Free Republic

Psalm 33:12 teaches, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.” Our Creator has certainly blessed America in tremendous ways: Abundant natural beauty can be found all across our land, including tropical beaches, green valleys, rich farmlands, towering mountains, and the Great Plains. We have a godly heritage. Fifty-two of the original 55 founding fathers who wrote our Constitution were Christians, and they established our country on Judeo-Christian values. Our land is blessed with plentiful natural resources, including water, oil, ore, and fertile farm land. America’s free enterprise system...

Proverb 5 (NKJV)The Peril of Adultery Warning Against Immorality 01 My son, pay attention to my wisdom; 00 Lend your ear to my understanding, 02 That you may preserve discretion, 00 And your lips may keep knowledge. 03 For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, 00 And her mouth is smoother than oil; 04 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, 00 Sharp as a two-edged sword. 05 Her feet go down to death, 00 Her steps lay hold of hell. 06 Lest you ponder her path of life-- 00 Her ways are unstable; 00 You...

Proverb 4 (NKJV) Security in Wisdom 01 Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, 00 And give attention to know understanding; 02 For I give you good doctrine: 00 Do not forsake my law. 03 When I was my father's son, 00 Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, 04 He also taught me, and said to me: 00 "Let your heart retain my words; 00 Keep my commands, and live. 05 Get wisdom! Get understanding! 00 Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. 06 Do not forsake her,...

Key words: Proverb 3 (NKJV) Guidance for the Young 01 My son, do not forget my law, 00 But let your heart keep my commands; 02 For length of days and long life 00 And peace they will add to you. 03 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; 00 Bind them around your neck, 00 Write them on the tablet of your heart, 04 And so find favor and high esteem 00 In the sight of God and man. 05 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, 00 And lean not on your own understanding; 06 In all...

Proverb 2 (NKJV) The Value of Wisdom 01 My son, if you receive my words, 00 And treasure my commands within you, 02 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, 00 And apply your heart to understanding; 03 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, 00 And lift up your voice for understanding, 04 If you seek her as silver, 00 And search for her as for hidden treasures; 05 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, 00 And find the knowledge of God. 06 For the LORD gives wisdom; 00 From His mouth come knowledge...

Proverb 1 (NKJV) The Beginning of Knowledge 01 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 02 To know wisdom and instruction, 00To perceive the words of understanding, 03 To receive the instruction of wisdom, 00 Justice, judgment, and equity; 04 To give prudence to the simple, 00 To the young man knowledge and discretion-- 05 A wise man will hear and increase learning, 00 And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, 06 To understand a proverb and an enigma, 00 The words of the wise and their riddles. 07 The fear of the...

In the Months that have 30 days, or in the case of February, I just double up by readingmore than one proverb so I can begin the next month with Proverb 1 on the first again. Proverb 30 (NKJV) The Wisdom of Agur 01 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, his utterance. 00 This man declared to Ithiel--to Ithiel and Ucal: 02 Surely I am more stupid than any man, 00 And do not have the understanding of a man. 03 I neither learned wisdom 00 Nor have knowledge of the Holy One. 04 Who has ascended...

Proverb 29 (NKJV) Happy Is He Who Keeps the Law 01 He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, 00 Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. 02 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; 00 But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. 03 Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice, 00 But a companion of harlots wastes his wealth. 04 The king establishes the land by justice, 00 But he who receives bribes overthrows it. 05 A man who flatters his neighbor 00 Spreads a net for his feet. 06 By transgression...

By Philip Cottraux Genesis 4:3: And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. Cain was an agriculturalist. His sacrifice may have been the best he had. But it wasn’t what the Lord asked for. Fruit and vegetables cannot atone for sin. Sometimes we can bring the best of what we think God wants. But if it isn’t what He asked for, He won’t recognize it. His brother, Abel, was a pastoralist. Some interpret this story as an allegory for the conflict between agriculturists and pastoralists...

Proverb 28 (NKJV) The Righteous Are Bold as a Lion 01 The wicked flee when no one pursues, 00But the righteous are bold as a lion. 02 Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes; 00But by a man of understanding and knowledge 00Right will be prolonged. 03 A poor man who oppresses the poor 00Is like a driving rain which leaves no food. 04 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, 00But such as keep the law contend with them. 05 Evil men do not understand justice, 00But those who seek the LORD understand...

