2014*

A new year, what will it hold for me? I am not one that makes new years resolutions. As I write in my blog I hope to be clear in my writing that a child could understand what I am saying. I think of Preachers that I like to listen to and I understand what they are saying. Charles Stanley is one of my favorites, as is David Jeremiah. Sometimes I also listen to Joel Osteen, even he has stated he is more of a motivational speaker. Bill Wolfson is another Pastor I try to listen to each sermon. Then here at home at Hope Church our own Scooter Noland. Each of these seems to explain what they are saying in such a way it makes sense to me. Some people I read and I wonder what is it they are saying. I believe the gospel was intended to be simple so anyone would have the opportunity to accept Christ. I think the salvation doctrine we hear over and over is simple and meant to be. These are learned men that have much more education than I have but still make it easy to understand. I read some things on Facebook and I think it sounds religious but I still have to think it thru.  These men challenge me in my relationship, I do not feel challenged if I do not understand what is being said. It is important to evaluate what we take in as our spiritual food. It should be spiritually nutritious and not spiritual junk food. I do like to blog, I do want to write in a clear easily understood manner. I do want to be scripturally accurate, rightly dividing the word of truth as the Bible says. I do not want to be offensive and I sometimes feel that I am. I want to be honest and open. Sometimes as I write about past experiences there may be another person involved in what I write about. I do not want to put someone else down but simply want to tell my side of the story. There are always two sides to a coin.
I sometimes write about the failures in previous marriages and would feel bad if my writings were to defame those partners. I am sure each of them has experienced some of my failings and dysfunction. As I look back I certainly can see areas I failed in and could have done better. I also still have good relationships with family members of previous spouses and do not want to hurt those relationships. It is not always easy to write about a situation or something I learned or experience and keep it totally positive. We learn from our mistakes more than we learn from our successes. I remember a time during my first year in an engineering group. I thought I had learned the set of drawings and how to design the electrical wiring for this system very well. I had six months of experience when my trainer took a six-month leave of absence. He recommended me to take over his task. The first customer I did a set of drawings for, I messed up big time. I spent the next three months correcting my errors, but I learned what I thought I already knew in a manner that I never had trouble again. I really did learn more from my errors on that first customer set of drawings than the previous 6 months. I really understood those drawings from that point on. I think it is that way in life also. I think I have learned much more from failing then I have learned in just living. I still do not like to fail. Perhaps there is a bit of perfectionism in me. Also, it is normal to want to do things right. If we make errors, lets at least learn from them. I feel I am succeeding in this marriage after 4 failures. I do feel I learned from the past.  God intends marriage to be for life, one man and one woman. Could I have learned the same things in a previous marriage, sure but it takes sticking with it thru thick and thin and a willing partner who also is committed? When one person thinks it is over, it's over. I guess as I start to write I ramble on and probably get off the subject. I do want to blog and be open, honest, and clear about what I write. When talking about scripture, I want to be accurate in interpretation but not offensive if it can be avoided. I don't want to burn any bridges with the past except the ones that need to be burned. People are important and I do not want to offend but to encourage. I do want to point to a God who never leaves us and always has our best interest at heart. I believe a relationship with God has been the most correcting influence in my life. For that I am thankful, I think I am a better person than I was 50+ years ago. God continues to show areas that need correcting in my life and I hope to be better this year than last. God bless, LVZ.