"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.

"Your brain is a drama queen — and that's not always a bad thing. The brain's memory system doesn't treat all events the same. The emotionally intense moments take priority – and awkwardness, shame, or embarrassment tend to top the list." ~ Sep 13, 2025, Behavorial Health Network/Hartford HealthCare

Good morning and welcome to Thursday, March 5, 2026, where, I am at it again, thinking about this, that, and the other too. I do thank you for tuning in to today's program brought to you by the Grace of God because without His grace I couldn't be here sending out this stuff from the station here at the ole blogger ranch. That photo. Let me explain. There's these social media forums where people deal with certain topics. One that has become somewhat popular asks this question: What do older people wish they could tell their younger self? I know it's silly. Back to the photo. That's yours truly, the older me talking to the younger me. I'm not going to delve into advice because I didn't notice something about the photo that ChatGPT produced until later. The younger me. I'm wearing short britches. That's important. It reflects another early crisis in my life. Having just finished all that was involved in the loss of my dad, we moved from Port Arthur, Texas, a small city, (population 60,000 to 65,000), to Hornbeck, Louisiana, a rural village in early 1954, (Population 524). I landed in the 3rd grade surrounded by some rough and tumble country boys and girls. They must have thought I was real cute in the little short britches jumper I was wearing when I showed up. It wasn't a problem for the 3rd grade at Lee Elementary in Port Arthur, but, then again, to my recollection there weren't anyone there wearing overalls. Out on the playground I received a lot of attention from those who thought I must be really special. So much so, I went home and while crying I begged mom for her to get me some bluejeans and get them fast. Those who have read my blogs over the years are aware how aggravating it is to me in having many memories either distorted or absent due to the blocking effect that occurred with the death of my father. However, I did not forget the short pants fiasco that got itself sorted out way back then. How? Very simply, I changed my dress code. That's how. That's what the photo spoke to me. And, as you can see, I am still stewing over that incident. Joking only. Well, maybe a little. The experts tell us that embarrassments stay with us, even as children, especially if they involve classmates. As you can tell, it really didn't bother me, ....bother me, ....bother me, that much.

 

I did visit my foot doctor aka a podiatrist yesterday. Prior to showing up at the clinic about 30 minutes from my house, the medical facility folks bombarded me with all kinds of reminders giving me the opportunity to opt in or out of being there for that particular appointment. They always constantly indicate how my arrival time should always be 15 minutes before the scheduled visit with the doctor. Unless the traffic goes completely haywire I always do my very best to make the 15 minute prior schedule. You know: Being on time means being early. I do my part. At 7:40 a.m., I first have to wait for the check-in person to get their computer logged in. Okay. I can handle that. My appointment is at 8 a.m. and I am told to sit and wait until I am called. I am familiar with the process. No activity at 8 a.m., not any at 8:05 a.m., 8:10 a.m., nada, 8:15 a.m., finally the nurse comes and calls out for Mrs. Abbott. She looks at me and apologizes. We go back to examination room where I get on that scale to weigh and then answer her questions and wait for the doctor. She did tell me they were short of staff because I asked. A few minutes later the doctor shows up and does his thing. He is a great doctor and I feel fortunate to have such good care. However, being in the service delivery environment for much of my working life, well, the process leaves a wee bit to be desired. Think about it. I am retired. What else did I have to do? Take a nap? Walk the dog? Those make for a reasonable assessment, however, I was still thinking about all of this and I had it on my mind and now you know about it too. Be clear. Not complaining just sharing. You've heard that one too? Ha! The bottom line is to always take time to stay in touch with the God who loves you so much He sent is one and only Son to die, for me, for you, and according to The Scriptures, He died for the sins of the whole world. He did. He really did. (1st John 2:2) Until next time, you know, give God the glory. Amen.

A couple shows up for marriage counseling. The counselor asks, "What brings you here today?" The wife responds, "My husband takes everything literally and I can't stand it." The husband, "My truck."

Good morning and welcome to the day before things begin to begin to get back on track. That's right. Tomorrow is a special day here at the ole blogger ranch. Why? That's when, Lord willing, the wife of my youth returns from Branson and that will make all things better. At the same time, I say this, today is the day the Lord has given to us, and, it is the only one we can do anything about, therefore, let us pause and give Him thanks for it, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, and seek His help in making the best of it. Don't get too caught up in sympathy for me being here while she has been away. As one observer might say, "Don't look like you've lost any weight so I reckon you've been able to eat a few bites." Thank you so much. I just love it when people give such encouragement. Don't you? And, that would be correct my friend, I've been able to eat a few bites along the way and I've even cooked up some stuff too. It's not the same. And, while I know how to make homemade biscuits, not the same. I know how to make homemade cornbread, not the same. She never complains when I cook because when I do, she doesn't have to. She tells everyone I am a good cook and while I appreciate the compliment I'm not in the least fooled by it. Why? It's just not the same. I will say this about that: It's a little difficult to swallow my cold cereal while looking at the photos she sent out of the entourage eating at the restaurant. As a friend of ours used to say, so very often, "Oh well, it is what it is." 

