"Guess who I bumped into on the way to the eye doctor? Everyone." ~ copied

Good morning and welcome to Friday, February 26, 2021.  I finally was able to get my diabetic eye check-up yesterday. My regular eye doctor left Kelsey earlier this month, therefore, I didn't get to see her. She was one of the most wonderful medical professionals I've ever dealt with. She was an unashamed Christ follower with an exuberant personality and as one of her helpers told me yesterday, she was that way every day and they are all so sad she is no longer with them. She actually left to stay at home. Her husband is a heart surgeon. For many years he headed up the heart department of one of the major medical providers. A couple of years ago he went into private practice and I assume that has worked out very well. At any rate, yesterday I worked with the gentleman who took her place. Different as daylight from dark. He was 100% business. No chit-chat. And, I quickly add, there was nothing wrong with that. It was just so different. Sadly for me, he had no silver bullets for my recent decline in the sharpness of my vision. My prescription is pretty much the same. My cataracts are there but still not developed to the point of needing surgery. He did notice a minute change in the scan they've been doing for many years tracking an anomaly thought once to perhaps be connected to diabetic retinopathy. Therefore, I need to return in 6 months instead of 12 to get this checked again. Meanwhile, he wants me to try some tear replacement stuff and some warm compresses to see if that helps to get me more distance clarity. I am blessed with excellent near vision without my glasses, but, that fades very quickly after about 18 inches. It was a good visit but oh so different. Kind of like life. Right?  

Here's a regurgitation of a related visit from 2012. 

TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Have you ever noticed that if it isn't one thing, it's something else?

Okay. Enough already. It is Tuesday, June 5, 2012, and I am already worked up about a new study that just came out. You have to wonder who pays some of these research scientists. They now have established conclusively that old people have a distinct odor compared to younger folks. As if we didn't have enough to worry about. That old people smell turned out to be recognized when people were given pads that had been placed under the armpits of a variety of age groups. Here's an interesting tidbit. Most people when they discuss this old people specific odor do so with a negative connotation. However, when given whiffs from different age groups those involved in the testing chose younger smells as being much more offensive. Why the difference? The researchers believe it has to do with preconceived negative thoughts about aging. As for why there is a difference in odors, while they can't be certain it is believed that aging produces changes in how skin gland secretions interact with bacteria on the skin. Let me try to summarize this. Old people have a distinct odor. Young people think it really stinks, not because it really stinks, but rather, because getting old really stinks, to them. Young people smell worse but they don't notice that. And, for us who are headed for the old and smelly category, well, while aging might stink to the younger folks, they will one day look forward to participating fully in it, and, for most, for as long as they can. Let's hope we will not soon have to endure a new ration of commercials devoted to products that specifically target the 'old people smell'.

I did have my eye exam follow-up last Friday. I love it when the medical folks talk technical. Don't you? I have a diagnosis regarding a very small lesion in my right eye. It is called non-proliferated diabetic retinopathy. This means that I have a couple of blood vessels that appear to be damaged but without any associated issues, at this time. That's where the non-proliferated comes in. If it begins to proliferate that could mean trouble. Serious trouble. But, thanks be to the Lord God in heaven, it has not changed any since the last visit when this microscopic but huge surprise was first spotted. The reason they want to monitor this closely is because of where it is located. Simply put, if it were to begin leaking blood that would be bad. How bad? Very. But, again, it is stable and everything else looks okay at this time. My new appointment is set for December, unless, of course, the proverbial anything changes happens to occur. I did have about 15 minutes of sheer melt-down exasperation to get the examination started. Let me remind you that I came to do a follow-up on a diabetic-induced issue that could seriously impact my vision. Here's how it started: The technician announced that she needed to check my eyes. She asked me to read the eye chart. I couldn't. She kept telling me to blink. (Last time I was there they almost ran me off because I couldn't stop blinking.) I couldn't read the chart. Everything was too fuzzy. After several minutes of her moving my head up and down, forth and back, putting my chin in and out of that little cup thingy, and her doing a little huffing on her on, she finally grabbed my glasses and left the room to go and read them on their machine. Well, what do you know? At the prior visit they had written down my prescriptions backward on the chart and she was trying to get me to read the chart on my right eye with the lens correction for my left eye, and the chart for the left eye with the right eye correction. Haha, funny? Not on your life! I almost couldn't read it even after she straightened it out because by that time I could hear Ray Charles singing in the background. I know what you are thinking. No way you would want to be me. I can almost understand why.

My regular ophthalmologist is on maternity leave. She was born in India. The lady ophthalmologist filling in for my doctor on Friday was very nice. Her parents came here from China. I did check her out on the internet before my appointment. She was magna or summa cum laude at every school of higher learning that she attended including Harvard Medical School. My doctor is supposed to be back in October so I should see her in December. That's good because next time I go I might need to get my passport updated. Just kidding. I happen to think that these ladies, both in their early thirties, both with outstanding academic credentials, are exactly what this melting pot of a country is all about. At least I didn't tell her the joke about how that I thought for years that magna cum laude was a Negro spiritual until I found out different. You don't think it's funny either? The other thing I thought about was telling the technician she might start off her day by taking a marks-a-lot and drawing a big R on her right hand and a big L on her left hand. But, since she was not the one who made the mistake from my prior visit, she may not have thought it to be funny, and since she had not at that moment stopped moving my head around, I decided, given the potential outcomes, to just take a deep breath and enjoy the thought of what she might have done had I told her. But I didn't. And, we move on to the next challenge. I do hope you will have a great day and that our Great God will add His blessings to it. Amen.    ...More later.

