“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” ― Mark Twain

Hello and welcome. Today is Thursday,  May 15, 2025, and I bid you a hearty hello and warm welcome. It was on a Thursday in 1952 that our baby sister, Kayla Jean was born. She was an amazing little one, the last of us six born to dad Cecil and our mom. Our dad Cecil died suddenly on January 2, 1954 so we became, as a family unit, very familiar with death, up close and personal, at a very young age. Kayla was the apple of dad Cecil's eye. She used to play a game where she would hide from him when she knew it was close to his time to be home from work. She continued to do so after his death but he was no longer there to look for her. Today, on the anniversary of her birth, Kayla would have been 73 years, however, God had other plans for her and she passed on to her reward at the age of 27 after a valiant 18 month battle against acute leukemia. We were devastated by her exit, however, she made an indelible impact on all our lives before she said farewell for now. She did. She intended to do so, and she did. Here's how one of the local newspapers reported her departure:

 

Kayla Jean Moore Sabine Index, Many, La., Jun 28, 1979

Kayla Jean Moore, 27, of New Orleans, died on Tuesday, June 26, in New Orleans, at 11:50 a.m., following a short illness. Services will be held in the Hornbeck First Baptist Church today, at 4 p.m., with the Rev. Ron Killmell, and the Rev. Harry L. Booth officiating. Burial will follow in the Beckom Cemetery.

Survivors include her husband, Captain Robert Moore of New
Orleans; three daughters, Stacey, Kelly, and Mary Beth Moore, all
of New Orleans; her mother, Mrs. Lena Chavez of Leesville, her
step father, Jose Chavez , also of Leesville; two brothers, Cecil
Al Abbott of Houston, and Gunnery Sgt. Donald R. Abbott of New
Orleans, two sisters, Mrs. Francis Wagley of Hornbeck, and Mrs.
JoAnn Graham of Haynesville; her maternal grandmother, Mrs.
Gertrude Macmillan of Hornbeck, and numerous nieces and nephews.

 

Dad Cecil holding Kayla, Resurrection Day Sunday, 1953.

There's been much said about one's grave marker and how the dash between the birth date and the death date is what really matters. In other words, it's not the number of years you live, it's how you live in the time you have. Our sister became an amazing testimony of what it means to be a believer facing the reality of death. She had a word of encouragement or a Bible verse for every person she came in contact with. At the last Christmas observance as a family before her departure, she went around the room and read something she had written about each of us. Many who visited her in the hospital, (I don't even want to think about how much she suffered during the harsh treatments she underwent.), talked about how they left her bedside feeling uplifted by her sweet spirit and heart of encouragement. She was the stuff of Hebrews Chapter 11 in her demonstrated faith. She sincerely hated leaving her family, her girls, but, she was given the grace to leave this world trusting that God always knows best. Always. Yep. Always. 

 

The reality? If the Lord doesn't catch us up to meet Him in the air, we will face the same exit that Kayla faced. Maybe different circumstances, but, it is a certainty in this life. That is death. It's okay. We can talk about it. God gave us an instinct to keep breathing air on the planet, however, we, at the same time, look forward to the realization of what it means to experience this promise by our Savior, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:3) Thanks so much Baby Sister for showing us how it can be done! So much to live for in this life but so much more to look forward to when we see Him. Yay! and Amen!

"The best tunes are played on the oldest fiddles!" ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, (1803-1882), 19th century American essayist, poet, philosopher, lecturer, and minister

