Life Shapes Us

Life changes us. I remember different stories of my ancestors especially those that came through the great depression. I once heard a story about my Grandfather when he went to a barn raising as an old man. He brought a bucket of used bent nails and proceeded to straighten those bent nails so they could be used again. He came through the Great Depression and that waste not want not mentality and making due with what he had was how life had shaped him. One of my Aunts that had also came through the Great Depression had also developed that waste not want not mentality. Family members told how she would save gallon size plastic ice cream containers and would put them to other uses and even would sell them for a dine at a yard sale. Life had shaped her. We live in much easier times where we go to a grocery store and can buy microwaveable dinners. We stick them in the microwave and in just a few minutes we have a hot meal that took almost no preparation.  Life shapes us, but is it good or bad?  I know someone struggling with rehabilitation after a stroke. They have always lived a fairly easy life and now life as given challenges in the form of disabilities. How will life shape us in difficult circumstances? I think of a cousin who had a stroke at an early age and he had to retire from his job because of it. How did  his difficulties in life affect him? He drags that foot and still mows lawns for himself and a few of his neighbors. He can lift a push mower with one arm, his good arm and load and unload it off his truck. He lives the best he can with his disability. The first stroke victim mentioned above wants to die if not restored to 100%. How does life shape us? I went through divorce more than once, I prayed many a prayer, don't let bitterness take a hold in my heart and my life because of difficult circumstances. I tried again more than once and tried to maintain a good attitude and I learned to forgive. I looked at my own life and things I needed to change and was and am able to develop a good marriage relationship. Many have used difficult happenings in life to make them better, not bitter. There is a saying God is more interested in our character than our comfort. Has life shaped your character in a positive or negative direction. What have we done with the difficulties we faced in life? I think this is something to consider, how has life shaped us?  God bless, LVZ.

No Partiality

Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.  Ephesians 6:9

The king speaks with divine wisdom;

he must never judge unfairly.

The Lord demands accurate scales and balances;

he sets the standards for fairness.

A king detests wrongdoing,

for his rule is built on justice. Proverbs 16:10-12

Yesterdays blog about prayer was just that, there is no perfect way to pray. Different methods are there just to encourage us to pray. We need our heavenly Father in every thing we do. The word gives us instruction in all areas of life. In these passages I find instruction for dealing with others. Stop your threatening: how we approach others is so important, with the right motives and the right attitude. It is something I have been praying about for me. There is no partiality with God. We have a race problem in our nation, a past we need to get past. We need to treat others what ever their economic status. their racial makeup, even those who believe differently then us without partiality. That does not mean we become politically correct and no longer stand for truth found in God's word. This version uses the word demand; the Lord demands accurate scales and balances when we deal with others. The first verse and the last verse printed above from Proverbs speaks about the king. This is referring to civil authority in our lives today. Kings were common in the day Proverbs was written, in fact Proverbs was written by King Solomon. But for our day it would be referring to civil authority.  So civil authority is to judge fairly, use accurate scales and balances which means we treat everyone the same. the reason I have been looking at these scriptures is because I feel the need to address the board of Aldermen and women in our little town. The reason is the same as to why I ran for office in the first place. I saw some things that need to change, I didn't win so now I will address the board as an ordinary citizen and push them to change. To be fair, to use the same standard for those on the board as they use for ordinary citizens. This means I do not believe they can be fair unless they deal with the Alderman from Ward 4 and have him clean up his properties as they have been going after others in our community. There just seems to be not way that I can come of as not having sour grapes as this is the Ward I ran for and lost. But my reason for bringing this up to you is the same reason I ran for the office in the first place. I have prayed about this many days and asked God to help me with my attitude and motives. I do not want to use the word of God as a club, but go to it for instruction on how to live day by day.  God bless, LVZ.

Five Finger Prayer

I saw this in our Daily Bread and I thought it was good so I looked it up on Google and reprint it here. 

1.  Your Thumb – Because it’s the nearest to you, let this finger remind you to pray for family and friends who are closest to you. Pray for them by name, remembering their specific needs and requests.
2. Your Index or Pointer Finger – This speaks of those who “point others in the direction of truth and right living” by their teaching, preaching, and instruction. Pray for teachers, pastors, missionaries, Christian authors, and those in the helping professions. Ask the Lord to give them wisdom and discernment as they seek to guide others in doing things God’s way.
3. Your Third Finger – Let your tallest finger prompt you to pray for those who are in leadership over you. This includes the president and other government leaders, as well as leaders in your local church, schools, community, and place of employment.
4. Your Fourth Finger – As the weakest finger, this one reminds you to pray for those who are experiencing some type of physical, mental, emotional or spiritual weakness right now. Those who are suffering value your prayers.
5. Your Little Finger – Your smallest finger reflects your need to pray for yourself with meekness and humility. Don’t neglect praying for your own needs and desires, but do so recognizing that your greatest goal should always be that “He must increase, but I must decrease,” (John 3:30).

As I read this I realized I follow this loosely, not necessarily in that order but even this morning as I prayed, I prayed for my wife, my children and grandchildren. I prayed for my church, my Pastors, our Elders, and our Deacons. I prayed for President Trump and asked that God would give him the support he needs from the legislative and judicial bodies as he is in tune with God's direction. I lifted up a friend that is going through a grieving process just now, a friend that is battling cancer, and a friend that is rehabilitating from a stroke. Then I prayed for me and the things I write on this blog. Sometimes I see in my own writing an imperfect heart and I ask God to help me. I want to be careful and rightly divide the word of truth as I write. Sometimes I write to the newspaper and a recent subject made me wonder about my own heart after I hit send. I plan on continuing to attend city board meetings and I ask for God's help.  As I read the five finger prayer, I realized that is sort of what I do in my prayer life.  God bless, LVZ.

Looking to God

God hasn't sent me a burning bush. How do I know God's will? I just lost an election that I thought God put on my heart. Now I am losing sleep because I feel I need to address this elected board of Alderpersons about unfairness in this city. I was all set to just never go to another Alderboard meeting. Just last night a dear sweet lady asked me about the election and how I did. I lost. What was the percentage? 16% Well you can try again, she says. A man comes up to me in MacDonald's and tells me his story with the city. I hear in Sunday School about praying for God's will and I am. How do I know if this is God troubling my sleep or just a Leon grandiose idea. God does not speak in an audible voice and when we hear of someone that says God told them to do something we think they are crazy. Yet I know in times past God has spoken to my mind about things and gave me direction. Many Prophets of old spoke to people that did not want to hear them. Sometimes there were reluctant Prophets like Jonah that did not want to go where God sent them. Jeremiah spoke to people that did not want to hear God's voice. I do not put my self as an equal to any of these mentioned above, but God has a purpose and a job for each of us to do. I do want to do mine. I see no burning bush, I have not laid a fleece and asked God to put dew on the ground and not on the fleece or the opposite. I have learned not to make a vow as one man did. He vowed to sacrifice the first thing he saw on returning home when God gave him the victory and it was his only daughter. I still want to hear from God.  I need God to guide me in every area of life. God spoke to Moses, Jonah, Jeremiah, Daniel, David, Gideon, Israel, Abraham, Isaac and many others. Mostly in this day and age God speaks to us through his word. If you read this and believe God answers prayer, pray for me. I want to be in God's will. I hear many people upset, but I need to hear from God. God does not always say we win. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah did not listen to God voice. Did those sent to warn them do God's will. Of course they did. All I really know is my sleep is troubled. Does God want me to speak up? I pray for God's guidance. God bless, LVZ.

