothing we could ever do could satisfy God's desire for righteousness. But the miracle of God's mercy is that God exchanges our 'filthy rags' for 'rich robes' of righteousness (Zech. 3:4).

"In this awesome exchange, God placed the sin of humanity upon His righteous Son. Jesus became so identified with our sin that Scripture says God made Him to be sin on our behalf. The holy Son of God could not possibly do more for us than this! Experiencing the Father's wrath upon the sin He carried would have been more painful to endure than any human rejection or physical suffering. Never take the righteousness God has given you for granted. Never take the forgiveness of your sin lightly. It cost God a terrible price in order to forgive you & make you righteous. Walk in a manner worthy of the righteousness He has given you." [Henry & Richard Blakaby, "Experiencing God Day-By-Day]

WE WAIT IN CERTAINTY

Phil. 3:20  But our citizenship is in heaven, & from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. "For now, we wait in certainty."  Rev. Matthew Harrison, "The Promised Comfort of Heaven," The Lutheran Witness, Nov. 2022

LIFE THOUGHTS

"How remarkable that our Lord's beloved Apostle St. John describes the Gospel of Jesus Christ as 'the Word of Life' (1 John 1:2) He also declares all believers qualify as 'little children (2:1). And he proclaims that God has given His Son to redeem the 'whole word'--every member of the human race, no matter what age, appearance, or ability. Even personal choice or political controversy can't keep us quiet about it!" Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin

THE LORD SAVES

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears & delivers them out of their troubles. The Lord is near to the broken-hearted & saves the crushed in spirit . . . The Lord redeems the life of His servants; none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned. (Ps. 34:17, 18, 22) "The Lord turns His countenance of favor toward His children, saves them, & blesses them. The Lord turns His countenance away from the wicked & condemns them to eternal death, though His will is to save all people by grace through faith in Christ." Engaging the Psalms, edited by Rev. Peter Jurchen

TODAY'S PRAYER

"Merciful & majestic Father, whose Son Jesus is our Good Shepherd, grant that when we hear His voice we follow where He leads & go where He guides; who, with You & the Holy Spirit, lives & reigns, one God, for ever & ever. Amen." Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin

AN EASTER HYMN

Make Songs of Joy, LW 132, Sts. 1-4

Make songs of joy to Christ, our head; Alleluia! He lives again who once was dead! Alleluia!

Our life was purchased by His loss; Alleluia! He died our death upon the cross. Alleluia!

O death, where is your deadly sting? Alleluia! Assumed by our triumphant King! Alleluia!

And where your victory, O grave, Alleluia! When one like Christ has come to save? Alleluia!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:  WISDOM

"Wisdom is not what you know about the world but how well you know about God. Human reasoning will not make you wise. It may even lead you to reject the ways of God." [Henry & Richard Blakaby, "Experiencing God Day-By-Day"]

2024 RESOLUTIONS RECAP

> Lose weight:  A  Not to brag, but I've lost 5 lbs so far this year, despite my deplorable eating habits over Easter break. I'm also happy to report that my recent A1c test was 5.9, & I've been able to reduce my daily insulin dose.

> Limit myself to no more than 2 cups of coffee per day:  C

> Visit at least 1 National park and/or Monument:  A  We visited Castillo de San Marcos NM in St. Augustine in FEB.

> Limit my reading to 1 conservative site per day:  C

> Avoid picking fights on Facebook:  B  I admit that I occasionally(?) post content that may provoke others. However, I am refusing to engage those who post things that I consider inane.

> Walk at least 4X per week:  C  I was doing pretty well until the last 2 weeks. Then I came down with some kind of viral crude. And I've been experiencing a lot of discomfort due to my degenerative joint disease. [I know. Excuses, excuses. I'll try to get back on track after my radial ablation on THU.] 

> Finish writing & publishing a devotion book:  C  I finished writing my Buzzwords devotion book. I'm reviewing & editing it one more time before I seek a publisher. [I attribute this in part to my OCD.]

