–Kenneth Pratt  (The Wolves of Windsor Ridge)

       “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.”

                    –1 Peter 3:7 (NKJV)
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Spinster’s Spree!  Watch out fellows–oops, better watch it or I may be accused of being chauvinistic.  But today is February 29, the day in which women, spinsters in particular run the race to find a man–maybe not the man of their dreams, but a man.  To understand, and most reading this probably have no clue as to what I’m talking about, you have to go back to Al Capp and the community of Dogpatch with Li’l Abner and Daisy Mae.
       Of course today, with feminism abounding, women can take the lead in courtship, or finding a man, any time they well please.  But in times past, according to Capp at least, there was one day, every four years, in which a race was held.  Originally it was the daughter of the mayor who was a spinster and was out to catch her man.  Sadie was the homely daughter who hadn’t been able to catch the eye of a man, so the date was set for the race where she could find a man to marry.
       I well remember that day, over fifty years ago now.  Annie and I had just started dating.  Sadie Hawkins was coming up fast, but let me tell you I didn’t sprint away from the occasion, I sorta mosied on along waiting for her to ask me to dinner.  We went to the Bonanza, and she purchased two filets, and if I have it right, we got both for under five dollars.  My, my….think of that.  Love in bloom for less than five dollars.  
       In reading about Al Capp and Sadie Hawkins I found him to be much aligned.  One article called him sexist, showing little respect for women giving them only one day a year to pursue a man.  Come on, we already know that isn’t true.  Read the first few chapters of Proverbs.  Another article degraded him saying in a gay relationship who pursues who?  I almost smiled, I would have if it wasn’t so sad and grieving to the heart of God.  They added the problem that this causes “genderqueer” individuals.  
       Sadly, we live in a time where we have to watch our “p’s and q’s”, hmmm, maybe our “r’s and w’s” as well.  With abominable practices around and people so touchy regarding pronouns…well, it’s just a shame.  The same is true for kid’s games, books, and toys.  When is enough, enough?  “The look on their countenance witnesses against them, And they declare their sin as Sodom; They do not hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought evil upon themselves. (Isaiah 3:9, NKJV)  Isaiah has more stern words, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!  Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:20-21, NKJV)
       As for me, right now, I’m going to smile and remember that evening so many years ago.  It was one of many that we shared and have continued to share for over fifty years.  A time of getting to know one another, a time of laughter and of the budding of love.  Steak, medium rare–please, oh, and add a piece of apple pie to it.

                    –Luke Short  (Hard Money)

 

       “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.”

                    –1 Corinthians 3:9 (NKJV)

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There was a restaurant that closed down not too long ago in town.  I always wondered what happened as it seemed to be doing a good business.  Finally, another business owner in town told me what happened.  They couldn’t get anyone to work.  That’s a shame!  A thriving enterprise going under simply because no one wanted to work.  Recently I heard of another situation.  A young graduate secured himself a good job with outstanding pay and benefits, especially for an opening position.  He found out that he had to work on a Saturday and threatened to quit.  My mercy!  Yes, I know that there are those who throw their lives away working on a career, but at the same time there are those who would rather play around and receive a handout than to put in an honest day’s work.

       So what do we call these people, those who want their loans paid for them, those who do not want to work or do not do a quality job when working?  Sluggards!  Sloths!  Loafer!  Ne’er-do-well!  Bum!  Slacker!  And I’m sure we could add more to the list.  The Bible has much to say about work, and about an idler.  There is great dignity to work, and also to quality work.  Work is to be done for the glory of God and for the common good of the people.  Someone said that “we are called to live the eternal life now, in all of life, and especially in our work.”

       My Aunt once remarked to my Dad, that she thought “Daddy, worked him too hard.”  My Dad rebuked her saying that one of the most important things that “Daddy” ever did for him was to teach him to work and work hard.  Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes, “Nothing is better for a man…than that his soul should enjoy good in his labor.  This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.” (2:24, NKJV) and he continues “So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage…” (3:22, NKJV).  Work is part of God’s plan for man; he was put in the garden to work it.  And in saying that, if Adam was to work, if that was God’s plan, why do we think we will float around on little clouds playing a harp in heaven?  No, there will be some kind of work.  When Christ comes to rule on earth, He will place some over ten cities, some over five, and so on–in other words, there will be work to do.

