Year end contributions to Christian organizations

Although we regularly tithe at our church home, Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, at the end of the year we enjoy looking over and supporting other Christian appeals. Luther suggested for Bible study 1) Oratio (prayer), 2. Meditatio (meditate) and 3. Tentatio (struggle) which isn't a bad plan when chosing good causes--because the ones that aren't good are tossed when we receive them, and the others set aside for further consideration.

1. Pinecrest Community is always on our list and this year I included a note to Leanne Manheim, the Development Director, because I've met her a few times on the visits with my sister. The Illinois budget is in terrible shape--the state isn't paying its Medicaid bills for months and months.

2. Pregnancy Decision Health Centers help women with problem pregnancies make good decisions for their babies. Abortion is the holocaust of our era--some 50 million deaths since the early 70s. The other day I heard a revolting statistic--64% of the women who "chose" abortion felt pressured by boyfriend, husband, parents or peers. If you are 17 and don't have access to your own funds even for doctor and hospital, or transportation to a pregnancy help center, what would you do if parents demand that you have an abortion in order to remain under their roof--and the boyfriend's parents agree.

3. Lower Lights Christian Health Center on Columbus' west side provides health care in a low income area of our city, over $350,000 in unreimbursed medical care to uninsured and underinsured patients, which is about 75% of its patient population. It was started by a young Christian female doctor, Dana Vallangeon, in 2002.

4. World Mission Prayer League supports 120 full time workers to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was founded by Lutherans in 1937. I am one of its "prayer warriors," and I love their publications.

5. Into the Field is the newest ministry on our list directed and founded by Jennifer Cameron, the daughter of friends and member of Upper Arlington Lutheran Church. It serves other ministries and the Body of Christ seeking to serve other Christians.

6. Lutheran Bible Translators brings the gospel to people who have no written language and put it in their "heart language."

7. Lakeside the Chautauqua on Lake Erie is where we have our summer home, and now spend the better part of the summer. Gate fees and association dues just don't cover the expenses to keep this community of art, literature, music and religion running, so there are always fund raisers.

8. 168 Film Project , has a huge mission--to illuminate the Word of God through short film. The founder, John Ware, is now a Californian, but is also a son of Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, and his mom still attends there. There are 168 hours in a week and that's how long the writers, actors, editors, directors, etc. have to put together a short (11 minutes) film on a Bible verse. Last year an entry for documentary featured UALC, directed by Steve Puffenberger.



And finally, there may be a few conservative candidates and organizations on our list of gifts, but that will be our little secret.

Ohio State Receives $1.4 M Grant for Development of Resistant Ash Tree

Although it's too late for the lovely graceful ash trees we have now on our condo grounds and the grounds at Lakeside, Ohio, this is indeed good news--if it works. Can't be too soon. . .

Scientists with Ohio State University's Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) have received a three-year, $1.4 million grant to continue their groundbreaking work toward the development of a tree that can be used for preservation of ash in natural and urban forests. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) provided the funds.

Ohio State Receives $1.4 M Grant for Development of Resistant Ash Tree — Ohio State University Extension

How a Sustainalist Think Tank rates Obama

Call them leftists, socialists, environmentalists, greengoes or sustainalists, makes no difference. Here's how the World Resources Institute rates Obama in 2011 for Climate Policy.

1. Congress Didn’t Act (makes little difference--Obama has said he will veto anything that is anti-regulatory or good for business).
2. National Vehicle Rules Established (EPA and DOT busy nailing down the coffin lid for Michigan).
3. California Moves Ahead (going international for its regulations to further create a budget crisis).
4. Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) Economic benefits (a greenhouse gas cap–and-trade program for the electricity sector in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic U.S.)
5. EPA Makes Slow Progress on GHG Rules (moving forward with more regulations, just not as fast as WRI would want). The EPA is a regulatory train wreck.
6. Emissions Continue to Climb (hard to imagine since taking clunkers off the road so low income people can't afford a car to drive should have fixed that).

This isn't being done or not done by legislation--our elected representatives who are supposed to be our voice in Washington. It's all regulatory. We the people have no say in any of this. Only lobbyists, unions, and politicians.

The federal government is the biggest user and abuser of fossil fuels.

Caravaggio: The power of art

On my link, each part flowed seamlessly into the next. It takes about an hour to watch the whole thing, but it is well worth it. Caravaggio--evangelist for the unwashed.

Emily's List supports pro-abortion Democrats

The pro-abortion group EMILY’s List, which supports female Democratic candidates who oppose all limitations on abortion, has unveiled new endorsements in four highly-contested 2012 House races.

