"Getting old is like climbing a mountain; you get a little out of breath, but the view is much better!" – Ingrid Bergman

Why am I tired? Good question. Being a blogger, I decided on this Friday, October 23, 2026, to investigate some possible reasons. Here’s what I found about the mileage a person might accumulate over 80 years:

 

Depending on work, travel, and daily activities, estimates suggest a person may meet anywhere from 10,000 to 80,000 people and see millions of faces. Then there are these estimated lifetime totals:

 

• Heartbeats: Around 2.92 billion, averaging 100,000 a day.

• Breaths: Around 672 million, averaging 23,000 a day.

• Blinks: Around 420 million.

• Sleep: Roughly 26.6 years, assuming eight hours a night.

• Walking distance: About 55,100 miles, or roughly twice around the Earth.

   

Even if I’m on the low end of those estimates—and even if I haven’t averaged eight hours of sleep each night—there’s enough here to explain my tiredness. I’ve been busy. I have. I really have.

 

However, according to the live-in expert who has shared life with me for nearly 62 years, I am more lazy than tired. Naturally, I wanted to understand her reasoning, so I looked up the difference between the two. The explanation went something like this: "Laziness is a lack of desire or willingness to do a task despite having the physical and mental energy to do it. Tiredness is a depletion of energy from exertion, lack of sleep, or burnout. You want to act, but your body or brain can’t keep up."

 

Given that information, I am officially updating my condition to: Malaise! Ha. (Look it up.)

 

The old saying, “You might as well laugh as cry,” has been around for a long time. In fact, the idea of using laughter to counter sadness goes back thousands of years. Here on my blog, I typically come down on the side of laughter.

 

Jesus referred to Solomon’s wisdom in Luke 11:31, and Solomon reminded us in Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 that there is “a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” We all know that. I enjoy a good laugh. What say you? I also know, especially at my age, how to shed a few tears. (Solomon most likely didn't know the Baptists would be reading his text when he wrote 'a time to dance'.)

 

My point? I write about serious matters, including our need to be made right with God before we die. I also write with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek, hoping to bring a smile. Sometimes I write downright silly stuff. But I never, ever intend to criticize or belittle anyone dealing with difficulties in their life. That’s not my heart.

 

Our pastor, Dr. Jerry Chaddick—Brother Jerry—likes to say, “Hear what I’m saying, not what I’m not saying.” Don’t read too much into the stuff I throw onto the electronic page. I’m not that deep. Mark Twain put it this way: “Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.”

 

Okay. Enough about all of that. I feel a nap coming on. You know. It’s treatment for my malaise. Ha.

 

We wrap up this week tomorrow, and, Lord providing, we get to begin the first day of next week by gathering with our local Church to hear from Almighty God. Amen.

"A puppy treated every puddle as a universe and every passerby as a potential best friend." ~ copied

One of the things I did when our Sir Bentley Barksalot, Esq., was with us was take a huge number of photos of that precious, affectionate little pup. He developed an incurable liver ailment, and we had to say goodbye after just five years. Very few days pass without one of his photos popping up as a memory. He was my first real pet, and I still have trouble grasping just how deeply I cared for him.

 

Seeing so many of his photos is “sweet-bitter.” That's right. Not bittersweet. It's always sweet first when we think about him. Then comes the bitter. How could you not love a face like that? Okay. That was on my mind, and now you know, on this Thursday, October 22, 2026.

 

Our Lil Miss Biscuit may have been an impulsive addition to the family, made in the hope of helping me cope with losing Bentley, but she has earned her place in our hearts, especially mine. She's currently asleep behind me in the typing chair. I can feel her little body giving my back the heating-pad treatment.

 

The late Andy Rooney made a lot of sense when he said, “The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.” Our pups have always been overwhelmingly happy to see people and generous with their affection. The great writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, of Sherlock Holmes fame, made this observation: “A dog reflects the family life. Whoever saw a frisky dog in a gloomy family, or a sad dog in a happy one? Snarling people have snarling dogs, dangerous people have dangerous ones.”

 

Think about that one. Okay? Enough for now about our canine adventures.

 

A preacher acquaintance posted this photo, and it struck me as thought-provoking. What say you? That cross in the mirror confronts men, women, boys, and girls with the truth of the Gospel. It immediately reminds me of what the Apostle Paul declared in his letter to the local assembly meeting in Corinth, Greece (1 Corinthians 15:1–11, as rendered in modern English in the Oremus Bible Browser):

 

“Now I should remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.

