Proverbs 30

30:11 There is a generation that curses its father, And does not bless its mother. 12 There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness. 13 There is a generation—oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up. 14 There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, And whose fangs are like knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, And the needy from among men. 15 The leech has two daughters—Give and Give!
How true is this! This seems to describe our generation today. Many in society today expect everything to be handed to them on a silver platter. They are non-appreciative, have no concept of hard work, they feel like they deserve to live the high-life just because they are! It is a good thing I am not God. Swoop, I would wipe away mankind just like Ike.

30:18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Yes, four which I do not understand: 19 The way of an eagle in the air, The way of a serpent on a rock, The way of a ship in the midst of the sea, And the way of a man with a virgin.
Do you ever sit back and wonder in amazement at God's creation. How does an eagle soar forever on 1 stroke of his wings? How can a snake move so fast? Do you remember what it is like to be in love? To have you stomach flutter when that special person walks into a room. Everything that God created is good or at least has some good in it. When I look around at nature I am always in awe of how everything fully depends on God for its care. Everything except humans. How God can love us so much is strange.

Proverbs 29 - No Vision

24:18 Where there is no revelation,the people cast off restraint;
One of the biggest reasons I hear people wanting to vote for Obama is that they believe he has a vision for this country. I have to say I believe they are right. Unfortunately for us conservatives, the Republican party seems to have lost their vision. Without vision people will not buy into you plan. That is why so many churches, corporations, organizations all have vision statements these days. It says, this is who we are, this is what we want to accomplish and this is how we will get there. Somewhere during George Bush's tenure, he lost vision. Our country got lost along with him. Congress was already lost and they have been for years but when our leader lost his vision, we quickly fell into chaos. I believe there are better candidates out there besides the big 2, but they will never get elected. Obama will be our next president and I pray he can accomplish all the things he is discussing. It is either a very bright or bleak moment in the history of the US. Do you have a vision statement for your life? I need to put one together. If you could do anything, be anything, go anywhere, what would it be?

24:22 An angry man stirs up strife, And a furious man abounds in transgression.
I cannot tell you how much this fits part of my life over the last few years. Anger is a deceptive feeling. For me it has been very hard to identify what I have even been angry about. Not sure I still know but there are some issues that I have been working through over the last few years that have yet to be completely resolved. I know they are not because there are times when I can be a very angry person. Anger is a secondary emotion as well. For most men we do not know how to experience or express our other emotions. In fact we have been trained not to. Those emotions will most likely turn into anger. I know this is where mine comes from and that is how I am learning to deal with it. I have to first uncover the real reason for my anger, and second learn how to properly deal with and express it. It may be from something that happened ten minutes ago, or ten years ago

Proverbs 28 - Respect

28:4 - Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble
Do you show others respect? Have you ever heard the phrase that "respect is given, trust is earned"? Do you know that the more respect you show others the more respect you will be given. We are called to respect God always! Do you? Do I? The answer is no. I can think of times daily when I do or say something that does not show God the respect He deserves. Blood flows through our bodies pumped by the heart. If the arteries harden or the walls of the heart harden then our blood pressure will be abnormal and could even kill you. Unfortunately this type of disease is incurable and you have to learn to live with it. This can also be said of our spiritual heart. If we allow our heart to harden towards God, there is scripture that says we may never gain salvation. This is the ultimate blasphemy of the Lord. In fact, it may be worse for those who have experience God's goodness, yet still turned away.

Hebrews 6- 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away,to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

This scripture has always confused me and I have heard many interpretations. Some use this scripture to refute the permanence of our salvation. Others say that the person who was "enlightened" never really accepted the Holy Spirit so therefore they were never saved. I tend to agree with this latter statement because the author says that they crucify Christ again. Not that they themselves accept the sacrifice that Christ made of the cross for them a second time, but that they crucify him again, condemning Him and thereby condemning themselves. Another way I tend to look at this like someone who tells me they don't like smoking a cigar. How ridiculous is that. I don't understand how they could smell the rich and wonderful aroma, take the full bodied taste of the smoke into your mouth, letting it flow over under your tongue, into your throat, and all over your taste buds and then not accept that they like it. I just can't comprehend this.

Proverbs 27 - Condition of our flocks

I was watching the 60 minutes special this weekend about the Wall Street debacle. What a ridiculous mess. It all make so much sense to us now that we know the whole truth. I have also been doing a lot of studying for a CTP exam which is all about finance, markets, derivatives, etc. I cannot understand how any of our leaders, any of the politician, any of the people on Wall Street, credit rankings organizations could have been so stupid. Anyone could have looked at what they were doing a realized that it was a house of cards. The sad thing is the ones that are paying for it is us, while these fat cats raked in millions of dollars and walked away. Someone needs to be held accountable, many need to go to jail, congress needs to be reprimanded, impeached, and tossed out for removing restrictions that allowed these things to occur.

27:23-24 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; 24 for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.
It is obvious to me that I did not know the condition of Wall Street, sub-prime mortgages, and how that all ties into the mutual funds market, stock market, retirement plans, etc. None of us I think did until this happened. We all need to take this as a lesson. In today's world it is much more complicated than going out and counting your sheep 3 times a day. You have to know where your money is being invested, who is handling it, what underlying credit risks and equity supports your investments. 401K's are not just big safe deposit boxes that earn interest and they are not guaranteed. Nothing in life is guaranteed except for the love of God. I feel like Al Pacino. I should have hid my money in the crawl space of my attic.

Proverbs 26 - Mr. T's favorite Proverb

I know all of us remember A-team with George Peppard, Mr. T, etc. The most memorable line from that movie and for Mr. T in general was always "I pity da fool". Well we should all pity the fool. A fool in the proverbialist's (word?) eyes is the most despised among men. They were pretty much worthless. They had denied God (atheists/agnostics), denied His teachings and wisdom, and were leaches on society

Maybe that is why Jesus told us never to call anyone a fool (Matthew 5:22). If we did we were in dangers of the fire of hell. So fool was a very strong insult in those days. Today fool is probably mild considering some of the other ways we insult each other, but the meaning is still relevant. Consider the names of people that we consider the most obnoxious, repugnant, difficult, and beastly. Consider those who deny God, His existence, His omnipotence. That would be what was considered a fool in OT. I am only going to touch on 1 verse since this passage is rife with the worthlessness of a fool.

