2026.07.14 Daily Thread: The World According To Trade(Bait)

Some fun to start the day!

How about a irrelevant and unimportant deep dive into a totally disrespectful, yet, funny statement used in many endeavors, specially sporting events.

Definitely too much information, even if the subject matter is fully addressed in the first five minutes or so of the video.

Then there is this…

That was a bit strange… and very wet.

The next one is definitely up my alley.

Pepé le Pew with an interesting twist…or thud.

Which leads to…

That’s all folks!

No, really, that’s all folks!

We have reached the end of my run as an author at this time. Some of you are probably dancing in your skivvies and muumuus while shouting “good riddance” in your kitchens. Others may have a more subdued response because you ignored most of them. 😄

It’s all good.

I have been grateful for the opportunity Wolf provided to express my thoughts about past experiences, interests, people, our nation, Christianity, history, politics, business, health and so on. It has been chicken soup, therapeutic, for my soul. To all who spent your time reading and contributing your thoughts – thank you! It is encouraging to authors to know others are willing to spend time considering the subjects and presentations. Please continue to do so with all authors and supporting the efforts of Wolf. I have been humbled and learned much from all QTree members within our community. Being here has led to a better life for me and my family. Besides that, it is just a great place to hang out!

I am not going anywhere. I will still be reading and posting on threads many days. This place of online friends that Wolf has provided means a great deal to me. I just need more time to do other things of importance at home and in the community.

Life Lessons Learned

My mission here is complete for now. My assignment was to help others. That’s it. In so doing I relearned an important lesson that is really important for all of us if we are willing to consider it.

Luke 2:46

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. (ESV)

Regardless of His age, why would the Son of God spend His limited, precious time on earth sitting with the religious teachers of the stubborn, defeated people God chose to bring a light into the world; much less listen and ask them questions? He obviously knew far more than they did. Other Biblical text goes on to say that the religious teachers and others who were present were amazed at His understanding and wisdom as a child.

Some folks suggest it was His status as being both a young human and God and that may be part of it. It seems more likely to me that He was doing what better teachers do; listening and engaging to develop relationships and understanding with those around Him; building credibility of sorts. From that “lesser” position He might have hoped to influence their thoughts and beliefs by asking questions that had the benefit of guiding the participants.

Which led me to,

Proverbs 20:5

The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. (ESV)

Most people keep their innermost thoughts and beliefs to themselves. It takes a person with a sincere desire to listen to understand and care to bring them out of that tightly guarded place. Coincidently, that is Habit #5 in the late Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” – Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood.

In a sense, all of the 7 Habits that Covey provided are Biblically inspired and supported in my opinion. They also work well in this life in many applications. I personally benefitted because I bought into them at one of the lowest periods in my life at 40 years of age. I saw the parallels with them and The Word… and sold out. I felt the contents of that book and subsequent training was provided for me personally as I was retooling spiritually as well as in my career.

Everything changed for the better. I learned I really needed to listen and care about what others thought and had to say, not just give it lip service. I needed to ask more questions and truly listen instead of being self centered and bull headed in my positions. The Lord used this changed attitude and approach to improve my ability to separate the wheat from the chaff as well as when to linger and when to depart in relationships. He imparted more of His understanding, wisdom and discernment. He obviously knew I badly needed it because I was a flat zero in that regard up to that point in my life. From there I learned to help others by asking leading questions for their thoughts instead of “telling” others what they “should” do, say or think. It helped my career blossom. It changed me spiritually and hopefully made me a better husband, father and friend.

I AM

This awakening led to acceptance deep within my being; not just of the words I read on pages from an old collection of books that some non-believers call fables. We know that the Hebrew term of YHWH is synonymous with I AM WHO I AM, which was stated by God Himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14. Knowing that led me to the following. All scripture from this point on will be in the King’s English (KJV) some readers prefer.

John 8:58

Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

I learned the truth that Jesus really is God come to earth. He is The Word as The Word states. It became time for me to personally and spiritually mature in my own life before I could help others better understand who He is; which is The Way, The Truth, and The Life stated later in John 14:6. He stated in that scripture that He is the only path to God the Father.

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Well, there it is again.

This opens it up to the next leading question. Do you want to live eternally with a gracious, loving God in heaven? Jesus taught all of us how. However, that came after He listened to mankind first. Then He would ask leading questions; the ones you read throughout the New Testament of the Holy Bible. The answers led to the key truths of our existence. Yet, many miss those two little words of identification that provide His full authority as God. To fully understand it you need to know deep within you the meaning of Peter’s response. From Matthew 15:15-16,

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

And once again…I am.

