I had the opportunity to honor a man who was received into eternal life and had served in Korea.  He was a gifted engineer and one who earned the Korean Service Medal with one bronze service star.  During this particular unfolding week, we remember those who've served the cause of liberty with little or no forethought of their own needs.  Remember the formulation:  All gave some, and some gave ALL.  We are a grateful nation...  +

My Great Aunt Ruth Morton, late, of San Diego California, told me many years ago that she had traced lineage back to John Morton of Pennsylvania, who signed the Declaration of Independence.  I have no way to verify this, as her work has not survived, and she has no living heirs of which I'm aware.  At this moment in history it serves me well to think about our forebearers who paid a great personal price to give birth to the Great American Experiment.

John Morton

1724-1777
Representing Pennsylvania at the Continental Congress.
by Ole Erekson, Engraver, c1876, Library of Congress


John Morton was born in Ridley, PA in 1724. In his youth he was noted for his quick intelligence and his habit of hard work. His stepfather, a well educated surveyor from England, gave him a sound education in practical matters and in surveying. In 1756 Morton was elected to the Provincial Assembly, and was elected president of the Assembly in 1775. He attended the


May the LORD grant us the opportunity to serve the cause freedom by introducing liberty where there is oppression.  Happy Independence Day, America.

Born:	1724
Birthplace:	Ridley, Pennsylvania
Education:	Informal (Judge)
Work:	Elected to Provincial Assembly, 1756-1775; Delegate to the Stamp Act Congress, 1765; President of the Provincial Assembly, 1775; Offices in Pennsylvania: Justice of the Peace, High Sheriff, Presiding Judge of the General Court and the Court of Common Pleas, Associate Judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; Elected to Continental Congress, 1774-77.
Died:	April, 1777

Stamp Act Congress in 1765. He filled numerous civil offices in Pennsylvania, including Justice of the Peace, High Sheriff, Presiding Judge of the General Court and the Court of Common Pleas. In 1774 he was appointed Associate Judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. That year he was elected to the Continental Congress where he was a member of several committees and chairman of the committee which reported the Articles of Confederation. He died soon after that report was presented to Congress, at the age of 53.Sources: PFG

Nicholas James Collins Ordained

My friend and former parishioner Nick Collins was ordained at approximately 7:15 PM at Hope Lutheran Church in Dearborn, MI.  I was privileged to bring the message and, I trust, to bring great encouragement.  The Apostolic Succession continues forward from one generation of shepherds to another...  If any have photos from the event, please post.  It was a blessed evening. 

Pastor Drex Believes House of Representatives Needs Citizen Servants

Please check out the following article.  I humbly ask for your prayerful support.
The "write-in" needs to be Drexel Morton.  Thanks!

It's up!  :)

http://hartland.patch.com/articles/hartland-pastor-announces-bid-for

Pictured above is the ice collected at All Saints Lutheran Church on the morning of Wednesday, February 29th.  This is a notable day, because my Aunt Nancy Fornes had her 20th actual birthday on this day, and her son, my cousin Paul, celebrated an actual birthday as well...

Most Deadly March Tornado Outbreak on Record...

                                    Pictured above is a sunset at the end of February 2012    

As of a recent report, 38 people have died across multiple states in the Midwest and the South.  Life is so fragile.  One man had just opened an auto repair shop in the Fall.  His neighbor had opened a restaurant one month ago.  Each business was obliterated.  The owner of the repair shop shared that his wife had totaled her car in the midst of attempting to get to her family at some point during the storm.  The owner of the repair shop, now gone, nevertheless stated emphatically that his family had survived.  This man clearly knew what is of most value in this life...the relationships we have in this world, which transcend time, space, and even separation in death.  We can be robbed of most everything except the relationships with which we've been blessed.  And even when we have to say good-bye to the ones whom we cherish in this world, "the circle will be unbroken" one day.  When we cling to the promises of God, our relationships will resume.  Remember what I've written before...A sunset in this temporal world is a sunrise in the Halls of Heaven...

    

Epiphany 2012

 Epiphany 2012 began in earnest on January 6th.  In the West, we have celebrated the event called "Little Christmas," when the wise gentiles from the East (representing all seekers worldwide) finally found the Christ Child.  It is thought by many scholars that it took a good year for the Visitors to find Jesus and the family - probably still in Bethlehem.  They searched and searched for God's best (and so should we).

  It is thought by many that when the wise visitors somehow got mixed up with Herod the Great (who was not so great), they avoided him like the plague - after finding and worshipping the Christ Child.  Herod wanted to eliminate all pretenders to his throne and, thereby, choose any male under the age of two.  The Holy Family then fled into exile in Egypt (from whence the Israelites had come) and hid away until it was safe to return. 

  While we in the West celebrate the "Light of God's Revelation" in the form of a star and the discerning of God's plan, the Eastern Churches celebrate Christmas...

  God's gift of a Son - remarkably keeps blessing any of those who will - still - receive "the only Begotten Son...,"  this Child of God...