When One Hurts We All Hurt 9/6/2026

 Good Morning.

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

Now and then every family, or work group.,will experience a set back or an emotional breakdown. Church groups are not exempt from pain and sorrow as well. A group that is close to one another emotionally will experience the pain and sorrow that another in the group is going through. When one hurts, we all should be able to sympathise  and feel the hurt of your loved one.  

Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. 

God built us to be social and caring at the same time. Be that type of family member or friend who hurts when you hurt and is there despite the inconvenience.

Food for thought.

Be the blessing you can be all the time and pass it onto someone else.

God bless,

Marty

A Trip Down Memory Lane 9/5/2026

 Good Morning,

My mug was just filled with Door County Autumn Spice Coffee and it is time to write.

We have some guests staying with us for a few days. They are from California. While planning dessert for our evening meal last night we decided to show off a Milwaukee ICON known to us as Leon's.

Psalm 77:11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord. Yes I will remember your miracles of long ago.

Leon's is an emporium of fine frozen Custard. There isn't anywhere to sit inside. You stand outside and place your order then you either eat it standing by your vehicle or sitting inside of it. Leon's is open all twelve months of the year. They have a robust business even in January when people show up for a frozen treat on a frozen night!

Last night found my mind wandering back to the days when we went cruising down 27th street and parked our old jalopies in the parking lot at Leons. We would then speed down to the Bog Boy restaurant for an order of fries and a Coke. Music was  blaring and you couldn't hear it anyway due to the Thrush Glass Paks on your exhaust system.

Those were the days of long ago. I am thankful for the memories and for those who were with me. 

A walk back in time?

God Bless,

Marty

Give Me A Reason Please 09/4/2026

 Good Morning.

My insulated bottle is full of Door County Cherry Creme Coffee and it is time to write.

Genesis 9:3 ESV Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants., I give you everything. 

I will be hunting doves today with some of my buddies and my dog. I am not looking forward to the barrage of mosquitoes I will encounter. 

It is that time of year when getting out of bed earlier than normal becomes the actual rise and shine time. 

I really don't need a reason to hunt. I just enjoy it so much that I will endure cold rainy or snowy mornings and spending time listening to the reasons why we missed a game bird. 

It is the one sport that never grows old or boring. Quality time with our dogs flushing and retrieving  game is another reason to get out of bed and endure some real hardships now and then.  Watching those dogs is like watching poetry in motion.

My point for the day is this. Get out and do something for yourself and embrace the day God has given you. Enjoy time away from the grind and thank God for giving you more time outdoors.

Something to think about. 

Marty

Learning To Drive 9/3/2026

 Good Morning,

I am enjoying a hot cup of Door County Salted Caramel Whiskey Coffee and it is no time to write. 

Matthew 7:12 ESV"So whatever you wish others would do to you. Do also to them.  

I entered the work force when I was in the ninth grade. I was hired for work at  Texaco Gas Station as a "Gas Pump Jockey". Yes, back then we pumped the gas for the customer. We gave the car windows a good wash, checked the oil level if the customer requested us to do so and added air to the tires after we checked the pressure. 

Wyatt Kaenel's Post Photo Credit

The place where I worked also changed oil and performed repairs and preventative maintenance to the cars of what I would say were some pretty loyal customers. 

Now after about three days of just pumping gas I was told to start the 1947 Willys Jeep and learn how to drive a vehicle with a manual shift. I was given a quick lesson on how to shift after I figured out that the starter button was on the floor. This I found out was needed because my duties included snow removal on the property in the winter. My driving was restricted to the Texaco property and the drive approaches from the street. I also had to jockey vehicles in and out of the garage.

It took me a few hours to be able to move the Jeep without hopping all over the property and not stall out when I was taking off from a full stop. I pretty much did all my "learning"in first gear and reverse. "Stick Shift" was still popular beck then and was a cheaper option than an automatic transmission 

I worked for a very patient employer and so after mastering the stick shift I graduated to oil changes, tune ups, muffler work, tire changes and sales. The sales included loading the customers cars with 24 bottles in wood crates of Coca Cola products. This included removing the empty crates. We also sold cigarettes I cleaned the bathrooms once, and sometimes twice in a day. Yes I sold cigarettes and did all the money exchanges without a calculator. W carried the money needed to make change after selling the gas and other items. in my pocket.  You did the math in your head! 

