Friday Fish Fry 6/7/2019

Good Morning,

There is the belief that summer has arrived to Wisconsin. I will hold my tongue about what season I prefer. I just poured a cup of Door County Cherry Creme Coffee and now it is time to write.

Wisconsin is known for the "Friday Night Fish Fry". 3-4 pieces of fish, fries, coleslaw, bread and tartar sauce will be served in most all of the eating emporiums tonight. We will be partaking in this tradition tonight. There is only one place that I enjoy fish more and that is on a lake, with buddies, a fire, a pan and some fish. It's called "shore lunch". To me there is nothing like catching some fish and then eating them the same day.

But in order to eat a shore lunch you have to go fishing. You have to get into the boat to get away from the shore. There are a lot of life experiences that people never experience because they sit in the boat and never leave the dock.

God gave us charge over the animals, birds and fish in the water. God has provided for our needs. So go ahead and acknowledge what He does for you each day. He will guide your steps right to Him.

God bless,

Marty

A Day To Remember 6/6/2019

Good Morning.

My day will begin with prayer and a cup of Door County Brownie Batter Coffee. I will be leaving for work soon with some thoughts on my heart and a smile on my face.

Today we remember D-Day. I for one am a little young to remember that day, but it is one that I studied in school and it impacted my life to this day. I will for as long as I live hold this day in remembrance and treat it with pride.

D-Day: The Invasion of Normandy. On June 6, 1944 the Allied Forces of Britain, America, Canada, and France attacked German forces on the coast of Normandy, France. With a huge force of over 150,000 soldiers, the Allies attacked and gained a victory that became the turning point for World War II in Europe.

D-Day . It was code-named Operation Neptune, presumably because it involved a water landing by the Allies on the beaches of Normandy, France. It is the largest military operation by sea in history, and of course it had great significance to the war.

I wasn't there, but through the years I met men that were there on that day and were blessed to survive.  One man who was there was very frank in describing his time on the beach on that fateful morning. After he told me his testimony of his time that day. I thanked him for serving us and the rest of the free world. He replied "Thank you. I served like many others and when I joined the Army I was full of stars and stripes, apple pie, and a will to save the world. Ten minutes into that battle and I was just fighting to survive and come home to my young wife. I fought and killed those trying to keep me from my wife".

Ephesians 6:12 New International Version (NIV)

¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

What a tribute to his wife. He was fighting his way home. Guys we are approaching Fathers Day in a couple of weeks. We all tend to work very hard to support our families and now and then we all take some down time to relax. But, do we take too much time away from our families? Could we go home from work on time? Do we need to golf or hunt all weekend? Or do we fight our way home and not allow the world to get in the way of time with the families. Do we go to combat with prayer to get home to our families. Do our families know that they are worth fighting for? Our time with them is worth doing whatever we can to spend it with our families. Of course we must work, chores need to be done and now and then we need a rest. But are we fighting for time with those we love?

Food for thought.

Marty

Seven Kinds Of Crazy 6/5/2019

Good Morning,

May your burdens be light today and your coffee extra hot. My brew of choice today is Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee. Let's write!

I always seem to get behind someone in the check out line at the grocery store or gas station. Yesterday was no different. I was in line behind a young mother with two little kids, who in a short time managed to pull down the candy rack and drop items from their shopping cart on to the floor. I intervened when a jar of pickles was the object of choice for a dill mess. Mom on the other hand was managing her money by sorting coupons before checking out.

Proverbs 13:24 English Standard Version (ESV)

²⁴ Whoever spares the rod hates his son,

    but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him

I stopped Junior from launching his dill pickle bomb. Mom saw what I did and she thanked me. On the other hand Junior was upset and his sister had already left the scene and was bringing back some ice cream sandwiches  from the freezer with this statement, " Mom! We are buying these." Mom waved off the ice cream which caused Gertrude to scream. In the meantime Junior once again found the jar of pickles and had begun to give me the death look stare. Mom now intervened and went face to face with Junior explaining the foolishness of his folly. That's when Junior slapped Mom into next week. Junior is about three years old. Mom looked at me and explained that Junior was "going through a phase". I said I understood. I really didn't. I knew what my mother and father would have done to me if I had acted like these two. They checked out and the lady behind me said " those two are seven kinds of crazy".

Proverbs 13:24 English Standard Version (ESV)

²⁴ Whoever spares the rod hates his son,

    but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

Now the word crazy is a severe word to describe a toddler. But I believe these two kids were going to drive Mom crazy. The seven kind type!!!!  I have no opinion on how parents should discipline their kids. If you spank, you spank, don't over spank. If you use time outs, use them. But you can't let kids clobber you and destroy a grocery store.  Kids and adults are all supposed to behave. We are to correct our kids and grand kids.

We need to teach our children to obey and honor their parents.  It's a big job and if you have kids, well, their yours, teach them wisely.

Marty

Shopping 101 6/4/2019

Good Morning,

One large cup of Door County Mocha Mint Coffee is steaming next to me and I am happy to say that I have put a pretty good dent towards reducing the volume in the cup.

I do most of the grocery shopping for our family and I take great pride in serving good meals and doing so at a reasonable price. You could say that when it comes to grocery shopping I am quite thrifty. My good friend and I call each other when we spot a great deal so both of us can save a dollar or two.

