Quick Thought – Wednesday, February 26, 2025: Don’t Worry … He’s Got This

Posted on February 27, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Read

Matthew 6:25-34

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33-34

Reflect

Kurt Warner in the Super Bowl against the Tennessee TitansLife hadn’t turned out quite the way Kurt had planned. Like so many young men, he had dreams of playing professional football, and he was always the best player on any team. In high school, he had been the starting quarterback, but it was a smaller team in Iowa, so the only scholarship he was offered was at a smaller college in Iowa.

It took him three years to get the starting job in college, but he made that one year count and was his conference’s offensive player of the year. Still, that wasn’t good enough to get the attention of any NFL teams, and he ended up going undrafted. One NFL team did invite him to their rookie camp, but they wound up cutting him from the roster before the season started.

So Kurt had come to this unexpected “career” – a college graduate with NFL aspirations working as a stockboy for a local grocery store. A year later, he started playing Arena football, and he quickly became one of the better quarterbacks in the league. The money wasn’t good, so he still had to keep the job at the grocery store. But after three years, he finally got his shot – the St. Louis Rams wanted him to play a season in Europe. There, he was the league’s passing leader, so the Rams added him to their roster – as the third-string quarterback.

The next year, Kurt was elevated to second-string behind a much-heralded free agent. In the preseason, the starter had a season-ending injury, and Kurt found himself in the starting role for the entire year. And what a year it was. Kurt was the best passer in the NFL, leading his team to the Super Bowl. That year, he became only the seventh player to win both the regular-season and Super Bowl MVP awards. And this year, Kurt was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

If you follow the NFL at all, you know this Kurt is Kurt Warner. He ended up having a storybook career and is a loving father and husband. But if you asked him, he would tell you the most amazing part of his life is His relationship with Jesus Christ. He cites Matthew 6:33 as the key verse in his life.

“(This verse) encourages me to set aside everything I ever thought was important and focus on what He is telling me is important. From the day I became a Christian, until the day I see Jesus face to face, my goal in life is to align my thoughts, my actions and my life with the perfect plan of my Heavenly Father. This, to me, is what being a Christian is all about and the reason Matthew 6:33 has changed my life.”

Like Kurt, you may have some major goals that haven’t come about yet. Life may not have turned out the way you hoped it would, and you may have some anxiety about that. But the Lord reminds us to put aside our anxieties and fears and focus on His will. He calls us to look to His will and ways before anything we might hope for, trusting that He will take care of our needs.

Today, pray that the Lord will align your goals with His plans for your life. Pray that He will ease any anxiety you may have about the days ahead and that He will give you peace as He guides you toward His path for your future.

Reflection copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Posted in Faith, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 30: Bonded vs. Single Barrel: When Blind Tasting Picks the Underdog

Posted on February 26, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Last weekend’s Rye-off produced a small controversy — at least in my own head.

In the blinds, Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye edged out Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Rye and advanced to the final round. That surprised me. Not because the bonded is weak — it isn’t — but because I’ve generally assumed the Single Barrel Select was the more refined pour.

And yet, blind tasting doesn’t care about assumptions.

Could the six extra proof points have nudged the bonded ahead? Possibly. Could the bracket format have amplified certain traits on that particular day? Also possible. I’ve said before that I don’t treat my own ratings as infallible. They’re snapshots of a moment, not commandments carved into oak.

Tasting them side by side now, without the blindfold, I slightly prefer the Single Barrel Rye. But here’s where the Bourbon Cheapskate lens sharpens the focus:

There’s about a $20 price difference.

Yes, the Single Barrel comes in that hefty, squared-off bottle that looks like it belongs in a noir film. And yes, you get 750ml versus the bonded’s 700ml. But when value enters the conversation, things shift.

If you choose the bonded, you are not settling. You are buying one of the best rye values on the shelf.

📝 The Tasting Notes

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Rye (94 proof)
Mid-copper color. Aromas of banana, light caramel, and vanilla. Those notes carry onto the palate, joined by milk chocolate. The finish leans thin and fades quickly, leaving bittersweet chocolate and banana behind.

Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye (100 proof)
Richer copper hue. Aromas of chocolate, banana, and caramel. The palate mirrors the nose with an added touch of nutmeg. Mouthfeel is modest, and while the finish isn’t long, it holds together respectably.

The Real Separation

The significant leap in Jack’s rye lineup doesn’t occur between these two. It happens when you move up another $15–$20 into Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye territory. That one is on a different level entirely — deeper, fuller, and genuinely phenomenal.

