Wisdom. The First Step. 6/4/2017

Good Morning,

My day began with computer issues and even my cup of Door County Blueberry Cobbler Coffee wasn't helping. But it seems as if the issues have been resolved and I can write once more without using my telephone.

Last weekend our local news was full of talk and alarm about the gun shootings in our area. People were appalled, and rightfully so. A quote that was heard over and over again was "why is this happening"?  To me the shootings did not come as a surprise. The quick answer is this. We have lost our regard for life. Life ceased to be precious in 1973 in the United States when abortion was legalized. This will be a huge debate today with a few emails railing me. But it is a fact. We mourn adults and children gunned down but still allow abortion mills to operate killing thousands of babies daily. The first step to wisdom in this matter is to acknowledge God as God and to fear Him and his judgement.

Proverbs 9:10New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

What once was thought as appalling is now an accepted practice and has now turned to the streets in nightly killings. It seems that our acceptance of murder has blossomed into a total disregard for life. God keeps His word and it seems that we have been turned over to the lifestyle we have condoned.

Romans 1:28-32

²⁸ Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. ²⁹ They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, ³⁰ slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; ³¹ they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. ³² Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

God will judge our actions and it is a fact. So this violence does disturb me, but does not surprise me at all. There is a decreased healthy fear of God. As a matter of fact many churches do not teach the first step to wisdom, which they seem to believe is a better way to fill the pews.

2 Corinthians 5:10New International Version (NIV)
¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

I suggest for everyone to take a healthy read through the book of Proverbs, reading 1 chapter per day. Read the first chapter of the Book of Romans. prior to reading Proverbs. Allow God to piece this together for you. I am sure He will enlighten you, as to His opinion.

God bless,

Marty