Believable Apologies

     A man named C. Simmons once claimed that "Accurate knowledge is the basis of correct opinions; the want of it makes the opinions of most people of little value." For the most part I can say that I agree with Mr. Simmons; however, I think that the opinions or rather I would say that the beliefs of people matter a great deal, to them.
     If people act based on what they value or on what they consider to be important, then it might be advantageous to learn how people determine value or worth. In order to find this I believe that the answer lies in the fundamental answers to life's most important questions, like 'who am I?' 'from where did I come?' 'is there a god?' 'what is right and wrong?'. The person, who believes that he (or she) is a massive collection of cells that evolved from some 'lower' life form, is going to value different things than the person who believes that they were uniquely created in the likeness of an infinite god. Just as someone who thinks that everything is merely a part of one large life force that cycles around, will behave differently than the person who says 'we are all gods you just have to get away from all the distractions to find your true god-self.'
     Now it's not like every time we do anything we say 'wait a minute...what do I believe about this?' No certainly not. If people's actions are based in beliefs, it would have to be, for the most part, subconscious. Now using this premise, essentially that 'ultimately people's actions are determined in large part by their fundamental beliefs or assumptions about the world', I am going to be writing on several areas of 'belief' having to do with those big life questions in some of my future blog posts.
    But right now I'm curious, just in general what do you value in life? What do you want to get out of life?

Post Script: I apologize for not having written in a while, I have been out of town for the past month or two.

Timely Questions

    "What is time?-The shadow on the dial, the striking of the clock, the running of the sand, day and night, summer an winter, months, years, centuries-these are but the arbitrary and outward signs-the measure of time, not time itself. Time is the life of the soul." Thus stated the great poet known to many simply by his last name, Longfellow.
    Indeed I believe that most people have asked that question at one point in their life or another. What is time? It should be among the great human inquires next to 'Who am I?' and 'Why am I here?'. If one approached me for the answer to that question I would likely stop, and think very intently for quite a while...and then I would say something similar to this, 'As a single piece of paper is to a book, so is each moment to that great concept called time. A piece of paper is (almost) two dimensional. If removed from a book it tells but a part of the story, explains only a portion of the equation, shows only half of the proverb. Books are three dimensional and they tell the complete story, explain the entire equation, and show the whole proverb. Each single moment which we are able to comprehend is composed of three dimensions. Time is that fourth dimension. Something must first exist, it must then have depth and height for it to be perceived, and finally time, so that the thing might grow, evolve, and affect other things. That is time.
    Somehow I don't feel that my answer is any any better than Longfellow's. In fact I would say my answer is slightly confusing. We could say "time is the life of the soul" and that's all very well and good; but then I would question "what is the life of the soul"? Could anyone answer that question rightly? Perhaps time is less something to be defined, and more something to be felt.
    So I ask...What is time to you?

Prepared Marriage

     Last week I read book titled, Letters to Philip. It was written by Charlie W. Shedd. It is a series of letters from a father who is a pastor and counselor on the topic of marriage and specifically on a man's role in it. Now I'm not married, so take my opinion as one who has no first hand experience with a wife. I enjoyed it so much that I read the entire book in two days. (not a spectacular feat in itself, the book isn't that large, but considering my schedule...) In fact I thought it was so insightful that I went and checked out the sister book of, Letters to Karen, written by the same man. I am now planning on going back and rereading the book slowly. Often, especially in the christian community, I think we don't properly prepare the next generation for marriage. It isn't a surprise to me when the divorce rate is higher than 50%. How many huge decisions will you make life near to the importance of finding a wife (or husband)? Career and college are the closest of which I can think. The book was less on finding a wife, though I have read several on that subject, and more on describing how to relate to your wife and common problems and solutions. Like I said I've never been married so my praise of the book is both untested and difficult to articulate. I found the 29 letters worth reading and I hope to one day discover if his ideas actually work.
     Were you well prepared for marriage? How do you plan on preparing your children for the big decision? Finally, if you are married, what do you love most about your spouse?

Friendly Proverbs Continued

This is a continuation of the list from my last post.
      A wise person...
Acknowledges God in all his ways
Honors God with what he has
Loves God's correction
Is happy when he finds wisdom
Doesn't keep good from those who deserve it
Is trustworthy
Doesn't strive with a man, unless he has a cause to do so
Stays away from whores
Gets out of bad contracts quickly
Is not lazy
Has or gives good council
Has common sense
Loves someone who rightly rebukes him
Receives instruction
Stores knowledge
Restrains his lips
Keeps peace with his neighbors
Doesn't betray confidences
Listens to advice
Talks only when it is right
Chooses his friends wisely
Listens to his parents
Walks with people who are wise
Runs away from someone when he finds they are a fool
Is not quick tempered
Merciful on the poor
Slow to wrath
Shares knowledge
Seeks knowledge
Makes his father happy (if possible and right)
Will be called prudent
Speaks wisdom
Develops a reputation for being wise
Is teachable
Has a calm spirit
Speaks cautiously
Is not led astray by alcohol
Sees when sin is coming and removes themselves from it
People in authority are drawn to him
Doesn't drink when he controls the fate of others

