Does Forgiving Make Sense? 7/17/2026

 Good Morning,

I will be stopping for a Door County Coffee to go in a few minutes, I will be grabbing a cup to go from the home of Door County Coffee. I am not sure what flavor or specialty I will order just yet. I will let you all know tomorrow. 

In a perfect world, filled with peace and harmony a person would not forgive another person or group because no one in a perfect world would hurt anyone else. 

We don't live in a perfect world and people will be wronged by others or by one person. The natural response to a hurt is to hurt back. Turning the other cheek or ignoring the hurt just does not make sense in the real world. Once hurt, we want revenge or we want to slap back to even the score. 

God is specific as to how we are to treat injustice in our life and how we are to react to emotional hurt, physical pain and unwarranted suffering.

WE are to forgive without keeping score. We are not to take revenge, We are to forgive as we have been forgiven.

Romans 12:17-19 ESV Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19. Beloved , never avenge yourselves , but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine. I will repay, says the Lord.

Matthew 18:21-22 NKJV  Then Peter came to Him and said,"Lord how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times? 22. I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

We are to forgive freely as God forgives us. I know it does not make sense but God gives us very clear and emphatic instructions.

If we are forgiving in love, We don't keep score. We don't rejoice when our foe stumbles. We don't have evil thoughts toward them. Love is not easily angered. Love protects us and our enemies. Love does not seek evil. But rejoices in good. 

The prodigal son came home broken and worn. His father threw him a party and rejoiced that he was lost and now was found. When was the last time that someone wronged you, saw the light, and you rejoiced in front of others and threw him or her a party?

Food for thought, Christianity does not always make sense, but the last time I checked God still calls the shots and not us. We are to follow directions.

Have a great day. Take a mini vacation away from the extra jobs you have appointed for yourself. It is tiring playing God, judge, and jury. 

Marty

Staying In Shape 7/16/2026

 Good Morning,

I just sat down at my desk with a very hot cup of Door County Jingle Bell Java Coffee. It is the last of my Christmas flavors so I guess Christmas in July is over for me. 

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful , for building others up according to their needs , that it may benefit those who listen .

People spend a lot of money on gymnasium memberships and exercise equipment to stay healthy and in shape. The real serious people attend classes designed to keep us fit. One lady told me that she has a personal trainer who gives her inspiration to run. I think this is all good and if it works for some that is even better. 

One tool we could use to stay in shape is to run like we run off at the mouth.

If you ran like your mouth does, you would be in great shape. Author Unknown.

I am touching on the subject of gossip this fine Thursday morning. A gossiper is someone who has or believes they have private or privileged information about someone or a situation and reveals that information to others. Maybe you have been the subject of gossip or you have talked about someone else, the fruit of slanderous words results in broken trust, hurt feelings and sometimes even disastrous consequences.

So if you tend to listen to gossip or spread it like a disease  ( diarrhea of the mouth) note. You are participating in sin and like any fault we should run from it and the impact it has on us and others.

 Food for thought. When in doubt, as to if something is gossip just take a big drink of shut up juice. and you will be safe.

God bless, Marty

Marty

Born To Hunt And Love Dogs 7/15/2026

 Good Morning,

I started this day early with a hot cup of Door County Naughty or Nice Grog. I am still observing Christmas in July until my Christmas Flavors run out. 

Proverbs 22:6 NKJV Train uo a child in the way he should go. And when he is old he shall not depart from it. 

Just a shout out to my nephew Nick today. Happy Birthday Nick. 

Nick started hunting with me back when he was five years old. Most of the pictures I have of my dogs were taken by Nick. I recall Nick and his mother packing a lunch for us for an afternoon duck hunt. (Nick wasn't much of an early riser at first.) So an afternoon in the marsh was as good as it got back then. Nick wasn't very big when we started hunting together and a 15 minute walk was "Mom we walked 50 miles today." I won't mention that he peed on my duck calls that day. Now when we hunt and he starts to call in geese or ducks I just go back in time and chuckle to myself. 

In return I learned to eat Sour Gummy worms and lunchables for our dinner. You could say I had a little bit of influence over Nick and later in life when he waits for this old man to keep up with him in the marsh, in return he has had an influence on me. He has graduated to steak and eggs now. 

Nick has always had a love for dogs. He has taken my last two dogs on several hunting outings without me and I know if they are with Nick, they are in good hands. 

My point for today is this. Invest time into the kids God has allowed into your life. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there. Teach them to love old people, old dogs and to be kind to children, and to work hard and in your old age it will come back to you.

Have a great day and count your blessings. Even when they come wrapped in camo clothing eating Gummy worms. 

Marty

The Story Isn't Finished Yet 7/14/2026

 Good Morning,

There is a hot cup of Door County Chocolate Cherry Coffee in front of me and now it is time to write. 

Hebrews 12:2 NKJV Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Our life has a beginning and an end. If you are reading this, obviously you haven't experienced the end. Our life is not a mystery and we are not the author but we have an important part in writing our story.You control how it ends for eternity.

