Go Cardinals!!

Yeah! Baseball season is upon us once again!!Go Cardinals!!

First President of the LCMS

How many of you remember the Walther leagues? I remember our church having one when my brother was in high school; however, it was replaced by another name, a contemporary name, by the time I reached high school age. Just as easily it seems that the LCMS has replaced sound Biblical teaching that this man, C.F.W. Walther, so fervently preached, with the same old false doctrines of his day, only with different names. He, just like Luther, would be horrified with the present day LCMS!! Thankfully there are still some LCMS pastors and congregations still faithful in teaching God's Word as C.F.W. Walther was!


Does anyone know what years he served as LCMS president? More information to follow...

To Thy Temple I Repair

As I was singing this hymn at our lenten service last Wednesday, I thought the last verse was particularly thought-provoking.

From Thy house when I return,
May my heart within me burn
And at evening let me say,
"I have walked with God today."
(The Lutheran Hymnal)

It is based on this Bible verse from Hebrews 9:14. "How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!"

May the Holy Spirit burn within our hearts always, leading us to repentance and serving Him.

One Author's Top Ten Episodes of I Love Lucy

"Job Switching" (Episode #36, 9/15/52)
"The Operetta" (Episode #40, 10/13/52)
"Lucy Does a TV Commercial" (Episode #30, 5/5/52)
"Lucy Is Enceinte" (Episode #45, 12/8/52)
"Lucy Goes to the Hospital" (Episode #51, 1/19/53)
"L.A. At Last" (Episode #114, 2/7/55)
"Lucy Tells the Truth" (Episode #72, 11/9/53)
"Harpo Marx" (Episode #125, 5/9/55)
Lucy Does the Tango" (Episode #173, 3/11/57)
"Lucy's Show Biz Swan Song" (Episode #47, 12/22/52)

These are ranked in order of preference by Geoffrey Mark Fidelman, author of The Lucy Book. Would any of these episodes be on your top ten list? Episodes #36, #30, #114, and #173 would definitely be on mine!

I Love Lucy #160: "Deep Sea Fishing"

This episode was filmed on November 19, 1956. The fish used in this episode were real and were purchased at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco . To transport the fish, two children's-sized coffins were filled with ice and then flown down to Hollywood. Can you imagine the stench on that plane?


Why would they need stinky old fish in this episode anyway? Well, Lucy and Ethel bet Ricky and Fred that they could catch a bigger fish on their next fishing excursion. Lucy and Ethel had just been on an expensive shopping trip so they needed to win the bet. Each party wanting to win the bet, bought a huge tuna, claiming to have caught it. Things start to get pretty "fishy" and funny when the tunas are kept in the bathtubs of the Ricardo's and Mertzes' hotel rooms.

Which I Love Lucy Episode Is This?

Hey you Lucy fans, do you know which episode this picture is from and what year it was filmed? Although there are many episodes that I love, this is one of my favorites! Details to follow...

Who Is This Man?

This is a picture of a very important man who was very influential in the original LCMS. Any guesses?

If You Love Animals ...

These pictures were sent to me via e-mail from my mother and father-in-law the other day.

"Stricken, Smitted, and Afflicted"

1. Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
See Him dying on the tree!
'Tis the Christ by man rejected;
Yes, my soul, 'tis He! 'tis He!
'Tis the long-expected Prophet,
David's Son, yet David's Lord;
Proofs I see sufficient of it:
'Tis the true and faithful Word.

2. Tell me, ye who hear Him groaning,
Was there ever grief like His?
Friends through fear His cause disowning,
Foes insulting His distress;
Many hands were raised to wound Him,
None would interpose to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced Him
Was the stroke that Justice gave.

3. Ye who think of sin but lightly
Nor suppose the evil great
Here may view its nature rightly,
Here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the Sacrifice appointed,
See who bears the awful load;
'Tis the WORD, the LORD'S ANOINTED,
Son of Man and Son of God.

4. Here we have a firm foundation;
Here the refuge of the lost;
Christ's the Rock of our salvation,
His the name of which we boast.
Lamb of God, for sinners wounded,
Sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded
Who on Him their hope have built.

This hymn was taken from Isaiah 53:3-5.  

"Lutheran Barbie" Confesses!

