The Life Of A Dog 3/21/2020

Good Morning,

I am a little late in writing to all of you today. I slept longer and recharged the batteries in this vintage model of a body. Soon after waking up the kitchen called out to me and the aroma of a fresh pot of Door County Heroes Blend Coffee was breaching my nose like an army would storm a beach.

Mark 1:35 And rising up very early in the morning, while it was dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 

It was very quiet in our neighborhood this morning. Our two Springer Spaniels have been pretty much cooped up due to the weather being wet and muddy. They have been going out to do their "dog business" but not really getting out to run and play. But this morning our yard was frozen and hard. I proceeded to dress myself with warm clothes and with coffee in hand the three of us went outside . Both dogs could tell by the extra clothing and boots we were going to have some fun and a little hunting training.

I watched as I was putting my boots on as the excitement in the two dogs was just boiling over. They were turning in circles, jumping around and then running to the door.  We exited the house via the garage. Both dogs are trained not to run out when the door opens. Just for fun I opened the garage door and made them wait for a minute before being allowed to leave the garage. Once I gave them the command to go, they both took off running. Around and around the house they went. This circus was more like a NASCAR race where they drivers were on steroids and full of moon shine. This pandemonium had me laughing out loud and it warmed my heart.

Our two dogs don't know or care that there is a world wide virus going around. What they really wanted was to spend time with me outside. They enjoy searching for fake birds that I throw and hide for them. It's about as close to the real thing that they will get for some time. Now when we let them out to do the dog business, they go out and come back in without playing around. No one ever scolded them for playing or told them not to.

But when my old chore coat and hat went on they knew we were headed outside. I am the only one that can provide their fun now and they were eager to train and play as long as I was with them, They wanted time with the Master.

Friends we all have a little more time on our hands now and for the the immediate future. We can have some great time, more than usual with God. We can open up those Bibles more often and read. We can turn on an extra sermon via television or the internet. We can pray more and grow closer in our relationship with God. Shouldn't we want to jump and dance around because we have more time with our Creator?

Food for thought on this Saturday. Love to all. Keep praying for the world. Italy, my heart is breaking for you all.   pregando per te

Marty

Silly Putty And The Diaper 3/20/2020

Good Morning,

Happy Friday to all. I just finished brewing a pot of Door County Heroes Coffee about ten minutes ago. I am lifting my mug to salute all the parents that are home schooling right now, while working from home.

I promised that I would write about the infamous Silly Putty incident that occurred in our home around 1962. Silly Putty was introduced to me around that time in my life. To me it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I had a few of the egg shaped containers and I was 5 years old. I would take the putty and press it onto the colored comics in the news paper. I thought that copying Beetle Bailey onto the putty was the bomb. But as kids would do I used to forget to put the putty away into it's egg shell. Then it would harden and be useless.

That would just drive my dad nuts. He would pick up that putty and I would hear this statement. "The next time I find this putty left out, it's going into the garbage and you will be crying." Now if you knew my dad you knew he was serious.

Did I mention that I had a younger sister who as a baby had stomach problems? She had to drink some awful baby formula which caused her to be constipated and she cried all the time. Back then disposable diapers hadn't been invented yet. So the little rascal wore a cloth diaper. The kind you had to empty in the toilet, rinse and then wash them in the wringer washer. I am really dating myself here. For some reason this kid wouldn't wear the plastic pants that held her human waste within the diaper.  When the munchkin was constipated her poo was the same color and consistency as Silly Putty.

One fine day, the curtain crawler was toddling around the house dropping poo pellets on to the carpeting.  Guess who came along and saw what he assumed was Silly Putty balls on the floor?
Yes, it was my dad. He started picking them up squishing them together in his hands calling out one of my names as he was looking for me.  I happened to be under the dining room table playing Army with my lead figurines. (another day). He was wild, and he used my most common name as he was yelling. "Little ****. I was in deep trouble until I remembered that I hadn't been playing with the Silly Putty all day. Then it happened! The smell of toddler turds hit his nose. He had been picking up the nasty waste, packing it together so he could show me my mistake and yell at me.

