Ecclesiastes Chapter 10, Part 2

This is a continuation of last week's examination of Ecclesiastes 10, which looked at each verse or proverb and approaches it from our situations today.

VERSE 11 – We've all seen the television programs which feature a "snake charmer," someone who through their own body motion (and sometimes with a musical instrument) seems to hypnotize a snake so that it does not bite the charmer. These people possess no great power; merely the knowledge of how to orchestrate their movements so the snake remains docile. Yet that does not always work. Sometimes when the movement isn't right or the snake is in a particularly foul mood, disaster happens. We also apply the term "snake charmer" to those who have a somewhat hypnotic effect on other people through their charismatic words or looks. Just a snake has the nature to bite, so do those who are "all mouth," those who are not interested in substance or truth, just their own desires. Step on them, and they will bite you. This shows a lack of wisdom, which Solomon addresses in the next verse.

VERSE 12 – There are few things which can compare to the wise advice of a Godly person. This wisdom is seen even in the worst of circumstances; perhaps it would be better to say that this wisdom is seen in its fullness and most beautiful in the worst of circumstances. The saint of God knows how to handle the difficult situations of life, and the Lord's light shines brightly from these people. It does our soul good to know that when one of God's children makes it through a severe trial, the Lord will also be with us. It is so different when we see the life of the fool, when we hear the words of those who do not place their faith in God. There is no sadder picture than that person. Their words do not seek those things which are good, noble or praiseworthy. Eventually those words and that lifestyle will lead to ruin, either in this world or in eternity. Solomon is quite familiar with vain words, so it would do us well to listen.

VERSE 13 – There is no hope for the fool who never turns to the Lord. Their words, their attitudes, their lifestyle are foolish from the start, and it's all downhill from there. We have our own individual experiences with the raging crazies, with people we would describe (as Barney Fife so eloquently put it), "He's a nut!" But it is total lunacy, utter madness to reject the Lord and His ways, for the end is destruction.

VERSE 14 – Ever notice that some people can't shut up? PRESENT COMPANY EXCLUDED!!! Seriously though, there are some people who hang themselves with their words, who simply don't know when to quit. They act as though they know everything past, present and future, but in fact they don't even know themselves. It is only through the wisdom and knowledge of God that one can have any knowledge of life and of self. Life is only understood in the light of God and His Word; anything less falls short.

VERSE 15 – Much is said of the fool, because Solomon has lived that kind of life. He knows better than anyone the foolishness of the human heart. For all his vast wisdom he had let his flesh take control, and his wisdom took a back seat. Those who refuse to place Jesus on the throne of their heart and who follow any other path simply do not know where they are going. I've often been struck by the number of people who believe their way is just as valid, just as secure as that of the Bible, even though they are far from God's Word. All their work, all their words are empty; they never end up where they claim their path will lead them. Solomon gives us a picture of a city. It's hard to miss a city, but he says the fool completely misses it. The truth of God and His Spirit is right in front of us, yet so many miss it. This is an encouragement for us to make sure our eyes are truly opened so that we can see (as well as point the way to) the city of God: the Church.

VERSES 16-18 – Too many people are ruining their lives and the lives of those around them because of their spiritual immaturity. They seem to be interested only in instant gratification, taking the best first and leaving the rest to take care of itself. Wisdom can be seen in those who allow themselves to be matured through the Spirit of the Living God, even though that maturity may seem as foolishness to those who do not know God. There is a time for everything, and when it comes to the Lord, we need patience. There are good things and bad things, but good things can be bad when done at the improper time. Everything we do should be done to God's specifications, following His leading and His timeline, and it will always work out. But we are not to sit back, become lazy and complacent, for in that laziness our life begins to decay. Those who live in a house of any kind know that maintenance is required. A small problem can become a major problem if left unattended. You also notice that a house which is lived in seems to survive a long time, while even the best-built homes, when empty, fall to the ground much more quickly. Our lives are like those homes: our souls need constant attention, so that we can remain in "good working order."

VERSE 19 – Solomon had more money than anyone in the world, and we sometimes think that money solves all problems. We know that is not true. Solomon here is making a comparison to illustrate that money does not answer everything. Not every feast is for laughter (perhaps a dinner for the family of one who passes away). Not every bottle of wine makes merry (many drink to forget, to have fun, but end up with a ruined body and life). And we know money answers some things, but the most important things, the matters of the soul and the peace of mind, are not affected by wealth.

