“When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not; but my faculties are decaying now and soon I shall be so I cannot remember any but the things that never happened. It is sad to go to pieces like this but we all have to do it.” ― Mark Twain

Thanks so much for showing up today. It is Wednesday, the last day of the month, July 31, 2019. Time, it does seem to be moving on down the road. Of course, I only have my observations and my personal experience to fall back on, but, nearly every day I can see the tale-tale signs of the wear and tear process doing its thing. I actually think it's supposed to work that way. I really notice it in other people and up until the past few years I didn't see myself in the way I saw others. Oh well, as they say, getting older is certainly not for wimps. The wife and I were talking this week about how we used to mow our yard pretty much front and back without stopping. Not any more. When I said something to my doctor about this he signed me up for all the checks to make sure my lungs and heart are functioning okay, but, he did mention that I may need more breaks because of my age. Well, how do you like that? Since the checks came back normal, for my age, I suppose I just need to go until I feel fatigued and then stop and sit for a little while. It's not that I need to be somewhere else, it's more the idea of needing to take a break. Frustrating. Not complaining. Just 'splaining', as they say in today's vernacular. I must always add how thankful I am to be able to do what I am able to do. I am around many folks in my age range that would love to even think about mowing their grass again. I am aging, but, God is still God, and as always, He is good. Amen.

There are times when I just have to take a time out to wonder about myself. These are times that I typically do things that really demonstrate my missing a step or two. If I do something and the wife is with me, we can share a good laugh together. But, if she only knew the stuff I get myself into sometimes. The good news? I can keep those as my little secrets and laugh about them privately. That is until I forget them which also happens more frequently these days. I had one the other day and if she knew about it, here's what she would say, "I sure am glad that wasn't me because I would likely never hear the end of it." See what I mean? Some things are best allowed to expire as they reach their own statute of limitations. Might as well laugh about it. If that gives you trouble, maybe these little jokes will help: ~ Whatever you may look like, marry someone your own age, that way when your looks begin to fade, so will his eyesight. Phyllis Diller ~ You know you are really old when you get the cake and it has the one candle on it. It is as if they are saying, "Okay, see if you can blow it out." Jerry Seinfield ~ You can't help getting older but you don't have to get old. George Burns, (he lived to be 100)  ~ By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step he is too old to go anywhere. Billy Crystal ~

The other evening the wife and I went together to visit new move-ins for our local Church. We had a good group of folks who showed up to go out and invite people to visit our services. Sometimes, if we are not careful, we can come up with lots of reasons why maybe we are not the ones who should be doing this. Maybe the younger folks could do a better job. As I looked around that gathering area, I was impressed by how many there were considerably older than us. Considerably. I'm talking 80's and even some 90's. That will help answer any excuses we youngsters, in our early 70's, might have. She and I make a good team, but, it is interesting to see us using the GPS mapping on our phones to navigate our journey into areas unfamiliar to us. We had seven visits to make. We were able to locate six out of the seven. Three were not home, but, we left a gift bag with information about our local congregation. The other three, we did get to make contact with mostly younger people, in their 30's. We found them to be cordial. One family already was attending a Church in the area. Another lady said they did attend a good local Church but not very often. The last one was a young couple. He was a mortgage broker and she was in finance. They don't attend anywhere. They might come. That would be great. I do know one thing. If they do come, they will hear the truth from God's Word. That's what really will make a difference in anyone's life. Amen. ....More later.

Mark my word, blocking the forwarding of my blog link is only a drop in the proverbial bucket in how speech will be controlled and crippled going forward.

Actual Message denying the sending of my blog link.

Hello and welcome. It is Tuesday, July 30, 2019, and I have news to report. With us getting closer to August, I can report, and this is unusual, our grass is mostly green. It is. It really is. More significant, we have not watered anything other than the flowers up til now. That is a big thank you Lord because of the rain showers we've had, many of them, just in the nick of time. That may all change in August but we are thankful thus far. I'm not surprised but was a little put off when I learned that my blog does not conform to Facebook's community standards. I found this out when I tried to send a link via Messenger to our pastor of yesterday's blog since the wife thought he would get a kick out of it. Here's the link that caused them to deny the message I sent: viewfrommypew.blogspot.com/ Maybe, the word 'pew' caused their alarms to go off. That was my original working title when I started over 12 years ago. I changed it to the more generic, 'View From Here' as I continued to work out the details. However, the original identifier has remained in place. I was able to send it to him via EMAIL, but, how ludicrous to think they would reject my blog from that fairly innocuous name. I certainly don't think they have read any of them because let's face it, (no pun intended), had they read any of my blogs I would perhaps be banned from the entire world of social media.

There are a lot of changes going on within the fast-food market. I saw the above photo from 1974 of the prices at McDonald's. Yep. And, I also remember buying 3 gallons of gasoline at the station for $1. Back then, it would have been really hard to eat $5 worth off the menu. Today, the average ticket price for McD's is around $5 per ticket and customers spend on average $26 per month at the Golden Arches. The monthly number is really good for McDonald's since they have 3.1 average visits per month compared to under 2.0 visits per month for their direct competitors, Wendy's and Burger King. Current customer loyalty is reflected in retained customer numbers. Chick-fil-A leads the fast food industry in retaining their customers. Chick-fil-A also leads all restaurants in average total revenue per unit or location. This shows up in data from 2016, where McDonald's made $36 billion in revenue for their 14,000 locations. Chick-fil-A made just north of $8 billion at their 2,102 units. Here's a trivia funny for you: I was born in 1946. My mom could have bought one dozen cans of Campbells Tomato soup for $1. Today? Typically, more than $1 per can. I had better be clued in on senior discounts if I am going to eat almost anywhere. This was some stuff I threw together after having seen that photo.

We did receive another huge rain shower yesterday and the weather says more rain today. Mr. Bentley likes to sit with me in the garage and watch the rain. I heard the weather fellow on a local channel say that last night north of us the folks were getting a steady light sleeping-good rain. I think we all can identify with that kind of rain. Growing up, a rainy night was about the best sound effect one could hope for. A train coming through was good, but, they typically didn't last long enough to help you snooze. Folks these days rarely leave any windows open so hearing the rain may not be as clear as it was back in the day. Here in my office, I like to open my window on a crisp cool day. Invigorating. We are currently in the early stages of thinking about thinking about us making a trip. I have my three score and ten plus three coming up and that sounds like as good of an excuse as any. The wife asked me where I thought we might go. I told her somewhere that is much cooler. I did see a 45 degree reading up in northern Minnesota but I'm not keen on going there. Maybe I can email Al Gore and he can give me some recommendations. Maybe not. We will see. Enjoy the rest of your day and may God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear." ~ quote from the movie 'Elf'

Good morning and welcome back. It is Monday, July 29, 2019, and I am in the process of taking a deep breath as I get back on my regular routine. We have been on the run. Maybe when we were younger that was not a problem, but, alas, as the old song puts it, "time has made a change in me." We were privileged to make many photos last Thursday and Friday evenings at the Family Night, Christmas in July celebration at two different Chick-fil-A locations. On Saturday, I helped conduct a memorial service for a dear lady from our apartment ministry. Saturday evening we met our eldest and his bride to celebrate her birthday. They recently celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary, and, we were so glad to be a part of honoring our daughter-in-law, Sherrie, on her special day. On Sunday, Church, including outreach Sunday night. Meanwhile, the wife has been a primary care provider for our granddaughter who is recovering from surgery. She has had a rough go of it. She's had to go back to the doctor twice and on Friday she spent nearly all day at the emergency room. Like I say, that's a busy schedule for our bones. At the end of it all, we can only give thanks and praise to the Lord for giving us the strength to do what we are able to do. He and He alone deserves the credit for providing for us. Amen and Amen.

