Charles Haddon Spurgeon, "If the Holy Spirit does not renew the heart of the hearer, we cannot do it... we might as well speak in the ear of a corpse".

Hello Wednesday readers, I welcome you to today's edition, not so much hot off the presses, but, more like weary from traveling electronically all over the world, even doing so on today, April 8, 2026.  I do not mention the 'world' without meaning. My insignificantly small blog started back in the summer of 2007, well, it's closing in on 1 million views and over half of those come from outside the United States. I know, and I agree that many of those landed on my blog looking for something else. I've told this story many times, and, I've written about it more than once in previous blogs, but, I think it shows how God is as it work even when we aren't thinking about it. A number of years ago, the fellowship of believers we were a member of was in the midst of a series of services promoted as Revival Services. I say that because calling something revival and seeing revival is quite different. You knew that already. Right? Anyway, one evening during this series of meetings, the fiery evangelist was doing his job of sharing the Gospel message. There were some boys sitting in the very back chatting up some of the teen-aged girls, daughters of some of our members. We happened to be close to the back and we could see them carrying on. They were not paying much attention to the preacher. However, and, for this story, that's a biggie However, they obviously heard enough because when the invitation to come forward for counseling about giving your heart and life to Christ, wowie-zowie, just like that, these would be suitors became crying kids running to the front to give themselves to the Lord. They did. They really did. I may be nearly 80 years old but I can say this about that, it takes a powerful influence to totally change a young man's purpose especially when it comes to girls, and that powerful influence was this: The truth was shared and the Spirit of God moved in these boys' hearts. We saw it. It was like the wonderful 2005 song by the Southern Gospel group the Booth Brothers where that one line in their song says this, "Ask the blind man, he saw it all." I often see a particular acronym slang written by a lot of folks on social media. Okay. I am a slow learner but I did find out what it means, therefore, here it is and I will leave you to figure how it relates to that song line: IYKYK. Got it? Good! And, Amen.

 

I said all of that to say this: Perhaps someone in that over 1/2 million views outside the US read some of my mangled prose, heard the Gospel, and gave their heart and life to Christ. I pray that to be the case because when it is all said and done, that really is all that matters for both time and eternity. I spoke about the Book of Job yesterday. Most scholars agree that Job is an ancient text most likely preceding the patriarch Abraham.  I've read Job, start to finish, several times. I've also taught through it, verse by verse, more than once. In some ways I understand how people tend to be hesitant to wade through this lengthy book. And, we, especially in the American culture, we do want happy happy to be the story line. Don't go to Job's experiences preserved for our learning to see happy happy in every verse. The truth of this life in this fallen world is not a tip toe through the tulips, but, rather, it can be one of dealing with lots of difficult and seemingly incomprehensible challenges. That's what happened in Job's life. God in his Sovereignty allowed this testing in the life of His beloved child, Job. Those three friends were not so friendly to Job as they peppered him with sanctimonious and false piety. The thing God knew but perhaps Job didn't was how resilient Job's faith would be in its foundational strength. Yeah. Job said some pretty accusatory things to God Himself, but, God knew Job better than Job knew Job. A younger fellow shows up to call them all to account, the three unfriendly friends, and Job too. He was beside himself in hearing Almighty God's standing being questioned and defamed. In the end, God by the way knows the end from the beginning, but, in the end Job shows his true heart when he prayed for these sore friends. God then restored Job and he stands as an example of God's purpose in the human family whose number includes us all, yep, me, and you, that purpose is, as Jesus put it, "Jesus said unto him, 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.'" (Matthew 22:37-39, from the King James KJV version of the Scriptures.) There's much to be learned from Job's experiences as preserved in this great inspired text. I commend us all to study it and see what God will say to each of us, individually. That's how He speaks. He does. He really does. Amen.

 

Footnote on the Book of Job: One of the amazing things I've noticed in my time spent in Job has to do with God's revelation of Himself even in those ancient times. All those in that text knew much about God and His working. Sure, the so-called friends were wrong about a lot of what they thought, but, I am knocked down at the knowledge of God and how He chose to reveal Himself to the people of that time. Fast forward to today. We have His Word, the Holy Spirit, and God's heart in His not willing that any should perish but that all would come to repentance. (2nd Peter 3:9) Simply amazing!

