Tag Archives: Christianity

2023 Road Trip-Part 13

6 Dec

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Day 13 – July 27:

  After Breakfast this morning, as I was heading for the interstate, this unusual scene of an airplane caught my eye, and I had to stop to see what it was all about.  This CRAZY scene was at the Pizza Shack Restaurant there in Lamoni, and I just had to have a photo of it.  I’m not sure what this scene is supposed to reflect, as the Pizza Shack wasn’t open yet, and I couldn’t ask about it, but I would guess it has something to do with survivors of a plane crash.  What a Hoot!

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

Now I continued south about an hour on I-35, crossed the border into Missouri, to visit the Crossroads Quilting Museum in Cameron, MO.  However, I had plans to visit friends in Lincoln, MO this evening, so, I only stopped in Cameron for a bathroom break, passed up the Quilting Museum, and continued another 40 minutes south on I-35 to visit the Jesse James Birthplace & Museum located in Kearney, MO.  This museum is located on the 40-acre James farm where Jesse and his family lived in their original 1845 log cabin.  The museum chronicles the history of the James family with original family artifacts, miniature dioramas, and a 20-minute film depicting the life and times of outlaws Frank and Jesse James.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

A short walk, up the hill from the museum, I toured the original 1845 restored James home where decades of visitors have been allowed to walk thru the rooms of the house, guided by members of the James family, beginning as early as 1882, when Zerelda James (Jesse’s Mother) first opened her house to visitors for 50 cents per person.  Just a few yards from the James house is the original grave site of Jesse James (1847-1882).

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

It took me a while to get back to I-35, and then another 15-minute drive to where I had planned to visit the Historic Liberty Jail Museum located in Liberty, MO.  I was surprised to find a large modern building at the address Greta (My Garmin) took me to.  Inside, I was informed that a church organization had bought the property and built a church on top of the Liberty Jail.  That was hard for me to understand, but it seems to be another case of one generation building on top of another.  I didn’t take the tour, as I would have had to wait for a group to arrive.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

From Liberty, it was only a short 15-minute drive to visit the Arabia Steamboat Museum located on Grand Boulevard, adjacent to the Missouri River, in Kansas City, MO.  This large museum is filled with one of the largest collections of Civil War era artifacts recovered from the remains of the steamboat Aribia that sank in 1856 on its way to Kansas City with over 200 tons of cargo on board (the Arabia was one of 400 steamboats to sink on the 2500-mile-long segment of the Missouri River between the 1820s and the 1870s).   The museum was overflowing with visitors today, and because of my time crunch, I decided to see this great attraction on another road trip.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

Before leaving downtown Kansas City, I stopped at the WWI Memorial for a photo.  This is another museum I will have to visit on another road trip, as it was very busy with visitors today.  I passed up the Clendening Medicine Museum and the Boot Hill Museum (that I had visited on other road trips) so I could visit the TWA Museum and the Airline History Museum, both located adjacent to the Charles B. Willard Downtown Airport.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

I had tried to visit these two museums on a previous road trip, but they were both closed on the day I arrived.  So, I was really looking forward to visiting them on this trip.  Today there happened to be a lot of road construction all around the Charles B. Willard Downtown Airport and neither Greta (My Garmin) nor I could ever access the TWA Museum.  So, I gave up and we tried to find the Airline History Museum there in the same general area.  After a confused back and forth around the airport construction, I finally arrived at the Airline History Museum, only to find it permanently closed.  Bummer!

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

—–To Be Continued—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 65 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.

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The God Who Answers

28 Nov

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Psalm

65:1-4

You are the God who answers prayer,

All of humanity comes before you 

With their requests.

Though we are overcome by our many sins,

Your sacrifice covers over them all.

And your priestly loves, those you’ve chosen,

Will be greatly favored to be brought close to you.

What inexpressible joys are theirs!

What feasts of mercy fill them in

Your heavenly sanctuary!

How satisfied we will be just to be near you!

Photo Credit:Pixabay

DiVoran has been writing for most of her life. Her first attempt at a story was when she was seven years old and her mother got a new typewriter. DiVoran got to use it and when her dad saw her writing he asked what she was writing about. DiVoran answered that she was writing the story of her life. Her dad’s only comment was, “Well, it’s going to be a very short story.” After most of a lifetime of writing and helping other writers, DiVoran finally launched her own dream which was to write a novel of her own. She now has her Florida Springs trilogy and her novel, a Christian Western Romance, Go West available on Amazon. When speaking about her road to publication, she gives thanks to the Lord for all the people who helped her grow and learn.  She says, “I could never have done it by myself, but when I got going everything fell beautifully into place, and I was glad I had started on my dream.”

