68 thoughts on “Our Daily Thread 2-20-16”

  4. The birds are singing springtime songs this morning. I like the bird header from yesterday and this morning.
    Yesterday I heard what I believe was a hawk in our yard but I never saw it. Then I heard a crow so that pretty much confirmed it was a hawk. Crows turn into badgers when hawks are in their territory.

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  5. Good morning everyone.
    I was momentarily taken aback by a headline in to day’s Times-News” It said ‘Officials seeking channels for service to underserved.” I misread it and thought they said “undeserved” 😆
    Interesting how much of what you read is understood in context. You don’t often read the entire work. And “underserved” and “undeserved” are so close.
    The confusion lasted only a couple of seconds.

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  7. Janice- But the “entitled” class of those in the US have been taught that they “deserve” whatever Uncle Sam is willing to give them. Over the last 50 years the Democrats, and some Republicans, have made the government the source of everything they need. That is why Obama, Hillary and Sanders can promise the moon and get elected. The “entitled” class now believe that the rich have an endless source of money that they ought to give to the government so the government can give it to the “entitled”.

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  8. You are right, Peter. The government has created an identity crisis that has not been fully recognized yet. The “entitled” have not realized they are also “poor” like everyone else when the money dries up.

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  9. I thought of Chas and Elvera this morning as I was out doing chores. The grass had a sheet of white ice on it from the skiff of snow, frozen rain, and rain. Not enough to be slippery, but enough to remind me to pray for Chas and Elvera.

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  11. Once seventeen year old realized that eight year old could make pancakes from scratch and he could only make them from a box, he decided to remedy his ways. He learned how and now makes them for his supper about four or five times per week. He used to only make them for men’s prayer breakfast, out of a box. Our little boy is growing up.

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  14. I’ve been doing break times outside with the vines. Honeysuckle vine is much preferred over Devil’s ivy. I have to use my loppers on the Devil. He still tries to latch on to me with all those terrible thorns. It makes me think about what Jesus suffered with the Crown of Thorns. And that was only one part of what He went through.

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  15. I’m reading Living Forward by Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy. Great book to set priorities in life. It’s a quick read, but to do what it suggests you need to take a full day and devote it to building a Life Plan. It is worth the effort for most anybody to do that soul searching planning.

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  16. Have you got kudzu in your neck of the woods, Janice? Weren’t we talking about kudzu here the other day? Or was that somewhere else? Time is doing odd things for me this week . . .

    I considered making pancakes this morning with bacon, but had to throw out the maple syrup–the ants got in it. 😦

    So we had a frittata instead; healthier anyway.

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  18. Greetings from the end of a very busy week! I need to catch up on threads and see what has been happening in your lives.

    Pancakes, corn bread, and pie crust are the three recipes I memorized my first year of marriage. My husband likes waffles. I have to get out the recipe book every time.

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  19. Terro for ants. You can find the trail and put a drop on the trail or just put a container on the counter. They will take bites back to the nest and your ant problem is solved in two days.

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  21. Good afternoon.

    It has been a few days since I’ve been on here, though I’ve skim read the threads and think I’m up to date on everything but Michelle’s reference to counterfeit money.

    My husband and I went out of town for basically four days and three nights, “to get away.” Except that we kept getting “emergency” phone calls from home. The girls’ other grandmother died, and my husband’s sister went into the hospital overnight. So we came home yesterday in time to unpack, dress, and get to the viewing, and then the funeral this morning.

    Family events like that are just a little surreal when one is married to the husband of the deceased child. For example, at the funeral home we went to line our car up with the line going to the cemetery afterward, and the guy standing there asked if we were family or friends, and we said “family” and he asked how we’re related. My husband said he used to be married to the daughter, and either the man didn’t hear and understand the connection or he thought there had been a divorce, but either way he sent us into the lot and not the line . . . but then we saw our future son-in-law’s vehicle in the line. So, one granddaughter got in the line as “family” though the car’s driver was not yet family, but the other granddaughter got banished with us to the parking lot as “former” family.

