12.17.2023

35⁰F fog cloudy W@11mph SR0731 SS1626

Morning Offering given

Village sleeps draped in fog

Coffee not ready yet

The man sleeps

1st coat of paint on upstairs little bedroom walls. It’s amazing what a coat of paint can do to the looks of a room. How the paint covers over the imperfections, seeping into cracks and holes filling them in. Makes me think about baptism, confession, confirmation, and how it washes our soul clean. How, instead of covering us over and masking imperfections, it changes things. Jesus changes us, completely, changes us.

Chopper wanted to go out. He’s a good puppy. Did well crated last night. Not a peep out of him. The boy had uncrated, hence the cold, wet nose but not a sound. Good puppy.

Third Sunday of Advent.

we recognize the joyful anticipation of the season that will culminate in the birth of Christ on Christmas with the rose coloring.

Deepest sympathy to the Nelson family as they begin the journey of laying husband and father to rest.

Christmas letters written and being readied to send.

Know you are prayed for.

12.14.2023

24⁰F Clear SW@10mph SR0729 SS1624

Morning Offering given

Village waking

The man sleeps he should be with all the traveling he’s done.

Coffee good

Yesterday, I was in the local resale shop checking out. As I turned to leave a woman asked me if I was doing my traditional wisemen journey. In all honesty, I was not going to do it this year. I must tell you I have no clue who this woman was. If I should know her, I am sorry to say I do not remember her. But her firmness on the tradition was evident. So…

Gasp to Balt… what is taking that old man Melch so long? Look at him. He is picking his way thru this amethyst and pearl field like he’s never seen them before. It’s bad enough we got a late start. Now he is dillydalling. Melch to Gasp & Balt… relax, we are on the journey of a lifetime. one day you young guys will look back and realize you rushed thru life without seeing the most important things.

Pondering… what have I been in too much of a rush to see?

Feast Day of ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS

Time to write the Christmas Letter.

Know you are prayed for.

Advent 2023

Magi… Wisemen… 3 Kings

Gaspar (or Caspar) wears a green cloak and a gold crown with green jewels. He is the King of Sheba. Gaspar represents the Frankincense brought to Jesus.
Melchior has long white hair and a white beard and wears a gold cloak. He is the King of Arabia. …
Balthazar has a black beard and wears a purple cloak. He is the King of Tarse and Egypt. …

They will begin their journey to the Christ babe as soon as his star appears in the sky.

If one looks at the Magi story, the murder of innocents, and scripture regarding where they found Christ and who was present, their journey may have taken 3 yrs.

Advent is the perfect time for you to begin your journey to the Christ babe.

I attended St Anne’s Lancing, TN

St. Andrew’s Christmas Novena

Begins on the 30th, prayed 15 times a day. Not all at once.

St. Andrew was arrested in Achaea (Western Greece) by Proconsul Aegeas. Andrew was thrown into prison, scourged, and hung on a cross for two days, all the while teaching the people about Christ. A great light shown upon Andrew in the final moments of his life. The date was November 30, 60 A.D.

Great intention for our cold priests.

11.08.2023

40⁰F cloudy ENE@8mph SR0647 SS1644

Morning Offering given

Village waking, traffic moving

Coffee good… what is it about that first cup?

The man still sleeps

Office coming along nicely. Perhaps move in is closer.

Intermittent Fasting-still going fine. I need to walk more. Water consumption is improving.

Bible Study was really good last evening. We talked about the Golden Calf. Discussion was lively. H & C were missed.

I love standard time! My sleep has returned to only 2 wake ups during the night. I wish dst would never return.

1st Wenesday Devotion… https://www.bluearmy.com/devotion-to-st-joseph-obtains-more-than-we-can-ask/#:~:text=The%20devotion%20ideally%20involves%20attending,the%20salvation%20of%20the%20dying.

I love the fall season as well. Shorter days and being home evenings with family. The Fallow (winter Dec 21-Mar 19) season is almost on us. This is nature’s time to rest, slow down, and repair. We humans should do the same. Make this time all about replenishing.

Today should be another easy day. Have 4 must does, and one work on a little.

News of interest… https://dps.iowa.gov/dci-assists-homicide-investigation-and-officer-involved-shooting

Know you are prayed for.

10.28.2023

32⁰F cloudy NNW@7mph. SR0733 SS1759

Morning Offering given

Village sleeps

Coffee good

Happy birthday, Jeannette! Hope your day is awesome!

30% chance of snow this afternoon.

Pondering Bacci page 432… “It is useless to kneel before the altar, to assist at sacred rites,and to recite vocal prayers, if all the time our minds are elsewhere and we are lacking in the love of God. Spiritual adoration and prayer are more important than the bowed head and the bended knee.”

Began week 3 of intermittent fasting. I feel good. More alert. Less joint pain. Small things like the fit of a shirt sleeve feel looser. Still working on water intake and more walking.

Office looking good. Door is going to fit. I’m excited about this.

