The Fifth Commandment

Honor your father and your mother. The fifth commandment.
“‘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 This commandment gives a reason for obeying it. That your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.  I just listened to a PragerU video on this commandment. Dennis Prager said somethings that I am thinking about. One thing he said is not contacting your parents is opposite of honoring them.  Dennis said that if we honor our parents our children see that and they are more likely to honor us. You reap what you sow.  I felt I did that I in my life, honor my parents, I probably was not the best at it but I know I contacted them. As my kids were growing up I remember many trips across Snoqualmie Pass to see my parents. I remember many trips up to Burlington to see the other set of Grandparents. When my parents divorced, Mom came to stay with us for a short while. I felt that was showing honor. I would still visit my Dad about once a month. One time he was angry, so angry with me, my younger brother who was there at the time had to hold my Dad back so I could get out of the house. I didn't go back for about 6 months. My Dad blamed me for his divorce. He got over it and after about 6 months I started visiting him again. We had a relationship. I had a relationship with Mom also. Even thought I moved away in the last part of her life, I still contacted her and visited when I could.  I feel like I modeled honoring my parents. Yes, I wasn't happy with everything they did. But this commandment does not tell us to love them but to honor them. I feel I did that.  I loved them also.  Some parents are difficult to love. They just are, they are parents, and the first authority we interact with from a very young age. My parents were not perfect, but my Bible still told me to honor them.  I was not a perfect parent and it seems the older I get the more I realize things I could have done better. Dennis said another thing that bothers me, because you honor parents, you don't talk to them the same as you do others. You watch your language. I believe that should be true. From a sermon many years ago, when a parent speaks you give weight to their words. You don't necessarily have to agree, but you carefully think about what they said. Probably no one knows a kid as well as a parent that raised them. Are adoptive parents not worthy of respect just because they adopted? They still raised them the best they knew. No parent sets out to mess up their kid, they have best intentions, they will make mistakes. We are to honor even the worst parents. The Bible says so.   I don't deny I made mistakes as a parent. I believe I did the very best I knew. I was so young, just 21 years old when the first child was born. I look back, I was still a kid myself. I was blessed with a second child before I reached age 23. I was very young to be a parent. I don't believe there are any perfect parents, some better than others and some worse that others. I am somewhere in the middle. The Bible says to honor our parents, that is not a suggestion, it is one of the ten commandments. Parent are not peers, they are not our friends, they are uniquely parents, the first authority we get to know. The biggest issue in our nation today is absent fathers, uninvolved fathers. Children being raised with out a father in the home. I did the best I knew at the time. I will stand before God some day to give an account of how I raised those children given to me. I may have not been the biological father of one, but I tried to be a provider, food on the table, roof over their heads, clothes on their backs, toys to play with and yes I even disciplined. I did the best I knew. If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.  Proverbs 20:20     As I was studying this I came across Proverbs 20:20.  I didn't understand what this meant. So I click on the commentary so I can read what others have said this means.  I did not like what I read.  To put it in a nutshell, this is the opposite of the blessing promised in the fifth commandment if we honor parents.  I did not like what I read.  The fifth commandment is a commandment with a promise and I believe the reason God gave a promise it affects society, the way we interact with authority.  It is a big deal. It is like we invite a curse on our lives when we don't honor our parents.  My parents are gone. They were not perfect, no parent is. Honor the parents you have, God's word tells us to.  God bless, LVZ. 

