The Fifth Conviction

Everyone seems to talk about convictions.

The DA is always looking for more convictions (prosecutorial success).

The drill sergeant is looking for men to promote who will live up to their convictions (bravery).

The pastor wants the Church's members to live according to their convictions (beliefs).

The best politicians are those involved simply because of their convictions (ideals).

But only the Holy Spirit can bring CONVICTION!  His is an all convincing forcefulness.  His facts are undeniable; His approach is potent; and his message is always relevant and valid.  There is no room for discussion or debate with the conviction of God.  Without submission and acceptance, there is only shirking and shunning.  Only dodging and disputing as a child might who has no more hope of outwitting his parents:  "Oh YEAH?" we say, but that's all we have.

Jesus said, in Mathew 12:31

And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

My understanding here is that blasphemy against the Spirit means denying His work.  The work of the Holy Spirit is to bring the comfort of conviction (as it does it's good work of promoting repentance and thus salvation) to the sinner's heart.  The only sin that can not be forgiven then, is the sin of refusing to ask to be forgiven.

Perhaps as an unbeliever you face your Christian contacts with all the punch and certitude in the world.  Utterly persuaded in your own convictions, you laugh and stomp on the stage of attack.  But as you lie in bed, or walk alone in the dark and quiet, that still small voice of God's conviction is winning the argument.  He wants you.  He is calling you.  He is right, and in His rightness He is calling you to come and be loved.  Allow the conviction to breach your resistance, and be forgiven.




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A Fifteen Minute Free Write. Ready, Set, Go...

...get gap insurance!  My wife recently cracked up our "new" 10 year old car to the point where it was "totaled".  She's fine now, thank you (I always told her that she is "fine as frog's hair"), but the two month old car was beyond repair.  One quick clue is that if the air bags go off, it's toast.

Several days after the accident, we heard from State Farm with a settlement offer that placed the car's value about $2500.00 below what we had just paid!  Yipes!  During that phone call the claims officer asked me if we had "gap insurance" and I had to confess that I had never heard of that.  When confronting my car dealer about the car being overpriced he admitted that he left this mysterious item out of our contract because he knew we wanted to keep the payment low.  He never gave us the option.  Later, when challenging my local agent to get the offer up higher somehow, he asked, predictably, about gap insurance!  What is this strange entity everyone in the world knows about, except me?

Gap insurance is a separate policy that one might take out to insure that the lien holder gets paid completely off after an accident.  It fills in the "gap" between what the insurance company will pay and what you owe.  "Now you tell me!"  After 5 or 6 weeks of research and office visits, many phone calls, and writing a somewhat lawyerly letter, my State Farm settlement was raised substantially, leaving only a relatively small "gap", so I am happy.  But I am forewarned about the next loan.

And I'm thinking about a spiritual gap insurance we all might need.  I am often amazed and dismayed at how so many people face the inevitable end of life with such nonchalance.  They think about their conscience such a little bit; they rely on their parent's religion overmuch; and they settle for a life philosophy that could readily be summed up in a sound bite or on a bumper sticker.  I suggest there is a huge gap that must be faced more deliberately....and my time is up.










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Free Of Me

I stood on top of that hill and watched. It was ice cold and the wind blew strong in my face through the whole day.  Yet I stood still and looked, till the sun set in the west one more time.  As night came on, the last thing my eyes saw through their weak tears was that my hands had turned blue, and I found that my legs ached and were stiff with frost.

She had not come back, nor would she, this time.  Filled with gloom and with a shirk of grief I tried to turn and walk back to my "home", which had been turned by me to a real hell.  But I tripped, and fell, and bled.  I fell hard, like a tree that falls to the dread ax, but I was cut by my own ax; I had made it wide and I had honed it so sharp, that once it turned back to meet my roots, I knew that I could stand no more.  I beat my wife once too much and now, in her strength, she was gone.

Laid on the hard rock ground, bared to the now black sky of doom, with no one who should think of me or care for me or save me, I could but wait to die.  I knew that she would soon be free of me.  My one last vain hope was that in death, I, would be free of me.





Did you notice the pattern in this story?  The challenge today was to write something using only one syllable words.

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The Inner Bottom

Have you ever taken a nose dive?  Come to the end of your rope?  Gone off the proverbial edge?  Is it yet to come, or have you already, hit rock bottom?  Perhaps that trauma at least gave you the comfort of thinking that "it can't get any worse".  Well I have some news for you, and it may not be good to hear.  There is a place below the bottom, and I have been there.  It is called "THE INNER BOTTOM"!

Working as a "shipfitter" requires much flexibility (in more ways than one, but more about that later).  Every morning in the shipyard we men gather outside at 7 AM, no matter what the weather is doing and no matter what the season, for the daily stretching routine.  Then we meet with our various foremen to be assigned a job.  This is the daily moment of truth.

I never know with whom I will be partnered, what I'll be doing, how long the job might take, which part of which ship (and whether I'll be inside or outside), or even (and don't tell my boss) what in the world I'm doing!  But seriously, the quality of the day, or at least the drudge factor of the day, comes clear in that moment. It's either an "All right!  I'll working with my buddy Ryan putting in exhaust supports in the generator room!", or "Oh crap!  I have to work with _____, while he complains all day as we climb around in ballast tanks cleaning up welding rod stubs and cigarette butts!  But whatever the assignment, I have learned to make the most of every day by getting to know a new partner, by being intrigued with a new part of the ship, or by learning and practicing another set of skills I've never known before.

It wasn't very long ago that I had no experience with cutting torches, air powered grinders, welding whips, dry docks, cargo holds, bulkheads, crops or conveyor actuators.   I have since worked on upper decks, main decks, quarter decks and even under the ship's shell in the dry dock.  I have been ordered to carry steel, cut steel, wash steel, tack steel and stitch steel.  I have worked in cargo holds, generator rooms, ballast tanks, engine rooms, conveyor tunnels and escape tubes.  I have had to chip ice, shovel ice, melt ice and slip on ice,  as well as fire watch, shower in sparks, burn steel, take the heat and nearly melt.

So far, so good.  So far, I have avoided being sent to crawl into the INNER BOTTOM!  The inner bottom is a small dark muddy place running along the very center of the cargo ship (in my case), that separates the very outside shell from a work space above, usually the "tunnel" where a cargo unloading conveyor belt runs the ship's length.  It is barely 2 feet high inside and is accessed either by crawling through the narrow manhole from the muddy bottom of the wide open ballast tank, or by dropping down through a manhole in the floor of the tunnel.  Either way, physical flexibility, and some bodily dimensional limitations (height and/or girth) are required to avoid getting stuck half way in.

