What is the most interesting local custom you have encountered?

What’s the most interesting local custom you’ve encountered?

What is the most important interesting local custom you have encountered?  I know that for a number of years that my family members and I used to attend church every single Sunday for over 18 consecutive years in Dayton, Ohio. My family members grew up attending Bethel Church of God as little children with our grandparents.  The church is still located on Germantown Street in Dayton, Ohio.   The pastor name was Elder Hutchinson, and he was a very nice person.  I also grew up with his family members at Edison Elementary School 🏫 from 1972 until 1979.  To be very honest with all of you worldwide 🌐 🙏 ❤️  I have always attended church ⛪️ in every city that I have lived in during the past 61 years of my life right now.  I have been a church ⛪️ hopping person just to maintain a personal relationship with God.  I know that at the moment that I have a great deal of health problems right now. My current church that I am attending is Fort McKinley United Methodist Church ⛪️ 🙏 🙌 and the pastor of Fort McKinley Church is Pastor Karl Penn.  The physical address of the church is 3721 West Siebenthaler Avenue Dayton Ohio 45406.  I have been baptized at Fort McKinley for 11 years off and on.  I know that all of my church members are very concerned about me and my family members right now.  My AA Sponsor is a member of the church.  He visits me at the Cottages of Clayton Healthcare Community where I am a patient and resident at the facility.  I have been staying here for 4 consecutive months now.

The Cottages of Clayton Healthcare Community is located on 8212 North Main Street Dayton, Ohio, 45415.  This is a facility that has at least 100 residents.  The staff members have at least 100 nursing staff for every patient who are current residents in the facility.  One thing that I can say is that all of the residents attend church inside of the facility every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday of the week 🙏 ❤️. I am able to go to church every time I get a chance.

  Although I am living here right now, my family members visit me from time to time.  One thing that I literally dislike is that my rent here is $1,167 dollars per month.  Please continue to pray for me because I am not able to obtain another place to live because I was evicted out of my apartment at Wentworth Hi Rise Apartments after 14 years of living there.  I have been evicted out of my apartment for fighting another resident.  Afterward, I stayed with my brother inside of his apartment for 11 months. I am in need of all of your prayers because I am suffering from Diabetes Type #2 and Schizoid Affective Disorder and glaucoma, and cataracts in both eyes.  I also suffer from Congestive Heart Failure and seizures.

If you had to describe your ideal life, what would it look like?

If you had to describe your ideal life, what would it look like?

If you had to describe your ideal life, what would it look like?  First thing First, I want to give full credit to God and Jesus Christ for being the leaders of my life right now.  I thank both of them for taking charge and making all of my decisions for me.  My ideal life for me is to continue to pray every single day of the week and to continue to serve my Lord and Savior God and Jesus Christ on a daily basis.  My ideal life for me is to remain positive and to stay clean and sober from alcohol and other drugs on a daily basis.  I am learning how to be more transparent with God and Jesus Christ as well as with mankind and with myself right now.  Primarily, my ideal life right now is to please God and Jesus Christ on a daily basis 🙏 🙌.   I know that I am not perfect, but there is room for improvement in my overall behavior as well as all of my actions and the decisions that I am making for myself.  Finally, I am a person who is allowing God and Jesus Christ to fully take control of my life, and all of my actions and decisions are in their control right now. I have fully surrendered my life to God and Jesus Christ right now 🙏 🙌.   I can not go wrong with making the decision to allow God and Jesus Christ to help me with every single thing in my life.   I am going to fulfill the Great Commission on a daily basis.  I am serving God and Jesus Christ and all of mankind. I am learning how to be more transparent and positive right now. I am also learning how to communicate with God and Jesus Christ as well as with mankind without using vulgarity.  I do remember that God and Jesus Christ are watching all of us 🙏 🙌.   According to Matthew 12:36-37 says that for idol words that man may speak; he will give an account for it in the Day of Judgment.   By your words, you will be justified, and by your words, you shall be condemned. May the Lord God be with all of you richly.

Beyond All Things

     

Touching Liveswith James Merritt

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Beyond Your Strength

May 5, 2026

“Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.” 
    Genesis 21:5 (NIV)

I heard about an 85-year-old man who challenged the golf pro at his club. The pro bets $10,000 he can win and even offers a 12-stroke handicap; the old man declines the handicap. They play all the way to the 18th hole dead even. The old man’s drive lands in a sand trap while the pro breathes easy. Then the old man steps in, knocks the ball straight into the hole, and wins. The pro walks over, stunned. “I thought you said you can’t get out of sand traps.” The old man grins. “I can’t. Give me a hand.”

There is a lot you can still do when you get old. But having a baby is not on that list. Unless God decides otherwise.

The Bible makes sure you don’t forget how old Abraham and Sarah are. It says it three different ways. “Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him” (Genesis 21:5, NIV). 

The same God who lights a sun so powerful its core burns at 27 million degrees also keeps two trillion galaxies burning across the universe. And this same God steps into one elderly couple’s home and gives them a baby.

That is the God behind the Gospel. You are not carrying the good news of Jesus in your own strength. You carry it through the power of the God who lit the universe on fire.

Maybe it’s a diagnosis that’s keeping you up at 3 a.m., a marriage that feels like it’s held together by a thread, or the kind of tired that sleep doesn’t fix. Stop and pray, “God, You’re bigger!” The God who flung galaxies and gave a 90-year-old woman a baby is not stumped by what’s beyond your strength today. Pray those three words and mean them.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your endless strength and power. I need you! At times, I get through my days as if everything depends on me and I’m exhausted by noon. Remind me today that the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the grave is working in me right now. I’m not carrying this alone. God, You’re bigger! I trust You, Lord. Amen.

Topics: FaithMiracles

Bible Reference

Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

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