Here's one for us all to think about: Where would I be were it not for God and His working in my life?

Good morning and welcome to another edition of my version of my remarkable life. I didn't say it was remarkable. There's been no official recognition that I have a remarkable life. I think I have one and that's why I said it was my version. It is Tuesday, October 31, 2017, and I actually hope no one gets killed wearing an evil clown face on this Halloween day. I Googled 'scary clown mask' and they appear to be readily available from Amazon, eBay, and Wal-Mart. We have an early start in the morning to go to the airport for our trip, therefore, we do not plan to participate in the Halloween experience. The wife will be helping this afternoon to get a booth set up at our local fellowship where the old folks will be serving up hospitality and refreshments. Meanwhile, I do have another, 'Could it be God?' story. One day last week I was driving home and there's a cut through that knocks off over 5 minutes of my commute. It takes me through a subdivision. I was driving along and I caught a faint glimpse out of my left driver's side window of a little cotton haired boy running on the sidewalk towards the street. Something told me he was not going to stop. He didn't. I did. There I was stopped in the middle of the street and he ran directly in front of my pickup. Here's the deal. He never saw me. Not even a glance. My legs drained a little when I thought of the 35 MPH speed limit in that neighborhood. I did take the time to thank God because I'm not always tuned in that close to stuff like that. I'm so thankful that God distracted my driving that day. He did just that. I know. I was there. And, yes, I am more careful doing that cut through because you just never know.

I know some is as a result of conditioning. But, receiving our tax statements for our water district, county, hospital district, school district, local college, and the emergency services district levies, well, it is somewhat of a downer. In the summary statement, it says revenues are projected to be $328, 524, 551.00. That is followed by the expected expenditures, $328,524,551.00  Looks like they have a place for every penny which means I most likely shouldn't look for a refund of any kind in the future. According to their provided statistics, our personal tax bill is roughly $600 higher than the average in our county. Like I say, there's something about getting these statements in October for taxes due in January of the next year that tends to make one a little grumpy. I know that government is a God-ordained institution and that we are called on to support and pray for those in authority over us. When I begin to think about the blessings I enjoy as a child of God living in the country we are privileged to live in, and, how He has provided the things we own, it causes me to read again The Scriptures, as it were the first time, "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor." (Romans, Chapter 13, Verses 1-7)

This past Sunday was a busy day. We typically have a full schedule of Church-related activities and seemingly, by the time we get home after services in the morning, it's no time before we head back for the evening schedule. Early Sunday afternoon, I ran by the grocery store on the way home to pick up a few items. When I came out to my truck, it would not start. Dead battery. I guess the cold killed it off. I could not believe it. There I was, in my suit and tie, but my truck was not going anywhere. Two men who were getting in their vehicle in front of me saw my dilemma and immediately came to my rescue. They asked if I had jumper cables. I had not seen the cables in a while but I do have some behind the seat. They were there and they helped me get started. I so much appreciated them doing that. When I got home, after trying to determine the age of the battery, with no luck, I decided to take the wife's car and go buy a new one. We had a big hymn singing to attend Sunday evening and I didn't have time to fool around with checking the old battery. When I went to the auto parts store I had thought it had not been very long at all since I bought that battery. The lady deciphered the code and said I had bought it in July of 2007. Really? Five years is pretty good for our weather conditions. At any rate, I brought the new one home and our son, Jimmy and I, got it installed. We had folks coming from Louisiana for the big singing. What a great time we had. We then went to dinner with them. Way past my bedtime. I was very surprised when I hit the floor at my regular time Monday morning. God was again good. I thought I had a fairly new battery. It wasn't. Some good Samaritans went out of their way to help. We had a wonderful time of hearing some 2,000 voices singing praises to our great God. Great fellowship. And, then, back to it. Lot's of fun trying to keep up but thankful for the journey. Amen. ...More later.

"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes....including you!" ~ Anne Lamott, novelist

Today is Monday, the 30th of October, 2017. Tomorrow is Tuesday, the 31st of October, Halloween, 2017. Early Wednesday morning, if I have not by then turned into a pumpkin, the wife and I will be leaving on a jet plane, just like the song says, but we do know when we will be coming back again. We are taking a very brief respite before our holiday season starts in earnest. Our plan is to return Saturday evening. I am scheduled to teach the following Sunday morning and the wife has choir practice as they get ready for a huge Christmas choral presentation. I am unsure if I will be able to do my blogs since our little laptop went kaput some time ago. The wife will be taking her tablet and I might be able to use it, but, I haven't before, therefore, if you don't hear from me after Wednesday morning, don't worry about it. Out on the highways, I see those silver amber alerts on the huge neon message boards and immediately wonder if they might be looking for me. The other evening I was talking with one of the boys on my cell phone when I immediately got up out of my recliner looking for something. It wasn't in my pocket. What did I do with it? Where did I lay it down? Oh yeah, that's right, I found it, I was talking on it. Now you know why I need a getaway. I hear you. For those problems, the getaway may not help. It's more or less a surprise to the wife and while she knows the area we are flying to, she really doesn't have a clue what we will be doing after we get there. I'm trying to remember if I've got that piece of business, the planning of our itinerary, on for today or tomorrow. Go ahead. All prayers are appreciated.

And, lest you think I'm one of these impulsive, spontaneous fellows, I will have you to know that I made the reservations and paid for the hotel and airline tickets back in March. I even bought that cancellation insurance, because with us, you just never know. That's true, even with just a few days to go in the countdown. We will be gone four days. I requested that we pack together. One suitcase. She said that should not be a problem since they will have a blow dryer at the hotel. I've seen her pack for a weekend trip to see her sister. I don't think the blow dryer will be the issue. But, I am very happy she is cooperating. Now if she comes up with a suitcase that will have to be put in a trailer behind the car, well, that could end up being troublesome. She said something about how we could use our carry-ons. I'm not sure that works so well anymore, but, we've got today, tonight, tomorrow, and tomorrow night to figure all of this out. I typically like to do my packing on the morning of the departure, but, this particular trip may require a wee bit more preplanning. I suppose the only thing lacking at this point and time is the excitement we used to feel when we were getting ready for a trip like this. Maybe it will hit me on my way out the door. The security situation at the airport and all the other procedural matters to be attended to, they don't contribute to any positive vibes. I haven't flown in a long while. They had just started asking that shoes be taken off. I did get pulled out for a personal search. It wasn't nearly as invasive as what I read about today. And, they kept my little trimming scissors. I'm still angry about that one. They were such good little scissors.