26:8 Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
This pretty much says it all. We don't use a sling much anymore but consider our weapons of today. Guns. Tying a stone in a sling would be like welding the barrel of a gun shut. Preposterous and dangerous. Just as giving honor to such a person would be ridiculous. Do we honor fools today? Do you give honor or prestige to people that would have foolish qualities as mentioned earlier?

Proverbs 24 - Strength in Troubled Times

Some much of this Proverb speaks of what is occurring today in our financial markets, in our court system, in our divorce courts, and in the world in general. We have become a society where no one wants to own up to their responsibilities. CEOs rob companies blinds and then point the finger at someone else. Marriages fall apart because one of both parties won't communicate and blame the other. Our political party system always wants to point the finger at the other party. We need to start owning up to our own mistakes. Our court system needs to stop functioning as a business and as the judges they were appointed to be. Our political system need to be totally revamped and we need to allow more qualified people to run for office and get equal air time. How many of you know about Donald K. Allen, and independent candidate from Phoenix? Or about the Libertarian running? Neither have gotten any airtime. It cannot be about who has the most money for their campaign, it has to be about who has the answers to solve our economic, ecological, spiritual, medical, and international crises.

24:10 If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!
The Lord promises us we will experience times of trouble, tribulation, and testing. Through these times we build perseverance, character, hope, tenacity, and eventually our faith. It is easy to be strong in good times. True character is shown during the tough times. I played golf today. It was such a beautiful day. I have been playing so good, striking the ball better than I have in years, but on the first 6 holes I was all over the place and playing horribly. I was very frustrated. I have vowed that whenever I play that no matter how I play I will give God the glory. I determined myself to keep playing hard, trust my swing, and persevere. I ended up shooting an 80 after it was all over with and could have easily shot mid 70's had my first 6 holes been better. That is the perseverance we must have. Do you have things that you do that you can relate to this? How do you react when things are not going well for you?

24:11 Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. 12 If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done
One of the things that I notice today in the church is that people don't want to become involved when others are going through hard times. They don't lend a hand, don't ask, and almost ignore them. How many of us ask "how's it going" or "how are you", but then really don't care. There are many people in our congregations that are really hurting. They are going through divorces, sickness, financial stress, family problems, etc. but no one seems to be there for them. God calls us to assist others in their time of need. He brings us through hard times so that we can share with, emphasize with, and comfort others in their time of need. I experienced this in my divorce. No one was there for me, or for my ex-wife. I know that she was going through significant internal turmoil as was I, yet everyone turned their backs. That breaks my heart and I know it breaks the heart of God? Who do you know who is hurting and really needs your help? Who do I know as well?

24:25 But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come upon them.
Our politicians and courts need to hang this scripture around their necks, write it on the forefronts of their head, and store it in their heart. I am positively sure that this is the very reason we are in the problems we are today. The guilty have been exonerated, bailed out, and even haled. We need to convict the guilty and bring about God's blessings on this country

Proverbs 23 - The Dangers of Drinking and Dining

I have many acquaintances who spend their entire life's partying. One has a $3000 a month Amex bill from just going out drinking, partying on the weekends, etc. His life is just what is described in this Proverb

Additionally be careful when you are with people of power that have persuasion over you. It can cause you serious internal turmoil. Have you ever been invited to dine with powerful people, or royalty? How has it made you feel? Special, unworthy, jealous, confused why you cannot have that kind of life?

23:1-5 When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you, 2 and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony. 3 Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive. 4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. 5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.
If you are even in a situation like this be careful of what you consume. In Jewish times many of the things that rulers ate were not acceptable to the Jewish people and would cause them to sin if they partook. The same can be said for us. Rulers and powerful people have a huge banquet of foods and wines that would not be good for a Christian to take part in. Not to mention the entertainment they sometimes have. Don't desire their lifestyle, it is not the lifestyle of a true Christ follower. It is easy to be enticed by this excess but we need to remember that we are called to show fortitude and restraint. Have you ever been in a situation like this? Did you feel like you should leave?

23:29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30 Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. 31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! 32 In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. 33 Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things. 34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. 35 "They hit me," you will say, "but I'm not hurt! They beat me, but I don't feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?"
What an extremely true and forceful warning about drinking. Remember they drank mostly wine during these times, but today there are all kinds of things that can be abused. Abuse leads to addiction and addictive behavior. You can be easily lured into the darkness of this behavior. I was there in my pre-Christ days. I don't ever want to be there again. Anyone who lives this life will eventually die to themselves, to the world, and eventually die period.

Proverbs 21 - Life is a Choice

All of the Proverbs always present 2 choices: good, evil; rich, poor; righteousness, dishonesty; good wife, bad wife, etc. It would be my norm to point out 2 passages in this Proverb that mention a quarrelsome wife, but I am adamant to find other more valuable lessons in these texts. One of the most bothersome things I see as I read through the Proverbs is why it seems that evil people today still prosper. We read over and over that evil will come to destruction, evil will become destitute, evil gains are but a vapor, etc. Yet, when I look around, I see evil running amok, raping the world, the institutions, and the people. Our country is where it is today by evil people. I think that my tendency is to personalize good and evil. This person is good, this person is evil. I am beginning to think that maybe it is more universal than that. Are we condemned because we allow evil to run rampant in our own country?

21:3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
It has been very difficult for me to tithe/gift over the past year. Money has been really tight and I gave so much to our land purchase drive last year it put me in dire straights. This has been my focal verse. I am trying diligently to do what is right and just, I guess in my own weird way making up for what I am lacking when it comes to sacrifice/tithe. I will tell you, it is probably easier to tithe/gift your money! Now I know why the catholic church came up with indulgences. I will say that it is more enjoyable to give of your talent and time. Sacrifice without righteousness or justice is abominable to the Lord. God does not need our money or our resources. He is owner of all. What He needs is for us to show love to each other. Something we seem to find very hard to do.

