Head-dibs

Recently, we lost something. Our search was so extensive that we were not merely looking from room to room but got right down to moving the furniture, sweeping every place with a flashlight in order to find it. We searched everywhere; that is, we searched in every place anyone would be. It did not make sense to get into the crawl spaces or get in our car and drive to some to another location to look because we did not lose the item anywhere except in a certain place. When we lose something, we look in the place we lost it.  Sometimes we have an idea to look for something that is not lost so we chase the idea in the realm we expect to make a discovery. For example, when I was young we explored the Rocky Mountains and spent some time looking for gold. We did not look in the sky (though the color could be found in the sunset) and we did not look in the trees (though the Aspens in fall are quite aflame in gold); rather, we looked near abandoned mines and panned the streams below f...

[Pro 3:5-6 NASB] “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.” We can’t trust just “anyone” or “anything” other than He who makes Himself supremely known. Interesting that it takes a lifetime to get to know a person, but the LORD is one who gave Himself and can be trusted. He is our Creator (is there anyone who knows us better?) and He knows best how to supply us with all we need. This is why He can be trusted. He is to be trusted with “all your heart.” It’s a well known saying, that “‘all’ means ‘all’” so there is no guesswork as to how much of our heart is required to trust Him. If we trust with the entirety of the core of our being, there is no room for our own understanding. So many are of the opinion they must first understand and this is not the case. How does one come to that conclusion, anyway? Was there some sort of pre-understanding that enabled one to conclude there ...

A few observations from Proverbs 2 (NASB) I. “If” and “then” (Proverbs 2:1-5) A. If you 1. Recieve/Treasure 2. Hear/Incline heart (listen) 3. Cry/lift voice (pray) 3. Seek/search (read, study) B. Then 1. You will take God seriously 2. Know what is on His mind II. “For” and “then” (Proverbs 2:6-9) A. For the LORD 1. Gives Wisdom/knowledge/understanding 2. Stores up wisdom 3. Shields/ guards/ preserves B. Then you will discern (by taking Him seriously, knowing what is on His mind) 1. righteousness 2. justice 3. equity III. Outcome (Proverbs 2:11-22) A. Be Guarded (11) B. Delivered from 1. way of evil 2. perverse men 3. disobedient men 4. adultery C. Upright 1. walk 2. living 3. see the application of justice

Funny how things start out, seeing now how things wind up. When I was a child I wanted (like most boys) to be a fireman, a policeman or a cowboy and all of life consisted of anticipating summer and Christmas. As a teen, I fell in love with literature and music, but the music bug bit harder and deeper. Summertime was filled with moonlit meanderings induced by the Bard but the deep weeping of Samuel Barber’s Adagio or the soul’s breath released from Bach’s pipe organ was life itself. My love for music was so deep that once I was punished by being grounded from music (I seriously do not remember what I did to receive such punishment) except for that required for school practice. I was devastated. That was most horrible six weeks of my entire life. Regardless, I was looking forward to spending the rest of my life standing on the podium before a full orchestra, pouring my life into those sections and drawing out music. I would conduct the sunrise.   Life has not gone according t...

"I, ________, beginning to be enfeebled in body, and fearing that I may soon be palsied in mind, and having entered upon that course of drinking from which I have not resolution to flee; do make and publish this, my last will and testament-- Having been made in the image of my Creator, capable of rational enjoyment, of imparting happiness to others, and of promoting the glory of God--I know my accountability. Yet such is my fondness for sensual gratification, and my utter indisposition to resist temptation, that I give myself entirely to alcohol and its associate vices, and make the following bequests-- My property I give to be wasted--knowing it will soon fall into the hands of those who furnish me with liquor. My reputation, already tottering on a sandy foundation--I give to destruction. To my beloved wife, who has cheered me thus far through life--I give shame, poverty, sorrow, and a broken heart. To each of my chi...

Question: The Bible says that those who gain wisdom will have knowledge, understanding, even glory (Proverbs 3:35; 4:7; 10:14; 23:23), receiving something better than gold and strength (Proverbs 16:16; Ecclesiastes 9:16-18). Anyone who lacks wisdom is to ask of God (James 1:15); but why does it say that God does not regard the wise (Job 37:24) and will destroy the wisdom of the wise (1 Corinthians 1:19)? Please explain this apparent contradiction. Answer: "Apparent" is the key word here. To begin with, let’s think over simplistically for a moment about the qualities necessary for one to be a public leader, a governor, specifically. The ancient Romans valued honesty, simplicity and strength, unlike their Greek predecessors. The Roman family was unified under the rule of the patriarch (who could preside as judge in family trials) and one family was one building block in the structure that was the whole of national government. One might say the Romans were organized, but ...

Proverbs 1:7 prepares us for what the writer was inspired to teach. “ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction .” (Proverbs 1:7). This is the key verse for the entire book and it is here at the beginning that we must consent that what God has to teach us is complete and sufficient (either that, or He does not know what He is talking about, in which case it would be God’s will verses man’s will—and believe me when I say the struggle is not great for Him). We’ve already seen in 1:8-19 what God has to say to those who cast off instruction (“ they lie in wait for their own blood, they ambush their own lives ,” 1:18). Wisdom can be difficult to describe and so that our feeble minds can grasp the concept, here we meet wisdom as a person. Proverbs 1:20 is the first time we meet Lady Wisdom, but this will not be the last time, as the imagery carries over in subsequent chapters. “ Wisdom shouts in the street, she lifts her voice in the square; a...

Visiting the library is a regular feature of our family outings on Saturdays. We load up the back of the van with bags packed to near bursting capacity with books and movies checked out on previous visits and leave again with newly discovered blocks of paper. There is this really neat display right when you walk in the door of newly acquired books, but I have to hustle by them because I want to read every single one of them. Of course, it does not help that that is only the first floor of four, and little displays like little islands populated by tomes young and old, each cry out as I walk past, “Read me! Take me home with you!” Ok, that one looks interesting. I pick it up, survey the cover, note the author. I flip the book over, looking for a reason that will convince me to read. Just a picture of the author on the back? 98% chance I won’t read it. A synopsis? More of a chance than a list of reviews, unless there are names I recognize. I flip the book open looking for something to t...

The Old Testament book of Proverbs is a collection of little snippets, sayings, trite words of instruction from an array of sources. Solomon, the son of King David, was the principle collector of proverbial sayings and may have even authored a few. 1 Kings 4:32 says, “He also spoke 3,000 proverbs and his songs were 1,005.” His name is directly attached to those found in the first twenty-two chapters of the book though interestingly, the Psalms only contain just one of his songs. There are “sayings of the wise” (chapters 22-24); proverbs of Solomon as they were copied by Hezekiah’s men (25:1-29:17); the words of Agur (chapter 30); and finally, the words of King Lemuel, as he recalled the teachings of his mother (chapter 31). What are the Proverbs? What is the purpose of a collection of sayings and quotes, anyway? “ To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the sim...

What is the difference between the one who keeps silent when he knows to speak up, and the one who turns a deaf ear (ignores) a warning? There is a poster in our house that says, “If you don’t have time to do it right, you must have time to do it over.” Our baby granddaughter is fascinated with the sign (to the dismay of few other house-hold occupants). Certainly the sign is encouraging enough for daily tasks and responsibilities, but when reading Psalm 58, one realizes there may be only one chance to do “it” right (whatever “it” is). Approaching Psalm 58, we must remember that these words are not limited to the time of the writer. People have not been living righteously with one another since long before David, the justice system certainly isn’t getting any better since then, so this is an excellent opportunity to learn from scripture what God thinks about justice, and make certain we get “it” right in application. "Do you indeed speak righteousness, O gods? Do you judge uprightl...

Are you familiar with this word, "abomination?" Perhaps now it is an older word and not much used today. The word is used in reference to something extremely disgusting--so disgusting in fact, that one would put distance between himself or herself and whatever the abomination is. That which makes you jump up and run into the other room might be considered an "abomination." We've all seen the videos of people jumping up, running and screaming from dead rats (fake or otherwise) bugs, or just being scared in general. This is the idea that something is so horrendous, one flees the scene. Perhaps we would not jump up and run from these things, but consider our reaction to certain people or situations. We will not tolerate cheating either in business or in board games. What is your reaction to a business that steals from its customers, or treats its employees unfairly? We would avoid that business, and perhaps report to some authority regarding unethical business prac...

Years ago, the cover of the Saturday Evening Post displayed a painting by Leslie Thrasher showing a woman buying a Thanksgiving turkey. The turkey was on the scales and the butcher is standing behind the counter. The customer, a lady of about 60, stands watching the weigh in. The butcher and the lady each had a pleased look on their faces, but a closer look reveals they each knew something of a secret. Their faces showed nothing unusual going on, but Thrasher shows us their hands. The butcher is pressing down on the scales with a thumb while the woman is pushing up with her finger. Both would resent being called thieves, or even liars. But neither saw anything wrong with a little deception. "A little lie is like a little pregnancy--it doesn't take long before everyone knows." (C.S. Lewis) "A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will not escape." (Proverbs 19:5) "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers ...

" A constant dripping on a day of steady rain and a contentious woman are alike ." (Proverbs 27:15) "Harping on the same string is an imposition on another person’s time and ears. The identical tune gets monotonous, and in time will vex the most patient listener. There is no quicker way to cause the welcome mat to shrink. The squeak of the hinges on the man’s door as you exit is sweeter to him than your onestring harping. Enough is enough. And the kindest thing we can say is that it is a plentiful lack of good judgment. That others may enjoy you, learn to play more than one tune." (Leroy Brownlow, 1914 - 2002)

This video is called "How to detect a lie." So punish the lie. The video really shows "How to detect a liar": How To Detect a Lie Add to My Profile More Videos "A false witness shall not be unpunished, and a breather of lies shall not escape." (Proverbs 19:5) "A false witness shall not be unpunished, and one speaking lies shall perish." (Proverbs 19:9) "But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, will have their part in the Lake burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (Rev. 21:8)