Life Is Very Good

 Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.  Genesis 1:31.  It is hard to imagine someone wanting to believe all that was created in the Genesis account could just happen randomly over billions of years. Someone recently described evolution as walking in the desert and coming across a functioning times watch and believing it just happened without a creator.  What God spoke into existence is so much more complicated than a Timex watch. Or someone describes a beautiful magazine with all kinds of pictures of animals and beautiful scenery and just throwing their information at a printer and it comes out all organized in a magazine. Everything is in order to make sense. Or think of a book you have read and a person crafts all these words in an orderly fashion and tells a story. Life as we see all around us from planets rotating around the sun and moons rotating around an individual planet at the right spacing that they continue for centuries without losing their order. Human and animal and plant life as well as all the sea creatures that reproduce themselves over the centuries. All these things that we believe God created are more complex than anything man has created.  It is good to be alive. And here we are being manipulated with fear over covid and global warming for political agendas when the Bible does tell us all this is going to pass away.  All this that we see and experience has a limited time span and God will replace it with an eternal unlimited time span. Some choose not to believe in God and choose a theory of evolution that you can punch more holes in than a screen door.  I can't fathom how God keeps everything in order, but I would like for evolutionists to explain one hole in their theory. We have a Biblical account of a creator God that organized and spoke into existence all that we see. A God that gave knowledge needed for man to fly to the moon. We can send machines that man created to mars and take pictures and samples of what they find. But all this just happens without a creator.  Maybe they just don't want to be accountable to a sovereign God for the lives they live and try to make up something without God. They take one fossilized bone that is found and imagine a whole creature that they have never seen and believe that but choose not to believe in a God that is sovereign and watches over the affairs of man. A God that holds us accountable for the lives we live. Many fear global warming and the supposed destruction of this planet as timelines are given but never materialize. Coastal areas were believed to be underwater by now because of ice caps melting and in reality,  some ice caps are actually enlarging in other areas. But don't want to believe that God says this heaven and earth will pass away. Wasn't 1980 given as a time for the destruction of coastal areas going under water. That passed and 2000 was a new timeline given and that passed and today we are given a timeline of another ten to twelve years to control us politically and many believe that but refuse to believe in a sovereign God and a judgment day. I believe in a sovereign God that sent Jesus to die for our sins on a cross. All that would be totally meaningless except that Jesus rose from the grave and sits at the right hand of God. And also dwells in the hearts of those that believe in him and accept his free gift of grace. We choose what to believe or not believe.  God bless, LVZ.

God Alone Knows The Number Of Our Days

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:16   God is the only one that knows the number of our days. People leaving here and it is not Covid -19 that is taking them. In the last year, so many people left the present for eternity, and as I think of the names I can think of only one of my acquaintances that left for eternity due to Covid.  I have a friend whose days are short and Covid kept us from drinking coffee every morning. Before Covid meet at Hardee's for a cup of coffee almost every morning. His days are short and I don't know what to say. We could have had the last year to visit but Covid took it away from us, but that is not what is taking him. Cancer has invaded his body.  There is no mask to protect from cancer. There is no vaccine to protect from cancer. God has the number of our days. There is nothing I can say or do except trust God, he has the number and he is the only one that knows the number. That number did not change with Covid. I saw a 34-year-old mother of two left here for eternity, just a short time ago a 13-year old that we have prayed over for 5 years left for eternity because of bone cancer. A dear friend from church in her 70's left here because of Kidney failure.  I hate that we missed all the cups of coffee and conversation that went with it because of Covid but it is not Covid that is taking him.  I see people so fearful of Covid like an 80-year old wears a mask and a face shield and you can't recognize who she is underneath all that protection and it is not covid that we need to fear. What can I say, I was afraid to go visit because of Covid, and it is cancer taking him. It doesn't make any sense. I have a relative that has only a small portion of his heart working and relatively healthy people are leaving before him. It doesn't make any sense. God alone knows the number of our days. They are written down in his book. He already knows what disease or accident will come our way.  If I die in my sleep, God already knows. If I contract some illness if it is Covid or something else like cancer, God already has it written down.  If my heart just stops someday God already knows what day that will be. Name an age and somebody is leaving. As I get older there are more of them.  Would I do differently if I knew, maybe but I am not sure if even that would change what I do? I know I can go at any time but does it affect me and what I do? Life is short even at plus 60 years it has gone by fast and I know I am in the last third of my life. It could be the last decade, the last month, the last day. Or if God allows I could have another 40 years. Only God knows the number of our days and has them already documented. God bless, LVZ.

