DUH

DUH SCRIPTURES THAT CLEARLY SAY...

"DID YOU HEAR?" "DID YOU HEED?"

Introduction to the DUH Booklets The scriptures in these booklets are GUARDRAILS—they aren't boxing us in, but they're keeping us from danger. This is not an exhaustive list, but just a scent of the rabbit, so we'll go hunting...just a glimpse of the treasure so we'll go digging...just a flicker of the light so we'll open our eyes. As my Daddy used to say, "This will shake some sense into us, so we'll straighten up and fly right."

When we disobey what God has plainly said in His Word, we are saying, "God, I know what You said, but this is the 21st Century! That doesn't work now. I know more than You, and I'm going to do it my way."

God has clearly drawn the line in Gal. 6:7, "What a person plants, he will harvest."

He also said in Hosea 4:6, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..." We need to see the pros and cons and learn what the Word of God says about these subjects. Our choices either honor God, or dishonor Him. DUH is the realization, "It was my choice! Therefore, I can start making different choices and turn this mess around. It's my fault I'm in this mess—not God's. Why haven't I see that before now? DUH!"

DUH means ↓

When it's said to→

Self

I should have known that—it's so obvious!

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How stupid of me! I should have known that!

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Others

Don't be stupid—use your head! Wake up!

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That was a dumb thing to do!

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You idiot! Why didn't you figure that out?

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You're being stupid! You don't know?

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Either

Hello?!? How obvious can it be?

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A little short on smarts!

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That's the most obvious thing in the world!

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Listen up! The Word of God clearly draws the line. Step over it!

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D id U H ear?

-eed?

Because 99.44% of these scriptures are taken from the Message Bible, you could begin to think it's your next door neighbor or friend talking; but it isn't. It's God talking, and He means what He says. He's firm in adherence to His promises.

See the principle involved in the Old Covenant account and apply to your life in the light of the New Covenant. For example, Noah's ark—If all you learn from that account is that a man built a big boat and when the flood came his family was saved—what you learned won't do you a bit of good, because there's never going to be another flood like that. But if you learned—a man heard God speak to him, he obeyed and did what God said, and God did what He said—now that will do you some good.

He that hath an ear, let him hear. (Rev. 13:9 KJV) God said, "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: that thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him: for He is thy life, and the length of thy days." (Deut. 30:19-20 KJV) God has given us His Word to encourage, correct, and exhort us, so that we are empowered to expect, to believe, and to resist. The Bible is the final authority—not what the world says, society says, traditions say, doctrines say, Mama said, Grandpa did—just the Word. No excuses.

These are the titles of the DUH booklets: Children* Christians Diligent vs. Lazy Bums Down-to-Earth Employers and –yees Faith—not Fear

Fear of God Fools—Stupid and Gullible Friends and Neighbors Governments Hasty—Not Honesty—no Cheating, Lying, Teasing Husbands and Wives Integrity Money Obedience Parents* Peace—not Strife Physical Intimacy (inside and outside of marriage) Poor, Poor-Rich, Rich, and Rich-Poor Sleep Stressed, Depressed, Tossed, Tormented Temperate—not Addicted Whole—Nothing Missing, Nothing Broken Wisdom—Listens, Learns, Makes Needed Corrections Words—Ours

*There is duplication between chapters (e.g., Children and Parents) when the scripture refers to both, but that's good—kids may just read their page, too.

I know what You said, but . . .

"But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee. . ."

Deuteronomy 28:15

Curses are the consequences—the results—of sin. Pride lifts up its head and says, "I'm not sinning;" but Deuteronomy 28:15 says to know what God says and to not do it is sin—the sin of disobedience. James 4:17 puts it this way: "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." It's unbelief that has the audacity to say, "I know You're God and I know what You said, but I know better, and I'm going to do it my way."

Sickness is the most predominant curse listed in the 53 verses that follow Deuteronomy 28:15.

Sickness is the result of sin—whether it's blatant and overt sin, or disobedience, or unbelief. The sin has to be stopped, or the result will just come back again. For example, if someone has a disease that is the result of overeating, and they are healed by God (not doctors, medicine, etc.), if they continue to pig-out, that disease (or something worse) will reoccur. " . . . I know what You said I'm to think about, but controlling my thoughts is too much of a struggle for me." " . . . I know what You said I'm to say, but the people around me just wouldn't understand if I spoke the Truth instead of the facts that they can plainly see." " . . . I know what You said I'm to listen to, but Mom told me this-and-so, my friend said thus-and-so, the doctor said such-and-such, and my body is saying Plan B." " . . . I know what You said I'm to meditate on day and night, but I have to work, You know." " . . . I know what You said I'm to do, but I'm just too tired when I get home at night." " . . . I know what You said I've inherited, but things sure don't look that way, and my body doesn't feel that way." " . . . I know what You said I'm to attend to, listen to, look at, think about, and say—Your Word, but that good fight of faith that overcomes everything every time is just too hard."

"I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: that thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him:, for He is thy life, and the length of thy days. . ."

Deuteronomy 30:19-20

DUH!

D

ID

U H

EAR?

-EED?

D U H scriptures about . . .

CHILDREN

Children 1 CHILDREN Pro. 10:1 Wise son, glad father; stupid son, sad mother.

Pro. 13:1 Intelligent children listen to their parents; foolish children do their own thing.

Pro. 15:20 Intelligent children make their parents proud; lazy students embarrass their parents.

Pro. 17:6 Old people are distinguished by grandchildren; children take pride in their parents.

Pro. 17:25 A surly, stupid child is sheer pain to a father, a bitter pill for a mother to swallow.

Pro. 19:13 A parent is worn to a frazzle by a stupid child.

Pro. 19:27 If you quit listening, dear child, and strike off on your own, you'll soon be out of your depth.

Pro. 20:11 Young people eventually reveal by their actions if their motives are on the up and up.

Pro. 20:20 Anyone who curses father and mother extinguishes light and exists benighted.

Pro. 23:15-16 Dear child, if you become wise, I'll be one happy parent. My heart will dance and sing to the tuneful truth you'll speak.

Pro. 23:19,22-25 Oh listen, dear child—become wise; point your life in the right direction. Listen with respect to the father who raised you, and when your mother grows old, don't neglect her. Buy truth—don't sell it for love or money; buy wisdom, buy education, buy insight. Parents rejoice when their children turn out well; wise children become proud parents. So make your father happy! Make your mother proud!

Pro. 27:11 Become wise, dear child, and make me happy; then nothing the world throws my way will upset me.

Pro. 28:24 Anyone who robs father and mother and says, "So, what's wrong with that?" is worse than a pirate.

Pro. 29:3 If you love wisdom, you'll delight your parents, but you'll destroy their trust if you run with whores.

Pro. 30:11 Don't curse your father or fail to bless your mother.

Pro. 30:17 An eye that disdains a father and despises a mother—that eye will be plucked out by

Children 2 wild vultures and consumed by young eagles.

Luke 18:16-17 Jesus said, "Let these children alone. Don't get between them and me. These children are the kingdom's pride and joy. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in."

Eph. 6:1-2 Children, do what your parents tell you. This is only right. "Honor your father and mother" is the first commandment that has a promise attached to it, namely, "so you will live well and have a long life."

Col. 3:20 Children, do what your parents tell you. This delights the Master no end.

D U H scriptures about . . .

CHRISTIANS

Christians 1 CHRISTIANS Pro. 3:5-12 Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline; don't sulk under his loving correction. It's the child he loves that God corrects; a father's delight is behind all this.

Pro. 4:20-27 Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart! Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they're bursting with health. Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.

Matt. 9:10-13 Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew's house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus' followers. "What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riffraff?" Jesus, overhearing, shot back, "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: 'I'm after mercy, not religion.' I'm here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders."

Matt. 10:5-28 Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge: "Don't begin by traveling to some far off place to convert unbelievers. And don't try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick.

Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.

Christians 2 "Don't think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don't need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel light "When you enter a town or village. don't insist on staying in a luxury inn. Get a modest place with some modest people, and be content there until you leave.

"When you knock on a door, be courteous in your greeting. If they welcome you, be gentle in your conversation. If they don't welcome you, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way. You can be sure that on Judgment Day they'll be mighty sorry—but it's no concern of yours now.

"Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.

"Don't be naive. Some people will impugn your motives, others will smear your reputation—just because your believe in me. Don't be upset when they haul you before the civil authorities. Without knowing it, they've done you—and me—a favor, given you a platform for preaching the kingdom news! And don't worry about what you'll say or how you'll say it. The right words will be there; the Spirit of your Father will supply the words.

"When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don't quit. Don't cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you've run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived.

"A student doesn't get a better desk than her teacher. A laborer doesn't make more money that his boss.

Be content—pleased, even—when you , my students, my harvest hands, get the same treatment I get. If they call me, the Master, `Dungface,' what can the workers expect?

"Don't be intimidated. Eventually everything is going to be out in the open, and everyone

Christians 3 will know how things really are. So don't hesitate to go public now.

"Don't be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There's nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands."

Matt. 10:29-42 Jesus said, "What's the price of a pet canary? Some loose change, right? And God cares what happens to it even more than you do. He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail— even numbering the hairs on your head! So don't be intimidated by all this bully talk. You're worth more than a million canaries.

"Stand up for me against world opinion and I'll stand up for you before my Father in heaven. If you turn tail and run, do you think I'll cover for you?

"Don't think I've come to make life cozy. I've come to cut—make a sharp knife-cup between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law—cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you for God. Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies. If you prefer father or mother over me, you don't deserve me. If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don't deserve me.

"If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me.

"We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Anyone who accepts what you do, accepts me, the One who sent you. Anyone who accepts what I do accepts my Father, who sent me. Accepting a messenger of God is as good as being God's messenger. Accepting someone's help is as good as giving someone help. This is a large work I've called you into, but don't be overwhelmed by it. It's best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won't lose out on a thing."

Matt. 11:4-6 When Jesus was asked, "Are you the One we've been expecting, or are we still

Christians 4 waiting?" he told them: "The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the wretched of the earth learn that God is on their side. Is this what you were expecting? Then count yourselves most blessed!"

Matt. 12:6-7 Jesus said, "There is far more at stake here than religion. If you had any idea what this Scripture meant—`I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual'—you wouldn't be nitpicking like this."

Matt. 12:30 Jesus said, "This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you're not on my side, you're the enemy; if you're not helping, you're making things worse."

Matt. 12:31-32 Jesus said, "There's nothing done or said that can't be forgiven. But if you deliberately persist in your slanders against God's Spirit, you are repudiating the very One who forgives. If you reject the Son of Man out of some misunderstanding, the Holy Spirit can forgive you, but when you reject the Holy Spirit, you're sawing off the branch on which you're sitting, severing by your own perversity all connection with the One who forgives."

Matt. 12:43-45 Jesus said, "When a defiling evil spirit is expelled from someone, it drifts along through the desert looking for an oasis, some unsuspecting soul it can bedevil. When it doesn't find anyone, it says, 'I'll go back to my old haunt.' On return it finds the person spotlessly clean, but vacant. It then runs out and rounds up seven other spirits more evil than itself and they all move in, whooping it up. That person ends up far worse off than if he'd never gotten cleaned up in the first place. That's what this generation is like: You may think you have cleaned out the junk from your lives and gotten ready for God, but you weren't hospitable to my kingdom message, and now all the devils are moving back in."

Matt. 13:11-17 Jesus said, "Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That's why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. In their present state they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they're blue in the face and not get it. I don't want Isaiah's forecast repeated all over again: 'Your ears are open but you

Christians 5 don't hear a thing. Your eyes are awake but you don't see a thing. The people are blockheads! They stick their fingers in their ears so they won't have to listen; they screw their eyes shut so they won't have to look, so they won't have to deal with me face-to-face and let me heal them.' But you have God-blessed eyes-eyes that see!

And God-blessed ears-ears that hear! A lot of people, prophets and humble believers among them, would have given anything to see what you are seeing, to hear what you are hearing, but never had the chance " Matt. 13:18-23 Jesus said, "Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn't take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person's heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road. The seed cast in the gravelthis is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it. The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it. The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams."

Matt. 13:43,47-52 Jesus said, "Are you listening to this? Really listening? God's kingdom is like a fishnet cast into the sea, catching all kinds of fish. When it is full, it is hauled onto the beach. The good fish are picked out and put in a tub; those unfit to eat are thrown away. That's how it will be when the curtain comes down on history. The angels will come and cull the bad fish and throw them in the garbage. There will be a lot of desperate complaining, but it won't do any good." Jesus asked, "Are you starting to get a handle on all this?"

They answered, "Yes." He said, "Then you see how every student well-trained in God's kingdom is like the owner of a general store who can put his hands on anything you need, old or new, exactly when you need it."

Matt. 15:6-9 Jesus said, "You cancel God's command by your rules. Frauds! Isaiah's prophecy

Christians 6 of you hit the bull's-eye: 'These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn't in it. They act like they're worshiping me, but they don't mean it. They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy."

Matt. 16:19 Jesus said, "You will have complete and free access to God's kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven."

Matt. 16:24-26 Jesus said, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?"

Matt. 23:1-10 Jesus said, "The religion scholars and Pharisees are competent teachers in God's Law. You won't go wrong in following their teachings on Moses. But be careful about following them. They talk a good line, but they don't live it. They don't take it into their hearts and live it out in their behavior. It's all spit-and-polish veneer. Instead of giving you God's Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules, loading you down like pack animals. They seem to take pleasure in watching you stagger under these loads, and wouldn't think of lifting a finger to help. Their lives are perpetual fashion shows, embroidered prayer shawls one day and flowery prayers the next. They love to sit at the had table at church dinners, basking in the most prominent positions, preening in the radiance of public flattery, receiving honorary degrees, and getting called 'Doctor' and 'Reverend.' Don't let people do that to you, put you on a pedestal like that. You all have a single Teacher, and you are all classmates. Don't set people up as experts over your life, letting them tell you what to do. Save that authority for God; let him tell you what to do. No one else should carry the title of `Father'; you have only one Father, and he's in heaven. And don't let people maneuver you into taking charge of them. There is only one Life-Leader for you and them—Christ."

Matt. 26:41 Jesus said, "Stay alert; be in prayer so you don't wander into temptation without

Christians 7 even knowing you're in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there's another part that's as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire."

Matt. 28:18-20 Jesus said, "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."

Mark 6:7-13 Jesus called the harvest hands to him, and sent them out in pairs. He gave them authority and power to deal with the evil opposition. He sent them off with these instructions: "Don't think you need a lot of extra equipment for this. You are the equipment. No special appeals for funds. Keep it simple. And no luxury inns. Get a modest place and be content there until you leave. If you're not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way." Then they were on the road. They preached with joyful urgency that life can be radically different; right and left they sent the demons packing; they brought wellness to the sick, anointing their bodies, healing their spirits.

Luke 6:22-38 Jesus said, "Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—skip like a lamb, if you like!—for even though they don't like it, I do . . . and all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company; my preachers and witnesses have always been treated like this.

"But it's trouble ahead if you think you have it made. What you have is all you'll ever get. And it's trouble ahead if you're satisfied with yourself. Your self-will not satisfy you for long. And it's trouble ahead if you think life's all fun and games. There's suffering to be met, and you're going to meet it.

"There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters

Christians 8 them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.

"To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.

"Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; them grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-themill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.

"I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never—I promise— regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.

"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity."

Luke 9:60, 62 Jesus said, "First things first. Your business is life, not death. And life is urgent: Announce God's kingdom! No procrastination. No backward looks. You can't put God's kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day."

Luke 10:16 Jesus said, "The one who listens to you, listens to me. The one who rejects you, rejects me.

And rejecting me is the same as rejecting God, who sent me."

Luke 10:19-20 Jesus said, "See what I've given you? Safe passage as you walk on snakes and

Christians 9 scorpions, and protection from every assault of the Enemy. No one can put a hand on you. All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God's authority over you and presence with you. Not what you do for God but what God does for you—that's the agenda for rejoicing."

Luke 12:8-10 Jesus said, "Stand up for me among the people you meet and the Son of Man will stand up for you before all God's angels. But if you pretend you don't know me, do you think I'll defend you before God's angels? If you bad-mouth the Son of Man out of misunderstanding or ignorance, that can be overlooked. But if you're knowingly attacking God himself, taking aim at the Holy Spirit, that won't be overlooked."

Luke 13:24-27 Jesus said, "Put your mind on your life with God. The way of life—to God!—is vigorous and requires your total attention. A lot of you are going to assume that you'll sit down to God's salvation banquet just because you've been hanging around the neighborhood all your lives. Well, one day you're going to be banging on the door, wanting to get in, but you'll find the door locked and the Master saying, 'Sorry, you're not on my guest list.' You'll protest, 'But we've known you all our lives!' only to be interrupted with his abrupt, 'Your kind of knowing can hardly be called knowing. You don't know the first thing about me.'