What he said in Italian I cannot repeat. But then it was payback. He had pushed me too far. I started laughing and asked dad if he was playing with Silly Poo. I was quite skinny back then and faster than greased lightening. The old boy couldn't catch me.

For many years we laughed and laughed about this one. On his 60th birthday I purchased some Silly Putty and a diaper for dad just in case he wanted to play with some in retirement. He still couldn't catch me!

The lesson here today is, don't jump to conclusions! Test all things. What you think is putty, could be poo.

Proverbs 25:8 Do not hastily bring your neighbor into court, for what will you do in the end when he puts you to shame? 

God bless,

Marty

A Little Humor Please? 3/19/2020

Good Morning,

I am up and awake. I figure that is more than I deserve and it feels good to face another day with all of you. My mug was just filled with Door County Vanilla Cappuccino Coffee. It is time to write.

My wife Rene and I were talking about some of the crazy things we have experienced through our years together. We both were recalling the first winter we observed when we had begun dating. It was January and my mother needed to visit one of her sister's who was very ill and close to dying. My parents hadn't moved back to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan yet, but they already had their place on the lake there so we had a place to stay.

So Rene and I volunteered to drive "Up North". We could visit my aunt and the two of us could go skiing while my mother visited longer. Yes, I could ski back then! Well when we arrived "Up North" the temperature was 25 degrees Fahrenheit below zero. The next morning it warmed up to minus 30 F. Needless to say that skiing was out of the question. What to do with the new girlfriend? My answer was to go hiking. I had been told that one of the local waterfalls had frozen over and you could hear the rushing water but could not see it until it reached the bottom of the falls. I thought that this frozen attraction just might save the day.

So off we went, dressed for 40 below and with a Thermos bottle of hot chocolate. The falls are surrounded by stairs that can take you from the top of the falls to the bottom. They are encased with a sturdy pipe railing that gives you something to hold on to while using the concrete stairs.

When we approached the first set of stairs I could see that they too had iced over from the water mist and they looked like an awesome ice slide experience.  That's when my "Macho" kicked in and I said that I would try the stairs first. I took two steps and thought that I could make it the rest of the way by holding tightly to the railing. I turned and said to my future wife. "Watch where I step. Walk exactly where I walk and do it the same way." Well my third step was my last. I slipped and started a free slide toward the next landing . My only hope was to have the vertical part of the railing stop me from finishing an icy plunge to the bottom. These are not big falls but they are big enough. As I was sliding on my back my legs were open and the approaching railing would have split me in a region I can't mention like a piece of kindling. At the last second I turned enough to have me slam into the railing with my hip. I thought for sure that my hip would crack. It was very quiet as I assessed my physical condition and figured that I could pull myself up slowly and make it back to the top.

That's when Rene yelled down to me. "Are you alright? Is that how you want me to do it?" Even through the pain I started to laugh with her and in sub zero weather we cracked up until our tears were freezing on our faces.

The reason I am sharing this story is that when we recall it, the story still makes us laugh. I think we all could use a healthy dose of laughter now. You all have stories that are funny and now is a good time to recall them, share them, and let them make you laugh one more time.

Proverbs 17:22  Laughter of the heart is good medicine, but a crushed Spirit dries up the bones.

Tomorrow I will share the story of Silly Putty and the diaper.

Marty

A Spot In The Woods 3/18/2020

Good Morning World.

If someone has not told you today that you are loved, let me be the first one. Love to all of you.
Starting my day with a new flavor of coffee for me. It is Door County Heroes. I salute all the healthcare workers who are on the front line fighting the battle with Covid19. I also want to thank those truckers who are driving day and night to supply the world!

Once a year I travel to do a little pheasant hunting in Western Wisconsin with a few good friends. I have been going to the same place for about 25 years. It is just for a day or two. Our outfitter has a lot of acreage that we can hunt. He also has two places where we can sleep. An old farm house which is well equipped and a cabin way back in the woods. I always choose the cabin. It is well equipped and has some bunk beds for sleeping. Often I hear one of my buddies say. "Hey there isn't any cell phone reception here." I think to myself "I know and isn't that nice?" Quiet!!!!  For a few years I actually have been heading up there the night before with just my dog (Gibbs), a study book, a bible, and me. The other guys arrive the next day just before noon. Now I am not anti social but I am always 7 kinds of busy. I go there alone to binge on time with God, pray and listen to Him. This year I won't be going.

