Insightful Musings on the New Testamentby
Ray Sparre, NU class of '67
Ray has a wealth of experience as a Husband, Father, Pastor, Missionary, and student of the Word. He believes and practices his faith where the rubber meets the road. You'll find his writings to be practical, insightful, and grounded in a truly Christ-centered world view.
Below are links to a printable daily Bible reading guide which Ray has followed, and an archive of all his daily devotional writings for 2010 and 2011.
| Daily Reading Guide | 2011 Devotion Archives | 2010 Devotion Archives |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
13 Jan 11
Greetings in the morning, dear people on this list.
I just mentioned to Becki that I hope the rain subsides. I’m committed to taking on this big milling job today…one with which I’m not very excited…not just because of it’s size and the size of the timers (12”x18”x20’ is a big stick!), but there are some health hazards involved…as they are pressure-treated (and a couple are creosote-treated) which will yield sawdust and fumes that are most likely not very healthy. I’ll make a point to use a dust mask on this deal.
Life is a risk. Getting out of bed is a risk. Staying in bed is a risk. Riding in a car is a risk. Staying at home is a risk. There’s nothing really wrong with risks…unless you choose to do wrong, taking the risk that there will be no consequences. Sorry…I’m on another rabbit trail.
I need to get on the trail out to the mill…and get ready for a big challenge.
I’m absolutely addicted to the blessings of God. I hope you are too!
Love, Dad/Ray
13 January 2011
Proverbs 13
Focus: “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” Proverbs 13:20.
Can you think of a principle of life any more important to communicate to our children and youth than this one?!? Coming to think of it, this is important for everyone—regardless of age. It’s the principle of friendship and fellowship. It involves the selection of friends. It’s the basis of the old proverb that says, “Birds of a feather flock together”—taking in the fact that many relationships do not allow nonconformity.
Every relationship or friendship, it seems to me, has a level rating—ranging from shallow to deep, superficial to intimate, or casual to permanent. And every participant who quests for a deeper level, as in marriage, sets up a kind of built-in pull or tension that seeks to draw the other side into conformity with their worldview likeness.
Verse 14 of this chapter is in parallel with our “Focus” verse: “The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.”
The bottom line is that FRIENDSHIPS ARE IMPORTANT—either for blessing or for cursing, for encouragement or for discouragement, and for building up one’s potential (both temporal and eternal) or for tearing it down.
Let me drop on you two warnings: (1) Don’t overlook the DON’T of Hebrews 10:25: “Let us not (In other words, DON’T…) give up meeting together (as in a healthy church fellowship where a sound Biblical worldview is the standard), as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (2) Be careful of the subtle influence of television and movies. Every TV and movie production contains a worldview message. Whenever we engage in being “entertained” by a corrupt worldview, a form of fellowship is subtly taking place. And guess what?—a measure of it has to rub off. Think about it.
“Teenagers are people who demand to be different, yet they dress exactly alike.”