God Looks At The Heart

From the heart come the issues of life.  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23. But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 Samuel was going to anoint a new King for Israel.  God told Samuel to look at the sons of Jessie. As Samuel looked at these sons, he was looking at their physical appearance. God was looking at the heart, the motives, their attitude, integrity, inner qualities that come from the heart.  I don't think we look at those qualities today either.  In fact when talking about integrity, someone scoffed when integrity was mentioned about a political candidate. Who cares about integrity, this person said. I remember a time as a new Christian on the job. I was under pressure to get a job done. A tool slipped and damage was done to the part I was working on. I said a curse word.  I was more worried about how I looked to others than anything else. I was in a bad mood because I slipped and said that curse word. What is in the heart comes out of our mouth. Once I located an ex and felt I needed to apologize, I said my words of apology and turned to walk away. In my mind I thought, you can hide but I can still find you. When those thought came to my mind I realized my motives were not pure.  I was proud of my ability to locate this person and I am not sure my apology was sincere. From our heart come the issues of life. Do we serve  to be noticed? Do we serve to get recognition? Do we serve out of love? This is a personal blog this morning because I am checking my own heart to understand if my motives are pure. The heart is desperately wicked who can know it?  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9. So this morning as I prayed I was searching my own heart. God please look at my heart, check my motives for the things I do. I want my utmost desire to be pleasing to you. I want to be a person of integrity. I want to be in your perfect will in all that I do. I need God's guidance in every area of life.  God bless, LVZ.

Challenged

I feel like I have been challenged.  In church today I was part of security so I didn't hear the message just yet. But what I heard in Sunday School challenged me to do better in praying and waiting on God. I tend to make decisions and ask God for help when I am in trouble. I think my life shows that. Then the new Youth Pastor spoke just a little as he was inviting the Deacons down to receive the offering, and once again I was challenged by just a few words he spoke.  I wondered how does this church do so well, I was blessed and challenged without even hearing the Pastor speak. I have received a lot of good instruction through church all my life. Even the imperfect ones, the one I am attending now is one of those  imperfect churches.  They are always made up of imperfect people. If I ever found one that was perfect and joined it, I would ruin it. My thoughts went back to many former pastors. Many in little churches, sometimes two families made up the congregation. Here I am today a believer after so many trials and tribulations. Over the years so many failures, mistakes, and o so many things I wish I could do over. The  Sunday School teacher told of a time in his life when he really tried to wait on God before making a decision.  After waiting on God it seems like all was lost and he like Job said yet if you slay me still will I trust you. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.  Job 13:15. He told his personal story how God came through for him and his family.  Many times we have read of Job and his trials and God blessed him for his faithfulness. I have not been very good at praying  and trusting God in my decisions. Mostly I make a decision that I feel is right or what looks right at the time, and then ask for help when my decision leads into trouble. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1.  Have I ever waited on God to find his perfect will. I have experienced his goodness time after time. Even when I have messed up, and call out to him he is there. Have I ever trusted God where I present my body a living sacrifice. Have I ever refused to move unless God spoke. Have I ever cried our to God what is your perfect will and waited until I knew God answered. How much trouble could I have avoided in my life if I had trusted God to that level?  Job trusted and proved God faithful.  As faithful as God has been why do we not trust him to that level where we will not move or make a decision until God speaks. He has proved himself faithful over and over again. Got me out of more difficulties than I feel like counting. I was challenged in several ways today. God bless, LVZ.

Which Dog Do You Feed?

I look at the spiritual warfare going on in our country and perhaps in each of us. We are sinful by nature, we are born in sin. I think many years that I had difficulty on the job, not realizing much of it was spiritual warfare. The attacks I face came from the enemy of my soul, much to discourage and turn me aside from following Jesus. I think of divorce and family trouble and it was meant to turn me aside. I think of the temptations of living in this world and it was meant to turn me aside from following Jesus.  We each have two natures in us that we struggle with, or as someone described once as two dogs in us and which one do we feed? Which nature do we feed. Do we seek after the things of God or to please our natural desires. Even Christians have the same struggle going on in them. Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.  Romans 7:13-20. This passage in Romans 7 written by Paul the apostle describes that battle going on in each of us. Are we following our fleshly desires or do we try to follow Jesus in all that we do? I know there were times in my life the fleshly desires won out. But I try to develop my relationship with God. I read and feed my self from his word each day. I formed a habit of calling out to him each morning.  I have a prayer list that I bring to God each day. I pray about my attitudes and my motives because I learned in the past sometimes my motives were incorrect. The heart is desperately wicked, who can know it. I try to feed the spiritual part of my life. Jesus has our best interests at heart. He desires that we end up in heaven for our eternal destination. I do not deny that there is a spiritual struggle going on. If we look at even the political scene in our country, there is a battle going on. It is spiritual. Which dog are you feeding? Are you taking care of the spiritual person in you. Are you feeding the spiritual side of life? Do you partake of God's word or is God something you do not believe in. There are only two eternal destinations. There is only one way to God through Jesus Christ? How is the battle in your life going. This spiritual battle belongs to God and he will fight it for us if we belong to him. I had just a simple faith, I didn't think of my self as a warrior as such but when I look back through my life, many battles have been fought on my behalf. But I pray and continue to do so. I need Jesus, I want an eternal destination with God. I do not want the other place. I need Jesus in every area of life. God bless, LVZ.

Warped

As I was reading this morning in Titus chapter three I noted the word warped was used in verse 11. It caught my attention so I am meditating and thinking on that. I was reading in the NIV and I went to Blue Letter Bible to get a concordance and it would use the word perverted.  But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.  Titus 3:9-11.  Who is this scripture talking about that is warped? It would be a person that loves foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law. It says these things are unprofitable and worthless. We need to watch out for people who divide and after warning them a couple of times, have nothing to do with these warped individuals. Warped seems to be a modern day word and I guess I just happened to be reading in a version that used it. There are some warped people in our land. There are those that continually stir up controversy. There was a time when after an election we would come together and work together but if you haven't noticed, it is not that way anymore. It is like one big controversy after another. Our country is warped.  I have never in my life prayed for a President like I have our current President. He is being fought and hindered every step of the way. We are warped. Instead of accepting and hoping for the best, the other side politically is fighting him every step of the way. I think this version of the Bible puts it well, they are warped. They do not want what is best for our country, only what serves their agenda. As Christians we realize God gives us our rulers, if we like him or not, that is who God gave us. Our public officials are to be God's servants for us the public. But it seems the attitude of serving others is lost any more and it seems most serve themselves first. I know that civil authority is ordained by God. Read Romans 13. They are God's servants. One thing I would like to note, God keeps a record and that record does not lie. I question, does my theology line up with the word of God? That is why I ponder and read from the word each day. That I might feed my self spiritually and check if I be in the faith. I don't want to be divisive, or be foolish in my discussions. I don't want to be warped in my thinking. The best way I know to do that is to seek God and his will for my life. I want to line up with his word. Check my heart, my attitude. God help me to be your child this day in all I do, say and think. I do not want to be warped. God bless, LVZ.

