“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

Good morning. Another typical work week is coming to an end here on this Friday, March 29, 2019. I used the word typical because I am well aware of the huge number of folks who work shifts around the clock with schedules that run 7 x 24. I ran a program for years that required 24-hour staffing, therefore, I am well aware of how different these shift workers are compared to their contemporaries who work a regular daily 8 hours. The group I ran had responsibilities for computing and telecommunications provisioning with terminals scattered across the globe. Some of these included a drilling operation in the South China Sea, mining operations in Australia, oil product management throughout Asia, Europe, Central, and South America, along with the distributed network in the US. Time zones alone required the hub center to be staffed around the clock. The time zones can be tricky. My operations people always found it odd to be talking with people in Australia where it was already tomorrow for us. Of course, it wasn't tomorrow for the Aussies, it was their today. At any rate, I do appreciate the nuances of those who deal with working these odd hours. Some really thrive on it. Others, not so much. Sleep issues, balancing home life, and countless other challenges are a part of the configuration. I'm no longer involved in all of that. I am now operating on Mr. Bentley Standard Time. And, believe me, that is an adjustment we are still trying to get our arms around.

Here's an excerpt from a blog written eleven years ago. (Just so you know, I will soon be doing flashbacks from 12 years ago.) ~ I really have a hard time trying to make sense out of the reasoning of those who reject even a consideration that God exists and that He is the Creator of all things including the human body. All that we know about creation declares the glory of God and His sovereign majesty over all things. Here’s a song that David the Psalmist wrote concerning the splendor of God’s created universe.

Psalm 19 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1) The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2) Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. 3) There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. 4) Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, 5) Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race. 6) Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat. 7) The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; 8) The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9) The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10) More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11) Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward. 12) Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. 13) Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. 14) Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. (New King James)

I do love this passage and I do pray that you will be aware of God’s working in His created world through His created human family which includes you and I. Have a great time over your days off and may God help each of us to recognize His Lordship over all things! Amen. ~

I know I've been all over the place this week. The stuff emanating from Washington D.C. got me going early on and I more or less focused on it to the exclusion of other topics. I saw the wife sitting on the couch reading my blog and heard her mumble, "More politics?" I've already explained why I spent the time I did on the 'no collusion' story. Now we are dealing with the fallout. I'm not going back over any of what I have already written, however, I can see danger for all sides if they overplay their response. The President is livid about the entire investigation and he wants to see people punished if they did, in fact, as he believes, attempt to corrupt the outcome of the election by violating the law and the constitution. He, in my opinion, should leave this in the hands of Senator Graham and others while he gets back to governing our nation. That's how I see it. On the other side, the Democrats run the risk of becoming the party of persecution which may not bode well for them in the next election cycle. Okay. Now on to something more important. I do hope you enjoy your Saturday and that Lord's Day Sunday will find us all in the place where people come together to worship our Lord and to hear from Him as His Word is shared. That will help us all to deal with the ongoing craziness we see each week. Amen. ....More later.

"One missing child is one too many." ~ John Walsh, father of a kidnapped, murdered child, who has devoted his life to pursuing criminals, especially those who would harm children.

I will do my best to make today's edition a politics-free zone. It is Thursday, March 28, 2019, and I do bid each one a hearty welcome from my little upstairs space here in The Home Office. One thing that has been a heart-wrenching thing for me is to see the number of missing children being posted every day. I don't know if social media is helping to find these kids but the exposure has been extensive. The photo was one posted on social media of a young boy praying in a Wal-Mart where a large chart of missing children was hung. Nationally, there are an estimated 2000 children that go missing each day. This includes runaways and those taken by someone they know like a divorced spouse. The actual kidnapping or abduction rate by someone they do not know is fairly low, but, any missing child brings pain, suffering, and heartache into families all across our land. Hopefully, the focus on individual postings where people send out appeals for help will be productive. I pray for those impacted because you can literally sense the anguish in their crying out for help. (I'm one of those who always wanted to know where my boys were at all times, and, it was next to impossible to rest anytime I didn't know, for any reason.)

Thankfully, we do get good reports from time to time.

Missing Texas girl found safe after 2-year search

I can still remember when I would come in late at night as a teen, no matter what the time, I would hear my mom's voice, "Son, is that you?" I didn't realize how strong that instinct of caring and responsibility was until my boys were the ones coming in late. God made us that way. He understands. He gave this insight through the psalmist, "As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust." (Psalm 103: 13-14) We also recall the wonderful imagery of the passage describing God Himself waiting for His wayward son to come home. "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him." (Luke 15:20) This is a great overview of God's heart for His children. The entire passage is worth anyone's time. It can be found in Luke 15, verses 11-32. My heart goes out to those who have had the stress of a missing child. May they find comfort that only God can give. Amen. ....More later.

“Politics - a lucrative game for the ludicrous.” ― Stewart Stafford

A new day and we are off and running on this Wednesday, March 27, 2019. Have you ever wondered why there is never any accountability within the madness of the political class in Washington, D.C? We have senior house members who lead critical committees that have said over and over again that they personally have seen the evidence and it clearly shows the President colluded with Russia. Many members. When they are called on to resign they respond by saying these charges are nothing more than noise from the opposition. See what I mean? Video record after video record shows them speaking to a national audience and guaranteeing this evidence to be readily available. No accountability. The media, both entertainment and news? Literally, dozens of anchors, commentators, pundits, along with Hollywood types said directly and implied the exact same story. (See the chart above.) The President is as good as behind bars. There were nearly 600,000 stories run about collusion. Yesterday, the head of one of these most offending networks said he had no regrets about the coverage. Give me a break! Even the former head of the CIA who claimed President Trump was guilty of treason now says he must have been given wrong information. Not the mainstream networks. I purposely watched one of the cable networks known for its bias against the President. No apologies for any previous reporting, but, now they breathlessly are hoping against hope that if they can get the entire report released, maybe, just maybe, there's another shoe that might drop. I ask you. What kind of journalism is reflected in this type of coverage? And, while I am not a fan of Fox News, it is somewhat of a needed balance in the midst of this never-ending 'take out the President' or as it is often called, Trump Derangement Syndrome. As the kids might say, that's just messed up. Period. (As a side note: I saw an article run by our distant cousins across the pond, the UK's Guardian, "An Illegal Take-Down that Failed." Let that sink in for a moment.)