Discipline

Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. Proverbs 23:13
Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. Proverbs 13:24
I am a Grandfather, my days of dealing with disciplining children is over. I never thought I would write about this but I was listening to a Grandson and a grandfather talk. I was doing safety detail and was just there listening. What caught my attention was this boy about 9 was talking with his Grandfather and Grandmother about punishment. If I understood correctly the 9 year old must have gotten in trouble in school. He was going to be punished for his misbehavior, what ever it was. I do not know the whole story. His choices were grounding or a whipping. The nine year old said he would rather have a whipping and get it over with. Grounding takes too long.  I have often thought whipping or spanking as I would call it was easier for that reason for both parent and child. A few minutes it over and we get back to living.  There are many more scriptures dealing with this subject but I believe these scriptures point out children need discipline, they need to know their boundaries. Parents are not their friend, and should not try to be. They are an authority figure to the child. they set the boundaries, not the child. I don't feel I was very good in this area with my children. My children had parents who were at odds with each other over discipline. One wanted to be their friend and the other had to do all the disciplining if it got done, at least that's how it seemed to me. Parents need to be together on discipline, they need to show a united front to their children. A child can wear down one parent, but if the parents stick together, they are like a two strand cord that is not easily broken.  I really thought this kid made a wise choice, not what I expected, but get the whipping and it is over quickly. Grounding seems to take too long. Either way discipline is meant to hurt, to get their attention. Not to harm but to teach. The Bible tells us not to spare the rod, the parent that loves his child is diligent and perhaps another word  I would use is consistent. I know in my marriage with my children's mother, we did not present a united front. We were at odds over many things, but especially discipline. This carries on to even the next generation and I think what we see in our world today is a lot of undisciplined children that have not learned to respect authority. The first authority in  child's life is their parent, and I think we train them for life. If they did not learn to respect authority at home, there will be trouble with authority at school, on the job and even in dealing with police. I believe God's word, given to us by our creator tells us to be diligent to discipline. He that spares the rod hates his son. I wish I had done better, not necessarily more but perhaps more consistent and I wish we as parents had been united on this front. I never thought I would write about this subject but watching that kid choose a whipping over grounding caught my attention.  God bless, LVZ

Proverbs 3:12
For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
Proverbs 22:15
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

Proverbs 23:14
You shall strike him with the rod And rescue his soul from Sheol.
Proverbs 29:15
The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.

An 18 Wheeler is Coming

 I am a very political Christian.  I feel being a Christian is number one. But as a Christian I also feel I need to stand for what I believe politically. Sometimes it is hard for me to shut up. I know we are facing a spiritual battle in this country and why shouldn't I take a stand and let it be known how I do stand. I see the example of Billy Graham and he had influence on Presidents and many other important people, but still he felt it was his Christianity that was of utmost importance. Christianity and the stand we take for right and wrong affects so many parts of our life and it does fall into the politics. The reason I voted for Trump was because from where I was sitting his talk fit better with what I believe spiritually.  Abortion is wrong, in my eyes. I know many Christians support it, but I can't and be true to what I believe. Same sex marriage is wrong in my eyes, but here again we hear many Christians that support it. I can't and be true to my beliefs. I hate going to a liberal believing church, it doesn't feel right to me. I have to read and believe the Bible for my self. We are to love, that is a core value of a Christian but when we speak out against sins, we are called haters. That is not true. What kind of love would I be showing if a friend or loved, or actually anyone I could see was standing in the middle of the street next to me and coming from behind them was an 18 wheeler coming towards their back. They couldn't see it or even hear it. if I say it they might not believe it. Wouldn't I try to get them out of the path of that 18 wheeler. Look behind you a truck is coming right at you. When it hits you it will kill you. Am I expressing hate  because they don't see or believe what I believe. Could I love them and not speak up? I say something to them, get out of the road, an 18 wheeler is coming right towards you. I don't believe you, I have never  even seen an 18 wheeler on this road in forever, they say. Perhaps I even grab their hand and try to pull them out of the road. Am I expressing hate by trying to get them out of danger? We are all headed for an end of life experience that will be  as deadly as an 18 wheeler coming towards us. It will not stop just because we are in the road. It doesn't care. We believe with all of our hearts that there is  judgment day coming  and we are told to warn to be a light to be salt to the world around us. That day comes as a thief in the night, we will not have an advance warning all the time.  Yes some people can be bed ridden for months or even if not, their doctor has told them the end is coming.  But the school teacher that got hit head on and killed the other night, she had no warning.  It just happened. I believe we all stand before God some day and the only way we make it to heaven is through believing on Jesus Christ for the pardon of our sins. That 18 wheeler of life is headed right towards each of us and we cannot see it coming, we know it will but we do not know when. Jesus died on a cross for our sins and if we believe in him we can be saved.  It is in fact the only way. Scripture says so.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 God bless, LVZ