 

Enough about that. Our pastor has some advice with regards to those who get all worked up watching news feeds many hours per day. As the campaign featuring First Lady Nancy Reagan put forth as their slogan intended to help children stay off of drugs, 'Just say no!' And, that's the recommendation, before you pull your hair out, and, for some of us it wouldn't take long to get it all out, just say no and turn it off. Go for a walk, read your Bible, listen to the plethora of audio Bible streams, visit your neighbor, and, here's a good one, take a nap. I sometimes do that without even knowing it. Oh, don't fret, I do find out that I have taken a nap in one of two ways, when I wake up, or when I am awakened by the voice of She Who Must Be Obeyed. That is a joke reflecting a British sitcom, 'Rumpole of the Bailey'. Rumpole was a barrister and that's what he called his wife, quietly, under his breath. It became popular and they even sold various items like t-shirts and coffee mugs with it imprinted on them. Our older neighbor Ruth, who lived across the driveway from us at that time, she watched it too, and she and the wife of my youth always joked and laughed about that moniker, Too much if you ask me. But you didn't, therefore, I'll leave you with this one and see if you recognize it, "Time to say goodnight, Gracie." Until next time, may God add His blessings. Amen. 

James 5:7–8 — New Living Translation (NLT) ~ 7) "Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. 8) You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near."

Welcome, welcome. Today, is Primary Election Day, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. I will be voting today. I know many voted early. The primary is important because it determines who will be on the ballot come the fall election that is crucial to how we will be governed moving forward. As for the military action taking place in the middle east, my social media has been blowing up with all the self-appointed experts who are giving their insight as to how this action aligns itself with the prophetic passages in The Scriptures. I give a shout out to our God ordained Pastor, the brother Dr. Jerry Chaddick this past Lord's Day Sunday, in his handling of this development from a biblical viewpoint. That's right. Pundits have their points of view, but, only the Word of God can be counted on to reveal God's point of view. Brother Jerry quoted what Jesus said about the end times from Matthew 24. He then used James Chapter 5 verse 7 and following to remind us we are to be patient awaiting the Lord's coming. His point? HE IS COMING! Maybe soon, maybe not, but He is coming and the truth has to do with what we as believing individuals are doing in response to this truth. Are we ready and are we getting our family and others ready too? It was a powerful word because it was rooted in The Word, not conjecture, and it was not based on all kinds of contrived prophetic thoughts, only The Word of Almighty God. That, my friend is where we need to start, need to continue, and, we need to finish, in The Word of our God. Amen.

 

I already am hearing all the recriminations being thrown at The President for this military action. That's not unexpected in our system, however, at the same time we all must pause to think about those who already, in this military action, who have given their lives in service to our country. May we as a people never forget the sacrifice made by those who don't make the decisions, but, they serve to defend and protect our way of life, and, in so doing they so often give up their lives in return. I think about their families and my heart goes out to them. I remember the local fellowship we attended for many years. On Memorial Day those in our congregation would bring photos and memorabilia to recognize their family members who wore the uniform and served our nation. One older lady in particular always brought items that had belonged to her brother. She had been very close to him and he had lost his life in combat. That left a void in her life and she always tried to honor him in remembrance of their familial love. That always struck me as not only being poignant but it also reminded me that families never quite get over the loss of their beloved ones. Today. I pause to pray that God will comfort all their grieving hearts. May God bless their memory and may God bless our nation. Amen.

"If you don't think photos are important, wait until that's all you have left." ~ copied

Well hello there, my, it seems like a long time, but, I am thankful to report that I am back, at least for today, as in, one day at a time, and this one happens to be on Monday, March 2, 2026. I had myself a very busy last week with much time spent at the hospital with our Jimmy. If that won't wear you out, I'm not sure I know what will. We do thank God that Jimmy is home now and much better. He was actually in Church with us yesterday. That was tough on him since being around crowds is one of the issues involved in his psychosis. The wife of my youth, I think all of you know her, well, she did it again. She left me. This time she got on a bus with others from our local assembly and they are currently in Branson, Missouri, for a Gospel music festival. She had scheduled this some time ago and while she considered cancelling due to Jimmy's situation, we decided that me, myself, and I can handle things while she is away. She will be back on Thursday, Lord willing, and, we are already looking forward to her return. One of the things I am enjoying in using the artificial intelligence utility, ChatGPT, is in improving and preserving some old photos we have. The one above is of my grandfather, Andrew Rancher McMillian, and that would be my mom standing on his right, and, I am guessing that to be Uncle Waymon on his left since Uncle Asa is the oldest and he is not in the photo. My mom, Lena, was born in 1924, therefore, that photo was likely in the late 1920's. It pictures the service station, mechanic shop, operated by my grandad and another fellow. This was his work at that time. He went by the name of Rancher but since he worked as a mechanic, he was given the nickname 'Wrencher'. This shop was located in Leesville, Louisiana. I know this photo is not of great importance to most folks, however, it is to me, especially since my grandfather, Paw Paw Mac, was my mentor and my example of a man of faith in God in both his confession and his practice. And, my mom, well, it goes without saying, how she made a huge impact on my life in her 93 year sojourn here on the planet.

 

I am in the early stages of getting ready to get ready to teach a Bible lesson on discontentment and complaining. Whoa! I suppose it is easy to recognize how these attributes are truly a part of the human psyche. The Bible text will be from Numbers Chapter 11 and I can say this about my early review of this subject: It's me, it's me, it's me oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer. While you may not have a problem with these actions that greatly displease the Lord, I know many of us can identify with them all too well. One of the other things we will notice is how a complaining spirit becomes contagious. You know. Like the song, One Bad Apple. Now it would be easy to try and marginalize these sinful responses to God's provisions by saying, well, everybody does it. Not good enough. If it displeases the Lord and over and over again, it's clear it does, well, we need to allow Him through His Spirit to help us overcome any discontentment and complaining. We do. We really do. I will be submersed in this subject all week long, so, pray that I will learn God's will in this area of my life as I prepare to share His Word with our life group, Sunday School class, Bible Study, Fellowship, or, us older folks who as beggars that found the Bread of life seek to share that Bread with others. Okay, already. So. It is a wee bit discombobulated, but, it is, after all, Monday. Now let's get out there and find a reason to be uplifted in the working out of our salvation as we go our way. (Philippians 2:12-13) Amen.

