"My father was the best person I have ever known and though he was taken from me on that day, nothing and no one will ever be able to take way the eight years and two days of my life that I shared with him. After my father died, and after I lost so much, I promised myself that I would never lose who I am as a person – the person that my father brought me up to be. … If you owe someone an apology, tell them you are sorry today. If someone asks for your forgiveness, forgive them. Start being the person you always wanted to be today and don’t waste your time worrying about tomorrow." ~ Mary Kate McErlean, whose father was killed on 9/11 when she was 8 years old.

Welcome back. It is September 11, 2017. We all know that President Roosevelt said after the surprise attack on December 7, 1941, by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor, "A date which will live in infamy." That happened before I was born but it is well remembered. However, I would say that for so many of us, 9-11, reflecting upon the terrorist attacks on our nation that occurred on September 11, 2001, this day also lives on and on in our hearts and in our minds. Those attacks forever changed our nation and today I pause to say a prayer for all the families who were impacted on that fateful day. Amen.

These are some pretty scary times we are living in. One family we know left our area to visit in-laws in Mexico. They left the area inundated by the unprecedented rains of Hurricane Harvey only to be greeted by an 8.1 earthquake in the very place they were staying. That earthquake is one of the most destructive to hit Mexico. Now we have Hurricane Irma ravaging parts of Florida even as I pen my blog this morning. These major natural disasters have almost shielded us from the cataclysmic out of control wild fires going on in the western regions of our nation. What does all of this mean? I am one who believes the last days that we hear so much about actually began when our Savior, Jesus the Christ, ascended back into heaven. (Acts 1:9-12) I say that based on the testimony immediately after His ascension by one of the attending angels, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." (Verse 11) In what we call the Olivet Discourse, our Savior does indicate an increase in disturbances within the cosmos prior to His return. (Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21.) My point to myself and to us all? Make peace with God by accepting His provision through the finished work of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. ("So then, 'Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" Romans 10:13) And, be ready. There's a song the wife and I used to sing that has this thought for us to think about, "It could happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, it could happen in a moment, He could break the eastern sky." I believe that. I really do. Amen.

One of the serious overhangs from Hurricane Harvey has to do with the shutdowns of some of the roadways in and out of the massive Houston metro area. I was out and about last week, therefore, I saw this impact firsthand. A typical 45-minute drive into an interior area took me over two hours. I was telling some folks about this situation and I gave them this illustration. On that particular trip, I saw some of the people around me on the freeway more often than I see my family. And, get this, my time was better than many others making the same journey. Some reported nearly a 3-hour trip. Here's another insight. Having made a couple like that, the entire day was gone when I finally got back to my workstation. I know what some of you are probably wondering. Road rage? Sure. There will always be idiots out there endangering themselves and others. However, because of everyone being in the same boat, I actually didn't see as much of that as I normally do. Another observation that always strikes me is the sheer number of over sized 18 wheelers that it takes to supply our metropolitan sprawl. At times, I was stuck right dab in the middle of a congregation of truckers. You can't see anything, so, staying in line is pretty much all one can do. I think I maintained my cool pretty much even in that mass of traffic, but, I can't be sure my blood pressure wasn't up a notch or two. I heard one estimate of 100,000 commuters who were displaced by the road closures. Yikes. Thankfully, and I mean that, yes, thanks be to God, I am still here and able to commiserate with y'all. Have a great day and may God, the very God of heaven, add His blessings. Amen. ....More later.

The top left is a professional photo of mom and dad, made at their local Church. The top right was when they were visiting our brother Donald in the hospital. The bottom left is the year they came for Thanksgiving at Chris' and Sherrie's. And, the bottom right is one beloved by us all, it's them holding hands for the annual prayer walk in their little town.

