Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
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  |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

28 Jan 11
            Good morning, dear people
            I have already put in some serious work.  I thought I had Thano lined out for cutting up a huge log on the mill.  But he keeps coming in to report technical difficulties.  One was the announcement that the hydraulics on the track hoe were not working.  That led to the conclusion that it was low on fluid.  Fortunately, I had a new 5-gallon bucket here ready to dump into the tank.  OK...I helped set up the log on the mill bed, moved the flatbed trailer into position to receive the lumber, started a fire for burning bark and scraps, and here I am back at the computer trying to get this off. And if you don’t disturb me in the next couple minutes, I’ll get it done.
            Have fun.  You know—you’re supposed to—at least mostly. Isn’t fun (happiness) a component of “the joy of the LORD?” Also, I like that meaningful quip that says: “Life’s employment should be life’s enjoyment.”
                        Love, Dad/Ray
PS: Hey—I think I mentioned the other day that I’d be sending a photo of the timber frame entry I just installed outside our front door.  Maybe I’ll do so now.  I hope you can handle a visual of Becki and me too.
 
28 January 2011
Proverbs 28
Focus: “A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment, but he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long life.”  Proverbs 28:16.
            I trust that my imagination will not exceed appropriate boundaries, but I have in mind a spin on this proverb that makes it practical and personal.  The very idea of a “tyrannical ruler” legitimately brings to mind an overbearing politician.  But I’m thinking beyond that application to the broader fact that we are all RULERS in a very real sense.  We have all been given management responsibilities in ruling our lives—the very existence of which has been given us, assigned to us, like a job or occupation.  So, let’s consider the RULER that you see in the mirror.
            What is the base purpose and motivation of your RULE?  The two fundamental options are (1) SELF—living to serve and please SELF with little care or concern for God or others, attempting to gain ascendance at any cost, even if it requires dishonest strategies of “ill-gotten gain” that harms others.  (2) GOD AND OTHERS—commitment to God that requires commitment to others, learning to hate what God hates and love what God loves.  (I trust we all understand the inherent danger of hating what God loves, or loving what God hates.)  Don’t you agree that this kind of lifestyle is a pretty good display of good “judgment”—and that any other approach “lacks judgment?”
            The positive promise attached to this principle of life is that the one who embraces this standard will “enjoy a long life.”  How long?  50 years?  72 years?  100 years?  Well, we can’t really attach a number to it.  Suffice it to say that it’s LONG—like REAL LONG!—like ETERNAL!
            May you RULE right and well.
 
“Good advice infrequently taken: NO THYSELF.”