Flashback to a fallback to October 31, 2007

Happy Friday, October 31, 2025, aka, Halloween 2025. I have family, friends, and acquaintances who are convinced that having anything to do with Halloween is to sell out to Satan himself. I respect their beliefs and I do know there are some folks who most likely do embrace the occult on this particular day. Today's not so well written blog was done 18 years ago, so, show a little mercy. It will give my mostly confused view of it all. But, what else is new? Right? Y'all have a great day, a great tomorrow, and remember, Sunday, November 2, 2025 gives you a brand new week and a brand new opportunity to show up at the place where folks gather to worship The Father, The Son, and, The Holy Spirit. May God add His blessings. Amen.

 

 October 31, 2007

 

Today is the day that we celebrate Halloween. Growing up it was a big deal for us because there were six of us and it gave us an opportunity to get a huge pile of candy and treats. Back in those days no one would have ever had a thought about someone putting a razor blade or laxative or poison in our candy. I’m not saying it would have been impossible but it was never something that even came up on our radar screens. Nearly everyone in the community back in those days participated by giving out treats. They used to like to stand at their door and look at each costume and guess who each child was. Many times our outfits were homemade but there were times whenever mom was able to buy us rubber masks.

I suppose the dark side of Halloween was never an issue because no one really participated in it that way. We never even thought about how that demons and devils were being celebrated. It was more like a big dress-up celebration where everyone got to enjoy going from door to door and receiving treats. Now there were some who couldn’t afford to hand out store bought candy. They, instead, gave out homemade cookies, fruit, or popcorn balls. Some, however, could not cook very well and the kids soon learned which houses to stay away from.

 

I was a part of quite a bit of mischief growing up but I cannot remember any tricks I pulled on Halloween. That’s surprising given the fellows I ran with as a young teenager. I have heard some really tall tales about some of the pranks that were pulled. I believe my mom tells the story about an elderly lady actually sitting in her outhouse when it got pushed over by some boys. It turned out to be a really bad thing because the lady was very frail. This may have been a real thing that happened or it may have been one told to warn us not to do things that could end up hurting someone. 

 

Our kids grew up celebrating Halloween with lots of energy and fun. Fairly soon we became a part of a variety of Churches that offered festival alternatives given how the holiday began to be a cause of concern. Many years ago we had this fellow here in the Southeast Texas area that actually poisoned his own child on Halloween to collect insurance money. Then we began to have folks discover different objects embedded in the candy. Hospitals began opening up their x-ray facilities for checking treats. Wow! My how times had begun to change.

Tonight our Church is having a festival called Heroes Unmasked. It will be something like a carnival along with games and prizes with snacks and, of course, lots of candy given out. Many of the children will be dressed as Bible characters. Many of the games where they compete for prizes will have a biblical theme. If it’s like it has been in the past we will be overrun with people as they seek a safe place to let their children enjoy this celebration. It won’t be the same as it was when we roamed all over the place going from house to house, but it will still be fun, and in the end, they, just like us, will still have the opportunity to get a big ole belly ache from eating way too much candy! ....More later.

Gospel of John, Chapter 17, Verse 21, New Living Translation, "I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me."

Well, well, here we are again. Same station, and as one young man told me recently when I asked how Church was going, he responded, "Same old same old." That surprised me, but, we can get into a pattern of going through the motions if we are not careful. I don't want that to happen here at the ole blogger ranch, therefore, let me see what I can do to stir the pot on this day, Thursday, October 29, 2025. If we aren't careful we can easily misunderstand each other. That happened to me recently when I was busy teaching the Sunday morning Bible lesson. I saw the wife on the back row and I thought maybe I had missed the time because she scratched her throat and I thought she was giving me the cut off sign. I closed out quickly and we had prayer and got out on time, for a change. Just joking about that one but it does remind us of how important our communication is, one with the other. An important emphasis on our Lord's prayer as recorded in the Gospel of John, Chapter 17, has to do with unity. The Greek word implies a oneness but not exactly the same in each personal identity. We are different. Each of us are. To have the unity Jesus prayed that we would have, we need a God-infused unity based on our shared faith in Christ. This is challenging to us because our old-man nature is still warring against the Truth within us. (Romans 7:22-25)  Personal preferences, strong personalities, and other characteristics end up, at times, creating misunderstandings that bring division between local Church believers one against the other. The earthly half brother of Jesus, James, had his thoughts on disconnects within the local body, "my brothers, it ought not to be so". (James 3:10, somewhat out of context but very appropriate in addressing the lack of unity among believers.) Okay. You theologians can send me your corrections and be aware that I am easy to agree that I might just be wrong, however, my point is still an important one. Jesus wanted those who represent Him to be distinguished by our love for each other. (John 13:35) Sometimes things that divide are so insignificant it almost seems like someone scratching their throat as opposed to a cut off signal. I wrote this because I do know one particular person who concerns and they need to hear it, that would be none other than: "Me, Myself, and I". We all can do better in pursuing unity, fellowship, caring, and, love, one for another. Beginning with me. Help us Lord, Amen.

I am adamant. I do not watch the Hallmark Channel. I have taken the red-neck pledge on that one. However, some of the Korean Dramas we watch, with subtitles, are pretty much the same, but, I can still say I do not watch the Hallmark Channel. Not even the Christmas stories they play. I'll be the first to admit my man card is hanging by a thread.  

The K-Dramas I like are in the ancient historical settings where there are lots of arrows flying, swords flashing, spears hurling, and even hand to hand knife fighting. If that was an American story, it would be called red meat. At the same time we enjoy watching these foreign stories, without commercials, some dubbed in English, and others with subtitles. That yields better viewing for us. We think many of these shows have better actors, but, it could be the absence of commercials that really causes us to watch them. Recently, we had some fraudulent activity on our bank card and our card had to be reissued. Meanwhile, many of our auto payment recipients did not get paid. When that happens service is cancelled. It is. It really is. Since we watch a lot of programming on YouTube our service reverted to the version with commercials. Wow! After several years of going without commercials and suddenly being inundated with them, we got that fixed in a hurry. We did. We really did. The current rule permits 12 to 20 minutes of commercials per broadcast hour. See what I'm talking about? Here's the funny part. Eventually, we will watch a compilation of commercials deemed to be the funniest. Go figure. Now you know. Have a great day and may God bless each one, real good! Amen.

