Doing much better this morning. Great people supporting her here at Baylor St. Lukes. We give God the thanks and praise for His provisions, great and small.

 

Surgery went well. In recovery, experiencing quite a lot of pain. Will move to a room later this evening. We so appreciate all the prayers.

 

The wife of my youth has surgery this morning, hiatal hernia and related. She is being checked in now here at St Luke's Baylor, Houston medical center.

My sincere thanks for every form of recognition of my 80th birthday. May God bless each and everyone who participated. Amen.

Do we live in a great country or what? Today is Monday, August 17, 2026, and I have been busy getting ready to get ready to make progress in my 81st year. Humbled is not even a good word to express how I feel about the responses, wishes, and greetings I have received in recognition of my 80th birthday. The family bought me the gift I asked for. It's a recumbent exercise bike. It's one of those made for senior adults. That would be me. My beautiful wife, the wife of my youth since December, 1964, did a remarkable job putting together a recognition celebration this past Saturday. She has been on a whirlwind of activity, not only getting everything ready for the birthday, but also all of the above and more. Now she moves on to a surgical procedure scheduled for early tomorrow morning. She will be undergoing surgery to deal with a hiatal hernia and the repair of some other esophageal issues. Perhaps she will get some really good rest when they administer the anesthesia. Ha! I will do my best to make sure she follows the doctor's orders. I will try. As they say, I will have to get up early and stay up late if I am to succeed in that endeavor. Ha! Yesterday, on Sunday morning, we both were dressed and in the process of leaving for Church when our Jimmy suffered a major, extended seizure. The fire department came, the EMT squad showed up, and even the police came and checked on what was going on. The wife accompanied him to the ER, and I went on to Church, met my dear sister JoAnn and her bosom friend Barbara there, where we enjoyed a great time of Bible study, worship, and hearing the word of God preached. Afterwards, we enjoyed a great meal where we laughed and talked for an hour. Judge Wayne Mack stopped by to say hello. He and his family have been attending our services, and we exchanged sweet fellowship. When I asked for the check, the young man told us our meal had been paid for by Judge Mack in recognition of my 80th birthday. What a surprise, and I felt ever so grateful. Our Jimmy was admitted to the hospital and is currently undergoing a lot of tests at this time. Please include him in your prayers. 

 

Thinking about pursuing 81, I heard an obscure country singer doing a song entitled "Time Keeps Whittling on Me". I couldn't locate the lyrics, but they pretty well spell out how time does exactly that, whittling away. Not familiar with whittling? Whittling is the process of shaping wood by shaving small thin slices or slivers from it with a knife. The metaphor would make me the wood and time the knife. I'm sure you are glad I cleared that up. Right? The other day we had a problem with our air conditioning unit, specifically the water draining system. It was leaking water into our downstairs bathroom. I am not a technician, but I do know that when this happens, it's not good. Our son Jimmy and I tried a few things, but we were not able to fix the problem. Finally, I decided to get closer to the issue. I got up into the attic and began to negotiate my way over the AC unit, the ducting, and several other obstacles. These required some contortionist moves that I tried but failed to produce. The bottom line: Time Keeps Whittling on Me. I've had a wee bit of trouble walking since that little episode. We called in the experts, and they fixed the problem. They did. They really did. Another lesson learned. I am not an acrobat. Not even close. The old Hee Haw cliché applies: "Doctor, it hurts when I do this. Well, don't do it." Please say a prayer for the wife's surgery that all will go well, and for our son Jimmy, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

“The advantage to being eighty years old is that one has had many people to love.” – Jean Renoir (French Film Director B 1894-1979)

Good morning. Welcome to the continuing saga where yours truly gets to share all the news he sees fit to print. (All the News Fit to Print was at one time a trustworthy label carried by the New York Times. Trust me, that is no longer the case.) We find ourselves celebrating another day on God's created sphere called Earth. This particular day is Friday, August 14, 2026. As many of you know, God providing, I will be celebrating my 80th trip around the sun this coming Sunday. That's 960 months; four-fifths of a century; 29,220 days; fourscore; and here in the United States, I join that 4% Club representing the number of Americans who are 80 and older. When you see me, it will not be necessary to refer to me as Mr. Octogenarian or make reference to me reaching the Big 8-0. You can also skip reminding me that my birthday coincides with the day Elvis left the building for the last time. You may remember that noteworthy greeting I received when I arrived home from work back on August 16, 1977, from our 6-year-old: "Daddy, Daddy, the king is dead, the king is dead." Under my breath, I whispered, Happy Birthday to me. Let me just say this about this milestone: God has been way better to me than I have been to Him. I admit I have been musing over reaching this threshold for some time now. It seems that every time I think about it, I am reminded of a song written by the late, great, singer/songwriter, Rusty Goodman:

 

Who Am I?

 

When I think of how He came so far from glory
Came and dwelt among the lowly such as I
To suffer shame and such disgrace
On Mount Calvary take my place
Then I ask myself this question, "Who am I?"

 

Who am I that the King would bleed and die for?
Who am I that He would pray, "Not my will, Thine" for?
The answer I may never know, why He ever loved me so
To an old rugged cross He would go, for who am I?

 

When I'm reminded of His words, "I'll leave you never
If you'll be true, I'll give to you life forever"
I know there's nothing that I could have done
To deserve God's only Son
To fight my battles until they're won, who am I?

 

Who am I that the King would bleed and die for?
Who am I that He would pray, "Not my will, Thine" for?
The answer I may never know, why He ever loved me so
To an old rugged cross He would go, for who am I?

 

 

I am thankful for the family I was raised in and all my folks that made a difference in my life. I owe a debt of gratitude to all those who have helped me along my way, also many I have worked for, and with, and so many others God put in my path, including more than I could number of dear brothers and sisters in Christ. I also thank those who travel with me in support of my blogging activity. Thanks to the dear wife of my youth and the rest of my family, near and far. The most important thanks go to God, period; that's my story, and as best I can I plan to stick to it. Amen and Amen.

Psalm 71:18-19 ~ From the English Standard Version ~ "So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?"