Luke 14:28-35 Jesus said, "Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn't first sit down and figure the cost so you'll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you're going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: 'He started something he couldn't finish.' Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other? And if he decides he can't, won't he send an emissary and work out a truce? Simply put, if you're not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it goodbye, you can't be my disciple. Salt is excellent. But if the salt goes flat, it's useless, good for nothing. Are you listening to this? Really listening?"

Christians 10 Luke 17:33 Jesus said, "If you grasp and cling to life on your terms, you'll lose it, but if you let that life go, you'll get life on God's terms."

Luke 19:26 Jesus said, "Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag."

Luke 21:12-15 Jesus said, "It will go from bad to worse, dog-eat-dog, everyone at your throat because you carry my name. You'll end up on the witness stand, called to testify. Make up your mind right now not to worry about it. I'll give you the words and wisdom that will reduce all your accusers to stammers and stutters."

Luke 21:34-36 Jesus said, "Be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that's coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man." Luke 22:25-26 Jesus intervened: "Kings like to throw their weight around, and people in authority like to give themselves fancy titles. It's not going to be that way with you. Let the senior among you become like the junior; let the leader act the part of the servant."

John 3:11-12 Jesus said, "You're a respected teacher of Israel, and you don't know these basics? Listen carefully. I'm speaking sober truth to you. I speak only of what I know by experience; I give witness only to what I have seen with my own eyes. There is nothing second-hand here, no hearsay. Yet instead of facing the evidence and accepting it, you procrastinate with questions. If I tell you things that are plain as the hand before your face and you don't believe me, what use is there in telling you of things you can't see, the things of God?" John 3:16-18 Jesus said, "This is how much God loved the world: He gave His Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.

God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point

Christians 11 an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him."

John 3:34-36 John is talking: "The One that God sent speaks God's words. And don't think he rations out the Spirit in bits and pieces. The Father loves the Son extravagantly. He turned everything over to him so he could give it away—a lavish distribution of gifts. That is why whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on every thing., life complete and forever! And that is also why the person who avoids and distrusts the Son is in the dark and doesn't see life."

John 12:42-43 A considerable number from the ranks of the leaders did believe. But because of the Pharisees, they didn't come out in the open with it. They were afraid of getting kicked out of the meeting place. When push came to shove, they cared more for human approval than for God's glory.

John 15:5-8 Jesus said, "I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples."

John 15:18-19 Jesus said, "If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me. If you lived on the world's terms, the world would love you as one of its own. But since I picked you to live on God's terms and no longer on the world's terms, the world is going to hate you."

Acts 5:38-39 If this program or this work is merely human, it will fall apart, but if it is of God, there is nothing you can do about it—and you better not be found fighting against God! Acts 7:42 God wasn't at all pleased; but he let them do it their way, worship every new god that

Christians 12 came down the pike—and live with the consequences.

Acts 28:27-29 God said, "These people are blockheads! They stick their fingers in their ears so they won't have to listen; they screw their eyes shut so they won't have to look, so they won't have to deal with me face-to-face and let me heal them. You've had your chance. The nonreligious outsiders are next on the list.

And believe me, they're going to receive it with open arms!"

Rom. 1:19-20 The basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can't see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. So nobody has a good excuse.

Rom. 1:30-2:13 Look at them: mean-spirited, venomous, fork-tongued God-bashers. Bullies, swaggerers, insufferable windbags! They keep inventing new ways of wrecking lives. They ditch their parents when they get in the way. Stupid, slimy, cruel, cold-blooded. And it's not as if they don't know better. They know perfectly well they're spitting in God's face. And they don't care—worse, they hand out prizes to those who do the worst things best!

Those people are on a dark spiral downward. But if you think that leaves you on the high ground where you can point your finger at others, think again. Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. If takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors. But God isn't so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you've done.

You didn't think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard? Or did you think that because he's such a nice God, he'd let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he's not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life change.

You're not getting by with anything. Every refusal and avoidance of God adds fuel to the

Christians 13 fire. The day is coming when it's going to blaze hot and high, God's fiery and righteous judgment. Make no mistake: In the end you get what's coming to you—Real Life for those who work on God's side, but to those who insist on getting their own way and take the path of leastresistance, Fire!

If you go against the grain, you get splinters, regardless of which neighborhood you're from, what your parents taught you, what schools you attended. But if you embrace the way God does things, there are wonderful payoffs, again without regard to where you are from or how you were brought up. Being religious won't give you an automatic stamp of approval. God pays no attention to what others say (or what you think) about you. He makes up his own mind.

If you sin without knowing what you're doing, God takes that into account. But if you sin knowing full well what you're doing, that's a different story entirely. Merely hearing God's law is a waste of your time if you don't do what he commands. Doing, not hearing, is what makes the difference with God. Rom. 2:17-24 If you're brought up religious, don't assume that you can lean back in the arms of your religion and take it easy, feeling smug because you're an insider to God's revelation, a connoisseur of the best things of God, informed on the latest doctrines! I have a special word of caution for you who are sure that you have it all together yourselves and, because you know God's revealed Word inside and out, feel qualified to guide others through their blind alleys and dark nights and confused emotions to God. While you are guiding others, who is going to guide you? I'm quite serious. While preaching, "Don't steal!" are you going to rob people blind? Who would suspect you? The same with adultery. The same with idolatry. You can get by with almost anything if you front it with eloquent talk about God and his law. The line from Scripture, "It's because of you religious folks that the outsiders are down on God," shows it's an old problem that isn't going to go away.

Rom. 3:24, 26, 28, 30 Out of sheer generosity God put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And

Christians 14 he did it by means of Jesus Christ. God sets things right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness. God does not respond to what we do; we respond to what God does. God sets right all who welcome his action and enter into it, but those who follow our religious system and those who have never heard of our religion.

Rom. 6: 10-14 You are dead to sin and alive to God. That's what Jesus did. That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don't give it the time of day. Don't even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time—remember, you've been raised from the dead!—into God's way of doing things. Sin can't tell you how to live. After all, you're not living under that old tyranny any longer. You're living in the freedom of God. Rom. 6:20-23 As long as you did what you felt like doing, ignoring God, you didn't have to bother with right thinking or right living, or right anything for that matter. But do you call that a free life? What did you get out of it? Nothing you're proud of now. Where did it get you? A dead end.

But now that you've found you don't have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God's gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master.

Rom. 7:15-8:16 Yes. I'm full of myself—after all, I've spent a long time in sin's prison. What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary.

But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, then then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in

Christians 15 actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.

I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?

The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.

God went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. He didn't deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanoty in order to set it right once and for all. The law code, weakened as it always was by fractured human nature, could never have done that.

The law always ended up being used as a band-aid on sin, instead of a deep healing of it. And now what the law code asked for, but we couldn't deliver, is accomplished as we, instead of redoubling our own efforts, simply embrace what the Spirit is doing in us.

Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle, but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self

Christians 16 ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn't pleased at being ignored.

But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won't know what we're talking about. But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells—even though you still experience all the limitations of sin—you yourself experience life on God's terms. It stands to reason, doesn't it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he'll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ's!

So don't you see that we don't owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There's nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God's Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!

This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike, "What's next, Papa?" God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children.

Rom. 8:31-39 With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in

Christians 17 Scripture: "They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one."

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

Rom. 9:25-26 God said, "I'll call nobodies and make them somebodies; I'll call the unloved and make them beloved. In the place where they yelled out, 'You're nobody!' they're calling you `God's living children.'"

Rom. 9:33 God said, "Careful! I've put a huge stone on the road to Mount Zion, a stone you can't get around. But the stone is me! If you're looking for me, you'll find me on the way, not in the way."

Rom. 10:9-13 Say the welcoming word to God—"Jesus is my Master"—embracing, body and soul, God's work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That's it. You're not "doing" anything; you're simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That's salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: "God has set everything right between him and me!"

Scripture reassures us, "No one who trusts God like this—heart and soul—will ever regret it." It's exactly the same no matter what a person's religious background may be: the same God for all of us, acting the same incredibly generous way to everyone who calls out for help. "Everyone who calls, 'Help, God!' gets help."

Rom. 12:1-3 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out.

Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its

Christians 18 level of immaturity. God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

Rom. 12:6-8 Let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't. If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.

Rom. 12:9-21 Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

Don't bum out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.

Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody.

Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."

Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get

Christians 19 the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

Rom. 14:1, 4, 12 Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with-even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department.

Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently. God, after all, invited them both to the table. Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God's welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help. So tend to your knitting. You've got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God. Rom. 14:22-23 Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don't impose it on others. You're fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you're not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe-some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them-then you know that you're out of line. If the way you live isn't consistent with what you believe, then it's wrong.

Rom. 16:17-19 Keep a sharp eye out for those who take bits and pieces of the teaching that you learned and then use them to make trouble. Give these people a wide berth. They have no intention of living for our Master Christ. They're only in this for what they can get out of it, and aren't above using pious sweet-talk to dupe unsuspecting innocents. And so while there has never been any question about your honesty in these matters-I couldn't be more proud of you!-I want you also to be smart, making sure every "good" thing is the real thing. Don't be gullible in regard to smooth-talking evil.

1 Cor. 3:9-17 You are God's house. Using the gift God gave me as a good architect, I designed blueprints; Apollos is putting up the wall. Let each carpenter who comes on the job take care to build on the foundation!

Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you'll be found out. The inspection will

Christians 20 be thorough and rigorous. You won't get by with a thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn't, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won't be torn out; you'll survive—but just barely.

You realize, don't you, that you are the temple of God, and God himself is present in you? No one will get by with vandalizing God's temple, you can be sure of that. God's temple is sacred—and you, remember are the temple.

1 Cor. 9:24-27 You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.

I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught happy, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

1 Cor. 10:11-13 These are all warning markers—DANGER!—in our history books, written down so that we don't repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel—they at the beginning, we at the end—and we are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt.

You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate Godconfidence.

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.

1 Cor. 13:3-8 If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I believe, what I say, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

Love doesn't strut, doesn't have a swelled head, doesn't force itself on others, isn't always "me first," doesn't fly off the handle, doesn't keep score of the sins of others, doesn't revel when others grovel, takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, puts up

Christians 21 with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end.

2 Cor. 4:2-4 We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes.

And we don't twist God's Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God. If our Message is obscure to anyone, it's not because we're holding back in any way. No, it's because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won't have to bother believing a Truth they can't see. They're stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we'll ever get.

2 Cor. 6:14-7:1 Don't become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That's not partnership; that's war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God's holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way: “I’ll live in them, move into them; I'll be their God and they'll be my people. So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good,' says God. 'Don't link up with those who will pollute you. I want you all for myself. I'll be a Father to you; you'll be sons and daughters to me.' The Word of the Master, God." With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let's make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let's make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God. 2 Cor. 10:3-6 The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt

Christians 22 culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.

Gal. 3:2-3 Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God's Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. Gal. 3:11-12, 10 The person who lives in right relationship with God does it by embracing what God arranges for him. Doing things for God is the opposite of entering into what God does for you. Anyone who tries to live by his own effort, independent of God, is doomed to failure.

Eph. 4:14-15, 17-18, 22-24 No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. And so I insist—and God backs me up on this—that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd. They've refused for so long to deal with God that they've lost touch not only with God but with reality itself. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.

Eph. 4:30 Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.

Phil. 3:18-19 There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I've warned you of them many times; sadly, I'm having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ's Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street.

Christians 23 Col. 1:13-14, 21-23, 26-28 God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He's set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.

You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got. But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God's side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. You don't walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other Message—just this one.

This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it's out in the open. God wanted everyone, not just the religious, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, therefore you can look forward to sharing in God's glory. It's that simple. That is the substance of our Message.

We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less.

Col. 2:6-11, 13-14 My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.

Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that's not the way of Christ.

Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don't need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the

Christians 24 fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything.

Entering into this fullness is not something you figure out or achieve. It's not a matter of being circumcised or keeping a long list of laws. No, you're already in—insiders—not through some secretive initiation rite but rather through what Christ has already gone through for you, destroying the power of sin.

When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God. God brought you alive—right along with Christ! Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ's Cross.

Col. 4:5-6 Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don't miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.

2 Tim. 2:20-3:5 In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets—some containers used to serve find meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.

Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God's servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the devil's trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.

Don't be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be selfabsorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eatdog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical,

Christians 25 treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They'll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they're animals. Stay clear of these people.

Heb. 3:12-14 So watch your step, friends. Make sure there's no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it's still God's Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn't slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we're in this with Christ for the long haul.

Heb. 4:12-13 God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God's Word. We can't get away from it—no matter what.

Heb. 5:11-14 I have a lot more to say about this, but it is hard to get it across to you since you've picked up this bad habit of not listening. By this time you ought to be teachers yourselves, yet here I find you need someone to sit down with you and go over the basics on God again, starting from square one—baby's milk, when you should have been on solid food long ago! Milk is for beginners, inexperienced in God's ways; solid food is for the mature, who have some practice in telling right from wrong. **CLOSING** Heb. 13:20-21 May God, who puts all things together, makes all things whole, who made a

lasting mark through the sacrifice of Jesus, the sacrifice of blood that sealed the eternal covenant, who led Jesus, our Great Shepherd, up and alive from the dead, not put you together, provide you with everything you need to please him, make us into what gives him most pleasure, by means of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah. All glory to Jesus forever and always! Oh, yes, yes, yes.

James 1:22-27 Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea

Christians 26 who they are, what they look like.

But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.

Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.

James 2:12-13 Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule [love others as you love yourself] that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly.

Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time.

James 4:1-10 Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.

You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way.

You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that "he's a fiercely jealous lover." And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you'll fmd. It's common knowledge that "God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble."

So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God, and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious,

Christians 27 really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet.

James 5:19-20 My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God's truth, don't write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God. 1 Pet. 1:22-23, 25 Now that you've cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God's living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself! This is the Word that conceived the new life in you.

1 Pet. 3:15-16 Be ready to speak up an tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God, so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They'll end up realizing that they're the ones who need a bath.

1 Pet. 5:8-11 Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!— will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.

2 Pet. 2:1-3 There were also lying prophets among the people then, just as there will be lying religious teachers among you. They'll smuggle in destructive divisions, pitting you against each other—biting the hand of the One who gave them a chance to have their lives back! They've put themselves on a fast downhill slide to destruction, but not before they recruit a crowd of mixed-up followers who can't tell right from wrong.

They give the way of truth a bad name They're only out for themselves. They'll say anything, anything, that sounds good to exploit you. They won't, of course, get by with it.

Christians 28 They'll come to a bad end, for God has never just stood by and let that kind of thing go on.

2 Pet. 3:9 God isn't late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn't want anyone lost. He's giving everyone space and time to change.

1 Jn. 1:5-10 This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there's not a trace of darkness in him.

If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we're obviously lying through our teeth-we're not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God's Son, purges all our sin.

If we claim that we're free of sin, we're only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we've never sinned, we out and out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God. Rev. 2:2-5 Jesus said, "I see what you've done, your hard, hard work, your refusal to quit. I know you can't stomach evil, that you weed out apostolic pretenders. I know your persistence, your courage in my cause, that you never wear out.

"But you walked away from your first love-why? What's going on with you, anyway? Do you have any idea how far you've fallen? A Lucifer fall!

"Turn back! Recover your dear early love. No time to waste, for I'm well on my way to removing your light from the golden circle."

Rev. 3:1-5 Jesus said, "I see right through your work. You have a reputation for vigor and zest, but you're dead, stone dead.

"Up on your feet! Take a deep breath! Maybe there's life in you yet. But I wouldn't know it by looking at your busywork; nothing of God's work has been completed. Your condition is

Christians 29 desperate. Think of the gift you once had in your hands, the Message you heard with your ears—grasp it again and turn back to God. "If you pull the covers back over your head and sleep on, oblivious to God, I'll return when you least expect it, break into your life like a thief in the night.

"You still have a few Christians there who haven't ruined themselves wallowing in the muck of the world's ways. They'll walk with me on parade! They've proved their worth!

"Conquerors will march in the victory parade, their names indelible in the Book of Life. I'll lead them up and present them by name to my Father and his angels."

Rev. 3:8-9 Jesus said, "I see what you've done. Now see what I've done. I've opened a door before you that no one can slam shut. You don't have much strength, I know that; you used what you had to keep my Word. You didn't deny me when times were rough.

"And watch as I take those who call themselves true believers but are nothing of the kind, pretenders whose true membership is in the club of satan—watch as I strip off their pretensions and they're forced to acknowledge it's you that I've loved."

Rev. 3:15-22 Jesus said, "I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, `I'm rich, I've got it made, I need nothing from anyone,' oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.

