"Fatigue is the best pillow." - Benjamin Franklin

Good morning and welcome. Today is Friday, the 13th, yikes, 2026. I put the yikes in there as a joke because for believers there is absolutely no room for any and all superstitious thoughts. Got it? Good. I am back from a first of the day appointment with the cardiologist. He was a very young doctor but we had a great visit with, hopefully, good results. The drug the hospital gave me and kept me on is a beta blocker used to significantly slow down the heart and one of the major side effects is fatigue. I have the major side effect. They gave me that drug because of what they read to be a heart-fib event. This doctor agreed that it appears that was a one off occurrence so he is taking me off of that drug. Hallelujah! He wants me to continue the prescribed blood thinner and get rid of the baby aspirin. Good, again. This young fellow was a big fan of Santa. He said I happened to be perhaps the thinnest Santa and even maybe the healthiest Santa he had seen. We talked more about my Santa adventures than we did about my heart, but, I don't need to see him again for a year. I left feeling good and maybe when this heart pill fades, maybe, just maybe I will begin to begin having some returned energy. The bottom line: I thank God, for His provision even with these medical people and I give Him the honor for it all. Amen.

 

Update on our son Jimmy. He continues to be hospitalized for treatment dealing primarily with his sodium level. When that is resolved, he will return to the mental facility for discharge. We thank so many who have prayed for our son. He has many challenges and we as his caretakers do too, especially his mom. We appreciate all the prayers and may God bless him and those praying for him. Amen.

 

I wanted to leave with a positive thought or two. How about two? One is the five years we had with a legendary pet, Sir Bentley Barksalot, Esq. He is still remembered, talked about here in our home and with others as well. Next is the self appointed queen of our domicile, none other than the one and only Little Miss Biscuit. In March she will observe her second birthday and thus far I would say she is demonstrating her version of terrific two's. She is one loving dog. She loves to snuggle. She gets under my chin and rubs her head against my beard. And, she, with very little exception, loves any and everyone. She might not warm up to someone who is hostile towards her but she might just try. I could learn something from how she loves. My guess is you could too. Now. We've had a busy week and I now have a better understanding how walking all over the acreage at the hospital complex nearly put my lights out. But, we should have that fixed soon. Y'all have a blessed Valentines Day and may love, the kind God would want us to have, may that be the love we show. Then, on the First Day of the Week, show up where the people of God gather to show love towards The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, you know, the meeting place, often called Church. Amen? Yes and Amen!

"Isn't it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different." ~ C. S. Lewis

Today is Thursday, February 12, 2026, and, I find myself squeezed into my chair since Lil Miss Biscuit has decided to take up more than her fair share. Sorry, Paw Paw Mac, I know you would never allow any dog into the house, much less have one sit beside you in a chair. But, my how the times have changed. I just looked down at her and said this, "I sure hope you are comfortable." I'm not sure she recognizes sarcasm because she seems very pleased with herself at the moment. That cartoon and caption is from the early 1900's. I used it because I have been reading some jokes told during that time period. Ditty's like this one from 1908: "I didn't know raw oysters were healthy." "I never heard one complaining about being sick." Here's one from 1916, but I doubt seriously if my grandfather ever read or heard it, he would have been 16 at the time: "Well did he pay you?", the wife of the dentist inquired after he had gone to collect a bill for a full set of teeth he had made. "Pay me!" growled the dentist. "Not only did he refuse to pay me but he had the effrontery to gnash at me----with my own teeth." I know humor has changed, perhaps some for the better but alas, no doubt, much as become much more vulgar. So much so, they now have a group of comedians who identify themselves as Clean in order to distinguish themselves from the norm. This next cartoon funny is from 1911: 

I rather think, in our culture today, we've all been conditioned to laugh out loud at stuff that would likely have been considered inappropriate back in those days. I remember Granny Mac telling about how Paw Paw would ride a horse up to see her when they first had begun to like each other. She said he would wear his hat tilted to one side. Then she would laugh and laugh. She seemed to greatly enjoy those recollections. Me? I guess I would have had to have been there. Ha!