No place to spend eternity.

Most often the work on a cargo ship is required elsewhere.  But once in a while someone is sent in to install a crop, snipe a bracket, or simply to meet their maker (I heard a rumor about a skeleton found...).  The only time I ever had to work inside the inner bottom was in dry dock, and the shell of the boat had been removed. At least part of the job could be done from standing on a short ladder, but then I had to crawl up and roll over the angle iron ribs dragging my torch line, air line, extension cord and lights, welding lead, grinder, various helmets and shields, fire blankets and other miscellaneous tools with me.  Only then could I begin to work all crouched and twisted and trying to keep flying molten steel from being strewn across my person.

But, it was heavenly!  People complain about being assigned such jobs, yet when confronted with an eternity in hell, they shrug and scoff and glibly claim that at least they'll be there "with all their friends", as if there could be ANY degree of comfort in a place chosen by rejecting the free gift of ALL comfort.  No.  The ultimate INNER BOTTOM will be faced alone.  No friends, no coworker just outside the manhole to drag you out if you are overcome by fumes or injured by accident.  No manhole or escape hatch.  No connections with power or light..  No satisfaction from facing a challenge or from completing a difficult task.  Not even a chance to shake a fist at God; the opportunity to get real with Him is given, and limited to, today.

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.                                                              2 Corinthians 6:2

A ship's inner bottom is a protective void.  Its upper deck provides the flat space needed to accomplish important work, while its floor is a structural resistance to the sea's intrusive power.  Hell was intended to be a place to separate Lucifer and the other fallen angels from God's presence forever.  Only those people convinced to join him in his rebellion need go there.   God's open home (all are invited to enter by the work of Jesus Christ, offered by God's amazing grace!) is the best place to meet friends, to enjoy God's presence face to face, to enter into meaningful and pleasurable work, and to live eternally, ever maturing and growing more and more "in His image".  Nobody will ever be glad they chose the ultimate inner bottom.



















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Already Seen Deja Vu

"Already seen" is the English translation of the French term "deja vu" we commonly use to describe that weird feeling most of us have had, that tells us something just happening has happened before.  Out of the blue, you suddenly experience the moment you are in but not in a normal way; it seems to filter through the memory and so you think you can just about predict what will happen next.  But, since it only seems to be a memory because your current perception is somehow pouring through your memory banks, you can't ever really make that prediction.

Have you ever had a deja vu experience?  I have many times, and always enjoyed that moment of realization and mystery.  Every time, I attempt to make it last; to try to use it to peer around the corner of time as I make the effort to "remember" what was about to happen.  You would think that by now I would remember that it never works.

Deja vu is one of those things that unites disparate members of this human race.  Two thirds of the population  say they have had the experience.  What's the first thing you say when it dawns on you that you have "seen this before"?  If you are like me, you announce your status (in French!) to anyone in range, knowing full well that they can not enter the mindset with you, but that they can definitely relate.



Now this assignment has me thinking, however, about the times in my life when an experience was actually experienced earlier and seems to be repeating.  I should, in such a case, be able to make valid predictions about what will happen next.  You would think.

Here are a few examples.

Buying a car.  Since I bought my first car about 33 years ago (a cool 1973 Maverick with a fuzzy shag white carpet glued to the doors and rear shelf under the rear window (what DO you call that?)) I have "already seen" myself buy about 33 cars and trucks!  Will I ever learn to buy a decent vehicle?  I did see myself buy a brand new 1990 Isuzu trooper once, but then I saw my darn kids grow out of it so fast we had to get a mini-van!

Saving cool scraps.  My wife still laughs at the giant wooden firewood box I made out of strips of mahogany I brought home from a job.  They were 3/4 by 1 1/2 inches by 5 or 6 feet long,  and I just could not see them thrown into the burn pile!  But at least I did make something out of them, AND sold it!

This wall cap (here not yet installed) was made with "scrap"!

Last week I installed a sink for a lady and she saw potential in the laminate cut out.  "What can I make with that?" she said.  I was repulsed!  I backed away and crossed myself, as I automatically deja vu'd the dozens of even larger examples I used to bring home, and store, and move, and restack, and even haul when our family moved across town.  Managing to leave it there when I finished that bathroom job was a victory for this old scrap collector, and I can assure you that the scraps I still do have in my garage, and my basement, are really really cool scraps that I really really will use some day.

Playing chess.  When my son Josh joined the chess club some 10 years ago and immediately excelled (filling our house with dozens of trophies (some gigantic)), my interest in the game was rekindled.  My childhood experience included continual losing to my genius brother and finally giving up.  As a mature adult it was more of continually losing to my brilliant but nonchalant son and then finally finding someone else to play.  Heidi, our Dachshund, has never beaten me yet!

But there is a pattern I still "see again (and again)" in my chess experience.  Win a game easily.  Win another game handily.  Get cocky.  Make a stupid move and lose my queen.  Turn red.  Repeat.

Maybe I should play the cat!






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PS
After watching two baseball players hit consecutive home runs, twice, Yogi Berra made the term even more surreal by proclaiming "It's like deja vu all over again".

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting July2nd on Proverbs 2:9-11

Got 31 days in the month?  

God's got 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs! 

What a coincidence!

For each date then, again this month, you will find commentary on a few verses from the corresponding chapter. There are 7 months in the year with 31 days, so I divided each chapter into 7 parts and spread them out so that each verse will be reviewed on the date related to its chapter by the same number name.  No, I am not deliberately trying to make this explanation complicated! (But, if you can explain my system any better than I have tried to do in the past three 31-day months, there is probably a proverb proclaiming your wisdom, and you will be recognized here for your high achievement!).

Below this introduction you will find the whole chapter representing today's date, with this month's verses highlighted in red, and my amateur comments for today low lighted in blue. Enjoy!

PROVERBS 2

Moral Benefits of Wisdom

1 My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds success in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.


9 Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.

9) What a promise!  But what a Promiser!  God's promises are not like man's: He does not blow smoke or bait and switch or dabble in semantics.  Romans 3:4 makes the distinction:   Let God be true, and every human being a liar.  Perhaps you have trouble even imagining that what God says, He means.  But He does, and you can cling to His word. 