I will be the first to admit that I have been somewhat more tuned in to this most recent development than the daily machinations that define politics today. I still scan the headlines, look at my Twitter feed, and I typically peruse a couple of other news websites. We do watch some local news, but, I am pretty much off the national news being peddled by ABC, CBS, and NBC. I am also pretty much weaned off of the cable news programs. All of them. I found the Mueller Report and all of the stuff surrounding it to be compelling since I believe it does impact our country in a material way. No. I am not surprised in the least that opponents of the President are doubling down with more promised investigations. However, Senator Lindsey Graham who heads up the Senate Intelligence Committee is planning an investigation into how this collusion thing came into being. If, in fact, we have people who are in or were in our government and they participated in a plan to bring down the President, we need to know this. I will be interested in that committee's deliberations as they move forward. I think this is long overdue. And, I have already heard some of the top Democrats beginning to publicly worry about a continued focus on using legislative means to pursue the Trump Administration. They worry about the next election cycle and what people will surmise from how they spend their time. I just wanted everyone to know that while I no longer consider myself to be a news junkie, I am more than just a casual observer.

For anyone who is new, or perhaps they just landed on my blog, let me reiterate a few things that influence my political viewpoints. I am a Christian. (I believe the Bible and have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.) As they rank folks, while I don't particularly like labels, I would be categorized as a conservative. I typically vote Republican but like to think of myself as an independent voter making choices as I feel informed by my convictions. I am not a personal fan of Donald Trump. In the matchup between him and Hillary Clinton, I did vote for him. I will vote for him again if someone like the last Democratic candidate shows up as his opponent. I did not support his candidacy in the primary, but, given the choice, I am not ashamed in any way of my vote in the general election. I think he would be better off not to be so thin skinned and active in his off the rails tweeter rampages. However, he is who he is. I said at the outset I was a Christian. This means God's truth should be the major factor in how I view things. God has revealed Himself as the ultimate Authority, therefore, I trust Him to deal with and take care of all of these issues in His own time. Cop out? I don't think so, but, others can draw their own conclusions. I am optimistic about God and His provision. I am not optimistic about political matters or the world system we deal with each day. And, that doesn't mean I don't get bent out of shape from time to time because I am not always remembering to remember the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I hope that makes sense. If not, tune in tomorrow. Maybe it will be different or perhaps even better. Don't count on it. Have a great rest of the day and may God bless each one. Amen. ...More later.

NY Times Headline: "Mueller Finds No Trump-Russia Conspiracy"

I suppose that we all, as Americans, should be feeling good that our President did not cooperate with the Russians in order to manipulate the 2016 election. He is not a spy for the Putin government. We have $25 million plus dollars spent to find this out. Oh. Hello. It is Tuesday, March 26, 2019, and I had this on my mind. I'm not the only one. Of course, this is not the end of the continued recriminations against the President's election. The Democrats had taken all kinds of action trying to make sure that investigator, Special Prosecutor, Robert Mueller, was protected from the President. They threatened every sanction in the book had the President interfered with the completion of this work. But, it became a really dark day whenever the report was finished and there was no evidence of collusion. Suddenly, the Democrats do not love Robert Mueller like they did before. He should have handed them grounds for the immediate impeachment of President Trump, but, after over two years and a vast amount of resources, there ended up being 'no there' there. They had said when the report is issued they would live by it. Liars! They now will conduct their own investigations. They now will continue the battle against an election that, in their minds, rightfully belonged to Hillary Clinton. If they wanted to turn even more people off, and maybe that's their strategy, they are working overtime to do just that. For those who stay for the second feature, well, we will be in for a mudslide extravaganza.

Today is the anniversary of the birthday of my wife's mom, who later became my mother-in-law. Here is a tribute I wrote some seven years ago:

Prayer to God: "Thanks for people You have placed in our lives, and thanks for the memories."

Today is Monday, March 28, 2011. Last Saturday would have been my mother-in-law's birthday, the 26th of March. She was a wonderful God loving woman who left this life in her 81st year of sojourn here, in May of 1998. My wife's family are my family. That may not have been that well understood as I said my "I do" way back in 1964, but it is something I learned, and not only just by acknowledgment, but I learned it to be a treasure. My wife's mom was a simple woman in many ways but with a twist. She was a maker of things. She had a quick mind and a wit that you had to stay ready just to keep up with her. She could sew up a storm and when she had sewing on her mind, she stayed with it. She loved her kids, and she loved their kids, and yes, she even loved the spouses, including me. I know that is easy to say after the fact, but it is also the truth because I lived in that prayerful love that she carried with her 24 hours a day. She loved music. She loved Gospel music and especially songs with a mountain twang. Most of all, she loved to hear her family sing. She didn't sign up initially to be a pastor's wife but she was faithful in doing her best to fulfill that role in their nearly 50 years of ministry together. One thing I thank God for is a fairly good memory. Sure, if you have one, you have to deal with some recollections that are not too pleasant, but my how wonderful it is to hear my mother-in-law's voice, laughing and talking, even as I write about her this morning. I didn't get to be who I am today by myself. God had to provide and often He did so through wonderful people like Mom Rawles. May God bless our memories of this dear woman. Amen.

Mom Rawles, my Mother-in-law.

How blessed I have been with the people God has placed in my life.  I should be a whole lot better than I am as a result. I can still remember my last conversation with her. They thought she was leaving for her real home, but, she had a slight turnaround and began to pull out of it some. She told me she loved me and asked if it was okay if she hung around a little while longer. Unsung. But, in her own small way she made a difference with the life God gave to her. I could actually say that exact same thing about many of the people who have been most influential in my life. I think this tells us something. This is God's plan. You know: "Brighten the corner where you are! Brighten the corner where you are! Someone far from harbor "you" may guide across the bar; Brighten the corner where you are!" After naming all the heroes of the faith in what we call the 11th Chapter of Hebrews, the inspired writer turns his attention to some unnamed folks, 'OTHERS', who were faithful, who often suffered as a result. The world didn't recognize them or their contributions, but, their God did! What was God's assessment of these unnamed saints, "of whom the world was not worthy." I think that will do for today. Maybe something here will encourage us all to utilize our lives, our 'corner' for the Lord. Amen. .....More later.  

