"You may have left the Father's house, but you've never left the Father's heart." ~ copied

If you're happy and you know it, your face should surely show it. I can live with that one. But the one that makes it hard to take in is this one: If you're saved and you know it, your life should surely show it. Yikes. That one smacks of some serious conviction. Let's just talk about love and freedom and leave that other stuff alone. It's Wednesday, September 23, 2026, and I often do think about my life and how it is perceived by others. I remember the confession made by a fellow at a Church service one evening. Due to illness, he had to take a leave of absence from his managerial job. When he announced it to his group, many of them were shocked when he asked them to pray for him. He could tell by the looks on their faces that they did not have any idea he was a Christian. He had worked with some of them for several years, but they didn't have a clue. I can identify with that because at times we tend to separate our believing life from our work life. Really? Yep. That happens to most of us, and far too often I am ashamed to say so. A young man who worked in my organization refused a promotion because the new job would interfere with his ability to spend time with his family and attend to his duties as a believer in Jesus. That stung. He essentially said that me and my first line managers pretty much were married to our jobs, and 'the job' typically always came first. He went on to tell me he worked hard and tried to be a good employee; he was content with his wages and felt like what he had was a blessing from the Lord, and he did not want to jeopardize his walk for a promotion. Okay. Enough already. Isn't it interesting how God can speak loudly through even something like a refused promotion? If only. Truth is, we can't go back and change things, but we can do what we can with God's help to use the time we have left to make a difference for time and eternity, especially in the lives of our families. Amen.

 

With all that preaching, be glad I didn't do an altar call, take up an offering, and single out those who, like me, have blown it many times in my sojourn here on the planet. As our pastor likes to say: "If the shoe fits, buy a pair in every color." You hear it said that we serve a God of the second chance. That would never be enough for someone like me. He is the God of unlimited chances because He is always waiting for us to come back to where we belong. He is. He really is. A song I heard growing up reminds us that we are always welcome to come home.

 

Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling

 

Written by: Will L. Thompson, published in 1880 

 

1. Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
calling for you and for me;
see, on the portals he's waiting and watching,
watching for you and for me. 

Refrain:
Come home, come home;
you who are weary come home;
earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home! 

2. Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not his mercies,
mercies for you and for me? [Refrain]

3. Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
passing from you and from me;
shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
coming for you and for me. [Refrain]

4. O for the wonderful love he has promised,
promised for you and for me! 
Though we have sinned, he has mercy and pardon,
pardon for you and for me. [Refrain]

Unlike the famous book title, 'You can never go home again.', you can always find your way back to the Father's house. Still not convinced? Go now and read the account of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32. Just do it!  Amen.

"We are called to serve Christ in our sphere of influence. Use whatever you have and be faithful." — Billy Graham

Hello and welcome. Today is Tuesday, September 22, 2026, and I thank God for another day. What say you? Yesterday they did a CT Scan of my chest. This is the third or fourth time they've checked nodules that were thought to be suspicious. Here is the impression as stated by the radiologist in the test results: "Stable pulmonary nodules which are most certainly benign. Continued follow-up is unlikely to be of benefit." Can you say Amen? I can. Hallelujah and Amen! I still have to wait for official confirmation from the pulmonologist who ordered the scan, but reading this report was good news, and I give God thanks. I can do without the scan, if you know what I mean, Vern. I understand that today is the official first day of fall. They predict mid 90's for a high temperature here in our area. Not so fall-like, right? The wife of my youth has put out some fall decorations. Already. I suppose I could crank down the A/C as low as it will go, and we could sit around and dream about cooler weather. You know you live where hot weather is the norm when you celebrate even a wee drop in the humidity. That happened this past weekend. I dragged the wife out on the driveway early Saturday morning to experience 73 degrees because, with the lower humidity, it was noticeably cooler. It was. It really was. That lasted a couple of days, and now we are back to our normal super-hot days, yes, even in September. 

 

The Word of God tells us to give thanks in all things. That has always been a tough one for me. I know it doesn't mean we should give thanks for a horrible tragedy, but rather that we can be thankful that God is with us even when we experience great challenges. We also know that even heartaches and trouble work together for our ultimate good according to the Scriptures. (1st Thessalonians 5:18 and Romans 8:28) All things. As the preacher says, all means all, and that's all it means. Like I say, always being thankful is not so easy for me. At the end of the day, the only way I can reflect God's truth is with His help. Pray for me that I will be who God wants me to be. I do want to finish strong, and to me that means being an influence of God's truth on those who are near and dear to my heart, my family, including even the little ones. If we believe God's word, we know the destiny of those who fail to respond to God's salvation; therefore, I want to be a living testimony of what it means to live for Him. May God help us all to seek Him each and every day of our lives. Amen.

