Respect for Authority

Guess what, the Bible teaches us to respect authority, whether it be governors, kings, local leaders, law enforcement whatever. Ever since the young Michael Brown was shot by a white police officer, there have been a lot of negative posts on the Internet. I 'm not real sure about how many officers including Federal, state, local, county sheriff and others but I think the ratio is around 400 civilians per officer. That is a tough job. For the most part they are dealing with the public when there is a problem, writing a traffic ticket, answering a call when you home has been invaded, or possibly breaking up a family fight. There is a Church in Tacoma WA,  that yearly honors the first responders in the local area. That is the right approach. That is biblical. After 9/11, there were a lot of churches that were doing the same thing, but they pretty much dropped off as the years have gone by. I would guess that especially black churches have a lot of negative comments coming from the pulpit in Ferguson MO. Maybe I shouldn't say that because I really have not been there and do not know first hand. But I do see a lot of negativity about police officers on face book. Recently it has been rumored that there will be no charges against the white officer. I was just reading Romans chapter 13. It starts off this way "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgement on themselves."  and on in verse 6 it continues "This is why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor then honor." I believe it is important to turn this negativity around. I believe a large majority of our police officers are honorable and good. We must allow due process of law even for our law officers, even for the white officer that shot Michael Brown. Due you know of any industry or business of any kind that doesn't make a mistake or error in judgement. yes, sometimes there are automobile recalls and perhaps airplanes get grounded when something happens. Is it absolutely necessary to expect a murder charge for a white officer that shot a young black man. Even if it was in error, because of split second decisions that officers make when they are confronting a suspected lawbreaker. How many times do we hear of our law enforcement officers not going home at the end of their shift because someone shot at them and took them out, or seriously injured them?  What kind of a world would we face if we didn't have a police force to protect us from lawbreakers. If we keep up the negativity towards our law officers do you think we will get better quality personnel?  Or do you think some good officers will decide not to be a public safety officer because of the negative tone of the public? We need to be careful and honor and respect our public servants.   Think of the years back when they were called pigs or worse. Would you want to work for a public that disrespects you? I think the majority of our officers deserve more respect than we give them. I think there are procedures in place to get rid of ones that abuse their authority. I think we need to turn this around. I believe we owe them respect and honor. God bless our governing authorities and protect them as they serve us. God bless, LVZ.  

lynch mob mentality*

I believe the black people of Ferguson MO are no different than the tales of the old west or the south of a few years back. There was an article on facebook where the officer that shot Michael Brown is not going to face any charges. I just saw an episode of Bonanza about a Posse that went after a killer. there were three men in the group they were after. They killed both of the innocent men before they caught the killer himself. We have seen the movie of the Oxbow incident and we tend to think these are just stories. If what I read on facebook is correct. The black people of Ferguson and the agitators don't want justice. They don't want due process  of law. They want the officer that shot Michael Brown to hang. They don't trust the investigators even with all the nation looking on, they do not want to accept a verdict of no punishment. How are people today any different than the hotheads of the old west?  Especially the black hotheads in Ferguson MO.  They had a verdict and a punishment all laid out before the investigators had a chance to complete their investigation.  The officer needs to be charged with murder because he was white and the victim was black.  Nothing else matters to the Hotheads. Facts, videotape, eyewitnesses, any other evidence the investigators looked at in this case does not matter. The only thing that matters is the officer was white and the young man was black. How is this any different than the injustices of the old south against the black man. Do we learn from History?  Do they think that another injustice to a white man is going to erase any of the wrongs of the past? Do we really want justice? If we do, we need to accept the verdict of those that investigated this killing.  We do not need a lynch mob mentality. That is why we try to find impartial jurors and investigators in these situations. We do not want a cover-up, but that does not mean a white man has to be found guilty. Two wrongs have never made a right. I believe with all the nation watching, these investigators worked hard to get to the truth and to get justice for both the young black man and the white police officer. We do not need mob rule in this age or in the future. Think about the example we set for our children.  God bless, LVZ.

God Cred*

God Cred as opposed to Street Cred. In response to my last blog, Street Cred, what would I consider God Cred. The very first thing that came to mind was the Christian couple that took me into their home when I was but 18 years old. I had left my parents home and I was at a very unstable time in my life. They charged me $35 a month for room and board, when I got a job. Before I found a job, they didn't expect anything of me. When I think back on my life, I think how easy it would have been for me to get on a wrong pathway at that time in my life.  They helped me on the right path. It was a big thing they did for me. They were not related to me and knew me and my parents from church. That should be a God Cred for them.  In Luke chapter 10, starting with verse 25 we read the parable of the Good Samaritan. A man was traveling the road from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was robbed. They stripped him of his clothes and beat him and left him half dead. A Priest walked that same road a short time latter and when he saw the man he walked down the other side of the road and didn't even check on him.  A Levite came next. Levites had religious duties and possibly some political duties and they lived off the tithes that were brought to the temple. They played music or were guards in the temple. Back to the parable, The Levite also walked on the other side of the road and did nothing when he came to the spot where the man had been robbed and beaten, left for dead. Then came the Samaritan and when he saw the man, he immediately went to him, cleaned his wounds as best he could, bandaged him and took him on his donkey to an Inn.  He took care of him, attended to his wounds, fed him and paid for a room for him. The Samaritan left money with the Inn keeper and asked him to care for the man and if the cost was more than what he gave him right then, he would reimburse him when he came through again. In the last verse of chapter 10, Jesus says, "Go and do likewise."  Then in Matthew 25 verse 35 Jesus says "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." When we see to the needs of others around us, Jesus is saying it is the same as doing it to him or for him.  I believe that is what that Christian couple did for me, they did it for Jesus himself.  God Cred's. This is just a small part of it. In James 2:26  we are told faith without deeds is dead. God Cred's are when we do good for others as part of our faith in God.  I think if I talk about this long enough I would sooner or later get to being forgiving when others mistreat us. This is just a start, perhaps I should make a list like the list I saw of Street Creds.
All for now. God bless, LVZ.

Street Cred

I saw a couple of black Christian ladies talking on face book about their schooling and they were rightfully proud of their accomplishments.Then one of them said all we need is street cred.  Following is copied straight from Urban Dictionary by googling it.

street cred

A series of points you gain within the 12-30 black year old community in order to gain respect:

5 point- Born black
5 point- Born in a single parent home
10 points- Born poor
50 points- Sold 'Hard' drugs.. crack, cocaine, Heroin
65 points- Been shot and survived
75 points- Been shot multiple times and survived
70 points- Gang member of crips or bloods
65 points- Been to prison
40 points- Been to Jail
20 points- Have at least 10 tattoos
20 points- Kicked out of high school or dropped out
20 points- 16 years old and have a baby mama
-75 Points- Born rich
-50 Points- Speak proper English
-60 Points- Have white friends
-5 Points- Born white
-95 Points- Born in a safe neighborhood
-100 Points- No criminal record
-40 Points- Live with both parents
-35 Points- Smile when someone takes your photo
-60 Points- Straight A student
-2000 Points- Born in Utah, Maine, New Hampshire, Montana or Arizona. 