"Life is a collection of moments—photographs preserve them." — Unknown

Good morning and welcome. Today. It reports in as Wednesday, February 25, 2026. Our Jimmy remains in the hospital and the medical folks working with the mental health professionals have determined he should have a complete neurological assessment before making any decisions moving forward. This will involve an EEG and an MRI to examine his brain situation. He does seem to be some better and we thank God for this along with thanking all those who are praying for him. Amen.

 

I will admit it. I have taken a liking to using the artificial intelligence utility, ChatGPT. I think, in many cases, it is allowing me to recover with better clarity some photos that are of importance to me. The top photo is of our family back in the summer of 1953 as we prepared to leave Port Arthur, Texas to Columbus, Georgia via a train ride on the Kansas City Southern rail line. Dad worked for the KCS and was able to get rail passes for us to travel. His twin brother, Uncle Walter lived there. It was our last trip together as a family before Dad's passing away in January of 1954. I first colorized the old photo using the Colorize Images application. I then handed it off to ChatGPT and told it to add the train. I worked through a number of these before I got the one shown above. Let me be clear. I'm not 100% happy with the facial renderings in all cases, however, it does represent a memory of a special time in the life of our family. And, I've written much over the years about my love of riding trains. In that particular trip we also road a sleeper rail car and the reports are correct: There's nothing quite like sleeping on a train at night. I know. My time could likely be spent on something more productive, but, you enjoy your bird watching and I will work on restoring some special memories. 

 

Our pastor brought his message this past Lord's Day Sunday on 3rd John. This is the short letter written by the Apostle John and it contains many truths. John included these inspired words, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." (Verse 2) Sadly, this verse has so often been used by the name it and claim in folks to try and show how God would have His own to be healthy and wealthy as they live out their lives here on the planet. Our pastor showed how the context is spiritual in its application and while we often enjoy material blessings, God is always most interested in our spiritual development and growth. The more our external life matches our new man spiritual soul, well, it will make a huge difference in how we live, period. It will. It really will. Thanks again for your prayers on behalf of our Jimmy. May God continue to be with us all. Amen.

Seeking God's Provision. Amen.

Good morning. It's Tuesday, February 24, 2026, and, I pray all is well with you and yours. I am currently at the hospital with our Jimmy. He is better physically but still having mental related issues.  I  am doing this on my cell phone so who knows how it will turn out? Thanks for praying for Jimmy. He will soon be 58 and sadly too much of his time here on the planet has been spent dealing with mental health challenges. We don't know but we know the One who does. Amen.

"The first emotional comfort, touching and being touched by our mother, remains the ultimate memory of selfless love, which stays with us life long." — Diane Ackerman in A Natural History of the Senses

Hello and welcome, why don't you pull up a chair and we will visit for a while. That, my friend, is a throwback to how it was in my growing up days. That was before social media and cell phones, where people actually sat down and talked to each other face to face on the porch or outside under a shade tree. That came to my mind as I was getting ready to get ready for today, this one, Monday, February 23, 2026.  Fast forward to the age we live in and we converse mainly through texting today. We graduated in large part to not even wanting to actually talk on our cell phone. Here is how it goes with us: "Did you ever talk with them to fix a time for us to get together?" "Well, I sent a text, and, I haven't heard back." See what I mean? In so many ways the old commercial lingo is right, "We've come a long way, baby." And, I am all for progress and as you can tell even in my blogs I am a user of modern technology. At the same time we pretty much have lost touch with the power of a touch, from a human voice or a hug or a pat on the back. Sure, I am well aware that I was born back in the middle of the 1900's and that really does sound ancient in a world where Artificial Intelligence has accelerated change to the extent many say it is moving so fast it's hard to even measure. I'm not saying we should go back to the days like they were when I was young, however, we should never leave behind the things that elevate human caring and interaction. I picked up a lot of my stories from sitting outside the barber shop under the huge Sycamore tree. That's where an older man told me how he accidentally lost control of his ax and pretty much cut off my grandpa's nose. He said my grandpa held it on his face until they could get to Dr. Stephens, the town doctor, where he sewed it up without any deadening and after having it taped up, they went back to work. That's where I heard that story. Sure, I also heard plenty of embellished fishing and hunting accounts where they started off by saying, "Man, you should have been there to see what we were able to do....." I also heard folks sharing some really tough news and saw others shower them with hugs and prayers. Technology, it can be great, however, nothing will ever replace the actual touch that comes from one heart to another. Amen.

 

Dealing with a loved one with mental health issues is about as challenging as it gets. The wife is currently at the emergency room with our Jimmy. Again. Your prayers are greatly appreciated. Everyone I know have challenges and that, my friend, is a part of life. I've been around a lot of tragic situations in my sojourn in my family and in dealing with others as well. I often hear this from those dealing with troubles. "I do not know how folks who do not know the Lord can make it when trouble comes." Well, I've learned they do the best they can and because God designed us with fortitude, many make it through. But, it's not the same and I can tell you this about that: I wouldn't want to go it on my own. I am thankful to have God on my side and to know that He will never leave me, and He will never forsake me. (Deuteronomy 31:6-8 and Hebrews 13:5) That promise is one that gives us the strength to make it, each day, that is, one day at a time. Amen.

