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By Rhett Shannon Leave a Comment

Realizing the Brevity of Life

brevity of life

King David wrote some beautiful words in the book of Psalms in the Bible. He said many things we all need to hear and think about. He was a man close to the heart of God, and inspired by the Holy Spirit when he penned these amazing words on the brevity of life:

“As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, and its place acknowledges it no longer.” Psalm 103:15,16

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Words of Wisdom
Realizing the Brevity of Life
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Filed Under: Worldview Tagged With: brevity of life, flowers of the field, wise words

By Rhett Shannon 1 Comment

Save Your Life to Lose It, or Lose Your Life to Save It

save your lifeI recently heard the story of a young high school-age girl.  She had money, popularity, and intelligence, and was bound for success. Before she graduated, she visited Uganda and witnessed the heartbreaking devastation of a corrupt, poor culture and its broken people. Instead of just feeling sorry for them and going back to her life of comfort in the States, she acted on her love for Jesus and moved there to set up a home and school to help the most destitute. She is still there, and her love for God and for His children has led to new life for countless people. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Worldview Tagged With: lose your life, losing your life, Salvation, save your life, saving your life

By Rhett Shannon Leave a Comment

The Scoffer Versus the Wise Man

scofferEver told someone that what he was doing was wrong, only to find yourself in the midst of a major conflict shortly thereafter?

You were simply trying to rectify a situation, but you find yourself wishing you had said nothing. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Worldview Tagged With: argumentation, criticism, debate, Philosophy, reason, scoff, scoffer, words of wisdom

By Rhett Shannon Leave a Comment

Flattery May Feel Good, But It’s a Trap

flatteryEver heard the saying, “Flattery will get you nowhere.”?

I think whoever wrote that aphorism was likely thinking of the long term effects of flattery. In the short term, flattery can give some advantage…sometimes.

There is a kind of guy who loves to flatter. He will take any and every opportunity to sugar-coat his words toward coworkers, people he does business with, the clerk at the grocery store, and even family members. If you have ever observed this person closely, you will find a motive behind the words of praise.

Of course there are times he might be genuinely praising someone for good reason, because it is deserved and appropriate. But more often than not, it is otherwise.

People typically flatter because they are trying to make an impression on someone else. I don’t want to sound cynical, but in all honesty, this is just the way it is. Solomon said it poignantly:

“A man who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his steps.” Proverbs 29:5

The writer of the Proverbs knew this to be true, and that is why he states it so plainly. Flattery is a deceitful mechanism to gain an advantage through the ill-motivated uplifting of another.

Perhaps the reason it is hard to spot is that people love to be praised. Everyone wants to be told they are good, have done well, and everyone wants to be validated. So they tend to not notice when the praise they are getting is falsely motivated. And this is why it is such an effective ploy.

Loading inappropriate accolades on someone can really be a trap waiting to spring.

When someone showers compliments on you, it is wise to seriously consider why they are saying what they are saying, and how they are saying it. Context is important. Are the words spoken in an inappropriate way, or in an inappropriate time? Are they repeated and rehashed? Are they just plain unnecessary?

Sometimes praise is warranted. Sometimes it’s even necessary. But bona fide, heart-felt compliments are carefully meted out and selective. They don’t show up right before a request for a favor. They aren’t overly gratuitous. And they don’t come off as fake and disingenuous.

No matter how flattery may make us feel – validated, successful, accomplished, appreciated…compliments intended to flatter are dangerous.

Watch for the trap.

On the other hand, words of praise CAN BE entirely genuine, and powerfully affective to lift up someone. For more on that kind of praise, see The Power of Words

Filed Under: Worldview Tagged With: false praise, flattery, proverbs, solomon, wisdom of solomon, wise words, words of wisdom

By Rhett Shannon Leave a Comment

The Sun Also Rises

sun also risesErnest Hemingway published one of his best known works of fiction, The Sun Also Rises, in 1926. The novel received mixed reviews early on, but has since come to be considered Hemingway’s greatest work.

The novel concerns thematic elements such as love, jealousy, sexuality, masculinity, femininity, and meaningfulness, and creates a powerful comment on the deeper issues of life. Hemingway developed quick sketches of characters that in some way or fashion revealed those themes and their many nuances. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Worldview Tagged With: ecclesiastes, proverbs, sun also rises, vanity, wise words, words of wisdom

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