Psalm 139:4 "Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether."

Nearly everyone I've ever met is dealing with something in their lives. It comes with being born a fallen creature in a fallen world. Those people who are thought to have it all together, well, it has been my experience they typically do not have it all together. We just don't know the whole story. It is Friday, February 28, 2020, and while I am not trying to end the work week on a downer, I am recognizing the truth we live out each and every day. Some folks deal with all types of limitations and we see them as they struggle. Others carry their stuff inside and it is not visible but nevertheless, it is just as real. I am a diabetic. I don't look like a diabetic. My diabetes is not the type that would be seen by others. I write quite a lot about it because it is a reality in my day by day living. So many have this disease who are much worse off than I am. Much worse. Yet, every time I have lab work done it is a reminder that I am what the tests say, a diabetic. I thought about this because of how my daily blood tests go. Earlier this week I had a 90 on my early morning fasted blood check. That's pretty much a non-diabetic reading. Hip hip hurrah! The problem is I have no idea how I got that number. Later in the week, I was expecting a good number and I got a 118. That's not a horrible number but I would have thought based on my just prior behavior it would have been much lower. See what I mean? We all have something that dogs our steps. Something. In spite of this reality, those who are believers can know that God knows and He will be with us every step of the way. (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5; and Romans 8:31) That's not only good news, but it is also the answer to how we are able to make it one day at a time. Amen.

Here's a look back at a sobering message I conveyed some 8 years ago: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2012,  President Obama: "Democracy demands that the religiously motivated translate their concerns into universal, rather than religion-specific values." I have been relatively quiet for some time now. But there are times when the radiator of my heart and mind has passed the boiling point and an overflow is imminent. Today is that day. I have no problem with steps being taken to assure the Muslim people that the improper burning of the book they hold to be sacred will not happen again. In my opinion, I think the endless array of apologies is way over the top. Here's my problem: In stark contrast to this supersensitivity to those who follow Islam, it literally blows my mind how this current administration and its minions have pursued an ongoing, relentless assault on any and all things held as sacred by those of us who embrace the Christian faith. They do so without reservation or restraint. They do so without respect for people who do, after all, represent the majority in this country. At the same time, they are bent on recognizing and showing deference to any and all cults, pagan beliefs, and other forms of radical anti-Christian groups. I wake up some days and wonder how this can go on in our nation, one nation, under God. I have done my best to stay away from impugning the motives of our President but when this battle against the tenants of our faith continues unabated day after day, legislation after legislation, agency order after agency order, it becomes very difficult to think anything other than this to be an intentional war. It appears to be a coordinated effort, in our schools, in our jobs, and everywhere we have to transact our affairs. Honestly, it makes me sick to my stomach and we had all better wake up if we are to retain the religious freedoms upon which the blood of our forefathers was shed. Seeing this working like it does makes for a sad day that we are living in my friend, a sad day indeed.

Okay. Now that we have received a slap in our face to get our attention, let me add that 8 years later, our current President, like him or not, has done a lot to try and stem this systemic bias against Christians. He has. Check it out. Sadly, many of the judges, government officials, and other influential leaders who pursued the strategies talked about above, well, they are still in their positions. Best I can tell, they have not changed their minds and they will continue to do what they can while they wait for their side to get back in power. Okay. I know we don't like to think about the battle being waged each and every day, but, it too is a reality for those who love the Lord. How else could we have arrived where the leading candidate to be the nominee of the Democrat Party is both an avowed Atheist and a Socialist with Communist leanings? Really? In America? Another wake up call for us all! With that, I bid you a farewell for now and commend you to seeking God on behalf of the nation He providentially provided to us. Amen. ....More later.

Happy Birthday to our Rodney!

Happy Birthday to our baby boy, Rodney Darrell, born on this date, 49 years ago. It's Thursday, February 27, 2020, and we are excited about having Rod and his family in our home for a birthday dinner celebration this evening. The wife has his favorite meal planned. (Just so you know, it's pretty much the favorite meal of everyone in our family.) I am all for it. I have been pushing away from the table and it is working, albeit, slowly, but, I think I could use a break. Rodney is a hard worker and he has been blessed with a wonderful wife Mitzi, two beautiful daughters, Kyleigh, and Lexie, and, a teenaged boy who carries his middle name, Brady Darrell. We thank God for this man, our baby, and pray God's best for him and his family. Happy Birthday, Son! Lord willing, we will see you this evening. Yum Yum! Our love, mom, and dad.

Someone sent me a note one time and told me we sure have a lot of birthdays in our family. I actually think that's the way it works as the kids grow up, marry, have children, those children grow up and have children, and on and on it goes. We only have the three boys but believe it or not I used to be asked if Genesis 1:28 was the only verse I knew: ""Then God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'" When folks were kidding me, they typically only meant the part about going forth and multiplying. I did see one of those who are radically against population expansion and they said that particular verse is perhaps the most disastrous one ever followed in its impact on the planet. Here's my take: It came from The Creator. The One who created the planet. He has the right to give the marching orders for His created human family. Period. However, just for the record, I do not believe we actually had that verse in mind when we were building our family. I hope that clarifies any misunderstanding. Thanks.

I am aware that most people like the bumper sticker that says, "God said it, I believe it, that settles it!" While I wouldn't get into a tussle over it, I can with certainty tell us all that us believing it or not doesn't change the certainty of thus says the word of the Lord. In the unique Psalm 119, you find 176 verses devoted to the Word of God. Here's what verse 89 says, "Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven." That doesn't mean I always follow it like I should. I sometimes think I would have been better named, A Work in Progress because that's pretty much how I've weebled and wobbled around in life. In case you missed it, I could have been called WIP for a nickname. The one thing I do know is that He is still working on me. He whittles away at this that and the other, He reshapes things, and when He uses those pottery tools it doesn't feel very good at all. Dr. Charles Stanley likes to say God's desire is to shape us into an object of notable excellence that reflects honor and glory to Him. Like I say, if you see a lot of under construction signs following me around, don't be surprised because He is not finished with me yet. Amen. ....More later.

"Who Says You Can't Go Home" ~ Title of song written by Bon Jovi

This week is going by faster than a speeding bullet. Yep. That fast. I am feeling somewhat nostalgic on this Wednesday, February 26, 2020, and opening today's visit that way reminded me of one of my favorite TV programs as a kid growing up: "Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound!" "Look! Up in the sky!" "It's a bird!" "It's a plane!" "It's Superman!" I can see myself sprawled out on the floor watching Superman on our black and white TV. We moved into our own home in rural Louisiana in 1957. As you might imagine, I made hundreds of trips back there over the years since I left that area. Even towards the time for mom and dad to take their heavenly flight back in 2017, I can still remember how being in that same house would flush out memories from the past. I could look down the hall and see a single bed in exactly the place where my single bed had been. I can remember laying there at night listening to the train go by and conjuring up dreams of traveling to faraway places. (I can't help it. I actually still do that very same thing today.) Please don't write to me saying there's a pill that might help. I take enough already. My point? We all have recollections in our lives. I thought about this as I climbed our stairs the other day. We've been in this same house since the summer of 1984. These stairs have seen lots of traffic from our boys and later, their children, grandchildren, and now, even the great-grands. These stairs became the school bus when our granddaughters were toddlers. They would come through the back door and begin pleading for me to turn the stairs into the school bus. I would use a stool for the steering wheel and they would find what they could to make them look like they were ready to go to school. I sat near the bottom with my steering wheel and then I would stop along the way to pick up these kiddoes waiting for their ride to school. Our eldest granddaughter has her own ten-year-old and is expecting a new addition this year. She was one of the main recipients of the school bus ride on our stairs. Now there's a memory for me, and, hopefully, for her as well.