"Things are not always as they seem; the first appearance deceives many." ~ Phaedrus, Roman Poet, (15 BC to 50 AD)

Good Monday morning, it's March Madness personified on this March 25, 2019. I opened that way because it is estimated that some 150 million NCAA Basketball brackets will be distributed and a total of 50 million Americans will bet money as part of this annual tournament. How much would you guess will change hands? The experts say just north of $8 billion dollars. Another factoid to get your day started: According to the organization who tracks betting and its impact, 99% of all casual betters will lose all they wager. That doesn't include the monies paid out to colleges and universities for broadcasting and related coverages. I hope the light is coming on for those who fail to see what's going on here. Supposedly, it's college sports, you know, without the influence of money. Hello? Think again, Bucko! Now we know why there's so much cheating going on and why high profile coaches are being paid enormous sums. Now we know why college administrations are almost always looking the other way. It is the dollar signs folks, pure and simple. Don't think the criminal element is unaware of this potential windfall and they too are pursuing a full-court press at all levels. (Pun intended.) I'm not raining on anyone's parade, just reminding us all of the facts. Oh yeah, one last word, "Go Coogs!"

My eldest is good enough to point out things that show up on this page and are either incorrect or they are very hard to read. He mentioned one the other day that he had to read a couple of times before he figured out exactly what I was saying. I knew which one he was talking about without him even saying it. Why? I had trouble with it too but didn't take the time to rewrite it. I welcome anyone's input regarding the stuff I write about. I might not do anything about it, but, I am always open to hearing from those who take the time to wade through the muddy waters they find in my daily episodes. I've been telling people that I've learned to say 'Yes Mam' a whole lot more since I retired, retired. The wife doesn't think that to be correct or the least bit funny. The 'Yes Mam' reminded me of back in the late 1960s when I reported to a WAC Major in the Public Affairs Office at Fort Polk, Louisiana. This lady had a lot to deal with. It wasn't that easy for women in the military back in those days. She didn't always get the respect she thought she deserved. One day she called me in and told me that she would like for me to set an example for the other civilian employees by saying 'Yes Mam and No Mam' to her. That was okay with me. She had worked hard to get to where she was. She had a masters degree in journalism from LSU. However, she was not a great writer. The Sergeant Major I worked with saw himself as a writer. I often was called upon to take her handwritten notes and his and type them into documents. He was pretty good. She was not a good writer. I mention that because I had no standing to say that except for the fact that was how I read her stuff. I may not have known then, or now, what constitutes good writing, but, I did know when what I was seeing was not good writing. But, that didn't keep me from saying 'Yes Mam and No Mam' to her.

We have been reminded over the past few days of the dangers associated with having chemical plants as part of the landscape within the sprawling Houston metroplex. (This is why we have always been a top target of the Russians in the event of war.) An explosion and fire at a plant on the East Side created a lot of concern for over an entire week. Many schools were closed due to the threat of hazardous particulates floating around in the atmosphere. The folks extinguishing the fire did their thing but the problems kept reoccurring. These plants are needed to make sure we have gasoline when we drive up to the pump. There's also a huge variety of products that use many of the related chemicals. I make a side note observation here. Elections have consequences. In Harris County, the last election swept into office a change to a much more left-leaning, so-called progressive group of office holders. This included the County Judge's position where one of the most respected leaders was ousted by a 28-year-old novice. During this chemical fire crisis, the new judge proved her inexperience and lack of understanding. She didn't even address the situation in a formal press conference for 28 hours. When information is unavailable to the people, they will operate based on what they are hearing in their neighborhoods. Panic ensued. Her predecessor was nationally known for his effectiveness as a leader during times of crisis. As of this past weekend, she was still announcing that her staff was studying the problem. No one would have expected her to have the knowledge and ability day one, however, the issues continue unabated even as I write this today. My point? It is not to beat up on her. She is a very intelligent woman who speaks very well. However, in times of crisis, that, my friend, is not always enough. If I were her I would be doing my best to secure the services of the previous judge to consult with, regardless of the cost. Another of my opinions that will not amount to anything, but, I thought it worth sharing.  May God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

First stanza to the song, 'Standing in the Need of Prayer', Not my brother, not my sister, but it's me, O Lord, Standin' in the need of prayer; Not my brother, not my sister, but it's me, O Lord, Standin' in the need of prayer. ~ In the public domain with no listed author and was originally an African American Spiritual

Okay, I will be brief today. I'm not certain of that but I thought it might set an expectation for me to shoot at. It is Friday, March 22, 2019, and I bid you greetings from my little realm to wherever you happen to be. It's been an interesting week for us because we have been occupied with several different projects. I'm thankful that several of them were connected to God and the sharing of His Word and our love for those in need. Our pastor likes to always remind us that whenever we observe something we think to be good in him, it is only because of Jesus, and, when we observe something we think not to be good, it is all him. I get that. He goes on to say we should give Jesus the honor and glory for the good, and, offer love and grace as he seeks to make the other stuff better. I get that. This past Wednesday evening we had a service I will not soon forget. When we finished singing a lady stood up and said that song was emotional for her because of her dear friend who was going through a tough time. The pastor thanked her for her heart and then he prayed for that individual. When he finished that prayer he asked if anyone else had a request. An hour and one half later he closed out our service. He actually went to the individual who raised their hand and prayed with them. At times, he kneeled. It was remarkable. The Spirit of God was moving. Tears were flowing. God was in the house. No. We didn't get to our lesson from Hebrews on faith but we saw faith put into action. It reminded us all that each of us always and forever stand in need of a touch from God. Amen and Amen.