One writer talking about going to the fair, "Chasing dreams and making memories."

Hello once again. This is not the TV show 'Days of Our Lives', but, it is the record of how our lives unfold, typically, on a daily basis and this one lands at the virtual front door, like the old days of newspapers, on this Wednesday, October 28, 2025. One of these days one of our grands or great grands might want to find out more about their MiMi and Poppy. That happened already when our Rodney and I did a lot of research trying to discover the convoluted Abbott clan we descended from. We had some success. Last Sunday, the Lord's Day Sunday, we had what can only be called a chaotic start at our Church meeting place property. A big storm had rolled in and it did a number on the power. Because of the size of our complex, it is fed from multiple power sources. This meant we had some power but in other places we did not. It was a BIG day in that we were celebrating visitors, our friends, after weeks of special emphasis of inviting friends and neighbors. The facilities crew were working in frantic mode as they got set up to do the entire service outside. We are talking about seating for and feeding of well over 1,000 people. About the time they readied everything, the power came back on. New plan. We now were to have regular life group gatherings and we would have a first and second service in the main auditorium as we do each Sunday. Whiplash time. We did our best to comply, had our life groups, then our worship and preaching services and then on to the feeding and the entertainment. We had all kinds of booths and activities. This is where even the old people can get involved. Our life group was responsible for the Spill the Milk game. I can't remember having anything to do with this game except for back in the day (mid 1950's through the early 1960's) when we went to the fall parish fair in our rural area of Louisiana. They always had the knock down the bottles throwing game. For us in that area, just seeing the carnival workers was in and of itself an education. Talk about rough looking? The inside rumor was always how they rigged the games where very few could win. I did go one year with that preacher's daughter who would later become my wife. Yep. I can't remember if we did the spill the milk game but I feel certain I did several to try and impress her. This past Sunday our game was very popular and we had teams set up to relieve each other in handling the game. The wife tried her luck and as you can see in the photo she was very happy with her performance. Me? I loved loving on the kids. I did not care how long it took for them to knock over the bottles because no one was to leave my time there until they won a prize. They accused me of giving too many chances. I replied they should think about how many times Jesus has forgiven our sins. (1st John 1:9) At any rate, that brought on silence along with a groan from the line. A blessed day, the Gospel went forth, people were saved, some were baptized, and a good time was had by all involved. Amen and Amen.

I have been accused of not knowing when to quit. Each story teller does it their way. The Apostle Paul was inspired in his writings and they have some really long run-on sentences. His were divinely inspired. Mine are not. Some of them may be inspirational if they reflect God's truth, but, the story telling is what it is. I have often said that everyone has their story to tell along with their life experiences. This blogging adventure has allowed me to share many of mine. I would say storytelling is like a box of chocolates, however, someone told me that one had already been taken. I do know some people who have never told their story. I think that's sad, but, it is their choice not to share. I'm sure many have good reasons. Like, maybe, a difficult life or many tragic experiences. I get it. I've had quite a few of those myself, but, think about it. Those experiences of all kinds are the fabric of our sojourn here on the planet. Those who come after me will have at least some material to review, as of today, 3,778 written recordings of this, that, and the other from my life. I thank God for still being able to recall, period. That's a blessing. I give Him the praise. Y'all get out there and make some stories for others to profit by. Y'all hear, now? Don't make me come out there. Sorry, I just remembered how often I heard that one growing up. May God add His blessings. Amen.

Worship is the highest expression of holy ground: Reverence and worship are the most sublime expressions of fellowship with God. For Andrew Murray, "the truest, fullest, and nearest approach to God is worship" in spirit and truth, a state only possible on holy ground." Andrew Murray (1828-1917), a South African writer, teacher and Christian pastor.

Good morning to one and all, wherever you happen to be tuning in from. That's right. I don't understand all the reasons behind it, but, I do have readers from all over the world. It is a good day, October 28, 2025, to rise and shine and give God the glory. I quickly add how that every day is a day where we should give honor and glory to God. This next Sunday, Lord willing, I will be teaching from the Gospel of John, Chapter 17. This is the recorded high priestly, intercessory prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ and He uttered the preserved words just hours before He would hang on the Cross. Let me say this about this passage: It is beyond my comprehension, above my pay grade in understanding, and, if Moses was still here, he would be the first one to take off his sandals because it is truly Holy Ground. Many jump to the portion where Jesus prays for future believers, and, what a blessing it is to know that He did just that. However, at times this preoccupation with me, myself, and I, well, we might miss the essence of who His Father is, and, who He is as revealed in this passage. I think it takes around three minutes to read and prayerfully consider the imponderable. God the very God in human flesh, second Person of the Godhead, submitting Himself to His Father's will so that men, women, boys, and girls can be made right with God. Okay, Bro., explain it to me please. I have a family group that I share verses with each day. Here's the one I shared for this day: II Corinthians 4:18 ~ Legacy Standard Bible, "while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." Here's one to contemplate: the unseen things are more real than what we can see, touch, and feel. I believe the Word of God and I accept the truth claims it presents and I do so by faith. By faith, Hebrews 11:1 New International Version (NIV) ~ "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." It is not a blind faith, it is a faith based on the witness of God the Holy Spirit as I study and more importantly exemplify the Truths He reveals. I told one of my teacher friends that when I get up to teach I might just roll up my trouser legs, pull off my socks and shoes, because studying this prayer is a breathtaking Holy Ground experience.