“Death, taxes and childbirth! There's never any convenient time for any of them.” ― Margaret Mitchell, Author, noted for her book, Gone with the Wind

Good morning and welcome. Today is Thursday, November 25, 2021, and, I do hope everyone is up and going in pursuit of today's agenda. Time is moving forward. I know that because yesterday I downloaded the 2020 Federal tax software we use in order to get ready to get ready to file our tax return. I've used the same software for many years. It plays me like I am a captive audience because there are good, alternative software packages for about half the cost, but, I can automatically upload my last year's return as a starting point, and, I am familiar with the programs including the stuff that irritates me, therefore, I weigh all of that versus saving $60 and learning a new package and that leads me to stay with what I am most familiar with. (Accounting for and properly reporting all the Santa Enterprise stuff is enough to challenge anyone.)  That may be even more important this year as I deal with the COVID-induced scrambling of some of my memory storage units. Yes. I do realize this is a crutch that has the potential of being overused as an excuse, but, right now it is my story and I'm sticking to it. 

When I became a little woozy trying to help pull up some carpet, I remembered my grandfather had some colorful ways to describe what he considered to be useless. He was not one to use off-color language but he could get close when he got stirred up. His sayings were never vulgar but they are not appropriate to share on the printed or in this case, the electronic page. I sought out other ways to describe my situation the other day in order to describe my frustration. When I looked up the slang figure of speech, 'you're as useless as', I was surprised to find many of the mainstream dictionaries and other word study materials used the same stuff Paw Paw Mac used to say. I soldiered on and found a few I thought I could use. Foghorn Leghorn is quoted as saying, "You're as useless as a back pocket on a tee shirt." Others included, "Useless as a glass hammer";  "...a concrete parachute"; "screendoor on a submarine"; "color-blind interior decorator"; "graverobber at a crematorium"; and finally one that was a little esoteric, "As useless as a ham sandwich at a Bar mitzvah." I think you get my drift. I was not feeling very useful. 

I do hope you have a very engaging and useful day. Enjoy. And, may God add His blessings. Amen. ....More later.

“He knows not his own strength who hath not met adversity.” – William Samuel Johnson

Bentley here, think about this: “The average dog is a nicer person than
the average person.” — Andy Rooney

Hello and welcome to another day in the neighborhood and this one is marked as Wednesday, February 24, 2021. I am on the run already since we are hauling Mr. Bentley up to the groomers early this morning. If anyone would have told me a little over two years ago how much I would be spending each month on 'the' dog, well, I would have not even considered it to be a plausible thought. But, that was then and this is now and we are better off for him being with us. The wife and I went to help some friends at their winter-damaged home and I discovered right away that I have a ways to go in the strength and stamina departments. Using a box cutter to cut and pull up carpet nearly put my lights out. How exasperating! I did pretty well until I didn't do well and then I had to quit and was sent home by the wife. In fact, she said it like this, "I don't want you to fall out here so just go home and take care of the dog." These folks, like so many others, were dealing with the aftermath of busted pipes and the subsequent damage to their home. Oh well, I suppose I can say I tried. It is still exasperating, but, others who have recovered from COVID tell me I will get stronger. In time. I am counting on that.

There is a lot of discouragement lurking here and there during these days. Here are some encouraging words, inspired by Creator God Himself, and, I can't think of a better source. Can you? (Lifted from a website entitled, 'Top 50 Encouraging Bible Verses).

Isaiah 41:10 NIV

10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 118:14-16 NIV

14 The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. 15 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: "The Lord's right hand has done mighty things! 16 The Lord's right hand is lifted high; the Lord's right hand has done mighty things!"

2 Timothy 1:7 NIV

7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

John 16:33 NIV

33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

John 14:27 NIV

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Colossians 3:15 NIV

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Psalm 46:11 NIV

11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV

6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Psalm 27:1 NIV

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?

Thessalonians 3:13 NIV

13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV

13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

Proverbs 28:1 NIV

1 The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

2 Chronicles 32:7 NIV

7 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Psalm 31:24 NIV

24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

Philippians 4:13 NIV

13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Psalm 112:7 NIV

7 They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

1 Chronicles 22:13 NIV

13 Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the Lord gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.

Isaiah 12:2 NIV

2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation."

1 Chronicles 28:20 NIV

20 David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.

Philippians 1:28 NIV

28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved-and that by God.

