Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hello, dear ones.

Becki and I pulled off a walk/jog up the hill in a light drizzle of rain. She walked under an umbrella. I was tough and just got wet. Maybe “tough” is not the right word.

Things are sure going crazy. Are you getting excited yet? All the lies and cover-ups in high places—everything from the “global warming” hoax, to the apparent presence of U. N. involvement in our own little Burns, Oregon (Why?), to the suspicious death of the main conservative resistance to a liberal/socialistic course/agenda of the Supreme Court—being the main person blocking the avalanche of a dictatorship—let’s keep our faith belts fastened. He is still “King over all the earth.” Sorry, but according to this Bible-based faith, it has to get worse before it gets better.

Have a blessed day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

The mindset of independence shows up early in life. We’ve all seen it displayed in little developing children. “Me do it!” or something similar, often comes out when trying to assist a child with some task they are not quite ready for. But that mindset is acceptable since we understand that it’s all part of our universal learning experience.

The unfortunate fact is that many never really grow up and grow out of that independent mindset. On one hand, everyone has to learn life by doing it—even by failing at it along the way. This kind of real life experience is clearly an intended curriculum by our Maker that is designed to develop us into wise mature adults. But, alas!—the NATURAL SIN NATURE makes it very very easy to yield to a perpetual immaturity—a mindset that continually says to our Maker, “Me do it!”

That independent attitude is identified several times through Proverbs 16—the “Me do it!” approach that excludes the God –factor from all of one’s plans and pursuits. There are verses 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 18, 20, 25, and 33 to serve as examples. Perhaps I will only quote verse 9 as being representative of the others: “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”

In stark contrast to that unwise heart-level attitude that ignores God is the one that authors Psalm 47. It’s a mindset that I can easily interpret as shouting, “WHY WOULD ANYONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WANT TO DO LIFE INDEPENDENT OF THE LORD MOST HIGH—THE MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH—THE ONE WHO MADE EVERYTHING, OWNS EVERYTHING, AND KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT EVERYTHING?!?!” The psalmist calls out, “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth!...Sing praises to our King, sing praises” (vv. 1-2, 6).

Without a doubt, living our lives in worship and partnership with this “great King” is a lot smarter (wiser and more grown up) than the alternative “Me do it!” approach.