November 3, 2025

Learning While On The Run

I got a real late start yesterday in my attempt for 4 miles each day at 20 minute miles. I am going to keep repeating the goal as I want to become proficient in maintaining the 20 minute miles for 4 miles so I can do that 25 times and make it to 100 miles in the Grandmater’s ultra in February. It might be easy for you to get that 20 mile pace for 4 miles but it is a chore for me. If you want to get uppity about it, I’ll bet I can find something I can do which you struggle with! Like it not, that is the way of the world. I don’t know what it is, but there must be something I am better at than even the great Ohtani.
It was after 4:00 pm when I started yesterday, which would have been after 5 pm on the day before because the Daylight Savings change occured at 2 am. I read somewhere it takes 2 weeks for your body to adjust. I hate those statistics as everyone is not the same. Like him or not, Trump moves in different time zones without it seemingly bothering his system. He was dealing with the head of the CCP in the morning in Asia and giving out candy in the evening at the White House. Ali went to Paris and she did not tell me, but I know she took more than 12 hours to get her system back into whatever rhythm she required to survive.
I don’t think the time change had anything to do with it, but I was struggling yesterday. I was at .8 of a mile and thinking I could go around Lambert Park and back up Elrovia and home. I had numerous reasons for such a decision, e.g., my hip hurt, my legs were tired, my back needed a rest, etc.  I could go on forever with my reasons to head for home.
I went half way round the park and sat on a bench for a couple of minutes, hoping an Uber driver would be taking a shortcut on the sidewalk to the other side of the park. Alas, only some kid on one of those motorized scooters came by. I thought about accidently on purpose bumping him off the sccoter and finishing the trip on the sccoter, but remembered the commercial about checking before grabbing the kid’s cotton candy and knew God was watching so I left him alone to cruise on by.
I made it back to the corner where I either turned for home or went on towards my 4 mile jaunt.  I definitely was not going to make the 20 minute mile so I could easily have defeat let me down softly, knowing that would only be until defeat knew I was not going to change my mind and turn around to finish what I had started.  Then the landing would be rough experiencing defeat’s laughter.
I like to think I look to the heavens for my direction but this time I included looking around me and saw a stand with a map on it telling me where I was and how far it was to different locations. It seemed like it was 1.6 miles going South to Lambert and East to Maxson. That was not exactly the way I had started but it would get me close to 2 ½ miles and it would be close to 4 miles in finishing that route to the home base. So off I went and praised the Lord for at least getting me closer to my goal.
I stopped at Peck Road and sat on the bus bench for what I said would be 2 lights. I actually made it through more than 2, but who is really counting at this point. I would tell myself, “Self, remember, the goal is 4 miles. When you get up off this bench, you have to keep going East on Lambert, even though you are barely over 1 mile.”
I eventually made my move and off I went. Here comes the humor of God as after I was about 2 blocks past Peck Road, these two guys in their white shirts riding their bicycles ask me about my shirt and where I got it, (I had on one of my colorful Surf City Marathon shirts). I told them and they asked if they could walk along with me and share some things with me. I said of course, asked if they were 7th Day Adventists, to which they told me they from the Church of Latter Day Saints.
I do have some knowldge of Scripture and started thinking I could make some points here while showing off my superior knowledge. Of course, that was my first mistake, which became apparent as I tried to sound like a know-it-all. I realized I did have an advantage over them but God humbled me when I used a reference from the sermon I heard in the morning and had used before, and they came back with an answer and a Scripture I was not prepared to respond to while trying to keep up a pace now that I was moving much better.
I believe God brought along these two young men to help me get through almost 2 miles without thinking about how difficult they were or what my excuses were for how difficult they were. And then, when they turned around and went their way, He let me know I did not handle that debate appropriately. I was so convicted, I tried to see if they were still on the streets of El Monte and try to make amends. Alas, they were no where to be found and I made it home with a little over 4 miles completed.
The discussion where I got off the rails concerned I Cor. 15 where they believe someone can be saved because of the baptism of the dead. They believe you have to be baptized, along with believing Christ died on the Cross for your sins. I had mentioned the man on the Cross next to Jesus who was not baptized and Jesus said he would be in heaven with Him that day. Of course, they were ready for that and said he was baptized after he was dead, so that counted and why he could make it into heaven without being baptized in the flesh. They also used the verse about being born of water as a requirement to make it into heaven.
I know Paul was basically calling out the Corinthians for their practices and legalize, but these young men were more feverent in their beliefs than the average bear. The more vocal one wanted me to pray and ask God to reveal the truth to me. We had talked about prophets previously during maybe mile 2 1/4, and he made the claim there were no prophets from the time of about 400 AD until the prophet Joseph Smith came along in the 1800’s. I disagreed with him and he asked me to name one. Of course I could not name one at that moment. But that was my parting shot at them, when I was asked to pray to have the truth revealed to me, when I told them their hero was a false prophet who had led his flock to Utah and if the blinders were taken off them, they would see the truth. I probably told them all the above in a manner of someone who had just discovered he was an offended runner who was doing 4 miles under stress rather than a believer giving a debate response in love to 2 young men who had just helped him get through 2 miles of torture without experiencing the torture.
I realized I did not get their names when we first started sharing. I had a chip on my shoulder and started off being antagonistic and smart alecky. I certainly did not treat the guests that God allowed to come beside me for a couple of miles in the manner which honored Him. I must try and do better in the future.

