Saying Farewell To 2018

Good Morning,

The Door County Wisconsin Harvest Blend Coffee just started brewing in the kitchen. I have a busy day ahead of me. Physical therapy for the knees, some lab work, and then hopefully the sutures will be removed today. The knee replacements started in 2018, will be a carry over for 2019.

As I pondered the world events of 2018 I saw a repeat of 2017. People are working again, but we still had mass shootings, terrorist attacks, drug abuse is at an all time high and wars are occurring all over the world. Sports have become part of politics and politics have become part of sports. Not much has changed in one year. I lost more hair. I am a year older and this last year showed up hard in my body and face.

There is however one thing that did not change at all and I for one count on that daily. God is my constant. He is my rock and my protector.

Isaiah 45:5-6 New King James Version (NKJV)

There is no God besides Me.

I will gird you, though you have not known Me,

⁶ That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting

That there is none besides Me.

I am the Lord, and there is no other;

⁵ I am the Lord, and there is no other;

He does not change. Unlike my GPS unit that will need to be reprogrammed because of road changes. God's Word is unchangeable and does not need to be reprogrammed. 

Isaiah 40:8 New King James Version (NKJV)

But the word of our God stands forever.”

⁸ The grass withers, the flower fades,

Numbers 23:19 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁹ God is not man, that he should lie,
    or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
    Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

God never fails. He does not change. As for me and my house we will follow Him.

Marty

Repent Is Not A Four Letter Word 12/30/2018

Good Morning,

My mug is still steaming with the Door County Cinnamon Hazelnut Coffee I poured a minute ago.  I am writing today from the kitchen table. I haven't mastered a lot of stairs as of yet. Two stairs are the limits of my travels within the house. These replacement knees have been doing a little barking at night. Today they are sore and wanting some ice attention.  I will pamper them once this is written.

Revelation 3:19 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁹ As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent

In my discussions with others I hear that the word repent is not being used all that often in churches anymore. It seems as in our desire to reach the lost, we don't want to use words that might offend them. Reaching the lost is a good thing. But we need to reach them with the basic tools God has given us. Last time I checked in with God He didn't ask me if I thought He should re-write the Bible. I doubt that He has called on anyone to do so.

"The repentance (metanoia) called for throughout the Bible is a summons to a personal, absolute and ultimate unconditional surrender to God as Sovereign. Though it includes sorrow and regret, it is more than that. ... The words "repent," "repentance," and "repented" are mentioned over 100 times in the Bible"

2 Timothy 3:16-17 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16 Clearly states that the Bible is the end all final word for believers and non believers. All the subjects covered within the Bible were addressed for our instruction and the teachings are more than sufficient for today. It is not our responsibility to worry about the fact that the Bible might seem offensive to some. The Bible has been described as a two edged sword. The last time I cut my finger, it hurt. The Word of God is used to convict, and pierce frozen unrepentant hearts.

Hebrews 4:12 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹² For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

God does not want a long drawn out process to repentance. He tells us to be zealous "Get it done" about repenting from our sins and denying our need of a Savior.

Let's get back to basics. Repent is not four letter word.

Marty

In Awe Of God 12/29/2018

Good Morning,

Door County Chocolate Cherry Creme Coffee has just filled my cup and I am ready to write. Our text today is one that is meant to be a reminder to all of us.

Habakkuk 3:2 New International Version (NIV)

    I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord.

Repeat them in our day,

    in our time make them known;

    in wrath remember mercy

² Lord, I have heard of your fame;

We have all heard of the works of the Lord. I like to recall the parting of the Red Sea for Moses to lead the Israelites across to safety. Then the sea closed drowning the pursuing army. In the recollection of that awesome display,  I see God's power, His compassion and His wrath.

When was the last time you you stood back in awe of what God is doing around you? Maybe the birth of a child? Maybe the healing of cancer? How about the rising sun? How about the food on your table?  When I take a look at all God does daily in my life I cannot help to not be in awe. Before we head into 2019, recall 2018 and see where God carried you through a rough spot. Look at 365 perfectly planned sunrises. So much we take for granted and should not. What if He stops?

Let God know you love Him and are in awe of His work.

Love to all,

Marty

The Day After Christmas 12/28/2018

Good Morning,

The day  started for me with some Door County White Christmas Coffee. Nice! I am up early hoping to get outside for a short time. I need some fresh air.

Many people will are still out returning gifts or looking for bargains as stores try to empty their shelves.I will be staying at home working on the rehab process of two new knees.

Ecclesiastes 2:24 English Standard Version (ESV)

²⁴ There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God,

On Christmas Day we did a gift exchange with Rene's family. Many years ago Mother began to give each child a can of vegetables after she removed the identification label. Each kid owned a can and had no clue what was inside, Mother started to include me in on the  "Mystery Can". This is her little "Christmas Gag" to all of us. So as like every Christmas we all received one one mystery can. Rene and I will decide one night to open our cans and try to make a meal out of the contents. We will report back to her siblings next Christmas.

Why am I writing about this? It is harmless fun, the food all does get used and it has become a tradition. Friends do not forsake gathering together with family. New Years is coming and you might make the choice to "Party like it's 1995 or you might just decide to "hermit up". Let me suggest a small family get together with good food and some games. Start a tradition that lasts. Enjoy the simple.