     During my study I found many repetitions which I did not include in my list. The most common description was in regards to what the "wise" man says. It would appear that what one says is very important in how one is perceived. I find several things interesting but I would like to say that I have no training in Hebrew nor am I a scholar of theology, so I leave myself open to correction.
     I noticed that it didn't say the wise man never got angry or wrathful, he is just slow to wrath and he doesn't strive with a man, without a cause. The wise man also must be quick to listen both to criticism and instruction. If someone, human or God Himself, corrects the man rightly or rebukes him correctly, it should cause him to love that person all the more. I will admit this last concept is one that I see rarely. In the future I will endeavor to  put this and all the other criteria into practice.
     Now that you have seen all this, do you consider yourself to be a 'wise' person? Are you becoming wiser and developing relationships with wise people?

Friendly Proverbs

     The well know passage from Proverbs seventeen begins something like this, "A friend loves at all times..." That seems like a fairly good description of a friend to me. Last year when I moved to a new state I decided that I would try to make the best friends I could, this seemed like a great plan but there was one problem. How do I know who would make a good friend? How do I know if they will 'love at all times'? Also in the book of Proverbs, It says that "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." I wish to become wise and I do not desire to suffer harm, my answer was simple, I will become friends with wise people. Again I found myself in a small conundrum. How do I know if a person is wise? It was at this point that I set out on a journey through (the book of) Proverbs making a list of what it directly says regarding the characteristics of a wise person. Here is the basic outline that I derived from my study.

A wise person...
Listens
Learns
Gets wise advice
Listens to his dad
Obeys his mother
Stays away from situations where others are sinning
Has discretion
Has understanding
Stays away from people who
...say perverse things
...rejoice in evil
...cheat
...flatter
Trusts the Lord
Doesn't trust his own knowledge

     This is the first part of my list and I would continue writing, but alas I must arise earlier than usual and, subsequently, need to get some rest before I do so. I will try to continue this shortly, (as opposed to finishing this longly).
     How do you and how did you choose your friends? Did you just happen upon them and fall into friendship? Did you specifically seek a few of them out and try to become friends? Lastly I would like to ask you a more personal question. Are you a good friend?

Speaking

     Yesterday evening, the local high school debate club put on a production entitled "Be the Music". The idea was Christians are supposed to be the music in the world like there is music in the background of a movie. Aside from needing someone to teach them how to hold a mic and a few other sound issues they did a good job. I knew the members who wrote the skits and some of the monologues, they have talent. I even turned my cell phone to silent before the performance, something which I only do once or twice a year. Those who can inspire and move others with nothing but words, have the potential to be even more destructive than an atomic bomb, or to usher in a new age of peace. God protect us from the first and send us the latter.
     I choose not to speak more often than I choose to speak. Most sayings of the wise, or those considered to be wise, urge the reader to be slow to speak. I am not the best conversationalist, for I often am too slow to speak. I would like to leave you with this thought for the speaker. A man named Alexander Gregg once said, "There are three things to aim at in public speaking; first to get into your subject, then to get your subject into yourself, and lastly, to get your subject into your hearers."
     For the readers who do not desire to stand before the multitudes, I would give this quote from Voltaire, "There is a wide difference between speaking to deceive, and being silent to be impenetrable."
     Do you speak sometimes, too quickly? Are you often too afraid to speak up? I would remind everyone that you don't have to deceive or be silent. There is a third option, to speak brave and boldly for that which you know to be true.

Conversational Realizations

     With whom do you talk? I speak with people that I desire to know or understand (often I am forced by necessity to converse in order to avoid appearing inconsiderate). I had a conversation today with a friend of someone with whom I speak. I came to the realization that the two minute dialogue was the longest I had spoken to her...ever. I stated to analyze the possible causes for this. First, I had never truly tried to converse with her. A rather unobjective decision on my part, for I find her 'humor' of extreme exaggeration coupled with sarcasm to be annoying. Second, I have never seen her with out at least one or two or her friends by her side. This passing today while I was working on something, was the first time I recall having the opportunity to speak with only her. Third, those afore mentioned friends talk more than she does, so in a conversation one doesn't talk to any single person but the collective. This would seem to be a common tend amongst groups of young ladies. I find she is much more interesting and not quite as 'humorous' when she is separated from the group, a fact which was quite intriguing to myself.
     Why do you speak to people? Who is someone that you see often and yet with whom you rarely speak? I will try to be more aware of the people and the conversations. I offer the same proposal to you, take notice first of your surroundings, second of the people therein, and last of the conversations that one finds hidden there.