"Most people will passively do exactly what they did last year. Whatever you do, don't let that person be you." ~ Richie Norton

If you were planning on getting a goal accomplished before the end of January, well, you might want to get on with it since today, Friday, January 31, 2020, is your last shot at it. You didn't actually have anything in mind? Not to fear. I will see if I can help get you jump-started. Some suggestions: ~ The things you have always wanted to get done. Go do them. ~ Do what I did. Remove all the bad-for-you food from the house. By the way, it was delicious! ~ Send a note to your abs, "I promise to find you this year and to reveal you." ~ To quit blaming the holidays. Let's face it, you were fat last August. ~ Slogan: Merry Fitness and Happy New Rear ~ I will do selfies this year without using a filter. ~ Brew more coffee. Drink more coffee. Be the coffee: I am coffee! ~ Work on pretending to be a better person. ~ A new year's prayer: Lord please help them provide a way for me to punch people over the internet. ~ I will add fine print to every resolution: I am under no legal obligation to fulfill this resolution. ~ To make it through the new year even if it kills me. ~ To finally act my age. ~ Those did not originate with me. They came from the internet although I did reword several of them to fit the point I was trying to make. That being the case, you might as well laugh. Go ahead. It will do a body good.

Those were the days, January 31, 2008: Cold Case Reopened ~ Your mind can be a very powerful influence on what you believe and the actions you take. Yesterday, I went through my regular routine to prepare to leave for work without incident. I even walked out to the mailbox in my shirtsleeves and I thought to myself, "Hey it's a little cooler than I thought it might be today." But, I shrugged it off, finished getting ready, and was at my workstation before 5 a.m. About 8:30 I received an email from my wife in all caps: YOU DIDN'T EVEN TURN THE HEAT ON FOR ME AND IT'S 29 DEGREES! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? To tell the truth I wasn't thinking about it being cold at all because the last report I heard it was only supposed to get down into the '40s, therefore, that's the expectation I had and I guess I responded to what I thought rather than the reality of it being much colder. Maybe this is an example of mind over matter or the power of suggestion or just plain being out of touch with reality. This situation ended up making for a good laugh from both of us and to be sure while it is only 55 degrees this morning as I sit here at 5:20 a.m. doing this blog, that furnace at home is on overdrive preparing for her to wake up and start her day. I sure hope she remembers to turn it off before she leaves for work but that's another story entirely. On the way in this morning I heard that in Buffalo, New York, yesterday, it was 53 degrees at 3 a.m., and 15 degrees by noon. Maybe she should be thankful she wasn't in Buffalo and be counting her blessings instead of sending emails in all caps!

I have made it clear I'm no longer as resilient in handling the cold as I once was. I still have a fair amount but nothing like I had when I was the undisputed all-time freezeout champion as a teenager. I read someone lamenting how they never realized that getting old would come so fast. I hear that. I appreciate the meaning. I am the meaning. Speaking of the cold, I can't remember us ever having a white Christmas but that didn't keep us from loving the song about dreaming for one. We never roasted chestnuts on an open fire. Never. I saw one of those food carts on my first trip to New York City and the fellow was selling hot chestnuts. I had never seen one before that. It makes you wonder how we so enjoyed Christmas without experiencing the stuff the songs portrayed. The true meaning of the birth of our Lord and Savior has something to do with that. And, even on a warm shirt sleeve Christmas Day we had an even greater feeling of warmth about those gathered to celebrate with us. Sorry about so many Christmas related references but when you hand out cards announcing yourself to be the Real Santa, what would you expect? I do hope you have a most wonderful day on Saturday and that Sunday, the first day of the week, the day commemorated as Resurrection Day, will find us all at the place where we gather to worship the Resurrected Christ. Amen. .....More later.

"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin." ~ Mother Teresa

I think we can all identify with the sentiment, 'It's always something.' I know you haven't been sitting on the edge of your seat waiting on me to confirm that particular fact of life, but, as I rush my way to the threescore, ten, and four-year mark, I believe it to be the subtitle for how life works including on the day before us, Thursday, January 29, 2020. You like the other one better? 'If it's not one thing, it's another.' That one is also a part of the fabric of how our lives unfold each and every day. Reality does a much better job of giving us realtime memes than those we might craft or design. How about the one that says 'we never know what a day might bring'. Or, the one I've used many times in my blogging program, 'today is the first day of the rest of your life'. The word 'today' is mentioned 149 times in the New King James translation of the Bible. The emphasis in the Scriptures is on making preparations for eternity by responding to God's provision of salvation through Jesus Christ. As a matter of the unfolding life here, a "today" focus is indicated as the way to live and function. Looking at it as our day by day reality, the day we are living is the only one we can count on and even it too is fleeting. Therefore, we have this one. This day. Today. I suppose it behooves us all to get out there and see what we can do with it. (I'm currently in the process of getting ready to get ready to do my taxes. Full disclosure requires me to add how this process, (easily postponed for another day), may have triggered some of my thoughts in this segment.)

I do apologize again to the grammar program I use each day. It is a big help to me. It does not comprehend the depth of my slinging slang, therefore, it tries to correct a lot of my stuff. I appreciate the due diligence but I often have to ignore its flags and red underlines. And, I also apologize for bringing up the subject of taxes again. Since it is a front-burner issue for us because it is our first time to file without having a W-2 as part of our package. We are now fully semi-retired and I say that because of the income we receive for our impersonation business, The Santa Enterprise. We are serious about knowing, not because we will be getting a refund, but, it is somewhat important for us to know how much we have to pay. Once we get that nailed down we can wait until April to file. I've used the same tax preparation software for many years. It makes it easier if you can import last year and change what needs to be updated. However, they are big-time raising the price each year. They want to encourage people to use their software online in their cloud as opposed to downloading it to your personal computer. They price the cloud stuff around half of what they charge to have your own copy. I want it on my computer. I know. My choice. Pay it and move on. Oh well, it gives me another tax-related subject to complain about. That should be worth something.

The wife is some better but not completely back to her previous level of abnormal normality. I know that doesn't make a lot of sense, but, it is an accurate description. At the same time, she is very thankful because some sleep and relaxation are better than what this last round had brought her. I wish I could do more for her. I wish I could absorb some of what she is dealing with. It doesn't work that way. The best I can do is to be here for her. And, pray. We can always pray. Some say if God already knows everything including the problems she is having, why pray? He has ordained prayer as a part of how He sovereignly works. He has invited us to pray. He cares. Sometimes prayer may not change the circumstance but it does change the one who is praying. Our faith informs our prayers. His will be done. He does know best. Our pastor recently presented that God inspired illustration from the New Testament writing of James, Chapter 5, Verse 17, "Elijah was the same kind of person as we are. He prayed earnestly that there would be no rain, and no rain fell on the land for three and a half years." We too often miss exactly what is being said here. Elijah, the great prophet of Israel, he was no different than you or me. He put his sandals on every day just like we put our shoes on. Yet, he prayed and God worked. That should encourage us all today. I know it encourages me. Amen. ....More later.

