General Observations: Modern Proverbs

Reason, observation, and experience; the holy trinity of science.
- Robert Green Ingersoll

General Observations
Modern Proverbs

Overflowing with previously unknown blessings of every kind, fewer and fewer invest the time and energy to prayerfully and diligently read, much less accurately and honestly study Scripture. Worse still, growing levels of apathy are reinforced, if not created by, misleading popular doctrines such as unconditional love and eternal security.

Rather than teaching “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth…so help me God” by earnestly investigating what the Bible actually says about such topics as repentance and salvation, sanctification and sin, fellowship and worship billions just wing it, believing (or not) whatever version of the gospel and Christ they happen upon. Such shoddy spirituality impacts every aspect of lives of individuals and families, churches and society at large.

Do not judge by appearance [superficially and arrogantly], but judge fairly and righteously.

- John 7:24 AMP

General Observations
Modern Proverbs
by Robert R. Pennington

If real means present and lasting then what is real?

Ever wondered if Adam and Eve ingested wisdom from any other of Eden's fruit?

Has it ever occurred to you: a thought never occurs to God.

One should not hope to solve a problem by refusing to face it.

By definition multi - cultural mean many cults.

Perhaps telling they call our global communications system the World Wide WEB and/or the interNET.

"Lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God.” Small comfort to gazelles.
Who are the lions and who the gazelles?

I get a lot of attention from my cat “Bear” particularly around feeding time. Is he faithful or just hungry? Is there any difference?

Someone must have noted how often one finds what one sought yesterday today. And today's object tomorrow. No doubt the quote's soon to be forthcoming.

While not always the most dangerous, clearly a burnt bridge is the hardest to cross.

Separately, sodium and chloride are volatile and toxic. Yet combined they're salt, that substance we need both to live and to be! So too, righteousness and mercy have kissed in Christ and should in Christians as well.

A slide may appear empty to the naked eye yet reveal a universe of activity under the microscope.

Kittens are purring puddles of color and fur.

Momentary pleasure aside, what justifies the price of a rich man's food save for the quality of his gas (indigestion)?

Who's more annoying than one constantly moaning, "Why me?" One who refuses to listen though clearly told.

I love big dogs and have owned several breeds, Great Danes etc. But my daughter's beautiful Blue Merle Sheltie has taught me there's nothing small about a little dog's love.

If men were as faithful to their Master as dogs are, I dare say the Millennial Kingdom would've been completed by now. God's pleasure in their nature evident from honoring them uniquely with a name so similar to his own--God/Dog! Sadly, aren't we rather more like Cats...

Humanism finds it unreasonable that Jesus could be God's Son. Apparently, God lacks the power to become mortal, though much of humanism believes mortal man may hope to be Eternal.

I rarely appreciate that though, not immediately pleasant, even the thorny cactus has usefulness and beauty.

When's a humorous conundrum not so funny?

When it's all too true about you

What is the last gift anyone thinks they want yet once received changes their mind?

Repentance

What Deafens without a sound?

Silence

The Lordship of Christ speaks foremost of what?

Slavery: Creation before atonement and redemption after. Ours to sin and self or Christ

If we find the silence of God deafening what is our daily silence toward Him?

Suicide of mankind's Eternal Soul

Some have noted that when the younger minister to the elderly they are serving themselves in the future. Along this vein, I wonder if when we serve societies, "invalids" (Movie, "Gattica") we minister to ourselves today.

Though a paradox, while it's crucial to think critically, it's criminal to be critical.

Swimmers ear', easily treated early on in a minute's time and a dime's worth of alcohol; if neglected can result in days of painful treatment and a day's wage of expense. Or so I've heard...

Time IS relative. In passing the present compresses, the greater with the distance of Age. The future expands before us until becoming Now, it compress through our senses.

Might the necessity of God placing Adam into a deep sleep before creating Eve suggest he hadn't slept prior? (Or perhaps He knew Adam would get little rest afterward?)

Could Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz be another Type of Christ? Brought by a Awesome yet Tender Tornado from a greater dimension, this innocent and loving child destroys the works of their evil one while enabling her companions to discover the Mind, Heart and Courage they desperately needed."

Strange I should be so often rebuffed having never been buffed to begin with.

Sufferings and inequities among men pale in comparison to lower life forms. From the adders venom to the spiders silk myriads of horrors abound from the animal kingdom to the cellular level. Yet, a house cat often lives a lifetime enjoying leisurely feedings and naps pillowed on it's owner's lap. And a dog, though far more useful and loyal may spend most it's life looking in the sliding glass door if it's not house broken. Oh to be favored by the Lord.

Biggest small words: 3 letters: All! 2 letters:If! 1 letter: I!

Interesting to think of heavenly relationship roles. Of marriage, for example. He says "they shall be as the angles..." Are angles "genderless" or all male (as those revealed in scripture) or is there more to gender roles in Glory?"

A Chihuahua is a Mexican Poodle.

Kittens are the terror of string and screens, bark and bugs, leaves and sprinklers. Let these beware of claw and fang, leap and bolt, stalk and pounce.

Kittens are full of energy, curiosity and fear bounding forward, sideways and back.
When was the last time you did so?

The sent, texture, color and shape of rose petals are enticing. Yet one must mind the thorns long after the flower fades.

In the Gospel Christ challenges one who calls him “good teacher” by quickly correcting, “only God is good.” Perhaps He was taking the opportunity to highlight His divinity. Perhaps He was underscoring the need for caution when trusting the goodness of men and religious teachers in particular. One wonders if heaven’s angels, clearly unwilling to accept worship, would be equally quick to point out “only God is Good.”

If one with a prepared mind might converse at length with heaven’s representative would the answers received engender new questions? If so, will this be the case in eternity? While scripture promises we shall one day know as clearly as we are known, is seems unlikely we shall be omniscient.

Christians reflect the light of the Son. What kind of moon are you? Harvest? Hunters? Full? Half? Sliver?

Given accelerated advances of modern technology the human race is quickening it’s pace but to what end?

With the exponential growth of bio-technologies new questions will emerge at an alarming rate. Perhaps the old adage, “when in doubt…don’t” may help.

Scripture, which cannot be broken, declares, “all things work for good for those who believe God and are called according to His purpose.” Yet given our rapid moral deterioration, even among professing Christians, it seems plausible that conspiracy theories may be optimistic. If such be true, then for the time being and with all due respect it seems all things work together for “the” good of the enemies of God’s purpose…

There may be a fine line between a healthy appetite for the things of God and selfish entitlement. As with faith and presumption, without the manifest presence and power of God making things clear only time and/or the end of it may tell.

When dealing with the subjective, such as with spirituality, experience may be less of expert witness than many would think. For the work to progress there must be qualified guesses and observations to be sure, yet be careful encompassing conclusions are not as inaccurate as the blind men describing an elephant.

Other Modern Proverb topics include:

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