The fine line between wisdom and scorn?

Yep. Check out TODAY 's Daily Devotion

Usually when I need it, my namesake, Jimmy Josephson, comes up with something that I am in need of considering (either him or Sol Davidson or Paul Hoganmächer). It boils down to gittin' too smart for your britches:10   Out of one mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing: my brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11   Doeth a fountain send forth at one place sweet water and bitter?
12   Can ye fig tree, my brethren, bring forth olives, either a vine figs? so can no fountain make both salt water and sweet.
13 ¶   Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show by good conversation his works in meekness of wisdom.
14   But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, rejoice not, neither be liars against the truth.
15   This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish.
16   For where envying and strife is, there is sedition, and all manner of evil works.
17   But the wisdom that is from above, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without judging, and without hypocrisy.
18   And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace, of them that make peace.

(If that sounds strange, it's because lately I have been using The Geneva Bible. It is the last English translation before the "Authorised" Version, aka King James, bestowed on a crown of glory by so many well-intended individuals. I say if you can't read Hebrew and Aramaic, and Koine Greek, then you really can't read the "original" version, so rely on as many sources as possible. Remember, Martin Luther (the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther) got perturbed with the Latin vulgate translated into high German.

But that's an aside. The main point of the Short Daily Devotion today was based on verse 13, translated in the ESV as Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.  Going to my go-to The Message: Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. And, my absolute go-to, the NASB: Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

I roll on the megachurches, although I must certainly say that through them I am inferring that many souls have been saved. After salvation, though, I wonder where the flock is led by their shepherds, so I tend to rant about some of the biggies. But, as you know, I really like Charles Stanley. What's the difference?

Dr. Chuck is like my dad: he knows so much about everything that it becomes obvious when he merely shares essence with his flock, and then with the world, not caring to show off how smart he is. God knows how smart everyone is; He doesn't care. He cares about what everyone does with the wisdom He has given us. In that regard I consider First Atlanta to be exceptional. My home congregation, Gloria Dei in Urbandale, is a considered a megachurch though not equivalent to Lutheran Church of Hope in numbers. There is a level of personal lost in this church, and although there are myriad activities and "missions" going on, I don't seem them as ultimately fulfilling and rewarding endeavors to the flock or to the community.

IS THIS JUDGING AND HYPOCRISY?

Maybe in a fine sense it is. That is why I say the fine line between wisdom and scorn. But God also has been certain to emphasize that He wishes us to be able to discern, and that means it is up to each of us individually to make these decisions.

So, when Daily Devotional writes: "
In what ways have you been overly critical of other Christians, churches, or ministries? What does this tell you about the good you should be doing?"
it strikes home. We are each to do good. I have always relied, again, on James: 1:15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,
16  and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
and, over all: 1:27  Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
I should follow my own practice of interpreting scripture with scripture, though, and in particular read 1:26 -- If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. That does NOT leave anything to imagination or misinterpretation.

I guess, then, that instead of speaking out against megachurches I should be speaking in favor of good works, regardless of the branch from which they spring. If I "find fault" with a given congregation, what I should really be thinking is that "here is a congregation that does not choose to interpret the Word as I do" or "here is a congregation whose good works aren't easily fulfilled by what I have found to be my God-given talents and my spiritual gifts". And, more than being critical of a congregation, I should find ways, as so many Christian writers have said, of blooming where I have been planted.

Freezing Poor People

Today I want to think about freezing poor people.

I never really lived in the east - I figure Virginia and Pennsylvania are like Middle Atlantic and above the fall line. I have only ever visited New Jersey and Delaware briefly, spent time eating seafood on the dock in Annapolis (lovely place), and camped at Shenandoah National Park to go into D.C. itself in the summer. I do have the dubious distinction of having slept on the same floor of the Park Central that John Hinckley did. That was a nice hotel, had rooms at the government per diem rate and had a Blackie's Jr. steakhouse in it where a steak dinner and your first beer for free was, in like 1978 or so, only $8.99. But, never having actually lived there, I cannot really imagine how this winter storm is affecting the East Coast.

When I think about that it helps me realize how totally differently people in the major cities live and feel. Living in Evanston was not really the same as living in Chicago by any means. I am sure you spent enough time in DC to understand a bit more about life in the city. This weather is just devastating to many people, I am sure.

The other thing that I come to realize as I contemplate the homeless and the jobless in the cities: here in Iowa, there is more than likely a place to find a roof and a bed on any given day, and there really are jobs available, not glamorous, barely enough money to buy smokes and clothing and a little food, but they are here so 6 months of unemployment payments is probably about right. But in the eastern cities, it's a real challenge to we the people. There is not enough in the "insurance fund", if there ever was, to pay extra unemployment benefits, but if we cannot help these people we are killing them as surely as if we poisoned them, drowned them, or threw them out the 14th floor window of their unheated walkup and likely condemned apartment. Now, we of the "middle class", whatever that is, have always felt taxed to death, although other countries certainly tax at higher rates. Local economy (supply, demand, worth, propensity, all that stuff) adjusts, kinda like in a family 2 people adjust to living with that 3rd little person even though there is really no more money. National economy cannot, from a logical perspective, "adjust", because the nation, as a whole, presents multiple niches that need to be adjusted.

Peg and I are really only a coupla checks away from who knows what. I suspect more people are than ever want to admit it. But "hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way," as Roger Waters said.

The Bottom Line -
You are right to support your local homeless shelter. Anyone is. Far better to spend the money locally than to expect that by running it through the government bureaucracy, federal, state or local, it would be better spent. You get more there and you can see where you think it is most needed. What can, though, "we the people" strive for on a national level, what should we be encouraging our representatives and senators to do, should we make recommendations and comments to President Obama? They really do all see to it that everything they get is read. My congressman and senators always respond to me - they probably think of me as that eccentric old fat bald guy in Clive who complains about too many different things but occasionally stumbles across a good point. At least I hope that is the worst they think of me.

How can we do a Feed the Children or a World Vision or whatever IN the U.S. itself?
Should we?

Creative Use of the English Language

I have been reading Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series. If you think you have a pretty good vocabulary, give it a try -- good old Billy Shakespeare would probably have a run for the money with those books - I love 'em.

On the street, in the office, at home, people are insulted every day. Today, it's all guttural and obscene language that shows little, if any, class - back in the old days, it seemed to have even been possible to curse with class. Now, with all the swear words roaming around, I got this from a friend showing:

THE RIGHT WAY TO INSULT PEOPLE USING REAL ENGLISH!!

These glorious insults are from an era before the English language got boiled down to 4-letter words.


Pay attention for Churchill and his wonderful dryness.
Too, you always have to admire Mae West's way with words:
"His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork." - Mae West

*************"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the
dictionary." - William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway).

The exchange between Churchill & Lady Astor:
She said, "If you were my husband I'd give you poison."
He said, "If you were my wife, I'd drink it."

A member of Parliament to Disraeli: "Sir, you will either die on the
gallows or of some unspeakable disease."
"That depends, Sir," said Disraeli, "whether I embrace your policies or
your mistress."

************"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." -
Winston Churchill

"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great
pleasure." Clarence Darrow

*************"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the
dictionary." - William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway).

"Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time
reading it." - Moses Hadas

"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved
of it." - Mark Twain

"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends." - Oscar
Wilde

"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a
friend.... if you have one." - George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill
"Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second.... if there is
one." - Winston Churchill, in response.

"I feel so miserable without you; it's almost like having you here." -
Stephen Bishop

"He is a self-made man and worships his creator." - John Bright

"I've just learned about his illness. Let's hope it's nothing trivial."
- Irvin S. Cobb

"He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others." -
Samuel Johnson

"He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up." - Paul Keating

"In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily." -
Charles, Count Talleyrand

"He loves nature in spite of what it did to him." - Forrest Tucker

"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on
it?" - Mark Twain

"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." -
Oscar Wilde

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts -- for support
rather than illumination. " - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

"He has Van Gogh's ear for music." - Billy Wilder

"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it." - Groucho
Marx