Let your every morning prayer be the one that says: “Thank You Father, for Your Creation” It was only the tiniest of sparrows, but there it lay on the deck, stunned after flying into the thick glass of the window. After a few moments, it somehow struggled to its tiny feet, wobbly, then remaining stock still for 15 minutes that seemed like an eternity. It stood there as though cast in concrete, not moving a thing. Everything in this household, including pet dog, Yankee was held in suspense. We didn’t want small-dog-big-bark balustrade Yankee to frighten the little bird out...

Key words: Proverb 27 (NKJV) My Son, Be Wise 01 Do not boast about tomorrow, 00 For you do not know what a day may bring forth. 02 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; 00 A stranger, and not your own lips. 03 A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, 00 But a fool's wrath is heavier than both of them. 04 Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, 00 But who is able to stand before jealousy? 05 Open rebuke is better 00 Than love carefully concealed. 06 Faithful are the wounds of a...

Key words: Proverb 26 (NKJV) Honor Is Not Fitting for a Fool 01 As snow in summer and rain in harvest, 00 So honor is not fitting for a fool. 02 Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, 00 So a curse without cause shall not alight. 03 A whip for the horse, 00 A bridle for the donkey, 00 And a rod for the fool's back. 04 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, 00 Lest you also be like him. 05 Answer a fool according to his folly, 00 Lest he be wise in his...

Proverb 25 (NKJV) Rule Your Spirit 01 These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of 00 Judah copied: 02 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, 00 But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. 03 As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, 00 So the heart of kings is unsearchable. 04 Take away the dross from silver, 00 And it will go to the silversmith for jewelry. 05 Take away the wicked from before the king, 00 And his throne will be established in...

Proverb 24 (NKJV)Do Not Envy Evil Men 01 Do not be envious of evil men, 00 Nor desire to be with them; 02 For their heart devises violence, 00 And their lips talk of troublemaking. 03 Through wisdom a house is built, 00 And by understanding it is established; 04 By knowledge the rooms are filled 00 With all precious and pleasant riches. 05 A wise man is strong, 00 Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength; 06 For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, 00 And in a multitude of counselors there is safety. 07...

The late Harry Anderson and his appearances as the youthful Judge Harry T. Stone on Night Court and elsewhere in the 1980’s were funny and often magical. It should not be surprising as magic was Harry’s passion. He was a special guy and will be missed and the show that defines him, Night Court, which ran from January 1984 to May 1992, was a unique show. Night Court was never popular in the way The Cosby Show, Family Ties, or Cheers were. Perhaps this is because Night Court had strong slapstick comedy. Night Court also had a more than a...

Proverb 22 (NKJV) The Value of a Good Name 01 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, 00 Loving favor rather than silver and gold. 02 The rich and the poor have this in common, 00 The LORD is the maker of them all. 03 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, 00 But the simple pass on and are punished. 04 By humility and the fear of the LORD 00 Are riches and honor and life. 05 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; 00 He who guards his soul...

"Father!" I said, "I've got nothing, here!" I had all sorts of material available for a Sunday morning story. And I decided it was time for another personal piece about the author’s ongoing weird life. I am ecstatic to report that I have received several letters from people who follow my writing. I guess I can call them ‘followers’ - and they have informed me that I have a following! Before I had been writing for a while, I had no following as a writer. As a portrait-painting and wildlife artist, I still have quite a following. But, back when...

Proverb 22 (NKJV) The Value of a Good Name 01 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, 00 Loving favor rather than silver and gold. 02 The rich and the poor have this in common, 00 The LORD is the maker of them all. 03 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, 00 But the simple pass on and are punished. 04 By humility and the fear of the LORD 00 Are riches and honor and life. 05 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; 00 He who guards his soul...

Proverb 20 (NKJV) Wine Is a Mocker 01 Wine is a mocker, 00 Strong drink is a brawler, 00 And whoever is led astray by it is not wise. 02 The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; 00 Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life. 03 It is honorable for a man to stop striving, 00 Since any fool can start a quarrel. 04 The lazy man will not plow because of winter; 00 He will beg during harvest and have nothing. 05 Counsel in the heart of man is like...