The Test of Time - 18 December 2021 - Plague Journal Day 646

Micah 6:8
Luke 8:11-15
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?

Mannheim Steamroller. We discovered them the same night we discovered Jolt Cola. That was back somewhere in the 1980s (at least that's my assumption since Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas CD came out mid-80s, and Jolt debuted then as well) at a progressive dinner.

As I recall, we were at the house serving salad and other pre-entrée fare where Jolt was on offer and the stereo was Steamrolling. The extra caffeine was fine, but the extra sugar made our teeth itch, so Jolt simply wasn't for us. The music, however, was captivating.

No doubt you're wondering which one has stayed relevant to us. Which one has stood the test of time?
If you must know, it's the musical one (no real surprise here as that was probably pretty well telegraphed in the previous paragraph). In fact, we're going to see the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas concert this year! That should be fun.


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.

There's No Need to Fear! - 17 December 2021 - Plague Journal Day 645

Micah 6:8
1 John 4:18-21
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 Underdog Day! Yes, that classic(?) cartoon is the source of my title today.There's no need to fear - Underdog is here!

I think it's very cool that this day comes up at the time I was going to post about the good news we're getting on the COVID front these days. The omicron variety seems like it's asking us to just go ahead and declare victory. As is generally the case, this virus is mutating its way toward being more virulent and (much) less deadly. Remember - virulent means how easily it spreads, not how severe it is; don't let media hype of a more virulent strain freak you out.
Why does a virus tend to mutate this way? If it doesn't, it won't survive - that's the basic reason. If it doesn't spread quickly, it will die out. If it kills its host, it will die out. The ideal situation from the virus's perspective is to spread quickly and do less damage. That's what they tend to do because if they don't they won't be around long.
It really is time to stop being deathly afraid of something that is getting less and less deadly, don't you think? As the saying goes, fear is the mind-killer. Even better, check the link to 1 John above!
By the way, as far as newsworthy strains, it sure seems like we skipped from Delta (#4) straight to Omicron (#15). Were the other ones really that extra-wimpy? (I know we skipped Nu and Xi for linguistic and political reasons - that still leaves eight other letters we never heard.)

On an even happier note, today is also National Maple Syrup Day, so I'm glad I had a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast with a little dose of maple syrup on it. Jack and Roma are glad too - they get to lick out the bowl!

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.

Give Me Coffee Or Give Me Death! - 16 December 2021 - Plague Journal Day 644

Micah 6:8
1 Corinthians 10:21
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 marks one of the main reasons Americans drink so much more coffee than tea. Yes, it's the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. (I know my pseudo-quote in the title is not from that event, but feel free to berate me in the comments if you wish.)
When Parliament decided to tax their countrymen's tea - but only those in the colonies! - it was the tax that broke the camel's back (to mix some metaphors).

We (the colonists, soon to be Americans) decided that if they were going to charge us extra to drink tea, we'd just switch to coffee and let them have that Eastern swill. And so here we are, lo these many years later, drinking our fill of Jamaican Blue Mountain or Tanzanian Peaberry or Ethiopian Hararar or whatever type we like best, happily keeping our pinkies right there with the rest of our fingers as we raise a mug rather than a teacup. Serves you right, you tax and spend Parliamentarians! Fie on thee and thy house!

I think I'll have another cup. Cheers.

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.

Self Evident? - 15 December 2021 - Plague Journal Day 643

Micah 6:8
John 18:37-38
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 Bill of Rights Day. (The Bill of Rights became law on this date in 1791.) That's kind of an important reminder these days. It's instructive to realize that the dispute over including the Bill of Rights when the founders were writing the Constitution wasn't whether the people should have those rights, but rather whether there was any need to call them out specifically. After all, the Constitution says that the government is limited to what is specifically allowed in the text, so why would we need to call out certain rights specifically? Isn't it obvious that they can't be infringed? Clearly it's not - even when it's called out specifically.
Read the documents and you'll be puzzled by the difference between what our government was supposed to be and what our self-appointed ruling class have made it.

Interestingly, today also marks the anniversary of the 21st Amendment's coming into effect - repealing Prohibition. Raise a glass to the 21st Amendment today! (Did you know that's why the legal drinking age is 21?)

(By the way, I do know my title comes from the Declaration of Independence, but that document seems to be as much ignored as the Bill of Rights, so I thought it was a fair reference.)

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.

Madness! Mountains of Madness! - 14 December 2021 - Plague Journal Day 642

Micah 6:8
Daniel 11:9
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?

What a day in history! On 14 December 1911, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and his team reached the South Pole. They were the first men in recorded history to stand at that antipodean apex. What an amazing accomplishment.

A mere thirty four days later, the Terra Nova expedition, led by the intrepid Captain Robert Falcon Scott (yes, Scott of the Antarctic) arrived at the same point - albeit a disappointing point for them. I suppose it might be a bit snotty (cruel is too strong a word here), but why not revel in the icy cold and the amazing adventures of these explorers by listening to the seventh symphony of Ralph Vaughan Williams, titled by the composer as Sinfonia Antartica (Antarctic Symphony). I get chilled every time I listen to it.

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.

Papa Gene's Blue - 13 December 2021 - Plague Journal Day 641

Micah 6:8
Ecclesiastes 3:1-4
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?

Sad news this weekend from the world of music, music videos, and television - Michael Nesmith has shuffled off this mortal coil at the too-young age of 78.

Those of us of a certain age no doubt remember him as the wool cap-wearing guitarist of the Monkees. He was a talented musician and songwriter (just ask Linda Ronstadt about different drums) and when I was asked, was always my favourite Monkee. After all, what could compete with a custom 12-string Gretsch, a sardonic wit, the creation of music video programs, and the executive production of the fabulous film, Repo Man? Not much, and certainly nothing the other Monkees had to offer (although Peter's harp playing to beat the devil does rank way up there).
Rest In Peace, Michael; you will be missed.

Unrelated to this news, but somehow connected, I was also thinking about the scene in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever where the kids are saying they don't know what "there are no small parts, only small actors" really means, and the explanation is that every part is important - Jesus, Mary, and the shrot kids. Well, wouldn't that be a great name for a band? Jesus, Mary, and the Short Kids, live on stage!
I know I'd buy tickets to that show, wouldn't you?

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.

Music Sunday Worship - 12 December 2021 - Plague Journal Day 640

Micah 6:8
Luke 2:1-7  Philippians 4:1,4-9
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?

Music Sunday!
Twice each year the music department takes over a worship service at Grosse Pointe United Methodist Church, and today is one of those two Sundays. We'll have choral anthems, handbells, solos on piano and keyboard, and congregational hymns, each introduced with a brief reading from the songs or related Scripture passages - almost a Lessons and Carols service.

At any rate, God will be worshiped and glorified, and good fellowship will be shared all morning.
Why not join us?

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