If If If But But But7/5/2026

 Good Morning, 

Nothing like a hot cup of Door County Naughty Or Nice Grog Coffee to start the day. I am ready to write. 

Ecclesiastes 5:3 For a dream comes with much business, and a fools voice with many words. 

I do believe that as humans we often allow ourselves to play the If game. This game has us speculating on what could have happened , should have happened, and the actual what happened. "If they had only done this, things would be better."  Whatever has taken place is now a part if history and you can't change it.You can correct the future by learning from a mistake made and applying that knowledge to the future. 

Once we have second guessed our every step, we advance to the line of But But But. This is the game of excuses. We sound like a cheap old outboard motor starting up on an icy cold November day. Once we start applying "But" to the circumstances or failure it becomes a quick emotional bandage for our egos. 

People like to apply both words into a situation. "If they or  you had done this differently, but if it fails we we can correct it "If"  It is a vicious circle of continual correcting mistakes without rally correcting anything. A dream is not a fact. It is a dream. 

Today, try not using the words If and But. We spend too much time changing things in our minds without making changes. We spend too much time and effort justifying a bad choice. 

Have a blessed day. 

Marty

A Tragedy Marks The 4th Of July 7/4/2026

 Good Morning,

I am still observing Christmas in July. Therefore I am drinking a hot cup of Door County Naughty Or Nice Grog. It is time to write.

Psalm 33:12 ESV Blessed is the nation, whose God is the Lord. The people who He has chose as His heritage

Yesterday severe storms ran through a portion of our state. Warnings were being sounded and it was time to watch the sky. The storms did not cut through our property. So no tragedy here. 

Just an hour away from us the story is not so nice. A family was boating on one of our large inland lakes. I am not going to second guess what happened at all. The terrible news was that 3 children died when their boat capsized.  No matter how it happened this tragedy is ugly and my heart goes out to those who survived the high winds and large waves. Yesterday was a day they will never forget. I have been in prayer for the families who lost a child or children. 

I am asking those who read this to stop, look up and pray with me for these families impacted. Pray for the first responders who will take this memory with them also. We often forget the impact tragedy has on those who have to say. "He or she died. We did our best to save the victim." They pass by those waiting for a miracle and they don't have the words to make the situation better. They carry their hurt with them silently. 

Today in America we celebrate our Independence day. I know this. 250 years ago we declared our independence and joined 13 colonies together and formed one great nation. I will celebrate like everyone else. Our flag flies nicely over our home and I am proud to be an American. I will recall my history lessons and know that our independence did not come easy . On July 4th 1776 someone heard those words. "We could not save him."

Celebrate America and hold on to the freedom we enjoy and cherish.

Marty

There Is Always More To The Story 7/3/2026

 Good Morning,

I am still keeping up with my July tribute to Christmas. I just poured a hot cup of Door County Christmas Coffee and I am now ready to write. 

Mathew 7:1-2 NKJV Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgement you judge, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 

A few years ago my wife, our daughter and I went out  East for a week's vacation in Virginia. It was a great time and one I like to recall in my mind now and then. 

During our trip we traveled to Shenandoah National Park, We were in awe of the skyline view of the mountains and we stopped very often for photo opportunities. 

In addition to what is above ground, our day trip took us to the Luray Caverns. How beautiful were the views of the rock formations hidden under the Blue Ridge Mountains. 

So that brings me to my point for the day. We often carry the weight of judging others and their situations. Too often we burden our hearts and minds by playing God and judging others. Leave God's work to God. We are not always aware of the whole story and very often we judge without knowing everything.  Just as the top of the mountains told half of what we saw that day, underneath the Earth there was another story to make our trip complete. 

Proverbs 18:13 NIV To answer before listening -that is folly and shame.

Food for thought??? 

God Bless,

Marty

Poor Workmanship 7/2/2026

 Good Morning.

This day started with a little thunder a few minutes ago. I just poured myself a hot cup of Door County Christmas Coffee and that tells me it is time to write. 

Proverbs 18:9 He who is slothful in his work 

Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer. 

over the last two months my wife Rene and I have been giving the inside of our first floor a facelift. It has been an experience in having enough patience to finish this endeavor. I will admit I am running  short on the patience. 

Yesterday was the final event to push me past my limit for tolerance and patience. Carpeting was supposed to be installed in the living room. We purchased the carpeting and the installation from a large store chain. And they promise a smooth process. 

