Thought for October 7, 2023

  •  3761 BC: Beginning of the modern Hebrew calendar
  • 1806: Carbon paper invented
  • 1857: Charles Spurgeon preaches to 23,000 at the Crystal Palace
  • 1868: Cornell University opens
  • 1873: Lottie Moon arrives in China
  • 1916: John Heisman leads Georgia Tech to a 222-0 win over Cumberland
  • 1952: First broadcast of "Bandstand." Dick Clark joins in 1955.
  • 1959: Far side of the moon seen for the first time.
  • 1965: Robert Mitera uses a 50 mph tailwind to ace the 447 yard 10th hole at Miracle Hills in Omaha
  • 1985: PLO seizes the Achille Lauro
  • 1991: Anita Hill accuses Clarence Thomas of inappropriate comments
  • 1996: Fox news begins
  • 2001: U.S. operations in Afghanistan begin
  • Born: Martha Berry [founded what is now Berry College], Niels Bohr, Heinrich Himmler, Elijah Muhammad [Nation of Islam], June Allyson, Desmond Tutu, Vladmir Putin, Yo-Yo Ma, Jane Torville, Simon Crowell
  • Died: Edgar Allan Poe, Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., Christy Mathewson [refused to pitch on Sundays], Willis Carrier [AC], Clarence Birdseye, Leo Durocher
Thought:
Finishing the week looking at James 3:13-18. These days election campaigns seem to never end. So, while the election may be a year away, we are hearing plenty from a host of potential candidates. If you were trying to select the wisest candidate for President, who would you consider? Maybe we should read some words from James before deciding. In this passage, James describes wisdom from above and wisdom from the earth.
  • What does earthly wisdom look like? Jealousy, selfish ambition, arrogance, demonic. What does this type of wisdom lead to? Disorder and every evil thing. Now consider those who seek our votes. Are any of them jealous of others so that they envy, covet, slander, distort, lie? Do any of them seem to seek positions for the prestige, power, recognition, or do they seek it to be a sacrificial servant? Are any of them arrogant--speaking down to, being condescending with their opponents or critics? Are there any really wise people who seek to serve us? 
  • What about the wisdom from above? Which of the candidates fits this description?
    • Pure--seeking to be unblemished in word or deed. Language is pure, tongue is controlled, tongue seeks understanding and reconciliation or does the tongue light fires.
    • Peaceable--who seeks to be at peace with all as far as it depends on them? Who seeks peace and is a peacemaker? 
    • Which candidate is gentle? Or are they harsh, caustic. The word gentle is said to be from gentile--acting like the king, the kind and gracious king. 
    • Reasonable--who speaks with reason and not simply passion. Who seeks like God to come let us reason together? Who is willing to listen and learn?
    • Full of mercy--who do you see as merciful--not seeking to give what someone deserves but perhaps what someone needs. 
    • Full of good fruits--where do you see the fruit of the Spirit in evidence--love, joy, peace.
    • Unwavering--who is consistently good? Whose actions are consistent with their claims? 
    • Without hypocrisy. Who is two-faced, a different person making different claims and promises to different audiences and who is the same in every situation. 
Did you notice? The earthly wisdom sounds like Satan--leading folks to chaos and death. The characteristics of the wisdom from above sound like God, leading people to light and life. Maybe we should examine ourselves and see what kind of wisdom people see in us. And maybe our country could use leaders with wisdom from above.

Blessings
Larry

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