Tupelo Tornado*

The news channel told us to get into shelters about 20 minutes ahead of time. We had about 8 neighbors come over to the shelter this time. After about 30 minutes in the shelter it sounded like it was over. At one point several of us thought we heard the wind roaring. The hail kept pinging on the vents so it was hard to hear much else. When  I went back in the house the news channels were off the air till about 11:00 PM. The Tornado was around 3 PM. I couldn't get on the Internet or see the news channels until about 11:00 PM. What I saw where I could drive was minor. I heard that the North Gloster and Joyner areas were hit hard but they were blocked off by police and I couldn't see anything. I did see some damage to buildings and large trees broken off, power lines down but this was on the outskirts of the real damage. The news personnel made it out just before the station went off air. Most of North Tupelo was still without power tonight including the mall area. On the weather channel you could see the line of Green and red and whatever other colors they have on their screens and you could see it was moving toward Tupelo. He said it will hit Tupelo in about 19 minutes and that was accurate. I think that was about 2:30 when the weather man said that. It hit shortly before 3 PM. At the house we just had a lot of rain and some hail. The ground was sopping wet when it was over.  At least you have a warning and can be in shelter ahead of time. There are also loud sirens that go off when a tornado is spotted. We also get a weather call on the house phone and the cell phones. It is amazing to me to hear the weather man say this spot here is a tornado, right now its at about 113 miles an hour in the air above ground, moving about 55 miles an hour. towards us and should be here in about 19 minutes.  They urged everyone to get in your shelter now. Then in about 30 minutes its over except for more rain. Actually the storm system  that spawned this Tornado stretches from Louisiana up in a North easterly direction into Tennessee and beyond. We will be listening for the Siren tonight as this storm system is still active. Unfortunately, one person was killed in a weather related accident and I heard 6 people went to the hospital with minor injuries. One lady was killed in a traffic accident on Palmetto Road which is near our house, I am not sure if this is the same person they reported as a storm fatality. This tornado was 3 years and a day from the Smithville Tornado.  All is well here.  I hear they have national guard in the area. I would like to see the devastation for myself but I believe they still have the areas blocked off. It does not sound like there was any loss of life other than the one killed in a traffic accident, here in Tupelo. Thank God. The news has said 11 killed in storm area.  God bless, LVZ.

Ham

Ham as a son of Noah. As I read about Ham and seeing the nakedness of his father, I gave some thought to this. Ham exposed what he saw and told it to others. His other brothers honored their father and took a covering and walked backwards into the tent to cover their father. Noah in realizing what had happened cursed Canaan the son of Ham. As this was explained, Canaan had a lot against him in life because he did not have a good father.  Ham chose not to cover his father and to expose what he saw. The original language indicates delight and not honor. I guess I thought a lot about the part with Ham and Canaan because I too had a dysfunctional father. As I read the book Growing up Holy and Wholly, I realized more about the dysfunction I was raised in. I had a choice and I could not follow in my fathers footsteps in areas that were not good. I had some things to overcome. Our parents are the best example we have to follow, we just have to learn to follow the good and change the bad or do the opposite when it comes to the bad. Ham should have honored his father as the other brothers did. The Bible doesn't say to honor only if they were good, there are no qualifiers there, just honor your parents. I do have choices in life for my path that I follow. I could allow dysfunction to continue in my life that I inherited from my parents or I can choose to eradicate it from my life. Canaan had to make the same choice. He would have difficulties in life because of the upbringing he had under Ham. I try to personalize the word that I read and make it fit me. It is not how much of the word we know that is going to matter, but how much of it we applied to our life. The good and the bad in  the word of God, it is there to guide us on our way through life. One other thing I have taken away from this story is the Bible does many times record the bad history as well as the good. We can learn from both. We can copy the good and change the bad. I once excused bad behaviour in my life as I would read about King David. After all King David was a man after God's heart. The point to learn was King David repented and changed. We do not have to follow the bad examples, but we change that and follow or copy the good. David repented and so must I. The reason King David had a heart after God is because he would repent when he saw the error of his way. That is something to copy. There are no perfect people, we see countless numbers of people God used and God chose to record some of their failings as well as the good. There is hope for us as we follow after God. God alone can change our hearts. God bless, LVZ.

