November 30, 2003
The First Sunday in Advent
ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy 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 quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.
I went out of tradition today and am posting a song that we didn't sing and in a foriegn language. I learned the first two verses Friday at a friend's house. For the phonetic version or the direct translation go here.
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hoch heilige Paar.
Holder Knab' im lockigten Haar,
Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh!
Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht!
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.
Jesus in deiner Geburt!
Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht!
Die der Welt Heil gebracht,
Aus des Himmels goldenen Höhn,
Uns der Gnaden Fülle läßt sehn,
Jesum in Menschengestalt!
Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht!
Wo sich heut alle Macht
Väterlicher Liebe ergoß,
Und als Bruder huldvoll umschloß
Jesus die Völker der Welt!
Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht!
Lange schon uns bedacht,
Als der Herr vom Grimme befreit
In der Väter urgrauer Zeit
Aller Welt Schonung verhieß!
Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht!
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Alleluja,
Tönt es laut bei Ferne und Nah:
"Jesus der Retter ist da!"
November 27, 2003
Happy Turkey Day!
As I say, don't get turkey drunk!
O MOST merciful Father, who hast blessed the labours of the husbandman in the returns of the fruits of the earth; We give thee humble and hearty thanks for this thy bounty; beseeching thee to continue thy loving-kindness to us, that our land may still yield her increase, to thy glory and our comfort; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
November 25, 2003
All about food
$5,300,000 found with frozen dinner rolls
World's oldest food store
A black widow spider nestled up beside her
Quirky turkey and gravy soda selling well
A Foreign News Editorial
This is an excerpt from a Romanian Newspaper. The article was written by Mr. Cornel Nistorescu and published under the title "C"ntarea Americii meaning "Ode To America") on September 24, 2002, in the Romanian newspaper Evenimentulzilei ("The Daily Event" or "News of the Day")
Why are Americans so united? They would not resemble one another even if you painted them all one color! They speak all the languages of the world and form an astonishing mixture of civilizations and religious beliefs. Still, the American tragedy turned three hundred million people into a hand put on the heart.Nobody rushed to accuse the White House, the army, and the secret services that they are only a bunch of losers. Nobody rushed to empty their bank accounts. Nobody rushed out onto the streets nearby to gape about. The Americans volunteered to donate blood and to give a helping hand.
After the first moments of panic, they raised their flag over the smoking ruins, putting on T-shirts, caps and ties in the colors of the national flag.
They placed flags on buildings and cars as if in every place and on every car a government official or the president was passing.
On every occasion, they started singing their traditional song: "God Bless America!" I watched the live broadcast and rerun after rerun for hours listening to the story of the guy who went down one hundred floors with a woman in a wheelchair without knowing who she was, or of the Californian hockey player, who gave his life fighting with the terrorists and prevented the plane from hitting a target that could have killed other hundreds or thousands of people.
How on earth were they able to respond united as one human being? Imperceptibly, with every word and musical note, the memory of some turned into a modern myth of tragic heroes. And with every phone call, millions and millions of dollars were put in a collection aimed at rewarding not a man or a family, but a spirit, which no money can buy.
What on earth can unite the Americans in such a way? Their land? Their galloping history? Their economic Power? Money? I tried for hours to find an answer, humming songs and murmuring phrases with the risk of sounding commonplace.
I thought things over, but I reached only one conclusion...Only freedom can work such miracles.
November 23, 2003
Lust Actually
I went with my sister to see Love Actually, and both of us agree that the title I came up with (see above) would be better suited. They (the movie makers) make physical attraction seem as if it is the same as love. There were some cute parts but the movie is about nothing other than premarital sex, adultery, and lust. Very little about love. Made me ill.
The Sunday Next Before Advent
(Also called Christ the King Sunday)Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by thee be plenteously rewarded through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
Does his successive journeys run;
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more.
For him shall endless prayer be made,
And praises throng to crown his head;
His Name, like sweet perfume, shall rise
With ev'ry morning sacrifice.
People and realms of ev'ry tongue
Dwell on his love with sweetest song;
And infant voices shall proclaim
Their early blessings on his Name.