"Here's what I want you to do: Buy your gold from me, gold that's been through the refiner's fire. Then you'll be rich. Buy your clothes from me, clothes designed in Heaven. You've gone around half-naked long enough. And buy medicine for your eyes from me so you can see, really see.

"The people I love, I call to account—prod and correct and guide so that they'll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God! "Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I'll come right in and sit down to supper with you. Conquerors will sit alongside me at the head table, just

Christians 30 as I, having conquered, took the place of honor at the side of my Father. That's my gift to the conquerors!

"Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches."

Rev. 22:12-15 Jesus said, "Yes, I'm on my way! I'll be there soon! I'm bringing my payroll with me. I'll pay all people in full for their life's work. I'm A to A, the First and the Final, Beginning and Conclusion.

"How blessed are those who wash their robes! The Tree of Life is theirs for good, and they'll walk through the gates of the City. But outside for good are the filthy curs: sorcerers, fornicators, murderers, idolaters—all who love and live lies."

Psa. 19:7-9, 11-13 The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. God's reputation is twenty-four carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree.

There's more: God's Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.

Psa. 25:15 If I keep my eyes on God, I won't trip over my own feet.

Psa. 50:16-23 Next, God calls up the wicked: "What are you up to, quoting my laws, talking like we are good friends? You never answer the door when I call; you treat my words like garbage. If you find a thief, you make him your buddy; adulterers are your friends of choice. Your mouth drools filth; lying is a serious art form with you. You stab your own brother in the back, rip off your little sister. I kept a quiet patience while you did these things; you thought I went along with your game. I'm calling you on the carpet, now, laying your wickedness out in plain sight.

"Time's up for playing fast and loose with me. I'm ready to pass sentence, and there's no

Christians 31 help in sight! It's the praising life that honors me. As soon as you set your foot on the Way, I'll show you my salvation."

Psa. 103:3-5 God forgives your sins—every one. He heals your diseases—every one. He redeems you from hell—saves your life! He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown. He wraps you in goodness— beauty eternal. He renews your youth—you're always young in his presence.

Christians 32

IF YOU...

THEN GOD...

 loose the bonds of wickedness  undo the bands of the yoke  let the oppressed go free  break every enslaving yoke  divide your bread with the hungry  bring the homeless poor into your house  when you see the naked, cover him  hide not yourself from the needs of your own flesh and blood  your light shall break forth as the morning  your healing, your restoration and the power of a new life, shall spring forth speedily  your righteousness, your rightness, your justice and your right relationship with God, shall go before you conducting you to peace and prosperity  the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard  you shall call, and the Lord will answer  you shall cry, and He will say, "Here I AM."  take away from your midst yokes of oppression wherever you find them  take away the finger pointed in scorn toward the oppressed or the godly  take away every form of false, harsh, unjust, and wicked speaking  pour out that with which you sustain your own life for the hungry  satisfy the need of the afflicted  your light shall rise in darkness and your obscurity and gloom be as the noonday

Christians 33  the Lord shall guide you continually and satisfy you in drought and in dry places, and make strong your bones  you shall be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not  your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt  you shall raise up the foundations of buildings that have laid waste for many generations  you shall be called the repairer of the breach the restorer of streets to dwell in  turn away your foot from traveling unduly on the sabbath from doing your own pleasure on My holy day and call the sabbath a spiritual delight the holy day of the Lord, honorable and shall honor Him and it — not going your own way or seeking or finding your own pleasure or speaking with your own idle words  you shall delight yourself in the Lord  I will make you to ride on the high places of the earth  I will feed you with the heritage promised for you to Jacob your father for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.

What it boils down to is this --- I have to fast SELF in order to fulfill the fast God has chosen. I must take up my assignment (my cross) and die to... abstain from... do without... SELF. If I care for the needs of others, then God will take care of my needs! If I seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, then all these other

Christians 34 things will be added to me (Matthew 6:33)... and just look at what He's promised to add --- it's everything that makes life fulfilled and worth-the-living!

Isaiah 58:6-21 Amplified

Christians 35

IF YOU... 

THEN GOD...

will LISTEN diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to DO all His commandments which I command you this day, 

the Lord your God will set you

high above all the nations of the earth





and all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you!

IF you HEED the voice of the Lord your God : 





Blessed shall you be in the city!

Blessed shall you be in the field!

Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, and the fruit of your ground,

and the fruit of your beasts, the increase of your cattle, and the young of your flock!



Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading trough!



Blessed shall you be when you come in!



Blessed shall you be when you go out!

 The Lord shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before your face: they shall come out against you one way, and flee before you seven ways!

Christians 36



The Lord shall command the blessing upon you in your storehouse, and in all that you undertake!







He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you!

The Lord will establish you as a people holy to Himself as He has sworn to you,

IF you KEEP the commandments of the Lord your God and WALK in His ways!  And all people of the earth shall see that you are called by the name and in the presence of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you!



And the Lord shall make you have a surplus of prosperity,

through the fruit of your body, of your livestock, and of your ground, in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you!



The Lord shall open to you His good treasury, the heavens to give the rain of your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand!



You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow!



The Lord shall make you the head, and not the tail,

and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath,



IF you HEED the commandments of the Lord your God,

Christians 37 which I command you this day, and are watchful to DO them!



You SHALL NOT GO ASIDE from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

Deuteronomy 28:1-14

IF YOU DO NOT... (Deut. 28:15-68)

Christians 38

IF YOU... + + +

THEN GOD...

If you DWELL

in the secret place of the Most High

If you REMAIN STABLE AND FIXED under the shadow of the Almighty, Whose power no foe can withstand!

If you will SAY of the Lord,

"He is my refuge and my fortress — my God! On Him I lean and rely, and in Him I confidently trust!"

+ Then He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence*! + Then, He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge! + His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler!

+ Then, you shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow [the evil plots and slanders of the wicked] that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of t he destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday! + Then, a thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you! + Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked! +

Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place...

+ There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent!

+ For He will give His angels especial charge over you, to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways of obedience and service! + They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone! + You shall tread upon the lion and adder, the young lion and the serpent shall you trample under foot! +

Because you have set your love upon Him... + therefore will He deliver you! + He will set you on high, because you know and understand His name [have a personal knowledge of His mercy, love, and kindness; trust and rely on Him, knowing He will never forsake you, no, never]! + You shall call upon Him, and He will answer you! + He will be with you in trouble!

Christians 39 + He will deliver you and honor you! + With long life will He satisfy you, and show you His salvation!

Psalm 91 in Amplified Bible

*plagues, malignant and contagious or infectious epidemic diseases, deadly and devastating

Christians 40

IF YOU...

THEN GOD...

IF YOU >ARE WILLING >AND OBEDIENT > YOU

SHALL EAT THE GOOD OF THE LAND;

BUT IF YOU >REFUSE >AND REBEL, >YOU

WILL BE DEVOURED

BY THE SWORD

FOR THE MOUTH OF THE LORD HAS SPOKEN IT. Isaiah 1:19-20 Amplified

Christians 41

IF YOU... THEN GOD... 

Blessed - happy, to be envied, and with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions - are the poor in spirit... the humble, rating themselves insignificant,

> for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven!

 Blessed - and enviably happy with a happiness produced by experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace - are those who mourn, > for they shall be comforted!

>

Blessed - happy, blithesome, joyous, and spiritually prosperous with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions - are the meek…

.

the mild, patient, long-suffering,

> for they shall inherit the earth!

>- Blessed - fortunate, happy, and spiritually prosperous in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation - are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness... uprightness and rightstanding with God, > for they shall be completely satisfied!

> Blessed - happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation,

Christians 42 regardless of their outward conditions are the merciful,

> for they shall obtain mercy!

> Blessed - happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous, that is, possessing the happiness produced by experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions - are the pure in heart, > for they shall see God!

>Blessed - enjoying enviable happiness, and spiritually prosperous with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions - are the makers and maintainers of peace,

> for they shall be called the sons of God!

> Blessed - happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous in the state in which one enjoys and finds satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions - are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake... for being and doing right, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven! > Blessed - happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions - are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account.

Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in Heaven is great, strong, and intense... for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you!

Matthew 5:2-12 Amplified

Christians 43

IF YOU...

THEN GOD...

>IF YOU will receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to skillful and godly Wisdom, and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding, applying all your powers to the quest for it; > Yes, IF YOU cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,

> IF YOU seek Wisdom as silver, and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hid treasures;

>THEN you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of our omniscient God.

> For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

>He hides away sound and godly Wisdom and stores it for the righteous — those who are upright and in right-standing with Him;

Christians 44

>- He is a shield to those who walk uprightly and in integrity, that He may guard the paths of justice.

Yes, He preserves the way of His saints.

>- THEN you will understand righteousness, justice, and fair-dealing in every area and relation; yes, you will understand every good path.

> For skillful and godly Wisdom shall enter into your heart, and knowledge shall be pleasant to you;

>Discretion shall watch over you, and understanding shall keep you

(1) to deliver you from the way of evil and the evil man...

(2) to deliver you from the alien woman...

(3) so you may walk in the way of good men

and keep to the paths of the consistently righteous...

>- For the upright shall dwell in the land,

and the men of integrity, blameless, and complete in God's sight, shall remain in it!

Proverbs 2:1-12, 16, 20-21 Amplified

Christians 45

IF YOU...

...THEN GOD

 If you live in Me abide vitally united to Me and  My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts,  ask whatever you will  it shall be done for you!  and I will do - I Myself will grant whatever you may ask in My name... presenting all I AM... so that the Father may be glorified and extolled through the Son.  Yes, I will grant - will do for you whatever you shall ask in My name... presenting all I AM! John 15:7; 14:13-14 Amplified

Christians 46

IF YOU ...

THEN GOD ...

 My son, attend to My words;  consent and submit to My sayings.  Let them not depart from your sight;  keep them in the center of your heart.



for they are life to those who find them, 

healing and health to all their flesh.

Proverbs 4:20-22 Amplified

D U H scriptures about . . .

DILIGENT vs.

LAZY BUMS

1 DILIGENT vs. LAZY BUMS Pro. 6:6-11 You lazy fool, look at an ant. Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two. Nobody has to tell it what to do. All summer it stores up food; at harvest it stockpiles provisions. So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing? How long before you get out of bed? A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there, sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next? Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life, poverty your permanent houseguest!

Pro. 10:4 Sloth makes you poor; diligence brings wealth.

Pro. 10:5 Make hay while the sun shines—that's smart; go fishing during harvest—that's stupid. Pro. 12:27 A lazy life is an empty life, but "early to rise" gets the job done.

Pro. 13:4 Indolence wants it all and gets nothing; the energetic have something to show for their lives.

Pro. 13:11 Easy come, easy go, but steady diligence pays off.

Pro. 15:19 The path of lazy people is overgrown with briers; the diligent walk down a smooth road.

Pro. 19:15 Life collapses on loafers; lazybones go hungry.

Pro. 19:24 Some people dig a fork into the pie but are too lazy to raise it to their mouth.

Pro. 20:4 A farmer too lazy to plant in the spring has nothing to harvest in the fall.

Pro. 20:13 Don't be too fond of sleep; you'll end up in the poorhouse. Wake up and get up; then there'll be food on the table.

Pro. 21:25 Lazy people finally die of hunger because they won't get up and go to work.

Pro. 24:30-34 One day I walked by the field of an old lazybones, and then passed the vineyard of a lout; they were overgrown with weeds, thick with thistles, all the fences broken down. I took a long look and pondered what is awry; the fields preached me a sermon and I listened: "A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there, sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next? Just this: You can look forward to a dirtpoor life, with poverty as your permanent houseguest!"

2 Pro. 26:14 Just as a door turns on its hinges, so a lazybones burns back over in bed.

1 Thess. 4:12; 5:14-15 We want you living in a way that will command the respect of outsiders, not lying around sponging off your friends. Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.

2 Thess. 3:6-7, 10-15 Refuse to have anything to do with those among you who are lazy and refuse to work the way we taught you. Don't permit them to freeload on the rest.

Don't you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? "If you don't work, you don't eat." And now we're getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you. This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately—no excuses, no arguments—and earn their own keep. Friends, don't slack off in doing your duty.

If anyone refuses to obey our clear command written in this letter, don't let him get by with it.

Point out such a person and refuse to subsidize his freeloading. Maybe then he'll think twice. But don't treat him as an enemy. Sit him down and talk about the problem as someone who cares.

D U H scriptures about . . .

DOWNTOEARTH

Down-to-Earth 1 DOWN-TO-EARTH—not know-it-alls Pro. 11:2 The stuck-up fall flat on their faces, but down-to-earth people stand firm.

Pro. 15:12 Know-it-alls don't like being told what to do; they avoid the company of wise men and women.

Pro. 15:25 God smashes the pretensions of the arrogant; he stands with those who have no standing.

Pro. 16:5 God can't stomach arrogance or pretense; believe me, he'll put those upstarts in their place.

Pro. 16:18 First pride, then the crash—the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.

Pro. 18:12 First pride, then the crash, but humility is precursor to honor.

Pro. 21:4 Arrogance and pride—distinguishing marks in the wicked—are just plain sin.

Pro. 25:6-7 Don't work yourself into the spotlight; don't push your way into the place of prominence. It's better to be promoted to a place of honor than face humiliation by being demoted.

Pro. 26:12 See the man who thinks he's so smart? You can expect far more from a fool than from him.

Pro. 26:16 Dreamers fantasize their self-importance; they think they are smarter than a whole college faculty.

Pro. 27:2 Don't call attention to yourself; let others do that for you.

Pro. 28:25 A grasping person stirs up trouble, but trust in God brings a sense of well-being.

Pro. 29:23 Pride lands you flat on your face; humility prepares you for honors.

Pro. 30:12 Don't imagine yourself to be quite presentable when you haven't had a bath in weeks.

Pro. 30:13 Don't be stuck-up and think you're better than everyone else.

Matt. 11:25 Jesus said, "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Down-to-Earth 2 Matt. 23:11-12 Jesus said, "Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you'll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you're content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty."

Luke 6:41-42 Jesus said, "It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this I-know-better-than-you mentality again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your own part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor."

Luke 14:7-11 Jesus went on to tell a story to the guests around the table. Noticing how each had tried to elbow into the place of honor, he said, "When someone invites you to dinner, don't take the place of honor.

Somebody more important than you might have been invited by the host. Then he'll come and call out in front of everybody, 'You're in the wrong place. The place of honor belongs to this man,' Red-faced, you'll have to make your way to the very last table, the only place left.

"When you're invited to dinner, go and sit at the last place. Then when the host comes he may very well say, 'Friend, come up to the front.' That will give the dinner guests something to talk about! What I'm saying is, if you walk around with your nose in the air, you're going to end up flat on your face. But if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself."

Luke 16:15 Jesus said, "You are masters at making yourselves look good in front of others, but God knows what's behind the appearance."

1 Cor. 1:26-31 Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don't see many of "the brightest and the best" among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies"? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with

Down-to-Earth 3 blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That's why we have the saying, "If you're going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God." 1 Cor. 3:19-20 What the world calls smart, God calls stupid. It's written in Scripture, "He exposes the chicanery of the chic. The Master sees through the smoke screens of the know-it-alls."

1 Cor. 8:2-3, 7 Sometimes our humble hearts can help us more than our proud minds. We never really know enough until we recognize that God alone knows it all. But knowing isn't everything. If it becomes everything, some people end up as know-it-alls who treat others as know-nothings. Real knowledge isn't that insensitive.

2 Cor. 10:18 What you say about yourself means nothing in God's work. It's what God says about you that makes the difference.

2 Cor. 13:5 Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it.

James 2:2-6 If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, and you say to the man in the suit, "Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!" and either ignore the street person or say, "Better sit here in the back row," haven't you segregated God's children and proved that you are judges who can't be trusted?

Listen, dear friends. Isn't it clear by now that God operates quite differently? He chose the world's down-and-out as the kingdom's first citizens, with full rights and privileges. This kingdom is promised to anyone who loves God. And here you are abusing these same citizens! Isn't it the high and mighty who exploit you, who use the courts to rob you blind?

1 Pet. 5:5-7 Be down-to-earth with each other, for "God has had it with the proud, but takes delight in just plain people." So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time. Life carefree before God; he is most careful with you.

D U H scriptures about . . .

EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES

Employers and -yees 1 EMPLOYERS AND -YEES Pro. 10:26 A lazy employee will give you nothing but trouble; it's vinegar in the mouth, smoke in the eyes.

Pro. 12:11 The one who stays on the job has food on the table; the witless chase whims and fancies.

Pro. 12:14 Well-spoken words bring satisfaction; well-done work has its own reward.