“Old age is always 15 years older than I am.” — Oliver Wendell Holmes

Hello and greetings from my tiny piece of real estate to yours, wherever you happen to be. Today, it is Tuesday, April 7, 2026. We continue the testing regimen ordered up by the neurologist trying to come up with a reason for the medical event the wife experienced back on March 13. Last Friday she underwent the magnetic resonance imaging, MRI on her brain and yesterday she did the electroencephalogram, EEG, the test that measures the electrical impulses in the brain. She completed the heart monitor test last month and now only has the sleep study to complete the current round of testing. The neurologist will give us his conclusions in a few days. We would love to discover what caused her momentary loss of conscious reality while at the same time we understand they might not discover anything. She's pretty concerned about it since the authorities want her cleared to drive again. We well understand why, but, she is known for her going. Boots may be for walking or at least that's what the song reported a few years ago, (Nancy Sinatra), but, in the case of the wife of my youth, she is a goer as in passing go, collecting the money, and, pass go again, again, and again. You can make the sound of a car engine being gunned to get the full picture here. Bottom line, she likes to go. She gets all tied in knots of frustration just thinking about the potential for losing her keys. This is one of the main reasons we hope to get some clarity from the testing and have the doctor sign off on a clearance for her to keep up her busy traveling here, there, and everywhere.

 

We had a wonderful celebration this past Resurrection Day Sunday with so many folks showing up at our local assembly's meeting place. It was great to see our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, their families who came to be with them, along with new people who came out of respect for our Savior. Our pastor, Brother Doctor Jerry Chaddick, brought a tremendous sermon. His text was perhaps a surprise to some, but, it was a good one. He preached the truth of the Resurrection from the Book of Job, the text agreed by most scholars to be, after the creation account, the oldest in our Bibles. We have here an ancient inspired text about a believer in Almighty God undergoing all manners of difficulties, tragedies, and personal challenges. Buffeted here and there by the waves of distress, our believing Job gave testimony to where his faith was grounded, from Chapter 19, Verses 25-27, "But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!" (New Living Translation)  That, my friend, will preach, and that he did! He preached. God moved. And, we witnessed lives transformed by the truth becoming real in the lives of men, women, boys, and girls. I don't know how many folks were there, but, like every annual Resurrection Day Sunday, it was more than what we typically have in our services. I just know that some of those who gave their hearts to Jesus were most likely there as an infrequent guest, but, they are no longer a stranger to the family, the family of God. Can you say? Hallelujah, praise the Lord? He alone deserves the honor and glory. Amen.

"Southern manner of talking is characterized by polite, descriptive, and often humorous idioms, frequently utilizing metaphors related to food, animals, or heat ." ~ copied

Welcome to our podcast today. It's actually a blog to be specific, but, everyone is doing a podcast, therefore, I used that designation on this Monday, April 6, 2026. And, I do talk to myself when I am doing my blog, that means I am broadcasting my thoughts that end up on the electronic page. See? I just might be a podcaster after all. I could add that to my resume but at this late date it actually doesn't end up adding anything of value since it wouldn't, in all practicality, amount to a hill of beans. You don't get that saying? Well, bless your heart! Please don't get yourself so worked up you end up pitching a hissy fit. And, don't give me that sophisticated look with your nose so far up in the air you might just drown in a rainstorm. Being smug about it all? I see you over there grinnin like a possum eatin a sweet potato. As it relates to anything meaningful, well, seeing your input reminds me of how the porch light might be on but it's pretty clear there's no one at home. As for your response upsetting me, well, I may have been born at night, but it wasn't last night. If you persist, we might just have to have us a come to Jesus meeting. I can tell you are madder than a wet hen, but, the way I see it, the things you represent, well, that dog, honey-chile, will not hunt. Some people don't really care for the lingo I use because it did originate in the deep South, but, it's how us down home folks converse. And, lest you think I'm stuck on myself so much that I think the sun comes up just to hear me crow, well, that would be wrong, wrong, wrong. I wrote all of this just to help everyone to learn how to talk to one another because when we do that in peace and harmony, well, we will enjoy it as much as a pig all laid up in a big old mud pile. (Just having a little fun with Southern slang, so don't take it seriously. Okay? Good.)

