Want some mellow Advent / Christmas music?

Check out this:

The King Shall Come

or listen here:

A huge thank you to Dr. Kevin Ambrust for doing the production work on this!

P.S. Yes, I know it’s not November of 2017...but it’s the only way I know of to keep a post at the TOP of the blog postings!

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

In fact, when the heart understands the Father, this mitigates all the pain we indeed feel as we are being punished. Hence this statement can be a source of comfort in finally any adversity at all. When God throws us into poverty or disgrace, when He nails us to a cross, when He allows our property to be taken from us, let us always say: “Let it go. God intends nothing bad.” He does everything out of a fatherly love.—Martin Luther, On Zechariah 1

Patristic Quote of the Day

In the same manner, in the matter in question, the term ousia is common, like goodness, or Godhead, or any similar attribute; while hypostasis is contemplated in the special property of Fatherhood, Sonship, or the power to sanctify.—St. Basil the Great, Letter 214

Patristic Quote of the Day

If He sees us accepting our present circumstances with thanksgiving, He will either put away our troubles as He did Job's, or will requite us with the glorious crowns of patience in the life to come.—St. Basil the Great, Letter 212

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

For when a man's heart has adopted such confidence that he believes God cares for him, that God is kindly disposed to him, that God will be a very faithful Guardian and Companion in every need, then he no longer is a man who believes this but already a divine creature, since he now has a divine zeal and power in his heart. This fires his heart and makes it grow against every fear, against all the foes he faces, in short, against all creatures. Therefore, because this is a situation of such great dimensions, we need an abundant and rich supply of the Word so that we may finally be strengthened by it.—Martin Luther on Zechariah 1

Patristic Quote of the Day

The gifts of the Lord are ever great and many; in greatness beyond measure, in number incalculable.—St. Basil the Great, Letter 197

The light no darkness can overcome

I Came Across

this posting from nearly 10 years ago on the blog, on Dec. 15, 2006. It's a letter I wrote to my father. Only thing I'd change is to add that I wish he could know my grandkids too. 

Happy birthday, Daddy!

Dear Daddy,

Wow! I can't believe you'd be 86 today. I was thinking about you the other day when I was shaving - I realized that you were the age I am today when I was all of six years old. I tried to picture myself having a six year old right now, and it was not computing.

There are so many things that I want to write and tell you about. How I wish you could spend time with your grandchildren. I think they'd crack you up with their antics! Sometimes I just imagine about what it would be like for you and mom to pull up and spend the Christmas holidays with us. You'd love Lucy - of course I had to get a beagle. Beagles were your favorites, so they've always been mine too. And as for Cindi's cooking - hey, I know you guys thought Bonnie was an unbelievable cook, and she is, but I think Cindi gives her a run for the money. I picture you guys bustling into the house and sitting down (slightly uncomfortable, I know, at first, but then settling in). I picture you guys smiling as we join around the clavinova and sing carols and hymns. I remember how much you loved to hear Cindi sing. Of all the gifts you guys gave me over the years, there is none that I appreciate so much as the weekend I talked you into the piano and you went out and bought it for me. Remember how shocked mom was! But what a gift. It has been something that has brought me blessing for so many years. I always remember it was your kindness in giving into a teenager's whim that started me off on that path.

Speaking of Christmas, I know you would not approve of the tree. First, it's not a cedar. Second, it's not real. Third, there's not an icicle on it. I remember the care with which you always lifted off each icicle and hung it, branch by branch, and how stunning the tree looked when you were done. I never have had the patience, I confess. But we still have lots of the ornaments we used in our house on Munson Street. I think we even have some of those cheapo ones that mom picked up at Grand Union one year - they were green. Who do you think THAT was for, eh? And you'll never guess who usually sits under our tree! Giddyup. Yes, that old red horse is still around. It comes out for a visit every year. I think you gave it to me on that Christmas that I was three and you were 43. 

Well, I just wanted to write you on your birthday and let you know how much you are in my thoughts. You've been gone for so long, but I think I miss you more with each passing year. May God grant rest to your soul, daddy! 

I love you.

