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Proverbs Chapter Thirty-One

2012-01-31T09:51:00.001-07:00

(audio coming soon)

Chapter 30

The Words of Agur

1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle . The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
2 Surely I am more stupid than any man, And I do not have the understanding of a man.
3 Neither have I learned wisdom, Nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son's name? Surely you know!
5 Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
6 Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.
7 Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse me before I die:
8 Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion,
9 That I not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the Lord?" Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God.
10 Do not slander a slave to his master, Or he will curse you and you will be found guilty.
11 There is a kind of man who curses his father And does not bless his mother.
12 There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes, Yet is not washed from his filthiness.
13 There is a kind —oh how lofty are his eyes! And his eyelids are raised in arrogance.
14 There is a kind of man whose teeth are like swords And his jaw teeth like knives, To devour the afflicted from the earth And the needy from among men.
15 The leech has two daughters, "Give," "Give." There are three things that will not be satisfied, Four that will not say, "Enough":
16 Sheol , and the barren womb, Earth that is never satisfied with water, And fire that never says, "Enough."
17 The eye that mocks a father And scorns a mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it.
18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Four which I do not understand:
19 The way of an eagle in the sky, The way of a serpent on a rock, The way of a ship in the middle of the sea, And the way of a man with a maid.
20 This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, "I have done no wrong."
21 Under three things the earth quakes, And under four, it cannot bear up:
22 Under a slave when he becomes king, And a fool when he is satisfied with food,
23 Under an unloved woman when she gets a husband, And a maidservant when she supplants her mistress.
24 Four things are small on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:
25 The ants are not a strong people, But they prepare their food in the summer;
26 The shephanim are not mighty people, Yet they make their houses in the rocks;
27 The locusts have no king, Yet all of them go out in ranks;
28 The lizard you may grasp with the hands, Yet it is in kings' palaces.
29 There are three things which are stately in their march, Even four which are stately when they walk:
30 The lion which is mighty among beasts And does not retreat before any,
31 The strutting rooster, the male goat also, And a king when his army is with him.
32 If you have been foolish in exalting yourself Or if you have plotted evil, put your hand on your mouth.
33 For the churning of milk produces butter, And pressing the nose brings forth blood; So the churning of anger produces strife.

Prov 30:1-33 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Thirty

2012-01-31T09:50:00.005-07:00

(audio coming soon)

Chapter 30

The Words of Agur

Prov 30:1-33 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Twenty-Nine

2012-01-31T09:50:00.002-07:00

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Chapter 29

Warnings and Instructions

1 A man who hardens his neck after much reproof Will suddenly be broken beyond remedy.
2 When the righteous increase , the people rejoice, But when a wicked man rules, people groan.
3 A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad, But he who keeps company with harlots wastes his wealth.
4 The king gives stability to the land by justice, But a man who takes bribes overthrows it.
5 A man who flatters his neighbor Is spreading a net for his steps.
6 By transgression an evil man is ensnared, But the righteous sings and rejoices.
7 The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor, The wicked does not understand such concern .
8 Scorners set a city aflame, But wise men turn away anger.
9 When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.
10 Men of bloodshed hate the blameless, But the upright are concerned for his life.
11 A fool always loses his temper, But a wise man holds it back.
12 If a ruler pays attention to falsehood, All his ministers become wicked.
13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The Lord gives light to the eyes of both.
14 If a king judges the poor with truth, His throne will be established forever.
15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.
16 When the wicked increase , transgression increases; But the righteous will see their fall.
17 Correct your son, and he will give you comfort; He will also delight your soul.
18 Where there is no vision , the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.
19 A slave will not be instructed by words alone; For though he understands, there will be no response.
20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 He who pampers his slave from childhood Will in the end find him to be a son.
22 An angry man stirs up strife, And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
23 A man's pride will bring him low, But a humble spirit will obtain honor.
24 He who is a partner with a thief hates his own life; He hears the oath but tells nothing.
25 The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.
26 Many seek the ruler's favor , But justice for man comes from the Lord.
27 An unjust man is abominable to the righteous, And he who is upright in the way is abominable to the wicked.

Prov 29:1-27 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Twenty-Eight

2012-01-31T09:49:00.002-07:00

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Chapter 28

Warnings and Instructions

1 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, But the righteous are bold as a lion.
2 By the transgression of a land many are its princes, But by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.
3 A poor man who oppresses the lowly Is like a driving rain which leaves no food.
4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But those who keep the law strive with them.
5 Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the Lord understand all things.
6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than he who is crooked though he be rich.
7 He who keeps the law is a discerning son, But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.
8 He who increases his wealth by interest and usury Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor.
9 He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.
10 He who leads the upright astray in an evil way Will himself fall into his own pit, But the blameless will inherit good.
11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding sees through him.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
14 How blessed is the man who fears always, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
15 Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear Is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding, But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
17 A man who is laden with the guilt of human blood Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him.
18 He who walks blamelessly will be delivered, But he who is crooked will fall all at once.
19 He who tills his land will have plenty of food, But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.
21 To show partiality is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.
22 A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth And does not know that want will come upon him.
23 He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor Than he who flatters with the tongue.
24 He who robs his father or his mother And says, "It is not a transgression," Is the companion of a man who destroys.
25 An arrogant man stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the Lord will prosper .
26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered.
27 He who gives to the poor will never want, But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.
28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.

Prov 28:1-28 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Twenty-Seven

2012-01-31T09:48:00.004-07:00

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Chapter 27

Warnings and Instructions

1 Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.
2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.
3 A stone is heavy and the sand weighty, But the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.
4 Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, But who can stand before jealousy?
5 Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.
7 A sated man loathes honey, But to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet.
8 Like a bird that wanders from her nest, So is a man who wanders from his home .
9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad, So a man 's counsel is sweet to his friend.
10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend, And do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.
11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, That I may reply to him who reproaches me.
12 A prudent man sees evil and hides himself, The naive proceed and pay the penalty.
13 Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; And for an adulterous woman hold him in pledge.
14 He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, It will be reckoned a curse to him.
15 A constant dripping on a day of steady rain And a contentious woman are alike;
16 He who would restrain her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand.
17 Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.
18 He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit, And he who cares for his master will be honored.
19 As in water face reflects face, So the heart of man reflects man.
20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, Nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied.
21 The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, And each is tested by the praise accorded him.
22 Though you pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, Yet his foolishness will not depart from him.
23 Know well the condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds;
24 For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations.
25 When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,
26 The lambs will be for your clothing, And the goats will bring the price of a field,
27 And there will be goats' milk enough for your food, For the food of your household, And sustenance for your maidens.

Prov 27:1-27 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Twenty-Six

2012-01-31T09:48:00.001-07:00

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Chapter 26

Similitudes, Instructions

1 Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 Like a sparrow in its flitting , like a swallow in its flying, So a curse without cause does not alight .
3 A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the back of fools.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him.
5 Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes.
6 He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence Who sends a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Like the legs which are useless to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like one who binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds everyone, So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.
11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square!"
14 As the door turns on its hinges, So does the sluggard on his bed.
15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can give a discreet answer.
17 Like one who takes a dog by the ears Is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him.
18 Like a madman who throws Firebrands, arrows and death,
19 So is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, "Was I not joking?"
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.
21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
23 Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross Are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 He who hates disguises it with his lips, But he lays up deceit in his heart .
25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Though his hatred covers itself with guile, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.
27 He who digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin.

Prov 26:1-28 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Twenty-Five

2012-01-31T09:47:00.003-07:00

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Chapter 25

Similitudes, Instructions

1 These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3 As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, And there comes out a vessel for the smith;
5 Take away the wicked before the king, And his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Do not claim honor in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of great men;
7 For it is better that it be said to you, "Come up here," Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen.
8 Do not go out hastily to argue your case; Otherwise , what will you do in the end, When your neighbor humiliates you?
9 Argue your case with your neighbor, And do not reveal the secret of another,
10 Or he who hears it will reproach you, And the evil report about you will not pass away.
11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances.
12 Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold Is a wise reprover to a listening ear.
13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain Is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely.
15 By forbearance a ruler may be persuaded, And a soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Have you found honey? Eat only what you need, That you not have it in excess and vomit it.
17 Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor's house, Or he will become weary of you and hate you.
18 Like a club and a sword and a sharp arrow Is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
19 Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot Is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.
20 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda , Is he who sings songs to a troubled heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For you will heap burning coals on his head, And the Lord will reward you.
23 The north wind brings forth rain, And a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.
24 It is better to live in a corner of the roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
25 Like cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a distant land.
26 Like a trampled spring and a polluted well Is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey, Nor is it glory to search out one 's own glory.
28 Like a city that is broken into and without walls Is a man who has no control over his spirit.

Prov 25:1-28 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Twenty-Four

2012-01-31T09:46:00.002-07:00

(audio coming soon)

Chapter 24

Precepts and Warnings

1 Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them;
2 For their minds devise violence, And their lips talk of trouble.
3 By wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established;
4 And by knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A wise man is strong , And a man of knowledge increases power.
6 For by wise guidance you will wage war, And in abundance of counselors there is victory.
7 Wisdom is too exalted for a fool, He does not open his mouth in the gate.
8 One who plans to do evil, Men will call a schemer .
9 The devising of folly is sin, And the scoffer is an abomination to men.
10 If you are slack in the day of distress, Your strength is limited.
11 Deliver those who are being taken away to death, And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back.
12 If you say, "See, we did not know this," Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?
13 My son, eat honey, for it is good, Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste;
14 Know that wisdom is thus for your soul; If you find it, then there will be a future , And your hope will not be cut off.
15 Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; Do not destroy his resting place;
16 For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.
17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
18 Or the Lord will see it and be displeased, And turn His anger away from him.
19 Do not fret because of evildoers Or be envious of the wicked;
20 For there will be no future for the evil man; The lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21 My son, fear the Lord and the king; Do not associate with those who are given to change,
22 For their calamity will rise suddenly, And who knows the ruin that comes from both of them?
23 These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous," Peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him;
25 But to those who rebuke the wicked will be delight, And a good blessing will come upon them.
26 He kisses the lips Who gives a right answer.
27 Prepare your work outside And make it ready for yourself in the field; Afterwards, then, build your house.
28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, And do not deceive with your lips.
29 Do not say, "Thus I shall do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work."
30 I passed by the field of the sluggard And by the vineyard of the man lacking sense ,
31 And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; Its surface was covered with nettles , And its stone wall was broken down.
32 When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction.
33 "A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest,"
34 Then your poverty will come as a robber And your want like an armed man.

Prov 24:1-34 (NASB)

Open Letter

2012-01-23T16:29:00.000-07:00

An open letter to the Lord's church who gathers at 1144 Columbia Lane, Provo, UT
January 23, 2012
c/o Russ Robinson

To all the saints who gather at the First Baptist Church, Provo, Utah, I greet you from my home in Twin Falls, Idaho. I thank the Lord for the moments of pleasant fellowship with you. I'm thankful to the Lord for the invitation from your pastor to gather with you on this past Lord's day, January 22, 2012. I found your hospitality genuine and sincere. I simply want to thank you and encourage you to always test yourself against the plumb-line as you move forward the banner of the gospel.

