Words of the Wise

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Words of the Wise

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"To understand a Proverb, and the Interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings." Proverbs 1:6 On this page we simply place some things we come across sometimes. Sometimes somebody will give me some article, or I will get a great e-mail, and I post it here so you can enjoy it to. They will sometimes be funny sometimes be scalding but always be helpful!
	The One Dollar Bill ONE DOLLAR BILL Take out a one-dollar bill and look at it. The one-dollar bill you're looking at first came off the presses in 1957 in its present design. This so-called paper money is in fact a cotton and linen blend, with red and blue minute silk fibers running through it. It is actually material. We've all washed it without it falling apart. A special blend of ink is used, the contents we will never know. It is overprinted with symbols and then it is starched to make it water resistant and pressed to give it that nice crisp look. If you look on the front of the bill, you will see the United States Treasury Seal. On the top you will see the scales for the balance-a balanced budget. In the center you have a carpenter's T-square, a tool used for an even cut. Underneath is the Key to the United States Treasury. That's all pretty easy to figure out, but what is on the back of that dollar bill is something we should all know. If you turn the bill over, you will see two circles. Both circles, together, comprise the Great Seal of the United States. The First Continental Congress requested that Benjamin Franklin and a group of men come up with a Seal. It took them four years to accomplish this task and another two years to get it approved. If you look at the left hand circle, you will see a Pyramid. Notice the face is lighted and the western side is dark. This country was just beginning. We had not begun to explore the West or decided what we could do for Western Civilization. The Pyramid is un-capped, again signifying that we were not even close to being finished. Inside the capstone you have the all-seeing eye, and ancient symbol for divinity. It was Franklin's belief that one man couldn't do it alone, but a group of men, with the help of God, could do anything. "IN GOD WE TRUST" is on this currency. The Latin above the pyramid, ANNUIT COEPTIS, means "God has favored our undertaking." The Latin below the pyramid, NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM, means, "a new order has begun." At the base of the pyramid is the Roman Numeral for 1776. If you look at the right-hand circle, and check it carefully, you will learn that it is on every National Cemetery in the United States. It is also on the Parade of Flags Walkway at the Bushnell, Florida National Cemetery and is the centerpiece of most hero's monuments. Slightly deified, it is the seal of the President of the United States and it is always visible whenever he speaks; yet no one knows what the symbols mean. The Bald Eagle was selected as a symbol for victory for two reasons: First, he is not afraid of a storm; he is strong and he is smart enough to soar above it. Secondly, he wears no material crown. We had just broken from the King of England. Also, notice the shield is unsupported. This country can now stand on its own. At the top of that shield you have a white bar signifying congress, a unifying factor. We were coming together as one nation. In the Eagle's beak you will read, "E PLURIBUS UNUM," meaning "one nation from many people." Above the Eagle you have thirteen stars representing the thirteen original colonies, and any clouds of misunderstanding rolling away. Again, we were coming together as one. Notice what the Eagle holds in his talons. He holds an olive branch and arrows. This country wants peace, but we will never be afraid to fight to preserve peace. The Eagle always wants to face the olive branch, but in time of war, his gaze turns toward the arrows. They say that the number 13 is an unlucky number. This is almost a worldwide belief. You will usually never see a room numbered 13, or any hotels or motels with a 13th floor. But, think about this: 13 original colonies, 13 signers of the Declaration of Independence, 13 stripes on our flag, 13 steps on the Pyramid, 13 letters in the Latin above, 13 letters in "E Pluribus Unum", 13 stars above the Eagle, 13 plumes of feathers on each span of the Eagle's wing, 13 bars on that shield, 13 leaves on the olive branch, 13 fruits, and if you look closely, 13 arrows. And for minorities: the 13th Amendment. I always ask people, "Why don't you know this?" Your children don't know this and their history teachers don't know this. Too many veterans have given up too much to ever let the meaning fade. Many veterans remember coming home to an America that didn't care. Too many veterans never came home at all. Tell everyone what is on the back of the one-dollar bill and what it stands for, because nobody else will. (e-mailed to me by Kevin Southerland; Author unknown)
Are We Doing our Part to Win Black America? As I travel across our great country, I am shocked at the attitudes I see in relation to this topic. What is more shocking is that it is not among the liberals and the modernist. It is not even a problem among many of the unsaved. What I am seeing among our fundamental ranks is nothing less than an attitude of racial prejudice that is totally uncalled for and is quite frankly unscriptural. One does not have to be a Bible scholar to realize that the Bible has alot to say about this attitude. It is my conviction that this is a heart matter, rather than a skin issue. I am afraid many Christians are guilty of embracing a theology that is tainted with racial bigotry and bias. Their opinion is that there are only 2 races of people: Blacks and Non-blacks. This is not only wrong, but is totally hypocritical. I have seen churches open their doors to Asians, Jews, South Americans, and Orientals, but cringe at the thought of a Black person in their midst. You can never convince me that God will ever endorse this type of Christianity. I