–John Deacon  (Yonder)

       “For man also does not know his time; like fish taken in a cruel net, like birds caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them.”
                    –Ecclesiastes 9:12(NKJV)
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AVOID!  DANGER!  FALLEN ROCK!  You’ve seen warning signs on the highway.  They are placed there for our protection, yet all too often these signs are ignored, then disaster strikes.  Why are the warnings ignored is a good question?  Perhaps they were not seen, perhaps simply ignored with the person thinking they don’t pertain to me, or maybe the thought is, “I can handle it.”  This morning‘s study in Proverbs 7 shows a young man ignoring his father’s instructions and the warning signs.

          6 — For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice,
          7 — And saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, a young man devoid of understanding,
          8 — Passing along the street near her corner; and he took the path to her house
          9 — In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night.
        10 — And there a woman met him, with the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.
        11 — She was loud and rebellious, her feet would not stay at home.
        12 — At times she was outside, at times in the open square, lurking at every corner.
        13 — So she caught him and kissed him; with an impudent face she said to him:
        14 — I have peace offerings with me; today I have paid my vows.
        15 — So I came out to meet you, diligently to seek your face, and I have found you.  
        16 — I have spread my bed with tapestry, colored coverings of Egyptian linen.
        17 — I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
        18 — Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; let us delight ourselves with love.
        19 — For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.
        20 — He has taken a bag of money with him, and will come home on the appointed day.
        21 — With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, with her flattering lips she seduced him.
        22 — Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,
        23 — Till an arrow struck his liver.  As a bird hastens to the snare, he did not know it would cost his life.  (NKJV)

     First of all, notice these verses direct our thought to the simple who is described as lacking judgment.  Bob Beasley summarizes it like this:  “The victim is a simpleton, walking naively down the street whispering a happy tune.  The huntress is dressed to kill, so to speak, and has a hard and unyielding heart.  She is loud and defiant.  The kill takes place as the simple-minded youth goes to her home, not knowing that he has made a fatal mistake.”
     This young man is either terribly dumb or very proud.  He is convinced he can play with sin and get away with it (Wiersbe).  He ignores the warning signs and the instructions of his parents.  He walks at night; he walks in an area of temptation and danger.  In other words, he wasn’t heeding the instructions he had been given.  Warren Wiersbe says, “We can’t help being tempted, but we can certainly help tempting ourselves.”
     There are all sorts or flatteringisms today.  From the woman that is pictured in these verses to cults and false teachings.  J. Vernon McGee writes, “This old gal is busy today.”  It is anyone, anything, that seduces you away from Christ.  She comes by the way of radio, television, music, and will even make a personal appearance trying to lure you. (McGee)  Watch out for any “evil that might seduce us away from the path of wisdom.” (Mike Leake)  Note:  the seducer offers something extra, something special, and will tell you that you are something special.  Then, the final few words–nobody will ever know.  These are the “lies that are the lure of the forbidden.” (Leake)
     The young man, simple and oblivious to his fate.  He ignored the teachings of his father and look how he ends up–“as an ox goes to slaughter.”  The signs, the warnings, the teachings are there for a purpose.  Guard the truth and listen to the voice of wisdom.

                    –A.K. Vyas  (Dodge City)

       “In these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world.”
                    –Hebrews 1:2 (NASB)
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We have finished going through the Psalms.  I started the study back in 2016, and though it was not weekly until 2021, we have made it through.  But that doesn’t mean that we are through with psalms and songs.  There are some others in the Bible that I want us to glean from.  Plus, I changed the format from earlier psalms so I might go back and revisit them.  This morning, however, I would like to draw attention to a song by Paul.  We find it in Colossians 1:15-20.

          15 — He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
          16 — For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.  All things were created through Him and for Him.
          17 — And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
          18 — And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
          19 — For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
          20 — And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.  (NKJV)

WOW!  What a message.  Such a powerful statement of theology!  Handley C.G. Moule said this, “Can we read this passage and not feel that it glows and moves with a personal joy in believing?  Paul is not only discussing; he is worshiping.”  There is so much to be said of these verses, but I want to draw attention to a few things in this short time and space.
     Jesus is the “image of the invisible God.”  It is through Him that we have a clearer picture and understanding, though not complete, view of the character of God.  Barclay says that Jesus is a representation and a manifestation of God.  Jesus is God in His fullness who came to earth for the redemption of mankind.  William Petersen says that this song of Paul should be read alongside the Christmas story in Luke 2.  Yes, Jesus came as a baby, but He was still the fullness of God.  He is a portrait of the Father and in Him are all the characteristics of the Father.  
     There was, at this time, the rise of the Gnostics.  They had different views, but they claimed to present true knowledge.  Paul, often had to refute them, and they were a hardship to the church for centuries, and we still see forms of their false teachings rise from time to time.  Paul is answering them in these few verses.  He is saying that it was Jesus who created all things.  All things!  Get that–here we see John 1 along with Genesis 1.  Powerful, all is from the word of Christ for He is the Word.  All things were created by Him and for Him.  Grasp that, you are created for Him, to be part of His kingdom, to bring Him joy.  We exist because of Him.  Barclay tells us, “All the laws by which this world is order and not chaos are an expression of the mind of the Son.”  He further states that it means “the law by which the universe hangs together, are not only scientific laws but also divine laws…  The Son is the beginning of creation, and the end of creation, and the power who holds creation together, the Creator, the Sustainer, and the Final Goal of the world.”  Can we go back to the Psalms and get a better glimpse of Christ?  

          “The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; the world and all its fullness, You have founded them.”  (89:11, NKJV)

The NLT translates the last phrase this way, “You created it all.”  That’s it–end of discussion.  Here we have barely touched on these verses, but the day is calling for our attention.  Go out into the world knowing that Christ Jesus is Lord of all.  That everything is by Him and under His control, and that includes all aspects of our lives.  Perhaps, I will visit this song of Paul again because we have barely touched it.

                    –Lou Bradshaw  (Abe)

 

Come on in, Pard.  Let me tell yuh from the git-go, I figured it out.  Yep, been ponderin’ for quite a spell on it, and I’ve come to the conclusion that the reason why we now have this here AI is because there ain’t much real intelligence left.  Pard, that is a scary thing, my mercy, the foolishness and deception that could come from it.  Whooee….sorry, didn’t mean to keep yuh waitin’.  Hold out yur cup an’ I’ll pour.  

     Boy, I sure agree with ol’ Bradshaw, ‘specially since I’m a simple man myself.  That coffeepot and skillet are something to be toted around.  Back when I was doin’ more travelin’, back before AI, I always kept a coffeepot, skillet, and small pan in the truck just in case I needed them or wanted some coffee along the way.  Been with Grandpa a few times fishin’ when he’d just boil up some coffee in a pan on the banks of a lake.  Listen, Pard, yuh never know what yuh might face out there, so’s best to be prepared.  Plus, I’ve swallered my share of gas station coffee.  Some better today, for example Pilot ain’t so bad, but the rest, well, it has the appearance of coffee.

     This AI don’t help none, folks are still runnin’ to and fro.  I’m beginnin’ to understand a little more what the ol’ Prophet Daniel was talkin’ about.  He was given visions of the end times–the times in which we are a-livin’–and he says that “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”  He doesn’t say wisdom will increase, or righteousness will increase.  But men will be like a hamster runnin’ through a maze not knowin’ where to go or where to stop.  Just like that fellar who almost became our Vice-President who said that believing your rights come from God is something only theocracies like Iran believe.  Mercy, Pard, and he’s one of our “leaders”?

     Sorta makes the bile come to life in the ol’ liver don’t it?  Well, take another swaller for I’ve got more.  Yuh recall the press secretary, Psaki?  She said, “Prayer is not freaking enough…  Enough with the thoughts and prayers.”  Then some politician said, “The thoughts and prayers.  I’m so beyond that nonsense.  The lie of that.”  And another one, “Praying does not work.  The kids were in a church, and God didn’t protect them.”  My mercy, Pard, little do they understand the power and purpose of prayer.  I might add these statements were made in regard to the school shootin’ in Minnesota.  Listen, if America would truly repent, turn back to God, then we might see a different response to prayer.  However, don’t ever be a-forgettin’ that the world is evil and that God is sovereign.

     Well, Pard, the pot’s empty, my palaverin’ is over.  But with the coffee (and prayers) we’ve enjoyed the hard ride of the day shore will be easier.  Need to tell yuh, that if’n yuh come by yuh’ll have to make yur own coffee next week.  We’ll be in the ol steel strawberry mount headin’ for the eldest daughter’s home.  Don’t yuh worry, I’ll be checkin’ my cinch, and makin’ sure everythin’ is packed right.  Be prayin’ for us, an’ I don’t just mean findin’ decent coffee.  Ugh, already thinkin’ ’bout hotel coffee.  Yuh be ridin’ true and I’ll be sittin’ tall in the saddle.

    Vaya con Dios.

                    –Frank Baugher  (Preacher’s Corner)

       “The highways are deserted, no travelers are on the roads. The treaty is broken, its witnesses are despised, no one is respected.”
                     –Isaiah 33:8  (NIV)
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A few years back we were on a little trip and decided to go to the site where my folks lived when they first came from Oklahoma in 1936.  We went over Cottonwood Pass, which had some memories for we had to pull off the road and camp there one night back in the 1970s (oh, so long ago).  The car I was driving vapor locked and it simply wouldn’t go any further up the pass so I pulled it over and set up camp–in the rain with only the dog to help.  It wasn’t a good night, Annie and I, two little girls, and a beagle, but we did sleep well.  But it was the road we had to travel and the next morning the car started right up and over the pass we went.
     Back to the later trip; after Cottonwood Pass we stopped for a little while at Tin Cup in Taylor Park.  My Grandpa used to fish there in years gone by, then we headed through Tin Cup and up over Cumberland Pass.  It was the road we had to travel, so up we went.  My old Dodge Dakota climbed easily despite the weather; it had begun to rain mixed with sleet and snow.  The road became treacherous, but onward and upward, there was no other way.  We were in the clouds when we reached the summit and the weather had slackened.  We continued on the rocky, dirt road up over Waunita Pass, which isn’t a bad pass but the road was terrible, filled with washboards.  On the other side of this pass was where the cabin once stood.  It was the third time I had visited the cabin, but this time it had fallen apart.  The roof was caved in, one side was leaning inward.  Now the road was still rough and rocky, but there the driving was easy through the pasture land, the many copses of aspens and by Waunita Hot Springs.  We had to travel this road to get to our destination.
     I might ask, what type of road are you traveling on today?  Some of you may be traveling through a storm.  Let me tell you, I’ve driven through all sorts of storms:  snow with white-outs, heavy rain and thunderstorms, fog so thick you could cut it with a knife, a tornado moving nearby.  However, I couldn’t let the storm stop me from my destination.  Once I was on a trip and there was a problem with my vehicle’s engine.  Everytime I stopped for gas, I had to put water in the radiator.  Now, I remember going through the deserts of Arizona and California years ago when Dad would tie a bag of water in front of the radiator to help cool the engine and to use if needed.  Problems on the road, they cannot be totally avoided, but no matter the trouble we travel on that road–we had to if we wanted to reach our destination.
     “How much longer?”  Oh, how many times have I heard that?  My normal response was “an hour and a half.”  “Are we almost there?”  We’ll be there in about an hour and a half.  It didn’t really matter, we had to travel that road no matter how long it took.  Sometimes time seems to drag on.  Will we ever make it?  I recall the words from a Walt Mills song:  
               “Sometimes it seems like I’m standing still,
               Until I look back and see,
               How deep my valley, how high the hill
               And each step nearer to eternity.”
No matter where we travel, on fine highways that are straight and smooth, or on curvy, winding roads that are full of ruts, we keep going.  We are traveling the road to our heavenly home.  We are light and salt to those who pass our way no matter the direction they are going.  Someone once put it this way, “Christianity is made for the road.”  We meet all sorts on the road and we are to be a testimony to them.  We are to go onward to our destination, knowing that each mile is directed by Him, that each step of the way He is with us.  Jesus walks with us each step of each day until finally one day we will reach our destination.  See we travel this road–it is the only one we have that gets us to our destination.
   
               “I’m following Jesus one step at a time,
               I live for the moment in His love divine.
               Why think of tomorrow, just live for today,
               I’m following Jesus, each step of the way.

               The pathway is narrow but He leads me on,
               I walk in His shadow, my fears are all gone.
               My spirit grows stronger, each moment, each day,
               For Jesus is leading each step of the way.
                         –Redd Harper