tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72912322024-03-17T19:56:33.590-05:00Weedon's BlogWilliam Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.comBlogger12640125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-80414356256456944222024-03-17T15:17:00.003-05:002024-03-17T15:17:42.060-05:00The Great Passion: St. Matthew’s in EnglishBach’s St. Matthew’s Passion was originally written to be performed in the Good Friday Vespers liturgy. I did not know that there was an English version of the Passion until today! It’s available in either Apple Music or Spotify (just search for St. Matthew’s Passion; Jeffrey Skidmore). And if you’d like to learn a bit more about the Passion, here’s a fine <a href="https://brightmorningstar.org/saint-matthew-passion/">article</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-90881574138388675682024-03-15T15:21:00.001-05:002024-03-15T15:21:59.714-05:00Thanks to Darlene and Philip Cawthon…<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_7oIcUQsl1wPvUxQmO5nT1e9PrixEiql6VoquW8Sc9s71QW6VHc76LYWcuNJaJ5c7wqaKX0Hn3fwlBWJj2INs_NIFeMxT0ATIovOT1YW2HaNw4wxXEQQHehCF3A_kz-4AmY7FCBap3Ugy8DFDmuPaV15AgvBpxHtXfFy73_m04JYRYMBWJY--"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_7oIcUQsl1wPvUxQmO5nT1e9PrixEiql6VoquW8Sc9s71QW6VHc76LYWcuNJaJ5c7wqaKX0Hn3fwlBWJj2INs_NIFeMxT0ATIovOT1YW2HaNw4wxXEQQHehCF3A_kz-4AmY7FCBap3Ugy8DFDmuPaV15AgvBpxHtXfFy73_m04JYRYMBWJY--=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7346688121035350770" /></a></p>…for sharing this beautiful picture with me. It's looking from Dr. Lee Maxwell's grave back to the old St. John's Lutheran Church in Maryville. Lee served there as pastor for many years, and was preceded there more than a century before by none other than the great Friederich Lochner. It's also the mother parish of St. Paul's in Hamel. Sadly, the church was closed a few years after Lee's death.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-73192205802761415682024-02-26T11:33:00.006-06:002024-02-26T13:22:40.988-06:00A taste of Paradise……that is what I think every time we are blessed to visit Mexico. Here are some pics from our latest adventures: <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovLgI-iLDHS2UHY0mwi8S48yWeQGavUHRMWcFh5hqj_RB6t2hiLTzWz86U69tjTLtGUzpugMe59EUVSb6q1pJvkR5l_xlpg_PAf7W-nK0_fkteScdhZHOSRiwdrELE7VdcSvkeoO9ttsG38vBLIJ0MjEO4WbnWgzlKd7NDteKQkN7qiU1g1Fm/s1024/imagejpeg_0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovLgI-iLDHS2UHY0mwi8S48yWeQGavUHRMWcFh5hqj_RB6t2hiLTzWz86U69tjTLtGUzpugMe59EUVSb6q1pJvkR5l_xlpg_PAf7W-nK0_fkteScdhZHOSRiwdrELE7VdcSvkeoO9ttsG38vBLIJ0MjEO4WbnWgzlKd7NDteKQkN7qiU1g1Fm/w400-h300/imagejpeg_0.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOgr22c7OoSebDX90p0CHs0romFQ3y3n8dJ6mgKp3tNmAhiHQMWF8pRvJ3wjDaQC__P1uPaHjTWF1P8rzTwtAdyYNyrkIS07pHbDAXpn7EvWXd_Kcv6Ky-Zzbvb5DoFz56O9schgIEBqqPS2694gIAe1LgJ4ZYggR6KumbQbeQg8PW0XIuwei/s1024/imagejpeg_1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOgr22c7OoSebDX90p0CHs0romFQ3y3n8dJ6mgKp3tNmAhiHQMWF8pRvJ3wjDaQC__P1uPaHjTWF1P8rzTwtAdyYNyrkIS07pHbDAXpn7EvWXd_Kcv6Ky-Zzbvb5DoFz56O9schgIEBqqPS2694gIAe1LgJ4ZYggR6KumbQbeQg8PW0XIuwei/w400-h300/imagejpeg_1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3JwjfhoeOGPNPPCoH8tnYTm52Uuy2n6kfUh84IO_byxWLFdVuMghpHcC233wpUN5aPyiY8l_yXWDW0Y9mTpiTeCm-qZyhcQd3IBjz0NksNVsDXGd4BMmkYt4s8HEekLE4FDA8AhBhUtk8NpgG999rVayLaTLcX8wjlkZMbVcGJZSmY7HJ4p5/s4032/IMG_0959.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3JwjfhoeOGPNPPCoH8tnYTm52Uuy2n6kfUh84IO_byxWLFdVuMghpHcC233wpUN5aPyiY8l_yXWDW0Y9mTpiTeCm-qZyhcQd3IBjz0NksNVsDXGd4BMmkYt4s8HEekLE4FDA8AhBhUtk8NpgG999rVayLaTLcX8wjlkZMbVcGJZSmY7HJ4p5/w300-h400/IMG_0959.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtlOptsYGsS5XVDvEZdNqW2yE4lRP5rd84osxMyvcKcYWjh5yUfSXpa-vRhuWC09h7fLPH_82e9xfBSnCyUkQ28RzgLWQWK7aA18dF0nWQ5v8mVKE8SlcYTWpwPCK1cXWJlQEgJDihudQQoSRsuOpfFupcAm6Aqx01tKZQ4LTMk_jtEAlnfsR/w400-h300/IMG_1051.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVYmHTZIzoz9ZMmZ5K4_-qfmJygdH-YkJ3XndZA4Gra8QNr24BQ1-qHzxdu60iFN2ZxsgXPxsS3sUu2uVV8FjdmPAWTq_DxX1c4NlQ6aoQkW7s5g60sbhV4MizEsIwKE7fpDVZrfKudX8YHFhPuSpF3wI2q1DSwHdBWe-XTlGqXFy6-hKp7Qy/s8064/IMG_1121.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="8064" data-original-width="6048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVYmHTZIzoz9ZMmZ5K4_-qfmJygdH-YkJ3XndZA4Gra8QNr24BQ1-qHzxdu60iFN2ZxsgXPxsS3sUu2uVV8FjdmPAWTq_DxX1c4NlQ6aoQkW7s5g60sbhV4MizEsIwKE7fpDVZrfKudX8YHFhPuSpF3wI2q1DSwHdBWe-XTlGqXFy6-hKp7Qy/w300-h400/IMG_1121.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hvdl0ZudzDSiFmk8Dz3cW-S2Nwjkfb8_QwPRqDMJnFd7h9sTiSVImlk3YMOYhBzJlfLXYZcj3lHpI2vBZkXBoNo-GLgOKyKJhQoAfsOs9nogvC2OqF32JRn6lbqg1mYGSvzvjA79OtRjn-g-qvGnkTgRj5rGnYSbfOOY9bsRhQeguGL4Cd-m/s8064/IMG_1156.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6048" data-original-width="8064" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hvdl0ZudzDSiFmk8Dz3cW-S2Nwjkfb8_QwPRqDMJnFd7h9sTiSVImlk3YMOYhBzJlfLXYZcj3lHpI2vBZkXBoNo-GLgOKyKJhQoAfsOs9nogvC2OqF32JRn6lbqg1mYGSvzvjA79OtRjn-g-qvGnkTgRj5rGnYSbfOOY9bsRhQeguGL4Cd-m/w400-h300/IMG_1156.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdprfOvaJGT9fnMD8kQLYWUpC7f7RAf3CeEqHckHRDaBoOCw_DqQhNxQqXKPSTvyn21Mp4Ep9onWJ3UtVYVHUz59aRYFn_81LPhJ1hwyVJ3BpyLyxl8NHnaeSSx-EHusr3gZq4HmnEAyEt4CF51QIYqlHFLtqqLgwHbunyIZJSN58FSXvX8Bz/s8064/IMG_1169.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="8064" data-original-width="6048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdprfOvaJGT9fnMD8kQLYWUpC7f7RAf3CeEqHckHRDaBoOCw_DqQhNxQqXKPSTvyn21Mp4Ep9onWJ3UtVYVHUz59aRYFn_81LPhJ1hwyVJ3BpyLyxl8NHnaeSSx-EHusr3gZq4HmnEAyEt4CF51QIYqlHFLtqqLgwHbunyIZJSN58FSXvX8Bz/w300-h400/IMG_1169.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAqZHdFyDbCpk-SP9OrNHuGnEcQaOnfzrlVaByKDeAPqfsueJaC4PPNEMzSftsfl20GP3tdwp2_T7xI5zJp96SE2IACN6kkYA0IBJrAO6GmUKrqArnmdk6vlH6ycMBugvN4XR1cAlEIIjh80593NMlCgy0UFrPuKFPQOG-fmXvglmNztBhjM1/s4032/IMG_1181.