“A good marriage isn’t something you find; it’s something you make and you have to keep on making it.” – Gary Thomas

Good morning and welcome to today's fireside chat sans the fire and the side, on this Wednesday, January 29, 2020. My wife has a condition called Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). It is an inherited issue in her family. Her mom suffered mightily from it at a time when it wasn't even recognized as a treatable illness. Her preacher boy brother who passed away a few years ago, he too battled it. Her remaining brother and her sister also have this malady. The wife's may be slightly more advanced than her siblings. This past weekend beginning on Friday evening she was beset with a particularly virulent attack that pretty much racked her entire body. It is still with us. She gets almost no sleep when one of these attacks come. We don't know what triggers these severe bouts and the science is being worked out even as I write. With some 30 million people dealing with this challenge, much has been done to try and figure out what to do about it. There is still no known cause for it, although stress, anxiety, fatigue, and other factors are known to be contributors. We have a specialist, a neurologist, but when we tried to get in to see her she was completely booked. This past Monday evening it became pretty much unbearable, therefore, shortly after 11 p.m., we headed to the ER. We were there until 3 a.m. They gave her a powerful sedative with next to no results. They gave her a pill known to invoke sleep with no results. I can hardly stand to see her suffer and when we were in that room together she looked at me and said this, "I suppose you are now getting the full measure of 'in sickness and in health'." We are now working to try and get them to fit her in this week to see her specialist. They are working to find us a slot. I did observe some things while at the ER. Pretty interesting stuff. More later.

She does better during the regular daylight hours, therefore, she continues to keep up with most of her service projects and ministry schedule. However, she is operating on very little sleep. I'm not a doctor and I'm not the son of a doctor, but, my guess is that can't go on ad infinitum. That also may contribute to the hard crashing at night. What's that? No. I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. You folks are a hard audience. I'm just doing some throwdown stuff as we hope to get this current painful episode out of the way. She wasn't able to be in Church last Sunday morning. Know this. That means something. Big! When people asked I told them I did not know what had triggered this most recent event, however, based on several factors I had some guesses. She is her dad's daughter. He was a man of God, preacher-man, and pastor, for many years. He was fairly headstrong and at times he could be stubborn. I'll let you fill in the blanks on that one. She has always had a proclivity towards overdoing whatever it is she is involved in. Helping others? Check. Yard work? Check. Being unable to say no? Check. Staying on the run? Check. Taking care of me? I'm not going there because I just put that in to show I'm very comprehensive in my analysis. At any rate, we want answers. And, please pray they will be provided soon. Thanks. Amen. (You had all better know that photo is nothing but a joke. A good one, but, still only a joke.)

Prior to their passing, I'll never forget seeing my dad totally immersed in trying to take care of his and mom's medical needs, appointments, and a variety of treatments. He would spend hours day after day dealing with all the issues that come with coordinating care for older people like themselves. He was a bulldog in his tenaciousness. It takes that. I was on hold for 20 minutes just waiting for the neurologist's nurse to come on the line. I could probably recite from memory the half dozen ads for a variety of medical services that were played over and over again. For dad, it may have taken hours. Literally. This is one reason we do as much as we can online. Yes. I am very much aware of the risk of handling identification information along with medical records online. I should know. In my past life, I was ultimately responsible for all corporate sensitive data for a dozen or more years. One thing about dad, he was committed to getting it done. Period. My point? Getting the healthcare one needs today is a arduous and complicated process. To me, it seems to be that way by design. For instance. Had I not been willing to wait 20 minutes to talk to the person I needed to talk to, I would have ended up being nothing more than a call abandoned on hold. Dad wouldn't take no for an answer. Let's hope my following his example will bring some help to my dear wife. Amen. ....More later.

A Maxine cartoon caption, "Instead of calling my bathroom the John, I call it the Jim. That way I can tell people I go to the Jim first thing in the morning."

Good morning. I bring you greetings from my world to yours and just in case you haven't noticed, it is constantly changing, even as I write today's edition on this Tuesday, January 28, 2020. One of the onset features of my current age and status in life is how easy it is for me to instantaneously go into nap mode. I always admired my grandfather for being able to almost without notice take a quick nap. He could be sitting up straight, leaning on something, or he might just lay himself down on the floor, but, within seconds he could be lights out. Observers tell me I have this same proclivity. However, of late, they are seeing a new development. They believe my breathing patterns have changed and are now concerned based on what they see and hear that I may have a sleep apnea issue. I do not have the classic symptoms, other than I have noticed that I am waking up with a dry throat and mouth more often and that could be a related issue. They observe me snoring away and then a sudden stop to be followed by a gasp and recovery to begin snoring again. I still feel rested when I wake up in the mornings, but, I suppose it is something I should have checked. I am sure most know the huge hit song, This Ole House by Stuart Hamblen was a metaphor about the deterioration of our mortal bodies. It pretty well describes the progression I'm talking about.

This old house once knew my children
This old house once knew my wife
This old house was home and comfort
As we fought the storms of life
This old house once rang with laughter
This old house heard many shouts
Now it trembles in the darkness
When the lightning walks about

Ain't gonna need this house no longer
Ain't gonna need this house no more
Ain't got time to fix the shingles
Ain't got time to fix the floor
Ain't got time to oil the hinges
Nor to mend no window pane
Ain't gonna need this house no longer
I'm gettin' ready to meet the saints

This old house is gettin' shaky
This old house is gettin' old
This old house lets in the rain
This old house lets the cold
On my knees are gettin' chilly
But I feel no fear or pain
'Cause I see an angel peepin'
Through the broken windowpane

Ain't gonna need this house no longer
Ain't gonna need this house no more
Ain't got time to fix the shingles
Ain't got time to fix the floor
Ain't got time to oil the hinges
Nor to mend no window pane
Ain't gonna need this house no longer
I'm gettin' ready to meet the saints

This old house is gettin' shaky
This old house is gettin' old
This old house lets in the rain
This old house lets in the cold
On his knees, he's gettin' chilly
But he feels no fear or pain
'Cause he sees an angel peepin'
Through a broken window pane

Ain't gonna need this house no longer
Ain't gonna need this house no more
Ain't got time to fix the shingles
Ain't got time to fix the floor
Ain't got time to oil the hinges
Nor to mend no window pain
Ain't gonna need this house no longer
I'm getting ready to meet the saints

This old house is afraid of thunder
This old house is afraid of storms
This old house just blows and trembles
When the night cames after dawn
This old house is getting fragile
This old house is in need of paint
Just like me it's starting to die
I'm getting ready to meet the saints

Ain't gonna need this house no longer
Ain't gonna need this house no more
Ain't got time to fix the shingles
Ain't got time to fix the floor
Ain't got time to oil the hinges
Nor to mend no window pain
Ain't gonna need this house no longer
I'm getting ready to meet the saints

Maybe they can give me another pill. I did see a list of medications that are prescribed for sleep apnea related symptoms. I could just add it to the mix. I'm currently swallowing 9 at night and 5 in the morning. Out of the 14 I take each day, 5 of them are prescribed over the counter pills. Like I say, at this point in time, adding a few more is no big deal. It wasn't always that way. Back in the day, up and until around age 55 I hesitated to take any medications at all. I can remember me bragging on myself for not needing any. One trip to the doctor changed that narrative forever and ever, Amen. That was the one where I went in to have my injured shoulder checked, the doctor said it was time for a general physical, and suddenly I come out as a confirmed diabetic. That's when I had to make shelf space available for the medical cocktail of drugs to deal with the diabetes from a treatment and a preventative approach. An example would be how diabetics typically are inclined to develop other issues like high blood pressure, therefore, a pill was added for that, and for the other, and, oh yeah, that too. It sure did away with all of my braggings about never having to take medicines. Reality has a way of humbling us all. In time. The bottom line for me is how thankful I am there are ways to deal with the medical issues I have. And, yes, I would caution anyone not to be thumping their chest too much because that can change in a heartbeat. Pun intended.

