DAILY LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN FAMILY

AARON AND CHRISTINA WEDDING--Shawnee, OK.

2012-01-01T18:00:00.000-08:00

Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. John 2:2

Our youngest son, Aaron, was married to the love of his life, Christina, on January 1, 2012 at 6PM. He became an instant dad with Christina's 12 year old son, Tyler. We are thankful and feel very blessed to have him as our grandson. We had family and friends as far away as Florida and South Texas in attendance as well as many local friends and Brethren from our church. Our Pastor, Ruben Marquez of Shawnee, officiated. Reception was held in our fellowship hall. The weather for traveling to and from and during the wedding was a blessing from God with sunny days and temps in the 60's. Thank You Lord. You're awesome! All the time!

Rebecca and I are thankful to have another daughter, and that she is a Christian woman. We are thankful and feel very blessed to be the family we are, to have 3 wonderful sons and daughters along with 5 grand children, Taylor, Tyler, Cameron, Makaila, and David Jr. and give God all the credit.

May our Lord bless Aaron and Christina always, along with Tyler. May they always look to Him for all they need in their lives and marriage. We love you Aaron, Christina, and Tyler.

JONATHON'S AND LEA'S WEDDING, Justin, Texas

2011-10-29T19:00:00.000-07:00

Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. John 2:2

Jonathon and Lea became one flesh tonight in Justin, Texas as they became husband and wife officiated by our Pastor, Ruben Marquez. It was a joyous occasion with family coming all the way from Florida and from deep south Texas. I praise and thank our heavenly Father and His Son for their presence and blessing on all that took place in preparation over the months and the marriage and reception. A lot of hard work was done by many people, plus the travel and other things that took place to make it all a success. Thanks to everyone who had and took part in it. May the Lord bless and keep our son and new daughter throughout their lives. May they serve the Lord with all their hearts and be a blessing to everyone.

OUR NEW BORN GRANDSON! David Jr.

2011-07-14T08:35:00.000-07:00

Chrystilinn holding her new baby boy. Grandma and Grandpa in the next two pictures. Then baby David resting in NICU,

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. PS. 127:3

This is a happy and blessed day in the Zuraff family. Our son David and his wife Chrystilinn gave birth to their second child, a boy who they named David Jr. Mother and dad are overjoyed as are the grandparents on both sides. Children are a wonderful blessing and heritage of the Lord Who is so loving and caring to us as His children. Thank you Lord for David Jr. and all Your other blessings You so abundantly give us every day. Thank You for this day. Psalm 118:24

JEFF'S AND CONNIE'S WEDDING, and nostalgic Florida trip June 2011

2011-06-24T09:16:00.000-07:00

Jeff and Connie "tying the knot"

Jeff and Connie as husband and wife

So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” Matthew 19:6

The first part of our trip to Florida was to attend the marriage of my youngest brother, Jeff, to his fiance, Connie. The setting was the Lake Yard in DeFuniak Springs, FL. With a gathering of about 30 friends and family, they exchanged their vows and were united in holy matrimony. Congratulations Jeff and Connie! May the God of heaven and earth through His Son Jesus Christ bless you both till death do you part. We thank the Lord for you both and welcome Connie as a member of the family. We enjoyed the wedding and the reception so much. Jeff, you have done a great job keeping up mom and dad's old place. The pavilion in the back is a great add and will come in handy for many occasions. I want one!

After the wedding and reception we began to visit the rest of my siblings. We visited Cathy who lives in DeFuniak Springs that evening to catch up with her. On Sunday morning we drove to Tallahassee to visit my sister Janet and her husband Steve. While there my uncle Jack, his wife, and aunt Joyce came over to visit with us. It was a real treat to see them and to have lunch together as we caught up after almost 20 years. On the way back we stopped in Cotton Dale to visit my oldest brother, Larry, and his wife Anita. It was good to see them after about 5 years.

Others we saw on this trip were my sister Joan and her husband Buddy, along with their daugthers, Misty, Roxanne, Ceselly and their families. We also saw and visited with my uncle John and nephew Douglas. We had an awesome time seeing everyone, and began to miss them as we left Florida to visit family in Texas before heading home to Oklahoma.

Grandpa and Grandma Hattaway's house as it stands today

Side view of their house today

Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, For they are the rejoicing of my heart. Psalm 119:111

What would this old house, that once was home to a family of 14, say as a testimony of its time if it could talk? It was sad to see the condition of my Hattaway grandparent's home on this trip to Florida. It was sold just after my grandmother Esther passed away in 1993. For a while it was lived in, but has been vacant for a number of years now and allowed to deteriorate into its current condition.

It is sad to me sentimentally to see this happening to this old homestead, because of the family heritage I see and ponder as I look back in time and consider where I am today because of family heritage. My grandparents were typical of their time, Christians, hard working, honest, and raising a large family through tough times. My grandpa worked 3 jobs to provide for his family, farming, bus driver, and remodeling construction. They were up way before sunrise and often worked till sunset. Many an evening during the summer was spent out on the front porch talking in family fellowship after a hard days work, espcially when other family was there who had grown up and already left home. They were focused on Jesus Christ and were in church most every week. They raised my mom and my uncles and aunts up in the Lord. We visited and stayed with them most every summer when we lived in South Dakota. One summer we spent the whole summer with them. I'm sure thy were ready for us to go home that summer. There are so many memories about this old house, all the laughter and tears over the years that took place here.

As I looked on at the condition of their old home, I thought about how this house once stood on what is today Eglin AFB. The government came in during WW2, forced everyone off and bought their land. My grandpa tore down this house board by board and put it back together on the property it stands on today, 60 acres he bought for $300.00. I believe my mom was born in this house while it was on what is currently Eglin AFB in 1927. Indoor plumbing didn't come to this house till 1961, and my grandma cooked on a wood stove till then as well.

For me, the greatest heritage received from this old house is the Godly Christian heritage received from my Grandparents William M. and Esther (Infinger) Hattaway who lived there after their marriage, April 15, 1925 till they passed away in 1990 and 1993. They passed their Christian heritage to my mom and their other children, raising a Godly generation up for the Lord. My mom passed that on to me, and I have passed it on to my children. Thank you mom, and most especially, thank you Lord. Thank you so much for my heritage.

As I wrote earlier, sentimentally, I'm saddened this old house may be coming to its demise, but its testimony and heritage, because of those who lived there, lives on in the hearts and minds of those who reflect, remember, and ponder all that took place there. If you consider a seed must be planted and then die to bring forth new life, this old house would fit that analogy. It was planted on this property and gave life to a large Christian family, and gave a heritage to those who sprang from it and have gone on to do the same with their lives to a new generation for the Lord. Now, with its job completed, it is dieing and going the way of all such things when their usefullness has come to and end and their job is complete. That's awesome! What a blessing of a testimony and heritage!

What an awesome trip our Lord blessed us with. More than we could ever think to ask for. Thank You my heavenly Father and my Lord Jesus Christ, my Brother and Friend.

I'm glad we went on this trip, because we almost didn't. I'm glad the Lord saw to it we did.

MAKAILA BROOKE ZURAFF TURNS THREE!

2011-05-06T06:05:00.000-07:00

Makaila with one of her birthday presents.

Makalia eating cake. Her mom's tummy in back ground great with child which means another grandchild is on the way.

Behold, (grand)children (Makaila) are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. PS. 127:3 Thank You Lord for Makaila and all our children.

When I look at our children and grand children, I think back to when Rebecca and I were married and how God has blessed us over the years. When a couple marries they know not what the future holds for them, but God does. (Jer. 29:11) He has give us so much to be thankful for, children and a bright future that reaches into eternity with Him. Makaila is the latest of His wonderful blessings to us. Thank you Lord so much for your benevolence to us as your children. We celebrated Makaila's third birthday yesterday. We had a great time. HAPPY THIRD BIRTHDAY MAKAILA!

JONATHON'S VISIT, SEPTEMBER 2010

2010-09-12T05:01:00.000-07:00

Behold, children (Jonathon) are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. PS. 127:3 Thank You Lord for Jonathon and all our children.

Jonathon left this morning for Dover AFB. He'll spend the night with some of our wonderful Christian family in Mocksville, N.C., then finish his trip on Monday. We enjoyed his visit which went entirely too fast. We prayed for him and his journey, and his life with the Lord before he left. Then it was hugs and I love you as he departed. He plans to come again Thanksgiving. We look forward to his next visit. We love you Jonathon! He is in our prayers. Only our Lord can truly take care of him.

On the road again...TEXAS/ NEW MEXICO TRIP August 2010

2010-08-07T15:48:00.000-07:00

Rebecca and me in Albuquerque, NM.

Family picture at the Corrales home in San Antonio, TX.

Pecos River west of Del Rio, TX.

Registration in New Mexico Hall

Lake at Glorieta Conference Center

The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1) We saw just a small part of God's handy work during our travels, but praises be to Him for all that we saw of His beautiful creation.