Psalm 16:8 NIV

8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Psalm 27:12-14 NIV

12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations. 13 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Ephesians 6:10-18 NIV

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Hebrews 10:25 NIV

25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Zephaniah 3:17 NIV

17 The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."

Romans 15:4 NIV

4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

Joshua 1:9 NIV

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Romans 15:13 NIV

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ezra 10:4 NIV

4 Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it."

Joshua 10:25 NIV

25 Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight."

1 John 4:18 NIV

18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Philippians 1:27 NIV

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel

2 Corinthians 5:8 NIV

8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

2 Chronicles 32:8 NIV

8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles." And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.

2 Samuel 10:12 NIV

12 Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight."

Deuteronomy 31:23 NIV

23 The Lord gave this command to Joshua son of Nun: "Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you."

Matthew 10:28 NIV

28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Galatians 6:9 NIV

9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Matthew 17:20 NIV

20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV

58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Hebrews 13:5-6 NIV

5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." 6 So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?"

Luke 12:4 NIV

4 "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.

Isaiah 26:3 NIV

3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Joshua 2:11 NIV

11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

Daniel 10:19 NIV

19 "Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed," he said. "Peace! Be strong now; be strong." When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength."

1 Chronicles 19:13 NIV

13 Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight."

I read them and as always I need to apply them but I do hope they will encourage us all. Amen. .....More later.

"The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter - 'tis the difference between the lightning-bug and the lightning." ~ Mark Twain

Hello and welcome. Today. It is Tuesday, February 23, 2021. Everyone is giving the new administration a pass on their performance in the first 100 days because of all the 'undoing' the President has had to deal with in order to bring sanity back to our country, and, to the entire world. This is how the mainstream is reporting this first report card. Really hard-hitting. Right? I copied the article above from a friend's Facebook posting. I use it because it does point out some of the challenges we face in communicating in the English language. Maybe that's why the media is struggling with finding the right words to use in assessing President Biden's performance. I rather doubt that to be the problem, but, I will agree they are having trouble figuring out what to say next for the fill in the blank, "What he really meant to say is this:........." That right there keeps them busy around the clock. We all have a viewfinder that we observe and interpret happenings and actions through. That viewfinder has its own presets. Mine is set up to see things via traditional conservative principles, as I understand them. The mainstream has its own viewfinders and I'll let you guess what their presets emphasize. Time's up.

Here's another image posted on Facebook with the implied application of these facts helping one to know how old they feel. Even though I recognize every one of those listed, I actually think it could make folks a wee bit younger than me to begin feeling a little older.  Some odds and ends. I saw a posting by the local policing authorities that seemed somewhat humorous to me. They wanted to know if anyone recognized the fellow captured on one of those doorbell security cameras. He was a burglary suspect. He was a black guy, wearing black clothes, a black cap, and one of those social distancing black pull-up masks. It looked like a blackout to me. I went to my dental appointment for my six-month cleaning and a search for any and all additional dental procedures that might help their bottom line. Because of my diabetes which includes blood pressure medication, they always check my blood pressure before turning on the searchlight. The hygenist used one of those wrist units but the first take was not successful due to it not being tight enough. She laughed and said the unit was ancient. (I thought I recognized it from a rerun on the BBC version of Antiques Road Show.) She said the velcro had lost its holding ability, therefore, she strapped up again and this time she held it to my wrist. The number read 136/75 which she said was okay but to tell the truth, I didn't have a lot of confidence in the report. They have a dozen of those lay-down exam chairs in that joint, several staff dentists, and, a large number of teeth cleaners. My point? Surely they can afford an up-to-date testing device. One final thing. Since the pandemic, they have added a $15 sanitizing charge to clean up between patients. While waiting for my appointment, I observed this clean-up process. One to two minutes at the most. I will be kind and say two minutes. That works out to $450 per hour for sanitizing. Just 'sayin'.

I actually had better material than I shared. I suppose I will have to start jotting down things when I observe them since, blame it on COVID, my retaining gift that has always served me well seems to have, like Elvis, left the building. Will it come back? One hopes. I suppose that is one of those yet-to-be-determined situations. Thanks again for your support and I will continue to do what I can do until I can do better. That actually sounds like a plan. Have a great rest of the day and may God bless. Amen. .....More later.

"Some folks look at me and see a certain swagger, which in Texas is called 'walking'." ~ George W. Bush

Photo from Monday, the 15th, versus today, Friday, the 19th.
Thanking God for the sunshine! Amen.

Okay. Now that we have put that weather thing behind us, I suppose it is time to return to our normal day-by-day living. It is Monday, February 23, 2021, and I find myself thanking God for getting us through as well as we were able to make it. The photo collage was one I posted on Facebook last Friday. It shows our story where we, like so many others, did our best to cope with the very low temperatures. We did feel the impact of a brief power outage but it was nothing like the plight suffered by so many. Some were without power for almost the duration of the winter storm. I watched as much as I could stand of the televised roundtable where the President of Ercot and his chief operations director tried to explain what had brought about the electrical grid's inability to maintain power during the storm. I've been in a lot of high-level meetings where folks were mostly interested in passing the buck and this zoom telecast was that type of presentation on steroids. ("Passing the buck" originated from a ritual practiced during card games. Card players used to place a marker, called a "buck," in front of the person who was the dealer. ... Eventually "passing the buck" became synonymous with passing on responsibility.) This idiom was the basis of President Truman's refusal to do so when he said, "The buck stops here." The president of Ercot makes a lot of money and he certainly could have stepped up to his being the face of the grid. But, in my way of seeing it, that P/R stunt failed miserably, and like I said, I couldn't stay with it and listen to so many lame excuses. Just me. You may have a different take. That's okay. For now, we are still allowed to have a take.

