Have You Ever Seen Idols?

I'm reading through Deuteronomy during my morning quiet time. This morning I read through Deut. 5, which included the 10 Commandments. As I read the 1st Commandment in verses 7-10, I recalled our trip to Greece & Turkey last year. We visited the sites of pagan temples, saw statues of pagan gods, such as Artemis, & also saw idols that have had been unearthed by archaeologists. I also recalled visits to the Bishop Museum in Hawaii, where many pagan idols from across the Pacific were displayed. And if you've ever visited Mission Central in Mapleton, IA, you've seen Gary Thies' collection of idols.

While it's easy to scoff at these ancient statues & the ignorant people who created & worshiped them, we know all about the idols that are worshiped in our culture today:  materialism, political leaders & parties, sex, drugs, alcohol, power, just to name a few. They might not be represented by statues, but they are every bit as idolatrous as these ancient statues & carvings. And we struggle with these idols today.

Deut. 5:7-10 reads, "You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third & fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love Me & keep My commandments."

Walking Witnesses

"We are walking witnesses for Jesus Christ wherever we go. How can we do less than witness with all our heart?" [Reggie White, "Men's Devotional Bible]

Where Does Strength Come From?

"May the Lord give strength to His people! May the Lord bless His people with peace!" [Psalm 29:11]

God's Word Penetrates

"Does God's Word ever cause you discomfort? When you read the Bible, does what you read make you uneasy? . . . When God's Word speaks to you, it is always for a purpose. God knows your heart & knows what you need to do to bring your life into conformity to Christ . . . The best response, however, is to pray as the psalmist did: "Search me, O God, & know my heart (Ps. 139:23)." Regularly allow the Word of God to wash over you & find any sin or impurity (Eph. 5:36). Always make the connection between your life & what God is saying to you through His Word. Make a habit of taking every word from God seriously, knowing that it is able to judge your heart & mind." [Henry & Richard Blakaby, "Experiencing God Day-By-Day"]

Christ's Birth Hallows All Births & Bodily Life

"The Bible is an earthy, fleshly book. God forms Adam from dirt. He fashions Eve from Adam's rib. They eat forbidden fruit & use animal skin for covering. There are pillars of smoke & fire, roasted lambs & bitter herbs, bloody sacrifices & clouds of temple incense. And not only in the Old Testament--the New Testament continues with such physicality. Jesus heals with spit & dirt, fingers in ears, & caskets touched. A bloody cross culminates in bodily resurrection. Finally, He promises the resurrection of our bodies & a renewed physical earth.

"Biblical salvation is not an offer to escape the body into some disembodied realm, whether platonic, gnostic, Eastern, transhumanist or anything else. Rather, the Bible deeply anchors redemption itself to the body. God carries out His redemptive deliverance through intense bodily realities from creation to consummation.

"The Christmas story is also grounded in physicality:  a pregnancy. There is not much that is more utterly human than giving birth & being born. This fact--that God has taken on flesh in the virgin's womb--is like a diamond held up to the light. The more you behold its mysteries, the more facets of beauty & wonder you perceive, & the more implications for life emerge in the blessings of birth & embodiment. The Christmas story reflects the subversive & compelling role for the church & the family in a society that has forgotten what it means to be human." [Josh Pauling, "The Lutheran Witness," Dec. 2023]

A Prayer for Epiphany

"Father in heaven, as at the baptism in the Jordan River You once proclaimed Jesus Your beloved Son & anointed Him with the Holy Spirit, grant that all who are baptized in His name may faithfully keep the covenant into which they have been called, boldly confess their Savior, & with Him be heirs of life eternal; through Jesus Christ, who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, once God, now & forever. Amen." [Lutheran Worship]

A Christmas Hymn

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, LW 62, St. 3

All you, beneath your heavy load, By care & guilt bent low, Who toil along a dreary way With painful steps & slow:  Look up, for golden is the hour, Come swiftly on the wing, The Prince was born to bring you peace; Of Him the angels sing.