God Bless,

Marty

New Lesson From The Old Knees 12/27/2018

Good Morning.

I am not back to my routine yet, so the daily blogs might be a little sporadic over the next few days. I did however enjoy a cup of Door County Bourbon Pecan Pie Coffee this morning.

For a few years now, it was apparent that the time was coming to get my knees replaced. A week ago we tackled the job and the progress is looking good. I have clinicians and therapists coming to the house to check on me and assist with therapy. They all ask a lot of questions and it helps to gauge my pain levels. One surprise to the trip of pain is that my back and hips hurt, quite a bit. I asked why that might be. The answer was simple. As my knees continued to get worse and I had to adjust my walk, my back and hips compensated along with them. In other words, my bad knees impacted my hips and back, not in a good way.  The knees are straight and working now. So the back and hips need to adjust with the new knees. Since the knees were done in one day, the back and hips had to start adjusting immediately and it is painful.

1 Corinthians 12:12-27 New Living Translation (NLT)

One Body with Many Parts

¹² The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. ¹³ Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

¹⁴ Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. ¹⁵ If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
¹⁸ But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. ¹⁹ How strange a body would be if it had only one part! ²⁰ Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. ²¹ The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
²² In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. ²³ And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, ²⁴ while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. ²⁵ This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
²⁷ All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

So what can I apply to life from this? Our actions in life impact others. Although we may stop and recover from our errant ways the impact to others might last longer. They need more time to recover and readjust. When we make the wrong choice, we are only thinking of ourselves, we forget or neglect to see the impact our choices have on others. If we would stop long enough to think about the future and others we might do things differently. If I had thought about damage to my back, I probably would have had these knees replaced sooner.

Food for thought today.

Marty

When You Can't Celebrate Christmas At Home 12/25/18

Good Morning,

Merry Christmas to all of you. I kicked off my day with a big cup of Door County White Christmas Coffee and a small fire in the fireplace. The weather is very damp outside and the coffee and the fire are helping this sore hunter to get going.

Rene and I both chose our health care professions a million years ago. Needless to say that along with hospital duty comes weekend and holiday work hours. Everyone takes their turn working Christmas and the other holidays. While many are waking up to the sound of Christmas presents being opened, someone is answering the call of duty in many ways this morning. Our military does not take a day off for Christmas, the police and fire departments are there 24/7 and aren't we glad they are! Air traffic controllers keep the skies safe. There is a long list of people that are working today to serve others. Now there are those who are forced to work for instance in grocery stores and liquor emporiums to make sure you have your egg nog and rolls that you forgot. I for one say that if you forgot the butter, too bad! Stay home. It should have been on your list. You forgot it and now do without.

There have been quite a few Christmas mornings when either Rene or I were away from home because it was our turn to pull hospital duty. I went through that a couple of years ago. Instead of moping, I prayed about having a plan to make Christmas for others better.

Here is what I did a couple years ago to enjoy Christmas?

"I forgot to mention that this place smells great. Why you ask? Well an hour ago I started baking ham that is seasoned just a little, and soon I will be taking it to the hospital where Rene works along with some hard rolls, and a cake. Now I am not competing for the husband of the year award here. I already won that too many times!! LOL. But when our heart beats for others it beats best. Have you considered taking some cookies to the fire department today? You see that is what Christmas is all about. Christmas is best when you make it about others. Jesus did."

John 3:16New International Version (NIV)
¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.


"Jesus came on Christmas day so others might live. He set the example for what Christmas should be. You are only as lonely today as you choose to be. I for one get to visit a bunch of well fed care givers who are serving others by choice. You can do the same. Someone is serving us somewhere and you can say thank you.  Our church helped to stuff shoe boxes with gifts for children around the world as well as other churches and organizations have done. Some kids somewhere are opening two that we sent. We might not be there in person, but our hearts are."

You have a choice today. You can make Christmas great for someone else or not. I tell you the truth. I am the winner. Our house smells awesome, and in an hour or so I get to see my wife for a couple minutes. Eventually she will be home today and later we will start the grill. But as for me and the dog, we will serve today and enjoy what Christmas really is.

Have a Merry Christmas! I am!!!!

Marty

They Stopped A War To Observe Christmas 12/24/2018

Good Evening,

Door County Spiced Gingerbread Latte Coffee was my morning treat and a cup of the same brew in decaffeinated might send me off to be later tonight. It has been a busy day with Dr's appointments and physical therapy. My writing needed to wait until tonight.

A lot of people have favorite things to read at Christmas, such as "The Night Before Christmas" or account of the birth of Jesus. I always read the birth story. But I have one more that I like to read. It reminds me that differences can be set aside and that humans actually desire to do good. Peace does have a chance. This account is taken from the History Channel.