 

One of the arrangement songs we are doing for our upcoming Christmas presentation at Mims Baptist in Conroe, (December 6 and 7),  has this sentiment: Christmas is in the Air. We are one week away from our first session as Santa and Mrs. Claus. If you are going to do this portrayal well, having a Christmas spirit is very important. I know. It is early and people do complain about the Christmas related products being on sale here and there. However, for us, many people desire to have photos to make their annual Christmas cards or to have a reason for their family clan to get together. People have asked often over the years how we reconcile the True Meaning of Christmas with Santa Claus. We don't try to reconcile the difference. We both recognize and believe in the Baby born and placed in a feeding trough. At the same time we enjoy bringing joy and smiles to children of all ages. That's it. Nothing more than that. I'll let the critics sort it out better than we can. Have a great rest of the day and be blessed, in Jesus Name. Amen.

"I've read the last page of the Bible. It's all going to turn out all right." ~ Billy Graham

Good morning and welcome to Monday, October 27, 2025. If you have wondered, and I know many of you have not because you don't really give a flip, but, for the one or two who have, the photo shows how I do my blogs. I am typically in the upstairs office and Lil Miss Biscuit sits in the chair with me and she is both my companion and at times, my inspiration. She is very patient as she waits for me to finish slinging words onto the electronic page. I do have an update. My doctor did get back to me about the new heart anomaly seen on the scan, and he said it might be impacted by my blood pressure, therefore, I should pay attention to my blood pressure. I was on a time release dosage blood pressure medication but my kidney specialist thought it was too much as it does directly impact kidney function. Might be, but, not to worry since he said nothing looked acute. I think the different meanings of that word acute from a medical perspective in this situation, would be severe. Nothing acute. Therefore, I will interpret it as being nothing severe at this time because the reading comes down to 'might be'. That's how we roll in today's medical test driven world. Pay attention to your blood pressure. I checked it this morning before I took my medication and it was 136/79. I'm no doctor but using his words, it might be nothing too serious. My weight is creeping back up. It is. They weigh you every time you visit any doctor. I think maybe 'I might be' wearing some really heavy clothing these days. And, these boots really add some extra to the mix. And, oh yeah, the cell phone. Mine is a large Android, therefore, it surely makes a difference. It might. Google Artificial Intelligence, AI, informs me how the average to adjust for a weigh in is 2 to five pounds. There you have it folks, I choose to subtract 5 pounds from my weigh in number. See how easy it is to get accurate facts when you are really motivated to seek it out. You can thank me later. Subtract 5 pounds and I am still over my target. That might be okay because who knows? I might be carrying some extra fluid these days. Again, that same Google AI reports how our bodies are made up of 50% to 70% fluids. That last weigh in, I was feeling rather fluid-y, therefore, I need to make another adjustment. You will not be surprised to know that I am approaching the margin of my plus or minus target. (I just made that up.) My final comment is how all animals need to put on weight for the winter and I can report my current Santa uniform is already trending towards being too big for me. What I can't explain is why my doctor always shrugs his shoulders whenever I share with him some of my research. Maybe he never understood the meaning of how we all can learn something new everyday.

 

One of the great things about our Santa program has to do with the folks we work with. We have been blessed overwhelmingly with wonderful experiences during our fifteen years of living out this fascinating adventure. However, I must report it has not been 100%. Nearly, but not every experience. One time we worked with a professional photographer in a major venue who thought she had descended from Leonardo da Vinci. She saw me as nothing more than a prop which led to me being turned every way but loose. The people waiting to have her take their photos picked up on it right away. You could hear the laughing and whispering in the line. It had some funny moments but most of it was not funny at all. That was a rare, very rare exception. I read many of the Santa sharing of their experiences and I can tell one and all: We have been blessed. And, as always, the children, the families, that's truly what it's all about. Y'all have a great rest of the day and may our Great God add His blessings. Amen. 

 

PS The wife, my proofreader at large, thinks I write too much about my experiences in dealing with my health, my doctors, and, related matters. When I think about it, at my age, it does occupy a significant part of my time. I'm certainly not bragging about needing so much medical attention, however, as we have often heard, it comes down to this: It is what it is, and, please feel free to skip any and all of what you receive from me. In fact, I suppose in that regard I am a fairly effective skipper myself.

"The greatest opportunity offered by AI is not reducing errors or workloads, or even curing cancer: it is the opportunity to restore the precious and time-honored connection and trust—the human touch—between patients and doctors." — Eric J. Topol, (born June 26, 1954) is an American cardiologist, scientist, and author. He is the founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, a professor of Molecular Medicine and Executive Vice-President at Scripps Research Institute, and a senior consultant at the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases at Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, California.

I do appreciate the feedback from our visits via the blogosphere. It's always good to know that someone is getting something out of the stuff I throw onto the page. It is Friday, October 24, 2025, and, I do bid each one a hearty hello and welcome. I've had somewhat of a busy last several days doing mostly old people stuff. Another doctor visit yesterday where he ordered up a heart test and many blood tests. Now that they put up the results as soon as they are available, I find myself trying to interpret them before the named 'care team' has time to officially respond. I do have more than my fair share of irregularities, but, many of them are related to my diabetes and while their flagging is slightly off putting, it is, as they say, what it is. I did have a new detected anomaly in the heart scan so I await some official commentary regarding it. Have you noticed? It's always something. I told my doctor how that I spend a fair amount of time trying to parse the difference between a real ailment or those that occur naturally with age. Here's the good news: God is on my side and He knows best and I know He's able to be with me until my time is up in my journey here. (Deuteronomy 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5) I also reminded the doctor of the availability of the interpretations provided 24x7 on the world wide web by the resident artificial intelligent specialist and he, she, or it, can be accessed from anywhere at any time. He just chuckled. He's told me before how many headaches he's had from people who do their on internet based diagnoses. He also mentioned it is most likely time for another heart stress test since my last one was five years ago. I did the last one on the treadmill. I will not do the next one on the treadmill. They will have to give me the injection instead. I am unanimous in that decision, period. I do not want to repeat the site of me on the treadmill with strangers all gathered around cheering me on as if I was in the marathon. No, thank you.