Okay, I confess that I was thought to be a very "good little girl" but really had an ornery streak in me. For the most part, I really wanted to please my parents, teachers, and other people; however, that old sin and lack of self-control in me just took over to do some pretty bad things. When I was 7, I played with matches in my bedroom and almost caught my bed on fire. I ran to the bathroom to get a dixie cup full of water and threw it on the the little fire on my bed. Needless to say, I "saved" my bed!!

I also liked playing with my tropical fish whether it was taking them out to pet them or put them in the bathtub so they would have a bigger place to swim! It's funny how they didn't survive after that! I wonder why!!?! :) Poor fish, I feel really bad for them now! And, I just cannot stand to see animals suffer either. God must have had a purpose in this little incident after all!!

But the topper of them all was my Barbie doll head experience! I was 7 and was shopping with my mom in a dimestore. Along with me was one of my beloved Barbie dolls. The only problem was that my Barbie doll had a rather short hair cut (and ugly I might add) due to my poor skills as a Barbie beautician! As I was admiring all the pretty Barbie dolls in the store, I decided that I didn't want my Barbie doll with her new hair cut anymore. My mom was in another aisle and nobody from the store was in sight so I decided to pop off the beautiful Barbie doll head from the store's Barbie doll and place it on my own Barbie doll. I then put my old Barbie doll head on the Barbie doll in the store and went on my merry little way never to be caught. (The manufacturers probably decided to use cellophane packaging after my little incident!! :) )

My husband and family always ask me as we reflect on my childhood days: "Where were your parents?" Well, they were usually busy doing their work at these various times and just trusted me a little TOO much!! They just didn't realize that I was so curious and that the mind was aroused so easily!! They were wonderful, loving Christian parents who taught me to put Christ first in my life and serve Him and others. They loved us kids and would give the shirts off their backs for us. They didn't give us everything we wanted though and taught us how to be responsible and hard-working citizens. Along the way, I really did learn to be responsible and conscientious! :) These little incidents of disrespect and disobedience did fizzle out for the most part. However, that old sin has never left me, and day after day I struggle to do what is right as Paul refers to in Romans 7. I want to serve Him and please Him even though all my efforts are really tainted. I know that Christ has died for all the sins I have committed in the past, am committing right now, and will commit in the future. He is what makes this old sinner a saint. What a gift He has given to me and to all of us!

So, what kind of parent am I? I am a parent who is cognizant of the sin within our children and who tries very hard to keep a good eye on what's going on at all times. Do I fail? Of course. Does my husband fail? Yes, but we just point them to Christ and His word and remind them of both the law and the gospel. The rest is in God's hand to work the Holy Spirit into their hearts!

Kitchen Meme

Rebecca from Daisies 'N Chocolate tagged me to do this meme, so here it goes:

1. How many meals does most of your family eat at home each week? How many are in your family?

We usually eat all of our meals at home each week except for maybe one night on the weekend.

2. How many cookbooks do you own?

I own ten cookbooks and have scads of loose recipes.

3. How often do you refer to a cookbook each week?

I usually refer to a cookbook two or three times a week.

4. Do you collect recipes from other sources?

I collect recipes from my mom, a wonderful cook, and from magazines or off the internet.

5. How do you store those recipes?

I have all of them in a big basket- like container, and my favorite recipes are in my Lucy recipe book, along with some terrific pictures from the I Love Lucy show.

6. When you cook, do you follow the recipe pretty closely, or do you use recipes primarily to give you ideas?

Sometimes I follow the recipes closely, and sometimes I just put a pinch of this and a pinch of that - it depends on what I am making.

7. Is there a particular ethnic style or flavor that predominates in your cooking? If so, what is it?

We like good 'ol American food but also enjoy Mexican and Chinese. Of course when we get our Korean baby, we will have to learn how to cook a few Korean dishes.

8. What's your favorite kitchen task related to meal planning and preparation?

I like shopping for the ingredients, usually at good 'ol Walmart!

9. What's your least favorite part?

I agree with Rebecca, I don't like to clean up. That is why I just try to keep putting the dirty dishes in the dishwasher so they don't pile up! However, I have been known to make quite a mess with dishes and ingredients everywhere.