I found it a great joy to pray for you this morning (1/23/2012) as I reflected on meeting you. I am confident that your desire to herald the gospel to the nations will be filled with joy. It is good that the joy you will taste is not your goal, otherwise you may be distracted when hardship comes your way, heartache grips your inner being, or the reproach you will bear as you forward the gospel banner. Always make the declaration of the gospel of our great and awesome Lord your goal. We are far too easily distracted and may likely even misdirect people in our attempts to lead them to the cross.

I was touched by your vast engagement of missional endeavors and will listen for updates as you go beyond the gates (Hebrews 13:13) where our beloved Savior is. I will pray for you often. I will count it a joy, a joy that comes as a result of obedience, to know you and to be in fellowship with you again if the Lord would allow.

Remind your leaders often of how you are grateful to the Lord for them and their families. Our Lord has blessed you with a pastor who humbly loves our God. The moments I had in the home of your pastor and his family were so peaceful. I was blessed to participate in their family worship time on Saturday night. It was both humbling and powerful to witness that moment. Imitate his faith (Hebrews 13:7).

You must remain in discipline and fit for the duty as the banner moves forward. This is not something that happens accidentally, it happens with purpose and it is essential. It is Robert F. Horton, in his 1903 missionary review of the world, who claims that the church 'can know nothing of barracks or of winter quarters, for its purpose is to move on, and always on, until the message is delivered to all nations' and that this gospel banner is the 'common property' of all nations. Resist the strange teachings of our day (Hebrews 13:9) that will tempt you to plant the banner in the rearguard, settle for peace and safety, and quickly fall into disarray. Keep the shout of the King in your midst. Keep on the advance!

Until this Gospel is the common property of all men, may you be found with the scars of war, bearing the reproach of our Lord, with joy.

Until that day,

Paul Thompson

Proverbs Chapter Twenty-Three

2012-01-19T18:18:00.002-07:00

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CHAPTER 23

On Life and Conduct

1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler, Consider carefully what is before you,
2 And put a knife to your throat If you are a man of great appetite.
3 Do not desire his delicacies, For it is deceptive food.
4 Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, Cease from your consideration of it.
5 When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.
6 Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, Or desire his delicacies;
7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, "Eat and drink!" But his heart is not with you.
8 You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten, And waste your compliments .
9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Do not move the ancient boundary Or go into the fields of the fatherless,
11 For their Redeemer is strong; He will plead their case against you.
12 Apply your heart to discipline And your ears to words of knowledge.
13 Do not hold back discipline from the child, Although you strike him with the rod, he will not die.
14 You shall strike him with the rod And rescue his soul from Sheol.
15 My son, if your heart is wise, My own heart also will be glad;
16 And my inmost being will rejoice When your lips speak what is right.
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, But live in the fear of the LORD always .
18 Surely there is a future , And your hope will not be cut off.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, And direct your heart in the way.
20 Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;
21 For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe one with rags.
22 Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Buy truth, and do not sell it, Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, And he who sires a wise son will be glad in him.
25 Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her rejoice who gave birth to you.
26 Give me your heart, my son, And let your eyes delight in my ways.
27 For a harlot is a deep pit And an adulterous woman is a narrow well.
28 Surely she lurks as a robber, And increases the faithless among men.
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?
30 Those who linger long over wine, Those who go to taste mixed wine.
31 Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly;
32 At the last it bites like a serpent And stings like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange things And your mind will utter perverse things.
34 And you will be like one who lies down in the middle of the sea, Or like one who lies down on the top of a mast .
35 "They struck me, but I did not become ill ; They beat me, but I did not know it. When shall I awake? I will seek another drink."

Prov 23:1-35 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Twenty-Two

2012-01-19T18:16:00.002-07:00

(audio coming soon)

CHAPTER 22

On Life and Conduct

1 A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor have a common bond, The LORD is the maker of them all.
3 The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, But the naive go on, and are punished for it.
4 The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches, honor and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards himself will be far from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender's slave.
8 He who sows iniquity will reap vanity, And the rod of his fury will perish.
9 He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor.
10 Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out, Even strife and dishonor will cease.
11 He who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend.
12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the treacherous man.
13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!"
14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; He who is cursed of the LORD will fall into it.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.
16 He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.
17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge;
18 For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, That they may be ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in the LORD, I have taught you today, even you.
20 Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,
21 To make you know the certainty of the words of truth That you may correctly answer him who sent you?
22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Or crush the afflicted at the gate;
23 For the LORD will plead their case And take the life of those who rob them.
24 Do not associate with a man given to anger; Or go with a hot-tempered man,
25 Or you will learn his ways And find a snare for yourself.
26 Do not be among those who give pledges , Among those who become guarantors for debts.
27 If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take your bed from under you?
28 Do not move the ancient boundary Which your fathers have set.
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.

Prov 22:1-29 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Twenty-One

2012-01-19T18:15:00.001-07:00

(audio coming soon)

CHAPTER 21

On Life and Conduct

1 The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.
2 Every man's way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts.
3 To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the LORD more than sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is sin.
5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.
6 The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue Is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.
7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away, Because they refuse to act with justice.
8 The way of a guilty man is crooked, But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
9 It is better to live in a corner of a roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 When the scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 The righteous one considers the house of the wicked, Turning the wicked to ruin.
13 He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be answered.
14 A gift in secret subdues anger, And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.
15 The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous, But is terror to the workers of iniquity.
16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding Will rest in the assembly of the dead .
17 He who loves pleasure will become a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, And the treacherous is in the place of the upright.
19 It is better to live in a desert land Than with a contentious and vexing woman.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man swallows it up.
21 He who pursues righteousness and loyalty Finds life, righteousness and honor.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.
24 "Proud," "Haughty," "Scoffer," are his names, Who acts with insolent pride.
25 The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, For his hands refuse to work;
26 All day long he is craving, While the righteous gives and does not hold back.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, How much more when he brings it with evil intent!
28 A false witness will perish, But the man who listens to the truth will speak forever.
29 A wicked man displays a bold face, But as for the upright, he makes his way sure.
30 There is no wisdom and no understanding And no counsel against the LORD.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the LORD.

Prov 21:1-31 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Twenty

2012-01-19T18:14:00.003-07:00

(audio coming soon)

CHAPTER 20

On Life and Conduct

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
3 Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, But any fool will quarrel .
4 The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, So he begs during the harvest and has nothing.
5 A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, But a man of understanding draws it out.
6 Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, But who can find a trustworthy man?
7 A righteous man who walks in his integrity— How blessed are his sons after him.
8 A king who sits on the throne of justice Disperses all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, "I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin"?
10 Differing weights and differing measures, Both of them are abominable to the LORD.
11 It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself If his conduct is pure and right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made both of them.
13 Do not love sleep, or you will become poor; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with food .
14 "Bad, bad," says the buyer, But when he goes his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold, and an abundance of jewels ; But the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.
16 Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; And for foreigners, hold him in pledge.
17 Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 Prepare plans by consultation, And make war by wise guidance.
19 He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, Therefore do not associate with a gossip.
20 He who curses his father or his mother, His lamp will go out in time of darkness.
21 An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning Will not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, "I will repay evil"; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.
23 Differing weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a false scale is not good.
24 Man's steps are ordained by the LORD, How then can man understand his way?
25 It is a trap for a man to say rashly, "It is holy!" And after the vows to make inquiry.
26 A wise king winnows the wicked, And drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the innermost parts of his being.
28 Loyalty and truth preserve the king, And he upholds his throne by righteousness .
29 The glory of young men is their strength, And the honor of old men is their gray hair.
30 Stripes that wound scour away evil, And strokes reach the innermost parts.

Prov 20:1-30 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Nineteen

2012-01-19T18:14:00.000-07:00

(audio coming soon)

CHAPTER 19

On Life and Conduct

1 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.
2 Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, And he who hurries his footsteps errs .
3 The foolishness of man ruins his way, And his heart rages against the LORD.
4 Wealth adds many friends, But a poor man is separated from his friend.
5 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will not escape.
6 Many will seek the favor of a generous man, And every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.
7 All the brothers of a poor man hate him; How much more do his friends abandon him! He pursues them with words, but they are gone .
8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will perish.
10 Luxury is not fitting for a fool; Much less for a slave to rule over princes.
11 A man's discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory to overlook a transgression.
12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is like dew on the grass.
13 A foolish son is destruction to his father, And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.
14 House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the LORD.
15 Laziness casts into a deep sleep, And an idle man will suffer hunger.
16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of conduct will die.
17 One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, And He will repay him for his good deed.
18 Discipline your son while there is hope, And do not desire his death.
19 A man of great anger will bear the penalty, For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.
20 Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days.
21 Many plans are in a man's heart, But the counsel of the LORD will stand.
22 What is desirable in a man is his kindness , And it is better to be a poor man than a liar.
23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.
24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, But will not even bring it back to his mouth.
25 Strike a scoffer and the naive may become shrewd, But reprove one who has understanding and he will gain knowledge.
26 He who assaults his father and drives his mother away Is a shameful and disgraceful son.
27 Cease listening, my son, to discipline, And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A rascally witness makes a mockery of justice, And the mouth of the wicked spreads iniquity.
29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And blows for the back of fools.

Prov 19:1-29 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Eighteen

2012-01-19T18:13:00.000-07:00

(audio coming soon)

CHAPTER 18

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

1 He who separates himself seeks his own desire, He quarrels against all sound wisdom.
2 A fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own mind .
3 When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes, And with dishonor comes scorn.
4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 To show partiality to the wicked is not good, Nor to thrust aside the righteous in judgment.
6 A fool's lips bring strife, And his mouth calls for blows.
7 A fool's mouth is his ruin, And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
9 He also who is slack in his work Is brother to him who destroys.
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe .
11 A rich man's wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility goes before honor.
13 He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him.
14 The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, But as for a broken spirit who can bear it?
15 The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A man's gift makes room for him And brings him before great men.
17 The first to plead his case seems right, Until another comes and examines him.
18 The cast lot puts an end to strife And decides between the mighty ones.
19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a citadel.
20 With the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing And obtains favor from the LORD.
23 The poor man utters supplications, But the rich man answers roughly.
24 A man of too many friends comes to ruin , But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Prov 18:1-24 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Seventeen

2012-01-19T18:12:00.000-07:00

(audio coming soon)

CHAPTER 17

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

1 Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it Than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, And will share in the inheritance among brothers.
3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests hearts.
4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5 He who mocks the poor taunts his Maker; He who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of old men, And the glory of sons is their fathers.
7 Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool, Much less are lying lips to a prince.
8 A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers.
9 He who conceals a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.
10 A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding Than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 A rebellious man seeks only evil, So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 He who returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.
15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, When he has no sense?
17 A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man lacking in sense pledges And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.
19 He who loves transgression loves strife; He who raises his door seeks destruction.
20 He who has a crooked mind finds no good, And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.
21 He who sires a fool does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 A wicked man receives a bribe from the bosom To pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father And bitterness to her who bore him.
26 It is also not good to fine the righteous, Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27 He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

Prov 17:1-28 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Sixteen

2012-01-19T18:08:00.002-07:00

(audio coming soon)

CHAPTER 16

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

1 The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the LORD weighs the motives .
3 Commit your works to the LORD And your plans will be established.
4 The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
6 By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil.
7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness Than great income with injustice.
9 The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.
10 A divine decision is in the lips of the king; His mouth should not err in judgment.
11 A just balance and scales belong to the LORD; All the weights of the bag are His concern .
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, For a throne is established on righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And he who speaks right is loved.
14 The fury of a king is like messengers of death, But a wise man will appease it.
15 In the light of a king's face is life, And his favor is like a cloud with the spring rain.
16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who watches his way preserves his life .
18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
19 It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He who gives attention to the word will find good, And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
21 The wise in heart will be called understanding, And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness .
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, But the discipline of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth And adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
26 A worker's appetite works for him, For his hunger urges him on.
27 A worthless man digs up evil, While his words are like scorching fire.
28 A perverse man spreads strife, And a slanderer separates intimate friends.
29 A man of violence entices his neighbor And leads him in a way that is not good.
30 He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things; He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.
31 A gray head is a crown of glory; It is found in the way of righteousness.
32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.

Prov 16:1-33 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Fifteen

2012-01-19T18:06:00.002-07:00

(audio coming soon)

CHAPTER 15

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable , But the mouth of fools spouts folly.
3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Watching the evil and the good.
4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
5 A fool rejects his father's discipline, But he who regards reproof is sensible.
6 Great wealth is in the house of the righteous, But trouble is in the income of the wicked.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, But the hearts of fools are not so.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But He loves one who pursues righteousness.
10 Grievous punishment is for him who forsakes the way; He who hates reproof will die.
11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD, How much more the hearts of men !
12 A scoffer does not love one who reproves him, He will not go to the wise.
13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.
14 The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are bad, But a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16 Better is a little with the fear of the LORD Than great treasure and turmoil with it.
17 Better is a dish of vegetables where love is Than a fattened ox served with hatred.
18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, But the slow to anger calms a dispute.
19 The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns, But the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Folly is joy to him who lacks sense , But a man of understanding walks straight.
22 Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they succeed .
23 A man has joy in an apt answer, And how delightful is a timely word!
24 The path of life leads upward for the wise That he may keep away from Sheol below.
25 The LORD will tear down the house of the proud, But He will establish the boundary of the widow.
26 Evil plans are an abomination to the LORD, But pleasant words are pure.
27 He who profits illicitly troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 Bright eyes gladden the heart; Good news puts fat on the bones.
31 He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof Will dwell among the wise.
32 He who neglects discipline despises himself, But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding .
33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility.

Prov 15:1-33 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Fourteen

2012-01-19T18:06:00.000-07:00

(audio coming soon)

CHAPTER 14

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

1 The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.
2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, But he who is devious in his ways despises Him.
3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back, But the lips of the wise will protect them.
4 Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.
5 A trustworthy witness will not lie, But a false witness utters lies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none, But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.
7 Leave the presence of a fool, Or you will not discern words of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way, But the foolishness of fools is deceit.
9 Fools mock at sin , But among the upright there is good will.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness, And a stranger does not share its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, But the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may be in pain, And the end of joy may be grief.
14 The backslider in heart will have his fill of his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied with his.
15 The naive believes everything, But the sensible man considers his steps.
16 A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, But a fool is arrogant and careless.
17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of evil devices is hated.
18 The naive inherit foolishness, But the sensible are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil will bow down before the good, And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor is hated even by his neighbor, But those who love the rich are many.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins, But happy is he who is gracious to the poor .
22 Will they not go astray who devise evil? But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.
23 In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches, But the folly of fools is foolishness.
25 A truthful witness saves lives, But he who utters lies is treacherous .
26 In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And his children will have refuge.
27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, That one may avoid the snares of death.
28 In a multitude of people is a king's glory, But in the dearth of people is a prince's ruin.
29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who is quick -tempered exalts folly.
30 A tranquil heart is life to the body, But passion is rottenness to the bones.
31 He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
32 The wicked is thrust down by his wrongdoing , But the righteous has a refuge when he dies.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, But in the hearts of fools it is made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 The king's favor is toward a servant who acts wisely, But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.

Prov 14:1-35 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Thirteen

2012-01-19T18:05:00.001-07:00

(audio coming soon)

CHAPTER 13

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

1 A wise son accepts his father's discipline, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of a man's mouth he enjoys good, But the desire of the treacherous is violence.
3 The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat.
5 A righteous man hates falsehood, But a wicked man acts disgustingly and shamefully.
6 Righteousness guards the one whose way is blameless, But wickedness subverts the sinner .
7 There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing; Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man's life is his wealth, But the poor hears no rebuke.
9 The light of the righteous rejoices , But the lamp of the wicked goes out.
10 Through insolence comes nothing but strife, But wisdom is with those who receive counsel.
11 Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, But the one who gathers by labor increases it.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 The one who despises the word will be in debt to it, But the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn aside from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding produces favor, But the way of the treacherous is hard.
16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge, But a fool displays folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into adversity, But a faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline , But he who regards reproof will be honored.
19 Desire realized is sweet to the soul, But it is an abomination to fools to turn away from evil.
20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.
21 Adversity pursues sinners, But the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children 's children, And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
23 Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, But it is swept away by injustice.
24 He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
25 The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, But the stomach of the wicked is in need.

Prov 13:1-25 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Twelve

2012-01-19T18:04:00.002-07:00

(audio coming soon)

CHAPTER 12

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid.
2 A good man will obtain favor from the LORD, But He will condemn a man who devises evil.
3 A man will not be established by wickedness, But the root of the righteous will not be moved.
4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are just, But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.
7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more, But the house of the righteous will stand.
8 A man will be praised according to his insight, But one of perverse mind will be despised.
9 Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant Than he who honors himself and lacks bread.
10 A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
11 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who pursues worthless things lacks sense .
12 The wicked man desires the booty of evil men, But the root of the righteous yields fruit.
13 An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, But the righteous will escape from trouble.
14 A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words , And the deeds of a man's hands will return to him.
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.
16 A fool's anger is known at once, But a prudent man conceals dishonor.
17 He who speaks truth tells what is right, But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips will be established forever, But a lying tongue is only for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy.
21 No harm befalls the righteous, But the wicked are filled with trouble.
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
23 A prudent man conceals knowledge, But the heart of fools proclaims folly.
24 The hand of the diligent will rule, But the slack hand will be put to forced labor.
25 Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.
26 The righteous is a guide to his neighbor, But the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 A lazy man does not roast his prey, But the precious possession of a man is diligence.
28 In the way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway there is no death.

Prov 12:1-28 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Eleven

2012-01-11T00:13:00.000-07:00

(audio coming soon)

CHAPTER 11

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

1 A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight.
2 When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.
4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed.
7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of strong men perishes.
8 The righteous is delivered from trouble, But the wicked takes his place.
9 With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.
12 He who despises his neighbor lacks sense , But a man of understanding keeps silent.
13 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is trustworthy conceals a matter.
14 Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory .
15 He who is guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it, But he who hates being a guarantor is secure.
16 A gracious woman attains honor, And ruthless men attain riches.
17 The merciful man does himself good, But the cruel man does himself harm.
18 The wicked earns deceptive wages, But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward.
19 He who is steadfast in righteousness will attain to life, And he who pursues evil will bring about his own death.
20 The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, But the blameless in their walk are His delight.
21 Assuredly , the evil man will not go unpunished, But the descendants of the righteous will be delivered.
22 As a ring of gold in a swine's snout So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion .
23 The desire of the righteous is only good, But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.
25 The generous man will be prosperous , And he who waters will himself be watered.
26 He who withholds grain, the people will curse him, But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27 He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, But he who seeks evil, evil will come to him.
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.
29 He who troubles his own house will inherit wind, And the foolish will be servant to the wisehearted.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who is wise wins souls.
31 If the righteous will be rewarded in the earth, How much more the wicked and the sinner!

Prov 11:1-31 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Ten

2012-01-11T00:12:00.001-07:00

(audio coming soon)

CHAPTER 10

Contrast of the Righteous and the Wicked

1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish son is a grief to his mother.
2 Ill -gotten gains do not profit, But righteousness delivers from death.
3 The LORD will not allow the righteous to hunger, But He will reject the craving of the wicked.
4 Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
5 He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.
6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
7 The memory of the righteous is blessed, But the name of the wicked will rot.
8 The wise of heart will receive commands, But a babbling fool will be ruined .
9 He who walks in integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will be found out.
10 He who winks the eye causes trouble, And a babbling fool will be ruined .
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.
13 On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found, But a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding .
14 Wise men store up knowledge, But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.
15 The rich man's wealth is his fortress , The ruin of the poor is their poverty.
16 The wages of the righteous is life, The income of the wicked, punishment.
17 He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, But he who ignores reproof goes astray.
18 He who conceals hatred has lying lips, And he who spreads slander is a fool.
19 When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver, The heart of the wicked is worth little.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of understanding .
22 It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich, And He adds no sorrow to it.
23 Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool, And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.
24 What the wicked fears will come upon him, But the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the lazy one to those who send him.
27 The fear of the LORD prolongs life , But the years of the wicked will be shortened.
28 The hope of the righteous is gladness, But the expectation of the wicked perishes.
29 The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the upright, But ruin to the workers of iniquity.
30 The righteous will never be shaken, But the wicked will not dwell in the land.
31 The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom, But the perverted tongue will be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted.

Prov 10:1-32 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Nine

2012-01-11T00:11:00.001-07:00

(audio coming soon)

CHAPTER 9

Wisdom's Invitation

1 Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars;
2 She has prepared her food, she has mixed her wine; She has also set her table;
3 She has sent out her maidens, she calls From the tops of the heights of the city:
4 "Whoever is naive , let him turn in here!" To him who lacks understanding she says,
5 "Come, eat of my food And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 "Forsake your folly and live, And proceed in the way of understanding."
7 He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, Reprove a wise man and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
13 The woman of folly is boisterous, She is naive and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the doorway of her house, On a seat by the high places of the city,
15 Calling to those who pass by, Who are making their paths straight:
16 "Whoever is naive , let him turn in here," And to him who lacks understanding she says,
17 "Stolen water is sweet; And bread eaten in secret is pleasant."
18 But he does not know that the dead are there, That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

Prov 9:1-18 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Eight

2012-01-11T00:10:00.002-07:00

(audio coming soon)

CHAPTER 8

The Commendation of Wisdom

1 Does not wisdom call, And understanding lift up her voice?
2 On top of the heights beside the way, Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 Beside the gates, at the opening to the city, At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:
4 "To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men.
5 "O naive ones, understand prudence; And, O fools, understand wisdom .
6 "Listen, for I will speak noble things; And the opening of my lips will reveal right things.
7 "For my mouth will utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 "All the utterances of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing crooked or perverted in them.
9 "They are all straightforward to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge.
10 "Take my instruction and not silver, And knowledge rather than choicest gold.
11 "For wisdom is better than jewels ; And all desirable things cannot compare with her.
12 "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And I find knowledge and discretion.
13 "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate.
14 "Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.
15 "By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.
16 "By me princes rule, and nobles, All who judge rightly.
17 "I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.
18 "Riches and honor are with me, Enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 "My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold, And my yield better than choicest silver.
20 "I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice,
21 To endow those who love me with wealth, That I may fill their treasuries.
22 "The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old.
23 "From everlasting I was established , From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
24 "When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no springs abounding with water.
25 "Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills I was brought forth;
26 While He had not yet made the earth and the fields , Nor the first dust of the world.
27 "When He established the heavens, I was there, When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When He made firm the skies above, When the springs of the deep became fixed ,
29 When He set for the sea its boundary So that the water would not transgress His command , When He marked out the foundations of the earth;
30 Then I was beside Him, as a master workman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him,
31 Rejoicing in the world, His earth, And having my delight in the sons of men.
32 "Now therefore, O sons, listen to me, For blessed are they who keep my ways.
33 "Heed instruction and be wise, And do not neglect it.
34 "Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts.
35 "For he who finds me finds life And obtains favor from the LORD.
36 "But he who sins against me injures himself; All those who hate me love death."

Prov 8:1-36 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Seven

2012-01-07T15:13:00.004-07:00

(audio coming soon)

CHAPTER 7

The Wiles of the Harlot

1 My son, keep my words And treasure my commandments within you.
2 Keep my commandments and live, And my teaching as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," And call understanding your intimate friend;
5 That they may keep you from an adulteress , From the foreigner who flatters with her words.
6 For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice,
7 And I saw among the naive , And discerned among the youths A young man lacking sense ,
8 Passing through the street near her corner; And he takes the way to her house,
9 In the twilight, in the evening , In the middle of the night and in the darkness.
10 And behold, a woman comes to meet him, Dressed as a harlot and cunning of heart.
11 She is boisterous and rebellious, Her feet do not remain at home;
12 She is now in the streets, now in the squares, And lurks by every corner.
13 So she seizes him and kisses him And with a brazen face she says to him:
14 "I was due to offer peace offerings; Today I have paid my vows.
15 "Therefore I have come out to meet you, To seek your presence earnestly, and I have found you.
16 "I have spread my couch with coverings, With colored linens of Egypt.
17 "I have sprinkled my bed With myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18 "Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with caresses.
19 "For my husband is not at home, He has gone on a long journey;
20 He has taken a bag of money with him, At the full moon he will come home."
21 With her many persuasions she entices him; With her flattering lips she seduces him.
22 Suddenly he follows her As an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool,
23 Until an arrow pierces through his liver; As a bird hastens to the snare, So he does not know that it will cost him his life.
24 Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, And pay attention to the words of my mouth.
25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths.
26 For many are the victims she has cast down, And numerous are all her slain.
27 Her house is the way to Sheol, Descending to the chambers of death.

Prov 7:1-27 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Six

2012-01-07T15:13:00.002-07:00

(audio coming soon)

CHAPTER 6

Parental Counsel

1 My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor, Have given a pledge for a stranger,
2 If you have been snared with the words of your mouth, Have been caught with the words of your mouth,
3 Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself; Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor, Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor.
4 Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids;
5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter's hand And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise,
7 Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler,
8 Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest.
9 How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?
10 "A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest "—
11 Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need like an armed man.
12 A worthless person, a wicked man, Is the one who walks with a perverse mouth,
13 Who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, Who points with his fingers;
14 Who with perversity in his heart continually devises evil, Who spreads strife.
15 Therefore his calamity will come suddenly; Instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing.
16 There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil,
19 A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.
20 My son, observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the teaching of your mother;
21 Bind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk about, they will guide you; When you sleep, they will watch over you; And when you awake, they will talk to you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light; And reproofs for discipline are the way of life
24 To keep you from the evil woman, From the smooth tongue of the adulteress .
25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart, Nor let her capture you with her eyelids.
26 For on account of a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread, And an adulteress hunts for the precious life.
27 Can a man take fire in his bosom And his clothes not be burned?
28 Or can a man walk on hot coals And his feet not be scorched?
29 So is the one who goes in to his neighbor's wife; Whoever touches her will not go unpunished.
30 Men do not despise a thief if he steals To satisfy himself when he is hungry;
31 But when he is found, he must repay sevenfold; He must give all the substance of his house.
32 The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense ; He who would destroy himself does it.
33 Wounds and disgrace he will find, And his reproach will not be blotted out.
34 For jealousy enrages a man, And he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
35 He will not accept any ransom, Nor will he be satisfied though you give many gifts .

Prov 6:1-35 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Five

2012-01-07T15:12:00.002-07:00

(audio coming soon)

CHAPTER 5

Pitfalls of Immorality

1 My son, give attention to my wisdom, Incline your ear to my understanding;
2 That you may observe discretion And your lips may reserve knowledge.
3 For the lips of an adulteress drip honey And smoother than oil is her speech ;
4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death, Her steps take hold of Sheol.
6 She does not ponder the path of life; Her ways are unstable, she does not know it.
7 Now then, my sons, listen to me And do not depart from the words of my mouth.
8 Keep your way far from her And do not go near the door of her house,
9 Or you will give your vigor to others And your years to the cruel one;
10 And strangers will be filled with your strength And your hard-earned goods will go to the house of an alien;
11 And you groan at your final end, When your flesh and your body are consumed;
12 And you say, "How I have hated instruction! And my heart spurned reproof!
13 "I have not listened to the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined my ear to my instructors!
14 "I was almost in utter ruin In the midst of the assembly and congregation."
15 Drink water from your own cistern And fresh water from your own well.
16 Should your springs be dispersed abroad, Streams of water in the streets?
17 Let them be yours alone And not for strangers with you.
18 Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 As a loving hind and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; Be exhilarated always with her love.
20 For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an adulteress And embrace the bosom of a foreigner?
21 For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD, And He watches all his paths.
22 His own iniquities will capture the wicked, And he will be held with the cords of his sin.
23 He will die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.

Prov 5:1-23 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Four

2012-01-04T17:44:00.002-07:00

(audio coming soon)

CHAPTER 4

A Father's Instruction

1 Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding,
2 For I give you sound teaching; Do not abandon my instruction .
3 When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother,
4 Then he taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live;
5 Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 "Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you.
7 "The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding.
8 "Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her.
9 "She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty."
10 Hear, my son, and accept my sayings And the years of your life will be many.
11 I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; And if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble .
20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body.
23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
26 Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established.
27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.

Prov 4:1-27 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Three

2012-01-03T11:08:00.003-07:00

Chapter 3

The Rewards of Wisdom

1 My son, do not forget my teaching , But let your heart keep my commandments;
2 For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you.
3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord from your wealth And from the first of all your produce;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His reproof,
12 For whom the Lord loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding.
14 For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels ; And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways And all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast.
19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth, By understanding He established the heavens.
20 By His knowledge the deeps were broken up And the skies drip with dew.
21 My son, let them not vanish from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 So they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck.
23 Then you will walk in your way securely And your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;
26 For the Lord will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it," When you have it with you.
29 Do not devise harm against your neighbor, While he lives securely beside you.
30 Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways.
32 For the devious are an abomination to the Lord; But He is intimate with the upright.
33 The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34 Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.
35 The wise will inherit honor, But fools display dishonor.

Prov 3:1-35 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter Two

2012-01-02T13:44:00.001-07:00

CHAPTER 2

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

1 My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you,
2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding;
3 For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding;
4 If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8 Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones.
9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
11 Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you,
12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things;
13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness;
14 Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil;
15 Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways;
16 To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words;
17 That leaves the companion of her youth And forgets the covenant of her God;
18 For her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead ;
19 None who go to her return again, Nor do they reach the paths of life.
20 So you will walk in the way of good men 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 treacherous will be uprooted from it.

Prov 2:1-22 (NASB)

Proverbs Chapter One

2012-01-01T15:57:00.001-07:00

CHAPTER 1

The Usefulness of Proverbs

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding,
3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity;
4 To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion,
5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The Enticement of Sinners

8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction And do not forsake your mother's teaching;
9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.
11 If they say, "Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause;
12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit;
13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil;
14 Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,"
15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path,
16 For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood.
17 Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird;
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives.
19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors.

Wisdom Warns

20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square;
21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings:
22 "How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge?
23 "Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.
24 "Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;
25 And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof;
26 I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes,
27 When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.
28 "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me,
29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD.
30 "They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof.
31 "So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices.
32 "For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 "But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil."

Prov 1:1-33 (NASB)

...To Grandmother's House We Go...

2011-12-21T13:21:00.000-07:00

My childhood memories of Christmas are filled with humble gatherings in Colorado or long distance travels to visit relatives. It is those long distance travels that put a curious smile on my face. I remember the traditional stops, holding my breath through the tunnels (and other unmentionable reasons) and the long anticipated landmarks that we must be nearing grandma's house. Some of these memories happen by accident and some of them happen with purpose. I want to offer some of the 'on purpose' thoughts for families that may be traveling over the next several days.

These thoughts come from years of experience. Nearly eighteen years experience as an expert traveler from the back seat between both of my brothers. Another eighteen years of lead driver with children in the back seat and twenty-five years of partnered experience with an expert planner and organizer.

**Disclaimer: Even though I offer these tips with years of experience, I take no responsibility if the natives grow weary in the back seat of your attempts to try any of the following.

I will attempt to offer more than the usual travel games of travel bingo, Slug Bug, tracking license plates, counting wind mills and the many other fun games like these. (you should probably hear a slight tone of sarcasm in my voice while reading. If you didn't you should re-read the list I just mentioned and try to hear it. I mean, after a few miles of these games most everybody in the car is asleep anyway and they wouldn't let me count the items I see on my list unless they were awake to verify.) I will offer a few things (that any desperate parent would try) to help keep the natives happy. Obviously some things may not work for small children. But after all, you're a parent, you are an expert at adapting to adverse conditions.

Traveling (Deut. 6:7) is a great time to teach children about living a life that shows honor to God and His desire that all things be done at the best of our abilities and is worship of God in all that we do. I discovered traveling to be a time to teach my sons how to save and spend money. When they were younger I would give each of them a roll of nickles at the start of the journey and instructed them that they could not spend any of those nickles until the trip was over. I further instructed them that each time I had to tell them to "Don't make me pull this car over..." they would have to pay me a nickle. For any offence against our agreed upon family constitution they would have to surrender a nickle. This put the responsibility upon them to behave kindly and pleasantly. I assured them that the nickles didn't represent my love for them, only my expectation on how they would behave. As your children grow older you may have to increase that roll of nickles to dimes or quarters. (But go with the nickles as long as you can, I do.)

As our boys grew older, I would give them their own meal money for the long trips. This helped teach them to budget their money and consider how much food cost. If we stopped at a fast food restaurant they would have to place their own order and pay for their own food from their own food budget. They could order whatever they wanted and as much as they wanted at any place we would stop, but once their budget was spent they would have to watch me eat. I taught them how to order, make eye contact with people when they speak, and saying please and thank you. I enjoyed watching them become more confident when speaking to others, aware of their money, and watching them eventually order off the same dollar menu I did.

I know we live in an amazing day of digital video technology and there are movies to watch and games to be played in the back seats, but consider taking a trip to your public library and check out a handful of books and audio books. An engaging story offers a lot of potential for dialog and discussion. Spend some time downloading several audio books. I will post a some links to some of my favorite sites. Don't be afraid to download some sermons. The outcome may actually surprise you.

Traveling offers many other opportunities to teach. Navigation skills are important to learn, assign someone to be the navigator or co-pilot. Auto maintenance is important to teach, every trip needs a good mechanic to check the oil, fuel the car (most gas stations require licensed drivers to fuel, but that never stopped me from letting them help) check the air pressure on the tires, wash the windshields etc... Every man ought to know how to do those things, but I also made sure my son's never saw their mother open her own car door.

This year it will only be Renee and I making the journey. It's not to grandmother's house this time. This time it's to David's. I will win most of the travel games, Renee will fall asleep within miles of home. We will listen to great stories and some of the best preaching available. I'll have to surrender most of my nickles. I'll still be the chief mechanic, window washer, and tire thumper, but that also means I still get to open the car door for my one true earthly treasure. This will be our twenty-fifth Christmas together.

If you are traveling far or near this Christmas season, take advantage of every opportunity to train your children in the ways of the Lord.

Merry Christmas and Happy New year.

My audio recommendations:
The Holy War by John Bunyan (unabridged: 8 hours long)
The Holy War By John Bunyan (abridged: 1 hour long)
The Coral Island by R.M. Ballantyne (unabridged: 8+ hours)
LivriVox is a great spot to find the classics to download.

Project: Proverbs

2011-12-12T17:48:00.000-07:00

Short Clip from Sunday Night, December 11, 2011 explaining Project: Proverbs
Full Sermon of Sunday Night, December 11, 2011 explaining Project: Proverbs

On December 4, 2011, I introduced the idea of Project: Proverbs to my church family. I have invited my church family to join me, starting on January 1, 2012 on an agressive, one year examination of the book of Proverbs. I have frequently read the book of Proverbs for years. However it is a book that I may have become so familiar with that I have begun to miss it's daily value as I press on toward the prize. It holds treasured text that helps me keep my eyes fixed on the prize and instructions on how to get my eyes back on that prize when I realize they are not fixed there.

It is a commonly practiced discipline by many believers to read a chapter in Proverbs every day of the month. I have done this many times and know the value it is when I do. I want to attempt something with this discipline for the year, 2012. I will attempt to write, in my own handwriting, a chapter of Proverbs every day of the month, for twelve months. Where I have begun the practice of writing out, in my own handwriting, the books that I'm preaching through. I have never practiced this discipline in my own private examination of Scripture. I am excited to begin.

Along side of this discipline in my own private worship of God, I will also be preaching through the book of Proverbs on Sunday nights for the entire year of 2012. (the audio teaching through the book of Proverbs can be found at the Eastside Baptist Church, SermonAudio site, here.)

Permission has been granted from the Lockman Foundation to use the New American Standard Bible as my official text for what I publish on the Eastside Baptist Church website and my blog as an online devotional tool for Project: Proverbs.

With the help of God, I will.

O Come O Come Emanuel

2011-12-12T09:30:00.004-07:00

December 11-18, 2011

Scripture Memory: Matthew 5:1-12

1 When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain ; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2 He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
12 "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (NASB)

Oh, Come, Oh, Come Emmanuel
Translated: John Neal, 1818-66

Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, our Wisdom from on high,
Who ordered all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, oh, come, our Lord of might,
Who to your tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times gave holy law,
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come O Rod of Jesse's stem,
From ev'ry foe deliver them
That trust your mighty pow'r to save;
Bring them in vict'ry through the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, O Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by your drawing nigh,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be yourself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Author: French Processional
Tune: Veni Emmanuel
1st Published in: 1854

Spurgeon's Catechism: Question #6

Q How many persons are there in the Godhead?
A There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one God, the same in essence, equal in power and glory (1Jo 5:7 Mt 28:19).

Get to the Right Road Soonest!

2011-12-07T13:53:00.001-07:00

On December 7, 2011, LifeWay Research released results of a recent survey on the Perceptions of Faith Groups. I would like to express concerns about some of the underlying assumptions behind the survey.

I realize any fool can throw a rock. It was Charles Spurgeon who said, "asking questions are as easy as kissing the back of your hand; to answer them is as hard as fattening a greyhound." It is my attempt here, to fatten the greyhound.

It does not surprise me that the findings of Ed Stetzer are statistically accurate. Yet as a pastor in a Southern Baptist Church, I would be disappointed if Southern Baptists were considered more favorable by Americans than Methodist. The survey needs to better define some terms for me. I want to know what LifeWay Research means when they use the word 'American.' Is this secular America? Is this pagan America? Is this conservative America? Is this a Spirit-led, Bible-believing, God-fearing America? You see, if it is secular, godless, institutionalized America, then I fear that the intention behind the survey and the results themselves will deceive many. Pastors who are slaves to popularity trends and in bondage to cultural acceptance will read the findings of this survey and willingly enslave their passions to a master who demands his servant's obedience. In a day where much of the Church in America are mesmerized by emotionalism or in some sort of zombie (unliving) hypnotic trance of the corporate model for church structure, this survey will only ensure that tragic condition remains the norm. Then another survey will need to be done in about eight years to show how Mormons and Muslims are considered more favorable than Southern Baptist. We may be closer to that reality than not, even today.

When David sinned against the Lord by numbering his military strength (1 Chronicles 21), he was given the opportunity to choose one of three consequences. He told Gad to tell God he was "in great distress." David understood the character of God enough that he would rather "fall into the hand of the LORD" and pleaded that God not let him "fall into the hand of man" because "His mercies are very great." The intent behind this survey reminded me of David’s census.

Further, there is no badge of honor if we as Christians – much less Southern Baptists - rate lower than others if we own that place among the godly. If we own that place because we are stiff-necked and out of sorts with biblical rightness, we must not blindly take pride in our "unpopular" position among those who chase hard after God.

Baptists - and Methodists, Presbyterians, Non-denominationalists – Carry the Gospel banner! It will be viewed as either foolishness or salvation depending on the ear. It may not be popular, but it is as needed, just as it always has been and always will be. To establish a rescue mission within the yard of Hell, you will need a Gospel banner – Not a popular slogan that feeds the idolatrous bent of man to worship himself.

I have two pleas for LifeWay Research:

Give us resources that un-apologetically equip saints for the duty of carrying the Gospel banner to all nations. Make it all about the Gospel, yes, the offensive Gospel. The one where the gates of Hell cannot stand against, and the one that inflames the Enemy’s passions . A popular gospel tickles the ears and damns the soul for eternity.

The right road is difficult,
few want to travel on it,
but get to it!

Employ great discernment when publishing survey results. I am thankful to God for the heritage I have in the decades of Spirit-led, Bible-believing, God-fearing churchmen, known to the world as Southern Baptists. Not because they were Southern Baptists, but because they loved obeying God rather than pursuing friendship and popularity with the world.

Oh Southern Baptists, let us repent and choose the same as David. For God's mercies are very great! Fear not the polls of man. It was C.S. Lewis who said, "If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive." The road paved with surveys will crumble when the Maker of Heaven and Earth shakes your opinion. Read surveys like this with extreme caution. Get to the right road soonest. Don't let your heart be troubled when man thinks less of you than you wish. Rather, lift up your heads for there your "redeemer liveth, and on the earth again shall stand."

(Posted at SBCVoices.com on December 8, 2011)

the Sufficiency of Scripture

2011-12-06T11:20:00.001-07:00

A recent read through the 1689 Baptist Confession has left a profound impact on my mind and heart. Especially the first chapter dealing with the Holy Scriptures (the Bible).

Enjoy the reading of chapter one...

1. The Holy Scriptures

The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.

Although the light of nature and the works of creation and providence manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God so much that man is left without any excuse, they are not sufficient to provide that knowledge of God and His will which is necessary for salvation.

Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal Himself, and to declare His will to His church;

- and afterward, for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church, protecting it against the corruption of the flesh and the malice of Satan and the world,

- it pleased the Lord to commit His revealed Truth wholly to writing. Therefore the Holy Scriptures are most necessary, those former ways by which God revealed His will unto His people having now ceased.
Under the title of Holy Scripture (or the written Word of God) are now contained all the following books of the Old and New Testament:-

OF THE OLD TESTAMENTGenesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

OF THE NEW TESTAMENTMatthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans. 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, l & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2 & 3 John, Jude, Revelation.

All these books are given by the inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and life.
The books commonly called 'The Apocrypha' not being of divine inspiration, are not part of the canon or rule of Scripture and are therefore of no authority to the church of God, nor are they to be approved of or made use of any differently from other human writings.
The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, depends not on the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God its Author (Who is Truth itself). Therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God.
We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the people of God to gain a high and reverent estimation of the Holy Scriptures. We may be similarly affected by the nature of the Scriptures—the heavenliness of the contents, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to God, the full disclosure it makes of the only way of man's salvation, together with many other incomparable excellencies and entire perfections. By all the evidence the Scripture more than proves itself to be the Word of God.

Yet, notwithstanding this, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth of Scripture and its divine authority, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.
The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture, to which nothing is to be added at any time, either by new revelation of the Spirit, or by the traditions of men.

Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word.

There are some circumstances concerning the worship of God and church government which are common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word which are always to be observed.
All things in scripture are not equally plain in themselves, nor equally clear to everyone, yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded and revealed in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the educated but also the uneducated may attain a sufficient understanding of them by the due use of ordinary means.
The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old), and the New Testament in Greek (which at the time of its writing was most generally known to the nations) were immediately inspired by God, and were kept pure through subsequent ages by His singular care and providence. They are therefore authentic , so that in all controversies of religion , the church must appeal to them as final.

But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God who have a right to, and an interest in the Scriptures, and who are commanded to read and search them in the fear of God, the Scriptures are therefore to be translated into the ordinary language of every nation into which they come, so that, with the Word of God living richly in all, people may worship God in an acceptable manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope.
The infallible rule for the interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself, and therefore whenever there is a question about the true and full sense of any scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must be searched by other passages which speak more clearly.
The supreme judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and by which must be examined all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, and doctrines of men and private spirits can be no other than the Holy Scripture, delivered by the Spirit. And in the sentence of Scripture we are to rest, for it is in Scripture, delivered by the Spirit, that our faith is finally resolved.

BYU and Islamic Art?

2011-12-05T11:21:00.001-07:00

Part 1:

Art is, and should be, critiqued. I am married to an art teacher/artist and have a son who is an artist, so I walk into the art studio (AKA, the garage) with my paint pallet and brush in hand. Ready to be corrected and critiqued on my critique. However, the critique I am offering here today is not on an art piece. Rather, this is to raise the question about why a religious institution would host an art exhibition for the purpose of showing similarities in the religion of another religion unless they want to be associated with each other.

If an artist is not accustomed to being critically critiqued then it would seem that the artist should consider not offering their art to be seen. In this over sensitive era we live in, it is risky to offer a critique on anything or anyone. I am always open to the critique of others on my articles and sermons. I may not sleep real well for a few days afterward, but I like the sharpening effect that it leaves behind.

Qur'an Manuscript

If you are not aware, let me help stir your thoughts on the subject of my critique.

Deseret News (DN) announced late last week that the Brigham Young University (BYU) Museum of Art will be hosting the exhibit, Beauty and Belief; Crossing Bridges with the Arts of Islamic Culture from February 24 - September 29, 2012.

In her article in Deseret News, Sarah Gambles says, "the two religions [Islam and Mormonism] are rarely mentioned in the same sentence, but BYU's Museum of Art is trying to change that with an exhibit featuring Islamic art from around the world."

This is actually quite an alarming statement. Maybe not so much for people of the Mormon or Muslim religions, but it is of an alarming interest to me. I am indeed 'on the outside looking in' on this decision by BYU and the Mormon religion. Here are a few first-look observations.

Is there a difference between Islamic art and Arab art? If so, then why not name the exhibit to reflect that. If there is no difference, and I'm of the understanding that there is no difference, then it is correctly titled and raised my second observation.
You will need to read the entire article by Sarah Gambles, to examine the issues for yourself, but there is no hiding that there is an attempt by someone in the BYU institution who wants to show the similarities between Islam and Mormonism. I already know of several similarities and am not surprised by them. I read this article with shock that the BYU Museum of Art is so eager to display those similarities. I'm actually thankful that the exhibit is at BYU, it will afford many open door opportunities to talk to my Muslim and Mormon friends. I'm looking forward to the upcoming dialog.
Statements in the article:

One statement of interest for me in the article was when Gambles quotes Sabiha Al Khemir, the exhibit director; "the mentality is to be in the state to learn but to also be in a state to unlearn. When it comes to Islamic culture, we have a great deal to unlearn and forget and to just see what is." If an art exhibit is on Arab art, then I may be at peace with a statement like this because not everyone in Arab countries are Muslim. But this is Islamic art. How is it a good idea to unlearn and forget what Islam teaches unless there are things about the religion that you want people to not know?
Gambles also states that Mark Magleby, director of the BYU Museum of Art, was working with Al Khemir and "has given him a greater understanding of the Muslim faith." I'm not surprised that it would do this for him, but he went on to say that "he has started to see Islamic origins that have found their way into Utah." This statement is not shocking to me, what is shocking, is that anyone in either religion wants to be in dialog about similar origins.
Mark Magleby, went on to say that Sabiha Al Khemir "has no trouble hearing about the kinship to the faith. We felt some meaningful moments of sharing faith."Then he said, Some of the staff working on the project attended a rehearsal by the Mormon in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, and that he was "amazed by the connections Al Khemir found between Islam and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, even down to the architecture."

So this has me thinking... This is a good thing for evangelicals that Islam and Mormonism are willing to be so public in embracing their similar roots. I will share more as I learn more.

On a political note: This may pose a problem for any political candidate who would want to argue his religion has no influence on him. If Islam and Mormonism are as similar as the leading university in Mormonism, BYU, wants to portray, then this is at best, problematic for me.

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

2011-12-03T21:08:00.001-07:00

Family Worship for December 4 - 11, 2011

Scripture Memory: Matthew 5:1-12

Words by Henry J Van Dyke
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the happy chorus, which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us, brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward in the triumph song of life.

Spurgeon's Catechism: Question #5
Q Are there more Gods than one?
A There is but one only (De 6:4), the living and true God (Jer 10:10).

Christmas Treasures

2011-11-30T11:33:00.000-07:00

Today, as I reflect over the years on how I handled Christmas as a father I find myself processing the things I did, didn't do, or wish I had done more of. There is no doubt that the Christmas season is culturally packed with memories. This is one thing that secular Christmas can't charge me for.

When our sons were young boys, Renee and I attempted to make an impression upon them about what we wanted Christmas to mean. We attempted to keep traditions intact from our families while creating traditions of our own. Renee's family always opened their gifts on Christmas eve, my family opened our gifts on Christmas morning. Renee's family introduced me to hot Dr. Pepper, I tried it once and now only drink hot chocolate. Christmas morning in our house means that I cook a huge breakfast with the highlight (for me anyway) of canned Pillsbury cinnamon rolls.

We never made much of an issue about Santa Clause but turned up the radio anytime "Grandma Got Ran Over By a Reindeer" came on. We have made many of the gifts we give to each other. This began in the beginning of our family mainly because of financial reasons, but has remained a normal part for most years. Even though I'm no toy maker, I remember the year I made and painted wooden airplanes for both of our boys. I always enjoyed the year we made them a giant lincoln-log set out of PVC piping. I had (I mean, they had) fun with that for years.

I'll never forget the year we decided to not give any Christmas gifts to each other because we decided as a family that I would go on a short term mission trip to a 'closed' (to the Gospel) country. I probably struggled the most with this decision, but we decided it was our Christmas gift for that year. My family responded in a manner that still floods my eyes with tears of humility today.

A few years ago I gave both David and Silas an empty journal for Christmas with the understanding that they would have to give it back to me so I could write them personal thoughts for the following year and then I gave it to them the following year filled with thoughts from me about them and things I hope will help them in years to come.

There may have been a Christmas season or two where we had more money than other years, but the years I treasure the most are the ones where we had little things of this world. I treasure the significance of the manger and the pauper-status birth of our Redeemer.

If I had young boys in my home this year...

I would introduce them to the writings of R.M Ballantyne. I recently re-read Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson and read the name R.M. Ballantyne in the introduction. Stevenson acknowledged Ballantyne's book The Coral Island as a major influence in his writing.
I would give them a blank journal with the instructions that they would have to give it back to me so I could write things in it for the coming year.
I would make a bigger deal about the Gospel and impress this upon my sons as an amazing responsibility God has put upon our household to speak this Gospel to all nations.
I would make some kind of toy that could break if they played with it and possibly even poke an eye out with. Something like... all the materials to make stick bombs. I'm thinking about requesting a box of tongue depressors for myself this year.... Of course Renee would require safety goggles too.

Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing

2011-11-28T09:34:00.000-07:00

Family Worship for November 27 - December 4, 2011

Scripture Memory for November: Matthew 5:1-12

Words by Robert Robinson

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,
Till released from flesh and sin,
Yet from what I do inherit,
Here Thy praises I’ll begin;
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day.

Spurgeon's Catechism: Question #4
Q What is God?
A God is Spirit (Joh 4:24), infinite (Job 11:7), eternal (Ps 90:2 1Ti 1:17), and unchangeable (Jas 1:17), in his being, (Ex 3:14), wisdom, power (Ps 147:5), holiness (Re 4:8), justice, goodness and truth (Ex 34:6,7).

A Presidential Proclamation

2011-11-22T11:55:00.001-07:00

Library of Congress

New York: October 3, 1789

By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

"Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation--for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war--for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted--for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually--to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord--To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us--and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
Go: Washington"

From Paul with Love!

2011-11-20T22:21:00.001-07:00

This is why "it is not good that man should be alone"!

Happy Birthday Renee!!!

From the 'City of Paul'

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

2011-11-18T10:30:00.000-07:00

Family Worship for November 20-27, 2011

Scripture Memory for November: Matthew 5:1-12

Words by Martin Luther

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

Spurgeon's Catechism: Question #3

Q What do the Scriptures principally teach?
A The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man (2Ti 1:13 Ec 12:13).

To-Bake or Not-to-Bake?

2011-11-16T21:23:00.001-07:00

Here is a serious question coming out of Des Moines, Iowa, from Victoria's Cake Cottage: "to-bake or not-to-bake"?

This morning I came across a report from Baptist Press that has caused me to consider this day we live in. In the report, BP told about a baker who told a lesbian couple that she would not bake a cake for their civil union because she was has convictions about what marriage is. I know this is an emotionally charged arena to walk into. I go here with caution, but I think it is worth setting my mind to action to think through.

How does a Christ following sinner like myself walk after holiness? What does the character of a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven look like in the land of the living? A rather specific answer is written on the pages of the Bible. After reading a passage of Scripture like Psalm 15, a follower of Christ must then decide if he really wants to know what his duty is. I find Scripture to be a "lamp unto my feet," and my conscience a trustworthy companion on the path as I sojourn my way through each day.

Now, I have to discipline my mind to not betray my God while I travel the narrow path that is unpopular. Will I really stand complete in the will of God? I desire to know my duty. How will I be true to God and man? How will I speak truth about God while speaking to men? How do I attempt to carefully harm no one while still obeying my Lord's commands; to be in this world but not of this world?

Every business owner must answer questions that will reflect their convictions. Why is it considered bigotry if a business owner, who is a Christian, lives by his convicted standard? A Christian will aim to make all of his life honoring to God.

If he is a graphic designer, he will want his work to stand as a reflection of his conviction. When people see his art, no one will be able to accuse him of lowering his standards of morality for the purpose of personal gain.
If he is a contractor, he will want to construct buildings that will represent his integrity. If asked to build a Mormon temple for $19 Million, he will be called a fool by everyone in his community if he turns down the offer. But his buildings will tell the Gospel every time someone speaks of him for honoring his conviction.
If he is a nurse, he will want to be an extension of God's common grace to all of humanity. If he can't give medical care to a Buddhist because the Buddhist is a Buddhist, then he shouldn't be a nurse. That would be immoral, unethical, criminal, unspeakable.
If she is a wedding cake baker, and she wants her cakes to be a herald of the Gospel, then she should turn down business that contradicts her convictions.

It seems like a wise and good person may turn down business. So if a Christian chooses to suffer financial loss to himself and his family while honoring the Lord, it gets reported as bigotry or looked at even by other believers as not being very Christ-like. I stand by those who will stand for God. It is a narrow gate we enter in, and a narrow road we travel down, but the Gospel banner we bear.

I found the interview in the following clip of interest. I think the issue will roll around in my mind for a while longer, but I want to be in the discipline of transforming my mind to the image of God by thinking on these kinds of things with the Plumb-Line (Bible) in sight so I can measure all things by it rather than popular opinion. I highly recommend reading and listening to the comments and statements of all involved in this. Listen closely to the comments. This is not a Christian demanding that non-Christians live up according to their standards, this is a Christ-follower asking these ladies to respect her conviction. I can respect that.

Satisfaction of Justice and the Gospel

2011-11-15T09:57:00.002-07:00

Nearly every Idahoan will be thinking about the right and/or wrong of capital punishment for days to come. And rightly we should. It is the top story on talk radio, front pages of local papers and the leading story on local news. It is, and should be, talked about by the general public.

I am not an expert in law and do not offer my observations from this vantage point. I am not offering an opinion about guilt or innocence, I'm only considering the sober responsibility to the citizens of Idaho that Idaho law requires.

Paul Ezra Rhodes is scheduled for execution in Idaho on November 18, 2011, for a series of murders committed in the mid to late 80s.

He was convicted of three murders in Idaho Falls and sentenced to death for two of those murders and given a life sentence for the third. Not to mention the series of murders linked to him from the state of Utah.

I'm working through my thoughts, again, on the weighty responsibility of the law as execution by lethal injection has moved past all appeals and is scheduled for November 18. This much I am sure of... This must not be celebrated, it must cause a deep soberness to sit upon all, and it must cause us to consider the satisfaction of justice.

5 "Surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man's brother I will require the life of man.6 "Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man.Gen 9:5-6 (NASB)

The very image of God is supernaturally woven into the DNA of all humanity. To say that capital punishment is complicated is too simplistic. From Scripture, I have no issue with the mandate and responsibility upon civil government to justly execute the death penalty upon one found guilty and especially upon the one who admits to his/her guilt of such a heinous crime against nature. I find that the responsibility of a just judge is required to follow through with what the law requires.

This should cause every citizen of Idaho to seriously consider the righteous requirement of God to justly execute His wrath upon those who have sinned against Him.

Now comes the Gospel... I repent of my sin, but a payment is still required for my sin that is beyond my ability to ever pay... in steps the one-and-only, begotten son of God and stands in my place to rightly pay for what is required for my ugly, heinous acts of sin against God.

As our minds consider the morality of capital punishment, let us equally use the moments of conversation to speak the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not enough that Paul Ezra Rhodes would tell the judge he is sorry for what he did and promises to never do it again. Blood is required for his crimes of brutal murder, unless the requirement can be satisfied, the execution is justly administered. If the sentence is followed through with, the glory of God will be on display, if the sentence is repealed the glory of God will be on display. And Paul Ezra Rhodes will see this glory and not be able to find God to have been an unjust God in either case.

Now, what is my responsibility in the coming days?

I must pray for Paul Ezra Rhodes. I will pray that he plead before the Almighty God in repentance if he has not already done so, and that God would accept his plea and allow the death of His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, as satisfaction of justice. Blood of Jesus, satisfy the wrath of Your Father as Jesus takes on the full brunt of the Father's wrath.
I must pray for Governor Otter. A responsibility now rests upon him to act justly toward the citizens of Idaho. Governor Otter yesterday (11/14/2011): “Paul Ezra Rhoades has taken full and unfettered advantage of his right to due process of law for more than two decades. That process is running its course. The law requires and justice demands that Mr. Rhoades be held accountable for his actions as a judge and jury have directed. I appreciate the Commission of Pardons and Parole carrying out its statutory duty respectfully and professionally.”
I will pray for an awakening to take place among the citizens of Idaho. I will pray that all citizens soberly consider the righteousness of God.

Dear God, It's our confession Lord, that we are weak and frail, if not for your common grace restraining all of humanity, we would all be turned over to our heinous cravings of evil. Let your mercies fall from heaven, shower your mercies down as we pray. May the name of Jesus, your only begotten, be upon the lips of your people.

Primary documents:
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF IDAHO
U.S. Magistrate Judge Ron Bush has issued his 43-page decision

Be Desperate for Him

2011-11-14T10:53:00.001-07:00

I first met Andy Dietz when I was teenager as my family would travel from Colorado to Texas for summer vacation or Christmas break from school. He was on staff at Second Baptist Church, in Amarillo, Texas. I have just come across an adventure of his from 1998 in Budapest, Hungary. I think you will find his story engaging and may it also inspire you today to pray for those who are engaging the nations of the world with the Gospel.

Kidnapped in Budapest by Andy Dietz

How Firm A Foundation

2011-11-10T10:07:00.001-07:00

Family Worship for November 13-20, 2011

Scripture Memory for November: Matthew 5:1-12

How Firm A Foundation
Words: John Rippon
This hymn was sung at the funerals of American presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. (source)

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

In every condition, in sickness, in health;
In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth;
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

Even down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.

Spurgeon's Catechism: Question #2

Q What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify him?
A The Word of God which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments (Eph 2:20 2Ti 3:16) is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify God and enjoy him (1Jo 1:3).

Feeding My Soul in the Dining Room

2011-11-08T11:03:00.003-07:00

Our dining room is not only my favorite room in the house because this is where all great meals are eaten and most of our family dialog happens, it is also the room where I try to flesh things out I'm thinking on and sorting through.

For years, most of my believing years, I have been regularly frustrated with my failure of practicing a structured, ongoing "Quiet Time" with any level of success. Mostly because of laziness and partially due to a poor understanding of what it means to worship God in Spirit and Truth. In seasons of my life I have been successful in conducting a regular "Quiet Time" but largely a segregated time of my day that didn't really carry on into any other areas of my life because I was satisfied that I had completed the task of a "Quiet Time".

I ordered my life mostly after a pattern of some kind of block-schedule. I had a time in my day for this a moment of time for that. (Caution: as you read this, be sure you don't hear me saying that an ordered life is wrong.) What was needed for me was to examine closely as to how I was ordering my life. I was mostly ordering my life to satisfy myself, I was behaving as though I was the chief end of myself. I was glorifying myself and my desires, and so my ordering of my days was to assure that I was happy with me. I still must guard this from happening.

I offer the following ideas as only that, ideas. I don't suggest that what I have to share is a prescription to spiritual maturity (meaning, if you do this just like I do you will spiritually mature). I don't offer this here to suggest that I have unlocked some kind of method to success. To some, what I offer here will seem simple. To some, it may seem overbearing. To others it may spark an idea that you could do that will not be anywhere near the process I walk through.

From the first question of the puritan catechism, the question is raised. "What is the chief end of man?" The way this question is answered is the way one will order his/her life. The puritan catechism answers this question from Scripture as; "the chief end of man is to glorify God, (1 Corinthians 10:31) and to enjoy him now and forever (Psalm 73:25-26)." With this answer I'm better positioned to order my life.

(Let me also add this disclaimer: Where I have been ordering my life from a different vantage point for the past six or seven years, I am far from finished in rooting out all things related to my old nature and my cravings of glorifying myself and enjoying myself as my chief end of life. I even find hints of this in writing this post...)

The first thing I had to discover, was not a method, but a reason. If my chief end, my main goal in life, is to glorify God, then I have to learn what glorifies God. If I don't know what glorifies God, then I don't know if what I'm doing even glorifies him. At this point, I had to realize how important the Bible was. I had to realize and admit how wretched my heart is. I had to be hungry and thirsty for righteousness (Matthew 5:6). I had been feeding my spirit some kind of "junk food" and it was rarely hungry to seek out from God, what glorifies God.

I then began making changes in how I order my life. But I had to discover that making changes in how I ordered my life would not generate worship of God alone. It could even keep the door open for ongoing idolatry. So I walk here with great caution, and I charge you to read with great caution. The only way, for me, to generate an end goal of glorifying God in my ordered life, is for it to be generated as a result of satisfying my hunger and thirst in righteousness. (I believe, now help my unbelief.)

Here are some of the (continuing) results:

Reading: I can't emphasis this enough. What a treasure we have in that we have a translated copy of the Bible. I attempt to keep my reading in this order of priority.

1. the Bible
2. the writings of the puritans
3. other books

Writing: For the past several years I carry a pocket sized notebook with me everywhere I go (it is literally with me everywhere; gardening, exercising, reading, preaching, driving, etc...) I have discovered that best for me is the Moleskine type because of it's durability. (I've even had one survive a thorough washing.)

I Write out long passages of Scripture that I'm attempting to memorize or meditate on.
I write down names of people I'm praying for.
I write down thoughts, questions, and ideas I have.
I write down foods I like and dislike.
I write down quotes from books I'm reading.
I have even written sermons from the notes in my notebooks.
Eventually, most of my blog postings come from things I have written down. (Not everything I have written down makes it to a blog post, many of these things are personal in nature.)

Listening to Sermons:

I do like listening to music (which has become increasingly more narrow and selective) but mostly I load my mp3 player up with sermons. New and old. In the summer, most of my gardening is done while listening to sermons (Richard Owen Roberts, John Piper, and Paul Washer have helped me plant a lot seeds and pull a lot of weeds.)

Reading to others:

I'm rather new at this. I always want Renee's input and thoughts on things I'm thinking, reading, considering, pondering, etc. This is where our dining room has become a 'think tank'. We hung a whiteboard on the wall about two years ago to write out Scripture and/or thoughts from books. After writing them on the whiteboard, it becomes easy to connect thoughts. (Plus we marvel at my artistry. Keep in mind, Renee is a professional artist.)
Also, many of the things I read will eventually make it to a Facebook and Twitter feed update.

Currently (rather slowly) I'm re-reading two books side-by-side. The Cost of Discipleship (Bonhoeffer) and The Breaking of the Outer Man (Nee). I'm reading them together because of things I've written down while reading them separately in the past and want to know what they had discovered about glorifying God. There is striking similarity in their drastic differences. Bonhoeffer was a German, Lutheran, eventually hunted down and executed by order of Hitler during WWII. From China, Nee, was eventually hunted down and died in isolation in a prison cell. Before both were captured and silenced by man, God ordered a beam of light to shine during one of the world's darkest days.

2011 and 2012 Speaking Engagements

2011-11-06T22:47:00.004-07:00

I am looking forward to being involved in two national conferences in the coming 12 months. First, I'll be joining in on the ongoing national discussion about reclaiming the biblical position of age-integration in the church. I'm thankful that the Lord had brought Eastside Baptist Church to better understand the reforming work of letting the plumb-line of God's word be more than just something we say we follow. This local body of believers is boldly saying that the church's one foundation is Jesus Christ the Lord. Reunited is a weekend designed for the purpose of dialog about the reforming work that God is doing among churches. December 10-11, 2011

The White Unto Harvest Conference is October 25-27, 2012 at Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina. Consider attending with me and my family next October.

List of Speakers

At White Unto Harvest 2012 A Great Commission Mega-Conference, we will seek, by the grace of God, to unpack the Great Commission, as it applies to the individual, the home, and the church. There is no more powerful force at work in the world than the life-saving, culture-transforming, disciple making power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

With topics ranging from discipling your children to discipling the nations, to applying the Great Commission in the office, to street preaching, to counting the cost of following Christ, we desire to encourage a passion for fulfilling the Great Commission. We desire that Christ would be exalted in the church and in all the nations of the earth.

We desire that we would be sent out from this conference - men, women, and children - with greater fervor to spread the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. If Christ is worth dying for, He is certainly worth living for.

The Church's One Foundation

2011-11-05T21:23:00.000-06:00

Family Worship for November 6-13, 2011

Scripture Memory for November: Matthew 5:1-12

Hymn: The Church's One Foundation

Music: Samuel S. Wesley

Words: Samuel J. Stone
The Church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation
By water and the Word.
From heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her
And for her life He died.