 

These cooler mornings have been nice but we are dry around our area. We are supposed to get some rain coming up tomorrow, Saturday. Those of us who stay mostly at home cheer on the rain. Those who have outside activities planned groan, but, the bottom line is how much we need it. We really do.  So here's the comment you so often hear from us older folks, "Y'all be safe out there, okay?" There are websites that contain many quotes by older folks concerning the weather. The younger people seem to be a little leery of how obsessed many old people are when it comes to the weather. The medical science folks say it often has to do with how changes in the weather impact older people's bodies. Maybe it's just that we in the over-the-hill category need something to occupy ourselves with and then to talk about it. "Hey, that may be a storm, but let me tell you about the time Hurricane Ike came calling here at our place." I used that one because I've pretty much worn out my welcome talking about what Ike did to our place. At any rate, we need to be aware of our surroundings and to always trust God while using our noggin for something other than a hat rack. (One of Paw Paw Mac's favorite sayings.) You couldn't figure it out. Okay. Try harder and if you still don't get it I will explain it to you in a future blog. Y'all be careful out there and don't forget your umbrella. Ha! Until next time, may God bless each one. Amen.

Good job Brady. We are proud of you. Thank you, son, for serving our country, and may God guide and protect. Amen.

Good morning and welcome. Today, October 23, 2025, we are still excited about the accomplishment of our grandson, Brady Darrell, who graduated Navy boot camp last week. We join our Rodney Darrell, his mom, Mitzi, and his sisters Kyleigh and Lexie in supporting him in this great adventure.

 

Anchors Aweigh, my boys, Anchors Aweigh.
Farewell to college joys, we sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay.
Through our last night on shore, drink to the foam,
Until we meet once more. Here's wishing you a happy voyage home.

 

I must admit we have sung that song many times in the salute to the armed forces we do each year at our Church to honor God's hand on our country, however, it takes on a new meaning when one of your own is in the mix. Brady should be in his chosen military occupational skill training school right now but, alas, we have the quickly becoming infamous government shutdown and he and thousands of others cannot start until the government reopens. He seems to have adapted well to his military choice and we are so proud of him and pray God's best as he continues his Navy career.

 

Cecil Sr.

Brady joins quite a heritage of service within our family group. My brother, Donald, served twenty years in the United States Marine Corp. His two sons served as marines also. His step great grandfather Jose Chavez, served in Korea and Vietnam and served twenty years in the US Army. His great uncle, Jack McMillon, served in Korea. His great grandfather Cecil Abbott served in combat in WWII, so did Cecil's twin brother Walter. His great uncles, Asa and Waymon McMillon served in combat in WWII. His MiMi's uncle Avery served in WWII and her uncle Jessie retired from the United States Air Force. Brady's great-great grandfather, Will Cuffie Abbott, fought in the infantry in WWI. He likely has others on his mother's side of the family too. May God bless America, her fighters for freedom, and, may He bless our Brady Darrell. Amen. 

Dad Cecil,                    Donald,         Dad Jose Chavez

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Mark Twain's thoughts about the value of travel: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime."

The Petersons from Branson, check them out on YouTube.

Good morning and welcome to Wednesday, October 22, 2025. You were wondering? You would be correct. I did have to look at the calendar to identify today's date. Just another one of those old people deals and it's not that bad especially when you know where to look to find out what date it is. I will worry a lot more whenever I can't remember where to look. Right? Right. Two things stand out from my visit to Branson, Missouri. One was the concert we attended put on by the Petersons. They are a family band with one exception, the fellow who plays the dobro, and, to me, they are one of the best bluegrass and country Gospel groups around. I started watching them on YouTube back during the pandemic and was so happy to see them in person. The second thing I liked was a particular meal we had while there. It was at the Branson Landry's Restaurant. I know. There is one just down the road here in our area, however, there are times when a meal is just right and the one in Branson was that meal. I ordered a cup of their seafood gumbo which I would give maybe a B or B minus, but the entree was the baked redfish accompanied by grilled vegetables and that fish was melt in your mouth delicious. I would rate that dish an A+ and put it maybe in the top 10 I've had in my life. That along with a very cordial waiter and it made for a really great meal experience. The rest of the concerts and meals were like President Reagan's response when asked how his meeting went with Bishop Tutu, to which he responded, "It went so - so." We stayed in a super nice condo and that was an improvement over most of the hotels we've stayed in there. It did have some stairs that were just on the verge of being difficult, not so much going up and down empty handed, but, quite challenging carrying all of our stuff, if you know what I mean Vern. 

 

The wife did the driving up to Branson and back. All of it. The reason? She says my driving is somewhat scary with the floating and weaving here and there that according to her I often do. She went on to say that she can handle it but when folks ride with us, well, we wouldn't want to make them fearful. Okay. I guess that makes me one of those old people scary drivers. I don't notice it at all, but, she does, and, her assessment has been supported by some in our family. I'm not certain they are good witnesses since it would be very hard for them to go against anything she says. I do know there has been a time or two where we could have gone in one vehicle but our kids took their own, because of The Children. I'll not go into my driving record compared to some of my critics because they would claim that has nothing to do with how I see and don't see the road when I'm driving. Oh well, it doesn't bother me that much, it really doesn't, in fact, I'm not bothered at all by their comments, not at all, none, not in the least, if you get my drift. In the meantime, it's time for me to go and fetch Lil Miss Biscuit at the groomer. I will tell you this. Lil Miss Biscuit rides with me often and she has never, not even one time, complained, period. I rest my case. Y'all have yourselves a most wonderful day and remember to remember that God loves and cares for His own. Amen.

This is supposedly the most frequently used doctor joke: A man goes to the doctor for a checkup. The doctor comes in with a very serious look on his face. "I have some bad news and some worse news," the doctor says. "Oh no," says the man. "Well, give me the bad news first." "The bad news is you only have 24 hours to live." "That's terrible!" the man cries. "What could possibly be worse?" "I forgot to call you yesterday," the doctor says.

