A Rough Night Of Storms. Angels Bowling?4/15/2026

 Good Morning,

My mug was just filled with hot Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee and it is just the right temperature!

Proverbs 22:3 The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

Last night some severe storms rolled through our area as well as several other counties in Wisconsin. There was a lot of lightning displayed with plenty of thunder. 

As a child when thunder clapped and lightning  lit up the sky, my mother and my grandmother would tell us not to be afraid. They explained the noise was coming from heaven because the angels were bowling. And when an angel rolled a strike the lightning was like fireworks used in celebrating the strike. 

I thought about that as I drove home last night from a Bible study. One big lightning strike lit up the highway and I laughed and tipped my hat toward heaven and said "Good one. Perfect game?

Once I was in high school and with just a little more science in me I was able  find some photos on lightning and storm damage at the library. I checked the books out and went home. My goal was to protect my little brother from going outside in storms just because it was angels bowling in heaven. He was a curious little knucklehead and injury prone as well. I showed Mom what I found and when she saw the burned people who were struck by lightning. WOW

My Mom was furious with me. She believed that he would be scarred by the pictures and would have nightmares. I plan on asking him if he suffered PTSD from just being respectful of rough weather. 

My point in all of this is to teach children to respect the elements of storms and being safe by just using common sense without fairy tales.  Safe is safe and recklessness  is taught as well, often masking and adding a line of sugar coating that takes away some of the facts but is often clouded by good intentions.  

I am going to bed early in case the tooth fairy comes tonight for the ones I saved for a rainy day.

God bless,

Marty

Tying Your Shoes 4/14/2026

 Good Morning,

A hot cup of Door County Toffee Pretzel Coffee is at my side. There are two sleepy dogs at my feet and it is time to write. 

Ephesians 4:2 ESV With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love. 

One of the requirements for me to be able to attend Kindergarten was that I needed to be able to tie my shoes. My Dad would drill me for an hour at a time and I just couldn't get the hang of it. He was not filled with the gift of patience either. The task of teaching shoe tying 101  was handed off to my mother. 

Mom was a little more patient with me and would stop me in the middle of tying my shoe  and correct me with what I had just done wrong. She would make me start over and and work at it until I was successful. 

It was many years later and my mother had just received and new set of heart valves and we ready to leave the hospital. She was able to dress herself, but could not bend over and tie her shoes. She sat on the edge of the bed and I put her shoes on her feet. I tied them up and she made eye contact with me. She said. "Nice job. You did it just like I taught you." We both laughed and I thanked her for teaching me a lot of things. I asked her one question that had bugged me for years. 

"Mom. What was the big deal about being able to tie my shoes? I could have just worn loafers." The answer was simple. "The rules were the rules and you needed to obey one. It didn't hurt you to learn that skill and I noticed your shoes are laced up and tied neatly. You just needed a nudge and not a butt chewing. Dad did not have time to spend teaching you the art of shoe tying. His impatience was not helping you. I could tell that you were already working on a solution to shoes other than cooperating by just tying them. 

My point for the day s this. Not everyone catches on to some things as fast as others do. They just need a hand and a little extra time to get to the right side of success. 

Food for thought.

Marty

A Hunters Assurance 4/13/2026

 Good Morning,

I just finished my first cup of door County Toffee Pretzel Coffee and it is time to write. 

Later this week I will be out in the woods and field in pursuit of a wild turkey. I have been given permission to hunt on some prime turkey land. I am looking forward to the time spent out in the field and some extra prayer time. 

According to my wife, I am officially old now and need to exert a little more caution while hunting. I will take my gear into the blind the night before, except for my gun. And if necessary I will make two trips from the truck to my spot to lighten the load and straining. Everything will be on the slow and steady.

I will send my location out to three fellas so they know exactly where I am in case I am in distress or don't make it home. 

On the other hand I am assured that God knows exactly where I am at all times. It is peaceful to know that He will make the trek with me each and and every second. 

Psalm 139:7-12 NIV Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

8. If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10. even there your hand will guide me. your right hand will hold me fast.

11. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me" and the light become night around me,"

12. even the darkness will not be dark to you. The night will shine like the day, for the darkness is as light to you.