Don't take today's reflections as complaints. That's not my intention. It's more or less a status update on why I am thankful to still be able to get up and go and to find myself able to do what I can do. That is the provision of Almighty God. Yep. The doctors, the pills, and all of the above. Should I end up having to wear one of those Astronaut masks, well, so be it. I hear they make some good wind sounds. That added to the two fans we use year-round should pretty much knock out most other sounds, except for Mr. Bentley who has his sleeping quarters kennel pretty close to where I sleep. He lets me know when he is ready to get up and go. That's typically between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. each morning. He has turned into a pretty consistent little alarm clock. That pretty well meshes with my schedule anyway. Again, while I can hold my own if the subject turns to aches, pains, and aging, I cannot get over how God has blessed. That's my story and for now, until memory loss changes it, I am going to stick with it. Have a great rest of the day and may God add His blessings. Amen. ...More later.

Maybe the song should have said, "These malls are made for walking!"

Welcome back to where I am typically skating on the thin ice found in the realm of the blogosphere. It is Monday, January 27, 2020, and, this brand new month in this brand new year in this brand new century seems to have flown by. Since we have returned of late to our walking at the big mall, I will bring you up to date on some recent observations. The workers waiting to go in at the up-scale stores are dressed better than other workers and they act like they are of the higher class. That's what they communicate to me. The cleaning staff at the mall who are very hard workers, well, for the most part, they are some of the nicest folks around. Don't get me wrong. Not that many people recognize it but we do. How? We've seen some of these folks for many years and we always speak to them. I don't think many of the workers at the up-scale joints would do that. Folks who walk each day come in all ages, colors and many have obvious challenges that are a part of their identity. Those on walkers. The elderly gentleman taking baby steps with his friend beside him walking at the same pace even though he could walk faster. Some travel in a wheelchair pushed by their mate or their caretaker. Some travel in groups. Mostly ladies. Mostly talking. Some of them talking really loud about things I really have no interest in. The mostly younger rank and file workers can be seen trying to find their way to their workplace. Some of them look like they were in bed five minutes ago. Others appear to be auditioning to play the blind person in a movie as they stumble and feel their way along. Okay. Some slight exaggerations perhaps, but, if our country is defined as a melting pot, the mall is a great example. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Why is it that people like myself and millions of others think President Trump has never gotten fair or balanced coverage from the mainstream media? The photo above will give you a hint. It is none other than George Stephanopoulos, head of all news for ABC. The live on-screen coverage accidentally caught him using the cut off signal for the lawyer speaking on behalf of President Trump regarding the impeachment trial. They had invited the lawyer to share his thoughts. (That sign from antiquity originated with the off with their head from the royal authority.) They obviously did not like what he was saying. Instead of letting him finish his comments, the head of ABC news indicated he should be cut off. He then turned to his ultra-liberal guest to continue the dialogue piling up their hatred against the President and gushing how the Democrat Manager prosecutors are doing an unbelievably wonderful job. The mainstream media beats a steady drum in saying the negative and untrue comments made by the President have created a hostile environment for the press. Untrue? Really? Here is what you can do? Go find the clip and play it for yourself. And, may I add again, I report, you decide! Let me know if you think I missed what was going on. And, let me be clear. They have the right to choose to cover what they determine they will cover. However, they do not have the presumed guarantee that everyone will blindly accept it when they say they are totally unbiased and always fair. They prove otherwise in every facet of their coverage.

Now that I have that off my chest I can move on. In case you were wondering, I do get stirred up when I see an in your face example like the one above. No subtlety in that one. You might be one of those who say, "Oh well," and that's okay, but it is not me. And, I do feel the sense of helplessness we all feel in terms of what we can do about it. We can be aware. We can be informed. We can do what we can do. Primarily, at the ballot box. Okay. The red on the map above shows what folks can do if they exercise their right to vote. That map shows why those on the left are doing all they can to get rid of the founders' genius decision to make sure 'all' Americans voting in any Presidential election are represented through the Electoral College system. If they are able to get rid of this protection, the huge population centers in the east and in the west will overwhelm and negate the red states on the map. For those of you who shrug, I'm sorry, because this is an issue if it were to be changed, it will forever change the lives and times of all generations to come in our Republic. That might seem to be too much in the weeds, but, I will tell you this. They are counting on the red states, especially those who identify as Christian, to be so disgusted with all that is happening they will just sit out the next election. That would be a very sad day for us all. No. I am not into gloom and doom. My faith informs my beliefs and I do know that God has this within His control. At the same time, He has given us admonitions to participate in the God-ordained provision of government. Our civic duty. Our spiritual duty. Enough already. Please don't send me a soapbox. I have plenty of spares. May God help us all and may God bless the United States of America. Amen. ....More later.

Chorus: "Thank you Lord, for saving my soul Thank you Lord, for making me whole; Thank you Lord, for giving to me Thy great salvation so rich and free. Thank you Jesus. Author: Seth Sykes (1892-1950). He and his wife Bessie were traveling evangelists based in Glasgow, Scotland. They traveled around the UK. Seth preached and wrote lyrics to many hymns. They used lantern slide shows to illustrate their message and draw people to their meetings.

Another week and another series of unfortunate outcomes for thousands of keystrokes, but, that hasn't stopped me yet. It is Friday, January 24, 2020, and I arrive today with a heart filled with gratitude and thankfulness. I mean that sincerely. Every day, I mean, every single day, I get new reminders that my body is not what it used to be. The other night I had a rare but horrible cramp in my left foot. It was drawn up and for a few seconds, I couldn't get it straightened out. Excruciating. But, finally, it did release its grip and I went back to sleep. As we were walking in the big mall, I told the wife my foot was still making noises and it reminded me of when I used to have a sprained ankle, that kind of pain when I would walk. Where does the heart filled with gratitude and thankfulness come into the picture? That cramp did pass. I was able to get up. My blood sugar reading was reasonably good. We traveled to the mall and we both were able to still walk two laps. In other words, the decline that began when I was born continues. However, God is still God, I still belong to Him, and He knows all about it, All. Everything. Nothing hidden. I can't count on me being able to do what I did even 10 years ago but I can always count on Him. That produces a heart filled with gratitude and thankfulness. Amen.

