The Fable of Freddy the Fish
Once upon a time there was a fish named “Freddy,” who swam happily in a tiny brook. As Freddy grew, he was healthier and stronger every day. But one day he became discontented. He felt so restricted. He could only swim upstream to the waterfall and downstream to the shallow rapids.
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He could have made us. . .
He could have made us to swallow food whole.
Instead He gave us taste buds to savor steak and crave chocolate.
He could have made us with light sensors.
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COVID-19 and God’s Judgment 2.0
Back on April fifth (remember April?), we attempted to answer the question “Is COVID-19 God’s Judgment?” Here is part of that entry:
“The Bible is just as clear that when God does judge the world, it will be so apparent and so immediately widespread that everyone will know it is His direct intervention.
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Perfect Storm, Perfect Fear
If you had tried to design a scenario to frighten the most people for the longest period of time, I’m not sure you could have done any better than COVID-19. I’m not an epidemiologist, so I’ll spare you my own observations about where it originated or how it got here.
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One Flock, One Shepherd
Just as racial diversity was ordained by God, so also is human oneness. Paul reminds the Athenians (Acts 17:26) that God made the nations from one man, and also assured their diversity by determining their native lands. He even divided their languages (Genesis 11).
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The Other Wisdom
We’ve seen that biblical wisdom has many faces. It is not merely a synonym for “smart,” but has several other qualities: Wisdom is good, moral, and humble enough to admit its mistakes. Wisdom is relational, righteous, and godly. Wisdom rests on universal principles, is insatiably curious (always learning), and flexible enough to account for new data.
That is the wisdom of God, as fleshed out in the book of Proverbs, and summarized in James 3:17. But James (3:14-16) contrasts this level-headed, open-minded, loving way to live with another “wisdom.”
“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”
James is writing about hundreds of things happening all around us in our nation! Seen any bitterness out there lately, or selfish ambition? Any lying or jealousy? How about disorder and vile practices?
Let’s not be naive, misled by the world’s narratives. Listen past their rhetoric, and ask if what they are saying is wise. If people are telling you which lives matter, do you see love in their eyes? When someone explains the 13 different genders, is he/she/it reasonable? If someone pleads for a political party, can you trace its record to good things where it governs? When a professor is fired for quoting scientific research, does this promote free inquiry and the pursuit of truth?
Scripture helps anyone who so desires to identify true wisdom by its fruit and its faces. It’s not difficult. When you see rage, animosity, grasping for power, injustice, violence, and irrationality, walk away. You are not in the palace of the wise, but the den of demons.
“Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:17
“By their fruits you shall know them.” Matthew 7:16
Wisdom’s Many Beautiful Faces
In everyday conversation we hear the ideas of wisdom and intelligence used interchangeably. But there are wise people who may not have high IQ’s, and intelligent people who are not at all wise.
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Weeds
I’ll never forget my first trip, as an adult, back to my grandfather’s farm. It’s about three miles up a winding road to where a towering maple tree dominated a sunny meadow knoll.
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Waiting for My Real Life to Begin
Have you ever noticed how we refer to time as a commodity?
We have time, get time, and take time.
We make time, gain time, and lose time.
We squeeze time, waste time, and pass time.
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Make Room for the Spirit!
I remember well the anxiety of wondering if I were “filled with the Holy Spirit.” Books, sermon series, and seminars once abounded with the supposed spiritual secrets of the successful Christian life.
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