I am now officially a member of the choir of our local fellowship. It is a good-sized group of folks, maybe 80 to 100 in number. I resisted being up there for a good long time. My contention had to do with me having my own little choir in the area where I used to sit each Sunday. My wife encouraged me to join and try it especially with Resurrection Sunday coming up with all the special music being worked on. The folks I used to sit with were sad that I was no longer in my place, however, they have encouraged me because they say they can tell I am giving it my all. I am doing the best I know how to do. I should be better than I am. I have been exposed to enough music and I have even had training. The wife and I sang specials together for years. My point? It's not my gift, but, it is something I can do, and, I am enjoying it thus far. It did come with some requirements. As many of you know, I inherited Paw Paw Mac's ability to sleep pretty much anywhere at any time without fanfare or notice being given. When this would happen during the services this condition brought about many motions and stares from the wife up in the choir. Now, she is concerned that I might fall asleep in the choir and because of how steep it is, she thought it might be possible for me to fall out of the choir. That would have upped the ante on her embarrassment quotient. Therefore, I have ordered in a caseload of 5 Hour Energy Extra Strength stay awake juice. I've used it for two Sundays and haven't even thought about thinking about dozing off. Maybe that stuff is why one of my peeps told me that while he missed me being in my spot he could tell I was going all out, loud and proud, is how he put it.

I couldn't have predicted what might show up today. I do appreciate the feedback I get. Part of the fun of doing these blogs over the years is how they often surprise me. Sometimes I have something in mind before I start. Often, if I do I don't know about it. While I will be the first to admit they often fall short in terms of their entertainment value, you might be surprised how many times I erase an entire segment because it just doesn't work. I only do that after trying to figure out a way to salvage it, but, this is how it goes in the blogosphere world. We continue to ask prayers for our middle, Jimmy. He has a 35-year history of being treated for a severe bi-polar condition that makes his life very difficult at times. He is currently being treated at a mental health facility, hoping to find the right coordinated medications to help his situation. Statistics show that one out of five adults experiences a mental illness with an additional 10 million who live with a serious mental illness. Great progress has been made in understanding these illnesses and especially in the treatment options available today. I can assure you it is an ordeal. Especially for him, but also for us, and, for his children. I know we have great prayer warriors who do receive my blog each day. Thanks for remembering our Jimmy. May God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

"God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfill His promises, leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself." –Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Good morning. It's time to synchronize our calendars so we can all be on the same page. I may have used the word simonize back in the day as a joke when I was a young supervisor. I know, it wasn't that funny to them either. It is Tuesday, February 25, 2020, and I do bid each one a warm welcome to my electronic page where we open it up and wait to see what comes forth. For those who get my blogs via a personal email and then read them on your phone, I have had several mentions about the size of the type being too small. It is set to normal in my blogging utility. The next size up will make it larger but when I publish it and then add it to the email it gets all squirrelly and unpredictable. I remind everyone that all of my blogs, all the way back to 2007, are cataloged out on the web and can be accessed by going to https://viewfrommypew.blogspot.com/. I know. It says view from my pew. That's what I started out with because my earliest thoughts were to mostly observe spiritual and Biblical matters from my perspective, hence, the 'my pew' orientation. Beginning with my first blog written in May of 2007 I had changed my approach and that's why I replaced it with the all-encompassing 'view from here'. Meaning, I can write about any and all things. And, as many of you know, that's what I do. I am well aware that inquiring minds do not really give a flip but I put it in for the one or two that might be interested. I started to say I was just trying to make quota. Keystrokes. That would be misleading too. Truth is, it is what I was thinking and that's why I said what I said. It really is as simple as that.

I wanted to refer to this blogging archive as my body of work, but, I read the definition and it used two words, creative and academic, as qualifiers, therefore, I will have to come up with something else. I suppose I could call it an anthology since that word does connote a collection of poems or other pieces of writing. Other pieces of writing. Bingo! I think we do have a winner. I will think about that because the word other does tend to invoke differentiation. Some might wonder how different they are. At any rate, the archive does hit the pieces of writing classification and since the word 'anthology' sounds almost medieval, it appeals to me, therefore, I will think about thinking about using it. My wife contends my thinking about thinking about stuff as opposed to doing is perhaps one of my most prominent weaknesses. She does actually use the word procrastination quite often. Since I am not into name-calling per se, I try to set a higher standard by using the 'thinking about thinking about' description. Thinking has to do with the action of using one's mind to produce thoughts. It doesn't get nobler than that. Right? You what? You think my mind must have drawn a blank for today's edition? I will only say this about that: We do not give prizes for guesses. Meanwhile, I believe I've given more than enough for you to think about thinking about what I have said. Thanks.

It is not a slow news day. There are days, however, when I just try to avoid writing about the craziness that permeates the days we live in. Craziness might be too strong for some of you, but, the view from here, where I sit, sees words like deranged, demented, and insane as pretty much the program already in progress and those words are connected to craziness. I do write a lot about it because it does define our times. So much so, it has become low hanging fruit. But, not today. Instead, I leave you with these words from our Creator. Words of encouragement:

Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

Matthew 6:34  Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Psalm 55:22  Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Psalm 9:9-10 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Psalm 34:10b Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Isaiah 26: 3-4 Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock.

1 Chronicles 16:11  Seek the LORD and his strength;  seek his presence continually!

Psalm 32:7-8 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

I have great confidence in His encouragement. May God help us to hear, be helped, and go forth with heart and purpose. Amen. .....More later.

Numbers 12:3 "(Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)"

Some actually do return to the scene. That would be my regular habit and I am doing so again, on this day, Monday, February 24, 2020. Yesterday, it was my distinct privilege to close out our study of the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy. That writing contains Moses' encouragement, warnings, and his repeating of God's laws to the nation of Israel on the threshold of their entering into the Promised Land. My lesson dealt with the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord. He did not die of old age even though he was 120. He did not die because he was unable to go on because he still had the strength and vigor of a young man. He died because it was time according to the word of the Lord. He had passed the baton of leadership to Joshua and it now became time for Moses to leave this world for his eternal home. His death was not like any other in The Scriptures. He had been told because of his disobedience in striking the rock in anger instead of speaking to it as God commanded, that he would not be allowed to go with the children of Israel into the Promised Land. That day came. His final day here on earth. He pronounced blessings on the tribes. He then responded to the call of God to come up to the mountain top. It is estimated the climb would have been some 4,000 feet. He did as he was commanded. Here is that testimony of exactly what happened, from Deuteronomy Chapter 34:

1)Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is across from Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land of Gilead as far as Dan, 2) all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, 3)the South, and the plain of the Valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. 4)Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there.” 5) So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. 6) And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day. 7) Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished. 8 And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. So the days of weeping and mourning for Moses ended. 9)Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses. 10) But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11)in all the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, before Pharaoh, before all his servants, and in all his land, 12)and by all that mighty power and all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.