Eleven years ago I used the familiar song after the graphic for the entirety of my blog. It's a fitting reminder of the greatest need of every human breathing air on the planet and the only way to meet that need. I know the religion modernists have for several years sought to de-emphasize the blood of Jesus because it is offensive. Sadly, offensive or not, the Bible makes it clear that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.  ~ Romans 3:25 "whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;" ~ Leviticus 17:11 'For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.'~ Hebrews 9:22 "And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." ~ I do hope you will have a most wonderful Saturday and Sunday. I will do my best, Lord willing, to catch back up with y'all next Monday. May God bless and keep each one. Amen. ....More later.

Good News: Nothing But the Blood!

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

CHORUS:

Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 

For my pardon this I see -
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing, this my plea - 
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

CHORUS:

Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 

Nothing can for sin atone -
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done -
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

CHORUS:

Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 

This is all my hope and peace -
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness -
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

CHORUS:

Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 

Robert Wadsworth Lowry (1826 - 1899)

I never promised there would be rhyme or reason.

Hello folks, it's Thursday, March 21, 2019, and I've been thinking. I know that can be somewhat problematic, but, I have trouble believing that people are unable to see why we are such a polarized nation. An East Coast liberal congressperson was on the floor of the House nearly in tears decrying the deposition of kittens used for research testing. He was one of those who led the charge for late-term abortions. If you don't see the vast gap here I may not be able to help you. Mr. O'Rourke's past, all the way back to when he was a teenager divulged some pretty scary stuff. However, the mainstream media wants everyone to give him a pass. Why? He was a kid. He was investigating and discovering. Healthy curiosity. Really? What about the now sitting Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh? The mainstream said his days as a teen were very relevant to judging his character. The things he was said to have done have either been proven false or have been recanted by those who made the claims. No apologies or retractions were deemed as necessary from the mainstream. When Romney ran for President, the mainstream thought a remembered case to be extremely important where it was years later when he was accused of bullying from his Jr. High days. Will people cry out about the sickening double-standard being paraded on a 24x7 basis? Some will. I fear the masses will only yawn and go back to playing Minecraft on their cell phones. (I've never played any game on my cell phone but I read where Minecraft is one of the most popular.)

I don't know if the opening paragraph would be considered to be an outburst, but, it definitely qualifies to be labeled as my interpretation. I do not know what will happen in the next election cycle. I am not one who thinks President Trump's re-election is a slam dunk. Why? Mostly because of him and his personality. I am not looking forward to what the next Democrat in the White House might do. Without regard to anything else, no one argues that today's Democratic Party is not more influenced by the far left than ever before. That leads to policies. We already have seen some of what it could mean. Late term abortions up to the date of birth, guaranteed income for every citizen, universal healthcare, reparations to deal with our past, and the list goes on and on. Some of them call it Socialism-light or Democratic Socialism, but, I see it as a slippery slope that would forever alter what America has always stood for. But, I am also not wringing my hands because as a person of faith, my trust is in the Lord God of heaven. I know that I know that He will have the final say, period. Amen.

Meanwhile, back here at The Home Office which is located in the recently renamed 'Mr. Bentleyville', we are doing our best to keep it together. Mr. Bentley is still trying to discover his identity. He certainly doesn't act like he knows that he is a puppy-dog. He loves outdoors. When he gets the chance he roots in the deep grass like a hog might or he might just grab a mouthful of those little tiny white wildflowers and eat them. He has messed up his left eye. The Vet says it is not that rare for them to do this. He has some skin protruding like a little bubble and it stays inflamed because of his rambunctiousness. It looks pretty bad. The medication has not solved the problem so they plan to do a minor surgical procedure to fix it when we have him neutered in a couple of weeks. See what I mean? Hopefully, we can get these identity issues worked out soon and reclaim our rightful control over what was previously our domain. You do know that I am kidding. Not about him acting like a hog and eating grass like a cow or his rambunctiousness, but, mostly about him taking over. Wait a minute. I don't think I was kidding about that either. Oh well, he is here and we are adapting. And, we do like him a whole lot. You do know he is the wife's dog. Right? Have a great rest of the day and may God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

For those who remember Y2K, here's a quote for you, “I really didn't foresee the Internet. But then, neither did the computer industry. Not that that tells us very much of course--the computer industry didn't even foresee that the century was going to end.” ― Douglas Adams

Good Wednesday morning here on this March 20, 2019. Sorry about not posting anything for yesterday, but, The Home Office was being used as a bedroom since we had a couple of 20-something nephews who had been to a concert in Austin and were on their way back to Louisiana. The wife and I stayed up awaiting their arrival. They showed up at 2:30 a.m. What's that? Yes. That was way past my bedtime and us being up so long threw Mr. Bentley into a tizzy as well. We certainly enjoyed our visit with these boys and after a good breakfast, they were able to get back on the road. They had gone to see a group called Switchfoot that some refer to as a Christian Rock group. If I have ever heard even one of their songs I am not aware of it. I understand they have won numerous awards within their genre in the Christian music world. They have been around since the early 2000s but, again, that doesn't mean anything to me. We are thankful for our family including kids like these two that we do not get to see very often. I got to bed at 3 a.m. and was back up at 6 a.m. I may have taken a nap during the day yesterday. May have. Most likely I did. I have, after all, crossed that threshold where I can blame it on my age.

One of the things I learned from being up into the wee hours of the morning, we are oblivious. Unaware. Unplugged. Without a clue. I say that because every time I took Mr. Bentley outside there were people stirring. Cars going by. Young people walking down the street. What's the big deal? At 2 a.m. in the morning, I thought it to be somewhat surprising. We typically are both in bed no later than 10:30 p.m. We have the ceiling fan. We have a louder fan on the stand. Then, we each have a personal size fan on our nightstands. That pretty much puts us totally out of touch. Period. One of the two boys that stayed with us lives way out in the country. He seemed a little surprised when I asked if he had locked his car. He said he hadn't but he would if I thought it was necessary. I'm glad I advised that he should. Especially with people milling about at 2 a.m. That reminded me of how I grew up without locks for most of my early life. People didn't even lock the doors on their houses back in those days. In the summer, all the windows were wide open with only a screen to keep some of the bugs out. The attic fan as I recall was probably louder by itself than the four we have in our bedroom today. Oh yeah. I failed to mention the wife has a warming blanket on her side of the bed. Four fans and a warming blanket. Are we spoiled or what? My grandfather who was mired in The Great Depression recollection could not have tolerated any of that. He would not have been able to sleep. And, if anyone knows what those people are up to at that time of the morning please let me know.