 

Last week our praise team and choir did the Gaither song, "Because He Lives". Even though I've sung and heard sung that song hundreds of times, it was a very special moment in our service. It's super special to our family because our baby sister, Kayla, who died of leukemia at age 27 asked it to be sung at her homegoing service. She wanted the lyrics changed from 'because He lives I can face tomorrow' to 'because He lives I can face today'. She said she had learned during her many months of dealing with her illness the true meaning of taking it one day at a time. That song is now considered one of the most beloved hymns, featured prominently in churches, funeral services, and various recordings, with one popular YouTube video alone receiving over 92 million views. A worldwide standard. Thanks Gloria and Bill Gaither for your many years of serving the Lord and making music that has been impactful for time and eternity. There's a country song recorded by the late George Jones that asks a question, "Who's Gonna Fill their Shoes?" I often wonder that same thing about the Gaither's. I do hope you enjoy the testimony represented in that song, "Because He Lives", I do, I really do. Until next time, keep on keeping on and don't forget to remember to remember to praise God from whom all blessings flow. Amen.

Peppermint Patty: “You can’t tell me what I should feel, Marcie. You can only tell me what you feel.” — From a 1981 exchange after Marcie gently suggests Patty is overreacting to a bad grade.

~ Note: I'm just back from the ER where our Jimmy was being treated for extreme low sodium. He has been in a mental health facility for the past 12 days and they transported him to the ER when his sodium bottomed out. He seems to be alert and doing well after having received a couple of bags of saline solution. The mental health professionals are now wondering if his most recent mental issues may have been caused or exacerbated by this sodium issue. He is supposed to be discharged from the mental health facility later today, if, they are able to move him back to that facility. It reminds me of the saying, "It's always something!" And, that it is. Prayers appreciated. Thanks. ~

 

I woke up this morning and I learned something new. What was it? First, it's Wednesday, February 11, 2026 and whether you know it or not, older people do typically need to consult a calendar because days of the week are not so critical except for things like Church related functions and the very important, doctors' appointments. And, I also learned that today is National Peppermint Patty Day. I did not know that. Did you? It's okay to express your appreciation for the Peanuts comic strip because it has been and to a large extent continues to be part of the fabric of the life of kids with lessons for kids of all ages. Okay. For those who are Christ followers, the role of faith cannot be overlooked as demonstrated in the work of Charles Shultz, the strip creator. Take the time to read a little about him: ~ Charles Schulz (1922–2000), creator of Peanuts, was a deeply reflective Christian whose faith, though complex and evolving, heavily influenced his work. Raised with limited religious background, he later became an active Bible study teacher, churchgoer, and Methodist, often incorporating over 560 religious references into his comic strips. He famously insisted on including the Gospel of Luke in A Charlie Brown Christmas, viewing his work as a form of ministry. Key details regarding Schulz's faith include: Active Involvement: In Minnesota, he was involved with a Church of God, leading Bible studies and street evangelism. Later in California, he was active in a United Methodist Church. Theological Perspective: His faith was not rigid; while he believed in Jesus Christ and respected the Bible, he was also described as having a nuanced or sometimes secular humanist perspective in his later years. "Peanuts" as Ministry: Schulz considered his cartoons a platform to share his beliefs, stating, "I preach in these cartoons," and felt that Bible verses were for everyone, not just for church. "A Charlie Brown Christmas" against executive advice, he insisted on Linus reciting the story of Jesus' birth to define the "true meaning of Christmas". View on Religion: He believed faith should be brought to the public, and was often frustrated by critics who felt his work was too religious. ~ (copied from a Google search.) I will admit I am still angry at Lucy for always jerking that football away from Charlie Brown, but, I am thankful for someone who went against the grain in holding to his Christian beliefs. May we be encouraged to wear our identity in Christ by showing His love to others. Amen.

