Dolly Parton stepped away from worldwide touring to cook daily meals for Carl Dean, honoring nearly 60 years of marriage far away from the spotlight.
When Carl Dean passed away at age 82 in early 2025, it marked the quiet finish of an extraordinary partnership that began in 1964 outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat in Nashville. For decades, Dean chose to stay on their Brentwood farm, running his asphalt-paving business and avoiding red carpets while his wife performed around the globe. He gave her the freedom to build an empire, never asking her to slow down.
When his health began declining in his later years, Parton made an intentional choice to reverse the rhythm of their entire lives. She scaled back major arena dates, kept medical personnel to a minimum, and took over his day-to-day care herself in their private kitchen. Rather than bringing public attention to his illness, she cooked familiar Southern comfort food and protected the boundary they had built together.
The woman who spent half a century commanding the world's biggest stages spent his final chapter grounding their home in quiet devotion. The early foundation built by a private man who never sought fame explains how their bond endured decades of international stardom.

ANOTHER 5 STAR REVIEW

russell tamicka
Aug 16, 2026

Interesting book! It’s a bold, unique look at history through a spiritual lens

When I first picked up Why The White Man Rules (An Apology) by Nathaniel Leonard Jackson Jr., I wasn't quite sure what I was getting into. The title definitely catches your attention, but it tackles a huge, heavy question: why have Western and European nations held so much global power and wealth throughout history? Instead of giving a standard history lesson or political breakdown, Jackson approaches everything from a completely biblical angle. He argues that Western dominance isn't an accident or a matter of racial superiority, but rather God fulfilling His ancient promises to the lost tribes of Israel. The book is split into eight chapters, and Jackson walks you through his thoughts step by step. Right away in Chapter 1, "The Unsettling Truth," he clears up a big detail: he’s using the word "apology" in the old-school literary sense, meaning a formal defence rather than actually apologising for anything. The middle of the book really digs into scripture. "Promises, Promises...", was the part that kept me reading. Jackson traces the birthright blessings from Abraham, down through Isaac and Jacob, and eventually to Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. He points to passages like Deuteronomy 33, which describes Joseph's descendants as a "fruitful bough" pushed out to the ends of the earth. Seeing how he connects those Old Testament lines about becoming a "great nation" and a "multitude of nations" to the rise of modern Western powers was definitely a perspective I hadn't come across before. Toward the end, in chapters like "Nothing but the Blood" and "The Two Camps," he shifts to the New Testament, looking at how Jesus's sacrifice ties into all of this and asking the reader to focus on spiritual faith rather than worldly drama. Even if you don't agree with every conclusion he draws, Jackson puts a lot of detail into his scripture study. It’s a bold, unique look at history through a spiritual lens that gives you plenty to think about after you put it down.

Spinning a tale is nothing new. Humans have been doing it for as long as there have been humans.
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Ex 32:3-4 All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf.
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Ex 32:21-24 Finally, he turned to Aaron and demanded, "What did these people do to you to make you bring such terrible sin upon them?"
"Don't get so upset, my lord," Aaron replied. "You yourself know how evil these people are. They said to me, 'Make us gods who will lead us. We don't know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.' So I told them, 'Whoever has gold jewelry, take it off.' When they brought it to me, I simply threw it into the fire—and out came this calf!"

FINAL SERMON: RED 7 —JUDGEMENT OF CORRECTION CAME FIRST ON ME — GOLD CAME OUT PURE — NOW JUDGEMENT TO YOU EVIL DOERS

Text: 1 Pet 4:17 — For time has come for judgment to begin at house of God.

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INTRO: RED 7 VISION ON ME

I am born again — true Israel — Believer not practising sin.

Red Color in vision= sin Isa 1:18 — though sins scarlet —Also Red = Blood of Jesus 1 John 1:7 — blood cleanses from all sin.

Red 7 vision came to me — not curse — but disciplinary act on me — Ps 37:23 — steps of good man ordered by Lord.

Punishment = 1 Pet 4:17 — judgement begin at house of God first.

1. SPIRITUAL WARFARE : EVIL— VOICES — EPH 6:12

Before accident, evil altar with voices already existing in my life — voices I heard when no one present — causing confusion, disturbance, threatening---spiritual warfare.

Eph 6:12 — we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness.

I fought them with Word of God — Eph 6:17 — sword of Spirit, which is Word of God — 2 Cor 10:4-5 — mighty to pull down strongholds.

Why this spiritual warfare? Because my calling fought Satan & works of Satan.