November 4, 2025

So-So

I will tell you a secret. Actually, it is a confession. I start the content for the grist on the day showing at the top of the diatribe. But I have finished it on a date later than the one showing. I am not sure if I have ever started another one before the one is completed but I don’t think so. I know I have come up with more than one topic for the future ear banging, and then I would wonder where those notes were so I could dwell on them in order to create a new masterpiece after I got around to finishing my masterpiece staring back at me from the monitor screen. I have written a few of them down at the bottom of the grist I was working on and wondered what I was thinking about when I made that note as I reviewed it a few days later. Anyway, confession is always good for the soul, they say.
I was thinking about today and it was not a great day, it was not a bad day, it was a so-so day. I accomplished a few goals, but did not get a few of the simple ones done. I attempted one goal and was unable to complete it because I did not call first. I had to return home twice because I forgot an item I needed to complete the task. I left my debit card at home, which I needed for Sam’s. I made the Sam’s run and when I went out later for Josh’s food, I forgot the prescription, which I needed at the checkout.. I did vote, I did deliver a file, and I did a few other little chores, e.g., cleaning the kitchen, which is one of my chores in order to get food cooked when Dorothy comes home from work. I did not get my 4 miles in but I did get rid of over 500 sent messages saved on my computer. Have you ever looked at how many sent messages you have on your computer? I had over 6,000 when I started deleting.
I started looking up that issue about baptizing the dead and don’t think what I read was what the young man read to me while I was picking them up and laying them down on the streets of El Monte. But I still am going to take a look at the chapter again and spend a few minutes, ok, whatever time it takes, figuring out what the Lord is saying through Paul to the Corinthians and ultimately to us.
I have asked myself when was the last time I led anyone to the Lord on more than a few occasions these past few years. I asked myself to give a tine in the past number of years when I had a debate with a Mormon, Jehovah Witness, or any other splinter group who changes or adds to the Gospel? I realized I used the Jehovah Witness convoluted salvation scheme through the Archangel Michael when speaking with the two young men on Sunday. At least I got the color of their book right.
There have been a myriad of reasons why I did not finish the grist on the day I started. Myriad may be too many as I don’t think there have been that great a number. Maybe if I work on being complete in the confession, there have been times I finished the grist and did not post it promptly. I have acknowledged I teach a class in procrastination and I sometimes use this illustration to help the class become more proficient in procrastinating. You should see the examples I have in my lesson plan. Anyway, a few of the more cogent reasons include: the price of eggs in China went up, (or down); a meal being served; the View comes on and I run screaming out of the house, get lost and stumble around for days, etc.
So, I accomplished some things, failed at some thing, accomplished some things that were not on the list at the start of the day, and had a great dinner. So, it was a so-so day, some good, some mediocre, and some bad. Is there such a category as a So-So Day? I know I have said that about my day before. Well, there is such a rating in today’s grist. Praise the Lord for a So-So day.