Honestly if we were talking only about speaking proper English, or smile when someone takes your photo, Straight A student and possibly Live with both parents if you are 18 or younger, I have no problem with that. When I first read Street Creds I did not notice the minus sign in front of the points in the lower half.  Why would anyone in their right mind want points or street creds for Sold 'Hard' drugs... crack, cocaine, heroin(50 points). Is being shot and survived some badge of honor(65 points) multiple times (75 points)? Why would any Christian of any race be proud of belonging to the crips or bloods gangs(70 points)? Been to prison (65 points). Been to jail(40 points).  Here is another one - have at least 10 tattoos (20 points).  Or (20 points) kicked out of high school or dropped out.  And here is one that I do not understand in any way, (20 points) 16 years old and have a baby mama.  Why would you get 2000 points for just being born in a state Utah, Maine, New Hampshire, Montana or Arizona? I think having no criminal record is something to be proud of but not if you have lived a gang banger live style and just didn't get caught. These were two Christian ladies talking on face book and even before I looked it up, I thought this don't sound right. We cannot choose the color of our skin, we have absolutely no say about the neighborhood we were born in. It would seem to me if you were born poor and made something of yourself it would be worth more than 10 times being born rich. I realize they were joking and I feel they have a right to be proud of their accomplishments. Worth some points would be did they help some one else succeed? Did they encourage someone in the right path that was headed the wrong way? Have they done things that were better for society or did they drag society down with them? Instead of Street Cred, how about some God Cred? Something God would look down and proudly say that is my child! God bless, LVZ.

Not responsible

In the last few weeks I have had difficulty with some of my blogs.  I thought I was comfortable enough to talk about black and white issues. But I wasn't, I got feedback that I was prejudice. I spent some 15 years as a member of a couple of different Black Churches, I have a lot of black relatives via marriages and thought I got along pretty good. I have posted stuff on face book spoken by black people and I guess I am not alone. Even when some of the same stuff is said by black people it upsets other Blacks. Just as all white people are not alike, even in my family, there are some liberal thinking individuals and conservative and a range in between. They do not all think alike. Black people have voted as a race for certain political candidates at a rate of about 98%, which to me says they are not thinking for themselves. In most elections, the winner is in the low 50 % range most of the time. Sometimes they carry women voters or other blocks of voters and it puts them over the top. I have read a lot of articles in recent days written by blacks. A lot of black people are waking up to the fact that voting for the color of a persons skin and not their character has not worked too well. I heard an 82 year old black lady rant about how can Christians vote for a party that takes God out of their platform and condones abortion and pays for it with public funding, etc. etc. etc. Charles Barkley commenting on blacks calling other blacks as acting too white if they begin to be successful. Charles Patrick commenting on how black people are the ones that need to step up and change their behavior if they do not want to be profiled in traffic stops. As he said when it stops working for the police they will find another way to catch the criminals. We hear Walter Williams telling how the minimum wage and welfare has actually hurt the black people. Telling how more blacks are killed by other blacks than all the blacks killed in countless wars. I tend to agree with a lot of things spoken by these people in their particular rants. But I am white and I am somewhat political and like to speak out on what I think and see. If a black person cannot speak out and promote a more conservative line of thinking why should I think it would not up set some blacks when I as a white person say some of the things I have in my blogs. I wish I hadn't deleted them. Even Dr Alveda King, who is the one that spoke most blacks voted for Obama on the color of his skin, not his character. In fact if you said any thing negative towards Obama in the last two elections you were almost immediately called prejudice or worse if you happened to be a black person like Ben Carson and several others. The majority of blacks did not vote for Clinton based on his character either for that matter. Some called him the first black President. for some reason he carried the black vote in his elections. As we know very well to day it was not based on his character. Lies maybe, but not character.  I think things are changing but I am not sure it is enough, black people still face a lot of character assassination  from their own people if they voice an opinion other than the liberal line. If we talk about a Biblical perspective on gay issues we are called homophobes or worse. The so called liberal party that is suppose to be the champions of allowing people to have a different view about things are actually very narrow minded when it does not agree with the liberal line.   We can speak what we feel is the truth but we are not responsible for how people react to it. That is on them. We do need to stand up and be counted. I really think if we did vote based on Biblical standards, we would be a lot happier with the result.I am not advocating voting Republican but I really think we need to look at the character issue. Perhaps a Democrat or Libertarian with some morals would be a better choice. If corporations fire a CEO because they feel his moral failures show a lack of good judgement, shouldn't that work for our political leaders also? If we are beginning to see that even sports personalities need to abide by the law regardless of how rich they are or famous, shouldn't we want the same from our political leaders?
Character issues matter. We should get disgusted with the slander and falsehoods portrayed in every election cycles ads. I believe it is still going to take a move of God to fix this country. First of all God created one race in the garden of Eden, and we use to consider ourselves Americans, and not German- American, African-American, Italian-American, Cuban-American. We need to get back to that and be one people again and vote based on a persons character. That I do believe will take a move of God.   God bless, LVZ.

Volunteering

In my later years I have tried to volunteer more. I enjoy it. For many years I mowed the church lawn, pulled weeds and even picked up trash at one of the churches I attended in Tacoma. Then later I drove the church van on Sunday morning. I wanted to do more volunteering when I got down here but got off to a slow start. I thought I would help with eight days of hope but at the time, right after the tornado, I was having trouble with my knee and didn't feel up to it. I started mowing lawn for the Salvation Army but that too was difficult with my knee. I couldn't do it with a push mower and as far as I know they never got their rider working.  Then Hope Church started Nehemiah's men, a group of retired men from the church doing little projects around the church. I am really enjoying that. We meet on Friday mornings and drink coffee for a few minutes and then do a small project that is needed at the church. For at least 4 or 5 weeks we replaced light bulbs. We painted , chipped out cement and did patch work by a doorway. This Friday we replaced a curtain on the stage in the gym. I operated a scissors lift and helped take down the old curtain and put up the new curtain. I am still busy with the house so this has fit in perfectly.  I am the youngest of these men, maybe not in the best condition but so for they haven't asked me to do anything I felt uncomfortable with. Because I was considered an electrical engineer at the busy bee, I am always afraid people think I know more about electrical stuff than I really do. Really what I did is design routing to get a wire from point A to point B using CATIA. My last four years I was a lead and did more writing procedures how to do some if the things we do, and tried to organize extra stuff to do during slow times to help our project teams out. I worked harder as a lead than I did as a worker, it may not have looked like it to others but I felt it. I still think people think I know more than I do but I am just not afraid to try stuff like operating the scissors lift. I do enjoy the volunteering, God has truly blessed me with the retirement I have and I want to give back. I am a little involved with a neighborhood watch and that is not going so well. As I finish with the house I hope to spend more time volunteering in some way. Perhaps next year I'll feel more up to something like eight days of hope. I have also taken at least one person up to Memphis for surgery. I volunteered to take another, a vet up to the Veteran's  hospital but he was afraid I'd drop him off someplace between here and there.  I would like to do more stuff like that. Sometimes I think about another paying job but I think it is just better if I volunteer as long as my needs are met. The Nehemiah's men so far has been perfect, and I feel it is a blessing to the church also. It is just a small way to give back to God for all he has given me.  God bless, LVZ.

