Happy 52nd Birthday to our Jimmy!

Today is Thursday, April 30, 2020, and on behalf of the wife and I, we wish our middle son, Jimmy, a very happy 52nd birthday. Jimmy is currently hospitalized but we do talk to him daily and hope to have a Zoom session today where we can see each other. Jimmy was blessed with intelligence and an ability to catch on to things quickly. He has worn many different hats in the various jobs he has held. He is the proud father of four children. He does deal with some serious mental health issues and has done so for many years. This has caused him to be disabled. We pray for him each day and ask God to help the helpers to help him. Happy Birthday, Son, and my God provide. Amen. ...Our love, mom and dad

I heard a really great sermon the other day and one of the things that got my attention is what the preacher said about the times we are going through. He said there are so many folks who are obsessing in watching the news and they absorb it for hours and hours each day. He said they watch the news and check The Book, (God's Word, the Bible), only occasionally. He recommended that we all turn that around. We should be checking the news but watching with intensity The Book. He also went on to say we have two ways to deal with what is going on around us. We can react or we can respond. The knee jerk, the sky is falling reactions are not in keeping with our understanding of God's provision and watchcare. As believers, God would have us to respond in faith by demonstrating His love for us and others as we go about our day by day living. I'll be honest, those words spoke to my heart because it is so easy to pay the most attention to ourselves, and when we do buy into the world's view of things we end up reacting instead of responding as God would have us to. I often use what may sound like a cliche, "God's got this." Truth is, He does. "The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all." Psalm 103:19 Amen.

As you all know, I have been at this blogging stuff for a good long run. Here is what I wrote back on June 4, 2007, my second month of doing blogs: ~ Obsessive-Compulsive Blogging Disorder, OCBD! The title is supposed to be a joke. But don’t be surprised if it’s not a coming attraction on the next list of addictive behaviors! My wife often asks how I come up with all this stuff. My eldest son wondered out loud if it was a good idea to share private thoughts with the world. My answer to the first is that when you do a lot of living and are blessed to live into your 60’s, you most likely have more stories than those who don’t (Yogi Berra didn’t say this one, but he could have!). My answer to the second has to do with sharing the insight God has allowed me to learn especially how He has worked in my life; therefore, these stories may be an encouragement to others. A song I love, I understand to have been originally a Negro spiritual, has this sentiment expressed: "If I can help somebody as I go along, then my living has not been in vain." On the other hand, I will admit that knowing what to write about next can be challenging. My grandfather, who was a giant in my life especially during most of my formative years, was a man of few words. He used to warn me about talking too much and sometimes when I was really wound up he would say: "Son, are you coming up for air anytime soon?" And even my lovely bride gives me that eye over the eyebrow look occasionally to let me know she thinks I am dominating the conversation. I do notice at times when you do a search of a particular item and land on someone’s blog you might notice how they had much to say and were faithful to keep it going for a while, but nothing has been posted for months or perhaps over a year. Guess they ran out of stuff to share, or maybe they switched to a better blog engine or they just became fatigued from all the effort. Hopefully, if and when, and I realize that’s a big if, I run out of things to share I will use the Porky Pig ending and write a final blog entitled: "That’s All Folks!" ~

Have a great rest of the day and may God bless each one. Amen. .....More later.

“Tis strange,-but true; for truth is always strange; Stranger than fiction: if it could be told, How much would novels gain by the exchange! How differently the world would men behold!” ― George Gordon Byron, Don Juan

I am glad to say that occasionally one of my blogs does resonate with some of those who peruse them. It's the concept of even a stopped clock being completely accurate at least twice a day. I think we all know I've put enough stuff out there for something to stick. It is Wednesday, April 29, 2020, and we find ourselves longing for the day when we can unmask and show our true identity. The mask-wearing Covid-19 threat has had its critics but it has also been the source of a number of funny anecdotes. ~ I saw one fellow begging Netflix to suspend the 'are you still watching' feature. Of course, we are still watching, what else do we have to do? ~ Everyone thought dogs were hard to train until humans were told to sit and stay. ~ It has been interesting to see the pundits scold folks who live paycheck to paycheck for not having a rainy day fund while billion-dollar companies are first in line for government welfare. ~ Introverts enjoying their personal quiet-time need to check on their extrovert friends. They are not okay. ~ Before folks who stayed home all the time were called sad, disturbed, or a loser. Those who stay home now are called a true citizen, a hero, and an inspiration to others. ~ Who would have ever believed the man of the house, the proverbial hunter-gatherer, would be judged based on his ability to find toilet paper. ~ It's hard to believe a grossly overweight fellow with high blood pressure and high cholesterol who brags about looking directly at the eclipse would not follow the advice given by local health professionals. ~ Here's what we have learned about how the economic relief works. It's the trickle-down approach where the 1% get the relief. After that, what happens? That's it!~ You know it's serious whenever there is a drawing out of the hat designating who in the family goes to the grocery store. After that, everyone gathers around the individual and says their farewells. ~ (Those were found out on the net and they do not necessarily reflect the views of the one copying them. Thanks.)

I know a lot of businesses are in trouble as a result of this shutdown. However, there are some who have grown during this same timeframe. I read where Zoom, the network utility allowing group meetings, has grown from 20 million users per day to over 200 million. Some are easy to guess. Certain food product companies have done well since so many folks are stuck at home. Networking companies that provide internet and entertainment services have done okay too. The makers of disinfecting products like Clorox are selling everything they produce. Online retailing giants like Amazon have prospered as people have ordered everything from soup to nuts to be delivered. It goes without saying that some of the pharmaceutical concerns have done well with the insatiable demand for a variety of testing kits, drugs, and related supplies. Interestingly enough, one of the major delivery companies did make a quarterly profit but their loss of business deliveries offset the increase in the residential business. One aside here. A big-city mayor who chairs the national environmental committee has typically lambasted any and all things related to the oil and petrochemical world now is saying his city may go under because of the projected loss in gasoline related tax revenues. It's one of those I don't want to live with you but on second thought I can't live without you.

Meanwhile, the only consistency I see from a majority of the mainstream media is their hate Trump campaign which actually dominates their approach to covering any and every news subject. I am not saying that he does everything right. No one ever has and no one ever will. However, I am now into my 60th plus year of paying some attention to the political world we live in and I can't remember anything like what we are seeing. I do wish at times he wouldn't give them so much to misreport, however, they can't even bring themselves to acknowledge one positive thing he has accomplished. In fact, the other day a black democrat representative gave a public thanks for the help the administration had provided to his state and his district. For him to do that in today's hate Trump climate is essentially political suicide. He made those statements knowing he would suffer for doing so, and, did he ever suffer! They want him out of office. They want him out of the party. They want him to be known as a traitor. Why? The people he represents were in need. He appealed to the administration and they responded. He thanked them for doing so. And, that, my friend, became a sin worthy of capital punishment. You will not notice these things if you are not noticing them. Sounds duh, but, it is true. With that contribution to the continuing saga we call life, I leave you with a prayer for our President, our government leaders at every level, and for those who are serving during this challenging time. Amen. .....More later.

