Prayer for Religious Liberty

from usccb.org

 

O God our Creator,
from Your provident hand we have received
our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
You have called us as Your people and given us
the right and the duty to worship You, the only true God,
and your Son, Jesus Christ.
Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit,
You call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,
bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel
to every corner of society.

We ask you to bless us
in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.
Give us the strength of mind and heart
to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened;
give us courage in making our voices heard
on behalf of the rights of your Church
and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.

Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,
a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters
gathered in your Church
in this decisive hour in the history of our nation,
so that, with every trial withstood
and every danger overcome—
for the sake of our children, our grandchildren,
and all who come after us—
this great land will always be “one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow!

This has been the best weekday in a long while here in southeast Lower Michigan, for a number of reasons.

One of our nieces has a new baby, and one is due next month. Life abounds! Praise God for life!

I watched live coverage of the March for Life in Washington, DC as our President stood amongst other real Americans who love God and care about every person - from conception to natural death. I heard several times to-day during the coverage that Donald John Trump has been THE most influential Commander in Chief for the rights of the unborn, above even Presidents Reagan and both Bush's. Praise God!

I listened to Vice President Pence and his wife speak for a few moments from Rome, where they had just met with Pope Francis. I did not know they were Catholic - shame on me!

I was able to find a document that a client of ours needed badly for some legal action he is caught up in. None of us were sure we had it scanned but glory to God it was there and I will hand it to him on Monday. Praise His Name!! Thanks be to God, for giving me the drive to keep looking most of the day!

I processed three loan approvals to-day, and we had one client close on her refinance loan.

I talked to a local proprietor about small batches of bourbon and learned quite a bit in a small amount of time after work.

I found out Jon Voight loves both America and our President as well!

It has been raining for 24 hours and we have a new roof and no leaking inside. Praise God!!!

... like a southbound train

Ever since I watched PBS's Country Music set of documentaries by Ken Burns, I have been smitten with this tune and the players

But you know, country is really American music, and we like American music.

January 22, 2020 Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.

May all unborn children be protected in law, and welcomed in love.

Father and maker of all,

you adorn all creation

with splendor and beauty,

and fashion human lives

in your image and likeness.

Awaken in every heart

reverence for the work of your hands,

and renew among your people

a readiness to nurture and sustain

your precious gift of life.

Grant this through our Lord

Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in 

the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God forever and ever.

Amen

Recipe #19: Green Bean Casserole

This one is thanks to Paula Dean, slightly amended.

Ingredients:

1/2 white onion sliced
1 c beer
1/2 c AP flour
1 tbs seasoned salt
1 tsp garlic powder
3 c canola oil for frying

3 c fresh green beens chopped
1 c chicken broth

3 tbs butter
8 oz mushrooms sliced
1/2 white onion sliced

1 can Cream of Mushroom soup

1 cup shredded cheddar jack cheese


I fried the onions first, and these go on the dish last, on top.
Heat the oil to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Wisk the flour, salt, and garlic powder, then add the beer and mix until no lumps. Dredge the onion rings in the batter, then fry in batches. A couple minutes per side, then let them cool on paper towels.

For the beans, I cooked them for about 15 minutes in chicken broth, then drained them.

The mushrooms and onions I sauteed in butter til they softened up - about 10 or 12 minutes. Then I added the beans and soup into the mix, then poured all that into a greased 9x13 baking dish. I topped it with the onion rings.

When it was dinner time, I baked it for 20  minutes at 350 and then added the cheese with the oven off. I took no photos :-(

This dish was a hit and I will never open a can of green beans or French's fried onions again.

God be praised!

Thanksgiving in January!

Had a delicious and fun dinner yestreday over at mom and dad's celebrating dad's birthday with Nancy and her Al, Ric, Belle, and Benjamin.  Dad wanted a Thanksgiving dinner, so we were blessed with turkey, dressing, po-ta-toes, green bean casserole (recipe to follow) and gravy. Yum yum yum and fun.

The drive home was eventful; right before dusk there was a line of clouds stretching from the southeast to northwest across my horizon (heading west). I was listening to Warren Zevon.

One Bread that has fed us

Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, between CHRISTmas and Easter; this morning we sang Praise to the Lord .

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty , the King of Creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy Health and Salvation!
Jon the full throng; Wake, harp and psalter and song;
Sound forth in glad adoration!

Praise to the Lord, Who o're all things so wondrously reigneth,
Who as on wings of an eagle, uplifteth, sustaineth.
Has thou not seen How thy desires all have been
Granted in what he ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, Who hath fearfully, wondrously made thee;
Health has vouchsafed and, when heedlessly falling hath stayed thee.
What need or grief Ever hath failed of relief?
Wings of His mercy did shade thee.