 

“For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to someone untimely born, he appeared also to me.

 

“For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.”

 

That truth may be closer to someone today than they realize, just like the objects in that mirror. My prayer is that anyone who has yet to trust Him will seek the One who died for us all. Do it now. Amen.

"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young." – Henry Ford

Hello and welcome. Today is Wednesday, October 21, 2026, and I thank God for the means and opportunity to visit with you.

 

I can tell you this: What's up with the wobbly, weak legs when I first wake up? You know what I first thought? Hey! You are acting like an old man! That was a shocking thought. But alas, it comes with the territory. I share with you this explanation from Google's artificial intelligence utility: “An 80-year-old man experiencing weak and wobbly legs upon waking in the morning can be due to natural age-related changes, underlying medical conditions, or medication effects.” I plead guilty to all those listed—and maybe a few more. Ha!

 

Isn't it funny how one has to be reminded that what we're experiencing often has to do with acting our own age? The graphic represents exactly how this transition is playing out in my life. I don't even consider my age until it considers me. If you can't laugh at how this is playing out, I can't help you. Think about it. All those age-related jokes from years past have now become autobiographical. Did you hear the one about the old guy who . . . ? I confess, that was much funnier twenty years ago than it is today.

 

But I do amuse myself as I deal with this new condition called oldness. Let me set the record straight. When I first wake up, I may wobble and weeble momentarily, but thank God it's only momentary at this time. Hallelujah and Amen!

 

I continue to read many obituaries. That's been a long-term habit of mine. Let me make it clear again: I am not looking to read my own. I enjoy reading about how people made a difference during their time here.

 

One trend I notice brings some sadness: the absence of any mention of things done for the Kingdom. I'm not saying it's a universal problem, nor does an obituary tell a person's whole story. Still, far too many death notices contain no mention of a testimony of faith. So many folks are defined by their family, their working life, their hobbies, and their special interests.

 

I certainly don't support making something up about an individual as though that could secure them a place in heaven. That, too, is something many do. If they have not been born again (John, Chapter 3), nothing said before or after their time here will get them into God's heaven.

 

It is good for people to be remembered for their kindness, their respect for others, their charitable work, and their care for their family. The list could go on. But reading obituaries reminds us all that knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior is the single most important matter in life. Period. End of story.

 

We may say “rest in peace” all we want, but lasting peace comes only through Jesus the Christ. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. Amen.

Deuteronomy 8: 6-13 ~ “So obey the commands of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and fearing him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills. It is a land of wheat and barley; of grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates; of olive oil and honey. It is a land where food is plentiful and nothing is lacking. It is a land where iron is as common as stone, and copper is abundant in the hills. When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. “But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful!

Another day has dawned, and I thank God for it. What say you? Greetings from yours truly and my writing buddy, Lil Miss Biscuit, on this beautiful Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The keyboard sits directly in front of us, and yes, she does make it awkward to type my stories. However, I find a way, and she does seem to appreciate it.

 

Yesterday, I mentioned my maternal grandfather and his impact on my life. After the unexpected death of my dad in January 1954, my mom and us six kids moved from Port Arthur, Texas, to the little village of Hornbeck, Louisiana, where we moved in with Granny and Paw Paw Mac. I was seven at the time. From then until he passed from this life to the next in 1971, he poured into me, in his own direct and sometimes subtle way, much of what shapes how I see things today.

 

Yep. I worked my way up in the big company and was recognized for many achievements. Those experiences influenced me in many ways, but some of the choices I made along the way turned out to be wrong. The consequences were painful, and the hurt extended to others in my family. That is one of the serious dangers of riding what seems to be an unstoppable train of success. I began to read my own press clippings, and there came a day when I took credit for my achievements instead of thanking God for His provisions.

 

Through God’s mercy, grace, and intervention, my family and I recovered from the effects of my self-inflicted sense of self-importance. I’m not proud of those days, but I am thankful that God was there when I turned to Him. And He responded. I’ll never be like my grandad, but I can follow his example of faith because, when all is said and done, that’s what counts, for time and eternity. Amen.

 

We moved to the area where we now live in the spring of 1976, the year of America’s Bicentennial celebration. It dawned on me yesterday that we have lived in this same area for fifty years. As my doctor told me, and as I am often wont to say, “That, my friend, is a good long run.”