Do we have a great job, or what?

This was our first time to portray a summer version of the jolly old dude and his lovely wife. All these years later, I look at that newest photo and see her and I can 100% understand how I have been totally smitten for this good long run. We did learn a few things. Kids love Christmas. Even in July. Those who are skittish about Santa, well, it's not just the big suit. Several were that way with Summer Santa. I mentioned before, we were once again reminded of what it's like to work with some of the finest people on the planet, that being the Chick-fil-A staff. This was not new for us, but, how refreshing to see people serving others with a smile and with heart. They told us they want to make this an annual event. We told them we would love to do it if we are able. At our age, we have learned it is best to add a sincere Lord willing to plans that far in advance. The lady from our apartment ministry was one of the younger ones there. She had been ailing for a few weeks, but, we were all stunned to receive the news of her passing. See what I mean? We never know. The good news? God knows and He can be trusted. Amen.

I also learned something really big. Summer Santa never got tired. Obviously, during the fall campaign, carrying around the big suit and handling kids is where the wear and tear take its toll. Occupational hazard. Summer Santa never even got winded. When we finished, I did pause a little getting up. Sitting there for two hours made my bones stiffen up a little. It was noticed. And, I was offered some help to get up. Hello? You talking to me? Now, wait just a cotton-picking minute! That caused me to go into surge mode and I got up and acted like I was ready to run around the block a time or two. Acted. Here again, it's just part of our today, and, I'm okay with that. That is until someone asks if I need help getting up. That too is likely a coming attraction, but, not on Summer Santa's watch, this time. Not yet. I am just joking around because when it comes down to it, me, you, all of us, have to do the best we can with our own personal situation. Hopefully, we will find ourselves giving God thanks for His provision. Have a great rest of today, Monday, and I, Lord willing, will do my best to see you next time here at my little plot of ground in Bloggerville. Amen. ....More later.

Hop, skip, and a jump through the mud puddles down memory lane.

Made it. Yep. It's Friday, July 26, 2019. Got here pretty quick this week. We had a great time at Chick-fil-A last evening making some Christmas in July memories. We always enjoy working with the folks at Chick-fil-A. There are reasons they are at the top of the fast-food chain. If you ask me, it has to do mostly with their people. They do have nice facilities. And, some folks even like their food, but, when you go there you can count on the quality of those employed there and how they interact with you and treat you. That's my thoughts. Some might wonder where I draw my inspiration for comprising the role of Santa Claus. Believe me, there are many different portrayals out there across the globe. My take is very Americanized. Commercialized, even. That's right. The Coca Cola Santa. In all fairness, that image most likely came out of the descriptions given in the classic: "A Visit from St. Nicholas", more commonly known as "The Night Before Christmas" and "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" from its first line, is a poem first published anonymously in 1823 and later attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, who claimed authorship in 1837." (Wikipedia)

Here is a piece I wrote on July 26, 2007. It has to do with my dad. It has been one of the recurring themes in my life. ~

Wishing I Could Hear His Voice! I turned seven years old in August of 1953. Dad died on January 2, 1954. It was an unbelievable experience for us all. I well remember him being carried from our apartment on a stretcher to the ambulance. I well remember the outpouring of grief and sympathy accompanying his death. There was a memorial service held in Port Arthur, Texas. His body was then transported by train to a small rural town in Louisiana where another funeral service was held and he was buried nearby in a local cemetery. I remember all of these events clearly. I can replay them in my mind. The problem I have is in remembering stuff prior to his death. I know the psychologists say this type of blotted out or blocked memories is not unusual especially in children who experience such an earth-shattering traumatic event in their life. I can pick up bits and pieces, here and there, but seven missing years? That’s always been a really tough thing for me to deal with. I know I was just a kid but I also know we lived in different places and I know I had to have been involved in lots of different things, but most of it is at best only seen in fading glimpses of shadows, along with stories I’ve adapted from hearing others share their recollections.

I’ve been bothered by this at different times and in different ways but typically always come away frustrated in not being able to get a clear picture. I have been blessed with a pretty good memory, therefore, I know the information is stored. It has to be. I considered hypnosis once but that would involve placing myself in an altered state of consciousness and I have some real issues with doing that. So I never tried this method of unlocking that part of my life. It may not sound like a big deal to most folks because God has surely blessed me in my life with a great mom, an otherwise wonderful childhood, a good wife, three boys and their families, and wonderful friends, and too many blessings to count. Please don’t get the idea I am complaining about not being able to remember these years, just puzzled and at times somewhat frustrated in trying to grab hold of some of it. One of the things that most bothers me is that I know that I have to know more about my dad than I can get my arms around.

Not that I have lacked for information about him. Growing up, everyone who knew him told me something about him. Since he worked for a railroad company we received a rail pass when he died. I used this pass quite often to travel from Louisiana to visit my cousins in Texas. In doing so, on nearly every trip I would be inundated with conductors and other train people telling how smart my dad had been and how he would have been helping run the company had he lived. Sometimes word spread that I was on the train and workers would come back from other areas just to express sympathy and tell me what a great man my dad was. I know some of that recollection on their part was likely their way of encouraging me. But I have been told all my life that I am very much like my dad, so in some ways, those comments were like compliments if I have shown any of those same characteristics. One of the things I’ve often longed for was just to hear my dad’s voice. I’ve been told to listen to myself and I will hear him speak but that’s just not the same. I am blessed to be able to have at least one conversation every day with all three of my boys. We talk about jobs, challenges, family, and other stuff that’s going on. While I will be the first to say I’ve not always been the dad I should have been, I count these conversations as a tremendous blessing that God has permitted me to enjoy, one I will have to wait until I see my dad in heaven to enjoy with him.