Praise to the Lord, Who doth proper thy work and defend thee,
How from the heavens the streams of His mercy doth send thee.
Ponder anew what The Almighty can do!
Who with His love doth befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!
Let the Amen sound from His people again;
Gladly for aye we adore him.

Neh. 9:6
Lobe den Herren, den machtigen
Joachim Neander, 1679
Tr., Catherine Windkworth, 1863, alt.
Lobe den Herren, den
"Ernsuertes Gesangbuch"
Stalsund, 1665

First Line:	Praise to the Lord! the Almighty, the King of creation!
Title:	Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
German Title:	Lobe den Herren den mächtigen König
Author:	Joachim Neander (1680)
Translator:	Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Meter:	14.14.4.7.8

Then, we read from Psalm 40

. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
And he put a new song into my mouth,
a hymn to our God.

R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

Sacrifice or offering you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, "Behold I come."

R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

"In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
to do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!"

R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.

R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

We sang Sent Forth By God's Blessing

Sent forth by God's blessing, our true faith confessing, The people of God from his dwelling take leave. God's sacrifice ended, O now be extended The fruits of this Mass in all hearts who believe. The seed of his teaching, our inner souls reaching, Shall blossom in action for God and for all. His grace shall incite us, his love shall unite us To further God's kingdom and answer his call. With praise and thanksgiving, to God who is living, The tasks of our ev'ryday life we embrace. Our faith ever sharing, in love ever caring, We claim as our neighbor all those of each race. One bread that has fed us, one light that has led us Unite us as one in this life that we share. Then may all the living with praise and thanksgiving Give honor to Christ and his name that we bear.

The lyrics have changed I see, since I first sang it at Greenfield Peace Lutheran as a young lad, but the harmonies are still rich and true.

Sent Forth by God's Blessing · Omer Westendorf Journeysongs Third Edition: Volume 24 ℗ 2012 OCP. All rights reserved. All selections BMI. Released on: 2012-05-01 Music Publisher: OCP

Recipe #5 - CHRISTmas Hambone 15 Bean Soup

Ingredients:

Beans
4 c water
4 c chicken broth
1 white onion chopped
5 carrots sliced
3 celery stalks sliced
3 garlic cloves minced
1 bay leaf
7 or 8 black peppercorns
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme seasoning
hambone thawed
6 small yellow potatoes diced
several slices of thick cut ham diced up


I began by soaking the 15 beans in water over night. I used Hurst's Hambeens collection (Northern, Pinto, Large Lima, Yelloweye Bean, Garbanzo, Baby Lima, Green Split Pea, Kidney, Cranberry Bean, Small White, Pink Bean, Small Red, Yellow Split Pea, Lentil, Navy, White Kidney, Black Bean; and only half of the bag for this batch) and discarded the sodium-laden 'ham seasoning' packet. The beans were in about 4 cups of water, and so I added probably 4 more cups of reduced sodium chicken broth to the slow cooker with the beans and the water.

To this, I added the bone, vegetables and seasoning and let it go on High for about 4 hours.
I pulled out a couple of ladles of beans/veggies and pulsed them in the processor, to give the soup some body, then let it go another 4 hours.
At this time I added the potatoes and sliced ham.
In less than an hour the potatoes were softened, so I removed the bay leaf and peppercorns (tough, very tough) and had a bowl or three.

Pretty darn good, with no added salt (ham has enough of its own), and some home-made french bread for dunking.

Got to see my little brother, his fiance, and her son this past Thanksgiving. He recently got his crew together in Champaign just so they could send Uncle Navin a photo... love to you all!

Jeremy Breeze, my little brother G, Tay-Tay, and J-pipes

Some things I share with my soulmate and best friend...

Faith in a loving, benevolent triune God
Telling meaningful or fanciful tales, with respectful listening
Trips to the beach at the Big Lake
Hearty laughter
Fox News
Weekly Howell adventures
Holding hands during prayer
Occasional trips to Mason
Planned regular real communication
Date nights at the Tavern
Breakfast at Sunrise Family Diner
Buying vegetables, herbs, and annuals in the spring
Cursing the foul demo-craps and left-thugs
Our love of CHRISTmas

Come Holy Spirit, 

renew my heart, 

fill me with the grace I need to witness the 

Good News of Jesus to those in my life.

Sometimes when Otis the Quat gets so fed up with the dog, he shoots laser rays out of his eyes.