Walking Wounded

Some of us are struggling in various ways here at seminary. I have been repeatedly reminded of an old Don Francisco song, "Walking Wounded." The You Tube below is the only version I could find, but please think of men as well as women when you listen. Just because the wounds aren't visible doesn't mean they aren't painful and real.

One classmate I spoke with today found out he had failed one of the required foundational courses from the Fall semester. He's now on academic probation. The pain on his face made me want to cry. He is not the only one in that situation.

Another classmate has looked so sad and unhappy lately. She has been homesick. Today is the first time I have seen a smile on her face in a while.

One couple getting ready for their internship next year just found out that the wife's synod is requiring that the two of them serve at separate sites. Their hope was to serve at a church where they could hone their skills to serve as a clergy couple. The frustration was evident.

The last two days in chapel seem to have been meant for those of us with needs whether it be homesickness, illness, depression, doubt, fear.Yesterday, our president preached a sermon for doubters. When we meet barriers to our calls, we sometimes doubt and wonder if we heard God's call at all. Today's chapel was a time of encouragement and challenge to us as those preparing for servant leadership in Christ's church. Please keep us all in your prayers. Our hope and trust is in God's grace and faithfulness.




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DEMOCRAT FASCISM

Fascism is a wierd concept to define, but almost every serious definition of it includes the merger of the public and private sectors. Yesterday the Obama White House and Senator Carl Levin (D-Michigan) demonstrated this key element when they ordered CitiBank to scrub the purchase of a new corporate jet.

This sounds like great oversight and the Dems sound like great watchdogs against waste UNTIL A FEW FACTS ARE BROUGHT TO BEAR.

In fact, Citi had planned to use the ONE new, efficient jet to REPLACE not one but TWO older, less efficient jets; and these were to have been sold at prices which would have MORE than offset the cost of the new jet. This is to say nothing of the maintainence savings. BUT NOOOOOOO............

In order to show themselves as Mighty Leaders, Obama and Levin forbade this "extravagance". It was pure political theater and it did much more harm than good. But it did look like the Dems were giving a big bad bank a pranging, And all the Sheeple say AMEN.

OUR NEW NAME!

Yes, we have changed our name to "THE ALEXANDRIA DAILY POOP". We have done this so as to distinguish this blog from dozens of others using the DP name, and hopefully lead to a faster location of the blog on Google. Also our physical location in Alexandria Virginia is highlighted in the new name. Thanks for reading the ALEXANDRIA DAILY POOP.

Reunited At Last!

The Spring term at LTSG began today. A few are not yet back from the Jan. term trip to Geneva, Switzerland, but even so, the campus is once again humming with activity.

Most of my class came for the 2 week Summer Greek course in August. After Summer Greek, we were divided into 2 sections for the Fall session of Introduction to New Testament Greek. Some of us were in the turtle group while others were in the rabbit group. We were reassured by both profs that in the Spring we would all be together again. That is what happened at 8:30 this morning in our Witness of the Gospels class. We even met in the same room that we'd met in for Summer Greek and some of us sat in the very same seats we were in last August. That seems so very long ago now, yet at the time it seemed Summer Greek would never end. I am grateful for the safe return of most of us who started out together in August (one is still recovering from a car accident, but doing well). G0d has faithfully brought us this far.

This week as we celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, each chapel service has been led by students from various faith traditions represented here. Today we worshiped, sang, prayed and listened to preaching from our African Methodist Episcopal brothers and sisters. Prior to chapel, I was already feeling overwhelmed with all the demands of this new semester. By the time we left chapel, I was hopeful, renewed and refreshed. With our varied gifts and traditions, we have much to offer to one another. As we have sensed such unity in Christ in our worship together this week, may it spread throughout the church in answer to our Lord's prayer, for the glory of God's name. Even as the turtles and rabbits have been reunited, may it be so in God's church.
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HERE WE GO......

A bit more than an hour ago, Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America, so help him God. I will here repeat the mandatory mantra that he is the first (choose one: black, Black, African-American) president.

It will come as no surprise that I am not happy with this day, but it has nothing to do with the new President's race. It is rather his lack of experience in a day when we face a determined and lethal and crafty enemy with whom we are at war; and his jejune socialistic outlook on things in general; along with his alliance with the far left wing of the Democrat party that has me concerned.

