Applying What You Learn 9/30/2025

 Good Morning,

I started this day with prayer and thanksgiving for another day to walk in this world. I just poured a hot cup of Door County Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Coffee and it  time to write. 

Philippians 3:10 NKJV That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.

Tonight our Men's Ministry Group at our church will start a new Bible Study, The study should last about three to four months. We are studying "Experiencing The Resurrection" written by Henry and Melvin Blackaby. The book is 212 pages long and filled with material regarding the resurrection of Jesus Christ. My goal for choosing this study for the men is to have them store up the knowledge they will learn. But more importantly take that knowledge and apply it to their lives and use it to enhance their walk with the Lord and with others. 

Knowledge stored and never applied is basically useless and not much good for anything. We are only on this earth for an appointed time. We only have so long to learn about God and then apply it. What life will be like in heaven with God will be more than wonderful. Yet we pass up seeing Him at work in our lives and the lives of others while we are on Earth.

Point for the day. Stored knowledge left unused is a great waste of a life. Don't waste what you have learned. Share it and most of all put it to use. 

There is nothing like studying about God with a good group of men. Consider joining a Bible study. You will never regret it.  

God bless, 

Marty

My Cup Runs Over 9/29/2025

 Good Morning,

I just sat down to write. My cup is filled with hot Door County Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Coffee so Monday here I come. 

Psalm 23:5-6 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil, my cups runs over. 6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 

My wife Rene and I had a great three days relaxing and celebrating our wedding anniversary in Door County Wisconsin. The weather was perfect for three days straight and if I were to complain about anything it would be a sin.

While driving home yesterday it was pretty quiet in the car and I began to recall the weekend and the many things we did and the people we encountered as we picked apples and shared a slice of cherry pie while sitting on the back bumper of Rene's car. 

This year has had many twists, turns, bumps and and illnesses to contend with. But at each turn  in the road we new that God was with us and that despite the challenges He saw us through. For the first time ever we had to purchase apples. Our trees heavy laden with blossoms in the spring failed to produce even one edible apple. Some major pruning will occur in a couple of months. In the meantime we picked apples together at a farm. We were warm and happy. 

I looked over for a second at my wife who was sound asleep in the passenger seat and said a small prayer of thanks. We have food, shelter, family and friends. We have each other and we have our God to guide us, carry us, correct us, protect us, comfort us, love us and bless us in ways that are too wonderful to comprehend. 

Friends, it is good now and then to reflect in the silence of the day and look up and say thank you despite how it might look at the time. Thank God for the silence as well. Acknowledge all of His blessings and presence.

Have a great day,

Marty

A Hat For All Times 9/28/2025

 Good Morning,

A little Door County Maple Coffee extra hot is kicking off my day.

My wife and I are practical in our approach to life. Very seldom do we purchase gifts for each other that won't be used. 

The hat pictured above was a gift from Rene for our anniversary. I do need another blaze orange hunting hat. In addition to knowing that I needed another cap she knows what is written on my camo hat. So she added that same passage to my new hat. 

So my point for the day can be used by married couples, good friends and children. Be observant! Listen and watch for hints that shows you are attentive and you think about those other folks who are important to you. Nothing says love like attentiveness and then acting on it.

Ephesians 4:32 ESV Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Have a great day!

Marty

Thank You My Lady 9/27/2025

 Good Morning,

As I sit in our hotel room this morning I have at my side a hot cup of Door County Blueberry Cobbler Coffee.

We are actually in Door County for the weekend. My wife Rene and I are celebrating our anniversary. According to the woman who tracks everything, we have been married for over 1000 years.  It takes a team effort for us to be able to travel. We are grateful for my brother who house sits and keeps our two dogs in line. Our neighbor helps when my brother is running late. They are both true blessings. 

James 1:17 NKJV Every good gift and any perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is variation or shadow of turning.

Psalm 84'11 NKJV For the Lord is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory;. No good thing will he withhold from those that walk uprightly. 

We met at work and Rene who isn't talkative would smile and exchange greetings with me and that was about it. I started work at the hospital in 1983 and a friendship eventually developed. I invited my friend to help me chaperone a canoe outing with 75 teenagers in 1984. Rene agreed and that night after getting all the teens home, she agreed to a late night pizza. I asked if she would consider an actual date and hoping that I wouldn't hear "No thank you". The rest is history. We were married in 1986. God has blessed our little family of three and if I had to do it all over again, I would have asked her out on a date sooner. 

My point for the day is this. My wife is a gift given to this old guy and I need to acknowledge God and give thanks for the blessing to be able to call her my wife. She is the butter on my biscuit.

Have a great day. God bless. 

