Foolish Speech

 Foolish Speech

May 31, 2026

Proverbs 17:28 (NASB95) Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

`The early American version of this, possibly from Mark Twain or Abraham Lincoln, goes something like this:

“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt”.

We were talking yesterday about wise speech, so it’s only fitting that we follow it up with a discourse on foolish speech. I grew up in west central Illinois, which was near to where both Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain lived, so I can readily believe that one or both of them used this proverb. They were both known for their wit and their type of dry humor was common to the Midwest. And neither tolerated fools easily. Lincoln also spoke of honesty and lying:

“I never encourage deceit, and falsehood, especially if you have got a bad memory, is the worst enemy a fellow can have. The fact is truth is your truest friend, no matter what the circumstances are."

That’s one problem the fool has. When you lie, you have to have a good memory to keep your story straight. The honest man only has to remember the truth. The foolish man tries to cover over his sins with a lie, but the truth will out. Jesus said that this is like building a house on sand.

Matthew 7:26 (NASB95)

“Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

True words and righteous actions build a life on a solid foundation. I’m grateful that I was raised in a family and community that valued goodness and honesty. The frivolous speech of the fool stands out in such an environment. So don’t act the fool, as they say. Don’t be a chattering fool but hold your tongue until you have something true to say.

 

Proverbs 3

 Proverbs 3

Sept 3,2025

Proverbs 3:5-8 (NASB95) 

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 your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.

It’s always good to remember the basic wisdom from Proverbs 3. It is a familiar verse, but needs to be one we remember often. It doesn’t need much commentary to be understood, it just needs to be remembered and lived. 

Clean Heart

 Clean Heart

June 16, 2025

Proverbs 16:2 (NASB95)

 Allthe ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the LORD weighs the motives.

Psalms 51:10-13 (NASB95) 

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not takeYour Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You.

In a recent Bible class, we were studying how to prepare our heart to serve the Lord. The Lord requires a clean heart, but how do we know we have a clean heart? According to the Proverbs, all of our ways are clean in our own sight, but that does not make it so! It is easy to deceive ourselves into thinking that everything is OK and that we don’t need to change or clean up anything. That is nearly always incorrect. The only way to know for sure that we have a clean heart is to seek the Lord and ask Him to show us what is truly in our heart. Psalm 51 is a good example of where King David had to face up to his own iniquity and confess his wrongdoing. Only by facing the truth and taking responsibility was he able to then ask the Lord for a clean heart. So if we desire to serve the Lord, we need to first ask Him to examine our hearts and help us acknowledge any impurity there. Once we face up to the truth, then He can forgive us and give us a clean heart and we will be able to lead sinners to be converted to the Lord.

Security

 Security

May 18, 2025

Proverbs 18:10-11 (NASB95) 

10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe. 11 A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wallin his own imagination.

Where do you find your security? The wise man who wrote Proverbs compared two methods of seeking security. The first man is righteous and relies on the name of the Lord as his stronghold.  His safety and security comes solely from depending on the Lord. “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life”, is the way that the psalmist put it. 

The second man is one who looks to his own riches for security. This is the way of the world and seems like a sound strategy to most. But in the end, this kind of security is only “like a high wall in his own imagination.” Riches come and riches go,  but the Name of the Lord endures forever. 

There is a lot to be concerned about with the world situation today. We can worry about the economic outcome of the current administration’s strategy, or we can look to the Lord as our strong tower. Wall Street can generate or destroy fortunes in an instant, but riches stored in heaven are eternal. So run into that stronghold, call upon the name of the Lord, and you will be safe.

Apple of My Eye

 Apple of My Eye

May 7, 2025

Proverbs 7:1-4 (NASB95) 

1 My son, keep my words And treasure my commandments within you. 2 Keep my commandments and live, And 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 understanding your intimate friend;

Psalms 17:8-9 (NASB95) 

8 Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Your wings 9 From the wicked who despoil me, My deadly enemies who surround me.

