Reflections » General

Preparing for Lent

PK — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 03:14:01 +0000

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. Rather than writing another article on this topic, I will point you to an article that I wrote in 2007. This article has been one of the most popular ones on my blog, with many readers each year when Lent draws near.

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The End of Private Insurance?

PK — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:55:59 +0000

I have been following the health care reform debate, and there is an important point that is not being discussed. According to the reports, the proposed health care legislation requires insurance companies to take anyone, without considering pre-existing conditions, and it forbids them from charging people with health problems more than anyone else. The goal of helping those who are currently “uninsurable” to get medical insurance is a wonderful, and we need to address this problem. But what about the other consequences of such a policy?

I am not an economist, but wouldn’t that have the effect of significantly increasing the insurance premiums for all of us? If insurance companies are required to accept a new group of people with serious medical problems then they will have to pay out a lot of money. To get that money, they will need to raise rates. Since they can’t charge sick people more (a good thing), they will have to raise the rates on everyone. Is there anything wrong with my logic here?

The rhetoric is that the main problem is the “insane profits” of the insurance companies. So I guess that the assumption is that the insurance companies can absorb the increased cost without raising rates. But publicly traded companies are required to report their profits, and last year health insurers posted a 2.2% profit. I’m not sure that 2.2%qualifies as an “insane” profit. It’s always good to check the facts.

I read an article last week that stated that there were several states that already have established the above policy. I wish I could find that article again, but I can’t. As I recall, it said that for a 30 year old male non-smoker in one state the insurance premium would be something under $300. For an identical man in a neighboring state with this policy the premium would be over $700! That isn’t a projection, it is the fact right now. Again, I’m sorry that I can’t find that article right now, but I thought that this is something that should be brought to our attention.

Someone needs to look into this. If it is true that some states already have this policy, there should be a detailed comparison of health insurance rates in those states as compared to neighboring states. It could give us a good idea of what might happen nationally. Why isn’t anyone looking into this?

If the rates on private health insurance rise substantially, then the taxpayer subsidized government option will be too much of a bargain to pass up. If larger companies are eventually allowed to offer the government insurance to their employees, why would they offer anything else? In such an environment, how could the private insurance companies even survive? Those who are on the suspicious side might see this as a deliberate plan to move us to a “single payer system” (i.e. government run health care). What do you think?

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What Would Jesus Wear?

PK — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:32:12 +0000

If Jesus came to your church next Sunday, what would He wear? What would He wear if He was your pastor? (Take a minute and answer this question before reading on.) Recently the English Ministry core leaders at my church have been discussing possible changes to our Sunday service in order to make our outreach more effective. One of the topics discussed was the “dress code” for the pastors and worship team. I want to share some of my thoughts on this question and get your feedback.

The Arguments

If you think that the answer to these questions is obvious then perhaps you need to think more deeply. Either that, or perhaps you live in a very homogeneous community. It seems that the reasoning runs in two main directions:

We should wear our best in order to honor God

While I was in seminary I attended a weekend OMF missions conference. I wore my usual retreat attire: jeans and a tee shirt, with a sweatshirt for cool weather. The other attendees were also casually dressed. But when we went to breakfast on Sunday morning, I was stunned to see the retired missionary men decked out in three piece suits and the women in nice dresses! I suddenly felt very under dressed. They wanted to honor God by wearing their best on the Lord’s Day, even at a retreat. That experience had a big impact on me. For years afterward I would often bring a dress shirt and tie (but not a suit) to retreats to wear on the Lord’s Day. We should honor God by giving Him our best. What does it say about our view of God if we get dressed up for weddings but not for Sunday worship?

We should dress in a casual, up to date style in order to attract more people

Most people today prefer a casual style of dress. Even in some large companies managers are no longer expected to wear suits (or equivalent formal attire for women), at least here in California. The only time that many men wear a suit is to attend weddings or funerals, or perhaps for a job interview or a date at a fancy restaurant. For them, seeing people in suits marks the event as a formal occasion. If only the pastor or leaders are wearing suits, it can create a sense of distance between them and the rest of the people. If our churches desire to be friendly, loving communities then our dress should reflect that.

