Respect For Life 9/17/2024

 Good Morning,

Today finds me in deep thought and with that deep thinking I have a hot cup of Door County Maple Coffee to soothe my body with warmth. 

Psalm 139:13-17 NKJV  13. For You formed my inward parts. You covered me in my mothers womb. 14.  I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. 15. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16.Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they are were written. The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. 17. How precious are your thoughts to me O God. How great is the sum of them.

I bet some of you are looking to see if this blog will travel down the road of murder, or abortion. It easily could go in those two directions, but not today. 

I want to talk about my life and yours for a minute. We all have only one life to live and God knows when it will end. We should respect our lives and use them to the fullest for good and for others. The trickle down effect of a life cut short by not trying to take care of ourselves is more than we think.

You will be missed by your family and photos don't make the best memories. Your friends will miss you. You might be hard to replace in the work and professional arena. You don't know what you will never accomplish by leaving early. Some might wonder what they did to make you want to leave this world early. They might live with unjust guilt all of their lives. 

My point today is this. All life is sacred and precious. You need to consider the impact that not respecting your own life will have on others. Suicide is never the answer. You were wonderfully made and to stop what God intended you to be is not respecting yourself. 

You are valuable to others and that trickle down impact of a life ended early lasts a long, hurtful time.

Marty

Attempted Assassination 9/16/2024

 Good Morning,

I awoke to the sound of my pot of Door County Old Fashioned Coffee brewing in the kitchen. This is a good start to the morning.

Yesterday in America another attempt at taking the life of one of our presidential candidates took place in Florida. Despite whatever party you are favoring this attempted killing should upset you. When someone interferes with the election they are interfering with "My election." I did not like the interference with the last inauguration either. The last inauguration and this election are no one's to interfere with.

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

I for one will be praying for this election and I will pray for the safety of the candidates in both parties. We owe it to ourselves to pray for a safe election and  that our ability to vote is not tampered with. 

Food for thought. 

Marty

Good Fruit Is Sacrificial 9/15/2024

 Good Morning,

I am starting my day with a hot cup of Door County Autumn Spice Coffee. I am in a hurry again, so my second cup will be consumed in my truck.

Today is our church picnic, and it is open to the public. My role today is to roast corn. I will be serving with the Men's Ministry Team who will also be grilling burgers and hot dogs. This is a great team to work with.  They totally understand the "Fruits Of The Spirit"

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

I won't examine all the fruit of the Spirt today. But I will focus on one of them that sets the stage for the others. Each one of the men and women I will work with today loves Jesus Christ. They understand that He died for their sins and his love for us is the ultimate sacrifice. Our love for Him leads us to serve others and we should by example always have a mind of sacrificial love. A lot of people will sacrifice their time so others can enjoy a good time at the picnic. They exhibit the fruits and in that they are filled with love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness and faithfulness.

Parents are a great example of sacrificial love as well. They spend long hours at work to support the family. They often go without to make sure their children have new shoes and clothing. They practice sacrificial love. Folks will thank those who worked at the picnic today. That is a very nice gesture. But the blessings of serving those folks are too numerous to list. 

Have a great day. Pick some "fruit" today and share it with others. 

Marty

The Time Is Never Wasted . 9/14/2024

 Good Morning, 

This day began with a hot cup of Door County Caramel Apple Coffee and some prayer. Daylight is approaching slowly. We are told that the haze we are in is caused from fires on our West coast. 

John 3:16 NIV For God so loved the world  that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. 

I spent some time yesterday baking some bread rolls. They are the same version of what my mother used to make. They go well with some butter after they are warmed up for about 20 seconds in the microwave. 

My point for the day is this. Sometimes we all need to take a trip to a happy place. My trip took me to our kitchen and soon after arriving to my destination the memories flooded my mind. Hours later when I started baking the rolls, my mind trip took me to my mother's kitchen. Those rolls were always there to welcome you after our 5 hour drive to visit our parents. I can't even take a guess as to how many of those huge rolls we consumed as a family. 

Taking time to treat yourself well is never wasted. You are important to others and it is good for you to take a mind trip to happy days gone by. You are precious to God. Yesterday when the rolls came out of the oven, my wife Rene was there with a knife and the butter. Her smile was worth the effort. 

Make time to take a trip today and close out all the worries and troubles by treating yourself and others well. 

Marty

Amazing Night Amazing Memories 9/13/2024

 Good Morning,

It is a beautiful morning and that always makes for the start of a great day. I will help this day get started with a cup of Door County Caramel Apple Coffee. It is one of my favorite flavors. 

Proverbs 15:13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face. 

Last night I was able to attend a retirement celebration for a friend who I worked with for twelve years until my career path took me on a different path. I was very happy when I heard of her retirement and that they remembered to invite me to the celebration. The event was well attended and of course there were so many people that I saw for the first time since 2014, it was hard to leave. 

On the ride home my mind once again took me back to my interactions with the members of the "old gang". We worked hard and we enjoyed the job. We accomplished a lot together. There were updates on some who weren't there and they were missed.  I have heard and used the expression "It's not the job that keeps me here, it is the people." Never was there a more true statement. As I was making my way home, I recalled that I really never complained about going to work back then. I was paid well for what I did and I enjoyed the challenges. But most of all it was the people I worked who made it easy to go to work. As a sit at the desk this morning I am smiling upon the 12 years I spent with those friends and team mates. 

My prayer for all of you is to enjoy the folks you work with. Be a person who brings a smile to faces when  you interact with them.  Some day, things will change and before you know it the days are just memories. For me, they are sweet memories. Those team members still have me smiling. 

God bless,

Marty

Thank You For Your Prayers 9/12/2024

 Good Morning,

The sun is shining on our part of the world today. I just poured a hot cup of Door County Bourbon Pecan Pie Coffee and I am ready to write. 

Yesterday I announced that my wife Rene was having some surgery to her right eye. Her retina needed some repairs. I want to thank everyone near and far for their prayers and concern. I am happy to say that the surgery went well. There is a follow up appointment with the surgeon today. Rene will be restricted from any strenuous activities for three weeks. There is a protective gas bubble in her eye that also needs to dissolve. We were told that the bubble may take several days to leave. 

Mark 6;31 ESV And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a desolate and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 

Here is what I observed yesterday. The care at the medical center was exceptionally great. I was informed of what was going on every step of the way. Rene had a little trouble coming out of the anesthesia, and some additional medication was needed. The staff made that happen in an instant. 

We came home and here is my next observation. Rene is the one who is used to helping others. She is not the greatest at accepting help. She was mobile and needed little to no help with anything. She started to be a little too mobile and finally accepted the fact that I was going to ask her a hundred times how she was doing and if she needed anything.  Both dogs were afraid of her with that eye patch and they avoided her like the plague until I let her feed them. Then things were back to normal. 

I give God the glory for the way He orchestrated her care from start to finish. It might be difficult keeping this quiet but hard charger down for three weeks. She is already complaining about how she can't help with the corn roast at church this Sunday.  Smoke from the roasting corn and burgers cooking is a definite no no. She has to sit this one out. It is time to rest.

God bless,

Marty

Short Version Today. 9/11/2024

 Good Morning, 

I am short on time today and my Door County Cherry Creme Coffee will be consumed on the run. 

In a few minutes I will be taking my wife Rene to the hospital for some repairs on her retina. This was planned and is not an emergency. We were told that this could be an easy repair with only a few days of  downtime or it could end up being more extensive and require more downtime and rest. 

She was prayed for at our church and anointed a couple weeks ago and there are a whole lot of friends and family who are praying for her today. We truly believe in the power of prayer. 

James 5:13-16 NKJV Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call on the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he as committed  sins, he will be forgiven. 16. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 

God bless,

Marty

The Handwriting On The Wall 9/10/2024

 Good Morning,

I have a hot cup of Door County Inn Keepers Blend Coffee at my side and two sleeping Springer Spaniels behind me. It is time to write. 

Matthew 4:4 But He answered, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Tonight will be the last night of a Bible study our Men's group from church started several months ago. I will be leading the session for the finale. We have been studying the Book of Daniel and using a study guide by Dr. David Jeremiah, "The Handwriting On The Wall" . We took a good hard look at the prophesies of Daniel and I was quite impressed with the study. 

Next week we will embark on a study of heaven and all you want to know. I figure that we will be finished with this one by Christmas. 

When we complete the study material for the evening, we sit and bring forth prayer requests from the men. We then pray for the requests and we chat for a little bit and go home. The prayer requests stay confidential and what is said in the study room stays in that room Now and then we have some form of pot luck dinner with our study.