“What is the chief end of preaching? I like to think it is this. It is to give men and women a sense of God and His presence.” ~ D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Howdy, howdy, I hope today finds you and yours doing fine and dandy. If you are, thank God. If you are, like so many, and things are challenging, thank God because He is the source of our help. We can trust and find Him, no matter our circumstances. It's Monday, September 21, 2026, and I'm off to the X-ray techs to take pictures of that wee tiny spot in my chest to see if it's grown. I don't see the pulmonologist for a few weeks, but the appointment people have been bombarding me to get this procedure done. This means I will see and check the report a good while before he reports on it. After the visit to the medical facility, I will swing back by the house and pick up my bride because we are in Bible conference through Wednesday of this week, morning and evening services. What's a Bible conference? It's where folks show up to hear different preachers expound on the Word of God. There's always great worship through music, and we also have a luncheon speaker. We had a great kickoff yesterday morning and last night. If you are in Conroe, Houston, The Woodlands, Tomball, Montgomery, Willis, Huntsville, Kingwood, Cleveland, or anywhere, we start at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. each day. Showing up will be worth it. I can assure you Holy Spirit God will be in each service to apply the Word of God to each heart. More information can be accessed via the website or phone number as indicated in the image above. Lord willing, we plan to make all the services. I hope to see you there too. Amen.

 

I am glad to report the wife is making progress in her recovery from the surgery she had back on August 18. She is typically very active and always on the go. Having to take things slow and easy has been a huge challenge for her. We started using one of those zero-turn mowing units about five years ago. I used it some when we first got it. But she is the yard person, and she has done almost all the mowing for several years. While this is somewhat embarrassing, I pretty much had forgotten how to operate the mowing machine. She had to give me a tutorial to get me started, and I drove that thing in circles for over an hour. She would occasionally come out of the house and give me a look-see to check on my progress, and because she is a master, she was even willing to point out some of my oversights and mistakes. That made me feel so good; I could hardly contain my appreciation. Because I care so much about her recovery, I suppose that's why I directed her to return to her recliner and leave the oversights and mistakes to me. I'm glad her supervisory instinct is alive and well. Ha. Even sadder, several of our neighbors shared their concern about how she must be either ill or absent because they noticed the condition of our yard. Give me a break, already! I hope they know I've never had any desire whatsoever to have yard of the month. Nope. Never. I think you know where I'm coming from, right, Vern? May God help us all, and especially me, as I do my best to keep the home front intact. Amen.

"When your dog physically leans against you, it shows they view you as their primary source of security and comfort." ~ copied

It is Thursday, September 17, 2026. Welcome. Today's edition is being written by none other than Lil Miss Biscuit. Who better to let you know what's happening in and around the ole blogger ranch than me? I'll start with this: These People! They may be older, but they are always going. Going here and there, I suppose. The result? I am left behind, typically in my own pen. I would sing "Don't Fence Me In" if I knew it, and if I knew how to sing. Ha. They always leave the TV on for me. Sometimes they leave the news on. Are you kidding me? Hearing all that makes me glad to be a dog. It does. It really does. Sometimes they leave hours-long worship music on. I enjoy it, but for all those hours while they are gone to Church, I ask you, would you enjoy it for that long? I heard them say I was 2-1/2 years old. I can't remember them having any birthday parties for me. They do a great job with the food they give me, and they keep my water bowls filled. On the rare occasion when one of my bowls becomes empty, I do know how to make them ring as I bang them against the floor. They respond, but I notice they sometimes grumble a little. I don't really mind because they pretty much spoil me all the time. Mostly. I know they do because I hear them say it over and over. "Lil Miss Biscuit is so spoiled". A bit tiresome, don't you think? I will give kudos to the man of the house for how he keeps treats stocked for me. I do love me some treats. I'm not completely sold on the so-called teeth cleaner treat, but it seems to make them happy, so I chew it. I do have to work for the treat. Yeah. I inform him that I need to go outside. I run around without a leash, which means he hollers at me quite a lot when I get close to the road. That man can wake the entire neighborhood when he perceives that I am in danger. I like to mess with his mind a wee bit from time to time. And, yes. I do occasionally fake going because I am very interested in the treat awaiting me when we go back into the house. That is one of my fun things to do. I know how to fetch, and I do it better than he does at throwing. Living with old people, they tire easily, but here's my truth: I wouldn't trade them for anyone else in the world. Understand that I don't really know that many people. Who knows? Someone might come along. You never know. That's a joke. Enjoy the rest of your day. Oh yeah, I do enjoy lying behind him in the chair while he types out his blogs. I do. I really do. I guess it is 'my happy place'.

 

Y'all have a great weekend, Saturday, and the new week day of Sunday. Church. If I hear that 'Come Jesus Come' one more time, I'm going to cover my ears. Ha! Next time, I will tackle two of my least favorite things: Vet visits and grooming services. I felt a shiver coming on. Next time........ 

