Celebrate the Vision - 19 December 2020 - Plague Journal Day 282

Micah 6:8
Matthew 13:15-17
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?

Yes, this year has cause time to run in bizarre ways, dragging and speeding by at the same time, but that's been my experience of time for most of my life. I really don't have a good sense of how long ago anything is unless I have some other event to use as an anchor. For example, I could remember when things happened based on the teachers I had in school, or on the teachers my son had in school. Of course, once he was out of University I was pretty well doomed.

So it wasn't with total surprise that I noted on my calendar that today is the sixth anniversary of my retinal repairs. I remember the day before and that day very distinctly - who wouldn't remember when they had liquid nitrogen poured behind the eyeball? or when they were told that liquid nitrogen would be poured behind the eyeball the next morning? You'd have to be beyond forgetful, I should think.
At any rate - six years ago my eyes were repaired, and they still work pretty well to this day. I am grateful for the vision I've been granted all these years, and pray that God will move me from just sight to insight as I continue in His service and fellowship.

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.

Them Dry Bones - 18 December 2020 - Plague Journal Day 281

Micah 6:8
Ezekiel 37:1-14
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?

On 18 December 1912, British archeologist Charles Dawson announced the discovery of fossilized remains of an unidentified human ancestor in Piltdown, East Sussex, England, at a conference of the Geological Society of London. The discovery was thought to provide valuable clues about human evolution. Of course, in 1953 the Piltdown Man was discovered to be a hoax - with the skull consisting of the jawbones of an orangutan and the cranium of an adult human being. As always, it's important to look at what's being said and decide if we believe it. Then we need to take a step back and decide if we believe it because the evidence convinces us that it's true, or rather because we want it to  be true.
It would appear that Charles Dawson made a monkey of those scientists.

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.

True to the Truth - 17 December 2020 - Plague Journal Day 280

Micah 6:8
Isaiah 6:1-9
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?

Yesterday was Ludwig van Beethoven's 250th birthday. In celebration, our local classical music station - WRCJ 90.9 FM - played essentially all Beethoven from 6AM to 7PM. It was amazingly diverse. One might think that thirteen hours of music by one composer would get monotonous. It was anything but. How instructive to see that one man could write in so many different genres and adapt his style to match the requirements of each of them. (Have you ever noticed how Flemish that name looks? Ludwig van Beethoven doesn't sound like a German name to me.)
Anyway, it made me think of the objections to there being an actual Isaiah who wrote the eponymous prophetic book in the Bible. "There are three different styles of writing, so there must be three different writers. There can't have been an Isaiah, so the whole thing borders on a fraud. Move on, there's nothing to see here."
Well, I know that when I write about different things, my writing style is different. Why wouldn't that be the case with others? Well, of course it is. No one would expect the oracles of God, poetic laments, and historical recording to be written in the same style - and that's exactly what's going on in Isaiah.
Thanks for the insight, Ludwig! You have to be true to the truth, and have style!

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.

Limited Government - 16 December 2020 - Plague Journal Day 279

Micah 6:8
1 Kings 12:6-11
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 Boston Tea Party Day, the 247th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. I find it very interesting that yesterday was Bill of Rights Day, celebrating the 229th anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights. The controversy over making that list of rights is very instructive. Those opposed were generally opposed based on two ideas. The first was that one doesn't forbid what can't be done - one doesn't specify that the government isn't allowed to do what it already is unable to do. The second was that by calling out particular rights in a list like that, future governments might be emboldened to assume powers that were forbidden by the Constitution, but not specifically listed in the Bill of Rights.

 

I think it's safe to say that both of them were right, but it's probably better to have been safe by at least specifying those particular rights. As bad as some things have gotten, just imagine where we might be without the specific language in those amendments.

In a birthday celebration today, born on 16 December 1917 was sf author Arthur C. Clarke. I wonder what he would have thought of the "monoliths" appearing around the world.

(I think he would have been bothered by the missing ' in that message. I know I am.)

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.

America Drinks and Goes Home - 15 December 2020 - Plague Journal Day 278

Micah 6:8
Ephesians 5:17-19
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 a relatively important date in music. On 15 December 1877 Thomas Edison patented the phonograph. (As I recall, "Mary had a little lamb" was his demonstration recording.) Sadly, 67 years later, the plane carrying Major Glenn Miller - a major recording artist of the day - was lost over the English Channel on the way to Paris during WWII.

There's a fun story relating to his passing (I hope it's been long enough). My mother was a big Glenn Miller fan. In fact, I still have a book of her Glenn Miller 45s that I should pull out and play one of these days. At any rate, Mom (many years before she was a Mom) went on a date to see "The Glenn Miller Story." After the movie, she berated her date through her tears: "Why didn't you tell me he died at the end?!" It would appear that she was not fully informed regarding the life of her favorite musician.
Ah, youth.

In news unrelated to music, on 15 December 1933 the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution came into effect. Ratified on 05 December 1933, the amendment repealed the prohibition on alcohol in the United States which had come into force on 17 January 1920, when the 18th amendment took effect. Folks are still celebrating this event in homes across these United States even today. Please celebrate responsibly.

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.

Safety - 14 December 2020 - Plague Journal Day 277

Micah 6:8
Psalm 141:9-10
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?



Alaska Airlines has come out with a Safety Dance video where we are informed that we must mask up to fly on their planes. How fun was that?
No matter where you come down on the value and efficacy of masks, I will say that Alaska Airlines has made a fun video. Still, it really does pale in comparison with the original.

In unrelated news, on today's date, 14 December back in 1984, Howard Cosell retired from Monday Night Football. Apparently he eschewed further seasons! (probably an inside joke) To connect to the first part of today's post, I have to believe that during his tenure in the MNF booth he witnessed at least one NFL team score a safety.

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 - 13 December 2020 - Plague Journal Day 276

Micah 6:8
Psalm 126:1-6
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?

  

It's the third week of Advent!

With the current spike in COVID cases in Grosse Pointe, we've paused our in-person worship, probably for the rest of the year. We will only be streaming our services on YouTube until further notice, so please join us online.

Speaking of joining us online, our new streaming solution (all new cameras and software running on a new, video-optimized computer) came at just the right time, and we'll be sharing our attempt at a Music Sunday without a big choir, so why not tune in and see if we're adequate?

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.