Obligatory Thanksgiving Post

Kidding! We are, however, under obligation to give thanks at all times.

Rebellion against the Maker begins with a refusal to give thanks to him for his many good gifts (Romans 1:21). Adam and Eve were not happy with the fullness of the Garden of Eden. They just had to have more. We are the same way.

Next time we find ourselves fixated on something we want, let us redirect our hearts and minds to thank our generous Creator for all the amazing blessings we do have.

Talk Is Dirt Cheap

Talk really is cheap. Check the Proverb:

Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart.

-Proverbs 26:23

Fair-sounding words are like thin, shiny, silver coating that makes an object look valuable. But it is of little worth, for underneath is nothing but dirt. Those of us who are good at speaking need to be careful, and even those of us who are not must take heed. Let us weight our silver words with the pure gold of a good and honest heart. And while we’re at it, check out this gem on the subject from my man who goes by the name of Jeremiah…Dirt.

Does It Pour When It Rains?

Yeah, pretty much. We all go through times when worse follows bad. But this need not continue forever. Those who trust in Jesus fall and get back up again and again. But check out the last bit of the verse:

But the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

-Proverbs 24:17

While the righteous can weather storms, the wicked stumble and fall when things go bad. Their end will be like this too, for suddenly they will be plunged into death and eternal despair in a time of trouble. Sin can make life seem fun and easy, but the bill comes due, and swiftly!

I’ve Fallen and I Can Get Up

The righteous falls seven times and rises again.

-Proverbs 24:16

What makes a Christian is not sinlessness and success in all we do. It is that when we fall, we rise again. This is the story of the believer: we stumble and fall at many times and in many ways, but God is not done with us. So we get back up and press forward. It is our destiny to rely on the helping power of Christ to raise us up again and again. And when we finally fall in death, even then we will rise again, like he did.

A Better Tomorrow

Fear of the future haunts us. Interestingly, a lot of this worry may come from comparing ourselves to others. But check it out:

Let not your heart envy sinners,

but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.

Surely there is a future,

and your hope will not be cut off.

-Proverbs 23:17-18

The future is bright for those who fear God. Don’t worry about those around you. The ungodly will prosper in this life—it’s all they got. But you, lean on God’s promises and follow his commandments, and you can rest easy knowing that your Future is secure and unbelievably happy.

Scripture vs Science?

First of all, science means knowledge. There are plenty of knowledges beyond that of the material universe—like the laws of logic, or the laws of love.

Second of all, check out this quote from Saint Augustine:

We do not read in the Gospel that the Lord said: “I will send to you a Paraclete who will teach you about the course of the sun and the moon!” For he wanted to make Christians, not mathematicians.

Heat. The Scriptures and the sciences serve different purposes.

We do not expect God’s written word to teach us how to add, subtract, read, write, run, swim, chart the stars, or crack jokes. The book of nature offers courses of study in all these fields and more. We expect one thing of the Bible, that which is the greatest knowledge of all: how to walk with God.

For Whom the Breeze Blows

Out of the four seasons, some crown autumn queen. She is breathtaking. Hers is a time of bounty and of reflection. She also casts a bittersweet spell upon us, for she is the dying season, full of memory.

You and I, what are we? We are leaves hanging upon the branch of this world, waiting for the autumn breeze to send us off into eternity. Perhaps you are still fresh and green, but even your time will come. Spring will turn to summer, and summertime shall pass before the cool air of fall.

Can you hear it? The wind blows for me. The wind blows for you. Let us be ready for our journey.

Preach the Gospel, Die, and Be Remembered

Preach the gospel, die, and be forgotten.

-Nicolaus Zinzendorf

This pious saying was uttered by Moravian bishop Count Zinzendorf. It sounds so spiritual, doesn’t it? (It averages about 100 shares an hour on Christian social media.) Only problem is, it backfired. Royally. The poor fellow is mainly remembered for this quote! Ironic, eh? The wise words of Master Oogway come to mind: “One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it.”

Ol’ Zinzy has been long remembered, and well he ought to be. The missionary-minded man has left a good and worthy name to posterity. In fact, according to a wiser than Zinzendorf:

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches.

-Proverbs 22:1

A good name means a good reputation. It is to be known and remembered. Turns out, it’s even better than wealth. Great Scott! A good name is a treasure all its own. How’s about we preach the gospel, die, and be remembered fondly by our families, friends, and acquaintances? Could be the move.

Sunset on Summer of Solomon

All good things must come to an end, the Summer of Solomon included. I’ve enjoyed meditating upon the Proverbs over these short months. And now, as the great orb wanes and the shadows of summer stretch, I’d like to end with one more word from the man himself:

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning.

-Ecclesiastes 7:8

We tend to romanticize the past. Perhaps we wish we could go back to the beginning of summer and have it all over again, but such a wish is foolish. In this life, the end is better than the beginning.

But that doesn’t sound right. How could it be? Because, for Christians, the end of all things in this life signifies their beginning in the wondrous world to come. As the seasonal guard changes, let us not get too nostalgic, but rather set our sights on the Prize to come.

Fake It Till You Make It?

Whenever we start something new, the recipe calls for a certain amount of fake it till you make it. But as a course of life, this is not the way:

A wicked man puts on a bold face,

but the upright gives thought to his ways.

-Proverbs 21:29

According to this proverb, one of the character traits of the wicked man is that he puts on a bold face. In other words, he pretends to be more than he is. He makes great boasts, even though he may deliver (and has delivered) very little.

The upright, on the other hand, is characterized by his thoughtfulness. He is guided by knowledge and carefulness, rather than open bravado. The gospel security we enjoy in Christ makes this possible (since we have nothing more to prove). With the help of his Spirit, we too can rightly consider our life and ways and walk in the freedom of simple honesty.