Necessary Roughness

On the whole this year has been better than last year, except for the incredibly shrinking 401(k).  Next year will have some issues to navigate through early, but hopefully things will get better as things become more certain.

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’ve not been well for the past three days or so, and we had to miss Divine Service at our congregation. When we do miss, we still have Matins at the piano, and the Treasury of Daily Prayer which arrived yesterday (thanks, Mom and Dad) came into good use.

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.

HT: Bob Myers on Facebook

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.

Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, “Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.” And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
– Isaiah 7:10-14

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.

HT: Club For Growth