PRIDE in HELL

                    Did you see the INTRODUCTION to this A to Z series? Check it out here.


The number one sin. The first sin. The worst sin. And the polar opposite of perhaps the most foundational virtue, humility. Humility allows one to listen and to receive from God what he says is needed (forgiveness and salvation). PRIDE works in the antagonistic direction. It is diametrically opposed to any consideration of God's perspective. Like "the lust of the eyes" and the "lust of the flesh," the PRIDE OF LIFE originates with the world and only supplants God.

For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 1 John 2:16

Instead of the Lord's Prayer, here is PRIDE'S prayer:

"Our imaginary friend, who really is nowhere, forgotten be your name. MY kingdom come! MY will be done; here in my house and everywhere I go. You can't give me anything, and I won't give you anything. I will never forgive you for anything, but hold your nonexistent self in contempt instead. Nothing is wrong, so there is no "temptation" to avoid, and I will deliver evil wherever I go."

And it is this spirit that speaks ever louder and more powerfully into the ear and out the mouth of those in HELL.

Psalm 36 speaks to our PRIDE.

1  I have a message from God in my heart

concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:

There is no fear of God

before their eyes.

2  In their own eyes they flatter themselves

too much to detect or hate their sin.

3  The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful;

they fail to act wisely or do good.

4   Even on their beds they plot evil;

they commit themselves to a sinful course

and do not reject what is wrong.

PS After further analysis, I have concluded that my milk pouring is not all I cracked it up to be.




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

V is for that Vital Moment of My Testimony: Part Three

My testimony started here and here, and now continues.

In high school I was the guy who got along in every group.  Not very good in academics, I nonetheless hit it off with my smarter classmates.  Not a jock, but I gave it my all and won some respect in sports.  I could shoot a basketball fairly well just standing there, but never under pressure in a game!  I was the odd guy who excelled with the unicycle, but really enjoyed sharing it and teaching all who were willing to risk life and limb.  I was always a singer, though I neglected to become a musician    All things considered, I think my main  ability was in finding common ground with just about everybody in the school, and appreciating something about each one.  In fact, on of my proudest moments came when the Senior yearbook came out and I found that the editor had noted that my friends knew that I actually loved them.  Oh yeah; and there was some rumor that I had a sense of humor.  One of my nicknames was King DJ, which supposedly meant something like King of the Dumb Jokes.

College was different.  Like the high school jock whose standout skills seem to fade among the stars from schools all over, my new surroundings put me back into social beginner mode.  My roommate was semi-rowdy (I could always find my dorm room's window by the giant speakers placed therein and blaring Supertramp or Foreigner every afternoon) and was well established with like-minded friends on the floor, but I was bookish and shy while I found my bearings.  Once, and all of a sudden, there was a clamor down the hall and a bunch of guys were calling my name and tramping my way.  The annual campus wide trivia contest was on the radio and my roommate's team needed a quick answer to a Bible related question.  I had been seen at least dabbling in my Bible, so I was suddenly the go-to guy.

Later I moved to a single room on a different floor and started from scratch again.  Then came the knock on my door.  It was the staff guy from some group called Campus Crusade for Christ.  Never heard of it, but I was intrigued and thought maybe he had heard about my penchant for Bible trivia.  Not really, but my own pride was always eager to direct a conversation to something ego-centric.  When he opened our encounter by asking me if I knew much about the Bible I answered by saying "Well, I went to seminary for four years," and then stood waiting for him to ask me to take over his position or something.  The guy didn't go that far, but when he did react as I desired, by saying "Then I guess you really know your Bible!", I was deeply stung.

There was no biting sarcasm or challenge in his words or tone, and it wasn't Dave (I think his name was Dave) who seemed to slap me hard across the face in that moment.  I believe it was the Holy Spirit who struck me with a deep shameful sense of my sinful pride.  I was stricken, and ashamed.  I knew that my seminary years failed to give me any full sense of the Bible's main truths; that my academic response to God's word had been miserable (I mainly received C's and D's in Theology class each year), and that my own approach to the Bible was apathetic, careless and haphazard.  And yet I tried to put forth this picture of the mature and accomplished Bible scholar by acting out with such a brazen response.

That slap worked.  The Holy Spirit is a gentleman, never invading another's rightful territory, but only coming in freely where a door has been opened.  He knew that my heart's deep desire was to please God, even though my pride needed a violent prompt to admit it.

It wasn't long then, before I was immersed in every Bible study this campus ministry group offered, and eventually became a leader and teacher.  God can do anything.  And use anything, as He used those few lines of a conversation to reach into my heart and convict me of my sin.  I might have refused the poke; been hardened further instead, and inadvertently challenged Him to try harder to get my attention.  But when I think about it now, perhaps that "slap" was already an elevated attempt to prompt my repentance.  I might have enjoyed God's presence and love much sooner had I given my Mom, in particular, more credence when she was trying to get through to me.

My commitment thus far was largely only mental.  Important steps were yet to come.




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

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting January 21st on Proverbs 21:1-5

January 21;  Proverbs 21  Verses 1-5

[Please note: The first two paragraphs below are repeated each day for new readers.  My amateur comments are offered below the verses from Proverbs.]

Christians looking for a simple way to review the Bible regularly, have long been convenienced by the fact that the book of Proverbs has 31 chapters, the same number as most of our months.  Each chapter includes multiple bite-sized verses (uhm, proverbs) and can be read through simply in one sitting, one appropriately numbered chapter per day through the month.  A person might read through the Proverbs a chapter a day during any month, but why mess with your head (reading an extra chapter on one, two, or three days!) like that when there are 7 months every year perfectly suited for the endeavor?

My idea here is to reprint about 1/7 of the verses from each day's chapter throughout this year, every time a 31 day month pops up, and then offer a few comments from The Barking Owl.  So in January, we will get through the first few verses of every chapter and then in March, the next group, and so on, until December comes around and we can finally get to the last set of verses in each chapter and complete the book's reading.  If you are smarter than I am (is there any doubt?), you will read the whole chapter every day, every 31 day month, and then you will have read the whole book 7 times this year!  By then you are guaranteed to at least be wiser than The Barking Owl , though no one will ever match the wisdom of Solomon!

[All Bible passages are from the NIV, and are copied from www.Biblegateway.com]

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. 


1) [Yes, this is a new format.  What do you think?]
The king's heart is in the LORD's hand?  Does that mean that the Lord is responsible for everything the king does?  Like a robot's maneuverings follow the will of a controller?  I don't think so.  There is too much sin evidenced by many kings, including many corrupt kings of the ancient divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah.  But, when a King (or any leader, at any level) chooses to exercise his authority as our good God would (when he submits, and essentially PUTS his heart in God's hand), then God uses His given freedom to direct that king's work in a way that is a blessing to the many non-kings who would also submit to God's authority.


If I'm getting too tired to drive, and I relinquish the driver's seat to my wife (I put my whole life in her hands instead of maintaining my own claim), she will channel that car to a good end for both of us.  If I refuse to admit my weakness, and cling to control, we, along with any strangers in the way, will suffer badly.

2  A person may think their own ways are right, 

   but the LORD weighs the heart.

2) We should be more open to the idea that we may be all wet.  There is nothing to fear from God's judgement, until we stubbornly hold that our own judgement is better.  Declaring "I am King of the World!" is only cool if it's true.  (It's not)

3 To do what is right and just

   is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

3) The prophet Samuel had to tell Saul that "to obey is better than sacrifice."  Yes, the sacrificing of animals was an important thing.  For one, it brought home to the folks, just how horrible and gross and ugly and deadening sin is.  But it did not create the positive relationship between God and man that obedience can produce.  And it is a relationship, a personal relationship, that God wants with you.

4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart-

   the unplowed field of the wicked-produce sin.

4) Wow!  How poetically powerful is this verse?  This is another reference to the evil work of pride in our lives.  What corruption grows freely when we are not properly 'taken down a notch'?  Being humbled, and even sometimes humiliated, is better therapy than the building of a rickety and pretentious high self-esteem.

5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit

   as surely as haste leads to poverty.

5) Get rich QUICK scheme anybody?  If only Ralph Kramden and Fred Flintstone had learned this verse!  The writer's of those two TV shows could always get a hit by showing Ralph or Fred jumping into one "can't miss" idea or another!  We loved to laugh at their clear-cut foolishness.  And poor Solomon was never listed in the credits!

PLEASE let me know what you think of the format!

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting January 16th on Proverbs 16:1-5

January 16;  Proverbs 16, Verses 1-5

[Please note: The first two paragraphs below are repeated each day for new readers.  My amateur comments are offered below the verses from Proverbs.]

Christians looking for a simple way to review the Bible regularly, have long been convenienced by the fact that the book of Proverbs has 31 chapters, the same number as most of our months.  Each chapter includes multiple bite-sized verses (uhm, proverbs) and can be read through simply in one sitting, one appropriately numbered chapter per day through the month.  A person might read through the Proverbs a chapter a day during any month, but why mess with your head (reading an extra chapter on one, two, or three days!) like that when there are 7 months every year perfectly suited for the endeavor?

My idea here is to reprint about 1/7 of the verses from each day's chapter throughout this year, every time a 31 day month pops up, and then offer a few comments from The Barking Owl.  So in January, we will get through the first few verses of every chapter and then in March, the next group, and so on, until December comes around and we can finally get to the last set of verses in each chapter and complete the book's reading.  If you are smarter than I am (is there any doubt?), you will read the whole chapter every day, every 31 day month, and then you will have read the whole book 7 times this year!  By then you are guaranteed to at least be wiser than The Barking Owl , though no one will ever match the wisdom of Solomon!

[All Bible passages are from the NIV, and are copied from www.Biblegateway.com]

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.

[I hope you are reading the whole chapter today!]

1) This one is tricky, but here is my stab.  We might think and plan and prepare for what we want to say to somebody, or even in a speech; but when the moment arrives and the time to speak is at hand, those who have an openness to God's Spirit may find themselves saying something entirely different.  Instead of my diatribe, or lecture, or dumb joke, once in a while God may change the 'plan of my heart' so that I say something 'proper'.  Wow!  What a gift that is!

2) It's not just our words, but all of our 'ways' can be wrong headed.  Of course they seem right to each of us, and we may even fool our friends, but God knows all.  We must not judge other's motives because even they may not really know what they are.  God can judge, because He truly knows.

3) So here is the answer.  'Whatever you do' is quite the broad, all inclusive phrase.  We need simply to 'commit' it all to Him, and follow His lead.  Ahhhh.

Thank you Lord, for establishing my plans.

4) You may have noticed that the proverbs in this book most often stand alone, or in pairs.  But here, at least these first four seem to flow sequentially.  When we commit our ways to Him, He leads accordingly; when the wicked refuse to do the same, disaster follows.  Not so much as a punishment, but as a natural consequence.  A fallen, unrepentant sinner will automatically leave the narrow road and fall into an abyss.  By definition.  He may cry foul from the snare he is caught in, and 'blame' God for the misfortune, but we really only do reap what we sow.

5) The 'proud of heart' set themselves up to be God's rivals.  They don't have a chance, but the harm they do to themselves and others by their waywardness and by their bad example brings God to 'detest' them first, and then to a just punishment.  (Perhaps I should be careful to use the proper pronouns in the italicized sentence above:  Would you please exchange these first person versions in for the third person I inexcusably used above?  We, we, ourselves, our, our, us.)

By the way, I sure would appreciate any comments.  I need to know if these comments are generally either lame or possibly helpful!  Thank you!

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting January 14th on Proverbs 14:1-5

January 14;  Proverbs 14, Verses 1-3

[Please note: The first two paragraphs below are repeated each day for new readers.  My amateur comments start below today's verses from Proverbs.]

Christians looking for a simple way to review the Bible regularly, have long been convenienced by the fact that the book of Proverbs has 31 chapters, the same number as most of our months.  Each chapter includes multiple bite-sized verses (uhm, proverbs) and can be read through simply in one sitting, one appropriately numbered chapter per day through the month.  A person might read through the Proverbs a chapter a day during any month, but why mess with your head (reading an extra chapter on one, two, or three days!) like that when there are 7 months every year perfectly suited for the endeavor?

My idea here is to reprint about 1/7 of the verses from each day's chapter throughout this year, every time a 31 day month pops up, and then offer a few comments from The Barking Owl.  So in January, we will get through the first few verses of every chapter and then in March, the next group, and so on, until December comes around and we can finally get to the last set of verses in each chapter and complete the book's reading.  If you are smarter than I am (is there any doubt?), you will read the whole chapter every day, every 31 day month, and then you will have read the whole book 7 times this year!  By then you are guaranteed to at least be wiser than The Barking Owl , though no one will ever match the wisdom of Solomon!

[All Bible passages are from the NIV, and are copied from www.Biblegateway.com]

Proverbs 14

 ¹ The wise woman builds her house,
   but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

 ² Whoever fears the LORD walks uprightly,
   but those who despise him are devious in their ways.

 ³ A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,
   but the lips of the wise protect them.

 ⁴ Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
   but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.

 ⁵ An honest witness does not deceive,
   but a false witness pours out lies.

1) Proverbs chapter 31 speaks at length to the many ways a 'wise woman builds her house', and it is a beautiful chapter.  The ugly study of how a foolish woman might tear down her house has not been written, but I suspect it would be a very long chapter indeed.  Without even knowing it (perhaps that defines 'foolish') she can ruin peace, stifle joy, subvert growth, and inhibit love.  Probably at the base of all these horrors is a self-serving, or self-centered, attitude.  Perhaps under that is an unruly insecurity, but does it matter?  Her house is torn down, and her home is no more.

