Who Betrayed Anne Frank?

January 25, 2022.Reading time less than 1 minute.

A spokesman for the F.B.I. /
Notes that Jewish hostages were taken…

Norm Macdonald, Literary Critic

January 20, 2022.Reading time 5 minutes.

If you’ve seen me since the middle of September, it is a near certainty that I have asked you, “Have you seen the moth joke?” and then—regardless of your answer—proceeded to whip out my phone and play you a clip of The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien from 2009.

A Boredom-and-Onions Reflection on Enjoying Life

January 19, 2022.Reading time 10 minutes.

A meal is a social activity, the society of which is preserved today only rarely for meetings at restaurants. This socialization should not be limited to only the eating of food, however, but should also be connected to its preparation.

Butch and Sundance: The Latest Remake

January 17, 2022.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Well, now, Butch and Sundance (I’ll tell you no lies) /
Stop the U.P. right in its trackages…

A Street Called Parallel

January 15, 2022.Reading time less than 1 minute.

When I was a girl, in small-town America, /
There was a street called Parallel, /
Where we Protestants ran alongside the /
Catholics – an historical microcosm of /
Our ancestral nations.

Faithful Friday: St. Agnes

January 14, 2022.Reading time 2 minutes.

Saint Agnes was a Roman martyr from the times of the early persecutions of the Church whose exact time period is unknown, though she may have died in 304. While her exact story is also unclear, tradition holds that Agnes professed herself to be married to Jesus and would accept no other husband.

New Year, Now What?

January 13, 2022.Reading time 5 minutes.

Yes, the day we have assigned to be New Year’s Day may be arbitrary, but what it represents is not. There is a reason why new beginnings, fresh starts, and—yes—resolutions dominate our minds as each year draws to a close…

A Time Capsule for our Noblest Soldier

January 11, 2022.Reading time less than 1 minute.

If there must be time capsules buried beneath /
Statues of bold men wearing uniforms /
As a remembrance of man’s noblest ideals /
Let us have one for dear ol’ Sergeant Schultz

A Lutheran Case for Infant Baptism

January 8, 2022.Reading time 17 minutes.

Contrary to popular belief amongst credo-baptists, paedobaptism (infant baptism) is found in Holy Writ…

Faithful Friday: The Magi

January 7, 2022.Reading time 1 minute.

Little indeed is known for sure about the magi who visited the child Jesus, bringing Him gold, frankincense and myrrh. Matthew is the only Gospel writer to mention them, detailing their visit in the second chapter of his gospel. Matthew does not call them kings, but ‘magi’ or ‘wise men’.

The Christmas Witch

January 6, 2022.Reading time 27 minutes.

‘Twas the week after Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring. That would be me, the sleeping creature. Everyone else was stirring. Anyway, the sound of my cell phone going to town interrupted my slumber.

We’ll Write a New Idyll This Year

January 4, 2022.Reading time 1 minute.

Janus faces both ways, and so do we /
A last, lingering look at the year that was /
And then a turn to the year we must meet /
Marching to it through Janus Pater’s doors

Heavenly Hosts

January 1, 2022.Reading time 5 minutes.

Angels of God, oh glorious host /
Protect those who need you most /
Guide and teach us ever this day /
And keep all of our temptations at bay.

Faithful Friday: Mary, Mother of God

December 31, 2021.Reading time 8 minutes.

During the octave of the birth of Jesus, I think it is fitting that we look at His mother, particularly today, on the eve of one of her feasts in the Catholic Church. Today, let’s simply take a look at the Gospels.

Toy Trains, Grandmother’s Good China, and Children

December 30, 2021.Reading time 4 minutes.

Childhood Christmases are often the metaphorical benchmark for our present Christmases, and that won’t do. The magic of opening a package under the tree on Christmas morning is for little children; it won’t work for us and it’s not meant to.

While We Search The Heavens For That Star

December 28, 2021.Reading time 5 minutes.

That star that led us to a stable long ago /
And now bathes our souls with its silver glow

A Christmas Prayer

December 25, 2021.Reading time less than 1 minute.

We pray that this Christmas Day
Brings you peace,
Hope,
Love for God and Man,

Faithful Friday: St Joseph

December 24, 2021.Reading time 2 minutes.

#FaithfulFriday
While little is known of Joseph’s life, we do know that he was a man of high moral character. He would have to be in order to be the foster father of our Lord, Jesus. The Gospels tell us…

The Time That Flies

December 23, 2021.Reading time 34 minutes.

The clip-clop of horse hooves filled the air as carriages trotted along on cobblestone streets littered with patches of slowly melting snow. Cab drivers were bundled up in layers of blankets while wisps of white clouds came out of their noses. Snow had begun falling, making everyone want to rush home to cozy fireplaces and familiar faces. Stalls lined this particular street with vendors calling out their wares.

Another Christmas

December 21, 2021.Reading time 8 minutes.

We bring our gifts to Mary’s fair-born Child: /
A pen, a broom, a book, a welding rod, /
A wrench, a mop, some papers neatly filed – /
Our daily labors offered up to God /