But that’s not this conversation. This is about shelf strategy.

If you can afford both, there’s no reason not to keep both. They serve slightly different moods. But if you’re choosing one and value matters — and in this series it always does — the bonded rye makes a compelling case.

Sometimes blind tasting exposes preference.
Sometimes it exposes price-to-performance.

In this case, it exposed a bargain. And that’s what a Bourbon Cheapskate is always hunting.

Copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.
Posted in Bourbon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sawdust and Surprises

Posted on February 26, 2026 by Douglas Blaine
Daily writing prompt
Describe the most ambitious DIY project you’ve ever taken on.
View all responses

I am not, by nature, a builder.

Give me a keyboard and a blank page and I can construct entire worlds. Give me a hammer and a stack of lumber and I’m liable to Google, “Which end do I hit?”

And yet, many years ago, I undertook what remains the most ambitious DIY project of my life: I built a custom chinchilla cage.

This was not Pinterest-era inspiration. There were no YouTube tutorials walking me through “10 Easy Steps to Luxury Rodent Living.” My then-wife had brought home a chinchilla as a class pet, and somewhere inside me a switch flipped. Instead of buying a cage, I decided, with the overconfidence of a man who has watched exactly three home improvement shows, that I would build one.

So I did what writers do—I made a plan.

I sketched out dimensions. Calculated board lengths. Figured out shelves, ramps, levels. I went to Home Depot armed with measurements and the kind of quiet determination usually reserved for thesis papers and fantasy football drafts. I had them cut the wood to size because even in my ambition I knew my limitations.

Back home, I started assembling.

Nailing boards together. Attaching wire mesh. Making sure the frame didn’t wobble like a middle school desk. I built multiple platforms inside so Chilly—yes, that was his name—could climb and hop the way chinchillas do. I even constructed a bottom drawer that slid out so we could clean the shavings from his “bathroom.” That drawer alone felt like engineering genius at the time.

And here’s the shocking part: It worked.

It stood upright. The doors opened. The mesh held. Nothing collapsed. Chilly moved in like he’d signed a long-term lease.

Then came the unexpected plot twist.

I had built him a cozy little cubby at the top—a private penthouse suite where he could retreat. Only problem? Once he went in, he refused to come out. Retrieving him became an Olympic event involving coaxing, bribing, and mild panic.

So I did something that still surprises me when I think about it.

I modified my own design.

I cut a door into the side of that cubby and installed a hinge so we could open it when necessary. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t symmetrical. But it worked. And in that moment, I felt something I rarely feel with tools in my hand:

Competent.

Looking back, that cage wasn’t just a structure. It was proof that even someone who doesn’t think of himself as “handy” can build something solid when he commits to it. It had shelves, ramps, a sliding drawer, and eventually a retrofitted access door. It wasn’t professional-grade like the one in the photo above, but it was sturdy, functional, and built with intention.

And maybe that’s the point.

I don’t build with wood very often. My projects tend to be classrooms, blog posts, lesson plans, and stories. But for one stretch of time, I built a home for a small gray creature named Chilly—and I did it from scratch.

To this day, I’m still a little surprised by that. And maybe a little proud.

Copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.

Posted in Daily Prompt, Random | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Quick Thought – Sunday, February 26, 2023: Act Like Children (First Sunday in Lent)

Posted on February 26, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Read

Matthew 18:1-6

Matthew 19:13-15

Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:4

Reflect

Children playing in leavesI love working with children. For a while, I worked as a substitute teacher, and I worked with grades 3 through 12. Finally, I got a job teaching English full-time in middle school, which is what I loved most anyway, primarily because it’s closer to my background and college degree. Plus, the source material for middle school and high school always felt right at home.

But I found that once students reach middle and high school, there’s a much greater chance that they don’t have any use for us as adults. For example, I worked at a high school, middle school and elementary school that all lie right next to each other. My days in the middle and high school were pretty rough – the students had little or no respect for me as a teacher or adult. But my days in that elementary school were among my favorites. By the end of one day, one of the students even came up and gave me a hug. When they’re that young, they still care about the approval of adults. They want to make us happy. And they can be a real treat to be around.

That’s really the attitude that Jesus was speaking about. He didn’t say that we had to act like children, but that we had to have that childlike attitude dependence upon adults, and more specifically, their parents. At that point, the disciples were trying to figure out who was the best. Jesus saw that the children knew who was the most important – He was. The children hung upon His every word, and they crowded around Him to be as close to Jesus as possible.

