"JTB X 3"

Click on the picture for a larger view and to read the text.

Our eldest grandson is in his first semester at Louisiana State University. He is the third Joseph Thomas Butler in the family to attend the university. We jinxed Joey's dad by not naming him Joseph Thomas Butler, and he went elsewhere to college. At the time our two sons were born, we thought "The Third" was somewhat of a heavy burden to lay on a baby boy, so we did not continue the tradition. Besides, we were in a daze, since one baby followed so quickly upon another. I can't think how that happened. Our son Tim and his wife returned to the tradition when they named our firstborn grandson, and Joey, according to tradition, now attends LSU.

Above you see a picture of Joe, my father-in-law, Tom, my husband, and Joey, my grandson. I love the title chosen by the author, Jackie Barkiewicz, who went to great pains to get the information in the article right. And I want you to know that Tom went for a formal sitting with a professional photographer, since my photos were not flattering enough to suit him.

Since Joey plans on nothing less than a doctoral degree in psychology, he will be a student for years into the future, far too distant in time to fix his old grandmother's mental state.

From the LSU Alumni Magazine. The most recent issue is not yet online.

SHEPHERD IN A MANGER

Nativity Scene was erected in a church yard.

During the night the folks came across this scene.

An abandoned dog was looking for a comfortable, protected place to sleep. He chose baby Jesus as his comfort. No one had the heart to send him away so he was there all night.

We should all have the good sense of this dog and curl up in Jesus' lap from time to time.

This is too sweet not to share.

No one mentioned that the dog breed is a "shepherd!"

Indeed, too sweet not to share.

Thanks to Ann.

OH NO! NOT AGAIN! PRAY FOR PAUL THE BB

That big lovable bear, Paul the BB, has a swollen jaw and a toothache now. Paul says he looks like a gopher, but we all know him as the Big Bear. What could I do but make another cartoon and ask for prayers? Poor baby is moaning over at Facebook.

Seriously, please pray for Paul to be relieved of his pain. You know a toothache is no fun.

O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers: Mercifully accept our prayers, and grant to your servant Paul the help of your power, that his sickness may be turned into health, and our sorrow into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PS: The BB appears to be smiling throught his pain, but what you see is not a smile, but a grimace. The two sometimes look alike.

UPDATE: From Paul in the comments:

Update for you all: the endodontist said he cannot do a root canal until the swelling goes down. I trust him, especially after he said the anesthetic will not work in my current condition. A very convincing argument. He doubled the dose of the antibiotic, switched me to non-drowsy, non-narcotic analgesics (hooray) and we will wait a week. Scheduled root canal is next Monday. I can work the rest of this week but am going to spend today resting.

Thanks for all the prayers and good wishes, folks.

We'll keep praying, luv.

"-ANOTHER OCCASION FOR SILK AND GRANDEUR"

From the Cole Moreton in the Guardian:

This week, and with it the Queen's visit to the General Synod, has been a chance for high-ranking Anglicans to imagine they still matter. And they have another thrill to come, playing host to the biggest royal wedding in a generation – another occasion for silk and grandeur.

But look beyond the pomp and what you actually see is a group of men clinging to the royal skirts while their institution falls to pieces. This really is the endgame for the Church of England as we know it. I don't mean the break-up of the worldwide Anglican Communion, although that too seems likely. African leaders have refused to sign up to a new covenant that was meant to prevent a cataclysmic split over homosexuality..

Ouch! I was going to comment further, and, in fact, I typed the words, but it is the First Sunday of Advent, and I want to try to keep to the spirit of the beginning of the season to make swords into ploughshares, even verbal swords, so I'll say no more.

Moreton's entire column is worth reading. In the end, he says:

However, there may yet be salvation of the Church of England in the "Big Society": if it can accept that it no longer deserves special privileges but is just another group of believers doing their best.
....

But most of all, if the bishops put away the gilded robes at last – and finally end their long love affair with royalty, with power and with pomp.

And no more need be said, except I agree.

Thanks to Cathy for the link.

I AIN'T GONNA STUDY WAR NO MORE

Louis Armstrong - "Down By the Riverside"

In days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
Many peoples shall come and say,
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
(Isaiah 2:1-5)

We sang "Down By the Riverside" as our closing hymn today for the First Sunday of Advent, a very good choice, I thought, with the words from Isaiah on beating swords into ploughshares. As I said in the comments at Margaret's "G'wan. Go to church" post:

If you think of the swords into plowshares in not so literal a sense, the command could be about making peace with those with whom we are not at ease or at peace - at least doing our side of the peace-making.

Am I really ready for the day of the Lord? Probably not, although I do love the season of Advent.

In case you're wondering, I went to church today. I always do what margaret says, because she talks to God.

FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT

Canticle: A Song of the Spirit

"Behold, I am coming soon," says the Lord,
"and bringing my reward with me, *
to give to everyone according to their deeds.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, *
the beginning and the end."
Blessed are those who do God's commandments,
that they may have the right to the tree of life, *
and may enter the city through the gates.
"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to you, *
with this testimony for all the churches.
"I am the root and the offspring of David, *
I am the bright morning star."
"Come!" say the Spirit and the Bride; *
"Come!" let each hearer reply!
Come forward, you who are thirsty, *
let those who desire take the water of life as a gift.
(Revelation 22:12-17)

Collect of the Day: First Sunday of Advent

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Advent is my favorite of the seasons of the church year. I love the Psalms and the Lessons, the sense of quickening and anticipation that precedes the holy day when we celebrate the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ to dwell amongst us.

I AM SHOCKED!

From Charter News:

SIERRA BLANCA, Texas (AP) — A U.S. Border Patrol spokesman says country singer Willie Nelson was charged with marijuana possession after 6 ounces was found aboard his tour bus in Texas.

Patrol spokesman Bill Brooks says the bus pulled into the Sierra Blanca, Texas, checkpoint about 9 a.m. Friday. Brooks says an officer smelled pot when a door was opened and a search turned up marijuana.
....

Sheriff Arvin West didn't immediately return a phone message left at his home Friday, but he told the El Paso Times that Nelson claimed the marijuana was his.

Pot on Willie Nelson's tour bus? I can't believe the marijuana was Willie's. A mysterious someone surely planted the pot and the pot smoke on the bus.

Picture from Wikipedia.

STORY OF THE DAY - REAL REASON

There are things you do because they
feel right & they may make no sense &
they may make no money & it may be
the real reason we are here: to love each
other & to eat each other's cooking & say
it was good.

From StoryPeople

WHERE I WAS NOT ON BLACK FRIDAY

From the Baton Rouge Advocate:

They were packed onto escalators and in food courts. Others had endured pre-dawn hours standing in line.

Whitney Cooper, 29, was slumped on the floor at the Mall of Louisiana eating lunch with her 6-year-old son, Rayne.

“I was not expecting to be sitting on the floor eating Chick-fil-A,” Cooper said. All of the seats in the nearby food court were taken. So this mother and son joined dozens of other shoppers at this pinnacle of Baton Rouge shopping venues and had lunch, exchanged shopping stories and just generally people-watched from knee-height.
....

On the other side of town, Toys R Us bore all the signs of a serious play date, the aisles littered with toys and the occasional screaming child.

“I was surprised at how cleared out the shelves are,” said Larry Bezet, who was standing in the checkout line with his 4-year-old son, Nicolas. Their shopping cart was loaded with an Imaginarium track system for toy cars and a Crayola digital camera for kids.
....

Across the street a banner in front of The Compact Disk Store advertised 30 percent off.

“I call it the Black Friday super surreal sale,” said Chris Lott, 26, a self-described “music specialist.”

Lott’s “surreal” description was not too far off the mark. Because unfortunately, these discounts had nothing to do with the day after Thanksgiving or even with Christmas. After 26 years, this venerable Baton Rouge music lovers’ institution will soon close its doors. A casualty of iTunes and Amazon, Lott lamented.

The title of my post is not entirely accurate, because I visited a local jewelry store which is going out of business. My one shopping stop was stress-free, except for my wallet and my grandson who was with me and didn't want to be there at all. I found a white gold necklace and earrings (not matching) for incredible prices, so I bought them as Christmas presents from me to me. The reason for the low prices is because a good many folks don't much care for white gold, since it may be mistaken for the lesser sterling, and others will not know that you wear GOLD. However, I like white gold, and I benefited because of its lack of popularity.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - LOOSEN THE REINS?

If the Archbishop of Canterbury wants the members of the Anglican Communion to act like adults, instead of teenagers (I'll do what I want!) or children (I'll take my marbles and go home!), shouldn't he be loosening the reins instead of tightening them?