“I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.” ~ Mark Twain

Welcome to the Friday edition where I will be dealing with subjects reflecting this, that, and the other. You've noticed that? Good. It is already May 29, 2026, and, this year, is passing so quickly it almost seems like I should be sitting outside in a lawn chair with my walking cane held up in the air while hollering at the passing cars to slow down. I will not put that one of the bucket list I do not have but I will, from time to time, consider it as an alternative to other stereotypical activities. Back to the concept behind my blog. I saw a word I had never seen or known about. That shouldn't be hard to consider when linguists suggest there's somewhere around one million words to choose from in the English language. Here's the word I was talking about, farrago. It means: A highly confused mixture or hodgepodge of different things. Sentence example: My blog is often a farrago of accumulated information packets. Yay! I think I have found my calling. There are times when I feel I can claim title to some of these explanations for my status: Not the brightest bulb in the chandelier / Not the sharpest knife in the drawer; The lights are on, but nobody’s home; A sandwich short of a picnic; Bless his heart, he's a little slow on the uptake; Off in the weeds; Not playing with a full deck; Off in his own little world; Out to lunch; Spaced out; and, Not with it. I report you decide. I may try to write something incorporating all of those idioms and sayings. The joke is on me and as so often has been said, "I resemble that remark." Ha!

 

The Mark Twain quote used in the title is interesting. Recent studies confirm that 85% to 91% of the things people worry about never actually happen. Furthermore, for the remaining 10–15% that do occur, research reveals that people handle the situations much better than expected, meaning only about 3% of worries are ever truly justified. The Creator knows the most about people since He created people. Duh! He also knew that we would, as fallen sinful creatures, we would be prone to worry. And, even as believers we can fall into the worry trap. Therefore, here are some verses He inspired to help those who have put their faith in Him but still deal with this very common but faithless inclination: Philippians 4:6-7  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~ 1 Peter 5:7  "Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." ~ Proverbs 12:25  "Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad." ~ Matthew 6:25-34  "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ..." ~ John 14:27  ~ "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." ~ Isaiah 41:10 ~ "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Verses quoted from the English Standard Version, ESV.) That, my friend, is but a sample. There are dozens more. Be encouraged. God is with you. Stay tuned for the next coming attraction. (That's only an empty promise at the moment because right now I have nothing.) May God bless each one. Amen. 

"Showing up to church anchors your faith by placing you in a community for mutual encouragement, provides consistent spiritual nourishment through shared teaching, and allows you to actively use your unique gifts to support others. " ~ copied

Give yourself a round of applause. Why? Best I can tell, you and me, at least when I was writing this, well, we are able to get up and function, and, let me correct my greeting: For that and so much more, Give God the Glory! Amen. I welcome you on this Thursday, May 28, 2026, and, I bid you greetings from my upstairs office aka the ole blogger ranch. Why is it called that? Who knows? I started calling it that a long time ago and since I've never lived or worked on a ranch, it must be a figment of my imagination. I found that photo above and perhaps that's what I had in mind. Perhaps not. At any rate, thanks so much for showing up today. Showing up is an important concept. While I am not a big fan of Psychology Today, here is one of their comments: "Showing up is the foundation of success and connection. It means being reliably present, overcoming internal resistance, and engaging consistently. This simple yet radical act builds deep trust, unlocks unforeseen opportunities, and proves to yourself and others that you genuinely care." That's not a bad way to see how important it is to show up. In the home, at school, in the workplace, and most importantly, showing up in the pursuit of obedience to God as the first priority in our life. I think about the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus, whose name was Joseph. Joseph showed up when it counted. In the very last mention of Joseph in the New Testament account, we read how he led his family in keeping the commandments of Jehovah God, Luke 2: 41, "Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover." This was their practice of religious duty. Every year. Journey to Jerusalem. Obeying God's command. Joseph showed up in his pattern of leadership within his family. I think back about how many times I showed up but not for the most important things. I missed out on way too many of the activities that impacted our kids, but, I always showed up at the workplace. In fact, one time I was in a wreck on the way into work and because I wasn't there when everyone arrived, someone suggested they should check the funeral homes. Showing up is important. Showing up for the most important is the challenge we all face. Okay. I'm not 100% sure where all that came from but if no one else needed to read it, I'm sure there is at least one trio that did, me, myself, and I. Amen.