In doing some genealogical research on my dad’s family I have learned many new facts about him and his life. He, like us all, had his good points and some that could have been improved. Since he left at age 30 I would suppose he was a work in progress and come to think about it, at 61, I am too! The good news is that I have a wonderful stepdad and he and I can enjoy talking for hours. The other good news is that out of these sixty-plus years I have many treasured blessings in the 54 years I remember well. For these things and many more I am grateful!  ~

Just to update everyone, 12 years later, I am still a work in progress. We will call this a wrap for today and wish everyone a wonderful Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday. I shall return, Lord willing, come next Monday. Enjoy. Be thankful. May God bless. Amen. ...More later.

Psalm 119, Verse 2: "Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!" As rendered in the New King James Version (NKJV)

It's Thursday, July 25, 2019. Good morning. I am back from the airport and Mr. Bradley will soon be headed to Chicago and from there, by train, to visit some college friends in South Bend, Indiana. He will be graduating college this December. He has a tremendous testimony for Jesus. For many years, he has done the music with his band for many different summer Christian camps. His degree will be in business with a heavy emphasis on engineering. He does have some concerns because many of his friends are finding the job market somewhat difficult. Some have ended up taking jobs outside of their degree program. I told him to lean on the Lord to make a way for him. I told him he may have to start lower than he might have in mind, but, the potential is there for those willing to work hard and apply themselves. I know from experience in dealing with many young graduates how expectations can really cloud up the reality of how things work in the real world. However, I know God will take care of this young man who has been such a blessing to literally thousands of kids for so many years. We are praying that God will work on his behalf. Amen.

I was not unhappy to go to the airport early this morning since the traffic is always lighter at that time of day. I used to be out there often, back in the day. As we all know, 9-11 changed everything with regards to air travel, and, it can be quite a hassle. Necessary? Likely. But, still a hassle. And, being there early also means I missed the masses that show up for flights to all points everywhere. I still remember when men wore suits when they flew and ladies dressed up. NOT ANYMORE. I read the other day about a lady who was asked to cover up because she was essentially coming out of her clothes. I was surprised they had any standard at all. But, then again, I also remember when people dressed up to go to the ballpark to see a professional baseball game. That's right. Men in suits at an Astros game. Some argue the 'anything goes' dress culture is good because we are no longer uptight about things of that sort. More relaxed. More at ease. While some of that may be true, and, I don't know that having to dress up for stuff like that was the right answer, however, we have in many respects, perhaps due to overkill, lost any sense of decorum and appropriateness in the process. I know. That sounds very dated and old fuddy-duddyish, doesn't it? I can't deny it, but, I still see it that way.

I am afraid that pendulum is never swinging back the other way. And, again, I'm not saying people should be made to dress up for any of these activities. I'm only talking about a modicum of respect as it relates to choices made. That's all. Those of us who are believers in the God revealed in the Scriptures and have accepted His provision for our salvation, that being the putting of our faith and trust in the finished work done on our behalf by Jesus the Christ in His death, His burial, and His resurrection, we should seek His direction and will in all areas of our daily living. Should. The immediate question: Do we do this? Obviously, we do not do it all the time and that leads to our testimony and our behavior being fuzzy in reflecting His will in our life. That's why it is good for us to remind each other of our constant need of God's help, every moment of every hour of every day. Amen. Okay. That will do for today. We will be making our debut this evening as Summer Santa and Summer Mrs. Claus. It should be fun. May God bless each one. Amen. ...More later.

“Now there is nothing in this world I abominate worse, than to be interrupted in a story...” ― Laurence Sterne, 1713-1768, Irish Novelist and Anglican Clergyman

Today is Wednesday, July 24, 2019. I am running late because Mr. Bentely and I have fallen prey to the chaotic exuberance over a slight drop in the temperatures. In short, he and I have been essentially chilling (metaphorically speaking) out on the driveway this morning since 5 a.m. The official weather deal on my phone said 68 degrees, but, it didn't feel that cool, but, it was pleasant. Several cups of Community and watching the sunrise, well, that made for a good start of the day. We are blessed to be full up here at our place. We have our granddaughter, Amanda, recovering from some minor surgery. We have our nephew, Bradley, who will be flying out to Chicago early in the morning. I will be taking him at 3 a.m. We have our regulars, our middle son, Jimmy, and granddaughter Alesha. Oh yeah, The Wife did get home around 5 p.m. yesterday. Welcome back to our program which was/is already in progress. At any rate, Mr. Bentley and I got to hang out in my office upstairs. Amanda couldn't climb the stairs so she camped out with her MiMi. Being outside in the almost coolish breeze reminded me of how many times I have done exactly that, sat outside when it was cold and crisp, enjoying a cup of Community. Good times folks, good times indeed!

Having guests in the house was also a reason for me to do my best not to stir around too much. Even though I was doing my best to be quiet I did receive a text from the wife shortly after 5 a.m. asking a pertinent question, "What in the world are y'all doing?" I texted back that we were outside. She probably heard us when we got up. Mr. Bentley is always excited to get the day going. Jumping around. Her bed is directly below the office so that's why she thought maybe we were having an early morning party. It reminds me of the many times we visited her parents. Her dad, Bro. Rawles, was an early to bed, early to rise kind of person. Our boys typically would seep on the floor in their living room. When her dad got up, typically, very early, he pretty much operated as if everyone was up. He beat and banged stuff in the kitchen and we even heard him in our bedroom. Our boys were very irritated. I do know this and I am sure our boys would agree. It would be wonderful to be able to visit them again, one more time. We will not be able to do that in this life, but, they had the promise and we have the same promise that we will all meet up again in our real home, our heavenly home. The noise there will all be an anthem of praise to the Great God who made a way for us. Amen.

Mr. Bentley, all tuckered out from being outside all morning.

I may or may not show up tomorrow since I will be transporting Mr. Bradley to the big airport. This means if you do not see anything, don't worry. No need to panic. That's a joke. I am the first to be aware that since most people see my bog electronically, well, it doesn't even serve the purpose of a good old fashioned newspaper. A newspaper could be used for many different things. You could line the birdcage. You could use it to train your pet. You could wrap stuff up with it for shipping or storage. At least I'm not using up a lot of paper with my blogging activity. If they were being printed I would likely be on the hit list from Al Gore and the save the tree folks. You know. Using up trees for no good reason. It's always best to not take ourselves more seriously than we should. I'm always glad that people read and enjoy my daily visits. However, I will point out that Mr. Bentley got a lot more positive responses to his blog than I typically get for mine. He's had a smirk ever since that happened. He is currently conked out on the blow-up mattress I slept on last night. He no doubt knows that feather pillow is very precious to the fellow who helps take care of him for his owner. Sorry. I couldn't resist. She is back. Enjoy and may God add His blessings. Amen. ....More later.