Willy

Leola

As we gathered to eat the feast today, my thoughts went to this piece of artwork that hangs in our dining room. Charles gave it to me after Leola's death. He had heard me admire it in her home. It's Emmaus. The presence of Christ revealed at the table as the bread was broken. It reminds me always of there being something holy about gathering together around the table as we feast on the bounty of our heavenly Father's loving provision. Always we feast in the presence of an unseen Guest, or rather, Host, the Son who came among us to make us His bride and promises to bring us to the feast of which all our feasts are only teasing foretaste: the feast where we're gathered home at last, to the only home we will never lose and where the joys are eternal. Leola always loved to entertain. She had the true gift of hospitality. And I wonder if so much of that for her were not her recognition of the unseen Guest who is really our Host, of which this artwork is a reminder. Come, Lord Jesus, be our Guest...our Host.

Candlesticks

Mom always said they came from her mom's mom's side of the family (last name of Sparks and from Scotland) and were quite old. I'm not sure exactly HOW old. The one is a bit bent, almost like it's been through a fire at some point. When I was a lad, I remember that they graced the parlor organ in the front room of the old house (which also sported a lovely grand piano). My mom's side was the musical branch of the family, and I was always drawn to that room for the joys of playing around on the instruments. Mom surprised me with them as a gift one year. I polish them up each Thanksgiving or Christmas time and I'm always amazed at how the brass shines. 

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

There is, you see, a twofold conversion—that of the Gospel and that of the Law. The Law merely gives the command, but nothing is accomplished; something is accomplished, however, through the Gospel, when the Spirit is added. He renews hearts, and then God turns toward us. This is the conversion of peace, that is, that we are not merely righteous but also filled with joy and find delight in God’s goodness.—Martin Luther on Zechariah 1

Patristic Quote of the Day

Therefore let God-inspired Scripture decide between us; and on whichever side be found doctrines in harmony with the word of God, in favour of that side will be cast the vote of truth.—St. Basil the Great, Letter 189

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

In fact, the prophet removes all things from before their eyes and sends the people back to God’s Word, saying that God will fulfill His Word, even though all creatures resist. For it is He who makes life out of death, righteousness out of sin, the greatest wealth out of abject poverty. Briefly, it is He who makes all things out of nothing and calls the things which are not as if they were, etc. (Rom. 4:17). This is something vitally necessary for us to note in every temptation—that we may have faith in God and learn to commit ourselves to Him, that He will free us beyond every judgment of our reason as we would not have dared to hope.—Luther on Zechariah 1

Patristic Quote of the Day

Thus they [the ancients] used the names of heresies, of schisms, and of unlawful congregations. By heresies they meant men who were altogether broken off and alienated in matters relating to the actual faith; by schisms men who had separated for some ecclesiastical reasons and questions capable of mutual solution; by unlawful congregations gatherings held by disorderly presbyters or bishops or by uninstructed laymen. As, for instance, if a man be convicted of crime, and prohibited from discharging ministerial functions, and then refuses to submit to the canons, but arrogates to himself episcopal and ministerial rights, and persons leave the Catholic Church and join him, this is unlawful assembly. To disagree with members of the Church about repentance, is schism. Instances of heresy are those of the Manichæans, of the Valentinians, of the Marcionites, and of these Pepuzenes; for with them there comes in at once their disagreement concerning the actual faith in God. So it seemed good to the ancient authorities to reject the baptism of heretics altogether, but to admit that of schismatics, on the ground that they still belonged to the Church.—St. Basil the Great, Letter 188

For Jamie...

my fellow foodie and neighboUr to the north (WAY north), who always wants to know what's the menu for thanksgiving.

So, this year:

Appetizers, by special demand, will be my sausage stuffed mushrooms and a brie. Can't give you a recipe on the mushrooms because I never know what's ending up in it till I start throwing it together. I fry up the sausage and mushroom stems with garlic and some wine and then add other stuff and top with a bit of pastured cheese (we use Dubliner). Maybe some smoked oysters or smoked red sockeye salmon to go along with the Brie too.

