'A Great Multitude from Every Nation' The Revelation of Jesus Christ, Chapter 7, Verse 9 "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, ..."

Hello and welcome to another merry go round here at the ole blogger ranch. Happy Monday, June 30, 2025. Yeah. I've been reading about boomer habits and I must agree that I am still clinging to old norms and beliefs. They tell us that's a problem we in my generation have. It seems we need to understand that younger people have their own beliefs and they are just as valid. Really? I understand that methods do change. But I am likely taking something Jesus said out of its context to make a point here, "You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free."(John 8:32)  I know that it had a specific application in the situation where He said it, but, in a general sense I believe that it is a timeless truth. Our pastor spoke some about this yesterday in his Sunday sermon. My point? No matter where you are from or where you have been or what your age might be the reality of life hangs on the knowing of The Truth. Since Jesus Himself is the way, the truth and the life, (John 14:6), I can think about it this way: Knowing the truth means knowing Jesus. Knowing Jesus requires one to repent of their sins and call directly on Him to save them. (Acts 3:19 "Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.") Once a person knows the Truth, Jesus, well, that's when our beliefs become unified because our lives are based on the same Truth, Jesus Himself. Methods of presentation and communication? Okay. They change. Music? It certainly is changing all the time. Church practices and styles? They change also and that's fine as long as The Truth is never compromised. This tells me that we can come together across all age groups but to do so we have to know the truth so that we have freedom to embrace the same source of truth, none other than our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

 

That's a little sermonette to get the day started. You didn't ask for one? Yeah, but, sometimes what I have is all I have and there's really no more to it, at least for today. It does seem like as I see myself marking time in the last phase of life here on the planet that I am given to thinking about how we relate to those coming behind us. Those who have read my blogs for anytime at all know I am full of references that fly over the heads of nearly any and all in the younger generations. At times I find myself in choir next to a young man who just graduated high school. He has a different cultural background and a funky haircut and while he is very respectful to me, I often can see the blank stare when I talk to him. Those funny anecdotes, (to me and my generation), do not connect even when I explain them. My point? He overlooks that because of our common faith in Christ. He respects me because of my age and our common faith in Christ. We can enjoy fellowship together, an unlikely pair, because of our common faith in Christ. The experts spend a lot of time trying to come up with ways to bridge the gap that exists between generations. I love the answer our pastor has for those who ask him what demographic group is he pursuing. He says we want to reach everyone that Jesus died for. Now that, my friend, is one of the best answers I've ever heard. Talk about being inclusive! Even me. Wow! Y'all get out there and as you go here and there, remember to thank God that when He said whosoever, He included us all. Amen. 

“While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.” – The Writings of George Washington

Good morning and welcome. Today is Friday, June 27, 2025. This upcoming Sunday is our Celebrate America Day at our local assembly, Mims Baptist Church, Conroe, Texas. We will be doing this recognition of God's provision as we salute our nation in an early service at 9 a.m., and a second service at 10:40 a.m. Okay. Many Churches have stopped any mention of God's work to establish and preserve the United States of America. They believe patriotism and the honoring of our country to be inconsistent with their notion of Church separation. Give me a break! Read the Scriptures why don't you? At any rate, it will be a wonderful God honoring program and you are invited. Then, on Thursday, July 3rd, beginning at 5:30 p.m., Mims will be inviting any and all to a time of 4th of July celebration as well as enjoying games, food trucks, and many other activities including a huge fireworks display to end the evening. Come one, come all, and, may God bless America. Amen.

 

Here's a blog I wrote while still having blog writing training wheels back on May 24, 2009. I started to rewrite some of it but as I like to say, what you see is what you get and after all is said and done, it is what it is. So enjoy this little walk back down on memory lane from sixteen years ago. Wow!

Thank God for Unforgettable People 

 

 I’ve been privileged to know a variety of people during my sojourn here. Most have fit into a standard type of mold, give or take a little here and there. But thank God for those who didn’t fit any mold because they lived life with a zest and an outlook that produced behaviors quite different from the so-called mainstream. Some called them eccentric or a little off but what a contribution they made to otherwise dreary days! They typically were just who they were and that’s what made them amusing, exciting, and fun. The Readers Digest once had a reader submitted column devoted to “The Most Unforgettable Person I’ve Ever Met”. Thank God for unforgettable people!

Here’s one I’ll never forget. He was the resident psychologist at the VA Hospital where I worked in 1965 as an administrative clerk. He was there to help vets deal with all their emotional issues but when you dealt with him, it was like visiting another planet. Call it the absent minded professor syndrome or whatever, but this guy was hilarious to be around. Never able to match any clothing of any kind and with a noticeable twitch, he always appeared to be demonstrating the actual behavior he was discussing as a diagnosis. When he told you a patient needed treatment immediately, you always got the sense that if anyone should know, especially from firsthand experience, it was he!

Here’s another one. Back in the 1970’s I attended an interviewing institute at a university as part of a team from our company. The program was customized specifically for us with the goal of improving our hiring skills. One fellow attendee was the head personnel officer from one of our larger field offices. The best way to describe him is for you to picture Don Knotts portraying Deputy Barney Fife on the “Andy Griffith Show”. Our cohort could not fathom why he would ever be chosen to attend such a course. After all, he was the seasoned personnel professional and interviewing was like second nature to him. He had interviewed some of the best and had always come out the winner. Perhaps he was there to show the rest of us how it’s done.

Part of the training included closed circuit taped interviews that were later replayed for review in small groups. The interviewees were students taking their masters in business. They had been coached on how to make their sessions very genuine. The purpose of the small group was to critique each other’s work in a positive way so we all could improve. I was in the group that critiqued ‘Deputy Fife’s’ interview. It’s true that some of the funniest things in life cannot be orchestrated. Just watching the tape turned out to be in and of itself a great challenge just to keep from bursting out laughing. This was made even harder since ‘Barney’ was in the group and we all watched together. Never have I seen anyone so totally discombobulated in trying to interview the young lady in his session. Stammering, coughing, and nervously twitching his way through the interview, there he was, our highly skilled professional ‘Barney’ who proved himself to be just that, ‘Barney’. But what a load of chuckles he provided to us all.

