A time of morning

It is with a heavy heart I write this morning. One of my Nieces,  Tracy, took her own life this past week. It is hard to even know what to say. Just about 41 years old, a life ahead of her. So many family member affected by this. I pray for God's loving touch upon all the family. Sometimes there are no answers, only God knows and understands our deepest hurts. This is a time for healing for the children and siblings and even the Mom of this precious child. My own children hurt at a time like this I don't understand, I don't know why, nor would it change anything if I did. I just know there is a lot of hurt for all those that loved Tracy. I look to God who knows each of us better than we know ourselves. The God that knows every one of our days before one of them happens. I just don't know what to say. God help us. I believe in a God that cares about us and our deepest hurts. When I don't understand there is a God that does and cares for each of us. God bless,  LVZ.

City Hall Meeting

For the last several years I have attended city hall meetings as much as I could. Sometimes I just shake my head, these are adults and I wonder if they are listening to themselves and each other. This meeting a young police officer asked the board if he could use the park this summer to engage kids in sports and even a Bible Study. I remembered reading an article about how the President and Vice President and other staffers are having Bible Studies at the White house. I expect good things when we begin to honor God. The other thing is it seems we do follow leadership. My disappointment was when the only Minister on the city counsel started to speak first and told how she carefully wears the different hats she wears, I am sure she was referring to being the Pastor of a local congregation and also being on the city counsel. Went on to talk about her Bible Study she does on Wednesday and then said, she could not support this young man and his activities. She mentioned separation of Church and State. I think those against Christianity have been very successful in hindering any efforts to live our faith publicly. This idea that it violated separation of church and state is false because our forefathers wanted freedom of Religion and not from religion. What is so puzzling to me is schools can teach Muslim faith as part of diversity yet when a Christian attempts something on his own just wanting permission to use a park, he gets shut down. It really bothered me that this objection came from the only minister on the city counsel. Instead of trying to help a young man who as a police officer is trying to right some of the wrongs we see in our country, she shoots him down. Why not seek to help and advise in acceptable ways to promote an activity that is meant to foster a better relationship between police and our youth. As I think about this, one friend was trying to organize a Christian fellowship at his place of employment. His application was shot down thirteen times before it was finally accepted. On the other hand an LGBT group was approved on the first try at this same company, at the same plant. Actually I think it was the 15th time it was finally approved.  The  officer was not asking for any funds, just permission to use the park. He was willing to pay out of his own pocket. Might I add here that our police officers are the lowest paid officers I know of. In this town they are at minimum wage and supply their own gun and vests.  I did try and support our police department last year by donating funds for at least one vest when there was a grant to supply our officers with vests but was one short of the officers on payroll. I am not sure the money was actually used for the vest because they also had a need for firearms, and I allowed them to use the funds as they saw fit. This board needs new blood and I am hopeful myself and others can win elections this year. Every position including the mayor has a challenger and I am so pleased with the people that are running against the incumbents. There is only one incumbent I would like to see reelected. Time is getting closer, but I am really  encouraged by the people I see running for the city counsel. God help us, even in a small town, we need God's help. God bless, LVZ.

God is on his throne

The Egyptians were urgent with the people to send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.”  Exodus 12:33  These first 12 chapters of Exodus are about God getting his people ready to leave Egypt. After Joseph died, the Egyptians forgot of his leadership that saved them through a drought. I Hebrews became slaves in the 430 years they lived in Egypt. Pharaoh had to be persuaded to let the Hebrews go. God sent 10 plagues on Egypt through Moses to convince Pharaoh to let the Hebrew population go. At first Pharaoh and his magicians could duplicate the plagues, but not in the end. The last plague, the death of the first born, the Passover origination finally convinced Pharaoh to let the Hebrew people go.  God made a distinction between Egyptians and Hebrews in many of these plagues. The livestock of the Egyptians died and the livestock of the Hebrews lived. There was large hail, there were locusts that ate everything the hail didn't destroy. Boils on man and beast, frogs and so many other plagues, 10 in all that fell upon the land at God's command.  Then before the Hebrew people  left, the Egyptians  loaned their gold and silver to the Israelites.  It is an interesting read. God's purpose was to show that he had the power. Hardened hearts, God hardened the heart of Pharaoh and others to show this great victory. God did it, many times the verses will state God hardened Pharaohs heart. In the end the Hebrews plundered Egypt and the Egyptians willingly gave up their gold and silver. After 430 years the Hebrew people left Egypt with the livestock that were left, the gold and silver of the Egyptians. God worked his plan until the Egyptians were eager to see the Hebrews leave. Even today it is important that we realize God is still calling the shots. This last Presidential to me  was another example of God working his will. Remember all the videos we saw of Trump will never be President. People laughing, news media, Hillary and others in the spotlight all saying never. Then after it happened, how many reasons were given why it happened including Russian interference, but it seems people still do not recognize this is God's doing. We have many hardened hearts in our country, still fighting. But I wonder how it will all end. God is still on his throne and working his purposes. I feel we are close to the end of time on earth, how will it end. Only God knows the day and the hour of his coming. What things will we yet see as God performs his will in the hearts and lives of men. It is not over till God says it is over. I don't know what the future holds, but I know that God is still on his throne, working his will. It is good to have your life in the hands of an all knowing and all powerful God. God bless, LVZ.  