“If absence makes the heart grow fonder,” said a minister, “a lot of folks must really love our church.” ~ copied

We were watching when the Eagle landed back in 1969. We wanted to make sure our eldest, Chris, was able to see that important event. He was 3-1/2 years old and our Jimmy was one. (Our Chris did go on to become fascinated with all things pertaining to Sci-Fi and especially Space Travel.) I've watched maybe a dozen or more of the special TV programs remembering that event. I heard one commentator say that many in the world had never seen a live TV broadcast, but, arrangements were made for people to see this broadcast even in far-flung places. Imagine seeing your first live TV program and it was a broadcast of the first man landing on the moon. I'm sure that made an impact. Today is Tuesday, July 23, 2019, and I actually have another landing in mind for today. It will be when the Escape makes its way into our garage and the commander of that vehicle, The Wife, makes her exit and returns to her home base. Some may flinch at my comparison of the Eagle to the Escape, but, one was important to the world while the other is most important to my world. Think about it like this. We are a two-person team. To function as we should we need to have the entire team on the field. I've been playing one person short for the last 8 days and while I am happy she was able to go and minister to those in upstate New York, I will be glad to have her back so that we can get things back into sync. That's right. The last few days have been mostly out of sync. How does that show up? Good question. Discombobulated. Flabbergasted. Things have been cattywampus. Too much malarkey. Daily shenanigans, etc., etc.

I haven't picked on the weather folks lately. The other evening I heard one of them on TV say something that hit me wrong. The station he is on promotes his Ph.D. as being a great advantage over the competing stations. Here's my recollection of what he said, "The hoped-for cool front coming in next week, well, it seems the projection models cannot agree on the impact to our area." Do what? I could look at the models and tell whether they agree or not. Why doesn't the Ph.D. have his own projection? I heard about a fellow over in Louisiana who, according to many of those in his area, is terrible in his weather forecasts. I can't remember his name, but, I heard people had given him a nickname that rhymed with his name but it indicated his failure to make correct forecasts. This was recently brought back up because of the storm named Barry. One last thing pertaining to Barry. Those so-called spaghetti models trying to predict Barry's tract were, literally, all over the page. Many of the local weather people joked about the European model. Turns out, when it was all said and done, the European model was the most accurate. See what I mean?

The other evening I was flipping through the channels and I noticed something. On the primary ESPN sports channel, they were running a show of people playing video games. Not sports video games but war games and stuff like that. Really? On another of their channels, they were showing the Cornhole competitions. Really? If they had been showing the hotdog eating contest, I suppose this would have proven we have come full circle, we would have arrived. Who knows? They may soon add dwarf throwing, finger wrestling, and haggis hurling. I know they have multiple channels running 24 hours per day along with several other competing fulltime sports networks. That is a lot of time to fill. But, to me, the question has to be whether those are real sports. I will grant they are competitions, but, sport? I'm not so sure. You might see it differently. Go ahead. I will be busy this morning getting everything back in shape for the return of the Lady of the House. I would be glad to have some competitors alongside to see how quickly we could finish. That would be a good one. Men doing housework competition. Enjoy the rest of your day and let's all take time to be thankful for all that God has done, is doing, and will do as we continue our journey. Amen. ....More later.

“If I had an hour to solve a problem I'd spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions.” ― Albert Einstein

Welcome back to our continuing series which began back in 2007. It is Monday, July 19, 2019, and Lord willing, the lady of the house will be coming home tomorrow, late afternoon. When she left last Tuesday we were still in the midst of dealing with a serious plumbing issue. Thanks to our eldest Chris and middle Jimmy, we finally resolved it last Wednesday evening. We had one last fix to try and then we were set to call in the professional plumbers. Our boys came through again. I don't know if they lost any weight from being up in the attic with the temps over 100, but, they will not need to go to the sauna for a while. We had a similar drain related issued back in 1990. I was a department head at the big company, but, I took off from work to fix it. Why not? Turned out to be many reasons why I shouldn't have. I actually removed a portion of the ceiling in the downstairs bathroom. I actually cut the pipe that was leaking and repaired it. One problem. That was not the problem. It had to do with the vent drain being stopped up, not a broken pipe. I cut a perfectly good pipe. I worked all day to exhaustion on that project but ended up having to call out the professional emergency plumbing crew and they worked until after midnight to fix the "right" problem. We learned from that episode. We knew the current issue because it was very similar to the one from nearly 20 years ago. That should remind us all of the importance of doing our best to identify the right problem before we try and repair it. Duh! At any rate, she was elated when, last Wednesday evening, I texted her the outcome of our work. Like I said before, this house was built in the early 1970s, we purchased it in 1984. Do the math. Things happen.

As a coffee person, I find it interesting how the financial gurus are targeting the coffee drinking habits of younger people. Young people are obsessed with the crippling impact of student loans and their inability to buy a home, however, they rarely even think about the thousands of dollars spent each year on exotic coffee brewed and served up at the specialty coffee place or picked up at the drive-through window. There's a reason Starbucks has grown from 500 locations in 1994 to over 14,000 stores today. Dave Ramsey and other financial advisors decry the monies spent when coffee could be made for a fraction of the cost at home. On the other side, progressive psychologists say these younger folks need these treats to help them cope with life. Like I say, I am an interested observer here. Sure, many laugh at my devotion to Louisiana Community Coffee. It is a premium brew, but, when purchased on sale, I can enjoy a cup for around 50 cents. And, while I know the coffee house provided specialty blends are a cultural matter, kids rejecting their parents Folgers, the bottom line is still the cost. Even if someone doctored up their home-brewed coffee with all the concoctions one can imagine, a cup should still cost under one dollar. This is the point made by those who specialize in helping people manage their money. To them, it's simple. Pay $1 or less versus up to $7 or more. And, yes, I am drinking my Community even as I write this paragraph. Just so you know.

I will not list all the things I've had to do while 'you know who' has been away. I did send her a message indicating I needed The Coordinator in Chief on the premises as soon as possible. Yeah. I already know what she has to say about it. "Good. Now you have a small taste of what I have to deal with every day." Obviously, we've had this conversation before. If I recall, we do every time she leaves. I need to make sure she has a full understanding of the word 'cleave' as given to the first husband and wife from Genesis 2:24 "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." The word cleave used here is defined as a verb, meaning: to stick, adhere, cohere, cling, cleave mean to become closely attached. stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together. When she is in the shadow of Niagra Falls and I am down here deep in the heart of Texas, there's not a whole lot of cleaving going on. Okay. Already. Don't write to me. It's only a joke. Hopefully, everyone is laughing, or at least, you know who. Have a great rest of the day Monday, and may God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

Quote from the book A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, a changed Ebenezer Scrooge speaking, “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach!”

Mr. Bentley's thanks everyone for reading his blog.

