O-Dark-Thirty

Tomorrow morning will begin both a new day and a new year. May God grant you a blessed New Year. I know there are troubles ahead. I know that sometimes life seems hard and confusing. Surround yourself with loved ones. Be vigilant and careful of your spending. Spend money as needed. Spend time lavishly on those dear to you. If at any time you feel you need prayer, leave me a note or send me a message. Not only will I pray, but I'll let Darling know and we will both pray. For in this world, that is what we are called to do: help bear one another's burdens. Thanks for reading.

In my Traveling Grouch blog , I recount our moving adventure from our home in Texas to our new lake home in Michigan, so I won't tell that story here. But there is one thing... This is my personal blog, where I tell stories related to my feelings. 6702 Kevincrest Drive in Pearland We pulled away from Kevincrest for the last time on November 20. Darling drove, so I looked out the passenger window as we pulled away. A lump formed in my throat and tears sprang to my eyes. Memories overwhelmed me. I just finished my kindergarten graduation in Florida and Dad got new orders. I saw my familiar yard disappear. My little brother was a baby and I didn't really know what was going on, but I was sad. Again, we were moving. Snow drifted down as Dad pulled away from our house in Rhode Island. I sat in the back seat and tears started to stream from my eyes. Dad heard me snuffle and growled at me. "Boys don't cry," he said. I covered my face with my scarf as the ...

A year ago, Sagemont pastor Dr. Freeman Tomlin and his wife lost their son. As a parent, I cannot even fathom the pain. In a Sunday sermon last week, Freeman gave the most fabulous two minutes and forty-seven seconds  of preaching I ever heard. So powerful that I had to share it. If you would like to hear the entire sermon, here's a link to the page at Sagemont .

I notice that many of my favorite financial institutions are reducing the cost of trades, some even making trades free for now. Though I love to save money, I wonder - why are they doing this? Just as a guess, I think it is because the markets want more investors, and this is a good way to lure people into owning more stocks. It's no secret that I have a low regard for most Financial Newsletters. They prey on cautious and well-meaning people by warning of the coming financial apocalypse. Buy their Newsletters to avoid the imminent tragedy and collapse of Western civilization just by paying them a small fee. I exaggerate, of course. Or possibly I simplify. Do you see the dichotomy? One group shouts warning, the other implies that now is the time to dive into the market. A crisis is coming, but will it be this month? This year? At some point the disaster pundits will be able to say they warned us. Personally, I think there is never a good time to jump ...

My November 2016 post on  Why I cancelled The Bauman Letter  remains my most popular post, with 45 comments to date. I'm not sure why. I simply expressed my disappointment and reasoning about the Bauman newsletter. To be clear, I think that Ted Bauman and his father Robert Baumann are good businessmen and they have a grip on finances. I just believe they have a better grip on their own finances than that of the country. It does not take a financial genius to know our country is heading for a financial crisis. So, yeah, when they tout a "new" newsletter or fan the flames of crisis to entice someone to subscribe to their latest venture - well, I don't find that appealing.  I think you work hard for your money and you deserve to keep it.  If they can turn $5 into $50,000 for you with their newsletter, then why don't they do it for themselves and then give you what you need to know? We should be looking out for our fellow man. I have to be clear on my...

Almost exactly three years ago I posted about cancelling my subscription to the Bauman Letter . That post receives more comments than the rest of my blog combined. Yesterday an Anonymous reader posted the following: Wow Ted Baumann just released a video " Financial Collapse 2019: Insiders Dire Warning About An Unstoppable Economic Collapse " In fact, the YouTube video is posted by Peter Gunther who then goes on to suggest his Forex system is the answer to the coming crash. Most of the people who post comments on the video are not fooled by the sensationalist rhetoric of the post. Still, as most of you know, I do agree that a financial crisis is coming. What shape it takes, none of us really know. Since Nixon disconnected the US dollar from the national gold stores in 1971, our government has been free to print fiat currency at will. Lately, they've done so, to the tune of about $27 million per day. Every day. * The consequences of such reckless behavior wil...

We wrote our book, Preparing for the Fiscal Cliff,  at the end of 2012. At the time the term "Fiscal Cliff" kept popping up in the news, but nobody defined it, so we wrote a short book about what it was and what you could do about it. Since 2012, nothing much has changed in our governmental financial status. Well, not for the better, anyway. Congress - you know, those wonderful guys and gals supposedly working FOR us, the People? - keep kicking the financial can down the road. In July of this year, the government lifted the nation’s debt ceiling and raised the limits on what the the federal government can spend over the next two years. In other words, while most US citizens struggle in their day to day lives, our government decided they could spend more money. I guess they figure it doesn't need to come from anywhere. After all, the Treasury Department can just print more dollars. Here's an aside: Now Mr. Trump just wiped out a few hundred million do...

I write a lot of Bible stuff. You probably know that, since you're here. I have a few reasons for that. First of all, I'm getting old and eternity looms ahead of me. Face it, how futile is this life if there is nothing else? Also, the Bible has a lot of wisdom in it. It even says something about my first point: I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. (Ecclesiastes 1:14 NIV) Most people ascribe this to Solomon, who was sad and weary at the time he wrote it. He was getting old, too, and though he had an enviable relationship with God, Solomon veered from the path. He never forgot God was God; I think he forgot God was Lord. You can love God and you can serve Him faithfully - but break the rules and there are consequences. Of course, if you don't believe in God, the same principle applies: Actions have consequences. You see, the principles in the Bible apply whether you believe in God or...

