"I would like to buy about three dollars' worth of gospel, please. Not too much—just enough to make me happy, but not so much that I get addicted. I don’t want so much gospel that I learn to really hate covetousness and lust. I certainly don’t want so much that I start to love my enemies, cherish self-denial, and contemplate missionary service in some alien culture. I want ecstasy, not repentance; I want transcendence, not transformation. I would like to be cherished by some nice, forgiving, broad-minded people, but I myself don’t want to love those from different races—especially if they smell. I would like enough gospel to make my family secure and my children well behaved, but not so much that I find my ambitions redirected or my giving too greatly enlarged. I would like about three dollars worth of gospel, please. Of course, none of us is so crass as to put it that way.”

SOURCE: Carson, D. A.. Basics for Believers: An Exposition of Philippians. Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

"May you demonstrate wholehearted devotion to the LORD our God by following his rules and obeying his commandments..." (1Kgs 8:61).

Dene Ward

Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.

I read my New Testament volume of Bibliotheca every morning with breakfast. For those unaware, Bibliotheca is a revision of the American Standard Version of 1901 that updates all its  “ests, ” “eths,” “thous,” etc. The ASV was a more literal translation than any current one, but its readability was hampered by its inauthentic attempt to be Shakespearean like the KJV.  Bibliotheca also leaves out all chapter and verse numbers so one reads it in the same form as the original readers. (If you are interested, look it up on Wikipedia, I ordered on Kickstarter.)
 
At some point, I decided that since the gospel is Jesus I would read the four gospels exclusively at this breakfast reading, so I start over with Matthew when I reach the end of John. Recently, I noticed a wording in a passage I had not noticed in the 5-6 (?) previous readings. Of course, I had to stop and get a Bible with numbers to learn that my passage was Lk 6:32-36, “And if you love those who love you, what grace have you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what grace have you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those of whom you hope to receive, what grace have you? Even sinners lend to sinners to receive again as much. But love your enemies and do good, and lend, never despairing; and your reward shall be great and you shall be sons of the Most High, for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
 
Did you notice? Instead of saying “What thank (KJV) have you?” Jesus asked, “What GRACE have you?”  (ESV—“benefit,” NASV, NET & CSB—“credit.” We normally think of God only as the one who gives grace. In the other translations, Jesus clearly tells the audience that if they will behave the right way, they will have a reward. In the above, he is telling them that if they behave the correct way they will be showing grace, they will be dispensers of grace.
 
So, which translation is correct? Bibliotheca is definitely in the minority, but the word being translated is charis, so “grace” is the more exact translation. But, since “thank” is a valid translation for charis (though a distinct minority), we should let the context determine.
 
The context can go either way. Jesus’ next words are, “and your reward shall be great” where reward definitely means payment for a service as in Mt 5:46. But then, Jesus wraps up, “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” right after he said, “He is kind toward the unthankful and evil.”  This urges us to give grace like the Father does.
 
I tend toward the concept of us as children of the Father passing on grace just as he has shown us grace. As Jesus said, it is normal to be good to those who have done good to us or whom we like. And, if I paid you enough, you would even do good to people who are mean to you or those you do not like. But, offering grace simply because we are God’s is a greater calling and in line with the teaching of those who heard Jesus, "And who is he that will harm you, if ye be zealous of that which is good?  But, even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, blessed are you” (1Pet 3:13-13).
 
What grace have you when you get behind the wheel of your car? When you don’t feel well and it was a bad day at work and the kids are acting up? What grace have you when “he” gets exactly what he deserved? What grace have you toward someone unliked? Someone ugly? Someone socially ostracized?
 
And, above all, what is our attitude when we (rarely?) do these things? Self-satisfaction? A looking to the time you will be paid back for this distasteful behavior? Or is it as Jesus said, “never despairing?”
 
"But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. " (2Cor 3:18).
 
 Keith Ward

“More than half a century ago, while I was still a child, I recall hearing a number of older people offer the following explanation for the great disasters that had befallen Russia: “Men have forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened.

”Since then I have spent well-nigh fifty years working on the history of our Revolution; in the process I have read hundreds of books, collected hundreds of personal testimonies, and have already contributed eight volumes of my own toward the effort of clearing away the rubble left by that upheaval. But if I were asked today to formulate as concisely as possible the main cause of the ruinous Revolution that swallowed up some sixty million of our people, I could not put it more accurately than to repeat: “Men have forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened.”