As I wrote about these experiences I realized we all could enjoy life more if we would pause to laugh at ourselves and at the funny things in life. Who knows? I may be the ‘Barney’ of someone else’s story, perhaps many stories. Now you may be one of those who somehow managed never to have this type of experience or you were so uptight you never enjoyed being a part of something so crazy. How sad. Life is too short. I’ve always said that life is all about story telling. I’m thankful to God He’s allowed me to be in so many different stories and perhaps even ‘be the story’ at times. It’s part of the fabric of a blessed life, so enjoy it! Life gives so much material but there’s so little time, therefore, you can be sure there will be more later…………

Billy Graham notes that when the great saint Joseph Everett was dying, he said, "GLORY! GLORY! GLORY!" and continued exclaiming "GLORY!" for over twenty-five minutes until he was whisked away by angels to the gates of heaven. ~ copied

Our sister Kayla, (1952-1979)

Okay. I know I am running late, but, it is still morning, therefore, I can give you a hearty hello and welcome to another day here at the ole blogger ranch, this one coming to you from my upstairs office on this Thursday, June 26, 2025. June 26, 1979 was when our baby sister Kayla breathed her last. I've written many times about her testimony over her last 18 months and I look forward to seeing her again at the end of my time here, which, contrary to the wishes of some who would rather not even think about it, it is relatively fast approaching. The wife and I just returned from a memorial service for a lady who had been a longtime member of our local assembly (local church). The lady we honored had a full life, 85 years in her sojourn here. She had been a faithful representative of her Savior in her interacting with others, in her family, in her business and in her ordinary going about each day. That's what I call a good testimony. On our way home we stopped by the pharmacy. Are you getting this pattern yet? Memorial services, pharmacy pickups, and, medical appointments, they do become much of how we fill in our time in and around these parts. I suppose I will not be having myself one of those huge home cooked meals since the first set of numbers from my blood work were flagged as being on the wrong side of the ledger. I still await my doctor's comments but this is not my first time to read the reports and come to think about it, it's not my first rodeo, but the rodeos I have attended were as an observer not as a participant. I did participate in a number of freeze out competitions where you ride down the road in super cold weather hanging out the window with no shirt to see who could stand it the longest. That may have been a type of rodeo but I'm not so sure, however, I was for many years as a teenager the undisputed freeze out champion. Mind over matter. If you don't mind it doesn't matter, or something like that. There you were. Wondering if I have ever amounted to anything. Freeze Out Champion. Trophy? Nope. Just bragging rights and I am still exercising them to this very day. (100 mph down Hwy 171, temperature below freezing, several hanging out of the windows but only one stayed the longest. Yep. Pretty cool, or cold, if you will.)

 

This is not a silly day per se but it does goes in that direction at times. One of the songs at the memorial service today was from Casting Crowns, entitled Scars in Heaven and it is one I identify with while at the same time not being certain how it all works in terms of what all occurs when we get to our real home. Here's the chorus:

 

The only scars in Heaven, they won't belong to me and you
There'll be no such thing as broken, and all the old will be made new
And the thought that makes me smile now, even as the tears fall down
Is that the only scars in Heaven are on the hands that hold you now

 

Look it up on YouTube. It's a good one to think on, especially for those of us who are well into our final years. I know. I could live to be 100 which is another 21 years, but, that, my friend, is in God's Hands and I trust Him to always do right and whatever He decides is okay with me. What say you? Until next time I leave you with a prayer of thanksgiving and one that seeks God's best for each and every one. Amen.

"Patience is not simply the ability to wait - it's how we behave while we're waiting," ~ copied

Biscuit and me waiting for Jimmy to finish his medical appointment.

Hello again and welcome to today's installment, this one landing on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. I've written often about the amount of time spent waiting as we live out our days. I don't know if they have a clear determination what the average time spent waiting in a lifetime, however, they do believe they have enough data to project that we spend about one year just waiting in lines. One reason I've written about this is because how easy it is to allow our waiting time to cause us to be frustrated and angry. How do I know that? I have a dynamic trio of proofs, me, myself, and I. Because I tend to get fidgety and my ADD kicks in, (I've never been diagnosed but I thought it might explain some here.), therefore, I need to think of things I could be doing while I am waiting. If you have a smart phone, (I think I would rate mine as semi-intelligent.), you have a lot of choices, like reading a story, a book, the news; playing a game; watch some instruction videos to learn a new skill; clean up all the junk on your phone; listen to a podcast or music; or other things I didn't mention. No phone, no problem. You can pray. You can visit with other people around you. My wife would offer this one on my behalf: You can look a little weird by falling asleep with your chin on your chest. (She couldn't be with me in services on Sunday so I was there by myself. I had fully prepared to make certain I didn't fall asleep during the sermon. I had my regular 3 cups of strong Community Coffee and I had downed a large Monster energy drink during Sunday School. However, I heard the preacher making points on a text I did not recall him reading. Yikes. I was familiar with the passage but I must have lost contact with reality for a few minutes. She said it didn't surprise her one bit. I quickly read the text and got caught back up and was very happy the safety team had not brought a stretcher to my pew. Ha!) As for me, I like to do some of my Bible study work when I am waiting and I have access to phone connected internet based Bible study programs. As for the problem with the chin on the chest situation, maybe I could throw in an additional 5-hour energy drink. She still thinks the elbow in the side works best of all but she does recommend that I not persist in denying the obvious, that I was asleep. Hey, when you are our age you might as well laugh as to cry. Right? That's likely pre-Boomer dialogue but 'if the shoe fits buy one in every color'. (A saying that our Pastor likes to use.)

 

Multiple choice: Me sleeping. Or Me impersonating Uncle Si.

I went for a blood draw this morning. My doctor likes for me to have these done around once per quarter. The technology has advanced significantly. When I get the results it's almost like the song: "He sees you when your sleeping, he knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good so be good for goodness sake!" I am able to read the results online even before the doctor gives his assessment. Last time one of the diabetic assessment reports said this, "Please stay away from the Little Debbie sweets, you hear?" That's a joke but it does tell me how carefully I am managing my diabetic condition, over a period of time. I think I know we are better off with all this information that previously was unavailable. I think we are. Those that preceded us didn't have all this access and they just got up every day and went about their business. I know. You are right. God has allowed these advancements and Jesus did say those that are sick need a physician, while those who are lost need a Shepherd. And, living a longer life ends up being meaningless if you know a lot of physicians, but, you've never met The Shepherd. Okay. I'm going to let you fill in the blanks on that little comparison while I get ready to see what the medical crystal ball reveals for my current status. Who knows? I might celebrate some really good numbers by having me one of those huge home cooked meals. That is, if the home cooker agrees. Go ahead and laugh and I will hope she does too. May God bless each one. Amen and Amen. 

