When I Die Bury Me In Flannel 3/15/14

Good Morning,

I hope this finds you all well and in love with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. My coffee this morning is Door County Jamaican Me Crazy.

I had to work today for a short period and now have time to write. On the way home from work I was listening to the radio and there was a song playing that spoke about "If I die young bury me in satin". Well that song started the thought process. I don't have to worry about dying young. I am already old.

But it made me think. What will I wear to my funeral. I have worn tailored expensive suits, football and baseball uniforms, sweat pants, jeans, sweaters, tuxedos and my birthday suit. Often as I have attended funerals I will see the deceased in a new suit or their Sunday best. They are all decked out and as people pass by they say things like "oh he looks so good". Argh how does a dead person look good?

So I decided to write my wishes. When I die bury me in flannel, with my Bible and my duck calls. Form two lines to view me. One for those who wish to mourn with my family and the other line for those who want to make sure I am dead. Put my camouflage Stormy Kromer hat on my head and a smirk on my face. Don't put me in a tie and suit. That wasn't how I was most comfortable and really isn't the true me.

Romans 12:3 New King James Version (NKJV)

³ For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith

When my day comes, this is all that can be said. I was a sinner saved by grace.  I loved Jesus, loved my family, read my Bible, went to work, served God when He asked me to, hunted ducks, and treated my animals with love.

So don't dress me in something I am not, make me sound like I walked on water, or was anything but a common man.

Now all said and done. Who really cares about any of this. I really don't. Why? Because I won't be there. Dress me up to look like Elvis if it will help you. I don't really care. I won't be there. Bury me in a swamp. I don't really care. I won't be there.

2 Corinthians 5  (NKJV)

5 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ² For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, ³ if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. ⁴ For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

⁶ So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. ⁷ For we walk by faith, not by sight. ⁸ We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

Well enough on that subject. Have a great day.
Marty

Being In the Right Place. 3/14/14

Good Morning,

Friday where have you been? I am starting this day with a cup of Door County Heavenly Caramel Coffee. I thought Friday would never get here.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be in the right place at the right time? There is a simple formula.

1. Right now you are where you are. God knows where you are.

2. Only God knows what move in life He wants you to take or not take.

3. Has He told you to make a move? No? Then don't move. Be content. Pray and read scripture. God will speak.

4. If you made a decision to move, check your priorities. This is simple. Did you look for a house first? If you did why didn't find a church first and then find a home close to the church. Your priorities are not straight.

5. Does this move have the support of your family? Double check your priorities.

Are you the leader of this idea or is God in charge. Abraham is the perfect example of being in the right place at the right time. Are you the guide or going to the land that God wants to show you?

Genesis 12

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Call of Abram

12 Now the Lord said^[a] to Abram, “Go from your country^[b] and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. ² And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. ³ I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”^[c]

⁴ So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. ⁵ And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, ⁶ Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak^[d] of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. ⁷ Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. ⁸ From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord. ⁹ And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.

It's all about God's timing.

Marty

Prayer For the Missing Malaysian Plane 3/13/14

Good Morning,

This day started with a cup of Door County Jamaican Me Crazy Coffee. I am looking forward to the weekend already.

The news from around the world has been heavy on my heart this week. I have been praying for the families of the travelers that disappeared along with the airplane they were flying in. I won't presume anything about what happened until the facts are known. But there is one fact for sure that we can concentrate on. People are missing, and  they can't be found. The missing people belong to someone that is hurting right now not knowing what happened or where their family members are.

This is a time when all Christians should be on their knees praying for these people. Imagine if it were you going through this ordeal. I know I would want people praying for me and my missing family member.

1 Timothy 2:1         
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people

Please share this message with others and please join me in prayer today asking for comfort for those waiting for news and that the missing plane and people can be found.

Thanks. God bless,
Marty

Laboring in Vain 3/12/14

Good Morning,

Wednesday and today I have a lot of things on my mind. My prayer list is long this week. So as I head to work with a cup of Door County German Chocolate Cake coffee in my hand, I will have prayer coming from my heart and mouth.

 

I watch people struggle with what they feel is important and then find a new goal to tackle before they rest from the last most important thing on Earth.. It seems as if they never take a rest from the hamster wheel of life they have created. They jump from good enough to "this has to be better". Bigger cars, bigger houses, job changes, or rash business decisions, all in the name of bigger is better. Then when things begin to crumble you see them make other decisions like, different spouse, sell it all, depression, needing to drink more, verbal and physical battles, sleepless nights, pills and just plain anger. At the root of all of this, is the lack of a plan that has been endorsed by God. Rene and I built our house. But the first thing that needed to be done was to purchase the plans for the house and hire a reputable builder. To build a home or life we also need to have a plan but yet we also need to have the Master Builder endorse the plan. In other words He is the plan. Outside Of God's plan and endorsement we labor in vain to build our lives, our families, our careers and our homes.

Psalm 127;1-2 (NKJV)

Laboring and Prospering with the Lord

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.

127 Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
² It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.

 

I watch the rat race we create to get to more things. But we can't take them with us.  We can however, leave an impact on lives with better time spent with loved ones instead of wanting more and more.  I watch the messes created when people rush into things without waiting on God. Without God at the center of our lives. We labor in vain!