2) People seem to balk at the idea that we should 'fear the Lord', as if only a bad thing, or person, should engender fear.  When on a high ledge, I fear gravity.  When working outside in August, I fear the sun.  When in a puddle, I fear electricity.  When tempted to disobey, I feared my parents, and obeyed.  When driving too fast, I feared the police, and slowed down.  All of society is glad when I fear the Lord, and 'walk uprightly'.    

Think of the headlines we all hate to read and ask: "Are these crimes done by those who truly 'fear the Lord', or by the devious who 'despise Him'?

3) Pride again, devastating again.  This time taking control of the mouth and lips, it is boasting and bragging and making a scene.  The verse below, from James 3, is only one poignant depiction from that chapter about the tongue, and its ruthless work. 

"Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark".  James 3:5

4) A salient point for...farmers?  Some of these proverbs are either too simple or too deep.  This one seems like an obvious point, but maybe there is much more to it.  What do you think?  (Here's my attempt at a modern version of verse 4:  A farmer without gas in his tractor, has no corn in his crib; but from much horsepower comes much wheat flour.)

5) This one too is simply defining the terms.  An honest witness is honest, and a lying witness tells lies.  Of course we all appreciate an honest witness, unless we are being defended by the liars lies, but then we have become one with the false witness.  So the only question left here is "Did I spell lying correctly?"

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting January 11th on Proverbs 11:1-5

January 11;  Proverbs 11, Verses 1-5

[Please note: The first two paragraphs below are repeated each day for new readers.  My amateur comments start below the verses from Proverbs.]

Christians looking for a simple way to review the Bible regularly, have long been convenienced by the fact that the book of Proverbs has 31 chapters, the same number as most of our months.  Each chapter includes multiple bite-sized verses (uhm, proverbs) and can be read through simply in one sitting, one appropriately numbered chapter per day through the month.  My simple mind balks at the idea of trying this pattern in any month with less than 31 days  (It just does, all right?), but there are 7 months every year that are suitable for the effort.

My idea here is to reprint about 1/7 of the verses of each day's chapter throughout this year, every time a 31 day month pops up, and offer a few comments from The Barking Owl.  So in January, we will get through the first few verses of every chapter and then in March, the next group, so that by the time December comes around we can finally get to the last set of verses in each chapter and complete the book's reading.  If you are smarter than I am (is there any doubt?), you will read the whole chapter every day, every 31 day month, and then you will have read the whole book 7 times this year!  By then you are guaranteed to be wiser than The Barking Owl at least, though no one will ever match the wisdom of Solomon!

[All Bible passages are from the NIV, and are copied from www.Biblegateway.com]

Proverbs 11

¹ The LORD detests dishonest scales,
   but accurate weights find favor with him.

 ² When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
   but with humility comes wisdom.

 ³ The integrity of the upright guides them,
   but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

 ⁴ Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
   but righteousness delivers from death.

 ⁵ The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,
   but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.

1) 'Dishonest scales'.  It's not enough for God to say 'be honest'.  He knows where we live and how we live:  In the nitty gritty details which offer so many simple temptations.  A thumb on the scale may 'earn' the butcher only a few extra cents, but God knows this is what kills the spirit.  Yes, the dishonest scale would cheat the customer, but the cheating of a customer cheats the butcher (or whoever is cooking the books, as it were) of his relationship with God, and God of His relationship with the cheater.

2) How many times in the Bible does God relay this same message?  You may know it best by "Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall, which we will get to, by the way, on July 16th!

3) Why not be straightforward?  The more we connive and scheme, the more we get caught up and tangled in our own lies.  Life is so much simpler when the only question one must answer is "What is the right thing to do?".  Instead of recognizing that the right thing is uncomfortable and then plotting to simulate the right thing, or imagining how to excuse the wrong thing, we should just go ahead and simply be guided by integrity.  Duplicity leads to destruction, Solomon says!

4) With the possible exception of a well placed money clip, no wealth has ever stopped a vengeful bullet.  Maybe a blackmailer's bullet, but wrath is just plain wrathful , and it can not be bought off.  I don't think the abuser referred to in this song could have bought off Miranda Lambert! But more to the point; nothing we save or own or collect or have will impinge on the just wrath of God.  Only the righteous, wearing the white robe granted by the Savior, through grace, will be delivered.

5) Who are 'the blameless'?  Well, there are none.  Isaiah 64:6 says that

"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away."

Christ takes the blame for us, and only in receiving that gift do we become blameless.  Then, according to verse 5 we become righteous, and walk on a straight path!