Sparks of Passionate Response

Reading:   Proverbs 22

Passion is no trivial device of humanity, it is a tool easily manipulated by fatigue, hatred, desire, pride, and ultimately the whisperings of grandeur.  Passion, given time, is the seedling of war and the casket of death.

PROVERBS 22:24-25

24    Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 

25    Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. 

I had a great deal more written here, including instances of anger that have occured in my life and the lessons learned, but my iPad died before I could save it and all was lost.  I allowed the throws of passion to overcome me and I put aside the blog for a time because of my frustration at losing my thoughts.  Anyway, important lesson!  I will close with a great bit of explanatory advice from Matthew Henry...

Those we go with we are apt to grow like. Our corrupt hearts have so much tinder in them that it is dangerous conversing with those that throw about the sparks of their passion.

Quite true and as reluctant as I am to refrain from anger and brutish behaviour I can't help but accept the reality that my children might catch a spark of my passion and go quick to flame as well.  I am under constant scrutiny and must learn to control my passion...

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaa!!!!!  

Let's just get that out so I can concentrate on a more passive existence?

~Kipling

Prepare Your Horse

Reading:   Proverbs 21

It was a difficult task today, choosing a verse that is, but I settled on...

PROVERBS 21:31

31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord. 

Here we are essentially being advised that it is prudent to prepare for battle (in all it's many forms).  Having a horse prepared is forethought and wise.  Arming ourselves with the proper weaponry is also essential as is the appropriate training in the tactics of combat and the strategies of war - these are all great enhancements and keys to ultimate success (on paper).  Then comes the monstrous, shattering, unavoidable...

"but"

...and how are we to read this caveat?  It's quite plain, yes, we are to prepare, but if God is forsaken in our haste to amass the best tools, training, etc., we are not prepared sufficiently.  Without the acknowledgement that The Lord is the ultimate shield we are setting ourselves up as Goliath and a pebble, propelled with the blessing of God, will bring us to the grave.

Regarding this subject, I read a fantastic address by Ezra Taft Benson, Our Priceless Heritage (General Conference 1976), where he discusses a patriotic picture that had great meaning for him.  I found the picture (America on Her Knees) and here is President Benson's very applicable quote...

In the 1940s while serving as the executive officer of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives in Washington, D.C., I saw in a Hilton Hotel a placard depicting Uncle Sam, representing America, on his knees in humility and prayer. Beneath the placard was the inscription, "Not beaten there by the hammer and sickle, but freely, responsibly, confidently. ... We need fear nothing or no one save God."  

That picture has stayed in my memory ever since: America on her knees in recognition that all our blessings come from God! America on her knees out of a desire to serve the God of this land by keeping His commandments! America on her knees, not driven there in capitulation to some despotic government, but on her knees freely, willingly, gratefully! This is the sovereign remedy to all of our problems and the preservation of our liberties. 

We have nothing to fear.  We are prepared and can hold our heads up high: but forgot not The Lord and be quick to kneel in humility for our safety lies with Him!

~Kipling

Choose to Be Different!

Reading:   Proverbs 20

I have a lot of experience when it comes to the follies of intoxication, not from the perspective of a drunk mind you, but as a bouncer.  So many experiences, stories, anecdotes, and memorable moments that I could write a novel (I did in fact, BOUNCER, buy it, read it).  Anyway, I've seen the stupidity of intoxication up close and personal - this verse is right on!

PROVERBS 20:1

1    Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. 

Earlier today, as I contemplated which of my more interesting stories to relate as a sort of compactor to the veracity of the verse, I heard an anecdote from the book Endurance, which fits perfectly (I was listening to the book on Audible).  As a quick background, Shackleton, the leader of a trans-Antarctic expedition, overheard some of the crew members discussing their predicament (the ship was frozen solid in ice and had not moved in 5-months).  The men seemed confident that the immobile ship could withstand the extreme pressure from the thickening ice and, though frightening, all would be well.  Shackleton sat down next to the men and shared a story (I shall paraphrase as I could not find the script to copy).

A hungry mouse found an unattended tankard of beer, dove in and drank his fill.  Thoroughly smashed, the mouse exited the tankard of ale, puffed out his chest and said, "Where's that cat?"

After relaying the story, Shackleton looked at his men and walked away.  How perfect is that?  Alcohol is indeed, without doubt or question, one of the greatest deceivers!  In closing I want to share a quote from Russell M. Nelson taken from his address, Addiction or Freedom (1988 October General Confernce)...

 Choose to be different; you will be blessed both physically and spiritually. 

That is it...

~Kipling

A Continual Dropping

Reading:   Proverbs 19

I have come across so many gems of verse over the last few months and have been unable, for often not the best of reasons, to blog about their meanings.  It's been so long my desire to continue has been overshadowed by my feeling of regret for my extended absence; however, forget what is not and commence with what is, right? Of course right!

PROVERBS 19:13

13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. 

This simple verse is not one that I can relate to because I am blessed with sons that are respectful, upright, and strong of spirit.  My wife is incredibly hard working, filled with a compassionate desire to help others and always driven to improve our family.  And, although the verse makes no mention of daughters, my girls are the brightness of my day and bring me joy unceasing.

So why did I choose this verse?  It's the end, "...a continual dropping."  What does that mean?  You may already know, but, like me, probably not.   I love a good metaphor and this turned out to be quite a spectacular one (my scholarly friend, Matthew Henry, helped me unravel the puzzle).   It's like this, "dropping" is used to note the fall of rain. We can all appreciate how frustrating "...a continual dropping," might be.  Comparing then "a continual dropping" to "the contentions of a wife" is very fitting because what manner of man, child, or otherwise, wants to live in a house of continual contention?  Henry explains...

A cross peevish wife is as great an affliction [as a foolish son]: Her contentions are continual; every day, and every hour in the day, she [always] finds some occasion to make herself and those about her uneasy...it is a continual dropping, that is, a continual vexation, as it is to have a house so much out of repair that it rains in and a man cannot lie dry in it. That man has an uncomfortable life, and has need of a great deal of wisdom and grace to enable him to bear his affliction and do his duty, who has a sot for his son and a scold for his wife.

I have neither a scold for a wife or sots for sons.  I count myself lucky and pray for those of lesser fortune - may the rains cease in your bedrenched, soggified, marshiferous, households!

~Kipling