Head-dibs

Have you ever noticed that you feel compelled to do something when you hear or read a good story? You can’t quite put your finger on it but there is this knowledge that you want to take some kind of action, like be a better person. Sure, we like to read or listen to something for entertainment, but what remains when we are finished? Warm fuzzies that ultimately dissipate and get lost in the shuffle of the day. It’s nearly impossible to recall that feeling once it’s gone. But there are some elements we encounter that leave a lasting impression because we are impelled take some kind of action. Remember those tomes of literature we used in high school and college. Did you ever notice how many discussions were had over those stories? If you still have one, crack it open and notice the questions at the end of each contribution. How many imparted some kind of moral lesson or set an example to be followed? Perhaps you did not notice your conscience responding to what you read or heard yet you...

“Of all the people only those are at leisure who make time for philosophy, only they truly live. Not satisfied to merely keep good watch over their own days, they annex every age to their own. All the harvest of the past is added to their store. Only an ingrate would fail to see that these great architects of venerable thoughts were born for us and have designed a way of life for us.” (Seneca, "The Shortness of Life")

“Make sure you’re not made ‘Emperor,’ avoid that imperial stain. It can happen to you, so keep yourself simple, good, pure, saintly, plain, a friend of justice, God- fearing, gracious, affectionate, and strong for your proper work. Fight to remain the person that philosophy [the love of wisdom] wished to make you." (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 6.30) " Because I'm the (title), that's why! " is a sign that a person has lost sight of identity and purpose. Don't let success (or lack of it) influence and change your character. Pursue wisdom and make your mark on the world from the inside out.  Marcus Aurelius was hand-picked for the job of being god-among-men. He was not born into the position nor did he aspire after the title; nevertheless, his predecessor saw what he could become and Emperor he became. Marcus left the above-written note for himself as a reminder to not let it go to his head (in so many words) but to be shaped by wisdom. 

"For, as a student of philosophy he will certainly be most eager to treat his father with the greatest possible consideration and will be most well-behaved and gentle; in his relations with his father he will never be contentious or self-willed, nor hasty or prone to anger; furthermore he will control his tongue and his appetite whether for food or for sexual temptations, and he will stand fast in the face of danger and hardships; and finally with competence in recognizing the true good, he will not let the apparent good pass without examination. As a result he will willingly give up all pleasures for his father's sake, and for him he will accept all manner of hardships willingly."   Musonius Rufus, Lectures 16.8 The one who sits at the feet of instruction as a lover of Wisdom is known by the fruit of his learning.  1) The student, as a lover of wisdom, honors his father as a son--with consideration towards him. The son is obedient and gentle, doing what he is to...

On two separate occasions, Seneca penned two thoughts that compliment each other. The first is this: “I don’t agree with those who plunge headlong into the middle of the flood and who, accepting a turbulent life, struggle daily in great spirit with difficult circumstances. The wise person will endure that, but won’t choose it—choosing to be at peace, rather than at war.” (MORAL LETTERS, 28.7) And the second:  “Many are harmed by fear itself, and many may have come to their fate while dreading fate.” (Oedipus, 992) One wonders if some people plunge headlong into foolishness because they are driven by fear. Herds of animals have been known to stampede to their own harm to escape bugs. What a small thing a bug is that a beast will risk drowning or plunging over a precipice out of fear. Not too long ago I encountered a person who, for reasons unknown to me, simply cannot abide in peace. There must be strife. To be fair, this person has endured trauma and abuse so happine...

The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (121-180 AD) took time to record with gratitude the wisdom received from significant individuals in his life ( see previous post ). A reader should be challenged to consider “who” has contributed “what” in one’s own life when reading similar matter as that found in in “The Meditations.”  Marcus Aurelius does not merely give a roster of people and things, but creates a kind of an album where the reader gets a real sense of who these people were by their imparted wisdom. They seem almost familiar. There is also a kind of praise for the people he apparently admires. He heard their words, saw how they lived and was influenced by them. What follows is a summative outline of The Emperor’s list (as I understand it) emphasizing wherever possible the shared wisdom and/or how life principles were modeled in such a way that impacted him. As you skim the list, be aware if you are suddenly reminded of ways someone who invested in you, directly or indire...

Yesterday my wife shared this video with me. She watched it in her Public Speaking course with a view toward understanding the power of words. We've watched it many times already. It's worth the time. There are golden nuggets in what this man has to say. Words are powerful and why shouldn't they be? God created all things with a word (God said . . . and there was). Have you ever noticed that when God created, He named what He created--except for the animals. After God formed man with His hands, He said (in so many words), "You name them. Be creative with words." That's why words are powerful. That's why they get stuck in your head, in your heart. Used properly or poorly, words are powerful. Silence is powerful, too, which is why a wise man takes time to choose his words before speaking. Or at least he should. One should value silence as much as the words he chooses. The point I'd like to make, to include this in my blog series is this: be moved ...