My point for the day is this. This group of men dive pretty deep into the study of the Bible on a weekly basis. Knowledge is shared by one another and questions are answered by further study. This weekly gathering is not just to obtain knowledge but also apply what we have learned to our personal lives. They are a generous group and not afraid of some work. This coming Sunday these same studious fellas will be roasting corn and cooking the meat for our annual church picnic. 

If you are not partaking of an organized Bible study I recommend you do so. The benefits outweigh the hassle of travel and interrupting an evening for an hour and a half. 

Food for thought. 

Marty

Starting The Week With Success 9/9/2024

 Good Morning, 

I left home early today so I could help out a relative who needed to get to the airport for work. Later I plan on hunting a little. So my cup of Door County Maple Coffee will have to wait for a little bit. 

If you are married there is a good way to start the week with a success. Here we go.

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 

Certain things that come along each day could be common to a couple, but the blow or strife might impact the husband/dad differently than the wife/mom. What might be a crisis to one, isn't to the other. It's important to remember that point. Your partner might be hurting emotionally more than you in certain circumstances. 

If we would all acknowledge the fact that we handle things differently, we can easily make room in our hearts to show compassion and forgive without expecting anything in return. 

Couples, head for a victory lap on Friday if you have fostered the idea of handling stressful situations or hurt with compassion and forgiveness all week. 

Have a great day! 

Marty 

Just A Little Hunting Today 9/8/2024

 Good Morning,

I am enjoying a hot cup of Door County Pumpkin Spice Coffee. I sure do enjoy this cool weather we are having. Coffee and cool weather are like toast and jelly. They go together and are a compliment to each other.

In a few minutes I will be jumping into my truck and driving to meet a few friends for a dove hunt. My equipment was packed yesterday. All I need to do is pour some coffee into an insulated bottle, grab my shot gun and dog and I will be there right on time. 

I emphasize being on time. There are times when things happen that might cause a person to be late for an appointment. Then, there are those who are habitually late for every thing. Those who are on time and ready to go have a decision to make. Do you wait for Mr. Or Miss Tardy? Or do you go ahead and start without them? The on time folks endure the choice they need to make just because someone is always late. I am a forgiving type of guy, and I will say again. Things happen and it could cause you to be late. But to be late the greater portion of the time is rude and does not embolden your life resume. 

James 4:17 ESV So whoever knows the right thing to do and does not do it, for him it is sin.

Food for thought!

Marty

A Breakfast Blessing For Saturday 9/7/2024

 Good Morning,

I chose to wake up and smell the Door County Maple Coffee brewing in the kitchen. Everything was on automatic today. 

Isaiah 57:15 ESV For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite."

I am looking at a plate of biscuits and gravy for breakfast and a banana. When I see the feast before me I can't help but be grateful and subdued at the same time. I am blessed to have shelter, food, means, safety, family, and friends. 

Lord, I want to thank for loving me to the point of sending your Son to die for me on the cross. You have blessed me in so many ways. The sun and the stars are there to remind me of your power. The song of the birds remind me of your beauty and majesty. The wet dew on the plants reminds me as to how I am covered with safety. Thank you for this breakfast and for the one who will share it with me. 

You are an awesome God. 

Marty

A Thought For A Friday. Mug Shot? Or A Graduation Picture? 9/6/2024

 Good Morning,

This day began with my morning trek upstairs to the den with a hot cup of Door County Maple Coffee in my hand. After some thought and prayer I am ready to write. 

Friday arrived right on time and I just have a simple thought to share today. School has started for most all children by now. I am sad to say that in Georgia some more families are mourning the loss of their loved ones to a shooting that took place in a school. My thoughts and my prayers are with those folks suffering that loss. As a matter of fact, my heart hurts for them. 

Exodus 20:13 NKJV Thou shall not kill. 

I am the owner of a few guns and they are locked up in a vault. Most of them also are locked through the trigger as well. Locks are the second step in gun safety. The bond between a parent and their child is the first step. Know you child. Be so close to your child that they can tell you if they are troubled or hurting. When in doubt check their room now and then for signs of  despair or anger. Browse the web sites that are frequenting. Check the back packs for weapons. I know I am advocating for violating their privacy. But let's get old school here. It's your home and you pay the rent or mortgage. You have every right to be in their face and in their stuff.  

