The Legend of Patty “Perfect Bid” McGraw

August 24, 2026June 20, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Contestant and host beside a large colorful spinning wheel with numbers and dollar signs — Image generated via AI.

Patty McGraw wasn’t just a fan of The Price Is Right; she was a student of it. She trained like a prize fighter. She studied like a CPA during tax season. She could tell you the price of a 12‑pack of paper towels in 47 states. So, when George boomed, “Patty McGraw, come on down!”, she didn’t run, she glided. Like a majestic shopping‑savvy swan.

She slid into Contestants’ Row, and when Drew Carey asked, “Welcome, Patty. You ready?” She replied with so much confidence it was dripping from her lips, “I was born ready.”

The Bid Heard ’Round the World

The item up for bid was an electric bicycle. George described its features. Drew said, “Patty, you’re up first. What’s your bid?” Without turning around, asking the audience, or without any hesitation, she proclaimed, $989.95.” The crowd laughed. Drew smiled and looked at Patty with concern, “Just to the nearest dollar amount without going over, please.” “$989 then.”

The other contestants bid like normal humans. Afterwards, a bell sounded, indicating one of the contestants got the dollar amount exactly right. Patty knew it was her. Drew then announced, “The actual retail price: $989.00!” When she strutted on stage, Mr. Carey handed her $500. Patty received the money as if she had been paid back wages.

The Pricing Game: Masterpiece Theater

Her game was One Away, the car‑winning classic. The car: a cherry‑red convertible so shiny it looked like it had been waxed by angels. Patty cracked her knuckles. The audience chanted her name like she was entering a wrestling ring. She looked at the wrong price. She adjusted each number with the calm precision of a surgeon.

Drew: “Patty, do you want to ask the mighty sound effects lady if you have…” Patty, “No need.” She stepped back. She folded her arms. She said, “They’re all right.” Drew blinked not believing her confidence and beginning to wonder if she was somehow cheating. He looked over at the show’s producer as if to say, “What do I do with her? HELP.”

The sound effects lady shrugged and pressed the buttons. DING. DING. DING. DING. DING.

Five perfect dings. The audience exploded. A man in the third row fainted into a stranger’s lap. Patty didn’t celebrate. She simply whispered, “As it should be.”

The Wheel Meets Its Match

Patty approached the Big Wheel like it owed her money. She gave it a spin so smooth it looked choreographed. She didn’t even take time to say, “Hi” to anyone. It landed on $1.00. “Of course,” Drew commented. She won $1,000, and a bonus spin, and the respect of every grandmother watching at home. The other contestants’ hearts sank with hope leaking out on the stage, and sure enough, they didn’t tie Patty. Patty’s bonus spin was just as smooth and landed on $1.00 again. She won an additional $25,000. “I wouldn’t expect anything less,” Drew said as he wondered if she had built her own precise Big Wheel at home to practice spinning it as America Ninja Warriors build home gyms.

The Showcase Showdown

Her showcase included:

A trip to Hawaii
A dining room set
And another car

Patty bid $35,742 without hesitation. The other contestants’ showcase was:

New kitchen appliances
A gaming room which included a pool table
And a Ford pickup truck

Their bid was $41,500.

After the commercial break, Drew Carey said, “Tom, let’s start with you. You had a new kitchen, a new game room, and a pickup truck. You bid $41,500. The actual retail price: 42,353 dollars. You were only off by $853.” The audience cheered. Tom smiled for only a moment until he remembered he was up against a ringer named Patty McGraw.

Drew turned to Patty. “Patty, your showcase included a trip to Hawaii, a new dining room, and a new Hyundai Kona. Your bid was for $35,742. The actual retail price,” Drew’s mouth dropped wide open as he shook his head in disbelief. “35,742 dollars. You not only have won, but because you were within $250, you have won both showcases!”

Drew Carey dropped his microphone. The audience screamed with excitement. One woman in the audience collapsed in disbelief. Bells and whistles sounded as the stage lights flashed on and off. James O’Halleron reached inside the Kona and started honking the horn. Patty finally smiled and said, “Well… I guess I’ll need a bigger garage.”