A lot has been written and reported on the Astros competing to be major league baseball world champions. They return to Los Angeles, leading the series 3 games to 2. People around these parts have gone nuts. Some season ticket holders complain about those climbing on board at the end. Come on now. That's capitalism at its best. They can't keep enough team apparel as people stand in line to gobble it all up. The Astros have an amazing player named Jose Altuve. He is a little guy. Literally. He doesn't fit the image of what is typically seen at this level. Yet, he has smashed records, and if he doesn't get the Most Valuable Player award, there may be a riot. One lady we know put up her own fashioned meme in big letters on Facebook in support of Altuve. It said, "Go-o-o-o Zaccheus!" (That's a Bible character described in Luke, Chapter 19. There's even a popular children's song about him, "Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he. He climbed up in a sycamore tree For the Lord he wanted to see.") I am an interested observer. There was a time in my life when I would have been churning on every pitch. Now, I watch it during the commercials, and I turn it off at my regular bedtime. I do. I really do. Yes. I do check it first thing when I get up at 3:30 a.m., but I can't have it making me all messed up when I need my rest. I hope they win the world series. And, I hope little Zaccheus has a great series. It will be great for the community, and, folks do need something to feel good about these days. That's why, me, you, and they too need to find their ultimate satisfaction in God's Provision through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Have a great rest of the day, and Go Astros! May God bless. Amen. ....More later.

“Political correctness is tyranny with a happy face.” ~ Charlton Heston

****** My wife chastised me for using an illustration where I said something about ladies undergarments. It was an old joke and play on the term Freudian Slip. I explained it to her, but, I wanted to make sure everyone knew I had not gone over to the dark side. ******

Don't look so surprised. We made it to Friday. This one lands itself on October 27, 2017. I suppose none of us really could grasp how totally disconnected we as a nation have become with this political correctness out of control. College students when surveyed indicated they should be within their rights to oppose, disrupt, and shut down any speeches on their campus they disagree with. Freedom of speech to them means to only listen to what they want to hear. They are so lacking in an appreciation for the fundamental principles that have made this country different than others, they even think violence is okay if that's what it takes to stop someone speaking things they do not want to hear. That is a bad sign since these are the people who will be assuming positions of influence in the future. It is a coast to coast issue as the educational world becomes more and more freewheeling in their pursuit of liberal ideology. One would think the university administration and those teaching in these institutions of higher learning would step in and try to stop this runaway train that will eventuate a dismantling of the freedoms we all hold dear. These are not liberal or conservative values. They are our moorings upon which this nation was founded. They say President Trump has caused this development since he is so divisive. Hogwash! These rights like freedom of speech are not up for interpretation, regardless of who occupies the Oval Office. Alarmist talk? I will not apologize because I think it's time for us all to be worried.

We had us a really promising weather forecast in the works for tomorrow and Sunday but the experts are beginning to waver just a tad. They had originally said we might be in the mid to lower 30's and that could be record setting. I checked a few minutes ago and now they have Saturday pegged at mid to upper 30's and Sunday is all the way up to mid to upper 40's. The potential for record-setting lows for this time of year made for some good soundbites and headlines for a couple of days. Just so you know, I was pulling for the mid to low 30's. We all enjoy our version of a nice weather day. Here's a paragraph from a letter written in October 1841 by the highly respected female author, George Eliot, “Is not this a true autumn day? Just the still melancholy that I love - that makes life and nature harmonize. The birds are consulting about their migrations, the trees are putting on the hectic or the pallid hues of decay, and begin to strew the ground, that one's very footsteps may not disturb the repose of earth and air, while they give us a scent that is a perfect anodyne to the restless spirit. Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." At the end of it all, I will, Lord willing, get up to whatever the weather is, and enjoy myself a cup of Community Coffee to get my day started.

Looking in the week's rearview mirror tells me I've done my usual clamoring on about this, that, and the other, often with little rhyme or reason, but hopefully, always including a testimony based on the life one can have as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. I often have wondered how I will think about mom and dad as the days continue. Everyone knows how often I think about my grandparents and especially Paw Paw Mac. With mom and dad, it may be slightly more subtle, but, they were a part of who I am, and that continues to this very moment. It goes beyond missing them. And, while their passing from this life to the next took its natural course, the fact they are no longer with us catches me off guard from time to time. I suppose that happens because they were embedded in our 24 hour day. Disconnecting from that has not been altogether easy or smooth. However, we all are left with remarkable sweet memories and for that, I am both thankful and grateful to God. I am so glad they lived and loved in such a way as to have made that possible. As for those who have wondered how I would use all the time now available that was once used in interacting with our parents, well, just like everything else in this busy world, it has been absorbed. Funny how that works. Now it is on to the previously forecasted record lows which have now been adjusted. Enjoy your Saturday and may Sunday find us all in the gathering place to honor and worship God. Amen. ....More later.

"But Jesus answered them, 'My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.'” (Gospel of John, Chapter 5, Verse 17)

Hello friends, neighbors, fellow Americans, and any and all interested parties, wherever you hail from, I'm here and it's another day for us to do what we can do to make a difference. For time and eternity. This opportunity comes to us on this Thursday, October 26, 2017. I've been thinking quite a bit about that admonition that tells us to be thankful in all things. All. Things. Good. Bad. Terrible. Great. Sad. Happy. Well. Ailing. All. Things. Here's the actual inspired word as given through the Apostle Paul: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1st Thessalonians, Chapter 5, Verses 16-18) This must be one of those really mature attributes because it is a very tough concept to get hold of. The wife and I recently went through an experience that rocked our perception of our spiritual well being. The easiest response to this situation was a knee-jerk of anger, frustration, and even bitterness. Being thankful was hard to contemplate at the time we were dealing with it all. Meanwhile, God knew all about our being rocked by the tempestuous waves of uncertainty and disappointment. Truth is, He had something better for us but we didn't know it at the time. I'm not anywhere close to being able to compare myself in any way whatsoever to the great Bible character Joseph. However, I well remember his wise words to his brothers after they had so hatefully mistreated him, "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." (Genesis 50, Verse 20) My point? God was working on our behalf for our good even in a situation that was very hurtful and distressing. I can't say that I was immediately thankful, even though I should have been, but I did learn to give Him the thanks, praise, and worship for His intervention in this matter. Amen and Amen.

I was able to block two more of the new intruder calls on my cell phone. That always produces a good feeling. Especially when it is more than one. Whatever happened to the vaunted 'do not call' program that was supposed to keep this from happening? I think I registered my number and the wife's number as well. Maybe it became confused with the don't ask, don't tell program. Or, maybe it somehow got sanctuary city status so they are protected from persecution. Sorry. I meant prosecution. Maybe that was a Freudian slip, but, I'm can't be sure since I actually have never understood how ladies undergarments apply to things of this sort. Maybe I should write a rap about blocking unwanted calls. I could write a rap and then gift wrap it for Christmas. I would have myself a wrapped rap. You do know I am just working on a sudden burst of onset boredom at the moment. My brain is concerned about what is making it to the electronic page but I'm not sure he is connected. Speaking of how the brain works, I read the other day that scientists have discovered how the brain continues to function after the body is dead. They believe this means the brain knows the body is dead. I'm not sure this moves the ball down the field any, but, I suppose it does give something to do for those who wear white coats. I know I should have turned at the last paragraph and headed in a different direction but I'm not inclined to erase all of this just to preserve a modicum of respect for my sanity.