Zechariah 2:8 (KJV)

Forthus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.

Lamentations 2:18 (KJV)

Their heart cried unto the Lord, O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night: give thyself no rest; let not the apple of thine eye cease.

I ran across an interesting phrase in this morning’s proverb, “Keep… my teaching as the apple of your eye.” So what is the apple of your eye? The translation notes on this verse explain that this means the pupil of your eye. But why is it so important that this phrase is used four times in the Bible? Perhaps it relates to the importance of the eye. Jesus taught on this in Matthew 6:

Matthew 6:22-23 (NASB95) 22 

“The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23 “But if your eye is bad, your wholebody will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

If the eye is the lamp of the body, then the apple of your eye is the central feature that lets the light in. A few years ago, I developed cataracts. This is a condition where the lens of the eye grows cloudy and doesn’t let the light in. Everything starts to become dim and blurry. When you can’t see, your don’t know where to go. “When your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness”, to quote Jesus.

Thus you can see why the writers of the Bible would place great importance on protecting the apple of the eye. The psalmist cries, “Keep me as the apple of the eye…” There are enemies all around and I need to see clearly. As the writer of Proverb says, I need to keep the Lord’s teachings as the apple of my eye; keep my focus on what the Spirit is saying to me. I need to see clearly the direction that the Lord has for my life; His direction for today.

Therefore, Lord, keep me as the apple of your eye. Let me see clearly your will for my life today. Let me see and comprehend the schemes of the enemy so that I may not be led astray. Let me see clearly the path around the evil plans of the evil one that I may walk in your ways. In these days we need to see clearly because deception, “fake news”, is all around. We need to discern the truth and teach those around us the truth as well. So, keep me as the apple of Your eye and hide me in the shadow of Your wings.

The Sons of Koran have set Psalm 17 to music, which is quite interesting:

https://youtu.be/MjazfFvqsig?si=GOB7DsIYzgFnWPH5

High Anxiety

 Anxiety 

April 12, 2025

Proverbs 12:25 (NASB95) 

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.

Psalm 42:11 (NASB95)

11 Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The helpof my countenance and my God.

Philippians 4:6 (NASB95)

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Matthew 6:31-34 (NASB95) 

31 “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,and all these things will be added to you. 34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

“The United States has a chance to do something that should have been done DECADES AGO. Don’t be Weak! Don’t be Stupid! Don’t be a PANICAN (A new party based on Weak and Stupid people!). Be Strong, Courageous, and Patient, and GREATNESS will be the result!”

President Donald J. Trump, April 7, 2025 on Truth Social

There has been a lot of anxiety in the land this week. President Trump even invented a new word, “Panican”, to describe it. But the Bible says a lot about anxiety and despair. Jesus made it a command, “Do not worry”. Now this command is not in the sense of Alfred E. Newman, “What me worry?” Of Mad Magazine many years ago, who was just oblivious to everything going on around him. No, Jesus told us not to worry because we hope in God and trust in Him for all we need. Our current world looks at things more in the light of Mel Brooke’s movie “High Anxiety”. We are anxious about everything and are in a panic about the future. The president’s words are wise in this context. “Don’t be a panican… Be Strong, Courageous, and Patient…” 

As always, the Proverbs offer wise advice for every situation. In Proverbs 12, we read “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.” This surely is a word for our time. Lots of people are going around with a heavy heart, worried about all sorts of things. But wisdom says to take heart, be glad, be thankful, and make your requests known to God. There is great power in prayer and supplication. Our Heavenly Father knows what we need and is faithful to provide for us, so don’t be a “panican”, but trust in the Lord, even in uncertain times. Strength, courage and patents will see us through when we seek first the Kingdom of God and have faith is His love and provision for us.

Refiners Fire

 Refiners Fire

March 25, 2025

Proverbs 17:3 (NASB95)

3The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests hearts.

Proverbs 25:4-5 (NASB95) 

4 Take away the dross from the silver, And there comes out a vessel for the smith; 5 Take away the wicked before the king, And his throne willbe established in righteousness.

