Good Friday*

Good Friday is special to me. Barbara and I were married on Good Friday in 07. But that is not what I want to talk about. Good Friday is on the calendar because of what happened over 2000 years ago. Jesus died on a cross for my sins and yours. So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” John 19:10-11   2000 plus years ago Jesus stood before the civil authority at that time and Pilot says to him, don't you know I have the power to release you or to crucify you?  Jesus answered you have only the power given to you by God above.  Jesus knew why he was going to the cross. He was innocent of any crimes worthy of death. He was going to the cross because God ordained it to pay for your sins and mine. There had to be a blood sacrifice to pay for our sins. It is the way a Sovereign God chose to bring sinful man back to himself. If there is one thing Christianity is hated for, it is this doctrine. We believe this is the only way back to God. If there was another way than Jesus did not need to die on that cross. If there was another way we could choose that way instead of the cross, but there is no other way. Jesus knew the cruel death he was facing and he prayed in the garden, let this cup pass from me, but not my will but thine be done. Jesus did it because there was no other way. You cannot just live a good life and make it to heaven. You cannot do enough good works to earn your salvation. There is not enough money in the entire world to buy your way in. The only way to God and eternal life is through Jesus and the cross. We had a Good Friday service at Hope Church Tupelo and I want to share a photo:


During a song the choir was singing, five pair of two painters each pained the pictures above during the song. I wish I had taken an earlier picture showing them painting. Jesus was fasten to a cross by nails or spikes as the red spots indicate in the pictures and a crown of thorns was placed on his head when he gave his life for our sins so many years ago. Jesus is the only way. Jesus death on a cross paid for our sins, all of them. There is no other way. There is no religion that will save you from your sins.  “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  Jesus is the only way. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:18 Sin must be paid for, Jesus paid the price a long time ago. If we accept Jesus as Savior and Lord of our hearts and lives, our sins can be paid for. You cannot just live a good life and make it to heaven. All have sinned, and sins must be paid for by a blood sacrifice. Jesus was that sacrifice. That is the way God in heaven ordained. Pilot didn't send Jesus to the cross. God did, it was preordained by God for your sins and mine. God bless, LVZ.

Worry Again*

Now I think it has been 3 different speakers of late that have mentioned worry or Anxiety.  So now I feel like God is really speaking to me about this subject.  Here us a verse from Proverbs: Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.  Proverbs 12:25 When I was young I thought worry was normal part of me. I thought it was part of my particular personality, I was a worrier. Just like I use to be quiet, it was just part of me.  I am no longer very quiet, somewhere along life's road, I changed. God wants to change us to conform us from our sinful patterns to a good life in him. Anxiety in our hearts weighs us down.  A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken. Proverbs 15:13   Heaviness in the heart of man makes it stoop: but a good word makes it glad.  Proverbs 12:25   I remember in about the third or fourth grade a friend asked me why I was always so serious, I just really figured it was part of my personality. We are raised in a broken world. All around us is brokenness. We hear it on the news, we read it on facebook. Brokenness and bad news. It is all around us and it makes for a heavy heart especially when we are anxious about things. God does not want us to be anxious about anything. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  1 Peter 5:7.  God does not want us to have anxiety or go around worrying. He tells us to cast all our cares and worries on him. God wants us to be glad, to be joyful, to have a cheerful face. Christians are not to be sad. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always and I say again rejoice, that is what God's word tells us. We are not to be weighted down with worries or cares. I remember the days of worry, and I still try to worry sometimes, but God wants us to trust him. Every one of our days have been laid out by God, He has a purpose for us and even when we because of our sinfulness get sidetracked, God works in our lives to bring us back to his purposes.  Worry is not one of the things God asks us to add to our lives, it is something he wants out of our lives. He is a sovereign God, he is in control. I think of the book I have been reading about the Children of Israel as they near the Red Sea. God had them right where he wanted them. They began to worry, they were fearful. Here was Pharaoh on his way to attack them and bring them back to Egypt, but God did not want his people in Egypt. He was bringing them to the promised land. He wanted them right here, at the edge of the Red Sea with nowhere to go.  They cried out to God Save us. God did. That is what he wanted, God wanted them and us today to look to him. God is our provider, he is our protector. He feeds the birds. When you look at it, have not so many species of birds survived from the time of creation. I had two or three wild bunny rabbits huddled together, hidden in the flower garden. Creation has survived since God created all things. God wants what is best for us. Trials are sometimes character building exercises designed by God  to fix something in us. God wants us to look to him, cast all our cares on him, for he cares for us.  Be joyful and rejoice. God is still on his throne. He is still sovereign.  God bless, LVZ.    