Good morning and welcome to short work week Friday, September 8, 2017. That's because this past Monday was Labor Day. I think it's interesting how that a holiday can take on a different persona given the circumstances coming out of an event like Hurricane Harvey. While I did see a few people we know that did the normal Labor Day cookouts, most people had other fish to fry as they sought to recover from all that had happened during the previous week. Tomorrow, September 9, is the day mom and dad would have celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. I know it must be tiresome to some for our family to seemingly wallow in our love and appreciation for these two, but, their story has become a defining part of who we are. We can't escape that as the reality of our lives today, and, to be honest, we don't want to. I know for me it seems I bump into them often in the day by day pursuit of my journey. I wouldn't even hazard to guess how much space they have occupied in my blogs over the years. My mom used to tell me that I made her and dad feel so special in my desire to honor them. I always told her that was good because it was exactly what I was trying to do. And, it was. And, it is still my desire. We have never claimed them to be perfect, but, my oh my, how blessed we have been to have had them in our lives. I thank God every day for that. Amen.

I am not a climate skeptic, however, I am aware that many have turned the entire issue into a money making opportunity. Believe me, I am well aware that greed can do a lot of damage. I remember a police officer who used to be in my Bible study class. He was in a special unit charged with the responsibility of investigating environmental crimes. He used to tell me about how many times he had seen small business owners dumping hazardous chemicals into neighborhood streams or drains. Some buried their hazardous wastes in drums next to playgrounds. Why would anyone do something so dastardly? It costs money to have those chemicals disposed of properly. My point is that I don't think for a moment that humanity, in general, does not have the capacity to do damage to the environment God created and gave to us. At the same time, this recent cooler air I felt driving into work with my window down reminded me of the promise God made to Noah. "While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease." (Genesis 8:22, New American Standard translation.) I think those who intentionally pollute, endangering the lives of others, should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. At the same time, I'm taking God for His word on the subject and that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

We've come to the end of another series of our daily fireside chats. Some of you will immediately recognize that reference to be connected to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in his radio visits with the American public. He did some 28 of them during his time in office. His came at a time when our nation was dealing with a cataclysmic financial crisis, the Great Depression. Many believe those visits helped ordinary American citizens to cope during those difficult times. As for my 2,643 visits, well, they mostly have been made up of my homespun machinations and scatterbrained observations dealing with just about every topic one might imagine. I do know one thing. When and where I have included thus says the Word of the Lord, well, those inputs transcend anything that might come from a mere mortal. God's words have the potential to change a life, for time and for eternity. I can't be sure of all of the stuff that I've come up with, but, I am assured that when a Bible verse has been used, it is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I've been privileged to enjoy many personal fireside chats with folks near and dear to my heart. Many of them came as we sat by the fireplace. My Granny and Paw Paw Mac, my parents, my wife's parents, especially her dad, our dear Bro. Milton, and so many more. In fact, while I was writing this I thought of one conversation Paw Paw Mac and I had as we sat in the den with the fire glowing. I was in my earliest days of falling in love and believe it or not, he recognized the symptoms. He had some choice observations that I have never forgotten. I can't really go further than that. See? A fireside chat that made an impact. What do you think about that? Have a great Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday, and I will do my best to catch back up with you, come next Monday. May God bless. Amen. ....More later.

I don't know Pandora personally, but, I did open a box this morning and this is what tumbled out.

Good morning and welcome. Today we are celebrating Thursday, September 7, 2017. I'm always happy when my watch makes the transition from one month to the other without me needing to adjust it. It has to do with that old memory aid rhyme, "Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November; February has twenty-eight alone All the rest have thirty-one Except in Leap Year, that's the time When February's Days are twenty-nine." I think there was one you could do on your knuckles, but, those types of things tend to get filed in the archive cabinet that hasn't been seen or heard from in a very long time. There's no telling how much good stuff I would have to share if I could ever get my hands on the contents of that cabinet. In the meantime, we persevere, and in so doing, we carry on. Every once in a while I think I've found something from that archive only to be told by others that is not the way they recall it happening. I have read some about false memories. Most of us have them. It has something to do with an alternative recollection. Typically, they are not harmful. That means my recollection of being the hero and saving the day as a kid may not be an exact reflection of the facts. That was a joke. However, I must tell you, that at times, I do wonder what went with that cape I used to wear.

