When I was young, I adored the book Walden, Life in the Woods, by Henry David Thoreau.  I lived in the city, but had grandparents in the country – my mom’s family lived on a wooded farm near Saginaw, Michigan and my dad’s parents lived in a rural area near Lake Erie in Canada. 

Now I enjoy that my Condo’s deck overlooks the neighboring woods across the fence.  It is home to wild critters that include deer, rabbits and groundhogs.  There is also a walking path around the woods.  I often go there to enjoy the small patch of wilderness up close. The path also offers a chance to see the deer in their habitat. They don’t jump the fence.  But the groundhogs continually dig a path under the fence.   I’ve had to secure my deck with wiring and bricks against the visiting groundhogs.

Over the last five years it worked effectively, but I am currently facing my first new challenge.  This year the groundhogs seem bigger and more powerful.  One persistent critter managed to push aside bricks and dig under the wiring.  A call to my condo management brought a cage set up by the local trapper.  Within about three days a critter was caught and set free in an upstate preserve. 

This reoccurrence made me think again of the film “Groundhog Day”.  It’s a beautiful film that was set in Pennsylvania about the yearly February Ceremony where Punxsutawney Phil predicts an early spring or six more weeks of winter, depending on whether he casts a shadow.   I watched the film again this spring – and guess what?  I find It hard to dislike groundhogs.  I am so glad we can just offer any intruders under my deck a beautiful alternative trip upstate!

March is Women’s History Month and it reminds me of my own long journey.  I started college at Wayne State University in Detroit in the mid-60s and joined the campus paper when a friend from Cass Tech High School asked me to join her in checking out WSU’s student newspaper.  I was fascinated first by the photography department and worked with David Welsh – now a long-time friend.   I spent a year as a photographer before I grew more interested in being a reporter.

I had assumed that by junior year I would be doing student teaching for a career in education.  However, when I finally took my first education class, I knew that I wanted to be a journalist, not a teacher.  Luckily I had met another student determined to be a journalist, my friend Peggy Fisk.  She urged me to work with her in the Daily Collegian’s editorial department.  It gave me the courage to later interview for a local newspaper, the Macomb Daily, where I landed a job on the women’s page.  I gradually moved over to the general news pages.  It’s hard to believe there was a time that women were confined to one category – women’s news.

And I’m glad I had support on my journey, which included newspapers, publishing and publicity.  I eventually also got a graduate degree in Communications Management from USC when I moved to California with my husband Tim Robinson.  Yes, we had to push the boundaries, but women today keep breaking barriers, including the first woman vice president.  Onwards!

Distinguished actress Cicely Tyson had just finished her memoir and it was officially released last week.  I saw the 96-year-old actress Interviewed by CBS anchor Gayle King on CBS Morning News just a few days before her death and made a note to get more information on the book, “Just As I am.”  It chronicles Tyson’s extraordinary life.

Cicely met up with Gayle at her church in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City for a socially distanced interview. I was lucky to be able to watch the interview as Cicely opened up about her career, her romances, and her legacy.

“I’m amazed every single day I live,” she said in response to being asked how it feels to be amazed. She was asked if she feels she has more to do and she responded, “Yes, that’s why I’m still here. I mean, what my life became is not what I expected. I had no idea that I would touch anybody.”

At the end of the interview, Gayle asked Cicely, “When the time comes, what do you want us to remember about you?” She responded, “I’ve done my best. That’s all.”  A humble summary for an extraordinary life.

This email came from my Congressman, Dan Kildee of Flint on Jan. 7^th.

Attack on our Democracy

Janet

Like you, I am horrified by the attack on the U.S. Capitol and our democracy.

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine I would have to lie on the floor of the House Chamber, fearing for my own life and for the safety of others, as police dispersed tear gas and guns were drawn to stop an angry mob from taking over Congress.

I am grateful to the U.S. Capitol Police for their efforts to protect Members of Congress, our staff members and the institution at large. This moment we now find ourselves in requires brutal honesty and hard truths—about how this could have happened and where we go from here. Every American, regardless of party, should be outraged about this attack on our democracy.

