The Last Box [X]

     Today is the celebration of the entry of Jesus of Nazareth into Jerusalem to the praises and hosannahs of the populace. The mood would quickly change, as it must. Jesus came to Jerusalem to die as a substitute for His people saving them from their sin and God's wrath. His trip was just a part of the fulfillment of His Gospel mission. He came not for a crown but for a cross.       So how about the Gospel in 30 seconds from the book of Romans as a remembrance of why Jerusalem on this day?     All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Rom. 3:23     The wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 6:23     If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Rom 10:9      Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Rom. 10:13     Note: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord ... not some or a few ... will be saved. A good way to c

     Congress avoided shutting down the government with a $1.2 trillion spending bill. Is that a good thing? Probably not since it perpetrates this continuing resolution process without budgets and adds fuel to the inflation and high price fires. But at least the federal bureaucrats you know can continue working without interruption. That seems to me not to be the goal of the government. Also, has any previous shutdown lead to the discontinuance of any service anyone has noticed? And, the government employees always get paid retroactively. Why is it that the government has convinced the populace that they are indispensable? We are no longer a government of "we the people." Instead "we the people" must keep the government going for its own sake. Without returning to budgets and a process of regular order in Congress the over the top spending will never come to an end. +++++++++|++++++++++++++|++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++      Today, March 23,

     In these days of chaos, Christian folk need to cling to Scripture as their guidance through the wilderness in which we live and toil. All Scripture is God breathed and profitable. The longest chapter in the Bible, and the longest Psalm is 119, the psalm about God's Word. With a hat tip to my friend Woodrow Kroll, we will look at this psalm in the next few "Periodic Psalm" entries.      Psalm 119 is equivalent to 22 psalms. It contains 176 verses arranged u 22 stanzas, each 8 verses. According to Dr. Kroll all but 6 verses contain a reference to God's Word. The reference to the Word is by synonyms like statute, testimony, precept, law, word, commandment, rules, etc. The first stanza, Aleph, v.1-8, speaks to the blessedness of those who are blameless for walking in God's law, keeping testimonies,  commandments and statutes of God and generally being blameless for learning and keeping His righteous rules.       The first verse of the next stanza, Beth, v. 9, ask

                        The first  full day of Spring for 2024 was on the 20th. It is always a time of optimism ... days are becoming longer, the warmth of Spring begins to replace the cold of Winter, song birds are returning, small green growth commences and Easter is just around the corner. Much has been written about the coming of Spring. Below is my dad's take recorded in his book for his grandchildren entitled: Grandpa: His Life at the Old Home and Beyond.                      Dad grew up on a farm in Brady Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, so his his take on Spring is focused on the reawakening of the creation he lived in and enjoyed. His perspective is one with fewer adherents as years pass and farm living disappears. Enjoy:     As spring arrives again, Lucas, do you recall that we talked about what happened? The days are getting longer. As the days get warmer, you can see the crocus coming up in the yard. The Easter Lillies are also coming out. All the bring colors

     Yesterday was the Ides of March. The beloved Pittsburgh Steelers traded their once prized QB, Kenny Pickett, to the Eagles. He was the 20th pick. in the Draft two years ago. A Pitt man, I like many thought he was the answer to the Steeler QB situation from the retirement of Big Ben. Alas, his performance was not first round like. He Wass hindered by a poor Offensive co-ordinator to be sure. Yet more things came about last year when he was injured. He refused to dress as the #3 QB in the last game against Seattle, apparently believing that was beneath him. Last week when the Steelers signed R. Wilson as a QB he was very upset. Next thing we know he was gone.     Was he as surprised as Julius  Caesar those many Ides ago? maybe not but it was a shocker of events to the outside observer, as I am sure J.C.'s stabbing death was to the common Roman. This was all so shocking because it was UN-Steeler like. They usually do not act in a seemingly impulsive manner when faced with a mista

    John Kerry is the Climate Czar of POTUS. He is a VIP because he is tirelessly working to save the world from the "greatest existential challenge faced by mankind": Climate Change. While he does not where a sandwich board proclaiming such, he clearly thinks the "End is Near." Recently he mysteriously announced he had to take the rest of the year off from his quest to insure Joe Biden is re-elected so the crusade can  continue. Is there a pause in the dire situation? Is climate change no longer the greatest challenge we face? Is Kerry really not that important in the CC crusade? Come to your own conclusion. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +     After hundreds of attacks US soldiers were finally  killed by Iranian backed terrorists in a front attack. The US has retaliated for other attacks in a manner not to widen the War in the Middle East. But now, as we all knew would happen, GIs were killed. Do