Charles Spurgeon's observation, "Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the book widens and deepens with our years".

Welcome to Friday, February 20, 2026. The photo above is another one of my personal favorites. It was taken at our local fellowship, (Church), where we showed up to take photos with a youth gathering. This photo was taken about 10 years ago. This young man is now in his mid twenties and as you can tell from the photo of me, I was a much younger Santa back, you know, back in those days. They told us most of the teens would likely not be interested in photos with Santa because of their age, peer pressure, and, maybe some embarrassment. NOT! They lined up for photos. I suppose it's true. Santa is for children of all ages. I am aware that in my role as Santa I play a fictional character. It reminds me that, as believers in Christ, we often end up showing up as a fictional character. You often hear the preacher use the example about all the fighting going on in the car on the way to the Church meeting place, and, when they arrive everyone gets out and acts like everything is hunky dory. Been there. Done that. What say you? Like it or not, that pretending to be something we aren't is a form of deception and we know the Bible speaks against any and all forms of deceitfulness. Yikes. I didn't intend to practice using a boomerang today. I threw it out there and it came back and met me square in the face. It's me, it's me, it's me, oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer. Amen. Here is a passage to close with and perhaps it will encourage us all even as God speaks:

 

 

Romans 12 - New Living Translation

~ "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

'I will take revenge;
    I will pay them back,'
    says the Lord.

Instead,

'If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
    If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
    burning coals of shame on their heads.'
 

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good" ~ 

 

As they say back home, that's enough for any of us to say grace over. Amen. 

"You can never take the gospel to the wrong address." copied

Good Thursday morning, folks, on this, the 19th day of February 2026. I didn't know until I knew about the range and reach of my lil ole blog. It really surprised me when I first found out there were tracking stats, and, may I just say it still surprises me today. I do pray that some of these unknown named individuals will have heard enough about Jesus to be interested in seeking out the truth. God can work. Anyway and anywhere, at any time. He got a hold of me on a Saturday night service at my girlfriend's, (later that year she became my first and only wife), Church where her dad was preaching. (Mid-January 1964) God got a hold of me. He did. He really did. I had worked hard to get ready to come out there to that little old country Church in order to get through the services so I could spend time with her. I did not come with the idea of hearing from God that evening. I was scrubbed clean, shaved, and, had my special after shave on. Two years earlier I had come face to face with that girl and bam!, life was not the same afterwards. But here I was sitting alongside my love and the Word went forth and the invitation came and I could not stay where I was, I had to get up and run to the altar and her dad met me there and I gave Jesus my heart with tears flowing right there in front of everyone. See what I mean? All those boys were there. The ones that hated me for coming out to their territory and grabbing one of those beauties they felt were intended for them. Young, old, everyone saw. I'm not saying all the stares made for a pleasant experience but my point is how God can work in an unexpected way and I do pray that the truths about Jesus and His provision of salvation as written in my blogs will have been clear enough so that someone, somewhere, would have to give up and go to Jesus. Amen.

Here are the most recent recorded stats: Posted Blogs: 3,850 ~ All Time: 878,457 views ~ This Month: 23,541 views ~ Last Month: 65,426 views ~ Viewed from: United States - 246K ~ Singapore - 208K ~
Hong Kong - 156K ~ Russia - 33.8K ~ Brazil - 24.3K ~ Canada - 14.3K ~ Germany - 12.8K ~ United Kingdom - 11.9K ~ Vietnam - 11K ~ China - 10.3K ~ India - 10.3K ~ France - 9.32K ~ Philippines - 4.53K ~ Austria - 3.96K ~ Australia - 3.85K ~ Mexico - 3.08K ~ South Korea - 3.03K ~ Indonesia -2.66K ~ Ukraine - 2.34K ~ Other - 108K.

 

I am not comparing myself to others who have millions of followers or the one blogger who actually has his editions monetized which earn him $1 million US dollars per month. That's certainly not my niche. I just write what I write and in doing so I hope to be of help to someone, somewhere. I hope to share a smile now and then. I hope to encourage people and to share my testimony with them as well. Here's another song I've shared before but it expresses how I feel about touching the lives of others.

 

 'If I Can Help Somebody'
1945, Alma B. Androzzo

If I can help somebody as I pass along,
If I can cheer somebody with a word or song,
If I can show somebody he is trav’ling wrong,
Then my living shall not be in vain.

Then my living shall not be in vain,
Then my living shall not be in vain;
If I can help somebody as I pass along,
Then my living shall not be in vain.

If I can do my duty as a Christian ought,
If I can bring back beauty to a world up-wrought,
If I can spread love’s message that the Master taught,
Then my living shall not be in vain.

Then my living shall not be in vain,
Then my living shall not be in vain;
If I can help somebody as I pass along,

Then my living shall not be in vain.

 

Well, enough said. For today. Y'all take care and know that God can. We can't. But, He can! Amen.