Some Observations

The two positions above are in tension with each other. How can we resolve this issue? Here are some observations:

Culture changes

In the past it was normal for people to get dressed up to go to social events. For rural families, even going into town to do the weekly shopping was an occasion that required them to wear something nice. Look at a picture of college students pre-1900 and you will find them wearing suits. I think that it was the norm for them to wear suits to class. In this context, it was normal for all the men to wear a suit to church as well. But now all that has changed. People dress very casually most of the time. Most men now wear suits only for a few very special occasions.

Pastors are not priests

If most men no longer wear suits to church, what about the pastor? Should the pastor wear a suit because of his role as a “man of God”? In the OT the priests had special clothing to wear that marked them as priests. But in the NT we have the priesthood of all believers, so I’m not sure that the pastor should wear special “holy” clothing. Jesus and Paul probably dressed pretty much like other men of their time. The missionary principle (19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. (ESV)

', '1 Cor. 9:19-23', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=1+Cor.+9%3A19-23');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=1+Cor.+9%3A19-23" >1 Cor. 9:19-23) requires that we adapt our outward customs to become more like those we are trying to reach. I think that this should influence our clothing choices (within limits).

We still need to honor God

We honor God by applying the missionary principle and adapting our behavior to those we are trying to reach. But we also honor God by demonstrating our respect for Him. For our clothing, I think that this means that whatever we wear should be clean, in good repair and modest. Sloppiness is not next to godliness. But we have to be careful about what we mean by “sloppy.” Some hair styles that appear sloppy to the older generation are carefully and deliberately crafted using lots of hair gel. They are not the result of carelessness, although some may not like the style.

We should seek to honor God in all that we do. What does it say about our view of God if we are more careful about our appearance the rest of the week, but decide that any old thing is good enough for church? That could indicate that we really do not attach much importance to church. Or it could indicate that the church is like our family, where we can let down our guard and be ourselves. It’s not easy to know where to draw the line.

It depends on your context

I don’t think that there are any hard and fast rules in this area. It would be ridiculous for a missionary to insist that the men in a jungle tribe wear suits to come to church. But in a community in which formal dress is the norm for social occasions wearing jeans to church might not be appropriate. They key is to apply the missionary principle in a spirit of humility and ask what sort of dress code will help further the Gospel in your particular setting. Are you willing to wear a suit if that will open doors for the Gospel? Are you willing to lose the suit if that will reach more people for Christ?

What do you think about this issue? What would Jesus wear if He came to your church?

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Lasting marriage linked to better health

PK — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:17:53 +0000

A University of Chicago study recently published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior provides evidence that Lasting marriage is linked to better health. Many previous studies have shown that on the average married people have better health than those who never married. This new study found that people who are divorced or widowed have 20% more chronic health problems than those still married. Those who remarry after divorce are a little better off, but still have 12% more health problems. These differences remain when age, race, gender and education are factored in.

The CNN article on the report concludes that “Both genders suffer irreversible, detrimental effects on their health after losing marriage through a divorce or death of a spouse, according to the findings.”

It turns out that the thing about “one man and one woman for life” in the Bible is good for us. Who would have guessed?

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Vacation in Montana

PK — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 21:20:23 +0000

I haven’t written much here recently, and part of the reason for that is that we were on vacation in Montana. We arrived back home a little over a week ago, and I have been busy catching up since then. Why is it that when you go on vacation you need to work twice as hard before you leave and after you get back?

We had a great visit with my family there, and it was good to slow down to my parents’ pace of life for a while. On many days the main decisions we had to make were about what we wanted to have for dinner and whether we wanted to go hiking. The location of the photograph at the right is the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park, which is my #1 favorite trail in the world (click on the picture for a larger image).

The trail starts out from the visitor’s center at Logan Pass, on the Continental Divide. We only hiked the first part of the trail, but I wanted to get to the place where the first picture was taken, because of the beautiful view.

It is a breathtaking hike that gives you the feeling that you are walking at the top of the world. The picture on the left gives you some idea of what it is like. The trail is well maintained, but they do provide a cable to hold on to for the faint of heart. When you meet someone coming the other way you have to find a wider part where it is safe to pass. A few people absolutely refuse to let go of the cable, so you have to go around them. The picture on the bottom right gives you some idea of this portion of the trail. If you click on the picture for a larger image, you can see two tiny people on the trail. That would be my brother Dave and I. In the background is Logan Pass. After hiking on a trail like this, you can understand why I find a lot of other trails boring. I’ve been spoiled!

