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.

PRAYER OF MAIMONIDES

Almighty God, Thou has created the human
body with infinite wisdom. Ten thousand times ten
thousand organs has Thou combined in it that act
unceasingly and harmoniously to preserve the
whole in all its beauty-the body which is the
envelope of the immortal soul. They are ever acting
in perfect order, agreement and accord. Yet,
when the frailty of matter or the unbridling of
passion deranges this order or interrupts this accord,
then the forces clash and the body crumbles
into the primal dust from which it came. Thou
sendest to man diseases as beneficent messengers
to foretell approaching danger and to urge him to
avert it.
Thou has blest Thine earth, Thy rivers and Thy
mountains with healing substances; they enable
Thy creatures to alleviate their sufferings and heal
their illnesses. Thou hast endowed man with the
wisdom to relieve the suffering of his brother, to
recognize his disorders, to extract the healing
substances, to discover their powers and to prepare
and to apply them to suit every ill. In Thy Eternal
Providence Thou has chosen me to watch
over the health and the life of Thy creatures. I
am now about to apply myself to the duties of my
-profession. Support me, Almighty God, in these
great labors that they may benefit mankind, for
without Thy help not even the least thing will
succeed.
Inspire me with love for my art and for Thy
creatures. Do not allow thirst for profit, ambition
for renown and admiration, to interfere with
my profession, for these are the enemies of truth
and of love for mankind and they can lead astray
in the great task of attending to the welfare of
Thy creatures. Preserve the strength of my body
and of my soul that they ever be ready to cheerfully
help and support rich and poor, good and
bad, enemy as well as friend. In the sufferer let
me see only the human being. Illumine mny mind
that it recognize what presents itself and that it
may comprehend what is absent or hidden. Let it
not fail to see what is visible, but do not permit
it to arrogate to itself the power to see what can
not be seen, for delicate and indefinite are the
bounds of the great art of caring for the lives and
health of Thy creatures. Let me never be absentminded.
May no strange thoughts divert my attention
at the bedside of the sick, or disturb my
mind in its silent labors, for great and sacred are
the thoughtful deliverations required to preserve
the lives and health of Thy creatures.
Grant that my patients have confidence in me and
my art and follow my direction and my counsel.
Remove from their midst all charlatans and the
whole host of officious relatives and know-all
nurses, cruel people who arrogantly frustrate the
wisest purposes of our art and often lead Thy
creatures to their death.
Should those who are wiser than I wish to improve
and instruct me, let my soul gratefuly follow
their guidance; for vast is the extent of our
art. Should conceited fools, however, censure me,
then let love for my profession steel me against
them, so that I remain steadfast without regard
for age, for reputation, or for honor, because
surrender would bring to Thy creatures sickness
and death.
Imbue my soul with gentleness and calmness
when older colleagues, proud of their age, wish to
displace me or to scorn me or disdainfully to
teach me. May even this be of advantage to me,
for they know many things of which I am ignorant,
but let not their arrogance give me pain. For
they are old, and old age is not master of the passions.
I also hope to attain old age upon this
earth, before Thee, Almighty God!
Let me be contented in everything except in
the great science of my profession. Never allow
the thought to arise in me that I have attained to
sufficient knowledge, but vouchsafe to me the
strength, the leisure and the ambition ever to
extend my knowledge. For art is great, but the
mind of man is ever expanding.
Almighty God! Thou has chosen me in Thy
mercy to watch over the life and death of Thy
creatures. I now apply myself' to my profession.
Support me in this great task so that it may
benefit mankind, for without Thy help not even the
least thing will succeed.

Gideon Bible Preface

THE BIBLE contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. CHRIST is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

The Gideons International, The New Testament, National Publishing Company, 1985, preface