want to deal with this issue by using both human logic and the Scripture. My prayer is that one or the other will convince you to forsake this warped and ungodly attitude. I am a white man that is married to a white woman and I have 3 white children. I was raised in the deep South where racial discrimination was common and even promoted. In the past I have made my share of racial remarks, and I have told jokes that I'm sure would have been offensive to Blacks. I am admitting this so that I will not be accused of having a double standard, and being a two-faced hypocrite. However, God has done a work in my heart, and has given me a love for the souls of Blacks that only He can. Let me say this though. I am sure that some will accuse me of promoting inter-racial marriage. This is not the case. I take as strong a stand on this issue as anyone. As a missionary to Africa with three kids, this is definitely one of my concerns. I am confident that inter-racial marriage is forbidden by the Scripture, and this is a position that can be easily defended. But the main issue here is not marriage. The question is should Blacks be allowed in White churches? It seems to me that people have no regard for what the Bible says about unity and love. These are not some ecumentical inventions. These are principles found in the Word of God. I cannot find anywhere in the Bible where the Lord, or Peter, or the Apostle Paul bragged that their specific calling gave them the authority to openly exclude an entire race of people because of their color. The Lord went out of his way to witness to the Samaritan woman at the well. The Samaritans were looked down on and discriminated against far worse than the Blacks are today, yet we fail to see Christ's example of compassion and love. Peter rebelled at the idea of going to the house of Cornelius, simply because he was Gentile, and God rebuked him for his wrong attitude. God told Peter that what I have called clean, let no man call unclean. That is pretty strong. What about Philip in Acts 8? He was preaching a revival in the city of Samaria, and God told him to leave it and go to the desert and help one black man find the truth. If anyone had a right to be exlusive in his ministry, it was Paul. Paul was clearly called to the Gentiles, but he never lost his burden to the Jews. What are you going to do about the first church in Jerusalem, that was obviously multi-cultural? We see at least 16 nations and races listed in Acts 2:9,10, and 11, and then we see these same people joining the church and becoming a part of that local body of believers in verses 41-47, even the Black Egytians! How can you continue to exclude Blacks from your church after having seen these great examples of the color-blind love of true, New Testament Christianity? I would be ashamed of my carnality if I had so much racism in my heart, that I could not worship God with a Black person in the room. I have heard the argument for years that is if you let Blacks come to your church, they will marry your kids, and cause a big mess. I have heard that for as long as I can remember. But how come you let your kids go to school with them? Why do you let them play little league baseball with them? Do you let them play with the Black kids in your neighborhood? Do you allow them to work a job where there are Black people? At least when they are at church, you can keep your eye on them and prevent that from happening. Dear brother, the answer to that problem is not to cultivate racism. The answer to that excuse is godly training. What is going to keep your kids from marrying the wrong White person? It will be the same thing that will keep them from marrying a Black person. You have a responsibility to teach them right and wrong. If I thought like you did, I would never dream of taking my three kids to Africa, I can assure you! But I cannot shirk my duty as a Christian because I am paranoid of something happening that I don't want to happen. The other famous argument is this. You say, "I don't mind them coming here and getting saved, but they need to find a good Black church and join it." That sounds real good. I have no problem with that at all. But let me ask you a question. How many good Black churches do you know of? You know why there are not many? Because most folks have the same attitude about Blacks, and that is just let somebody else fool with them. How many Blacks have you ever really witnessed to? You know why you won't witness to them? Because you are afraid that they will get saved and want to come to your church. You had rather let them go to Hell than to go to church with them. If that is true Christianity, then you can keep it! That is as far from the will of God as anything I have ever seen. I know several Black preachers that love God and believe the Bible. Everyone of them were saved in White churches. If you want to send all your Black converts to a good Black church, then why don't you win some to God, train them in the Word, and help them start one? My home church has never prevented a Black from coming, but we don't have a single one in our church. We invested money and effort in a black church across town, but the pastor turned out to be another civil-rights activist. I know that there are many problems when trying to reach the Blacks. It is difficult and very frustrating at time. I would be the first to say that Blacks have more success with their own, and I am sure my Black brethren would admit that. But that does not mean that we don't have a responsibility to tell "every creature". What blows my mind is that I hear preachers talk about how that the love of God can save from the guttermost to the uttermost. They open their churches and tent meetings to the drunks, the harlots, the queers,and every other wicked sinner, but they cringe when a Black family walks in. I have serious problems understanding that kind of religion. You can wave your rebel flag and holler segregation as loud as you want, but the truth of the matter is, you are just another red-neck racist bigot. That is the truth, plain and simple. I am not saying that if you have a Confederate flag that you are a racist. I have a couple myself. I own books about great men like Gen. Robert E. Lee. I love my heritage and my country. But just in case you did not know, the South lost! You want to know why they lost? Because God wanted them to, that's why!! God is no respecter of persons. He never has been, and he never will be. If you believe that He is, then you believe another gospel. Amen!! Here are some Scripture that I feel are perfect solutions to this very hurtful and decisive problem among our brethren. They deal with the heart attitude of the believer, and I am confident in my heart that they apply to this very divisive and hurtful issue. Let God settle your heart and mind through these verses. Gal. 5:13-15 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfulled in one word, even this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. Gal. 