On this very day back in 2008 here is what was resonating with me: ~ I've had jet lag a number of times and I know how it feels. But never have I been so exhausted from the political fatigue I'm already experiencing with this run-up to the 2008 presidential election. On the Democratic side, there appears to be chaotic mudslinging between the Clinton Machine and Barak Obama's team. For the Republicans, there's no one in the race that even causes me to show even a modicum of interest. This is sad because I believe our country needs a Ronald Reagan type to stand up and be counted. I would even love to pull for someone who didn't have a shot but who had the qualities I look for but I don't find anyone of this caliber on either side. Even sadder, I can't really come up with a good name for a 'write-in' candidate. Some look forward to an independent showing up as the white knight to save the day but if it's Michael Bloomberg, well that would not be my idea of anything more than a liberal democrat dressed in a moderate suit and tie. I told my eldest son that I was thinking about doing a write-in and he said that if I did I would be wasting my vote. But would I be wasting my vote? Since I believe I am not alone in my assessment of those who are currently seeking the nomination, my fear is that many of us will just sit out the election altogether. Both parties are counting on a surge at the end which is to vote for their person primarily to keep the other person from getting in. This would be in keeping with the motto, 'anyone but....' which will be a prominent theme in this contest. ~

I have tried to do my civic duty by watching as much of the impeachment trial as I can. Doing that produces a feeling that reminds me of that little ditty from the Hee Haw TV program, "Gloom, despair, and agony on me ... Deep, dark depression, excessive misery ..." Can I get a witness? My thought at this time is consistent from when The House sent these articles over. Waste of time. It was leading up to them sending them over and it continues to be today. Biased? Absolutely! Aren't we all? Can you believe that one of The House managers actually told the jurors, 100 duly elected United States Senators: "I see a lot of senators voting for a cover-up, voting to deny witnesses, an absolutely indefensible vote, obviously a treacherous vote,..."? What a way to win over the jury! I do not believe the President will not come out of this unscathed. That was the original intent and was even said to be that by some of the leaders behind this farce. Maybe I am wrong but I think they know they have no shot at the ballot box with the folks they have contesting for the nomination. No shot. That means Trump would be reelected. They can't even tolerate the thought, therefore, impeachment. Now you have political wisdom being offered up by a fellow who quotes from Hee Haw to make his points. At that, I refer you back to the image above regarding the bucket of 100% mud. Now, have a great Saturday, and Lord's Day Sunday. See you next time, Lord willing. Amen. .....More later.

"Can you hear me now?"

We are spinning the wheel this morning. Where it will stop no one knows on this Thursday, January 23, 2020. When considering what to write one must take into account the reader. I am first to admit that I do not always do that. On most days I'm doing all I can to come up with something to write about, period. However, if one writes and publishes, that assumes the material is intended to be read. Here is some information that might be helpful to me as I try and consider how to put words onto the electronic page: "It is a fact that the popular blockbuster novels are written at the 7th-grade level. People like to read recreationally two grades below their actual reading skills. The average newspaper is written at the 11th-grade level, the tolerable limit for a 9th-grade reader." There are essentially four types of writing styles: ~ 1) Expository – Writing in which the author’s purpose is to inform or explain the subject to the reader. 2) Persuasive – Writing that states the opinion of the writer and attempts to influence the reader. 3) Narrative – Writing in which the author tells a story. The story could be fact or fiction. 4) Descriptive – A type of expository writing that uses the five senses to paint a picture for the reader. This writing incorporates imagery and specific details. ~ Since I typically write off the top of my head, my guess is that my stuff ends up being a blend and mixture of all of the above. I do like the concept of painting word pictures. Over the years, I have written oodles of Bible handout materials. They were typically a four-page tall greeting card format handout with an article about the lesson material along with illustrative images. A lady told me one time that when she read my lesson handout she could hear me talking. I think that's what I shoot for when I write. My reader can hear me talking. Maybe I should walk around like the aggravating TV commercial, "Can you hear me now?"

Another former classmate from my high school graduation class has passed on to his reward. This fellow was a tall guy. Maybe 6' 2" or more. He was tall but I can remember how he looked up to me, a little guy, I suppose because I was typically a leader in the class. Not always by choice, mostly by default, but, I did it anyway. This fellow mostly stayed in the little town where we grew up. According to what people are saying, he was a family man, a God-loving man, and a man of integrity. I'm trying to remember if I ever saw him again after we left that area to come to the Houston metroplex in 1969. I don't think I did. We had recently become friends on Facebook. He was born one year ahead of me. We were always friendly but I wasn't as close to him as I was to some of the other fellows. He built a large family, a long marriage, several children, many grandchildren, and, I believe seven great-grandchildren. He left behind a testimony and a legacy. Based on what I saw on Facebook he was beloved by his family, even the little ones. One could do worse. Reading about his passing did remind me that time is getting away from us all, and, if we are to leave behind a legacy we have to live it now. Amen.

It is good to have the wife back from her visit over to Louisiana. She was gone for four days. We went walking yesterday and on our way back home we stopped at the grocery store. She had her list. I went and found some treats for Mr. Bentley and when I returned she said, "You know what I am thinking about doing? I feel like fixing us a really good meal." She then began listing all the things she could cook. I thought at any second angelic voices would begin singing over the PA system. They were all good choices, pot roast, pork chops, chicken, and too many trimmings to mention. She then said, "How about something we haven't had in a while, an old fashioned catfish dinner?" That caused my mouth juices to go into overdrive and I hurriedly agreed. We had to go to a different store to buy the fish. Fresh, never frozen. She has this little deep fryer. She used peanut oil. The hushpuppies were so light they would melt in your mouth. Literally. The fish was perfect. The french fries crisp and delicious. Welcome home to me. To top it off? I hope you are sitting down. She made me one of my all-time favorite desserts from my growing up days. Butterscotch pudding with layered Vienna Finger cookies. It was just like my mom used to make for me. The good news for me growing up was how I was the only one that really liked butterscotch. Talk about hitting the jackpot! When we finished, I had to say it. I couldn't hold back. I told her, "Sweetheart, thanks for preparing a wonderful Father's Day meal for me." She just laughed. I never guessed when I started out yesterday I would be writing about my homecooked meal, but, that too turned out to be one huge blessing. Amen. ....More later.

"A quiet man is a thinking man. A quiet woman is usually mad." ~ copied, unattributed

From the previous 'to be continued' episode. Just kidding. I've wanted to use that one for a while and when you think about it, every episode is continued. In one way or another. Perhaps not connected but continued as in what you see is what you get. That kind of continuation. It is Wednesday, January 22, 2020, and as Sonny and Cher used to sing, "The Beat Goes On". We know that some march to a different drumbeat, drummer, beat, etc. They seem to be somewhat out of step when it comes to the so-called norms. Or, perhaps, they just can't find a seat when the music stops. I hated that game as a kid. I typically had to get rough with a girl and that went against everything I had been taught. But, to allow anyone to have the only vacant seat would have left me standing. All by myself. Therefore, I had to become somewhat of a beast in pushing and shoving my way to an empty seat. Like I say, I didn't really care for that game but as I recall the girls didn't mind being that close to the boys. Girls. I couldn't figure them out then and the one who has been with me for these 55 plus years, well, there are times when I still don't have a clue. The mysteries of life. And, that beat goes on as well!

We know there are differences between men and women. Right? God made it that way. While the joke is way overdone, I still hear ladies laughing out loud when one of them says,  "Moses was leading his people through the desert for 40 years. It seems, even in Biblical times, men avoided asking for directions." They also like to chuckle at this one, "A woman will only be equal to a man when she can walk down the street with a bald head and her gut hanging over her belt and still think all the men are looking at her." Sometimes their jokes really sting, "If you can't say something nice, say it to your husband because he's not listening to you anyway." Cruel. They say things when they are together they should be ashamed of, "Why does the Black Widow spider kill her lover after they mate? She wants to stop the snoring before it starts." How sad is that? From the man's point of view, "Husbands should forget their mistakes, no use two people remembering them." Sometimes a wife can make a man feel like, "All men are idiots but I didn't know I had married the king." The ladies never give us credit for our idea about a gourmet restaurant, that being any that does not have a drive-through window. They also act insulted when men tell jokes about them. Like this one. What two things does a husband need to learn to say in order to have a peaceful life? 1) You are right. 2) Yes, Mam. I still think that's a good one. They also feign being offended if a man jokes, "She's beginning to sound reasonable, it must be time to up my medication." The mysteries of life. And, that beat goes on as well!