Main course will, of course, feature turkey (Cindi) and a ham (Dave). There will be mashed taters with gravy, Mildred Weedon's cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce (left over from St. Paul's sausage supper, where they make it from scratch!), sweet tater soufflé, and green beans. David's baking up some bread of some sort, but so are we. We're making paleo cheddar biscuits. Major yum. And they work great cold to hold mayo and leftover turkey for sandwiches. Of course lots of good Kerry Gold butter to slather on the breads.

Desserts will be a chocolate cake (Dave), a pecan pie (David), and Cindi and I are making a pumpkin pie (Abel James' recipe - just google Fatburningman pumpkin pie!). Also a dish of spiced sweet pecans.

We're HOPING to serve a great organic wine we discovered a week ago, but the place was sold out of it this week. Maybe it will be back before the weekend? It was called Our Daily Red. Cindi and I both loved it. Only 12% alcohol and though not sweet, it was the grapiest wine I've ever tasted. It was fabulous. If we can't get that, we'll offer a couple other organic wine choices. We've lately discovered how ridiculously processed commercial wine is (and here in the States they don't even have to tell you what they put in it; did you know they put DYE in commercial wine??? Ugh.). Of course, there will also be plenty of freshly ground brewed coffee (we favor 8 O'clock whole bean).

Sitting down to the feast this year will be a rather smaller than usual crowd: Aunt Sandy and her son, Russ, Dave (Opa), David and Meaghan, Lydia and Henry (well, he has to sit off to the side in his high chair), and Cindi and I. Granddaughter Lydia makes something like the seventh generation that has feasted together at that table and sampled pies from the "breakfront" (which both came from Cindi's grandmother's grandmother). Cool, eh? Oh, and we'll be using this for our table prayer again:

Thanksgiving Table Prayer

And that's about a wrap. So, now you know, Jamie!

It's an apocryphal

saying of Luther: "If I knew the world would end tomorrow, I'd plant an apple tree today." It came to mind, because my cousin posted some stunning pics of my mom's home place. And right outside the dining room there grows a majestic holly tree. You see, it was planted by Cousin Ann Field. She, as so many have done over the years, came home to die. In those days they called it Consumption. Today, it's TB. She had a disease that would take her life and in a horrible way. And what did she do? She planted a holly tree. And to this day, it gives its green leaves and red berries to decorate the old place in joyful anticipation of Christ's birth. She's been gone for over a century, but her gift endures. I hope that if my world were ending tomorrow, I'd plant a tree today too. 

Happy birthday, Clara!

Karen had a great idea: she thought she and John would surprise Clara (celebrating her 29th birthday...or something like that) with a trip to Cracker Barrell at which Cindi and I would also show up. We had gotten there early to get a table and alerted the wait staff that we had a very special lady coming in to celebrate her birthday. One lady wished Clara a happy birthday as she came in and Clara was clearly puzzled. When she saw Cindi and me, we both got huge Clara hugs! We sat down and proceeded to enjoy our meal together and to catch up. But unbenknownst to us, folks were watching our little party unfold. Some college aged young ladies were sitting at the table across from us and they were smiling. They got up and left to pay their bill, but then they showed back up with birthday presents for Clara: a bracelet and a snuggly scarf. She was flabergasted and we were all delighted as such a kind and generous and random act of kindness. I think the whole episode wore Clara out in a good way; she was pleased as punch. One of our kind waitresses took a pic of us at the end of the evening:

Red Sky in Morning...

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

You will feel joy. You will feel in your conscience that the Lord is kindly disposed toward you, that He surely is a kind Father to you in all things. You see, the Lord is said to rejoice over us when He causes us to sense His favor, την αὐτοῦ χρηστότητα (“His kindness”). He has expressed the nature of the kingdom of Christ very aptly and emphatically.—Martin Luther on Zephaniah 3:17

Patristic Quote of the Day

I, however, call on all who trust in Christ not to busy themselves in opposition to the ancient faith, but, as we believe, so to be baptized, and, as we are baptized, so to offer the doxology. It is enough for us to confess those names which we have received from Holy Scripture, and to shun all innovation about them. Our salvation does not lie in the invention of modes of address, but in the sound confession of the Godhead in which we have professed our faith.—St. Basil the Great, Letter 175