I saw a funny about old people that said they shouldn't be messed with because, at their age, prison is no longer a deterrent. Then there's the one where the wife tells the husband how he had promised to spend his whole life making her happy. His response was that he had never intended to live as long as he had. I will tell you this. Those jokes once rang a bell for someone other than me. Not anymore! It's Thursday, August 13, 2026, and I welcome each one. Yesterday, the wife and I did our version of over the hills and through the woods to arrive at a medical facility in Houston's downtown medical center. We timed it just right so we could play bumper cars during the early morning rush. We had a bad start to our journey when the access lane to the freeway was shut down, causing us to lose about 30 minutes before we even left our home area. Don't tell me old people can't feel a wee bit of road rage. My co-pilot kept me well informed numerous times about how close we were to crashing. Some of her warnings were very easy to hear, if you know what I mean, Vern. We finally got there. She had some tests that required us to be there for some five hours. During our stay, we, like Yogi Berra, observed a lot just by watching. Really old people were there. Elderly husbands were pushing the wheelchairs for their elderly wives. Elderly wives were pushing the wheelchairs for their elderly husbands. On more than one occasion, we looked at each other and said, "There we go." The trip back home was just as eventful as our journey there. I thought about how blessed we are to now be the ones I used to wonder why they had been let out to drive. We were pretty exhausted after our interesting day there and back. We were. We really were. But you just never get over the realization that God goes with you wherever you are. It's a good feeling, folks. It is. It really is. Amen.

 

I suppose, at my age, I am no longer asked what I want to be when I grow up. However, I have learned how growing up is a lifelong endeavor. The Apostle Paul was inspired to give his personal testimony regarding his journey for the Lord. In his letter penned to the local assembly meeting in Philippi, Greece, here is what he said, "I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." (Philippians Chapter 3, Verses 12-14, from the New Living Translation) Here's my take. We may retire from our secular work, but our pursuit of what we desire to be when we grow up in the Lord continues until we leave this life to live forever in His presence. The children's song written by Joel Hemphill says it best:

 

He's still working on me
To make me what I need to be
It took him just a week to make the moon and stars
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars
How loving and patient He must be
'Cause He's still workin' on me

 

If you're still breathing air here on the planet, He's still working on you and me too. Have a great rest of the day and remember to give God all the glory. Amen. 

NET Bible ~ 1st John Chapter 3, Verse 2: "Dear friends, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is."

It's Wonderful Wednesday, and as I understand it, it began shortly after midnight yesterday. Ha! Regardless, it is the day the Lord has given to us; therefore, let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm118:24) And in our world it's counted as August 12, 2026. I thought about using the proverbial "I'm okay, you're okay" moniker, but that likely doesn't account for all the different situations folks deal with. I will tell you this. When I am in my right position of knowing exactly my relationship with Almighty God, I can very much identify with the sentiment of an old Southern Gospel quartet song that says, "I've got the Lord, and that's enough, that's enough, that's enough for me!" Notice I said when I am in the right position. Confession time. I am not always in the right position. Even when I am not where I should be, He remains faithful to His own. In fact, no one, including me, myself, and I, can change the new identity I received when I called on the name of the Lord to save me. Jesus made this clear. John 10:28-29 "...and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish—ever; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand." (As rendered in the Legacy Standard Bible, LSB.) This gives me confidence. Not confidence in me. That would be laughable. Confidence in Him, and Him alone. I can remember things spoken by my folks over the years. Many have gone on to their reward, but I still remember. As I was writing this today, I remembered something my mom said many times: "Son, I just don't know how people make it without Jesus." My response to that sentiment as I near the eight-decade mark is, "I don't either."

 

I do like to tell funny stories, mostly about myself. Why? That seems to be the safest approach in our world since it is ever so hypersensitive. Funny stories can be very embarrassing. I am vertically challenged. Some call it short. I remember one time getting on the elevator at the company where I worked. It was a little crowded, but this very attractive lady standing in the back blurted out, "Well look at you, it's so good to see you again." My countenance changed, and I was about to give her my response when the taller fellow who had pushed in behind me said rather loudly, "Yeah, it's good to see you too." I didn't have a mirror, but I imagine my face looked all potted meat and purple. That was a very long time ago, but because of the mistaken identity and the overload of embarrassment, I do still remember. I wouldn't doubt that it may have happened around the time the song came out saying short people have no reason to live. ('Short People' written and sung by Randy Newman, 1977) I used to measure 5 feet, 7 inches tall; however, the home health folks informed me that I am not so slowly shrinking. I wondered why my pants legs were getting longer. Ha! As you can readily see, it doesn't bother me, not in the least, no, not at all. You did hear me right, not at all. I thought that might brighten someone's day, especially all you taller people. God does love us where we are, but He doesn't intend for us to stay there. While I am almost certain not to grow any taller in the physical realm, we all, those who are God's very own children, have every opportunity to grow spiritually taller and also stronger up and until we draw our last breath. That's what He wants us to do. He does. He really does. Amen.

"Hymns are like a spiritual language that transcends time and space, allowing us to communicate with God in a unique and profound way." - Unknown

Today. It is Tuesday, August 11, 2026. I pray all are well as we continue our journey together on the planet. We had the Southern Gospel Group, Greater Vision, with us at our local fellowship of believers this past Sunday evening. We have hosted many different singing groups over the years. Have you ever noticed the difference between those who are great entertainers versus those who seem to communicate God's voice right smack into your hearing heart? That's how I felt when Greater Vision sang. It was much more than a concert. Don't get me wrong. The music was great, the vocals wonderful, but the lyrics were both heart- and gut-wrenching, many of them written by the very performers on the platform. It was a very special evening. Maybe it was because I needed to hear what they had set to music? Fair enough. I will say this about that. We, in our home, probably watch and listen to more religious music reflecting many different genres than most. That doesn't make me an expert, but it does mean I know when God speaks through the medium of lyrics and music. I do. I really do. I mentioned before the impact that the 34th Psalm set to music and sung by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir has had on my life. It's on YouTube. I dare you to, no, I double dog dare you to look that song up and see what it will do in your life. One of the principal singers on that recording is Durell Comedy. He has sung that song at our local fellowship. I met him, gave him a hug, and I told him what that one song has meant in my life. That song has been viewed and listened to by millions. It has. It really has. Durell is currently the worship pastor at one of our very large sister churches here in our area. I think I wrote about this for a reason. Entertainment versus God-honoring lyrics that Holy Spirit God prompts the heart to respond. I report. I decide. And you can join me if you would like. Ha! (To be clear: Professional Southern Gospel singers are typically paid for their appearances, and it usually is their full-time jobs.)

