Horsing Around - 05 June 2021 - Plague Journal Day 450

Micah 6:8
Job 39:19-25
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

What a nice confluence of commemorations we have today, and they seem to focus on our equine friends.

Today is the 153rd running of the Belmont Stakes, the third jewel in the Triple Crown (and, oddly, the oldest of the three races).

It's also National Prairie Day and National Trails Day - those make me think of Roy and Dale and all their Happy Trails. I was a big fan of the Roy Rogers show growing up (I'm sure I saw them in reruns on Channel 50 or something like that), while Christian was more of a Lone Ranger fan. It's too bad he never got to see Sky King - there was a western adventure for the modern age!

At any rate - why not tune in to the Belmont today and see who takes that third jewel? It won't be as astonishing as the 1973 race when Secretariat had his run and everyone else fought for second place way back out of camera range, but it should be exciting nonetheless.

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

I'm in the Mood for Singing; Hey, How about You? - 04 June 2021 - Plague Journal Day 449

Micah 6:8
Psalm 40:1-3
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

At last, the people called Methodist will join their voices in song!
Yes, we will actually be singing hymns together in the sanctuary this Sunday at worship. It's hard to believe how long it's been since we've had that basic part of our worship in our Sunday morning service, but I can hardly wait to hear my church family singing around me.

I hope we can all make it through the songs, but I pray that God hears us praising Him and is pleased.

bonus video

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Catch-up Carnage du Jour - 03 June 2021 - Plague Journal Day 448

Micah 6:8
Romans 13:1-7
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today's Carnage du Jour is actually from Monday - we're catching up, not using catchup (catsup? ketchup? it doesn't matter, we're not using it). 

What we had was a lovely beef tenderloin cooked on the grill. Mostly indirect heat with a small tub of applewood smoking chips to add that certain savour to the flavour. The beef (about a four pound tenderloin) was simply seasoned: salt, dry mustard, and thyme rubbed on all sides, then into the covered grill working at about 425F for about 45 minutes. Before cooking the beef, I did a mixed grill/roast of root vegetables - potatoes and golden beets - and onions as well as reheating some leftover grilled asparagus.
While the meat rested I reheated those vegetables (including the asparagus) and we added a simple kale slaw for a nice meal.
mmm mmm good!
I would eat this frequently - highly recommended.


In passing, let me mention that today is Impersonate Authority Day. A better way to think of that may be that one should assume the authority necessary to completing the tasks for which one is responsible. Please, assume no more than necessary - we all know what happens when we assume.
This reminds me of my High School career. I had no official positions in any club or organizations, but - simply because I acted as though I belonged there - I was able to do pretty much whatever I wanted in the school office. (Being nice to the secretary didn't hurt, I'm sure.) That was a real life lesson for me there. If you look like you know what you're doing, and like you belong there, almost no one will ever challenge you.




Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Run! Run Like the Wind! - 02 June 2021 - Plague Journal Day 447

Micah 6:8
Hebrews 12:1-3
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today is Global Running Day, so take your mark, get set, go! One supposes there are many reasons to run, even discounting bears and zombies.

Not only might one run away from something, there are times when one runs to something or even for something, so this may be a viable celebration.

Still, it seems a bit dangerous to have National Tailors' Day at the same time, don't you think?

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

 

Thankful - 01 June 2021 - Plague Journal Day 446

Micah 6:8
1 Corinthians 15:55-58
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

This has been several days of thanks here in our family. Not only are we thankful for the sacrifice of our military brothers and sisters (celebrated yesterday on Memorial Day), but also that my sister, Jacki, came up from her Southern abode to be here while Dad went "under the knife" for a pacemaker upgrade.

Well, that procedure came and went in the proverbial blink of an eye. The doctor said the wires were all still good and he's on his way home well earlier than we had anticipated.

Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory in our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Amen.


Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Memorial Day - 31 May 2021 - Plague Journal Day 445

Micah 6:8
John 15:13
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today is Memorial Day in these United States. It's the day when we remember those who gave their lives that we might live, and live free.
I have several family members and ancestors who served in the military [my son-Army, my dad-Navy, my great-great-grandfather-Union Army (US Civil War)], but I'm not aware of any who made that final sacrifice.

This once was called Decoration Day - the day when we would decorate (and clean up) the graves of our fallen. Somehow it's devolved into a long weekend of grilling and furniture sales. I guess that's still part of what they died for - so that we can be jerks and worry about our pleasures and convenience rather than what's important. I just pray that we'll also remember the real reasons they died - to keep us free. Not just free to play around and enjoy ourselves - that's part of it for sure - but from oppression in all its forms.

Today also is the ninety-somethingth birthday of my late father-in-law. He was a wonderful man, and I miss him all the time - especially when it's grilling season (pace what I wrote above) and we break out the bratwurst, as it was Dad who taught me how properly to grill those little wonders. I love you Dad - see you one of these days. RIP, Del Schneider.


Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Worship - 30 May 2021 - Plague Journal Day 444

Micah 6:8

Hebrews 12:1-2
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

 

 

This is Memorial Sunday!

When the COVID case levels settled down in Grosse Pointe, we resumed our in-person worship.
Yes, we still have in-person worship in the Sanctuary today. You need to have registered ahead of time to attend, and an email went out from the church with all the details!

For our 9:30 worship service have a violin solo for our offertory time, and a hymn for us to read along while Doug plays. (We'll eventually get back to real Methodist worship - we'll be singing together again one day!) Remember, we'll be streaming for all those who can't join us in person. As this is Memorial Day weekend, our tradition is to remember the saints of our church family who have gone on to Glory, so we'll read their names, light a candle for each, and then finish the service in the Memorial Garden with a prayer and singing of a verse of Amazing Grace.

As usual, today's stream should just appear as the latest entry on our YouTube channel, here.
You'll find all our previous worship videos right there at that same place, and today's stream will stay there as a recording as well.

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264