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The Light of Revelation

13 Nov

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Psalm 36:9-12

In your light, we receive the light of revelation.

Lord, keep pouring out your unfailing love

On those who are near you.

Release more of your blessings to those who are loyal to you.

37:3– Keep trusting the Lord and do what is right in his eyes.

Fix your heart on the promises of God, and you will be secure,

Feasting on his faithfulness.

Make God the utmost delight and Pleasure of your life,

And he will provide for you what you desire the most.

Photo Credit:Pixabay

DiVoran has been writing for most of her life. Her first attempt at a story was when she was seven years old and her mother got a new typewriter. DiVoran got to use it and when her dad saw her writing he asked what she was writing about. DiVoran answered that she was writing the story of her life. Her dad’s only comment was, “Well, it’s going to be a very short story.” After most of a lifetime of writing and helping other writers, DiVoran finally launched her own dream which was to write a novel of her own. She now has her Florida Springs trilogy and her novel, a Christian Western Romance, Go West available on Amazon. When speaking about her road to publication, she gives thanks to the Lord for all the people who helped her grow and learn.  She says, “I could never have done it by myself, but when I got going everything fell beautifully into place, and I was glad I had started on my dream.”

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Praising our Way out of Difficulties into God’s List

6 Nov

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Palm of David 34:6-8

When I had nothing, desperate and defeated,

I cried out to the Lord, and he heard me,

Bringing his miracle-deliverance

When I needed it most.

The angel of the Lord stooped down

To listen as I prayed,

Encircling me, empowering me, and 

Showing me how to escape.

He will do this for everyone who fears God. 

Drink deeply of the pleasures of this God.

Experience for yourself the joyous mercies he gives

To all who turn to hide themselves in him.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

DiVoran has been writing for most of her life. Her first attempt at a story was when she was seven years old and her mother got a new typewriter. DiVoran got to use it and when her dad saw her writing he asked what she was writing about. DiVoran answered that she was writing the story of her life. Her dad’s only comment was, “Well, it’s going to be a very short story.” After most of a lifetime of writing and helping other writers, DiVoran finally launched her own dream which was to write a novel of her own. She now has her Florida Springs trilogy and her novel, a Christian Western Romance, Go West available on Amazon. When speaking about her road to publication, she gives thanks to the Lord for all the people who helped her grow and learn.  She says, “I could never have done it by myself, but when I got going everything fell beautifully into place, and I was glad I had started on my dream.”

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Three Lies That Can Rob Your Security

14 Oct

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

I tried, really tried not to get nauseous at Angie’s story.

“I was taught that you eat anything you kill,” she said.

Angie is one of hubby’s family members whom we recently visited. They live in a double-wide trailer surrounded by vegetable gardens, horses, and gorgeous trees at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Each family member is refreshingly warm, down-to-earth, simple, transparent and genuinely kind—traits seldom seen these days.

I relished in their ways of life and in their unique stories like the one Angie related about the day she killed a crow.

“I brought it home,” she said matter-of-factly. “Prepared it, carved out a piece of the breast, breaded it, added salt and pepper and fried it.”

I gave a fake smile to hide my disbelief but had to ask, “How did it taste?”

“Awful. I spit it out.”

In these times of turmoil, we also need to spit out the distasteful and destructive lies from the enemy of our soul.

His craftiness is peppered with deceit and destruction. Caution: he works best to destroy us by first bringing in doubt, then aims to rob our security hoping we bite into these lies:

  • Seek first to solve your problem
  • Change will come if you try harder
  • Another person will ease your loneliness
  • Your provision comes from your paycheck

Angie spit out the disgusting crow’s meat and we should also do the same with those lies. On the other hand, victory comes when we delight our soul with the delicious truth in God’s Word:

  1. God’s ready to give us what we need. Are you busy seeking answers, solutions, changes or breakthroughs on your own? If so, you might be stuck in the mud of discouragement, exhausted by the seeking frenzy. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). While you choose to seek God first, expect and count on the promises that will come in ways you may not expect and in the timing that might surprise you.
  2. Resist the lie that says you prayed incorrectly, your prayers are too brief, too long, with the wrong words. God has the prayer pattern defined in Matthew 6:9-15 and He adds, “And most of all, …when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:7). Before you ask Him? That’s deliciously wonderful! No wonder confidence increases in knowing He’s aware of your needs, desires and longings.
  3. Another lie we need to spit out is the one that sparks these questions: Am I worthy? Do I deserve what God offers? Am I clean enough to receive? Am I too weak to pray boldly? His reassurance comes when you whisper to Him: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).