 

I didn't check with the grammar czar regarding my tone in that first paragraph. I actually do worry about coming across too preachy. At the same time, let me be honest. I don't envy anyone who analyzes almost anything I have produced. I mostly am happy when it finds its way onto the electronic page. I do obsess over it at times, and like the other day when I used a Bible verse out of context, it actually bugged me until I could correct it in the next edition.  I well remember seeing a number of my essay papers with x's, circles, fact questions, and more notes than could be counted, all in red. One day I asked one of my instructors why that much corrective information had been scribbled all over my writing. She said something like this. Son, you have potential. Because you do, I want you to be the best you can be. That is why I spent that much time on your work. I know I have problems with run-on sentences, dangling participles, subject-verb errors- you name it, I'm probably guilty of it. I used to blame it on the Apostle Paul, who penned one sentence comprising between 207 and 257 words depending on the Greek text variant. (Ephesians Chapter 1, verses 3-14) Yeah. I know. His words were Holy Spirit God-inspired. Mine are not. You can quote me on that. Ha! May God add His blessings. Amen.

"Blocking childhood memories is a natural defense mechanism. The brain hides painful or scary events to help a child survive emotional overload. This process is also known as dissociative amnesia." ~ copied

Hello out there in never-never land, better known as the wonderful world wide web, the Network, or the internet. We all know it can be used for good, and it can also be a tool to advance all manner of evil. It is always my desire to share God-honoring and encouraging words during our daily time together. Today's edition is dated Monday, August 10, 2026. I read the other day that researchers have found that many of our most vivid memories turn out to be different than we had believed. Vivid. Memories. I've worn out my welcome talking about my own experiences regarding my memory issues, especially my earliest years. As best as I have been able to understand, this was caused by a blocking mechanism connected to the unexpected sudden death of my dad in January, 1954. I've always prided myself on having exceptional recall. But those early memories before age seven seem to be locked away, and thus far, no amount of probing has been able to unearth them. As I approach my 80th, I am seeing some age-related memory issues, but so far it is considered to be more or less in the normal range. Born in 1946, I've always thought there must be some pretty good stuff in the proverbial Al Gore Lockbox. (Dated reference: Look it up.) I am proud to say that I am getting closer each day to that glorious time when none of this concern will matter anymore. Meanwhile, I still find myself at times searching to uncover things from those lost years. They say on average most people can remember some things as early as age 2. Imagine the treasure trove I would have to write about if I could find that key. Ha!

 

I've heard my siblings talk some about their memories of those years, but my mom never wanted to relive those traumatic times; therefore, I'm left with bits and pieces, and none of them belong directly to me. I hear you. If that's the worst thing I can come up with, I must be in pretty good shape. I agree. But as they say, I'm just sharing. I can think of the very worst thing that could happen to anyone. That, my dear reader, is to leave this life without having put their trust in Jesus as Savior, guaranteeing an unending life with Him forever in eternity future. That's not all. Hell is real, and it is the destination of those who have not responded to the Cross, where Jesus paid for their sins. That would be the greatest of all tragedies, for anyone, period. If you read this writing wherever you happen to be, anywhere the internet carries this blog, you can avoid hell and gain heaven. You can. You really can. And, you can do it, now! Here are the simple truths that can change your destiny: Bad news, Romans 3:23: "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard." Even worse news, Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death...." Good news, Romans 5:8: "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."The best news of all, Romans 10:13: "For everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved." Reading these truths, if God the Holy Spirit is speaking to you, respond by doing exactly that: call on Him, ask Him to save you and change you. He listens to the heart, and it is a childlike response to Him who died for you. It is. It really is. I've been talking about remembering. The Bible tells us about a thief who was crucified alongside our Lord. In the Gospel record we read, "Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.' Jesus answered him, 'Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.'" Luke 23:42-43. (All Bible verses copied from the New Living Translation, NLT.) Okay. That's it for today. Don't forget to show up tomorrow, where, Lord willing, I will have even more stuff to throw onto the electronic page. Amen.

Romans 15:13: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Good morning and welcome to a brand new day. It's Friday, August 7, 2026, and I do hope our time together finds you and yours doing well. Hope. As believers, that is the foundation of our time here on the planet. I may hope it rains today, but that kind of hope finds us wishing it to be so. Our hope in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is based on a sure trust and a foundation of certain expectation. I am not hoping to make it to heaven; I know that my hope is in Jesus the Christ who died in my place for me. Having placed my faith in Him and His finished work on the cross, I am assured that when I die I will go to heaven. Don't get me wrong. Each of us can be beaten and battered by the storms we face in this life. That's because we live in a fallen world and bad things happen to everyone, believers included. These storms come in the form of pain, anguish, failings, disappointments, and losses of all kinds. These challenge our faith, and at times we may wobble due to the weight we are carrying. Even in the midst of these tough times, even when the enemy of our soul whispers in our ear words of fear and discouragement, we find our hope, and it's not based on circumstances; it's based on our Savior and His provisions to us. Here's an excerpt from a song I remember from my own experiences in dealing with challenges as well as seeing others dealing with great times of difficulty and heartache: 

 

Bow the knee
Trust the heart of your Father
When the answer goes beyond what you can see
Bow the knee
Lift your eyes toward heaven
And believe the One who holds eternity
And when you don't understand
The purpose of His plan
In the presence of the King
Bow the knee

 

Song: Bow The Knee, written by Chris Machen and Mike Harland 

 

I cringe when I read the Book of Job. Sure, we know in the end how his faith is vindicated, and he is restored; however, scholars suggest his suffering was endured for as long as several months, up to two years. That, my friend, is hard to fathom. How could this be? Only God. Yeah. That's the answer. Only God. Job's suffering and even his crying out, trying to make sense of his catastrophic agony, it all was in God's plan, purpose, and in His timing. Only God. Those of us who have placed our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ have His promises confirmed in both the Old and New Testaments: Deuteronomy 31:8: "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged" and quoted again in Hebrews 13:5. That's what we have to lean on folks and I encourage us all to do that very thing today. "Lord, help me to do the same." Amen.