> GPA:  B-

EASTER RECAP

What a great Easter break we had! We worshipped on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, & Easter morning, joined by our kids & grandkids. We delighted in the fellowship we enjoyed with them. We ate . . . and ate . . . and ate. Although it was a might chilly, we were actually able to grill brats & hamburgers for supper on FRI. Lois made her world famous overnite french toast & easy eggs for brunch on SAT. And we relished our traditional Easter dinner on SAT:  ham, party potatoes, oriental [Is that politically correct?] salad, buttered corn, & rolls with butter. And our daughter Rachel came through with a delectable dessert. I should also give kudos to Craig, our handyman son-in-law, who installed a reading lamp in the living room, a ceiling fan in the kitchen, fixed the latch on a bedroom door, & attempted to fix one of our dining room chairs.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

As always, we're keeping up with our procedures on CBS, via Paramount+. This includes Tracker, a new entry, NCIS, NCIS Sydney, NCIS Hawaii, Blue Bloods, FBI, FBI Most Wanted, FBI International, & Ghosts. I finished watching a documentary about Bill Russell. I'm watching back episodes of Monk. And Lois & I started watching the Mission Impossible franchise. [We're up to #4.]

WHAT I'M READING

I just finished reading the latest issue of Nebraska Life Magazine, plus the last 2 issues of Biblical Archaeology Review, a new magazine I started reading this year. I'm continuing to read "Modern Times, The World from the Twenties to the Eighties," by Paul Johnson. It's slow going, but I'm learning a lot. The author goes into great detail about the rise of Hitler, Stalin, & the Japanese Empire. Also, how stupid the rest of the world was in responding to the dangers posed by Russia, Nazi Germany, & Japan, leading to WW II.

HERE'S TO YOUR HEALTH

"A Mediterranean diet is known to be heart-healthy, & a new Harvard study found that consuming just a small amount of olive oil every day lowers your risk of dying from a variety of ailments. Researchers followed 90,000 Americans for 28 years & found those who consumed a half tbsp of olive oil daily had a lower risk of death from cancer (by 17%), respiratory disease (by 18%), heart disease (by 19%), & neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia (by 29%). Whether taken straight from the bottle or used in cooking, olive oil has anti-inflammatory & antioxidant properties that contribute to overall health, as does replacing other artery-clogging fats." SOURCE:  Reader's Digest, Sep 2022

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING

"I was playing chess with a friend & he said, 'Let's make this interesting.' So we stopped playing chess." SOURCE:  Reader's Digest, Sep 2022.

TRENDING NEWS FROM THE BABYLON BEE *

* Your trusted source of fake news

> Pontius Pilate sure glad that whole "Jesus" ordeal is done with.

> In bonding moment, father teaches son how to call handyman to fix faucet.

> New all-female "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie just 2 hours of boats backing into rocks.

> Study finds avoiding red meat may lead to longer, more miserable life.

> Man goes to heaven, immediately asks God to replay arguments with his wife so he can prove he was right.

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

> Biden grants day of visibility to segment of population with most visibility in all human history.

> Lieberman's political career cut short just as he enters prime presidential age

> NYC mayor assures migrants that if they run out of prepaid debit cards they can just rob Americans directly.

> Kamala warns Israel not to violate San Francisco City Council's ceasefire decree.

TRANSGENDER VISIBILITY DAY

"The criticism the Biden White House received for celebrating Transgender Visibility Day on Easter Sunday has been coming from all angles. Former President Donald Trump’s campaign bashed the move as “appalling and insulting” and another example of the “Biden administration’s years-long assault on the Christian faith.” Athletes like Orlando Magic star Jonathan Isaac weighed in on X, noting the celebration “helps no one and only promotes division.”  . . . 

"Notably, the administration's celebration of the day also came under fire from prominent transgender person William Bruce Jenner, who legally changed his name and gender in 2015 to Caitlyn Marie Jenner. "I am absolutely disgusted that Joe Biden has declared the most Holy of Holy days - a self proclaimed devout Catholic - as Transgender Day of Visibility. The only thing you should be declaring on this day is ‘HE is Risen’." SOURCE: Column by Leah Barkoukis in Townhall,

SOME PALM SUNDAY MEMORIES

I was confirmed on Palm Sunday, March 19, 1967. There were 29 kids in my confirmation class at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Concordia, MO. I don't remember for sure, but I imagine that we wore white robes, since we were orthodox Lutherans. I also don't remember for sure, but I imagine it was our first communion, too. Sadly, I also don't remember my confirmation verse. What I DO remember was that it was a sunny day, my grandmother had knitted me a new sweater, & my Uncle Royce, who was one of my sponsors, gave me a Thompson Chain Reference Bible.

At our home congregation in Aiea, HI, Our Savior, we had the traditional procession of kids waving palm branches, & those palm branches came from the palm tree that grew on our church property. Isn't that cool? Our Son Nathan was confirmed at Our Savior. Our daughters Sarah & Rachel were both confirmed at Grace Lutheran, our home congregation in Norfolk, NE.