She is from every nation,
Yet one o’er all the earth;
Her charter of salvation,
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy Name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With every grace endued.

The Church shall never perish!
Her dear Lord to defend,
To guide, sustain, and cherish,
Is with her to the end:
Though there be those who hate her,
And false sons in her pale,
Against both foe or traitor
She ever shall prevail.

Though with a scornful wonder
Men see her sore oppressed,
By schisms rent asunder,
By heresies distressed:
Yet saints their watch are keeping,
Their cry goes up, “How long?”
And soon the night of weeping
Shall be the morn of song!

’Mid toil and tribulation,
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore;
Till, with the vision glorious,
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious
Shall be the Church at rest.

Yet she on earth hath union
With God the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion
With those whose rest is won,
With all her sons and daughters
Who, by the Master’s hand
Led through the deathly waters,
Repose in Eden land.

O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we
Like them, the meek and lowly,
On high may dwell with Thee:
There, past the border mountains,
Where in sweet vales the Bride
With Thee by living fountains
Forever shall abide!

Spurgeon's Catechism: question #1
Q What is the chief end of man?
A Man's chief end is to glorify God, (1Co 10:31) and to enjoy him for ever (Ps 73:25,26)

Preparing Your Family for Corporate Worship

2011-11-04T21:47:00.000-06:00

Preparing Your Family for Corporate Worship (part 1)

Sure, there may be a lot of modern day controversy over headship in the home, but the Bible is clear that this God created/ordained headship is in the jurisdiction of the husband. This isn't a headship that the husband is supposed to take on, this is his God ordered place. If you look closely at Scripture, it is clear that this headship/leadership position is the place where the husband is. (...for the husband [is] head of the wife... Eph 5:23)

I hear from many wives that they wish their husbands would be the spiritual leader of their homes. The fact is... he is. It's maybe more of an issue of what kind of spiritual leader is he going to be. I want to take several Friday night postings to address some ways husbands can do this God breathed duty with joy for his family.

(disclaimer: I post these thoughts as a combination of things I did, didn't do and wish I would have done.)

Tonight I'll start with some thoughts on children in corporate worship services:

I think it is important that we teach our children that there is a difference between entertainment and worship. Take some time before Sunday morning to talk to your family about the things they will do when you gather with others on Sunday morning.

Does your family witness you preparing to give from your resources? Do they know that you have made an intentional plan to give? I'm not saying you are required to tell them how much (why not though) I'm more meaning do they know that you are planning to give and that this planning is intentionally when you gather with the faithful.
Is your famlily asking "Are we going to church on Sunday?" (Do they ask if they are going to school, eat, watch your favorite show on TV, do their homework, etc?) Start talking about gathering with the Lord's people today with them. Gathering with the Lord's people is something the Lord's people should enjoy doing. Use this preparation to teach your family that you are planning to gather.
Let them see you making plans to gather with the faithful. It is important that our families see what is important to us. It is likely that our families have heard us talk about a lot of things this past week; have they heard us talk about God?
Has your family seen your Bible since the last time you gathered with the faithful? Have they seen or heard you read from your Bible this week?
Gather your family together and read Scripture together (you may consider reading 1 Chronicles 19 together, I will be preaching from this text on November 6.)
Be sure to teach your family that it's alright if they don't understand everything that the preacher will say or talk about. Children learn more than we think. It is important that they learn from you about your wanting to gather with the Lord's people to worship God, fellowship with other believers and learn as much as we can about what God is like and what he would require from his followers.
Remind yourself and your family that this corporate gathering is not an instant gratification event, this is not entertainment. When we approach the corporate gathering as we do entertainment we will evaluate it in the same manner. This is of eternal value. Don't let them see this as a secondary event you decide to do if you wake up in time to go. They will begin to think about church as something you go to rather than something they are. Husbands, you are positioned by God to help your families understand this. Model it for them this week.
Make sure that you know where everyone's bible is on Saturday night. Let your family see that preparation for this gathering on Sunday morning is something you are anticipating.
You may not be in the habit of taking notes or writing significant things down that you learn about God, but consider taking the family out to the office supply store on Saturday to purchase a notebook for everyone to write significant things God may speak to you about. We have student notebooks on the table in the back of the auditorium. Tell your children about this and encourage them to consider using them. Let them see you writing things down too.
Plan to talk about things they heard and learned sometime on Sunday afternoon or evening. Use this time to teach further and even answer questions they may be thinking about.

These are only to help you start thinking about some things you can put to use as you lead. Remember, husband, you are head of your wife. You may be an apathetic-head, you may be a lazy-head, you may be a bossy-head, you may be a dead-head, but you are head... Your past headship does not dictate your current headship. Your family may think it odd that you have all of the sudden decided to be a spiritually-intentional-head, but don't let that hinder you from being what they want and especially need from you; God-fearing headship.

I'm praying for you!

Thus Far the Lord Has Helped Us!

2011-11-01T11:26:00.003-06:00

To the faithful who gather at 204 Eastland Drive North,

I have been praying for you this morning and recalling all that our dear Lord has placed before us. I was reading through some of my old journal entries from the past and came across some prayers I have written. I later came across this letter I wrote you on February 26, 2009; nearly three years ago. I post it here for you to be reminded that 'thus far the Lord has helped us.' (Feb. 2009 Letter)

May the mighty name of God be declared by us to the nations.

We are near completion of the new meeting house for Eastside Baptist Church. I'm proud of you, Eastside, for resisting many times to take out a loan. I am of the opinion that it takes the same amount of faith to borrow money as it does to build debt free. What is important for us is that we obey what God has instructed us to do about building this meeting house debt free. And thus far the Lord has helped us!

May His name, and only His name, be declared by us to the nations!

theBridge has been hi-jacked!

2011-10-23T21:42:00.002-06:00

Greetings! Mrs. Paul Thompson here. As many of you know, Paul celebrated a birthday last week and I would like to share with you a note our oldest son, David, posted on his Facebook wall on that day (with his permission.) So here is the first official guest Bridge Blog!

"I attended a funeral last month and got the joy of hearing 2 sons and a daughter speaks words of appreciation and respect about their mother that gloryfied God to those that would listen. I left that day honored to have seen a life that pleased God remembered, and not wanting to wait til those I love have died to tell others of how they have been made alive with the Messiah, and the ways God has brought Himself glory in their lives, in their willingness to live obediently. Now, my dad is only turning 45, I hope that he is only about half way there. But in all things God is glorified.

Now that I have introduced this note about my dad on his birthday by talking about a funeral and his life expectancy... I hope that the medium of this being Facebook does not undermine or cheapen my words. In the day we are in, this is truly the way I can share this with the most people.

Dad is what I have always called him. Never daddy (that I can remember), and never father. Some know him as Pastor Paul or Bus Driver. Some know him as a marathon runner or a gardner. Some know him as a blogger or a reader. Some have known him much longer than me and some barely know who he is. He is my dad.

My dad trained me how to be a man. I am still young and would be foolish to think I have arrived and have nothing left to learn. I have far to go. But my dad taught his sons many things. I would say they fall into three interwoven categories. These are not separate from one another. These things came from Scripture, prayer, and those older than him.

How to serve God
Deuteronomy 13:4, 1 Samuel 12:24, 1 Chronicles 28:9, Malachi 3:18, Mark 10:45, John 12:26, Hebrews 9:14, 1 Peter 4:11

These are things my dad taught me from Scripture, or prepared me to seek and be taught. It may seem simple and obvious, but we are a fickle people. It is God I must follow, and it is His commands I must keep. How do I serve God? Obey Him. My dad taught me to hold fast to God. My dad made it clear that serving God must be done with the entirety of my being. I saw in him a distinction, a man set apart, and that if I truly serve God, there would be a distinction about me. He pointed me to Christ as the ultimate example of how to serve God. That to serve God, I must follow Christ. I must forsake and deny all else. I learned that I can not serve God of my own desire, it is the blood of Christ that has cleansed me and only then may I serve our God. I was shown that serving God should be done with the full strength God provides us; and that in everything I am, I should strive to praise God through Jesus Christ.

How to serve your wife
Ephesians 5:25-33, Colossians 3:19, 1 Timothy 5:8, 1 Peter 3:7

I know I am only providing a few verses on these enormous responsibilities, I urge you to dig deeper and seek God's face in his Word even further. My dad loves my mom. If you think it is not the job of a father to show his sons how to love a wife and his daughters how a husband should love her, I think you are wrong, quite frankly. I grew up seeing my dad cherish my mom. My dad taught me how we are instructed to love a wife as Christ loves the Church. That is not something that just happens or is some whimsical emotion. This is serious and difficult stuff. So much that I cringe at the ease in which I can type this in here and you can read it and we go on our merry days. A husband must sacrifice all. Meditate on that. I see that in my dad. I can not remember my dad being harsh to my mom, ever. I am not saying he hasn't ever been, but I sure never saw it. My dad is understanding and honoring to my mom in their marriage. He was the leader of our house in every sense, but he was in a partnership with my mom, he trusted her and they acted together as one, as they are. My dad recognized she had had given up her name and decided to wear his. That which belongs to my dad belongs to my mom, and my dad does all that is necessary to provide. I do not think I am dishonoring my family to say we are not wealthy. I remember a time my dad was pastoring, driving busses and substitute teaching, working at a lumber mill in the summer and a ski hill in the winter, and STILL fulfilling the rest of his responsibilities to God, his wife, and his children. It is by the very strength of God he did and he was given the ability to so that it would bring glory to God. I say this to point to Christ. My dad taught me how to love a wife. They have been married nearly 25 years and he is still pursuing her.

How to serve your children
Deuteronomy 6:4-10, Ephesians 6:4, Colossians 3:21, 1 Timothy 3:4-5, 1 Timothy 5:8

My dad taught me to hear God, to know God, and to obey God. He taught the importance of Scripture, the utter perfection of it. My dad was a diligent teacher. My dad disciplined me and instructed me, but he did not provoke or discourage me. He managed his house with dignity and provided for my brother and me. I believe that a part of the responsibility God has given fathers is to teach their children how to be parents. I could go on and on about how my dad was distinct in the way he choose to lead his family. And the chief goal of everything in the Thompson house was to bring God glory. Did that always happen? Uh... no. My dad is not a perfect man, husband or father. He does chase after God and righteousness with a fervor I am in awe of and am myself striving for. I want to be like my dad not to be like my dad because of who he is in himself, but because of who he is in Christ. In my passing from being a boy to a man, one of the biggest things was realizing the source of my faith, my doctrine, my very foundation could not be my dad. My dad taught me these things and is a godly example, my faith has to be rooted in Christ, my doctrine in God's Word and my foundation in all that I am bringing glory to the Creator. The catalyst for some of the closest examinations of my life before a holy God and being broken in that examination and striving for righteousness has been my dad telling me where he has failed in his life. This is not to disrespect my dad, but to glorify my God. My dad has been an example to my brother and me.

And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. 1 Chronicles 28:9

I am thankful for my dad, he brings God glory."