Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Friday, 29 August 2014 "The wisdom from above"

Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Friday, 29 August 2014 "The wisdom from above"
Daily Scripture: James 3: Live Well, Live Wisely
13-16 Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.
17-18 Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.
Reflection Questions:
James devoted a good part of his letter to the effects, positive and negative, of our speech and the inner sources from which that speech springs. He noted that "bitter jealousy and selfish ambition" can wreck any relationship, including those in a family. But he was equally convinced that true wisdom comes "from above," and that divine wisdom will surely shape our souls in ways that create peaceful, generous living.
Scholar William Barclay noted, "There is a kind of person who is undoubtedly clever, with acute brain and skilful tongue; but his effect, nevertheless, in…any group, is to cause trouble and to disturb personal relationships. It is sobering thing to remember that the wisdom he possesses is devilish rather than divine." Have you ever known (or been) a person like that? What does it take to turn that kind of intelligence and skill in speech to more positive purposes?
Barclay also observed that the true wisdom described in verse 17 "at all times brings men closer to one another and to God." What are some of the daily practices that most help you to remember and internalize "the wisdom from above"? In what ways can you sense that wisdom reshaping your life and relationships for the better?
Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, too many times already my own wisdom has let me down, and hurt me and people I love. Keep sending me your wisdom from above, and keep me receptive and open to it. Amen.
Insight from Darren Lippe
Darren Lippe helps facilitate Journey 101 “Loving God” classes, guides a 7th-grade Sunday school class, is a member of a small group & a men’s group, and serves on the Curriculum team.
For some reason, today’s passage brought to mind our family trip to Wisconsin & Michigan this past summer. Traveling across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, we came across exotic names like Ishpeming & Gogebic. I enjoyed the story of the traveler ordering lunch and asking the gal how to pronounce this place’s name. Puzzled, she replied, “Suuub-Waaaaay.”
Of course with the whole family in close proximity for 10 days there can be some tension. Like when our sons turned up their noses at the Best Western’s complimentary breakfast one morning, I was reminded of a Dad’s response when asked by his sons what the choices were for breakfast. He replied, “Well you have 2 choices: Yes or No.”
And truth be told some of our stops might not always seem idealistic at first. While we thoroughly enjoyed touring The Apostle Islands, biking on Mackinack Island, & walking around Henry Ford’s Greenfield Village there was some eye-rolling noted in the rear-view mirror when we stopped at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Luckily, there was still parking available!)
As I pondered our verse selection, I couldn’t help but think of the lessons presented by a few snippets of President Ford’s life.
President Ford, after he stumbled down the steps of Air Force One on a trip to Austria, is probably best remembered for the incessant mocking on Saturday Night Live portraying him as klutz. (Quite ironic, since Ford was extremely athletic, voted MVP of his Michigan football team which won 2 National Championships, & drafted by the Green Bay Packers.) But there is a bit more to his story:
Early Life
Shortly after Leslie Lynch King, Jr. was born in 1913, his mother separated from his violent father. They moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan and eventually his Mother marries a paint salesman & the baby’s name is changed to Gerald R. Ford, Jr.
While bussing tables in a diner at the age of 16, Ford has a chance encounter & meets his birth father, Leslie King, for the 1st time. King boasts about his financial successes, his pretty wife & family, and pushes $20 into Ford’s hands before leaving. (Gerald’s wages were $2/week at the time.) Ford recounted later how he wept bitterly that night. He consoled himself by reciting Proverbs 3:5-6 over & over.
College Life
While a football player at the University of Michigan, the Wolverines were scheduled to play Georgia Tech. However, Tech refused to play the game if Ford’s roommate & best friend, Willis Ward, was allowed to play. Mr. Ward was African-American. Michigan acquiesced to Tech’s demands and Ford was ready to quit the team in disgust. However, his friend persuaded him to go ahead & play the game & to be sure to win. (Michigan did prevail; ironically, the only win of the 1934 season.)
Political Life
Ford (a 24-year member of the House of Representatives) was selected by President Nixon to be his Vice-President after Spiro Agnew resigned amidst scandal. Ford was the only candidate who could gain the support of both Republicans & Democrats due to his reputation of integrity & hard work. (Ford was an Eagle Scout & a member of the House’s weekly Bible study.)
A month after becoming President, & despite all of his aides advising him it would be political suicide, Ford pardoned Nixon so that the nation might begin to heal. Colleagues, pundits, & opinion-makers, who a few months earlier had praised his integrity, lashed out at Ford accusing him of making a deal to become President or even covering up his own crimes. He would lose the 1976 election, but most scholars belatedly concluded that the pardon was a statesman-like decision.
So what might we discern from President Ford’s life as it pertains to our Scripture? (I was asking myself that very question – Editor.) Today’s Scripture challenges us to live well & to live wisely, to start on the hard work of getting along, & to treat each other with dignity & honor. Yet, we know that in spite of our best intentions, we will fail & others will fail us. What should we do when this occurs? Perhaps Ford’s life can provide us some counsel:
Ford could have rightfully resented the mocking he received for being clumsy; however, he wasn’t thin-skinned – he embraced the humor of the situation & even played along famously with the theme, post-presidency.
Ford wasn’t embittered about his childhood; instead, he reconciled with his birth father, bragged on his parents & the many Scout mentors of his youth.
Remembering that frustrating game in 1934, Ford wrote, “…has helped me many times to face a tough situation, take action, and make every effort possible despite the adverse odds.”
Regarding his Presidency, Ford said at his inauguration, “Let us restore the golden rule to our political process, and let brotherly love purge our hearts of suspicion & hate.”
So when asked what he wanted to title his autobiography, Ford suggested what he felt was an important theme in his life: A Time to Heal. May we go & do likewise.
DL: See that wasn’t so bad, was it? Where shall we eat lunch?
#1 Son: Subway!
#2 Son: I want a foot-long – I didn’t eat much breakfast.
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