A few weeks ago I wrote a little bit about the  Seven Churches in Revelation . I guess the Seven Churches captured my attention much longer than I thought. Here's a bit I wrote in 2006, just for my own edification. Enjoy! Commendation Criticism Instruction Promise Ephesus Rejects evil, perseveres, has patience Love for Christ no longer fervent Do the works you did at first The tree of life Smyrna Gracefully bears suffering None Be faithful until death The crown of life Pergamos Keeps the faith of Christ Tolerates immorality, idolatry, and heresies Repent Hidden manna and a stone with a new name Thyatira Love, service, faith, patience is greater than at first Tolerates cult of idolatry and immorality Judgment coming; keep the faith Rule over nations and receive morning star Sardis Some have kept the faith A dead church Repent; strengthen what remains Faithful honored and clothed in white Philadelphia Perseveres in the faith None Keep the faith A place in God’s presen...

There are questions no one can answer, and I shy away from the person that assures me they do know. I draw upon ancient sources, including the Bible, for the names of sagacious men, men of great knowledge. Abraham was a man of great knowledge in the ancient times.  Josephus says this of Abram: Berosus mentions our father Abram without naming him, when he says thus: "In the tenth generation after the Flood, there was among the Chaldeans a man righteous and great, and skillful in the celestial science." But Hecatseus does more than barely mention him; for he composed, and left behind him, a book concerning him. And Nicolaus of Damascus, in the fourth book of his History, says thus: "Abram reigned at Damascus, being a foreigner, who came with an army out of the land above Babylon, called the land of the Chaldeans: but, after a long time, he got him up, and removed from that country also, with his people, and went into the land then called the land of Canaan, but...

God is. That is actually His name: I AM. YHWH. Did you know that God is a PERSONAL God? You might think "Oh, He can't have time for me and my problems, then. There are too many people..." We're not talking about the same God. YHWH is infinite in power, which means He can devote 100% of His attention to each person - and never feel overwhelmed. (Yes, I know the math doesn't add up. That's the point. Though we ascribe human elements and limitations to God, YHWH is God - not human.) This all leads up to a story. It is one story of many in my life, but this one just happened, so here goes. Our number one prayer - always - is for us to be in the center of God's will. It is often difficult to determine where that is, but we always pray for direction. So we did some car shopping. We chose a 2018 Toyota Highlander - a very nice vehicle. Darling does all the hard lifting. I just needed to test drive it. We went last Friday for me to test drive t...

On the surface, Revelation reads like the fevered dream of someone at the doors of death. In a way, it is. God sent His angel to John the Revelator ( also known as "the disciple whom Jesus loved" in John 13:23 ) with the details of this final prophecy, and John shares it as He is told. Though shrouded in mysterious comments, some of the book is simple. Here are my notes for the simple bits for the  The Seven Churches for whom Jesus has direct words. Ephesus 2:2-5 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people , that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first . Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. Though Jesus commends the church for their perseverance, He does point ou...

The Youngest went with us to lunch the other day. As we were leaving, I held the door open for a cute little girl, probably about three or four years old. I continued to hold it open for the girl's mother and grandmother. They thanked me. An elderly gentleman followed in their wake, using a cane to walk slowly to the door. Of course, I held the door open for him also. He looked into my eyes just before he passed through the doorway. "Thanks," he said. "Us old guys need to stick together." I stumbled over my reply, something like "You're absolutely right." The Youngest grinned widely, chuckling. Really, do I look that old?  I mean, I know I'm getting up there, but ... These are the stories that make life fun.

I found this in my archives. It's now a guest post by Elizabeth Bernhardt. Darling Daughter, this was the best Father's Day gift ever!  I love you! Dear Old Dad. Dear Dad, For all those times that you have… Taken the time to talk to me Shown me a book that was really great Encouraged me in areas I felt I was bad at Given me an honest assessment of myself Stayed up all night to help me with that science project Put things into perspective Consoled me after a crushing loss Given me drawings and stories Done something so funny I had to laugh Showed me that grownups are human too Played a game with me Cooked dinner for me Given me drawing lessons Given me writing lessons/critique Flipped me into the pool Let me pound on your Back Corrected me after I did wrong Praised me after I did right JUST BEEN A DAD… Because, after all, aren’t those the things that really matter?  Thank you, not for being a father, because anyone can be a father. Thank you for bei...

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost speaks of two paths. It's a famous poem. Even if you don't like poetry, it's worth reading. Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. When Jesus surrendered Himself to die on the cross, two paths em...

Some objectors to Christianity express concern about the "other people" in the world, whether it is "the man on the mountaintop" or just those who never have the chance to hear the Gospel of Jesus. "So what is God going to do about them?" they ask. "Is a loving God going to condemn people to Hell who never had the chance to hear the Gospel?" Quite frankly, I had the same issue when I was younger. We don't know everything, but we do know that God loves all men and wants them to come to Him. You know what? Believing in God means that I trust Him. If I don't trust Him, I can't follow Him. Trusting Him means that I believe God will do the right thing. In fact, that's part of His nature, and without that characteristic, we aren't talking about the same god. Now that I'm older, I do have an answer. You can ask God when you get there, but He's going to ask you a question first.  He isn't going to ask ...