Rebecca and I had a great trip to Texas and New Mexico last week. We spent time with family in Texas, the Corrales', and had a great time sight seeing in New Mexico. We went to fellowship on Sabbath at the Heart of Worship CoG7 church in San Antonio. We met new Brethren and was able to visit with others we use to fellowship with while living in San Antonio years ago. In New Mexico the Glorieta Conference Center brought flashbacks from 31 years ago. As we looked around we kept thinking about and verbalizing memories from so long ago. It is such a romantic place as well as a great place to gather together to worship our Lord and Savior. We visited New Mexico Hall where we first met and took pictures inside and out. There was a worship service going on as we visited the auditorium. It reminded me of the services we had there in 1979. I can still picture Pastor John Kiesz and his wife singing special music, and Garner Ted Armstrong speaking to the crowd as though it was yesterday. We savored every moment of our visit. The first after 31 years. Who knows when we will go again. Only our Lord. AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE!

On our way out of Texas, just west of El Paso, we ran over something on the interstate. I never saw anything, but we had an immediate flat. By the time we got the tire changed and replaced, we had spent 5 hours in the El Paso area. It was an experience which tested my/ our patience and attitudes. We stayed focused on our Lord, but were not perfect with thoughts and attitudes. Our God blessed and took care of us. He always prevails. What a Mighty God we serve!

We kept in touch with family and friends back home and else where while traveling to let them know where we were and that we were alright. After being on the road a week it was good to get back home to God's Country, Oklahoma. Thank you Lord for Your many blessings that are too innumerable to count. Home now till we get out on the road again.

SUMMER SESSION 2010 (SVA)

2010-06-17T06:47:00.001-07:00

Barry and Steven at Spring Vale Academy for Summer Session 2010

A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

Our trip to Michigan to attend Summer Session at Spring Vale Academy turned out to be a really great trip. It wasn't great because of the academics or being a step closer to earning a Diploma of Pastoral Ministry. Rather, it was great because we lifted each other up in prayer, and leaned on each other during the low moments to sustain each other through the week. We stuck together, because our friendship is close. God blessed us, so that we stood and walked in His strength. He always provides. Thank you Lord.

A SOLDIER'S SACRIFICE (Memorial Day 2010)

2010-05-31T12:05:00.000-07:00

SRA Jonathon Zuraff, U.S. Air Force, Dover A.F.B. Delaware 2009

PVT. Joseph Hattaway, U.S Army, Ft. Meade Maryland 1942

Through God we will do valiantly, And it is He who shall tread down our adversaries. Psalm 108:13

On this Memorial Day I want to thank my son Jonathon serving in the U.S. Air Force, and all the others who are serving proudly to preserve our nation's freedom. I also thank all those who have previously served for the same purpose. May the Lord bless and keep you all as you look to Him in this Life and serve this great nation. I also express a debt of gratitude to those who have died in the line of duty and to their families.

The Soldier's sacrifice to me means Uncle Joseph Zuraff who was killed in action in Germany March 5, 1945. Also my Great Uncle Joseph Hattaway who served in WW2 and was wounded. He died March 30, 1970 from cancer that developed in his war wounds. I think of Forest Pruitt who died last year at age 86. He fought valiantly in WW2, even on the beaches at Normandy, and helped to liberate France before going on to Germany to win the war. He was a proud soldier till his death. The Soldier's sacrifice means Richard Haile, a school Friend of mine, who was killed in action in Vietnam May 30, 1970. The Soldier's sacrifice means a debt of gratitude to them and all who have died serving this great land, these United States of America. May God bless America.

My son Jonathon now serves our country in the Air Force, and has entered his 3rd year of service. He has served overseas in Qatar, and currently is stationed on the east coast. I'm proud of you Jonathon. Keep up the good work.

As I consider what I've written above, I realize it is a Great Benevolent Creator God who decreed that we would be a nation and that He gives us, as a people, a God given right to defend ourselves, families, and heritage from our enemies. (Romans 13:1-7)

May we not only remember our war dead on this Memorial Day and thank those who have served and are serving, but also remember to give God thanks for all His many many blessings, one of which is this great land He has given us and the freedoms we have as a people. To God always be the glory.

REVIVE US AGAIN! PLUS, 60/ 28 YEARS

2010-04-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." John 15:9-13

From Thursday evening through Saturday night our revival was a great time of worship and fellowship. We feasted upon the Word of God and had fellowship with our Heavenly Father and His Son, and with one another as we worshipped together. What made it even more special was Rebecca and I celebrated our 28TH anniversary, and my 60TH birthday as well. It was an awesome weekend. Having Elder Larry, our guest speaker, in our home was an awesome experience. Taking him to the airport was difficult because we had gotten attached to him as our Brother. He is now a dear Friend. His messages were so appropriate for us. I especially like the last one where he made Jesus so real and personal to us. The Love of Jesus and the Father shines through all They have done for us. And when we consider that They are still at work even now...what LOVE!

JANUARY 2010 WINTER STORM IN OKLAHOMA (GOD'S COUNTRY)

2010-01-29T08:22:00.000-08:00

While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. Gen. 8:22

As I look out from my window this morning, I can see one of the wonders of God's creation as it has unfolded the past 24 hours. The beauty of a storm with all of natures elements, rain, ice, sleet, and now snow, all in one storm. AWESOME! God's creation is a sight to behold and leaves me with a feeling of awe of the One Who created this world. And it is all completely under His control. Consider Jesus when He said "peace, be still" and the storm ceased, Mark 4:39. As the icy rain started coming down and the trees and power lines began to sag under the weight of the ice, I started thinking of the storm of December of 2007. We were without power almost 8 days because of that ice storm. Remembering that, I was stepping out to observe the conditions throughout the day. As more ice started accummulating I went to pray and asked the Lord to spare us and to change it to sleet so it wouldn't stick to the trees and power lines. HE DID! We didn't lose power and still have it today as it continues to snow. Praise the Lord for His goodness to the children of men, Psalm 107. It is great to be in a warm home drinking coffee, and looking out and enjoying God's handiwork. Oh, the blessings of God. He is so good to us all, James 1:17.

A BLIZZARD MISSED

2009-12-29T09:38:00.001-08:00

At the "ranch" near Beeville, TX. Notice we have the Longhorns sandwiched? Go Alabama! Oklahoma Sooner proud!

What we left behind here in Oklahoma.

While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. Gen. 8:22

We went into Midwest City to pick up the rental car on Thursday morning (Christmas eve). Ice was already accumulating on the roads. Once home we hurried to load the car and get out of town hoping to not have any trouble with the weather. We could only drive about 35 MPH as we went south on I35, but about Ardmore the roads were good, so we could go the speed limit. It snowed, rained, or sleeted as far south as nearing Austin, Texas. We arrive at our destination about 7pm that evening.

We had a great time with family, taking walks on the land, attending Sabbath services in Corpus, eating a couple of big dinners together, and a drive into George West and Beeville. We were treated like royalty the whole time.

We arrived back to God's Country on Monday evening. It was nice to escape the snow, 14 inches altogether. The weather man says more snow is coming. We went into town to buy a few things, and as usual with snow, I couldn't get back into the garage. Even so, the Lord blessed us with a great trip to Texas and back. We belong to and serve an Awesome God!

DELAWARE TRIP August 2009

2009-08-19T14:58:00.000-07:00

Psalm 127:3 Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.

Flanked by mom and dad outside his home in Wyoming, Delaware

A sharp looking Airman dressed for duty on the flight line

With our son fixing to ship out overseas, we wanted to spend some time with him before he leaves. With the blessing of the Lord we set out on a trip to Delaware to see him. The Lord sure has made a beautiful land to travel in with so many wonderful sights on the way. We traveled through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington D.C., Maryland, and Delaware our destination. Thank you Lord for your created beauty. We arrived in Dover, Delaware on a Friday evening. We had dinner that evening before turning in. It was a time to catch up on things. On Sabbath we arrived at his place about 9am and just hung out together all day. We took pictures together and got a tour of his living quarters. Rebecca cooked dinner for us. One of her Mexican specials. We went back to the hotel around 9pm. Jonathon stopped by on Sunday morning to say bye as he went to work. We were back on the road toward home around 7:30am. We took a different route home traveling through Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and finally God's Country (Oklahoma). It was a great trip to see our beloved son. Thank you Lord for allowing us to do it. Thank you Jonathon for serving your country and honoring your parents. We love you very much.

A MOMENT LOOKING BACK

2009-05-28T04:25:00.000-07:00

Our honeymoon at Lake Tahoe in 1982. Dinner at an Italian restaurant.

Our honeymoon at Lake Tahoe in 1982. Lake Tahoe is behind us.

Jer. 29:11 For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

Sometimes in a moment while thinking of other things, you end up taking a trip back into time. That was what I was doing this morning as my mind was wondering. I ended up back at our honeymoon in 1982. When I saw this picture, I decided to post it and make a comment about it. We were having dinner at an Italian restaurant. We had wanted to have a steak, but the people at the other restaurant were so discourtious that we got up and left. Good decision! Because this was some of the best Itaian food I have ever eaten.