21:17 He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich.
21: 20 In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.
Again, I see these verses reflecting on our country. Other countries are becoming rich because of our love of pleasure. We are importing 75% of all our goods and we are so far in debt that the only way we can get out is to walk away and not pay. I think that is what will eventually spark WWIII. Our "generosity" in giving aid to other countries has not gained us any favor either. We continually give to countries that will never repay, that are not grateful, and are completely unaccountable. Several chapters ago it was said that the spoils of the evil will be given to the wise. We would be fools not to see the handwriting on the wall and realize that our spoils have and are being given to other nations, more wise than we are. Are they more Godly, no, perhaps, who knows, but many of them are certainly devout. Most people realize that Muslims worship the same God, they just deify Muhammed instead of Jesus Christ. That is why it is so hard to bring a Muslim to the Christian faith. So now we have Christians, Jews, and Muslims all worshipping Yahweh, with Jesus Christ as the point of contention. Maybe this is an inside looking out observation but it seems that Jews and Muslims are much more devout than Christians. I know we have the "salvation" and "forgiven" clauses in our doctrine. Does that make take our faith for granted. Are we making a mockery of God?

Note: funny that oil was a commodity even in Old Testament times.

Proverbs 20 - The Inner Being

Have you ever had surgery or had to go to the doctor/hospital and put on one of those gowns that does not have a back. The proverbial crack back! How embarrassing and how exposed do you feel? I will do anything to avoid wearing one of those stupid things. This is how we should all feel daily. Every part of our being is exposed to God. There is nothing we do, say, or think that can be hidden from God. Feeling exposed yet? Read on

21:4 The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out
For you and I to look at a person and understand their motivation is pure speculation. Their inner workings, their mind, their thoughts are unknown to us. Not to God. We not only need to be careful when making judgements about what we see people doing. Whether they are doing things we believe they should not, or whether we see them doing good. Don't get me wrong, doing good even for the wrong motives is doing good! It gets the job done and a lot of good work gets done with the wrong motives (i.e. tax breaks, mandated community service). We just need to make sure our heart is right when we are doing good. We all want that crown of glory when we get to heaven, and we run the race and train our bodies for the finish line. But we cannot forget that our heart must be in the right place or we only receive favor among men, not God.

21:17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man, but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel
I wonder what the food in federal prison tastes like to Jeffrey Skilling. Even if the food is the best on the earth, do you think it tastes good inside prison walls. We need to be diligent to ensure that we earn an honest living. It is very easy to get caught up in something that may seem right in the business world but we know in our hearts it is ethically wrong. Enron, WorldCom, Freddie Mae, Fannie Mac executives all knew they were wrong. It is not only wrong if you get caught!

21:27 The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being.
Ditto to the above comments. I can't hide anything from God and that is scary. I thank God sooooooo much that He gave us Jesus. I try sometimes to imagine what Jesus must look like upon the cross with all that sin. If you have ever watched the Stephen King "The Stand", there is a scene as one of the good guys comes into Las Vegas from the north. Jesus is on the cross with hypodermic syringes, tattoos, mutilations, piercings, etc. all over His body. There are swastika labels, graffiti, slanderous sayings, etc. all around. And those are just the visible references to the sins we place upon Him. Can you imagine what the whole of the world's sins upon His soul must weigh? I wish I could live a sin free life. Even if I could I would still need Jesus. He is not only my Savior and my Hope, but He is my best friend. He is always there.

Proverbs 19 - Being Poor

How many have seen a poor man on the streets? Do you ever wonder if his walk is blameless? How many friends does he normally have surrounding him? Most of the poor, homeless I have seen are by themselves. Either because they don't want to associate with other poor, or other poor don't want to be with them. Sure they may hang around the same areas, but they don't seem to associate. I have even noticed this in San Francisco where many hang out in the Embarcadero Park on Market St. They are all in the same area but I have never seen them talk to each other. What about in your own life? Have you experienced times when your friends seem to desert you?

19:4/7 Wealth brings many friends, but a poor man's friend deserts him. A poor man is shunned by all his relatives—how much more do his friends avoid him! Though he pursues them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found
I have several friends that throw money around like crazy. I guess they have it to throw around. It always seems they have a posse of people around them. I doubt very seriously that those friends will be around when they are broke. I personally don't want those kind of friends around me. I have seen what happens to friends when hard times come. True friends stick by you whether you are up or down. Are you a true friend? Have you ever abandoned someone in their time of need? I think we all have gone down that path with a friend who just would not/could not pull themselves out of their hole without assistance or something/someone positive giving them a lift. I have been on both ends and thank God I have been shown mercy by some true friends. But even family silently disappears when times get hard. Additionally, most of us have too much pride to accept hand outs. If you look at some of the previous warnings on pride, they work hand in hand with this scripture. One of the hardest things for homeless is shame. Many move to another town where they have no support group because they do not want anyone they know to see them homeless, broke, destitute. This is another reason many of them will either begin or continue an addiction problem. How many of us could face life homeless? Completely homeless? It is a scary thought and I hope that I never have to experience this complete and utter despair.

19:22 What a man desires is unfailing love
What a nugget of truth among nestled in the middle of this proverb. Unfailing love. Do you have it? Have you ever had it? Do you know what it feels like? I think the only unfailing love I have experienced has come from God or my kids. The books by John and Stasi Elleredge state that women and men complete each other. A man needs to fight for, long for, and protect his woman, and a woman needs someone to fight for her, protect her, and esteem her. I would tend to agree with the analysis. Can a person be truly complete on this earth without that other half?