VERSE 20 – We end this chapter with some sound advice (one more verse of it, at least). We need to be careful what we think and what we say, because it does not stay private. Pastors are often the last people to know things going on, but on many occasions people tell their pastor what is going on, what has been said, problems, etc, when those things were thought to be private. Even if you keep your thoughts and words and complaints to yourself, eventually they will show through in some way in your life. Be careful, because these words and attitudes may be your undoing. Solomon did not have proper respect for his true King, the God of heaven, and because of this lack of respect and concern, the entire nation suffered spiritually. This verse is where we get the old phrase "a little bird told me." And I can say this: many of those "little birds" are more like preying vultures or "old buzzards" who like nothing more than to spread gossip and stir up problems. We are to trust, but realize that there are very few real "secrets." Where do we stand with God? What do we really think of our spiritual relationship with Him and with others? Do we really care about the souls of others? We'd be wise to look inwardly and make adjustments now before things get out, and out of control.

With this we bring to a close the tenth chapter of Ecclesiastes. Through these proverbs we gain such a great insight into Solomon as well as into our own selves. "Do as I say, not as I do" does not apply here. It's more of "Do as I say, not as I did. Don't make my mistakes." Will we listen? That is the ultimate question.

© 2007, Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press. All rights reserved. All material printed on this site is protected by the copyright law of the United States. It may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press, obtainable by leaving a comment (with your request) which will be forwarded to Chris Keeton. Altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content is not permitted. Any and all portions of material copied from the Soulscape Blog must be properly attributed to Chris Keeton and Soulscape, and cited with original blog web address.

In the Days Ahead…

I find myself here, yet another Monday, yet another "new blog entry" day, with nothing to say. That's right, I have nothing to say. Odd for a preacher; odd for someone who makes his living talking. Perhaps I talked myself out yesterday through my sermons. Occasionally that happens. I've always joked that (and this could apply to most pastors) even if a preacher has nothing to say, he'll take forty-five minutes to say it. So, how should I occupy my time today? Or for that matter, how should I occupy your time?

Okay, how's this? The Lord woke me up, or rather prevented me from going to sleep, on the Saturday night/Sunday morning that Daylight Saving Time went into effect. I even went to bed early that night in order to redeem my lost hour of sleep. But the Lord gave me an idea, and though I wanted to wait until morning to write it down, I had to get up to document and research it. So, this Good Friday, April 6^th, my congregation will be participating in its first-annual "CrossWalk." Fifteen members of my church will each carry a wooden cross for 550 feet, traveling a total distance of 1.5 miles to our church, where we will have a short devotional service and fellowship (and Easter egg hunt for the kiddies!). Along with the fifteen carriers will be people who will walk all or part of the route through the community, all of us serving to testify of Christ's sacrifice and our appreciation for Him.

I asked all the "carriers" to write down their preliminary thoughts on CrossWalk, what they expect or hope to gain from the experience; then, each participant will write down their feelings and impressions after the event. By comparing what their thoughts are both before and after, perhaps we will be able to see a profound change or insight into their Christian experience. And, if the Lord leads, I may share some of those writings with you here on Soulscape. For my purposes, I will use next Monday's post to write my preliminary thoughts, and the following Monday will be dedicated to my post-CrossWalk impressions.

Also, my son's fourth birthday will be next Monday, so we're gearing up for that. So until next week, I encourage you to give thought to what the crucifixion means to you, what the gravity of the Lord's sacrifice means to the world and what its impact has had on your life (or those around you). You can stop by http://westwoodchurchofgod.org/podcast to listen to some of my recent Wednesday Bible Study series on the Seven Last Words from the Cross (apologies for Lesson 3, as there was some technical issue which prevented it from being available). Or, if you have iTunes, simply do a search in the iTunes Store for "Chris Keeton" and you can listen to all our recent messages, including the Last Words series. They are available for download or streaming audio formats.

So until next week, may God bless you.

© 2007, Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press. All rights reserved. All material printed on this site is protected by the copyright law of the United States. It may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press, obtainable by leaving a comment (with your request) which will be forwarded to Chris Keeton. Altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content is not permitted. Any and all portions of material copied from the Soulscape Blog must be properly attributed to Chris Keeton and Soulscape, and cited with original blog web address.

Ecclesiastes Chapter 10, Part 1

"Go with your strengths." That's good advice on many occasions. Solomon had once been offered by God anything his heart desired, and so Solomon had asked for wisdom. This he received, but as we know (if we will actually stop and think about it for a second) God gives us many blessings and gifts, but it is up to us to use them the right way. Solomon did not use his gift for God, and it got him into some serious trouble; serious enough, in fact, that he declares in Ecclesiastes that life itself is little more than an exercise in vanity. But for all his failings, he is still wise. As if getting his head on straight he begins to go back to his strengths, giving us an entire chapter of proverbs (or proverb-like sayings) to convey his message to the reader. Up to this point Solomon has written a few proverb-esque passages, but now we see a whole chapter dedicated to this effective form of communication.

