Ways to describe my discombobulated world: Addled ~ bewildered ~ bugged ~ chagrined ~ confounded ~ confused ~ disconcerted ~fazed ~ fuddled ~ in a tizzy ~ rattled ~ taken aback.

Happy Friday on this last one for September, here on the 29th, in the year of our Lord, 2017. It's a happy one for me because the wife surprised us by coming home last night. Her being home always makes things better. Always. Ever since the liberal power elite set out to destroy Chic-fil-A, I've been keeping up with how they are fairing. They have never, under any circumstances, discriminated against any customer buying their food. The family owning and running the Company are very open about their Christian beliefs. They talk directly about the biblical standard that God has given for His human family. Because they spoke up about how same-sex marriage is counter to God's expressed will, the liberal media along with the liberal power mongers have been doing their best to hurt this Company. In a nutshell, they have not hurt the Company at all. Last year it had the highest sales per store reported in the 15 major fast food chains. And, they were way ahead of the chain in second place. The other day I was returning to the office around 11 a.m. I passed by many different fast food outlets. Dairy Queen, Popeye's, Burger King, McDonald's, Taco Bell, Sonic, and a Jack in the Box. I was on the feeder. There were maybe between 3 and 6 cars at most of those places. When I came by the Chick-fil-A, it was wrapped around with cars twice, (double looped around the store), and every parking spot was taken. Sometimes 'the people' don't get to decide. In this case, they do, and they have. And, I believe it's God's blessings. I do. Yep. That's what I believe. (Now that's truly a drive-by survey on my part. Get it? I was driving by. Okay. Forget it.)

Actual train wreck in France in 1885.

I'm surprised the metaphor, train wreck, talking about things going bad or turning out bad is still used as much as it is.  Obviously, it can be overused to describe almost anything that ends up not going well, however, it typically reflects something thought to be an utter disaster. Sometimes it is used to describe people. Someone whose life is spiralling out of control can be said to be a train wreck or they have turned their life into a train wreck. I see it a lot when things about politics are being written. That bill in Congress has turned into a train wreck. The President's solution has become a train wreck. Things like that. I wasn't able to find the earliest usage of this as a descriptive way to deal with anything yielding disastrous consequences, therefore, I assume it was pretty natural to associate failures with the outcome of train wrecks. Some have speculated that it also has to do with people viewing an accident. It's something that is hard to look at but also hard to turn away from. (Some use the term car wreck in a similar fashion.)  I Googled up the uses of "train wreck" over the past 24 hours and I can assure you it is alive and well. From celebrities to sports, politics, natural disasters, and oh yeah, lest we forget, actual trains wrecking, the term continues to be popular. The thought came to me that without God we all are train wrecks. Thankfully, He is in the business of putting us on the Right Track. Amen.

It was the photo. I saw the photo of that train crashing out of that building and that is what made me think about that particular subject. God created us to respond to the images we see. Sometimes when you really want to be left with your jaw dropped, read what researchers know about how the eye transmits what we see to the brain and what the brain does with that information. Here's the conclusion from one paper I read: "Without the brain constantly computing as a visual processor, the visual information we receive through our eyes would remain a chaotic, jumpy mess. Corrective neurological mechanisms account for our eyes’ movements. Visual memory and attention work together to allow a fluid transition from one source of information to the next. In combination, these processes allow our brain to create our perception of a coherent, stable visual world." I guess when stuff I write doesn't turn out so good, well, it could be the part of my brain that's supposed to keep it from becoming a chaotic, jumpy mess, must have taken a holiday. What's that? Maybe a leave of absence? That's a good one. Enjoy your Saturday, and Lord's Day Sunday. Who knows what my eyes will see and my brain will come up with for our next time together. May God bless. Amen. ....More later.

Today's episode proves one thing. If you figure that out, please let me know, as soon as possible.

It's Thursday, September 28, 2017, and I just remembered that I forgot to remember to remember to tell everyone that my wife left me again. I know. Too much of this could become habit forming. She and her sister had to make a trip to check on their last remaining sibling, their older brother, Cleon. He's not been doing well lately and we would appreciate prayers on his behalf. Saying that Cleon is ailing any at all is difficult for us to take in. He has always been the go-to rock within my wife's family. He's been that for most of his life. Yet, time does make a difference. For him, and for us all. I am living proof of that. And, unless you missed something, my guess is that you are too. She left early Tuesday morning. Tuesday evening I had a house full of grandkids and some Church folks came to visit. We stood at the door and visited for about 20 minutes. I hated to treat them like the Morman missionaries that come by occasionally, but, I was actually trying to get ready to watch this season's first episode of NCIS. (At least the mosquitoes were not eating us up.) Today, we have a roofing contractor who was supposed to be at our house yesterday, coming to repair our storm damaged roof, including replacing four damaged rafters. (It's always something.) I am so thankful that our Jimmy is there to coordinate that work. Last night, I hurried home, got changed, and attended our Wednesday evening Church service. This evening we hope to have as many as 25 in our home for our weekly prayer and Bible study. The wife hopes to be home during the day on Friday. Friday evening, we have the viewing gathering at the funeral home for a dear sweet lady we've known for many years. On Saturday, I will be participating in her service. See? If my grandmother was right in saying that staying busy will keep me out of trouble, well, I should be trouble free. That reminds me of another of her sayings, don't count your chickens before they hatch.

Good Card. Bad Card.

Many of you no doubt have heard of the good cop, bad cop technique used in a number of situations, typically, to get information or to help foster change. We actually used that technique some back in the day when I was a fairly high up mucky-muck at the big company. I have a new twist on that technique. I will call it my good card, bad card experience. A few months ago I ordered up a new Santa Claus business card to be used to pass out to folks we come in contact with. My initial order was for 250 cards. They came out perfect. Lots of people have been made happy in receiving one of those cards. I am nearly out of them so I reordered another 250. They came in. They were dark and the color was off. I got on the customer service chat line and a lady said they had found the problem and would re-run the cards and express ship them to me. I now had 250 plastic souvenir cards on hand that were bad. The next ones came in and they looked exactly the same as the bad ones I had received the week before. This next time I was on the chat line for about 45 minutes. They got the designers, the coordinators, the schedulers, and I think they even got a partridge in a pear tree to look at the problem. I now have 500 bad cards. She asked me to make a photo of the good one and the bad one side by side and send the image to her. Who do they think I am? Bill Gates. I finally figured out how to do it and sent it to her. They have discovered once again what the problem was and are express shipping another 250 cards. Okay. I may be a simpleton, but, I asked the lady why they didn't go back to the original proof and make them with it. She told me not to worry because they had it all figured out. I'm supposed to get them tomorrow. We will see. They are not cheap, but, my guess is, they will not be making much off of this particular order. See what I have to put up with?