That’s the attitude Jesus wants us to take. Rather than seeking glory for ourselves in any area of life, He wants us first to seek Him as those children did – getting as close to Him as possible so that His ways and words will guide our every step.

Today, pray that the Lord will give you that childlike dependence upon Him. Draw close to Him, and look closely for His guidance for your life in the hopes that His words will be your words, and His steps, your steps.

Reflection copyright © 2026 Douglas Blaine.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Posted in Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ban “6-7” (And While We’re at It, Let’s Redefine “Poop”)

Posted on February 25, 2026 by Douglas Blaine
Daily writing prompt
If you could permanently ban a word from general usage, which one would it be? Why?
View all responses

Oh, this one is easy.

If I could permanently ban a word from general usage, it wouldn’t be a four-letter word. It wouldn’t even be a political word. It would be something far more dangerous:

“6-7.”

Yes. Two innocent little numbers. A pair of digits that, in math class, simply mean you’re one point shy of passing. In baseball, it’s the score of a heartbreaking loss. In English class, it’s what you get when you forget to capitalize “I.”

But in the wild? In the cultural ecosystem of TikTok captions and hallway bravado? Suddenly it’s edgy. Mysterious. Cool. Kids throw it around like it’s a secret handshake.

What most of them don’t know is that the phrase traces back to lyrics like:

“Shooter stay strapped, I don’t need mine
Bro put belt right to they behind
The way that switch brrt, I know he dyin’
6-7, I just bipped right on the highway…”

That “6-7”? In Philadelphia police code, a 10-67 is a report of death.

In other words, the cute little hallway slang translates roughly to: “We dropped a body.”

Adorable.

And that’s what fascinates me as an English teacher. Words don’t just float in the air. They come from somewhere. They carry weight. History. Consequence. Even when we pretend they don’t.

Last year, I grumbled about “gaslighting” and “narcissist.” Still valid complaints. Those words have actual definitions. Clinical, specific definitions. But now they’re tossed around like dodgeballs at recess. Disagree with someone? Gaslighting. Self-absorbed? Narcissist. We’ve turned psychology into playground taunts.

Then came “demure,” kidnapped by TikTok and forced into an identity crisis. A word that once meant modest, reserved, even shy—often used admiringly—suddenly meant “mindful.” Because someone with a ring light said so. Apparently we’re one viral video away from redefining “platypus” to mean “tax refund.”

But “6-7” bothers me more.

Because this isn’t just sloppy vocabulary. It’s glamorized violence repackaged as hallway flair.

Imagine if we did this with everything.

“Hey man, that sandwich is straight genocide.”
“Bro, that math test was a felony.”
“She walked into class like absolute bankruptcy.”

Or better yet:

“Poop” now means delicious.
“Taxes” means hug.
“Detention” means spa day.

You don’t get to redefine words just because it sounds cool in a 12-second clip with subtitles.

Language evolves, yes. I’m not naïve. Shakespeare invented words. Slang has always existed. But there’s a difference between organic evolution and careless mutation.

When words lose meaning, we lose precision.
When we lose precision, we lose clarity.
And when we lose clarity, we lose understanding.

I don’t want to ban creativity. I love language too much for that. I just want words to carry what they’re supposed to carry. If you’re going to borrow something from a lyric, at least know what you’re borrowing. Otherwise, let’s just admit it. We’re not redefining words.

We’re just saying noises and hoping nobody checks the dictionary.

Copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.

Posted in Daily Prompt, Random | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Quick Thought – Wednesday, February 25, 2026: Missing the Point

Posted on February 25, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Read

Matthew 17:1-13

And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
Matthew 17:4

Reflect

The barn in Animal FarmGeorge Orwell was one of the most insightful writers of his generation – or of any other generation, for that matter. (Actually, Orwell was a pen name – his given name was Eric Blair.)

Orwell only wrote a handful of books, and the world today only really remembers two of them – Animal Farm and 1984. Animal Farm is a remarkable tale about totalitarianism and specifically Communist Russia. But its real charm is that it’s written using a farm as the setting, and the animals there are the main characters. Still, it’s impossible to miss the point of the book if you’re paying attention – or is it?

When Orwell was seeking a publisher for the book, one of the publishing houses who considered Animal Farm was Alfred A. Knopf, which was noted for its award-winning authors. But when they reviewed Orwell’s masterpiece, they dismissed it, saying that it was “impossible to sell animal stories in the U.S.A.”