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

"God's doesn't withhold love until we arrive at perfection. He loves us while we are growing & even while we are His enemies. His love enables us to change & mature." Jim Conway, Men's Devotional Bible

TODAY'S INSPIRATION FROM PSALMS

"Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright . . . Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen as His heritage! . . . Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His steadfast love, that He may deliver their soul from death & keep them alive in famine." (Ps. 33:1, 12, 18-19)

"God's people are always to put their trust in Him alone & not in arms, generals, national defenses, & so on. Through His Word & Spirit, almighty God grants us faith in Christ & His steadfast love. Thus, He gives us hope in our hearts & minds & certainty of His salvation in His Son, Jesus Christ. All praise, laud, & worship belong to our God, the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit." Engaging the Psalms, edited by Rev. Peter Jurchen

THE PROMISED COMFORT OF HEAVEN

"Heaven & earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away." (Luke 21:33) At the resurrection, heaven & earth will be transformed." Rev. Matthew Harrison, The Lutheran Witness, Nov. 2022

THE LORD'S GENTLE WARNING

"How quickly the surroundings of your life can shift from the security & tranquillity of an upper room to the harsh reality of Gethsemane & the cross. Guard your heart. Listen now to the Lord's gentle warning:  the failure that was possible with His first disciples is also possible with you. You, too, are capable of forsaking Jesus, just as the first disciples did. If Jesus is warning you of an area of your life in which you could fail Him, heed His words today!" Henry & Richard Blakaby, Experiencing God Day-By-Day

A PRAYER ON PALM SUNDAY

"Almighty & everlasting God the Father, who sent Your Son to take our nature upon Him & to suffer death on the cross that all mankind should follow the example of His great humility, mercifully grant that we may both follow the example of our Savior Jesus Christ in His patience & also have our portion in His resurrection; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. Amen." Lutheran Worship

A HYMN ON PALM SUNDAY

The Royal Banners Forward Go, LW #103, Sts. 1, 4, 5

The royal banners forward go; The cross shows forth redemption's flow Where He, by whom our flesh was made, Our ransom in His flesh had paid.

On whose hard arms so widely flung, The weight of this world's ransom hung, The price of humankind to pay And spoil the spoiler of his prey.

To You, eternal Three in One, Let homage meet by all be done, By all You ransomed & restore; Oh, guide & gladden evermore.

THE SPIRITUAL LIFE

"The spiritual life is not a life of quiet withdrawal, a hothouse of growth of ascetic practices beyond the reach of people living ordinary lives. It is the ordinary duties & labors of life that the Christian can & should develop his spiritual union with God." Thomas Merton, "Men's Devotional Bible"

REJOICE & SHOUT

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered . . . You are a hiding place for me; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with thoughts of deliverance . . . Be glad in the Lord, & rejoice, O righteous, & shout for joy, all you upright in heart. (Ps. 32:1, 7, 11) "Psalm 32 is a penitential psalm of confession & absolution . . . Luther saw these psalms as instructive in the sense of wisdom & understanding within a spiritual & holy context over against worldly context." "Engaging the Psalms," edited by Peter Jurchen.

REVISIT THE CROSS

"Our generation lacks a sense of wonder & reverence toward God. We want to bring God down to our level, to the commonplace. He is God! . . . No one who comprehends the incredible price paid at Calvary ever takes his relationship with God for granted. We will never truly understand God & the way He relates to us unless we first comprehend a true sense of His holiness & His demand for holiness among His people. If we are in God's presence, we are on holy ground! We must never act as if it were God's purpose to make us successful. It would be preposterous for us to become impatient when God does not answer our prayers when & how we think He should! He is God; we are not!

"As you meditate on the price Jesus paid to give you access to the Father, you will come to treasure your prayer times with Him. Worship will become a privilege you seize with gratitude. Scripture will be dear to you as you strive to be holy in all that you do (2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Peter 1:15.) If you have lost your wonder at the incredible gift of salvation that has been given to you, you need to revisit the cross & witness your Savior suffering for you. How priceless God's gift of salvation is!" Henry & Richard Blakaby, "Experiencing God Day-By-Day" 

GOD ALLOWS US TO SUFFER

"God allows us to suffer difficulties & hardships for a purpose . . . Testing reveals what is in your hear & produces a robust faith (James 1:3, 12) . . . Is God presently testing you in some area of your life? What has His testing revealed? Have you become bitter toward God because of where He has led you? Or have you come to trust Him more as a result of what you have gone through?" Henry & Richard Blakaby, "Experiencing God Day-By-Day"