Today I pause to mark day number 5 since she left me. But, after all, who's counting anyway? It is Friday, July 19, 2019, and I am in preservation mode. Keep everything out of the ditches and whatever happens, don't let any of the plants die. I well remember how God sent a worm to chew up the vine the Prophet Jonah was resting under. (Jonah Chapter 4) Let's hope we don't get one of those around here. That is, unless and until she gets back. I think Mr. Bentley knows she is gone. He is pretty smart. The other afternoon he finally appreciated the fact that he was tired. He had played with several of the grandkids for quite a spell and was ready for a nap. He sometimes sleeps on the couch. Or, we've recently pulled up the blinds about a foot on the sliding glass door so he can see out, and, he likes to nap there as well. This day he decided he would prefer to get away from it all. He would run towards our room and then run back to me. He did that a couple of times before I caught on. He wanted inside our bedroom so he could retreat to his sleeping quarters, (his kennel). We have to keep the door closed because our little mountain goat dog will be up on the bed rearranging the pillows in a heartbeat. I opened the door for him and he trotted over to his kennel and went in and gave me that look that said, you can go now. You know what I am talking about. The 'I no longer require your services' look. I'm beginning to understand the upside of living a 'dog's life'.

Lord willing, we will be comprising our roles as Santa and Mrs. Claus, the summer version, at the end of next week. As I was looking back from July of 2007 I came across this one. I thought it to be a fairly decent piece of work. Enjoy.

Extra Work I've Never Regretted! ~ In the fall of 1966, I found myself at times working three different jobs. During the week each day I worked in hospital administration at the VA Hospital, in the evenings and on Saturdays I worked for a Gibson’s Discount Store, a forerunner of the Wal-Mart model, and when I could and they needed me I worked late nights for the hotel operations at the local US Air Force Base. Three jobs at the same time? Yeah, but at twenty years of age, it didn’t seem that taxing. One of the primary reasons I worked the extra jobs was to provide for our Christmas and buy gifts for others. I know different people have different traditions about celebrating Christmas. We always reverenced the Reason for the Season but enjoyed Santa and the gift-giving celebration as well. This was my tradition growing up. Growing up in a Baptist pastor’s home, my wife’s family were much more modest in their approach but she graciously adapted and adopted much of what I had practiced growing up. I know to some there’s a disconnect between honoring the Savior and doing the Santa thing as well. Each one needs to be convicted in their own heart regarding this issue and I never try to persuade anyone that my way is best.

I will never know how my Mom did what she did but somehow and in some way, she was able as a widow with six children to make Christmas a blow-out experience nearly every year. I’m talking about the wake up on Christmas morning with toys under the tree all ready to go for each and every child. Add to that the feasting, the fellowship, the love, warmth, and joy of the season and it was something we began to anticipate months before the actual celebration. By the time Christmas day arrived the Sears Christmas Catalog was nothing but shreds because it had been thumbed through and drooled on for months. I’ll never forget one Christmas I received a Canadian Mountie pistol set with the holster, shoulder strap, and long-barrelled revolver. With this set, I could be Sergeant Preston all day long and round up bandits and renegades to my heart’s content. However, my older brother and our first cousin convinced me that if I would put a firecracker in the barrel, it would make it very realistic. I did and once it exploded half of the barrel flew off and I cried for days because of my damaged favorite toy. I’m sure it was glued, taped, and tied back on but it was never the same again.

The Christmas of 1966 was memorable. I had put a number of items in layaway and then worked the extra hours to pay for it all. Our eldest had just turned one in October so you know he needed a full train set. He also needed a huge jumping horse which would put those out in front of Wal-Mart to shame. I can’t remember but I think it was several years later before he could even ride it by himself. I do remember well putting that sucker together. I was doing my best to go by the instructions which included some leather grommets that were supposed to cover the metal connecting ends. You were supposed to soak them and then sweat and slide them to their proper place. It turned out to be an all-night sweat the grommet program and I carried four blisters on each hand for the next two weeks. I was more excited, however, about a gift I had bought for my granddad. He loved to hunt and enjoyed his fried squirrel but it had gotten to where he could not see or hear that well and most of the time he came home empty-handed. And let me tell you, Granny Mac could deep fry that squirrel and put on a meal that was nothing short of wonderful. Therefore, I had purchased him a goose gun, a 12 gauge shotgun, bolt action, with a 36” barrel. I reasoned that with this long gun he would have more luck hitting a squirrel high up in the trees.

I’ll never forget him opening that shotgun. He looked at it and with that gleam in his eye said, “Well son, all I need is their name and address because when I get to their tree I’ll just reach up there and knock them down”. Do I remember any of the sleep I lost during my three job stint? Do I remember how really tired I was? Nope. Occasionally when I open my closet and see that shotgun leaning in the corner I can see the look on Paw Paw Mac’s face the day he got that gun. Now that’s a memory worth keeping! ~

Ah, the spirit of Christmas and a heart of giving. It's hard to improve on that. After all, that holiday is to celebrate God's Gift to us all, His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Okay. See you next time, and may God add His blessings as we continue our journey. Amen. ....More later.

Please join me in welcoming our guest blogger for today.

Today we have a special guest writer. I think it's best to hear his story, from his point of view. I do bid you a hearty welcome on this Thursday, July 17, 2019.

Good morning folks out there in blogger land, my name is Bentley, although they have recently come up with this piece of work, Sir Bentley Barksalot, Esq. I've only been around this place since this past January. One day I am happily going about my business, (in more ways than one), in the backyard of the sweet lady I live with, and, lo and behold!, the next thing I knew I was in the back of the SUV headed to who knows where. They even brought along my big Poodle friend to keep me company. We drove up to a fast food joint and next thing I knew I was being handed over to a fellow with white hair all over his face. Believe me. I was shaking like a leaf. That guy handed me over to a sweet lady but I had never seen her before. She was trying to calm me down. We were now in their car and I took one last look at the lady who had been my sweet friend for the past few weeks. First of all, these people didn't even speak the same language. What did they think? I would be bi-lingual? They did seem happy to see me, but, I was too scared to even imagine what was going on.

We drove to a house. It was different than the house I lived in before. This one was larger. I was still shaking but the longer I stayed it was the more I figured I had better make the best of it. They had the same food I had eaten before. Good for them. The first few days were pretty weird. Them hugging me all the time and trying to make me feel at home. You can squeeze only so much if you know what I mean. They immediately began to be very stern about my bathroom habits. They were seriously scolding me for a little bit of something they found on the floor. And, they did it every time. Okay already. Let's make a deal. I will come and act all nervous like so that you can take me outside. Even if it is cold as all get out. As to who I belong to, well, that seems to be an ongoing issue. The white beard fellow says I belong to the lady. The lady says I belong to the white beard fellow. The white beard fellow says the lady told him to find her a dog. And, he says she named me. I just wish they would make up their minds and let's get on with it!