Nonetheless the teeming masses turned up early, and there were reports of crowds trampling security barriers and thereby bypassing security (Like with Woodstock!!) At leadt one person was pushed into the path of a subway train by the crushing horde and struck by the lead car. I spent a very busy morning taking people in a hurry down the "authorized vehicles" routes . It was eerie driving down a deserted I-395 at what would have been the height of rush hour.

I knocked off at 11:30 to watch the swearing-in, which went pretty normally although Obama screwed up the words of the oath (but was corrected by Justice Roberts). Then came the obligatory poet reciting some opaque blather she had written. Then the stage was taken by a doddering old Reverend named Lowrey who rambled on for about five minutes and then said he hoped for the day "When Black will not have to get in back' (THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT WAS JUST SWORN IN YOU OLD FOOL!) 'When Brown can stick around' (Let the illegals stay?) 'When the Red man can get ahead, man' (Um, tax free casinos, anyone??) 'and when White will embrace what's right". That last one was an horrendous insult to white folks, a majority of whom voted for - need I say again? - "The first African-American President of the United States".

I don't know who first said that black/brown/yellow/red/white bit but I know it was said circa 1969 and I think it was the likes of famous White-hater Dick Gregory who said it. Lowrey's speech was as if the Washington Post ran an editorial against the Stamp Act. Some people, I suppose, just like to bitch.

Well, tonight will bring the Inaugural Balls and the parties and the saloons in DC will close at 5 AM and the Metro will be unloading drunken fools all night. And I will be packing a Walther PPK/s in my coat pocket, which I rarely do. This has nothing to do with the crowds I will deal with but rather the fact that just past 12AM this passt Sunday morning, one of my fellow drivers was shot to death in a robbery, and the killer has not been caught. We may have a new President, but some things have no 'hope" of ever "changing".

Presidential Hymn

A member of Christ Lutheran Church, Rev. Robert W. Koons D. D. penned a hymn whose words are sung to the tune of My Country Tis of Thee or God Bless Our Native Land (ELW 891). It appeared in Friday's Gettysburg Times. This indeed is an appropriate prayer for our new president.

God bless our president,
Uphold his high intent
To rule aright--
Our nation's good pursue,
Hope of world peace renew,
All humankind to view
As in Your sight.

Your gracious Spirit pour
On him, we now implore--
Give him your aid.
Unite us all to stand
With helping, serving hand.
What You for earth have planned
Be here displayed.

In the copy given to us at church, each line of the above was explained from a theological perspective by the author. A fellow seminarian thought it was the best hymn we sang yesterday. Lord in your mercy...hear our prayer.


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What is our response?

Today we celebrate Peter's confession of Jesus as the "Messiah, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). I listened as Christ Church's pastor preached an excellent message on the Matthew 16 text.



Last semester, in homiletics, I too preached on this text. Rural Lutheran, my teaching parish, was the church I had in mind in this message. Everything we do as Christians is in response to Jesus' question.

***

Over the past weeks, I have had the privilege of eating lunch with several of you. Your love for this church is tangible. Everyone is concerned about declining numbers, especially those who grew up here, remembering the once full pews. We are facing many challenges which are echoed in the hymn, “The Church of Christ, in Every Age.” “The church of Christ in ev’ry age beset by change, but Spirit led, must claim and test its heritage and keep on rising from the dead.”

Today’s gospel text is set in Caesarea Philippi, a place noted for its worship of many gods. In this setting, Jesus “asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’” Responses varied from John the Baptist to one of the prophets, yet with a common thread. Jesus was special and was compared to prophets and miracle workers. He impacted the lives of people then even as he does today.



Jesus knew what people thought, so why did he ask? Was it for ego strokes or because he was insecure like some of us are? No, instead Jesus is providing a little tease to get the disciples thinking. Their own thoughts regarding Jesus doubtless ran through their minds as they reported what others thought

Jesus then cuts to the heart of the matter, saying to them, “But who do you say that I am?” In verse 13, the Greek word for “asked” is in the imperfect tense denoting continuous or repeated action in the past, so it could be translated, “Jesus persistently asked his disciples, ‘Who … the Son of Man is?’” It was never about the others’ responses, but about the disciples’ reaction to this question.