Since each of the sayings require discussion (at least in my opinion they do, and since Soulscape is my blog . . . well, let's just say we're doing it) I will break the chapter in half, looking at the first ten verses this week, and the next ten verses next week. So grab your Bible and dive in to Ecclesiastes 10, and we'll discuss each verse, verse-by-verse. Versy verse verse. Ahem. Now that's out of the way. We can continue.

VERSE 1 – No matter how sweet the perfume or beautiful the fruit, it can be easily spoiled. You might call this verse an early version of the old "one bad apple" saying. But this particular verse of wisdom goes much deeper. As has been said before (probably by lots of people, but definitely by me), it takes a lifetime to build a life of trust and respect, or to build a testimony, and only one second or one mistake to tear it down forever, irreparably damaging it. Solomon was known for the greatest wisdom in history, yet because he chose to use it for purposes other than God's uses, he knew firsthand that he was tarnished.

VERSE 2 – The left hand in the ancient world stood for evil things, while the right hand stood for righteous things. Solomon was saying that a wise man will realize his great need for a righteous life and attitude, but by the simple lack of concern the fool's life would be filled with evil things. Neglect is a sin, just as much as murder, and therefore this is a warning to all those who simply neglect God and His will, as well as an encouragement to those who wish to live a righteous life.

VERSE 3 – People will scorn the righteous, even calling them fools for their belief. But Solomon here is saying something that was stated centuries later by Abraham Lincoln: "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." A fool is apparent, because their daily life shows it; you just can't hide it. How do you want to be known: as a fool, or as one who understands the wisdom of righteousness? How does God consider you?

VERSE 4 – Eventually someone will get angry at you. It comes down to how you handle it. You can get angry in return, but that just stirs more hard feelings. If you stand your ground while being respectful, you not only show wisdom but also earn the respect of the other party. You may even be able to diffuse a difficult situation just by showing humility. Being humble doesn't always mean you roll over and take a beating, but that you refuse to engage the argument while maintaining your own position and dignity. This truly shows great wisdom. Remember, there's a right way and a wrong way to handle every situation, so we need to make sure we always handle the situations of life with wisdom, because each is an opportunity to witness for our great God and Savior.

VERSES 5-7 – These verses need to be taken as a single thought. Solomon acknowledges that life isn't always fair, and that human fairness is in no way what God would want. He says he has seen this error as coming from the ruler, perhaps an acknowledgement of his own arrogance and folly. He was in the highest position in the land, perhaps even the world, and sat upon a throne, but those with true wisdom (the wisdom that respects the Lord and His path) may struggle even to have their daily bread. As a king (and a type of the Messiah to come) Solomon should have been a servant to his people, yet he almost lorded his position, wealth and power over his people. The people, on the other hand, were exhibiting more of God's will than he himself was. You see, Solomon realized what we must realize: true greatness is found in the eyes of God and the hearts of His people. Solomon forgot this, and it was a grievous error which would have consequences long after Solomon died.

VERSE 8 – Again, a modern example of this verse might be, "You made your bed, now sleep in it." Perhaps another more modern saying would be, "Give a person enough rope and they'll hang themselves." So many people dig holes for other people, or they simply live a life digging a hole and they don't even realize it. Pretty soon, though, they find themselves at the bottom of a pit and, just like a grave, they have no way to get out. We need to be cautious as we live our life, making sure we are living in Godly wisdom will ensure that we don't get bitten by surprise due to the consequences of our own actions.

VERSE 9 – There are high-risk and hazardous careers out there: policemen, firemen, anything on the Discovery Channel's "Dirty Jobs." Going back to a theme which seems to have emerged throughout this entry (which wasn't my original intent), we might say, "If you play with fire, don't be surprised if you get burned." Solomon is saying that if you lack wisdom (or worse, you have wisdom but refuse to exercise it properly) you're going to get hurt. That is the end result of the fool. In their arrogance the fool moves one rock too many, and the whole mountain crumbles down upon them. They take one too many swings, and the splinters fly, hurting them and all those around them. This shouldn't be surprising, and so Solomon warns us.

VERSE 10 – Put yourself in this place. We all have an ax, and we're all working. But the ax is our responsibility; we are the ones who are required to keep the ax sharp. Yet the fool continues to swing the dull ax and expends ten times the energy in chopping than he would by sharpening (i.e. using wisdom) first. I've noticed (and commented to my church before) that when it comes to church projects or supplies, people tend to buy or give the cheapest things they can, or use the cheapest building supplies or shortcuts when construction comes around. Inevitably you wind up spending twice as much getting it fixed than you would paying a bit more to get it right the first time. Even in Solomon's day this was the case. The wise person realizes what wisdom can accomplish, which is success. Whatever a person might be engaged in, it will be much easier and much more effective if it is approached with wisdom first. But just keep in mind that success in God's eyes might be different than the world's interpretation of success. Which is more important?

