Songs At the Altar
January 18, 2026
Contemporary Christian Music at its best, shared by Cale ~
Author: Cale Caron
Just an old-fashioned (& Old) writer of poems and stories, who blogs sporadically about: funny stuff (& not-funny stuff), music, food and Christian faith...which might be amusing or seriously amazing. I'm blessed to be a blessing, so may they fall like dew upon those who pass through.😊✝😊
Prepaid Home
January 18, 2026
A sweeter deal I’ll never find:
prepaid home eternal, mine–
the price to Builder? EVERYTHING
His Son on cross, pain echoing…
sound of pounding nails resounds
today in hearts where His shed blood
beats song of salvation, victory.
I’m no longer poor wanderer, stranger lost–
a heavenly mansion waits for me
dressed in glory, grace…and great, the cost.
Jesus, true Savior paid it all–
everyday I wake, call Him LORD
and thank Him for what I
could never afford.
~ Cale
https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2026/01/16/prepaid/
Crunching Cheez-Its In Church
January 18, 2026
Among the benefits of having access to church services online is that seniors and homebound folks don’t have to travel, and maneuver wheelchairs, walkers and such, amid parking lots and crowds of people.
And they can stay in their pajamas, not fuss with dressing up.
Some would argue a drawback: they’re missing out on coffee and donuts in the fellowship hall when the service ends, or going to local restaurants for brunch with friends.
“Community” and “socializing” are important to varying degrees, depending on personality types…(neighbors could meet together in one person’s house, and eat potluck as they criticize discuss the preacher’s sermon).
But I’m not one of them. Okay, I confess to eye-rolling, sighing, occasional head-shaking.
However, I don’t wait till after the service if I’m hungry. I “do” church in the recliner ‘pew’, and eat whatever I want (leftover pizza with pepperoni; pound cake; potato chips).
No one was bothered a’tall today, by me crunching Cheeze-It crackers (a perfectly respectable “communion wafer” substitute).
Really…?? I was supposed to eat just one? ~ Cale
Favorite Saying ~ JusJoJan 2026
January 17, 2026
FROM LINDA:
“Your prompt for #JusJoJan the 17th and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “favorite saying.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!
After you’ve written your Saturday post tomorrow, please link it here at this week’s prompt page and check to make sure it’s here in the comments so others can find it and see your awesome post. Anyone can join in!”
✝✝✝
My favorite saying is Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God!” (to which I add, “Trust & Believe!”)
~ Cale
Philosophy~ JusJoJan the 16th, 2026
January 17, 2026
https://lindaghill.com/2026/01/16/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-16th-2026/
FROM LINDA:
It’s January 16th, and time for the 16th daily prompt for Just Jot it January 2026. Our prompt today is brought to us by the spectacular Sadje. Thank you, Sadje! Please be sure to visit Sadje’s blog to read her posts and say hello.
Your prompt for JusJoJan January 16th, 2026 is “philosophy.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
~~🦉~~
Now, I can’t say I’ve heard this straight from the bird’s beak (not even a wize owl’s), but my observation is that crows have a philosophy:
“Don’t let winter stop you from getting down there on the square and picking at whatever treats might be found between chill green grass blades! Picnickers are scarce in January.”
~ Cale
May-December Attraction
January 17, 2026
It was mutually alluring
the magnetic pull between
film-star handsome
older man, and younger
woman of head-snapping
beauty…
wherever they went people
stared, sometimes with smiles
of subtle envy–
Like soldered hearts
the match continued
through “better or worse”
they clung to each other
when Life’s sands shifted…
happy, content, grateful
in love…
And when Time
took the shine off
youthful good looks
they refused to mourn–
Decades after they’d maried
they laughed…thinking
their age difference
would have raised
eyebrows if reversed…
strangers’ admiring
glances turning aghast
if they mistook her
for his mother ~ Cale
https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2026/01/15/ragtag-daily-prompt-thursday-alluring/
https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2026/01/15/reverse/
Noontime Beauty
January 15, 2026
A haiku from Hagar:
Day’s noontime beauty
aqua sky shoos dull-rain-gray
gold-tipped clouds bid smile😊
The Red Tree
January 15, 2026
Hagar’s take on two prompts birthed a dark poem. ~ Cale
Generation after generation
one son after another
and women as well–
blood of criminality runs
cool through their veins
violence is nothing to them
merely part of day’s routine–
conscienceless, they drink
the dregs of others’ lives
who matter to them not–
No mystery trust
has vanished, become
a dusk mist tinged
with copper, reeking
of rust…fear, dread
and viral suspicion…
predators surround–
across globe red rain
drips like weeping
from neighboring trees
since Cain, in cursing rage
murdered his brother…
deep root of the red tree
https://thedailyspur.wordpress.com/2026/01/15/tree-3/
https://estherchilton.co.uk/2026/01/14/writing-prompts-99/
To Sail, To Love
January 14, 2026
Hello, friendly bloggers–I hope you’re in fine spirits. I bring you another poem from Hagar😊 ~ Cale
~💙~
He liked boats, craved sailing
it fed him the way his work did–
She only adored the water’s
shimmer, its varying color…
and standing on the shore
where wind carried
salted fragrance and
directed waves
as ballet–but didn’t
toss her where she
might not return…
She could see him
not too far distant
she waved
he waved to her…
as long as she kept
his boat in view
he was certain
to come back to her–
he craved sailing
she craved him more
Vows that Paint Pictures (Six-Sentence Story)
January 14, 2026
https://girlieontheedge1.wordpress.com/2026/01/14/its-thursdays-six-sentence-story-blog-hop-54/
It’s a good day…we write, then read 6-Sentence stories. The link above will steer you to this weekly challenge, where you’ll meet the host, Denise–and get her all-important prompt word (on Sundays), as well as other info you need to join the talented group of writers.
This week the word is “VOW” (said in a hushed voice). And here’s the next scene in the story I began last week:
🎨🖌🖼
Judd was in his studio working on a new painting he’d titled, “Winter Love”–he smiled, hearing Lorelei come in.
From behind, she twined her arms around his shoulders, nuzzled his neck… “it’s coming along well, the blue of the waves with snow falling into them is especially nice–so soft and quiet, calm,” she said.
“You’re my Number 1 Fan, easy to please–what’s on your agenda today, Love?”
Her lips against his ear whispered, “the scent of oil paint is a powerful aphrodisiac–are you feeling romantic?”
‘Romance’ was her remedy for myriad ills (and a desirable one it was)–however, he wasn’t inclined to lay aside his brush just yet; “you are a temptress, irresistible more often than not…one day I suspect my ship will wreck upon your shore–is that the goal?” he teased.
But her thoughts were little birds, flitting here and there; she smoothed his fraying denim collar, and said, “I want to invite Pastor Richard to dinner…his backstory must be fascinating–I know I’m intrigued…do you think he’s taken a vow of celibacy?”
Poetry ~ Cabbage After Christmas 