I thought of the verse above because of where I am today in life. As I look back over the years I can see the Lord's hand at work. He has blessed me beyond what I could expect. A family, Christian Brethren, and great Friends to name just a few of God's many blessings. He gave me a future and a hope which even today keeps me looking forward toward what He yet has instore for me. Thank You Lord for all you have done. I'm retired now (maybe semi-retired), but I realize with the Lord my future is very bright.

MAKAILA'S FIRST BIRTHDAY

2009-05-11T19:33:00.000-07:00

Having her cake and eating it too.

This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

What a joy it is to watch our little grand daughter grow. She has now reached her first birthday. She is almost able to walk, and is beginning to show signs of talking. It melts my heart to see her in church looking around, taking in everything that is going on. She attentively watches and listens to us sing hymns of praise to the Lord. Lord willing she has many more birthdays ahead, and we have many more years to watch her grow. We love this little gal. She is the prettiest little Okie here in God's country that you ever did see.

ADVANCEMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

2009-04-21T14:02:00.000-07:00

My Grand Daughter Taylor

My Daughter-in-Law Chrystilinn

Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Life is good. The Kingdom of God got a little bigger this past Sabbath day in the march against the kingdom of darkness when our daughter-in-law and grand daughter were buried in baptism. They accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, so baptism was the next step. After being submerged in that watery grave we brought them back up into a resurrected new life in Christ, Rom. 6:4. There was joy in heaven, Luke 15:10. Praise the Lord. What a wonderful event for all of us to be able to see. Also as a part of the worship service I presented a special reading titled "Three Little Trees". You can read it below for your enjoyment. We broke bread together at lunch and had a good time of fellowship. There is nothing like Christian family. The love, worship, fellowship, interaction, and being God's kids can't be beat by anything else on earth, not even our blood families. For me it far out weighs any non-Christian relationship. There is no comparison. Now our daughter and grand daughter are part of the greatest family on earth.

THREE LITTLE TREES

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to be when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: “I want to hold great treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I’ll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!” The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. “I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I’ll be the strongest ship in the world!” The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. “I don’t want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they’ll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world.”

Years passed, the rain came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain. The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, “This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe the first tree fell. “Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!” the first tree said. The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, “This tree is strong. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe the second tree fell. “Now I shall sail mighty waters!” thought the second tree. “I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!” The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed to heaven. But the woodcutter never even looked up. “Any kind of tree will do for me,” he muttered. With a swoop of the shining axe, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter’s ship. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered in gold, nor with treasure. She was coated with sawdust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals. The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to the ocean, or even a river; instead she was taken to a little lake. The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. “What happened?” the once tall tree wondered. “All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God…”

Many, many days and nights passed. The trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox. “I wish I could make a cradle for him,” her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and study wood. “This manger is beautiful,” she said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening, a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through with the wind and the rain. The tired man awaked. He stood up, stretched out his hand and said, “Peace.” The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew she was carrying the King of heaven and earth.

One morning, the third tree was startled when her beam was yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man’s hands and feet to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But late on Sabbath evening before the first day of the week, when the Son of God arose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God’s love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God. That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

So next time you feel down because you think your life is insignificant, just sit tight and be content, because God has great plans for you. Anonymous

THANKSGIVING 2008 IN OKLAHOMA, GOD'S COUNTRY!

2008-11-27T18:00:00.000-08:00

Psalm 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

As a believer in the Creator God of all things and having a personal relationship with Him as my Father through His Son Jesus Christ, I thankfully acknowledge Him and His Son to be the greatest blessing I have. To be known of Him as a son and to know Him as my Daddy and His Son as my Elder Brother, and that I will spend eternity with Them, does not compare with any thing else I have in this life. In a world that is full of troubles and perflexing problems that are beyond man's ability to solve, great peace and security come from knowing I and my loved ones are safe in the loving arms of our loving and benevolant Father Who just happens to be the Almighty God and Supreme Ruler of the entire universe. He answers to no one! He has no equal nor is anyone above Him.

We sat down to dinner with family from San Antonio, Woodward, and Midwest City knowing the presence of the Lord. We were thankful for the time together as we enjoyed a feast of fellowship and turkey with all the trimmings, James 1:17. God is good all the time. David had to work and of course Jonathon is in Delaware. We missed them not being here this year. Jonathon was invited to a fellow Airman's home, along with a couple of others to spend Thanksgiving with his family. We were thankful for that. It was nice to be able to talk with Jonathon on the phone for a feww minutes. Also, we were able to talk with Danny who is in Iraq for a few minutes too. He is just a few months from completing his second tour in Iraq and will be stationed in San Diego once he comes home. What a blessing and a special treat it was to hear his voice from halfway round the world. He knows the Lord is with him and said he is doing well even though he wished he could be with us on Thanksgiving. He is ready to come home. Lord please continue to take care of Danny and his fellow buddies in Iraq. Bring them all safely home to family and loved ones. We love Danny and want to see him soon.

Thank You Dear Father for Your benevolence to us. Thank You for giving Yourself to us which is the greatest Gift of all. Thank You Lord Jesus.

DELAWARE TRIP TO SEE JONATHON

2008-10-31T12:37:00.000-07:00

Our nation's flag at half mast at Arlington National Cemetery.

Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,the people he chose for his inheritance.

Romans 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

We are standing in front of our home in Washington D.C. Just kidding!

We are with Jonathon at Tomb of Unknown Soldier.

Jonathon shaking hands with Clarence Hamerson, a WW2 Navy Vet. They exchanged greetings and told each other they appreciated their service to our country.

Washington Monument honoring our nation's first president.

In honorable memory of Richard G. Haile. A Friend and fallen soldier of the Vietnam war.

The "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier". Honor guard is on duty 24/7 with guard change on the hour.

The dead of American wars at Arlington National Cemetery resting until resurrection day.

We left on our trip to see Jonathon in Delaware on October 14, 2008. The first night we spent at a motel in Brownsville, Tennessee. The next morning we got on the road headed toward Mocksville, North Carolina to visit with church family through the Sabbath. It had been several years since we had visited our friends there. What a wonderful time it was catching up on every one's lives.

Sunday morning we left for Dover, Delaware. On I40 we headed toward Duram, N.C. where we would go north to Virginia and east to Virginia Beach. We crossed the Chesapeake Bay bridge at that point. As we crossed the bridge, the Atlantic Ocean was on our right and the bay was on our left. It was a windy day so the waves resembled being out in the open ocean. We arrived at Dover about 6pm that evening and met Jonathon at a Sonic for convenience. While in Dover we stayed on Dover A.F.B. in their base lodging called the "Eagle's Rest Inn" for $39.00 a night. That is cheap, but the accommodations were first class. We were happy to see our son.

While visiting Jonathon we made trips into Washington D.C. to see our nation's capital. Among the sights we visited were the U.S. Supreme Court, the Capital, the White House, Arlington National Cemetery, and a lot of other things. We got some really good exercise. One the high lights of our D.C. trips was learning to ride the subway. Something we don't do in Oklahoma. While we were in the area of the WW2 Memorial, Jonathon spotted a WW2 Navy Vet and took off running to meet him to let him know he appreciated his service to our country. That was quite a moving experience to talk with this old soldier. Reading my high school Friend's name on the Vietnam Memorial was moving as well. The last time I can remember seeing Richard Haile was at the Horne's Restaurant in De Funiak Springs, Florida in 1968 where my Mom was a waitress and he was a busboy. What memories... We saw a lot of things in Washington and on the trip over there each day, but the most enjoyable part of the trip was being able to spend time with Jonathon. Just being able to see him and talk with him each day was such a blessing.

On the Sabbath we went to Philadelphia, PA. to fellowship with the Brethren there. I know the Lord set it up for us, because they just happen to be having a special service that day. It was "women's day", and women were in charge of all the activities that day. There were people from all over, including a couple from Jamaca. The Sabbath class was informative and the sermon was inspiring. We had a wonderful day being with our Brethren.

As with any trip, the time comes to depart and leave for home. On the 26Th of October we had breakfast with Jonathon at IHOP in Dover the morning we left. We hugged, expressed our love, and said goodbye till next time. We missed him that day as we traveled toward home. The Delaware, Maryland countryside is pretty, but there is no place like home in God's Country, Oklahoma. As we traveled, we drove down through Virginia along the Appalachian Mountains toward Tennessee. What beauty to behold... That night we spent just west of Nashville. The next morning we headed toward Memphis and arrived just in time for the rush hour. We crossed into Oklahoma around 1pm that day and pulled into the driveway at about 3pm. Thank you Lord for a blessed trip with great times with Jonathon, our Brethren, taking care of family and Brethren back home, great sights along the way, and traveling mercies for over 3800 miles. Thank you Lord for all your blessings.

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

SOUTH DAKOTA, A Trip To My Roots

2008-08-31T09:52:00.000-07:00

Covel Lake where I used to fish and play with my brothers.

Visiting Mount Rushmore, part of our American heritage.

Psalm 121:8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

We had been planning our trip to South Dakota for a long time. We just didn't know when we would do it. Being invited by our church to attend Issachar discussions in Kansas City seemed like the right time to visit my home state after the meetings concluded. What a blessed trip we had with the Lord. We felt His presence with us as we looked at my past and enjoyed the beauty of God's creation as we went sight seeing through my home state from east to west.

