Ironworks

          Experiences and knowledge are the things that shape your outlook on life. It’s one thing to know something, but it is another thing to experience it. Take parenting for example. Have you ever met the single person who knows how to rear children better than someone who actually has children? Sure you have. There is a difference between theoretically knowing something and actually doing it. Going through experiences helps our knowledge of various circumstances, which is really called wisdom.           Continuing with the thought from previous weeks, after our wreck our perspectives changed. Most of our knowledge had not changed, but we had a new way to look at things. Let me share with you  a few lessons we have learned. Hold Tight to the Ones You Love           You never know when the last moment will be that you get to spend time with the ones you love. We are not promised a tomorrow...

Starting today is the 56th annual Memphis School of Preaching Lectureship. This year's theme is, “Who Is Wise.” This is a time that my family and I greatly look forward to each year and this is no different. I thought about the theme and it made me contemplate that very valid question that composes it, who is wise?  In many cases, we might look at our modern era and consider all of our advances in education, technology, and medicine and say there might be more intelligence in today’s society than at any other time in history. However, it does not take much research to show there are not many wise individuals today regardless of their educational acumen. So if we lack wisdom in this world today, what is the reliable source to find it?  The prophet Hosea wrote, “Who is wise, that he may understand these things? prudent, that he may know them? for the ways of Jehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them, but transgressors shall fall therein” (Hosea 14:9). If we want t...

    Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the Lord loved Israel forever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice. 1 Kings 10: 9 "Your reputation precedes you." This is a common phrase when we meet someone for the first time. It is often said out of respect or to simply compliment a stranger.  When the Queen of Sheba came to visit King Solomon, she came due to what she had heard of his reputation. The word had traveled down from Israel in Ethiopia in Eastern Africa that Solomon was very wise. It was of such great interest that the Queen of Sheba just had to go and investigate this wise king. When this distant queen arrived and witnessed what she heard, she declared,  “ It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and thy wisdom” (cf. 1 Kings 10:6).  We can learn from the wisdom of King Solomon. The Queen recognized that there was something remarkable in Israel, and, w...

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:52                    Over the last few weeks, many of our daily schedules have changed. Some of you might have used some extra time learning or trying something new. Many people are trying their hand at baking bread, doing landscaping, and building things. I guess this is a good use of time for people to grow in areas where they are lacking.                    Luke records that Jesus, as he came up, increased in several areas. These areas would be great for all Christians to consider as we have time away from a normal schedule. First, Jesus increased in wisdom. To grow in wisdom is to grow in the proper application of intelligence. Second, Jesus increased in stature. He grew physically. Third, Jesus increased in f...