Gentleness

There is so much wisdom in the Bible. We don't always look at things correctly. God desires us to be gentle. There is strength in being gentle. Often we look at gentleness as being weakness, but it is not. It can be our weapon. It is actually a strength and it takes a strong person to be gentle especially in times of stress. We would prefer to shout out and take action, strong action in times of stress. Fight or flight is our reaction. The Bible tells us to be gentle. Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5  It is listed as fruit of the spirit, something every Christian should develop in their lives. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23.    I heard a story about gentleness that I would like to share as best I can remember. A young man was working in a shoe store and it seems an irate customer came into the store with a pair of shoes he had bought recently and he was not happy with them. He raised his voice so everyone in the store could hear his displeasure as he talked about how bad the shoes were. The young mans boss, the owner of the store took over and listened to the mans complaint. Smiling and listening to every word. As the customer finished his rant the owner of the store spoke and said Mr. Farmer, what would you like for me to do? I am so sorry the shoes didn't work out for you in a soft and gentle voice. I can give you a full refund or even a different pair of shoes. And I will throw in a pair of socks also. Just tell me what you would like. Mr. Farmer had calmed down by now and his tone changes, I guess I would like a different pair of shoes, he says. The owner of the store helped him find another pair of shoes and a pair of socks, smiling and talking in a gentle voice the whole time. Mr. Farmer left the store and the owner of the store turned to the young man and said, I lost a pair of shoes today but I gained a customer. When we raise our voice it is only natural for the opposition to raise their voice. A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.  Galatians 6:1 Proverbs says a soft  answer turns away wrath. In Galatians we are told to use gentleness in restoring a fallen brother. This bit of Biblical wisdom will work in our marriages, with our children, on the job, with our neighbors. God created us and he knows how we are. He gives us wisdom and Jesus was our ultimate example of gentleness. I often look at how Jesus dealt with the woman caught in adultery. Jesus words were neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more. The Bible has much wisdom for us if we will read and practice its teachings, and put it into practice in our daily living. The Bible is Gods owners manual for us humans, it tells us how to operate in a fallen world. Gentleness is a trait we need to develop in our lives.  God bless, LVZ.  

