I Received A Scolding 10/31/2023

 Good Morning,

A hot cup of Door County Toasted Praline Coffee is entertaining my taste buds and it is time to write.

Luke 6:31 As you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 

My wife Rene and I knocked out a lot of yard work yesterday and many chores were finished. Rene had to run to the grocery store for a couple of things we needed and I continued my share of the work. When she returned she asked me a question and she had a serious look on her face. She was looking at the ladder in our garage and I knew right then and there that I was in trouble. "I thought we agreed that all ladder work was to be done with both of us around?" said Rene. Where are the garden hoses? was her next statement. I was already condemned so I just fessed up that they were in the rafters of the garage. As I am getting older I am on the receiving end of more and more rules. Prior to agreeing to have her at least home when I am on a ladder, she asked me to consider not hunting alone. I fought that one off and agreed to mark on my phone my location while hunting and not waver from it without calling and marking the new area. I pretty much hunt in the same spots when I am alone. 

I don't like the rules, but I understand her concern and she worries about me. So I don't have to like it, but I do need to respect her concerns. We have built a marriage on love, respect and compromise. So Rene will feel better knowing that I am trying to be safe.

Respect, and compromise without love are just a business deal, not a relationship. 

Marty

Funeral Etiquette A Forgotten Practice 10/30/2023

 Good Morning,

There is a bite in the air this morning. The house was a little cold when I woke up. But with a hot cup of Door County Toasted Praline Coffee to warm me up, I am ready to write. 

1 Corinthians:14:40 But all things should be done decently and in order. 

Last week I attended the funeral of a friend of mine and after the service ended the mourners formed a processional of their automobiles and began to follow the hearse to the cemetery for the burial. All the cars were marked with a sign. The hearse had on it's flashing caution lights. The driver of each vehicle was given instructions  on what to do while driving in the processional. This include having their auto lights on bright and their emergency flashes illuminated. Very slow travel was to be adhered to.

There was no way you couldn't tell that the string of cars was a funeral procession. Yet, during the  drive to the cemetery many people were cutting in to the line, passing the mourners in anger and plain old rudeness. Many people did not yield to the funeral procession of mourners. 

Some simple rules of encountering a funeral procession are. 

Yield the right of way. Just as you would for emergency vehicles.

Be respectful. Never honk your horn or show you impatience for observing some etiquette. 

In some states, funeral processions have the right of way. So pull over or wait at intersections for the processional to go by, This is the courteous thing to do. 

Never cut in or tag along. Watch for the last car in the procession and then proceed. 

Back when I was 15 years old I was taught in drivers education the proper funeral etiquette.  My dad also answered my first question as to why he was pulling over for a long string of cars.

Now in may states divers education is not mandatory anymore. The evidence of the lack of training can be witnessed by just driving around and watching the mayhem in traffic. We have made it too easy to obtain a drivers license just to accommodate inclusiveness. It is hard to blame people for their actions sometimes because of the lack their of knowledge.  I am all for mandatory affordable drivers training. It should once again be included in the high school curriculum.  

The act of observing and yielding to a funeral procession is showing respect for those going through one of the hardest days of the lives. We have tossed out that kind gesture with our fast paced life and lack of knowledge. We have made it too easy to be rude and ignorant and it shows.

Marty

The Front Door To My Heart 10/29/2023

 Good Morning,

I just poured a hot cup of Door County Maple Coffee and it is filling the room with a sweet aroma. It is time to write. 

Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the Kingdom of Heaven."

Later today our city will observe Trick or Treat for three hours. There has always been an argument for or against Trick or Treat. Some people won't observe the tradition because they see ghosts, witches and goblin costumes as evil and unhealthy. My wife and I decided that those costumes are not ideal but we respect the person inside the disguise. 

To Rene and I what is important is that we can afford to hand out candy. We also sit at the approach to our driveway so the kids don't have to navigate stairs and some of those little legs tire out easily. So we greet the kids as they approach and tell them to have fun and to be careful. 

The most important thing is that the kids see us as people who share with others and are generous. By being there as they approach, we make ourselves accessible/approachable. We are also ready to hand out an ice pack for someone who has tripped, or tissue for those runny noses. We help to provide a safe zone for the kids to be kids. I am proud of our neighborhood for being kid and family friendly.

Lastly there is a lesson for the kids. They learn that people can be friendly to each other even if the catalyst is a mask, and some candy. 

God bless,

Enjoy those kids and make sure to be sympathetic to the parents who are tired and keep on walking. 

Marty

The Power Of Prayer 10/28/2023

 Good Morning,

There is a hot cup of Door County Country Morning Blend Coffee next to me. Our dogs have eaten and are resting again. The house is warm. So it is time to write. 

Matthew 17:20 He said to them, :Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed , you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there, 'and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. 

                                              A field of mustard. Photo/Illustration: Phillip Harvey

I for one am 100% in support of prayer. Tonight after our weekly Saturday night church service a small group of people will meet for an hour or so, just to pray together. This group has been praying together for a very long time. While there in prayer, the group is very sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and prays as led to do so. 

I like to think about it this way. It's ordinary people, with ordinary prayers, seeing the extraordinary. The group has been blessed to see times when their prayers were answered in mighty ways. Not too often does the group pray for themselves. The bulk of the prayers are for other people, world events, and a myriad of things concerning others. They are protective of the prayer night, and what is said there, stays there unless a report of prayer needs to go back to who requested it from the prayer group. 