salesman

I've never considered myself a good salesman. You hear people recommend a product, especially on television. They will tell you this is good for you, or that product will be just what you need.  I thought about this today as I went to a chiropractor. I will not just go to any chiropractor, it has to be a NUCCA certified chiropractor. Why? I am sold on this. In the year 2000 when the company I worked for and the Union I belonged to went on strike. Or I should say the Union members went on strike against the company I worked for. I had moved to Renton sometime earlier and had not found a chiropractor since leaving Everett. I had about enough time left on my insurance  for one adjustment before my insurance with the company ran out. I prayed about this. God help me find a chiropractor that will help me. My leg was going numb as I walked the picket line. I knew I was out of adjustment. I picked a chiropractor out of the phone book and made an appointment. I went in to see him and after talking and examining me, he said, I think I can help you but I am not the type of chiropractor you are used to. He explained that a NUCCA chiropractor only adjusts the head on top of the spine, the rest of the spine takes care of itself after that is corrected. It takes time, it took you a lot of time to get to the state you are in today and it will take time to correct that. My first thought was not good, but because I had prayed and asked God for help and this chiropractor said he would carry me through the strike if I came to every appointment he asked me to, I stuck with it. Now many years later I am convinced that this man knew what he was talking about. I am glad I stuck it out and reaped the benefits of this man's skill.  I planned on trying to continue with him even after I moved because I figured I'd be home to Washington state every so often any way. But here I am needing an adjustment, and he is 2500 miles or more away and I cannot just make an appointment and go like I used to. I am sold on a NUCCA chiropractor and will not go to a conventional chiropractor. Yet I have never convinced anyone other than my wife to go on a continuing basis. I have convinced others to try but they have not stayed. The same with being a christian in the form of having a relationship with God. Just as I described above, I have taken needs to him and he answered way above my expectations. I am sold on him. As a salesman, I would starve if I had to live off of commissions that I would get for convincing others. I just don't seem to have that salesman touch. I remember a time when I was much younger and I sold a car to my youngest brother-in-law. I had had nothing but trouble with that car. I liked it, and loved to drive it, but as one man told me, you heard of nickle and dime-ing you to death, that car will dollar you to death. I had nothing but trouble with it. I had it up for sale and my brother-in-law liked it as I did. It was very sporty, a convertible and fund to drive. I told him, I didn't want to sell it to him as it had given me nothing but trouble, he was my brother-in-law. He finally talked me into it and we traded. He did not get the car home before it broke down on him. He called my Dad to come get him and tow it home. As he was riding with Dad, he told Dad, your son does not know how to sell cars. Dad knew what my trouble was, he was my brother-in-law, and you don't want to pass on your troubles to a relative. Anyway, I really don't think I would make it as a salesman because I can't seem to convince people of the things that I believe in. Jesus changed my life, and when you know something good, you want to share it. Sometimes people just have to find out for themselves through their own experience, as they say a bought lesson. I am convinced, and live my life accordingly. Romans 8:38 "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." This is the only verse that seemed to apply today, for I am persuaded that Jesus is the answer for the world today. No political party or leader on this present earth can change a life as Jesus has done many times over. It starts in the heart and although it only takes an instant to repent and walk a different direction, it requires a lifetime commitment to walk in that knew direction. We do not always understand everything. If you commit your heart to him, Jesus is able to keep it and change it, even to the end of the age.  Romans 12:2 tells us not to be conformed but transformed by the renewing of our mind. This takes effort on our part. we must not conform, sit around and do nothing. If we do nothing and do not put forth effort to change this world, we will let the world change us and conform us. Renewing your mind, that is why we read and ponder God's word, to renew our mind. A salesman I may not be, but half the battle is not conforming to the influences around us. Just as I needed that chiropractor so many years ago, there had been many years of accidents and falls, injuries that I may not have even recognized that had damaged my body , my health, slowly over time until I felt the numbness in my leg. It did not happen in one instant but slowly over time. Here I am moved so far away and over time the same forces through neglect will once again have the same result.  I had to reverse the action, I had to choose a different path. It does take a life time, we cannot stop and conform. We must continue to renew our minds and our commitment, and nothing shall separate from our God. We see our country slowing conforming to the loudest voices. We make laws that are contrary to God word, and slowly over time we are conforming. So it is with our souls, we conform to the influences of this world, little by little, when we need to renew our minds and stay committed.    God bless, LVZ.

What do we listen to / Mostly Political

Not sure I should post this. Every time I post something political, I upset people. Just think it through, you do not have to be a rocket scientist to understand this. When I get into this political stuff, I know I sound very negative.