THE PROMISED JOY OF HEAVEN

Rev. 12:10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation & power & the kingdom of our God & the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day & night before our God." "With Christ's resurrection & ascension the devil was cast out, no longer able to accuse those righteous in Christ. A heavenly transaction is complete. You have no devil to accuse you. As Luther says, the devil himself has a 'devil' to harass him. Christ is the devil's devil." Rev. Matthew Harrison, The Lutheran Witness, Nov. 2022

LIFE THOUGHTS FOR THE CHURCH YEAR

It may be helpful for you to read Numbers 21:4-9 & John 3:14-21.

"Surprise pregnancy & terminal diagnosis come with risks & costs. But as with the ancient Israelite serpent infestation, the real enemy is neither one's neighbor nor the Maker (Num. 21:8). Only impaling the snake (not terminating each other) brought deliverance, & the antidote called for faith instead of death. Christians insist God has sent His Son for extending lives & not ending them (John 3:10) Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin

TODAY'S PRAYER

"Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning; & though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children & provide for all our needs of body & soul. Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, & serve You in willing obedience; 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 LENTEN HYMN    

Go to Dark Gethsemane. LW #110, Sts. 1, 4

Go to dark Gethsemane, All who feel the tempter's pow'r; Your Redeemer's conflict see, Watch with Him one bitter hour; Turn not from His griefs away; Lear from Jesus Christ to pray.

Early hasten to the tomb Where they laid His breathless clay; All is solitude & gloom. Who has taken Him away? Christ is ris'n! He meets our eyes. Savior, teach us so to rise.

A MAN'S CALLING

"Vocare, to call, of course, & a man's vocation is a man's calling. It is the work that he is called to in this world, the work that he is summoned to spend his life doing. We can speak of a man's choosing his vocation, but perhaps it is at least as accurate to speak of a vocation's choosing the man, of a call's being given & a man's hearing it, or not hearing it." Frederick Buechner, "Men's Devotional Bible"

EXERCISING YOUR MIND

"Your mind needs exercise just as your physical body does . . . Some Christians allow the world to fill their minds with ungodly thinking. Some people seem drawn to concentrate on the negative, choosing to be pessimistic about everything . . . The things you allow your mind to dwell on will be revealed by the way you live. If you focus on negative things, you will inevitably be a negative person. If you allow unholy thoughts to fill your mind, ungodliness will become common in your life. If you fill your mind with thoughts of Christ, you will become Christlike. What you fill your mind with is a matter of choice. Choose to concentrate on the magnificent truths of God, & they will create in you a noble character that brings glory to God." Henry & Richard Blakaby, "Experiencing God Day-By-Day"

WHERE'S THE HOLY SPIRIT?

"The moment you are born again * you receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the gift. God doesn't give you some thing, He gives you Himself. The Holy Spirit is God. As He lives out His life through you, you have almighty God dwelling within you, carrying out His purposes. The Spirit will manifest Himself through your life, not for your good alone, but for the benefit of those around you . . . What an exciting commission from God! Today the Holy Spirit equips believers because He has given each of His servants a task. How is the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life benefiting those around you? God has equipped you with exactly what is needed for the edification of the body in which He has placed you. If you allow the Holy Spirit to work freely within you, others will be blessed as a result." Experiencing God

* As a Lutheran, I believe that I was born again & received the Holy Spirit when I was baptized.

A PRAYER FOR LENT

"Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning, & though we have in no way deserved Your goodness, You still abundantly provide for all our wants of body & soul. Give us, we pray, Your Holy Spirit that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness toward us, give thanks for all Your benefits, & serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. Amen." Lutheran Witness

MAR 7

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"

THE PROMISED COMFORT OF HEAVEN

"Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven" (Act 1:11) "None of us is going to miss Christ's coming to take us to be with Him to live with new, perfect, sinless, resurrected bodies! 'Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man from heaven' (1 Cor. 15:49). What we shall be is unimaginable." Rev. Matthew Harrison, "The Lutheran Witness," Nov. 2022

GOD LISTENS!

"God never promised to tell me why everything happens the way it does. But He did promise that anytime I wanted to talk, He would be happy to listen. And in a world where so many people feel they are all alone, that's a pretty great thing to know." Daniel Taylor, "Men's Devotional Bible"

GOD DELIVERS US!

"Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You & worked for those who take refuge in You, in the sight of the children of mankind!" (Ps. 31:19) "David says that he hates those who trust in worthless idols; he trusts in the Lord (31:6) Too often, we devote our lives to worthless things & despise the things of God. Yet even as God delivered David from his sin & enemies, so He delivers us as well. Christ paid for our idolatry & indifference. His Spirit gives us the gift of faith so that we trust in the only true God. Now we join David in rejoicing in God's great salvation." "Engaging the Psalms," edited by Rev. Peter Jurchen

FAITH IN THE MIDST OF PROBLEMS

"Faith does not eliminate problems. Faith keeps you in a trusting relationship with God in the midst of your problems. Faith has to do with your relationship with God, not your circumstances." Henry & Richard Blakaby, "Experiencing God Day-By-Day"

A PRAYER FOR LENT

"Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning, & though we have in no way deserved Your goodness, You still abundantly provide for all our wants of body & soul. Give us, we pray, Your Holy Spirit that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness toward us, give thanks for all Your benefits, & serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. Amen.

A HYMN FOR LENT

O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken, LSB 439, Sts 1, 5, 10, 15 

O dearest Jesus, what law hast Thou broken That such sentence should on Thee be spoken? Of what great crime hast Thou to make confession, What dark transgression?

The sinless Son of God must die in sadness; The sinful child of man may live in gladness; Man forfeited his life & is acquitted; God is committed.

O mighty King, no time can dim Thy glory! How shall I spread abroad Thy wondrous story? How shall I find some worthy gifts to proffer? What dare I offer?

Yet unrequited, Lord, I would not leave Thee; I will renounce whate'er doth vex or grieve Thee And quench with thoughts of Thee & prayers most lowly All fires unholy.

And when, dear Lord, before Thy throne in heaven To me a crown of joy at last is given, Where sweetest hymns Thy saints forever raise Thee, I, too, shall praise Thee.

PARENTS ARE ROLE MODELS

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

GOD'S COMFORT FROM PSALMS

"I will extol You, O Lord, for You have drawn me up & have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to You for help, & You healed me . . . Sing praises to the Lord, O you His saints, & give thanks to His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, & His favor is for a lifetime . . . To You, O Lord, I cry, & to the lord I plead for mercy . . . Hear, O Lord, & be merciful to me! O Lord, be my helper . . . O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever." (Ps. 30:1-2, 4-5, 8, 10, 12b) "David summarizes his feelings & God's response in verse 5. Sorrowful times in life are sometimes caused by things outside of our control & sometimes by our own sins. Trusting in God's deliverance, David knows that the sorrow he feels will be replaced with joy as God comforts him. We, too, are confident in God's promise to comfort us & dry our tears" (Rev. 7:17). "Engaging the Psalms," edited by Rev. James Jurchen

LIFE THOUGHTS IN THE CHURCH YEAR

"The Lord God closely associates life & family. He stands commands about parenting & marriage on either side of the prohibition against killing (Ex. 20:12-14). He holds human life as highest priority & will not accept any other creature as replacement (John 2:15-16). Body & sexuality serve to enrich life--our own as well as one another's--& not to eliminate it." Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin

THE PROMISED COMFORT OF HEAVEN

"But concerning that day & hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." (Matt. 24:36) "The time when the Lord returns & the resurrection takes place is a mystery even to the angels & the Son of God. How in the world people dare to calculate a date is beyond me. But the day is coming. Ad it will bring Christians eternal blessings." Rev. Matthew Harrison, "The Lutheran Witness," Nov. 2022

NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME

"God's timing is perfect! . . . God's timing is always perfect. He knows you, & He is fully aware of your circumstances. He knows all that He has built into your life until now, & He extends His invitation knowing that His resources are more than adequate for any assignment He gives you." Henry & Richard Blakaby, "Experiencing God Day-By-Day"

A PRAYER FOR LENT

"O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways & bring them again with penitent hearts & steadfast faith to embrace & hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; 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 FOR LENT

O Christ, You Walked the Road, LSB 424, Sts 1, 4, 5 

O Christ, You walked the road Our wand'ring feet must go. You faced with us temptation's pow'r And fought our ancient foe.

When lures of easy gain With promise brightly shine, Lord, help us seek Your kingdom first; Our wills with Yours align.

O Christ, You walked the road Our wand'ring feet must go. Stay with us through temptation's hour To fight our ancient foe.