Month: January 2024

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The Dog Next Door

“He’s not here. Precious, do you know where Pup is? Have you seen him lately?”

“You’re the one who loves on him and named him Pup. He responds to your voice. Call him.”

“I have. But I haven’t seen him for three days.”

The topic at hand was the dog that lives, or lived, next door to us. I remember the first time he greeted me. Oh, it definitely was not a friendly greeting!

I went out to work in the back yard when a deep-throated mouth erupted just the other side of the fence. I suppose the full-grown dog was napping, and I startled it. I called him “Pup” because I couldn’t remember the name the little kids in the yard called it. But Pup jumped up, fur on its neck in a full bristle, anger – or fear? – on its face, with noises being emitted from its mouth at full throttle.

I approached the fence to talk with it, but that didn’t work. Pup feigned an attack, but when I didn’t back up, it ran to the house with its sound-system on a high setting. And for the next two or three months, every time Pup saw me in the yard, it stopped whatever it was doing and picked up the barking where it left off. It absolutely would not allow me any opportunity to show my friendliness to it.

Then something happened.

The neighbors brought a pot-belly pig into their family. We watched it grow from piglet to hoglet. It isn’t an Arkansas Razorback, but it is big! They named it Pickles but my name for the critter remained Piglet.

One day Piglet was resting against the fence near to where I was working. I began speaking gently to it and reached out to touch it. Piglet’s fur is not fur. It is coarse hair, almost like a bristle brush.

Perhaps Pup thought I was going to hurt Piglet, and it zoomed up, placed itself between Piglet and me, and proceeded to sound off. Before Pup realized what was happening, I seized the moment and began petting him on his head and massaging his ears.

Pup, with a puzzled look on its face, was dutifully barking at me, wanting to bite me, but enjoying the kind attention. After five or ten very long seconds, Pup stopped barking and backed up.

He just stood there and cocked its head to one side. As I began gently speaking to it, he slowly backed away. Two days later, I saw Pup through my office window and took a break from writing to see if we could connect.

I slowly walked up and hung my arms over the fence. “Hey, Pup. I like you. You want to be friends? Come on, I won’t bite, bark, or even spit.” What else would I say to a critter that probably couldn’t understand what I was saying? I was just trying to be friendly.

Believe-it-or-not, Pup came up, sniffed my hand, and let loose with two or three obligatory woofs as he backed up. But then he came back. We had connected! From then on, every time I went to the yard, either front or back, Pup came up and wanted me to pet him.

Then something else happened.

When I went to greet Pup, he stood up, put his paws on the fence railing, and as I pet him, he closed his eyes as he placed his head against my arm. He was actually loving me! Or he was enjoying me loving him. Yes, I loved him, too.

Then something else changed.

As I would be loving on Pup, if Piglet or the other dog even came near, Pup would break off and very sternly, with sound system and teeth, warn the other critters to stay away. But then, something else changed: within a week, Pup was gone.

When I enquired of the neighbors about Pup, I had a story for Carol.

“Precious, I found out what happened to Pup.”

“Oh, where is he?”

“The neighbors said Pup was jealous of the other animals, and needed a yard of his own, so they gave him away. I miss him.”

“Well, look at you: a cat person who fell in love with a dog.”

“Okay, but don’t rub it in.”

We don’t have any pets because of our periodic travels, but I do enjoy the neighbors’ critters. However, we do have visitors: racoons, possums, deer, road runners, a fox, turtles, and others. The current residents are feral cats. They have adopted our son, but they won’t let me near them. I like it that way because that means I don’t have to feed them.

But as Carol said, I am a cat lover, so, keep feeding the kitties, Michael.

To find what I do in addition to writing blogs, click on to the web site of our formatting and publishing company at: https://plpubandlit.org/.

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A Very Good Question

The following is a question from a dear friend, and my response to her.

“In a short and concise answer, why do you believe Christianity is the true/real religion and others are false?”

Joanna, If I give you a “short and concise answer,” it will answer the question but it will not answer your intent. Here is the short and concise answer, and you’ll see what I mean:

Christianity is based on Jesus, and Jesus is truly God. Other religions are based on false gods. Anything false is not true or real. That’s why I believe Christianity is the true/real religion.

Now you see why a short and concise answer will not tell you what you want to know. Therefore, allow me to go a bit further with a fuller, more complex response.

A major scientific principle states: Matter can be neither created [out of nothing] nor destroyed [resulting into nothing]. It can change shape, form, or appearance, but cannot be created or destroyed. But matter exists. The entire universe is made from matter.

Therefore, we must amend the principle like this: Matter can be neither created nor destroyed – except by a force outside time and space. That force must be an uncreated, eternal, thinking Being. And by nature, He must be a creator. A person such as this can only be God. That outside force – God – is the only one who can make or create substance out of absolutely nothing.

