He Left His Throne 

A few lines from the December 8 page of our book of 365 hymns.

With the words updated to our times.

You did leave your throne and your kingly crown,

When you came to earth for me.

Of lowly birth you came to earth and in great humility. 

You came O Lord, with the living Word

That you should set your people free.

But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn,

They carried you to Calvary. 

When the heavens shall ring and the angels sing

At your coming to victory,

Let you voice call me home, saying,

"Yes, there is room at My side for you." 

Deserting the Deserts?

     And now for the news: _________ Oh, sorry. Your newspaper went out of business. 

     A total of 127 newspapers closed in the past year. More than 7,000 went out of business in 2022 and 2023, some 2,000 jobs included. Since 2005, 3,300 newspapers have gone under or been consolidated. 

     As a journalism grad who began adult life working for my hometown paper, yours truly is disappointed. Our founders knew the news must be truthful, which is why they gave news people total freedom. It's called the "forth estate."

     Of course, mankind is untruthful, in printed news and television, and government doesn't dare penalize them. Despite declining trust, a majority of adults still see local news as somewhat important. 

     About 55 million Americans have no or maybe one source of local news. Over 200 counties have no local media. Many communities don't have the population, or the advertisers needed to make it work. They are news deserts, and if a news source once existed, it has deserted. If there's a positive for no news, nobody lies to them. 

      In populated areas, many Americans turn to websites and apps instead of print or radio. Many live in heavily concentrated, high-income counties. Last year, there was an increase of 81 digital (email) news sites, more than 30 of them former newspapers. 

     How do we know most voters receive correct information? 

     If I was starting all over, there might not be a journalism job for me in my hometown. Might have had to go to inner-city Pittsburgh. 

            Jimmy 

Enforcing Borders 

     Progress is being made, while Trump won't take office for another 44 days or so. 

     Arizona voters approved a proposition allowing state and local law enforcement to arrest migrants crossing the border unlawfully. This is similar to a Texas law that remains in litigation. Liberals of course argue this will encourage racial profiling. 

     Proponents say the act targets bad actors, regardless of race. The measure also increases penalties for fentanyl dealing and makes it a crime to use false documents to apply for public benefits or employment. Iowa and Florida also have cracked down on illegal immigration. 

     Law enforcement must have probable cause to arrest and detain an immigrant.    

            Jimmy

Has College Football Finally Fumbled? 

     From the beginning of the 20th century until now, college football has grown from nothing to a sport you can pay thousands for a ticket. From obscure fields to bleachers, to stadiums and finally, tiered structures, iconic designs and "boxes" for privileged fans. 

     We don't tell anyone to stop supporting and rooting for their team. We do note that under new freedoms, players can earn money, and many do stop supporting their favorite team - to join another team giving them a better chance at playing time. Betting is an evil. 

     In 1936, long before television, sports writers began ranking teams, and crowning champions ... by vote. Later, conference championships. There were few post-season bowl games. Now, there are enough bowl games to offer invitations to every team with a winning record. If it's an odd number, they can always invite a 6 and 6 team to save the game. 

     Is all this to please the players, or to raise money for school athletic departments? And revenue for TV and radio? 

     Did I say 6 and 6? Teams once played nine games a season, with no championship games. One year a Big Ten Rose Bowl team was chosen by a 6-4 vote of school athletic directors. Shameful: They could have raised lots of cash by having the two teams who played to a tie and finished with identical records...play again. 

     We thought giving us 12 regular season games was great. (The NFL has gone to 17 games, plus a schedule of playoffs.) 

     College dudes were paying attention. Post-season playoffs have involved four teams. We would have included any other team with only one loss. But 12? Teams with three losses will be in this. Ridiculous! Meanwhile, a good two-loss team that didn't qualify for its conference championship game will get more time to rest for the playoffs. 

     Another hiccup is players headed for the NFL draft. They have to choose between loyalty to their teammates (& possible injury) or getting ready for the financially important draft.  

     So, this rodeo goes into January. We hope not February. Spring training begins in March, and the players need time to study their books. 😜 

     If our favorite team wins the national championship, we still dislike what money has done to our favorite sport. And if they lose, we won't shed a tear.

     We all can return to sanity. Root for one of the level 2 teams next year.

               Jimmy 

     "It is not wealth or splendor, but tranquility (calm) and occupation (office or position) that brings happiness." - Thomas Jefferson 

     What would he say today?

People to Help Restore Order - no senate confirmation necessary

Dr. Marty Makary, Food and Drug Administration

Sebastian Gorka, Counter Terrorism Director

Russel Vought, Mangement and Budget

Brenden Carr, Federal Communications Commissioner

Linda McMahan, Education

Kash Patel, FBI 

Stephen Miller - Policy

Elise Stefanic, Ambassador to the UN

Tom Homan, Border Czar

Lee Zeldin - Environmental Protection Agency

Mike Waltz, National Security Advisor

Todd Blanch, Deputy Attorney General

Tulsi Gabbard, National Intelligence

Dr. Mehmet Oz, Medicare & Medicaid Services

Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff 

John Ratcliffe, Central Intelligence Agency

Steven Witkoff, Envoy Middle East 

Mike Huckabee, Ambassador to Israel

Elon Musk & Vivek Ramaswamy, government efficiency 

William McGinley, White House Council

Karoline Leavitt, Press Secretary 

Doug Burgum, Interior Sec. & Energy Czar 

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No. 3 of 3

Who Would Believe It?

     He grew up like a tender shoot, like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. - Isaiah 53:2

     He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. ...and we esteemed him not. - v. 3 

     Surely, he...carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God... He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. - vv. 4-5  

     We all, like sheep, have gone astray; each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter.  - vv. 6-7 

     ...though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering...the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; ...my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. - vv. 9-11 

     Therefore, I will give him a portion among the great...because he poured out his life and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many and made intercession (for them). - v. 12 

     All this, 700 years before it occurred. And the Servant's name?

______________________

Suffering and Glory of the Servant 

2 of 3

     Israel and Judah are descending, while Assyrians rise. Nevertheless, God is telling his people (through Isaiah) to think positive. Their God is not only going before you, but He will be their rear guard.

     Knowing his message is difficult for humans, God explains in Isaiah 52:13-14, See, my Servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. 

     A servant? Who would that be?

     The Lord doesn't mention the virgin birth and eventual ministry (700 years in the future). He focuses on his Servant's victory over Satan, revealing the one and only path to eternal life: Just as there were many who were appalled at him - his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness. Wow!

     Still communicating through Isaiah, the Lord adds: ...so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand. 

     Wow again! Israel and Judah are on the skids. But, God has a Servant who will be "highly exalted." Yet, this Servant will be beaten (by Roman soldiers) beyond human recognition. So, how does this executed Servant become so amazing that kings will shut their mouths? 

To be continued