The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, Chapter 15, Verses 1-4: "Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, 'Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.'" (English Standard Version, ESV)

Welcome one and all. I'm not sure you've landed on what you were looking for, but, like the mall map says, 'You Are Here'. Today is Monday, March 30, 2026, and, we are set to make the best of it we can with God's help, of course, always. Amen. I am well aware that I may apply the bold on words more than I should, but, it's part of how I communicate, you know, for emphasis sake. I told the wife before I climbed the stairs that I really don't have anything in mind for today's blog. While that's not altogether unprecedented, it does present it's own set of challenges. When in doubt, go for it anyway. Yesterday, I was privileged to teach from the Old Testament passage as recorded in the Book of Numbers, Chapter 20. This records the somewhat well known account where the servant of the Lord, Moses, along with his brother Aaron, failed to honor God as shown in their striking of the rock twice instead of speaking to it. As a result, Aaron was told he would soon die which meant he would not be traveling with the nation into the promised land. His death occurred soon after. Moses was also denied the opportunity to continue his leadership in bringing the people into the land they had so long sought. Why such a seemingly harsh response from God? According to the passage, they failed to believe what God had told them and they failed to demonstrate in their obedience His Holiness. In one of my favorite accounts, the death of Moses is recorded in Deuteronomy Chapter 34. At age 80 Moses started his journey for the Lord at the burning bush encounter and he was told to take off his shoes because he was standing on holy ground. (Exodus 3) In the recounting of the death of Moses, me, perhaps just me, I get a feeling that I too am standing on holy ground. 

 

After showing Moses the land he would not go into, we find this summation of the life and times of this remarkable man, "So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, just as the Lord had said. The Lord buried him in a valley near Beth-peor in Moab, but to this day no one knows the exact place. Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever. The people of Israel mourned for Moses on the plains of Moab for thirty days, until the customary period of mourning was over. Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him, doing just as the Lord had commanded Moses. There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. The Lord sent him to perform all the miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, and all his servants, and his entire land. With mighty power, Moses performed terrifying acts in the sight of all Israel." (Deuteronomy 34, Verses 5-12 as rendered in the New Living Translation.) What a life! I always feel humbled when I consider this man that God chose to use in accomplishing His purpose. The good news? God is still working today and He is still using men, women, boys and girls to work His will and way. He is. He really is. This means He can use me and He can also use you! Amen.

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt

Not to worry, this is not an enactment of the tune, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus", but, rather it is entitled the "Kissing Clauses" because that's what it is! The Real Santa and his bride!

Friday is here. So quickly. That's part of the age thing I suspect, but, I welcome one and all to today's visit, on this March 27, 2026. The title quote struck me as something we all should think about. There are times, perhaps way too many times, when we underestimate the resources that are ours as a child of God. We think about our limitations as we compare ourselves to others, We don't have the talent they have. We don't have the financial resources they have. If. If only we had the knowledge, the capability, and, the opportunity. When we dwell so much on what we don't have we end up sitting out the opportunities given to us to accomplish things that bring honor and glory to God. I think we greatly misunderstand all the Apostle Paul covered when, via Holy Spirit inspiration, he wrote this: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) Now that verse is thrown here and there to represent all kinds of stuff and to me it often is misapplied and misused. It has nothing to do with name it and claim it and other foolish representations. It has everything to do with God's enabling for any and all things related to this life and our testimony for Him. How do we know that? Good question. Here's exactly what Paul wrote to the called out assembly, Church, in Philippi, Greece, (from the English Standard Bible, ESV), Philippians 4:10-13 ~"I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Here's my take: Wherever we are and whatever situation we are in, there is a sufficiency that comes from our Savior so that we can accomplish His will. Doing well, great, use it to honor God. In the ditch, He is still with you and you can honor Him in how you work through the challenges you face. That, to me, is the riches we have in Christ. We can't, but, He can and He wants to work through us in every situation. (Those who use that 'all things' verse to promote some kind of happy-go-lucky life have not read all that happened to the Apostle Paul, they need to read 2nd Corinthians, Chapter 11) I think I'm done. Okay. You Bible theologians are invited to dissect my simple assessment and be sure to use a lot of non-biblical words to explain why I am wrong. Ha!

 

Okay. Be thankful. I am not asking for any offerings today. Just send one dollar to cover the weight of the postal money order. As a teenager, I heard that piece of comedic material on an old record, (vinyl at 33-1/3 RPM), performed by a fellow named Dave Gardner. I know. You are thinking we must have been hurting for entertainment in those days, and, you would likely be right. The comedian actually enjoyed mocking radio preachers who were always selling stuff like an 8x10 glossy of themselves, or an anointed prayer cloth, and other such products. You might find that kind of humor offensive. Sorry. I thought it was funny back then and to tell the truth, not much has changed. I reheard one recently that was on TBN back in the Paul Crouch days. They were doing their big money raising program and a guest fellow was trying to whip up the giving. That guy said he wanted to correct everyone's understanding of the widow's mite.  He said the verse indicates she gave out of her want. "You see, she gave because she wanted something. She was trying to get it by giving." Since the want in that verse actually means she gave out of her dire poverty, his handling of that passage, well, I give it to you in the Greek language, it's absolute garbage! Okay. I'm not altogether certain how I got on that one, but, if you didn't like it, do what any of us can do, skip it, skip it, like Barney, "Skip it in the bud!" And, sadly, the people there in that studio crowd all shouted and clapped for his explanation. I can tell by the clock on the wall it's time to say farewell for now, and, I do wish each and everyone to have a blessed time until we meet again. May God add His blessings. Amen.

The Apostle Paul inspired to write these words, in the letter, 2nd Corinthians, Chapter 5, Verse 8, as rendered in the Amplified Bible, "we are [as I was saying] of good courage and confident hope, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord."