The boldings were added by me. You may not be familiar with this passage. I have taught it a number of times. It is about a man who became a servant of the Lord. Most are familiar with his story as it is portrayed in books and movies. However, the title of the servant of the Lord was a very special designation for a very special individual. His life was unique. Forty years in Egypt. Forty years in the desert. And, finally, forty years of leading God's people. Someone said Moses while living in Egypt thought he was somebody and God put him in the backside of the desert where he became a nobody. God then took the humbled nobody and made him one of the greatest servants of the Lord in history. And, if his life was unique, even more so his death. Think about it. His funeral was performed by God Himself along with his private burial. We are drawn to the pomp and circumstance of royal funerals, but, this one transcends those of kings, presidents, and all so-called famous people.

Here's my take. Reading through this passage including the last day of the life and times of Moses, the servant of the Lord, well, it made me want to take off my shoes for surely we stand on Holy Ground when we see how God loves His own. Before he died, God personally showed him the land he would not be able to enter. Some believe God showed him the land in a supernatural way because it was 165 miles of territory. I don't know about that but I do know it was by God's grace that Moses got to see the Promised Land. And, he died. How? We don't know. Did he lay down and go to sleep? We don't know but we do know that Moses died according to the word of the Lord. I don't know about you, but, this is one amazing revelation of the relationship one can have with the Lord God of heaven. I'm still trying to process it all. Maybe, and I emphasize the maybe here, I will ask Brother Moses when I see him in person. Amen. .....More later.

Happy Birthday to our Brittany!

It seems like only four days ago I was talking about getting on with our new week. Where did the time go? It is Friday, February 21, 2019. Today we pause to recognize and celebrate the 29th birthday of our granddaughter, Brittany. Brittany and her husband Ryan are the proud parents of three children, 2 boys and a girl. They have recently returned to our area after doing a stint with the U.S. Army in Fort Riley, Kansas. They are currently in the process of getting settled into their new apartment. We pray God's best for them and wish our Brittany a wonderful birthday on this, her special day. Our love, MiMi and Poppy.

Twelve years ago I wrote a piece that, to me, appears to be relevant on this Friday, last Friday, the next Friday, and all Fridays we are allowed to experience. Here it is: Thank God He's With Us On Friday "I'm still somewhat hobbling around on my busted knee from falling off the platform in my Bible study class last Sunday. Our little Lexie is having ear surgery this morning. Our beautician daughter-in-law has been down with the flu this past week along with our little Alex and one of our twins, Amanda. Last night my mom informed me that the doctor had advised doing a heart procedure to deal with a potential blockage and she and dad wanted to know what I thought about doing this at her age. I continue to work each day on my diabetic situation but some days it can be a real challenge. Sound familiar? It should because these are threads that make up the fabric of our living here in this fallen world. However, we need not be discouraged or defeated because as the southern gospel song says, "I read the back of the book, and we win!" That is so true. I'm not one of those that believe the world is defined by a mentality where the glass is either half full or half empty. That psycho-babble stuff doesn't really change the realities of life because there are times when the glass doesn't even exist much less having anything in it. Yet, we can live with a heart full and overflowing. This is one that sees and lives beyond the moment by moment report card that comes our way with each conversation, phone call, or doctor's visit. We are eternal beings and we belong to the God who created this world and because we have believed in His provision of salvation, His Son, one day we will live with Him forever and ever, Amen."

This many years later, believe it or not, I could most likely improve the writing in that paragraph, but, I think it makes the point. That's always the most important thing to me. I've mentioned several times before about in my past life I had a secretary who had previously taught English and just before coming to my group she had been a proofreader of corporate communications. I thought what better way to upgrade the quality of our communications than to have an expert at the ready. Let me give it to you straight. We had a collision of sorts. My style, my slang, my colloquialisms, they drove her up the wall. Literally. I did my best to take her recommendations, for her sake, not because I thought her changes helped make the message more clear. However, there were times when I had to overrule my living grammarian because I thought the way I had written it was best. Period. You would not be surprised to know that I often see things in my previous blogs that could have been better communicated. And, there are days when I send out something with glaring mistakes. Left out words, wrong tense, you name it. And, I don't have any problem with those being pointed out to me. By way of explanation, I do these daily blogs, mostly, on the fly, and there are times when I am not afforded the opportunity to do a lot of scrubbing. I feel pretty good that most of the time I do get the message across. That, to me, is what I set out to do. For those who don't remember, the proofreader was only with me for a couple of years before she moved on. I didn't then and still don't blame her one iota. With that, I will wish everyone a great Saturday and will commend us all to showing up with other believers to acknowledge and worship our Great God on Lord's Day Sunday. Take care now, you hear? And, may God bless. Amen. ....More later.

If your dog could talk: "You're leaving me? What did I do wrong? How long will you be gone this time? PLEASE TAKE ME WITH YOU!!!"

Sherlock and his trusted sidekick and friend, Dr. Bentley.

Sorry about taking over the opening paragraph of today's blog, but, maybe going to the dogs will be an improvement. I've heard that some are not too excited when I share my thoughts about it all, and, according to the fellow I report to, (sorry but that's the way he requires me to say it), it's okay since everyone is entitled to their own preferences. It is Thursday, February 20, 2020, and, I'm going to do my best to dig up some bone-i-fied tidbits for my time with you today. Sorry about the hat in the photo. The mistress of the house recently found it stuck back in a closet and he's been messing around with it ever since. I actually think he sees himself as some sort of throw-back detective or private eye. Let the record show I had nothing to do with it and I don't have to tell you I am not a police dog. I have my annual checkup coming up. They whisper forth and back like I don't understand what the word shot means. It's like when he succumbs to taking me on my well-deserved truck ride each morning. He tells the mistress he is going to do the R-I-D-E. He does. He spells it out. Is that not hilarious or what? After all, I am nearly 15 months old and according to some so-called experts that makes me an adolescent in people years. At any rate, I figured out the R-I-D-E the first time he used it. But, I do my best not to show him up because he is the one driving. He tells everyone he always wanted a dog who would love to ride with him in his pickup truck. Hello? I'm here! Yet, every morning we go through this senseless routine of me nagging and gnawing to get him to take me on the R-I-D-E. I heard him say he wants me to see the first lady doctor we saw on my very first appointment. He says her love for animals is all over her. I vaguely remember her encouraging me to lick her in the face. That may have been fun but I ask you, what does that have to do with her veterinarian skills? At any rate, I pretty much don't have a say in this, I started to say a dog in this hunt, but, I knew some of you might think I'm reaching. I hope she will be prepared because the last time I saw her I was 9 weeks old and if licking is what she wants, well, I can give her a shower! Thanks for hearing me out and I will catch up with you next time. Meanwhile, back to your scheduled program which, based on what I'm seeing, it's mostly either recycled or rerun thoughts every day.