Hebrews 4:11 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name given among men by which we must be saved. 

You choose the ending of your story. By placing your faith in Jesus Christ you assure yourself of living eternity in heaven with all the other believers and God. Or you choose to ignore the call of Jesus  and to accept His forgiveness and then spend eternity in hell with satan and the rest of all evil. 

Today's message is straight foward and is simple. You choose where you sit for eternity.

Not choosing is not an option. It is one or the other.

Food for thought. Where will you reside for eternity?

God bless,

Marty

What Impatient People We Have Become 7/13/2026

 Good Morning,

I am enjoying a hot cup of Door County Chocolate Cherry Coffee and it is time to write.

"Everyone knows that the length of a minute depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on:  Quote Credit Tales from the Outhouse.

I am old enough to remember life without microwaves. For instance pre microwaves you either boiled a hot dog, or if you cooked by gas, you stuck your hot dog with a fork and burned it at the stove using the gas flame.

Romans 5:4 ESV And endurance produces character and character produces hope. 

Imagine having to wait for your hair to dry after rubbing your head with a towel. Or hanging your freshly washed sheets outside to dry or hanging them in the basement and finally getting to use them the next day. Oh let's not forget that walking was never a quick way to get to the library. We now have scooters parked about cities ready to rent just to get to the library instead of taking a hike. Why even have libraries at all when within seconds we have all the information we need via the internet? 

If things weren't fast enough already we complain when the computer we use is a little slow. We cuss out the microwave because it took 45 seconds to warm up the coffee. Too slow!!!!

We really have become impatient people who when needing to wait on something we get irritated and lose our temper. I am guilty of being agitated when things don't move fast enough.

My point for the day is this. Stop the rush. Roast a hot dog on the patio using wood or charcoal. Sip your coffee and enjoy some quiet while reading. No need for audio books today. Dry your sheets outside and discover what clothespins are for.  

Maybe the good old days really were the good old days. 

God bless,

Marty

Nature Is The Art Of God 7/12/2026

 Good Morning,

It is time to refill my cup with some Door County Old Fashioned Coffee. And it is time to write.

Hebrews 1:10 In the beginning, Lord, you established the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

Earlier this morning as I took a moment to gaze out from our kitchen window I saw two cardinals munching on breakfast from bird seed that fell to the ground yesterday. I couldn't capture a photo quick enough, so the picture will just have to be my memory.

I spend a fair amount of time outside and I am often afforded the luxury to see nature at work.

Nature Is The Art Of God

Dante

I feel blessed to see all that God in nature has made and shared the splendor with all of us. 

No one advocates for church attendance more than I do. Besides just attending a local church you can find a place to serve the Lord and make a difference in the lives of others there.

But I also look forward to God's display of His art work when I am outside breathing air that hasn't been breathed before and where the scenery can change within minutes or even seconds. 

Point for the day. God has a picture He wants to show you. Get outside and visit the cathedral of God.

Love to all,

Marty

 

Some things Just Go Together 7/11/2026

 Good Morning,

My day was planned out for me and it is going to be a busy one. I just sat down at my desk with a very hot cup of Door County Old Fashioned Coffee. It is time to write 

"A positive attitude and a sense of humor go together like biscuits and gravy"Dolly Parton 

Marriages, as well as other relationships are often lacking in harmony. We all too often take ourselves too seriously  and then add some negativity to the mix and you have nothing but problems. 

 Ecclesiastes 4:9. Two are better than one. 

A "can do" attitude brought to the table each day is always welcome around me. It is nice to know the risks and longevity of any project in life. But add a negative attitude to the situation and the task seems unattainable. 

A sense of humor added to a positive attitude should some day be bottled and sold. Being able to grin and maybe even laugh at yourself during a relationship is priceless. 

One day late in November when I was a teenager my cousin and I became lost in the woods and we were really lost. We decided that walking through the dark was not going to be a good idea. We stopped just before it turned too dark and took stock of what supplies we had for the night. I recall both of us saying at least there are two of us in this mess together. We had some candy bars we could eat. Matches to make a fire and a deadfall tree with plenty of accessible fire wood  right where we stopped.  The sense of humor came in when we both said "I have toilet paper"   Her tears were turned to laughter and we knew that someone would be looking for us and the worst case scenario is that it would have to wait until morning. 

Short answer. We were found about an hour later by two guys who were out looking for us. We were in a warm truck headed back to our dads. My cousin was the one with a great sense of humor. She said just before we were dropped off to our families. "I never thought I would look forward to being chewed out" Yes, we were chewed out, but we were headed to a warm house and a turkey dinner served with some humble pie.

We still catch a little flack now and then when we get together for a family funeral. But our positive attitude and sense of humor  helped us to have a full heart of "we can do this"  

My point for the day is this. Try to surround yourself with people who can see the positive in any moment. Add someone with a positive sense of humor and you most likely joined a  winning team.

Have a great day!! God Bless.

Marty