"Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children." -- Proverbs 17:6

Some things remain the same.  This text, written thousands of years ago, gave insight to the joy and source of pride grandchildren were for their grandparents.  It also speaks to the importance of the place held by the parents in a child's life.  As a father of teenagers, I'm in the phase of eye-rolls and head-shaking, as my teens wonder how adults in this world got to this state of stupidity.  It wasn't long ago, though, that we parents were the heroes in our kids' lives.  In their mind we knew everything-- every answer to every mystery to every part of the universe.  Maybe they're just still coming down from their unavoidable disappointment after finding out we're human after all... but there are still moments when they desperately need guidance, support, encouragement, and correction.  I look at their eyes expecting the eyes to roll, but they don't.  They are there, just for a moment, fully engaged... ears listening intently... minds processing at lightning speed... and I realize they still need me.  So parents, don't ever think for a minute that just because your kids don't want your input and guidance that they don't need it.   They'll thank you one day for it... or maybe they won't.  But you are still the #1 influence in their lives. In case I haven't thanked my own parents... thanks Mom and Dad.  Though we're grown, we still need you.  Now about keeping the grandkids for a while...

Readings:  


1 Kings 12:20-13:34; Acts 9:26-43; Psalm 132:1-18; Proverbs 17:6

"He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished." -- Proverbs17:5

Poverty is shameful to our society.  And it is not the poor who should be ashamed-- it's society.  War is evil.  Those who fight aren't necessarily evil, but the existence of war is evil incarnate.  We tend to boast a bit when life is moving in our favor.  We have money and power... we exert our will over others... and we think nothing of it.  We pity and even fear the poor, wishing we didn't have to face that reality.  But Jesus says they are blessed for they shall inherit the kingdom of earth.  When we go to war, our nation often comes together (some wars not included), and we act as though we were at a giant pep rally for a football game.  Fact is, we're scared that someone would hate us so much that they would want to kill us, and so the "just war theory" calls for us to defend ourselves.  And when we see the rich and powerful fall... culturally speaking, we tend to glean some twisted pleasure from that.  Whether it's Tiger Woods, Lindsey Lohan, or the Kardashians... why would we enjoy the stories of their fall?  There is a line that we are not to cross:  we are not to celebrate when other people's misfortunes becomes fodder for cultural entertainment.  Terrible things happen to people.  Maybe their situation is due to their own undoing.  It's sad.  Don't celebrate.  Don't laugh.  Don't participate in the circus that comes at the cost of other people's pain.

Readings:  1 Kings 11:1-12:19; Acts 9:1-25; Psalm 131:1-3; Proverbs 17:4-5

"If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared." -- Psalm 130:3-4

I read this and think of Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 13 where he says "Love keeps no record of wrongs..."  and am reminded that the most perfect model of love is God.  The psalmist had a sense of this, though not with the same understanding as one has from a New Testament perspective.  Regardless, he was correct in writing that if God was not loving-- was not Love-- we wouldn't have a chance.  If we were created to be in relationship with God and with each other, how many times have we dishonored those relationships?  How many times have we fallen short of being the friend we could have been, the spouse, the brother, the sister, the daughter, the son, the father, the mother, the teacher, the student... we all fall short.  And yet, we find forgiveness and new beginnings in our relationships that are fashioned out of the love of God.  Ever feel dread connecting with a person you knew you really let down?  And then you're surprised to find they love you, forgive you, and continue in relationship with you anyway?  If so, then you understand "grace".  As God has loved you, so you should love others.

Readings:  1 Kings 9:1-10:29; Acts 8:14-40; Psalm 130:1-8; Proverbs 17:2-3

"While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' Then he fell on his knees and cried out, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them.' When he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was there, giving approval to his death." -- Acts 7:59-8:1

This passage wraps up the account of Stephen, the first Christian martyr.  While his story is both tragic and inspiring, and we can learn what it means to be steadfast to the end and to speak truth in the face of danger,  we learn something from the other character as well... Saul.  There he was, watching the whole thing, giving his approval.  I can see him nodding his head thinking, "I hope the other Christians are getting this..."  He has no idea what's around the corner for his own life.

So here's the takeaway:  be bold like Stephen and courageous in the face of oppression and danger.  Love people despite them having no love for you.  And from the position of Saul... he would later become Paul and write the majority of the New Testament.  He would also one day die for his faith.  If you'd have told him that while they were stoning Stephen, he would have laughed and probably had you stoned too.    He had no idea what God was going to do with him-- just as you and I have no idea what God is going to do with us.  Just don't be surprised if your life changes dramatically for being a faithful follower.

Readings:  1 Kings 8:1-66; Acts 7:51-8:13; Psalm 129:1-8; Proverbs 17:1

"Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life." -- Proverbs 16:31-33

Isn't it funny how times have changed?  Today, many of us try to conceal our gray hair.  Products that will cover it up, take it out, and make it go away are huge sellers.  Why?  Could it be because in our culture we value youth and virility over age and wisdom?  Could it be because we have it a bit backwards?  In the day of this Proverb, to have lived long enough to have gray hair was to have beaten the odds.  Generally, people did not live past what we now consider middle age.  And if they did live that long, it was attributed to living a righteous life.  The formula was: live righteously = live long.  Today, we still celebrate those who live long, and hope to do so ourselves, but forget about the path to it. People live long much because of making good choices along the way.  There still remains a path of righteousness to the golden years.  So as your hair begins to gray, don't hide it, for it remains a crown of splendor.  May you live beyond the gray years and into the white!

Readings:  1 Kings 7:1-51; Acts 7:30-50; Psalm 128:1-6; Proverbs 16:31-33

"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." -- Psalm 127:1

An actor looking at a script for the first time might ask, "What's my motivation here?"  This is a good lesson for us.  In all of our actions, we should ask, "what is my motivation here?"  By doing so, we can screen out those things that are not of God and God's desire.  When we embark on an endeavor that is merely interesting or entertaining, it will be fleeting.   But when we take on a project because of a sense of call, and a recognition that it is rooted in God's will, success is destined.  Who will get in the way?  This is not to say we can't confuse our own will for God's at times.  This is hubris, and will be our downfall if we allow it.  But when we humbly approach a work as part of the Body of Christ, we will be driven not just physically and mentally, but spiritually.  This is the most powerful drive of all.  So who's the foreman on your projects?

Readings:  1 Kings 5:1-6:38; Acts 7:1-29; Psalm 127:1-5; Proverbs 16:28-30

Testing Character through Action: 1 Kings 3:16-29

A Bible Story:
Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. One of them said, "Pardon me, my lord. This woman and I live in the same house, and I had a baby while she was there with me. The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us."  During the night this woman’s son died because she lay on him. So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. The next morning, I got up to nurse my son—and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn’t the son I had borne.”  The other woman said, "No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours."


But the first one insisted, "No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine." And so they argued before the king.

The king said, "This one says, ‘My son is alive and your son is dead,' while that one says, 'No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.'" 


Then the king said, "Bring me a sword." So they brought a sword for the king.  He then gave an order: "Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other."


The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved out of love for her son and said to the king, "Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!"

But the other said, "Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!"

Then the king gave his ruling: "Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother."

When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdomfrom God to administer justice.


-- 1 Kings 3:16-29
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
People will know the truth of what you say based not on your words, but your actions.

Readings:  1 Kings 3:4-4:34; Acts 6:1-15; Psalm 126:1-6; Proverbs 16:26-27