Now Thank We All Our God  

   Written during the Thirty Years' War, this is one of the most widely sung hymns in Germany. Martin Rinkart (1586-1649) was the only pastor in Eilenberg, a walled city where refugees fled, yet was overrun by Swedes and then Austrians. 

   Crowded conditions, hunger and plague were normal. Rinkart held funerals for 5,000 residents, including his wife. Yet thanksgiving and resolve arise. As translated:

Now thank we all our God

With heart and hands and voices,

Who wondrous things hath done,

In whom His world rejoices;

Who, from our mothers' arms,

Hath blessed us on our way

With countless gifts of love,

And still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God 

Through all our life be near us, 

With ever joyful hearts 

And blessed peace to cheer us;

And keep us in His grace,

And guide us when perplexed,

And free us from all ills

In this world and the next. 

All praise and thanks to God

The Father now be given,

The Son and Him who reigns

With them in highest heaven,

The one eternal God,

Whom earth and heaven adore;

For thus it was, is now,

And shall be evermore. 
    Amen. 

 

Explosive Testimony?      
    
   My assignment in journalism school up North was to analyze the St. Petersburg Times, a well respected newspaper then, and write a report. I have no recollection of my (cough) analysis.

   Decades and newer media have been cruel to the Times and its journalists. After a merger with Tampa's paper, it is now the Tampa Bay Times. 

   Like most city papers, it leans liberal, but last week a front page headline made my journalistic skin crawl.

   This is not a pro-Trump or anti-Dem blog. It's about journalistic integrity, which is fast disappearing in America.

   We watched little of the House impeachment inquiry, but we did catch testimonies by a few "witnesses," including U.S. ambassador Gordon Sondland. Republicans on the intelligence committee - which is now the impeachment committee - were allowed to ask questions. 

   One by one, witnesses, after delving into all kinds of background drivel, admitted that Trump broke no laws nor did he commit an impeachable offense. Sondland himself was left to confess that his charges were strictly speculation." 

   The Times headline the very next day screamed, Sondland Implicates White House. "He delivered the most explosive testimony yet..." 

   If you don't know, Democrats deliver daily talking points to TV networks and probably to print newsrooms as well. See for yourself by searching for news on all channels, except Fox. The key words that day were - "explosive testimony." 

   The article mentioned "compelling moments," giving the impression that Trump and his associates are bad dudes. 

   There's more. The Times article was written by Bloomberg News, part of Bloomberg L.P., a financial, software and media business founded by progressive billionaire Michael Bloomberg. Guess who joined the 2020 race and has every incentive to oppose the president. 

       Jimmy





  

THE BIBLE contains the mind of God, 

the state of man, the way of salvation, 

the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. 

Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, 

its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.

Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. 

It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, 

the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. 

Here, Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.

CHRIST is its grand subject, 

our good the design, and the glory of God its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.

Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. 

It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. 

It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, 

and be remembered forever.

It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, 

and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents. 

      Forward in the Gideon Bible.      

Outside the Box     

   Leaders in countless professions could learn from 
Kevin Cash, 41, manager of the Tampa Bay Rays. 
Cash was one of three men up for American League "manager of the year" by the Baseball Writers' Association. The other two were Yankees' Aaron Boone and Cash's disciple, Rocco Baldelli of the Twins. 

   Rays players, management and opposing managers all voiced praise for Cash, who made the cut for the second straight year. Like the Heisman trophy in football, the criteria for best manager is not specifically defined.

   Every batter gets three strikes, but before the season's first pitch, some teams have more than $200 million to spend on salaries, while the Rays have about 30 percent of that. Guess which team the Rays have to play 19 times.

   Like the Yankees, the Rays had a slew of injuries in 2019. For several weeks, only one of their starting pitchers was active. An infielder candidate for rookie of the year was unavailable about half the season.

   Baseball people credit Cash with creating a "comfortable culture" and for "inspiring leadership." While winning is priority No. 1, he wants his players to have fun.

   He "sets the tone consistently of energy and competitiveness," is a "wonderful communicator and is able to establish buy-in on what he wants." Cash is "authentic and sincere." 

   Over the summer, he used his bench and bullpen - 603 relief appearances - and "went well outside the box." He made "bold decisions," was "unpredictable" (an advantage), and has "the humility to learn from moves" that fail. 

   In the clubhouse, Cash is "approachable and communicative. He connects with everyone. He's open to new ideas (and the handling of disagreements with his bosses) and can sense which players can take a joke and which need to be encouraged. All egos, including his own, are pushed aside."
  
   So it is no surprise that Cash immediately called his student, Baldelli, to congratulate him, even though the writers' choice was a surprise. Two other managers also are Cash disciples.  