Names

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. Proverbs 22:1.  All my life I have had trouble with names. For example: I have a neighbor named Janet and a sister-in-law named Janice. Almost always I get the names mixed up. When talking about my sister-in-law, I will use the name Janet. When talking about my neighbor, I almost always use Janice. I have done this for years. At one Church I attended there was a family named Morely and another named Mason, and I would get them mixed up. Then think about this, my first marriage, I was married to Jenie, second marriage to Jean, and then right after than I had a girlfriend name Joanie.  Talk about trouble. I guess I have a piece of advice to give. Find terms of endearment, like sweetheart, honey, love, etc. It is much better than calling a spouse by the wrong name. Plus I think it is a good practice all on its own even with out the trouble with switching names. I don't have that trouble anymore, Barbara is Barbara and I do use terms of endearment. It may be funny at times but not with a spouse. This scripture above says a good name is to be chosen than great riches. Having a name that is respected is worth more than silver and gold. My name means something. It is a reflection of the person I have become. I remember when a new supervisor came to me and told me, your reputation precedes you. My boss had gone to meet with other supervisors to divvy out the money for raises and when my name came up, she said it was a slam dunk.  It made me feel really good to hear that. They know you she said. A good name worthy of respect. I remember another time when I did something I didn't want to confess to, I beat around the bush. My lead asked me about something and finally he said, just give me a yes or no answer, I know you will not lie to me. We want our name to mean something. We want to have a good reputation. It is worth more than money. I believe my relationship with God has allowed me to develop that reputation that I have.  God bless, LVZ.

Relationship

I try and post something every day. I'm sorry if it is almost always of a religious nature. That is who I am. I put a warning at the start of my page that I want to influence others to become a Christian. This is a gospel hardened nation, we have heard it so many times that we don't want to hear it any more.  It is the most important decision of my life. Being a Christian should influence every area of our life. Most of us have seen or experienced Christians at their worst. Sometimes we get an incorrect view of God because of other Christians. We need to experience him for our selves. We need to develop our own relationship with God, personal.  I have seen enough good that I want the good. Many Christians have better relationships with other Christians than with their own families. I've seen many hurting people fixed, if it be drugs, alcohol, divorce, sickness, bad parenting, what ever life throws at us, I have seen God redeem and change lives. Everybody's story is different, because we are all unique. I know my story best and that is why I try to tell it. I have been through difficult marriages, difficult jobs, difficult family but God has helped me in them all. I am amazed at the wisdom I find in the word. Having been on this path for 30 years, and even from unlikely sources I will gain a better perspective on something even after 30 years. It is so simple yet sometimes it can be difficult as we face trials. I have lived so imperfectly yet God has loved me through it all.  I think back to the early years and through the difficult times after divorce and God helped me. Imperfect Christian that I was, God helped me. I guess I have learned that there are no perfect Christians. Through the years God changed me. Helped me with bad behavior and imperfect theology. So many Christians are like children at different ages of maturity. Yet they are children of their Heavenly Father and he works with them and matures them through their journey. One story that comes to mind is the story of the landowner who searches for workers in his field, he finds some at the first hour and pays them the wage of the day. All through the day he hires more workers, and even to the last hour of the day and he pays them the same. Someone questions his paying all the same. He answers is it not mine to do as I please. Have I not paid what I promised. So it is with us, we can become Christians at an early age or later in life and our reward is eternal life. We can mature slow or quickly and it is the same promise of eternal life. Perhaps it would seem unfair, but is it not God who created us and who tugs at our heart strings at what ever place  we are at in life. Relationship can start what ever our state, whatever our need, when we ask Jesus into our hearts. It will change your life. God bless, LVZ.

The Fifth Commandment

It hit me like a ton of bricks. I hear some good stuff from PragerU. I have been blogging about the signs of the last days, but I felt I needed to write about the Fifth Commandment. I have been a Christian for some 30 plus years and you think the Ten Commandments are basic, everyone knows them. PragerU's video on the Fifth Commandment struck a nerve with me. Honor your father and your mother. Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. Deuteronomy 5:16.  Has any one noticed how bad things are in our country? Do we think we would like to fix things? I believe I know an answer, or at least I think it is worth a try. What if all of us made an effort to honor our fathers and our mothers. As PragerU video went, we are told to love even our enemies. That is what the Bible says: But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:44. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Mark 12:33. We are to love our enemies, to love our neighbors and others. Why does the Bible tell us to honor our parents instead of to love them? Isn't it about respecting authority. Our parents are our very first authority in our lives and if we lack in honoring them, we do not have the respect for authority that we need. I heard it in church this past Sunday morning, criticizing the President. Not respecting him but being critical of our sitting President.  We see the lack of respect for Police officers and others in authority including our elected leaders. If we honor even bad parents, do we not learn to respect authority what ever it is? isn't this the real problem in our country, lack of respect for any authority? We learn it from our parents, and yes because I said so is an authoritarian answer. In the PragerU video he said something that stuck with me, not calling is the opposite of honoring. I hear one other person say to give weight to what our parents say. Not that we agree with everything they say, because every last one of us was raised by imperfect parents. But we consider the words our parents say to us and do not discard them lightly. If we were blessed we had parents, if we were super blessed we had good parents. What about someone who had bad parents, are they off the hook? I don't think so, society needs authority and for it to go well with us in the land we need to respect authority. That is why honoring parents is so important. The well being of our country depends on it. Do you think if we go ten years disrespecting our police force, the officers they hire will be better or worse? II Chronicles 7:14 tells us to turn from our wicked ways, humble ourselves and pray and God will heal our land. Perhaps one of our wicked ways is disrespecting authority.  Perhaps if we would learn to honor our parents, good and bad, we could actually turn things around. God's word has the answers for life and perhaps we really need to understand the purpose of each of the Ten Commandments. They were given for our well being. If you listen to the nightly news, things are not going well. So much fighting and slandering. Honor our parents that it way be well  with us in the land God has given us. The opposite of honoring  is not calling. I felt really honored when my kids called me on Fathers Day. God didn't say to love our parents, but to honor them. Our Country is not well, we are spiritually sick. My parents are both gone now but while they were living I did call and visit each of them when I  could. I did not agree with everything they did or said. I believe I honored them because all through the years I called and visited when I could. Imperfect though they were, I could learn from them. Dad was a hard working man all his life, and he would help anyone that asked.  Mom was a gentle soul and she too was a giver, not a taker until she was unable to even care for herself. They had good qualities as well as imperfections. I would do well to copy the good and change the bad. Honor our parents that it may be well with us in the land God has given to us. It is a command with a promise and perhaps it was because God knew we needed to respect authority for our land to prosper. Honoring our parents shows respect. God created us and he wrote the owners manual, the Bible. No where in our country is there more disrespect than in the political arena. Use to be we would respect just because of the office people hold. Not so much any more, if they are from the opposite political view, they are open to slander and disrespect. Honor our parents is a good place to start, God tells us to honor our parents that it may be well with us in the land he has given us. Our country is not well and we need to do something to fix it.  Help us and God bless, LVZ.

