What does it mean to be “smart”?

 

Are you smart?

Did you know reading, meditating, memorizing and embracing the truths of scripture is an education?

What does it mean to be “smart”? 

It may mean an innate intellectual capacity that someone is born with. Some people are gifted by God with a very high IQ. While their capacity for learning is high it is no guarantee that they will reach their maximum capacity.

To be smart could also be the person who perhaps doesn’t have the same intellectual gifts but has worked hard, read a lot and possesses a great understanding of the world.

Some may say that the person with the most degrees is the smartest.

It is possible for a person to be smart in a single area of life. There are those who know very little about the world but are experts on a sporting team or a certain hobby.

Perhaps experience is the best teacher, therefore those with the most years behind them are the smartest people.

The Psalmist in Psalm 119 makes a very interesting point in verses 97-104.

It is his determination that those who study, understand, meditate on and obey the truth of scripture are the smartest people alive.

97 Oh how I love your law!
    It is my meditation all the day.
98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
    for it is ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers,
    for your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the aged,
    for I keep your precepts.
101 I hold back my feet from every evil way,
    in order to keep your word.
102 I do not turn aside from your rules,
    for you have taught me.
103 How sweet are your words to my taste,
    sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through your precepts I get understanding;
    therefore I hate every false way.

Knowing the scripture makes one , “Wiser than the enemy, more understanding than their teachers and they know more than the aged”. It protects them from sinful stupidity, develops in us a deep love for its truth and provides for us great understanding. 

How is it that knowledge of scripture accelerates one ahead of another?

The Bible is the source of knowledge and wisdom about the most important things in life. It answers the questions that everyone is asking. It is speaks to the ultimate reality of life, death and eternity. It is the most reliable history book every written. It tells us where we came from, and where we are going. It tells us what our greatest problem is and gives us the solution. It introduces us to our maker and pours out the wisdom of God.  To know these things, is to be smart, to be unaware of these truths is ultimate foolishness.

When an individual is deeply acquainted with and daily involved in the scripture that person is “smarter” then an atheistic physics professor at Harvard.

This morning I encourage you to spend a few minutes before going to school or work in the Word of God.

Thank God for His Word.

Consider this: Jesus knew…

 

He goes into that room with His disciples. He knows He is going to be betrayed. He knows it is Judas who will turn against him. He knows that He has been sold out for a handful of silver. Stabbed in the back by one He has poured His life into.

Yet, in that room, hours before the death of Jesus, Judas ate too. Jesus fed Judas too. Jesus prayed for Judas too. Jesus washed Judas’ feet too. I struggle to fathom that kind of love. A love that would feed the mouth that deceived you; A love that would wash the treasonous feet of the traitor; A love that could forgive even the vilest of betrayals.

I honestly struggle to comprehend it. And then, suddenly, I realize that I’m Judas. And in that moment, I’m so thankful & altogether overwhelmed that Judas ate too.

WD-40 ~ Who knew!

 

Before you read to the end, does anybody know what the main ingredient of WD-40?     No Cheating.....

WD-40 ~      Who knew!
I had a neighbor who bought a new pickup.
I got up very early one Sunday morning and saw that someone had spray painted red all around the sides of this beige truck (for some unknown reason). I went over, woke him up, and told him the bad news. He was very upset and was trying to figure out what to do   .... probably nothing until Monday morning, since nothing was open. Another neighbor came out and told him to get his WD-40 and clean it off. It removed the unwanted paint beautifully and did not harm his paint job that was on the truck. I was impressed!  WD-40 who knew?

"Water Displacement #40".

The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953, by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. Its name comes from the project that was to find a 'Water Displacement' Compound.

They were finally successful for a formulation, with their fortieth
attempt, thus  WD-40.  The 'Convair Company' bought it in bulk to
protect their atlas missile parts. Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you.

When you read the 'shower door' part, try it.   It's the first thing
that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door.  If yours is plastic,
it works just as well as on glass.  It's a miracle! Then try it on your stove-top. It's now  shinier than it's ever been. You'll be amazed.

WD-40 Uses:

1.      Protects silver from tarnishing.

2.      Removes road tar and grime from cars.

3.      Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.

4.      Gives floor that 'just-waxed' sheen without making them slippery.

5.      Keeps the flies off of Cows, Horses, and other Farm Critters.

6.      Restores and cleans chalkboards.

7.      Removes lipstick stains.

8.      Loosens stubborn zippers.

9.      Untangles jewelry chains.

10.    Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.

11.    Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.