You might be surprised to know there are some things that I cannot do. I've never been able to do that Mr. Spok hand finger deal from Star Trek where the motto is "Live long and prosper." Our eldest has been doing that one since he was a wee little lad, but, my fingers refuse to even think about it. I've also noticed something about the buzzards. I do see a lot of them on the country road I travel so often. They can have two really plump nice meals served up to them courtesy of the car hitting the deer routine. One of the meals is on one side of the road with the second meal on the other side. One has twenty or more huge wing flapping birds trying to decide who won the lottery and the other has none there and none waiting. My question is why? One got cleaned up with very little sign of any leftovers while the other has essentially been untouched. That puzzles me. It presents this question for us all to ponder, "Why didn't the buzzard cross the road?" I do not recall a no bird crossing sign. Maybe they were taught not to associate with anything on the other side of the tracks, or road. It's the not knowing that can really drag me down. That is a true story. The fretting is greatly exaggerated but the observation is accurate. No. I do not want the emergency hotline number for National Geographic. I do, however, want us all to have a great rest of the day. And, may God bless us, one and all. Amen. ....More later.

Sorry. You misunderstood. I was not arguing, I was only trying to explain why I am right.

This would be Wednesday and this particular Wednesday shows up on this day, October 25, 2017. The wife has plenty of things she can point out to me as those in need of improvement. Every once in a while I come up with one that I might be able to share with her. I've learned to think those over very carefully before saying anything. Not too long ago I thought I had a really good one. It was juicy. However, after thinking for a good long while, I made a discovery. It turned out to not be her at all. It was me. Again. I couldn't help but get weak-kneed just thinking about the boomerang effect that could have been initiated by me saying something. I suppose I could have done some talking to myself, but, I've found that during my long sojourn here on the planet that's typically not that productive. She will now want to know what it was that I thought she had done. I do believe we should practice that great advice and let sleeping dogs lie. I think she should be pleased that I am taking the high road on this one. Now to change the subject. Quickly. Before the ink dries. The other day we had an outside crew working here on the property. They had not been here for many years. One of our workers passed the word how the outside crew was wondering if it would be possible for them to see the Coca-Cola Santa. Since they told me, I assume I had something to do with their inquiry. Word does get around.

Life can seem like a series of near misses from time to time. Don't believe me, just get out on the freeway system that surrounds Houston and you will come to that conclusion in a heartbeat. Back when I was a teenager, we owned and operated two different service stations. Some called them filling stations back then. In one of the locations, we offered flat fixing services and we did get quite a few to work on, including some pretty big trucks. The other day I had a flat on the one-ton stake bed company truck. I was out on a run and even though it was the rear outside tire of two, I knew the tire had to be changed because of the load I was picking up. It had been maybe 55 years since I changed a big truck tire. However, I set out to do just that. It was only in the low 80's but I was out in the boiling hot sun. I first had to figure out all the convoluted equipment I would need. It was grueling work. My blood sugar got out of whack, but, I persevered, got the thing changed, picked up the big load, and made it back safely. I can't help but think it was a whole lot easier when I was doing that at age 15. The bottom line, I did get it done and that only goes to show you. When I figure out what it goes to show you, I will let you know. (I can hear the voice of Paw Paw Mac. "Son, don't get all worked up, it's only flat on the bottom."

I at least proved to myself that I could do it, however, I would never want anyone to see a rerun of that episode. I think it would be rated pitiful at best. Please don't send me a note saying that maybe someone is trying to tell me something. I don't even know what that means. I did learn one thing. Tire changing is not a future advocation that I will be pursuing anytime soon. Let me return to the scene at the mall from the to be continued session. I had gone to fetch a couple of new shirts and ties. I went to that famous store that has been teetering on the brink for several years, J.C.Penny. Everything in the men's department was literally turned upside down. Unbeknownst to me, they had a buy one shirt and get the second for 1 cent sale and the same for neckties. It took me about 30 minutes to wade through the piles and find what I needed and then I went to the checkout. A bright young man waved at me and said he would be right over to take care of my business. The lady standing near the register had a puzzled look on her face. He ran over and was obviously out of breath. He was one of these people with way over the top flowery lingo. "How are you enjoying this most glorious day? Isn't it all so lovely?" (I'm in a mall dude.)  I may have nodded. He asked if I was on the points award system. I told him I wasn't but the wife might be. He put in her cell number and it did come up. He asked if my wife's name was Merlin. I said no, it's Marilyn. He gasped. He said he couldn't help himself because he was so in love with the name Marilyn. Really? When the ticket was printed, the shirts came out where I paid for one and the other rung up for one cent, but, the neckties didn't ring up that way. I questioned him. He said the second tie was not a part of the special. I said they were together on the same rack. He said for me not to worry because he knew how to use his magical fingers to make it all come out right. He redid the sale and overrode the ties and fixed my ticket. Now you know why I do my best to stay away from places like that. In fact, you can ask her, the wife was stunned that I had even gone there. She was. Ask her. Have a great rest of this day and may God add His blessings. Amen. ....More later.

I read where women shouldn't have children after 35. When you think about it, 35 children should be enough for anyone!

Let's see what we can get done on this day, Tuesday, October 24, 2017. Good morning, afternoon, evening, or night, depending on when you see this posting. I say that because I do get quite a few views from all over the globe. I am convinced they are almost entirely by accident, but, wouldn't be great to meet someone in heaven who was pointed to The Savior from reading one of my blogs? Couldn't happen? I remind you again of that Russian engineer working on a project in Iraq who saw John 3:16 scribbled on a wall of a tunnel. Not the actual verse, just the location. When he returned to his homeland, he couldn't get that inscription off of his mind. He went to the library, looked up the verse, and eventually came to know personally what it meant to have eternal life by trusting in Jesus the Christ. God can use anything He chooses. Many believe this to be a verse from the Bible, "God moves in mysterious ways; His wonders to perform." It's not. However, it is an excellent commentary on how God works. It was written by William Cowper in the 1800's, and here is his full quotation, "God moves in mysterious ways; His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm." God can use a scribbled inscription on the wall of a tunnel, a listened to radio program, a word spoken by a friend, or even a testimony given in a blog spinning out there on the vast information highway that encircles the globe. Why? Because He so loved! Amen.

As you by now have noticed, I notice things. I do. I really do. Sunday, after that huge rain, when I was driving to our evening services, it dawned on me how much better my glasses work after a cleansing rain. Everything was sharper and more vivid. No wonder my lady eye doctor said I could stay with this prescription a while longer. Last Saturday, after finishing up my Santa Claus work in the studio, I went home and changed clothes, and then I headed to the big mall. I needed to pick up a couple of items. Old people. You have to love them. I didn't see this person but I saw how they had parked. The car was one of those that looks like a boat on wheels. Their front bumper was maybe two feet or more away from the end of their parking box. This was a long car sticking out into the driving lane. Everyone was having to squeeze by. Once in the mall, I saw these people trying to share samples with would be prospects. I am obviously not a prospect. When a prospect walks by they become all bright eyed and bushy tailed. Suddenly, they see me and all bets are off, as they back away. I don't exactly feel discriminated against, but, I would maybe like to be given a chance to say no. I bought a plate of Chinese food and was eating it at the food court. An older man sitting at a table near me hollered out and asked if I was from this area. I learned he was shouting because he couldn't hear. He said he used to know the people well who owned the land the mall was built on. That was a long time ago and this was his first time to ever be at the mall. I don't think he ever heard anything I said. To the lady checking her child's diaper: Please refrain from such investigation at the food court. There's more. Therefore, I will add a 'to be continued' to this one.