 

I am so looking forward to seeing the cardiologist on this upcoming Friday. Those folks helping me in the hospital added two new drugs to my regimen. One is a blood thinner taken alongside the baby aspirin I've been on for years. The other is a drug that slows down my heart and helps keep my blood pressure lower. I already take a blood pressure medication, but, they advised I should take this one too. My BP is lower these days, like 100/56. The other evening it hit me. I, at times, have trouble believing what a slow learner I can be. I've been fretting for days about how difficult it has been for me to snap back after that little hospital episode. Duh! Knocking the bottom out of my blood pressure and thinning out my blood just might have played a role in me not recovering quickly. That's my main goal for Friday's visit. Find out if I should stay on these new meds. Their objective will be to check out my heart and I may undergo more testing, but, all of the tests done in the hospital are readily available online for them to review. Those test results are now available sometimes before you get home from the medical center. I look at mine. I know. That can be dangerous because I have in the past and no doubt can today make wrong assumptions based on my reading of the test results. They often are coded or at least to the untrained eye they use terminology I am not familiar with. But, I look up the words and hear what Web MD and others have to say. I have actually stressed over something I think I spotted in a test only to find out from the doctor that given the combination of factors involved, it wasn't a problem at all. While I typically don't like to be proven wrong I will take that response any day of the week and twice on Sunday. I suppose it will all come out in the wash, or, at least, that's what Granny Mac used to say. Y'all take care now, you hear? And, may God add His blessings. Amen.

 

"The strength of a community is built on the respect it shows to its elders." — Anonymous

Hello and welcome to Tuesday, February 10, 2026. It's another day here in the neighborhood where I am slinging keystrokes here, there, and everywhere onto the electronic page. The photo comes courtesy of the Artificial Intelligence, AI, utility ChartGPT. The images are real photos of yours truly. I posted the images and asked the utility to show me looking at me in the mirror. That's how it came about. There is no doubt great potential for this milestone development and that potential can be for good or as has been warned by many, it can be used for evil like we've not seen before. In the world of services like medical practice, it well could be of great assistance. At the same time, things like criminal activities, fraud, intrusion into the personal lives of individuals, and, even more sinister operations, well, that potential is there too. Right now people are enjoying the use of the tool in playful ways, manipulating photos, making cartoon images and memes, and the like. Meanwhile, the gurus that know a lot about the power of this engine of ingenuity forecast great caution as we pursue its use. One of the masters of the development of this utility had this to say, “AI will be the best or worst thing ever for humanity.” ~ Elon Musk  Another expert, “Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.” ~ Christian Lous Lange  I also read where some preachers are already using AI to prepare their sermons and I spoke to a college student who said the teaching staff warned them not to use AI in their school work and, to know they had programs that could identify if they were using that technology. Maybe they are using AI to detect if AI is being used. I suppose it is something yet to be unpacked and I like this quote from the Great One himself, "I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been." ~ Wayne Gretzky. I'm not sure it offers much in this discussion, but, I like it anyway. What say you? 

 

I tend to be a wee bit obsessed with what it means to be an older person. I admit it. I do find what others before me have found and that has to do with how little revelance we as older folks have in this modern world. I will not apologize for what may sound self serving but here are some inspired words from the Lord God of heaven regarding those who are called the elderly,  "Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:32 NLT) ~ "Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father… Treat older women as you would your mother" (1 Timothy 5:1-2 NLT) ~ "In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble’" (1 Peter 5:5 NIV) ~ "Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old." (Job 12:12 NLT). I am thankful I was given the opportunity to show respect for my parents and grandparents. I'm thankful I have no regrets. However, in our world today we hear about incidents where children of aging parents have gone out of their way to take advantage of their parents. WRONG! I can't even imagine how one would be able to sleep at night. But, I know, folks like me are accused of wanting to rain of everybody's parade. I hope it rains hard. Just me. Just a wee bit of a rant, but, come on people, get a grip and show the respect that older people deserve. I think I need a cup of Community and a time out, then, I will be better. May God help us all is my prayer. Amen. 

Proverbs 21:1 New Living Translation ~ "The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases."

