Faith, Folklore, and Friends

Who has believed what he has heard from us?      And to whom has  the arm of the  Lord  been  revealed? 2        For he grew up before him like a young  plant,                   and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,           and no beauty that we should desire him. 3  He was despised and rejected by men;                       a man of sorrows,  and acquainted with grief;      and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised,                      and  we esteemed him not. 4  Surely he has borne our griefs                    an...

One of the better ways to spend Thanksgiving. . . Sherry Boyd's boots: Best fashion statement all weekend.

For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his  shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ~Isaiah 9:6

Smoky Mountain rain keeps on falling. . . It was beautiful, but not good for hiking or outside events.  Oh, well, the Christmas lights were breathtaking, even in the rain.

I collect Christmas books all year, and in November I start reading them to help wake up the Christmas spirit.  Here is what I have read so far this year. This book pokes fun at those people who may get a little carried away with Christmas decorations.  It is fiction, of course, because no one really does that.  Or, do they?  Hmmmm...  Sweet book about struggles we all have, and how they seem to grow larger around the holidays.  I love stories where everything gets better before the story ends.  Highly recommend. This is a fun book but not a page turner.  Forty years earlier, five couples were married by a pastor who turned out to be something else entirely.  Their marriages were not legal, and their state doesn't recognize common law marriages.  You will have to read the book to see what happens. Some Christmas stories by Louisa May Alcott, taken from her books. It is a rare thing when a book makes me ...

Mark Twain, 1895, by Napoleon Sarony (Wikipedia) Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain) was born this day in 1835.  He was born and died during the times Halley's Comet was visible from Earth.  His short story, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County , brought him to national acclaim in 1859. Mark Twain is considered one of the most important literary figures in America.  In fact, William Faulkner  called him the father of American literature. He was not politically correct and his books are hard to read, yet no one can deny his special gift of storytelling and common sense.  Here are some of my favorite Mark Twain quotes: The secret of getting ahead is getting started. Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter. It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt. Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest. The only way to keep your hea...

Let the word of Christ dwell in you  richly, teaching and admonishing one  another in all wisdom, singing psalms  and hymns and spiritual songs, with  thankfulness in your hearts to God.   ~Colossians 3:16