As a teen my car was my refuge but my dad had a set of keys to the old Ford. Much to my surprise one morning I was awakened by my dad rolling me right out of my bed. I was facing seven kinds of hell as he was holding two bottles of Annie Green Springs wine and a six pack of Blatz beer. They were stored in my trunk and hidden away for wining and dining some gals I knew. 

The lecture was short but hot, the punishment was the loss of my car for three weeks. I was a teenager without wheels. I was back to taking the bus to school. I then had to pay for my own insurance plan. Of course I thought my life was ruined. But my car never killed anyone. 

Dad had every right to inspect my car. I claimed every constitutional right I could think of, but that only resulted in another threat which included some more walking in my life. Sometimes to love a child there is a time to lay down the law. If you are a parent, you are the responsible party for the actions of your child. You are responsible for the violent videos they play on. You are responsible for the condition of their heart and minds. Know your child inside and out before some prison doctor has a lifetime to try and figure out where Junior went wrong. Oh no here's a thought, grace the inside of a church and then  make Junior go. No kid living in your home should have a choice to stay home or tell you where they will attend. Old school yes. Old fashioned yes. I knew where our hunting guns were stored and I knew the consequences of handling them outside of hunting. I never had access to the ammunition until I was eighteen and out of the house.  Taking away all guns is not the answer. You cannot take away all the cars, and the booze either. Prohibition never worked and was a very violent time period. 

Teach responsibility and consequences for actions. Love your children enough to protect them from themselves. Give them a surprise visit now and then just to talk and be nosey. 

God bless,

Marty

God Expects Us To Be Useful 9/5/2024

 Good Morning,

This morning has caught me off guard a little bit. The coffee had not brewed automatically because someone forgot to turn the timer on. The Door County Sunrise Roast still tastes good, it just wasn't on time.

I stand on and believe in creation vs any other idea of how the world was made and populated. Although there have been times that I could swear in evolution. I have interacted with a few people who I believe may have evolved from swamp goo and left their brain in the muck. 

That was kind of mean to say but when I get my coffee too late, I am not exceptionally approachable. 

When we see just how intricate the human body is we can't help but know that God created us and we are a wonder of the world. My wife Rene, collects old antique dishes and they sit on a shelf, just looking pretty. As long as she is alive those dishes will never be used to eat from or hold any coffee. 

That is not the same with humanity. We are not created to be shelf sitters. Each person has different gifts and we are to use those gifts in a way that benefits us and those around us. 

Isaiah 64:8 NIV Yet you Lord, are our father. We are the clay and you are the potter, we all are the work of your hand. 

1 Peter 4:10 ESV As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace. 

So friends, be useful for the good of others. Let your life bear witness to Who made you. 

Marty

A Tolerant Wife. I Am Blessed 9/4/2024

 Good Morning,

I have a very large mug of Door County Sunrise Roast Coffee next to me and it is warming me up this morning. 

Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife, finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. 

Proverbs 19:14 Houses and wealth are inherited form parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

When God created my wife Rene He knew that she would need to have extra patience and to be very tolerant of her future husband and his daily grind. I am very set in my ways and can take a spotless kitchen and turn it into a disaster area in a few short minutes. I do most all of the cooking and at times I can have three different projects going on in the kitchen at the same time. Our deal that was set in stone a thousand years ago is that if I do the cooking, Rene cleans the kitchen. Now, I do try to keep the kitchen somewhat cleaned as I go, but once this whirlwind gets going, look out here comes mayhem. 

Not once has Rene complained about having to clean up. She likes the results that come from the kitchen and likes the aroma of "what's for supper". She has made a few suggestions throughout the years as to improve my process and in times of mass production she has manned the oven removing 300 biscuits from the oven once they were baked and golden brown. 

When she found out that I had volunteered to provide the 300 biscuits for a church breakfast there was a subdued smile and "maybe I should purchase two more cookie sheets to bake them on" comment. But  not one complaint. She was right there when a biscuit or two needed to be sampled with a slab of butter on it. Rene has always been there to be my taste tester! 

My point for the day is this and it is for the guys. Despite what we think of ourselves we are not perfect. There are flaws in all of us. And if you have a wife who can be tolerant of all of your schemes and dreams, you are blessed. Also, listen for hints. These hints are clues to happiness. I have been drying apples for a couple of days and yesterday Rene said to me. "I will bet that some of those apples would make some great pie." That comment threw me a pitch that even this old goof could hit. Tonight I will be baking a pie for my clean up crew and all will be well in the house. The clue is to listen and take the hint and make it happen. 