They say it may take a few months before I see all the benefits provided by my CPAP device. You know, especially the one that says I can have a new lease on life. I'll be on the look out for that one!

Good to catch up with everyone here on this Tuesday, April 28, 2020. I am getting a little more comfortable with the headgear I wear each night. And, I am making some slow and steady progress in using the CPAP apparatus. For inquiring minds, it stands for continuous positive airway pressure. I continue to see excellent results in the reduction of negative sleep interrupting events. You know. The kind where you stop breathing. We did find out that when you clean everything and then put it all back together it is like starting over so to speak in terms of getting everything to fit right. We have a dear friend, Bro. Scott, who wrote me a note after I first described all the potential benefits including the cessation of snoring. He, jokingly, told me that if it all worked correctly I would be giving up my opportunity for the wife to know when I had stopped breathing and even gone on to my heavenly reward. Guess what? He was prophetically on the mark. The wife says she hears nothing at night except for the occasional quiet sound of the very slight breeze coming into the nozzle. This has been somewhat of an adjustment for her since she never hears me snore and she used to hear me start and stop. I guess this gives us both something to look forward to each morning. To see if I do awaken when Mr. Bentley signals he has had enough of the kennel. That typically happens beginning around 3:30 a.m. You remember that guy who we were all waiting for him to show for the presentation meeting and everyone said he had better have a really good excuse. He did have a really good one. He was found dead in his hotel room. Yes. I did grant him an excused absence. Joking only.

We haven't received any stimulus money from the government. In fact, when I check our status it comes back saying they don't have enough information to know if we qualify or not. We actually owe a little more in our federal taxes than what we are eligible for once they determine we are eligible. My guess is we will still owe the taxes by July 15 regardless of the status of any stimulus funds. That we can count on. If we do get the funds we will use it to pay our taxes. If we don't get the funds we will have to pay our taxes anyway. Maybe I shouldn't have identified myself as Santa Claus on my last year's return. Yes. I do know they can't take a joke. Worried about an IRS audit? Avoid what's called a red flag. That's something the IRS always looks for. For example, say you have some money left in your bank account after paying taxes, that's a red flag. (Jay Leno) One fellow said he detested people who cheat on their income tax return. He said he certainly did not want to raise his 27 dependents to do stuff like that. The tax advisor had just read the story of Cinderella to his four-year-old daughter for the first time. The little girl was fascinated by the story, especially the part where the pumpkin turns into a golden coach. Suddenly she piped up, "Daddy, when the pumpkin turned into a golden coach, would that be classified as income or a long-term capital gain?"

The other evening an add popped up on my Facebook page. I thought it was cute so I showed the ad to the wife. She looked at it and this is exactly what she said, "Get me that mask." I don't have to tell you how Mr. Bentley has intruded into our thought process because I do think it shows. In this case, $22 worth including shipping. Add it to the list and make sure it goes with us to 'the home'. They will need to know as much as can be provided. You do know I'm just joking around a little. Not about 'the home' but about the list. Enough already. On a serious note, we do ask for prayers again for our Jimmy. He has been undergoing some intense therapy over the past several weeks and this past Sunday he had to be readmitted to the mental health facility. This has been a long journey for him and one that has taken a huge toll on his quality of life as well as producing a huge amount of stress on his mom and the rest of the family. We pray they will be able to find a way to help. Thanks for your prayers. And, may God provide. Amen. .....More later.

Song by the Mamas and the Papas, "Monday, Monday, so good to me Monday mornin', it was all I hoped it would be Oh Monday mornin', Monday mornin' couldn't guarantee That Monday evenin' you would still be here with me..."

That song in today's title was a hit back in 1966 and while I would likely not get many of the lyrics correct, I do well remember that distinctive tune. Well, we do welcome another Monday and this one shows up on the radar screen as April 27, 2020. Our memory capture and processing can be pretty impressive. It can also be exasperating. On the one hand, I have stuff like the tune to that song stuck in my head. On the other hand, I may not be able to remember why I got up out of my chair and walked into the kitchen. Life is filled with mysteries wrapped up in conundrums. The wife and I have reached the age where we might just ask each other if they remember what I said I was going to do. It becomes the proverbial 'I've mislaid my glasses while they are on my face' dilemma, but, it applies to so many other things these days. You might as well laugh about it because it doesn't seem to be in any mood to go away peacefully. Last week just before her birthday she announced it was her last day to be a certain age and that tomorrow she would become this brand new age. The only problem was she was ahead of herself by one year. When I corrected her she was so glad to have gained a full year back. See what I mean? It doesn't take much to make our day around this place.

I see folks doing all kinds of stuff to honor birthdays during these stay-at-home days. Children are being treated to drive-by parades from family and friends. This is in the place of having a traditional birthday party. The other recognized days follow suit. Anniversaries of all kinds, special remembrances, and other special date observances are being celebrated but in very different ways than when we were having a 'normal' lifestyle. Last week for the wife's birthday we continued to stay at home. I made her a big breakfast. I also made a big mess, but, I did clean it up. I ordered the gift she wanted and Amazon is working to get it here. I made and gave a card to her. I wrote a blog about her. I posted a birthday tribute for her on Facebook. I instructed her to take the day off. Later in the day, I ordered her favorite from Olive Garden and went and fetched it curbside. She did receive many cards. She received a huge number of comments on Facebook. She received phone calls all day long from children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Many of these included video face to face. We were not able to gather together in person to honor her, but, I do believe she felt appreciated and honored. That was what we tried to do.

Going back to the theme found in the first paragraph, nothing illustrates this now you see it now you don't more than my blogging activity. Throughout each day I hear about, see, and grab hold of subjects that will make really good material for my blogs. I'm talking about numerous subjects. That's a good thing. Right? Not so much when you sit down at the computer and all you hear between your ears is the sound of the restless wind. I used to often tell my mom that rather than be upset and frustrated about her lagging recollection ability, she should take the time to jot it down. I've given that advice to others. Maybe even my wife. You are beginning to begin to see it. Wait for it. Wait for it. "Physician heal thyself!" I do have one of those tiny digital recording devices I could carry around with me and make audio notes. I do know it is in my upstairs office. I suppose it would be a good thing to write a note to myself to remind me to look for it. Or, I could just keep a little notepad in my pocket and jot things down. You know. The advice I have long given to others. When I was doling out the advice I had no idea it was a boomerang that would one day come back and hit me upside the head. Life works that way. Ouch! Have a great rest of the day and may God add His blessings. Amen. .....More later.

Growing up our local barber shop had this sign: "If you leave your chair you lose your place in line."

Mr. Bentley, "Here's the deal. You leave your seat it's up for grabs. Got it?"

