God And Going South 8/31/2016

Good Morning,

I have a solution to Wednesdays. They should lead right into Friday. But that probably would not keep us employed very long. So today I will fill my Thermos with a big cup of Door County Cherry Crème Coffee and get some work done.

Lately I have noticed the Canada Goose flocks getting larger in numbers. This is the start of them all joining up to head South for the winter. I think geese are one of the more interesting birds to learn about and watch. I found it very interesting that the geese are monogamous throughout their lives unless their mate dies. Humans could learn a lesson from them!

Canada geese are known for their seasonal migrations. Most Canada geese have staging or resting areas where they join up with others. Their autumn migration can be seen from September to the beginning of November.The early migrants have a tendency to spend less time at rest stops and go through the migration much faster. The later birds usually spend more time at rest stops. Some geese return to the same nesting ground year after year and lay eggs with their mate, raising them in the same way each year. This is recorded from the many tagged geese which frequent the East Coast.

So how can a goose know where to go, when humans need a compass, a GPS unit and a map. The answer is this. God made them unique and designed them that way.

Genesis 1:20-23 Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.” So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the fifth day.

Only God would  wire a bird to know when to fly South and how to get there.

Have a great day.

Marty

Watch Out! The Grill Is Hot 8/30/2016

Good Morning,

I woke up today and the alarm clock was playing the music so loud that I thought I was in the front row of a concert and my ear was in the speaker. I can always tell when Rene dusts the house in a hurry. She bumps that volume dial every time! Now it's time for that first cup of Door County German Chocolate Cake Coffee.

We grill outside quite often and we do it all year round. While entertaining throughout the years I have always been mindful of a hot grill and kids. Little kids just seem to be attracted to a hot smoking grill like a moth is drawn to a lightbulb at midnight. Now we all know that hot grills and kids are a severe burn just waiting to happen. Most kids will keep getting closer and closer to the hot grill just wanting to throw something in and see it flare up. They know it's dangerous and wrong yet they just want to experiment.

Sin is just like a hot grill. It seems that all the things that could burn us spiritually, emotionally and physically, attract us to them like ants to cake on the ground. Drugs for instance are one of those things that might start as an experiment, but can suck you in for life. It started out as a temptation but turned into an addiction. When you play with sin and don't get burned you trust more in your ability to "handle it".  The sin is just warming you up for the full heat. Why burn a couple fingers when you can destroy one life as well as other lives.

All sin comes from Satan and must be avoided at all cost. The best way to resist Satan and his temptations is to run the other way, recite Scripture when tempted, and pray. Satan will flee.

James 4:7New International Version (NIV)

⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Most of all when you run and pray you are running to Jesus for help. He will never let you down and will show you a way out.

Don't get burned by Satan. Run to God and avoid the consequences of sin.

Marty

Grilled Chuck Roast And The Bible? 8/29/2016

Good Morning,

Here comes Monday and it has a full head of steam. I will meet it whole heartedly with a prayer, Bible verse and a cup of Door County Frosted Cinnamon Buns Coffee.

Tonight I will be grilling a big beef chuck roast for dinner and for our lunches tomorrow. I like grilled foods and this particular recipe was given to me by a wonderful lady from the South Side of Milwaukee. I personally have used this recipe since 1976. It is a winner for sure.

Like all good things, this one takes a little work, You first have to mix up a marinade and then place the liquid and the beef in a pan, turning it every couple of hours. It then can sit over night and later be grilled over hot coals.

The marinade tenderizes the roast and makes a crunchy coating on the meat when grilled. It adds great flavor to that big chunk of beef.

God's Word (The Bible) is like a great marinade. It often softens and tenderizes the heart of man when read. Now I can wish for roasted chuck roast all day, but unless I marinade a roast and then grill it up, my desires will never be met.

The same goes with wanting a deeper relationship with God. We need to be deep into His Word, allowing the Holy Spirit to marinade and tenderize our hearts and listen and be obedient to God.

"Create in me a pure heart, and renew a steadfast spirit in me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me."
- Psalm 51:10-12

"Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes from worthless things (idols); Preserve my life according to your word."       - Psalm 119:36-37

"Give me an undivided heart."       - Psalm 86:11

"Even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity."     - Joel 2:12-13
What do you say now? Do you allow the Word of God to pierce your heart? Do you seek more of it? Do you desire to be softened and develop a caring and sharing heart?


Tomorrow we will study the heat of a grill.

Have a great day.

Marty

The Tradition Continues 8/28/2016

Good Morning,

My cup of Door County Cherry Crème Coffee is just what I needed this morning. Our Springer Spaniel Gibbs was a little lazy today and did not wake me up before dawn. I just caught the last of the sunrise, but that extra sleep felt pretty good also. I don't know where you are this morning, but It would be nice to share a cup of coffee and I would be happy to make breakfast. We could have a really big crowd here. I wonder what my neighbors would think? They could join us. But not too many people are up this early. So it might be just a few of us.