Through Jesus, our heart can be clean and, more open to hearing His voice, knowing His lead and savoring His promises.

Let’s Pray

Father, in these times of difficult challenges and pending requests, I vow to discard the lies from the enemy of my soul. I will instead taste the goodness You offer, the path You show me and the peace You infuse in me. In Jesus’ name.

What lies are creating a bitter taste in your heart?

Janet

Celebrate with me! My new release, Now I See: How God’s Amazing Grace Transforms the Deepest Pain to Shining Joy won the 2023 Memoir of the Year Golden Scroll Award.

BONUS article on recognizing and defeating our enemy’s lies.

Your copy waits for you HERE.

Let’s Stay in Touch

You and I are only a click away. You can use this CONTACT FORM to leave your prayer request, make a comment, ask a question, or invite me to speak to your group. Or simply reply to this email.

I also invite you to visit my WEBSITE. You’ll find more inspirational blogs along with my story, books, and videos. You’ll also learn the passion and mission of JC Empowerment ministries.

Janet Eckles Perez

Some say she should be the last person to be dancing. Her life is summarized in this 3-minute video: http://bit.ly/1a8wGJR

Janet Perez Eckles’ story of triumph is marked by her work as an international speaker, #1 best-selling author, radio host, personal success coach and master interpreter. Although blind since 31, her passion is to help you see the best of life.

www.janetperezeckles.com

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The Son speaks

25 Sep

My Take

DiVoran Lites

I will reveal the eternal purpose of God.

For he has decreed over me, “You are my favored Song. 

And as your Father, I have crowned you as my King Eternal.

Today, I became your Father.

Ask me to give you the nations and 

I will do it.

And they shall become your legacy. Your domain will stretch to the ends of the earth.

And you will shepherd them with unlimited authority.

Crushing their rebellion as an iron rod smashes jars of clay!

Photo Credit: Pixabay

DiVoran has been writing for most of her life. Her first attempt at a story was when she was seven years old and her mother got a new typewriter. DiVoran got to use it and when her dad saw her writing he asked what she was writing about. DiVoran answered that she was writing the story of her life. Her dad’s only comment was, “Well, it’s going to be a very short story.” After most of a lifetime of writing and helping other writers, DiVoran finally launched her own dream which was to write a novel of her own. She now has her Florida Springs trilogy and her novel, a Christian Western Romance, Go West available on Amazon. When speaking about her road to publication, she gives thanks to the Lord for all the people who helped her grow and learn.  She says, “I could never have done it by myself, but when I got going everything fell beautifully into place, and I was glad I had started on my dream.”

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Joshua 1:9

4 Sep

A Slice of Life

DiVoran Lites

“Have I not commanded you?

Be strong and courageous. 

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,

For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

DiVoran has been writing for most of her life. Her first attempt at a story was when she was seven years old and her mother got a new typewriter. DiVoran got to use it and when her dad saw her writing he asked what she was writing about. DiVoran answered that she was writing the story of her life. Her dad’s only comment was, “Well, it’s going to be a very short story.” After most of a lifetime of writing and helping other writers, DiVoran finally launched her own dream which was to write a novel of her own. She now has her Florida Springs trilogy and her novel, a Christian Western Romance, Go West available on Amazon. When speaking about her road to publication, she gives thanks to the Lord for all the people who helped her grow and learn.  She says, “I could never have done it by myself, but when I got going everything fell beautifully into place, and I was glad I had started on my dream.”

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You Answer Our Prayers

14 Aug

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Psalm 65:5-6 TPT

You answer our prayers with amazing wonders

And with awe-inspiring displays of power.

You are the righteous God who helps us like a father.

Everyone everywhere looks to you,

For you are the confidence of all the earth,

Even to the farthest islands of the sea.

What jaw-dropping astounding power is yours!