John 14:2-4 “ My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

It's Thursday, September 17, 2006, and I'm spinning the wheel this morning, and no one knows where it will stop. At 80, I often find myself struggling to locate the really good subject I was going to write about, only to find, like former President George W. Bush, that I misremembered it. I know. Physician, heal thyself, WRITE IT DOWN! This means I will have to do it this way. Make it up as I go. Perhaps that really good idea will manifest itself and come out from wherever it is hiding as I continue today's blog. Here are a couple of stories that help illustrate what I am talking about: 1)  An 80-year-old man tells his friend over coffee that he has been going to a clinic to help his memory. "And is it working?" his friend asks."Oh, absolutely," the man replies. "It's wonderful." "What is the clinic called?" asks the friend. The old man pauses, rubs his chin, and says, "What is the name of that red flower with the long stem and thorns?" His friend says, "A rose?" The old man turns to his wife across the room and yells, "Rose! What's the name of that clinic I go to?" 2)  Three old men are talking about their failing memories. The first says, "Today I was at the top of the stairs, and I couldn't remember if I had just gone up or was about to go down." The second says, "I was sitting at the edge of my bed and couldn't remember if I was about to sleep or just woke up." The third man laughs and says, "My memory is as good as ever, knock on wood." He hits the table twice, looks up in surprise, and yells, "Who's there?" I know. You've read or heard those already. Me too, but I used them as a stalling technique while I'm still searching those filing cabinets upstairs to see if I can come up with that missing idea. Upstairs meaning my noggin. However, I discovered my search engine is on vacation, and I will have to come back later. Ha.

 

I so much enjoy songs that speak to my heart. What say you? One I heard the other day that I haven't heard for a while gave me that far-away look in my eyes, along with a few tears. The song is "I Won't Have To Worry Anymore". It was written in 1971 by James Goss and Jimmy Jones. It has been recorded by dozens of Southern Gospel singers, and I particularly like to listen to it sung by the young Irish singer, Owen Mac. You can look him up on YouTube. Here are the lyrics:

 

1st Verse
Down here my burden's heavy
And the road is rough and long
Sometimes my feet get weary and so sore
But a brighter day is coming
Soon I'll stand on Heaven's shore
And I won't have to worry anymore

Chorus
Oh, I won't have to worry
When I reach the other shore
All my troubles will be over
And I rest forevermore
My eyes will be on Jesus
And my heart will be a glow
And I won't have to worry anymore

2nd Verse
Someday when life is over
And I've said my last goodbye
I'll see my Savior standing at the door
He'll say, "My child, you're welcome
All your cares are left behind"
And I won't have to worry anymore

Repeat Chorus

Tag
No, I won't have to worry anymore.

 

Critics say this type of song emphasizes escapism. I say Amen to that because that's exactly what I look forward to: Escaping from this world to my heavenly home. Yes. Yes. Hallelujah and Amen. 

The Apostle Paul, via Holy Spirit inspiration penned these words in his first letter to the called out assembly meeting in Thessalonica, Greece, (Chapter 5, verse 18): ~ Amplified Bible~ ".... in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."

Today is a very special day here at the ole blogger ranch. It's not because it's Wednesday, September 16, 2026, but I'm calling it a milestone of sorts because your word-slinging blogger has produced, since sending out my first on May 9, 2007, a total of 4,000 blogs. Thus far. That doesn't include those I never saw fit to release. I am aware of my proclivity for using way too many words when I am putting together my prose. Way too many. I am also aware of the many great writers who have warned against this tedious outcome. Here are a few: ~ Thomas Jefferson: "The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do." ~ Mark Twain: "Eschew surplusage." (From his list of writing rules, meaning to avoid unnecessary words or excess.) ~ George Eliot: "Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving wordy evidence of the fact." Elmore Leonard: "I try to leave out the parts that people skip." ~ As my Baptist preacher father-in-law, the late W. L. Rawles would so often say, "Here's the thing." I often use the grammar program to improve my text; however, there are times when it just doesn't sound like me. Sorry. It may be twisted and backwards at times, but it comes from my little twisted and backward pea-sized brain. And, after all, it is a conversation. You know. My blogs remind me of when I was a little fellow sitting outside the barbershop listening to those older guys shooting the breeze. No one ever interrupted the one telling his story to correct his pronunciation, his use of prepositions, conjunctions, tenses, or predicates. They might argue the facts shared, but not the grammar. Yes. I know about the process. Go back over your writing and take out all the words that are not necessary. Thanks for reminding me. Ha. Here's my final word on this particular event: I thank God. I do. I really do. I thank Him for providing me with the wherewithal to sit here at the computer and transfer what I have to say onto the electronic page. He gave me the abilities I have. He did. He really did. Therefore, it is our Great God who deserves the thanks and the glory for it all. Amen.