We almost didn’t get to take this hike, because most of the days we spent staying in the park were partly cloudy, with intermittent showers. Finally on the last day the weather cleared up and we had a beautiful day for hiking. We took advantage of the weather by doing three short hikes that day. We were tired, but it was a wonderful day.

Experiences like this help to put things in perspective. The majesty of creation declares the glory of God. We are like the tiny specks in the picture, like ants climbing on a pile of dirt. When we are gone and forgotten, the mountains will still be there. Yet the Creator of all this loves us and desires fellowship with us. Amazing grace indeed.

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Work is not Everything

PK — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:00:30 +0000

Ying Yee has an challenging post about the need to rethink our life/work balance. If we give in to the pressure in our society to make work everything, then everything else, including marriage, family, spiritual life and ministry becomes, well, nothing. This is not the way God intended things to be. Take a look at what he says, and then let me know what you think.

Ying is a pastor in Sydney whom I have gotten to know recently online, and his blog like mine is called “Reflections.”

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Fathers and Sons: Passing on the Faith

PK — Mon, 04 May 2009 20:46:15 +0000

I have been reading through 1 Samuel in our church Bible reading program, and I was struck by the challenge that fathers face in passing on their faith to their sons.
In 12 Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord. 13 The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, 14 and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. 15 Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw.” 16 And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force.” 17 Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord, for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt. (ESV)

', '1 Sam. 2:12-17', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=1+Sam.+2%3A12-17');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=1+Sam.+2%3A12-17" >1 Sam. 2:12-17 we read that Eli’s sons were “worthless men” who “did not know the Lord.” They would demand meat from the sacrifices of the people that went beyond what the law allowed them to take. They even slept with the women who served at the door of the tent of meeting (22 Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23 And he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people. 24 No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the Lord spreading abroad. 25 If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death. (ESV)

', '1 Sam. 2:22-25', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=1+Sam.+2%3A22-25');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=1+Sam.+2%3A22-25" >1 Sam. 2:22-25), and even though Eli rebuked them it didn’t do any good. His rebuke must have been half-hearted, because God rebuked him for honoring his sons above the Lord. As a result, God decided to remove the priesthood from his family and give it to another. In His call of Samuel, God declared,

“12In that day I will carry out against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them.” (12 On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. (ESV)
', '1 Sam. 3:12-13', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=1+Sam.+3%3A12-13');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=1+Sam.+3%3A12-13" >1 Sam. 3:12-13)

Apparently Eli’s half-hearted rebuke of his sons was too little, too late.

Samuel was well aware of the problem with Eli’s sons, but when he ended up having a similar problem. When he was old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. But his sons “did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice.” (3 Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice. (ESV)

', '1 Sam. 8:3', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=1+Sam.+8%3A3');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=1+Sam.+8%3A3" >1 Sam. 8:3) They sound a lot like Eli’s sons. How sad.

As I read about Samuel’s sons, I thought “Wait a minute. Here are two godly spiritual leaders, both of whom failed to pass on their faith to their sons. What happened?” Were they too busy with “ministry” to attend to their families? Did they favor their sons so much that they were willing to overlook their faults instead of rebuking them? These two examples provide a sobering wake up call for any Christian leader raising children.

What about good examples? Here are a few things that I came up with:

6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (ESV)
', 'Deut. 6:6-9', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Deut.+6%3A6-9');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Deut.+6%3A6-9" >Deut. 6:6-9 tells us how it is supposed to work
1:1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth—
5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6 to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.

8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
9 for they are a graceful garland for your head
and pendants for your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;
let us ambush the innocent without reason;
12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
13 we shall find all precious goods,
we shall fill our houses with plunder;
14 throw in your lot among us;
we will all have one purse”—
15 my son, do not walk in the way with them;
hold back your foot from their paths,
16 for their feet run to evil,
and they make haste to shed blood.
17 For in vain is a net spread
in the sight of any bird,
18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood;
they set an ambush for their own lives.
19 Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain;
it takes away the life of its possessors.