Next time we will look at the last ten verses of this chapter, but I hope that you have a little better insight into what Solomon (and what God) is trying to tell us. Wisdom is important, and acquiring and living it should be a goal within itself. God wants wisdom, the right wisdom, and people to exercise it. So look at your life and be honest with yourself, then make the necessary adjustments to make your life better and live that life in which the Lord will be well-pleased.

© 2007, Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press. All rights reserved. All material printed on this site is protected by the copyright law of the United States. It may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press, obtainable by leaving a comment (with your request) which will be forwarded to Chris Keeton. Altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content is not permitted. Any and all portions of material copied from the Soulscape Blog must be properly attributed to Chris Keeton and Soulscape, and cited with original blog web address.

100 Entries of Stuff on the Blog, 100 Entries of Stuff . . .

My great-grandfather lived to be almost 101 years of age. Had there been blogs way back in 1894, and he'd written one entry per year (from year one), this would be comparable to his final entry. Yes, friends, this is my ONE HUNDREDTH ENTRY on the old Soulscape Blog. It's hard to believe that the vast empire today known as Soulscape, started way back in August of 2005, would still be going strong 100 posts later! I wonder if "Papaw-Great" would have been proud of me? And why do I have the sudden urge to rewrite and Eric Clapton song? (Would you know my screen-name, if I posted in heaven?)

Anywho, this Soulscape blog has touched many lives and made a huge impact on our society (if by "many lives" I mean "me," and by "our society" I again mean "me"). One hundred entries and 28 comments later, and I still remember the humble beginnings. Oh, how the times have changed. But I will never forget all the little people who brought me to where I am today. And by "all the little people," I again refer to "me."

On a slightly more serious note, it is extremely gratifying to know that Soulscape is still around. I've had to adjust my writing schedule on a few occasions because of my other priorities outside of cyberspace, like husbandhood, fatherhood, pastorhood, and a few other hoods which require attention. And, long about September, we will have a new little addition to the household (got to hear the heartbeat today; quick little bugger, too!). But over the last year and a half or so, it's good to see people still stopping by to read what I have to say a couple of times each week.

Writing is something I have always loved to do; studying the Word and figuring out ways to apply it to my life (and be able to perhaps explain it a little to others) also is a "pet passion." I don't feel worthy, but do feel honored to live in a time when a person can freely get in God's Word and express his or her thoughts on that Word in a forum that has the potential to reach people all around the world.

My prayer is that you, the reader, have been encouraged through some of these postings. Maybe you've been inspired to study the Bible a little more, maybe something has been explained or presented that you never thought of before, or perhaps you've just given a little more thought to what you believe and why. But most of all, my prayer is that you have a greater respect for what the Lord has done for you in your life, through reading some of my somewhat rambling ideas.

I have said that if I had to pick some other occupation than being a pastor, I would write (I have a couple of book ideas in the works, some of which I've started on and one day hope to actually finish! Stay tuned for further details!). But in some ways writing on this blog is a luxury; so many other things require my attention that at times this blog has to take a back seat. Still, I consider myself fortunate to have this outlet. As some of you have been kind enough to take time out to read my blog and even make a comment or two, I feel it is my duty and privilege to say thank you. This blog really started out to be just for me, as a way to hone my writing skills and keep me on my toes Bible-study-wise. But after 100 entries, it has become something that I feel is a necessary part of my ministry. And if I can help just one soul through this Soulscape journey, then the time has been well-spent.

So again, I say thank you to all who have helped make Soulscape a success, and have inspired me to keep on bloggin'. By reading and commenting on my posts, you are giving me a very precious gift: your time. I take that very seriously because our time is our life, and each second that passes is a second we can never get back. So the fact that you have given a few of those precious moments of life to reading what the Lord has laid upon my heart truly humbles me, and I will be forever grateful. I never really considered that I'd still be here a hundred entries later, but I'm glad I am, and I am happy to have you along with me. Blessings to you, and may the Lord continue to use this country preacher's little blog to help someone in need. Hope to see you for the next hundred, and that God get's all the praise and glory for everything that is written here.

There are quite a few decades left before I reach the century mark myself, but maybe, just maybe, my great-grandchildren will look back, read some of these things on the old Soulscape archives somewhere, and say, "We're proud of you, Papaw-Great." But even if these words have long passed away and I'm just some name in a family album, if they are inspired to study and write and comment on God's Word from a heart dedicated to Him, then that's just fine with me, too.