I am not certain I wholeheartedly agree, but I do hear you. I don't blame you at all for being glad you are not me. There have been times when I may have felt the same way, but, then I remembered that I was me. See what I mean? It is, at times, a vicious cycle. One of the things that occurred to me during my Santa Claus work this past Saturday was how much I love children. That should be obvious if someone plays Santa but I couldn't help but be thankful that I do love these little kids. They are so precious. Even though the folks at the studio had cranked down the A/C, I was still pretty much in meltdown mode most of the day. However, when I came out of my little waiting area and greeted the next child, something magical happened. Sure, I want the parents to be pleased with our work. That's why they show up with their checkbook. More than that, the kids can be absolutely breathtaking in their excitement and how funny they can be as they interact with the jolly old dude. One of the poses we do is with a large glossy book of 'The Night Before Christmas.' The finished product depicts them and I reading and pointing as we look at the book. I always try to get a page with Santa on it and I don't know why but it does something to me to hear their answer when I ask who they see in the picture. "It's you!" Mission accomplished! As a dear friend of mine would often say, "I'm just rattling here." And,  that's enough rattling for today. Take care and may God bless each one. Amen. ...More later.

"Please don't judge my life by the chapter you walked in on." ~ unknown

Welcome, welcome, welcome. It's Monday, October 23, 2017, and I'm thankful to be up and going here at the ole blogger ranch. Momma came home and that, in and of itself, is a huge blessing. I did my little day's work on an early bird session this past Saturday in the photography studio where we worked hard to capture the essence and joy of Christmas. I'm not sure the promotional video done by one of Mindy Harmon's staff members qualifies as having gone viral, but, it does have over 10,000 views. I would be the anonymous fellow in the video with the white beard and red suit. I suppose that may be as close as I get to my one minute (that is the length of the video) of anonymous fame. That's okay because the truth is all that we accomplish in this life in our workplaces, in our homes, and even playing the role of someone like Santa, well, they all pale in comparison to any and all that we might do on behalf of the Kingdom of God. Here's a thought. Everything we do here in terms of our earthly pursuits, while important in their own ways, will one day be left behind. Everything we do in serving the Lord will one day meet us when we all get to heaven. That includes any and all lives we have touched or influenced on behalf of the Lord. It's good to keep in mind where the true riches really exist. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." ~ (Words of Jesus from Matthew 16:19-21)

We are having a really good time in our Thursday night singing, praying, and Bible studies in our home. We sing and pray for thirty minutes. I lead a Bible-focused study for thirty minutes and then we enjoy a time of feasting and fellowship. Last week there were 15 of us enjoying our time together. There is something contagious about hearts that care and good-hearted wholesome laughter. We had an abundance of all of the above including some tears along the way. Folks bring snacks. I provide the Community. One lady had her sister from out of state with her and had to explain to the sister what Community was about. I told them about how the Community Coffee Company has had to add all the different flavors to be competitive in the marketplace. I mentioned they even have a pumpkin spice coffee this year. When I saw that it hurt me deep down inside, but, I've learned to skip over any and all of those kinds of ads when I am on their website. I still shudder a little, but, I realize this is the world we live in today. While I am on the subject, I want to pass on a tip I recently learned. If you use the little k-cups you might want to look out for this one. You might be drinking too much Community if the little k-cup from your previous cup is still too hot to handle when you insert your new k-cup. That may not may Heloise's list, but, I am always trying to pass along tips that will help us all.

I am sure there's a smidgen of hyperbole and embellishment peppered in my comments from time to time. The famous song from an old cowboy's perspective penned by the late Tom T. Hall had this sentiment regarding the mysteries of life, "It's faster horses, younger women, Older whiskey, and more money." I suppose that's a take-off on the old sage, 'wine, women, and song'. Growing up, I heard one that put it this way, "Metrecal, same old gal, and sing along with Mitch." I have one for you today. You probably guessed that. Right? How about, "Loving the Lord my God, enjoying the wife of my youth, and being satisfied with God's provision in my life?" That's not a holier than thou response. It's what I would like to pursue in my life. (If you don't recognize Metrecal and sing along with Mitch, don't worry about it. My stuff is dated and I know it.)  I think that should do it for today. I know some of you are wondering why I didn't mention Community Coffee in my life quote. I'm a little puzzled by that myself but I was shooting for something transcendent. Maybe I could add it as a footnote. Thanks for helping me think about this serious issue. (Laughing out loud, because I have never to my knowledge done LOL.) Have a great rest of the day Monday and may God bless us all is my prayer. Amen. ....More later.

All over the place can refer to something being thorough and complete or it can reflect something that is inconsistent, without a clear pattern, with a large amount of variety. Therefore, I report. You Decide.

Yippee! It's Fridee! It's actually Friday but I was trying to make a better rhyme. According to the calendar on my wall here at the ole blogger ranch, it is officially October 20, 2017. This past Wednesday evening we had a Messianic Jew speaking at our local fellowship of believers. As a guest speaker, he dissected the 53rd Chapter of Isaiah and told how he found Jesus through that Old Testament prophecy. He also shared how he withheld his conversion for many months from his parents. While he was not ashamed of Jesus, he was fearful of how his parents would respond. He did not want to hurt them and he knew that his being disowned was a distinct possibility. He did finally tell them. That was back in 1961 and since then he has been sharing his testimony of how God spoke to him from Isaiah 53. Jewish scholars today reject that passage as having anything to do with their long-awaited Messiah. But, back in ancient times, Jewish teachers did believe it to be Messianic. I am thankful for this man's testimony. It reminded me of the Apostle Paul's appeal regarding the Gospel of Jesus Christ, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16) For those who think God is finished with His chosen people, the Jewish people, nation of Israel, they need to examine closely the Apostle Paul's inspired insights as given in Romans, Chapters 9, 10, and 11. Also, we see the Apostle John's clear end time teachings regarding the Jewish people as provided to us in The Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Yesterday, I had my annual eye exam. This was an extended exam related to my diabetic condition. I have a wonderful ophthalmologist. She is maybe 4 and 1/2 feet tall, mid-thirties, originally from India, married to one of the leading urology experts in the Houston medical center, and she just bubbles over with a happy, optimistic spirit. After her technicians finished with all their testing, checking, photographing, and dilating, she bounded into the examination room with a huge beaming smile. She announced that I had a good report. When I have a good report, she takes it personally because she knows how critical eye health is to those who are diabetic. Before we started our discussion, I showed her the one-minute promotional studio video of me being Santa. She has young children so she was thrilled to watch the video. I gave her one of our souvenir cards of myself and Mrs. Claus. She was elated. She said that card made her feel happy. She asked for a helper to bring her the tape dispenser. She taped our card to the inside of her notebook and said this, "I am very proud of this card and when I am feeling down or I have to deal with a disgruntled patient, I am going to open my notebook because it makes me feel good from the inside out." She is a believer. She agreed with me that my good report was a blessing from God. We made my appointment for next October and she thanked me for bringing 'the joy'. (Tuesday, October 9, 2018, at 7:30 a.m.) Sorry. But stuff like that both humbles Santa while also giving him a feeling of fulfillment.