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

https://www.solzhenitsyncenter.org/notable-quotations
 
Courtesy of Warren Berkley
Berksblog.net

Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt: “You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. “Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet? Does a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Does a young lion cry out from his den, if he has taken nothing? Does a bird fall in a snare on the earth, when there is no trap for it? Does a snare spring up from the ground, when it has taken nothing? ​Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the LORD has done it? “For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken; who can but prophesy? (Amos 3:1-8).

Today's post is by guest writer Lucas Ward.
 
I know, I know, I'm neither married nor do I have children so I have no right to write on this subject.  That is the usual reaction of most, isn't it?  It occurs to me that the two men who spoke the most on these subjects in the NT were Jesus and Paul, neither of whom were married or had kids.  How did they speak wisely on the subject?  Well, they spoke as the Holy Spirit directed them (Mark 13:11, John 8:28).  While I am in no way claiming inspiration, I can read what the inspired writers wrote down and pass on those principles.  So, in this post I will take care to not include any of my opinions nor any of the things I've heard my parents say as they taught marriage and family classes, but will present only what the Holy Spirit directed Solomon to say.  So, if you dislike or disagree with any of the following, you aren't disagreeing with me, but with the principles the Holy Spirit laid down through Solomon.
 
The first clear principle that Solomon lays down is that if you want to be a good parent, you must first make sure you are walking in the light.
Prov. 20:7  "The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!" 
Prov. 14:26  "In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge." 
If a father or mother is righteous and walks in integrity, the children will be better off.  Blessed.  His children will have refuge from the chaos of this world.  This doesn't mean that you have to be completely perfect, but rather that your walk is in the light, instead of predominately in the dark.  A parent who doesn't care about being right himself can do immense damage to his family.
Prov. 11:29  "Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart."
The proverb seems to be the gist of what Paul was speaking of in Eph. 6:4   "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."  So, as a parent, our first duty to our children is to ensure that we are walking right with God.  Good parenting will naturally follow.
 
The second thing Solomon says about child rearing is that it involves training.
Prov. 22:6  "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." 
Training in its nature implies time taken.  It implies a plan followed.  If you were paying a personal trainer to help you get in shape and he cancelled half your appointments and when he did show up he just randomly assigned you different exercises until it became plain he was not following any sort of planned program, you'd fire him, wouldn't you?  God has assigned us to train our children.  In these efforts, are we any different from that horrible physical trainer?  Solomon gives an example of how he worked to give his son a path to wisdom.
Prov. 22:17-21  "Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.  That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to you today, even to you.  Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge, to make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?" 
Solomon not only taught his son, but wrote out 30 sayings for his son to learn.  He was working to lead his son in the right way.  Parents must have a plan, follow it, and be around their kids enough to know if it is working. 
Prov. 20:11  "Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright." 
Jesus said, "By their fruits you shall know them."  Solomon says the same about children.  We can know who they are by what they do.  Which means that parents should be paying attention so they can see if they need to adjust their planned training of their children to meet who their child actually is.  My parents tell me that I was a stubborn child who, when very young, would listen to Dad tell me not to do something and then, grinning, do it right in front of him.  Nathan, on the other hand, would say, "OK", leave, and then sneak back to do it when Dad wasn't around.  We made ourselves known by our acts and Dad and Mom had to adjust their training of us accordingly.  Parents should be teaching children a lifestyle discipline.
Prov. 29:17  "Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart." 
Prov. 19:18  "Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death." 
That last one is a bit funny.  I think all parents have a moment in which they just want to strangle their children. Solomon understands that and says, no, don't kill them, there is still hope.  Follow the discipline plan you've made and eventually "he will give delight to you heart."
 
Usually when we think of discipline, we think of punishment, which is not really correct.  However punishment is a part of teaching a discipline and of child rearing.  Solomon (from the Holy Spirit, remember) approved of corporal punishment in all areas of life (10:13, 14:3, 19:29, 20:30, 26:3) so it is not surprising that he approved of it in child rearing. 
Prov. 22:15  "Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him."
Prov. 23:13-14  "Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.  If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol."
 