My most viewed blog by a huge margin was from January 5, 2011, entitled "Sound the alarm! The Boomers are coming! The Boomers are coming!" That blog was viewed 3,324 times. Here's an excerpt from the first paragraph: "You may not have known that I am a part of an elite group who will, beginning this year, start to wreak havoc on all the systems and services of the United States government. That's right. It's not the British this time who are coming, it is the boomers, as the leading edge of those of us born after WW2 begin to turn 65. That would be 1946 through 1964 to be precise and they tell us that myself and my brothers and sisters will be clogging up the systems at the tune of 10,000 per day until all 70 million plus of us are officially in the elderly care group. My coming of age party doesn't land until August but I am a member of the first wave, therefore, be aware that I put you on notice because the blooming boomers are coming to a clinic near you. Just joking but only in a nervous sort of way. I watched a segment on the PBS News Hour this past Monday evening about this avalanche about to be experienced and it does have the think tanks working in overload mode trying to figure out how all this can be accommodated without sinking the already weak economy. How did this happen? The war ended. The warriors returned home and reconnected with their families and that led to a population explosion which will dramatically alter the demographic landscape especially when it comes to the age segments within our nation. If all us boomers become a voting block, look out, we may have everyone in the Congress sporting gray or no hair! How funny is that?"

My next blog with the most views had 1838 views, therefore, we boomers obviously were then and still are interested in anything that pertains to our reality. There are those who have attempted to cater to this generation. There is a cruise ship, "The World", that offers apartments and condos to people who want to live on the ship more or less permanently while they travel the world. Believe it or not, boomers are huge purchasers of technology related products. One article stated that 85% of boomers research products and services on the internet before making a purchasing decision. Even a company like Apple states that over 40% of their sales are to people in this category. I know that not all boomers are well off, however, it is true, as a group, many do have assets and wealth. I recently heard Dr. David Jeremiah talking about why God has blessed folks with resources. What would be God's reason for allowing us to have means? Dr. Jeremiah used Joseph from the Bible as an illustration of someone who used his God given talents and abilities to provide for a nation and in many respects, the world, by sharing what he had with others. One estimate puts the value of the wealth of the boomer generation at over $30 trillion dollars. That's with a 'T'. The question for me and for us all is this one. What will we do with all that God has given to us including our time, our talent, our testimony, and our treasure? Amen. ....More later.

"But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' 'So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.'" ~ Parable from Jesus as recorded in Luke 12:16-21

My wife is something else. She asked me the other evening if I was glad to have her back home. I had to think for a moment to make sure it wasn't a trick question. That is one of those that is so obvious it drips with a hidden meaning. I said, yes! And, that was no exaggeration. We are a team and when she is not with me, the team does not operate so well.  And, on this day, Wednesday, September 6, 2017, I am thanking God for her and all she does to make our lives better. That question was an easy one. You hear about those that are not so easy to respond to. You know the ones I am talking about. ~ Does this dress make me look fat? ~ What do you think of my new hairstyle? ~ Were you planning on doing anything at all today? ~ Do you think she is pretty? ~ What exactly did you mean by that comment? ~ Were you planning on wearing that? ~ Can you tell me exactly what you are thinking? ~ If you were listening, can you tell me what I just said? ~ Whew! Those make me sweat just reading them. Some counselors have attempted to understand why men hate questions like these. Some think it has to do with men over thinking the meaning of what might be implied by the question. Others see it as an innate tendency for men to not be forthcoming with their true feelings or thoughts. I'll let you think about that one while I do the same. Just don't ask me what I came up with. Thanks.

I heard the mayor of Houston say they estimate between $200 million and $300 million will be required just to clear the debris from Hurricane Harvey within the city. Those kinds of numbers are hard to take in. Supposedly, Hurricane Ike was a $9 billion dollar storm while some experts are saying Harvey will be somewhere around $180 billion. That, my friend, is mind boggling. While there was some wind damage, most of the destruction came because of water, between 50" and 60+". That too is very hard to comprehend. Much has been said about the expansion of home building into areas that should have been restricted. Some lawsuits have already been filed against some of those who developed areas nearby a dam or reservoir. The home buyers believe the builders knew of the potential for serious flooding, yet, they built and sold in those areas, risking the lives of those who purchased from them. Others are calling for investigations of those responsible for flood control, management of the dams and reservoirs, and those charged with the responsibility of releasing water that precipitates downstream flooding. In the midst of the finger pointing there remains the suffering that will not go away anytime soon. I well remember the impact and influence on our personal sense of well being when we had to deal with all the issues relating to the extensive damage to our home from Hurricane Ike. It was hard to breathe and it was that way for a long time.