"Tone plays a significant role in how your message is received and can make all the difference between successful communication and miscommunication." ~ Forbes

I will do my best to make today's visit shorter. We are dealing with Thursday, August 6, 2026, and we need God's help to make today what it can be. In fact, we need the help of God, period. The other day, the artificial intelligence piece of my grammar program offered some insight into my style of writing. I was informed that my writing would be better received if I worked on my tone. Thank you very much for your input. I am not sure what this is about, but I am clear on what it takes to find out. Money. Yep. If I were to upgrade to the professional level, I could get help with my tone. And guess what? I can even try it for zero dollars. Sounds great. Right? There's typically always a catch. Can I get a witness? If I do the trial, at the end of the period, I would engage an automatic subscription to the professional edition. Always read the fine print. That reminds me of my cataract surgery. It was going to be breakthrough wonderful, but since I didn't purchase the special lenses, I now must have reading glasses for reading anything smaller than a billboard. I'm not trying to be critical here, but that was not what I was told. I'm not inclined to upgrade to the professional grammar program; therefore, I will leave it to you, my readers, to let me know what you think about my tone. If it helps, I am considering switching from tenor to bass in our choir since most of the modern contemporary music has the tenor part written somewhere up in the stratosphere. That does change my tone, doesn't it? Ha! For the time being, I will continue to provide my blog on the basis of what you see is what you get, or WYSIWYG for short. At the same time, your comments are always appreciated. 

 

This is the same program that even dares to correct Bible verses I copy and paste to share. Really? It thinks it can correct the breathed-out Word of Almighty God? That's a little over the top and I do realize it is only suggesting corrections to the translation being used. Even that is a little much if you ask me. I will share this tidbit with you. The wife of my youth often says this to the husband of her youth: "It's not what you say, it's the tone you use when you say it." I should have known she was in cahoots with the grammar program. Ha! I think I do trend towards being a wee bit acerbic at times, even though I do not mean to deliver it that way. I can ask her a simple question, and man oh man, the response is how I made her feel like she doesn't know anything. News to me. I didn't have a clue the sound of my question implied that kind of connotation. This means I have something to work on. I know. At my age, it's a little late in the game, but there is always room for trying to do better. Believe me, there's even a better reason to work on how we talk to each other: Ephesians 4:29: Say only what helps and builds others up based on what they need. Colossians 4:6: Keep your speech gracious and pleasant, like food seasoned with salt.1st Thessalonians 5:11: Encourage and build each other up every day. Truth is, we will never really arrive until we finally get 'there'. (IYKYK.) May God add His blessings. Amen.

"Bible verses out of context leads directly to false doctrines, twisted meanings, and the rise of ancient heresies. The early church fathers warned that isolating text from its whole meaning breeds division and spiritual error." ~ copied

Today is Wednesday, August 5, 2026, and I bid you a hearty hello along with a prayer that God will add His blessings as we continue our journey here on the planet. I open today with an apology for using a verse from Hebrews Chapter 6, Verse 3 yesterday: "And this we will do if God permits." I used that verse in a generalized sense, trying to indicate that we can make plans, but we are still subject to God's decisions in keeping with His will. And our lives are indeed in His hands, and He is Sovereign. However, that particular verse is specifically connected to the believer's growth in Christ as outlined in the 5th and 6th Chapters of Hebrews, indicating we can't grow on our own terms; we must be true to God's way. Therefore, I used the verse validating a true point, but the verse itself does not necessarily prove that point. Why does this matter? Using a verse out of its proper context is just flat out wrong, period. Here are some verses often used to portray something different than their contextual meaning:

 

 Jeremiah 29:11 ("For I know the plans I have for you...") Out of context: Used as a personal life promise for individual success, career growth, or happiness. Actual context: Written as a corporate letter to exiled Jews in Babylon who would be stuck there for 70 years before a future national restoration. 

Philippians 4:13 ("I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me") Out of context: Used as a motivational slogan for athletic achievements, tests, or personal goals. Actual context: The Apostle Paul writing about being content and finding physical satisfaction whether he is facing severe poverty, hunger, or plenty.

Psalm 46:10 ("Be still, and know that I am God") Out of context: Used as a gentle self-care tip or peaceful meditation reminder. Actual context: God telling warring, raging nations to drop their weapons and stop fighting against Him.

Matthew 7:1 ("Judge not, that you be not judged")Out of context: Used to claim that no one can ever point out wrong behavior or call out sin. Actual context: Followed by instructions about removing the log from your own eye first so you can clearly help your brother remove the speck from his.

 

The verse I shared sounded so good. It did. It really did. I typically check before I share. I do. I really do. Here is my excuse. I was in a hurry to get my blog published since we had the last lesson in our seven-week men's summer Bible study on the Church property at 7 a.m., a 30-minute drive for me. My response to my excuse. Not good enough, buddy. Again, my point in sharing the verse was to show how we are totally dependent on God in every breath we take here in this life. Here is the sentiment of our total dependence upon God, Proverbs 16, from the 'A Faithful Version'  (AFV), rendering:

 

 Proverbs 16

~ 1) The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, are from the Lord. 2) All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits. 3) Commit your works unto the Lord, and your thoughts shall be established. 4) The Lord has made all for His own purpose; yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. 5) Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; though joined hand in hand, he shall not be unpunished. 6) By mercy and truth iniquity is purged, and by the fear of the Lord men turn away from evil. 7) When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. 8) Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. 9) A man’s heart devises his way, but the Lord directs his steps. 10) A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; his mouth should not transgress in judgment. 11) A just weight and balance are the Lord’s; all the weights of the bag are His work. 12) It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, for the throne is established by righteousness. 13) Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and they love him who speaks what is right. 14) The wrath of a king is as messengers of death, but a wise man will pacify it. 15) In the light of the king’s countenance is life, and his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain. 16) How much better it is to get wisdom than gold, and to choose understanding rather than silver! 17) The way of the upright is to turn away from evil; he who keeps his way preserves his soul. 18) Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 19) It is better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud. 20) He who handles a matter wisely shall find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he. 21) The wise in heart shall be called prudent, and the sweetness of the lips increases learning. 22) Understanding is a fountain of life to him who has it, but the instruction of fools is folly. 23) The heart of the wise teaches his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips. 24) Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. 25) There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is the way of death. 26) The appetite of a laboring man works for him, for his hunger urges him on. 27) An ungodly man digs up evil, and his lips are like a burning fire. 28) A perverse man causes strife, and a whisperer separates chief friends. 29) A violent man lures his neighbor and leads him into a way that is not good. 30) He shuts his eyes to devise perverse things; and moving his lips, he brings evil to pass. 31) The gray head is a crown of glory if it is found in the way of righteousness. 32) He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit is better than he who takes a city. 33) The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing of it is from the Lord. ~

In this passage, you have what I really meant. Before you throw rocks at me for sharing an entire chapter, consider these facts: It takes about 1.5 to 2.5 minutes to read 33 Bible verses. This estimate is based on an average reading speed of 200 to 250 words per minute, assuming an average verse length of 15 to 20 words. And you can never go wrong by reading the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth as provided to us in God's Holy Word. Amen. 