They simply didn’t get it.

Sometimes we’re that way with the Lord. Even when His message is larger than life, right in front of us, it’s still not clear enough. In today’s scripture, Peter had that same problem. God sent Moses and Elijah to meet with Jesus on a mountain. It was an amazing moment, as Jesus was clearly glorified while meeting with legendary prophets from the past.

Peter should have been lost in worship of the Lord. But instead, he thought it would be a great idea to build some shelters so the three men could get some rest. Seriously? Elijah and Moses appear from Heaven to meet with the Son of God, and Peter thought they needed huts?

God’s message to us isn’t really complex. Most often, He keeps it simple for us. Love God, love other people, serve Him, and lead other people to Him. If it even seems too difficult to understand, it’s because we’re the ones making it difficult. Look for the heart of God in any scripture or message, and you should be able to get the point pretty easily.

Reflection copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Posted in Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tasting Tuesday: The Great Rye-Off (17 Bottles. Zero Bracket. Maximum Chaos.)

Posted on February 24, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

I was bored this weekend. Maybe a little too bored, so I gave myself a challenge. Instead of my usual bracket-style showdown, I decided to go full mad scientist.

Seventeen ryes. Sixteen from the shelf, plus an infinity bottle that’s been quietly absorbing leftovers on my desk. I ranked them 1–17, blinded them alphabetically (numbers hidden underneath), tasted all of them, and eliminated the bottom eight. Then I reshuffled the top nine, retasted, eliminated five more. Then reshuffled the final four and ranked them blind.

This wasn’t a quick sit-down tasting. It took the better part of Sunday — multiple rounds, reshuffling, resetting my palate, and trying very hard not to overthink things. By the time it was done, I had rankings I genuinely didn’t see coming.

And that’s the fun of doing it this way.

First Elimination Round (Ranks 10–17)

These were the first eight to fall:

10 – Old Overholt Rye 114 (81.92)
Solid oak and leather early, apricot and spice later. Respectable, but it didn’t rise above the pack.

11 – Roaming Man Cask Strength Rye (81.05)
Peaches, brown sugar, nutmeg. Pleasant. Just not powerful enough to survive.

12 – Old Forester 100 Rye (80.72)
Apricot and cinnamon forward. Nice finish. Just not complex enough to advance.

13 – Company Seismic Rye (80.72)
This one stunned me. Entered as my #2 seed. Eliminated early. Apricot-heavy, but the mouthfeel fell short this time around.

14 – Rittenhouse Rye Bonded (79.75)
Peachy and light. Good everyday rye. Just not elite company in this lineup.

15 – Elijah Craig Straight Rye (79.53)
Savory spice, cinnamon, caramel. Perfectly fine. Not memorable enough here.

16 – Knob Creek Rye 7 Year (73.24)
Oak-forward and thin. This one faded quickly.

17 – Clyde May’s 9 Year Rye (68.25)
Medicinal, leathery, grassy. I recognized it immediately. Not as dreadful as memory suggested… but still cough syrup adjacent.

Second Round (Ranks 5–9)

After reshuffling the top nine:

5 – Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Rye (82.35)
Bananas, caramel, milk chocolate. Good nose, but thinner than expected.

6 – Old Ezra 7 Year Rye (81.92)
Apricot and spice. Pleasant. Not punchy.

7 – Bardstown Origin Rye (81.81)
Peaches and vanilla. Creamy and nice linger. Very drinkable.

8 – Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye (81.38)
Apricots and cinnamon with decent depth, but thinner than expected.

9 – Sazerac Rye (81.38)
Butterscotch, mint, fruit. Quick finish kept it from climbing.

Final Four (Reverse Order)

After one final blind reshuffle:

4 – Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye
Chocolate, bananas, caramel. Modest mouthfeel. Shorter finish than I’d hoped. Still, the $32 bottle beating its Single Barrel sibling? That’s noteworthy.

3 – Infinity Rye (85.82)
Oak, apricot, caramel, nutmeg. Lightly creamy. Brown sugar and tart fruit on the finish.
This might be the biggest surprise of the entire experiment. Odds and ends of good ryes blended into something better than several of its components. I just wish I’d kept better notes on what went in.

2 – Pikesville Rye (88.43)
Butterscotch, caramel, apricots, nutmeg. Oily mouthfeel. Lingering finish.
It entered as my #3 rye overall, so seeing it near the top wasn’t shocking. Still, it absolutely earned its podium.

