2nd Corinthians 5:8 ~ Smith's Literal Translation ~ "And we are confident, and are contented rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home in the Lord."

We made it to Thursday, September 23, 2026, and I, for one, am thankful that I did. Why? It gives me another day to strive to fulfill God's purpose for my life. A dear brother in our local assembly, whom I sing with in our choir, experienced a tragedy two days ago. He showed up for the morning session of our Bible Conference, but his wife was not feeling well, so she stayed home. When he returned home, he was shocked to find that she had left this life for her true home in heaven. And what a shock it was! She too had sung in our choir the evening before. We know where she is now because of Scripture's promise; however, he and so many others are grieving the passing of this dear saint of God. See what I mean? We just never know what will happen on any given day in this life. We don't know. We really don't. At the same time, we do know who knows all things, and He is always there for us. Many years ago, six others and I were in a commuter van headed into downtown Houston for another day at our workplaces. A young man lost control of his car and veered into our lane, and we experienced a head-on collision that killed that young driver. We in the van all survived with some injuries, but it was an unexpected tragedy as we went about our daily routine. The van driver and I were co-workers for many years, and as fellow believers in Christ, we stood on the side of the road and embraced each other because we knew we had been spared. Am I trying to be melodramatic? Not even close. I can still recall seeing that very handsome young man leaning back in the seat of his car. He looked like he was sleeping, but he had left this life for the next. I know I often mention my age, but I ask you, having reached 80: How could I not? Live long enough, and you will appreciate the change in perspective that comes with becoming a member of the 4% Club. If I am going to get anything done while I am still among the living, I best be getting on with it. And if you have important things to get done, especially as it relates to your relationship with God and others, you might best get on with it because we never know what a day might bring. Can you say Amen? I can: Amen!

 

Yesterday, I suppose all these things were whirling around in that pea-sized brain of mine because I awoke at 3:30 a.m., and while I wanted to go back to sleep, I felt an intense need to call out to God. I thought about my own need for God's presence in every part of my life. I typically repeat the model prayer in my time of seeking God: "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen (From the instruction of Jesus, Matthew 6:9-13.) Yes. I am aware the last sentence, called the doxology, is typically not found in the best manuscripts, but I pray it because I think it honors God, for it is His Kingdom, and He does have ultimate power, and He does deserve all the glory forever and ever. Amen. Just me. After praying this as the beginning, I go on to share my burdens and seek His help on behalf of myself and others. Is what I do the right way to do it? I would never say that. It is a way, and it's my way. I do know this. God wants us to be real. Genuine. You can't hide anything from Him. If you can't think of anything to pray about, you have my permission to pray for me because I know the old song has it right: "It's me, it's me, it's me, Oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer." Have a blessed day, and don't forget to remember to thank God for it. Amen.

"You may have left the Father's house, but you've never left the Father's heart." ~ copied

If you're happy and you know it, your face should surely show it. I can live with that one. But the one that makes it hard to take in is this one: If you're saved and you know it, your life should surely show it. Yikes. That one smacks of some serious conviction. Let's just talk about love and freedom and leave that other stuff alone. It's Wednesday, September 23, 2026, and I often do think about my life and how it is perceived by others. I remember the confession made by a fellow at a Church service one evening. Due to illness, he had to take a leave of absence from his managerial job. When he announced it to his group, many of them were shocked when he asked them to pray for him. He could tell by the looks on their faces that they did not have any idea he was a Christian. He had worked with some of them for several years, but they didn't have a clue. I can identify with that because at times we tend to separate our believing life from our work life. Really? Yep. That happens to most of us, and far too often I am ashamed to say so. A young man who worked in my organization refused a promotion because the new job would interfere with his ability to spend time with his family and attend to his duties as a believer in Jesus. That stung. He essentially said that me and my first line managers pretty much were married to our jobs, and 'the job' typically always came first. He went on to tell me he worked hard and tried to be a good employee; he was content with his wages and felt like what he had was a blessing from the Lord, and he did not want to jeopardize his walk for a promotion. Okay. Enough already. Isn't it interesting how God can speak loudly through even something like a refused promotion? If only. Truth is, we can't go back and change things, but we can do what we can with God's help to use the time we have left to make a difference for time and eternity, especially in the lives of our families. Amen.

 

With all that preaching, be glad I didn't do an altar call, take up an offering, and single out those who, like me, have blown it many times in my sojourn here on the planet. As our pastor likes to say: "If the shoe fits, buy a pair in every color." You hear it said that we serve a God of the second chance. That would never be enough for someone like me. He is the God of unlimited chances because He is always waiting for us to come back to where we belong. He is. He really is. A song I heard growing up reminds us that we are always welcome to come home.