I am into my 7th month. They have carried me several times to that place where they all wear white coats. I don't particularly like that place but the people there do let me lick them in the face. They sure talk a lot about my weight. I was six pounds when I came. I am fourteen pounds now. So, did you expect me to be able to sleep in a teacup forever? Here are a few things I know for sure. These people do love me. I have become more or less the center of attention. And, yes, I do like them too. The white beard takes me out in the middle of the night. The lady lets me cuddle up next to her feet when she is napping on the couch. She does that a lot. I've met the neighbors. They are all nice and their animals are okay too. Most of them. I've not yet figured out what the deal is with the cats. They act like they are somebody just because they don't go around with a leash on their neck. Talk about arrogant! I love my house. I love every room. I'm not allowed in many of them except when they are with me. They must think I am going to take their crown jewels or something. They talk sometimes about my heritage. You know. My mummy and daddy. Stuff like that. Well, I have a surprise for them. Check out the photo and I think you will get it before they do. Thanks for hearing me out. The white beard will be back tomorrow. I should know. I will be at his feet waiting on him to please stop that incessant banging on the keyboard.

“The problem is politics is made a sport, almost as much a sport as football or baseball. When it comes to politics, adults and politicians do more finger-pointing and play more games than children ever do. Too often are we rooting for the pride of a team rather than the good of the nation.” ― Criss Jami

Good morning and welcome. It's Wednesday, July 17, 2019, and, we are here again to our time of sharing along with a cup of coffee, my preference is Community if it's all the same to you. I like Blue Bell ice cream, most especially the Homemade Vanilla. They recently came out with a homemade blackberry cobbler flavor. The wife bought me a half gallon. It's okay, but, nothing to write home about. I think my issue is the ice cream itself. In the past when we have blackberry cobbler we typically top it with Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla. Their new offering is not Homemade Vanilla. Oh well, it sounded like a good idea, and, over time, I will do my best to see that it does not go to waste. I quickly add it may be wonderful to some people. I will be the first to admit that my tasting ability is not what it used to be. Of course, trying to revisit the made from scratch blackberry cobbler produced by my Granny Mac and topped off with hand-cranked homemade ice cream, well, that train left a long time ago. Perhaps it was even better back then because we picked the blackberries. I may have been thinking of those days when I judged their new ice cream.

I sure hope the President knows what he is doing. They say he operates based on his instincts and what his gut tells him. I sure hope he knows what he is doing because at times he appears to be piling on in handing his opponents issues to use against him. Historians tell us that his use of social media has probably forever changed the presidency as we know it. No one can argue that he is thin-skinned. Take for instance the recent debacle involving the United Kingdom Ambassador. Some of this fellow's private assessments of the President and his administration were leaked. They were not kind. The President went into a rage against this ambassador and the soon to be leaving UK Prime Minister. The ambassador was not asked to, but, he resigned as a result. Here's my concern. Based on what I read, these private assessments tend to be blunt and they are not new. And, they are not reserved for the current resident of the Oval Office. Many of these have come to light over the years and they include some very negative comments about President Obama and many others who have held the office. Just me, but, I think a person in that office needs to be bigger than that and should reserve a scorch the earth response for something much more important. Just me.

Warts and all, I can not conceive of me voting for any of those who are currently seeking the nomination on the Democratic ticket. I heard yesterday the media is going to change the debate format to help disguise the wacko far-left agenda of those competing against each other. It will have something to do with the format of the questions to try and keep them from out lefting each other. Yes. I am aware that lefting is a made-up word, but, I feel very comfortable using it. Can you believe we are now living in a world where the debates have to be rigged to keep us from knowing the true beliefs of the candidates? This became necessary when everyone on the debate stage raised their hand saying they would support providing free medical care to any and all illegal immigrants. That caught a whole lot of folks off guard. Piling up benefits for illegals that are not even available to citizens, well, something had to be done. Okay. My wife is out of town on a mission trip, therefore, I dealt with the political stuff I had on my mind, at least, in a drive-by fashion. As I always say, you decide for yourself and may God guide our decisions. Amen. ....More later.

Don't confuse the thingamajigs with being discombobulated. Got it?

It's Tuesday, July 16, 2019, and I do bid you a hearty welcome to today's episode. I don't know if my office serves as a man cave or not. I don't think so, although I am typically the one who uses it the most. One of the wife's major concerns, when she is away, is her plants. Before she left yesterday she asked if I thought she should water them. I told her not to worry about her plants. Well, she left at 9 a.m., and at 2 p.m. the bottom fell out. One person down our street measured nearly 4" of rain in one hour. The ditches were full and our neighbor across the street's front yard looked like a lake. I took pictures and a video and sent them to the wife over in Louisiana. She sent back her reply that I need not worry about watering the plants. Two hours of some of the loudest thunder I've heard in a long time. It was not only just loud, but it was also sustained. Eerie. Yep. Lost the power too. For about an hour. This time it was widespread. My understanding is this event was the tail end of the system associated with Hurricane/tropical storm/tropical depression Barry. The kicker? Once it was done, it was as if it had not even shown up. The sun came out and within 30 minutes everything was roasting. Strange. But, we did need the rain. And, I didn't have to worry about the plants. God is good. Amen.

Because the power was out, Mr. Bentley and I sat out in the garage and watched the storm. We were very comfortable. We were sitting on our old furniture that has still not been picked up. The Salvation Army forgot us completely. We were given the name of another group, The Jesus Center, and they were supposed to come last Saturday morning. They didn't show. When I called them to ask why they didn't show up I thought of some things to say about them not keeping their word and how that didn't fit their name, but, instead, I just inquired. They could not believe it because it rarely happens, but, no ticket had been written for them to dispatch the truck. Imagine that? At any rate, Mr. Bentley and I so enjoyed the comfort of our recliners while being very uneasy with the storm raging on. The Jesus Center people assured me they would come today, Tuesday. If they don't I may suggest they change the name of their charity. You know. WWJD? For those who may have forgotten, "What would Jesus do?"

I'm dealing with some cobwebs this morning. The ones that make thinking a little more difficult. Trying to clear them out and type at the same time while thinking of something to write about, well, I would say don't try this at home, but, that's exactly what I am doing. I would also add, this qualifies me as being able to multitask but, that, my friend, would be a reach. And, as we all so often hear in today's lingo, "It is what it is." I assume that means we need to take a deep breath and deal with it. I haven't even mentioned the major plumbing issue we had come up last Sunday. When you live in a house that was built in the early 1970s and you have been here for 35 years, well, you can expect to have these types of things come up. I'll save that story for another day, especially since we are still working on it. I sound rather calm as I write about it, but, it's not the kind of thing any of us look forward to dealing with. And, we all have to deal with stuff. You, me, and everyone breathing air on the planet have challenges. Even as far back as when I was a kid, my mom was using the starving children in far off places to force us to eat our food. That typically didn't apply to me because one of the only things I was really good at was eating. In fact, believe it or not, she used to tell people I was her best, 'eater'. Look at me today. I've got the diabetes to prove it. Just kidding. Take care. Enjoy. Be thankful. I'll see you next time. May God bless. Amen. ....More later.

