The Greene Mountain Men’s Choir sings Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken, with background sets by God the Father, maker of heaven and earth.
In my church’s hymnal, these words were sung to a melody which many of us know as the German national anthem, Deutschland Uber Alles. I have opted for this melody instead.
How do they do it? We are told that cats have skeletons, just like we do. And yet they get themselves into positions that defy the skeleton–and then they fall asleep in those positions! Just imagine how you would feel, if you slept like that.
One of my friends in high school once got himself into lotus position in study hall, and then couldn’t get out. But that will never happen to a cat.
My car’s in the shop, probably for the whole week, with a monster repair bill at the end of it, it’s still raining, and… and… and–
Bunnies and kittens!
God keeps giving us these little glimpses of what He has in store for us, once He finishes repairing all the damage: and it is very, very good.
This is one of those glimpses.
Well, we’ve gotta start somewhere. Maybe here.
President Donald Trump, in his new “Education Federalism Executive Order,” has directed the Secretary of Education to undertake a 300-day review of assorted “regulations and guidance for school districts” perpetrated by the Obama administration, and to “repeal or modify” measures that she deems “an overreach by the federal government,” according to The Washington Times (https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/apr/26/donald-trump-pull-feds-out-k-12-education/).
That would include the “guidance” to schools to let the boys into the girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms–to name just one of many idiocies.
The purpose of the order is to restore control of their own school districts to states and local communities–control that has been increasingly usurped by the federal government. I don’t believe this can be done without defunding and abolishing both the federal and state departments of education and breaking the power of the Far Left teachers’ unions. A president does not have the ability to do that. But we praise President Trump for at least doing what he can. It may lead to better things.
The underlying problem is the statist ideology that permeates public education, and has done so since public education was invented. A hundred years ago, the teachers’ unions opposed the radical schemes of “educators” in high places. They don’t anymore.
Our government was designed by our country’s founders to serve us; but it has re-designed itself to rule us.
That’s what needs to be changed.
(Thanks to Susan for the news tip.)
This is a bit rich, isn’t it?
Gov. Ralph Northam of Virginia, who earlier this year supported a “live birth abortion” bill in his state, received almost $2 million in campaign contributions from Planned Parenthood Virginia (https://bigleaguepolitics.com/governor-who-endorsed-infanticide-received-2-million-from-planned-parenthood/), according to news sources.
“Live birth abortion” means killing the baby as it’s being born, or shortly afterward. It is a Democrat euphemism for infanticide. After the rest of the country found out about it, the bill was defeated in the Virginia legislature.
Northam received $1,996,346 from Planned Parenthood Virginia, most of it during his 2017 campaign for governor. Nice, huh? Our politicians donate half a billion dollars of our tax money, per year, to Planned Parenthood, and then get some of it back from Planned Parenthood when they run for office.
Northam got out from under the infanticide scandal when his old college yearbook pictures showed him posing in blackface and being all palsy with a couple of guys in KKK outfits. The resulting brouhaha diverted attention from Northam’s support for the infanticide bill. And waddaya know–he’s still in office.
These things will continue to happen for as long as American voters permit Democrats to hold elective office.
A dog’s tomb: her name was Helena
Every so often a discovery is made that brings the past to life. Its people speak to us; and we understand. We feel what they felt.
The inscription on Helena’s tomb reads, “To Helena, foster child, soul without comparison and deserving of praise.”
And an unknown Roman, some two thousand years ago, wrote this:
“My eyes were wet with tears, our little dog, when I bore you [to the grave]. So, Patricus, never again shall you give me a thousand kisses. Never can you be contentedly in my lap. In sadness, I buried you, as you deserve. In a resting place of marble, I have put you for all time by the side of my shade. In your qualities, you were sagacious, like a human being. Ah, what a loved companion we have lost!”
We know, whoever you were–we know.
I cannot read this post aloud.
[Source: Biblical Archaeological Review, May/June 2019, “Dogs in the Biblical World,” pg. 48]
I’m always looking for ways to get readers more involved with my books and this blog. This morning Heidi had an idea that appeals to me: post excerpts. Revisit favorite characters and incidents, etc.
Now, I don’t have time to be poring through the books, looking for excerpts. But what I can do is post excerpts requested or nominated by readers. It might drum up interest in the books. It might be fun for everybody.
Some parameters immediately suggest themselves:
Make ’em short excerpts, just a paragraph or so.
Avoid posting things that will spoil the book’s ending.
When you request an excerpt, make sure to include the book’s title, the page number, and the first couple words of the desired paragraph or passage (so I can find just the one you want).
I have delegated this project to Byron the Quokka, who’s been tugging at my pants leg, demanding a greater role in our proceedings. “I can do it, I can do it!” he chirps. And squeals.
So… let’s give it a try and see how it works out. I’m not committing myself–after all, there’s always the chance that hardly anybody will be interested and almost no one will participate. Who knows, maybe it’ll turn out to be fun.
P.S.–I don’t have a car this week, it’s still raining, and tomorrow I’ll be collecting cobwebs in the eye doctor’s waiting room. Byron will be here to process your requests. If he doesn’t eat them.
P.P.S.–If you click and visit “Books,” you will find the opening chapter of each book provided as a sample. So in a way, we’ve been doing this all along. It’s just that no one noticed.
It’s important to reclaim cultural ground for Christ’s Kingdom: to our shame, we’ve surely surrendered enough of it. That’s why I read “Christian” novels that would otherwise be considered inferior product.
We have to do better! I mean, really, look at us! If we can’t do better than we’re doing now, we might as well just pack it in.
We used to sing this hymn in assembly in high school, before the Supreme Court suddenly decided that mentioning God in a public place was against the law: God of Our Fathers, performed by the kids at Fountainview Academy.
It was better then.
I’ve been found of little pug dogs ever since Milo and Otis. There’s something very funny about them–especially when they get all ferocious with toys or camera straps, or a blueberry.
Don’t sell ’em short. A little white pug in my neighborhood launched herself at a German shepherd five times her size, after the big dog had attacked her brother. Otis himself couldn’t have done better–and he had screenwriters on his side.