Ninety

A hundred miles from Omaha

A sunny day, but not quite summer

A child was born; a baby came

Leola had a little girl

Soon she was a woman

Wild at heart and brave

With a soul of independence

And a spirit none could tame

She put her hands to work

Though but a child still

Arcing current, wielding fire

She bent iron to her will

With hands that had formed steel

Now grown a bit more soft

She raised and reared six children

Setting each of them aloft

Those hands, so used to working

Just seem to keep on moving

She sets a proud example

In the deeds that she is doing

In her hands, crocheting needles

Turn threads to works of art

Every stich is filled with love

For the people in her heart

Four generations now

Her children, great and grand

Her touch is felt by dozens now

With many more at hand

So many she has touched

How many she has blessed

Of all the hearts on earth

She ranks among the best

Nobody's Fool

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
James 1:5

For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.
Ecclesiastes 1:18

The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom
1 Corinthians 1:25

I routinely ask God for wisdom; what if I asked Him for His foolishness?  How foolish could I be for God?  What if I need to look foolish to the world to better serve Him?  What would it look like to be foolish for God?  From Ecclesiastes, I know what wisdom looks like; more wisdom and more knowledge bring more sorrow and grief.  In other words, sometimes ignorance truly is bliss.

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
Matthew 10:16

What does this seemingly contradictory statement actually mean?  Let's think about what's happening here.  Jesus is sending the disciples out to announce the kingdom of God to the people of Israel.  This is hazardous work; Jesus knew that He was headed to the cross, to die.  This was His whole mission on earth.  His disciples would suffer similarly as they worked to achieve the tasks God had given them.

Now, what about snakes; how are they shrewd?  What does it mean to be shrewd?  To be shrewd is to be crafty and observant, always on the lookout for ways to accomplish your goals.  This is a trait that Christians would do well to strive for.

Finally, we must be as innocent as doves.  Doves live with few cares.  They build sloppy nests in dangerous places.  And yet, they are a symbol of the Holy Spirit.  And why shouldn't they be?  When it comes to pouring out the Holy Spirit, God is reckless.  When God gives good gifts, He gives them like this: “A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, poured into your lap.”

So what does this mean?  I think it comes around it back to where we started.  Let us live shrewdly, filled with the wisdom of God while appearing foolish to the world with our reckless generosity.

Three Lock Box

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:30-31

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:12-13

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24

If there could be just three passages that sum up what our approach to life should be, I think that these three would be a good choice.  In just a few simple sentences, we see laid out for us these seemingly simple principles that no government on earth has ever improved upon.  No system of philosophy, code of conduct or set of regulations ever devised is likely to produce better results than this behavior model set out for us in the Bible.

Serve others.  Be content with what you have.  Work hard at whatever you do.  These statements would not be out of place in a modern self-help book.  It is curious to me that many supposedly secular ideas about morality seem to be based on biblical principles.  This similarity in the moral code between otherwise unrelated worldviews seems to indicate that there is such a thing as objective morality.  In other words, there are certain moral standards that are true for everyone, everywhere.

Abstract concepts such as morality, logic and reason do not have physical reality.  In order for abstract concepts to exist, there must also exist intelligent beings, capable of abstract thought.  To imagine it another way, think of your reflection.  If there were no mirrors or other reflective surfaces, could your reflection actually exist?  In the same manner, the thoughts in our minds could not exist if we did not have minds to think thoughts in.

If anyone is willing to concede that abstract concepts actually do exist, and very few people would claim that they do not, then the door in their thinking is open to the existence of immaterial things.  From there, the idea of a creator, existing outside of the universe is not such an impossibility.

We Belong

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.  Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.  They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.”
John 15:18-21

Just about a year ago, I wrote of how God can use people the world sees as useless to accomplish His purpose.  “The world doesn't want you”, was the central point of my discourse.

This passage goes a bit further.  Here, we see that the world does not just have a passive disdain towards the followers of Christ; there is an active hatred towards them.

This makes me immediately uncomfortable.  According to these words, straight from the mouth of Jesus, captured in an intimate moment as he was speaking to His closest followers, we should expect to be treated just as badly as Jesus was.  I'm pretty sure you've heard... Jesus was executed, brutally.  These words proved prophetic for the disciples as well, considering that all but one of them were eventually killed for their faith.  When have I faced anything worse than embarrassment or inconvenience for my faith?  If there isn't some evidence of the hatred the world should bear for you in your life, it may be wise for you to sit down and take a serious look at your relationship with God.  As usual, I am writing this as much for myself as for anyone else.  Based on this standard, my relationship with God is severely lacking.

“His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.”
Acts 5:40-41

This is how the apostles responded after being flogged and ordered not to speak in the name of Jesus.  They rejoiced because of their suffering.  I don't know about you, but I hate suffering.  I hate being uncomfortable or in pain for any reason.  How incredible would be to be so caught up in your relationship with God that the suffering in this life means nothing to you?

If you truly want this kind of relationship with God, you can have it.  There is no turning back once you start down this road, however.  After everything that God has done for us, and in light of His incredible sacrifice on our behalf, we truly owe Him nothing less.  The world may not want you; the world may even hate you, but we belong to God.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Should Auld Acquaintance be Forgot...

2012 was quite a year, huh?  For me, it was the year that my God was the central focus of my life.  My life has had it's ups and downs, with both challenges and joys nearly every day.  My family was my other priority and where I spent the vast majority of my time and energy.  Finally, each one of you, my extended family and friends who have been reading the words I have written this year on facebook, in my books or on my blog; I have attempted to give you a glimpse into my mind.  I pray that I have made you think, laugh, cry or maybe even consider your place in relation to God.  As we look forward to the year to come, I pray that we do so in hope, ready to accept the sunny days and weather the dark, stormy clouds that we are certain to face.  In this world, we will have trouble, but there is one who has overcome the world.  Now to you, 2012; I bid you farewell.

In His Love and Peace;

Kenny R Brown

Sounds of Silence

I know that there is nothing I can possibly say that will adequately describe the horror that took place in Newton, Connecticut yesterday.  Please be in prayer for the families of the innocent victims as well as the survivors.

Charlotte Bacon, Age 6
Daniel Barden, Age 7
Rachel Davino, Age 29
Olivia Engel, Age 6
Josephine Gay, Age 7
Ana M Marquez-Greene, Age 6
Dylan Hockley, Age 6
Dawn Hocksprung, Age 47
Madeleine F Hsu, Age 6
Catherine V Hubbard, Age 6
Chase Kowalski, Age 7
Jesse Lewis, Age 6
James Mattioli, Age 6
Grace McDonnell, Age 7
Anne Marie Murphy, Age 52
Emilie Parker, Age 6
Jack Pinto, Age 6
Noah Pozner, Age 6
Caroline Previdi, Age 6
Jessica Rekos, Age 6
Avielle Richman, Age 6
Lauren Russeau, Age 30
Mary Sherlach, Age 56
Victoria Soto, Age 27
Benjamin Wheeler, Age 6
Allison N Wyatt, Age 6

Take on Me

I praise you Lord for your mighty strength, for your prowess in battle on my behalf.  Just the thought of Your glorious presence is enough to cause my heart to tremble.

My enemies are arrayed against me; I am powerless to defend myself.  I am forced to watch, helpless as the enemy of all that is good sets out his heinous siege works against my home and my family.  Certainly we will be consumed if You do not come quickly to our aid.  As swift as lightning crosses the sky, You are upon Your enemy.  Your sword flashes again and again as Your enemies are stricken down.  The carnage is too terrible for me to behold; I do my best to shield my son and my wife from the scene.  Suddenly, as quickly as it began, combat is ended.  Your mighty strength in battle is instantaneously matched by your tender mercy, as you take me and my family into Your arms.  I celebrate your victory with joy.

It is only then that I see Your son.  I cry out in horror as as Your enemies gather around Him.  The demons approach, cautiously, fearfully; Your son is silent before them.  Then, they attack.  They strike Him again and again.  The way is cleared for a large, reptilian creature, armed with a cruel whip, strewn with jagged bits of metal.  I cry out again, begging You to rescue Your son.  You just hold us tighter.  Your son is mocked, beaten and whipped horribly.  Increasing the cruelty still further, the torture is stopped before the point of death.  Now they are leading Him; they are forcing Him to walk, carrying the instrument of his impending execution.  The demons celebrate with glee as Your son is lashed and then nailed to a cross.  As He dies, I see a tear in Your eye.

“Why didn't You save Him?”  I scream, unable to comprehend what I've just seen; “how could You let Him die?”

You respond with a single word, “Behold.”

In the midst of their celebration, the demons pause; what was that sound?  Shuddering, they turn to look at Jesus.  He was dead, of that there was no doubt.  Equally certain and beyond belief, He is now alive.  With a voice like thunder, He shouts.  As He brandishes a sword, the demons shriek and flee for their lives.  For a time, they are allowed to escape.

“Someday,” You say, “my Son will finish this fight”.

I praise you Lord for your mighty strength, for your prowess in battle on my behalf.