 

We all have God-ordained responsibilities as honorable citizens of our country, our state, county, and local governing authorities. (God-ordained examples: Jeremiah 29:7; Matthew 5:13-16, 22:21; Romans 13:1-2; 1st Timothy 2:1-2; and Titus 3:1-2)  I will admit I need to remind one particular individual of these truths given by God, that being me, myself, and I. We see so much waste and corruption in those occupying seats of government. As I have so often said, we vote for folks who end up being the lesser of evils. That in and of itself seems like a bummer. I was reminded of one particular annual fee when I recently paid the tax registration fees on my wife's car. In our state of Texas, they collect over $2 billion dollars via these registration fees. They report spending $1.8 billion on roads. (I hope that's true.) The rest goes to other areas of spending. We are blessed to live in Texas when compared to other states. We pay the 7th lowest in taxes and fees to the state. This means our state ranks very well in having a low overall tax burden compared to other states. My reason for mentioning this matter is that, for me, it's easy to complain about taxes. My wife as well. I believe I heard her say the other day these words, "It's tax, tax, tax!" She said that. She really did. Laying my complaints aside, I conclude we are blessed to live in the land God has provided to us. We are blessed to be able to pay our share of the tax burden. We are blessed from above. We are. We are so blessed. Thanks. I needed that. I did. I really did. Maybe someone else needed it too. Thank You, Lord. Amen. Just in case you are interested, the grammar program had a field day as it underlined much of today's blog. I hope it is happy with the work it did because, at the end of it all, here is my take: It is what it is. Ha!

Matthew 25:21 ~ Legacy Standard Bible ~ "His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master."

Good morning and welcome to another day here at the ole blogger ranch. This one comes to us sponsored by today, Tuesday, September 15, 2026. And as the great Dr. Seuss observed, "How did it get so late so soon?"  There was a time when I dreamed of becoming a major league baseball player. That was a dream I used to have when I slept with my Al Kaline glove held against my chest as a young teen. I was a really good player. I could pitch hard; however, it was not always clear where the ball might go. I could play third base or the outfield. I worked hard at it. But there came a day when I realized my limitations. I remember being selected to try out for the regional all-star team. Another fellow from our little village and I were selected. Someone, perhaps our coach, drove us to Alexandria, Louisiana, to practice with the other fellows who were also trying out. It was obvious the city guys looked down on us hicks. They did. They really did. Perhaps with good reason. The city teams had bigger athletes than we did. Many of them were good. Some of them were really good. They tested us on speed, agility, and our ability to hit and make plays. At that time, I didn't know the analogy about being a big fish in a little pond but only a small fish in a huge lake, but I learned it that day. I was really good in my small realm. I was not so good in the larger context. Needless to say, I didn't make the regional team. That experience taught me some lessons in life. No matter how good you might be at something, there is likely someone better. In fact, there just might be quite a few people better than you. That dream evaporated, but it didn't end my story. God allowed me to have other abilities, and He provided me with the environment where I grew to direct the work and activities of more than 150 employees in the computing and telecommunications field, as a department head for a Fortune 500 company. I no longer have my original Al Kaline glove, but I do have a baseball signed by him. It reminds me of how one dream might end, but God always has something better in mind. He does. He really does.

I could say much more about God's working in my life, but as my wife often says, "I think you've said enough." Ha. The joke about how one would have taken better care of themselves had they known they were going to live this long- well, that has some application to how I see things. I suppose since there was no indication of longevity on the male side of my predecessors, I had pretty much thought I would be gone by now. That's not a joke. It's the truth. It really is. That reality makes me feel very blessed to know that while I might be in overtime or perhaps even playing for sudden death, God has more for me to do. Some in the unbelieving world think that those of us who see our existence in the hands of our God, they see it as a cop out or a crutch to help us make sense of our lives. I can understand why they might see it that way. The key is unbelief versus faith. Faith. Belief. Confidence. Hope. I am guilty of all of those being in Almighty God. When He's done with me, I will go to be with Him, and that's what He has promised. (2nd Corinthians 5:8) My prayer is that, in some way, in the time I have left, I will find myself doing what pleases Him. Y'all are welcome to share the same desire. Go for it. Amen.

Hebrews 10:25 ~ New Living Translation ~ "And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near."

Good morning and welcome. Today is Monday, September 14, 2026, and at 80, I better understand those who say how much they thank God for another day. Right? That's not to say I didn't thank Him before, but I suppose the age situation has made it even more real. I also thank God for the enthusiasm and desire to be with my fellow believers each time we gather at the meeting of our called-out assembly, our Church. If you feel the same, don't take that for granted. Some might say it's because I am a Bible teacher and I sing in the choir. I do feel the weight of those responsibilities, but I believe in my heart of hearts I would feel the same way about Church even if I were not in those positions. I know so many who are in situations where they cannot attend, shut-ins, and they would love to be able to show up at the meeting place. Our Bible study group, Sunday school class, or, as it is called in today's naming approach, our life-group, is made up of folks primarily in our age group. Sure. We exchange a lot of burdens with one another; again, our age means we have a lot to say grace over. Our children. Their children. Their children's children. Our heath. Other believers dealing with great challenges. The rest of our community of believers, along with our leaders and their families. Our needs may be expressed differently than younger groups; however, they are just that: needs. We serve a God who cares about everything in our lives, regardless of our age, the good, the bad, and the ugly. We show up. We love on each other. And God shows up to love on us all. Now, if being able to meet in a special way with the God of creation, His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit God, if that doesn't bring a wee bit of interest and excitement, well, I can't help you. I can't. I really can't. I can't help but thank Him for designing our lives as believers the way He did, and that includes being a part of His instituted local assembly, His Church. Amen.

