What You see Is Exactly What It Is. 5/31/2020

Good Morning,

The air is cool. The sun is shining and my cup of Door County Lemon Shortbread Coffee is very hot. Now it is time to write.

My heart is heavy this morning because of the civil disturbances going on within our cities. The cause and the effect are both sickening to me. The wrongful death of a man and the rioting going on are both very ugly.

I won't editorialize the events. Much more eloquent writers than me have done plenty of it and will continue to do so. I am not sweeping the death under the carpet nor am I ignoring the nightly crimes going on in the name of inequality and the need for justice.

What I will say is this. I see is total disregard for life of a man when he is choked to death on the street. I see a total disregard for other peoples property and the idea that this is justice. So what I see is a total lack of fear for God. Killing a defenseless man is wrong and it is a sin.  Demonstrating against inequality and wrongful death is not. But burning another man's property is a crime and is also sin. Stealing televisions from a store while looting is wrong. There has been so much written about this that I won't recap it.

When I see all of these actions I want to vomit. I see a lack of conscience on the few who have caused the first crime and the lack of conscience on those who burn and loot in the name of justice. A lack of conscience indicates that God is missing in the lives of those who murder and those who take lawlessness to the streets. 

God clearly states that where He is absent sin will abound. I am sickened at all of these actions but not surprised. What we see is exactly what it is. Hearts not in love with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. I see hearts filled with evil, not having been changed to hearts that respect life and others. There is no evidence of these, having spent time at the foot of Jesus Christ.

1 John 3:10 By this it is evident who are the children of God and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love His brother. 

We took God out of the schools, we want symbols of Him removed from our public buildings. We still murder babies every day in the name of health care. I see a lack of God within our nation.  The evidence of a world with unrighteous hearts is damning. So I pray for a revival within this nation, the type that only God can bring about. Lives filled with love, and respect for God and others. I might be dreaming but I believe in praying big.

Marty

Wedding Rings 5/30/2020

Good Morning,

What a beautiful sunrise I witnessed today. It made my great cup of Lemon Shortbread Cookie Coffee taste even better as I greeted the day out on the patio with our two dogs Leo and Gibbs.

Psalm 143:8 Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life.

A young friend of mine will be getting married today and due to Covid 19 the couple can only have a few people attend the wedding. The big celebration was cancelled and will be scheduled for next year. They have taken this disappointment very well and to say the least I for one am very proud of the way they handled the whole thing.

Every wedding I have anything to do with always makes me think about the day Rene and I walked down the aisle 1000 years ago. Our wedding rings are old now as well as the fingers that hold them. My thought today is about the wedding band and it's symbol.

Wedding bands are round and fit over your finger. The circle of the ring is a reminder of your love for each other. There really is no end to the ring's circle. As you look at your ring you should remember that your love for each other is to be unending as well.

When I look at my ring I am also reminded that God brought the two of us to each other and that His love for us is without end. Rene and I both take off our rings at night and set them next to each other . When I see them I am reminded of the two hands that wear them and the third hand that holds them in place. I see  God's Spiritual hand on ours.

Just a short thought from my heart today.

God bless.

Marty

Man Gone Wild 5/29/2020

Good Morning,

My coffee this morning is Door County Highlander Grog. I will be filling a Thermos Bottle with this hot brew and share it with a buddy today.

My wife and I love to watch the Olympics. Last night while eating dinner I mentioned to her that I would  love to represent our country in the Olympics. She inquired as to what event I would desire to have been in. I replied "what do you mean would have"? I recently started working out again at the age of 63. I explained to her that I thought  I could enter in the luge. She began to laugh and then she said, "don't you have to be able to see over your belly to steer?" That one hurt. So I thought, until she was laughing again. I had to ask. "What are you laughing about now'? She then said that she had just finished picturing me in spandex. That one really hurt. I don't really care if I would win a medal. I just figured at 63 they would have to ask me to be on Dancing With the Stars after the Olympics. Then who would be laughing? So what does all this have to do with the luge, the Olympics, and a devotional? Not much at all. I really did not get my feelings hurt. We chose to laugh together. Our home is much happier and full of life when the two of us laugh together. Laughter is music for the soul.

Psalm 126:2    
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”

Today, try not to take yourself too serious. Dream big dreams, hope in all things, and laugh like children.

I did do some sit ups last night and then ate a Twinkie. I really work hard on this figure.

God Bless,

Marty

Incovenient???? Mary did not complain 12/21/2012

Good morning,
May God bless your day. Happy Friday I am enjoying a hot cup of Door County White Christmas Coffee.

Matthew 1:18-25
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people.

Think this through.
1. Young couple to be married.
2. Baby from the Holy Spirit.
3. Wedding plans now rushed.
4. Gossip, shame, embarrassment.
5. Doubt by Joseph
6. No marriage consummation. Born of a virgin. Imagine telling young couples to wait until God is done with His plan before they consummate their marriage.

Isaiah 7:14

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."

Yet they listened to God. This young couple started out their married life with sacrifice. The Earthly family of Christ started with huge huge sacrifices in order to bring us a Savior.

What do you do when God calls on you to help, deliver a meal, attend a prayer service, visit the elderly, take in someone, give a little more cash, teach a child, baby sit for a single parent?

God's calls to us are never convenient. You see He is God and we need to adjust our schedule to His, Not Him to ours.

Well chew on that one today and know God loves you.