Thanks to ChatGPT that helped me to stand with my beloved mother-in-law, Mary Emma Stephenson Rawles, (1917-1998)

Yesterday's story was a challenge because, believe it or not, I wrote and re-wrote it several times. It happens that way sometimes. It's not exactly like a box of chocolates, but, there are days when my stuff just seems not to pass muster, and, I am certain some of you have no idea what that means. Right? ("Pass muster" means to meet a required standard, pass inspection, or be deemed acceptable, often used in negative contexts (e.g., "doesn't pass muster"). Originating in the 16th century from military inspections, it means to undergo review without censure. It is commonly confused with "cut the mustard" or mistakenly written as "pass mustard".) Sorry to put a pain in your brain so early on this Thursday, March 26, 2026. This is the day that many in our family remember because it's the anniversary of the birthday of the wife of my youth's mom. Mom Rawles was a remarkable woman. She never signed up to become a pastor's wife but she became one and was, in her own way, one of the most Godly people I've had the privilege to know and love. She was a behind the scenes person. She loved the Lord. She loved her family. She loved listening to Bluegrass Gospel and Southern Gospel music, she was a published poet and her poems were about everyday life, the struggles, pain, the gains and losses, and, how God had been there all the time. She was a sewing genius and her hands with a needle and thread were faster than anyone's I ever observed. We have many of her quilts that are special memories in and of themselves. She loved variety and if you ever sat at her table she would layout all kinds of different items to choose from. That was something new to me because I grew up sitting down to a main dish surrounded by a few supporting dishes. Mom Rawles would have a dozen items to choose from, and, they were good. She was perhaps one of the most faithful prayer warriors I've ever known, spending many hours at night interceding on behalf of her family and others. I'll never forget the last conversation I had with her. She was in the hospital and they did not expect her to make it, but, she had rebounded a little, this is what she said to me, "Do you think it would be okay for me to hang around a little bit longer?" I told her it would be fantastic. She passed on into the Lord's Presence a few days later. She did. She really did. (2 Corinthians 5:8) She was not perfect, but, she was one amazing lady, and, I know my life was not only touched but enriched by knowing her. I do have one longstanding issue with her. I never, and, I mean never, could use any mother-in-low jokes because they just wouldn't work. They didn't fit this remarkable lady. May God bless the memory of her life and may her testimony continue to encourage and impact others. Amen.

 

Yes. I did try to let her know how much I appreciated her while she was here. I also know that my name was on her frequently called out prayer list. For that, I am grateful. God is Sovereign and at the same time He has designed prayer into our day by day living before Him. Well, why don't you explain how it works, brother? Sorry. That is not only above my pay grade it is in the category of 'known only to God'. There are some examples however that instruct us how prayer works within the Sovereign will of God. Take King Hezekiah for instance. He was one of the most faithful kings in Israel's history. Isaiah was sent to tell the ailing king that he should get his house in order because his days were numbered. All of this is recorded in Isaiah Chapter 38, and, in 2nd Kings Chapter 20, and 2nd Chronicles, Chapter 32. Here's the part I want to focus in on. Isaiah left the king's deathbed and Hezekiah, having received this prophetic utterance responded in this manner as recorded in Isaiah Chapter 38, Verses 2-5: "Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying, 'Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion; I have done what is good in Your sight.' And Hezekiah wept bitterly. And the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying, 'Go and tell Hezekiah that this is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: ‘I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.'" I've always been amazed by this account and that detail, "I have seen your tears", my bolding. This is the truth folks: God saw his tears, and, He sees yours, and, He sees mine. Now, truth is Hezekiah didn't utilize those added fifteen years in the best way possible, but, as they always say, that, my friend is a story for another time. Go. Read about it yourself. Check me out. Let me know if I've not got it right. Okay? Y'all be encouraged that our Sovereign God sees the very essence of our journey and He is right there with us, every step of the way. Amen.

"The primary use of chinkapin is for wildlife food and cover. The nuts are an excellent food source during the fall and winter. Squirrels, deer, grouse, bobwhite quail, and wild turkey particularly enjoy the nuts. It can be used as a wildlife component for stabilizing disturbed areas." ~ USDA Plants Database

Here we go again. Today! It's already Wednesday, March 25, 2026, and, I am wondering this morning how many of my readers have ever eaten Chinquapin nuts. (Both chinkapin and chinquapin are correct spellings, just so you know.) Never heard of them? In my growing up days, they were not too plentiful, but, there was this one tree and it wasn't that easy to get to, but, the nuts would be ready to harvest from late summer into November each year. That actually made it worth going over the hills and through the woods to get to them. That is actually more true than you might think. This tree was located in the thick brush and woods near Brushy Creek and you had to want to get there to wade through the briars and the thickets. I'll put it to you this way: It's kind of like the saying about a wife kissing her husband with a beard. ~ "Kissing him with his beard is a lot like going to a picnic. You don't mind going through the bushes to get there!" ~  While I am not sure the wife of my youth would 100% agree with that saying, let me get back to the point of my story. The chinquapin nut has been best compared to a sweet tasting chestnut. The ones on that particular tree were small and not easy to open, but, they did taste good. I did like them and because I did I would wrestle my way to get there, eat as many as I could and stuff my pockets full to take with me. You didn't have to worry about overeating because you would tire yourself out shelling them. The forest animals liked them too, so, there was some competition to get there and get what you could. Many years later, many, I drove back up into where I thought there might be reasonable access to the Chinquapin Tree and sadly, through a little progress near that little township, they had moved in several mobile homes, therefore, the tree was either gone or I could no longer find it. That's my chinquapin story. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I did my best to keep it a secret. I did. I really did. Why? Let me set the record straight here. Having access to those treats was a real treasure to a country boy like myself, therefore, I treated it as such. Okay. What's your chinquapin  story?

 

I'm pretty sure I've written about this earlier, buried somewhere in the nearly 3,900 blogs I've written. If this story is different from the previous story, clock it up to the way my memory works these days. That's not a cop out, it's the reality of the changing landscape within my noggin. You know the one. It's the one I'm doing my best to use for something other than a hat rack. I know Paw Paw Mac would be glad to know that. You may have noticed because it's hard not to, that I've added a new logo-like image to my blogs. It was a collaboration between myself and Mr. ChatGPT. I address that artificial intelligence utility that way because it always says, "Hello Santa, how may I help you?" when I use it. It does. It really does. I gave it a photo and told it to create a character, specified the keyboard and background and after several iterations, well, there you have it. Instead of saying Blogmaster, I went with the German, Meister. Why? I thought it sounded a wee bit better. What's that you say? Very wee? I put it out there so I should be willing to take any and all thoughts about it. Right? Right! Thanks again for your time and we do appreciate the many prayers offered up on behalf of the wife of my youth. We do. We really do. She is much better and busy scheduling the myriad of tests the doctor ordered up. (More tests than Carter has liver pills, if you ask me, and if you don't get that dated reference, look it up.) I was thinking some about her transient amnesia and it would be nice if it was more selective, like maybe forgetting the times she was angry with me. Ha! Just thinking out loud, and, just sharing. Be careful out there and stay close to the Lord by staying close to His Word. Amen.

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." – Roger Caras

This is a picture of our Sir Bentley. Two years ago he developed a liver issue that was not fixable and we had to say farewell. He was a remarkable companion to us for five years and handful of months. What an amazing pup and how blessed we were to have him. 