1 John 3:8 — For this purpose Son of God manifested, that He might destroy works of devil. That purpose is my calling.

Acts 26:18 — to turn them from darkness to light, and from power of Satan to God.
Rev 12:17 — dragon enraged, went to make war with offspring who keep commandments and have testimony of Jesus.

Aim of evil altar: persecute me so that to fail that calling God had put for me before Him — servant , & a witness of Jesus of last days testifying to what the son shown me.--- abort Green 7, vision Red 7, vision , skeleton vision & abort 144,000 dream. Acts26:16

2. GOD CAN BLEACH HEDGE FOR CORRECTION, TESTING, PURIFICATION

God can bleach hedge — not remove. Thus l prayed for hedge protection & believed that l received it. And b'se l had fallen Red 7 vision, was bleached in accident incident to allow correction, testing , & purification in me. But in this process wasn't removed.

Job 1:10 — Have You not made hedge around him?
Job 2:6 — Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.

Bleach = thin for three reasons:

Correction — Heb 12:6 — whom Lord loves He chastens — I had fallen — chastening needed Heb 12:11.
Testing — 1 Pet 1:7 — genuineness of faith tested by fire — to prove pure.
Purification — Mal 3:3 — He will purify sons of Levi as gold and silver — 1 Tim 4:5 — sanctified by Word and prayer.

3. ACCIDENT = TESTING OF FAITH — BUT FAITH FAILED NOT — GOLD PURE

Then accident came — motorcycle hitting dog — body wounded.

People said negative: curse.

I insisted: NOT curse to me.

Because hedge though bleached, protected me to not go into death — Ps 118:18 — Lord chastened me severely, but has not given me over to death — Ps 34:7 — Angel encamps around those who fear Him.

This accident was about testing faith — but fortunately never failed it.

Luke 22:32 — I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail.
2 Cor 4:9 — struck down, but not destroyed.

Flesh wounded — faith held — Word held — Blood held.

Result: Gold came out pure — That's the thing.

Job 23:10 — When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
Zech 13:9 — I will refine them as silver, test them as gold is tested.
1 Pet 1:7 FULFILLED IN MY LIFE — faith more precious than gold, tested, found to praise.

I repented & got cleansed by blood — purified — faith clean through prayer — 1 Tim 4:5.

4. RED NO.7 MEANS COMPLETE — ORDER FINISHED

Red No.7 means complete — Gen 2:2 — on seventh day God ended His work — John 19:30 — It is finished.

Disciplinary action of suffering, testing, bleaching hedge — done/complete in my life now by Red No.7. Order finished.

Now new order: Green 7 — sealed unbroken — Matt 6:33 much more supply — 144,000 — true Israel.

5. NOW TO YOU EVIL DOERS — YOUR JUDGEMENT OF CORRECTION — HARSHER

If this done to His house now and finished — God now looking to evil doers to repent too of their sins by punishing you now with His judgement of correction from Red 7 vision and obey His Word to be pure before God.

1 Pet 4:17-18 — if it begins with us first, what will be end of those who do not obey gospel? If righteous scarcely saved, where will ungodly and sinner appear?

And this punishment to you evil doers is going to be harsher than that God made first to His house.

Luke 12:47-48 — that servant who knew and did not prepare, shall be beat

2 Corinthians 10:4, for the weapon of our warfare is not canal but spiritual and mighty to the pulling down of strongholds, prayer father pull down every strong holds holding my destiny, my marriage, my life, my career, etc #THEMEEK #GODOFKUMI

The Lord reminded His people who were in exile, lost and far from home that He was just a prayer away, and that those who wholeheartedly sought Him would certainly find Him.

While Jesus walked the earth, He taught and exemplified this life of prayer. Whatever be our petitions, when they are faith-filled, sincere, contrite, persistent and in line with God's will, the Lord will answer them.

The reason Jesus came down to earth was to seek and to save the lost. When we seek God, His Kingdom and His righteousness and make that our top priority, we need not worry or fear, because God will take care of us.

Have a beautiful day, knowing that the Lord hears our every prayer, and He is seeking those who are willing to love and serve Him wholeheartedly.
Esther Collins
Based on Jeremiah 29:12-13

EVENING DEVOTION | REST IN GOD’S FAITHFULNESS.

Psalm 4:8
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

As this day comes to an end, pause and thank God.

Thank Him for the victories, the lessons, the protection, and even the challenges He helped you overcome.