Marty

Last Tool In The Box. 9/26/2025

 Good Morning, 

I will be traveling with a hot cup of Door County Maple Coffee as my wife and I drive to Door County. We will be celebrating our anniversary this weekend,

What a blessing I received yesterday!!! My phone rang as I was pulling into the driveway with a load of groceries. I didn't recognize the number and the caller ID was blank. The voice was somewhat familiar but I drew a blank until the caller said. "Hey Marty this is Hank!" I knew right then who it was and my heart felt good. Hank was a fella that I went to high school with and somehow we just lost touch with each other. Another buddy of ours got us in touch with each other after 50 years. We talked for about 30 minutes about our families, jobs, buddies, and girls we used to know. It was like old times. Except now, we have a greater common denominator, we both follow Christ. I asked Hank if back in the day if he ever thought we would be on the phone someday talking about spiritual things. We both cracked up with that one.  That alone is a miracle.

I will get to the lesson for today. I always feel it is good for us to share blessings when we receive them.

today is the last day on tools for your spiritual tool box.  

Fellas and ladies. Everyone should have this last tool.  It is in fact  an accountability partner. Someone who knows you well. Someone who isn't intimidated by you. Someone who will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. Someone who will pray with you and for you. Someone who also walks with the Lord. 

Proverbs 27:17 NLKV As iron sharpens iron so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. 

James 5:16 NKJV Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed . The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 

It would be good if you both could get together weekly in person or on the phone. Weaknesses should be shared and then accounted for in those meetings. 

Have a great day my friends. You are loved ! Get an accountability partner! You don't want to end up in one of my sermons. 

Marty

Important Tool For Your Box 9/25/2025

 Good Morning,

I am enjoying a hot cup of Door County Maple Coffee and it is much needed this morning. 

Yesterday we discussed the importance of having Scripture in your spiritual tool box, to fight off temptation and attacks from Satan.

Today, another tool I want to mention, is the need to have a steady prayer life in the tool box. 

Psalm 145:18 NKJV The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.

Jeremiah 29:12 NKJV Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me. And i will listen to you.

Prayer is our God given right to call upon God on behalf of ourselves and for others. It is communication with God the Father, through His Son. Miracles come in moments spent in prayer. 

Tomorrow we will look at my thoughts on the last tool in your box.

God Bless,

Marty

Tools For Your Walk 9/24/2025

 Good Morning,

There is still time for this writing to be considered morning. I will not be drinking any coffee for awhile due to some medical testing that needs to be completed yet today. I think I will be stopping for a hot cup later this afternoon.

Last night at our Mens Bible Study it was mentioned that there are tools for keeping our walk with the Lord sharp and on point. We all agreed that the most important tool in your box is a healthy diet from the Word of God. There are 66 books in the Bible and I believe in every word that is held within those books. 

Not only are they there for instruction, advice, and reproof but they are the number one way that God uses to speaks to us. 

In our box of tools the Bible is also there as a first aid kit that we can use to help mend broken hearts, ours, and the hearts of others. Every good tool kit always has something that is there to mend wounds after an accident, or an attack. A good way to keep the your tool box clean is to memorize passages of Scripture to help keep you on the right path.

Psalm 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart , That I might not sin against You. 

You are never too old to memorize a passage or two to help you in your walk. Your mind becomes a quick access to your tools. Tomorrow I will write about some other tools that are Spiritual and useful in keeping your walk with God on track.

Marty

The Gift Of The Trees 9/23/2025

 Good Morning, 

I just sat down at my desk with a hot cup of Door County Spiced Apple Pie Coffee and it is time to write.

Job 14:7NKJV "For there is hope for a tree, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that it's tender shoot will not cease. 

Psalm19:1 NKJV The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Back in 1993-1994 my wife and I started building our house. We had waited for the right time to start the process after purchasing the land. 

There is always some fine print that you forget about during the building process or just takes you by surprise. 

We were on a tight budget but with some of our own labor the new house was affordable. Then came a surprise. Our landscaping all died and we had to pay to reseed and add other top soil because of a blight in the first soil again. This wiped out the landscape budget. 

Upon inspection of the property after we occupied, we were reminded that a minimum of six trees were needed to call the landscaping complete.

My wife lost her job during that time to downsizing staff and we needed trees. I had enough of stretching pennies and wondering how I could get six trees within 2 weeks. It's not like you can rent them. 

So we took a trip to visit my parents in Watersmeet Michigan for the Fourth of July and some fishing. My wife, daughter and I went to get away from it all. 

As was customary we attended the 4th of July parade while we were there. The floats and walkers were all handing out candy to the kids. A truck came by sponsored by the Ottawa National Forest/J.W. Toumey Nursery/ Forest Service. They were tossing bare root saplings all wrapped nicely out from the truck/float.  I declined taking some because of their size and the fact that the trees seemed to be for the children to pick up and plant

My aunt who worked at the nursery knew about our tree dilemma and told me to grab some. "Free trees" she said". I sent our daughter out and she grabbed about ten of them that no one claimed. I still feel like we pirated trees that day. We all held on to two. 