" I believe I shall never be old enough to speak without embarrassment when I have nothing to talk about." ~ Abraham Lincoln

Hello there and welcome to another visit from the ole blogger ranch, this one comes to you live and in person on this Tuesday, June 24, 2025.  I will attempt to be brief this morning because I have things to do and people to see. That's how they used to say it when they wanted you to think they were busy and had important things to accomplish. Sometimes it got shortened to this little ditty, I need to go see a man about a dog. Please don't ask where that came from but it more or less, perhaps less, meant the same as the other. I do have things to do today. My list. I don't actually have a list but I do know there are times when I am supposed to show up at a certain place at a certain time. At any rate, I was thinking about being embarrassed. What's your most embarrassing moment? Don't tell me you can't remember it because those are typically pressed into the very heart and soul. I will give you a few of mine. I was new to employment at a place in the mid 1960's. I didn't arrive from the country overnight, but, I certainly had not been around the block very much. I told the lady serving in the cafeteria that she had a smudge on her forehead. She said, "It's my religion." The other folks looked at me like I had landed from different planet. Another time I was at an important meeting with some self important people and it was important that I put my best foot forward. I was super nervous because I might have to speak. I got up and went to the back of the room to get a spot of coffee, as they say across the pond, and, it was one of those where you inserted the plastic cup into the holder, well, I was nervous but I got it all right except for the plastic cup and I poured the coffee into the holder and it splattered everywhere. I've spoken to people several times that I thought were speaking to me only to find out it was someone behind me. Yikes, short people, again, You know the song by Randy Newman. Short people have no reason to live. I did fall out of my chair at work one day and the falling was not nearly as bad as the trying to get up before I got down. That will do you in. Trust me. Okay. There are many more but those are some I recollected on my way to getting my assignments completed today. 

 

I can laugh now. Right? I'm not sure the statute of limitations has expired yet on some of my stupid human tricks, but, you are correct, they can make amusing anecdotes to some extent. The other interesting thing is to be around those who can't see their own embarrassing moments that bring such joy to others. In some ways it is good they can't see themselves like they really are, but, sad too, since they are missing out on the opportunity to laugh out loud. Believe me, I hope we all have learned to be able to recognize when we are the joke itself. It may not be funny to us at the very moment it happens but for me, well, often I see myself as a non-stop blooper reel. I remember one fellow I ran into who was given the job of helping instruct others in public speaking. While I appreciated his input, may I just put it like this: He was beyond awful when he was doing it himself. We thought that was humorous, but, then again, he didn't recognize it or even consider it to be so. Oh well. I hope you don't know something even more embarrassing about me, but, I would not doubt there are those who do. Continue to enjoy those recollections on your own and allow me a modicum of peace and quiet. I know, most of today's stuff doesn't make a lot of sense, but, as they say, it is what it is. One thing is clear and certain: God is still in control, on His throne, and He has the final say on everything. He does. That's a good thing. It is! Amen.

"Food is symbolic of love when words are inadequate." ~ Alan D. Wolfelt

Good morning and welcome to today's edition, on this, Monday, June 23, 2025. I had this thought that came to mind or I think that's how it happened, but, it had to do with what I know about how I became a Type 2 Diabetic 25 years ago. I was minding my own business. I went to the doctor because I had strained a muscle in my neck and shoulder. He said he wanted me to have a physical since I had not had one in a long time. Okay. Give it your best shot. He called me and said, "Mr. Abbott I hate to inform you of this but you are a diabetic." My response was short and sweet, "No I am not!" He told me the blood tests were conclusive. I did all I could to immediately reverse this diagnosis. I took the meds. I lost forty pounds. Sadly, I was then and I am now, still a diabetic. How did this even become an issue for me? I've come to realize that I love food. I have loved food since I was a kid. I'm not talking about eating to live, but, rather in some respect, living to eat. I was crowned the good eating kid in our home. The lunch room workers gave me the same designation as I worked my way through school. Good Eater! Yay! And, what do I really love to eat? Not some fancy or exotic cuisine, just, plain old ordinary home cooked food. The photo above reflects this food love story of my life. Field peas, fried okra, corn on the cob, smothered steak over mashed potatoes, tomatoes, and a generous sprinkling of pepper sauce, yep, that's my story and I will have to stick to it because that is how I achieved this diabetic station in life. Don't get me wrong. I used to eat like that all the time, but, not anymore. Nope. Maybe once a quarter, maybe. Special occasions. That's okay. I continue to have the disease well controlled according to my latest blood work. How serious has my long love affair with food been? Just looking at that picture, well, instead of it saying a thousand words, I guess maybe to me it's saying a thousand memorable paragraphs. Let me quickly add how thankful I am for the doctors I have, the folks who have developed the wonderful drug therapies I'm able to use, and, the support of my family who, from old to young are primed to ask me this probing question: "Should you be eating that?" In the end, I still eat plenty, (as you can tell), but, not like I did in the old days and I can't say the good old days because the days God gives me now are good because He is good. Amen.

 

Some folks are glad about the bombing of the Iranian nuclear facilities. Others are sad. Still others are outraged. Since we believers in the Lord Jesus Christ take our cues from the Word of God, well, we see these things and know they are related to the conflicts spoken about regarding Israel and her neighbors, and, we do this: We trust in God. That's right. We trust in God. What about if more bad stuff happens? We trust in God. What about the Olivet Discourse in Matthew? What about the passages from the letters Paul wrote to the believers meeting in Thessalonica? What about the inspired and often calmitous texts written through the Apostle John on the island of Patmos in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ? They are all good texts and my response is this: We trust in God. Childlike? You betcha! Try it. It will make your life a lot more peaceful as we face uncertain times. Okay. I have to quit now because if I look at that food photo one more time I will have to wipe the drool off my keyboard. Just joking. A little. A very little. Have a great day and may God continue to bless us all is my prayer. Amen.

“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” ~ copied

Hello. It is another beautiful day here in my neighborhood, what about yours? It is Friday, June 20, 2025. We pause to celebrate our eldest son and his wife as they, on this day, mark their 39th year of marriage. Happy Anniversary to Chris and Sherrie!

While I thank God for this attainment on their part, it does make someone like yours truly think about how the years seem to have flown by.  I can see Chris in my mind's eye learning to walk and we are at Granny and Paw Paw Mac's. Chris fell down and from across the room Paw Paw Mac spoke up, "Son, come over here and I will help you up." Now, it's looking more and more like one day in the future Chris will be saying to me, "Dad, come over here and I will help you up." Life. It's something else. Right?

 

What kinds of things posted on social media get my attention? Here's one I really liked from Facebook: "A truck loaded with thousands of copies of Roget's Thesaurus crashed yesterday losing its entire load. Witnesses were stunned, startled, aghast, taken aback, stupefied, confused, shocked, rattled, paralyzed, dazed, bewildered, mixed up, surprised, awed, dumbfounded, nonplussed, flabbergasted, astounded, amazed, confounded, astonished, overwhelmed, horrified, numbed, speechless, and perplexed." It's like the joke where the fellow says he is fascinated by the book on anti-gravity he is reading, it's impossible for him to put it down. Or, the saying, where there is a will, I want to be in it. One guy told his wife she was drawing her eyebrows too high, she looked surprised. Have you ever wondered why owls never say 'whom'? What about the difference between an alligator and a crocodile. Stumped? Easy: One you will see later and the other after while. Okay. I will give you one more. What about the difference between ignorance and apathy. Take your time. Got it? Okay, time is up. The answer: I don't know and I don't care. These are just a few of the types of things that jump out at me when I am looking at posted nonsense. You may enjoy stuff quite different than the ones that I like. It's okay. 

 

Let me finish up by reminding us all what Solomon said in summary as to the most vital pursuit in any life, "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13) Working towards that should keep me busy and you too. Right? Meanwhile, enjoy the rest of your day, Saturday, and on the first day of the week let's all do our very best to show up at the meeting place where folks gather to worship God and to hear from Him. Our son Jimmy may get out of the hospital later today, however, he is still having issues that will likely require additional assessment and treatment. Thanks for all the prayers offered on his behalf, and, keep them coming. May God add His blessings. Amen. 

“Being a family means you are a part of something very wonderful. It means you will love and be loved for the rest of your life.” — Lisa Weed

That would be yours truly on the left and Kayla on the right. I was obviously practicing to audition for the part of Goober on the Andy Griffith program. You can tell I was well fed and for the most part, clueless.

Well, here we are again, and, I find myself on the run, early this morning on this Thursday, June 19, 2025. Our Legacy Choir made up primarily of seasoned saints will be singing this morning at two different hospitals in our area, St. Luke's and Methodist. Therefore, I will do my best to be brief. Thanks for showing up. Yesterday I wrote about my brother Donald and I said he was the 2nd of our six kids to take his leave of this world, well, that wasn't correct. Our sweet baby of the family, Kayla Jean was actually the second who passed on at age 27 from acute leukemia. Our Kayla was the example of how a believer faces death knowing that she knew by faith which was, for her, becoming sight as she experienced what it meant to be absent from the body, present with the Lord.  (2nd Corinthians 5:8) I did want to get that correction in. The fourth of our six to gain access to her heavenly home was older sister Frances who left us back in March of 2023. Now it is just JoAnn and yours truly remaining from our original six kiddo clan. Let me be honest, she, and I, deal with a lot of challenges that come from living life here on the planet. JoAnn will be 81 this upcoming December and I will be 79 in August. I've mentioned quite often how that our family, early on, experienced much in the way of tragic deaths along with what seemed to be unrecoverable sadness and sorrow. Looking back, it seems we spent way too much of our time sitting in a room with one of our loved ones in a casket. A fellow I knew as a teenager sent a message to our family that said if we didn't get ourselves straightened up we would all be dead and gone. Such encouraging words. Right? No one said family would be easy and God did not promise us a tip toe through the tulips existence here. Without going into any details, that fellow who sent us that message, well, later, sadly, he also discovered firsthand the horrific experiences that this life can bring. Remember what I told you the other day. Be sure not to send a photo of yourself with your eyes crossed when making critical comments about others and how they can't see very well.

 

Now I must tell you today's episode is about as thrown together as it gets. Tomorrow I will likely be attempting to correct the corrections. I have never denied that I am anything but a Work In Progress. And, I often find myself being told I forgot to say 'May I', and, I have to go back and start over. The good news? God is still at work. In me? Yep. Joel Hemphill, the late Louisiana Gospel singer and songwriter, had me pegged with his song that started out mostly being sung by kids, "He's still working on me To make me what I need to be It took him just a week to make the moon and stars The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars How loving and patient He must be 'Cause He's still workin' on me." Now you know. What's that? It does explain a lot? It really does and I am so thankful He hasn't given up on me yet. Well, I need to get into another gear to get ready to get ready for our busy day. Please continue to pray for our Jimmy. He is still in the hospital as they attempt to adjust his medications to help stabilize his  situation. Take care, and may God bless us all is my prayer. Amen.

Here's a funny one for you: "Whenever I think of the past, it brings back so many memories." (copied)

Donald Richard Abbott, (1948-2011)

Hello once again and welcome to today's episode, on this, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. I do appreciate those who have prayed and are praying for our son Jimmy. They did admit him to the hospital but it follows the pattern we've so often seen, they do a lot of tests but haven't really come to a specific causation for his seizure symptoms. We are praying they will, this time. Today also marks the 14th year since we said our final farewell to my younger brother Donald. He had been a career US Marine and I was privileged to conduct his memorial service where he also received full military honors. Donald was a fellow who always told it exactly the way he saw it. That pretty much was not how we talked about stuff in our family, but, you could always count on him to get everyone's attention in his way of putting things. When dad passed away in January of 1954 we moved from Port Arthur, Texas, to Hornbeck, Louisiana. While Port Arthur wasn't a huge city, it had slightly less than 60,000 residents while Hornbeck had slightly less than 600. We moved into the house with my mom's parents, Granny and Paw Paw Mac. It was quite an adjustment. Donald and I slept together in the same room with our older brother Jimmy Don. That room had no heat and no cooling. The floor had linoleum rugs which did not completely cover the floor, therefore, in the winter time if you happen to snag your toe on one of those jagged edges, well, we learned our own version of speaking in an unknown tongue. Most of the six of us kids pretty much tried to follow the program. Not Donald. He was one of those kids who kind of made it up as he went. He had this little black dog named Lobo who walked him to school every day and met him every evening. They were inseparable. On most days he came home grabbed his fishing pole and his can of worms and he and Lobo took off to Brushy Creek. About dark-thirty he would arrive with 2 or 3 little sun perch. Many times he would be scratched up from the briars and thickets he would walk through. He marched to his own drummer. He later got mom to sign for him to join the Marines. That changed his life. He loved it. I mean, he reallly, really loved it. He later became a drill instructor out in San Diego and committed himself to preparing recruits for the challenges they would face. He served multiple terms as a drill instructor. He served in Okinawa. He did temporary forays into Vietnam during the war. After 20 years he retired and went to work doing ROTC training for a High School Program. He worked in logistics for a transportation company, but, along the way he became ill and later he became even more ill. I did my best to represent mom in visiting Donald as much as I could his last year. Mom and Dad Jose would come on weekends. It was a difficult time for us all. Sister JoAnn and I were with him when he breathed his last. I used to remember a lot of stories of our growing up days, but, not so much today, but, I am proud of Donald's heart to serve our country and I can truthfully say he lived life mostly on his own terms. May God bless the memory of the second of our six to leave us, after Jimmy Don left in 1962. 