Good Tuesday morning on this March 24, 2026, where, if you are up and able to go, well, since according to the writing of Job, it is God who is the Sustainer of life, as in our next breath, well, that means we need to bend our knee and give Him all the praise and Glory. (Job 7:7 and 33:4) I know I write a lot about aging. It does reflect the stage in my life, but, at the same time I am in reasonably good shape for the shape I'm in. I recently was reminded from a short clip telling about a 1979 research project called the "Counterclockwise Study" authored and supervised by Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer. This study  gathered a group of older men, late 70's through 80's and observed them during a special retreat. Essentially, the participants were put into a setting from 1959 surrounded by period furniture, black and white TV, music, media, food and other items from that era. They were examined before and after only one week of being in that environment they showed significant improvements in vision, hearing, grip strength, memory, and cognitive function. It just goes to show you. I'm not 100% sure of what but it does go to show you something. Mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter, or something like that. Solomon recorded this interesting observation, Proverbs 23:7, "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." Let me see here, twenty years ago for me would be 2006. I would have been sixty years young. I did look at the songs in all categories, and, alas, I didn't recognize them. I know I was still in my working prime back then, working can to can't, as my grandfather used to say. Somewhere in that time frame was when I discovered a new thing about myself. The Doctor: Mr. Abbott you have full-blown Type-2 diabetes. Mr Abbott: No I do not! The Doctor: Yes you do, the blood test does not lie. Mr. Abbott: In this case, the blood test is wrong! Now tell me how to get rid of it. The Doctor: Change your life, lose weight, and, if you are part of a very small percentage, maybe you can do something about it. And, I did all of those things and still ended up with full-blown Type 2. A game changer but I've been able with God's help to do what they refer to as this: Manage it. (One never gets at ease seeing how nearly every test that is run comes back as abnormal, but, as we are all inclined to say, 'It is what is', right?) Now go back and read my opening comments about Who it is that sustains life. And, the fact that I am still here is because He is not finished with me yet. That is the truth. Period. Continuing the story and Amen.

 

When Bentley had to be put down, (our Jimmy went with him because I couldn't), I firmly committed to never having another pup, period, end of that story. Well, so many people bombarded me with how we really needed to replace him, well, that end of story became an end of chapter and we ushered in the three week old Lil Miss Biscuit. We got her early because her mom was not able to nurse and the folks were feeding the pups goat milk. We fetched some milk replacer from the store and took over her feeding and we more or less raised her by hand. She is not Sir Bentley Barksalot, Esq., but, guess what? She is 100% Lil Miss Biscuit, and, just like that, she is now two years old. Already she is beloved and some say, more than spoiled. I'll never forget Bentley because he was pretty much my first dog. I know. Old people, late in life, you never know what they might get into. But, Bentley loved to ride in the ole truck with his head out the window. He, at least, knew he needed to stay in the truck. Biscuit, well, she loves to ride with her head out the window but she does so with wild abandonment and I have to hold onto her and it's pretty much all I can do to keep her in the truck. That's the truth. It is. It really is. Bentley now Biscuit, they have enriched our lives. I wasn't raised up where pets were ever in the house. That was an ironclad rule. That was yesterday and now is now and Biscuit at this particular time has the final say. Ha! Y'all enjoy and know that God is our Sustainer. Amen.

“Aging seems to be the only available way to live a long life.” Kitty O’Neill Collins, known as the fastest woman alive having driven across Oregon's Alvord Desert in a three-wheeled rocket car called the SMI Motivator, she clocked an average of 512.710 mph..

Welcome back. I'm glad you showed up today, Monday, March 23, 2026. In this part of the world, the weather has been competing in a yo yo contest with near freezing temperatures early last week while finishing up the week flirting with 90's. That jerking forth and back can be hard on older people's bones, or, at least I've heard that it can. Ha! I am working to perfect the sounds I make when I am getting up off the chair. I don't care too much for the groan or the moan, but, I think a low guttural grunt might be my favorite. Sometimes I forget and the groan might slip out. I mean just being me is insulting enough, but, do they have to make it so difficult to find your birth year using that wheel on the computer. My word, finding 1946 takes a while and the whole time the medical technician is sitting there smiling. I also notice how much time I spend reading about orthopedic shoes and other ads of that ilk, it just makes me want to cry. I also find it interesting to mention a particular song or artist who was a consistent number one on the charts, but, alas, all I get is a blank stare from the younger person I'm talking to. I've heard the one about turning down the radio in the car so the older person can see better, but, for me, that's not the reason I turn it off when I am surrounded by jerk-drivers because I need to concentrate on my survival. And this one, the ophthalmologist couldn't wait to get my cataracts out and kept referring to them as becoming ripe. Well, he took them out and now I need glasses to sharpen up far off objects, (like reading the monitor on the back wall when I am in the choir), and, I need reading glasses to share Scripture when I'm teaching. Go figure, and, thank you very much. One sure sign of my advancing years: Trends no longer even think about getting onto my radar screen. Clothes, vehicles, and any other new fangled item have no meaning to me except if we are trying to buy something for one of our grands or great grands. I'm not complaining, just sharing, because, the old quote is true, the one with the most birthdays lives the longest. You can now go to your room and think about that one. 

 

If I didn't write about aging challenges I would be living in denial. Yes. I am aware about the jokes concerning the word denial. And, no it is not a river located in northeastern Africa. Please don't try to sidetrack me with silly jokes, especially those that don't even qualify to be called a 'dad' joke. I do know one of the things I do think quite a bit about is what I will leave behind. I'm not talking about wealth here. My thoughts are about my testimony and the great need for my children, my grandchildren, and currently my great grandchildren to know the Lord, to put their faith and trust in Jesus, and, to live out their lives in service to the God who loved them enough to send His one and only Son to die for them. Why does this matter weigh so heavy on my heart and mind? Let me be frank, it's like this, Jesus put it this way, "A person may get everything in the whole world for himself. But if he loses his life, it will not be any good for him. There is nothing that a person can give to get back his life." (Matthew 16:26 from the EasyEnglish Bible). And this, from our Savior, John 5:25-29 "Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." (From the New King James Version, NKJV.) These are the things I ponder as I pray that each of them will hear the Truth of John 3:16, respond, and be saved. Amen.

“All our discontents about what we want appeared to me to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have.” ― Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe, (1719)

A depiction of Robinson Crusoe with his rescued native friend, Friday.

