Wisdom isn't in your teeth.

Last week Julie had some wisdom teeth, and as is the classic response to anyone getting their wisdom teeth out, we heard a lot of "Oh, you're going to lose all your wisdom now". Ha. Ha. Ha. <note the sarcasm> This is almost as funny a response to the classic post-jail ministry response of "Oh, they let you out again?" Once again, note the sarcastic laugh...

Back to the wisdom teeth thing though, it got me thinking about wisdom and how we react to it. The very word 'wisdom' conjures up various responses: often we hear prayers for the doctors to have wisdom as they operate on a sick friend or family member, we think of old people having lots of wisdom, we can recount the great wisdom of Solomon, especially the cutting the baby in half idea to identify the true mom. We think of owls as having wisdom (no earthly idea why that is?), and coaches giving us words of wisdom. If you go to Amazon.com and search for 'wisdom' in the books department, you come up with 35,021 results. Wisdom is everywhere!

The Bible has some interesting things to say about wisdom. In the book of Proverbs we see wisdom personified in contrast to folly (Prov. 9), and in my favorite wisdom passage, James 1, we see how to get it. Here's the awesome part about wisdom: if anyone is lacking, ask God for it, in faith, and He'll give it to you! Talk about simple! This is the very definition of an easy button! One might oppose by saying, "you're telling me if I ask for wisdom then God will give it to me?" Sounds too easy, huh? Well, for something that easy, not many of us are doing it!

Today, ask God for wisdom, in faith, believing, and He will give it to you. That what He said, and His word is good!


So, does losing wisdom teeth makes you lose wisdom? Nope. Quit spreading the lies. Instead, spread the simplicity of gaining it - simple faith that God will do what He says: He'll give liberally if you ask!

Waxing Nostalgic

The blog has been quiet for a while, and that is because I have been extremely busy with our two summer interns, but the interns' summer requirements have been met, and I am all alone in my office once again. It's so quiet in here now without swirling topics of sublapsarianism and post-tribulationism and Greek diagramming of Scripture!

I am in no way trying to compare myself to the Apostle Paul, but this is what it must have felt like for him after sending Timothy out to minister! There's some excitement about mentoring, and excitement about iron sharpening iron that will be missed on my part. I am thankful that I got to have a small part in helping guide and shape future church leaders.


I was thinking about this mentor thing this morning, and I was reflecting back to some influential people in my life that helped me on my journey, socially, spiritually, and emotionally, and I am so thankful for the guidance and small part in their minds that played such a huge role in my life.

Although this blog is short, yet very nostalgic, think today about what part you have in someone's life: one conversation could change the course of their life for good, or for bad. One word of encouragement, or one challenge could make that person soar or turn them into a trainwreck. Be that person who is remembered 20 years later who brings a smile to someone's face; be that person that only a handful of people know at a wedding as that teacher, or friend who 'put me where I am today.'

Think of those people who shaped you into who you are and thank God for them. Then thank them for their part in your life!