In the last few months, Tennessee football players have been involved in at least twenty incidents, including cases of shoplifting, assault, gun possession, motor vehicle citations, drug and alcohol problems, and disturbing the peace. In an effort to help solve the problem, the university has come up with an idea. Football players have been given an orange card, small enough to fit in their billfolds, on which is printed the word THINK in large letters, followed by a series of questions designed to help the player assess his behavior and make a wise decision in various circumstances. How will this affect my future? How will my parents feel about this? How will this reflect on my team and coaches? How does this represent the University of Tennessee? On the back of the card are the home and cell phone numbers of the Tennessee coaching staff so players can call for help. One of my favorite commentaries on the book of Proverbs was written by William Arnot and published in the mid- 1. In it, he defines proverbs as . The Lord could have given us one unbroken narrative, weaving together history, philosophy, theology, and practical instruction. Instead He choose to give us a small, portable library of over five dozen books. Every book is different from all the others, and each has its own unique purpose. The book of Proverbs is one of the few books in the Scripture that hangs its key on the front doorpost, so to speak. The very first paragraph of Proverbs gives us its author, purpose, and theme. Proverbs 1: 1- 7 is the perfect prologue to the whole book, and if we can grasp the prologue we can understand the whole book. To Be Wise, Ask God For Wisdom Proverbs 1: 1 The first verse of the book, Proverbs 1: 1, identifies the author. Solomon is the most fitting person in history to have written this book, for he was given a special gift of insight and knowledge by God in answer to a very specific prayer he once offered. Shortly after Solomon had ascended the throne of David, he went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices to the Lord. Gibeon was a city about six or seven miles northwest of Jerusalem, and here the ancient tabernacle of Moses and the original bronze altar were still standing. As Solomon prayed at this site, the Lord spoke to him audibly with these astounding words: . Now this is a question that has intrigued humanity from ancient times. One of our favorite children. That story has given rise to a whole industry of jokes in the United States. For example, a recent story says that a man walking along the beach spotted a bottle and pulled out the cork, releasing the genie in a billowing cloud of smoke. To thank the man the genie offered him one free wish. Would you mind building a road to Hawaii? And the distance is over 2. Do you have another wish instead? Why do they laugh and cry and what makes the tick? Do you think you help me figure out women and how they think? If we could have any one thing we desired, what would we ask for? How would you answer if the Lord spoke as He did to Solomon: Ask for whatever you want Me to give you. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. According to the Bible, God was pleased that Solomon had asked for this, and the Lord replied, . I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Look at the rest of the record: . He was wiser than any other man. He spoke three thousand proverbs . He described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon. Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan. Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her. When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon. Try to visualize the splendor of Solomon. Think of him lecturing in the royal university, administering wise decisions in the national counsels, and providing sound advice to individuals who came to him with their problems. Oh, to be wise like that! Oh, to be given the same opportunity to ask for wisdom! Well, we do have such a privilege. One of the greatest prerogatives in the Bible is found in James 1: 5, which says, . God issues to us the same invitation He gave Solomon. I am the omniscient God who gives generously, and I will grant you wisdom if you will but ask Me. Include this earnest prayer request when you come before My throne: ! Give me the wisdom to think rightly and act wisely in any given circumstance. The second occurrence is in Psalm 8. David prayed, . Unite my heart to fear Your name. It was written in 1. Benjamin Ramsey near the end of his life: Teach me Thy way, O Lord, teach me Thy way! Thy guiding grace afford, teach me Thy way! Help me to walk aright, more by faith, less by sight; Lead me with heav! When I am sad at heart, teach me Thy way! When earthly joys depart, teach me Thy way! In hours of loneliness, in times of dire distress, In failure or success, teach me Thy way! Long as my life shall last, teach me Thy way! Until the race is run, until the journey! One of the interesting things about the special offer God gives us in James 1 is that it. James 1: 2- 4 is a great passage on handling difficulties. In the Holman Christian Standard Bible, it reads: . Samuel Logan Brengle, a Salvation Army evangelist of an earlier era, was to American Christians what Redwoods are to Western forests. He towered above the landscape, preaching and writing with intense spiritual power. His secret was in his attitude. When he grew old and infirm, he wrote to a friend, saying, . The specialist says the light will fade altogether. Austin Powers in Goldmember movie clips: http:// BUY THE MOVIE: http:// Don't miss the HOTTEST NEW TRAILERS: http:// CLIP DESCRIPTION: Austin (Mike Myers) takes on a fembot. HIGHER EDUCATION IN GENERAL. In this chapter: (1) 'Institution of higher. Austin Powers is finally legal. Eighteen years ago today, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery was released. In the movie, that cunning linguist Mike Myers does more than send up James Bond—he sends up. Movie Review of 'Austin Powers in Goldmember' by Billy Reeves. What do Britney Spears, Tom Cruise and Godzilla have in common? They all make brief appearances in the highly anticipated third installment of the. So I gird myself for darkness, quote James 1: 2 to 4, shout Hallelujah and go on! Sure, we want to act wisely all the time; but it. In my own case, there have been times when I. Some time ago, for example, I was facing a dilemma, and I just had to check into a lodge at a state park for a couple of days to mull over the problem, beseech God for wisdom, think through the matter in His presence, and arrive at a decision that reflected His wisdom. It was a pattern I had learned years ago when I was facing a major vocational decision. I took a few days at the beach and walked for hours along the shoreline, praying, thinking, pondering, considering the implications, asking God for wisdom. I came home knowing what I should do. My mistakes have always come when I have . God wants us to seek His wisdom, and we have just as much access to it in prayer as did Solomon. To Be Wise, Search the Scriptures Proverbs 1: 2- 6 Proverbs 1: 1, then, gives us the author of the book, the man who teaches us the importance of asking God for wisdom. Upon learning that his father has been kidnapped, Austin Powers must travel to 1975 and defeat the aptly named villain Goldmember - who is working with Dr. Check Out These Other Pages At Hoseheads. Hoseheads Sprint Car News. Bill W's Knoxville News Bill Wright. KO's Indiana Bullring Scene Kevin Oldham. From the Grandstand Ron Rodda. Tri-State Outlook Duane Hancock. Trivia for Die Another Day (2002) The knife which Jinx uses to cut the fruit while in bed with James is the SPEEDLOCK II, model no. 110106, manufactured by Boker Germany. Zao's full name was Tang Ling Zao. HitFix can exclusively report that Mike Myers has closed his deal to reprise his role as Austin Powers for a third sequel to the cult classic. Proverbs Sermons Robert Morgan Donelson Fellowship. PORTABLE WISDOM Proverbs. The reputation of the University of Tennessee football program has been marred by the misbehavior of some of its players off-field. Influences from Sellers' films are apparent throughout the series; the character of Austin Powers reflects the inspiration of Sellers' portrayal of the character Roger Danvers in the 1970 film There's a Girl in My Soup. The next set of verses, Proverbs 1: 2- 6, tell us that God answers that prayer largely by conveying His wisdom to us in His Word. The book of Proverbs in particular is a treasure trove of divine wisdom. The book of Proverbs is liquid wisdom for the mind, a mental and moral tonic that makes several claims for itself. In the opening paragraph of Proverbs, we. God included Proverbs in the cannon of Scripture: . When I was in college in the 1. Bill Gothard was conducting popular week- long seminars across the country, and a bunch of us students took our Spring break to go to Philadelphia and attend his conference. I still have the notes, and many of Gothard. The thing I remember most clearly was his definition of wisdom. Wisdom, Gothard said, was seeing life from God. And then he went on to emphasize the importance of Scripture memory and meditation. Gothard said that meditation is the practice of memorizing, visualizing, and personalizing Scripture. And as we faithfully memorize and meditate on Scripture, the Holy Spirit will gradually remold our minds until we see things and evaluate life increasingly from God. This is why the first nine chapters of the book of Proverbs are essentially a series of essays on the importance of wisdom and the procedure for acquiring it. Look at how this message is emphasized in these chapters: . The nature of Scripture is that it is humanly authored by divinely inspired. The Lord is speaking, telling us to listen to His instruction and not to forsake His teaching. They will be a garland of grace to your heard and a chain to adore your neck. He wants us to memorize and meditate on it. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. For I give you sound learning. Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck. When you walk they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life? Does not understanding raise her voice? Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway . There is no abiding wisdom apart God. Paul Tournier once wrote, . Often a simple verse of Scripture will come to mind and resolve the issue in my thinking. Some time ago, for example, I read the life story of Oswald Chambers, author of one of the most famous devotional books of the Twentieth Century, My Utmost for His Highest, and I was impressed at how this worked out in his life. Chambers was born and raised in Scotland, and as a young man he became a widely- traveled preacher among Methodist and Holiness groups. He eventually worked with the YMCA among soldiers in Egypt during World War I. On one occasion while in Cairo, British military authorities interrogated him regarding his evangelistic endeavors among the troops and for a while it looked as though he and all his fellow- workers would be detained, stripped of their status, and returned to England.
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