A muskrat comes out of hiding and looks up at me. Should he face the world or go back under?
Today is one of those days. Really blah. A low energy day. A day of transition. A day of testing. I don’t even know how to start this blog. Let’s see. What to write about? I woke up this morning in a fog. I didn’t want to get going. I sat on the edge of my bed for the longest time—trying to decide: should I start getting dressed, or maybe just flop back into bed? I had very low energy, even to think things through. Eventually, the battle was won over the bed. I got up. I did my regular things: eye drops, meds, some TV news, my quiet time, then off to breakfast where I am now—at Perkins. I have an omelet, hash browns, fruit and coffee. I glanced through the paper. Nothing worth reading. Usually the comic strips give me a pick-up. Not so much today. They reflect sort of how I feel. Dustin was rejected by a couple gals in a bar; Garfield was told by his cat girlfriend, “I am cute, and you…well, you’re you.” Suddenly I thought of myself. I think I use to be cute, but no more. Oh well. I’ll just be me.
Besides being a day of blah and low energy, it also happens to be a day of change and transition. I just finished reading the bible through, and today I started again in Genesis; and I will also be reading the Psalms. I look forward to it. Hey, looking up! I sort of finished writing on all of my blog categories at least once—except a couple that I’m waiting on. I still need to send something out about my books. I hate trying to sell myself, but I have to do it. I mean, I think some people will benefit from them, so I really should do some promotion.
I also will be telling my story—sort of my autobiography, in many continuous blogs. I’ve never even though much of doing that, but I think maybe it would be a benefit, both for myself and others. There is so much in my life that is blank—no memories. I hope that some things will come back to me. I hope and pray also that somehow I could be a benefit to others.
Well, I’ve eaten my breakfast, the coffee’s cold, and I need to get going—do something. My energy is slowly coming back. I feel somewhat revived! Thank you, Lord.
Today I will begin to write about what I have learned over the years on how to maintain good health. And I think I will start in this blog with talking about my colon. I have heard—and I believe it—that most of the health problems people have begin in the colon. That makes sense to me. A clean colon makes for a healthy body.
For about 35 years now, every morning, I have used a colon cleanser. Very simply, I just mix a heaping teaspoon of psyllium husk in a tall glass of water, and I drink it the first thing in the morning before breakfast (you must take it before you eat). In addition, I also eat unsalted sunflower nuts all during the day. The combination of those things really does it for me. It keeps me going regularly and keeps my pluming (colon) clean. I told my doctor what I was doing and he seemed impressed! In favor of it.
I was trying to think back on when I first decided to start this ritual. I think it was right after a very frightening thing happened to me 30 years ago. I fainted. And it happened during a church service. Very embarrassing. I was just glad I was sitting toward the back. I had blacked out, and I know why. I was badly constipated (and maybe had a touch of the flu) and my body had shut down. I know that that doesn’t happen to most people. Everybody’s different. I’m a fainter. I take after my mother. She’s a fainter. Anyway, my point is, my body was reacting to what was happening in my colon. I was clogged up. For many people, they develop colon cancer. I’m glad that hasn’t happened to me. The way I eat sometimes, I’m surprised. But I know the colon drink and the nuts has helped.
I know that most people would say that, had they been in my situation, they would go to a doctor right away. And maybe I did, I can’t remember. If you feel that you should go to a doctor, then by all means, go. But I also want to say that there are many instances where you can just use your common sense. There are many home remedies out there that won’t hardly cost you anything and will have no side effects. I don’t think we should regard doctors as gods and just automatically think they have all the answers. Many of our health problems we can figure out ourselves—after we have done some research.
And if your doctor is a good one, he will tell you the same thing. I have found many times that if I call my doctor and talk to a nurse first, she will ask me, well, what have you tried? A good doctor or nurse will assume that you will first put on you thinking cap and try to figure it out first. Maybe in past days doctors would want you to rely only on them; but, I think it seems more and more these days that doctors want you to use you own brain and try to figure out what your body is telling you, and maybe to try eating healthier foods.
Yes, in many cases, before spending so much money on doctor’s visits, you may want to do your own self-evaluation. I find the internet to be very helpful, and there are so many good health books out there. I hope this discussion was helpful. I would appreciate any comments.
Please note that what I have said here is only my opinion. I have no medical degrees. Again, as I have mentioned above, if you think you should see a doctor about you condition, then be all means make an appointment.
I don’t remember much in regard to church during my younger years. Our family moved a lot, so nothing was too stable. The highlight during those years was when I was saved at a Free Church camp. That must mean that we were attending a Free Church. I remember every detail about the day I was saved, but nothing about church.