It's Friday my friend, and it's the name Robinson Crusoe gave to the native he rescued from cannibals and he did so on a Friday, therefore, he named him Friday. I do know you find that to be very interesting but you might prefer that I get on with today's edition, on this March 20, 2026. (For those who don't know about Robinson Crusoe, well, I feel a wee bit sorry for you because it is a wonderful story found in the novel written in 1719 by Daniel Defoe.) There are also several movies made from that great novel. Okay. Well, how in the world are you doing on this, another day in the neighborhood? Let me hit this one head on. Got it? Good. Based on the information I have heard from the current administration, I am, at this time, supporting the military action in Iran. I am convinced many of the news sources are actually rooting for our armed forces to lose because of their hatred of President Trump. You can have your opinion. That's mine. I'm not saying there is no propaganda coming from the administration because the reporting is typically done to form a positive view of their actions, however, this joint military action alongside Israel makes sense given the threat that Iran poses along with their long term status of being the number one sponsor of radical terrorism. I can understand why some people do not care for President Trump. His history, his mannerisms, and, his commentary at times has contributed to this dislike. However, to root for Iran in the coverage of the news is unacceptable and it is why the FCC has threatened to investigate some of the news reporting entities. It's one thing to be biased, liberal versus conservative, but, to manipulate the news in order to support a sworn enemy of our country is frankly beyond the pale. I am not enjoying the higher prices at the pump, the grocery store, and, just about any and everywhere things are purchased. Hopefully, the report that these spikes are temporary will be proven to be true. Meanwhile, I support our troops and I pray for a speedy completion of this conflict. Amen.

 

That particular ongoing hostility may not be the elephant in the room, but, it is one that impacts us all. And, especially, the lives of those who lose loved ones as a result. Me feeling one way or another can never come close to the pain these families are dealing with. May God comfort them and may they look to Him for help going forward. Amen. Join me in praying for the soon resolution of this conflict. Again, I want to thank you, the readers, of my blogs. I appreciate the comments I receive from time to time. And, I especially love to hear the wife of my youth chuckle when she proofs my daily posting. It makes me think that if it brings a smile to her it might just do the same for someone else. At times, there's not too much smiling going on in a world that literally is in such a mess. Only God can help us but it's good that we all can do our part to cheer each other on as we, together, continue our journey here. I remind us all of this truth. As believers, this world is not our final dwelling place. It's not folks. It's really isn't! Here is an old hymn that has an idea about that place we call home:

 

Is Not This the Land of Beulah? (1882): Often associated with the line "I am dwelling on the mountain". It became a popular Methodist revival song written, or arranged by, William Hunter or John W. Dadmun. You can hear this on YouTube sung by several different groups including the Gaither Homecoming choir. 

 

Lyrics

 

I am dwelling on the mountain,
Where the golden sunlight gleams
O'er a land whose wondrous beauty
Far exceeds my fondest dreams
Where the air is pure, ethereal,
Laden with the breath of flow'rs,
They are blooming by the fountain,
'Neath the amaranthine bow'rs. (note unfading, undying, forever flowers)

 

Is not this the land of Beulah?
Blessed, blessed land of light,
Where the flowers bloom forever,
And the sun is always bright!

 

I can see far down the mountain,
Where I wandered weary years,
Often hindered in my journey
By the ghosts of doubts and fears;
Broken vows and disappointments
Thickly sprinkled all the way,
But the Spirit led, unerring,
To the land I hold today.

 

Is not this the land of Beulah?
Blessed, blessed land of light,
Where the flowers bloom forever,
And the sun is always bright!

 

I am drinking at the fountain,
Where I ever would abide;
For I've tasted life's pure river,
And my soul is satisfied;
There's no thirsting for life's pleasures,
Nor adorning, rich and gay,
For I've found a richer treasure,
One that fadeth not away.

 

Is not this the land of Beulah?
Blessed, blessed land of light,
Where the flowers bloom forever,
And the sun is always bright!

 

Tell me not of heavy crosses,
Nor of burdens hard to bear,
For I've found this great salvation
Makes each burden light appear;
And I love to follow Jesus,
Gladly counting all but dross,
Worldly honors all forsaking
For the glory of the cross.

 

Is not this the land of Beulah?
Blessed, blessed land of light,
Where the flowers bloom forever,
And the sun is always bright!

 

Oh, the cross has wondrous glory!
Oft I've proved this to be true;
When I'm in the way so narrow,
I can see a pathway through;
And how sweetly Jesus whispers:
"Take the cross, thou need'st not fear,
For I've tried the way before thee, "
And the glory lingers near

 

Is not this the land of Beulah?
Blessed, blessed land of light,
Where the flowers bloom forever,
And the sun is always bright!

 

That's what I call a good one. What say you? Enjoy and may God add His blessings. Amen. 

"Do other people, I wonder, find the same keen pleasure that I do in periodically undertaking a pilgrimage all over the house to wage a war of extermination upon its accumulations of rubbish?" ~ Chiffon, "The Woman of To-Day," To-Day, 1898

Happy Thursday, and this one is being celebrated on March 19, 2026. I do hope all is well with you as we continue our journey here on the planet. Yep. That's me in the boat. I put myself there with the help of the a.i. utility, ChatGPT. The caption speaks for itself, however, the boat reminded me of a saying I heard growing up, "Son, you are up a creek without a paddle." Which, as most of you likely know, 'is an idiom describing a person in a very difficult, serious or hopeless situation with no easy way to escape or fix it. It implies being trapped without necessary resources or control. The phrase often refers to a predicament where one has made a mistake or faces a crisis with no solutions, similar to being stranded in a boat with no means to move it'. I can't be sure but where I grew up some may have said it like this, "Son, you are up a crick without a paddle." That little word change is actually a well recognized colloquialism in use in a variety of rural American communities. As for the hat, I think I bought it for our trip to Scotland back in the mid 1990's. I still have it, however, it has been used by nearly all our grands and I'll put it to you this way, "It has been turned every way but loose." It's been a detective hat, an explorer's hat, a cowboy or cowgirl hat, and no telling how many other adventures it has seen. Our great grands will soon be old enough to give it a go. I can still remember our first grand, Tiffany, when she would wear my raincoat and that hat investigating whatever crimes she could imagine. Come to think about it, I believe I still have that raincoat too. The wife recently raided my closet under the guise of organizing my stuff. It was very painful to see it all being tossed here and there. Here's a little preview, "Do you realize how many shirts you have that still have the tags attached to them?" Me: "Yeah, I need to decide when I might wear them." And, as we like to say here in the burbs, the beat goes on and on and on. 