Hello everyone and welcome to the Friday edition and my version of all the news that is fit to print, (NY Times slogan), and we greet you on this day, April 24, 2020. Mr. Bentley doesn't yet know that he is not a savage beast. Whenever any dog comes down the street, regardless of breed or size, Mr. Bentley bows up and bristles, barks, and huffs and puffs like he would tear into them if they even thought about touching our yard or driveway. I hold him back and it is 100% for his own good. The only way for him to find out he isn't who he thinks he is would most likely involve a lot of bodily harm to himself. Have you ever thought too highly of yourself? Or, thought you were something you weren't? Have you ever looked back and thanked God that He kept you from doing something that would have been disastrous? I know I have. Without going into a lot of details, I remember one time when I failed to give God the glory for something He helped me to accomplish. I foolishly applauded myself and even said in my heart, "It's about time I got some credit around here." The moment I thought that thought I felt weak all over. It was a very scary feeling. And, it caused me to be reminded that every heartbeat belongs to Him along with every breath I breathe. Without His provision, I could do nothing and He always deserves the honor and glory for His working in and through my life. I remember some commercials that ran with the tag line, "Don't be that guy." I can say the same thing. Don't be like me. Always give God His deserved recognition, honor, and glory. Amen.

Here's one that made me laugh all the way back in April of 2008: ~ An older couple were having problems remembering things so they went to their doctor to get checked out. After examining them, the doctor told them they were physically okay but might want to start writing things down and make notes to help them remember. The couple thanked the doctor and left. Later that night while watching TV, the man got up from his chair and his wife asked, "Where are you going?" He replied, "To the kitchen." She asked, "Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?" He responded, "Sure." She then asked him, "Don't you think you should write it down so you can remember it?" He laughed, "No, I can remember that." She then added, "Well, I also would like some strawberries on top. You had better write that down cause I know you'll forget that." He responded, "I can remember that, you want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries." She then added, "Well, I also would like whip cream on top so I strongly suggest you write it all down." With irritation in his voice, he barked, "I don't need to write that down, I can remember it." He then fumed into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes he returned and handed her a plate of bacon and eggs. She stared at the plate for a moment and said, "I knew it, I knew it, you forgot my toast." ~

That was really funny 12 years ago. It's not as funny today because in one way or another we have experienced some of the joke first hand. We are both suffering some hearing loss, the wife more than me. Our remedy, for now, is to turn the TV up until we can hear it. I understand if the neighbors happen to be watching the same program they turn down their sound and listen to ours. Not really. It's a joke but they most likely could. The doctor wants me to do a video appointment for my diabetic check-up. I know telemedicine is where it all is headed but I'm trying to figure out what can be accomplished in a video conference. They sent me an email. Now, the nurse has called me. I told her I was aware of how it worked and I do know how to schedule it, and, I am thinking about thinking about doing it. We will see. I do hope you have a great rest of the day Friday, a wonderful Saturday, and that Lord's Day Sunday will find us all doing the best we can to connect into the worship of our Great God. Until next time, may He add His blessings. Amen. ....More later.

Happy Birthday to the wife of my youth. She is a gift from God. Amen.

Greetings. Today is Thursday, April 23, 2020, and it is a most special day in our neighborhood. So special, it requires a story. This is my account and I believe it to be the truth, the whole truth, and, nothing but the truth. Back in August of 1962, I had just come back from working the school summer vacation for my uncle in Florida. Some of my buddies arm-twisted me into going out to a little country church where they were having a Gospel singing school. They said there were a lot of pretty girls attending. Reluctantly, I went. Strange as it may seem, we got there and while there were a lot of people who showed up, I only saw one girl. The one in the photo. The preacher's daughter. To say I was smitten would be an understatement. She was beautiful then and she still is today but she is even more lovely from the inside out. Today we celebrate her birthday and I am so thankful to God for her. Happy Birthday and always know, "Baby, you're the greatest!"

That actual connecting face to face at Oak Grove Baptist Church happened some 57-1/2 years ago. I later found out that earlier in that same week she had been in our home. My sister, JoAnn, had attended the singing school and several of the girls had come by to see her. I came in from being out and there were some girls seated at the kitchen table. I wasn't interested in girls that came by to see my sister so I never even looked at them. That all changed the night I went to the singing school. There are some life-changing events in a person's journey here on this earth and other than my salvation experience itself, my meeting this petite, 85-pound beauty was next in line. I was reasonably good with girls, able to put on the charm and all of that, but, when I met her, well, I more or less fell apart. I was mesmerized. Bumfuzzled. I had liked girls before but this was different. And, did it ever make a difference! Once I got the opportunity to date her which consisted of me going to their church, well, I had to change my ways if I was going to be afforded the privilege of continuing to do so. Those same fellows who talked me into going to the singing school, well, we ran a lot together. We were daredevils and mischief hunters. Nothing criminal but behavior not fitting to someone dating the preacher's daughter. I had to withdraw my membership from that rowdy club much to their dismay. In fact, I caught a lot of flack about it. My girlfriend's church was called New Hope so my former buddies nicknamed me No Hope. For once in my life, I never even flinched when they teased or pestered me. Because, as my grandfather used to say, "I had bigger fish to fry."

We dated and moved up from there to going steady. We broke up. We got back together again. I think we repeated that process a two or three times and then we were married on December 18, 1964, which means we recently celebrated our 55th wedding anniversary. My wife is not perfect but she is the perfect wife for me. Here are some of the things that describe my wife, the Godly woman:

Believer
Not malicious
Temperate
Trustworthy
Adorns herself appropriately
Submits to her husband
Gentle
Known for her good deeds
Discerning and wise
Hospitable
Trains her children in the Truth
Loves others
Teacher of the Word
Serves in the Church
Manage her home
Virtuous and held in high esteem
Hard Worker

She's also a great cook. I may have mentioned that before. Now you know why I feel so blessed to have her alongside me for our journey together. Amen. .........More later.

This is the best I could do on such short notice.

Hello and welcome to Wednesday, April 22, 2020. I woke up this morning thinking I had some of today's edition already put together, but, alas, if I did it somehow evaporated into the place where computer-generated items go to hide. I suppose I can add that to the list of things lost due to the pandemic. Not really. I think the real answer is I forgot to remember to work on it. At the present time, I am awake bodily but the gray cells are still trying to make up their minds. They have been known to play their own game of hide and seek. I did talk with about 15 different folks from our Bible Study Class yesterday. Maybe that's where the time went. It was so good to hear the voices of those we love and serve with. Since our group is the 'oldest' in our local fellowship, we enjoyed some banter and laughs about being shut-in, quarantined, detained, segregated, isolated, separated, and otherwise known as staying at home. I told one fellow how the wife and I had yet to throw anything at each other but perhaps we have had one or two loud conversations. I was on the speaker and she heard me and shouted out, "We have not! We have done very well!" The pastor describes those types of discussions as moments of intense close fellowship. One thing I did notice. Us old people did get the message about being at higher risk and it seems we all are doing our best to follow as best we can the guidelines given to us. One common thread is our sincere and collective desire to gather once again in our local place of worship. We all so look forward to that.