The impact from the grid failures was much more than the inconvenience, displacement, and even the suffering endured by individuals. The power outages led to a vast number of water system failures, pipe ruptures, and, serious structural damage to homes and businesses. It will take some time to assess the total cost of this disastrous outcome, but, clearly, the cold itself is not the only culprit here. Some believe it could take out the Governor himself since he appointed the Ercot people and he is ultimately responsible. There are additional folks in that chain including those directly responsible for the grid itself. Meanwhile, the politicians are not wasting any time in making this an advantage for the opposing party. Don't get me wrong, it works this way on both sides of the aisle. Sadly, and, I don't want to be negative here, but, if it works like it usually does, there will be a lot of huffing and puffing, a so-called investigation, a written white paper, and when it is all said and done, things will be mostly the same while we wait for the next threat to come along and reignite the issues. Don't discount the use of the mainstream media to use this particular failure to further their progressive agenda. Don't doubt me on this.

From yesterday's posting on Facebook: Happy, Happy 30th Birthday to our granddaughter Brittany, daughter of our eldest Chris and wife Sherrie. We thank God for her and her family, husband Ryan, daughter Gabriella, and the new addition who will soon make his/her appearance. May God continue to bless is our prayer. Our love, MiMi and Poppy

Regarding the winter storm, be clear, I'm not promoting a down-and-out mindset because I saw too many instances of people going out of their way to help others during this difficult weather event. Those stories are not the ones being heralded by the national press, however, they too make up what the people of Texas are all about. Have a great rest of the day and may God continue to bless. Amen. ....More later.

“If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?” ― T.S. Eliot

Good morning and, yes, it is still cold outside. It is Friday, February 19, 2021, and, I do bring you greetings once again from our weather reporting station to yours. I do hope all of you folks are holding up during this unusual cold snap. Speaking of cold, we made a trip back in 2014 out to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and may I just say it was an experience we will never forget. Here is my flashback recollection of us finally weathering, pun intended, the icy roadways to arrive at our destination. Have a great day, a good one on Saturday, and since the weather is supposed to be good, we plan, Lord willing, to be in service with our brothers and sisters in Christ come Lord's Day Sunday. Amen. .....More later. 

MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

We arrived safely. However, we still have to return later in the week.

Today is Monday, December 29, 2014, and we are here in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the air is clear and crisp and whether you call it dry or not, most people would say it's cold. Our trip here was pretty eventful since we came in contact with a genuine snowstorm near Wichita Falls, Texas. It was one of those perfect storm events, no pun intended. We had just been passed by an 18 wheeler who was driving 70 plus mph and it threw a pile of stuff onto our windshield. Suddenly we had left the fast driving pavement for ice all over the place. The wife's car is equipped with that traction drive stuff and it grabbed hold of the car and we have no idea how we didn't spin like a top but we didn't and we are thankful. About 10 minutes later a lady in the outside lane lost control and fishtailed into our lane and we somehow didn't hit her. Talk about near misses! My wife said our guardian angel was working overtime on our behalf. As we continued, we hit several stretches where the freeway was pretty much frozen over. Okay. At 68 I'm not into testing my heart anymore than those types of near catastrophes did. But, we made it here and it is oh so beautiful. Sure. It's a little on the cool side but to me it's wonderful. The wife must not have been too worried because even as my knuckles were white from holding on as we were nearly spinning out of control I could hear her clicking photos on her tablet. Maybe she was wanting to capture my last words. I do hope you have a wonderful day and may God add His blessings to it.

"We can be certain that God will give us the strength and resources we need to live through any situation in life that he ordains. The will of God will never take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us." ~ Billy Graham

Good morning and I am glad to be able to bid you a hearty hello as we continue our cold weather plight here in our area. It is Thursday, February 18, 2021, and, they tell us it will all be gone soon. One local weather person said to hang in there for a couple of more days and this thing will be history. It reminds me of when Moses was dealing with Pharoah during the plagues in Egypt and he asked him when he wanted to remove the frogs. Pharoah said tomorrow which meant they would have one more night with the frogs. I suppose we will have one more night with the bitterly cold and some relief in the way of higher temps beginning on Sunday. We did have the power glitch yesterday but we cannot complain because ours has been on most of the entire time. Thus far. I can see the liberals lining up to take out our somewhat conservative leadership in Texas by using this colossal power glitz as a wedge. It just might work because no matter how you slice it, for us to have this many folks without power for extended periods in Texas, well, as they say back home, 'Something ain't right'. I did take a tumble on the icy street on Tuesday. Landed on my hip and it was sore as all billy heck for a couple of days, but, thank God it is better now. Arthritis strength, time-release, Tylenol helped a lot. I did get the fireplace ready and scrambled in the snow to get some limbs and a few larger pieces of wood, but, we haven't had to use it yet. God has been good. We did have one granddaughter and one great-granddaughter who came over due to an extended outage at their apartment complex. Thus far, we have been blessed. Mr. Bentley is so happy to see grass again.