 

I started to say that I might have said to the wife of my youth as she, like the title above, was undertaking her organizing and discarding pilgrimage, "Physician heal thyself." (I do believe she has at least 2 plus closets of her own to declutter.) Just saying.  A few years ago she carried off several boxes of our tax records that were only twenty or more years old. To me they were a family history of sorts. To her, they were stuff occupying space in the office closet. Rarely, okay, very rarely, I would look back to those records from the mid 1960's and relive how we could make it on less than $5,000 per year. She took the records over to Louisiana to her sister's acreage where the wife is known for loving to start big fires. There she burned up those and she is ready to even take more for burning. She is. She really is. She thinks I am a charter member of the procrastination club, however, I haven't taken the time yet to even think about that claim. I will get around to it at some time in the future. I will admit I do have a fairly messy office. Okay. I said it. At the same time, I will leave you with what research and scientific study has found, "A messy office often indicates a highly creative, albeit potentially disorganized, mind, frequently linked to unconventional thinking, high productivity, and a focus on new ideas rather than strict order. However, it can also be perceived by others as a sign of low conscientiousness, stress, poor time management, or a lack of professional care." The wife would land in the 'however' category but here's the wonderful thing about it all: Sixty one years and counting, with all our differences, we somehow make it work. And, I thank God for her every single day. I do. I really do. Take care now, you hear, or you might just end up finding yourself up the creek without a paddle. May God bless each one. Amen.

"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you." — Anne Lamott

Good morning blog readers and welcome. Today is Wednesday, March 18, 2026, or, as we call it around here, Church choir practice night. We did get to see the neurologist yesterday afternoon. I can't describe him too much because he was wearing a really large mask. I did my best not to breathe in his direction. He seemed very pleasant and importantly, he was very thorough. Unfortunately, he ran through what he thought were some reasonable explanations for her episode but was unable to come up with anything definitive. Additionally, her experience may end up being a one time, one off situation that may not be repeated. He did talk about one thing that does occur from more or less out of the blue. It's called Transient Global Amnesia (TGA). It is rare, sudden, and it causes an individual over 50 to be unable to remember or recall recent events. It typically lasts only for a few hours and it is most likely brought on by stress and physical exertion. Bingo! The wife of my youth have both of those patented with her name on it. The important thing when the doctor can't nail down something specific: Rule out any other cause! Therefore, she will be undergoing an MRI, and EEG, additional blood work, a heart monitor session, and a sleep evaluation. We are already in the process of getting these scheduled. When we finished with the doctor, the wife who is the patient recommended we go and walk the Katy Mills Mall. She did. She really did. Obviously, her memory is back and she does have an abiding affection for malls. She does. She really does. That sounded really wonderful to me. No it didn't. It really didn't. We dodged 18 wheelers, crazy drivers, and, a whole slew of those jacked up pick-up trucks to get over there, but, the antidote for that level of stress is to go to the mall. I actually had not thought of that. I hadn't. We did go and we did walk and we did enjoy. That last sentence was from a prepared statement given to me to read. I'm only joking. I actually was required to memorize it. Still joking. 

 

When I said the wife was a poster child for both stress and physical exertion, well, it just happens to be the truth. She goes like a whirlwind most of the time, burning candles on both ends and in the middle. I will not go into all the details of how I know these two symptoms are true, but, needless to say, she needs to slow down and I believe they say, "Stop and smell the roses." Okay. I wasn't sure of exactly all that speech idiom entails, so, I did what most of us do when we don't know, we Google it. Right? Here's the answer given: ~ "Stop and smell the roses" is an idiom advising people to slow down, reduce stress, and appreciate life's small, everyday pleasures instead of rushing through them. It encourages mindfulness, gratitude, and taking breaks to enjoy the present moment. ~ She is wired the way she is wired and making these types of changes will not be easy. She is put together in a way that makes it almost impossible for her to say no. And, rarely does she say no. And, I think most of us know how those who never says no are the ones typically asked to do a certain task. Am I right or am I right? I thought so. We used to say this about dad on his mowing tractor, "He should most likely no longer be operating that tractor, however, if he were to die while doing what he loved to do, there are worse things." And, that just might be the case with the wife. She is who she is and let me quickly add this truth, she is very beloved, far and wide. I will do what I can to try and slow her down but I don't plan to lay down in front of the mowing tractor when she has it revved up. You do know what I mean, right Vern? Thanks ever so much for all those who have expressed your concerns and your prayers for her. We do greatly appreciate them all. May God bless is my prayer. Amen.

"Never iron a four-leaf clover, because you don't want to press your luck". ~ copied

Well, well, and, that's not only a deep subject, but, it is the truth as in the song, it is well with my soul. This doesn't mean everything is hunky dory, but, it does mean that God is with us and we can count on Him. Amen. Today is Tuesday, St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2026, and, I do bid each one a warm welcome from here at the ole blogger ranch to your little niche in the world, wherever that happens to be. I'll let the experts and the pundits talk about snakes and why they are not native to Ireland and I add this little tidbit, just because there are no snakes, mosquitoes, or spiders in Iceland doesn't mean I would want to live there. You can wear green or you can choose not to, it's your choice. Yesterday, I accompanied the wife of my youth to her primary care appointment. I told the nurse I was there as her interpreter. She laughed out loud. When I told our eldest son that's what I told them, well, he had this retort, "Oh my!" At any rate, since she does not remember any of the details regarding what led up to the accident last Friday, the subsequent trip to the ER or even coming home afterwards, well, I was there to fill in the blanks as best I know them. To the credit of the nurse she said if anyone deserved to be there with her it would be me. The primary care looked through all the tests run by the emergency room doctor. He did his best to try and figure out if there was some kind of trigger that brought on the episode she experienced. Of course they checked her vitals, listened to her heart, and, we talked and talked. He, knowing we are seeing the neurologist today, pretty much yielded to that specialist to do further investigation. He said they may want to do an MRI to see if it picks up something not seen in the CT Scan. She and her interpreter will be headed over to the neurologist visit and he happens to be at the Katy Clinic today, therefore, we will be driving in the highly discussed and not much ever done about the Houston congested traffic in order to get there. For close to 40 years I drove in, through, around, over the hills and through the woods in the Houston metroplex without even a thought. That was then. This is now. It is a habit that is real easy to quit. But, Lord willing, we will get there and see what comes from this next phase of our journey.