I relinquished that opening space for all of Mr. Bentley's fans out there. He is popular. And, yes, he knows it. He also knows the white-handled red-headed spatula can hurt like ole billy heck. He at times needs to be reminded of that. I heard of something hurting like ole billy heck in my growing up days in rural Louisiana. It must be obscure. I couldn't locate it to help identify its origin. It most likely falls into the category of lost Southern sayings. He, in many ways, is just like a kid. That's why he needs to be disciplined. One of the worst grievances I committed as a kid was any time I chose to act up during the Church service. The older I got, it was the more prone for me and a buddy to either chit chat with each other or find some kind of amusement to entertain us during the services. Here we sat. Feeling pretty invincible at 10 or 11 years old. We were maybe playing a little hangman's game or tic tac toe, probably snickering a little too. Suddenly, an arm comes over the bench from out of nowhere. It gets hold of the fatty part of my arm just below the shoulder. I sware my mom could make her fingernails meet in the middle, top to bottom. I couldn't scream even though the pain was next to unbearable. I couldn't cry because of my buddy sitting next to me. All I was left with was a contorted grimace and some shivering until she released her grip. That was all. She returned to her place and we sat up straight and looked directly at the preacher until the service was over. No doubt the look on my face during the punishment portion of the service would have met Paw Paw Mac's prophetic warning, "Son, you better hope it doesn't freeze with your face like that!"

I mentioned the other day I don't have even an inkling of a bad feeling about the discipline I received from my mom. I don't. And, if you would like to say perhaps this explains why I am the way I am, I can handle that. It most likely is true because we are all the outcome of 'all of the above' in terms of our backgrounds and experiences. Regardless, we all stand equally in need of a Savior because we are all born sinners. The ground is level at the foot of The Cross and no one has any more merit than anyone else. Jesus said He came to seek those who are lost. That would be me. That would be you. Maybe some who read my blogs have had a really rough go of it. I can also tell my story that way because in so many ways life is never fair. However, at the same time, I can testify that Jesus will take a person in and love them all the way to the end. No matter what. He said that anyone who would come to Him, He would never cast them away. That's why it is called Good News! I mention again the lead line in the chorus of a song the wife and I used to sing as a special, "Jesus is right for whatever is wrong in your life." Maybe I got some of that when I straightened up, flew right, and looked directly at the preacher. Thanks, mom. Have a great rest of the day and thanks to you also for taking your valuable time to peruse my prose. God is good. He really is. Amen. ....More later.

Trying to explain my scatterbrained interests: "A multipotentialite is a person who has many different interests and creative pursuits in life. Multipotentialites have no “one true calling” the way specialists do. Being a multipotentialite is our destiny." Sourced from Wikipedia

You see things. Everywhere you go. You see things. Those images cause one to think. This is what I am musing about today, on this Wednesday, February 19, 2020. When I went to return the sleep monitor equipment I noticed a Brinks truck at the medical facility in our area. I immediately thought, sounds about right. The receiving desk at the entrance had a sign stating the lab was open and anyone using its services should go there. It's at the end of the long passageway. Like a good clubber, I followed instructions. The lab reception desk was not open. I returned to the front and waited in line to return the equipment. I wanted to point out the misleading nature of their sign, but, I saw one of the ladies stand up lean way over the desk and she reported the lights are still off. They sure are. Not just at the lab desk. I immediately thought, sounds about right. After that, I walked the mall because the ladies were having their Bible study in our home. When I passed by the place where they make the cookies the size of a pizza, I heard the supervisor laying down the law to a trainee. She was giving it to her good. I immediately thought, sounds about right. I passed by an upscale store and they had a placard out front saying they had a job opening. It dawned on me. With the work situation close to if not at full employment, that would pretty much account for why I mostly see old people when I am walking. Duh! I immediately thought, sounds about right. The folks who run our neighborhood pool have been working on new restrooms for several months. When I drive by it's hard to notice any progress at all. That led me to think maybe I should recommend they purchase some slow men working signs. I immediately thought, sounds about right.

This photo of mom and I popped up as a memory from 2016, a few months before she began her six-month decline and then her departure, (absent from the body, present with the Lord, 2nd Corinthians 5:8), in May of 2017. We were enjoying our visit along with our Community Coffee. Mom never called it straight out Community but rather she would draw it out Commuuuuuunnnnnity. Oh, how I loved to hear her say it that way. I think everyone knows by now I've gained some smidgen of notoriety because of my dogged commitment to Louisiana roasted Community Coffee. People ask me why Community when there are plenty of other good coffees around. I have been both consistent and unanimous in my response: Life is too short! Yes. It does cost a little more and yes I do order it up by the case from their warehouse in Baton Rouge, but, here are some things we all would do well to consider: ~ “Enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think.” – Chinese Proverb - “Men talk of killing time, while time quietly kills them.” – Dion Boucicault - “Go for it now. The future is promised to no one.” – Wayne Dyer - “You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it.” – Charles Buxton ~ I know those sound pretty uppity and all philosophical when the truth is I enjoy my Community Coffee. Not just the taste but also the heritage and the memories. You didn't ask, but, now you know.

I will tell you the sleep educator fellow did react when I told him how many cups of Community I drink each day. The number isn't important here, just his reaction. He winced and then his chair made an odd squeaking sound like it was falling back or something. I actually think I rounded down on the number but obviously if you are a 'sleep educator fellow' caffeine is likely one of the no-no's to those with sleeping issues. I am still awaiting the verdict on that categorization. I am still hanging on to the alleged sleeping issue until proven otherwise. I do believe that's how it works. Right? Innocent until proven guilty.  Ah-ha! You didn't know I understood fundamental legal provisions, right? If it does come back with me needing a sound machine to keep me from dying, I hope they have one that plays trains going down the track in a heavy rainstorm. I love listening to those! Some of you recall that's what I was listening to at the office through my earbuds the day I fell asleep and eventually fell out of my chair. Thank the Lord the other two fellows had their heads buried in their cellphones because I hit the concrete floor and was back up in my chair acting like nothing had happened before they even knew what had happened. Talk about relief! I already had plenty of stuff I could never live down and there's no way I wanted to add something like that to the list. Don't become all bothered. I'm just having a little fun. Enjoy. And, may God bless us, one and all. Amen. ....More later.

