"For every little kid who still believes in Santa Claus, there is at least one adult who still believes in professional wrestling." ~ Doug Larson, 1926-2017, American newspaper columnist and editor celebrated for his witty, pithy, and insightful one-liners.

Being Santa allows me to hang out with some pretty interesting characters.

 

Hello and welcome to my blog, where keystrokes go to die. Ha! This visit is sponsored by today, Wednesday, October 7, 2026. Thanks so much for tuning in. While waiting for my wife to finish her eye appointment, I looked up some online questionnaires designed to check for early signs of dementia. At 80 years young, subjects like this do cross your mind now and then. They do. They really do. I completed several of the questionnaires, and generally speaking, I seem to be in reasonably good shape for the shape I’m in. Joking. Might as well. The results suggested the possibility of some very slight decline—but just that: very slight. I’ll take that and try to remember it while I’m looking for my keys. Ha! It’s like the fellow who said he had a photographic memory but had recently discovered he had no film. Or this one: “My memory is not what it used to be. … Oh, by the way, my memory is not what it used to be.” I once bought a book on ways to improve my memory; I just can’t locate it right now. Add my memory issues to my tendency to procrastinate, and you get—well, I’ll tell you about it later. I also heard about a fellow who took some classes in memory retention. He now reports that he forgets to be forgetful. Hey! Laughing about the foibles that come with age is so much better than fretting over them. I feel blessed from above to be able to write about these things. Don’t get me wrong. Dementia and similar health conditions present serious challenges for many people and their families. Those situations are nothing to laugh about. Here, I’m poking fun at me, myself, and I. I do hope everyone takes it that way. I do. I really do.

 

The wife and I enjoy teasing each other back and forth. I do admit that I enjoy teasing her more than I enjoy her teasing me. I mention that in the interest of full disclosure. I enjoy the parody posts from the online satire website The Babylon Bee. I showed the wife the photo above, and we both had a good laugh. It’s always a treat when we can laugh together. I decided to conduct a little test of my own, so I worked up a new version and shared it with her.

 

Still funny, but it didn’t get quite as big a laugh as the original. The good news is that we both still laughed. She then told me people would be able to tell I had put my face on it. Really? Thank you so much for sharing that insight. Ha! Thank God for our time together. He has been better to us than we have been to Him. Amen..

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Jesus speaking, Matthew 11:28)

Hello, blog readers everywhere, and don't feel too bad if you accidentally landed on mine. Today is Tuesday, October 6, 2026, and you may find that it wasn't a mishap at all. I do try to emphasize life's greatest need for every man, woman, boy, and girl. That is, to come into right fellowship with Creator God through the finished work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who died on the Cross on our behalf. If that causes you to move quickly away, I ask you to seriously consider finishing what I have written for today. Here's a brief overview of where everyone stands, everyone without exception:

 

The gospel is the good news that God saves sinners through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
 

1. God's Design
 

• God made everything: God created the world and all people to know, love, and honor Him.

• We belong to God: We were designed to live for His glory and walk in close friendship with Him.
 

2. Our Problem (Sin)
 

• We turned away: Every person has sinned, meaning we have chosen our own way instead of God's way (Romans 3:23).

• The cost of sin: Sin breaks our relationship with God and separates us from Him, leading to spiritual death and punishment. We cannot fix this brokenness on our own.
 

3. God's Solution (Jesus Christ)
 

• Jesus died for us: Because God loves us, He sent His Son Jesus to earth. Jesus lived a sinless life and died on the cross in our place, taking the punishment we deserve (1 Corinthians 15:3).

• Jesus rose again: He was buried, and God raised Him back to life on the third day, conquering sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:4).
 

4. Our Response (Faith)
 

• A free gift: Forgiveness and eternal life cannot be earned; they are a free gift from God (Ephesians 2:8–9).

• Receive the gift: You receive this gift by turning away from sin and trusting in Jesus alone as your Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9).

 

If you have any questions, leave me a comment, and I will do my best to respond wherever you might be.

 

I see the weather folks are being a wee bit giddy over these 'fall-like' conditions. Really? Don't get me wrong, I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I do know that mid-eighties or cooler than mid-nineties. I am not a global warming denier since I am well aware of the abuse our humanity could impose on our ecosystems. At the same time, I am not a global warming alarmist because I trust God to keep His promises, including those He made concerning our created world. This is what God said to Noah after the waters of the Great Flood had dissipated: "As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night." (Genesis 8:22, from the New Living Translation) Does this mean we should trash the earth through all types of pollution? As the Apostle Paul would say, "God forbid." We actually should respect the world God has put us in. We should. We really should. Notice that verse from Genesis added a caveat: 'as long as the earth remains'. That tells us there will be an end to the current status, since we are also promised a new heaven and a new earth as a certain coming attraction. (The Revelation of Jesus Christ, Chapter 21) Again, there's little doubt what an unbelieving world can do in its pursuit of evil outcomes. Even so, I choose to trust in God and His Word. He will take care of it all in His own good time. He will. He really will. Amen.

“Your firstborn baby may hold your hand for only a little while, but it will hold your heart for the rest of your life” – Anonymous

Good morning, and welcome to our time together on this Monday, October 5, 2026. This is a very special day in our family because, on this date in 1965, our first child, our son Chris, was born. It was truly a case of children having children, but God gave us a wonderful son, and we have been blessed throughout the years. I’m not sure where he got it, but he was always a quick study—intelligent and mechanically inclined. He began working on appliances and other household items at a very early age. Today, he holds a responsible managerial position with his company. He has been married for 40 years and has three daughters and seven grandchildren. All of his accomplishments are worth noting. However, we are most thankful for his walk with God, his many years of teaching God’s Word, and his servant’s heart as a man of God. That counts. For time and eternity. Happy Birthday, Son, and may God continue to bless you. Amen.

I am no longer an avid sports follower. Believe me, I once was. These days, I read the headlines but rarely watch the games. The Astros were one and done. The Texans are pathetic. I’m not sure about the Rockets. However, I do enjoy reading the back-and-forth between our eldest son and our youngest son, Rodney, as they watch the games and text their commentary to each other. I’m included in their group text, so I get to follow along. At one time, I was also an avid NASCAR fan and followed Jeff Gordon throughout most of his career. I still check the race results and standings from time to time. I also check the college football scores and the standings but rarely watch any of the games. We also keep up with Caitlin Clark, the WNBA superstar. Sadly, through no fault of her own, she has become the focus of considerable division. She is a white player in a league dominated by Black athletes, and she brought a huge new fan base to the sport. Yet discussions about her popularity have become entangled with arguments about race, including references to white supremacy. I’m not making that up. That phrase appeared in a prominent report in a national newspaper. In my view, these controversies too often overshadow her play. She has broken numerous records in her short professional career, and we find ourselves rooting for her as an underdog, even though I consider her one of the best to ever play the game. The wife enjoys watching the various versions of Ninja Warrior. She also likes to make fun of me for straining right along with a competitor, trying to help them finish a competition—even when we’re watching a rerun. Okay. Maybe that explains why I am no longer a sports fanatic. And, just so you know, fanatic is where we get the word 'fan'. Get it? Good.

 

Our son Chris is out of town on a business trip; therefore, we will catch up with him to celebrate his birthday when he returns. One meme I read put it this way: While we are not perfect parents, we can be praying parents. And that we are. I do hope God will work in each of our lives as we continue the journey He has appointed for us. Amen. 

Hebrews 4:1 ~ English Standard Bible, ESV ~ "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Hello, somebody! Rise, shine, and give God the glory. It’s Friday, October 2, 2026, and I bring you greetings from my electronic connection to yours. Yesterday, we made another trip to the Houston Medical Center for a follow-up visit with the doctor who performed the wife’s surgery back in August. The verdict this time: her healing is slow. Too slow to suit her—and she made that clear. I was a participating bystander, since I've done my best to help her follow the prescribed healing agenda. They offered a new way of describing what might be causing her ongoing pain: a “traumatized stomach” from all the moving things around required to accomplish the surgery. We both were up early, left at 9:15 a.m., and arrived at the doctor’s office at 10:15. After seeing this one, that one, and the other, we made it back to our home territory around 12:45 p.m. Had the wailing and gnashing of teeth not been in bumper-to-bumper traffic, I might have called that a pretty good turnaround. Fortunately, I have a beautiful co-pilot. She helps me go where I’m supposed to go, stay in the lane I’m supposed to stay in, and maintain a reasonably good attitude about it all. I actually enjoy traveling with the wife of my youth. I do need to get her completely well because our first fall appearance as Santa and Mrs. Claus is coming up in Arkansas in November. We go back to see the surgeon again next month. What was that cure-all they gave us as kids? Castor oil? I think it worked because, no matter what was wrong with you, you never wanted another dose. Trust me on that one.