 

It's interesting how we never know exactly what we might be involved in on any given day. We can plan, and I think we should, but, we should never be surprised when things do not always fit what we had in mind. I know I use the 'Lord willing' phrase a lot. I do. I really do. I think about the first writing of the New Testament, that being James, early 40's AD, who we believe he was the son of Mary and Joseph, the half-brother of our Lord and he became a believer after the resurrection, and, was the Sr. Elder in the local assembly, Church, in Jerusalem. Here are some verses to consider: ~ Mark 6:3: Identifies James, Joses, Judas, and Simon as Jesus' brothers, mentioned in the context of his hometown. Matthew 13:55: Also mentions James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas as brothers of Jesus. Galatians 1:19: Paul explicitly calls him "James, the Lord's brother" when describing his visit to Jerusalem. John 7:2-5: Notes that early in Jesus' ministry, his brothers did not believe in him. 1 Corinthians 15:7: Mentions a personal appearance of the resurrected Jesus to James.Acts 1:14: Identifies James and his brothers as being present with the disciples in prayer after the Ascension. Acts 15:13-21: Depicts James presiding over the Jerusalem Council. Acts 12:17: Shows James as a leader, with Peter reporting to him. Galatians 2:9: Paul calls James a "pillar" of the church. ~ Well, he, in his letter covers this very thing about how we should plan the events in our lives. In Chapter 4, (there were no chapters or verses divided when he wrote his letter), as we have it organized, we read these words: ~ 13) Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14) whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15) Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” 16) But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17) Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. ~ There you have it, "if the Lord wills", therefore, when I say Lord willing that's exactly what I mean, even though I know it can be a throw down slogan but it really is the truth. It is. It really is. Amen.

"Commonly misattributed quotations abound more than ever before, now that they can be shared so easily on social media. Aphorisms, maxims, sententiae, and inspirational or witty quotations often become associated with public figures or well-known writers who never said or wrote them. And these misattributions can be surprisingly tenacious." ~ Joseph Wallace, PhD in English Literature

Welcome back. I bring you warm wishes and a hearty hello from here at the ole blogger ranch to wherever you happen to be tuning in from on this Monday, March 16, 2026. We've been experiencing some cooler weather in these parts of late and this reminds me of that famous quotation, "Everyone complains about the weather but no one does anything about it." Widely attributed to Mark Twain, but, it does not appear in any of his writings, however, he was known to quote it in his recorded comments. It originated in the writings of a fellow by the name of Charles Dudley Warner, (1829-1900), an American essayist, who actually was a friend of Mark Twain, Dudley not only came up with this widely recognized quote but also this one, "Politics makes strange bedfellows." I suppose being attributed for things you didn't actually come up with wasn't that big of a deal because even Yogi Berra famously said, "I didn't say all the things I said", talking about many of the things that were tagged as one of his sayings that he never said. There is a long history of misattributed quotations tagged to people like Winston Churchill, Thomas Jefferson, and, Mark Twain. Believe it or not, this is an area of literary interest where these types of erroneous attributions are tracked, exposed, and, the correct quote originator identified. I suppose those involved in these kinds of correction efforts must have been hall monitors in grade school. And, you can quote me on that, that is, unless that quote is already taken. Ha! 

 

I ask for your prayers on behalf of the wife of my youth. She had a medical episode last Friday morning which led to a vehicular accident. No one was hurt. Our truck was scraped on the bumper but the car she hit received quite a lot of damage. The people in the damaged car were ever so kind, mostly concerned about my wife. She was taken to the ER by ambulance and today we see our primary care and tomorrow we see the neurologist. She has no recollection of any of what happened. She continues to have some fuzziness, headaches, and, some wobbliness. She had gone to run an errand and on her way there was the unexpected happening. Life if like that. Jimmy was with her and when he called me I was up here working on the computer in the ole blogger ranch office and here's the truth, Lil Miss Biscuit and I nearly fell right out of the chair. I typically can try to be above the fray but I'll be honest, I was shaking. The many tests they conducted at the ER did not indicate what the problem might be, therefore, we were released to get these followups as soon as possible. She told the people at the ER that she wanted to go home because she had a good nurse. That would be me and I am trying to be just that, a good nurse. We've been through many challenges during our 61 plus years, and, we will, with God's help, and, the intercession of so many prayer warriors, get to this one and through it. Lil Miss Biscuit has decided laying behind me is her best spot on my typing chair, therefore, I write this, literally, on the edge of my seat while she snoozes. Y'all have yourselves a blessed day and may God help us all is my prayer. Amen.

"Nothing grows old-fashioned so fast as modernity." ~ Robertson Davies, (1913-1995) Canadian novelist, playwright, critic, journalist, and professor.

Hello to everyone on this Friday, March 13, 2026. One thought came to me concerning the lost episode that I intentionally but accidentally deleted, that being the amount of repetition found in my blogs most likely means the materials that I have not remembered to remember have shown up before, however, since I don't remember what I lost it's best to let sleeping dogs lie. (Let sleeping dogs lie" is an English proverb known at least since the 14th century. This saying suggests that when an old problem is no longer causing anyone trouble, it might be better left undiscussed, and dormant controversies should not be restarted even if they were never resolved. This intent is similar to the meanings of sayings like "Don't rock the boat", "Never trouble trouble till trouble troubles you".)  If I understand that Wikipedia extract, this means I'm still using figures of speech from the 1300's. Now that's what I call cool! Another dated reference,~ Jazz Origins: In the 1940s, "cool" described a relaxed, restrained style of jazz that contrasted with "hot" jazz. ~ I suppose Solomon writing in Ecclesiastes called it, Chapter 1, Verse 9, from the New Living Translation, "History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new." While I am not a Bob Dylan fan, his song, 'The Times Are A Changin' pretty much hits the proverbial nail on the head, at least in the title. Full disclosure: I didn't read the lyrics because I wasn't interested in them, just the title. See what I mean? You don't. Well, that's okay, because often I read my own stuff and am left scratching my head. But, in all fairness, that could be because it was itchy. Solomon's conclusion in that same writing, the Book of Ecclesiastes is one we all should take seriously, Chapter 12, Verses 13-14:

 

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man’s all.

For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil."

 

Except for those Scriptures, the rest of paragraph one can be summed up in the modern slang, a nothing-burger. That word, by the way, is now in the dictionary and it's meaning goes like this: Something that is or turns out to be insignificant or lacking in substance. Who knew? It's been an interesting week here at the ole blogger ranch. Most weeks are. Or, at least I make them out to be interesting. Now we have days coming up called the week end. It actually ends on Saturday, tomorrow, if you like. Sunday begins a brand new week. Check it out for yourself, that's how it's formatted. This means Sunday, the first day of the week, Resurrection Day, and following the New Testament pattern, Lord's Day Sunday, and, it's typically the day Christ followers gather together as a local called out assembly (Church) to honor God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. What a great way to start out a brand new week. Amen? Yes! Amen!