EPIPHANY IS PERSONAL FOR ME

Today is Epiphany Sunday--the day when the Church celebrates God's first revealing of the Baby Jesus to the wise men. These were Gentiles, outside of the Jewish nation. So, here's why Epiphany is personal for me.

Several years ago I found out through ancestry.com that most of my DNA could be traced to Northern Europe. My ancestors are Gentiles. I am descended from the Germanic tribes that roamed the forests of Northern Europe, praying to trees & practicing human sacrifice. Many generations ago, Christian evangelists, probably monks, braved this pagan culture to reveal Jesus to those living in darkness. By God's grace, my ancestors received the Savior who won forgiveness & salvation for all tribes, cultures, & races.

Jesus is the same Savior for all tribes, cultures, & races today. He calls us to shine the light of the Gospel into this dark world, where many still live as pagans. What a great blessing this was for my ancestors, & what a great blessing this is for all people today! Happy Epiphany!

LIFE THOUGHTS FOR THE CHURCH YEAR

"Nothing & nobody comes into existence apart from the will & the Word of the Lord God Almighty (Gen. 1:3). This means God desires the survival of every human life from fertilization to forever. We court great danger if we go against this intent or counsel others to do so (Ps. 29:7-8). Instead let us receive neighbors as blessings & enjoy our Father's favor (Mark 1:11)!

WE LIVE BY REVELATION

"The world operates on vision. God's people live by revelation. The world seeks grand & noble purposes & goals to achieve . . . God's people function in a radically different way. Christians arrange their lives based on the revelation of God, regardless of whether it makes sense to them. God does not ask for our opinion about what is best for our future, our family, our church, or our country. He already knows! What God wants is to get the attention of His people & reveal to us what is on His heart & what is His will, for God's ways are not our ways! (Is. 55:8-9) . . . The only way for you to know God's will is for Him to reveal it to you. You will never discover it on your own. When you hear from the Father, you have an immediate agenda for your life:  obedience. As the writer of Proverbs observed:  'Happy is he who keeps the law.'" (Prov. 29:18) [Henry & Richard Blakaby, "Experiencing God Day-By-Day"] Comment:  "Revelation" seems like an apt topic for Epiphany, for this is when we celebrate God's revelation of His Son Jesus to the Gentiles. Where does godly revelation come from today? probably not from a shining star. Probably from the shining light of Holy Scripture.

A PRAYER FOR EPIPHANY SUNDAY 

"O God, by the leading star You made known Your only-begotten Son to the Gentiles. Lead us, who know You by faith, to enjoy in heaven the fullness of Your divine presence; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lies & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. Amen. Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin)

A HYMN FOR EPIPHANY

O Morning Star, How Fair & Bright, LSB 395, Sts 3, 4, 6

Lord, when You look on us in love, At once there falls from God above A ray of purest pleasure. Your Word & Spirit, flesh & blood Refresh our souls with heav'nly food. You are our dearest treasure! Let Your mercy Warm & cheer us! O draw near us! For You teach us God's own love through You has reached us.

Almighty Father, in Your Son You loved us when not yet begun Was this old earth's foundation! Your Son has ransomed us in love To live in Him here & above:  This is Your great salvation. Alleluia! Christ the living, to us giving Life forever, Keep us Yours & fail us never!

What joy to know, when life is past, The Lord we love is first & last, The end & the beginning! He will one day, oh, glorious grace, Transport us to that happy place Beyond all tears & sinning! Amen! Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! Crown of gladness! We are yearning For the day of Your returning!

A BIRTHDAY PRAYER *

* Today, Jan. 7, is my 71st birthday.

"My Lord & my God, in You alone I live & move & have my being. Today I again mark the day of my birth & the beginning of my temporal life. In deep gratitude I also recall my spiritual birth in the waters of Holy Baptism as You reconciled me to Yourself & cleansed me of my sin. For all this I thank You.

