Papa Pat Tiny Devotionals

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, sometimes you just get lucky. She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. Proverbs 31:12, NASB We MUST praise the Woman of Excellence! I wish to point out that her husband has something to with it, as well. In fact, I might go so far as to say this to the men: if your wife does NOT do you good and not evil, the YOU are the one who messed up. It could be that your selection criteria was all wrong. Maybe you chose beauty, maybe brains, maybe money, but you picked the wrong woman. That’s true in some cases.  And: don’t tell me, ‘Oh, but she CHANGED after we were married!’  Shut up, fool!  You just didn’t do the work to get to know her well enough before the wedding. You probably had friends and family warning you, but you refused to listen. Alternatively, lack of maintenance prevents an Excellent Wife (or Husband) from developing. Understand th...

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, what else did you forget? The leech has two daughters, “Give,” “Give.” Proverbs 30:15a, NASB The Hebrew word translated as ‘leech’ is עֲלוּקָה (ʿălûqâ), and this is the only place in the Bible where it is used. Don’t look now, but it MIGHT mean...vampires!  That interpretation doesn’t really work, though, because vampires and other monsters are NOT found in ancient Jewish stories. Although there IS a similar-sounding word in Arabic, which does have some blood-sucking-monster stories, I think it far more likely this refers to an actual leech, and the human equivalent. Here’s the ‘duh’ message:  If you hang around with leeches, you’ll get more leeches.  Here’s the insight message, from ‘Fortunate Son’ : When you ask 'em, "How much should we give?" They only answer, "More, more, more, more" So, who are we talking about?  ‘Friends,’ who only show up w...

A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, it’s actually spelled ‘scuppernongs, not ‘scupnins.’ Men of bloodshed hate the blameless, But the upright are concerned for his life. Proverbs 29:10, NASB Blameless: תָּם; ( tām ). Perfect, complete, wholesome. Upright: יָשָׁר   ( yāšār ). Righteous, correct, straight. Why in the world would men of bloodshed (hereafter: MOB) hate the blameless, those who are perfect and complete (hereafter: BPC)? They have, BY DEFINITION, done nothing wrong. What’s the problem with that? How is it that the MOB are even aware of the blameless, perfect and complete? If the MOB just stayed in their lane, they would never have reason to interact with the BPC, and there would be no problem. Sadly, it seems that the MOB can’t conduct their business without some degree of outside help. The BPC won’t cooperate.  When a MOB asks them to hold these packages until tomorrow, the BPC politel...

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, why couldn’t the Grinch steal Monday? He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, Even his prayer is an abomination. Proverbs 28:9, NASB We are very grateful that the offense is not ‘breaking the law.’ Perhaps law-breakers are those most in need of having their prayers heard.  I can testify that breaking the law is NOT the same thing as turning my ear away from hearing the law. A trivial example: From 1979 – 1986, I worked in college admissions, and I had to spend A LOT of time on the road. Atlanta to Savannah; Cuthbert to Tampa; East Dublin to Wauchula; many miles of mind-numbing travel.  National Mandated Speed Limit of 55? I couldn’t do THAT! So, I routinely broke the law; I even bought a radar detector to facilitate law-breaking. It is my testimony that my ear was CLOSELY hearing the law on those occasions while I was breaking it. Yes, I got spee...

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, today is yesterday. Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away. Proverbs 27:10, NASB There are some who know a million people casually, and some who know four or five people in depth. Of the two, I lean toward knowing a few in depth. Those are the people I’d call if my car broke down in the middle of the night. Sometimes, you don’t have the option: this just happens to be the weekend that Angus and family are visiting his grandmother in Missouri; Bartholomew is sitting for his oral exam in Connecticut; and Clancy had the boom lowered on him, and is in the hospital. What’s you plan now? Hopefully, you are at peace with your neighbor. If that’s true, then they are more likely to come to your aid. Who knows? Maybe your need will open the...