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAqZHdFyDbCpk-SP9OrNHuGnEcQaOnfzrlVaByKDeAPqfsueJaC4PPNEMzSftsfl20GP3tdwp2_T7xI5zJp96SE2IACN6kkYA0IBJrAO6GmUKrqArnmdk6vlH6ycMBugvN4XR1cAlEIIjh80593NMlCgy0UFrPuKFPQOG-fmXvglmNztBhjM1/w300-h400/IMG_1181.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGFzwRZTXt14ANH1wEoWpj1Xzm2UvQg5_utB8Km3T09oSRzXOwm7yuhNK7hD-O4llk_1isX7eQcTmCPohPzGrVW5xBA3GG2rIyzHjJfXMLn2kJWlPLexvvrWM1ZNmIkwidAfvshtRnU5r4f4PFInCWg1a2TqZUPGSU_bEAfiXKU-Bp-8fIHGd/s8064/IMG_1182.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="8064" data-original-width="6048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGFzwRZTXt14ANH1wEoWpj1Xzm2UvQg5_utB8Km3T09oSRzXOwm7yuhNK7hD-O4llk_1isX7eQcTmCPohPzGrVW5xBA3GG2rIyzHjJfXMLn2kJWlPLexvvrWM1ZNmIkwidAfvshtRnU5r4f4PFInCWg1a2TqZUPGSU_bEAfiXKU-Bp-8fIHGd/w300-h400/IMG_1182.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJOp7JROBLH2Z8j9Po7Wapj8fUlV94alpohgapJ9FA3W23PFC2VD5A8oD1QS2us2EnMsb9KsUCWjT4cK-mqK0DTsa3pnxAPirQKsBHbyWS_19M8TOo7MzZ1hNG4STyrm9TaMWnoxCtFQJBArdqckPXyyPn5lro4iZ8_5UwMjeZp5HuVe0pmN6/s4032/IMG_1196.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJOp7JROBLH2Z8j9Po7Wapj8fUlV94alpohgapJ9FA3W23PFC2VD5A8oD1QS2us2EnMsb9KsUCWjT4cK-mqK0DTsa3pnxAPirQKsBHbyWS_19M8TOo7MzZ1hNG4STyrm9TaMWnoxCtFQJBArdqckPXyyPn5lro4iZ8_5UwMjeZp5HuVe0pmN6/w300-h400/IMG_1196.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-19479155389714813902024-02-14T14:32:00.002-06:002024-02-14T14:32:13.827-06:00Remember, O Man……that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyt2nsKfnmdB5aWQvXxZ8wIgDJpf-pCkuSx5GpH8_55Z2ABE5TbB7JSw8u8D1Wu8VgUpVNx6ltnvoMju4RuxL44Bhy7crV4Sg-yHC1EdDAThIvkyKt_0FFe94Wv5fB6brG79VBROpb83BPfsJLqypZnetFFuCzoZlB6-U9ype8fkrtRtlrXQf/s8064/IMG_0893.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="8064" data-original-width="6048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyt2nsKfnmdB5aWQvXxZ8wIgDJpf-pCkuSx5GpH8_55Z2ABE5TbB7JSw8u8D1Wu8VgUpVNx6ltnvoMju4RuxL44Bhy7crV4Sg-yHC1EdDAThIvkyKt_0FFe94Wv5fB6brG79VBROpb83BPfsJLqypZnetFFuCzoZlB6-U9ype8fkrtRtlrXQf/w300-h400/IMG_0893.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-52007030167237403792024-02-11T19:51:00.005-06:002024-02-11T19:51:52.355-06:00Old Lutheran Quote of the DayA good thought for holy Lent, whose arrival is so soon:<div><br /></div><div>“The one who knows that the enemy stands before the gates and straightway lets him enter the city; the one who has been warned of the descending steps of sin but does not heed the warning; the one who knows what is the armor of faith and has been clothed with it but does not use it to repel the evil spirits, mocks and despises the good gifts of the kingdom of God more than the heathen. The violent conflict with shame, dread, and hesitation that always rages in his heart before a Christian consents to sin, in contrast to the easy course of a ‘child of the world’ does not lessen the grievousness of that sin but makes it worse.”—Adolf Köberle, <i>Quest for Holiness, </i>p. 214, 215</div><div><br /></div><div>I am thinking about rereading the entirety of the book again for Lent. His information on the spiritual battle is so sorely missing among us. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-57197573891344279222024-02-11T13:17:00.005-06:002024-02-11T13:19:50.416-06:00And……I got a little grandpa snuggling in Winnie Mae, our youngest grandchild (#13):<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIRwZy-VIYakS8TDVh7sH4vsZ4KGjjybhOaun0jgoQuuL5vuulR3tV83Dk9vopxXuifik4dYXFsXiDiQEkBuQLH7bD4EGuM12ACbDe8I84cVJfVVSX1Cy-J0vMVXIJmMuw6dBen9Xou8aj1gy_TkYoSqaPt4pI9StLRS-VB8qrP6LmUgnIULK/s2450/IMG_9170.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2450" data-original-width="1739" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIRwZy-VIYakS8TDVh7sH4vsZ4KGjjybhOaun0jgoQuuL5vuulR3tV83Dk9vopxXuifik4dYXFsXiDiQEkBuQLH7bD4EGuM12ACbDe8I84cVJfVVSX1Cy-J0vMVXIJmMuw6dBen9Xou8aj1gy_TkYoSqaPt4pI9StLRS-VB8qrP6LmUgnIULK/w284-h400/IMG_9170.jpeg" width="284" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-59602125287704197632024-02-11T13:16:00.002-06:002024-02-11T13:16:19.047-06:00It was a little earlyBut we had a birthday party for this young man who turns 1 on Tuesday:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw13TXXotm9nNEY1qwuWeit1IOs_SGuIkWTn7Afjj4von3TNndBBFekbouWsvMAhOX63Lny5vTXdL2Z3cleAyFZh9LabMw-Z7FuDlVflf-90IQrhbAeQTP53Ww2UfpYcbnynnKTX5zRGveX7jjBj8PqY2hKWkCBZllOfWQEiNGta24wYo5p7_a/s4032/IMG_9164.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw13TXXotm9nNEY1qwuWeit1IOs_SGuIkWTn7Afjj4von3TNndBBFekbouWsvMAhOX63Lny5vTXdL2Z3cleAyFZh9LabMw-Z7FuDlVflf-90IQrhbAeQTP53Ww2UfpYcbnynnKTX5zRGveX7jjBj8PqY2hKWkCBZllOfWQEiNGta24wYo5p7_a/w300-h400/IMG_9164.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Happy birthday, Emmett William Ibisch!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-21178070161394093272024-02-11T11:02:00.003-06:002024-02-11T11:05:43.789-06:00Quinquagesima<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPTtLIvQAVSMVMDLhf6PxRRsSOswLjWiB0OJfTVXczIWMU5qAVX3r8sB_7csmbJKXI08fUNBWpGzTO1hILHwXM6rH2KHdAV3AzxvIcOOexfKkH5yKeBvMdxseusoyvrGePKuRV5jWuFxozqWYJfhQIL-E9z_4L1-yPBSKCdtKq6Kg7kQcZboZt/s1370/IMG_0892.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1370" data-original-width="1268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPTtLIvQAVSMVMDLhf6PxRRsSOswLjWiB0OJfTVXczIWMU5qAVX3r8sB_7csmbJKXI08fUNBWpGzTO1hILHwXM6rH2KHdAV3AzxvIcOOexfKkH5yKeBvMdxseusoyvrGePKuRV5jWuFxozqWYJfhQIL-E9z_4L1-yPBSKCdtKq6Kg7kQcZboZt/w370-h400/IMG_0892.jpeg" width="370" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJTrCC_rbrh5po3zU1uBvddT_rhcX-mUcIJBXgwUJt_MPOr2syEsZyxjgmnHUlfRXg-VIzno9ytkz0HX_oGGmsVm4bQkvmdIkp5OGSX3kGR4QNgN3Vv5lIvMNY1pfzSTeNoLICuRYodViqNPhjMDnhyvSS9WQ-d-Nr0b-sfc_q3VIKCpzQN9-/s4032/IMG_0889.