Y'all continue to be very careful and always, always remember to seek God and to thank Him for His provision. Amen. .....More later.

When we were outside, I actually thought I heard Mr. Bentley humming, 'Baby It's Cold Outside'.

Good morning and welcome. It is cold here in these parts. It is supposedly our coldest morning and some improvements should be on the way. But, we get up praising the Lord because He has provided for us on this Tuesday, February 16, 2021. Thus far, we have been blessed to still have our electricity on without any interruptions. Thus far. Given the conditions and the reports of so many who have been out for extended periods of time, we consider us having it to be a blessing. We do have a fireplace and we do have some limited access to wood, therefore, I suppose that would be our backup plan. We have many friends who were out of power yesterday, some for most of the day. Since this cold was somewhere around a 30-year phenomenon, the wife said we might not have to worry about the next one since we will likely be gone on to our eternal abode. You know. Our real home. Heaven. That place where Jesus said we would be, (John 14:3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also."), and, I add that we look forward to that home reunion.

Do your best to stay warm and more importantly, stay safe. May God provide as we take it one breath at a time. Amen. .....More later.

Mr. Bentley can't figure out the snow, but, life goes on. Stay warm and stay safe.

Good morning and I bid you welcome from our snowed-in location here in our area. It is Monday, February 15, 2021, where we are reporting a 16-degree reading as I do my blog this morning. We had a most wonderful time visiting our granddaughter and her family last Thursday in San Antonio. The photos speak for themselves. We traveled in a bad rainstorm but God was good and we greatly enjoyed making the pictures and spending time with them. I do hope everyone is staying as warm as possible. We got back Friday afternoon and did what we could to prepare for the deep freeze conditions. We are hearing about those without power, some 1 million as of this morning due to the rolling blackouts imposed to try and preserve capacity along with some storm-related outages. We will all have to bundle up and be as prepared as possible along with trusting God to provide. Have a great rest of the day and stay safe and warm. May God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!” ~ A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore, also known as "The Night Before Christmas"

Good morning and Merry Christmas to one and all. It is Thursday, February 11, 2021, and we are, Lord willing, headed later this morning out to San Antonio to finish our 2020 Santa photos and to give gifts to our first granddaughter and her family. We had planned to do this much earlier but coordination conflicts along with COVID prevented us from doing so. We hope to get this done this evening and we will be returning to the home base tomorrow, just in time to prepare for the predicted deep chill headed our way. I have seen temperature low predictions all over the page including some near single digits. We try to keep an eye on the weather forecasts but, like I say, they do tend to differ depending on which one you use. At any rate, we do know it will be well below freezing for overnight lows for several days next week, and, as the wife said, "Looks like we will have some winter this year." Because of our travel, I will not be sending out a blog tomorrow. 

Just for the record, I have not watched one second of the official impeachment proceedings going on in the US Senate. I believe it is primarily political and serves to try and tarnish former President Trump to the extent he will not be a threat in the future. That may be a bad bet on the part of the Democrats before it is all said and done. I do see blurbs popping up on my Twitter feed, so I do get bits and bites of information regarding the happenings as they unfold. Something the current majority did not anticipate is how strong the negative response has been out on the fruited plains. State Republican parties are busy taking action against their representatives and senators who side with the Democrats. I think the new administration along with their cronies in the House and Senate fail to appreciate how common, ordinary people interpret the motives behind this constitutionally vague proceeding. They think it will be a home run but it could end up being a strikeout. We will see.

2019 Photo of our Granddaughter and her family.

Have a great rest of the day, a good Friday, Saturday, and Lord's Day Sunday. And, as always, give God the glory, and may He add His blessings. Amen. .....More later.

Bentley's Barkology Blog

Bentley here. Good morning. It is Wednesday, February 10, 2021, and I bring you greetings from my world to yours. That photo was taken yesterday. He put up on that stump and clicked away. He never explained why I was on the stump but I've learned to just go along with his choices. I've had a rough time of it trying to hold everything together while the so-called master of the house dealt with his illness. He was so sick he hardly could even play with me, much less take me on my morning inspection tour of the neighborhood. But, he's back now. Thank goodness for that. Our routine is pretty much what it was before all of the fever, chills, and coughing. Our cat-lady neighbor behind us has lost a couple of her beloved cats. I heard her say she had both of them for nearly 17 years. I suppose that must be a good long time. Long enough to use up their 9 lives and then some. One was named Little Man and the other was Gracie. I will miss them pestering me but their colleague Shadow is still around and he keeps me going most of the time. Shadow must have seen the Lion King movie and got the idea he was the real king of this neighborhood. He still loves to prance and strut around, especially when he sees me laying at the glass doors. He will not stop until I go into a spasm. That seems to please him very much. And, yes, he still makes fun of me having the leash on. He actually mocks me. Don't feel too sorry for our neighbor. She still has about 8 cats to take care of along with her pup, Angel. She is a good friend to me and when I visit she has special snacks she keeps for me, and, as a special treat, she gives me a handful of salmon flavored cat food. Don't let anyone know but the truth is I've grown quite fond of that cat food. Yum Yum.