On December 7, 1914, Pope Benedict XV suggested a temporary hiatus of the war for the celebration of Christmas. The warring countries refused to create any official cease-fire, but on Christmas the soldiers in the trenches declared their own unofficial truce.
Starting on Christmas Eve, many German and British troops sang Christmas carols to each other across the lines, and at certain points the Allied soldiers even heard brass bands joining the Germans in their joyous singing.
At the first light of dawn on Christmas Day, some German soldiers emerged from their trenches and approached the Allied lines across no-man’s-land, calling out “Merry Christmas” in their enemies’ native tongues. At first, the Allied soldiers feared it was a trick, but seeing the Germans unarmed they climbed out of their trenches and shook hands with the enemy soldiers. The men exchanged presents of cigarettes and plum puddings and sang carols and songs. There was even a documented case of soldiers from opposing sides playing a good-natured game of soccer.
Some soldiers used this short-lived ceasefire for a more somber task: the retrieval of the bodies of fellow combatants who had fallen within the no-man’s land between the lines.
The so-called Christmas Truce of 1914 came only five months after the outbreak of war in Europe and was one of the last examples of the outdated notion of chivalry between enemies in warfare. It was never repeated—future attempts at holiday ceasefires were quashed by officers’ threats of disciplinary action—but it served as heartening proof, however brief, that beneath the brutal clash of weapons, the soldiers’ essential humanity endured.
During World War I, the soldiers on the Western Front did not expect to celebrate on the battlefield, but even a world war could not destroy the Christmas spirit.

One, needs to have hope, without hope, there is no love, where there is no love, there is no hope.

Psalm 147:11New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ the Lord delights in those who fear him,
    who put their hope in his unfailing love

 Put hope for peace on your Christmas prayer list. However short lived it might be, it is worth the prayer time.

Marty

On The Rehab Road 12/23/2018

Good Morning.

I just had my second cup of non hospital coffee since last Tuesday. The old Door County Jingle Bell Java Coffee was a a treat to say the least.

Here is the update and what I have learned so far since having both knees replaced last Wednesday. I learned to appreciate people. This would not be a journey that I would want to make alone. I believe God places miracle workers of compassion in our road to show us His love and care for us.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 New International Version (NIV)

    because they have a good return for their labor:

¹⁰ If either of them falls down,

    one can help the other up.

But pity anyone who falls

    and has no one to help them up.

¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.

    But how can one keep warm alone?

¹² Though one may be overpowered,

    two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken

⁹ Two are better than one,

My wife, Rene has been a warrior through this all. She just completed my morning therapy despite my whining. God blessed me with a wife beyond measure. Family has reached out with visits and help. Friends have been there right along with Rene. One close brother agreed to watch the therapy so he could coach me and push me along. He had to see me at my worst. It wasn't pretty. There is a commitment from other friends to bring meals by to help Rene as she concentrates on my therapy and the chores of the home. One friend brought a thermos bottle full of non hospital coffee yesterday to my hospital room. Was that a treat! Gifts of prunes and magazines were given to me. The prunes are now very handy.The surgeon has a sense of humor which I will leave for another day.

 The surgery team took "my time out call" to pray before they launched into their work with dignity for me and later I was visited by two who appreciated the prayer time. We held a little prayer service in the operating room. God is good.

My caregivers while in the hospital ranked "TOP NOTCH" . Compassion and drive to get me on my feet drove them to reach far and beyond.

God does some of His greatest work through willing servants. I want to thank the numerous people who texted, emailed or called. But the greatest glory goes to God for the army He assembled for my care. As I sit here with ice packs on my legs I see the forethought of a friend who said, "take these you will need more".

I did not want to take this journey of surgery and rehab. No one would, but it will be worth it.  I learned much so far. I saw God at work last week.

Have a great day.

Marty

Unequally Yoked It's No Joke 12/19/2018

Good Morning,

Skipping the java today. But if I were to imbibe it would be a cup of Door County White Christmas Coffee.  I hope today is a day without surprises for me. I will write about this subject later this week.
I am taking off from writing for a few days while I recover from knee replacements. A rest is in order. I will get back to it as soon as possible.

This subject might not be too popular for some folks but it needs to be talked about and I never shy away from a rough subject.

I believe in all sixty six books of the Bible and believe the Bible is God's Word in written form. The Word is to be taken as a whole, not to be picked apart and then applied as a human sees fit. So when I hear of someone deciding to get married against God's instructions I wonder just how much they believe in the God of the Bible.

God's instructions for settling on a mate are very clear.

2 Corinthians 6:14 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁴ Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

2 Corinthians 6:14  is the most quoted verse calling believers to be “equally yoked”. But many believers fail to see why this command from God, written by the Apostle Paul is so important. Others disregard it completely. This is not written to stop people from dating, but it is meant to stop people from dating the wrong person and eventually being yoked in marriage.

In Deuteronomy 7 Moses is instructing the Israelites  in their responsibilities as God's people. They have been freed from slavery and are now free men, about to enter the Promised Land. But Moses gives a warning:
“You shall make no covenant with [the people of the land] and show no favor to them. Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them… for they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods…” (Deuteronomy 7:3-4

I compare this total disobedience to a parachute. People put on a parachute when told that the plane they are riding in might crash. They put that puppy on and cling to the cord. But then the plane lands safely and off comes the chute. People do they same thing with God. They often claim to have a relationship of love with Him while they have a need. People run to Jesus as a Savior only to reject Him by being disobedient to God's Word.They used Him as a parachute and now the desire to date outside of Biblical context causes them to toss the "Chute" and serve their own desires.