I actually wrote about this subject because it is universal and we all have our fun with it. However, God not only created man and woman to be different but He also has a plan for each one. It is laid out for us in His Word, what we call, The Bible. To become who He wants us to become is the greatest goal we all could have in life, as a man, woman, boy, or girl, and, very much so as a husband and wife. It is the textbook for life. Sadly, most fail to consult its clear teachings on life and all its entangled parts. Even those of us who are identified as believers and are called the children of God often fail to heed the directions given in The Book. The world's program does not align itself with the Word of God. It teaches choices and approaches that are contrary to The Creator. My point? If we want to live in harmony with God's plan for the family, we have to do life His way. It's our choice and as we all have learned, choices do have consequences. It will not surprise anyone how this matter reminded me of an incident that occurred and was recorded in The Scriptures. Joshua called together the tribes of Israel to re-establish their covenant with Jehovah God. You can read the entire account in the Book of Joshua, Chapter 24. Here is the excerpt that I will leave us all to think about for today, Verse 14 "Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! Verse 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Okay. That's all I have for today. Take care now, you hear? May God bless. Amen. ....More later.

"You are entitled to be a Masterpiece, and a Work in Progress, simultaneously." ~ copied, unattributed

Example only. I don't know the date for this forecast map.

Good morning and welcome. It's Tuesday, January 21, 2020, and, I hope none of us are developing whiplash from the yo-yo impact of the warm weather, cold weather, warm again, cold again. We hit 80 last week and we were in the mid-30's yesterday. I know. It is better than shoveling 8 feet of snow.  Last week was a rather cloudy, gloomy week. I saw folks on Facebook lamenting the seemingly unending overcast plight we were dealing with. Some said they would do almost anything for some sunshine. I looked up the areas that have the most gloomy or overcast days per year and to set the record straight, we are not even close to being in the running. There are nine major cities that have 180 or more overcast days in a normal year. Last Sunday morning I was visiting with some of our fellow Church members who hail from upstate New York. They think folks around our part of the world have very little idea what it means to live for months in a deep freeze environment. They chuckle when they hear folks complain about the cool weather here. Their feeling is how our area is a tropical paradise compared to their many years of living surrounded by huge piles of snow and ice. But, no one said we didn't have the right to complain, and, as we all know, the weather is just about as good a candidate one can find, especially since we can't do one cotton-picking thing about it.

I'm not sure cotton-picking is a technically acceptable term, but, I heard it used in a whole lot of different applications growing up, therefore, I threw it in for good measure. Where would we be without our colorful Southern sayings, expressions, and colloquialisms? I didn't have to wonder what it was when someone used the saying, 'they pitched a hissy fit' because I was an eyewitness to many outbursts that qualified for that designation. My grandfather used to tell us when we were crying that we sounded worse than a dying calf in a hailstorm. We did have some folks in our little hamlet of a rural town that acted like they were better than everyone else. We had a response for them. They are so stuck up they would drown in a rain shower. Someone who was known to be really cheap was said to be so tight when they walked they squeaked. I did hear the one about folks being as poor as a Church mouse. I really never knew what it meant. Google to the rescue. Churches don't store food. A Church mouse has very little to find there. I can't remember what I thought it meant, but, I'm pretty sure that wasn't it. I also remember it being said about folks who stayed confused, how they were as lost as a goose. I didn't know much about geese so that one escaped me also. However, checking it out today I found the full saying should have been 'lost as a goose in a snowstorm'. I get it. White snow, white goose, storm, hard to see. No wonder I had trouble, they abbreviated them!

There were plenty I heard growing up that were rather explicit. I mentioned before there were some I heard I didn't have a clue what they meant. The person who said it didn't speak clearly. I didn't catch exactly what they said. I would lay in my bed at night trying to figure out what they were talking about. I had one that plagued me for years. The person who said it said over and over, but, I didn't understand. Maybe 25 years later I finally figured it out. I know. Some of you think that explains a lot about how I became who I am today. May I just say this about that. You don't know the half of it. I should know. Trust me on that one. My point is how these colorful expressions add to our communication and understanding. (That is, if you understand what is being said.) I've been privileged to work with people from all over the world. They typically were fascinated by my homespun sayings. They often wanted me to explain the meaning. They thought it was even funnier when they heard it explained. Sometimes they would share one from their culture that was different but with a similar application. Jesus used many figures of speech in speaking the truth in love to those hearing Him. The people got it when He told them to not be trying to get the tiny splinter out of their neighbor's eye while they had a huge log stuck in their own eye. Don't be judgmental. I think I got that one maybe even the first time. Maybe. Take care and may God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

“Most giving is 80% emotion and 20% rational. The best way to get to someone’s emotions is to tell a story.” From a Reeher Blog giving fundraising tips.

Good morning, and, yes, it is a good morning because the woman of the house did make it back home and things are now in better alignment. It is Monday, January 20, 2020, and I bid each and everyone a hearty hello and welcome. In addition to our Church-related giving, we do our best to give back. We really do. However, there are some things about giving to organizations that tend to aggravate me. We often start giving to one of these for any number of reasons. Perhaps we respond to an appeal they make on TV or through a mailout. Or, maybe someone asked that we consider a gift to honor their loved one. Whatever the reason, once you give to any of them you become a lifelong recipient of their materials. And, many of them send us stuff. We didn't ask for the stuff. We don't want their stuff. Some even send money. We get flags, ballpoint pens, calculators, assorted greeting cards, refrigerator magnets, and return address labels by the stacks. I know they are being advised by marketing folks and this type of induced obligatory response giving does seem to yield a better result than just plain appeals. On average. However, according to a Forbes article I read, this is not the case for all fundraising. Some are using up quite a bit of their received donations to cover the cost of the so-called gifts they provide. We believe in some of the causes who send us letters of appeal. We gave a fairly large donation to a veterans support group a few years ago to honor someone who had passed away. Since then, we have received an avalanche of appeal letters along with their gifts, etc. The wife sends back the $1 bill they send. Sadly, we occasionally get a letter from them asking what they have done to upset us since we haven't given in a while. Aggravating. It may be a good cause, but, stuff like that is aggravating. Now you know how I feel about it.

I finally remembered what it was that I had written about in the last paragraph of one of my previous blogs. That was the one lost due to what I assumed to be a computer glitch. On that day I was talking about sports fandom. I had earlier admitted that we too had at one time purchased gear to show our support for our local professional football team. My thought in the lost paragraph was how we do change over time. It is part of the natural process. We might still enjoy watching a sports event on TV, but, we are no longer inclined to be all hyped up to the extent that we spend a lot of money showing our support. At least some of us are like that. I do have to reveal that my wife wanted a new LSU shirt after they won the national championship. We drove over to the Academy store in our area and I sat out in the car while she went in to find her a new LSU shirt. They didn't have any! Yay! She said she supposed she could still wear her old one even though it had faded some. Interestingly enough, during the actual championship game, she was on the couch playing games on her laptop and only occasionally looked up to see what was going on. She would ask me what had just happened. So, why the need for a new shirt? We are from Louisiana. Many family and friends are from Louisiana. One of the shared interests most Louisianians have is their unrelenting support of LSU. Team identity. Friend identity. Me? I can do all of that without buying a new shirt. (I'll come back to what I wrote about that I had previously failed to remember, at a later date. That is, if I remember to remember it.)