"The American Dream is still alive out there, and hard work will get you there. You don't necessarily need to have an Ivy League education or to have millions of dollars startup money. It can be done with an idea, hard work and determination." ~ Bill Rancic

Wired. That's right. Wired. Some might call it wired up. But, literally, I have been wired up for my sleep evaluation. It didn't automatically call 911, therefore, I assume the captured information will be useful to those interpreting the results. We will see. Life. There's always a new wrinkle. It is Tuesday, February 18, 2020.  I do appreciate those who read along with me each day. I also appreciate the feedback I get from time to time. I always worry about the content being 'same-same', but, when you do blogs for 12 plus years and you only have the life you have, well, it pretty much comes with the territory. I call it the mendacity of a mundane and mediocre life. Not really. I just wanted to string those 'm' words together. And, I did at one time promote an emphasis with my staff on how we could avoid the mendacity of mediocrity. I never wanted these things to be said about our program: ordinary, commonplace, indifferent, average, middle-of-the-road, tolerable, passable, adequate, fair, inferior, second-rate, uninspired, undistinguished, unexceptional, unexciting, unremarkable, run-of-the-mill, not very good, pedestrian, just okay, so-so, fair-to-middling, (plain) vanilla, nothing to write home about. Believe it or not, I don't want that to be said about what I do here each day. Knowing what you want to avoid is good, but, it's even better to know exactly what you want to be said about the effort you put in. Things like, extraordinary, excellent, distinguished, outstanding, unique, remarkable, second to none, etc., etc. You know what they say. If you have no target you will hit it every time.

Having said all of that, I now leave myself open to those who are the recipients of my work. That, by the way, is how it works. It reminds me of the story of the late Ed Koch, mayor of New York City. When he was first elected he went everywhere asking any and everyone, "Hey, how am I doing?" That went over very well at the beginning. Reality set in and the feedback began to be less than positive. What did he do? He quit asking. I've been there and done that. However, it is best to keep working, keep striving, and, yes, to keep seeking feedback. Too many of us fall into the trap of reading our own press releases. While waiting on my chicken order to be prepared, I had a ten-minute conversation with the lady who operates the franchise. The margins in that business are thin. The franchisor keeps squeezing her with price increases and other fees. This has caused folks buying chicken to complain about the prices. I explained to her what I had learned when I was handling the computing and telecom needs of an oil change system with 2,000 locations. Working with the franchisees who operated each location, we had to focus our services on the person purchasing the service. The customer. The lady who drives her car to have it serviced. If we do the things to take care of the people purchasing the service, the other stuff will work itself out. But, and this was an issue, when we treated the franchisee as the customer, we missed the boat. Entirely. If you don't take care of the customer, the rest doesn't really matter. I told her she might have that conversation with her franchisor. It was the best I could do in ten minutes.

I know what some of you are thinking. Who died and left me in charge of telling other people how to do their business. The short answer, no one. I've known that lady for some time now and I felt comfortable talking to her about the business. And, I did have 10 minutes of wait time. I like my fried chicken to be fresh. I'm typically willing to wait. The lady running the chicken place gets there at 9 a.m. every day, seven days a week, and closes each day at 10 p.m. I told her that schedule reminded me of what my grandfather used to tell me after we had worked all day fetching firewood. He would say, "Son, you will not need to be rocked to sleep tonight." The lady laughed in agreement. She and countless others are doing all they can to make it in this world. Her son, maybe 14, works with her when he is not in school. I get the idea she is a single mom. Her desire is focused on making a better life for her and her son. I believe she is originally from the Philippines. We hear it tossed about here and there, but, folks, there really is something called the American Dream. We hear some of those running for President saying how terrible everything is here in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Yet, we still have people from all over the globe doing everything they know how to do to come to our country. Interesting. Right? Be thankful for God's provision in the land He gave us to live in. Amen. ....More later.

"Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine." ~ 1st Timothy, Chapter 5, Verse 17, New King James Version (NKJV)

Dr. Charles Swilling, 2004.

Good news! We do have a brand new work week to get us up and going today. Welcome back, to the second day of this brand new week, this one falling on Monday, February 17, 2020. These days we hear often about the passing away of notable individuals. The famous are in the news for days, like the recent Kobe Bryant coverage. Politicians, police officers, and other community leaders receive recognition for their many contributions. Rightfully so. Some religious figures also are singled out for coverage, like Dr. Billy Graham. Yet, there are so many pastors, missionaries, and other fulltime workers who have faithfully served the Lord and their flocks but they do so in obscurity. The wife and I attended the service for just such a man of God this past Saturday. Dr. Charles Swilling devoted over 50 years of his life to serving in smaller congregations, teaching seminary students, and in operating a publications ministry that was global in its reach. He was sold out to the calling God placed on his life. I had the privilege of working closely with him in leading several planning programs for the local Church where he served. His life may have been under the radar screen as it relates to his being well known, however, there will be many folks in heaven as a result of God working through his life. Think about that. His reward will be for his faithfulness in serving the God who called him and put him into the ministry. Well done, dear brother, well done. Amen.

I remember when the young lady, now my wife, and I started dating. I believe our first Valentine's Day would have been in 1963. Do the math, that's a lot of flowers, candy, cards, dinners, and all of the above, over the years. We could probably go on a cruise today with those proceeds. I was always one of those over-the-top guys. When we were dating I wanted to impress her with a token of my love. When we were married I wanted to show her how much she meant to me. I read one posting on Facebook about a couple who did not celebrate Valentine's because they agreed it was a commercially induced effort to generate income for those selling the gifts. Guess what? That's exactly what it has become. This year, 2020, total proceeds associated with this special day in our country alone was expected to top $27 billion dollars. That's with a 'b' in case you missed it. The couple who abstained from the purchasing frenzy said they instead would try to express their love for each other every day of the year. Good for them. I will tell you that our pattern today is not exactly like it was in our early years. I still make her a card every year. She still buys one for me. We typically go out to eat together and try to do so with all the other early birds wearing white hair. We were at the fancy steak house last Friday for an early supper. It looked like Luby's at 5 p.m. If you don't get that picture, wait around for a few more years. It will come to you.

I will be talking with a Sleep Educator this afternoon. I always attempt to be prepared for these types of appointments. I found out the person I will be talking with likely has an actual certification in coordinating sleep-related testing. This certification was established by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists in 2012. I put that in because of the word polysomnographic. I would guess one would need to be certified to even know what that means. I also read the details about the sleeping monitor device they will be using to conduct my in-home study. Being informed is always a good way to be prepared. All that research did help me. It actually made me drowsy. See? It's already helping. Just joking around. Yes. I do know that sleep apnea is nothing to joke about. It can be deadly. An estimated 22 million folks suffer from some type of sleep disorder and some 38,000 people die annually from heart/sleep apnea related deaths. Wow! Pretty sobering stuff. At any rate, I will see what they say and as always I will keep everyone posted. That's what I do here. You noticed? Good. Have a great rest of the day and may God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

"Dear Lord, I simply want to thank you for my wife. You have definitely blessed me with a woman that knows you and loves you. She challenges me to be a better man and encourages me to love better. I know she isn’t perfect but neither am I. I pray that I can love and cherish her like the gift she is. The gift you have given me. In Jesus’ name, Amen!" ~ copied

Happy Valentine's Day! It is Friday, February 14, 2020. The other day one of the older ladies in our apartment ministry heard the wife and I going forth and back in a somewhat argumentative manner. She asked how long we had been married. I told her we were into our 56th year. She said she and her husband had been married longer than us and had never argued. I told her we had never quit. We do have our moments of tension, but, they rarely ever qualify for anything serious. As for that lady and her husband, they are super special having never found anything to argue about. She did seem to be in her right mind, therefore, I will take her at her word. The woman who carries my name and birthed our children is an amazing example of the wife described in Proverbs 31. She is the real deal. She is the true friend. She is the tireless servant. She is beloved by throngs. But, none as much as me. We have built a relationship, companionship, and togetherness that, now as we grow old together, it has truly provided the support and care we both need. It has brought full circle the meaning of these words we spoke on December 18, 1964: "To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part." I think we have hit all of those except for death and we are, together, moving in that direction, one day at a time. I've been told more times than I can remember how fortunate I am to have the wife God gave to me. I am not lucky. I am blessed! She is a blessing and I thank God and give Him thanks for her. Happy Valentines Day Sweetheart, I love you to the moon and back, and always remember, "Baby, you're the greatest!"

