A Day We Remember 12/7/2023

 Good Morning,

I just sat down and the desk and next to me is a hot mug of Door County Mistletoe Mocha Coffee. Our two dogs have been fed and it is time to write. 

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 

I will always remember the day my dad sat me down to talk about war and the ugliness of it. I was in second grade when we had about a three hour chat on a December Saturday night. I had asked him where Pearl Harbor was and I did not now that after dinner we would have a history lesson on world war two. I had heard it addressed on the television that day. 

Dad started like this. "Always and I mean always, remember this date December 7th 1941. and never forget it." Dad when on to explain how the United States was attacked by Japan and took a severe beat down that day on our navy. The attack was a surprise and it brought America into World War 2. 

Dad went on to talk about Nazi Germany in Europe and the battles there and how many men and women died there from many countries. He then went back to talk more about Pearl Harbor and December 7th. He said that he remembered being glued to the radio at home listening to the news and how just about everything stopped. Franklin D Roosevelt was the president. Television hadn't been developed yet. The radio and newspapers were it for communication. 

Dad talked about some of my uncles who fought in World War 2 and I never knew their stories until that night. Dad was too young for WW2 but Korea introduced him to war some years later. 

I heard about rationing and stamps.  I heard about the USS Arizona, Bataan, Wake Island, Iwo Jima, and D-day. I listened as Dad talked about General Patton and General MacArthur. My head was spinning and the next day I found myself (Sunday) in my bedroom browsing an encyclopedia and looking at pictures of  Pearl Harbor and the attack on the Unites States. I could barely read at that time and words like infamy, holocaust, nuclear bombs, and sea rations were new and  puzzling to me. The pictures told the story. 

My dad is long gone now and If I could chat with him I would tell him that I never forgot 12/7/1941 all these years. I have visited the USS Arizona, at Pearl Harbor and toured other WW 2 ships along the way of this life. I went to church with a man that was on the Arizona the day of the attack and survived. His story amazed me. 

So my friends in the United States and my friends across this world. Spend some time on the history of your country. I will never forget that night my Dad told me all about Pearl Harbor and the attack on the United States, and how WW2 started and ended. Today my thanks goes to all those who fought, riveted, and sacrificed to keep our country free.

God bless,

Marty

Prayer From Afar 12/6/2023

 Good Morning.

The world slowed down a little bit this morning just long enough for me to drink a cup of Door County Mistletoe Mocha Coffee and I must say I am enjoying it. 

I started December full of gusto and joy. I was embracing December like none other before. But then I woke up from the captivating dream and the world was still one hot mess. Now it seems that our authorities are worried about terrorist attacks on a level that has them actually telling us to be on the look out. I opened my eyes to see families in turmoil and for no good reason. Selfish attitudes, lack of respect for right and wrong seem to be the constant carol I hear. 

Last night a buddy of mine and I were traveling home from a Bible Study and three cars  traveling at least 100 mph were on the highway and I saw them coming up from behind me. They were weaving in and out of traffic in reckless manners that I haven't seen in a very long time. One of them swerved in front of me, causing me to have to go to the far right , up against a concrete wall. Both of us said "Too close for comfort". 

This morning finds me grateful that we weren't in a tangled mess of steel and tires. 

My point for the day is this. Do what you can to enjoy Christmas. Be careful to protect your families and friends. Protect them from imploding, exploding, and any internal turmoil they are going through. If you are a person of prayer, the best gift you can give to this world and your personal world is to be in prayer. I will be praying for many near and far. 

Colossians 4:2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

God bless,

Marty

The Messiah Came Equipped 12/5/2023

 Good Morning,

A fine day has started with prayer and a hot cup of Door County White Christmas Coffee and I am ready to write. 

We placed our nativity set in the living room a few days ago. My wife Rene always makes that scene the first to come out of the box and then displayed front and center. As a child I always wanted to be the one who placed Jesus into the manger. There was just something about the Christmas Story of Jesus being born that has always intrigued me. 

As I think about how God sent his Son to the world to save us from the penalty of sin and to die to save the souls who call upon Him, I am even more amazed now, than I was when I was younger. 

Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.

Not only did Jesus defeat the sting of death for us by dying on the cross, He came equipped to do for us even more and more.

Isaiah 11;2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him.- the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord. 

Jesus is my Savior, but He is also so much more and I can count on Him at all times. 

Baby yes, Savior yes, but also so much more.

We serve an awesome God.

Marty

Two Ways To Look At Everything. 12/4/2023

 Good Morning,

I am under way for the day and stopped long enough to write and have a hot mug of Door County White Christmas  Coffee. 

Yesterday morning I went through my morning ritual and not much ever, if at all, is different about what I do. One of the first things I do is to let our dogs Leo and Gibbs outside for their morning antics. As I opened the door to let them out, I always turn on the floodlight that has illuminated our yard since 1994. 99% of the time I am awake before the sun rises. 