As we drove around my home town, stopping by the house I lived in as a boy, went by the elementary school, drove around the neighborhood and town visiting the things where I played and got into trouble, it all seemed to tug at my heart as the memories flowed. It all led me to prayer with my Lord. I appreciate my family and its roots in South Dakota, and I am very thankful to the Lord for my heritage. As we drove west from Sioux Falls, we stopped by the old farm where my dad grew up. It is all gone now, but there were a couple of buildings completely in ruin that give a memorial to the glory of what once was on that farm where my Grandparents raised six kids including my Dad. A trip by the cemetary where my grandparents are buried was quiet and peaceful as I remembered them while they were alive. As we went further we visited the small town of Canistota where my grandma would shop and trade for the things she couldn't grow on the farm. She always made her own bread and filled a cellar with canned goods from her big garden every year. She even made her own catchup. Our next stop was an old fishing hole along the James River where dad would take us kids fishing. I had not stood on the banks of that river in over 45 years. WoW! what memories. As we left the river, we went on to Mitchel and the Corn Palace. Each year it is decorated with that years corn crop. Oh what beauty! As we left the area of my roots in the southeast part of the state, we moved on toward the capital of Pierre. I had never been there before. But before arriving there, we stopped in Huron, SD for dinner. It was at one of the best Chinese Resturants I have eaten at in years. Go figure! A town of 12,000 surrounded by corn and soy bean fields having a great chinese resturant. We spent the night in Miller, SD. The next day we were off to Pierre. We toured the capital building taking a few pictures, and then drove around town before we left. The Marlins Resturant in Pierre serves a mighty good hamburger if you are ever up that way. As we headed out of town we were going to Kadoka which in Indian means "hole in the wall". Considering the town, the name fits, but it was a great place to stop for the night with the idea of going through the BadLands the next morning as we headed for the BlackHills and the sights there. The BadLands lives up to its name as well. Except for rattle snakes and other creatures that can stand to live there, it is uninhabitable. God's beauty is there though as one thinks of what God did to bring about such a creation as the BadLands. Was it at the Beginning or Noah's flood? Only He truly knows, but thanks be to Him for making it and letting us enjoy it. The drive through the BlackHills was especially nice as we viewed the breath taking beauty. The mountains, pine trees, and lakes and streams were awesome to see. Mount Rushmore was inspiring as one thinks of America and its heritage. God has blessed us as a people beyond measure. May we worship Him and give Him thanks from our hearts, and not just the lip service we seem to so often do.

As we left the BlackHills area, we were headed to our current home "God's Country" Oklahoma. We spent the night in Allance, NE. and then drove the rest of the way the next day. It is always good to be home after a trip out of town. We missed our Brethren in Shawnee; Spiritual family who are dear to our hearts. Thank you dear Heavenly Father for a wonderful blessed trip, for your traveling mercies, your presence with us, and your daily reminders of You and Your blessings. In the name of Jesus your Son, Amen.

JESUS CHRIST, MY ULTIMATE AND BEST FRIEND

2008-08-04T16:02:00.000-07:00

John 15:13-15 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

A Few Good Friends

In the late 1970’s I lived in Hawaii while serving in the U.S. Army, but couldn’t seem to make friends at Schofield Barracks. Every evening after work I went home to an empty apartment in a nearby town. On weekends I drove around the island of Oahu sightseeing and taking pictures, wishing I had someone to share the time with. People were everywhere, but I was alone in my own world. My only interaction with anyone was in the course of my duties with the military. For nearly the first year I just wanted to get off Oahu and go home. I was in “paradise” but hated every minute of it. An attitude developed in me, and my duty performance began to suffer. I was headed for trouble. In loneliness and desperation, I turned to the Lord and rededicated my life to Him. He gave me an instant family by bringing me into fellowship with a nearby Christian congregation. I became a member of the Church and of its singles group. This proved to be a complete turnaround for me. Intimate friendshipsWe became a close group of friends, calling each other during the week. If work permitted, we connected with one another. We never missed a Sabbath service or a church function together. A few of us usually met on Friday evenings at a local restaurant to visit over a cup of coffee. On Sabbath we gathered for dinner, and usually finished off the day at someone’s home that evening. These times were marked with long discussions about personal struggles, our falling in sin, and our victory over it in Christ. It seemed our focus was always on the Word of God and how it applied to our lives. One of my dear brothers there I usually dropped off at his home around two on Sunday mornings before heading home. We knew each other’s weaknesses and strengths, faults and hang-ups, pain and sorrow, triumphs and victories. We knew what made each other cry — and laugh. I can still feel the warmth of those relationships. Church divisionAfter my release from the Army, I tried to make Hawaii my home. But life became more difficult after my discharge, even with close friends from Church. I was unemployed for the first year, so money was tight. Then it was minimum wage jobs, then temporary work at Pearl Harbor. My health suffered from lack of good nutrition, and I developed shingles. After two-and-a-half years of this, I believed that the Lord wanted me to move on. A few months before I left the islands, our church there suffered a division in which two-thirds of us transferred our memberships to the Church of God (Seventh Day). My friends in the singles group were left behind with that division, as was a relationship I had hoped would lead to marriage, and my fellowship with them ended. To them, I had “left the church,” which also meant I had left the Lord. Of all the brethren I’d known in Hawaii, only one family was at the airport to see me off the night I left; not one from the singles group came. The memory of that division still hurts me today. It seemed to me that the Lord had made it clear that I should go. The job at Pearl Harbor paid enough to ship my car to the mainland and buy a plane ticket to Los Angeles. A friend of mine in church told me that he and his wife were planning to attend the CoG7 General Conference meeting in Glorieta, New Mexico, that summer, and he encouraged me to attend. He thought it would give us a better idea what that Church was all about. I decided to alter my plans to be able to attend.Looking back, I’m glad I went. I not only learned about the new fellowship the Lord had brought me into but also met the young lady who would become my wife. We married in 1982 and lived in Texas the first seventeen years of our marriage. Déjà vuIn 1999 we moved to Oklahoma with our three sons. Little did I know that our adjustment to a new place would present circumstances similar to what I experienced in Hawaii. Home from our first Sabbath service in the new location, my wife and I sat on our front porch and cried for the brethren, family, and friends we had left behind in San Antonio. But we were stuck: A non-optional job transfer brought us here. Still, we trusted that the Lord had been in our move to Oklahoma and that He had plans for us here just as He did in sending me to Hawaii. As we settled into regular fellowship and came to know our new brethren, those feelings of sadness and displacement changed big time! Nearly nine years later, many Oklahomans are friends and important parts of my life, as well as others as far away as India and Australia. It is no insult to the larger group when I say that those I consider close friends, I can count on one hand. They are the ones I share with the most and who share much with me. For me, this closeness isn’t just small talk or doing stuff together; it’s about getting to know each other beneath the surface as we experience the pleasures and pains of life as I did with my friends in Hawaii. My family and I have been fellowshipping at the Shawnee CoG7 for six years now. Some of those brethren have become close friends, ranging in age from early thirties to late seventies. My circle of friends is expanding through e-mail. As in Hawaii, it has been a complete turnaround for us. Now I call Oklahoma “God’s country.” We consider this our permanent home. Ultimate FriendThe most important thing I have learned through these experiences is that Jesus is my ultimate Friend. Why, Lord, do You want to have anything to do with me? As Lord, He has authority over me. As Savior, He died for me. But as Friend, He shares a relationship with me. I want the most intimate relationship with Jesus I can have. No other friend can be there for us. To put any earthly friend in His place would be idolatry. On the other hand, we do experience His love and friendship through other believers because He works through each one of us. Through His Spirit, we can have a close relationship with the friends He brings. The Lord has given me fantastic memories. Now I have different friends, and we are making memories and drawing closer together in Oklahoma and through cyberspace. He has chosen and given us to each other. I love each one of them deeply.Do you have need of a friend? Seek first the Lord and watch Him draw people to you. Perhaps He will draw you and me together! Steven Zuraff lives in central Oklahoma and attends church in Shawnee.

GOING FOR THE GOLD

2008-08-01T10:53:00.000-07:00

THE SILVER IS POLISHED. 25th WEDDING ANNIVESARY

Matt. 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Eph. 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Today is a big day in the Zuraff household. Rebecca and I are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. WOW! 25 years! One quarter of a century! Before I go any further, I want to give all the credit to my Lord Jesus Christ, John 15:5. Our marriage would have ended up on the scrap heap of human misery and suffering if it wasn't for the Lord. Several years before I met Rebecca, I came across the following verse at a bible study. Prov. 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. Our pastor told us single guys, if we wanted a wife, we needed to ask God for one. From that day forward, I began to pray and ask the Lord for a wife. Six years later I married Rebecca. We serve an AWESOME God Who is good all the time.
A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since we were married on this date in 1982. Three children who now are trying to establish themselves , we have gotten older and have grayed and have grown out instead of up, I have lost so much hair, I have to wear a cap while in the sun, our parents are gone, we moved from Texas to Oklahoma, (God's Country), I can retire from my job when I want too, and the first of our three sons will be married in June, and another will begin basic training in the U.S. Air Force this Fall.
We are headed for the gold now, but that is 25 years away and I would be 82 years of age. And Rebecca? She'd be...oh, I better not say! It is doable if the Lord wills, but my preference is for our Lord to return for us before then. Thank you Lord for 25 years of marriage, three sons, family, friends, Brethren, and for loading us with your benefits all these years. Thank you Rebecca for being a Proverbs 31 wife who loves me very much. May the Lord always be praised.