Fathers Day

Another Fathers day. To be honest it hurts me when my son ignores me year after year. When he was little, I felt we had a good relationship. The problem that seems to have cause a rift between us is I am not his biological father, but I raised him from day one. I felt I loved him as my own. I disciplined him as I disciplined my daughter. No two kids are ever alike, so you are not always able to do every thing exactly the same. Plus one is a son and one is a daughter. I chose him, knowing his mother made him with some other man. It wasn't his fault. Today we see this over and over again, a man and a woman making a baby outside of marriage and the results are seen in the issues our country is facing.  Not only that,  many babies are being aborted because they inconvenience someone's life. I have heard stories of woman having 8 and 9 abortions. I chose him to raise him as my own. Any mistakes I made do not make me worthy of the treatment I am getting.   I am not here to say I was a perfect parent, there are none. I made my share of mistakes. So here I see all these fathers being honored on Fathers Day and my son will not call or acknowledge me in any way. He even blocked me from his face book page. I used to send birthday cards and Christmas and for many years I did not even have an address. I had to leave them with his sister to give to him. Many years ago I told him relationship is a two way street and I would not do that any more. He is angry at me because I raised him as my own and did not tell him some other man was his biological father. Was that a sin, I don't think so. I thought at the time I was actually protecting him. The enemy of his soul has him trapped with a root of bitterness in his heart towards me. I pray everyday for him. Today I saw father after father being honored on face book. My Daughter called me and I felt honored, I felt good. Then I listened to PragerU on the Fifth Commandment. It is an important commandment. The lack of honoring our parents is a lot of what is wrong in our nation today. One thing he said that caught my attention is not calling your parents is the opposite of honoring them.  I had imperfect parents, but I still honored them, I called and visited them through the years. I thought I would reap what  had  I sowed. One year when it particularly bothered me, I prayed about it. A fatherless child, Asia, called me and asked if she could go to church with me on fathers day. I took her and a friend to Church that Fathers day and felt like God had heard my prayer and said don't worry about it. Today these kids in Nettleton saw me after church and asked if I had a gatorade  for them. They must have been waiting for me when they saw our car. They call me Papa. I am reminded again of God's answer  many years ago when Asia called and asked if she could go to church with me on Fathers day.  Asia never knew who her father was. Not even his name.  I still pray for her every day. I pray for her three boys also, they are not my grandchildren but I lift them up when I lift up my own Grandchildren.  I still pray that the root of bitterness will be removed. I love my son just as I do my daughter. It will be his loss in eternity. The fifth commandment is very important, it affects even our nation and the lack of respect for authority. My son is a grown man, he makes his own decisions. He had as may years to correct behaviors as he blames me for raising him. He will choose his eternity the way he lives his life. I loved him as my own. God bless, LVZ.

Earthquake and Famine

Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Matthew 24:7-8. As I look at the next verses in Matthew 24 about the signs of the end. There will be earthquakes in various places.  I goggles earthquakes and do you know in the last 24 hours there have been 80 earthquakes? South of the Fji Islands there was a 6.1 quake. Various places, Oklahoma City has had two earthquakes in the last 24 hours. Other places mentioned; Cobb California, Southern Alaska, Yichang Hubei China,  north Atlantic Ocean, Pahala Hawaii, Eatonville WA,  West Yellowstone Montana, Calama Chile. The biggest of these was the 5.0 in the North Atlantic Ocean. Famines, we in the U.S. have a hard time understanding famine because we have been so blessed. It is said even I the U.S. there are children that go hungry every night. But around the world in third world countries it is even greater. We see the commercials on TV about hungry children in various areas. As the world population increases, we will see more. This is another sign of the end times. One of the worst is Central African Republic, and others named: Chad, Zambia, Haiti, Madagascar,  Yemen, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, Timor-Leste, Niger, Pakistan. Who even knows where Timor-Leste is?  So many of these are far away from us we don't even realize it is happening. I looked it up Timor-Leste is north of Austraila, a tiny spec on the map. These are signs of the end. We don't hear about quakes unless they are very big and do lots of damage. These places of famine are far from our shores. The Bible tells us to be ready, these signs are the birth pains. We do not know the day nor the hour. How long do birth pains last? That varies from person to person. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24:44. We are told to be ready, not the exact time. I think about how we have talked about this since I was a child. It has not happened, do we get weary and put it in the back of our minds and really do not even believe. It has been all of our lives we have heard these things, and perhaps we doubt.  I think many times of the prophecy of the city of Tyre (Ezekiel 26) , it was told some 400 years before it happened, but it happened just as God said it would. Ours is the generation that will see the Second Coming. Be ready. Do not quit your job, do not gather on a hillside looking. Keep living the best you know, but be spiritually ready.  God bless, LVZ.

Wars and Rumors of Wars

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. these things must happen, but the end is still to come. Matthew 24:6 Another sign of the end time will be wars and rumors of wars.  How many days has it been since this North Korean dictator has threatened the world with his mouth and tested missiles? Do we still have troops in Iraq? What about the civil war in Syria. What about attacks on Israel? I think if I turned on the TV I would hear something about a conflict some where. What about the attack in London, is this not related to Muslim terrorist. Are we not almost waging a war in our own country between political parties, think of the shooter in Virginia and listen to the words being spoken by some party leaders. We were talking about that shooter last night at dinner and I mentioned that I thought things would get better as this President took office, but it has not. Is not this a sign of the last days? These attacks on our shores from Isis, claiming responsibility not only here but in London and across the world, are these not acts of war? Think back to 9-1 -1 and that terrorist attack. Has it not changed the way we travel, that even in this country we are constantly on the alert more attacks?  Some would describe Chicago as a war zone some weekends between rival gangs. Our world is sick, I know no other way to say it. We are not to be alarmed but look up, Jesus Second Coming is near. Christians that have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior are headed to a better place where there will not be all this chaos. What we are facing is another sign of the end of days. As much as I hoped things would get better, it seems they are not. I believe we are getting close to Jesus return. Some will scoff at these words, just like they did at Noah when he preached repentance as he built an arc. There is a flood coming Noah would say, a hundred years I think it was as he built on that arc. Yes, we have heard about this since I was a child and it still hasn't happened. I am now in my senior years, and there is a good chance, I will not see the grave. I will still prepare for it but it is entirely possible having been born after 1948 that I will not see death. The signs are all around us. Just a little talk with Jesus and our eternity can be secured. There are only two places to spend eternity. “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14:1-3.  We can be secure in God's promises.  God bless, LVZ.

