Some People Really Need A Boot In The Butt 11/13/2026

 Good Morning,

Headed out to hunt geese this morning. I will have an insulated bottle with me filled with Door County Caramel Coffee. It is time to write. 

Ephesians 4:26 NKJV "Be angry and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your wrath. 

Yesterday afternoon our neighbor called for a favor. He wanted to go to the Grocery Store to pick up some things that he wanted. Our neighbor had a stroke many years ago and has a hard time speaking. One arm barely functions and he also walks with a cane. 

Just lately our neighbor has started driving the electric scooters in the grocery store. He is a little shaky behind the wheel. Yesterday I followed him into the store. He was driving a little slower. The store was very crowded. I was behind the scooter and there was a fella behind me. You could tell our neighbor was nervous.  This guy behind me was yelling to our neighbor. 'Go faster. Stop. Turn left. Turn right. Look out. This guy was getting a kick out of causing our neighbor to be confused. He instantly pushed my last button. 

Here's what happened. It did not take me too long to reach a boiling point. I turned around and asked him not to yell at our neighbor. He laughed and yelled again. Oops but my temper boiled over and I very roughly told him to stop and I wasn't asking. I nicely let this big mouth know what was going to happen if he continued to bully a person of special needs.

We then went about our shopping. On the way home I apologized to our neighbor for him having to see me lose my temper. His reply was. "Thanks no one ever stuck up for me before."

What kind of person makes fun of special needs folks who struggle just to go shopping?

When I brought the neighbor to his door. He asked if we could pray for the bully so He does not make fun of other folks. We did and I felt better that I hadn't blown it with our neighbor. He asked how I would react if I ran into this guy again. I said "well my friend. I don't think I will punch his lights out. He needs more of a kick in the butt. My neighbor laughed and said "I agree."

My friends, we can have righteous anger, yet others who we have influence over, are watching to see how we react to an angry situation. Be angry. Don't sin.

Food for thought!

Marty

Leave The Boil Over Outside 11/13/2026

 Good Morning,

I am surely enjoying a hot cup of Door County Breakfast Blend Coffee and a biscuit with butter. And it is time to write.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 ESV Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. 

Throughout my working career I often put in some long hours and many days working in healthcare could be compared to a day in a pressure cooker. I tried not to bring my work into our home and I worked pretty hard to keep my work separate from my family life.

I adopted a good habit. On a stressful day, I did not come straight home. I would make a stop at a hardware store if I needed something for a home project. Or I picked up the groceries we needed and if all else failed I would stop for gasoline and a Coke. 

Just stopping before hitting the door at home helped me to leave the attitude at wherever I stopped. I could empty the work tank and once removed I was better at my home life. It was at the most a 20 minute detour. Once I returned to my car, I pray for a moment or two and asked God to keep me from pouring out work on my family.

My point for the day is this. The attitude you display to others belongs to you and only you can correct it. Failure to do so makes for a lonely house. Maybe your family's stress is sown by you not managing your stress and they manage it by not being around you.

Food for thought? What are you doing to manage your stress and anger?

Marty

Living To Live More 11/12/2026

 Good Morning!

I have a very hot cup of Door County Pumpkin Spice Coffee in front of me. There is a fire in the hearth and it is all good from where I sit. It is time to write.

Psalm 118:17 NKJV I shall not die but live and declare the works of the Lord. 

For the psalmist, this is a declaration of trust, deliverance, and perseverance. it is widely used by believers as a personal confession of faith during sickness, trial, or spiritual warfare to reject despair and affirm hope.

In a couple of months I will turn 70 years old. I have already buried most of my ancestors and yet I am still here. Many people my age have already passed on. I believe that only God knows the day He will call me home, but until then I live and I live with purpose. I will be here for my family as long as God allows. I will serve Him in some capacity or another as long as I live. I will declare His good works and praise Him openly.

The point for the day is this. We aren't finished until God calls us home. And until then I will have my coffee in prayer and thank Him for another day to be blessed and to be a blessing as He leads. 

God bless. 

Marty

Thank You Veterans 11/11/2026

 Good Morning,

I just poured a hot cup of Door County Pumpkin Spice Coffee and it is time to write.

John 15:13 KJV Greater love hath no man than this., that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Today in America, we honor all of our veterans in service now and in the past.