 

I hear what you are thinking. Y'all sound like a dysfunctional family. I think I can speak on behalf of our entire experience as a family, yes we were and yes we are! Dr. Ed Young, senior pastor for many years at Second Baptist, Houston, said something like this: "All families are dysfunctional, some are just more dysfunctional than others." We've never been contacted to receive any awards but my guess is our family surely was in the running for some type of recognition. What? That's nothing to laugh about. I get that, but, at the same time I heard all my life you might as well laugh as to cry. My mom would ask that proverbial question, "Do you want me to give you something to cry about?" I hated that. Later, I found myself saying something almost identical. My boys hated that, however, one day when I heard our eldest saying the same thing, I pretty much rested my case. So you don't like the reality stuff, how about some puns? ~ Why did the old man fall into the well. He couldn't see that well." ~ "Why did the tomato blush? He saw the salad dressing. ~ "You make my heart sob with joy." ~ "She's a walking waterfall of emotions." ~ "What did one DNA say to the other DNA? “Do these genes make me look fat?” ~ "What do you call a hippie’s wife? Mississippi." ~ I could go on and on and on, but, I think you've had enough. Ready to confess? Whatever the question might be, Jesus is the answer. The wife and I used to sing a song that had this refrain, "Jesus is right for whatever wrong in your life." We did. Some actually thought it was pretty good. They did. Okay, enough already. Get out there and have a great rest of the day and may God help us all is my prayer. Amen. 

Allen Saunders, (1899-1986), Writer, Journalist, and Cartoonist, in this 1957 quote: "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.”

Good morning. Well, morning anyway here on this Tuesday, June 17, 2025. When we wake up each morning we really don't know much about what we will be dealing with in the brand new day. Can I get a witness? Anyone? Thanks, I see that hand. The wife is on the way to the emergency room with our Jimmy to see if they can determine why he is experiencing seizure like symptoms. It typically has to do with one of the 'all of the above' reasons. He is on a huge number of medications that change often mostly trying to manage his mental health challenges. In addition to that he had serious open heart surgery a few years ago and his vital signs have not really been stable since then. Please say a prayer for him and the wife. Like I say, a trip to the ER was not on the list of things to do for today. It's not that we are to live expecting the unexpected, it's more about trusting God to provide regardless of what happens. The Psalmist was inspired to declare this truth, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1) That, my friend, is not an abstract truth that we chant or repeat trying to boost our outlook. It is the basis for a believers reality as we face each day with all of its challenges. As for our Jimmy, this type of situation is not new to us. He has been disabled for many years and we, his mom and dad, mostly, his mom, are his caretakers. Jimmy dreams of being able to return to a normal life but although he is only 57 years young, that dream, thus far, has not been his reality. My belief is God knows all about it and our trust is in Him to help our Jimmy and us to deal with what each day brings. 

 

Example Only, Not the real photo.

I didn't mean to splash cold water into anyone's face this morning. I actually had something else in mind for today's edition. I wanted to write something that would bring a smile to those reading. What was it going to be about? I'm not sure. I was counting on it coming to me when I sat down at the ole keyboard, so to speak. I knew a fellow one time who thought of himself as being a visionary in the world of computing technology and its application to meet business needs. He worked hard to promote himself and he finally did get the attention of a national computer magazine. At that time, it was one of the most widely read in the industry. Many of us knew this fellow very well. We had a very different opinion about his 'visionary' talents. Very different. The magazine did a feature article about all the great ideas he had for information technology. When it came out I could not believe what I was reading and even more what I was seeing. The article was mostly not much to write home about. But, his photo, maybe a three by five was included. Underneath the photo was a quote from him where he lamented the myopic vision issues associated with most IT professionals. Really? They chose a photo of him where his eyes were crossed. Yep. They did. What was my response and the response of many others who knew him? There is a God in heaven and He does have a sense of humor. I had reason to share that little story with my eldest son yesterday afternoon where we were discussing some business issues he is dealing with. My point? Don't cross your eyes if you are going to be critical of others who you believe to suffer from myopic vision. Okay. If that wasn't funny to you, it was to me, and to my son, and, it was the source of outlandish laughter to so many who knew this fellow. Thanks for showing up today. You too. May our Great God bless each one is my prayer. Amen. 

Ephesians 3:20-21 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

All men's choir, Fathers Day, Mims Baptist, June 15, 2025.

Good morning and welcome to the post Fathers Day celebration where we get up and get after it on this Monday, June 16, 2025. I had a good Fathers Day and I hope everyone did also. Our Jimmy went to services with us, and, Chris and Rodney came later in the afternoon to visit. It's always special for us to all be together. Started off the day with a huge breakfast prepared from scratch by the wife of my youth. I usually eat very light on Sunday mornings but she had homemade biscuits, grits, eggs with cheese, and sausage along with ice cold milk. I did my best to eat it all and it was so much filling, I couldn't even choose a restaurant after singing in both the first and second services. Looking at the photo of the men's choir which we do every Fathers Day at our local assembly causes me to express my thanksgiving for how that I am blessed. Blessed. I can still climb the steps with a little help from the rails, and, more importantly, I can still offer up some semblance of singing that reflects my love for the God who sent His Son to save me. I'm not the oldest up there but just like Bum Phillips said when asked where Earl Campbell stood in the list of all time greats. Bum said he couldn't be sure except he was certain that when they started calling names Earl's would come up soon. That's how it is with me and my age in the choir. I'm pretty sure I'm in the top five. I say that to reiterate how much of a blessing it is to be able to serve in this way. The chorus to the country Gospel song, "I Have Been Blessed" sums it up pretty well:

 

I have been blessed, God's so good to me
Precious are His thoughts of you and me
No way I could count them, there's not enough time
So I'll just thank Him for being so kind
God has been good, so good
I have been blessed

 

