"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young." – Henry Ford

Hello and welcome. Today is Wednesday, October 21, 2026, and I thank God for the means and opportunity to visit with you.

 

I can tell you this: What's up with the wobbly, weak legs when I first wake up? You know what I first thought? Hey! You are acting like an old man! That was a shocking thought. But alas, it comes with the territory. I share with you this explanation from Google's artificial intelligence utility: “An 80-year-old man experiencing weak and wobbly legs upon waking in the morning can be due to natural age-related changes, underlying medical conditions, or medication effects.” I plead guilty to all those listed—and maybe a few more. Ha!

 

Isn't it funny how one has to be reminded that what we're experiencing often has to do with acting our own age? The graphic represents exactly how this transition is playing out in my life. I don't even consider my age until it considers me. If you can't laugh at how this is playing out, I can't help you. Think about it. All those age-related jokes from years past have now become autobiographical. Did you hear the one about the old guy who . . . ? I confess, that was much funnier twenty years ago than it is today.

 

But I do amuse myself as I deal with this new condition called oldness. Let me set the record straight. When I first wake up, I may wobble and weeble momentarily, but thank God it's only momentary at this time. Hallelujah and Amen!

 

I continue to read many obituaries. That's been a long-term habit of mine. Let me make it clear again: I am not looking to read my own. I enjoy reading about how people made a difference during their time here.

 

One trend I notice brings some sadness: the absence of any mention of things done for the Kingdom. I'm not saying it's a universal problem, nor does an obituary tell a person's whole story. Still, far too many death notices contain no mention of a testimony of faith. So many folks are defined by their family, their working life, their hobbies, and their special interests.

 

I certainly don't support making something up about an individual as though that could secure them a place in heaven. That, too, is something many do. If they have not been born again (John, Chapter 3), nothing said before or after their time here will get them into God's heaven.

 

It is good for people to be remembered for their kindness, their respect for others, their charitable work, and their care for their family. The list could go on. But reading obituaries reminds us all that knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior is the single most important matter in life. Period. End of story.

 

We may say “rest in peace” all we want, but lasting peace comes only through Jesus the Christ. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. Amen.

Deuteronomy 8: 6-13 ~ “So obey the commands of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and fearing him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills. It is a land of wheat and barley; of grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates; of olive oil and honey. It is a land where food is plentiful and nothing is lacking. It is a land where iron is as common as stone, and copper is abundant in the hills. When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. “But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful!

Another day has dawned, and I thank God for it. What say you? Greetings from yours truly and my writing buddy, Lil Miss Biscuit, on this beautiful Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The keyboard sits directly in front of us, and yes, she does make it awkward to type my stories. However, I find a way, and she does seem to appreciate it.

 

Yesterday, I mentioned my maternal grandfather and his impact on my life. After the unexpected death of my dad in January 1954, my mom and us six kids moved from Port Arthur, Texas, to the little village of Hornbeck, Louisiana, where we moved in with Granny and Paw Paw Mac. I was seven at the time. From then until he passed from this life to the next in 1971, he poured into me, in his own direct and sometimes subtle way, much of what shapes how I see things today.

 

Yep. I worked my way up in the big company and was recognized for many achievements. Those experiences influenced me in many ways, but some of the choices I made along the way turned out to be wrong. The consequences were painful, and the hurt extended to others in my family. That is one of the serious dangers of riding what seems to be an unstoppable train of success. I began to read my own press clippings, and there came a day when I took credit for my achievements instead of thanking God for His provisions.

 

Through God’s mercy, grace, and intervention, my family and I recovered from the effects of my self-inflicted sense of self-importance. I’m not proud of those days, but I am thankful that God was there when I turned to Him. And He responded. I’ll never be like my grandad, but I can follow his example of faith because, when all is said and done, that’s what counts, for time and eternity. Amen.

 

We moved to the area where we now live in the spring of 1976, the year of America’s Bicentennial celebration. It dawned on me yesterday that we have lived in this same area for fifty years. As my doctor told me, and as I am often wont to say, “That, my friend, is a good long run.”

 

I’ve learned a few things along the way. Perhaps one of the most meaningful lessons has been learning to cultivate a thankful heart. Here is a song we can all learn to sing back to our great God. What tune? How about one of your own choosing? That’s how I do it. Ha!

 

Psalm 100
 

A thanksgiving psalm.

 

1) Shout out praises to the Lord, all the earth!

2) Worship the Lord with joy!
Enter his presence with joyful singing!

3) Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us and we belong to him;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4) Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give him thanks!
Praise his name!

5) For the Lord is good.
His loyal love endures,
and he is faithful through all generations.

 

That quotation comes from the New English Translation, or NET, which includes detailed translators’ notes. It’s available free to use on the internet; give it a try. I think you will find its attention to detail helpful.

