Family*

I have been really blessed with a great family. Not just my immediate family, my brothers, and sisters but extended family. Cousins and Uncles, Aunts. I guess with Aunt Rebecca's passing I have been reflecting on the Christian heritage we have seen in our family. It is a wonderful thing when you know they know the Lord. Papa Johns late last year, what an awesome man, someone told about how he was still visiting sick in the hospital pushing his walker at 89. He told someone, he wouldn't make it to 90, he was ready to see his God.  Sheldon at 27, so young in January departed this life to his eternity. It was great getting in touch with that side of our family again. Visiting with Alton and Tonya, the Christian heritage in that part of our family. So many cousins have that relationship with  God. You hear it when you visit with them.  Leo and Ruthie, and Leroy and DeAnn are some of my favorites. The Christian heritage that these individuals pass on. Aunt Rebecca's passing, what an awesome thing it is when these saints pass on. Sure you miss them but in some ways, you're almost envious. Sure, these individuals were not perfect. Each of them had quirks about them, Papa Johns, took his calling as a minister of the gospel very seriously even in his 80's. The last visit I had with him, one of the things he said - "If you have any unfinished business, get it taken care of". He was talking of spiritual business, is everything right between you and God. He was a Minister of the Gospel to the very end, some 60 plus years if I remember correctly. Some might think he was too pushy, but he's not because none of us knows the number of our days.  Then Sheldon, only 27 years old, so unexpected. But I believe from what I have heard and seen, he also was ready to meet his maker. As Papa had said just a short time earlier don't leave any unfinished business. Sheldon was a genius in his field, but he never made anyone feel stupid because they did not know as much as him. He was humble but imperfect as we heard, he was not a morning person.  Aunt Rebecca was ready for her God to come and get her and was asking why it was taking him so long. We heard at her tribute there were some trying times for her family. Christians are not perfect, they have flaws. But it is almost a joyous occasion when they pass on, even though there are some tears.  But I know there is a family that has unfinished business. If they do not know Jesus as Lord and Saviour, there is unfinished business. None of us knows the number of our days, the older generation is swiftly passing into eternity and our chance of being next is greater with each passing day. God does not wish for any to perish but wants all to come to repentance. It's not enough to live a good life, to be kind to your neighbor. Some day we all need to have that ultimate conversation with God and make Jesus our Lord and Saviour. Forgive me for my sins, for all have sinned. Come into the hearts of our unsaved family and have that necessary conversation, settle that question of who is Lord of our lives.
It is an awesome thing to be ready. It will be heartbreaking for those left behind if we are not ready.
Papa Johns once told me he believed God might have to erase part of his memory when he entered heaven if he knew he had unsaved family. How could there be no tears in heaven if you know you have unsaved family. How could you not have sorrow if you had family you would never see again. Be ready, leave no unfinished business behind. God bless, LVZ.

Aunt Rebecca*

Aunt Rebecca died well. That is something I hope to do someday also. Not die but die well. It is Christian Saints that seem to be able to die well. No regrets for a life well-lived. Aunt Rebecca didn't invent or create some awesome contraption for society to use. She raised 4 sons that have followed her in Christian character. Four sons that have some character that we would do well to develop in our own lives. I Corinthians 15:55 "O death, where is thy sting, O grave, where is thy victory?" Aunt Rebecca had nothing to fear in the afterlife, in fact in the last week when her son was checking up on her, she was in her closet praying, God where are you? She had lived a good life, she was ready to be with loved ones who have gone on before. Her prayer was more of why is it taking you so long to come and get me. But as I reflect on my Aunt, I look at her sons, that she raised. I recently wrote a blog about hospitality and her oldest son was the best example of hospitality I could think of. He and his wife have built a home to take care of three aging parents and kept them until they moved on to their rewards. This is a difficult thing to do in this age of me-first mentality. My cousin has done very well with the wages he made in his lifetime. He was a tither, and I believe this is another person God has blessed as he promised in his word concerning tithing. Malachi 3:10 " Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of host, if I will not open to you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there will not be room enough to receive it."  God actually challenges us to try him in this verse. But they endured some difficult times caring for aging parents. As I wrote in the hospitality blog, they also have opened up their home to others at different times for a short visit or a longer visit when it was needed. Another friend upon meeting them for the first time said she felt so welcome, it was like she knew them forever.  Another son has done an awesome job of caring for a disabled wife for I think about seven years. This shows a lot of character in this day and age. To care for someone that you have to even cut their food up takes a lot of time.  A third son who had a stroke and is disabled still tries to work. All had a very good work ethic that was modeled before them. I've seen this cousin, when so many look for ways to get a disability check because they don't want to do anything, still mows lawns, shovels snow off sidewalks, dragging his stroke stricken leg behind him. He can lift a lawnmower on to the back of his pickup with his one good arm.  Some of the airplanes I helped build in the early days of my career are outdated and some no longer flying. But when you compare that to the legacy Aunt Rebecca left behind in the character of her children, those airplanes seems so insignificant. I would much rather have a legacy of children and grandchildren displaying Christian values. When I look at what Aunt Rebecca left behind, she died well, left a legacy she can be very proud of.  When my time comes may I die so well, and leave a legacy of Christian values in my children also.  God Bless, LVZ.

Changing times*

I have changed my attitude on many things over the years. I think it's important when doing so to become more like Jesus. I know over the years I became much more - I don't know how else to put this - like the world. I was still going to church, trying to be a Christian, but I was in relationships outside the will of God. The attitude of this is the 90's ( or we are already in 2013), celibacy outside of marriage is not the norm anymore.  I use this is the 90's because that's where I was at when it was said to me. That doesn't change God's word on this issue. Sexual relations outside of marriage is adultery according to God's word. It is a difficult situation to be in, having been sexually active for many years and then getting divorced. The opportunities were there for me. When I tried to be celibate, I was looked on as - to put it nicely, not normal. But God forgives. Our society has changed from where people changed from staying together thru abuse and whatever to easy divorce and even living together. Our society has changed to even what they call hooking up, sexual relations with no attachments even as far as living together or being exclusive. That does not change the word of God, and how God feels about this. I do understand that this sin is as old as humans. I have been guilty of the same. God's guidelines are for our safety and to make good relationships. God is not out there to make things difficult for us just because he can and he is God. He really does know what is best for us. So now we live in a day and age when our society is trying to make homosexuality a normal relationship. We are hearing God made me that way. The Bible says I Corinthians 6:9 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10. Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." This list is very inclusive and includes adultery, fornication, and effeminate ( which I understand to be homosexuality). If our society was just changing its views on homosexuality but it is condoning everything. Many couples in our churches are living together, not just roommates, but living in a sexual relationship, which is contrary to God's word. I have been in sexual relationships outside of marriage, I am not proud of it. I am trying to live a godly life. Even though I made excuses for my behavior, (King David did it, etc.) It doesn't change God's word. But our society is changing and finding all these behaviors acceptable. Adultery, homosexuality, etc. are considered normal behavior. Our television legitimizes these behaviors, we see it over and over again portrayed as normal. But I believe the bible says these behaviors are wrong, and so I must adjust my behavior accordingly. I am being called narrow-minded because of my beliefs, so be it. I only have to stand in front of God to answer for my life and I do want to hear well done good and faithful servant someday. I don't mind being out of step with our changing society, I don't want to be out of step or out of a relationship with God. He is the judge we all have to face someday. I don't like the term homophobia. Homosexuality is just one of the sins listed in the verses above. I do not want to treat a gay or lesbian any different than I would an adulterer, or drunkard. As the next verse says; such were some of you. But I had to turn from my sinful behavior and I am glad there were people who stood beside me and prayed for me and didn't condemn me for my adultery and other sins. There are no perfect Christians, we are all works in progress. It is by God's grace that I am where I am today. Grace is unearned favor. I am a recipient of this grace. Thank God, LVZ.

I'm not buying it!!!*

I see on facebook where someone came up with what they think is a brilliant question. When did you decide to be straight? The implication is that God created gays to be gay and I am not buying that argument. If we can use that argument, that question to justify gay behavior what other behaviors does the Bible teach against that we can conveniently put aside? I think the same could apply to adultery, I will use this for an example because I am not trying to make a gays behavior any worse than an adulterer. Does God create adulterers? We could ask the same question, when did you decide to become an adulterer? I am not sure anyone can point to a single decision but it was probably a gradual falling away from God's principles. Our society is trying to legitimize gay behavior and is doing a very good job of it. I recently was reading about Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Bible is clear about some things. The Bible is clear about wanting marriage to be for a lifetime.
I failed in that area of my life. That doesn't mean I cannot move beyond that failure, God forgives.
He forgives adulterers and he forgives gays. That question is a subtle way to justify a sinful lifestyle that this society is trying to legitimize.  God Bless, LVZ.

Before I was born*

Psalms 139:16 "Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them."
As far as I can tell from these words, God knew me and the days of my life before I was born."  The amplified Bible says: "Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there were none of them." All the days of my life were written before I was even born. This does not take away free choice from us. God knows us better than a mother knows her child. How many times has a mother known her kid was going to do something before they did it? God knows us better than any mother or father knows their kid. I repeat this does not take away our free will. We still have the ability to say yes or no to Jesus. Its just that he already knows what we will say. If he is searching for you as a shepherd searches for the lost sheep, he knows that the ninth time he calls you say yes. Or perhaps you never do say yes but still he asks, giving you free will. This tells me that God knew I would move to Mississippi when I was 59 even before I was born. I believe it. I don't understand fully why I was looking at the 2000 census and seeing what the average wage was, what the percentages of population were, etc. county by county. But I did. When I cleaned out my desk when I retired, I still had some of that research in my files in my desk. Why, I am not sure why?  I didn't know in 2000 and a few years later even up into 2007 that I would be married to a Mississippi native, but God knew before I was born. In the 1960's when all this race stuff was going on in Mississippi, I didn't know that someday I, a white man would be married to a Black woman and live in Mississippi. But I believe God prepared me even though I would never wait on him to guide my life. I do believe God moved me to a church that would help me thru divorce before I even knew the divorce was coming. My reason for going to that church was totally different. My kids were going to that christian school and that is why I started attending that church. But as I  look back I believe God moved me there to help me thru a divorce. I believe that for a reason God put me in Tacoma. The year my Dad died, I did not know he was going to die in 2002, I started looking to by a house. I thought to myself I am going to be here for the long haul, I might as well be building equity in at least a small house while I am taking care of  Dad. I signed papers on that house March 28th 2002 about 9:00 am. That night Dad died about 10:- 10:30. When Dad died, I thought if I'd only known, I wouldn't have signed those papers and I could move back to Everett. But the coincidence of me feeling the urging to find a house starting several months prior to Dad's death and signing those papers that day made me think God did this for a reason. I attended Eastside Baptist Church because it was fairly close to the house. I didn't know anyone there, I just felt at the time I needed to attend there. Then I got married and divorced again, (once again I wouldn't wait on God) I had to find someone and I did.  I didn't even know Barbara existed before 2006, but God knew. For  some five years I attended church with Barbara's sister. Sometimes coincidence is God manipulating his plan for us. Maybe some day I will understand more than I do now, but I am content to know that God knew me and the days of my life before I was born. I am convinced God loves me and has cared for me these 60 years.  Maybe some day I'll look back and be able to see - O that's why God did that. But until then I am content to believe I am in God's hands. God Bless, LVZ.

Hate*?

Luke 14:26 "If any man come to me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." How can this scripture make any sense? We are to love one another. To love thy neighbor, husbands love your wife etc.etc. etc. In the column next to this verse in one of my Bibles, it has these helps self-denial, self-sacrifice, leaving all, God's claims first. Matthew 10:37 " He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."  Here again, in the column is the help God's claims first.  We are to be about love, that is how others will know we are true disciples. When you read Luke 14:26, it makes you stop and wonder what is meant by hating all these members of our natural family. If we are normal, we naturally love our families, our parents, our children, our brothers, and sisters. But when you put this together with Matthew 10: 37, its that our love for God should be so much greater than our love for our families that it would look like hate?  How can one do this? The helps in the column for both verses state or tell us God's Claims First. God needs to come first in our lives, at a level that our love for our families looks like hate in comparison. I don't think I am there yet. I don't know if I will ever get there. We as a nation seem to be moving further and further from God. Our Children think there are other ways to get to heaven. Jesus is the only religious figure that gave his life for our sins.  Christ gave his all for you and me. Even to death on a cross to pay the penalty for our sins. No greater love is there than a man gives his life for others. It is really hard to fathom a love that strong, as described in Luke 14.  As I look back, I can see that my love for God was not that strong, but I see now why it needs to be. All I know to do is have a relationship with God the Father who loved us so much he gave his son to die on a cross for us. He modeled that kind of love for us, as it says in Ephesians 5:25 "...even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it."  It seems difficult to have that strong a love for God. God's claims First,  on our lives, on our hearts. Its the only way we can get there. A love is so strong it puts God first place in our lives. God is the answer for the world today. It starts with a relationship with Jesus. Accepting him as Saviour and Lord. Luke 14:26 is still about Love, it may use the word hate as a descriptor, but it's pointing us to a love that is so strong, other loves may look like hate in comparison.  Others beliefs may be so strong that individuals will commit suicide bombings and kill so many in the process of promoting their cause, their beliefs. But that's not what God wants. God's love is one that we give of ourselves (selfless) that does not destroy but restores. The love for God needs to be just as strong as these radicals but not to destroy. God's love is to restore and build up.  God Bless, LVZ.

Rich*

Some people think I am rich. I guess that is a relative term. I think if I had a million dollars in the bank I'd be rich, and I would feel financially secure. But I don't. I think if I'd worked till I was 70 I might have made it to a million in assets, but I'd probably be dead.  I have more than the neighbors across the street, they are on welfare. While I do not consider myself rich, I am not complaining. There are a lot of scriptures concerning rich, riches, wealth in the Bible. One is, it is harder for a rich man to enter heaven than for a camel to go thru the eye of a needle. (My words from memory) Psalms 52:7 "Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness." I believe this verse tells us our trust needs to be in God and not in our Bank account. It is not wrong to have riches, and I wish I had a million dollars in the bank. Then the bible also says for us to be content with what we have, and contentment is great gain. The verse about being hard for a rich man to enter heaven does not mean they cannot enter heaven. I believe it means a lot of rich people will make money their God and that will prevent them from entering heaven. I was able to draw a retirement that is less than half of what I was making when I was working. But as long as that does not fail, I do not have to work. It would have been more if I'd continued to work till normal retirement age. It would have been more if I'd waited until the next contract was settled but, O well.  But I am OK. I think people see me not working and not on welfare and they conclude I am rich. I am OK, but I doubt most people that really knew my finances would consider me rich.  I have been blessed. I learned to pay tithes as a child and although I have not been 100% faithful my whole life, I do believe God has blessed me. I do believe I have been blessed in many ways because of being a Christian most of my life. I did struggle with different things over the years, but I did try and maintain a relationship with God. I see people that have more than me, a nicer home, a nicer car, more toys and I too think they are rich. I Timothy 4:8 "For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come." As I think on this scripture, this life is but a vapor compared to eternity. It is a short time in comparison to a thousand-year reign with Christ. I'd hate to miss heaven in eternity, eternity is longer than we are able to imagine. My 32 years at Boeing is a mere second in comparison.
Actually, that comparison is probably not very accurate, but a way to put my brain around the concept of eternity.  I want to enjoy life, but I really want to see this eternity that I have heard about most of my years. I do want to be content, but if I have anything of value it would not compare to a relationship with God and the promise of eternal life that I have because of that relationship. All things considered, maybe I am well off.   I know of others that have what I have thru Boeing and more. One person had pretty much the same years and the same age as I am but is still working. He probably has the ability to get the same retirement or more. Probably has much more in his VIP. He also had some 50K in his checking account that I don't have. But I am not sure of his relationship with God. If he is not in relationship with God, what does he really have? Matthew 16:26 "For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul." "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."  This quote is most times attributed to Jim Elliot.   Godliness is profitable. Try and see. God bless LVZ.