Let me assure everyone that I am more than well aware of how quickly things can change. I put that next scheduled appointment in the previous paragraph as a way of saying this, only if God provides, and by His grace, and by His will. I'm sorry, but it still is somewhat amazing for me to make an appointment one year in advance. I heard a fellow talking about how we never know when we leave our home what may or may not happen. That reminded me of these statistics. "The survey found that 52 percent of reported crashes occurred five miles or less from home and a whopping 77 percent occurred fifteen miles or less from home. This data is not typically gathered by law enforcement or insurance companies." (Survey conducted by Progressive Insurance.) This, along with a multitude of other reasons, is why we all should do our best to be ready to meet God at any time. That may sound ominous but it actually is a reflection of our embracing of the truth that God has given to us in His Holy Word. For believers, it is something to look forward to because the ultimate outcome of our faith is to be in the presence of the Lord. I'll leave you with this one. The other day I took a crew out to do a field project. It was about an hour's drive. One of the fellows who went us was in his early twenties. We were there most of the day. As we prepared to leave he said he wanted me to know something, "Mr. Al, you do not drive like an old person. You zip on down the road. I almost always groan when I come up behind someone with white hair because they are typically dragging along and causing everyone to be late." I told him that as funny as it may seem, I feel exactly the same way when I run up behind an old person. I do. I really do. I remember my wife when she was just a wee lass and my girlfriend. She told me her mom was worried about me because someone had told her I drove too fast and was reckless. What's that I often say, "The more things change, it is the more they stay the same." Have a great Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday. See you next time. Lord willing. May God bless. Amen. ....More later.

"You don't have to see the entire staircase, just take the first step." ~ unknown

I'm glad to say that I am still here. The wife left me to go to Louisiana this past Monday. She is there with her brother to help him deal with the loss of his long-term companion. Meanwhile, I am surprised that I'm in as good of shape as I am. The funeral service over there will not be until Saturday. I can't be there because of a long-scheduled commitment to show up for the early bird Santa photo session in the studio on that day. I had to cancel Mrs. Claus. She is always a big hit with the kids. Some of our boys are making arrangements to be at that service. But, we carry on and seek to do the best we can, based on our version of reality on this day, Thursday, October 19, 2017. She is hoping to be home Saturday night. I say Amen to that! She and I have been a duet for so long I have trouble doing all that needs to be done, solo. She likes for me to miss her. I can tell. At any rate, we persevere. I am going to do my best to carry on with our Thursday Bible study in our home this evening. Fortunately, we have the two Jimmy's to help me get everything ready. I'm also preparing to teach on Sunday. It will be my first lesson as co-teacher in the class. I'm still amazed at how this all came about. A lady in the class asked the regular teacher if he would let me teach one Sunday. I don't know that lady. He asked and I taught that one lesson. He then came to me and asked if I would be willing to alternate with him in bringing the lessons. I told him I would pray about it. When I talked to the wife about it she had this to say, "Didn't you tell the Lord that if He opened a door for you to teach, you would do it?" She was right. I agreed to teach. My first lesson was from Exodus 20, the chapter with the ten commandments. This upcoming Sunday I will be dealing with the golden calf incident as recorded in Exodus 32. I did not seek a teaching position. That's why I am amazed. Bobby Michaels, the South African Gospel singer said he had learned to respond with this thought, "Could it be God?" Amen.

I talked with a fellow the other day that we have known since he was a teenager. He gave his heart to Jesus at the fellowship where we attended back in the mid to late 1970's. He is now a grandfather with one of his granddaughters in college. He is the real deal. I've known a few people who fit the old preacher's description of some who get saved better than others, meaning the change in their life is obvious, dramatic, and they go to work immediately. This fellow has never let up. We talk every few weeks. He and his wife had been in my Bible study class for many years. He called and said he had heard that I would be teaching at our new Church. I told him that I was still surprised by the opportunity. He said he certainly wasn't surprised at all that God had made a spot for me. I appreciated his thoughts and we had a good long visit. He and his family were also impacted by the change that caused us to seek a new Church home. They are praying about where God wants them to join. He is retired from his public job but still working tirelessly for the Lord. Working. Literally. Most recently, he has been helping a group who are providing construction services to Church buildings damaged by the recent hurricane. We shared prayer requests with one another. Folks, we are not in this journey for the Lord by ourselves. I left our phone visit encouraged. I hope he did the same. It reminds me of a thought from Hebrews Chapter 10, Verse 24, "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works..." Amen.

I do tend to get preachy from time to time. However, I will again tell you the truth. I did not know what would end up on today's page until I wrote it. Sometimes, I do have a general idea, but not today. Maybe that's why it's called spontaneous combustion. Joking only. At any rate, we are blessed to be able to do what we do as provided to us by the Lord God in heaven. I am also well aware that many of my blogs fit the category of been there, done that. Like the hunting stories yesterday. Sure, I've written about them before. They were on mind again so I wrote what was on my mind. That will likely not be the last time I write about them. I've not written much on current events lately. There are some good things happening but there are also some very depressing stories out there. When it bubbles up to the top of what I have on my mind, well, I will share my thoughts about it. I do have some. I really do. But, most of you knew that already. Thanks again for riding along with me on this blogging trail. It's good to have some company. Take care now, you hear? And, may God add His blessings to us all. Amen. ....More later.

“My dinner is still in the woods.” - Unknown

Today. It is just that. Another day in the neighborhood as we get our stuff together and get on with it here on this Wednesday, October 18, 2017. This time of year in my growing up years were days of preparing for winter, doing some squirrel hunting, and getting ready for deer season. Getting wood was the major activity in preparing for colder weather. That involved some back-breaking work in cutting down trees, trimming them, cutting them into fireplace-sized logs, and loading, unloading, and stacking them in the wood pile. I hear the words grunt work but I can tell you from experience that doing that type of work makes one grunt. So much so that my grandfather used to tell me that he would do the grunting for both of us. He said I just needed to concentrate on my end of the crosscut saw. We would later enjoy the fruit of our labor as we could sit and warm ourselves by a hot fire as the cold rain would come down outside. The other reward was being able to accompany my grandfather on a hunting excursion. My grandfather enjoyed the woods, but, his hunting always had the objective of getting something that could be eaten. He loved fried squirrel. Granny Mac knew exactly how to prepare it. He could also fry it up out in the woods, make gravy out of the drippings, and bake some heavy biscuits on the campfire coals. It always seemed so much better eaten out in the woods. That's what October would mean to us. I'm thankful for those memories and I'm even more thankful for those, like Paw Paw Mac, who made them possible. Amen.