 

Until next time, may God add His blessings. Amen.

"Living out a Bible verse through daily obedience is more important than simply memorizing or quoting it." ~ copied

Good morning and welcome. Today is Monday, October 19, 2026. I bring you greetings from Romans chapter 8. Our teacher yesterday, Bro. Benny, did an excellent job covering some amazing truths from this portion of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the called-out local assembly meeting in Rome, Italy. This chapter includes the widely cherished verse numbered 28 in our Bibles:

 

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.” —As rendered in the Greek Interlinear Bible (NT).

 

I’ve known many beloved brothers and sisters in Christ who have named this verse as their favorite. I'm reminded of one in particular who claimed this verse. He played a major role in shaping the person I am today. He was my mother’s dad, my grandfather, Paw Paw Mac. He was born in 1900 and left this spinning globe for his heavenly home in 1971.

 

My grandad knew well the meaning of “all things” in that verse. His life was marked by challenges and adversities, along with some gut-wrenching tragedies. He wasn’t perfect, but his life demonstrated his faith in the God he loved. That faith was what he clung to throughout his sojourn here. Romans 8:28, his favorite verse. His lived-out testimony. Don't be mistaken; there were good times too, but on balance, as they used to say back home, he had to carry more than his fair share. 

 

I’ll not go into the truly sad details of all that happened to him and his family, ours too, over his seventy-one years. However, it is a blessing that those in our family today can look back and remember how openly he lived out his faith through it all.

 

The verse he loved went hand in hand with the song he loved: “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow,” written by Ira Stanphill and published in 1950. I’ve mentioned before that he couldn’t sing a lick, but I can still see him swaying back and forth when we sang that particular song in our church service. How does it fit Romans 8:28? Here are the lyrics. I report; you decide:

 

1)
I don’t know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don’t borrow from its sunshine,
For its skies may turn to gray.
I don’t worry o’er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I’ll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

 

Refrain: 
Many things about tomorrow,
I don’t seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow,
And I know who holds my hand.

 

2)
Every step is getting brighter,
As the golden stairs I climb;
Every burden’s getting lighter;
Every cloud is silver lined.
There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eye,
At the ending of the rainbow,
Where the mountains touch the sky.
[Refrain]

 

3)
I don’t know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;
But the one who feeds the sparrow,
Is the one who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion,
May be through the flame or flood,
But His presence goes before me,
And I’m covered with His blood.
[Refrain]

 

We did sing that song at his homegoing service. I believe everyone present could agree that it reflected his devotion to God and his servant’s heart. He was a quiet, humble man who lived out his testimony, and that Bible verse and that song help tell his story.

 

I often think how wonderful it would be if I could leave behind anything close to the example set by this simple, godly man. Amen.

"If you get on the wrong train, get off at the nearest station; the longer it takes you to get off, the more expensive the return trip will be." ~ A metaphor, copied.

Hello, and welcome to our visit today. I started to call it a fireside chat, but that would be getting ahead of the cooler weather we’re supposed to wake up to tomorrow. Today is Friday, October 16, 2026, and I am thankful to still be breathing air on the planet. Don’t get me wrong. I look forward to the day I arrive at my long-awaited heavenly home, but I still have things to do here in this life.

 

The expression “a penny for your thoughts” dates back to the English statesman Sir Thomas More in 1522. I believe I heard it a few times when I was accused of daydreaming. Adjusted for today, that penny’s value has been estimated at $5.50. But saying, “$5.50 for your thoughts” doesn’t have quite the same ring, does it?

 

Some believe the expression “give my two cents’ worth” is somehow linked to “a penny for your thoughts.” If so, I guess we could invite someone to give us their $11 opinion.

 

As for the United States penny, we know it is no longer being minted. Spending 3.69 cents to make one penny no longer makes any sense—or cents—at all, especially when that penny is worth just $0.01. My apologies to whoever came up with this jewel: “That’s going to cost a pretty penny.” Ha!

 

I hasten to add that a minted penny can be quite valuable if a mistake is made during production. A 1943-D Lincoln bronze penny sold for $1.7 million in a private sale in 2010. Now, that really is a pretty penny!

 

I’ll leave you with this one because it more or less defines my journey thus far: “Always late and a penny short.”

 

I congratulate all those who have made it to the end of their workweek. Looking forward to “the weekend” is a time-honored tradition in our country. I’ve mentioned many times that, during most of my years in the workforce, Friday typically meant only one thing to me: It was the day before Saturday. Meaning? I worked many Saturdays. I did. I really did. And too many Sundays. Way too many.

 

At the same time, I am very much aware of how eagerly people anticipate the freedom of Saturday and Sunday. No alarm clocks. Get up when you want to. Go where you want to go. Sure. If only!