In this day, I wonder what we listen too?  Many economists will tell you we are in trouble in this nation.  It is not just one President or one party that has gotten us to where we are today. I feel that a conservative will only listen to and read conservative leaning articles. I feel that a liberal will only listen to and read liberal leaning articles. Is there really that much difference between the two major parties in this country. I think both parties are more interested in being in power than doing the right thing.  They seem to be able to change their view on things that will get more votes. It seems if we put things in simple terms it should help. I really don't understand the budgets of billions and trillions. If I make $100 and put it in my bank account, I have $100 to spend. No matter how many checks I have in the check book, when I write above $100 worth of checks. I am bouncing checks. Our Government has been doing this for years. They collect $100 in taxes and spend $150 because they can just print more money. You can explain how a former president had a budget surplus and they won't believe it. Two prior presidents put a small amount of our Social Security in a separate fund, like a savings account to be there when we retired. The third President came along and put that Social Security money back in the general fund or in simple terms moved it from the savings account to the checking account and spent it. Declared a surplus / spend our Social Security money, and people today still talk about that Presidents surplus. If someone had taken your 401 K, you'd be upset. You cannot convince them it was anything else other than a surplus and he is still popular today. Someone who has studied economics can tell us things we don't want to hear and we prefer to listen to a lying politician and believe his lies than to actually think things through. It sounds good so it must be true. We hear lie after lie told to get votes and it works. We will prosecute a Sports figure or a CEO of a company for lying under oath, but if he is a popular politician we just want to believe in him. We fire a CEO for having an affair with someone under his command because it shows poor judgement. We ignore a President having sex with an intern because he told us we have a surplus or we just think he is the best thing since sliced bread.  Where is just plain old common sense? I am glad they are starting to take a hard line approach to these sports figures that are messing up. They need to get the message, they are not above the law just because they make millions of dollars. We need to send the same message to our politicians. They lie about what happened when some of our people got killed in an embassy and the next thing you hear is there were 60 people killed under the prior administration. When you dig it out, yes there were all those people killed, but they were not Americans. That is the responsibility of the country they belonged to. Benghazi was our responsibility, our citizens.  Was it terrible , yes. Do we really want to hear truth? Or if we are liberal or conservative leaning, do we just want to see our people in power regardless of how many lies they tell. Do we even care? Do we not understand that if 50 % of the people are being supported through welfare, disability, student aid, grants, food stamps, section eight  housing and man I do not even know how many other ways of getting money from the government there is. Ever hear of the free Obama phone.  do we not understand the tax burden that is placed on an individual in the other 50% that wants to work and wants to do for himself? Read Walter Williams article about how long the government would run if we took every penny from the rich in this country. When my fathers generation was still around and working, there were 11 children to work and pay Social Security taxes to support the Parents of those 11 children. When families today have 1 or 2 children and if you have five children you have a big family. Does it not make sense that the tax burden is going to be even greater for those 2-3 or even 5 children then the previous generation  where 11 kids was more of the norm. Is that why they teach modern math so the generation behind us does not understand 1+2 does not equal 11?  I saw a welfare mother on face book complaining because the man that was supporting her and her 15 children went to jail and her rant was someone in the government needs to step up and support her 15 children. Why should I,  as a taxpayer,  have to support some welfare mom's 15 children?  Every body is entitled to be supported by the government, and it seems it is beyond their knowledge level to understand the money the government uses for all these programs is from those in the slightly more than 50% who are still working and paying taxes, or just printing more money. 50% of two is one. If one person is paying taxes and one person is living off that tax money in some way, it will take half that person check to pay for the other persons needs. Why should I continue to work to support you, if you don't want to work. You and I cannot just print more checks, it doesn't work for us and it shouldn't work for the government. Economists are telling us we are in trouble. If someone comes along with even more programs and entitlements and bailouts and support not only the people already on the welfare rolls but all the people coming across the border illegally, who do you think will get elected? The one who can tell the best lie, is my guess. Perhaps we should support these people and we should have a heart, and then on the other hand we are killing baby after baby through abortion,  as birth control and it does not bother us. Almost full term babies can be aborted by pulling them apart piece by piece  and it is a choice.  Does that make any sense at all? And that can be tax payer funded. Does not God see all this? If you were God would you be happy? If you were God would you be a patient and longsuffering as God has been towards us? If you created the universe and all that is in it what would you do? How long would you be patient and hope people come to their senses? Politicians will not fix this country, I don't care if you are liberal or conservative, democrat or republican, your man is not going to fix this mess. It is a heart problem. I only know of one person who can fix this kind of a heart problem. But watch next election,  we will believe someones lies and it will be more of the same. Its really not about helping people, its about being in power. He who tells the most convincing lie wins. Economist will tell you, raising the minimum wages actually hurts the people they say they are helping. When it comes to money, we do not want to hear what the doctor (economist)  is saying. The lie that there are all these rich people out there able to pay these taxes to give us everything we want, well, that' s just it, its a lie, but it gets votes.    God bless, LVZ.

Ferguson MO. continued

I see a lot of stuff on face book regarding Ferguson MO. A black Minister, who I feel is keeping things stirred up. A Black Panther that wants war. Different stories are told and per one investigator that is very normal. I do not believe the discord /  protests are doing any good. In fact I think they are hurting the cause of true justice. Can an officer make a mistake in a tense situation? Yes I believe he can. Can an officer in this situation misread an action on the part of Michael Brown? Yes I think so. Was it a malicious killing as so many would have you believe in all these protests? I don't think so. At worst, the officer could have misread some of Mr. Brown's movements and fired when he shouldn't have.  Could Mr. Browns friend and partner be lying about what he saw?  I would more likely to believe he is lying because of the criminal element of these individuals. Even if they find the officer should not have shot when he did, I do not believe it was murder. Perhaps there need to be some action taken for this officer, but I do not believe Michael Brown's hands were in the air. I believe he was facing and possibly walking towards the officer when he was shot. My understanding is officers shoot until the threat stops. This wild west myth of shooting in the leg or arm to disable an attacker only happens in the old west movies and Walker Texas Ranger. Officers try to get control of a situation. If people will respect the officers and follow their commands, stop, hands up, down on the ground, etc. Not much of this would happen. You can explain your situation after the officer has control of the situation. If he puts hand cuffs on you it is for your safety and his. They can be removed when the situation is calm. If we argue and disrespect an officer it is more likely to get out of hand. Let the officers have control, that is what we pay them for. We are continuing to face more and more disrespect towards our public servants. If we want to improve relations between officers and the public, give them respect. They have a difficult job to do, we do not always agree with them. I recall one time I argued with a police officer when he pulled me over. I ran through what I called a yellow light. He said it was red. I said, I couldn't have stopped because of the wet roads when it turned yellow. He said, in that case I was driving to fast for conditions, it was raining. He let me off, but not because I convinced him, I had my young son in the car and he told me he would handle it different if my son wasn't there. I shut up, and even as I think about it today, he was right and I was wrong. I was driving to fast on wet streets and it was still raining. I deserved every ticket I got. The last time I got a ticket, I thanked the officer. Don't get me wrong I hate tickets, but he was doing what I, John Q. Public pay him for. It has made me watch my speed on that stretch of road, not just there but every where I drive, I am watching my speed. Give our officers the respect they deserve and I feel we will have less situations like Ferguson MO. If you live in a community that has a citizens academy that gives you an idea of what the police officers face on a daily basis, I believe you will develop a different attitude towards our police if you go through that class. Most officers are good, sometimes just like any other job, a bad one makes it through. I have heard of it locally where a person with a racist attitude makes it as a police officer for a while, but sooner or later their attitude catches up with them and they are gone. Lets try a different approach with our police and give them respect as civil servants. 1 Peter 2:13-14: "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment or evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well."  God bless, LVZ.

