Baby A celebrated the first night by having the family go to California Pizza Kitchen, then getting a new pet and clothes from the Build a Bear Workshop.

Baby B? Getting “fruit” at Giant Eagle, then getting dinner at McDonald’s.

I don’t think “night and day” is sufficient to describe the difference. East and West?

Existence of God aside, this is a free speech argument, like burning the flag. Burning the flag doesn’t actually harm the country. Burning the flag (except for disposal) is a show of ignorance that tells me that the flag burner has no flipping clue about his own rights and the people that died to extend those rights to people who live under that flag. It is a horrible action, but if you are ignorant and angry enough to do it, then I don’t want government to keep me from knowing that you are angry and ignorant.

And there were added that day about three thousand souls?

“So help me God” forces no atheist to believe in God. If a previous President was a closet atheist, then shame on him for not being honest with the American people. He wouldn’t be trying to trick God with “so help me God.”

On the other hand, Newdow and others seek to prevent the President-elect from saying that he would like divine help? How funny is this: we already know that the Messiah asking God for help would be self-referential.  Newdow should be happy, believing in no theological superior himself.

Now if I really wanted to cause an argument, I’d ask whether his belief in black liberation theology, his votes for “Born Alive” abortion, and other issues put him far enough off the course of Christianity that he should ponder swearing on something different than the Bible.

I’ve been getting useful feedback from friends and others who are involved in Christian internet broadcasting and podcasting. “Time Out” doesn’t need to be played at bedtime. There is also no commentary, other than what can be implied from the readings I choose.

“Time Out” will be a reading from Scripture, the Book of Concord, or church fathers. Following that will be one or two hymns, as “live” and as fresh as I can make it.  One might think of it as melodic sushi — perhaps some cutting, but no cooking. I am open to submissions from other musicians, provided that hymns are in the public domain and don’t contain any doctrinal errata. I would love to have performances with and from people I meet on the road.

It is my hope that I can put something out there every 2-3 weeks, but the variety in my road schedule may make for some fun scheduling. You are welcome to check my calendar to see if I am coming to your area.

I think activities like Time Out are beneficial. I could use a show like this. As much as I would love to devote two hours to Issues, Etc., another two hours to Fighting for the Faith, and still more for Table Talk and the God Whisperers, sometimes that just can’t be done.

This first Time Out is 6 minutes, 7 seconds.

Scripture readings will be out of the ESV. My hymns will be primarily out of the Lutheran Service Book, so you might want to keep that handy. There will be Amens.

I hope you’ll enjoy it at least as much as I do making it.

This time, the Buckeyes didn’t beat themselves in a bowl game. Texas did it, and they deserve the credit. Texas won in the last 16 seconds, 24-21.

For the record, I thought the 4th down was a conversion, and I knew they won the game right there.

I’m very glad Todd Boeckman got involved, but Texas should have been anticipating that QB-QB touchdown pass. Duh.

Texas-Ohio State is becoming a rivalry, with never a bad game between the two. I hope they keep it going. Congratulations, Longhorns.

And I am rooting for the Sooners Thursday. Hey, I lived there for nearly two years.

During tonight’s routine, we read the Follow and Do books for the Lord’s Prayer and the Apostles’ Creed. There are six books in the series, one for each chief part of Luther’s Small Catechism, with illustrations and little-kid-level summaries.

The younger twin has most of the summaries down pat and insists I read them. That’s not much of a surprise.

The older one tonight started saying some of the “What does this mean?” sections of the Lord’s Prayer. Tonight she did the parts in italics:

With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.

Stuff I didn’t know until seventh grade, she’s learning before she’s six. How cool is that?

Kinda makes up for the extra couple of times I asked her to help clean up the living room…

Got good gifts this year from the whole immediate family, including a Blue Snowball microphone from the NR Wife, the Treasury of Daily Prayer from my parents, and a slew of books from the in-laws that include the latest Star Wars novel as well as books by Giertz, Sasse, Veith, and Harrison. Good stuff, all. The microphone works very well.

NR will probably continue the slower posting rate until I start traveling again in mid-January. Western Virginia isn’t the hotbed of Lutheranism that northeast Virginia near D.C., is, and the state is about eight hours driving time over there. Going the other way, there are churches in Tennessee that intrigue me, particularly one in Knoxville. Things were much simpler when I was going back and forth to Houston, but at least I don’t have to deal with airports.

The last time I crossed some mountains and went into Virginia, it was funny to listen to all of the radio stations cut out, one by one, as I headed south. The last radio station standing was playing “A Boy Named Sue” by Johnny Cash, and it was the first time I’d heard the whole song. These people were some strange critters, I thought to myself.

Happy New Year!

I only used one ribbon (Gold) as I had the LSB Accompaniment for the Liturgy to use for the Order of Service, and I didn’t feel like adding extra psalms or prayers for the nearly six-year-olds.

Gold was enough, though. Today is the Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs. A stark reminder of how we don’t know when it’s our time, how brutal man can be, the fulfillment of several prophecies, and the death of the ultimate Innocent for our salvation.

The Psalm, the Prayer of the Day, the OT Reading, and the NT Reading were right there for December 28. The TDP had a verse from “Sweet Flowerets of the Martyr Band”, LSB 969. I played and sang the whole thing — it turns out that’s quite a pretty tune. Nice job, guys.

Pr. Weedon has a terrific sermon for the occasion. It is a must read.

Pr. Jeff Hemmer of Jerseyville, IL, has published a list of predictions for the college bowl season based on prooftexting from the Bible.  Some examples:

Alamo - Missouri Tigers over Northwestern Wildcats (1 Cor 10:24): Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
Insight - Kansas Jayhawks over Minnesota Golden Gophers (Is 34:11): But the hawk and the porcupine shall possess it, the owl and the raven shall dwell in it. He shall stretch the line of confusion over it, and the plumb line of emptiness.

The BCS pick is a groaner:

BCS - Oklahoma Sooners over Florida Gators (Heb 13:18-19): Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.

He expects to lose of course, and he should, because he picked Texas over Ohio State!

Enjoy.

Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear, shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you;
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The babe, the son of Mary!
– “What Child is This”, LSB 370

As the weather warms here, we wish you a blessed Christmas. May you get gifts better than you deserve.