Why This Word?

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
Blessed are you, O Lord;
teach me your statutes!
With my lips I declare
all the rules of your mouth.
In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
I will delight in your statutes;I will not forget your word. Psalm 119:9-16

Why this word? As I try to look to God each morning, I also try to read a small portion of his word. That I might have the influence of his word on my life. My heart needs to be transformed by his love. Part of the way God speaks to us is through his word. It is his word, the Bible that we will be judged by on judgement day. Our politically correct society has strayed from his commands. We see slander rampant in our country and anymore we do not know if we are hearing truth or slander. Why do these women not bring these charges years ago instead of now? Some I believe, but others I think are just slander meant to bring people down. Where was the indignation when we had a liberal in office? I don't trust the media. I trust God's word. One man in indignation asks where were all the prayers for Obama or Bush or Clinton or even Carter? In my own life I look back and they were not there. I am guilty as a Christian as this man charges. That does not mean I quit praying for Trump, it just means never again do I stop praying for the leaders in our country. We have strayed so far from God's commands. We Christians do need to pray that God would guide and keep our President safe. I pray that God tempers his words. But I ask where was the indignation for wrong doing when it came to either Bill or Hillary,  the champions of the liberals. Hold them to the same standard. If they break the law, hold them accountable. The media protected them and slanders our current president. Clinton got a standing ovation from his party when he did not get impeached for his wrong doing. Our hearts need to look to God for direction no matter who is in office. We cannot say that is his private life when Clinton strays while in the oval office, and condemn the sitting President for behaviors prior to his election. O God as I look into my past, forgive me. I am not without sin myself, but I also am not the same today. We need to look to God to guide our lives. We must not excuse sin when it suits our purposes and condemn it when the person is not of our party. I look into my own past and the times I excused sin in my own life. I don't hold up Trump as a spiritual example that I would want to follow, but I believe God has put him into the office of President at this time, because of his strength. I do need to support and follow as he moves in God's direction.  I pray for him as scripture commands and repent because I did not pray as I should have for prior Presidents.  We need God in our hearts to correct us when we are wrong. We need God to lead this nation. I need God to lead me and so I look to his word as a guide for my heart and my feet. God help us in this nation to turn to you for guidance and help in sorting through the mess we hear everyday from the media. I need God's word applied to my heart and life. We still kill many unborn in this nation and call it good. God help us. God forgive us as a nation for all the ways we have strayed from following you. God help us to pray for our leaders as we struggle to get back on track and cleanse our nation and our leaders. Prick their hearts and show the double standard.  God we need you. And these that slander with false accusations, bring it to light. Help us to look to you for guidance. Sometimes we have all been hypocrites, help us dear God.   Move us towards you and your word. God bless, LVZ.

I Am An American

And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, Acts 17:26
God made each of us from Adam. I cannot explain how each ethnic group developed, but we all descended from Adam. We see so many divisions in our world today. Political, national, left, right, color of skin and the list can go on and on about our differences. We came from Adam and Eve. Talk to people and they think this person is different because of his race and ethnic heritage. We even have religious differences. The Bible says we came from one man. Adam. The Jews identified with Father Abraham. But still like everyone else on the face of this earth they came from Adam.  Blacks and their distinctive features and darker shade of skin identify as different and yet they came from Adam. I came from German heritage. Some Germans have a reddish tint to their hair, some don't. Some have blond hair and blue eyes, some don't. They came from Adam. In this country many immigrants identified with their place of origin for some period of years and somewhere along the line they started to identify as American. It perhaps changed a little at a time, but somewhere I stopped identifying as German and Identified as a US citizen. In spite of skin color I believe the same has to happen with Blacks. Some where they need to stop identifying as black and just be US citizens. People don't look at me as German anymore. I am a citizen of the United States of America, and many just refer to us as Americans although that term also fits Canadians, Mexicans, South Americans etc. I am a Christian, I am in Christ. Some where before we get to heaven I feel the same thing needs to happen. I stop identifying as Church of Christ, or Seventh Day, or Church of God of Prophecy, or Baptist, or Southern Baptist, or American Baptist or Independent Baptist, or undenominational. In Heaven there will be no boundaries, places for the Jews, the Baptist, the special ones or those that think they are special because they are Church of God or Church of Christ or whatever.  so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another. Romans 12:5
The body is a unit, though it is comprised of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12
and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. Ephesians 2:16
Now I like that verse, killing the hostility. We all came from Adam and I wish we could kill the hostility between us. We are to be one in Christ. That is God's plan. God bless, LVZ. 

I Can Only Change Me

Sometimes I look at the world I live in and I wonder how we have strayed so far from God. A God that has blessed this nation above any other nation in the world. Dysfunction is all around us, and if I stay on this subject I'll get depressed. But God changed me. I can think back to more than 30 years ago and God changed me. I had a gloomy outlook on this world, no hope. Yet our world today has drifted even farther away from God and I have hope.  We talk politics and we wonder where are we headed. Every year our country seems to be more divided than the last. My hope is in the hereafter. I see family members leaving as a sister-in-law has entered eternity. However she lived will determine her eternal home.  If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 1 Corinthians 15:19.  As Christians if our only hope in in this life, what do we have to look forward to? But we do have a hope in the hereafter, in eternity. Scripture tell us it will be an awesome place. I think of those that have left this earth and lived a life of service to others. they seem to have something to look forward to. Those that have lived a selfish life have only the fleeting joys of this life. Thirty plus years ago I was struggling in my faith, I had no hope for the future. That struggle actually continues today. I am not a perfect individual. I see many changes that I believe God brought in my life. I have hope for an eternity. I don't know the number of my days but as I look to the past, I see where God changed me. I remember my father, and how he seemed so bitter. He'd say; My children don't come to visit me. Then something happened he had several health issues and as he got closer to eternity, he changed. He started saying things like, I love all my children. The bitterness seemed to have gone. I know my father did not live a perfect life and those of us that knew him best can vouch for that. I look at my own life, the struggles I went through and you know I am actually thankful for some of those struggles. They brought me to my knees to where I cried out to God help me.  God changed me. I have never lived a perfect life. Yes, I have gone to church most of my life, but it was when I looked to God, our creator for help, that life changed. I still look to God for help. Sometimes I ask God to look inside me, into my heart and see if there are any changes that need to be made. And sometimes yes, I will see my impatience, or self righteousness. But I try to keep a tender heart before God and be pliable in his hands. I can't fix this world. I can't change the hearts of those around me but I can ask God to look in my own heart and see if I am on track. My hope is in God. I hope in an eternal home with God someday. I don't want to life a long life to where I am a burden on family. I have a hope in an eternity. That hope gives me the desire to face my future. That hope causes me to look inside my heart once in a while and see if I'm on track. I have a hope in more than just this life. Jesus came and rescued me some thirty plus years ago. Jesus looks into my heart and tells me that behavior is not what I want. I can change with the help of God. He is my anchor in the storms of life. He forgave me of all my sins, and I am eternally grateful.  God bless, LVZ.

Responsibility

This is somewhat of a negative post, forgive me in advance.  Occasionally I try to help people.  I had a young man I was trying to give a ride to work in the morning or sometimes I might take him home in the evening. Last year one morning I drove to the house where he was living and I waited for 20 minutes and he never came out of the house. I drove away and went back home. He called me right after I left but I would not go back. I didn't get called for many months. Recently he called me again for a ride to work in the morning. I asked what time. He said 6:30 am. I showed up shortly before 6:30 and waited. it was 6:40 before he came out of his house and got into the van. He texts me that evening and asked for a ride the next morning. I replied, I'll be there at 6:40 am. He said I'll be ready.  I get there at 6:39 and again waited for 5 minutes before he came out and got into the van. On the way to his job, I told him I have no skin in this game, I am trying to help you get to work. I set an alarm so I can get to your house on time. I don't have to, I can sleep as late as I want. I am trying to help you. If you want me to go out of my way to give you a ride, you could at least be ready.  Don't call me for a ride if you cannot be on time. I do not have to do this.  I get a texts the next morning at 6:11 am saying I do not need a ride. These are personal habits people develop in their lives. I felt it was disrespectful of me, and if I choose to help someone get to work the least they can do is be on time.  I also felt his text the next morning was like giving me the finger.  We have responsibility to our employers to be on time. People helped me along my way in life and I would like to help others, but I don't think I need to help someone like that. Not everyone agrees with what I did and how I responded to this man. But I think I have a right to set my personal boundaries.  I guess I sort come sideways at people. Perhaps  I could have stated be on time at the beginning but don't we just assume if we help someone they will  appreciate it and be ready to go at the appointed time. Perhaps my coming at 6:40 the second morning was an indirect non verbal communication. (sideways) Perhaps I should have just said be on time. But I just thought it would get his attention. I am not sure if that was the right way to handle it, but I do believe I can set my boundaries for what I am comfortable with when helping others. He is an adult probably in his 30's. He is old enough to get out of bed on time to get to his job.  How far should a person go when helping someone like this? I talked to others and I decided one more time and if he is not ready at the agreed  upon time, no more. It is his responsibility to get to work, not mine. I made sure I didn't speed either, used cruise control.  Perhaps I have a bad attitude, but I just feel if someone is going to get me out of bed early so they can get to work, they can be ready at the agreed upon time. God forgive me if this is a bad attitude.  LVZ.