We've come a long way, haven't we? I read where a $500 million dollar computer recently was able to do a quintillion calculations per second. (A quintillion equals a 1 followed by 18 zeroes.) Yet, I also read where between 400,000 and 500,000 people are murdered in the world each year. Or, as the statistics call it, intentional homicides. They can't really quantify the number of kidnappings in the world each year because the world can't agree on what constitutes a kidnapping. Those that attempt to track this category put it at between 100-180 per month. My point? No matter how much progress we make, and how much technological accomplishments we muster, the heart of the matter for humanity is still a matter of the heart. Jeremiah was inspired to give it to us straight: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Chapter 17, Verse 9) This means every human being meets this definition. By birth. How can this change? We need a new heart. We need a new birth. That comes only through the power of God when one accepts His one and only Son as their personal Savior. I am aware there are many who think our intelligence and technological prowess will someday solve every problem. Solomon had an answer for that, "Thinking anything in this world of human origin can deal with our greatest needs, well, it is nothing more than chasing the wind, an empty enterprise." (Book of Ecclesiastes) However, he doesn't leave us without a remedy for finding purpose and meaning in this life, "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil." (Chapter 12:13-14, English Standard Version, ESV) All of that after reading about the super fast computer? Yep. Some days are like that. Enjoy, and may God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

“I know there's a proverb which says 'To err is human,' but a human error is nothing to what a computer can do if it tries.” ― Agatha Christie, Hallowe'en Party

Back at it. Yep. It's only your uninvited scribe busily chaining words together on this Monday, March 18, 2019. Last Friday morning I was here in The Home Office when I received an important communication: "What do you think about having some oatmeal this morning?" I responded: "Sounds good" To which I received this reply: "Ok." This exchange took place between the wife and I. I could actually hear her stirring around downstairs in the kitchen. It would be interesting to know how those text messages were routed in order for us to achieve this transaction. Who knows? They had to flow through the Verizon world cloud and then return. Technology. It's something else! Wouldn't you agree? And, just so you know, I do occasionally like a bowl of oatmeal. I read about the fellow applying for a job at a technology sales company. The guy interviewing handed the prospective employee his laptop and said, "Take this and try to sell it to me." The fellow promptly got up and left with the laptop under his arm. This stunned the manager and he called the guy on his cell phone and asked what he thought he was doing, walking out with his laptop, and told him to bring it back immediately. The prospect simply responded, "How much is it worth to you?" One more for the road, "Thank you for calling the Weight Loss Hotline. If you'd like to lose a half pound right now, press "1" 18,000 times."

Now back to the oatmeal story. When it was ready I came downstairs and what to wondering eyes did appear, I was back in Granny Mac's kitchen in the mid to late 1950s. The photo on the left is of Granny Mac and her grandkids, Theresa and my baby sister Kayla. They are dressed for Church. The photo on the right is of my future sister-in-law Dorothy, (Dot), and my future bride, Marilyn, (Lil Bit), and they too are dressed for Church. Their mom had used spit curls on their hair to get them all spruced up. What's the connection to oatmeal? I'm not altogether sure, but, bear with me as I work through this special memory. My grandmother was someone who loved to cook for her family. I can remember on a cold morning she would have oatmeal prepared. She put the raisins in so they would be really plump. She would then have to pick all of them out for me because I was the only one who liked raisins in my oatmeal. She served it with homemade biscuits and fried bacon. My wife was brought up the way my grandmother was brought up, therefore, she had my breakfast prepared just like Granny Mac. My mom used to do it the same way. What did all of these ladies have in common? They loved and served their families and they loved and served their Lord. As I sat there, I had me a big ole cathead biscuit, oozing with butter, stuffed full of fried bacon. I busted some of it up and put it into my oatmeal. When did this happen? Over 60 years ago and just last Thursday. I tried to let my wife know what a special blessing it was, but, I'm sure she couldn't really feel it like I did. Thanks. For the delicious breakfast and for the memory.

Too sentimental? I can't apologize because it's my truth and I'm sticking to it. And, lest you think I am mired in the past, don't count on it. I am very much aware of the here and now. That ticking noise I hear is the countdown to tax filing day. It seems to be getting ever so much louder as the days go by. I might be able to conjure up a tear or two when I think about my taxes, but, it would not be anything like the sweet tears I felt when I had that momentary walk into the kitchen through the backdoor at Granny and Paw Paw Mac's. Of course, age has made this onset sentimentalism even more prevalent. The other day I was watching a rerun episode of NCIS that dealt with Vietnam service folks who did not return. That triggered my thoughts about two of my high school buddies who both lost their lives in that divisive war. I thought about our times together. Laughing and carrying on. One was 20 and the other was still a teenager when they were killed. Memories. Those look backs can be tough to deal with. At the same time, God has given us 'our time' and we have to be about our Father's business. Sometimes, I too wonder about me. I've found that will not get me very far, therefore, I just tell you it's best to thank God for His provisions and to keep on keeping on. I couldn't grab any other cliches' without making my brain hurt, so, it's best to say so long for now and may God bless each one. Amen. ...More later.

Happy Birthday, Kyleigh!

Happy Friday everyone on this March 15, 2019. We love our family and thank God for the wonderful clan He has given to us.  And, yes, we have another birthday coming up in our family. This one is for our Kyleigh and she will hit the ripe age of 24 tomorrow, Saturday, March 16. She currently works in one of the area school districts and is working to get her teacher certification. We thank God for this beautiful young woman, and, we pray that He will continue to bless her life. We wish her a most wonderful birthday and send our love. Hope you enjoyed your card. Our love, MiMi and Poppy.

Original photograph, WWII Iwo Jima

Eleven years ago I had written a long piece on images and their impact. I used a lot of historically significant photographs. Here's how I ended up that particular episode. ~ "My granddad used to say that I often acted like every day I woke up in a new world. He said that because I wasn't always doing things like I should as if I didn't remember what it was I should be doing. But in many ways he was right. If I had to define my approach to the life God has given to me, I can't think of a better way. It's like today's blog. I didn't have a clue until I had a clue, and what you see is what I grabbed hold of this morning as I woke up in my brand new world. I've always said that being me and working without a net is not for the faint-hearted. But, guess what? You likely have your own approach to life and it too is how God has put you together. Embrace it and use it for His honor and glory. Amen. Have a great upcoming Saturday and Sunday and know that I will most likely be just as surprised as you with what might be coming up on my blog for Monday!"

