Squirrel monkeys move with energy (and seeming joy) through life.  Full-grown monkeys are small enough; the babies are really tiny.  These creatures are my favorite zoo animal, capturing my attention even more than the big, grand and striking animals.  (Generally, I like most zoo exhibits.)          These photos are from the Wildlife World Zoo in Phoenix, AZ and the Frank Buck Zoo in Gainesville, TX.  Both of these are private zoos. These seem to more commonly house squirrel monkeys in modern times; it seems th ..read more

 "Look, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world!"         (John 1:29b, 36b) So said John the Baptist, The voice of one who calls out. (Isaiah 40:3) He is the Lamb of God, Not the Ram of God. "Your Lamb must be unblemished, A one-year-old male..."        (Exodus 12:5a; Leviticus l4:10; Ezekiel 46:13) Most things are cleaned with blood: Without the shedding of blood, There is no forgiveness.  (Hebrews 9:22) Make One still young the offering, The last of such bloody suffering; (Daniel 9:27) Yet His soul shall ri ..read more

     This is another year that Valentine's Day falls on Ash Wednesday.  A real reminder of the sacrificial love of all the Saint Valentines.  (See also my other blog for some Valentine's thoughts ..read more

  January brings the snow, Makes our feet and fingers glow. February brings the rain*, Thaws the frozen lake again. March brings breezes large and shrill, Stirs the dancing daffodil. April brings the primrose sweet, Scatters daisies at our feet. May brings flocks of pretty lambs, Skipping by their fleecy damns. June brings tulips, lilies, roses, Fills the children's hands with posies. Hot July brings cooling showers, Apricots and gillyflowers**. August brings the sheaves of corn***, Then the harvest home is borne. Warm September brings the fruit, Sportsmen then begi ..read more

  As we take a bittersweet look at how quickly this last year has passed, like so many before it...   ..read more

  1. Here between ass and oxen* mild, Sleep, sleep, sleep my little Child. Thousand seraphim, Thousand cherubim Keeping watch above  This Mighty God of Love.      2.  Here within Mary's sweet embrace Sleeps, sleeps, sleeps this Fruit of Grace.  Thousand seraphim, Thousand cherubim Keeping watch above  This Mighty God of Love.     3. Here between rose and lily sweet** Sleep, sleep, sleep, my Son petite. Thousand seraphim, Thousand cherubim Keeping watch above  This Mighty God of Love.   4.  Here between the shepherds wondering S ..read more

All Saints Day is November 1st.  It is a day to remember those who have departed the world before us and are in Christ's presence forever.   My favorite departed saint to remember is my maternal grandmother, whose photos you will find scattered throughout.  In Lutheran thinking (following how the Bible uses the term), all Christians are "saints" because Christ has made us holy by saving us. We don't live it out perfectly (sadly, we often don't live it out well at all), but Christ is the Perfect One, the Holy One who makes us that way in God's eyes.  For all the sain ..read more

       October 31st is Reformation Day for Lutherans*.  In honor of this, here is the best known hymn by Martin Luther for you to read as a poem.  It is based on Psalm 46 and was written around 1529.  Some people think Luther wrote it in remembrance of his friend Leonhard Kaiser, who was martyred due to the Reformation.         The translation from German included here is closer to the original German, a little less like the modern hymn.   It is based somewhat on literal translations and somewhat on the known translations, w ..read more

     During September in many Northern Hemisphere climes, little purple daisy-like flowers ("asters") are in bloom.  Across Europe, especially in England, they are often referred to as "Michaelmas Daisies."  This is due to their on-going blooming over the feast of St. Michael and All Angels on September 29th.     The Bible does not say as much about angels as some people might assume.  But it does say some important things.  One thing to note: humans do NOT become angels when we die.  Angels were always created to be spirit only and are the se ..read more

  O worship the King all-glorious above, O gratefully sing his power and his love: Our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days, Pavilioned* in splendor and girded* with praise. O tell of his might and sing of his grace, Whose robe is the light, whose canopy* space. His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form, And dark is His path on the wings of the storm.   Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, In You do we trust, nor find you to fail. Your mercies, how tender, how firm to the end, Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend! O measureless Might, unchangeable Love, W ..read more