 

It doesn't help me to say I wish I could go back but it does help those who are still making choices that impact their testimony and influence for the Lord. One of the things the older can do is to pass on their experiences, including their failures, to help those coming up behind them. By the way, the older teaching the younger is a Bible truth. It is. It really is. You can read about it in various places in the Scriptures but there is a specific writing dedicated to this concept in the letter the Apostle Paul wrote to Titus, Chapter 2, Verses 1-10. There is a danger associated with those who refuse the wisdom and advice of their elders. I think about the situation that happened when Solomon died. (1st Kings 12, and 2nd Chronicles 10-12) His kingship was passed on to his son Rehoboam. The white haired elders gave advice to Rehoboam but he decided to reject their words and instead he chose to listen to his young peers. The results were disastrous and it resulted in the kingdom being divided, ten tribes to the north, leaving him with two to reign over in the south. I actually saw a modern example of this very situation played out in a company. I was an eyewitness to it. Me. It played out in an almost identical scenario and it included the same outcome in results that were truly tragic. But, that's a story I've already told here in this space some time ago, but, it's worth telling again and I will do that, one day soon. Us older folks may not be cool or in the know, but, we are positioned by God to offer advice as we close out our time here on the planet. May we seek to honor God in all we pass on. These are some things to think about. They are. They really are. Amen.

"In the Bible, standing firm on God's truth without compromising is presented as a cornerstone of faith. Scripture emphasizes that God's Word is absolute, holy, and unchanging. Compromising this truth to fit worldly standards or avoid persecution is consistently warned against as a path to spiritual ruin. Why Truth Cannot Be Compromised God’s Nature: God is immutable (unchanging) and cannot lie, making His Word the ultimate standard of truth. Sanctification: Jesus prayed in John 17:17, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." Compromising God's teachings hinders a believer's spiritual growth and holiness. Integrity: Proverbs 10:9 states that "Whoever walks in integrity walks securely..." Standing firm protects your witness and character. Key Biblical Examples of Uncompromising Faith Daniel: Daniel refused to compromise his prayer life or dietary convictions, even when thrown into the lions' den. God ultimately promoted and protected him. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: These three men chose a fiery furnace over bowing down to a false idol, declaring that God could save them, but even if He didn't, they would not compromise their obedience. Jesus: Throughout His ministry, Jesus never diluted His teachings to avoid offense or to please the crowd. He remained completely obedient to the Father’s will unto death. How to Stand Firm Put on the Armor of God: Ephesians 6 instructs believers to wear the belt of truth and the shield of faith to withstand spiritual attacks. Be Rooted in Scripture: To avoid falling for deceptive teachings, consistent Bible reading provides the discernment to spot subtle compromises. Prioritize God over Man: The apostles set a precedent in Acts 5:29, stating, "We must obey God rather than human beings." To read more about why scripture cautions against making cultural or moral compromises, you can explore the commentary on GotQuestions.org or see topical overviews on Logos Bible Software. What does the Bible say about compromise? | GotQuestions.org Jan 20, 2026 — The Bible makes it clear that God does not condone compromising His commands: “Be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded... GotQuestions.org " (reference source Liberty University)