The Day the Penny Got Fired

June 22, 2026June 13, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Man resembling former president at desk with animated walking penny figure — Image generated via AI.

The trouble began at exactly 9:02 a.m., when Penny Lincoln Copperworth III, a 2014‑minted, slightly scuffed but proud one‑cent coin, was summoned to the Oval Office.

Penny clinked nervously across the Resolute Desk as President Trump leaned forward, hands steepled, expression serious. “Penny,” he said, “we need to talk about your performance.” Penny gasped. “Performance? Sir, I’ve been in circulation for twelve years. I’ve survived washing machines, couch cushions, and a toddler who tried to eat me.” Trump nodded. “Tremendous résumé. Really tremendous. But the economy’s changing. People aren’t using you anymore. You’re… well… underperforming.” Penny’s rim quivered. “Underperforming? I literally am the economy. I’m money!” “Technically,” Trump said, “you’re one cent. And between us, people keep leaving you in parking lots. That’s not a good sign.” Penny tried to protest, but Trump slid a tiny pink slip across the desk.

“You’re fired!”

The penny let out a metallic squeak. “But don’t worry,” Trump added. “I’m promoting the nickel. Big things happening for the nickel. Big, big things.”

Penny rolled dramatically off the desk, muttering about inflation, disrespect, and how quarters always got special treatment. By noon, Penny had already updated its résumé, applied for a position in a wishing fountain, and started a podcast titled “Making Cents of It All.” And honestly? It was a hit.

How to Steward Your Finances

May 5, 2026May 5, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Pile of mixed US dollar bills on a wooden table with rubber bands — Image generated via AI.

Managing money well isn’t just about earning more — it’s about making intentional choices that align with your values, goals, and responsibilities. Being a good steward of your finances means treating your resources with care, using them wisely, and planning for both the present and the future. Here’s how you can start building a healthier relationship with your money.

1. Understand Your “Why”
Before diving into budgets and investments, take time to reflect on your financial purpose. Are you saving for a home, building a safety net, or preparing for retirement? Knowing your “why” helps you make decisions that feel meaningful rather than restrictive.

2. Create a Realistic Budget
A budget isn’t a punishment — it’s a roadmap. Track your income and expenses to see where your money is going. Allocate funds for essentials, savings, debt repayment, and a little for enjoyment. The key is balance: spend intentionally, not impulsively.

3. Live Below Your Means
Financial stewardship thrives when you resist lifestyle inflation. Just because you can afford something doesn’t mean you should buy it. Prioritize needs over wants and let your spending reflect your long-term goals.

4. Build an Emergency Fund
Life is unpredictable. Aim to save at least 3–6 months’ worth of living expenses in a separate, easily accessible account. This cushion protects you from unexpected setbacks without derailing your financial plan.

5. Manage Debt Wisely
Not all debt is bad, but unmanaged debt can quickly become a burden. Focus on paying off high-interest loans first and avoid taking on new debt unless it’s strategic and affordable.

6. Invest for the Future
Once your basics are covered, put your money to work. Whether it’s a retirement account, index funds, or real estate, investing helps your wealth grow over time. Start small if needed — consistency matters more than perfection.

7. Give Generously and Obediently
Part of stewardship is recognizing that money is a tool for impact. Whether through charitable giving, helping family, or supporting causes you care about, generosity can be deeply fulfilling.

8. Know Whose It Is
The above information is all good, but understanding whose money it is in the first place is important. If you believe in God and have accepted him, then allow him to be Lord over your finances, too. Trusting God in that way is really difficult for some people. It is all his. Your attitude should say, “Everything I have is because of God. When you understand that, it becomes easier to do what needs to be done to be financially sound. He may even ask you to give when it doesn’t look as if you can, but know this: God will make a way and provide for your needs. That kind of obedience builds faith and trust.