Let me be clear: President Trump, and his enablers, have brought us to this moment of violence and chaos. For years, many Republican leaders have turned a blind eye as the president ratcheted up his hate-filled rhetoric. Just yesterday, hours before angry mobs of Trump supporters broke into the U.S. Capitol, Rudy Giuliani called for “trial by combat.” The president’s son threatened Members of Congress who didn’t vote to overturn the results of the election, saying “we’re coming for you and we’re going to have a good time doing it.” And the president himself expressed his love for those that had just broken into the Capitol, calling them “very special” people.

We have every right to be angry, but no one should be surprised that this type of rhetoric led to the deadly violence we saw yesterday.

There’s no warranty or guarantee on the back of the Constitution. As the world witnessed yesterday, things can fall apart quickly. This democracy is what we make of it. If we want to preserve our way of life and the rule of law, then it requires all of us to remain vigilant, speak truth to power and demand better.

Thankfully, democracy prevailed. Despite yesterday’s horrific events, Congress came back into session and certified the results of the 2020 presidential election. In 13 days, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in as the next President and Vice President of the United States. Their leadership is sorely needed so that our country can begin to heal.

— Dan

Congressman Dan Kildee – a Flint native – is proud to represent Michigan’s Fifth District. As a Democratic party leader, Dan is fighting hard to ensure every American has access to quality health care, clean water and a good-paying job. The path to protect the Democratic majority in the House runs right through the Midwest, and as Heartland Engagement Chair, Dan’s job is to protect and elect Democratic candidates.

As we celebrate the holidays this year, some of us around the country will be able to see a special “Christmas Star” in the sky.   I am publishing an article, written by writer Hope Bolinger, instead of just a short blog for the holidays, so readers can fully understand the significance of this year’s Christmas Star and hopefully be able to view it.

Wishing everyone a happy holiday! Enjoy the article, first published on crosswalk.com!

• Hope Bolinger Contributing Writer
• 2020/3 Dec

As Christians, we may have heard a great deal about the star of David that appeared during the birth of Jesus. But did you know that a certain astronomical phenomenon involving stars will occur in late December of 2020? That’s right. The planets Saturn and Jupiter will align on December 21 and will form a “Christmas star” shape in their alignment. 

Just how rare is this phenomenon? According to Christian Headlines, you have to go back to the 1200s just to see something similar to this occurrence happening around the same time.

The news of this so-called “Christmas star” has sparked hope and excitement for believers around the globe. In this article, we’ll dive into some of the reasons we can look forward to seeing the Christmas star and what it reminds us of this Advent season.

Christmas Star Meaning in the Bible 

We’ve seen a star used in about every nativity skit we’ve watched at church. But what is the significance of this celestial body, apart from the fact it directed shepherds (and eventually the Magi) to Bethlehem? Stars do seem to play multiple roles throughout Scripture. Let’s analyze some verses in which they play an important part.

Matthew 24:29: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”

Stars play a role here in the events at the End of Days. But on a brighter note, let’s take a look at the passage that talks about the star of David over Bethlehem (AKA: “The Christmas star”).

Matthew 2:1-2 “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

The star placed over the birthplace of Jesus points the way for the Magi to find him. Although many theologians have speculated as to which astronomical phenomena occurred with this star (including conjecture that Saturn and Jupiter had aligned to form the bright light), the star clearly brings people to Jesus. It lights the way to him. Therefore, when believers heard about the Christmas star of 2020, they understandably got excited about the parallels. 

What Is the ‘Christmas Star’ of 2020? 

As mentioned above, the Christmas Star of 2020 will occur in late December when Saturn and Jupiter align. The two planets, together, will look like a “double planet” and will produce a significant amount of light. 

You can observe the “star” on any position on Earth, clear skies dependent. But you’ll have the best chance to get a view of it on December 21. So during your preparations for the holiday season, take a break and get some night-sky viewing in.