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, we are truly free! The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square!” Proverbs 26:13, NASB This morning, we were going to get up just a LITTLE early for a Saturday, so we could take Vanessa’s car in for service. I set the alarm for 7:15, so we could get there when the doors opened at 8:00. When the alarm went off, I got up, did a bit of personal care, and then… ...and then, I went back to bed. I’m sure I had a good excuse, but honestly, a GOOD excuse wasn’t necessary. Even a bad excuse was sufficient. You know why I finally got up, an hour later? There was a lion IN THE HOUSE! Actually, it wasn’t a lion. It was three dogs. They depend on us to let them outside to potty, and then to let them inside, so they can have their doggy breakfast.  Over the course of my life, there HAVE been times when the imaginary lion kept me in bed. Those we...

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, Remember Everyone Deployed! Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances. Proverbs 25:11, NASB I’ve always thought that ‘apples of gold’ referred to a type of jewelry. Nope. It means: ‘apples.’ The Hebrew is תַּפּוּחַ (tapûaḥ), and all uses in the Bible are in context of fruit.  Actually, it COULD refer to any of the related fruits, as long as they smelled good. The beloved in Song of Songs had breath like apples (which is much better than Listerine). The graphic, provided by Sister Avis Ward , shows us why this is a meaningful term. The Golden Delicious apples are BEAUTIFUL, and if Smell-O-Vision had been perfected, we’d also enjoy the fragrance. The vase is also lovely, displaying the apples without blocking access to them. Besides beauty, the apples bring us nourishment and refresh us. There is no tough rind to break throu...

A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, it’s Wendy’s birthday! If you say, “See, we did not know this,” Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work? Proverbs 24:12, NASB Just when I thought that all of the worst internet insanity was made up by filthy-minded grifters, in order to separate the naive from their money, along comes an actual idiot. (That doesn’t invalidate the truth about filthy-minded, etc!)  This particular idiot is/was a teacher in the gifted program at an elementary school in Cobb County, a neighbor district in north metro Atlanta. She read the book “My Shadow is Purple” to a gifted fifth grade class. It’s a children’s book, told from the perspective of a young boy, maybe age 10(?). He likes things liked by both girls AND boys: dolls AND trucks; ballet AND soccer; and so on.  No problem, ...

A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, God showed up yesterday! Listen, my son, and be wise, And direct your heart in the way. Proverbs 23:19, NASB Today, it’s time to STOMP, with a Kirk Franklin/God’s Property STOMP! We are going to stomp on bad advice, of this nature: Follow Your Heart  The Heart Wants What It Wants  Listen to Your Heart  Let Your Heart Guide You O my Best Beloved, there is great appeal in each of these sayings, as well as in the other million sayings about the heart. Following/pleasing the heart feels GOOD! It’s SUPPOSED to feel good; God made us that way. He LIKES pleasure; He invented it, after all.  Following the heart feels so good, that God told Moses (Numbers 15:37-40) to have the people put tassels on their garments as a reminder NOT to follow their hearts.  But: WHY?  Because uncontrolled power results in destruction. I have powerful utilities hooked up to...

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, the new Cheerios includes flakes. He who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend. Proverbs 22:11, NASB You know what? Rednecks and kings don’t mix. That’s why a simple traffic stop often results in a redneck sitting in the back of a police car, with a black eye. But THIS morning? I ain’t gonna see no king; I am, however, going to see a judge, on behalf of someone else.  That’s why I trimmed my beard last night. It just makes good sense to make a good impression. If I had prepared better, I’d have gotten a haircut, too. I hope that doesn’t cause me problems, because I really need to find favor with the judge. I can fake my appearance, but nobody can fake a pure heart. ‘Purity of heart’ means you only seek ONE THING, and it doesn’t happen overnight.  Nor should it! It’s a life-long commitment; it’s like a marriage, not like a ...

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, I don’t feel like making lunch. When the scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge. Proverbs 21:11, NASB Here’s one way of understanding this:  You’ve got three people in your work group: Smoochy Scoffer, Ned Naive, and Wilbur Wise. How are you going to get them to accomplish the task? Smoochy makes fun of your accent, and whines ‘I don’t get it.’ Ned laughs, and giggles at everything Smoochy does. Wilbur just rolls his eyes. Now, from the top down:  Wilbur is going to get it, no matter what you do.  Ned could go either way. Right now, though, he’s waiting to see what happens.  Smoochy has his heart set on causing chaos, in the hope that you’ll just go away. Do NOT make the mistake of trying to befriend Smoochy by laughing at his jokes, in the hope you will win him over. You aren’t there to m...

A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, Piper doesn’t like her food. Differing weights and differing measures, Both of them are abominable to the Lord. Proverbs 20:10, NASB If this verse weren’t so important, I’d skip it, because I discovered it in a painful time. Others were involved, and their stories are not mine to tell. So, you get a parable: Stockman Bubba ran a cattle station, in partnership with his horse, Nancy. They worked hard together, and although they were not rich, they had achieved a degree of success. One day, a platypus stung Bubba, incapacitating him. Bubba tried to continue running the station, but after two years had passed, he realized it was time to retire. Nancy couldn’t adjust to this, and she left for life on her own. Three years later, Bubba realized Nancy was never coming back, and considered getting another horse. However, he was concerned that the other station owners would think bad...

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, it’s a blessed day, so receive it!  A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory to overlook a transgression. Proverbs 19:11, NASB If it has never occurred to you before, let this day be the day that you notice that Hollywood’s message is not the same as the Bible’s message. There MAY be a popular movie out there, celebrating discretion, and advocating overlooking transgressions. I just can’t think of one.  ‘Easy Rider,’ maybe? Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda, and Jack Nicholson try a non-violent approach. Didn’t work out for them; Nicholson was beaten to death, Fonda and Hopper were shotgunned. A couple of years after that, ‘Billy Jack’ featured a former elite soldier now embracing the peaceful lifestyle.  Didn’t work out for him, either. TV movies (based on a song)? ‘Coward of the County’ says avoiding fights will get your wife raped. ...

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, Remember Everyone Deployed! A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination. Proverbs 18:11, NASB I’m struggling to get to the truth contained in this verse. At the same time, I am QUITE aware that there is truth on the surface that doesn’t require deep thoughts. My problem: compared to the rest of humanity who have ever walked the earth, I am rich, and I always have been. Even when I was unemployed or under-employed, I always had a safety net of friends or family, so I’ve never had to sends my kids to bed hungry. SO: how can I possibly look on this verse as an outsider?  I think I found the answer in something I wrote in the above paragraph: “safety net.” When I used the term ‘friends,’ I’m not referring to work buddies I played racquetball with. True, I have had that kind of friend, but I’ve never thought of going to them and ...

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, the last day of the year will be 123123, so prepare. A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding Than a hundred blows into a fool. Proverbs 17:10, NASB The word translated here as ‘rebuke’ is גְּעָרָה  (gᵊʿārâ), which David uses twice in speaking of God revealing the foundations of the earth. That implies instruction, not just correction. Are you working with a fool, or with someone with understanding? You can’t always tell by their work; not by their FIRST work, at least.  You’ve hired twin 16-year-old girls to do some yard work: Understanding Uma, and Foolish Fatima. You tell Fatima to cut the grass in the front yard, and Uma to cut the grass in the back yard.  This verse does NOT tell you which results, if any, will be pleasing. There are any number of reasons that Uma might do a substandard job: mower problems; insufficient instructions; a si...

A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, a nap could happen at any time. The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9, NASB Admittedly, I’m long out of the rat race. Thus, my perspective MIGHT be skewed; on the other hand, it’s more likely that I finally truly HAVE perspective. Remember when Jesus visited Mary and Martha, and Martha was distracted with much preparation? Bless her heart, she had company, and that company was Jesus, and there was NO WAY that people were going to gossip about how Jesus visited her, and she served Him a measly sandwich.  I think Jesus got it, though. I’m guessing that He recognized that in all her scurrying about, she was just as intent on showing her devotion to Him as Mary was. But, in the end, Martha’s story brings us this WONDERFUL bit of liberating wisdom: “you are worried and bothered about so many things;  but only one thing is necessary...

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, don’t fall off of the roof, dad, you’ll make a dent in the yard. The lips of the wise spread knowledge, But the hearts of fools are not so. Proverbs 15:7, NASB Vanessa told me I should write about being stubborn! I must rule myself ineligible, since I know NOTHING about the topic. That wouldn’t stop a fool, though. A fool delights in talking about subjects in which they have zero knowledge. They will spout the most idiotic drivel that they partially overheard in a thunderstorm, as if it were demonstrated fact. It’s not necessary that they overhear something, though; if you spend ANY time with a fool, you can actually watch them making something up, while they are talking.  I DON’T think that’s the same thing as those who manufacture a lie so they can profit from it.  Once the lie is out there, though, the fools grasp it and run with it, just for fun.  Th...

A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, today is Vanessa’s first day on her new job. The heart knows its own bitterness, And a stranger does not share its joy. Proverbs 14:10, NASB From youth until I don't know when, I believed what people told me with their faces and actions, and the words they said. I don’t know when I discovered that many of the people around me were walking wounded.   I doubt I learned that in an academic setting, ALTHOUGH that would have been a good place to get introduced to the idea. My bachelor’s degree is in psychology, I’ve got about half of a seminary degree, and I have two graduate degrees in counseling, and any one of those would have been a place to learn such an important secret.   Certainly, in 35 years of recovery, I’ve heard many stories of people trying to maintain appearances while their lives were falling apart; that’s EVERY story I heard. But, they were al...

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, I need you to go through this Tupperware box and take stuff home with you. The light of the righteous rejoices, But the lamp of the wicked goes out. Proverbs 13:9, NASB Got light?  Or just a lamp? There’s a difference, you know. God gives us the light. It’s internal, and eternal, born from our relationship with Him.  The lamp is external, based on and powered by our circumstances, and what people tell us about our circumstances.  TWO LIFE QUESTIONS WE MUST ANSWER: Where are we going? How do we get there? For those of us who belong to God, the light He gives us provides the answer to the first question: we are going to where God is.  Pity the wicked, those who are without God, because they don’t even know that the first question exists, much less has an answer.  We were there, at one time; and it’s awful. There are so many options; how do we cho...

A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, what is Saturday morning without cartoons? A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel. Proverbs 12:10, NASB We must all be righteous, because we have regard for the lives of our animals, right? Even Bond super-villains have pet cats. News flash: this verse really isn’t applied to that kind of relationship. Cats aren’t even in the Bible, unless you include lions and leopards, and dogs only appear to eat garbage (or the crumbs falling off the table). The word translated here as ‘animal’ is בְּהֵמָה (behayma), and except in Job, where it probably refers to a hippo, it’s usually rendered as ‘beast’ or ‘cattle.’ Not pets. So, if you want to be righteous, buy a goat/camel/cow/sheep and be nice to it. The end. WRONG!!!!! This verse isn’t about animals; it’s about compassion. The righteous person has so much compassion that...

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, today is RED Friday, so wear something red, and Remember Everyone Deployed! The righteous is delivered from trouble, But the wicked takes his place. Proverbs 11:8, NASB I can’t tell you how many times I have shivered in cold reality, trying to warm my heart on verses like this one. This morning, I’ve got a mental picture of Trouble as a great machine, churning away. The wicked go in the input hopper, and from the output door, the righteous emerge.  Sort of like the Sneetch machine. The difference is this: the Sneetch machines only made cosmetic changes; the Trouble Machine can change the heart. It’s one of those ‘simple-but-not-easy’ processes, and it’s described in Romans 5:3b-5a: tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint  Simple, but not easy: if you want to be deliver...

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, have a seat and rest for a bit. He who winks the eye causes trouble, And a babbling fool will be ruined. Proverbs 10:10, NASB You want (or need) to buy something, and you hear that Rufus and Dufus have it for sale. You contact them, and negotiations ensue. At a certain point, you catch Rufus winking at Dufus.  What do you do? The wise choice is to exit the scene as rapidly as possible. You’ve just discovered that the other side has a shared secret, which explicitly rules out a fair transaction. If you follow through, the absolute best that’s going to happen is that you will pay too much for what you receive. Other outcomes: you get swindled, robbed, beaten, killed.  It’s a simple concept: only make fair deals. How does ANYONE ever wind up as prey for the infamous duo of Rufus and Dufus? Wise people don’t; but, the babbling fool gets nailed every single time b...

A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, pack up your troubles in your old kit bag, and smile, smile, smile! The woman of folly is boisterous, She is naive and knows nothing. Proverbs 9:13, NASB A naive person will believe anything they are told; the concept of verifying the truth is beyond them. The PPV (Papa Pat Version) of the second line is: She believes everything, and knows nothing. This isn’t saying all women are like that, so shut up, male chauvinist pigs. The basic theme of Proverbs 1-9 is the contrast between Wisdom and Folly, and personifying them both as women is just a literary convention. It would strictly be a personal problem for her, except: she’s boisterous. Therefore, as soon as she hears it, she tells it, and to as many people as she can.  Do NOT blame the internet, or Western culture, for this; people have been spreading lies (that they believed in) for centuries:   Around 300 BC...

A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, BOTH dogs like pinto beans. Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine. Proverbs 8:14, NASB Wisdom, I was rocking right along with you as long as you were talking about counsel, wisdom, and understanding; but POWER? The skinny little kid who is smart in the classroom gets beat up on the playground by the big dumb bully, right? I recall a number of those experiences; what I DON’T recall was any sense in which I could say ‘power is mine.’ When I was upside down in the trash can, power and I were not even remotely related. How do we reconcile the incongruity? Well, there isn’t one. Any confusion in trying to apply the ancient wisdom to the modern experience comes from failure to discriminate between wisdom and knowledge. Yes, I was a smart, skinny kid; I was not a WISE skinny kid. Even a small amount of wisdom would have informed me that making fun of ...

A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, can you recommend a good knife sharpener? She is now in the streets, now in the squares, And lurks by every corner. So she seizes him and kisses him And with a brazen face she says to him: Proverbs 7:12-13, NASB Even Captain Marvel can’t be in multiple places at the same time.  So, how does the harlot do it? Lurking on ONE corner, I get. There’s an acronym for that: SOCMOB, for Standing On the Corner, Minding my Own Business.  It’s what you tell the cops/medics you were doing, when Sumdood just walked up to you and stabbed you, or put all these drugs in your pocket.  Wicked, bad Sumdood! If we ever find him, it will solve SO MANY crimes! I guess the harlot must be Sumdood’s cousin, SumChick. Naive Youth (NY) says: “There I was, SOCMOB, when Sumchick grabbed me and kissed me!” Wicked, bad Sumchick! Well, here’s a small clue for you, NY: Wherever you go, there y...

A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, it’s our 12th anniversary, so CALL FIRST! My son, observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the teaching of your mother; Bind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck. Proverbs 6:20-21, NASB The instruction is symbolic, but you can purchase a mezuzah to tie around your neck. It’s a tiny scroll, inscribed with the Shema: שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָֽד׃‎   (Sh'ma Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Eḥad ) English translation: Hear, O Israel, the LORD God, the LORD is One. I’m a redneck Scottish Gentile, a wild olive branch grafted onto the cultivated olive tree. I get that; but something in me yearns to wear the mezuzah around my neck, nail one to my front doorpost, and put on a yarmulke, shawl, and phylacteries when I pray. I’d also like to wear a kilt, toss a caber, and play the bagpipes. I expect that God would be equally ...