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJTrCC_rbrh5po3zU1uBvddT_rhcX-mUcIJBXgwUJt_MPOr2syEsZyxjgmnHUlfRXg-VIzno9ytkz0HX_oGGmsVm4bQkvmdIkp5OGSX3kGR4QNgN3Vv5lIvMNY1pfzSTeNoLICuRYodViqNPhjMDnhyvSS9WQ-d-Nr0b-sfc_q3VIKCpzQN9-/w400-h300/IMG_0889.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-56401304951367486882024-02-07T19:01:00.002-06:002024-02-07T19:01:30.108-06:00Patristic Quote of the Day<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">What Paul meant was that no one obtains the gift of justification on the basis of merit derived from works performed beforehand, because the gift of justification comes <i>only</i> from faith.—The Venerable Bede, </span><span face="TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT" style="font-kerning: none; font-style: italic;">ACC NT XI:</span><span style="font-kerning: none; font-style: normal;">31. (Emphasis added)</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-30839107517322965932024-02-03T18:23:00.001-06:002024-02-03T18:23:10.539-06:00OMADThis week Cindi and I went back to OMAD (one meal a day). What a difference it makes in our schedule! I find myself so much more relaxed not having to think about the extra meals (no prep, no clean up!) at breakfast and lunch. And if I eat my 1.5 to 2 lbs of meat at dinner, I don’t even think about food till dinner time the following day! Today’s feast was awesome. Cindi did up half a tenderloin she had found on sale. I stirred up some alfredo while she was frying the meat. I have definitely decided that I prefer the alfredo on tenderloin to hollandaise. That was dinner: a plate of tenderloin and a bowl of alfredo to spread on top, and it was totally satisfying and majorly yummy. Then after dinner I grabbed myself a cup of decaf tea with a splash of raw milk as we engaged in that stupid game of Liverpool. <i>You know who</i> won. AGAIN. Lois and I wonder why we even play. But the tenderloin she made was so delicious that I almost didn’t mind her winning. Almost. <div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-27608456638768970142024-02-01T08:43:00.005-06:002024-02-01T08:43:44.335-06:00Old Lutheran Quote of the DayMan cannot save himself, but he can destroy himself… The “I will” comes from God, the “I will not” from man’s own free choice. Acceptance is not earned through merit but is a gift; perdition is not the result of fate but of sin. In the final judgment, men are placed at the right hand of the Judge; they place themselves at His left.—Adolf Köberle, <i>Quest for Holiness</i>, p. 143, 144. <div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-13481977045778938792024-01-25T00:30:00.001-06:002024-01-25T00:30:00.157-06:00Patristic Quote of the DayWhat is this? ‘That God,’ he says, ‘gave His Only Begotten, His genuine, beloved Son, for us sinners, burdened with myriad sins and pressed down by so many offenses. He not only freed us from sins but also made us righteous, imposing nothing burdensome, toilsome, or painful, but seeking faith from us alone. He made us righteous, holy, declared us sons of God, showed us heirs of the kingdom, wrought us fellow heirs with the Only Begotten, promised resurrection, incorruption of bodies, companions with angels, surpassing all reason and understanding, a dwelling in heaven, and communion with Him and the Holy Spirit, pouring out grace on us here already. He freed us from the devil’s dominion, delivered us from demons, abolished sin, obliterated the curse, shattered the gates of Hades, and opened Paradise.—St. John Chrysostom, Homily on Glorying in Tribulations<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-45121008032903272972024-01-24T13:43:00.001-06:002024-01-24T13:43:31.000-06:00Patristic Quote of the Day‘Not only these things do I say, which I mentioned, such as that we were sanctified, justified, through the Only Begotten, that we enjoyed grace, peace, gift of forgiveness of sins, communion of the Holy Spirit, with all ease, without toil, and without sweat, through faith alone, [but] that the Son, the Only Begotten, was sent, that He gave both present and promised glory, incorruption, resurrection of bodies, an angelic end, conduct with Christ, dwelling in heaven. For he presented all these in saying, ‘And we boast in hope of the glory of God.’—St. John Chrysostom, Homily on Glorying in Tribulation<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-82503576580008056532024-01-23T18:07:00.002-06:002024-01-23T18:07:55.264-06:00Patristic Quote of the DayFor we have eternal hopes, unshaken and certain, not dissolved by this temporary life, but leading to that incorruptible and blessed life, unaffected even by irregularities in the air and unforeseen circumstances, and not disintegrated even by death itself.—St. John Chrysostom, Homily on Glorying in Tribulations<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-67994835566530606262024-01-07T16:00:00.004-06:002024-01-07T16:38:12.471-06:00And today, the joy of Winnie Mae’s Baptism into Christ……<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXyXUzusDgOS44aJgIc2z_E2tYHQKENdvOjtBjpHG4XrGMiREQOPQK6p_6ZoumSGU9kNpFS0M9kyMBLpxbX5Au_B0jOPJcTFKx2QXi_0syXJF5cxLevf_79tcWLdXOnMVTiRe7_fF5KA_AGztY6E5FSbKSnwmZP2Kp_Wa3_VgF1hW5666aE6s/s4032/IMG_0769.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXyXUzusDgOS44aJgIc2z_E2tYHQKENdvOjtBjpHG4XrGMiREQOPQK6p_6ZoumSGU9kNpFS0M9kyMBLpxbX5Au_B0jOPJcTFKx2QXi_0syXJF5cxLevf_79tcWLdXOnMVTiRe7_fF5KA_AGztY6E5FSbKSnwmZP2Kp_Wa3_VgF1hW5666aE6s/w300-h400/IMG_0769.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcAOEVcQJNJSR4lcoXOpjaz55zRcstkAEBR5hJzyxx3TdZ7ik_WrkPsTKXCs_Lpx7o_-4Sk4IyPF1EmZYaksoJ24sS7P6jBRpDo-YUmHDcJE1efJ2vcyJVoRd3a40_Qk9xHeC3ZI60NzmPJ_RJefNEPE3fj35pUYhFcnG1WxDtljhargpCI6J/s4032/IMG_2154.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcAOEVcQJNJSR4lcoXOpjaz55zRcstkAEBR5hJzyxx3TdZ7ik_WrkPsTKXCs_Lpx7o_-4Sk4IyPF1EmZYaksoJ24sS7P6jBRpDo-YUmHDcJE1efJ2vcyJVoRd3a40_Qk9xHeC3ZI60NzmPJ_RJefNEPE3fj35pUYhFcnG1WxDtljhargpCI6J/w300-h400/IMG_2154.