If Christ is truly King of our lives, our most intimate selves should be submitted to His influence. How then can we unite a Spirit-led soul to one in rebellion against God?
This irritates people in a big way, because no matter how respectful, sweet, or “loving” an unbelieving partner is, he or she  is at odds with Christ – he or she  is in rebellion. But if we call ourselves Christians, we’re saying we believe the Bible is our final authority. The Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and that without Christ we are “[unresponsive] in our transgressions”, conformed to the world, “living by the cravings of our flesh” and “by nature, children of wrath”.  This is who we are without Jesus. This is who everyone is apart from Christ.
Therefore, those of us in Christ cannot be in a harmonious, God-pleasing relationship with an unbeliever. There is no fellowship between light and darkness (2 Cor. 7:14)!

Being unequally yoked is total disobedience and is more dangerous than you think. We see this dangerous act in  Scripture, we see this theme repeated. One is Samson, who continually sought out unbelieving women, a choice which in the end destroyed him (Judges 14), The other is Solomon, the wisest man in the world – until his many wives led him to worship other gods (1 Kings 11).

Is God a parachute that is only worn when you need Him? Or is He the Lord and final authority of your life?

Marty

Out House Rats Have Better Manners 12/18/2018

Good Morning,

I woke up looking forward to Men's Bible Study tonight. I pray that all the guys can make it tonight as we cap off the semester. So as I pray I can hear the Door County Bourbon Pecan Pie Coffee brewing downstairs in the kitchen.

I have watched busyness creep into the Men's study and when it comes to making choices of whether or not to attend other things or keeping your commitment to diving deeper into God's Word , other things take precedence over God. When God becomes a choice, He is no choice at all.

Now for the meat of this study. This has been bothering me for a few days now. Not long ago Rene and I stopped for a bite to eat after church on a Saturday night. We decided to eat at a family style restaurant. We unfortunately were seated near a group of young men who were in their early twenties. They were quite loud and boisterous. As the meal time wore on their voices grew louder and more vulgar. One fellow relieved his stomach gas very loudly and the rest of his group laughed. The odor alone was enough to make you vomit. They ate, spilling things on to the floor still speaking gutter mouth with children within ear shot. I noticed the manager of the food emporium speaking with the waitstaff urging them to hurry the group of Out House Rats out of the restaurant. This invoked a few rude insults to the waiter and waitress. I began to pray for my wish to come true. I was hoping one of them would bump into our table and then get a lesson on manners. But God had a better plan. They paid, left the parking lot and then were pulled over by the local police and as we left we witnessed them all in handcuffs. I think two of the drivers may have been legally drunk. All three cars were pulled over and all six guys were detained.

Rene asked for us to pray for those guys. She prayed and I listened. My thoughts turned to their parents. Now I wanted to believe that these six guys crawled out from the depths of an out house and were not conceived by two real people. But we all know that it is impossible. Some poor women gave birth to these guys. Later it hit home that these guys are just young men in bad shape. Maybe they were never taught how to behave. Maybe they were products of their environment. But is that an excuse?
The answer is no. I believe that all people know right from wrong. It is a choice to do wrong.

Christian Apologetics (1): Knowing Right from Wrong

D Vallance, Detroit

"They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them" (Rom 2.15).¹
All creatures are subject to physical laws, like gravity, which cannot be broken. Human beings are also subject to moral laws, like charity, which can be broken. No sane person denies the reality of physical laws, since attempting to break them yields such obvious results. However, it is fashionable for people to deny the reality of moral laws, partly because the consequences of breaking them — although severe and eternal — are neither sudden nor apparent. People have learned not to challenge physical laws, because nature never forgives. God, however, tempers the demands of His moral laws with mercy. Taking advantage, people contest God’s ethical standards because they find them too uncomfortable, inconvenient, and unworkable.
Unlike animals, we humans live in two worlds at the same time — a physical domain and a moral domain. More than rationality, more than language, it is our moral nature that distinguishes us from even the highest animal. God has put an innate sense of right and wrong in our consciences, factory-installed. Every day, we shoulder the human duty to make ethical decisions. Animals do not make free choices — their genes and environment dictate what they will do. Nothing made purely of matter can be free. But we humans, spirits made in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1.27), have the capacity and responsibility to choose between good and evil. We reveal our moral nature every time we use words like should, should not, ought, owe, right, and wrong. Whenever we praise or blame, applaud or scorn, approve or disapprove, we are appealing to a shared ethical standard external to ourselves. We all know by moral intuition, for instance, that it is wrong to deceive our friends or to starve our children."

But, it is our duty to pray for these guys and attempt to lead them to Jesus. He is the only Way for lives to change.

Next time you encounter the Out House Gang. Start with prayer and end with an invitation to church. Better yet right down a Bible verse and hand it to them.

Food for thought.

Marty

Forty Years Ago.12/17/2018

Good Morning,

I just started this day with prayer,  a cup of Door County Candy Cane Coffee and some grapes. I am looking forward to coming home tonight. I have a couple little projects that just reared their head yesterday. And they need to get done.

