Only in Utah

We follow a whole different set of rules in Utah--even when it comes to the laws of physics. ;^)

FCC: Freedom, Chutzpah & Captivity

You have got to appreciate the irony and pure chutzpah of this big fat lie from a bunch of big fat liars led by our big fat liar-in chief.

Fox News reports that the Federal Communications Commission in its infinite wisdom and magnanimity has decided to rescue us from the oppressive nature of the internet as we currently suffer it.

“President Obama said in a statement that the (FCC) plan ‘will help preserve the free and open nature of the Internet while encouraging innovation, protecting consumer choice, and defending free speech.’"

So please enlighten me. Exactly how does the FCC taking the internet captive preserve its “free and open nature?” What am I missing here?

Am I breaking God’s Commandments to honor the earthly authorities established by God and not bear false witness? You be the judge. Just remember, our government officials in the United States of America are bound by and pledged to uphold the Constitution and freedoms of “We the People.”

Methinks the vast majority of “We the People” have been so mal-educated and misrepresented by our government that they are totally oblivious to the fact that the Constitution with its Amendments exists to keep us free from government intrusion, not to enable government to intrude on our freedoms under the pretense of protecting that which they are taking away.

Among You Stands One You Know

Dear people of the God who is coming, indeed who is already here,

To hear all about the One who was born to stand among you--the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world--click on this mp3 audio link. Among You Stands One You Know

The Lord blessings to you as you prepare to celebrate the birth of God Incarnate and the Holy Spirit prepares you to know and believe he was born to save you from your sin and give you eternal life.

What Have You Come in to See?

Dear Baptized children of God,

To hear where you can find the kingdom of heaven near at hand for you today, click on this mp3 audio link.
What Have You Come in to See?

Continued Advent blessings as the Holy Spirit prepares you to receive in faith what the world and human reason reject as unsightly, even Jesus Christ our Lord in water, Word, and wine.

When "Christians" Aren't

Check out this example of what happens when "Christians" dump the "Our Father," i.e. the "Lord's Prayer," of the one holy Christian (catholic) and apostolic church for the pietistic "Ijustwanna's" straight from the hearts of men: among other things, the petition we need answered most and which our Lord invites, desires, and even commands us to pray is lost--along with the gracious gift of which it speaks.

Westboro Church to Protest at Elizabeth Edwards' Funeral

"And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this [Matthew 6:7-9a]:"

". . . And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

"What does this mean?

"We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins, nor deny such petitions on account of them; for we are worthy of... none of the things for which we pray, neither have we deserved them; but that He would grant them all to us by grace; for we daily sin much, and indeed deserve nothing but punishment. So will we verily, on our part, also heartily forgive and also readily do good to those who sin against us."
[Luther's Small Catechism explanation to the Fifth Petition of the Lord's Prayer http://www.bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php#lord]

Sometimes Ya Just Gotta Laugh!

I'm sure if you are a sinner like me, you have experienced boredom with the life and vocation you have been given by God many times over.

But this is beardumb. And methinks it is a once in a lifetime experience.

The Son of Man Coming

People of Zion,

To hear how you can recognize the Son of Man Coming with your redemption, both now and on the Last Day, click on this mp3 audio link.
The Son of Man Coming

Continued Advent blessings as you prepare for Christmas and our Lord prepares you for His second coming and your redemption.

A Complimentary Lesson from AVG

"complimentary": 2. given free as a courtesy or favor [Mirriam-Webster's complimentary online dictionary]

Given the Lutheran appreciation of (if not obsession with) things that are free, and the fact that most of my internet friends and readers are Lutheran, I suspect that I am not alone in having suffered a computer meltdown due to a well-meaning, yet aberrant and incapacitating AVG update last night.

This debacle goes to show you that just because something is free does not mean it is ultimately beneficial or without cost to somebody.

In my case, the only cost to me was some recreational, read "Bejeweled Blitz," computer time last night and an hour's trip to Prime Systems computer shop this morning. However the cost to the proprietors of Prime Systems, and thousands of reputable computer shops like them, is great in that they are cleaning up the mess AVG created for their customers on their dime—not to mention the lost income and additional labor costs for countless other proprietors who do their own tech support and rely on AVG to keep their computers open for business. Kudos to Prime Systems and their ilk!

That nothing--and I do mean nothing--is actually free or ultimately without cost in this world is even and most especially true when it comes to our salvation in Christ. Though priceless and not available for our purchase, our salvation came at a cost. Truth be told it came at the greatest of costs—the holy, precious blood, and the innocent suffering and death of the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Thanks be to God, He does not pass that cost to us, but graciously offers it to us through the work of the Holy Spirit in His holy Christian church by the preaching of the Gospel along with the waters of Baptism, the proclamation of Absolution, and the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in Holy Communion. In this way we receive the complimentary service of our Lord that not only cleans up the mess we sinners have made of our lives, but gives us eternal life with Him in the kingdom of heaven.