Have a great day and guys be grateful and take a hint. 

Marty

Apples In A Box 9/3/2024

 Good Morning,

September is here and that means I will be drinking some of the Door County Coffee Company fall flavors. Today my cup is filled with Autumn Spice. 

Proverbs 11:25 ESV Whoever brings blessing will be enriched and one who waters will himself be watered. 

Yesterday we celebrated my wife's side of the family with our annual family picnic. Some could not join us this year and they were missed. Since I do the cooking for Rene and I and the picnic is held at our home, the family is subject to my type of food. The smoker was started the day before and pork loin was heavily smoked. Then the morning of, at 3am I started smoking a turkey. The side dishes were the easiest to do and a lot of what we served contained tomatoes, and such from our garden. 

Our neighbor Donna and us as well, have plenty of apples to pick and process in the next few days. Rene's brother went in back to our apple trees and picked up a bunch of apples that had fallen from our trees. He uses them to feed the deer at his home. It seems like just yesterday the trees were laden with spring blossoms. Time just seems to fly. 

My first point for the day is this. Nothing at all ever goes to waste with that family. Everything gets used to the fullest. They can find a use for everything including water melon rinds turned into pickles. 

The second lesson for today after not wasting anything is to share. Once again these old apple trees produced a large amount of apples. Donna, Rene and I have begun picking and sharing the apples. God has been good to us again. I will start once again drying apple rings to munch on as I duck hunt. I will dry enough to send to our daughter in Georgia. Friends, blessings are meant to be shared. 

So as God blesses you, bless others as well.

Marty

September Crept Up On Me 9/2/2024

 Good Morning,

A hot cup of Door County Cherry Creme Coffee is sitting next to me and I plan on enjoying it right to the last drop. 

Last June I fully retired from work. For some reason I thought time would pass by slower. I was so wrong that it is not funny. I look at my calendar and I don't see a lot of days with nothing to do. In all that busyness, some how September arrived and I am not really ready for it. As I look ahead into the whole month I see many many calendar entries already and the month just began. 

In America today we are on Holiday, celebrating the worker. This is Labor Day. As I look back, I entered the work force when I was in 7th grade. By 8th grade I had gotten into some trouble and now had to pay for my mistakes. I was already in debt and hadn't reached high school. I worked hard to pay that off and I am proud to say that the hard work had me out of debt by September 1st that same year. 

I have never regretted going to work. I have many fond memories of the people I have worked with and worked for. Many of the people I worked with helped to shape me morally and keep me regimented, In good times and bad times I always had work of some kind to keep us afloat and living comfortably. 

So my thought for the day is this. I am grateful for the "worker" no matter their skill set or vocation. Without many of them life wouldn't be so nice for me and you. So as you interface with someone who is performing a service for pay, be kind and appreciate the fact that they are doing something for your benefit. Say thank you and remember to salute yourself for the hours you have worked. 

God bless. 

Marty

Even The Best Have A Bad Day Now And Then 9/1/2024

 Good Morning,

I am headed out very early once again to be with our youngest dog Leo and participate in a sanctioned hunt test. My coffee today is Door County Maple and it will be my co pilot for our trek. 

Yesterday Leo ran in day one of a two day event. His first day ended in a failure in the first event. He was done for the day. The weather was hot and the fields were laden with pollen. It was a tough day for any dog, My hat is off to those who successfully completed the first event. 

Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. 

Leo gave it everything he had. He normally is tops in the field and has never experienced failure in any event until yesterday. I was shocked when I knew he was not going to complete the tasks in the first event. When he was called in from the field, we cooled him down in the water. As long as I live I will never forget the look on his face when he was soaking in a tub of cool water. He was looking for me to say something. He knew he was not successful and I felt terrible for him. I walked him back to the parking area and his head was down and I just started speaking to him in happy tones. This reassured him that I was proud of the all out effort he gave and that I was still proud of him.

Point for the day. We all have a bad day now and then. Things go wrong despite our best efforts. Maybe a spouse loses a job even thought he or she works very hard. Maybe a child does not make the cut for the football team or cheer leading squad. As long as they gave it their best effort, you are in a place to become their support through this rough time. How will you perform in bringing them back from depression or embarrassment? 

Food for thought!

Marty