Welcome the Deck the Halls open thread. For those NOT following any sort of Liturgical Calendar, you might be done. Well, the rest of us will be doing it this week. How about some inspirational tunes.

Yes, given the solar minimum we are experiencing, a sable under the tree would be nice. Although, I’d like my convertible to be a candy apple red 1961 Corvette with a white swoosh.

But I digress, we need tunes.

My favorite…..

https://youtu.be/739xhwKMmVI

Okay, so here’s the deal. This is the open thread. This is where we all come to get the news that other Q tree inhabitants think is worth knowing and sharing. Please, post links to any “news” stories quoted, and ask for help if you are stumped as to how to do that. We’re a friendly lot. Someone will be with you shortly, and there is no reason to have to press one for English.

Free speech, and the open exchange and hashing out of ideas is not only allowed, but encouraged. If we all don’t use it, we’re going to lose it. There are, however, limits to civility, and those limits are strictly observed here. We are all on the same team. No personal threats, baiting, name calling and other behavior your mother and grandmother told you not to do while calling you by your full name is allowed. Otherwise, we’d end up looking like the other side.

There is absolutely no reason for infighting to result in burning down the tree, house up in the branches and all. Yes, it can be rough to temper speech. However, those who would like to slog it out from the comfort of the seat behind your keyboard, Wolf has provided a venue known as the UTree. Please, take it there.

And now for some house keeping:

There are a few rules here in the branches of the Q Tree. Our host, Wolfm00n, outlined them in a post on New Years Day. Please, review these rules from time to time, maybe while waiting in line with the kids to see Santa. After all, the line does go all the way to Terre Haute.

Fellow tree dweller Wheatie gave us some good reminders on the basics of civility in political discourse:

1. No food fights.
2. No running with scissors.
3. If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.

Steve suggests – to be accurate – no shooting at the nuclear weapons, but to be safe about it, don’t event point firearms toward them. I, Deplorable Patriot, bossy chick that I am, request no teasing the animals, pets and wildlife alike. FG&C asks that you wash your hands and take some vitamin C. Daughn suggests you whip the sugar with the shortning (butter) before adding the flour.

Teasing and trolling the lefties and their bastions, on the other hand is a moral imperative. This Christmas list is from last year, but deserves a second look.

https://grrrgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/holiday_gift_guide_2018.jpg

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In the eternal fight against the forces of evil and darkness, unceasing prayer is always needed.

From today’s Lectionary, Isaiah 40:25-31.

To whom can you liken me as an equal?
says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high
and see who has created these things:
He leads out their army and numbers them,
calling them all by name.
By his great might and the strength of his power
not one of them is missing!
Why, O Jacob, do you say,
and declare, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD,
and my right is disregarded by my God”?

Do you not know
or have you not heard?
The LORD is the eternal God,
creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint nor grow weary,
and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny.
He gives strength to the fainting;
for the weak he makes vigor abound.
Though young men faint and grow weary,
and youths stagger and fall,
They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength,
they will soar as with eagles’ wings;
They will run and not grow weary,
walk and not grow faint.

And today’s Gospel reflects the piece I memorized for a music jury once:

As always, prayers for the fight against that which seeks to enslave us are welcome.

And now, on to the day’s news…..