© 2007, Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press. All rights reserved. All material printed on this site is protected by the copyright law of the United States. It may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press, obtainable by leaving a comment (with your request) which will be forwarded to Chris Keeton. Altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content is not permitted. Any and all portions of material copied from the Soulscape Blog must be properly attributed to Chris Keeton and Soulscape, and cited with original blog web address.

Ecclesiastes Chapter 9

With a mixture of proverbs, experience and wisdom, Solomon once again delivers a message which still resonates today with great truth. He begins by making yet another observation of life, taking what he has already stated and expounding upon it. The book of Ecclesiastes may seem redundant, an old man lamenting the vanity of life over and over again; yet with each restatement Solomon dives just a bit deeper into our existence, helping us understand it just a bit more.

Now that we have reached chapter nine, we see more truth. Solomon acknowledges that good things and bad things happen to all of us, no matter who we are. We all live, we all have experiences, and we all die. But everything that happens to us, our lives themselves, are in the hands of God. Nothing escapes His sight, nothing is beyond His control. Even our perceptions of love and hate are not complete, not fully understood, but God knows it all.

Life is the only thing we have, and even the worst of life is better than the best death. By this, I am speaking in physical terms. Rich or poor, godly or wicked, people die, but this is the only life we have. Therefore it is up to us to use it wisely. Each day is God's gift to us, a gift we can give back to Him, a gift we can use to help those around us. Foolishness is thinking life belongs to us, or that we have an unlimited amount of time. Wisdom makes the best of every day, every moment, every situation, and acknowledges that the Lord is in control. Once this life is over, that's it. Our eternal destiny has been locked, and our affairs in this world come to an end. But we can rest assure in the Lord if we know Christ as our Savior. We don't have to dread each day, or even dread the end of this life; we can enjoy our life knowing that we are in the very hand of God.

Verses 9 and 10 are of special interest. Normally I don't quote them directly, leaving them for you to look up in the study, but I do wish to quote these: Ecclesiastes 9:9-10 -- ⁹ Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun. ¹⁰ Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

Many of us will say that marriage is a difficult journey even during the best of times, but Solomon (a man with no shortage of 'companionship' in the female arena) realizes now that it's not just a matter of having companionship, but it has everything to do with the right companionship. Life in itself is vain, but we were not intended to make this journey alone. We should love our companion will all our heart. In the same manner, we should love our eternal Companion Jesus, because it is only in Him that we find purpose in the vanity. It is only in the companionship of a spouse that we find ourselves physically complete; even when things are difficult, we have a friend. The marriage analogy here is more spiritual than anything. When we marry ourselves to the Lord, we know we are never alone. All this is done while we live here. Once we have died, there is nothing more we can do, so whatever we find to do in life, we should do it with all our might, with a love of God at the forefront, because it's here that we can make a difference.

Verses 11 and 12 are also great (at least to my viewpoint) in that they speak of things we have come to understand about life: the race isn't always about the fastest, nor the battle about the strongest. Life throws its share of curves toward us, and each person handles them a little bit differently than another. We can't choose when we're born or the circumstances in which we find ourselves, but we can choose to make the best of what we have. To use another description, we must play the hand we're dealt, and even if we don't have the greatest cards in the deck, we can still win the game.

Solomon ends by telling us a parable and gives us a couple of more proverbs. The parable is of a poor wise man who saved a village, but his contribution was forgotten. That is the way this life is. It's not so much about being remembered, nor is it about receiving the credit. The results are what matter. If people spent more time concerned with getting the job done instead of who would get the credit, much would be accomplished. It isn't right that the wise are forgotten, but in the end, we all face the same fate: death. We would all like to be remembered for something, but even if our name is lost in the pages of history, our impact will last forever. Our descendants may come to know the Lord because we were faithful. Generations from now might not even acknowledge we were here, but our legacy lives on. It is better to be a poor wise person, forgotten, than a sinner who lives only for himself. So what will it be? Don't despise your wisdom, because it is your wisdom of God, knowing that He is our Savior, that will carry you through.

© 2007, Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press. All rights reserved. All material printed on this site is protected by the copyright law of the United States. It may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press, obtainable by leaving a comment (with your request) which will be forwarded to Chris Keeton. Altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content is not permitted. Any and all portions of material copied from the Soulscape Blog must be properly attributed to Chris Keeton and Soulscape, and cited with original blog web address.

You Gotta Friend in Him

This entry is based my response to an e-mail I recently received. I have adapted it into a blog entry, because it really got me thinking. I hope it helps you.

