Pine Cones, Pine Cones Pine Cones 3/14/2018

Good Morning,

Time for some prayer and a big mug of Door County Highlander Grog Coffee. I look forward to starting each day with prayer and that cup of coffee.

I started cleaning up the yard a little this week and I noticed that we have a lot of pine cones to rake up. They fell from our fir trees during the fall and winter. There seems to be more than ever. There used to be a lady that would come by and ask for the pine cones. She used them to make wreaths and other crafts.  I know there are many uses for pine cones and some are edible. I have heard that the right ones, while green make an excellent jam. We haven't seen her in a few years.

Today, pine cones are prized food sources for squirrels, woodpeckers and crossbills, but about sixty million years ago, they were a favorite meal of Parasaurolophus, the famous crest-headed hadrosaur (often referred to as duckbill dinosaurs because their skulls resemble modern ducks). I hope I don't see any dinosaurs in the neighborhood.

We have an ample supply of squirrels and other birds who munch on the pine cones. It is just another way to show that God takes care of His creation. I am sure that most of you will nor sit down to eat a plate of pine cone stew tonight, but some squirrel thinks that they are fine dining. They rely on God to provide for them. Out trees started out as 8 inch saplings and now stand very tall. I remember praying over each one that they would be sturdy and provide a wind break for the house. They have served us well and fed hundreds of birds, held nest after nest and provided food for plenty of squirrels. Some of those pine cones probably adorn a home or two at Christmas. I will save a small pile of the cones for our furry friends. A fresh batch will be here before you know it.

Matthew 6:25-34 New International Version (NIV)

Do Not Worry

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[a]?
²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I said I start each day with prayer and it is usually a prayer of thanks for all we have been given and who  Rene and I have been blessed with to love. God has taken care of our needs and deserves our thanks. Again I see Him at work caring for the critters in our yard.

God bless,

Marty

Just Sitting, Watching The Afternoon 3/13/2018

Good Morning,

The alarm clock sang a melody which signals that it is time to get out of bed and reach for a cup of Door County Blueberry Cobbler Coffee.

I have some long hours to put in this week and it starts today and tonight. So when I was afforded the chance to go home about two hours early yesterday afternoon, I grabbed the opportunity and ran with it. I found myself doing a little grocery shopping on the way home and looking forward to some fresh air.

Once I arrived home I opened the door and out came our English Springer Spaniel with a burst of stored up energy. He was surprised to see me home so early. We both went outside and I just let him run around and chase the birds into the trees. As soon as he cleared the yard, they would return and land on the grass or in a lower branch. This just seemed to be a game the two species were playing with each other. Those birds were driving our dog Gibbs crazy and he was enjoying the chase.

I took some time to survey what would need to be cleaned up from the winter season and saw a few tree limbs that would need trimming very soon. I plan on saving the apple wood trimmings for smoking meat this spring. I love the aroma that comes from a meat smoker and how God always provides just enough wood for me to do so. It seems as if the yard is blessed to replenish itself and meet our needs. It has been doing this for a long time.

As I looked at our yard and the wood that I would eventually use to flavor our food, I saw more than what meets the eye. I saw God at work, taking care of our wants and needs. He had already started to bless the yard once more. It was peaceful out there and I was content. That 45 minutes restored my soul and made me smile.

“Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made. So they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)

Next time you have time to sit, go ahead and do it outside. I believe that somehow we tend to see God just a little more in the outdoors.

God bless,

Marty

Looking Up Beyond What You Can See 3/12/2018

Good Morning,
A little Door County Jamaican Blue Mountain Blend Coffee is in order on this fine Monday morning. I worked through most of the weekend and the coffee will taste good and warm up these tired bones.

Part of the work we did this weekend was to lift some heavy steel on top of the hospital where I spend my time. This steel will hold some air conditioning infrastructure for a pharmacy. Several of us worked to oversee the project, along with our contactor partners. I took some pictures of the crane work, but the photo I attached to the blog reminded me of a future event. One we will all see and should expect. This photo is a shot from the bottom of the crane looking to the top of the crane. My thoughts turned to the future and the second coming of Jesus. We all know He is coming back, down from heaven and we should expect Him. I wondered what I will be doing when He returns. Will I be alive? Will I be coming out of the grave to join Him? I will meet Jesus in the air. Today, take time to look beyond the immediate and look at the future. Are you ready for His return? What if He came today?

The Book Of Acts 1:4-11 NKJV

The Holy Spirit Promised

⁴ And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; ⁵ for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” ⁶ Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. ⁸ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Jesus Ascends to Heaven

⁹ Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, ¹¹ who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Are you ready? 

Acts 4:11-14 New King James Version (NKJV)
¹¹ This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’^{[a] 12} Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”¹³ Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

God bless,

Marty

What A Small World It Is 3/11/2018

Good Morning,

My sleep was confused by the Daylight Saving Escapade that was held last night in the United States. So I believe it will take two cups of Door County Strawberry Smoothie Coffee to kick start this machine.

Last night after our Saturday evening church service my very intelligent friends thought that serving a baked potato with all kinds of toppings would make for a nice time of fellowship and dining. As always, they were right and the simple potato bar was a hit. One little lady even brought some jelly beans as a topping. I did put some on a potato so I could say I tried it and it wasn't all that bad.