"When any man-made tradition or expression of worship—old or new—is held on equal par with the Scriptures, we have gone too far." ~ copied

I know some of you are likely more tech savvy than me, and perhaps you have an idea how to retrieve that lost episode, maybe from the cloud, or, in my case, from the clouds themselves and maybe it will somehow be rained down. Ha! Before I turn to any technology solutions I need to do some work on the frontal lobe, sides and back lobes here on what my grandfather used to say it like this, "Son, are you going to use your noggin for something other than a hat rack?" No. I refuse to do an interpretation of that observation because I think you can figure it out. It is Thursday, March 12, 2025, and, I do bid everyone a hearty hello and that each one will experience the presence of God as provided through Jesus Christ via the abiding Holy Spirit. You will notice that I am much better at packing sentences together than I am at unpacking them. I've told you before how I watch quite a few different Church services, small, medium, and large out on YouTube originating from across the fruited plain. One thing I notice. Church services today are quite different than they were when I was growing up. I did not say they were not better, but, they are different. Here's something that intrigues me. Maybe not you, but, as I have said over and over from the beginning, feel free to skip any and all at any time. Back to my thought here. It's almost like the changed environment has become a template as in everybody's doing it. I'm talking about how so called worship is conducted. I say so called because genuine worship comes from the heart to God and it may or may not be responded to in a 'worship service'. The current template goes like this: There's the praise team, the choir, the orchestra, and, then the hand off to the pastor/teacher. That would be the template for mostly larger congregations but some facsimile of it does edge into the medium sized as well. Now the smaller gatherings tend to reflect what's available in the congregation, maybe a piano and an organ for instruments with no orchestra. Then, yes, then, you have those who intentionally do it only the 'old fashioned way', or at least the version of old fashioned they envision, and they do it that way because God loves it better than the other ways, along with the 1611 King James Version only of the Bible. I happen to think that particular approach is basically nonsense but I do see it being embraced by some. My point? The more things change it is the more they pretty much stay the same. I heard one preacher saying this about his local fellowship, "Y'all love the music and the specials and you can't get enough of it, but, when I stand up to deliver God's Word you tune me out." There are many who believe Churches have become centers for entertainment, and, there are probably a good number who have. Here's the critical issue for us all: God honoring worship comes from the individual's innermost being and God inhabits the praise of His people whenever that praise is genuine. I believe that can happen in a large congregation, a medium sized fellowship, or, even, yes even where just a handful show up to seek God's face. If you can't say Amen, here it is, I will say it for you, AMEN!

 

Sorry about the length of that first paragraph, but, you should hear me talk about it, then, you will be glad you only got the abbreviated version. I saw one comment of a teacher about the student's essay, "It's much too wordy but not nearly long enough." Yikes. I feel some serious conviction coming on. I would say I was recovering from long running verbosity, but, the recovering part would be incorrect, as proven in paragraph one. I do appreciate those who take the time. Time. That is accurate my friend because it does take time to read one of my blogs. Thank you. Having said all of that I will make it even longer by saying this, may God add His blessings and may we all find ourselves worshiping Him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24) ~ Amen. 

"The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease." Famous quote by Sir William Osler (1849–1919)

I prepared Dr. McAden a thank you card and with the help of ChatGPT, the front included him in our photo. He said he would always treasure it. 

Good morning and welcome. It's a good day in the neighborhood, or, at least I think it is on this Wednesday, March 11, 2025. I was up early this morning since I had the first appointment for my annual wellness checkup, but, sadly, for the wife and I, it's the last time we will get to see our primary care physician, Dr. Brett McAden, since he is retiring at the end of March. I hear people talking much about how difficult they have had it finding a good doctor. We feel blessed to have had Dr. McAden to see after our medical needs over the past ten years or more. We signed up with him when our previous primary care, Dr. Tony Nguyen, left to become a medical missionary in the Philippine Islands. Here's my simple test for knowing you have a good doctor: They take care of the issue at hand. Dr. Nguyen did that. Dr. McAden has done that, and, we are now signed up with a new doctor beginning in April. That is always an interesting transition because how many doctors have to treat the patient along with their alter egos, Santa and Mrs. Claus? The staff at Kelsey are always excited to see me because I have one of my Santa photos as my profile on my medical record. The new doctor is from Laos, a country in Southeast Asia. We had four suggested to us and, after watching their introduction videos, I chose him because he speaks perfect English with very little accent. Before you call me a racial profiler, hear me out. As one gets older, communication becomes more and more important, especially when it pertains to responding to medical challenges. Back in the mid 1960's I worked in the VA Hospital system and I can attest first hand to the communication breakdowns that occurred between foreign born medical staff as they diagnosed and treated many elderly veterans. Here's what I will say about our experience with medical care over these past many years: We have been blessed and we thank God for the level of care we have received. And, I think I am unanimous in my opinion.

 

This is not the blog I wrote for today's edition. I had a really good one finished yesterday but through a series of intentional actions on my part I unintentionally did not save it, therefore, this is the mostly an all new replacement since, being honest, I can't remember everything I had on my mind this morning, much less yesterday. You know what I mean, right Vern? I felt really good about the lost one and whatever comes out of this one, well, it will have to do. I do know this. You can never go wrong by mentioning the source of all truth and our ability to access it. There are an estimated 6 billion copies of the Bible in circulation with 100 million new copies printed every year. This means a God breathed compilation of His truths is readily available to most of us. Let me take it a step further. There are myriads of audio versions of the various translations of God's Word available on many different applications, like YouTube and many others. In light of this, it means the truth found in Romans 1:20 is even more profound, "For from the creation of the world His invisible qualities, both His eternal power and divinity, are clearly seen, being understood by the things made, for them to be without excuse." Add to that truth the easy availability of the written Word of God and I think we all can agree about humanity being without excuse. I'll leave you with this well known quote attributed to Mark Twain, "It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand". I hear that loud Amen. Mine too. If I happen to meet up with whatever was in that lost blog I'll be sure to share it with you, but, until next time, may God bless us all. Amen.