                                                 

These men and women answered the call to serve our country. They left everything for a certain amount of service time. Thy provide safety to our country in times of peril. At times they assist in recovering from tragic events such as wildfires, earthquakes at home and abroad. They serve during times of ravaging storms and civil unrest. They go to war keeping the skies, waters, and land free and safe from harm. They live for long lengths at sea, or in a foreign land away from their families.

Our Dad served in the Korean war, and proudly acknowledged doing so. 

Our veterans deserve to be thanked and on behalf of this family I say thank you veterans of a great nation. We are thankful, proud of you all. 

God bless,

Marty

Not A Battle Zone 11/10/2026

 Good Morning,

I am enjoying the quiet with a hot cup of Door County Maple Coffee and it is time to write. 

Ecclesiastes 4:6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. 

The global covid epidemic made a lot of changes in the world and some my friends are still with us. In an effort to keep the world supplied and the economy flourishing, instead of closing the places of employment that could have their workers and management work offsite from home was developed and quite successfully. 

Many still are partaking in the "work from home"  model. After I retired from full time employment I took on a part time job for a few years. I am grateful for that opportunity and not here to bash their work model. 

50% of my work was done at home and my den really became an office. I would come home from a difficult day and then be in front of a computer for an hour or two, sometimes more. My wife would be reminded now and then to be quiet while I was deep into my work. What was a source of refuge now  turned into a battleground for the evening or Sunday morning. My wife knew what I was ordering, and had to be quiet during ZOOM meetings. I was working in the world and now brought the world home. My desk was no longer a refuge. My wife shared in the meetings of the day and work came home.

Now if the work model enters the home I am here to say, your work will follow you to dinner, rest time will be easy to interrupt, and your private life becomes compromised. You brought your battle zone into the home. I am not condemning it, but just here to say when does the phone stop ringing? When does the lap top shut down. Does the family know the ins and outs of your corporate life? When does your brain rest? 

Try as much as possible to keep the world out of your home. Too much money is spent on Tums or Omeprozole.

Food for thought. Don't let your home become a battlefield. 

Marty

Christmas Music On The Radio 11/8/2026

 Good Morning, 

A hot mug of Door County Cherry Cream Coffee awaits me in the kitchen, but for now it is time to write. 

I do believe that when two people are married for a long time, the traits of one rubs off on the other. This works in both directions. 

Take for instance my wife Rene and I have exchanged some traits. One of which is this. Rene just loves Christmas. The manger, the Christmas tree, and as many seasonal decorations are to be displayed  that can fit into one house. For me it is the fact that I like Christmas music and old Christmas movies. 

Just two days ago I tuned into one of the radio stations that now plays Christmas music 24/7. I cranked up the sound and listened to "I'll be home for Christmas." That made my day. Until I met Rene, Christmas was not all that much of a big deal for me. I believe Rene's love for Christmas has rubbed off on me. 

My point for the day is this. Sometimes we change and don't even know it is happening. I allowed the change into my life just because I want to share in observing Christmas with her.

So don't resist change, if it is for the good. Or if it helps someone else to feel important in your life, go for it.

God bless,

Marty 

Fighting With Yourself 11/8/2026

 Good Morning, 

I am sitting at the kitchen table this morning drinking a very hot cup of Door County Spiced Apple Pie Coffee and it is time to write.

Fighting with yourself is not a winning proposition. No matter the issue, declaring war on yourself is a fight you just cannot win. 

Romans 7:15 NIV I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do. But hate what I do. 

We just have those issues or choices arise that make us battle with ourselves. Basically it comes down to choosing right from wrong. One choice is the right one. The other choice although attractive is the wrong choice. This internal battle rages and often we find ourselves later regretting the choice and we are miserable. 

You might even find yourself asking "why did I do that again.?" It is the same bad choice that has plagued you for a long time. But you always default to the same bad idea or action. 

Here's the answer to the question. It is the company you keep. You walk without God.

When Jesus was fasting for forty days and nights. He was tempted by Satan to do wrong. His companion was the "Word of God" and Jesus fought off the wrong choice by speaking back to the tempter with Scripture.

We as mere mortals are tempted to do wrong and have no victory over the bad choices we habitually choose. This is because we fight a spiritual war with the same losing battle plan over and over again. 

Instead of winning the fight we give in and then are miserable because of the choice. We could have had a victory just by memorizing a Bible verse to say out loud to chase Satan away and from guiding us to the wrong choice again.

Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I ight not sin against thee. 

You and I must fight the fight not with our weak wills. We do not have to fight temptation alone. More time spent in the Word of God always makes for better choices later.

Food for thought.

Marty