Mankind is a compound creation: body and spirit. Man was created to be autonomously animated: he breathes by himself, he moves by himself, and he thinks by himself – he’s a compound miracle. It has been proven throughout human history that, although man can think up ideas, then invent and manufacture things out of processed material found in nature, man cannot create something out of nothing.

Man was created with the innate desire to worship something or someone, but rebellious or highly independent man does not want to be responsible to his Creator. Therefore, although some have chosen to believe there is no God or gods, others have generated gods from their own fanciful imagination.

Man granted these imaginary gods the ability to create themselves. Man granted them personality, spirit, and some supernatural powers, and decided to worship his own invention. However, man-made imaginations cannot answer prayer, but Jesus does answer prayer. Man-made imaginations cannot heal or speak, but Jesus interacts with us in our minds and spirits daily; and He heals. Man-made imaginations cannot guide us, but Jesus guides us in healthy, wholesome decisions.

Joanna, do you understand what I just wrote? It’s true that I learned much of that by studying various subjects. But let me quote my Grandpa Linzey when I asked him a question. You’ll find this on page 14 of my book, Reflections on Faith & History:

The last time I saw my grandfather, Stanford Linzey, he was ninety-six years old. I asked him: “Grandpa, what is the most important thing in life? I want to pass your thought on to my children as part of their family heritage.” Grandpa looked out into the field and over the horizon for a few minutes as I silently waited with eager anticipation. At last he looked toward me and pensively said, “I suppose the most important thing in life is this: everything you need to know is in The Book. You can know a lot of other things, but everything you need to know is in The Book. Study it.”

I deeply cherish those moments with Grandpa, and I have never stopped studying the bible – The Book. However, although everything we need to know for eternal life is in the Bible, I’ve learned a lot more information so that I can effectively fulfill what the Lord has asked me to do – write to inform and teach people.

You must develop your Christian world-view for yourself in order to solidly establish your faith in Jesus Christ and to be able to adequately talk with others about it.

Remember that I’m available to help. But please read my book, Reflections on Faith & History. (Click on the url at the end of this blog.) It won’t take long to read it, you’ll find several other answers you’re looking for, and I gladly await your next question. You ask very good questions. May the Lord bless you, abundantly, and I look forward to seeing you again soon.

https://www.amazon.com/Reflections-Faith-History-Bringing-Scripture/dp/1793443599

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What do You Know about Computers?

After working in a national scientific laboratory for twenty-two years, I retired in 2006. But 1991 was a turning point in my professional life: I was introduced to the world of computers.

My project leader asked me a very simple question: “What do you know about computers?”

“Nothing.” I truthfully responded.

“Everyone knows something about them, so really, what do you know?”

“I told you, nothing.”

A little perplexed, he invited me into the computer room. He couldn’t believe that an adult was ignorant about computers in the advanced 1991 culture.

I followed him into the room that contained all the electronic equipment, including the computer, that operated our multi-million-dollar experiment.

Pointing to something on the desk, he asked, “What’s this?”

“A television?”

“No, that’s the monitor.” Pointing to another item, “What’s this?”

“A funny-looking typewriter?”

“No, that’s the keyboard.” Pointing to a metallic-looking box with some buttons on a nearby table, “What’s this?”

“That’s a printer.”

“Correct.” Pointing to something on the floor, “What’s this?”

“A storage container?”

“That’s the computer. Good grief, you don’t know anything about computers!”

He then made a prediction. “Your future lies in knowing how to use the computer. Starting tomorrow, you’ll spend two hours a day learning how to operate the computer and learning what you can do with it. Eventually, all your reports will be made using the computer.”

But the boss didn’t leave me high and dry. He gave me some basic instructions. Very basic!

Holding a flimsy thing in his hand, he started.

“This is a [5.25”] floppy disk, here is where you will sit, this is where you insert the disk into to computer, this is how you turn it on … but stay out of “C” drive.”

I didn’t know what “C” drive was, but I decided to stay out of it. And that was my introduction to the world of computers and word processing.

For the next four months, I spent two hours each working day “playing” with the computer. I took out documents (typed by others) and retyped them while changing things for the experience.  I poked around with buttons and keys just to see what would happen. Often, I would get the poor thing confused and it would freeze up, and I had to use the magic formula of Ctrl – Alt – Del. That always fixed everything. (Remember, that was back in 1991.) But I still didn’t know what “C” drive was.

However, this was a special computer that controlled our scientific experiment. One day when I turned it on, it seemed that some of the information that usually appeared on the monitor was missing, so I called my project manager and asked him what was happening. After a brief interlude of unrecognizable and unrepeatable utterances, he exclaimed, “You got into “C” drive!”