 

Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling

 

Written by: Will L. Thompson, published in 1880 

 

1. Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
calling for you and for me;
see, on the portals he's waiting and watching,
watching for you and for me. 

Refrain:
Come home, come home;
you who are weary come home;
earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home! 

2. Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not his mercies,
mercies for you and for me? [Refrain]

3. Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
passing from you and from me;
shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
coming for you and for me. [Refrain]

4. O for the wonderful love he has promised,
promised for you and for me! 
Though we have sinned, he has mercy and pardon,
pardon for you and for me. [Refrain]

Unlike the famous book title, 'You can never go home again.', you can always find your way back to the Father's house. Still not convinced? Go now and read the account of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32. Just do it!  Amen.

"We are called to serve Christ in our sphere of influence. Use whatever you have and be faithful." — Billy Graham

Hello and welcome. Today is Tuesday, September 22, 2026, and I thank God for another day. What say you? Yesterday they did a CT Scan of my chest. This is the third or fourth time they've checked nodules that were thought to be suspicious. Here is the impression as stated by the radiologist in the test results: "Stable pulmonary nodules which are most certainly benign. Continued follow-up is unlikely to be of benefit." Can you say Amen? I can. Hallelujah and Amen! I still have to wait for official confirmation from the pulmonologist who ordered the scan, but reading this report was good news, and I give God thanks. I can do without the scan, if you know what I mean, Vern. I understand that today is the official first day of fall. They predict mid 90's for a high temperature here in our area. Not so fall-like, right? The wife of my youth has put out some fall decorations. Already. I suppose I could crank down the A/C as low as it will go, and we could sit around and dream about cooler weather. You know you live where hot weather is the norm when you celebrate even a wee drop in the humidity. That happened this past weekend. I dragged the wife out on the driveway early Saturday morning to experience 73 degrees because, with the lower humidity, it was noticeably cooler. It was. It really was. That lasted a couple of days, and now we are back to our normal super-hot days, yes, even in September. 

 

The Word of God tells us to give thanks in all things. That has always been a tough one for me. I know it doesn't mean we should give thanks for a horrible tragedy, but rather that we can be thankful that God is with us even when we experience great challenges. We also know that even heartaches and trouble work together for our ultimate good according to the Scriptures. (1st Thessalonians 5:18 and Romans 8:28) All things. As the preacher says, all means all, and that's all it means. Like I say, always being thankful is not so easy for me. At the end of the day, the only way I can reflect God's truth is with His help. Pray for me that I will be who God wants me to be. I do want to finish strong, and to me that means being an influence of God's truth on those who are near and dear to my heart, my family, including even the little ones. If we believe God's word, we know the destiny of those who fail to respond to God's salvation; therefore, I want to be a living testimony of what it means to live for Him. May God help us all to seek Him each and every day of our lives. Amen.

“What is the chief end of preaching? I like to think it is this. It is to give men and women a sense of God and His presence.” ~ D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Howdy, howdy, I hope today finds you and yours doing fine and dandy. If you are, thank God. If you are, like so many, and things are challenging, thank God because He is the source of our help. We can trust and find Him, no matter our circumstances. It's Monday, September 21, 2026, and I'm off to the X-ray techs to take pictures of that wee tiny spot in my chest to see if it's grown. I don't see the pulmonologist for a few weeks, but the appointment people have been bombarding me to get this procedure done. This means I will see and check the report a good while before he reports on it. After the visit to the medical facility, I will swing back by the house and pick up my bride because we are in Bible conference through Wednesday of this week, morning and evening services. What's a Bible conference? It's where folks show up to hear different preachers expound on the Word of God. There's always great worship through music, and we also have a luncheon speaker. We had a great kickoff yesterday morning and last night. If you are in Conroe, Houston, The Woodlands, Tomball, Montgomery, Willis, Huntsville, Kingwood, Cleveland, or anywhere, we start at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. each day. Showing up will be worth it. I can assure you Holy Spirit God will be in each service to apply the Word of God to each heart. More information can be accessed via the website or phone number as indicated in the image above. Lord willing, we plan to make all the services. I hope to see you there too. Amen.