"This day reminds me, to Your praise, O God, my Creator, that I was not only born into this world, but also that You have brought me to a place where Your name is truly known, Your Word is taught in purity, & where, by Your means of grace, true faith is kindled. I thank You for the benefits You have showered upon me, both for my life here & for my life yet to come, from the day of my birth to this very hour. You have nourished & kept me. By Your holy angels You have protected my life in ways I can hardly imagine, & You have provided my bodily needs of food, clothing, & shelter in full measure. To this grace upon grace You have added Your Word, through which You deliver forgiveness, comfort, & peace for each day of my life. How wonderful are the works of Your hands, O Lord, & Your mercy rich beyond measure!

"Let me ever be mindful of my sinful beginning & my well-deserved punishment. But You have sought me out, the lost sheep; You have redeemed me, sanctified me, comforted me, governed me, & preserved me in my calling. Daily grant me forgiveness of sins, as well as steadfastness in saving faith all the days You have prepared in advance for me, that I may serve You in true faith. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen." (Lutheran Book of Prayer)

IDEAS FOR 2024

 * Source:  Column by Diane Becker in Norfolk Daily News, 1/4

> Make it a goal to call someone instead of emailing them or texting them. Not to brag, but I Facetimed with my brother Mark today. Does that count?

> Read more. I recently finished reading "The Promise of the Grand Canyon," by John Ross, "A timely, thrilling account of the explorer [John Wesley Powell] who dared to lead the first successful expedition down the Colorado through the Grand Canyon." Now I'm plodding--& I do mean plodding--through "Modern Times:  The World from the Twenties to the Eighties," by Paul Johnson. The chapter I'm on now is about the rise of Hitler. Hint:  He was not a nice man. Oh, I almost forgot. While we were in Foley, AL, last month, I browsed a used-book store & found a book about the most surprising battles of the Civil War. Sadly, I don't remember the title, but it was a fun read.

> Eat more vegetables. For almost 50 years of marriage, Lois has never made my favorite vegetable. That would be onion rings. Thank goodness for Runza.

> Try new restaurants. Not many new restaurants to try in Norfolk. But we'll be visiting my brother Mark in Ventura, IA, soon, & he's clued us in to a cafe in downtown Clear Lake--which is adjacent to Ventura--that serves gyros, one of our favorite ethnic foods.

> Concentrate more. MON is the 1-yr anniversary of my auto accident. Had I been concentrating more, it's likely that I wouldn't have run a stop sign & hit a fire truck. [I think I'll reminisce about this on MON.]

> Laugh more. SEE shameless jokes below.

> Encourage people. I've been making it a point to tell people, like my health-care providers, that I think God has blessed them to be a blessing to others.

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE NORFOLK

"If last year's weather in Norfolk seemed a little extra, it's only because it was--but only a little. Norfolk wrapped up 2023 slightly wetter & a little bit warmer than normal, according to the annual climate report from the National Weather Service office in Omaha. The year ended 2.7 degrees above normal for average temperature . . . After finishing 2022 more than 13" below normal for precipitation, Norfolk wrapped up 2023 a little more than a half inch above normal, a feat that would not have occurred had it not been for the Christmas Eve rain & Christmas Day snowstorm that moved across the state." (NDN, 1/5) As I've often stated, I have no problem accepting global climate changed. (SEE Noah's flood.) I DO question our ability to change the climate. That, in my humble opinion, is hubris.

CRIMINAL MINDS

"An Omaha man has been charged with two felonies after he allegedly pulled a gun on a man who was delivering pizza to a Norfolk apartment last week . . . According to an arrest affidavit, a 22-yr-old pizza delivery driver notified police on Dec. 29 that a gun was pointed at him while he was delivering an order to an apartment . . . The delivery man alleged that the person holding the gun said something to the effect of, 'Oh, sorry man. I was expecting somebody else . . . ' The delivery driver said he hoped the weapon was a BB gun, to which the man allegedly replied, 'Sure, let's go with that.'" (NDN, 1/5) Just wanted to let my readers know that Norfolk, Nebraska, is not immune to the outbreak of crime sweeping the country.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

We started watching the most reason season of "Chosen," which is streaming on the Angel Network. It's the story of Jesus. While not always completely faithful to the scriptural accounts, much of it rings true, & we find it compelling. Although I haven't checked with my pastors, I think it's okay for LCMS Lutherans to watch it.