The turning point of this passage hinges upon Peter’s answer for himself and the other disciples, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." He is acknowledging Jesus as the specially chosen, anointed one of God, the one the Jewish people have been waiting for, who would set them free from bondage. God revealed this to him. Surely, this was not the first time he had thought about this. Jesus repeatedly asked who people identified him as. Likely, the disciples discussed this among themselves.

This revelation comes loaded with implications. Jesus says in verse 18, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” Peter or petros in Greek is an isolated stone, but the rock, petra, is literally living rock, bedrock. “…I tell you, you are an isolated stone, and on this living rock, bedrock I will build my church…”

The Lord said to Peter, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Peter is given the keys to unlock the mysteries of God! Keys also symbolize authority and responsibility. The power to bind and loose may be interpreted as the power to teach with authority and we are not talking about well educated people here either, but blue collar workers, like many here today.

Our response to the question, “Who do you say that I am,” has significant implications for us as well. This power to unlock the mysteries and to teach with authority not only was given to the disciples, but is given to the church today.



Our answer to Jesus’ persistent question determines how we live our lives, how we deal with disappointment and pain, how we do or do not share our faith. There was a time in my life when I experienced who Jesus is in a totally unexpected way. Everything was outside my control. In that time and place, I experienced Jesus as friend, provider, healer, and Lord.

Jesus builds his church on the bedrock of faith. It is his work and nothing can stop it, not even the “gates of Hades” or death. To control the gates of a city was to conquer it. What a relief that this is God’s work and not Peter’s or ours. Acknowledging Jesus as Messiah, Son of God, and Lord of our lives, and sharing that faith is the first step in growing this church.

Peter's confession and pondering

INAUGURATION INSANITY?? OR INAUGURATION INANITY?

ALONG WITH EVERY OTHER TAXICAB DRIVER IN THE D.C. METROPOLITAN AREA I was issued yesterday six pages of single-spaced lists of road closures and traffic restrictions plus a map of restricted zones in the City of Washington, the better to help me understand where I could and could not take people or operate my cab.
Three major routes into D.C. are completely closed to everyone except buses, limousines, emergency/law enforcement,----and taxicabs. A one and one half mile freeway tunnel, which stretches from the southwest side of the Capitol to the northwest side of it, has been closed off for use as a pedestrian conduit.
Every bridge going into D.C. from Virginia is either closed or severely restricted, except the two on the Beltway, and these do not touch down in D.C. but rather in Maryland.
In fine, the level of security for this Inauguration is quite possibly the most complicated, expansive, restrictive, and massive ever for any public event in the history of this Nation and perhaps in the world. It surpasses the security for the State of the Union speech, when the entire Federal government is gathered together under one roof. Did I say "surpasses"? Sorry. "dwarfs" would be too tame.
Why is this Inauguration different from all other Inaugurations? (and will I find the prize in the Matzoh?) Why all the paranoia? I voiced this in the dispatch room and one of our telephone reps said: "Lotsa people don't like us black folks".
Really? You mean racial and ethnic predjudice and hatred exists? I already knew that. But it seems to me that it has subsided enough in this nation to allow a majority of folks to elect Barack Hussein Obama to be President of the United States. The outpouring of hatred for President Bush did not prompt this level of security at his second Inaugural. And death threats from Clem Kadiddlehopper types need to be taken seriously. But anyone who could get past the normal Inaugural security to do harm is smart enough to get past this dog's breakfast of restrictions. In fact, the restrictions could actually be turned to the advantage of a thinking attacker. (I don't want to give anybody ideas so I wont go into specifics). Sure there are nuts who want to kill Obama. Hells bells, there re nuts who want to kill Richard Nixon, and he has been dead already for some time.

the plain fact is that having folks want to kill you comes with the Office of President of the United States. The day after the Inauguration the bridges will re-open and the security zones will come down and Barack Hussein Obama will be living in a mansion in the middle of a teeming mass of humanity not one individual of with will need a pass or a permit to get within 75 yards of him. Obama is, when all is said and done, just one more schlemozzle in a long line of them to be sworn into office at the Capitol. If this security obsession follows into the next four years, Obama may be the most remote president we have ever had.

1. Just a side note: The D.C. Government is issuing special "Provisional Taxi Permits" to taxis and limos to operate inside the restricted areas in the City. Outside drivers must have them. They cost $125. What a bunch of chislers.