Another very scary thing I heard which might be the most difficult yet has to do with the question of whether or not there are enough resources available in both skilled restoration people and materials to provide for this massive recovery. I've already heard about scams of all kinds going on. I can tell you with some amount of certainty there will be no shortage of those attempting to take advantage of others. I watched a video of the great Bible expositor, Dr. John MacArthur, at a Bible conference and he was asked about all of the hate and ill will between people today. He gave a five-minute overview of just how depraved we are as fallen people. Sometimes we hear so called experts say that people are basically good. What does God say? We hear these words from the Prophet Jeremiah, "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?" (Chapter 17:9) That's why thugs loot an elderly person's home when the inhabitants are devastated by a natural disaster. That's why people choose to price gouge. That's why some will do shoddy work for a high price for people who are in the depths of despair. He went on and on in describing how much evil any person is capable of if they do not have God in their life. That's why God sent His one and only Son so that we might be changed by His power and become His child for eternity, and, to that we might be His hands here for good on earth. Dr. MacArthur's explanation spoke to me. Maybe it has something to say to us all. It does, because it is based on what God wants us all to know. Amen. ....More later.

"...but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.." ~ Book of Isaiah, Chapter 40, Verse 31

Good morning and welcome. It is another off day back-to-work and this one is on Tuesday, September 5, 2017. This past Sunday we attended a service that we will not soon forget. It ranks up there with the first gathering after 9-11. The mood, the heart, the presence of Almighty God through His Spirit, and the sensitivity and response of those present made it one of those that literally would take one's breath away. There were many present in the service who had suffered directly from the impact of Hurricane Harvey. Those people were showered with love and caring. What a day! The music lifted up our Great God as we collectively praised Him for His unfailing love. It was all about what we can do to show forth the love of our Savior during this challenging time. After the service, we were privileged to treat several to a luncheon at a nearby restaurant. Some of those at the luncheon had over three feet of water in their home. We had a great time of fellowship and sharing. So many have a long road to recovery ahead of them and they will continue to need God's provision through those He has called to be His hands and feet. Amen.

I got out to help the wife clean up our yard. If you plan to keep up with her, you had better get up early and plan to stay for the whole enchilada. Her idea of what is acceptable in terms of appearance is quite different from mine. She is, after all is said and done, her daddy's daughter. In other words, don't get in her way. She kept treating me like I was a weakling. Some of you may remember the old advertisements in the comic book for turning a little skinny fellow into looking like the muscle bulging man, Charles Atlas. She was worried about the 100-degree temperature, my recent issues with wobbly blood sugar levels, and in general, she thinks I'm pretty soft. And older. I am from August to April older than her. I suppose I should be thankful that she is respectful of her elders. The yard was a mess. She already had developed a fungus among us in her grass. She is heartbroken because of all the dollars invested and the blood, sweat, and tears she has put into her yard. She had begun a treatment regimen before Harvey came calling. She will most likely have to start over on that one. We did get it done. I didn't faint. She's more or less taking it as a down payment until it can be attended to later. We do have much trimming that must be done on our trees. One big limb busted out my truck windshield. We also discovered four separate leaks in our roof. All of these are small compared to others and we know that, not only because we know personally those who are going through the recovery process, but, also, because we've been there and done that in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.