 

If I had it to do over, I would have spent more time with my wife and boys. I would have. I really would have. One thing I rarely neglected, however, was gathering with God’s people on Sunday at the place where our local assembly met.

 

I may sound like a broken record, but I offer this advice to those still pounding the pavement in their jobs: Your life, my life, and the life of every man, woman, and child are in the hands of our Sovereign God. We all need to take that truth seriously. Put God first, not just on Sunday, but every minute of every day. Make Him first. Plan your life around your relationship with Him.

 

That means starting each week on Sunday by meeting together to hear from God as His Word is shared and to build one another up in the faith. We then spend the rest of the week working hard, pursuing activities, and raising our families, while continuing to seek Him through His Word for direction and provision.

 

That is my simple way of describing a life in which the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—the Three in One, our God—comes first.

 

Okay. There you have my take for today. Yep. At 80, I do tend to go on and on. However, this truth is important for us all. It is. It really is. Amen.

Revelation 4:11~ English Standard Version ~ “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Welcome. I hope you and yours are doing well today. Today is October 15, 2026, and I’ve mentioned before how quickly the year goes by for us older folks. Researchers have plenty of ideas about why this happens as we age. Time itself doesn’t change just because we get older, but our perception of it does.

 

One common explanation is that we form fewer distinct or novel memories than we did in childhood. Some studies also use brain scans to explore differences in how older and younger brains process the same information. Well-established routines may contribute to that sense of time slipping away, especially when one day begins to look much like the next.

 

The suggested remedy? Engage in new experiences. Maybe I should sign up for skydiving, bungee jumping, whitewater rafting, or swimming with sharks. No, thank you. It’s okay. Things are different as we age. I can live with that.

 

After today, we have 77 days left in this year to live out the life God has given us. Being actively engaged in serving Him can keep anyone focused and involved. I greatly enjoy preparing to teach Bible lessons. I am also comfortable acknowledging teaching as “the gift” given to me by God the Holy Spirit. (Romans 12:6–8) As I understand it, this gift was given to me; therefore, the Giver deserves the praise whenever I use it to build up my brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

My aim is to use my time, my talent, my testimony, and my treasure to honor God, since He has provided them all. He has. He really has. Being dedicated to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and putting His provisions to use—well, that should keep the “Occupied” sign on my door until I leave here for my heavenly home. Amen.

 

The wife and I recently welcomed our 12th great-grandchild into our family. We are blessed: three sons, eleven grandchildren, and now twelve great-grandchildren.

 

Our desire for our family? To see each one become a follower of Christ and live for the honor and glory of God. That would mean spending eternity together in our heavenly home. Selfish? I don’t think so. We pray not only for all of them to be saved, but also for others to accept God’s offer of salvation.

 

Can we make this happen? Each must respond individually as they come to know the truth. But we know God can save them, and we pray that He will.

 

A true legacy is rooted in a testimony of serving our Creator God, rather than making worldly achievements the priority. That’s a lesson many of us learned later than we should have. Putting God first in all things is what we want to do, and it’s what we want for our family.

 

We can do our part, but only God can change hearts and minds. We continue to pray for every one of them—and for others, too. We do. We really do. Amen.

“The constitutional freedom of religion [is] the most inalienable and sacred of all human rights.” — Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States

To blog or not to blog: that is today’s question. It’s Wednesday, October 14, 2026, and I just finished reading the new content rules for the blogging utility I use to publish each edition. The policy is very broad. While it allows adult content, it also appears to expand its policing of political and values-based content. To me, it sounds like another form of the thought police at work.

 

I mention this because my blogs often reflect my Christian beliefs and the values I try to live by. Based on my reading of the new policy, those viewpoints could run head-on into their flagging process, and I might even be banned. We will see. If I don’t show up one day, don’t be surprised. Those who espouse biblical truths are often portrayed as promoters of hate and division. Sad.

 

Reading the policy leaves me concerned about how much room there will be for viewpoints like mine. Those of us who use the service must understand that the provider sets the rules and decides how to enforce them. So I’ll keep writing and publishing my blogs, and we’ll have to wait and see whether they pass muster under the new guidelines.

 

I suspect their artificial intelligence component will be keeping a watchful eye on what I write. You know, another agent seeking whom it may devour. Let’s face it: if you use a free utility, you agree to operate under its rules. That’s the world we live in. Still, it troubles me when nearly anything seems acceptable, while expressions of biblical values may draw scrutiny.

 

Today’s edition is number 4,021, and here’s to continuing this adventure!

 

Here in the Houston metro area, most of us are breathlessly awaiting the first significant cold front, due this coming Friday. Morning temperatures are forecast to be in the mid-50s, with highs staying below 80. Wowie, Zowie! Plop, plop, fizz, fizz—oh, what a relief it might be. Sorry about the silliness.