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING

Although I think I'm already laughing plenty [SEE "Ideas for 2024" above.], my ongoing quest is to keep you, my faithful readers, at least mildly amused.

"I saw that McDonald's is bringing back Adult Happy Meals. And you can get it with a small, medium or large look of pity." (Jimmy Fallon)

"Tomorrow [Dec. 6], Time magazine is going to name the person of the year . . . and I really hope for their sake they make the right choice, 'cause if the don't, Time headquarters tomorrow is about to get stormed by an angry group of Swifties, who will be physically & psychologically unable to shake this off." (Jimmy Kimmel)

"The genetic testing company 23andMe confirmed yesterday [Dec. 4] that hackers recently stole personal data belonging to 7 million customers. Users of the site are reported to be feeling 88% violated & 12% Irish." (Seth Meyers) DISCLAIMER:  I do NOT waste my time watching these pitifully woke late-night hosts, but I do appreciate some of their jokes, which I read in the Entertainment Spotlight, published weekly by the Norfolk Daily News.

Dad Jokes *

* You may find this hard to believe, but I belong to a "Dad Jokes" Facebook group. Lois breathlessly waits for me to share these jokes with her (almost) every day.

"I told my wife she was drawing her eyebrows too high. She looked surprised."

"Of all the inventions of the last 100 years, the dry erase board has been the most remarkable."

"I was going to give up all my bad habits for the new year, but then I remembered, no one likes a quitter."

"I saw an ad for a coffin & thought, 'That's the last thing I need.'"

"My friend's stutter is so bad, by the time he told us that his nanna had died, we were all singing, 'Hey Jude.'"

 

A NEW YEAR'S MEMORY

My home congregation, St. Paul's Lutheran in Concordia, MO, worshiped on New Year's Eve. There was communion, which I didn't appreciate much as I was growing up. Too long, because I think all our communicants participated! After church we went home. Mom went to bed, because she had to play for church the next morning. Dad made highballs for my sister, brother, & I--limited to just one apiece--& we enjoyed crackers, cheese, & raw hack. [If you're not familiar with this delicacy, Google it.] Then we played 10-pt pitch, & nobody wanted to be my partner. Still hurts my feelings as I think back. Apparently I had a reputation for reckless bidding, which I categorically deny.

A NOTE ABOUT THE CHURCH YEAR

Yesterday was New Year's Eve, which fell on a SUN this year. It was also the first SUN after Christmas, so we sung some of my favorite & familiar Christmas hymns, one of which I'll post below. And yes, we celebrated Holy Communion--a proper way to ring out the old year & ring in the new. [My attitude toward Communion on New Year's Eve has greatly matured over the years.] The epistle also hearkened to the birth of God's Son. "When the fulness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, & if a son, then an heir through God." (Gal. 4:4-7)

IT IS FINISHED. WAIT . . . WHAT?

When I opened to my devotion book yesterday ["Experiencing God Day-By-Day," by Henry & Richard Blakaby], I was initially puzzled by the Bible verse, which I'll quote below. It didn't seem to fit with Christmas or New Year's Eve--more fitting for Holy Week--but as I read & reflected, it seemed more & more appropriate. See if you agree.

"So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, 'It is finished!' And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit." (John 19:30) "God always finishes what He begins (Phil. 1:6) God never speaks a word without ensuring that it comes to pass (Is. 55:11). Christ is both the Alpha & the Omega, the beginning & the end (Rev. 1:8, 17) Christ is as much at the end of His work as He is at its beginning.

"Christ now resides within each believer. His assignment today is to complete God's will in each Christian . . . What is it God wants to do in you? Have you allowed Him to complete what He has begun? He will not force you to receive all that He has for your life. If God's work has not been brought to fruition in you, it is not that Christ has not been diligently working toward that end. Rather, you may need to release areas of your life to Him & be as determined to see God's work in you completed as Christ is." 