 

We returned to our home territory in time to attend a going-home celebration for a dear lady in our local assembly—our Church. She was a fellow choir member and the wife of a wonderful, well-respected man of God. They had been married for 49 years, and her completely unexpected death left our dear brother a widower. This was a stark reminder that none of us knows exactly what a day will bring. It also reminded me how important it is to show our love for one another. The wife and I are approaching 62 years of marriage, and I still marvel at how much she means to me. Saying it is important. Showing it is even more important. My challenge is to love her in the same sacrificial way our Savior loved the Church and gave Himself for it. (Ephesians 5:25) On my way out the door to choir practice, I told her, “Just in case something should happen, don’t ever forget how much I love you.” I sealed it with a kiss. There is some good news here. Our dear grieving brother in Christ is surrounded by people who love and support him. The even better news is that we know with complete confidence where his beloved wife went when she breathed her last. Through the Apostle Paul, God gave us these words: “to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8, King James Version) What a wonderful promise for His own. What say you? I say: Yes and Amen. 

"I am a collection of some thirty trillion cells... Each cell is a microscopic living universe, complete with its own power plants, internal communication systems, and manufacturing capabilities. Yet, these trillions of independent lives willingly subordinate themselves to form one harmonious whole: me." ~ Dr. Paul Brand, 1914-2003, Renowned Hand Surgeon, Author, and Medical Missionary.

Happy Thursday, October 1, 2026, everyone! Welcome to today’s edition. I often thank God for giving me the wherewithal to put together and publish these daily visits. I became interested in what science says about the writing process, so I asked Google A.I. what happens in the brain when someone writes a story on a computer. Here is the response, cleaned up to remove a section that appeared twice:

~ Writing a story on a computer requires several parts of the brain to work together. The brain helps you sit upright, develop your thoughts, turn those thoughts into words, move your hands across the keyboard, read what appears on the screen, and stay focused throughout the process.

1. Maintaining posture and balance

Before you can type, your brain helps stabilize your body in a seated position. The cerebellum and basal ganglia monitor your body’s position and make small, ongoing adjustments to your muscles. The brainstem helps send signals through the spinal cord to the muscles in your core, back, and neck so you can remain upright.

2. Formulating the story

Developing a narrative and putting it into words involves several areas of the brain. The prefrontal cortex helps with planning, working memory, and decisions about what to say next. Areas involved in language, including Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas, help you form sentences, understand words, and select vocabulary that conveys your meaning.

3. Typing and reviewing the words

Once you have words in mind, the premotor cortex helps plan the movements needed to reach the keys. The primary motor cortex sends signals to the muscles in your shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers. The somatosensory cortex processes what your fingers feel as they touch the keyboard, while the visual cortex processes the words appearing on the screen so you can read, proofread, and edit them.

4. Sustaining focus

Networks involved in alertness, including the reticular activating system, help you remain awake and attentive as you write.  ~

 

I know—that’s some heavy, thought-provoking information. But stay with me. Please. Over the years, I purchased several books for my grandmother, who loved reading. After her death, those books were returned to me. One was Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, written by Dr. Paul Brand, a renowned hand surgeon, and Philip Yancey, a best-selling writer. These evangelical Christian authors sought to describe the mind-boggling intricacies of the human body as a reflection of God’s design. The book’s title draws from Psalm 139:13–14: “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works.” I understand that scholars differ on how the wording of this passage should be interpreted. Even so, when I consider all that goes on in my body and mind just to sit here and write, I am amazed by how God designed us to function. Many verses in Scripture speak of how God made us. Today, my thoughts lead me to this simple conclusion: Thank You, Lord, for giving me the ability to produce a blog that seeks to honor You and be of service to others. Amen and Amen.

" Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day." ~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr., 1940-2021, Best Selling American Author

Good morning and welcome. We’re beginning to put dates on our Christmas calendar for our appearances as Santa and Mrs. Claus. It’s starting to feel like Christmas to us, even on this last day of September—the 30th—in the year of our Lord, 2026. This will be my 17th year as Santa and Mrs. Claus’s 16th year. Convincing her to join me was one of the best decisions I ever made. She has a heartfelt love for people of all ages. I’ll admit it has stung a time or two when she couldn’t be with me, and a little tyke announced that they had come to see her. Ouch! But I understand why. At present, she is still recovering from a recent surgical procedure. I’m praying she will be completely healed and ready to go by the end of October. We’re always amused when people ask whether we’re a couple or just two independent Christmas performers. We laugh and tell them our story: We started dating when she was 15, and I was 16. Two years later, we married. She was 17, and I was 18. I’m now 80, and she’s 79, so you do the math! Sometimes I think I wear the suit, but she keeps the Christmas spirit going. That’s no small thing when you’re 'The Santa Claus'. Ha! Countless times, a frightened child has found comfort in Mrs. Claus’s arms long enough for the family to capture a photo. After all, that’s usually why the parents come. I also recognize the dads and moms too, who have worked all day and would rather be home in their recliners. I understand. When the temperature inside 'the suit' soars above 95 degrees, wearing it is no tiptoe through the tulips! Still, at the end of the day, we love bringing joy to families—especially to children from age 1 to 100+. Amen.