Forty years ago my life changed in a big way. I became a Dad and at 21 years of age, I had no clue as to what I was doing. Having only one child has not allowed me to practice what I learned with the first one on additional children. Having her turn forty today is another first for me. It was snowing that day and I can still remember that day like it was yesterday. I recall the first time she fell asleep on my chest. Those are precious memories.

As much as I would like to think that I have taught our little bundle of joy some things, I believe she has taught me just as many lessons.

At twenty one I already knew that going to work produced a pay check. But I learned that a little baby is totally reliant on their parents and it is a privilege to have a child. Not a duty, but a blessing is given to us with our children.

You learn that your responsibilities and priorities change and you need to grow up with your child. I am still growing and I still make mistakes.

The one thing I learned the hard way was that children need your time and sometimes it is just to sit and laugh with them. Last night we received a call from our daughter and we shared laughter. It was nice, but I wish I had spent more time laughing with her when she was a child. Dad's cannot always be serious, we have to learn to laugh with our children and experience the world through their eyes.

Ecclesiastes 3:4 English Standard Version (ESV)

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

⁴ a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

So parents, laugh with your kids today. Be silly with them. Blow bubbles and snort. Just be a kid with them for awhile.Do this now. Before you know it, you are talking with a forty year old woman.

God Bless,

Marty

Psalm 23 Thought For Christmas

Good Morning.

Sunday Morning and I am off to work in my Jeep with a thermos filled with Door County Apple cobbler Coffee. I was able to reach my memory vault as I watched our dog Gibbs out in the yard this morning,

 A few years ago when Gibbs was a puppy and we still had our dog Fritz I was greeted at 5:AM by  both dogs who wanted to go out and then be fed. They really don't care that the alarm was set for 5:30. I could smell the coffee brewing already so I dressed, grabbed my coffee cup and went outside with them in the dark. I had concluded that our youngest dog Gibbs is afraid of the dark, shadows in the night, and weird noises. We had a plastic snowman in the front yard that is illuminated at night. The lights from the street had Frosty casting a strange shadow on the yard and the wind had the shadow moving around. Each time this would happen Gibbs would retreat from the his morning exploring and run to be next to me to save him from the wrath of the plastic snowman. I found this quite funny. But it brought me to thinking about the 23rd Psalm. I have added some thoughts below for you to ponder.

Psalm 23:4

 (KJV)

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

 The valley of the shadow of death may denote the most severe and terrible affliction, or dark terrors of providence, that the psalmist ever could come under. Between the part of the flock on earth and that which is gone to heaven, death lies like a dark valley that must be passed in going from one to the other. But even in this there are words which lessen the terror. It is but the shadow of death: the shadow of a serpent will not sting, nor the shadow of a sword kill. It is a valley, deep indeed, and dark, and miry; but valleys are often fruitful, and so is death itself fruitful of comforts to God's people. It is a walk through it: they shall not be lost in this valley, but get safe to the mountain on the other side. Death is a king of terrors, but not to the sheep of Christ. When they come to die, God will rebuke the enemy; he will guide them with his rod, and sustain them with his staff. There is enough in the gospel to comfort the saints when dying, and underneath them are the everlasting arms.

The worst thing that could ever happen is not being saved by Jesus and lost for eternity to hell. Those who have called upon Jesus and have invited Him in to be Lord, Savior and Shepherd of their lives have no fear. The worst can never happen to them.

Make this a Christmas to remember. Receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior today. Or pass this on to someone who might just need to hear these words.

(John 3:16) "¶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

(John 11:25-26) "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: {26} And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

(Acts 16:31) "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

(Romans 10:9-10) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. {10} For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

God bless,
Marty

It Just Didn't Happen. Humility Is A Hard Pill To Swallow 12/15/2018

Good Morning,

My Coffee today is Door County Bourbon Barrel Pound Cake. It goes well with my breakfast of Frosted Flakes and dried cherries. It is a good way to start the day, which will have me deep into a Bible study.

1 Peter 5:6 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

Some of you are saying "I thought He was going to take time off for knee replacements". That was the plan and no I am not writing today from a hospital bed. The surgery could not take place due to some technical issues. It is rescheduled for another day next week.

Yesterday in my blog I promised to journal my experiences until I was feeling good enough to write and then I would share what I learned.

Here is what I learned. It just didn't happen. For whatever reason, God did not allow this surgery to take place. So to share today what I learned and it took most of the day to have this lesson sink in is humbling in itself. No matter how much planning you do God still holds the keys to the happenings of the day. This was a humbling experience for me in two ways. #1. I am a control freak and these circumstances were out of my control. This was my first dose of humility, a pill not easily swallowed by this guy.

Lesson #2 is another does of humility. God knew where I was, and what was going to happen. He knows the knees need replacing. For whatever reason He did not allow it to happen yesterday. In that my faith was tested, and my lack of inability to surrender to that showed me that I tried playing God yesterday. I made God small and me bigger. Instead of accepting the fact that God has another day planned for this, I grumbled and complained. I temporarily misplaced my trust in Him and and His ability to run the world and still know what's best for me. I am humbled and ashamed. I had to admit that I cannot run the world and I could not replace my own knees.

So day one of my adventure taught me this. Sometimes things happen outside of your control. But God is the One Who owns the day and the future.

Have a great day!

