Two Observations

So on my drive home tonight, two things occurred to me . . .

#1 - On the radio I heard the Christmas song Do You Hear What I Hear? (Never one of my favorites.) But as I listened to the words, I heard: "A Child, a Child shivers in the cold, Let us bring him silver and gold." Hmmm. What I think he would really appreciate more is a blanket! ;-)

#2 - A local non-denominational church has a very large banner which emphasizes the CHRIST in Christmas. Fair enough. But tonight it occurred to me: They've taken the MASS out of Christmas! (i.e., the Lord's Supper, which they do not believe is really the Body and Blood of Christ) But they don't seem to mind that.

Hmmm . . .

I enjoyed solving cryptogram puzzles in my free time. I came across one recently that said this: Did you ever notice that when you put together "THE" and "IRS" it spells "THEIRS"? 

"Ableism"

"Ableism" is a new word I learned from the past election. It was used with regard to a senate candidate from Pennsylvania who had suffered a stroke. Those who questioned his ability to serve because the stroke damaged his cognitive abilities were derided for "ableism" - a bias against those who may be disabled in some way.

Hmmm. OK. Let's extend and expand their point of view a little . . . Right now, many babies are being aborted because (unreliable) pre-natal testing says they may have some sort of disability. So, it is said, better to abort them than bring them into the world like that. Isn't that "ableism?" 

Hmmm.

Post-Election Day Thoughts

So how did Election Day go for you? Did your candidates win? Lose? Are you optimistic about the future? Pessimistic? Packing your bags for Canada? :-)  [Note: Canada may not want you!]

Elections are important and have great meaning for our country. As Christian citizens, it is our responsibility to vote and choose the best leaders we can. But for the church, the election changes nothing. We will continue to proclaim the Word of God in its truth and purity. We will continue to administer the sacraments as Christ instituted them. We will continue to call to repentance, and we will continue to absolve those who repent of their sins. We will continue to reach out to those who do not know their Saviour with the good news of all that He has done. That is who we are are must continue to be. Perhaps that might become less popular, or even outlawed, called hate speech. If so, so be it. Jesus said persecution would come, and it very well might. We should be ready for it. But the Church cannot stop being the Church. The salvation of souls is just too important.

And we know that the one ultimately in control of all things is not any elected politician, but our Lord. Leaders, nations, kingdoms, countries, rise and fall, come and go, but the Lord remains. He is ruling all things for the good of His Church and His Christians, even if we cannot figure out how that can be! The Scriptures are filled with examples of that. So we can be confident, no matter what the next few years or decades bring. 

So if your candidates won, do not put your trust in them. If your candidates lost, do not despair or lose hope! Instead, take to heart in the words of Psalm 121:

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.

Election Day

Just got back from my polling place. Went right around 1 pm, end of lunch time. Can you spell G-H-O-S-T-T-O-W-N? Don't know what other places look like, but low, low, low turnout in my area. Only one race to vote for, and that is our Congressman. There was virtually no campaigning for this seat. I guess everyone figures our incumbent is going to win easily. Probably so. I think he's an embarrassment every time I see him on TV. Well, I voted anyway. Maybe we'll get lucky.

French Spam!

Well this is a new one . . . I just got some spam emails in French! Which, honestly, have a better chance of me clicking on them than English ones. :-)  Don't worry - I didn't click! That statement was not a comment on the clickability of this spam, but a commentary on how dumb the spam I usually get is.

UPDATE: Since I posted this, I have also received Italian and Russian spam as well!