10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

10) Go back and re read verses 1-4 above.  They are the "ifs" that lead to these precious "thens" we are reading now.  Anybody can do the "ifs", and they can be done from anywhere at anytime under any circumstances.  Let me gather the verbs together here, and you tell me if they can be done in heavy traffic, in the sickest of sickbeds, or in the direst of dire straights: Accept, store-up, turn, apply, call out, cry aloud, look and search for.  The only one that might be difficult to do if you were locked in the trunk of a car is to store-up His commands within you.  Unless you have a Bible and a flashlight, it may be too late for the storing up so do that now!

11 Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.

11) Thank you Lord, for this great promise.  Please help me to accept your offer and practice the ifs you have given me.  I can always use discretion and understanding!

12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse,
13 who have left the straight paths
to walk in dark ways,
14 who delight in doing wrong
and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
15 whose paths are crooked
and who are devious in their ways.


16 Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
17 who has left the partner of her youth
and ignored the covenant she made before God.[a]
18 Surely her house leads down to death
and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
19 None who go to her return
or attain the paths of life.


20 Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will live in the land,
and the blameless will remain in it;
22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
and the unfaithful will be torn from it.




[Anyone willing to author an explanation of my system, let me know, and if it makes more sense than my attempts (how could it not?) I will use it in October.]

By the way...MILLERWRITES copy is COPYRIGHTED. Why cut and paste when you can simply copy the link?

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting May 27th on Proverbs 27:9-12

[If you have been here before, in May, then you might want to skip down below the green for today's post.]

"Thirty days hath September, 

April, June and November

All the rest have 31

Except February which has 28

Except during leap year when it has 29"

NO I DID NOT WRITE THIS "POEM"!  (Talk about free verse!)

Why didn't somebody just point out that the four months that do NOT have 31 days (except February, and everyone knows all about February The Exceptional) come every other month except that there is no 30 day month between July and August?  The silly poem above mixes up the order just to hide the fact that the real 30 day months come in two orderly pairs: April/June and September/November.  Can somebody please write a non-silly poem for us that will make this clear, and stick in our minds, but without gooping them up with exceptions (and please just leave February out of it!)?

And to make matters (far) worse, MILLERWRITES has created a Proverbs Pull-A-Part Plan that decimates that fine collection of wisdom in the book of Proverbs, by spreading commentary on each chapter out over 7 months (the good 31 day months)!  Oh don't ask me to explain his system.  You can try to decipher what he said about it at the top of any P31P posts from January or March if you like, or just follow along this month and figure it out.

All Bible passages are from the NIV, and are copied here from Biblegateway.com

REMEMBER: My ideas may be oh so mesmerizing, but you will get more benefit from simply reading the chapter itself!

So here I offer my amateur comments on verses 9-12.  Today's inspired verses are in red, and my comments are neither       (neither inspired, nor red).

PROVERBS 27

1 Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring.


2 Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
an outsider, and not your own lips.


3 Stone is heavy and sand a burden,
but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.


4 Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
but who can stand before jealousy?


5 Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.


6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.


7 One who is full loathes honey from the comb,
but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.


8 Like a bird that flees its nest
is anyone who flees from home.


9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the pleasantness of a friend
springs from their heartfelt advice.

9) "Heartfelt advice" is always a good thing.  Even if the idea expressed may sting, knowing it is given with love and sincerity makes all the difference.  In fact........I've been meaning to shape you up, so give me a call and I'll talk!  Only kidding!  

10 Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,
and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you—
better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

10) I guess it's OK to go to your relative's house when disaster strikes them; if you want to bring non judgmental help, but rely on the good relations established with your neighbors when trouble comes.  Interesting.

I like the part about not forsaking "your friend or a friend of your family".  This is probably more important than we realize.  Except that Solomon forgot to call it "networking".

11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;
then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.

11) Knowing your son is wise, does cover a lot of other pains.  Funny how that works.

12 The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

12) I think about this proverb a lot.  And I actually replaced a bad tire on my Explorer this week BEFORE it failed me on the highway in a rainstorm on the way to work and threw me into a ditch where I rolled over and over and killed three other people!  Whew!  That was close! Thanks Solomon!

13 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.


14 If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning,
it will be taken as a curse.


15 A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping
of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
16 restraining her is like restraining the wind
or grasping oil with the hand.


17 As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.


18 The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit,
and whoever protects their master will be honored.


19 As water reflects the face,
so one’s life reflects the heart.[a]


20 Death and Destruction[b] are never satisfied,
and neither are human eyes.


21 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but people are tested by their praise.


22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar,
grinding them like grain with a pestle,
you will not remove their folly from them.


23 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.
25 When the hay is removed and new growth appears
and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
26 the lambs will provide you with clothing,
and the goats with the price of a field.
27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family
and to nourish your female servants.




By the way...MILLERWRITES copy is COPYRIGHTED. Why cut and paste when you can simply copy the link?

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting May 26th on Proverbs 26:9-12

[If you have been here before, in May, then you might want to skip down below the green for today's post.]

"Thirty days hath September, 

April, June and November

All the rest have 31

Except February which has 28

Except during leap year when it has 29"

NO I DID NOT WRITE THIS "POEM"!  (Talk about free verse!)

Why didn't somebody just point out that the four months that do NOT have 31 days (except February, and everyone knows all about February The Exceptional) come every other month except that there is no 30 day month between July and August?  The silly poem above mixes up the order just to hide the fact that the real 30 day months come in two orderly pairs: April/June and September/November.  Can somebody please write a non-silly poem for us that will make this clear, and stick in our minds, but without gooping them up with exceptions (and please just leave February out of it!)?

And to make matters (far) worse, MILLERWRITES has created a Proverbs Pull-A-Part Plan that decimates that fine collection of wisdom in the book of Proverbs, by spreading commentary on each chapter out over 7 months (the good 31 day months)!  Oh don't ask me to explain his system.  You can try to decipher what he said about it at the top of any P31P posts from January or March if you like, or just follow along this month and figure it out.

All Bible passages are from the NIV, and are copied here from Biblegateway.com

REMEMBER: My ideas may be oh so mesmerizing, but you will get more benefit from simply reading the chapter itself!

So here I offer my amateur comments on verses 9-12.  Today's inspired verses are in red, and my comments are neither       (neither inspired, nor red).

PROVERBS 26

1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you yourself will be just like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.
6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool
is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
7 Like the useless legs of one who is lame
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Like tying a stone in a sling
is the giving of honor to a fool.

9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. 

