Throwing Punches 4/17/2026

 Good Morning,

I have the window open in my den and the wild birds are exceptionally boisterous this morning. It sounds like they are in competition to be heard first and the loudest. 

My cup is filled with Door County Morning Blend Coffee and it is time to write. 

Matthew 12:34 NKJV Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance the heart the mouth speaks. 

Most people do not know what it is like to throw a punch at someone or take an offensive  swing in anger. Many people will go through life and never experience the anger it takes to attack. More likely than not, a person will experience defending themselves against an attack. A physical attack defensive or offensive is somewhat rare, but seems to be on the rise nationally and within the world.

We tend to attack and defend ourselves with words designed to cut right to the soul, followed up with thoughts that are designed to destroy others in our minds. 

Many times we share our thoughts which are a direct view of our hearts. Now I am not saying to avoid defending yourself. Protect you and your families if needed which might at times require an offensive action. 

But to harbor constant hate and disdain for others can be a danger to your heart and soul. Ask yourself, is this hatred within justified? Would I really take the actions I am thinking within my mind? For one day, can I concentrate on the good in my heart and transfer some of it to my thoughts and my actions? There is a time for everything, and there is a time to throw a punch, physically or mentally. Only you know the right timing and if God supports your actions. 

Food for thought.

God bless, 

Marty

How High Is The Water Momma? 4/16/2026

 Good Morning,

Today my cup is full of Door County Breakfast Blend Coffee and it is good and hot. 

For the last few nights our part of the world has experienced some pretty strong storms with high winds, heavy rains, and an occasional tornado. We have been blessed not to have been in the path of any tornadoes. My heart and prayers go out to those who have suffered losses and injuries. I am thankful that there weren't any fatalities. 

Our personal main concern has been the small creek that is behind our house. Most of the time you can barely find water in the "Wanna Be Mississippi". I decided to check out the depth  of the creek last night before dark and the little waterway was swollen, but not as bad as it could be.

Revelation 20:11-15 Then I saw the great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, no place was found for them. 12. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 

13. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it , Death and Hades gave gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15. And if anyone's name was not written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. 

In other areas impacted by this heavy rain there has been some flooding already. I tuned into the local news and on every channel the news folks warned people not to drive through standing water.  However many times they have heard not to drive through moving or standing water the news still has on film those who try it and have to be rescued from their cars, or their car is just floating down the road. Some people never listen. The phrase "turn around or drown" is well known but not heeded. People have the attitude "That won't happen to me" I watched on the news cast one driver swirling with his car down through some very high water. Then another driver followed that car into the swirling water instead of turning around. 

John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." 

Romans 10:13 NKJV  For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

Life is the same way. God tells us that the consequences of our sins are there and they just aren't a threat that will never happen. But yet we don't back away and repent thinking we will always have time to turn our life around. This rain and flooding we are experiencing had warnings and weren't planned for but they came on suddenly and swiftly. Once they started they can't be stopped until the weather cooperates. Once God is ready for Jesus to come back, there will be no stopping Him from rewarding some and punishing others. It will be too late, if your name is not already written in the book. 

Food for thought. How deep is the water in you river?

Marty

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