November 6, 2025

Fighting Back While Trusting

Somebody with some sense and a voice that carries some national recognition must become another Brietbart or Limbaugh! And that person must take the step beyond what Scott Jennings is doing on CNN. Charlie Kirk was on the way to maybe being that person if he moved beyond the college campus. Although he was on the right path in taking on the blue haired, nose ringed, wild eyed fanantic, frothing at the mouth, while demonstrating their lack of knowledge and TDS.
Other than offering free stuff to illegals and basement dwellers, the leaders of the party that has become the Communist Party, formally known as the Democratic Party, has joined the ranks with the main platform being Trump is bad, an evil billionare, and a dictator or king, depending on who you talk. Some of those who shower you with spittle belicve he is both.
Since way more than the majority of those who voted for the new Communist mayor of New York were suppposedly the educated with degrees from colleges, you would think they woud be harder to snooker and bamboozle. But alas, that is not the case. When you replace history classes with basket weaving as the required class to graduate, you get followers of the weave instead of thinkers outside the weave.
I watched some of the proud Muslim’s speech to his adoring crowd of baby chicks who were shrieking at every word and open mouthed, waiting on the free worms to sustain them for aother day. I was amazed at the brashness and arrarogance exhitied from this man who claimed to be one with the common man, albeit that he was no where near understanding what the commons man and woman enduted while growing up in a moferate income household. This communist had been privildged all his life.
Then I read an article about Mamdai’s mask coming off in his speech. I knew that was a accurate description of what I was watching that night. All along the campaign trail, you saw a man who was smiling and laughing with the people who he was trying to identiy with and show he was one of them. I thought back and his statemnt that he was a Muslim, a Socialist Democrar, and proud of it and would not apologize to anyone should have been the light bulb that illuminated the room. It probably did, I just did not put it together that night.
Add to all that, I did not think New York City was mostly made up of immigrants. Maybe children of immigrants, but not like it was as protrayed in the movie, “The Gangs of New York” with Danile Day Lewis. Then again, Biden and his open border put a large population of illegal immigrants on the streets and in the hotels to exploit the billionaires pocket books and make them get on board and pay their fair share.
Where are the fact checkers for the fiery new mayor’s speech? Probably busy checking Trump’s latest media session on the plane. Have you noticed, Spanbegger made an enotmous false claim about Sears and it was never mentioned or addressed, Kerry made some whoppers and it made not one line in the news or opinion papers, the claims of suicide for transgender children has quietly disappeared, the climate change committee has disappeared, (inclding Bill Gates who is heavily invested in petloreum producing sources), and there is no outcry, no mention, no wringing of the hands, no claims of a crisis at hand by any of the main stream media or liberal talking heads? Probably not! Some of you still have no idea what took place at Chappaquiddick or what they are talking about when someone mentions something about the shooters on the grassy knoll. You have a hard time answering the trick question, “Who is buried in Grant’s tomb?”
So not only is our history not known, the stories about current events and people are not known. If you check the history of Newsom, you will find he is lying about his background, He is on a cover showing him a a privileged young man, going to a $70,000.00 a year high school. He had an affair with his campaign manager’s wife. Is his character being challenged on any of that? Bass started visiting Cuba, supporting Castro, and became a member of the Venceremos Brigade, back in the 70’s. Some of her legislation would seem to support her communist views, e.g., the New Way forward Act, that required the U.S. to bring back criminals that were deported. Has any of this really been addressed? Swallwell slept with a Chinese Spy, who was allowed to flee because he was warned about her affiliations. He sits on a committee that he should not be near, let alone stalking the valted halls of Washington D.C. Do I hear any objections to this man who was helped into the offices of the United States Government by Fang Fang?
Thankfully my hope does not lie in the Scott Jennings, Mark Levine’s, and Larry Elders of the world for my salvation in eternity. We need the men and women who are fighting against the evil forces of the fake media and the Deep State, to continue the good fight, become more vocal, proclaim loudly from their soapboxes the truth for the world to hear. But my hope for salvation in eternity lies in the King of Kings, the Savior Who sits at the right hand of God, Jesus Christ. Which is the real goal for every Christian or it should be if you are a Christian, i.e., to hear the words, “Well Done, Faithful Servant. Enter in and sit with us on the throne.”

November 13, 2025

No Wincing

I was naval gazing the other day and came up with the following thought:
“There are times I think God asks Satan if he has considered His servant, Roy. I truly believe I have the Holy Spirit in me as a believer and things, events, people, have to react to me, not me to them. You would think that at my age, Satan would respond, “Even though that Roy guy has bent and stepped off the narrow path a few times, (well really, more than a few times), he has never made it into the pit I had covered with beautiful acts of revenge, rich friends, gold, frankincense and myurr. Forget him, he belongs to You. Give me another name to check out.” But, God, in His infinite wisdom and humor, only has my name on the chalkboard. Seems like a WWE Last Man Standing match!”

I am willing to wager the farm, with large odds, that there have been times each of you have put your name in that thought in some form, maybe not exactly, but close enough to cause me to win the bet. But in reality, we are far from the description of Job. “There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.” Job 1:1 NASB
So, I am willing to bet the farm again, (of course, some of you have nothing left to bet with as you lost the last bet), with great odds again, that those of you on the short list with your farm still in your name, are no where near the description of who Job was, e.g., while I may fear God and sometimes turn from evil, and once in a while am blameless and upright, I fall short on many occasions, as do all of you.
An issue from the book of Job I have not heard anyone make a big deal out of is that God throws out the challenge to Satan because He knows Job will stay with Him, through thick and thin. They may speak elequently about it during the ordeal, but they do not start out with it at the time of the challenge. Because God knows the end result, He can make the challenge. So here is the answer to all those who want to know why God allows the righteous to suffer. He knows they will come out on the other end with the ability to sit on the throne without wincing when they sit down, even though each match seems to take away another layer of skin.
Anyway, my thought was along the line of Job not blaming God for the pain and siffering, even though it would not have happened if God had not challenged Satan and allowed those arrows from Satans’s quiver to strike the target. So there is another area I fall short when comparing myself to Job. I don’t think I was blaming God when I wrote my little diddy, but I was complaining about the current last man standing match.
When you take a step back and look at the situation from Scripture, I really should get excited about the last man standig match as I know who is going to win. I would like to only have one of those matches instead of more than one on some days, or in a week, or one that lasts for a month or even a year. It’s not because I think I would lose, but rather that I don’t want to sit on the throne with no skin on the rear, as an undefeated chanpion, even though I won’t wince as I sit.