Yesterday as I flipped the switch on the wall, the light blinked and died. I won't go into the process as to what it took to make sure we had lights this morning. But here is the lesson I learned. My reaction to the light failure was this." Really, the dang light let me down" I wasn't exactly happy. Then comes along my wife who said." wow that light sure has lasted a long time. 29 years exactly. That is awesome." I really wasn't in the mood for little miss sunshine. My reaction was totally opposite from hers. Neither reaction was right or wrong. They were just both different. Rene was correct in seeing the positive. She also knew that I would not rest well and be comfortable without that light for the yard. 

We need to place value in the different views that people bring to our "buffet of the day". Rene was totally opposite of my reaction. She was praising the service of 29 years and I on the other hand was disappointed in the fact that the light did not last longer. I did not scold her for seeing it her way. She did not make any comments about me being cheap and not looking forward to a ladder job in nasty weather. She did say this. "Let me know what I can do to help". 

The difference in what our reactions to the situation was this. Rene felt fine with the failure and saw it as an opportunity to praise. I however let my reaction frustrate me. Again I wasn't wrong because I knew what was ahead of me.  She wasn't wrong but we each accommodated each others opinions. Her opinion later rubbed off on me. Take time to listen to others. Never shut down their opinion. Their opinion might be just what you need.

Marty

Not Finished Yet 12/3/2023

 Good Morning,

It is always nice to wake up in the winter and have a hot cup of Door County Naughty or Nice Grog Coffee to warm you up from the inside out. Today is one of those days!

1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 

Last night after we came home from church my wife Rene and I started to hang the lights on our Christmas tree. The lighting project went smoothly and I was pleased as to how the tree looks. We then started in on the ornaments. That is another project. All of our ornaments are non matching. They are a collection of things we have picked up as life goes by for us. Just about everyone of them as a little story or they have a picture on the ornament. The photo is of someone who is important to us and has passed on from this life. We have a few with pictures of the two of us as we traveled here and there. The dogs in our lives past and present are there. We have one of kids from our youth work years. I could go on and on about the ornaments on the tree, but I won't. Rene stayed up late and added ornaments way into the night. I went to bed and got some much needed sleep. Today I will hang strings of buttons on the tree and it will be finished. 

My point for the day is this. Are those buttons important? Not really. But the tree is not complete until that last chore is done. I can't put the ladder away until this project is done. God has given you your life and what you do with it is all up to you. You aren't finished until your final day. Later today we will finish the tree, as to all the ornaments and buttons. We will sit back and say to each other "Nice Job". 

Matthew 25:23 His lord said to him, "well done, good and faithful servant."

What has God shown you to do? Maybe your assignment is or was to raise a brood of children. Maybe you are to use your home as a place of welcome to others. Whatever the task, you aren't finished until all is complete. In the photo I took this morning, you can see the ladder is still out and needs to be put away and stored. Once all the work is done I can do that. But there is another small chore waiting for me to do and I am sure you have a chore list also. Whatever you do, do it so the Lord can look down at you and smile. After all He is not finished with you either.

Marty

Don't Let That Battle Begin 12/2/2023

 Good Morning,

I will be enjoying some Naughty Or Nice Grog Coffee this morning as I try to hunt for some geese. I pray for God's blessing on our efforts. 

1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around as a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 

December 2nd is upon us and I am sending out a warning to those who don't believe that petty arguments can be made into battles that can carry on well after Christmas. If you pay attention to the fact that Christmas is supposed to be a day, week and month of happiness. You will see that petty arguments and hurt feelings can grow into a lifetime of anger, hurt and pain, especially at Christmas. 

You might think these things are caused by human mistakes, laziness, and disrespect. But my friends, Satan takes our weaknesses and magnifies differences into mega issues. He seeks to destroy Christmas in your hearts forever. He is very effective at doing so. He first breaks down any attempt of understanding others just by shutting down communications. Then he adds opinions to emotions and once the emotions take over by being fed with opinions and lack of open and honest communications, he seals the deal on this Christmas and every Christmas to come. 

Once this goes on for too long a grudge grows and then it takes a movement of heaven and earth to heal the emotions and hurt that carrying a grudge brings about.

My point for today is this. If you are in a position to heal relationships do so. If you want to be spiritually dead, carry a grudge. If you decide that Satan wins this one, he will win others as well. 

Food for thought.

Marty

The First Day Of December 12/1/2023

 Good Morning,

The aroma of Door County Candy Cane Coffee is permeating our home and I am just enjoying my first cup of Christmas coffee. 

Last night I took some time to recall some of my 66 Christmas seasons and after enjoying the review in my mind, I came to this conclusion. Every Christmas moment that was special to me was because family was present and such a great time we had. The Christmas days that weren't as wonderful were because of the fact that someone wasn't there. Or I could not be with them. 

John 1:14  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son, from the Father, full of grace and truth.

We celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas, but it was His birthday that brought all of my family together. One little baby boy still has people assembling and enjoying family time. If I were to ask for a gift this year for Christmas, it would be this. That all families would be able to assemble, forget wrongs and enjoy the gift of family and friends. 

I am dreaming of a great Christmas!

Marty