I do have a correction from yesterday. I accidentally inserted Argentina when it should have been Venezuela. Brain freeze or dog interference or perhaps Argentina was easier to spell. At any rate, the Venezuela story is instructive to all those who somehow think that a government runs everything approach is better than the model we have, even with all of its issues. How serious is the socialist experience in Venezuela? Check it out, people are dying. Literally. Dying as in dead. For the masses who are still alive, the quality of life could not be more miserable. I, for one, don't even want to move one step in that direction. Again, that's my opinion. I think there are now one dozen who have officially announced they will seek the Democratic nomination as a candidate for President. This doesn't include Joe Biden who supposedly will also run. The latest to throw their name in was Mr. Beto O'Rourke, a former Congressperson. No one can come up with any accomplishments he achieved while in the Congress except for voting with the far left on every issue imaginable. According to the announcement he made, while he was running for the recent Texas US Senate race that he lost, 'they' discovered he had a 'gift'. He could speak without notes. He could talk and present his case off the top of his head. He is white and he does come from a privileged background. I thought that pretty well knocked a person out at the get-go in today's Democratic Party. But, if I'm not mistaken, Oprah likes him. I'll leave it at that. This may have been taken but I'll use it anyway, "I report. You decide." I refer you to the last sentence of the previous paragraph written eleven years ago as I say farewell for now. May God bless America. Amen. .....More later.

"I believe that all roads lead to the same place - and that is wherever all roads lead to." ~ Willie Nelson

I am actually here in The Home Office all by myself. It's Thursday, March 14, 2018, and I keep looking over my shoulder to see if I am mistaken about being alone. Mr. Bentley is with the wife at the moment and I slipped away to work on today's episode. Slipped away. That's somewhat of an odd way to put it, but, it is the truth. On Tuesday afternoon we were able to drive across the metroplex to have dinner with our granddaughter and her mom. We had ourselves a most wonderful two hours of food, fellowship, and in being able to honor this wonderful young woman on her birthday. The getting there and getting back, not so much. I have often written about what has to be one of the most successful businesses around. The folks who make the orange cones they use to block off lanes on the highway system. Sometimes you can't figure out why they are there except for the huge backlog they inflict which has also made me wonder, what came first, the construction or the cones? And, we always have problems that you didn't expect. Right? For instance, there was a barge that hit one of the concrete pillars on an overpass bridge on I-10 back in early February. Guess what? They are still trying to repair that damaged support. The results? Backed up to Beaumont. Fortunately, it was our way back, not on our way there. We received excellent diversionary directions and found ourselves on a detour to Crosby, Texas and from there we were able to avoid that huge delay. I'm talking about vehicles as far as the eye could see. We were told the repair process didn't get started right away because they were waiting on bids. I told you. They were waiting on cones. Without the cones, nothing gets done!

When you no longer drive in the sheer madness of the freeway system in and around Houston, well, it can challenge your mental acuity. The travel there and back was nearly three hours. Welcome to progress! I actually didn't see any Slow Men Working signs. They may have purchased all of them over in Louisiana. You do know that is a running joke. I actually do remember when I first came to the realization of the joke. I saw a group of guys leaning on their shovels and the sign was right there amongst them. Slow Men Working. I chuckled because I could have come to that conclusion without the sign. Please don't write me. I am sure there are plenty of hard-working folks who do the roadwork that is obviously being funded far and wide. (I base that on the number of orange cones in case you were wondering. Which, supports my Cone Theory.) Traffic maneuvering has become almost like the weather. No matter how you get to where you are going, someone will invariably ask why you didn't go a different route. The wife did get a good nap on our way back. I always like it when she wakes up, sees where we are, and says, "Wow! We are already nearly home!" I think I may have mentioned to her that's how it works, but, I can't be sure.

I saw an excerpt from a hearing held by one of the House committees. The current darling of the Democrats, and the leftist world, a 28-year old self-avowed socialist, asked the CEO of a major financial institution shouldn't his company be held responsible for a particular pipeline spill. He was obviously puzzled but finally answered, "No. We don't build or operate pipelines. We only provide financing." When the backlash came because of her obvious disconnect from how things actually work she doubled down. She still thinks the companies that lend the money for a project should be held responsible if anything bad happens. This would be like the auto loan company being held accountable if you used the car to commit a robbery that you purchased with the money they loaned you. While most yawn, I will tell you these are the kinds of folks that could end up running our country. This is why it is good to know that God is in control. Somehow, a majority of the younger folks say they want to live in a socialist world while they can see Argentina, who chose that path, disintegrating before our very eyes. If they are watching, they certainly are not paying attention, or, as in the opening example, they don't have a clue. Just me. My opinion. Thank God He's got this. Amen. ....More later.

"Finally, my Winter fat is gone, only to be replaced by Spring rolls." ~ copied

Good morning and welcome. It is Wednesday, March 13, 2019. There's always somewhat of a dilemma when choosing how early to start mowing the grass. On the one hand, I could be the grumpy old dude who cranks up as soon as there's enough light to barely see. I really don't want to be that fellow. Therefore, I waited until just after 8 a.m. to start. I know it's Spring Break and we do have teenagers scattered around our neighborhood. One lady said that shouldn't worry me because they are not bothered by that noise because of the earbuds through which they listen to their music even while they sleep. At any rate, the wife had her Bible study to do and they were meeting in a dear lady's house who can no longer get out. This meant Mr. Bentley had to hang out with me while I was mowing. I fixed up his little exercise fence and brought a couple of his favorite toys for him to play with. That didn't keep him from barking up a storm. That was the first time I've ever heard him bark that much for so long. I did stop and console him from time to time, but, as soon as I left him, he cranked it up again. The lady who lives behind us told me later she could hear him barking but she didn't know what was going on. (And, just to set the record straight, I stopped to catch my breath. This hacking cough and drainage have really made any exertion more difficult.)