That was a leading question from the Creator and Savior of the universe that led to the equally great understanding and acknowledgement of who He is as well as the standing of Peter (us).

To conclude these observations, there is this from the back of The Book – Revelation 1:8,

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

You either believe Jesus or you do not. If you do not, just know that you do not receive the benefits of the relationship without the acknowledgement and acceptance of the forever binding contract (covenant) with YHWH that provides release from this earthly prison when you breathe your last breath. You get what you get for as long as you are here. If you do believe and accept Him, the great part is you pay nothing when you sign on. It is free and it provides the immediate release from your bondage to your personal screw ups and death. He paid the cost of entry for you.

My Next Assignment

I will be continuing to help homeschool Grandson #1 and it is likely that Grandson #2 will be coming online with that route later this year. Another primary reason is the Lord has placed on my heart to prepare for a deeper dive into The Word as I respond to His call to mentor and teach in our church. We are in the midst of a building project that is designed to specifically house our rapidly growing children and youth ministries. Upon completion, one aspect of it will lead to Christian homeschooling support groups for children of local families as well as an expanded Parents Day Out program.

Reengaging my desire and ability to employ Habit #5 will not only serve the children and youth better in this initiative of the church; it will be of major benefit to time starved working parents, grandparents and guardians. Once the trust and credibility is built, I hope to help in whatever way the Lord directs my path. Daughter has already signed on to do her part as a Pre-K teacher, which she currently does at another church.

It has not been lost on me that I did not have access to any of this type assistance as a young person. This lack of availability and access proved detrimental to my life into adulthood as well as to others around me with whom I interacted. I want far better for our kids, to give them a leg up in a challenging, sometimes difficult world in which live.

But, there is more. There is a SBC church that has been dying that is located between three thriving SBC churches within a five mile radius. The dying church has a good facility that at one time housed the largest congregation in our area. However, the church leaders during those days felt they needed to build a new, even larger facility on a more accessible major highway nearby. Their congregation was outgrowing the old facility. Once completed the majority of the congregation left for the new location while about 150 stayed. Those who left were proven accurate in their prediction and the new location now has about 2000 members and is still growing strongly. It also provides a playground, soccer fields, and walking trail that our entire community utilizes.

Over the decades that followed the membership that stayed at the former location has slowly dwindled to the point it became difficult to retain even a part time pastor. Today, there are only 11 members in the church that once had over 500. Part of the decline has been due to the strong success of the other three churches. Part is due to a lack of leadership and direction within its congregation. It is a sad situation for us personally as it was in that church that Daughter accepted Christ as her Savior as a young girl visiting their Vacation Bible School. She was baptized there a few weeks later. It was the only VBS she ever attended at a different church or denomination than our former UMC location.

Our three Senior Pastors and church leaders are focused on building the kingdom for Christ, not personal careers and preferences. As a result we will be in partnership together as we commit financial resources, staffing and congregational support to the troubled church. An energetic pastor who has been a local resident for over twenty years has stepped forward and assumed the role. A number of current members in each of our three thriving congregations will be moving to the subject church to seed its revival and ministry into our community, reaching more people for Christ. The intention is to serve the restarted church for six months to a year before returning to home churches as desired.

Our church leaders listened first to understand. They responded to the need as Jesus instructed all of us to do.

Somewhere in there is where the Lord will likely be leading us to serve. Whether it be to help build the children and youth homeschooling ministries where we are, or, charting a new path to the reseeded church. We will listen first and respond as Isaiah did in 6:8,

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” (ESV)

YHWH has a plan. I need more time to prepare for my role in whatever it is as well as be a good husband, dad, papaw and patriot. I will end this series with this simple statement and question asked by Abraham in Genesis 18:25,

That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

For you, my friends…

Your Turn

It is your time. As I mentioned beginning a month ago there are a number of you who already possess the skillset to do these Dailies very well. You will have the support of all of us. There are so many paths you can take and it does not have to be elaborate. I just ask that you consider letting Wolf know of your willingness to do so. He has provided a beautiful place to spend your time and his leadership for it will prove fruitful.

Be blessed everybody. In God We Trust. Also, trust Trump and the plan, the Golden Age awaits.