Here's an excerpt from my first Valentine's Day blog, written on February 14, 2008: ~ This morning I anticipated she had a card for me. When I went into the kitchen and turned on the light, there it was. This year she bought one of those cards that has the music in it and to be honest I didn't realize it was going to be quite as loud as it was and at 3:30 a.m., it gave me a pretty good jolt. The song was the one made by the band Orleans back in the early 1980s, entitled, "You're Still The One". It was a really neat sentiment and I am thankful that into our 44th year, that's exactly who I am, I'm still the one. She hasn't seen my card yet. I always make my own cards. She will find it when she gets up this morning. Inside the card I talk about while there's quite a bit less of me this year in terms of pounds and inches, my heart is still bulging and overflowing with love for her. That's the kind of nonsensical stuff you try to come up with to express what someone so dear means to you. Before I left this morning I went in and had our prayer and I did sing Happy Valentine's Day to the tune of Happy Birthday. I couldn't tell for sure but it appeared she might have preferred me to have held off on the singing. But since she gave me a musical card I didn't want her to miss out. One of the things I am reminded of on this day when so many will make their professed statements about love is the model given to us in the Scriptures. For us guys, it could not be clearer and it could not be tougher. The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians that we are to love our wives in the same way that Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for the Church. Wow! Couldn't he have come up with something a little less challenging? Therefore, as I consider my love for my wife, as a believer I must use this example and then compare where I am to this model. Brutal? You better believe it! But, it gives us all something to work on, strive for, and seek to reflect in our love for our mate. I'll not go into the challenge for the women folk because, to tell the truth, I've got enough with this example to keep me busy for the rest of my life! In the end, I can always fall back on what I've been telling her for as long as I can remember, "Baby, you're the greatest!" ~

I think that will do for today. A day devoted to love. Nothing will ever compare to the love God demonstrated: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16, NKJV) Have a great Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday. Lord willing, I will do my best to report myself as present and accounted for come next Monday. Amen. .....More later.

"Goodnight, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite, and if they do then take your shoe and knock them til the're black and blue." ~ copied

Wake up Little Susie and everyone else! It's time to get on with it, on this Thursday, February 13, 2020. I had a telephone interview the other day with a nurse from the sleep clinic. She asked if I had time to answer some questions to determine whether I should have an analysis completed. I told her I had time. (I was walking in the mall, so, why not?) She asked me all kinds of questions related to my sleeping habits. She asked why I thought I might need to be checked for sleep apnea. I made it clear that I was only the sleeper here and it was because others thought they had observed a pattern that needed to be checked. When she asked about how many hours I sleep each night I told her between 5 and 6 hours. I didn't elaborate but that has been my sleep cycle for as long as I can remember. I did tell her that I do take more naps, especially in the afternoon. That was where the alleged observations took place. In my recliner. Snoring away. Supposedly, snoring away, stopping, gasping, and continuing to snore again. She took all the information and said it would be submitted to the doctor for evaluation. Later that same day, I received a notice saying I had been approved for an in-home sleep study. I have an appointment next Monday afternoon with someone called a sleep educator who will explain the process and what I have to do. Are we living in some amazing times, or what? I conducted an interview while dodging other old folks in the mall. By the time I got home, I had been approved for a sleep study. I now get to work with someone called a sleep educator. Is this a great country, or what?

You do know some of that sleep stuff was offered up 'tongue in cheek'. I will let you choose which parts were. I am one week into Paw Paw Mac's diet plan. It's loosely called the push back diet as in pushing back from the table. My fasted blood sugar numbers are greatly improved already. They had been running under the target but they are now in an even safer range. But, my body does not know what to think about what I am doing. I think he is in shock. I have had a couple of episodes of blood sugar drops in the middle of the night that caused me to have that caving in feeling or sinking spell. I evaluated my options and decided to wait them out. As Paw Paw might have said, "You were just too lazy to get up and do something about it." In actuality, I am well aware of what a serious blood sugar drop feels like and these did not qualify. They were uncomfortable. But, as Mark Lowry likes to say, his favorite Bible sentiment is the one that says it didn't come to stay, it came to pass. They did pass. When I told the wife about having this sinking issue and not doing anything about it, she had her own estimation of the situation, "I guess you will just lay there and die!" A little over the top, but, I did get her message. And, I do keep some of those melt in your mouth peppermint soft candies in my nightstand. If it gets bad enough I can eat a handful of those and it eventually stabilizes. That's why I am supposed to eat a snack when I take my medicine. Note to self: Eat a snack when you take your medicine.

Diet, sleep study, I suppose I needed some new challenges in my life. Right? No. I didn't add these to the mix to have new subjects to write about. I see plenty of those walking around everywhere I go. Do what? You would be correct. I am the other person's subject they can write about. That's a great observation. Here's how that might go as written by someone who observed me: ~ Good morning everyone. Guess what I saw yesterday? There was this fellow walking around in the mall. He had a fluffy white beard, wore a red cap, and was in deep conversation on his cellphone as he walked. You would have thought the way he acted that he believed himself to be Santa Claus. At any rate, I nearly bumped into him twice as I heard him talking about his sleeping habits. He did. Right out in the open. In the mall no less. Who needs that early in the morning? After the second time, I decided I needed to get me a cup of coffee. Some people. Maybe when they fix his problem he will sleep in and I won't have to dodge him anymore. ~ See there? I may have given someone their daily blog fix. I do my best. Have a great rest of the day and may God add His blessings. Amen. ....More later.

Maybe I am the way I am because my mom used to say this when I asked where she was going, "To see a man about a dog."