Proverbs 18 - Loose Lips

This passage is rife with advice and warnings about what comes out of our mouths. I spent last evening at a neighbors how watching some UFC fights. Of course, they were all drinking (drunk), and I was the sober one (the one who brought food). The amount of vile language was ridiculous. I know I probably seemed like a weirdo since I did not join in their revelry or their loudness and language. The funny thing is, that they all had opinions about everything, they were experts about everything, and they were predicting left and right who was going to win. In the end they were all wrong. They weren't even cognizant enough to see who was winning the fights, but only saw what they wanted to see. I think these passages are describing just exactly what I saw. These guys were drowning in their own ignorance and the more they spoke the deeper they got.

18:2 A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions
How often this is true today. People repeat what they hear or read without any investigation or truth to back it up. They are just like tape recorders. How often I have listened to someone just vomiting back up something they have heard on the radio or read in a newspaper. It makes me want to laugh at them. Where do we find truth? The media? The government? Our friends? The church? To me, today, it seems there is only one source of truth. God and His word. Maybe this is in part to what I am seeing in the world and in the church today. Both are in deep waters.

18:8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts
I think I have said it before, I hate gossip. And God does too. I have heard it said, "if you are not part of the problem, or part of the solution, shut up". Well I just say shut up. It doesn't matter if you are part of either, if you cannot talk about someone like they are right beside you, don't say anything. All it takes is one little nibble and you are hooked. Then you becomes a gossiper just like everyone. I tend to stay quiets a lot.

Proverbs 17 - Good son, bad son and the responsibility of proper judgment

Our children start out as a reflection of their creator. They also exhibit our fallen nature as the get a few years older and start fighting with each other, act selfishly and sin without understanding the nature of sin. They then begin to take on our reflection and can be either a great source of joy to our hearts or a strain on our patience, our stress level, and even our pocketbooks. We must be very careful to discipline properly by scriptural standards, to teach the God's words and commandments, and to mirror the image of God to them.

17:6,21,25 - 6: Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children, 21: To have a fool for a son brings grief; there is no joy for the father of a fool, 25: A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him
These verses illustrate my above statements. Our children are our pride and joy, and our grandchildren will be much the same to use in our older age. These verses further emphasize how important our responsibility is with our own children. If we instruct them properly and bring them up in love and God's word, then they will do so with their children, and on the generations after us. Isn't this a demonstration of what is happening with today's world and children? Do you see how this effect is permeating throughout society? Question is are you living up to your Godly responsibility? Are your bringing up your child in the way he/she should go? Are you making this a top priority in your life?

17:15,26 -15: Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— the LORD detests them both, 26: It is not good to punish an innocent man, or to flog officials for their integrity
This is extremely reflective of what is happening in today's financial, corporate, and criminal environment. Guilty are being bailed out, corrupt are being exonerated, perverse are being glamorized. While, on the other hand, the innocent have been forgotten, trampled upon, persecuted and laughed at for their values and commitments. God is angry at this, God detests this, God will bring justice for this. At these times it is our responsibility as Christians, as Christ-followers to stand up for what is right, to stem the path of current circumstances, to take back this country that was set aside by God for His people and purpose. We cannot continue to be apathetic, to turn the other way and just accept things because "it is what it is". It needs to be "it is what is right". Time for a rebellion. What do you think? How can we change the course of the present? Is there any better time to act?

Proverbs 16 - Scoundrel, Warrior, or Wise Man

So often in life we as Christians try to do the right thing, say the right words, choose proper actions, but are we always right? No matter what we do or what we say if it is not done with proper motivation it is a stench to the Lord's nostrils. It would be better for us to stay home, be quiet, and dedicate ourselves to studying God's word that it is to do deeds with the wrong motive. I know that I have been guilty many times of having the wrong motives. Feeling that if I do this or do that for the Lord, for the church, or for someone else, it will buy favor in their eyes or in the eyes of the Lord. The Lord desires our heart to be a reflection of His heart. His motives our motives. What are the Lord's motives? I think He has been very clear about this. Love. That is the Lord's key motive for everything He has done and that should be our motive. Whether it is what we do or say at church, bible study, amongst our friends, or whether it is when we are at a Matthew party, among non-Christians, and most importantly dealing with our enemies, God has called us to show his love.

16:2-3 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits. Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established.
These are the 2 verses I was referring to. We must make sure that our motives are pure, for God knows are true motives. When we commit ourselves to showing God's love in our hearts and in our works, we are truly pleasing to the heart of God

16:11 Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making.
It is not for us to pass judgement and weigh another persons iniquities. This is the responsibility of God and no one else. Yes some have been given authority to pass judgement on criminals and in legal matters, but not only did that authority come from God, but they are often wrong in their punishment and decisions. God knows all and sees all and He will make things just according to His scales of judgement which are far superior to any man will ever be

16:32 Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city
I have always thought of myself as a warrior. My name itself means valiant warrior. I often have to remember the valiant part of that description. All my life I have felt that I was destined to be a hero. Not so much as a person who saves someone from a burning building or from drowning, but someone who makes a difference in others lives. God has given me a burning desire for this and I often pray to be put in a position for this to happen. I don't desire the accolade or notoriety, just the heartfelt warmth that comes from knowing that I was able to be there for someone when no one else would be, when no one else could. It sometimes brings me to tears that I may have missed an opportunity or didn't live in an era where there seemed to have been so many heroes. Maybe that is why I love so much to do mission work, or relief work after disasters. These victims are in desparate need, when not many will help. Sure people help right after, but withing a few weeks they disappear and the victims are left alone (Hurricane Katrina and Ike are great examples of this). I do not believe there are many heroes today. We have role models, or sporty idols, etc. but these are not true heroes. Heroes to me are billy Graham, Bill Hybels, Martin Luther King, George Washington, etc. Those are true heroes who stood up for what was right, what they believed in and changed the course of mankind