 

Living in our humidity-prone area, with all the warnings about exposure to mold spores and grass and tree pollen, we could use a wee bit of a reprieve. We could. We really could. Some readers of my blog probably can’t identify with our weather woes, since they’re already enjoying freezing temperatures. Not us.

 

I take that back. We had a couple of so-called Arctic blasts earlier this year, in January and February, when they say we experienced freezing weather. I suppose we did, but I don’t have a clear memory of the cold. I had to look it up.

 

At any rate, bring on the cooler weather! I love sitting outside on a coolish morning, sipping my Louisiana-roasted Community Coffee. That’s my chosen brand, and it is so good. It is. It really is.

 

Enough about our first true taste of fall weather. I’m pretty sure I own a jacket or two. I’ll check that out. Until next time, may the good Lord take a liking to us all. Amen.

Abraham Lincoln said this about an opponent who was a lawyer, “He can compress the most words into the smallest ideas of any man I ever met.”

Good morning and welcome. It’s a beautiful day here in the ole blogger neighborhood, although it’s still dark outside the window of my upstairs office on this Tuesday, October 13, 2026. I’m here to wrangle a few words and herd them onto the electronic page. Maybe I should add that I just might mangle a few along the way as I put together today’s edition.

 

Is it any wonder that a word like “run” reportedly has the most definitions in the English language—645 different meanings, depending on usage? I honestly wouldn’t know where to run to find all of those. Some estimates put the total number of English words at around one million, with just over 170,000 in current use. Furthermore, the average English speaker is said to know between 25,000 and 35,000 words, yet typically uses fewer than 1,000 each day.

 

While people may debate the greatest use of the English language, many consider John 3:16 the greatest Bible verse: “For God so loved the world, He sent His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (My rendering.) As for the greatest sentence ever written, one of the leading choices is William Shakespeare’s famous line from Hamlet, written around 1600: “To be, or not to be: that is the question.”

 

Those who enjoy playing with words can come up with some fun results:

 

~ All the faith he had had had had no effect on the outcome of his life.

~ I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.

~ I don’t trust the stairs; they’re always up to something.

~ What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear.

~ If it is “it,” it is “it”; if it is “it is it,” it is.

 

There’s much more. But you knew that already. Right? Meanwhile, back at the old blogger ranch, I’ll keep on wrangling and mangling.

 

Most of the people I know say they will be very happy when the upcoming election cycle is over. Me too! As for me and my house, we will be voting, but election fatigue has set in. Text messages, TV spots, Facebook posts, radio pleas, and a mailbox full of flyers—every day and twice on Sunday!

 

We consider ourselves to be values voters, but to tell the truth, finding candidates who reflect those values can be difficult. Choosing the lesser of two evils is an ancient concept, but it has become prominent when considering candidates for office. I read a statement from a preacher in Tennessee who said he was voting for the lesser of two evils and praying that God would use those elected, as He so often used imperfect rulers in the Old Testament.

 

God used Pharaoh not only to bring about His people’s freedom but also to display His mighty power. (Exodus 9:16; Romans 9:17) God also called Nebuchadnezzar His servant and used him to execute judgment on His people. (Jeremiah 25:9; 27:6; 43:10)

 

Since we believe God is sovereign, we will do our best to choose wisely and leave the ultimate outcomes in His hands. That’s my take. What say you? May God bless each one, and may God bless our country. Amen.

Matthew 6: 28-29, Jesus speaking, "And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."

Good morning, blog readers near and far. It’s Monday, October 12, 2026, and this is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24) Since the wife has been recovering from her surgery back in August, I have been the designated plant-watering technician. Don’t report me to the authorities, but I have actually been talking to our plants. I have. I really have. It takes around 45 minutes to water all the plants the wife has placed in and around our yard/home. One plant in particular amazes me with how much it proliferates. I’m talking about the periwinkle. These plants seem to grow anywhere, poking out of nooks and crannies in the most unusual places. Here’s some information I found about common periwinkle:

 

~ Common periwinkle—also called vinca, myrtle, ground myrtle, creeping myrtle, and “flower of death”—is an evergreen, trailing ground cover. According to a paper from a native woodlands project, it is native to Europe and has become invasive throughout much of the United States. In European folklore, it was known as the “flower of death” because its vines were woven into headbands worn by deceased children or criminals on their way to execution. The paper suggests that the name may also fit its behavior in North America, where the extensive mats it forms on forest floors can crowd out native wildflowers and other plants. ~ 

 

I can certainly testify to our plants’ determination to spread all over the yard, but I wasn’t aware of the potential harm described in that paper. We know God created plants on the third day, and, as today’s title suggests, plants also appear in examples given by our Savior. The recommendation in the paper is not to let common periwinkle run amok. Even so, I think our flowers are quite remarkable. That’s coming from someone who knows pretty much nothing about horticulture, but I do recognize the effort they put forth. I do. I really do. And I tell them so. What say you?