A PRAYER FOR NEW YEAR'S DAY

"Lord God, You made Your blessed Son, our Savior, subject to the law to shed His blood on our behalf. Grant us the true circumcision of the spirit that our hearts may be made pure from all sin; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. Amen." [Lutheran Worship] NOTE:  New Year's Day is also when we celebrate the circumcision of Jesus on the 8th day after His birth. It may seem strange to celebrate His circumcision, which was required of all Jewish baby boys. It demonstrates, however, that Jesus was made subject to the Law for us, since we could never meet its demands. Jesus was also sent into the world to shed His blood for us. Before He ever shed His bled when He was crucified, He first shed His blood for humankind on the day of His circumcision.

A CHRISTMAS HYMN

Where Shepherds Lately Knelt, LSB 369

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

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

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

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

NOTE:  I did not become familiar with this hymn until our congregation started using the "Lutheran Book of Worship," & now it's become one of my favorites.

2023 RESOLUTIONS REVIEW

* Average 1 road trip per month:  A+.  We made 15 road trips in 2023. In fact, on our trip to Europe, we spent time in both Greece & Turkey, so I think we made 16.

* Lose 5 lbs:  D. I broke even Since I could have gained weight, I'm giving myself a passing grade.

* Add to our National Park list.  A.  We visited Biscayne NP in FEB.

* Avoid desserts.  B.

* Do my PT exercises and/or walk at least 4X per week. C. 

* Publish my "Buzzwords" devotion book. D. I was already behind when I wasn't able, for reasons unknown to me, open my file on our laptop. So, I had to start over by reloading devotions from my zip drive onto a new Word file, then do one last edit.

* Write a "Chapter & Verse" devotion book. A. I finished writing it. What comes next? Load it onto a zip drive, then load it onto our laptop, then have my editor review it.

FINAL GPA:  B-.  I've had better years.

2O24 ANNOTATED RESOLUTIONS

> Lose weight.  I've decided not to list a specific #. Call me a chicken.

> Limit myself to no more than 2 cups of coffee per day. This may help me sleep better & lessen my anxiety.

> Visit at least 1 National Park and/or National Monument. We're headed to MT for a wedding on AUG 1. I'm hopeful that we can detour to at least one NM & maybe one or more NPs.

> Limit my reading to 1 conservative source per day. Not because I don't trust them. Because I think this will help lessen my anxiety.

> Avoid picking fights on Facebook. This doesn't preclude me from responding to inane posts. Once I respond, I want to avoid pointless arguments.

> Walk at least 4 times per week. We're tentatively booked to visit the Holy Land later this year. Could be iffy. If this trip falls through, Lois already has a river cruise in mind. Either trip will require a lot of walking.

> Finish writing & publishing one devotion book. This year I can't dawdle.

ROAD TRIP REDUX

Our final road trip in 2023 was a visit to Ft. Walton Beach, FL, where we spent time Lois' little sister Anita, our brother-in-law Jerry, plus we got to see our niece Lia. LOWLIGHTS:  We tried in vain to spot a Hawaii license plate, the last one we needed for the year. We also endured humiliating losses by the KC Chiefs & Dallas Cowboys. HIGHLIGHTS:  Uneventful flights from Omaha to FL & back; Christmas Eve worship at Jerry & Anita's church; a trip to the beach; a visit to Buc-cee's in Foley, AL, & also our first visit to that state; a plethora of tasty food; watching two special Christmas shows:  Elf & A Claymation Christmas Special; an opportunity to critique a Hallmark Christmas movie. [Jerry & I provided an insightful commentary while we watched.] 

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE NEBRASKA *

* Courtesy of the Norfolk Daily News, 12/30/23

"In April, Safewise issued a report naming Norfolk as the state's 2nd safest city within which to live, Based on data from the FBI's crime database, the report touted Norfolk's low crime rate & first responder response times due in large part to the city's police & fire divisions."

TRENDING NEWS FROM THE BABYLON BEE

"'You know, these fine citizens may really have a point & I'd like to learn more about their cause,' thinks driver blocked by protesters for 3 hours."

"Nation's white liberals wish each other Happy Kwanzaa."

