Heart of the Wise

A beast is an animal, especially a large or dangerous four-footed one. A wild animal. A beast is also a domestic animal, especially a bovine (meaning, relating to cattle) farm animal. Basic dictionary definitions. So, cattle are beasts.  A lion is a beast.  An eagle is a beast. A serpent is a beast.  Yes, a serpent. Let’s talk about that. Especially as Christ used it as some sort of behavioral reference and exemplar for us. He pointedly said: “Be wise as the serpent.” Oops!  “But,” He continued, “be harmless as the dove.” Okies! A serpent is a large snake. A snake, as studied and described by Science (Biology), is a reptile without limbs, voice, external ears, or eyelids, that has only one functional lung, and a long, slender body.  What are some evolutionary traits of the snake?  Stay with me. I know we don’t like snakes. But we are getting somewhere.  We’re learning something.  Snakes have a keen sense of smell, temperature and touch but genera...

  Do we have genuine connections? I’ll give a quick definition of the word supplant. So I can dwell more on the concept of support. To supplant means to take the place of, to displace, to replace or to undermine.  To support is to be actively interested in and concerned for the success of a person or thing, for example: supporting a particular sports team. It also means to provide assistance to, or give approval, comfort, or encouragement to.  It is a product of goodwill and belief in someone or something.  Many of us support different football teams which we gladly and passionately refer to as “our teams”. Observe the enthusiasm, excitement and in some cases excessive zeal or fanaticism with which we promote, defend and celebrate people who do we not personally know, or an enterprise from which we may not even earn a single penny or cent—except for those who are into sports betting.  That’s the power of connection. That’s the power of camaraderie. That’s the po...

  Here’s something to think deeply and personally about. Without godly love, we are truly and totally empty, spiritually speaking—what Scripture refers to as a “noisy gong” and “clanging cymbal”. “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” That’s in First Corinthians chapter 13 verse 1. A gong is disk-shaped or saucer-shaped percussion music instrument that produces a resounding tone when struck, usually with a padded or mechanical hammer. A cymbal is also a percussion music instrument that is part of most drum kits. It is simply a metal plate often used in pairs to produce a sharp clashing sound when struck with a drumstick or when dashed together.  Cymbals make a very loud and reverberating sound when hit together as they vibrate for a long time. Sharp. Sonorous. Sustained.  Conspicuous and consistent. Are you getting the analogy? Noisy gong or clanging cymbal refers to a gong or cymbal makin...