Your hours were adjusted to accommodate attending school and allowed for time to play in sports and study. But once summer hit and school was out it was full time work. Weekends during the school year were spent at the Texaco station. 

The owner of the Texaco Station invested some time in me and it paid dividends for both of us. He took a chance on a goofy kid and the kid gave an hours work for an hour's pay. 

My point is this. You might be in a position to hire someone especially a young person. Don't let age stop you. Invest some time in a young kid if he has a good hand shake, looks you in the eye and shows up on time, every time. And lessons can be learned in the parking lot!

Food for thought!

Marty

Bend, Stretch, But Don't Break, 9/2/2026

 Good Morning,

One steaming hot cup of Door County Toffee Pretzel Coffee is making it's presence known and I am ready to write.

Photo Credit Magnific and Freepik

In the past year we have had to replace the siding on our home. We have had to repair the chimney, repair the generator and then the air conditioning. We will be replacing the overhead garage door today. On Friday of this week we will begin replacing the roof. The first floor inside the house needed painting. New carpeting was installed . One electrical breaker went bad and had to be changed.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed, we are perplexed, but not despairing. 9. Persecuted, but not forsaken, cast down, but not destroyed. 

You could say that we have been busy for a year and it looks like it is coming to a close very soon. 

What's my point for the day? It is this. Project after project we never failed to pray and ask God for patience with the contractors, the building supply emporiums, weather, and there were days that were very stressful. There were times when we both could have easily flown off the handle. But after all is said and done we are still married and looking forward to spending  some time away in a couple of weeks. 

Prayer was the key in holding us together during some tense times. We bent and never broke. Prayer adds elasticity to relationships and situations and should be in every marriages tool kit for survival. With God and prayer, the relationship can bend or stretch successfully, and never snap. 

Food for thought.

Marty

Saying Goodbye To The Mosquitoes

 Good Morning,

I have sitting next to me a hot mug of Door County Toffee Pretzel Coffee and it is time to write. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven. 

September 1st starts off my favorite time of year. I will be hunting in the next few weeks and will still have to contend with an overabundance of mosquitoes. This has been a long spring and summer fighting with the pesty bugs from hell. I am looking forward to October and a few frosty mornings and not being covered in bug repellent. 

One thing you can say about a January deep freeze is that you won't see any mosquitoes. Give me the cold weather any day! 

My point for the day is this. It's going to be a hot one where I live. I just returned inside from feeding the birds and I rejoice because I am one day closer to living mosquito free for a few months. So here it is. Each day that goes by we are one day closer to something else in our life. Changes within a year are numerous and not always welcome. But the point is, whatever season you are in, a change is right around the corner. Hang in there and never quit. 

May God bless you and keep you as you wait on Him.

Love to all. 

Marty

Cherish The Quiet 8/31/2026

 Good Morning,

I poured a hot cup of Door County Autumn Spice Coffee a few minutes ago. The aroma from the coffee brewing is a real pleasure today. It is time fo me to write.

Luke 5:16 NKJV So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. 

This morning a woke up to the sound of thunder and rain. The sky held some heavenly fireworks in the form of lightning. The rain and thunder have stopped for now and our home is totally quiet. I used the quiet for my prayer time and Bible reading. Prayer and reading from my Bible for some reason just seems to be sweeter when it is totally quiet. 

I think the appreciation for quiet is just another one of my quirks. But it seems to go even better with a hot cup of coffee added to the peace. 

My thought for the day for all who read this that you can find a place of quiet, pour yourself a cup of coffee, pray and let God whisper to you through some Scripture verses . This is more than a thought for the day. It is a prayer of mine for all the readers. 

Numbers 6:24-26 NIV "The Lord bless you and keep you;

25. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you;

26. The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. 

Peace, Joy and Love to all.

Marty