The Plumbline

 David had a great military commander naemd Joab. Joab was actually a bit of a 'hothead' in that he did what he wanted, often being quite ruthless in battle. He was feared by many and respected by those he commanded. Every king of those days had heard of the 'fierceness' of David's armies. They were able to overcome great armies and take much plunder as a result of the battles won. There came a time when David wanted peace with those around him - knowing they were aware of the 'greatness' of David's military force and his capabilities to overtake them if he wanted to. Abner was one such leader he desired a 'peace treaty' with - the commander of the armies that belonged to Saul at the time. He no longer wanted 'war' between the people of Judah and Israel. So, he reached out to form a 'peace pact'. As he did, Joab was off doing something else and did not know of the peace treaty. When he returned home and heard of this having occurr...

If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open. (James 1:5) How many times do we launch into life's daily activities, then come up against something that kind of bewilders us? It is likely at least once in a while for all of us, but sometimes this happens quite frequently - especially when life seems to be throwing you curve ball after curve ball. Sadly, I think a great many of us attempt to muddle through in our own effort, only stopping to ask for help from God when we get things so messed up that we cannot figure our own way out! We reveal a lot about ourselves by doing so - a lot about our pridefulness, stubbornness, and self-focus! If we don't know what ...

Stubbornness is something we are born with - at least I think it must be this way.  I don't think we one day just decide to be stubborn - I think it is something we have a tiny root of within our character at birth and the more we cultivate it, the stronger it becomes evident in our lives.  To break this down a little, stubbornness is being unreasonably obstinate - kind of like when you dig your heels in and just won't budge on a certain topic.  There is a sense of resolution which keeps you anchored - no matter that your choice may be wrong, or the results imminently bad.  In the most literal sense, a stubborn child is difficult to manage - because it is constantly a battle of the wills.  I'd like to challenge us to consider yet another definition of stubborn which may help us better understand it - difficult to shape.  When God speaks to us and we don't take notice of his instruction, we may get by with a firm warning and not much of any consequences the...

What do fire and a hammer have in common?  First, both have an effect of changing what they touch, don't they?  Nothing touched by fire is quite the same - so it is with the hammer - they both can reduce to pieces that which are touched by their influence.  Second, there is a "heating" effect of both.  The hammer begins to "heat up" the nail as it drives it through the wood - repeated blows from the hammer actually change the temperature of the nail!  So, there are some commonalities between the hammer and fire. Why on earth does God compare his Word to fire or a hammer?  Perhaps it is for the reasons we have just stated - it changes what it comes into contact with and it has a way of changing the "temperature" of whatever it touches. Is not My word like fire [that consumes all that cannot endure the test]? says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks in pieces the rock [of most stubborn resistance]?  (Jeremiah 23:29 AMP) It is important ...

Advice:  An opinion or recommendation offered as a guide to action or conduct.  It seems there are many avenues for advice.  Some comes quite welcomed - as when you ask a question because you definitely are seeking information to help you make a decision.  Other times, it may be offered, but there was not a whole lot on our part done to actually welcome or invite it!  When this occurs, we have a tendency to let it run off our backs like water on a duck.  When it is something we actually are seeking, we take it all in, considering carefully each part of advice we receive and then we latch onto whatever seems the most logical.  We probably call this "good advice".  It has some benefit to us, so we latch on.  If we don't perceive the benefit in it - we likely let go. Let me give you some good advice;  I’m looking you in the eye   and giving it to you straight:   “Don’t be ornery like a horse or mule  that needs bit and brid...