A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, either frijoles or sausage sandwiches for breakfast. Should your springs be dispersed abroad, Streams of water in the streets? Let them be yours alone And not for strangers with you.' Proverbs 5:16- 17, NASB I included verse 16 for context; I covered it last month. Again, I reference my experience with Gary, the mentally ill soldier who was frightened into a literal interpretation. For everyone NOT frightened into a literal interpretation, the meaning is clear: this is an analogy, with pure water representing sexual purity. Read verses 15-23 for yourself, and see if you arrive at the same conclusion: sexual purity is defined as lifelong monogamy. How did you deal with THAT, Solomon, with your 700 wives and 300 concubines? I’m hearing a lot of ‘yabuts’ in your response: “Yabut, I’m just doing this for diplomatic reasons!” Ah. Good plan! Too bad it’s going to destroy the ...

A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, Remember Everyone Deployed! Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life. Proverbs 4:13, NASB The Song of the Reluctant Student: “Why do I have to learn THIS? I’m never going to use ANY of this!” Child, you are 14 years old. Do you really believe that at age 14 you already KNOW what you are going to use for the rest of your life? I think not. I find the Book of Proverbs, from which I take my text each day, to be perhaps the most practical instruction in the universe. This verse could be the warning label on the cover, underneath the comforting legend “DON’T PANIC!” inscribed in large, friendly letters.  “Taking hold of instruction” isn’t the same thing as  memorizing verses. Memorization is important, because you might not always have access to a physical copy of the Bible when you need it, but that’s not taking hold.  Last week, Va...

A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, HAPPY 124th BIRTHDAY, Granddaddy! For whom the Lord loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:12, NASB It’s a good day for a verse about fathers and sons. Not only is it William Jordan Paulette’s 124th birthday, I just talked to Eli Jordan Patterson, my firstborn son, and discovered he is traveling with Heath Jordan Patterson, his firstborn son. We  have other legacies than ‘Jordan’ ; grandfather William Jordan Paulette was Generation 1, and youngest son Kenneth Emiohe is Generation 5, in an unbroken lineage of Army enlisted. Eli and I discussed Kenneth’s experiences at Fort Leonard Wood, learning Army things.  I discovered this verse as an adult. I don’t know what it would have tasted like, when I was struggling the hardest with parental correction. Then, I hated and feared it; now, I REJOICE in the concept that my Father...

A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, frijoles and salsa! To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words; That leaves the companion of her youth And forgets the covenant of her God; Proverbs 2:16-17, NASB This section of Proverbs speaks to the impressionable young Solomon, letting him know what is out there to get him if he DOESN’T WATCH OUT(!). It was effective counsel; we have ZERO evidence that he ever experienced ANY problems with an adulteress.  Solomon’s problems also came from a more proper and respectable source: he had 700 wives and 300 concubines. For your standard Iron Age king, that was just good diplomacy; however, Solomon had been specifically forbidden association with foreign women. His disobedience provoked God to tear the kingdom away from his son. Would there have been a worse outcome without the warning against adulterous women? Were future adulter...

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, Alicia starts her senior year today. Hear, my child, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching; Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck. Proverbs 1:8-9, NASB First Day of School has been a part of my parent life since 1988, when I took Jordan to Mrs. Mehl’s kindergarten class at Coal Mountain Elementary School. With Alicia Ann starting her senior year at River Ridge, that’s a 35-year record, which ends today. She wanted me to wake her up at 6:30, even though we live next door to the school; she needs time to get beautiful before she leaves the house.  It’s a routine you may be familiar with. She has been known to ask our opinion on how some specific warpaint looks, and usually, we say “It looks GREAT!”  (I couldn’t say that when she pasted on those huge, grotesque eyelashes, though!) Last night, ...