Taizé - A Jew’s prayer for the children of Gaza

Yesterday in our J-term class on music and spiritual formation, there was a presentation by a woman who had been to the Taize community in France. Regarding the numerous languages and cultures touched by this movement, she drew our attention to a prayer written by a Jewish rabbi for the children of Gaza. Please read it at this link. Taizé - A Jew’s prayer for the children of Gaza We used it during our intercessions at compline last night.

Today's appointed psalm caught my attention with a verse that certainly speaks to the situation, "For the Lord hears the needy, and does not despise his own that are in bonds" (Psalm 69:33). Lord in your mercy...

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NRSV--Getting the Boot

No, not the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, but the new revised standard version of treatment for my inflamed Achilles tendon. That is my NRSV. When the physical therapist referred to a boot, this is not what I envisioned.

I only have to wear it when walking and I have to say that walking is less painful than before. I’ll be wearing it for 2-3 weeks. I do feel a bit like a peg-legged pirate when I walk though.ARRR!

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Please Pray

Being in God's will does not mean that one escapes hardship and pain. There are two in particular in our seminary community that need prayer. The first is a spouse of a classmate, A. S. She was scheduled for back surgery, but during pre-op testing, nodules were discovered on one of her lungs. She had the lung surgery and is now home recuperating, but will still be having the back surgery later this month. Thanks be to God that the nodules were not cancerous. She has a long haul in front of her however.

Secondly, yesterday I learned that during the break between semesters a classmate was in a car accident resulting in a shattered ankle and broken femur. She's out of the hospital and in rehab. Once we find out which rehab facility it is, some of us will be going to see her. She will not be able to return for the Spring semester. Please keep her in your prayers for a speedy recovery. Thankfully, "A Mighty Fortress is Our God!"

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THE DEMOCRATS ARE IMPLODING (WHAT FUN TO WATCH!)

OH WHAT FUN IT IS for a conservative Nationalist such as I to watch the Demon-Rat follies unfold.

Over in Illinois, the Dems are eating one of their own for getting his hand caught in the cookie jar. Governor Blagojevich has just been impeached by the Democrat Illinois House for basically engaging in normal Chicago-style politics; but not before appointing a black man to fill Obama's seat. And here's the truly delish part: THE ALL - WHITE SENATE DEMON-RAT LEADERSHIP IS TRYING TO KEEP HIM OUT BECAUSE HE IS AN "EMBARASSMENT"!! This of course has the Congressional Black Caucus in an uproar. This is getting GOOD.

Meanwhile, the Boy Wonder AKA the President-Elect has appointed New-Age rainbow-and-unicorn shithead Sanjay Gupta to be Surgeon General. Dr. Gupta ran some kind of TV show on PBS devoted to some kind of "Spiritual Healing" bullcrap. I used to think there would never ever be a more ridiculous Surgeon General than Jocelyn Elders. Boy was I wrong.

And for the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency?? Why, former Clintonista Chief of Staff Leon Panetta. LEON PANETTA ??!!!!??!!?? Are you kidding? How does having your nose stuck up Bill Clinton's ass for eight years qualify you for the CIA??

Now here is Obama's plan for the economy: People dont have money to spend and stimulate the economy, so he's going to give them money to spend. How will he do it?? Good question, since we are running a big deficit that he swears he will reduce, plus he wants to put a bunch of busy-work projects in place, AND he CLAIMS he wants to cut taxes. His "plan" is so full of contradictions that it is beginning to splinter the Democrat Party (and dont give me any crapola about the "ic").

About all tht is needed for a perfect storm is an attempt by the gun-grabbers to pass draconian anti-gun legislation. Go to any firearms forum on the web and you will see the gorge of America's firearms owners rising. Much as a certain brand of dog food "makes its own gravy"; the Demon-Ratz show every sign of making their own gridlock.

And now, despite all the hype, there wont really be all that many more folks here for the "historic Inauguration of America's first African-American President" than there were for, oh, say. Ronald Reagan's. So many people here in the DC area had hopes of making tens of thousands of dollars renting out rooms, condos, even entire houses to folks who couldn't find hotel rooms. For the most part, these folks will be bitterly disappointed by the promise of hope and change. They are the first of many. The seeds of a Conservative majority in Congress in 2010 are being sown now by an administration that has yet to assume power. Hope? Yessirreee. Change? You bet. It is coming in 2010. Mark these words and watch these fools screw everything up so badly that (provided Obama/Reid/Pelosi don't provoke an armed rebellion, and that is not out of the question) there will scarcely be a Demon-Rat left in either house two years from now. I HOPE for that CHANGE.

