Tuesday, January 04, 2022

The 11th Day of Christmas

My beef? It's January fourth, and grown people are still talking about the twelve days of Christmas. It's a cute little song, but churches and grown men shouldn't be making such a big deal about it. The good news of Christ gets diluted enough as it is, but those droning on about the 12 days of Christmas need to simplify their message.

The Twelve Days of Christmas did used to be a celebration, with the following meanings. Why have I never heard this? You shouldn't have to read a thousand word article to decipher the hidden meaning. Christians shouldn't speak in codes.

1. partridge = Jesus.

2. turtledoves = the Old and New Testaments

3. French hens = faith, hope, and love

4. calling birds = the four gospels.

5. rings = the 1st five books of the Old Testament

6. geese a-laying = the 6 days of creation

7. swans = 7 gifts of the Spirit: prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, compassion

8. maids = Jesus came for the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger & thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those persecuted for righteousness' sake.

9. dancers = fruit of the Spirit: love joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, & self-control.

10. lords = the ten commandments

11. pipers = the disciples (less Judas).

12. drummers = the 12 points of the Apostles Creed

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/the-12-days-of-christmas-lyrics-meaning.html 

Sometimes I just want to say: you want to know what the twelve days of Christmas are? Let me simplify it further:

1. Jesus
2. Jesus
3. Jesus
4. Jesus
5. Jesus
6. Jesus
7. Jesus
8. Jesus
9. Jesus
10. Jesus
11. Jesus
12. Jesus

Just thought of this after eleven days of some people making such a big deal about nine ladies dancing social media posts. Maybe I'll put this on next year's Christmas card. Now get off my lawn.

There was another recent re-write of the song:

Didn't do much on Sunday. Watched some of the Falcons and other games. Got a lot of leftover BBQ. Had some for lunch. Homemade pizza for supper.

Monday was Ceil's first day helping MC out with Shivonne. I tried to sleep late but Winnie was howling and wanted to play. Lately all she wants to do is look out the window and bark at squirrels. So I was babysitting as well.

At noon I checked the golf course and they were open, so I bundled up and went out. With a stocking cap and gloves, it wasn't really cold at all (39 degrees). Hard to see where I hit the ball when hitting into the sun. There were three guys playing super slow. When I first saw them they were three holes ahead of me. I started playing super slow, hitting three balls on each shot. Caught up to them four holes later.

1. Hit one tee shot into the sun. No idea where it went. Decent 5 wood from the fairway. Chip over green. Okay chip back onto green. Nice one putt.

2. Two decent tee shots. Several poor wedge shots. Great lag putt to a couple of inches.

3. After flubbing a tee shot, I hit one okay. More poor wedge shots. At least I'm getting lots of practice. The putts were better.

4. First tee shot was great. Shot of the day. Never saw the second. Third was a worm burner that got a good roll. Tried to chip that one without much success. Saw my first tee shot had stopped at the far end of the green. That never happens. Two putted it for "par".

5. Three tee shots all short of the green to the right. Poor chips but decent putts.

6. First drive off tee felt great but I never saw it. Second a worm burner that went straight. Third blooped to the right. Second shot a great 5 wood. From there three 7 irons that were okay but not great. Three poor chips.

7. Tee shots weren't great, but stayed left. While looking for my ball I found two more. An okay 5 wood to the top of the hill. A few cruddy fairway shots but one to the fringe. Several poor putts. 

8. The last three holes are hilly, and always wear me out. Didn't mind waiting on the tee for the three slowpokes. Hit three 3 woods, all settling close together. Not bad. Then three 5 woods down the hill, not too far from the hole. Chips not bad, one actually decent. Two putt.

9. Had to wait on the tee again. Had considered playing 7 again but a threesome was just finishing six. Hit a good straight 3 wood, then two cruddy shots. More poor chips and putts. But I am improving, really.

On the way home I stopped to renew my library card. Leftover chili for a late lunch/early supper. Lupper.

Watched the Rob Lowe movie A Perfect Day, about a down on his luck man who gains success, then turns his back on his family. Interesting twist on how he finds his way back. With a Christian undertones, if that's a thing.

Also re-watched the movie The Family Stone. Star-studded cast. Craig T Nelson, Diane Keaton. Luke Wilson. Rachel McAdams. Sarah Jessica Parker. Claire Danes. Michael B Jordan. Dermot Mulroney. And others.

Small group. Went up to church but the building was closed, so we met at a table at Whole Foods. Ceil has been watch the Passion Conference down at Mercedes Benz. David Pratt, Christine Caine, and Tim Tebow spoke in addition to Louie and his wife.

Monday: started the morning with 45 emails. Last week I had it down to less than ten. Currently at 18.

Denison: as we end 2021 and look to 2022, will anything change? Will the pandemic become permanent? Will inflation stay with us? Will violence escalate? Will the midterm elections deepen our partisan divides? Will our culture continue its slide into dogmatic secularism and unbiblical immorality? A New York Times guest essay titled "Is the West Becoming Pagan Again?" answers largely in the affirmative. But: H. G. Wells called Jesus "the most dominant figure in all history." Newsweek editor Kenneth Woodward agreed: "By any secular standard, Jesus is the dominant figure of Western culture." Daniel Webster attested, "All that is best in the civilization of today is the fruit of Christ's appearance among men."

MLB All-Stars who played for manager Casey Stengel in AAA Oakland 1946, 47 & 48.

Player      On Oaks  MLB All-Star    (Career) WAR

DiMaggio...1947.......1943, 44.........................17.8

Etten..........1947, 48.1945...............................16.0

Fox............1946........1944...............................16.1

Lavagetto 1948........1938, 39, 40, 41.............12.9

Lombardi..1948 1936, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43 37.9

Martin........1947, 48 1956................................ 3.0

Mulcahy....1947........1940................................ 4.3

Shea..........1946........1947................................ 5.8

Tobin.........1948........1944...............................19.3

Westlake...1946........1951...............................14.6

When Michigan arrived at the Orange Bowl all dressed in white, they looked like astronauts on the way to board the space shuttle to blast off.

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