That recognition of God's provision is a great way to start off the week. Don't you agree?  At the same time don't think I'm anything like the testimony of Moses when The Scriptures tell us at the time of his death, at age 120, ..."his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated." (Deuteronomy Chapter 34) I used the literal rendering as found in the Legacy Standard Bible. The GODS WORD translation puts it like this, "His eyesight never became poor, and he never lost his physical strength." I've been wearing glasses and or contacts for around 60 years and my physical strength, well, it certainly has seen its better days. I'm not Moses. That reminds me of the time I mentioned to the wife how Sarah as wife called her husband Abraham, lord. She immediately said this: "You are not Abraham." It's okay not to be able to do everything you could do ten years ago, but, what's important is to do what you can do. Now. For me, it's probably more than I am doing. Thanks for allowing me to bring this up since I needed to hear about it myself. Sometimes we mourn the loss of this, that, and the other, while neglecting to appreciate what we do have that can be of use, especially as it relates to our first and most important duty, that being the serving of Him by serving others. Okay. I think I may need a nap after this one. I feel a time out coming. Just joking. But, only a little. Y'all enjoy your day and be sure and thank God for His blessings. He deserves our thanks and our praise. Amen. .....more later

Happy Father's Day where I honor the mom who made it possible for me to grow up and be a dad.

 

Hello and welcome to another edition here on this Friday, June 13, 2025. Yep. Friday the 13th and here is what I know: God is still on His throne and if you are His own, well, you need not concern yourself with silly superstitions. The blog today was for some reason a draft written on a Friday, sixteen years ago. My mom was blessed to make it for her 93rd birthday, but, this was a tribute blog to honor her 85th. Enjoy. Happy Fathers Day to all. I thank God for all the dads who contributed to my life. Amen.

 

This coming Sunday is the celebration of my mom’s 85th birthday. That’s a big number in the age game but a very special one for a one-of-a-kind mom and I am thanking God for her on this Friday, May 1, 2009. She may not be well known outside of her circle, but her circle is large and it includes many faces, young and old, who love, respect, and honor her for the great woman she is. First and foremost, she is my mom and I am her son. She did what she could to help me grow into being a child of God and a productive member of society. I’ve not always done either as well as I should but it’s not because of her lack of trying. Thanks Mom for always being there for us and in my case for these nearly sixty-three years.

You have heard my story before about how blessed I have been to have such wonderful women in my life. I think about my grandmother Mac, my mom, my wife, my mother-in-law, my wife’s grandmother, my sisters, and many of my aunts. What I notice about my mom is her lifetime of resolve and determined commitment. She believes in God and does her best to serve Him. She loves her children and continues to mother us all even as she edges towards this great milestone. She is a friend to those in need and enjoys spending quality time with her huge brood from the eldest to the youngest great-great grandchild. Moms are the universal language of love and reflect God’s provision for His hands extended in helping shape little ones for time and eternity.

Often the men who served in WWII are thought about as being a part of the greatest generation. But rarely do we hear much about the women. Most of them, like my mom, stayed home, took care of the children, praying and waiting every day for their men to come home. Moms are special. Moms remember stuff that others wouldn’t even notice to begin with. My mom remembers that when I was born and they brought me home in the middle of August there was a freak cold spell and they had to heat up the room for me to have a bath. Only a mom would remember something like that! She remembers me being one of her best eaters and often says she wishes she would have saved for my grandchildren some of the countless grocery sacks that I had drawn pictures all over. As I think about this remarkable woman my heart fills up with a sense of overwhelming blessing as I meditate upon her being God’s gift to us as our mom. I love you, Mom. Happy 85th Birthday and thanks for always being a woman of distinction in my life. May God bless you. Amen. ….More later.

There are three signs you are getting older. The first has to do with memory loss. Sorry. I forget the other two.

Good morning and welcome to another exciting experience here at the ole blogger ranch. Thanks for showing up on this Thursday, June 12, 2025. I will be brief today because we have Legacy Choir practice this morning. Let me break that down for you. We have old people's choir practice and since that's who we are, we will do our best to be there. Society has come up with different names to describe folks who are senior citizens or older adults, seniors, or elder adults. Other terms include elderly people, older persons, and people 65 and older. More casual terms can include golden-agers, old-timers, or retirees. I vaguely remember resisting any names for myself that might indicate I had crossed some type of older age threshold. Not any more. I am blessed to be able to see, somewhat dimly, that lighted sign up ahead with neon numbers. It says 80. To be honest I never actually thought about longevity until I was a part of it, even if I still am using training wheels in the category. I read where we have just under 90,000 folks here in the US who are 100 or older. Impressive. Think about this, that number has doubled since 1980. And, just so you know, the fastest growing age group by percentage in America are those 85 and older. I guess I'll just have to embrace the fact that I am cool with being an old timer. Here's a little funny story about how we older folks get ourselves into humorous situations. "Hospital regulations require a wheel chair for patients being discharged. However, while working as a student nurse, I found one elderly gentleman already dressed and sitting on the bed with a suitcase at his feet, who insisted he didn’t need my help to leave the hospital. After a chat about rules being rules, he reluctantly let me wheel him to the elevator.
On the way down I asked him if his wife was meeting him.‘I don’t know,’ he said ‘She’s still upstairs in the bathroom changing out of her hospital gown.'" (Copied)

 

You do know I'm just kidding around. Changing to a serious matter, I remind us all how the ground is level at the foot of the Cross, therefore, any and all are welcome. We hear much about groups being discriminated against today, but, the message of the Gospel transcends all the ways in which people are designated. Everyone is welcome. Young people. Teenagers. Young Adults. Middle Aged. And, thankfully, us old folks too! Regardless of creed or color. Yay. I am getting ready soon to teach the passage where Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well. (John Chapter 4) Jesus broke every norm, every religious rule invented to separate, to reach out to this woman who needed to see and accept Him as her Lord and Savior. This passage is one that ends up being loaded with conviction for us all as we see our Savior reaching out to the outcast of this world. Okay. I will close with this one. There's room at the Cross for you. Yep. There is. You can count on it. Have a great day and thanks again for showing up. It means a lot. And, for those who may be wondering. I do have a walking cane. I've never used it, but, I do have it. Just in case. Like wearing a belt and suspenders, being prepared is important. If you are not prepared to leave this world, well, there's no better time than NOW! Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. (Acts 16:31) May God work in all our hearts to achieve His wonderful purpose for each of us. Amen and Amen!