"You better watch out, you better not cry, better not pout, I'm telling you why—Santa Claus is coming to town." — Haven Gillespie

I can tell by the clock on the wall it's not Howdy Doody time, but, it is time to sling some keystrokes onto the electronic page. Welcome, welcome, one and all, those near and far, out there at your specific location connecting via the worldwide web. Today is Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and, as the song goes, God is good all the time, All the time God is good. Amen. I may share too much about my Santa adventures, however, think about it. I've spent the past sixteen years doing Santa, with the season during those 16 years amounting to approximately 40 months or 1,240 days, therefore, it has occupied a significant amount of my time breathing air here on the planet. The photo above was taken at an outdoor setting. The mom brought the little girl with great expectations for a wonderful photo with Santa. The set was organized and ready. She wasn't. No way. Forget about it. Whatever it was, she was not having anything to do with it. May I tell you this? That happens with little ones. We often hear how they can hardly contain their excitement until they actually see the Real Santa and Mrs. Claus. She went from singing 'Here comes Santa Claus, Here comes Santa Claus, right down Santa lane', to 'But, I'm leavin' on a jet plane Don't know when I'll be back again', and to her, that was that. The photographer and the mom promised everything they could think of, however, this little girl was fixed, "I ain't gonna do it." The photographer came up with the idea to let her roam around the yard on her own and I could just follow behind her. She took many photos and this one became one of our favorites, and, her mom loved it too. Finally. A keeper. There you were thinking Santa Claus has the easiest job in town. As they say on that game show, wanna find out, Come on down!

 

As many of you know, my connection to having a dog is fairly recent, just in the past 8 years. I didn't know that I would fall head over hills in bonding with first, five years with our Sir Bentley Barksalot, Esq., and, now with Lil Miss Biscuit. I didn't hate the idea of having a dog but it just didn't seem to fit into our busy lifestyle. I did often say I would enjoy having a pup to ride with me in my truck. And, that I did have with Bentley before we lost him to an incurable liver ailment and now with Lil Miss Biscuit who can't get enough of hanging her head out the window. Maybe I had a sleeper cell hiding in the background somewhere in my DNA. That photo is of my dad, Cecil, (1923-1954), with his dog. This was likely taken in the late 1940's. See the look on that pup's face, I've actually seen that exact same look. Often. Oh well, it seems like I've become a dog lover. Okay. I now have it on the record. I admit it. And, since I am one I can easily identify with this quote from Orhan Pamuk, "Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen." I quickly add in closing out today's visit, God also speaks through His Word and those who are willing can hear His voice. Having heard His voice, I then, you then, have to make a choice in our response. We do. We really do. Let's pray for one another that we will choose as He would have us to. Amen.

Chorus from the song by Tracy Dartt, 'God on the Mountain' ~ "And the God on the mountain is still God in the valley ~ When things go wrong, He'll make them right ~ And the God of the good times is still God in the bad times ~The God of the day is still God in the night."

Many literary scholars choose this as one of the greatest opening sentences, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair." That, of course, from the pen of Charles Dickens in his book, 'A Tale of Two Cities', published in 1859. Sounds like that could apply to this day, Tuesday, February 17, 2026, don't you think? We do live in what seems to be tumultuous times. Our senior pastor often says it this way, "The real surprise is that we are surprised." The Prophet expressed it this way, Jeremiah 17:9 ~ "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Sounds pretty hopeless, right? I will say this about it, without God, my friend, it is just that: Hopeless! With Him in our lives we can make it and we can, with His help through the work of the Holy Spirit, live in a way that brings honor and glory to Him. Yep. Things out there in the world, which is, by the way, where we live, they can look very messed up at times. For those who have put their faith and trust in the provision made for us on The Cross, we can live knowing God is in control and while we may not understand, we can, like Paw Paw Mac and countless others, live even during dark days with this guaranteed promise from God Himself, Romans 8:28, from the Amplified Bible, "And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose." Amen and Amen.

 

I hope you didn't choke on your Frosted Flakes while reading that first paragraph. I'm not altogether sure where all that came from, but, there are times when I just have to say, it is what it is. I do know this. I have seen with my own eyes how my folks, my mom, my grandparents, and, many other family members as they leaned on the only thing they had left at the time, their faith in their God. There is another song that was often referred to in our family, and, I add, as a family we have faced and lived through many tragedies. We have. We really have. Back to that other song: 

 

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

 

Music and lyrics by Ira Stamphill, (1950)

 

I don't know about tomorrow;
I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from its sunshine
For its skies may turn to grey.
I don't worry o'er the future,
For I know what Jesus said.
And today I'll walk beside Him,
For He knows what lies ahead.

 

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.

 

Every step is getting brighter
As the golden stairs I climb;
Every burden's getting lighter,
Every cloud is silver-lined.
There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eye;
At the ending of the rainbow
Where the mountains touch the sky.

 

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.

 

I don't know about tomorrow;
It may bring me poverty.
But the one who feeds the sparrow,
Is the one who stands by me.
And the path that is my portion
May be through the flame or flood;
But His presence goes before me
And I'm covered with His blood.

 

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.

 

Trust me, that is a great testimony song and its lyrics have often spoken to my heart and even as I read through them today, they still speak to me. Never heard it before? Look it up on YouTube by dozens of different artists, it will do you good. It will. It really will. Amen.

