Showing Tag: " christ" (Show all posts)

If I Don't See You again, I Love You!

Posted by Michael La Framboise on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, In : Meditations 

In 1997, a grandfather visited his daughter and grandchildren in Wisconsin. Before returning home to southern California, he exchanged goodbyes with his eldest grandson, Jeremy, who was 21 at the time. Neither one knew when they might see each other again. As hugs were shared, Jeremy said, “Goodbye, and if I don’t see you again, I love you.” A few days later his grandpa passed away suddenly, just a few hours after reaching home. Unexpectedly, Jeremy and his family were soon on their way...


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Blood Bought America

Posted by Michael La Framboise on Monday, November 28, 2022, In : Politics 
Ever since the Red/ Blue Map of the 2000 presidential election, there has been a steady increase in the use and meaning of Red and Blue States, which has in turn led to the notion of a Red and Blue America. This is typically used to divide the country into opposing camps of religion, morality, and, of course, politics. In the view of this humble blogger, this distinction between Red and Blue Americans has crossed a dangerous line, as it is now commonplace to characterize one’s political opp...

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What Jerry Osborne’s Life Can Teach Us

Posted by Michael La Framboise on Sunday, October 25, 2020, In : Meditations 

My Grandpa, Jerry Osborne, faithfully served the Lord for 46 years as a pastor committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After he passed away, his sermon notes and preaching Bible were stored away in a large old-fashioned trunk in the garage where they remained undisturbed and quiet for nearly 20 years. Then, as providence would have it, on the night of July 4th (one of Jerry’s favorite holidays), 2015, that garage was set ablaze by the embers of illegal fireworks. I had always intended to s...


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Who Will Raise The Standard?

Posted by Michael La Framboise on Wednesday, October 25, 2017, In : Meditations 

One of the greatest dramatic moments in American film takes place in the third act of Glory, when Private Silas Tripp (Denzel Washington) witnesses the regiment’s standard- the American flag- fall to the ground. As the soldier carrying the flag is shot dead on the battlefield, Silas takes up the standard once more and carries the banner forward, rallying the troops to continue their ill-fated charge against Fort Wagner.

As I think about my Grandpa today, I think of the first time I ever saw ...


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A Letter To Grandpa

Posted by Michael La Framboise on Tuesday, October 25, 2011, In : Meditations 
As usual on this day each year, I write to commemorate the legacy of my grandfather, Jerry Osborne. Lately, I have been researching and writing a biography on his life as the founding pastor of Community Bible Church in Norwalk, California. As I have been pouring over the details of his life, I came across a letter written to him posthumously, delivered to him as a eulogy of sorts at his funeral. I have partially reprinted the letter for preservation here from a photocopy. I believe the origi...
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The Greatest Privilege

Posted by Michael A. La Framboise on Saturday, May 14, 2011, In : Meditations 
Back in 2001 I was only 22 years old. Ten years have passed and so much has happened since then. That year Marie and I became parents for the first time as we welcomed Cristian into our family. A few months later the World Trade Center Towers fell along with the rest of the carnage that devastated our country on September 11th. That Christmas the first installment of The Lord Of The Rings became a world-wide phenomenon. During that year I had moved from Wisconsin back to California only to wa...
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Just Another Christmas

Posted by Michael A. La Framboise on Sunday, December 12, 2010, In : Poems 
The air is sharp and chilled
Tho’ not because it’s cold
The days are short and filled
Tho’ not with joys of old
It’s just another Christmas without Grandpa

He used to read a story to us
In person, or on the phone
T’was The Night Before Christmas
I can still hear his baritone
It’s just another Christmas without Grandpa

He would read the Old, Old Story
As we gathered ‘round and settled in
Every year on Christmas morning
From his Bible he’d begin
It’s just another Christmas w...
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