Good morning and welcome to another day here in the neighborhood, on this Tuesday, October 21, 2025. I am just back from my regular six month visit with my pulmonologist. He and I get along well. He is treating me for asthma. I told him I didn't know I had asthma until he started treating me for it, and, since he told me to use the inhaler as needed, well, it hasn't been used a lot. He told me that he was pretty sure he was the only one in the room, it was just he and I, that had a license to diagnose asthma. He went on to say that I may have a license to practice Santa Claus, he was the one who was entitled to practice medicine. (I wanted to tell him it was high time he quit practicing because at his age he should know how by now but it didn't seem the right time for that particular joke.) Oh well, I have asthma and he gave me some breathing exercises to do every morning. We also talked about why it is that I am unable to utilize my C/PAP machine. I need a mask that works. Period. I showed him a full face mask that is supposed to accommodate people with beards, ho, ho, ho. He said just because they say that it doesn't mean it will do what it claims to do. He referred me to Robert one of the sleep technicians. I know Robert. He is a good guy. I will talk to him mostly about why my insurance most likely will not cover the mask I found, but, I intend on getting it and trying it even if I have to pay for it. The doctor told me after all is said and done it was still a free country and I could get one and try it regardless of what I find out. See there. We still do have some rights in this land of the free and home of the brave. But, of course, I still owe the co-pay. Do we live in a great country or what?

 

For the record, one more time, I have great medical care and I appreciate all the doctors who have helped and continue to help me keep this 79 year-plus journey going. As we prepare to get ready to prepare for the upcoming Santa season I am always a wee bit leery of dealing with The Suit. It weighs a lot. The boots are heavy. The belt is heavy. It provides the stimulant for the production of a lot of body heat. I know. There are lighter alternatives and different styles, but, we've done our best over the years to preserve the all American version, no, not the one from images of St. Nicholas or from the great Christmas story, "Twas the Night Before Christmas", but, rather we go with the, drum roll please: The one and only Coca-Cola Santa! The one that made his entrance in 1931. Let's hear it for good old American commercialism! I've thought about other alternatives but my Mrs. Claus is adamant about keeping this tradition going. Dealing with all that goes into portraying these Christmas characters, I can tell you this. If you do it from the heart and put your all into it, while you may leave feeling close to exhaustion, you never forget the joy and happy time memories you have helped to make with boys and girls of all ages. With that, I bid each one of you, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" And, may God add His blessings. Amen.

Legacy Standard Bible, Romans, 8:17 "..... and if children, also heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him."

Okay. I am back, folks, and, when we returned from Branson, I was once again reminded of why the Pope kisses the ground when he lands back to his home. (Maybe other places too, but, it's my analogy and I will go with my take. Okay?) Today is Monday, October 20, 2025, and, I do bid each and everyone a hearty hello and welcome. I do have a prepared message provided to me regarding the trip to and stay in Branson. It goes as follows: "To Whom it May Concern, I and those with me had a marvelous time in our travel to and our stay in Branson. It was all wonderful. It was a tremendous experience, one that I will not soon forget. Thanks for asking and know that I had a really great time, a really, really wonderful time." Enough said. We did have an unfortunate experience on the way back. The wife's sister came down with an unexpected illness and we drove straight through to Methodist, Woodlands. She was admitted for two days and after taking antibiotics and a special diet she was released to return to Louisiana. You never know what might happen on any given day BUT we do know Who does know and we do know He cares and we will always be His child no matter what. That was not a prepared statement. That was my heart for my sister-in-law, for those with me, for myself, and for those Christ-followers who read my blogs. Circumstances do not define who we are in Christ. Take that truth and think about it you heirs of God, and co-heirs with Christ! Got it? Good. And, in case you wondered, I am very much unanimous in this conviction. I might wobble from time to time, but, my wobbling does not change the truth. Again. Got it? Good!

 

Believe it or not, we are only 14 days from our first function where we will do our best to bring some joy and happy times as Santa and Mrs. Claus. We decided to do one more year, our 16th, on a limited basis but we do have a wee bit more than that on the schedule. Hopefully, next year, will be even more limited as our plan is to offer ourselves to more charity events like serving ill or at risk children, nursing homes, hospitals, and, things like that. But, we will see. The first event is to be shot outdoors. In Louisiana, and, it could still be very warm. I am planning on using my ice vest it that proves to be the case, however, Lord willing we will do our best to help the photographer lady make some photo treasures for her clients. If any of my blog readers know of some charity events for next year where we can volunteer our time, let me know. You can make a comment on my blog or leave me an email message on the_realsanta@yahoo.com. We do know that we will only do what God allows, given our age and our health status, but that is our thoughts at this time. I have much more to share, but, you knew that already. Y'all take care out there. You hear? And, may God add His blessings as we all continue our journey here on this terrestrial ball. Amen.

"Think excitement, talk excitement, act out excitement, and you are bound to become an excited person." ~ Norman Vincent Peale, (1898-1993), American Protestant clergyman, and an author best known for popularizing the concept of positive thinking, especially through his best-selling book 'The Power of Positive Thinking'.

Good morning and welcome to the Friday Edition of 'what was he thinking?'. It is Friday, October 10, 2025 and I do hope all is well with you and yours. You may not hear from me next week. I will officially be on vacation. That's right. I am going to Branson, Missouri to enjoy a few days of whatever it is we will find ourselves doing, there. The wife is the one who pulled the trigger on making this trip. We will be having her sister and the sister's husband along for the ride. I am told it should be fun. I am told that I am supposed to enjoy it. I was there a handful of years ago and as Paw Paw Mac would say, "I don't remember leaving anything there so there's not much reason for me to return." That's a joke. I started to say a veiled joke but it's not very veiled. Right? We plan to drive to Anacoco, Louisiana Sunday night and then we will go from there to Branson on Monday. We will be staying in one of those Condo things and on Tuesday we have tickets to see the Petersons. They are a family Bluegrass group but they do put their unique twist on their music. I have been following them for several years on YouTube, which, just between you and me, enjoying seeing them on YouTube is a wee bit more convenient than traveling to see them in Branson. Tuesday evening we will see the Presley's show, again. On Wednesday we plan to enjoy the Biblical presentation of David at the Sight and Sound theater. During the other times, they will want us to enjoy some putt putt golf. Yep. Putt Putt, as in putt putt. The last time we were there I had a tiny little meltdown, mostly joking, however, they believed it to be the real me coming out for all to see. Therefore, we will be attempting to reenact that event, hopefully, without the police showing up. That's a joke. The police did not show up last time. We were asked to leave and not come back. That's a joke. The fellow running the place just quit his job on the spot and acted like he was having a nervous breakdown. That too is a joke. I will say this about the golfing incident that occurred on our last trip: Those playing with me nearly got down on the floor laughing. I didn't get down on the floor and I didn't laugh. Just so you know. I may send a blog or two just to let you know I am still kicking, but, we will see about that later.