Pro. 12:24 The diligent find freedom in their work; the lazy are oppressed by work.

Pro. 14:28 The mark of a good leader is loyal followers; leadership is nothing without a following.

Pro. 14:35 Diligent work gets a warm commendation; shiftless work earns an angry rebuke.

Pro. 16:3 Put God in charge of your work, then what you've planned will take place.

Pro. 16:10 A good leader motivates, doesn't mislead, doesn't exploit.

Pro. 16:11 God cares about honesty in the workplace; your business is his business.

Pro. 16:12 Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds; sound leadership has a moral foundation.

Pro. 16:13 Good leaders cultivate honest speech; they love advisors who tell them the truth.

Pro. 16:14 An intemperate leader wreaks havoc in lives; you're smart to stay clear of someone like that.

Pro. 16:15 Good-tempered leaders invigorate lives; they're like spring rain and sunshine.

Pro. 16:26 Appetite is an incentive to work; hunger makes you work all the harder.

Pro. 17:7 We don't expect eloquence from fools, nor do we expect lies from our leaders.

Pro. 18:9 Slack habits and sloppy work are as bad as vandalism.

Pro. 19:10 Blockheads shouldn't live on easy street any more than workers should give orders to their boss.

Pro. 19:12 Mean-tempered leaders are like mad dogs; the good-natured are like fresh morning dew.

Employers and -yees 2 Pro. 20:2 Quick-tempered leaders are like mad dogs—cross them and they bite your head off.

Pro. 20:8-9 Leaders who know their business and care keep a sharp eye out for the shoddy and cheap, for who among us can be trusted to be always diligent and honest?

Pro. 20:26 After careful scrutiny, a wise leader makes a clean sweep of rebels and dolts.

Pro. 22:29 Observe people who are good at their work—skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don't take a back seat to anyone.

Pro. 26:10 Hire a fool or a drunk and you shoot yourself in the foot.

Pro. 28:12 When good people are promoted, everything is great, but when the bad are in charge, watch out!

Pro. 29:4 A leader of good judgment gives stability; an exploiting leader leaves a trail of waste.

Pro. 29:12 When a leader listens to malicious gossip, all the workers get infected with evil.

Pro. 29:19 It takes more than talk to keep workers in line; mere words go in one ear and out the other.

Pro. 30:10 Don't blow the whistle on your fellow workers behind their backs; they'll accuse you of being underhanded, and then you'll be the guilty one!

Matt. 24:45-51 Jesus said, "Who here qualifies for the job of overseeing the kitchen? A person the Master can depend on to feed the workers on time each day. Someone the Master can drop in on unannounced and always find him doing his job. A God-blessed man or woman, I tell you. It won't be long before the Master will put this person in charge of the whole operation.

"But if that person only looks out for himself, and the minute the Master is away does what he pleases—abusing the help and throwing drunken parties for his friends—the Master is going to show up when he least expects it and make hash of him. He'll end up in the dump with the hypocrites, out in the cold shivering, teeth chattering."

Luke 6:39-40 Jesus quoted a proverb: "Can a blind man guide a blind man?' Wouldn't they both end up in the ditch? An apprentice doesn't lecture the master. The point is to be careful who you follow as your teacher."

Employers and -yees 3 Eph. 6:5-9 Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. Don't just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ's servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you're really serving God. Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free.

1 Pet. 2:18-20 You who are servants, be good servants to your masters—not just to good masters, but also to bad ones. What counts is that you put up with it for God's sake when you're treated badly for no good reason. There's no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you're treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God.

Re: WAGES Lev. 19:13 (KJV) The wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.

Deut. 24:14-15 (KJV) Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: at his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the Lord, and it be sin unto thee.

Deut. 25:4 (KJV) Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.

Deut. 28:30 (KJV) [listed as a curse—] Thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof.

Pro. 3:27 Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God's hand for that person.

Pro. 11:18 Bad work gets paid with a bad check; good work gets solid pay.

Pro. 14:23 Hark work always pays off; mere talk puts no bread on the table.

Isa. 62:8-9 (KJV) The Lord hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I

Employers and -yees 4 will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou has labored: but they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the Lord; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness.

Mal. 3:5 (KJV) And I will come near to you to judgment: and I will be a swift witness against... those that oppress the hireling in his wages...saith the Lord of hosts.

Luke 10:7 (KJV) Jesus said, "The laborer is worthy of his hire."

John 4:36 (KJV) Jesus said, "He that reapeth receiveth wages."

1 Cor. 9:9-10 Moses wrote, "Don't muzzle an ox to keep it from eating the grain when it's threshing." Do you think Moses' primary concern was the care of farm animals? Don't you think his concern extends to us? Of course. Farmers plow and thresh expecting something when the crop comes in.

Col. 4:1 (KJV) Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

2 Tim. 2:6 (KJV) The husbandman that labors must be first partaker of the fruits.

James 5:4 All the workers you've exploited and cheated cry out for judgment. The groans of the workers you used and abused are a roar in the ears of the Master Avenger.

D U H scriptures about . . .

FAITH — NOT FEAR

Faith-not fear 1 FAITH—NOT FEAR Psa. 91:1-16 You who sit down in the High God's presence, spend the night in Shaddai's shadow, say this: "God, you're my refuge. I trust in you and I'm safe!" That's right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you—under them you're perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day, not disease that prowls through the darkness, not disaster that erupts at high noon. even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right and left, no harm will even graze you. You'll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance, watch the wicked turn into corpses. Yes, because God's your refuge, the High God your very own home, evil can't get close to you, harm can't get through the door. He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go. If you stumble, they'll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling. You'll walk unharmed among lions and snakes, and kick young lions and serpents from the path.

"If you'll hold on to me for dear life," says God, "I'll get you out of any trouble. I'll give you the best of care if you'll only get to know and trust me. Call me and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times; I'll rescue you, then throw you a party. I'll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!"

Matt. 6:22-23 Jesus said, "Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!"

Matt. 7:7-11 Jesus said, "Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn't a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing. You're at least decent to your own children. So don't you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?"

Matt. 15:3, 6-9 But Jesus put it right back on them. "Why do you use your rules to play fast and

Faith-not fear 2 loose with God's commands? You cancel God's command by your rules. Frauds! Isaiah's prophecy of you hit the bull's-eye: 'These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn't in it. They act like they're worshiping me, but they don't mean it. They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy.'"

Matt. 15:28 Jesus said, "Oh, woman, your faith is something else. What you want is what you get!"

Right then her daughter became well.

Matt. 17:19-20 When the disciples had Jesus off to themselves, they asked, "Why couldn't we throw it out?"

"Because you're not yet taking God seriously," said Jesus. "The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, say a mustard seed [pure in that it cannot be mixed with any other seed], you would tell this mountain, 'Move!' and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn't be able to tackle."

Rom. 4:5-6 If you're a hard worker and do a good job, you deserve your pay; we don't call your wages a gift.

But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it's something only God can do, and you trust him to do it— you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked—well, that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you right with God, by God. Sheer gift. David confirms this way of looking at it, saying that the one who trusts God to do the putting-everything-right without insisting on having a say in it is one fortunate man.

Rom. 4:14-16 If those who get what God gives them only get it by doing everything they are told to do and filling out all the right forms properly signed, that eliminates personal trust completely and turns the promise into an ironclad contract! That's not a holy promise; that's a business deal. A contract drawn up by a hard-nosed lawyer and with plenty of fine print only makes sure that you will never be able to collect. But if there is no contract in the first place, simply a promise—and God's promise at that—you can't break it. This is why the fulfillment of God's promise depends entirely on trusting God and his way, and then simply embracing him and what he does. God's promise arrives as pure gift. That's the only way everyone can be sure to get in on it.

Heb. 3:15-19 These words keep ringing in our ears: "Today, please listen; don't turn a deaf ear

Faith-not fear 3 as in the bitter uprising." For who were the people who turned a deaf ear? Weren't they the very ones Moses led out of Egypt? And who was God provoked with for forty years? Wasn't it those who turned a deaf ear and ended up corpses in the wilderness? And when he swore that they'd never get where they were going, wasn't he talking to the ones who turned a deaf ear? They never got there because they never listened, never believed.

Heb. 11:6 It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.

James 1:5-8 If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

James 2:14, 17, 23-26 Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense? The full meaning of "believe" in the Scripture sentence, "Abraham believed God and was set right with God," includes his action. It's that mesh of believing and acting that got Abraham named "God's friend." Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works? The same with Rahab, the Jericho harlot. Wasn't her action in hiding God's spies and helping them escape—that seamless unity of believing and doing—what counted with

God? The very moment you separate body and spirit, you end up with a corpse. Separate faith and works, and you get the same thing: a corpse.

James 5:13-16 Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you've sinned, you'll be forgiven—healed with God? The very moment you separate body and spirit, you end up with a corpse. Separate faith and works, and you get the same thing: a corpse.

James 5:13-16 Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you've sinned, you'll be forgiven—healed

Faith-not fear 4 inside and out. Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.

1 Pet 1:7 When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.

2 Pet. 1:3-9 Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.

So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.

1 John 5:4-6 Every God-begotten person conquers the world's ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. The person who wins out over the world's ways is simply the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus—the Divine Christ! He experienced a life-giving birth and deathkilling death.

D U H scriptures about . . .

THE FEAR OF GOD

Fear-of-God 1 FEAR-OF-GOD Psa. 127:1 If God doesn't build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn't guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap.

Pro. 1:7 Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.

Pro. 6:16-19 Here are six things God hates, and one more that he loathes with a passion: eyes that are arrogant, a tongue that lies, hands that murder the innocent, a heart that hatches evil plots, feet that race down a wicked track, a mouth that lies under oath, a troublemaker in the family.

Pro. 10:27 The Fear-of-God expands your life; a wicked life is a puny life.

Pro. 13:6 A God-loyal life keeps you on track; sin dumps the wicked in the ditch.

Pro. 13:13 Ignore the Word and suffer; honor God's commands and grow rich.

Pro. 14:19 Eventually, evil will pay tribute to good; the wicked will respect God-loyal people.

Pro. 14:26 The Fear-of-God builds up confidence, and makes a world safe for your children.

Pro. 14:27 The Fear-of-God is a spring of living water so you won't go off drinking from poisoned wells.

Pro. 15:6 The lives of God-loyal people flourish; a misspent life is soon bankrupt.

Pro. 15:10 It's a school of hard knocks for those who leave God's path, a dead-end street for those who hate God's rules.

Pro. 15:16 A simple life in the Fear-of-God is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches.

Pro. 15:32 An undisciplined, self-willed life is puny; an obedient, God-willed life is spacious.

Pro. 15:33 Fear-of-God is a school in skilled living—first you learn humility, then you experience glory.

Pro. 16:6 Guilt is banished through love and truth; Fear-of-God deflects evil.

Pro. 16:20 It pays to take life seriously; things work out when you trust in God. Pro. 17:3 As silver in a crucible and gold in a pan, so our lives are assayed by God.

Fear-of-God 2 Pro. 19:23 Fear-of-God is life itself, a full life, and serene—no nasty surprises.

Pro. 20:27 God is in charge of human life, watching and examining us inside and out.

Pro. 22:4 The payoff for meekness and Fear-of-God is plenty and honor and a satisfying life.

Pro. 23:17-18 Don't for a minute envy careless rebels; soak yourself in the Fear-of-God—that's where your future lies. Then you won't be left with an armload of nothing.

Pro. 28:4 If you desert God's law, you're free to embrace depravity; if you love God's law, you fight for it tooth and nail.

Pro. 28:9 God has no use for the prayers of the people who won't listen to him.

Pro. 29:18 If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.

Pro. 29:25 The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that. [CONCLUSION] Pro. 30:5-6 The believer replied, "Every promise of God proves true; he protects everyone who runs to him for help. So don't second-guess him; he might take you to task and show up your lies."

Matt. 7:6 Jesus said, "Don't be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don't reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you're only being cute and inviting sacrilege.

Heb. 4:12-13 God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God's Word. We can't get away from it—no matter what.

Heb. 13:5-6 Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have.

Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote, "God is there, ready to help; I'm fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?"

James 1:22-25 Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything

Fear-of-God 3 but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.

But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.

James 4:4-10 You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that "he's a fiercely jealous lover." And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you'll find. It's common knowledge that "God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble."

So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet.

D U H scriptures about . . .

FOOLS — STUPID AND GULLIBLE

Fools-stupid and gullible 1 FOOLS—STUPID AND GULLIBLE Someone who was very smart once said, "Experience is a dear school, and fools will learn in no other." But Someone far wiser said: Pro. 1:22-23 Simpletons! How long will you wallow in ignorance? Cynics! How long will you feed your cynicism? Idiots! How long will you refuse to learn? About face! I can revise your life. Look, I'm ready to pour out my spirit on you, I'm ready to tell you all I know.

Pro. 12:15-16 Fools are headstrong and do what they like; wise people take advice. Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly; the prudent quietly shrug off insults.

Pro. 13:16 A commonsense person lives good sense; fools litter the country with silliness.

Pro. 13:20 Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.

Pro. 14:7 Escape quickly from the company of fools; they're a waste of your time, a waste of your words.

Pro. 14:8 The wisdom of the wise keeps life on track; the foolishness of fools lands them in the ditch.

Pro. 14:15 The gullible believe anything they're told; the prudent sift and weigh every word. Pro. 14:16 The wise watch their steps and avoid evil; fools are headstrong and reckless.

Pro. 14:18 Foolish dreamers live in a world of illusion; wise realists plant their feet on the ground.

Pro. 14:24 The wise accumulate wisdom; fools get stupider by the day.

Pro. 15:2 Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise; fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense.

Pro. 15:14 An intelligent person is always eager to take in more truth; fools feed on fast-food fads and fancies.

Pro. 15:21 The empty-headed treat life as a plaything; the perceptive grasp its meaning and make a go of it.

Fools-stupid and gullible 2 Pro. 17:16 What's this? Fools out shopping for wisdom! They wouldn't recognize it if they saw it!

Pro. 18:2 Fools care nothing for thoughtful discourse; all they do is run off at the mouth.

Pro. 18:6 The words of a fool start fights; do him a favor and gag him.

Pro. 19:3 People ruin their lives by their own stupidity, so why does God always get blamed?

Pro. 19:25 Punish the insolent—make an example of them. Who knows? Somebody might learn a good lesson.

Pro. 19:29 The irreverent have to learn reverence the hard way; only a slap in the face brings fools to attention.

Pro. 21:11 Simpletons only learn the hard way, but the wise learn by listening.

Pro. 22:3 A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks; a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.

Pro. 23:9 Don't bother talking sense to fools; they'll only poke fun at your words.

Pro. 24:7 Wise conversation is way over the head of fools; in a serious discussion they haven't a clue.

Pro. 24:8-9 The person who's always cooking up some evil soon gets a reputation as prince of rogues. Fools incubate sin; cynics desecrate beauty.

Pro. 26:1 We no more give honors to fools than pray for snow in summer or rain during harvest.

Pro. 26:3 A whip for the racehorse, a tiller for the sailboat—and a stick for the back of fools!

Pro. 26:4-5 Don't respond to the stupidity of a fool; you'll only look foolish yourself. Answer a fool in simple terms so he doesn't get a swelled head.

Pro. 26:7 A proverb quoted by fools is limp as a wet noodle.

Pro. 26:8 Putting a fool in a place of honor is like setting a mud brick on a marble column.

Pro. 26:11 As a dog eats its own vomit, so fools recycle silliness.

Pro. 27:3 Carrying a log across your shoulders while you're hefting a boulder with your arms is nothing compared to the burden of putting up with a fool.

Fools-stupid and gullible 3 Pro. 27:12 A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks; a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.

Pro. 29:9 A sage trying to work things out with a fool gets only scorn and sarcasm for his trouble.

Pro. 29:11 A fool lets it all hang out; a sage quietly mulls it over.

D U H scriptures about . . .

FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS — NOT ENEMIES

Friends and Neighbors 1 FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS-- not enemies Pro. 1:10-19 Dear friend, if bad companions tempt you, don't go along with them. If they say— "Let's go out and raise some hell. Let's beat up some old man, mug some old woman. Let's pick them clean and get them ready for their funerals. We'll load up on top-quality loot. We'll haul it home by the truckload.

Join us for the time of your life! With us, it's share and share alike!"

Oh, friend, don't give them a second look; don't listen to them for a minute. They're racing to a very bad end, hurrying to ruin everything they lay hands on. Nobody robs a bank with everyone watching, yet that's what these people are doing—they're doing themselves in. When you grab all you can get, that's what happens: the more you get, the less you are.

Pro. 2:20-22 So—join the company of good men and women, keep your feet on the tried and true paths. It's the man who walk sstraight who will settle this land, the women with integrity who will last here. The corrupt will lose their lives; the dishonest will be gone for good.

Pro. 17:9 Overlook an offense and bond a friendship; fasten on to a slight and—goodbye, friend!

Pro. 17:13 Those who return evil for good will meet their own evil returning.

Pro. 17:17 Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.

Pro. 18:19 Do a favor and win a friend forever; nothing can untie that bond.

Pro. 18:24 Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.

Pro. 20:6 Lots of people claim to be loyal and loving, but where on earth can you find one?

Pro. 21:10 Wicked souls love to make trouble; they feel nothing for friends and neighbors.

Pro. 25:9-10 In the heat of an argument, don't betray confidences; word is sure to get around, and no one will trust you.

Pro. 25:13 Reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks in sweltering heat— refreshing!

Pro. 25:17 When you find a friend, don't outwear your welcome; show up at all hours and he'll soon get fed up.

Friends and Neighbors 2 Pro. 25:21-22 If you see your enemy hungry, go buy him lunch; if he's thirsty, bring him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness, and God will look after you.

Pro. 27:10 Don't leave your friends or your parents' friends and run home to your family when things get rough; better a nearby friend than a distant family.

Pro. 27:17 You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another.

Pro. 29:5 A flattering tongue is up to no good; he's probably planning to take advantage of you.

Matt. 5:43-48 Jesus said, "You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

"In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."

Matt. 6:1-4 Jesus said, "Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won't be applauding.

"When you do something for someone else, don't call attention to yourself. You've seen them in action, I'm sure—`playactors' I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that's all they get. When you help someone out, don't think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively.

That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out."

Friends and Neighbors 3 Matt. 6:14-15 Jesus said, "In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can't get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God's part."

Matt. 7:1-5 Jesus said, "Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor."

Matt. 7:12 Jesus said, "Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior. Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God's Law and Prophets and this is what you get."

D U H scriptures about . . .

GOVERNMENTS

Governments 1 GOVERNMENTS Psa. 46:10 God said, "Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything."

Pro. 14:34 God-devotion makes a country strong; God-avoidance leaves people weak.

Pro. 17:7 We don't expect eloquence from fools, nor do we expect lies from our leaders.

Pro. 17:26 It's wrong to penalize good behavior, or make good citizens pay for the crimes of others.

Pro. 18:5 It's not right to go easy on the guilty, or come down hard on the innocent.

Pro. 20:28 Love and truth form a good leader; sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.

Pro. 21:1 Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; he directs it to whatever ends he chooses.

Pro. 22:11 God loves the pure-hearted and well-spoken; good leaders also delight in their friendship.

Pro. 24:21-22 Fear God, dear child—respect your leaders; don't be defiant or mutinous. Without warning your life can turn upside-down, and who knows how or when it might happen?

Pro. 25:3 Like the horizons for breadth and the ocean for depth, the understanding of a good leader is broad and deep.

Pro. 25:4-5 Remove impurities from the silver and the silversmith can craft a fine chalice; remove the wicked from leadership and authority will be credible and God-honoring.

Pro. 28:2 When the country is in chaos, everybody has a plan to fix it—but it takes a leader of real understanding to straighten things out.

Pro. 28:16 Among leaders who lack insight, abuse abounds, but for one who hates corruption, the future is bright.

Pro. 28:28 When corruption takes over, good people go underground, but when the crooks are thrown out, it's safe to come out.

Pro. 29:2 When good people run things, everyone is glad, but when the ruler is bad, everyone

Governments 2 groans.

Pro. 29:8 A gang of cynics can upset a whole city; a group of sages can calm everyone down.

Pro. 29:14 Leadership gains authority and respect when the voiceless poor are treated fairly.

Pro. 29:16 When degenerates take charge, crime runs wild, but the righteous will eventually observe their collapse.

Pro. 29:26 Everyone tries to get help from the leader, but only God will give us justice.

Pro. 31:4-5 Leaders can't afford to make fools of themselves, gulping wine and swilling beer, lest, hung over, they don't know right from wrong, and the people who depend on them are hurt.

Matt. 7:19 A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook.

Matt. 11:19 Jesus said, "Opinion polls don't count for much, do they? The proof of the pudding is in the eating."

Rom. 13:3-7 Do you want to be on good terms with the government? Be a responsible citizen and you'll get on just fine, the government working to your advantage. But if you're breaking the rules right and left, watch out. The police aren't there just to be admired in their uniforms. God also has an interest in keeping order, and he uses them to do it. That's why you must live responsibly窶馬ot just to avoid punishment but also because it's the right way to live.

Titus 3:1-2 Remind the people to respect the government and be law-abiding, always ready to lend a helping hand. No insults, no fights. God's people should be bighearted and courteous.

1 Pet. 2:13-17 Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order. It is God's will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you're a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family.

Revere God. Respect the government.

D U H scriptures about . . .

HASTY NOT

Hasty—NOT 1 HASTY—NOT Pro. 19:2 Ignorant zeal is worthless; haste makes waste.

Pro. 20:25 An impulsive vow is a trap; later you'll wish you could get out of it.

Pro. 21:5 Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind.

Pro. 25:8 Don't jump to conclusions—there may be a perfectly good explanation for what you just saw.

Pro. 28:20 Observe the people who always talk before they think—even simpletons are better off than they are.

D U H scriptures about . . .

HONESTY — NO CHEATING LYING TEASING

Honesty—not cheating, lying, or teasing 1 HONESTY—not cheating, lying, or teasing Pro. 11:1 God hates cheating in the marketplace; he loves it when business is aboveboard.

Pro. 11:26 Curses on those who drive a hard bargain! Blessings on all who play fair and square!

Pro. 12:5 The thinking of principled people makes for justice; the plots of degenerates corrupt.

Pro. 12:17 Truthful witness by a good person clears the air, but liars lay down a smoke screen of deceit.

Pro. 12:22 God can't stomach liars; he loves the company of those who keep their word.

Pro. 14:2 An honest life shows respect for God; a degenerate life is a slap in his face.

Pro. 15:27 A greedy and grasping person destroys community; those who refuse to exploit, live and let live.

Pro. 17:23 The wicked take bribes under the table; they show nothing but contempt for justice.

Pro. 19:5 Perjury won't go unpunished. Would you let a liar go free?

Pro. 19:9 The person who tells lies gets caught; the person who spreads rumors is ruined.

Pro. 20:10 Switching price tags and padding the expense account are two things God hates.

Pro. 20:14 The shopper says, "That's junk—I'll take it off your hands," then goes off boasting of the bargain.

Pro. 20:23 God hates cheating in the marketplace; rigged scales are an outrage.

Pro. 21:6 Make it to the top by lying and cheating; get paid with smoke and a promotion—to death!

Pro. 21:28 A lying witness is unconvincing; a person who speaks truth is respected.

Pro. 21:29 Unscrupulous people fake it a lot; honest people are sure of their steps.

Pro. 22:12 God guards knowledge with a passion, but he'll have nothing to do with deception.

Pro. 23:10-11 Don't stealthily move back the boundary lines or cheat orphans out of their property, for they have a powerful Advocate who will go to bat for them.

Pro. 25:18 Anyone who tells lies against the neighbors in court or on the street is a loose cannon.

Pro. 25:19 Trusting a double-crosser when you're in trouble is like biting down on an abscessed

Honesty窶馬ot cheating, lying, or teasing 2 tooth.

Pro. 26:18-19 People who shrug off deliberate deceptions, saying, "I didn't mean it, I was only joking," are worse than careless campers who walk away from smoldering campfires.

Pro. 26:24-26 Your enemy shakes hands and greets you like an old friend, all the while conniving against you. When he speaks warmly to you, don't believe him for a minute; he's just waiting for the chance to rip you off. No matter how cunningly he conceals his malice, eventually his evil will be exposed in public.

Pro. 26:28 Liars hate their victims; flatterers sabotage trust.

Pro. 28:1 The wicked are edgy with guilt, ready to run off even when no one's after them; honest people are relaxed and confident, bold as lions.

Pro. 29:10 Murderers hate honest people; moral folks encourage them.

Matt. 12:25 Jesus said, "A judge who gives opposite verdicts on the same person cancels himself out."

Matt. 23:16-22 Jesus said, "You're hopeless! What arrogant stupidity! You say, 'If someone makes a promise with his fingers crossed, that's nothing; but if he swears with his hand on the Bible, that's serious.' What ignorance! Does the leather on the Bible carry more weight than the skin on your hands? And what about this piece of trivia: 'If you shake hands on a promise, that's nothing; but if you raise your hand that God is your witness, that's serious'? What ridiculous hairsplitting! What difference does it make whether you shake hands or raise hands? A promise is a promise. God is present, watching and holding you to account regardless."

Luke 16:10-13 Jesus went on to make these comments: "If you're honest in small things, you'll be honest in big things; if you're a crook in small things, you'll be a crook in big things. If you're not honest in small jobs, who will put you in charge of the store? No worker can serve two bosses: he'll either hate the first and love the second or adore the first and despise the second. You can't serve both God and the Bank."

John 7:18 Jesus said, "A person making things up tries to make himself look good. But someone

Honesty窶馬ot cheating, lying, or teasing 3 trying to honor the one who sent him sticks to the facts and doesn't tamper with reality."

John 9:39 Jesus then said, "I came into the world to bring everything into the clear light of day, making all the distinctions clear, so that those who have never seen will see, and those who have made a great pretense of seeing will be exposed as blind."

Rom. 3:3-4 Do you think their [the religious] faithlessness cancels out his [God's] faithfulness? Not on your life! Depend on it: God keeps his word even when the whole world is lying through its teeth.

D U H scriptures about . . .

HUSBANDS AND WIVES

Husbands and Wives 1 HUSBANDS and WIVES Pro. 11:16 A woman of gentle grace gets respect, but men of rough violence grab for loot.

Pro. 12:4 A hearty wife invigorates her husband, but a frigid woman is cancer in the bones.

Pro. 18:22 Find a good wife, you find a good life—and even more: the favor of God! Pro. 19:13 A nagging wife is a leaky faucet.

Pro. 19:14 House and land are handed down from parents, but a congenial wife comes straight from God. Pro. 21:9 Better to live alone in a tumbledown shack than share a mansion with a nagging wife. [The "best" would be to share a mansion with a congenial wife!]

Pro. 21:19 Better to live in a tent in the wild than with a cross and petulant wife.

Pro. 27:15-16 A nagging wife is like the drip, drip, drip of a leaky faucet; you can't turn it off, and you can't get away from it.

Pro. 31:10-12, 23, 28-30 A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long. Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers. Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise: "Many women have done wonderful things, but you've outclassed them all!" Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God. Matt. 19:11-12 Jesus said, "Not everyone is mature enough to live a married life. It requires a certain aptitude and grace. Marriage isn't for everyone. Some, from birth seemingly, never give marriage a thought. Others never get asked—or accepted. And some decide not to get married for kingdom reasons. But if you're capable of growing into the largeness of marriage, do it."

Eph. 5:22-24, 33 Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ.

The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such

Husbands and Wives 2 leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands...and each wife is to honor her husband.

Eph. 5:23, 25-33 The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiate with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They're really doing themselves a favor—since they're already "one" in marriage.

No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That's how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become "one flesh." This is a huge mystery, and I don't pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her.

Col. 3:18 Wives, understand and support your husbands by submitting to them in ways that honor the Master.

Col. 3:19 Husbands, go all out in love for your wives. Don't take advantage of them.

1 Pet. 3:1-5 The same goes for you wives: Be good wives to your husbands, responsive to their needs.

There are husbands who, indifferent as they are to any words about God, will be captivated by your life of holy beauty. What matters is not your outer appearance—the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes—but your inner disposition.

Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in. The holy women of old were beautiful before God that way, and were good, loyal wives to their husbands.

1 Pet. 3:7 The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them. As women they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God's

Husbands and Wives 3 grace, you're equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals so your prayers don't run aground.

Husbands, as the leader of your home, these scriptures apply to you: Pro. 14:28 The mark of a good leader is loyal followers; leadership is nothing with a following.

Pro. 16:10 A good leader motivates, doesn't mislead, doesn't exploit.

Pro. 16:12 Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds; sound leadership has a moral foundation.

Pro. 16:13 Good leaders cultivate honest speech; they love advisors who tell them the truth.

Pro. 16:14 An intemperate leader wreaks havoc in lives; you're smart to stay clear of someone like that.

Pro. 16:15 Good-tempered leaders invigorate lives; they're like spring rain and sunshine.

Pro. 17:7 We don't expect eloquence from fools, nor do we expect lies from our leaders.

Pro. 19:12 Mean-tempered leaders are like mad dogs; the good-natured are like fresh morning dew.

Pro. 20:2 Quick-tempered leaders are like mad dogs—cross them and they bite your head off.

Pro. 20:8-9 Leaders who know their business, and care, keep a sharp eye out for the shoddy and cheap, for who among us can be trusted to be always diligent and honest?

Pro. 20:26 After careful scrutiny, a wise leader makes a clean sweep of rebels and dolts.

Pro. 20:28 Love and truth form a good leader; sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.

Pro. 21:1 Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; he directs it to whatever ends he chooses.

Pro. 22:11 God loves the pure-hearted and well-spoken; good leaders also delight in their friendship.

Pro. 25:3 Like the horizons for breadth and the ocean for depth, the understanding of a good leader is broad and deep.

Pro. 25:4-5 Remove impurities from the silver, and the silversmith can craft a fine chalice;

Husbands and Wives 4 remove the wicked from leadership and authority will be credible and God-honoring.

Pro. 28:16 Among leaders who lack insight, abuse abounds, but for one who hates corruption, the future is bright.

Pro. 29:4 A leader of good judgment gives stability; an exploiting leader leaves a trail of waste.

Pro. 31:4-5 Leaders can't afford to make fools of themselves, gulping wine and swilling beer, lest, hung over, they don't know right from wrong, and the people who depend on them are hurt.

Matt. 7:19 A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook.

Husbands and Wives 5 Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.

and he...

and she...

Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ.

The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to His Church, not by domineering but by cherishing.

So just as the Church submits to Christ as He exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.

Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the Church— a love marked by giving, not getting.

Christ's love makes the Church whole.

His words evoke her beauty.

Husbands and Wives 6 Everything He does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness.

And that is how husbands ought to love their wives.

They're really doing themselves a favor— since they're already "one" in marriage.

No one abuses his own body, does he?

No, he feeds and pampers it.

That's how Christ treats us, the Church, since we are part of His body.

And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife.

No longer two, they become "one flesh."

This is a huge mystery, and I don't pretend to understand it all.

What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the Church.

And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband.

Ephesians 5:21-33 The Message Bible

D U H scriptures about . . .

INTEGRITY

Integrity 1 INTEGRITY Psa. 15:1-5 God, who gets invited to dinner at your place? How do we get on your guest list? "Walk straight, act right, tell the truth. Don't hurt your friend, don't blame your neighbor; despise the despicable. Keep your word even when it costs you, make an honest living never take a bribe. You'll never get blacklisted if you live like this."

Pro. 10:6-7 Blessings accrue on a good and honest life, but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse. A good and honest life is a blessed memorial; a wicked life leaves a rotten stench.

Pro. 10:9 Honesty lives confident and carefree, but Shifty is sure to be exposed.

Pro. 10:29 God is solid backing to a well-lived life, but he calls into question a shabby performance.

Pro. 10:30 Good people last—they can't be moved; the wicked are here today, gone tomorrow.

Pro. 11:3 The integrity of the honest keeps them on track; the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin.

Pro. 11:5-8 Moral character makes for smooth traveling; an evil life is a hard life. Good character is the best insurance; crooks get trapped in their sinful lust. When the wicked die, that's it—the story's over, end of hope. A good person is saved from much trouble; a bad person runs straight into it.

Pro. 11:10 When it goes well for good people, the whole town cheers; when it goes badly for bad people, the town celebrates.

Pro. 11:17 When you're kind to others, you help yourself; when you're cruel to others, you hurt yourself.

Pro. 11:19 Take your stand with God's loyal community and live, or chase after phantoms of evil and die.

Pro. 11:20 God can't stand deceivers, but oh how he relishes integrity.

Pro. 11:21 Count on this: The wicked won't get off scot-free, and God's loyal people will triumph.

Integrity 2 Pro. 11:30 A good life is a fruit-bearing tree; a violent life destroys souls.

Pro. 12:2 A good person basks in the delight of God, and he wants nothing to do with devious schemers.

Pro. 12:3 You can't find firm footing in a swamp, but life rooted in God stands firm.

Pro. 12:7 Wicked people fall to pieces—there's nothing to them; the homes of good people hold together.

Pro. 12:21 No evil can overwhelm a good person, but the wicked have their hands full of it.

Pro. 12:28 Good men and women travel right into life; sin's detours take you straight to hell.