 

I am glad to report the wife is making progress in her recovery from the surgery she had back on August 18. She is typically very active and always on the go. Having to take things slow and easy has been a huge challenge for her. We started using one of those zero-turn mowing units about five years ago. I used it some when we first got it. But she is the yard person, and she has done almost all the mowing for several years. While this is somewhat embarrassing, I pretty much had forgotten how to operate the mowing machine. She had to give me a tutorial to get me started, and I drove that thing in circles for over an hour. She would occasionally come out of the house and give me a look-see to check on my progress, and because she is a master, she was even willing to point out some of my oversights and mistakes. That made me feel so good; I could hardly contain my appreciation. Because I care so much about her recovery, I suppose that's why I directed her to return to her recliner and leave the oversights and mistakes to me. I'm glad her supervisory instinct is alive and well. Ha. Even sadder, several of our neighbors shared their concern about how she must be either ill or absent because they noticed the condition of our yard. Give me a break, already! I hope they know I've never had any desire whatsoever to have yard of the month. Nope. Never. I think you know where I'm coming from, right, Vern? May God help us all, and especially me, as I do my best to keep the home front intact. Amen.

"When your dog physically leans against you, it shows they view you as their primary source of security and comfort." ~ copied

It is Thursday, September 17, 2026. Welcome. Today's edition is being written by none other than Lil Miss Biscuit. Who better to let you know what's happening in and around the ole blogger ranch than me? I'll start with this: These People! They may be older, but they are always going. Going here and there, I suppose. The result? I am left behind, typically in my own pen. I would sing "Don't Fence Me In" if I knew it, and if I knew how to sing. Ha. They always leave the TV on for me. Sometimes they leave the news on. Are you kidding me? Hearing all that makes me glad to be a dog. It does. It really does. Sometimes they leave hours-long worship music on. I enjoy it, but for all those hours while they are gone to Church, I ask you, would you enjoy it for that long? I heard them say I was 2-1/2 years old. I can't remember them having any birthday parties for me. They do a great job with the food they give me, and they keep my water bowls filled. On the rare occasion when one of my bowls becomes empty, I do know how to make them ring as I bang them against the floor. They respond, but I notice they sometimes grumble a little. I don't really mind because they pretty much spoil me all the time. Mostly. I know they do because I hear them say it over and over. "Lil Miss Biscuit is so spoiled". A bit tiresome, don't you think? I will give kudos to the man of the house for how he keeps treats stocked for me. I do love me some treats. I'm not completely sold on the so-called teeth cleaner treat, but it seems to make them happy, so I chew it. I do have to work for the treat. Yeah. I inform him that I need to go outside. I run around without a leash, which means he hollers at me quite a lot when I get close to the road. That man can wake the entire neighborhood when he perceives that I am in danger. I like to mess with his mind a wee bit from time to time. And, yes. I do occasionally fake going because I am very interested in the treat awaiting me when we go back into the house. That is one of my fun things to do. I know how to fetch, and I do it better than he does at throwing. Living with old people, they tire easily, but here's my truth: I wouldn't trade them for anyone else in the world. Understand that I don't really know that many people. Who knows? Someone might come along. You never know. That's a joke. Enjoy the rest of your day. Oh yeah, I do enjoy lying behind him in the chair while he types out his blogs. I do. I really do. I guess it is 'my happy place'.

 

Y'all have a great weekend, Saturday, and the new week day of Sunday. Church. If I hear that 'Come Jesus Come' one more time, I'm going to cover my ears. Ha! Next time, I will tackle two of my least favorite things: Vet visits and grooming services. I felt a shiver coming on. Next time........ 

John 14:2-4 “ My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

It's Thursday, September 17, 2006, and I'm spinning the wheel this morning, and no one knows where it will stop. At 80, I often find myself struggling to locate the really good subject I was going to write about, only to find, like former President George W. Bush, that I misremembered it. I know. Physician, heal thyself, WRITE IT DOWN! This means I will have to do it this way. Make it up as I go. Perhaps that really good idea will manifest itself and come out from wherever it is hiding as I continue today's blog. Here are a couple of stories that help illustrate what I am talking about: 1)  An 80-year-old man tells his friend over coffee that he has been going to a clinic to help his memory. "And is it working?" his friend asks."Oh, absolutely," the man replies. "It's wonderful." "What is the clinic called?" asks the friend. The old man pauses, rubs his chin, and says, "What is the name of that red flower with the long stem and thorns?" His friend says, "A rose?" The old man turns to his wife across the room and yells, "Rose! What's the name of that clinic I go to?" 2)  Three old men are talking about their failing memories. The first says, "Today I was at the top of the stairs, and I couldn't remember if I had just gone up or was about to go down." The second says, "I was sitting at the edge of my bed and couldn't remember if I was about to sleep or just woke up." The third man laughs and says, "My memory is as good as ever, knock on wood." He hits the table twice, looks up in surprise, and yells, "Who's there?" I know. You've read or heard those already. Me too, but I used them as a stalling technique while I'm still searching those filing cabinets upstairs to see if I can come up with that missing idea. Upstairs meaning my noggin. However, I discovered my search engine is on vacation, and I will have to come back later. Ha.

