Category: Wisdom

I was reading a Marc Cameron novel, and he used “stalwart”, “forthright”, and “chivalrous”; words, that he calls “dusty-book words”-that seem to have disappeared from our culture.

Our culture is degrading; but thanks to Marc, maybe we need a reminder or two of a few words that used to mean something.

“If private revelations agree with Scripture, they are needless; and if they disagree, they are false.”   J.I. Packer.

The Bible constantly warns us about false prophets.  Many religions today claim that they are handing down prophecies from God.  John the Baptist was the last Prophet.  The prophets were paving the way for the Christ.  Once He came, there was no need for prophets to keep telling of His coming.

The Bible takes on a whole new meaning when you realize that it isn’t just a great book, but that the author was writing to you.

I began working for the US Customs Service right out of the military.  They gained an early release for me from the Air Force.  I had a skill that they wanted to use on the Mexican Border; I trained and utilized narcotic detection dogs.  I would have had no problem explaining to anyone what my role was in government and I could show the results of my work efforts by the amount of drugs that I found and seized.

I find it odd that Elon Musk asked federal employees to explain what they do and that request has been considered outrageous.  It is possible that many of our current federal employees cannot explain what they do because they do nothing.  They are just part of the swamp, draining away the taxpayer’s money.  It is hard to see what the government does because you have to wade through so much swamp water.

This is not unlike the spiritual swamp water that exists for Christians.  Sometimes the world throws so much at you that it is hard to find God because so much spiritual swamp water surrounds us.  Know that God is closer than you think and you can find Him by taking one step at a time. If you find that the swamp water is getting dirtier, then know that you are headed in the right direction.  The world will do everything it can to stop you from finding God.  When you stumble, just reach up and take God’s hand.

Proverbs 1:20–33 (ESV)

The Call of Wisdom
20  Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
21  at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22  “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
23  If you turn at my reproof,
behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you.
24  Because I have called and you refused to listen,
have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
25  because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
26  I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when terror strikes you,
27  when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
28  Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
29  Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the LORD,
30  would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof,
31  therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
and have their fill of their own devices.
32  For the simple are killed by their turning away,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
33  but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

It breaks my heart to hear about how the political climate of Portland, Oregon, has dragged the city into darkness.  It is now much worse than when I worked there in the 1990s.  Portland is in the greatest need for a revival.  I join with my brothers and sisters of Athey Creek to support the PDX Crusade 2025 on August 2nd and 3rd at the Moda Center.  All is not lost for Portland because Jesus said, “I have come into the world as a light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” (John 12:46)  Join with me in prayer to bring Portland out of the darkness.

I was recently watching a YouTube video in which a guy was stroking the chin of a cobra. As he stokes the snake, he says, “This is very dangerous, don’t try this at home.” Apparently, it wasn’t too dangerous to post the video. In all of the years that I’ve spent in animal welfare, snake handlers are by far the most stupid people that I’ve ever encountered. We usually don’t hear much about them until one of them gets bitten.

Then there is such a fuss that anti-venom has to be found that causes the depletion of anti-venom serum supplies. Police get involved and someone decides that the snakes must be rounded up and taken somewhere for safety. Guess where they go? Yep, I’ve been involved in incidents in which my shelter was caring for over 120 snakes at one time, many of them labeled as the most dangerous ones in the world.  I was in a room with a loose albino cobra; it took months for my testicles to decide to drop back down.  I think they still have PTSD.

The Milwaukee area seemed to be the epicenter of these stupid snake handlers. The good news is that during the winter months snakes are pretty easy to catch due to their cold-blood nature that doesn’t mix well with snow. If they ever escape, pray that it is winter.

I don’t fancy government regulation, but if someone wanted to regulate snake ownership, they would have my support. Without snakes, I wouldn’t have to check my toilet to make sure nothing was there to bite my butt. Sure, you don’t worry about such things. Apparently, you have not taken enough snake calls.

I didn’t watch the entire video because eventually, that guy is going to get bitten. Maybe not in that video, but eventually. That’s how Mother Nature works; she is patient. If you engage in enough activities that demonstrate that you have deleterious genes for stupidity, eventually, you’ll be permanently removed from the gene pool. I have to be honest. There is enough stupidity in our gene pool that these snake handlers won’t be missed.