The Red Sea Rules

I have just started reading a book "The  Red Sea Rules. It is about Exodus chapter 14. It was written by Robert J. Morgan from Tennessee. Sometimes it seems these ministers can find so much in a passage of scripture. For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 1 Corinthians 1:21 It is through the foolishness of preaching that God chooses to reach us. The Word of God, the Bible is inspired by God. That word will accomplish it purpose sent by God. Sometimes it is just through a preacher, sometimes it is just through reading and studying and meditating on this word. God guides us.  I believe this is one of those books I will have a hard time putting down until it is finished. In Exodus 14, the Children of Israel where camped by the Red Sea. It sounds like there were mountains on one side and the Red Sea on the other side. Behind them was Pharaoh and his army. God had hardened his heart and Pharaoh was coming to get them. Here is part of the reason I believe God gives us our rulers. Notice how God controls what Pharaoh does. Pharaoh is not a worshiper of God. He cares not at all for the God of creation, He has his own religion.  But God has his people in a place he wants them to be. You might say between a rock and a hard place. There is no place for them to go. God is setting this up to deliver the children of Israel, his people. He is going to show them his power. Not only is he showing the children of Israel his power but Egypt will see his power as they drown in the sea. I made a lot of mistakes in my life. But God brought me through. I put myself in difficult situations buy doing what I wanted to do but this is what this story teller is saying. Even then God teaches and delivers us in the midst of our errors. These people are where God want s them to be. It is no mistake. They are fearful, they think they are going to die. If you go back and read earlier chapters, you will find that the children of Israel plundered Egypt. They borrowed gold and precious things from the Egyptians for this journey into the wilderness. And the Egyptians freely gave it.  Where I am at in this book is the children of Israel are where God wants them to be. It looks bad, it really does. Pharaoh is angry and pursing them. Mountains beside them, and the Red Sea on the other side. There is no place for them to go, but God has them where he wants them. Then he shows is power and provides a way of escape through the Red Sea. What an awesome sight that must have been. If you had been there what would you think walking through the valley of the Red Sea with a wall of water on either side. I'm thinking I hope this water stays up there. It is enough to drown me. The children of Israel trusted God and went through with a wall of water on either side. God caused confusion in the ranks of the Egyptians, Their chariots were slowed by God. They could see each other until God moved his cloud between them. The Children of Israel were walking, the Egyptians were in horse drawn chariots, they should have been able to overtake the Children of Israel. Both sides knew that, Horses are faster than people especially with families and cattle and sheep and goats. The point here is the Children if Israel were where God wanted them to be. He wanted to make himself known. God could deliver in miraculous ways when he got ready and he did. The safe passage through the Red Sea for Gods people was also the destruction of their enemy.  When they were safely through the passage between the walls of water, with God slowing down the chariots of the Egyptians, it is then God allows the waters of the Red Sea to return as they were. The miracle of the Red Sea parting for them was over and the Egyptians were destroyed. God showed his power for all to see. To those that trust in him, he can deliver through nature, his riches in glory. He is a sovereign God and is able to deliver. The author points out that this was to give glory to God. To show his power, his ability to save his people. He set it up.  He put his people between a rock and a hard place, there was no way out except for God to deliver and God does. This is for us to learn to put our trust in God. It is an awesome true story. It happened to show God's strength, his power and to tell us God is well able to defend and keep us. Even to day, this Bible is there to guide us, to show us how to live. To teach us to put our trust in a sovereign God. I think if we only realized God showed his power when he put Trump in office. No one believed he would be President. The media was laughing, making jokes. Still the make fun of him, but God put him there. God is doing something. We Christians were distressed, our country was and is still falling apart, but God shows his power. We need to trust God. It may feel like a Red Sea experience with Trump as President, but know God is doing something. This is his design. I don't understand how the water stayed behind a invisible wall. I don't understand everything today, but I know God is at work. We have seen his hand confuse the enemy. It is not over till God says it is over.  If you read on you will find it did not take long for God's people to murmur and complain after a once in a lifetime event. How quickly we forget God's deliverance. We as people have not changed.  God has not changed, he is still as powerful as ever. He can bring us through our Red Sea experiences.  God bless, LVZ.

Worry

I have been walking this Christian way for some time. I have read the scriptures do not worry but never looked at it as a sin. Yes I understand adultery is sin and many other things. But worry is one I have overlooked in my life. Just like the word tells us to not commit adultery or do not gossip, the Bible also say do not worry.
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Matthew 6:25 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6
God tells us not to worry or to be anxious about our life.  All my life I considered myself a worrier. I just worry, that is me. Do we consider adultery to just be me, that is part of me, who I am?  God says do not worry. I never looked at it as a sin, but it is. We do not trust God when we worry. God wants us to trust him. If I were to list the things I have worried about, what one thing did I change by worrying? Never have I ever fixed any thing by worry. When you worry you may be actively doing something but you are not getting any where. Someone says it is like sitting in a rocking chair and rocking back and forth. Your doing something but you are not getting any where. Your still in the same spot. All God's commands are for our good. Worry is not healthy. It is bad for our heart, and our health. I never looked at it as sin. But God says don't do it. God says do not commit adultery but do we excuse it and say that is who I am, I will adulterate?  God says do not worry, do not be anxious. Disobeying God is sin. I never looked at worry as sin, my whole life. But God says do not worry. Cast all your cares on him. Just a few days back at a meeting with the Elders at church, I am talking about the Deacons, I am the chair this year, and I said I can worry a little bit. In a congregation of about 500, I don't always see every deacon and I would worry. Are they all here? Do we have enough Deacons for offering or for the Lords Supper? There are so many available as backups, why worry. But just that easy, I said,  I can worry a little. It is like it is no big deal I can worry.  God says do not be anxious about anything. I thought about that exchange, when I said I can worry a little bit. That is not what God wants us to do. I realized how easy it is to step into an attitude of worry. Pastor spoke on worry, and how it is displeasing to God. We are to give everything to God. We have no trouble calling adultery sin, homosexuality sin but what about things like worry. There are not big and little sins. They are all the same in God's eyes. Being a Christian is a life long activity and sometimes even after being a Christian for so many years, God shows us an area were he wants to fix something in our lives. It is something we can change with God's help. God does not want us to be adulterers, but he also does not want us to worry.  Just trust him in everything. God bless, LVZ. 

