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’ve been reading the story of Corrie ten Boom. I was surprised at the information told regarding Hitler and the Third Reich—from Corrie’s perspective. Back then they didn’t have up-to-date news as we do now, so the takeover of Hitler was quite a shock to the European people. Here are a few quotes.
A growing evil appeared on the eastern horizon…a socialism of the most heartless kind (this seems much like we feel now in America).
It is called the National Socialist German workers Nazi party.
They were called progressives (sound familiar?). In this Nazi party the poor, the old, the feebleminded, and the handicapped were enemies of progress. And soon the Jews became enemies too.
The leader among the Nazi party, Hitler, appeared laughable at first, comical, then maddening.
This man Hitler sounded like the devil himself…he was afraid of no one…he was diabolically shrewd.
They walked into Czechoslovakia and took over the entire country. They invaded Poland, Norway, and Denmark.
The Dutch people of Haarlem (where Corrie lived) walked the streets in a daze. Within two days the Dutch army surrendered.
The Germans were very well-organized.
Of course, the worst of it was quite hidden from everyone—the concentration camps and the brutal extermination of so many Jews. In my reading, I’m just getting into the parts when they were hiding Jews behind fake walls. It was quite an operation—a labor of love!
My Work
I just finished a long painting job, taking all of August and into Sept. The job had good points and bad point. I’ll get the bad points over first. There were a lot of high areas where ladders and roof jacks were involved and as a result I now have some rib injuries; but it is healing up. And painting the high fence around the yard was not fun—trying to get in behind the flowers and tall bushes.
But the good points I think far out-weighed the bad points. The people, which I have known for over thirty years, are very kind., They invited me for lunch every day, and they also were very complimentary of all my work and paid me well. I will keep them in my prayers as they are very old. I have been retired for a about ten years—but still working. Maybe now, after my rib injuries, I will start taking my retirement more serious
I’m sort of at a standstill. I just finished reading a biography of Oswald Chambers, Abandoned To God. It was so good. I liked reading about Biddy, his wife, and about his daughter Kathleen almost as much as about Oswald. It was a shame that he died so young—but he did so much in those short years.
Politically the country seems to be in a bit of chaos with trump almost being killed (God saved him) and Biden calling it quits. In the mean time the economy is steadily sinking.
Personally, I seem to be just barely holding together. I’m glad I have my book writing to keep me going. I think everyone needs something to keep his mind working—working for the Lord. But I can’t say too much for my body. I guess at my age I can’t expect too much. I walk every other day. Today is my walking day. I have to choose where I will walk. I have four or five places. I always bring a camera with to get nature scenes: flowers, birds, clouds, etc. Most of the park people are very good here in the Twin cities (in MN) to keep up the parks and plant so many wild flowers. I think that is so important.
I hope and pray that you all are surviving the summer heat and whatever you are going through. We all have our own trials. We here are having a normal July—in the low 80’s now with more humidity, yuk.
I’m retired but I do have a painting job starting in a week that will last for a month or so. I pray I will be up for it. Any job I get these days requires a lot of prayer. There is some ladder work to do. I’m sure I will do fine. I do appreciate all of my followers blogs—stories, poems, pictures. I read as many as I can. Take care.
I’ll start with a few complaints. Aside from an aggravating health situation, the weather here in Minnesota is most unpleasant. It’s dark, cloudy, humid, cold, and dreary. I don’t mind it being cold, but I like a sunny day. God, please give me a sunny day!
Respect for Marriage Act
Is that an oxymoron? If I didn’t know what it was I would praise it. Marriage is a beautiful thing. And though I am divorced, I still believe it is good—as is all of God’s creation. But this Respect for Marriage Act is a farce. It is telling us that we have to respect the so-called marriage between people of the same gender. Well, I don’t! True marriage is only between a man and a woman. Anything else is a perversion and is dishonoring of their bodies; they are changing the truth into a lie, and are changing what is natural into that which is against nature. Consequently, they do not like to retain God in their thoughts and they have given themselves over to a reprobate mind (from Romans 1:24-28). But marriage between a man and a woman is good and honoring to God. It is what God designed from the beginning—the two shall be one flesh.