1 – Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof Rye (89.73)
Bananas. Chocolate. Caramel. Then deeper chocolate and cinnamon.
Luscious mouthfeel. Long, dessert-like finish. Chocolate-covered bananas in a glass.
Of course it won. It’s one of the best things on my shelf, rye or otherwise.

Not Surprising

  • Clyde May’s finished last.

  • Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof Rye won.

  • Pikesville showed up strong.

Those all tracked with my expectations.

Surprising

  • The infinity bottle landing in the top four.

  • Jack Daniel’s Bonded beating the Single Barrel Select.

  • Company Seismic Rye crashing to #13 after entering as a #2 seed.

That’s why we blind taste.

Final Thoughts

What this experiment reminded me is that rye deserves more respect than it often gets.

It’s not bourbon. It’s not supposed to be. It’s spicier, sometimes sharper, often fruitier, occasionally downright dessert-like. There’s a broader range of expression than many people realize — from leather and mint to apricot and chocolate-covered bananas.

Will I suddenly reach for rye more than bourbon? Probably not. Bourbon is still my home base.

But after spending a full Sunday letting these seventeen bottles fight it out on their own merits, I’ll say this: rye won’t be sitting quietly on the bench anymore.

And that’s a pretty good outcome for one long, revealing day of tasting.

Copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.

Posted in Bourbon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Six Months From Now…

Posted on February 24, 2026 by Douglas Blaine
Daily writing prompt
What is the biggest challenge you will face in the next six months?
View all responses

I answered this question a year ago, and at the time it felt like I was staring up at Everest.

Two of those mountains were massive.

My daughter’s wedding in May. Funding it. Planning it. Making sure everything came together. I remember looking at my bank account and thinking, “Well… this should be interesting.” But she got married. It was beautiful. I survived. My checking account did not, but that’s a separate issue.

The other big one was recertifying as a teacher. Classes. Deadlines. Paperwork. Finding time in the margins of an already packed school year. That one felt heavy too. But it’s done. I’m still in the classroom. Still teaching. Still where I’m supposed to be.

So the two biggest challenges? Handled.

The others?

Let’s just say they’re still sitting in my garage.

Yes, the garage. Still packed. If anything, it has evolved. Some of the wedding décor now lives out there too, like a reception hall that never quite went home. Organizing it remains a noble, theoretical goal.

Then there’s the book.

I wrote it. I believe in it. It’s been sitting unedited for months. Every time I think about it, I feel that familiar mix of excitement and anxiety. It needs editing. It needs polishing. It needs courage. Twelve months ago, I wanted to get it done. Today, I’m even more anxious about finishing it — not because I’ve lost faith, but because I haven’t moved it forward.

And of course, instead of finishing that one, I’ve added two or three more ideas to the pile. Apparently, my brain thinks the solution to unfinished projects is… more projects.

Now, looking ahead at the next six months, the landscape has shifted.

Near the end of May, my daughter will give birth to her baby girl.

That’s not a challenge. That’s a gift. A blessing. A moment that will change the shape of our family again. I’ll have a grandson and a granddaughter. That reality still feels surreal. It’s something to prepare for, yes, but mostly it’s something to look forward to with a full heart.

The real challenge? Me.

Specifically, the “few extra pounds” I carry — and we’ll leave the definition of “few” intentionally vague. My doctor would love for me to lose some weight. My daughter has gently encouraged it. My wife would cheer it on. I agree with all of them.

The issue has never been agreement. It’s starting.

I’m good at thinking about starting. I’m good at planning to start. I’m good at buying things that help me start. What I’m not always good at is the steady, boring, daily discipline that actually produces results.

I’d love to be twenty pounds lighter by the time school starts in August. Not for vanity. For energy. For longevity. For being able to chase a toddler and hold a newborn without feeling winded. For walking into another school year feeling stronger instead of slower.

If the past year taught me anything, it’s this: the big mountains aren’t always the ones that defeat you. Sometimes they’re the ones that reveal what you’re capable of.

Weddings happen. Certifications get finished. Babies are born. Garages can be cleaned. Books can be edited. And weight can be lost — if I decide that this time I’m not just thinking about starting.

Six months from now, I’ll look back at this post again. Hopefully a little lighter. Hopefully a little braver. Hopefully a little further along than I am today.

Copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.