Proverbs 15 - Life's Highways

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. It is not coincidental that we read this in Proverbs 14:12 and it is repeated in Proverbs 16:25. It is also not coincidental that I have been reading Wild at Heart, again (3rd time). It is a great book and has helped me understand myself tremendously. I am on the chapter about healing a man's wounds. In this chapter John Ellerdge is talking about the wounds every man takes when they are young, in adolescence, and moving into adulthood. At the core of every man is to know if he has "what it takes". So frequently life, parents, peers, friends, women, culture, etc. tell him he does not. Another wound is added to the heart of the man. As good of parents as you may have had, or as bad, all men still get wounded. These wounds pile up over our lifetime and lead us down a very lonely, desperate road. This chapter speaks deeply to my heart as I have suffered great wounds over my life and like all men I have hidden them and pretended they did not hurt. It has taken me a long time to figure this out and I have wondered for quite a while what was bothering me. I think a lot of men are going through life this way and most don't want to admit it. I still don't know the full extent of my wounds, where they came from, who inflicted them, how I am going to heal from them. But thankfully God does! The painful thing is that in order to be healed from the specific wounds we have, God wounds us where we were wounded before. In order for us to deal with and put away the pain, we have to go back, regurgitate it, experience it, deal with it, and move past it. In the few years or more I have been opening my heart to this leading and I can tell you it has been excruciating at times. I still have a lot to go but the prospect of cleansing this toxin from my life is worth it. There are things that God shows me that I didn't even know they hurt. I had become so used to the pain I was numb. I think this is exactly the death spoken of. We become spritually and emotionally dead. Angry, frustrated, unable to feel any emotions. I know God created me for a specific purpose. I would not be alive if he had not. With all of this junk, God cannot use me the way He wants to. He took Moses into the desert for 40 years to heal his wounds. Have you ever been in this place? Do you know how to give it all to God and let Him wound you in order to be healed? Are you willing to do this?

15:4 The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit
Anyone that has ever told you that you do not have what it takes is a liar. They have a deceitful tongue. God made you and God does not make junk. We all have to learn our special place in God's creation. We all need to hear the creator speak to us and tell us how special we are to Him. God's affirmation of who we are is an unbelievable experience, it is like a like a warm spa to a bruised and battered body. We need to learn to tune out the naysayers. We know who they are. What they tell us is not meant for edification, education, or encouragement, but is meant to tear us down, keep us down, and build themselves up.

15: 17 Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred
Have you ever sat down to a meal where the tension was worse that an overcooked brisket. It does not matter how good the meal is, how good the rest of the company is, one person can ruin the entire meal. The neighbors in my neighborhood barbecue a lot. Sometimes I go, most of the time I don't. Not because I am unsociable, but more because I do not like gossip, drama, and turmoil. Unfortunately most of these people are not Christians, or they are not behaving in a Christ-like manner. It seems that every where today people cannot live without having some sort of drama in their lives. Do you know those types of people? Drama kings and queens. They can drag a conversation or gathering into the muck in the blink of an eye.

Proverbs 14 - Right tool for the job

With the relief effort of Hurricane Ike I have been sorely reminded how we need to have the right tools for the job. 40 people cannot do the work of 1 man and a good tractor. Muscle is no match for a truck and a tow rope. There are many situations in work, play, and life where we need to have the proper tools for the task at hand. Just look at today's golfers and golf courses. Improvements continually happend that provide us with better tools. This hold true for our spiritual life as well. We need to have the right training, the right tools, and the right people around us. There are so many new ways to study and learn about God's word and principles today that were not available to our parents. The internet, CDs, DVDs, BSF, etc. The list is enormous. Yet for many reasons we have not used those tools properly and we are less a Christian nation today then we were back then. That said makes the following scripture ring so very true
14:4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest
We must invest in our businesses, in our hobbies, in our passions, and in our lives in order to reap a harvest. He who does not do these things will have an empty food bowl (manger). Is your bowl full or empty? Look at the different aspects of your life to see where you need investment. What types of investment do you need? Is it an investment in your finances, your businesses, your relationships, your kids, or your spiritual walk. We need to also make sure we are making the proper investment. Investing money into today's financial market is risky at best. Spending all day working in the yard when you have not invested time with your family would not be wise. Again the right tool for the right job at the right time

Proverbs 13 - Inheritance

13:7 There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches
I have tried to make myself rich, I think many of us have. According to many I would be considered rich, but when I look at my life I feel that I have nothing. I am enslaved to a mortgage on a big house that I live alone in. I struggle to make ends meet when it should not be so.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life
I am diligently waiting for the tree of life. We are told to never give up hope and without it we would probably all succumb to depression. Our hope is not in this world but in Jesus. When we put our hope in Him we will not be disappointed

13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children
How much we want to leave an inheritance to our children and even to our children's children. That inheritance could be a legacy, a business, financial security, education, etc. I have so far failed on all accounts and can only pray that God will assist me in the future to make wise decisions, to lead me in the right path to accomplish this.

13: 24 He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly
I hate to discipline my children. It hurts me more than it does them as it takes away precious time together with them. I do not spank them often, if at all, but use other forms of discipline. I know I have to do it but it is never easy. Do you experience the same turmoil?

Proverbs 12 - Scary for Me

I have been having trouble with this Proverb because unfortunately I have been seeing too much of myself on the wrong side. I am in the middle of studying for my CTP exam which is much like a CPA exam. I hate it, it is so difficult and it like a 2 semester class crammed into 12 weeks with nothing but a huge 4 hour final exam - with arequired 80% to pass. I feel like I will fail.

I have also felt like I relate more to the evil man in these scriptures as I have seen plan after plan of mine fail. I feel like God has thwarted everything I have tried to do whether it was doing something I thought was in His will or if it was not in His will. Has my heart been right, am I the evil man, the fool, the slacker? The past few days there have been articles in the paper about a certain successful person from Lake Jackson. He was also interviewed on Michael Berry' show today. They were all giving him praise for being such a successful business man. I don't like this person because of the many things I know about him. He has destroyed 2 marriages by infidelity, he is an arrogant selfish man. In some ways I envy his accomplishments although I know I shouldn't. I have recently heard he is trying to get his life right with God and in the interview it seemed like maybe his words were reflective of that. I hope that is true. He has been blessed tremendously in life with or without God and has great opportunity to do good in the community.