Deception

Deception is another sign of the end times.  And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:22-24. If we take a look at our world today, many Christians will take the word of politically correct groups over the word of God. I read some post from a claiming Christian that will say there is no rapture or second coming. The life we have now is all there is. I only look back to my beginning years when much scripture was used to promote a certain denomination. So I know if we are not careful we all can be deceived. That same denomination is where I became a Christian, there was truth taught. At the same time they taught and advised families to split up with their legalistic view of marriage. God's perfect plan is and always has been one man / one woman for life. If you look closely, you will see so many divorced couples in the church, including me. Divorce is not the only area we have failed God's perfect way for us. We fail, God forgives and we try again. Many in our society believe there is more than one way to salvation. Many look to psychics and one friend married a person of Bahai faith and did not think it mattered. Just another way to God. That is the very reason God did not want his people to inter marry with other national groups, it was for religious purity, it was not because of race. We see Ruth of the Bible an outsider, that converted to the one true God. Accepted and mentioned in the lineage of Christ. There is only one way and Jesus is the only one that died for our sins and is able to forgive us of the consequences of our sins.  Look around you if you truly believe the Bible you will come under fire as Russell Vought did, in his confirmation hearing as President Trump’s nominee for deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget.  Many Christians do not have a problem with abortion, or same sex marriage. Are we becoming more concerned with being Politically Correct than Biblically Correct? We are more concerned with what we want and feeling good than being concerned with what God wants in our hearts and lives.  Jesus is the only one that died on a cross for our sins, and he remains the only way to God. It is not politically correct to hold such a view. That does not mean we miss treat persons of other faiths or beliefs, we are instructed to love even our enemies. Deception is another sign of the end times. God bless, LVZ.

Violence

the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence.  Genesis 6:11

“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. Matthew 24:37. The earth was filled with violence in Noah's day. Another sign of the return of King Jesus is that there will be a lot of violence just like there was in the days of Noah. In Jackson, they found a head severed from the body and when they found the body it was badly burned.  The news was on the congressman and officers shot this morning in Virginia. We can thank God this turned out as good as it did. It could have been a massacre, some 50 rounds of ammo were shot.   I think they said their have been 28 killings in Jackson since the first of the year. Two men were shot at Waffle House here in Tupelo just a couple of days ago. Two men killed security guards on a bus transporting prisoners from one jail to another. A comedian thought it funny to have what looked like President Trumps head severed from his body. So many video games and movies depict violence. Mass killings, at shopping centers, Churches, Schools and even on the job. A man recently brought a gun to work at Cooper tire here locally and shot another man he was having a disagreement with. The corruption in Washington, if it isn't a real scandal, they make one up. This is what it was like in Noah's day and this also is a sign of the second coming of Jesus. Knowledge is increased, we have the capability for the whole world to witness the killing in Jerusalem of the two witnesses, and violence every where. The Bible tells us to be ready, when we see these things, know King Jesus is coming soon. These are all signs of the Second Coming of Jesus. The generation that saw Israel come back as a nation will see every one of these signs. I have been going over these one by one. I want to give credit to Rick Coram and his Book The Return of King Jesus, that I have been reading recently. As I read this book, it has changed my thinking. I thought it possible and it is, that I would leave this life and pass into eternity via the grave. But as I am reminded of the signs of the Second Coming of Jesus, I see it is also possible I will see the rapture that will happen sometime before the Second Coming. The Bible tells us no man knows the day nor the hour, only the Father in Heaven knows. I do not try to put a date on this. I am just looking at the signs given us in the Bible and it makes me think it is very near. Violence and corruption is all around us. It is on the news every day. We heard so much about Chicago but recently it has been one incident after another even here in Tupelo or Columbus or Starkville or Oxford Mississippi. The shooter at Wafflehouse was from little old Verona.  Some reading even my blog will scoff at it. We  are not concerned at all and if so not ready for Jesus to return. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be. Can you imagine the ridicule Noah faced as he preached about the coming flood. It had never rained, and Noah was talking about something the people of his day had never seen, rain. We have never seen mass people disappearing like those that are left behind will see on the day of the rapture. It will be soon. It takes faith to believe in Jesus and his word. To be ready one simply need to ask Jesus to come into their heart and life. No amount of money, nor a extra ordinary amount of good deeds can purchase our salvation. It comes through Jesus Christ and the forgiving of our sins. It just takes a simple prayer of faith.  God bless, LVZ.

Rebirth Of A Nation

Here is another sign of the end times. Isaiah 66:8-10. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment? For as soon as Zion was in labor she brought forth her children. Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause to bring forth?” says the Lord; “shall I, who cause to bring forth, shut the womb?” says your God. “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her; This happened May 14th 1948, when the United Nations formally recognized the State of Israel. Israel was over run by Rome and Jerusalem destroyed in A.D. 70. The Bible says in one day. There was no war to create this nation, they did have wars later to defend themselves. But as Rick Coram points out in his book "The Return of King Jesus", that this generation that sees Israel come back as a nation shall not pass away till all these things are fulfilled. “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Matthew 24:32-35.  This use to be a shouting sermon when I was a kid. I somewhat have expected to cross over to the other side via the grave. But as I read this book, I realize having been born after 1948, I have a good chance to be alive at the Rapture which will happen before the Second Coming of Jesus. No one knows the day nor the hour, but as we look at the signs of the times, we are very close. This generation has seen the increase of knowledge, one of the signs. That increase of knowledge and technology helps us to see how the whole world can witness the death of the two witnesses around the world. And we have been born after the rebirth of Israel. Does that mean at least one person from 1948 will still be alive. I don't know exactly. Many have tried to put a date on it, giving a generation 40 years or different numbers, and it hasn't happened. One man wrote a book saying it would happen in 1988 (selling 4.5 million copies)  and then a second book in 1989. He retitle the second book in1990, 1991, 1992, 1993. I am sure sales fell off until it was no longer profitable.  It didn't happen. Then another person gave a date in 2011 and changed that date when it didn't happen. We cannot set a date, only our Heavenly Father knows the hour. These scriptures do tell us it is not far away. This generation shall not pass till all these things take place. Those that explain prophecy to us say the fig tree is Israel. I would not be so foolish as to try and set a date, nor did the author of this book I am reading. Just pointing out the return of King Jesus could be very close.  There are more signs as I plan to talk about in future blogs as I continue in this book. The Bible tells us to be ready. To be ready we need to ask King Jesus into our hearts. Will I see tomorrow? Probably, but not for sure. I just need to be ready.  God bless, LVZ.