Marty

Can People See The Difference? 5/28/2020

Good Morning,

Thursday and I am starting the day with a big cup of Door County German Chocol ate Cake Coffee. I went to bed late last night. My mind was like a train station with thoughts coming and going like trains at Union Station. My mind finally slowed down and I was able to sleep a little. So the coffee is going to hit the spot in a big way. The photo for today is a place I am yearning to visit soon. As my wife would say. "Ice cream is us".

Acts 4:13

¹³ Now when they saw the boldness and unfettered eloquence of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and untrained in the schools [common men with no educational advantages], they marveled; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

We see in our Scripture, that after Pentecost, Peter and John anointed with the Holy Spirit were different. What the Roman leaders noticed was "they had been with Jesus". Many Christians go through life and cannot be recognized as Christians because no one sees a difference in them from their former life. They show no evidence of having spent time with Jesus. Spending time with Jesus through prayer and reading our Bible is the key to being different. Spending time cultivating our relationship and accepting His love causes us to want to be different. An old preacher once said "if you is where you was, you ain't."

I think if we were all to spend more time with the Savior we would find that we would be different and want to keep it that way. As we see from the example of Peter and John, Jesus brings out the best in people.

Love to you all.

Marty

Needed Some Power 5/27/2020

Good Morning,

Today is starting with a hot cup of Door County Heavenly Caramel Coffee.  I am a little tired right now. Lots on my mind today.

Our neighbor was having difficulty starting his generator as he was preparing for future summer storms. A couple of us went over to help. A little starting fluid and a few pulls and the generator sputtered and started.  It seems as if the gasoline in the generator was a little old and he had not run his generator for awhile. We added fresh gasoline, prayed and went home.

I think life is like that too. We get comfortable and busy. Next thing we know our prayer life gets slack, Bible time reduced and then something happens and we fall apart. We need some starting fluid to get a dead engine going. Or better yet a reminder from someone to not to neglect the engine in the first place.

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. – Proverbs 27:17

The fact is, we were never meant to walk this life alone. God made that very clear when he stated it as His very reason for creating a partner for Adam in Genesis 2:18, “The LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone.’” After God repeatedly says “it is good,” we get our first picture of what God deems to be “not good.” But why is it “not good” for man to be alone? Because we were created for community.
To hold each other accountable and make each other strong is not an option, it’s a command of Scripture. Paul commands in Galatians 6:2, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” This begs the question, “How does sharing your burdens allow you to obey the law of Christ?” Because when you have someone encouraging you to do what is right, and kicking your butt when you screw up, you’re going to be walking in the Spirit and following His law.

We need to take care of our spiritual engine before it becomes hard to start.

Think about it. Do you have an accountability partner?

God bless,
Marty

Make Me A Blessing Please 5-26-2020

Good Morning,

I started this day very early and my cup of Door County Cherry Creme Coffee will be working hard to wake me up this morning.

Ephesians 2:10  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, that God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Most of my day is already planned right into this evening. But with each day there are those unplanned variations that happen and you did not foresee them arriving on the plate of your day. It could be that you will run into someone that needs assistance and you have the ability to help. Someone just might need to hear a kind word or maybe an extra prayer or two. Maybe it's the person on the corner asking for a dollar or two. Maybe it's a hungry kid.

You just never know when circumstances will call on you to be a blessing to someone. It could be that you, believe it or not are an answer to prayer. God uses us in many instances to be the one who helps, and thus you are an answer to someones prayer.

For some reason a good habit I used to have disappeared from my prayer routine. I don't know why, but it did. I used to wake up, hit the floor and during my prayer time I would ask God to make me a blessing to someone during my day. I guess, I took for granted that God would just let me know if I was to be used and then it would be my choice to obey or not. Foolish me. Helping someone or being a blessing to someone takes an attitude of humility. God really doesn't need me and what my prayer was really asking was this. "God you are at work all the time. Please let me work with You and be a blessing to others today. It's a privilege to work with God and should never be an arrogant expectation. No wonder I have been feeling out of tune with God.

So this morning I asked God if He would make me a blessing to someone today. Let's see what happens. I used to sing the Old Hymn " Make me a blessing while in the shower, or while driving. I will do that again, starting today.

Marty

Old Hymn Make Me A Blessing.  Lyrics Ira B Wilson

1	Out in the highways and byways of life,   Many are weary and sad; Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,   Making the sorrowing glad.
	Make me a blessing, make me a blessing, Out of my life may Jesus shine; Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,   Make me a blessing to someone today.
2	Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love,   Tell of His pow’r to forgive; Others will trust Him if only you prove   True, every moment you live.
3	Give as ’twas given to you in your need,   Love as the Master loved you; Be to the helpless a helper indeed,   Unto your mission be true

Memorial Day 5/25/2020

Good Morning,

I can hear a train coming in the distance, it's horn sounding at crossings. The sound is familiar, but for some reason today it sounds lonely. My cup of Door County Dublins Delight Coffee is at my side as well as our faithful dogs Gibbs and Leo. Sometimes I think they are my second shadows.

John 15:13King James Version (KJV)
¹³ Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends

Today in the United States we are remembering our men and women who have fought for our freedom and gave the supreme sacrifice of losing their life on the battle field. Around the world soldiers have fought for freedom against those who would have them and us oppressed. It is very important to remember today. It is not a day to kick off the summer. It is not just a day off of work. It is a day to remember their sacrifice and if possible comfort their families. It is a day to be quiet in the cemeteries and allow those who grieve, to do so in peace and privately. It is a day to be thankful for those men and women who gave it their all and are still doing so today.