Why Astronomical Events Are of Interest to Christians

It may seem like a surprise that so many Christians seem so invested in two planets aligning near the time of Christmas. Even apart from the Christmas season, it does seem the case that believers get excited about blood moons and other astronomical events. Why is this the case?

For the answer to that, we have to turn to Scripture.

Genesis 2:1 “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts.”

First and foremost, God created the heavens and our planet. This includes every speckled star we see in the night sky. Of course we’d be invested in the beauty of creation that our Creator has formed for us. 

Luke 21:25: “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves.”

One of the key signs that we’ve reached the events to occur in Revelation happens in a natural disaster level and via signs in the cosmos. Christians get excited about astronomical signs because it reminds us that Christ will come again to set the world right.

Revelation 8:12 “The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way.”

At the end of days, we will see signs in the skies from the sun darkening, the moon turning blood red, and the stars falling like figs. Scripture has told us to watch vigilantly for the Day of the Lord, and when we see these signs, we will be ready for that day. 

Of course, we should also add that it’s dangerous to place all of our hope in astronomical signs and predictions. After all, none of us knows the day or hour in which the Son of Man will return. If we think back to the 2012 Mayan prediction of the end of the world, many believers thought the Second Coming would happen then. Or the number of blood moons that have occurred in the past few years. 

3 Reasons The ‘Christmas Star’ of 2020 Brings Hope to Christians 

Aside from the fact that stars are a delight to view during any season of the year, Christians have a number of great reasons to look forward to witnessing this star during the final month of 2020.

The Christmas Star Reminds Us of the Original ‘Christmas Star’

Theologians have speculated if Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn’s alignment formed the first “Christmas star.” Considering we have two of those planets aligning now, something that hasn’t happened in this way for centuries, we get to have a very real and tangible reminder of what the star of David would have looked like during the birth of Jesus.

The Christmas Star Reminds Us of Jesus’ Second Coming

Astronomical signs point to the second coming of Christ. Although we cannot predict when he will return, when we see natural phenomena occurrences, we remember that such will be the conditions of the Last Days.

The Christmas Star Points Others to Jesus

In the same way the Christmas star lit the pathway for the Magi to find our Savior, we can use the star as an illustration for those who don’t yet know Jesus. We can explain to our non-believing friends and family members about the events that took place the night of Jesus’ birth when they talk about the bright “star” in the night sky. 

Hope Bolinger is a literary agent at C.Y.L.E. and a graduate of Taylor University’s professional writing program. More than 1,000 of her works have been featured in various publications ranging from Writer’s Digest to Keys for Kids. She has worked for various publishing companies, magazines, newspapers, and literary agencies and has edited the work of authors such as Jerry B. Jenkins and Michelle Medlock Adams. Her modern-day Daniel trilogy released its first two installments with IlluminateYA, and the final one, Vision, releases in August of 2021. She is also the co-author of the Dear Hero duology, which was published by INtense Publications. Find out more about her at her website.

---

Fun Facts About Thanksgiving

• The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 over a three day harvest festival. …
• Turkey wasn’t on the menu at the first Thanksgiving. …
• Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday on October 3, 1863. …
• The history of U.S. presidents pardoning turkeys is patchy.

As we celebrate our first “pandemic” Thanksgiving, it’s good to remember the past.  The event that Americans commonly call the “First Thanksgiving” was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in October 1621. This feast lasted three days, and—as recounted by attendee Edward Winslow—was attended by 90 Native Americans and 53 Pilgrims.

One of my main memories from my childhood is that we always had ham when we ate at home, because my dad did not like turkey. As a result, ham is my favorite holiday or party food.  I always remember as well the joys of Thanksgiving in a large family so that while you ate at home first, you also visited lots of relatives over the Thanksgiving weekend, so it was a massive feast.  While we may be limited this year to how many gather around the table, or be unable to visit others, it is still a time to be thankful.  Miracles come from gratitude and faith!

 Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Continue reading →