Sometimes I am amazed as I uncover a few jewels of the history of the area where I live. It seems that right across the creek where I sit is the old road that led to Stuart and Martinsville, Virginia. It is more evident in winter, after the trees and ground cover have disappeared. According to the locals, it was once a wagon trail and eventually a gravel road. In the 50s, they decided to build a road and bridge that bypassed the old road, allowing for easier, quicker travel to other areas of the region.

I recently completed a new screened porch on the back of my house and have been getting up before dawn to sit there. The sounds of the rushing water in the nearby creek and the neighbor's rooster crowing are constant companions that greet me.

The Pre-eminent Mark of a Life Governed by the Spirit.

To preach the Cross is relatively easy, but to be a crucified person preaching the Cross is not so easy.

August 2, 2026

On July 25th, I ended the day reading the news. The headlines read “Thousands Feared Dead After Twin Earthquakes Rock Venezuela,” “Trump Clashes with GOP Senators over Iran and Blocks Housing Bill to Force SAVE Act Vote,” “Appeals Court Allows Trump Administration to Resume Mass Deportations Without Trial,” “Pentagon Restores Flu Vaccine Mandate After Outbreak Sickens Hundreds on Air Force Base,” and “Five Eyes” Intelligence Alliance Warns AI Models Pose Huge Cybersecurity Risks.” Then came the weather headlines. “A record-breaking day in the U.S., with extreme heat, severe storms.” The record-breaking heat in multiple states and severe weather that caused significant damage across the central and southern U.S. made it one of the most notable weather days of the year to date.

Finally, some rain! But will it be enough to end the drought we are in? Unfortunately, it will not. According to the Virginia Drought Monitor, we are experiencing the 6th-driest January-to-April period on record since 1895. We normally average 9.04 in. total precipitation, so we are 4.48 in. below normal. Some areas in North Carolina are experiencing the worst drought on record.

 My wife decided to check the mailbox today, and as she did so, a car pulled in and backed out. She waved to them, and at the moment they rolled down the window, an elderly gentleman told her that he was 87 and that his daughter was driving him to visit where he grew up, a trip down memory lane.

Retirement is a game-changer for many. A dear friend of mine retired a few years ago, and all was well for the first year. Projects that had been neglected for years were soon tackled one by one. But soon it came down to organizing the basement and all the tools.