Some thoughts on the Florida Shootings

Romans 13
This chapter in Romans has a lot to say about civil authority and I feel it has shaped my thinking to some degree.  I am not sure how good of a theologian I would be, if I use the scriptures correctly when I talk about them but I do try to use them to guide my life. I am disturbed by what has happened in Florida and was somewhat angry that a school resource officer stayed outside during the shooting.  Then I heard there were 4 sheriff officers that waited outside while the shooting is going on. Then I thought would I run towards danger and be disrespected tomorrow. They may have had only side arms against an AR15.  We tie the law enforcements hands every chance we get. We criticize every move they make since Ferguson and what do we expect. Do you think law enforcement is going to do a better job or worse if they are continually disrespected. I have often thought after I heard a President tell rioters in Ferguson to keep doing what they are doing, this will not end well. How can we expect the best people to be police officers in a negative climate towards them.  I believe it is the seventh verse of Romans 13 that says respect to whom respect is due. Our law enforcement is due respect. Don't expect them to get better if we criticize every mistake, tie their hands at every opportunity. How many evil posts have you read in the past 10 years towards law enforcement. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Perhaps we as Americans need to respect our law officers again. They are due respect and honor when day after day they run towards danger to keep us safe. Think about it have you given then their due? Perhaps we need to change. Here locally some small towns pay minimum wage for their officers and then they still buy hand guns, vests out of their own money. Sometimes they get a grant from the government to upgrade their vests and sometimes they don't. Even vests don't last a life time. Do all that for minimum wage and be disrespected too?  There was a day when Kids as young as 10 and 11 year old could be trusted to carry a hunting rifle. What changed? Could it be our seeds of  disrespect towards authority has started to ripen? Are we reaping a harvest we have sown? Our law enforcement and civil authority is due respect and honor.  It is past time to give it. God bless, LVZ.

What We Do in Life Echo's in Eternity

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:5-10
What we do in life echo's in eternity. Many in this country seem to have strayed from truly walking with God. If we say we have fellowship with God while we walk in darkness, we lie. I felt sorry for these TV personalities, and I do not remember their names. They were ridiculing Mike Pence for saying God speaks to him. One of them said, I am a Christian but hearing from God isn't that a bit crazy. Or something similar. I took from her words that even though she claims to be a Christian she does  not believe one hears from God. What kind of a relationship is that? One of the biggest ways God speaks to us is through his word. Like the scripture above, it speaks to us. We do not practice the truth. I take this to scripture to mean we cannot live just anyway we want to and call it good. We are all sinners, this scripture tells us, but if we walk in the light as he is in the light. we have fellowship with one another. We have fellowship with God and other Christians. We hear from God through his word.  God speaks,  he is not silent. Sometimes he speaks through his servants, pastors, teachers, other Christians, and of course his word. We have to read his word. When I read in Isaiah, there is a lot I don't understand. But I read anyway. I do fear when I read Isaiah that we as a nation resemble the people Isaiah was speaking too. God's people had fallen away from following after God. There were judgments pronounced on them. We don't earn our way in to heaven by good works. If I read 4 chapters a  day or more, does not mean I have a place assured in heaven. If we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. It takes that relationship, that confessing, recognizing that we have sinned and turning from it. If we live a life apart from God here below, how can we expect eternity to be different?  It is not all about the hear and now. Like Billy Graham said, he has moved, he has changed addresses. He lived for God here below, he lives with God in eternity. If we have no time for God now, how can we expect to have what Billy Graham has today in eternity. I cannot be a Billy Graham, I can only be me. I can't be a Darcy another minister that I know that recently went on to eternity. Darcy was a faithful servant of God just like Billy Graham, but I'll bet most reading this did not know the name Darcy. But he lived the same style of life here below. He was a Christian and a servant of God. He did not live selfishly, but tried to point others to this Jesus. Darcy was not a Billy, and I am not a Darcy or a Billy but I too can have relationship with God. Personal based on how much I seek him and live for him. I worry about people that claim the name Christian and live any way they want to. Living for the here and now and pleasures here below. That is not to say we cannot enjoy life and see God's creation. Enjoy and good meal here below. but where is God in relationship to us as we go through life. Do we acknowledge that he exists but that is all. Do we seek his input in our daily lives? If we ignore God here below why should we expect eternity to be different? We are headed that way, towards an eternal destination. Do we know God and follow him here below, or is our life lived apart from him. Do we seek his presence each day? If not how can we expect eternity to be different?  I have seen some faithful Christians leave this life here below and I believe they are in God's hands now. They were in God's hands here in this life, why should they not be with him now. These Christian men invited God into their lives as they lived this life in the here and now. They live in his presence in eternity also. What we do in life echo's in eternity. If we ignore God here what do we expect up there. Relationship with God is not a works thing, it is relationship. It is not about how many kind acts I do in a week, how many times I read my Bible. Have I spoken and talked with God and heard back from his through his word, his ministers, his teachers, his followers.  If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and his blood cleanses us from our sins. What we do in life echo's in eternity. God bless, LVZ. 