Male and Female

This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created. Genesis 5:1-2
He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, Matthew 19:4
However, from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.' Mark 10:6
My thought this morning come from these scriptures where God created man and woman. First God created Adam and then put Adam to sleep and fashioned woman from Adams rib. In our DNA there is a marker in every man and woman alive, that identifies them as either a man or a woman. There is no DNA marker for gay, just man and woman. Feminist want to define us as the same but there is an undeniable marker given from God at our birth or even earlier at our conception, we are designed as either man or woman. As we live in a changing world let us look to God word as we define ourselves. God's word is true and even science supports God's word more than many would like. Men are created with more muscle mass and can for the most part run faster, hit harder than a woman. I am here to tell you that a woman that is in training as a  runner or a fighter that they can hit harder and run faster than this old man.  But as a general rule this is true. 
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. Men we are commanded in scripture to live with wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as a weaker vessel. Notice so that our prayers are not hindered.  This is the way God created us and all the feminists in the world cannot change our DNA. It is there by God's design. We are equal in God's sight. 
 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28
Yes God created us as man and woman, male and female and it is marked in our DNA but we are equal in God's sight, loved equally and equal partners of his grace.  This is what God's word says. Don't believe according to politically correctness but believe the word of God. It is truth. God bless, LVZ.

KEEPING OUR WAY PURE

9How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
10With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
11I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
12Blessed are you, O Lord;
teach me your statutes!
13With my lips I declare
all the rules of your mouth.
14In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
15I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
16I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word. Psalm 119:9-16
Yesterday I blogged about who do we really follow and the right answer needs to be Jesus Christ. How do we do that? Here in Psalm 119 we are given direction. We guard our hearts and lives according to God's word.  I give a young man a ride to and from work occasionally.  He has many needs, a place to live, a vehicle to transport himself back and forth to work and home again. I told him, you pray about everything, and you leave it in God's hands. It is probably the hardest thing to learn is you pray about everything and leave life in God's hands.  There were parts of my life I thought I could handle and it took me a long time to understand, I need God in every area of my life. Every hat I wear, I need God. As a steward of what God has given me, I need his guidance and it has been hard for me to leave everything in his hands. His word will guide us as we obey God and his word. It is a hard lesson to learn. The Israelites had to depend on God to lead them by night and day, for manna in their wilderness journey, For water as there were times God provided the water they needed out of a rock. God owns this world, every rock and plant and animal and person were created by God for God for his purposes. Even us. We need God and his direction for our lives. In everything.  God bless, LVZ. 

WHO DO WE REALLY FOLLOW?