Jesus

I believe Jesus is the answer. Our world is so troubled. Young kids protesting and at times their signs show they really do not know what they are doing. We have a serial bomber in Texas. It doesn't have to be a gun that takes innocent lives. Here on the local news a 9 year old boy shot his 14 year old sister and killed her because she would not give the video game controller to him.  What do you now do with this 9 year old boy that killed his sister.  I read the report of a newspaper in Indiana that reported a mandatory fire drill as a walk out in support of gun control protests going on all over our country. It was just a fire drill, no intent to walkout with the rest of the kids across our nation in protest but the media reported it as such anyway. I want to comment on the state of our country and be civil. I have been guilty of calling posts stupid or the kids and their signs that don't make sense idiots. I really need to be more civil. We need to respect authority. The ultimate authority is God, and we don't respect him. We can live any way we want and call it good. We go against God's laws and disrespect God and wonder why he doesn't intervene. I believe God can heal brokenness. If it is a Drug Addict or an Alcoholic, or a pill popper, I believe God can heal. If it is an adulterer or a thief, I believe God can heal the sin sickness of our nation. But we have to seek him. We have a Senator position to be voted on this year and the campaign is already muddy and slanderous.  We do not follow God's direction for living. We are messed up. I do not want to vote for a slanderer. Politicians can say anything they want to and we vote based on lies and slander. False news reports daily and we wonder what is wrong. It is the adults that are messed up. I think I read that of the dozen or so killers of recent years, only one or two have been younger that 21. I posted a Church sign that said we can created all kinds of laws to control evil and evil will still not obey laws. There was one comment and I really don't know what to think or what the person was really saying. Even Honest people don't always obey laws. I guess its true. But what is that person really saying? Is the church sign wrong? I don't know. Am I an honest person if I don't obey the speed limit? Am I an honest person if I try to cheat on taxes by lying about how much I paid for a vehicle? I'm not sure what that person is saying about honesty. Am I honest just because I think I am honest 70% of the time. I only tell white lies to keep from hurting other peoples feelings? I don't have all the answers but I believe God does. I believe God made a way through a heart change in an individual. I have seen alcoholics and drug addicts healed of their addictions. I have seen adulterers change their ways after a heart change. In the people that made a successful change, it seemed their was a heart change first. The behaviors and actions did not always correct themselves overnight, sometimes it was a real struggle. But I believe  Jesus made the difference. I believe Jesus is needed in the hearts of people to make a lasting change. I believe it takes a heart change for a person to be honest even when it is the hardest thing to say the truth. I have made so many mistakes in my life, I cannot count them all or even remember them all. I credit Jesus with making a change in my heart first of all. I believe that is what it will take to fix our world. I am betting on it that at the end of this life, I will gain eternal life because I accepted Jesus as my Savior. I asked him to forgive me of my sins. It was not just a one time event. I have asked for forgiveness many many times. Sometimes for the same sin many many times. I believe Jesus is the answer for our world today. It hurts to see so much bad happening, but still I believe Jesus can fix our world one life at a time. God bless, LVZ.