I suppose we had Spring Break when I was a kid growing up. I'm pretty sure it wasn't called that, but, I don't really have any great recollections of going anywhere or doing something special. As a teen, if we were out of school, we would typically get a group of guys together and go on a fishing trip. We would spend the night and sleep on old blankets out on the creek bank. I could probably dredge up some stories from those outings but I'm not sure they would end up being appropriate. I know some of the fellows were into pranks and others weren't. That did lead to conflict and some tussling and even fisticuffs, but, it often was between cousins, so no harm was done. While we did do a lot of creek swimming back in my day, I can't recall folks making trips to Galveston or other places like they do today. However, if I was deprived I didn't know it. In fact, when I look back, I have much to be thankful for. I was surrounded by folks who did the best they could, often in difficult life circumstances, but, I always knew I was loved and cared for. I hear folks saying they didn't have this or that growing up and I have to wonder if they even knew about it at all until they were grown.

Sorry to be running a little late on my blogs, but, I do have reasons for this development. Even though I am retired I am not always able to climb the stairs and spend time in my Home Office. When I was working each day I could do a little here and there on the next day's blog throughout the day and then finish up early the next morning. That doesn't always work here in retirement-ville. I do have a few readers who like to peruse them with their first cup of coffee. And, my desire is to make that happen, not that anyone will miss out on anything if they don't get it that early, or, at all. You might recall that I have considered more than once retiring from the blogging enterprise. Let's face it. After publishing 3,025 episodes, can there ever really be anything new? Oh well, I still like to sit here and play a few tunes on the old keyboard, therefore, I suppose I will keep at it. For now. We will see how it goes. You noticed I didn't mention Mr. Bentley as part of the mitigating circumstances, but, he pretty much can only tolerate chewing for so long on the stuff I have here in my office. Joking only. Have a great rest of the day and may God bless each one. Amen. ...More later.

Happy Birthday to Celeste Danielle!

Today is another special day for our family on this Tuesday, March 12, 2019. That's because it's the birthday of our granddaughter, Celeste Danielle. This vibrant young woman has overcome many obstacles in her time here on the planet. She has dealt with health concerns and a very serious auto accident. She is a fighter and someone committed to the life God has given to her. She has done well in her academic pursuits and has also excelled in her work as an emergency dispatcher for the Baytown Police Department. She recently was awarded a lifesaving medal for her work with a person she helped while taking a call. We are so very proud of her many accomplishments and wish her the happiest birthday and pray God's continued blessings in her life. Our love, MiMi and Poppy.

Most in our household are dragging some from a strong case of a hacking cough. Allergies, drainage, and inflamed throats seem to be the norm for our crew as we actually look forward to some rain that might wash away the pollen piled up everywhere. We can't really say we are sick but we pretty much have been zapped of our energy. We do look forward to a Biblical solution. You know the one I am talking about. "And, it came to pass...." Let's hope that's what happens here, that it didn't come to stay but it too came to pass. I do well until I am not doing well. When the combination of drainage and a very active cough response join forces, well, I can get cranked up on what seems to be an uncontrollable situation. Sudden onset! Yes. We are guzzling over the counter stuff to try and deal with the problems. We are also using throat lozenges around the clock. Mr. Bentley seems to be most concerned when any of us have a coughing spell. He typically comes over to make sure we are okay.

Watching the scenery from Live PD the other evening, I will still take our pollen saturated landscape as opposed to snow piled up several feet high. We have a number of folks in our Bible Study Class who are from really cold areas of our country. One couple from Northern Minnesota still keeps up with the temps of their former hometown and they relate them to me some Sunday mornings. At this time of year, they typically are in the minus range even when we are near 80 here. They tend to have a little shiver that makes them shake all over when they give their report. I have heard them talk about how the super cold does get rid of the bugs. You think? At any rate, they are happy to be in our area although they do feel for their family and friends back home. Any time I try to tell folks how I miss the colder weather from my growing up days, those who are from the really cold places say I don't really know what I am talking about. Maybe not, but, I do remember the weather patterns seem to have been different back in the 1950s and 1960s. Some of that might be my faulty recollection like the one where I tell my boys I had to walk through a foot of snow to school each day. That's a joke. I've never really told them that one. I have, however, told them about walking to school. I'm not sure they were altogether clear on the fact that we lived less than two blocks away. They did figure it out for themselves when they got old enough to see the school from my grandfather's back yard. Oh well, the journey continues. Take care and may God bless. Amen. ....More later.

Today's modern world: Doctor's office: "All our records are electronic now but I do need you to fill out these 12 forms." ~ copied

Okay. Here we go again with a brand new Monday, here on this March 11, 2019. A couple of weeks ago I received a notice from my medical care provider that I was behind on the regular checking of my blood work. (Diabetes) I don't why, but, when I get a notice like that it is somewhat akin to being called to the principal's office. I began to fret a little over having the testing done because I couldn't be sure how the results would turn out. I know. You don't have to tell me. You do the testing so you can find out. I think I am aware of how it works even though I at times do tend to adopt the 'no news is no news' approach. At any rate, I called and made an appointment with the lab to do the blood work. I had actually had my last readings back in October of last year before I retired from public work. I began to wonder what my retirement might have done to my test results. I think men, in particular, have this preoccupation with bad news in order to prepare for whatever the results turn out to be. I wasn't like worried-worried about it, but, I was unsure, and perhaps even a little unsettled. They came in last Friday afternoon. I was relieved. Here's what my doctor said: "Lab looks good overall - triglycerides are much better, HgbA1c is stable and good at 6.4, kidney functions are stable, and blood counts, thyroid, and liver functions are all fine." I celebrated by having myself a slice of the angel food cake the wife had just made with some sweet strawberries to go with it. I also told the wife it was God's provision and I did thank Him for it. She typically responds by saying, "See, I knew you had nothing to worry about." Thank you very much.