Here we go. It's Wednesday, May 27, 2026. Okay. I sometimes look at my blogs and feel the need to apologize for my wordiness and, yes, I do realize folks are busy and piling on the words does make it difficult at times to read all that I have written. I will make a deal with you. I will try to be a wee bit more succinct, try. I say try because at the end of the day it typically comes down to WYSIWYG. If you know you know or IYKYK. And, best of all, you can skip any or all of it for whatever reason you choose. I often do that. Why? Sometimes people copy and paste stuff from a source that I have zero interest or confidence in what they have to say. For instance: If you quote from a source that has a different idea about the Gospel than that represented in Scripture, well, I prefer to skip. I get it. There are some really great writers and they have a huge following. Good for them. But, if their belief in God is based on a false interpretation of the way salvation is attained, yikes, and no thank you. What did the Apostle Paul say about the importance of Gospel purity? Writing to the Galatians, here is his inspired and chilling warning: "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8-9) How serious is this warning? He said let them be accursed or eternally damned. I once had an individual tell me how they never missed a particular televangelist's program each day to give them spiritual insight. I mentioned how that individual is heretical in the handling of God's Word, the Bible. The response went like this: I know that but he is okay when it comes to just teaching a passage from the Bible, like Ephesians or something like it. Uh oh. My point? Be careful who you follow. Make sure they are committed to doctrinal soundness as delineated in The Scriptures. And, believe me, there are just too many wonderful Godly teachers that can be followed, like Dr. J. Vernon Magee; Dr. Adrian Rogers; Dr. Charles Stanley; the messages of Dr. Billy Graham, Dr. David Jeremiah, and, so many other pastors and Bible teachers that faithfully handle God's word and their streamed messages are readily available. Yes. Some of those folks have passed from this life to the next, but, their videos are out there and available. I hope that's not too narrow of a viewpoint, but, as the old preacher used to say, "See this Bible and how narrow it's thickness is, well, that's how narrow minded I want to be!"

 

Okay. The title of today's blog is enough for a blog by itself. Right? Therefore, I will close out with a prayer that God will guide us all as we seek to know and live by the truth.  Y'all have yourselves a blessed, wonderful, God-honoring day. Amen. 

All that glisters is not gold— Often have you heard that told. Many a man his life hath sold But my outside to behold. Gilded tombs do worms enfold. Had you been as wise as bold, Young in limbs, in judgment old, Your answer had not been inscrolled Fare you well. Your suit is cold— — William Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice, Act II Scene 7

Good morning to one and all who occupy social media outlets throughout the multitude of applications including those who have access to the blogosphere. Today is Tuesday, May 26, 2026, and, we are up and at'em for another day given to us by the Creator Himself.  The younger man who spoke up after hearing the dialogues between Job and his three supposed friends, Elihu, he gave this inspired insight into the provision of The Almighty and His power, "If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust." (Book of Job, Chapter 34, verses 14-15) Because of this we know He has permitted us the time we have here on the planet and we have the opportunity to recognize Him, respond to Him, and, to give the deserved honor and glory back to Him. We've all heard the saying, 'Looks can be deceiving'. It is a universal truth borne out in actual neuroscience studies, it comes with the human condition. The object being observed that looks a certain way may not in actuality be what it appears to be. I used the photo above as an example. That little guy was actually terrified when it came to contact with Santa. It doesn't look that way, does it? The professional photographers call it the silent entrance. I slipped in behind him and we got this shot. The parents were elated. I'm sure the grands and great grands were thrilled. But, the photo does not tell the whole story. Right? In my many years of managing people, along with my own many failed experiments in life, they, show how things that are shiny and have allure are very often not what they appear to be. As a manager I saw so many people chasing a new job where things were going to be wonderful only to have them call me later and ask for their old job back because of the misery they found in their new and wonderful opportunity. I can also tell you who is the master of visual deception: Satan himself! "And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." (The inspired writing of the Apostle Paul, 2nd Corinthians, 11:14) If you have never fallen for one of Satan's deceptions, well, good for you and God bless you. For the rest of us, I commend us all to be on guard because we live in a fallen world which is under the sway of the prince of this world, none other than Satan, who, according to Scripture, the Apostle Peter, 1st Peter 1:8, from the Berean Annotated Bible "Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil {diabolos} prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 

 

As someone who has been there and done that, I say to us all: Beware and be alert. It is true that as believers Satan cannot take us out of the hand of our Savior. However, he can rob us of our testimony and that's exactly what he works tirelessly to do. One of the things we need is to come to the realization of the incomprehensible truth of our purpose here on the planet. I can't give you an explanation that would satisfy human understanding or even human logic. Why? It is gained by faith in God and in accepting His Word for what it is, The truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing But the Truth. Some say that makes us blind to the realities of life around us. Not hardly. When we are walking by faith and in His will, the things we find to do bring honor and glory to Him. And, He is Worthy to receive all of it. He is. He really is. Now, my own reality is too often defined as weebly and wobbly, so, pray for me, as I pray for you, that we will find ourselves fulfilling His purpose by bringing Him honor and glory. Amen.