Unequal

 Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the Lord. Proverbs 20: 10.  In this country we so so many examples of unequal measures. I don't see how God can be pleased. The latest example is Maxine Waters a member of Congress speaking to protesters telling them to be more confrontational if they don't get the verdict out of the police officer's trial.  Not many months ago they wanted to impeach the president for encouraging peaceful protests. Maxine's words are a disgrace to this country and I doubt we will see any type of reprimand for her at all. She should be expelled from congress for her words. But we see the double standard over and over again. Our country is sick, and we do need healing but unless we can get enough voters to agree and vote these wrongdoers out of office we will not get better.  Close to 50% of this country does not care about honesty and truth. Many care only about winning in whatever they are competing for.  We are facing God's judgment in this country for straying from Godly principles. But even if we are a minority that holds to Godly principles, we must hold fast and continue to stand for Godly principles. That is our only hope of turning this country around. When Abraham was talking to God as God revealed to him his plan to destroy Soddom. Abraham asked if fifty righteous could be found would God relent and spare Soddom? He argued his number down to ten and God said he would not destroy Soddom if ten righteous were found in the city (Genesis 18). In the story, a mere 4 people were led out of the city of Soddom before it was destroyed. I expect we will be led out of the Earth's atmosphere before the Earth is destroyed. Yes God has a plan for Earth and all that we know will pass away. Don't worry about global warming, worry about God's judgment. I believe we as a nation are facing God's judgment for our sins as a nation. How long will God tarry as he gives space to repent? God bless, LVZ. 

Proverbs 21:1-3

 The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases. People may be right in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their heart. The LORD is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices. Proverbs 21:1-3. These three verses stood out to me as I read the Bible this morning. Each one of them could cause enough thought to write a post about. The King's heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord.  God is in charge, God is sovereign. Although I don't understand when a President is elected that I don't like, God is at work. I may not see it. God is outside of time, he sees from the beginning to the end. Although it doesn't make sense, God is at work in some way.  When Trump was elected, it didn't make sense at first but we saw a man that loved his country and did what was best for us and not a man that is feathering his own nest. The rest of the government for the most part congress hated him because they couldn't control him.  Yet President Trump did more for us with one hand tied behind his back because often he was fighting both sides in congress. Didn't see it at first how this arrogant man would bless this nation but I believe he will go down in history as one of the best Presidents ever. The current President, I don't understand, but I believe once again God is at work and perhaps in eternity I will see and understand what God is up to. People may be right in their own eyes but the Lord examines their heart. Once again this hits home. How many times has God exposed wrong motives in my life? God looks at the heart. We may think we are so righteous but God sees the heart. So many in our country today are social justice warriors and think they are really doing something because it sounds good to them. But God sees the heart. Many issues today are actually pointing to a heart issue. The deceit, the lying, the corruption in our government point to heart issues. How can we expect Washington to do right when we vote and send people to Washington that think like us. Honesty and integrity are not that important anymore.  We feel justified to lie and cheat to get our kids into the school we choose. We lie and cheat at elections to get our candidates into office, the end justifies the means. We don't value honesty and integrity anymore.  We can steal time on the job, it is a big company and they can afford it. Our hearts are corrupt. The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices.  God desires our hearts turned towards him, that follow his rules and commands. Sin is a heart issue, so is the corruption we see in our land today. Greed and dishonesty are heart issues. The injustice and cheating at the polls, voting more than once, handing in fraudulent votes are heart issues and our country will not be healed until we deal with our own heart issues. God is watching. Jesus said it would be better for Soddom in the judgment than Capernaum because if Soddom had seen the miracles Capernim saw, Soddom would have repented. How will we fare on judgment day? Have we seen and experienced God's blessings and refused to repent and believe? God bless, LVZ. 