The lady on the chat line or she said she was a lady, and she had a lady's name, Mitsue, or it sounds like a lady's name. Who knows for sure? I didn't hear her voice and I didn't see her. I am on the computer throughout my day. I know a little about how to do these types of things. It reminds me of mom and dad trying to get to the bottom of a problem with their bank card or medical bill. They used their phone and often spent all day being sent from one place to another. The good news was their tenaciousness. Dad took notes and stayed with it until he got it solved. All day. It makes one wonder how many older folks get taken to the cleaners because of the process they have to go through to try and get things straightened out. How many just give up? Just think how it will be when we all will be mostly talking to robots. I wonder if we can use those quotes from the old Mork and Mindy TV series where Mork would say, "Nanu-Nanu! or Shazbot!"? Just thinking out loud here. Maybe it would be better kept to myself? Good point, but, it's too late now, therefore, I do hope you will have a great rest of the day and may God bless us all. Amen. Over and out. For today. .....More later.

Your daily dose of anecdotes defined as a usually short narrative of an interesting, amusing, or biographical incident, with me, the short part is typically ignored.

Our Card.

It's Wednesday folks, September 27, 2017, and I'm sure some of you know what that means. Most likely, very few will note that on September 27, 1777, British General William Howe occupied Philadelphia during the American Revolution. I actually didn't have anything in particular in mind, I was just looking for a way to start the day. Here is a little Santa Claus story that I will not soon forget. We were in our local Dairy Queen working on our abs. We were seeing how flabby we could make them. While there, I noticed a small Chinese girl with her parents and so I went over to their table and gave them our souvenir card. The little girl was delighted. When they got up to leave, the man, an American, came over to our table and talked about how nice our card is and how thrilled the little girl was to have it. She came over. He said she is two years old. She looked at me and said, clear as day, Santa Claus. I was going to point out the wife as Mrs Claus but the man said she knew who she was. He said that when I left their table he asked where I had gone and the little girl pointed to Mrs Claus on the card. She is two years old. She speaks fluent Chinese and English. He said she is so proficient she corrects his Chinese and the wife's English. She gave me a high-five and clung to our little card. As the man was leaving he asked about the wife and I. I told him we will soon be married 53 years. He asked how old I am. I told him 71 and counting. He said to add two years and I would catch up with him. His young Chinese wife may have been in her mid to late twenties. He said they would be returning in January to China where they live. He said the little girl will not forget us. I don't doubt that for one minute!

Convenience can be costly. Remember, you heard that here. I recently restocked my supply of little K-cup pods from the Community Coffee company. It was on sale. I paid $115 for 216 of the little units that make one cup each. I saved about $30 on the purchase. For many years I used ground coffee. A one pound bag will make around 50 cups as I make it. (72 or more for most people) One pound cost about $8, making each cup as I make it cost around 16 cents. My on sale K-cup pods average about 54 cents per cup. That's still a lot cheaper than buying it at a coffee shop, but, it does remind me that convenience can be costly. And, for me, using the Keurig is much more convenient. The one cup at a time works best for me because I get a freshly brewed cup each time in just a few seconds. There are no grounds to dispose of, I just yank out the old pod and throw it away. When I used the ground coffee, if I made more than one cup, I typically didn't like for it sit for a long time on the burner, therefore, I would make the coffee, turn it off, and then when I wanted another cup I would take it to the microwave and heat it up. (My wife will tell you I still heat up my little K-cup made coffee in the microwave because I like my coffee hot. But, that's a different story.) Just so you know, it's for only 30 seconds or maybe a little longer if I am travelling. She does often wonder out loud if I have any taste buds left. I'm not sure, but my abs might have something to say about it. Just say'in.

I don't mind making fun of my self, but, to be truthful, I often wish I didn't have so much material to work with. I've often said and believe me, it is the truth, there is much that will likely never be talked about. You know, it's put away, in that famous Al Gore Lock Box. I've withdrawn a few over the years but I think I've proved my point that most of us can be pretty funny if we just stop and take the time to laugh. At ourselves. I need to move on before one of those that I've hidden away comes to mind. Just joking. A little. Very little. Speaking of traumatic experiences, I read about a fellow who said that when he was about six, he and his sister were watching TV when a brief infomercial came on. The ad was for a cream that would make you ten years younger. The sister told her younger brother she was going to order it and rub it all over him. He was terrified. That reminds me. Oh well, I can see our time has come and gone. Thanks for showing up today. I will tell you, our country is one messed up mess. What can be done about it? I think praying for God's help is what we all should be doing. If there ever was a time when we need His intervention, it is now. Heal our land, oh Lord. Amen. ....More later.

Genesis 2:21 "So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh."

Good morning, it's Tuesday, September 26, 2017, and I bid each one a hearty hello from here at the ole blogger ranch. Given the number of page views from the United Kingdom and other European locations, perhaps I should throw in a hello mid-day or a good afternoon, just to have all the bases covered. I know some of you may think that my raised voice on some subjects might be way over the top. Take, for instance, my thoughts about sleep. Just listening to people talk makes me aware of how serious a problem we have with those dealing with sleep deprivation. Yesterday I stumbled on this as a headline in one of the British newspapers, "‘Catastrophic’ lack of sleep in modern society is killing us, warns leading sleep scientist. ‘I take my sleep incredibly seriously because I have seen the evidence,’ says Professor Matthew Walker." Most of my input may be anecdotal but obviously, God created us to have regular sleep as a part of our design. There is a spiritual component to sleep. Not all sleep issues are spiritual in nature, however, it helps to understand the peace that comes from being in fellowship with our Creator. I've listed a few verses for consideration: Proverbs 3:24 "If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet." ~ Psalm 4:8 "In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." ~ Psalm 127:2 "It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep." ~ Psalm 3:5 "I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me." Amen.

When I say there are many reasons people have trouble sleeping, I know this first hand just within my close circle of those near and dear to my heart. On very rare occasions I too have had to deal with a restless and sleepless night. It can be exasperating. Nearly 10 million Americans use prescription sleeping medication each day. Add to this number the over the counter meds being consumed and it's easy to see the magnitude of this problem. I do know that, for me, it can result when I have too much brain stimulation prior to my bedtime. You know, like getting too involved in a sporting event on television, or trying to finish something on the computer, or other kinds of things that keep your mind on overdrive. For kids, I can tell you, based on my own personal observation, these interactive games they play on their game controllers or cellphones, they are a sleep stealer. Too wired up. Or, too connected and/or addicted to shut the thing off. Whatever the causes, fundamentally, we need to get back to the basics where we pay attention to and honor the way in which God created us. While I typically don't have problems with my sleep cycle, I don't like to see others struggling with this issue. It impacts the entirety of their sense of any quality of life. May God help. Amen.