1 Peter 1:6-7 (NASB95) 

6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of yourfaith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

MAGA, MAHA, DOGE, BREXIT, BRICS Countries… What in the world is going on today? When we look around the world today, we see all manner of fires and storms; some man made, and others seemingly natural, though some are very suspicious in origin. So why so much fire and flood and turmoil?

According to scripture, purity comes from the refiners fire. The dross in the silver doesn’t reveal itself until the heat is turned up. A silver bar can look perfectly wonderful until the heat is turned up and all that is ugly and dark begins to rise to the surface. The more dross that is skimmed off, the purer the remaining silver becomes. Does the dross complain about the heat? Of course, the dross turns dark and ugly as it is exposed but the silver could complain about the heat also, but it endures the fire because it knows that it is necessary for purification.

Therefore, we hear a lot of complaining about MAGA and DOGE, etc., but the Proverb says that through the trials, the wicked will be removed from the king and a righteous government can be established. You can not tell the righteous from the wicked until the heat is turned up. Both are apt to complain as trials are uncomfortable , but in the end, the wicked will be exposed and removed, and what remains will be pure. It’s easy to question the process while it is going on. Wildfires and floods hardly seem fair and removing criminals from society is a messy process.

According to Peter, our job through this is to greatly rejoice. The trials only last a little while in the grand scheme of things, and enduring them prove our faith and purify our soul. That is true both personally and nationally, So patience. Let the process proceed and watch the outcome of the trials. With prayer and providence, the nation as well as our own souls will be purified so that once more we can be salt and light and a city on the hill that shines forth to guide all nations. 

The Measure of a Man

 The Measure of a Man

January 12, 2025

Proverbs 11:5 (ESV) The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.

Proverbs 12:28 (ESV) In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.

Romans 12:9-21 (ESV) Marks of the True Christian

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another inshowing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Things my father taught me about carpentry: Measure twice and cut once. If you mark the second board from the first, and the third from the second, etc., you will end up with longer and longer boards. So always measure with the same, original standard measuring device.

So it is with the Christian life. If you are going to live a righteous life, from time to time you need to return to the original standard to see how you measure up. That’s the only way to keep your way straight, as the Proverbs say. And the Proverbs continue to say that a straight, righteous life is the way of life. So let us measure our life once, and then twice, to see how straight we are walking.

Paul, in the twelfe chapter of Romans, lays our a concise standard for measure the Christian life. Love, honor, service, prayer, blessing, giving, harmony, peace, these are all measurable standards that you can use to check your walk. If you don’t measure up to these standards, “Straighten up!” As my father used to say. He also taught me how to plow a straight furrow by looking at a marker at the far end of the field. I would tend to look down, and to the left or right, and start to drift off of the straight line, so he would remind me to “straighten up” and keep one distant fence post in view so I could keep on line. That’s what we are doing in Romans 12. We don’t want to naval gaze and keep looking inward, but we want to keep a vision of the perfect in mind so we can head straight in that direction. Therefore, if you don’t quite measure up today, take heart, and keep you eyes on the standard in Romans 12, and begin to straighten up and head directly for the goal. A straight, righteous life will lead to life, and not death, as the write of the Proverb says. So be encouraged. It’s possible to live right if you just keep you eye on the Lord and let His Spirit guide you directly to the goal.

What’s Wrong with the World

 What’s Wrong with the World?

October 22, 2024

1 John 2:15-17

Do Not Love the World

15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

Some days you look around and it seems the the whole wold has gone mad. So what’s wrong with the world? Are things really worse than they have ever been or are we just seeing the faults in the world system more clearly?

Some 2000 years ago, the Apostle John wrote his analysis of the world’s problems. He boiled it down to three things that cause all of the worlds problems.