 

I’ve learned a few things along the way. Perhaps one of the most meaningful lessons has been learning to cultivate a thankful heart. Here is a song we can all learn to sing back to our great God. What tune? How about one of your own choosing? That’s how I do it. Ha!

 

Psalm 100
 

A thanksgiving psalm.

 

1) Shout out praises to the Lord, all the earth!

2) Worship the Lord with joy!
Enter his presence with joyful singing!

3) Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us and we belong to him;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4) Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give him thanks!
Praise his name!

5) For the Lord is good.
His loyal love endures,
and he is faithful through all generations.

 

That quotation comes from the New English Translation, or NET, which includes detailed translators’ notes. It’s available free to use on the internet; give it a try. I think you will find its attention to detail helpful.

 

Until next time, may God add His blessings. Amen.

"Living out a Bible verse through daily obedience is more important than simply memorizing or quoting it." ~ copied

Good morning and welcome. Today is Monday, October 19, 2026. I bring you greetings from Romans chapter 8. Our teacher yesterday, Bro. Benny, did an excellent job covering some amazing truths from this portion of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the called-out local assembly meeting in Rome, Italy. This chapter includes the widely cherished verse numbered 28 in our Bibles:

 

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.” —As rendered in the Greek Interlinear Bible (NT).

 

I’ve known many beloved brothers and sisters in Christ who have named this verse as their favorite. I'm reminded of one in particular who claimed this verse. He played a major role in shaping the person I am today. He was my mother’s dad, my grandfather, Paw Paw Mac. He was born in 1900 and left this spinning globe for his heavenly home in 1971.

 

My grandad knew well the meaning of “all things” in that verse. His life was marked by challenges and adversities, along with some gut-wrenching tragedies. He wasn’t perfect, but his life demonstrated his faith in the God he loved. That faith was what he clung to throughout his sojourn here. Romans 8:28, his favorite verse. His lived-out testimony. Don't be mistaken; there were good times too, but on balance, as they used to say back home, he had to carry more than his fair share. 

 

I’ll not go into the truly sad details of all that happened to him and his family, ours too, over his seventy-one years. However, it is a blessing that those in our family today can look back and remember how openly he lived out his faith through it all.

 

The verse he loved went hand in hand with the song he loved: “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow,” written by Ira Stanphill and published in 1950. I’ve mentioned before that he couldn’t sing a lick, but I can still see him swaying back and forth when we sang that particular song in our church service. How does it fit Romans 8:28? Here are the lyrics. I report; you decide:

 

1)
I don’t know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don’t borrow from its sunshine,
For its skies may turn to gray.
I don’t worry o’er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I’ll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

 

Refrain: 
Many things about tomorrow,
I don’t seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow,
And I know who holds my hand.

 

2)
Every step is getting brighter,
As the golden stairs I climb;
Every burden’s getting lighter;
Every cloud is silver lined.
There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eye,
At the ending of the rainbow,
Where the mountains touch the sky.
[Refrain]

 

3)
I don’t know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;
But the one who feeds the sparrow,
Is the one who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion,
May be through the flame or flood,
But His presence goes before me,
And I’m covered with His blood.
[Refrain]

 

We did sing that song at his homegoing service. I believe everyone present could agree that it reflected his devotion to God and his servant’s heart. He was a quiet, humble man who lived out his testimony, and that Bible verse and that song help tell his story.

 

I often think how wonderful it would be if I could leave behind anything close to the example set by this simple, godly man. Amen.

"If you get on the wrong train, get off at the nearest station; the longer it takes you to get off, the more expensive the return trip will be." ~ A metaphor, copied.

Hello, and welcome to our visit today. I started to call it a fireside chat, but that would be getting ahead of the cooler weather we’re supposed to wake up to tomorrow. Today is Friday, October 16, 2026, and I am thankful to still be breathing air on the planet. Don’t get me wrong. I look forward to the day I arrive at my long-awaited heavenly home, but I still have things to do here in this life.

 

The expression “a penny for your thoughts” dates back to the English statesman Sir Thomas More in 1522. I believe I heard it a few times when I was accused of daydreaming. Adjusted for today, that penny’s value has been estimated at $5.50. But saying, “$5.50 for your thoughts” doesn’t have quite the same ring, does it?