“It's like my father always said to me, he said to me, he said, Roseanna Roseanadana, it's always something. If it isn't one thing – it's another! It's always something.” ~ Gilda Radner, 1946-1989, Comedic Actress, 'Saturday Night Live'

I showed up early today because we have men's Bible study at 7 a.m. this morning. I am present, but not necessarily operating on all 8 of my cylinders. Not to worry, because I know how to get by with only 5 or 6 of them working. I am aware that some have noticed I have not been all there for some time now. I not only deny the allegation but also the allegator. (I know this is a common misspelling of alligator, but I chose to make the word fit the allegation. Got it?) This is how I'm working to get up to speed on this Tuesday, August 4, 2026. I am. I really am. I cannot tell a lie. Truth is, I am feeling mighty fine and thankful for God's wonderful mercy and grace. The opening stuff was just messing around. While many consider me to be a very serious-minded person, and well they should, I do have a wee bit of whimsy in there somewhere. We did visit the neurologist yesterday for the wife's follow-up appointment since she had an unexplained loss of consciousness while driving a couple of months ago. Since then, she has not had any other episodes or symptoms; therefore, her specialist released her to return to her regular routines. (She was pretty much doing that anyway, but she most likely would not have wanted me to report that to the doctor.) To keep me from saying anything at all, I stayed in the waiting room and did not accompany her for the consultation. When she came out the door, I immediately asked what the doctor said, and she told me he said everything was fine. This does not mean I will be riding with her anytime soon. If she asks about that last statement, please tell her you are not certain what I meant. That will not be a great surprise to her. It won't be. It really won't be. Ha!

We left the neurologist's office, and about a block away I saw a large sign with this inscription: Foot Massage. I mentioned to the wife I had been interested in trying a foot massage to see if it would help with my diabetic induced neuropathy. She told me we should check it out. I pulled into the parking lot, got out, went in, and the fellow there was an Indian American from India. He showed me a price list, and I opted for a 30-minute reflexology massage. He showed me to the padded table where I was to await service. Shortly, he brought a container of warmish water, and I put my feet in. He then had me lie back on the table. He removed my cap and glasses and then started working on my head. Hello? He did not speak much English, so I thought I may have miscommunicated. After massaging my head for a few minutes, he started working on my shoulders. After a couple of minutes of doing that, he put a towel over my eyes. Finally, he started working on my feet and my lower legs. He worked them over pretty good. Bing, bam!, a slap here, a rub there, and that went on for the rest of my thirty minutes. Since it was my first time, I'm not sure I ever completely relaxed. When I came out, I paid the man, and the wife asked how it went. I told her it may have helped some, but I didn't suddenly feel like doing a triple axle in the parking lot. I know. Thirty minutes may not be the best test, but at least I found out a little about how things go. I do think it may have helped my balance some, and that's not all bad for a fellow who, in just twelve days, will join the 4% Club, Lord willing, and that's those who are 80 or older. Such good news. Right? Yes! And Amen!

"We all live inside bodies that will deteriorate. But when you look at human beings, they're capable of very decent things: love, loyalty. When time is running out, they don't care about possessions or status. They want to put things right if they've done wrong." ~ Sir Kazuo Ishiguro, Japanese-British novelist, screenwriter, musician, and short-story writer.

As Willie Nelson wrote, "My, ain't it funny how time slips away". How true that is for those of us who have seen a lot of wear and tear during our sojourn here on the planet. Today is Monday, and, get this, it is already the 3rd day of August, 2026. Wowie-Zowie! I used that one, causing the spell-checker to emit smoke from its electronic brain. Ha! This past Friday evening we continued our association with the Cow from Chick-fil-A. Seventeen years of association with the franchise owner of these two locations, and we have, thus far, lived to tell about it. How ironic is it that some of the counter workers and kitchen help were not even born when we first started our Santa journey? Yikes. These kids would not recognize a busy signal when trying to use a phone; delivery of phone books; Blockbuster rental returns; TV Guide; Floppy Disks; and so many others we dealt with they wouldn't ever remember unless they saw it in a history book. I heard a pastor say the other day how the fellow leading their Junior Department had never heard of Diana Ross. See what I mean? I think we should give them a break because they do know how to operate the latest technology gadgets that cause us to pull our hair out. They speak the languages of Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft, and they can input information on their cell phones faster than a speeding bullet. Many of us do that using the old-fashioned hunt-and-peck approach. They represent the TikTok generation, but there is good news. Whether these youngsters are wearing the Cow suit or waiting on customers, they show love and respect for everyone, including Santa and Mrs. Claus, and we are forever grateful for that. We are. We really are. 

 

As I get ever closer to the 80th year of my sojourn, I can't help waxing somewhat philosophical. For many years I've loved the music and the sentiment expressed in the song, 'Goin' Home'. The history of how it came about is interesting: Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 was premiered by the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall on December 16th, 1893. The composer died in Prague in 1904. One of Dvořák's students, William Arms Fisher, put words to the longing melody from the second movement. He called the new song "Goin' Home," and had it published in 1922. Fisher died in 1948, but the song lived on. I particularly enjoy the rendition of the song lyrics by the great tenor, David Phelps. You can look up David's song on YouTube and many other platforms as well. Here are the lyrics:

 

 Goin Home

 

Goin' home, goin' home, I'm a goin' home
Quiet like, some still day, I'm just goin' home
It's not far, just close by, through an open door
Work all done, care laid by
Going to fear no more
Mother's there, expecting me
Father's waiting too
Lots of folks gathered there
All the friends I knew

 

 

Nothin's lost, all is gain
No more fret or pain
No more stumblin' on the way
No more longin' for the day
Goin' to roam no more

 

 

Morning star lights the way
Restless dream all done
Shadows gone, break of day
Real life just begun
There's no break, There's no end
I'll be living on.
Wide awake with a smile, going on and on
Goin' home, goin' home, I'm a goin' home

 

It's not far, just close by, through an open door
I'll be goin' home, I'll be goin' home
I'm goin' home, I'm goin' home
Lord, I'm goin' home

 

 

That, my friend, may sound a wee bit morbid to you, but for me, it's a reminder of where I am headed. It is. It really is. Another song says, "I've got more to go to heaven for than I had yesterday." I do hope that's your longed-for destination as well. I do. I really do. May God bless each one. Amen. 