 

Yesterday, we recognized the birthday of our very first grandchild, our Tiffany. She and her family live over in San Antonio, therefore, we do not get to see her as often as we would like, but, she is ever so special to her MiMi and Poppy. It's hard to believe she celebrated her 38th and her daughter, our very first great grandchild, Madelyn Joy, she turned 16 this past January. Oh my! Our pastor will soon welcome his first, a grandson and he likes to talk about how he will be doing payback for the craziness of grandparents going on and on about their grandkids and showing him so many photos. Well, he will have to do double time to match how I responded when our Tiffany was born. My office located on the 22nd Floor of the Pennzoil Building in downtown Houston was papered over with photos of my brand new granddaughter. 

 

That's our Tiff sitting outside, all dressed up for Resurrection Day services, in the Azaleas, located downstairs almost directly under where I am sitting as I write today's edition. Memories!

I won't bore you with all the responses people had, but, needless to say they thought I had pretty much lost it. Growing up, she spent a lot of her time with us doing sleep overs and when she got older, running around with and shopping with her MiMi. That's the stuff memories are made of folks, it is, it really is. We thank God for our Tiffany and her wonderful family and we commend them into His hands, praying that He would lead, guide, and direct, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Theologians generally explain that God had His Son die to satisfy divine justice while demonstrating supreme love, providing a substitutionary sacrifice for human sin to offer eternal life. Jesus' death is seen as the necessary, voluntary payment to bridge the gap between a holy God and sinful humanity.

Hello and welcome to the day widely described as Good Friday, this one happens to fall on April 3, 2026. It certainly was good for those who have been redeemed by all that happened on the Day Jesus died on The Cross. We do know, only because God revealed it to us, that, all this happened because of the sovereign plan of God, "And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made." (Revelation 13:8 from the New Living Translation.) That slain from the foundation of the world is beyond my comprehension. It is, however, within my apprehension, but, only by faith. The how, the why, the plan, those, my friend, are within God's purview, and, I, for one, am so glad that in simple terms we can rejoice in knowing this truth from the old song, "Whosoever meaneth me" and another song that gives this nugget, "When He said whosoever, He included me." Now, I can get hold of that but understand it all, well, I can't really get there. I know theologians have waxed eloquent in their ideas about it and have used up a lot of forest timber writing their thoughts on the subject. When it comes down to it, Jesus said He paid the sin debt we all owed, (It is finished, John 19:30), and I believe that, (whosoever believeth, John 3:16), well, it's like the children in their witness to us all, "Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so." Therefore, today we can't help but remember the price that was paid on our behalf. That should produce a response of thankfulness, praise, worship, and, adoration to our Great God. Amen.

 

I am well aware that on this upcoming Resurrection Day Sunday many folks will crowd into the meeting places where folks gather to recognize The Savior. For some it will be one of the few times they come. That's okay. It only takes one time for God to get hold of anyone and when He does they will never be the same again. I look forward to seeing a lot of new faces when we gather at Mims Baptist in Conroe, Texas. Our choir will be singing, our pastor will be proclaiming God's Word, and, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit will be working as we honor them in word and deed. We have two services this upcoming Sunday, April 5, one at 9:15 a.m. and the second at 10:45 a.m. Lord willing, the wife and I will be up in the choir loft where she will be singing the right notes and I will, hopefully, be making a joyful noise to the Lord. Y'all come now, you hear? Amen.

"Any fool can use a computer. Many do." ~ Ted Nelson, born 1937, American pioneer of information technology, philosopher of computer science, and sociologist.