This day and every day should also serve as a reminder of the One who died on Calvary that we might live free for eternity. Jesus paid the price that we might have victory over sin and death.

John 3:16King James Version (KJV)
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.

It would be nice if we did not have to observe a day when men and women were killed in battle for us. But that would be a dream and one I would not want to wake up from. So say a little prayer for peace and understanding. At the end of our chat I have attached a poem written in 1915. That poem sounds lonely too.

God bless,

Marty

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Inspiration for “In Flanders Fields”

Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, 1st Brigade Canadian Field Artillery. ⁽¹⁾

During the early days of the Second Battle of Ypres a young Canadian artillery officer, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, was killed on 2^nd May, 1915 in the gun positions near Ypres. An exploding German artillery shell landed near him. He was serving in the same Canadian artillery unit as a friend of his, the Canadian military doctor and artillery commander Major John McCrae.
As the brigade doctor, John McCrae was asked to conduct the burial service for Alexis because the chaplain had been called away somewhere else on duty that evening. It is believed that later that evening, after the burial, John began the draft for his now famous poem “In Flanders Fields”

Doing Right Is Not Always Easy 5/24/2020

Good Morning,

It's Sunday and the sun just came up. It is a beautiful sky that God painted this morning. It goes perfectly with my choice of Door County Heavenly Caramel Coffee for my morning beverage. With the radio playing some soft music in the background it is time to write.

Romans 13:1-5 
Let every person be subject to the ruling authorities. For there is no authority accept from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed and those who resist will incur judgement. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct but to bad. Would you no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain,. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore on must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake on conscience.

Yesterday I started this two day series on doing the right thing and making the choice to not do right being sin. Many people see choices as their option to exercise their right to avoid doing the right thing  because of some immediate discomfort or long term impact to their own lives. This can be a stop sign like we discussed yesterday or a pandemic event.

During this Covid 19 pandemic crisis I have seen people make  many unselfish choices to keep their part of the world healthier and safer. Now in many instances this was a costly choice and at times the information changed daily because the scientists and officials were learning as they went. I believe they are still learning new approaches daily.

In one choice that many people made and it really wasn't a choice was to quarantine themselves if they presented with any symptoms for 14 days and even this was unclear if it was 14 days or 15 days.  I know of people who were ill with two or three days of the grocery list of symptoms and chose to comply and quarantine for let's say two weeks for simplicity. At that time there weren't enough tests to go around and you just had to assume you were infected with the virus if the symptoms presented within you. Then there were others who blew it off and after a couple of days if they felt better. At that time they returned to their normal lives . Now they might have started washing their hands more but that was about it for compliance. They chose to gamble and roll the dice that they weren't carriers of the virus. Now later as testing has become more readily available it was discovered that they were actually ill and who knows how many people they exposed to a deadly gamble. This is a result that we will never know the consequences. Two people were recently placed under house arrest for going out when they knew that they were contagious. This is very extreme.

Now many of those folks who complied lost time from work, businesses closed, bills are still going unpaid and maybe they were carriers of the virus or maybe they weren't. But they chose to do the right thing  even though the cost was heavy.

This is just one example of knowing to do right and not doing it. I could write about this subject 365 days in a row and give a new example every day. What we see at the center of when right is avoided, ignored, and fought is usually selfishness, ignorance and fear. The internet can be a wonderful source of information and this blog wouldn't be going out to you without it. Yet, given any situation you can find one, two or three hundred different views of any subject. You then can choose which one best fits your situation and helps you justify a selfish choice to ignore the right thing to do. Or you can claim ignorance.

Christians our ultimate authority is God and His Word, not Google. We tend to forget that.

Food for thought.

Marty

Avoided The Accident ,But It Was Painful Anyway 5/23/2020

Good Morning,

Once again I am writing to all of you from our den and I am looking out of the window at our fruit trees which are blossoming once again with the hope of them delivering a nice bounty of apples this fall. I just filled my mug with Door County Orange Creme Coffee and now it is time to write.

James 4:17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. 

For some time now my wife Rene and I have been watching a potential accident just waiting to happen. In front of our home we have an intersection of two streets. Coming from the West the road has a hill that is somewhat of a steep grade. The grade is an attraction for the children in the neighborhood. They love to ride their bicycles down the street and the grade accelerates them to a speed they cannot achieve by just pedaling. At the end of their thrill ride is a stop sign at the intersection. The cars traveling North and South do not need to stop. There have been some near collisions not only with the bicyclists and cars but also car on car. The stop sign is ignored most of the time. Since living here only one crash actually happened, but it ended up causing a young boy some head injury and a few broken bones as well as a couple nights in the hospital, The driver of the car who collided with the bicyclist was also traveling way too fast in a residential area and was fined and considered at fault. I know it went to court and never did hear how it turned out. I could easily say that both parties were emotionally scarred for a lifetime.

So since we started living here in 1994 most people would say that the accident percentage is very low, and it is. Our neighborhood has a Face Book Page and lately I posted for safety what we have been seeing from our point of view. Kids more than ever are running the stop sign, not looking for cars and some drivers in the neighborhood are definitely trying to qualify as NASCAR drivers. The potential for an accident has raised quite a bit. Two near misses recently with one little girl were so close that I didn't breathe for a couple of seconds.