9) Isn't good imagery a fantastic thing?  This word picture, of a  "thornbush in a drunkard’s hand", is very scary.  And then to compare THAT to what seems so simple, "a proverb in the mouth of a fool" is very telling.  We begin to imagine how hurtful it is to use a proverb carelessly.

10 Like an archer who wounds at random
is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.

10) Some kids in Wisconsin did this recently.  One shot an arrow and hit a 10 year old girl in the back, and then they ran away pretending nothing happened.  Fortunately, their sin did find them out.  But the point of the proverb is that people are not all the same.  All are equally made, and have the same rights, but not all are equally qualified to perform a specific task.  Discernment (egad, even JUDGEMENT) is necessary before hiring, before honoring, before celebrating, before marrying; indeed before making any personal commitments.

11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so fools repeat their folly. 

11) I object strongly (read: scream) when I see my dog do this gross thing!  But to her it's some kind of natural instinct (I guess).  Would that she would interfere (read: bark savagely) when I am about to repeat one of my natural follies!

12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.

12) I just heard a message this week about self-confidence.  It is oft promoted, but Mary Whelchel suggests that it is greatly overrated.  We are better off living our lives with "God-confidence" because the self will certainly fail us.

13 A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road,
a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
so a sluggard turns on his bed.
15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven people who answer discreetly.


17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.


18 Like a maniac shooting
flaming arrows of death
19 is one who deceives their neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”


20 Without wood a fire goes out;
without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts.


23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
are fervent[a] lips with an evil heart.
24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,
but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them,
for seven abominations fill their hearts.
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,
but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it;
if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
and a flattering mouth works ruin.




By the way...MILLERWRITES copy is COPYRIGHTED. Why cut and paste when you can simply copy the link?

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting May 23rd on Proverbs 23:10-14

[If you have been here before, in May, then you might want to skip down below the green for today's post.]

"Thirty days hath September, 

April, June and November

All the rest have 31

Except February which has 28

Except during leap year when it has 29"

NO I DID NOT WRITE THIS "POEM"!  (Talk about free verse!)

Why didn't somebody just point out that the four months that do NOT have 31 days (except February, and everyone knows all about February The Exceptional) come every other month except that there is no 30 day month between July and August?  The silly poem above mixes up the order just to hide the fact that the real 30 day months come in two orderly pairs: April/June and September/November.  Can somebody please write a non-silly poem for us that will make this clear, and stick in our minds, but without gooping them up with exceptions (and please just leave February out of it!)?

And to make matters (far) worse, MILLERWRITES has created a Proverbs Pull-A-Part Plan that decimates that fine collection of wisdom in the book of Proverbs, by spreading commentary on each chapter out over 7 months (the good 31 day months)!  Oh don't ask me to explain his system.  You can try to decipher what he said about it at the top of any P31P posts from January or March if you like, or just follow along this month and figure it out.

All Bible passages are from the NIV, and are copied here from Biblegateway.com

REMEMBER: My ideas may be oh so mesmerizing, but you will get more benefit from simply reading the chapter itself!

So here I offer my amateur comments on verses 10-14.  Today's inspired verses are in red, and my comments are neither       (neither inspired, nor red).

PROVERBS 23
Saying 7

1 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.
Saying 8


4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
do not trust your own cleverness.
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.
Saying 9


6 Do not eat the food of a begrudging host,
do not crave his delicacies;
7 for he is the kind of person
who is always thinking about the cost.
“Eat and drink,” he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.
8 You will vomit up the little you have eaten
and will have wasted your compliments.
Saying 10


9 Do not speak to fools,
for they will scorn your prudent words.

OK, so we find ourselves in the middle of "30 Sayings of the Wise".  My "Proverbs Pull-A-Part" system wreaks havoc here.  For example; if you want to know what I think about the first wise saying, you have to wait until July 22nd, and number 6 doesn't come up until December 22nd!  In January of this year, I wrote about sayings 7 and 8.  My best advice?  Read the whole chapter that goes with each day of the month and you will read all of Proverbs in all of its correct order.  My comments don't matter that much, and they just come along when they do!

Saying 11

10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone
or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 for their Defender is strong;
he will take up their case against you.

10,11) Guess who "their Defender" is.  Throughout the scriptures we see many attributes of God highlighted.  His care for widows and orphans ranks near the top of His priorities.  If you want to get in trouble quick; pick on a "fatherless"!  This concern, I think, also reflects God supreme interest in welcoming home each and every one of us who have left His home for the promises of being a prodigal, and would find loving redemption back under His care.

Saying 12

12 Apply your heart to instruction
and your ears to words of knowledge.

12) Back to basics.  I know one young lady in particular (who used to be a Miller) who seemed to think she should not go in to a class until she already knew what they were going to teach her (?).  Silly girl!  Your heart was always "applied to instruction" and your ears to "words of knowledge":  These are the only prerequisites for any class, and serve you well for a good life of many years.  Being so teachable is vital, and I am proud to be your Daddy (ooops)!

Saying 13

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;
if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
14 Punish them with the rod
and save them from death.

13,14) I love Solomon's understatement; "they will not die."  And I see from his need to say it, that there were folks in his day decrying, probably, the "abuse" of the rod!  It's good to know that this fear is not some kind of pinnacle of the ages, but just another repetition of the cycle's namby-pamby phase.

Remember though, that while some "wise guy" is the author of this saying, we count the whole Bible as God's inspired Word.  So it is God who has connected punishment with "the rod" and the saving "from death"!

Saying 14


15 My son, if your heart is wise,
then my heart will be glad indeed;
16 my inmost being will rejoice
when your lips speak what is right.
Saying 15


17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,
but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
18 There is surely a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.
Saying 16


19 Listen, my son, and be wise,
and set your heart on the right path:
20 Do not join those who drink too much wine
or gorge themselves on meat,
21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
Saying 17


22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Buy the truth and do not sell it—
wisdom, instruction and insight as well.
24 The father of a righteous child has great joy;
a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
25 May your father and mother rejoice;
may she who gave you birth be joyful!
Saying 18


26 My son, give me your heart
and let your eyes delight in my ways,
27 for an adulterous woman is a deep pit,
and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Like a bandit she lies in wait
and multiplies the unfaithful among men.
Saying 19


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 will 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?”












By the way...MILLERWRITES copy is COPYRIGHTED. Why cut and paste when you can simply copy the link?

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting May 22nd on Proverbs 22:11-16

[If you have been here before, in May, then you might want to skip down below the green for today's post.]

"Thirty days hath September, 

April, June and November

All the rest have 31

Except February which has 28

Except during leap year when it has 29"

NO I DID NOT WRITE THIS "POEM"!  (Talk about free verse!)