Flashback Friday: My first 'Friday' Blog written on May 11, 2007.

With Mother’s Day being celebrated this Sunday, May 13, it gives me an opportunity to reflect on the impact my Mom has had on my life. My mother lives in Louisiana and recently celebrated her 83rd birthday. During her time she has experienced about as much as life can throw at one person but with God’s help she has persevered. The black and white photo is of mom and dad taken in the summer of 1953. Near Christmas of that same year he came down with flu like symptoms, which eventually turned into pneumonia, which eventually led to congestive heart failure, which led to him dying suddenly at age 31 on January 2, 1954.

Talk about turning our world upside down! There she was with six children (I was 7 at the time) ages ranging from eleven down to 18 months and she had never even written a check because dad took care of what little finances we had. We were forced to leave Port Arthur, Texas and relocate to a small rural community in Louisiana where we took up residence with her parents. Somehow she picked up the pieces, went to work, and slowly but surely recovered from this devastating experience. The color photo is my mom and I taken last year when I was there to spend the day with her.

Life has been the worst and best of times for my mom but she has remained faithful to God and to all her children. Since dad left us in 54’she has buried a second husband (1967), her parents, two brothers, two sisters, a son-in-law, and our older brother, (19), and baby sister, (27). In the midst of these continuing traumatic events, I well remember the advice given by a fellow in the small town where we lived. One day he blurted out: “You folks had better straighten up soon or all of you are going to be dead”. So much for comforting words during our time of grief. In spite of all this, today she has a wonderful husband, our step-dad, and they have been married for over twenty-five years. There’s still four of us kids left and we have produced many offspring including three girls from our baby sister who died from Leukemia, and many of these grands have produced many great grands with one or two now providing great great grands as they have begun to build their families. (I have ten grandchildren myself!)

Wow! What a woman! She’s living proof that with God anything is possible. Her and dad have been retired now for twenty years and have a most wonderful life. They love bird watching from their back porch and can go and do just about any and all things they feel up to doing. Yes, they do have some wear and tear and they do spend a fair amount of their time to and from the medical facilities but all in all, God has been good! And, we are the most blessed of all children to have such a champion of faithfulness and love as our MOM! Happy Mother’s Day and may God continue to bless you each and every day! 

 

Footnote: Today is Friday, May 22, 2026, and, I will say this about all that. Mom made it another 10 years after that blog was written, to age 93. God saw us through then, He is seeing us through now, and He will see us through to the end. Y'all have yourselves a great Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday and I will see about seeing about being in my place on Monday. May God add His blessings. Amen.  

1st John 4:19 ~ Good News Translation ~ "We love because God first loved us."

My blog consultant: Lil Miss Biscuit.

Well hello there and welcome to another visit. This one comes to you via the www and it pretty much reaches the entire globe 24x7. Today we celebrate Thursday, May 21, 2026, and, we thank God for another opportunity to recognize, honor, and serve Him. The other day a lady in our Lifegroup class called me on a video facetime call. I typically don't get very many of those types of calls and usually I'm not always ready for primetime in terms of my appearance. However, it did give me an opportunity to prove my accounts concerning my blog partner, Lil Miss Biscuit. I fixed the camera where she could see Biscuit in the chair with me as I was working on the next day's blog. I told this lady how Miss Biscuit was a favorite of mine since she mostly is very patient until I finish and she never criticizes my work. Never. She is always overjoyed when I finish but until I get up, she stays in her place either behind me, beside me, or, in my lap. I told our 87 year old neighbor yesterday how folks that visit have trouble relating to Miss Biscuit because she loves everyone, and, she wants them to know that. She will not take no for an answer because she can't figure out why anyone would not love her back. Her way of showing her love is to take action, in her case, it usually means up and into the lap of even a stranger. I've said before and I will say it again, I could learn something from our little doggie. I thought of the song lyrics, "Makes me love everybody, makes me love everybody...." speaking of the religion we have. But does it? Does it really make us love everybody as a reflection of God's love? Yeah. A sense of conviction came over me and it was initiated by the demonstrated love of my pup. That conviction asks me this question: What am I demonstrating? 