Well, over the phone, he gave me instructions that enabled me to retrieve the lost information. That day, I learned about “C” drive and “Undelete,” and that was also the day he scheduled me to attend my first computer class. Two primary bits of knowledge I gained in class were: 1) The computer didn’t store or save information until we purposely saved it. 2) Save what we’re working on every 15-20 minutes.

The boss at the scientific lab was correct when he predicted, “Your future lies in knowing how to use the computer.” Teaching, preaching, formatting books, publishing, and so much more that I do, requires use of the computer. And what’s even more exciting is, I enjoy the work. And you, the reader, know it because without the computer, I wouldn’t be able to put up my blogs.

Oh, yes …  I can now get into “C” drive safely … most the time. 

[An excerpt from Reflections on Life, page 130.
https://www.amazon.com/Reflections-Life-S-Eugene-Linzey/dp/B09BT9TG5D]

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The $5,928,000,000 Debt

Jesus emphasized mercy in the story of the unmerciful servant which is found in Matthew 18:23-35 (KJV).

Therefore, is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

Ten Thousand Talents? That sure sounds like a lot of … something. What is it?

There are three ways to think of the word talent.

The first thought is a skill such as playing a musical instrument, playing a sport, or learning a craft. But the servant couldn’t owe the king anything like that.

Another concept is weight. Various charts give different weights, one of which says a talent is equivalent to 85.5 US pounds. Therefore, 10,000 talents is equivalent to about 855,000 pounds, or 427.5 tons. For comparison, an early version of the Boeing 747 aircraft weighs about 435 tons. The servant couldn’t owe anything like that, either.

So, let’s look at it historically from the days Jesus walked the earth.

In 30 A.D. a day’s wage was a Roman denarius, sometimes called a pence or a penny in the Bible, and the laborers worked all day long with no overtime. A single talent was 6,000 denarii, or pence, which was 6,000 days’ wages. If you do the math, you find that was a man’s pay for about nineteen years.

10,000 talents were the wages for about 190,000 years. If a person today earns $15 per hour for 40 hours a week, the wages for 190,000 years would be approximately $5,928,000,000.

Would the man in Jesus’ story ever be able to pay off that debt? No. Jesus told the parable to show how deeply indebted mankind is to God because of sin. It is impossible for us to pay that debt. Therefore, God, in the form of Jesus, had to settle the debt for us.

Let’s return to the story at verse 25. When you see “a hundred pence,” remember that is almost three month’s wages.

But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 

Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 

But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 

And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 

So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

Jesus painted quite a picture! The compound message revealed a harsh consequence for not forgiving someone. But let’s think about what happens in real life today.

We often get caught up in finding fault, or become blinded in the emotion of a problem, and we can’t see straight. We think we’ve been defrauded, or our rights have been violated, and we want vengeance. Although we’ve made mistakes and have been forgiven, we still demand justice and retribution related to others.

However, Jesus made it clear that since God forgives us of the impossible debt we owe Him, we are asked to forgive others of the minor debt they owe us if we want to continue to grow in our relationship with God.

How would we fare if God demanded justice from us? There is no way we could make it right with God. We would be judged and sentenced to be punished forever. But in the greatest act of mercy in the history of mankind, Jesus is willing to forgive us.

1 John 1:9 tells us that all we need to do is sincerely confess our sin and ask God to forgive us. But a stipulation related to our pardon is that we extend mercy to others. That’s an integral part of Christianity – an essential part of forgiveness – and we cannot ignore it. It’s a dynamic factor in the process of becoming like Jesus.

[An excerpt from chapter 5 in the book: Truth not meant to be Hidden.
Visit: https://www.amazon.com/Truth-not-meant-Hidden-Becoming/dp/B0BRYWHZDS

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After Your Book Has Been Published ……

Many writers are happy when their book has finally – FINALLY – been published, and they immediately order 10, 25, 50, or whatever number they choose, and begin selling them and/or giving them to friends. And it’s not a bad thing to do, but it can generate a little embarrassment. I know about this because I’ve done the same thing. The basic problem is simple, but since I cannot speak for all formatter/publishers, I’ll just speak for us at P&L Publishing and Literary Services.

At the end of the formatting process, we email a PDF version of the formatted document to the author. The author is supposed to read the document very carefully and assure that the book says exactly what he or she wants it to say. The author will then notify us that it is ready to publish, or that there are a few changes or corrections that need to be made. We make the adjustments and publish the book.

However, many authors do not read it carefully. Another issue is that the document often looks different in a book than it does on your computer. It even looks different than if it were merely printed at home. Authors will often find what I call Little Stumbling Blocks that they wish they could fix. Well, they CAN fix them, and the fix should take place before everyone starts buying the book.

