MIDWEEK PRAYER

 Today, I give you music.  Sometimes we hear a song, listen closely, but don't really hear the words.  The Beatles had a 1970 hit that might fit this description for you.  This is a song I think we could play and sing in our church. Paul McCartney wrote the song and says the Mary in the song is his mother who died when he was young.  No matter, for me it's a prayer that honors the mother of Jesus, our heavenly mother. 

 Let it Be  

https://youtu.be/5AnNkJ_VK9E?si=FrGwpf1W4Ksmhg59

When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

And when the broken-hearted people living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be
For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Yeah, there will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

And when the night is cloudy there is still a light that shines on me
Shine until tomorrow, let it be
I wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah, let it be
There will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

WORDS ON THE WALL

This week, no guessing game.  These words are carved into the State Dining Room mantel in the White House. It was done in 1945 and the passage is known as John Adams' blessing.  These sentences were taken from a letter written by the President to his wife, Abigail Adams, in 1800.

I Pray Heaven To Bestow The Best Of Blessings On This House And All that shall hereafter Inhabit it.  May none but Honest and Wise Men ever rule under This Roof.

John Adams was our first Vice-President and our second President.  He served as President for one term from 1797 to 1801.  He was 64 when he was elected President and died at the age of 90.  This Adams is known as one of our Founding Fathers, a leader of the American Revolution and close friend of Thomas Jefferson who followed him into the White House.  His son, John Quincey Adams, was our sixth President.  Mount Adams in Cincinnati was named after John Quincey.  

QUIZ

This week a song written in 1943.  It was recorded by several people and reached the top of the charts in 1944.  If you've heard of it, this might be real easy; if you haven't, you may think my typing is whacko.  Here is the first lines as written:

Marzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey.  A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you?  

The song goes on with the following bridge:

If the words sound queer and funny to your ear, a little bit jumbled and jivey, sing ???

Figure out what follows.  It's not that hard.  Answer Friday!

NEWS OF THE WEEK

Compared to last week, not much happened.  

The Bengals didn't lose last weekend - they lost last Thursday. 

Both Xavier and Cincinnati mens basketball are off to a good start.  

University of Cincinnati football has gone the way of the Bengals - losing to teams they should have whipped.

The President-Elect is naming people to posts on his cabinet and staff.

The Russian-Ukrainian war lumbers on.  The Winter season brings changes to their strategies.  Zelenskyy now has F-16s to chase the Russians and Putin now has North Koreans to bolster his troops.  The U.S. is walking a tightrope by giving Ukraine weapons but restricting how they can be used.  

In the Middle East, the Iranians are still reeling from the shock the Israel Defense Force (IDF) put on them.  The Jewish state currently has the upper hand.  It is a bad feeling knowing your opponent has you out-gunned.   They IDF are now trying to root out all the bad guys leaders from where they are hiding.

The stock market has been on an upward spiral for over a week.  Your IRA should be looking better right now.  Hang in there.  The FED is dropping interest rates so there is no money to be made from lenders.  

ANSWER TO MONDAY'S QUIZ

 *Monday's quiz asked which of the following is not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.  

The Beetles

The Monkeys

Elton Jon

Lead Zeppelin

Hall & Oats

The correct answer is none of these are in it.  They may look like famous acts but they are all wrong - spelled wrong. The trick is The Monkees have never been voted into the hall (of course, Andy knew that).  They have a lot of supporters, have had lots of top songs but the high & mighty selectors ignore them because they think it was all by accident - all as a result of the popularity of their TV show.  

The Beetles

Elton John

Led Zeppelin

Hall & Oates.

*The answer to Tuesday's inquiry as to where these words are found:  

PLAY LIKE 

A CHAMPION

TODAY

It's a sign near the football locker room at Oklahoma University and at Notre Dame University. Each player touches the sign while exiting the locker room going to the field.  The sign dates to the 1940s at OU and 1980s at NDU.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

Hospitals are unique!  At almost any time, there is someone there having the worst day of their life,  someone there having the best day of their life, someone there having the first day of their life and someone there having the last day of their life.  

Should our freedom of speech laws prohibit police from handcuffing a deaf person?

People who claim to be afraid to be alone in the dark are actually afraid of not being alone in the dark.  

MIDWEEK PRAYER

I've had a list of prayer intentions on the Notes App in my iPhone for over 4 years.  Whenever I hear of someone who needs to be prayed for, I write their name and reason in the app.  Each time I look, I remember them and their problem.  Some of you may be on this list; some people are on it more than once and others have been marked deceased - they might still need prayers.  So often people text prayer hands - do you wonder if they ever really pray?  If you say you're going to pray for someone - do it.  

In light of this, today I want to pray for all those for whom I forgot to pray, for those I should pray and for those who need my prayers but I am unaware.  

Almighty Father, I humble myself to ask for help; help for myself and my friends in need.  All the good things I have are from you - all the good things I do are for you.  I know you are always near; I know you are aware of my needs before I ask.  I ask because Your Son taught us to ask.  Please, grant my requests I place before you now.  Amen

WORDS ON THE WALL

 Where will you find these words on the wall?

PLAY LIKE 

A CHAMPION

TODAY

QUIZ

 Which of the following has not made it into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?   Answer Friday.

The Beetles

The Monkeys

Elton Jon

Lead Zeppelin

Hall & Oats

Do something for a Veteran today!

NEWS OF THE WEEK

 My family has dealt this week with a friend's passing, remembering of those who passed in the last year, the anniversary of the birth of one and the health of our newest member; all that and an important state and national election.   That's a lot for one week.  

45 becomes 47  

WARNINGS

Warning!  

My friends should be aware that I sometimes express love thru gentle insults.  Of course, I do it with a  crooked smile on my face.  The crooked smile is beyond my control - as is opening my mouth when I shouldn't.  Sorry!  I'm Irish.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

Those who should know, estimate that the average first grader can recognize about 200 company logos.  

Kids are amazing.  

Logos are a valuable asset for a company.  

I'd guess they can recognize many businesses by the sound of their commercials without looking. 

Kids are sponges.

Warning:  what else are we jamming into our kid's brains?  

MIDWEEK PRAYER

In Matthew's gospel, he records that one day Jesus, early in his public life, had a large number of people following him near the shore on the north end of the Sea of Galilee because he had been performing miracles.  He climbed the highest hill in the area so he could speak to them.  He gave them what we commonly call the Sermon on the Mount.  In it, Jesus told these common people what was expected of his followers and what they could expect if they did follow him.  The gist of the teaching he gave them is what we call the Beatitudes.  

Briefly, he told them that no matter how down and out they were, following him would lead them to where they wanted to be; that those who were poor in spirit would find the Kingdom of Heaven, those who mourn would be comforted, those who are meek and try to be righteous will find all they need on earth,, those who were merciful would receive mercy, those who were peacemakers would be children of God, and those who were persecuted for God's sake would spend eternity with Him in Heaven.

It's good to be reminded of these things when we are down and out. When the Apostles first went about spreading the gospel, they called their movement "the way".   It is 'the way'.

WORDS ON THE WALL

QUIET PLEASE

PRESS BUTTON FOR HELP

Michelle Suzanne is beginning her 57th year today.  Maybe she'll stay up later than usual - listening to the election returns tonight.  She was sleeping late at night on this date in 1968 in Bethesda (Base) Hospital.  I doubt she heard the news on the TV in the nurse's lounge that Richard Nixon was elected president.