I just checked. Guess what? It's Wednesday, May 14, 2025. There was a time in my regular way of functioning where I would have likely known without checking. Being retired, and I hate that word, but, it is what is, does tend to cause one to phase out the keeping up with every little detail in life, like the day it is, the month it is, and, yes, even the year it is. Exceptions are noted on the refrigerator where we keep our appointments calendar. We know when we attend Church, Bible Study, and choir practices, but, sometimes we have to check to see what day it is. Like today. We do have Bible study tonight. Medical appointments, birthdays, graduations, travel schedules, and things like that need to be posted so we know what we should be doing on any given day. Currently, I am working with a painting contractor to get the outside of the house painted. Lots of forth and back, but, the fellow we are dealing with seems to be trustworthy. I am also trying to recover from the shock I felt when I received the proposed bill for our house insurance. It is up 60% since 2023. Our favorite Senator, Kennedy from Louisiana says home insurance is in crisis mode which will, if unattended to, bring about a collapse. My agent tells me he has older folks on modest fixed incomes who have had to go without home insurance because of the dramatic increase in the cost. These folks are hoping not to have a major issue from storms or even a localized disaster like a fire. I am also spending quite a bit of my time getting ready to get ready to teach from the Gospel of John, a Holy Spirit inspired text written simply enough for a new believer to grasp while at the same time deep enough to drown the most gifted commentator. I enjoy doing my blogs each day. Be aware that when you read what I write you are seeing things I didn't see until they were written. I know. That doesn't make much sense, so, consider the source.

 

I actually mentioned those few items to demonstrate that being older does not mean one spends most of their day just sitting out on the veranda. (I do sit on the porch quite often with Lil Miss Biscuit.) Speaking of that it reminds me how porch visits were a common experience in my growing up days. The grownups would talk, the tiny ones would play, the older kids would listen. That's right. Listen. Quietly. In today's world the little ones do most of the talking and the adults are the ones who do most of the listening. (That's not a professional analysis, just an observation based on how it works in my own domain and others I have visited.) I think about that last chapter in the writing of Ecclesiastes where King Solomon laments the onset issues that come with reaching an old age, but, he also speaks to the thing most critical in life.

 

Ecclesiastes Chapter 12, The Problems of Old Age as rendered in the Easy to Read Version

1) Remember your Creator while you are young, before the bad times come—before the years come when you say, “I have wasted my life.”

2) Remember your Creator while you are young, before the time comes when the sun and the moon and the stars become dark to you—before problems come again and again like one storm after another.

3) At that time your arms will lose their strength. Your legs will become weak and bent. Your teeth will fall out, and you will not be able to chew your food. Your eyes will not see clearly. 4) You will become hard of hearing. You will not hear the noise in the streets. Even the stone grinding your grain will seem quiet to you. You will not be able to hear the women singing. But even the sound of a bird singing will wake you early in the morning because you will not be able to sleep.

5) You will be afraid of high places. You will be afraid of tripping over every small thing in your path. Your hair will become white like the flowers on an almond tree. You will drag yourself along like a grasshopper when you walk. You will lose your desire, and then you will go to your eternal home. The mourners will gather in the streets as they carry your body to the grave.

6)
Remember your Creator while you are young,
    before the silver rope snaps and the golden bowl is crushed
like a jar broken at the well,
    like a stone cover on a well that breaks and falls in.
7)
Your body came from the earth.
    And when you die, it will return to the earth.
But your spirit came from God,
    and when you die, it will return to him.

8) Everything is so meaningless. The Teacher says that it is all a waste of time!

9) The Teacher was very wise. He used his wisdom to teach the people. He very carefully studied and arranged many wise teachings. 10) The Teacher tried very hard to find the right words, and he wrote the teachings that are true and dependable.

11) Words from the wise are like sharp goads. When these sayings are written down and saved, they can be used to guide people, just as a shepherd uses a sharp stick to make his sheep go the right way. 12) So, son, study these sayings, but be careful about other teachings. People are always writing books, and too much study will make you very tired.

13-14 Now, what should we learn from everything that is written in this book? The most important thing a person can do is to respect God and obey his commands, because he knows about everything people do—even the secret things. He knows about all the good and all the bad, and he will judge people for everything they do. ~

That's some really good advice and it comes from a God inspired source, Solomon, therefore, it is worthy of our study and application. Just so you know, the studying, while it can be tedious, it is nothing compared to applying the truths to our lives, every day, even if we are not sure what day it is. Okay. That should be enough for any of us to say grace over. (Southern saying but I couldn't find much about its origin.) Until next time, remember to remember to always thank God for His mercy, grace, and love. Amen.

