Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence and ratifier of the U.S. Constitution: "The gospel of Jesus Christ prescribes the wisest rules for just conduct in every situation of life. Happy they who are enabled to obey them in all situations!"

Hello and welcome to Tuesday, June 29, 2021. I have been busy preparing for my upcoming treadmill heart test scheduled for early this upcoming Thursday. That's the test where they prove to you how unprepared you are to do intense exercise for even the 20 minutes of the typical test. I ordered in some tennis shoes but my police-style boots work best for me since I deal with a wee bit of neuropathy in my toes and the lightweight boots are more comfortable. I wore the tennis shoes religiously for two weeks but they just aren't as comfortable, and, they didn't offer me an endorsement deal. Back to the heart test. It is mostly explorative in nature because I do have some slight shortness of breath from time to time and the breathing test showed no issues along with the local EKG. It did take a few days for the insurance to give the go-ahead. Maybe they were waiting for one of the Supreme Court rulings. Who knows? I have the Kelsey Seybold Advantage Plan. I use Kelsey doctors. The test will be done in one of the Kelsey facilities. That delay seemed a little odd, but, as soon as they approved it they began to send me reminders to get the doggone thing scheduled. No pun intended and I sure wouldn't want to upset Mr. Bentley who has already objected to the term, dog-days of summer. 

For those who would like to see a presentation of a God-centered, God-honoring, God-thanking patriotic program, I recommend the one we did last Sunday, at Mims Baptist in Conroe. Both Marilyn and I are a part of the Mims Choir. I was there and to be honest, there were parts that took my breath away. I believe the sermon by our pastor, Brother Doctor Jerry Chaddick, is as timely and applicable as any you will hear. Period. And, I again, say, 'Period!' As Bro. Jerry explains, there are many Churches, even so-called conservative evangelical Churches who have eliminated all vestiges of patriotism in their services. That, my friend, whatever the rationale, is a rejection of our founder's belief in God's provision and providence in the birthing of our nation. Here is the YouTube link to that service: 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c-zKdxMRL8&t=115s  (you may have to copy the link and paste it in your search engine. I don't know why it isn't clickable but it does work. I checked it.)

Yesterday, we had little Jedidiah with us again. I couldn't resist sharing the selfie I took of him and me out in the garage watching the rain pepper the driveway as we sang whatever it was he was singing. It was to the tune of "ah - ah - oh - oh" with several repeats. I labeled it, Jedidiah and Santa singing and watching the rain. I report, you decide. Enjoy and may God add His blessings. Amen. ....More later. 

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." ~ Proverbs 16:3, English Standard Version (ESV)

Bentley here, "Hey, are you coming or not? Let's get this show on the road!"

Hello friends and neighbors. It is so good to be back in the ole office chair clicking and clacking on the old keyboard, sending out the stuff I'm thinking about on this very day, Tuesday, June 22, 2021.  As I have mentioned before, Mr. Bentley has a large following on the FB page devoted to those who own Shi Tzu dogs. It's a wee bit eerie when some of the participants echo quotes from Bentley's postings from some time back. Hello? I had to do a double-take to remember that Bentley did in fact say that before. Wow! I know they are well-intentioned but it does make me wonder what they do in their spare time if you get my drift. Speaking of Facebook, folks have pretty much gone crazy over the new app that turns an ordinary photo into a cartooned image. It's called Voilà. Many of our friends have used it. I gave up a long time ago on using stuff like this because every time I try, my image comes out like this one:

I think you can see what I am up against. Go ahead. You are permitted to laugh. It was intended for that purpose.

We occasionally keep Jedidiah who is not yet one year old. We do so for a Hispanic family in our Church. We did so yesterday, all day long, and this boy is as easy to keep as they come. He is a real joy, but, with me closing in on 75 and the wife at 74, well, to be honest, we were pretty much worn out when he was picked up in the late afternoon. He is precious and we are thankful we are able to volunteer to help out. They have someone to care for him most days but we keep him on Mondays when they don't have coverage. He currently has some medical-related issues being pursued, but, he is an amazing little guy. Mr. Bentley loves him and he loves Mr. Bentley. 

To tell the truth, Mr. Bentley loves the kid but he does tend to think we pay way too much attention to him. As I mentioned before, I had to stop telling Jedidiah he was a good boy because Bentley was hurt to think there was anyone other than himself who was 'the good boy'. 

Being up in my office is like visiting a familiar throwback location. The photos on the walls are like a walk down memory lane. The bookcases are filled up with books and other stuff and they all have special meaning to me. I especially enjoy coffee here in my office, you know, it's through the woods and over the hills, and up the stairs to the retired Keurig given to me by my eldest son. This old machine showed up here thinking it was an espresso machine. Those machines cost in the hundreds of dollars but my office Keurig puts about a quarter-inch of rich dark Columbian coffee into my cup and it is so refreshing for a change now and then. The unit sits next to the circular sawblade painted by my old buddy, Max Holmes, with this inscription: "The Old Wooden Bucket". He was a character and I miss seeing him since he left back in 2016 for his journey to his heavenly home. Well, I think that's enough for today's visit. I had some political stuff to share but it's been so pleasant, I think I'll hold onto that for another day. Until next time, may God bless us, one and all. Amen. .....More later. 