Once we were home all the saplings were planted and then I called the inspector and he stopped by to see our trees. He asked me. "Where are your six?" I pointed to the six inch saplings and reminded him that it was to be six. No one ever said what size they needed to be. But he passed our inspection. 6 of those trees made it through the first year and are still with us.  They have grown taller and provide homes for squirrels, birds and an occasional cat. 

My aunt and my dad are long gone now, but when I walk the yard, or see the trees heavy laden with snow I see the gift of trees, blessings of relatives who helped us solve a problem, and for God blessing them to grow. Watching those little trees grow is a blessing from above. 

When I celebrate the July holiday and look at the trees, I am thankful for the memories.  I see a parade, family members, and God providing some trees. I see some peace from a National Forest in Watersmeet Michigan. 

Marty

Be Careful What You Jump Into 9/22/2025

 Good Morning,

There is a hot cup of Door County Breakfast Blend Coffee in front of me sitting on a plate. It is time to write. 

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 walk humbly with your God. 

This is very late today and I apologize for being tardy in my writing. I had other appointments to keep this morning. 

On Friday the house siding project was finished and I moved on to some other projects that need to be done before winter. The dumpster for all the scrap from the project is still parked in our driveway. It is kind of annoying that the dumpster has been filled during the construction process by people who have something to throw out and are too lazy to go to the town dump. 

As I was working in the yard about 50 feet away from the dumpster I could hear metal being pulled around from the dumpster. A fella had crawled up to the top of the dumpster to retrieve the aluminum scraps tossed out by our contractor. He had  been reaching for certain pieces and had fallen into the dumpster. Now he was caught and I guess I can look pretty mean when I want to. Then he asked me if it was ok to take the pieces he had thrown outside of the dumpster.

I explained to him that if he had asked to have the pieces first I would have helped him retrieve them safely and he could have all he wanted. But he definitely was not coming out of the dumpster without help. I grabbed a ladder and helped the scrap crook out of his predicament. He looked at the scrap on the ground and I told him to take all that he wanted, but learn to ask for permission before he does something like that again. 

I wonder what my liability would be if he had gotten hurt while dumpster diving? 

Here's the point. It is best to be honest. Seek permission when needed and do not assume anything is there for the taking. Treat others and their property like you would want to be treated. 

Have a blessed day!

Marty

The Project Is Finished 9/21/2025

 Good Morning,

There is nothing like a hot cup of Door County Maple Coffee to wake you up on a rainy damp morning.

Philippians 1:3-6 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. 4. Always in every prayer of mine making request for you will all joy, 5. for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6. being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.  

On June 3rd we experienced a wind, hail and rain storm that caused damage to our home. The first battle after making some temporary repairs to the house was to contact our insurance company who basically was not easy to work with and the process was so bad that soon they will be losing our business, home, autos and a boat. I will not slam them by name on this public forum but contact me and I will give you all the details as to how bad they were to deal with after thirty years of paying them without any claims.

The house ended up needing to replace the entire siding, gutters and facia. The team we settled on did a nice job and except for a couple minor items that are mine to finish, the project is complete. 

Have you ever thought of yourself as a project? God created us, gave us an amount of unknown days to make our mark on this world and then one day it is over. But during our lifetime God  is continually refining us and molding us  to be the person He created. He never stops working on His projects which are me and you. 

Many times he has to deal with our stubborn and disobedient attitudes and ill wills. A lot like a poor insurance company who is just hard to work with. God never stops working on us and for us.

At some point though we will check out from this world and the results will be heavenly of hellish. Our house had no choices in what was to be a full color change and some modifications. Unlike us who can choose the road in eternity that we will travel. 

Choosing Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior is a fool proof insurance policy for eternity. Rejecting Him is making a deal with the devil to represent you and I for eternity in hell. 

Basically we choose the outcome, but God never quits until the day we die.

Food for thought. it's your choice. 

Marty

Negotiating The Color Charts. 9/20/2025

 Good Morning.

Let's s get this day started with gusto and I for one will raise my mug filled with Door County Maple  Coffee and salute another day. 

Ephesians 5:25 NKJV Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her. 

My wife and I have been married for 1000 years and in that span of life you can't help but to learn a few things. Building our home taught us the meaning of compromise. 

There are so many other worthy ditches to die in. What the color of the curtains are isn't worth the argument.

1. If I had my way we would be in a  single story ranch style home. We are in a two story home with too many windows. 

2. If I had my way our laundry room would be on the first floor, not in the basement, and be much easier on my wife as she grows older. 

3. We chose for the home to be the same color throughout when it was built. If I had my way it would have stayed that way. After living with accent colors for several years, it is time to repaint. Oh, the off white walls allow you to decorate with many colors of furniture. Accent walls limit your choices. Just saying!

4. If I had my way, we would celebrate Christmas for a week. The tree would go up three weeks before Christmas and come down the day after New Years. There would be less decorations which would free up most of the attic space. 