That look from Mr. Bentley says, "Can we take a break from the keyboard for a while?"

Why not write about it now? The mood of today's edition just doesn't fit. One of the things we have wanted to do is to get back started walking again. Our Christmas schedule did not permit much of that and we have more or less been on the run since the beginning of January. Last Thursday morning, I decided to go to the big mall and walk. I was a little reluctant. You see, there are these ladies that we do not know. But, they are very interested in our wellbeing. They are sweet little ladies but they do tend to be a wee bit nosey from time to time. It's not the gossipy kind of nosey but they get a little too close to me when they are asking how I am doing. I got to the mall and made my first lap. I did not run into the ladies. Hallelujah! I noticed how out of shape I was but I persevered and started my second lap. When I got to the food court I stopped to rest for a few minutes. So far so good. Suddenly, I felt the presence of someone coming up behind me. It was the leader of the group. She leaned down and asked how our season went and how we are doing and how is my wife and how it had been a while since she had seen us. I visited with her for a few minutes and gave my report. She was glad to know we are okay. Me too. I think. I do know this. This is very well-intentioned. It's just a bit different than what one might expect. I know what some of you are thinking. Be glad someone cares about how y'all are doing and we all need all the encouragement we can get. I can say Amen to that, while, at the same time looking over my shoulder to see if that's them coming up behind me. Have a great rest of the day and may God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

"Waitin on my woman."

It's Friday, January 17, 2020. So what else is new? We made it all the way to the middle of January and the wife has already left me. Again. She left in the wee hours of yesterday morning to meet up with her sister so they could travel over to the northeast part of Louisiana to visit their aging brother, Cleon. He is now 84 and experiencing some memory-related challenges. We have too many loose ends here for me to have made the trip with them. I've written quite a lot about Cleon over the years. He is a remarkable fellow and in so many ways a throwback to a time when character was prominent. I tried to think of a different description for today. The thought True Blue came to mind. The origin of this phrase is instructive: 'True blue' is supposed to derive from the blue cloth that was made at Coventry, England in the late middle ages. The town's dyers had a reputation for producing material that didn't fade with washing, that is, it remained 'fast' or 'true'. That would be our Cleon. Look it up and don't be surprised if they illustrate it with his photo. Now, we wait for her return on Sunday afternoon. That reminds me of another little ditty. I really liked the collaboration song by the late Andy Griffith with country superstar Brad Paisley. It was entitled, 'Waitin on a Woman'. Here is how the song ends:

I've read somewhere statistics show
The man's always the first to go
And that makes sense 'cause I know she won't be ready
So when it finally comes my time
And I get to the other side
I'll find myself a bench, if they've got any
I hope she takes her time, 'cause I don't mind
Waitin' on a woman

Honey, take your time, 'cause I don't mind
Waitin' on a woman.

I've pretty well got the 'waitin' down. And, Lord knows, I have the experience to prove it. Perhaps without the stated level of patience. On this very day, eight years ago, I wrote an entire blog on the subject of having a rejoicing spirit. Here is a brief excerpt: ~ January 17, 2008, Rejoice! And, Again I Say, Rejoice! Last evening I was asked to cover one of the mid-week Bible classes. In choosing the passage to use, I first did a very brief introduction to the letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church located in Philippi, Macedonia, and then read through that entire letter making only a few comments as we worked through the text. The interesting thing about this letter is its emphasis on joy and rejoicing. The Apostle Paul was actually imprisoned at the time he wrote this letter, yet he sees even his incarceration as a part of God's plan, therefore, he rejoices in those he has been able to reach with the gospel message and sends encouragement to the impoverished local Church in Philippi to also have joy and a spirit of rejoicing regardless of their circumstances. Now that's pretty difficult for us to grasp. This Church was very special to Paul because of their faithful support of him from the very beginning of their contact with him. Because Christianity Ian authorities, these Philippian believers were undergoing tough times. What was Paul's message to them? God is at work in you and for this reason, you should remain faithful and be in a frame of heart and mind that demonstrates your faith, that being one of joy.

I'm pretty sure mom had no clue I would grow up to be Santa Claus.

I've worn a beard for many of the years of my sojourn here. I think I started shaving at age 15. At various times I would have a beard and then shave it off. When I shaved, the common response was that I looked very babyish. My guess is that train left a long time ago. But, I will not be intentionally finding out because I now have professional reasons to keep it. We are already scheduled to reprise our partnership with Santa Cow for an upcoming Christmas in July celebration. Recently, a lady from the UK who saw our photo made a comment about how fortunate I was to have a real white beard. She said her past job included booking Santa Clauses and finding someone with a real beard and for it to be naturally white was very rare. Hey, I have finally found something about me that, according to a retired professional placement person, is very rare. And, that comes from an international source. Just so you know, I'm pretty sure I haven't done anything to achieve this recognition except maybe for having an inherited ability to grow stubble even at age 15. Here's something that happened last Sunday morning. After the morning worship service, I was on my way out of the building and I rounded a corner and nearly ran into a couple of little kiddos. The little girl was maybe 3 and the little boy was maybe 5. They were in the care of their early teenaged sister. The three-year-old looked up at me and blurted out, "It's ho ho! It's ho ho!" The older sister told her not to say that. I looked at the older sister and said, "Really?" I then knelt down and gave one of our souvenir Santa and Mrs. Claus cards to the two little ones. I looked at the sister and her mouth was wide open. As I walked away I could hear the two little ones carrying on. Just another day at the office. For me. Have a great Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday and I will do my very best to meet back up again, come next Monday morning. Amen. ....More later.

“I'd rather be a little weird than all boring.” ― Rebecca McKinsey

Yep. It's that time again. Not Howdy Doody Time, just the time when this red red robin comes bob bob bobbin' along. No one ever said that I wouldn't wake up one morning with a case of disoriented dialogue. It is Thursday, January 16, 2020, and, yes I am making sure my work is saved. I think I have auto-save on, but, one thing you learn in the world of computers, glitches can and will occur. Sorry, but sometimes it is necessary to talk in technical terms. It happens when the thingamabob gets discombobulated. Now you understand how it was that I ran a very successful computing and telecommunications department for a large company. Not convinced? You are not alone because no one wonders more about me than yours truly. But, I'm not all business, here's some 'did you hear the one about?' jokes to help get our day off and running. ~ Did you hear about the Italian chef? He pasta way. ~ Did you hear about the fire at the circus? It was in tents. ~ Did you hear about the man who drank five gallons of tea? He drowned in his tepee. ~ Did you hear about the guy who lost his left arm and leg in a car crash? He's all right now. ~ Did you hear about the young cat who went to work for the Red Cross? She wanted to be a first aid kit. ~ Did you hear about the man who stole 10 bars of soap from a supermarket? He made a clean getaway. ~ Did you hear about the man who put on a clean pair of socks every day of the week? By Friday he could hardly get his shoes on. ~ Did you hear about the cross-eyed optician? He could never see eye to eye with his patients.~ Did you hear that the price of duck feathers has risen? So now even down is up. ~ Did you hear about the new movie in which a beautiful girl falls in love with a very ugly loaf of bread? It's called beauty and the yeast. ~ Those came from a so-called funnies website and I left many of them out. You can thank me later.