I flipped on the light switch but I'm not sure anyone is home this morning. That's the way it goes on some days and it seems to be so on this day, Wednesday, February 12, 2020. One of these days I will write my last blog. If that were to be today, I could say, "I'm telling you for the 3,265th time, that is, the last time." My mom used to be heard saying that quite often, "I'm telling you for the last time." Sometimes she really meant it and what happened next was not good for the person she was talking to. Not good at all. Sometimes she would say it more than once which led us kids to try and guess when it was really the last time. Guess wrong and pay the price. You are right. We didn't have a lot of games of our own so we had to improvise. I talked with someone the other day who lived in an area not too far from where I grew up. We were talking about the Louisiana state insane asylum located in Pineville, La. He said he too heard the threat growing up about how that if the kids didn't behave they were going to send their mom to Pineville. With our large family, this was a near-constant refrain from my mom. We, by the way, never caused her to have to be sent to Pineville. I'm not saying we didn't try, but, it didn't actually happen. I suppose this threat is fairly common because I have met folks over the years who said their moms said something very similar but used their own well-known mental facility in issuing their threat. For me, it may have gone something like this, "I'm telling you for the last time if you don't straighten up and fly right you are going to send me straight to Pineville!"

I know some of what we heard was brutal. "Stop that or I'll pinch your head off!" "I'll slap you seven ways from Sunday!" "Stop that crying now or do you want me to give you something to cry about?" "I'll slap that grin right off your face." However, we didn't have school shootings and for the most part, we were taught to mind our manners and behave. Let me quickly add, the whippings were a part of it as well. I didn't say spankings because they were whippings. For us, it was plumb tree switches which were diabolical with tentacles that stung and left marks. Yep. Marks. But, as you can tell, it didn't bother me, bother me, bother me, at all. What folks call cruel and inhuman today was referred to as God-ordained discipline when I was growing up. I ask you this question. Why is it that I look back and can only be thankful for my mom and all she did for me including the whippings I got? Today we have kids in therapy because the parents sent them to their room for being disobedient. I do know there were excesses. I can remember even as a kid some crazy people who literally beat up on their kids. They were dealt with accordingly. Like I say, I have nothing but the utmost love and respect for my mom and all she did to try and put us on the right path. That's my heart and my word and I am unanimous in this affirmation. Amen.

Lest you get the wrong idea, we did not grow up in an ideal family setting. Our life experiences, even from a young age, were shaped through tragedies, heartaches, and difficult times. We didn't live in a protective cocoon and we didn't operate our daily existence like an episode of 'Leave it to Beaver.' My mom never wore pearls that I know of. We did get a steady diet of excellent Southern cooking along with plenty of spiritual guidance and lessons on living a life of integrity. The bottom line, my mom did the best she knew how to do given the circumstances she faced. And, like moms before her and after her, she was fiercely faithful to her children to the very end. Don't doubt me on that. I can actually prove it. When people talk about their upbringing, them being reared, all I can say is we were snatched up by our widowed mom who had to make it up as she went, and, all and all, look how I turned out. Wait a minute. Hold that one for now. And, replace it with the overriding truth for us all and that is the reality of any of us being who we are today only by the grace of God, period. I do not know where this train of thought came from but it almost turned out to be a runaway locomotive. I suppose this is what happens when one flips the light switch on and no one is at home. Have a great rest of the day and may God add His blessings. Amen. .....More later.

Here's a thought for the day: I do have a past but I do my best not to live there anymore.

Good morning. It is Tuesday, February 11, 2020, and I bid a hearty hello to everyone near and far as they traverse the blogosphere. I did better this year. It was actually seen last year, I'm talking about going to the movie house to see one of the Oscar-winning films. We didn't watch one second of the awards show but I did see a list of winners. We, rather, I, am a fan of the 'How to Train Your Dragon' animated movies. And, we, the wife did tag along, did go to see the newest one called 'The Hidden World'. It won for the best-animated picture. See there? You thought I was out of touch with mainstream culture. I, for the life of me, cannot figure out why I like those movies. Maybe it's the story of how a misfit boy and a misfit dragon overcome huge obstacles to become heroes. I have actually watched them rerun on TV. I don't do that very often. That is, unless, it's a movie by John Wayne or Clint Eastwood, or it's one of the historically accurately depicted films. I've also shared my fascination with time travel. Therefore, I have watched many of those films as well. Maybe I liked the time travel movies as a kid because deep down inside I wanted to be somewhere else. Please don't copy this paragraph and send it to psychoanalysis anonymous for their opinion. Although, at this late date, it wouldn't surprise me what they might think, but, as previously mentioned, I probably wouldn't remember it for very long at all. You are right. It is a good thing not to be me. Go ahead. Feel good about it!

I again publically thank our eldest for giving me the laptop I use on most days to produce a new edition of my blog. It is convenient and efficient. However, it is designed for modern users of technology. That would not be me. I learned to type on a typewriter. My computer upstairs has a typewriter keyboard. Well, kind of. The laptop is flatter. the keys are recessed. It is smart enough to do what you tell it to do. Therein lies the rub. I am no doubt slower than I used to be, but, I can still lay down 50 words or more per minute. I tend to type in blasts. Sometimes, I blast out stuff and suddenly I have erased the blog I'm working on, closed the application, and the laptop is signaling it is ready to restart. Do what? Hello? It can happen in smaller dosages and fortunately, there is an undo function that can save me some pain. Sure. I could climb the stairs and use the other system. However, many times I am working on my blog in the early hours of the morning, therefore, I don't need to be in my office above the bedroom where the wife is fast asleep. Even when I try to be quiet in my office, it can be problematic in terms of noise. What would be a solution? Slow down a little. Thanks. I will take that into consideration and in the meantime, I will focus on doing my best to stay on the right keys. (Yes. I do use autosave but it cannot keep anyone from doing something stupid.)

Now you know why that on some days I feel like the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland who offered up these notable observations, "Oh my fur and whiskers! I’m late, I’m late, I’m late!" "I’m late, I’m late! For a very important date! No time to say ‘hello, goodbye,’ I’m late, I’m late, I’m late!" I heard all my life growing up that old people live out their time in a slow-paced and relaxed environment. You know. The proverbial rocking chair and hammock. This has not been our experience. Even after leaving the public work schedule, on most days we still typically hit the ground running. The other evening we met with some of our friends at a restaurant for a time of food and fellowship. One topic that always comes up: Negotiating the maze of healthcare options. I told them, my grandparents typically saw their one doctor. Maybe my grandmother saw a heart doctor or two. They were not busied about scheduling all the appointments necessary to keep the body going. How much time is spent today on coordinating these medical matters for older folks? Mucho! Testing that leads to additional testing. One specialist hands off to a different specialist. I'm not complaining since all of them holding hands together are obviously impacting both the longevity and the quality of life for the majority of older folks. My grandparents didn't know about these things. I can't say they were worse off for it. You do know what I mean. Right, Vern? May God help us to keep it all going. Amen? Amen. ....More later.