 

God bless,

Marty

World Missions 3/11/14

Good Morning,

Tuesday and I have decided that today's coffee is important. It is one of the Door county Coffee Company's Spring Flavors. I  for one have declared that it is time for spring to arrive. So today my cup is filled with Door County Orange Crème. Now remember I am a am a fan of the fall season and I do enjoy winter. But I want to be nice and say that for my friends who enjoy spring and summer, it is time for spring to arrive. We can't all be selfish and have everything our way. I have had a great fall and winter. So let my warm weather friends enjoy the heat. After all it's only 6 months until fall.

Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)

¹⁹ Go therefore^[a] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.^[

Our church as well as many Christian churches engage in world and local missions. This means that we send those called by God to foreign lands or local areas that need either labor help and the Gospel preached. God directs the activities. We as a church also support full time missionaries locally and abroad.

Funding is given to the missionaries through offerings within the church. This helps support their daily needs for food, shelter and clothing. Our short term missionaries raise funding through donations and fund raising activities. God has blessed us to be able to support several full time missionaries and their families. Our short term team is headed to Brazil this summer and they have been blessed with very fruitful fund raising events. They are still a little short on funding but I am convinced that God will not let them down.

One thing they all need is daily prayer. We need to remember them in our prayers. Our dollars, even a little bit accomplish major things. Our team has already raised enough to purchase the materials to build a small church which they will start to constructing in Brazil. But our prayers are just as important.

Please join me today and every day praying for a missionary that you know of. They left it all to serve God. It is the least we can do. Also consider increasing what you give to your church so that they can send more missionaries and help them out financially with a little more money.

If you have a missionary serving in your town or country, welcome them and show them love and hospitality. Remember God sent them to you and they miss their home. Make them feel at home with you. I have been on many mission fields and never once have I not felt at home. Many countries made me feel welcome, needed and loved. Please do the same for all my friends.

God bless,
Marty

A Satisfied Mind 10-30-16

Good Morning.
Sunday once more and this week's calendar looks a little long, until some much needed time off. I am headed out early once more with a cup of Door County Highlander Grog in the console of my truck.

Psalm 17:15 
   
As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.

1 Corinthians 2:16 

¹⁶ For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?”^[a] But we have the mind of Christ.

Many people my age have created their "bucket lists". On their list are things they want to do before they die. Their are a lot of things that I would like to do that's for sure. But I would have to say that if I died tomorrow the only thing on my Earthly list that I would want everyone to know is that I left this world with a satisfied mind.  One's mind can only really be satisfied when they know that they have the right relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

John 14:6

⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

My relationship is right. Let's see what Jesus has to say about a satisfied mind.

John 3

New King James Version (NKJV)

The New Birth

3 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ² This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

³ Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
⁴ Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
⁵ Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
⁹ Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”
¹⁰ Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? ¹¹ Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. ¹² If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.^{[a] 14} And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but^[b] have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
¹⁸ “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. ²¹ But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Now that is what it takes to have a satisfied mind and a peaceful soul.
There is an old country western song that was performed by Porter Wagoner. I have a friend in Pennsylvania that is a wonderful singer and musician. Maybe we can coax him into doing this song and attaching it to this blog. Anyway the song speaks of a satisfied mind. I have attached the lyrics below.
Have a wonderful day.
God bless,
Marty

How many times have
You heard someone say
If I had his money
I could do things my way

But little they know
That it's so hard to find
One rich man in ten
With a satisfied mind

Once I was winning
In fortune and fame
Everything that I dreamed for
To get a start in life's game

Then suddenly it happened
I lost every dime
But I'm richer by far
With a satisfied mind

Money can't buy back
Your youth when you're old
Or a friend when you're lonely
Or a love that's grown cold

The wealthiest person
Is a pauper at times
Compared to the man
With a satisfied mind

When my life has ended
And my time has run out
My friends and my loved ones
I'll leave there's no doubt

But one thing's for certain
When it comes my time
I'll leave this old world
With a satisfied mind

Beauty From Within 3/9/14

Good Morning,

It has been a quiet weekend and I hope it stays that way. I do however need to work so it's off I go with a cup of Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee in hand.

 

The Mrs. also has to work today.  I was able to send her off with one of her favorite breakfasts. Pancakes, stuffed with cheese decorated her plate. I guess that is about as romantic as I get. Rene always tells me that I will never write for Hallmark Cards. It seems that whenever I want to compliment her it always comes out wrong. Fortunately we have been together long enough that she knows what I mean and her heart can interpret my lame attempts at compliments. She never takes them out of context or allows them to rub her the wrong way. Recently, we as a couple experienced some major set backs in life. As we were reeling from a barrage of life events I wanted to tell her how much she meant to me and that I was glad I had her for a wife and partner.

But this is what came out. "Babe, I am sure of one thing. When life sends us these loads of steaming poop for events, I sure wouldn't want to go through it with anyone but you." She smiled and laughed and said "If I pass on and you would begin to date, don't use this line unless your married." Then she replied "ditto".

1 Peter 3:3-4 (NKJV)

³ Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— ⁴ rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

I tried to explain what I meant and Rene told me that she fully understood what I was trying to say. I again went to bed that night thinking and praying. I knew once again that I married up in life and was blessed among men. Not only did God bless me with a wife, but one that can understand me and put up with me. She never complains and asks for very little. Then it dawned on me, she loves God and He has taught her to be patient, kind and forgiving. She reads her Bible and puts it into practice.

God bless. Compliment your family members at all times. But don't ask me for ideas.

Marty