Muskego Beach Dandilion Park 9/30/2015

Good Morning,

Door County Pumpkin Spice Coffee is brewing, my bowl of Cheerios is full and I am looking forward to this day. I hope it ends with you and me being a blessing to someone today.

Not far from where I grew up is the town of Muskego Wisconsin. One of the attractions on Muskego Beach was Dandilion Park. It was Muskego's version of the "Boardwalk". We used to have family outings there with my Aunt Betty and her family. I recall our grand parents being there at least once. Those are fond memories of mine. I would love to have one of those days back, so I could do it again.

 

One of the main attractions was the Cyclone. The Cyclone was a wooden rollercoaster that was known to be able to thrill people, help folks lose their lunch, and I am sure it provided some wet pants now and then. The lines were long and it was one of the more expensive rides. Up, up, up you would go to the top of the first hill, your heart pounding away with anticipation. Your butt cheeks were kept tight and you stopped breathing as you proceeded down the awesome first drop. Bladder in check you started back up the next hill and then rapidly down again wishing you hadn't just eaten that foot long hot dog. At the end of the day you would hear kids say "how many times did you ride the Cyclone"?

 

I was usually good for one and Done! But I always went back on our next trip out to the park and did it again. I still like rollercoasters and enjoy one or two per year.

 

Life is at times a rollercoaster ride. It has ups and downs. But like the rollercoaster, what went down eventually goes back up. When I would be on the lowest section of the ride I was always looking up toward the next rise. It was in the lowest part of the ride, at very high speeds that it seemed like the coaster would come off of the tracks. To me that was the scariest part. We need to look up in life. When life let's us down, beats us down, and eats us alive, we need to look up. While we are down in the low valley we can recall the high times, just like the rollercoaster when it seemed if we reached out a little further we could touch the sun. When life has us down we need to look up and reach for the Son.

 

 1 Peter 5:6-7New King James Version (NKJV)

⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

 

Life is a ride and it will always be that way. The rollercoaster always had a line of people waiting to get on even though it was scary. Life will be up and down, but while we are down we can always look up and then the down isn't so scary.

 

God bless,

Marty



I Like It Well Done 9/29/15

Good Morning,

A big cup of Door County Apple Cobbler Coffee awaits me in a couple minutes. The aroma is calling me to the kitchen.

Matthew 25:20-21New King James Version (NKJV)
²⁰ “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ ²¹ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

When it comes to steaks some people like them cooked rare or medium well. I am a guy who likes it cooked all the way. Finished to perfection, well done , but not too overdone with the juices sealed inside works for me every time. When I receive a steak that I ordered in a restaurant and it is done just they way I wanted and expected it to be, I always compliment the wait staff and ask them to thank the cook.

God also sets expectations for us when He call us to service. He desires that we give Him our best. There is nothing more that He would like to do than to say "Well Done"! In everything we do just like great restaurants, we need to be concerned with the quality, as well as how we present the service.

So don't be rare or medium, get it done right, all the way. Whatever He asks, do it right or not at all.

God bless,
Marty

Ken Vincent. World War Two Veteran Goes To Church 9/28/15

Good Morning,

I can smell the Door County Cherry Crème Coffee brewing in the kitchen. What a way to wake up! I believe when God created the coffee bean He was thinking of me.

Psalm 84:10New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁰ For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Yesterday I experienced the privilege of giving a ride to an older buddy of mine so he could get to church. Ken Vincent a veteran of World War Two, former school teacher, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, rode with me to church. Ken now lives in an assisted living facility, and between us church members and his family Ken receives a ride so he can attend church. He is 93 now and it is hard for me to picture this kind old gentleman, as one of the tough guys who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. As we ride together Ken teaches me things that he learned during the war and tells me of his experiences. He talks about his wife who passed on earlier in life and how much he misses her. Ken tells me about how much he loved teaching and how hard it became toward the end of his career, when teachers started having less authority. Ken keeps red pepper flakes with him so he can spice up the food where he lives. " The hotter the better" says Ken.  I said I couldn't imagine Ken just by looking at him, that he survived the Battle of The Bulge. But as you get to know him you can see he is one tough guy. He fought in the war, came home and married his childhood sweetheart, fathered some great kids, taught in public schools, buried his wife and still gets to church! That is one tough guy. He could be one of those who say "I have done enough, let the church come to me." Not Ken, he has his priorities straight. Yesterday he thanked me for the ride. I should have thanked him instead. He inspired me all the way to and from church.  I was glad to be there! I think we can all learn from this veteran!

God bless,
Marty

She Destroys Me In Those Blue Jeans. 9/27/2015

Good Morning,

The old cup is filled with Door County Red Velvet Mocha Coffee. Our dog Gibbs is curled up next to my feet. Life is good. I will be heading to work soon and glad to be here.