"And since we've no place to go Let it snow Let it snow Let it snow! ~ Sammy Cahn

I had previously warned that no one could predict what might show up for our time together on this Monday, February 10, 2020. Having written that, I am awaiting the release which I do hope will be forthcoming. Soon. You know. To fill up the white space on the electronic page. Still waiting. Speaking of white space, late last week, I saw oodles of photos of Facebook of those folks we know who actually received a good dusting of snow. We didn't get that dusting but last Friday morning we had us one widespread heavy-duty frost. I'm talking all the roofs glistening. The windshields had real ice on them. That brought back memories of growing up in Louisiana in the 1950s in a rural area where it could get really cold and we were not the best prepared to deal with it. All of us had coats. That was about it. If we needed more than that we had to improvise which typically meant wearing multiples of the clothes we already had. Two pairs of socks. Two pairs of jeans. Two shirts. I do not remember us having caps or hats. On the rare occasion when we would get some snow, we, like kids everywhere, went crazy. We would wear what we had until it became so wet it was hard for us to even move around. By that time, we would be so cold we would have to go back inside and hover over the space heater. You remember them, you would heat up one side at a time. How long did we play outside? Until all our clothes were used up. No clothes dryer for us except for that big fiery ball in the sky. Bottom line, today when I see kids out having fun in the snow, most of them dressed so much better than what we had, it makes me aware of the truth that prevails: Kids. The more things change, it is the more they stay the same.

I've mentioned before about how I at times think the cellphone is vibrating in my shirt pocket only to discover my cellphone is in the house. The other day I added a new one. I began to hear a whistling sound and it sounded exactly like my hearing aid was making a strange noise. You guessed it. I don't have a hearing aid. I suppose the next stop is when I begin to hear voices, but, that may not be too bad depending on who it is that is doing the talking. We have a fairly large number of older folks at our local fellowship. We do not go many services without at least one or two cellphones going off. Typically, when it does they can't seem to find it. When they do find it they don't know how to stop it. The wife and I remind each other to mute ours because we really don't want that to happen to us. The good news is how our preacher never stops unless he is wanting to play along. One day, he paused long enough to say, "You might want to get that." He usually just keeps on with his sermon. You have to admit that living in the world of older folks is not for the timid or fainthearted.

I saw one older fellow lamenting how he learns something new every single day, but, alas, he is never able to remember it. Don't get me started on the 'forgot what I was looking for' situation. A really good outcome is when I find something I wasn't looking for while forgetting what it was I was looking for. That may not make sense to some out there, but, I am sure it does to many. Sometimes, you just have to give in and cooperate with it. The wife often tells me to remind her to do something when we get back to the house. I am doing well when we get home to tell her I remember that I was supposed to remind her about something. She often can fill in the blanks at that point. See what I mean? Teamwork! You just have to go with it. The other day she observed me getting frustrated while working on our 2019 Federal tax return. The software I use was not cooperating. She said she thought it might be time for us to give in and let someone do our taxes for us. I've done tax returns for over 55 years and I'm not ready to throw in the towel. I did what any self-respecting person would do. I forced the software to do what I told it to do. It informed me that because I did override it, I could not file my return electronically and would have to mail it. Okay. So, I will buy a few stamps. See how we solve our problems around here. Have a great rest of the day and may God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

"When I was about 3, my grandfather used to give me and my sister a nickel to sit out on the front porch with him and sing songs." ~ Tommy Shaw

Well hello there. Why not come on up on the porch and sit for a spell? We will while away some time just enjoying our visit together. That's how we used to do networking, back in the day. It's Friday, February 7, 2020, and in many ways I do miss sitting out on the porch and visiting with folks. I have noticed a trend. Folks don't talk much to each other anymore. Even folks they know well. They prefer to send a text and wait for a response. That way they make a connection but don't have to be bothered with a conversation. A conversation would take some of our 'valuable' time. I hear things like this. Did they get back to you? Not yet. Why not just call them and talk to them? They will send me a message when they have time. Wow! We've come a long way, baby, don't you think? I wrote about seeing the teenagers at our local fellowship a few years ago. They were all sitting at the same table. They were not talking. They were texting each other. Sitting at the same table. I suppose we could start a list of what we lose when this is how we communicate with each other. I know some now reserve their actual talking to those deemed to be their closest. Everyone else gets a text. Or, some folks call hoping to get an answering machine. I probably fit into some of this myself, but, I do recognize some of the dangers when we substitute electronic messaging for felt conversations. That's why I invite you each day to sit on my electronic front porch and shoot the breeze for a few minutes. And, while we are doing that, I'm sure you will not mind me sipping on my cup of hot strong Community coffee.

President George Washington on his deathbed.

Here is an excerpt from my blog back on February 7, 2008: His Way or My Way William Shakespeare wrote this from Richard II, "The tongues of dying men enforce attention like deep harmony." We are interested in what people have to say as their final words before they leave this life for the next. Our second president, John Adams lived into his nineties and actually lived to see his son, John Quincy become our 6th president. He and Thomas Jefferson, who followed him and became our 3rd president, kept up a lengthy 25-year correspondence regarding issues, arguments, and the future of the republic. President Adams dedicated himself to be alive at the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and this he did, dying in the evening on July 4th, 1826. On that special morning, he awoke and was asked by his attendant if he knew what day it was. Adams responded, "Oh yes, it is the glorious fourth of July. God bless it. God bless you all." He then lapsed into unconsciousness but later that afternoon he aroused and mumbled these final words, "Thomas Jefferson still survives......" Little did he know that Jefferson had died earlier that morning of the same day! Phineas Taylor Barnum (P.T.) was famous because of his building of the circus business which ended up being called the "Greatest Show On Earth". He toured the world and entertained millions for nearly fifty years. His final words before his death in 1891, "How were the circus receipts in Madison Square Gardens?" I would suppose he well represents a man whose heart was in his passion in life that being the circus. George Washingon who rightfully can be called our founding father, lay dying for many hours as doctors attempted to help him. While there are many legends about his actions and words, the following is the best that can be documented from eyewitness accounts. "Doctor, I die hard, but I am not afraid to go. My breath cannot last long." A short time later, he expressed concern that he not be buried alive, "I am just going. Have me decently buried, and do not let my body be put into the vault in less than three days after I am dead. Do you understand?" "Yes, sir," the doctor replied. "'Tis well," answered Washington.

Some who have read my stuff over the years might pick up a little overtone regarding death. Perhaps it is because I have been in so many ways surrounded by death from my earliest recollection. And, yes, I am aware of how the statistics pretty much indicate there is a one for one ratio of births to deaths. (The only unknown in this projection is The Rapture which will allow true believers who are alive and remain at the return of Jesus the Christ to escape physical death since they will be caught to meet Him in the air. 1st Thessalonians Chapter 4) I still remember the encouraging word sent to our family from a local fellow in the little town where we lived, on the occasion of another family tragedy. It went something like this, "If you folks don't straighten up all of you are going to die." At the time he said that he was a part of a little Church that held some really strange views. I'm pretty sure he's not a part of any Church today. This is a reminder that our words do carry an impact and we need to use them carefully. No. I'm not in a gloomy mood today, just pouring it out as it comes forth. Just so you know, I too have always had a fear of being buried alive. I do have some amount of claustrophobia. Fortunately, in our times, being embalmed or cremated typically takes care of that problem. One would think. On that positive note, I wish everyone a wonderful Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday. Who knows what might be lurking in the shadows in my memory bank vault with so many unopened doors? We will have to wait and see what might come forth for our next time together? Don't ask me. Because at this time I don't have a clue. Yet. Enjoy. May God bless. Amen. ....More later.