 

"I could dance with you until the cows come home. On second thought I'd rather dance with the cows until you come home." ~ Groucho Marx

Hello and welcome to today's visit. This one creeps up on us on this Monday, February 16, 2025. Many of you know of my long association as Santa with an area Chick Fil A franchise. I started the Santa adventure 16 years ago and the folks at that franchise gave me my professional start. I mentioned how the cardiologist last Friday was a huge Santa Claus fan. He was fascinated by my profile image as Santa on the medical facility online utility. He left to arrange for an EKG and a few minutes later he returned all excited. He said his nurse had just shown him a photo of her two girls taken with yours truly at Chick Fil A, and the nurse also said I was a Santa in huge demand. That was perhaps a little over the top, however, I am thankful to be in demand for certain venues and the folks I've worked with at the two locations for this particular franchise, well, they fit that category well. As a result of all of this Santa recognition, these folks upped my identity and treated me not just as a patient, but, also as a celebrity. Who knew? I've likely been saved by the bell, saved by my chinny-chin-chin, saved by the skin of my teeth, saved by the dog eating my homework, but, I do believe that was the first time I was saved by the cow. Ha!

 

Given the subject of being saved, I would be remiss not to mention what it means to be saved by the Lord God of heaven through the finished work Jesus the Christ accomplished in His death, burial, and, resurrection. Here are a few random verses about salvation from the Bible,  Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Romans 10:9 "Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Titus 3:5 "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,.." Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." John 6:44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day." Acts 16:30-33 "Then he brought them out and said, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' And they said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.' And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family." I'm not big on formulas that people use, but, I am clear on one thing, salvation is a gift and it can be received by calling on the name of the Lord. 

 

I do hope you have a blessed day and that we all will find ourselves knowing from whom all blessings flow. None other than from our Sovereign Lord and He deserves all the glory, honor, and praise. Thanks to all who have been praying for our Jimmy. He remains in the hospital at this time. Until next time, may God add His blessings is my prayer. Amen.

"Fatigue is the best pillow." - Benjamin Franklin

Good morning and welcome. Today is Friday, the 13th, yikes, 2026. I put the yikes in there as a joke because for believers there is absolutely no room for any and all superstitious thoughts. Got it? Good. I am back from a first of the day appointment with the cardiologist. He was a very young doctor but we had a great visit with, hopefully, good results. The drug the hospital gave me and kept me on is a beta blocker used to significantly slow down the heart and one of the major side effects is fatigue. I have the major side effect. They gave me that drug because of what they read to be a heart-fib event. This doctor agreed that it appears that was a one off occurrence so he is taking me off of that drug. Hallelujah! He wants me to continue the prescribed blood thinner and get rid of the baby aspirin. Good, again. This young fellow was a big fan of Santa. He said I happened to be perhaps the thinnest Santa and even maybe the healthiest Santa he had seen. We talked more about my Santa adventures than we did about my heart, but, I don't need to see him again for a year. I left feeling good and maybe when this heart pill fades, maybe, just maybe I will begin to begin having some returned energy. The bottom line: I thank God, for His provision even with these medical people and I give Him the honor for it all. Amen.

 

Update on our son Jimmy. He continues to be hospitalized for treatment dealing primarily with his sodium level. When that is resolved, he will return to the mental facility for discharge. We thank so many who have prayed for our son. He has many challenges and we as his caretakers do too, especially his mom. We appreciate all the prayers and may God bless him and those praying for him. Amen.

 

I wanted to leave with a positive thought or two. How about two? One is the five years we had with a legendary pet, Sir Bentley Barksalot, Esq. He is still remembered, talked about here in our home and with others as well. Next is the self appointed queen of our domicile, none other than the one and only Little Miss Biscuit. In March she will observe her second birthday and thus far I would say she is demonstrating her version of terrific two's. She is one loving dog. She loves to snuggle. She gets under my chin and rubs her head against my beard. And, she, with very little exception, loves any and everyone. She might not warm up to someone who is hostile towards her but she might just try. I could learn something from how she loves. My guess is you could too. Now. We've had a busy week and I now have a better understanding how walking all over the acreage at the hospital complex nearly put my lights out. But, we should have that fixed soon. Y'all have a blessed Valentines Day and may love, the kind God would want us to have, may that be the love we show. Then, on the First Day of the Week, show up where the people of God gather to show love towards The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, you know, the meeting place, often called Church. Amen? Yes and Amen!

"Isn't it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different." ~ C. S. Lewis

Today is Thursday, February 12, 2026, and, I find myself squeezed into my chair since Lil Miss Biscuit has decided to take up more than her fair share. Sorry, Paw Paw Mac, I know you would never allow any dog into the house, much less have one sit beside you in a chair. But, my how the times have changed. I just looked down at her and said this, "I sure hope you are comfortable." I'm not sure she recognizes sarcasm because she seems very pleased with herself at the moment. That cartoon and caption is from the early 1900's. I used it because I have been reading some jokes told during that time period. Ditty's like this one from 1908: "I didn't know raw oysters were healthy." "I never heard one complaining about being sick." Here's one from 1916, but I doubt seriously if my grandfather ever read or heard it, he would have been 16 at the time: "Well did he pay you?", the wife of the dentist inquired after he had gone to collect a bill for a full set of teeth he had made. "Pay me!" growled the dentist. "Not only did he refuse to pay me but he had the effrontery to gnash at me----with my own teeth." I know humor has changed, perhaps some for the better but alas, no doubt, much as become much more vulgar. So much so, they now have a group of comedians who identify themselves as Clean in order to distinguish themselves from the norm. This next cartoon funny is from 1911: 

I rather think, in our culture today, we've all been conditioned to laugh out loud at stuff that would likely have been considered inappropriate back in those days. I remember Granny Mac telling about how Paw Paw would ride a horse up to see her when they first had begun to like each other. She said he would wear his hat tilted to one side. Then she would laugh and laugh. She seemed to greatly enjoy those recollections. Me? I guess I would have had to have been there. Ha!