Tonight, release your worries, fears and disappointments into God’s hands.

You may not understand everything happening in your life, but remember:

God is still in control.
God is still faithful.
God is still working.

EVENING PRAYER

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for carrying me through this day.

Forgive my mistakes, strengthen my faith, and give me peace in my heart.

Watch over me, my family, my work and everyone connected to me. Protect us through the night and prepare us for a new day filled with Your grace, wisdom and favour.

Tonight, I choose to rest—not because everything is perfect, but because I trust the One who holds tomorrow.

May God give you peaceful sleep, renewed strength and a blessed tomorrow.

In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

GOOD NIGHT. REST IN GOD’S PEACE.

May His presence watch over you and your family.

2 Samuel 13

1 After some time, David’s son Amnon fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of David’s son Absalom.
2 Amnon was sick with frustration over his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed implausible for him to do anything to her.
3 Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very shrewd man,
4 so he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the son of the king, so depressed morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon replied, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”
5 Jonadab told him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend you are ill. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare it in my sight so I may watch her and eat it from her hand.’”
6 So Amnon lay down and feigned illness. When the king came to see him, Amnon said, “Please let my sister Tamar...

It is a common plover (a type of bird ) about the size of a robin. It is easily recognized by its wailing noise and two black breast bands. They are usually found in the United States and Central America. They are called Killdeer because of the wailing noise they make that actually sounds like "kill-deer". The most interesting thing about this bird however is that,it is a master of distraction. When it lays eggs or has chicks and you go near the nest, it jumps away from the nest and pretends to have a broken wing 🪽. When you think it is vulnerable and decide to go after it, it will move a little further on. It will continue to do that until you are far away from the nest. The Killdeer will then suddenly have a healthy wing 🪽 and will fly away. Interestingly, that is how the enemy behaves. Anytime you go close to what God has for you,he finds a way to distract you. Suddenly, everything looks like it is going against you. Friends and family turn against you and finances are not forthcoming. The proverbial "all hell breaking loose". Successful people however know that this is rather an indication of being close to the breakthrough. It shows something good is about to happen for you. So when distraction comes, it is time to dig in your heels,stand firm and push 🫸 on. When Tobiah and Sanballat tried to distract Nehemiah he said "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down "(Nehemiah 6:3). Don't allow anyone or anything to distract you from your purpose. Have a lovely day .

DAILY BREAD FELLOWSHIP

DBF-001-033

Today’s Scripture

John 2:12 (ESV)

“After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.”

Opening the Scriptures

The first great sign at Cana was complete.

Jesus had manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

John now records something that may appear much less important. Jesus traveled to Capernaum with His mother, His brothers, and His disciples, and they remained there for a few days.

There is no miracle recorded.

There is no great public teaching.

There is no dramatic event.

Yet John includes this ordinary moment in his Gospel.

Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God who became flesh, truly entered human life. He traveled from place to place. He spent time with His family and disciples. He experienced the ordinary rhythms of life in this world.

The glory revealed at Cana belonged to the same Jesus who now traveled with those around Him.

Living God’s Word Today

We can easily begin to think that only dramatic moments matter in the Christian life.

We remember conversions, answered prayers, great acts of ministry, powerful sermons, and extraordinary circumstances.

But most of our Christian lives are not lived in extraordinary moments.

They are lived in ordinary days.

We wake up.

We work.

We care for our families.

We speak with neighbors.

We serve others.

We fulfill responsibilities.

We read God’s Word.

We pray.

And then another day begins.

These ordinary days matter.

Christian faithfulness is not measured only by what we do when something extraordinary happens. It is also revealed by how we live when nothing remarkable seems to be happening.

Are we faithful when nobody notices?

Are we truthful in ordinary conversations?

Are we patient with our families?

Do we work honestly?

Do we continue reading Scripture when we do not feel spiritually excited?

Do we continue following Christ when life seems routine?

The disciples had witnessed an extraordinary sign at Cana.

Now they simply continued traveling with Jesus.

That is discipleship.

We follow Christ through remarkable days and ordinary ones.

Our circumstances change.

Our Lord does not.

Do not spend your life waiting for some great spiritual moment while neglecting the opportunities for obedience God has placed before you today.

Faithfulness in small things matters.

Faithfulness in ordinary days matters.

Faithfulness when nobody applauds matters.

Wherever Christ leads, continue following Him.

Question for Today

Will you faithfully follow Christ even when today seems completely ordinary?

Respond: “Lord Jesus, help me to be faithful every day.”