“After all, God, who is your Father, knows your needs before you ask him.” Mat. 6:8

¹⁹Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal. ²⁰But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal; ²¹For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. ²²The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is sound, your entire body will be full of light. ²³But if your eye is unsound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the very light in you [your conscience] is darkened, how dense is that darkness! ²⁴No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in). ²⁵Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?

²⁷And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life? ²⁸And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence (excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear? ³²For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all. ³³But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. Mat. 6:19-33 (AMPC)

How Much per Gallon?

April 21, 2026April 20, 2026 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Robotic arm accepting Japanese yen bill at a gas pump — Image generated via AI.

It’s hard to miss the sting of higher gas prices. Every time we fill up, the numbers climb faster than we’d like, and for many, that extra cost means cutting back elsewhere. While the economic impact is real, there’s also a deeper, spiritual layer worth exploring.

1. The Test of Trust

When expenses rise, our first instinct is often anxiety. We start calculating, worrying, and wondering how we’ll make ends meet. Yet Scripture reminds us that our ultimate security isn’t in our bank accounts, but in God’s provision. Rising gas prices can become a modern-day test of trust—an opportunity to lean into the truth that “my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

2. The Call to Contentment

Higher costs can tempt us to grumble or compare our situation to others. But contentment isn’t about having everything we want—it’s about recognizing that what we have is enough for today. This season can be a reminder to simplify, to be grateful for the transportation we do have, and to see every mile as a gift rather than a given.

3. The Invitation to Compassion

When prices rise, those already struggling feel it the most. As followers of Christ, we’re called to notice and respond. Maybe that means offering a ride to a neighbor, helping someone cover their commute, or simply listening to their concerns without judgment. In doing so, we reflect the heart of Jesus, who always moved toward those in need.

4. The Shift in Perspective

Gas prices may be out of our control, but our perspective isn’t. We can choose to see this moment not as an inconvenience alone, but as a spiritual checkpoint—asking ourselves: Am I trusting God with my daily needs? Am I using my resources to bless others? Am I letting gratitude outweigh frustration?

Final Thought:

The numbers on the pump may keep changing, but God’s faithfulness doesn’t. If we let it, even something as ordinary as filling our tank can become a moment of worship, trust, and generosity.

Monopoly – A Game of Spiritual Analogies?

December 9, 2025November 15, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

At first glance, Monopoly might seem like nothing more than a competitive scramble for cash, property, and power. But if we look closer, this classic board game can actually serve as a thought-provoking metaphor for biblical truths about life, stewardship, and eternity.

In Monopoly, no matter how many hotels you own or how much cash you’ve stacked, the game eventually ends. When it’s over, everything goes back in the box. The Bible reminds us of the same reality: “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” (1 Timothy 6:7). Our earthly possessions are temporary; what truly matters is how we use them for God’s purposes. And at the end of your life, you, too, will go into a box.

In the game, you never truly “own” the board — you’re just managing resources for a time. Likewise, scripture teaches that “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). We are stewards, entrusted with time, talents, and treasures to manage wisely. Winning in God’s eyes isn’t about accumulation, but about faithfulness.

Monopoly often rewards aggressive acquisition, but in real life, unchecked greed can destroy relationships and peace. Jesus warned, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15). The game can be a playful reminder of how easily our hearts can be drawn toward “more” instead of “enough.”

Monopoly may be a game of strategy and competition, but it can also be a mirror for our spiritual lives. The real “victory” isn’t measured in property deeds or stacks of cash, but in a life lived with open hands, a generous heart, and an eternal perspective.

In Monopoly, one player’s gain is often another’s loss. But the Kingdom of God operates differently — it’s not a zero-sum game. In Christ, we are called to generosity, lifting others up rather than bankrupting them. Imagine if we played life more like that — offering mercy, forgiveness, and help instead of just trying to “win.”

(I have been experimenting with AI more and more. As a result, most of this blog post was written using an AI. tool.)

A202516

September 9, 2025August 4, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

³⁴“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

³⁷“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Mat. 25:34-40 (NIV)

April and I like being benevolent. A word meaning: kind and with positive intentions. So when the need went out yesterday in church to help buy children back-to-school clothes, supplies, and perhaps something they wanted, we knew we had to respond.

