Sunday, January 26, 2025

Lutherans for Life

"No one can doubt or deny that we dwell in darkness.

"Sinfulness has broken mankind and left the world wrecked around us. Danger & despair, deception & dysfunction abound. Sanctity of life situations like surprise pregnancy or terminal diagnosis confront us with uncomfortable realities. Serious & genuine threats emerge:  pain & labors, poverty & obligations, abandonment & abuse, disgrace & sacrifice. We get pressed against our limitations, failures, & needs. The voice of the devil, the spirit of this age, & the weakness of our flesh tempt & pester us to use death as the solution to the difficulties.

Yet the darkness reaches deepest right before the dawn. And shadows only show up where the light arrives. The hour has come to wake from slumber because the daylight is at hand (Rom. 13:11-12).

"The incarnate & crucified Son of God, our humble & gentle Lord, our risen & forgiving Savior radiates the light of life in the unlikeliest of places.

"The Almighty Father creates, redeems, & calls every life special, precious, & priceless, no matter what age, appearance, or ability, from fertilization to forever.

"He delivers blessings of truth & love, joy & hope, community & purpose, grace & faith even in humanity's shortcomings.

"To live is Christ, & He alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In Him is life, & this life is the light of all humankind (John 1:3).

"His power perfects wherever we lack (2 Cor. 12:9).

We get to receive each neighbor as a gift & privilege, just like He embraces us, speaking courage, showing compassion, & sharing every good.

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light (Is. 9:2) Jesus Christ has conquered death & brought life--both immediate & immortal--to light (2 Tim. 2:10)

"God bless our Gospel-motivated voice for Life, fir it shines in the darkness, & the darkness cannot overcome it!

"Rejoice like Lutherans & embrace the sanctity of every human life!"

Source:  Lutherans for Life flyer

Thursday, January 2, 2025

RESOLUTIONS 2025

Before revealing my 2025 resolutions, which I'm confident you've been eager to discover, here's my disclaimer. According to Fox News Online, only 9% of people manage to keep their New Year's resolutions. My resolutions may seem overly ambitious, considering it's me, but I decided to up the ante, so here goes.

* Publish my latest devotion book. This seems eminently reasonable, since Lighthouse Publishing accepted my proposal, & we're working on the next steps.

* Send out Christmas cards & letters before Christmas. I consider this one moderately difficult but worthy.

* Cross 2 things off our bucket list. Considering plans for our Alaskan cruise this summer, I think this is doable.

* No falls or surgeries. One can only hope.

* Do PT exercises and/or walk at least 4X per week. Definitely needful.

* Visit at least 1 Nebraska SP. Should be doable. I have my sights set on Chadron & Ft. Robinson SPs this fall.

* Practice more patience. Definitely needful.

* Help out around the house more. I think I'm off to a good start, helping with laundry, meals, dishwashing.

* No McDonald's. Could be the most difficult, since McRibs are still on the menu.

2025 PREDICTIONS *

* Compliments of the Babylon Bee, your trusted source of fake news.

> Something really important happens in Europe. Nobody in America cares.

> RFK Jr. orders all future vaccines to be tested on Dr. Fauci.

> In hilarious April Fool's Day prank, Trump invades Greenland.

> Ellen Degeneres gets caught trying to cross the Rio Grande back into the U.S.

> After weeks of intensely polite protest, Canada officially joins U.S. as 51st state.

> Buc-ee's opens their first location on the moon.

> AZ finishes counting ballots from 2020 election.

> Trump orders mass incarceration of people who serve tofurkey for Thanksgiving dinner.