Fishing and hunting back in those days were not done like they are on the outdoor programs you see on TV. It is all about the gear and special equipment today. Even as a kid I recognized how the prey was outnumbered in terms of us having a shotgun or rifle. However, we certainly did our hunting in a much more rustic manner than it is done today. We had no camo clothing. No insulated underwear. No scent to cover our smell. No scopes or binoculars. Just our regular clothing along with the excitement that comes in pursuing one's supper. I remember hunting quail one time with my brother-in-law. We were out in an area known to have a lot of birds. There were other hunters also in that area. It was, I suppose, somewhat prophetic, as I observed some of the other hunting parties with their special vehicles, walkie-talkies, and all kinds of special gear. We didn't have any of that but we did have our own special equipment. Top notch bird dogs. These dogs found the birds. They pointed them out to us. On command, they would flush the birds out. We would shoot the birds. Later, we enjoyed a quail stew or gumbo. We so enjoyed being out there, but, we didn't need the special gear to make it special to us. It obviously was meaningful to me because I'm still writing about it all these years later.

Big city life did have an impact on all of these homespun experiences. I did my best the first few years to keep one foot in my rural past while the other was literally on the run. Working many hours per week, commuting into downtown Houston, and dealing with all the trappings of city and urban life, well, slowly but surely the old days became harder and harder to get hold of. There was no way to replicate them in our area. I actually put my gun in the car and drove around looking for a place in our area to hunt. Everything was either fenced in or had signs prohibiting access. Even when I was a white-collar worker at Fort Polk, I could come home, change my clothes, grab my gun, and walk into the woods behind our rented farmhouse and be hunting within 30 minutes. We did do some camping out with our boys, but, it wasn't the same. We camped in a state park facility. We were able to fish and we all had a good time, but, it wasn't the same. Nowadays, people ask me what my hobbies are and I am hard pressed to name any. I do need to find out what they are so I can fill in some of the blanks. I'll ask my wife and boys. Maybe they know what my hobbies are. I do know what they are not. They are not hunting, fishing and camping like I did as a kid. Maybe, one of them is remembering those times and enjoying the trip down that muddy memory lane. I think I'll use that one until I get something better. Please don't. It's not necessary to forward today's blog for someone to do a psychological assessment. It would ruin their day and not do much for me as well. Have a great one and enjoy those wonderful memories that God has allowed. Amen. ....More later.

"Seeing her friend wearing a new locket, she asked if there is a memento of some sort inside.'Yes, it contains a lock of my husband’s hair. 'Wait a minute, he's still alive.' 'I know, but his hair is gone.'" ~ copied, unattributed

It's Tuesday, October 17, 2017, I am working the day watch and this is the city. That was a little play on the opening intro from the old Jack Webb 'Dragnet' series. I'm just trying to keep everyone on their toes. This past weekend the local weather people were almost giddy as they promised a cooldown for this week. I came in yesterday morning and I will admit it was coolish but in the low 60's. As I sped down the highway, the wind blowing stuff around in my pickup truck felt pretty good, but, I'll admit I was still a little letdown. I thought it would be a good time to leave the door open and air out the office but the bugs had other plans. They never seem to pay attention to the memo. While today is a little cooler, I suppose the weather people had reason to celebrate since we had been in the mid 90's each day for so long. If that had continued unabated, I believe the law says we all have to endure a lecture from Al Gore. I believe they would call that one a climate change skeptic joke. Like these: "It was so hot in Beverly Hills, people were frying their egg whiles on the sidewalk." - Comedian Matt Wohlfarth ~ "Well, at the Copenhagen climate summit — where they talk about the environment, you know, saving the environment — the delegates had 1,200 limousines and 140 private jets, or as they call that in Malibu, 'Earth Day.'" – Jay Leno

I do not claim myself to be a climate change skeptic. I would never underestimate the destructive forces that come out of those driven by greed and corruption. When someone intentionally pours deadly chemicals into a water or drainage system to avoid paying to properly dispose of it, well, it doesn't take a genius to know bad things will happen as a result. Rachet those kinds of behaviors up on a global scale and I could see where there would be a harmful impact. As to how that squares with the scientific evidence, well, I'm not qualified to say, however, I do know that God will have the final say on it all. That is the truth we can know because He has provided it to us in His Word. There are some cataclysmic changes coming to this earth and they will come from the Creator Himself. (You can read about them in the book of the Bible entitled, 'The Revelation of Jesus Christ'.) Meanwhile, believers, as stewards of the resources God has given to us, we are responsible for conducting ourselves in a manner consistent with the standards for living He has given. I heard one estimate that projected how roughly less than half of the 7.6 billion people on the planet identify with Christianity, but, in reality, less than 1 billion may have a true born-again experience in Christ. I can do those numbers. Outnumbered 7 to 1, but, God remains Sovereign and He has the final word. That is the truth and it's the one I am counting on. For now and for eternity. Amen.

I do get positive reinforcement from time to time from those who take the time to read what I have flung onto the electronic page. I certainly appreciate those who take the time to comment and share their thoughts with me. Last Saturday morning, these folks were walking down the street. I didn't know them. I was out in the driveway, leaning on my pickup, contemplating my day. The lady stopped and inquired as to how the wife is doing. I told her she was probably doing great because she was in Louisiana with her sister. She asked if her back is getting better. She then said something about my wife being one of the sweetest ladies she knows. Trying to be responsive, I replied, "Really? She then told me she hoped I knew how blessed I was. I was still trying to process all of this and again said, "Really?" The man laughed, and piped up, "Look, he has forgotten how blessed he is." I then regained my balance and I let him know that I was well aware of the blessing she is to me for soon to be 53 years as my wife. They made some noises about how remarkable that was. I thought maybe they had brought me a fruit basket and these comments were the candy gram that came with it. Can't a guy just lean on his truck without folks heaping adulation on his significant other? I know. I am blessed. Beyond measure. And, I thank God for that, and her, and her admiring public. Have a great rest of the day Tuesday, and Lord willing I'll see you next time. Until then, may God bless. Amen. .....More Later.

Every time I upgrade to a new cell phone, they get lighter and smaller. With me, it seems to be working exactly opposite to that.

Good Monday morning to each and every person who intentionally or accidentally finds their way to this page. Thanks and welcome, regardless of your transport here. It is Monday, October 16, 2017, and I believe I notice a little difference in my finger function since I have not been using the remote as much to switch forth, back, and everywhere in between, to stay up-to-date on the NFL games in progress. I have, in the past, suffered some from TFS, Tired Finger Syndrome. (When I am not too busy I come up with new diseases. It's a hobby.) Now, I only have to worry about NASCAR, baseball, and the commercials. Yes. I am aware they have that feature available on my system that allows you to automatically skip the commercials. We don't have that one, and, to be honest, I'm not sure how I would operate without all the multi-functioning I'm engaged in when mangling the remote in one hand and using my cell phone to keep up with social media in the other. I don't call the model I have a smartphone because comparatively speaking, it doesn't have an IQ that warrants that name. Don't get me wrong, it is hugely more functional than my previous flip phone but it is still in the slow learner category within the high tech realm. Yep. I am aware that many of the problems likely originate with the operator. I don't have a problem pleading guilty with a fair amount of premeditation thrown in for good measure. One can do that with a straight face when you hit the three score and ten and counting status.