"There are no traffic jams along the extra mile." ~ Roger Staubach, Hall of Fame Dallas Cowboy Quarterback, now a real estate mogul

Lil Miss Biscuit keeping an eye on things!

Whew! I am still trying to catch my breath. I had to be somewhere at a certain time. It required me to navigate in, through, and around the Houston metro traffic. Whew! I did no cursing. But, I must confess I wondered out loud whether or not some of those around me ever heard of the concept of road traveling courtesies. I concluded they did not and I told them so. Using my God bless you voice. I think. It reminded me how much worse it has gotten since I commuted into downtown Houston for over 20 years. But, I am back, and I am here to tell you I will not be affirming the soundness of my mind and certainly not my body. It is Tuesday, May 13, 2025, and, I am taking a break from counting up all the near misses during my most recent travels, to say this: Well, hello again, and welcome to another day in the life of yours truly. Lil Miss Biscuit is a great road warrior companion. She knows how to growl and has the bark of a large Rottweiler. She is way too skittish and shy to have tried out her bite but she can get someone's attention with the noise she makes. Biscuit has had a tough time following the legendary Sir Bentley, but, she has found her stride and she does know how to love, me, and people in general. I read once that pups enjoy that brisk air hanging out the window because it gives them a euphoric feeling. I tried doing the same thing. Maybe that was part of the problem with the near misses. Ha! 

Picking up on Mr. Staubach's quote, I can also testify to how clear the roadways are on Sunday mornings. Bumper to bumper nearly every day of the week, but, pretty much clear sailing on Sunday mornings. I remember back when I was out and about on the massive highway system and I would spot an unsuspecting older person trying to make their way through all the confusion and chaos that surrounded them. My heart went out to them while I was wishing they would stay out of my way. Today, I sit in this chair at my keyboard with this reality. Someone out there this morning no doubt spotted me and thought the same thing I used to think. Life has a way of giving one the boomerang effect now and then. The extra mile. I get Staubach's meaning. That extra mile is not too crowded. Jesus also said something about going the extra mile. "And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two." (Matthew 5:41) Jesus was talking about the practice of a Roman soldier having the authority to compel any person to carry his backpack for one mile. Jesus said if that happens you should volunteer to carry that burden another mile. The context of that passage is one that defines His followers by their heart of submissiveness, selflessness, and servanthood. I don't need to say more because I just felt a huge wind of conviction blowing on me.

It always works that way. It's me, it's me, it's me oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer. Glad y'all have it all together. You might want to keep your distance from me since I could contaminate you. Until next time may God add His blessings. Amen.       More later.

"Some people ask the secret of our long marriage. We take time to go to a restaurant two times a week. A little candlelight, dinner, soft music and dancing. She goes Tuesdays, I go Fridays." ~ Henny Youngman, (1906-1998) Comedian, best known for his one liners

Good morning and welcome to the second day of this brand new week, today being Monday, May 12, 2025. I've been up a while already, but, hadn't taken time to climb the stairs to my writing station that attaches me to the blogosphere. Wow! Mother's Day! We were able to show honor, respect, and love to the wife and she got to visit with all the boys yesterday. I grilled up her favorite on Saturday and we ended up eating it Saturday afternoon and Sunday after Church. I am responsible for the beautiful clothes worn by my bride. See? I can, occasionally, do something right. Yeah. You are right. The stopped clock is correct twice each day. As for the grilling, well, I used to do quite a lot of it, but, to tell the truth, and I know this will not be a big surprise to many out there, I am not quite as capable as I was say even five years ago. The good news is the meat turned out great and she was very well pleased. I do love it when a plan comes together. We have a huge widely distributed brood which means she got calls, texts, and messages throughout the day. When we arrived home from Church I told her she was the prettiest one there. She laughed but even at our age compliments are much better than criticisms. My compliment to her was sincere. It was. Sometimes even a compliment can come across as not being much of one. Like these, for instance, (copied from an internet posting about backhanded compliments):