Racism

I have not seen black and white twins until today. If you google Black White twins you will actually come up with several pairs. It doesn't happen very often but it does happen. One picture I saw was Kian and Remee. I thought about this today as in Genesis 5:1 "This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;" He goes on to say male and female were both created in the image or likeness of God. God only created one race, the human race. I cannot explain how the many different races developed any more than I can explain the black and white twins from the same Mother and Father. We were all created in the image of God, every man or woman that ever lived. When you read the history in the Bible, you sometimes get the good with the bad. Noah who we can credit with saving mankind and many animals in the great flood, also failed at times. King David, possibly a  hero of many, was a murderer and an adulterer. Moses felt inadequate in spite of the call God put on his life. Ham, a son of Noah was also not a perfect man. In fact Noah cursed Ham and said some things about his offspring Canaan. Many have used that curse to say God cursed Black people, but that is not true. God created one race, one scholar stated that the curse was Canaan you will have trouble because of your father, Ham. If one thing holds true, it is that even good people sometimes fail, but like the Pastor said, we don't have to stay there or follow in the footsteps of bad parents. Some think I resemble my oldest cousin. Once when we were seen together a short time back, I was asked if I was my oldest cousins older brother. Not a complement to me as I am about 9 years younger, but there is a family resemblance. All humans are brown, the ones with more pigmentation are called black and the ones with less pigmentation are called white, with many varying shades in between.  I suppose this more brown or less brown could have developed just the same as the family resemblance between me and my oldest cousin over the centuries that man has been on the face of the earth. Racism is wrong and a sin and has raised its ugly head in various ways over time. Hitler killed millions of Jews in protecting / preserving the super race. In our early history many had Black slaves, and we mistreated the Native Americans in horrible ways. In more recent days we hear more about south of the border relatives (Hispanics). God created one race, the human race. Just like we can get all bent out of shape over liberal and conservative politics, we can go the wrong way about race also just as Hitler did. God created one race, if we could trace our ancestors back many generations we would end up at Noah. Racism is wrong, as simple as that. God created one race.  God bless LVZ.

The sickness

I have heard the gospel presented in many ways in my many years. I recently heard it presented in a very unique way. We have all sinned, every last person alive. The wages of sin is death. If we have heard very many sermons at all, I am sure we know that much. I have thought much about this sermon and the way the gospel was presented. It was truthful, but I would compare it to maybe one of the best tear jerker movies you ever saw. If an actor does his job as an actor and presents his character in such a way that we believe him and it moves us, we feel he or she has done a very good job as an actor or actress. Following is a very short version and I cannot do it justice.
 A man had a serious sickness, it would kill him in the end. There was only one cure for this mans illness. He would need a blood transfusion. There was only one person in the whole world, who had the blood that was needed for this transfusion, Jesus Christ. The operation took place, the man that had the sickness had the transfusion from Jesus Christ and the cure worked. Remember this is my very short version of the story. The person, Jesus Christ, who gave his blood for the transfusion died. These facts are true. Jesus is the only one who could cure sin with his blood. Any body else would be like the old sacrifices of goats and lambs. Jesus was the only one without sin. The rest of us inherited this sinful condition from our ancestors, Adam and Eve. The Bible tells us the wages of sin is death. We all have this sickness called sin. Some day we will all stand before our creator and give an account of our life. If we have not had this transfusion, we will die. This transfusion happens when we accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Put yourself in this story. You have a sickness that will kill you in the end. You are very sick and there is nothing anyone can do.  Jesus comes along and is willing to give his blood. He knows what it will cost him. He will die on that cross. But he does it willingly to save your life. If we could put a human face on this person it would seem like he is a real hero, like what we hear on TV. Does it mean less that it was Jesus that did this for us?   When you look at the facts, we were sick unto death, the only cure was a blood transfusion. The only person with the right blood was Jesus. Jesus had to give his life for this cure. It is awesome when you put a human face on it. It was the Son of God, Jesus that did this for us. I have thought about this for days, I cannot do it justice, but think about the true facts of this story. God bless, LVZ.

We've no less days to sing God's Praise than when we first begun.

This was a line from a song we sang last Sunday. I thought about that, I started singing God's praise about 30 years ago. I believe this is a true statement. If in this life I live to my 90's that will be true on earth, but what it really means is in  eternity, I'll have as much time as when I first begun. Eternity don't end. I understand why some might not believe in Christianity. We are imperfect to begin with. I realize how imperfect my early life was. I realize no matter how good I live it will not be enough to purchase salvation. I believed. I believed the message that I heard that all I had to do was ask Jesus into my heart. I have heard the testimonies of many others. Some lived a hard life, some lived a really good life and could fool others into thinking they were Christians. But in testimony after testimony, the individuals came to realize the only way was through the cross. Some are brought up in Church and know how to act. They can speak the christian talk. They do the good works and it is not enough. Some may have money and give much to God in material goods, but it is not enough. God wants our hearts, God wants a personal relationship with us. I remember a time in my life when I would do church stuff to avoid other stuff I really didn't want to do. Family stuff etc. It may have looked good on the outside but on the inside I was doing only what I wanted to do. That is no different than a prechristian doing only what they want to do. I realize in  my more mature years, I wasn't as good a Dad as I wanted to be. I wasn't as good of a husband as I wanted to be. I wasn't even a good friend at times when I really needed to be, I was selfish. I once was asked to be the best man at a friends wedding and I made up some excuse why I couldn't. It was an honor to be asked such a thing, and I could have done it,  if this man was truly my friend. But I didn't, I simply for what ever reason did not want to do it. I felt uncomfortable, I had no good reason, but I made up one. I have never been one to dress up and still don't. He was my friend, I should have done it.  I wish I could go back but I can't. I now see that it really was nothing more than just selfishness on my part. God can change our heart if we let him. He sees us as we really are, not as we want to be seen. In spite of that he still loves us and wants to have relationship. With me, even seeing all the secrets in my heart that I really don't even want to talk about at times, he still loved me. God deserves our praise, all we can give. God bless, LVZ.