Over the years I've encountered many people who faced multiple tragedies and challenges in a relatively short period of time. "When it rains, it pours" describes their situations very well. Some of these people had nothing and no one on which to rely, but for those who knew Jesus, I have seen that God has carried them through. Never has He let them down; never has He let me down. But when you're going through the struggle, it's sometimes hard to hold tight to your faith. It's not that you doubt God, but you doubt yourself, and that doubt begins to bleed over into everything. When God doesn't answer right now or in the way we want, we begin to struggle, wondering if things are ever going to get better.

Self-doubt is probably the most difficult of all doubts, because they are reinforced within us so often. As I always say, "No matter where I go, there I am. I'm with me 24 hours a day." Because of this closeness we have with ourselves, we are constantly faced with every doubt, every failure and every fear. Even when they're not obvious to anyone else, we live them. The closer we are to these feelings, the more real (and more brutal) they seem. But Jesus died to set us free, not only from sin, but from our doubts and fears and failures.

Life is never easy, there's no two ways about it. Many things that we go through are things we will never get over. Jesus didn't promise that He would deliver us from every bad situation, but that He would go with us through them. He promised to give us the strength to see us through. Again, looking at ourselves we might consider that we are very weak and vulnerable. The pain, the heartache, and even the failures are very real and they hurt. It is at times like these we think that perhaps God has abandoned us to such misery.

What we don't realize, though, is that our weakness acts as a kind of "magnifying glass" for the power, majesty and glory of the Lord. Remember what Paul said, "When I am weak, then I am strong." This is what he was talking about. This "magnifying glass" condition works like this: others see what we go through, they know the pain we experience, and while we feel that we can't take another step, the people around us see something else. They might say, "I admire your strength," even though "strong" is the last thing we feel. In fact, we may actually inspire them to continue in their own journey; maybe they're ready to give up, but in you they see a strength that pushes them to take it just one more day.

Even when our life hands us tragedy, God can use it to bring glory to Him. The Bible doesn't tell us that all things are good. Rather, it says that all things work together for good, to those who love the Lord. Even when it's painful, even when it seems impossible, try to look past the pain, past the moment, past the situation, and focus instead on the Lord. Remember what He has done for others; remember what He has already done for you; remember all that He is capable of doing. Then rest in the faith and knowledge that if you're placing your trust in Him, He WILL NEVER abandon you or let you down.

My prayer for you is that the Lord will continue to guide you through the dark times of your life, and that you will use the light of Christ to keep your eyes on the Lord, allowing Him to guide you, and having trust in Him (and yourself) that with Him you can do all things. I pray that He will strengthen and comfort you in the ways only He can. I and others can't offer much, but when we rely on the Lord, we have everything we need.

© 2007, Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press. All rights reserved. All material printed on this site is protected by the copyright law of the United States. It may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press, obtainable by leaving a comment (with your request) which will be forwarded to Chris Keeton. Altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content is not permitted. Any and all portions of material copied from the Soulscape Blog must be properly attributed to Chris Keeton and Soulscape, and cited with original blog web address.

Ecclesiastes Chapter 8

Okay. General impressions of Ecclesiastes 8:

I like the way Solomon begins the chapter, kind of like a quote at the beginning of a book which stands for the meaning of the work. Here Solomon says that of all the things which man can aspire to, nothing is as good as wisdom. With wisdom an entirely new outlook on life is available, and it shows. How a person lives, how they walk and talk, all are affected when approached with a heart of wisdom. But it is not the wisdom of humanity that brings about this change and fullness of life; it is the wisdom of God. Solomon now begins to discuss some very important things concerning wisdom.

Verses 2 and 3 could be classified as "common sense" verses. Solomon does what any good teacher will do: he compares an earthly situation to a spiritual situation so that we might be able to draw the appropriate conclusions. I want to say a little something about each of the verses from 4 through 8.

Verses 4-5 – The king is in charge; no doubt about it. No one comes to the king and questions him because he has absolute power. Question the king and there will be repercussions. Go against the kings commands and there is a price to pay. This is not illustrating that God is a tyrant, but is trying to convey the level of respect we should show Him. Our duty is not to question Him or break His commands simply to suit ourselves. We are to live as His servants, knowing that if we obey His commands we have nothing to fear. We also know there is a time and place for everything, and that everything has its purpose. Therefore we can have confidence in our God who loves us so much. Wisdom is being able to recognize this simple truth.

Verses 6-8 – Chances are that as life proceeds, our problems increase accordingly. It just comes with the territory. We don't know what the future holds, and no one can tell us. Therefore the only thing we can do is live right before God no matter what happens. He is there for us, He is still in control, and He still has the ultimate victory over everything we face in life. One day we will face death. If we have given our life to the Lord, we know that He will carry us home. Our wickedness, our own power or wits will not help us in that moment of death. King or peasant, all face their earthly end. Since we don't have that kind of power, and we know that only One does, would it not be wise to place our trust in Him and serve Him?

Verses 10-13 explain a great spiritual truth. People live and die and are forgotten (at least in some measure). No matter how great they may have been, their greatness is only temporary. It does seem that the wicked are the ones with all the breaks, that their evil ways seem to prolong their days here on earth. But Solomon reassures us that all is well with a godly person. No matter what happens to us in this life, we know we have a friend in Jesus. Solomon talks about the life of the wicked being just a shadow. A shadow looks like something but has no substance in and of itself. Even a long and fruitful life here is nothing compared to eternity, and if we don't know the King of eternity, we have no hope at all.

The Preacher concludes this chapter by plainly stating the facts. He used God's gift of wisdom in order to know the things of man and of God. But even this wisdom, if applied day and night for a lifetime, can never grasp it all. Try as he might, no matter how much wisdom he had, it was never enough to fully understand God, much less man. Even the wisest man on earth couldn't understand it all. Therefore Solomon encourages us to find those things which we do know, such as obedience to God and living for and trusting in Him, and do it with all our heart. In this we find true wisdom.

There is great comfort here. We can't know it all, even though we try. But God isn't interested in how much we know, but how we apply what we know. He is not concerned with circumstances and results, but our faithfulness within those circumstances. If we trust in the Lord, no matter what we might go through, we know the ultimate result will be in God's will and for His glory. If this is wisdom, then please sign me up!

© 2007, Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press. All rights reserved. All material printed on this site is protected by the copyright law of the United States. It may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press, obtainable by leaving a comment (with your request) which will be forwarded to Chris Keeton. Altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content is not permitted. Any and all portions of material copied from the Soulscape Blog must be properly attributed to Chris Keeton and Soulscape, and cited with original blog web address.

Let us pray . . .

Prayer is the backbone of the Christian life. Without prayer we have no communication with God, nor He with us. As drastic as this may sound, it is true. Prayer is the "holy phone line" between us and heaven. What many people don't understand, though, is that prayer isn't just an "ask-fest." It is not merely a time when we go to God with a list of needs or demands, and treat God like a supernatural Santa Claus or Genie in a Bottle. Prayer centers our hearts upon the things of God, and as we focus upon the Lord, He is able to commune with our spirit and guide us.

If we were honest, none of us spend enough time in prayer. Oh sure, we all say, "I want to get closer to the Lord; I want to pray more than I do; When I pray all I seem to do is ask for things; I can never think of what to pray about; I can't seem to focus for a long time," and a number of other phrases. It is true that we need to have more time with the Lord in prayer, for prayer is our one-on-one fellowship time with God Himself. And who among us couldn't stand to use a little more time with the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe? Hands, anyone? Anyone?

Right, then. Moving on. Not only would we say that we as individuals need to be closer to the Lord (at least in private; most people tend to be 'holier' in the presence of others than in private, when no one is watching), but we would all agree that our particular church congregation needs to be closer to the Lord. All congregations face difficult times, struggles, events which truly test our faith and perseverance. We need to resist, however, the temptation to say, "If everyone at my church lived at MY spiritual level, then we'd really see success." We need to be honest and admit that every member of the congregation has a responsibility, and that all of us fall short. So what are we to do about it?

Recently, in my own congregation, we started a Weekly Prayer Plan. Prior to the implementation of this plan, we had agreed as a church to set aside a fifteen-minute period of time, only one day a week, and during that time pray for the church (in whatever way we felt led). We were following the pattern we find in the first century church in Acts, where they were all "in one place in one accord." The success of that first century church is something that is not limited to the first century, but can be seen in the 21^st century as well, if we will follow those early believers. We may not always have the opportunity to be in one place at the same time, but we can most certainly be in one accord at the same time.

With this thought in mind, we began to pray, and the effects were both amazing and immediate. The Spirit began to move in ways that are hard to describe, but almost instantly Spiritual growth was apparent in the lives of many individuals, and that Spirit was carried over into our worship services. Then, after a little more prayer and discussion, we arrived at our Weekly Prayer Plan. I want to describe what this plan is about before presenting the details to you. In short, we have come together as a church and agreed to focus our prayers each day on a specific topic during a specific time. For fifteen minutes each day (except for Wednesday and Sunday, which I'll explain in a moment) we stop what we're doing and we pray for that day's topic, with the knowledge that even if we're alone, others in our congregation are also praying to the Lord at the same time for the same thing. The times vary from day to day in order for people to actually give it some thought, to keep it from becoming just a mindless habit or rut.