 

    1    I always feel more intelligent after reading your work.
    2    It’s really difficult to underestimate you.
    3    Your haircut makes your nose look smaller.
    4    You look really nice in this light.
    5    That’s a beautiful photo of you. I didn’t recognize you at first.
    6    You’re not as dumb as you look.
    7    I love how you just don’t care what anyone thinks of you.
    8    I don’t care what others say about you. You’re alright in my book.
    9    Your Instagram makes you seem so fun!
    10    I didn’t expect you to get the job - Congratulations!
    11    I wish I was as relaxed as you are about messiness.
    12    You’re so charming when you make an effort.
    13    Those earrings are so nice. My grandma would love them.
    14    Your house feels so cozy and lived in.
    15    Well, that’s a level of incompetence I’ve never seen before.
    16    You’re pretty… on the inside.
    17    That’s not the ugliest shirt I’ve seen you wear.
    18    You might not be the prettiest, but you’re definitely the funniest!
    19    You clean up nice.
    20    You’re smarter than two dumb guys.

 

I think finding a way to encourage others is the mark of someone who seeks to build others up. God would have us to do so with intentionality. Sadly, and too often I might add, the backhanded compliment is actually an attempt to put another person down perhaps to make oneself feel superior. Yikes. I will throw in a confession here. I am good at making others feel small or less. It's something I need to work on. I do. It's one of those 24x7 projects because of the knowledge I have of me, myself, and I. You don't have that problem? Good. Work on the sin that so easily besets you, (Hebrews 12:1). That might have sounded like a gotcha, but, I'm just saying we all are works in progress and as believers we are in the hands of  the Master Potter, Jeremiah 18, who wants to shape us into an object of notable excellence, (comment by the late Dr. Charles Stanley). Kidding around, just joking, don't take it personally, are ways we often excuse the put down instead of a build up. I am thinking right now of some individuals who have been seriously hurt by comments made towards them, at home, at work, in social gatherings, and, yes, even within gatherings at their local Church. Really? Yes. Really! I'm not saying there's not a place for Don Rickles types of humor, but, we need to be careful, or at least I need to be careful. The other thing I want to mention is how I've known and continue to know folks who do so very well in building others up. They consistently do it so well. I say we should, I should, want to be like them. Right? Amen.

My Mom. Tribute to a Woman of Distinction.

The wife with our three sons. Happy Mother's Day!

Good morning and welcome to another day here in my itsy bitsy piece of the bloggersphere and today we find ourselves working with another Friday, this one on May 9, 2025. This is the weekend where we honor our moms. If there has ever been a human person born on this earth who has been surrounded and blessed by moms, well, it would be me. At home, at school, at Church, at work, everywhere I was I ended up being blessed by the moms God placed in my life. The next set of photos are some of those influential moms in my life, many of which have gone on to their heavenly abode.

Next is a blog I wrote 16 years ago. Yep, 16. I know. I've drowned me a whole lot of words under the bridge so to speak in my time doing these episodes. Mom was turning 85. God blessed her with another 8 years. Remarkable! Happy Mother's Day to all those out there and may God add His blessings to each one is my prayer. Amen. 

Tribute to a Woman of Distinction!

 

This coming Sunday is the celebration of my mom’s 85th birthday. That’s a big number in the age game but a very special one for a one-of-a-kind mom and I am thanking God for her on this Friday, May 1, 2009. She may not be well known outside of her circle, but her circle is large and it includes many faces, young and old, who love, respect, and honor her for the great woman she is. First and foremost, she is my mom and I am her son. She did what she could to help me grow into being a child of God and a productive member of society. I’ve not always done either as well as I should but it’s not because of her lack of trying. Thanks Mom for always being there for us and in my case for these nearly sixty-three years.