Proverbs 10:13 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹³ On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,

    but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.

So what can we learn from grocery shopping? Well there really isn't a sure fire list that works. I like to plan about five meals ahead before I shop. Once I know what I am going to make I check the pantry to see if I already have at least some of the ingredients. This way I don't purchase items that I already have. I make a list before going to the store and try to only purchase the items on the list. It makes my shopping go much faster.

OK, so grocery shopping isn't rocket science and I really did not set your world aglow with my wisdom. But as with grocery shopping we should apply common sense to all we do. I tried shopping without a list and ended up forgetting two items and had to go back to the store. I wasted time. That would have been using common sense. Common sense is built inside all of us. We just fail to use it and then we find ourselves in trouble or debt or both. So do everything as if you were shopping. Make plans to celebrate any victories and write down the plan you used. Pray and then pray some more. You will be better for it.

God bless,

Marty

Following A Plan 6/3/2019

Good Morning,

Monday arrived and it was right on time. The day is laid out before me and it looks like it will be a a nice one. I just poured myself a cup of Door County Jamaican Me Crazy Coffee, prayed and now it is time to write.

Deuteronomy 5:33 New King James Version (NKJV)

³³ You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.

As I wrote yesterday about Rene and I adding an extension on to our patio, I would like to use the patio as today's lesson once more.

I added a photo of the block work that was done for the extension. The man who laid the block let us choose the pattern from a few choices he presented to us. Once we picked the pattern he and his partner set out to complete the work. In order to accomplish what you see in the photo they had to have a plan, and then follow the plan and the pattern set forth in the plan. One brick mislaid would set the whole job askew and the outcome would not be so nice.

Life is a lot like block patios. Once we disrupt the pathway of morality, honesty or peace and go outside of God's way, we open ourselves to failure. Even some of the minor mistakes we make can set us on a path that keeps repeating itself and then leads to a ruined life. I would not pay to have a block patio that was out of step with a pattern that was contrary to the one desired.

For instance when we bring company pens home and fill our house with them, aren't we stealing? Then we wonder why our children justify stealing from the local candy store. We set them on the wrong path. We just turned them in a direction that could lead to huge consequences.

God's advice in His Word never sends anyone astray. We need to stick to the Divine Plan.


God bless,

Marty

The New Patio And A Place To Sit 6/2/2019

Good Morning,

This day greeted me with a very cool temperature at 5:30 AM and now it is full of sunshine. I am still enjoying a late cup of Door County White Christmas Coffee.

When we built our home in 1994 we added some sidewalks, driveway and a small patio about 6 months after we moved in. The patio was to be a starter and then some day we would add on to it. Well up until today that "some day" never came. Today the landscaper is putting the finishing touches on the extension that finally came after all of these years. I will share pictures tomorrow.

Ecclesiastes 5:18 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁸ Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage.

The small patio housed a picnic table and a small accessory table. Rene and I occasionally sit out their and eat lunch or dinner. Over the years the little slab hosted a few cookouts and gives me a place to sit and write this blog. But today it expanded and I have a purpose in mind. Eventually this summer we will add a fire place where we can have a bonfire and roast a hot dog or two. I plan on sitting there a little more while watching the world pass by our property. It doesn't sound like much of a plan at all. But I must say that after all these years it is time to enjoy what God has blessed us with just a little more.

I, like the writer of Ecclesiastes have an outlook on life that says sooner or later one has to take time to just enjoy life. This is not being lazy, but admitting that I as well as many others need to enjoy life and sometimes that means just having a quiet place to sit. If you are blessed to have a window and weather permits it, open the window and air out your house. If you have a spare spot in your yard, plant something that will give you pleasure. For us, we planted spaghetti squash. Our new patio extension borders the lilacs. Next year I will be sitting right in the middle of the precious scent of the blooming lilacs. Make a plan to treat yourself to time that allows you to enjoy the blessings God gives you.

Be sure to share your blessings with others from time to time. I believe eating a roasted hot dog is always better when you are sharing the moment with someone else.

Have a great day. Start making plans to enjoy your gifts from God.

Marty

Smile God Your Father Loves You.6/1/2019

Good Morning,

I can hear the Door County Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Coffee brewing in the kitchen. We have a few visitors staying with us, so the large quantity coffee urn needs to be made today. I for one think it takes too long to brew. Maybe I need to write about patience tomorrow.

June 1st arrived and I am already wondering where the year has gone. But today I want to take some time to encourage all of us with a hard cold fact that never changes. God loves you and me. I never get tired of hearing it. And He never changes. Our Heavenly Father doesn't just love us now and then. His love is a love without end.

I find this most reassuring and comforting as I get older and closer to going to a heavenly home some day.  I added a couple Bible verses today to enforce my oint and to leave you with facts about our Father's love.

Malachi 3:6 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁶ “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consume.

Numbers 23:19 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁹ God is not man, that he should lie,

    or a son of man, that he should change his mind.

Has he said, and will he not do it?

    Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

John 3:16 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 8:38-39 New International Version (NIV)

³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I hope this brightens your day and puts a smile on your face. Those of you praying for my sister. Thank you. The surgery went well. It i now a long road to recovery.

God bless,

Marty