There are two things to note in these passages.  First, the goal in mind:  to drive away folly and save his soul from Hell.   Good parents aren't striking their children just because they are angry.  They don't hit them because they had a bad day at work or they are disappointed in how their lives are going.  They apply corporal punishment as needed in following their plan to train up their child.  They do it for the purpose of driving out foolishness and saving the child from hell.   Also notice that "if you strike him with a rod, he will not die."  If your child is winding up in the hospital because of your "discipline", then you are doing it wrong!  This is supposed to be enough to straighten them up, not injure them.  The Bible does not condone child abuse.  Again, THE BIBLE DOES NOT CONDONE CHILD ABUSE.  It does, however, strongly endorse properly applied corporal punishment as a teaching tool.
Prov. 29:15  "The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother." 
Prov. 13:24  "Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him." 
Again, the purpose of reproving your child and using the switch is to give wisdom.  The other option is a child who brings shame to his parents.  As to the parents who say that they just can't bring themselves to spank their children, Solomon says it is because you don't love them enough.  Just as when Jesus says that if you don't hate your father and mother etc, you can't be His disciple (Luke 14:26) He doesn't mean to hate them, but to love Him enormously more, and Prov. 13:24 doesn't mean the parent actively hates the child and therefore withholds punishment, but rather he doesn't love the child enough to do what's in the child's best interest, even though it hurts the parent.  Let's face, you love that cute little bugger and it hurts to even think about being the reason he is crying.  It makes you sick to think about causing him pain.  If you truly love him, however, you will be diligent in your discipline.  "Diligent" implies hard work, and this is very hard for many parents, but remember the purpose:  to drive out foolishness, instill wisdom, and save his soul from hell.  That little pain you inflict when he is young will save him from huge amounts of pain later in this life and especially after it. 
There are a lot of people who disagree with this method of child rearing.  Despite it being taught by the wisest man ever, inspired by God to teach it, there is a growing number of people in the Church who don't follow the method (and then later wonder why their children went astray).  

Again, I am not giving you my opinion.  I simply read you what the Proverbs teach, so you aren't disagreeing with me, but with what the Holy Spirit led Solomon to write.  Let me leave you with one final proverb.
Prov. 14:12  "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."
So, therefore,
Prov. 22:6  "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." 
 
Lucas Ward
 

Today's sobering post is by guest writer, Keith Ward.
 
I’ve seen it on Facebook more than once: “I can’t wait for 2020 to be over.” But there is no magic in the turning of a page on the calendar.  Maybe it is time to take stock carefully from a biblical perspective.  Maybe the times we face are partially the result of, “Be careful what you pray for because you might get it.”

We look around us and everywhere there is wickedness.  When was the last time we voted, whichever party, for a person we believed in rather than the lesser of two evils? And speaking of two, now man has proclaimed there are 5 or 6 or more sexes.  Homosexuality is not just accepted but imposed.  Murder goes unpunished, victims do not count.  Abortion destroys millions of new lives every year.  Violence runs riot in the streets.  Lies and deception are the currency of both politics and business.  Hatred and racism explode.  Truly, things have become so bad that no one can conceive of a solution: there is no way back.  God is a foolish myth and crutch in the minds of the majority and the Bible is a collection of myths that were only needed by more primitive societies.   Religion is mocked, immorality praised, pornography runs rampant and a “relationship” is sex with the same person exclusively for at least a week.  When was the last time there was a nuclear family on TV that was not a 50s re-run? How can we repent when we “call evil good and good evil” (Isa 5:20)?

I have prayed about it, as have you.  I am not even sure what to say anymore when I pray for our country because everything has become so wicked. 
So, now, what if God has heard all our voices and this is the beginning of His reckoning with our nation, the beginning of “the day of the Lord, a day of darkness and not light” (Amos 5:18-20)?  If 2020 is the best year of the rest of our lives, how do we as Christians prepare?

Priority has to be to build our faith and that of our families.  I have served God fifty years and I am not sure I am ready for days like those of Habakkuk and Jeremiah and Ezekiel and Daniel: days of persecution from “the people,” uprooted and cursed and hated.  I like to think I could do it, but I will be upping my level of preparation.

How can one stand such trials when he has never put himself in the trial of opposing abortion openly? Or homosexuality? Or immorality?  How can one stand up with a faith prepared to die for the Lord when he rarely opens his Bible between services and never stands up for Jesus by declaring the truth of the gospel to fishing or football buddies?

We want our children to go to heaven in spite of such trials, but we have not helped them with questions about the reliability of the Bible, or the science that supports the Bible, or the history and archaeology that do the same because we have not learned these things ourselves.  We have not opposed the arguments against God with sound reasoning for God, so how do we or our children “stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand?”  (Eph 6:13).
 
We want to stand the trials, but have not exercised spiritually to prepare for a hard race.  We have not memorized scriptures to call to our minds for strength, we have not studied and meditated to strengthen our confidence in our tie with God, we have not prayed the hours necessary to strengthen our holiness before God. 

When we do an honest analysis, many of us in many ways have not done all that well with the moderate trials of 2020.  We bicker whether the one wearing a mask or the one not wearing one has the most faith rather than loving brethren more than our opinions.  We complain about restrictions.  We are not picking up the slack in our ability to assemble by studying more, praying more, growing more.  Instead, many have become comfortable with TV church in our pajamas.

2020 may be, in fact, God’s grace, God’s “not willing that any should perish” warning, and time to face the judgment on our nation in our times.  If so, have you missed the opportunity?
 
"And they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.  " (Jer 8:11).
 
"For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt: I mourn; dismay hath taken hold on me.  Is there no balm in Gilead? is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered? " (Jer 8:21-22).
 
"For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ….  Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: " (2Pet 1:8-10).
 
"I know thy works, that thou hast a name that you live , and you are dead.  You be watchful, and establish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God.   " (Rev 3:1-2).
 
Keith Ward

Today's post is by guest writer, Lucas Ward, and is a second part to last month's installment on Proverbs and the tongue.
 
As Jesus originally instituted His church, it is to be many people coming together to make one body working together to accomplish God's will. 
1 Cor. 12:12-13  "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.  For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit."
1 Cor. 12:24-25  "which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another."
Eph. 1:22-23  "And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,  which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all."
 
We are to be one unified body under Christ, serving Him.  A careless mouth can undo this relationship. 
Prov. 13:10  "By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom."
 
To be insolent is to be rude, disrespectful, and contemptuous.  It is easy to see why Solomon warns that such speech causes strife.  Wisdom leads us in another direction.
Prov. 16:21  "The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness." 
Prov. 16:23  "The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips."
 
If we want to be considered wise, our speech should be judicious, or thoughtful.  If we want people to listen to us without a fight, our speech should be persuasive.  Such is helped by sweetness of speech, not insolence.  We need to take care how we speak of our brethren.
Prov. 11:12  "Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent." 
To speak ill of another just doesn't make any sense.  All it does is cause fights and destroy relationships.  The wise man knows when to keep his mouth closed.  That leads us to the topic of gossip.
 
Prov. 16:28  "A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends."
A whisperer separates even close friends.  This reminds me of Iago from the Shakespeare play Othello.  At the beginning of the play, Othello is a strong, confident man, a leader widely respected and trusted by the highest authorities.  Then Iago becomes offended and begins a whispering campaign.  He spreads lies, rumors, and innuendoes until Othello is a broken man, having lost his wife, his job and his confidence.  All because Iago whispered.  This kind of thing cannot happen in the church. 
 
Prov. 17:9  "Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends."
This happens all too often, even by those who, in all innocence, mean nothing by it.  Random, happy babbling can cause as many problems as the determined whisperer.  Again, the wise man knows when to keep his mouth shut.  I am naturally curious about all things.  That has led me at times to be nosy.  One of the hardest lessons I've had to learn is that I don't need to know everything about everyone around me.  And, if I do know something, I don't have to tell my friends all about it.  I'm still working on that one.  Even innocent babbling can cause strife, and not all are innocent.
 
Prov. 24:28-29  "Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.  Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.” 
Revenge is not a good reason to gossip.  We cannot allow ourselves to speak ill of someone just because we are angry with them. 
 
Prov. 12:6  "The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright delivers them." 
Prov. 11:9  "With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered."
Notice how these people are described, who want to destroy others with their words:  wicked and godless.  If we want any hope of Heaven, we cannot allow those descriptions to ever fit us.  That means we need to watch our verbal attacks on others.
 
Sometimes gossip isn't fueled by anger and revenge, but that doesn't make it any better.
Prov. 18:8  "The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body."
Prov. 26:22  "The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body."
Another case where Solomon repeats himself.  It must be important.  Gossip is fun.  Most of us do it, not out of maliciousness, but because we like the juice.  It's satisfying to know what is going on.  It is titillating to hear secrets about others.  But, who are we getting this juice from?  The whisperer.  The one who separates close friends.  I may not be malicious about it, but in listening and passing on gossip, I am participating in something that could destroy the fabric of God's family.  And that is evil. 
 
Prov. 20:19  "Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler."
It is amazing how much the fighting and bickering dies down when gossip ceases.  When no one is whispering, few are fighting.
Prov. 26:20  "For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases." 
When the kindling runs out, so does the fire.  The whispering feeds the fights.  The church with few whisperers is also the church that is closer and tighter knit.  We cannot allow ourselves to be the person who continues fighting and dividing the church.
Prov. 26:21  "As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife." 
 
Another similar issue of misusing our mouths that can cause problems for the church is false flattery.
Prov. 29:5  "A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet."
The ancient Israelites spread nets to catch birds.  So, the flatterer is laying traps for the people he flatters.  He is trying to bring them in and secure them before they know who he really is.  Instead of flattery, the wise man prefers correction.
Prov. 28:23   "Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue."
Prov. 25:12  "Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear."
The rebuke and the reproof are to keep us on the straight and narrow.  In the long run, they are far more valuable than the short term warmth of flattery.  We should watch out for the gushers, listen closely to the constructive critics, and determine that we won't allow ourselves to be the kind of person who influences through false flattery.
 
There are two ways we can use our mouths.  Each has a consequence.
Prov. 29:8  "Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath."
Prov. 11:11  "By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown."
How am I going to use my mouth today?
 
Lucas Ward

Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.
 
More than once I have been rebuked for the way I spoke to someone about the condition of his soul.  I then asked whether the situation was as I had judged it to be and those who rebuked agreed that it was.  I pointed out that the thing that I said was the same as Jesus, an apostle, or a prophet had said under similar circumstances and they agreed that is so.  I asked, well then, do you think that I spoke with love for him and his soul?  And, again, they agreed that I had.  Well, then, what is wrong?  Well, he (and his family/friends) are upset.  Jesus upset more people than he converted.   God will not allow me or you not to speak--"If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand."  (Ezek 3:18).   How can any spiritual person stop the voice of salvation to the lost brother?  I just don't understand.
 
Many members avoid every opportunity to learn the Bible.  They seek simple Bible classes about things they already know; they attend only part of the services.  In contrast are those who despite their own shortcomings or ability, and the same problems of time, seek out every opportunity to learn.  They study, fill in blanks, analyze, erase and try again.  They do this for the same reason a bride studies her husband.  Meanwhile, many times their number sing with gusto, "Oh how I love Jesus," but spend more time on their Gameboys than in their Bibles.   How can they believe they fool anyone, much less God, that they love him with all their hearts?  With all their souls?  With all their minds?   I just don't understand.
 
I cannot understand those who think the Lord's Supper is some kind of magic potion that will fix everything they have made little to no effort to change since the last time they bowed their heads so sincerely and prayed so hard.  And, if the past years of their lives are any clue to their future, they never will make much effort to change except to pray harder and think harder about Jesus on the cross.  It certainly looks like Calvinist mental faith-only to me.  After speaking of those who keep walking in the same old ways, Paul said, "But that is not the way you learned Christ!"  (Eph 4:20).  Then he goes on to instruct concerning the changes they need to make in their walk.  The Lord's Supper is no shortcut to heaven that excuses one from the work of changing himself.
 
I cannot understand those who proclaim all the proper pious phrases but never seem to apply any of them to their own lives.  "I know I am not perfect," translates to, "I really do not know of or admit any faults."  "Any man who shows me I am wrong will be my friend," translates to, "It can't be done no matter how many incidents and scriptures you list."  "I am doing the best I can and that is all God asks" translates to, "I am not studying much and have no intention of changing who I am."  They often quote pet scriptures and are somewhat knowledgeable, but they never see their own flaws when they look into James' mirror. 
 
I cannot understand those who come to church but are not of the church.  They participate when they feel like it.  They pay attention when it interests them, can often be seen playing on their devices.  They are perennially late and usually the first out the door.  Christians in name only, they have less hope than the man down the street who has yet to hear the gospel.
 
I cannot understand those things because I want to go to heaven no matter what it takes.  I know that I cannot know God or love him unless I know his word.  It takes a lot of study to get a little insight into God's character and how intensely he loves us.  The Lord's Supper is on every page of the Bible because Jesus is.  It will be in our hearts "till he come" and is my hope that "I'll Fly Away."  Each thing learned leads to something I need to change for who I am is not good enough.  I can never be really "good enough," but if I do my best by Jesus' standards (Parable of talents) rather than by my desire to get along on minimum effort, his grace will make me whole.  This I can readily understand.
 
"Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.  For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.  For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness." (Rom 10:1-3).
 
"My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." (Jas 5:19-20).

Keith Ward

Another in the continuing series on Proverbs by our guest writer, Lucas Ward.

In chapter 3, James writes of the dangers our mouth can get us into.  "How great a forest is burnt with a little fire".  He speaks of the difficulty in controlling our tongues, going so far to say that no one can do so -- and obvious exaggeration as he then instructs us to learn to control it.  Controlling what we say and how we say it being a big part of wisdom, is it any wonder that Proverbs devotes more space to this subject than any other except the need for wisdom itself?  There are at least 86 passages in Proverbs dealing with proper control of what we say.  So many, in fact, that I originally did two sermons on the subject, rather than one, and will write two posts on the subject.
 
Prov. 10:11a  "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life. . ."
Prov. 10:14b  ". . . the mouth of a fool brings ruin near."
The first thing to think about is Proverbs' contrast of the mouth of the wise, righteous man with that of the foolish (and possibly wicked) man.  The outcomes of each are telling. 
Prov. 10:21  "The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense."
Prov. 12:13  "An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble." 
Prov. 18:6-7  "A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.  A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul."
 
The mouth of the wise, righteous man is a fountain of life that feeds many and helps him escape from trouble.  The mouth of the foolish man brings ruin near, leads him to be ensnared for his crimes, and invites a beating.  So that leads to an obvious question:  How do I obtain and maintain a righteous mouth?
 
Prov. 17:27  "Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding."
The first answer to keeping my mouth righteous is to keep it closed.  Abraham Lincoln once said that it is better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.  Solomon said something similar:
Prov. 17:28  "Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent." 
You can't possibly make any dumb mistakes with what you say if you don't say anything.  How often do we just ramble on unthinkingly and then realize we just put our foot into our mouth?
Prov. 10:19  "When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent." 
Prov. 13:3  "Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin." 
The more we speak, the greater chance of transgressing, but we preserve our lives if we guard our mouths.
Prov. 18:13  "If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame."
If someone asks us a question, we need to think before we answer.  We especially need to hear the whole question before we answer.  Do you know anyone who is always finishing your sentences for you?  Occasionally, you are asking a question and they assume they know what you are going to ask and then answer the wrong question because they didn't listen, right?  And then you either laugh at them or get irked.  It is his folly and shame.
Prov. 21:23  "Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble." 
Prov. 29:20  "Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him." 
One of the major themes in Proverbs is how much Solomon dislikes fools.  So for him to say that there is more hope for a fool than a man who is hasty in his words is a very strong statement.  So, the first lesson in how to have a righteous mouth is to keep it closed and to think very carefully before we decide to open it.
 
The second lesson should be second nature to Christians.  A righteous mouth is an honest mouth.
Prov. 24:26  "Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips."
Prov. 12:19  "Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment."
Prov. 14:25  "A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful."
The liar may gain status for a bit, but the honest man with truthful lips is the one who endures.  The truthful man saves lives and his answer is like a kiss on the lips.  The righteous mouth is an honest mouth.

A righteous mouth is also graceful.
Prov. 15:26  "The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, but gracious words are pure." 
Prov. 16:24  "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body." 
If grace is unmerited favor then gracious words are kind, gentle words spoken to someone even if they aren't owed.  Even if they deserve worse.  These are words that bring people back together, rather than extending the fight.  These are words that heal and bring "sweetness to the soul".  These are words that a righteous mouth utters.

A righteous mouth is also kind.
Prov. 12:18  "There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." 
Prov. 15:4  "A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit."
Instead of striking again with the sword, our tongues should bring healing to the situation.  Our tongues can be like the tree of life or they can break someone's spirit.  Guess which is righteous?  Before we speak, we need to consider what is kind.
A righteous mouth is righteous because it is thoughtful.
Prov. 10:32  "The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse."
Prov. 15:23  "To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!" 
Prov. 15:28  "The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things." 
If we take a moment to think, we know what is acceptable to say.  Of course, it isn't only what is said, but how it is phrased and even when it is said that makes it good or not.  The apt answer, not just correct but apt, brings joy.  The word spoken in the correct time is good.  A kind of silly example is Prov. 27:14  "Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing."  This man is bestowing a blessing, which is good and kind, but he is doing it at the wrong time.  That early morning blessing might as well be a curse as far at the recipient is concerned.  (This reminds me of when Dad used to call me just to chat at 7:00 a.m. on mornings after I had to close Publix and hadn't gotten to sleep until 2:00 a.m.  While I was happy Dad wanted to chat, I wasn't so happy at the timing and eventually unplugged my phone before going to bed.)  Also, the righteous man ponders, takes the time to think, before answering questions.  He knows his answers could affect another's life, and so he doesn't answer flippantly or too quickly.  He thinks before he speaks. 
 
Finally, the righteous mouth teaches others wisdom.
Prov. 10:11  "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence."
Prov. 10:20-21  "The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.  The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense."
Prov. 25:12  "Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear." 
Prov. 10:31  "The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off." 

The mouth of the wise righteous man is a fountain of life, is choice silver, is like a gold ring, and brings forth wisdom.  There is value (gold, silver) to what he says.  It will help you live better.  It teaches wisdom.  This is how a person with a righteous mouth uses his mouth.
 
So I can use my mouth to help people, to teach wisdom, and to be kind, or I can use it to hurt others, to cause division and strife.  It takes effort to control, but I can maintain a righteous mouth.
Prov. 11:11  "By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown."
 
Lucas Ward

Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.

Israel's exodus from Egypt is one of the most significant events in the Bible and references to it recur throughout the Psalms and the prophets. Thus, it surprised me to learn that the New Testament uses the word, "exodus" only three times. Joseph commanded the Israelites to carry his bones from Egypt at their exodus (Heb 11:22). The other two references encourage us on to our triumph.

Translations often obscure a depth of meaning the author intended to convey. In Luke's account of the transfiguration, Moses and Elijah spoke with Jesus "of his exodus which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem" (Lk 9:31). Most translations replace "exodus" with "departure" or "decease." With the use of exodus, Luke injected into the three-way conversation all the triumph of Jehovah God over the gods of Egypt, all the power of His emancipation of Israel from slavery to be His people, all the hope of a way opened through the sea all the way to the Promised Land.  Of course, we understand that through the cross and the resurrection, Jesus did triumph over all the forces of evil and did set us free from sin and death—the true exodus by which Israel's fades to insignificance.

Peter reminds his readers of basic truths to stir them up because he knows his death approaches and so that "at any time after my exodus you will be able to call these things to mind." (2Pet 1:15). Inasmuch as the very next thing Peter mentions is the mount of transfiguration, it seems probable that he intended a connection to the Lord's exodus triumph. In the last sentence before he spoke of his personal exodus, Peter exclaimed that just as the way was blasted through the Red Sea for Israel so also the way is prepared for us. "For as long as you practice these things … the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you." (2Pet 1:10-11). So heaven is not a wish or a dream. If we abound in faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly kindness and love the way to the Promised Land is as sure as the resurrection of Jesus and formed by the same power.

Thus, in speaking of his own imminent death as his exodus, Peter connects Jesus' triumphant exodus from this sinful world to our own sure hope of that same exodus.

"Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. "(2Pet 1:1-11).
 

Today's post is by guest writer Warren Berkley.

Revenge is never sweet. It is an inherently unhealthy habit forbidden by God in 1 Thess. 5:15 and other passages. We all know that. But let’s elaborate on the history of revenge.

Revenge has never:
…produced authentic justice
…healed anyone
…promoted righteousness
…converted a sinner
…glorified God
…built a church
…made a marriage better
…raised a child
…earned an honest living
…or sent anyone to heaven

Ralph Waldo Emerson was right: “For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness.”
 
Warren Berkley
Berksblog.net