That It May Be Well With Thee

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”  Ephesians 6:1-3 
And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the LORD swore to give to your father.   Deuteronomy 6:18
“‘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
Perhaps I have an obsession with those words (That It May Be Well With Thee)  ever since I read Proverbs 20:20 I want it to go well with me and don't we all. I have known the fifth commandment had this promise given with it when we obey it but it wasn't until I read Proverbs 20:20 that I just can't get away from those words. Here is The proverb of which I write:
 If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness. Proverbs 20:20
I just had to try and understand that verse. The commentary I read says it is the opposite  of the promise given in the fifth commandment. I have often thought when I see those that do well financially, what was their relationship with their parents. But I don't think this is just talking about financial wellness. I believe it is talking about spiritual wellness as well. I believe it could mean both.  The clothes dryer stopped working the other day and I stopped for a minute and wondered if I'd treated my parents right. The dryer is not that old, so I wasn't expecting problems with it so soon. It is still working. I don't want to step into legalism, so I want to be careful. There are a couple of blogs of recent days that I have not published because of that fear. I don't want a curse from an all powerful God to be at work in my life. That takes me back to the if you do wrong God is gonna get you mentality. That is not the way I want to view God. There is that promise given with the fifth commandment and I see that curse in Proverbs 20, I just want it to be well with me, with my family, my children and other loved ones. When I see trouble in our lives I wonder, how we are doing with the fifth commandment. I want it to be well with me, with my children and grandchildren. The way to obtain that promise is to obey the fifth commandment. I wonder how well I have done. I did not have perfect parents, have I dwelt on their imperfections or considered my own life. How do I measure up spiritually? But godliness with contentment is great gain, 1 Timothy 6:6.  Am I content, am I living a life of obedience to my God. I want the same for my children. I want spiritual health, I don't want to put too much emphasis on the financial end of things. But is it well in the spiritual side of life? That it may be well with thee. Keep an eye on the spiritual side of life. I want it to go well with me in the land I am living. My parents did the best they knew. I did the best I knew. I pray that my children will understand this principle in God's word. I want life to go well with them. Don't neglect God, honor his word. Live his word. Look to our spiritual health. Godliness with contentment is great gain. God bless, LVZ.

Romans 13

It is hard to be civil in all my posts. We all have opinions. We don't all think alike. I am pretty free with my thoughts. I find many Christians on both sides conservative and liberal want to believe God gave us our leader if it is the one they voted for. I have had a liberal Christian and a conservative Christian both say they think God didn't give us either one. They don't want to believe God could possibly give them someone they don't like. Am I wrong on my view? So I want to take another look at Romans 13.
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.   Romans 13:1-7.  This passage of scripture is one I go to when dealing with civil authority. Civil Authority needs to be respected, if we like it or not, if we like the person elected or not.  I realize that we citizens vote in our rulers in this nation, but these rulers are still under God's authority. I believe God is sovereign. He is over all. I am not sure I am stating this wrong, that God gives us our rulers. God certainly wants us to respect our rulers. Maybe saying God gives us our rulers is too strong a term. God is sovereign and He is in control. Our rulers can only go as far as God lets them. The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.  Proverbs 21:1. God ordains civil authority. God put it there for our good.  However we got the rulers we have, if you believe God gave them or don't, God's word tells us to respect them. Perhaps I won't make that statement any more, God gives us our rulers. I say that because God is sovereign, because he wants  us to respect all authority. Does that mean he actually gives us our rulers? He did give kings to the Israelites, some good and some bad to suit his purposes. Our President is the equivalent of the king God gave to his people Israel. Perhaps I should not say God gives us our rulers, but I will say we are still to respect and submit to civil authority until such time as it violates our relationship with God. I make that statement many times, God gives us our rulers, and I'm not sure that it is a wrong statement when I read Old Testament and how God gave rulers to his people. I do know we need to respect authority. It is God ordained. Our first authority in our lives is our parents, and we need to honor them, it is one of the Ten Commandments. It is not because they are good or bad parents that we respect them, it is just because they are our parents period.  When people say respect must be earned, I think of Romans 13, and the fifth commandment. I think this passage and the fifth commandment says it is to be given period.  Not just when we have a President that we are pleased with, but because he holds the office. We see so many posts on face book that divide us. Which President is better, etc. If you don't like Obama and his policies, OK, you perhaps have good reason to. But respect the office he held as elected President for eight years. If you don't like Trump, respect the office, he was elected. We owe them respect, not because they are good or better than each other but because they hold the office of President. Civil Authority is given and ordained by God for our good. We may not always understand or like what they do. Even in other countries like Russia or Sadia Arabia, if we lived there we owe the rulers respect, because however the Civil Authority operates it is ordained of God. Perhaps when they order us to disobey God's word, then we obey the higher law, which is God's law. We have examples of that in Daniel and the three Hebrew children. Joseph is another that comes to mind. Civil Authority is ordained by God. First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 1 Timothy 2:1-2.  We are even to pray for those in authority.  Perhaps if we did that the respect would come easier. Those are my thoughts on this day, God bless, LVZ. 