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcgeStPs-S9JX-h-QFE8XTFm0r7Ib7djmD25KYqId8gc0pllLrHnRtKCByxUb85Ym60WiP79Siq2p-npPe_FQEjx-ATfLDSIWuVa3CAyPFXQvw-mOa7Ra7b_S_XICQio1Q9LZNaK5EzxtLcVblvxtiw4pSFIbqLnnM3FSsO_cpEaWDmBHRtfL/s4032/IMG_2157.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcgeStPs-S9JX-h-QFE8XTFm0r7Ib7djmD25KYqId8gc0pllLrHnRtKCByxUb85Ym60WiP79Siq2p-npPe_FQEjx-ATfLDSIWuVa3CAyPFXQvw-mOa7Ra7b_S_XICQio1Q9LZNaK5EzxtLcVblvxtiw4pSFIbqLnnM3FSsO_cpEaWDmBHRtfL/w300-h400/IMG_2157.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOkLLKuTddyS_zhABwmTm973yBqELyKGF8IguCMFlWRA84Bbhv6YTld1PZPQ5QfShYlarz66GLlwJIA_73fDbuXT9h9Y-QznOJpq7Jh3GtYGF4wxyVgLq6EgfbCb4JgfXV6gJwTZy5GOnzsb9FhF63_UjssLBcnxC_Kfb-dqDMi7R3FJalrhN/s4032/IMG_2167.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOkLLKuTddyS_zhABwmTm973yBqELyKGF8IguCMFlWRA84Bbhv6YTld1PZPQ5QfShYlarz66GLlwJIA_73fDbuXT9h9Y-QznOJpq7Jh3GtYGF4wxyVgLq6EgfbCb4JgfXV6gJwTZy5GOnzsb9FhF63_UjssLBcnxC_Kfb-dqDMi7R3FJalrhN/w300-h400/IMG_2167.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Winnie Mae is our thirteenth grandchild. We are so very blessed to have all our children and their spouses and all our grandchildren as members of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. “Lord, help us ever to retain / The Catechism’s doctrine plain / As Luther taught the Word of truth / In simple style to tender youth.” <div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-71175850241673341472024-01-06T12:19:00.002-06:002024-01-06T12:21:18.725-06:00Blessed Epiphany!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg461Nuv2GoBMDU0V2TUoWY58oRk5i4YGLWKaXLjB43xmhJBLuDRCJOirsaoWQN4s223qtdVg1QHsZPhI_tx-NWgwDCddBR4Ll6pMdvVVVH4E1QQBkVucw_etD_XZi4M7FGMSRMJscyUyac1Bz6QY_MEHzYRSbGVX187F_-3cqq07jRNEKosiyM/s5245/IMG_6883.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3600" data-original-width="5245" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg461Nuv2GoBMDU0V2TUoWY58oRk5i4YGLWKaXLjB43xmhJBLuDRCJOirsaoWQN4s223qtdVg1QHsZPhI_tx-NWgwDCddBR4Ll6pMdvVVVH4E1QQBkVucw_etD_XZi4M7FGMSRMJscyUyac1Bz6QY_MEHzYRSbGVX187F_-3cqq07jRNEKosiyM/w400-h275/IMG_6883.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Picture courtesy of Meaghan Weedon.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Remember: Divine Service for the Feast is tonight at 6 p.m.</div><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-52466175980117861862024-01-04T13:36:00.001-06:002024-01-04T13:36:20.929-06:00Patristic Quote of the DayOnly that Scripture is rightly called divine, which is inspired by the Spirit of God and administered by those who have spoken by the Spirit of God, making a person divine, reforming them in the likeness of God, instructing in knowledge, and exhorting to action.—Hugh of St. Victor, On Writings and the Sacred Scriptures<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-38547611282230475182024-01-01T16:26:00.002-06:002024-01-01T16:37:40.790-06:00Happy New Year, one and all!We had a delightful evening with old friends and new yesterday. However, I’m sad to report, pinochle is an <i>excessively</i> stupid game. Just sayin’.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-UqSSaVdPOfwksN-BnpHjxstwQNupfIWMTyIKyUDS0qiZAHHZm8y2psHh1iURjLsCrbxTnnuA4XCjFf90mMovSXVjwr6OIe2AhM3x0W1uiKt2Zf-WDqE3pz080nnwEOjpU8j4kH6R_wIeVfBBM3PRB4nZYK7S43zgOXfLvSDb3lnLWtiMEHg1/s3961/IMG_0743.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2617" data-original-width="3961" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-UqSSaVdPOfwksN-BnpHjxstwQNupfIWMTyIKyUDS0qiZAHHZm8y2psHh1iURjLsCrbxTnnuA4XCjFf90mMovSXVjwr6OIe2AhM3x0W1uiKt2Zf-WDqE3pz080nnwEOjpU8j4kH6R_wIeVfBBM3PRB4nZYK7S43zgOXfLvSDb3lnLWtiMEHg1/w400-h264/IMG_0743.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This morning we got up for our morning walk to see the sunrise (brr…), ate a bite of breakfast (duck eggs served over ground beef and bacon), and then off to the Divine Service. We had some 84 people show up to celebrate the Circumcision of Our Lord this morning. Amazing! And a whole pile of them were younger folk. </div><div><br /></div><div>Got in a nice and leisurely workout this morning, several walks, and then a brief nap before we had our midday meal. Our meal was a Christmas gift from the Herberts: </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUYOCPtLHFijITwltgkW2sdLAor8q3qAf3HTnEzddGdu3uokKBOgPjGbZH8z0cRWm6wr-2-L-SzE0FIj2qZ2evwMlsmpcTpcUs6EpTorVNcxN9M1PsoxcIKt5BBKXvMWIZyUNy66mDFOqwGZvWal_MQi18UdmVY2EeDW4Ibgvp30BWwjKhyphenhyphenhw/s6486/IMG_0746.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6486" data-original-width="5237" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUYOCPtLHFijITwltgkW2sdLAor8q3qAf3HTnEzddGdu3uokKBOgPjGbZH8z0cRWm6wr-2-L-SzE0FIj2qZ2evwMlsmpcTpcUs6EpTorVNcxN9M1PsoxcIKt5BBKXvMWIZyUNy66mDFOqwGZvWal_MQi18UdmVY2EeDW4Ibgvp30BWwjKhyphenhyphenhw/w323-h400/IMG_0746.jpeg" width="323" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Yes, that’s a tomahawk ribeye, cooked to perfection. It was major yumminess. For World Carnivore Month (January), we’re doing (mostly) BBBE. That is: Beef, Bacon, Butter, and Eggs. However, we are still consuming our raw milk and yoghurt from the farm. I don’t know about you, but I’m calling that beef since it comes from a cow. <br /><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-15162715457216975562023-12-31T16:18:00.002-06:002023-12-31T17:29:08.931-06:00Homily for Christmas I<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This past week, people loved by God, we celebrated together the what of Christmas and the Who: the events around the birth of the holy Child. This past week we heard the angel’s message and the host of heaven sing their song. This past week we saw the shepherds hurry to Bethlehem to see this thing which had come to pass, the Babe lying in a manger. This past week we gazed in awe at the little one and said to one another: “This is Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary.” So we celebrated the what of Christmas and the who. What? A Savior is born. Who is He? Christ the Lord, true God and true Man.