 

Some believe the expression “give my two cents’ worth” is somehow linked to “a penny for your thoughts.” If so, I guess we could invite someone to give us their $11 opinion.

 

As for the United States penny, we know it is no longer being minted. Spending 3.69 cents to make one penny no longer makes any sense—or cents—at all, especially when that penny is worth just $0.01. My apologies to whoever came up with this jewel: “That’s going to cost a pretty penny.” Ha!

 

I hasten to add that a minted penny can be quite valuable if a mistake is made during production. A 1943-D Lincoln bronze penny sold for $1.7 million in a private sale in 2010. Now, that really is a pretty penny!

 

I’ll leave you with this one because it more or less defines my journey thus far: “Always late and a penny short.”

 

I congratulate all those who have made it to the end of their workweek. Looking forward to “the weekend” is a time-honored tradition in our country. I’ve mentioned many times that, during most of my years in the workforce, Friday typically meant only one thing to me: It was the day before Saturday. Meaning? I worked many Saturdays. I did. I really did. And too many Sundays. Way too many.

 

At the same time, I am very much aware of how eagerly people anticipate the freedom of Saturday and Sunday. No alarm clocks. Get up when you want to. Go where you want to go. Sure. If only!

 

If I had it to do over, I would have spent more time with my wife and boys. I would have. I really would have. One thing I rarely neglected, however, was gathering with God’s people on Sunday at the place where our local assembly met.

 

I may sound like a broken record, but I offer this advice to those still pounding the pavement in their jobs: Your life, my life, and the life of every man, woman, and child are in the hands of our Sovereign God. We all need to take that truth seriously. Put God first, not just on Sunday, but every minute of every day. Make Him first. Plan your life around your relationship with Him.

 

That means starting each week on Sunday by meeting together to hear from God as His Word is shared and to build one another up in the faith. We then spend the rest of the week working hard, pursuing activities, and raising our families, while continuing to seek Him through His Word for direction and provision.

 

That is my simple way of describing a life in which the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—the Three in One, our God—comes first.

 

Okay. There you have my take for today. Yep. At 80, I do tend to go on and on. However, this truth is important for us all. It is. It really is. Amen.

Revelation 4:11~ English Standard Version ~ “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Welcome. I hope you and yours are doing well today. Today is October 15, 2026, and I’ve mentioned before how quickly the year goes by for us older folks. Researchers have plenty of ideas about why this happens as we age. Time itself doesn’t change just because we get older, but our perception of it does.

 

One common explanation is that we form fewer distinct or novel memories than we did in childhood. Some studies also use brain scans to explore differences in how older and younger brains process the same information. Well-established routines may contribute to that sense of time slipping away, especially when one day begins to look much like the next.

 

The suggested remedy? Engage in new experiences. Maybe I should sign up for skydiving, bungee jumping, whitewater rafting, or swimming with sharks. No, thank you. It’s okay. Things are different as we age. I can live with that.

 

After today, we have 77 days left in this year to live out the life God has given us. Being actively engaged in serving Him can keep anyone focused and involved. I greatly enjoy preparing to teach Bible lessons. I am also comfortable acknowledging teaching as “the gift” given to me by God the Holy Spirit. (Romans 12:6–8) As I understand it, this gift was given to me; therefore, the Giver deserves the praise whenever I use it to build up my brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

My aim is to use my time, my talent, my testimony, and my treasure to honor God, since He has provided them all. He has. He really has. Being dedicated to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and putting His provisions to use—well, that should keep the “Occupied” sign on my door until I leave here for my heavenly home. Amen.

 

The wife and I recently welcomed our 12th great-grandchild into our family. We are blessed: three sons, eleven grandchildren, and now twelve great-grandchildren.

 

Our desire for our family? To see each one become a follower of Christ and live for the honor and glory of God. That would mean spending eternity together in our heavenly home. Selfish? I don’t think so. We pray not only for all of them to be saved, but also for others to accept God’s offer of salvation.

 

Can we make this happen? Each must respond individually as they come to know the truth. But we know God can save them, and we pray that He will.

 

A true legacy is rooted in a testimony of serving our Creator God, rather than making worldly achievements the priority. That’s a lesson many of us learned later than we should have. Putting God first in all things is what we want to do, and it’s what we want for our family.

 

We can do our part, but only God can change hearts and minds. We continue to pray for every one of them—and for others, too. We do. We really do. Amen.