PS: I am sorry about the wrong words in my last blog. I noticed the errors myself after I had published it. Maybe I am getting a wee bit rusty. I did proof it but still missed them. Sorry. 

Isaiah 45:6-7 NIV ~ "6) ...so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. 7) I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things."

Bentley wonders about me as well. 

Hello folks, good afternoon, and welcome to my blog where I decided to pay a visit myself on this day, Thursday, June 17, 2021. I have recently visited a podiatrist who gave me some medication for what we believe to be diabetic neuropathy in my toes. I thought I would open with that because when old people get together it doesn't take long before the most recent ailment and subsequent visit to the doctor will come up. At any rate, the medication itself has helped but it does have some side effects. And, before you think we might be soon removing any of my toes, this is very early on stuff, the kind where I have some numbness and some tingling. Thus far, it has not been so much painful as annoying and I am very thankful to have a medical professional who seems to know a lot about how to treat it. In case you were wondering, the side effects have not improved my thinking abilities. While that would be really great, not this time. I did catch the video of President Biden going off on the lady reporter. I was impressed that he good show such an angry spirit about him. I couldn't help but wonder how it would have been for a republican president to have called out a female reporter, pointing his finger directly at her, and, essentially telling her she didn't really have a clue as to what she was talking about. I'm not a betting person but I would put give high odds on what the mainstream response would have been. Hold the presses, this just in: Biden apologizes for being such a wise guy in his response to the reporter. All is well. And, shouldn't he have said, wise person? Just thinking out loud or maybe it is the side effects.

"Socialism only works in two places: Heaven where they don't need it and hell where they already have it."― Ronald Reagan ~ I'm sorry but I couldn't resist that one. We should all be happy now. The world once again likes America now that we have shown up and made it clear that nonsense like all countries paying their way is over. Wow! Even polls are showing we are better liked again. Yay for us! Right? I don't know about you but I'm pretty sure I felt more comfortable when they didn't like us so much but for the right reasons. I think when we have the world on our side, we had better be very careful. Careful indeed! But then again, what do I know? I'm the fellow who probably can't touch his toes but right now I am just trying to get in touch with them. (For those who are having trouble following me, it has to do with the numbness issue.) No. The side effects have nothing to do with me becoming a comedian. What's that? I really didn't need to make that clarification. Thanks for letting me know.

Great-Grand Ava, a breath of fresh air!

Okay. Good to have you folks in for a few minutes of forth and back visiting. I will see how things go over the next few days. You know. I will see if I can stay on my toes. Forget about it. May God add His blessings. Amen. ....More later. 

"What does the Flag mean? It is the flag just as much of the man who was naturalized yesterday as of the man whose people have been here generations." ~ Henry Cabot Lodge

I see this and it makes me proud. Others are distressed.

Hey folks, it's me again. Today is Tuesday, June 8, 2021, and, I do hope you are able to get out there and get done the things you have to accomplish. If you are able, be sure and thank God because He is the giver of life and He is the sustainer of life, as even the breath in our body belongs to Him. Well, you don't have to look far at all to find someone offended. One of the prominent commentators on MSNBC recently opined how distressed she was to see so many trucks in the Manhattan area flying the American flag. I would guess she will not be repeating the pledge of allegiance anytime soon. Distressed. The definition implies anxiety, sorrow, or pain. I know I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but, for the life of me, I just don't get it. Sure. Our country has its problems and certainly, people have been mistreated and hurt throughout our history. At the same time, we are a nation that promotes freedom and individual achievement, to the extent someone, even a person of color might rise to the position of being a cultural commentator on a major broadcast network. This kind of stuff really gets me. And, I'm not one of those who say love it or leave it, I'm talking about how warts and blemishes aside, this country, the United States of America is still one nation under God and I thank Him each day for it and pray His blessings upon it. Amen. 

Bentley here with today's proof along with a recap of the story,  "I get my early morning ride in the ole truck, hanging out the window catching the breeze, around the neighborhood 7 days per week unless it is raining so hard you can't see. About a 10-minute ride. Happy Happy!" Many say Mr. Bentley is spoiled but it's more of a routine scheduling situation if you know what I mean. 

Have a great rest of the day and may God add His blessings. Amen. .....More later.  

P.S. My grammar program sent me an alarmed face and said I should check to see how my writing might sound to my readers. I didn't check. Sorry, but it is what it is. And, I can't stop laughing at that face they sent me. 

"I have no illusions about what little I can add now to the silent testimony of those who gave their lives willingly for their country. Words are even more feeble on this Memorial Day, for the sight before us is that of a strong and good nation that stands in silence and remembers those who were loved and who, in return, loved their countrymen enough to die for them. Yet, we must try to honor them -- not for their sakes alone, but for our own." ~ Excerpt from speech given by President Ronald Reagan, May 31, 1982.

 This was the post I prepared for Memorial Day. It still applies and resonates. Amen. ....More later.