Older people didn't know you don't have to rewind DVD's after you watch them.

Good morning and welcome. It's Thursday, the last day of the first month of this brand new year, January 31, 2019. That didn't take long, did it? Scientists are still trying to figure out the mechanisms that cause older people to see time as moving faster than it did when they were younger. They have some good guesses based on observation. Perspective versus prospective. When we are younger things are always being experienced and anticipated. It actually is proven that time does go faster, in the mind, when one is having fun. When we are older our perspective changes and we see things often in retrospect as opposed to anticipation. Oh well, January did seem to have come in for a landing and I looked up and it had taken off again. I will be the first to admit that things do not always register with me like they once did. I heard about the elderly fellow visiting his kids. He asked his son for the WIFI password. His son replied it is taped under the modem. He couldn't get his tablet to work and the son asked what he had done. The father responded, "I think I put in correctly, T-A-P-E-D-U-N-D-E-R-T-H-E-M-O-D-E-M. And, I might add that you could have come up with a shorter password." Some of you will get this right away. Others will live to understand it, better, by and by.

I read a posting from a young man who recounted a particular thing he had done earlier in his life. He said it was one of the few good memories he had. To me, that is sad. He went on to say you should hang on to those that were good because they do not come along very often. I'm not saying that life is one happy moment after another, but, I typically think that most of my life has been filled with good memories. That's not to say I haven't had to deal with tragedies and family crises but all and all I've had a good life and I can't begin to count the really wonderful memories I have. Most of my memories are about being with people who were influential in my life. I thank God for them. Their testimony continues to help me because of their lived out example. Their approach was one that emphasized caught versus taught. These were my folks, my friends, and we went places and did things. Not world travel but maybe just a hunting trip or a fishing expedition. Down to the old creek bank. Out to the deep woods. Camping out. Sleeping in the bed of the old Chevy pickup. Little stuff. Lots of laughing. Kidding. It could have been just sitting by the fireplace and talking forth and back. I don't consider myself to be lucky, I know that I am blessed.

Speaking of the sad times experienced in our family, we could crank up a huge pity party at the drop of a hat. Even those have to be seen in the light of God's provision and grace. We choose to see life through the lens of God's truth. That is not a cop-out. It's not an accent the positive eliminate the negative approach to life. It's accepting the word God has given to us in the Bible. It's a trusting Him proposition. We can never make sense out all that has happened that brought us so many times to the cemetery, but, we can know that we know God knows, cares, and He is still our Father. Does this mean we never shed a tear? Not hardly. I know I've used this song dozens of times over the years in my blogs, however, it is the story handed down to us all from my grandfather, Paw Paw Mac. It was my grandfather's favorite song,  written by Ira Stanphill immediately after he suffered a personal tragic loss.

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

I don't know about tomorrow
I just live for day to day
I don't borrow from the sunshine
For it's skies may turn to gray

I don't worry o'er the future
For I know what Jesus said
And today I'll walk beside Him
For He knows what lies ahead

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand

Ev'ry step is getting brighter
As the golden stairs I climb
Ev'ry burden's getting lighter
Ev'ry cloud is silver lined

There the sun is always shining
There no tear will dim the eye
At the ending of the rainbow
Where the mountains touch the sky

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand

I do hope it will encourage you. I know it encourages me. I can see my Paw Paw singing this one, swaying from side to side, with tears rolling down those old rough cheeks. It's a good memory. Have a great rest of the day and may God bless each one. Amen. .....More later.

“The storm starts, when the drops start dropping When the drops stop dropping then the storm starts stopping.” ― Dr. Seuss

Good to have you along for my version of 'show and tell' for today, Wednesday, January 30, 2019. Many people are emphasizing the weather situations that come and go in Texas. This past Monday was like a nice spring day. Almost short sleeve weather. Tuesday morning, mid 30's. But, not to worry, we have some mid 70's on the way. It is what it is and people seem to have fun with it. Here are some of the memes floating around: ~ Brace yourself, Winter is coming .... No, Summer, .... No, Spring .... No, Winter again! .... Just forget about it. ~ So you had stuff to do today? How about some cold rain? ~ Mother Nature: "You can't fit all the seasons into one day." Texas: "Watch me!" ~ If you wear boots and flip-flops in the same week, you must live in Texas. ~ Texas is closed today, we're all busy trying to find our jackets. ~ Welcome to Texas where you can get sunburn and frostbite in the same week. ~ You know you are in Texas if school gets canceled for 1/2 inch of snow, your "snowmen" are less than 2 feet tall, and a majority of it is sand and leaves. ~ The other day here in Houston the temperature changed from 90 to 55 like it had just seen a Texas State Trooper. ~ Harmless snow flurries: Evacuate the State of Texas. ~ Welcome to Texas, where everyone knows everybody and the weather is bipolar. ~ I suppose it does give us all something to talk about.

I've added a new skill or at least I'm developing one. I am learning how to finish my blogs with a mutt sitting in my lap. He and I are typically the only ones up in and around the 5 a.m. timeframe. Early in the mornings, he has the energy of one of those Dingo dogs, therefore, I have to keep him on my lap to make sure I know what he is up to. He is super fast and can find ways to get into trouble in the blink of an eye. Oh well, we asked for it when we made the decision to bring him into our home. The wife had her Bible study group in our home yesterday. He very much enjoyed meeting them. The ladies all know that we have marked ourselves as not being pet people over the years. They are stunned at how this little guy has destroyed that idea. They act like a documentary needs to be made. Give me a break! He does well in my lap but doesn't particularly care for it when I have to hit the left shift key. I suppose it interrupts his train of thought. I have been riding him around the neighborhood in my old pickup truck. He loves putting his nose on the window and watching as we go here and there. And, he so loves me early in the morning. That is, until, the lady of the house gets up. He loses traction on the laminate flooring trying to get to her. She doesn't make him sit on her lap while she makes annoying noises on a keyboard.

He certainly has it much better than the animals we had when I was growing up. No animal was ever allowed in the house with one exception. It was when we experienced a freeze so hard it did the pipes in even though they were wrapped. Us kids were thrilled they were invited to come in, however, they were so scared they didn't know how to act or what to do. Bentley needs to learn how good he has it here. Yesterday, when it was in the mid 30's and the wind was howling, he looked at me from the end of the leash with a puzzled expression. "You expect me to go out in weather like this?" He did just fine. Oh well, enough about our newest novelty. One particular meme has been going around that struck me as hitting the mark. It shows a dog and a cat talking to a newborn, with this caption: "Is it really true you don't have a humane society to protect you?" These happenings over the last few days reminded me of a quote from Dr. Billy Graham, "If God doesn't judge America because of abortion, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah." If you are reading this today, it means the new computer is functioning. And, be aware, it has nothing to do with the quality or the content. Have a great rest of the day and remember to pray for our nation. Amen. ....More later.