Little Eli

Eli wants to do whatever I do. You might say he imitates me. I realize more than ever before the influence I have on a young child. I was finishing up a small section of Cedar Siding on the front side of the Dogtrot on the house, and Eli tried to help. He wanted to help. It would take him about 50 hits with a hammer to get one nail pounded in. I waited because I realize he is learning. At five he does not have the strength to do even a little thing like pound in a nail, but the desire and determination are there. O that we could imitate our creator with the same desire and determination as Eli. But we too are learning all through life. Sometimes I feel I am relearning even some basics. I remember a time when I was sitting in my car in Arlington waiting for my daughter as she was finishing her piano lessons. I was watching people walk by. A father and son walked by and started to cross the street. It was clearly evident from facial features they were father and son. But the thing that really caught my attention was when they looked both ways at the same time. Then they both licked their lips at the same time before crossing the street. Even the little characteristics like licking their lips showed how some times the younger generation imitates us unconsciously. O that we could imitate our heavenly Father in the same fashion. Our heavenly Father also exercises the same patience with us as I did with Eli that day as he took about fifty hits to drive in that nail. But we finished and someday God will finish us. God Bless LVZ

Missing the signs

In thinking about Noah and the Ark, he was 100 years in working on the ark. He spoke to the people as he was building the ark but they ignored him. I can imagine they thought he was strange, it had not rained before and this ark he was building was huge. People walking by or that lived nearby saw him building this for over 100 years. They heard his message, they chose to ignore or at least not believe it to take any action on their own. I wonder what people thought when animals started walking to the Ark on their own? Nobody driving or leading them. Some animals they'd seen before, but others were probably new to them. Yet here they came two by two and into the Ark on their own. Doesn't that seem strange just thinking about it? Here Noah had talked about it as he was building for years and years and this was happening before their very eyes. Yet they took no action. Are we so different today? Doesn't the Bible warn us of God's return. He compares it to the days of Noah. Is any body listening? We are becoming very self centered, and going against God's word with many things we do today. It seems both parties want power and are willing to say and change their views on any subject if it will further their cause. There are disasters happening in our world, hurricanes, tornadoes, mudslides, wild fires. Airplanes disappearing, ferries overturning, multiple tragedies over and over again. Is anybody listening? Is this not in many ways similar to the days of Noah and the flood? Are we missing the signs? I think too, that as I write my blog and try to point to Jesus, that perhaps I am a little like Noah? No one wants to hear this stuff. All this religious talk, many don't want to hear it. We do want everyone in this country to accept the gay life style and to quote scriptures speaking against this lifestyle is becoming to be considered a hate crime.   Are we missing the signs just as they did in the days of Noah, when they saw the animals gather to the ark all on their own? My first Father -in Law was a preacher of the gospel for most of his life and I remember some thinking that he was a little strange. He took his calling seriously unto the day he died. His last words to me were if you have any unfinished business, get it taken care of.  Others took offense to his concern, but I didn't. I knew what he was talking about, if we don't have our ticket purchased for eternity, someday it may be too late. One day just before the rain started, God closed the doors to the Ark and it was too late. Are we misreading the signs all around us and think it is nothing? Be prepared, we do not know what tomorrow holds. All that is required is Jesus come into my heart and my life. I need thee. God bless, LVZ.

Easter

Easter is a time we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the grave. This is a foundational belief of Christianity. If Christ did not rise from the grave our faith is useless, hopeless. Some would say it is a hoax. If it is, it is the best hoax ever played on mankind. Thousands of years later people are still believing this story. I believe it is true. I believe the Apostles as we know them would not have given their very lives for a hoax. They would not have given up their livelihood for a hoax. Some received cruel punishment for their belief. I cannot get away from that scripture in I Corinthians 15:19 "If we who are abiding in Christ have hope only in this life and that is all, then we are of all men most miserable and to be pitied."(the Amplified Bible) It is because of Christ death on the cross and his resurrection from the grave that we do indeed have hope of eternal life.Many churches across this nation and the world will speak about this event and I cannot do as good as any of them, but I do believe. I do believe Jesus still changes lives today. I do believe there is life after this life for those who accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. I do believe my life has been better because of Jesus. There are no perfect Christians, we just do the best we know. This Christianity is not based on our works, they would never be good enough. It is simply accepting Jesus into our hearts. We come just as we are with all of our flaws and sins. It is up to him to change us.  God bless, LVZ.