Congresswoman Betty Sutton (D-OH), Elizabeth Esty, Dina Titus and Tarryl Clark have each proven to EMILY’s List that they will not waver in their support for abortion-on-demand.

Story here.

Elizabeth Esty, an attorney and former state lawmaker, is running for the House seat in Connecticut’s 5th district being vacated by Congressman Chris Murphy who is running for Senate.

Former Congresswoman Dina Titus from Nevada’s 3rd district lost her reelection campaign in 2010 to pro-life Joe Heck by a margin of just 2,000 votes. Redistricting has put her in 1st district.

Former MN State Representative Tarryl Clark unsuccessfully challenged pro-life Congresswoman Michele Bachmann in 2010 in Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District. Redistricting has put her in the 8th.

Ohio's Congresswoman Betty Sutton due to redistricting will face Republican Congressman Jim Renacci, who currently holds a 100% voting record on pro-life issues.

Why do Democrats hate American babies?

Am I happy or blessed?

Today I was reading Psalm 119 in a modern English version, and found it off-putting to use our common, homely, overused, trite word HAPPY instead of the more familiar BLESSED. But then I did a little research, and found that HAPPY is more accurate, plus it has a deeper meaning than we usually assign to it.
Happy are they who follow the pure path,
who walk in the law of the Lord.
Happy are they who obey his decrees
and seek him out with all their heart.
Ps. 119:1 BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, to be envied) are the undefiled (the upright, truly sincere, and blameless) in the way [of the revealed will of God], who walk (order their conduct and conversation) in the law of the Lord (the whole of God's revealed will). Amplified Bible.

Also came across this explaining the difference between ashre (happy) and barak (blessed). Ashre involves our choices, our doing.

Dr. Walter D. Zorn, Prof. of OT & Biblical Languages Lincoln Christian College & Seminary, Lincoln, IL

"Happy in the Psalms"

Gerald Janzen discovered in his study of ashre that it is not the "antithesis to the cry of woe, hoy, 'Ah! Alas!'"5 Neither, Janzen revealed, was it ever used with reference to God. The word is never on God’s lips to refer to man or to Himself. When one “blesses” God or God “blesses” man, barak is used, not ashre. Ashre is used 44 times in the Hebrew Scriptures, 26 times in the Psalms . . .

. . . having looked at all the 26 references to ashre used in the Psalter, I discovered that “happiness” is a by-product of something one does and includes the choices one makes. Psalms 1 and 2, of course, set the tone as one discovers that “happiness” comes by the good choice of not “walk[ing] in the counsel of the wicked or stand[ing] in the way of sinners or sit[ting] in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Ps 1:1-2). This coincides with the idea of “happiness” being “bliss.” It is a “delight” to meditate on God’s instruction. The “doing” here is the study of God’s Word. Psalm 2 concludes with an ambiguous thought: “Happy [are] all taking refuge in him.” The “him” could be the “Son,” the newly anointed and exalted Son-King, or Yahweh, the King Himself.

(It is unfortunate that the NIV uses “blessed” to translate ashre. It is best to use “blessed” for barak instead of ashre. The English student would not know the difference. Using “happy,” or “blissful,” or perhaps “fortunate” would be best for ashre as it refers to the human being, and particularly God’s people.) A review of the 26 references in Psalms will reveal the source for "happiness" and its logical consequences. . .

I feel better now, and in the future will read it with a different eye.

I dare you to understand this

Or even understand the accent. . .

Lutherans and the sign of the cross

Eastern Christians and Western Christians make the sign of the cross differently, but this Lutheran pastor says it doesn't make any difference. Just don't think it's only for Catholics; it's to remember your baptism.

Monday Memories--Christmas 2011

It was a quiet Christmas. Dinner here on Christmas Eve, then church at 9 p.m. at UALC Lytham Rd. Christmas day services we served communion, and then went to Phil's home to have dinner and open gifts.
However, Phil had helped select my gift for my husband, a guitar, so that one was opened on Christmas Eve. He then got a beginner's book and DVD "how to" from Phil on Christmas Day. And the new setting for my e-mail won't allow it to accept the photos from my son's cell phone--back to the drawing board.

Christmas Eve Menu: Standing rib roast, twice baked potatoes; baked chicken thighs with mustard sauce, potato salad; tossed salad greens; mixed fruit; steamed carrots with a touch of honey; rolls and Asiago cheese bread; freshly cooked cranberries a top pound cake with real whipped cream; Merlot.