When I hear Christians put down other Christians, it bothers me and perhaps I do the same thing. There are no perfect Christians. We really are all works in progress. It bothers me when I hear people in a denomination say about a minister, he is one of the good guys he is one of ours. I have written this blog using denominational names and now I am writing it trying to be more generic because I do not want to offend. Its like the belief I grew up with we are the true church and we have the whole truth.  I hear that same attitude with some Christian brothers I have coffee with. It is a different denomination than the one I grew up in but the attitude seems to be almost an attitude of superiority because we are of such and such denomination. I remember when I was young we would go to a church of our denomination 80 miles away from where we lived. It was the closest congregation of that denomination to us. The eight or nine of us would pack into a 63 chevy pickup to travel those eighty miles (one way) to church. After all it was of the denomination that was the true church. When we visited family in a city where there was a small congregation belonging to our denomination, when we got up on Sunday morning after eating breakfast with our extended family that went to a different denomination, we would go to ours and they would go to theirs. After church we would go back to extended families house for dinner again. These kind of actions led to the belief that our denomination was better than the rest. When I prayed for a church to attend here in Tupelo, I visited one congregation  and explained to an associate pastor that I was looking for a church to attend. He told me I wanted to look for the church where Jesus was at. I did not like those words because I believe Jesus is at a lot of different churches on a given Sunday morning. Needless to say that attitude reminded me of the church I grew up in. I appreciate our church that we attend, recently during our prayer time on Sunday morning, we as a church started praying  for a different congregation in our city each week.  We are not in this battle alone, we are fellow laborers with these other congregations. I like that attitude.  For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:4-9  I believe that attitude aligns with the scripture I posted above. Another area where I feel this superior attitude shows up is between black and white Christians. It seems to be difficult for black and white to mix although I think the church I attend seems to be doing pretty good in this area for being in the south. I think the same attitude that plays out in politics plays out in churches, if a black were to attend a majority white church, they might be accused of the same things as a black conservative. Tupelo had a major white / black issue that troubled the community a while back. The black and white churches could not get together and pray together. It was the black churches that  backed out. I believe God is healing that attitude in our community. Just the past week the church we prayed for in the community was a black congregation. We should be aligned together in Christ and our allegiance to Christ should be above our allegiance to our denomination of choice. Our allegiance to Christ should be above our allegiance to race or politics. The healing of our nation will come through our God. There is room in God's church for differences of opinion on non essentials to the faith. Our allegiance to God will take care of many other issues if he (God) is our highest priority. What is our highest allegiance to? Is it Paul or Apollos? Denomination of choice? Politics? Race or ethnic group? Jesus is the answer for our world today. The healing of our nation will require a heart change. I hope and pray my words in this blog are not offensive to anyone.  God bless, LVZ.  

Where Does Our Help Come From?

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2
I hope and pray our hope is in God. the creator of the universe, the creator of all that is including us. The Lord who made heaven and earth.  Do we look upward to God when in need? So many times I see people that have needs and I wonder do they call out to God in their time of need.  I remember many a prayer that God answered for me. I believe I have been blessed above what I deserve. I have tried to make this a pattern in my life to call out to God each day. I read of Daniel that knelt at a window three times facing Jerusalem, three times a day. His hope was in God. I think of Joseph who went through many trials in this life including prison, his hope was in God.  Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 20:7   We have strayed away from God in this nation and I believe the troubles that we face on a daily basis is a struggle to get back and track and trust in God and not in our government. I believe what we are facing in our nation is a spiritual battle for the hearts and minds of our people.  So many have stated Trump was their last choice and yet here he is. I believe god put him there in office. He is not a perfect man, and yet through history God used even his enemies to do his will. Trump has proven in his short time in office to be a friend of Christians and a friend of God. I cannot claim any knowledge of his spiritual condition, but I believe God is using this man in this age to turn this nation back toward God. But it is a spiritual battle and our trust needs to be in God almighty. God used Gideon and just 300 men to defeat a much bigger army. God defended Israel in our life time in odds that seemed insurmountable and Israel won because God was on their side. We also will win with our hearts turned toward God. He is our defender, and God has never needed a majority. He can confuse the enemy, his people can march around a city like Jericho and the walls of their defense will topple. That is why we look to God. He created the universe, even nature is at his command. Did not the wind and the seas obey his voice. Our trust for our hearts our lives and our nation needs to be in God. That is where our help comes from. God bless, LVZ.