12:4-5 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones
Don't I know this. I would like to have experienced the former personally. I have seen it, but not be privy to it. The question I have to ask myself is am I right and deserving. In order to have the right person you have to be the right person. I have definitely experienced the latter and this is so true. A good wife is to be cherished by their husband and she is the crowning achievement of his life.

12:18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,
When God talks to your heart it is like being jabbed in the heart. I think that is what I have been feeling today. Also when a messenger of God speaks truth to you in love, it cuts to the heart of a matter. This is why we need to be in contact with our brethren, and in constant openness and surrender to God.

12:28 In the way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway there is no death.
Praise God that we that are saved by the grace of Jesus Christ have righteousness bestowed upon us and we will never taste the spiritual or eternal death. Are you right with the Lord? Don't you want to live forever in eternity with the creator of the universe in paradise and awe?

Proverbs 11 - Aggregarian Life

Life has many examples that give us opportunity to reflect on God's teaching. I was cleaning out my flower beds, trimming hedges, etc. in preparation for winter. Truth is, it was long overdue and I had put it off most of the summer. The weather has been so nice lately, I decided to get it done. As I was cleaning, I was reflecting on the how are lives need to be cleaned out every once in a while. We need our branches trimmed, our weeds pulled, our soil turned over so we can grow and prosper. Without this periodic purging we would become overgrown and gnarly. I think that many times in life I have allowed this to happen. A small weed springs up and instead of pulling it, it grows into a monster that dominates the bed and becomes extremely difficult to pull. We need to weed our garden daily and keep our branches trimmed in God's word in order to flourish. I am very thankful for the everyday lessons we can find in life

11:4 - Riches do not profit in the day of wrath.
When the Lord comes again, it will not matter what you have accumulated. Only a heart right with God will be saved from destruction. This is so contrary to worldly life where wealth can seem to insulate you from the problems of the world. You don't have to worry about rent, your next meal, the stock market, your house, etc. With wealth you can overcome these ups and downs and just throw money at the problem. It is easy to see why so many people worship wealth.

Wealth will not insure you against the wrath of God. We are all measured on a level playing field when the end times come. Your soul must be right with God. We will all be wealthy beyond measure and in a manner not understood by worldy standards

11:22 As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion
I could not resist this one. How true is this? Look at Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Pamela Anderson, etc. There are numerous examples that would support this statement.

24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty. 25 The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.
We are called to give generously, even when we feel like we don't have anything to give. I have seen this work in my own life. We need to give everything we have to God and He in turn will increase our time, talent, and treasure. It is a God factor. We cannot make sense of it but it works!

Proverbs 10 - Back and Forth

I call this the back and forth scripture because it is constantly contrasting the righteous and the wicked, almost verse by verse. It is often easier to read if you extract all the sayings of the righteous and group them together, and then the sayings of the wicked and group them together. You will get the point either way. It almost seems like Job's counsel of "friends" had access to this scripture as they seem to keep pointing out to Job that he must have sinned or done something wicked for all the calamity to come upon him. This is good to keep in mind when reading this scripture because it does not ever say that bad things will not happen to good people. We all know they do, but they are worked out for the glory of God and the good will prosper in spite of hard times. What it is saying is that the way of the wicked will always be a crooked, rough path, and lead to destruction. Their plans will be thwarted, their riches will be squandered, their name will go down to the grave with them. They will not even be a footnote in history

10:11 The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.
How welcome is truth spoken in love from a godly person. How many times have you had others speak the words of truth, kindness, and love to you when you really needed it the most. These people are God's messengers in your time of need. We need to be on watch for those messages

10:12 Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses (NLT)
This scripture has different meaning if read from different translations. Hatred just wants to be right and pick a fight, whereas love tries to make up for all offenses. Even though you may have sin in your life or committed sin towards another, love for others or for that person will cause you to want to make it right with that person

10:12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins (NKJV)
The meaning to this seems to be more that hatred causes strife by spreading gossip, whereas love will not speak of an others sins, thereby covering them and saving that person from embarrassment, humiliation, etc.

I have seen both, have you?

Proverbs 9 - Invitation to a Feast

9:1-6 - Wisdom has prepared a banquet for us. When you have a dinner party, you put out your best china, silverware, carefully choose the wine, work all day preparing the meal. You spend days, even weeks in planning and preparation. Wisdom has gone to these extremes for us! Isn't it wonderful the lengths that God goes to for us, in every way possible. As in our invitation for salvation and everlasting life, we just have to accept the invitation to gain wisdom as well. Open up our minds, our ears, our hearts, and come to the table.

9:11 - None of us know when our day will come. We can be taken from this earth tomorrow. God knows I have done things in my life where I should have already been dead. He has given me many more days and only He knows when I have fulfilled my purpose here. He does say that we can add days to our lives by following Him. One thing I know for sure. When I gave me life to Christ, I felt an undeniable sense that He was telling me that He gave me back 10 years of my life that had been wasted. Truth is I wasted more than that, but that was His bargain. 10 years back to me is awesome. I only hope and pray that I can give much more to Him

Proverbs 8 - Can you hear me?

I love this Proverb more than any of the Proverbs.

In times like these everyone is wondering how could anyone be so stupid as to allow us (the US economy) to get into this position. It seems that Enron was just the tip of the iceberg. In a Dilbert cartoon the other day the secretary was making out the company balance sheet. She was telling how good the company was doing and stating that earnings were up, stock value up, etc. The next frame said unless you read the fine print where the company was in the tank. When she handed the reports to the boss, he asked about the fine print. It was so small he could not read it so he asked what the font was. Her reply was "Enron Beelzebub". How ironic that this was written over a year ago and how true this really is.