Let me see if I can say something about this furor over the posture or lack thereof during the presentation of our country's national anthem. Me personally, I think every American should show respect for the anthem and what it reflects. At the same time, I don't like our President using such crude language to describe those he disagrees with on this subject. There may be issues these athletes feel strongly about. I just don't think to disgrace the anthem is a way of calling attention to anything other than the disrespect being shown. There are probably other avenues to follow in getting their concerns recognized. This situation is a sign of our times. Our divided nation is becoming more so as these issues continue to be at the forefront each day. The American people who foot the bill for professional sports, by an overwhelming majority, are sickened by this public display of disrespect for our nation. Again, I think the President could have continued his support for how the majority feels without throwing gasoline on the fire. My opinion. At the same time, I think it will only be remedied when the money becomes significant enough to make an impact. People don't like what they are seeing, but, as long as they continue to buy tickets and watch or listen to the games, it will likely continue. In this case, money does talk. Now you know what you may have already known, but, from my point of view. Take care, enjoy the day the Lord has made, and I will do my best to see you next time. Amen. ....More later.

Matthew 25:13 "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." ~ from the English Standard Version of the Bible, (ESV)

If you are reading this, then the emergency broadcast stating the world was coming to an end last Saturday was inaccurate. For those who thought you would not have to finish paying for your car, well, welcome back to the real world. Today, we celebrate, another in a long series, it's back to work Monday, and this one is identified as September 25, 2017. I'm not making fun of the end of the world as we know it, but, I prefer to take God's inspired descriptions as given in His Holy Word. The latest prediction came through an emergency broadcast on a cable system out in California. The program being watched was interrupted and a loud booming voice came on and made the fateful prediction. In addition to that, there was the prediction claiming the activity within a star constellation was the fulfilment of Scripture. I read a three-paragraph assessment by a young Bible scholar that completely blew that prediction out of the water by showing the true meaning of the very verses used to justify this prediction. People have been very upset with all of these predictions of gloom, doom, and despair. Here's my take. The New Testament is filled with both warnings and promises as it relates to when Jesus will return and usher in the end of this age. If we understand these truths correctly, it should make us all aware that He could return at any time, meaning that we should always be ready. Some are not ready because they have never done business with God regarding their need of a Savior. Some true believers are not ready because they've wandered far away from God. My point? Me, you, them, everyone, do need to take seriously the facts about the final fulfilment of God's plan and purpose for His created earth and human family. It can be known. It's in the book. The Bible. Amen.

I want to let everyone who keeps up with my daily musings to know that I am doing okay. Several have expressed concern after I wrote that little ditty about my diabetic medication. My difficulties do not even register compared to so many who are dealing with much greater issues. I am thankful for all those who are concerned about my well-being, but, I can't really say more than I have said before, I am blessed. I know God and as the Scripture says, even more important, He knows me, as His very own child. While I might fuss about dealing with side effects, that doesn't change anything with regard to my standing with Him or His concern for me. We've all heard that old tale about how one was overly concerned about his shoes until he met a man with no feet. (The original of this saying in a variety of different forms is thought to be ancient Persian. Helen Keller used it like this, "I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.") I knew an older gentleman many years ago who gave out that little bit of wisdom so often it became part of his identity. He had accomplished many great things in his life. He had been successful in business. At the same time, he had suffered great failures in these same areas because he was always a risk taker. Having done all of these things, he ended up as a security guard at the Company where I was the department head. Everyone had to pass by him to gain access to our protected computer environment. He wasn't bitter about what someone might call his lowly position in his waning years. He used that confined workspace to give out encouragement and get people to be thankful for what they have. I most likely heard that story about the shoes a few dozen times, but, I still remember it, and I still remember him. Better yet, I still remember the point of that little story.

I think the evil one, that deceiver himself, Satan, must be happy when people make predictions about the world coming to an end. It helps him to get folks to be distracted so they fail to pay attention to the reality of the truth God wants everyone to know. This is not new. Back in the Apostle Peter's day, some were skeptical about the promised judgment coming at the end of the age. Just to make it crystal clear, here is the inspired passage where Peter talks about this very subject.

2nd Peter Chapter 3: "1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.


10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." (From the New King James Version)

I felt like I needed to share that and that's why I did. It is the truth about these matters that are recently in the news. I do hope we all will pay attention first, last, and always, to thus says the Word of the Lord. Have a great rest of the day Monday, and may God, our great God, add His blessings. Amen. ....More Later.

If suffering from side effects impacts my brain function, well, that may explain a lot about what is showing up on my blogs each day.

Today is Friday and while I am glad it is, I will tell you this, there's always something. Always. And, this report of the something I am talking about today gets clocked in on this September 22, 2017. I finally had to throw up my hands in defeat. That new little medication to help my diabetes has really knocked me around in terms of dizziness and general weakness. I like the improved numbers but the side effects have messed with my ability to function. Finally, while I didn't want to, I sent a note to the doctor to get some ideas. I do, after all, have stuff to get done each day, throughout the day. His nurse advised me to adjust when I took the medication in relationship to eating something and if that didn't help alleviate the problem, then I should cut the little pill in half. I still find it hard to believe something so tiny could cause such discomfort, loopiness, and tingling in my hands and face. But, when it's all said and done, most of us are works in progress, participating in trial and error, hitting the wall and getting back up, slowing down to go fast, and a whole variety of other approaches to help us to make it each day. Maybe not you. If not, be thankful. I've actually seen up close and personal what happens to those dealing with the accompanying issues relating to seeing diabetes run its course. Let me assure one and all, none of us want to deal with that. But, that's the challenge I have, along with a few dozen others, and, to be quite frank, I'm very thankful to be able to seek adjustments that will yield potential good results. Very thankful. Just a wee bit weary, but, very thankful. To God. Amen.

Everyone has their own set of challenges. I am the first to recognize that not every challenge is of huge importance, especially in the grand scheme. However, there are some folks that do freak out over some pretty seemingly small stuff. One lady wrote an account that almost sounded like a chase scene from a cop show. Red lights, traffic issues, speeding, it had all the ingredients. But, alas, she made it. Turned out that she had two minutes to spare before they stopped serving breakfast at her local Chic-fil-A. She had me going for a minute or two. I know. I do similar types of overkill as a literary device, but, I'm pretty sure she was serious. Literary? I know. That's a reach when describing anything that has to do with my blog, but, I actually think that is what it is called. I remember way back when a co-worker lady sprayed me with perfume as a joke. I forgot about it. When you know who washed my shirt, well, she didn't forget about it. Nope. She made a big deal out of it. Rightfully so. I stumbled around trying to explain it because I first had to remember how it happened. She interpreted my hemming and hawing as a cover-up. It wasn't. I was laughing the whole time because I knew there was no there, there. Finally, I remembered what had happened. I think we ended up having a good laugh about it. Come to think about it, I only remember me laughing.