There has been a couple and their grand daughter coming to church for about two years now. I knew them from our past work in youth ministry. Rene and I were privileged to have worked with their son when he was a teen. But we really never knew anything personal about the family. Last night Grandma and her grand daughter were sitting at a table eating their potato delight. Grandpa was home with a slight illness. Rene was sitting at a table with some other friends of ours, so I decided to sit with these two faithful attenders and get to know them better.

I am glad that I did. During our conversation and I don't know how it was brought up, but we discussed where us two older folks went to grade school. Low and behold we both went to the same grade school and were just a couple years apart. Another good friend of ours who attends on Saturday nights with us was there and she too went to that same school. I called her over and we found out that we all knew some of the same people and the old neighborhood was common ground for us to talk and laugh about.

Titus 1:8 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁸ but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,

My point is this. If I had let them sit there alone and not had gone over to enjoy some time with them and get to know them, another week would have gone by without true fellowship. It was a very nice time and it made my night. Our world can be very small at times and if we let Him, God will make room for more friends and enlarge our own personal world. A stranger is a friend you haven't made yet. We need to reach out at all times and be hospitable.

So make a new friend or reacquaint with an old one today. it's your day to enlarge your world.

God bless,

Marty

Sometimes It's Just Too Late 3/10/2018

Good Morning,

I just have a few minutes to write before I go to work and then hurry home later this afternoon for church. I just filled my cup with Door County Chocolate Caramel Truffle Coffee and it looks like a cookie on the run for breakfast. I do  not like to be late for anything. I like to be on time and showing up late is a special irritant to me. I have always liked being punctual for meetings and appointments. If I am late upon arrival I look at how much of the content I have missed and then I am honest with myself and have to decide if staying is appropriate or if I should reschedule. There comes a time when you have to ask yourself if you already missed too much of the meeting or an appointment. Did you miss too much of the content to really say that you received all needed from the appointment or meeting? We need to take meetings about our health seriously and be there on time, every time. If you miss one RESCHEDULE it.

We need to take care of ourselves and sometimes that means making appointments for our health and then keeping them. Certain illnesses if taken care of right away are not all that bad. Left unchecked some illnesses can advance very quickly and then it often is too late to be cured. W owe it to ourselves and our families to do our best to stay healthy. We owe it to God to take care of our bodies.
Sometimes that minor bleeding is nothing at all and then some other time it a sign of more serious conditions that could lead to an early death.

Romans 12:1 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

It takes time to take care of yourself. And according to God you are worth it. Take care of yourself before it is too late.

Marty

Marriage Advice 3/9/2018

Good Morning,

Happy Friday to all of us! I wish you all could join me for breakfast and a cup of Door County Pecan Cinnamon Ice Cream Coffee . I am going to enjoy this one this morning and one cup later this afternoon. I have a long drive today and a cup of coffee will make the trip home that much more of a pleasure.

I have some thoughts on marriage that I would like to share today from a Biblical point of view. If I were to talk to someone getting married or to couples who have been married for a long time I would speak to them about forgiving. True forgiveness really says "I love you."
When you forgive someone, you stop feeling angry. The Webster definition also speaks to a change in feelings preceding the act of forgiveness—a far cry from the biblical depiction. Rather, in Scripture we find that forgiveness is an action made in the midst of negative feelings, making it a beautiful expression of love.

Let's face it ,we are not perfect people and we make mistakes. We then marry a person who we think is perfect and we hold them to the ideal that they are not allowed to make mistakes. So when they do make a mistake and it causes  some hurt to us, we feel that we just can't forgive them. They ruined our idea of what they are supposed to be. We often forget our own faults because our faults did not hurt us. We then begin to think that we are perfect. Not so, not at all. We need to love to forgive and we need to forgive to love.

#1 To avoid making others be overwhelmed

2 Corinthians 2:5-8 NIV
If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.

#2 Love will lead to forgiving others

1 Corinthians 13:4 - 6 NIV
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

This has worked for 1000 years in our marriage. It is Biblical advice and can be started before the wedding. It works well with other relationships like friends and family. Forgive to live. Forgive to love, And most of all love to forgive.

Have a great day.

Marty

Thank You For 14.5 Miles 3/8/2018

Good Morning,

My pot of Door County Blueberry Cobbler Coffee is ready to pour and with a prayer to start the day, I am ready to write.

As many of us do, I tend to complain way too much. Complaining and whining seem to go hand in hand and I can't really tell the difference between the two. The team from the show Seinfeld made complaining and whining an art form and they made a good living from it.

I decided to try and I do mean try to limit my complaining to reality based complaints only and look for things to praise others for and enjoy. The other day we had a late March snowstorm and I anticipated a slippery ride on the highway to work. I travel 14.5 miles to work and the path I take goes through several communities. The roadways from start to finish were plowed and salted. I waved to one of the snowplow drivers and thought to myself that they had done an excellent job.
I then allowed myself to be real and admit, that all winter season long the roads were cleared very well each time. They had gotten me to work on time, every time it snowed and then home safely.

Now had I not been looking for the good instead of something to complain about I would have been whining about the pile of snow they had plowed off of the road and into my driveway. But that was just a little work for me and it is part of living in an area that receives snow. No whining!

If we look for the good it is easy to look past the bad and less whining makes those around us much happier. Just ask my wife.

Philippians 2:14-16 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁴ Do all things without complaining and disputing, ¹⁵ that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

Thoughts to live by!

Marty