MOVING TOWARD ETERNITY WITH THE LORD

2008-08-01T10:52:00.000-07:00

TIME MARCHES ON! Eccl. 3:1-2a To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die...

This is me with my mom in 1951 at age 1 1/2 at our home in Sioux Falls, S.D.
The picture to the right is May 2006, at age 56 living in Oklahoma.

MY LIFE’S MESSAGE

by: S. M. Z.

I was born into a Christian family in 1950. My Dad was Catholic and my Mother was a Baptist. The Baptist faith won over in my early years as we went to a Baptist church every Sunday. At the age of nine I walked down the isle and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior not really knowing what I was doing. My Mom helped me put together my testimony for baptism.

After baptism I went on and lived my life for myself and not for the Lord. I believed in God and His Son as my Savior, but my life did not show it. I lived the kind of sinful life teenagers live and went into the Army at the age of 20 and continued to live my life as I pleased, not living for the Lord. Over the years the Lord kept nudging me along toward really committing my life to Him as Lord and Savior, (seen from hindsight), even though I was living in sin.

At the age of 25, while still in the Army, I was reassigned to duty in Hawaii. Upon arriving there, I found myself all alone and for some reason I could not make any friends ( this was the Lord at work). Through out my whole life I have always had a difficult time making friends. I have never had more than one or two at a time. Being a long way from home and having no friends started taking its toll on me. An attitude that had begun to develop back at my last duty station began to get worse. My attitude was having an impact on my duties and performance as a soldier. Life was miserable and all I wanted to do was get off that “rock” (Hawaii) and go back home.

After running from the Lord all those years, resisting Him time and time again, at the age of 26, I finally turned to Him and rededicated my life to Him, accepting His Son Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. My life has never been the same since. The Lord instantly extended His forgiveness, grace, and peace to me. I began a relationship with Him. He took away the loneliness, making me part of a very large family of believers in Hawaii and around the world. Since then I have stumbled and fell many times, but He has picked me up every time. Each time He has forgiven me and He continues to lead me into an ever deeper relationship with Him, His Son, and the family (Body of Christ) He has placed me in. It is still difficult for me to have close Friends. My rough edges tend to keep them away.

Even though I have many ups and downs in my life as a Christian, I have joy and peace in my life. I have absolutely no doubt who I am in Christ. My relationship with the Lord is becoming more intimate everyday. He is not just God and the Creator to me. He is my Daddy and Friend and Jesus is not just my Lord and Savior, but he is my Brother and Friend too.

Would you like to have the joy and peace that I have? Would you like to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER...

2008-08-01T10:50:00.001-07:00

THE NEXT GENERATION

John 2:1-2 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

June 10, 2007 was a very special day in the Zuraff household. We had been looking forward to it arriving for quite sometime. It arrives a little over twenty five years after Rebecca and I were married. Our oldest son David at the age of 23 years, married the Love of his life, Chrystilinn. She is a beautiful young lady just a few months younger than our son. We are very happy to have our very first daughter as a part of the family. We also became instant Grandparents of a lovely young lady and a handsome little boy. The verses above let you know that Jesus was invited, and He was there. Only in this wedding, He didn't change any water into wine. But He provided a large crowd of Brethren, Family, and Friends. And lots of food, and a Mariachi band to help celebrate the joyous occasion. We thank the Lord for this union, and pray His blessing upon them throughout their lives together. May they praise Him in all they do.

On July 27, 2007 David will turn 24 years old. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID! May the Lord bless you with many more. PS. 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made.I will rejoice and be glad in it. Thank you Heavenly Father in Jesus name for all your blessings.

MY SON SERVES SO WE CAN BE FREE

2008-08-01T10:49:00.001-07:00

CROSSING INTO THE BLUE....SIR, AIRMAN JONATHON ZURAFF REPORTING FOR DUTY!

Jer. 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Today is Jonathon's first day on active duty in the United States Air Force. He processed here in Oklahoma City this morning, then was placed on a flight bound for San Antonio, Texas for six weeks of basic training at Lackland AFB. He will graduate November 16, 2007. His Mom and I plan to be on hand for the event. We sure miss having him around. May the Lord bless and keep him in the hollow of His hand. Jonathon, always know your Mom and Dad love you and are very proud of you. Thank the Lord that He gave you to us as our son.

Our middle son Jonathon celebrated his 23rd birthday on June 26, 2007. It doesn't seem that many years since he was born. I was in the delivery room with Rebecca the night he was born. Boy did he let out a scream when he entered this world. I remember it as if it was yesterday. He probably was heard all over the hospital. Today he is a handsome young man who is ready to strike out on his own, as young men want to do when they grow up. I chose the verse above, because on October 2, 2007, he will strike out on his own when he reports for duty in the United States Air Force. As I look back to the time when I left home to serve in the U.S. Army, I realize he will grow in ways that he can't imagine now. He is leaving home as a young boy to us, but he will come home a man yet still our son, grown up in so many ways. We are proud of you son! I look forward to the years ahead for him, because I know he is in the Lord's hands, and He will guide him down the path He has chosen for him. May the Lord be praised my son by all that comes about in your life, and may many people benefit by your presence in their lives. Live for Jesus my son, because our Country needs God fearing men and women in uniform, and you will meet many people who need the Light of Jesus in their lives. Thank you Father in Heaven for our son Jonathon...in Jesus name. Amen.

A BRAND NEW HOUSEHOLD

2008-08-01T10:48:00.001-07:00

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY

Gen. 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Psalm 127:3 Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is His reward.

We were married April 18, 1982 in San Antonio, TX. Isn't she beautiful? I am proof that there is someone for everyone out there (Proverbs 18:22). We just celebrated our SILVER WEDDING ANNIVERSARY as we have now reached our 25th, and are now moving on to our 50th. Just let the Lord lead and build your marriage on Jesus Christ as your foundation. As you can see, the Lord has blessed us with 3 adorable sons. I am feeding Aaron in one when he was a baby. The other one is of us on our trip to Yellowstone in 1998. We are at Chamberlain, South Dakota and the Missouri River is in the background.

THANKSGIVING IN FLORIDA (God's vacation getaway)2006

Psalm 107:8 Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men.

We had a safe trip to Florida, (God's vacation getaway), for Thanksgiving this year. It was a 15 hour drive going and a 14 1/2 hour drive coming back. (My son Jonathon has a heavy foot, and had the pedal to the medal.) We stayed with my youngest Brother who is a graduate from University of Florida, yes, you guessed it, he is a die hard Gator fan. I am a die hard Seminole fan, but we got along just fine. Also, living in Okie Land, I am a die hard Sooners fan as well. Before Thanksgiving we took a trip to Tallahassee to give the coach of the Seminoles a pep talk, but we weren't able to see him. We spent over two hundred dollars on Seminole stuff, (just a little pocket change). I bought a really nice new coffee mug, so coffee is tasting extra good right now. I alternate between a FSU and OU mug. Both enhance the coffee flavor in their own unique way...just kidding. I also bought a new alarm clock to get me up in the morning to go to work. We also bought a hoody, some t-shirts, a couple of polo shirts, golf balls, and a couple of baseballs. The Sunday before Thanksgiving we went out into a cotton field and target practiced for a while. A couple of deer rifles, a glock, and Jonathons .357 Magnum were among the weapons of choice. We gathered at my nieces home in north Walton county on Thanksgiving day to celebrate and to give God thanks for all His bounty that He has given us. We have so much to be thankful for. We fellowshipped as a family, feasted together on turkey with all the trimmings, (my niece is a great cook), watched the Miami Dolphins kick butt, (the greatest football team of all time), and took a few pictures. It was a wonderful day. On Friday at 2:45am we got up to get on the road toward home. THE GOOD OL' USA, God has sure made a beautiful land. There are so many sights to see traveling America's highways. Thank the Lord for them. We arrived back home in OKLAHOMA, (God's county), around 5:15pm that evening. The Lord blessed us with a good safe trip without incident...praise His Holy Name!

AARON TURNS TWENTY ONE!

Prov. 3:5-7 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

Twenty one years ago on the 26th of November, I was in the hospital with my wife Rebecca, witnessing the birth of our youngest son. I remember that day as though it was yesterday. Aaron only gave a little wimper as he was placed in a little crib.I remember saying to him, "it's all right, every thing is fine". It actually calmed him down. He only weighted 5 lb. 8 1/2 oz. I want to tear up thinking about all this. Now he is a man trying to find his way in life. He accepted Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior on March 18, 1995...he is born again! He is seeking the Lord's leading for his life, so I know he will find his way through this life just fine. Jesus never leads anyone astray. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, John 14:6. We celebrated his birthday this past Sunday with a cookout, pie, cake, and lots of homemade cookies. MAY THE LORD BLESS AND KEEP HIM THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE IS MY PRAYER. I LOVE YOU AARON!!! I affectionately call him AP or APZ.

