December 2, 2019 - Grace and peace from our brother and savior, Jesus, Amen. We have begun a New Year on the ancient Christian calendar. This is the year of Matthew, so most of the lessons will come from Matthew’s Gospel in 2020. That sounds so weird—2020! It seems like just yesterday we were worried about all the computers shutting down as we entered a new century! Well, that obviously didn’t happen, as most all of us carry a powerful computer in our hands—the smart phone.

November 18, 2019 - Grace and peace from our brother and savior, Jesus, Amen. Sue and I got back home from Madrid, Spain, last Thursday. We had a really nice time with our daughter as we stayed in the old part of Madrid. Sue and I don’t get around as well as we used to, but our daughter was very patient—and finally decided we’d taxi or Uber everywhere. The worst part of traveling overseas was the long—ten hour—flight. It was nice getting home even though it sure was cold when we landed in Texas. It was cold in Madrid, but neither rain nor cold kept people out of the plazas.

October 28, 2019 - Grace and peace from our brother and savior, Jesus, Amen. It is Friday morning, and I am starting on next week’s newsletter and newspaper article. Woke up this morning to rain, rain, rain!  We certainly need the rain, so no complaints here. I tried to coax the puppies out this morning, but Gunter and Sam just looked at me like I was crazy. The only way they will voluntarily go out in the rain is if I take them for a walk and get wet too. I am debating this idea as I write. 

October 14, 2019 - Grace and peace from our brother and savior, Jesus, Amen.  Last Friday morning I took my dogs to the park for our morning constitutional.  When we left the house it was about 70 degrees, which felt really nice.  As we were making our laps, the winds picked up and I knew that the temperature was falling.  When we returned home, it was 55 degrees! I guess Mother Nature finally released fall.  Saturday and Sunday we had some winter-like mornings.  I sure hope we have a long autumn full of moderate temperatures.

September 30, 2019 - Grace and peace from our brother and savior, Jesus, Amen. Fall has come but you really can’t tell yet. I am so ready for some cooler weather, but summer just refuses to let go her grip.  Sue and I went to Monroe last Monday to visit Sue’s Uncle Eddie. We had a really good visit; Eddie seems to be doing quite well, although older like the rest of us. Sue’s car is in the shop, meaning we were down to just one vehicle—so I missed Sunday School this morning. We had a nice “crowd” for church (double digits).  We held a business meeting to approve all the reports and