“One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always.“- A. W. Tozer

I know everyone laughed at the country song, "Thank God and Greyhound She's Gone". I don't feel that way at all as The Wife, Help-Mete for 54.5 years, and a whole lot of The Glue that keeps everything together is making another mission trip and will be gone 8 days. Me too. I get it. You also thought the Home Alone movie and the Left Behind series of books were about my life's story. Okay. Don't write to me. I'm just having a little fun at my own expense on this Monday, July 15, 2019. I know I am blessed to have her as my wife. We fellowship with and are close to many who have lost their mates. We see all the time the void in their lives. That makes me even more thankful for every day God grants to us as husband and wife. She will again be with the mission team from her sister's Church, East Leesville Baptist, as they go to try and help invigorate the work and ministry of a local fellowship in upstate New York. I don't know if you have noticed it or not, but, folks fully participating in local Church ministry is seriously in decline. Gallup released its survey regarding Church membership this past April. Membership peaked in 1948 at 76% of our American population. This most recent count showed it has slipped to 50% and trending downward. I know what many will say. Churches only have themselves to blame. There's truth in that statement with all the scandals and other shenanigans over the years. However, it could well be that we within the local Churches of America have lost our moorings where we no longer fully embrace our purpose as clearly spelled out in The Scriptures, "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.'" (Matthew 28: 18-20) Something we all should think about. Amen.

Some have indicated she should qualify as going on a foreign missions trip since they see New York State in this way. While that is perhaps a joke, there are regions in our nation where ministry is very difficult. Difficult for us, but, not for God. We need always remember that we carry the message of hope but we are never responsible for the outcomes. God Himself takes truth shared and He is the one who draws folks unto Himself. God the Holy Spirit moves on the hearts of men, women, boys, and girls, as truth is shared. They then reject Him when they refuse His offer of salvation. The old missionary saying applies, "You can never take the Gospel to the wrong address." The good news for us all is how God has raised up men who are praying for and preaching for a God sent revival for our local assemblies and for our nation. We have that kind of man in our pulpit, Dr. Jerry Chaddick. Some have responded to his burden for revival by criticizing his evangelistic fervor, his direct preaching, and his heart for the people in our community. Did you actually read what I just wrote? Some within a congregation within a family identified as a Baptist Church accusing the pastor of being too focused on reaching men, women, boys, and girls for Christ. Sure, I am often stung with conviction as the word of God penetrates my heart. Like I say, we've come a long way, but, have we come in the right direction? Arriving at the place where we mostly play Church is certainly not what our Great God had in mind. Amen.

I know some think my blogs can, at times, become very 'preachy'. If you knew me like I know me, you would be very clear on who needs to be preached to the most. Yep. That's right. Just like the old song, "It's me, it's me, it's me, Oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer." Today's admonitions to take seriously the heart of our Savior's mission to the lost is, for me, like writing it in a mirror, with myself being the recipient. At least I didn't ask for a love offering. I didn't offer an autographed photo of Jesus as an incentive. And, I didn't say for you to not send me one thin dine, just enclose $1 to cover the weight of the postal money order. I believe those are part of a routine I heard on a vinyl record by Dave Gardner, a Southern-style comedian. But, that was a very long time ago. I do hope we all will take time to thank God for another second day of the week, Monday, and with His help, we will make the most of it. Even if we have to do it, all alone. May God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

“Always remember that motivation gets you moving, but determination keeps you going.” ― Dr. Prem Jagyasi

One thing we can be thankful for, we made it to Friday, July 12, 2019. I know some of you are wondering how we did with the furniture removal project. The Salvation Army never responded to my new messages, therefore, I came up with a plan to remove it myself. My eldest is out of town at a company function. My eldest grandson was at work. That left myself and my middle son to figure out something. I called our youngest and he said he would come as soon as he got some of his to-do list at work done. Time was ticking and we knew the new stuff would be here after 4 p.m. I received a call about 2 p.m. from the new furniture delivery dispatcher. He asked if they could come early. I told him I was still working on getting the old furniture out, but, if the delivery guys would help me, they could come on. They did show up early. They moved all the old furniture out and wouldn't even let us help them. I called off my youngest son who was on his way. They knew what they were doing. I have a slight backache from watching them work. Everything worked out fine. When it was all said and done I thanked God for it turning out like it did. (I did give them a generous tip for doing the removal. On her way out the door to go to VBS, I had told the wife that I might try moving it out by myself. She said that if I even tried there would be a problem like no other problem I had ever encountered. Did I ever mention she can be fierce when she wants to?)

Twelve years ago I wrote a blog about me having a slight case of blog fatigue. I had only started the blogging adventure less than 3 months before. My point? It happens! Here's what I wrote back then: "Blog Fatigue? Today I am going to take a break from sharing some great revelation of new facts, information, stories, and intrigue as it relates to the life and times of this blogger in his sojourn here on earth. Why? Have I run out of things to write about? The answer to that question reminds me of my mom driving over to our huge city many years ago. She had never driven in a downtown situation like the one here. I don’t know how, but she was able to get within six blocks of where I worked. She parked her car, found a phone and called me. I was finally able to figure out the general area where she was and left immediately to meet her. When I arrived she was exhausted but very pleased she had made it. When we got to where her Ford Pinto was parked she was right up against a large sign which read: “Don’t Even Think About Parking In This Spot”. This is my answer to whether I’ve run out of material or not. In fact, this morning I started several different stories but they did not resonate and I ended up scrapping them, for now. There’s so much material, so many memories, so many unforgettable experiences, people, and places, but so little time. This week has been somewhat hectic since here at the workplace we are a little shorthanded and it is vacation season and I have been very busy running here and there. Hey, that sounded almost good enough to make that the excuse for not doing a blog today! At any rate, I’ll never forget an elderly gentleman at a Church we attended many years ago who always said the same thing when you asked him how he was doing. He would look directly at you with a gleam in his eye and say, “If I kicked, I ought to be!” Guess that’s a good way of putting it. This is the day that the Lord has made and we have the opportunity to rejoice and be glad in it, this very day, and if given all that God has done for me, I kicked or complained, well, I guess I deserve to be kicked myself!"

Another blogging week has come and gone. I do appreciate those who take the time to read my postings. I've been asked before if me doing them is like a type of therapy. Could be. The good Lord knows I could use any and all help from any and all sources. According to folks over the years who think they know me quite well, I've been in the word stringing business for a long time. Verbally and in print. At the big Company, anytime the big boss needed an important report written he typically assigned me the responsibility to do it. And, there's my grandfather's proverbial assessment of my word slinging, "Son, are you ever going to come up for air?" To be honest, I'm thankful I can still sit down at my workstation and peck out a few word strings. That's the truth. Last Sunday morning we had a dear fellow at the end of my class who became disoriented. (Best we can tell it had nothing to do with my lesson.) Folks feared he had suffered a stroke. He didn't seem to know where he was and was very fuzzy on other pertinent information. He ended up at the hospital and has been there all week. I talked to him yesterday and he seems to have recovered his faculties at this time. It was a collapsed lung and an underlying infection. Scary stuff. That's why we should always be thankful if we, even slowed down some, can still get up and go about our daily routines. I think everyone can give an Amen on that one. Amen. .....More later.   