But you see  gentlemen, life is not about having it your way. Maybe a few things that let people know you live there. But women tend to judge on one another as to how they decorate the home. They are under a lot of pressure when it comes to decorating. 

And to be honest life should be one big compromise. And if I had my way I would never have to look at a paint color chart again. Because I really don't care. But in any case, it isn't worth one moment of disagreement. 

I live in a home crowded with antiques.  My wife loves antiques, I love my wife, so antiquing we Go! Guys It ain't all about you!

Happy wife. Happy Life. 

Marty

Time To Be Thankful 9/19/2025

 Good Morning,

The old mug was just filled with Door County Pumpkin Spice Coffee and it is time to write.

I just finished my morning prayer time and I need to go back and do it right. It seems as if my prayer time has many requests for just about anything, from health to wealth and not enough time saying thank you.

Psalm 136:26 NKJV Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever. 

I need to go back into prayer and not ask for anything but just to say thank you to God for all that I have, and all that He does for me. 

Yesterday I received a call from a young man that for several moths did not return my calls as well as calls from others in our circle. I had been praying for this man and his family for a long time. Yesterday he called with an apology for not calling back. He also wanted to tell me how God answered our prayers for him and his children. I am truly thankful to God, for working things out for that young man. 

I for one have so much to be thankful for. I just need to BE thankful and contrite. 

Remember to acknowledge God in all things.

Have a great day.

Marty

Bees Nests 9/18/2025

 Good Morning,

My Cup of Door County Highlander Grog Coffee is sitting in front of me and it is time to write. 

Our latest project to our home is seeing all of the siding, gutters, and trim being replaced.  

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

Many places on our home not always open to being seen from the ground were disturbed and at least 8-10 bees nests (Yellow Jackets) were disturbed and taken off of the house. Only one was active. 

My point for the day is this. The project is almost completed. And the siding is looking very good. Now we know that I will need to inspect those nest infected areas every year and blow them away with a pressure washer. What seemed to be perfectly fine was not. The one active hive could not be seen from the ground. It was hidden well. 

Not all things are harmless. What seemed not to exist, was there and ready to send some pain and sorrow to whoever encountered it.  The same problem (not necessarily bees) can be found in life. What seems to be safe and harmless, can cause a lot of anxiety, sorrow and pain. 

One small lie can, in the end can blossom into more lies to cover up for the first one. Not telling the truth in all things can be devastating when the truth becomes known. We should never lie in any situation, nor should we lie for anyone else.

Very often lies come in and we see them as good. But the harm has yet to come. Maybe when your lie is uncovered it causes a loss of a job? Just beware that there is one who wants to see you miserable trying to cover up the truth. And he will work hard to make you believe that a lie is a perfect solution to a problem. IT IS NOT! Nothing good should try to be accomplished by doing something wrong. 

Food for thought. One lie is like chicken pox.  The epidemic spreads and become worse unless exposed and treated. 

Marty

Words Are Never Just Words 9/17/2025

 Good Morning,

I just poured a hot cup of Door County Spiced Coffee and it is now time to write. 

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

Last night at our Men's Bible Study one of the fellas quoted Psalm 19:14.  The verse stuck in my head all night and into this morning. It made me realize that all my words for today should be used to build up others, or to redirect others if needed. But all should be said and done in a way that is acceptable to God. 

The words coming forth from our mouths can hurt if they are unbridled. Words are just never words. They are identifiers of what's in a mind or in a heart. 

I for one took  Psalm 19:14 to heart and used it as a prayer this morning. Because!!! This old guy can always use some help controlling my mouth. More constructive speech for me today and less potential to be hurtful is on my plate. 

Food for thought!!!!

Marty

I Am Willing To Share A Mystery 9/16/2025

 Good Morning, 

After some thought and prayer it is time to write. I have sitting in front of me a cup of Door County Coffee and it is a mystery to me as to what flavor it is. 

Proverbs 13:4 NKJV soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich. 

Proverbs 27:1 NKJV Do not boast about tomorrow!

For you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Last Mothers Day my wife Rene and I visited the Door County Coffee Company in Door County Wisconsin. I purchased some coffee beans while in the store. I loaded them into the bags provided and could not find a marker to label the bag. Rene asked me if I would like for her to ask one of the many clerks for a a marker. I replied that I did not need one. My intentions were to grind the beans in my new coffee grinder when we got home. "I can remember what's inside the bag!!!" 

Somehow the bag was stored on the pantry shelf and forgotten until this last week when I stumbled across it. Dang if I can remember what flavor is packed into that bean bag! I ground some up, hoping that I could tell what it was after I tasted some. No luck. It is some type of nut infused coffee, but that could be one of many.

So the coffee remains a great tasting mystery. 

Point for the day is this. Avoid procrastinating! We can all recall a test in school when we were a lot younger. But even at the prime time of our life we could not recall the answer to a question we had studied for. Why then would I even try that stunt I pulled at a later age? To be honest, I just wanted to move on to the next part of my day and marking a bag was slowing me down.

