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.

 

Wise Speech

 Wise Speech

May 49, 2926

Proverbs 13:3 (NKJV) He who guards his mouth preserves his life, [But] he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

Proverbs 15:28 (NKJV) The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.

These proverbs reflect another cardinal rule in my father’s house; “Never speak unless you have something to say.” This rule was a complete mystery to my wife when we got married. In her home, the rule was pretty much the exact opposite! In the Huber household, the loudest and first to speak got to be heard. Not so on the Illinois farms. There we contemplated and kept silent, and when something of note came to mind we spoke when there was an opportunity. Of course, children never spoke when adults were speaking, and adults never spoke a word until no one else was talking. You waited for a gap in the conversation before you dared to offer a word of your own. Needless to say, it took me awhile to fit into my new in-law’s family, but eventually, I learned to speak up occasionally, though after 50 years, I’m still considered the quiet one in the family.

But back to our scripture, our society today is saturated with speech; radio, TV, podcasts, and most of all, political ads. What a cacophony of words assaults us at every turn. The proverbs of Solomon remind us of the value of quiet contemplation. Many of us could profit by taking some time to study how to answer and guard our mouth. Yesterday, we spoke of forgiveness, and that reminds us that many offenses could be avoided in the first place if we just stopped to think before we spoke a careless word. Jesus spoke of idle words which would lead to consequences:

Matthew 12:35-37 (NKJV) 

35 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and anevil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

So consider how you speak. Speak words of life and spread peace where you can. An encouraging word can go a long way to soothing the troubled waters of your life.

Words of Life - Encouragement

 Words of Life - Encouragement 

April 16, 2026

1 Thessalonians 5:11

11Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:13b-14

13 …Live in peace with one another. 14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

Encourage one another… wise counsel for trying times. The modern, social media, generation does not foster encouragement. A post is more likely to go viral if it tears someone down or exposes some deep dark secret. Love and encouragement are not as popular online. We are also finding out that social media fosters social isolation. Encouragement is an aspect of true community. Real human bonds, especially in a church or family, build one another up. 

Peace and patience also go a long way towards encouraging a brother. Impatience is another trait fostered by our online society. We are a society that wants instant gratification. We have fast food and 24x7 news that wants it all and wants it now! In the church it should be different.  Making disciples requires patience and encouraging the faint hearted. Building one another up is not an instant process. So take time today to encourage a brother and pray for one in need. Build up the community of believers with encouragement.

Words of Life- Hope

 Words of Life- Hope

April15, 2026

Hebrews 6:11-12

11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize thefull assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Hebrews 6:17-20

17 In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise theunchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

“It’s a hopeless situation.” “The doctors gave her no hope of survival.” Or you might hear people say, “it’s so dry. I hope it rains.” This is not what the Bible says. So what is Biblical hope?

According to the book of Hebrews, hope is an anchor of the soul. That is something a lot more concrete than “I hope it rains”. It an expectation that the promises of God are sure, reliable and trustworthy. It is an assurance that when Jesus “entered within the veil”, that is he entered the holy of holies, into the very presence of God, that He made a way for us to enter as well. In fact, our hope is anchored there, so that we have a firm connection to the presence of the Lord. It is not just a once a year event, like in the old temple, where the high priest entered to present the blood of the lamb on the mercy seat. This hope is an eternal expectation that we can dwell in the presence of the Lord and that He is with is at all times and in all places. The only thing more firm that our hope is our faith.

Hebrews 11:1

1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Our hope is in the promises of God, and our faith gives this hope assurance or substance. Watchman Nee says that he prefers the translation here as “faith is the substantiating of things hoped for”. Faith adds substance to hope, and gives us assurance that the things hoped for are not only going to come to pass, but are in fact already real, we just don’t see them yet. We get sidetracked by our logical mind when we doubt when we don’t see, but spiritual reality is not based on physical substance. Our hope and our faith are in things that are more real that what we perceive as reality. The God who created the whole world with His word, gives substance to our hope with a reality that is more real than our physical reality. I don’t know if that explains it very well, but it is true. As a scientist, trained in various aspects of physics, this was a hard thing for me to accept, but after following after the Lord lo these many years, I have come to understand that this is true. As the old hymn goes, “Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness”. That is a hope that will not disappoint and a faith that is a firm foundation.