Marty

Time For A Few Days Off 12/14/2018

Good Morning Dear Friends,

No Door County Coffee for me this morning. But if I were having some It would be Jingle bell Java and it would be very hot.

I will be away from writing for a few days or more. The time has come for me to get two new knees and they are long overdue. I will try to journal this adventure and ask God to teach me a thing or two that I can share once I am up and writing. God willing, I pray it won't take too long to return to you all.

But as I rebuild, I will be reading my Bible and spending more time in prayer. You might just be the one God lays on my heart to pray for.

Pray for my caregivers. I am not a good patient and I like to push myself. If ten steps are good, I am a twenty will make me heal faster type of guy. I will be wearing my shirt that says "Suck it up Buttercup!

But as I head to this extended vacation of happy and healthy let me leave you with this thought.

Philippians 4:5-9 New International Version (NIV)
⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.


God bless, you all.

Marty

Road Construction And Obstacles. 12/13/2018

Good Morning World.

I hope today finds you all well physically, spiritually, and emotionally. I am always available by comment for prayer if you need it.

Today my morning is beginning with a hot cup of Door County Christmas Coffee.

As I traveled around this summer and fall in my car I could not help but notice (and at times be perturbed) all the road construction. Traffic jams were hard to avoid, long highway detours with not enough signs for directions steered me wrong on many occasions.
In one detour that I experienced I started to follow the orange detour sign and then 5 miles later I started to wonder if I was going the wrong way. I hadn't seen another sign in five miles. I back tracked only to find out that where I started my back track from was only a mile away from the end of the detour.

Life is a lot like highway construction. It is full of bumps, weird turns, lane changes and detours. What should we do when life puts a bump in our road or a major detour?

Maybe the road of life you’re traveling seems off track from your desired destination. It may even look like you are going in the wrong direction. But, do not be concerned when God takes you on His detours because you will always arrive at the correct location.
In another Biblical example, Paul and Silas were two men in the New Testament who traveled around preaching the gospel. Both of these men held true to the path of righteousness and went wherever the Lord guided them. On two occasions in Acts 16, the Holy Spirit blocked them from going where they had planned.
Acts 16:6-10 tells us,

“They went to Phrygia, and then on through the region of Galatia. Their plan was to turn west into Asia province, but the Holy Spirit blocked that route. So they went to Mysia and tried to go north to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn’t let them go there either. Proceeding on through Mysia, they went down to the seaport Troas. That night Paul had a dream: A Macedonian stood on the far shore and called across the sea, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us!’ The dream gave Paul his map. We went to work at once getting things ready to cross over to Macedonia. All the pieces had come together. We knew now for sure that God had called us to preach the good news to the Europeans." (MSG)

If Paul would have gone the way he and Silas were planning, God knows what could’ve happened. Wisely, they chose to heed the inner guidance of the Holy Spirit and because of their obedience, God revealed to Paul the correct path for them to follow. Paul knew the importance of making time to seek God in prayer. I’m certain that he called out to the Lord and asked Him for confirmation on the next move to make


Proverbs 16:9 says,

“The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord shows him what to do." (NLV)

It’s easy to become irritated with God when you hit a  detour. But, that isn’t fair because God only wants to keep you on the right path. He is not there to hinder you; He is there to assist you in knowing what avenue to take. So, the next time you’re faced with a detour, turn to your personal tour guide, God, and He will direct you on the rest of your journey.

Maybe your detour will become a blessing to someone else!

Have a great day.
Marty

When Was The Last Time You Did Something For The First Time? 12/12/18

Good Morning,

How good it feels to be awake, sipping on a cup of Door County Spicy Nutcracker Coffee and writing to all of you.  I hope this day finds you with peace in your soul.

Christmas is only 13 days away and some people are still looking for that perfect gift to give someone they love. I want to suggest an idea that is a little radical but might could be most effective in your life and those around you.

When was the last time you did something for the first time? It might not be the gift you give, but what you take away that will be the best gift ever.

How about taking your angry outbursts away from the family? How about not taking the first drink that leads to many more and then the drunkenness that ensues? How about going home before the kids go to bed and your spouse is asleep in the chair? How about being true in your marriage and call off the cheating? How about stopping from making others feel small? How about stopping from being known as a bully? How about not gossiping about others? How about dropping that needle and not shooting up? How about telling the truth? How about not putting yourself first? How about forgiving? How about being less argumentative?

Friends let this be the Christmas where the gift you give is something you take away and take it away forever. This might sound impossible, but God is bigger than what you can't give up.

Philippians 4:13 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Matthew 19:26 New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁶ But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Go ahead and give the best gift you ever gave to someone. Make this a Christmas to remember.


Try doing something for the first time, that others have been hoping you would do for a long time, before it's too late.

Marty

What Gift Can We Give To God? 12/11/2018

Good Morning,

Tis the season to shop and later this month exchange gifts with those we love. As I think about that for a minute I will sip on my cup of Door County White Christmas Coffee.

I sat last night looking at all the gifts God has blessed Rene and I with. We have much to be grateful for, especially the gift of one another. So I pondered exchanging gifts at Christmas and I asked myself this question. If I were able to give God a gift what would I bring to Him? I certainly would not bring Him a pan of our best lasagna. He can make His own and it would be better than anything I could make. One doesn't bring God a pair of socks or a tie He doesn't need.