 

I know. The Nat King Cole classic “The Christmas Song” speaks of “kids from one to ninety-two.” But with around 108,000 Americans now aged 100 or older, I thought I’d expand the coverage, so to speak. As Santa, I’ve had my picture taken with many older folks, though I couldn’t tell you the age of the oldest person to sit on my knee. The photo above shows my mom with me as Santa when she was 88 years young. She was blessed with five more years before leaving this life for her heavenly home at age 93. I’ve also been privileged to take photos with many children with special needs. We could all learn something from their open, loving hearts. They brim with genuine joy. Now for a confession: I enjoy a good laugh and love being happy, but I don’t walk around smiling all the time. In fact—and I’m a little ashamed to admit this—I have to practice smiling for several weeks before our Santa appearances begin. Is that sad, or what? You’ve probably heard a preacher say, “If you have any happiness at all, let your face know it.” Ha! Don’t get me wrong. I do smile. But I tend to be serious, and my face often shows it. My wife has told me throughout our years together that I’m too serious-minded. And let me tell you, she is very serious when she says it! You know what I mean, right, Vern? I’ll close with this: If you’re feeling down, put on some Christmas songs and think about the true meaning of Christmas. Without Christ, there would be no Christmas; and without Christmas, there would be no Santa. Ho, ho, ho—and Amen, too!

"In our prayers, we talk to God, in our Bible study, God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking." ~ Dwight L. Moody

Good morning and welcome. It's another beautiful day here in the neighborhood located at the Old Blogger Ranch. This one, given to us by the Lord God of heaven, comes in the closing days of September, the 29th of 2026. I am currently helping to teach through the letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the local, called-out assembly meeting in Rome; it does make for a lot of deep thought and soul-searching. I know the letter to the Romans is considered to be one of the most theologically rich writings from the Scriptures. Paul's letters actually even caused the Apostle Peter to scratch his head: 2 Peter 3:15-16 ~ Legacy Standard Bible ~ "....and consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction." It appears the local assembly meeting in Rome was made up of people with different backgrounds. Some were Jews. Others were Gentiles. Some likely were more educated than others. Some probably worked with their hands. The truth is, God breathed out this letter by Holy Spirit inspiration, and today there are up to 10,000 titled works, including commentaries and other writings about this letter. The original recipients did not have those texts. They may have had a copy of the Old Testament Greek translation, called the Septuagint. They may have had some copies of excerpts from earlier writings of Paul, and maybe page copies from the earliest Gospels. One writer suggested that Paul wrote to everyone because, even if some of his wording was hard to comprehend, he provided enough basic truths about Jesus so that everyone could apprehend his writing. The wonderful news is how Holy Spirit God works to open our understanding as we take in the Word of God. You might read all 10,000 titles and know more than most, yet still be lost in your sin, while a child might read or hear this letter, call on Jesus to save them, and they become transformed by God's power. I have to remind myself never to let the prestige of study get in the way of sharing truths that transform lives for time and eternity. Amen.

 

Balance. That's what we all need in our lives. One person said knowledge can be communicated, but wisdom cannot be handed down. If I spend my time studying the Bible so that I can answer all the quizzes correctly, or I can provide stunning informational insights into particular teachings, well, I might just miss the most critical for us all: 2nd Peter 3:18 "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." I realize many of my readers are committed to serving God and others. This means much of what I write about is most likely aimed at yours truly, me, myself, and I. I want to thank so many who encourage me in throwing words onto the electronic page. When I hear that something I wrote about helped lift someone's spirit and outlook, well, that means so much. It does. It really does. I also remind everyone how easy it is to skip any and all things that come to your media inbox. Realistically, my blog probably shows up among many other choices. Some days my blog may look interesting; some days it may not. That's when you skip it and hope I will do better next time. And I think that's what I find myself engaged in, most of the time. Trying to do better. If you ever desire to find a reference for my work, please do not contact the grammar program. Enough said. Have a great rest of the day, and may God add to it His blessings. Amen.