I do my best every day to keep the mood light and to show the folks here how much I love them. I think I may have the best home in the world. I hear them say how spoiled I am, but, I can feel the love every time I jump up into their laps. Thanks for showing up today and I will do my best to keep an eye on things here. May God bless. Amen. .....More later.

From a website article about praying for our leaders, "The Bible is clear; Christians are meant to seek God’s guidance for our leaders and those in authority. Yet, many of us are so consumed with fear, frustration, or even apathy that we’ve forsaken these instructions."

Good morning folks and welcome to some regurgitated thoughts and ideas that pretty much come from the same source even though they are repackaged and disguised from time to time. It is Tuesday, February 9, 2021, and we are thankful to be able to embrace another day as God provides. I did not vote for the current occupant of the Oval Office. It was a conscience deal with me. The other day I tried to watch him speak about the so-called stimulus package he is trying to ram through the Congress. I could not stay with it because he could not even read from the teleprompter in a coherent way. I am not making that up. This display of cognition chaos makes one wonder about his signing of the record number of executive orders he has already implemented. At the same time, I pray for him and for his administration because we are instructed to do so by the Lord. Remember, God used many pagan kings to accomplish His purpose as told to us in the Old Testament. Why should I pray? 1) "First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone— 2) for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. 3) This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1st Timothy Chapter 2 from the Berean Study Bible. Amen. 

I am glad to report the wife is back home and our version of a normal rhythm of life has returned. I can't explain everything about how this works but it is a big deal, especially to those who are blessed by God to have a long run together, (for us, 56-1/2 years). We have observed up close and personally the impact when this rhythm is interrupted by death. While no one can know how difficult this is until it comes to them, we have dear ones who are still dealing with the impact many years after the loss of their mate. Some, however, are happy with the memories of their previous normal rhythm of life. I well remember an elderly lady interviewed for a PBS radio special about being active in old age. Her claim to fame was, at 95, her daily swimming (skinny dipping) in a pond on her property nine months out of the year. The interviewer mentioned her widowhood for twenty years and asked if she had ever entertained any offers from would-be suitors. The lady laughed and said she had plenty of offers from those in the nearby villages but her conclusion was this, "When you have had the best, why mess around with the rest?"

This past Sunday, I was comparing my Covid experience to the one experienced by one of our associate pastors. He is in his 40's and was not as sick as I was but had to deal with fatigue and one he had not expected, the brain fog. And, all I could say was Amen to that one. Now you know what I have been up against in trying to do my blogs each day. Here's what WebMD says about this condition: "'Brain fog' isn't a medical condition. It's a term used for certain symptoms that can affect your ability to think. You may feel confused or disorganized or find it hard to focus or put your thoughts into words." I know what some of you are thinking. "So, what's new with you?" While there is likely truth in that question, I will tell you it has been a little more foggy than normal. Guess it's time for me to man up and put into practice what I used to tell my managers at the big company, "On my worst day I'm still going to be working at the 100% commitment level." Those were the days. Or, maybe, just maybe, there are a few of those days left. Hang in there and I am hoping to reach the partly cloudy level real soon. Y'all take care now, you hear? And, may God bless each one. Amen. .....More later.

Instagram quote during the Super Bowl: "Keep your friends close and your snacks closer."

Good morning and welcome. It is Monday, February 8, 2021. We have a neighbor who is a lawyer. She is an animal lover and has plenty of them hanging around her place including a few chickens. She recently gave me a half dozen yard eggs and they were wonderfully delicious. I took some of the Louisiana whole hog sausage, (called by the name of the wife's brother as in Cleon-sausage), and paired it with one of the neighbor's bright orange egg yolks on a slice of cheese toast. Talk about good! I did see some dire predictions last week about the potential shortage of chicken wings leading up to the Super Bowl. They were expecting nearly 42% of households to be watching the game between the Bucs and the Chiefs, an estimated 100 million people watching in the US. As for chicken wings, they predicted a record 1.24 billion wings to be consumed. We didn't watch the game and we didn't eat any chicken wings but I did see the score being updated on Twitter. I did go to the grocery store after Church on Sunday and the one I visited did have a lot of blank spaces on the shelves. I suppose the Super Bowl still has its impact.

The Twins, born 18 months apart. One playing the wedding music. One coordinating the wedding. These girls are still amazing! 

Today is important since the wife will be returning from helping coordinate the wedding for our niece in Florida. She and her sister left last Wednesday. The sister played the wedding music and the wife was the wedding coordinator. I saw the photos and they tell me it was a wonderful affair. Our niece, Callie, is a wonderful Godly young woman, granddaughter of our lately departed dear Bro. Milton and his wife Glenda. It's surprising what kinds of things one can cook up to eat when you are fending for yourself for six days, but, I did not waste away and I'm pretty sure I didn't lose any weight. I will be glad to have her home. That is for sure!