 

I will be working on getting ready to be excited but I do not want to start too early and use it all up before we actually leave. One reason for our abbreviated absence has to do with all that we have going on. That sounds a little suspicious for old people but we do have a schedule and responsibilities. We do. We really do. This upcoming Sunday I will be sharing from the Gospel of John, Chapter 14. This is one of the iconic comfort passages in the New Testament and one that has ministered to believers ever since it was written. Today, there's much in this world that will cause us trouble, create tension, and, even put us in a state of confused anxiety. When you see that happening, hurry, read John Chapter 14 which begins with these words from our Lord, "Do not be sad or afraid. Believe in God, and also believe in me. There are many rooms in my Father's house. I will go now so that I can prepare a place for you there. If it was not true, I would not have told you this. After I have prepared a place for you, I will return. Then I will take you so that you will be with me. You will be where I am." (From the EasyEnglish Bible EASY)  As they say back home, there's more where that came from . Much more. Need some calming in your life? Meditate on the certainty of God's promises through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. For us who are believers, it's hard to take in but I find myself totally mesmerized by the thought, 'I will take you so that you will be with me'. These words were spoken to His very own. They continue to speak to His own today. Not one of his own? My advice is to deal with that immediately. The account given in the Book of Acts where the Philippian jailer asked what must he do to be saved, here was the simple response from the Apostle Paul and his helper Silas, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." (Acts 16:31) Need further clarification? Contact a Christ follower or send me a comment and I will do my best to provide answers to any questions. Okay. Look at this. I started out to be brief, but a funny thing happened on the way to my blog today. Ha! Have a great rest of today. Enjoy your Saturday. Then, on the first day of the week, Sunday, do your best to find a Bible teaching local assembly (Church), and, get you and your family there. Just do it! May God bless each one. Amen.

"Memory only becomes interesting through its struggle with forgetfulness." ~ Adrian Forty, London, College Professor.

I'm here. It's Thursday, October 9, 2025, and, I am thanking God for being able to get up, climb the stairs, and sit here and with the use of the brain function I have left I can click and clack the keys on the keyboard. That, to me, is a blessing. If all my blogs were actually bound into a book, with the pages front and back, it would likely be three inches or thicker. That's a lot of clicking and clacking on the keyboard. I mention that because many of my blogs capture memories, and, I find myself struggling to remember some of them. If you are not there yet, be glad and thank God, but, for me, the highly vaunted normal aging process is, at times, wreaking havoc on my ability to remember the way I was able to remember when I was younger. Duh. Everyone knows that. Well, thank you very much for that vote of confidence but may I just tell you it is a lot different when it becomes a fact of life to each individual. It starts out with little things. No big deal. But, the steady knock wears the rock, and, it progresses. I am reminded what Albert Einstein said in response to a questionnaire, "I do not carry such information in my mind since it is readily available in books". This statement highlights his belief that a college education's true value lies in training the mind to think and understand concepts, rather than memorizing facts that can be found in textbooks. My point? I can easily get myself all tied in knots of frustration trying to remember particular things, however, I have much of it catalogued in the nearly 3,800 blogs that are readily available online. I do regret that I have not and probably at this late date will not index them to make stuff more readily available. They are searchable but given my writing style, finding what I am looking for can be akin to finding a needle in a haystack. (The idiom "needle in a haystack," describing something virtually impossible to find, originated from literal, ancient difficulties of finding a small item among a large quantity of hay, with the first recorded English use in 1532 as "needle in a meadow". A variation appeared in Miguel de Cervantes's 1605-1615 'Don Quixote' as "needle in a bottle of hay," where "bottle" meant "bundle". The more modern phrasing evolved over time, possibly from the increased presence of haystacks in the 18th century.) I knew inquiring minds would want to know that.

 

As I sit in my not so comfortable clerical chair with Lil Miss Biscuit playing tic-tac-toe on my back, rather than lament how much remembering I no longer can muster, I rather thank God for His provision at this stage of my life, reporting for duty at 79 years, (9 months incubation), and 53 days, I do remember this, from the song: 

 

Sinner Saved by Grace   Lyrics by Gloria Gaither/Music by Bill Gaither

 

 

If you could see, what I once was
If you could go with me
Back to where I started from
And I know you would see
A miracle of love that took me
In its sweet embrace
And made me what I am today
Just an old sinner saved by grace

 

… I am just a sinner saved by grace
When I stood condemned to death
He took my place
Now I grow and breathe in freedom
With each breath of life I take
Loved and forgiven
(Back to the living) backed with a living
(I'm just a sinner) I'm just a sinner saved by grace

 

… How could I boast of anything
I've ever seen or done
How could I dare to claim as mine
The victories God has won
Where would I be had God not brought me
Gently to this place?
I'm here to say, I'm nothing
But a sinner saved by grace

…

 I'm just a sinner saved by grace
When I stood condemned to death
He took my place
Now I live and breathe in freedom
With each breath of life I take
Loved and forgiven, I'm backed with a living
I'm just a sinner saved by grace

… Now I grow and breathe in freedom
With each breath of life I take
Loved and forgiven, backed with a living
I'm just a sinner saved by grace
 

Saved by grace

 

 

That's all I have to say about that. Have yourself a wonderful God-blessed day and may He add His blessings as we continue our journey towards our heavenly home. Amen. 