The wife left me again to go to Louisiana last Friday. She and her twin sister, born 18 months apart, were ministering to their older brother. I got up early Saturday morning and thought about all of my options. To cook or not to cook, that was the question. I knew I had to eat something because even taking one half of little dynamite pill can make one woozy. I got dressed and drove over to the local International House of Pancakes, (IHOP). It was practically deserted with maybe 6 to 8 customers scattered around the place. The lady who waited my table was nice enough but very hard to understand. We get that a lot these days. The coffee was fresh and hot. The taste was passable if you don't really care that much how coffee is supposed to taste. (Sorry, I had to throw that in.) I ordered something called the Rise and Shine for those 55 and older. That made me feel sad. I remember when I was 55. That was 16 years ago. Maybe they should add something for the over 70 crowd. I ordered my two eggs over easy. I used to say sunny side up but I've tried to adapt to the lingo they use. I substituted ham for the meat. Everything was freshly prepared and reasonably okay except the wheat toast which had been out for a while. I saw the manager come out of his little cubby hole of an office. He has been the manager there for a long time. He always carries somewhat of a forlorn look on his face. He had one of those 10" expanding folders under his arm and it looked full. In the other, he had a stack of papers, receipts, and stuff like that. The people across the table from me were in deep conversation. The younger man, maybe in his mid-thirties, was some kind of tech geek and he was trying to explain to his much older mom some sophisticated stuff showing them to her on his smartphone. Just me, but I think he could have toned down the Star Wars lingo for his mom's sake. The food was okay. I took my medicine. I left a good tip because people who work there deserve a little extra now and then, and maybe more importantly, I am, after all is said and done, Santa Claus.

Us with our dear Sis. Catherine. We had her memorial service a couple of weeks ago.

This coming Saturday is our first scheduled appearance as Santa and Mrs. Claus for this upcoming season. It's the early bird offering at the professional photography studio we work with each year. There are two additional full days scheduled there in early December. It's slightly cooler today, praise the Lord, but it would do me a mighty big favor if an even bigger cold front was to blow in by this next Friday. Regardless of that, Lord willing, we will do our best to show up ready to help make memories. I think I will leave off the tiny little pill starting next Wednesday so that I don't go getting myself wobbly with the handling of so many wonderful boys and girls. I was telling an older fellow about that first little squirmy kid I drew when I was doing the promotional photos a few weeks ago. That little dude was a handful. The older guy looked at me and said, "That made you wonder whether you really want to do this again, didn't it?" I would not be honest if I didn't say the thought had not crossed my mind, but, when I think of how much joy we bring when we show up as Santa and the Mrs for kids, of all ages, well, it does motivate me to give it another go. They also pay us pretty well for what we do. That's also a consideration. Not a huge one, but, it is a factor. (As my wife likes to say with a grimace, it helps to pay the taxes we owe each year.) I do try in anything I do to do my very best and I hope to be at my best when we show up for our first appearance. I actually started to use the word gig but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Well, the wife came home and the stars have realigned themselves to their correct position. Now, as she would tell you, if I could only do the same. (Please say a prayer for her brother Cleon. His long-term lady friend and companion passed away late yesterday afternoon.) Have a great rest of the day Monday and may God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

Yesterday was Thursday the 12th, today is Friday the 13th, tomorrow will be Saturday the 14th. Any questions?

I looked up at my wall calendar and confirmed that this is Friday, and I am very much okay with that, on this October 13, 2017. I tried to separate Friday from the 13th as best I could out of respect for those who are susceptible to supposed superstitions. My way of looking at it says in this sin-cursed, fallen world, bad things happen to a large number of the 7.6+ billion folks breathing air on the planet, and, they happen every second of every day regardless of what day it happens to be. At the same time, by the grace of God, there are many within the human family who are being blessed every second of every day. According to the Creator, we can date this fact of human existence that every person experiences all the way back to Adam and Eve and their fall. (Book of Genesis.) As a human being, we cannot escape the results that come with being born with a fallen nature, alienated from God. Add to this, the fact that we are a fallen people living in a fallen world. Sounds hopeless, but, God had a plan to deal with this situation even before the world was created. It involved sending His one and only Son to die for all those under the curse of sin. That is Good News to everyone who will receive Him as Lord and Savior. Here's how the Apostle John quoted Jesus, "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." (Gospel of John, Chapter 3, Verse 17) He came to save. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, on the very last page of Scripture, says: "whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17)

Time. It sure seems to be flying by these days. What's that? You've noticed the same thing? I can honestly say the wife and I are just about as busy as we have been in a long time. The good news is how that much of what keeps us focused are things that pertain to the Kingdom of God. Since that work has to do with influencing ourselves and others for time and eternity, I submit it is the most important busy we could be privileged to be involved in. Last Saturday morning I committed myself to trying to stay in the bed as long as the wife stayed. That became a big battle for me. Everything within my internal clock mechanism was making all kinds of noise. I fought it and stayed, at 5 a.m., the battle continued, 6 a.m., and finally, I threw in the towel about 6:45 a.m., got up and began my morning routine. Maybe when I retire-retire and I'm at home every day, maybe then I will be able to 'sleep in'. I doubt it. Here's something I've learned. Every person is wired differently. People seem alarmed by the long hours I keep each day. Guess what? According to my mom, I was a kid that jumped out of bed ready to go each morning. That's the way I'm wired. Does that mean I am better than the next fellow? Getting up early is easy for me, but, that doesn't mean I have it all figured out. I have plenty of blind spots, issues, and other challenges that need work, every single day. In fact, that might be the reason I'm wired the way I am, so I have longer to work on my issues each day. My point? However we are wired, we can take it all and use it to serve our Lord. Think about it.

I know that kids coming of age varies depending on development and maturity, but, typically, it was thought to be 13 when I was growing up. I became a teenager in August of 1959. Shortly after that, Hawaii was admitted as our 50th state. Bonanza, the long-running TV series, had its debut. The blockbuster movie Ben Hur starring Charleton Heston was released and went on to win a record number of academy awards. America recognized the new Cuban government with Fidel Castro as the new president. As for me, I was focused on baseball as a major part of my life. As I've said in the past, I often slept with my Al Kaline glove. I most likely did hear Bobby Darin's number one hit for that year, 'Mack the Knife' and also Johnny Horton's 'Battle of New Orleans'. It was supposedly a transition year, from childhood to adolescence, but, I can't really remember any girl related crushes or things of that nature. I didn't say there weren't any. I just don't recollect any specific stories from that year. I do remember the room I shared with my brother and the bed where I slept. I do remember my mom working like a slave to provide for us six kids. I most likely didn't look at it that way when I was 13, but, looking back, I know that to be 100% the truth. I don't really have a point here, other than to say we all do carry with us today our past experiences, even those we had as a kid. It's part of who we are and how we are wired. Good stuff, bad stuff, and everything in-between, it's with us and may even compliment our ability to serve God and others today. That's what I was thinking about today. Next time we meet, who knows? Until then, enjoy your Saturday, and Lord's Day Sunday, and may God be honored in the life He has given to each of us. Amen. ....More later.