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This morning, however, St. Paul invites us to go even further. To go beyond the what and the who and to rejoice in the <span style="font-style: italic;">why</span>. The why of the what. The why of the Who. Why did all that happen in Bethlehem so long ago? Why did the Son of God become a little child? Here’s the simple yet profound answer Paul gives: Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV) <span style="font-style: italic;">4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. </span>Behold the why of Christ’s coming! He came that we might be adopted and received by God the Father as His own children. He came that we might have a place in the heavenly Father’s home forever. He become a child of man to make the lost children of men into the true children of God! Behold, the why!</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">St. Paul sets slaves in opposition to children. For that is the rock bottom reality of life. Either you are a slave under the law or you are living in the freedom of the children of God—the freedom Christ came to give. The thing about slaves is that they don’t have a permanent place in the house. They work for hire. They know that their position in the household depends solely on their performance of the duties assigned them. If they fail to perform, out they go. They have no permanent place in the house, and so their lives tend to be eaten up with anxiety about their standing.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How different the situation of children! They know that their place in the house is utterly secure. They have no fear of being tossed out. They belong there. It’s their home. They stand in a totally different relationship with the master of the house than the slave does. Nothing shows the difference better than what they call the same person. A slave calls the Lord of the manor, Master. But what does a child call the Lord of the manor? He calls him daddy.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“And because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba! Father!’” Abba is the daddy or papa word in Aramaic. It is peculiarly Jesus’ own term of address for the heavenly Father. For you see what happened, don’t you? Jesus Christ came into this world to give us nothing less than His own relationship with His Father. As He was the beloved Son of the Father, so He calls us into such a relationship with Him that we might be called and be “beloved children of the Father.” And children call out to their dear Father with all confidence, “Abba!”</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From the Catechism: “Our Father who art in heaven. What does this mean? With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear Father.”</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We’d never dare to pray like that unless Jesus had invited us to. And the “our” there is to be noted. Our Father. He gets to be “ours” —that is, yours and mine—only because Jesus shares Him with us. Gives Him us as our own. Do you remember the scene after the Resurrection when Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene as she wept outside the tomb? Jesus gave her some awesome news. “Go to my brothers and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” He can send them this news on the basis of what He has accomplished on Calvary and sealed in His resurrection. He has made His Father ours!</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our hymn of the day originally put this most powerfully: Er wechselt mit uns wunderlich / unser Fleisch und Blut nimmt an / Und gibt uns in sein Vater’s reich / die klare Gottheit d’ran / die klare Gottheit d’ran. He changes with us wondrously, our flesh and blood takes on, to give us in His Father’s realm the luminous divinity. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But how does He give the benefit of that to us? We know that He came to make us the children of God. But how does He accomplish this in our lives? If we were reading straight through Galatians we would already know, for Paul has just made it clear in the verses right before our second reading: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Gal. 3:26, 27)</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Baptism! That is how Christ makes us children and heirs of His Father. Now you know why Christ said: “You must be born again.” We need a new birth to free us from slavery, free us from the uncertainty of our place in the household, free us from the idea that we have to earn our keep. So christ gives Baptism to us. In the water we are given a new birth. In the water we are adopted by god as His own children. In the washing of water with the Word, the Holy Spirit Himself is given to us, the Spirit who cries out “Abba, Father!” The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God and heirs with Christ. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course Baptism only benefits those who believe. That makes sense, doesn’t it? Look, Baptism promises you an eternal inheritance. It makes you a child of God and gives you a place in the Father’s house for all eternity. But only as you believe. </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Think of it like this. One day you get a letter in the mail from a lawyer who told you that your great Aunt Mathilde (whom you never knew about) has died and left you her entire estate worth, let’s say, 30 million dollars. What good would that estate do you if you tore up the letter and said: “Nope. This is some scam and I’m not going to fall for it. This is just some way to get me to spend my own money.” By not believing the inheritance was yours, you could live and die a pauper, when in fact you were a multimillionaire. And how sad that would be! To reap Baptism’s benefits the promises God makes you in that water must be believed. Sad to say, there are many baptismal millionaires, children and heirs of the heavenly Father, who live and die as slaves and never once in time or eternity enjoy what their baptism most surely bestowed upon them. </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What utter joy would fill our hearts if we always kept this in mind at all times. If we woke up every morning and said: “Father in heaven, thank you for making me your child in Baptism.” If we went to bed every night certain that our sins had all been forgiven through Jesus’ blood and that our bodies and souls were secure in His care and keeping. It was to keep such joy front and center that Dr. Luther wrote his suggestions for morning and evening prayer. That’s why he bids you begin with the sign of the holy cross (for you now belong to Christ the Crucified) and to say the words of our baptism. That is why he teaches us to pray every morning and every night: “I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ.”</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Children and heirs. That is what Christ makes us in Baptism. That is the life which He calls us to as His brothers and sisters. It was to give us this priceless gift that He came among us. For this He was born at Bethlehem. That we might walk all our days in this life in the joy of having a heavenly Father and an eternal home and “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, kept in heaven for us.” (1 Peter 1:4) </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">P.S. Pastor Mark Preus offered this absolutely inspired “fix” to the problematic stanza in LSB:</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A wondrous change with Him we share:</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our flesh and blood takes He,</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And bids us in God’s kingdom wear</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">His bright divinity.</span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">His bright divinity. </span></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-1278796829661723062023-12-28T16:45:00.003-06:002023-12-28T16:45:45.186-06:00And welcome, Grandchild #13!We got a call from Lauren on Christmas night, just before midnight. So we headed over to Dieterich to watch the other children so Dean could join his wife at the hospital. She took her sweet time getting here, but on the late afternoon of St. Stephen’s day, Winnie Mae was born and arrived sunny side up! Her rebirth is scheduled for January 7th. Here is a pic of her with her Nana:<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6lJlJg0VIsyt2GSgcYsRrtfUfXz2h2iuq7Wseqi2VIQYFU4Tv1jVDuzWuHXfhAOpQJHXMWVXNoO0GttEVRtwkHVAphbNJ9R0-UwYFbVH2wZEhb6YqFh1-5EoUimJnUucBJ-kMFd-gLckG0WLXhOjFMLbzJak3nOK8aI95J_PoFz1q68qm-Kh/s4032/IMG_0683.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6lJlJg0VIsyt2GSgcYsRrtfUfXz2h2iuq7Wseqi2VIQYFU4Tv1jVDuzWuHXfhAOpQJHXMWVXNoO0GttEVRtwkHVAphbNJ9R0-UwYFbVH2wZEhb6YqFh1-5EoUimJnUucBJ-kMFd-gLckG0WLXhOjFMLbzJak3nOK8aI95J_PoFz1q68qm-Kh/w300-h400/IMG_0683.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">P.S. If you’re having trouble keeping track: Kloe, Sawyer, Annabelle, Lydia, Flynn, Henry, Felicity, Oliver, Evangeline, Griffin, Chancellor, Emmett, and Winnie.</div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-85275134574935654422023-12-25T15:18:00.002-06:002023-12-25T15:18:22.851-06:00A most delightful Christmas gift<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPpL1CGXfzT2ZciT1OUzDPQ5ACGj5bRgL3tYiFXrwU2LWLmturP9WOYl6AsRvuHTiXOocMzbZNntkbf3cMVU4AByV5WxVKfPacB7RxDwe6TlyYbpeE52CU7lA3P0DRhbcqy9xnna8Tlwq0MiZT4FyxU8Ny2EnnL3rYEHZXyiG2LvNsIf_sAB1/s4032/IMG_0675.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPpL1CGXfzT2ZciT1OUzDPQ5ACGj5bRgL3tYiFXrwU2LWLmturP9WOYl6AsRvuHTiXOocMzbZNntkbf3cMVU4AByV5WxVKfPacB7RxDwe6TlyYbpeE52CU7lA3P0DRhbcqy9xnna8Tlwq0MiZT4FyxU8Ny2EnnL3rYEHZXyiG2LvNsIf_sAB1/w300-h400/IMG_0675.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-77290656784893662412023-12-25T13:18:00.002-06:002023-12-25T15:58:21.299-06:00A Taste of a St. Paul Christmas…… <a href="https://youtu.be/FWqbn-d184g?feature=shared">Großer Gott</a> …<a href="https://youtu.be/EKvFpStr9WU?feature=shared">Opening Hymn</a> …. <a href="https://youtu.be/ASonjMZL_iw?feature=shared">Gradual and Vivaldi Gloria</a> …<a href="https://youtu.be/uvAVAEjYvXA?feature=shared">Preface through Pax Domini</a> … <a href="https://youtu.be/bFkjjRjfIUo?feature=shared">Now Sing We, Now Rejoice</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-21010974551004014072023-12-25T07:07:00.001-06:002023-12-25T07:07:06.554-06:00O Holy Night<p> Click <a href="https://youtu.be/OD3uhoOuNCY?feature=shared">here</a>. </p><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-52366124800264226012023-12-23T12:52:00.001-06:002023-12-23T12:53:10.618-06:00Our Family Christmas……was anticipatory this year (due to a baby being due on Dec. 27th). We gathered at the Ibisch’s home for a delightful evening. Appetizers included pomegranate, blueberries, strawberries, assorted cheeses and summer sausage and cold-cuts; Beef Tenderloin was the main dish served along with tortellini in alfredo sauce, gravy, hollandaise (almost…I forgot the lemon!), mushrooms and bacon in alfredo, mashed potatoes, sweet potato soufflé in paleo and sugared varieties, cranberry sauce; desserts were assorted chocolates and cookies, apple pie, pecan pie, and two chocolate pies. Some pictures of the festivities:<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpmrS08J2M93093SfY5mBDHSPh3SPxILQz6UWsi_8F6PoKgNb-AMPHJ9mMYVqmlwVDdg62-acWhaWVXz86W68EQdEz5JCisDKr_Cky-fBJyOvdcr7J5actm1EqiHkbjy9TI33IkD9bB4FSvPoLGnIELKIKfiHbBoPO_l27RPDPxAmozG7As8w/s8064/IMG_0597.