"Those who make the worst use of their time are the first to complain of its brevity." ~ Jean de La Bruyère, (1645-1646), French philosopher and moralist, who was noted for his satire.

Good morning and welcome. Today is Wednesday, October 8, 2025 and I'm not off to see the wizard but I am continuing to sling words onto the electronic page like there's no tomorrow. (From the mid 1800's, The phrase "like there's no tomorrow" evolved from the earlier 'as if there were no tomorrow', with early documented usage. The idiom, which means to do something with great intensity, speed, and no regard for future consequences, isn't tied to a single event but grew as a way to express urgency or a reckless disregard for the future.) I heard it used often in my upbringing, therefore, I picked it up and continue to use it today. The explanatory information comes from Google Search which features the Artificial Intelligence AI tool. Here I go again, the 1962 song rang out this slogan, 'Another Day Another Dollar'. It's still around but a lot has changed since the song came on the scene. If you had $700 in 1962 and you happened to have the equivalent in 2025, it would equal somewhere around $7,000. However, before you get too excited about that, think about prices which increased nearly 11 times over that same period. Oh well, you know what they say. You don't? I can't think of much but I thought maybe you could. I looked up that fill in the blank and here are some of the responses: "You know what they say about family - blood is thicker than water. But maple syrup is thicker than blood, so technically pancakes are more important than family." ~ "You know what they say...The key to a good mailman joke is the delivery." ~ "You know what they say about the French royal family? It was a good idea on paper but they lost their heads in the execution." ~ That last one might require a wee bit of thought but those should hold us for today. One last thing to mention about the dollar comparison from 1962 to now, the median price for a home in 1962 was between $18,000 and $20,000 while today's median price is around $410,000. Yes, I am thankful wages went up too and I would remind us all to make the most of the time we have even as we prayerfully consider this preserved admonition from the Apostle Paul, "So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days." (The Letter to the Ephesians, Chapter 5, Verses 15-16 from the New Living Translation, NLT).

 

I know what some of you are thinking. He didn't have anything to say but he said it anyway. While that may be a fair assessment I can assure you that whenever God's Word shows up anywhere at anytime, it Speaks. Period. He speaks. He does. As His Word is shared and through the convicting and illuminating ministry of God the Holy Spirit, there are so many times I hear very clearly what He is saying to me. When I do hear what He is saying to me, I must choose to respond. I always do. Many times my response is a negative one where I fail to do what He says. There are consequences for this response. Other times I choose to do what He has said for me to do. Yes, there are also consequences for this response. Thankfully, He is a loving Father, ( Psalm 103:13 "As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him." He also always wants what is best for His own. As His children we love this verse because it is so necessary for each and everyone who follow Christ, (1st John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."). Well, thanks for showing up. I know some who came needed to hear what is written in today's edition, namely, these three: Me, Myself, and I. Have a great rest of the day and may God add His blessings. Amen.

When I think about my lifespan this passage comes to mind, speaking of Joseph from Genesis 50:23 ~ "He lived to see three generations of descendants of his son Ephraim, and he lived to see the birth of the children of Manasseh’s son Makir, whom he claimed as his own." from the New Living Translation, (NLT)

Good morning and welcome. It is Tuesday, October 7, 2025. I could have easily woke up this morning singing the Frankie Valli tune, 'Oh What a Night' because we so enjoyed our time celebrating our Chris' 60th birthday. The actual official title to the song released in 1975 was, 'December 1963, Oh What a Night'. The song lyrics were actually put together to celebrate the ending of Prohibition in 1933 but they were updated and there's a lot more to it and it became a big hit. You can look it up and get all the other details. Back to our version of oh what a night. It was our boys along with Chris' wife Sherrie, the wife, and yours truly. The food. Hey! The food! It would have been given four stars from everyone who participated. (According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: The meaning of FOUR-STAR is of a superior degree of excellence.) It is rare indeed to have the three boys in our home without all the many grands and great grands, therefore, hearing them talking and laughing together was an added blessing from above. Looking at the photos, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know there's a lot of gray hair and to be honest that just doesn't seem possible but it reminds us all how quickly time moves on. That's the reality but we thank God for His blessings. I can't really apologize too much for the dated references because at the end of the day, it's my blog and I'll use them if I want to. (Sing that last part to the 1963 hit from Lesley Gore where she puts it like this: It's my party and I'll cry if I want to.) You do know I am just horsing around which has to do with playful behavior. I actually was charged in high school with the crime of horseplay even though I was only a witness to the horseplay not a participant but I got licks with the board nonetheless. I know. Rambling. I think I wrote something about my approach to blogging and it had to do with my rambling prose which you can adapt to the Nat King Cole hit from 1962, 'Ramblin Rose'. Okay. I promise I have taken my meds but this stuff just keeps falling out of my head which you can adapt to the 1969 hit by B. J. Thomas, 'Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head'. I give up. I know you are pleased. More later on all the above. You can count on it.

 

I do pause to recognize and remind us of this day two years ago when Hamas terror groups savagely attacked Israel with unmitigated cruelty. In total, 1,195 people were killed by the attacks: 736 Israeli civilians (including 38 children), 79 foreign nationals, and 379 members of the security forces. While attending the Nova music festival, 364 civilians were killed and many more wounded. This sparked what is now called the Israel-Palestinian Conflict over the past two years which has led to over 67,000 deaths, 169,000 injured and the displacement of nearly 2 million people. That, in and of itself is a horrible outcome that was triggered on this day two years ago. I am an unapologetic Bible thumper, therefore, I know the consistent flow of verses that yield support for God's Chosen People, the Jews, and the Nation of Israel. I do agree and fully support this sentiment while at the same time I am against any and all wrongdoing on all sides of this conflict. That may sound contradictory but that's my conclusion and I am sticking by it. May God intervene is my prayer and I do pray for the peace of Jerusalem. (Psalm 122:6)  Amen. More later........

The wife's love language to our family: Homecooked made from scratch meals.