 

(The wife read this and contends that the periwinkles we have are not the troublesome kind described in the paper. So there you have it—a word from our resident expert.)

 

We have several Christmas projects underway. I am impressed by the number of hours we have dedicated to preparing for the spectacular Church Christmas program coming up in early December. Here on the home front, we are making plans for our Santa and Mrs. Claus appearances and thinking about how we will take photos here in our home. We have purchased a backdrop and are considering setting aside one room just for Santa-related photos. If it involves decorating of any kind, the wife is 100% on board. We have over a half-century’s worth of accumulated Christmas decorations; however, she always seems to be looking at new stuff. She already has an overflowing she-shed, but no matter how much is stored there, it’s never enough. You do know what I mean. Right, Vern?

 

Y’all have yourselves a blessed day, and remember to thank God for it. Amen.                                                           

1st John 3:2 from the Amplified Bible: "Beloved, we are [even here and] now children of God, and it is not yet made clear what we will be [after His coming]. We know that when He comes and is revealed, we will [as His children] be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is [in all His glory]."

I started my day thinking about how heaven feels closer to me than ever. Duh! Yeah. As a believer, every day you live here on this planet puts you one day closer to going home. Sorry. But it seems that we older folks often have that faraway look in our eyes as we contemplate the day when we will see our Lord and Savior face to face. What wonderful thoughts for this Friday, October 9, 2026. Yet, we spend our time here doing this, that, and the other as the days keep passing. The thing that occupies my heart and mind these days is doing my best, with God’s help and provision, to make the time I have left count—for time and eternity. This past Wednesday evening, our choir practiced an arrangement of the Dottie Rambo classic, “We Shall Behold Him.” I looked up the song’s history:

~ Dottie Rambo wrote the classic gospel song “We Shall Behold Him” after a dramatic sunset inspired her to imagine the second coming of Jesus Christ. She was driving to pick up a friend on the way to a revival service when she noticed an unusually vivid sunset with cloud formations she had never seen before. Looking at the rolling clouds, she imagined the sky opening up and Christ returning in glory. Overcome with emotion, she asked her friend to drive. In about seven minutes, she composed the lyrics and melody in her mind before writing them down. She shared the song with arranger David Clydesdale while sitting at a spinet piano. He finished the orchestration in two hours, and musicians were playing it the next day. The song reached a massive audience when Christian singer Sandi Patty recorded it for her 1981 album, Love Overflowing. At the 1982 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, it won Song of the Year, cementing Rambo’s legacy as one of gospel music’s top songwriters. ~

Dottie went on to her reward in 2008, leaving behind more than 2,500 songs. Most are familiar with Sandi Patty’s version of “We Shall Behold Him,” but I also enjoy hearing Dottie sing it. Look it up on YouTube. Meanwhile, what a thought—and what a truth! Amen and Amen.

 

 

 

One of the most agonizing situations for our Lil Miss Biscuit is watching us get ready to go somewhere. Let’s face it: She is smart enough to know that when we change clothes, we’ll be leaving soon. She typically goes into her moping mode, climbs into her little bed, and flattens out with that mournful stare. I’m not sure whether she has the abandonment concerns I’ve read about, but she is always so glad to see us when we return. She typically flips out! I took that photo the other day while we were getting dressed for Church. It captures her feelings perfectly. I’ve mentioned before that while she may enjoy some Gaither or other worship music, hours of it probably become a bit tormenting. If only she could comprehend how fortunate she is to be spoiled the way we spoil her! Her life is nothing like that of the dogs we had when I was a kid. They stayed outside, fending for themselves regardless of the weather. They ate table scraps, and how much they got depended on what was left. They weren’t really pets. They were there to bark and let us know when someone came onto the property. I’ll admit it: I do think about our Lil Miss Biscuit when she is home alone. I do. I really do. And I’m always ready to get back home as soon as I can. That’s how I roll. What say you? Y’all have a great rest of today, Saturday, and Lord’s Day Sunday. Lord willing, I’ll catch back up come next Monday. Lord willing. Amen.

“Every happy memory created in childhood is a treasure of time.” — Anonymous

Happy Thursday, October 8, 2026! As kids, we used to read in the comic strip Barney Google and Snuffy Smith, “Time’s a-wastin’!” Those were the days when we got the Sunday newspaper, and the comics were in color. Yay! But on Sundays, we weren’t allowed to read them until we returned home from church services. The sin nature was in full bloom in us kids back then, just as it still is today! We were allowed to watch the Gospel Singing Jubilee on Sunday mornings. But as soon as Mom went into the bathroom, we would switch the channel to professional wrestling. We did. We really did just that. Watching that ugly Russian beat up our American wrestler got us fired up, and I can tell you with great certainty that it wasn’t the Holy Spirit firing us up! I’m sure most of my readers never sneaked around doing things like that. Right? Think about it. I was sitting there watching that wrestling match while painting my shoes with liquid shoe polish. No wonder a little polish got slung here and there—all because of that dirty Russian! Then, at Sunday school, the teacher just happened to hit us right between the eyes with this: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.” (Ephesians 6:1) We may have fooled our mom, but as Granny Mac used to tell me, “You might fool me, son, but you can never, ever fool God.” Amen. I get it. But believe me, I still hate how that Ivan the Terrible guy always cheated on our American wrestlers. Ha! (I read that he wasn't even Russian; it was all just to fool stupid kids like us.)