10. Do you plan menus before you shop?

Yes, because we are trying to stick to a budget, I do try to look through the cabinets, refrigerator, and freezer to see what I have and what I need to add to make the recipes I (or we) have chosen to make for the month.

11. What are your three favorite kitchen tools or appliances?

My mixer, electric skillet, and George Foreman grill are my favorite appliances.

12. If you could buy one new thing for your kitchen, money was no object, and space not an issue, what would you most like to have?

I would probably buy a new stove if we had the money.

13. Since money and space probably are objects, what are you most likely to buy next?

I would love to buy a bread machine that wouldn't take up too much space.

14. Do you have a separate freezer for storage?

No, we are hoping to buy a separate freezer someday to store all the blueberries we order each year from Michigan. Fifty pounds of blueberries only lasts us about 6 months.

15. Grocery shop alone or with others?

Sometimes I shop alone, and sometimes our whole family goes.

16. How many meatless main dish meals do you fix in a week?

I hardly ever fix any meatless main dishes.

17. If you have a decorating theme in your kitchen, what is it? Favorite kitchen colors?

I have a country kitchen with colors of white, blue, and burgandy. I love antique utensils, etc. and decorate with them quite a bit.

18. What's the first thing you ever learned to cook, and how old were you?

The first memory I have of cooking was making some desert for 4-H.

19. How did you learn to cook?

My grandma and mom taught me how to cook with the exception of some 4-H lessons here and there.

Delay Not, Delay Not, Oh Sinner Draw Near

If death came to your door tonight, would you be ready? Could you say that Christ died on the cross for your sins and that He will give you eternal life by believing in Him?

Death is a word that most of us do not like to talk about, whether it is pertaining to our death or the death of a loved one or friend. With the recent deaths of Don Knotts and Kirby Puckett, I am once again reminded by the sting of death and am drawn to these words in the hymn, "Delay Not, Delay Not, O Sinner, Draw Near" (Lutheran Worship, Hymn #349).

Delay not, delay not, O Sinner, draw near;
The waters of life are now flowing for you.
No price is demanded, the Savior is here,
Redemption is purchased, God's promise is true.

Delay not, delay not, O sinner, to come;
For mercy still lingers and calls you today.
Its voice is not heard in the vale of the tomb;
Its message, unheeded, will soon pass away.

Delay not, delay not! The Spirit of grace,
Long grieved and resisted, may take his sad flight
And leave you in darkness to finish your race,
To sink in the gloom of eternity's night.

Delay not, delay not! The hour is at hand;
The earth will dissolve, and the heavens will fade.
The dead, small and great, in the judgment must stand.
What pow'r, then, O sinner, can lend you its aid?

Delay not, delay not! Why longer abuse
The love and compassion of Jesus, your God?
A fountain is opened; how can you refuse
To wash and be cleansed in his pardoning blood?

Confession and Absolution

O almighty God, merciful Father, I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto Thee all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended Thee and justly deserved Thy temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them; and I pray Thee of Thy boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor sinful being. (The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941)

These words are so healing when spoken with a contrite and repentant heart although some in the LCMS, not all, are omitting or will eventually omit the Confession all together. They say that people don't want to hear about their sin! If that's the case then why was Jesus born, and why did Jesus die on the cross? Was that in vain? No, it was most certainly not in vain!!! It says in 1 John 1:9, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

When we do not recognize ourselves as sinners and rely on Christ to make us saints through His blood poured out for us on the cross then we rely on ourselves and become self-reliant and self-righteous. The whole point of Confessional Lutheranism is the opposite: God saved us through His grace and His grace alone. He comes to us in His word and sacraments. We do not come to Him; one day we can't just suddenly decide to follow Him. Through His Holy Spirit He draws us to His word and saving grace. Through that saving grace we receive absolution, forgiveness of sins. The following is from the Book of Concord (XXV. CONFESSION, pp. 61-62):

Article XXV: Of Confession.
1] Confession in the churches is not abolished among us; for it is not usual to give the body of the Lord, except to them that have been previously examined and absolved. And 2] the people are most carefully taught concerning faith in the absolution, about which formerly there 3] was profound silence. Our people are taught that they should highly prize the absolution, as being the voice of God, 4] and pronounced by God's command. The power of the Keys is set forth in its beauty and they are reminded what great consolation it brings to anxious consciences, also, that God requires faith to believe such absolution as a voice sounding from heaven, and that such faith in Christ truly obtains and receives the forgiveness of sins.