Who Do We Trust?

 There is a saying hindsight is 20/20. Who do we trust? Looking back to a time when my kids were little, we had babysitters from the older kids at our church. We are of the same group, we are special. We have a corner on the gospel market. Sorry for the sarcasm.  I look back and we heard stories of how this babysitter held our little girl out the window upside down and the horror to think what would have happened to our little girl if the babysitter had dropped her on her head. Or somehow a tape recorder had been recording and we heard this babysitter trying to get our two kids to fight each other. Sometimes you look back and think what did you base that trust on? The fact that we went to the same church. We look at our world today and we trust politicians that tell us raising the minimum wage will help the poor, while an economist that studies these things tells us the exact opposite. Who do we trust? The lying politician.  We listen to the news whose stories have been debunked again and again, but I hear it on the news it must be true. Who do we trust and why? What is that trust based on? A political ideology? That makes about as much sense as trusting that babysitter with our kids because she went to the same church. I hate to even listen to the news anymore. It is politically motivated and not based on truth. We are bombarded day after day with lies and half-truths and I think sometimes we believe them.  Who do we trust? I think God is the only one we can really trust. Do we seek him for guidance? Do we make our decisions based on his truths or on what we want or want to believe? I think I am asking some thought-provoking questions, perhaps you can look at examples from your life and ask the same question, who do we trust and why? God bless, LVZ. 

Military Officer Pulled Over

 This Black military officer that got pulled over and pepper-sprayed is a fool. First with those dark windows they had no idea he is military or black. All the officers knew is someone refusing to stop. They can't read his mind. The army officer is playing with them, has his own video set up, refusing at least a dozen commands. He is armed and just like the other officer that was shot in another incident when caught off guard. The other guy was sort of complying and when that officer asked for his gun, the police officer was not concerned for his own safety and ended shot. The police cannot read your mind. They need to control the situation for their own safety as well as yours. This army officer was an idiot and his own video shows how smug he was and noncompliant. People need to obey the police. They ask for hands out the window, put your hands out the window. The police ask you to get out of the vehicle, get out. He did not need to get pepper-sprayed if he had just had an attitude of compliance. When people act like a child or an idiot they put themselves in danger. Just comply. You can see the video of both the officers and the army officer by watching a youtube episode of Brandon Tatum.   Just comply. We are making it dangerous for police. The Brandon Tatum Youtube episode also showed the other traffic stop where the officer was shot like I mentioned about. People like this army idiot make it very dangerous for police. God bless, LVZ. 

Justice?

 Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice comes from the LORD. Proverbs 29:26