So if something can be done in the moment, do it! Or do it as soon as possible. Don't wait on what can be done now.

If you stop by for a hot cup of coffee, it will taste good, I just can't tell you what flavor it is! LOL!

Marty

A Monday Morning Prayer. 9/15/2025

 Good Morning,

My Monday morning coffee is Door County White Chocolate Cranberry. And it is time to write. 

This Monday has begun with my coffee and this prayer. 

" Dear God I want to thank you for having a plan for the salvation of every person. Thank you for sending Jesus to pay the atonement for our sins. 

Thank you for my family. You know all of them and their needs. I thank you for providing to them what they need, in your time, and as you see fit. I pray, Father God for their safety and health. I pray for your corrections in their lives and mine. I thank you for protecting them and guarding their health. 

Thank you Father for my friends and my church family. I thank you for blessing me with both. Please protect them each day from the evil one.  Bless them with peace today please. 

You Father God provided a wife for me. I ask that you bless her with peace, joy, and happiness from above. Thank you for her. 

I thank you for the challenges that come my way, that I might grow to rely on you more. 

Thank you for my bowl of Cheerios and the coffee next to me. And that I have enough food to be able to share with others.

Thank you for your love.

Marty

Turned Around And There She Was 9/14/2025

 Good Morning,

I am going to be traveling soon with  an insulated bottle full of Door County White Chocolate Cranberry Coffee and it is time to write. 

Proverbs 31:12 NKJV She does him good and not evil, all the days of her life. 

Yesterday turned out to be one of those days. I was in charge of picking up a lot of sweet corn for our church picnic. Normally the project goes very well. This year, not so much. I went yesterday afternoon  to the farm we have been purchasing our corn from for a few years now. I filled my truck with the corn and went about attending the church service last night. My goal was to come home from church and fill my truck with the rest of the supplies. ( charcoal, seasonings, and other items needed to cook burgers and the corn.?) 

                                                   

I received a text message from the farmer, only to be told I had been given the wrong corn from his employees. The corn I was given was feed corn for cattle. ( Rough) So I will be on my way shortly to pick up the correct corn. I told my wife Rene to eat dinner without me and that I was going to load the truck with the charcoal and other supplies, and then load the wrong corn so as to be able to give it back and still have room for the good corn. 

We are unable to pull up to or into our garage because of home repairs being made on our house. So everything needed to be hauled from our basement storage out to the truck, parked in the street. It was getting dark and as I was loading a portion of the charcoal, I turned around. There was my wife with two bags of charcoal in her arms. Without asking for help, there she was pitching in and lifting those twenty pound bags. As I have said before, my wife is a gift from God and one special lady. 

People will eat great corn today and they will say thank you. I will look at my wife and thank her for pitching in last night.

The thought for the day is this. Don't wait to be asked to help. When one of you struggles, pitch in. Marriage is a partnership for sure. I acknowledge the fact that I married up!

Have a great day. 

Marty

Just A Storm 9/13/2025

 Good Morning,

I just poured myself a hot cup of Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee and it is time to write. 

Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God , He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. 

A little thunder and the sound of rain woke me up this morning. Nature has some great alarm clocks. At this time we are still in the process of residing our house. The rain gutters are not in place yet. Thus any rain coming off of the roof actually splashes on the concrete. As I let the dogs out to do dog business the splashing sound and lightening had the two brave hunting dogs a little wary of going outside. They went out and at the first sign of lightening they were back in the house in a hurry. 

My simple point for the day is this. Every life experiences a storm now and then. I am not speaking of a thunder storm. I am speaking about the turbulence in life that comes our way. Perhaps the loss of a job. Or a weather storm that damages your home and causes you to reside your house. The need to move causes some folks great anxiety. Just like weather storms have a beginning and an end so do the storms of life. Some storms last longer, and are more severe than others, but eventually they come to an end. 

So to get the process of dogs to pee, I put my hat on and went outside with them. At this time we don't have exterior lighting so it was pretty dark out there. But when they knew I was with them, it became business as usual. 

All of life's storms have one thing in common. We are never alone in the storms. God promises to be with us through c good or bad times. And each storm will eventually end. 

God bless,

Marty

Thoughts For A Friday In September 9/12/2025

 Good Morning,

My mug was just filled with Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee and it is time to write.

My wife Rene and I often sit down for breakfast on Friday and during that time we recap our week and talk about next week. If our marriage were a business you could call this meeting a team huddle. We go over what worked and did not work. We discuss any solutions that we could have used during any problems. We look for ways to improve what did not work. We then take a moment to celebrate any victories. We thank God for His blessings. Sounds rather industrial doesn't it? But for us it works.

Each week we conclude with prayer and the thought that despite what happened or did not happen in our lives God is still on His thrown. He watches over us. He loves us. and directs our paths each day, minute or week. 

 Psalm 103:19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven. And His kingdom rules over all. 