 Genesis 2:22-24King James Version (KJV)

²² And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
²³ And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
²⁴ Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Today a thousand years ago, I married Laurene (Rene). I married a gal who loves Hallmark Movies, loves to cry when they get sappy, has compassion for others, loves dogs and babies. She laughs at commercials that show kids doing the craziest things. She doesn't mind hot dogs, burgers and fries. Yet she appreciates a fine meal. Christmas is a big deal to her and she makes it good for all of us. She is married to a hunting maniac and does not complain. Rene can eat custard while smiling, pick out ties that match a shirt, drive a tractor, and then dress up to die for. She still rocks a pair of blue jeans and boots. She knows how to make me shut up, and just how to drive me crazy. She loves the Lord, listens to my sermons weekly and doesn't complain. Rene packs me up for mission trips and leaves love notes in my socks and underwear. Rene climbs all the stairs to the top of old light houses and loves to shop for antiques.
To think that God made all that from just a rib. Of course I am declaring my love for my wife, and bragging on her a little. But what I really want to say is "Way To Go God"!

Have a great day. Glad to be here! How about you?

Marty

Something Was Missing 9/26/2015

Good Morning,

It looks to be a little dreary out there today. I am not seeing the sun shining yet. The fog might burn off later. I will admit my mind seems to be in tune with the weather. My mug was just filled with Door County Jamaican Blue Mountain Blend Coffee. Now the words can flow!

Last night was a beautiful night to take in a high school football game. So that was the plan, until Rene ended up on-call at work, so that ruled her out. I decided that my weekend and upcoming week will be very busy and I wouldn't get another chance to take in a game for quite awhile so I went to the game alone.

Off I went seat cushion in hand, to watch the local team our nephew played for last year. He has since moved on to college. Once I obtained my seat and started to look around, my mind flashed back to my "glory days" of high school football. Those couple of minutes were made up of very fond memories. Sweat, grass stains, bruises, and cheerleaders were all in the past. Once I recovered from my memory induce coma and returned to real life I realized that something was missing. My wife wasn't next to me for the game and old number "47" was not going to trot out on to the field. He had grown up and moved on. It was a great game and I could still clap and cheer for the local boys. But it just wasn't the same. I wasn't into the future. I had come looking for the past. Not a good idea.

Isaiah 43:18-19
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Team, we as Christians often will live in the past. We forget to move on, resting on our laurels from other days gone by. Each day, each year is a new one. If we always try to recreate or bring to mind the past great days of old we miss the opportunity to enjoy the moment and be part of new things God is doing.

The game was great and if I did not get out of the funk of past memories, which are cherished and will always be that way, I would have really not enjoyed an 80 yard interception return for a touchdown. That was a great one!!!

We all need to do the same. Enjoy good memories of the past! But don't be so caught up in it that you don't allow the present and future to also define you. God is at work and wishes for you to come along.

Have a great day. Don't miss it.

Marty

The Fly By 9/25/2015

Good Morning,

Home once again and the old pot is brewing some Door County Maple Coffee. The aroma has just filled the house with visions of colder weather and some snow.

Last night I was spending some time outside with our dog Gibbs. Just before dark, large flocks of low flying geese were traveling just over our roof top. That was music to my ears. Those flocks were just driving my little Springer Spaniel crazy. He just couldn't understand why I wasn't shooting. To him it was a sure thing! This went on for a good 15 minutes, at least. I could just see my neighbors and their reactions if I had unloaded my shot gun on those flying steaks. Although, I will admit that I did imagine it. We have to wait for a legal field and the right time. Gibbs learned pretty quick that I was not going to shoot. He calmed down and sat patiently. He had to work through the stress and temptation. Pretty soon he was sitting there watching the geese flying by and not moving. The trial by temptation was teaching him some patience.

James 1:1-4

1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:
Greetings.
² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Trials come our way and no one really likes a hardship. We work fast to get rid of them. But sometimes like Gibbs had to, we have to endure them longer than we think is necessary. During that time we learn how to wait and be patient. Each time this happens it becomes easier to wait. Gibbs is a better, more reliable dog with every time he has to wait and be patient.

Go ahead, enjoy the wait,

Marty

Celebrate Life 9/24/2015

Good Morning,

If I were home today my cup would be filled twice by now with some Door County Cherry Crème Coffee. I am looking forward to being home tonight. I am one tired puppy!

Psalm 118:24
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

I am privileged to work for a great employer who encourages us to belong to professional organizations and also sends us off to educational conferences. I have been away for a few days attending the Wisconsin Health Engineers Association Annual State Conference (WHEA). I am a member and really wanted to attend the conference because of a couple of the speakers that would be presenting. They were great.

WHEA was also celebrating 50 years of service to healthcare and the State of Wisconsin. There was a banquet with great food, music, awards and then capped off by a fireworks display along the river. I spent the evening mingling with good friends, enjoying the music and jocularity. The fireworks were and added bonus for me.

But it did take me deep in thought for awhile. Everyone was having a nice time. The celebration was planned well and I give it an A grade. My thoughts are this. It was a 50 year anniversary, and I certainly won't be here for the next 50 year event. Every day we have small victories in our lives. Every breath we take is a gift. The smiles we give or receive are gifts. We need to celebrate each day as if there won't be a tomorrow and make it count for others and ourselves.  I ask you this, why not celebrate each day in a small way? You are worth it. When God made today, He knew you would be in it. So in a way, this day was made for you. Enjoy it as much as you can. Celebrate!

God bless,

Marty