A Contrast

To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:16-19 

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:1-8

I was in pain the other day. I thought about how one day Revelation says God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. Death shall be no more. There will be no more mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore. Sometimes we get so heavenly minded when we look at the future we are no earthly good.  Here is a contrast. In Genesis Adam and Eve disobeyed God and God cursed the ground Created pain, and sweat. Thorns and thistles we will have with the pain and the sweat because mankind sinned and disobeyed God. I am sure the Garden of Eden was a beautiful place. Adam and Eve did not even know they were naked until they ate of the forbidden fruit. Everything changed from that point on for all of creation. But in Revelation we hear of a new heaven and a new earth that God will create. I remember my father-in-law saying one time that perhaps God would erase part of our memory when we get to heaven because of the lost loved ones we left behind. Scripture says there will be no pain, no crying, no mourning. When God originally created mankind they had a perfect creation. It was as God wanted it. They did not even know they were naked. When God speaks things into existence, they happen just as he says. When he says there will be no pain, no sorrow, etc. He speaks it into existence and it will be just as he said. What was lost in the Garden of Eden seems to return with the new heaven and new earth. What a contrast from a sinful world with pain, hurt, mourning, sorrow but to a peaceful existence with no pain, no hurt no sorrow. God the creator says it will be so. When sin came into the world, God made a way back to that beautiful existence through Jesus Christ. What if Adam and Eve had never sinned, would we have never felt hurt or pain in our lifetime. But we have to live in this present age until these things are fulfilled. We have a way to attain that beautiful life. Just like he spoke pain , sorrow , hurt into existence, he can speak it out of our lives. It is really something to think about. Every job I ever had, had some sort of thorn and thistle with it. In life here below, we encounter pain and sorrow and hurt at times. But God is preparing a place for a prepared people and eye has not seen nor has ear heard the wonderful things that will be. God's creation is not boring.  What a contrast that will be, and it can be ours with a belief in a sovereign God. I don't know how it will happen but creator God can speak and even wind and wave obey him. Hurt pain and sorrow will have to go the way they came when God speaks them out of existence. Will he just say a word some day. Be gone. He spoke the world and creation as we know it into existence. Will he just say a word on that day and sorrow and pain hurt thistles and thorns will disappear? I really don't know how it will happen. But to see this we must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for the pardon of our sins. It is the only way. God bless, LVZ.