Children's song: "Oh, be careful little tongue what you say, Oh, be careful little tongue what you say, There's a Savior up above, And he's looking down in love, Oh, be careful little tongue what you say." (Public Domain)

We have had an almost noticeable but, at best, a very small down payment on what it might look like when Fall actually begins to be felt, as in, cooler weather. Here it is, Thursday, October 12, 2017, and I'm still hungry for some cooler weather love but find myself waiting in her welfare line. I don't hold back here in my daily blogs and most of you don't have to wonder what I think regarding the things I write about. I do my best not to express myself in a way that reflects a mean spirit or to intentionally offend others. That doesn't mean someone wouldn't take offence. If you have a conviction and opinion on anything, someone else will likely take exception to your viewpoint. However, I cringe at times when I read the flamethrower stuff that gets posted on Facebook. Much of it is just downright rude, crude, and cruel. With the postings I see, the majority of these originate from or they are endorsed by folks who identify themselves as believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. As Bro. James who penned the earliest writing in the New Testament put it, "My brothers, these things ought not to be so." (Book of James, Chapter 3, Verse 10) I end up hiding those types of postings. What made me think of this was another posting by a brother of some inspired truths from the Apostle Paul, "So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity." (Letter to The Colossians, Chapter 3, Verses 12-14) Food for thought. For me and perhaps for others as well.

I did see one posting that no doubt caused many to be excited, while in others, like me, it produced a groan. "The Premiere Dates for Hallmark's Christmas Movies are Here. This is the best news you'll see today. Hallmark will premiere 21 new movies this year." And to think, they do that each year with just one script. Now I will give them credit for ingenuity. They've already made a couple hundred and now they are adding another 21. At least they don't have to invent new stories. This announcement will likely lead to the meltdown of our satellite TV control box. The dish outside on top of the garage may explode. Meanwhile, ladies will be participating in a sigh off competition from sea to shining sea. The winners will then move on to the national crying contest. I think Hallmark now has about five channels on our system. It will be an all-out romantic assault on our holidays. I am not saying I never watch them. I typically stay with it for the first three or four minutes. That way I can give everyone the plot, the winners, the losers, and who, at the end of the program ends up with the partridge in a pear tree. I do try to be helpful. It's my romantic side kicking in.

That was supposed to be a parody of sorts and I'm not overly concerned about people who like those movies being offended because there's not too much that will keep them from seeing them all. Often, more than once, and even oftener. Trust me. That is a word. I'm sure it also helps the economy some. It will likely lead to increased tissue sales, popcorn, hot chocolate, and other related products. I know what it's like to enjoy programs that other people would rather not see. The other day I watched some of the 1956 Godzilla film from way back with an all Japanese cast except for a somewhat younger Raymond Burr. I thought it was pretty good. You had this guy dressed up in a dragon suit stepping all over what was obviously cardboard cutouts of Tokyo. One recent evening, the other half of the equation woke up from her nap on the couch and asked what in the world I was watching. It was a documentary on the making of the first Godfather film. She asked if there was anything else on. I switched to the 10,000th rerun of one of the Everybody Loves Raymond episodes. I will remember that when I wake up in the middle of one of those kissy-kissy Hallmark Christmas shows. If I've got it right, it will go something like this: Is there anything else to watch? Just having a little fun here. And, I am thankful for the day that God has given to us. Enjoy it as best you can and may He continue to bless. Amen. ....More later.

"What success looks like: A homecooked meal." ~ Jaclyn Crawford, Editorial Editor, Forefront Magazine

We open up our gift for today and find out it is another opportunity at life on this Wednesday, October 11, 2017. Whatever I had in mind to do yesterday, well, as they say, my intentions and the opportunity itself, yesterday, is gone. But, if the Lord allows, I do have today and it will do just fine in terms of making the progress I failed to achieve before. Some people do go to a lot of trouble to try and stir up the passions of others. Using tools readily available, people can develop news stories and other types of articles that bear no resemblance to the truth, but, many people grab hold of it and become distressed. I suppose those doing this get some kind of kick out of this type of fake news hoax. One recently had to do with the announcement of the closing of the Whataburger chain of restaurants. (It was a false report but Google 'Whataburger closing' and see how widespread it was.) I actually didn't see the original social media posting that had many people upset until a disclaimer came from the corporate office. That disclaimer had a copy of the fake report with a huge Fake News stamped on it. The posting announcing the closing looked very professional with photos and the formatting that was used. Whataburger is an okay burger joint to me, but, here in Texas, it is on the same list that has the Alamo on it. People love it. I'm sure those who saw the false report were alarmed. They were. Now they can feel better about getting their hands on their favorite burger. I mention this because there are much more serious issues being falsely reported and it is an absolute tangled web of trying to make sure one gets the facts. My approach is to always consider the source and check it out. There are ways to do that. Do that before you start frothing at the mouth. (That phrase may have originated from those who end up with rabies accompanied by a foaming at their mouth.)

The Bible study class we attend in the fellowship of believers where we are new members sent us a questionnaire in order to add us to their member profile book. One of the questions asked what my three favorite foods are: 1) My wife's cooking. 2) My wife's cooking. 3) My wife's cooking. I wasn't trying to be cute. The truth is the truth. I asked if she had seen my answers and she just shook her head. I think she thinks I was one of those kids who colored outside the lines just to stir things up. I can't remember that but I may have drawn what I considered to be a better picture of whatever it was they wanted me to color. She well understands my thoughts about the meals I enjoy. Nowadays, when she asks where I want to go to eat she typically says upfront that eating a meal at home is not one of the options. I'm actually glad that people can go out and enjoy themselves at the restaurant of their choosing. More times than not, I feel good if I am reasonably okay with the meal, but, I never get the idea that it should even be on the same page with what I enjoy sitting at our own dinner table. But, don't I know that place has a lot of stars? Maybe so, but, for me, I can't help but identify with this famous quote from a well-known philosopher, " I Yam What I Yam and Dats What I Yam!", Popeye, the Sailorman.

Please don't send me any letters about my wife being a kitchen slave. First of all, it wouldn't be in the least bit true. Period. And, secondly, at this point and time, those kinds of accusations are not even relevant to how we live out our lives. Finally, my wife can choose not to cook anytime she wants to and I'm okay with that, but, when it comes to stating my preference, I will not yield the floor. Not now. Not ever! I say that not to be unkind, just to emphasize my point, because I am well aware that we are all put together differently. I hear people glowing about this or that food served up at this or that place and my take is those places would serve better-tasting food if they battered and fried their menus. See what it mean? They said they loved it. Me? Like the story George Washington got credit for but he really, as for as we know, never cut down the cherry tree, I cannot tell a lie. I wouldn't eat those same dishes if they brought them to me and paid me. Would I appear as Santa Claus in a commercial for those eating establishments where I would be seen endorsing their wonderful menu offerings? Well, it is called acting, and if the money was right. Joking only. You do know I make this stuff up as I go, but, you will not need to fact check my report on my three favorite foods. Those you can count on. And, you can count on God. He has promised to be with His own, no matter what. That, my friend, is very good news. Amen. ....More later.