Just like that, we wake up and find out we have landed on this: Thursday, April 2, 2026. It's time for me to do a wee bit of confessing. I know that got your interest. I remember one time I said to a class I was teaching that I had many things in my past that I was not proud of and did not feel inclined to share them. One lady in the class said, "Go ahead, please share them!" As for today's confession, it has to do with yesterday's blog. I had me some problems that qualified for a huge amount of frustration. The Blogger utility was being rather unkind to me and for some reason it didn't save some of the information I had laboriously researched and keyed in. I have no idea if smoke was coming out of my ears, but, I was not a happy camper. But, I did remember most of what I had said and I did retype a lot of the information and for the most part, I was able to right the ship, so to speak. Technical issues. In a past life I actually ran a huge computer, telecommunications, and networking organization and we did, from time to time, experience technical issues. We had excellent people but they became very wary of my questions that centered on what I considered to be the most relevant: WHY? Fixing the problems was at times easier to do than to explain why they had occurred. It was good they were fixed and I listened to how wonderful it was to have smart people who could respond and get things going again. Yes. That's always good. But, from my perspective, it was much better not to have had the problem to begin with. And, to help that be the case in the future, well, the why question is critical to avoiding the next issue. As to the why question for my issues in yesterday's effort, well, since there is no one else around to ask, I concluded the problem must have occurred due to the mistake made by yours truly, me, myself, and I. I'm still annoyed that it took almost twice as long to get that one blog put together, but, all's well that keeps me stirring about why it didn't save my work, why? why? why? And, as you can tell I tend to just put things behind me and move forward. Why? why? why?

 

No. I did not take any drama lessons, however, I did do some acting while I was in high school. School plays. I still have the script from my last play and it is somewhere in this office. Somewhere. I've also been privileged to do some Church plays and musicals over the years. I particularly remember one where I played an older Scribe who was pondering and searching the accounts about this Baby born and placed in a manger. His life, his miracles, could He be the long awaited Messiah? That was one I will not soon forget. I do remember in the closing music where the old Scribe is considering all of these accounts concerning the life and times of Jesus of Nazareth. He looks out and proclaims, "Who are you?" The music was very moving and I well remember as I delivered those lines I became emotional. I did. I really did. I'm sure many in the audience thought I had been well coached, but, that, my friend, was not it, at all. It was simply thinking about how amazing it is that you, me, and any and all who seek to know Him, well, He will not hide from honest seekers. He won't. He really won't. I am happy to be able to share the truth about Him. Our pastor says this about our approach as a local called out assembly, "We desire to reach everyone Jesus died for." Talk about being inclusive! I do hope you know Him. The wife and I used to sing this simple chorus, "Do you know my Jesus? Do you know my friend?, Have you heard He loves you, And that He will abide till the end?" Think some about that and seek Him now. Now. Y'all be careful out there, you hear? And always thank God for how He loved us so much He sent His one and only Son to die in our place. He did. He really did. Amen.

Proverbs 17:22 as rendered in the Amplified Bible: ~ "A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing, But a broken spirit dries up the bones."

Well, here, we go again. We spin the wheel and where it stops no one knows, or, in this case we do, it landed on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. I'm not big on sharing top tens but here's one that kept the person who posted them bent over with laughter, how, it is beyond me since I could barely cough up a chuckle. Here are the supposed funniest of all time April Fool Jokes: ~ 1.) Which day is the worst to propose on? April Fools’ Day. 2.) Why are babies born on March 31 the easiest to prank on April Fools’ Day? They were literally born yesterday. 3.) It's April Fools' Day. Trust no one and nothing. Just like any other day. 4.) What is the luckiest card in a deck for April Fools' Day? The Joker. 5.) Why was everyone so tired on April 1? Because they just finished a long 31-day March. 6.) What’s the biggest difference between Thanksgiving and April Fools’ Day? On one you’re thankful, and on the other you’re prankful. 7.) I played an April Fools' Day joke on my parkour team this morning. They all fell for it. 8.) A and C were going to prank their friend…but they just letter B. 9.) My local library put out an "invisible books" display for April Fools' Day, but I saw right through it. 10.) What do you call a realistic prankster? A practical joker. ~ I have no idea where these originated but my take is they should try again, again, and again. I looked up the origin of April Fools Day and found out it was quite ancient, from the 1500's. I suppose that means it should have reached the little isolated rural village where I was raised, Hornbeck, Louisiana. I am running searches in my noggin to try and get some hits on my early experiences with April Fools. I get plenty of hits on pranks but not necessarily associated with that day, and, also lots of Valentines hits, but, as they say, those are stories for another day. Those were little jokes to go along with the day and you can laugh like the person who was all bent over laughing over those top ten, or, you can hold on to it until April 14, when the International Moment of Laughter Day is recognized. As for me, growing up, if it wasn't particularly emphasized in the Farmers Almanac, it probably didn't exist. You do know what I mean, right Vern?