I also am very aware that our time here on earth is in God's hands. Regardless of what the doctor might say. I remember how my father-in-law had received a clean bill of health from his physician just prior to suffering a catastrophic stroke. I also read over the weekend how a senior county official died suddenly and without warning. He was three years younger than me. Truth is, we all need to be ready to go when our time comes. We do that by making sure that Jesus is our Savior and Lord. We can't take anything with us except for the works we have done for Him from a heart desiring to bring honor and glory to His name. While I know that I know I am saved and ready to go to heaven, my time here and the work He would have me to do remains a work in progress. We see in The Scriptures how that, as believers, we will stand before our Savior and give an account for the new life He gave to us. We will not be held accountable for our sins. They are under the blood. However, when He saved us He had a plan for our lives. We will be evaluated based on the living out of our new life in Christ. That's referred to as the Judgment Seat of Christ and it can be found in the Apostle Paul's first letter written to the local assembly meeting in Corinth, Greece, "For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." (1 Corinthians 3:9-15)

I actually spent some time on my blog yesterday, Sunday afternoon. However, we had a power glitch and I lost the last two paragraphs. Yep. That still happens. Even in 2019. That means I have had to more or less reconstruct something to throw onto the page this morning. It happens. I thought I would fill in with some tidbits from Mr. Bentley. I sometimes call him the wife's crazy dog. When we go outside and walk around he thinks everyone we meet has come out to see him. The entire little guy's baseball team showed up to practice just because they want to see Mr. Bentley. That little girl on the bicycle? She went riding to find him. The other day at as we passed by the park a lady and her 3-year-old were getting out of their vehicle. She commented that she didn't think he would be satisfied until he got to meet them. What she didn't know was Mr. Bentley thought they were the ones nearly breaking the leash to try to get to him. He is a funny little puppy. On Sunday morning I was up early, sitting at the breakfast table, reading over the Sunday Bible Study lesson material. He was laying on the kitchen floor. Suddenly he started growling and barking at the kitchen door. He had spotted my reflection and was trying to alert me to a potential burglar. He is the source of laugh-out-loud antics. And, I do find myself accommodating him more often than not. I will try to remember what I had written before, but, if not, I can assure you we have not missed that much. May God bless each one. Amen. ....More later. 

I'm thankful for the heroes of The Faith. Amen.

Honors for our brother-in-Christ R.J. Mitchell. 

Today is Friday, March 8, 2019. One of the things I count as a privilege is being able to support the families of our local Church membership during difficult times. This week alone, we have attended two different homegoing services for members of our Church. On Wednesday, I attended a graveside for a sweet Godly lady who lost her battle with cancer. Yesterday, we attended a service for a one-of-a-kind character who was always effusive in his effervescent overflow of Christian love and kindness. He was awarded the Purple Heart as a result of combat in Korea where he served in the US Army. He had a full and busy life during his 86 year run. He was devoted to his country, his Church, his family, and to any and all in need. His last day was spent helping a fellow believer get their tests done at the hospital, fetching their medications, and getting them back home. That evening he finished his day and went to bed only to awaken in the presence of the Savior he loved and served. He was a one-man recruiting machine for the choir and I was one of his prime candidates. Because of this, we always had a fun time kidding each other. Hearing about his life and testimony reminded me of how blessed any of us are to rub elbows with people of his ilk. We are better for having known Brother R.J. Mitchell. May God comfort his wife, sons, grandchildren, and all those grieving his passing. Amen.

Here's an excerpt of what I was writing about exactly 11 years ago, on Friday, March 7, 2008. ~ My sense of humor may not be like yours and I've often seen cartoons, read punch lines, or heard a joke that was hilarious to me but not so funny to others. We are all put together differently but it does do us good to be able to smile and bask in the life God has allowed us to enjoy.

Mrs. Smith’s elderly husband didn't feel well so she took him to the doctor. After examining Mr. Smith, the doctor asked him to go to the waiting room and send his wife in. The doctor then had this to say, "Mrs. Smith, I’m sorry to tell you that your husband is going to die." Mrs. Smith responded, "Doctor is there anything I can do to help extend his life?" He then said, "Well there are some things you could do: First, you could cook him a wonderful dinner every night. Second, you could give him a nice back rub every night. Third, you could devote your life to doing your best to wait on him, hand and foot." Mrs. Smith indicated that she understood. On their way home Mr. Smith asked his wife what the doctor told her. To this Mrs. Smith replied, "I’m so sorry honey but soon you are going to die."

Billy's father picked him up from school one day. Knowing the acting roles for the school play were being posted that day, he asked Billy if he got a part. Billy enthusiastically announced that he'd gotten a part. "I play a man who's been married for twenty years." "That's great, son. Keep up the good work and before you know it they'll be giving you a speaking part."

Two fellas are fishing in a boat under a bridge. One looks up and sees a funeral procession starting across the bridge. He stands up, takes off his cap, and bows his head. The procession crosses the bridge and the man puts on his cap, picks up his rod and reel, and continues fishing. The other guy says, "That was touching. I didn't know you had it in you." The first guy responds, "Well, I guess it was the thing to do - after all, I was married to her for 40 years." ~

If these are not funny to you, that's okay. I haven't seen them in a long time but they are still slightly amusing to me. And, let's face it. There's not a whole lot of stuff to laugh at in the world we live in today. One of the things I have enjoyed as a retiree is spending more time with the wife of my youth. Part of what we do together is to laugh at our own miscues and follies. Yep. We do have plenty of those to bring a chuckle now and then and it is equally distributed. There's also the complete book of jokes of my own making that only I know about. Talk about some funny stuff! Occasionally, I'll pull one from the archives and share it, but, most of that stuff is for my own private viewing. You don't have a lot of stuff to laugh about in your memory banks? If that works for you, good. But, in my way of looking at it, we all need to be reminded that we in many ways are a living script for a sitcom. It's called 'our life'. Okay, enough of that before someone accuses me of dabbling in psychobabble. I do hope you have an enjoyable Saturday and I highly recommend that we all make it our purpose to show up at the gathering place where folks like R.J. Mitchell join together on Sunday to seek after, learn more about, and, to worship the God who sent and sacrificed His One and Only Son that we might be able to have fellowship with Him. God has promised to show up in those gatherings. That sound goods to me. What say you? Amen. .....More later.