I had an early breakfast this morning—and now I’m wondering what to do. Ah, retirement! The mornings are late because of the slow rising of the sun, but today I got up early anyway. I’ve been reading Confronting the Presidents, by Bill O’Reilly. He has given the readers a personal side of the presidents. Anyway, it’s very interesting. I always knew Woodrow Wilson was a racist, but now I understand why. His father was a racist and also a minister. With that combination evil will triumph. Racism was supported by righteousness; but a deceptive righteousness! And President Wilson paid for it by many family and personal tragedies. Sin will be punished!
With so many of our Presidents being unchristian, it is a wonder that our country has lasted this long. But I pray for a turnaround soon—if Jesus doesn’t come before that.
I will read my Jews for a Jesus newsletter. It’s a great ministry!
I called my daughter yesterday in North Carolina. I asked how the kids were doing—she home schools three of them. She seems to like it but said that her oldest is kind of slow at reading and maybe has some dyslexia. I told her that sounds like me. I never was a good reader, and I’m still slow, but I like to read things that interest me.
Later that evening I got out one of my college text books: A History of Philosophy. Good grief! It was and still is incomprehensive to me! I can’t read one sentence without stopping and rereading it. And even in High School they tried to get you reading all the classical stuff. That was hard for me, and still is. I feel bad that I couldn’t do it. And I really tried. Come to think of it, I struggled with reading all through High School and felt bad because of it. I went to a Christian college, and that was better because I could pick and choose my courses. And I developed a strong desire to write research papers; and so, I could pick and choose the books I wanted to use.
I encouraged my daughter to let her oldest child read at her own pace and read only what interests her. I think that is so important—important for me too, so that I don’t get discouraged. I read a book on Lewis and Clark. I read it slow (and twice), and I really enjoyed it. What an adventure. In the last few months I’ve been reading a series on the Heroes of the Faith, by different authors. All the books are very readable—I suppose by design. I’m reading about George Muller now. Before that I read about Martin Luther, John Wesley, Charles Finney, and others. I’m loving it. It’s too bad my High School teachers didn’t give me more readable choices. Why were they pushing the classics so hard? Books (text books) I had no interest in. I think schools should figure out how to teach kids at their own pace—and their own level of learning. I know that some kids are really good readers and brilliant. But others are slower (for one reason or another). And we can’t just ignore them and fail them; or in some cases find a way to pass them on to the next grade without helping them.
I’ll start off with my overall feelings—how I feel, generally, about everything, about every little thing. I mean it seems like so many things are beginning to pile up on me and making me anxious. I suppose that’s why I think it’s time for an update. I need a vent. I need to put things in perspective, to organize, and most of all to bring things to the Lord—the One who knows it all and who cares.
I can’t find an adequate description of how things are with me. There are fears and worries and tiredness and some regrets and some health issues and just a lack of clarity about things. And then I worry about what is happening to me. Okay, I have a list I want to work through—mainly for my sake, but you can listen in if you want.
The News
I heard the other day that, I think it was about 65% of people, don’t believe the news—TV news, newspapers, all of it. News people these days have an agenda. They aren’t true journalists. They have a plan. They write the way they want to influence people. For instance, the reason that they are writing in the papers and on TV news about the Jan. 6th subpoenas and about those who are refusing to come, it is all an effort to get people to think badly about what Donald Trump did—so that they will think twice about voting for him. Again, its all politics. Its all about stopping Trump. It’s so sick! I could say more, but I think that’s enough on news for now.
My Reading
I’m reading United States of Socialism, by Dinesh D’Souza. Generally, I think it’s a good book—very informative and true. But sometimes, like the news, it gets to be too negative. I guess I have to also be reading the Word. It’s like drinking coffee. For every gulp of coffee, we should also take one or two gulps of water, especially on hot days when I am working outside. My doctor told me that.
My Writing
I’m an author, so most of my writing will be on a book. And then I will transfer parts of it to my blog. I’m writing now on the Tribulation. That sounds pretty negative, but I’m actually being blessed by the writing—because I’m using the bible as my main source. I’ve gotten to the point now where most of what I write comes out good on the first try—no editing requited. But recently that’s not been true—because of a hard passage in Revelation. Anyway, I was fairly sure of this one thing I wrote. Then last night because of additional reading on it, I know now that I will have to change it. It must be changed. And when you are writing a biblical commentary on a passage, it is critical to get it right. And when you do finally get it right after the second or third try it will always be a blessing and worth the effort.
My Jobs
It’s always nice to take time off. But I’m getting the itch now to go back to work—at least a little. Oh, I’m a house painter if you didn’t know. I’m retired, but I’m thinking that as long as I feel good enough to work, and want to, I will. I like painting and I especially like doing it to help people. It’s something God has gifted me at and put me into. However, it seems that because of my aging, I have more worries about it—about every aspect of it: doing it right, not falling off a ladder, pleasing people, all of it. Well, I’ve come to the end now on this blog and I feel better. Thank the Lord.
Stephen Nielsen 