A Good Father

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.  James 1:17
God is a good father. I have a few thoughts this morning concerning our Heavenly Father.   First he is the father to the fatherless, and defender of widows and those that are defenseless. Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. Galatians 3:7. 
Second there are no Grandchildren with God. Each generation needs to know God personally. We cannot ride on the relationship of the past generation. Each generation is a first generation with God, they need to know him for there selves. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. God gives life, before we were born, God knew every one of our days. He is sovereign. God is consistent, he does not change. He has a  consistent standard that he applies to each of us. The Word of God, the Bible is that standard and it does not change. It does not change when political leaders change. I think we face blessing as we have a good leader and our country faces judgment when our rulers lead us away from God. Each generation needs to know him first hand as their personal Heavenly Father. My relationship doesn't carry over for my children, they have free will, they make their own choices how they will live. We have seen bad parent have good children and we have seen good parents have bad. Each individual needs to know what a good, good father we have. We cannot go through life blaming the previous generation for our ills, nor can we credit them with our successes. God will be a good, good father to each of us if we exercise our faith and become his children. There is only one way to God through Jesus Christ and the pardon of our sins through the shed blood of Jesus. By faith, by accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord is how we become children to our Heavenly Father. God is the example for all fathers, he loves unconditionally, it rains upon the just and unjust alike. He shows no partiality. He is longsuffering, patient and kind. The very oxygen we breath is a gift from God. He gives life. He can give us rain for our crops or he can withhold the rain. He is a sovereign God and deserves our loyalty and praise.  God bless, LVZ.

Pastor Darcy

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.  Psalm 116:15  This week my friend and former Pastor Darcy Haisley went to his eternal home. He impacted my life. I met him as I was leaving the denomination I was raised in. I am so thankful for him. He counseled me when my first marriage was failing. I remember this sermon of some 20 plus years ago, "Plod on , Plod on, Plod on". I remember when we talked about legalism in his office and he watched my body language as I pushed the Bible away from me and pointed it out to me. I bought a 87 T1000 which is the Pontiac version of a Chevette. You bought a new car, he said;  aw its just a Chevette, I said. He pointed out that it was something good, because I had paid cash for it. It was something good and I could feel good about it. I believe God led me to Darcy to help me in my walk as I transitioned away from legalism. I remember the counseling session where I had a really bad incident at work and we were talking about it. I went to the bathroom at work, the only alone place I could find and silently cried out to God and he pointed out; did you see what you did! You ran to God, that is a good thing. We talked a few months back by phone, he knew unless God healed him his life was over. He didn't know how many days he had left. Always encouraging others in their walk with God. I'll see him in heaven, I plan to go there too. When a saint like him leaves this earth, there is some sadness, because you miss the person. But there is rejoicing because they are in God's hands. I have seen it many times when a saint that lives the best they knew, it is almost a happy time. I just think back to the relationship we had and how much he helped me in my walk with the Lord. He came at a critical time in my walk . Here is another man you could follow as he followed Christ. He was my pastor for just a short time but he impacted me for all eternity. I am eternally grateful to have met and walked with him a short distance. God bless, LVZ. 

Submit

Submit; Here is a word that probably sends fear into the heart of the reader. I am sure many wives do not want to hear Ephesians 5:22;  Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. It has probably been used by many men to control. But if you notice the verse in front of verse 22 it says:  submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21. If you read this in the King James it uses the word fear in place of reverence.  For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.   Galatians 5:13  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Philippians 2:3. This is not the way we are programmed in this society today. We want what we want and we want it now. It is a me first generation and the thought of serving others before our selves just doesn't cut it. I believe wives are much better at this mutual submitting then men are, because they have learned it from raising selfish children.  They have learned to serve others to keep the home running.  Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would show to Christ. Ephesians 6:5  Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Colossians 3:22. Submit to one another, the younger to the elder, bondservants to earthly masters etc. Count others more significant than ourselves. I wonder how many marriages would work better if we did that one thing, considered our wives above ourselves as the weaker vessels. There are many more scriptures that I could go to. It is an attitude we need to develop in our hearts. Christ came to serve and as he washed the disciples feet on the night he was betrayed, he did it for an example to us today.  For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.  John 13:15. It was said to be the lowest job in a household to wash feet. Many people walked in Jesus day almost every where they went and their feet got dirty. None of us are to good to serve others. This serving, this submitting needs to be done as if we are doing it to God. There is a principle here to learn, to develop a heart after God. Jesus should us by example and he said it was for us an example. Then he went to the cross. The one who had no sin, died and gave his life for us, to pay for our sins. Being a Christian is submitting to the will of our father and to live by his word to the best of our ability. On the job, in the home, in the Church, to submit to one another as if we are doing it to God. I tell people on the job, work like you work for God. Submit like you are submitting to God. We don't see much of that in this world today and perhaps that is a big part of what is wrong. We look for my rights, what I am owed etc. instead of looking to serve others. Something to think about.  God bless, LVZ.