Posted in Daily Prompt, Random | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Quick Thought – Tuesday, February 24, 2026: Behavior vs. Belief

Posted on February 24, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Read

Psalm 14

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
Psalm 14:1a

Reflect

If you’re reading this (and there’s a good chance that right now, you are), you’re probably either a believer in God or else you’re curious about Him and are investigating God and the Bible.

Either way, for most of us, it’s probably hard to imagine having absolutely no belief – and no respect – for God and His ways. Belief is a part of who we are, and the absence of that belief is difficult to grasp.

But if you look around our world, you can tell that there are countless people who either have no belief in God whatsoever or no belief that His Word, ways and promises are real.

God, of course, doesn’t change. So when Americans constantly alter their moral views toward a more liberal understanding, they’re basically moving away from the way God sees things, and toward the way they wish He sees things.

Over time, it has become more acceptable in society to dismiss God as either a hoax, a myth or a nice story. And along the way, it’s gotten easier for most people to put him in a convenient box where they can take Him out whenever they please. Or, worse, it’s become easier to write Him off altogether.

Radio host Paul HarveyThis is nothing new. It’s been the goal of our Enemy since the beginning of time. We can see the evidence around us today. But that evidence has been growing, especially since atheists like Madeline Murray O’Hair achieved legal victories in the 1960s. (This 1965 essay by commentator Paul Harvey shows just how long this battle has been going on.)

There’s a fine line between compassion and capitulation. We can love people different from us without giving in to their beliefs and letting them infiltrate our personal faith. Jesus did this all of the time (as when he ministered to tax collectors and prostitutes without engaging in their behaviors). As Christians, the best thing we can to do push back against this moral creep is to maintain morals and standards in our own lives without being “preaching” or strident toward those who don’t share our views.

Today, pray that the Lord will strengthen your resolve to live the Christian life. Also, pray that He will give you His heart for the lost, and that, through the leading of the Spirit, your gentle moral stand may spark the curiosity of those who don’t know Him.

Reflection copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Posted in Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ignore the Peanut Gallery

Posted on February 23, 2026 by Douglas Blaine
Daily writing prompt
What advice would you give to your teenage self?
View all responses

If I could sit across the table from my teenage self, I wouldn’t start with a lecture. I’d start with a question: Who exactly are you trying to impress?

Because if I’m honest, I spent a good chunk of my teenage years living for an audience that wasn’t even paying attention.

I worried constantly about what other people thought. I filtered decisions—especially dating decisions—through the imaginary court of public opinion. If I had a dollar for every night I stayed home instead of going out with a perfectly kind, funny, interesting “unpopular” girl, I could probably fund a modest Hawaiian getaway. Not first class. But window seats, at least.

I can think of a dozen girls who would have been fun to date. A couple who, in hindsight, probably should have been actual girlfriends. Instead, I let hallway commentary and locker-room wisdom guide my choices.

And what was that wisdom based on?

Complexion.
Height.
Weight.
Whether she played the “right” sport.

I once liked a girl who was a competitive swimmer. Strong. Disciplined. Focused. My friends convinced me that dating someone physically stronger than me was somehow a threat to my masculinity. As if the relationship was going to devolve into arm-wrestling matches at lunch.

The truth? Most of the guys I was trying to impress didn’t have girlfriends either. We were all pretending to be experts in a class none of us had passed.

Looking back, I can’t even identify what I was so afraid of. A raised eyebrow? A sarcastic comment? The dreaded phrase, “You’re dating her?”

Here’s what I’d tell that kid now:

Most opinions are background noise. They’re data points, not verdicts. Sure, if someone says, “That girl just got out of prison,” you might want to do some due diligence. But superficial critiques about appearance, popularity, or social ranking? That’s cafeteria chatter. It evaporates by graduation.

The saddest part isn’t that I missed out on some teenage dates. It’s that I outsourced my courage. I let other people’s insecurity dictate my choices.

I’d tell that younger version of me to grow up a little faster. To understand that confidence isn’t built by conforming—it’s built by choosing. To take the nice girl to the football game. To sit at the table that makes you laugh instead of the one that makes you anxious. To stop measuring worth by applause.

And maybe most importantly, I’d tell him this:

The people whose opinions you’re afraid of right now? In thirty years, you won’t even remember half their names.

The girl you were too scared to ask out? You’ll remember her.

So go have some fun. Be kind. Be brave. And stop listening to the peanut gallery.

I’d tell today’s kids the same thing.

Copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.

Posted in Daily Prompt, Random | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment