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?
Showing posts with label shame. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shame. Show all posts
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Saturday, May 5, 2012
The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting May 5th on Proverbs 5:7-10
[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!)
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 7-10. Today's inspired verses are in red, and my comments are neither (neither inspired, nor red).
PROVERBS 5
Warning Against Adultery
1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom,
turn your ear to my words of insight,
2 that you may maintain discretion
and your lips may preserve knowledge.
3 For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil;
4 but in the end she is bitter as gall,
sharp as a double-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death;
her steps lead straight to the grave.
6 She gives no thought to the way of life;
her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.
7 Now then, my sons, listen to me;
do not turn aside from what I say.
7) Why does Solomon keep nagging about this simple point? Or, why does he have to keep repeating himself? Or, why don't the durn kids listen already?! It's enough to make one keep repeating oneself! If you re-read the section above verse 7 (and it's a great idea to read the whole chapter corresponding with the date of the day), you will remember the dire nature of the subject here. Solomon wants to protect his sons from nothing less than a bitter, sharp sworded path to a metaphorical grave. Death by adultery.
8 Keep to a path far from her,
do not go near the door of her house,
8) As with any temptation, we are reminded that even going close to the beginning of the edge of the start of thinking about entering into the outside perimeter of the cusp of sin's outside margins...is dangerous.
9 lest you lose your honor to others
and your dignity to one who is cruel,
9) Among the things you can lose in this situation are your honor and your dignity. These may be the last things a lustful man has on his mind, but the first things to go when the door opens and he is caught with his pants around his ankles, or a video is taken secretly and seen by his church friends, and laughed about among his children's classmates! THEN he will vainly wish for the days when he did have some of those long lost treasures: honor and dignity.
10 lest strangers feast on your wealth
and your toil enrich the house of another.
10) And then there's the possibility of lawsuits and blackmail. Or even "just" being divorced with good grounds, and losing every thing ever gained to "another".
Death by adultery.
11 At the end of your life you will groan,
when your flesh and body are spent.
12 You will say, “How I hated discipline!
How my heart spurned correction!
13 I would not obey my teachers
or turn my ear to my instructors.
14 And I was soon in serious trouble
in the assembly of God’s people.”
15 Drink water from your own cistern,
running water from your own well.
16 Should your springs overflow in the streets,
your streams of water in the public squares?
17 Let them be yours alone,
never to be shared with strangers.
18 May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 A loving doe, a graceful deer —
may her breasts satisfy you always,
may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
20 Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?
Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?
21 For your ways are in full view of the Lord,
and he examines all your paths.
22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;
the cords of their sins hold them fast.
23 For lack of discipline they will die,
led astray by their own great folly.
Thanks for stopping by today!
By the way...MILLERWRITES copy is COPYRIGHTED. Why cut and paste when you can simply copy the link?
Sunday, March 25, 2012
The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting March 25th on Proverbs 25:6-8
March 25th? Read Proverbs 25!
More Proverbs of Solomon
7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
What you have seen with your eyes
8 do not bring[a] hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
if your neighbor puts you to shame?
[Please note: The first two paragraphs below are repeated each day for new readers. My amateur comments are offered below each of today's verses from Proverbs.]
Have you ever noticed that, as most months have 31 days, so the Book of Proverbs has 31 chapters? Fascinating right? Well, it is at least interesting, and coincidentally beneficial to those who would like to read a portion of thought provoking scripture every day of the month. You might like to read the calendar coordinated chapter from Proverbs every day this month (I've included the whole chapter below!) and then see if my comments on a few of those verses line up with your own observations. My plan is to go through the year, writing my response to about one seventh of each chapter's verses every day, during each of the 7 months that have 31 days. Clear as mud? That's what I thought.
I hope you check in, and leave a comment. Especially if I say something really off base and need to be corrected, because, as we will learn this month on the 27th, Proverbs 27:5 says
Proverbs 25
Have you ever noticed that, as most months have 31 days, so the Book of Proverbs has 31 chapters? Fascinating right? Well, it is at least interesting, and coincidentally beneficial to those who would like to read a portion of thought provoking scripture every day of the month. You might like to read the calendar coordinated chapter from Proverbs every day this month (I've included the whole chapter below!) and then see if my comments on a few of those verses line up with your own observations. My plan is to go through the year, writing my response to about one seventh of each chapter's verses every day, during each of the 7 months that have 31 days. Clear as mud? That's what I thought.
I hope you check in, and leave a comment. Especially if I say something really off base and need to be corrected, because, as we will learn this month on the 27th, Proverbs 27:5 says
"Better is open rebuke than hidden love."
Today's inspired verses, 6-8, are highlighted in red
(and my questionable comments are in blue).Proverbs 25
More Proverbs of Solomon
1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4 Remove the dross from the silver,
and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
5 remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,
and his throne will be established through righteousness.
6 Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
and do not claim a place among his great men;
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4 Remove the dross from the silver,
and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
5 remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,
and his throne will be established through righteousness.
6 Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
and do not claim a place among his great men;
6) Perhaps we should get the idea that we should not 'exalt ourselves' in anybody's presence! But if we try to strut our feathers in front of the wrong person, someone in authority, we are likely to end up highly embarrassed, if only because a king, or a boss, can implement what other's only hope to do to a braggart.
7 it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”
than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.
than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.
7) I like to think about Jesus growing up as a Jewish boy reading these very proverbs. And then as a young man, a student of the scriptures, delving deeper and deeper into all the existing Word of God (the Old Testament). And then during His mere 3 teaching years, Jesus would sometimes rephrase this commonly shared 'media' of the day to reiterate its truths and emphasize what He wanted.
For Solomon, it came naturally to analyze the goings on in his every day kingly world. Jesus used a different setting, one more understood by the common folk he dealt with in His blue collar world as a carpenter, to teach the same principal, in Luke 14:7-11.
7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
We have a God who not only wants us to be freed from our burden of sin and be saved for eternity (!), but He cares enough to advise us on how to avoid the just plain awful feeling of being humiliated in public! And Jesus makes the lesson universally applicable by tacking on the immutable truth in verse 11.
What you have seen with your eyes
8 do not bring[a] hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
if your neighbor puts you to shame?
[It seems here that someone assigned the verse number in an unnatural place. Did you know that the chapter and verse designations were never part of the inspired work? These are simply tools applied to God's work by men for our benefit.]
Can you imagine thinking you saw what you thought you saw that neighbor you despise doing, and calling 911 to get him in trouble and then when you get in the witness stand and you think you're about to put him under for good and it turns out that what you thought you think he did was just the opposite and now you are actually testifying to your own shame? {Can you imagine making sense of that long question?} So again we see that haste makes waste.
9 If you take your neighbor to court,
do not betray another’s confidence,
10 or the one who hears it may shame you
and the charge against you will stand.
11 Like apples[b] of gold in settings of silver
is a ruling rightly given.
12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.
13 Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
he refreshes the spirit of his master.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
is one who boasts of gifts never given.
15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16 If you find honey, eat just enough—
too much of it, and you will vomit.
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—
too much of you, and they will hate you.
18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
20 Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
or like vinegar poured on a wound,
is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the LORD will reward you.
23 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.
24 Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25 Like cold water to a weary soul
is good news from a distant land.
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
are the righteous who give way to the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat too much honey,
nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.
28 Like a city whose walls are broken through
is a person who lacks self-control.
Footnotes:
Proverbs 25:8 Or nobles / on whom you had set your eyes. / Do not go
Proverbs 25:11 Or possibly apricots
9 If you take your neighbor to court,
do not betray another’s confidence,
10 or the one who hears it may shame you
and the charge against you will stand.
11 Like apples[b] of gold in settings of silver
is a ruling rightly given.
12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.
13 Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
he refreshes the spirit of his master.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
is one who boasts of gifts never given.
15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16 If you find honey, eat just enough—
too much of it, and you will vomit.
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—
too much of you, and they will hate you.
18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
20 Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
or like vinegar poured on a wound,
is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the LORD will reward you.
23 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.
24 Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25 Like cold water to a weary soul
is good news from a distant land.
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
are the righteous who give way to the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat too much honey,
nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.
28 Like a city whose walls are broken through
is a person who lacks self-control.
Footnotes:
Proverbs 25:8 Or nobles / on whom you had set your eyes. / Do not go
Proverbs 25:11 Or possibly apricots
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting March 13th on Proverbs 13:4-7
March 13th? Read Proverbs 13!
[Please note: The first two paragraphs below are repeated each day for new readers. My amateur comments are offered below each of today's verses from Proverbs.]
Have you ever noticed that, like most months have 31 days, the Book of Proverbs has 31 chapters? Fascinating right? Well, it is at least interesting, and coincidentally beneficial to those who would like to read a portion of thought provoking scripture every day of the month. You might like to read the calendar coordinated chapter from Proverbs every day this month (I've included the whole chapter below!) and then see if my comments on a few of those verses line up with your own observations. My plan is to go through the year, writing my response to about one seventh of each chapter's verses every day, during each of the 7 months that have 31 days. Clear as mud? That's what I thought.
I hope you check in, and leave a comment. Especially if I say something really off base and need to be corrected, because, as we will learn this month on the 27th, Proverbs 27:5 says "Better is open rebuke than hidden love."
Today's inspired verses, 4-7, are highlighted in red (and my questionable comments are in blue).
[Please note: The first two paragraphs below are repeated each day for new readers. My amateur comments are offered below each of today's verses from Proverbs.]