Why didn't somebody just point out that the four months that do NOT have 31 days (except February, and everyone knows all about February The Exceptional) come every other month except that there is no 30 day month between July and August?  The silly poem above mixes up the order just to hide the fact that the real 30 day months come in two orderly pairs: April/June and September/November.  Can somebody please write a non-silly poem for us that will make this clear, and stick in our minds, but without gooping them up with exceptions (and please just leave February out of it!)?

And to make matters (far) worse, MILLERWRITES has created a Proverbs Pull-A-Part Plan that decimates that fine collection of wisdom in the book of Proverbs, by spreading commentary on each chapter out over 7 months (the good 31 day months)!  Oh don't ask me to explain his system.  You can try to decipher what he said about it at the top of any P31P posts from January or March if you like, or just follow along this month and figure it out.

All Bible passages are from the NIV, and are copied here from Biblegateway.com

REMEMBER: My ideas may be oh so mesmerizing, but you will get more benefit from simply reading the chapter itself!

So here I offer my amateur comments on verses 11-16.  Today's inspired verses are in red, and my comments are neither       (neither inspired, nor red).

PROVERBS 22

1 A good name is more desirable than great riches;
to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.


2 Rich and poor have this in common:
The Lord is the Maker of them all.


3 The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.


4 Humility is the fear of the Lord;
its wages are riches and honor and life.


5 In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls,
but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.


6 Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.


7 The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is slave to the lender.


8 Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,
and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.


9 The generous will themselves be blessed,
for they share their food with the poor.


10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
quarrels and insults are ended.


11 One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace
will have the king for a friend.

11)  I worked with a guy years ago who could talk a Packer fan into rooting for the Bears!  We used to call such a guy a "schmoozer."  But I think the person described here is much more than that.  He is genuine.  He actually does "love a pure heart" and his speaking "with grace" is not calculated to charm.  The trick is for the King to discern the authentic loyal friend, from the schmoozer.

12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

12) In this campaign season I hear so many "words of the unfaithful" thrown out there.  This is how I see so many ads and talking points that deliberately veer away from taking a real stand on a real issue.  When a candidate is afraid that his worldview position is untenable or unpopular, he avoids "knowledge" and ends up only frustrating himself with "unfaithful (to the truth) words."


13 The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside!
I’ll be killed in the public square!”

13) Solomon leaves us on our own here, to finish the typical second half of the proverb.  It is usually either an emphasis of the preliminary statement, or a contrasting revelation.  This one seems to call for a contrast.  Something like... 

The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside! 
I’ll be killed in the public square!”

"But the courageous runs out to protect his friends!"


14 The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit;
a man who is under the Lord’s wrath falls into it.

14) Does the Lord actually SEND the adulterous woman to punish someone?  I don't think so.  But "a man who is under the Lord's wrath" is there for a reason.  He has previously demonstrated his rebellion against God and because he is in such a state, God predicts that adultery is just one more of the bad choices he is likely to succumb to.  Since the man avoids God's truth, he will probably fall for the lie of the seductress.

15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.

15) What a shame that so many generations (perhaps every third or fourth?) are "protected" from the rod of discipline by societies ever oscillating moral outrages.  Right now, America is in the mood for choosing "hearts full of folly" in lieu of the "rod of discipline".  When the deeds of such folly again overwhelm us all, the pendulum (hopefully) will swing back, and a new generation will grow up delivered from such ruin.

16 One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.

16) The first "one" is represented well in so many books and movies.  The factory owner who doesn't care, or the corrupt politician driving through the big deal to "make a killing" make us all sick.  And then there is the other "one" with the brown nose and the "schmoozing" compliments that weedle into good graces:  More sick.

Thirty Sayings of the Wise
Saying 1

17 Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;
apply your heart to what I teach,
18 for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
and have all of them ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in the Lord,
I teach you today, even you.
20 Have I not written thirty sayings for you,
sayings of counsel and knowledge,
21 teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth,
so that you bring back truthful reports
to those you serve?
Saying 2


22 Do not exploit the poor because they are poor
and do not crush the needy in court,
23 for the Lord will take up their case
and will exact life for life.
Saying 3


24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
do not associate with one easily angered,
25 or you may learn their ways
and get yourself ensnared.
Saying 4


26 Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge
or puts up security for debts;
27 if you lack the means to pay,
your very bed will be snatched from under you.
Saying 5


28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone
set up by your ancestors.
Saying 6


29 Do you see someone skilled in their work?
They will serve before kings;
they will not serve before officials of low rank.










By the way...MILLERWRITES copy is COPYRIGHTED. Why cut and paste when you can simply copy the link?

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting May 21st on Proverbs 21:11-15

[If you have been here before, in May, then you might want to skip down below the green for today's post.]

"Thirty days hath September, 

April, June and November

All the rest have 31

Except February which has 28

Except during leap year when it has 29"

NO I DID NOT WRITE THIS "POEM"!  (Talk about free verse!)

Why didn't somebody just point out that the four months that do NOT have 31 days (except February, and everyone knows all about February The Exceptional) come every other month except that there is no 30 day month between July and August?  The silly poem above mixes up the order just to hide the fact that the real 30 day months come in two orderly pairs: April/June and September/November.  Can somebody please write a non-silly poem for us that will make this clear, and stick in our minds, but without gooping them up with exceptions (and please just leave February out of it!)?

And to make matters (far) worse, MILLERWRITES has created a Proverbs Pull-A-Part Plan that decimates that fine collection of wisdom in the book of Proverbs, by spreading commentary on each chapter out over 7 months (the good 31 day months)!  Oh don't ask me to explain his system.  You can try to decipher what he said about it at the top of any P31P posts from January or March if you like, or just follow along this month and figure it out.

All Bible passages are from the NIV, and are copied here from Biblegateway.com

REMEMBER: My ideas may be oh so mesmerizing, but you will get more benefit from simply reading the chapter itself!

So here I offer my amateur comments on verses 11-15.  Today's inspired verses are in red, and my comments are neither       (neither inspired, nor red).

PROVERBS 21

1 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
that he channels toward all who please him.


2 A person may think their own ways are right,
but the Lord weighs the heart.


3 To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.


4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart—
the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.


5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit
as surely as haste leads to poverty.


6 A fortune made by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.[a]


7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
for they refuse to do what is right.


8 The way of the guilty is devious,
but the conduct of the innocent is upright.


9 Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.