Pro. 13:9 The lives of good people are brightly lit streets; the lives of the wicked are dark alleys.

Pro. 14:9 The stupid ridicule right and wrong, but a moral life is a favored life.

Pro. 14:11 Lives of careless wrongdoing are tumbledown shacks; holy living builds soaring cathedrals.

Pro. 14:12-13 There's a way of life that looks harmless enough; look again—it leads straight to hell. Sure, those people appear to be having a good time, but all that laughter will end in heartbreak.

Pro. 14:32 The evil of bad people leaves them out in the cold; the integrity of good people creates a safe place for living.

Pro. 15:3 God doesn't miss a thing—he's alert to good and evil alike.

Pro. 15:9 A life frittered away disgusts God; he loves those who run straight for the finish line.

Pro. 15:29 God keeps his distance from the wicked; he closely attends to the prayers of God-loyal people.

Pro. 16:1-2 Mortals make elaborate plans, but God has the last word. Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good; God probes for what is good.

Pro. 16:7 When God approves of your life, even your enemies will end up shaking your hand.

Pro. 16:9 We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it.

Pro. 16:17 The road of right living bypasses evil; watch your step and save your life.

Integrity 3 Pro. 16:25 There's a way that looks harmless enough; look again—it leads straight to hell.

Pro. 16:29 Calloused climbers betray their very own friends; they'd stab their own grandmothers in the back.

Pro. 17:19 The person who courts sin, marries trouble; build a wall, invite a burglar.

Pro. 19:16 Keep the rules and keep your life; careless living kills.

Pro. 19:21 We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God's purpose prevails.

Pro. 19:28 An unprincipled witness desecrates justice; the mouths of the wicked spew malice.

Pro. 20:12 Ears that hear and eyes that see—we get our basic equipment from God! Pro. 21:2 We justify our actions by appearances; God examines our motives.

Pro. 21:3 Clean living before God and justice with our neighbors mean far more to God than religious performance.

Pro. 21:8 Mixed motives twist life into tangles; pure motives take you straight down the road.

Pro. 21:12 A God-loyal person will see right through the wicked and undo the evil they've planned.

Pro. 21:16 Whoever wanders off the straight and narrow ends up in a congregation of ghosts.

Pro. 21:18 What a bad person plots against the good, boomerangs; the plotter gets it in the end.

Pro. 21:21 Whoever goes hunting for what is right and kind finds life itself—glorious life!

Pro. 21:26 Sinners are always wanting what they don't have; the God-loyal are always giving what they do have.

Pro. 21:27 Religious performance by the wicked stinks; it's even worse when they use it to get ahead.

Pro. 22:5 The perverse travel a dangerous road, potholed and mud-slick; if you know what's good for you, stay clear of it.

Pro. 24:1-2 Don't envy bad people; don't even want to be around them. All they think about is causing a disturbance; all they talk about is making trouble.

Pro. 24:10 If you fall to pieces in a crises, there wasn't much to you in the first place.

Integrity 4 Pro. 24:11-12 Rescue the perishing; don't hesitate to step in and help. If you say, "Hey, that's none of my business," will that get you off the hook? Someone is watching you closely, you know— Someone not impressed with weak excuses.

Pro. 24:15-16 Don't interfere with good people's lives; don't try to get the best of them. No matter how many times you trip them up, God-loyal people don't stay down long; soon they're up on their feet, while the wicked end up flat on their faces.

Pro. 24:17-18 Don't laugh when your enemy falls; don't crow over his collapse. God might see, and become very provoked, and then take pity on his plight.

Pro. 24:19-20 Don't bother your head with braggarts or wish you could succeed like the wicked.

Those people have no future at all; they're headed down a dead-end street.

Pro. 24:23-25 It's wrong, very wrong, to go along with injustice. Whoever whitewashes the wicked gets a black mark in the history books, but whoever exposes the wicked will be thanked and rewarded.

Pro. 25:14 Like billowing clouds that bring no rain is the person who talks big but never produces.

Pro. 25:26 A good person who gives in to a bad person is a muddied spring, a polluted well.

Pro. 26:2 You have as little to fear from an undeserved curse as from the dart of a wren or the swoop of a swallow.

Pro. 26:23 Smooth talk from an evil heart is like glaze on cracked pottery.

Pro. 27:21 The purity of silver and gold is tested by putting them in the fire; the purity of human hearts is tested by giving them a little fame.

Pro. 28:5 Justice makes no sense to the evil-minded; those who seek God know it inside and out.

Pro. 28:10 Lead good people down a wrong path, and you'll come to a bad end; do good and you'll be rewarded for it.

Pro. 28:13 You can't whitewash your sins and get by with it; you find mercy by admitting and leaving them.

Integrity 5 Pro. 28:14 A tenderhearted person lives a blessed life; a hardhearted person lives a hard life.

Pro. 28:18 Walk straight—live well and be saved; a devious life is a doomed life.

Pro. 28:21 Playing favorites is always a bad thing; you can do great harm in seemingly harmless ways.

Pro. 29:1 For people who hate discipline and only get more stubborn, there'll come a day when life tumbles in and they break, but by then it'll be too late to help them.

Pro. 29:6 Evil people fall into their own traps; good people run the other way, glad to escape.

Pro. 29:21 If you let people treat you like a doormat, you'll be quite forgotten in the end.

Pro. 29:24 Befriend an outlaw and become an enemy to yourself. When the victims cry out, you'll be included in their curses if you're a coward to their cause in court.

Pro. 29:27 Good people can't stand the sight of deliberate evil; the wicked can't stand the sight of well-chosen goodness.

Matt. 5:13 Jesus said, "Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage."

Matt. 6:5-8 Jesus said, "And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?

"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

"The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply."

Matt. 6:16-18 Jesus said, "When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better

Integrity 6 concentrate on God, don't make a production out of it. It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won't make you a saint. If you 'go into training' inwardly, act normal outwardly. Shampoo and comb your hair, brush your teeth, wash your face. God doesn't require attention-getting devices. He won't overlook what you are doing; he'll reward you well."

Matt. 7:13-14 Jesus said, "Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention."

Matt. 11:18-19 Jesus said, "John the Baptizer came fasting and they called him crazy. I came feasting and they called me a lush, a friend of the riffraff. Opinion polls don't count for much, do they? The proof of the pudding is in the eating."

Matt. 12:33 Jesus said, "If you grow a healthy tree, you'll pick healthy fruit. If you grow a diseased tree, you'll pick worm-eaten fruit. The fruit tells you about the tree."

Luke 6:43-45 Jesus said, "You don't get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the tree. You must begin with your own life-giving lives. It's who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds."

Luke 12:1-3 Jesus said, "Watch yourselves carefully so you don't get contaminated with Pharisee yeast, Pharisee phoniness. You can't keep your true self hidden forever; before long you'll be exposed. You can't hide behind a religious mask forever; sooner or later the mask will slip and your true face will be known. You can't whisper one thing in private and preach the opposite in public; the day's coming when those whispers will be repeated all over town."

John 3:19-21 Jesus said, "This is the crisis we're in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won't come hear it, fearing a painful exposure. But

Integrity 7 anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is."

John 7:24 Jesus said, "Don't be nitpickers; use your head—and heart!—to discern what is right, to test what is authentically right."

Gal. 6:7-8 Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.

James 4:17 If you know the right thing to do and don't do it, that, for you, is evil.

1 Pet. 3:8-12 Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing. "Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, here's what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful; snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you're worth. God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he's asked; but he turns his back on those who do evil things."

D U H scriptures about . . .

MONEY

Money 1

MONEY Deut. 28:11-13 (Amplified) The Lord shall make you have a surplus of prosperity, through the fruit of your body, of your livestock, and of your ground, in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. The Lord shall open to you His good treasury, the heavens to give the rain of your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And the Lord shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day, and are watchful to do them.

Pro. 6:1-5 Dear friend, if you've gone into hock with your neighbor or locked yourself into a deal with a stranger, if you've impulsively promised the shirt off your back and now find yourself shivering out in the cold, Friend, don't waste a minute, get yourself out of that mess. You're in that man's clutches! Go, put on a long face; act desperate. Don't procrastinate—there's no time to lose. Run like a deer from the hunter, fly like a bird from the trapper!

Pro. 8:1, 10-11, 18-21 Do you hear Lady Wisdom calling? Can you hear Madame Insight raising her voice?

"Prefer my life-disciplines over chasing after money, and God-knowledge over a lucrative career. For Wisdom is better than all the trappings of wealth; nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her. Wealth and Glory accompany me—also substantial Honor and a Good Name. My benefits are worth more than a big salary, even a very big salary; the returns on me exceed any imaginable bonus. You can fmd me on Righteous Road—that's where I walk—at the intersection of Justice Avenue, handing out life to those who love me, filling their arms with life—arm-loads of life!"

Pro. 11:4 A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart, but a principled life can stand up to the worst.

Pro. 11:15 Whoever makes deals with strangers is sure to get burned; if you keep a cool head, you'll avoid rash bargains.

Pro. 11:24 The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.

Money 2

Pro. 11:28 A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.

Pro. 13:22 A good life gets passed on to the grandchildren; ill-gotten wealth ends up with good people.

Pro. 17:18 It's stupid to try to get something for nothing, or run up huge bills you can never pay.

Pro. 20:16 Hold tight to collateral on any loan to a stranger; beware of accepting what a transient has pawned.

Pro. 20:21 A bonanza at the beginning is no guarantee of blessing at the end.

Pro. 22:1 A sterling reputation is better than striking it rich; a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank.

Pro. 22:26-27 Don't gamble on the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, hocking your house against a lucky chance. The time will come when you have to pay up; you'll be left with nothing but the shirt on your back.

Pro. 27:23-27 Know your sheep by name; carefully attend to your flocks; (don't take them for granted; possessions don't last forever, you know.) and then, when the crops are in and the harvest is stored in the barns, you can knit sweaters from lambs' wool, and sell your goats for a profit; there will be plenty of milk and meat to last your family through the winter.

Pro. 28:19 Work your garden—you'll end up with plenty of food; play and party—you'll end up with an empty plate.

Pro. 28:20 Committed and persistent work pays off; get-rich-quick schemes are rip-offs.

Matt. 6:19-21 Jesus said, "Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!--stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being."

Matt. 6:24-33 Jesus said, "You can't worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you'll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can't worship God and Money both.

"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about

Money 3

what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

"Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror every gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wild flowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wild flowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving.

People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."

Mark 4:23-25 Jesus said, "Are you listening to this? Really listening? Listen carefully to what I am saying— and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes."

Mark 12:13-17 The Pharisees and followers of Herod, hoping to catch Jesus saying something incriminating, came up and said, "Teacher, we know you have integrity, that you are indifferent to public opinion, don't pander to your students, and teach the way of God accurately. Tell us: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

Jesus knew it was a trick question, and said, "Why are you playing these games with me?

Money 4

Bring me a coin and let me look at it." They handed him one.

"This engraving—who does it look like? And whose name is on it?"

"Caesar," they said.

Jesus said, "Give Caesar what is his, and give God what is his." Their mouths hung open, speechless.

Mark 12:41-44 Sitting across from the offering box, Jesus was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, "The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford—she gave her all."

Luke 12:33-34 Jesus said, "Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can't go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bank robbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

2 Cor. 9:6-11 Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.

God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, "He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out."

This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

D U H scriptures about . . .

OBEDIENCE

Obedience--not disobedience 1 OBEDIENCE—not disobedience Deut. 28:1-2, 15 (Amplified) If you will listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments which I command you this day, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth, and all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you heed the voice of the Lord your God. But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command you this day, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you."

Deut. 30:19-20 (Amplified) I call Heaven and earth to witness this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live; to love the Lord your God, to obey His voice, and to cling to Him; for He is your life, and the length of your days, that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to give to your father, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Psa. 1:1-6 How well God must like you—you don't hang out at Sin Saloon, you don't slink along DeadEnd Road, you don't go to Smart-Mouth College. Instead you thrill to God's Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. You're a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, never dropping a leaf, always in blossom. You're not at all like the wicked, who are mere windblown dust— without defense in court, unfit company for innocent people. God charts the road you take. The road they take is Skid Row. Psa. 76:11-12 Do for God what you said you'd do—he is, after all, your God. Let everyone in town bring offerings to the One Who Watches our every move. Nobody gets by with anything, no one plays fast and loose with him.

Pro. 10:25 When the storm is over, there's nothing left of the wicked; good people, firm on their rock foundation, aren't even fazed.

Matt. 7:21-27 Jesus said, "Knowing the correct password—saying 'Master, Master,' for instance—isn't going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying,

Obedience--not disobedience 2 `Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.' And do you know what I am going to say? 'You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here.'

"These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock.. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.

"But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards."

Matt. 12:50 Jesus said, "Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys my heavenly Father's will is my brother and sister and mother."

Matt. 19:17 Jesus said, "Why do you question me about what's good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you."

Luke 12:47-48 Jesus said, "The servant who knows what his master wants and ignores it, or insolently does whatever he pleases, will be thoroughly thrashed. But if he does a poor job through ignorance, he'll get off with a slap on the hand. Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities!"

John 14:23-24 Jesus said, "If anyone loves me, he will carefully keep my word and my Father will love him—we'll move right into the neighborhood! Not loving me means not keeping my words. The message you are hearing isn't mine. It's the message of the Father who sent me."

Heb. 4:12-13 God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God's Word. We can't get away from it—no matter what.

Obedience--not disobedience 3 1 Pet. 1:13-17 So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives. Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy."

You call out to God for help and he helps—he's a good Father that way. But don't forget, he's also a responsible Father, and won't let you get by with sloppy living.

1 John 2:3-6, 9-11 Here's how we can be sure that we know God in the right way: Keep his commandments. If someone claims, "I know him well!" but doesn't keep his commandments, he's obviously a liar. His life doesn't match his words. But the one who keeps God's word is the person in whom we see God's mature love. This is the only way to be sure we're in God. Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.

Anyone who claims to live in God's light and hates a brother or sister is still in the dark. It's the person who loves brother and sister who dwells in God's light and doesn't block the light from others. But whoever hates is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, doesn't know which end is up, blinded by the darkness.

1 John 2:15-17 Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own say, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

1 John 3:4-6, 9-10; 4:6 All who indulge in a sinful life are dangerously lawless, for sin is a major disruption of God's order. Surely you know that Christ showed up in order to get rid of sin. There is no sin in him, and sin is not part of his program. No one who lives deep in Christ makes a practice of sin. None of those who do practice sin have taken a good look at Christ. They've got him all backwards.

Obedience--not disobedience 4 People conceived and brought into life by God don't make a practice of sin. How could they?

God's seed is deep within them, making them who they are. It's not in the nature of the God-begotten to practice and parade sin. Here's how you tell the difference between God's children and the devil's children: The one who won't practice righteous ways isn't from God, nor is the one who won't love brother or sister. A simple test.

We come from God and belong to God. Anyone who knows God, understands us and listens.

The person who has nothing to do with God will, of course, not listen to us. This is another test for telling the Spirit of Truth from the spirit of deception.

2 John 7-11 There are a lot of smooth-talking charlatans loose in the world who refuse to believe that Jesus Christ was truly human, a flesh-and-blood human being. Give them their true title: Deceiver!

Antichrist!

And be very careful around them so you don't lose out on what we've worked so diligently in together; I want you to get every reward you have coming to you. Anyone who gets so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ, walks out on God. But whoever stays with the teaching, stays faithful to both the Father and the Son. If anyone shows up who doesn't hold to this teaching, don't invite him in and give him the run of the place. That would just give him a platform to perpetuate his evil ways, making you his partner.

D U H scriptures about . . .

PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS

Parents—and Grandparents 1 PARENTS—and Grandparents Psa. 127:1 If God doesn't build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn't guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap.

Psa. 127:3-5 Don't you see that children are God's best gift? The fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children!

Pro. 11:29 Exploit or abuse your family, and end up with a fistful of air; common sense tells you it's a stupid way to live.

Pro. 13:24 A refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining them.

Pro. 14:26 The Fear-of-God builds up confidence, and makes a world safe for your children.

Pro. 14:28 The mark of a good leader is loyal followers; leadership is nothing with a following.

Pro. 16:10 A good leader motivates, doesn't mislead, doesn't exploit.

Pro. 16:12 Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds; sound leadership has a moral foundation.

Pro. 16:13 Good leaders cultivate honest speech; they love advisors who tell them the truth.

Pro. 16:14 An intemperate leader wreaks havoc in lives; you're smart to stay clear of someone like that.

Pro. 16:15 Good-tempered leaders invigorate lives; they're like spring rain and sunshine.

Pro. 17:6 Old people are distinguished by grandchildren; children take pride in their parents.

Pro. 17:7 We don't expect eloquence from fools, nor do we expect lies from our leaders.