One day recently as she came through the intersection out of control and hit a stone in the road her bicycle wobbling toward me and two neighbors who I was talking to near the edge of the road. I finally said to our little Speeder. " Hey you just went through a stop sign, and almost hurt yourself . You need to stop at the sign. Now, my voice wasn't raised nor was anything mean said to this little lady.

Who knows what she said when she went home. Now her parents have her riding her bike on the sidewalk which avoids a collision with cars and there isn't a stop sign as she turns South. At night now while walking, the mother who always used to say hi walks past, nose in the air and usually gives me the death look.  I am probably known as the old crabby guy who yells. I could have ignored our little thrill seeker and not said anything. But the chance of running out to the street again with a blanket and first aid was becoming closer to the real thing every day. If I could do it all over again, I would have had my neighbor go with me and follow the little one home. Then we could have discussed the incident and all the near misses in person. That is all hindsight.

So the message of the day is this. Sometimes doing the right thing is painful, but it still needs to be done. Where I messed up was  not having a better plan. The little rascal was obviously going to continue doing this despite drivers swerving to miss her. Or until she was hurt. I did pray for her safety and thought the social media warning would have reached her parents. It didn't, and in the heat of a near miss again and being in a place where she had to hear me, I spoke. I should have prayed and asked God for a plan of action ahead of time.  I regret not doing that. I might have lost a hello or two, but I believe we also  averted a tragedy. I did something and it was right, but at the same time painful. I will side always side on the right thing. Doing right can be costly.

More tomorrow and this same subject.

Marty.

I Never Thought That I Could Be A Builder 5/22/2020

Good Morning,

Friday arrived, right on time and it is going to kick off the weekend for me. A cup of Door County  Creme Coffee is next to me and not it is time to write.

I have a few different jobs on my resume but I never thought that I could carry the title of "Builder". I just don't possess those types of skills and you could say that I am pretty much one- dimensional.  Now, that is looking at me through my eyes or your eyes. When God looks at me He sees more and has written into my resume and my Earthly job description the title of "Builder."

1 Thessalonians 5:11  Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you are doing. 

Any employee will tell you that in order to be considered a great worker, and not just a good one, the expectations of the boss need to be known. and followed. In 1 Thessalonians 5:11 God clearly states His expectations for us. We are to be builders of People. We are to find out the goals of those we love or of those God sends our way and we are to encourage them.  To build someone up we  praise something or someone in a way that will influence people's opinions; to make 
a person feel more confident: A good teacher builds you up.

We are to also encourage them in their faith and their endeavors cheering them on and at times supporting their needs.

Do you know someone that could use a word of encouragement or a recommendation ?  You have the power to do both. God expects you to do so.

Have a great day!

Marty

Oops! Did I Say That? 5/21/2020

Good Morning,

I am ready to write this morning and I am armed with my Bible, computer and a cup of door County Cherry Creme Coffee.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord my rock and my Redeemer.

If I read this passage correctly and I believe that I did, I have my work cut out for me. I would have to say that I do not give enough thought to the words that come out of my mouth on an immediate basis. And I probably should. Each and every word should be pleasing to God as well as my thoughts. I can say that I do this much better than in my younger days. But my goal should be and is to be better tomorrow than I was today. I need to take my words and my thoughts captive. How about you? Do you struggle with diarrhea of the mouth and a septic tank brain? Is it time to clean up your act?

I think with this challenge, the less said is best!

God bless,

Marty

Encouragement From God 5/20/2020

Wednesday and I find myself drinking a hot cup of Door County Jungle Bell Java. I guess I just couldn't wait until December.

So good morning to all. May your day be merry and bright even though it's only May.

We all have some type of hero here on Earth. It might have been a political figure, a sports figure, a military figure, musicians and singers. Literary or art figures, family members or friends or a historical figure from long ago. A true fan knows all there is to know about their hero. You find that they will often quote statistics, or historical facts, or repeat quotes from their hero. Some how, some way, their hero will pop into a conversation. Some people will spend large amounts of money to see their hero or go to visit where they were born, died, or lived.

Did you know that you have a fan? Someone who is pulling for you at all times? Someone who knows every statistic about you, and loves to watch you? Yes you do. God is your biggest fan. If you sent him some art work made of crayons, it would be on His refrigerator. Your birthday is on His calendar.

God loves you and has gone to great lengths to make sure that you can spend eternity with Him. He paid a huge price to be in the front row when you come home. To know that we are forgiven for our sin, loved in our weakness, saved by his mercy, destined for fellowship with God, all because we are supremely valued by God—that is to know the perfect love that drives fear away. It is not because of what we have done that we can have such confidence before God, but because of what God has done for us. Now that's a fan. One who fights for us, loves us despite times when we fail, cries when we struggle, and cheers when we succeed.

Psalm 23  (ESV)

The Lord Is My Shepherd

A Psalm of David.

23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
³     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake.

⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

You are loved more than you know. Smile , God is watching.

Love

Marty

Manhood and The Bible 5/19/2020

Good Morning,

Sitting Down this morning to a hot cup of Door County Inn Keepers Blend Coffee.

A few years ago I spent three days in the Mountains of Pennsylvania at a men's retreat. I was asked to be the speaker for the weekend. ( I did not say that these guys were the most polished spuds in the tater sack, when it comes to picking speakers.) So before they changed their minds I accepted and grabbed a plane ticket before they drank their coffee and woke up.

What they did not know was that I really was probably the one who needed the retreat and time with God.  Let me tell you a little bit about these men. There's no lace on their underwear. No we did not walk around in our undies. What I am telling you is this. They hunt hard, fish hard, they play football, coach teams, hike, sink kayaks, raise and love their families, work for a living, play instruments, and sing. But most of all they love our Lord Jesus Christ and have a relationship with God the Father through Jesus and are empowered by the Holy Spirit. They are compassionate, prayerful men, willing to be held accountable, teachable, and will stand in the gap when needed for a brother. These are Godly men, manly men. It's funny I seem to hang around with guys like this wherever I go. And that is just fine with me.

One passage we shared on that weekend is from the book of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 I call this the "Job Description for a Man".
⁴ Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ⁵ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Any guy working to fill this job description has "manned up". But readers, male and female alike, pray for the men in your family. Pray for the other guys, your friends, your pastors. Too often pride gets to every man and they try to fill this job description of duties alone. Make sure they get time alone with God. He is the Author of the job description and understands it best. Make sure they have an accountability partner to also hold them up and help them with the job description. It is God and God alone that will help the most in carrying out the job duties. How do I know that? He told me.

Joshua 1:7-9
⁷ “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸ Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

God bless,
Marty

Choose Your Companions Cautiously 5/18/2020

Good Morning,

We have been embraced with heavy rains and what was dry is now soggy and in some instances flooded. I have been abandoned for a little while by our two dogs who were outside for a few minutes. They came in cold and wet and found their way to the fireplace to warm up. Such is the life of two spoiled dogs. Keeping me company is a hot cup of Door County Country Morning Blend Coffee.

1 Corinthians 15:33 Don't be misled; Bad company corrupts good character.

The Covid 19 epidemic certainly changed the way I do things, for sure. I really do like to socialize with people and will often find myself interacting with many people during the week. I was in quarantine and my only companions were my faithful wife ( who had to be distant) and our two dogs. My routine was derailed.  I missed going to church, work, and my interactions like trap shooting or breakfast with my buddies. I have been blessed to have friends that walk the path of a good moral compass. They have no problem being corrected when on the wrong path in life and they won't hold back on me if they disagree with a choice I pursue that isn't lining up with my moral compass which is the Bible.

In the title for today's blog the challenge seems to be for us to choose who we hang out with and to make sure they are people of moral accountability.

Today I want to pursue another avenue. For many days I was pretty much alone due to safety reasons and to be very honest I did not like it. But it is what it is. My thought to all of you today is this. "Who are you when no one else is around"? Are you a good companion for yourself? Are you easily strayed with things the world has to offer? When it says "Free Take One", do you take two? Were you the toilet paper hoarder we all desired to hang by their toes.? Did you really desire bad things for people who hoarded?  I for one found myself watching too much television. Time that could have been spent calling or emailing others was wasted feeling sorry for myself. I could have spent more time studying my Bible and praying for others, yet I chose to watch mindless reruns of Old Western Shows. Do you cheat on your taxes? The churches were closed but did you send in an offering to sustain them so they can reopen?  Where does your mind wander to when you are alone? Are you of the same moral fortitude that others see when no one is watching? We all tend to conveniently forget that God can see us at all times, hear us, and know our thoughts.

What kind of companion are you to yourself?

Have a great day and chew on this food for thought. I for thee, and thee for me.

Marty

A Thought For You As You Head Into Next Week. 5/17/2020

Good Morning,

It starting raining here around midnight and the clouds are still pouring out their water this morning at 6:AM The hearth is filled with a small but warm fire to take away the dampness. Our youngest Springer Spaniel has learned to take advantage of the warmth and he is camped next to the fire. My mug was filled with Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee. You could say that I am comfortable and content.

As I prayed this morning and I asked God to give me something to write about He was silent for awhile. I waited and kept reading my Bible and thinking as to how I will return to work tomorrow after many days off fighting with illness. As the world starts to reopen I have my fears about contracting the virus again. What precautions to take that are reasonable and not considered overkill?

Then I thought about it for a few minutes and the answer was there. Our devotional will not be a study today. I haven't injected any humor or a recipe. God laid it on my heart to just say something nice to all of you. You can pass it on to others and I hope you do. You can also pray it over your loved ones whether they are present with you or away. Or you can say to yourself that was nice and let it give you a smile and warm your heart. You can know that I sent it and also prayed it over anyone who reads this.

Numbers 6:24-26  The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

Have a wonderful day. I for the thee and thee for me.

Marty

Reopening The Church

Good Morning,

A train can be heard in the distance blowing it's signal horn as it approaches the crossing near our home. Trains have been traveling a lot less down the tracks during this Covid 19 epidemic. But as things are opening up a little more I have heard that familiar horn a little more. The sound of the horn and this big cup of Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee are both soothing to the soul.

Ecclesiastes 7:10 Do not say,  "Why were the former days better than these"? For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

As we attempt to turn the corner from the epidemic and more and more businesses start to reopen we have also had to develop a plan to reopen our church. Our church was truly blessed to be able to broadcast our services with live stream video to all of us and possible more people that we might not ever meet or greet. Our team from church did an excellent job of bringing music and messages to us.

It was good, but we all know what was missing. It wasn't the building, although we do have a very nice building. It wasn't the cookie shop that everyone enjoys after service. It was being able to interact with our church family. Seeing them weekly for years is not just a habit for me. It is part of life that I look forward to and I miss it dearly. Praying in person with people is much better than a Zoom meeting

Today we start sanitizing the church for the return of people to it. Going above and beyond in what would be normal cleaning. Hand sanitizer will be more readily available.  A system for washing door handles repeatedly will be developed. There is a full laundry list of things to do. I expected that we would have to do this to comply with the virus battle and to be able to reopen. I fully support it.  I am sure this is happening all over the world right now.

But there is more that I pray for. I am praying that as God's people return to their places of worship they return with sanitized hearts. I have listed a couple things that should have died with the epidemic.

1. Never take church attendance for granted. Once it was gone the whining began. Now, be there and remember the days when you couldn't.

2. If while being absent from church you were still holding a grudge against someone and it is still there, don't come to clean a building until you have cleansed your heart.

3. If you are not inclined to serve and your standard answer Is "I will pray about it" cleanse your heart. There is a world to reach for Jesus.

4.I saw people posting on social media many requests to have others share in the broadcasts from their respective churches. How about now? Will we continue what is so easy to do on social media and invite people to experience God with us in person? Will we be bolder in our invitations and love for the lost and those in need of a church home?

You see friends, I want to return to church. Not to the "Good Old days" but to the Better Days"

Amen!

Marty

The New Normal 5/15/2020

Good Morning,

I am sitting at the window of our den and there isn't any sunshine today. Rain and dark skies have been painted by God on to the scenery of my view today. I just poured a large cup of Door County Heavenly Caramel Coffee for myself and now it is time to write.

Proverbs 21:21 He who follows righteousness and love, finds life righteousness and honor.

The tern "New Normal" has been floating around here relating to the Covid 19 Pandemic now for several weeks. It is meant to describe what we might have to do to exist with this pain in the butt until a vaccine that works is developed, tested and deployed. So social distancing, masks, limits to how many people can be in a building at one time, home school, and video meetings are what we are to expect as the new normal. This is just a short list of the items we are dealing with now. In many of theses instances I can hardly wait until they are over and done with.

Friends, some of the new normal that I have witnessed though can stay. I am seeing a greater concern by people for others. People are still donating to worthy causes. They have rallied behind restaurants by purchasing gift cards and ordering take out food. I have witnessed people checking in on others more via the phone or computer. People in general seen to be a little more courteous and are sharing more. In general people are learning to get by with what they have. I am seeing less chaos and more contentment to endure the situation.  I have seen and participated in national days of prayer. More people have rediscovered family. So all in all the scales of inconvenience and fear seem to weigh evenly against kindness and being content.

So my thought for today is, this once this new normal develops closer to what we used to know, don't let it rob you of practicing all the good things that you adopted during the heat of the crisis.

Remember to be nice, play nice, and embrace nice.

Marty

I Put Something Away, And Now I Can't Find It. 5/14/2020

Good Morning,

I was very pleased when I started to smell the aroma of  Door County Heavenly Caramel Coffee coming from the kitchen this morning. I knew it wouldn't be long before the alarm went off to signal the start of a new day.

Psalm 119:11 I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I may not sin against thee.

Today I want to write about something we have all seen someone do and good chances are you've probably done it too.

I have done this many times. I put something away for safe keeping and then when I need it I go to where I thought I placed it and it isn't there. I have searched frantically for my vehicle keys many times.

I recall looking for a belt that I wanted to wear and then asking my wife to join in on the search. We looked everywhere that belt should have been. She asked me if I might have left it at my parents house when I visited a couple weeks back. The answer of course was no, but it did make me wonder and it established some true doubt in my mind.I almost called my Mother to see if I had left it there and could she look everywhere in her house to find my belt.
Eventually I went to get a different belt and that's when my wife exclaimed "Look at the belt you are wearing?" I had already put the missing belt on and had been wearing if for an hour.

Friends we all get so busy and are a hurried people. We waste more time by being hurried that it would be better to slow down in all things so as to ease our brains. We travel on overload.

There are times when I could swear that I packed my Bible, any Bible some Bible for a trip I was taking, only to remember where I placed it when I arrived at my destination without it. I misplace my car keys regularly so I have spare sets of keys. I do the same thing with my Bible. I have spares, but in a pinch I have memorized some verses to let me have God's Word readily available to me in a pinch.

We use notes to remind ourselves to pack something or to remember appointments. I have placed some Bible Verses as notes in my head for when I need them most.

I suggest that every believer should do the same.  You should never leave home without them.

Marty

I Believe I Will Have Another Cup Of Coffee 5/13/2020

Good Morning,

I am watching a robin build a nest outside of our den window this morning as I drink a cup of Door County Cherry Creme Coffee and write.

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for the members of his own home, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

This photo was taken last year in 2019 from the same tree that is under nest construction right now. The nest produced three little robins. It fell during the winds of winter and after the robins had flown South. You can see that the straw we used to patch our lawn last year was used as building materials. 

It is amazing as to how a bird will build a nest and somehow from scraps of straw, grass and twigs they can come up with a nest that will safely hold eggs and protect their young.  We have planted some grass seed and I covered it with straw to protect the seed and help to keep the ground damp. The straw has become building materials for the nest I am seeing it constructed before my own eyes. The bird is picking just the right pieces for her nest. She is taking the very damp and a little muddied pieces and then flying back to the tree and using her inbred skills to build a nest that will withstand wind and rain. The nest is also tucked away with some shade to avoid any very hot days that might just pop up.

This little flying engineer/carpenter is doing a great job. The nest is high enough in the air so as to protect the eggs from ground predators.

Once the nest is built and the eggs have been laid the battle is on. Anytime our two hunting dogs will go outside and get near the tree with the nest, Momma Bird becomes General Patton and flies at the dogs and chases them away. She will come close enough to the dogs to get them to chase her, drawing them away from the nest. I actually like watching that and it will be interesting when our youngest dog experiences the wrath of one mad robin.

Here's the point for the day. Most everyone has in their life children, younger siblings, grandchildren, nieces. nephews or kids who consider us to be grandparents or or aunts and uncles. We are here to watch over them in some capacity or another. But the one most important thing for us to do is to pray and protect them from the worldly predators that are out there. You never, ever retire from this responsibility.

Like a robin does, we are here in some type of capacity to help and shelter from the storms of life. It is our loving sacrifice of time and energy that is needed now and then. Yet we can easily pray every day.  I am blessed to still have one aunt alive at this time. She has been through rationing and hard times before and during this Covid Nightmare she has been an inspiration as to just how she accepted the challenge and is managing well during this crisis. I know for a fact that she still prays for the mess of kids, grand kids, nieces, and nephews she has been left with as our own parents are gone now.

So my friends accept the duty bestowed upon you and don't forget to lead until you can't. Pray for your family and the extended family given to you. That should keep you busy enough. And last but not least, say a prayer of thanks for being able to do so.

God Bless.

Marty

A Lesson From Psalm 37 5/12/2020

Good Morning,

I just poured a large cup of Door County Cherry Creme Coffee for myself and with a bowl of Cheerios I started the day.

There comes a time when we experience injustice in our lives. It could be at work, family life, church or in friendships. For instance, someone at work continually takes credit for the work that you do and then receives a promotion because of false credit being given. That's one that could get you pretty steamed up. Here is another example that used to get to me. The teacher or instructor divides the class into teams for  group project. You have about 6 team members who are supposed to work together and accomplish the team goal. In the end only 2 or 3 actually do the work, but the team gets an A grade.

The next words that come out of your mouth would be "THAT'S NOT FAIR" . Well friends, I will let you in on a little secret. "LIFE IS NOT FAIR" We are fortunate enough to have God love us enough that He devoted one whole Psalm to what I call, WHAT TO DO WHEN LIFE IS NOT FAIR.

PSALM 37:1-8

1 Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; 

2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 

3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 

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

5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: 

6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. 

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. 

In verse one God says not to fret or be envious. That is step one when dealing with unfairness. In verse 2 He tells us that the truth will eventually be seen and they will be exposed for their true selves. In verse 3 God tells us that during this time and all time what His expectations of us are,  We are to trust Him and do good and enjoy what we have.  In verse 4 we are to delight in the Lord and He will give us the desires of our heart. Might I say that when we delight in the Lord He becomes the desire of our heart and we can have as much of Him as we want. That alone my friends should be enough for us to relax and not try to control the scales of justice.  In verse 5 God reminds us to trust Him and He, not us will carry the flag of vindication for us. When we delight in Him the injustice is replaced by our trust and love for God.  In verse 6 we are told that someday the truth for us will shine brightly upon us.  Verse 7 we are to be still, which will cause us not to complain and we are to wait patiently.  Verse 8  warns us about taking action into our own hands and the consequences of doing so. It will lead us to evil.

Maybe this is where you are today. I know some people who are and they are burning inside. It is eating them up. So pass this one on and trust that God has a plan when "Life Is Not Fair" I would also recommend that everyone read Psalm 37 in it't entirety. 

Have a great day.

Marty

Advice Given. Advice Not Taken 5/11/2020

Good Morning,

The sun is shining and it is a total contrast to yesterday which brought rain and some snow all day long. It looks like the day has potential to be beautiful. My choice for a morning beverage is a hot cup of Door County Country Morning Coffee. My breakfast will be a some cold watermelon.

Proverbs 1:5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning and the one who understands seek guidance.

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to good advice.

Doesn't it just fry your hinder when people call you and want to tell you all about their problems and seek your advice for hours on end and then never listen to a word you say? I don't mind people calling and venting to me if they say " I just called to vent". I will listen and I will even offer to extend to them more time if they feel they need it. My ear is always open to listening.

Then there are those who call or worse yet text for hours on end and ask you what they should do. I am always willing to pray, listen, pray some more and listen harder and ask God for the answer He would have me give them. I never turn away my ear. But I guard my hearing.

In addition, during this whole time you just know that whatever advice you give, won't be followed and except for giving that person a sounding board, you just wasted time. Then they run off after dumping a load of hurt, anger and frustration on to your plate, with their box emptied just so they can fill it up again. Some people just have to get in the last word. The last word is most of the time like a rotten apple that you found to be full of worms, yet you have to eat that last bite and you wonder why your stomach hurts.

We all have some people like this in our lives. We must love them and pray for them and help them with limits. And eventually we will need to confront their actions. This is never pleasant because the next phone call or letter they write is to complain about you. I adopted this theme on just that subject. "If they are talking or complaining about you, they are leaving someone else alone".

So my friends, if this is something that has you under siege. Remember this. Pray before you answer. Ask if people want advice or not. Some will be very honest and say no. They just want to vent a little. Venting in a safe atmosphere is a good thing. If advice is desired, tell them you want to pray about it and that you will call back later. Seek God's wisdom instead of running on your own. Once sound Biblical advice is given and it is taken, be there to assist as much as possible. If it is not taken and the person runs a muck then pray again as to how much time God wants you to spend giving more advice or help. Let God set your "term limits".

Much of your own stress can be avoided if you just pray and ask God, "Am I in the right place here?" He will let you know.

Marty

The Motive Behind The Table Games 5/10/2020

Good Morning,

The day began with a big cup of Door County Pecan Cinnamon Ice Cream Coffee and a smile. Happy Mother's day to all the ladies out there.

Psalm 139:13-16  13. For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14. I praise you,  for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works. My soul knows that very well.
15. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven.
16. Your eyes saw my unformed substance, all my days formed for me were written in Your book, when as yet there were none of them.

Today we all remember our mothers, grandmothers, aunts, teachers and in general any female that mothered on us.  As I was taking the walk upstairs to my den to write this morning I had a smile on my face. I knew I would be writing about my mom and knowing that, my mind turned to the rolls my mom used to make. They were known as Nana buns.

It's not the buns I want to write about. My mother had a few board and dice games that you just knew were going to come out whenever you would visit. She would especially love to play those games with the grand kids and you just knew that sooner or later they would all insist that you play a round or two with them. I never was much for the games even as a kid, but I would get looped in and before you knew it the clock had run on to midnight.

I often wondered how mom could sit there for a few hours and play these games. Now that she is gone from us I see the motive behind the games. Mom always made a big deal about making sure we had a big dinner while we were there. The table always had room for one more somehow. That same table would be turned into the game table later. Those games were just a ploy to have her family around the table to have some fun, but most of all to be closer to her instead of hitting the recliner and watching television. Mom also used to advocate strongly for going somewhere for a picnic. This always confused me, because we could eat outside on their deck which had a view of a beautiful lake. To me, that was a picnic. There was no need to pack the food and go somewhere, fighting mosquitoes to eat. Mom and I would argue that one for many years. I now know that she would do that just to get under my skin a little and make my blood pressure rise. I caught on after she started her picnic talk, got me going, and as she was walking away she couldn't hide her smile and her laugh.

Today I would give anything to play a game of Sorry with Mom or even finally give in and go on a stupid picnic. So instead I will make some Nana buns, wipe a tear from my eye and thank God for Mom, grandma, and my Aunts who taught me so much, played games with us, and listened when times were tough.

So today if you find yourself still able to call mom, or if possible during this Covid Mothers Day visit, do so. The game table has been silent for many years now, it closed suddenly and never reopened. For some, not all mom memories are good ones. I choose to forget any of those I might have and hope my mom forgave me for all the disappointments I put her through.  Your first visit from God was within her womb. Remember that and be grateful for that first heavenly visit.

God bless.

Marty

Heavy Frost This Morning And The Lesson Learned 5/9/2020

Good Morning,

I cannot help but smile as I drink my first cup of Door County Blueberry Cobbler Coffee. It's cold outside and I feel like I just cheated the weather by imbibing on this brew that cut right through the cold today.

Job 1:21 And he said, "naked i came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

Whenever there is a late freeze like we experienced last night I worry about our apple crop and how the apple buds will be impacted by the frost. Our apple trees have fed a lot of people throughout the years and I always look forward to the spring blossoms and the fall harvest. My wife and I just ate the last of applesauce we put up in 2019 a week or two ago. Last year's harvest also experienced a late spring frost and it was the worst harvest we experienced in 30 years. We usually have apple sauce all the way through to the following harvest.

Yet last year our garden produced more squash than ever before and we are still eating the spaghetti squash and will be able to do so for a couple more months. We just finished eating the tomatoes we were blessed with last summer.

What did we learn from this? We need to be content in all things. For some reason God gave the apple trees a rest from producing mass quantities of apples , yet he gave us an abundance of squash and tomatoes. I would be lying if I said that we didn't enjoy the squash and all the different things we made from the tomatoes. During this covid crisis and with me being laid up any grocery shopping was left up to Rene to do. She wasn't able to venture out much and just picked up the absolute necessary items we needed which was usually just milk and dog food. Yet we enjoyed delicious pasta sauces made from the tomato harvest of last year. We learned how to make squash bread and squash soup.

God knew what we would need and He provided. Now here is the funny thing. No we did not eat a lot of pies from our apple tree and apple sauce wasn't in over abundant supply, but we were still able to give some apples away. While I was sick last month and at night when breathing wasn't as easy as it usually is, Rene would bring to me a hot beverage every night before going to bed. She reminded me that even those puny, not so hot apples made plenty of cider to ease me through the illness. Rene really did not want to go to the store for anything if possible and one morning as she was making French Toast for breakfast she told me that the toast would be without syrup and jam would have to do because we were out of syrup. Now for me eating pancakes or French Toast without syrup is like taking a shower with a rain coat on. But I ate it without complaining and was thankful to have bread.

Later that day I heard Rene laughing and she called me on the phone ( I was in quarantine) to let me know that we would be having pancakes soon and we would have syrup. She said that she had been cleaning our pantry shelves and moving things around and she found a large jar of the apple syrup I made last year tucked away on the back of the shelf. Less pie last year and more syrup. God knew what we would need.

So I learned to be content and also trust God. What He took away was best for us in the long run. Share your blessings with others. Store up whatever God gives you in abundance. Learn to save and never take a job for granted. Work for the pay you receive and give your employer your best.

Today my friends things have changed and for some it has been truly hard. Try to find the lessons learned and write them down. Practice what you learned. For me and my house someone gave us free pepper seeds I can guarantee those will be planted.

Marty