So if you see difficulties in your world. If there are diseases and ailments that the doctors don’t fully understand, do not lose hope. Our God is greater than these things and He is able to do far more than we can think of imagine.

Hb 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,

Words of Life- Compassion

 Words of Life- Compassion

April 14, 2026

Colossians 3:12-17

12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

In studying words of life, this week, one particular word stuck out for me — “compassion”. Our guest speaker this Sunday, from India, also highlighted this word as applied to Jesus in Matthew 9:36:

Matthew 9:35-36

35 Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

36Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.

I don’t know about you, but for me this is not a word, or concept, that comes naturally to me. To feel compassion for people, like Jesus does, required a change of heart. In my life, there had to be a great healing in my heart for me to feel compassion for others. And when the Holy Spirit touches your heart in this fashion, then it comes more easily to speak words of life to other people. Out of a heart of compassion, can flow kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, and love. I’m still working on these but it starts when you allow the Holy Spirit to touch your heart, to put on a heart of compassion. So be encouraged today. Receive the word of Christ and put on a heart of compassion.

The Burning Bush

 The Burning Bush

January 22, 2026

Exodus 3:1-3 (NKJV) 

1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush [was] not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”

Hebrews 1:7

7And of the angels He says,

“WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS,

AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE.”   (Ps 100:4)

2 Kings 2:11

11As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven.

Angels are one of the mysteries of God. We know that they are messengers and worshipers, but we don’t have many details about them in the Bible. There does seem to be one curious species of angels that have the appearance of flames of fire. One such angel spoke to Moses out of a bush that appeared to be burning and another came for Elijah in a chariot of fire. I don’t think they are actually burning, I think that they are clothed in something like feathers that have the appearance of flames of fire. They seem to be a class of angels that carry important messages, at least they had important messages for Moses and Elijah.

The message to Moses was particularly unique as that was the time that the Lord revealed His name to Moses.

Exodus 3:14-15 (NKJV) 

14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” 15 Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This [is] My name forever, and this [is] My memorial to all generations.’

The Lord not only gave Moses instructions, but he gave him His name, which is His power and authority to act in His stead. So Moses went to Pharaoh not only with a word from the Lord, but with the power of His name to perform mighty wonders to convince Pharaoh. Now that is a powerful message, delivered in flames of fire and with the authority of the Name of the Lord.

What would you do if. you saw an angel in a burning bush or a fiery chariot? That would undoubtedly be a frightening experience. That’s why almost all message from angels begin with “Fear not…”. At any rate, we should be prepared to listen and obey to any word we receive from the Lord, whether it is from a fiery angel or in a still small voice. When we listen and obey and act in the Name of Jesus, great and mighty things can be accomplished.

Your Testimony

 Your Testimony

October 28, 2025

Revelation 12:11

11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of theword of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

John 16:12-15

12 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will notspeak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.

Acts 1:8

8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall beMy witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

 One of the weapons of spiritual warfare is the word of your testimony. In Revelation 12, we see where there are saints in heaven who triumphed by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. But exactly what is a testimony and why is it so powerful?

In John 16, we read that the Holy Spirit is the ultimate witness, and this verse defines what it means to testify. “Whatever He hears, He will speak.” In legal matters, a witness is one who saw and heard something of relevance to the case, and testifies under oath exactly what it is that he saw and heard. “The truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God.” So that is what the Spirit is doing in John 16. He tells us what he hears the Father and Son speaking so that we can share it with others. In the first chapter of Acts, we see that this is where the power of our testimony comes from. “You will receive power… and you shall be my witnesses…”. Therefore, when we share what we have seen and heard about what the Lord has done for us, the power of the Holy Spirit goes with that word to change hearts and minds. This is why it is a powerful weapon in the arsenal of the spiritual warrior. 

Another aspect that gives your testimony power is that it is hard to argue with. If you share your opinion, others can argue that they have a contrary opinion. But when you share your personal experience through a testimony, they either have to believe that that is what happened to you or call you a liar. It’s your story, and that carries power. That is another reason that the Lord taught in parables. You can argue points of theology or philosophy but you can’t argue with a story about farming or fishing. A story may seem harmless but it can carry power. A story is easy to remember, but like a parable, may carry hidden meaning that will reveal itself to someone who has ears to hear. And that is the job of the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth and disclose it to those who believe.

So what is your story? Surely the Lord has done something in your life that caused you to turn from darkness into the light, so don’t be afraid to testify. It’s your story,so tell it.

Old and New

 Old and New

October 24, 2025

Matthew 13:51-52

51 “Have you understood all these things?” They *said to Him, “Yes.” 52 And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”

Yesterday we were talking about how all scripture is profitable and useful. A frequent question about this is, “But aren’t parts of the Old Testament obsolete and not applicable to our times?”  

This brings to mind my shop. In my shop there are hundreds of tools. I inherited many from my father, and from my father-in-law and others from Uncle John. There are also new tools that I have purchased myself for a special application. Do I use all these tools every day. No. In fact, there are some old tools that I have never used, not because they are not useful, but because I don’t know how to use them. My father-in-law was a machinist so there are some specialized tools that I would need training to use. It’s not the tool’s fault, it’s my ignorance and lack of proper training that prevents me from using them. 

I think it is the same with scripture. It is all profitable but there may be parts that we don’t understand fully. We need to study and have some expert teachers to help us understand these scriptures. So don’t dismiss parts of scripture out of hand just because you don’t understand them. In Matthew 13, Jesus was teaching with many parables, and then he asked his disciples if they understood. They replied that they did, so he commends them as a wise scribe who brings out of his treasure both new and old. We need new inspiration, but don’t discard the old teachings just because they are old and you don’t understand them. Ask the Holy Spirit for knowledge and wisdom and you will find that all scripture is inspired and useful for bringing in the kingdom of God. 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/okE18nNX4sfYX4iB6

Photo of Father-in-law in the shop.

All Scripture

 All Scripture 

October 23, 2025

2 Timothy 3:16

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

In his teaching on The Sword of the Spirit, Derek Prince, who was a tremendous Greek and biblical scholar, pointed out that the meaning of “all” in this passage, when we look deep into the original language, is…. “All”. Every last portion of scripture is inspired by God and useful. From Genesis to Revelation, every scripture has meaning and serves some purpose. Even the so called “minor prophets” are not less important, it is just that they wrote less than the “major prophets”. We all have our favorite verses, but we need to not overlook the rest. I spent some time as a member of a church that styled itself as “a New Testament Church”. This is all well and good, but they tended to not teach much, if any, out of the Old Testament. This is a problem because you need the Old Testament to understand the New. “In the old the new is concealed , and in the new the old is revealed” is how one Bible teacher put it. 

There are some “progressive” preachers today that pick and choose which verses to believe and teach. This leads to error if you allow your preconceived notions to overrule what the whole of scripture teaches. If we are going to use the word of God as a two edged sword of the Spirit, we need to use both edges, old and new, to combat the evil in this age. 

My Word

 My Word

October 19, 2025

Isaiah 55:11

11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;

It will not return to Me empty,

Without accomplishing what I desire,

And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

Yesterday, our men’s Bible study was listening to Derek Prince teach on the Sword of the Spirit. One scripture that stood out from the lesson was Isaiah 55. Brother Prince pointed out that in is not only “My Word”, but “My word which goes forth from My mouth”. The written word, if it is not breathed and spoken by the Spirit of God is just dead words. He commented that he had heard many sermons, dry as burnt toast, but where they would close with “My word will not return void…”, thinking  that would make it all better. No. It’s “My word which goes forth from My mouth” that will not return empty. It is the Spirit of God that empowers the word to accomplish all that He desires. So we need to know the Word, and speak the Word, for it is the Sword of the Spirit, but we need to remember that it is the sword of the SPIRIT. We need to listen to the quiet force of the Spirit and speak His Word in the authority and power of His Spirit. Then we will see the Word accomplish all that the Lord desires.