My Reading
For some reason I have gotten into reading about African American history, and recently about Booker T. Washington. Wow! He was such a great man. He has done so much for his race and also for the poor whites and all people in the south after the civil war. He was a great educator. His emphasis in his college was to get his students working in a trade as well as into books. And so many from his college became great leaders and moral people, as they were trained also biblically and morally. And it was a hard task, because blacks coming out of slavery then were kept from any kind of education. Most did not know how to read or write or how to keep themselves clean or in good health. Hence when they came to school, Booker T. trained them in the art of bathing and brushing their teeth, etc., as well as how to read and write. And they were also expected to learn farming and building. All of their school buildings were built by the students. And they even made their own bricks!
Retirement
Retirement is a big change for me. Sometimes I feel that I am getting lazy. I think I need to force myself to walk more and work more—even though I am retired. I do like to keep up with my customers and paint for them when they ask me for work. Lately, I have been asking myself, what is retirement? What should I be doing? How should I be winding down? I don’t want to be like some who spend all of their time in front of a TV.
I’ll start telling you about my writing. My life these days is mostly about my writing. It seems like as soon as I finish one book, I am raring to go start another one. I’m writing now a book about the Tribulation. I’m liking it so far. It is blessing me to see how everything is fitting together. And it is true that those who read and study the book of Revelation will be blessed! I think that when I get about half way through I will start blogging the book—a little at a time, to let everyone see it. I’m getting to the point in my writing that not much editing, or rewriting is needed. So, I just keep moving on. I like it better that way. No need to keep trying to perfect it.
I’ve changed churches. It’s a bigger church and it is much more according to the way I believe. But I haven’t gotten too plugged in yet. I need to do that. I may want to get into a small group if I can find one. Fellowship is so important, but for some reason I find it hard connecting with people. I’m sort of an introvert. But when I make friends, I like being with them. I find that I am energized by good friends.
Well, I should go. I’m getting new tires for my truck today! And an oil change. The Lord is good.
It turns out that I’ll be waiting two hours for my truck tires. So, I’ll write a little more as I wait. It’s so beautiful to see the leaves changing color. I think God has designed it that way—that we will have some variety in what we see and experience from season to season. This time of year is especially nice in Minnesota. It will stay in the 50’s for a while—jacket weather. I actually like it better than warm weather. It’s more refreshing.
I’m running out of books to read. I usually have a few on my shelf waiting for me—so this is uncommon. I’m thinking that I will concentrate on more bible reading while I wait for Bill O’Reilly’s next book to come out. And that—bible reading—I’m sure is a good thing and will bring new blessings and rewards.
Sadness. Lately I have been feeling depressed over the shootings and rioting. I’m not really on one side or the other, but I think if people would respect the police more and if parents would instill that respect in their kids, things would be better. If the police aren’t immediately obeyed, there is bound to be trouble; things could get out of control fast. I’m sick about all the riots and the deaths. But we can’t cancel the police. They are here to keep law and order and most of them do that well.
I should also say that God knows all about what is going on in the world, and so we (I) need not be anxious. So, I will pray about it and leave it to Him. I can only so much according to how He directs me, and then He will finish it up according to His will. God is in control of all things, and when we (I) understand that we (I) will have more peace.
Faith. The idea that most of our troubles result from our little faith has been churning in my mind. When Jesus was speaking about how to overcome anxiety and worry by observing the birds and the flowers, He concluded by saying, “O ye of little faith.” And that is the summation of most of our problems, isn’t it? We just fail to believe in Him, that He will take care of us and bring us hope and good things; that He will show us His love and put us at peace and in His joy.
The paths of the Lord are mercy and truth.
He pardons our iniquities
and teaches us to fear Him.
He tells us to keep looking to Him
and to trust Him to deliver us.
(from Psalm 25)
Walking, working and writing. I walk most to enjoy nature and to photograph nature. You will see my photos in my blogs. But I also walk for exercise and to feel better.
I’m a retired painter, but I still work once in a while just to keep busy and to see my customers. I have a few clients that I know and have worked for for a over twenty years. It is good to see them and to keep painting for them.
I’m also a writer and a self-publisher. I enjoy writing books, but I haven’t sold too many. Hopefully that will change soon when I go with a different publisher. I’m thinking of Xulon. They are a Christian company so I think that will help. I’m writing a book now on the Tribulation. Hopefully it won’t take long to write, and I’m sure you will soon be getting some of the book excerpts.
Stephen Nielsen 