Pro. 17:21 Having a fool for a child is misery; it's no fun being the parent of a dolt.

Pro. 19:12 Mean-tempered leaders are like mad dogs; the good-natured are like fresh morning dew.

Pro. 19:13 A parent is worn to a frazzle by a stupid child.

Pro. 19:18 Discipline your children while you still have the chance; indulging them destroys them.

Parents—and Grandparents 2 Pro. 19:26 Kids who lash out against their parents are an embarrassment and disgrace.

Pro. 20:2 Quick-tempered leaders are like mad dogs—cross them and they bite your head off.

Pro. 20:7 God-loyal people, living honest lives, make it much easier for their children.

Pro. 20:8-9 Leaders who know their business, and care, keep a sharp eye out for the shoddy and cheap, for who among us can be trusted to be always diligent and honest?

Pro. 20:26 After careful scrutiny, a wise leader makes a clean sweep of rebels and dolts.

Pro. 22:6 Point your kids in the right direction—when they're old they won't be lost.

Pro. 22:15 Young people are prone to foolishness and fads; the cure comes through toughminded discipline.

Pro. 23:13-14 Don't be afraid to correct your young ones; a spanking won't kill them. A good spanking, in fact, might save them from something worse than death.

Pro. 24:3-4 It takes wisdom to build a house, and understanding to set it on a firm foundation; it takes knowledge to furnish its rooms with fine furniture and beautiful draperies.

Pro. 29:4 A leader of good judgment gives stability; an exploiting leader leaves a trail of waste.

Pro. 29:12 When a leader listens to malicious gossip, all the workers get infected with evil.

Pro. 29:15 Wise discipline imparts wisdom; spoiled adolescents embarrass their parents.

Pro. 29:17 Discipline your children; you'll be glad you did—they'll turn out delightful to live with.

Matt. 7:9-11 Jesus said, "If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing.

You're at least decent to your own children. So don't you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?"

Matt. 12:25 Jesus said, "A family that's in a constant squabble disintegrates."

1 Cor. 4:14-16 I'm not writing all this as a neighborhood scold just to make you feel rotten. I'm writing as a father to you, my children. I love you and want you to grow up well, not spoiled. There are a lot of people around who can't wait to tell you what you've done wrong, but there

Parents—and Grandparents 3 aren't many fathers willing to take the time and effort to help you grow up. It was as Jesus helped me proclaim God's Message to you that I became your father. I'm not, you know, asking you to do anything I'm not already doing myself.

Eph. 6:4 Fathers, don't exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master.

Col. 3:21 Parents, don't come down too hard on your children or you'll crush their spirits.

Heb. 12:5-11 Have your forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? "My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, but don't be crushed by it either. It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects." God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves.

Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God. James 3:1 Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards.

D U II scriptures about . . .

PEACE — NOT STRIFE

Peace—not strife 1 PEACE—not strife Pro. 10:12 Hatred starts fights, but love pulls a quilt over the bickering.

Pro. 13:10 Arrogant know-it-alls stir up discord, but wise men and women listen to each other's counsel.

Pro. 14:29 Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding; a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity.

Pro. 15:1 A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.

Pro. 15:17 Better a bread crust shared in love than a slab of prime rib served in hate. [The best would be—prime rib shared in love!]

Pro. 15:18 Hot tempers start fights; a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace.

Pro. 16:30 A shifty eye betrays an evil intention; a clenched jaw signals trouble ahead.

Pro. 17:1 A meal of bread and water in contented peace is better than a banquet spiced with quarrels. [The best would be—a banquet in contented peace!]

Pro. 17:14 The start of a quarrel is like a leak in a dam, so stop it before it bursts.

Pro. 19:11 Smart people know how to hold their tongue; their grandeur is to forgive and forget.

Pro. 19:19 Let angry people endure the backlash of their own anger; if you try to make it better, you'll only make it worse.

Pro. 20:3 It's a mark of good character to avert quarrels, but fools love to pick fights.

Pro. 20:22 Don't ever say, "I'll get you for that!" Wait for God; he'll settle the score.

Pro. 21:14 A quietly given gift soothes an irritable person; a heartfelt present cools a hot temper.

Pro. 22:8 Whoever sows sin reaps weeds, and bullying anger sputters into nothing.

Pro. 22:10 Kick out the troublemakers and things will quiet down; you need a break from bickering and griping!

Pro. 22:24-25 Don't hang out with angry people; don't keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious—don't get infected.

Pro. 25:15 Patient persistence pierces through indifference; gentle speech breaks down rigid

Peace—not strife 2 defenses.

Pro. 26:17 You grab a mad dog by the ears when you butt into a quarrel that's none of your business.

Pro. 26:21 A quarrelsom person in a dispute is like kerosene thrown on a fire.

Pro. 26:27 Malice backfires; spite boomerangs.

Pro. 29:22 Angry people stir up a lot of discord; the intemperate stir up trouble.

Pro. 30:32-33 If you're dumb enough to call attention to yourself by offending people and making rude gestures, don't be surprised if someone bloodies your nose. Churned milk turns into butter; riled emotions turn into fist fights.

Matt. 5:9 Jesus said, "You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family."

Matt. 18:15-17 Jesus said, "If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you've made a friend. If he won't listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won't listen, tell the church. If he won't listen to the church, you'll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God's forgiving love."

John 14:27 Jesus said, "I'm leaving you well and whole. That's my parting gift to you. Peace. I don't leave you the way you're used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don't be upset. Don't be distraught."

Titus 3:1-5, 9-11 Remind the people to respect the government and be law-abiding, always ready to lend a helping hand. No insults, no fights. God's people should be bighearted and courteous.

It wasn't so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit.

Peace窶馬ot strife 3 Stay away from mindless, pointless quarreling over genealogies and fine print in the law code. That gets you nowhere. Warn a quarrelsome person once or twice, but then be done with him. It's obvious that such a person is out of line, rebellious against God. By persisting in divisiveness, he cuts himself off.

Heb. 12:15 Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time.

D U H scriptures about . . .

PHYSICAL INTIMACY (INSIDE AND OUTSIDE MARRIAGE)

Physical Intimacy—inside & outside of marriage 1 PHYSICAL INTIMACY—inside and outside of marriage Gen. 2:24 (Amplified) Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall become united and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Pro. 2:16-19 Wise friends will rescue you from the Temptress—that smooth-talking Seductress who's faithless to the husband she married years ago, never gave a second thought to her promises before God. Her whole way of life is doomed; every step she takes brings her closer to hell. No one who joins her company ever comes back, ever sets foot on the path to real living. Pro. 5:1-23 Dear friend, pay close attention to this, my wisdom; listen very closely to the way I see it. Then you'll acquire a taste for good sense; what I tell you will keep you out of trouble.

The lips of a seductive woman are oh so sweet, her soft words are oh so smooth. But it won't be long before she's gravel in your mouth, a pain in your gut, a wound in your heart. She's dancing down the primrose path to Death; she's headed straight for Hell and taking you with her. She hasn't a clue about real life, about who she is or where she's going.

So, my friend, listen closely; don't treat my words casually. Keep your distance from such a woman; absolutely stay out of her neighborhood. You don't want to squander your wonderful life, to waste your precious life among the hardhearted. Why should you allow strangers to take advantage of you? Why be exploited by those who care nothing for you? You don't want to end your life full of regrets, nothing but sin and bones, saying, "Oh, why didn't I do what they told me? Why did I reject a disciplined life? Why didn't I listen to my mentors, or take my teachers seriously? My life is ruined! I haven't one blessed thing to show for my life!"

Do you know the saying, "Drink from your own rain barrel, draw water from your own springfed well"? It's true. Otherwise, you may one day come home and find your barrel empty and your well polluted.

Your spring water is for you and you only, not to be passed around among strangers. Bless your fresh-flowing fountain! Enjoy the wife you married as a young man! Lovely as an angel, beautiful as a rose—don't ever quit taking delight in her body. Never take her love for

Physical Intimacy—inside & outside of marriage 2 granted! Why would you trade enduring intimacies for cheap thrills with a whore? for dalliance with a promiscuous stranger?

Mark well that God doesn't miss a move you make; he's aware of every step you take. The shadow of your sin will overtake you; you'll find yourself stumbling all over yourself in the dark. Death is the reward of an undisciplined life; your foolish decisions trap you in a dead end.

Pro. 7:1-27 Dear friend, do what I tell you; treasure my careful instructions. Do what I say and you'll live well. My teaching is a precious as your eyesight—guard it! Write it out on the back of your hands; etch it on the chambers of your heart. Talk to Wisdom as to a sister. Treat Insight as your companion. They'll be with you to fend off the Temptress—that smooth-talking, honey-tongued Seductress.

As I stood at the window of my house looking out through the shutters, watching the mindless crowd stroll by, I spotted a young man without any sense arriving at the corner of the street where she lived, then turning up the path to her house. It was dusk, the evening coming on, the darkness thickening into night. Just then, a woman met him—she'd been lying in wait for him, dressed to seduce him. Brazen and brash she was, restless and roaming, never at home, walking the streets, loitering in the mall, hanging out at every corner in town.

She threw her arms around him and kissed him, boldly took his arm and said, "I've got all the makings for a feast—today I made my offerings, my vows are all paid, so now I've come to find you, hoping to catch sight of your face—and here you are! I've spread fresh, clean sheets on my bed, colorful imported linens. My bed is aromatic with spices and exotic fragrances. Come, let's make love all night, spend the night in ecstatic lovemaking! My husband's not home; he's away on business, and he won't be back for a month."

Soon she has him eating out of her hand, bewitched by her honeyed speech. Before you know it, he's trotting behind her, like a calf led to the butcher shop, like a stag lured into ambush and then shot with an arrow, like a bird flying into a net not knowing that its flying life is over.

So, friends, listen to me, take these words of mine most seriously. Don't fool around with

Physical Intimacy—inside & outside of marriage 3 a woman like that; don't even stroll through her neighborhood. Countless victims come under her spell; she's the death of many a poor man. She runs a halfway house to hell, fits you out with a shroud and a coffm.

Pro. 20:17 Stolen bread tastes sweet, but soon your mouth is full of gravel.

Pro. 22:14 The mouth of a whore is a bottomless pit; you'll fall in that pit if you're on the outs with God. Pro. 23:27-28 A whore is a bottomless pit; a loose woman can get you in deep trouble fast.

She'll take you for all you've got; she's worse than a pack of thieves.

Pro. 30:20 Here's how a prostitute operates: she has sex with her client, takes a bath, then asks, "Who's next?"

Pro. 31:3 Don't dissipate your virility on fortune-hunting women, promiscuous women who shipwreck leaders.

1 Cor. 6:12-20 Just because something is technically legal doesn't mean that it's spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I'd be a slave to my whims.

You know the old saying, "First you eat to live, and then you live to eat"? Well, it may be true that the body is only a temporary thing, but that's no excuse for stuffing your body with food, or indulging it with sex. Since the Master honors you with a body, honor him with your body!

God honored the Master's body by raising it from the grave. He'll treat yours with the same resurrection power. Until that time, remember that your bodies are created with the same dignity as the Master's body. You wouldn't take the Master's body off to a whorehouse, would you? I should hope not.

There's more to sex than mere skin on skin. Sex is as much spiritual mystery as physical fact. As written in Scripture, "The two become one." Since we want to become spiritually one with the Master, we must not pursue the kind of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy,

Physical Intimacy—inside & outside of marriage 4 leaving us more lonely than ever—the kind of sex that can never "become one." There is a sense in which sexual sins are different from all others. In sexual sin we violate the sacredness of our own bodies, these bodies that were made for God-given and God-modeled love, for "becoming one" with another.

Or didn't you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don't you see that you can't live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.

1 Cor. 7:1-9 Now, getting down to the questions you asked in your letter to me. First, Is it a good thing to have sexual relations?

Certainly—but only within a certain context. It's good for a man to have a wife, and for a woman to have a husband. Sexual drives are strong, but marriage is strong enough to contain them and provide for a balanced and fulfilling sexual life in a world of sexual disorder. The marriage bed must be a place of mutuality—the husband seeking to satisfy his wife, and the wife seeking to satisfy her husband. Marriage is not a place to "stand up for your rights." Marriage is a decision to serve the other, whether in bed or out. Abstaining from sex is permissible for a period of time if you both agree to it, and if it's for the purposes of prayer and fasting—but only for such times. Then come back together again. Satan has an ingenious way of tempting us when we least expect it. I'm not, understand, commanding these periods of abstinence—only providing my best counsel if you should choose them.

Sometimes I wish everyone were single like me—a simpler life in many ways! But celibacy is not for everyone any more than marriage is. God gives the gift of the single life to some, the gift of the married life to others.

I do, though, tell the unmarried and widows that singleness might well be the best thing for them, as it has been for me. But if they can't manage their desires and emotions, they should by all means go ahead and get married. The difficulties of marriage are preferable by far to a

Physical Intimacy—inside & outside of marriage 5 sexually tortured life as a single.

Heb. 13:4 Honor marriage, and guard the sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband. God draws a firm line against casual and illicit sex.

D U H scriptures about . . .

POOR, POOR-RICH, RICH, AND RICH-POOR

Poor, Poor-Rich, Rich, and Rich-Poor 1 POOR, POOR-RICH, RICH, AND RICH-POOR Pro. 10:4 Sloth makes you poor; diligence brings wealth.

Pro. 10:22 God's blessings makes life rich; nothing we do can improve on God. Pro. 13:7 A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life.

Pro. 13:13 Ignore the Word and suffer; honor God's commands and grow rich.

Pro. 13:23 Banks foreclose on the farms of the poor, or else the poor lose their shirts to crooked lawyers.

Pro. 14:21 It's criminal to ignore a neighbor in need, but compassion for the poor—what a blessing!

Pro. 14:31 You insult your Maker when you exploit the powerless; when you're kind to the poor, you honor God. Pro. 16:8 Far better to be right and poor than to be wrong and rich. [The best would be—to be right and rich!]

Pro. 16:19 It's better to live humbly among the poor than to live it up among the rich and famous. [The best would be—to live humbly and prosperous!]

Pro. 17:5 Whoever mocks poor people, insults their Creator; gloating over misfortune is a punishable crime.

Pro. 18:11 The rich think their wealth protects them; they imagine themselves safe behind it.

Pro. 18:23 The poor speak in soft supplications; the rich bark out answers.

Pro. 19:1 Better to be poor and honest than a rich person no one can trust. [The best would be—to be rich and an honest person everyone can trust!)

Pro. 19:4 Wealth attracts friends as honey draws flies, but poor people are avoided like a plague.

Pro. 19:6-7 Lots of people flock around a generous person; everyone's a friend to the philanthropist.

When you're down on your luck, even your family avoids you—yes, even your best friends wish you'd get lost. If they see you coming, they look the other way—out of sight, out of mind.

Poor, Poor-Rich, Rich, and Rich-Poor 2 Pro. 19:17 Mercy to the needy is a loan to God, and God pays back those loans in full.

Pro. 19:22 It's only human to want to make a buck, but it's better to be poor than a liar.

Pro. 20:15 Drinking from the beautiful chalice of knowledge is better than adorning oneself with gold and rare gems.

Pro. 21:7 The wicked get buried alive by their loot because they refuse to use it to help others.

Pro. 21:13 If you stop your ears to the cries of the poor, your cries will go unheard, unanswered.

Pro. 22:7 The poor are always ruled over by the rich, so don't borrow and put yourself under their power.

Pro. 22:16 Exploit the poor or glad-hand the rich—whichever, you'll end up the poorer for it.

Pro. 22:22-23 Don't walk on the poor just because they're poor, and don't use your position to crush the weak, because God will come to their defense; the life you took, he'll take from you and give back to them.

Pro. 23:4-5 Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich; restrain yourself! Riches disappear in the blink of an eye; wealth sprouts wings and flies off into the wild blue yonder.

Pro. 23:6-8 Don't accept a meal from a tightwad; don't expect anything special. He'll be as stingy with you as he is with himself; he'll say, "Eat! Drink!" but won't mean a word of it. His miserly serving will turn your stomach when you realize the meal's a sham.

Pro. 28:3 The wicked who oppress the poor are like a hailstorm that beats down the harvest.

Pro. 28:8 Get as rich as you want through cheating and extortion, but eventually some friend of the poor is going to give it all back to them.

Pro. 28:11 The rich think they know it all, but the poor can see right through them.

Pro. 28:15 Lions roar and bears charge—and the wicked lord it over the poor.

Pro. 28:22 A miser in a hurry to get rich doesn't know that he'll end up broke.

Pro. 28:27 Be generous to the poor—you'll never go hungry; shut your eyes to their needs, and run a gauntlet of curses.