The carpet installers were the first contractor to show up on time and not make us wonder when they will show up. Rene and I had all the furniture moved and after offering the two installers coffee, Coke, or water, the removal of the old carpeting began. I verified that they had the correct color for the new flooring. So very soon after the old stuff was removed, the new padding and new carpeting was installed. Once the  workers were finished they packed up and left..  That's when it sunk in. The carpeting was not pulled tight and instead of a nice flat surface we have what looks like an Olympic mogul ski range. Later this morning I will be at the flooring store pleading my case. Yesterday they would not even return my phone call. 

My point for the day is this. Check credentials of those that sell their services and ask for references, as to their qualifications. We will see if the Big Store backs up their promise to provide quality and service past the installation day. I have my doubts.

I have found out that many contractors assume because they installed a floor once, they now own a van and that makes them qualified professionals. So armed with photos and a head full of steam I will venture into the store where my final and last purchase was made and see how this works out. 

Buyer Beware!

Marty

Just A Little Christmas For Now 7/1/2026

 Good Morning, 

I embraced the start of this day with a hot cup of Door County Mistletoe Mocha Coffee.

My wife  Rene is a huge fan of Christmas  and she likes to observe a little Christmas in July. So I break out some of my Christmas coffees to assist in her goal for July happiness. It is all done in good fun. She will also be watching Christmas movies from two of her favorite channels.

In December Rene and I, (Mostly Rene) transform our home into a display of lights, and other Christmas regalia. If Rene had her way, we would celebrate with decorations all year round. She always seems to be happier in December. 

So my point for the day is this. Why shouldn't we celebrate Jesus every day, 365 days per year? We should be thankful for the Son of God who left the majesty of Heaven to come to Earth just to die for us. In our hearts, can't we celebrate Christmas now and every day? 

Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6. who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God , 7. but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming to the likeness of men . 8. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 

Have a great day. Stay cool and hydrated. God bless,

Marty

It's A Heat Wave 6/30/26

 Good Moring,

I am enjoying a hot cup of Door County Highlander Grog Coffee and it is time t write. 

James 2:8  If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture. "You shall love your neighbor as yourself". You do well. 

No dog was kept in a refrigerator. While cleaning the unit, The puppy crawled in and absorbed some cold. 

A large part of the world is in the middle of a heat wave of epic proportions. I listened to the weather report for the are in which my wife and I reside and the meteorologists were quick to remind people not to leave little children or pets in the car even for a few minutes. The call to stay hydrated with water was stressed  several times. It is a great time to practice being  a good neighbor. If you have elderly friends, check on them. Ask if the need anything from the store. This helps to keep them out of the scorching weather. Check the temperature in their home and if it does not have air conditioning offer them a way to stay cool. 

Parents, now is a good time to travel with a container f water in case of a car malfunction.

Kids will always want to play outside. Monitor them and now is a good time to provide some weather beater beverages to the play ground or yard. 

 There are so many precautions to keep yourself and others safe during this time. Most of all, it is time to be a good neighbor. 

You can prevent a tragedy just by being neighborly and a concerned citizen. Kindness is always the right thing at anytime and on any day.

God bless,

Marty

Better Directions Please 6/29/2026

 Good Morning,

This day greeted me with a challenge right after I woke up. I had forgotten to set up the coffee maker to brew a pot of Door County Mocha Mint Coffee at 4:00AM this morning. So my coffee time will have to wait a few minutes. 

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and matters of the heart.

My wife Rene and I were given a small task to purchase a child's rocking chair for a group baby shower gift. It was decided by some of the ladies at church to keep me busy. Ha!  We were glad to do so and I accepted the task of purchasing and assembling this little wooden chair. 

Inside the box that was sent to us with screws and dowels galore was a small sheet of directions for assembly. The directions were very vague and required assembly in the proper sequence. The manufacturer did not have that information in the directions. 

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet. And a light to my path. 

I looked at the project and gathered my trusty tools and started in. Half way into the project the light in my brain kicked in and I realized that the sequence of assembly was critical to the project. This slowed me down because I had to disassemble a couple of things and start over. It would have been nice to have had better directions.  What seemed to be thee correct assembly sequence was not at all even close. The "obvious was not the correct path". 

My point for today is this. We often need guidance in our daily lives and decisions need to be made. Fortunately we have the Book  of directions for daily living at our fingertips. My Bible has directed me through thick and thin since 1981. It is never wrong. It Does not need to be reprogrammed or reset. It is definitely not vague. God's word helps us to reset and move in the right direction on the best path at all times. 

Food for thought. Follow the best directions. 

Marty