1. Lust of the flesh
2. Lust of the eyes
3. Boastful pride of life

If you think hard about it, it’s difficult to some up with any current problem that can not be put into one of these categories. Crooked politicians and war: boastful pride. Drug addiction and Diddy parties: lust of the flesh. Corrupt entertainment industry: lust of the eyes. I could go on, but you get the point. The world system hasn’t really changed since the age of the apostles, it’s just that the problems manifest if slightly different ways.

John’s solution was equally simple: Do the will of the Father. Having money problems? Do the will of the Father, work hard and tithe. Depressed and addicted to drugs or alcohol? Do the will of the Father and seek godly council. There are believers that can help you. Worried about the elections? Do the will of the Father. Pray for our leaders and go vote. The list is endless.

Now you may say that this is over simplified, and in some sense it is. But in solving problems, it is always good to remember Ocam’s razor: The simplest solution is almost always the correct answer. You can always complicate a matter, but starting with from the premise that you are going to obey the will of the Father will always lead you to His correct solution. Is this easy to do? Absolutely not! It was not easy for Jesus to go to the cross or for John to go into exile on the Isle of Patmos, but they did it because it was the Father’s will. Not all victories are realized in this world. We need to be aware that the Kingdom of God is not only on this world in this time, but is in heaven and is eternal. Doing the will of the Father in this world is guaranteed to produce blessings in the eternal kingdom, even if it looks like suffering and hardship in this world.  So take heart, as Jesus said, “I have overcome the world”. (John 16:33)

Hope

 Hope,  Psalms and Other Scriptures

It seems that hope is something that is short supply lately, so I looked at what the Psalms and other scriptures say about hope. So here are a few scriptures on hope without commentary as the Word speaks for itself.

Psalms 31:24

Be strong and let your heart take courage,

All you who hope in the LORD.

Psalms 33:17-18

A horse is a false hope for victory;

Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.

18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,

On those who hope for His lovingkindness,

Psalms 38:15

For I hope in You, O LORD;

You will answer, O Lord my God.

Psalms 39:7

“And now, Lord, for what do I wait?

My hope is in You.

Psalms 42:5

Why are you in despair, O my soul?

And why have you become disturbed within me?

Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him

For the help of His presence.

Psalms 42:11

Why are you in despair, O my soul?

And why have you become disturbed within me?

Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him,

The help of my countenance and my God.

Psalms 62:5

My soul, wait in silence for God only,

For my hope is from Him.

Psalms 71:5

For You are my hope;

O Lord GOD, You are my confidence from my youth.

Psalms 71:14

But as for me, I will hope continually,

And will praise You yet more and more.

Psalms 119:49

Zayin.

Remember the word to Your servant,

In which You have made me hope.

Psalms 119:116

Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live;

And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.

Psalms 119:166

I hope for Your salvation, O LORD,

And do Your commandments.

Psalms 130:5-8

I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait,

And in His word do I hope.

My soul waits for the Lord

More than the watchmen for the morning;

Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the LORD;

For with the LORD there is lovingkindness,

And with Him is abundant redemption.

And He will redeem Israel

From all his iniquities.

Psalms 131:3

O Israel, hope in the LORD

From this time forth and forever.

Psalms 146:5

How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,

Whose hope is in the LORD his God,

Proverbs 10:28

The hope of the righteous is gladness,

But the expectation of the wicked perishes.

Proverbs 13:12

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

Proverbs 23:18

Surely there is a future,

And your hope will not be cut off.

Proverbs 24:14

Know that wisdom is thus for your soul;

If you find it, then there will be a future,

And your hope will not be cut off.

Proverbs 26:12

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Proverbs 29:20

Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Ecclesiastes 9:4

For whoever is joined with all the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion.

Romans 5:4-5

and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 12:9-13

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

Romans 15:13

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 13:13

But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Ephesians 1:18

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

1 Thessalonians 2:19

For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?

1 Thessalonians 5:8

But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.

1 Timothy 4:10

For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

1 Timothy 6:17

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.

Hebrews 6:19

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,

Hebrews 11:1

The Triumphs of Faith

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.