12.    Keeps ceramic/terracotta garden pots from oxidizing.

13.    Removes tomato stains from clothing.

14.    Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.

15.    Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.

16.    Keeps scissors working smoothly.

17.    Lubricates noisy door hinges on both home and vehicles doors.

18.    It removes that nasty tar and scuff marks from the kitchen
flooring. It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to
scrub nearly as hard to get them off.  Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.

19.    Remove those nasty bug guts that will eat away the finish
on your car if not removed quickly!

20.    Gives a children's playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.

21.    Lubricates gearshift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers.

22.    Rids kids rocking chair and swings of squeaky noises.

23.    Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.

24.    Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.

25.    Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.

26.    Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.

27.    Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.

28.    Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons and bicycles for easy handling.

29.    Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.

30.    Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.

31.    Removes grease splatters from stove-tops.

32.    Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.

33.    Lubricates prosthetic limbs.

34.    Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).

35.    Removes all traces of duct tape.

36.    Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.

37.    Florida 's favorite use is: 'cleans and removes love bugs from grills and  bumpers.'

38.    The favorite use in the state of New York , it protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.

39.    WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a little on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose.   Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.

40.    Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.

41.    It is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray it on the marks and wipe with a clean rag.

42.    Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash. Presto! The lipstick is gone!

43.    If you spray it inside a wet distributor cap, it will displace the
moisture, allowing the engine to start.

As for that Basic, Main Ingredient.......   Well.... it's FISH OIL....

Now This Is Definitely Worth SHARING

MONDAY QUOTES: FAVORITE QUOTES ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

 

Max Lucado

"God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile."

 

Tim Keller

"Christ literally walked in our shoes."

 

John MacArthur

"You are the only Bible some unbelievers will ever read."

 

Zephaniah 3:17

"The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing."

 

Romans 8:38-39

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Corrie Ten Boom

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows; it empties today of its strength."

 

Amy Carmichael

"He said ‘Love...as I have loved you.’ We cannot love too much."

 

Hudson Taylor

"I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him. I ended up by asking God to do His work through me."

 

C. S. Lewis

"To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you."

 

Paul The Apostle

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice."

SUNDAY THOUGHT" “ Jesus Paid It All:” 10 Scriptures That Remind Us We Are Showered in Grace

“ Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe, my sin had left a crimson stain, but He washed it white as snow.”

You’ve probably heard the worship song “Jesus Paid It All.” Traditionally a hymn, worship artist, Kristian Stanfill recreated it in the early 2000’s with a more contemporary spin. It’s probably one of my favorite worship songs of all time.

There’s something SO beautiful and pure about the simplicity and the intentionality of old-school hymns. And then the contemporary addition Stanfill put on the song is just this added layer of power that truly makes you want to lift your hands in praise to the Lord.

“Oh praise the one who paid my debt, and raised this life up from the dead…”

Y’all, my heart wants to jump out of my chest just writing those words.

We serve an INDESCRIBABLE God, who TRULY loves us so well. And while worship songs and old-school hymns are foundational in giving God all the glory, it’s scripture that truly reminds us of the fact that Jesus paid it all.

 “ Jesus Paid It All:” 10 Scriptures That Remind Us We Are Showered in Grace 

1. Romans 5:8

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

2. 1 John 2:1-2

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”

3. Hebrews 1:3

“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…”

4. Isaiah 1:18

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”

5. 1 Peter 2:24

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”

6. Ephesians 2:8-9

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

7. John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

8. 1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

9. Isaiah 53:5

“But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and by his wounds, we are healed.”

10. Hebrews 10:14

“For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

 

 

 

 

Source:   Bri Lamm

RICK'S RECIPIES: Cheesy Baked Asparagus

 

Ingredients:

 

1 bunch of asparagus, woody ends trimmed…

3 T. butter, melted

1/2 tsp. my house seasoning (equal parts garlic powder, onion powder and pepper…combine and store in an airtight container)

1 T. grated parmesan cheese

3/4 C. shredded mozzarella cheese

Italian seasoning

 

 Directions:

 

Line a baking sheet with some tinfoil. Place the asparagus on the baking sheet and drizzle with the melted butter. 

 

Sprinkle the house seasoning and parmesan cheese over the top. 

 

Place in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes. 

 

Remove and top with the mozzarella cheese and a little sprinkling of Italian seasoning over the top. 

 

Return to the oven for an additional 5-7 minutes to melt the cheese and let it begin to brown.

 

Source : allrecipes.com

FRIDAY FUNNIES: Church Bulletin Bloopers

 

 

BULLETIN BLOOPER #1... Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person(s) you want remembered.

