We so much appreciate all the prayers being offered on behalf of our Jimmy. Thanks so much.

Hello Friday, March 19, 2021, and, I do hope we all are up and at'em as we do our best to get on with the life God has given to us. Another day and another wall here in my upstairs office. The man in the uniform dates back to WWII and it is of my dad, the one I was named after, as in Junior-Jr. The framed certificates include my completion of a three-year seminary study program and some of the study materials are represented by the white binders to the left in the bookcase. Another one contains a scholarship from McNeese University given to me when I graduated from high school. The others include my completion of an extensive supervisory and management program at LSU and the 1987 memo announcing me as the promoted department head over all computing and telecommunications for Pennzoil Company. And, there's more of the photos of us from years past, (before gray and then white hair), more vehicles, and a variety of books and other study materials. Each one of the artifacts tells a particular story and they include the distinguished career the wife had in retail sales. She was good at what she did and was often commended for going above and beyond. I look at these things and all I can repeat is the truth as I know it: God has been gracious and good to us. Amen. 

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2010

America is still a great place to be!

It is Thursday, October 21, 2010, and today is a good day to be reminded that while there's much that could be better, we are, here in this country, still the most blessed of people on the earth. I know that many are suffering from the ill effects of this jobless recovery. I know that stress seems to be at everyone's doorstep right now. However, we are Americans, yes, we are the folks that still get the lump in our throat as we see Old Glory waving and hear our national anthem. Obviously, these troubles would have been fixed if they were easy because politicians will do just about anything to keep their cushy jobs. I'm not being negative about politicians, just sharing the truth as I see it, that's all. You don't have to be a subscriber to the Tea Party movement to be fed up with those of all political stripes and persuasions who have far too long manipulated our governmental system to maintain power and their place on the dole. How can we be hopeful in what sometimes seems to be a hopeless world? I was talking with my sweet mom the other day and she was telling me how weary she becomes at times as she considers all that has happened to her in her eighty-six-year sojourn, and in this current crisis with my brother. But, she said the thought came to her that she should count her blessings so she with tears of thanksgiving began to echo back to the Father all that He had brought her through and all that He had provided to her. This became a comfort to her heart because it is therapy sanctioned by God Himself. I'll call it the Tears of Thanksgiving Therapy Treatment Program.

I was talking with some boys the other night at our inner-city Bible club meeting about how they can always remember God's love for them. They each were dealing with some difficulties in their lives. I told them that when they are feeling down and out, perhaps when things seem to be going wrong, they should take a minute and stretch out their arms. I had them stretch out their arms and they instinctively knew it was the sign of Jesus on the Cross. I asked them why Jesus was on that Cross. They replied because He paid for the sins of the world. I asked whose sins did He die for. They said for the sins of everyone. I had each one of them stretch out their arms and then call out their name when I asked who He died for. That's how personal it is when it comes to God's love. God didn't so love a blob of humanity that caused Him to send His one and only Son to die. No. His love was for individuals, men, women, boys, and girls, those with names, those with heartaches, troubles, and turmoil. Those in need of a Savior! I told those boys that anytime they find themselves in a really rough place where they are overcome with all that's going on, that they should take a minute and stretch out their arms because that is exactly what He did for them, for us, for you, and for me. That's right folks. Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so!

Yes. America is still a place where a fellow like me can go and share hope with some underprivileged children. While we take our freedoms for granted there are places today where sharing the message of Christ is illegal and can end up costing people their very lives. That's not a scare tactic. It's reality. Sadly, here in our own country, this very freedom of expression as it relates to God and His truth is under constant attack today. I fear that we will see in the not too distant future the passing of legislation that will make some truths from the Bible off-limits or illegal, not way over across the ocean somewhere, but right here in our own beloved America. It will be packaged as anti-hate laws but the effect will be to stifle the proclamation of thus says the Word of the Lord. It is already beginning to begin and it has a head start with our neighbors up in Canada. I'm not sure what those of us will do when that day comes. I pray for the strength that God granted to our founders, many of whom came from places where oppression reigned, and their desire was to be able to freely worship God and to practice His Word based on the leading of their hearts. It will be difficult. It will be divisive. And, it's already started. God has blessed our nation greatly. We need God's blessings as we move forward but God will not be mocked, therefore, let us all pray that He will intercede and keep these freedoms alive and well as we move forward. God bless each of you and may God bless America! Amen.       ...More later.