I did read a couple of weeks ago about a famous lady movie star who said all these natural disasters was Mother Nature's response to President Trump. In the last few days, a purported blockbuster movie that she starred in pretty much bombed at the box office. It was highly anticipated and highly publicized. One reviewer who is more or less the elder statesperson in that field called it perhaps the worst movie ever made. I don't think I've ever heard that one before. At any rate, it makes one wonder. Who will she blame for the un-natural movie disaster? I heard a brief interview with a professional football player who had completed his 10,000th consecutive snap as a center. That's remarkable for a player that gets hit on every play. When asked how he had avoided injuries over his long career, he had an interesting response. He said he often played hurt but he added that today's younger players are predisposed to have more injuries. That fits the narrative I've noticed with those younger folks I work with. I'll let you come to your own conclusion on that. I thought it was an interesting observation on his part. That's why I shared it. It's been another interesting week around these parts. If my quality falls off too much I'll go back to being dizzy. Meanwhile, I do hope you enjoy your Saturday and that Sunday will find us all at the place of worship. Take care. May God bless. Amen. See you next time. Lord willing.  .....More later.

From a Peanuts Cartoon: Snoopy speaking to Woodstock, "You should get a job working in a tree." Woodstock appears to be ambivalent. Snoopy delivers the punch line, "You could be a branch manager, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha!!!!"

The world marches on and most of us find ourselves doing somewhat the same as we embrace another day here on the planet. This one happens to be Thursday, September 21, 2017. The way things are going these days, a whole lot of us find ourselves doing our best to cope. (Example: To face and deal with responsibilities, problems, or difficulties, especially successfully or in a calm or adequate manner.) It does help to maintain a sense of humor along the way. It really does. Laughter can be medicinal. That my friend is in the Bible. I want to share a few random quotes about laughter to help emphasize its value. Many of them are anonymous. “A laugh is a smile that bursts.” “Laugh as much as you breathe and love as much as you live.” “Nothing shows more of a man’s character than that which he laughs at.” “Earth laughs in flowers.” “The person who learns to laugh at himself will never cease to be amused.” “Laughter is the shock absorber that helps ease the blows of life.” “Laughter is the closest distance between two people.” “Laughter is a tranquilizer with no side effects.” “Laughter is the brush that sweeps away the cobwebs of your heart.” And finally, the one quote that should make us all take note as found Proverbs 17, verse 22: “A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.” Let’s try not to have too many dried bones! Amen.

Since I am still dragging just a tad, I'm left to follow the instructions on the frozen orange juice container: Concentrate. You're saying that isn't a suggestion, it has to do with the form of the juice. Wow! You learn something new every day. Okay. Just kidding on that one but life is often filled with riddles and conundrums. We are left to ponder things like why does glue not stick to the inside of the bottle? or Can a fat person go skinny dipping? or Why is the word abbreviation so long? or If a book about failures does not sell, is it considered to be a success? and finally a real dilly: We can calculate the speed of light but why don't we know the speed of dark? So many questions that spin around with the answers ever elusive. We learn over time to never argue with an idiot because doing so always brings you down to their level and then they beat you to a pulp because of their experience. Life is tough, don't you think? But what would it be without a smile now and then? I've known a few folks who tried to go without much smiling but believe me, it's not any way at all to live. I'm thinking about a particular fellow I know. He does drag a black cloud with him wherever he goes. He's been fairly successful in life. He owns a lot of stuff. I know he was raised up in a Bible believing Church but he hasn't been a part of that scene for most of his adult life. In hearing him talk, I know he loves his family, however, I can't imagine they would enjoy being around him. I try to encourage him but it's still a work in progress. My point? One more time, life is too short folks to live without joy. Someone told me about the way to have joy. J-esus first, O-thers next, Y-ou last.

Hey, you can even find some comedy on the local news broadcasts. I hear more and more people saying they never watch the news because it's just too depressing. What about the weather people? They can be entertaining now and then. Lately, they have one thing to talk about, in addition to the hurricanes, flooding, global warming, tornadoes, wind damage, and similar kinds of weather-related stuff. The ongoing topic centers around the continued heat wave we are experiencing here in late September. Yep. We we are still living in the 90+ range. One day this week it was so hot and humid I climbed out of my truck and waited for my glasses to unfog. I waited. I waited. Then, I waited some more. I finally yanked out my handkerchief and cleared them myself. You learned something? That I still carry a pocket handkerchief? That would be true. Although thinking about it, while I do carry one, it is only very rarely ever used. I will admit that I notice when the weather folks miss their forecast entirely. That's just something I find to be amusing. I know that some likely think I am too hard on the weather people and I might be, but they do offer an opportunity to smile as they tell you today what happened yesterday, but, they never mention how they didn't mention it in their forecast yesterday. That to me tells us that they really don't know everything. Anyway, I recommend that we find humor wherever and whenever we can. And, better yet, as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, allow Him to be the source of your joy each day. Joy is not always laughter but what a great combination whenever you can exercise them both on the same day! Now that, my friend, is a blessing! I was finished some time ago but didn't stop my typing. Lord willing, I will do my best to show up tomorrow with whatever ends up hitting the electronic page. May God bless. Amen. .......More later..

"Fear can keep us up all night, but faith makes a fine pillow." ~ unknown author

Good morning and welcome. It's Wednesday, September 20, 2017, and I'm thinking some today about how the more things change the more they stay the same. Some of you may wonder if I am still committed to my feather pillows. Do brown cows still eat green grass and give white milk? I am down to the last three available to me. Yep. Three. They tend to shrink over time. I know some would call this a quirk but I would instead say, for me, it is a way of life and given the number of people who complain endlessly about not being able to sleep, thank you very much, I will continue to snooze on my feather pillows. Here is what I wrote in my blog about my feather pillows back on May 23, 2007. "I guess the biggest single hang-up for me is my old-fashioned, feather pillows. My typical sleep cycle is 5 to 6 hours each night; therefore, I am determined to make the most of it! The three pillows I sleep on have been made, remade, combined, and recovered more times than I can remember. They are covered with the old-fashioned blue striped ticking, now very faded. Some of the feathers have to be 25 years or older, maybe much older. I thank God for my grandmother and my mom who passed down some of these pillows and especially my sweet mother in law, who, before her death, gathered up some reserve stock for me. My wife is a committed foam person and over the years she has purchased many alternatives guaranteed to solve ‘my’ problem. Once she thought she had finally found something to take the place of my three pillows. I’m not sure exactly what it was, some kind of goose something, but my verdict after really trying hard was simply: Not even close! (The pillowcases are a completely different subject that will have to wait for another day!)" Twenty-five years or older. Note, I wrote that ten years ago. While the outcome is in God's hands, one does wonder which one will go first, me or my pillows.