I recommend that, after your book has been published, you order one copy for yourself and read it carefully. Make a list of corrections you might want to make and send the list to your publisher. There may or may not be an additional charge – that will depend on the contract and the complexity of changes to be made.

But please follow the above advice, because we want you to be happy with your book. Then, order your 10, 50, or how many you want, and enjoy selling or giving them to friends.

For more information about P&L Publishing and Literary Services, please click on this url address. The web site is undergoing a New Years renovation, but the basic information is easily available. https://plpubandlit.org/

Have a great day, and Write Creatively.

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Be a Blessing to Society

Karl Marx once said, “People without a heritage are easily persuaded.” That is true, but why?

Do you remember watching Fiddler on the Roof or reading the book? When Tevye was asked why he does things in a certain way, he responded, “Tradition.” Tradition and heritage are anchors that help people know who they are. They give people stability and a sense of worth.

Thinking back on Karl Marx’s statement, one of the reasons our culture has been changing so rapidly is that our heritage, our values are being stripped away, and people are losing their national and spiritual identity. One of the ways to keep our identity is to read about our history. Another way is to write about our own personal history – including our family history and family values.

So, I encourage you to read and write. Read books that build character and emotional strength. And when you write, write creatively. At the start of this new year, determine to be a blessing to society.

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Happy New Year, Friends

On December 31, 2020, Carol and I spent a quiet New Year’s celebration together. It was relaxing because from 2008 through 2022, we had been home on December 31 only five times and on the road ten times. Hey, I just realized that we’ll stay home this year, too. YAY1

Several friends asked, “Can’t sit still, can ya?” My response is normally, “You find no moss under my wheels.” For example, in 2021 we drove over 29,000 miles and almost 21,000 in 2022.

It’s well-known by our families, friends, and those who read my articles, that we enjoy living in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. All cities, towns, and villages have their problems, but we’ve found this town to be one of the most pleasant places we’ve ever lived. With that in mind, why do we “hit the road” so often?

One quick answer is: our five kids live in five different states, and our siblings are spread out from the West Coast to the Mississippi Valley. We enjoy visiting them. We also have the privilege of preaching and teaching in our travels.

A second answer is: we enjoy seeing God’s creation first-hand. Seeing nature in books and on video is great. But nothing beats driving through the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, seeing the Space Needle in Seattle, WA, the amazing Oregon Coast, Puget Sound in the great northwest, Niagara Falls, the red granite beaches of Maine, the snow-white beaches of Siesta Beach in Florida, seeing Yellowstone and Yosemite National Parks, and HUNDREDS of other places.

We also enjoy seeing the marvels of man’s creation, such as Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, the 605-foot tall Space Needle in Seattle, and the 630-foot tall Arch in St. Louis.

Historic sites such as the Yorktown, Virginia battlefield, the Gettysburg Battlefield, and Pearl Harbor cause me to stop and contemplate how different life might have been if the political and military tide had turned the other way.

The third answer is: we’re getting older, and some day our travel days will be over. So let’s travel while we can.

As we travel, we take thousands of pictures to document where we’ve been and what we saw. We’re grateful for digital photography because that’s a lot less expensive than the film we bought in the past. We often get our pictures out (on computer or other devices) and through our memory, we take those trips again.

The ability to remember amazes me. When I get to heaven, I want to ask God how He created memory. But I think He’ll simply say: That’s My secret.

As I mentally gaze on our blessings this past year, I read that approximately 3,273,707 people died in 2022 in the United States (around 69,163,777 worldwide), others have gotten sick, many have lost homes and businesses due to pandemics, government mistakes, the natural flow of economics, ongoing wars, and natural disasters. But sickness, wars, governmental problems, business failures, and all the other problems and catastrophes have been going on since shortly after Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden. As we read in Ecclesiastes 1:9, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.”

The emphasis is: there’s nothing new under the sun. We have modern means of traveling, conducting war, studying, and getting work done, but the essence of life hasn’t changed throughout man’s history. Sickness, death, and all other problems related to life on earth will continue until Jesus stops it. And He will return one day.

But if He doesn’t return soon enough, I will die too. I don’t know by what means, but I will die, and the thought doesn’t bother me at all because death is part of life, and I know where I’ll go – to heaven to be with Jesus.

In the same concept as midnight on December 31 starts a new year, or a baby being born starts a new life, when my traveling days are over and I breathe my last on earth, I will start a new year, a brand-new life in heaven. It’s part of the Christian’s cycle of life.

However, as badly as I feel for those who have been hurt by various events on earth, I feel worse for those who die while not believing in Jesus Christ. We can start over after a catastrophe on earth, but when we die without faith in Jesus, there is no recovery. Think about it.

And I do wish you a Happy New Year.