       Paul gives a warning, that perhaps those who bounce around or sit at home waiting for their welfare check, should give heed.  “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this:  If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.  For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.  Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, NKJV).   As Woodrow Call said in “Lonesome Dove,” “A hard day’s work never hurt anybody”.

       Those who want their school bill canceled–work and pay it off.  Find a job, make something of yourself.  Remember, it is not money that makes the man, but the man who earns and toils for the money.  Money has an end; it is not to be loved but to be used for the kingdom of God as good stewards.  What happened to the unfaithful–the lazy steward, or should I call him the “sluggard”?  He was cast out.  People should know you by your work and the quality of it.  As the quotation at the beginning of the Echo:  “A man’s work was his badge of honor.”

                    –Ecclesiastes 8:6 (NKJV)
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Today we finish with Psalm 109.  This portion contains some interesting information that can help us deal with life, and put trust in the Lord despite our circumstances.  

          20 — Let this be the LORD’s reward to my accusers, and to those who speak evil against my person.
          21 — But You,O GOD the Lord, deal with me for Your name’s sake; because Your mercy is good, deliver me.
          22 — For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.
          23 — I am gone like a shadow when it lengthens; I am shaken off like a locust.
          24 — My knees are weak through fasting, and my flesh is feeble from lack of fatness.
          25 — I also have become a reproach to them; when they look at me they shake their heads.
          26 — Help me, O LORD my God!  Oh, save me according to Your mercy,
          27 — That they may know that this is Your hand–that You, LORD, have done it!
          28 — Let them curse, but You bless; when they arise, let them be ashamed, but let Your servant rejoice.
          29 — Let my accusers be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own disgrace as with a mantle.
          30 — I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yes, I will praise Him among the multitude.
          31 — For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those who condemn him.  (NKJV)

David doesn’t hesitate, he went straight to the Lord for deliverance from false accusers.  He asked for divine protection from the relentless attack against the evil coming at him.  He seeks the Lord’s mercy and deliverance and through that the Lord would be glorified.  One thing that stood out to me was that David proclaimed that he was “poor and needy.”  For sure he could not have meant monetarily poor–that is, unless he no longer had the resources at hand.  David may have been physically and emotionally without resources–this was when Absalom was threatening to take over the kingdom.  Imagine, a son trying to overthrow their father.  David’s heart was wounded, his strength was flowing from him.  Where else could he turn to but the Lord?
     Yes, there was another way he could turn, but David would never go there.  Charles Spurgeon said, “God will not be absent when His people are on trial; He will stand in court as their advocate, to plead on their behalf.  How different is this from the doom of the ungodly who has Satan [the accuser] at his right hand.”  Satan appeals to some and they follow but when the chips are down there is nothing he can do to help them.  Instead he sneers and laughs at their predicament and doom.  The Lord is always there, as David well knows despite his mood and disposition.  He knows that he can always depend upon Him.  
     “Let them curse,” he says knowing that it will only bring more of God’s blessing to him.  Eventually they would force the hand of God to move on behalf of David.  David says that he would then rejoice that he was on God’s side.  David then ends this psalm with adoration and thanksgiving.  God is standing at his right hand, in fact, He stands at the right hand of the poor and needy.  He is their strong tower and defender.  Steven Lawson points out that there are three parts to this Psalm:  prayer–the injustice is committed to the Lord, and He is asked to deal with the person and situation; patience–we get so anxious and want to do things our way immediately and often do not give the Lord time to act.  God is long-suffering we need to realize that; and finally, praise–David began and concluded this psalm with praise.  “Do not let someone else douse cold water on your flaming love for God.” (Lawson)  
     We may not have an “Absalom” trying to overthrow us, but we have needs that seem to work on our minds, body, and soul.  There may be areas of our lives in which we seem powerless and are weary and worn by them.  We are a needy people–recognize that God is there to save us from those who condemn or accuse and that includes the devil.

               “Poor and naked, sick and blind,
               Bound fast in misery,
               Friend of the needy, let me find
               My help, my all in thee.”
                       –Charles Wesley