Ferguson Missouri*

What do people really want to accomplish with continued protests in Ferguson MO?  Do we want to rule by Mob Rule? How can justice come out of a mess like this? We reap what we sow and if the people keep sowing discord in their town, I do not think they will like the result. How can the authorities that are supposed to be looking into this do anything if they are continuing to do mob control? This sounds like its a bunch of agitators in town to keep things stirred up.  Do the black People of Ferguson actually support this discord in their town?  Are Black Ministers getting up in the pulpit and being a voice of reason or are they helping to keep things stirred up? Everyone understands and wants Justice. But how can you have true Justice in the midst of this chaos? I know very little, not wanting to keep this going on and on. Do black people in this community just want a white officer punished and fired and sent to jail without knowing all the facts? Can a police officer not deal with anyone other than his own race? Are we going to have to have only black officers deal with black lawbreakers and white officers deal with white lawbreakers? I know there are some bad police officers, but I still hope most are honorable. I once took part in a citizens academy in a town in the Pacific Northwest. We went through a life-size video of police situations where police had to decide to shoot or not shoot.  We were outfitted with a laser gun and were suppose to respond as police officers should as the video ran. In the video played for me, I was walking up to two guys making a drug deal at the back of a pickup truck. Their backs were turned to me. As I identified myself as a police officer, they turned around towards me and one guy had a shotgun pointed at me. If this had been a real-life situation, I was probably already dead. I pulled my laser gun and fired three rounds, the first in the lower leg, the second in the thigh, and the third in his chest. But as I already said, I was probably dead. My gun wasn't ready and I was shooting as I pulled the gun up. It was a split-second decision, What if it had been a toy gun? or some other object? I only had a split second to make the decision to shoot. I saw another person in that class who had a video where the police officers were handling a public disturbance call, They walked up to this lady in the park sitting on the grass. The officer asked for her ID.  She reached into her purse and when her hand came back out she threw a shiny silver object at the officer. It was a silver comb. In the split second the police officer had to make his decision on how to react, he did not know it was a comb. The person doing that video shot. These police officers want to go home alive at the end of the day just like everyone else. They do not always know what they are facing and make split-second decisions. Can they make a mistake with all of their training? Yes. Do people give false reports? Yes. Was it possible that the young man did not have his hands up as agitators are saying? Could the young man have made a move that was misinterpreted by the police officer?  So many people that are protesting were not on the scene as I was not. I have a lot of questions I would like answered before I condemn a public servant. All this protesting,  is it going to make things better or put the police more on edge than they already are? We all want justice but be careful if we get mob rule, we may not like the result? Don't be an agitator, let's try to get answers in a legitimate way, We need calm voices in a time like this to get to the truth and not make a second mistake, like the old West where they would lynch someone before they had all the facts. If this officer was indeed wrong, I would like to see justice done. But if the officer was right or even if it could have been an error in judgment in a split second decision, do we want to prosecute him just because he is white and the young boy was black?  How is this any better than the injustices done in the south in years gone by?  Titus 3:1-2 "Put them in mind to be subject to the principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men."   God bless, LVZ.

Good Dog Bad dog

We are still studying Romans in Sunday School. I posted recently about "Once saved, Always saved. Our discussion this Sunday was again along that line. We all have sinned, but in Romans it says: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?"   Romans 6:1. My thought on this was: some times we may practice a sin for many years before we are converted. And thinking like a drug addict or other addiction, it is difficult to resist that temptation. That, I am sure would be considered an understatement by any one fighting an addiction.  If we stand strong and resist or like the story was told about Saint Augustine; After his conversion, he ran  into his former mistress one day and as soon as he saw her he ran the other way. His mistress called after him, Augustine it is I, but Saint Augustine kept running and shouted over his shoulder, yes it is you, but it is not I.  He had been converted and he was a different man. Someone, and I forget who described the conflict in a christian facing temptation as two dogs fighting within us. One wanting to do good and one wanting to give in to the temptation. The one that wins is the one we feed the most.I believe there are times when  resisting temptation can be difficult, but if we resist, the next time may be easier and each time, we gain strength  in overcoming. We may have to do like Saint Augustine and run the other direction when a temptation comes our way. We should run at the first sight.  1 Corinthians 6:8 tells us to Flee fornication, and in 1 Corinthians 10:14 it says flee from Idolatry, and in 1 Timothy 6:11 "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness."  Think about this, which dog are we feeding in our lives? If we keep feeding the good dog we will gather strength.  As we  resist temptation again and again, I think it can get easier.  God promises to always we with us.  God bless, LVZ,

Its in your heart

At McDonald's this morning I overheard this. "Church is in your heart."  I didn't jump in, I didn't know the people. One was hesitating going  out into the rain to go to church and another said Church is in your heart, implying it wasn't necessary to go. I wanted to ask where would you go to back that up in scripture? I immediately thought of: "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."   Hebrews 10:25. Now I agree there may be circumstances that we may not make it every time, and I do believe that is OK. Church attendance is important and I believe if we consider it not necessary and got careless with our attendance we would grow cold in our relationship with God.  that is a major way many Christians hear from God. Yes, we do need to feed ourselves daily, but the church is the assembly of believers and it is important that we get together and encourage one another and even get support when we are going through the valleys of life. There are times when health issues and sickness may make it difficult or even impossible. I remember a story of a young man declaring his love for his sweetheart and it went something like this. "I would cross the highest mountain to be with you. I would swim the widest river to be with you. I would cross the driest desert to be with you. See you Saturday night if it don't rain."  It is more than just in the heart, and we need to support our beliefs with action. Yes, it is true God wants our hearts and the evidence of that will show in obedience to his commands, including  the one above as much as we are able too. God bless, LVZ.    

Once Saved, Always Saved

There is a lot of discussion that goes on when Christians talk about eternal security. There are many scriptures to look at. Romans 8:38, 39: "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, not things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." and we can also look at many other scriptures that tell us God will keep us to the end. I was raised in a Church that taught perfection. Be ye holy for I am Holy. Jesus is coming after a perfect Church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. It troubled me, for years and years, I saw the failings in my own life and didn't feel I could live it. Many wonder how some that claim to be Christ's offspring can live ungodly lives and hang on to this scripture. I am not sure of all the answers. Some would say that is a person has a sinful lifestyle perhaps they have never truly repented. The Bible does tell us to make our calling and election sure. Another scripture asks how anyone knowing the grace of God can return to a sinful lifestyle. Another scripture says all have sinned and fallen short.  I believe God looks at us through Jesus. If we have truly repented of our sins and asked Jesus into our hearts, God sees Jesus when he looks at us. Many times we label some sins as big, and others like a little white lie as minor. Murder as a big sin, gossip as a little sin. I think we need to look at things from the light of do they displease God. If we have truly repented of our sins, I believe God works on us. When we sin,  it should bother us, and we should be trying to rid our lives of sin. But I would be afraid to have a sin issue in my life and not be dealing with it. If we are continuing in a sin year after year and not dealing with it, there must be something wrong. God chastises his children, corrects and reproves them. When we have truly repented of our sins, committed our hearts and lives to God and follow after him with our hearts, then are we under God's protection. Whom God loves, he reproves and corrects. He will never let anything separate us from his love. So many scriptures tell us on the last day he will raise us up. We shall never die, I am with you always, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee, and on and on.  I believe God has us in the palm of his hand. But I would worry if I had to claim that scripture and lived anyway I wanted to week after week. If God has reclaimed your life, why would you not want to live a life pleasing to him? There is security in Knowing God, make your calling and election sure. God wants our hearts, not just lip service. God bless, LVZ.

See a need?

