#36 "News From..." Thoughts from the Back Deck...

Proverbs 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

In the world we live in, boasting is a bit of a problem. We might not call it "boasting". Think about it...

•Not just a photo taken with our phone but a photo with filters to smooth out all our flaws. 

•We post where we eat.

•We post the fabulous things we do.

•We post the wonderful places we visit.

• Dating site encounters seldom live up to the hype (so I am told!!!) 

•We are always happy.

Ok, this might be an over-the-top statement for most of us reading but there is a lot of this going on everywhere these days from Facebook, TikTok,  Instagram, and even X (the social media site formally known as Twitter). 
What we say, what we do, what we think, has become our world. And our world revolves around us. We are the center of everything.

That is the danger. 

Because it is false.

Because there is no true, lasting happiness there..."for you do not know what a day may bring."


There was an old old radio show (1974-2016) on NPR called A Prairie Home Companion. It ended with a signature phrase:

"That's the news from Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average."

Every time I heard that signature sign-off phrase, I couldn't help but laugh at it and laughed at myself.

I think laughter at ourselves generally washes out boasting about ourselves.

Best to not take ourselves too seriously.

The world does not revolve around us. We are here today, gone tomorrow. 

Maybe the words of Paul the Apostle help here... “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” 

Or as is written in Jeremiah: "But let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

"That's the news from God's word, where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average... because of who we are in Christ Jesus and not who we think we are in this world."

Peace out,
Andy

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

#78 Thoughts from the Back Deck. Servant Leadership

Image
More of my orchids are coming into bloom. Once a week, I take time to carefully water each plant. I am careful that I don't get water in the plant's stem and where the leaf grows out of it, because it will often rot and destroy the leaf. In Florida's, "winter season" I make sure each plant gets exposed to colder temps for a week or more, but careful not to be exposed to freezing temps. That cold exposure allows the plant to reset and assures the plant to bloom in the spring. Sometimes I need to re-pot the orchids. A bigger pot. A change in the medium the orchids are potted in is not an uncommon task. I don't spend hours on the orchids but I do consistently care for them. Being faithful to little things gives me a beautiful benefit, and I enjoy the long-lasting blooms! As a pastor, I have had people come to me and express a desire to get involved. I try to listen and get a sense of a person's interests, spirit...
Read more

#77 Thoughts from the back deck of my friend's house in Michigan... Two Roads.

Image
Robert Frost The Road Not Taken Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. I have been at a pastor's conference this week in Michigan. The colors have been amazing. I have walked daily, as much for a chance to take in the beauty as for my health. I spent time with fellow church workers learning and ...
Read more

#15 Shorter Days, Thoughts from the back deck...

Image
#15, Shorter days?! I sit on my back deck at about the same time every morning but the morning light marks the changes of seasons once again. This photo is from a Keys sunrise fishing trip a few years back, I still hold to the premise that a bad day fishing is still better than a good day at work. Time appears to be short.  More darkness than light.  That is another premise I hear a lot these days. People who feel that way are not talking about the change of seasons. There is a certain amount of anxiousness we can feel as we look at the world. I feel it too as many of you do. I have to fight buying into that premise.  Why do I fight it and why should you fight it?  The premise is based in fear. And fear is a tool of the devil. He uses it to bring doubt in Jesus and that is never a good place to look at life from.  What if time is short? What does that mean? That Jesus will be coming soon. That is nothing to fear but to look forward to! What if time i...
Read more