2016 picture of Ray Sparre

Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67



These devotional messages are personalized as messages to Ray's granddaughter, Samara.

12 Dec 16

Good morning, Samara.

The tea blend I brought to Mama Becki this morning was Lipton and peppermint, spiked with some honey and fresh straight-from-the-farm cream. We began to read together Proverbs 12. We didn’t get far—only the first verse. Our discussion became so full on that first introductory idea that I decided to move here to the computer and share some of our talk with you.

Even this setting that I’m describing is something to talk more about. There is something very positive and enriching about engaging in this kind of fellowship and dialogue—simply talking together about THINGS IMPORTANT. If you pay close attention to typical conversations going on around you, you will probably notice that a lot of topics are not really very important—like, “I want to see STAR TREK”—or, “What are you going to wear to school?”—or “Oh no—it’s raining!”—or, “Do you want ketchup or ranch dressing on your omelet?” It could be a good thing if you were to find a situation within your own family to initiate some conversation about THINGS IMPORTANT. Maybe you could simply raise a question like, “What do you guys think about Proverbs 12:1?”

Anyway, we better get on with it. After I send it off to you, Mama Becki and I plan to do a walk/jog up the hill—before she goes to her Bible Study commitment at a senior living center in Woodburn.

Have a great day, Samara. Remember—it’s the first day in the rest of your life!

Love, Tua.

PS: It sure is tempting to lay aside all my work for a few hours and run up to the snow. There’s over 8 feet of snow depth now at Timberline.


Proverbs 12
Focus: "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.” Proverbs 12:1.

Loving discipline? Is there any kid out there who loves getting a spanking?—or loves being told he can’t do what he wants to do? Probably not. However, those of us who manage to grow to productive adulthood and look back on our background as kids have to recognize that we would not have done well without some “board of education applied to the seat of learning” (spankings).

I don’t think parental punishment or discipline imposed upon us by our authorities is the main idea here. More important is the whole attitude of wanting to become better—a commitment to grow and behave according to what you KNOW rather than just what you FEEL.

Do you remember your first experience of rappelling down a rope from that tree by our creek? Do you agree that it was a lesson in learning to conduct yourself according to what you KNEW rather than what you FELT? I was proud of you. You trusted me, you trusted my equipment, and you obeyed my instructions—even though you were tempted to be freaked out. Bingo! You soon found yourself safely back on the ground, having descended nearly 40 feet. And suddenly you weren’t satisfied with just doing it once. You did it several more times—better and more confident each time.

A great song sung in Christian churches for a very long time captures this main idea—TRUST AND OBEY. If you remember the chorus, you can sing it with me—

“Trust and obey—for there’s no other way—To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

The verse ends on a negative way to do life. So the person who chooses to live by feeling, who only wants what they want, having no interest in becoming improved or developed toward THINGS IMPORTANT, and who does not want anyone getting in their way or offering correction—that person is what?


“The way of a fool seems right to him,but a wise man (or girl) listens to advice.”.)
~ Proverbs 12:15 ~