So for today. What worked this week for you?  What did not work? What could you have done differently? Did you take time to say thank you to God for another week? 

Food for thought!

Marty

Charlie Kirk 9/11/2025

 Good Morning,

I am sick to my stomach this morning and won't be drinking any Door County Coffee until later today or maybe not at all. Yesterday Charlie Kirk an American conservative political activist was assassinated at a Utah university. As with all senseless killing I condemn this evil act and support law enforcement as they track down the killer. 

Exodus 20:13 NKJV "You shall not murder."

More and more we see acts of violence and mass killings and I have avoided placing blame on automobiles, knives, swords, guns, or bombs. The blame sits squarely on the shoulders of society where the sacredness of life means much less than it did 60 or 70 years ago. I will boldly say that America and the world just does not appreciate and consider all life as sacred. I will rest my case on the fact that abortion is presented as "Women's Health" yet the most innocent form of life, being a human baby is all too often aborted as an act of convenience, not seen as murder.  Why then wouldn't we see others consider assassination  a means to an end?

Until we call murder, murder and treat all life as sacred, this will only get worse. You can place all the ten commandments you want back into the schools and it won't help as much as when someone places Jesus into their hearts. Then and only then will people work to save lives instead of taking them. 

Food for thought,

Marty

God Holds The Future 9/10/2025

 Good morning,

I have another busy day ahead of me. The Door County Breakfast Blend Coffee I brewed this morning will be shared with the team who is residing our house. It's always nice to share a cup of coffee with some serious Java Joes.

Psalm 3:5 NKJV I lay down and slept. I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. 

Last night I was extremely tired when I finally went to bed. It wasn't too long after putting my head on the pillow, I fell asleep for the whole night. I prayed before I laid down and my sleep was very restful. When I awoke this morning I was well rested and had a clear head, ready to face the day. 

I felt the need to acknowledge God for giving me another day that He has fashioned for me. I am totally aware that each morning is a gift from God and it is best to be used with gusto and thankfulness. I could have lapsed into some type of coma in my sleep, never to be useful again. But God has given me another day to accomplish something and maybe I might be a blessing to others. 

Don't take another day for granted. You can't store it up and use it some other time. A day has 24 hours to be used. You never get that day back, so look at your day as a gift to be used! And use it for good!

God bless,

Marty

Oiling The Hutch 9/9/2025

 Good Morning,

I am up early today anticipating the arrival of the siding crew who are making our house look new again. I am a little behind in making the Door County Highlander Grog Coffee so I will be hurrying to our kitchen as soon as I am done writing. 

Proverbs 18:2 NKJV A fool has no delight in understanding, But expressing his own heart. 

In order to have work done on the exterior of our home we also had to move or remove things mounted to the exterior walls. 

My wife is always one to make the best of time spent on doing anything that has to do with the house. She said to me, "As long  as the china hutch has to be moved a little, let's empty it and give it a good oil treatment." It does make sense to take advantage of opportunities that come along when you can improve the life of your home and possessions. 

It has been a couple of years since the hutch had been sealed and shined. The hutch displays some of Rene's antique treasures. The hutch was made for us by a craftsman who I traded work with. He and his wife received new laundry tubs installed on the first floor instead of the basement. We basically traded one skill for another. 

My point for today is this. We always should take care of our possessions and share our skills with one another. But my main point is this. As wood sometimes needs some oil or sealer, so do our relationships with our spouses. A good way to seal a relationship is to truly listen to each other. Rene wasn't demanding that the hutch be oiled, she expressed that it was good timing and hinting that she likes to take care of her dishes. 

I heard her and just knew that spending some time doing that for her would be the right thing to do and it would affirm to her that I not only heard, but could understand her reasoning. 

Folks, seal those relationships with a good ear that can be moved to action.

Have a great day.

Marty

I Want To Know More Of God 9/8/2025

 Good Morning,

I will be waiting for the repair trucks to show up today. My Door County Breakfast Blend Coffee will be shared with the siding crew, The repairs to our home were needed from storm damage in June. It's been a long wait and a little stressful.

Our Church Men's Bible Study will be starting a new book in a few weeks. The study is Experiencing The Resurrection Written by Henry and Melvin Blackaby. 

Philippians 3:8-10 NKJV Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ. 9. and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10. that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to His death.

Throughout my years in following Christ I have heard many people say that they want to know more of God. Look at what I wrote. Not "More about God" which is also a noble venture.  Wanting more of God is not just a 3 month study on Godly facts. Wanting more of God means that you desire to experience more of Him, and that means you desire to have him touch all aspects of your life.  It might require study time for sure. But it will also require you to concede your will and follow God and His will.

Just some food for thought. Do you know about God? Or do you know Him personally and through experience? Think that through and follow His lead. You have been following your own leadership long enough. 

Marty

Don't Help To Pull The Bottle Down 9/7/2025

 Good Morning,

My cup is filled with hot Door County Cherry Crème Coffee and it is time to write.