The Artificial Intelligence comment on the attitude of believers looking forward to heaven: "The idea that anticipating Heaven is the greatest joy on Earth is a common theological belief, suggesting that the hope of an eternal life with God is a source of profound joy and motivation in this life. This hope can lead to a greater appreciation for the blessings of the present, even amidst hardship. "

Well, well, we here in our little minuscule piece of the blogosphere are in a praise mode in thanking God for His provision for the wife's sister. Yep, it is Wednesday, June 11, 2025 and based on the consultations yesterday she will need some minor surgery and perhaps some form of follow-up treatment, but, it was all excellent news. I've been around people who have the attitude that is was that way whether anyone prayed or not. They are entitled to their point of view, however, for the rest of us, including all those who whispered a prayer for her, well, we just pause to thank God for His provision. Yeah, there's always the question. What would you do if it had been different, worse, more serious? I hope I could still praise and thank God because I've been there and I've seen it be the worse case scenario and God was still God and He still cared and He still had a plan, regardless, therefore, we thank Him, period, end of story. If you see it differently, okay. Just try not to look down on those of us who choose to trust Him before, during, and after the storm. I've been privileged over the past twenty years to speak at a number of memorial services. I've actually conducted several. I am typically questioned by those who attend, are you a preacher now? The answer is: I am not. I am, however, a believer and a Bible teacher, and, a servant willing to do what I can when I'm asked. Recently, as you know, I was honored to speak at my brother-in-law's home-going service. I had much to say but I restrained myself since our nephew who pastors a Church was the officiant. I mention that because most of the services where I speak relate to folks who had been prayed for and over. Some are out there saying if you have enough faith every prayer will be answered the way you desire. I have a redneck translation from the original language in the Bible: "That's a bunch of bull." Because of this, truth tells us this world is sin cursed and life itself is both fragile and fleeting, therefore, remember what I said before, get ready and stay ready because you, me, any of us could go at anytime. Now that's the truth and I should get an Amen from someone out there. Right? Right!

 

As I sit here at 9 a.m., Central Standard Daylight Saving Time, the little box on the bottom of my screen says expect 1 inch of rain in the next 4 hours. How do you like that for being a precise prediction? I don't know about you but I actually can identify with the quote in the graphic above. They tell us we should only pay close attention to the most recent forecast since it has the greatest shot at being accurate. Duh! I've written extensively over the years about my pet peeves as it relates to weather people. They are in one of the only jobs where they can be completely wrong and come back the next day and go at it again. There is improved technological advancements where more accurate prognostications can be made regarding the arrival of potentially damaging weather. I am happy this is the case. At the same time I hear people talk about why they trust this particular person or station versus other choices and it causes me to chuckle. I know the various TV stations are all vying for ad revenue for their programming so we have radar being upgraded, replaced, enhanced, advanced, to the extent that it all eventually runs together. And, it has gotten better. Studies show this: "A seven-day forecast can accurately predict the weather about 80 percent of the time and a five-day forecast can accurately predict the weather approximately 90 percent of the time. However, a 10-day—or longer—forecast is only right about half the time." My phone app for weather has the name Accurate in it, but, I don't think you can get closer than 'right now' and my right now and hourly for the today forecast seems to be off frequently. If shorter is more accurate I think they should be able to know with all their computers and other technologies what right now looks like. Meanwhile, my right now is based on looking out the window or door. Do what? You find me hard to understand? Join the Me Too club which I am president, but, I don't intend on sending in the Marines if you disagree with me. That was a joke. Don't write me or report me to the MAGA word police. Y'all have yourselves a great rest of today and may God bless each one. Amen.

Psalm 34: 1-15 "I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry."

Good morning and welcome. Looks like we are in for some thunder bumpers this week pretty much predicted for every day including this afternoon, on this, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. The wife's sister is here with us for her follow-up consultation regarding her recent cancer diagnosis. Thus far, the early reports have been positive in terms of early detection and the type she has. But, today, the specialists map out potential ways forward. We had prayer a little while ago before they left for her appointments. Why? We believe that God is ultimately in control and He, Creator of the universe, has invited those who are His own to bring to Him the needs we have. This is His Word from Hebrews Chapter 4: ~ 14)Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us take hold of our confession. 15)For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things like we are, yet without sin. 16)Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.~ That is why we prayed and while we are trusting all things into His hands, it is good to know that He is fully aware of the uncertainty and anxiousness that is a part of our experience as we face difficulties in this life. This is His Word from Psalm 103:14 "For He Himself knows our form; He remembers that we are but dust." That's not all, in that same Psalm, in the verse before that recognition, verse 13, we read this: "As a father has compassion on his children, So Yahweh has compassion on those who fear Him." This is why we pray. In that famous passage from Romans Chapter 8, we find this rhetorical question that answers the reason for our faith in Him: Verse 32, "He who indeed did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?" I'm not just stringing verses together here. These are the ones that came to my mind as I considered how much we need Him. Yep. We do. We really do. Amen.

 

Thanks so much to those out there who have cheered me on as I restarted my blogging adventure. For those who grimace as they read my error prone prose, well, there's always the skip option available, and, believe me, I wouldn't blame anyone for using it. I no doubt could do better but just getting it on the page is somewhat time consuming and then editing and cleaning it up, yikes! I do have a good proof reader but she is not always available and that brings us back to the WYSIWYG, (What You See Is What You Get). I like that designation even though at one time it was a technical representation for a printer format. In the tech world they used to pronounce it something that sounded kind of like this: 'wizzywig'. There I go again using word pictures from back in the day. Ha! I also was thinking as I wrote the first paragraph of how many folks who read my blog that have burdens they are also working through. We have a prayer list in our Lifegroup. If you have friends on social media which some people would argue are not real friends, but, many of mine are, period, end of that story. But the friends who post about challenges in dealing with children, grandchildren, illness, financial stress, broken hearts and broken relationships, and, it goes on and on. Simply put, when you see those mentioned take a moment and pray over them, in Jesus Name. I try to do that. I repeat: How much we need Him. Yep. We do. We really do. Amen.

