reality

I remember the story reported in a magazine in the 1980’s The famous boxer Mohammad Ali was on a plane. The flight attendant saw that Mr. Ali did not have his seat belt on. She asked him, “Mr. Ali, please fasten your seat belt.” Mr. Ali obviously didn't want to feel tied down.  “Superman don't need no seat belt,” he replied. The attendant shot back: “Superman don't need no plane either!”

We cannot deal with reality based on...

I remember one of my favorite times to be with my mom when I was young, was when she made chocolate chip cookies. She would let me help her and my favorite part was when I would stir in the extract of vanilla. The smell was heavenly, but I knew it was expensive and my mom had told me that it could not taste good. One day, I just could not resist anymore, so after I poured the vanilla in I quickly took a swig from the bottle. My mom turned just in time to see me swallow. She was not mad, and that she laughed for quite a while as she saw my face showing the learning experience of finding out that just because something smells good does not guarantee it tastes good.

I never forgot how bad that tasted, still, it was a great lesson, to really “know” something, you have to know ALL of it! Sometimes, when we only see a part of something, it may skew our understanding of what the whole is in reality. It may look like a great apple, but if you bite into it and see a worm inside, your view will change! Sadly, many people...

Prov 8:6-9 Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right, for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception. My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it. My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge.

Once I was golfing with a friend. I knew the golf course, he did not. He had hit into a valley, so he asked me to stand at the top of the hill in line with the green so he could aim. I smiled and said ok. He hit a tremendous shot. As he walked up the hill his eyes began to open wide as he saw that between me and the green was a large pond. I told him his ball landed about half way out in the middle. My ball was over to the left on the fairway. He had thought I had hooked my shot. He looked at me and said "why didn't you tell me there was a pond between me and the green?" I smiled and said...

Proverbs 7:24-27 So now, sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words I speak. Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways –do not wander into her pathways; for she has brought down many fatally wounded, and all those she has slain are many. Her house is the way to the grave,  going down to the chambers of death.

Proverbs 7 is a tremendous in-depth dissection on how sin works and the cost involved. The example chosen by the Lord is a foolish young man, and an immoral wife. However, the principle communicated here extends...

The look and smell of Seduction ☛ Probing Proverbs 7:15-17 You’re the one I was looking for! I came out to find you, and here you are! My bed is spread with beautiful blankets, with colored sheets of Egyptian linen. I’ve perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.☚

We should pay close attention to our senses...not to allow them to lead...but to warn our mind to concentrate and count the cost of what giving into our senses will cost! The woman here gives us a college level education on...

Scripture Read: Judges 6:13-16 Then Gideon said to him, “O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” 14 The Lord looked at him and said, “Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?” 15 He said to Him, “O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.” 16 But the Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat Midian as one man.”

Application: It’s all in your point of view...

Scripture Read: Judges 3:1-8 Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to test Israel by them (that is, all who had not experienced any of the wars of Canaan; only in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war, those who had not experienced it formerly). These nations are: the five lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians and the Hivites who lived in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. They were for testing Israel, to find out if they would obey the commandments of the LORD, which He had commanded their fathers through Moses. The sons of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and they took their daughters for themselves as wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods. The sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, so that He sold them into the hands of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the sons of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.

Application: Trying to get our mind to comprehend the mind of God is something we always seem to try and do, and always will fail to do. One thing we need to remember is...

Scripture Read:  1 Timothy 6:7-8  For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

Application: This passage is most likely one of the most sobering truths in all the scripture. It states a reality that all know, but most try to ignore. It is the same reason why so many individuals avoid funerals. When we are confronted with the fact that we are finite beings, we look...