You Can't Rollerskate There! - 06 November 2021 - Plague Journal Day 604

Micah 6:8
Genesis 47:1
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today is National Bison Day. As a Belgian American, this holiday is near to my heart.
That, of course, is because in many parts of these United States, Belgians are known as Buffaloes. (While we all know that buffalo and bison are not really synonyms, they're used fairly interchangeably by most Americans, so that's how I'm taking it today.)

Here's one of my all-time most-read posts which actually directly addresses that topic:
Belgians and Buffaloes

and a link to another buffalo-related post:
A Cool Thing I Made Once

Don't forget to Fall Back tonight! (only once, don't keep moving it back every time it gets to 1:00AM!)

Keep Calm and Don't 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.

Standards Matter - 05 November 2021 - Plague Journal Day 603

Micah 6:8
Joshua 10:12-14
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Here we are, all getting ready for a long weekend! "A long weekend?" I hear you ask. Yes, indeed, this one is one hour longer than the typical weekend - no holiday required!

How will you spend your extra hour?

Keep Calm and Don't 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.

Nothing So Uncommon - 04 November 2021 - Plague Journal Day 602

Micah 6:8
Matthew 16:1-4
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

How's this for irony? Today is Use Your Common Sense Day. The mere fact of this "holiday's" existence tells us how common common sense is seen to be. If it really were common, we'd all be using it all the time, rather than being exhorted to use it - at least one day each year. Good grief, no wonder we're in the messes in which we find ourselves. That quote attributed above to Frank Lloyd Wright is one I thought had come from Benjamin Franklin.

Still, as Ben Franklin was also reputed to say, "Common sense without education is better than education without common sense." I certainly concur, and am saddened that it appears that we've moved from the latter situation to something more like indoctrination without common sense.

Keep Calm and Don't 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.

03 November 2021 - Plague Journal Day 601

Micah 6:8
Proverbs 18:19  Matthew 11:4-6
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

After a fairly contentious election here in the Pointes, I bring you the next major Grosse Pointe rumor. It seems that there are activists petitioning Grosse Pointe Farms City Council to "correct" the name of McKinley Avenue to Denali Avenue. No offended Athabascans were available for comment at time of publication.

In completely unrelated news (unrelated to Alaska, at least):
On this date, 03 November, in 1965 the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz” was televised for the first time and the flying monkeys traumatized a new generation of children.

Preceding that by over a decade, on 03 November 1954, Godzilla was released AND French painter Henri Matisse died - coincidence? We'll let you decide.

Keep Calm and Don't 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.

Coinage du Jour - 02 November 2021 - Plague Journal Day 600

Micah 6:8
Revelation 3:14-16
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Coinage du Jour:
Exsulation n. the opposite of insulation - rather than preserving temperature differences, exsulation encourages the same temperature on both sides of its installation.
I'm not sure there's much use for that, but I haven't really considered it much yet.

Today is Election Day here in these United States. Generally it seems to be local elections rather than State or Federal things. Still, I would urge you to go vote - provided you know something about the issues on which you'll be voting. If you don't know who the candidates are, and you don't know what proposals you will be asked to approve, please just stay home. Id' rather have a light turnout than have everyone jump in and cast a totally uninformed vote.

Also, on this date, 02 November 1938, CBC/Radio-Canada, Canada's public radio and television broadcaster, was established. I grew up watching a fair amount of CBC television, and have become a fan of much of their radio programming as well. I wish they had not so nearly abandoned their classical music format, but there is still much good radio being produced there at the CBC.

Keep Calm and Don't 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.

Saints and Ain'ts - 01 November 2021 - Plague Journal Day 599

Micah 6:8
1 Corinthians 16:13-16
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today is All Saints Day - a day to remember and celebrate the lives of the saints who've gone before us. (Remember, it is today's celebration that gave yesterday its name - Hallowe'en is simply a contraction of All Hallows Evening, the day before All Saints (Hallows) Day.) It seems this day doesn't get nearly the attention it deserves. After all, if we aren't willing to celebrate those who built up the church, why do we bother to be a part of the church?

One of those saints to be celebrated would be my mother. Mom was involved in many of the ministries of our congregation and supported many others with money and prayers. Interestingly, today is also National Deep Fried Clams Day. Mom was a big fan of those tasty little morsels - until one time at a Howard Johnson's somewhere on the Ohio Turnpike (OK, I don't really remember where it was, but I'm sure there were HoJo's along the turnpike) she got a bad clam or a bad batch of clams. Sadly, she never ate them again, having decided she was allergic or some such thing.
When I was at university, my roommates and I headed to the HoJo over toward Ypsilanti for the all-you-can-eat fried clams deal. Sadly, we could only pack away a couple plates-worth, as there was more breading than clam.
I still think of Mom every time I see fried clams - and on All Saints Day.

Keep Calm and Don't 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 - 31 October 2021 - Plague Journal Day 598

Micah 6:8
John 11:32-44
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one? 

 

For our 9:30 worship service we have the Handbell Choir at offertory time, and three(!) hymns for congregational singing. (Yes - we're back to congregational singing. We're Methodists again!) Remember, we'll be streaming for all those who can't join us in person, and intend to continue that practice indefinitely. Still, know that we miss seeing you in person - please come join in corporate prayer, praise, and worship as soon as you feel ready.

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 Don't 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