What we give God should be the gift that glorifies Him. How we respond to life and other people will be rooted in how we respond to God. Do we fight Him or do we glorify Him? How do we know? The answer is in how we are with our attitudes and mindsets; are we humble or proud? If we are proud, we are serving the devil, even though we may think we are serving ourselves. If we are humble, then we are serving our Lord. This strikes at the root of our mindset and motives for life.

The first gift we can give is the willingness to Submit. To submit means to obey, which means to line up under. It is a military term that means to "get in line" under the leadership of those who are more mature and capable. It is the surrender of our lives to God so we are in His will. We are urgently called to accept the absolute authority of God. We are under His authority whether or not we acknowledge Him. It does no good to fight God. 

James 4:7 English Standard Version (ESV)

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

1 Peter 5:6 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

So instead of fighting with God, give Him the only gift that glorifies Him. Give Him your heart.

Have a great day!

Marty

The Cure For That Bug That Is Going Around 12/10/2018

Good Morning,
My coffee today is Door County Wisconsin Harvest Blend. And I am glad that it is extra hot this morning.

I must say that I am feeling a little bit under the weather today. There is a bug going around and I am doing my best to avoid it. So how do we turn this event of mine into a devotional?

I can only speak for me but I am sure that many of you do the same thing. I burn the candle at both ends. It seems that I cannot remember the last time I slept for seven hours. Busy, busy, busy. Going here, doing this or that, work, church, family, hobbies and just plain old stress. Then it comes. The fever, the aches, the runny nose or runny other ends. Yuck.

What does the Bible say?

Psalm 127:2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat--for he grants sleep to those he loves.

Sleep and rest. We need to be recharged. God set the example when after creating the world and all in it. He rested on the seventh day. God loves you and created us to be tired. It is the signal for us to sleep and rest. That is exactly what I did last night. Why read God's Word and not obey? I figure if God could create this world He sure can give me advice on how to stay healthy.

God Bless,

Marty

Look Who's Watching 12/9/2018

Good Morning,

It's cold outside, but yet we go another day without snow, while other parts of the world who usually do not receive any snow are being pounded with a huge snow storm. I for one feel like they have stolen our winter. I guess it is best to be content and drink my cup of Door County Christmas Coffee and write to all of you.

Proverbs 22:6 New King James Version (NKJV)

And when he is old he will not depart from it.

⁶ Train up a child in the way he should go,

Last night we held our annual Christmas Caroling event at our home. We did take gifts and song to two homes for the elderly. Then we returned to our home for fellowship, which always includes food and beverages. It was an awesome time of fun and service. There were about twenty people including us who were partakers in the evening.

1 Peter 4:9 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁹ Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Within the twenty people there were two children. The kids are nine and ten years old. One accompanied her grandparents and the other one was with his mom. First of I would like to say that these two behave very well and are a credit to those raising them. They both participated in the singing, the giving of gifts and then the time of fellowship. I did not think much beyond the fact that they participated and how well behaved they were until I prayed for them this morning.

Hebrews 10:24 New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,

After I prayed, the thought of what they witnessed last night crossed my mind.

1. They saw respect for their elders being shown and practiced.
2. They saw prayer in action. (We prayed before we went out and while with the elderly)
3. Rene and I are the only ones who see these elderly folks regularly. So the kids witnessed being        kind to strangers.
4. They witnessed a group of Christians coming together for a cause and working to pull it off.
5. They witnessed adults and kids bringing the love of Jesus to others.
6. Rene and I open our home to this event annually. The kids witnessed hospitality.
7. The listened and were partakers in the fellowship filled with conversation and laughter.
8. They saw inclusion at work. These two participated and were not treated as "kids" to be seen and not heard.

Believe me when I say " these two great kids were also watching us". They saw how Christians can come together and accomplish much in the name of God. They saw a group of people gathered for a holy cause have fun in the process. I hope I live long enough to see the byproduct of last night. I believe these two received a lesson that they can choose to practice as they mature and maybe they will apply what they saw in school now. Time will tell. But last night they were set on the right path.

Friends, remember this. Those young eyes, we tend to forget and take for granted are always watching. What lesson are you teaching them?

Marty

Christmas Carols And The Elderly 12/8/2018

Good Morning,

It's a typical cold December day in this part of the world. I have a warm fire crackling downstairs in the fireplace, a cup of Door County Candy Cane coffee, next to me and our dog Gibbs is asleep on my feet. Only one thing is missing, and that one thing is a blanket of snow.

Tonight a few of  us from our church will go out and sing Christmas Carols at two homes for the elderly after our evening service This is an annual event and afterwards Rene and I open our home to a time of fellowship. The fellowship is a byproduct of the singing. There will be hot soup and some other munchies served with hot chocolate and coffee.

Now the details of the fellowship time and the actual caroling is not really what is important here. Yes, serving the elderly and bringing them a couple of gifts is nice and more than appropriate. But it is the "Why" of the event that is important.