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, varience, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Eph. 4:2-6 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering,forbearing one another in love: Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even ye are called in one hope of your calling: one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all and in you all. (vs. 31,32) Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour,and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted... I Cor. 12:12,18,23,25-27 For as the body is one, and hath many members,and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him, But now are they many members, yet one body. And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour, and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. That there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and geneologies, and contentions, and strivings about the law, for they are unprofitable and vain. James 2:1,4,8,9, My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory with respect of persons. Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? If ye fulful the royal law according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin and are convinced of the law as transgressors. I John 3:14,15 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Rom. 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God. Acts10:28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. These are just a few of the many verses in the Word of God that deal with the issue of unity, humility, and love. If you can find an example in the New Testament where God promotes segregated congregations based solely on skin color, I would love for you to please share it with me. All that I can find teaches the exact opposite. I know this will not change some people's way of thinking, but this has been a burden on my heart for years. I am not trying to be controversial or stir up any trouble. I am sure that I will draw a lot of criticism for this tract, but while folks are being critical, I have dedicated my life to sharing the gospel with the unsaved heathen in Africa. You can see that we have a great mission field right here in America, and you know that it is our responsiblity. My question to you is, are you doing your part? For free copies of this tract, write to Bro. Stacey Shiflett's Home Address P.O. Box 644 Dearing, GA 30808 This tract is provided free of charge, but cost for postage would be appreciated when ordering large quantities. By: Bro. Stacey Shiflett Missionary in South Africa (Used with permission. E-mail Bro. Shiflett at stacey.grace@juno.com)
	21st Century Teacher Let me see if I've got this right. You want me to go into that room with all those kids and fill their every waking moment with love for learning. Not only that, I'm suppose to instill a sense of pride in their ethnicity, behaviorally modify disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse and T-shirt messages. I am to fight the war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, check their backpacks for guns and raise their self esteem. I'm to teach them patriotism, good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play, how and where to register to vote, how to balance a checkbook and how to apply for a job. I am to check their heads occasionally for lice, maintain a safe environment, recognize signs of potential antisocial behavior, offer advice, write letters of recommendation for student employment and scholarships, encourage respect for the cultural diversity of others, and, oh yeah, always make sure that I give the girls in my class 50 percent of my attention. I'm required by my contract to be working on my own time summer and evenings at my own expense toward advance certification and a master's degree; and after school , I am to attend committee and faculty meetings and participate in staff development training to maintain my employment status. I am to be a paragon of virtue larger than life, such that my very presence will awe my students into being obedient and respectful of authority. I am to pledge allegiance to supporting family values, a return to the basics, and to my current administration. I am to incorporate technology into the learning, and monitor all Web sites while providing a personal relationship with each student. I am to decide who might be potentially dangerous and/or liable to commit crimes in school or who is possibly being abused, and I can be sent to jail for not mentioning these suspicions. I am to make sure all students pass the state and federally mandated testing and all classes, whether or not they attend school on a regular basis or complete any of the work assigned. Plus, I am expected to make sure that all of the students with handicaps are guaranteed a free and equal education, regardless of their mental or physical handicap. I am to communicate frequently with each student's parent by letter, phone, newsletter and grade card. I'm to do all of this with just a piece of chalk, a computer, a few books, a bulletin board, a 45 minute more-or-less plan time and a big smile, all on a starting salary that qualifies my family for food stamps in many states. Is that all? And you want me to do all of this and expect me NOT TO PRAY?