Wisdom it seems has been crying out to us for years, from all over the place. That is exactly what this scripture says. She is in our paths, beside the gates, on the hilltops, in the city. She calls to all mankind and we have not been listening. For years we have known we are going down the wrong path. Removing God from our schools, from our culture, from our legal process, from our leadership. We have allowed abortion, skyrocketing divorce rates, immorality of all kinds. We have been sliding down a slippery slope for at least 50 years. We haven't had a balanced budget since I can remember being alive, we have had trade deficits since the 1970's, we have forgotten our manifest destiny, trounced on the graves of our forefathers, used technology to promulgate our wickedness, and still we have not listened. We have put our faith in ourselves, in our money, in worldly leaders, and worldly organizations and corporations, and those leaders have led us into ruin. The government has been robbing us blind, corporations have been bad stewards of our investments, CEOs have stolen from all of us, and they have kept it all under the covers.

Well now is the day of reckoning and we can try to put a patch on it, but it will not work. Until this country, this people; that I believe was specially set aside by God for His purpose, to spread His word, and His love. Until we get on our knees, beg forgiveness, collectively and as a whole, repent, and turn back to God, this will not change, will not go away, and will only get worse. Oh we may see relief from time to time, as the Israelites did from their oppressors and the nations around them, but until we have complete and total dedication to Jesus Christ, we are doomed to captivity.

Praise God in all His Glory!

Proverbs 8:22-31 - Before anything was created wisdom was there. Is wisdom the personification of Jesus Christ? Jesus is known to have been with God from the very beginning. Nothing was brought into existence without the personification of Jesus Christ. All things were spoken into existence through him. Are wisdom and Jesus Christ one? It is definite that wisdom has its divine origin.

Proverbs 7 - Most warnings about adultery

This is the 3rd chapter to spend significant discussion on adultery. It is evident that the author is trying to get a strong message across. Each discussion has gotten more dramatic, more visual, and louder. The author increases the tone, the cost, the far reaching consequences. Adultery and divorce have caused more damage in our society than any and all of our sins combined. The tearing apart of the fabric of the Christian life is like trying to separate 2 pieces of paper glued together. It cannot be done without there being some destruction to both pieces. Not only are the emotional consequences grave for the divorcees, but they are grave for our children, for the immediate families, for culture, and for our economy. Entire industries have been developed to support single parents, entire industries are built around the divorce process. I see the affects of divorce daily on my 2 kids and it makes me want to cry every time. Children are the innocent victims again.

Proverbs 6 - Lord's list of hates

6:16-19 - I have always liked these verses. Originally it took me a while to understand why there were 6 things the Lord hates, 7 that are detestable but the answer is very simple. Abomination is closer to the actual word used in the Hebrew. Abomination is extreme disgust and hatred. If you read the verse several times you will see that lying is mentioned twice. It would seem that lying is something the Lord finds an abomination.

6:34:35 - Amen to this brother. There were times that I wished stoning was still an acceptable punishment for adultery. There is nothing an adulterer can do to make amends to the victim. Vengeance is the only recompence. Today vengeance is not possible. Laws have changed, both spiritually and socially. So the anger turns inward. There is hope in the Lord!

Proverbs 5 - Contrary to the World

How contrary is this Proverb to the world today. 50%+ of all first time marriages end in divorce. Adultery rates are ridiculous and even glamorized in the media. Marrying your high school sweetheart is almost unheard of. How I wish I married mine.

This Proverb takes on an even deeper meaning when you look at it from the perspective of Christ as the bridegroom, we are the bride, and the world and all its temptations is the adultress. This world tries to (often successfully) lure us into its trap of materialism, debauchery, perversion, selfishness, etc. When we are young, our relationship with God is simple. We come to Him as children, trusting and free. It is very easy to get tricked and ensnared by the evil one and the world. Your strength and wealth of your relationship can be robbed without your even knowing it will lose you strength and the wealth of your relationship with God if you set foot on the

5:3-4 For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; 4 but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword.
From someone who has been a victim of adultery, I can echo this completely. There is nothing like the pain and bitterness caused from an unfaithful spouse. The pain is much deeper than a broken heart and crushes your spirit. The breaking of the covenant you made with your spouse before God, family, friends, and authorities is devestating and the most hurtful thing someone could ever do to you. Victims, please hear this. The adulter or adulteress can make every excuse but the bottom line is they do not care about you, God, or that covenant. I can only imagine how God feels when we are unfaithful to Him. I will never be able to understand how He can still love us, but He does. I know without God, I would never have made it through my divorce.

One thing I have always tried to live by is integrity. Even when I would not have considered myself a Christian I had an extreme amount of integrity. It was something that was just engrained in me. You word is nothing if not true. Another very good reason for keeping your mouth shut! The definition of integrity is very difficult to live by:

Keeping your end of your commitment when everyone else has forsaken theirs

Try that with an unfaithful spouse and see how your soul is torn apart. We have to realize that we can only control our end of the bargain. That is all we are responsible for.

5:8 Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house
This is great advice not only for an adultress, but for also for a temptress, or for that matter any temptation. If you are not strong enough to resist, stay far away.

Proverbs 4 - Father to Son

I absolutely love this Proverb. It is chock full of great council and very good illustrations. It is also makes me angry as I never really had a good father. My father was both physically and verbally abusive, he never really gave me any good advice, did not walk with God or emulate a walk with God, and was never there when I needed him. When it finally did seem like he might become a true father, he died when I was 21. Never once in my life did I hear my father say he was proud of me and I can only remember a couple of times when he told me he loved me. I have had a very difficult time with my Christian walk due to the perception of fatherhood displayed by my Father. Our earthly fathers are supposed to be an example of our Heavenly Father. Why would I want anything like that? I have vowed to myself and to God that I will not be that father to my children. I will emulate Him, I will provide guidance and leadership, I will discipline when necessary but in a proper manner, and I will be there when they need me. There are things in this life I have no control over, but this I do.

4:1-13 - Can you say repetition? Is the author adamant about seeking wisdom, about holding onto instruction, about the protection provided from wisdom and wise counsel? These are the verses that need to be bound around your neck. If a child can remember these verses, they are the hinge pin to seeking and finding the other pearls of wisdom. If we do not instill the deliberate act of searching for wisdom and wise council in our children, they will seek out folly, fun, and pleasure. The pursuit of which will lead to destruction.