    Then, when they read “survivors” they mentioned daughter so-and-so and her husband so-and-so, son so-and-so and his wife so-and-so, along with the total number of grandchildren and great-grands. But my husband wasn’t named as a survivor, though he would have been if his first wife was still alive. He’s still an uncle to the nieces and nephews, our girls are still grandchildren and nieces, and he still acted as a son-in-law, but we’re not “totally” family.

    Family is very warm and welcoming to us . . . it just is a little surreal.

    We had a really wonderful time away, though, with some lovely weather.

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  22. Cheryl, that is a bit surreal. Sort of like my mom’s sisters including my stepmom in their plans – even an Alaskan cruise that the three couples took together. I’m blessed to have both a wonderful stepmom and 2 amazing, gracious, loving aunts.

    Donna, your El Nino has certainly been affecting us up here in the north – we’ve had such a warm winter, it’s been heavenly. Husband is out ploughing the drive for only the third time this whole winter! We’re averaging 6 – 8C above normal temps. Thank you very much!

    Daughter wrote her provincial paramedic certification on Wednesday – won’t get results for a few weeks but she feels pretty good about it.

    I have exciting news about son, but can’t share it yet and it’s killing me 🙂 🙂 🙂

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  25. Cheryl, I fell your pain. Sometimes it is hard to define what your current relationship is. This past week, my ex-husbands uncle died. I did not get the news until Wednesday. I have been out of town all week. I have the only known phone number and address of his remaining sister. I attempted to call this morning. Number has been changed. Now I need to write a letter to Aunt Betty telling her that her only remaining sibling has died. My former father-in-law has called twice about details. They are all still my family even though we divorced in 2001, and he died in 2008. They are very cordial to my husband, but I know he feels awkward when we attend family events with them.

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  27. Last night, I read that the three main welfare programs (TANF, SNAP, & EITC) combined cost $158 billion.

    But corporate welfare costs almost $1.5 TRILLION, & that it is Republicans who tend to support corporate welfare.

    We so desperately need a viable third party that doesn’t want to throw our money around like confetti, that true conservatives (those who dislike some libertarian policy ideas) could support. Unfortunately, it would take probably decades to develop enough support to not be a spoiler.

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  28. A funny side effect of the pope’s visit. When trying to transfer cardiac and stroke patients to El Paso, roads were blocked off around a couple of the hospitals near the border. Not accepting transfers due to the pope.

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  29. Michelle, we have kudzu in the south, but I don’t think we have it in our yard.

    Cheryl, glad to hear y’all 🙂 had a nice getaway. Hopefully we will get to see some pictures from your trip.

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  30. Exciting news about my son would be hearing from him 🙂
    I sent him a text one day this week and said I had been praying for him. I got a text back, “Thanks!”

    At least I know he learned to say thanks 😉

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  31. Back from a walk along the shore. Gorgeous day out there, spectacular blue sky, gulls, surfers, a few people fishing from the rocks — and my dogs got some love and pats from passers by. Such a gorgeous spot, and (unbelievably to me always), only 1-2 miles from my house.

    Had the ‘real’ camera with me this time, send a couple shots to AJ.

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  32. Welcome back cheryl, figured you’d ‘escaped’ for a few days. Sorry about the grandmother 😦

    I saw a good part of the Scalia funeral today, very moving — amazing that his one son who became a priest was able to perform the Mass.

    The more I hear about Scalia in the wake of his death, the more I realize how much Americans will miss him — whether they realize it or not.

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  34. Sadly, Donna, one of my Facebook friends & her liberal friends have been savaging Scalia. And they started the very night of his death, claiming they didn’t have to show respect for the dead if the dead wasn’t worthy of respect (in their eyes). (I’d guess you saw similar posts by your liberal friends.) One of their criticisms is that he was supposedly corrupt.

    I think that was based on the fact that the man who owned the resort where Scalia died had once had a case against him dismissed. And since Scalia wasn’t paying for his visit, they assume it must be some kind of quid pro quo.

    Although I haven’t read too much about it, as I understand it, the resort often hosts a number of guests as actual guests, not charging them for their time there.

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  39. Karen — yep, but not as many as I expected to see.

    I did see an immediate post from a city council aide I deal with a lot; but, interestingly, when I commented that I was sorry to hear the news of his death & mentioned that I was touched especially by Scalia’s close friendship with his political opposite on the court, Ginsberg, he took the post down.

    I actually think it prompted him to re-think his rather reactive post.

    Scalia drew a lot of his most recent enemies in the same-sex marriage debate, of course.

    Jo, thanks, yes, it was sweet to “run away” for a couple hours. 🙂

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  41. AJ, I sent you six photos in two batches of three. I got an e-mail about one e-mail being undeliverable, and based on the time stamp I could see which ones they were and I resent them. Could you confirm that they did (or didn’t) come through? Thanks.

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  46. Michelle, I wondered how it was possible that a eulogy could be a “masterful expression of Christian faith–no matter if you’re Catholic or Protestant.” And indeed the eulogy is an expression of specifically Roman Catholic faith–we are not saved by the sacraments or by the prayers of others. I hope that Scalia was a genuine believer . . . but the faith in the sacraments and the prayers, and not in Christ alone, is part of the irreconcilable differences between the Roman Catholic religion and the Christian faith.

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  47. cheryl, did you see the letter Scalia wrote to the Presbyterian minister? So interesting — and it also was mentioned by his son.

    There were aspects of the eulogy (theologically) that were clearly Catholic. But I have no doubt that there are Catholics who are truly believers (none of our theology is perfect this side of heaven, though the RC church has strayed considerably, I’d agree). Scalia was clearly a very informed Catholic. But from what I’ve read (which I realize is not conclusive), it seems to me he understood the gospel and embraced it.

    Anyway, here’s the letter:

    (Posted by the Foundation for Reformed Theology on FB a few days ago):

    Justice Antonin Scalia wrote the following about the funeral of Justice Lewis F. Powell, Jr., and even more about the importance of preaching–especially at a funeral!–preaching the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the eternal life which follows from that.
    ————————————————————————————–
    Supreme Court of the United States
    Washington, D. C. 20543
    CHAMBERS OF
    JUSTICE ANTONIN SCALIA

    September 1, 1998
    Dr. James C. Goodloe
    Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
    1627 Monument Avenue
    Richmond, Virginia 23220-2925

    Dear Dr. Goodloe:

    I looked for you unsuccessfully at the luncheon following the funeral yesterday. I wanted to tell you how reverent and inspiring I found the service that you conducted.

    In my aging years, I have attended so many funerals of prominent people that I consider myself a connoisseur of the genre. When the deceased and his family are nonbelievers, of course, there is not much to be said except praise for the departed who is no more. But even in Christian services conducted for deceased Christians, I am surprised at how often eulogy is the centerpiece of the service, rather than (as it was in your church) the Resurrection of Christ, and the eternal life which follows from that. I am told that, in Roman Catholic canon law, encomiums at funeral Masses are not permitted—though if that is the rule, I have never seen it observed except in the breach. I have always thought there is much to be said for such a prohibition, not only because it spares from embarrassment or dissembling those of us about whom little good can truthfully be said, but also because, even when the deceased was an admirable person—indeed, especially when the deceased was an admirable person—praise for his virtues can cause us to forget that we are praying for, and giving thanks for, God’s inexplicable mercy to a sinner. (My goodness, that seems more like a Presbyterian thought than a Catholic one!)
    Perhaps the clergymen who conduct relatively secular services are moved by a desire not to offend the nonbelievers in attendance—whose numbers tend to increase in proportion to the prominence of the deceased. What a great mistake. Weddings and funerals (but especially funerals) are the principal occasions left in modern America when you can preach the Good News not just to the faithful, but to those who have never really heard it.

    Many thanks, Dr. Goodloe, for a service that did honor to Lewis and homage to God. It was a privilege to sit with your congregation. Best regards.

    Sincerely,
    Antonin Scalia

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  49. Donna, I did see that letter, and appreciated it, and forwarded it to my husband. (He has long expressed much the same sentiment–that the focus of a funeral sermon should be Christ’s offer of salvation, not how wonderful the deceased is, and how basically the person is so good they probably didn’t need Christ at all.)

    With that letter in mind, and the wonderful eulogy opening by his son, I expected the focus to be on Christ’s merit, and was disappointed it was actually more on religious merit / works, whether by self (involvement in the sacraments) or others (prayers for the deceased).

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  51. I was reading the blog as the eulogy went on, so obviously didn’t hear the fine points the rest of you did.

    That being said, I sat down last night under great conviction for my poor words yesterday and Rev. Scalia’s opening remarks, as noted by Donna, spoke volumes to my heart–sore, disappointed, embarrassed, horrified, humiliated, and distraught by my sin. His opening reminder of who we worship soothed my aching soul. So yes, for me, baptized as a Catholic, I heard the grace and call back to my God when I needed to hear it.

    I’m sticking to my thanks for Rev. Scalia, and yes, Donna, I laughed and laughed at the confession booth story.

    Off to church where I belong . . . 🙂

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  53. I also was multi-tasking as the funeral was on, muted it at times when necessary, so I probably didn’t give it truly concentrated attention. But I think combined with other things I’ve read about Scalia, I also heard a lot of grace in the message.

    I do think many remain rooted in the Catholic Church out of a deep family and personal and even ethnic tradition (while also understanding and the gospel and the centrality of the grace of God, not works).

    I have a good friend like that — I’m convinced she’s a believer, but she comes from a big Irish-Catholic family that includes at least one aunt-nun. She’s attended Protestant services with me and other friends and family who have “strayed” (she loved going to MacArthur’s church for Christmas Eve services this past year at the invitation of a school teacher friend).

    But leaving the Catholic church? Probably not going to happen for her. It’s too much of her identity.

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  54. I agree that our hope in Christ should be of utmost importance in the eulogy. However, I also think it is proper to talk about what the deceased person was like, as we are there to say goodbye, & “pay our respects”, to that person.

    Although neither of my parents were believers (as far as I know), I was so blessed that our former pastor (not the one I had trouble with, but the one before him) was asked to conduct their funeral services. Pastor Wade never speaks publicly without preaching Christ.

    That was definitely “a God thing”. 🙂

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  55. Pastor Steve’s observations on I Corinthians 8

    1. Biblical knowledge is not the same thing as Spiritual maturity 8:1-2
    2. Instead of looking down at others, we need to be building them up 8:1
    3. You can win an argument and destroy a soul 8:11
    4. Those with freedom should be willing to limit their freedom for the sake of others. 8:9-10, 13
    5. It is not “just me and Jesus”. If I hurt a Christian, I hurt Jesus. 8:12.

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  56. *sigh* I should be used to reading comments by my liberal friends that pro-lifers are really only “pro-birth”, & don’t care at all about the needs of mother & baby once the baby is born. But it still bothers me when I occasionally see those kinds of comments.

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  57. I actually was purchasing Terra with that counterfeit $20 bill . . . and set it out last night. My countertops are black which has made seeing the ants both a mercy and a curse. The orange cardboard circles that came with the Terra–and which I put a dab of the poison on–are now turning into a nightmare of black ants, a black freeway hurrying to get more and me trying very hard not to scream.

    We’re going out to dinner.

    And maybe a few more meals until they disappear . . . .

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  58. Michelle, that is horrible. Kind of like when we have tent caterpillars (except they’re not IN the house) I remember visiting my aunt in California and opening her sugar bowl and finding ants. That just doesn’t happen up here!

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  60. Early this morning, I was dreaming that my dad was going through a hard time with his work. He said, to my surprise (remember, to my knowledge he was not a believer), “I am a Christian, I just struggle with my faith.”

    As he walked away, I started praying for him, & continued praying for him & Mom as I was awakening.

    Then it dawned on me, as I came further into wakefulness, that Dad has been gone for eleven years, & Mom for five & a half. 😦

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  61. Covered some of the basics this morning in our sermon on Rom. 11:33-36.

    We bring nothing to our salvation but our sin (and after that we better keep our brooms in our hands, we have to keep sweeping!).

    In SS, the question came up of how to respond to those critical of “Jesus is the only way” as being “closed minded.”

    But any authoritative statement of one’s world view is just as “closed minded.” “Everybody’s ‘exclusive.'”

    On our limitations of understanding of things that are “unsearchable”:

    My anchor may not reach all the way to the sand, but that doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with the sand.

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  62. I arrived a couple minutes late and so had to wait in the foyer with dozens of others in the same predicament (we have the silent confession of sin and prayer & pronouncement of forgiveness to open our services; latecomers are let in once that’s over and the first song is being sung).

    I was struck by how many new people there are (we have another new members’ class in April). Just a lot of new faces coming to our church lately, which is great. 🙂

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  63. You may remember a while back I told you about how our former pastor (the one I was relieved to see leave) had, from time to time, included references in his sermons to things I had concerns about, but always twisting them into something I didn’t actually mean. (Which is why it took me so long to see what he was doing.)

    The worst time was when he included in his sermon a Facebook exchange on one of his posts. He took what I had said & grossly misinterpreted it. That was so humiliating, because I knew that many in the congregation were his FB friends & probably knew he was referring to me. I figured if he’d done that to me, he’d probably done it to others, too.

    Today I learned from a friend that she & her husband had gone to him to discuss something personal. The next week, he used their story in his sermon (though not naming names), & they felt like they’d been punched in the gut. They left the church, but have come back under Pastor Billy’s pastorate, & love his heart for God & for the people of God.

    Good thing that former pastor is not a pastor anymore. He is back in Texas, working a regular job.

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  65. Karen, in the funeral service yesterday, the pastor told a story as an example of the deceased woman’s patience that had my husband as the one she was “so patient” with. He didn’t name my husband, but anyone who understood the circumstances would know, and anyone listening could figure it out. And he quoted her as saying she’s “sure he had a reason” for what he did . . . but the problem is, of course, that we saw only her patient forbearance for a reason she couldn’t guess, and not that he in fact did have a reason.

    I too am OK, by the way, with stories told about the deceased, with a funeral service being different from a church service. But I understand and respect my husband’s viewpoint, and that story is just one example of how anecdotes can go wrong. There is really the bigger danger that the person is nearly always shown as almost perfect, and the overall “takeaway” is that this person’s life is the example we should emulate, rather than Christ being the example and our only hope.

    And Michelle, I actually thought too that the Scalia eulogy was decently good. But it wasn’t good theology when it came to how we are saved, and I was hoping it would be. “Jesus plus” is not the gospel that Scripture teaches.

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  67. We had a goodly number visiting with us today, among them youngest sibling, spouse and Little and Baby Niece, dear friend, her spouse and three little ones, and an uncle and aunt. When we were saying goodbye, the moon was up. In a rare occurrence, there was a rainbow around the moon, while under ran a long line of cloud, probably a cold front moving in. I tried to get some pictures, but the camera cannot capture what the human eye sees.

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  68. Roscuro, that sounds really lovely!

    By the way, I wasn’t able to post from my husband’s laptop while I was out of town, but I read and really enjoyed a post you wrote, I think it was about Christ and OT prophecies.

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