You have heard my story before about how blessed I have been to have such wonderful women in my life. I think about my grandmother Mac, my mom, my wife, my mother-in-law, my wife’s grandmother, my sisters, and many of my aunts. What I notice about my mom is her lifetime of resolve and determined commitment. She believes in God and does her best to serve Him. She loves her children and continues to mother us all even as she edges towards this great milestone. She is a friend to those in need and enjoys spending quality time with her huge brood from the eldest to the youngest great-great grandchild. Moms are the universal language of love and reflect God’s provision for His hands extended in helping shape little ones for time and eternity.

Often the men who served in WWII are thought about as being a part of the greatest generation. But rarely do we hear much about the women. Most of them, like my mom, stayed home, took care of the children, praying and waiting every day for their men to come home. Moms are special. Moms remember stuff that others wouldn’t even notice to begin with. My mom remembers that when I was born and they brought me home in the middle of August there was a freak cold spell and they had to heat up the room for me to have a bath. Only a mom would remember something like that! She remembers me being one of her best eaters and often says she wishes she would have saved for my grandchildren some of the countless grocery sacks that I had drawn pictures all over. As I think about this remarkable woman my heart fills up with a sense of overwhelming blessing as I meditate upon her being God’s gift to us as our mom. I love you, Mom. Happy 85th Birthday and thanks for always being a woman of distinction in my life. May God bless you. Amen. ….More later.

"Every generation revolts against its fathers and makes friends with its grandfathers." ~ Lewis Mumford, (1895-1995), American historian and sociolgist

Good morning and welcome to today's episode. It is Thursday, May 8, 2025, and, it looks like we have a beautiful day ahead. I am not Catholic but it's hard to miss the coverage being devoted to the choosing of the next Pope. Here's what's interesting to me. Here in the United States it is being covered more like college game day or perhaps coverage of an NFL game. Split-screens with Vatican experts giving live play by play of the potential activities going on behind the closed door sessions where votes are being counted four times each day. As Charles Barkley once said about a mind boggling play on the basketball court, "I don't know what the word surreal means but that play is just that, surreal." That's kind of my view of the coverage of the next Pope, wall to wall, so to speak. One interesting side note. An analyst pointed out the obvious tidbit where all the technologies of the world are currently focused on recognizing a signal from a smokestack. Hey, let's face it. With 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, well, as the current occupant of the Oval Office might say, "The potential ratings are H_U_G_E!"

 

I know you know that I am fascinated by the generational identity classifications, Perhaps too much so. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) assessment puts it this way: "Generational identities are defined by an individual's awareness of their membership in a generational group and the significance of that group to them. These identities are often shaped by shared historical experiences, technological advancements, and cultural contexts. Generational identities can also intersect with other identity markers like gender, race, and national context." There are numerous ways the so-called experts break down the dates that match these made up tags. That's right. They are made up. They know who actually coined the names of these various identity groups. Here's one breakdown: Traditionalists—born 1925 to 1945; Baby Boomers—born 1946 to 1964; Generation X—born 1965 to 1980; Millennials—born 1981 to 2000; Generation Z—born 2001 to 2020; Alpha, still being worked on. That doesn't match the photo graphic because there are differing ideas even among scholars on how to break these out. For instance, I was born in 1946, the so called starting year for the boomer generation. That most likely puts me with one foot in the previous generation and its influences on me while it being very clear I have next to nothing in common with those born in the tail end of the boomer generation, those born in the 1960's. While I enjoy reading about all of these designations, in many ways the vaunted analyses of it all in many ways do not amount to a hill of beans. (I heard that one a lot growing up, maybe from those in the greatest and silent generations. Ha!)