WINTER WHITE OUT OKLAHOMA STYLE

NOV. 29-DEC. 3, 2006

Gen. 8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest,and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Wednesday afternoon the weather man was making some dire predictions of a winter blizzard here in Oklahoma, up to 17 inches of snow in some parts of the state. I am beginning to think that my employer will give me administrative leave for Thursday. I get up as usual at about 3:30am on Thursday to find that I need to report to work. So I leave earlier than usual to make it in on time. Roads are slick, and I slide some, but I make it all the way in without incident, only to find out that work was canceled for the day about the time I arrive in. I say see ya, and head for home, but couldn't make it up the drive way once at home. I have to park in the other drive way. The boys all have to work and make it to and from without any trouble, praise the Lord. Friday Jonathon is stuck and can't get out of the drive way to go to work and has to call in. I can't get around him, so I have to take the day off with annual leave. I broke out the snow shovels and began to dig us out, clearing a path for the vehicles in the North driveway. Aaron goes to work as usual. David living in town, is able to get around without any problems. We received about 7 inches all together. My Yankee birth, being a native of South Dakota, has paid off. I have enjoyed the time off, but I was really disappointed when I was informed that church services would be canceled for this Sabbath. No fellowship this week. WHAT A BUMBER! Maybe the next Oklahoma white out will be earlier in the week. Thank the Lord we are all safe and sound.

RETIREMENT: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

2008-08-01T10:45:00.000-07:00

Heb. 11:6, 8 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

Last week I was offered an incentive bonus to accept voluntary retirement. Rebecca and I have been considering when I should retire for about the past three years. It has been careful consideration with lots of prayer. We had already decided as we entered this year that I would work until the end of 2008 or if offered an incentive, I would retire when offered. That has been our recent prayer life. Well, last week the offer came, and I have accepted. My effective date of retirement is March 14, 2008.

Wednesday morning this past week I was sitting in Civilian Personnel waiting for an 8:30 AM appointment. I had my retirement packet all filled out to hand over to the personnel officer who was going to process my paper work. As I sat there waiting, I was led to silent prayer thanking the Lord for this moment of time, (retirement), in my life and the new chapter that is about to begin. My mind started to wander back into time over my working life of about 50 years.

My parents would give me an allowance back before I ever started earning any money of my own. Probably the first earnings I had was when we would set up a cool-aid stand a couple of summers in the fifties. We would make about a dollar a day when we would do that. My oldest brother delivered news papers back in the early 60's, and I would help him to do that for about a dollar a week. We delivered the "Sioux Falls Argus Leader". I thought that was big money back in those days, and for a kid it was. When we moved to Florida, my Dad took a job in construction. The construction business also did a lot of farming in the Florida Panhandle. With my Dad having a background in farming because of growing up on a South Dakota farm, he was used a lot with the farming side of the business. That gave me an opportunity to pick watermelons for $0.50 an hour for a couple of summers. That was hard work tossing melons up to someone standing in the bed of a truck. Once in a while we "accidentally" busted one so we could eat it. I just "love" a good watermelon.

The real transition from being just a kid occasionally making a few dollars, and joining the "world of work" permanently came in 1965. I got my drivers license that year which I couldn't hardly wait to do. I had been driving without a license since I was thirteen. The local IGA Supermarket hired me to bag groceries on Saturday for $0.65 an hour. My first pay check was $4.67. Payday was on Tuesday's, so after school that first payday, I walked all the way over to the store to get my first check. The cashier offered to cash it for me. I can still remember the day like it was yesterday. I put the 67 cents in my pocket, and the 4 dollars in my wallet. After putting the wallet in my back pocket, I slapped it as I was going out the door, feeling like I was rich. Man! I had nearly 5 bucks! What was I going to spend it on?

Just before I turned 16 years old, I got expelled from school. Coming home from school one day the school bus driver made me come to the front of the bus to stand there so he could keep an eye on me, because I was getting into trouble with other kids on the bus. While standing there, I noticed a pock mark on the windshield that was probably made by a BB gun. I started to knock on it with my knuckles, which turned out to be something I shouldn't have done. All of a sudden the windshield cracked about 3 feet across. The bus driver's eyes got terribly big as did mine. He told me to expect to see him in the Principal's office the next day. Sure enough the next morning my name was called over the intercom to come to the Principal's office. When I entered his office the bus driver was there with the principal and the assistant principal. Of course I denied cracking the window. After all, it had that BB gun shot. To make a long story short, the principal wanted to put a board across my "behind". I said very defiantly "you aren't going to paddle me"! He looked at the vice principal and said, " get this boy off this campus right now"! I never went back. Being kicked out of school afforded me an opportunity to work full time at the IGA. Any "dumb" 16 year old would rather work full time instead of going to school. Right? And for the minimum wage! Awesome! Right? Now I had my first full time job, and was making $1.25 an hour. I cleared a whopping $40.40 a week. Mom charged me $10 a week room and board. I blew the rest on whatever I wanted, which meant I saved absolutely nothing. Over the next 4 years working at the grocery store, I moved to being produce manager, and then to being manager of one of the local convenience stores in town with the same employer. By then I was on salary making $85 a week.

In 1969 I had enough debt that my monthly income wasn't enough to cover all my bills. A Friend of mine who I had worked with at the IGA came by to tell me about all the money he was making at the chicken processing plant on the edge of town. He was working a lot of overtime, and was clearing over a hundred dollars a week even though he was working for the minimum wage, $1.60 at the time. Well, I needed more money than I was making because of my bills, so I went to apply at the chicken plant. They hired me and soon I was clearing around $115 a week which got me back above water with my bills. By this time I had a nice car, (a 1967 Chevy Caprice with a 396 turbo jet engine and 325 horses under the hood), a stereo with some record albums, an 8 track in the car, and a couple of girls in my life that I was trying to impress. (Don't know that I ever did.)

The US Army came calling with a greeting in the mail in March 1970. "Greetings, you are hereby ordered to report...". As a private in the Army I earned $124.50 a month, and that was with a $50.00 car payment to make each month. I spent nearly 7 years in the Army with a tour of duty in Vietnam and a final assignment in Hawaii, and lots of other places in the States. I was discharged April 26, 1977 at the grade of Staff Sergeant E6. For the next six years I was either unemployed, or working temporary jobs. In Hawaii I worked at a manufacturing company called Coco Joe's making things for the tourists coming to Hawaii. After that it was a two week stint at the hardware store at the Marine base, and then a temporary job at Pearl Harbor. Finally I moved back to Florida. My first job there was at a Greyhound dog kennel cleaning up after a bunch of "filthy animals". Yuck! I hated that job with a passion. By now I was wondering if I was ever going to get a decent paying job at something I liked doing. Eventually I started going to college in Pensacola and in San Antonio when I moved there. I never finished college. In 1981 I moved from Florida to Texas, because of wanting to marry a young lady I had met at our church Conference in New Mexico in 1979. My first job in Texas was delivering uniforms and shop towels on the South side of San Antonio. For eight months I did that, and hated that too. Four days before we were married I quit the job with the idea of going back to school after our honeymoon. Can you imagine being unemployed and about to get married? I wonder what her parents were thinking. The GI bill provided for more education, and Rebecca had a good job with the government. After being in college through most of 1982, I dropped out in January of 1983 to look for a job with the government. In March of that year the Lord opened up a door for me at Brooks AFB with a temporary job. Just to let you all know at this point, the Lord was with me during all those years, even while I wasn't acknowledging Him for most of them. By this point in time, (Brooks), He and I had a growing relationship which is still growing today. It is an awesome thing to have a relationship with the Creator of all things, and to be aware of His presence. To know Him as "Daddy". To know Him as my Friend! Jesus is my Savior and Lord, and I know Him as my Friend! Can we know anything more important than this? Thanks Dad for all You are to me, and for all you have done, are doing, and will do.

The job at Brooks eventually led me to a permanent job there in the Air Force Drug Testing Laboratory's QA lab. We had over sight of all the samples tested for drug usage of Airmen in the Air Force and some GI's in other branches of the military. I really liked that job. Our first son was about to be born and we needed the money that it paid. In 1986 I was offered a job at Kelly AFB which would give me a nice pay raise. It was in aircraft maintenance in the "Rubber Shop". What a difference that was from the drug lab. At first I hated that job, and felt I had made a big mistake in taking the job. It sure did change the course of my career. In 1995 the Bracc commission decided to close Kelly with a six year plan to do it. In 1999 the work I was doing transferred to Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, and I went with it. We initially felt we would move back to Texas when I retired. We didn't like Oklahoma, and felt like they were a bunch of "retards" up here. We believed the "IQ" of Oklahoma vastly improved with us moving here. When ever I met someone with intelligence, I would joke with them that they must be from somewhere else. I would even make them honorary Floridians. As you all know now, I was terribly wrong about that. After about three years or so my attitude began to change. Now I realize Oklahoma is "God's Country". This is "Okie Land"! I would "Sooner" live here than anywhere. (Until the Lord comes back.) I am proud to be an Okie from... I'm the reason God made Oklahoma! Need I say more?