Next weekend our hunting season in Wisconsin begins once again. It will be time to pursue and hopefully bag some geese. Several of my younger partners have been scouting for flocks that have patterned themselves into fields which we have permission to hunt in. So now it begins. A license must be purchased, gear needs to be accounted for and ready for next Saturday morning. The excitement will brew all week and work will just be something to do until the crack of dawn on the weekend. Then the pick up trucks will roll, loaded with dogs, decoys, guns, men and women dressed in camo clothing, donuts, coffee and good intentions will gather in a field that has been dreamed about since last January.

Spouses will only laugh as they basically watch adults gather their toys to go out and play nice. At least that is how Rene looks at it. But the annual tradition will begin. Before the hunt begins each one of us with gather with our hats off and we will pray for safety and if my friend Jim prays he will go greedy and pray for a huge bounty for us. I think we all secretly pray that way. But those family members that we left snuggled in their beds, the ones who laugh and tolerate our pursuit of wild game are prayed for. Not many of them even know that early in the morning they are prayed for. Now that's part of the tradition that needs to stay.

We all have traditions that we enjoy. For some it is a Sunday dinner table that is filled with family and friends. For some it is the annual picnic or Christmas shopping trip. Does it begin with prayer? Are those who aren't there prayed for?

Now we can't count on bagging geese and from time to time we have been shut out. But we can count on a few guys gathering, sharing goodies that we don't need, delivering a little smack talk, and we can count on those hats coming off and for a time it will be very quiet except for the voice of prayer.

Matthew 14:22-23New International Version (NIV)
²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone,

Jesus spent time in prayer and in this passage we have no idea what He was praying about, but how wonderful it would have been to be on that mountainside hearing His voice in prayer. That's how I feel, when I am in the dark and that prayer is lifted up before our hunt and I know that God has joined us in that field or marsh because He keeps His promises.

Matthew 18:20New International Version (NIV)
²⁰ For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

How's that working for you?

God bless,

Marty

Hanging With The Boys 8/27/2016

Good Morning,

I woke up this morning to the rhythm of rain drops on the house. We seem to be making up some of the rain we haven't had all summer. It's a good sound except that my next activity today has to be outside. We will see how that goes. I better pack a Thermos bottle of Door County Red Velvet Mocha to go along with me.

Later today I will be headed out to participate in a Sporting Clays competition. This one finds a few churches competing in shooting our shotguns at little clay targets which are zipping through the air at different angles, distances and speeds. We have a few guys from our church going and it has always been a great time and I think today will be the same. My skills seem to be going downhill in this event. I am hoping to shoot like days of old but I will be content to see the team have a good time and hang in there with the other churches. I will probably just shoot like I am old. We will play hard and compete with intensity. We will have great fun.

This will be good clean fun and I wouldn't hesitate once with the thought of bringing a young boy or girl along to this event. This day is open to both genders and the ladies have been known to out shoot the guys quite often. Our grandson has competed in this event.

But here's my point. We will be walking a course that is spread out. ( Good physical exercise). We will be starting with prayer. (Good Spiritual Exercise) We will be practicing a skill. ( Good exercise for the mind) And we will be bonding in a safe, clean, atmosphere. ( Good exercise in character).

There are so many things out there for anyone to get caught up in that would not be honorable or moral. I give these churches a high five for planning events that are of good moral character. I went out of my way to invite some of the younger guys at church to come along. We really don't care if they shoot well or not. Our goal is to fellowship with them and eventually pass on the torch of the men's ministry to them. But most of all we just want them to have some fun with us.

What events are you going to this weekend? Would God go along? If not, look us up we have some more events coming along and would love to have you.

God bless.

Have a great day.

Are Your Kids Driving You Crazy? 8/26/2016

Good Morning,

Happy Friday to you. Let's raise up a cup of Door County Country Morning Blend Coffee and toast ourselves. We made it to Friday! I am rejoicing for two friends of mine. There daughter has been missing since June and she was found alive yesterday.

Proverbs 29:15   
The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

If any two parents had a kid that could drive them crazy my parents had the prize. I was always into something and just could not be taken seriously especially while in  high school. I have attached a picture which is too old to be clear, but in it you can see my mother holding her head in sorrow as I posed for a picture before heading out to a dance.

Maybe you have a kid who is driving you nuts and you often wonder how you ever gave life to him or her. One thing I can say about my parents is that they did not give up on me. I would make mistake after mistake, learn the hard way, catch their correction and sometimes some well deserved wrath, but they never quit on me. I am sure they wanted to throw in the towel many times. But for some reason they didn't. I am glad that they didn't because I am sure it would have only gotten worse. They did not leave me to myself. I was my own worst enemy at times.

So when the days turn into long nights, remember to pray for those kids. Leave a light on and always hope. Maybe you will be blessed enough to have your drunken son eat the dish of dog food by mistake, because you placed it on the stove like a plate left for a hungry son. We still laugh about that one. Well the family does, I just bark.

Hang in there if it is real bad. Join a prayer and support group. Fight for your kid. Never quit.

God bless,

Marty

Truth In A Sunset 8/25/2016

Good Morning,

Waking up was hard to do this morning. I was fighting a life and death battle with my pillow. it had my head in a lock hold and was telling me to sleep a little longer. I wrestled myself loose and made my way to the kitchen for some Door County Raspberry Butter Crunch Coffee. Now it's time to go to work.

Truth be known I have watched many sunrises and have matched it with just as many sunsets. Rene thinks that watching a sunset together is romantic. I for one think a sunrise is more exhilarating. Either way I see truth in a sunset or a sunrise. When I watch the sunset I know that the Earth is still revolving and that another day is coming to an end. As I have read Scripture through the years I see a sunset and I know that God keeps His word. Who hasn't stood in awe of a sunset? We see the sunset and we are amazed. It's like they shout to us, "See what God has done". So when I see that and experience the peace, thrill and power of a sunset I see the truth come to life.

Psalm 65:8Living Bible (TLB)
⁸ In the farthest corners of the earth the glorious acts of God shall startle everyone. The dawn and sunset shout for joy!

Take some time to watch a sunrise or sunset. See the truth that God speaks through His word.

Have a sunny day!

Marty

New Boots Are Just Like Marriage 8/24/2016

Good Morning,

I awoke today with a song in my heart and it has been a long time since that has happened. I went to sleep listening to some Elvis Gospel music and the song "You'll Never Walk Alone" and when I awoke it was the tune I was singing in the shower. It made my cup of Door County Cherry Crème Coffee taste all that much better. Music and coffee, what a combination to start the day!

I was taught long ago to take care of what you purchase, buy the best you can afford and it should last a long, long time. So whenever I buy new hunting boots, which is very seldom I always coat the leather boots with a preservative. I have one particular brand that I prefer and have used it since I was about 12 years old. I always brush on three coats of the preservative before I wear the boots for the first time. I usually will apply three to four coats during each year that I have the boots. My last pair served me well for twelve years.

You could say that I had a long lasting relationship with my boots until death parted us. My boots were finally laid to rest about a month ago. So if my boots which are well worn can last twelve years by taking care of them with preservative and they are only boots, why do marriage relationships fail? Marriage vows are supposed to be "until death do us part".

I think we forget to add preservatives to marriage. We forget to coat our relationships in kindness and sacrificial acts of love. We let the raw weather of life hit and abuse the unprotected skin of our marriages. We take for granted that they will last without taking care of the marriage.

 "Be completely humble and gentle; Be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace."- Ephesians 4:2-3

- If a husband and wife are humble, patient, gentle, and selfless in a relationship this will cause less confrontation and arguments. This verse reminds us to keep calm and do as Jesus would do.

There are many more "Marriage Maintenance" Scriptures we could mention,  but this one should be sufficient for this morning. But like my boots that don't oil themselves, you have to put some effort into preserving a marriage.

Have you been preserving your marriage or letting the world whip and beat on it? I always say that preserving is easier than rebuilding. Just saying???

Have a great day.

Marty

1. "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."- 1 Peter 4:8

- This is a very important life verse for marriage because marriage is a unification of two sinners. No one is perfect in a marriage. There will be times that a husband or wife may fail each other, mess up, or do something hurtful. It is important to remember God's definition of love and know that loving each other deeply can cover all those sins. This verse reminds us the true power of love!

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/buzzvine/5-bible-verses-that-will-help-strengthen-your-marriage-107307/#OXF7saLPMAWRIATA.99

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/buzzvine/5-bible-verses-that-will-help-strengthen-your-marriage-107307/#sD13r5YwdmbjIS7v.99

1. "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."- 1 Peter 4:8

- This is a very important life verse for marriage because marriage is a unification of two sinners. No one is perfect in a marriage. There will be times that a husband or wife may fail each other, mess up, or do something hurtful. It is important to remember God's definition of love and know that loving each other deeply can cover all those sins. This verse reminds us the true power of love!

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/buzzvine/5-bible-verses-that-will-help-strengthen-your-marriage-107307/#jI7Wzjc6Vcbz941R.99

1. "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."- 1 Peter 4:8

- This is a very important life verse for marriage because marriage is a unification of two sinners. No one is perfect in a marriage. There will be times that a husband or wife may fail each other, mess up, or do something hurtful. It is important to remember God's definition of love and know that loving each other deeply can cover all those sins. This verse reminds us the true power of love!

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/buzzvine/5-bible-verses-that-will-help-strengthen-your-marriage-107307/#jI7Wzjc6Vcbz941R.99

 

Pain Should Not Be An Identity 8/23/2016

Good Morning,

I sit here looking at the computer screen and my mind seems miles and miles away. I am here but my prayers are for a friend who has a missing daughter. Now that is emotional pain and to be written about for another day. My mug of Door County German Chocolate Cake Coffee is getting cold. It is time to get moving.

This is the last day that I will be writing about physical pain and how others endure and seem to overcome their plight.

About four years a go a friend of ours was spending his last days on Earth with cancer ravaging his body. I sat with him for a couple nights and it was obvious that he was in immense pain. He asked me if I could do a favor for him. I asked what it was and the answer surprised me. He asked me if I could arrange to have the member directory from our church delivered to him. He was going to pray through the directory for each person and as God led, he would call them and ask for prayer requests.

This was done and he made several calls. My home happened to be one of them. My friend asked me if we had any prayer requests. I told him I had one and it was for a man with cancer who was in a lot of pain. He knew I was talking about him. He told me the prayer would soon be answered and there would be no more pain for him. He passed away about five days later.

This man did not let pain and suffering become his identity. It had not defined his life. It easily could have and no one would have blamed him at all. But he was not going to be the one who complained all the time. He was a joy to sit with. The thought of him praying for me still warms my heart. What I remember of him now is not how he played the drums but how he prayed for others through the pain. I remember him as a warrior who was running the race to achieve the prize and he was sprinting at the end. His love for God and others defined him and his legacy.

Revelation 21:4New International Version (NIV)

⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’^[a] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

My friend was healed the moment he took his last Earthly breath. It wasn't exactly how we prayed for him, but in God's time he was healed beyond all measure.

How are you to deal with when you are in pain? Could you take time during your crisis to pray for others?  My friend's pain became a ministry.

God bless,

Marty

Living In Pain Part Two 8/22/2016

Good Morning,

I hear the telltale signs of morning coming from the kitchen as the Door County Cinnamon Sugar Biscotti Coffee lands into the carafe.

Yesterday we held our annual church picnic on our grounds. It was well attended and we could not have asked for a better day. One of the fellas who was working the sweet corn roast is a dear friend of mine. He is in constant physical pain, but was there hefting bags of charcoal, roasting corn and serving butter by the gallon. Later I saw him shoveling out the ash pit and pushing everyone to the finish line. Now my friend and his wife are excellent cooks and can easily roast a couple pieces of corn at home if they wanted to for their own dinner. But yet there he was roasting 400 ears of sweet corn with a team he assembled. How did he overcome the pain?

1. He had a goal. He wanted our picnic to be a good one.
2. He cares about others and takes great pleasure in seeing others enjoy a good piece of corn.
3. In his pain he has decided that being a blessing to others outweighs the pain.


Scripture makes it clear that God blesses us not so we can live with greed, but so we can bless others. God loves a cheerful giver. When He sees that someone is giving freely out of love, God blesses them more. We are blessed to be a blessing. God Has given everyone different talents to be used for the benefit of others.


2 Corinthians 9:8-11New International Version (NIV)
⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ⁹ As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
    their righteousness endures forever.”

¹⁰ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

My friend could easily say no and use his infirmity as an excuse. Bur he considers being a blessing to others his source of joy and his duty.

How about you? Can you bear the pain of today be asking God to let you help others? Are you a watering can of blessings ready to pour?

God bless,

Marty

Buttered Corn Please. 8/21/2016

Good Morning,

I am at church already helping to prepare for our annual church picnic. I brought my own Door County Kona Coffee to treat myself and a few helpers as we shred roasted pork for the lunch.

Our Men's Ministry roasted the barbecued pork and will be heading up the roasted corn with Wisconsin butter. Those guys are good at whatever they try. Last night they were setting up and I was delivering the corn that we had purchased from a local farmer. There were many church members there preparing for the picnic. It was like watching ants at a picnic. It seemed pretty well organized and everyone was working hard to make sure that the day was one that would be special and very pleasing to God. it was a lot of work but I saw many hands. That really made me feel good about our church. I saw these same hands a few years ago work to restore the church after we flooded from some major storms. We were up and ministering again within a week.  God has blessed us with good people who don't mind some hard work. Last night as I prayed I tried to remember them all bet fell very short of that goal. But God knows who they are. For me the work will be well worth it when some little kid walks up and says " Buttered Corn Please"! That's a church family in action.

Proverbs 10:4New International Version (NIV)

⁴ Lazy hands make for poverty,
    but diligent hands bring wealth.

Have a picnic kind of day.

Marty

Living In Pain 8/20/16

Good Morning,

Nothing much to see outside this morning. Our skies are overcast with heavy clouds that are just waiting to weep some precipitation on Gibbs and me.  I sit at the picnic table with a very hot cup of Door County Mocha Mint Coffee, the dog is on top of the table watching the sky for any bird to fly by.

This is the usual Saturday routine for us until hunting season starts. By now we would be on our second cup of coffee and hopefully a couple of ducks into it hopefully.

I hear from a good friend now and then and it wasn't long ago that he informed me of a painful illness that has riddled his body. I also have another good friend who lives in pain daily. Of course I have prayed for their healing, but the healing has not come to these two Godly men who walk with the Lord daily.

Now notice here what I said. "Walk with the Lord daily". Despite their infirmities, these guys do not complain. They continue to serve the Lord in in any way they can, often paying the price the next day for the activity they did the day before.

What makes men and women like this tick? What pushes them to exhaustion without a gold medal to hang on their chest? Over the next couple of days I will attempt to answer that question. I am praying that God will equip me with the words to do this subject justice. Neither of them will have their names published as I will not invade their privacy. Those two know who they are and how I feel about them. To me, they are heroes and I am  sure if you are reading this you could add to the list many, many, more.

Like the clouds that I mentioned which are heavy with potential rain, my heart is heavy at times for these two. I will continue to pray for healing and will not cease, but I will also accept God's answer of no if He decides that they won't be healed here on Earth but will be pain free in Heaven some day.

My first shot at the answer to this subject of how these guys continue to serve the Lord while in pain is this. They have a love relationship with God and a trust that surpasses all understanding. They love Him despite not having the healing they desire. They would rather have that relationship intact than anything else. Psalm 37 does a great job of explain this.

Psalm 37:4New International Version (NIV)

⁴ Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Some would read this passage and say "if they do all they do while even in pain, then God should heal them as that must be their desire".  Now that is a pretty good interpretation attempt at Scripture but falls short of the truth.  They delight in the Lord so much that He has become the desire of their heart and they continually want more of Him. They possess a deeper love for Him despite the infirmities of pain. They do not curse God for the pain but embrace Him and want more of Him as they experience His grace daily They look for ways to serve despite the pain. They long to serve more, not trying to achieve favor to be healed but to stand next to Him and assist in His work of redeeming souls.  That is step one for this day and I will continue this subject tomorrow.

Where are you in your delight for the Lord? Are you like the football fan who only shows up if the team is in the Super Bowl?

We will chat tomorrow and I look forward to it. God bless you all.

Marty





August 11th 1984. What A Day That Was! 8/19/2016

Good Morning,

My mug is filled with some Sunrise in Door County Coffee this happy Friday morning. Nothing like a sunrise and a hot cup of coffee.

I want to reminisce about a day that changed my life forever. It started with a youth group, a canoe trip and a co-worker.

In 1984 I was a single man even though I always say I have been married for a thousand years. I was on the market, available and yet not a whole lot of women were breaking down the door to spend time with a macho man. Hard to believe isn't it?

My work in church at that time was "youth leader". I had pretty much resigned myself to singleness and was content with life. On Saturday August 11th 1984 we had planned a youth group canoe trip to Waupaca Wisconsin to canoe the mighty Crystal River with an outfitter named Dings Dock. This is designed to be a lot of fun and it is a ball! It was to be about a three hour tour. We were a little short on adult chaperones and I enlisted a couple of my buddies to help us out. We still needed an adult body or two. I had started working at the hospital in 1983 and made a few friends. One friend and co-worker asked me what my plans were for the weekend and I explained the canoe trip and our lack of adults. My co-worker friend replied that she liked canoe trips and wouldn't mind helping out. I jumped at the chance to fill our roster of needed adults.

Saturday came and 72 teenagers and a few adults headed to "Dings Dock". The trip has a few sets of small rapids and the canoes are designed it seems, to tip over. If you and your partner can complete the river trip without tipping over at all you are extremely talented and quite boring. We set all the kids up with partners and my two buddies jumped into a canoe to set the pace for all. They made it 50 yards and flipped. That left me and my co-worker to partner up and battle the river. We had become pretty good friends at work, but I really was worried as to how she might respond, not if we tipped over but when. Well we made it about three hundred yards and tipped over, sinking the canoe. While getting back into the canoe, we tipped over again. My co-worker had such a robust laugh while navigating our antics with that stupid canoe that I soon found myself laughing and splashing with her and others. I hadn't found too much to laugh about in the two years prior to this outing. Life had been pretty tough.

Long story short, we finished the trip, returned to Milwaukee and made sure all the teens were picked up or were given a ride home. It was pretty late and we hadn't really had much to eat at the cookout after the trip. I offered my co-worker a pizza and a Coke midnight snack at a local Italian food emporium near her apartment. While eating pizza we talked and laughed, reliving some of the day. It was soon about 1:30 AM and the restaurant was closing. I walked her to her door and we shook hands. I thanked her for a great day and all of her help with the teens. I asked if I could see her again next week and she laughed and said "of course, we work together".  I explained that I was thinking about the next weekend for a dinner and a movie. Lucky for me she said yes. We have been eating pizza together ever since. I married my co-worker Laurene, who I call Rene. (Reenee) 

Matthew 7:7
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you

I forgot to mention that I had been praying to meet someone and on 8/11/1984 I never prayed for that again.  I am not sure that Rene recalls the exact date of the beginning of our life together, but I do. It was a day that Beauty met the Beast and laughter was restored to my life.

Have a great day!

Marty

Reaching A Hand 8/18/2016

Good Morning,

I am looking into my mug of Door County Highlander Grog Coffee and having a brain block on what I am going to write today. I know what is in my heart but the words seem to be escaping me.

Recently while I was in Haiti on a short term mission trip we were afforded the privilege to serve undernourished kids a few meals. I call this a privilege because the act of kindness did more than feed some kids. It melted our hearts and changed the team. I paid close attention the one night when I was actually delivering the plates to these kids. Our language barrier wasn't an issue. What I paid attention to were the facial expressions. Some of these kids looked at you as if you were giving them a great gift. Some did not make eye contact. It seemed to me that they were ashamed to be in need of a meal. Some never took their eyes off of the plate until the food was gone. Some of their faces showed expressions of thanks and relief. I don't think that many of my friends and family can identify with relying on a stranger for a meal. Some looked at us like we were special, almost like kings and queens and just to sit with us was a big deal for them. They never seemed to take a meal for granted. They all said thank you or nodded, The tiny ones just got down to business and ate. Their smiles were more than a thank you. they did not realize that it was me who was being ministered to.

I pondered last night how that might of felt to some of these kids and the different facial expressions. Then I realized that I should know what it feels like to need and rely on a King. After all I am like a little orphan each day and I reach out my hand in need of life. My food comes to me handed down from God, what I have He gave to me. Once I was lost and like a little beggar I came to Him in need of a Savior.
I have nothing really to offer to the King that he doesn't already have. I can barley look at Him for He created me from dust. Just a word from Him in my direction is special. To spend time with Him is a desire I can never pay back. And like these little kids, the only thing I can offer Him is my heart. I came home and looked in our refrigerator and said a prayer of thanks. Those kids changed the way I look at things. I see our apple trees hanging with fruit and I am thankful. I see our dog sleeping and content and his ribs are not showing because of lack of food. I am thankful. I drove to work yesterday because I have a job. I am thankful.

Psalm 51:10New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me

What do you take for granted? Meals, work, family, church, God, health??? After all, aren't we all poor orphans and beggars in need of our God to sustain every breath and eternal life through Jesus?

Can you give Him your heart today in thanks? Those kids came for a meal. I received heart surgery.

Marty

You Have To Put The Boat In The Water 8/17/2016

Good Morning,

I hope this finds you all well and your cup full of cheer. My mug is filled with Door County  Raspberry Butter Crunch Coffee. Smile, you just might light up the life of someone else with a greeting and a smile.

Our two nephews are a couple of lovable clowns. They take some of the funniest or weirdest pictures I have ever seen. The older one is a pretty good photographer and has some nice photos to show. I took this picture during a weekend fishing trip to Upper Michigan. As you can see the little fishing boat is out of the water. My two fishing companions are just sitting there. All the strongest wishes and hoping will not get those two any fish unless the boat makes it to the water. If they thought this technique would produce a fish they would be sadly mistaken. The boat did make it to the water and they did catch some fish. But they had to move and put in the effort. The boat had to leave the back of the truck. Then it had to be dragged about 3/4 of a mile through brush and mud just to get to the water. Then they had to spend the time fishing while fighting off mosquitoes, before they even caught one fish. The hard work paid off. But the beginning wasn't easy.

Many people see the dream of their lives but just wait for someone to come along and grant a wish or a dream. When it doesn't happen they then throw a pity party and invite those around them to show them sympathy and concern. They aren't willing to work toward their goals. They want immediate gratification without the sweat equity that goes into making their dreams or goals come true. Some people get angry with God and put a sign on their forehead that says "It's not fair". People need to get off of their backsides and move toward their goals and dreams. Their personal boat of life needs to hit the water and they have to row. Laziness has no rewards.

The Bible has a little bit to say about working.  Let's see.

Colossians 3:23-24

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

2 Timothy 2:15   

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Ecclesiastes 9:10   

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

1 Corinthians 10:31   

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God

No one is going to do it for you. You own your personal work ethic. So pry yourself out your chair of excuses and take that first step. Don't quit when the road is long and hard. Call on God to give you strength, not to do it for you, but to strengthen you to accomplish your goals.

Got get um!

Marty

Empty Cups. They Don't Have To Be. Use Them. 8/16/2016

Good Morning,

Wow! My cup of Door County Red Velvet Mocha Coffee was good and hot. It was just what these tired eyes needed.  No doubt it will taste even better around 9AM when I eat a peach and banana for breakfast.  Some days that's all a guy needs to get a day going. Add some prayer and you are set.