 

Speaking of memories, I’ve often written about one of my all-time favorite pastimes: eating! I was always known as my mom’s good eater, Granny Mac’s good eater—everyone’s good eater. How can I argue with that?  These days, though, my appetite no longer qualifies me for that title. Between long-term diabetes medications and age, well, some of the things I dearly loved don’t taste as good anymore. I speak the truth. No one I know has been more blessed with good cooks than I have. No one. My Granny Mac, my mom, my mother-in-law, and my dear wife—all of them, without exception, could flat-out cut the mustard when it came to producing memorable meals. I hear what some of you are thinking: I don’t appear to be malnourished. That, my friend, is a correct assessment! But I still miss those days when I enjoyed such great cooking with such a hearty appetite. The meals are still there. My wife can put a home-cooked meal on the table that makes me salivate just thinking about it. At 80, the meals are still great, even if, for me, it’s not quite like it used to be. And that’s okay. If that’s my worst problem, I consider myself blessed. To quote my doctor once again, “Mr. Abbott, you’ve had a good long run.” Can you say Amen? I most certainly can! Thank You, Lord, for Your blessings on me. Amen.

"For every little kid who still believes in Santa Claus, there is at least one adult who still believes in professional wrestling." ~ Doug Larson, 1926-2017, American newspaper columnist and editor celebrated for his witty, pithy, and insightful one-liners.

Being Santa allows me to hang out with some pretty interesting characters.

 

Hello and welcome to my blog, where keystrokes go to die. Ha! This visit is sponsored by today, Wednesday, October 7, 2026. Thanks so much for tuning in. While waiting for my wife to finish her eye appointment, I looked up some online questionnaires designed to check for early signs of dementia. At 80 years young, subjects like this do cross your mind now and then. They do. They really do. I completed several of the questionnaires, and generally speaking, I seem to be in reasonably good shape for the shape I’m in. Joking. Might as well. The results suggested the possibility of some very slight decline—but just that: very slight. I’ll take that and try to remember it while I’m looking for my keys. Ha! It’s like the fellow who said he had a photographic memory but had recently discovered he had no film. Or this one: “My memory is not what it used to be. … Oh, by the way, my memory is not what it used to be.” I once bought a book on ways to improve my memory; I just can’t locate it right now. Add my memory issues to my tendency to procrastinate, and you get—well, I’ll tell you about it later. I also heard about a fellow who took some classes in memory retention. He now reports that he forgets to be forgetful. Hey! Laughing about the foibles that come with age is so much better than fretting over them. I feel blessed from above to be able to write about these things. Don’t get me wrong. Dementia and similar health conditions present serious challenges for many people and their families. Those situations are nothing to laugh about. Here, I’m poking fun at me, myself, and I. I do hope everyone takes it that way. I do. I really do.

 

The wife and I enjoy teasing each other back and forth. I do admit that I enjoy teasing her more than I enjoy her teasing me. I mention that in the interest of full disclosure. I enjoy the parody posts from the online satire website The Babylon Bee. I showed the wife the photo above, and we both had a good laugh. It’s always a treat when we can laugh together. I decided to conduct a little test of my own, so I worked up a new version and shared it with her.

 

Still funny, but it didn’t get quite as big a laugh as the original. The good news is that we both still laughed. She then told me people would be able to tell I had put my face on it. Really? Thank you so much for sharing that insight. Ha! Thank God for our time together. He has been better to us than we have been to Him. Amen..

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Jesus speaking, Matthew 11:28)

Hello, blog readers everywhere, and don't feel too bad if you accidentally landed on mine. Today is Tuesday, October 6, 2026, and you may find that it wasn't a mishap at all. I do try to emphasize life's greatest need for every man, woman, boy, and girl. That is, to come into right fellowship with Creator God through the finished work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who died on the Cross on our behalf. If that causes you to move quickly away, I ask you to seriously consider finishing what I have written for today. Here's a brief overview of where everyone stands, everyone without exception:

 

The gospel is the good news that God saves sinners through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
 

1. God's Design
 

• God made everything: God created the world and all people to know, love, and honor Him.

• We belong to God: We were designed to live for His glory and walk in close friendship with Him.
 

