On 11/11/2020, I wrote:

We’re on our way home from New York. The added “covid security” in the state was no big deal. We paid for Covid testing because they said we wouldn’t be allowed in the state without a signed negative test. No one asked to see it at all. When we arrived, young men dressed in fatigues, probably Coast Guard or National Guard cadets, asked for our pre-landing forms we filled out. My wife’s was filled out and he told us because we were together, mine didn’t need to be done. We had been told by their paperwork that after the 3rd day in our visit we would be required to get tested again. Instead, I got an email asking me if I had had any symptons of Covid—answer yes/no. I wrote back no. They wrote back, “if you have any, please get tested.” That’s it, after all the bravado hype, that was it. (Shrug)…This just adds proofs to my believe the “pandemic” is more hype than problem—politician’s bravado! I know, many people are sick with the flu, but they are sick with other flus, other chronic illnesses which take the lives of friends, family and neighbors all year long. I just don’t think any of this is needed to be handled like it has been handled—again, political bravado!

I had found a really good vehicle rental for a crossover, as low or lower than in many smaller locations, so I took it. After we went to pick it up, the “add-ons” came out. Tax totals were an additional $140 and buying their insurance became a necessity—you don’t want to hear the total. But, it was a fine ride and served us well, because our son has a coupe which would have been uncomfortable for all of us.

Our stay was very pleasant and easy going and the upstate New York weather was unseasonally warm and beautiful sunshine. Plus, enough georgeous color stayed on the trees to give us another pleasantry. The last night found us with all the family members in that area having an early “Thanksgiving dinner”—it was delicious and the conversation was convivial. Our collective Thanks-giving was for the heroic actions of the man who alerted our son of the fire in their home and for their health and safety in escaping what could have been fatal in just a few more minutes on that night. Much for which to thank the Lord.

While there, on Sunday I did a one hour online bible class like my normal routine. I did it standing in our bedroom with excellent lighting and sound, better than I expected. I taught on why our salvation is from the simple gospel of Christ. Pretty sure there were many more aspects of the salvation message I didn’t have time to cover, so I’ll do that with more imphasis on the difference in the rest of Scripture and on the eternal side of it again very soon.

More later.

“More later” time has come, finally. 11/26/2020Thanksgiving Day

In spite of all the year 2020 has brought our way, there is, as always, much to be thankful for. We have a gathering after a while today of approximately two thirds of our total family. (We’re missing the NY group I wrote about in the paragraphs above.) So today, with the ones we have here in NE Alabama and having already been with the NY loved ones, the only one we’re not with is our grandson who lives in Germany. It isn’t thanksgiving day over there, but maybe we can track him down and at least say “happy whenever!” To him.

I have now done two more messages (on the 15th and on the 22nd of this month) about how the “gospel of your salvation” should be being preached today and I hope I didn’t leave out anything and, for sure, hope I didn’t add anything. I’m thoroughly enjoying the continuing study in Ephesians 4,5,6 intending to make applications about how we should live “in Christ” today and in “rightly dividing the word of truth.” —More this Sunday, 11/29/2020.

Approaching the last month of this enormously wacko year, I’ve been reflecting on how the year has made wild swats at the emotional foundations of the world; its incident provoking affect on society, its fear inducing powers seemingly oozing out of the words of the talking heads on 24hour news networks and fear mongering across the nation, and the lack of any politician or power broker taking anything about this in stride. Almost the entire year has been consumed by that thing which invaded the rest of the world from China (about which no one in power except the one whom it looks like is going to leave office soon, speaks the truth concerning the blame) and the dominant media and the politicians it props up are telling us now 2021 will be more of the same! In fact, my guess for the next year is that the biggest battle will be over the so-called “necessary” vaccine!

A fight will ensue as to who has the control over its application, the arguments will arise and ebb and flow about whether it should be mandatory or voluntary, then a whole bunch of people will lose even more personal liberty. So, if that prognostication does come about how will 2021 be any different than 2020? Probably won’t. Just a little worse. Inching towards the day when a man (not a group) will stand up and say, I am now ruling the world! Want to be here when that happens?

May I suggest you do not want to be here when he does that. He won’t be the Christ; he’ll be the anti-christ, a dreadful man in a dreadful time! So, how do you escape such a terrible time? Today, where you sit, stand, lie or ride: just simply put your eternal life in the hands of the One who died for you, the Lord Jesus Christ. He died for your sins, was buried and God Almighty raised him from the dead so you can be saved for ever. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you’ll have no worries about how bad things are gonna get.

Thanks for reading, the Elder