 

My point? The Source of all truth, God's Holy Word, the Bible says this: "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation." (Hebrews 9, 27-28) Regardless of what generation we were born to live in we stand in need of God's provision. That's right. Every man, woman, boy, and girl. God has provided a way for us to be made right with Himself and to live in His presence for all of eternity, here's how Jesus put it: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Old or young, the answer to our greatest need is wrapped up in seeking Him, for "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13)  Jesus is the answer to how generations become united as one. In Him. Okay. You can quote me on this one. Go ahead. I dare you. Double dog. Just joking. Have a God-blessed day and I'll see you next time, Lord willing. Amen.

"Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the present." ~ Bil Keane, (1922-2011), Cartoonist, best known for The Family Circus

Good morning and welcome. Today, it is Wednesday, May 7, 2025, and, I, for one, am thankful to have awakened this morning because I realize that every heartbeat actually belongs to God, therefore, I give Him thanks and praise. What say you? Wordplay is simply that, using words in a playful manner. When we read or communicate we liven up the exchange by playing around with words. Let me break the ice by doing my best to bite the bullet and in so doing I will try to hit the nail on the head. At the same time I wouldn't want to let the cat out of the bag but I will settle for killing two birds with one stone. I sure hope I am not barking up the wrong tree here, knowing that dealing with it is a piece of cake. I am trying to avoid it costing an arm and a leg but wouldn't want to be cutting corners at the risk of ending up being under the weather while putting the ball back in your court. In many ways it's back to square one, but, a blessing in disguise, which, these days are a dime a dozen, but, I never want to be accused of beating around the bush, however, as they say, better late than never. What? You think I might have bitten off more than I can chew. I remind you, actions speak louder than words, and since you are the apple of my eye I will not allow my bark to be worse than my bite. I do hope I haven't burned any bridges, if so, I will have to call it a day, but, I must tell you I will not cry over spilled milk or be the devil's advocate in this matter. Remember, every cloud has a silver lining, that is, if it's not allowed to get out of hand. I will give the benefit of the doubt in the blink of an eye before I hit the sack. You can jump on the bandwagon, keep your chin up, and, when it's all said and done, let sleeping dogs lie. We wouldn't want to miss the boat because of an off the cuff remark that occurs once in a blue moon and shows up from out of the blue. Right? You think I might be trying to pull your leg? Nope. Just trying to stay on the ball and to tread lightly on thin ice while doing my best not to rain on anyone's parade because let's face it, Rome was not build in a day. Whew! Fortunately while trying to have the best of both worlds I was saved by the bell and have attempted to stay with it through thick and thin knowing that time flies when one is having fun. Don't get the idea I am twisting your arm, so don't get up in the air because that would only occur when pigs fly. In closing, you can't judge a book by it's cover and your guess is as good as mine. 

Before you report me via the crisis hotline, realize I sat down with a list of idiomatic phrases and put together that paragraph to celebrate Witty Word Wednesday. No, like Cinco De Mayo, it's not a holiday celebrating a real historical event, it's just an excuse to have fun. Being the serious minded guy that I am, don't be swayed by today's posting as indicating I have a fun side to my personality. I do enjoy a good laugh now and then. It does a body good. Like medicine. Yep. You've heard that one before. It's taken from Proverbs 17, Verse 22. Solomon, via inspiration, either said these things or he collected these sayings as a way of providing instruction. This means that according to Solomon, known as the wisest man ever to walk on the planet (with one exception The Lord Himself, Jesus Christ), presents laughter as being good medicine. And, that's no laughing matter. I do know Solomon was a very high IQ guy but 700 wives and 300 concubines, what in the world was he thinking? As the preachers like to joke, he had a least 700 mothers-in-law too! I quickly add I have never been able to tell mother-in-law jokes because mine was almost too good to be true. She, in her own simple way, was truly a woman of God. So many jokes I've had to pass on, but, I am the one blessed as a result. 

 

Here's your assignment for today. See if you can spot all the idioms I used in the first paragraph. When you finish that exercise, take a moment to consider all that God has done and as a result give Him thanks and praise. Yeah. I was surprised too when I found that selfie with Solomon and his wives. Wow! It is true. You can find almost anything on the internet. Take care now, you hear? And, may God add His blessings. Amen.