"The baby boomers are getting older, and will stay older for longer. And they will run right into the dementia firing range. How will a society cope? Especially a society that can't so readily rely on those stable family relationships that traditionally provided the backbone of care?" ~ Terry Pratchett

Welcome back and I am happy to be coming to you live and in person, at least I was, during the time I was at my keyboard, on this Monday, June 9, 2025. I am an observer and I like to stay in touch pretty much with most of what's happening in the world. Some don't want to do that. Good. Different approaches are acceptable in our mostly free society. I was reading about some of the things Baby Boomers do that annoy younger folks and I can see myself in some of them. They don't like it when older folks seem to beat a steady drum of criticisms about any and all younger folks. They tend to get tired of hearing too often the back in my day accounts and stories. Younger generations don't get it why us older people resist technology, it's aggravating to them. They also dislike how we often lump all groups together and paint them with the same brush. Here's a good one: They really prefer a text message as opposed to a phone call. That's just how they function. When we speak our minds especially on social media it can be very embarrassing to our younger family members who often consider our postings as being unmannerly or unkind. It would seem our younger ones really don't care to hear about the tough love parenting approach. They tend to get upset when us older folks downplay things they are concerned about, like the environment or when we talk down new trends. They have been conditioned to seeing the world a wee bit different than we see it and when we share our views it often collides with their informed vision for about every issue under the sun. We like to think our hard work, adversities, and overcoming challenges are motivational in nature, they mostly hear blah, blah, blah. Okay. These are but a few of the habits we baby boomers have as our way of communicating that turn off those we wish to inspire. I am somewhat puzzled by what to do since many of them pretty much say, "Just stop it, already!" I will think about thinking about what I can do, but, something I cannot do, especially at this late stage in my life, I cannot compromise the truth we know God has given to us. For instance, here's one they can apply and make their life count for time and eternity: Proverbs 3:5-6 from the Legacy Standard Bible 5)Trust in Yahweh with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6)In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. (A literal translation.)

 

Family gathering for mom's 90th birthday celebration.

Today's title is like some ice cold water splashed into the face. I can tell you this about that title. It's the truth. We have lived it. I thank God every day that so far, that's right, so far we've been able to provide assistance and support from family to help those who find themselves in that life altering situation. I can also say without hesitation that we all have done what we could do, but, we have been blessed by having the availability of some family members who could devote around the clock assistance to our loved ones. I was with my baby sister Kayla when she passed from this life to the next. I was with my brother Donald when he breathed his last. And, I was privileged to be with mom for her final time here on the planet. I gave some, others gave so much more. There are too many to name but I will mention one because she happens to live here with me. My wife. She has been a champion in helping her folks and in helping my folks as well. Like I say, there are plenty of others as well. What a blessing to have family who are willing to step up. What a provision from God that allows it to be done this way. This doesn't make us better than any other family, it is only the blessing of God that, so far, we've been able to have family involved. Okay. It's time for me to say so long for now. "Happy trails to you until we meet again." Amen.

Fallback Friday, and I notice I didn't then and I don't now follow Thomas Jefferson's advice: "The most valuable of talents is never using two words when one will do."

Hello friends and neighbors. Hope all is well on this Friday, June 6, 2025. I am not on vacation but I did want to share this randomly selected blog I wrote 15 years ago. Times were a wee bit different even back then but it does give you some insight into where I was coming from on that particular day. I do hope you enjoy your Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday. Lord willing I will see you back here on this station come next Monday morning. May God add His blessings. Amen.

 

 Plop Plop Fizz Fizz.....but still No Relief!

 

Are you dizzy yet from all the spinning going on around you? I'm talking about how really bad news can be made into really good news for one group while really good news can somehow be made into really bad news for the other guys. As the late Mr. Cronkite used to say, "And that's the way it is on this Thursday, May 20, 2010. I know you get tired of hearing me say it, but folks, you really can't make this stuff up. Take for instance the fellow up in Connecticut running for the US Senate who is the darling of the liberal media but he has been found to have lied for several years about his military service. He was in the military but he has said on many occasions that he actually served in Vietnam but he never left the states. If you are the darling of the left wing media, how would they report this example of downright lying? The mother ship of all liberal news children is the New York Times. Their headline on this story said something about how his comments differed with history. Maybe that's why he has decided to stay in the race, at least for now, by saying he had misplaced some words at different times concerning his military service. You have to love it. From President Clinton's essay on how one defines the word 'is', to all the administration's top people criticizing the new Arizona immigration law but saying they've never even read it, to this guy taking responsibility, not for lying to his constituents, but rather, for using misplaced words like this: "You veterans are heroes that remind me of when I served our country in Vietnam."

My wife would gladly say she was unaware of any of these details. I can assure you she is not spinning the truth when she says that. She is a remarkable woman but very comfortable not being in the know on all these trivialities. It has to be a mom thing or something but she hates when I'm watching a commentary program and they began arguing and throwing heated comments forth and back. Occasionally, I stop the channel surfer on wrestling just to aggravate her. She, at first, tries to ignore the idiocy on the screen. But within 60 to 90 seconds she will let me have it, "Surely you don't intend to watch this garbage, do you?" I feign interest but yield and allow my fingers to do the walking in search of something we both can watch. When we run out of options I land it on the Game Show Network and then I get up to find something else to occupy my time. I actually enjoy her enjoying watching what she wants to watch. She is different than I am and I believe that's a good thing. I know we all are conditioned these days to say our wife or husband is our best friend. My wife is not my best friend. I would never relegate her to that status. She's much more than a friend to me. I'm not saying I achieve it very often but she deserves a level of love from me as exemplified by our Savior giving Himself up on a cross for His Bride, The Church. Therefore, she can watch "Family Feud", "Let's Make a Deal" or "Match Game" until the cows come home and it's okay with me! What's that you say? Would I be willing to watch them with her? That will take some praying but I'll have to get back to you on that one.

Some of you probably think I am a Fox News only guy. To tell the truth, I almost never watch Fox News. I can get much more by watching CSPAN, the PBS News Hour, and other internet based sources than in trying to watch a channel selling itself as fair and balanced. It does require that one engage and do something my granddad always told me: "Son, use your head for something other than a hat rack (more like a cap today)." That's right. Don't let other folks make up your mind for you regardless of what tag they wear. For too many years most of us who have tried to embrace values consistent with our faith have played the pragmatism game. This has caused us to vote for the lesser of evils even when a choice was available for a candidate closer to our convictions but thought to be unable to win. There may be times when I will pull a lever or punch a button on this basis but it will no longer be my approach. I am going to always vote for the candidate who best represents the values that are consistent with my faith, period, end of story, no matter the party, affiliation, or the so called stigma of throwing my vote away. The vote in our country is supposed to be sacred and to me this means that my vote counts because my conscious counts and my responsibility matters. The other night my wife was watching "Deal or No Deal!" and I will tell you the contestant couple would have had to lose weight to qualify to sign up for the "Biggest Loser" show. I actually was more focused on whether the platform was going to survive when they were jumping up and down than on the program itself. And, no, I am not a watcher of the "Biggest Loser" but my wife used to watch it and I've seen and heard enough about it to get the idea behind the plot. Just wanted to clear that up so you want be tempted to start any bad rumors about me. It's a joke. Lighten up a little. It's okay to smile. There's probably no one watching you any way, and it will do you some good! Have a blessed day! Amen. .....More later.