Tag Archives: wisdom

Bloons, a Wonderful Game.

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Bloons TD4 Lite iOS logo.

Image via Wikipedia

I play the game Bloons 4.  I’ve been playing it for over a year now.  How slow am I to have just figured something out.  It’s ok to loose a few of my 200 lives if I set up certain elements first.

The Christian life is similar.  The target is holiness before the Lord.  But when we first come to Him, we find Him working on things we didn’t expect.  He begins the work within us in curious places.  And to our perception, we think something’s amiss.  We need His wisdom to hold on while He works that marvelous salvation He promises.

I encourage all who are struggling in their faith to hold on.  What you perceive as important may not be the focus of God at the time.  Just hold on!

An Echo of a Moment

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Sometimes a situation or question arrises which provokes special and pointed understandings.  It is impossible to replicate the words and thoughts at a later date.  And maybe it’s God’s way of removing pride from His people as we share His wisdom.  For this reason, I provide the following link to a conversation. 

http://zukunftsaugen.wordpress.com/2011/10/19/a-joke-or-a-revelation/

Trials.

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TRIALS ARE LIKE FIRE

Image by whologwhy via Flickr

What shall we do as times of adversity fall upon us?  If we belong to the Lord, there is only one response to adversity of various kinds:

2 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”  (James 1)

We consider such things as from the hand of our Father.  We are being allowed to suffer for the sake of His name.  We are being taught to obey regardless the cost.  And we are to ask to receive wisdom in our plight, so that we might obey with a steadfast heart.

I did not write this as a cute little slice of scripture.  This is a real life answer to real life problems.

May Your Holy Will be done as Your wisdom and understand directs.  You are my Lord, Teacher, Master, Father, and Love.  You alone are God.  And You will purify Your people!

Amen.

By His Grace.

Age is Not Equal to Wisdom.

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Old Man Cactus

Image by Bill Gracey via Flickr

In my foolishness as a young man I sought the eternal wisdom from those with white hair.  I knew they had lived long enough to pass on something of value.  But I found no one.  I was sure there was a truth to be known.  And I guess it was the movies and stories about “wise men” that echoed in my head. 

Where was that wise man?  I remember being disappointed as I encountered one after another and found nothing.  I watched them drink till they were drunk.  I heard them cuss more than I did.  I heard thousands of dirty jokes from their lips.  I heard them hate others with a love for hatred.  I heard them speak of money and social standing as if they were more precious than life itself.  But I knew all this was a lie.  Where was the wise man?  Perhaps he was on a mountain in some remote village.  But he was not near enough to me to listen to what was true.  So I went about my business of living with a certain abandon and a deep sense of loss that there was no one to speak of those wise truths.

It’s my turn now.  My hair is becoming white with age.  And the wrinkles on my face speak of years spent.  Someone is watching.  And deep inside, that someone is desiring to hear the wisdom of age.  Am I able to deliver what they seek?  Am I willing to deliver what is true and lasting?  Ponderous thoughts to think.  Such a beautiful responsibility. 

Father, wisdom comes from You.  The knowledge of eternity is hidden in Your Holy Spirit.  I ask You to cause me to be and become a blessing for those who seek what is true.  By the Holy Name of Jesus, I ask your mercy.  Amen.

 

By His Grace.

To Judge or Assess?

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Scale_of_justice

Image by TaranRampersad via Flickr

I witnessed an old man having trouble with the lock on the back of his trailer.  Now, I’d jump out and help.  But only one key opens the lock.  And only one set of fingers at a time can turn that key.  And what advice can I possibly give to help? “Try to turn it this way.”  Yeah.

I was waiting behind him to pull into my door.  And there was nothing more to do but sit and watch.  After a while he gave up and waddled back to my truck.  Was he going to ask for help?  Maybe he thought I carried a bolt cutter or an oxy acetylene torch.  Nah, that’s not reasonable to expect.

He got near my truck and I jumped out to meet him.  He began to talk and my soul was startled.  Anger and cursing flowed from his mouth like a river of fast moving mud.  I didn’t expect that.  He didn’t look like someone who carried that kind of heart.  But there’s not much a person can tell about another by simply looking at them.

This experience brings me to ponder “judging”.  We are instructed (commanded actually) not to judge.  But what would this world be like if we didn’t access our fellow humans? How would we sort out danger or friendly?  Would we allow the enemies of truth to come live in our house?  Perhaps, but not without making some measure of prevention.  So what is this judging thing?

Judging, as we’re commanded to refrain from, is more likely having to do with settling on a conviction that someone is a certain way and  without redemption.  Perhaps it’s like being a judge at a trial and rendering a sentence on the person in question.  I can see how this would be a source of major damage.  There would be no hope of that person ever overcoming their history.  And such judging would preclude any possibility of change.  So they would be locked out of our sphere of acceptance and hope.

Judging, as is necessary, might be more like assessment.  We consider the other person according to what knowledge of truth we contain.  And we allow for learning on both parts.  I allow myself room to learn something more about the person, while I continue to consider that person with reserved guard.  And I allow that other person room toward possible clarification of their personality.

Refrain from condemning others to the life they now present to you.  But be careful not to allow enemies to get too close.  A curious mix of understanding is needed here.  But doesn’t this just show how small and unwise we really are?  Who can know what is right without the Lord giving understanding?  How many people have been killed, through the ages, because others judged them unfit.  Even the righteous have become victim of this kind of judging.