Okay. I will, some ten years later, now follow-up with my take on the pillow cases and I'll throw in my preference about bed sheets for good measure. Cotton. Smooth. Soft. I like them to have a completely worn out feel. I hand it to my wife for doing her best to try and provide these accessories over the years. I can hear her saying, "I'm sorry, I thought they had been washed enough and used enough to be ready for our bed." No. I am not typically inclined to be difficult. Wait a minute. Hold up on that one for now. I will get back to you later with an update. Why am I so focused on these types of seemingly insignificant items? Good question. I will try to answer. I typically am up and about for 18 hours each day. I do not have a super long sleep cycle. However, I am very much aware of the importance of sleep in supporting my approach to how I live my life. These seemingly insignificant items help me to get "lights out" sound, and restorative sleep for some 5 to 6 hours each night. It works. For me. It really does. Ask my wife. She knows. And, I appreciate the fact that our bed sheets and pillowcases don't always match. That would not be her way of doing things, but, she does it to support my tiny little, perhaps idiosyncratic, preferences. Please don't write me saying you are praying for my wife. I get that one way too much.

Let me tell you one thing. It seems way too often these days that I am hearing about another of my school chums passing away. They are folks I actually knew since we were little kids. I've lost two more in the last four months. Someone the other day commented on my use of three score and ten, plus one to designate my age. She told me, "Oh, just think about it, you are living in a bonus, one year past the promised seventy years." Yes. I knew what she was talking about. In the 90th Division of the Psalms, we have the prayer of Moses where he said this, "The days of our years are seventy years, and if we are strong - eighty years." (Verse 10) I understand that to be a generalization of how life unfolds, but, I think we all know that no one is guaranteed a set number of years. I read enough obituaries every day to know that. And, I don't know why, and I'm sure she meant no ill will, but, being reminded that I am living on borrowed time did kind of get hold of me. My response is to say that I'm not finished yet. I have more to do. And, with God's help, I will do my best to do what I can with the remaining time He allows me to have. I have to be reminded from time to time that retirement is not a biblical concept. We continue our work for Him until that day when He calls us home. Let me see if I can cheer myself up. A new study from Stony Brook University, published in June of this year, states that 70 is the new 60. This means I am only 61. Woo-hoo! Thank you very much. What's that? You changed your mind and now you think you will mostly pray for me? Good idea. Keep those cards, letters, and prayers a'comin. May God bless. Amen. ....More later.

"Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, an honest politician and an old drunk are walking down the street together when they simultaneously spot a hundred dollar bill. Who gets it? The old drunk, of course; the other three are mythological creatures." ~ copied

Last Thursday: Ready to go, ho ho ho!

Good morning and welcome to another day in the world I live in. It's Tuesday, September 19, 2017, and we continue to keep on keeping on, as best we can. With God's help. Of course. Last Thursday, I left work early, got home, cleaned up and made the transformation from the mere mortal that I play on most days to that jolly old fellow who sees you when you're sleeping. It was 90+ outside and I just had to pause and wonder about those guys who do this year round. God bless them. I did what I needed to do. Meanwhile, the wife went and started the car and put the A/C on maximum. I drove over to the professional studio where I met up with the lady we have worked with for many years. Once there, I worked with several sets of kids to establish a routine of all the planned photos. It didn't take me long to remember how involved this role can get. My first little customer was the cutest little boy who was maybe 18 months old. He wasn't that happy about Santa and he had on this little sweater that made him very slippery. And, he was very strong, as well. I will have to admit the combination of the sauna suit and this first little wrestling match, it took some of the zap out of my zip. I will say that driving around with the full-blown uniform does create quite a stir. On my way back home I pulled out to the street and had to wait for a few minutes. A lady waiting on the light spotted me and gave her little boy permission to unbuckle in the back seat and jump up front so he could see Santa. He was excited. He couldn't stop waving his arms. Okay. I admit it. I never get tired of seeing that kind of spontaneous joy. Think about it. I was just sitting there waving at him, but it made his day.

After finishing up with the promotional photos, I hurried home, changed back into my civies, and headed over for a potluck gathering of our Thursday evening Bible study group. Our dear Sister Pat Ervin hosted our group and there were about 20 of us who showed up for a time devoted to fellowship and feasting. The fellowship was great, as always. The food. Let me tell you about the food. It was like one of those best ever Church sponsored dinner on the grounds celebration we used to enjoy growing up. We had enough there to feed Cox's army. That's what Paw Paw Mac used to say. I never had any idea what he meant by that but another person there said their dad had always said the same thing. I wasn't taught this growing up but I have learned that when in doubt, Google it. Here's what I found: "When someone says there's enough to feed Coxey's Army or enough to feed Cox's Army, it means there's an excess beyond what is needed. The expression is southern that originated with American reformer and eccentric Jacob Sechler Coxey who led a march in Washington D.C. in 1894. The history of this expression is one that's true Americana." I'm not sure if my grandfather knew about this but he did know about food. One last thing about our potluck supper. Every dish was melt in your mouth delicious. You can never improve on made with love, homemade cooking. Never. Never. Never. And, I am unanimous in my opinion on that.

I'm not one to use the word hopeless very much. However, when we see what we are seeing, emanating from our nation's capital, well, I'm not sure what the future holds for our Republic. Maybe it took a lightning rod personality of a President Donald Trump to bring to the forefront what we've all seen in bits and pieces over the years. For the most part, government officials have become a club of sorts who are carrying on a mega scam. That scam is being played out on TV as these lifer politicians pontificate from all sides of their mouths. But, we knew this, didn't we? Yes and yes, but, now it's so clear no one can find a way to excuse or cover it up. It's not partisan per se. It's mostly me first politics. My tenure. My position. My power. I, for one, am sick to my stomach. Sorry. I did not take a pessimism pill this morning, but, if you see a ray of light coming out of Washington, well, you might want to get your eyes checked. I would start with myopia and go from there. Okay. Enough about that. I know. Many are tuning it out faster than a speeding bullet. I can't help but wonder if that too is not part of their strategy. You know. Maybe we all will get so sick, we will just leave them alone. This makes me long for that time when God will make all things right. That's where hope exists. He will do that. In His own good time. We have His word on it. I feel better. Take care and may God help us all including this broken country. Amen. ....More later.

Happy 12th Birthday to our Alexander Benjamin, (Alex)!