Where does your path take you today? Remember, you don't walk it alone. 

Marty

That Greatest Commandment 4/12/2026

 Good Morning. 

The Door County Pumpkin Spice Coffee is tasting pretty good this morning and it is time to write. 

Matthew 22:34-40 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35. One of them, and expert in the law, tested Him with this question. 36. Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?

37. Jesus replied. " Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your mind. 38. This is the first and greatest commandment . 39. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'. 40. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. 

Jesus sets our priorities straight with just a few words. God needs to be number one in our lives. As long as God is number one and we love Him with all we say, do and live by, everyone else that is important to us is a solid number two. If God is our first love our wives and husbands, and our kids are in a better standing. God is and should be our loving moral compass. If we love God with a our hearts, souls and minds, we then know how to truly love others. If God is first, our families are on solid ground and should never need to wonder how much we love them. They will always be treated with love, respect and kindness. 

Food for thought. 

Marty

How To Greet The Morning 4/11/2026

Good Morning,

My coffee choice this morning is Door County Pumpkin Spice . It is time to write.

I like mornings better than any other time of the day. If I am afforded the time, I like to watch the sunrise in the East. Of course there is always a hot cup of coffee with me. 

Psalm 143:8 Cause me to hear Your loving kindness in the morning. For in You do I trust. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to you. 

The best way I have observed for greeting the morning is to let it touch my knees for a time of prayer. Greeting the morning on bended knee sets my day in motion and touching God's creation and seeking His blessing is a sentimental and yet powerful way to begin another day. 

I then sit myself down to read a devotional and take in what God has to say to me. Here in this world, I choose to connect with God and let Him know how grateful I am for all that I have and experience each day.

How do you greet the morning?

Food for thought,

Marty

Making A Change Is Easier Than You Think 4/10/2026

 Good Morning,

My mug was filled with Door County hot Cherry Creme Coffee and it is time to write. 

My wife Rene injured her knee a few weeks ago while shoveling snow with me. At first it was diagnosed as a meniscus tear and we were sent from urgent care to an Orthopedic doctor. I am not a trained physician by any means but I have been around the block with many knee injuries, surgeries and two replacements. The approach "take two Tylenol  for pain" and do these these certain exercises has been the approach with another follow up appointment in three weeks.  Ice was recommended and Rene has been diligent to perform all the prescribed duties requested. The knee is getting worse. 

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV But if anyone does not provide for his relatives and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 

I for one am not impressed with this cavalier and slow approach to pain. The overall experience with the doctor has been less than stellar.

Now here is the difference in Rene and me. She is passive and avoids all conflict or hurting anyone's feelings. Me? On the other hand I can be a vicious junk yard dog when it comes to my family. I can tell Rene is hurting and has no faith in this physician. Just by this. "Hey JYD it's ok for you to fire up and growl a little bit. I sent the provider an email and he has until Monday to respond. I have already secured his replacement because I believe this inept physician will fail to respond by Monday night. 

My point is this. I have been praying for him to at least act like he cares. Just because he attended medical school, doesn't mean he has honed his people skills. 

If you aren't satisfied with the way you are treated by a physician, be sure to fill out the survey at the end of the mess. Don't wait to express yourself in a way that is respectful and yet with authority. No one cares as much for you as you do. If you have doubts in  the care being given, speak up early and try to avoid using your Junk Yard Dog? 

God bless,

Marty

A Little One For My Friends 4/9/2026

 Good Morning,

It's a good morning when I wake up and hear the Door County Vanilla Creme Brulee Coffee brewing in the kitchen. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down the other is there to pick them up. 

Tomorrow, friends of ours will be welcoming a  new baby and grandchild into this world. I am praying  that there are no complications with the delivery and that this bundle of joy is just that. We already know that the baby is a boy and will be welcomed by his older sister. I have this feeling that his big sister will be the type to be a little watch dog for her brother. 

He might not always appreciate his sister watching over him, but later on in years he will appreciate the guidance and protection. I believe she will be a lot like her grandma who watches over the clan with eyes like an eagle.

Where is my point in all of this? Sometimes a little guy has to have a peer to look up to and you can't do any better than having a sister or brother to watch over you. They have already trained the parents!

God bless,

Marty