"Growing old is not a disease, it is a triumph." - Unknown

We are to live in the present or for some, perhaps not, but, I remind us of this truth: that to wake up and live another day is a present from the Lord, therefore, I advise us all to rise and shine and give God the glory on this Tuesday, March 10, 2026. A saying that I have heard most of my adult life is how that getting old is not for the faint of heart. There was a time when I laughed out loud at even the prospect of that statement. Fast forward to today where faint of heart might just be an understatement and to mention fainting at all could very well describe the experience of those of us who are in that 'old' category. That concept of how old age is very challenging and the idea about it not being for the run of the mill type person, well, the experts see the origin to be connected to a statement made by Bette Davis, the actress, who was quoted as having said this, "Old age is not for sissies." This is a guess because the sentiment has been illustrated in many ways over time, therefore, there isn't a identifiable origin. The Bible has much to say about the aging process and it mostly reflects the legacy of a long life of one who recognizes and serves God. “Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever” (Deuteronomy 34:7 NLT) ~ “With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation” (Psalm 91:16 NIV) ~ “Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father… Treat older women as you would your mother” (1 Timothy 5:1-2 NLT) ~ “Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old” (Job 12:12 NLT) ~ Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 NIV) ~ "Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness." Proverbs 16:31 ~ “You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:32 ~ The most important thing about our life, short or long, is how we live and whether we know and serve God, or not. 

 

I know, by experience, that older age can come with agonizing finishes. I have been there and seen that several times, up close and personal. If you hang around long enough you will likely see this played out in the lives of those you love and perhaps even in your own life. Why does it often happen this way? That my friend is in the purview of God Almighty. No. That's not a cop out. For believers, it is where we reflect on this promise, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 KJV ~ All here means just that, all, without exception. And, the way the Greek is structured it emphasizes that it is God who causes all things to be for the good of those who love Him and are the called according to His purpose. The naysayers can call that a cop out and I can see where unbelievers would do that, however, for me, I've seen it time and time again as it becomes the extension of an individual's faith as they deal with tragedy or seemingly hopeless situations. When in doubt, trust the Creator of all things. The older I get it is the more I get it. Trust in Him. The sooner the better. Right? Yep. It is my advice for being able to deal with the many challenges faced in this life. Got it? I pray so. Remember. The sooner the better. Amen.

"There are two kinds of forecasters: those who don't know, and those who don't know they don't know." — John Kenneth Galbraith.

The proverbial weather person struggling for the camera while others walk by.

Well, well, it's another day here at the ole blogger ranch and I do bid each one a hearty hello and God bless you on this Monday, March 9, 2026. We didn't get the predicted huge storm with egg sized hail, praise God, but, we did get enough rain to help dissolve the fertilize put out by the wife this past Saturday morning. Nearly everyone lampoons the weather people because of the job they do. I think the interesting thing is how much technology they tout in today's modern world but with all of that they still miss it from time to time. They tell us they have the biggest, the best, the most powerful of radar systems known to mankind, but, that doesn't mean their predictions are always right. Jesus actually had something to say about forecasting the weather. You didn't know that? He did. He really did. Matthew Chapter 16 records this encounter between Jesus and the religious leaders of the time, the Pharisees and Sadducees, verses 1-4, ~"The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.  He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away."~ In other words, Jesus told them they knew something about forecasting tomorrow's weather but in the Presence of the Son of God they missed entirely His coming, His mission, and the fact that He had come to offer salvation. Today, the weather people can miss the forecast and they do from time to time, however, for someone to miss Jesus, well, that my friend is a tragedy beyond description. No Jesus, no heaven. Know Jesus and you will spend eternity in His Presence. Amen.

 

I will have to admit we were a wee bit anxious when the local weather people mentioned up to egg sized hail. We've had a car or two hit by hail and it was fairly small but it left many tiny dents. Imagination comes into play as one considers egg sized hail. As we talked about the incoming stormy weather it seemed the potential for egg sized hail was the thing most feared. Thankfully, and I do mean that in the thank God sense, we didn't have to deal with that. Yes. I did see the videos that showed the results from the savage storms over the weekend where several people lost their lives. So very sad. Speaking of storms, I don't have a problem with people being for or against the attacks from our military along with Israel on Iran. People can make up their own minds. However, I hate to see public opinion shaped by the news media with their own bombardment of slanted news stories that present any and all things regarding our current government leadership in the most negative light possible. That firestorm, my friend, is happening, 24x7. I do hope people will see it all for what it is and come to their conclusion based on the best set of facts they can get, and, may I tell any and everyone out there, those facts will not be coming from the mainstream media, period, end of story, over and out. Just my input on the storm subject. And, I would be remiss if I didn't mention how our God is Sovereign and He will see to it all in His own good time. According to the Apostle Peter, God hasn't shut it all down yet because He is still reaching out to those who are lost with the opportunity for them to trust in Jesus and be saved. (The 2nd Epistle of the Apostle Peter, Chapter 3) I do pray each one will have a wonderful week and that we all will pause and give thanks to God. Yep. You too. Right now? Anytime is a good time. Amen.

When we were dating Marilyn was warned not to get involved with me because my family were all crazy. But, I'm thankful to God, that, here, over 61 years later, she didn't heed that warning.

Welcome one and all to Friday, March 6, 2026. I'm not trying to upset musical purists, and, you can sing the song anyway you want to, but, here's how it goes for me: "Ain't it good for her to be back home again!" Please don't report me to the music copyright police. But, it is good for the wife of my youth to be back with us where we do life together. I will translate that for you. She does a lot and I do some. And, when she's not around, well, the lot, in many ways, goes wanting. That's not to say I don't try but I will share this truth, she is younger than me. That's right. I married a younger girl, (I was 18, she was 17), therefore, the issues that plague older people is hitting me first. Ha! I actually thought that was a pretty good explanation. I will find out if it works when she reads this later. I know the times have changed but I think the information shared in the above photo could be a help to so many ladies who wonder about their roles in society today. There's actually better instruction regarding the husband/wife relationship and it turns out to be perfect because it comes directly from The Creator breathed out via the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul:

 

Ephesians 5
New Living Translation
 

Living in the Light

1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us[a] and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,

“Awake, O sleeper,
    rise up from the dead,
    and Christ will give you light.”
 

Living by the Spirit’s Power

15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 

Spirit-Guided Relationships: Wives and Husbands

21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

22 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. 24 As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.

25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.[b] 27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. 28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. 29 No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. 30 And we are members of his body.

31 As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”[c] 32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. 33 So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
 

Footnotes

    a 5:2 Some manuscripts read loved you.
    b 5:26 Greek washed by water with the word.
    c 5:31 Gen 2:24.

So much easier to read, even though it does hit us where we live most know it's super difficult to make it the practice of our daily living. Do I have this mastered? Not even close, but, I consider it the model I should be following and I seek God's help because this flesh of mine will never get it done. Y'all, yep, that means you too, wherever you are, take care, seek God, and know He can and will respond. Amen. Until next time, may God be with us all. Amen.