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.