 

When I say we hear from God, I mean it. We do. We really do. That is, if the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth from God's Holy Word, the Bible, is faithfully taught and preached. The Spirit of the Almighty works when His Word is set before His created human family. Hey, that's how He designed it. After all, He is the Creator. His design for life is best. It is. It really is. Only true believers can grasp this. Therefore, I encourage any and all who happen upon my blog to become a believer in God through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. You can. You really can. Call on Jesus to save you. Mean it from your heart. He already knows everything there is to know about you, yet He loved you enough to die on The Cross in your place. If you want to know some about what the Bible says about how we all are sinners in need of a Savior, Google the Roman road to salvation. Some images there clearly lay out a summary of where we all stand before a Holy God and how He has provided us a way to be with Him forever. Check it out. Meanwhile, I urge all believers to take Church seriously. It can. No. It will make a difference in your life. Amen and Amen. 

"I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God as long as I exist." ~ Psalm 104:33 as rendered by the New English Translation, NET.

Good morning and welcome. Today is Thursday, September 10, 2026, and I do hope today's visit finds you and yours doing well. When I was a kid growing up in a small village in Louisiana, I noticed how many men didn't join in singing during our song time at our local Church service. The song leader was an exception. The pastor sang along. A few others here and there, but it was as if singing was delegated to the ladies and the children. One exception was my grandfather, Paw Paw Mac. He literally could not sing a lick, but he would join in enthusiastically. On certain songs about going home to heaven, he would have tears in his eyes as he swayed to the music and looked up at the ceiling. Maybe he helped form in me a love of singing songs that sought to honor our Lord. Again, he didn't know one note from another, but he knew the Savior he so often sang about. Many of the deacons seemed too spiritual to participate. Ha! Others may have had good reason; I'm not sure. But I'm thankful for the influence, as I observed my granddad in how he never followed the crowd; he just did his best to follow the Lord he loved. How funny is that? I learned to worship the Lord in song from a man who knew very little about the art of singing. I married a gal who came from a musical family. They were lovers of Gospel music, and in so many ways they were much better at it than I was. Life is better when you are able to sing about it. The greatest songbook is found in the Bible: the Psalms. God enjoys hearing heartfelt singing from those who love Him. In fact, He inhabits the praises of His people, and those are often expressed with music and singing. While I now find myself often struggling with hitting the right notes, I am reminded of that precious old man swaying as he sang, eyes heavenward, "I don't know about tomorrow, but I know who holds my hand." Amen.

 

I wonder sometimes why it is so easy to find fault with those in our past, since we now know so much and we feel superior even in the way we go about music and church services. Those back then just didn't get it, or so it is often said. They were too much of this, that, and the other to adapt to what we are able to experience today. Really? I know many of the blind spots and other things in the lives of my folks from my growing-up days way back when. I do. I really do. At the same time, I am forever grateful that God loved them, saved them, and they, with all of their backward ways, loved Him back and served Him the best way they knew how. We often think about Hebrews Chapter 11 and how God chose to recognize people we call heroes of faith. I challenge anyone to examine the lives of those mentioned in that chapter. Nearly all of them were recorded along with their faults, and some had major failures in their lives. Yet, God was happy to have known them, and He walked with them. He gets the final say, and while we may look down on some who aren't as 'with it' as we are, God might just include them ahead of us. Wow! A little food for thought. What's that? Very little. Okay. Take it in and see if it resonates. It did for me. It did. It really did. Until next time, may God add His blessings. Amen.

John Bunyan: "You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you."

I am running a wee bit early today, sending out my blog because I see my podiatrist at 8 a.m. this morning, as we welcome Wednesday, September 9, 2026. A dear friend and brother in Christ posted that lighthouse depiction one day last week. I used it today because it struck a real sense of conviction in my heart, and usually when that happens, I know it will speak to others too. Man, oh man, it's so easy to be tied up in knots taking care of me, myself, and I. When I am in that mode, I have trouble seeing the other person's situation. Call it blinders or whatever else you come up with, even perhaps a good excuse, and I'm real good at coming up with them; truth is, we are our brothers' and our sisters' keepers. May God help me to be more sensitive and aware of the plight of others. So often I am guilty of what the half-brother of Jesus, James, wrote about in his New Testament letter. My paraphrase from Chapter 2:14-26, here: The man is freezing out in the cold. I notice him. I speak to him. I tell him I will pray for him. And I tell him I hope he will be warm. What's missing? James says those words don't mean anything unless they are accompanied by action, like maybe giving the cold man a coat. The coat I often find myself giving is made up of kind words, even well-intended words. See what I mean, Vern? That lighthouse illustration reminded me of things like that. What does it remind you of? 