Before you throw any rocks, remember I am nothing more than your humble aggregating aggravator. When our grandkids were little they loved the little rhyme: See you later alligator, after while crocodile. We would use it in our farewell as they were leaving. I would sing out: See you later, and they would holler back, ALLIGATOR! Then, After while, followed by a thunderous, CROCODILE! That ditty comes from an early 1950's rock and roll song written by Robert C. Guidry. Here is the version by the famous Bill Haley and the Comets, of 'Rock Around the Clock' fame:

See You Later Alligator

Well, I saw my baby walkin'
With another man today
Well, I saw my baby walkin'
With another man today
When I asked her what's the matter
This is what I heard her say

See you later alligator
After 'while crocodile
See you later alligator
After 'while crocodile
Can't you see you're in my way now
Don't you know you cramp my style

When I thought of what she told me
Nearly made me lose my head
When I thought of what she told me
Nearly made me lose my head
But the next time that I saw her
Reminded her of what she said

See you later alligator
After 'while crocodile
See you later alligator
After 'while crocodile
Can't you see you're in my way now
Don't you know you cramp my style

She said, I'm sorry pretty baby
You know my love is just for you
She said, I'm sorry pretty baby
You know my love is just for you
Won't you say that you'll forgive me
And say your love for me is true

I said wait a minute 'gator
I know you meant it just for play
I said wait a minute 'gator
I know you meant it just for play
Don't you know you really hurt me
And this is what I have to say

See you later alligator
After 'while crocodile
See you later alligator
So long, that's all, goodbye

I vaguely remember this tune. What say you?

I know. It may be an oldie but whether it is a goodie or not is in the eye of the beholder. I'm glad Mr. Guidry wrote that song. It was great fun to use some of his lyrics made into a game with our grandchildren. I think some of them have taught the same little rhyme to their kids, and the beat goes on, and on, and on. I'm certain when we taught them this little fun rhyme we were not connecting it to the song. I actually hope some of my grandfather's sayings do continue. I've done my best to spread them around from the workplace, in our Church, as well as, with my family. One came to mind as I was writing this. When you would come to Paw Paw Mac and ask him for something, he would often respond, "Sorry, you've come to the goat house looking for wool." His saying indicated you can come to the wrong place for what you were seeking. He used to tell our little ones when they were learning to walk, "If you will come over here I will help you up." Probably the most irritating one to the kids was when he would, our of nowhere, blurt out, "What do you think about rats?" And, they too go on, and on, and on. Memories. Precious. Amen. And, Amen. ......More later.

“A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject” – Winston Churchill

I am from Louisiana. I am not ashamed of that. I know Louisiana takes a beating in all kinds of rankings. I've lived in Texas since October of 1969, but, I am still, at heart, a Louisiana boy. Yes. I did watch The Game. In its entirety which is rare for me to be up that late. And, yes, I did pull for LSU and yes, I am glad they won the national championship. Yet, on this day, Wednesday, January 15, 2020, I am very aware of the reality of how these types of athletic competitions work. It is an assembly process of bringing together players from Louisiana and all other places as well. You can call the winning quarterback Joe Burrow, Joe Bureaux all you want but you are not going to make him a native Louisianian, no matter how hard you try. I'm not knocking how it works because it works that way for all professional sports activities. Yes, I am including college football in that statement because whether the players are paid or not, the money, as our President might say, is HUGE! I do not believe for a second this win will suddenly change the reality of all the areas Louisiana needs to improve. I enjoyed the game and I did huff and puff and do my best to vicariously try to help them get a first down or make another score. I'm also not knocking the potential for the good vibe that will make all LSU supporters feel better. That, based on my experience, will be fleeting. Appreciated, yes, but fleeting. According to some of my friends on Facebook, this win is one of the highlights of their lives. Really? What does the old country song tell us? We just might be "Looking for love in all the wrong places." Just another dose of 'The View From Here'.

Don't get the wrong idea. I am not calling anyone out and I do not intend to rain on anyone's parade. I am just giving you my take on why 'all things in moderation' might be a choice in adding some perspective to the situation. And, yes, some of you might remember we, as a family, did get all caught up in the 'Luv ya Blue' days when the Houston Oilers were contending for a national championship. I can see in my mind's eye a photo of the wife and I and our three boys dressed in Houston Oilers gear. And, yes, we were ardent fans of Coach Bum Philips and running back Earl Campbell. It was good to see Earl recognized as one of the greatest college football players of all time during the halftime of Monday night's championship game. I did mention to the wife how sad it is to see Earl as crippled up as he is today. His years of playing did cost him something. There's actually quite a lot of research analyzing sports fandom. The Psychology Today website has several articles available on this subject. Essentially, identifying with teams, according to research, meets various psychological needs. Look it up. Interesting stuff. Or, don't. Enjoy whatever level of interest you have to its fullest. That's what I am going to do, more or less, with varying amounts of moderation.

Here's a word of warning for everyone. Always save your work. I had finished today's edition yesterday, but, I woke up this morning and the last paragraph was missing. Worse still is the fact that I do not have a clue what the lost one said. I know I made some type of transition from the sports stuff into something else, but, here I am with Mr. Bentley at my feet scrambling to come up with a closing word. I do know how disappointed I was in the findings that showed the Houston Astros had participated in elaborate cheating involving the electronic recording of opponents' signs, called sign stealing. This taints the success of this championship-winning franchise and it further erodes respect for the team itself and even the game. I know the popular idiom, 'if you're not cheating, you're not trying'. I've heard that spoken as a joke from NASCAR to little league. Some try to make it less by calling it, living on the edge or pushing the envelope. How about it is wrongdoing and a breaking of the rules that others are living by? Like I say, a sad day for those who have supported the Houston Astros. I think firing those involved is appropriate, however, the players were the recipients of this wrongdoing and had to know what was going on. That makes this even sadder. To me. It does. It really does. But, life goes on. Have a great rest of the day and may God add His blessings. Amen. ....More later.

An ancient Greek idiom translated says, 'to grasp the ground with the teeth', and that gives us our use today, 'to bite the dust.'

We hope to slow down a little this week. At the same time, we've been around long enough to know that life is filled with a mixed bag including unfulfilled expectations. We have been somewhat on the run since last November, but, we know we are blessed to be able to be as active as we are. It is Tuesday, January 14, 2020, and, I do hope your day is off to a good start. We have been thinking of doing some type of getaway soon. It is more accurate to say we are thinking about thinking about it. But, as they say, one has to start somewhere. The wife loves to do things that have an entertainment and amusement context to them. Like Branson. Me? Not so much. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy the shows and other venues but not so much as a preference. It may be her time to choose since last August we did make that long journey all the way to Colorado and New Mexico in search of a breath of cool air. That was entirely my idea. Way back we both completed a questionnaire that helped show our personality profiles. She is naturally a people person who loves to serve and be involved in all kinds of activities. Me? Mine came out as a blended hue meaning I can do those things but I am also perfectly satisfied if not happier being a homebody. That has pretty much played out in our more than 55 years of being together. She has made trips and done things with groups probably on a 10 to 1 ratio compared to me. And, I have been okay with that. At the same time, we have enjoyed our times of traveling together as well. We have been to Great Britain and to Mexico. We've done a cruise and the Branson excursion. We have made destination trips to various states where we have enjoyed things like the Andre Rieu concert in Sunrise, Florida back in early November 2017. Come to think about it. That might have been a model trip because we got to do a lot of things she liked and some things I liked as well, like the concert. Maybe I will run that one up the flagpole and see if I get any salutes.