A couple years later, when I was about 15, I slightly remember the Presbyterian church. What I like most about that church was being on the church basketball team. I think it was also during that time that I got involved with a para-church group called Campus Crusade for Christ—their Junior High ministry. That wasn’t exactly church, but to me it was much better than church. It was a fun club with a lot of fun activities. And we also did Bible studies and invited inspiring speakers to our meetings. This group also lasted through high school, and I became very involved. It was where my spiritual life first began to grow. One challenging part of the group was being trained to witness; and we would go out to Lake Calhoun beach and witness to people. We shared a booklet called the Four Spiritual Laws. Me and a friend always went together. We actually were able to see some people pray to receive Christ right there on the beach. What a thrill!
During those high school years, I remember going to church every Sunday, but I really wasn’t too involved. My involvement was in the Campus Crusade for Christ group. Some people are against para-church groups. But I thank God for them. If it wasn’t for that group I don’t know where I would be. It has really served a good purpose in my life in growing me up spiritually—putting me on the right track.
After high school I enlisted in the Marine Corps and went to Vietnam. It was tough but God sustained me. At the end of my time in the service, when I was at Camp Lajune, N.C., I ran into another para-church group, The Navigators. For the next 4 years, even after I was discharged, I was in ministry with them on the Marine base. I lived in Jacksonville N.C. and commuted to the Marine base to do bible studies and evangelism with them.
After that period of 4 years I moved home to Minnesota. That was when, for the first time, I began to be more regularly involved in the local church. I was in the choir and also involved in the single ministry. From then on until now I have always been more regular in church.
I think it’s so important to have regular fellowship with other believers, and also to use whatever gifts you have to minister in the church. I also think it’s important to come every Sunday to the church service to hear the preaching of the word and to worship in song. I look forward to coming to church every Sunday.
The place where I go now for worship is actually a city community center. We are a new church and don’t have our own building. But there is plenty of room at the center and they don’t mind at all that we are there. My main ministry is to help set up for worship before the service, and then tear it down after the service. There is a team of about ten of us that do it—and we love working together for the glory of God.
This is my work truck. I had a small painting job at this location.
My work. It’s been a while since I had work. But I’m retired. I started a house painting business in 1981. At the beginning it was just me and one employee—a good friend. We had no contacts so I had to advertise. I put adds in the local newspaper, and I also made small, half-sheet fliers to distribute. Sometimes I distributed them by hand, door-to-door, with help from nieces and nephews. Other times I paid to have them delivered as an insert. That kept us busy, just busy enough.
The summers were good, but the winters were spars. After the first couple years I hired more help. That was fun during the summer time, but during the winter months I had to lay them off. There was just not enough work. So in the spring time I usually had to rehire and retrain people—because the ones I had before, had gotten other jobs. But then there were a couple guys who kept coming back—the faithful.
Well, I don’t want to bore you by giving you a year by year run down. But there were some interesting stories to tell. Working with a crew of guys is always fun—but sometimes aggravating for me, the boss. I remember, one of my guys would always call me Boss, or Boss man. I hated that! Because I didn’t think he was genuine. Yea, I had some characters—all different. Those were the days.
I retired when I was 63, seven years ago. But I didn’t totally stop working. At first, I cut about a third out of my hours. Today my hours are cut about in half. I have never had so much work that I was able to save a lot. So I figured that with my Social Security payment I still need to work some.
But you know, I really think it’s for the best. I like working a little. At 69 I don’t feel much like working full bore, but I think its good for me to work a little. And I like seeing faithful clients. I have some clients that I have done work for, for over 30 years. For some of them, I have painted their entire house 4 or 5 times, or more. Some of them call me for work almost every year. And I try to call all of my clients once a year, just to keep in touch—but of course I will ask them if they need any painting. Out of about 30 calls I get roughly one job out of it.
I’m waiting for someone to call me right now. I am ready for a job. A small job. This retirement at times sucks! All I do is sit around writing, blogging, reading, and doing my chores. Other things too, and it’s getting very routine. I need a job. I’m getting too lazy.
I’m afraid retirement for me will never be typical—like rich folks. You know, traveling and golfing and going on cruises. I will have to keep working as much as necessary to have enough in savings for when I get too old to work. I have to keep a tight budget. And it will always be, for me, a life of trusting God. That sounds good to me. He will provide and keep me joyful.
When I was about 14 years old I was sexually abused. I won’t go into it, but it happened 3 or 4 times and it has had a very disturbing and harmful effect on my life. I know that many have been abused (and raped) much more than me, and my devastation is small compared to theirs. I can imagine the pain and bitterness and anger they feel, and how they have cried out to God and found no help. I know that there are many young girls and boys who have gone through much—much more than me. And we should pray for a them that God will hear their cries.