 

I know. I have plenty to say grace over in my life, my own family, my own stuff. Right? Yeah. We all do. But, best I can tell, Jesus had a different view He wanted us to have too. He told a story to illustrate how we should respond to those in need. It's called the parable of the good Samaritan from the Gospel of  Luke 10:25-37, from the Living Bible: ~ "One day an expert on Moses’ laws came to test Jesus’ orthodoxy by asking him this question: 'Teacher, what does a man need to do to live forever in heaven?' Jesus replied, 'What does Moses’ law say about it?' 'It says,' he replied, 'that you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind. And you must love your neighbor just as much as you love yourself.' 'Right!' Jesus told him. 'Do this and you shall live!' The man wanted to justify his lack of love for some kinds of people, so he asked, 'Which neighbors?' Jesus replied with an illustration: 'A Jew going on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes and money, and beat him up and left him lying half dead beside the road. By chance a Jewish priest came along; and when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Jewish Temple-assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but then went on. But a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw him, he felt deep pity. Kneeling beside him the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his donkey and walked along beside him till they came to an inn, where he nursed him through the night. The next day he handed the innkeeper two twenty-dollar bills and told him to take care of the man. 'If his bill runs higher than that,' he said, 'I’ll pay the difference the next time I am here.' 'Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the bandits’ victim? The man replied, 'The one who showed him some pity.'Then Jesus said, 'Yes, now go and do the same.'" ~ Seeing that lighthouse depiction also reminded me of this story from our Savior. What say you? Have a blessed rest of the day, and may God add His blessings. Amen.

Charles Dickens: Called the Bible "the best Book that ever was or ever will be in the world".

I'm back. Thanks for waiting. Joking only. Today is Tuesday, September 8, 2026, and I bid each and every one of you tuning in a hearty hello and welcome. You did not miss my blog yesterday because I didn't climb the stairs to get anything done in the ole blogger ranch office. Why? We were otherwise occupied, so to speak, doing this, that, and the other. We did have a most wonderful Lord's Day Sunday where the wife and I showed up to honor God and fellowship with Him and our dear brothers and sisters in Christ. The wife is still in recovery mode from her surgery, but she made it through our Life Group gathering and the worship music time before we needed to get her back to the homestead. She was hurting pretty badly, but she made the effort. Showing up counts, folks; it really does. Every day she does more and more to get back to her normal, hard-working self. She told me the other day that we must be saving a ton of money, since she is not her well-known shopping self. I nodded because she normally is a very active person, and it doesn't take much of a suggestion for her to be ready to hit the road. Speaking of saving money, I filled out a very long survey sent to me by the Republican Party. I usually don't participate in surveys, but I did spend about 15 minutes on this one. It had to do with gleaning information about how the rank and file views how things are going, connected to the upcoming midterm elections. We are conservative and will vote for conservative nominees as best we can find them. Even if we have to hold our nose, we vote conservative. This particular survey tried to hit the issues from a myriad of different angles. I answered how the leadership spends their time telling us how much better off we are, and sadly, most folks on the street are not feeling it. Why? The quote is attributed to James Carville, who advised Bill Clinton during the 1992 race against George H.W. Bush: "It's the economy, stupid!" We have children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who are challenged by the high cost of living, where their incomes are not keeping up. That was my theme in my responses. Will I end up voting mostly Republican? I likely will, but I may wear a clothespin on my nose to do so. Enough said.

 

I hope I didn't come across in a negative way, but I tend to lean towards cynicism when it comes to politics. When it comes to the political shenanigans that permeate our system, well, I often use the quote from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, where Mercutio says these words as he dies from a wound: "A plague o' both your houses!" Again, we do our best to investigate the candidates and choose the best conservative available to vote for; however, we know only God can be trusted, and that's who we are relying on. You may think that is a jaded view of the world, but we are still entitled in our country to have our own view of how things are going. Or, at least I think we can still have our own opinion. I hasten to add that I know there are good, God-fearing people holding political office. There are. There really are. And if you find one, let me know. It's a joke. Calm down. My advice is that we all continue to seek God's help in every aspect of our lives, including how we participate in the political realm. He gives the truest and best advice. He does. Every time. Always. Forever and ever, Amen.

“Before the reward, there must be labor. You plant before you harvest. You sow in tears before you reap joy." — Ralph Ransom

Here we go! For many, this will be a three-day holiday celebration. I do hope everyone enjoys the 2026 Labor Day Weekend. It is Friday, September 4, 2026, and I do hope today finds you and yours doing well. For those of us no longer in the public workforce, our days are mostly counted based on our next doctor's appointments. Ha! Back in the day, when I worked in the computing and telecommunications world, holidays like Labor Day were opportune times to install software upgrades to the network, meaning we did exactly what the holiday celebrates: we labored. We all know 24x7 jobs must be staffed regardless of the holiday. Air traffic controllers, medical support staff, first responders, hospital workers, military personnel, power plant operators, and many, many others. I think of some Bible verses that emphasize work and associated labors: Colossians 3:23: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. "Proverbs 14:23: "All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. "Ecclesiastes 3:22: "So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot." Psalm 127:2: "In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves." 2 Thessalonians 3:10: "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat. "Proverbs 10:4: "Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth."1 Timothy 5:8: "Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." 1 Corinthians 15:58: "Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." Genesis 2:15: "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." The bottom line: Work and labor were part of creation, and we would do well to follow God's plan and purpose as we go about the work He has provided for us. Amen.