The reason for any of this tonight is to show the love of God and just how great He is. Now God does not need us to toot His horn for Him. The Uncreated Creator of all things  stands on His own glory. Yet it is in appreciation of His great gift to us, Jesus Christ which brings us to sing His praises by caroling. This time of caroling is a continuation of our worship which was started at our evening church service. The caroling is is a form of Biblical worship to our great God. Now some of us, especially me sing off key, but it doesn't matter. We will lift up God in song and He won't mind how it sounds. He loves an effort that comes from the heart.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart… (Ephesians 5:18-19)

God’s people are more than just invited to sing; we are commanded to sing. When we sing, we’re doing what God asks of us. He teaches us what he likes.

So get out there and sing for the Lord. You will enjoy it and it is Biblical.

Marty

December 7th 1941 Beware Of Surprise Attacks 12/7/2018

Good Morning,

A big cup of Spicy Nutcracker Coffee from the Door County Coffee Company awaits me in the kitchen when I finish writing. Today we remember the attack on Pearl harbor 12/7/1941.

The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory, on the morning of December 7, 1941. The attack, also known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor, led to the United States' entry into World War II.

What can we personally learn from the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor? Answer. We must grasp the importance of being alert to surprise attacks in our personal lives.

2 Corinthians 11:14 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁴ And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

Jesus calls the devil a thief, Paul refers to our adversary as an "angel of light," and Peter sees him as a prowling lion. If we live in delusion about this we will suffer the surprise attack that brought down many Godly people including evangelists and pastors.

1 Peter 5:8 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour

We become numb to the craftiness of Satan and what started as what could be termed as innocent, leads to a downfall of epic proportions. Counseling, leads to coffee just to help. Coffee leads to hugs, hugs lead to more and shazamm we have the "more" which leads to hurt, embarrassment and destruction of families and lives. One drink won't hurt and then it is one a day. Then the "more" happens. What can be innocent turns ugly.

Missing church to rest up and sleep in become easier with each absence. Soon we are ashamed to come to church. We believe that God cannot forgive us and that people are looking down on us when we return to church. If people are looking down at you, I suggest that they have already succumbed to their own sneak attack called a "bout with self righteousness."

We can and must learn from Pearl Harbor.

I also want to remember those who were there that day 12/7/1941. We thank you for your service, This writer is proud to be from the United States. You will not be forgotten.

God Bless,

Marty

Saying I Love You With Action 12/6/2018

Good Morning,

I just heard the Door County Mocha Mint Coffee begin to brew in the kitchen. Very soon I will be going downstairs to sip that first cup and then head off to work.

A dear relative of ours  announced to all of us a few weeks ago that she is in a battle with pancreatic cancer. This floored all of us and for a time I was speechless. I thought that I if ignored it, the bad dream of this cancer attack would just go away. It didn't.

James 1:22 New King James Version (NKJV)

²² But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 

Of course we all started praying and many prayer warriors have been called upon to help with the prayers. It isn't a disease that we can do much about and our help is limited to caring and assisting any way we can. This is in the hands of God, the doctors and the nurses.

This bad news made me think about our childhood and how I sat across from my siblings eating bacon for breakfast. Bacon and toast would often be the beginning staples of our day, way back when. The word cancer causes many emotions and many actions. For me it has caused me to reminisce about better days and fond memories. Eating bacon for breakfast just happens to be one of those. This relative taught me to eat bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches.

I asked my wife Rene about sending her something that says we are thinking of you. She replied "send something that reminds you of past better days and of better days yet to come." A shipment of specialty bacon was ordered and sent last night.

Friends, sometimes we need to put our faith and love into action. Now even if this little gal does not eat the bacon her family will. We might feel helpless, but there is always something we can do to love, encourage or bring good cheer. We just can't wish it happens, we have to make it happen.

People won't always know they are loved unless we show it. Cards, letters, and small gifts are all tangibles that go with the words "I Love You."  It is important to say it, but we can also show our love in actions.

God bless.

Marty

Do You Need The Great Heart Surgeon? 12/5/2018

Good Morning,
Pretty cold here in Wisconsin today. My coffee cup is filled with Door County White Christmas Coffee.

Just a little trip back into history.
Groote Schuur Hospital was placed centre stage in the world's spotlight when Professor Christiaan Barnard performed the first human heart transplant on the third of December 1967.

Heart transplants have been taking place now for 51 years. Many times over these surgeries have given new life to someone.

Ezekiel 36:26  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

God is also in the business of heart transplants. He takes even the hardest of hearts and transplants a new one spiritually. The heart is the spiritual center of every person. When God's Spirit becomes the center of peoples lives, Scripture says they are "born again". The new heart gets a new start.

A loving person where there was an angry mean person before.
A sober person where there once was a drunkard.
A caring and unselfish person where there once was a self centered and selfish person.
A patient person where there once was an over anxious person.
A servant where there once was a ruthless tyrant.

Only the Spirit of God can perform a transplant like those listed above. No self effort can jump start a dead life. Only God's gift of His presence can jump start a heart into a permanent change.

In order to receive a new heart from God one must consent to the change and allow the Great Physician to do His work on the heart of stone. What do you say? How about surrendering the part of your heart that needs a change? Allow God in to heal your heart and help it to beat for Him and others.

God bless,
Marty