Have yourself a most wonderful Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday. See you next time, Lord willing. May God provide for each one is my prayer. Amen. ....More later. 

“The key is this: Meet today's problems with today's strength. Don't start tackling tomorrow's problems until tomorrow. You do not have tomorrow's strength yet. You simply have enough for today.” ― Max Lucado

Bentley here, "For the last time. I am just being me, I am not auditioning to play Grumpy!"

Good morning and happy days to one and all on this Thursday, March 18, 2021. I no longer check my blood sugar as much as I did earlier in my diabetic journey. I have adopted a spot check approach and today's wake-up number check came out at 110. I will take that number any day of the week and seven times on Sunday. I  suppose one reason for this relaxed approach has to do with how my medical support folks view my situation. As I have aged they seem to be more concerned about me being over-medicated prompting a fall of some kind. Therefore, my targets are no longer as strict as they once were. I think this has been a good thing for me since I no longer fret over it as much. And, it seems, for me, my overall A1C has been pretty much as good as it was when I was much more on top of all things diabetes. For me! Every person is different and I would never recommend my approach to anyone. Just me, and, I am thankful it continues to be flagged by my primary care as being in the well-controlled category. 

Our Jimmy has been scheduled for a quadruple bypass procedure later this month. He will soon be 53 and he's pretty bummed about it, but, he really has to get it done given the seriousness of the status of his heart. The surgeon assured Jimmy he does these types of surgical procedures nearly every day. The first bypass procedure in the US dates back to 1960 and while it continues to be a serious affair, we all know of the great improvements and innovations achieved in this specialty. We are trusting God as we seek His provision. Amen.

I seem to have focused on medical stuff today, but, it too is a good deal of what constitutes The View From Here these days. And, so it goes. Have a great rest of the day and may God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

“If we feel we are missing out sometimes, it may be because we simply forget to consult the past or neglect to think up its ties with the presence. ("Walking down the memory lane" )” ― Erik Pevernagie

Good morning and welcome once again. I am in my office upstairs on this Wednesday, March 17, 2021, as I wish each and everyone a happy St. Patrick Day celebration. The photo is another part of the memory chain here in my office. The framed artifact on the right reflects scenes from "It's a Wonderful Life", one of our all-time favorite Christmas movies. The flag at the top left is the one from my dad's funeral back in January of 1954. Most of the books are Bible-related study materials. Nearly all of these are readily available on the internet today and I typically look them up when doing research or lesson prep. The portrait on the left wall is a family photo from when our boys were much younger and still at home. The other photos all reflect on our journey together. There are quite a bit of Jeff Gordon memorabilia since I used to follow him some when he was racing in NASCAR. There is also a diecast model of a 1955 Ford Crown Victoria which is the car I used when my girlfriend and I, now my wife, were dating. I see the four-point deer antlers from one I shot and killed hunting with my wife's brother Cleon, most likely in the late 1960s or early 1970s. That trophy-looking pen set lists the 12 different jobs I held during my tenure at Pennzoil Company between 1969-1989. It was a gift from my staff celebrating my 20th anniversary. There are some vintage photos of family, some Avon cologne bottles given to me by my mom, and a variety of miscellaneous this, that, and the other. Those two bookcases reflect a lot of water under a lot of bridges with even more memories. See what I mean?

Sorry to be running late but I had to interrupt to take Mr. Bentley for an early appointment with the vet to get a shot for his allergies. Yep. When they say the Shi Tzu breed is high maintenance, if that means dollars, I can testify. Our Jimmy has his heart surgeon consultation this morning. The wife's sister is doing well but her podiatrist doesn't want her to put any weight on her foot for four months. We are thanking God for things being as well as they are. I do hope y'all have a good rest of the day. May God bless each one. Amen. ......More later.

Happy Birthday to our sweet and grand, Kyleigh!

Kyleigh with Dad Rodney.

Good morning and welcome to another day where we proudly recognize the birthday of another grandchild. It is Tuesday, March 16, 2021, and we pause to celebrate the 26th year of the sojourn here on the planet of our granddaughter, Kyleigh. Kyleigh is a remarkable woman, school teacher, friend to a huge group of her peers, and she has always shown love and respect to us. We notice things like that. We thank God for Kyleigh and pray that He will lead, guide, and direct her way. Amen. Happy Birthday Sweetie, our love, MiMi and Poppy.

Today I am working in my upstairs office. I don't come up here that much anymore but when I do, the room is filled with memories. First of all, I have the handed down Keurig that thinks it is an expresso machine. It puts only a smidgen of water into the cup and it is so strong it makes me close my eyes and wince, but, at the same time, it is so-o-o-o-o good! You know. A little of that goes a long way. Sitting beside the Keurig is a hand-painted circular saw blade, painted by and given to me by Bro. Max Holmes, who has gone on to his heavenly reward. Max was a real character and when I see that saw blade I remember him, some of his very plain comments, and some of the laughs we shared together. I will never forget a visit I had with him in the nursing facility. A lady we know showed up on one of those motorized vehicles, called a mobility power scooter. She had her tiny little Terrier with her, Gracie. Max was an over-the-top dog lover and the lady put Gracie up on the bed and she went up to Max and licked him all over his face. Max was in hog heaven. They had brought Max's supper and Gracie saw it on the tray, went over to it, looked at it, smelled of it, and turned away. Max gleefully pointed out, "What have I been telling you? That stuff is so bad, the dog won't even touch it!" I always had prayer with Bro. Max and that sawblade triggers many good memories. When I am back up here again I will try and share some more of why this ole office is a place filled up with stuff collected on the Memory Highway. 

Sentimental? You betcha! And, may I just say as I get older it appears to be getting worse. I say that so you will recognize some of it in my writings. An example: The other afternoon we were watching the John Wayne film that is one of our favorites, 'Big Jake'. It is about him recovering his kidnapped grandson. In that scene when his grandson asks him, "Are you my grandfather?", well, I found tears welling up, or, maybe I had something in my eyes. Both of them? Oh well, I will just have to get used to it. Enjoy your day and may God add His blessings. Amen. .....More later.

Okay. I confess: "Mr. Bentley has left his paw prints on my heart."

Good morning and welcome. It is Monday, March 15, 2021. For you history buffs, it is the day designated as the Ides of March, remembering the date of the assassination of Julius Caesar. Thanks to everyone who has been praying for our son, Jimmy. We did have his heart cath last Friday. The news was not what we had hoped for, but, at least we now know. He will have to undergo surgery to deal with one major artery that has a 100% blockage, and, a second with partial blockage. He will be consulting with a heart surgeon, hopefully, this week. He recently had the stress test for an entirely different reason, therefore, we are thankful that it discovered these issues. God is good. Amen. 

Our pastor mentioned yesterday that part of the educational process being developed by the new administration is to teach the children how to reeducate their parents. Of course, indoctrinating children has been going on for a long time, but, it appears it will now be formalized into an official program with curriculums designed for this purpose. If you don't think this to be scary, well, I don't know what it will take. We have determined that our societal problems are caused by old statues, children's books, and cartoons, while rap music using filth is considered to be a cultural art form. One meme recently portrayed this sentiment: Thank you for saving my son from seeing Pepe Le Pew, meanwhile, I just saw him kill a prostitute on Grand Theft Auto to keep from having to pay her. My take? Nothing new, but, to me, only God can get us out of this mess. It is as simple as that. 

Meanwhile, we have 'today' to deal with. And, each of us needs God as we navigate through the vicissitudes of life. (Sorry, but, I haven't used vicissitudes in a while.) Take care and may God bless each one. Until next time, may God add His blessings on each one, and, on our great nation. Amen. ....More later.

Happy Birthday to our granddaughter Celeste Danielle!

Good Friday to one and all. It is March 12, 2021, and we pause to recognize and celebrate the birthday of our granddaughter, Celeste Danielle. She is a remarkable woman who has distinguished herself in her academic pursuits, in her work as an emergency dispatch technician for the Baytown Police Department, and as an entrepreneur in her online jewelry sales business. In addition, she loves the Lord and is unashamed in her testimony for her faith. We thank God for her and pray that God will continue to bless. Happy Birthday! Our love, MiMi and Poppy.

Here are some puns I found and used in a blog I wrote back in 2007. Maybe at least one of them will bring a smile. Have a great Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday. Say a prayer for our Jimmy as he undergoes his heart cath this afternoon. Until next time may God bless us all. Amen. ......More later. 

1. Two vultures board an airplane, each carrying two dead raccoons. The stewardess looks at them and says, "I'm sorry, gentlemen, only one carrion allowed per passenger."

2. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. The one turns to the other and says, "Dam! ... "

3. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.

4. Two hydrogen atoms meet. One says, "I've lost my electron." The other says, "Are you sure?" The first replies "Yes, I'm positive."

5. Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? He wanted to transcend dental medication.

6. A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse. 'But why?" they asked, as they moved off. "Because", he said, "I can't stand chess nuts boasting in an open foyer."

7. A woman has twins and gives them up for adoption One of them goes to a family in Egypt and is named "Ahmal." The other goes to a family in Spain; they name him "Juan." Years later, Juan sends a picture of himself to his birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her husband that she wishes she also had a picture of Ahmal. Her husband responds, "They're twins! If you've seen Juan, you've seen Ahmal."

8. These friars were behind on their belfry payments, so they opened up a small florist shop to raise funds. Since everyone liked to buy flowers from the men of God, a rival florist across town thought the competition was unfair. He asked the good fathers to close down, but they would not. He went back and begged the friars to close. They ignored him. So, the rival florist hired Hugh MacTaggart, the roughest and most vicious thug in town to "persuade" them to close. Hugh beat up the friars and trashed their store, saying he'd be back if they didn't close up shop. Terrified, they did so, thereby proving that Hugh, and only Hugh, can prevent florist friars.

9. Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail, and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him ...(Oh, man, this is so bad, it's good)... A super calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.

10. And finally, there was the person who sent ten different puns to his friends, with the hope that at least one of the puns would make them laugh. No pun in ten did.

“We are like the moon. The moon shines anyway, but it does not produce its own light. It reflects the light illuminated onto its surface by the Sun and is never proud to say "I am the source of light". God shines through us, hence He deserves the glory; not us.” ― Israelmore Ayivor

Hello and welcome. It is Thursday, March 11, 2021. I have for many years passed myself off as a high mileage vehicle. I have proof. However, it is for my old Chevy pickup. It finally hit the 200,000-mile mark. I consider it to have been and still is a blessing. I was able to purchase it from the owner of the company where I spent the last 12 years of my public working life. Our pastor recently had his very expensive Chevy truck stolen. He said he had been bombarded by expert advice regarding truck theft and thievery in general. His final comment from the pulpit went like this, "Based on everything I have received and after due consideration, I suppose the only way to avoid this happening again would be for me to buy a Ford pickup." It was a joke, but, I can testify to the reliability and durability of my old Chevy pickup, and, Mr. Bentley dearly loves it too.

Speaking of Mr. Bentley, our granddaughter Amanda and her husband Manny brought over their newest edition, Yoda, a black pug, to show him off. He may weigh a pound and is maybe 7 inches long. Mr. Bentley wanted no part of this little miniature yipping and yapping puppy. He actually didn't know what to make of Yoda. If Yoda tried to come towards him, he backed up and looked around like he needed someone to tell him what he was supposed to do. Let's face it, our Mr. Bentley leads a fairly secluded life. They wanted them to be friends. Maybe next time.

The wife's sister goes back to her surgeon today and we are anticipating good results. Our Jimmy has his heart cath procedure tomorrow. And, as the song says, the beat goes on, and on, and on. Have a great rest of the day and may God bless. Amen. .....More later.