 

Yesterday, we did get a good update from the surgeon regarding the wife's recovery. We made it to the medical center just fine. Halfway back, we encountered a blinding rainstorm. Blinding. It was bumper-to-bumper the rest of the way home. That will fray anyone's nerves, except for the 18-wheelers and those jacked-up pickup trucks. Those fellows seem to enjoy engulfing everyone riding beside them with water spray that rocks the vehicle. Just my observation; I'm not being overly critical because they may do it without knowing it. As you can tell, I am here slinging words again; therefore, it's clear we made it. When we finally got to our homeplace, I told the wife how I thanked God for His provision and protection there and back. Hopefully I will get these fingers to unwind by Sunday. Ha. (From holding the steering wheel so tightly.) Y'all enjoy your Saturday, and on Sunday, I hope to see you at our gathering place, where we will join hearts in seeking our Great God. Monday will be a special day for us: It will be Monday. Thanks for your support, and may God add His blessings. Amen.

“You don’t navigate traffic; you negotiate with it, and usually, you lose.” — Unknown

We have a travel day today, Thursday, September 3, 2026. Yep. We travel down into the heart of the metroplex, down to the Houston Medical Center, Baylor School of Medicine, to be precise. This will be the follow-up appointment for the wife with the surgeon or his designee. I should say Super Surgeon since he has so much starch in that long white coat it almost looks like one of the capes on a superhero. Just kidding. A little. I remember when we would go back to our Louisiana home place where we attended church with our folks. The folks remembered us, but when Mom told them we were from the Houston area, their faces would fall. Why? We learned that many of their friends were sent to Houston as a last resort for medical treatment. Many of them died in the Houston area. I should remember how to get to the doctor's office since we were there a few weeks ago. I should. I actually did go there again when the wife was in the hospital. I thought I knew where I was going. I ended up at the doctor's office, and a fellow flagged me down and told me I was going the wrong way on a one-way street. He was a security fellow and very pleasant. I asked where the hospital was, and he gave me directions. I shook hands with him, and we both wished each other a God-blessed day. He told me I might want to get out of there since other folks would be headed towards me. Ha! This time I will ask for God's guidance along with the GPS utility and the help from my co-pilot sitting beside me. I imagine some of you are shaking your heads, thinking I don't know directions very well. Bingo! Here's my current response: It's the confounded construction! That's why I have trouble finding my way. Got it? Good. Ha!

 

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Today I remember my little brother because this is his birth date. He left us for his eternal destiny back in 2011. I am three years older than Donald. We were fairly close when we were younger. After Dad passed away in 1954, we moved to the tiny village of Hornbeck, Louisiana. We moved in with my mom's parents, Granny and Paw Paw Mac. I was 7, and Donald was 4. They put us three boys in a bedroom, including our older brother Jimmy, the eldest of six children. Jimmy was 12 at the time. Jimmy got the single bed, and Donald and I slept together in the double bed. This was a new beginning of sorts for our pitiful little family. We had some great challenges intermixed with some great times in those transition days. I don't know exactly when and where, but Donald, even at an early age, determined he would travel on The Donald Road. He was different. Looking back, one thing I admire about him is how he wore his difference out for everyone to see. He pretty much bucked the system and, at age 17, after high school, he went off to find new adventures in the United States Marine Corps. He spent the next 20 years serving our country. He spent much of his time as a Drill Sergeant, a position he dearly loved. His life was filled with much difficulty in his personal family life, and he chased several personal demons as well. We reunited as brothers when he returned to the east side of Houston for a job serving the school district in their ROTC program. He came often to our home and to our church services. We enjoyed Sunday lunch together often. His last years were spent dealing with health challenges, and because I lived closest, I became the point person for the family. My sister Jo and I were privileged to be with him when he passed from this life to the next. Our stepbrother Victor and I conducted his homegoing service. He was buried in our family plot with full military honors in that little town where we restarted our lives back in 1954. Many Marines have told me the impact the drill instructor had on their lives and how their training allowed them to come home after being in a hot war situation. They instructed me to say Thank You to my brother for helping them and others survive. His life counted. May God bless his children and his memory as we think about him today. Amen.

Psalm 93:4 (ESV) "Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty!"