Blessings abound where'er he reigns;
The pris'ner leaps to lose his chains,
The weary find eternal rest,
And all the sons of want are blest.
Let ev'ry creature rise and bring
Peculiar honors to our King,
Angels descend with songs again,
And earth repeat the loud Amen.
November 22, 2003
Forty Years Later
The JFK Assassination
Witness to History
On This Day
I think my junior year in high school, I did my required annual research project on this memorial event. I can't remember what grade I got on it, though it probably wasn't an A. I couldn't write well back then. Heck, I can't write well now! Haha. It (like the space program) has always facinated me for some reason.
November 17, 2003
I'm in Stone Cold Shock
After 14 years of playin the game, Stone Cold Steve Austin has left the WWE. We'll miss you Rattlesnake.
November 15, 2003
Busy week
Monday
Wrestlin was on. Guess where I was.
Tuesday
Went with my grandmother to hear ULM's Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, and Chorale perform their fall concert. It was beautiful just like last year. I had forgotten that Lacey R and Katherine B were performing along with our organist, Nathan T. Big bonus there.
Wednesday
Went to Shreveport to spend time with my cousin's ex-girlfriend (they had broken up that day). Went with her and a friend to a comedy club (laughed so hard I cried) and out for a few drinks. Stayed out way to late. Slept in the Port City.
Thursday
Woke up in S'port way too early (6 am) and drove to be at work by quarter of eight. Worked till 11ish and took my car in for a front-end alignment. Waited at my mom's for the car for three hours. What can you expect for perfection.
Friday
After work, went and played putt-putt in West Monroe with friends and smelled the cooking cabbage smell of the paper mill all evening. Came home and while checking my email decided to put up my contact info on the right. (Please take note.)
[complaining]
I'm so tired. I have to be at work in about 8 hours after I go vote and drop off some bills. I hate it when my week runs into my weekend.
[/complaining]
November 13, 2003
November 12, 2003
Judge Roy Moore on trial
It must be a unanomous decision to have him removed. Please pray that truth will prevail and this won't happen.
November 09, 2003
The Twenty-first Sunday After Trinity
Also know as the Third Sunday before Advent. Yay!GRANT, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
November 08, 2003
I wish it would stay cold!
It's no wonder why everybody stays sick around here this time of year.
|
Since our last commercial break
Things are going well.
At work, I've changed from one job family (Customer Service) to another (Teller) this past week. It's really strange in how my days as a CSA2 (the former) are just as stressfull as my days as a CSA1 (the latter). But it's a different kind of stress. I'm not freaking out like I used to about things that did or didn't get done. We're way short-handed now as one of our tellers was asked to leave last week. It was sad at first but then back to business. For those of you in the know about banks, I'll probably be the vault teller (as was the girl that was terminated) starting next week, and what a job that is.
I ordered a piano version of the Cantus Christi from Canon earlier this week. I didn't see until the day after that the CCs were out of stock until Feb/March. Maybe Ill still get mine.
Still looking for a roommate.
I heard that Caedmon's Call and Jars of Clay were going to be in Longview the first Saturday in December and I was going to see them again. But alas, that is the day Jessica (my roomie) and Joey are getting married, so plans have changed.
That's pretty much it of stuff goin' on. Such a bore huh?
November 06, 2003
November 04, 2003
Cheap Deal!
My roomie is getting married in about a month and I'm in need of a new one. If anybody knows somebody that's looking for a place to live, cuz I'm running out of unmarried folks! Just email me or leave a comment
November 02, 2003
The Twentieth Sunday After Trinity
ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, of thy bountiful goodness keep us, we beseech thee, from all things that may hurt us; that we, being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things which thou commandest; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
November 01, 2003
Good Times
++"Well, at least he finished taking the pictures before he opened it"
++Fishin' at Papaw's
++Oreo Concretes at Eskamoe's
++USPPA (United States Putt-Putt Association)
++Chen (who weighs like 120 lbs) eating 3 hotdogs, part of a snow-cone and still eyeing BJ's nachos
++Princess of Inadequate Light