Just for Fun - 18 March 2022 - Plague Journal Day 736

Micah 6:8
Galatians 5:22
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?

OK, for no real reason other than for the fun of it, here are a few fun videos to entertain you. Note that I'm not telling you what they are in advance. You'll just have to trust me. You do trust me, don't you?

Video Number 1 (no, I'm not telling)
Video Number 2 (nope, still not telling)
Video Number 3 (why bother? I'm still not telling)
Video Number 4 (treadmill dancing!)
Video Number 5 (another mystery)

You're welcome.

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our insane 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.

New Beginnings - 01 January 2022 - Plague Journal Day 660

Micah 6:8
Revelation 21:5-7
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?

Well, the calendar page has turned from December 2021 to January 2022. What will we make of this new year? It is to be hoped that this year will be very different from last year - I'm voting for more health, freedom, happiness, and Joy. How about you?

Be good, be kind, be smart, be free.

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our insane 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.

Make A Joyful Noise! - 16 September 2021 - Plague Journal Day 553

Micah 6:8
Zephaniah 3:14-17
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's what's putting Joy in my heart today - Choir Rehearsal Is Go! Yes, we're going to give this a shot. We'll do what we can to help lead worship with song, and I can hardly wait to get back to that wonderful fellowship of believers who are ready to make that joyful noise. It's my other family, and I've missed it, lo these many months.

On a side note, in bizarre coincidental celebration news, today is both National Guacamole Day and World Play Doh Day. If you're celebrating these, please don't get the two mixed up. I know Play Doh is non-toxic (and so is a good guacamole), but that doesn't mean it goes well with tortilla chips! Please celebrate carefully today!

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.

Make Your Choice - 23 April 2021 - Plague Journal Day 407

Micah 6:8
2 Samuel 6:14-15
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?

Here's a great blast from the past for your audio and visual enjoyment - because we can all use some simple, unbridled joy these days.

And here's another one for you. Now your day is better, and you're welcome.

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.

Christmas Eve! - 24 December 2020 - Plague Journal Day 287

Micah 6:8
Luke 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?

At last, it's Christmas Eve!
It's hard to believe, the way time has both dragged and flown by at the same time, but we've made it at last.

 May you all feel the Joy and Peace that Christ brings to His world and His people.

“Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

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.

The Winter of Our Discontent - 22 December 2020 - Plague Journal Day 285

Micah 6:8
Matthew 2:9-11
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?

Well, yesterday was the winter solstice, so that means today it is well and truly Winter. Winter in 2020 can be nothing but a winter of discontent, no? Still, we're just about to celebrate Christmas - commemorating the birth of Jesus, the Son of God. So with no apologies to Shakespeare for the deliberate misquote:

Now is the winter of our discontent

Made glorious summer by the Son of God.

Let the Joy that Christ can bring into your life make you a beacon of light and warmth for the world around 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.

RIP Ernie Harwell

We all knew it was coming, and we've likely never known anyone who was actually so ready for it, but death is always a shock no matter what.

The one time I met Ernie, I could tell that he was just as cool as we thought he was from listening to him on the radio (I miss the Tigers on WJR, and I'm not even a baseball fan); he was a genuinely nice, kind gentleman.

I do have one (continuing) regret related to Ernie. He had some kind of connection with our church, and every year as I started the planning for the Lenten Devotion book, I thought that I should send Ernie a letter and ask for a bit of devotional writing from him - but I never did. Now I never will.

Still, I know that Ernie is in Heaven (and I'm pretty sure that doesn't mean he's in an Iowa cornfield with a bunch of dead baseball players), and he's happy. No, happy wouldn't be the half of it - Joy is the serious business of Heaven, and Ernie was always good at Joy.

He'll be missed.

Oh, and it's time to add to the name at Comerica Park: Harwell Field at Comerica Park has a wonderful ring, don't you think?