Stupid

That is the word I used on someones Facebook page recently. I disagreed and did not like their post. I felt it divided us as Americans along racial lines and said this is stupid. I really feel I should not have used that word. I do believe we need to stand up for what we believe.  More importantly, I think we need to use kind words and not tear others down with verbal exchanges. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.  Proverbs 18:21  A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. Matthew 12:35  I believe I can do better than I did on that post and I really want to try and stand for my beliefs but I want to do with loving and kind words. I want to voice my opinion in a way that encourages others and unifies rather than divide. I am not sure if I will be successful, but I can try. I have been blocked on Facebook before and unfriended and I also have unfriended several people during my time on face book. The latest was because I saw so much stuff that I disagreed with and I want to stand for my beliefs but perhaps it should not be in the comments on someones post in Facebook. But really what is the comment line for? Just to comment only when we agree? It appears Face book would agree, because they give us a like button and not a dislike button. Are we robots if we have to all think the same. Shouldn't we really be able to comment disagreement, hopefully without using words like stupid as I did and the words sent back to me, ignorant, uneducated, stupid, bigot, racist and many other things. Shut your pie hole. Are we so insecure that no one is allowed to disagree with us. IF it is not insecurity than what is it?  Why have we come so far down this negative slope that we cannot handle disagreements?  Isn't that a sign of immaturity when we cannot handle a criticism from a friend or loved one. I think what a boring place this world would be if we thought identical on every issue. We were not created by God to be robots. We were created in his image.  Perhaps even today, not being robots and programmed for every thing we say, we should be able to tolerate disagreement. I don't believe rioting is the answer but debate is OK. But if we do not allow someone to disagree with us are we much different in our hearts than the killers of recent days? Or doesn't it at least show immaturity? Life and death are in the power of the tongue. Do we speak life or death? Scripture says what we speak comes from the abundance of our heart. I do not want my heart to be full of stuff that would cause me to use the word stupid as I did that day.  I want to speak life.  I do try to look into my own heart. Even more than settling a dispute with words instead of actions,  should we be able to use kinds words? And not destroy others with our words. I am not sorry for speaking my mind, I am sorry for using the word stupid. When I look at past posts, I do not see a bunch of disagreement, mostly people pass on stuff they agree with. But on the occasion we see something we disagree with and feel compelled to reply, shouldn't we be able to express an opinion without being destroyed verbally? I don't see it much on my page and I suppose most of us choose our friends that think like us. Perhaps I am wrong to unfriend someone when I see myself disagreeing with them frequently. If I don't unfriend them I know I would comment sometimes  and it just seems in our world today many cannot handle disagreement.  Isn't that just a normal behavior to disagree and express that disagreement?  What is happening in our world today that we don't feel free to disagree? Have we lost the ability to talk civilly?  To use kind words, and as they say speak the truth in love. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Let us bless others with kind words and not lose our freedom to speak disagreement.  Help me God to be wise in my choice of words. I remember on the job a time when I investigated a change an fellow employee wanted to make on the routing of a wire bundle. As I looked into it, I understood why it would be easier for him but I also saw that the change would add 4 feet of wire to 24 wires in that bundle and not shorten any.  That would add a lot of weight  to the airplane. I said no and then proceeded to explain why. The man only heard no and did not hear my explanation. Just a pound of weight on an airplane is a big deal. If his change had been the other way where it reduced weight or had been even, I would gladly have initiated the change.  I learned to try and explain why before I said no. There is power in the tongue to promote life or death. I want to learn to use mine tongue to promote life. There are so many things in life we may find reason to disagree. Let us do it with kind words. God bless, LVZ.  

Heal Our Land

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14  I was planning on blogging about this scripture again in the near future. Recently, I was intolerant and used the word stupid on someone's face book post. I was wrong for using that word and tone. The hate that generated in reply after reply was amazing.  I started the chain with my stupid comment. We live in a sin sick world. No doubt about it. It started off about the Florida School shooting  and how because it was a white man it was called a mental health issue but if it had been any other race it would have been called terrorist or hate crime or something else. I wonder howt it matters what we call it. Home grown terrorist or hate crime or mental health issue. What does it matter? 17 innocent persons lost their lives and 14 more are injured.  What does it matter what we call it.  I disagreed that race is the biggest problem in our nation. I believe SIN is the problem. What ever you call it race issue, hatred, or terrorist our country is sick. President Trump can say almost word for word what Obama or Clinton said years ago and it is hatred towards Trump almost automatically.  We live in an evil world. We live in a Christian Nation not because Christians are the majority but because of our forefathers and the way they set up this nation. The underlying cause of the shooting in Florida, Kentucky and so many other places is sin and evil in this world. We don't agree with the LGBT movement not because of hate but because of God's word.  Sin. People don't want us to identify it as sin, but God's word does.  God's word also tell us to love even our enemies. We are to love even those in the LGBT movement, they are not our enemies. We are to stand against the sin but love the people. I have family members that are not Christians and I can find areas of disagreement, especially politically but that does not mean I hate them. I try to recognize sin as the Bible calls it in my own life and in the world around me. But the Bible still tells us to love even as Christ loved us. So here we are in a sin sick world that seems to get more evil day by day. What is the answer? It is in the scripture above. If my people, God's people will humble themselves and pray, and seek God's face. That is the starting point. Then we need to turn from our wicked ways. This is still Christians that need to turn from sin in their lives. Where have we sinned. We call evil good and good evil. Only God holds the number of our days in his hands. Yet we abort babies and call it choice. It is God's call not ours. We approve of same sex marriage and call it good. God set the guidelines in his word centuries ago. We have other God's before him, we expect politics to fix our lives and yet we have fought poverty since the 1960's and have not changed anything except make it worse. People now expect a handout for almost everything. We call it compassion. I think this is the hard part of this verse, this conditional promise. We need to turn from our wicked ways. Personally, and not always be pointing at the other guy. Blacks blame whites and whites blame blacks and around in circles we go. Democrats blame Republicans and Republicans blame Democrats and liberals blame conservatives and conservatives blame liberals and around in circles we go.  We all need to look into our own heart and turn from our own personal wicked ways.  We humble ourselves, we seek God and turn from our wicked ways and then God says he will hear from heaven and heal our land.  We are going to have to meet God's conditions to heal our land. We can create more gun laws, take guns away completely. We can put more restrictive laws on anything we choose and it will not fix our land. But isn't that what we really want as we spew our hatred towards each other and call each other names. Don't we really want healing for our land. Or does it just sound good to blame someone. And we continue to live like the devil and expect no consequences for disobedience towards God's laws. God told us how to heal our land, are we willing to look inside our hearts and see our own wicked ways? It is a conditional promise, and I know I like to quote it. God sets the rules and he gave us a formula you might say. it is up to us to move the heart of God on our behalf.  Heal our land. God bless, LVZ. 

Woe To Those

Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter!
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
and shrewd in their own sight!
Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine,
and valiant men in mixing strong drink,
who acquit the guilty for a bribe,and deprive the innocent of his right! Isaiah 5:20-23