The Outcry to the Lord against Sodom and Gomorrah
When Abraham was called by the Lord to go into the land of Israel, he brought with him Sarah his wife and his nephew Lot. And, as it happened, Lot settled in the beautiful valley of the Jordan near the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. And the men there were wicked and sinned greatly against the Lord (Gen. 13:13). Well, the bible tells us that the outcry to the Lord against Sodom and Gomorrah was so great that He decided to destroy the cities (and the people) by fire (Gen. 18:20; 19:13).
I’m not sure if we know for sure who was crying out to the Lord. At first I assumed it was all the people in the cities who were being sexually abused. Then I thought that since the wicked abusers also suffer a penalty for their perversion (Rom. 1:27), they may also be crying out. I also have considered that it could be angels who have witnesses the evil doings and have cried out. I’m not sure if we can know for certain; but certainly, it would come from the innocent young people.
Nonetheless, if you read the account of the evil there (from Gen. 18:20-19:29), it will make you sick to read just how lustful and perverted the men of Sodom were—both young and old, and how they came at Lot and his two guests (angels who looked like men) in order to have sex with them. Those cities were undeniably wicked; and by the description, the people had given themselves over to unnatural lusts and homosexual perversion. Thus, God had no option but to destroy them all, except Lot and his two daughters; they were spared.
God Will Hear Our Cries and Bring Justice
Let the people cry out, and God will hear them. It may take a while, but He will hear us and He will bring justice and vengeance to our enemies. In the book of Revelation (Rev. 6:10-11), during the Tribulation, many will be martyred for their faith, and from heaven they will cry out to God to avenge their blood. It says.
And they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, wilt Thou refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, should be completed also.
In this passage we see that justice is so important. That God will not let the guilty go unpunished. He will hear the cries of those who have been sinned against, and He will judge the guilty.
God’s Commandment to Us Regarding Homosexuality
We have already seen (in Genesis) how God treated the people who were inflicted with that sin. It became so bad that He had to destroy them all. Eventually God rose up a people who would follow Him and be His own. Through them he would show the world His will. It was through His servant Moses that He gave this commandment to all men: “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.”
The Progression of Sin Leading to And Beyond Homosexuality
In Romans 1:18-32, Paul shows us the progression of sin, and through it all how His wrath is revealed against the sinner. Note how the sin of unnatural affection, or homosexuality, comes about through man’s own choices. Here is the passage followed by the 7-point progression.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and, although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
They suppressed the truth by their wickedness. The truth about God was plain to them, but they chose not to believe it.
Their foolish heart was darkened. They became blind to the truth.
They became idol worshippers. They chose to worship other things instead of God.
God gave them up to their sinful desires. They chose sexual impurity with one another.
God gave them over to shameful and unnatural lusts and unnatural relations. Men had sexual relations with men and women with women.
They received the due penalty in themselves for their perversion. We are not told what this is, but we may assume it is guilt, sorrow and disease.
God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they would do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, etc. (from vv. 29-32).
After my devastating divorce, I soon began to consider dating. I’m not sure what I was thinking. Maybe just filling a lonely gap, or maybe I was seeking the thrill of meeting someone, or being with a woman in a romantic way. It’s been thirty years, but I sort of remember going on line. Yes, it was a Christian dating site, and they had you answer all kinds of questions to match you up with someone. I remember getting 3 or 4 dates out of it. But I didn’t date anyone more than a couple times. Truthfully, I wasn’t interested in getting married; I just wanted a fun date—or whatever. I always tried to be honest with my date, and when I would tell them that I had no interest in marriage, that seemed to turn them off. And I can understand why. They were seeking a mate, and I wasn’t. Part of me thought that maybe if I found the right one, I would change my mind about marriage. But there was a stronger pull that was telling me NO. I gradually came to the conclusion that God was telling me to remain single. But I think He was letting me date for a while to show me, in the way He was speaking to me, that I shouldn’t pursue marriage, that it would not be His will.
Settling into Singleness
So God won, and I decided to settle into singleness. I think the dating phase lasted only about 3 years. And since then, for about 26 years now, I have been resolved to singleness and being date free. And you know, God has been good. He has blessed me. He has cared for me and has shown me that I can be content living by myself. For a few years I had a male roommate. That had its good points and bad points. But I actually think it’s better for me to live alone. Overall, life has been good. God is good.