I am sure we all know of someone who has a drinking problem. We probably also know someone who has defeated that habit and is living a life of sobriety. I congratulate all who have beaten this addiction. There are many causes as to why a drinking addiction started in the first place. But it doesn't take too much for it to start all over again. 

Matthew 6;13 NKJV But do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.

 The conqueror doesn't need any help pulling the bottle off of the shelf again. If you are a friend, family member or acquaintance of a former alcoholic, be respectful of their battle. I understand that the world won't clear the pathway of  all alcohol from being available to an alcoholic. And it  shouldn't.

 Suggesting that one drink "won't hurt" is like playing with a hair trigger on a gun. If we love our friends or family we always should have a non alcohol alternative available. Never ever should we be the one to help them pull that bottle off of the shelf, with peer pressure, good, but ill intentions, or testing them.  

So that is my thought for the day. Be respectful of others weaknesses and don't be a hindrance to their success.

God bless,

Marty

Wedding Day Trip A Must 9/6/2025

 Good Morning,

I am enjoying my Saturday Morning with a hot cup of Door County Vanilla Almond Kringle Coffee and it is time to write. 

Matthew:19 4-6 NKJV   4. And He answered them. "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning' them male and female,' 5. and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father amd mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become on flesh'? 6.Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.  

Later this morning I will be making a trip to Illinois to celebrate the wedding of my friends son. The day did not turn out as planned. My wife Rene is still down and out with an illness that just keeps lingering on. We were going to attend  the wedding and reception. Then we were going to stay overnight and come home tomorrow. Instead I will head down, attend the wedding, and then drive back tonight. 

My friends would understand if I did not attend, but that's not how I roll. Rene and I missed the wedding of our niece due to illness last year. That still bugs me a lot. If someone thinks enough of you to invite you to their wedding, you should attend. 

If you are a praying person attend, with a joyful heart and pray for the couple as they start out on a new life together. Then have a reminder somewhere on your desk or electronically to pray for the couple regularly for that first year. I wish someone had done that for us. That first year of marriage was tough.

Interceding  in prayer for others never ever hurt a thing. Who knows, how many mountains were moved by doing so? 

Just a little food for thought on a beautiful day.

Marty

On This Date In 1698 9/5/2025

 Good Morning,

I am enjoying a hot cup of Door County Brandy Alexander Coffee as I begin to write. It is warming me up from the inside out.

I have had a beard for so long that I can't recall exactly when I started sporting mine full time. I was looking up information on beards just for no reason at all. 

I did find out in my journey to find useless knowledge that on September 5th 1698 Russian Tsar Peter the Great imposed a beard tax. I do believe that if I had to pay to keep my beard I probably would sharpen the straight razor and shave. A small tax could get me to change. 

My point for the day is this. Trends come, and trends go. I am sure many of you recall bell bottom pants and women who slept in curlers every night. 

One thing that isn't a trend, doesn't change, and will never be applied to a toll you have to pay is!

God and His love for us. God is the same always. 

Malachi 3:6 NKJV "For I am Lord. I do not change; Therefore you, O Children of Jacob are not consumed. 

Hebrews 13:8 NKJV Jesus Christ is the same yesterday,, today and forever. 

Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39. nor height or depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Have a great day!

Marty

 

Stuff On The Wall 9/4/2025

 Good Morning, 

Door County Chocolate Cherry Coffee has filled my cup this morning and it is time to write. 

Hebrews 3:4 NKJV For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.

Back in June we incurred damage to our home from a quick wind and hail storm. It looks like next week will finally be the start of the repairs. Part of our duty is to remove all items attached to the walls that are considered exterior walls of the house. Much "not to our surprise," we were reminded that our home looks like a museum and there is a lot of things hanging on those walls. All those items need to be taken down. My wife thought I was crazy when I started taking photos of the items hanging in their place. She laughed because I said "I will never remember where they all go."

I suggested that we lighten the items on the walls and Rene agreed that it was a good idea. "I am fine with thinning out the walls as long as it is just your stuff."

Well that approach did not work and we just conceded that we like our collections and they will stay until we both are gone. Then those precious memories will be just that, except no one will really remember how they came to hang on a wall in our home. 

What is not hung on the wall is all the love that has decorated our home and how many dinners were served and shared with others. Good times and bad times are part of the essence of this home. 

God gave us this home and we so far have used it well. I guess He was tired of the exterior siding color.

Food for thought. It's not the walls on the house, or the things hung on the walls, that make a home. It is the people inside and God whom they love and serve. 

Marty 

Restless Energy 9/3/2025

 Good Morning,

I have a busy day ahead of me and It looks like it will be full of things to do. I just poured a hot cup of Door County Chocolate Cherry Coffee and it is time to write. 

Proverbs 19:15 NKJV Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,

And an idle person will suffer hunger.