Good morning and welcome. It is Wednesday, September 2, 2026, and I am thanking God for the couple of showers we received last evening. Sadly, after the tropical storm passed, many have suffered heavy rains, with one area receiving over 20 inches. If anyone has been around these parts very long, they are well aware of what can happen in these types of torrential downpours. I threw together the little Mrs. Claus tribute and messaged it to her to brighten her day. It did. Her recovery from surgery has been a slog, and we have more of the same for the foreseeable future. She has been a terrific patient except for the few times she became a wee bit unhappy with her caregiver, me, myself, and I. That didn't really bother me, not at all, hardly any, not in the least; you can tell, can't you? Ha! I also made her a new design for an angel food cake, and I served it with strawberry juice and Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla. She loved it. I didn't whip the egg whites enough; therefore, the cake shall now be referred to as angel food flatbread. I actually thought about manna when I saw how it turned out. Ha! I also didn't use that special angel food cake pan since I didn't know how to operate it. I used one of those 10"x 13" pans instead. Lesson learned. I love watching the reels of Carter, the five-year-old chef from England. Haven't seen him? Look him up. His short cooking programs are great fun. I'm certain he would not have made the mistake I made.

 

I used the artificial intelligence ChatGPT utility to make that poster for the wife. And, yes, I am aware it has a problem getting the faces exactly correct. I am working on improving that area of use. I get complaints about it, especially from my boys who immediately blow up the generated images and text me how they don't look right. I'm working on it. Okay. I'm working on it. Here's the technical response for why this occurs: "Artificial intelligence struggles to copy faces from original photos because it builds images from mathematical patterns instead of actually 'seeing' or remembering a specific person." Most of the time, it is the thought that counts. If that turns out to be the worst problem I have today, I will thank God and move on. What's that? I could have moved on before I even gave the explanation? Thanks for your input. I will think about thinking about it. Later. I do hope most of you who read my blogs know that I do write a lot of tongue-in-cheek kinds of stuff. Just for the fun of it. I do hope you will recognize that and take it for what it's worth. Now. Get out there and enjoy the day God has given, continue to pray for those in need, and always, yes, always give God the glory that He and He alone deserves. Amen.

"In a world filled with chaos, our pets remind us to enjoy the simple moments." ~ copied

The wife likes it short; I like it scruffy long. The groomer tries to meet us in the middle; they then give me the standard: it will grow out, Sir. Ha!

Good morning, folks, and welcome. Today is Tuesday, where we are celebrating a brand new start to a brand new month, at least for this year, on September 1, 2026. Don't even get me started. According to our friends at Google Search, a man's head wash and haircut costs, on average, between $20 and $70. (The wife of my youth is my hairdresser.) We had Lil Miss Biscuit, our pup, groomed yesterday. Please don't even ask how much it cost. Shockingly outrageous. Think about this one. The wife often says if I am going to have a pup, we have to take care of the pup. My, how times have changed. When I grew up, the dogs that stayed around my grandparents' home- I'm not sure they were ever bathed, ever. Let me correct that. I believe I saw them once or twice out in the rain. Ha! They did get their free rabies shots when the Parish mobile unit came around. Now that I think about it, I do believe my grandfather would occasionally dip them in some awful-smelling stuff to kill some kind of lice or something. Fast forward to today, I do bathe our pup, but that's only a mere smidgen of the norm in taking care of a pet in these times. The veterinarian visit once a year can be very costly, and they track Biscuit as well as our medical plan tracks us. We buy the recommended food, which is the best that can be found; that is, until the vet clinic signs a new agreement with a different dog food company and then their product becomes the best that can be found. Forget about whether Lil Miss Biscuit is worth it. That's not even the point. Here's the national average spent: "Basic care—including food, routine vet visits, grooming, and supplies—averages about $4,272 per year per pet." We may be in the low to mid end of that cost projection; however, look how far we have come. Did I mention the variety of treats we have for our pup? I admit it. I am always looking for a different kind of treat because I wouldn't want her to suffer from monotony. Please forgive me, Paw Paw Mac, but I'm afraid this is how we roll these days. (Federal tax deduction for a child is $2,200 for this year, just saying.)

 

I noticed something the other day while riding my new exercise bike. I was playing a Japanese Samurai series on my phone with English subtitles. When the battle scenes became intense, I pedaled harder. What is that all about? I also noticed something while we were watching clips from the American Ninja Warrior TV series. I found myself straining to help people win even though the clips may have been from several years ago. Silly, don't you think? I asked my ever-present internet friend, Mr. Artificial Intelligence, about this situation. Here is his answer: "We root for people on television to win because our brains process them like real social connections and trigger emotional rewards when they succeed." No wonder my grandfather got so worked up watching the tiny black and white TV when the Russian professional wrestler was beating up on our American professional wrestling champion. We laughed at him back then. But who's laughing now? Even our pastor admits to hollering at the TV set when his team is playing. Before anyone writes me a letter about my viewing choices, I also hasten to inform my reading audience of the many hours of research I do pursuing the best presentation of God's Word for my Bible Study Class. Hours. Many. I just wanted to make it a wee bit harder for any naysayers lurking around seeking whom they might criticize. That's a joke, but if it finds a home where you are, remember what the preachers often say, "It's the hit dog that barks." Relax, I'm just having a little fun. Get out there and pedal a little harder. Do it for the Kingdom! Right? Amen.