Even as we attempt to get things back into a 'normal' mode, it is startling to see the number of major roadways that still are impassable in certain locations. We do have rain in our forecast, up to 1/2 inch in some locations over the next two days. That should not be devastating but it will not help the already flood saturated areas. One of the things that does impress is not only the amount of caring that has been on display but also the way folks in this huge metropolitan area get back to getting on with life. Last Thursday, I was out and about in a number of areas and it was amazing to see so many work crews on new construction for strip centers and other projects. It's like the all clear was sounded and these folks returned and took up where they had left off the previous Friday. That spoke to my heart about the resiliency of our folks. And, while I know this observation has been hammered on by many on social media regarding the truth of how this emergency has removed barriers, I heard a simple testimony at our luncheon on Sunday. One of those with us was an African American lady and she put this out there about what she had been seeing, "What happened to all the hate?" No time for it as people were busy reflecting the children's song, "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, Red, Yellow, Black, Brown, and White, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world." He does and we should do likewise. Amen. ....More later.

Happier Days Are Here Again

Monday, September 4, Labor Day, 2017, and I bid each and everyone a hearty hello. I am at home today celebrating the holiday. This past Saturday, we finally got the main piece of the puzzle back into place when the wife was able to leave storm plagued Louisiana to return to storm plagued Texas. She enjoyed her time spent with the elder statesman of her family, Cleon, her remaining brother, and as always, she is thrilled to spend time with her twin, Dorothy, who was born 18 months ahead of her. She was actually doing her best to help coordinate stuff here from over there. She was the one pushing for Jimmy and I to get our hands on a generator. I had turned down several offers hoping that power would be restored. The next thing I knew, she had given our address to this very sweet couple who delivered a brand new unit for us to use. It was good because our Jimmy needed a break from the heat and humidity, but after all, I thought I was the commander-in-chief here on the front lines. She would take exception to my reasoning on why I had not accepted a unit that had been offered by several different people. Her way of explaining it, too obstinate and stubborn. I think it sounds better the way I explained it. The good news is that she is now home and we are so thankful for that. Especially, for any of those who had to deal with what our Jimmy called, Grumpy Claus. Who ever heard tell?

I do have a sensitive side. The other morning when I returned to work and found the electricity to be on, my computer was working, and my Keurig up and ready, well, I plugged in that first little Community 100% Columbia Alutra K-cup and the aroma began to waft like a cool breeze on a hot summer day, well, it brought a tear to my eye. THAT SMELL! Well, I think it brought a tear to my eye. It could have been that little 'D' cell fan blowing directly into my face all night that brought on a case of sniffles. But, I distinctly remember, there was a tear. My 'at work' office Keurig is the huge unit passed down to me from my eldest son. It thinks it is an espresso maker and I couldn't be more proud. He is real stingy with how much water he injects to the extent the first cup will cause that cat to scamper right on top of your grave. (That's how we used to describe that chill on the back of one's neck.) I do thank Jimmy for carrying my little one cup home Keurig to our behind our house neighbor's place during our storm watch. She had power. He was good to go forth and back to fetch me a cup now and then. A few cups. Okay. Quite a few. He would make it in the little Keurig and then microwave it for one minute so that it would still be piping hot when he brought it back to me. That made our miserable situation so much better. It did. It really did.

I hope you recognize my attempt at humor regarding our experiences during this challenging time. I would never want to trivialize in any way whatsoever the plight of so many who have been devastated by this event. Some of the images we all have seen are almost too horrible to watch. ~ Those old people in the nursing home sitting in their wheel chairs with water over their waists. ~  That van where the great grandparents and five of their great grandchildren were swept away and all of them perished. One report said they all went to heaven holding hands. ~ The mom found dead with her baby clinging to her but the child was still alive. ~ Houses of every description with water up to the roof line. ~ The looks on the faces of families in shelters. ~ The death toll. ~ Yet, God designed us with a spirit to go on, to pick ourselves up, and with His help, to get on with the life He has given. I have prayed for and continue to do so over all these who are suffering. That lyric hit me as I was writing this paragraph, "Jesus is right for whatever is wrong in your life." Amen and Amen.  ....More later.

"Be strong and courageous. Don't tremble! Don't be afraid of them! The LORD your God is the one who is going with you. He won't abandon you or leave you." Deuteronomy 31:6 from the GOD'S WORD translation

Update: Praise God from whom all blessings flow. As of late yesterday afternoon, we do have power and it was still on this morning when I left the house. Earlier in the day, a young couple in our neighborhood brought a brand new generator for us to use. We thank God for their generosity. This was a wonderful help to our Jimmy who needed some cool air as he is recovering from a recent knee surgery. Jimmy has been our go to person throughout the storm watch and the aftermath. He has helped me immensely to get to where we are today and I am so thankful he was there with me. Now, things are somewhat akin to my recollection of what normal is, although, as you can testify, my idea of normal is not always consistent with reality, or something like that.

Good morning. It's Friday, September 1, 2017. So much has happened during these storm related days. Our grandchildren, Jimmy Jr., Alesha, Amanda, and Alex, lost their mom's dad, their grandpa, during the height of the storm. He had been ailing for some time and while his passing was not a huge surprise, it was still unexpected. It is a sad time for them and we pray God's comfort to all those who are mourning this loss. Loss is a part of what has happened as a result of this 1,000-year storm. When Hurricane Ike landed a huge pine tree in the top of our house we never expected for it to take nearly five months before we could get back into our home. Sadly, many throughout our state may have no home to get back to due to the total devastation associated with this event. Everyone in our circle knows someone who has been hit in a material way. We have dear friends who had several feet of water in their homes. Others have been evacuated to safety. Gut wrenching stuff. A number of years ago I laughed when the wife got hold of a little fan that runs off of 'D' cell batteries, 8 of them. I thought that was incredible. With our power out the past several days, may I just say that little fan has helped to save my sanity. I can't say I was cool, but, the little breeze and buzzing of that fan helped me to sleep, and, we all know how important sleep is to yours truly.

When it finally cleared enough for me to get out, okay, you guessed it, I was looking for 8 'D' cell batteries. This was early on Wednesday morning. Not too many folks were on the roadway. It struck me how clean the roads were out in our area. They were gleaming white in the bright sunshine, almost in an eerie way. I ended up at the big box store. Many of the shelves looked like they had been looted. However, I found what I was looking for. I can't even remember the last time I purchased any 'D' cell batteries. Maybe it was back when I was putting them in the boys' toys. When you are without electricity for several days you begin to hear all kinds of stories about when the power will be restored. Several times we thought restoration was imminent. The most recent was based on a supposed eyewitness account on Wednesday evening. The fellow told us the trucks were in our subdivision and taking the streets one by one. He had actually talked to them. They were a crew from Missouri. They could be on our street soon. They could. Really? Not so fast. Around 9 p.m., Jimmy, drove down to see for himself. Not a creature was stirring, not even one power repair truck. The show me state people didn't show me anything. When I came into work yesterday I think I may have met two or three other vehicles including a deputy shining one of those mega blinding lights checking things out. It was around 3:30 a.m. and I was very appreciative when the officer turned it off long enough for me to pass. Thank you very much.

I don't know of anything that gets us all stirred up like looting does. Anyone who would take advantage of the devastated and defenseless, well, they are, as Paw Paw Mac used to say, "As sorry as it gets." However, I did notice how the shoot first memes took off on Facebook. I'm not saying that lethal force should not be an option, but, I don't think it helps to make the killing of anyone something to be proud of. While I well understand the frustration involved, I just thought it all got a little out of hand. I know some of it was trying to warn would be thieves how they might want to reconsider, however, it became a 'can you top this claim?' scenario. I know our local policing authorities did give the order to shoot looters, if necessary. However, the several out in our area caught engaged in this type of behavior ended up being arrested. I was glad to hear our local district attorney say those caught looting would be prosecuted with the maximum penalty and not offered any plea bargaining, under any circumstances. That's my drive by assessment and some opinion thrown in for good measure. You know. Just me. Shooting from the hip. No pun intended. I may be here tomorrow helping to get things caught up. I haven't heard the word on that yet. I do hope things begin to get back to normal for everyone out there dealing with issues related to Harvey. And, that we all will find ourselves on this upcoming Lord's Day Sunday in the place of worship. See you next time and may God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.