You are the mountain maker who sets them all in one place

Photo Credit:Pixabay

DiVoran has been writing for most of her life. Her first attempt at a story was when she was seven years old and her mother got a new typewriter. DiVoran got to use it and when her dad saw her writing he asked what she was writing about. DiVoran answered that she was writing the story of her life. Her dad’s only comment was, “Well, it’s going to be a very short story.” After most of a lifetime of writing and helping other writers, DiVoran finally launched her own dream which was to write a novel of her own. She now has her Florida Springs trilogy and her novel, a Christian Western Romance, Go West available on Amazon. When speaking about her road to publication, she gives thanks to the Lord for all the people who helped her grow and learn.  She says, “I could never have done it by myself, but when I got going everything fell beautifully into place, and I was glad I had started on my dream.”

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Father’s Day 2023

18 Jun

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Re-post I would like to re-post this from 2017 – It’s still relevant today

Another Father’s Day dawns this morning.  As someone recently said, it’s such a pity that in today’s world of TV and comedy, fathers are portrayed as clueless and laughable.  How are our boys and young men going to grow up to be the strong men of God that we want them to be, when that is their example?  I am so glad that my father, my brother, and my husband grew up in times when men were, indeed, strong men of God, and spiritual leaders in their household.

And how are our girls and young women going to grow up, thinking that all the boys/men in their lives are luckless creatures – only to be tolerated?  In watching the TV programs that are out there now – unfortunately including some of the current Disney programs – adults in general, and men in particular –  are portrayed as stupid and ignorant, while their teenagers – and younger – are the “smart” ones.  It just ain’t so, folks!

And since that was a rather depressing way to begin this post, let me get back to the men in my life who were strong believers in God and Jesus Christ, and were able to be strong, safe, places for me.

Let me tell you about my own father.

Mother, Father, Bill and me – 1952

I’ve written other posts about my father (June 16, 2013; June 15, 2014; September 28, 2014) and the influence he had in my life.  He was gone quite a bit – traveling around the state – but I always knew he loved me, and I looked up to him.

Daddy getting ready for one of his trips – 1959

He was, indeed, the spiritual leader in our household.   He always took us to church with him, and our family life revolved around church and our belief in God.

Daddy, me, Mother, Bill – 1956

Fred’s father – a second father to me after Fred and I married – was dedicated to God and His work in this world.

Charles Wills – Chaplain – 1951

Charles Wills – Base Chaplain, Tyndall AFB, FL – 1951-1955

He was a pastor for a while, but then most of his life was doing God’s work as a military chaplain.  And yet, with all that work, he was devoted to his family.  He, too, was the spiritual leader in his family.

Charles and Kitty Wills – 1950’s

Fred and I both look back on our lives, and are so grateful that each of our fathers-in-law treated us like their son or daughter.  I never felt out of place in Fred’s family, and Fred has said so many times that my father enjoyed him as if he were another son of his.  We were so blest to have that in our lives.

And because of that, Fred grew up in a household that showered him with love – family love and God’s love.  He grew to be a self-assured man that I am proud to call my husband.  He taught our girls what a true man – a gentleman – is like, and what they should expect from their spouses.

Fred, me, Karen and Janet – 1976

And my brother, Bill, grew up in a household that taught him how to be a true man of God, as well.  He gave his children God’s word, and the strength to be what God wants them to be. 

Bill, DiVoran, Billy, Charlene – 1985

Both of our girls have married men who are strong personalities, and are dedicated to the Lord.  We pray for each member of their families, as they begin to have families of their own.

Brian,Savannah, Forrest, and Karen

On our 50th wedding anniversary cruise to Bermuda May 2011

Hannah, Janet, Tom and Connor – October 2022

There is a scripture that helps with this:

Start children off on the way they should go,

and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:6 

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Fear Not

1 May

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Isa. 41:10 and Job 11:18

Fear not, 

For God is with you.

He will strengthen you.

He will help you.

He will uphold you with His 

Righteous right hand.

Having hope will give you courage.

You will be protected and will rest in safety.

Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

DiVoran has been writing for most of her life. Her first attempt at a story was when she was seven years old and her mother got a new typewriter. DiVoran got to use it and when her dad saw her writing he asked what she was writing about. DiVoran answered that she was writing the story of her life. Her dad’s only comment was, “Well, it’s going to be a very short story.” After most of a lifetime of writing and helping other writers, DiVoran finally launched her own dream which was to write a novel of her own. She now has her Florida Springs trilogy and her novel, a Christian Western Romance, Go West available on Amazon. When speaking about her road to publication, she gives thanks to the Lord for all the people who helped her grow and learn.  She says, “I could never have done it by myself, but when I got going everything fell beautifully into place, and I was glad I had started on my dream.”

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