Ask

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:7-11

Our Heavenly Father has our best interest at heart. God doesn't waste a trial and we read in his word that all things word for the good of those who love God.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

We want good things for out children and so does God for us. We might make judgment calls on things we give our children because it may not be good for them. I remember when my son was about 15 and I saw a 70's style Mercury Capri with a 302 V8. I really liked that car and wanted it. I ended up not buying it because I thought my son will soon be driving and I was afraid he would hurt himself in that car. God sees all and knows all. All of our days were known before one of them happened.  God protects us. I believe he doesn't give us more trial or more good things that we can handle. As we pray and develop our relationship with God, he conforms our will to his will. As we read his word and daily commune with him, I think we even pray for good things. I remember a young man I worked with years ago. I was driving an old Ford Falcon and he had a nice fairly new Camaro. He was talking one day about getting a newer better Camaro, and he said he was claiming it. I thought right then God is not interested in giving us everything we desire so we can consume it like spoiled children. God does answer our prayers, Over the years I have experience many answered prayers but most of the time they were not selfish prayers. I suppose sometimes they were selfish when I really needed direction for my life. I remember one time when I promised Mom to take her to North Dakota for a family reunion. My car was old and I didn't trust it on a long trip.  Because of bad driving habits, I had SR22 insurance and couldn't afford the insurance on a new car. I checked one time and it would have cost me $430 a month for full coverage on a particular car, it wasn't a high end car either. I prayed about it, and one night at work I was looking through the car ads and saw a 96 Oldsmobile with less than 30K miles on it.  I was the first caller and I bought it. It was a very good car and I had the money to buy it. I have had many prayers that God answered for my needs over the years. My biggest problem is waiting on God and being patient for his answer. God has blessed me in many ways and for that I am thankful.  Incidentally I believe my driving habits improved after having SR22 insurance for 3 years. Sometimes even the hard or difficult things in life are for our own good.   God bless, LVZ.

World View

I heard on the radio probably AFR programing, that one person believed only 4% of Christians have a Biblical World View. When I am driving I'm not able to write this stuff down but I remember that statement.  We have many influences today that alter our thinking from a Biblical perspective. Hollywood and television  programming is designed to shape our opinion towards their thinking and their world view.  We have the feminist movement and their views they try to shape culture. We have politically correct views that are pushed on us. How can we develop a Biblical World View? We need to read scripture, we need to follow after God. 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. The feminist movement probably does not like that scripture telling us to honor the woman as the weaker vessel. But our prayers as husbands can be hindered if we do not treat our wives correctly. This does not mean we are not equal. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28. We are equal in God's sight, and this scripture written in a time when there were slaves, says slaves are equal with us. Male or female or equal in God's sight.  What ever nationality we are talking about, they are equal. But we have influences in this world talking about equality. Martin Luther King Jr. did more to promote equality in this country than just about anyone I can think of. He used a Biblical World View, Dr. King fought against injustice based on scripture and was more successful than any civil rights leader today. He was doing God's will. Our Black Lives Matter people today cannot hold a candle to Dr. King. We have influences from the Abortion supporters and the Pro-Life movements. I think of the Pro-Life supporter that was killing Abortion Doctors. That is not a scriptural approach to influencing our society. As we protest and destroy and loot, that is not a biblical approach to influencing our society. We need to live scripturally every day. When we see an issue in our lives, we need to repent. Repentance is not a one time event. It is a daily requirement to live in a manner that pleases God. Do we look back to the word of God as we go through life? Do we seek God's guidance in all area's of life? We need to. God wrote the manual for life, it is called the Bible.  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1 :5 I believe Dr king was so successful because he looked to God for direction. If we want to shape our society for the better, lets ask God for direction and help. We Christians are to be salt to the world around us. We are to be a city on a hill, a lamp to the world around us. We need God's view point, that is what we have to measure up to on Judgment Day. Biblical views are what we need to promote, from our creators owners manual, The Bible. God bless, LVZ.