I am not sure what to think about the world we live in. We have people hollering for justice, no justice, no peace they say. What they really want is their way, it is not real justice they are after. When I look at what is happening in the trial of the police officer that kneeled on the neck of George Floyd.. The BLM wants the officer in prison for murder. But what if the toxicology reports say it was the actual drugs he ingested to hide the drugs from the police that actually killed him? Will that satisfy the mob? We know it will not satisfy, the only thing that will satisfy a mob is a guilty verdict for murder. I am not trying to defend the police officer here, I just want to talk about justice. If it was the actual drugs ingested that killed George Floyd, the officer perhaps should receive more training but not a life in prison. I would not want some police officer kneeling on my neck but then I wouldn't be fighting the police to start with. True justice comes from God. We may think we get away with stuff here below with a good lawyer and plenty of money to pay them, but when we stand before God there will be no lies told. I have no idea if O J Simpson is guilty or innocent but I do know God knows the truth. If he killed two people and got off for murder here below, he will face God. I went on some kind of a journey in my life, It started with wanting to cross racial boundaries. I did make a conscious effort to cross racial boundaries. I learned some things and then unlearned them in the process. Part of my journey took me to a Black Baptist church. I have attended and been a member of several over the years. I really wanted to be right in my own heart as far as race matters. Now many years later after the stupidity of many in our nation, I have noticed some of the Black pastors I have really trusted are political first and Christian second. If you have political leanings first in your life, it will cloud your judgment. God needs to be first. I am not saying this about liberals only. It stands for all political leanings. If you have read me for any length of time, you will know I lean right politically.  The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left. Ecclesiastes 10:2. This was written long before there was a right and left politically. It means basically what the New Living Translation says. A wise person chooses the right road; a fool takes the wrong one. Ecclesiastes 10:2. Christians should not misuse the word of God any more than a Black Pastor (Black or White) should support BLM.  I have also seen a White Pastor quote the above reference without saying anything about it being a joke. I have jokingly quoted the above scripture myself but I made sure I noted I am saying it in jest. We are living in a day and age when we need to stand for the truth and not a political agenda. The stakes are too high. People will go to hell when they stand before a just God and have not repented of their sins. Politics can make our journey here a little better, but true justice comes from God on Judgment Day. We need to choose the right road, we need to seek justice from God. Really we need mercy and grace from God because we all have sinned. True justice does not come from a mob getting their way, it comes from trusting God. We may not always see true justice here below, but judgment day is coming and politics and lies will not matter on that day. What will matter is what have you done with Jesus? Have you accepted or rejected him? God bless, LVZ. 

Honest Judgments

 “You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measures of length or weight or quantity. Leviticus 19:35   A just balance and scales are the LORD’s; all the weights in the bag are his work. Proverbs 16:11  A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight. Proverbs 11:1

I don't think I am stretching the truth to believe that God desires honesty in our judgments. A lot of these scriptures are actually referring to business type weights and measures, being honest on our dealings in business. I believe this stretches to our political judgments. That is not what we are seeing in our world today. So are we to be honest in our business dealings but when it comes to politics, honesty doesn't matter?  I think the principle is the same. That is why our political climate today bothers me. I know I have told this story before, a liberal I worked with in our ECAT office said to me during the George W. Bush reelection campaign that she thought it was OK that they used forged National Guard documents to discredit George W. Bush because they were trying to keep him from winning.  I remember when Richard Nixon was disgraced during Watergate, I said something like, "everybody is doing it, he just got caught". Like it was OK to be dishonest in politics. I remember when Bill Clinton was disgraced in his impeachment, one of my liberal co-workers said, "it is his personal life, leave him alone".   Referring of course to Bill Clinton and Monica.  There are injustices done in our land today. Was there cheating in the last election? Many of us believe there was. But when the left wins, it doesn't matter no investigation is needed. But if the right had won thee would be investigation after investigation.  I firmly believe because of the principle of honesty taught in the scriptures above a Christian should not cheat in an election any more than in his business dealings.  Our society seems to be OK with cheating? If it is rich people paying to get their kids into a certain school, some have spent time in jail. Or insider trading as Martha Stewart was caught and spent time in jail.  On the job, I saw people lie about open jobs or work on home projects and their work suffered. Some of these were Christian claiming individuals. It was dishonest and I believe God cares about honesty in voting also. I do not believe it would be OK for Christians to join in with the left or the right in their corrupt practices when it comes to corruption in politics. I believe God wants and still desires honesty in all areas of life. Even politics. But when we allow dishonesty to creep into our lives in so many other areas it should not be a surprise that it has also become a major part of our political fabric. We don't care how we win just so we win. Business, sports ( I think of underinflated footballs) church, family, and the list can go on and on. God bless, LVZ..