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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5 Mar 11
Good grief—I mean, good evening, dear ones.
Things have been pretty intense…so I wasn’t able to follow through with pumping out a composition yesterday. Therefore this is another double whammy.
The main focus of yesterday was to prepare for a memorial service for someone we’ve met at Pheasant Pointe where we do Gospel Sings every Sunday afternoon. I was asked to conduct the service.
Here we are on the brink of another heavy week, containing lots of urgencies. But, would you believe, my brother called early this morning and I yielded to a plan to meet him and our cousin at Timberline on Mt. Hood tomorrow about noon? Hope I’m not overly crazy.
Have a good night. Sleep tight. Be blessed.
Love, Dad/Ray
5 March 2011
Proverbs 5
Focus: “…that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.” Proverbs 5:2.
You understand, of course, that there is some poetic language going on here. To be technical and literal, LIPS are folds of facial tissue around mouths and have nothing to do with the PRESERVATION of KNOWLEDGE in and of themselves. The intended meaning is that LIPS are a component of speech—the passage way of voice transmitted through vocal chords, shaping meaningful words in a language that is processed in the memory drive of the brain. It really is an amazing orchestration of dynamics that makes for communication.
Today I sat in a lecture presentation by world-renowned physiatrist Doctor Alan Weintraub. He is a specialist in the area of traumatic brain injury research, treatment, and therapy. And he was one of the attending physicians surrounding Thano’s head injury back in May of 2001. His presentation was directed to professionals in this field. I’m certainly not one of them, but it was spell-binding to have someone so knowledgeable describe the marvelous features of the brain—its anatomy, sectors, neurological fuel, synapses, vulnerability—and how it all relates to movement, cognition, and the range of treatment therapies now available for those surviving injury. (The main reason Thano and I were there was because Dr. Weintraub had expressed an interest in seeing Thano again while being at this Northwest Brain Injury Conference in Portland.) For me, it was something like a worship experience, as it all went together to confirm and support my certainty that this is a GOD THING—a clinical disclosure of what God has deliberately designed—as opposed to being the result of some freaky mindless accident.
I’m also convinced that language is a GOD THING. The whole gamut of language formation and structure is, I believe, beyond man’s ability to think up on his own.
The fact is we are surrounded with GOD THINGS—things that we are benefited by and use constantly— often thoughtlessly. And here’s the main focus I’m seeing in this—the God-given responsibility that we have to exercise these God-given gifts with care and godliness.
Needless to say, the whole exercise of using words and language that flow through LIPS to communicate ideas and KNOWLEDGE originates in the HEART (cognitive functions of the brain with its spiritual and worldview orientation). So it is the content and values of one’s HEART that determines the content and values of one’s communication—the kind of KNOWLEDGE to be imparted. This sound advice from Solomon is quite similar to advice Peter gives in 2 Peter 3:18: “But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” If we will heed this advice by the medium of His Word, we will be best equipped and prepared to use our LIPS to communicate KNOWLEDGE that is truly worth PRESERVING.
“Sharp words make more wounds
than surgeons can heal.”