 

BLOOPER #2... Attend and you will hear an excellent speaker and HEAVE a healthy lunch. 

 

BLOOPER #3... The church will host an evening of fine dining, superb entertainment, and gracious hostility. 

 

BLOOPER #4... Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 pm-prayer and Medication to follow.

 

BLOOPER #5... The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

 

BLOOPER #6... Low Self-Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.

 

BLOOPER #7... A song fest w

The result of church folks when there's no spiritual foundation!

 

This is the result of church folks when there's no spiritual foundation!

Many people are dying a slow spiritual death because their hope lies in the traditions of the church only, and not in JESUS!

 

Be sure that your relationship is with Jesus, not a building!

 

Make sure wherever you assemble, that the foundation of your faith is Jesus, not people or the building!

The endowment effect – why we’re reluctant to get rid of things

 

Most things are differently valued by those who have them and by those who wish to get them: what belongs to us, and what we give away, always seems very precious to us. — Aristotle

 

The endowment effect (also known as divestiture aversion) is the finding that people are more likely to retain an object they own than acquire that same object when they do not own it. For instance, if I own a bread maker I’m reluctant to discard it, even though if I didn’t own one I wouldn’t buy one. 

 

The endowment effect (EE) also asserts that we overvalue things we own. For instance, if we decide to sell our house we’re usually overly optimistic regarding it’s worth. We overvalue something we own regardless of its objective market value. EE runs rampant if we have an emotional or symbolic attachment to something—I’m likely to overvalue a painting that was painted by my mother. 

 

Research has identified two main psychological causes of the endowment effect:

 

• Ownership: Studies have shown that people will value something they already own more than a similar item they do not own, much in line with the adage, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” It does not matter if the object in question was purchased or received as a gift; the effect still holds.

 

• Loss aversion: We tend to hold onto things we own, even though relinquishing them at a loss would be the better choice. This is why investors often hold onto unprofitable assets; the prospect of divesting at the prevailing market value does not meet their perceptions of its value. We often hold onto things that we should sell at a loss. 

 

In short, we overvalue what we own.

 

We even overvalue, and are reluctant to jettison, our personal ideologies and convictions. If I have embraced a particular theory, philosophy, or principle most of my life, I’ll be hesitant to analyze its validity and even more reluctant to change positions because I’ve invested so much in it. For instance, people seldom change their political beliefs later in life because we have so much emotional and intellectual currency invested in them. 

 

This relates to another topic: our reluctance to change. Over time, who we are and what we think and do become so engrained that we’re unwilling to entertain change and may even become unaware of other possibilities. 

 

To make this post practical, let’s think of of what we “own” and simply reassess each item’s value. Is there an item, relationship, viewpoint, habit, or investment that we should reevaluate and then reduce or discard? This exercise will help affirm and solidify those things in our life that we believe to be true and valuable. It will lead to a fresh and renewed commitment to things we hold dear.

 

A must-read article

I like to read Adam Grant’s thoughts. I’ve read most of his books, and his article titled The Science of Changing Someone’s Mind (New York Times, January 31, 2021) is insightful and helpful.

 

 SOURCE:

DON MCMINN   Reflections on Life and Leadership

 

From PR's Illustration file: Values are passed on from generation to generation.

 

Remember this Kenyan runner Abel Mutai who was just a few feet from the finish line, but became confused with the signage and stopped, thinking he had completed the race. A Spanish runner, Ivan Fernandez, was right behind him and, realizing what was happening, started shouting at the Kenyan to continue running. Mutai didn't know Spanish and didn't understand. Realizing what was taking place, Fernandez pushed Mutai to victory.

A journalist asked Ivan, "Why did you do that?" Ivan replied, "My dream is that someday we can have a kind of community life where we push and help each other to win."

The journalist insisted "But why did you let the Kenyan win?" Ivan replied, "I didn't let him win, he was going to win. The race was his." The journalist insisted, and again asked, "But you could have won!" Ivan looked at him and replied, "But what would be the merit of my victory? What would be the honor in that medal?

What would my Mother think of that?"

Values are passed on from generation to generation.

What values are we teaching our children?

Let us not teach our kids the wrong ways and means to WIN.

Instead, let us pass on the beauty and humanity of a helping hand.

 Because honesty and ethics are WINNING!

Monday Quotes: three quotes of Charles Wesley

 

Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees, And looks to God alone; Laughs at impossibilities, And cries it shall be done.

 

God is gone up on high with a triumphant noise.