Our church has many different ministries, and is in action for God all the time. But if I had to choose from the  ministries I am in and could only serve in one, hands down I would choose to keep on praying with this group. 

My dear friends and family. Pray alone, pray with others , but pray. It is a beautiful way to know the heart of God and for you to express your heart to Him. You can be a part of moving mountains, bringing peace to souls and experiencing God and working with Him, and God working through you.

Have a prayerful day.

Marty 

Good Morning. Friday Joined Us 10/27/2023

 Good Morning,

I am staring at a hot mug of Door County Country Blend Coffee. I don't want to interrupt the aroma just to have a drink of this morning brew. 

Did Friday arrive or did we catch it ,is the meager thought for today? God created this day and it is right on schedule. This last week seemed to drag on forever and then at times it seemed like the world was turning faster and faster. 

We are on the brink of a major war. In Maine another mass shooting took place. Stock markets are up and down like a yo yo.  A certain party in a government is riddled with animosity toward each other so bad that it went without leadership for weeks. Worker strikes are going on and compromise between labor and management seem to be stalled . Most businesses cannot find enough labor to keep the doors open. 

Yet my friends, each day was written and God is the God of the past, present and future. There is a time and a place for even this mayhem. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. 2. A time to be born and a time to die.; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which was planted; 3. a time to kill, and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build up; 4. a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.; 5. a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing; 6. a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away, 7. a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8. a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. 

My advice for today? Take time to pray.

Marty

It Can Be Fixed 10/26/2023

 Good Morning,

The day began early for me and I am off to work in a few minutes. I just poured a hot cup of Door County Autumn Spice Coffee and it is time to write. 

Proverbs 14:23 In all toil there is profit, but mere talk only leads to poverty.

Photo Credit Walmart

Way back when I was about twelve years old I caught our dad in a spoof on my brother. My brother Jim was a two year old toddler and our dad had him convinced that he could fix anything. Jim could be amused by playing with a balloon. He would also engage family members to play with him. At twelve I was not all that approachable by a two year old, but I did my share of swatting a balloon in the air until I had plenty of the toddler and then sent Jim off to our sister. Most people now shun the idea of balloons and toddlers as a swallowing risk. But then we did not ride our bikes while wearing a helmet. Things were different back then.  

Back to the balloons. Inevitably sooner or later the rambunctious toddler would break his balloon. I shed no tears about that happening. Jim would cry and look for Dad and show him his broken balloon. If Dad was working, Jim's balloon was set on the kitchen table for Dad to fix. Now broken balloons are very seldom repairable. Yet Dad would promise to "look at it later". Then a balloon of the same color would be filled with "hot air" and dispatched for the toddler. I found out how that balloon repair actually happened. Dad would always purchase  a bag of balloons for the little urchin and when one broke Dad would just blow up a new one and then tell "shorty" he fixed his balloon. I would roll my eyes and knew better than to spoil the scam Dad had on the youngest one. 

This continued through our lives. Dad was always there to listen and many times I would seek him out as a sounding board in times of troubles. He never told me that things could not be fixed. He did say that he wasn't sure how they could be fixed, but where you placed your sincere effort and worked hard you could weather the storms of your life. 

Our mother was very ill when I was a little boy and she had her first open heart surgery when I was in first grade. The medical bills were not covered by insurance, because that type of surgery was still classified as experimental. After all was said and done, Dad was handed a bill that was almost three times the value of a nice home. He was advised to file bankruptcy and get out of the many bills that came in every month. Dad said to our mom one day as she was crying about the bills. "This can be fixed if we just pull together as a family and I work an extra job or two." Things changed throughout the upcoming years and when I was Junior in high school the medical bills were finally paid. No bankruptcy!

As a family we celebrated with dinner at a place called Ponderosa and our dad was as proud as could be of being out from under the bills. Dad couldn't fool me any longer. He did not have any balloon tricks up his sleeve. He did however have a praying wife, and the ability as well as drive to work hard and take responsibility for our debt. 

I believe in prayer and how God blessed our family. But Mom had the biggest balloon trick. I recall her telling my sister and me to pray for our dad so he could continue the pace he was on to keep us moving forward. And pray we did. And God answered. 

Things can be fixed and sometimes it is with a fresh start and lots of positive prayer and major effort.

Marty

And The Winner Is ???? 10/25/2023

 Good Morning,

I just poured a hot mug of Door County Autumn Spice Coffee and it is steaming next to me. I am ready to write. 

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

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

If you are reading this and you feel like life just keeps kicking you in the back seat of your pants, you just might feel like you are on the short end of the stick, there is no hope for you, and you can't even win a game of darts if you are the only one playing. You might not feel like you are the winning solution to anything. 

The truth is, if you are breathing today there is hope. If you ate something today, there is hope. If You were able to have shelter over your head for the night, there is hope. Sometimes the only place to go from the dark valleys is up. God often places us in a position that we need to look up to Him and let Him lead us up and through the valleys of despair. If you have trusted in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior you are a winner. Your future home is a mansion. It is never dark where you will live someday, and there are no tears or pain in heaven. With a life secured by Jesus, there is always hope for tomorrow.

Marty

Call Out And I Will Answer 10/24/23

 Good Morning,

I just poured a hot cup of Door County Country Morning Blend Coffee and it is time to write. 

One of the greatest calls to us by God is found in Jeremiah 33:3 Call to Me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. 

It also comes with a promise that God will answer. That is a dear, dear call and a promise. Not every answer we receive is just what we want. That is where our faith comes in and we need to be reassured that God heard and He answered, it could be an answer of no, or wait or "yes" here it is. We need to trust in God and His desire to answer with what is best for us. 

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

Many years ago I applied for a job and did not receive it. I was very disappointed. I had prayed long and hard for that job, It would have required my wife and I to move to another city. I was down and out for a day or two and then just accepted that it was not God's will for my life. 6 months later I received an even better job and did not have to move. God had something better in mind for me and it did not interfere with our serving in our church.

So the main point of today is this. Trust in God, He is the only one who knows your tomorrows. 

Marty

Hot Or Cold. Be One Or The Other. 10/23/23

 Good Morning,

There Is A hot cup of Door County Highlander Grog Coffee next to me. The house is very quiet and it is time to write. 

For me, there is a small disappointment I encounter while drinking coffee and it is all my own doing. When I pour a cup of coffee in the morning I actually heat the liquid on the stove or in the microwave just a little bit more than the coffee maker heats it. There is a heat transfer from the pot to the cup and the coffee loses some of it's heat. You could say that I am fussy about my coffee. Then as I get busier in the morning I set the mug of coffee down and of course it cools off. I like to drink it when it is fresh and I like it hot. So that later morning sip I take is sometimes that of lukewarm coffee and it just doesn't set well with me.  When I am duck hunting and it is cold outside, I love to open my insulated bottle and see the steam rise from my cup. I drink that brew and it warms me up. The truth be known, one of my dogs likes to steal a sip of hot coffee while munching on a donut in the duck blind. 

God has something to say about lukewarm. Here we go.

Revelation 3:15-17 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other. 16. So because you are lukewarm neither hot or cold. I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17. You say I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.'  But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 

Hot and cold refers to the spiritual state, "hot" people being on fire for the Lord, and cold people who haven't  or won's accept the Gospel message of Jesus. "Lukewarm" would refer to those in 2 Timothy 3;5 who have a form of godliness  but denying it's power. And those in Hebrews 6:4-5 who have been enlightened and have experienced the heavenly gift of Jesus and the Holy Spirit and have fallen away. 

If our faith is worth anything it is worth everything.  Lukewarm coffee is nasty. What is the temperature of your faith?

Have a great day. 

Marty

Easy Listening. With A Recipe 10/22/2023

 Good Morning,

I just started a small fire in our fireplace to take the chill out of the house ad it is doing just what I hoped for. I have a large mug of Door County Bourbon Pecan Pie Coffee to warm my insides and it is time to write. 

 

Photo Credit Nick Schutte

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of God will stand forever. 

I would like to recommend to all of us a plan for spiritual maintenance that is good for the heart and soul. Being semi retired I have the luxury of spending time each morning in the reading of or listening to the Word of God being preached. I pray about what I am going to write and for the last 11 years or so I have been writing this blog. It causes me to soul search, study some and plan. In other words my own blog is Chicken Soup for my soul. I am also active in a Men's Bible Study. I don't always lead the study but I prepare as if I would be leading every week and I enjoy the time spent in the Word Of God. 

Whenever I am driving to a work destination I listen to my old stand by radio station which has some great preachers bringing a lesson each day. I also have subscribed to a daily message from a church who has a great kid bringing a thought for the day and  a Bible verse. Hannah Hockman Of Novus Church is doing a great job of presenting the Bible each day. 

I like a warm comfortable house and we all know I like a great cup of coffee. So as I treat my body to the comforts this world has to offer and I do like cutting firewood. I also treat my mind, heart and soul to easy to read, or easy to listen to messages from the Bible. Now, not all the messages are comfortable. I often experience a message that is thought provoking and it corrects my path. But that too is very important to peace of mind and of heart. 

So as I close for the day, I ask this. What are you doing to give your heart and soul some daily food? You are as close to God as you choose to be. 

Love to all.

Marty

Split Pea Soup With Ham Recipe. Credit Taste Of Home. 

Ingredients And Directions

• 1 package (16 ounces) dried green split peas
• 8 cups water
• 3/4 pound potatoes (about 2 medium), cubed
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 2 medium carrots, chopped
• 2 cups cubed fully cooked ham (about 10 ounces)
  
  
• 1 celery rib, chopped
• 5 teaspoons reduced-sodium chicken bouillon granules
• 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
• 1 teaspoon rubbed sage
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil   

1. Place all ingredients in a Dutch oven; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until peas and vegetables are tender, 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Therapy For The Mind 12/21/2023

 Good Morning,

I should be duck hunting this morning. But sometimes you just have to sit one out. I just poured a hot cup of Door County Bourbon Pecan Pie Coffee and it is time to write. 

I need to rest up one day and I will hunt tomorrow. I have a busy day ahead of me anyway. Tonight our Saturday night church group will be having a baked potato bar after the evening service. My wife Rene and I are baking the potatoes today and setting up the gymnasium at our church for the event. The potatoes are some very large russets and it is a chore to bake those big boys. We will be super busy!

No matter how busy I am I still make time to read my Bible and recharge and reset my mind. I believe in all 66books in the Bible and I believe it is the number one way God speaks to us. Although there are a number of ways He speaks, I believe the Bible is number one.

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God- this is your true and proper worship. 2. Don not conform to the patter of this world, but transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- His good pleasing and perfect will.

Matthew 4:4 It is written, man does not live by bread alone, but every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. 

2Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. 

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of is is living and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword. piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart. 

My thought for the day is this. When was the last time you read and studied the Bible? Do you rely on hearing the Word one day a week? Do you eat all your meals for a week on one day? The answer is no. You eat each day giving you strength for the next day. All believers should be reading the Word of God daily. It is a time each day that we need to recharge, reset, correct, or to approve our walk with God. 

Dine on!

Marty

First Fire Of The Season 10/20/2023

 Good Morning,

The day began with a a hot cup of Door County Bourbon Pecan Pie Coffee and some prayer.

Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O Man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you, But to do justly, To love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. 

Yesterday was a cool, damp and windy day and somehow I caught a chill and it went right to the bone. I feel ok but for some reason I could not shake the chill of the rain and dampness. It did not take me too long to whip up a pot of chicken soup and just to have it simmering in the pot made me feel better, but I was still cold. 

So out to the garage I went and I brought in a small armload of fire wood. Soon after that a small fire was crackling in the hearth and both dogs were waiting for me to vacate the area in front of the fireplace. They have claimed that area as their personal spot to warm up and bask in the heat. 

My point for the day is this. All it took to shake the chill were two simple items and sometimes simple is best. The soup wasn't anything a gourmet cook would serve, but it tasted good and it was hot. I could have turned up the home furnace a little, but our two dogs were made happy with the fire and later I noticed my wife Rene was infringing on the dog comfort zone with her back up to the hearth.

All of that expended no money, no real effort, and the result was some happy campers in our house. 

Advice for today. Keep it simple.

Marty

Walk On. Walk On. 10/19/2023

 Good Morning,

I am just about to take that first sip of Door County Vanilla Cappuccino Coffee so it is time to write. 

This day has me thinking about some folks I know who are struggling with the bumps the road of life delivered. It could be a cancer diagnosis, a death of a loved one, loss of a job, a marriage on the rocks or a break up. This list could  easily be quite larger. It just seems like these bumps in the road can look like mountains to climb and they will be impossible to overcome.

What is important, is to keep walking through the storms. Forge on ahead and don't lose your faith. Watch for others who are there to assist, you in doing so. They don't offer to help hoping you won't call. People usually mean what they say when they offer compassion and assistance. Most of all, know that the road you are on also has God walking with you and at times carrying you through the darkness.

Isaiah 46:4 Even to your old age, I am He and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made and I will bear; I will carry and I will save.

Psalm 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. 

Friends and family, walk on with hope and assurance that when you need to be carried, you will be carried. 

Marty

Be Kind To Strangers. You Just Never Know. 10/18/2023

 Good Morning,

I am not working today, so I started on my blog later than usual. My cup was just filled with Door County Vanilla Cappuccino Coffee and it is time to write. 

                                                                     Photo Credit U. S, National Park Service.

I take all 66 books held within the Bible as God's Holy Word. I believe every passage to be true. The following Scripture has always captured my mind and I recall it quite often. I find that it is one which is quoted often by others as well. 

Hebrews 13:1-2 Let brotherly love continue. 2. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. 

I have experienced a few times in my life that I cannot explain. One such time was while my wife Rene and I were on a trip to Philadelphia. I was attending a conference for work and Rene tagged along. The three day conference was finished each day at 2:30 pm so it allowed for some site seeing in the City Of Brotherly Love. Rene would travel out each morning from our hotel and acquire her breakfast and she would walk to the sites close to our hotel where the conference was being held. On the first day she told me that she had stopped at a bank to pick up some one dollar bills and two rolls of quarters. She explained her need for the money was to give each homeless person she encountered a dollar and two quarters. She said she ran out of money quickly and needed to go to a bank. 

The next day Rene took a tour bus that went to all the historical sites. Each day after my conference and her excursion she would return to the hotel and she would take me to a point of interest in Philadelphia and tell me about what she learned while we were walking. On the last day we left the city and made it to Valley Forge by car.

Now let me tell you what happened while walking on day two with my wife. That afternoon she was already out of dollar bills and quarters when we were half way to the Liberty Bell. We encountered a very scruffy looking man who asked for some help. I explained that we were out of money, which happened to not be true. We were out of singles and change but we had other bills which were larger in value. He thanked us anyway and we walked away. Within three steps Rene grabbed my arm and said "Let's give him ten dollars. I just know we are supposed to do that. And let's pray with him." She did not say, pray for him. She said with him. It was only a few seconds before I turned around and the man was nowhere to be seen. It was virtually impossible for him to be anywhere but on that street. Rene looked at me and I looked at her. I said to her. "Oh no. We blew it. I think we were tested and failed." Rene agreed that we encountered an angel and being kind to that one required more than a dollar fifty. Our hearts had been tested. No way could a human being disappear on that street and be out of view so quickly. 

You just never know who came to the door of your heart. Be sure to answer. 

Marty

No. Never Alone 10/17/2023

 Good Morning,

I am waiting for the Door County Maple Coffee to brew and as long as I am waiting I will begin to write. The coffee will be sipped on in the truck today.

Photo Credit a Friend!

Now and then I like to hunt alone. I take one of the dogs and off I go to hunt and unclog my mind. I can hear more when I am alone and I can quit whenever I want to. I am aware that I am really never totally alone. God is present wherever I Go and He often let's me see things I wouldn't see from the recliner. God has an uncanny way of showing off for you in nature. He send His love on a cloud or a bird, fresh snow. a sky full of stars, or a deer drinking from the river. 

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 

I can't really hide from God. Nor do I desire to run and hide from Him. He fills the silence with a song from a lark. He shakes the bones with His thunder. He lights the night sky with the moon and the stars.

My friends we are never alone and we are loved by God so much that He sent His son to die for us and our sins. And yet He takes time to paint the sky for us to see.'

Have a wonderful day.

Marty

Teamwork Is A Blessing 10/16/2023

 Good Morning,

My day started with a hot cup of Door County Maple Coffee and prayer. So it is time to write.

Psalm 133:1 behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity

This weekend afforded me the privilege of seeing teamwork on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday I was able to goose hunt with some young guys and the weather was more than wet. From the time we decided to hunt on Friday right up until the end of the hunt Saturday, the motto was it's a team effort. We pooled resources, including car pooling. The young fellas were like pack mules and they pulled sleds a 1/4 mile through mud and rain. The sleds were filled with all of our gear. Decoys were set with all hands on deck. The blinds were erected and set in place. They were then covered with fresh foliage to make our spot look like a tree island in the middle of a cut bean field. Two guys cut the brush on Friday night! All the effort paid off with plenty of geese being shot and set for the roaster.

On Sunday, my wife Rene and I decided to tackle the chore of picking the apples off of our trees. Our trees did not produce a lot of apples this year so the chore was not all that bad. Our neighbor to the South has two apple trees as well. She had mentioned that they needed to be picked. One of those trees is overloaded with apples. Rene and I decides to just go and start picking and boxing them for her. Our neighbor Donna had expressed that she wanted to share some apples with the people from church. I knew there would be some interest in these nice baking apples. The assisted living home on the other side of us will always take apples and turn them into bakery for the residents. So as we headed over to pick from Donna's trees she met us outside and the three of us went about picking apples. Before too long we had picked and boxed many, many apples. The apples will produce some smiles from a few folks. 

The teamwork of this weekend is a perfect example of what can happen when all unite and take on a good and worthy goal. Thanksgiving dinners will probably have some goose served to the table. I know we will enjoy an apple pie or apple sauce and a few other families will enjoy the same thing. 

I thank God for family and friends that made this weekend a huge success. I am proud to say I hang around with some hard workers. 

Teamwork is best when it is enjoyed with friends and family. Teamwork also makes friends of strangers. So let's go family and friends and keep the teamwork rolling.

Marty

Just Be Nice 10/15/2023

 Good Morning, 

I am awake after a good night of sleep and I have to say, it is a little chilly inside our house this morning. So, not only does my hot cup of Door County Autumn Spice Coffee taste good. It also feels good. 

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness, 23. gentleness, self control; against such things, there is no law. 

I believe that just being a nice person is not hard to do. But I am afraid to say that a friendly person is not always appreciated.  I think that is because many people are not accustomed to experiencing people being nice. It could be that the recipient of nice gestures by others feels that they must always repay the person who delivered a nicety to them. And they themselves don't feel like being nice to others. 

I believe that in most instances nice gestures inspire me to do something nice in return to others. We have been experiencing a lot of rain lately. But the rain did not stop us needing some groceries. I only needed a few items, but soon after arriving to the store I had almost filled a grocery basket with items needed for the week ahead. After paying for my groceries I headed to our truck and proceeded to unload the cart. And yes the rain kicked in pretty hard and just as I placed the last bag of groceries in the truck a young man came up to the truck and took the cart from me saying, " I will take your cart. Get out of the rain and have a nice day."  This young man took the cart and ran off to the store with it. I followed his advice and jumped into my vehicle and returned home. I pondered that nice act for a moment or two. Then it occurred to me that I have a friend going through a rough time and that he could use a nicety. I made up a meatloaf dinner for him and took it to him later that evening. 

So think about the nice things you could do for others and my goodness do them, without expecting anything in return. You just might trigger a chain reaction of NICE.  NICE LEADS TO NICE!

Have a great day and be nice!

Marty

No Complaints For The Cook. 10/14/2023

 Good Morning,

I am headed out to hunt this morning with a great bunch of guys. I filled a Thermos bottle with very hot Door County Autumn Spice Coffee.

I have said this before. I do 90% or more of the cooking in our home and it is just my wife Rene and I living here. I choose what to make and either Rene or I will pick up the stuff needed to make our dinners. Now, when I say choose we do discuss the menu for the week, or at times for a couple of weeks. I will run some things by Rene and 99% of the time she agrees with my choice. She does however really like to eat breakfast food for dinner now and then. 

What makes this arrangement work is that neither one of us is very fussy. What makes it even easier is that we tend to put each other first. Rene knows I can eat lasagna any day of the week. I noticed that she thinks she is pulling a fast one on me when I ask her what she would like for meals on any given week. Her reply is "hey how about lasagna"? She is choosing what I like and trying to make me think that is what she really wants. She is putting me first. Marriage is a partnership where we sacrifice for one another. I have a hard time eating eggs, toast and bacon after 10am. But, I have been known to rustle up a couple of omelets or French toast for dinner. I like to see her happy. Tonight we will be eating beef stew. 

So, my friends, today's theme is "Others First"

God bless,

Marty

Proceed With Extreme Caution 10/13/2023

 Good Morning,

I am seated at my desk, and I am ready to write. Our two dogs have been fed and the Door County Blackberry Shortcake is in a cup next to me and it is very hot.

The weather is supposed to be rainy and wet for a the next few days. I have plenty of dry firewood in the house and I believe tonight will be the first of the fall fires to warm the house up. I might not wait until tonight to get a fire glowing in the hearth. 

I plan on duck hunting a little this weekend and as I was thinking about the walking I need to do to get to some of my spots where I like to hunt, I decided to stay away from the rain laden river which will be swollen and deep because of the three day storm we are in. The river can trip you up even when the water level is low and every now and then I have experienced a splash down and got soaked. My waders filled up with some water and the hunting experience was to say the least cold and miserable. In order to navigate the walk up river, the trip is taken slowly and you walk with caution. The hidden underwater rocks or logs are not able to be seen and are tripping hazards. In my younger days I had better balance and could often stumble a little bit and still stay upright and dry. Not so much anymore. My two knee replacements make my legs a little stiff now and then. 

My point is this. In life there are always hidden obstacles just waiting to trip you up. The walk through life can often be waded through without harm or mayhem. But then there are those temptations or incidents that will cause a person to really stumble and lose their way. The world comes down on them and they need help getting up and headed in the right direction. The solutions to that are for another day.  The best way to stay upright in life is to avoid the hazards that so easily trap us. Staying in the word of God is the best way to fight off the temptations that pop up and cause us to drown in our own mistakes.

Psalm 119:11-13 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against You. 12. Praise be to you Lord, teach me your decrees. 13. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 

Life is best traveled through with caution, watching out for the hidden trips and falls and avoiding them as much as possible.

God bless,

Marty

Take A Kid Hunting 10/12/2023

 Good Morning,

I am enjoying a mug of Door County Pumpkin Spice Coffee and I just might have time to drink a second cup. 

1 Corinthians 11:2 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.

I started hunting with my dad when I was ten years old. I would imagine that having a kid along added some extra stress. I had a lot of questions and could trip over logs better than anyone I know. I managed to stay awake the whole day, but once I was seated in a warm car, I always ended up in a deep sleep. I learned very well at the young age that hunting was a lot of fun and a lot of hard work.

I also learned a lesson on family during those young years. We would hunt with my grandpa, aunts, uncles, my siblings and cousins. Most of who are all gone now and sometimes I miss those days dearly. Those times eating lunch on the back of a tail gate or having a bowl of chili after the hunt are times I will never forget. 

I have had the luxury of hunting with my nephews and one grandson. It has been a great pleasure to see  them shoot some pheasants , ducks and geese. I am blessed to have passed on this heritage and tradition  to those guys and their lady friends. I recommend you take a kid hunting. 

Be patient with them. Build up their self esteem. Give them memories that will carry on long after you are gone. Thank them for sharing their time with you. Always pray with them. Teach them to honor God. 

God bless,

Marty

A Psalm Passage For Israel 10/11/2023

 Good Morning,

My cup is filled with hot Door County Caramel Apple Coffee and our two dogs are asleep at my feet. It is time to write.

The world was shocked when it was announced that Israel had been attacked by terrorists a couple days ago. Immediately Israel declared war on the terrorist group Hamas. This happened so fast that families really didn't have time to react and properly mourn their losses. Hundreds were killed and just as many were injured. 

I really can't find the words to express my sorrow and my sympathy. But I know this, God will lead Israel into this battle and I would not want to be Hamas. I leave my Jewish friends with this passage. 

Psalm91:1-3   1. Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust" 3. Surely He will save you from the fowlers snare and from the deadly pestilence.

My prayers are with the people of Israel. May God strengthen them and avenge their losses.

Marty

A Good Children's Program 10/10/2023

 Good Morning,

Things are moving slow in this house this morning. It seems as if my get up and go, never woke up. A hot cup of Door County Caramel Apple Coffee is sitting next to me and it is time to write. 

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. 

We live in a busy world and time is a commodity that just seems to run dry now and then. Families are busier than ever, especially in a one parent home. Parents singularly or as a couple are chauffeurs for their children, carting them off to all their activities. I would have to say that those parents do a great job of getting the kids to their sport practices and games. Then there is dance class and gymnastics as well as school. 

I speak a word from this desk today that says, "Hey parents, don't forget about God". Many of these secular events now take place on Sundays. We develop, thie kids sports skills, their dance skills and all other kinds of stuff. But do we develop their relationships with God? Are they in church partaking of the programs designed for their age? Do they sit with you through a church service? How about mid week when a lot of churches have programs for the kids. Small children and teens need to be taught from the Bible and given opportunities to apply what they have learned.

Meals quite often are eaten on the run now.  The dining room table is often adorned with a center piece. But the table is no longer used as the gathering place for meals and well, prayer just doesn't happen. 

We ask ourselves, "What is wrong with this world'? Here is the straight answer. God has become a choice within many choices. When we place God as a choice on the menu of life, He at times becomes no choice at all. 

Time to reverse some trends and the place to do so is in your own homes. 

God bless,

Marty

The Mountains Display God's Majesty 10/9/2023

 Good Morning,

I will keep it short and sweet today. I just poured a hot cup of Door County Highlander grog Coffee and I am ready to write. 

Psalm 104:8 The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that You have appointed for them. 

If you travel in any direction you can find God's power and majesty in His creations. I truly believe that mountains and waterfalls are perfect examples of nature showing God's paintbrush on this world. A friend of mine sent me a photo that he took of a beautiful mountain with snow caps. 

                   Photo Credit Alan Jorgenson 

My friend was blessed to see this view of God's miracles and His attention to detail. But to think that God with His power could also shrink this mountain and wash it away is mind boggling.. I pray that never happens. It makes you wonder how many people have stood in awe of what God did. I wonder how many said thank you? Don't take these wonders for granted. Thank the Creator and Author of all life and scenery. Say thank you!

marty

My Elusive Dreams 10/8/2023

 Good Morning,

I am running behind this morning. My wife and I made a trip to the hospital last night with her mother. Everything is ok now. We just spent a few hours in the emergency department and that ran quite late. So with a large cup of Door County Bourbon Pecan Coffee next to me, it is really time to write. 

Isaiah, 49:16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. 

In life we start very early to form dreams of things we want to accomplish or see happen in our lifetime. As a little boy I would dream of going to Disney Land. Well that dream came true when I was in my twenties, and it wasn't Disney Land I went to, but Disney World was just as good. The dream was altered and the timing was not what I hoped for. A boyhood dream was to play football for the Green Bay Packers football team. That dream was just what it was, a dream. I am like many people who dream of things that we  really desire to see happen, and sometimes we come close, but the dream slips away. 

I never dreamed of building a house. I always dreamed of buying a home that we desired, moving in and living there for a long time. But I found myself building a house that was just what we wanted. Later in life I finally figured it out. I was recalling the building process and how difficult it was. My wife Rene reminded me how much she enjoyed the process even though it was difficult. "We worked side by side to make it happen. it is paid for and it has lots of good memories and more to come."

We can dream all kinds of things and we can pray for all kinds of things. Did God answer my prayer. In a way?  Yes He did. I made it to a Disney park, but just a different location. I eventually had a dear aunt of mine move to Florida and Aunty Betty and Disney could be done while visiting our daughter who also lived in Florida. I have enough aches and pains for one body. Just think how crippled up I could be if my dream came true to play in the NFL. God stopped me from physically growing into those shoes. We have a nice home, and there were two dreams accomplished there. My wife's mother and father built their home in 1947 and lived there a long time. Rene always dreamed of building a house and making it a home. 

My point for the day is this. It is ok to dream of different things, but it is God who answers those prayers, His way, and often it leads us in a alternate direction, a direction that many times is quite different, but better. Sometimes the dreams just remain dreams and if we sit back and take a look very closely we can see God's hand in the elusiveness of your  dreams. And your elusive dream might be the answer to someone else's dream. 

Love to all,

Marty

A Candy Bar And My Word 10/7/2023

 Good Morning,

A day in the marsh hunting ducks is ahead of me and I will be drinking a hot cup of Door County Bourbon Pecan Pie Coffee in the duck blind. 

1John:2-5 But whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we know that we are in Him.

Proverbs 11:3 The integrity of the upright guides them , but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. 

Yesterday I was blessed to officiate the wedding of a friend. During the rehearsal time on Thursday as most weddings do, there was a male ring bearer and a flower girl. The kids were about 5 years old. On Thursday  I told them if they did a good job of their wedding duties Friday that I would buy them a candy bar. It was ok with their parents so we were in good shape. 

Yesterday the wedding commenced and the two kids did exactly what was asked of them. I had forgotten about my promise of a reward to the kids. At the reception the young boy asked me if they did a good job. I then remembered my promise of a candy bar. I told him they did a great job and I would get that candy bar for them. I was still quite busy at the time. But keeping my word to those kids was important. The wedding reception was at a golf course and I knew there would be candy bars at the pro shop. My hunch was correct and I was able to purchase two Milky Way candy bars. I sought out the boy and his sister and delivered on my promise. I did tell them they had to wait for mom to tell them when it was ok to tackle that candy bar. The little boy shook my hand and said "thank you mister". I was impressed. 

My point for the day is this. We all need to keep our word when we make a deal or a promise. This is especially important with children. It is better not to promise than it is to promise and not deliver. Just because they are children isn't a reason to back out on a promise and not deliver what we promised.

When we keep our word with children, they remember it, We are to set the example of showing them that keeping our word is important and not keeping our word is wrong. 

Food for thought. 

Marty

Friday Happiness 10/6/2023

 Good Morning,

I am enjoying a mug filled with Door County Wisconsin Harvest Blend Coffee and it is time to write. 

1 Thessalonians5:17 Pray without ceasing!

Friday arrived right on time and I am happy to say I was ready for it. This is a happy day for me. I will be officiating at a wedding later today for a friends of mine. So I will put on my happy hat, and enjoy the day. You can tell just by listening to this couple, that they have found happiness with each other.

I am not a big wedding guy, but as I age I enjoy them more and more. I will celebrate with the two love birds and I will commit to pray for them weekly. I will do this for a year. Unless they read this they will not even know that every week they will be remembered in prayer. It is a gift that fits with everything they own and can't be returned or exchanged. Of course my wife Rene has another gift that she picked out, wrapped it up and will deliver it with a card with both of our names on it. I am good with that, yet I know that the first year of marriage requires more adjustments than the second year. I will pray!

So I have my happy thoughts for today and I will ask God to bless them, but I will do that every week for that first year. 

As for you dear friends and readers, think about the gift of prayer for the new graduates, the new school year and those starting out in marriage. Can you spare a little prayer time? I hope so. You never know, someone might be praying for you!

Marty

Even A Little Light Changes The Darkness 10/5/2023

 Good Morning,

A cup of Door County Highlander Grog Coffee sits next to me and our two dogs are on my feet. It is time to write. 

Psalm 18:28 You, Lord keep my lamp burning; My God turns my darkness into light. 

This coming Saturday I will be going out in the early hours to duck hunt. I will be going with one of my nephews and a good friend. I will be hunting in a spot that I have never hunted before. So this means the landscape will not be familiar to me. From what the two boys have told me is that it requires a short walk to the water and a little rowing of a boat. 

My goal is to take as little gear as possible and to wear a good head lamp to help me find my way without stumbling. Tomorrow morning I will be checking my gear twice and making sure my head lamp has sufficient power stored in the batteries. It is supposed to be cloudy Saturday morning so the moon will not illuminate my path way. I am looking forward to a great time.

My point for today is this. I could try and make it without any light, but that would be a foolish stunt on my part. Any light is better than no light. Even the smallest of lights changes the darkness to light. The more light I bring with me, the more my trail will be clear. 

Many people are wandering through life and maybe right now there seems to be only darkness around your heart, soul, and mind. If this is the case, maybe it is time to reach out for the light of God who can change the darkness of any heart and soul. He brings light to the scene of your life. He restores music to your soul. Once that pathway of your life has God showing you the way, the days begin to be brighter and more purposeful. The more light you have while in the darkness leads you to stay within the glow of the light. Your desire to go back to the depths of darkness diminish. 

So my friends, if this is you and your story, quit wandering from your own solutions and follow God. I might have been able to navigate a swamp years ago without a lamp. But I am smarter and wiser now.

Bring some God Light into your life and follow closely.

Marty

Better Than A Guard Dog. 10/4/2023

 Good Morning,

I am drinking a small cup of Door County Highlander Grog Coffee and I am looking forward to getting this day started.

Now days it seems as if we have more security equipment on our cars, homes, computers, and bank accounts than ever before. More people have guns than ever before. I recall a day way back in time when I purchased a gun for hunting, never did I think about it as home protection. But times have changed and now I look at it as part of our security system. We also have two dogs who might bark at intruders, but that's about it. 

We forget that we have a God who never sleeps and we should look to Him for security and protection. 

Psalm 121. I lift up my eyes to the mountains- where does my help come from? 2. My help comes from the Lord the maker of heaven and earth. 3.He will not let your foot slip- He who watches over you will not slumber.

God never sleeps and is faithful to watch over us. That should help us to sleep better!!!

Marty

Words Of Life 10/3/2023

 Good Morning,

I am abstaining from coffee today as part of a little experiment to see if not drinking coffee will help my surgically repaired mouth to heal. I will let you know tomorrow. 

Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those that love it will eat its fruit. 

If I were to paraphrase this passage it would go something like this. The tongue or your speech, can bring life or death, those who love to talk will reap it's consequences. 

Let's examine some impact and consequences of your tongue. remember you are known for what you say.

1. Talk mean you get meanness in return. 

2. Talk down to people and people will talk down to you.

3. Talk foolishly and no one will take you seriously. 

4. Spread lies with your mouth and people will lie about you. 

5. Cause division with your mouth and there will be division  in your home.

6. Speak your mind and it might prove you are mindless.

The choice you make with your tongue can kill relationships, reputations, and trust. The right words bring life to yourself and others. Choose to bring life today and don't kill others with your mouth. Be careful not to commit verbal suicide for yourself.

Food for thought.

Marty

Strong Enough To Bend 10/2/2023

 Good Morning,

I just came in from outside. Both of our dogs are already back to sleep and for me it is time to write. 

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 

I am putting my thoughts together for a wedding that is coming up this Friday. One thing I hope to cover in my message to the bride ad groom is that they should grow their relationship so that they are strong enough to bend. 

My thought on marriage is that it is a constant battle of wills if the couple allows it to be. My hope for this couple is that as each day goes by they lose more of themselves and our desire to be first in all things. I pray that they grow in love for each other so that they individually are strong enough to bend. My advice is for them to put each other first and that will require the bending of their own desires at times. Bending is not weakness. It is actually strength and can only be done when your love for another is so great that you sacrifice your desires for the other person without keeping score.

Food for thought on the Monday morning.

Marty

Husbands Love Your Wives 10/1/2023

 Good Morning,

I have a warm cup of Door County Maple Coffee with me at my desk. It is time to write. 

I have been battling some pain from a surgery on my mouth and I look forward to seeing my doctor tomorrow.  Our grass needed to be mowed and yesterday I was going to hop on the tractor and get it done. That's when my wife Rene stopped me and said "No way! You don't need to be bouncing around on the lawn irritating your mouth." And she proceeded to cut the grass. 

Ephesians 5: Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. 

I knew she was right yet I did not want to give into the pain. As she was driving around the yard I was thinking about how blessed I am to have not only a wife, but a true partner. A partner who takes ownership in all we do and more. 

Fellas, if you are married, one way to say thank you is too make sure your wife knows that you love her. Say it often. Express your thanks for having her say yes to your proposal. Know the little things that make her smile and do those things. Most of all pray for her and ask God to bless her in ways that you can't. Make sure she feels secure in your marriage and she is safe with you around. 

God bless,

Marty