World Wide View

For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. Revelation 11:9 In a book I am reading "The Return of King Jesus", I blogged about knowledge being increased in our day. The second sign the author talks about is this prophecy in Revelation chapter 11. The two witnesses are killed by the Antichrist and left in the streets for 3 and a half days. The whole world (some from every people, tribe, language and nation )sees these two witnesses lying there in the streets.  What the author points out that with the increase in knowledge and technology it is now possible to actually visualize how this can happen with IPhones, IPads, Computers, and the programs available for us to use. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Skype etc. Even if these are not the exact program that will be used we can easily visualize how that can happen today.  A friend had gone to the Dominican Republic on a mission trip. Many of the Dominicans are very poor. One man my friend had witnessed to, wanted a Bible. My Friend got this new convert from the Dominican Republic a Bible in a language he could read. I forgot what language he said. But as he was leaving the new convert wrote him a note in his native tongue, not having an interpreter present he did not know what it said until later. After he received his Bible, which he was happy to receive, he asked in his note if my friend could possibly get him a cell phone. Even in these poor countries where they live in shacks and sometimes do not have modern facilities, some still have access to and are able to use cell phones.  This makes it easy to understand how this sign of the end time could happen in the day we live in. Perhaps there will be some other program even better than what we now use.  Technology in computers and cellphones changes so quickly, when we buy a new devise, it is superseded almost as soon as the next day.  Bible prophecies come true, we may not understand how all the times but Bible Prophecies never fail to come true. God bless, LVZ.

God's Answers

Why doesn't God answer prayers the way I think he should? I prayed about my running for an office, I expected to win, but only got 22 votes. I know a person that had a stroke after surgery, lost the use of her left side. We pray and she wants to recover 100%, but that is not what is happening. She can walk but not like before the stroke. I remember a co-worker years ago that had a really nice Camaro. He saw a much nicer Camaro  at the car lot and was claiming it. Remember the name it and claim it theology of a few years back? What would happen if God gave us every thing we asked just as we asked it. I think of children you meet that get everything they ask for, we would call them spoiled. Would we treat God like a big heavenly go-for, if he gave us everything we asked? I wonder? Do you know our prayers can be hindered?  Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. 1 Peter 3:7. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. James 4:3.  Sometimes our motives can be wrong, as in the guy that was claiming a better Camaro when he already had a very good one. Our relationship with our spouse is important and needs to be right on that our prayers are not hindered. There are times when my motives have not been correct, when I would just spend something on my passions. O and us Christians, how we like to look good especially to the household of faith. Our world can be falling apart and someone ask how we are doing and we are good, we are blessed. Sometimes it pays to take an inside look and see honestly how we are really doing before God. We are God's children and I sometimes think we act like children. Spoiled children at that. Some times I look at children and how they are able to have a little spat, forgive and go on playing. Sometimes we need to be more like children in the good ways, like forgiving and moving on. Don't stop praying, if there is an issue, come to God as the publican did in Luke 18:13. 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. And then let me close out this blog by reminding us and leaving on a positive note about how our prayers can be effective, by living righteously before God.  Being honest and confessing our sins before God. Therefore, make it your habit to confess your sins to one another and to pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.  Just as side note, I posted these scriptures from Bible Hub, I used several different versions of the Bible, NIV, ESV and probably at least one other. Sometimes looking at Bible Hub I like the wording better in one version over the other. One day I ran into a Christian that was still hung up on using only the King James version and I remembered back to those days for me. I asked him what do Germans or Spaniards use? In this day and age when knowledge is increased, we are so blessed to have programs like Bible Hub, Blue Letter Bible and others. God's word has the answers for life. It is not as important how much Bible we know but how much we live it.   God bless, LVZ.

Winning In The Long Term

As I thought about my loss in the past election, I wondered if I had misheard direction from God. My expectation was to win. If God put this on my heart surely I would win. I wondered if I just didn't work hard enough but if my efforts got only 22 votes, then I hate to think how hard I would have had to work to win. Then I thought if I had known I would lose, I wouldn't have ran. Somehow that didn't feel right, if God did put it on my heart to run. Would I run again? If I felt it was God's will for me to run again, I would, even if I lost again. There is a bigger picture that God sees and is doing something that we do not always see or understand. I want to be in God's will and if my past history is any indication, it doesn't always feel pleasant. Someone mentioned Jeremiah the Prophet that spoke to a people that didn't want to hear him. He faced disappointment following God's will for his life. After all is said and done I still feel I was following God, I just didn't think it meant losing. Perhaps God is working on pride in my life, to think I shouldn't have lost. Or he may actually be working on someone else as they watch how I handle this as a Christian. My thoughts turn to scripture that says God loves honest weights and measures: Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord; all the weights in the bag are of his making. Proverbs 16:11. Differing weights and differing measures — the Lord detests them both. Proverbs 20:10. This is why I ran in the first place, I didn't like what I saw coming from the board and there were many more that saw the same thing. There were a couple of times I turned my IPhone on video and recorded my opponent, and I did show it to a friend and accountability partner to explain why I felt the need to run. I did not use it against him when I talked to citizens. I felt it would violate Christian behavior. Some one else did video him slandering the mayor and sent it to me but I didn't use it. It would not have been consistent with Christian behavior. It is not a condition of doing God's will that we win here below, but it does mean as we live a life pleasing to God, using honest weights and measures in our lives that we win the major election at the end of our days. That election or judgement day as we call it is what matters, and we will win if we live pleasing to God.  I don't have to win here below if I am found pleasing in God's sight.  I fought many a battle about honesty on the job and many times I didn't feel like a winner but was a winner in God's eyes and that is what matters. God bless, LVZ.

What Next?

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 1 Peter 3:15-17. As I was reading the word this morning I was looking again at 1 Peter because that was one of the reference verses for what we are doing in Sunday School. But I noticed these verses I copied above and they speak to me this morning as I contemplate what to do next. Having lost the election by a lot, I felt humiliated, because I really thought God laid this on my heart and I would win. But I lost. In talking with angry citizens, that really wanted me to win, I thought perhaps I can do something out of office that I couldn't do in office. I am praying about this. I don't want to come in a spirit of revenge but in gentleness and keeping a clear conscience before God.  And the next words : so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. The incumbent in talking to people used the fact that I am not from Verona and was born in South Dakota against me. Not necessarily slander but was using it in a negative way. My Bible tells me we are to use just weights and measures. An oracle is on the lips of a king; his mouth does not sin in judgment. A just balance and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights in the bag are his work. It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness. Proverbs 16:10-12 What this citizen was so angry about, he spend $40,000 fixing up his place to make it presentable, he has businesses on the main drag in Verona. The code enforcement officer came to him, threatening to shut him down. He pulled the code enforcement officer outside his front door and pointed across the street to a property owned by the Alderman I ran against and side don't come back until you do something about his property. It is a rundown house with people living in it without electricity. It is about fairness, using the same measures for everyone including those sitting on the city Alder Board. My thought was perhaps I can still be effective by holding the Alder Board feet to the fire to show fairness by cleaning up their own stuff before they address the rest of the community.  I haven't worked out all the details about what to do and how to go about it. Perhaps a coalition of citizens especially the good men that saw the problem at city hall and ran and lost.  I wasn't the only one. All the incumbents won. I had the worst loss of all the challengers. 16% is all I got. I do not want to come at this in a spirit of revenge but in a spirit of fairness. As a Christian, I do not want to be evil spoken of. Where do I go from here? My first thought was to never attend a meeting again, but that angry citizen put a fire under me. I pray for God's help.  God bless, LVZ.