4:14-15 - Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.
Can you say "Don't go there".

4:16 - For they cannot sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall.
I find this sentence somewhat ironic. An evil person lays awake at night scheming of what they can do next. Where will their next con come, who will they rob next, what debauchery can they get into next? Is a part of this worry? God promises us that we do not have to worry about a thing. He knows what we need and is faithful and good to provide it for us. An evil person is focused on getting things and providing for his own needs with no dependence on God. Do you sleep peacefully at night?

4:24-26 24 Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. 26 Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.
Unfortunately we inherit a lot of traits from those around us. I could very easily inherit my father's traits. I have inherited his bad language that is for sure. There are times in my life where I have my lips under control, then there are times when I slip back to the old ways before Christ. I have been very diligent over the last few months to purge my life of perverse lips. It is difficult and very easy to wander from the path. A driver cuts you off or pulls out in front of you, you smash your foot with a tree while cutting wood, etc. It has to become a very conscious effort every minute you are awake until if becomes habit. I have seen the fruit of this undertaking and though I have not achieved perfection I am aspiring to it. Controlling the tongue leads to controlling the thoughts, emotions, and eventually the heart. I know others that try to put it in reverse order but that does not work for me. If I make a conscious effort to control what exits my mouth, I have to make a conscious effort to control the way I think, which eventually coincides with the heart changes I want to make

Proverbs 3 - Love and Faithfulness

3:3-4 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man
I love this scripture as this is not the only time that we are told to bind God's word around our necks and write them on our heart. Binding your neck is like having a harness, something you cannot forget it there. Writing God's word on the tablet of your heart means that it is engraved into your being. If you do this you will have God's favor and will alsway have a good name as it you will always be prepared to give testimony to God's goodness and to speak of where your joy comes from

3:5-6 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight
This is one my favorite verses in all the bible. Partly because I always remember this scripture and I truly live it. One thing I can say about myself is that I am always in communication with God. I talk to Him all day. I need to list more but I do lean on His words and understanding. My paths have sometimes seemed crooked to me but when I look back I see that God's is making my path straight toward Him

3:11-12 11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father [b] the son he delights in
I guess I am wierd. I have always loved the Lord's discipline. I often feel that God is not present is things are going to good and expect some sort of his discipline. I need discipline. Without it I stray. I know He loves me when He corrects me and that gives me great pleasure to know HE delights in ME

3:27-28 27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"— when you now have it with you
This scripture is absolutely true but somehow seems to contradict what most churches do in the way of mission work, especially with the relief work that I am doing now. I feel that our church is not very discerning in those we are assisting. I understand that we need to reach out to those who don't know the Lord, to be His hands and feet in this time of extreme need. But we seem to be spending too much time helping our own and not reaching out to those that don't know the Lord and helping them. To me that is what we should be doing and we are. But we also need to be reaching the lost right now. That is what this scripture means about giving to your neighbor when he needs it. Our neighbor is everyone and most of our neighbors are lost. Just today was a prime example. We were using tractors with box blades and front end loaders to help some of our church members whose homes in Surfside have been enundated with sand, trash, shell, and brush from the storm surge. When a lady come over to ask our help (she was not in the group of members we were helping), they shunned her and I felt wrong. Had it been my tractor I would have stayed the night and helped her and I have vowed to go back somehow with a tractor and help this lady.

Proverbs 2 - Finding God

2:4-5 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
How many of us waste our time searching for the wrong things in life? How much better life will be if we search for God's wisdom and knowledge with the zeal that we search after the material things in life? Our culture pushes us to a different path and we are measured by the things we attain. But none of those things mean anything in God's eyes nor are they of any value in the afterlife. I want more than anything to leave a legacy for my children, something they can live by. The material things that I can give them mean nothing if I cannot teach them how to have a meaningful relationship with God. God promises to give us that relationship, that knowledge, if we seek after Him with all our hearts. God promises us in James 1:5 that if we lack wisdom and cry out to Him for it, He will give it to us without finding fault. The wisdom that He gives us protects us from evil and destruction. Though we cannot live a blameless life ourselves, we have a great intercessor in Jesus who lived blameless for us. Our responsibility is to leave our sins at the cross and we receive a blank slate everyday. What a great trade!

Proverbs 1 - Beginning of Wisdom

Okay, I am not sure how this is going to work. I am a new blogger! Weird see as I have spent my entire life working in IT. I have this thing about computers. I work on them, around them, or in them all day long and I have been very reluctant to do anything with them in my spare time. I guess it is time to get with the program. Anyway, no better time to get started than with this Proverbs Journey

Proverbs 1 -

You have heard the saying about saving the best for last. Well I think Proverbs 1 is about as good as it gets. The wisdom pours out of the scripture like a waterfall. The writer lets everyone know right from the start what these writings are going to be about. Listen, take heed, search out and you will gain knowledge and wisdom from them

1:7 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge
The foundation of all knowledge and wisdom are wrapped up in this one statement. Many have misconstrued this "fear". It is not fear like run for your life fear, that is, unless you are running to the Lord. Respect, reverance, and awe of God and all He is, has done, and continues to do, are the foundation for knowledge. The minute we turn away from respecting and loving God, we become fools

1:15 - my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths
The first "don't go there" verse in Proverbs. Many of the little pearls of today's wisdom can be traced back to this book of the bible. The author is very adamant about not going down the path with sinners, enticers, adulterers, etc. The way of their path is destruction and you will fall into your own pit, you will lie in wait for your own blood

1:22-32
This section is a tough read right now with all that has happened with Hurricane Ike and the other calamities going on in the world. Many have turned away from God's teachings and He is allowing us to reap what we have sewn. We have been eating the fruit of our ways. Our world is becoming more corrupt and perverse every day. Only by turning to God's word and ways can we live safe from harm