The Old Watchman

06/09/2026

What is success?

I tremble when I hear people describe what success means to them. I'll include most folks in the church in that statement as well.

Is success measured in numbers of followers, the number of views or downloads? Is success measured in bank accounts or possessions? Is success accredited to how recognized one is or how famous they are?

If success is tied to any of those things then I am a dismal failure. So, punch my ticket. I am NOT a failure. My life is not a waste. There is no waste on the alter.

If, in my writings or my speaking, one person is encouraged to rise in their faith and stand firm, then I am successful. If one person gains a better understanding of Scripture amid the false teachings that are so prevalent today, then I am successful. If one person comes to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, then I am successful. God did not call me to be wealthy or famous. God called me to be faithful to Him and His purpose for my life.

Just one person whose life is changed for the better in Jesus Christ is a resounding success! There is always room for just one more.

Just one more person who is encouraged, gaining knowledge, understanding and wisdom, who accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior, that is what drives me. Just one more person. That is monumental success!

As an old preacher whom I love says all the time, I'm just thinking out loud today.

06/08/2026

The enemy struck again. Whether it was to take me out altogether or to discourage me to the point that I would quit on my faith, he accomplished neither of those goals.

What did I learn? I've learned to not place my hope or my faith in the things of this world. The things of this world will eventually rust or rot away. Life is difficult. Life is not fair. The devil wants to make it harder still. But know this, he is a defeated devil no matter if life goes the way you want it to or not.

God has proven his faithfulness to me. I will remain faithful to Him. My wife and family are worth living for. To share my faith with others is worth living for. To find that which is worth dying for makes living worth the walking through the storms and battles of life.

But the peace of knowing that you don't have to navigate those storms or fight the battles alone, that peace is priceless.

That peace is precious to me.

06/03/2026

What is the measure of a man? How does God measure men? Does God measure men?

Yes, I believe that God measures men, but not necessarily by the same means that most of us measure men. King David is the only person the Bible says was a man after God's own heart but he was not allowed to build the temple . Joshua and Caleb were the oldest surviving men of a nation that wandered in the desert for forty years. Enoch and Elijah were taken by God before they tasted death. These men, and others, were measured by God.

Paul tells us that when he was a child that he spoke as a child, thought as a child and reasoned as a child, but when he became a man he put away childish things. In essence, Paul is conveying to us how men are made.

I address this issue in the latest episode of "The Watchman Speaks" Podcast. Just type in "The Watchman Speaks" Podcast into your browser and you will find it.

But merely reaching the age accepted as manhood or the stature of a man does not make one a man. Nor does fighting prowess, toughness, or the ability to dominate others. How does God measure men?

You can continue to wonder or you can listen to "The Watchman Speaks".

06/01/2026

Cheryl and I have had a long conversation about my health and what is actually best for me. The conversation centered around my wood working and other things that I'm doing, like the podcast "The Watchman Speaks" and such.

I've slowed way down since having the brain hemorrhage and the heart attack. My hands are not as steady and my eyes are not as clear as they used to be. I'm probably going to begin steering away from using the large power saws in the shop as I once did. I'm not quitting, but I'm only doing what I actually "feel" like doing in the shop.

On the other hand, that gives me time to work on "The Watchman Speaks" Podcast. I'm thinking about beginning a YouTube channel and perhaps a weekly Newsletter/ Devotional Membership Community. Cheryl and I are working on the web site to offer articles and Bible Study resources that I have used and approve of. Additionally, I'm preparing for sharing my testimonies in regard to maintaining and growing faith through trials and difficult times with churches, men's groups, etc.

So, it's not so much that I'm going to be less busy. I'm still working in the shop to build things we want or need for our home. But most of my time will be spent sharing knowledge, understanding, and wisdom that I've accumulated through years of working on the farm, working as a nurse, and walking through the storms of some severe medical issues. I've found that biblical teachings can be applied to all areas of life.

I wish you all well. But know that I have no intention of building a platform for myself. Only that the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit be elevated and that God's Kingdom be advanced. That is my heart's desire.

This is probably best for me overall. I happen to believe that I am precisely where God wants me to be.

So, that's where I am now. Y'all be blessed!

06/01/2026

We are having an online prayer circle. My love to everyone who reads this. Let's pray for one another today because prayers are needed right now. I ask my friends to kindly post this status for one hour to whisper a prayer for all those who have family problems, health struggles, job issues, or worries of any kind and just need to know that someone cares.
Do it for all of us because nobody is immune. I hope to see this on the walls of my family and friends. I did it for someone else - copied and posted to my wall.
Never underestimate the power of intercessory 🙏 ❤️

Send a message to learn more

05/06/2026

Time is perhaps one of the most valuable commodities that we have. We only have a certain amount of appointed time to walk this earth. The fascinating thing is that we don't even own the time that we have. We merely get to choose how we use the time that we have.

When I was young, I wasted a lot of time. I spent my time chasing things that would not last. Possessions and money to gain possessions took up a lot of my time. Those possessions and money will eventually either rust or rot away. This old body that I'm living in will eventually rot as well.

I can see that I have more years behind me than I have years ahead of me. We will all reach that point at some time. My time is dwindling away and my time will come to an end sooner than later. I don't waste time anymore. I want every minute to count for something that will last. My name will eventually be forgotten. The memory of my being here will fade away.

My legacy will not be my name on a building that will some day crumble and fall. No, one day I'll stand before my King and point to a multitude of souls behind me and I'll be able to say, "My time and efforts were spent so that they would be able to follow You." And in that process, I'll stand in God's presence, in HIS glory, to worship and praise Him for all eternity. That's enough for me.

I wasted too many years with frivolous activities. No longer. My time that I have left is redeemed and I choose to use that time wisely.

This evening I'll upload the latest episode of "The Watchman Speaks" podcast. The question at hand is this, "Is killing time killing you?"

Tune in to "The Watchman Speaks" on Apple, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Tunein+Alexa Podcasts, or Podcast Index. Is killing time killing you?

05/02/2026

Today I turned sixty four years old. Last year at this time, I wondered if I'd see the sixty four year milestone. It's been a tough year. The enemy attacked from all fronts. A massive brain hemorrhage, a shoulder replacement, and prostate surgery to rule out cancer.

But I have a beautiful wife, two lovely daughters, a grand daughter, and a mother-in-law who have kept me anchored in my faith. They have encouraged me to keep moving forward when my strength had failed completely. My sixty third year was an exceedingly humbling period of time. The story of my recovery is not one of tidy faith. But rather a faith that was hard fought for in the midst of heated battle and tumultuous storms.

I'm still anchored in my faith. I'm still anchored in love for my Heavenly Father, my family, and the church. I'm still standing. The podcast, "The Wachman Speaks" has almost doubled in four months compared to the previous three years combined. My voice has been heard in over 80 countries this year alone. I boast in the Lord because I did nothing to make that happen. I just showed up, faithfully, and continued when everyone was telling me that I was a failure.

I've just about finished writing my testimony in regard to all the events that we have been through in 2025. It's about 50 type written pages. I'll be offering that for free as a .pdf download very soon if anyone is interested in reading it.

I'm about 5 chapters into writing a book about the biblical trumpets, God's time, and how God works on His timeline. I believe that the trumpets and how God works in His time has a great deal to do with my survival and recovery. It'll be a good read.

I'm currently working on the preparation for sharing my testimony with churches, men's groups, and conferences. I should have everything ready to explore those possibilities within the next few months.

I am moving forward, slowly, but I'm moving forward. For in my weakness God's strength is made perfect. Y'all be blessed now, you hear?

04/29/2026

Serving God and His church calls for an attitude of servitude.

Yet some believers believe that God and the church exists to serve them. This is a grave error.

Some use the church as a stepping stone to achieve office or position so as to rule and reign over the church. This is a grave error.

Yet there are those who will humble themselves in utmost humility to serve the body of Christ in a meaningful way. Without recognition. Without notoriety. Without compensation.

So, how low will you go to serve God and His people?

Hear the latest episode of "The Watchman Speaks" podcast where the question, "How low will you go?" is addressed. I might find yourself amazed. "The Watchman Speaks" podcast can be found on most podcasting platforms.

Y'all be blessed!

04/24/2026

Sometimes it's not easy. Sometimes things don't work the way we want them to or the way we think that they should. Like today, I'm building my wife, Cheryl a ten foot long bench for the front porch. We have family visit a couple times each year and we need seating on the front porch. Well, I cut two pieces completely backwards and opposite of what they should be.

Now that's a very minor problem. Certainly, it is less of a problem than other problems we have encountered over the past 14 months. But it is wasted materials and wasted materials cost money. I hate wasting in all aspects of life whether it be in materials in building something, food, electricity, or water. Why do I hate waste so much?

When Jesus fed the five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish (which is the only miracle that Jesus brought about in all four gospels), it is written that twelve baskets of remaining food were collected after all had eaten their fill.

Now, indeed it is a miracle that five thousand were fed with 5 loaves and two fish. It is a miracle that that twelve baskets of left overs were collected afterwards. I don't see how those miracles can be denied. But it did happen. We're doing pretty good. We are not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, but God is providing for us.

Why is that? Well, first we are faithful to God. He has proven faithful to us. But one thing that we DO NOT do is WASTE what He has provided for us.

Think about that. Pray about it.

I am The Old Watchman. Just thinking out loud today.

04/15/2026

Beware.

There are prophets for profit and teachers of half truths out there to tickle your ears. Their message sounds good, feels good, and looks good. But their message is riddled with half truths.

Half truths are a lie. It is deception. There is no deception in God's Holy Word. Test the spirit. Ask questions. Read your Bible. Pray for direction. We all need to do that in these days. We should cling to the whole truth.

Give "The Watchman Speaks" podcast a listen. Just posted a new episode that addresses this blight on the modern church. It's not a new problem. The problem has existed for ages and Jesus warned us about them.

Y'all be blessed!