Is Jesus Number 1

I look at my past life over the past 30 plus years. It was in 1984 that I consider my start to walk with Jesus.  I struggled with many things. Adultery was one of those things. When I separated from my wife after twenty years of marriage, I was very lonely. I hated being at home especially on the weekends. I would work any weekend I could just so as to not be alone. I had many adulterous relationships. I really do not like to talk about those days, I was going to church Sunday after Sunday and was sorta open about these relationships. My family knew. Parents of some of these girlfriends knew.  Can a person be a Christian and commit adultery? Not forever. You should at least feel convicted over it. I know I did. I tried to excuse it by looking at King David and the account with Bathsheba. The Bible says David was a man after God own heart, but I knew enough Bible to know he had an adulterous relationship with Bathsheba. I took it to God and married quickly to avoid being an adulterer. Those marriages didn't last. I wanted to be a Christian but I really struggled in this area. What made David a man after God's heart was repentance. He had Bathsheba's husband killed. Then he married her. God was aware and sent the prophet Nathan to speak to David. But King David hid and tried to cover up his sin. He married Bathsheba after having Uriah killed.  Nathan told David a story about a rich man that stole a little lamb from his neighbor. His neighbor was poor and only had that one lamb.  The rich man had many sheep of his own. David was furious that someone in his kingdom would do such a thing. Nathan says; you are that man. David repented and that is the reason he was a man after God's own heart. Some times we think our sins are hidden, but they are not. If Jesus had been number one in my life I feel I could have controlled my sexual desires and not sinned. It is past now, just history. I tell my side of some of these stories of the marriages that failed. I wonder if I am fair. Yes I was going to church Sunday after Sunday, but the life I was living was somewhat hidden or so I thought. God sees everything, and I guess I knew that, but still I tried to justify my actions with David was a man after God's heart and he did the same thing. We can read the scriptures where it says shall we continue in sin? What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Romans 6:1-2   In John 8 is the story of the woman brought to Jesus when she was caught in adultery. This next verse is from that story. She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more. John 8:11  Jesus himself did not condemn her but did tell her to go and sin no more. It is the human condition to sin, but we must confess our sins and walk in them no more.  Jesus doesn't want to be second after certain sins. Jesus wants to be first. Thou shall have no other God's before me is the very first commandment. These sins of ours have to be brought to the cross and be repented of. I talk a lot about scripture on these pages, but I had much in my past to get over and get through.  I don't come on these pages as a super Christian. I am not, I struggled with sin. But I want Jesus and I want to make him first in my life. I grew up in a church that taught perfection, but it discouraged me because I saw sin in my life and I knew I wasn't perfect. Sometimes Christians excuse the sin in their life and condemn others because perhaps we feel they have a bigger badder sin. All sin is equal, and needs to be repented of. I try to be open and honest. God knew and convicted me many times. I try for a while and fail, but I would get up and repent again and again and again. As many times as it took. It is not that we fall that defines us but the fact that we get up, repent and keep going.  Please know as I write many things about scripture on this blog, I failed again many times. But I got up, asked God to forgive me and kept trying. I will keep trying till my dying breath.  The Bible says many things, and that is what I want to live by. I don't want to make excuses for my sins and point to others. I was sinful, some may doubt my experience but that is OK, I answer to God and nothing is hidden from him. I wish I'd lived a better life. I wish I had gotten my life straightened out sooner. Some probably grew spiritually quicker than I, I am happy for them.  I believe all sins need to be taken to Jesus and forgiven. Do I remember all my sins, probably not.  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:8-10  I believe Jesus is still working on me, Do I think Christians sin, yes I do, from experience.  And the Bible says so. God is in the cleansing business. Don't try and fix yourself. Just come as you are. God already knows. Just the other day I became aware that worry is a sin. We probably don't look at it that way, but that is a blog for another day. Don't look for perfect Christians, there are none.  They are just forgiven. I challenge anyone, if you think you can do better just give it a try, I think you'll find like I did, living a Christian life is not always easy. We get up and keep trying. We ask forgiveness and keep going. God change me is our prayer. In the story of the Pharisee and the Publican, I identify with the Publican. Luke 18:10.  God bless, LVZ.