"Never regret a day in your life. Good days give you happiness and bad days give you experience. Both are essential in life. All are God’s blessings, have a great day." ~ copied

Good morning and welcome. I do hope you are not still dizzy from looking at all of the forecast models trying to determine the direction of the most recent Gulf storm. It is Thursday, July 11, 2019, and, yes, I do know this storm is no laughing matter, and, I am praying for any and all who may be impacted by the potential impact. At the same time, it is interesting to see how the weather media covers these types of events. What it typically comes down to is a simple fact: They don't know until they know. It's been a while since I've seen one that originated as a low inland and it traveled out to the Gulf and got itself organized. Some of the rainfall predictions are very ominous, 12-15 inches, and even as much as two feet in isolated areas. New Orleans got a preview with the 7-inch rain they received yesterday morning. As we all were reminded in Katrina, with New Orleans being so many feet under sea level, a huge rain event can be devastating. May God help is my prayer.

Okay. The Salvation Army did not come late yesterday to pick up our old furniture. They said they would be here between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., but, no show. Our new furniture is scheduled to arrive this evening. That makes for somewhat of a dilemma as I attempt to come up with a backup plan this morning. I should have had some of those already figured out, but, since they did actually call me and tell me they would be here, and they gave me a time frame, well, I thought they would come. You can't really talk to anyone at the Salvation Army. I left a message last night. Yep. Roseann Roseanna was right, "It's always something." I used to be recognized as having expertise in contingency planning, but, not today! I will be thrashing around this morning until I get this one solved. I mentioned to the wife a very convoluted way to have the old and new in the house temporarily. Too convoluted, and then some. Oh well, at least I have a few hours to get it done.

I am running just a tad late this morning. I typically try and get a wee bit of a headstart on my blog on the day before. That didn't happen yesterday. Too many of this, that, and the other to ever sit down and think about it. Oh well, some days are like that. And, just like the advice given to me many years ago by our late elderly neighbor and friend, Ellis, "Son, don't fret so over trying to keep the grass green, after all, no cows are going unfed." As it relates to my blog, if I get it done or not, no big deal. That doesn't mean I don't take doing them seriously because if you have read them for any time at all you do know that I work at it. There are more important things in life. A week ago I had the opportunity to spend a few minutes talking with a young lady about the most important decision one can ever make in life. She was the granddaughter of a lady who came to our apartment ministry. I shared with her how she could be saved forever and ever by placing her faith and trust in Jesus and His finished work on The Cross. Now, that my friend, is something more important than keeping the grass green or getting my blog published. Having a grip on the important things in life is always best. I may need to make a reminder note on that one. And, if you see a large truck from the Salvation Army, please send them my way. Take care, and may God bless each one. Amen. ...More later.

“It's not a crime to offend others; in fact, it's pretty much a natural consequence of having diverse cultures. We live in a world full of people with different backgrounds, interests, and values, and we must learn to accept that there will be clashes. As long as the differences do no harm, we should back off and accept them” ― P.Z. Myers

Yeah. It's me again. And, we find ourselves dealing with a brand new day, Wednesday, July 10, 2019. Much has been said about the Nike shoes bearing the image of the Betsey Ross Revolutionary Flag. To me, it's the fact that a spokesperson for their company could be offended by this particular image and the company withdrew the product. That flag was featured at the inauguration of our first African American President, Barak Obama. (I know. Bill Clinton claimed to be the first African American President, but, he said a lot of other stuff as well.) We do live in a world where people are proactively programmed to be offended. A Starbucks location asked several police officers to leave their coffee shop when another customer said they felt uncomfortable with the police being there. The Corporate office has since apologized, but, I can't help but believe we are immersed in some crazy times. I actually saw some of this many years ago. I was on a downtown bus and a lady got on. The bus was full. A fellow stood up and offered the lady his seat. She responded by angrily giving him a lecture about how she was just as capable of standing as the next person. That was probably 25 years ago. Here's an excerpt from an article in an online news site, "The “I’m offended” culture in the USA has run amok and threatens to ruin the country unless people start standing up to it.  Everyone is trying to get their piece of the “I’m offended” or “discriminated against” pie.  Now groups are fighting with each other over the crumbs that are left, and who is more offended or discriminated against.  It was only a matter of time before that happened.  Eventually, they will turn on each other." (Elk Grove Laguna News) I couldn't agree more.

The wife's phone went off around 5 a.m. yesterday morning. It was a weather warning. A heat advisory. Later on, I looked it up and it is a warning of the heat index values between 105 and 110, between the hours of 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. My nephew over in Louisiana received the same warning at 3 a.m. I suppose they wanted everyone to have a fair warning. I believe that's the first one of those I've seen sent to a phone. I suppose it was to go out to everyone. As far as I can tell, they didn't notify me, but, let the record show, I am not offended. The warning came the morning after we had an unexpected thunderstorm that caused several weather alerts for rain and wind. When her phone went off I asked her what it was. She said, "Just a weather bulletin." I asked, "More rain?" Her reply, "Nope, just a heat advisory." Talk about things changing fast! That thunderstorm had caused our temperature to plunge into the mid-70s. Now we will be dealing with potentially life-threatening heat. This situation reminded me of the late Gilda Radner's character on Saturday Night Live back in the day when it was watchable. She was news contributor, Rosanna Rosanna Danna. This weather alert situation reminded me of one of  her closing comments, "Well, Jane, it just goes to show you, it's always something — if it ain't one thing, it's another." That pretty well sums it up.

We bought our house in this neighborhood in 1984. We've had numerous flood events since that time. Many of the houses that get hit each time are rebuilt and re-hit again, and again. We've never had our house flooded due to rising water. We did take 18 inches of rain inside when Mr. Hurricane Ike dumped a huge pine tree onto the roof and opened it up like a sardine can. That was a mess. In addition to the houses that are flood prone, there are some that back up to a lake and they are always in danger when we have heavy rains. They too are often rebuilt and made ready for the next flood event. There are some still in the process of being refurbished as a result of Hurricane Harvey back in August of 2017. Mr. Bentley and I drive by that area when he makes his daily ride through of the neighborhood. These houses back right up to the lake. When a huge rain comes, a nearby creek fills up and overflows into this lake. The lake overflows and these houses are pretty much inundated. They do look pretty good when they finish redoing them. They typically have new carpet, new paint, new appliances and it comes with a manicured lawn. The question would be: How do you market a place like that? Several have For Sale signs in the yard, but, one caught my eye. It has printed in large colorful letters, Water Front Property. That, my friend, is an understatement, but, I do commend them for their honesty. That, by the way, qualifies as a legitimate drive-by observation, just in case you were wondering. Have a great rest of the day and may God be honored as we thank Him for all the blessings He has sent our way. Amen. ....More later.