"You better watch out, you better not cry, better not pout, I'm telling you why—Santa Claus is coming to town." — Haven Gillespie

I can tell by the clock on the wall it's not Howdy Doody time, but, it is time to sling some keystrokes onto the electronic page. Welcome, welcome, one and all, those near and far, out there at your specific location connecting via the worldwide web. Today is Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and, as the song goes, God is good all the time, All the time God is good. Amen. I may share too much about my Santa adventures, however, think about it. I've spent the past sixteen years doing Santa, with the season during those 16 years amounting to approximately 40 months or 1,240 days, therefore, it has occupied a significant amount of my time breathing air here on the planet. The photo above was taken at an outdoor setting. The mom brought the little girl with great expectations for a wonderful photo with Santa. The set was organized and ready. She wasn't. No way. Forget about it. Whatever it was, she was not having anything to do with it. May I tell you this? That happens with little ones. We often hear how they can hardly contain their excitement until they actually see the Real Santa and Mrs. Claus. She went from singing 'Here comes Santa Claus, Here comes Santa Claus, right down Santa lane', to 'But, I'm leavin' on a jet plane Don't know when I'll be back again', and to her, that was that. The photographer and the mom promised everything they could think of, however, this little girl was fixed, "I ain't gonna do it." The photographer came up with the idea to let her roam around the yard on her own and I could just follow behind her. She took many photos and this one became one of our favorites, and, her mom loved it too. Finally. A keeper. There you were thinking Santa Claus has the easiest job in town. As they say on that game show, wanna find out, Come on down!

 

As many of you know, my connection to having a dog is fairly recent, just in the past 8 years. I didn't know that I would fall head over hills in bonding with first, five years with our Sir Bentley Barksalot, Esq., and, now with Lil Miss Biscuit. I didn't hate the idea of having a dog but it just didn't seem to fit into our busy lifestyle. I did often say I would enjoy having a pup to ride with me in my truck. And, that I did have with Bentley before we lost him to an incurable liver ailment and now with Lil Miss Biscuit who can't get enough of hanging her head out the window. Maybe I had a sleeper cell hiding in the background somewhere in my DNA. That photo is of my dad, Cecil, (1923-1954), with his dog. This was likely taken in the late 1940's. See the look on that pup's face, I've actually seen that exact same look. Often. Oh well, it seems like I've become a dog lover. Okay. I now have it on the record. I admit it. And, since I am one I can easily identify with this quote from Orhan Pamuk, "Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen." I quickly add in closing out today's visit, God also speaks through His Word and those who are willing can hear His voice. Having heard His voice, I then, you then, have to make a choice in our response. We do. We really do. Let's pray for one another that we will choose as He would have us to. Amen.

Chorus from the song by Tracy Dartt, 'God on the Mountain' ~ "And the God on the mountain is still God in the valley ~ When things go wrong, He'll make them right ~ And the God of the good times is still God in the bad times ~The God of the day is still God in the night."

Many literary scholars choose this as one of the greatest opening sentences, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair." That, of course, from the pen of Charles Dickens in his book, 'A Tale of Two Cities', published in 1859. Sounds like that could apply to this day, Tuesday, February 17, 2026, don't you think? We do live in what seems to be tumultuous times. Our senior pastor often says it this way, "The real surprise is that we are surprised." The Prophet expressed it this way, Jeremiah 17:9 ~ "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Sounds pretty hopeless, right? I will say this about it, without God, my friend, it is just that: Hopeless! With Him in our lives we can make it and we can, with His help through the work of the Holy Spirit, live in a way that brings honor and glory to Him. Yep. Things out there in the world, which is, by the way, where we live, they can look very messed up at times. For those who have put their faith and trust in the provision made for us on The Cross, we can live knowing God is in control and while we may not understand, we can, like Paw Paw Mac and countless others, live even during dark days with this guaranteed promise from God Himself, Romans 8:28, from the Amplified Bible, "And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose." Amen and Amen.

 

I hope you didn't choke on your Frosted Flakes while reading that first paragraph. I'm not altogether sure where all that came from, but, there are times when I just have to say, it is what it is. I do know this. I have seen with my own eyes how my folks, my mom, my grandparents, and, many other family members as they leaned on the only thing they had left at the time, their faith in their God. There is another song that was often referred to in our family, and, I add, as a family we have faced and lived through many tragedies. We have. We really have. Back to that other song: 

 

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

 

Music and lyrics by Ira Stamphill, (1950)

 

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 grey.
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 lies ahead.

 

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.

 

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.

 

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.

 

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 is my portion
May be through the flame or flood;
But His presence goes before me
And I'm covered with His blood.

 

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.

 

Trust me, that is a great testimony song and its lyrics have often spoken to my heart and even as I read through them today, they still speak to me. Never heard it before? Look it up on YouTube by dozens of different artists, it will do you good. It will. It really will. Amen.

 

"I could dance with you until the cows come home. On second thought I'd rather dance with the cows until you come home." ~ Groucho Marx

Hello and welcome to today's visit. This one creeps up on us on this Monday, February 16, 2025. Many of you know of my long association as Santa with an area Chick Fil A franchise. I started the Santa adventure 16 years ago and the folks at that franchise gave me my professional start. I mentioned how the cardiologist last Friday was a huge Santa Claus fan. He was fascinated by my profile image as Santa on the medical facility online utility. He left to arrange for an EKG and a few minutes later he returned all excited. He said his nurse had just shown him a photo of her two girls taken with yours truly at Chick Fil A, and the nurse also said I was a Santa in huge demand. That was perhaps a little over the top, however, I am thankful to be in demand for certain venues and the folks I've worked with at the two locations for this particular franchise, well, they fit that category well. As a result of all of this Santa recognition, these folks upped my identity and treated me not just as a patient, but, also as a celebrity. Who knew? I've likely been saved by the bell, saved by my chinny-chin-chin, saved by the skin of my teeth, saved by the dog eating my homework, but, I do believe that was the first time I was saved by the cow. Ha!

 

Given the subject of being saved, I would be remiss not to mention what it means to be saved by the Lord God of heaven through the finished work Jesus the Christ accomplished in His death, burial, and, resurrection. Here are a few random verses about salvation from the Bible,  Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Romans 10:9 "Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Titus 3:5 "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,.." Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." John 6:44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day." Acts 16:30-33 "Then he brought them out and said, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' And they said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.' And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family." I'm not big on formulas that people use, but, I am clear on one thing, salvation is a gift and it can be received by calling on the name of the Lord. 

 

I do hope you have a blessed day and that we all will find ourselves knowing from whom all blessings flow. None other than from our Sovereign Lord and He deserves all the glory, honor, and praise. Thanks to all who have been praying for our Jimmy. He remains in the hospital at this time. Until next time, may God add His blessings is my prayer. Amen.

"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.