20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
23 If you turn at my reproof,
behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I have called and you refused to listen,
have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
25 because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof,
31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
and have their fill of their own devices.
32 For the simple are killed by their turning away,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

2:1 My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
2 making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
3 yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
4 if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8 guarding the paths of justice
and watching over the way of his saints.
9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice
and equity, every good path;
10 for wisdom will come into your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
11 discretion will watch over you,
understanding will guard you,
12 delivering you from the way of evil,
from men of perverted speech,
13 who forsake the paths of uprightness
to walk in the ways of darkness,
14 who rejoice in doing evil
and delight in the perverseness of evil,
15 men whose paths are crooked,
and who are devious in their ways.

16 So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman,
from the adulteress with her smooth words,
17 who forsakes the companion of her youth
and forgets the covenant of her God;
18 for her house sinks down to death,
and her paths to the departed;
19 none who go to her come back,
nor do they regain the paths of life.

20 So you will walk in the way of the good
and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will inhabit the land,
and those with integrity will remain in it,
22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.

3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.

3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.

11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights.

13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
and her profit better than gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called blessed.

19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding he established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open,
and the clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, do not lose sight of these—
keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 and they will be life for your soul
and adornment for your neck.
23 Then you will walk on your way securely,
and your foot will not stumble.
24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to do it.

28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
who dwells trustingly beside you.
30 Do not contend with a man for no reason,
when he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy a man of violence
and do not choose any of his ways,
32 for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord,
but the upright are in his confidence.
33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34 Toward the scorners he is scornful,
but to the humble he gives favor.
35 The wise will inherit honor,
but fools get disgrace.

4:1 Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,
and be attentive, that you may gain insight,
2 for I give you good precepts;
do not forsake my teaching.
3 When I was a son with my father,
tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 he taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
keep my commandments, and live.
5 Get wisdom; get insight;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head a graceful garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

10 Hear, my son, and accept my words,
that the years of your life may be many.
11 I have taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered,
and if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
guard her, for she is your life.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of the evil.
15 Avoid it; do not go on it;
turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know over what they stumble.

20 My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.

5:1 My son, be attentive to my wisdom;
incline your ear to my understanding,
2 that you may keep discretion,
and your lips may guard knowledge.
3 For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil,
4 but in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death;
her steps follow the path to Sheol;
6 she does not ponder the path of life;
her ways wander, and she does not know it.

7 And now, O sons, listen to me,
and do not depart from the words of my mouth.
8 Keep your way far from her,
and do not go near the door of her house,
9 lest you give your honor to others
and your years to the merciless,
10 lest strangers take their fill of your strength,
and your labors go to the house of a foreigner,
11 and at the end of your life you groan,
when your flesh and body are consumed,
12 and you say, “How I hated discipline,
and my heart despised reproof!
13 I did not listen to the voice of my teachers
or incline my ear to my instructors.
14 I am at the brink of utter ruin
in the assembled congregation.”

15 Drink water from your own cistern,
flowing water from your own well.
16 Should your springs be scattered abroad,
streams of water in the streets?
17 Let them be for yourself alone,
and not for strangers with you.
18 Let your fountain be blessed,
and rejoice in the wife of your youth,
19 a lovely deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight;
be intoxicated always in her love.
20 Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman
and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?
21 For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord,
and he ponders all his paths.
22 The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him,
and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.
23 He dies for lack of discipline,
and because of his great folly he is led astray.

6:1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
have given your pledge for a stranger,
2 if you are snared in the words of your mouth,
caught in the words of your mouth,
3 then do this, my son, and save yourself,
for you have come into the hand of your neighbor:
go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor.
4 Give your eyes no sleep
and your eyelids no slumber;
5 save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6 Go to the ant, O sluggard;
consider her ways, and be wise.
7 Without having any chief,
officer, or ruler,
8 she prepares her bread in summer
and gathers her food in harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.

12 A worthless person, a wicked man,
goes about with crooked speech,
13 winks with his eyes, signals with his feet,
points with his finger,
14 with perverted heart devises evil,
continually sowing discord;
15 therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;
in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

16 There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers.

20 My son, keep your father’s commandment,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them on your heart always;
tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will lead you;
when you lie down, they will watch over you;
and when you awake, they will talk with you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,
and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
24 to preserve you from the evil woman,
from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart,
and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes;
26 for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread,
but a married woman hunts down a precious life.
27 Can a man carry fire next to his chest
and his clothes not be burned?
28 Or can one walk on hot coals
and his feet not be scorched?
29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife;
none who touches her will go unpunished.
30 People do not despise a thief if he steals
to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry,
31 but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold;
he will give all the goods of his house.
32 He who commits adultery lacks sense;
he who does it destroys himself.
33 He will get wounds and dishonor,
and his disgrace will not be wiped away.
34 For jealousy makes a man furious,
and he will not spare when he takes revenge.
35 He will accept no compensation;
he will refuse though you multiply gifts.

7:1 My son, keep my words
and treasure up my commandments with you;
2 keep my commandments and live;
keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;
3 bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and call insight your intimate friend,
5 to keep you from the forbidden woman,
from the adulteress with her smooth words.

6 For at the window of my house
I have looked out through my lattice,
7 and I have seen among the simple,
I have perceived among the youths,
a young man lacking sense,
8 passing along the street near her corner,
taking the road to her house
9 in the twilight, in the evening,
at the time of night and darkness.

10 And behold, the woman meets him,
dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart.
11 She is loud and wayward;
her feet do not stay at home;
12 now in the street, now in the market,
and at every corner she lies in wait.
13 She seizes him and kisses him,
and with bold face she says to him,
14 “I had to offer sacrifices,
and today I have paid my vows;
15 so now I have come out to meet you,
to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.
16 I have spread my couch with coverings,
colored linens from Egyptian linen;
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,
aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love till morning;
let us delight ourselves with love.
19 For my husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey;
20 he took a bag of money with him;
at full moon he will come home.”

21 With much seductive speech she persuades him;
with her smooth talk she compels him.
22 All at once he follows her,
as an ox goes to the slaughter,
or as a stag is caught fast
23 till an arrow pierces its liver;
as a bird rushes into a snare;
he does not know that it will cost him his life.

24 And now, O sons, listen to me,
and be attentive to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not your heart turn aside to her ways;
do not stray into her paths,
26 for many a victim has she laid low,
and all her slain are a mighty throng.
27 Her house is the way to Sheol,
going down to the chambers of death.

8:1 Does not wisdom call?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 On the heights beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
3 beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
4 “To you, O men, I call,
and my cry is to the children of man.
5 O simple ones, learn prudence;
O fools, learn sense.
6 Hear, for I will speak noble things,
and from my lips will come what is right,
7 for my mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
9 They are all straight to him who understands,
and right to those who find knowledge.
10 Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 for wisdom is better than jewels,
and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and I find knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.
14 I have counsel and sound wisdom;
I have insight; I have strength.
15 By me kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;
16 by me princes rule,
and nobles, all who govern justly.
17 I love those who love me,
and those who seek me diligently find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me,
enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the paths of justice,
21 granting an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.

22 “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work,
the first of his acts of old.
23 Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
24 When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,
29 when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 then I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing before him always,
31 rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.

32 “And now, O sons, listen to me:
blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
34 Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
35 For whoever finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the Lord,
36 but he who fails to find me injures himself;
all who hate me love death.”

9:1 Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn her seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her young women to call
from the highest places in the town,
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
To him who lacks sense she says,
5 “Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave your simple ways, and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”

7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

13 The woman Folly is loud;
she is seductive and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house;
she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,
15 calling to those who pass by,
who are going straight on their way,
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
And to him who lacks sense she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet,
and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the dead are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol. (ESV)
', 'Proverbs 1-9', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Proverbs+1-9');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Proverbs+1-9" >Proverbs 1-9 summarizes the instruction that a godly father gives to his son
Joseph showed great faith in Egypt, so maybe Jacob did something right in instilling faith in his favorite son
Timothy shared the faith of his mother and grandmother (5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. (ESV)
', '2 Tim. 1:5', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=2+Tim.+1%3A5');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=2+Tim.+1%3A5" >2 Tim. 1:5). This is not about fathers and sons, but it is an example of passing on the faith to the next generation.

I won’t take time to expand on these now. Can you think of any other good examples in Scripture?

When we turn to more recent times, compare Dwight L. Moody and Billy Graham. Each was the leading mass evangelist of his time. Moody’s son became an athiest, while Graham’s son eventually came to join his father in the ministry. We can’t take the faith of our children for granted.

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Miss California Takes a Stand

PK — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:17:03 +0000

Carrie Prejean, Miss California in the Miss USA contest, was considered by many to be the front runner until one of the judges asked her about gay marriage. In answering the question, she stood her ground and said that she believed that marriage should be between a man and a women. And it cost her the crown.

In a later interview, she said that she reflected on the answer that ended her chance to be Miss USA. Asked how she felt, she replied

Honestly, happy. This happened for a reason. By having to answer that question in front of a national audience, God was testing my character and faith. I’m glad I stayed true to myself.

Here is a young woman who had worked hard and long toward her goal, and when the prize was within reach she was forced to choose between her beliefs and the crown. How many of us would have caved in under that kind of pressure?

In the aftermath there were of course some who publicly attacked her for her beliefs, but there was also an outpouring of support form those who were thankful to her for standing up. When asked if people had been trying to contact her, she said,

Yes, lots of phone calls. I’ve gotten over 500 facebook friend requests, hundreds of messages from people I don’t know, saying how proud of me they are that I stood my ground. That made me the real winner of the night.

We need more believers who are willing to stand up for their faith, and not cave in to pressure to be politically correct. Carrie Prejean, you are a winner!

Update: Today’s paper quotes her as saying “It’s not about being politically correct, for me; it’s about being biblically correct.” Meanwhile, she is being savagely attacked by Hollywood. We should keep her in our prayers.

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An Atheist Believes that Africa needs God

PK — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:31:07 +0000

At a time when most people in academia and the media enjoy trashing missionaries as misguided and useless at best and diabolically destructive at worst, it is refreshing to find an honest atheist who is able to recognize the beneficial influence of missions. London Times columnist Matthew Parris wrote an article titled As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God (Dec. 27, 2008). Parris grew up in Nyasaland, which today called Malawi, and recently returned there to see the work of a British charity that installs water pumps in rural areas.

While recognizing the values of development work in Africa, he shares another observation that he finds undeniable:

Now a confirmed atheist, I’ve become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people’s hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.

He shared his discomfort with this observation, but explains that he cannot deny the facts. Through stories of his time growing up in Africa, he explains his first hand observation of the positive impact of missions in the lives of Africans.

He concludes that Africa needs Christianity in order to thrive in the 21st century

Those who want Africa to walk tall amid 21st century global competition must not kid themselves that providing the material means or even the knowhow that accompanies what we call development will make the change. A whole belief system must first be supplanted.

And I’m afraid it has to be supplanted by another. Removing Christian evangelism from the African equation may leave the continent at the mercy of a malign fusion of Nike, the witch doctor, the mobile phone and the machete.

The entire article is well worth reading.

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Resources on Homosexuality

PK — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 21:37:01 +0000

In connection with a sermon that I am presenting on the subject of homosexuality, I have collected some web resources on the topic, which I now share with you.

Issues related to homosexuality

Homosexuality 101 (NARTH) (discusses various causes of homosexuality)
Is there a “Gay gene”? (NARTH)
Homosexuality is not hardwired (Francis Collins) (includes further analysis of the twin studies)
Responding to Pro-Gay theology by Joe Dallas (you can read a lot of the content of his book on this site!)

Stories of former homosexuals:

For further study

The National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) has many well written articles (look in the Main Issues section of the site). Since this site is for researchers and therapists, some of the articles are more in depth, and interact with research studies.
The Exodus International site Library section has hundreds of articles related to this topic

Those struggling with same-sex attraction can receive help from Exodus International, which is the largest ministry of its kind in the world.

There are also three books which I highly recommend:

Straight & Narrow?: Compassion & Clarity in the Homosexuality Debate by Thomas E. Schmidt
The Gay Gospel?: How Pro-Gay Advocates Misread the Bible by Joe Dallas
God’s Grace and the Homosexual Next Door: Reaching the Heart of the Gay Men and Women in Your World by Alan Chambers

You can listen to my message on homosexuality here.
You can listen to my message on gay marriage here.

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