“A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any other invention with the possible exceptions of handguns and Tequila.” ― Mitch Ratcliffe

Yesterday, I felt so lonely sitting next to a modern-day computer but working on one that reminds me of the Old Man character played by Tim Conway on the Carol Burnett Show. It's Tuesday, January 29, 2019, and I bid you greetings from the Home Office. I did all I knew how to do to try and wake up the failing processor. I've even tried the technique they taught us when preparing us to use mouth to mouth. Shake the person really good to make sure they are really in need of resuscitation. I did that to the sick computer. That may not be on the list of technical fixes but I thought it might be worth a try. The other day the heater on my pick-up began to act up. It would blow hot air at times but at other times nothing but cold air. I'm typically not too bothered by the cold but when we've had a cold snap enough to require the ice to be cleared off the windshield, well, that might be on the borderline of bothering me, just a wee bit. At any rate, I left with a peephole to see out of and made my way to my destination. I hit a bump along the way and the heater started doing its job. Putting out heat. Therefore, I thought maybe giving a bump to the newer computer might work. I didn't want you to think I was just guessing. See? I did have some recent experience that informed my action. At any rate, because of the critical data on the ailing PC, I called a technical service to come and check it out. The fellow called me and worked me through his way of checking the system. He was convinced the brain (motherboard) was fried. The disk files should be recoverable. However, the system, purchased in 2014, has gone the way of the passenger pigeon. That put me in a quandary. I need my computer, so, I went to Best Buy and picked one up. Now we will see about recovering the data on the disk drive. I spent maybe six hours getting the new one all set up. We will see how it goes.

I suppose the most hypocritical of all the stuff flying around our nation's capital today is the disconnect when people who were once for something but are now not only against it but, vehemently so. At one time, even in our nation's convoluted system, talking out of both sides of your mouth would have come at a price. Not any more. The video record is impressive. There is only one difference in their stance today. The person recommending the project. That's it. When the person they deemed worthy recommended the same project they were 100% on board with it. Now the same project is called every name in the book. Folks, I'm not that bright, but, if people fall for these kinds of politically motivated shenanigans, well, maybe they deserve the people talking out of both sides of their mouths. I will tell you this. While the evidence is compelling, the base who support these folks seems not to care. So what? So, they were once for it and they are now against it. We are against it, so, they are doing the right thing. Nothing but politics. Sadly, their games end up hitting us all. We, after all, pay for what they are doing. It's our money funding all of these charades. If that doesn't bother you, then go back to watching Mayberry and have a nice day.

We all know that substance is no longer a part of any equation as it relates to the governance of our country. It is all about winning. The most basic winning is in the public opinion polls. Forget the facts. Forget any and all evidence. It is all about the appearance and flavor of the momentary flash on the cellphone or screen. I'm not negative, just giving you my observation. Why would we expect more than this from many who know not God and do not follow His ways? One of the leaders of the radical left made a comment recently that essentially said her and her liberal colleagues are the ones doing God's work. These are people who support the killing of babies and they embrace any and all deviant behaviors that are clearly spelled out in God's Word as being evil. When this was said I immediately thought of this verse from Isaiah Chapter 5, Verse 20: "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" What can I do about it? Do my best every day to live the way God wants me to live. It's one thing to see the disconnects in others, but, we are called to examine ourselves. That typically is often too close to home for me. Thoughts for us all to consider. Amen. ....More later.

“The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.” – Samuel Butler

It's Monday, January 28, 2019, and, I feel compelled to share the obligatory photo of our little puppy. After two weeks with him, I can report that he obviously came with an attitude because he has pretty much operated on the theory that he is the king and everything here belongs to him, and, we are his subjects. Maybe not that bad, but, we do have some splanin to do to this little Shih Tzu who may prance around because of his scientific name: Canis lupus familiaris. He may actually believe he is royalty of some kind. He is also known as the Chrysanthemum Dog and his lineage can be traced to his Chinese ancestors as far back as 800 BC. I can report he has not really cared for going outside in a cold rain, but, he seemed not to worry about the fellow on the other end of the leash who didn't care for it as well. The information we have read speaks about his stubbornness. The vet who allowed him to lick all over her face also mentioned we would do well to remember he is from a stubborn breed. The fellow on the other end of the leash didn't need to be told. When I say go this way it is an immediate signal for him to go the opposite way. I have to say this in all fairness to him now being a part of our program: We are amazed at how quickly he is learning and we are hoping it will continue. And, for those who have openly wondered about our sanity for getting this puppy, what took you so long to be concerned about our mental wellbeing? Thank you very much.

Our Madi-girl, 9, now living in San Antonio.

Life goes on and things change. Most of you already knew that. For us, we are dealing with some new developments over this past year. Our grandchildren, their spouses, and their children are beginning to scatter some. We've been blessed to have them within the geographic area for all these years and now we have a military wife living in Kansas, and our eldest granddaughter and her family living in San Antonio. This means we no longer see them as often as we used to. I know. Many people have had to deal with this for years. But, this is new to us. We didn't see them all the time, but, typically we saw them on birthdays and other celebrations. Now we depend on social media to keep up with them. The wife does Face Time some and that helps. When I get a photo like the one of our Madi-girl, well, it makes me homesick to see her. I also know all grandkids and great grandkids need as much exposure as possible to their grands and their greats. They do know we love them and we miss them and we pray for them. Maybe that's why she wanted a dog. I'll ask her about that one and get back to you.

I am on my old, old desktop computer this morning. The newer one does not want to wake up. That is not a good way to start the day, if you know what I mean, and, I'm sure plenty of you folks know exactly what I mean. This particular system is so back leveled in terms of its operating software and programs, well, it could be considered stone age in terms of its viability in today's computing world. But, it still functions in an odd sort of way. Adapting. That's what we typically spend our time doing. Adapting. At any rate, I have no idea how this will end up appearing on those who receive it by email, but, we all will find out together. This one has so many alerts flashing about being outdated, it reminds of those Old Person Missing signs out on the freeways. Do all old people who go missing drive a silver Monte Carlo? I will leave it at that for today and try to figure out what's going on with my newer computer. I do hope you have a blessed day and that God will be honored by what we all find ourselves doing. Take care. Amen. ....More later.

"Friday is like a superhero that always arrives just in time to stop me from savagely beating one of my coworkers with a keyboard." ~ Rico

There's always been a number of people who so look forward to Friday because it is for them the end of the work week. Therefore, they can feel some sense of happiness today because we've hit another one, this one occurring on January 25, 2019. We all are put together differently, but, I never was a clock watcher or a go-crazy-because-it's-Friday type of person. For so much of my working life, I worked longs hours each day and many Saturdays. (Sundays too!) That may be the reason that, to me, Friday was nothing more than the day before Saturday. I hasten to add that I have no problem with those who embrace this type of anticipated enjoyment. The good Lord knows I've had plenty of them who have worked in the organizations I was in. The TGIF mentality is a part of the fabric of our culture and I'm sure there are plenty of entrepreneurial enterprises who have figured out ways to profit from it. There are all kinds of targeted TGIF entertainment venues, promotions, amusements, and eateries of all shapes and sizes. That's how our free enterprise system works. One of the features of my being retired is how easily I lose track of exactly what day I am dealing with at any given time. I used to never consult my calendar app on my semi-intelligent cellphone, but, in my current world, I may refer to it several times a week. I suppose when you are a man of leisure, this is how it works. Please don't quote me on that, I have enough trouble already.

Since Nancy Pelosi has been in the news a lot lately, here's a flashback I penned eleven years ago: ~ Last night I was working on my Bible study handout planned for this upcoming Sunday. I had a CSPAN live stream up in a small screen to watch, mostly hear, President Bush's State of the Union address. Just as he was being escorted in I lost the feed from CSPAN. It was obviously overloaded and maybe their servers were going bonkers but after several attempts, I switched over to radio and listened to the speech. After the first few minutes, my eldest called and asked if I was watching and I told him I was working on my lesson but listening on a web radio station. He told me I needed to turn it on because he thought something was strange about Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, who was sitting behind the president. He said she was continuously licking her lips and blinking her eyes. I told him it was not unusual for those sitting behind the president to even nod off at times. I didn't turn it on but I did think it was a good speech, however, I am realistic enough to know that it was mostly a speech, and since it was his last state of the union before he leaves office, and it is an election year, therefore, I seriously doubt it will have much impact on our nation's agenda as we move forward. ~ Enough said.

The World Trade Center was lighted in pink to celebrate new abortion law in New York State.

The new abortion law in New York State allows for the unborn child to be eliminated up to the time of birth. No caveats. No matter how they portray this new law, no matter how nuanced they try to make it be, the truth is this law is another step toward the total devaluing of human life. Those who crafted this bill said it was President Trump's fault because of his stated commitment to overturning Roe versus Wade. And, that caused them to do what they did. One example of a potential spillover impact because of this bill, it could mean that an unborn child who is killed during the commission of a crime may no longer be considered to have been murdered. Before this new law, it was considered to be murder and was prosecuted as such. Slippery slope. The steady knock wears the rock. Human rationalization will always end up directly opposed to God. I remember an executive with a major computing firm gave me his views way back in the mid-1980s. He told me that given the cost to the state, the poor prospects for that kind of child, along with the fact they are not loved, to begin with, he thought getting rid of as many of them as possible was a good thing. He was a member of a major Church denomination in our country. Human reasoning. One thing I know to be true. God is watching. Until next Monday, I bid you a wonderful Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday. See you then. Same station, same place. Lord willing. Amen. ....More later.

From an editorial about playing Santa Claus at Christmas. "The Santa Attitude: In order to keep your audience from eyeing you in suspicion, it is important to get into the proper character. Instead of feeling irritation at the enormity of the role you're getting ready to play, take a few minutes to capture the Christmas spirit. Think about why you're playing Santa in the first place: the high-octane excitement of the kids you'll be performing for, or the extra money you'll be providing for needy charities. Once you remember the point of your performance, it becomes a lot easier to get into character."

Yep. It's me again. I do bid you greetings from my electronic address floating around out on the world wide web to your mechanism of choice for receiving today's communication. It's Thursday, January 24, 2019, and I'm here at the Home Office clicking and clacking on down the track on my desktop personal computer. I'm pretty sure if the desktop were to go away so would my blogging activity. I can't see myself trying to type out three paragraphs on my smartphone. (I prefer to call mine a semi-intelligent phone, but, that's just me.) There may be a tablet with a large enough keyboard to do touch typing, but, I'm not sure. I've written before about how during the Christmas season almost everyone sees me as Santa even when I am in my civies. After that, it's mostly 'look at that elderly gentleman with the white beard'. There are exceptions. Some of them can be quite amusing. Last Sunday, we were at a new restaurant waiting in line when this little guy, maybe four years old,  approached me and asked, "What's your name?" I reached in my pocket and whipped out one of our Santa and Mrs. Claus souvenir cards. I said, "Maybe this will help." This little guy was dumbfounded. I don't know what he expected but he was stunned. His parents thought it was great. After we finished our lunch we were leaving to go to our car when one of the restaurant doors opened and it was the little guy along with an older brother and sister. Dad hollered out the older brother wanted to at least speak to Santa. I kneeled down and gave both of them one of our cards. Their table inside erupted in applause when they returned. I guess it just goes to show you, it doesn't take much, and if the beard fits, well, wear it!

Photos made at this elementary school raised $2,500 for needed school projects. 

A lady we work with to do a Santa event for her subdivision recently told me about the school where her children attend. She said in the most recent newsletter, the volunteer group who coordinated our visit to their school announced the Santa photos we made raised $2,500 to be used to buy school necessities. This was our second year to volunteer to do these photos. We were exhausted after that melt-down day but we were certainly happy to hear the program had been a success. We were not the only volunteers. Those ladies who organized, went and fetched the kids, and maintained some semblance of order in a long and often chaotic day, well, my thought was how tired we were, but, I think our job was actually easier. I mention this because these volunteers exemplified what down-in-the-trenches effort looks like in order to achieve something good for the students. Sure. No doubt, most of them had children at the school, but, I dare say that without folks willing to do things like that, and the Santa photos was only one event, the school would not be as effective in pursuing its goal of educating kids. I tip my hat to this group of volunteers along with several other similar groups we work with each year. Gratifying stuff. It is. It really is.

What am I doing with myself since I finally pulled the trigger and did the retired-retired scenario? Since I left the workforce at the end of last October, everyone knows that November and December were pretty much consumed with The Santa Enterprise. Therefore, the retirement clock actually started at the first of this month. I continue to walk several days a week. In the big mall. I've done it enough to recognize the folks you are there each day as well as any newcomer that joins up for the exercise routine. (Remember what my previous doctor told me: Some exercise, any at all, is better than nothing.) I still spend time each day on my desktop computer. And, the big retirement change: We now have a puppy and his name is Bentley, a Shih Tzu who is yet to learn that he is a dog. As for as my previous work schedule, I am a realist, therefore, that part of my life is behind me now and I actually don't spend time thinking about it. Of course, I do miss seeing the people I worked with for so many years. I am glad to report that I have been able to be more involved in Church/related activities. I continue to help teach a Bible Study class on Sunday's. And, I am now teaching through the Book of James at the senior apartments we visit each Monday. My wife and I are figuring out adjustments and boundaries as we are together a whole lot more each day than we ever have been. To be honest, that has not been much of a problem. So far. As we know, any and everything is subject to change. Without notice. I'll try to keep myself posted so I will be able to let you know what's going on. Enjoy the rest of your day and always know that God sees, cares, and loves. Us all! Amen. ....More later.

"The first thing you learn when you're blogging is that people are one click away from leaving you. So you've got to get to the point, you can't waste people's time, you've got to give them some value for their limited attention span." ~ Alex Tabarrok

I looked over yonder and what did I see? Turns out to be Wednesday, January 23, 2019. That might be a wee bit on the lame side for an opening, but, think about it. When you do this type of blogging some 2,990 times, well, it may all begin to begin seeming to be a little lame. My blogs have been landed on nearly 224,000 times. While that sounds like a lot, believe me, there are famous folks who can run into the millions on just about anything they post. I have never attempted to figure out how to get a wider audience. I let it take care of itself. I just noticed I have 4 followers. I didn't know that before. I guess a thank you for following my blog is in order: Thanks. I also send out my published blog each Monday through Friday via email to 38 recipients. I don't know if being a recipient is the same as being a follower but I do stuff their inboxes each day. It used to be over 40, but, some have dropped off the list by virtue of changing their address from this earthly realm to their new heavenly address. Those across the world, (blogoshpere), who have viewed my blogs, originated in a lot of different places. Here's the top-list breakdown, United States, Russia, United Kingdom, Canada, India, Germany, France, Australia, Philippines, and Ukraine. I have no idea what percentage were accidental, but, as I have said before, many of them were most likely searching for a phrase or image that brought them in contact with my blog. Hopefully, if they read it, there was something to encourage, inspire, or give them a smile. (About today's title. I thought it to be good even though I am pretty sure I don't always keep those things in mind. But, that's okay because as the title implies, the reader is always in control and only one click away from leaving the scene of the crime.)

The wife and I like a lot of the same foods. However, when it comes to candy flavors, we tend to go off in our own direction. I really like strong lime candy, strong cinnamon hot candy, certain forms of strong licorice candy and strong root beer candy. Notice the emphasis on 'strong'. She doesn't like any of those. She tends to enjoy candies that have chocolate in them. She likes peanut butter candies too. I can eat the chocolate but I typically pass on the peanut butter. If you read the science you will find the current understanding of how taste works. Some extracts: Along with sweet and bitter, the tongue distinguishes three other primary taste qualities; salty, sour, and savory. These basic taste qualities, in combination with the senses of smell and touch, allow us to recognize thousands of different flavors. Psychological factors add another layer of complexity to food perception. Children develop food preferences through exposure and association. When children encounter chili peppers early and often, for example, the chances are high that they will like them as adults. Similarly, a child who remembers eating a particular food when feeling sick, happy, irritated, or distressed, may associate that flavor with a specific feeling for the rest of his or her life. Are you confused yet? I have said before I may have developed a liking for black licorice because very few others liked it, and, I didn't need to share much of it. However, I do not like the rubbery licorice at all. Hard candy, okay. Jelly beans, okay. Rubbery, no thank you. That may have come from an incident in my childhood. I'll do some checking and if I come up with a plausible explanation, I'll let you know.

I know what some of you are thinking. Is it a good idea for a diabetic to be writing about his love for certain candies? That, my friend, is a very good question. I'll definitely take it into consideration in the future. I started to give the old catch-all: Everything in moderation. However, that would only put forth a discussion of how moderation might be defined. Then, that could lead to another rabbit trail seeking to find the elusive 'in the eye of the beholder'. Therefore, I'll leave it where it is. For now. Believe me, I do appreciate folks who are concerned about my condition. Including my diabetes. It's a joke. In fact, I take no offense when the wife or other concerned party asks me the pregnant question, "Is it wise for you to eat that?" That's when I pass to them the entire bag of rubbery licorice because I too can take a hint. As for as my childhood goes, I actually don't remember that much as it relates to us having a lot of candy at home. That's not to say if we had a nickel in our pocket we wouldn't go to the little store across the street from our school and buy five small packages of that sweetened Kool-Aid mixture. They were super sweet but ever so tart. In fact, they might just take the top of your head right off. Or, that's how I remember it. Okay. Enough about that. Let me close with something much more relevant and much more important, "Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you." (Hebrews 13:5, from the Good News Translation of the Bible, GNT) Amen. ....More later.

“Today I bumped into you again. You seemed like that flower long forgotten in the old diary.” ― Avijeet Das

Most likely our last family photo before dad's passing. Resurrection Sunday, 1953.

It's Tuesday, January 22, 2019. Welcome. It seems this new year is zipping right along. I read a little ditty about people who have the ability to remember almost every detail of everything that has ever happened in their life. It's called Hyperthymesia. Look that one up and read it. Wow! Some estimate there may be only 25 people in the US who have this ability/condition. While I spend a fair amount of time trying to remember stuff, even things that just happened, these folks can tell you what they were wearing the day they first rode their tricycle. I'm not sure this would be a blessing or a curse. I've spoken often about my fuzzy recollections of things that happened prior to my father passing away suddenly in January 1954. The evidence points to a traumatic block of my ability to remember. That has always plagued me to a certain extent. Why? I think it's because I've always wanted to know, from my own memories, my dad. I was seven years old when he died. I've always had a fairly decent ability to recall things. What was he like in his interactions with me? How did his voice sound? At 72, I'm not counting on unlocking these anytime soon. Many would say that I should let sleeping dogs lie. I get it. But, they are not me, therefore, I still see it as unfinished business. I also think it might make for some pretty decent storytelling. And, I'm always on the lookout for a new story.

As you know by now, we no longer watch NFL football games. However, I still see the headlines popping up here and there. Many of the folks we know are both LSU and Saints fans. In the conference championship game between the Saints and the Rams, the officials missed a call very close to the end of the game that would have most likely resulted in a Saints win. The call wasn't made. The Rams won in overtime. Everyone is talking about that missed interference call. Many of our friends are posting the following information on their social media pages: We Were Robbed! It points out the fact that referees are human and subject to failings. I suppose this will be an area where robots might take the human quotient out of the equation. I saw many posted clips of the missed call. It appeared the closest official was looking directly at the Rams player who hit the Saints receiver way before the ball arrived. He knocked him down. That's how we used to play football out in the pasture. Wait until just before the ball arrives and knock the fellow trying to catch it on his rear end. We had no one to call any penalties, just some fisticuffs to settle really serious disagreements. Here we are, with a multi-billion dollar sport and the game is lost to one team because of one missed call. And, everyone saw it. Even the Rams player knew he had interfered. For our friends who love the Saints, I suppose there's nothing like having a little dose of what could have been to help soothe a heartbreaking loss.

Today, our nation will be celebrating National Sanctity of Human Life Day. This is an emphasis on the notion that all lives matter. Every life is precious. Each person is ordained by their Creator and they are made in His image. While the theologians have used up plenty of forests writing about what it means to bear the image of God, it is clear that human life is sacred. It is to God. It should be to us. I taught a lesson about this subject this past Sunday. It was a convicting lesson. To me. Why? Because I know that when Jesus gave His story about the Good Samaritan, He was pointing out the impossibility for us to love our neighbor each and every day the way the certain Samaritan did. (Luke Chapter 10) Loving the unlovable, the untouchables, the enemies, the decrepit. That, by the way, is how Christ loved each of us. (Romans 5:8) My personal view is it's much easier to have a general appreciation and reverence for human life than it is to go out of our way to love a specific individual who might be the vilest in our own estimation. Why? Every day we still have to do battle with our fallen natures called the old-man nature. It is at war with our new-man nature, the one given to us when we gave our heart and life to Jesus. Often the result becomes a great disconnect for the testimony of our faith as individuals and especially as a local congregation. Fortunately, God is still working on me. I hope He is doing the same with you. It should be that way until the time we sing the chorus to: Goodbye World Goodbye! Amen. .....More later.

“I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else.”- Winston Churchill

Welcome one and all to the buffet prepared for today. This one is loaded up with all kinds of variations of wordplay and malaprops. It's being offered here on this Monday, January 21, 2019. Our new clothes dryer was delivered last Thursday afternoon. The two fellows operated like they knew exactly what they were doing. I would guess they were at our house for no more than 10 minutes. They were Hispanic and very personable. We talked while they were working. I asked how many they had delivered that day. The leader/driver said 19 thus far, with 2 more to finish out the day. I joked and told them, "But, look how much money you are making." They thought that was really funny. The helper said essentially they get paid the same regardless of how many. These fellows work for a third party and are contracted to Lowes to deliver appliances. I do enjoy seeing people who know what they are doing and it shows. They came, they left, and before they could get out of our neighborhood, the wife was already drying clothes. And, expressing her thankfulness for the new dryer. The old one had served us well, but, it was time to send it on its way. We had planned on bringing one home with us from the store, and, I would have installed it. Based on past experience(s), that would not have been a slam dunk. This worked out much better. The wife and I would have probably really put on a good show trying to get it off of my pickup truck.

