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.

13 February 2017

Hi, Samara.

Things are sure stacking up around here to be hectic as we prepare to get on that plane on the 27th of this month bound for Vanuatu. So much still to do before blastoff.

I just had a phone chat with your dad. As I learn of how his business is growing and expanding almost out of control, it sure seems like you have a golden opportunity to get on board with it. It only makes sense that if you viewed it as a training opportunity and became knowledgeable and skilled at its various levels, you would be investing in your future, even if you didn’t choose this line of work for the rest of your life. At least it would serve as a valuable stepping stone to other things. I’m confident you would never regret this learning/training experience.

Have a blessed day.

Love, Tua.


Proverbs 13
Focus: “The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.” Proverbs 13:5.

It looks like the FOCUS VERSE can easily add to the same important theme of LOVING WHAT GOD LOVES AND HATING WHAT GOD HATES. Since God clearly hates lying and falsehood, then a person in right (righteous) relationship with Him will also hate lying and falsehood. Hating evil goes with the territory of loving God. Love for evil and love for God cannot peacefully coexist. Attempting to combine the two simply adds up to an ugly state of HYPOCRISY—the antithesis of righteousness—confirming wickedness. The crazy fact is, however, we humans keep trying to combine those opposing ingredients with the self-deceiving notion that we can avoid “shame and disgrace.” But it NEVER works! SHAME AND DISGRACE are the unavoidable effects rendered by the cause of doing (loving) evil.

I realize that I’m stating the obvious here—and trying to nail this concept down from several directions. But the straight forward job description that we face toward being RIGHT (on good terms) with our Maker is important enough to deserve the repetition.

“The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.”
~ Proverbs 13:9 ~