I thought this image from Facebook was cute. It summarizes the outcome of the game pretty well. Have yourself a remarkable day and don't forget to give God the glory. Always and forever. Amen. ....More later. 

"Jesus is the hope of the world and the local church is the vehicle of expressing that hope to the world." ~ Andy Stanley

For those of you who work out in the public each day, I know Friday for many of you is important because it ends the workweek. This one is marked February 5, 2021, and I commend each of you for your working but I also remind each one to be thankful if you have a job. Many of those without jobs and those with reduced incomes as a result of COVID are now doing their best to adjust to their new normal. This has made an impact throughout our land. Based on what I am reading about Churches, the full impact of the pandemic is becoming more well known each day. Attendance has faltered and with that, the offerings have suffered as well. This is creating great challenges for those charged with leading local fellowships. One need only Google 'Churches going out of business due to COVID' to see the many hits describing the dire conditions being faced by congregations throughout America. We know Satan is the enemy of all that is of God. The Church is God's plan and the Founder is none other than Jesus the Christ. That makes it one of Satan's most hated adversaries. While there will be some that end up closing their doors permanently, we need to be reminded how the Church belongs to God and Jesus made it clear His Church would persevere and the gates of hell will not prevail against His Church. (Matthew 16:17-19) For those of us who God has provided continuing resources during the pandemic, we need to do all we can to support the local fellowship where we serve and worship Him. Amen. 

Speaking of the workplace, here is a piece, (very long), I wrote many years ago. Have a great Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday. Lord willing, I'll catch back up with you next week. Amen. ....More later.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2007

Paid Employment From A Biblical Perspective!

There’s nothing like opening a huge can of worms early on a Friday morning. The subject of a believer’s behavior in conjunction with the work they do or job they perform has been one that I’ve spent endless hours studying and thinking about. There’s a ton of research materials available but most of it indicates we who are Christians are not living it on the job. It seems that most believers end up adapting themselves to a dual morality approach where they apply one set of ethics in the marketplace and another in the home and church. This, sadly, comes as a result of expectations that focus solely on doing whatever it takes including setting aside one’s personal values in order to generate profits. When you think about it, that’s really the subtitle of how work is defined in the world.

Believe me, I have wrestled with this issue for years. No doubt even companies that portray themselves as ethical push the envelope all day long while walking a fine line in making sure they do not actually break the law. I remember working for a man for a number of years who was an outspoken Christian in his portrayal of himself. He told everyone about his faith, his work on behalf of his church, and his proud family heritage of faithfulness. However, his approach to business was essentially to do anything and everything it takes in order to make the deal. His answer for this situation was that God knew that a man had to do what a man had to do. He chose not to see the huge disconnect but most people hated dealing with him because they saw the obvious hypocrisy in his talk versus his walk. In fact, I’ve worked for many other people who were more ethical in their business dealings than he was even though they had little or nothing to do with any expression of faith towards God.

I’ll just tell you that whether it’s me or you, it is a bad testimony if we are checking our identity as a believer at the door when we come to work. Many think that work came about as a result of the fall of Adam and it is part of the curse. That’s not true. Adam had a job before he fell as the caretaker over God’s creation. It involved many different responsibilities. What happened in the fall was that work would no longer be without complications, difficulties, and pain. Now you know how your job came to be complicated, difficult, and painful. See, you learn something new every day.

Yet the Bible clearly stakes out a standard for those of us who have jobs and work for pay. It first requires that we be who we are in Christ no matter where we are. This doesn’t mean we go around our workplace thumping a Bible since that would no doubt be distracting and even a misuse of company time. It requires that our allegiance is to God first and then we are to be a faithful servant to the enterprise that pays us. This doesn’t mean we will always work with ethical people because there are plenty who operate on the world’s philosophy. However, we are to quietly do what we do as if we are doing it for the Lord. (see Colossians 3:23) If the time comes when we are called upon to break what we know is our commitment to being faithful to our calling, then we will have to deal with that circumstance and try to find a way to meet the requirement another way. We must always make certain that we are on solid grounds for being concerned about a particular issue, but in the end, if we are required to violate our faith, we must make a decision, and leave the consequences in God’s hands.

That’s easier said than done and I’ve been all over the page in how I’ve handled these types of situations. In fact, I worked for seven years for the man mentioned above knowing I should have confronted him and left the company rather than be a supporter of his open maligning of the faith. Why didn’t I? I thought I had to think about my financial obligations and my family and that was my rationalization at the time. However, the truth is the truth. God owns the cattle on a thousand hills which by the way means He owns it all! He knows how to take care of His own and while it would not have been easy because we are not promised easy, I am fully persuaded He would have made a way for me if I had stood up and been counted for what I knew was right.