I didn't know the roller coaster ride made a stop here but I guess it does. That's somewhat overly dramatic but it does introduce us to a brand new back-to-work Monday, on this September 18, 2017. Today I pause to recognize the 12th anniversary of the birth of our grandson, Alexander Benjamin. There's no doubt that with family like our Alex and others, we are keeping the heritage of 'characters' alive and well. Alex can give you an explanation, typically with all the vivid details, of just about anything you might come up with. He does relate a lot of his day by day living to the video games he plays. He and the rest of our clan have had to deal with the certainty of death with the recent loss of his mom's dad, his Grandpa, and my mom and dad, his great grandparents. He is a character and he does light up our lives. We pray for him and for his journey, that God will be with him, every step of the way. Amen. Happy Birthday, Alex. We love you, MiMi and Poppy.

This thing with the love bugs is getting serious. Some think Hurricane Harvey must have created conditions that are even more conducive to the little boogers doing their thing. They are for the most part harmless except maybe their ability to destroy the paint job on almost any vehicle. Our shop office is visited by much traffic every day. Because of that, the door is opened and closed dozens of times. The love bugs like to come in for a visit. They seem to like it here. They are climbing on the walls. Flying around. And, while I try to be tolerant, they cross the line when they crawl into The Cup. You know the one I am talking about. The Cup that holds The Community. I have to check it before I hit the brew button on my Keurig. I can't blame them for being drawn to the rich and full flavored aroma of my Columbian Community Coffee. However, they are now ordered to cease and desist messing with Texas. You know. Don't mess with Texas. I'm just trying to be relevant here. The good news is they will disappear just like they showed up. Hopefully, soon. I can't think of anyone who is really glad to see them each year unless it might be the Maaco Auto paint folks.

I've not been killing any of them intentionally. If I'm driving, well, so be it. And, I might have sat on one or two if they happen to be crawling around in the wrong place. With their average lifespan at 3 to 4 days, well, I've tried to show some appreciation because God must have had a reason for them being here. I'm pretty sure it wasn't so I would have something to write about today. Or, maybe even He was getting tired of the stuff I've been serving up. You do know I'm only joking. Our new fellowship of believers is located between 15 and 17 miles from our home. Our old Church was less than 3 miles away. On Sunday morning the traffic is light and there's no problem getting there. On Wednesday evening, trying to get to the mid-week service has been a challenge. Thus far, we are averaging around 45 minutes on Wednesdays compared to less than 5 minutes before. Coming back home is not too bad because most of the heavy traffic has dissipated. We knew this before we joined. We felt God's leadership in making the decision, therefore, we will be served up a heavy dose of opportunities to learn patience on Wednesday evenings. ("For you know that the trial of faith imparts to you patience." Book of James, Chapter 1, Verse 3, as rendered in the Aramaic Bible in Plain English.) I do hope you have a wonderful rest of the day and may God add His blessings to it. Amen. ....More later.

I have more for you today than you can shake a stick at. (Lancaster Journal of Pennsylvania dated 5 August 1818: “We have in Lancaster as many Taverns as you can shake a stick at”.)

I feel a little like the fellow who gets to the top of the mountain and plants a flag. My flag would say, "I made it!" To Friday. September 15, 2017. I say that because this week has been a wee bit of an uphill climb for yours truly. Here's a word for us all today. Perseverance. This word has to do with us exercising steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. (The theological context of the perseverance of the saints has to do with the concept of once saved always saved, and how that nothing can change that.) At any rate, persistent perseverance is a part of the makeup of many of my generation. It may not be as solid as those we followed, but, it is demonstrated in our determined commitment to the task before us. And, at the risk of sounding like an alarmist, I think it is something that is clearly lacking in many of the younger generations today. I don't mean that in a condescending or sour grapes way. It is more out of concern than anything else. I actually think many of the younger generations have a better handle on things like balancing work and family, however, at the same time, this is often used as an excuse for being undependable. Being undependable is a good way for me to describe many of the younger workers I observe. Sorry. But, take it from an old persistent perseverance guy, I think I know what it is when I see it. I do. I really do. 

I don't want to be perceived as the grumpy old man who yells how that things were so much better back in his day. I actually don't see it that way. At the same time, I do think that observations based on experience and knowledge can be helpful. That's it. I'm not complaining, just giving some wise input. You can't deny we are living in some really amazing times. Curt Schilling, the phenomenal major league baseball pitcher, was fired by ESPN for expressing his conservative views. He also is being kept out of the Baseball Hall of Fame for the same reason. Meanwhile, they have liberal commentators at ESPN who can say whatever they want to about President Trump and they get the 'free speech' pass. More NFL players are joining the so-called protest during the national anthem. Meanwhile, ratings are falling. (I suppose the NFL sees this as a 'free speech' matter, but, remember all the blowback when Tim Tebow took a knee in recognition of his heavenly Father.) Recently, an author opined how that going after minorities who loot after a natural disaster reflects white racism. Have we lost our minds? Also, something that supposedly has always been off limits, we recently witnessed two nominees for positions within the new administration enduring endless questioning regarding their conservative religious beliefs. One was castigated for affirming his belief that Jesus is the Savior and the only way to be made right with God. Those doing the questioning would not dare ask others in different religions those kinds of questions. Never. Just Christianity. One more time folks, we are living in some amazing times! 

Okay. I think I may have moved in the direction of becoming increasingly wordy over the past several weeks. My wife points that out to me from time to time. It can be a slippery slope. I may have slid down one or two slippery slopes growing up. Muddy banks make for good sliding down into the creeks. But, that was a long time ago. Believe it or not, in the preceding paragraph, there were many more examples of the double standards that have become the norm in our culture today. I could have used more, but, most of my readers know exactly what I am talking about. You think I'm kidding about that. Right? Here's one of the biggest of all. Think about all the relentless criticism hurled at First Lady Melania Trump, an immigrant and naturalized US citizen. It has been merciless. If one critical word was ever uttered about Michelle Obama it was immediately branded and condemned as being racist, period. I rest my case. For today. It's been an interesting week around these parts. I do hope you and yours are making it okay. I close by wishing everyone a great Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday. May God watch over us all. Amen. See you next time. .....More later.