April turned to me and asked, “Do you want to help?” “Of course,” I replied. Then she asked, “Do we have enough extra money right now?” I said, “God will provide.”

As we started shopping for the individual April had selected, it seemed daunting to buy clothes for a young man whom we had never met. So, I started praying. Asking God, who knows this child, to lead us and guide us with questions like, “What are 14-year-olds wearing these days?” I mean, you want them to look nice but be cool as well. When I took hold of the pair of shoes, I started crying. Here is a young man, just starting high school and wondering, “Will I fit in?” “What am I going to wear?” My heart broke. A kid should never have to worry about what they will wear or what they will eat, or where they will sleep tonight.

I don’t write about these things to say, “Look at us. Look how generous we are.” We are only able to do these things because of God! The reason is to say:

Trust God that He will meet your needs.
Open your eyes to the needs of others.
Live within your means, so you can help.
And remember that when you do it for the least of these, you do it for Jesus.

The young man that we got to help is more than a number. More than “A202516.” We pray that he knows God and will learn by seeing Him in action how loving and caring He really is. And that He is a good, good God. We pray that when he grows up and someday hears the cry go out that a child has a need, he will remember how someone answered that cry for him, and then do the same.

Rich Man, Poor Man

June 24, 2025June 27, 2025 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

“People don’t know how expensive it is to be poor!” From the movie “Straw.” It is hard for me to relate to the above quote. I’m not privileged or from a wealthy family, but compared to 99% of the rest of the world, I am rich.

None of us get to choose who and where we are born. If given a choice, most of us would pick a wealthy family in America so we would have opportunities. The movie Straw portrayed a side of life that a lot of people deal with every day. The movie was good, but the language was very rough. Honestly, it was difficult for me to relate to, but I feel for anyone who is struggling financially.

There are situations where individuals struggle due to their own issues and decisions. There are usually ways out of your current situation and ways or means to better your life. I’m sure doing so is a huge fight and it probably feels like trying to climb Mt. Everest, almost impossible. But there are stories of people who do it.

Struggling financially is certainly not the life God had wanted or planned for people. He placed Adam and Eve in a garden. And Jesus said in John 10:10 that he had come to give people life and to give it to them more abundantly. The one word that determines abundant living is “contentment.” Someone who is just barely making ends meet might say they are content. They have a warm, safe place, food on the table, and reliable transportation. For one who has limited resources, if any one of those needs more and they don’t have more, that is when they can get into trouble.

They can quickly find themselves without a place to live, struggling to put food on the table, or having a vehicle they cannot afford to maintain. They may suffer a physical illness that they can’t afford, or if they can’t get to work, they could lose their job, and that might cause them to lose where they are living. I can understand why someone would get depressed and potentially snap.

Living a life that is surrounded by sin and that is open to demonic influence doesn’t make life easy either. In the first part of John 10:10, Jesus tells people that Satan comes to kill, steal, and destroy. Satan wants to influence people to the point where their lives are ruined!

I contribute what I have to God. He has guided me in making good decisions. I’m not bragging because it was God, and I am not a financial genius, but I was able to retire at the age of 55. I have a home that has increased in value by $134,000 from when I bought it eight years ago. I live within my means, and I tithe on the income I have. God upholds his end of the tithing thing. He closes the mouth of the devourer. (Mal. 3:10-11) I do drive an old, beat-up car that is 15 years old, but it is dependable. I give God all the credit and the glory.

Do life WITH God. Accept Jesus, have your sins forgiven, and get on a road that leads to contentment. Learn how to live life abundantly.

Control

November 19, 2024November 2, 2024 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Accepting God’s gift of salvation is easy. “Even a caveman can do it.” (A line from a famous commercial some years ago.) What’s not so simple is giving God control of your life. It seems a lot of people still want to make significant decisions on their own. Then, when they find themselves in trouble, they wonder why.