This past Saturday marked week one of Bentley, the Shih Tzu, coming to live with us. He is now officially 10 weeks old. He has changed my routine. He has chewed too many things to recount. He can be delightful and exasperating all in the same breath. My bones tell me that taking him out for exercise is working places in my own body that I haven't used in a long time. Before he came I was not out walking at 4:30 a.m. trailing behind him at the end of a leash. And, don't get me started on sloshing my Community Coffee. He is supposed to be in training, but, I think I'm the one who is in boot camp. He goes to the Vet this coming Wednesday. I don't remember ever being at a Veterinarian's clinic. The pets we had when I was a kid didn't receive that type of treatment. They got shots when the people on the truck came into our little town. Even the pets the boys had when they were at home somehow made it without vet care. Here we are, one week into the program and we feel compelled to get Bentley checked out and make sure he has his shots. One more time, old people, who can figure us out? Nearly everytime the wife comes from the store she has something she found for the puppy. The latest purchase is supposed to help his breath. Maybe we should be scheduling ourselves for an appointment down at the mental health clinic. (Full disclosure requires me to mention that one time we were taking care of a cat for one of our kids and it got run over and we took the cat to the pet E/R. They kept him for a week for observation. He turned out to be okay.)

If he could talk he would probably give you his understanding of how all of this unfolded. He was fine. He was living with a nice lady who had many other pets. He slept with her every night. Suddenly, she handed me over to this fellow with hair all over his face. The lady I loved had spoken Spanish. These new people speak a completely different language. I used to play outside with all my buddies, the big white poodle was my favorite, but now, they give me a toy and expect me to be happy. They will not let me sleep with them. They put me into a small prison and put a blanket on top of it. I cooperate the best I know how by sleeping 8 to 10 hours, but, life has really changed for me. Don't get too overwrought folks, I'm just having a little fun here so don't take it seriously. We are getting adjusted and he is too. The other day I told our youngest that Bentley acts like he has won the lottery and everything here on the property belongs to him. He responded by saying that everyone knows that little dog has really won the lottery, big time! Our eldest wanted to know the other day if we are going to include Bentley in the gifts for Christmas. They are just having fun. I don't mind. At least we all are still laughing. For now. Take care, enjoy your day, and remember to remember to thank God for His unconditional love. Amen. ....More later.

“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.” ~ The words of Jesus as recorded in the Gospel of John, Chapter 16, Verse 33, as rendered in the Modern English Version (MEV).

That wasn't the sound of my alarm clock going off. I haven't set one in maybe 30 years or longer. It may have been our little whimpering pup who has done wonderfully sleeping through the nights, but, when he's finished his dream state, he's ready to rumble. That typically means one of us has to get up. Truth is, however, we bought and paid for him, therefore, he does have some say in the matter. Hey, for those of you still punching a clock, good news, it's Friday. This one finds its place on the calendar as January 18, 2019. I would like to tell you that when you woke up this morning the world is in better shape than when you fell asleep last night. I checked the headlines this morning and came to this conclusion: The more things change, the more they stay the same. And, not just here in our beloved nation. It's a mess folks, all over the world. For those of us who have as our goal to live by faith, well, that can present challenges. Our pastor recently dug down into what it means to live by faith. Believing God. No matter what. Knowing that what He has said is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. No matter what. Understanding the things we see are not the gauge we use, it is 'thus says the word of the Lord'. He has just started a series that will walk us through the truths as provided to us in the Book of Hebrews, Chapter 11. I'm looking forward to this series because, to be honest, seeing the chaos all around makes me know I need THE TRUTH in my life. What say you? Amen.

Here's a little ditty I wrote about the cold weather eleven years ago: ~ I do know that with the variety of medications I am taking, (I do need to blame it on something), I am no longer quite as resilient against the cold as I used to be. Remember that running joke about my Granny Mac and her telling me she hoped someday to see me cold like she was all the time? Instead of going out on the driveway on a frigid day in short sleeves and looking up and saying, "Not today, Granny!", I might be soon bundling up like an Eskimo and mumbling, "Guess you are finally happy Granny because I'm really cold." To be sure I haven't reached that point yet but I can begin to see myself on this slippery slope. It seems more to be my feet that gets colder and sometimes when I get into the bed at night I find myself spending more time stretching over to my wife's side where she has the warming blanket going. She noticed this increased access into her domain and a few days ago she actually repositioned the blanket so that I would have more of it on my side. I was outraged. I told her it was nearly impossible for me to sleep with those hot wires all over my body. She laughed and moved it back to her side and said she guessed she would just have to share her domain with me each night until I was warm enough to move over. As if she really has a clue. Doesn't she know I am dealing with issues and I have this medical condition and I'm taking all these pills? Whatever happened to the "Compassionate Conservative"? It's one thing to answer to Granny Mac about this cold natured business but I will not be subject to taunting in my own home! I do hope you find the little things in your life to be a source of laughter because when it's all said and done, "You might as well laugh than cry." ~

For those who are new to my blogging venture, or, if you just happened to land on it unknowingly, let me give an overview of my style of writing. I call it convoluted colloquialisms served up with a twist of Southern slang. One of the things I learned when working for the Big Company is how important it is to get your point across. As the person in charge of computing and telecommunications for a Fortune 500 company, I did, on occasion, send out a memo to the entire company. You would not even imagine how many reviews it had to undergo before it was published. People who make a living making mincemeat out of other people's writing, well, at times they had a field day with mine. One thing I did learn from all of that gnashing is how important it is to get the message communicated. Some believed in the use of a minimum of words. Others thought the clear explanation was important. Me? I just sat back and was often amused by the finished product. I've said all of that to say this. I have no proofreaders or editors to check my work. Therefore, it most likely comes across the way it comes across because that's the way I thought it and that's the way I wrote it. Yes. I do have automatic spell checking and a grammar program that makes recommendations. You may have noticed. I don't always take their recommendations. I thought an explanation may be helpful to those who are still scratching their heads. Have yourself a most wonderful Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday. Pray. For each other. For so many in need of a special touch. For our nation. For our world. Amen. .....More later.

"There are no traffic jams along the extra mile." ~ Roger Staubach

Good morning to any and all who chose to join up for today's merry go round ride. This one gets us going on Thursday, January 17, 2019. Our clothes dryer gave up the ghost earlier this week. The wife cleaned up everything, checked all that we knew to check, but, alas, it would no longer do its intended purpose. We've had it for years. It has hung in there sitting next to a newer washer that we finally bought a few years back. Therefore, rather than try to have it fixed, after maybe a 14-year run, we decided to buy a new one. The first store we went to had a problem. Their computer system was down. They couldn't sell one cotton-picking thing. Period. The showroom was filled up with appliances, but, sorry, we will have to wait until it comes back up. Really? The next store we went to could have been in the commercial. We were there. We saw the unit we wanted to buy. Nary a worker who could help us was in sight. There was an older gentleman doing his best to help people find stuff on the computer. That was not a pretty picture. After maybe 45 minutes we got him to check on the unit we wanted. Sorry. Out of stock. None of the other stores in the area have it. The wife gave this proverbial insight, "Maybe it's not meant for us to buy a new one." Do what? The third store, we found the very same unit. (It was on sale at every appliance store we visited.) No one around, however, a fellow spotted us, asked what we needed and he went and fetched someone to help us. Five minutes later we were out the door. They will be delivering and installing it today. Here's my final take: I did my very best to think about all the reasons we experienced what we did. My belief is there is never, ever, any excuse for ignoring and not taking care of a potential customer. I thought I would pass that on.

There's nothing like a coming weather change to get people talking. Supposedly, we have some type of arctic chill that is headed our way this weekend. It will maybe make down into the high 20's. The huge Houston Marathon is Sunday morning and they are predicting a wind chill of 19 degrees for the runners. That doesn't sound great to me, but, who knows if it will be that cold? We've kind of made it a habit to be weather skeptics around these parts. Think about it. When the local forecasters see something with arctic air that appears to be headed our way, they pull out the graphics they rarely use. They really get into it. And, we all know there is no accountability because as soon as something doesn't happen they predicted, they just move on down to the next prediction. That's what you call job security. But, because I am a practical person, sometimes, I will likely make sure our pipes are still protected and check with the lady of the house on her precious plants that currently are enjoying life in her new she-shed. Meanwhile, try not to be too worried when they put that B-RRRRRR! up on the screen in huge letters.

Bentley may be tiny, but, he is earning a new nickname, Trouble!

Okay. I admit it. This puppy dog has gotten my schedule totally messed up. I am not spending as much quality time in the Home Office. Why? I'm outside hanging around a puppy who is into everything. One of the things being neglected is the work I put into my daily blogs. I know. You can't tell the difference. But, believe me, I can. Our friends who have dogs and have had dogs all of their lives tell us that as a puppy he is more like a baby than one might expect. Yay! Tell me something I am not seeing every single day. He and I are the only ones up early. It's not as easy to concentrate on what I'm typing when this little guy is busy doing his best to imitate the shredder we have in our office. (He seems intent on me having a legitimate excuse for the IRS, "Sorry, but my dog ate my paperwork.) And, it's not that easy to do anything with him in my lap. Oh well, as I often tell the wife when she is frustrated with his behavior or lack thereof, it comes with the package. Maybe he will eventually have his own column. That should keep him busy. Just kidding. I mention this only to let you know that I might be a smidgen or two off my game until I get this little dude all lined out. Just so you know, he doesn't mind the dampness outside, but, when it has rained quite a bit, he would just rather not. Period. Have a great rest of the day and may God add His blessings. Amen. ....More later.

“Have you ever noticed how as an adult, all the bright colors go out of your life? Now that I’m not a kid anymore, things always look gray, like a clothesline draped with laundry that’s been washed too many times and left to stand in the wind. I guess that’s what growing up is… it’s a fading photograph.” ― Rebecca McNutt, Author

Good morning and welcome. It is Wednesday, January 16, 2019, and, I am sitting here in the Home Office reminiscing about this subject: Reminiscing. This was brought on by a country music song reverberating and bouncing off the walls of that room where the gray matter, what's left of it, hangs out. The thoughts expressed in the song go like this: ~ Did lovers really fall in love to stay And stand beside each other, come what may? Was a promise really something people kept Not just something they would say and then forget Did families really bow their heads to pray Did daddies really never go away? Oh, Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days ~ I have written extensively about my upbringing in a 'Mayberry RFD' type of environment. I've experienced much of what that song talks about. However, I do know that we can idealize our memories, live in the past, and perhaps lose our focus on where we live today, in the here and now. I was born in the 8th month of the first wave of the postwar baby boom and that's what we are called: Baby Boomers. Things were simpler back in the day. However, when I put my mind to it I can also remember that it was not all happy happy and some of the issues could not be solved by Sheriff Andy and Deputy Fife in a 30-minute program. One example: 'Did daddies really never go away?' Mine did. He caught a sudden illness and it became worse. He most likely wouldn't seek medical attention because of his stubbornness and not having enough money to pay for it. On January 2, 1954, they came and fetched him by ambulance. He was in cardiac arrest when they arrived at the hospital and at age 31 he did the ultimate going away. To his heavenly home. Because of the trauma involved, I can only see in my mind's viewing station bits and pieces of how things unfolded, but, I mention it only to say this about that: Life can be tough and no amount of fantasizing 'bout the good old days' will change that. At the same time, I'm still thankful, warts and all, for the environment God allowed me to live in as a child because it helped prepare me for my greatest challenge: Living one day at a time in the here and now.

Our brand new year is off to a bloody start for those who wear the badge and have pledged their lives to serve and protect our communities. In the first 13 days of 2019, a total of seven police officers have died in the line of duty. Sadly, there are still those among us who continue to whip up hatred against those out there every day doing their best to enforce our laws. This hate is wrapped up in racial division, poverty, and other special interest groups who foment their vitriol against our policing agencies. The wife and I are huge fans of the TV series, 'Live PD'. Has this animosity against the police infiltrated the thoughts of those being pulled over? You betcha! Big time! Teenagers claim they are being stopped because of their age or appearance. Others claim racial discrimination. The interaction becomes hostile from the get-go, leaving the officers to simply say, "No, your age or your skin color has nothing to do with it. The plate on your car is not valid. I stopped you because of that." I am going to share my opinion about this: ~There are no doubt bad cops out there just like there are bad people out there. As for as the cops go, that is a very small number. But, this incessant drumbeat of hatred and malice against authority has contributed to the increased dangers associated with our police. ~ To me, this is one of the sad features of our world today. Pray for the families of the fallen and pray for our nation. May God help is my prayer. Amen.

The Colonel as Santa in Japan.

The other day I stopped by a small Cajun restaurant to pick up some seafood gumbo. As I drove into a parking spot in front of the place, a group of about 20 Japanese folks were exiting the restaurant. They saw me in my truck and began pointing. I waved at them and they were excited. They were all laughing and talking when I got out. I spotted what appeared to be their group leader. I walked over to her and handed her one of our Santa cards. She let out a yelp and held it up for all to see. They appeared to be happy. The lady inside at the counter said she guessed they didn't have 'real' Santas over in their country. I told her she would likely be surprised since many American Santas do foreign gigs at malls and specialty appearances. That day I was wearing my red cap and red suspenders, therefore, I can't really blame them for seeing me as a tourist attraction. I have a few anecdotes to share going forward that I plan to call, 'Musings from the Mall'. Since I am now a mostly committed mall walker on most days, I do have some interesting observations from time to time. I was going to start today but I need to spend some time collecting my thoughts. Okay. The ones I had in mind slipped away from me, but, they will come back. Or, I think they will. Just call it a coming attraction. Until next time, may God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

Does anyone know if it's true that Dracula had a bloodhound as a pet?

The brain merry-go-round stopped here, therefore, this is where we start on this Tuesday, January 15, 2019. Last week I was privileged to attend every session of a Bible conference held at our local fellowship. I must tell you, it was one of the most amazing series of services I've been to. Period. I think we heard 17 sermons and some of the most God-honoring music on the planet. Period. In addition to some of the finest expository preachers from across the United States, we also were privileged to have two professional Southern Gospel Groups, Greater Vision, and the Mark Trammel Quartet. We also had our own choir which is by many people's estimation, one of the finest Church choirs in America. I knew that already, but, when you hear people from all over saying it, you know it is something very special. What a week! God was in the House! At least eight people confessed Christ as their Lord and Savior, the altars were filled up with folks multiple times seeking a closer walk with their Lord. Some came with heartache and burdens hard to bear. Others for rededication. What a week! I told several people my take. The proof will not be in our basking in the wonderful services we were a part of, but, it will be in how the truths God revealed to us changes our lives. That is where the rubber meets the road. We don't get to stay up in the clouds. We operate in the here and now. Pray with me that the fruit from this phenomenal week will continue to blossom in our day by day living. Amen.

Within our local fellowship, we have several folks in their late 80's and early 90's. One of the nonagenarians is a very sweet fellow who loves to shake hands, greet, and make people feel welcome. He sometimes calls me 'Sonny' and that sounds so funny to me. I don't know why, but, at 72 plus, it has been a long time since anyone called me Sonny as in Sonny-boy. I told some people about it the other evening and they said this older gentleman always does his best to make someone smile. They know him much better than I, but, I thought to myself, what a testimony. He always does his best to make someone smile. I know he was able to do that for me. He is visibly somewhat frail, but, he doesn't miss a service. Another fellow, a man of God, 92 years young, pastored for more than 65 years. I have profound respect for this man. He is not in the greatest of health, uses a walker, but, he comes as often as he can. I always try to give him a hug when I see him. Being a pastor is a very difficult responsibility. Being one for over 65 years puts this fellow in what has to be rare company. These and so many other elderly folks within our local assembly tell us that we can serve the Lord by doing what we can, all that we can, to the best of our ability, up to and until He calls us home. That might include calling someone in their 70's, 'Sonny Boy'.

We have a new addition in our home. His name is Bentley. He is 9 weeks old. He is a Shih Tsu. He is a handful. We got him last Saturday. He is a baby and he doesn't mind acting like one. We had been talking about getting one over the last couple of months. Old people. No one can figure us out. At any rate, he is a part of our program now and we will do the best we can to raise and take care of him. He is very active and he likes attention. Lots of attention. When I sent the above photo out to our boys, the eldest replied, "This is a joke. Right?" Based on the dialogue I think they think we have lost it. That might be true, but, the reality is we now have a dog. I'm not so sure he knows that he is a dog. I'll put that on the list of things he needs to learn. Meanwhile, he sleeps in my lap. Old people. No one can figure us out. This was a team decision. After talking forth and back to the groomer lady who had him for sale, I told her I had to consult with my wife before any further discussion. The wife came upstairs, watched the video of Bentley, and by 4:00 p.m. of that same day, he was exploring our house, his new home. Now it begins. Whatever that means. Enjoy the rest of your day and may God bless us all is my prayer. Amen. ....More later.

Thought for food on a Monday.

Welcome back to Monday, January 14, 2019. The other day while traveling down the road I caught the end of the preacher/pastor Alistair Begg's radio broadcast. He was reading and answering questions that had been submitted to his ministry. He read one that essentially had this to say. "Don't you agree that evangelical Christianity coupled to conservative political viewpoints have become very exclusive in how they relate to others within the world?" The person went on to describe how this has caused those within the circle to only want contact and dialogue with those within the circle. People who hold other views, people who look different, talk different, or not with the program, well, they are not welcome. Begg responded. He said this is not new, but, the question hits on something that is totally opposite to the commission Jesus gave to His followers. He said that everyone needs to hear and respond to the love of Jesus for them and this marrying of those who subscribe to the Great Commission to the hardened political viewpoint has certainly hurt the outreach to the world. Jesus went to and reached out to the downtrodden, the most sinful, the hurting, and the untouchables. As I listened to this question and his response I could identify with what was being said. I see it every day in postings that resemble a near hatred for any and all who disagree. I'm not pointing the finger at anyone, except maybe at myself, but, it should give us all something to consider, and perhaps pray about. Amen.

The 'love your enemy' admonition is well-known as commanded by our Lord, however, that one is typically hard for us all because we still have to deal with the old man nature. Did Jesus really deal with that subject? Go and see for yourself, Matthew 5:43-48. I know some people hide behind the: "I didn't actually say it, I just copied and pasted it from someone else." How many of us would think that would absolve us from anything? The other thing we like to say is how the other side is not observing anything like loving those who disagree with them. Precisely. That was the point of our Lord. People of the world operate like, for lack of a better term, people of the world. He was indicating His own should be different than the world. Perhaps the most visible way this can be seen is in our loving a lost world like Jesus did. Wait a minute. We can't do that. I know. We have to allow Him to love through us. This wasn't a plea for compromise. It was a call for loving folks where they are and certainly not returning an eye for an eye or tit for tat. But, some of the new people in The Congress appear to be the personification of evil. That's when we speak the truth in love. I've seen so many who say those who were not sworn in on a Bible should be immediately kicked out of The Congress. Think about it. Some of them are a part of a false religion. They do not recognize the Bible. Others identify with no religion. There is religious liberty even to those who believe differently than you and I. Calling them names will not help. Praying for God to work in their lives, as well as our own, might be a good starting place. I'm just sending stuff out as it comes to me. For my sake. I do need to be reminded of this because I clearly recognize the heritage of redneck blood that has been handed down to me. And, it seems always ready to pounce. (God speaking to Cain: "....Why are you angry? Why is your countenance fallen? If you do well, shall you not be accepted? But if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. It desires to dominate you, but you must rule over it." Genesis 4:6-7)

Next Sunday, January 20, many Churches will be recognizing the Sanctity of Life. I will be teaching a lesson that examines what it means for humans to be made in the image of God. All human lives are sacred. I've been working on this for a while and maybe that's what made me more sensitive to how our politics can overshadow the truths God has given us to live by. Every human being is made in the image of God. They bear in their being the image of their Maker. Theologians have pondered the meaning of this truth and while there is not a clear consensus, it is obvious that human life is precious to our God. Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. It's not just a kid's song, it happens to be the truth. How much did He love? See Him on The Cross! Read about His outreach to the downcast of the world where He walked. I recently heard an expositional presentation on the text about the Good Samaritan who showed mercy to his avowed enemy, a beaten and badly wounded Jew. Jesus was making a point. He described such lavish love that would make anyone know that within ourselves we are not capable of loving like that. Can't do it. Not as a way of life. What's the solution? Allow Jesus to live and love through us. That's the only way. (John McArthur on the radio. Luke 10:25-37) The bottom line for me is that we all should think about this before we post some hateful meme or join in a type of clamoring that looks a lot like hate being spewed against certain individuals or classes of people. Just me, just sharing. And, be reminded, I have my own old man nature to wrestle with. Every single day. May God help us to love as He would have us to. Amen. ....More later.

"And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not." ~ Ruth, Chapter 2, Verse 16, King James Version, KJV.

Just in case you are keeping score, today is the second Friday of this brand new year of 2019 and it finds itself positioned as January 11. On Monday, I wished our first great grand a happy 9th birthday. She and her family have moved to San Antonio so this is the first birthday we were not able to be with her. We had sent a greeting card with a gift card included. About 9 p.m. Monday evening we received a video via text from her mom of her opening the card and reading it. How special! She was so gracious and thankful for her gift. Yesterday, I wished our youngest grandson a happy 13th. He is a young fellow of few words. Here's the text he sent to me: "Thank you for the card. Love you and MiMi. Have a merry day." Both of these responses put tears in my eyes. Just seeing our Madelyn Joy reading the card I made for her was a blessing. Then, to have been wished a 'merry day' by our Brady, well, I have to tell you, that's the first time I have ever been wished a 'merry day'. I know what some of you are thinking. Old people are impacted easily by emotional drivel. Do I need to formally plead guilty or will you just take my word for it? Thank You, Lord, for some handfuls on purpose! Amen.

Here's another in my series of Flashback Friday Episodes. This one comes from my early days of dealing with the big 'D' that came into my life, diabetes. Let me continue to tell everyone how thankful to God I am to have made it to TODAY and to be able to look back. Here's what I was thinking about 11 years ago: "Everyone who knows me laughs when I tell them I have a doctor's appointment. They actually feel sorry for the doctor because they know I have thoroughly prepared myself to be involved in my own medical situation. Yes, I did pay a fee to read the online 100 plus page 2008 Johns Hopkins medical white paper on Diabetes. (I've read through it more than once.) I do have my checklist of items to be covered regarding the medications, dosages, the numbers I am seeing on my blood glucose checks, and other miscellaneous things I hope to discuss with my primary physician. I will say this for my doctor, he has been more right than wrong regarding the way things have unfolded and the adjustments needed to control this disease. I know I am blessed that it is Type 2, and it is treatable, and I can, with God's help and old fashioned discipline, learn to live with it. One of the good things I learned from the white paper is to try to keep everything within a context of being reasonable by doing your best to work in the most simple way possible so that this challenge does not become an overwhelming obsession in your life. There's so much literature on this subject one could spend all their waking hours reading without really gaining much practical insight. There's also every kind of wonder drug and treatment known to humanity lurking on the pages of website after website, therefore, the basics remain the basics."

Before my dad passed away in 1954, we didn't even have a telephone. When a call needed to be made, mom or dad would go to a neighbor or to my uncle's house. After we moved to Louisiana, we eventually built a house and moved into it in 1957. We then had a telephone. However, we shared the line with six or seven other people. It was called a party line. Fast forward to the communication capabilities we have today. My great granddaughter can record a video and we can watch her read the card we sent. Our 13-year-old grandson can send us a text using his own cellphone. Wow! And, those are just two examples of the so-called interconnected real-time world we live in. The question will always be about the overall value of these mind-boggling changes I have lived to see. We don't have to look far to see how they can be manipulated and abused. Cyber-bullying to the extent the target ends up committing suicide. Need I say more? The same technology that brought joy to us can become a curse when used to carry out hateful or evil schemes. Such is life. Choices. Money is a necessary tool in life. Money is not evil in and of itself. Yet, the Bible tells us the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. (1st Timothy 6:10) I'm not sure I made my point, or even if I had one, but, I do think there's something in there that can be of help to us all. Have a great Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday. As He provides, I plan to be back at my workstation, pecking on my keyboard, come next Monday morning. Until then, may God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

Song: " Come home, come home Ye who are weary come home..." 'Softly and Tenderly', written by Will Thompson, (1847-1909). Thompson was inspired to write this song after attending one of D.L. Moody's meetings. He visited Moody when D. L. was dying and the famous evangelist said this, "Will, I would rather have written ‘Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling’ than anything I have been able to do in my whole life."

I noticed a pastor of a local fellowship over in Louisiana was presenting a series for the new year entitled, "Refocusing". That sounds appropriate to me as we are already dealing with the 10th day of 2019, here on this Thursday. That refocusing theme reminded me of how easy it is for any of us to end up with distorted vision. The Apostle Peter wrote about how and why this can happen in a believers life in the first 9 verses of his second epistle (letter): "Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,  as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,  by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins." Notice he was writing to fellow believers. It can happen to anyone! If we fail to add those virtues to our Christian life, bad things, very bad things can result. The word shortsighted in the Greek is the word we get myopia from. Distorted vision. Blindness. And, the worst thing of all, one can forget they have been cleansed from their sins. Talk about a need to REFOCUS, not just as a metaphor, but as a reality. For me. For you. For us all. Amen.

No. I am not going to change my blog category into one that features mostly theological materials. I write about what I have in my heart and mind, therefore, if I tend, at times, to go on and on about spiritual matters, well, you can guess who most likely needs it the most. You got it right the first time! That very difficult trio that is always my toughest obstacle, Me, Myself, and I. It has been that way for a long time. Let me see, for at least the past 72 plus years. I could easily give you a lot of the ways one can tell if they have neglected to focus on those things God says are vital to our life for Him. How? Let me summarize it this way: Been there, done that. I know what preachers have said for years is true, "There's not much worse than a true believer who is out of the will of God." That distorted view becomes front and center and the things that should matter most are no longer on the front burner. Some seem to think this could not happen to them. Really? I would only say this about that. Even thinking that puts one closer to being there. Here's a verse for us all to consider: "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." (The Apostle Paul's letter to the local fellowship meeting in Corinth, Greece, 1st Corinthians, Chapter 10, Verse 12, as rendered in the New King James Version, NKJV).

Ted Williams with Babe Ruth.

Last Monday, the wife and I went and walked at the mall. On our way back we stopped at the store to pick up some small bottles of water. Some of the mostly elderly folks we minister to at the apartments prefer water instead of coffee. I picked up one of those 24 packs and went to the checkout. The fellow behind me must have been in his early 40's. He was talking up a storm. He sounded like he was in sales. He grabbed a Hot Wheels car off the peg and said, "There it is. I wanted one for Christmas but I didn't get it. I'll just buy my own Lamborgini." With that, he threw it down on the conveyor. I looked back and handed him one of our Santa cards and told him next time he might want to ask the right person. He got hold of that card and acted like a kid. He seemed excited and happy. He went on, "Hey, this should be in your wheelhouse. What do you know about Ted Williams?" I told him I knew a little since he was one of the greatest major league hitters of all time. He then hit me with a couple of questions. I think he was getting them off of his cellphone. He asked if I knew why Ted Williams wore the number 9 on his jersey. I told him I didn't know. He said it was because he flew F-9 jets in Korea. He then asked if I knew the fellow who was Ted's wingman on many of his sorties. I admitted I didn't know. He said it was John Glenn, the famous astronaut and later respected US Senator. He told me if I had been able to answer those questions he would have allowed me to be his wingman for the day. What a character! The cashier was taking it all in and bobbing forth and back like a cork being hit by a fish. I'm not sure about the number 9 on his jersey. I couldn't validate that part of his story, however, it is true that Ted Williams and John Glenn flew many times in Korea as wingmen. The things you have happen to you when all you wanted to do was get some water. Fortunately, we were the only ones in line at that time. Enjoy the rest of your day and may God bless us all is my prayer. Amen. ....More later.