 

Last week our praise team and choir did the Gaither song, "Because He Lives". Even though I've sung and heard sung that song hundreds of times, it was a very special moment in our service. It's super special to our family because our baby sister, Kayla, who died of leukemia at age 27 asked it to be sung at her homegoing service. She wanted the lyrics changed from 'because He lives I can face tomorrow' to 'because He lives I can face today'. She said she had learned during her many months of dealing with her illness the true meaning of taking it one day at a time. That song is now considered one of the most beloved hymns, featured prominently in churches, funeral services, and various recordings, with one popular YouTube video alone receiving over 92 million views. A worldwide standard. Thanks Gloria and Bill Gaither for your many years of serving the Lord and making music that has been impactful for time and eternity. There's a country song recorded by the late George Jones that asks a question, "Who's Gonna Fill their Shoes?" I often wonder that same thing about the Gaither's. I do hope you enjoy the testimony represented in that song, "Because He Lives", I do, I really do. Until next time, keep on keeping on and don't forget to remember to remember to praise God from whom all blessings flow. Amen.

Peppermint Patty: “You can’t tell me what I should feel, Marcie. You can only tell me what you feel.” — From a 1981 exchange after Marcie gently suggests Patty is overreacting to a bad grade.

~ Note: I'm just back from the ER where our Jimmy was being treated for extreme low sodium. He has been in a mental health facility for the past 12 days and they transported him to the ER when his sodium bottomed out. He seems to be alert and doing well after having received a couple of bags of saline solution. The mental health professionals are now wondering if his most recent mental issues may have been caused or exacerbated by this sodium issue. He is supposed to be discharged from the mental health facility later today, if, they are able to move him back to that facility. It reminds me of the saying, "It's always something!" And, that it is. Prayers appreciated. Thanks. ~

 

I woke up this morning and I learned something new. What was it? First, it's Wednesday, February 11, 2026 and whether you know it or not, older people do typically need to consult a calendar because days of the week are not so critical except for things like Church related functions and the very important, doctors' appointments. And, I also learned that today is National Peppermint Patty Day. I did not know that. Did you? It's okay to express your appreciation for the Peanuts comic strip because it has been and to a large extent continues to be part of the fabric of the life of kids with lessons for kids of all ages. Okay. For those who are Christ followers, the role of faith cannot be overlooked as demonstrated in the work of Charles Shultz, the strip creator. Take the time to read a little about him: ~ Charles Schulz (1922–2000), creator of Peanuts, was a deeply reflective Christian whose faith, though complex and evolving, heavily influenced his work. Raised with limited religious background, he later became an active Bible study teacher, churchgoer, and Methodist, often incorporating over 560 religious references into his comic strips. He famously insisted on including the Gospel of Luke in A Charlie Brown Christmas, viewing his work as a form of ministry. Key details regarding Schulz's faith include: Active Involvement: In Minnesota, he was involved with a Church of God, leading Bible studies and street evangelism. Later in California, he was active in a United Methodist Church. Theological Perspective: His faith was not rigid; while he believed in Jesus Christ and respected the Bible, he was also described as having a nuanced or sometimes secular humanist perspective in his later years. "Peanuts" as Ministry: Schulz considered his cartoons a platform to share his beliefs, stating, "I preach in these cartoons," and felt that Bible verses were for everyone, not just for church. "A Charlie Brown Christmas" against executive advice, he insisted on Linus reciting the story of Jesus' birth to define the "true meaning of Christmas". View on Religion: He believed faith should be brought to the public, and was often frustrated by critics who felt his work was too religious. ~ (copied from a Google search.) I will admit I am still angry at Lucy for always jerking that football away from Charlie Brown, but, I am thankful for someone who went against the grain in holding to his Christian beliefs. May we be encouraged to wear our identity in Christ by showing His love to others. Amen.

 

I am so looking forward to seeing the cardiologist on this upcoming Friday. Those folks helping me in the hospital added two new drugs to my regimen. One is a blood thinner taken alongside the baby aspirin I've been on for years. The other is a drug that slows down my heart and helps keep my blood pressure lower. I already take a blood pressure medication, but, they advised I should take this one too. My BP is lower these days, like 100/56. The other evening it hit me. I, at times, have trouble believing what a slow learner I can be. I've been fretting for days about how difficult it has been for me to snap back after that little hospital episode. Duh! Knocking the bottom out of my blood pressure and thinning out my blood just might have played a role in me not recovering quickly. That's my main goal for Friday's visit. Find out if I should stay on these new meds. Their objective will be to check out my heart and I may undergo more testing, but, all of the tests done in the hospital are readily available online for them to review. Those test results are now available sometimes before you get home from the medical center. I look at mine. I know. That can be dangerous because I have in the past and no doubt can today make wrong assumptions based on my reading of the test results. They often are coded or at least to the untrained eye they use terminology I am not familiar with. But, I look up the words and hear what Web MD and others have to say. I have actually stressed over something I think I spotted in a test only to find out from the doctor that given the combination of factors involved, it wasn't a problem at all. While I typically don't like to be proven wrong I will take that response any day of the week and twice on Sunday. I suppose it will all come out in the wash, or, at least, that's what Granny Mac used to say. Y'all take care now, you hear? And, may God add His blessings. Amen.

 

"The strength of a community is built on the respect it shows to its elders." — Anonymous

Hello and welcome to Tuesday, February 10, 2026. It's another day here in the neighborhood where I am slinging keystrokes here, there, and everywhere onto the electronic page. The photo comes courtesy of the Artificial Intelligence, AI, utility ChartGPT. The images are real photos of yours truly. I posted the images and asked the utility to show me looking at me in the mirror. That's how it came about. There is no doubt great potential for this milestone development and that potential can be for good or as has been warned by many, it can be used for evil like we've not seen before. In the world of services like medical practice, it well could be of great assistance. At the same time, things like criminal activities, fraud, intrusion into the personal lives of individuals, and, even more sinister operations, well, that potential is there too. Right now people are enjoying the use of the tool in playful ways, manipulating photos, making cartoon images and memes, and the like. Meanwhile, the gurus that know a lot about the power of this engine of ingenuity forecast great caution as we pursue its use. One of the masters of the development of this utility had this to say, “AI will be the best or worst thing ever for humanity.” ~ Elon Musk  Another expert, “Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.” ~ Christian Lous Lange  I also read where some preachers are already using AI to prepare their sermons and I spoke to a college student who said the teaching staff warned them not to use AI in their school work and, to know they had programs that could identify if they were using that technology. Maybe they are using AI to detect if AI is being used. I suppose it is something yet to be unpacked and I like this quote from the Great One himself, "I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been." ~ Wayne Gretzky. I'm not sure it offers much in this discussion, but, I like it anyway. What say you? 

 

I tend to be a wee bit obsessed with what it means to be an older person. I admit it. I do find what others before me have found and that has to do with how little revelance we as older folks have in this modern world. I will not apologize for what may sound self serving but here are some inspired words from the Lord God of heaven regarding those who are called the elderly,  "Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:32 NLT) ~ "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) ~ "In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble’" (1 Peter 5:5 NIV) ~ "Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old." (Job 12:12 NLT). I am thankful I was given the opportunity to show respect for my parents and grandparents. I'm thankful I have no regrets. However, in our world today we hear about incidents where children of aging parents have gone out of their way to take advantage of their parents. WRONG! I can't even imagine how one would be able to sleep at night. But, I know, folks like me are accused of wanting to rain of everybody's parade. I hope it rains hard. Just me. Just a wee bit of a rant, but, come on people, get a grip and show the respect that older people deserve. I think I need a cup of Community and a time out, then, I will be better. May God help us all is my prayer. Amen. 

Proverbs 21:1 New Living Translation ~ "The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases."

Good morning and welcome to today's edition, subtitled: This, That, and the Other. Today is Monday, February 9, 2026, and, I do hope you are off to a good start. Let me say again how thankful I am for some of the positive changes taking place in our nation since this last presidential election. My recent story about President Trump was for the most part well received. I did receive a number of comments. Some indicated their belief that Trump was directly appointed by God to return our nation to our roots. I do believe God is involved, see today's title, and I do believe He can use those in office to work His will and His way. After all, it is God who said the pagan King Nebuchadnezzar was His servant, raised up to bring judgment on His rebellious people. (Jeremiah 27:6 and 43:10) Therefore, I believe there has been a new found freedom for believers to openly express a testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ. And, our current administration has had a positive influence on this changed attitude. The Charlie Kirk assassination has also made a huge impact on Christians being willing to stand up and be counted for the Lord. God can use Donald J. Trump in the same way He used King Nebuchadnezzar. While some seem to want to make him some kind of a Christian Icon, I cannot forget the interview where he spoke specifically about his religious leanings. Frank I. Luntz, the interviewer, asked this very pointed question, "Have you ever asked God for forgiveness?" Trump's answer, "I am not sure I have, I just go and try to do a better job from there. I don't think so. I think, if I do something wrong, I think I just try to make it right. I don't bring God into that picture. I don't." That doesn't change my reason for voting for him but it does put into perspective his view of his relationship with the Lord. I'm glad he has decided to align himself with those who do profess Christ and I don't really question why he has done it whether it is for the votes or because he wants to return our nation to her roots. I will not go into detail but I will tell you that some of the people he has chosen as his spiritual advisers are truly suspect in terms of their fidelity to the word of God. I say all of that to say this, as a follow-up, I am thankful that many believing folks are coming out of the closet, so to speak, many on national broadcasts. Any and all testimonies of changed lives because of Jesus are welcomed. And, I say Amen and Amen.

 

I started this blogging adventure back in the summer of 2007. My approach was captured in a quote from the famous baseball player, coach, and, oddly enough shade tree philosopher, Yogi Berra, "You can observe a lot by watching." His funny quotes became well known to the extent they were tagged, 'Yogisms'. I have tried to make my blogs observational, from my point of view, but, he was right, you can observe a lot by watching. I was fortunate to see him play. Only once. The Yankees played against the Kansas City Athletics. He was no longer catching but they put him in the outfield. It was 1961 and my uncle provided me access to a trip to Kansas City to see a professional baseball game. I, along with hundreds of other little league kids rode a chartered train from Shreveport to Kansas City. I had never been to a professional baseball game. I also saw Roger Maris hit his 51st home run, the year he broke Babe Ruth's record. And, to top it off, I got to see, live and in person, the former President of the United States, Harry S. Truman at his library in Independence, Missouri. There you were thinking I was just a country bumpkin from that wee little village in rural Louisiana, well, you would be right but I did myself quite a bit of observing as I watched from the train making its way through the hills and valleys on my way to a milestone adventure. I wrote about it in more than one of my blogs. I think they are searchable, but, I can't always find what I am looking for, so, I can't be certain. Y'all enjoy your day and remember to give God the glory. Amen.