Running for City Counsel

 I have attended city counsel meetings for the last couple of years. I heard discussion on things like a city ordinance to stop firing guns in the city limits. To out law burning of leaves in the city. I hear the Alderboard members discuss payments of the city bills.  Some of these may sound like liberal or conservative issues. I guess if I think about it the banning of firing weapons in the city limits would sound like a conservative / liberal issue. Conservatives against an ordinance banning the firing of weapons in the city limits. Liberals for it.  The burning of leaves, perhaps sounds like a liberal, save the environment issue. Conservatives would be against it, liberals for it. The board is made up of 4 Blacks and one White. I see very little conservative / liberal issues being discussed, just small town issues. I see citizens coming in to complain about water bills or pot holes.  Yes, I think the white person is a conservative. I think all four of the black members of the board are liberal. Yet when it came to voting on these issues, the voting was three to two to turn them down. The conservative voted against the ban against burning of leaves issue, as did at least two of the liberals. At least three of what we would think of as liberals,  voted against the gun ordinance. I think their concern was what the citizens would want. Those two issues are the closest I could remember to being a liberal / conservative issue.  I might be stretching it for the purpose of this post. I do think conservatively, yet on the other hand in our neighboring bigger town, there is a democrat running for mayor and he is the one I would support, because I think him to be a person of integrity. As I talk to people sometimes they ask, what will you do for us. I say I don't make promises, if I win, I have one vote, there are 4 that can vote against me. I just want to do a good job for the city of Verona.  I do want to see the city cleaned up. In the process of speaking to people I had a person asked me if I was a Republican.  They had just talked to one of the challengers I am running against, a liberal, and I figured, she must have told her I was a Republican. I really don't think a lot of what will happen in this small southern city counsel has much to do with liberal or conservative issues. Yes, I do think conservatively. I also think honesty, fairness and just weights and measures is important.  If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything. If at times you don't run into opposition, your probably not doing anything. I think city leaders need to have a servants heart. I think I have that, at least I hope so. I really don't think my conservative ideals will prevent me from doing a good job. I think it requires being able to work together even in  disagreements.  The board that we have currently does not work together very well, four of them are liberals. They could pass anything they wanted to if they worked together.  I think we need new faces. I would like to be given a chance, I believe I can be a help to the city counsel.  I don't think having all liberals on the board and in the mayors office will solve the problem. Neither will all conservatives. It takes people able to work together and to respect each other even when you disagree.  People are the problem and the solution, it has nothing to do with being liberal or conservative. That's my thoughts on it.  God bless, LVZ.

Small Town Politics

I wonder what God is trying to teach me?  I have entered my first political race of my life. It is very small town, a town of just about 3300 people. The town as many small towns around here do, register candidates as independent. Other small communities register as all Democrats, I don't know but perhaps there are some that register as all Republicans. I am seeing that even in small town sometimes things can heat up. On a positive note, Barbara and I as a salt and pepper couple receive a good reception. At least it appears so when she knocks on doors with me. Many seem to be glad to see that and not the old south. Some people ask, what will you do for me? I usually say in some format, nothing. I just want to make good decisions and do a good job for the citizens of this city. Some may just be wanting to see what I will say, others genuinely want to know what you can do for them. One area, a small street with about a dozen homes on it has a auto repair business that is a literal eye sore and the first words out of their mouth is what can you do about that.  I am not sure but it is going to be talked about.  I am running against two people. One of them is the incumbent, the other is running because I think they know how conservative I think and they are a democrat and feel it needs to be a Democrat. I think the person that wins needs integrity and a servants heart. I don't think small town politics is going to give much room for differences between a Conservative or Liberal attitude. We just need someone that is going to do their best for our town. I feel that it is being voiced that I am a Republican, but I am a true independent and have gone from side to side depending on a candidate. But I do think conservatively. I was undecided for a long time which Mayor I would support, but when I heard about the current mayor asking the Code Enforcement officer to take down 40 of his opponents signs, I made up my mind. I don't like dirty politics. I think many others feel the same. There is an ordinance about where and when to place signs and I have been in violation of that code as most of the other candidates have. For one thing, I started way too early without knowing the ordinance or that there even was one for political sign placement.  Sometimes it is not our fault, a home owner may take our sign as they mow lawns and put them where they want them. I know of several other signs in violation of that ordinance and the mayor has not ordered the code enforcement to do anything  about those.  Including his own, I mentioned a violation to him of one of his own signs and he has not corrected it. To me that smelled of dirty politics. I have had a few signs disappear or end up on the ground. I have not one time put a sign without a property owners permission. I don't think that is the same for most of the other candidates. I don't know it for a fact but they seem to go up in the night.  What I want is to do what the citizens want as much as I can. There are five votes, if I win I only have one vote. I do not want to disobey my God in any thing I do. I see a Democrat running for Mayor of our neighboring bigger city, I hope he wins, he has been doing a good job in his first term. I saw him make one mistake, but he quickly apologized and moved on. I see another candidate for their city council using negative tactics. I don't like that. I look at what a person is doing and what they stand for instead of being a Democrat or Republican. I hope that is what people will look for in me. I want to display a servants heart. I want to be a person of integrity. I want to stand for what is right. I want my Christian values to show.  God help me as I try for my first small town political office to honor you. God bless, LVZ.

The Heart

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” Jeremiah 17:9-10.
This blog may be different, I am not sure where I am going with this as I gather my thoughts. In the last years of my job, I worked a corrective action team. I enjoyed it. We would be told of a problem and we would try to get to the root cause to fix it. I had one of those weird dreams and it was about a problem as I tried to find the root cause of the part failure. In my dream it was on a Police car and a rotating part was touching a bracket and wearing a groove in a spindle. It needed to be fixed or it could cause a part failure. Sometime dreams are all messed up and they don't make any sense. If you read my last blog, I was troubled in my spirit and was coming to God for help. Maybe all of this will make sense after a while, at least I hope so. My attitude was sour, I was hurt over probably nothing, but it was affecting my disposition. I prayed about this, God help me. I realized the day before I had drank a couple of cups of coffee, which I don't do every day. Then later at dinner, I had a couple of glasses of iced tea. I get the largest cup and then I make sure to have it refilled before I leave. In short, too much caffeine. Then I can't sleep good that night and the next day I am tired and my attitude is sour. I thought about this after the dream where I was looking for a root cause. Did my having too much caffeine and losing sleep affect my attitude? That is not a difficult concept to see. I know a person that had a stroke and it has affected their ability to use their arm and leg on one side of their body. There have been many prayers prayed for this person. We know God can heal completely. Just last night we heard a testimony about a person that we had on our prayer list since a year ago last November. He was given two months to live. That is approximately 18 months ago, his last check up showed him to be cancer free. We thanked and praised God. Back to the stroke victim. We know God can heal completely. We know God answers prayers. This person is still learning and trying to rehab for over a year and is probably going to live the rest of their life with limbs that do not work like they did before the stroke. What is going on here, we know God can heal. My thoughts on this, God is trying to work a heart issue. He is more concerned with our character than our comfort. This is affecting the spouse of that individual. It has put them in a situation they have never been in their lives. Needing to be a care giver, and I honestly believe God is working on a heart issue. God does search our hearts, and is working. The scripture above says to test the mind and to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds. God is like that also, he goes to the root cause and tries to fix it. The heart is at the root of many problems in life. God is constantly at work in the life of a believer, fixing heart issues.  I believe this, I believe God is at work in many trials, and I have heard it said, God does not waste a trial. God bless, LVZ,