"The human brain is like a freight car. It was created to hold a large capacity but it is often running empty." ~ copied

There must be something going on in the atmosphere. The last several days I have been less than eager to hit the ground running each morning. That's not like me. But, it is what it is, and we all have something to deal with as we face each day. The one we are dealing with today is Thursday, September 14, 2017. Maybe it's all these love bugs hanging around. It could be some type of planetary inversion. I have no idea what that means, but, when one seeks for an explanation it's best to consider all alternatives, even those you know nothing about. It leaves me hoping that I will snap out of it soon and get back to my 'morning person' persona. I guess the concern is that I might somehow, at my age, get stuck in low gear. The Community Coffee helps some. As Paw Paw Mac used to say, "It's good for whatever ails you." Based on prior experience, the ancient Persian adage may soon show itself to be true, "This, too, shall pass." I know that one is often attributed to the Bible. It could be that it is confused with the often biblical usage of, "And it came to pass." Here's my take. I will gladly receive the benefits of either of those sayings. Until then, I'll try to follow another of my grandfather's admonitions, "Son, you've got the same clothes to get glad in."

I suppose it could be worse. ~ The light at the end of the tunnel has been turned out until further notice. ~ The doctor called and said you have only 24 hours to live. He called yesterday. ~ One good thing, we are going to name this disease after you. ~ I've gotten you a replacement hamster, and oh yeah, one more thing, you are adopted. ~ Just to let you know, the airbags worked perfectly in your new car. ~ Your blood test indicates a very serious disease but your cholesterol is really great. ~ I know it is tough that you lost both your feet but I did find someone who wants to buy your sneakers. ~ The Company has done exceptionally well recently, while you were on vacation. ~ You've been recognized in your neighborhood, with toilet paper and shaving cream. ~ You missed a call. It was the funeral home calling to see how you are doing. ~ I hate to tell you this but I just saw your stockbroker hitchhiking out of town. ~ Three calls are holding for you. 1) The FBI, 2) The DA, 3) Local news reporter. I adapted these from random places, however, the point is that things typically could be worse. I know some of these are pretty bad but maybe a chuckle can be found in there, somewhere.

I hate it that we must typically add a disclaimer when we make an attempt to be humorous. No animals were harmed in the writing of that particular paragraph. And, there was no intention whatsoever to offend anyone. I've always been short. I haven't checked my height lately but I do know that as we age we shrink. In our height. Not necessarily in other areas. I'm living proof of that. As a kid, I was often reminded of my diminished vertical status. I think most of it was in fun. I cannot recall a time when I interpreted what was being said as a form of bullying. Being hit by a much bigger fellow so hard that it made the heels of your feet throb, well, that was probably bullying. At the same time, I can never remember being left out of any activity because of my height. We didn't have a basketball dunking contest back then. 'Abbott and Costello' were pretty popular in those days. I did get called the signature, 'Hey A-A-A-B-B-B-O-T-T-T!' many times. Of course, Abbott was the tall guy in the duo so my cohorts were not necessarily demonstrating any great insight in their teasing. If it ever became an issue, I wasn't aware of it. Maybe that's part of the missing sequence on that brain tape of mine. But, as I so often remind us all, with God, He is no respecter of persons. He sees us all the same. And, He cares. Enough to make provision for us through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. And, as the song says, 'the ground is level at the foot of the cross'. No one stands taller than anyone else. Maybe I liked the attention I was getting. Whoa! That needs further investigation. For another day. May God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

I've always wanted to be a part of an exclusive club. As of April of this year, there were an estimated 7.5 billion people breathing air on the planet. There are only a few thousand Santa's. I think I made it.

Santa with training wheels from 2009.

Good morning and welcome to Wednesday, September 13, 2017, here at the ole blogger ranch. It got here much earlier this year. I am working on doing my best to do my best to get into the Santa mode for tomorrow afternoon's promotional photo session. The wife retrieved The Suit and it appears to be well rested from its sabbatical. This will begin my 9th year in what we call The Santa Enterprise. When I decided to get started I knew I wanted to put my best foot forward. I didn't even know if I could find somewhere to show up as Santa, although, I figured surely someone would allow me to do charity work. I told the wife I wanted to buy a quality uniform. It was around $400. I can't remember if she rolled her eyes or not, but, she supported me doing it, with some reservations. I knew I could grow the beard. I knew I could wear padding. I knew I loved children. Since I had worked one Christmas season as a department store Santa back in the early 1970's, I also knew there was a lot of work involved in being the Jolly Old Elf. My grandson and I drove down to a novelty shop near the Gulf coast where I purchased my first uniform. The grandkids thought it was pretty exciting. Our children, the three boys, wondered if it was time to check out a place to put me, just in case. The business of being Santa took off. All word of mouth. A couple of years later I talked the wife into joining me to portray Mrs. Claus, we purchased her uniform, and we were off and running. We've done more than 100 events and I'm glad to say we have done our best to bring joy to children of all ages. The professional photographer I will be working with tomorrow will have some kids there to be in the promotional photos. The kids. If anything can get me into Santa mode, it's the kids, they can do it!

Things do not always appear to be what they seem. President Carter told a joke to an audience while in Japan and everyone burst out laughing. He felt very proud of himself. He asked the translator about it. The translator told him exactly what he had said in Japanese to the audience, "President Carter told a joke, everyone must laugh." Embarrassment is something that stays with you a long time. I well remember returning a warm greeting on the full elevator only to find out the person was greeting someone behind me. I sometimes forget that I am vertically challenged. I read about an organist lady who had a very busy schedule one day. She had three funerals and a wedding to do. The wedding was early evening and last on her schedule. By the time it started she was so tired she automatically began playing a funeral song during the processional. Being pranked as a child, this fellow had been told that when he whistled, no one could hear it except him, inside his head. He finally learned this was not true. In the 7th grade. Sometimes it's best to keep what you don't know to yourself. Like the fellow who overheard someone explaining why the forensic examiner character on NCIS is called Ducky. His name, after all, is Dr. Mallard. He had to admit he didn't know that. (I didn't either, but, I am okay with not ever having given it any thought. Had I given it any thought, which I hadn't, I may or may not have caught it. I think I would have caught it. I'm pretty sure. If it matters at all, I do like Duck Dynasty.)

That pie chart may not add anything to that little story. I get feedback at times about my choice of graphics. Let me see if this one will work. It was the best I could do on short notice. Looking at the pie chart, it's obvious there's a lot that any of us does not know. I Googled "what you don't know will" and I got mostly sermons on that subject as in, what you don't know will hurt you. Let me flesh that one out a little. Many people actually believe that when the end of life comes they will face God and He will determine their eternal destination based on what they have done, good or bad. What if they are wrong about it being that way? See what I mean? There are not only serious but eternal consequences at hand. You know. Heaven or hell. That's why knowing the truth is crucial. The truth about how all of this works can be found in God's Holy Word. On a personal note, I think I'm more comfortable today in admitting what I don't know as compared to my younger years. Maybe that's wisdom or maybe it's the reality of the age I have attained. Or, maybe I don't know even about that. Now I am confused. That means it is time for me to say 'Goodnight Gracie'. Take care and may God bless each one. Amen. ...More later.