Hello and welcome. Today, on this Monday, October 6, 2025, we are getting ready to get ready to have ourselves what we loosely call an 'eatin meetin' to celebrate the 60th birthday of our first born, Chris. This is what our boys have always enjoyed, being able to sit down and eat their mom's cooking, one more time. It is our tradition. This evening's meal will include her one-of-a-kind fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, field peas and fried okra, fresh tomatoes, made from scratch cornbread, pepper sauce and some rolls for those who prefer them, a cake and ice cream for any who want a dessert. Our Chris is not big on desserts but we typically provide them to help celebrate the occasion. The true star is the fried chicken. It was my job to try and find some smallish fryers. The butcher shop quit having them some time back but we occasionally can find them at certain HEB stores. I finally settled for the smallest ones I could find, they were called Heirloom because they are grown slowly without all the injections. They were about $15 each, so, I hope they will be good. The wife skins her chicken when she cuts them up, seasons them, and then soaks them in milk. She uses peanut oil to fry them and does an egg batter and dredges them with all purpose flour. Here's the deal: You get a melt in your mouth delicious chicken that makes you realize the value of home cooking. For our family, it's a throwback, a memory of times gone by, and a tradition that provides another special occasion to treasure. Yep. It is somewhat over the top but in our family we always have enjoyed home cooked from scratch meals. Maybe a wee bit more than we should but it does harken back to our parents, and their parents because it includes our heritage and what better way to celebrate this milestone than to do so with some birds wearing the Heirloom label. That's tongue in cheek, if you didn't recognize it. We do look forward to our time together this evening. Happy Birthday again, son. And, may God continue to bless. Amen. 

 

 

There did come the time when our parents could no longer do what they had done in the past especially as it related to being able to lay out a homemade feast. Just like their parents before them and we know that day is coming for us, but until then, we have today, the one God has blessed us with. I thank Him that we, mostly her, are still being able to do what we can do. Are we slipping? More than we would like to admit, but, being able to sit down and enjoy a special meal together still lights up the heart and life of the wife. She proudly represents her take on the Proverbs 31* model wife and mom and we are so thankful for her, period, end of that story. She can still lay out a feast that ends up making us all full as ticks. (Sorry about the crude expression, but the idiom "full as a tick" originates from a visual comparison of a tick that has taken in so much that it becomes swollen and unable to move after feeding to capacity.) That, unfortunately, is typically an apt description of how we look after enjoying her cooking. Okay. Enough about that, but, we always look forward to her hard labor over a hot stove, literally. I do hope you have some of those kinds of memories tucked away because they do give a special warm feeling. Have a great rest of the day and may God, our great God, add His blessings. Amen.

* Reference: Proverbs 31: 28-29  ^~ Her children arise and call her blessed;  her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." (New International Version, NIV)

On Sunday, October the 5th, Happy 60th Birthday to our firstborn, Chris!

Running late today, out doing errands but hello and welcome to another ride on the ole blogger ranch merry-go-round. Today is Friday, October 3, 2025. Life is real but there are times when it is glaringly so. Our first born, Chris, will hit the 60 mark this upcoming Sunday. He and wife Sherrie are going on a brief getaway beginning this evening, (I think getaway is what it is called, but, I am not altogether sure exactly what it means), therefore, I wanted to mention this milestone today. Chris is a fine Christian fellow but like all of us, he would be the first to tell you he has not arrived yet. God placed within him a mechanical orientation and the talent to use it from a very early age. You think I'm kidding, don't you? He was taking apart small appliances and fixing the problem as early as around 8 years old.(Something his dad could not do then and after all these years, cannot do today.) He works on his own vehicles, he has several, and, there's no telling how much money he has saved in mechanic costs over the years. I said it was his bent and his talent for a reason. I distinguish that from a spiritual gift which his would be the same as his dad's, the gift of teaching God's Word, and he has faithfully done just that for many, many years. As for his talents, abilities, and other expertise he may have, it all was provisioned to him by God, therefore, God is to be honored with our whole person. Chris has given us three granddaughters and seven great grandchildren, the eldest great grand is now 16. Yikes. Yikes. Yikes. You get my drift about the glaring reality. Couple that to some unmentioned old person stuff I recently found myself involved in that essentially made me look like a skit from Tim Conway, and no, I will not go into those details. Nope. Not even for some of my favorite cinnamon candy. How much, by the way, were you willing to tempt me with? Just joking. The wife and I consider ourselves blessed to have Chris as our son. He has a very important job and works hard to provide for his family. He serves the Lord. He checks on his soon to be elderly and frail parents. Joking only. And, we wish him a most wonderful happy birthday and getaway as on Sunday, October 5, he will observe his 60th year of sojourn here on the planet. Hope to see you Monday evening for your mom's home cooking. Our love, son, mom and dad. 

 

Okay. I am ready to sign the petition to find out where the cooler morning weather went. With all the smart people out there surely someone will come up with an answer. Yeah. That's right. The local weather person said this that or the other. Things like: Temperature: The degree of heat or cold in the atmosphere. Humidity: The amount of moisture in the air. Wind: The movement of air, including its speed and direction. Precipitation: Water that falls from the atmosphere to the earth, such as rain, snow, or hail. Clouds: Visible masses of water droplets or ice crystals in the atmosphere. Pressure: Atmospheric pressure is the force exerted by the weight of the air. They can spice it up even more with things like the barometer reading, the dew point, fog, convection, the ridge, the blocking pattern, confluence, the doppler radar, oh, and you have to love the extended outlook, the geostationary satellite, horizontal vorticity, and the wowie-zowie jet stream. Enough already. Just tell me where it went and when it will return and leave out the stuff that proves you went to meteorology classes. Sorry. I picked on those professional guessers because they happen to have one of the only jobs where you get it all wrong but hello and welcome back tomorrow. You do know this little rant was done for fun. Right? All I need is to get the Meteorology Association sending out folks to rough me up. Y'all have a great rest of the day Friday, enjoy your Saturday, then, on Sunday, the first day of next week, if you are able, try to show up at the gathering of God's people so that you can be nourished as God's Word speaks. May He add His blessings, Amen.