Knowledge is Increased

But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase. Daniel 12:4
This is what many refer to as a sign of the end times, and knowledge shall be increased. In the book I am currently reading, the author talks about how knowledge is increasing. "The Return of King Jesus"  is the title of the book by Rick Coram. Here is some info taken from this book.  Up until the year 1900 the world's knowledge doubled every hundred years. By the end of World War II, knowledge was doubling every 25 years. Today, nanotechnology is doubling every two years. Clinical knowledge is doubling every 18 months. Any time I want info, I can google it. My IPhone is much more powerful than my first home computer that I bought in the late 1990's. I can find a map anytime I travel on my phone. I can take pictures with it and really don't remember the last time I took a picture with a camera. When I was still working which is now 5 years ago, it seemed there was a major engineering advancement every 5 years. This is just one of the signs of Jesus return to earth. The Bible has many prophecies in it and the thing about God's prophecies is they are incredibly accurate. I remember a year or so ago we studied some Prophecies in the book of Ezekiel. One we looked at in the 26 chapter was about the city Tyre on the Mediterranean Sea. It talked about how the city would be destroyed and thrown into the sea down to the bare rocks and fisherman would dry their nets on those rocks. Alexander the Great came along and to protect themselves the City of Tyre moved to an Island off the coast and Alexander the Great had his army build a causeway to the Island. They tore down the city on the coast down to and including the foundations. scraped the soil down to the rocks to build that causeway to conquer the City of Tyre.  You can Google Tyre.  I did about a year or so ago. When God says it will happen, it will happen. Is not this prophecy about knowledge increasing already fulfilled with the increase of knowledge we see today? Knowledge increasing is just one of the signs. But many will not believe. Jesus is our hope and to be ready for the end of the age we must accept Jesus as Savior and Lord of our lives. No man knows the exact day or hour of his Second Coming, but the signs of the time say it is close. Will I live a full life and pass over to the other side via the grave. I don't know, I really don't know. The generation that saw Israel come back as a nation is to be the last generation. What does the Bible mean by a generation? Some have tried to figure it out and set a date for the return of King Jesus but the Bible also says no man knows the day nor the hour. It used to be a shouting sermon in my childhood to hear about the Second Coming of Jesus. The Bible tells us to be ready. Years have come and gone and I am still here, but I am ready should I depart this earth. Look at your phone, it is an example of the increased knowledge in our world today. It does amazing things because of the increased knowledge and technology and the materials used in todays phones. Be ready, because we do not know the day or the hour. God bless, LVZ.

Post Election

As I think about losing the election, I wonder about why people vote for a candidate.  I hear different theories about why I lost. Some others expressed surprise that I lost and especially that I lost by such  a big amount. One theory is because I am married to a black woman. I really don't think that is the reason. But perhaps there were a few that wouldn't vote for me for that reason. One thing that crossed my mind is I felt God put this on my heart so I didn't work at it as hard as I needed to. I was looking for a way to serve my community. I believe I had good intentions. I believe I am a good person and a person of integrity. I have heard numerous people that have watched this man in the city hall meetings say he needs to go. Why do people vote for the persons they choose. I once heard a person wanted a man for President because they liked his hair style(John Edwards). We saw corrupt womanizer Bill Clinton get reelected after we already knew he was a rapist. We saw Anthony Weiner get reelected after we already knew what a scumbage he was. Many voted for Obama just because he was Black. Some will ask if I vote for you what will you do for me? Why do we really vote for the people we choose? I believe some didn't vote for me because I am conservative, and I voted for Trump. As I sit in these small town city meetings, and they discuss paying the city bills, or approving the previous meetings minutes. I have never been in one of their executive sessions where they discuss personnel matters. Or perhaps they decide to apply for a grant for police equipment. They discuss the budget or perhaps a citizen requests a break on their water bill because of a problem that happened on the city's side of the line. A person has an old building and it violates the set back requirements and he wants the city counsel to approve a variance.  A citizen wants an ordinance created to outlaw the firing of weapons in the city limit. As I think of the many different issues that come before the city counsel, what issue does my conservative principles prevent me from making a good decision for the citizens of my community.  Or what does my being married to a black woman prevent me from making a good decision when I vote with other board members? I was born in South Dakota and spent many years in Washington State.  I moved here because I wanted to move south when I retired and my wife is from Nettleton. How does that affect my decision making ability when it comes time to vote on an issue? OR how does knowing or not knowing Verona was the first chartered town in Lee County in July of 1860?  Does knowing Elvis Pressley's parents were married in Verona make me a better Alderman? Does being a person of integrity matter? Does having a servants heart matter? Does building a new home in the city limits of Verona matter? Does my birthplace being Eureka, South Dakota mean I cannot be a good alderman? This person that I ran against used some of these things to advise my neighbors to not vote for me. What do we really want in a person we vote for to represent us on the Alderboard? God bless, LVZ. 

I Got Whooped

I didn't just lose, I got whooped.  I really felt like God laid this on my heart, to run for this Alderboard position. I prayed about it and felt like it was a confirmation when Franklin Graham urged us Christians to run for local office. During the past few years, I attended many meetings and felt I saw a need on the Alderboard. Others like myself felt their needed to be change and every position was challenged this year. We all lost, did we all make a mistake for even running? As I talked to people, they seemed to be unhappy with the city government. Yet all the incumbents except the current mayor won. I got whooped. I got whooped worse than anyone else that ran. I don't want to pull a Hillary and blame everyone but myself. Perhaps their was Russian interference?☺ The incumbent said bad things about me, etc. I am trying to process this and understand because I really feel God laid this on my heart. Did I not work hard enough? I may never know, but I do know I do not want to let this discouragement weaken my relationship with God. God is still on his throne and watches over the affairs of his children. So I pray and ask God to help me understand, and move on. I know many people were watching, my church family and others, and many will ask. All I can say is I got whooped worse than anyone else that ran. I really do not know what scripture to put with my blog this morning. God is with us always. God loves us and always has our best interest at heart. I know God loves me and I just pray for understanding because I really thought I was going to win. God bless, LVZ.

