Insightful Musings on the Scripturesby
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 |
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21 Jan 11
Good Friday morning, dear ones.
I had left my truck out (which kind of leaks when rained upon) thinking that it was to be dry overnight—but here it is pouring. I’ll go out in a few minutes and move it under cover. So if I function as the driver and controller of that happening, I will be an “under-cover agent.”
Moving right along… So, what’s on your list? Don’t all speak at once. I sure have a big one. I’ll begin with my “under-cover operation.”
Have fun. Be blessed.
Love, Dad/Ray
21 January 2011
Proverbs 21
Focus: “The proud and arrogant man—“Mocker” is his name; he behaves with overweening pride.” Proverbs 21:24.
The last time I went skiing, one of the people I conversed with while riding up the chairlift was one such “Mr. Mocker.” I’m guilty of pressing people’s buttons to learn something of their spiritual temperature and worldview orientation. He was a young fellow attending a college in Boston, pursuing a degree in biological engineering. He reported to me that his area of science has now achieved a level of technology where they can analyze and record a person’s entire “bio” in something like 20 minutes. I’m not sure what exactly that means, but it includes the complete decoding of one’s DNA. He was obviously an atheist. And when he learned that I was a “creationist,” his arrogance broke loose and he made it quite clear how stupid and mindless that belief was in view of all the compelling evidence there was to prove Darwinism. Prove? I don’t think so!
Coming to think of it, have you ever met a humble atheist? And I doubt that you will ever find one such person worshiping anyone or anything other than themselves—the epitome of PRIDE!
This simple observation speaks volumes to me. PRIDE actually has a kind of magnetic attraction to ATHEISM. It’s like a roadway that leads there. So—steer clear of that road!
Check out Psalm 1:1 again at it illustrates this idea that PRIDE is PROGRESSIVE. (Coming to think of it, have you ever met a humble “Progressive?”) “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked (THINKING) or stand in the way of sinners (DOING) or sit in the seat of mockers (RESULT—habitual proud and loud defense mechanism of the godless arrogant)” (NIV).
Verse 4 of this chapter offers a glimpse of God’s perspective on PRIDE. “Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin!”
“Be humble or you’ll stumble.” - Dwight L. Moody