Doing wrong is like a joke...

I love how the ESV translates Proverbs 10:23

"Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding."

A ‘fool’ thinks raising hell and being stupid is something funny, you can pick any number of current comedy movies as a prime example of "An Idiots Guide to being a Fool".

But a man (or woman) of understanding enjoys the pleasure found in wisdom. What a great illustration of the difference between childishness and having grown into true maturity.

It also points up how in the book of Proverbs wisdom is more than being brain-smart. True wisdom encompasses emotional and spiritual intelligence too.

sp

Prayer & Sin

Came across this quote from the old Puritan preacher John Bunyan:

"Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer"

If he's equating prayer to getting in God's presence and having a dialogue, not just a monologue.  Merely mouthing meaningless words and calling that prayer, then I completely agree.

sp

Speaking of Jesus

I'm currently reading Carl Medearis' book 'Speaking of Jesus'.  I first met Carl in Beirut many years ago and admired the natural, easy way he had of talking to others about Jesus, especially people from non-western cultures. 

A few of the [interesting] thoughts he makes early in the book is whats missing from the gospel story that many Western Christians share is Jesus. When sharing the gospel we often make Paul and his thoughts, teachings and concepts (ie repentance, redemption, atonement, etc) the central point, while leaving out or minimizing the person of Jesus.

And its Jesus people are drawn to.

He has a great quote from the African missionary E. Stanley Jones
"I saw that the gospel lies in the person of Jesus, that he himself is the Good News, that my one task was to live and to present him."