I can’t go back and change that now and I will tell you how wonderfully blessed I am to now be working for a man who is committed to doing his business by the Book, God’s Holy Word. This doesn’t mean he or me or our program is perfect but we try our best to look at our business dealings through the lens of fundamental truths as set forth in God’s word. I can tell you that working in this environment has been a rewarding experience for me. I leave you with one thing and that is an encouragement to not give up the struggle and throw in the towel even before you are engaged in the conflict. It will come but if you have already compromised away your beliefs, you will end up operating no differently than those who are out for themselves only, without Christ, and enslaved to the ruler of this world, Satan himself. You don’t have to be a theologian to know this is not what God would have us to do. This will give you something to think about over the weekend and on Monday I’ll try to come up with something not quite so heavy. …..More later.

"A radical is a man with both feet firmly planted-in the air." ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

Good morning and welcome. It is Thursday, February 4, 2021. I can already pick up on a theme from the mainstream press in their coverage of the new administration. It will generally fall into this category: There is nothing to see here. Missteps that would have produced outrage in their reporting on the Trump administration can't even get a yawn in their coverage of the new world order they have promoted for so long. That may sound over the top but I'm giving you my impression of what I am seeing on my Twitter feed and other news blurbs from different sources. Some of the people being put into important jobs is very chilling. We will have folks responsible for the security processes that protect our nation who as recent as 5 years ago wrote an op-ed saying the greatest threat to America's security is the police departments throughout our country. They emphasized this was a greater threat than terrorism or threats from China or Russia. Radicals will now be in positions of power and they will be making and shaping policies that will eventually impact us all. Of course, the fallback plan will be to blame everything that goes wrong on the previous occupant of the Oval Office. For instance, candidate Biden said he had a solution to the Coronavirus on day one. Now he is saying it is perhaps the greatest threat ever faced by our nation and the fact they are not able to make progress is the fault of President Trump. Obviously, day one and solution have a different meaning to these people. 

I know there's a movement afoot encouraging people of faith to just totally ignore any news. They say that as a way for folks to keep their joy. First of all, seeing the news or not seeing the news is not the basis of or source of our joy. True joy comes from knowing God through His Son. Period. I do think we should be informed but in a balanced way. Our pastor recently talked about how his family used an app to report back to each one how much time they use their cellphone and what cellphone apps utilize the most of their time. His point? For those who make the excuse of not really having time to read and study God's Word or to spend time in prayer, well, he recommended those with that excuse to run that app and see how much time they have for other things. The Bible has much to say about Godly joy in the day by day living of those who identify themselves as Christ-followers. I copied these from a website devoted to this subject:

#1 – James 1:2-3 – Pure Joy In Trials

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."

#2 – 1 Peter 1:8-9 – Joy Unspeakable

"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

#3 – 2 John 1:12 – Joy In Relationships

"I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete."

#4 – Luke  15:7 – Joy In Repentance

"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."

#5 – Nehemiah 8:10 – The Joy Of The Lord Is My Strength "Nehemiah said, 'Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.'"

#6 – 2 Corinthians 6:10 – Rejoicing In Our Sorrow "Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything."

#7 – Psalm 30:5 – Joy Comes In The Morning

"For his anger lasts only a moment,

    but his favor lasts a lifetime;

weeping may stay for the night,

    but rejoicing comes in the morning."

#8 – Galatians 5:22-23 – Joy Is A Fruit Of The Spirit "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

#9 – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

10 – John 16:24 "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."

I was helped by reading these verses. My prayer is they will speak to you as well. May God add His blessings. Amen. .....More later.

"I didn’t fail the test. I just found 100 ways to do it wrong." – Benjamin Franklin

Good morning. It's Wednesday, February 3, 2021. I do hope everyone is doing well. I am pleased to bring greetings to one and all. I do appreciate those who take the time to hear (read) what I have to say (write). I also appreciate the comments and thoughts sent to me. As I continue this journey, I saw the mile marker was now at 3516 blogs. I had thought 3500 might be a good stopping destination but it got up into my rearview mirror before I noticed it. Maybe 3600. Or, whenever the time is appropriate. I do pray I will recognize it when I see it. I don't want to end up like some fellows who used to work for me at the big company. Someone remarked one day how they thought these guys had retired. I immediately responded, essentially, they have retired but they've not yet left the building. I may have worn out my welcome here, but, for now, I am still at it which only reminds us all of my Granddad's prophetic word spoken over me as a kid, "Will this boy ever come up for air?" "Not today, PawPaw, not today!"

I just read an update from a missionary friend who serves from a mission ship based in the western Pacific Ocean near the island of Palau. The islands they minister to require them to sail many miles to visit. Because of the situation involving the American oil and gas industry, they are already seeing a precipitous rise in the cost of diesel fuel. This missionary went on to give his views on why our country is so much better off in being oil and gas independent instead of what we will likely see more and more dependence on foreign sources. This was just a snippet from my friend but it does remind us all that elections have consequences and they can even impact Americans who are carrying the Gospel to people all over the world. He reiterated his faith that God will provide and I say Amen to that.

Now it's time for us all to get on with the life God has graciously given to us. May He be our source as we face each and every day. Amen. .....More later.