We are at a troubled time in our nation. As I read this word I wonder if this is us in the U.S. of America. The scriptures above were written against Israel as they had turned away from God and Judgement of God came upon them. Sometimes people get angry if you even mention judgement of God and I wonder if in their heart of hearts they know that they are deserving of God's judgment and just don't  want to face it.  I don't know, I am not a prophet and sometimes I struggle with knowing what the word says when you read in the Old Testament Prophets. But look at what we have allowed as a nation. In the 1960's we took prayer out of our schools and today we hear of school shooting after school shooting. In the latest there were 17 students and faculty killed. We hurt and we wonder why? Is it possible that we are facing judgment from God. We don't want him so he turns his face away. We have an abortion industry that is subsidized by the government. God is the creator of life, the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. When did we as a society ever earn the right to decide life and death? The blood of millions of aborted babies cries out for justice.  We call it good and a woman's choice.  Is it really ours to choose. I am a human, should I have the right to choose, OK this baby lives, and this baby dies before it is even born. Who in our society has earned that right? The woman, because she carries it we say. Can she decide when to get pregnant and when not too. If she uses birth control perhaps but is it up to her to decide when she does not protect herself, can she decide not this time or can she decide yes today is the day I become pregnant. Is it really hers to decide?  We are so wise. We decide after centuries of God's creation have established laws regarding marriage and suddenly we decide men can marry men and woman can marry woman. We have men that decide I think I was really meant to be a woman and a woman decides she was really meant to be a man. Yes we have doctors that can do amazing things with our body, but can they change the DNA to make it say differently. How wise we have become. Then I come to the last verse who acquit the guilty for a bribe and I wonder how our justice system decides when to not prosecute some and still go after others based on political standing or beliefs or financial standing. God is not pleased. I wonder about the little girl that got off the school bus here locally. The stop sign on the bus was flipped out on the left side to keep cars from either direction passing while children got off the bus. She runs off the bus toward her front door and a car comes speeding around the right side of the bus. The side of the bus with the door to let the children off and just a few feet away is the child's front door where she lives. She is hit and killed by this car that drove around the bus through the little girls front yard. Just a few feet between the bus and the car and just a few feet more between the car and the front door. The driver of the car is not prosecuted for anything. Twice it goes before a Grand Jury and twice justice is denied. No charges what so ever. And we read in the paper a second time, no charges against the driver of the car. How can this be? What can the prosecutor find to say to convince the jury not to file any charges at all? Judging by what we see nationally one wonders is justice perverted here locally also?  I do not know, I do not understand. I do know our society calls good evil and evil good; and light for darkness and darkness for light. We twist things to fit what we want instead of looking to God for answers. How long O God will you stand by and do nothing? Or have you seen from heaven and perhaps are saying enough is enough. We wonder why the natural disasters, rain and tornado, Fire and flood, Mudslide and famine in divers places. Has God seen from heaven and said that is far enough. Somebody will pay. Could it be? I don't really know. We ridicule a Vice President that says he hears from God. We think it strange. Is God saying look up, I see and I hear what is going on in my creation and enough is enough. I really don't know and I wonder I really do? If I am wrong and state God is doing something he is not, I could be a false prophet. I don't know but he is a sovereign God. He still can have the last say in the affairs of men. I look to this last election and some ministers were actually predicting Trump would win and the media laughed and said never Trump. Hillary thought it was hers and is still trying to figure out what happened. Many laughed Trump never. Christians scratched their heads and wondered what to do. Which is worse many thought and we voted our conscience and Trump won. It is God's doing in this election, I really believe that. Has God had enough and is he hearing the cries of his people and taking action. I really don't always know what to think. God you are sovereign, have your way in our lives. I can't see what you see, and I don't know what you know but I know you are still on your throne. God bless, and help us to know you will and your ways, LVZ. 

My Church Family

My thought this morning is about some ways my Church family has impacted me.

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:11-15

I thought about some ways my church family has encouraged me along the way. I remember a young lady I took into my home years ago and I tried to encourage her to become part of a church family. I saw the need in her life for a church family. She was what I call a fatherless child. I met her when she was 12. This young lady never had any idea who her father was, no one made her go to school. In fact during the time I knew her, her mother was spending most of her time inside the walls of a prison. So in many ways she was fatherless and motherless. She needed a church family where she could find a good father figure and even good mother figures. She had a hard time abiding by the rules of my home and didn't stay with me long. I remember a time when I left one church to go to another and the pastor counseled with me and I remember one day when I drove up in a new to me car. and the pastor complemented me on it. Awe its just a Chevette, I shrugged it off.  The pastor pointed out to me it was a blessing, I had paid cash for a low mileage car when many go into debt. It was a good thing. I told about a bad experience at work and how I went to a bathroom stall to pray. Did you see what you did, you ran to God in that instant. That is a good thing. I remember the time I was put on medical leave for a month because I was so emotionally drained the doctor said I had nothing left to give to anyone. I told my pastor at that time and he loaned me his camera and said go and take some pictures. I soon bought my own camera and ever since then from a very dark period in my life I have taken countless pictures of just about everything. He was encouraging me in a dark time and it affected me for a life time.  I looked at the four marriage failures in my life and remember from my days as a young man a Pastor had talked to me about becoming a Deacon. Forward to many churches, four marriage failures and many years older. I think that is never to be in my life because I have failed so many times. I remember a couple of years after attending my current church and many things were happening back home 2500 miles away with my Mom. What if they ask me to be a deacon, what am I going to do? That is a crazy thought, why am I even thinking that. I have been married five times and divorced four, I am not Deacon material.  A short time later an Elder talked to me about being a Deacon. I thought that was over in my life. I told him about my Mom being on her death bed and I could spend a lot of time away. That happens to a lot of people, it is not a problem, he said.  Here is another church that believes in me and who I am today not my past. They encourage me and help me to be the best me I can be. I get involved in Nehemiah's men, a group of retired men that go to the church and do repairs and paint and what ever our hands find to do. We build relationships and bless the body of believers with our willingness to change light bulbs or paint or what ever we can do and sometimes we even learn new things ourselves. I remember a prior church and a class we went to about becoming a member. I remember the instruction we received. It is a fair question to ask about a prospective church's pastor, how is your relationship with your wife. That is one of the things I learned to look at when looking for a new church. I learned you don't look for a perfect church, because if you find it you ruin it when you join. Think about that for just a minute. My church family has encouraged me and blessed me and helped me to be a better me over the years. I recommend it to any body.  I remember going through a divorce and the Pastor at that time advised me, you have biblical grounds for divorce. You can go through this hurt as many times as you want and we will be there for you, but it is your choice. It doesn't seem to matter what we go through they are there to help us and encourage us. So as I look back to the many troubles in life I have gone through some of the things pastors and churches have done for me have impacted me for eternity. I still take pictures from a pastor trying to help me through a dark time in my life when I was headed for my first divorce. This is part of my story, and my church family has been a big part of it. Speaking of pictures, this is one of my all time favorites. I was on a road trip and I saw a deer to my right it looked like it was looking for a place to lie down.  I took note of  where it was on the hillside and pulled over, got out my camera and found it laying in the grass.  What started out as a Pastor helping me through a dark period has become a lifetime hobby that I enjoy.  God bless, LVZ.