Well, I have worked at Tinker AFB since July 1999. When I retire on March 14, 2008, I will end my government career with 32 years, 11 months, and 14 days. Right now I an exited about that, but I don't know how I will feel on the 14th. I tend to be a sentimental person about things. I am trying to realize the magnitude of the moment. I need the Lord's help and your prayers to do that. As I come to the end of my federal career, I have the uncertainties of what lies ahead. A new chapter of my life is about to begin which starts with a step off into the unknown. But that's life isn't it? None of us know what we will face with our next step in life. But, I know who holds tomorrow. Isn't that a hymn?

I KNOW WHO HOLDS TOMORROW
"I don't know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day. I don't borrow from its sunshine, for its skys may turn to grey. I don't worry o'er the future, for I know what Jesus said, and today I'll walk beside Him, for He knows what is ahead. Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand; but I know Who holds tomorrow, and I know Who holds my hand."

Please don't misunderstand me here. I realize my responsibilities. This is not some "Polly Anna" type of thinking that all will be well if I just think it will be. Jesus is real, and He is my life, Col. 3:4 When Christ, who is my life, appears, then I also will appear with him in glory. Nothing else needs to be said. May He be praised in all I say and do.

I look forward to what lies ahead in retirement from government service, because I am not retiring from life. What does the Lord have in mind? I haven't a clue about the unknown portion of it, but I am excited as I step out into the unknown walking with my Lord, my Savior, and my best Friend. There is much work yet to be done while I wait for His return, Eph. 5:15-17. May the Lord always be praised.

THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST

2008-08-01T10:44:00.001-07:00

THE IMPACT OF ONE LIFE LIVED

28 JANUARY 1927—04 SEPTEMBER 1991

Prov. 31:27-28 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

2 Tim. 3:14-15 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

South Dakota Winter, 1957**Florida Summer, 1975

Sixteen years ago today, I received the phone call that I knew was going to come. The voice on the other end said my Mom had just passed away. Like it was yesterday, I remember it well. I got on my knees in prayer, and accepted the Lord's will. She had succumbed to pneumonia which was brought on by her being bedridden with cancer at the age of 64 years, 7 months, and 7 days. I have heard that time heals, but I have found that to be a lie. There have been times I would like to pick up the phone and call her to talk for a while. "Hi Mom, this is Steven. How are you and Dad? What's going on with you and everyone else?....I love you Mom, Bye." How nice it would be to drive down to Florida to see her for a few days, and talk about family things with her. Also, I remember all those home cooked meals over the years. "Hey Mom, what are you going to fix for supper?" Fried chicken, peas and butter beans, collard or turnip greens, fresh corn, fried okra, fresh tomatoes, corn pone, ice tea, banana pudding, and those biscuits from scratch, WOW what a cook! "Do you want to go visit grandma and grandpa?" (Her parents) Those were some good times. A time of family get togethers, fish frys at the bay near the Gulf, swimming in a crystal clear creek on a hot summer afternoon, and a lot of other activities. Before moving to Florida while we were kids growing up in South Dakota, we would come home from school for lunch to soup and sandwiches. On Saturday she would give us 50 cents for the movies, popcorn, a coke, and a candy bar. Or if I didn't want to go to the movies, I'd go to the Hamburger Inn where they were just 10 cents each. I would buy one at a time till the money ran out. We would take a vacation to Florida every year to visit her family, our grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts. Before the days of the interstate hwy it took about 23 hours. She saw to it we had treats along the way. Back then, I could lay down in the floorboard of that 1956 Buick, curl up and go to sleep. In the middle of the night one time back in the 1950's, when I woke up crying with an ear ache, she warmed some cooking oil, and poured it into my ear with a piece of cotton. The pain went away, and I drifted off to sleep. She saw to it we went to church every week. She was my Christian influence when I was coming up. Maybe I wouldn't be a Christian today if it was not for her teaching me the ways of the Lord. What a wonderful Mom she was.

What I have found is that God heals, not time. Even though I have a lot of memories, and I miss my Mom a lot when I think about her as I reminisce, the Lord gives me great peace. You see, even though I have a lot of memories to enjoy, I don't live in the past. Rather, I focus on the future. Someday I am going to see my Savior and Lord coming in the clouds as the Scriptures say, 1 Thess. 4:16-17. Also, I am reminded of the following hymn, "Oh what a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see, and I look upon His face, the One Who saved me by His grace. When He takes me by His hand, and leads me through the Promised Land. What a day, glorious day that will be." I will see and be with my Savior, and will be reunited with my Mom, and all the others I know who died in the Lord.

A wonderful Mom, wonderful memories, but oh the future of being with my Lord Jesus, and all my dear fellow believers for all eternity. I have such a long list of names. Come Lord Jesus, come.

A REPLY TO A SECULAR HUMANIST

2008-08-01T10:43:00.001-07:00

li>Prov. 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

The following is a forum post from a person who doesn’t believe in the supernatural. It is the end of what was an on going discussion. If you are a Christian, keep people like this in your prayers because they need their eyes opened to the truth. My final response back follows below.

(Secular Humanist)
Good thing our country’s government is secular and therefore doesn’t apply the laws of one specific religion to all of its citizens. Do you not see how your belief that everyone is subject to your religion’s rules is the belief of a theocratic dictatorship? That is not what this country is about. Your religion’s rules do not apply to me. I would never believe in a deity so full of vengeance and spite and hatred. I don’t feel that way towards my children, and any "heavenly father" I would choose to believe in would not feel that way towards us. I reject your beliefs and therefore they do not apply to me. Period.

(My Response) ...do not apply to you. Period? That is the mistake you are making. You think it is "my religion, my standards of morality, my Bible, etc". You think it is arrogant of me. Because of being a secular humanist, you don’t believe in the supernatural. Your disbelief though doesn’t take away from the fact that God exists. It doesn’t take away from the fact that he created the entire universe. It doesn’t take away from the fact that the Bible is His Word to us with His standards for living in it. It doesn’t take from the fact that His Word applies to all nations and peoples including ours. Your disbelief doesn’t take from the fact that God sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world, because of sin (immorality), to provide salvation for all who will believe and accept Him. Your disbelief doesn’t take from the fact that Jesus is coming back, will establish His Kingdom and rulership from Jerusalem, and will subdue all nations into one government. HIS government! That is all a fact even though you reject it, and since you reject it, you are rejecting God, His Son Jesus, and His Word. You think you are only rejecting me, but ultimately you are rejecting Them. I, as other Christians who accept His Word, are ones who are sent by Him to point people toward Him. John 20:21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." As far as "hatred" as you say, my Heavenly Father through His Son Jesus is expressing His love to us as His creation. He as a loving Father knows what is best for us, and through His Son has provided a way back to a relationship with Him and His ways of righteous living. This is all true whether you choose to believe it or not. It will come to pass whether you accept it or not. The Truth of and carrying out of it has nothing to do with you believing or not believing. IT HAS TO DO WITH THE CREATOR GOD WHO SAID HE WILL DO IT. In my relationship with Him, He has always done what He has said He will do, so I know His future plans will prevail.

Yes, He is my God. His Son is my Lord and Savior. He is the Savior of the world. His Word, (the Bible), I accept. He is the true God and eternal life. There is eternal life through no other. John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

You can continue to reject it if you wish for the rest of your life, but it will still all be true. You can continue to live your life as you please apart from God, because He has given you that choice. But when Jesus returns, and He is returning inspite of your belief, He says you are going to bow your knees to Him and make a confession to God. What will you say to Him on that day? Rom. 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

No, it’s not about me and what I say. It is about God, His Son Jesus Christ and what They say to us. I have been praying for you and will continue too, because it is about love for you and my fellowman. It isn’t "hatred". What I have in Christ is priceless, and if you ever come to see that, you will know what I mean. Then you will realize it isn’t arrogance being expressed to you and others, but rather the love of God through His Son Christ Jesus. The Lord Christ has honored me with letting me share it with you and others in this life. It is my prayer that when you bow your knees to Jesus and confess to God at His return, that you will be found to be one who in this life accepted Him as your Lord and Savior. May God bless you with being able to see and understand His Word, and bring you to a point of accepting rather than rejecting. Take care my Friend as this will be my last writing to you on the subject...Steven

I"M THE REASON GOD MADE OKLAHOMA

2008-08-01T10:32:00.000-07:00

OKLAHOMA IS GOD'S COUNTRY (Affectionately called OKIE LAND by yours truly) I'M PROUD TO BE AN OKIE!

Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; the world, (including OKLAHOMA), and they, (Okies too), that dwell therein.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OKLAHOMA, (GOD'S COUNTRY). 16 NOVEMBER 1907-16 NOVEMBER 2007

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF STATEHOOD!!! It isn't everyday that you get to read about such a great place, Oklahoma, the best of all 50 states. This is all about my fondness and love for Oklahoma, its people, and especially the Okie Brethren I fellowship with each week. I affectionately call Oklahoma "Okie Land" and "God's Country". A Friend of mine at work said to me the other day, while I was joking around with him about Oklahoma, that I should get a job with the Chamber of Commerce or the state tourism department. Maybe he's right, because I can sure talk it up.
The funny thing is, I was Yankee born in South Dakota because my Dad was a Yankee born in Monroe, S.D., finished growing up in Florida because my Mom was a Southern Belle, fell in love with Hawaii while in the Army, married my "Yellow Rose of Texas" and lived in San Antonio for 18 years before moving to Oklahoma. Before moving here, I had no feelings for "Okie Land" and didn't even want to come here. You couldn't have given the state to me. Now, I tell people, "I wasn't born here, but I got here as quick as I could". Oklahoma is like a beautiful woman. She steals the heart of every man who meets her. She sure has stolen mine!
Oklahoma is a Choctaw Indian word that means "red people". More than 25 native languages are spoken here, because of its diverse people. We are called the Sooner State, because of a few cheaters back during the 1889 Oklahoma Land Run who staked out their claims "sooner" than others who waited for the gun to sound. "Okie Land" has a population of almost 3.6 million people with 60% of its people living in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metro areas. With a land area of 68,656 square miles, that leaves a lot of wide open spaces. The Oklahoma Centennial is going on this year celebrating 100 years of statehood. November 16 will be exactly 100 years of statehood. Happy birthday Oklahoma! Okie Land is part of the Great Plains, but also the Southeast and Southwest because of its location. Being part of the "Bible Belt" it is "God's Country" even though there is a lot of dust on the pages of Scripture these days. Farming, ranching, aviation, and oil and gas are a few of the major industries. General Tommy Franks, Brad Pitt, James Garner, Ron Howard, Chuck Norris, Garth Brooks, Paul Harvey, T. Boone Pickens, Sam Walton, Micky Mantle, and Gordon Cooper are from here. Admiral Crowe, Gene Autry, and Walter Cronkite lived here at one time. Walter Cronkite started his broadcast career here in Oklahoma City at a local radio station. Reba McEntire, Shannon Miller, Patti Page, Carry Underwood, and Jennifer Berry are also from here. Many other people from here I won't name, but you probably know some of them. They are the Brethren of the local congregations of the Church of God (Seventh day) who fellowship in such places as Shawnee, Oklahoma City, Wister, Muskogee, Fairview, Tulsa, Claremore, McAlester, Tahlequah, and maybe other communities, Mat. 18:20. What a great place to live with a great bunch of people!
And of course this is the home of the University of Oklahoma, the premier educational institution in the country, which also sports one of the greatest of all time football teams the world has ever known. (Sorry Florida State, because I don't mean to do this to you.) Well, Florida State and Bobby Bowden did help out the Sooners when they knocked off #2 Boston College. With the Sooners ripping apart Texas A&M, the help from Florida State will improve Oklahoma's chances for another national title. DO I HEAR A THANK YOU FOR FLORIDA STATE FROM ALL YOU OKIES OUT THERE? After all, "God's Country" Oklahoma, was helped out by Florida, "God's Vacation Getaway". GO SOONERS!!!
I know what you are thinking by now. Old Steven has gone absolutely loony toons since he moved to Oklahoma. I assure you I have never been more sane, but after I post this here, I will keep a watchful eye out for the people with the straight jackets, just in case one of you turns me in to the authorities. Truth is though, a close Friend and Brother in the Lord got me started calling Oklahoma "God's Country". I'd tell you who he is, but he is about half my age, goes to the gym, jogs and exercises, and is strong enough to beat me up. But I will tell you this. I asked him one time if he believed God was with him watching the Sooners play football. He said, "yes because God is a Sooner fan". On another occasion I told him that my coffee tasted better in a cup with the Sooner logo on it. I asked if he could help me out with that, and he said, "in that cup it was God's coffee". He is a true native born OKIE! He has said other things, but you get the picture. THIS IS GOD'S COUNTRY! PS. 24:1 The earth is the LORD's, (including Okie Land), and the fullness thereof; the world, and they, (Okie's too), that dwell therein.
When we moved here from Texas, we had to cross the Red River. Didn't the Israelites cross the Red, (Reed), Sea as they headed to Mt. Sinai and eventually to the Promised Land? Well, I rest my case. This must be the Promised Land, and Texas must be...I'd better not say. Every time I have to leave this state, I tend to become ill till I return. Living here is good medicine. My oldest son and his wife are expecting their first baby in May. He/ She will be the first Zuraff born in Oklahoma. The first Okie ZURAFF! Now, I am becoming envious. Wow! Awesome! That kid is going to be special! I believe they want to name their child "Okla Homa Zuraff". What do you think? Sounds great doesn't it? I thought you would like it.
Well, by now you might think I am sold on Oklahoma, the Sooner State, Okie Land, God's Country. You also probably think I am nuts, delusional or something else. You might even think I am joking. Well the truth is, I am just content that God has me living here at this point of my life. The best part about living here are the wonderful Brethren we fellowship with in Shawnee COG7, and occasionally in other parts of the state. I have grown close to a number of Brethren in Shawnee and other places, and want that closeness to become even closer. Hey Shawnee Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, I love you in Christ Jesus!!! We recently bought new property out in the Dale cemetary. We made sure it is right next to where many of our Brethren in Shawnee will be buried. We will all rise up together to meet the Lord when He comes back for us, 1 Thess. 4:16. Maybe we will hold hands as we go up to meet Jesus. That will be an awesome sight. If I could go back in time, I wouldn't change anything that would keep us from coming to Oklahoma. Where I have been, where I am, and where I will be has always been in God's hands, Jas. 4:15. As a local car dealer here in Oklahoma says. "Who loves you Oklahoma"? The real answer? Steven Michael Zuraff does!

ACCEPT JESUS AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR

2008-08-01T07:52:00.000-07:00

JESUS SAVES

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not parish, but have everlasting life.

John 14:6 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man cometh to the Father except by Me.

DEVOTIONAL
Dear Brethren, Family, and Friends,
Greetings to you in the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior and soon coming King. May He shower you with His blessings as we begin a new year. We are now another year closer to His return to set up His Kingdom. What a day that will be... Personally, I am looking very much for that event to come.

A lot has happened during 2007 in the world, but I'll keep it personal. My oldest son David, was married on June 10. He and his wife are expecting their first baby, a girl, in May 2008. They plan to name her Makaila Brooke. They are currently in transition to Woodward, Oklahoma. My son Jonathon went into the Air Force in October, and is currently at Keesler AFB for part of his tech training. He seems happy and content with his decision to be in uniform. Our youngest, Aaron is still living at home as he plans for his future. Rebecca and I? Well, we are just another year older, and I am still thinking about retiring. This old "Baby Boomer" doesn't seem to know when to "hang up his spurs",or "git down out of the saddle". The best part of 2007 is that we are still with the Lord. He has been with us every step of the way. He is the One that has taken us through it safe and sound. Since you are able to read this, He has done the same for you. Give Him thanks for it. It has been a good year for us, and we thank the Lord for it.

The sun is setting on 2007 as it comes to an end. We are at the dawning of a new year, 2008. What will take place over the next year? When we get to December of 2008, what will the year in review look like? None of us know the answer to that, do we? Only God does.

We do have responsibilities for the coming year as God gives us the breath of life. As Christians, our part is to trust, and live for Him no matter what the future holds. Job 13:15a says "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him...". This should be our attitude toward our God. Also, we should live every moment for Him in accordance with His Word. There isn't a minute to waste. Eph. 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. And finally, realize we should be content with our circumstances, because the Lord is with us, and takes us through it all. Heb. 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

May you reap the blessings of our Lord throughout the coming year as you live for and serve Him is my prayer.

Take care my Friends...love in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior...Steven

HAVE YOU ACCEPTED JESUS AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR? IF NOT, READ BELOW.

Romans 3:23 ...all have sinned...(that's you, me, everybody)
Romans 6:23 ...the wages of sin is death...(eternally)
Romans 5:8 ...while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (He received our wages)
Romans 1:16 ...gospel of Christ...is...of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth...(salvation is available to everyone who wants to receive it)
Romans 10:9-10 ...confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,...believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ...with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.(True salvation is about accepting what Jesus did for you at Calvary, and then living for Him according to the Word of God.)

This last Scripture is how we receive salvation and eternal life. Go before God in prayer. Confess to Him that you accept the fact you are a sinner. Tell Him that you accept His Son Jesus dying for you at Calvary to save you from eternal death because of your sins. Ask Him to come into your life by His Spirit and to guide you for the rest of your life in living for Him. Ask it all in the name of His Son Jesus Christ.

If you have just done this, post a note on this blog, or email me at srzuraff@yahoo.com. Also, begin to let others know what you have done. Begin to study God's Word, and begin to attend church at a bible believing church. If you need help finding a church, or for anything else in your Christian life, let me know. Also, read Acts 2 and Romans 6 about water baptism. I will also be praying for you. May the Lord bless you as you walk with Him through this life, trusting Him now and for eternity.