Daylight saving ends next week. Get your blue postcard into your rep and Senator requesting they stop implementing dst and continue permanently the use of standard time.

Know you are prayed for.

10.27.2023

63⁰F cloudy SW@7mph SR 0732 SS1801

Morning Offering given

Village sleeps

Coffee good

Off to IA to take Josh home. Dr. Appt 1345

Intermittent Fast wk 2 complete. Dwn a total of 5.6#. Need to increase walking.

Heat to knee did wonders.

Today’s ponder…

Outward Appearances

God is interested in your soul, not your surface. Examine yourself, get rid of the false and haughty. Resolve to correct it.

Know you are prayed for.

10.24.2023

62⁰F SSW@13mph SR0728 SS1805

Morning Offering given

Village sleeps

Coffee good

The man sleeps

Happy (posthumous) Birthday, Dad! Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.

This man stepped into my life when I was in 3rd grade. He married my mother and adopted her children. Not one time did he act like I was not his child. Not one time did he fail to be the dad I needed. This is not to say he was perfect because he was not. This is to say he knew how to love a child who was difficult. He accepted me where I was, patiently guided me, firmly disciplined me, and taught me to set boundaries, be true to myself, and believe there was something better ahead. I thank God for his time in my life.

Lightning, flashing this morning. No rain, but rain is coming, just a matter of time.

Today’s ponder

“Lead us not into temptation“

James 1:13-15

No one experiencing temptation should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one.h

Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.

Bacci hits the nail on the head again. For those who don’t have his book but do have FB… https://m.facebook.com/cardinalbacci/?wtsid=rdr_07Dtx4GJryjpEfqSW

Know you are prayed for.

10.23.2023

41⁰F cloudy SSE@13mph SR0727 SS1807

Morning Offering given

Village quiet

Coffee good

Intermittent Fast Day #11. Feels like my body is humming (vibrating). My breath is horrid. Hmmm, it’s working. Tomorrow, I weigh and measure. Kudos to my friend AM for bringing this plan to my attention.

Made it home yesterday to find the guys winterizing the front porch. The fountain put away for winter. The pre electrical work completed in the office.

It is good to be home. It was good to be north and spend time with family.

Back to normal today with a busy Monday ahead of me.

“ As we also forgive our debtors”

Is today’s meditation. In a nutshell, forgive, sincerely forgive from the heart, or Jesus will not forgive you. Many scoff at this thought because after all I took Jesus as my Savior. I am saved, heaven bound… it’s a given.

It is not a given.

Nope, it is not. Look what Jesus did while hanging on the cross.

Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them they know not what they do.”

Again, he instructs…

Matthew 5:23-24

“If thou art offering thy gift at the altar and thou remember that thy brother has anything against thee, leave thy gift before the altar and go first to be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”

Convicted once again by the words of Christ. Looks like I have some work to do.

Know you are prayed for.

10.22.2023

30 clear WNW@3mph SR0720 SS1801

Morning Offering given

B&B in Lanark peaceful “Strength comes from rest”

Happy Birthday to my son-in-love Kyle

Happy 1st Anniversary to Kyle & Amy… wow!

Day @10 of Intermittent Fasting… let us just say everything I consumed was eatten during my eating time-frame. Oh and coffee was substitued 6 times for the water. But, this morning I don’t feel worse for wear and I was sensible.

Coffee dripping… fairly good tasting too!

Wonderful time yesterday at the Lutefisk/Lefse dinner in Northland. So good to spend time with family Jean/Judy/Nancy/Patsy. Supper with Jean/Terry topped off the day. Was amazed at how many memories came forward on the drive to Northland. The farm looked wonderful. The big rock wasn’t there and the gully at the end of the sledding hill didn’t seem so deep. No stick horses tied up could be found anywhere but in my mind and the conversations with family. My favorite house ever still stands. Funny the dreams of childhood: revisited still bring the feeling of belonging. I have not been in this area for years and that feeling is still there. Today I will drive by G’pa Jim’s before I leave. I’m sure the memories of mules and horses will emerge. Vists to two cemeteries are on the list as well church attendance in the place of my baptism. Then home to where I belong now. Thank you’s to Patsy for putting this video together and to George for posting. Was good to see so many old faces and surprising to remember some of them.

WTG Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and others in Arkansas for talking the steps needed to get hostile countries holding land out of her state. May the 49 other states follow.

My meditation for today is focused on “Forgive us our debts” from the Lord’s Prayer
We’ve already asked God to give us what we need to sustain us daily. Now we are asking him to forgive our debts. We owe God everything right down to the crook in our little finger. He is the only one who can rescue us from the world/from ourselves. Antonio Cardinal Bacci addresses this in his book Meditations For Each Day. Bacci makes one look deep into their being and recognize what was, what should have been, and what could be, if only we are willing to turn ourselves wholly to God and give him the reins to drive. Personally, I fail daily at giving up the driver’s seat. Daily I start again.

Know you are prayed for.