 

I so much enjoy songs that speak to my heart. What say you? One I heard the other day that I haven't heard for a while gave me that far-away look in my eyes, along with a few tears. The song is "I Won't Have To Worry Anymore". It was written in 1971 by James Goss and Jimmy Jones. It has been recorded by dozens of Southern Gospel singers, and I particularly like to listen to it sung by the young Irish singer, Owen Mac. You can look him up on YouTube. Here are the lyrics:

 

1st Verse
Down here my burden's heavy
And the road is rough and long
Sometimes my feet get weary and so sore
But a brighter day is coming
Soon I'll stand on Heaven's shore
And I won't have to worry anymore

Chorus
Oh, I won't have to worry
When I reach the other shore
All my troubles will be over
And I rest forevermore
My eyes will be on Jesus
And my heart will be a glow
And I won't have to worry anymore

2nd Verse
Someday when life is over
And I've said my last goodbye
I'll see my Savior standing at the door
He'll say, "My child, you're welcome
All your cares are left behind"
And I won't have to worry anymore

Repeat Chorus

Tag
No, I won't have to worry anymore.

 

Critics say this type of song emphasizes escapism. I say Amen to that because that's exactly what I look forward to: Escaping from this world to my heavenly home. Yes. Yes. Hallelujah and Amen. 

The Apostle Paul, via Holy Spirit inspiration penned these words in his first letter to the called out assembly meeting in Thessalonica, Greece, (Chapter 5, verse 18): ~ Amplified Bible~ ".... in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."

Today is a very special day here at the ole blogger ranch. It's not because it's Wednesday, September 16, 2026, but I'm calling it a milestone of sorts because your word-slinging blogger has produced, since sending out my first on May 9, 2007, a total of 4,000 blogs. Thus far. That doesn't include those I never saw fit to release. I am aware of my proclivity for using way too many words when I am putting together my prose. Way too many. I am also aware of the many great writers who have warned against this tedious outcome. Here are a few: ~ Thomas Jefferson: "The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do." ~ Mark Twain: "Eschew surplusage." (From his list of writing rules, meaning to avoid unnecessary words or excess.) ~ George Eliot: "Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving wordy evidence of the fact." Elmore Leonard: "I try to leave out the parts that people skip." ~ As my Baptist preacher father-in-law, the late W. L. Rawles would so often say, "Here's the thing." I often use the grammar program to improve my text; however, there are times when it just doesn't sound like me. Sorry. It may be twisted and backwards at times, but it comes from my little twisted and backward pea-sized brain. And, after all, it is a conversation. You know. My blogs remind me of when I was a little fellow sitting outside the barbershop listening to those older guys shooting the breeze. No one ever interrupted the one telling his story to correct his pronunciation, his use of prepositions, conjunctions, tenses, or predicates. They might argue the facts shared, but not the grammar. Yes. I know about the process. Go back over your writing and take out all the words that are not necessary. Thanks for reminding me. Ha. Here's my final word on this particular event: I thank God. I do. I really do. I thank Him for providing me with the wherewithal to sit here at the computer and transfer what I have to say onto the electronic page. He gave me the abilities I have. He did. He really did. Therefore, it is our Great God who deserves the thanks and the glory for it all. Amen.

 

We all have God-ordained responsibilities as honorable citizens of our country, our state, county, and local governing authorities. (God-ordained examples: Jeremiah 29:7; Matthew 5:13-16, 22:21; Romans 13:1-2; 1st Timothy 2:1-2; and Titus 3:1-2)  I will admit I need to remind one particular individual of these truths given by God, that being me, myself, and I. We see so much waste and corruption in those occupying seats of government. As I have so often said, we vote for folks who end up being the lesser of evils. That in and of itself seems like a bummer. I was reminded of one particular annual fee when I recently paid the tax registration fees on my wife's car. In our state of Texas, they collect over $2 billion dollars via these registration fees. They report spending $1.8 billion on roads. (I hope that's true.) The rest goes to other areas of spending. We are blessed to live in Texas when compared to other states. We pay the 7th lowest in taxes and fees to the state. This means our state ranks very well in having a low overall tax burden compared to other states. My reason for mentioning this matter is that, for me, it's easy to complain about taxes. My wife as well. I believe I heard her say the other day these words, "It's tax, tax, tax!" She said that. She really did. Laying my complaints aside, I conclude we are blessed to live in the land God has provided to us. We are blessed to be able to pay our share of the tax burden. We are blessed from above. We are. We are so blessed. Thanks. I needed that. I did. I really did. Maybe someone else needed it too. Thank You, Lord. Amen. Just in case you are interested, the grammar program had a field day as it underlined much of today's blog. I hope it is happy with the work it did because, at the end of it all, here is my take: It is what it is. Ha!