Jeremiah 33:3

'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'

I look forward to the guys arriving. I do miss my wife and home but sometimes you just need that quiet place alone with God. I do have quiet times at home but some how there is always a distraction or two.

Mark 1:35-37

³⁵ Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. ³⁶ And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. ³⁷ When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”

Where do you go to get this kind of time with God? I have to say that I know it is important to do so.
Find a place, a park for an hour, a spot by a lake, a closet, your favorite spot! You think you are alone there, but you aren't. God is with you!

Go today in peace. Have a great day.
Marty

A Restricted Life Covid 19 3/17/2020

Good Morning,

I am happy to wake up this morning without any symptoms of the Corona Virus darkening my day. The smell of the Door County Hazelnut Creme Coffee brewing in the kitchen had my attention about 30 minutes ago.

This virus has everyone on edge from a little to a lot. Depending on where you live some people have it worse than others. My heart goes out to those battling the illness or planning funerals. My prayers are with them.

What has me a little disturbed is the behavior people are exhibiting as they plan to be quarantined or restricted to home . Hoarding groceries, and water, shows me the lack of God in the lives of many who only care about themselves, Their is no "All for one, one for all" attitude let alone any love your neighbor being exhibited by many people. Fear has them in it's grip and the normally kind and considerate people have turned into toilet paper mongers. People are quicker to make a big deal out of anything. I have even witnessed people stealing hand sanitizer.  The virus has turned people into thieves.  Wow.

Proverbs 28:6 Better to be without, than to be filled and dishonest. 

I would rather be in need than to hoard and watch my neighbor go without. What's lacking in their grocery bag is a big helping of Jesus Christ and his example of serving all.

Ok, it's time for round two with this bug. Can we do better as we restrict our lives and learn to stay home for a few days or weeks without grumbling and complaining? Your restricted time just might save a life,

Get it? Got it? Now Do It

Marty

A Steady Dog 3/16/2020

Good Morning,

Today I am slurping down some very hot Door County Totally Nuts Coffee. No comments on the nut drinking the coffee please. I saved a package of this coffee in a small time capsule I made and stored in our basement. I have been saving it for a time just like these, when the world seems NUTS!

A successful duck hunter needs a few pieces of equipment. A gun, some duck calls, waders, decoys, ammo, and a steady dog. A dog that can be counted on to listen, sit and follow directions is most valuable. One who can hold still despite the shooting going on, duck calls blaring and birds approaching. The wrong move at the wrong time could flare the birds, interrupt a shot and also be dangerous to the dog if he leaps in front of the gun.

As Christians we are to listen to God and follow His commands.

Proverbs 2:1-5     My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.        

John 10:27-28    My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

A steady dog uses less energy, accomplishes much, and is rewarded by His Master. A steady dog is patient and waits on the Master's command. We too should be steady people waiting on a command from our God.

Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.

Are we steady and patient with God who has all the answers or are we running out there under our own power wasting time and energy? Do we wait on Him or jump in and mess it all up?

Sit, be still and know that He is God.

Be happy,
Marty

Stop The World And Let Me Off 3/15/2020

Good Morning,

Drinking some Door County Cherry Creme Coffee to start my day.

Does it seem to you that the world spins faster and there just isn't enough time in a day to keep up with life? I have declared today as stop the world day! Now how can I do that? I really can't control the speed of any other life but my own. I am not advocating for a sit down or strike. But my plan sometime today is to sit, be still, pray and read my Bible slowing down enough to hear from God and wind down.

1 Kings 19:11-13   God’s Revelation to Elijah

¹¹ Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; ¹² and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

I can only imagine that if I were with Elijah when this took place I am sure I would not have been wondering about getting to the dry cleaners on time, mowing the grass, or paying the bills. For a short time I would have been concentrated on God and in a way that the world would have been stopped for awhile.

So my plan today is to take that time find a quiet place and let God stop the world for just a little while so I can enjoy Him!

Want to have a great day? Just let God stop it for an hour or two!
Love ya!
Marty