Scripture

Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the LORD protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.

Quote

No amount of human sacrifice and toil will accomplish much without the LORD’s blessing.

~Warren W. Wiersbe

Solomon wrote Psalm 127 and it is a masterpiece. I suppose he could have been referring to building a building or a nation but most certainly he was talking about building a family. He goes on to say, Children are a gift from the LORD ; they are a reward from Him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. Solomon is teaching us that a godly home and successful work cannot occur apart from the LORD’s blessing. The comment he makes is verse 2…. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones...is not to demean hard work. There is nothing wrong with hard work but hard work alone is not the answer, especially when a father has children. It is a warning to those who work all the time and neglect their children. The man who has no time for his family or for worship is too busy. You can ignore the warning but in the end you will pay dearly as did Solomon and his father David. This is great advice, the sad thing is, Solomon did not put it to practice himself. His son was a major disappointment. 

Solomon in his wisdom compares children to arrows. Some years ago, I stumbled on to some interesting similarities between children and arrows:

1. Children like arrows must be shaped or forged. No warrior goes into battle with crooked arrows. They spend hours working on the arrows to make sure they are straight and sharp. Woodrow Wilson was the president of Princeton University before he was our President. He said, “I get many letters from parents wanting to know why we cannot do more with their children and I tell them, they are blood of your blood. They have absorbed the ideals you have taught them. You have formed them and shaped them. In those early years of their lives, you molded them and put your imprint on them forever.” I’m not a fan of Wilson but he has a good point.
2. Children like arrows must be directed or guided. The Warrior aims his arrows. He gives them direction.
3. Children like arrows go far beyond the warrior’s reach. The arrow is an extension of the warrior. His sword is effective only when he is close to the enemy but the arrow can fly hundreds of feet beyond the warrior’s position. Billy Graham father was a dairy farmer. How far beyond the farm did Billy go? That was some more arrow, right!
4. Children like arrows must be released. They are only show pieces in the quiver. For the arrow to be effective, it has to released. This may be the most difficult park of being a parent, letting your children go–giving them back to God.

A team of New York sociologist did of study on the influence of a father. They decided to study polar opposites: Max Jukes was an unbeliever with no principles and he was married to an infidel. Jonathan Edwards was a college president, pastor, theologian and the primary human agent for the GREAT AWAKENING. Let’s look at the result of the study.

Max Jukes: Among his 1,200 descendants there were 440 drunks, drug heads and bar hoppers, 310 paupers and vagrants [homeless people], 190 prostitutes, 130 convicts, 100 Alcoholics, 60 thieves and seven murderers. Not much of a resume’.

Jonathan Edwards: 300 preachers, pastors, missionaries and theological professors, 120 college professors, 110 lawyers, 60 medical doctors, 60 authors, 30 Judges, 14 College Presidents, three U.S. congressmen and one Vice President. We can forgive him for the lawyers and congressmen.

Veteran of the Day

Buford Burgess

Buford worked in intelligence. He was stationed in Turkey, near the Russian border. He was a listener or a spy. He wore civilian clothes: had he been caught, he could have been executed. Buford spoke the Russian language. Matter of fact, he is the only graduate of Athens State University {then Athens College} with a major in the Russian Language. I wish I knew more. I should have sit down with Dot and got some information. I do know this, his military service was far from the norm. I am sure what he did was intriguing but it was also very dangerous. Just give me a uniform and a gun. We salute the memory of Buford Burgess and all the brave men and women who risk their lives daily for our freedom. I found one pic of Buford in uniform but it would not allow me to copy and paste. Here he is pictured with one of his greats. Buford spent his life serving the public as a soldier and a peace officer. He served as a State Trooper and then as Sheriff.

• Had to work like a dog yesterday but had some quality help. I loved spending a day with my beautiful grand daughters. We installed a tongue and groove ceiling in T’s bathroom. It was an all day job for an old man. Couldn’t have done without the girls. You do have to watch Lexi, she will clean up your mess before you are done making a mess. She is a cleaning freak. I hope I get to stay in and study today or mulch leaves.
• November is flying by just like I expected: LUKE 14 this Sunday Night, it is one of my favorite services. I love LUKE 14.
• Either we have not had a frost or Jerry has engineered a frost proof tomato plant. I have a volunteer in the garden that is green and growing.