God Approves of Singleness
Though in Genesis 2:18 God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone, God also has gifted many of us to be single—to remain unmarried and chaste. 1 Corinthians 7 lays it out for us. Paul was unmarried and he wrote, “I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God” (v. 7). God gives some the gift of marriage with a mate, and others the gift of singleness. Paul wrote, “I say to the unmarried and to the widows: “It is good for them if they remain even as I am” (v. 8). Later in the chapter he wrote, “Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife” (v. 27). Again, he wrote, “I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife” (vv. 32-33).
I don’t want to be harsh toward married people, but what Paul says here is true. Since I am no longer married, I have found it much easier to serve the Lord. But at the same time, I know that that doesn’t mean I am free of responsibilities. I still have household duties and bills to pay, etc.
Singleness Can Be More Challenging
In some ways being single is harder to live a holy life, especially if you are not a responsible person, if you are lazy, and if you are not self-controlled. Such a person must pray more, be in the word more, and take hold of himself—or the devil and the flesh will take advantage of him. That person must always on his guard.
Let’s see, my interest in Bible prophecy began when I was about 8 or 9 years old, when I began hearing people talk about the Rapture. I can’t remember who it was, whether it was a preacher or maybe my mother. Anyway, they would be trying to describe how quickly Jesus would come and take us away. They would say it that will be as fast as the twinkling of your eye. And then they would try to explain how fast that would be. And I remember someone saying that it won’t be the blinking of the eye but the twinkling of the eye.
Well that was the start of it. And that thought continued to intrigue me for many more years. Gradually my knowledge of the bible increased as I read more and more of it, especially after I was saved at age 12. Oh yes, and one of the things that excited me and turned me toward salvation is the knowledge that heaven would be a real place. I remember talking to my camp counselor about it. I had the idea that heaven would be like a dream, but he told me that it would be just as real as our life now, and even better.
So that’s the early background I had in bible prophecy. Not a lot, but those few pleasant thoughts of the Rapture and heaven really took hold. I remember, along the way, that I read some books on the subject. One was by Hal Lindsey. I read parts of it, and it seemed interesting, but I think it overwhelmed me a bit. So, I chose not to strain my brain on the subject. For the most part, I just held to the belief that someday Jesus would come to take me away. That’s all I really needed to know.
Well, years went by and God kept opening the door to more and more prophecy teaching. In 1977 I began attending Northwestern Bible College in Minnesota. I liked all my professors; and one in particular, Dr. Edwin Hartill was a good prophecy teacher. The classes from him were all excellent: Hermeneutics, Bible Survey, and Revelation. He definitely believed in the pre-tribulation rapture, and he wasn’t afraid to teach it.
During the same time my church put on a week-long seminar by J. Dwight Pentecost (a professor from Dallas Theological Seminary). He was teaching from his new book, Things to Come. What a treat! What a great book! I remember him saying something like, when it comes to the Pre-tribulation Rapture, I am not only dogmatic about it, I am doubly dogmatic! His book lays it out quite well. I have the book, and whenever I want to know anything about bible prophecy, I can usually find it there.
A few years went by, and I think it was about 1993 when I began going to these bible prophecy conferences once a year. They helped me tremendously in my faith and kept me looking up. One particular speaker that everyone liked was Dr. David Larson. He was the pastor at First Covenant Church in Minneapolis.
It’s been a few years since I’ve been to a prophecy conference, but I do listen to Jan Markell’s weekly radio broadcast, where she hosts excellent speakers from all over the country. They are so good. I have also been doing some writing. This I think has helped me the most, because it has forced me to read and study the subject. So far, I have been able to write two books on bible prophecy: Biblical Evidence of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture, and The Coming Millennial Kingdom. Both of these are self-published under my name, and printed by Lulu.com. I also have a another book coming out soon, called, After the Rapture: What Happens on Earth and in Heaven after the Rapture.
So there you have it: how I became interested in bible prophecy. And my interest remains strong. At the same time, I feel sad that so many have little interest in the subject and so many preachers purposely ignore the subject. I don’t know for sure, but I have been told that most of the Seminaries are teaching against the Pre—tribulation Rapture and are instructing their students that the subject of prophecy should be regarded as nothing more than a distraction.
I think I can see how this wrong teaching fits today—that is, how it is a sign of His soon coming. For we are told in 2 Peter 3:3 that in the last days there will be “mockers,” saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?” And we also see in these days that people are not enduring sound doctrine, but are listening only to those who tell them what they want to hear (2 Tim. 4:3).
But I am determined to seek the whole truth, which includes bible prophecy. We must open our ears to all of the word of God. It is all inspired by God and we must pay attention to it. The truth is, Jesus is coming very soon. He said in His word, “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done” (Rev. 22:12).