 

We have progressed here in our household. We typically use mostly paper plates these days. We do. We really do. I often allow Miss Biscuit the opportunity to clean the residue off the plate. The wife of my youth does not agree that even though Miss Biscuit has that plate pristine and clean, that we should use it again. The wife's mother, a most wonderful Godly woman, used to rinse off a paper plate and reuse it. My mom did the same thing. They both were well aware of how life was during the Great Depression, and, they both were very frugal. As many as 15% of all households use paper plates for their meals. Another 75% have them on hand and use them occasionally. As many as 15 billion paper plates are manufactured each year for use in the United States. Getting rid of them becomes a whole lot of trash, to the tune of roughly 1 million tons of discarded waste. My point? If the wife would let Miss Biscuit clean them up, we could then rinse them off, use them a few times more, and, maybe even get a letter of commendation from Al Gore to recognize our environmental sensitivity. That was a joke. But you knew that. Right? It's all about convenience. I still think they could be reused. I do. I really do. Y'all hang in there. Maybe there will be something better coming down the blog assembly line. One could hope. I do highly recommend to those of us who know the Lord and His love to be caught showing that same love towards others. Me too. Amen.

" Without doubt the emphasis in Christian teaching today should be on worship. There is little danger that we shall become merely worshipers and neglect the practical implications of the gospel. No one can long worship God in spirit and in truth before the obligation to holy service becomes too strong to resist. Fellowship with God leads straight to obedience and good works. That is the divine order and it can never be reversed." ~ Aiden Wilson Tozer

Hello again and I do bid each one a hearty hello and a warm welcome here, today, on this Wednesday, May 20, 2026. We are in a rainy forecast for the next few days. That makes things like travel a wee bit more dangerous, but, to tell the truth we need the rain. I'm not altogether clear on the reason why but it seems here in our area the rain does not stay very long in the ground. Within a couple of days it is dry again. This doesn't mean we are not ever so grateful for God's provision in terms of watering the earth. I know there are all types of scientific explanations for the weather we experience. I don't doubt the observations of those scientific phenomenon but at the same time I ask this simple question: Where did the elements being studied originate? And, who was The Originator? Creator God. He is in control. If he knows when the bird falls out of its nest, well, He knows everything there is to know about each and every person on the planet, those created in His own image. I love the ending of the ancient Book of Job. Job was a wonderful example of what it means to exude faith and integrity, however, Job learned some things as a result of all the challenges he faced. Here was his final words spoken to His Almighty God:

 

Job Chapter 42 

 

2 “I know that you can do anything,

and no one can stop you.

3 You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’

It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about,

things far too wonderful for me.

4 You said, ‘Listen and I will speak!

I have some questions for you,

and you must answer them.’

5 I had only heard about you before,

but now I have seen you with my own eyes.

6 I take back everything I said,

and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”

 

These words from Job have always been meaningful to me and they resonate because it helps me to see God for Who He is. What say you? 

 

I didn't intend to start today with a monumental deep theological thought on the weather, however, we exist in His world and He is the creator. I do know of many folks who are dealing with a variety of challenges in their own personal lives as well as in their families. Some have to do with illness, some have to do with financial sustainability, and, others relate to interpersonal challenges within their family. Just so you know, we all deal with the fabric of life including what it means to face difficulties and heartache. I know. There are some that promise if you give your life to the Lord you will not have to deal with any challenges in life. Can someone get Brother Job on the line and see what he thinks about that kind of nonsense. We all, you, me, everyone, as believers, and non-believers as well, live in a sin cursed world and everyone has to make their way through the maze of difficulties that define life. At the same time, knowing Christ as your Lord and Savior, under girds your day by day living with the assurance of His provision of hope and help. My advice to the unbelieving masses, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ because He is the Friend that will stick closer to you than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24 ESV:

"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.") The spiritual application for many see Jesus via the Holy Spirit as the true Friend. One thing is clear: Regardless of what you are facing or going through as His own child, we can know this as a ever present reality: He will never leave you and He will never forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5) That's how we make it folks, one second of every minute of every hour of every day and of every year of our sojourn here in the life. Pray one for another that each of us will remain steadfast in our faithfulness to Him. Amen.