10 The wicked crave evil;
their neighbors get no mercy from them.


11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.

11) This makes easy sense.


12 The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked
and brings the wicked to ruin.

12) It does society good when crack houses etc. are torn down.


13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
will also cry out and not be answered.

13) This is one of those promises God makes, that we don't really want to hear.  And giving a homeless schmoozer a dollar to get him away does not count.


14 A gift given in secret soothes anger,
and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.

14) OK, but is that second part ever justified?

15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.


15) So can justice be defined by who it brings joy to, vs. who it terrorizes?  Or can the righteous and evildoers be designated by their respective response to justice?  Both sides of the coin seem to be subjective here, but the truth of the matter is that all people everywhere are able to make all the judgments necessary to recognize all three entities: justice, the righteous, and the evildoers.  There is a natural standard; inborn, and known by all, regarding every important behavior class.  


Notice that the righteous are joy filled, even if the justice done upon them if deserved by their wayward acts.  And that the evildoers complain and cower, even if they know their guilt.  Hell will probably not be a cool gathering place of camaraderie for the rebellious, who will celebrate their fellowship under the pall of "so called" justice. No:  But more likely a riotous and terrible maelstrom of denial and rebellion against justice's final word, until the true terror of reality and eternity combined, takes hold.


2 Corinthians 6:2 reminds us not to delay.
For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.





16 Whoever strays from the path of prudence
comes to rest in the company of the dead.


17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.


18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,
and the unfaithful for the upright.


19 Better to live in a desert
than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.


20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
but fools gulp theirs down.


21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love
finds life, prosperity[c] and honor.


22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty
and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.


23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues
keep themselves from calamity.


24 The proud and arrogant person —“Mocker” is his name—
behaves with insolent fury.


25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,
because his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he craves for more,
but the righteous give without sparing.


27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable —
how much more so when brought with evil intent!


28 A false witness will perish,
but a careful listener will testify successfully.


29 The wicked put up a bold front,
but the upright give thought to their ways.


30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the Lord.


31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the Lord.




By the way...MILLERWRITES copy is COPYRIGHTED. Why cut and paste when you can simply copy the link?

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting May 20th on Proverbs 20: 11-14

[If you have been here before, in May, then you might want to skip down below the green for today's post.]

"Thirty days hath September, 

April, June and November

All the rest have 31

Except February which has 28

Except during leap year when it has 29"

NO I DID NOT WRITE THIS "POEM"!  (Talk about free verse!)

Why didn't somebody just point out that the four months that do NOT have 31 days (except February, and everyone knows all about February The Exceptional) come every other month except that there is no 30 day month between July and August?  The silly poem above mixes up the order just to hide the fact that the real 30 day months come in two orderly pairs: April/June and September/November.  Can somebody please write a non-silly poem for us that will make this clear, and stick in our minds, but without gooping them up with exceptions (and please just leave February out of it!)?

And to make matters (far) worse, MILLERWRITES has created a Proverbs Pull-A-Part Plan that decimates that fine collection of wisdom in the book of Proverbs, by spreading commentary on each chapter out over 7 months (the good 31 day months)!  Oh don't ask me to explain his system.  You can try to decipher what he said about it at the top of any P31P posts from January or March if you like, or just follow along this month and figure it out.

All Bible passages are from the NIV, and are copied here from Biblegateway.com

REMEMBER: My ideas may be oh so mesmerizing, but you will get more benefit from simply reading the chapter itself!

So here I offer my amateur comments on verses 11-14.  Today's inspired verses are in red, and my comments are neither       (neither inspired, nor red).

PROVERBS 20

1 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;
whoever is led astray by them is not wise.


2 A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;
those who anger him forfeit their lives.


3 It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
but every fool is quick to quarrel.


4 Sluggards do not plow in season;
so at harvest time they look but find nothing.


5 The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,
but one who has insight draws them out.


6 Many claim to have unfailing love,
but a faithful person who can find?


7 The righteous lead blameless lives;
blessed are their children after them.


8 When a king sits on his throne to judge,
he winnows out all evil with his eyes.


9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;
I am clean and without sin”?


10 Differing weights and differing measures—
the Lord detests them both.


11 Even small children are known by their actions,
so is their conduct really pure and upright?

11) So even way back when, the urban myth that children are born innocent was widespread and needed to be refuted!  No.  Nobody ever has to teach their children to disobey, to be mean, to lie and steal.  Instead, we discover that even the cutest of Grandchildren have a self absorbed, "me-first" nature.  Discipline is vital to RE direct the natural impulses of human babies toward the good of others; to honor their parents, and to respect the rights and property of people besides themselves.  Look honestly at your kids (and Grandkids) and ask: "is their conduct really pure and upright?"


12 Ears that hear and eyes that see—
the Lord has made them both.

12) As long as we are asking questions today, ask the nearest evolutionary scientist; "When the eyes and ears were evolving, how did they know there would be sound waves to respond to, and light to gather?  How did they know they could connect with the brain whereby  meaning could be communicated and images formed?"  You and I are not as wise as Solomon, but we are simply smart enough to laugh out loud at the idea that these perfectly suited and intricate organs just happened to form by chance!

13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;
stay awake and you will have food to spare.

13) All right, Sol, but is it OK if I really really LIKE sleep?  Not gobs and gobs of sleep, but I do need 6 or 7 hours per night, with an 8 or 9 hour catch-up once a week.   In the spirit of the proverb, though, I am actually afraid of sleeping too much of my life away.  Like anything else, there must be the right balance attained.

14 “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer—
then goes off and boasts about the purchase.

14) I understand the need to haggle.  Both sides of any deal always seek their own benefit (just like the kids in verse 11 above!).  I can't even imagine the world of buying and selling without both sides hiding their cards and trying to outwit each other, can you?

15 Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.


16 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.


17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,
but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.


18 Plans are established by seeking advice;
so if you wage war, obtain guidance.


19 A gossip betrays a confidence;
so avoid anyone who talks too much.


20 If someone curses their father or mother,
their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.


21 An inheritance claimed too soon
will not be blessed at the end.


22 Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”
Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.


23 The Lord detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales do not please him.


24 A person’s steps are directed by the Lord.
How then can anyone understand their own way?


25 It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
and only later to consider one’s vows.


26 A wise king winnows out the wicked;
he drives the threshing wheel over them.


27 The human spirit is[a] the lamp of the Lord
that sheds light on one’s inmost being.


28 Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
through love his throne is made secure.