Another interesting thing is how this current situation is understood as being unprecedented. I say that because many of the folks I talked to are in their late 80's or older. They remember a lot of personal history including some about the impact of the Great Depression, the various wars we've experienced in their lifetimes which many served in, and, the hard times when the economy failed, weather disasters, and other challenges. This worldwide pandemic, in the minds and recollections of the folks I talked to bears little resemblance to anything in their lifetimes. Here is an interesting thing to consider. Almost everyone I talked to connected it to God's sovereignty at work. The experts might argue did He bring it or did  He allow it, but, the consensus within our age group is God is still God and He is at work even in this unprecedented time. We may be curtailed but He is not. I was able to share how God is using the online services of our local fellowship to reach, teach, and minister to people. Some of them do not have a computer or a smartphone, therefore, they have been unable to get our services. I am going to see about having some of them burned to a DVD for them. Others mentioned the end times images they could see in this situation. We are always to interpret any and all things through the lens of God's infallible Word. Many of them really wanted to talk. After all, what else did we have to do?

I will continue my calling today. I am a little more than half-finished. While the world may not recognize it, there is a huge deposit of wisdom among these older folks. Many of them are prayer warriors who have callouses on their knees, so to speak. They have the love of God written all over them as they shared their hearts for family, friends, neighbors, and a world in need of God's touch. I do know many are also plagued with their own health issues but they mostly talked about the needs of others. Needless to say, I called to encourage and cheer them up and in so doing I received encouragement. That reminds me of my baby sister Kayla and how she as a young mom lay dying from leukemia but she had a testimony of reaching out to and ministering to others. So many told me about going to see her hoping to minister to her but they came away having been ministered to by her. These older folks I talked to who have known the Lord for so many years have something valuable to share with others. I pray they will be able to do so. Amen. .....More later.

Chorus lyrics from the late Rusty Goodman's classic Gospel song: "Who am I that The King would bleed and die for? Who am I that He would pray not my will, thine Lord? The answer I may never know, Why He ever loved me so. But to that old rugged cross He’d go For who am I?"

When people talk about running out of stuff to do, I know the feeling. I get the idea that maybe most of what I share is one of those 'been there, done that before' situations. It's getting bad when I can't figure out if what I am sharing is an original or just another re-run. But, it is good to be able to visit with everyone on this Tuesday, April 21, 2020. I am thankful to still be able to channel the 'little gray cells' enough to get information transferred from the proverbial thinking cap to the electronic page. Growing up, I often heard the admonition that I should put on my thinking cap. It usually came whenever it was believed that I had been acting without much thought. If that didn't work, there was always the plumb tree switch option. Come to think about it, my mom, depending on her mood, would often go to plan B without passing go or collecting $200. She had the philosophy of hitting first and asking questions later. On the rare occasion when she would be proven wrong she always said I still deserved it for all the times I didn't get caught. Talk about a no-win situation! Truth is, she was right. If I had received my just punishment for everything I did that was deserving of such, well, she would have needed more plum trees. Literally. Even more so in the case of my standing before a Holy and Perfect God. I deserved all the punishment my fallen, sinful behavior required, but, Jesus took it all in my place. That goes for you too. He did it for every man, woman, boy, and girl, but it can only be apprehended through faith in His finished work on The Cross. Sadly, many refuse His payment and choose to face eternity where they will receive the just punishment for their sins. Amen.

Some lighter fare. I think about things from time to time. I like how they put 'the end' when the movie is over. Who knows how long I might just sit there? Then we have decisions to make. Two different huts. One for pizza and one for sunglasses. Very confusing. How dare you call me odd on the very day we are celebrating our puppy's 5th haircut. When you ask the question, 'Who's this clown?', well, that's really insulting. You are implying they are a clown and not even one of the better-known clowns. There's actually someone out there who thinks we had a President Rushmore and he had four heads. Two things you will learn at the children's museum: lightning bugs are actually beetles and children can be very annoying. Me: What movie do you think we should watch? Wife: Do you plan on staying awake past the opening credits? One guy mentioned he had heard one of the symptoms of the virus was having no taste. The other fellow looked at his shoes and told him maybe he should get tested immediately. The wife still tells the kids to just wait until your father gets home. Hey, I've been here for the past three weeks! You do have to wonder what other issues Yankee Doodle has, after all, he did stick a feather in his cap and for some unknown reason, he called it macaroni. Why would any parent tell their kid when asked for a bite that the cheesecake has way too much pepper in it?

Most of the stuff above was adapted/reworked from items found out on the internet. It did take quite a long time because much of the stuff people call funny is not really very funny, (to me), and much of what is found is so vulgar it can't be used at all. Speaking of vulgar, many folks, including God-fearing people, post stuff these days and they preview it with these words, "I apologize for the language but the information is pretty good." Really? I'll not even begin to share what some of the language used consists of because I do try to keep my blogs clean. I know the culture has become very coarse and what was once considered to be totally unacceptable words are now used in common ordinary conversations. Here's a good rule to follow. If you would not say that word or phrase because of its coarseness then maybe it shouldn't be forwarded to others in text form. It used to be thought that someone who had to use profanity to tell their story or make their point must have a very limited vocabulary, however, in today's world it does appear that many, especially anything having to do with entertainment, must have profanity to get it on the air. Okay. We are better than that. Or, we should be. Have a great rest of the day and pray for God's provision for those hurting as a result of this pandemic. Amen. .....More later.

The Lord received Bro. Domingo Padernal into His eternal presence, "Well done, good and faithful servant..." Amen.

Hey. Wake up. It's Monday, April 20, 2020. Here is my recent take, "This could get old before it gets better." I say that tongue in cheek because my heart goes out to the 22 million-plus who have reported themselves as being unemployed. This situation is a family crisis on a national level. Sadly, politics are still at the forefront when debating what could be done to help the situation. "I'll go along with your relief package if you will allow us to tack on our liberal agenda. If not, we can wait." Oh yeah, in the meantime we will accuse you of dragging your feet and any other high crimes and misdemeanors we can come up with. That's my reading. You may have a different reading. You better have one while you can. I saw a clip the other day from the Israel news channel. It showed a confrontation between the ultra-Orthodox Jews and the local police. The police ordered them to disband. The religious order refused. The confrontation escalated as religious devotion had a head-on collision with the government edicts. The police ended up shooting into the crowd some non-lethal compression grenades but that didn't get the job done so they attacked them with tear gas. I know we are called to cooperate with the governing authorities, but, as believers that can be superseded if and when we are asked to deny our faith. I hope and pray we never see the police tear-gassing people of faith in our country.

We had a dear friend in ministry, Bro. Domingo Padernal who made his way to His heavenly home last Friday morning. Bro. Domingo was a Missionary Pastor, Church planter, seminary teacher, and Soldier of the Cross in the Southern Philippine Islands. God worked through him to establish a dozen local assemblies and many of them continue today. We've been blessed to have supported him and his ministry over the past 25 plus years. He was a wee little man with a big heart for God and a love for reaching and loving on people. Here's a video I did to honor his memory:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGku-DtbF8o&feature=youtu.be

There are a whole lot of folks doing what they do online and broadcasting it to their friends and even to a broader audience. We have become familiar with their home backgrounds in their live broadcasts or recorded videos. I do most of my stuff up in my home office, but, we did adjust things a little to have an 'appropriate' background. Not everyone does that. One might get the idea they need to straighten up their home a little during this shelter in place program.  The photo of Mr. Bentley and me show one side of the office. The other side would not be ready for prime time since it has all my important clutter stacked here and there. It reminds me of when I spent the weekend with an uncle who was in college along with his wife in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He had a parttime job at the local TV station where he was a cameraman. I tagged along with him to his job one afternoon. They did live commercials back at that time. A used car salesman was ready to do his promotional pitch. They opened the big doors but he couldn't get his featured car to start. We all went out and helped push it inside the studio. When he started his spiel he talked about what a great car they were featuring and how wonderful it would be for anyone to have it. As a young teenager, I was appalled with this disconnect from the reality of that car that not only wouldn't start but it didn't look that great when the bright lights were not on. I have an idea that what we see being put on Facebook Live may be more like the car ad than one might think. Just my thoughts as we all embrace the brave new world of connecting via online technologies. Amen. ........More later.