Rene and I started a new collection of dishes. They are depression glass and they are called Iris. We actually plan on using these and have just about all we need to serve eight people. Rene hit the antique jackpot this last weekend and we just about completed the set. As we discussed the dishes last night I lobbied for us to use them instead of scrolling them away just to look at. We both agreed that it was time to let these dishes make some memories. I was looking at two coffee cups and saucers that were waiting to be washed and put away. Of course they were empty, but I made the observation that it would be a shame to never fill these and use them for the purpose they were made for.

1 Corinthians 7:7English Standard Version (ESV)
⁷ I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

We all have been given gifts or talents from God. Just like cups that are never used for holding a great cup of tea or coffee, many people never take their talents and giftedness and use them as God intended. For instance, if you are blessed to be able to sing and have a beautiful voice, why aren't you using it in church, for the glory of God? You never know who's heart will be blessed by your song. Maybe you are blessed with the gift of being able to knit or sew. Many kids need a free pair of mittens or slippers that could be distributed at your church. Maybe you are a skilled carpenter but you won't practice your trade to advance the Kingdom of God on a short term mission trip. Cups were created to hold liquid and somewhere during their life span they should hold a beverage that is used to create a memory. Perhaps a Christmas dinner?

Our gifts and talents should be used to do the same. They should be used to touch hearts and please God. That is always a memory for you and for those touched by what you did.

Is your cup used yet? I hope so.

Marty

Milwaukee and The Bible. 8/15/16

Good Morning,

Monday showed up and I must have missed the cheering. I started the day with a heavy heart and a cup of Door County Blueberry Cobbler Coffee.

You ask why I might have a heavy heart? Here it is. We had an officer involved shooting in Milwaukee this weekend which culminated in a riot, fires and looting. There are many people and elected officials running off at the mouth and I personally am sickened by the rhetoric on television. There are two principals that seem to be forgotten and both are Biblical.

Romans 13:1-7New International Version (NIV)

Submission to Governing Authorities

13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

⁶ This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor

No excuses here. It is pretty simple, when told by an authority to do something, then do it.

Next. 1 John 3:4New King James Version (NKJV)
⁴ Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

I heard these acts of crime called "protests, urban incidents and acts of frustration". Let's call it what it is. Come on now preachers call it by the name it is. It is a sin. What the community needs is not more failed plans, it needs to be convicted of it's need for a Savior. A Christian man stays home with his children, works and makes sure that the kids go to school. He takes them to church and corrects them as needed. I don't see any races mentioned here. This is for all men of any race.

Think about it. We are breaking God's laws of Scripture and then expect good to come from it.

Enough for one day.

Marty

Doing What Is Right When No One Is Around. Leaving the Nest 8/14/2016

Good Morning,

Last night a neighbor was chiding me about how I always write about whatever delicious coffee I am dinking in the morning. It's a long story of love that led me to drink Door County Coffee and so I smile as I drink this cup of Cherry Crème today and recall falling in love with my wife all over again 6 years ago.

Daniel’s Training in Babylon

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. ² And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.

³ Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— ⁴ young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. ⁵ The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.
⁶ Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. ⁷ The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
⁸ But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. ⁹ Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, ¹⁰ but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
¹¹ Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ¹² “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” ¹⁴ So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
¹⁵ At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. ¹⁶ So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead

Daniel was a young man of Israel and was now a captive of Babylon. He was told to eat things that for the Jewish folks would defile. His family was gone, and most of the other Jews had already given in except for three of his buddies. So, you see they were not the majority. Peer pressure did not make these guys cave in. Now Daniel was respectful and wasn't obnoxious with the authorities over him.  He did however know right from wrong. You could also tell from this passage that Daniel knew the word of God. He had no one in "religious authority" to hold him accountable. From this you can also tell that He loved God and also feared Him.

Daniel and his buddies were determined to do what was right and in a respectful way took their stand and God moved on their behalf.

It is almost September and soon many first time young men and women will be leaving home to pursue college educations. A lot of temptations will be coming their way. Some of them are not as grounded as Daniel and his buddies. These newbies will meet new people and be free from the watchful eye of mom and dad. Most will be ok and do fine, but some others will be swallowed up by the freedoms and choices they encounter now. Will they do what is right or will they give in to peer pressure?

If you know someone who is experiencing this for the first time, they should be on your prayer list. Many a good kid fails out in that first year of school and they take a long time to recover from the mistakes of that "semester" of knowing what is right but not doing it.

So dear friends, broaden your prayer horizons and include those you know who are leaving the nest. Pray for them and their parents. If you know them well enough send them a card of encouragement and be bold enough to share this blog with them or some Godly advice.

Love to all and if you are in the neighborhood, well, the coffee is on.