Heart Issues

Recently in a trial I was going through, I realized I had a heart issue. I have seen that several times in my life that sometimes it takes a trial or difficult time in my life to see things in my heart. Only God can fix our hearts. That is why we come to God just as we are. We can't fix it our selves anyway, only God can. I heard someone recently that described themselves as a "goody two shoes", the good kid.  They were well behaved. The Bible says there are none that are righteous, no not one. We all have heart issues that we cannot fix ourselves.  The Bible also says as a man thinketh so is he. As I was praying about this issue I would say, God,  I come to you just as I am, fix me. Many things in life are heart issues that only God can fix anyway, We can make New Years resolutions and try to modify behaviour, but only God can fix heart issues. God bless, LVZ.

Prejudice*

According to the dictionary, prejudice is a preconceived idea that is not based on actual fact or experience. I think most of the time when I think about this it involves race. Someone once made a statement that I probably couldn't be prejudice against Blacks because I am married to a black woman. I can have preconceived ideas that are not based on fact or actual experience. I try not to, but I believe I can be just as prejudiced as the next guy. What brings this up is conversations I have had that black family members do not feel that they can talk to me, or they worry about Barbara's property if something should happen to her. Because I am a white man, some think I will handle things like they expect a white man to handle them. I have no desire to take anything of Barbara's and keep it from her son and grandson, should something happen to her. In fact, I feel it may end up being in her son and grandson's advantage because I have more children and grandchildren. What she had, she had before we met. What I have is pretty much community property. When I had the run-in with my black nephew, many thought I'd do something to harm him, because he is black and I am white. Statements were made like, he should have known better than to talk to a white man like that. I looked at it as nothing to do with black and white, but what this nephew did was an assault and I took it to the law and let the law handle it. I did not see it as a black and white issue, I believe if he'd been a white man and threatened to shoot me, I would have handled it the same way. I saw it as a simple assault between two grown men. I think many black people are very prejudiced against whites, but then are not their feelings based on past experiences? I think many issues that people feel are black and white issues are not black and white, but like the assault, just a reaction between two grown men. Another area that bothers me is gay rights. Because I choose to believe that marriage should only be between a man and a woman based on what I know of the Bible, I get labeled a bigot. Do I not have the right to believe that marriage should only be granted to one man and one woman. I also believe that plural marriages are not biblical. Does that make me a bigot because my beliefs are based on my understanding of the Bible? I am not against granting a civil union of some sort to grant insurance privileges or other civil rights to gay couples, but just not a marriage because I believe God says it should be one man and one woman. I do not have the right to mistreat another human being because I do not agree with their lifestyle. But do I have to change my interpretation of the Bible to see it only their way? Isn't that forcing their beliefs on me? I just do not think everything we call prejudice is actually prejudiced, but based on our belief system and our experiences. God bless, LVZ.

disability

Just the other day I was talking to a guy my age that retired from the military. Then he retired from the State of Mississippi. As we were talking he said, now I'm trying to get a disability. I'm thinking, what? I have heard several people now talking about getting a disability. Its almost like some badge of honor to get a disability check.  What happened to people having pride in their work and the work that they do? I understand working to retire early if you can, it is still your work that earned what ever it is you get, but a disability is getting from the government off the work someone else is doing. I remember as a child too old timers talking about their jobs. One asked the other, "you work hard?" "Yes", he replied, "I work hard."  And the other fellow also stated that he worked hard. This was some 50 years ago, give or take a few years. They were proud of the fact that they worked hard. I remember a fellow just a few years ago that was openly playing solitaire on his computer pretty much 8 hours a day. Merit raise time came and he didn't get a raise and was mad about it. He thought he had been mistreated for having been working for 30 years and not getting a merit raise. The fact that he played solitaire for most of every day didn't seem to figure into it. I do know a fellow that gets a disability check because he never learned to read. I actually understand that but what I don't understand is all these people looking for a way to get a disability check and do nothing for the rest of their lives. It seems to be more of the prevalent liberal attitude in this country take from those that have a little ambition and give to those that don't want to do anything. Some how it just feels wrong. I am not against a disability for someone that has a legitimate disability, but all these folks looking for a way to get on the disability wagon  just feels wrong to me. God bless, LVZ.