the Truth and nothing but

People today who complain about the automobile's pollution have no idea how much more pollution there was before the automobile came along. In New York City, for example, the 40,000 horses that were the backbone of the city's transportation, before the automobile, produced 400 tons of manure per working day, along with 20,000 gallons of urine.

Thomas Sowell

American Thinker: Sarah Palin and the Legacy of Republican 'Idiocy'

Excellent article highlighting  the same slanderous nonsense about how stupid conservatives are.  Seriously, is there a new and improved play in that tired old play book, Folks?

One of Reagan's best quotes about Liberals is: "It's not that Liberals are not smart. It's just that they know so much that isn't so."

Allegory of the Cave of the Mama Grizzly

Allegory of the Cave of the Mama Grizzly

Poignant quote of the day

To forgive is to die. It is to give up one's right to self, which is precisely what Jesus requires of anyone who wants to be his disciple.  Elisabeth Elliot

Some may remember that Elisabeth, after the murder of her husband, returned to the jungles of South America to live among the pagan natives who had speared Jim Elliot and 4 other missionaries to death.  Elisabeth knows about forgiveness.

We learn best from those who put shoe-leather to their words; Saint Elisabeth offers me footsteps she has trod first; now I may follow.

When Jesus, nailed to a Roman cross, prayed, "Father, forgive them," he wielded a weapon against which Caesar himself had no power. The helpless, dying Son of God, a picture of defeat, proclaimed the victory of Inexorable Love. Who can stand up to the force of forgiveness?  EE

THESE ARE PRICELESS!  It's laugh or weep, I say

We're hitting the Absurdity head-on!  It's time

Sometimes I wonder

Sometimes I wonder
if we love Christ the Lord?
Does not love mean protecting from pain?
Does ignoring His will cause my dear Lord pain?
Sometimes I wonder
if I love Christ the Lord?

Such beauties

Isaiah Robert, Morgan Jo and Elissa's beautiful sister, Courtney

The peace of God means the absence of conflict with the will of God. It means harmony within, concord with his purpose for our lives.  Elisabeth Elliot

great song

Listen to this Bad Girl under your Bose headphones.  Wheweeee, rich!  Born the same year as moi', this 80's artist is new to me. Better late than never, I say. What a great sound, not sure about the lyrics. But as I used to tell Mother, "I don't listen to the lyrics." really?

“Don’t judge me!” cry we.

Know we not

 Our Lord was judged.

O banish the thought that

He would cry, “Judge me not!”

For then we die,

In judgment we’d still lie

if shunned the cross,

He had not died.

Savior judged on my behalf,

On freedom’s wings, I soar.

Now may I cry, “Judge me not!”

"‘tis done!"  My sin He bore.

Cali Christmas holiday 2010

Aaron in front of Silver Oak Winery

Napa Valley

Cheri surrounded by a couple of carrots

Pumpkin roulade with cream cheese filling,
Danielle's contribution to Christmas dinner

Nadler's picturesque backyard

Cali Christmas holiday 2010

Graciously, Aaron's folks - Mark and Debbie Nadler - invited me to spend the holidays with them in their beautiful northern California home.  We have so much fun!  Our fellowship centers around the breaking of bread and the imbibing of fine drink.

C.S. Lewis said "There are two kinds of people in the world: Those who say 'Thy will be done' and those who say 'My will be done.'"

Thank God He did not simply tolerate "My will be done."  God's intolerance of that which separated me from Him looks like this:

Bianchi in my future

Aaron says this is the bike for me.  I'm aboard.  

Heck, she's orange.  Or red.

too good to be true, but 'tis

"Be Still, My Soul"

by Catharina von Schlegel, 1697-?

Translated by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897

1. Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In every change He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

2. Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake

To guide the future as He has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know

His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

3. Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart

And all is darkened in the vale of tears;

Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,

Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.

Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay

From His own fulness all He takes away.

4. Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on

When we shall be forever with the Lord,

When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Hymn #651

The Lutheran Hymnal

Text: Psalm 46:10

Author: Catharine Amalia Dorothea von Schlegel, 1752, cento

Translated by: Jane Borthwick, 1855

Titled: "Stille, mein Wille"

Composer: Jean Sibelius, b. 1865, arr.

Tune: "Finlandia"

New International Version (©1984) When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan. Proverbs 29:2

Isaiah's first Christmas