Marty

 

It's Really A Simple Plan 8/13/2016

Good Morning Friends and Family,

Saturday morning and I have to go into work for a short little project and I will be chugging some of my Door County German Chocolate Coffee in the old Ford as I drive in. Coffee, trucks, dogs and work, they all go together. If you have to go to work it should be in your truck.

I recently was chatting with a fellow that I would call "scholarly" and he was telling me about this book he was reading that gives guidance as to how to live successfully. I asked him how many pages were in the book and how he was doing with reading it. He replied "it has a little over three hundred pages and I am reading about three to four pages a day". Now I am a wise guy from the word go. I asked this "If that book is so good and it leads to successful living why haven't you completed it in just a day or two? Why wait to be successful?  Now my scholar friend replied "You make a good point". I just couldn't let this go. I asked him if he had ever read the Bible? The answer was "no, it has no relevance to today"! I thought to myself "here we go". I looked up Micah 6:8 on my phone and told him that I would prove the relevance of the Bible to today.

Micah 6:8New International Version (NIV)

⁸ He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.

 

I read the verse to him and said, "just think what the world would be like if everyone followed this verse. We wouldn't have law suits, lawyers would be less busy and less expensive, prisons would be day care centers, teachers wouldn't need the police, parents would have some peace and quiet. More people would be able to count to ten and not blow up at other people." It told this fellow that I believe I found the book for successful living and I read it every day and sometimes I just can't put it down. Unlike his best seller that barely kept him awake. He was dumb struck and silent.

 

Wondering what life is about? What path to take next? What is the truth about eternity? How to love? Open your Bible and unleash yourself on the pages and absorb the many truths and promises.

 

Start today!

 

God bless,

Marty

What Makes A Home? 8/12/2016

Good Morning,

Friday showed up just like it promised and I for one am happy it did. My cup of Door County Cinnamon Pecan Ice Cream Coffee and an ice cold peach are making the morning a little special.

We have lived in our house since 1994 and really have no intentions to leave. We are quite content to be right here. Through the years we have had great Christmas trees, furniture that was new and then needed to be replaced. We have some beautiful dishes, adequate clothing, appliances and I have a few stuffed animals hanging on the walls. The apple trees in the yard are now mature and have turned out a few thousand pieces of fruit. The fireplace is well used and is ready to go for this winter. There are pictures hanging on the walls and books on the shelves. The house withstood one small tornado and several huge snowstorms.

But all that stuff in abundance does not make a home.

Hebrews 3:4
For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.

It is the people inside that make the home. A family with God at the head survives the tornadoes of life and weathers the storms. The "attitude" of the home is built with unconditional love, forgiveness, and kindness. Strangers are welcome. It should be used as an emergency room for others to come and get a meal, some love, respect and support. The house becomes a home when the word of God is alive and well in the home.

Joshua 24:15
¹⁵ But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

I see people with larger houses and they look beautiful. But all too often when I talk with some of the owners I find that they are still not happy. When I listen to them for awhile I come to the conclusion most of the time that the house is beautiful but it is not a home. They have a family inside that goes in two million different directions and does not put God at the head.

The people inside a house need that main element (God) to truly make the house a home. Friends if the house seems like four walls and the people inside are living like strangers, well? The one thing that makes a house a home is a family united in their relationship to God.

Only you know what is missing or just lacks enough of.  Hey don't just read this, do something about it. You are as close to God as you choose to be.

Have a great day!

Marty

I Rejoiced When They Said To Me. 8/11/2016

Good Morning,

I can hear the racket of my Door County Cherry Crème Coffee brewing in the kitchen. I am up a little earlier than usual today. Our alarm clock of a dog decided that it was time for us to move. I heard a small flock of geese pass over the house way earlier than usual. I was hoping that the Springer Spaniel hunting machine didn't hear them, but I was wrong. His internal calendar is telling him that it will soon be time to hunt. My internal clock was telling me "15 more minutes of sleep" would be nice. I get up, he goes outside for a minute, he eats and goes back to sleep. I have a hard time not getting up with that eager face staring at me. I mumble, "just a few more weeks buddy"

 

Tuesday night our elder board met at church for our monthly meeting. One of the items on the agenda is a time for us to share praises. We do share prayer requests and pray for guidance, but to be honest I really enjoy hearing about all the things that God is doing within our board and the church. I get goose bumps on my arms when I hear the stories of our Awesome God.

God does some amazing things in my own life, but to be able to praise Him with others as I hear about what He has done and is doing means so much more when it is shared. Somehow rejoicing with others seems to be a big deal for me. I really don't care if I have anything to report or not. But being happy for others and listening somehow is just as good. I see their smiles and their passion when they discuss victories and lift them up in praise.

I guess for me, church has taught me another way to praise. Psalm 122:1New International Version

Psalm 122

A song of ascents. Of David.

¹ I rejoiced with those who said to me,
    “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

I hope your day is blessed from above.

Marty