"Writing simply means no dependent clauses, no dangling things, no flashbacks, and keeping the subject near the predicate. We throw in as many fresh words we can get away with. Simple, short sentences don't always work. You have to do tricks with pacing, alternate long sentences with short, to keep it vital and alive.... Virtually every page is a cliffhanger--you've got to force them to turn it."~ Dr. Seuss

Okay. It is Friday, July 31, 2026, and today I thought I would provide some insight into what I was writing about on July 31, 2008, which, if I do the math correctly, would be 18 years ago. Always remember how God is to be honored in every aspect of our lives. We are different, but we all have the same need: Each of us needs to know God through His provision of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Enjoy this little flashback or oldie from my early days of blogging.

 

 It’s Thursday, July 31, 2008, and as Yogi Berra said, “I give 100% in the first half of the game, and if that’s not enough I give whatever is left in the second half.” Different people have different ideas about which words are funny in and of themselves. The words chicken, pickle, and Alka-Seltzer are thought to be funny by one well-known author. Some think ‘k’ words are funny, like Kalamazoo, Hoboken, Yonkers, and Brooklyn. Other location words that might bring a smile include Walla Walla, Cucamonga, and Seattle.

I suppose it comes down to personal taste, and it’s likely some words are funny to you. W.C. Fields liked to get laughs by using the words kumquats, succotash, and guacamole. He claimed these sounds made them too funny to eat. Others might think chainsaw, weasel, or prune to be funny. Often, I think it depends on your own particular connection to a word or sound that makes it funny. One thing is for sure. There’s plenty of material out there if we are interested in finding a smile now and then.

Add to funny words the widespread use of malapropisms, where folks use the wrong word in a sentence that just flat-out makes it funny. I worked for a fellow once who was a master at doing this. He would say, “We are so crowded in our floor space we are bouncing at the seams.” Another time he told me, “You are in trouble now; in fact, you are standing on thin shoes.” I carpooled with a lady once who gave me this little jewel, “My brother told us last night that he feels called into the ministry and is even thinking about attending cemetery.”

Some noted winners from public faces are quite funny as well; one had this to say: “I might just fade into Bolivian, you know what I mean?” Tonya Harding came up with this one, “I’m not going to make a skeptical out of my boxing career.” Probably the most memorable mangler in recent times was the fictional character Archie Bunker on the TV sitcom, “All In The Family”. He had some great near misses that were hilarious. Here are a few of my favorites from Archie: “Like ships that clash in the night.” “I got bigger fish to fly.” “Up there in his ivory shower.” “When the whole neighborhood turns into a smelting pot.” “Grab the bull by the corns.” And the beat goes on and on and on. I know I’ve had my fair share of word mishaps, and I can get numerous witnesses to testify to that fact. Just ask my Bible study class because there have been times when the thoughts were there but the words, they just wouldn’t fall into place. The main point is to first, last, and always, learn to laugh at yourself and then look around because there are smiles everywhere if you just take time to see or hear them. Have a great day! ……More later.

A take off on the Three Stooges classic routine: "How long have you had a weak back?" "Oh, since about a week back!"

Good morning to all my readers, wherever you happen to be, and I bid you a hearty hello from my place to yours, where you will find me singing Achy Breaky Back instead of Achy Breaky Heart, on this Thursday, July 30, 2026. Yeah, I was heavily involved in moving stuff around to provide for the carpet cleaner yesterday, emphasis on heavy. Ha! I told the wife not to worry because I could get it all done without her help. She had the nerve to say she didn't doubt I could, but she didn't want to see me all laid up for three or four days. She actually said that. She did. She really did. I know a lot of folks who suffer from back issues as a result of accidents, disk problems, and other maladies. While I typically sympathize with their ongoing battles with pain, it's hard to appreciate the other person's situation until you have a similar challenge. Mine, fortunately, Lord willing, will go away in a few days as predicted by the wife of my youth. Meanwhile, bring on the back pain remedies. I think I could use a good massage. I've never had one. Maybe that would help. How many think the wife would do that for me? Okay. Maybe another time. I'm just doing my typical exaggeration here, and I would never want to belittle or downplay those who literally are incapacitated by back-related problems. Here's how the comedy world likes to play up the issue of pain for a man versus childbirth pain for a woman: "A simple common cold for a man is the biological equivalent of childbirth labor, leaving him bedridden and asking for final-will arrangements." I suppose that pretty much means I shouldn't complain about my Achy Breaky Back. Ha!

 

Brother Allan Taylor, a visiting minister who specializes in Church growth through Lifegroup or Sunday School effectiveness, gave a briefing to our teachers, leaders, and officers involved in this activity after our morning services this past Sunday. He has been with our group several times over the past several years. As always, he gave great insight into the hows of reaching new people for Christ through the work and ministry of Sunday morning Lifegroups. He also worked with our senior staff on Monday morning before departing for his home in Knoxville, Tennessee. After having arrived home, he suffered a catastrophic stroke, and sadly, as a result, he has passed on to his reward. This has pretty much left us all in shock. I mention this for this reason: We must cherish every part of every day because we never know how it may play out. This situation reminds me of the Holy Spirit-inspired words from the half-brother of Jesus, James, writing what is regarded as the earliest of the New Testament texts; he said this: "Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen in your life tomorrow. [What is secure in your life?] You are merely a vapor [like a puff of smoke or a wisp of steam from a cooking pot] that is visible for a little while and then vanishes [into thin air]." (Writing of James, Chapter 4, Verse 14, from the Amplified Bible) Also in a Psalm attributed to Moses, we see these words: "So teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12) That gives me a lot to think about, or as they used to say back where I come from, it gives me a lot to say grace over. What say you? Amen.

“Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen.” — Mark Twain

Hello and welcome to our time together for today, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. As you already know, I am slouching my way towards my 80th trip around the sun. I am honest here. I never expected I would be here on the planet this long. I am thankful to God for giving me this time, and I sincerely desire to fulfill His purpose as best I can until I draw my last breath. One thing I do know: You lose much of what you thought was important to you earlier in life. The other day, the child technician who did my EKG said something when we finished that hit me pretty hard. "The good news, sir, is these electrodes will be easy to remove since you don't have much hair on your chest." Really? You could have said anything other than that. There was a time when my hairy chest was a feature of my identity. I now have professional proof that that is no longer the case. Oh well, I will not need to shave it off if I find myself involved in an athletic endeavor needing a reduction in aerodynamic drag. See? You can always find a positive outcome to occupy your thoughts. Sports that shave their chests include competitive swimming, wrestling, body building, and running. I even have choices. Wow! Is this a great country or what? 

 

Looking at the network distribution statistics of my blog, it is always surprising and encouraging to note how many page views come from outside the USA. I've explained before how this might happen. The blog is out there in the public domain. Being the wordy writer I am, there are lots of potential hits coming from internet word searches. I'm not saying all the page views reflect those who actually read my blog, but some might. When they do, hopefully they will come in contact with the message of hope that comes only through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let me quickly add that God can do anything at any time He so chooses, and He has often used what we think is a coincidence or accident to speak. Many testimonies attest to this truth. For instance, "Isolated tribes deep in the Amazon rainforest found a single battery-powered radio locked permanently onto a Christian shortwave frequency playing Bible stories in their native dialect, which they had never written down." Far-fetched? Not to me, my friend. If God chose to chastise a hireling prophet by having a donkey talk, well, He can use something as insignificant as a homespun blog to communicate truth. He can. He really can! (The donkey speaking can be found in the Book of Numbers, Chapter 22.)  Amen.

Matthew 6:34 ~ English Standard Version ESV ~ “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

I often hear, as I go here and there, the phrase, "One day at a time." That represents how we approach life. Right? It is Tuesday, July 28, 2026, and I welcome each and every one to our time together as I click and clack the old keyboard here at the ole blogger ranch (my upstairs office, to be clear). For those of us who operate in Christian circles, that "One day at a time" reminds us of the song by the same title rendered in this way: One day at a time, sweet Jesus. That song was written in 1974 by two great songwriters who have both gone on to their reward, Marijohn Wilkin and Kris Kristofferson. It was recorded by more than 200 artists, with Christy Lane's version selling over 1 million records. It continues to be a popular favorite for many. It was named Song of the Year at the Dove Awards in 1975. The lyrics tap into what it means to seek God as one lives out each of their days here on the planet:

 

 One Day at a Time, Sweet Jesus - as recorded by Christy Lane

[Verse 1]
I'm only human, I'm just a woman
Help me believe in what I could be and all that I am
Show me the stairway I have to climb
Lord, for my sake, teach me to take one day at a time

[Chorus]
One day at a time, sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from You
Just give me the strength to do everyday
What I have to do

[Post-Chorus]
Yesterday's gone, sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine (Ooh)
Lord, help me today, show me the way
One day at a time

[Verse 2]
Do You remember when You walked among men?
Well, Jesus, You know, if You're looking below, it's worse now than then
Cheating and stealing, violence and crime (Ah)
So for my sake, teach me to take one day at a time

 

The lyric metaphors certainly take some liberties reflecting Biblical themes, but the sentiment speaks to our need for God to help us take one day at a time. Another song speaks to how I see myself, as demonstrated in the chorus: " I need Thee, oh, I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; Oh, bless me now, my Savior! I come to Thee." How about this one that makes clear our dependence upon God: "I can't even walk without You holding my hand." You think you can make it on your own? You think you can chart your own course in life? Okay. Been there. Done that. Here's the truth: those are roads to nowhere, my friend. I sat across the desk from a man often referred to as self-made. He had truly accomplished much in his life. His photo was on the front cover of several business magazines. From scratch, he had built a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. I greatly respected him and was honored to work for him on a consulting endeavor. However, while I was on that project, he discovered he had liver cancer and died several months later. Some say he found God before he left this life for the next. I sincerely hope that is true. Eternity. That, my friend, is a very long time. The Bible says it clearly: "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" (Matthew 16:26, Mark 8:36, and Luke 9:25). This is why we need to have Jesus, yes Sweet Jesus, in our life to help us live, one day at a time. Amen.

Charmaine J. Forde, Poet and creative director. ~ "An ounce of goodness everyday, Can soothe the heart in many ways, An ounce of goodness 'just because' Don't wait until Christmas to be Santa Claus."

Are you still reading my last Friday's posting? I wouldn't doubt it because it is rather long. However, I chose to share the entire Luke Chapter 15 because of its context. After all, it is the B-i-b-l-e, and that's the book for me. Never apologize for sharing God's Word. Amen? Here we go again, and this time we find ourselves waking up to another brand new day on this Monday, July 27, 2026. I have said many times that our goal in our Santa program is to bring a happy smile to children of all ages. We had such a good time at one of the Chick-fil-A's this past Friday evening; well, we are going to do it again this coming Friday, Lord willing. The Chick-fil-As we work with have some of the best folks you will ever meet. Many of them know we are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and while we enjoy having a blast with children from all over, we especially enjoy sweet fellowship with the Chick-fil-A workers. The response of 'my pleasure' instead of 'you're welcome' typically is accompanied by a genuineness that's hard to miss. That practice, 'my pleasure,' was introduced by founder Truett Cathy back in 2001. He was inspired to do this after having experienced elite service at one of the Ritz Carlton hotels. It has become part of the brand ever since. Now, we see former Chick-fil-A employees who have moved on and work in different restaurants, but they still say "My Pleasure," and they still carry with them a genuine presence. Talk about spreading a positive experience! It reminds me of how we too carry with us and in us the very presence of the Living Lord. Speaking for myself, I often wonder if I am allowing Him to produce a positive experience with those I meet. Yikes! That makes me a wee bit uneasy, so let's move on. Right?