We're Back

When I left for Christmas vacation, I was suffering from fried brain syndrome, as were my fellow seminarians. The time away was filled with renewed mental and physical resources, renewed relationships, and renewed commitment.

We spent Christmas with my daughter and granddaughter (at left). Grace has grown so much in such a short time. A particular highlight for us was seeing Grace in the Christmas pageant at church. She was an angel. There was also a toddler who was one of the shepherds. As he followed the other shepherds up the aisle, he was sucking his thumb and clutching his blanket. He was too cute.

Shortly after arriving in Rochester, I talked with a pastor friend (he married us just over 5 years ago) and he asked me to preach for him. The congregation is small, but delightful. I had a wonderful time.

Since Amity has been with Ray (Sept.), she has not wagged her tail much at all and has sometimes looked rather melancholy. This has changed dramatically and it seems the impetus for the change is SNOW. When we left from Gettysburg it was raining, but by the time we got halfway to Rochester, it had turned to snow. She loved it! There were large snowbanks at my daughter's house and Amity was in seventh heaven playing in the snow. She has found her tail wagging and play buttons.

New Years was spent in RI with Ray's brother and family. We celebrated a belated Christmas with them also. Abby, Ray's retired Seeing Eye dog preceded us to RI and while we were in Rochester, she was on doggie vacation with the two other dogs at my brother-in-law's. Once Amity joined them, they really had a doggie parade. Where one would go, the others followed. Oh, and yes, there was SNOW. Cherokee, our niece's dog and Amity are pictured here.

Our last Sunday away, we worshiped at our home church, Emanuel. It was so good to once again be with our church family. There were some new faces too!

Upon returning to G-burg, that evening we had an ice storm. We gave thanks that our arrival preceded that and our entire trip was without incident despite a variety of weather conditions.

A classmate said she was glad to return to Gettysburg and reunite with classmates. Most people she encountered while away really didn't "get" what she was doing at seminary. That too was my experience, but to a lesser degree. How about those of you in ministry or seminary? One classmate had to keep telling his father that he really needed clerics and albs more than new sweaters. Did you seem like that much of an enigma to your family and friends?

As wonderful as the trip was and as much as I miss everyone, I was ready to return to campus and this community of faith as we together discern God's gracious will. There's no place like home.


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HAPPY NEW YEAR - YEAH, YEAH.

Folks, I drive a cab for a living. So guess how I spent my New Year's Eve??

The first part of the evening was natch picking up folks and taking them to where they were going to celebrate. Half the time they didnt show because they called two or three cab companies and took the first one that showed or some other idiotic (and inconsiderate ) thing. The second half of the evening would have been spent taking them home, but practically no one knew how to act, and about half of them wanted to stuff their whole party of ten or twelve into my Crown Vic. Everybody was totally blotto.

It didn't used to be this way. Up until about three years ago people would act right; maybe get a little drunk but they could still find their ass without using both hands, a map and a Sherpa guide. They certainly didn't try to hail a cab by runnig in front of the moving vehicle and doing jumping jacks in the middle of the street OR - no shit - JUMPING ON THE HOOD OF THE MOVING CAB. Well, in any case I decided to go home and take a little nap and run the hotels at check-out time.

All this left me in no mood to write anything, but if you're a blogger and worth your salt, you MUST write a New Year's Day post. SO:

I got to thinking why the rise in idiotic behavior?? Why are people such dopes these days??

Look at what people are driving more and more: "Plug-in hybrids" with an eye toward a fully electric car. It is painfully obvious that no one has thought this through. I will admit that using the brakes to generate power has merit, although when some weenie starts slowing down half a mile before the light (with a smirk on his face reminiscent of a toddler who has just pooped in the potty and thinks he deserves a prize) in order to re-charge his precious battery (and force everyone else to waste gasoline, since neither he nor the folks behind him will make the timed light) it infuriates me along with everybody else. But first off, you don't plug those hybrids into the ground. Pick your poison, you are STILL burning oil OR fissioning Uranium to make your buggy go. AH! But at least you're not giving your money to "BIG OIL".

Unless your utility uses an oil-fired power plant, you are right. You are giving your hard earned dough to Big Coal or Big Nuke. Sure you are not paying that "greedy gas station owner". But when you start using your home elecric outlet as a fuel source, you'll feel all smug until you get your electric bill, whereupon you will shit your pants. And if you don't pay for your electric car's fuel, your power gets cut off. Not just your car power; your lights and heat and stove and refrigerator and freezer all conk out too. My food won't spoil and I won't freeze in the dark if I cant afford gasoline.

Not only that, but what about your bicycle owning neighbor who doesn't own a car? Mass use of electricity as a motor fuel will cause the price of electric power to rise for EVERYBODY, not you only.

Oh well; its a sacrifice everyone must make for a cleaner environment, right?? Burning less gasoline will end global warming and save those cute cuddly Polar bears, right?? YOU FUCKING IDIOT. Do you know why the gasoline engine was developed?? Because when oil is refined for other uses, gasoline is a byproduct of the refining. And petroleum products are used in among other things the plastics that lighten mass rail transit cars to improve efficiency, as well I might add as to make the tires of those bikes your soon-to-be-overcharged-for-electricity neighbor rides to be so goddamned "green". Before they put the gasoline to good use as a transportation fuel, it was just burned off. So even if you eliminate the internal combustion engine you will STILL be burning gasoline, only it won't be doing anything useful. Genius.

AND aside from all this, "Man made global warming" (Or, since it is becoming evident temperatures are dropping "climate change") is a complete crock of shit. The climate is constantly changing and it isnt us, it is the sun and various other natural features. I was raised in a part of Ohio that was covered in ice millions of years ago. It was warm and dry way before the first hiccups of the Industrial Revolution. Oh and by the way for all you dumb asses who want to cry for the cute cuddly widdo Polar bears drowning and losing their ice-floe hunting grounds: You do believe in evolution? Adaption is a big part of it. The bears need to evolve. And bye the bye a Polar bear is about ten feet tall on its hind legs and has been known to hunt and eat human beings. FUCK THE POLAR BEARS.

Nah, I take it back. I actually feel sorry for the polar bears. I dont know exactly how to make this into an analogy, but basically you people who want to "save the planet" from this moronic "man-made climate change" are the same folks who rail against "Big Oil" and "Big Tobacco"; even though Shell has never handed down a government order or taxed one American individual (and spare me, you morons) and R.J.Reynolds has never imprisoned or executed anyone. To save you from Big Oil and Big Tobacco, you fools turn to the one entity that can screw your life up with no remedy. And you can get rid of your car (and I guess ride a bike made out of hemp??) and you can refuse to smoke or quit. You can say "no" to Big Oil and Big Tobacco. But once Big Government has you, it has you by the BALLS. Yet you fools look to Big GOVERNMENT to save you from Big Oil and Big Tobacco The poor polar bears. If I were a polar bear looking foir the likes of you idiots to save me, I would just as soon swim out to sea and drown.

Happy Fucking New Year.

Year in Review

I am following Songbird's example of doing a review of 2008 posts. It is a meme consisting of the first sentence of the first post for each month of 2008.

January--I was just reading this post on the "Gifted for Leadership" blog, "Create a Culture of Mentorship."

February--I came home yesterday morning from Kent Regency Rehab.

March--The first half of this semester has been difficult, to say the least.

April--We received some troubling news yesterday concerning a pastor friend.

May--Sally created this week's Friday Five, posted over at RevGalBlogPals: Part of the Ascension Day Scripture from Acts 11 contains this promise from Jesus;"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

June--I came home a week ago Sat. from rehab after knee replacement.

July--Sally at Rev Gals posted today's Friday Five.

August--We are grateful to family, friends, and Garmin for a successful move from RI to Gettysburg.

September--Please take a look at this post on Dream Awakener.

October--Last Friday, Abby once more had a chance to go to chapel, as a pet.

November--My thoughts on the meaning and importance of baptism as well as the mode and timing of one's baptism have changed significantly over the years.

December--Because yesterday was part of Thanksgiving weekend, I did not have teaching parish at Rural Lutheran.

Thanks be to God.