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6048" data-original-width="8064" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpmrS08J2M93093SfY5mBDHSPh3SPxILQz6UWsi_8F6PoKgNb-AMPHJ9mMYVqmlwVDdg62-acWhaWVXz86W68EQdEz5JCisDKr_Cky-fBJyOvdcr7J5actm1EqiHkbjy9TI33IkD9bB4FSvPoLGnIELKIKfiHbBoPO_l27RPDPxAmozG7As8w/w400-h300/IMG_0597.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXPEgxXWyXvZu5Xq265o6zrdSC2OTGSKGHxsQXbiDS8qbdVeAa1jIOGc8po3OkzOtVEpgzsmGMDIPBM_12P75dCxjWvAlaOs7rq5pWmUCheJLyzdikd9ZbiD_xv1nyoTVoBTuWBGY-Mj03IfNgpTYxy-DFI7a-QllCOjUK0EN98vcwszZy4eH/s4032/IMG_0602.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXPEgxXWyXvZu5Xq265o6zrdSC2OTGSKGHxsQXbiDS8qbdVeAa1jIOGc8po3OkzOtVEpgzsmGMDIPBM_12P75dCxjWvAlaOs7rq5pWmUCheJLyzdikd9ZbiD_xv1nyoTVoBTuWBGY-Mj03IfNgpTYxy-DFI7a-QllCOjUK0EN98vcwszZy4eH/w300-h400/IMG_0602.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EBHx0HE_2CQXiXRYH72ZIroSRbJp6oUf0bDYex2deh501aWeC_7mntiwgBZEfxeoqzysBzrceiLPFXlk2m4ft8RgtkthCGFDslmXPI1xBVijsksxu4WMaPhIb7jUqu7h4SmoRZYeZfliEHXT-v6WKI6dyh8l3cFbjO2sppJGlBSwxsJGm8h2/s8064/IMG_0606.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="8064" data-original-width="6048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EBHx0HE_2CQXiXRYH72ZIroSRbJp6oUf0bDYex2deh501aWeC_7mntiwgBZEfxeoqzysBzrceiLPFXlk2m4ft8RgtkthCGFDslmXPI1xBVijsksxu4WMaPhIb7jUqu7h4SmoRZYeZfliEHXT-v6WKI6dyh8l3cFbjO2sppJGlBSwxsJGm8h2/w300-h400/IMG_0606.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6WX_JtxU_CC7n9WhJhnYl8KJtfYyKJ66I6WNCTtz2cz9SOPW0wJj3Etp5UyLGclrEIS8pOiqTukwVcaUsMJ3Z70xJJGHdw-HGJp64XY2l5xlocRNaHm8A2feVD1T-ZeU6I-2xOZa7mE_5vS7GmIFSfDEFLhkTTuQjupI52osgNMxv3C1kiN6/s8064/IMG_0610.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="8064" data-original-width="6048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6WX_JtxU_CC7n9WhJhnYl8KJtfYyKJ66I6WNCTtz2cz9SOPW0wJj3Etp5UyLGclrEIS8pOiqTukwVcaUsMJ3Z70xJJGHdw-HGJp64XY2l5xlocRNaHm8A2feVD1T-ZeU6I-2xOZa7mE_5vS7GmIFSfDEFLhkTTuQjupI52osgNMxv3C1kiN6/w300-h400/IMG_0610.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoPIXlfNAnEWY-Ga4UO3VHYBGUxuTtzkeQUV0LAUEPR3_sKWthjTX6i4IDb5hL2FGCOzP8NzM7b5o3oxxfnMYYlXm0TiBmScIGS9u_EGCdDFWkYduDjHt-Dhyphenhyphent4WBe7FSBkxYclSrXbwlM2Q8NeI__j4tlC3IlrxwybZ6F-Yp7UuUkQGWX8qq/s8064/IMG_0613.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="8064" data-original-width="6048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoPIXlfNAnEWY-Ga4UO3VHYBGUxuTtzkeQUV0LAUEPR3_sKWthjTX6i4IDb5hL2FGCOzP8NzM7b5o3oxxfnMYYlXm0TiBmScIGS9u_EGCdDFWkYduDjHt-Dhyphenhyphent4WBe7FSBkxYclSrXbwlM2Q8NeI__j4tlC3IlrxwybZ6F-Yp7UuUkQGWX8qq/w300-h400/IMG_0613.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVBuZ74AfwwCKmPMDCmgzVR_rhTgAm0RYhVcr41dsInxNkf3DMxsUOuov0rz2VbkJcXzjQUkxKs7SrBBXHVCBZDJ7GhMrGPxyG9TskmmY8Cbr0BQjO219EYaT_O-TUUqxjiQEWByIFbiJsJrpy0-SpUa7z9REjzTUgL7A4WxLDdVoc1rSWdVc/s4032/IMG_1477.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVBuZ74AfwwCKmPMDCmgzVR_rhTgAm0RYhVcr41dsInxNkf3DMxsUOuov0rz2VbkJcXzjQUkxKs7SrBBXHVCBZDJ7GhMrGPxyG9TskmmY8Cbr0BQjO219EYaT_O-TUUqxjiQEWByIFbiJsJrpy0-SpUa7z9REjzTUgL7A4WxLDdVoc1rSWdVc/w300-h400/IMG_1477.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhEZctfn1CNfcAoaymFI9NmiD2a5gktXeawPM-OPIAsonzoUBGBMJBsCqnWcuRquVzmBN0RrwnggjL-x2vU0Id-eAuoIlVd3BQjKL2P34X1p-9Ly412Ab5crnFRNejWXWv7amBZIgY22DmyEAg41Sn7VlPJn4Yt3H_SojAY4YsAQc9R3WB3xW/w300-h400/IMG_8830.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYZ5gZol_PFzpN64VssF1lhRhJGYTkQjvhzO9rHohP1v5yGd6dR59miCU7TYxmYA-SipmUmnJ4mlY_OI3k9oknDlKWouuD1CxFOfPfsJgQvSAtscD-zpLnyZ3RCp3wNSAaAP4TBvZK4PFqk4xW0l3oZnJecbbB2lZY4MJTB1cy4GFY0jXmbux/s4028/IMG_8832.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4028" data-original-width="2180" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYZ5gZol_PFzpN64VssF1lhRhJGYTkQjvhzO9rHohP1v5yGd6dR59miCU7TYxmYA-SipmUmnJ4mlY_OI3k9oknDlKWouuD1CxFOfPfsJgQvSAtscD-zpLnyZ3RCp3wNSAaAP4TBvZK4PFqk4xW0l3oZnJecbbB2lZY4MJTB1cy4GFY0jXmbux/w216-h400/IMG_8832.jpeg" width="216" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKwtF8Zx6Krjz4fJQ7rvg6i1pxd-hRKZOxtFv4aVT6KI5UVAht7jCuSjmE2xe8Sb1jkFxbfjggcxWTfM2H4_JwjIKELrkwmpv01_SIU6V4nhUieIrXLnkWAGwgXYIiV6S-XaQWgeLLUVLMKMcqFTwDE-FNf76JA4wajyAQdwc0ZbxoxJRyP7m/w300-h400/IMG_8843.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyPvwJ2IRtpEX9lixnE66c63Aa7rwbjUWGOmkb0hoQom-T5YfL7455x3AFNe6Wl18Hw3hhWclxCSuBty8ncgsrxNF1fE7_X37PXjnmFIYyaaaPLr7cfLQffBMfIcMcMrglfb3abkWAG2q-6gh4jprOGevTi6LKWHlAEHDFDjsZQ7JXEGiIK4L/s4032/IMG_8844.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyPvwJ2IRtpEX9lixnE66c63Aa7rwbjUWGOmkb0hoQom-T5YfL7455x3AFNe6Wl18Hw3hhWclxCSuBty8ncgsrxNF1fE7_X37PXjnmFIYyaaaPLr7cfLQffBMfIcMcMrglfb3abkWAG2q-6gh4jprOGevTi6LKWHlAEHDFDjsZQ7JXEGiIK4L/w400-h300/IMG_8844.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rgXDrWZRRMLdxg1Jsvsp6BK04oZG4fERbdtsvhnXuND06Kbhjmtssgc7WOrdY-ML9-8B03eRs1GLGmb2FTJJOk_X-5LRN-QQG64rMh_0PDxZsZV3PyKQjTI9txdf8HYTb8lD59kyKpvJ-wUY3OszepMsHzmRIMr-vKOs_A7WAPnWa2Cot93w/s4032/IMG_8845.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rgXDrWZRRMLdxg1Jsvsp6BK04oZG4fERbdtsvhnXuND06Kbhjmtssgc7WOrdY-ML9-8B03eRs1GLGmb2FTJJOk_X-5LRN-QQG64rMh_0PDxZsZV3PyKQjTI9txdf8HYTb8lD59kyKpvJ-wUY3OszepMsHzmRIMr-vKOs_A7WAPnWa2Cot93w/w300-h400/IMG_8845.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-76282838105514235702023-12-20T20:25:00.003-06:002023-12-20T20:25:20.198-06:00Homily for Advent Ember Wednesday<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Isaiah 7:10-15 / Luke 1:26-38</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Can you even picture the scene in heaven, when God summoned Gabriel this time? “Gabriel, I have another job for you to do.” “Master, you know it is my delight to do whatever you command. Give me my orders.” “Do you see that young virgin down there, praying in Nazareth?” “Yes, Lord.” “Her name is Mary and I have some tidings for you to bring to her, like you did to Zechariah not too long ago.” “Gladly will I obey. What is the message?” Now, then, stop for a second and try to picture the growing look of astonishment upon Gabriel’s face as God tells him what he’s to say to her.