I WISH I HADN'T SAID THAT

Proverbs 10:19, "When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise."

In my study in learning how to deal with the tongue, it is hard to know where to start; the Bible is loaded with the significance of the tongue as well as the potential danger and the disaster it possesses. Like carrying nitro-glycerin, one wrong move and you have an explosion. "Sticks and stones can break your bones, but words can break your heart." I often think of the tongue as an accident waiting to happen. So I suppose Proverbs 10:19 is as good a place as any to start. "When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. None of us knows as much as we think we know, but we are still willing to fight and argue over so many non-essential things that don't mean a hill of beans as far as time and eternity are concerned. "But he who holds his tongue is wise." Holding our tongue (setting a guard on our tongue) does not happen by accident; this is something that a wise person is in the process of mastering. Once in awhile I look back over the years and think of times when "I wish I hadn't said that" and wish I could have a chance to go back to do it right, to say it right, or to just keep silent. Many of these doors are irrevocably closed and making them right is no longer possible. The disrespect I had for my parents as a rebellious teenager is a haunting reminder to go back and make it right before the window of opportunity closes.

See also: Psalm 19:14 - "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, Oh Lord, my strength and my Redeemer."

PROVERBS 13:20 - REMEMBERING BOBBY JOHNSON

I met Bobby Johnson in the eighth grade, the same year he moved up here to Michigan from a small town in Tennessee. Bobby had some problems with authority in his town in Tennessee with both police and his teachers. He was a little older then the rest of the class at 15 years old. He said the reason for the age discrepancy was that he had some problems with his teacher back home. She went out of her way to see that he did not pass. My friend Jerry and I along with a few others found him likable and began spending time with him . We spent time with him out by the ice pond just off school grounds at lunch and after school. We would listen to his words of wisdom which he was more than glad to give between puffs on his cigarette. I remember him saying he could write an absence note to his teacher and get away with it. He bragged that he could write answers on his sleeve for a test and hide it by curling up the sleeves of his shirt. Bobby was also connected. He didn't have any problem coming up with a six-pack of beer. None of us tried to be like Bobby. We simply admired him. We admired him for these things because we were too frightened to do them ourselves. Bobby turned 16 toward the end of the school year. His uncle had just taken over a car wash, and Bobby quit school to begin his career at the car wash. He exchanged his education for a wash rag at the car wash. To us, it sounded like a pretty good plan - not having to get up the morning to go to school - the car wash didn't open until noon. After about a month of this, the whole thing unraveled. His uncle suddenly left town in the middle of the night with the owner of the car wash and a few others hot on his trail. The last time I saw Bobby, three years later, he was flipping burgers at Top Hat. Bobby said he was married at 17, a father four months later, and divorced a year after that.

None of us ever intended to be like Bobby; but in some ways, Jerry and I picked up some of those traits. I dropped out of school at 17, and my friend Jerry dropped out at 16. I often wonder about some of the bad decisions that I made, like dropping out of school at 17. These were decisions that I made, but I often wonder how much influence Bobby had on me by my associating with him.

Note: The greatest impetus for change comes from those we associate with and from what we read. See also: Proverbs 19:27.

If we are responsible for the decisions we make, we must also be responsible for the people that we associate and bond with.

DOCTRINE VS. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

Romans chapter 7 introduces us to the great wrestling match. In one corner you have the defending champion, DOCTRINE, pitted against the challenger, PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. The champ claims he cannot be beaten no matter how confident his challenger brags about how hard he has trained all his life for the life-and-death struggle. P.E. has worked hard to make himself a worthy opponent. The defending champ, without any mercy, defeats all challengers no matter how hard they train and work to defeat DOCTRINE who refuses to back down or change any of his outrageous claims that he, and he alone, will prevail over all who oppose him. The Champion has fought untold thousands of matches over the years, and he never seems to wear out or grow weary of the next match or deviate from anything he has previously said. I, even I, am the victor and will never be defeated, he boasts; I will defeat all who oppose me. Why doesn't the champion realize that all who wear the crown of victory get too old to continue the fight. Eventually, he is bound to lose to a much younger and stronger challenger. He is outdated, so let's face it the champ's been around a long time. His best years are behind him, he is yesterday's champion, he belongs to the past. It is true that many have claimed victory over him in the past, but they're gone and he is still here; hmm, this does present a problem for those claims.

Now for those who are looking for a new champion to believe in and lead them, help is on the way, 21st century-style. Personal experience has finally got it all together and is ready to deliver the knockout blow to the champ's long-time boastful claims. Now, P.E. is asking you to trust him on this. Certainly, there have been failures in the past to dethrone the champ. But remember, this is the 21st century and we have microwave ovens, not to mention you can buy the beer of your choice in either bottles or cans. We have a huge variety of everything to choose from. We also have a nice selection of religions to fit your needs. big on the P.E. list of supporters is Madonna who is a major sponsor - "everyone should choose their own religion because at the end of the day we all go to the same place." Well, silly me, I thought choice had to do with how I wanted my steak cooked. Wow! What a deal! I can't wait to get started in choosing my own way to heaven.

I would like to give special thanks to Madonna for her wisdom and insights for this article!

Doctrine (God's Word) Personal Experience (relying on the flesh)

PROVERBS, ANCIENT WISDOM

THERE ARE 66 BOOKS IN THE BIBLE, 39 IN THE O.T AND 27 IN THE N.T. IF YOUR LIKE ME NOT ALL OF THESE COMMAND A LOT OF OUR ATTENTION, SOME DO SEEM TO DRAW US TO THEM OVER OTHER BOOKS, THIS HAS A LOT TO DO WITH WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR LIFE. SO THIS CHANGES OVER A PERIOD OF TIME AS TO WHERE YOU TURN IN THE BIBLE. MAT4:4 JESUS SAID "WE ARE TO LIVE BY EVERY WORD THAT COMES FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD". ALL 66 BOOKS ARE IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE THEY PROCEED FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD. THREE OF THESE BOOKS HAVE LONG BEEN OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO ME BECAUSE OF THERE INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR. PROVERS- GOSPEL OF JOHN- ROMANS. WHY PROVERBS? IT MAY BE OLD TESTAMENT BUT IT IS ALSO AN ANCIENT BOOK OF INSPIRED WISDOM THAT IS TIMELESS TO ALL GENERATIONS. THE PURPOSE OF THE BOOK IS TO MAKE WISE THE SIMPLE, THOSE WHO LACK EXPERTISE, AND LEARNING THE ART OF LIVING SUCCESSFUL LIVES. AT THE CORE OF WISDOM IS REVERENCE FOR GOD THROUGH HIS INSPIRED WORD. PROVERBS GIVES US DIRECTION AND PERSONALITY IN APPLYING NEW TESTAMENT TRUTH. OVER THE YEARS I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME MEMORIZING FROM ALL THREE OF THESE BOOKS, BUT FOR LIVING WISE IN A FOOLISH WORLD, PROVERBS IS WHERE WE NEED TO BE.