A number of years ago I was invited to lecture in Kenya, Africa. I prepared my lectures, got my shots, packed my bags and found myself in a village somewhere between Niarobi and Kisumu speaking to a group that grew larger daily for a week straight. So many were coming that we started a whole separate conference the next week to cover material for people who were still arriving! My first day began with tea where I was introduced to local dignitaries along with my credentials and Me with Johann, my driver qualifications. Being introduced to the main audience, my host announced my credentials I was warmly received, picking my way through the material as the audience took notes. I planned an hour and a half at the end of each day to field questions: the first half dedicated to answering questions related to the topic on which I spoke; and the second half dedicated to answering "open-ended" questions. The attendees asked questions that revealed a deep desire to learn--ve...

“ The Consolation Of Philosophy ” is in some ways a familiar story: an innocent man is unjustly convicted and executed. What makes his story unlike so many other is that, among other writings, he gives us a kind of journal of how he received consolation while waiting to die. Written in the 6th Century AD, Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius left a legacy of instruction fit for the life-long learner. Encyclopedia Britannica Face a-dew with tears, Boethius lamented his condition--he lost everything and was awaiting execution. As nothing could save him from his situation, was there any hope for his languishing spirit? Philosophy appears to him in a vision in the form of a nurse and sitting on the end of his bed, applies a healing balm to his weary soul by helping him remember foundational truths he appears to have forgotten. Like the farmer expecting a crop, he may have to find another means of sustenance, as it were, as lamenting will not help a fallow ground to grow a crop. As if ...

“Philosophy” literally means, “love of wisdom” (philos = love; sophos = wisdom) and all the true philosopher wants to do is accomplish the mission set before him: to see others love wisdom too. He must speak truth. That “philosophy” has come to mean “the nature of knowledge” (as now defined in our textbooks) indicates an extraordinary shift away from the essence of what true philosophy is. Those who study the nature of knowledge actually practice “philognosis” and are hardly philosophers at all. According to Socrates, the task of the philosopher in speaking the truth is to examine life, questioning the answers (not answer the questions); in other words, test the presuppositions. The differences are staggering. The philosopher wants to see people improved so that society is improved, in turn. This means “philosophy” is much more than a subject to study or a technique of clarification. The philosopher is concerned for mankind and struggles to find meaning. “Apology” can be a com...

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...

I’ve spent the last couple of days thinking about learning and the Christian worldview. Past blog posts have considered the difference between learning “ under the sun ” and learning “ under heaven ” as explored by wise King Solomon. We now he did not turn out so well in the end because of compromised worldview. Is it possible to learn, to pursue education, to grow in wisdom in the context of the world in which we live? Long after Solomon’s golden age ended and the kingdom was divided, we read in the historical literature that Israel was carried away in Babylonian captivity. Caught up in the capture were some notable young men that receive this assessment of their captors: “ And in every manner of wisdom and understanding about which the king [Nebuchadnezzar] inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom .” (Daniel 1:20). Consider the situation: these young men were uprooted from their homeland and transp...

One great reward of translation work is seeing words as they are. The truth of a word in its original brings unexpected surprises, sometimes a shock--like licking a 9-volt battery. Once you do it, you don’t want to do it again . . . or do you? Especially when you have few to choose from and your guitar needs a replacement. But I digress . . . (who puts old batteries back in a drawer?) We grow up saying it--”learning stinks” (or something to that effect). Hardly a day goes by when a Junior High schooler expresses his or her heart-felt woes concerning education. As home- schooling parents, we’ve heard our share of learning woes. There’s nothing new under the sun with this sentiment. Which brings me back to that place from which I began: the unhappy business of learning. Old Solomon said it plainly. “ And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised .”...

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

"Wisdom is shown in serious matters, and is more appreciated than mere wit. He that is always ready for jests is never ready for serious things. They resemble liars in that men never believe either, always expecting a lie in one, a joke in the other. One never knows when you speak with judgment, which is the same as if you had none. A continual jest soon loses all zest. Many get the repute of being witty, but thereby lose the credit of being sensible. Jest has its little hour, seriousness should have all the rest." (Balthazar Gracian, 1601-0658)

Question:   The Bible says 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); yet, 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:   Let’s approach this from a different angle by thinking 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 within themselves. An official, then, must be either elected or ...

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 ...

Manvotional: Facing the Mistakes of Life .  William George Jordan shares thoughts on those growing pains of wisdom. Midnight's Solar Eclipse.  On June 1, the shadow of the New Moon was cast across a land of the midnight Sun in this year's second partial solar eclipse . This color chart demonstrates how men and women "see" color.  And they got it right! Keep your eye on the ball!

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...

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...