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Master, please pardon me. I don’t want to get this message wrong. Did you actually just say that I was to tell her that, uh, she was going to be the mother of… of Your own eternal Son?” “Why, yes, Gabriel. That is EXACTLY what I said.”</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Master, You are all knowing. You are truth itself. But… but… I must not be understanding what you are telling me to announce. That would make the Eternal and Infinite One, who is blessed forever and exalted in the highest, it would make Him be one of…them, of those things.”</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Oh, yes, Gabriel. You <span style="font-style: italic;">are</span> understanding. Understanding exactly what I am saying.” </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am not sure if angels would ever have the cheek to ask: “Are you sure?” But if they do, that would have been the moment.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“But, Master, what if, what if she asks me how? What answer am I to give her?”</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“You will tell her that the Holy Spirit will come upon her. You will tell her that the power of the Most High will overshadow her. And so it will be that the little One who will be born from her will be called and will be the Son of God.”</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gabriel nods his head, trying not to let it explode. And then God adds: “Oh, and women need a consolation from other woman. Don’t forget to tell her about Elizabeth and her conception and how she’s now six months along. There, now. Off you go.”</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Poor Gabriel. When he came into the room where she was and showed himself to her, he was rather overcome. He cried out: “Rejoice, Mary! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.” He is overawed at being in the presence of the One who will become the Mother of God the Son. But he sees her troubled face.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now usually, when an angel bops in in the Bible, it’s the presence of the angel itself that troubles. That’s not the case here. Mary is troubled not by Gabriel’s presence, but by his words. Why should she rejoice? What does he mean that the Lord is with her? How is she blessed among women? Gabriel, in his angelic wisdom, reads her like a book. He tells her not to be afraid, but then proceeds to lay on her the most shocking news any human being would ever hear. “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father, David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever - through endless days - for His kingdom will have no end. And you do realize, yes, that that means His life, His very human life that he will receive in your womb, will have no end. How could it? He is the Son of God! The One who WAS before the worlds began.” </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When Gabriel had come to Zechariah, he saw the disbelief dance across the old man’s face at his tidings. That’s not the case now. It’s not that Mary disbelieves. It’s that she’s curious how. “How will be this be” (not how CAN this be) since I know not a man?” </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The angel had been supplied with the answer. “The Holy Spirit. He will do it. He who is the Power of the Most High will overshadow you, and so the child to be born of you will be holy, the Holy, Holy, Holy One, the very Son of God.” Yes, Mary, you are the Woman of Genesis 3:15. You are the Virgin of Isaiah 7. Your child will be Emmanuel: God with us! As the wonder remains on Mary’s face, the Angel remembers to add: “Oh, and Elizabeth, your kinswoman, she who was called barren, she is now in her sixth month.” </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And then Gabriel added the truth that is above all truths: “It is not possible for any Word of God to fail.” Long ages has Gabriel served the King of heaven, and this he knew with every fibre of his being: God’s every word is truth. What He promises always comes to pass, even when it sounds unbelievable and utterly impossible. His Word would not fail now either.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How long did the silence last after he finished delivering his embassy? At last, Mary speaks. “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to your Word.” And with that he was gone. He departed back to the realms of light, perhaps to await the passage of nine months when he would tear the skies apart with glory over the heads of the shepherds. Did Mary wonder, though, “Where did you go? Why could you not tell Joseph? Or my parents?” Still, she knew what to do. The angel had pointed her in the right direction. Elizabeth. That’s where she would find comfort and the confirmation of everything she’d just heard. She headed out for the Judean hills, and already her womb had become the Ark of the Living God, though no one else knew of her fearful secret, not till Elizabeth greeted her. </span></p><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gabriel back in heaven: “Well, I told her.” “Ah, and how did it go.” “Lord, you know all things. You already know. She believed. She said Amen to Your Word.” “Splendid,” said the Master, “and now we wait, but it won’t be long.”</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.</span></p></div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog</div>William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.com0