Lovely cello music

My mother played the cello--not often, and probably not well, although she did play in the Dixon orchestra back in the 1920s (I don't know that it was called that, only that she went to Dixon to do it.) One of her brothers played the saxaphone, and one the violin. When I see the cello get a chance to do something other than support others in the orchestra, I always listen, and think about Mom. Some time in the 1950s my sister Carol got the saxaphone, and my cousin Sharon (on dad's side) the violin. And Mom continued to play the cello every now and then.

My nephew Chris Rees, a freshman in college (grandson of my sister Carol, son of Cindy) now is quite a cellist and plays in groups (not in this video, though), and he posted this lovely piece on Facebook, so I'm sharing. Love the cello!

Entertaining--it's not for the old and forgetful

There will only be five of us for dinner tonight, but I've already thrown out the vegetables and run the dishwasher twice. I changed my meat choice, so now I have two kinds of potatoes. As I recall, my son-in-law doesn't like his food to "touch," which means mixed anything usually is put on his plate, but just moved around. I left my Christmas dishes in the box this year, and am using my good china, and my grandmother's dessert dishes, but I'm leaving Mom's goblets in the case. Too much work to wash. The first table cloth I pulled out didn't fit the table--I'd forgotten; which means it will never be used again and I think I've had it 30 years. I bought a special bread at Panera's this morning, but left it on the counter when I got a coffee refill, and had to go back to get it. But, I did have to clean a bit, and that's always a good thing, and a good reason to entertain.

I whipped up the potatoes (to reheat later) with my little Sunbeam mixer, which was a wedding gift, so it's 51 years old. The cord is stiff, it falls out of its connection, it trips the outlet switch, and the beaters fall out about every 45 seconds. But how many more years will I be making cakes or whipping potatoes, so I don't replace it. Besides, at this stage, it would be like kicking out a member of the family.

I'm not a coupon user, but in the fall I had one for a free cone at Graeter's Ice Cream, so we went in, and while there "bought" a book of coupons to support cancer research, figuring we'd use it. We haven't. So I looked at it yesterday. $2 off an ice cream pie. Hmm. That sounded good until I looked it up. $26, so with the coupon plus the tax, you'd still have a dessert that is at least $2.50 a serving. That's more than making an entire (box) cake with (store bought) icing. So I looked through the book and see that with a $15 purchase, you get a free pint of ice cream (which I think is about $4.00); so it would make more sense to buy the pie and get the free pint (black raspberry chocolate is awesome). Or skip the whole thing and make dessert at home as a reminder that companies don't stay in business to give away their products with coupons. They do it because it is profitable. That's a very difficult concept for the American consumer. I AM the Columbus anti-coupon queen, even when I've paid for the coupons.

Have a blessed and holy day celebrating our Savior's birth.

Paul, please run for President!

Paul Ryan has old-fashioned goals, says Real Clear Markets.com, like saving America from fiscal bankruptcy, economic stagnation, and a European-style entitlement state.

Paul Ryan's old fasioned American vision

In a White House meeting this year, Ryan's superior knowledge of health care baffled Obama and left him speechless. And the serious Ryan budget, which lowers spending by $6.2 trillion and reduces deficits by $4.4 trillion over ten years, totally outflanked the White House. It embarrassingly exposed the Obama administration's flimsy and inconsequential 2012 budget, which even rejected the findings of Obama's own Bowles-Simpson fiscal commission. (Another Oval Office embarrassment.)

And when Ryan unveiled his first Medicare-reform package, which featured patient-centered consumer choice and market competition, the White House went nuts. Team Obama whipped up a Mediscare panic, resorting to a fictional caricature of Ryan forcing old ladies off a cliff. But the charge that the Ryan plan "ends Medicare" couldn't be further from the truth. The website PolitiFact labeled this "the lie of the year."

Ryan later amended his Medicare reform to keep the existing system as an option, and bolstered it with a menu of market-based private insurance plans to promote cost-cutting choice and competition. But he did so with the bipartisan support of Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon. How did the White House react? It went rhetorically ballistic, although it couldn't put together a serious response.

Josh gets second on x-factor

Imagine what a hair cut and new pair of jeans could have done for him. Yes, "being real" has a lot of appeal, but his audience does have to look at him.

Christian colleges mandated to offer "plan B" abortion in health care

On Wednesday, Colorado Christian University became the first interdenominational Christian college to join Belmont Abbey College, a Catholic college in North Carolina in filing a lawsuit over the regulation that requires employers' health insurance plans to provide free contraception, including Plan B, and sterilization under their group health plan.

As a Christian college, CCU teaches the sanctity of life at all stages, and that abortions are against God’s law.

Read the story here.

Something good is happening in Kansas

The tone of this article isn't positive--after all it comes from the Washington Post.