29 The glory of young men is their strength,
gray hair the splendor of the old.


30 Blows and wounds scrub away evil,
and beatings purge the inmost being.




By the way...MILLERWRITES copy is COPYRIGHTED. Why cut and paste when you can simply copy the link?

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting May 19th on Proverbs 19:10-13

[If you have been here before, in May, then you might want to skip down below the green for today's post.]

"Thirty days hath September, 

April, June and November

All the rest have 31

Except February which has 28

Except during leap year when it has 29"

NO I DID NOT WRITE THIS "POEM"!  (Talk about free verse!)

Why didn't somebody just point out that the four months that do NOT have 31 days (except February, and everyone knows all about February The Exceptional) come every other month except that there is no 30 day month between July and August?  The silly poem above mixes up the order just to hide the fact that the real 30 day months come in two orderly pairs: April/June and September/November.  Can somebody please write a non-silly poem for us that will make this clear, and stick in our minds, but without gooping them up with exceptions (and please just leave February out of it!)?

And to make matters (far) worse, MILLERWRITES has created a Proverbs Pull-A-Part Plan that decimates that fine collection of wisdom in the book of Proverbs, by spreading commentary on each chapter out over 7 months (the good 31 day months)!  Oh don't ask me to explain his system.  You can try to decipher what he said about it at the top of any P31P posts from January or March if you like, or just follow along this month and figure it out.

All Bible passages are from the NIV, and are copied here from Biblegateway.com

REMEMBER: My ideas may be oh so mesmerizing, but you will get more benefit from simply reading the chapter itself!

So here I offer my amateur comments on verses 10-13.  Today's inspired verses are in red, and my comments are neither       (neither inspired, nor red).

PROVERBS 19

1 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than a fool whose lips are perverse.


2 Desire without knowledge is not good—
how much more will hasty feet miss the way!


3 A person’s own folly leads to their ruin,
yet their heart rages against the Lord.


4 Wealth attracts many friends,
but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.


5 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and whoever pours out lies will not go free.


6 Many curry favor with a ruler,
and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.


7 The poor are shunned by all their relatives—
how much more do their friends avoid them!
Though the poor pursue them with pleading,
they are nowhere to be found.[a]


8 The one who gets wisdom loves life;
the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.


9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and whoever pours out lies will perish.

10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury—
how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!

10) Question: Is it fitting for ANYBODY to "live in luxury"?  If we are called to help the poor (and we all are), or to serve the needy (and we all are), then how can anyone claim to be so special that they can spend it all on themselves?  But yes, Solomon; a fool living it up, or a slave taking revenge, are two horrible ideas to contemplate.
11 A person’s wisdom yields patience;
it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.


11) I think I touched on the second part here a few days ago.  I recognize that patience factor.  The older I get, the more I realize that I just have to waiaiaiaiait for a younger guy to figure stuff out for himself.

12 A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.

12) I guess that's the King's prerogative.  He can express his condition with impunity.  Most of us have to couch our terms, and disguise our motivation, and stifle our natural reactions; in order to get along.  A King never has to feel like he's walking on egg shells, because he has the authority to smash all the eggs he wants to.

13 A foolish child is a father’s ruin,
and a quarrelsome wife is like
the constant dripping of a leaky roof.


13) (Speaking of egg shells...  What can I say?)  Only kidding.  But he is right.  What matters more to a father than the well being of his children?  All else may go swimmingly (so I've heard), but mistakes and bad decisions of a precious son (no matter if they reflect the same things the father did) can "ruin" the father's peace indeed.  And that "quarrelsome wife" thing....I know NOTHING about!


But on a completely different subject:  I found FOUR cans of roof tar in my garage just yesterday!

14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,
but a prudent wife is from the Lord.


15 Laziness brings on deep sleep,
and the shiftless go hungry.


16 Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life,
but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.


17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will reward them for what they have done.


18 Discipline your children, for in that there is hope;
do not be a willing party to their death.


19 A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty;
rescue them, and you will have to do it again.


20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,
and at the end you will be counted among the wise.


21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.


22 What a person desires is unfailing love[b];
better to be poor than a liar.


23 The fear of the Lord leads to life;
then one rests content, untouched by trouble.


24 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he will not even bring it back to his mouth!


25 Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence;
rebuke the discerning, and they will gain knowledge.


26 Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother
is a child who brings shame and disgrace.


27 Stop listening to instruction, my son,
and you will stray from the words of knowledge.


28 A corrupt witness mocks at justice,
and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.


29 Penalties are prepared for mockers,
and beatings for the backs of fools.


By the way...MILLERWRITES copy is COPYRIGHTED. Why cut and paste when you can simply copy the link?

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting May 16th on Proverbs 16:11-15

[If you have been here before, in May, then you might want to skip down below the green for today's post.]

"Thirty days hath September, 

April, June and November

All the rest have 31

Except February which has 28

Except during leap year when it has 29"

NO I DID NOT WRITE THIS "POEM"!  (Talk about free verse!)

Why didn't somebody just point out that the four months that do NOT have 31 days (except February, and everyone knows all about February The Exceptional) come every other month except that there is no 30 day month between July and August?  The silly poem above mixes up the order just to hide the fact that the real 30 day months come in two orderly pairs: April/June and September/November.  Can somebody please write a non-silly poem for us that will make this clear, and stick in our minds, but without gooping them up with exceptions (and please just leave February out of it!)?

And to make matters (far) worse, MILLERWRITES has created a Proverbs Pull-A-Part Plan that decimates that fine collection of wisdom in the book of Proverbs, by spreading commentary on each chapter out over 7 months (the good 31 day months)!  Oh don't ask me to explain his system.  You can try to decipher what he said about it at the top of any P31P posts from January or March if you like, or just follow along this month and figure it out.

All Bible passages are from the NIV, and are copied here from Biblegateway.com

REMEMBER: My ideas may be oh so mesmerizing, but you will get more benefit from simply reading the chapter itself!

So here I offer my amateur comments on verses 11-15.  Today's inspired verses are in red, and my comments are neither       (neither inspired, nor red).

PROVERBS 16

1 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.


2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them,
but motives are weighed by the Lord.


3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.


4 The Lord works out everything to its proper end —
even the wicked for a day of disaster.


5 The Lord detests all the proud of heart.
Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.


6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided.


7 When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
he causes their enemies to make peace with them.


8 Better a little with righteousness
than much gain with injustice.


9 In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps.


10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
and his mouth does not betray justice.


11 Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
all the weights in the bag are of his making.