2. Our Problem (Sin)
 

• We turned away: Every person has sinned, meaning we have chosen our own way instead of God's way (Romans 3:23).

• The cost of sin: Sin breaks our relationship with God and separates us from Him, leading to spiritual death and punishment. We cannot fix this brokenness on our own.
 

3. God's Solution (Jesus Christ)
 

• Jesus died for us: Because God loves us, He sent His Son Jesus to earth. Jesus lived a sinless life and died on the cross in our place, taking the punishment we deserve (1 Corinthians 15:3).

• Jesus rose again: He was buried, and God raised Him back to life on the third day, conquering sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:4).
 

4. Our Response (Faith)
 

• A free gift: Forgiveness and eternal life cannot be earned; they are a free gift from God (Ephesians 2:8–9).

• Receive the gift: You receive this gift by turning away from sin and trusting in Jesus alone as your Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9).

 

If you have any questions, leave me a comment, and I will do my best to respond wherever you might be.

 

I see the weather folks are being a wee bit giddy over these 'fall-like' conditions. Really? Don't get me wrong, I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I do know that mid-eighties or cooler than mid-nineties. I am not a global warming denier since I am well aware of the abuse our humanity could impose on our ecosystems. At the same time, I am not a global warming alarmist because I trust God to keep His promises, including those He made concerning our created world. This is what God said to Noah after the waters of the Great Flood had dissipated: "As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night." (Genesis 8:22, from the New Living Translation) Does this mean we should trash the earth through all types of pollution? As the Apostle Paul would say, "God forbid." We actually should respect the world God has put us in. We should. We really should. Notice that verse from Genesis added a caveat: 'as long as the earth remains'. That tells us there will be an end to the current status, since we are also promised a new heaven and a new earth as a certain coming attraction. (The Revelation of Jesus Christ, Chapter 21) Again, there's little doubt what an unbelieving world can do in its pursuit of evil outcomes. Even so, I choose to trust in God and His Word. He will take care of it all in His own good time. He will. He really will. Amen.

“Your firstborn baby may hold your hand for only a little while, but it will hold your heart for the rest of your life” – Anonymous

Good morning, and welcome to our time together on this Monday, October 5, 2026. This is a very special day in our family because, on this date in 1965, our first child, our son Chris, was born. It was truly a case of children having children, but God gave us a wonderful son, and we have been blessed throughout the years. I’m not sure where he got it, but he was always a quick study—intelligent and mechanically inclined. He began working on appliances and other household items at a very early age. Today, he holds a responsible managerial position with his company. He has been married for 40 years and has three daughters and seven grandchildren. All of his accomplishments are worth noting. However, we are most thankful for his walk with God, his many years of teaching God’s Word, and his servant’s heart as a man of God. That counts. For time and eternity. Happy Birthday, Son, and may God continue to bless you. Amen.

I am no longer an avid sports follower. Believe me, I once was. These days, I read the headlines but rarely watch the games. The Astros were one and done. The Texans are pathetic. I’m not sure about the Rockets. However, I do enjoy reading the back-and-forth between our eldest son and our youngest son, Rodney, as they watch the games and text their commentary to each other. I’m included in their group text, so I get to follow along. At one time, I was also an avid NASCAR fan and followed Jeff Gordon throughout most of his career. I still check the race results and standings from time to time. I also check the college football scores and the standings but rarely watch any of the games. We also keep up with Caitlin Clark, the WNBA superstar. Sadly, through no fault of her own, she has become the focus of considerable division. She is a white player in a league dominated by Black athletes, and she brought a huge new fan base to the sport. Yet discussions about her popularity have become entangled with arguments about race, including references to white supremacy. I’m not making that up. That phrase appeared in a prominent report in a national newspaper. In my view, these controversies too often overshadow her play. She has broken numerous records in her short professional career, and we find ourselves rooting for her as an underdog, even though I consider her one of the best to ever play the game. The wife enjoys watching the various versions of Ninja Warrior. She also likes to make fun of me for straining right along with a competitor, trying to help them finish a competition—even when we’re watching a rerun. Okay. Maybe that explains why I am no longer a sports fanatic. And, just so you know, fanatic is where we get the word 'fan'. Get it? Good.

 

Our son Chris is out of town on a business trip; therefore, we will catch up with him to celebrate his birthday when he returns. One meme I read put it this way: While we are not perfect parents, we can be praying parents. And that we are. I do hope God will work in each of our lives as we continue the journey He has appointed for us. Amen. 