Whom Do You Believe?

Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah: “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city. Isaiah 38:4-6
God warned Hezekiah through the prophet Isaiah that Hezekiah needed to get his affairs in order. Hezekiah prayed and God relented and gave him 15 more years. God people were being attacked under Hezekiah and Hezekiah took it to God and prayed and God delivered them out of the hand of their oppressors.  This God that Hezekiah prayed to is the same God born gain Christians pray to. This God is the only God on the face of the earth that is able to deliver.  When Christians say their is only one way to God through Jesus Christ, they have the history written in the Bible to back them up. Our God is a sovereign God. Those around God's people had other gods that they believed in, but these other gods were not able to deliver and protect the people that believed in them. But Hezekiah's God, the Lord God Jehovah was able to deliver and also add years to Hezekiah's life. Today Christian pray and believe in this same God.
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Romans 8:31-35
If our sovereign God is for us who can be against us. We need to keep praying. We saw in our own time what God can do. We prayed for a President, we didn't expect Trump. I still think back to election night, "Never Trump", so many said this is not happening, it will not be Trump. They laughed, but I believe our God answered our prayers just as God answered Hezekiah's prayers centuries ago. God gives us our rulers. Romans 13:1 but we have trouble believing it. Those that liked Obama have difficulty believing God gave us Trump. Those that like Trump have trouble believing God gave us Obama. I certainly do not always understand. I do believe you cannot have it both ways. If you believe in a sovereign God, you need to realize God gives us our rulers and we need to respect Civil authority as long as it is not against God. Because it is given by God for our good. Don't ask me to explain Obama, I cannot. But God's ways are higher than ours. If you are an Obama fan, don't ask me to explain Trump. I cannot, I just accept that he is what God has given us, and I am thankful for a God that can say peace be still and even the winds and the seas obey. We need to call out to him, God. He is the only one whereby men can be saved and obtain eternal life. There is only one way to eternity with God through Jesus Christ.  God bless, LVZ.

Civil Discussion

With the creation of ways to communicate like face book I think society has become less kind.  I use face book so I will mention face book and leave the others alone that I do not use and do not know enough about. It seems many do not feel comfortable with commenting on things they disagree with on face book. When I say many perhaps I overstep my bounds because it is not like I have talked with a bunch of people about this. So perhaps it would be better to just say this is my opinion, my observation. I have fallen into the same trap. Some months back on a post I disagreed with, I used the word stupid.  I should not have and I feel if I had been talking to that person face to face, I don't think I would have stated my opinion with such force. That was not the only time I used inappropriate language. I want to correct that in my life.  I really think we are lacking in practicing being civil. We are probably better at it when we talk with a spouse or a child. In long term relationships, we probably know buttons and do not push them if we are trying to be civil.  On face book much of the time we do not know many people that read our posts or comment on them. Sometime I think we throw civil behavior out the window as we are not face to face. Perhaps even with a stranger talking face to face we would be more civil. I think the time has come and is long over due to practice being civil on face book and other media choices. I like our President but feel even he sometimes needs to practice being civil on twitter.  I believe we need discussion on important issues, especially controversial issues but with so many bad experiences we have quit. I think that is a mistake, the disrespectful people get the coverage, and those with a civil tongue are silent. I think we need to speak up and practice being civil. I think we need to practice using kind and uplifting words with each other, especially in disagreements. I want to use the A word here but in trying to be civil I will use the word bad people. The Bad people win if they are the only ones that speak up.  I really think we need to challenge ourselves to speak our opinions in civil tongue. The longer I live the more I realize the wisdom given to us in the Bible.  Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. Proverbs 18:21. Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. Proverbs 13:3. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. James 3:2  Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.  Proverbs 21:23. Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!  As I said above, I have fallen into the same trap and have not always been civil especially when something said upsets me.  We need to guard our tongue, and not quit speaking about difficult or controversial subjects.  That last line is my opinion.  God bless, LVZ. 