I hesitate to write on this subject because I don’t always feel close to Him. Sad but true. Many may say that they feel the Lord’s nearness all the time. Good for them. That’s the way it should be. And I strive for that. The Psalmist said, “The nearness of God is my good” (Ps.73:28). Sometimes I really feel His nearness, but many times I feel dragged down by my sins. Sin is the whole cause of distance and we need His mercy. He is always there waiting to lift us up.
In terms of my relationship with God, well, His love for me I know is constant. But my love for Him is ever wavering. I am a bit of a rebel. I know I am too much in the world. I let myself see too much of the world’s entertainment. If it wasn’t for the mercy of the Lord, I would be engulfed in sin’s miseries. But He again and again pulls me out of it—causes me to come to Him. This whole thing, this post, sounds like a confession. I suppose it is. Truthfully, that’s what my relationship with God is—my sins and His mercy and grace. I wade in the mud, then I come to Him, and He cleans me up with soap and water.
I longingly wait for the time when we all will be continually sharing His glory, when all sin and evil will be eradicated and forgotten, and when all our tears will be wiped away.
WASGINGTON DC, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES – 2013/05/30: The White House, home of the United States President. (Photo by John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Today is President’s Day. It’s the day we celebrate Lincoln and Washington’s birthday.
The Washington Monument The Lincoln Memorial
But I think we should really celebrate all the great Presidents. What makes a great president? To me, a great president is someone who thinks of the country more than himself. He thinks of making the country prosperous more than the wealth and power he may inherit for himself. Also, and more importantly, he lifts up God, supports prayer, and does the best he can to squash evil and corruption. Both President Washington and Lincoln did this.
I think this is also a day to think of President Trump and to pray that he would be continually focused on doing what is good for this country and to please the God of heaven. And I know that he thinks that way. Yes, he has asked for prayer that the will of God be done. I know that.
And we should pray that in all of the President’s efforts he will enact policies to rid our country of evil and evil workers. Pray that he will be working to establish justice and to promote godliness and prayer in our land.
This is the trail I walked on just after I wrote this post.
My retirement. Let’s see. Where to start. Life is a little slower these days. Everything is in small increments. I plan it that way. I am 69 years old. I have been officially retired since I turned 63. Or was it 64? Actually, I’m only semi-retired. I still work a little. I have had a residential painting business since 1981, and I occasionally get calls from faithful clients. I am proud to say that most of them still like me and know I will do a good job for them—so if it’s a small job, I don’t mind doing it. I can always use the money.
It’s Saturday morning and I’m at Perkins, trying to decide if I should get pie. I may not be able to resist—even though I had a great breakfast. Yes, pie would be good. Pie and coffee. Ah, life is good. God is good!
Now that I’m on the subject, I will share my breakfast schedule. I don’t know why, but much of my doings is scheduled these days: my eating, my time, my jobs, my duties—everything. I like to think ahead and know what I’m doing. I guess it makes me feel more secure and in control. But I know that as a Christian I must also leave room for the Holy Spirit to lead me. So I will not be too set to my to do list.
So my breakfast schedule is this: Saturday is Perkins, Sunday is coffee and doughnuts at church, Monday I will eat at Panera—Coffee and steel cut oatmeal, Tuesday at McDonalds (cheaper), Wednesday I will eat oatmeal with fresh pineapple at home (I make it), Thursday and Friday are a little more flexible, but I usually go back to Panera again. And when I go out to eat, I always stop at my favorite gas station to buy a newspaper, and I usually bring a book too. I do most of my reading when I eat.
I don’t think I mentioned that I am single—divorced. But I’m happy to be single. It gives me more freedom to do what I want to do. I don’t think I’m a selfish person. I like people. But I also enjoy living by myself. I regard it as a gift of God; and I think He has called me to it.
I was reading this morning from Psalm 139:5, how God has enclosed me behind and before, and He has His hand on me. He not only keeps me safe; He keeps me feeling secure, and I know that He is always near me. He takes me gently through the different phases of life. He knows what I need, and even gives me things (services) that He wants me to do. He keeps me busy doing His work.
Mainly, I think that the service He has given me is writing. For the last 30 years I have been writing as a self-publisher. I also do blogs. I have two other blogs going besides this one. So writing keeps me very busy, and I am glad to be doing it. I don’t make much money on it, but I’m still glad to do it. It’s the Lord’s work and I know that the benefit people will get from it will be my heavenly reward. It is now filling up my heavenly treasure chest. Well, I think this post is finished, and I didn’t even have pie. But I feel fine—very content.
Stephen Nielsen 