      Jimmy









      

Who Will Say Something?    
    
   Christians and Muslims respect the life of Moses. But, as for the Person of God and how to relate to him, we are a world apart. 

   When it comes to persecution against people of faith, some Muslims single out other faiths, and some even turn on their own, as happened with ISIS in Iraq. 

   There are dictatorships that don't distinguish between faiths. Any faith is a threat to their domination, and people who don't fall in line, as in Hong Kong, can expect serious trouble.

   Today, China imprisons Muslim minorities in the Xijiang region. It's called "reeducation." We don't know the background.

   Leader Xi Jinping ordered officials to show "absolutely no mercy." The New York Times apparently received numerous leaks, some of them said to be from a Communist Party leader. Not everyone agrees with imprisonment for reeducation.  

   Is the world Muslim community speaking up, like it would when someone blasphemes Muhammed? Not that we know of. 

   Nor can the victims count on world leaders and businesses with financial interests in China...so far as we know. Well, then, should Christian leaders speak up?

   Chinese officials have scripts to follow in speaking with relatives of the imprisoned. Like, their family members have "unhealthy thoughts. It's hard to eradicate viruses in thinking in a short time." 

   Xi also tells officials, according to leaks, "Don't underestimate the psychological effects of religious extremism. It takes a painful 'interventionary' treatment." 

   Who will say something, even if it falls on deaf ears? Someday, Christ followers with "unhealthy thoughts" may need to be reeducated, unless the rapture comes first. Jesus forewarned that the world will persecute his followers. It should be no surprise.

        Jimmy

Who Watches the Money?    
   
   We don't want to spoil your Thanksgiving dinner with worrisome reports, so we'll put this one to bed now. 

   You may remember the General Services Administration "conference" in Las Vegas in 2010. GSA officials made eight visits to Sin City, staying at various resorts to determine which had the best rooms and food.

   Parties and entertainment were "necessary" to judge where best to hold the conference. One dinner cost more than $100/person, at taxpayer expense. This was the advanced party!

   Over four days, 300 government employees lived it up, spending millions. As we remember, the Obama Administration termed it "team building."

   What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas, except this time. GSA Inspector General Brian Miller did his job, and the chief organizer, who awarded himself an extra getaway, served eight months in a correctional institution.

   Interviewer Marvin Olasky recently ask Miller, "How swampy is the Washington swamp?" "It's swampy," he answered. The work of IGs is "somewhat like playing Whac-A-Mole." 

   GSA, the federal landlord, buys things for the government. There are 12,000 employees. 

   Miller said, "Any town with 12,000 people in it will have people doing stupid things and criminal things." There are always scandals at GSA. That's where the money is, and a lot of it flows through GSA."

   Healthcare fraud is another concern, with billions of dollars involved. Miller said, "There's always incentive to maximize your reimbursement from the federal government. There are lots of judgment calls in billing. Regulations have gotten so complicated that it's hard to follow precisely." 

   There are 73 federal inspectors general, all supposedly independent. Soon, the nation will hear from the Dept. of Justice IG. Pleasant dreams.  

        Jimmy





         

      
Behind the Berlin Wall      

   One local man, Fritz Will, among many who celebrated the 30th anniversary of the wall's demise, remembers the day in 1989: 

   "I was there with my hammer and chisel to get a piece of history. It was a very happy moment, but I had tears in my eyes.

   "I used to live in West Germany and drove three hours to Berlin to see what was happening. So many happy people were coming from the East. They were finally free.

   "As Communists, they were all 'equal' in the eyes of the government. 
No one was motivated to work a little harder to get ahead. 

   "You had to wait 10 years for a car; there was no material to fix your house. That's socialism. 

   "Just ask yourself: Why did the people in East Germany want to come to the West - under any circumstances?"

 ~ 

   And we ask, if American life is so unfair that we need to elect leftist politicians, why would so many people flock to the United States - possibly half the world - if it was possible?  

Reorganizing Views?
   The Tampa Bay Times reorganized itself with sections devoted to: Health & Medicine, Your Money, The Environment, Science & Technology and Notable Deaths. 

   Maybe we should do as they did. Here's a trial run: 
  Health & Medicine  
   The better the health, the less medicine.
Your Money   
   Yes, but everyone wants it, including thieves. 
The Environment   
   It's much better now in Tampa than in Minneapolis.  
Science & Technology    
   Artificial intelligence. Views imitates intelligent journalism five days a week.
Notable Deaths  
   Alexander. Bonaparte. Hitler. Washington, Lincoln. Presley. Tolstoy.
 

What do you think?

Cross words   

   "Father, forgive them..."

       Jimmy