As I was reading in the book of James again, I thought about this passage of scriptures: James 2:14 -  18. "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works, shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by may works."  I do a lot of talking about my faith, and this passage makes me think. I see some generous people around me. I hear of acts of kindness on the internet and other places. This is James the brother of Jesus talking to the Christians of his day. In this day those words would include me. Why is this sometimes so hard? We do not want to be taken advantage of,  if and when we are generous. I saw a clip of face book where in Oklahoma, a couple of people became outraged when they saw a person that was panhandling on a corner get into an almost new car. They had given money to this elderly lady, who they thought needed the help. Then when she got done panhandling they somehow happened  to see her leave and get into this nice car. One had a video camera and was taping the other guy who had given $15 dollars to this woman. In fact he stated he had given money to her on several days in a row. He was really upset. I would guess he will not be as generous in the future. I've had it happen to me where I tried to be smart about my giving and still see a bag of groceries I had just bought go down the side walk behind a dope man. I bought shoes one time and saw the young lady I bought them for leave the tags on and wear them that way. I thought as soon as she is out of my sight, she is probably going to exchange them for money. Then someone who was a little more hip than me told me, no that is the style, to leave the tags on.  I think it is something that is going to happen from time to time. It is hard to help someone who has taken advantage of you in some way.  I do think we need to be wise. But James is saying our faith is not worth anything if we see someone in need and have the means to help but don't. In the book of Luke is the following scriptures where Jesus was talking to a rich young ruler: Luke 18:18-24
"And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.  Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.  And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!"
In this story I see Jesus answering the man's question. "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?"  Jesus knew the man's heart, just as he knows ours today. It takes faith, believing in Jesus, that he died on the cross for our sins. That he rose again on the third day as foretold by the scriptures. If God does not have our heart, which is evident of the rich young ruler, we can keep all the laws we want. We will find it hard to do the things Jesus asks of us. When we see the needs of those around us and have the means to help. We must be hard hearted, God does not have our hearts. God gives to the just and the unjust a like. And perhaps in his image, there may be times when we give and help someone who is not needing and only taking advantage of us. More important than the condition of their heart, is the conditions of mine. Am I able to do the things God asks of me? Like Pastor Charles Stanley says, Obey God and leave the consequences to him.   God wants  our hearts, can we show our faith by our works?  Works alone don't cut it, show our faith with our works. God bless, LVZ,

Blogging

I am having trouble blogging right now. If I do write something I feel it will be negative. I have deleted so many post because I just feel I may offend someone. Maybe I'll just take a break. Maybe I'll work through this. Every ones experience is not the same. Opinions are like noses, every body has one. I use to read someones facebook page and I quit because it seemed I disagreed with so much that this person wrote. If I tried to comment, it came off negative. I like to talk about scripture, I don't feel I have all the answers but I have changed my views on a lot of things. The spiritual side of life is so important and it seems so many neglect the spiritual things. Many countries that we use to send missionaries to are considering sending missionaries to America because they see the ungodly direction we are headed in this country. We need to be careful to what we listen to. Does it just sound good , or is it actually scriptural. Is it wise counsel, or are people telling you what you want to hear. Sometimes we can say things that may hurt a little, if our hearts and motives are right perhaps something good will come of it. As I was thinking on the counsel we get sometimes, I was thinking of my children's mother. When we separated, I still paid the mortgage even though I wasn't living there. I paid the telephone, paid the electric bill, bought groceries. I didn't know how I was going to live, in fact for a while I lived in the back of my pickup with a canopy on it.  I didn't feel I had money to rent a place for me. My ex got advice from some probably well meaning friends that probably told her what she wanted to hear. She took me to support enforcement. I think she expected to get a bunch of back child support. The trouble was, I was supporting my kids with the house payment, electric bill, groceries and all I was paying. I had check stubs for all these things. It ended up I was paying for more than my child support would be. Even though I didn't give her money directly, I was supporting my kids with all these things. They set my child support per their rate chart on the money I was making and it was probably less than 2/3 of what I had been paying all along.  Of course I don't get any of that back. You might say she shot herself in the foot, when support enforcement got involved she ended up getting less than what I had been doing since we had separated. It ended up being a blessing for me. Sometimes we need to see what motivates people giving us advice. If they are telling us what we want to hear, it may not be good advice. It may hurt us.  I have never been hurt by following God's word. In fact like the situation described above,  God made it work for my good.  I was trying to do the best I could for my children, and I feel God protected me. My motives haven't always been that good. But usually when they have been, God has watched out for me. I made many bad decisions, and I suffered for them. But God still helped me. I look today at where I am and it is by God blessings and mercy I am where I am.  I'm not perfect, I believe God is still at work in my heart.  Who do we listen to? Is it good advice or are people telling us what we want to hear? Proverbs 27:6 "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." I think this describes the advice given to my ex.  A true friend may have told her to look at what I was already doing. It wouldn't have been what she wanted to hear, and wouldn't have liked it. But the words that she wanted to hear were actually bad advice. I use experiences from my past to explain these issues as best I can.  My past is different, my experiences are different, but God's word applies to us all. In all situations it seems if we listen God will advise us. Who do we listen to? If I may be political for just a moment. What we listen to and base our votes on, is it truth or what we want to hear?  God bless, LVZ.

Alias, mostly political*

When I think about how some of my blogs may be received, perhaps I should have a pen name or an alias. I want to say stuff about black and white, but when I do I feel I come off as prejudice or even as a racist. I want people to think about things. I do not want to tear down but build up. I think I would feel a lot freer to speak my mind. Then again we need to stand for something or we will fall for anything. I am a conservative, but sometimes I think the liberal majority in this country does not think things through. I do not think you have to be a conservative to be thinking correctly, but at least be willing to listen to both sides. I know there are a lot of conservatives that get off base and are just as closed-minded as most liberals. Just like my black and white blogs, I'll probably piss someone off. My experience has been to meet liberals that felt it was OK that the media used forged National Guard papers to defeat George Bush. I had a Liberal lady tell me that. Their purpose was to defeat George Bush so that was OK. Their goal in her eyes was OK, so any means made it acceptable. Now if you are on the other side of the fence, you don't like it, it's not fair. Especially when the national news media gets involved. The politics of today seem to deem it OK to lie, slander, tell half-truths, do anything necessary to win. I read an article in the local area where a liberal candidate sued the newspaper for some conservative adds and articles about him that was just outright lying. He was able to prove it and won. He wanted a retraction in the newspaper. He lost the election but did win his lawsuit. Doesn't this kind of politics bother anyone but me? We talk about the separation of Church and state. I feel it is necessary, and a good thing. I know a pastor back in Washington state that I cannot tell you if he is liberal or conservative. I really do not know what he is. From the pulpit, he will preach the word, and he will tell you if we are looking to the government or politicians to fix our lives, you are looking to the wrong source. Yet the majority of other ministers I can tell you how they lean politically. One will say I can't tell you how to vote, but I can tell you how I will vote. When a none religious person of any type got up to pray in a city meeting somewhere it was a disaster and a joke. The rest of the people were not amused. Equal time and place. I don't like what I see happening in our country. We are becoming more and more divided. We are becoming a Godless nation that doesn't even believe it is necessary to play fair. That's one of the big things about sports for our young people is teaching them to play fair, and be a good loser when the other team wins.  When we grow up and enter politics it's like that training has left us. Or has it, don't we see more and more incidents in sports where the players learn to fall just right to get their opposing teammate a foul? Isn't that the same as winning by any means possible? Or how about the use of steroids, once again it is winning by any means possible. I really think we need to get back to Christian values in this country. We are destroying ourselves from within. In politics, in sports, in families, in our schools. Perhaps Church and state need to be separate, but values should be taught in the home and so many times we want to leave it up to others. Like school, like coaches, like teachers. If their values are correct they can help, but what when they are not? A non-Christian has as much right to seek any job as anyone else. An evolutionist has as much right to a job as anyone else. A homosexual has as much right. What happens when they land that teaching job to teach our children and grandchildren. The Bible is thrown out and so are many Christian values. It is our loss as a country and I believe we are being destroyed from within. A house divided against itself cannot stand. Has this nation ever been more divided than it is today?  If you speak out against certain sins you get a label. Our media is spreading the idea of some sinful actions (the Bible calls it sinful) and making it sound OK. Celebrities that practice sinful actions are celebrated. How many times do you see it where couples are celebrating the new baby and we are going to get married next year.  I am one person that feels we need to get back to Christian values.  That doesn't mean we should mistreat anyone, no matter how sinful they may be. We are all sinners, some have been saved by God's grace. We do not have a license to mistreat others but a responsibility to be salt. We have a responsibility to stand up and be counted. We have a responsibility to prayerfully vote. We should pray about every area of our lives. God bless. LVZ is nothing more than a nickname someone gave me years ago, I do not consider it an alias. God bless, LVZ.