Inspector Morse: "Coded messages, murder - right up my street. It's not a bad way to start the day."

I am thankful to report for duty this morning on this Friday, April 17, 2020. Reporting for duty may seem like a trivial matter but there are literally millions of our fellow Americans who would love to be doing just that at their workplace this morning. A lot of people have been posting what they have been watching on TV while in quarantine. We've seen all of the available Father Brown shows, many of the original Miss Marple programs starring Joan Hixson. We've also taken in quite a few of the Hercule Poirot mysteries and the older Sherlock Holmes series starring Jeremy Brett. We like Inspector Morse and the follow-on Lewis along with the young Morse, Endeavor. The wife is a huge Game Show person so it has been on at times. As for news, we mostly stick to a local channel since the network news programs have become shills for the 'everything-hate-Trump' bandwagon. We've watched the news from Israel, I-24, and have found it to be more straight-up reporting than what we get on the network channels here. Yes, we do watch the national Fox channel some, however, it must also be viewed knowing its bent. We do see quite a number of Gospel music programs, preaching, and streamed Church services. We've seen some of the stuff on Netflix but many of their series are hard to watch because of the language and other things they show. Those series I mentioned are BBC, PBS, ITV, and Granada studio productions. That is correct. They all come from across the pond. We find the stories and the production values to be much better than most of the stuff we have here except maybe for NCIS and the old Columbo series. You didn't ask but now you know.

Here's a little insight into what I consider to be humorous. I've written about this several times over the years. This paragraph is from three years ago. ~ I thought I might share some funny things with you but when I look at what people post as being hilarious, well, the years it took for me to invent the word wisdomly tells me that it also makes me completely out of touch. One thread on the internet I looked at was entitled 'the funniest thing I ever saw or heard'. A variety of folks were chiming in with their recollections of something that was really funny. Really? To them, maybe. Not to me. One person lays out an incident and gives all the particulars that constitute to them the funniest thing they ever saw. While I didn't get the joke, the next person says they are not sure they can top that one but they will share their funniest thing anyway. I didn't get that one either. It's not that I didn't understand what they were getting at. I just didn't see anything funny about it. It worries me. I suppose I need to stick to my own stuff. The wife and I were talking the other day about us attending a Bible conference when we were teenagers. Let me be clear here, I was there because she was there. She was there because her dad the preacher was there. A fellow from my hometown was also there. He wasn't young but he had recently surrendered his life to the preaching ministry. They called on him to share a short sermon. One problem. He had a brand new set of false teeth and he was petrified. That combination did not work out very well as he attempted to speak. Those store-bought teeth were not broken in yet and they began to whistle, squeak, and clatter. He was so nervous, he was shaking. They sent for some water. He drank it but his new teeth floated on him and he began to make gurgling sounds. It was sad, but it was also funny. The great men of God on the platform could not laugh out loud but the quivering of their well-fed bodies caused the whole raised floor to shake. I can't be sure, but this fellow may have prompted the well known Southern saying, "Bless his heart!" With all due respect, that was funny. Not some idiotic thing said to someone playing an online game. We were there. Just thinking about it the other day caused us both to laugh. Oh well, different strokes for different folks, I suppose. But, think about it, shouldn't their stories have some kind of punch line?

I continue the CPAP journey. The unit I have is WIFI enabled, therefore, the Company that made the device can access the data and report back to me how I am doing. I am aware there is a 'Big Brother' aspect to them having this access, however, I have been helped by the information they accumulate and report. My best night thus far has been around 6 hours of sleep which is quite a lot for me. Having become more adjusted to the mask, that particular segment produced less than three measured negative sleep events per hour. That's supposedly is really good especially compared to the more than 40 negative events per hour detected in my sleep study test. I am actually only a week into using the system and I believe I am beginning to see some benefit. Our pup, Mr. Bentley, has had some tough adjustments during this shelter in place time, therefore, I've been up and down with him more than normal. That starting and stopping skew the numbers and we continue to work with Mr. Bentley to get him back onto his regular sleep cycle. The wife can become very perturbed with him, but, it's not all his fault with our changed schedules and related quarantine issues. That 6-hour report reflects progress in our working with him. Oh well, enough about my sleeping saga and my puppy dog experiences, however, it is all I had to write about at this particular time. Have a great rest of the day and don't forget to tune in and be a part of the local Church services on Sunday. If you don't have a preference, here's a streaming service that I can assure you will hear from heaven:   https://www.facebook.com/MimsBaptist/  Amen. ......More later.

I read where a lady said she needed some work clothes for the week ahead so she washed another load of pajamas.

I greet another day with a heart filled with gratitude and hope. I support all that is being done to deal with this current worldwide crisis, however, my hope is not in medical science. I respect the governing authorities and their efforts to contain and curtail the impacts, however, my hope is not in government. I know the brightest and the best have been assembled for these task forces, however, my confidence is not in what they will recommend. For me, the bottom line, it will be the God of heaven that helps us get through this and my hope is in Him. Amen. That's my preamble to today's edition sent out on this Thursday, April 16, 2020. We do know this time we are living in is serious. I saw an assembly of the faces of frontline workers, first responders and those providing medical services. The faces were tired, worn, and the strain showed. And, we pray for them. In the midst of all of the sadness, we do need to find something to smile about. Fortunately, there are always those coming up with anecdotes and sharing them with us. Here are some I selected to share.

~ Many are predicting a baby boom in our future coming out of this health crisis. Some have recommended when these babies become teenagers we call them: The Quaranteens.

~ If you actually need a dozen cases of toilet tissue on hand, you most likely should have been seeing a doctor long before Covid-19.

~ You work at a bank. Two guys come in wearing masks. You are relieved when they only want to rob the bank.

~ Day 1. I heeded the warning and have stocked up with enough non-perishable goods to last a very long time, maybe even a year. Day 1 + 45 minutes. I go to the supermarket because I forgot the Twix.

~ After a few days without sports, I discovered this attractive young woman sitting on my couch. She says she is my wife. She seems really nice.

~ Nurse: I hate to inform you but your test confirms you have Covid-19. Me: How could that be? I have more than 300 rolls of toilet paper.

~ I got one of those huge rolls of toilet paper, the size of a small car tire, as a gag gift for Christmas. Who's laughing now?

~ I never knew how boring it could be around this place. My dog: "Now you know why I chew on the furniture."