"Experts attribute falling public school literacy to not enough drag queen story hours."

"Sad:  Man unable to brush teeth after failing to pay monthly subscription on smart toothbrush."

DEPT OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING

* Courtesy of Reader's Digest, Sept. 2022

"A telephone rang. 'Hello! Is your phone number 444-444-4444?' 'Yes, it is,' came the reply. 'Great! Could you call 911 for me? I superglued my finger to the phone.'"

"I was playing chess with a friend & he said, 'Let's make this interesting.' So we stopped playing chess."

"Revenge is a dish best served anytime."

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

* Instead of telling my husband that I'm annoyed at him, I'm just gonna put strawberries in a salad.

* My wife ate the last donut this morning, so I went in her car & readjusted the driver's seat & mirrors.

TODAY'S AWESOME TRIVIA *

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

"In 2015, Japan made Godzilla an honorary citizen & tourism ambassador."

A NEW YEAR'S MEMORY

My home congregation, St. Paul's Lutheran in Concordia, MO, worshiped on New Year's Eve. There was communion, which I didn't appreciate much as I was growing up. Too long, because I think all our communicants participated! After church we went home. Mom went to bed, because she had to play for church the next morning. Dad made highballs for my sister, brother, & I--limited to just one apiece--& we enjoyed crackers, cheese, & raw hack. [If you're not familiar with this delicacy, Google it.] Then we played 10-pt pitch, & nobody wanted to be my partner. Still hurts my feelings as I think back. Apparently I had a reputation for reckless bidding, which I categorically deny.

A NOTE ABOUT THE CHURCH YEAR

Yesterday was New Year's Eve, which fell on a SUN this year. It was also the first SUN after Christmas, so we sung some of my favorite & familiar Christmas hymns, one of which I'll post below. And yes, we celebrated Holy Communion--a proper way to ring out the old year & ring in the new. [My attitude toward Communion on New Year's Eve has greatly matured over the years.] The epistle also hearkened to the birth of God's Son. "When the fulness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, & if a son, then an heir through God." (Gal. 4:4-7)

IT IS FINISHED. WAIT . . . WHAT?

When I opened to my devotion book yesterday ["Experiencing God Day-By-Day," by Henry & Richard Blakaby], I was initially puzzled by the Bible verse, which I'll quote below. It didn't seem to fit with Christmas or New Year's Eve--more fitting for Holy Week--but as I read & reflected, it seemed more & more appropriate. See if you agree.

"So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, 'It is finished!' And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit." (John 19:30) "God always finishes what He begins (Phil. 1:6) God never speaks a word without ensuring that it comes to pass (Is. 55:11). Christ is both the Alpha & the Omega, the beginning & the end (Rev. 1:8, 17) Christ is as much at the end of His work as He is at its beginning.

"Christ now resides within each believer. His assignment today is to complete God's will in each Christian . . . What is it God wants to do in you? Have you allowed Him to complete what He has begun? He will not force you to receive all that He has for your life. If God's work has not been brought to fruition in you, it is not that Christ has not been diligently working toward that end. Rather, you may need to release areas of your life to Him & be as determined to see God's work in you completed as Christ is." 

A PRAYER FOR NEW YEAR'S DAY

"Lord God, You made Your blessed Son, our Savior, subject to the law to shed His blood on our behalf. Grant us the true circumcision of the spirit that our hearts may be made pure from all sin; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. Amen." [Lutheran Worship] NOTE:  New Year's Day is also when we celebrate the circumcision of Jesus on the 8th day after His birth. It may seem strange to celebrate His circumcision, which was required of all Jewish baby boys. It demonstrates, however, that Jesus was made subject to the Law for us, since we could never meet its demands. Jesus was also sent into the world to shed His blood for us. Before He ever shed His bled when He was crucified, He first shed His blood for humankind on the day of His circumcision.

A CHRISTMAS HYMN

Where Shepherds Lately Knelt, LSB 369

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

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

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

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

NOTE:  I did not become familiar with this hymn until our congregation started using the "Lutheran Book of Worship," & now it's become one of my favorites.