When we sincerely confess our sins whether privately or publicly, we must believe that God has truly forgiven us and lean upon His strength to change our hearts. We must always be teachable and humble before Him, ready to submit to His perfect and holy will. His will is for us to witness to these truths. Despite other selfish and popular beliefs in the world, we are here to point people to the Cross so that they too may confess their sins and receive absolution, forgiveness of sins. What is life without Christ and His forgiveness? There is none!! And there are no "peaceful" consciences as well!!

Do You Remember?

Wow! I have been looking on e-bay to find old Barbies and all the memorabilia just for fun! If you are an old fan of Barbie like me, you will have a hay day looking at all of these things!! :)

Happy Birthday Barbie!!

In 1959, little girls all over America were filled with glee as the Barbie doll made its debut!! And now today, we celebrate her birthday!! The good 'ol days of playing hours and hours with my Barbie dolls brings back a lot of good memories! From dressing each of them up to fixing up their houses was a special part of my childhood. How my parents could stand our entire living room having Barbie houses, rooms, automobiles, campers, swimming pools as well as the Barbies and accessories layed out on most of the floor is beyond me.Boy, they were gracious! Hopefully when we adopt, we will get a little girl so I can pass down all my Barbie dolls and "stuff"! However, if we get a little boy, we will be just as happy and pull out all the Thomas trains and hot wheels! :)

Oops!! Another Lucy Moment!!

Oh boy!! Did I goof up! No, I didn't hit a statue as Lucy did in this episode, but my mouse did click on the wrong "post a comment" place!! The result? Well, I posted a comment back to Scottius Maximus on the wrong post! I guess I am still learning! So, if you happen to see this on my blog or someone else's blog, including yours, you will know that Lucy has struck once again!

Time for Some Lucy Trivia: "LUCY RAISES CHICKENS"

Wow! Can you imagine a whole bunch of these cute little fuzzballs pecking around in your house? When I was in sixth grade, my parents said that I could bring home a chick that was hatched in our incubator at school. I was so thrilled with my new little chick who I named Harry. Though I loved him, I didn't let him walk around our house and leave messes as I am sure these little critters did in the Ricardo household. To make a long story short though, he died two weeks later. However, my fondness for little baby chicks was brought back to life in this episode.

I have two different books with information about each I Love Lucy episode. I Love Lucy by Michael McClay lists this as Episode #171. The Lucy Book: A Complete Guide to Her Five Decades on Television by Geoffrey Mark Fidelman regards this as Episode #172. Nonetheless, this episode was filmed on March 4, 1957. Geoffrey Mark Fidelman quotes the writers for the show, Madelyn Pugh and Martin Davis, as having this to say about it: "When Lucy and Desi lived in Chatsworth (in the San Fernando Valley, north of Los Angeles), they raised chickens. They were the oldest chickens in the world, because (Lucy) didn't have the heart to kill them. One day, Lucy got up and did her impression of her old chickens. We remembered it and used it in this episode." And Lucy did just that - she made a great "Mama Hen"!

Our President Needs Our Prayers

Though I am concerned about the port issue being sold to a shipping company in the United Arab Emirates, I also believe that President Bush wants what is best for America. No, he isn't perfect. He is a sinner in need of Christ like the rest of us. He needs us to keep him and his administration in our prayers daily. Whatever happens with this deal, I will trust God to work it all out for our best interest. After all, God is still in control.

A Hilarious Man

Barney Fife - he was another great comedian who we watch regularly on the Andy Griffith Show reruns. Over and over again we can roar in laughter over his "I know it all" attitude or his fits of anger. His facial expressions tell it all! He was a hoot! May Christ comfort his family, and hopefully we will see him in heaven.

Create In Me a New Heart O God

"Create in me a clean heart, Oh God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit. Amen."

This offertory, taken from Psalm 51, is so special to me because it reminds me of my need to continually repent of my sins and call upon Christ to renew my spirit. ONLY by believing in Him can I
receive eternal life. There is NO OTHER way to heaven. What more can be said? It's that simple!