Way of Holiness

And a highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;
the unclean shall not pass over it.
It shall belong to those who walk on the way;
even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.
No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
but the redeemed shall walk there.
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain gladness and joy,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.  Isaiah 35:8-10.

And a highway shall be there called the Way Of Holiness. As I read this passage the statement even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. The footnote says or if they are fools they shall not wander in it. The redeemed of the Lord shall walk on this way. I thought it interesting that fools shall not wander in it.  In this age we live in Christians have been made fun of recently, especially Vice President Mike Pence. I heard this saying many years ago and I think it bears repeating now. He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.  We, Christians, are such a people. What do we give up to be Christians, nothing at all that we could take in to eternity with us. What do we gain? A relationship with God that we cannot lose. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:38-39. We cannot lose. Someday there will be everlasting joy and gladness. Some day there will be no sorrow, no hurt or pain. We are no fools who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. We have found the one and only way to an eternity with God. There is no other name under heaven whereby a man may be saved. Jesus is the only way. We are not fools who have believed cunningly devised fables who walk this way. We have developed a relationship with a Sovereign God. When people laughed at Trump, never Trump, God put him in office. He is a sovereign God and we are blessed people. Did you ever stop to think how blessed we are, just to have been born in this great nation? How much we take for granted. We are blessed just to be in a nation where people can freely protest without even knowing what they are protesting. We are so blessed. God bless, LVZ.

Speak Up

Do I speak up when needed? I do not consider myself a yes man. I do feel I speak up, in fact at times I feel I speak up too much and annoy people. This thought comes from a conversation just around a coffee table. Even at my church we are to speak up, we kid each other about being negative or what ever but really we need to speak up. I think of the people that spoke up and called the authorities about Nickolas Cruz. They did the right thing. The FBI and some law enforcement did not pay proper attention but the people that reported their concerns, they did the right thing. I was following a car the other day, it went over the center lane divider and the edge of road dividing line several times. I called it in. I don't know if the person was just tired or drunk, but they were a danger to others. Recently a drunk driver killed a beloved school teacher, law enforcement did not catch him in time to save that life. We are our brothers keepers. There is an attitude of not snitching in our society today. I came across it many years ago when I saw a fellow worker stealing time from the company. I reported it and came under fire myself for being a snitch. I think back and I am sure more today than ever I did the right thing. I receive a lot of trouble for my effort, but I did the right thing. Their is a difference between doing the right thing for the good of society and snitching. A neighborhood watch is a good thing. When we see a crime or suspicious activity and we report it, we may save a neighbor from a break-in or loss from a theft. We do not need to gossip or snitch for no good reason. When we see someone headed a wrong direction, is it not a good thing to help them? Almost every week I see a trucker with a 53 foot trailer coming down a street near us and I see them either parked by the side of the street or driving slowly and I know they are looking for Lipford road which is different than Lipford ave.  Lipfor road is in an industrial area 2 miles further south. Following GPS they end up turning towards Lipford Ave which is a residential area and not the Lipford they want. I help them every time I see them. It is a good thing. There are times when we need to speak up. I know what I am talking about. I know where the real Lipford street is that they want. I see on face book all these young people protesting, speaking up and they really don't know what for. We need better gun laws. Really? What law is incorrect? Is it Federal, or State, or Local? When  questioning the individual, they do not know. I saw a face book post where some not so bright youths were holding up a sign depicting the white house and a school house and the sign says you have a gun free zone why not our building. Contrary to what these children think, the white house is well fortified. The public may not be able to carry guns into the White House but I assure you it is not a gun free zone. In fact I believe the majority of our schools are already gun free.  So do these youths have any idea what they are protesting? Yes we all don't want any more school shootings and it may be good to speak up, but you'll be more effective if you actually know what your talking about. If you don't know what your talking about you come off as a fool. The first time I tried to help a trucker, I just knew the right road was south. After that I drove it myself and found that 2 miles south is a CDF road and they need to turn left. Go to Godfrey Road and turn left again. Go to the stop sign at the end of Godfrey and there is the Lipford you want.  I can speak up and help them because I know where they want to go. These fools protesting the shooting in Florida don't even know what is really wrong or what they really want. They are not helping, they are just disrupting. It is good to speak up when you can help. Other wise shut up. God bless. LVZ.