How to Come to God

And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Luke 18:9-14
I thought of these verses as I came to God this morning. Troubled in my spirit. There is no one that is perfect but if we come to God in a humble spirit, God is sure to hear us. We need to be able to take responsibility for our own lives, our own mistakes. It seems we live in an age of blaming others instead of taking ownership. The Publican in the verses above took ownership of his own life. God heard his prayer. The Pharisee was full of himself and his religious acts. This is in the Bible to instruct us how to come to God. We see so many that blame everyone but themselves. From the Facebook killer to Hillary in this last election, they blame everyone but themselves. Hillary claims she lost because of Russian interference, the killer blamed his wife for a gambling addiction and losing everything. What happened to looking inside and seeing what I can do differently. Children blame parent who had them for a very short while, perhaps 15 to 18 years and then the rest of their lives is on  them. It is easier to go through live blaming others but it does not fix anything. The longer I live the more I realize we are the same yet so different. We are all made in the image of God, yet each of us had our own heartaches, our own batch of trouble.  Do we take ownership or blame others? If we really want to fix things, it is time to take ownership and ask God to forgive us and to fix us. If not, just keep on blaming others and ten years down the road nothing has changed and we are still blaming others. God is there to help if we will humble ourselves, take ownership and ask for help. Or we can be a Pharisee, it is not me God, it is everyone else that is wrong. I tried to come to God this morning as a publican, I don't have it all together, I am human, sometimes I want revenge for being hurt. God this is the real me, dysfunctional at best, I am at your mercy. Those parts of me that are not like you, change me. I come as a publican, needing your help today.  God bless, LVZ.

Impact

Some years ago I took this picture of bottles thrown out along side a road. My thought was what are we leaving behind as we go through life. This morning I was thinking about a small area of impact I felt I had. I am going to try to be as generic as I can because I don't know who reads my blog. Once I had as many as 124 hits on a blog, but most days it is 6 to 10. Sometimes I stop at a local fast food for coffee in the morning. There are some brothers that meet every morning except Sunday morning for coffee. Our local establishment had a fire sometime back and so they started going to the same fast food place a couple of exits up the road for coffee until this one in our town gets fixed. I don't meet with them every day but on an occasional basis I do stop. These brothers are white and of a particular denomination. As we met at the fast food place up the road, there was an older black man that sat at a small table for two every day. In the back of the room is a big table that is usually surrounded by a large group of white men and sometimes a few women. But every day this older black gentleman sits at this same table day after day. The brothers would sit across the walkway at a larger table. They would converse back and forth but never set together. There are also a couple of other black men that meet regularly for coffee at another table. It bothered me that we seemed to be so segregated. On the occasions when I would come in I used to sit with the brothers especially when we were in our little town where we had the fire. I started sitting at the table with the older black man, and I would still talk back and forth with the brothers and others that would stop and meet with them. After a while when I would come in too late, one of these white men would start sitting at the table with the older black man if there were just two of them. Then I would pull up a third chair. One of the three brothers because of age and health issues stopped coming. Some mornings I will come in and both of the other two brothers and one of their friends will all have a seat around that two person table with the black man. I feel like I started this. It is a small thing, but these older white men started sitting at the table with the older black man. It is a good thing and I feel I had a little bit of impact in a positive direction.  Look at the picture. What do we leave behind as we walk through life. I want to have a positive impact. I don't want to leave trash behind me.  God bless, LVZ.

The Passover

This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.  Exodus 12:14 In recent blogs I have written about Joseph, a favorite Bible character of mine. It was during Joseph's time that God's people Israel ended up in Egypt because of a very severe famine. Now in Exodus we find how Israel came back out of Egypt into their own land. Recently we have heard much about Easter and the Passover was even mentioned in the news of statements President Trump made about the Passover. This is a Jewish tradition that they still keep to this day. The Bible says in the verse above it shall be a memorial day, a statute forever. The Jews do keep the Passover to this day. Sometimes it is amazing to see these things done so long ago and God says it shall be forever. It reminds me of the City of Tyre, God said it would be destroyed and the fisherman shall dry their nets on the rocks left. When Alexander the Great tried to conquer Tyre, they moved the city to an Island of the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Alexander the Great used everything he could find in the old city to build a passageway into the sea to the Island city. He removed everything from buildings to foundations to the dirt down to the rocks and moved it into the sea.  Why because God said so. Here is another example of God said so. As God worked to bring his people out of Egypt, (they had become slaves to the Egyptians) God cause ten plagues to fall upon the Egyptians. The last of the ten plagues was the death of the first born in Egypt. God sent the Death Angel over the land of Egypt to kill all the first born, but would pass over the houses of the Hebrews if they had done as told and put the blood of a lamb on their two door post and the lintel. The Death Angel would see the blood on the door post and pass over, thus the pass over. This was the plague that convinced Egypt to let their Hebrew slaves leave. It is very interesting history to read. God said it and it happened. IT is things like this in History that help me believe that God is responsible for Trump to be in our White House. When God sees his people in trouble and they call out to him as we did during this last election, God answers. Just as he heard the cries of his people Israel, he heard our prayers and answered. When God says it will be, it will be. When God says it will be a memorial and a statute forever it will be. God is still in the heavens. It was not the Russians that interfered in our Election, it was God.  God bless. LVZ.