Good morning and welcome to today's edition, subtitled: This, That, and the Other. Today is Monday, February 9, 2026, and, I do hope you are off to a good start. Let me say again how thankful I am for some of the positive changes taking place in our nation since this last presidential election. My recent story about President Trump was for the most part well received. I did receive a number of comments. Some indicated their belief that Trump was directly appointed by God to return our nation to our roots. I do believe God is involved, see today's title, and I do believe He can use those in office to work His will and His way. After all, it is God who said the pagan King Nebuchadnezzar was His servant, raised up to bring judgment on His rebellious people. (Jeremiah 27:6 and 43:10) Therefore, I believe there has been a new found freedom for believers to openly express a testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ. And, our current administration has had a positive influence on this changed attitude. The Charlie Kirk assassination has also made a huge impact on Christians being willing to stand up and be counted for the Lord. God can use Donald J. Trump in the same way He used King Nebuchadnezzar. While some seem to want to make him some kind of a Christian Icon, I cannot forget the interview where he spoke specifically about his religious leanings. Frank I. Luntz, the interviewer, asked this very pointed question, "Have you ever asked God for forgiveness?" Trump's answer, "I am not sure I have, I just go and try to do a better job from there. I don't think so. I think, if I do something wrong, I think I just try to make it right. I don't bring God into that picture. I don't." That doesn't change my reason for voting for him but it does put into perspective his view of his relationship with the Lord. I'm glad he has decided to align himself with those who do profess Christ and I don't really question why he has done it whether it is for the votes or because he wants to return our nation to her roots. I will not go into detail but I will tell you that some of the people he has chosen as his spiritual advisers are truly suspect in terms of their fidelity to the word of God. I say all of that to say this, as a follow-up, I am thankful that many believing folks are coming out of the closet, so to speak, many on national broadcasts. Any and all testimonies of changed lives because of Jesus are welcomed. And, I say Amen and Amen.

 

I started this blogging adventure back in the summer of 2007. My approach was captured in a quote from the famous baseball player, coach, and, oddly enough shade tree philosopher, Yogi Berra, "You can observe a lot by watching." His funny quotes became well known to the extent they were tagged, 'Yogisms'. I have tried to make my blogs observational, from my point of view, but, he was right, you can observe a lot by watching. I was fortunate to see him play. Only once. The Yankees played against the Kansas City Athletics. He was no longer catching but they put him in the outfield. It was 1961 and my uncle provided me access to a trip to Kansas City to see a professional baseball game. I, along with hundreds of other little league kids rode a chartered train from Shreveport to Kansas City. I had never been to a professional baseball game. I also saw Roger Maris hit his 51st home run, the year he broke Babe Ruth's record. And, to top it off, I got to see, live and in person, the former President of the United States, Harry S. Truman at his library in Independence, Missouri. There you were thinking I was just a country bumpkin from that wee little village in rural Louisiana, well, you would be right but I did myself quite a bit of observing as I watched from the train making its way through the hills and valleys on my way to a milestone adventure. I wrote about it in more than one of my blogs. I think they are searchable, but, I can't always find what I am looking for, so, I can't be certain. Y'all enjoy your day and remember to give God the glory. Amen.

"If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it". ~ Ronald Reagan

Well hello there and welcome to today's visit. I hope you and yours are well on this Friday, February 6, 2026. The photo was taken using the desktop camera and that would be yours truly with my little sidekick, the famous, one and only, Lil Miss Biscuit. I zoomed in to cover up the messy office I work in. I'm still waiting on the cleaners to come in. I think they were here, maybe in 2022. Probably on strike or something. You know. Good help is hard to find these days. Here's what my Artificial Intelligence friend has to say about a messy office: "A messy office often signals a, overloaded, or creative mind, but is frequently perceived by others as a sign of low conscientiousness, disorganization, or laziness. While sometimes indicating a person is deeply focused on high-priority projects, it can also lead to increased stress, decreased productivity, and negative professional impressions." The wife of my youth would likely cast her vote for the lazy component, however, I tend to think perhaps the creative mind is a better fit. And, if I could find proof of it in all the papers I have laying here and there, I would share that proof with you. You do know that I'm just kidding. Not about my messy office. That's the truth. I am concerned about it. I actually talk about it quite often, especially how much it needs to be straightened up, however, thus far, it remains a future work endeavor. Typically, I will enlist some assistance as we prepare to prepare to do our tax return. Another project to look forward to. Ugh. We will get very serious about it, I think maybe in early April. We always pay in, so why get in a hurry? Right, Vern? I can identify with this quote from the late great radio and TV host, Arthur Godfrey, "I’m proud to pay taxes in the United States; the only thing is, I could be just as proud for half the money." 

