Christian Conversation

If we talk about the things we love, why is rare at "christian gatherings" to hear anything said of Christ or spiritual matters?

A thought on Halloween...

While many celebrate symbols of death tonight, may we remember the brevity of this life and the certainty of the life to come.

"What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." ~James 4:14

"And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment" ~Hebrews 9:27

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." ~John 11:25

A few thoughts on sleep.

If a person was to live to the age of 70 and sleep an average of 7 hours/day, he would have spent OVER 20 YEARS of his life ASLEEP!

Now for a few thoughts about sleep

God can continue to accomplish His work even while all of humanity sleeps.
See Genesis 1:21 & Matthew 26

The most powerful of men is at the mercy of others while asleep.
See Judges 16:19

We can sleep in peace because of our God
See Psalms 4:8

We do not worry about the LORD our God being asleep
See 1st Kings 18:27 & Psalms 121:4

May our need for sleep serve as a daily reminder of God's greatness, and keep us always humble before Him!

Characters from Proverbs 1

Solomon	The son of David, King of Israel	1:1	Much of Solomon’s success can be credited to his father. As Christians we can rejoice because we have a Heavenly Father who loves us.
The simple	Lacks prudence	1:4	Prudence is the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason.
The young man	Lacks knowledge and discretion	1:4	That is why the book of Proverbs was written.
A wise man	Will hear and increase in learning	1:5	Even the wisest man still has much to learn.
A man of understanding	Will attain wise counsel (to understand a proverb and the interpretation, the words of the wise and their riddles)	1:5-6	If a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, how much more should a man who lacks understanding do likewise.
Fools	Despise wisdom and instruction	1:7	Fools don’t simply ignore wisdom and instruction, they despise it.
My son	Needs to hear the instruction of his father, and not forsake the law of his mother	1:8	This is the first commandment with a promise.
Sinners	May entice sons	1:10	Sons are not told to “just say no”, but instead they are given a reason to avoid them.
Wisdom	Calls aloud outside and raises her voice	1:20-21	Wisdom is freely offered from the LORD.
Simple ones	Love simplicity	1:22	The simple are content is their condition.
Scorners	Delight in their scorning	1:22	Scorners are also content in their condition, but the LORD can change their heart to delight in good things.
Fools	Hate knowledge	1:22	Fools are not indifferent toward knowledge, they hate it.
The simple	The waywardness of the simple will slay them	1:32	The simple have heard and have turned away.
Fools	The prosperity of fools will destroy them	1:32	Our current circumstances are not an indicator of our future.
Those listen to wisdom	Will dwell safely and will be secure without fear of evil	1:33	Given the contentment of wisdom’s audience, it is a miracle that they would listen.

 

 

 

If you are willing to shovel a little manure, you might not have to pull your own plow.

"Where no oxen are the crib is clean, but much increase is by the strength of an ox"

Proverbs 14:4

This is one of my favorite proverbs, and you don't have to be an expert in agriculture to understand that oxen can be filthy animals and require lots of food. On the other hand, oxen are much better at pulling heavy loads than men, and can be quite useful on a farm.

As it relates to time-saving gadgets:
Here in America we are taught to believe that if we only have more stuff, our lives will be easier. While the right equipment for right job is important, tools that are intended to make our lives easier often produce more work for us to do. Before a farmer should go out a buy an ox, he should figure out whether he needs it. If he doesn't need a larger harvest, he probably doesn't need another ox to clean up after.

As it relates to the Family:
Another thing taught in America is that children are a burden that should be avoided if at all possible. Children are a huge financial responsibility, and any idea of a clean, quiet house with kids around is crazy. But the bible teaches that "Children are a heritage from the LORD...Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth." (Psalm 127) Spiritually speaking we are laborers, and although children are a huge responsibility, one day they might be able influence the lives of more people than the parents could ever have been able to influence by themselves.

Conclusion:
A wise person may subject himself to more work in the short term, but will ultimately be more productive.