Wisdom is calling

Does not wisdom call, And understanding lift up her voice? (Prov. 8:1) Scripture (particularly in Proverbs) says that the fool is the one who chases the adulterous. The fool is the sluggard who is too lazy even to feed himself. The fool is the one who rejects correction and instruction. The fool believes himself always […]

How to read Scripture

Scripture not only testifies to its own authenticity and reliability, but it also tells us how to read and understand and delight in it. For example, Proverbs 3 offers four directives for the kinds of attitudes we are to cultivate as we read Scripture: Cultivate a desire to remember and know Scripture (vv. 1-4). Read […]

Book Review: Craftsmen

Title: Craftsmen: Christ-Centered Proverbs for Men Author: John Crotts Publisher: Shepherd Press, 2005; 159 pp. $12.99 Recommendation (4-star scale): Talking to someone the other day, he remarked something like, “The hardest thing I do is to try to lead my wife spiritually — why is it so hard to have even a 3-minute spiritual conversation […]

Sunday Leftovers (8/8/10)

A couple decades ago, Yogi Berra had opportunity to attend a White House dinner. After the event he was asked about the experience, and he replied: “It was hard to have a conversation, there were so many people talking.” Indeed. Yet he was right — for where there is an abundance of words, there is […]

God, please don’t give me too much

The “fish story” is the poster-child for exaggeration. The longer the fish is dead, the bigger it grows. But fishermen are not the only ones who are prone to stretching the boundaries of a story. A 25-pound weight loss creeps up to 30, then 35 or more. Salaries often “grow” even when there haven’t been […]

As a man thinks…

A quick trip to the local bookstore and even a superficial perusal of the food section will yield a plethora of books on dieting and eating designed to help the reader change his habits of consumption. The tenor of the books? “You are what you eat.” “Eat right to live right.” Or as is commonly […]

A little sleep, a little slumber…

A number of years ago, La-Z-Boy developed a new recliner: it had the “usual” amenities of a six-motor heated massager, a speaker phone, and holders for both drinks and chips. But for those who really wanted to indulge their quest for relaxation, they could also purchase one with a digital answering machine and built-in modem […]

Your soul’s best interest

Our Scripture reading this morning included some of Solomon’s counsel to his son — Do not let your heart envy sinners, But live in the fear of the LORD always. Surely there is a future, And your hope will not be cut off. (Prov. 23:17-18) There is a relationship, this wise father advises, between an […]

A discerning mind exemplified

Last night while reading Memoirs & Remains of Robert Murray M’Cheyne, I came across his response when a friend of the family had said “That she was determined to keep by the world.” What do you say about one who, like Demas, loves the world and with intention and volition walks away from Christ? M’Cheyne […]

A discerning mind

If I go to the grocery store, I can usually distinguish between the ripe, ready-to-eat fruit from the overripe and time-to-throw-it-in-the-garbage-can fruit. Take me to a used car lot, and I have a harder time determining what’s a good ride and what’s a worn-out set of wheels. Set two people in front of me who […]

Reading Proverbs

Today we begin reading the book of Proverbs. Here is some background information (Word document) about the book that will help you understand it as you read, as well as a brief summary here: The key word in Proverbs is “wisdom,” and making men wise serves as the fundamental purpose of the book (cf. 1:2). […]

Sunday Leftovers (8/26/07)

“If we understood Hell even the slightest bit, none of us would ever say, ‘Go to Hell.’ It’s far too easy to go to Hell. It requires no change of course, no navigational adjustments. We were born with our autopilot set toward Hell. It is nothing to take lightly — Hell is the single greatest […]

The high cost of sexual sin

In preparation for Sunday’s sermon, I came across this statement by Derek Kidner about the Biblical reality of what sexual sin is. [All the references are from Proverbs.] …sexual sin is presented in the darkest colours. It is a squandering of powers that were designed for the founding of a true family that should be […]

Sunday Leftovers (8/5/07)

“To the physician,” writes, Chuck Swindoll, “it’s merely a two-ounce slab of mucous membrane…But the tongue is as volatile as it is vital…[It is ] verbal cyanide. A lethal, relentless, flaming missile which assaults with hellish power, blistering and destroying at will.” This is the testimony of many Scriptures — Jesus, James, and Proverbs speak […]

Worthy of imitation

Several years ago, basketball player Charles Barkley created no small amount of controversy when he said, “I am not paid to be a role model. I am paid to wreak havoc on a basketball court. Parents should be role models. Just because I can dunk a basketball, that doesn’t mean I should raise your kids…” […]