Today's Episode: A little of this, that, and the other.

Good morning and welcome. Today is Tuesday, January 28, 2025. It's a good day to still be breathing air on the planet. I say that with a hint of sincerity since I am foraging ahead to my next number designation coming up in August and it will indicate my 79th year of sojourn here on earth. Yes, I know I typically add in the 9 months my mom carried me because I do believe that life begins at conception, therefore, I would be 79 years and 9 months on my next birthday. This reasoning makes me already 79 and 3 months, but, I wouldn't want to further confuse the issue, although my head is spinning a little even as I put this to the electronic page. Recent actuarial assessments indicate the average lifespan of an American male is 74.8 years. Now you can appreciate my appreciation for still hanging around nearly 5 years longer than the average. Ladies, on the other hand, still manage to report in with a lifespan on average of 80.2 years. Wow! The combined average in America is 77.4 years. We can thank our womenfolk for bringing up the average. I do know that as I have grown older I'm even past many of the jokes told by comedians about age. They typically like to tell jokes about new aches and pains in their forties. Ha! We have a beloved neighbor in her mid 80's. She, unfortunately, has begun to take some tumbles in her home. I can sympathize. Just this week I was leaning on the bed putting my jeans on. My left foot caught in the pants leg and I found myself on the floor. Just me. Falling. And, the floor. I landed on my left hip but unlike the  old commercial, in this case I am so very thankful to have been able to say, "I've fallen but I can get up." Praise be to God. Amen. 

I used the picture at the top of today's episode on Facebook to highlight some important verses and how they have played a role in me getting to where I am today, hence, the Then and Now scenario. One thing is clear. As a believer in Jesus the Christ and as one who trusts my future into the hands of The Almighty God based on the finished work of my Savior, well, verses become more and more meaningful as each day passes. Yes, I am privileged to still be teaching and I do know that puts me into The Word perhaps more than others. I am so thankful how this endeavor can grab hold of me at times. Only God the Holy Spirit can illuminate the truth to our hearts and while I have been a student of The Word for sixty-plus years, none of that work can replace what happens when I hear from God as I take in His Word. Maybe, its less distractions. Maybe its an acknowledgement of me being in the fourth quarter of my sojourn. Or, perhaps its the blessing God has promised on those who seek to hear from Him. Whatever, I give Him all praise for any insights He provides as I read and study The Book. What a great God we have folks. Amen. 

The wife and I recently observed our 60th wedding anniversary. In case you didn't know, she is a remarkable woman and I actually don't think anyone would debate that statement except maybe for her. We do not brag about how great we are and how wonderful we must be to have been together this long. Can't do it. Only by the grace of God. Period, end of that story. And, today, we continue to have our own challenges but we have them together. I would not be who I am today had God not put that woman in my life. Yep. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Truth is, it's one of the things I thank God for often. I started to say daily, but, I don't always remember everything I should be thankful for as I commune with our Father who is in heaven. And, I am aware of the Scripture that tells us "in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1st Thessalonians 5:18, New King James Version) Many of the verses in the top photo are familiar. Some may not be. Look them up. It will be time well spent. Until next time, may the Good Lord bless us all. Amen.