I actually thought the flagpole idiom was much older but here's what the online Wikipedia says, "Let's run it up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes it" is a catchphrase which became popular in the United States during the late 1950s and early 1960s. It means "to present an idea tentatively and see whether it receives a favorable reaction." It is now considered a cliché. Sometimes it is used seriously, but more often it is used humorously, with the intention that it be recognized as both hackneyed and outdated. A non-joking equivalent would be "to send up a trial balloon." There was a comedian who came up with a joke about George Washington originating this saying as he worked with Betsy Ross on finalizing the nation's official flag. That actually sounded plausible to me but maybe that's because I've long been a fan of our founding father. One would think that someone like Will Rogers or Mark Twain would have whittled out something like this, and, maybe you know more about it than me. Let me know if you do. You know, you can run it by me and see where it goes. Another idiom, and, I suppose this could go on and on as in 'throw it on the wall and see if it sticks'.

That ancient Greek idiom mentioned in the title may well have been superseded by many found in a very common but inspired source, The Holy Bible.

Bite the Dust from Psalms 72:9, “They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.” (KJV)

The Blind Leading the Blind Matthew 15:13-14, “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

By the Skin of Your Teeth from Job 19:20.  The Geneva Bible translated the Hebrew Literally which read, “I have escaped with the skin of my teeth.”

Broken Heart from Psalms 34:18, ” The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (KJV).

Can a Leopard Change his spots? from Jeremiah 13:23 (KJV), “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.”

Cast the First Stone from John 8:7, “And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Drop in a Bucket from Isaiah 40:15 declaring God’s sovereignty and power over the nations, “Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he takes up the isles as fine dust” (ESV).

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry from Ecclesiastes 8:15, “because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.”

Eye for Eye, Tooth for tooth from Matthew 5:38, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.”

Fall From Grace from Galatians 5:4, “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”

Fly in the Ointment from Ecclesiastes 10:1 (KJV), “”Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.””

For Everything there is a Season from Ecclesiastes 3.  Ecclesiastes 3 is also the motivation for the song “Turn! Turn! Turn!” by the Byrds.

Forbidden Fruit from Genesis 3:3 when Adam and Eve were commanded not to eat from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.  “But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.”

Go the extra mile from Matthew 5:41 that says, “And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain” (KJV).

Good Samaritan from Luke 10:30-37, the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword from Matthew 26:52, “Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.”

How the Mighty have Fallen from 2 Samuel 1:19, “The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!”

Let there Be Light from Genesis 1’s creation account.

The Love of Money is the Root of All Evil from 1 Timothy 6:10 and is actually usually misquoted.  Here is the ESV translation, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

Nothing but skin and bones from Job 19:19-20, “All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me. I am nothing but skin and bones.”

The Powers that Be from Romans 13:1 (KJV), “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”

Pride comes before a fall from Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (KJV)

Put words in one’s mouth from 2 Samuel 14:3, “And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.”

Rise and shine is from Isaiah 60:1, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.”

The Root of the Matter from Job 19:28 (KJV), “But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the Root of the matter is found in me?”

Scapegoat from the Old Testament Law (Leviticus 16:9-10 specifically) where a goat is chosen by lot to be sent into the desert to make atonement for sin.

See eye to eye from Isaiah 52:8 (KJV), “Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.”

Sign of the times from Matthew 16:3 (KJV), “And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?”

Strait and Narrow from Matthew 7:14, “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Twinkling of an Eye from 1 Corinthians 15:52, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

There’s nothing new under the sun from the book of Ecclesiastes.  Ecclesiastes 1:9 (KJV)  says, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.”

Wash your hands of the matter from Matthew 27:24 (KJV), “When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.”

Weighed in the balance from Job 31:6, “Let me be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine integrity.”

What God has joined together let no man put asunder from Matthew 19:6 in Miles Covedale’s translation of the Bible which says, “Now are they not twayne then, but one flesh. Let not man therfore put a sunder, yt which God hath coupled together.”

Wit’s End from Psalm 107:27 (KJV), “They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.”  And the Psalm does not refer to the Whit’s End with the Imagination Station.

Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing from Matthew 7:15 (KJV), “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

Writings on the Wall from Daniel 5.  “The writing is on the wall” is now a popular idiom for “something bad is about to happen”.

Copied from an article written by Kevin Halloran on the website Unlocking The Bible, with this title: 37 Common English Sayings (From the Bible). Worth reading, I might add. Have a great rest of your day. Amen. ....More later.

Philippians 2:13 ".... for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."

On the left, Danielle's Mr. Bentley. On the right, our Mr. Bentley.

Hello and welcome to today's edition where we will be observing Monday, January 13, 2020. We were so blessed to celebrate our love and appreciation for our granddaughter Danielle last Thursday evening. She prepared dinner for us and her parents. The short version of her story, Dannielle was adopted out at birth but she has been a part of our lives throughout her 28-year sojourn here. She has the most wonderful parents anyone could hope for. We always enjoy such wonderful fellowship with her and her folks. Life doesn't always work out exactly how we might want it to, but, God is always there and He has been abundantly gracious in His provisions for Danielle and for us. We thank Him for her and for His goodness. Amen.

We got home last Friday evening from the Bible conference around 10:30 p.m. We had been on a storm watch here in our area all afternoon. We were thankful to have not experienced it yet by the time we got home even though we did drive through some heavy rain on our way home. When we came through the back door our son said the latest information put the timing close to midnight. We had a snack and watched the end of Live PD. We were worn out from a long week and soon went to bed. Right on time, a huge gust blew in around midnight. It was powerful. It blew around the wrought iron furniture on our deck like they were toys. The power went out immediately. The wind was howling and the rain was pounding. Maybe for thirty minutes or longer. I heard Mr. Bentley stirring in his nighttime kennel. Who could blame him with all the rock and roll going on outside? I think our power came back in about three hours. At daybreak, I carried Mr. Bentley out. I was worried some about what I might find. Our neighbor had a tree down in her yard. (The chainsaws got started in earnest around 6 a.m.) We had quite a bit of debris scattered around but no large limbs down and the roof was clear. I mentioned to Mr. Bentley how blessed we were to have made it through the storm as well as we did. He was more interested in all the new little sticks that had fallen in the yard overnight. Blessed. Blessed. Blessed. Amen.

As for our last week's Bible conference, I came away with a whole lot more convicting 'oh me's' than amens. The photo was taken after we got home from the conference on Friday evening. The wife mentioned it wasn't that often we were dressed in similar colors. We had not planned it that way so she took the selfie with us both wearing pink. There was a time, mostly while we were courting, that we did coordinate our dress and wore things alike. This photo depicts what I am talking about. Enough said.

If I can summarize the theme of the messages we heard at our Bible conference it would have to do with how time is short, people are lost and on their way to hell, and, our first responsibility is to tell others how they can know God and escape hell. Simple enough. Essentially, we do a lot of stuff that is religious, but, how much of what we do is directly targeted towards seeing others come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? Very convicting. Very convincing. And, sadly, the lack thereof, very obvious. We left with a boatload of conviction and that is a good thing because every man, woman, boy, and girl have as their greatest need, a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. He did His part by dying and being raised back to life to save us from our sins. We left with our hearts pricked with the question, 'what will we do?' Amen. ....More later.