Charles Wesley (18 December 1707 – 29 March 1788) was an English leader of the Methodist movement, most widely known for writing over 6,500 hymns. Hope you enjoy this video: 

Sunday Thought: All The Nations Will Come And Worship Before You – Psalm 86

 

 

 

Reflection

It can be challenging to think of entire nations as belonging to God. Humans have been fighting for centuries to have dominion over territories, and yet it is God who created the earth and everything on it. It is God that owns everything in the end. We humans are simply called to well-steward His creation during the time we are allotted. We also think of ourselves as belonging to a certain nation, and there may even be certain nations that for whatever reason we feel like we dislike. But our perspective is challenged when we acknowledge that God is the Lord and Master of all nations.

 

He is the Creator and the final say. God is reminding us today that one day, regardless of race, ethnicity or geographical boundary, everyone is going to worship the One, true God. So honor God today by being gracious in your thoughts and in your words, remembering that we will all one day bow to the same Lord as King.

 

Prayer

King Jesus, thank You for creating and caring for every nation and every person who is part of every nation. You are the ruler of all and we pray that our nation will help to heal and not destroy others as part of Your inclusive Kingdom. Help us today, Lord, to bring glory to Your Name; to have Your eyes of mercy and a heart of love even when it is difficult to do so. It is in Your good and holy Name we pray, Amen.

 

“All the nations You have made will come and worship before You, Lord; they will bring glory to Your Name”                                               -Psalm 86:9.

 

Saturday Recipe: Turtle Cookies

 

PREP TIME 15 MINUTES

COOK TIME 12 MINUTES

TOTAL TIME 27 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup salted butter softened
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 14 baking caramels unwrapped
• 1 tablespoon heavy cream

 

INSTRUCTIONS

1.          Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

2.          Cream together butter, sugar, and brown sugar using a stand mixer or hand mixer.

3.          Add in eggs and vanilla extract and beat until combined.

4.          Beat in cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.

5.          Use a spoon or rubber spatula to stir in flour until combined. Stir in chocolate chips and pecans.

6.          Scoop out about two tablespoons of the cookie dough and roll into a ball and place on prepared pans. Repeat with remaining dough until you have 24 cookies. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes.

7.          Bake in the preheated oven for 12 minutes.

8.          Meanwhile, place unwrapped caramels and heavy cream into a microwave safe bowl. Place in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir, and microwave again for 30 seconds. Continue until caramel is completely melted and smooth.

9.          Once the cookies are out of the oven drizzle with caramel and let cool completely on a wire rack.

ENJOY!

PLEASE COMMIT IF YOU ENJOY Saturday Recipes.

FRIDAY FUNNIES

Everyone needs a mystery box

 

When I was a teenager I heard a sermon on the mystery box.

The pastor recommended that throughout life everyone should keep an imaginary box into which you place those things that happen in life for which there seems to be no good explanation. In the course of life, events and issues happen that we don’t understand. We ask “why” but never get an answer (though some well-meaning friends will offer their opinions). We pray for answers and reasons, but God is silent. 

 

So when a painful, unexplainable event happens, open your mystery box, place the event inside, close the lid and then stop trying to figure it out. Someday, in heaven, open up the box and talk to God.

 

I remember the first thing I put in my box. When growing up, my hero was the minister of music at my church. He was a wonderful man and effective minister. When he was 42 years old (I was 18) he had a stroke and became incapacitated. He’s now in his 90’s. I wrestled with God about his illness and subsequent limited lifestyle. I finally opened up my mystery box, placed the anger, confusion, and unsolved mystery inside, and shut the lid.

 

I’m now 68 years old and have five things in my box. 

 

This is a wonderful, effective way to deal with imponderables. By placing them in the box, we’re not denying or minimizing our pain and confusion. We’re simply acknowledging that there’s no clear answer available in this life, but there will be in the next. When we get to heaven, we can discuss these issues with God (though I think they will become clear the moment we arrive). 

 

One of my favorite Bible passages is Isiah 55:8-9: 

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

 

This is not new or shocking news. Do we actually think that God thinks like we do or is restricted by our limitations? If he did and was, He wouldn’t be God.

 

By the way, we often fumble the ball when responding to other people’s imponderables. We do them and God a disservice when we try to explain something for which there is no explanation. I even resist saying things like, “God will cause this to work out for your good” or, “this will make you stronger.” Either don’t say anything or suggest that they start their own mystery box.

 

 [Here’s a post I wrote titled Don’t say this to someone who is hurting.]

 

Let’s just trust God and his ways in our lives and the lives of other people.

SOURCE: