"Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. In this self-confident boasting, I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. Since many are boaasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise!" -- 2 Corinthians 11:16-19

I read this text and can't help but have the image of a football player running into the end zone to score a touchdown with finger raised high pointing to heaven.  In the interview that follows, the player says it wasn't him, but God that helped the team win (as though God wanted one team to win over another).  It always irritates me a bit when I see that, and I'm quick to point out the foolishness of it.  But after reading this, I may think a bit differently about it.  I understand that, especially in sports, bragging and swagger are all part of the show.  We talk "smack" and love to build ourselves up and put the competition down.  But to bring God into it is foolish... in that God probably isn't that interested in one team of millionaires beating another team of millionaires in a game.  Nevertheless, by pointing to heaven, they are reminding people of God.  By giving the glory to God (even if it's misplaced), God enters the conversation, and we can talk about it... even laugh a little at the fool who is bragging about God's great play in that game... in a similar way Paul was laughed at.  So it makes me realize that it's not that that player that's the fool, but maybe it's me.

Readings: Isaiah 6:1-7:25; 2 Corinthians 11:16-33; Psalm 54:1-7; Proverbs 23:1-3

"Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men." -- Proverbs 22:29

If you want to have impact, be good at something.  If you want to be good at something, dedicate your time to its development.  Over time, you will become skilled-- at just about anything you set your mind to.  But you say, "I would, but I just don't know yet what I want to do..."  Pick something.  Anything.  Follow your passions.  And dig in.  But you say, "I could have, but I started too late..."  Too late for what?  To become skilled at something?  Unless it's something that requires a young physique (gymnastics maybe?), nonsense.  But even if it's something like that, there are modified options for the older crowd (yoga, pilates, dance, etc.)... The thing that will not make you skilled is excuses.  So pick something and act.  Don't say you're going to, don't say you might, don't say you'll try.  As Yoda says,  "'do' or 'do not'... there is no 'try'."  Ideas are great, intentions are fine, but acting upon them is the only thing that counts in the end.

Readings:  Isaiah 3:1-5:30; 2 Corinthians 11:1-15; Psalm 53:1-6; Proverbs 22:28-29

"Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." -- Isaiah 1:18

As kids, when we were at play and it was our turn to take our shot and it didn't go our way, we would shout, "Do over!!"  And if the others liked the rule because they could have a second chance too, then the "do-over" was allowed.  As an adult, I play golf with groups who regularly take "mulligans"... same concept.  We all mess up.  We all take shots that miss and that we want to take again.  Everyone at some point needs a new beginning.  Our faith is one of new beginnings.  Yes, you and I have made mistakes.  You and I have taken shots that have missed.  We've hurt others.  We've hurt ourselves.  While consequences to our actions don't go away, the good news is that through Christ, God grants us new beginnings all the time.  In fact, the essence of our faith is that it invites us all to the biggest "do-over" imaginable.  The old self has passed.  In Christ, you are new again.  Take another shot.  And make it a good one!

Readings:  Isaiah 1:1-2:22; 2 Corinthians 10:1-18; Psalm 52:1-9; Proverbs 22:26-27

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." -- Psalm 51:1-2

Here is one of those passages that is good to carry with you.  Write it down.  Put it in your purse or wallet.  Memorize it.  Say it.  Think it.  Pray it.  Then rejoice, and know that you are forgiven!

Readings:  Song of Songs 5:1-8:14; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15; Psalm 51:1-19; Proverbs 22:24-25

"How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes begind your veil are doves. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead. Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn, coming up from the washing." -- Song of Solomon 4:1-2

My how times have changed.  The woman receiving this compliment would have blushed, overcome by such lofty words.  Today, if I said this to my wife, her face would probably turn red too.

The poetry in Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs) is such that it celebrates the love of a man and a woman.  It is not, as some argue, a writing representing Christ and the Church.  It's about two young and vibrant people who are bursting with love and physical anticipation for each other.  Some find it hard to believe that the Bible is filled with so much sex and violence.  Enough for the ages, I'd say.

Readings:  Song of Solomon (Song of Songs) 1:1-4:16; 2 Corinthians 8:16-24; Psalm 50:1--23; Proverbs 22:22-23

"Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well." -- Ecclesiastes 11:6

I am loving Ecclesiastes-- it's so incredibly rich in wisdom and truth.  This verse speaks to the importance of not relying on any one thing to produce that which you need for your life.  And here, I'm not speaking of spiritual life, but physical (and yes, I realize they both affect the other).

In modern western culture, there was a time when organizations espoused a degree of loyalty to their members/employees that is not seen today.  I remember when I was a teen and the unheard of happened: companies stable as the likes of IBM began to lay people off.  Middle-aged workers who had given their whole adult lives to serving their companies were seeing their retirement plans ripped away.  Having thought their future secure, they were shocked to find they were having to reinvent themselves.

Whether its your job, your assets, a product, or a service for your business, or your art... you must continually cast new seed in order to harvest a new kind of crop when the other no longer grows.  There is great power in being singularly focused, but there is wisdom in being multi-faceted and versatile as you function in that purpose.  In organizational terms, when you have multiple skills, we call it utility.  I think this is what the writer was talking about.  Don't live a "one and done" kind of existence.  Plant multiple seeds early, and tend to them throughout your life.

Readings:  Ecclesiastes 10:1-12:14; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; Psalm 49:1-20; Proverbs 22:20-21

"Moreover, no man knows when his hour will come: as fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so men are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them." --- Ecclesiastes 9:12

To live a life of wisdom is to live a life knowing that security is an illusion.  When you accept this as reality, then you are free to embrace the life you have and live it to its fullest.  If you spend all your days seeking safety from all harm, you live on the edge like none other-- for you procrastinate the very act and art of living.  What life do you want after all?  What is it that you live for?  What do you dream of doing one day that you can actually do today?  Do something today.  Live.

Readings:  Ecclesiastes 7:1-9:18; 2 Corinthians 7:8-16; Psalm 48:1-14; Proverbs 22:17-19