I really can't complain about the taxes I pay. I feel privileged to live in the country God placed me in. I feel blessed, and, yes, I do enjoy the freedoms we have in this land of the free and home of the brave. At the same time, it is part of the psyche of the tax paying public to joke about and make noise about paying taxes. I am not a fan of the state exercising ownership over my home and property after it was paid off many years ago. The people we elect here in the state of Texas all promise to do something about property taxes, however, not much is done. This is where the state gets the money to operate and while there are other methods of collecting, special interests, and, all kinds of political shenanigans always keep any permanent solutions from being enacted. I know. That's a particularly sore spot with me. Maybe it's just an old people deal. Back when taxes were a part of the mortgage payout, well, it didn't bother me as much. Now, as a card carrying senior citizen I get to see how it works, up close and personal. But, there are other fish to fry as they say, and, I'm sure my ongoing issue with property taxation is one that will continue well after I attain that desired status, "absent from the body, present with the Lord." (2nd Corinthians 5:8) And, yes, I am well aware of the Apostle Paul's inspired admonition regarding government taxation: Romans 13:6-7 NIV ~ "This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor." I stand corrected. As always, God has the final say. Amen? Yes. Amen.

"Have an eye to God in every word you sing." – John Wesley

Good morning. I am going to steer away from political stuff today. The wife did say she thought yesterday's blog was a wee bit strong. It was not my intention to offend anyone because we all need to seek God's help in coming to our individual opinion about matters that impact our lives and the lives of our families. We cannot escape the fact that our governmental authorities do impact our lives. Oh well, as is so often said, "It is what it is." How in the world are you doing on this fine day, Thursday, February 5, 2026? It's a good day to pause, look up, and give God thanks for how He provides. He does deserve it whether we give it to Him or not. Many years ago I was in choir practice and a young lady raised her hand. She asked the music leader to give his insight into the meaning of the song we were working on. She said while it had a catchy tune, she didn't find it to be biblical or praiseworthy. Yikes! She was talking about the lyrics or words. The director responded with a bunch of explanations based on metaphors and possibilities, but, he did admit the song was very unclear in terms of communicating biblical truth. That was an act of bravery on the part of that young lady but it did point out how important it is that our worship be very much grounded in biblical truth. Period. This is why I particularly like Bible passages set to music. I prefer them. I do. I really do. I'm not saying a testimonial song is wrong, but, if we want to get as close to true worship as we can, then I believe the Bible to be the runaway best source. If any of the lyrics fall short of reflecting truth supported by God's revelation of Himself, in the Book He has given to us, I think it should be considered suspect. At the same time, I mark myself as an old fuddy-duddy when it comes to matters like this. I hear the voices. But, Brother Al, if we don't sing modern songs with modern lyrics we will not reach the next generation. Really? I guess that means if we present the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, God is in someway limited. Sorry. I'm not buying that. Not one iota. God always works when His truth is proclaimed. In teaching, preaching, singing, or in personal devotion. He does. He really does. That's the way I see it. Now you know.

 

When I worked in the corporate world and for a number of years I had the privilege of being an entry level executive, many of the folks in that world functioned based on what I will call workplace games. If I played games I didn't know that I did. Some in that world thought I was an excellent game player. In other words, if you let your yes be yes and your no be no, someone will think there's something more to it. I will confess how this, from my vantage point, was quite humorous. Me, not playing any games but being thought of as a master at playing games. Ha! It reminds me of that Peter Sellers movie, 'Being There', where he played a simple minded gardener whose only education had come from watching TV. He was thrust into the world of high level geopolitical players and his one liners where interpreted as being profound. They thought him to be a genius when he was barely able to function. That's how I viewed the way I was viewed. I was actually given a book about workplace political game playing and the Sr. Executive who gave it to me said, "I am giving this to you, not because you need it, because you could have written it." Don't you find that hilarious? You might not but I would betcha my Paw Paw Mac who gave me many of my common sense sayings, he would laugh out loud. Maybe. He didn't do that very often. Okay. My point? Do right. Keep doing right. Even if your effort is misunderstood, keep doing right. Maybe you will be awarded a master game player trophy. Maybe not. Honor God, let Him take care of the results. Amen.