Sundays are a bit different in that four separate fifteen-minute blocks are set aside for prayer, to start the day, after morning worship, before evening worship, and to end the day. Wednesdays are also different in that we ask people to fast. If you read the Bible you find that physical fasting was an integral part of the spiritual welfare of the individual and the church. When people were serious enough to forego food, listening to the Lord instead of their own stomachs (for even one day), great things were accomplished. Those who have tried fasting (myself included) will tell you that things get done when we follow this wonderful means of dedication and devotion.

Our church has benefited greatly from this program already. It does our soul much good when we know that we're not alone as we pray. It also helps to have something specific upon which to focus as we pray. And when you stop and think, making the dedication of only fifteen minutes of your day to pray (even if it's a sacrifice at that time to do so) is not too much to ask. You may be thinking, "What good can just my fifteen minutes of prayer really do?" Well, think about it this way: if only four people set aside the same fifteen minutes to pray, that's an hour's worth of combined prayer on one topic. If twenty people pray, that combines for five hours of prayer for the day. If a hundred pray for that fifteen minutes, that combines to (get this!) 25 HOURS OF PRAYER A DAY!!! Now you can begin to see just how important your little fifteen minutes can be for your church and for you ... and for the kingdom of God.

I invite you to join my congregation in this prayer program. You don't have to specifically pray for my congregation in doing this (although we would appreciate it!), but pray for yourself and for your congregation in the topic of the day. And I would also ask that if you join us in this prayer program, send me a comment here on this blog, so that we can kind of keep track of who and how many are praying, and so we can pray for you and all who are praying at those times. Enlist the prayers and support of your friends, your family and your church. This grass-roots effort can, I fully believe, change the world. So please let us know about it so we can encourage one another and change our world. Below you will find the details and times of the Weekly Prayer Plan. Won't you join us? I know the Lord will bless you if you do!

Weekly Prayer Plan

Originated by the congregation of the Westwood Church of God, Ashland, Kentucky

http://westwoodchurchofgod.org/prayerplan

Day Plan	Description
Monday: Relationships	From 7:00 to 7:15 PM, the focus should be on improving personal relationships. Pray for someone with whom you're having difficulties; pick someone with whom you are not very close and pray for them; pray for a friend, that your friendship would not only help the both of you, but would be an inspiration source to others.
Tuesday: Outreach	From 5:45 to 6:00 PM, focus your prayers on the outreach of the congregation. This would include praying for people to be reached through our efforts, as well as praying for the Lord to show you ways we as a church or you as an individual can reach out to family, friends, strangers, or the community in general.
Wednesday: Fasting	During the day All Day Wednesday, make the decision to fast for the Lord. This fasting would not necessarily include the absence of something to drink, but at least choosing to forego eating. During those times you would normally eat, spend in prayer or thoughtful consideration of God's will. If you get hungry, pray harder! This helps with personal dedication as well as submitting yourself totally to the Lord.
Thursday: Finances	Every congregation goes through financial dry spells from time to time. From 7:15 to 7:30 PM, pray for the financial condition of the church. Do not pray, "Lord, give us what we need or want," but rather pray the Lord would bless you with the means to give more to His work. No matter what, pray for continued or renewed faithfulness to give sacrificially. Ask what the Lord would have you give, as well as the courage to have enough faith to go through with giving it.
Friday: Witnessing	From 6:00 to 6:15 PM, our prayers should center on our ability to witness for the Lord. This would include praying for individual opportunities to witness on a personal level, as a combined congregation, and as one part of God's kingdom. Also included in these prayers should be asking the Lord how best to present Him and His message to those we meet. Don't be afraid to be specific! Ask for courage, for methods to accomplish the witnessing, and for God's glory!
Saturday: Spiritual Growth	All of us should want to get closer to the Lord. As a congregation, the best way for that to happen is for each individual member to devote himself/herself to getting as close to the Lord as possible, then joining together in fellowship of Spirit. From 7:45 to 8:00 PM, pray for your spiritual growth, as well as the spiritual condition of the church, that all of us would do whatever is best for us to know God and understand Him and His Word on a personal level, then be able to communicate that with each other and to those outside our congregation.
Sunday: Guidance	During the following times, pray for the guidance of Christ in all areas of our church life, including unity, fellowship, prayer, study, faithfulness, service, giving, and anything else you are led to pray for: 8:00-8:15 AM; 1:30-1:45 PM; 4:15-4:30 PM; 9:45-10:00 PM

© 2007, Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press. All rights reserved. All material printed on this site is protected by the copyright law of the United States. It may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press, obtainable by leaving a comment (with your request) which will be forwarded to Chris Keeton. Altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content is not permitted. Any and all portions of material copied from the Soulscape Blog must be properly attributed to Chris Keeton and Soulscape, and cited with original blog web address.