I only said this statement once to my dad which proved I could think and remember outcomes. I was sitting on my bike close to the back door of our home one hot summer day, back around 1969. My dad asked me what I was doing. I made the wrong reply. "Nothing really. No one is home and I am bored. I have nothing to do."  Dad was gone for about fifteen minutes. He came back to me with a list. "Since you have nothing to do. I will give you something to do." There was a list of about a dozen projects that needed attention and his bored son fit the description needed for the work. I was to start at the top of the list and work my way down. The last project was to paint the exterior of the house. I was promised a steak dinner and a new school jacket that matched the colors of our school if I completed the jobs satisfactorily. I had three weeks to finish the jobs, given if the weather would cooperate. 

Things actually went pretty well and I was doing the work. It was being approved. And I could already taste that big steak. I did however spill some paint from not having the extension ladder tied off properly. After a good chewing out I resumed the work and finished the house with time and paint to spare. This too was inspected and approved. I knew my dad would keep his word and square up with his laborer. Which he did. 

I emphasize the ladder chewing out, because that is how my dad died. He did not tie off the ladder and fell to his death. There has been this desire for me to be able to look over the top of my glasses and say to my dad. " Nice job ace" I quote that directly from him and then roll my eyes and tell him how much a gallon of Sears paint costs. Dad is gone and so is Sears. But I still have that desire to be a wise guy.

Upon pay day he asked me this question. "Of all the things I asked you to do, did they all seem necessary? I replied with a sheepish "yes".  He went on. Why did I have to tell you what needed to be done if you could see it for yourself?" I had no answer. I handed him the money back for the coat and said "give me another list and I will earn the jacket too." He took the whole family out to dinner at the Ponderosa Steak House. He let me pay the bill with what he given me. He then said. "Make your own list."

Later that night he asked if he could explain the lesson I was to learn. "There is always something to do. If you had been reading a novel, sharpening the knives, or anything productive, I would have been impressed. Always stay busy and work to the good of yourself, family, or an employer. It will never fail you. 

Later that year I took on a job working at the local Texaco filling station. My first job was cleaning the restrooms. My boss told me to clean them and when he came back from some other business he would give me a couple of other things to do. Those restrooms were shining like brand new when the boss came back and found me washing the windows on the office. He asked me if the restrooms were complete and they were. He inspected them and complimented my work. Then it happened. "Who told you to wash the windows?" "They were dirty and I did not want to be standing around when I could see the dirty windows needed cleaning." That was the only answer I could come up with. I asked if there was anymore work for me. I ended up wiping off all of the tools and sweeping the repair bays. My dad asked me what took me so long to clean two restrooms. I told him what happened and he just smiled. That next Saturday morning after "work". I came home and on my bed was the jacket I had wanted and was willing to work for. 

My dad, who wasn't much on compliments looked at me and said "lesson learned. "Your boss called me and said if it was ok with me and you, he would like to put you on full time during the summer. It's up to you." I then discovered what a forty hour week was like.

My point is this. Don't let your hands be idle. There is always something to do. Or something that needs to be done.

Marty

Don't Let Your Mind Become A Prison 9/2/2025

 Good Morning,

I am enjoying a hot cup of Door County Chocolate Cherry Coffee and it is time to write. 

I am writing a brief blog on keeping your mind from becoming a prison. We need to be careful to protect our thoughts that can be collected and stored in our mind. Like mold, a mind that get's cluttered with hatred and other garbage is like a prison. A prison cell can only hold so many people. Our minds become like a prison when we don't clean them out now and then. Hate that stockpiles in our minds leaves no room for decent thoughts, peace, harmony, and the recipe for love for God, family or self. 

 Once the vault of our minds fills with the garbage of this world only hate, disdain and vulgarity seem to occupy it. What then occupies the mind tends to spill out and we hear nothing good coming out of our mouths. What occupies the mind will spill out into our lives and speech. 

Romans 12:2 NKJV And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Isaiah 26:3  NKJV You will keep him in perfect peace, Who's mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

Psalm 141;3 NKJV Set a guard , O Lord, over my mouth. Keep watch over the door of my lips.

Colossians 3:1-2 NKJV If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2. Set your minds on things above , not things on the earth. 

Don't let your thoughts become a life sentence. Clear your minds with good thoughts. It's a road that is best chosen.

Marty

A Thought For Labor Day 9/1/2025

 Good Morning,

I am staring into a hot cup of Door County Brandy Alexander Coffee and it is inviting me to start drinking some. 

Today in the United States we are observing Labor Day. It is a national holiday honoring the "worker" and those who in the past forged the path for decent working conditions and fair wages. 

Just a reminder for this day. All workers should receive pay for the hours worked. No one should be considered to be slack in their duties. Employers should treat their employees with respect and gratefulness. 

Colossians 3:23 NKJV And whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men.

Leviticus 19:13 NKJV You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning. 

Do a good job at work. Employers do your best to provide good working conditions and fair pay. 

Food for thought!

Marty