 

Speaking of laughter, here's an interesting text where we find some LOL going on, from Genesis Chapter 17,  15)God said to Abraham, 'As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16)I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.' 17)Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said to himself, 'Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?' 18)And Abraham said to God, 'O that Ishmael might live in your sight!' 19)God said, 'No, but your wife Sarah shall bear you a son, and you shall name him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 20)As for Ishmael, I have heard you; I will bless him and make him fruitful and exceedingly numerous; he shall be the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21)But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this season next year.' 22)And when he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham." We continue the story from Genesis Chapter 21, 1)"The Lord dealt with Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as he had promised. 2)Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the time of which God had spoken to him. 3)Abraham gave the name Isaac to his son whom Sarah bore him. 4)And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5)Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6)Now Sarah said, 'God has brought laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.' 7)And she said, 'Who would ever have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.' 8)The child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned." Like I said, there was a whole lot of laughing going on. Joy unspeakable and full of glory! That's an amazing account and one that we all should be so thankful for, why? Another good question. Go to Matthew Chapter 1 and read about the genealogy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. He is the ultimate fulfillment of the child God brought forth from Abraham and Sarah. He is. He really is! Chew on that one during your day and remember to remember to thank God for His plan and provision. Amen.

“Your talent determines what you can do. Your motivation determines how much you’re willing to do. Your attitude determines how well you do it.” — Lou Holtz, (1937-2026), Legendary Football Coach, and TV Sports Personality

While we do love the Coca Cola portrayal of Santa, when it comes time to get ready to get ready for a gaggle, skein, or flock of little ones, well, this Santa needs a smidgen more, therefore, The Monster Rules!

Good morning on this last day of the month, yep, that's right, today is Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Okay. I will admit it. Time does seem to be going faster as I get closer to the four score target. There is research that has tried to answer why this happens to older people. Here's an excerpt from Psychology Today, "Time seems to accelerate with age primarily because the brain processes fewer novel experiences, creates fewer lasting memories for routine days, and processes information more slowly. As a smaller fraction of a person's life, a year feels shorter, leading to the perception that time passes faster." I suppose, having been blessed to live as long as I have, there are many been there and done that occurrences, therefore, according to their theory I'm perceiving that time has sped up. Well, well, now that we have covered that little ditty, maybe I can share something that will encourage us all. You are waiting? Yeah. Me too. Here are the people in the Bible who lived the longest:  Methuselah: 969 years; Jared: 962 years; Noah: 950 years; Adam: 930 years; Seth: 912 years; Kenan: 910 years; Enos: 905 years; Mahalalel: 895 years; Lamech: 777 years; Enoch: 365 years (Enoch is noted for not dying but being taken by God). These fellows hung around a long time and Enoch walked with God and then he was snatched away into his eternal abode. (Genesis 5:21-24 and Hebrews 11:5) I am very happy to report to all those who read my blog and are born again and are now believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, for me and for you, if we die we will be absent from the body but present with the Lord. Wow! (2nd Corinthians 5:8) But, wait a minute, what if I am still alive when Jesus returns? Great question. The Apostle Paul made it crystal clear: "Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.  Therefore encourage one another with these words." (1st Thessalonians 4:13-18 from the New International Version NIV.) Bingo! Paul said to encourage one another. How? With these words or promises. You can count on them if you are a believer. Not a believer? If not, why not? Get it settled. Today!

 

There are many theories about why people in the earliest years of the Old Testament lived for so many years. Some think it had to do with how sin slowly impacted the gene pool. We do know sin is the major factor in bringing death. Others think it had to do with God's sovereign love in limiting the amount of evil one person could do in there lifespan. There are a myriad of other ideas dealing with creation itself, environmental factors, and on and on it goes. When I talked about encouragement, we, those saved by grace, are to be cheerleaders in reminding each other of the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. That comes from God Himself as breathed out via Holy Spirit inspiration in the book we call The Bible. (2nd Timothy 3:16) I say that to make clear the source of true encouragement. I can give you my assurances but I just might not be able to keep them, but, God's Word is something we can count on. Today and forever. Feeling encouraged now? Me too! Amen.