The Comment Line

I have questions and reservations about this line in Face Book. Do people even use this except to agree? Perhaps it should be an Amen line or I agree with you line. If you are conservative or liberal and you have one of those other type people as a friend and you comment when you disagree with something, you are in for hell.  I looked down on my timeline and I only went several months back but I have no disagreements. Just an occasional yes or some sort of agreement.  So perhaps I am wrong to voice my disagreement on someone else page. I only disagree with for some reason it really don't feel right to me. I think face book needs to take it away or call it something else. Perhaps just an Amen line. I remember some years back a Pastor that I like and admire, posted something about all white people this, and I objected. I never heard anything. Perhaps like I have done I don't follow. But I am the kind of person I just feel I have to comment when I really disagree with someone. But I noticed people don't want you to disagree with them, they only want Amen. People have a right to post what ever is appropriate for social media, at least I think so, but not if your a Conservative on a Liberals page or vise-versa.  I also don't like just having a like button. Can Face Book give us a like or don't like button? Sometimes to voice my dislike I have had to use the comment button and it doesn't end well. So what is the answer? Am I wrong for commenting when I disagree. People do have a right to post what ever they feel like. Perhaps it is words like stupid which I also used and later apologized for. I do believe I need to not use a word like that but the other side will use ignorant, uneducated, racist, bigot, back to me.  For me I believe the answer is to remove such people from my list of friends. Because I am just brass enough to voice my disagreement on the comment line, and I run into trouble. I get chewed up and spit out.  I think face book needs to change that and just make it an I agree with you line. I would like to see a disagree button.  God bless, LVZ.

How We are to Adorn Ourselves

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

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 3:1-8

Wow, I look at this scripture An I am just wow. I am not looking at this as a husband and wife thing this morning, even though it is written to husbands and wives. But look at how we are to adorn ourselves as Christians from the inside out. We are to affect those around us by our conduct. Let the your adorning be the hidden person of the heart. This beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit is precious in God's sight. It lasts, it is imperishable. When your heart changes it is not like makeup or jewelry that needs to be put on every day. It is imperishable. It doesn't wear off over night. The heart change is imperishable and makes us beautiful from the inside out. I know we have all seen beautiful people in physical characteristics but the moment they opened their mouth some of that beauty vanishes. Or the more plain exterior person that opens their mouth and shows their heart, they improved their whole overall look.  The hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is precious to God himself.  One thing I urge us to notice in the time this was written women were more or less property but it does not diminish the thought of how we are to show respect and live with understanding. God help us to work on the heart as much as we pick out clothes and comb our hair and look in the mirror to see that we look good. Let us look to the inside, to our hearts and how we look to God. No matter how we look on the outside if we look good to God on the inside we will look better to others and we will impact others with our actions. God bless, LVZ.