A Heavenly Father

Thirty plus years ago, God found me. It was a dark period of my life, everything seemed to be falling apart. I lost a job that I really liked. My marriage was failing. So many things seemed to be wrong in my life. I asked Jesus to come into my heart that night. I will say my life has not been perfect since that time but it was a turning point for me. I gained a Heavenly Father on that day. As I go through life, he knows my needs. He sees the future and many times he has guided me and I didn't even know it at the time. I have learned that I need him. As many others before me, we need the guidance of our Heavenly Father.  I once had a view of my Heavenly Father that was incorrect. Many of us see him as a version of our earthly father, an imperfect father. I was an imperfect father. As I have learned from my Heavenly Father, I have been able to correct things in my life. Recently I drove the church van and picked up a mother and about eight kids. It reminded me of my family of origin. There were eight of us kids. Each one a little younger than the last. Boys and girls. A dysfunctional family as they all are when we really stop and look at them. There are no perfect fathers and mothers. We made mistakes. I copied much of what I learned from my parents. Some good, some bad. I reflected back of times when all of us that were born at that time would climb into the cab of a chevy pickup and head to church, eighty miles away. Packed like sardines, it seemed. I look at so many dysfunctional memories. My Heavenly Father is a perfect father. He sees way down the road what is ahead. He allows us free choice and the consequences of those free choices. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?ⁱ And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:29-33. Our Heavenly Father knows us so well, he has even the hairs of our head numbered.  He saw us before we were even born and knows every one of our days before one of them happened. With the benefit of hind sight, I look back on my life, I see imperfections in my life. I see the way God has guided the direction of my life. I have much more value than a tiny sparrow that have lived from generation to generation to now from the day of creation. I look back and see how he guided me into taking classes when I was in my favorite job that was going to go away because of new technology. I see when my Heavenly Father guided me into a place of support before my first divorce. I saw my Heavenly Father  guide and help me when I made bad choices and suffered consequences. I prayed for help and he answered. He loved me every step of the way. I have many memories of answered prayer, even as a child in a dysfunctional home. I wondered as I drove that dysfunctional family to church, do they know my Heavenly Father? I have the experiences of a life lived to see his blessings on my life. Do they know him as I did. I mentioned a time 30 plus years ago when I returned to my Heavenly Father, but I experienced him even at a younger age. My first memory of an answered prayer was at the age of 5. We can have a perfect Father, he dwells in the heavens. He knows us and loves us perfectly. He does not take away free choice. But allows us to come to him freely as he tugs at our hearts door. Try Jesus, it will change your life. I am so thankful that I did. God bless, LVZ.

God directs the affairs of men.

So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.  Genesis 45:8  Joseph is a favorite Bible character of mine. He did good, had a forgiving spirit, and honored God with his life. He realized God had a plan for his life and followed what God laid out for him. After Israel's death, Josephs brothers were once again worried that Joseph would enact revenge upon them. Joseph reassured them with the words above spoken in Genesis 45:8. Joseph realized God had sent him to Egypt to save lives and he did not have ill feelings toward his brothers. When a slave, Joseph did the best he knew, he in reality worked as if he were working for God. When thrown in prison, he still worked as unto the Lord and God prospered him even in prison. When Joseph became second in command over all Egypt, he still worked as if he were working for God. He honored God in every situation, in every season of his life. I think he lived to be 110 years old. He saw his children's children to third generation. This is how the Israelites came to be in Egypt, it was God's plan. There were approximately some 70 souls at the time Israel and his family came to Egypt. In reality God has a plan for each of us. I may never be a prominent person and ruler over many as Joseph was, but I still need to live as Joseph lived. God has a plan for me, for each of us. Many times in my life, I saw the hand of God. Perhaps not in a great measure as Joseph, but God has blessed me in my days on this earth. I too want to do God's will and fulfill his plan for my life.  So here I am in Mississippi, I felt years ago that I wanted to move south when I retired. I remember after the 2000 census I was looking at Mississippi as a possible place to retire. I never understood why Mississippi. Now here I am and I have tried to continue living my life for God as best I know. I am away from my children and most people I have known for most of my life. I feel I am where God wants me to be. My life is still unfolding, as I learned about my community where I live I took an interest in City Government and attended meetings at city hall. I meet and became friends with Mayors and aldermen. I feel God laid it on my heart to seek and alder-board position here in Verona. Either I am going to win or God is trying to teach me something. Actually either way God is trying to teach me something. I feel I am were God wants me to be. Most of my life especially since coming to Christ, I felt it was to lead by example in whatever I did. As a lead on my job, I tried to lead by example. As involved in Church and as a Christian, to lead by example. I believe Christians need to be involved in local government, I guess I am once again trying to lead by example, by running for a local office in city government. God has a plan, I want to be open to his will for my life. I have yet to learn what it is all about. I felt a confirmation when I heard Franklin Graham in his prayer tour through all fifty states urge us to get involved in local politics. If I win this office in this small town of about 3400 people may I be found pleasing to God in what I do. I felt there need was on the alder-board. May I be found pleasing to God in all that I do. As a Christian, as a Church member, a deacon, a neighbor, and as an Alderman if I win. May the actions of my life be pleasing to my God, my creator.  God bless LVZ.

Flee

But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house.  Genesis 39:11-12. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 1 Corinthians 6:18.  Another lesson to learn from Joseph is to flee from sexual immorality. This is what Joseph did in the 39th chapter of Genesis. This is what the New Testament tells us to do in 1 Corinthians 6:18. Joseph was pressured by his masters wife. The Bible says Joseph was handsome, his masters wife desired him but he would not. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? is what Joseph said to her in verse 9.  One day Joseph enters the house of his master when there is no one but his masters wife and himself. His masters wife again pressures him and grabs his outer garment. Joseph flees and leaves that garment in her hand. We know the rest of the story, that is how Joseph ends in prison, when falsely accused. Joseph is a man to be admired, he lived his convictions. We live in an age when it is not even considered wrong, but actually considered normal and no one today would blame Joseph if he had listened to his masters wife. We saw recently where our Vice President was criticized for maintaining what many would call the Billy Graham standard. He thinks ahead how to protect his marriage and to never put himself in a position where he could be accused. Our society thinks the Vice Presidents actions prudish and don't see it in the light of someone like Joseph in Genesis. Our society has reelected Presidents, like Bill Clinton and other politicians like Anthony David Weiner, knowing how corrupt they were morally. The Bible tells us to flee sexual immorality just like Joseph did in Genesis chapter 39.  And here many will point to our President and that incident caught on tape 14 years ago. Yes it was wrong. But the question to be asked is our President the same person morally he was 14 years ago. I do not think so. I sympathize with our President because I am not the same person I was 14 years ago. I remember in 93 when I went through my first divorce when a female co-worker told me I lived in the nineties and should not expect to live a celibate lifestyle after my divorce. It wasn't normal per this Christian woman. The Bible tells us to flee sexual immorality.  The Bible is what God will judge us by not what society thinks is normal in our current age. All have sinned but God is faithful to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Another lesson we can learn from Joseph. God bless, LVZ.

A Forgiving Attitude

So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.   Genesis 45:8 Joseph was a remarkable man. He loved his God and lived according to God's precepts. To say it simply, God blessed him because of it. I doubt there is a person alive today who has not been wronged at some time in their life. Joseph is an awesome example of how to live when you have been wronged. God had a plan for Joseph, he was going to use Joseph to save the lives of many people through a seven year famine. Joseph didn't know that when he was young but he had a dream where his parents and his brothers bowed down to him. He repeated that dream to his family not understanding what it was about. His older brothers were jealous of him, Joseph was a favorite son of his father. Dysfunction was there in this family as in all families. Joseph was sent to check on his older brothers by his father. Some where in these chapters is the story of the coat of many colors that Joseph wore. His brothers saw him coming. They meant to do him harm. But Ruben the oldest talked them in to putting Joseph in a pit. Ruben planned on freeing him later, but a caravan of traders rode by and they sold Joseph as a slave. The traders took Joseph to Egypt where God had plans for him. He was a slave, but God prospered him. That was a great wrong his brothers did to Joseph to sell him as a slave. Then as a hard working and honest slave his masters wife desired to have sex with and he refused. How could I do this to my God was Josephs attitude. Once again, he is wronged and thrown into prison falsely accused. God prospers him in prison. God's plan was unfolding in all these wrongs that were done to Joseph. He was being trained for a leadership position and would in the end save his own family in the 7 year famine that was coming. After Joseph became second in command in all of Egypt and the famine started, his family came to Egypt to buy grain. He recognizes his family but they did not recognize him. He had the power to do them harm, but he did not. Joseph planned a way to get his family to Egypt where he could care for them in the famine. This was the dream God had showed him as a child, his family would indeed bow down before him. It was God's plan, perhaps God could have accomplished it a different way but he used even the bad to accomplish his will. I wanted to point out Joseph's forgiving attitude in all of this. He did not take revenge as he could have. He had long ago forgiven them as he worked in God's plan for his life. Forgiving is a core value of a Christian. It is a necessary attitude for us to have. Joseph shows us this in the way he lived.  Joseph became ruler of all Egypt and could have enacted revenge on his brothers when they came to buy food. Joseph had a heart after God, he forgave and protected and provided for them while he lived. This is something we can learn from Joseph, to keep a forgiving attitude in all of life's trials and tribulations. God has a plan for every one of us. Psalm 119 is all about following God's plans, his precepts, his commands, his ways. Joseph could have written it, he lived it. God's blessing was on his life as he lived a life of obedience to the principles of God. What an example for us today. God bless, LVZ.

In Charge

So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”  Genesis 41:41
In these last chapters of Genesis is the story of Joseph. Joseph was faithful to God in all that he did. Sold as a slave into Egypt by his brothers, he faithfully worked for his master and God blessed everything he did. Falsely accused by his masters wife, he went to prison and God blessed him even in prison. God had a plan for Joseph. Perhaps this time of servitude was training to prepare Joseph for the job God had for him. While in prison he was with two of Pharaohs servants, a cup bearer and a baker that for some reason had also been put in prison. Each had a dream and Joseph was able to correctly interpret their dreams. Joseph gives credit to God for the interpretation. The cup bearer was restored, the baker was killed as Joseph had interpreted. He reminded them to think of him when they came before Pharaoh. The cup bearer forgot for two years. Then Pharaoh has two dreams, and no one can tell him the interpretation of his dreams. The cupbearer then remembers Joseph and how he had correctly interpreted his and the bakers dreams. He tell Pharaoh, there is a Hebrew slave in prison that interpreted his and the bakers dreams two years earlier and it had come to pass just as this Hebrew slave had said. Pharaoh sends for Joseph. Joseph comes before Pharaoh and interprets his dreams. There will be seven years of plenty in the land of Egypt followed by seven years of drought. Pharaoh needs to set someone up to collect the excess of the crops in the seven years of plenty to store up and feed the people through the seven years of famine to follow. Pharaoh realizes the Hebrew man is blessed by God and sets him up only second to Pharaoh himself over the whole land of Egypt. Joseph does as he advised and stored up grain over the next seven years. Just as God had said in Pharaohs dreams, there came a famine in the land. But Egypt had prepared for the famine because of Joseph. It had been God's plan for Joseph all along. As we continue reading in Genesis we will see where Josephs brothers that sold him into slavery will come to buy grain. Make no mistake, God is over all and he can bring the ruler he chooses to the throne to perform his plan. These stories in the bible are for our learning. God is still in charge. I do not know the future, but I believe God put Trump in office. It is something to go back and hear all the videos, Trump will never be president. People laughed, this will never happen. When it is God's plan it will happen. One of the most important things Trump has done so far is to put a man on the supreme court that will judge per the constitution. Perhaps this is for the saving of our nation. The Democrats took out any mention of God in their platform. Many do not believe their is a God. Make no mistake, God is still on his throne and in charge. I saw in my own life God's intervention in a small way. I remember the desire to be a lead someday when I first started at Boeing. As time progressed I realized my favorite job, mockup, was going away. I prepared by taking CATIA classes on my own time. One day an engineering supervisor asked if I like to come to the engineering side and work on CATIA. I jumped at the chance. I did CATIA drawings and design work on CATIA. In the course of time I worked in ECAT, and electrical corrective action team. One day the lead was fired from his position as lead. My supervisor asked if I would step in temporarily until they found a new lead. I agreed. Two months later, she asked if I would just take it. I did not have to go through the normal process for leads, they just gave it to me. God gave me the desire of my heart and my last 4 years I was the lead for Design Engineers in the ECAT group. If we will be faithful, God can direct our lives also. I believe it was a blessing from God. I didn't have an engineering  degree, and never thought I could be lead. But God blessed me above what I expected. I was content to work on CATIA and just do my job. That was a blessing from God. I trust God is still directing my path, God is in charge. God bless LVZ.

Stop and Think

Do we stop and think things through any more? I once had a lead that would sit and study drawing for a couple hours, and then when he did go to work it was like everything worked like a Swiss Watch. He had the whole job planned out from start to finish. His sitting there that looked like he wasn't doing anything was planning the job in his head. He was thinking it through. I think about the nuclear option that our Senate just used to confirm Neil Gorsuch as the newest Supreme Court Justice. This nuclear option that was just used was put in place by the Democrats lead by Harry Reid back in 2014. I am sure they were not expecting to lose so many seats in the house and senate when they did this. Now it has worked against them. Sometimes if we don't think things through the consequences of our actions down the road can work against us. I have spent more time researching a car to buy then some of the wives I have married. If I had thought it through and realized the heart ache I was heading for, would I have done things differently? In our fast paced society we want Microwave speed for everything and sometimes don't count the cost. We are the most amazing of God's creations.  I don't know that animals can ponder and weigh the cost of their actions like we can. I wonder if I had thought about the mother of my children having an influence for life not only on my children, but also on my Grandchildren, would I have done differently? I have been very impulsive most of my life and have suffered consequences for some of my quick actions. Decisions I have made have had far reaching consequences and there are many times I wish I had been like that lead so many years ago and thought it through. The Bible says a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  2 Peter 3:8 I wonder if in creation God spend a thousand years pondering and thinking about his creations. We look at creation and are often amazed at its majesty. Do we stop and think about our creations and plan them through? Some people sent a lot of time thinking this computer through that writes so much better and faster than the old typewriters. The old typewriters were faster than by hand. Now we have spell check and sometimes even auto correct. It was given a lot of thought and just think about this, God's creations like his animals, peoples, fish, those pesky bugs, grasses, grain crops, trees and more reproduce themselves.  Think of a large whale, perhaps 78,000 pounds of it and yet it can come out of the water probably higher than most humans can jump. The porcupine can protect it self with those sharp needles. I love to watch horses running in the wind, yet next to it a cow or oxen seems so clumsy trying to run. Yet a deer or an elk can also run so fast.  Stop and think about the majesty of God's creatures. Eliminate the wolves from an eco system and it not only affects their prey but even the trees along a stream.  Plant flowers or vegetables in brown earth and watch the many colors come forth, from that same earth. I sometimes think perhaps God spent thousands of years in planning his creations. It makes me think there must be a God. God bless, LVZ.

Taking Responsibility

I have been gone for a few days. Our Tenth anniversary, and it is a new record. We are only suppose to be married once for life, the bible says so. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. Mark 10:9 I noticed many people I know have been divorced and married again at least once. It says something about you when you have been in multiple relationships. I really don't want to discuss that at all, or make this about marriage. Lets just say if something keeps happening over and over again, you may need to find the common denominator. In my case it is me. I have had to take a good look at me. It is real easy to look at an ex and see their faults, it is a lot harder to look inside and see mine. I have learned to accept the fact that I failed. More than once.  It is me that needed to change. Yes I know that both parties had a part in any failure, but I can only fix me. It does no good to point out a flaw in an ex. It will not fix them or me. So what I really want to talk about is looking inside. I think I have learned a couple of things at least. I am not sure any one should go to a person that has been married multiple times for advice, then on the other hand I have a lot of experience. So what have I learned in looking back. I can only fix me and it has never done any good to bad mouth an ex. My favorite Uncle once asked me why I have been married so many times, and then without waiting for an answer, he said, I'll pray for you. About the same time as Barbara and I are celebrating our tenth, a couple that I admire much are celebrating their 50th. Barbara and I will have to live to l04 to match that record. I have had to make changes in me. I did not receive good training growing up on how to be a good husband and father. As much as I hate it, I probably showed the training I did receive. I had to look inside and fix me. Our parents are the best example we have, in my case I lived with them for 18 years. The trick is to copy the good and change the bad. I am responsible for my life since I turned 18. My decisions were my own. My Dad was generous to other people, in my own way I copied that. He was hard on his family, I copied that. I use to just pop in on extended family with no warning, until someone pointed out that is what Dad use to do. I decided I needed to change that.  Recently I was reflecting on a change that I purposely made in my own life. When I was married to my children's mother, we lived for a long time about 6 miles from town and about that far from a gas station. I used to get so upset when my children's mother use to come home with the car on empty. I felt it would be me that would run out of gas and walk to get gas. I remember once saying when you bring home that car on empty, I will not drive it.  Today I try to make sure my wife does not have to put gas in her car. I try to drive it once a week just to make sure it is full of gas. It is a different attitude in me. I developed an attitude that it is my responsibility to make sure she has gas in her car. Life is much more pleasant when you try to take care of your mate. I look back and I see selfishness, and that is what I have tried to change. I try to take responsibility for my actions and not blame someone else, but what can I do better. I am the only one that can change me. I have asked for God's help over the years to be more like my heavenly father. I want to show his characteristics in my actions. I want to resemble my heavenly father more than I resemble my earthly father. With God's help all things are possible. God bless, LVZ.

A Successful Man

The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. Genesis 39:2-4. Joseph had a heart for God and God blessed Joseph and his master for Joseph's sake. Joseph's master saw that, what this man does, prospers. Joseph was a slave, sold by his dysfunctional brothers into slavery. Joseph didn't develop a bad attitude, but maintained a good attitude and blessed his master by his obedience to his God. People do us wrong, it is bound to happen in life. If we harbor it in our hearts we can develop a root of bitterness that will sour everything we do. Joseph had every reason to let his messed up life cause a root of bitterness to develop. He had a wealthy father. I remember a time I allowed a root of bitterness to grow in my heart. My whole life was a mess. Joseph was a good servant, his master trusted him with everything in his house. Joseph was a handsome man and his masters wife wanted to have sex with him. Joseph refused over and over again. He new his master trusted him and he did not want to dishonor God. If we continue reading in Genesis, Joseph is falsely accused and sent to prison. There again he prospers. If anyone had a right to develop a bad attitude and allow a root of bitterness to grow it was Joseph. He did not, he was wronged, but he kept on doing the best he could. He maintained a good attitude and even in prison, God blessed him. God had a plan for Joseph and he was training him to care for other people and their property. Joseph was successful as a slave, as a prisoner. He still honored his God in all situations, and God blessed him. Those over Joseph saw that what he did prospered and they would put him in charge. Things to learn from Joseph, what ever state we find ourselves, honor God, obey his commands. Keep a good attitude even when wronged. Joseph really worked as though he was working for God. We see that in his words when his masters wife grabbed hold of his clothes and Joseph said how could I do this to my God. He was doing what he did for God. God honors that and blesses an attitude like that. God bless. LVZ.

Pain

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Recently in a small group get together we were asked to tell a little about ourselves and what brought us to Hope Church.  There seemed to have been a common denominator, trouble found us and we looked to God for help.  I remember an influential pastor years ago, talking with me, counseling with me. I had a difficult incident at work, it hurt. Today I do not remember what it was, but I do remember that pastor saying, did you see what you did? You moved towards God. I was really hurt about something, the only private place I could find was a bathroom stall and I silently cried out to God. As I talked about this incident, (I honestly don't even remember the hurt) he pointed out to me what I had done, I called out to God in my distress. Today I think about that, does turmoil in our lives stop us or distract us or does it move us to the cross?  So many in that small group had used the pain in their lives to move towards God. Divorce in my life caused me to move towards God. At one time I allowed Prosperity to move me away from God. I have tried to never let that happen again. The pain in a failed marriage, moved me toward God. Another thing I noticed was everyone's pain was different. Yes there had been others that went through divorce, but there had been business stresses, children stresses, church stresses, job stresses, you name it, all sorts of pain. God cares for us. Over and over I heard how God met their need, healed their hurt, removed their pain.  I remember going through divorce, one of the most painful things in my life, yet in the midst of it I remember an incident where God answered a prayer as I was still praying it. Others lost a child, a pain I have never experienced, but they moved to God with their pain. The sources of pain can be so varied, and our pain is the worst when we are in the middle of it. God cares, and he tells us to cast our cares on him. Often God will use that pain to correct something in our lives. I remember a time of pain and conflict in my life and I saw something in me that I don't think I would have ever seen with out going through the difficulty, and I actually said thank you God for using this pain to show me how I was. I actually was genuinely thankful. Perhaps not every time, but that particular time I thought I would never have seen this with out the pain. Someone said God never wastes a hurt, and when we look at recorded history in the Bible, I believe that is a true statement. Recently I blogged about Joseph, there was pain in his life, but he continually trusted God in every circumstance. God has the very hairs of our head numbered, he cares about us and our pain. If we will move toward him and trust him, it will turn out for our good. I have seen it in my life and in the lives of so many others. Losing Cooper comes to mind, a friend lost a son and wrote about it in that book. Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. God bless, LVZ

An Answered Prayer

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.        Proverbs 29:18
I remember as a young man, probably had heard a sermon using this scripture and telling us we needed a vision of God's church. At the time I was in a denomination that believed they were the true church and that all Christians would someday become a part of them.  I prayed for a vision, I remember wanting a vision like so many others seemed to have. I would read the scriptures they gave about the church and I just didn't see it. Now in my senior years, I realized God did answer that prayer but not in the manner I thought. What God showed me over a period of time was different, and not what I had been taught.  I remember thinking God why don't I see it like all of these others. I found there are many bodies of believers. What God revealed to me over time and many experiences is his body is not just one denomination, and in particular that denomination. Even today they claim that never was an official teaching of their denomination. They were imperfect just like the rest of us. They split at least twice that I remember. I am not trying to make light of a church split, it is hurtful to all involved. I see that same mentality in other denominations. We have the whole truth, the way our denomination presents it. I remember the first church I attended away from that denomination, at first I felt guilty going some place else. I had good reason for attending where I went and I believe  to this day that God directed me there to help my understanding of his universal church. It took me about 4 years to feel comfortable and not feel like I was some how going against God because I wasn't going to that particular denomination. Most of those churches were small, and I believed churches that were large had some how watered down the gospel. That I have found is not necessarily true. The church I now attend is about the third largest church I have attended in my life and I receive a good word from the pulpit every Sunday and a good word in Sunday School. Sunday school in not read word for word from some Sunday School literature. It is studied out week by week with out the help of an organized denominational booklet. And it is good.  If you believe that Christ died for your sins on Calvary's cross and rose again. If you have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, you are part of God's body the church universal. It transcends denominational barriers, ethnic barriers, economic barriers etc. It is about relationship. A very personal relationship. I wanted to see it like they saw it, but that is not what God showed me. For some period of time, I would pray and ask God why I don't see it, now I understand. God did answer those prayers but not in the way I thought it would happen. I am thankful for answered prayer. Those were prayers that took a long time to answer. I had to read the word for myself, I had to have my understanding opened, I even had to have some life experiences to understand more fully what God was saying to me. I had to live it for myself, read it for myself, understand it for myself. It was personal. Daily I try to understand and feed myself from God's word, and ask how does this apply to me, personally. He that keepeth the law, happy is he. Read Psalm 1. I think of recent blogs where I pondered the scriptures there is neither Jew nor Greek, free nor slave, all are to be part of God plan. We divide ourselves in so many ways, God wants us to be one in him. He is the same God to Black and White, Baptist and non-denominational, Church of God , Church of Christ. I could fill up this blog with just so many names and it is not necessary. Do you believe in Jesus for the pardon of your sins. Do you accept his word, the Bible, as your guide for life? God crosses the man made barriers we make. God wants us to be one in him. God bless, LVZ.

Vision 50/20

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.  Genesis 50:20 Normal eyesight is considered to be 20/20. I remember reading a book about Joseph, the bible character some years ago and the author used the term 50/20 being God's eyesight. I think the book was Living With Your Dreams by David Seamands.  As I was reading in Genesis I came across the above verse in Genesis 50:20. If you remember Sunday School from a child at all you probably heard the story about Joseph and his coat of many colors. You probably heard about his dreams. Joseph was a favorite child.  There is a lot of history tied up in why this was.  But it was a dysfunctional family as most are. Josephs brothers hated him and set about to kill him, but instead sold him as a slave to some Egyptians passing by. This was according to God's plan to bring Joseph to Egypt where Joseph prospered under God's hand. Even when in prison for being falsely accused Joseph prospered. When God's timing came about through dreams God sent to the Pharaoh of Egypt, Joseph became the ruler of Egypt second only to Pharaoh. It was God's plan to save Israel and his family. Joseph had a heart for God his whole life and lived pleasing to God as best he could in every circumstance thrust upon him. His dreams that he was famous for in bible stories came to pass. There was a famine in the land and because of Joseph's God given insight, there was food in Egypt.  Joseph's father heard of this and sent his older sons to buy food in Egypt.  Joseph recognized his brothers right away but they did not recognize him. Joseph had no ill feelings towards his brothers because he realized he was in God's plan. I think this is a valuable lesson to learn to be able to forgive any wrong. Joseph was done wrong by his brothers those many years ago but he had forgiven them.  He did not use his power he had as a ruler in Egypt to get revenge. When his brothers became fearful in this last chapter of Genesis, he reassured them in this verse. What they, his brothers had meant for bad, God used for good to save many lives.  Lessons to be learned from Joseph, forgiveness, living for God in all circumstances are probably two of the main lessons. God sees through time and used a willing vessel to save many peoples. I had a dream when I was a young man and I never understood and still don't want to talk about it. But as I live, I feel that dream may have been put there by God about my future. It was not of the magnitude of Josephs dream but something I still wonder about. Some things that stay in our memory may have been put there by God. God sees over time, his vision is 50/20, far superior to ours as we see in Joseph's story. I feel I can still learn from Joseph today to keep a forgiving attitude in life, what ever happens because God is still on the throne. We have the same problems as today as Joseph's family did. Jealousy can raise its head in a family, hurts can surface as they have in our family so many times. If our hope is in God, as Joseph's was, we can win because God has a plan for us also. He sees us before we are born to the end of our days and beyond. We can be a blessing if we will stay faithful to God as Joseph was.  God's vision is 50/20, much greater than ours. Trust him with your life. God bless, LVZ.

Love

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.   John 13:34-35
If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:20
What is lacking in our world and in us is love.  When I look at the things I write and they seem to come off wrong, it is a lack of love on my part. I feel like it is the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about. If they don't talk about it, perhaps it will go away. When I write, are the actions behind what I write, do they come from love? I believe black and white issues arise from a lack of love. We are one people in God's eyes.  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all. Colossians 3:11
There are to be no barriers, we are all to be one. We are to love. If someone says he loves God but hates his brother he is a liar.  I feel like this has the potential to be the most hated post I have ever written. I hope I come in my spirit from the same love I am trying to write about. Is it love that flows from our hearts is we feel we cannot connect with someone different than us?  In Colossians, God is telling us there is to be no division regarding race, or I believe no difference in economic status. The Scythians was considered to be the most barbaric of any people. So who is the most barbaric to you? God is telling us we are to love them as a brother, God uses the word brother in one of the scriptures above. For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.  This is a test to see if we are really of the faith. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.  I feel like I am stepping on toes, but isn't this what God is saying to us.  Am I pointing fingers at others and not looking at myself?  I believe this is at the very heart of any black and white issues we have. Do we love our brother? This is how we know if we are of the faith. If we do not love our brother here below then God calls us a liar. I hope to God this is not the legalism from my past coming through. I think these scriptures are plain. Do we really love one another when we see Black and White? I believe just like promise keepers years ago tried to get us to cross racial boundaries years ago, we need to cross them purposely and love one another. If I am in error here please comment and help me to see if I am misinterpreting these scriptures and saying more than I should. I believe a lack of love is at the root of any race issues we have. Darkness is a lack of light. Coldness is a lack of heat. Hate and discord is a lack of love. God bless, LVZ.

Trouble Finds Us

I was at a small group, and we went around the room and told a portion of our story and how we got to Hope Church. It seemed there was a common thread, trouble in some form or fashion hit all of us. Numerous of us had been divorced. One man went through divorce, then death and in a third try. They made it through with God's help. Children problems, one retired pastor has a son battling brain cancer. Trouble in every life, yet we found a God that loved us and helped us through it all. Church problems, that would make you want to stop going, but God brings victory. but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward. Job 5:7  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.                   1 Corinthians 10:13  Every story was different, but trouble found us. But more importantly God found us, and helped us through what ever difficulty life threw at us. We have a common bond, God delivered us, from all sort of trouble. Every body faced something, but we all experience God's love pulling us to Hope Church in this season of our lives. Some new, some ten years, me four years and others many years almost from the beginning of this local body of the church universal. Feeling blessed Sunday after Sunday as we hear the word from the pulpit and in Sunday School. I remember praying for a church to attend here in Tupelo. I was looking for a place that was as good as what I experienced in Tacoma. I add here there are no perfect people or perfect churches. God pulls us where he desires. I had almost given up, I just wasn't satisfied with what I found, then that first Sunday, four years ago, went I first visited Hope. I have had no desire to look further from that very first Sunday. I feel God confirmed that decision several times. I have received good teaching, not only from the pulpit but in Sunday School as well. Trouble found us but God found us and put us in a family where we fit. I love Hope Church and feel it has been the best Church I have ever been a part of. Early on I got involved, joining Nehemiah's men where we fix things, paint walls, do whatever is needed. I became a Deacon, another form of service, and love it. Like the song says, I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now.  God has been so good to me. God bless, LVZ.

April Fools

It is one thing to be a fool, another to be an old fool. These are some words I heard recently, and I don't remember where or who spoke them. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good. Psalm 53:1 Who ever said the word above mentioned that it is one thing to be a fool, it is another thing to be a fool for 20 years, 30 years, 40 years, 50 years, even 60 years. I now remember where I heard this. It was at a funeral some days back. Another saint has traveled over to the other side. The Pastor was speaking those words at the funeral. Yes there are those who have rejected God for many, many years, never learning. There is an eternity we all will face someday. The fools are those that have made no preparation for the other side. We will all face eternity some day.  Some will write this off as the words of an eccentric old man, others may listen. You really are a fool if you do not check it out and find out if the words of the Bible are true. This life is so fleeting. It seems I was a young man, then soon I was raising children. And so soon that part of my life was over and I cannot go back.  For 20 years I was married to the mother of my children, and now it has been 24 years since that season of life passed. It went so fast. Now I am a senior citizen. I am at the last season of my life. As I reflect and look back, I made many mistakes. I wish I had spent less time working and more time with my children. One thing I reflect on is my decision some thirty plus years ago when I decided to follow Christ. I look at that as the most important decision I ever made. It has effected every area of my life. One thought that came to mind was many years ago when a spouse left me. I was angry, I was hurt. I have been at this place more than once. This time I took a tire wrench in my hands and I was going to bust out windows of either the car or the apartment of the man my wife left me for. It was dark out and I parked a few blocks away. As I was walking, my cell phone rang. It was my son, who never calls. He says Dad, what are you doing? I told him of my intent. He says Dad you don't want to do that. I realized it was God intervening in my life. I know God directed my son to call me at that moment to stop me in my foolishness. I turned around and went home.  We can learn that God is indeed interested in all areas of our lives. Our lives may not be perfect, but God is always with us once we accept him as Lord and Savior. I could have been a fool that day, but realized God was watching. I turned around and walked a different direction. That is a definition of repentance, to stop, to turn around and walk a different direction when God calls on us. He is no fool who give up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. Think about that, there is nothing in this world as far as riches and possessions  that we will take with us. However we can gain something we will never lose when we accept Christ as Lord and Savior.  God bless, LVZ.