 

In my last physical therapy session, I told the young woman helping me that she seems to always bring the best out of me. She wanted to know how. I told her that in my recent EKG, there is a brand new abnormality that popped up for the very first time. She shrugged her shoulders, and then she laughed. Out loud. She did. She really did. The new finding revealed an issue in my anterior leads. I did exactly what my doctor and the doctor before begged me not to do. Once I saw the results of the test, I consulted immediately with Dr. Google and every other medical site I could find. Some pretty gloom-and-doom scenarios found their way into the potential outcomes. I know. At the very top of the report, it always reminds me to respect how the care team had not reviewed the results yet. When my doctor finally got back to me, he basically did the same thing my physical therapist did; he shrugged his shoulders and told me that while it was a new issue, he thought it was mostly something connected to my age; therefore, don't worry about it, and if I were to produce any new symptoms, he would refer me to the cardiologist. Again, enough already with the age thing! My wife thinks I obsess over my approaching 80th trip around the sun. (To be precise, that one revolution around the sun takes 365.25 days to complete.)  Let me be clear about the age situation. It's where I am, and that's where I find a lot of material to write about. Let's face it. Aging jokes are popular. Just check out the stand-up comedians on Dry Bar. This is one of the only YouTube channels one can watch these days due to the gutter language spoken on most so-called comedy channels. Sadly, the jokes now begin at age 40 these days. And that, my friend, was a long time ago for me. Ha. Have a great rest of the day and don't forget to give God the glory. Amen. 

Charles Haddon Spurgeon commenting on Luke 15: "In each parable something that was lost has been restored. We see the longsuffering father, effusive with joy and love upon the return and restoration of his long lost son."

Hello, Friday it's been what? Seven days since we visited. Good to see you on this day, July 24, 2026. Thank you, Lord, for allowing Friday to show up.  And I do welcome each one to our daily time to do what I used to see those guys doing who sat outside the barber shop back home, under the shade trees; they were shooting the breeze, bumping their gums, and telling their tales. I admit it. I do a whole lot of that here on my electronic page. I do. I really do. I grew up around storytellers. Did you? Hearing about the exploits of my granddad, my uncles, the town tellers, my schoolmates, my pastors, my teachers, and so many others- those stories helped me to understand and enjoy the life granted to me. Jesus was the greatest at telling stories that illustrated the truths He shared while He walked here on earth. He told stories about planting seeds, about weeds, even one about a tiny mustard seed. He enthralled His audiences with illustrations concerning God's Kingdom. Different scholars might count them up and come up with different numbers, but there's no denying how His stories perfectly illustrated truths that penetrated the hearts of men, women, boys, and girls. You can look them up and read them. That's right. The stories, or parables as they are called, are found in the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Reading them is well worth our time. It is. It really is.

 

I am trying to determine which stories to share as told by our Savior. That's somewhat difficult because there are so many to choose from. I think I'm going to go with the parables Jesus used to illustrate how He came to seek and save those who are lost, those who have strayed, and those who need His provision. These reflect on what the verse, 'God so loved' is all about. It is a rather long chapter, but it speaks to me. I chose to share it in a modern language translation.

 

 Luke 15 ~ New Testament for Everyone ~ The parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin

All the tax-collectors and sinners were coming close to listen to Jesus.  The Pharisees and the legal experts were grumbling. “This fellow welcomes sinners!” they said. “He even eats with them!”  So Jesus told them this parable.  “Supposing one of you has a hundred sheep,” he said, “and you lose one of them. What will you do? Why, you’ll leave the ninety-nine out in the countryside, and you’ll go off looking for the lost one until you find it! And when you find it, you’ll be so happy—you’ll put it on your shoulders and come home, and you’ll call your friends and neighbors in. ‘Come and have a party!’ you’ll say. ‘Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ “Well, let me tell you: that’s how glad they will be in heaven over one sinner who repents—more than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.
 

“Or supposing a woman has ten drachmas and loses one of them. What will she do? Why, she’ll light a lamp, and sweep the house, and hunt carefully until she finds it! And when she finds it she’ll call her friends and neighbors in. ‘Come and have a party!’ she’ll say. ‘Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost coin!’ “Well, let me tell you: that’s how glad God’s angels feel when a single sinner repents.”
 

The parable of the Prodigal: the father and the younger son

 

Jesus went on: “Once there was a man who had two sons. The younger son said to the father, ‘Father, give me my share in the property.’ So he divided up his livelihood between them. Not many days later the younger son turned his share into cash, and set off for a country far away, where he spent his share in having a riotous good time. “When he had spent it all, a severe famine came on that country, and he found himself destitute. So he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into the fields to feed his pigs.  He longed to satisfy his hunger with the pods that the pigs were eating, and nobody gave him anything. “He came to his senses. ‘Just think!’ he said to himself. ‘There are all my father’s hired hands with plenty to eat—and here am I, starving to death! I shall get up and go to my father, and I’ll say to him: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;  I don’t deserve to be called your son any longer. Make me like one of your hired hands.” ’And he got up and went to his father.“While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and his heart was stirred with love and pity. He ran to him, hugged him tight, and kissed him. ‘Father,’ the son began, ‘I have sinned against heaven and before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son any longer.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Hurry! Bring the best clothes and put them on him! Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet! And bring the calf that we’ve fattened up, kill it, and let’s eat and have a party! This son of mine was dead, and is alive again! He was lost, and now he’s found!’ And they began to celebrate.”
 

The parable of the Prodigal: the father and the older son

 

“The older son was out in the fields. When he came home, and got near to the house, he heard music and dancing.  He called one of the servants and asked what was going on. “ ‘Your brother’s come home!’ he said. ‘And your father has thrown a great party—he’s killed the fattened calf!—because he’s got him back safe and well!’ “He flew into a rage, and wouldn’t go in. “Then his father came out and pleaded with him. ‘Look here!’ he said to his father, ‘I’ve been slaving for you all these years! I’ve never disobeyed a single commandment of yours. And you never even gave me a young goat so I could have a party with my friends. But when this son of yours comes home, :once he’s finished gobbling up your livelihood with his whores, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ “ ‘My son,’ he replied, ‘you’re always with me. Everything I have belongs to you. 32 But we had to celebrate and be happy! This brother of yours was dead and is alive again! He was lost, and now he’s found!’ ”

 

All I can say in response to these precious illustrations: "Thank you, Lord, for seeing my need and searching me out so that I could be rescued by You."  I'm not going to try to improve upon the words spoken by our Savior. Let Him speak to you is my prayer. Amen.