Hebrews 4:1 ~ English Standard Bible, ESV ~ "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Hello, somebody! Rise, shine, and give God the glory. It’s Friday, October 2, 2026, and I bring you greetings from my electronic connection to yours. Yesterday, we made another trip to the Houston Medical Center for a follow-up visit with the doctor who performed the wife’s surgery back in August. The verdict this time: her healing is slow. Too slow to suit her—and she made that clear. I was a participating bystander, since I've done my best to help her follow the prescribed healing agenda. They offered a new way of describing what might be causing her ongoing pain: a “traumatized stomach” from all the moving things around required to accomplish the surgery. We both were up early, left at 9:15 a.m., and arrived at the doctor’s office at 10:15. After seeing this one, that one, and the other, we made it back to our home territory around 12:45 p.m. Had the wailing and gnashing of teeth not been in bumper-to-bumper traffic, I might have called that a pretty good turnaround. Fortunately, I have a beautiful co-pilot. She helps me go where I’m supposed to go, stay in the lane I’m supposed to stay in, and maintain a reasonably good attitude about it all. I actually enjoy traveling with the wife of my youth. I do need to get her completely well because our first fall appearance as Santa and Mrs. Claus is coming up in Arkansas in November. We go back to see the surgeon again next month. What was that cure-all they gave us as kids? Castor oil? I think it worked because, no matter what was wrong with you, you never wanted another dose. Trust me on that one.

 

We returned to our home territory in time to attend a going-home celebration for a dear lady in our local assembly—our Church. She was a fellow choir member and the wife of a wonderful, well-respected man of God. They had been married for 49 years, and her completely unexpected death left our dear brother a widower. This was a stark reminder that none of us knows exactly what a day will bring. It also reminded me how important it is to show our love for one another. The wife and I are approaching 62 years of marriage, and I still marvel at how much she means to me. Saying it is important. Showing it is even more important. My challenge is to love her in the same sacrificial way our Savior loved the Church and gave Himself for it. (Ephesians 5:25) On my way out the door to choir practice, I told her, “Just in case something should happen, don’t ever forget how much I love you.” I sealed it with a kiss. There is some good news here. Our dear grieving brother in Christ is surrounded by people who love and support him. The even better news is that we know with complete confidence where his beloved wife went when she breathed her last. Through the Apostle Paul, God gave us these words: “to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8, King James Version) What a wonderful promise for His own. What say you? I say: Yes and Amen. 

"I am a collection of some thirty trillion cells... Each cell is a microscopic living universe, complete with its own power plants, internal communication systems, and manufacturing capabilities. Yet, these trillions of independent lives willingly subordinate themselves to form one harmonious whole: me." ~ Dr. Paul Brand, 1914-2003, Renowned Hand Surgeon, Author, and Medical Missionary.

Happy Thursday, October 1, 2026, everyone! Welcome to today’s edition. I often thank God for giving me the wherewithal to put together and publish these daily visits. I became interested in what science says about the writing process, so I asked Google A.I. what happens in the brain when someone writes a story on a computer. Here is the response, cleaned up to remove a section that appeared twice:

~ Writing a story on a computer requires several parts of the brain to work together. The brain helps you sit upright, develop your thoughts, turn those thoughts into words, move your hands across the keyboard, read what appears on the screen, and stay focused throughout the process.

1. Maintaining posture and balance

Before you can type, your brain helps stabilize your body in a seated position. The cerebellum and basal ganglia monitor your body’s position and make small, ongoing adjustments to your muscles. The brainstem helps send signals through the spinal cord to the muscles in your core, back, and neck so you can remain upright.

2. Formulating the story

Developing a narrative and putting it into words involves several areas of the brain. The prefrontal cortex helps with planning, working memory, and decisions about what to say next. Areas involved in language, including Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas, help you form sentences, understand words, and select vocabulary that conveys your meaning.

3. Typing and reviewing the words

Once you have words in mind, the premotor cortex helps plan the movements needed to reach the keys. The primary motor cortex sends signals to the muscles in your shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers. The somatosensory cortex processes what your fingers feel as they touch the keyboard, while the visual cortex processes the words appearing on the screen so you can read, proofread, and edit them.

4. Sustaining focus

Networks involved in alertness, including the reticular activating system, help you remain awake and attentive as you write.  ~

 

I know—that’s some heavy, thought-provoking information. But stay with me. Please. Over the years, I purchased several books for my grandmother, who loved reading. After her death, those books were returned to me. One was Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, written by Dr. Paul Brand, a renowned hand surgeon, and Philip Yancey, a best-selling writer. These evangelical Christian authors sought to describe the mind-boggling intricacies of the human body as a reflection of God’s design. The book’s title draws from Psalm 139:13–14: “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works.” I understand that scholars differ on how the wording of this passage should be interpreted. Even so, when I consider all that goes on in my body and mind just to sit here and write, I am amazed by how God designed us to function. Many verses in Scripture speak of how God made us. Today, my thoughts lead me to this simple conclusion: Thank You, Lord, for giving me the ability to produce a blog that seeks to honor You and be of service to others. Amen and Amen.