Have you ever noticed that, like most months have 31 days, the Book of Proverbs has 31 chapters? Fascinating right? Well, it is at least interesting, and coincidentally beneficial to those who would like to read a portion of thought provoking scripture every day of the month. You might like to read the calendar coordinated chapter from Proverbs every day this month (I've included the whole chapter below!) and then see if my comments on a few of those verses line up with your own observations. My plan is to go through the year, writing my response to about one seventh of each chapter's verses every day, during each of the 7 months that have 31 days. Clear as mud? That's what I thought.
I hope you check in, and leave a comment. Especially if I say something really off base and need to be corrected, because, as we will learn this month on the 27th, Proverbs 27:5 says
Have you ever noticed that, like most months have 31 days, the Book of Proverbs has 31 chapters? Fascinating right? Well, it is at least interesting, and coincidentally beneficial to those who would like to read a portion of thought provoking scripture every day of the month. You might like to read the calendar coordinated chapter from Proverbs every day this month (I've included the whole chapter below!) and then see if my comments on a few of those verses line up with your own observations. My plan is to go through the year, writing my response to about one seventh of each chapter's verses every day, during each of the 7 months that have 31 days. Clear as mud? That's what I thought.
I hope you check in, and leave a comment. Especially if I say something really off base and need to be corrected, because, as we will learn this month on the 27th, Proverbs 27:5 says
"Better is open rebuke than hidden love."
Today's inspired verses, 4-7, are highlighted in red
(and my questionable comments are in blue).
Proverbs 13
1 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.
2 From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things,
but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.
3 Those who guard their lips preserve their lives,
but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.
4 A sluggard’s appetite is never filled,
but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
4) A sluggard has plenty of time to sit (or lay) and think about all the things he wants. Did you ever sit too long with a department store catalog, or even a weekly flyer from the home improvement store? All of a sudden you find yourself craving things you never even knew you wanted! My downfall is Menards. So I decided not to even look at all the cool stuff I could add to my home, or the great tools I've been barely doing without, until I am actually planning a project, and have the cash available to go make the purchase.
The diligent, on the other hand, brings his desires to fruition by, guess what; doing the work! Then he is satisfied with the job being done, and rewarded in his spirit by the positive feeling of accomplishment. This is how we are made.
5 The righteous hate what is false,
but the wicked make themselves a stench
and bring shame on themselves.
5) There are so many lies thrown at us every day. The "father of lies" (Satan) has many deceitful strategies. I think that one of them is to overwhelm objections to deception by the numbers. One lie can be resisted simply, by revealing the truth through testimony or evidence. Three dozen lies at once, and the resistor gets weary and is discouraged as he begins to look like a whiner.
The good news here as that in God's economy, there really is no such thing as the perfect crime. One slip up exposes the offense and the whole house of cards collapses with a crash of shame.
6 Righteousness guards the person of integrity,
but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
6) Thankfully, this righteousness is a gift from God. Only Christ is truly righteous, but He shares, or bestows His righteousness on those who trust their lives to Him. One of the ways it "guards the person of integrity" is by covering him. God sees the forgiveness through Christ in that robe, instead of the original wickedness that would otherwise see the sinner "overthrown".
7 One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
7) "The Prince and the Pauper" story comes to mind. The bored young king and the honest pauper somehow find that they are look-a-likes and trade places. All kinds of mischief ensues as they each discover the intricacies of the other's world. The proverb today though, I think, is referring to the pride of man.
Sometimes a poorer person is so jealous of, and embarrassed by his well to do neighbors that he tries to put on a show of keeping up. He has a double mortgage and deals with collection calls all day and night, but he sure looks like he's doing well!
And sometimes the rich plea for sympathy because their stock collapsed and now they are forced to live (gasp!) on a mere $15,000 per month! While pretending to be so poor, they make themselves miserable because they have to wait until NEXT YEAR to upgrade their yacht.
8 A person’s riches may ransom their life,
but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.
9 The light of the righteous shines brightly,
but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
10 Where there is strife, there is pride,
but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
11 Dishonest money dwindles away,
but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,
but whoever respects a command is rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
turning a person from the snares of death.
15 Good judgment wins favor,
but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.[a]
16 All who are prudent act with[b] knowledge,
but fools expose their folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.
18 Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame,
but whoever heeds correction is honored.
19 A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but fools detest turning from evil.
20 Walk with the wise and become wise,
for a companion of fools suffers harm.
21 Trouble pursues the sinner,
but the righteous are rewarded with good things.
22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children,
but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
23 An unplowed field produces food for the poor,
but injustice sweeps it away.
24 Whoever spares the rod hates their children,
but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.
25 The righteous eat to their hearts’ content,
but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.
Footnotes:
Proverbs 13:15 Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
Proverbs 13:16 Or prudent protect themselves through
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