~ Relieved to find out the virus typically doesn't have a huge impact on the young, then it hits you: You're not young anymore.

Example of dust catching knick-knacks.

I mentioned before how the wife has used this time to do what she calls deep cleaning. I'm talking about taking everything off the walls and scrubbing them. As she finds stuff that typically is not hers she suggests maybe it is time to get rid of it. She has gotten rid of a lot of stuff. And, I would imagine once this thing does the Bible fulfillment, "and it came to pass", we will spend the next two months looking for what has been moved. She did ask me about a small unit I had purchased many years ago. It is the little box projector where you can use a Super8 projector to capture the image for a VHS tape. She thought maybe it was a piece of equipment we could do without. I told her to wait just a minute. I paid good money for that device, it has only been used a few times, and, I may want to use it again someday. That's an example of how our conversations have gone regarding her property removal process. I'm not complaining here because she is doing the work, however, I do notice the knick-knacks or dust catchers as I call them have continued to find a home in the deep cleaned environment. They obviously were deemed as essential in our world going forward. Remember, I am only an observer, and it is good not to shoot the messenger. Have a great rest of the day and may God bless each one. Amen. .....More later.

As it relates to getting past this pandemic, I feel like a kid again, asking my mom, "Are we there yet?"

Alright, let's get this program going on this Wednesday, April 15, 2020, Tax Day here in the United States. I am aware the deadline has been adjusted to July 15 for this year only. We are ready to file and thinking about thinking about when to do it. Taxes do bring about a lot of thinking. It's interesting that as we all hunker down in our bunker homes, stuff continues. I saw a headline that read researchers have discovered that flamingos form long term friendships. Needless to say, I did not read the details on that one. I would assume they would be telling us we can learn something from the flamingos about how to make and keep friends. The Good Lord knows we all need help if we are to be a friend during these difficult days. The wife went to the grocery store because of some of the items we didn't have on our online order. She is very social and also very much one who will jump in to lend a helping hand. I typically go but she wanted to go and see what it was like. I felt bad having to remind her to keep her distance and to backdown some on her empathetic spirit. Or, at the very least to try and do it without making contact. I remembered her score on the test we both took many years ago. She scored in the high blue which indicated an overwhelming altruistic, benevolent bent. The professor who originally gave me the test described that particular rating like this, "My wife is also a high blue, off the chart, meaning she would lay down and give you more traction if you were stuck in the snow." My score was called a blended hue meaning I could be what I needed to be based on a decision process. I could choose to be a blue, a green, or a red based on the circumstances at hand. Someone off the chart blue would have a hard time doing that. That's why I was wanting to protect her. From herself. And, let me add how thankful I am for her caring heart. Amen.

I sat outside yesterday morning and enjoyed my cup of hot strong Community Coffee. It was 48 degrees with a light breeze. After experiencing August temps earlier this month, this cool air was nothing short of a breath of invigorating fresh air, pun intended. (Full disclosure requires me to reveal that I did have to change from a short sleeve to a long sleeve flannel shirt.) I can remember a time when that would not have been the case but what can I say? It's an old people thing. That's right. I have become somewhat susceptible to being chilly. As in chill. The cool kind of chill. The wife at times will look at me and ask why I have put a blanket over me. That gives me several options. I did it to try out how the blanket feels. I did it because the dog wanted me to. Or, I did it because I felt a little coolish. It's tough to say that last one but I knew to say something about my hormones would likely not get the job done. There may be better answers than those but think about it. Why would I even have to give an answer? I'll try that one next time. I think that may be my best way forward.

I did catch a clip of one of the frontline nurses talking about the Covid-19 elderly patients she is treating. The report indicated that while the illness itself is taking a toll on these older people, in her opinion, the isolation and loneliness was a huge and heartbreaking part of this experience. The medical staff is doing all they can to be 'family' to these folks, but, we all know being unable to have any touch from family is certainly a serious issue. We think about how confined we are in our homes and how our hearts ache for that day when we can touch our kids and their families again. This feeling pales in comparison to an aged person living in near-total isolation. I ask that each one who reads today's edition will pause and join me in a special prayer for these older folks who are in crisis mode because of this illness. Pray that God's presence will bring to them their needed peace in the midst of their storm. Thanks for praying and may God provide. Amen. ....More later.

"Actions speak louder than words. Unfortunately, they do not speak nearly as often as words." -- Mark Twain

Good morning folks, it is Tuesday, April 14, 2020, and I know many of us are weary, but, we still have much to be thankful to God for. Amen. The Apostle Paul was inspired to share this truth with his first lieutenant and fellow servant, Timothy, "As long as we have food and clothes, we should be satisfied." (1st Timothy 6:8, GOD'S WORD Translation) That verse covers most of us while there are exceptions where some find themselves standing in long lines to get enough to feed their families. I saw one person who posted something about their deep depression nearly to the point of suicide, but, they mostly saw a steady stream from their friends complaining about things like the rain spoiling their outing, toilet paper, and other superficial issues. I don't know why but I am often reminded of that scene from the first Home Alone movie where the mom is on the airplane headed to France and she has just discovered they had left their little boy Kevin behind. The brother-in-law leans in and tells her, "If it makes you feel any better, I left my reading glasses behind." Too many times I find myself being the brother-in-law. My minor inconveniences take center stage when others are dealing with life and death issues. God would have us to consider the plight of others and even during this time of limited access, He would have us to use whatever means we have to demonstrate our love for Him by showing in a tangible way our love for others. You may not have needed this reminder, but, I showed up for it, first in line. I'm not sure whether to say Amen or Oh Me! What say you?

The online grocery ordering process is working okay. There are some things about it that irritate me but they are not major issues. The store does push their own branded products. I know they do have the other stuff we typically buy because I have been in the store recently but the ones that come up for ordering often do not include those. I don't mind them substituting when they don't have the item they thought they had when we placed the order. I suppose that can happen. However, again, I wouldn't want it to be the case where they substitute in order to favor their higher-margin store brand. They do send notice and I don't have to accept the substitution and I might not in a normal situation, but, as we all know, this is not a normal situation. The folks who bring the groceries out to the curbside are very courteous and efficient. I've drawn the same young lady the only two times I've picked up my groceries. This last time we learned she has just recently lost her mom. We are praying for her and her family. She told us she was working about 36 hours a week but many were working longer hours. We have one granddaughter who works at a fabric store who is working primarily because they are using their product inventory and equipment to produce protective masks. Most other stores are shut down, but, she and several of her coworkers continue to have jobs supporting those dealing with this virus pandemic.

Speaking of grandchildren, our granddaughter Tiffany and her family moved to San Antonio last year. We were used to seeing them often, but, now, not so much. We were able to see them for this past Christmas. This past Sunday with everyone doing their civic duty and limiting contact as much as possible, I pulled up my Facebook and soon landed on the above photo. It was put up by Tiffany's husband, Brandon. Our great grands! I don't know why but my eyes filled immediately with tears as I thought about how isolated we are from one another. There was an older lady on a British sitcom from many years ago who used to exclaim, "Men! They are as weak as water." I fear that as the comic strip character Pogo used to say, "We have met the enemy and he is us." While we have been quarantined we watched a movie where the family dog had to be put down. Our pup Bentley was laying at my feet. It was almost as sad as that scene from Old Yeller. I told the wife, "That's one reason I never wanted a dog because I do not want to go through something like that." Sentimentality in overdrive, or, just senile. I can't be altogether sure, therefore, I cast my vote for it being a blended hue of all of the above. Who would have ever thought? At the same time, I am thankful to be here to write about it. May God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

Song lyrics, The Coasters, 'Charlie Brown', (1959 #2 on the chart), "Charlie Brown, Charlie Brown He's a clown, that Charlie Brown He's gonna get caught Just you wait and see (Why's everybody always pickin' on me)."

My new nightly companion and just so you know, it doesn't play train sounds.

Welcome back. Today is Monday, April 13, 2020, and I showed up this morning and reported myself as present. Last Thursday I received my CPAP machine to help deal with my diagnosed sleep apnea and related issues. I am currently in the get acquainted phase in using the system each night. I may be close to moving to the get adjusted phase but it has taken some time. According to the technician who brought the machine out to me, once the benefits of using the system kick in, I will not believe the great improvements experienced. That, my friend, at this point and time is still a coming attraction. I will say this. The early numbers showing up on the machine are certainly much better than those that came out of the sleep study. (Example: The sleep study showed an off the chart high number of negative sleep events per hour and the new machine is already showing 6 or less which puts it close to the normal category ((5 or less)).)  I will not enumerate all the things that will be better, but, to show you how comprehensive the list is, my blogs should be better since my brain will be functioning at a higher level. That will give us all something to look forward to. And, while my blog was not specifically mentioned, the processes involved in producing it were, therefore, we will see. At this early juncture, I am still waiting. I may be waiting a little faster with more clarity, but, I'm still waiting. Let me know if you see anything to indicate results and I'll do the same. Thanks.

I did hear about the fellow that poured Red Bull into his CPAP machine. He got all the sleep he could handle in 45 minutes. The technician who briefed me on using the machine was a long-term user himself, therefore, it made the information seem more reliable. Unfortunately, others have examined the claims and they have reported their updated understanding based on the results they have experienced. Here are some of the terms reinterpreted: Comfortable: Annoying; Easy to use: Very Complicated; Flexible fit: You can flex all you want but it still will not fit; Elite: Expensive; Easy to disassemble and clean: No matter what you do, don't take it apart because you will never get it back together again; and finally, Simplicity: Instructions that are totally confusing. Then the proverbial, 'Why did the CPAP-er stop when the machine quit? He only works under pressure.' I suppose for me, the kids' joke I heard growing up has become a reality, 'Up your nose with a rubber hose.' They do get worse. Don't believe me? Why couldn't the CPAP'er cross the road? His hose wasn't long enough. I found these out on the internet but I'm fairly certain I will have my own coming soon.

Have you ever felt like you have a target on your back? This virus seems to really enjoy killing off older people. And men too. One of the medical professionals being interviewed said based on our own data accumulated in the USA, men are succumbing to this disease at about twice the rate of women. Why doesn't that surprise me? Also, the fatality records continue to say 65 and older are at the greatest risk. I am a man. Check. I am nearly 9 years past the 65-year-old threshold. Check. Why do men always have to be on the top of the endangered list? We cannot dodge the numbers. Women live on average to be 81 years old here in our country. Men, on average, check out at age 76. Here's more or less the boilerplate response as to why this is the case: "Men are more likely to smoke, drink excessively and be overweight. They are also less likely to seek medical help early, and, if diagnosed with a disease, they are more likely to be non-adherent to treatment." It goes on: "Men are more likely to take life-threatening risks and to die in car accidents, brawls or gunfights." I've been reading those explanations for a long time. Other studies indicate the hormones that actually make us men can work against us as we age. The evolutionists theorize that once we sire children we become disposable. Thank you very much. On April 2, a press article said a 104-year-old man from Portland, Oregon had recovered from the Coronavirus. Before you get too happy, a few days later, it was announced a 107-year-old Dutch woman had also beat the disease. See what I mean? I would wring my hands, but, my life is in the hands of our Creator God and I trust Him to always do right as reflected in His character. Amen. .....More later.

It takes 'all of the above' to get us to where we are. And, if you are like me, I need all the help I can get.

Guess what? What day is it? Well, it is Friday, April 10, 2020, and, I am glad I can check it in the little box on my computer screen because truth told, I, otherwise, would not have had a clue. I notice some things in my morning ride-about with Mr. Bentley. The driveways at most houses still have multiple vehicles parked. That shows a good number of folks are staying home. I also notice that more attention is being paid to yardwork making everything look just a wee bit nicer. I assume that's because of folks wanting to get outside of the confinement space for a little fresh air. I know many who have their yards done by those who are in the business. Many in our immediate area have it done weekly. Thus far, we still do our own. The wife is a yard person with everything that comes with it. She can spend hours working in the yard. I typically mow the front yard and she does the back yard. She does the weed-eating and the blowing off of the residue. She does the pruning. She does the flower beds. She even trims limbs off the trees. It's in her blood. Her twin sister born 18 months ahead of her is the same way. Their mom was widely known for her green thumb. She could grow just about anything. We are enjoying the greenery while we can because we've been through too many summers to not realize the scorching that will soon arrive in our area. Thankful we are still able to do what we do. Thankful we have a place to do it, and, also thankful we can enjoy it all. Amen.

You may have seen the notice about the passing of Al Kaline, (1934-2020). He was one of my baseball heroes. Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980, you should check out his lifetime stats to see how greatness is defined. That also carried over to his personal and public life. I want to close today's edition with what I wrote about my connection to Al Kaline from early August of last year.

~ Back when I was growing up, I lived and breathed baseball, beginning with Little League and progressing through Dixie Youth. I'm not ashamed to say I slept with my glove at night. It was a Wilson Al Kaline signature glove. He was the player I followed. Recently, I had the opportunity to get an authentic Al Kaline autographed baseball. A fellow in our local fellowship is donating his sizeable collection of sports memorabilia to be auctioned off as a fundraiser for our youth ministry. I jumped at the chance to get the Al Kaline baseball. I checked and found a high value for the ball and made it a donation to the youth ministry. It means next to nothing to most folks but it does mean something to me. Here is an extract about him on his Baseball Hall of Fame page: "Offensive consistency became Kaline’s hallmark over the years, hitting at least 20 home runs and batting .300 or better nine times each. A superb defensive outfielder with a strong throwing arm, he also collected 10 Gold Glove awards. In the 1968 World Series, Kaline’s only appearance in the Fall Classic, he batted .379, hit two home runs and drove in eight to help Detroit knock off the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. 'You almost have to watch him play every day to appreciate what he does,' said veteran pitcher and former Tigers teammate Johnny Podres. 'You hear about him, sure, but you really can’t understand until you see him. He just never makes a mistake.' By the time Kaline’s 22-year big league career ended in 1974, the lifelong Tiger and 18-time All-Star had collected 3,007 hits, 399 home runs and a .297 career batting average. 'People ask me, was it my goal to play in the majors for 20 years? Was it my goal to get 3,000 hits someday? Lord knows, I didn’t have any goals,' Kaline once said. I tell them, 'My only desire was to be a baseball player.'" Enough said!

I believe I had a similar attitude when I was playing because I only wanted to play ball. Period. Did I ever dream about playing in the big leagues? I can't say for sure, but, I do remember playing some games against some really outstanding players. I was really good, especially, when I played teams that were not so good. You know. Big fish. Little pond. However, not all teams fit the definition of being not so good. The really great teams made me aware of a more realistic perspective. Little fish. Big pond. I still have my Dixie Youth uniform. I think it might be a size 14. They made them last back then, out of wool. I'm not sure if there are any photos of me wearing my uniform. There might have been one or two in mom's stuff, but, I don't remember ever seeing any. I do remember playing. I actually even remember some of the games. I particularly remember one game where I made a huge error. It likely cost us the game. Isn't it interesting how that one still makes my gut tighten up? I let down my team. I know I hit a few home runs. I also know when pitching I hit a few batters. I played consistently for maybe four or five years. I can remember many of my teammates. My coaches. They no doubt helped me become who I am today. I'm not sure how but I think one is supposed to say stuff like that. That is why I put it in. ~

Well, until next time, let's all continue to do our best to do our best to follow the prevention guidelines we have been given. We are doing that here. May God bless. Amen. .....More later.

The political games continue even during this time of national crisis.

I see different people using different dates for when they personally went into lockdown mode. Some say 14 days, others say 15, and I've seen a few that say 16 days. I think for most of us it seems like it has been much longer than the actual count, however, it does continue here on this Thursday, April 9, 2020. I am inclined to give deference to our President and his team in how they have responded to this threat, but, I do get weary hearing the incessant antagonism between him and the news media. It is a national crisis and one would think there would be a more civil tone to the dialogue forth and back. I do know he is the person at the top of the food chain, therefore, taking responsibility for all the government has done or not done, is doing, and will do comes with his job. I understand the unprecedented nature of this challenge, (to use a grossly overused adjective), but, accountability still functions. He is not the first president to be hurt politically by things outside his control. President George H. W. Bush was saddled with his stalled response to Hurricane Andrew while his son, George W. took a beating from Hurricane Katrina after being rewarded for his response to 9/11. How this will play out for President Trump remains to be seen. It really will not impact me that much since I can't imagine a scenario where I could vote for those currently running against him. However, to the rank and file, perception is their 100% reality and that perception is being painted not only by the Coronavirus itself but in large part by the antagonistic press. That's my thumbnail analysis as a throwdown view at the moment.

Interestingly enough, our 'Church' schedule has been pretty solid during this time when we can not assemble ourselves physically. We have services on Sunday, online, Sunday School and Worship with a sermon from our pastor. I have a Monday evening online meeting with our Sunday School team. We have a church-wide prayer service on Tuesday evenings. This week we will be observing the Lord's Supper in our homes on Friday evening led by our pastor who will be streaming live. And, along with most other churches, we will be observing special Resurrection Day services this upcoming Sunday. In between those times, many of the classes are having their own online meetings. This tells us there are good uses of technology. Amen! I saw a posting here in our area where some kids who are into robotics and 3-D printers have developed a way to churn out protective shields for healthcare workers. We know one of the young men doing this through his mom who we work with each year in our roles as Santa and Mrs. Claus. Our local fellowship is nearing our Food Bank goal which will feed 2400 families for one month. Things aren't normal but they are not all bad. Let''s hope coming out of this we will remember going forward to keep doing good.

If you think my blogs have become a little light in content, you would be correct. I am, by nature and practice, a serial observer. To he honest, I'm not able to observe a lot these days. At least not in an out and about way. I can tell you that people who have never been that busy on Facebook have become very active. They are obviously looking for something to occupy their time. It shows. They are participating in surveys of every variety and sending them out to all their friends. Our youngest sent us a photo the other day of the puzzle he and the family were working on. He was more or less of an attitude of "It's come to this!" We told him his grandparents would be proud. My mom was a huge puzzle person and the wife's dad too. The wife has followed in that tradition. Me? Not yet. Last night when I carried Mr. Bentley out, our across the street neighbor was in his driveway shooting baskets with his teenage daughter. It was right at 10 p.m. He waved as if it was a normal thing. It wasn't. In fact, he is such a busy worker, I've never seen him out doing something like that late in the evening. I will tell you this. I bet when the daughter looks back on how we survived the Coronavirus pandemic, she will not forget the one on one time she was able to spend with her daddy. Oh yeah, I meant to tell you how it went with the curbside grocery pickup. I'll save that for another day. I suppose I'm still observing. It doesn't have a turn off switch. Have a blessed day. Amen. .....More later.

Don't forget to see some of the good being accomplished in the midst of so much bad news.

Hello and welcome. It is Wednesday, April 8, 2020, and I bid each one a hearty hello from our dwelling to wherever you happen to be. These are tough times. One of the things I have been doing is to make a video each week to send out to family and friends. This includes those who are in our regular Bible study class. The idea behind the videos is to remind us all of God's sovereign control over all things and how this is true regardless of what we are experiencing. I'm including the video the wife and I made yesterday to share with my blog readers. We don't claim to be great singers but the song we shared invokes the reminder that we are Sheltered in the Arms of God. It was written by the late Dottie Rambo and it is a favorite of many who follow her music and Southern Gospel in general.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DZhqLHztkU

As this pandemic continues, I will tell you how impressed I have been with all the things moms and dads are coming up with for their children. Many share online their teaching approaches, crafts, and other ingenious activities they are doing to help engage their kids. I've heard many in ministry comment on some of the positive impacts this shutdown has had on family life. Many families have drawn closer because of necessity, but, it has created bonding that perhaps was not there before because of the busyness of everyone involved. Well, that busy schedule has been set aside and now parents do have time to be with their kids. To help them in their lessons. To play games. To have Bible studies and pray together as a family. Some have even said this almost seems miraculous given the obstacles that prevented it before. Sure, there's plenty of seriously bad stuff out there and there's probably more coming, however, I do thank it is worth praising God for the good that is being accomplished in all of the calamity. Amen.

I also know there are exceptions where financial stress and other factors have preceded new instances of domestic abuse. That is a sad thing to see happen. From the perspective of reaching out to and ministering to people, our local fellowship is seeing more folks viewing our services each week than we had attending on a regular basis. In addition to this development, our Sunday School groups are focused on keeping up with all of their members. Many are using electronic meeting programs to interact with their classes as well as to have sharing and prayer time. Our class is one of the older classes and many of them would not be able to join one of these types of electronic group meetings. That's one of the reasons I have been sending out a weekly video. Many do receive emails, therefore, they can click on the video link. We do have some that are not connected to the internet. We do our best to keep up with them by calling. My point? Our pastoral staff reports that all of this contacting and caring is the most in our history. This too is something good coming out of a very bad situation. I do hope you will be encouraged in knowing God is in control. Amen. .....More later.