After graduating college and landing a drafting job with the local electric company, I felt I was set for life. After all, as I was starting my career there, my uncle retired from the same company. But God had other plans. I was offered a youth pastor’s position in a small church 1,582 miles away. The problem? They couldn’t afford to pay me. Crazy right? Who in their right mind would take such a position? Believe me, I heard a lot of opinions from others who I knew were concerned for me. My father’s thoughts were the loudest, though.

After a lot of prayer, I did what God called me to. I was scared, but I felt assured that He knew what He was doing. It turns out He did, and all of my needs were met.

That experience taught me to seek God whenever making decisions about things like where to live, where to work, and where to spend money above and beyond living costs. Oh, don’t forget who to marry. These are the areas of life that most don’t even think to ask God about. Somehow, they feel these decisions are theirs. And some go as far as to tell God, “Hands off!”

Of course, God allows this because He gives us free will. But I can only wonder how much it aches his heart when the decisions people make hurt them. God wants the best for us, and He has the ability to see beyond the edge of the map. He knows in advance what decisions are good ones and which ones aren’t.

I would have to say that letting God have complete control of my life has allowed me to have a wonderful life and one of the most incredible adventures anyone could ever live.

It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. Eph. 1:11-12 (MSG)

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
    don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
    he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
    Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
    your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
    give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
    your wine vats will brim over.
But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline;
    don’t sulk under his loving correction.
It’s the child he loves that God corrects;
    a father’s delight is behind all this. Prov. 3:5-12 (MSG)

Cease striving and know that I am God; Ps. 46:10a (LSB)

Hacked

April 16, 2024March 23, 2024 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Individuals are getting hacked all the time these days, especially on social media. I know my Facebook account got hacked once. Just the other day, a friend told me someone, or a group, got into her “X” (formally Twitter) account. There is even a company now you can pay to try to guard you against hackers getting your personal information and securing loans or, worse, draining your bank accounts.

A few years ago, I took a nap on a Saturday. When I woke, I looked at my phone and saw an email from my bank. I had set up a “Withdrawal Alert” whenever more than a set amount came out of any of my accounts. The email informed me that $9000 had been transferred from my savings. I immediately called the bank and told them I didn’t do it and didn’t authorize it. They finally stopped treating me like a criminal, a “guilty” party, after two hours. I told them the people responsible were tied to the account where the money went. I got the money back, and I have greater security today.

But what happens when someone’s heart gets hacked? What do I mean by that? An individual, perhaps raised in a church, knows right from wrong and believes in God even, but Satan found a way into their heart and, as a result, into their life. His presence in their heart could cause them to act in a way that is no longer pleasing to God. It could cause them to say and do things that are not right. You don’t think it could happen? What about Judas?

Judas was one of Jesus’ disciples. He heard the teachings and saw the miracles. In fact, he probably had a front-row seat. I can only guess he was in attendance every time.

Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, even then getting ready to betray him, said, “Why wasn’t this oil sold and the money given to the poor? It would have easily brought three hundred silver pieces.” He said this not because he cared two cents about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of their common funds, but also embezzled them. John 12:4-6 (MSG)

Jesus said, “The one to whom I give this crust of bread after I’ve dipped it.” Then he dipped the crust and gave it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. As soon as the bread was in his hand, Satan entered him.

“What you must do,” said Jesus, “do. Do it and get it over with.” John 13:26-27 (MSG)

See, the scriptures point out that Satan “hacked” into Judas’ heart. He found a way in, and he caused Judas to betray Jesus. The sad end to Judas’ life is he knew he had sinned. He gave the money back to the priests, well, tried to. They didn’t want it because they knew it was now dirty. After Judas did this act, he judged himself and committed suicide. I know that if he had gone to Jesus and asked for forgiveness, Jesus would have done so.

If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—simply come clean about them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we’ve never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God. 1 John 1:9-10 (MSG)

Guard your heart by guarding your mind. Bring every thought into captivity. For what you think, you begin to believe. And what you believe, you start to speak and act upon. Don’t let your heart get hacked. You won’t be guilty, and your life will be “locked,” secured for eternity.