Live With Understanding

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. 1 Peter 3:7.  I don't write long blogs so I generally focus on one scripture. My fear is misinterpreting that scripture. We need to interpret scripture with scripture. I do use Bible Hub to locate or read scripture. Bible Hub will list related scriptures that I generally read. This is what we are studying in Sunday School, actually it is Ephesians chapter 5 and 1 Peter 3:7 is a reference scripture that comes up for Ephesians 5:25: Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,  I asked a question of Barbara in an effort to understand her better. As our teacher asked us to do. What do I do that aggravates or hurts you? I have a bank account that I have had for 30 plus years. It is related to the company I worked at for 30 plus years. Barbara considers that my account even though she is on it jointly. In the past ten years or so I must have said something about some money she spent. She is very independent and has her own account at a local bank that she had to have to have checks deposited directly. I am also on her account. So here is how I relate this scripture to my wife. In her independent nature a few months back after retiring, she didn't have no money at the first of the month. Even though she is on my bank account as a joint account holder, she does not generally use my account. I was not worried about her having any money because I knew she could just use her card and get some if she needed it.  She will not do that. I had to learn to go to the bank myself and withdraw cash from my account and give it to her at the first of the month to carry her over until she received her check later in the month. She really hates to ask me for money. That is the way she is wired and I needed to understand that. So here a few weeks ago she forgot her card at home and had groceries and needed to pay for them. She tried to use her card on my account and it wouldn't let her. It said unauthorized user. So she thinks I took her off the account. I had to call the bank myself and find out what happened.  It seems every account was temporarily unavailable at that time period when she tried to use her card. The bank assured me her card was OK and the teller did see that she tried to use it but it was at the time everything was shut down. Living with your wife in an understanding way is to understand the way she is wired and to help her like I did when I got cash out myself and just gave it to her. Understand that she is independent and does not like to ask for money. Understand when a glitch happens at the bank like it did that day, how it will affect her. The reason this is so important is that our prayers will not be hindered because of a hurt relationship with my wife. God is watching how we treat our spouse, and it matters to him. This is the sort of stuff we are taught in Sunday School. I think I attend a very good church that understands strong marriages and families are not only the back bone of the church but for our nation also. Husbands may be the leader or initiator in the home but we are directly responsible to God for how we treat our wives. As I said before God is watching and our prayers can actually be hindered if we are not in a good relationship. On a side note, the company I worked for had every employee go through ethics training every year, and I remember thinking, this is stuff I was taught in Sunday School. God bless LVZ.

Return

I remember as a child sermons in church about Jesus's return. They were exciting sermons. Once in Youth Camp as a Youth Minister was preaching about the Second Coming, near the end of his sermon he said something about the trump of the Lord shall sound. He arranged for a young man to blow his trumpet in the back ground at that instant. I also remember in Sunday School in Bismark North Dakota, I was with older kids because I was not a teenager yet and the only kid my age at that small church. The lesson was about the Second Coming of Jesus. One of the older boys in the class said he didn't think the 1965 model cars would come out before the Second Coming. I know we moved away from Bismark / Mandan area in spring of 1963. Through the years we have heard several Ministers tell when they thought the Second Coming of Jesus would happen. In the book I am reading, The Return of King Jesus by Rick Coram)  it tells about Harold Camping that predicted Judgement Day would happen May 21, 2011. May 21st, 2011 came and went and nothing happened. Dr. Camping said he made an error in his calculations and it would happen October 21st 2011. That came and went. Dr. Camping died at age 90.  Then there was William Miller who predicted the Lord's return in 1843. William Miller than changed the date to October 22, 1844 when 1843 came and went. Then there was Edgar Whisenant who wrote a book 88 Reasons why the Rapture will be in 1988. 4.5 million copies were sold. September 11th 1988 came and went, Whisenant changed the date to September 15th.  In 1989 Whisenant released another book, The Final Shout - Rapture 1989. He revised the title to 1990 then to 1991, then to 1992 and even to 1993 and still it didn't happen. “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  Mark 13:32. “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.  Matthew 24:36. The Bible tells us no man, not even Jesus knows when the Second Coming is to be. God the Father is keeping the date of that event to himself. He just tells us to look for it and be ready.  God bless, LVZ.

Living Gods Way II

God's word has instruction for life. Want to know how to live with a spouse, God's word will give guidance. See Ephesians 5 and 1 Peter 3 and many others. I was thinking this morning about the election that is tomorrow. I saw on face book a very derogatory post about one of the candidates. Do you know God guides us in all areas of life? to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. Titus 3:2 As I listened to this post on Face Book I thought about the verse I just printed. To speak evil of no man. Yet it seems in the political arena, mud slinging is the norm. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. James 3:17 Actually the video I saw was good for a few laughs. The candidate in the video was slandering one of the mayoral candidates.  One of the things I thought was so funny was he said the mayor fought hard to give a liquor license to a tire shop and he did that because then he, the mayor, gets his liquor free. The mayor is a non drinker as far as alcohol. Any one that really knows him knows better. I felt the people the candidate was talking to were just egging the candidate on. Perhaps they knew the video was being taken. God's wisdom, and God created us, tells us not to slander anyone. God's wisdom tells us to be forgiving. Watch someone who doesn't forgive, and carries a hurt in their heart year after year. It seems to affect them in all areas of their life, and it hurts them and no one else. Full of mercy, impartial and sincere are words God instructs us to be. I see it today on the national stage where our new President is slandered almost daily. Last President it was mostly the other side that slandered him. This time it seems to be both sides, even his own party that slanders him many times. God's word has instructions for all areas of life if we will seek it out. God's way works. More importantly, it is God that judges us on that great day that is coming for all of us. If we will follow God's ways, we will live the best life possible. It may not be trouble free, there will be some thorns and hardships but Jesus will be with us all the way. I guess I think a lot about the political things lately, as I am running for my first public office, minor as it may be. I hope to follow God direction in all that I do, even in politics. God bless, LVZ.

Living Gods Way

Back in March  I blogged about Psalm 119. 176 verses that talk about keeping, learning, living by God's ways, his promises, his commandments, his statues, his laws, his testimonies, his word, his precepts, his rules. God has the design for us. You might say he wrote the owners manual (the Bible). Recently in Sunday School we have been talking about Ephesians 5:25-33. The subject would be God's way for marriage.  It is the way that works. Marriages in our country fail by 50% plus. Years ago I was in a Divorce Recovery class and I learned that second marriages fail by 60%. Third marriages by 80% and it keeps getting worse. Almost everyone I know anymore has been divorced. Then even some of the ones I know that are still in their first marriage may be in a marriage with a divorced person. A strong marriage makes for a strong family, A strong family makes for a strong country. Some of the people I know that are in their first marriage, I wouldn't want what they have. There are a few I know of that have been married for life to their first spouse. If you live this life you will find God's way is the best way. You may not understand it and in your human thinking may not always agree with it, but God's way will work. My parents stayed together for 40 years, but it is not a marriage I would hold up as a good example. I learned some bad things from them. I failed in my first four marriages. But I am here to say God's way works. Look around you, even in Church, marriages are failing by 50% or more. The person teaching our Sunday School class and his wife are in their second marriage of I think 40 years or more. The person that was leading the very first Divorce Recovery class I took, was in his fifth marriage. The couple in the last Divorce Recovery class were in their second marriage I believe and also been together some 40 years, I think.  This may start off sounding very gloomy, but I am here to say it is God's way that works. It can work if you are in your first or what ever number of marriage you are in.  I good place to start is in Ephesians 5 and then interpret the word by the word. That means you may look at 1 Peter 3:7, or Colossians 3:19.  You might go all the way back to Genesis chapter two.  God's design was one man / one woman for life since the beginning of creation. God's way is best for our health, for our families, for our country, for our world. You have to look for God's way in his word. You have to live it to the best of your ability. You have to start from where ever you are, which may not be in your first marriage. But it can work even as good as a first marriage if you will learn God's way, his rules, his precepts, his commandments etc. 1 Peter 3 will tell us to live with our wives in an understanding way that our prayers will not be hindered. God wants marriages to work. He is the creator, he knows us better than we know ourselves. God has instructions in his owners manual for all areas of life.  God wants us to succeed, and we can if we will follow his instructions, his way, his will. God bless, LVZ.