Precious*

I attended a funeral today for Caroline Scheurer, November 18th, 1943 to September 30th, 2014. Caroline has been wheelchair-bound for years. Exactly how many, I am not sure. She had to have help to do most things we take for granted, yet she was always positive. I know God works in our hearts, because how else do we keep a positive attitude in the midst of trials. As I believe, she is no longer bound by disabilities. I have so much respect for her husband James who has attended to her for some 20 years since her heart attack and stroke. We will never understand why some go through so much on this side of heaven. But God sees and cares and gives the strength when needed. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints." Psalms 116:15 I do not know if I even understand on this side of eternity what that means. I do believe God is with us to the very last breath. He will never leave us, his word tells us, lo I am with you always.  We are precious in God's sight. He has our best interest at heart, even when we do not understand. Caroline experienced the death of a child, as did Cousin Marvin. I could tell there was still a lot of feeling when Marvin was talking about his child he lost. Why we never understand why some go through so much. We complain about our discomfort and when you see someone like this that had 20 years of suffering. I feel so shallow. Was it to be an example for us, to remind us to be thankful for all the goodness we take for granted? It rains on the just and the unjust. Some times it just seems unfair, but the just have someone watching over them to the very last. I believe they do not stub a toe without God being aware.  As I think of all she endured, and the years confined to a wheelchair with a good attitude. There were times when I saw a spark of sassiness. I thought of the son-in-law's name for her, the boss. A precious Saint has reached eternity. This short time of suffering will soon be forgotten in the great span of eternity. It will seem like a moment or perhaps the pain of a paper cut in comparison. James is precious in God's sight, he was married for 41 years and took care of her for half that time. Some say there are rewards for faithful service. I wonder what those rewards look like? I do not know all the answers, but God says she is precious in his sight.  Some day we may have these answers if we also are found faithful and perhaps understand. Then again we may not even care about the answers when we get there. Some have so much good in this life, do we squander it on ourselves? Caroline would rock needy babies at the hospital when she was able to.  Probably would have been that caring her whole life if she'd been able too.  May God comfort and sustain James during this time. God bless, LVZ.

Black and White

I have trouble talking about this. I offended some with recent posts and deleted them. I defend what I wrote because I wanted to cross racial boundaries. I have been a member of several Black Churches for some 15 years. I believe God created one race. I don't believe we should segregate as we do. How do we self impose segregation? Black churches, and after attending I believe they want to stay that way. There is nothing wrong with celebrating Black culture, any more then celebrating any other culture. There are a lot of things other cultures could and do celebrate.  A German man invented the automobile, but some times teachers will incorrectly say it was Henry Ford. Karl Benz, a German, is credited with creating the first true automobile.  Even before him, there were steam engines. Henry Ford invented the assembly line for building automobiles faster and cheaper. Even many of the poor in this country have an automobile.  If you do not know me, I am of German ancestry. I am not against celebrating black culture. I am not against encouraging young black children to succeed. What I am against is some of the things that are done in the black churches effort to encourage. I was a member, I worked as an engineer, I got a lot of training to do the work I did. When they would encourage these young children, the only ones they had tell about their careers were black or some other minority. I was an engineer, but I was white. Perhaps they knew I didn't have a degree, but I applied myself and got the training I needed to sign Drawings as an engineer. I was a Technical employee that did work as an engineer without a degree. Or what about the scholarship dinners they would have to raise money for Scholarships. Want to know why I quit attending? I got tired of a Black Minister get up to speak at one of these dinners and slander and badmouth a White President for his whole time. I don't want to pay and listen to that stuff while I am eating!  When I say these things, some say I am racist. If the table was reversed and there was a white church holding a scholarship dinner and a white minister badmouthing and slandering President Obama for the next hour, what would you think then? What if a White Church had a career day and a Black Engineer on their membership roles and they didn't include him, would you think they were racist? It is these actions I am talking about, this helps to divide our nation and I think it sets up our Black youth to distrust any White authority. Some times I think we need to think these things through. Do we teach honor the King from the scriptures, and slander no man from the same scriptures and do the opposite?  I think the Black Church needs to take a good look at what they promote in their attempts to encourage young black people. Are you sending double minded message? I do not think there is any way a white man can say these things and not sound racist. I am sorry if that is the way I sound. but I think I am asking some questions that need to be thought about.  Our country seems to be very divided. Looking at Ferguson Missouri and I wonder what has come from the pulpits of the Black Churches in that community?  I have been a member of some good Black Churches, this is not representative of all of them. I don't care if I sound White, I am more concerned if I sound Christian.  God bless, LVZ.  

Do we actually want to hear from God?

I am a soft spoken person and consider myself easy going to a fault. Sometimes we need to stand up and be counted. We live in a country that does not want to stand against popular opinion. I am guilty of the same. We live in a country where adultery is acceptable. We have many in church that feel, all have sinned, nobody is perfect. That is the truth. When we try to be too understanding and not stand for truth, do we not hurt ourselves? I feel like I started with the pendulum way over on the legalistic side and then through difficult life experiences, my personal pendulum swung way over to the opposite of legalism. I do not want to be legalistic. I do not want to be on the opposite where everything is OK either.  We smile at adultery, and Say King David did it and God considered him a man after God's own heart. Some times God's word gives us good examples, and sometimes God's word gives us bad examples that we should not follow. When we ask do we wait for God to answer? or do we go ahead and do what we want to do anyway? So we have deemed adultery acceptable, we elect leaders that have the morals of an alley cat. We make laws that say same sex marriage is OK, and almost every program or show you listen to holds up same sex relationships / marriage as acceptable. Is this really the path we want to go down? If you take a stand and say same sex relationships and marriage are as sinful as adultery, are you not then considered to have homophobia?  Will we come to the place where it is acceptable to commit adultery any time we want and make it lawful?  After all it is consenting adults. Bill Clinton, a popular President, when he was investigated, some liberals said: that's his personal life leave him alone,  For a while people were asking on face book or other social media, when did you decide to be straight?  It was just another way of supporting same sex sinfulness and trying to say God created us this way. Did God create Adulterers?  We could ask the same question when did you decide to be monogamous? It almost sounds silly when you ask that question, but that seems to be the direction we are going. Is that any different than asking when did you decide to be straight?  I don't think its that far off base.  God did create all of us, but who we become is up to us. We make decisions every day how we want to live.  Do we try to follow his words, or do we find ways to do what we want to do and make it sound OK?  It does not matter what I think, it does matter what God thinks. Do we really want to hear what God  thinks or do we just speak like it and do what we want to do when we want to do it and say everybody is doing it, so it must be OK. Does God say it is OK? Do we really want to hear from God or does it just sound good and Christian to say it. Is it sorta like saying grace over a meal, it sounds and looks Christian, but do we really mean it?  God wants to be involved in every part of our lives, God wants our hearts? God bless, LVZ.

Plan B

I saw a lady on face book talking about having a plan B in a relationship. She quoted some statistics that said about 85% of people have a plan B. I remember watching mini series Roots and Chicken George had a plan B when he came to get his family. Many times in life as we do things we may have a plan B if plan A runs into difficulty.  But this person was talking about relationships and stated 85% of people  in a relationship had a plan B. I believe she said about 50% ended up using their plan B. The plan B was a person they fall back of if plan A fails. As I thought about this I heard a lawyer say that he didn't recommend a prenuptial agreement because every one he made was used. It is like planning to fail. I think the same thing about a plan B in a relationship, its planning to fail. I think we need to be all in. I have found that God is there to help us when our plan A fails. It just seems like if there is a plan B, your heart is not 100% in plan A. Marriage is to be one man / one woman for life. The vow I took said until death do part. There is no plan B. My plan A's have failed. Only one time did I think, if this fails I can get a divorce. I regretted that thought. That marriage failed right away and I had a difficult time ending it through the courts. But God was there and helped me through it.
I wanted all my marriages to work, but I have also found that once one person is done it is over. It takes both parties to make it succeed. I do not think we should have a plan B in marriage, that is planning to fail. In Ephesians  chapter 5 we find some good instruction for Husbands. I am going to focus on the husband part because it is the part that pertains to me as a husband and a man. starting with verse 25. "Husbands. love your wives, just as Christ loved the church  and gave himself up for her"  and in verse 28 "In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but feeds  and cares for it , just as Christ does the church- " and the chapter ends with "However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, ..."  This sounds all in to me, no plan B. Remember Christ gave his life for us. That is all in, no plan B. God bless, LVZ."

Respecting Presidents

I think there is a certain amount of respect that needs to be given to our Presidents, even the one we don't like. President Obama is taking a lot of criticism as we come to the end of his time in office. I read these scriptures during Presidents Bush's term in office and I read them again as I read all the criticism  being given as of late. I base my belief that a certain amount of respect needs to be given to any sitting  President on the  scriptures following.  I Peter 2:13-14.
"Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well." 
The next verse says this is the will of God. I do not agree with every thing this President does.  Many on the other side of the political fence felt the same way about the former President. I didn't like it when I felt the former President was being disrespected. I have to listen to this scripture now when  I mostly do not agree  with the sitting President. If I don't, am I not showing partiality? Believe it or not we show a lot of partiality towards our leaders, sports figures and others. If we like them, we do not hold as high a standard for them as we do for the ones we do not like. I think we are turning a corner as far as our tolerance for misbehaving sports figures.We need to do the same for our political leaders. If they break the law, they should be held accountable.  When I say they need to be given respect that does not mean we turn our heads and allow different treatment and standards for the ones we like and the ones we don't like. It seems the media would ponce on President Bush every chance they got, for President Obama they were largely silent until recently. And even now they are a lot more selective when they do criticize. We need to submit unto the governors that are sent for the punishment of evildoers. It disturbs me when we want to rule by Mob rule when bad things happen as was the case in Ferguson Missouri.  We need to let the law determine if the officer did wrong in shooting the young black man.  When the facts are in, when we have given the law enough time and space to investigate and take appropriate action, and justice is miscarried, then is the time to protest.  We should not even try to rule by mob force. I believe there will be even worse miscarriage of justice when hot heads dictate justice. If the facts support the officer was justified in shooting, let it be. We recently saw where a North Carolina State Trooper was fired for shooting at a man. He had been on the force a long time, but his own dash cam convicted him.  Perhaps we need more dash cams and personal cams for our law officers for their protection as well as ours.  I Peter 2:17 instucts us to: "Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the King."  Things are a lot better now than they were in the 60's and 70's. We do not want to go backwards. Lets honor our Leaders, our Police Officers and other governors as Peter says. I believe this will be pleasing to God.
Lets not have a double standard for those we like and those we do not like. God bless, LVZ.

Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Guard your heart

In recent days I have been examining my heart because of some people saying they think I am racist. Thinking on these things I thought of this scripture in Proverbs and looked it up. Proverbs 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." This chapter in Proverbs talks about wisdom, getting wisdom and understanding. Then this verse tells us to guard our hearts for everything you do flows from your heart. The NLT version of this same verse says, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."  Everything we do, everything we say and write flows from it. I believe that is why God always starts with our hearts. I see a NUCCA Chiropractor. I am not an expert in this field so I will give you my version of this. NUCCA Chiropractors only correct the location of the upper end of the spine. Once you get that located correctly, in line with your head, the rest of your spine corrects itself, over a period of time.  At the very first I was skeptical, but I felt the results over a period of time. I believe it now.  Once your heart is in right relationship with God, the rest of your life falls into place. I don't mean you will never have a problem, or get off course.  God corrects, reproves, disciplines his children as needed. But if our heart has not been surrendered to God, we are still dead in our sins.   I like the way the NLT gives this verse: for it determines the course of your life.  The heart is the starting place for God in our lives. My first thought when I went to the NUCCA chiropractor was not good, but I stuck with it because I had prayed before ever calling a Chiropractor. I trusted that God had directed me there. Now I am a believer in the way NUCCA Chiropractors operate. At least for me it worked. At some point in my life I trusted that God did want my heart. I repented and started on this journey. I have no regrets. I believe if there are problems in my heart, God is working to correct them. We surrender our hearts in an instant, but God dwells with us our whole life through.  An adjustment with a Chiropractor may not hold for the rest of your life. They recommend periodic checkups to maintain correct alignment. So it is in life, we may get out of alignment and need God's correcting touch. Just a thought, I believe all knowledge is given by God, even the knowledge used by Doctors and Chiropractors and many other professionals. This blog is not intended to promote NUCCA Chiropractors but to promote heart health. At least in this blog.  It was just the example that came to mind to use in this blog.  God wants our hearts. God bless, LVZ.
















Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.