"Change is inevitable. Except from a vending machine." ~ Robert C. Gallagher

Good morning and welcome where the celebration of today began just after midnight. That is, the celebration of a new day, this one being Tuesday, September 12, 2017. They tell us that one of the things that people our age, in our 70's now, hate more than anything else is change. However, there are times when change is necessary. This past Sunday, the wife and I joined a new fellowship of believers. That's not something we had ever even thought would be in our future experience. Yet, we have. We, at our age, are NEW members. After nearly 35 years in our former congregation, we now, in many respects, are starting over. We are thankful that in this change God has made it clear to us that He is not finished with us yet. We still have something we can do for The Kingdom and I do know that we both desire to finish strong and finish well, with God's help. The children's song written by the late Joel Hemphill came to mind, "He's still working on me To make me what I need to be it took him just a week to make the moon and stars The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars How loving and patient He must be 'Cause He's still workin' on me." You can pray for us as we adjust to our new family, and oh yeah, be sure and pray for the new family, they will need it just as much, if not more. Amen.

I know what some of you are thinking. If we found a perfect Church, well, having now joined, it is no longer perfect. That is as true as it gets. It is important to appreciate one's own fallenness. Don't get me wrong. I've been cleared of all my debt of sin, once and for all, by the blood of Jesus on the Cross of Calvary. He is the one that declared this when He used a legal term, "It is finished." (John 19:30) This is found only in the Apostle John's inspired eye witness account of the crucifixion. The Greek here is instructive, tetelestai, is a legal term with a specific meaning. The word was written on business documents or receipts in New Testament times to indicate that a bill had been paid in full. If that's true, then why I am still dealing with the ravages of personal sin and failure? Good question. The Apostle Paul gives great insight into this dilemma. He describes the war between our old man nature versus the new man nature given to us in our salvation. (Romans Chapter 7) As we yield to the Holy Spirit, our new man gives us the strength to overcome those old man inclinations. The problem is that we don't always yield ourselves to God's abiding presence in our lives. We don't. When we don't, bad things happen. We fail. While failure doesn't change my status as a child of God, it can impact my relationship and fellowship with Him. (Remember King David, who asked that God would restore the JOY of his salvation. Psalm 51). The good news is that we have the promise of restoration as found in John's first epistle, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1st John 1:9, New King James Version.)

I know there are many other views of these truths and there's much more to all of those points but I didn't set out to use today's visit as a sermon or a class on theological matters. You know the drill. I sit down, typically on the edge of my steno chair, and I let my fingers do the walking here, there, and everywhere on the keyboard. That's how I do what I do. It's not always correct. I do make mistakes. Hopefully, the underlying context of my purpose does typically come through. Why a steno chair? I could have one of those more executive type chairs, but, for me, I do better with a steno chair.  There have been times when I have written stuff that just didn't work. For me. I hate it when that happens because I end up deleting everything and starting over. It's not as if I am being graded, but, I do have a desire to use this forum for a positive purpose. I will be the first to say that some days are better than others. However, I do get some good feedback from those who take the time to read. I love the fact that God allows us to communicate encouragement and to use expressed thoughts to stimulate thinking, and of course, to share our common faith in our Lord and Savior. Thanks again for your support over these many years. May God bless us all is my prayer. Amen. ....More later. 

"My father was the best person I have ever known and though he was taken from me on that day, nothing and no one will ever be able to take way the eight years and two days of my life that I shared with him. After my father died, and after I lost so much, I promised myself that I would never lose who I am as a person – the person that my father brought me up to be. … If you owe someone an apology, tell them you are sorry today. If someone asks for your forgiveness, forgive them. Start being the person you always wanted to be today and don’t waste your time worrying about tomorrow." ~ Mary Kate McErlean, whose father was killed on 9/11 when she was 8 years old.

Welcome back. It is September 11, 2017. We all know that President Roosevelt said after the surprise attack on December 7, 1941, by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor, "A date which will live in infamy." That happened before I was born but it is well remembered. However, I would say that for so many of us, 9-11, reflecting upon the terrorist attacks on our nation that occurred on September 11, 2001, this day also lives on and on in our hearts and in our minds. Those attacks forever changed our nation and today I pause to say a prayer for all the families who were impacted on that fateful day. Amen.

These are some pretty scary times we are living in. One family we know left our area to visit in-laws in Mexico. They left the area inundated by the unprecedented rains of Hurricane Harvey only to be greeted by an 8.1 earthquake in the very place they were staying. That earthquake is one of the most destructive to hit Mexico. Now we have Hurricane Irma ravaging parts of Florida even as I pen my blog this morning. These major natural disasters have almost shielded us from the cataclysmic out of control wild fires going on in the western regions of our nation. What does all of this mean? I am one who believes the last days that we hear so much about actually began when our Savior, Jesus the Christ, ascended back into heaven. (Acts 1:9-12) I say that based on the testimony immediately after His ascension by one of the attending angels, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." (Verse 11) In what we call the Olivet Discourse, our Savior does indicate an increase in disturbances within the cosmos prior to His return. (Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21.) My point to myself and to us all? Make peace with God by accepting His provision through the finished work of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. ("So then, 'Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" Romans 10:13) And, be ready. There's a song the wife and I used to sing that has this thought for us to think about, "It could happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, it could happen in a moment, He could break the eastern sky." I believe that. I really do. Amen.

One of the serious overhangs from Hurricane Harvey has to do with the shutdowns of some of the roadways in and out of the massive Houston metro area. I was out and about last week, therefore, I saw this impact firsthand. A typical 45-minute drive into an interior area took me over two hours. I was telling some folks about this situation and I gave them this illustration. On that particular trip, I saw some of the people around me on the freeway more often than I see my family. And, get this, my time was better than many others making the same journey. Some reported nearly a 3-hour trip. Here's another insight. Having made a couple like that, the entire day was gone when I finally got back to my workstation. I know what some of you are probably wondering. Road rage? Sure. There will always be idiots out there endangering themselves and others. However, because of everyone being in the same boat, I actually didn't see as much of that as I normally do. Another observation that always strikes me is the sheer number of over sized 18 wheelers that it takes to supply our metropolitan sprawl. At times, I was stuck right dab in the middle of a congregation of truckers. You can't see anything, so, staying in line is pretty much all one can do. I think I maintained my cool pretty much even in that mass of traffic, but, I can't be sure my blood pressure wasn't up a notch or two. I heard one estimate of 100,000 commuters who were displaced by the road closures. Yikes. Thankfully, and I mean that, yes, thanks be to God, I am still here and able to commiserate with y'all. Have a great day and may God, the very God of heaven, add His blessings. Amen. ....More later.