11) EVERYTHING is "of his making," Solomon may have added.  But of special note here, is all truth, all honesty, all validity, all unselfish, compassionate dealing, all good business practice, all ethics and all things objective.  And people think they want to stop Christians from practicing their faith!  And what would happen if all peoples were prohibited from practicing anything Biblical?  The world would fall apart in a minute.  (For one thing, we would all have to work seven days per week!)


12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
for a throne is established through righteousness.

12) And all of those living in the Kingdom detest wrongdoing as well.  At least the King has a bodyguard to protect him from the rabble.

13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value the one who speaks what is right.

13) Again; we all value such lips, and such speaking.    Of course such honesty is vital to the good business of a King, for his decisions effect us all.

14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
but the wise will appease it.

14) Perhaps this is why every court has a jester.  Someone had to be ready and available, 24/7, to appease the King's wrath.  But the "wise" have a much better approach; one that is more important and longer lasting than the jester's.

15 When a king’s face brightens, it means life;
his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.

15) It should be noted here that anything said of "the King" probably applies to God, at least as a matter of principle.


16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
to get insight rather than silver!


17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
those who guard their ways preserve their lives.


18 Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.


19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud.


20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,[a]
and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.


21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
and gracious words promote instruction.[b]


22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,
but folly brings punishment to fools.


23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,
and their lips promote instruction.[c]


24 Gracious words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.


25 There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.


26 The appetite of laborers works for them;
their hunger drives them on.


27 A scoundrel plots evil,
and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.


28 A perverse person stirs up conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends.


29 A violent person entices their neighbor
and leads them down a path that is not good.


30 Whoever winks with their eye is plotting perversity;
whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.


31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;
it is attained in the way of righteousness.


32 Better a patient person than a warrior,
one with self-control than one who takes a city.


33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.



By the way...MILLERWRITES copy is COPYRIGHTED. Why cut and paste when you can simply copy the link?

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting May 15th on Proverbs 15:11-15

[If you have been here before, in May, then you might want to skip down below the green for today's post.]

"Thirty days hath September, 

April, June and November

All the rest have 31

Except February which has 28

Except during leap year when it has 29"

NO I DID NOT WRITE THIS "POEM"!  (Talk about free verse!)

Why didn't somebody just point out that the four months which do NOT have 31 days (except February, and everyone knows all about February The Exceptional) come every other month except that there is no 30 day month between July and August?  The silly poem above mixes up the order just to hide the fact that the real 30 day months come in two orderly pairs: April/June and September/November.  Can somebody please write a non-silly poem for us that will make this clear, and stick in our minds, but without gooping them up with exceptions (and please just leave February out of it!)?

And to make matters (far) worse, MILLERWRITES has created a Proverbs Pull-A-Part Plan that decimates that fine collection of wisdom in the book of Proverbs, by spreading commentary on each chapter out over 7 months (the good 31 day months)!  Oh don't ask me to explain his system.  You can try to decipher what he said about it at the top of any P31P posts from January or March if you like, or just follow along this month and figure it out.

All Bible passages are from the NIV, and are copied here from Biblegateway.com

REMEMBER: My ideas may be oh so mesmerizing, but you will get more benefit from simply reading the chapter itself!

So here I offer my amateur comments on verses 11-15.  Today's inspired verses are in red, and my comments are neither       (neither inspired, nor red).

PROVERBS 15

1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

3 The eyes of the LORD are everywhere,
keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

4 The soothing tongue is a tree of life,
but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

5 A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.

6 The house of the righteous contains great treasure,
but the income of the wicked brings ruin.

7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
but the hearts of fools are not upright.

8 The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked,
but the prayer of the upright pleases him.

9 The LORD detests the way of the wicked,
but he loves those who pursue righteousness.

10 Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
the one who hates correction will die.

11 Death and Destruction lie open before the LORD—
how much more do human hearts!


11) Wow!  What a strong statement this is!  If someone asked you what you thought about God, would the first thing you say be that "Death and Destruction lie open before Him"?  Me neither.  Now when you are asked to describe something like....baseball, the thing you might say about it is just one of a million optional ideas, all of which are valuable (as long as they were true, of course).  I think that God is so big, and so colossal, and so complicated, that each one of us could start telling true things about God without our own insightful approach ever being repeated.  Leave it to Solomon to find this particular poignant pronouncement about "death and destruction".  My paraphrase?  God is fully aware of even the most vile and deplorable realities; He knows what you are thinking.

12 Mockers resent correction,
so they avoid the wise.

12) The second half here really surprised me.  The typical one/two punch proverb would normally say something like: Mockers resent correction, but the wise seek discipline.  Solomon's conclusion gives him street cred (credibility, for you uninitiated) because it is so simple...and true!  Avoiding embarrassing coparison is what people do when they know they are acting stupidly.

13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
but heartache crushes the spirit.

13) So an honest face is a true reflection of the heart.  A regular face, however, is probably more often arranged by political expediency.  What if we all let our true inner goings-ons show up on our faces?  Yipes!

14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

14) What will you have? "Knowledge" or "Folly"?  Too often I prefer the folly.  I play chess on line, FreeCell and Spider Solitaire on the computer, and I like to fill in Sudoku books.  I'll sit and watch old movies for the umpteenth time and spend hours rearranging the junk in the garage.  Too much folly in my diet.

15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.

15) This seems like it is just defining the terms.  Yes, the oppressed are bummed and the cheerful are happy.  Or is he saying that even the oppressed, if they have a deep seated joy in their hearts, can be over-comers, and find satisfaction no matter what?  Yeah, I think so.  "The joy of the Lord is my strength!"

16 Better a little with the fear of the LORD
than great wealth with turmoil.

17 Better a small serving of vegetables with love
than a fattened calf with hatred.

18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,
but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.

19 The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,
but the path of the upright is a highway.

20 A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.

21 Folly brings joy to one who has no sense,
but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.

22 Plans fail for lack of counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.

23 A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—
and how good is a timely word!

24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent
to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.

25 The LORD tears down the house of the proud,
but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.

26 The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked,
but gracious words are pure in his sight.

27 The greedy bring ruin to their households,
but the one who hates bribes will live.

28 The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,
but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.

29 The LORD is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

30 Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones.

31 Whoever heeds life-giving correction
will be at home among the wise.

32 Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,
but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.

33 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the LORD,
   and humility comes before honor.

By the way...MILLERWRITES copy is COPYRIGHTED. Why cut and paste when you can simply copy the link?