In the past year, three state agencies [in Kansas] have been abolished and 2,050 jobs have been cut. Funding for schools, social services and the arts have been slashed. The new Republican governor [Sam Brownback] rejected a $31.5 million federal grant for a new health-insurance exchange because he opposes President Obama’s health-care law. And that’s just the small stuff. . .

The governor has said his main concerns are creating jobs, cutting taxes and bringing new businesses to the state, which has been losing population to domestic migration over the past decade and ranks near the bottom in private-sector job creation.

“We cannot continue on this path and hope we can move forward and win the future,” he said in the Wichita speech . “It won’t work. We have to change course, and we’re going to have to be aggressive about it or we are doomed to a slow decline.”

The story here.

NASA has confirmed that its Kepler mission has discovered planets roughly the size of the Earth outside of the Solar System.

Whenever I read of new discoveries in the solar system I think of Psalm 19. "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the end of the world."

The heavens are declaring, proclaiming, speaking, displaying--but there are a lot of people not listening.

Lewison family faith

Listening to the local Catholic radio I hear many things that are unfamiliar, or I think were settled in the 16th century reformation--at least for those who began following the teachings of Luther and Calvin. Purgatory; Worship of Mary and the saints (and please don't tell me it's not "worship" because they are praying to them--I hear them); Obligations; Miracles at shrines; Indulgences. And so forth.

That said, it would seem that proper theology doesn't mean much. I heard this morning an amazing story of faith on Women of Grace hosted by Johnnette Benkovic, and whether it is Jesus, Mary, the saints or all combined, it is undergirding this family.

A woman, Mary Lewison, called the show I was listening to earlier in the year--February possibly--to discuss the death of her 18 year old son who was killed when his truck was hit by a train. The moderater had also lost a son, so the two had had a long talk on the air. This week the woman sent the moderator an article about the family to catch up, which Johnnette then read on the show this morning.

After the death of her 18 year old, 4 of the 5 surviving children in the family were in two different automobile accidents, 2 serious enough to be hospitalized. Then the woman's husband had a heart attack when he was in a different state, and got to the ER within minutes of death--the doctor called it a "widow-maker," and she became his care-giver; when she thought nothing else could happen to her family, the woman was fired from her job for missing so much work during her husband's 4 month recovery!

She has not lost her faith in Jesus. Broadcast is here for December 21, 2011.

Religious gobble-de-gook

clap·trap (kl p tr p ). n. Pretentious, insincere, or empty language

San Francisco Theological Seminary (Presbyterian) and the Graduate Theological Union, a hodge podge of Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Baptist, UCC, Disciples, UMC, Unitarian and others are going to tell black Baptist women . . .

“Given the realities of sexism in a post modern world and the continued undermining of a womanist theology, this symposium acknowledges that leadership roles in ministry are often fraught with subtle and overt politics of exclusion and the realism of marginalization based on sexism,” Taylor said. “The old traditional ecclesiastical institution is becoming an endangered and extinct institution if the culture continues to imprison the gifts and creativity of seminary trained women while preserving sexism, homophobia and other primitive practices.”

No pizza tonight

I was sure hungry for a pizza. I mentioned it to my husband, and he had his taste buds set. But I had a colonoscopy today and they told me to be careful about what I ate. So I'm fixing mac and cheese, I'll skip the cole slaw, but probably have the applesauce.

Colonoscopies are very important--they are the only test that can prevent cancer, but the preparation is certainly unpleasant. So is listening to the doctor and nurse discuss the movies they've seen during the procedure. My mother, my paternal grandmother and my father's sister all had colon cancer, so despite the unpleasantness, it's an important preventative step.

I was a bit groggy when I got home--not much sleep last night--and I slept for 3 hours.

The nurse also warned me to stay off Facebook and the Blog. Apparently some people can't be trusted even after a mild anesthetic.

Still, pizza sure sounded good.

Why has Los Angeles lost its mojo?

We've seen the Democrat political machine kill or disable many of American's most vibrant cities. And now its Los Angeles's turn, although it took longer because of its dispersed center.

"A big reason is a decline in the power and mettle of the city's once-vibrant business community. Between the late 1980s and the end of the millennium, many of L.A.'s largest and most influential firms—ARCO, Security Pacific, First Interstate, Union Oil, Sun America—disappeared in a host of mergers that saw their management shift to cities like London, New York and San Francisco. . . controlled by a machine of labor and the political leadership of the Latino community, the mayor is a former labor organizer. . . strangling regulations backed by a powerful and wealthy environmental movement. . . even liberal Democrats are catching on." The environmentalists are killing the port business, the generator of blue collar labor, and thus the unions have to expand into the once vibrant Latino small business sector.

How Los Angeles lost its mojo