In the end, perhaps it would be better to identify two words we can use.  We are allowed to access a person’s intend and tendencies.  And do so with understanding that we might well be wrong.  We’re allowed to protect what is precious in our world.   But we’re commanded not to condemn others before we have all the facts.  And even when all the “facts” are presented, can we truly judge them on an eternal scale?   “Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”

And what would have happened if Jesus had met the “man of the tombs” and simply turned around and left?  After all, wasn’t the entire village afraid of this man?  Wasn’t he a horrible person?  But look what happened when Jesus drove the evil spirits out of him.  The villagers found that man “in his right mind and sitting at the feet of Jesus”.  (Mark 5: 1-10)  See also:  http://timglass.wordpress.com/2008/10/04/a-man-from-the-tombs-mark-51-10/

At the same time I’m put in remembrance of the 7 sons of sceva:

13 “Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. ”  (Acts 9)

Again, we are told to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

By His Grace.

The Old Man.

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In a simple land a young man grew up.  All his life he had heard whispers of a man.  It was said this man sat on a hill and held secrets to something better.  But no one of the young man’s people could or would tell him more.  They rarely spoke of the man on the hill.  But when they did speak of him it was with hushed tones and wide eyes.  Then all who heard would laugh that nervous laugh and turn the subject to things that “mattered” here.

One day, while the young man was working in his field, he thought of the whispers and nervous laughs.  He pondered that this man on a hill should shake his people so.  He looked to the surrounding hills and wondered if the stories were true.  Then, he threw down his rake and turned to go into the village.

When he arrived in the village he looked up the elders.  They were gathered in the coffee shop, as was their usual place of the day.  He drew up a chair near to them, for it is right to give respect to the knowledge and standing of such men.  One of the elders asked, “What can we do for you today”?   “I’ve come to ask you about the man on the hill”, the young man said with a reverant voice.  “Can you tell me where this hill can be found?”  The elders looked at each other and gave a knowing smile.  Then, the elder who had addressed the young man spoke.

“Why do you want to know about such fables?”  The young man simply replied, “I was pondering the hushed tones we use when we speak of him.  I wondered if there was any truth to the story”.  “There is some indication of truth to the story of the old man on the hill”, the elder admitted.  “I hear the hill is south and 21 days walk”.  The young man looked at the floor and gave it a thought for a moment.  Then looking up at his admiration, he said, “I thank you for your time.  You have helped me to think of these things rightly.  21 days is a long time to venture after something that might not even be true.”  “You’re welcome.  You have a great day now.  We’re a bit busy with the village’s problems.  So if you’ll excuse us, we’ll be about our business.”

The young man went home and packed a large supply of food and clothing.  He had determined to seek out this fable.  At least when he had searched more than others he would be able to make a wise statement regarding this fable.  When he was packed, he set out.

21 days of stumbling, searching, recovering his tracks only to recover again were past.  There before him was a sharp hill.  And on the hill sat an old man all alone.  Joy filled the young man’s heart.  “Is this the man they speak of?  It must be!  There is truth to our fable after all!”

He ascended the hill and approached the old man.  The eyes of age had watched the young man clamor with his load.  And now he stood before a fable.  “Good evening”, said the old man.  “What brings you here”?  With a dry tongue, the young man said, “I was told you held secrets that could help us live better in our conditions”.  Now what the young man expected is hard to say.  Even his own mind couldn’t form sense of his expectations.  But what he heard did not fit what he thought he’d hear.

He saw the old man think.  He watched him sit silently.  So the young man sat at the old man’s feet and waited.  As the old man was looking down, he began to speak.  “Why do you sit at my feet and ask of things like this?  You came all this way to ask of me what I do not have.”  Void, is the best description of what was going through the young man’s mind when he heard that.  “I came all this way and found what was whispered, only to hear he has nothing to offer?”

Then the old man continued with a soft voice.  “You sit at my feet as if I have something to give you.  I am just like you.  Yet there is something.”  The old man made a gesture round about with his hand.  “It’s right there.”  The old man whispered.   He picked up a blade of grass and pointed to the blade.  “It’s right there”.  He pointed to the sky.  “It’s right there”.   He struck the ground with speed and finality.  “It’s right there”.  Then, with a bony finger, the old man poked the chest of the young man.  “It’s right there.”  Then, as if to conclude, the old man spoke with an astounding force.  “You came to me to find what I do not have.  It is not given to men to own what you’re looking for.  You’re looking for help to make better the world around you and to profit by what you think I hold.  Now listen to me and leave my presence, for you seek help from a mere man.”  Then with even a louder voice he yelled, “His name is Jesus!”  Call on what you can not see.  Speak with He who is more than all!  It is He you were hearing about all these years!  Go!  I have told you all you need to know!”  Surprised at the force of the old man, the young man jumped to his feet and scurried down the hill.

We seek as men.  We ponder what is greater.  We look to men for that’s all we know.  Many will venture to ask of men that they might find guidance toward heaven and what is better.  And foolish men will presume to be the doorway to that which is better.  Yet a wise man, an old man, will point with great force to the One who is best. 

By His Grace.