Pro. 29:7 The good-hearted understand what it's like to be poor; the hardhearted haven't the

Poor, Poor-Rich, Rich, and Rich-Poor 3 faintest idea.

Pro. 30:14 Don't be greedy, merciless and cruel as wolves, tearing into the poor and feasting on them, shredding the needy to pieces only to discard them.

Pro. 30:15 A leech has twin daughters named "Gimme" and Gimme More."

Luke 12:15 Speaking to the people, Jesus went on, "Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot."

Luke 12:16-21 Jesus said, "The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: 'What can I do? My barn isn't big enough for this harvest.' Then he said, 'Here's what I'll do: I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll gather in all my grain and goods, and I'll say to myself, "Self, you've done well! You've got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!"'

"Just then God showed up and said, 'Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?'

"That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God." Luke 12:31-32 Jesus said, "What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, Godinitiative, God-provisions. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don't be afraid of missing out. You're my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself."

Luke 18:18-27 One day one of the local officials asked Jesus, "Good Teacher, what must I do to deserve eternal life?"

Jesus said, "Why are you calling me good? No one is good—only God. You know the commandments, don't you? No illicit sex, no killing, no stealing, no lying, honor your father and mother."

He said, "I've kept them all for as long as I can remember."

Poor, Poor-Rich, Rich, and Rich-Poor 4 When Jesus heard that, he said, "Then there's only one thing left to do: Sell everything you own and give it away to the poor. You will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me."

This was the last thing the official expected to hear. He was very rich and became terribly sad. He was holding on tight to a lot of things and not about to let them go.

Seeing his reaction, Jesus said, "Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who have it all to enter God's kingdom? I'd say it's easier to thread a camel through a needle's eye than get a rich person into God's kingdom."

"Then who has any chance at all?" the others asked.

"No chance at all," Jesus said, "if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it."

2 Cor. 9:6-11 Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.

God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, "He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out."

This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God. James 1:9-11 When down-and-outers get a break, cheer! And when the arrogant rich are brought down to size, cheer! Prosperity is as short-lived as a wild flower, so don't ever count on it. You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that's a picture of the

Poor, Poor-Rich, Rich, and Rich-Poor 5 "prosperous life." At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing.

James 5:1-3 And a final word to you arrogant rich: Take some lessons in lament. You'll need buckets for the tears when the crash comes upon you. Your money is corrupt and your fine clothes stink. Your greedy luxuries are a cancer in your gut, destroying your life from within. You thought you were piling up wealth. What you've piled up is judgment.

1 John 3:17 If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.

D U H scriptures about . . .

SLEEP

Sleep 1 SLEEP Psa. 4:8 At day's end I'm ready for sound sleep, for you, God, have put my life back together.

Psa. 121:3-8 God won't let you stumble; your Guardian God won't fall asleep. Not on your life! Israel's Guardian will never doze or sleep. God's your Guardian, right at your side to protect you—shielding you from sunstroke, sheltering you from moonstroke. God guards you from every evil, he guards your very life.

He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, he guards you always.

Psa. 127:2 It's useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone.

Don't you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?

Pro. 3:24-26 You'll take afternoon naps without a worry, you'll enjoy a good night's sleep. No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday's just around the corner, because God will be right there with you; he'll keep you safe and sound.

D U H scriptures about . . .

STRESSED, DEPRESSED, TOSSED, TORMENTED

Stressed, Depressed, Tossed, and Tormented 1 STRESSED, DEPRESSED, TOSSED, AND TORMENTED Pro. 3:24-26 You'll take afternoon naps without a worry, you'll enjoy a good night's sleep. No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday's just around the corner, because God will be right there with you; he'll keep you safe and sound.

Pro. 15:13 A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.

Pro. 15:15 A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song.

Pro. 15:30 A twinkle in the eye means joy in the heart, and good news makes you feel fit as a fiddle.

Pro. 17:22 A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bonetired.

Pro. 18:14 A healthy spirit conquers adversity, but what can you do when the spirit is crushed? Matt. 11:2830 Jesus said, "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Lk. 10:38-42 As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. "Master, don't you care that my sister had abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand."

The Master said, "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it's the main course, and won't be taken from her."

D U H scriptures about . . .

TEMPERATE NOT ADDICTED

Temperate–not Addicted 1 TEMPERATE—NOT ADDICTED Pro. 16:32 Moderation is better than muscle, self-control better than political power.

Pro. 20:1 Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome—a staggering drunk is not much fun.

Pro. 21:17 You're addicted to thrills? What an empty life! The pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied.

Pro. 21:24 You know their names—Brash, Impudent, Blasphemer—intemperate hotheads, every one.

Pro. 23:20-21 Don't drink too much wine and get drunk; don't eat too much food and get fat. Drunks and gluttons will end up on skid row, in a stupor and dressed in rags.

Pro. 23:29-35 Who are the people who are always crying the blues? Who do you know who reeks of selfpity? Who keeps getting beat up for no reason at all? Whose eyes are bleary and bloodshot? It's those who spend the night with a bottle, for whom drinking is serious business. Don't judge wine by its label, or its bouquet, or its full-bodied flavor. Judge it rather by the hangover it leaves you with—the splitting headache, the queasy stomach. Do you really prefer seeing double, with your speech all slurred, reeling and seasick, drunk as a sailor? "They hit me," you'll say, "but it didn't hurt; they beat on me, but I didn't feel a thing. When I'm sober enough to manage it, bring me another drink!"

Pro. 25:16 When you're given a box of candy, don't gulp it all down; eat too much chocolate and you'll make yourself sick.

Pro. 25:28 A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out.

Pro. 29:22b The intemperate stir up trouble.

Heb. 12:16-17 Watch out for the "Esau syndrome:" trading away God's lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God's blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.

D U H scriptures about . . .

WHOLE — NOTHING MISSING AND NOTHING BROKEN

Whole–nothing missing, nothing broken 1 WHOLE—NOTHING MISSING, NOTHING BROKEN Pro. 4:20-27 Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart! Those who discover these words live, really live, body and soul, they're bursting with health.

Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.

D U H scriptures about . . .

WISDOM— LISTENS, LEARNS, AND MAKES NEEDED CORRECTIONS

Wisdom–listens, learns, makes needed corrections 1 WISDOM—listens, learns, makes needed corrections Psa. 50:16-23 Next, God calls up the wicked: "What are you up to, quoting my laws, talking like we are good friends. You never answer the door when I call; you treat my words like garbage. If you find a thief, you make him your buddy; adulterers are your friends of choice. Your mouth drools filth; lying is a serious art form with you. You stab your own brother in the back, rip off your little sister. I kept a quiet patience while you did these things; you thought I went along with your game. I'm calling you on the carpet, now, laying your wickedness out in plain sight.

"Time's up for playing fast and loose with me. I'm ready to pass sentence, and there's no help in sight! It's the praising life that honors me. As soon as you set your foot on the Way, I'll show you my salvation."

Pro. 2:1-15 Good friend, take to heart what I'm telling you; collect my counsels and guard them with your life. Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom; set your heart on a life of Understanding. That's right—if you make Insight your priority, and won't take no for an answer; searching for it like a prospector panning for gold, like an adventurer on a treasure hunt, believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours; you'll have come upon the Knowledge of God. And here's why: God gives out Wisdom free, is plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding. He's a rich mine of Common Sense for those who live well, a personal bodyguard to the candid and sincere. He keeps his eye on all who live honestly, and pays special attention to his loyally committed ones.

So now you can pick out what's true and fair, find all the good trails! Lady Wisdom will be your close friend, and Brother Knowledge your pleasant companion. Good Sense will scout ahead for danger, Insight will keep an eye out for you. They'll keep you from making wrong turns, or following the bad directions of those who are lost themselves and can't tell a trail from a tumbleweed, these losers who make a game of evil and throw parties to celebrate perversity, traveling paths that go nowhere, wandering in a maze of detours and dead ends.

Pro. 8:1, 12-14, 32-36 Do you hear Lady Wisdom calling? "I am Lady Wisdom, and I live next

Wisdom–listens, learns, makes needed corrections 2 to Sanity; Knowledge and Discretion live just down the street. The Fear-of-God means hating Evil, whose ways I hate with a passion—pride and arrogance and crooked talk. Good counsel and common sense are my characteristics; I am both Insight and the Virtue to live it out "So, my dear friends, listen carefully; those who embrace these my ways are most blessed. Mark a life of discipline and live wisely; don't squander your precious life. Blessed the man, blessed the woman, who listens to me, awake and ready for me each morning, alert and responsive as I start my day's work.

When you find me, you find life, real life, to say nothing of God’s good pleasure. But if you wrong me, you damage your very soul; when you reject me, you're flirting with death."

Pro. 10:8 A wise heart takes orders; an empty head will come unglued.

Pro. 10:14 The wise accumulate knowledge—a true treasure; know-it-alls talk too much—a sheer waste.

Pro. 10:17 The road to life is a disciplined life; ignore correction and you're lost for good.

Pro. 12:1 If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it—how shortsighted to refuse correction!

Pro. 13:14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, so, no more drinking from death-tainted wells!

Pro. 13:20 Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.

Pro. 14:8 The wisdom of the wise keeps life on track; the foolishness of fools lands them in the ditch.

Pro. 15:5 Moral dropouts won't listen to their elders; welcoming correction is a mark of good sense.

Pro. 15:22 Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed.

Pro. 15:24 Life ascends to the heights for the thoughtful—it's a clean about-face from descent

Wisdom–listens, learns, makes needed corrections 3 into hell.

Pro. 15:31 Listen to good advice if you want to live well, an honored guest among wise men and women.

Pro. 16:16 Get wisdom—it's worth more than money; choose insight over income every time.

Pro. 16:21 A wise person gets known for insight; gracious words add to one's reputation.

Pro. 16:23 They make a lot of sense, these wise folks; whenever they speak, their reputation increases.

Pro. 17:10 A quiet rebuke to a person of good sense does more than a whack on the head of a fool.

Pro. 18:15 Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights.

Pro. 19:8 Grow a wise heart—you'll do yourself a favor; keep a clear head—you'll find a good life.

Pro. 19:20 Take good counsel and accept correction—that's the way to live wisely and well.

Pro. 20:5 Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart; a wise person draws from the well within.

Pro. 20:18 Form your purpose by asking for counsel, then carry it out using all the help you can get.

Pro. 20:24 The very steps we take come from God; otherwise how would we know where we're going?

Pro. 21:22 One sage entered a whole city of armed soldiers—their trusted defenses fell to pieces!

Pro. 24:5-6 It's better to be wise than strong; intelligence outranks muscle any day. Strategic planning is the key to warfare; to win, you need a lot of good counsel.

Pro. 24:27 First plant your fields; then build your barn.

Pro. 28:7 Practice God's law—get a reputation for wisdom; hang out with a loose crowd— embarrass your family.

Pro. 28:26 If you think you know it all, you're a fool for sure; real survivors learn wisdom from

Wisdom–listens, learns, makes needed corrections 4 others.

Pro. 30:16 Three things are never satisfied, no, there are four that never say, "That's enough, thank you!"—hell, a barren womb, a parched land, a forest fire.

Pro. 30:18 Three things amaze me, no, four things I'll never understand—how an eagle flies so high in the sky, how a snake glides over a rock, how a ship navigates the ocean, why adolescents act the way they do.

Pro. 30:21 Three things are too much for even the earth to bear, yes, four things shake its foundations— when the janitor becomes the boss, when a fool gets rich, when a whore is voted "woman of the year," when a "girlfriend" replaces a faithful wife.

Pro. 20:24-28 There are four small creatures, wisest of the wise they are: ants—frail as they are, get plenty of goods in for the winter; marmots—vulnerable as they are, manage to arrange for rock-solid homes; locusts—leaderless insects, yet they strip the field like an army regiment; lizards—easy enough to catch, but they sneak past vigilant palace guards.

1 Cor. 1:18-19 The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hell-bent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. It's written, "I'll turn conventional wisdom on its head, I'll expose socalled experts as crackpots."

1 Cor. 3:18-23 Don't fool yourself. Don't think that you can be wise merely by being up-to-date with the times. Be God's fool—that's the path to true wisdom. What the world calls smart, God calls stupid. It's written in Scripture, "He exposes the chicanery of the chic. The Master sees through the smoke screens of the know-it-alls." I don't want to hear any of you bragging about yourself or anyone else. Everything is already yours as a gift. . . .and you are privileged to be in union with Christ, who is in union with God. James 1:5-8 If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought.

People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think

Wisdom–listens, learns, makes needed corrections 5 you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

James 3:13-18 Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourself sound wise isn't wisdom. It's the furthest thing from wisdom—it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats.

Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

D U II scriptures about . . .

WORDS OURS

Words–ours 1 WORDS... Ours!

Pro. 10:11 The mouth of a good person is a deep, life-giving well, but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.

Pro. 10:19 The more talk, the less truth; the wise measure their words.

Pro. 10:20 The speech of a good person is worth waiting for; the blabber of the wicked is worthless.

Pro. 10:31 A good person's mouth is a clear fountain of wisdom; a foul mouth is a stagnant swamp.

Pro. 10:32 The speech of a good person clears the air; the words of the wicked pollute it.

Pro. 11:9, 12-13 The loose tongue of the godless spreads destruction; the common sense of the godly preserves them. Mean-spirited slander is heartless; quiet discretion accompanies good sense. A gadabout gossip can't be trusted with a secret, but someone of integrity won't violate a confidence.

Pro. 12:14 Well-spoken words bring satisfaction; well-done work has its own reward.

Pro. 12:18 Rash language cuts and maims, but there is healing in the words of the wise.

Pro. 13:5 A good person hates false talk; a bad person wallows in gibberish.

Pro. 14:3 Frivolous talk provokes a derisive smile; wise speech evokes nothing but respect.

Pro. 15:4 Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim.

Pro. 15:23 Congenial conversation—what a pleasure! The right word at the right time— beautiful!

Pro. 15:28 Prayerful answers come from God-loyal people; the wicked are sewers of abuse.

Pro. 16:24 Gracious speech is like clover honey—good taste to the soul, quick energy for the body.

Pro. 16:27-28 Mean people spread mean gossip; their words smart and burn. Troublemakers start fights; gossips break up friendships.

Pro. 17:4 Evil people relish malicious conversation; the ears of liars itch for dirty gossip.

Words–ours 2 Pro. 17:15 Whitewashing bad people and throwing mud on good people are equally abhorrent to God .

Pro. 17:20 A bad motive can't achieve a good end; double-talk brings you double trouble.

Pro. 17:27-28 The one who knows much says little; and understanding person remains calm. Even dunces who keep quiet are thought to be wise; as long as they keep their mouths shut, they're smart.

Pro. 18:8 Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy; do you really want junk like that in your belly?

Pro. 18:13 Answering before listening is both stupid and rude.

Pro. 18:21 Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose.

Pro. 20:19 Gossips can't keep secrets, so never confide in blabbermouths.

Pro. 21:23 Watch your words and hold your tongue; you'll save yourself a lot of grief.

Pro. 25:23 A north wind brings stormy weather, and a gossipy tongue stormy looks.

Pro. 26:20 When you run out of wood, the fire goes out; when the gossip ends, the quarrel dies down.

Pro. 29:20 Observe the people who always talk before they think—even simpletons are better off than they are.

Mt. 5:33-37 Jesus said, "Don't say anything you don't mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, 'I'll pray for you,' and never doing it, or saying, 'God be with you,' and not meaning it. You don't make your words true by embellishing them with religious terms. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say 'yes' and 'no.' When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong."

Mt. 12:34-37 Jesus said, "You have minds like a snake pit? How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul-minded? It's your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words.

A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An

Words–ours 3 evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously.

Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation."

Mt. 15:18-20 Jesus said, "What comes out of the mouth gets its start in the heart. It's from the heart that we vomit up evil arguments, murders, adulteries, fornication, thefts, lies, and cussing. That's what pollutes."

2 Tim. 2:16-18 Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they're not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul, throwing believers off stride and missing the truth by a mile.

James 3:1-12 Don't be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards. And none of us are perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you'd have a perfect person, in perfect control of life.

A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!

It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.

This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!

My friends, this can't go on. A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples,

Words—ours 4 do they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you?

James 4:11-12 Don't bad-mouth each other, friends. It's God's Word, his Message, his Royal Rule, that takes a beating in that kind of talk. You're supposed to be honoring the Message, not writing graffiti all over it. God is in charge of deciding human destiny. Who do you think you are to meddle in the destiny of others?

James 5:11-12 God cares, cares right down to the last detail. And since you know that he cares, let your language show it. Don't add words like "I swear to God" to your own words. Don't show your impatience by concocting oaths to hurry up God. Just say “yes” or “no.” Just say what is true. That way, your language can't be used against you.