The Proud & Lying words of People
Good day to each of you reading this column of what has been happening to our civilization for a long, long time. Why is it that man can not tell the truth? Why is it easier to lie than to tell the truth? Do you remember when you first lied? Our lesson today is the twelfth Psalm on the above topic, so get out your Bibles and read this in Psalm.
Before we begin, I want to thank: https://godslittleacre.net/funnies/
Programmer to Team Leader:
“We can’t do this proposed project. **CANNOT** It will involve a major design change and no one in our team knows the design of this legacy system. And above that, nobody in our company knows the language in which this application has been written. So even if somebody wants to work on it, they can’t. If you ask my personal opinion, the company should never take these type of projects.”
Team Leader to Project Manager:
“This project will involve a design change. Currently, we don’t have any staff with experience in this type of work. Also, the language is unfamiliar to us, so we will have to arrange for some training if we take this project. In my personal opinion, we are not ready to take on a project of this nature.”
Project Manager to 1st Level Management:
“This project involves a design change in the system and we don’t have much experience in that area. Also, not many people in our company are appropriately trained for it. In my personal opinion, we might be able to do the project, but we would need more time than usual to complete it.”
1st Level Management to Senior Level Management:
“This project involves design re-engineering. We have some people who have worked in this area and others who know the implementation language. So they can train other people. In my personal opinion, we should take this project, but with caution.”
Senior Level Management to CEO:
“This project will demonstrate to the industry our capabilities in remodeling the design of a complete legacy system. We have all the necessary skills and people to execute this project successfully. Some people have already given in-house training in this area to other staff members. In my personal opinion, we should not let this project slip by us under any circumstances.”
CEO to Client:
“This is the type of project in which our company specializes. We have executed many projects of the same nature for many large clients. Trust me when I say that we are the most competent firm in the industry for doing this kind of work. It is my personal opinion that we can execute this project successfully and well within the given time frame.”— Author Unknown
Letter From Grandma
Got a letter from Grandma the other day. She writes:
The other day I went up to a local Christian bookstore and saw a “Honk If You Love Jesus” bumper sticker. I was feeling particularly sassy that day because I had just come from a thrilling Choir performance, followed by a thunderous Prayer meeting, so I bought the sticker and I put it on my bumper.
Boy, am I glad I did! What an up-lifting experience that followed! I was stopped at a red light at a busy intersection, just lost in thought about the Lord and how good He is . . . and I didn’t notice that the light had changed. It is a good thing someone else loves Jesus, because if he hadn’t honked, I’d never have noticed!
I found that lots of people loved Jesus! Why, while I was sitting there, the guy behind started honking like crazy, and then he leaned out of his window and screamed, “For the love of God! Go! Go! Go! Jesus Christ, Go!”
What an exuberant cheerleader he was for Jesus! Everyone started honking! I just leaned out of my window and started waiving and smiling at all these loving people. I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love.
There must have been a man from Florida back there because I heard him yelling something about a “sunny beach.” I saw another guy waving in a funny way with only his middle finger stuck up in the air. I asked my teenage grandson, who was sitting in the back seat, what it meant, and he said that it was probably a Hawaiian good luck sign or something. Well, I’ve never met anyone from Hawaii, so I leaned out the window and gave him the good luck sign back. My grandson burst out laughing. Why, even he was enjoying this religious experience!
A couple of the people were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got out of their cars and started walking towards me. I bet they wanted to pray, or ask me what Church I attended. But this is when I noticed the light had changed. So I waved to all my sisters and brothers grinning, and drove on through the intersection.
I noticed I was the only car that got through the intersection before the light changed again and I felt kind of sad that I had to leave them after all the love we had shared. So I slowed the car down, leaned out of the window, and gave them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time as I drove away.
Praise the Lord for such wonderful folks!— Author unknown
Practicality vs. Religion
During a recent ecumenical gathering, a secretary rushed in shouting, “The building is on fire!!!”
The METHODISTS gathered in the corner and prayed.
The BAPTISTS cried, “Where is the holy water?”
The QUAKERS quietly praised God for the blessings that fire brings.
The LUTHERANS posted a notice on the door declaring the fire was evil.
The ROMAN CATHOLICS passed the plate to cover the damage.
The JEWS posted symbols on the doors hoping the fire would pass.
The CONGREGATIONALISTS shouted, “Every man for himself!”
The FUNDAMENTALISTS proclaimed, “It’s the vengeance of God!”
The EPISCOPALIANS formed a procession and marched out.
The CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS concluded that there was no fire.
The PRESBYTERIANS appointed a chairperson who was to appoint a committee to look into the matter and submit a written report.
The SECRETARY grabbed the fire extinguisher and put the fire out.— Author Unknown
Great Job—the jokes are just we needed for today and the news we hear on a daily basis.
Lying and manipulation seem to be the norm in our society today especially when we look to our leaders and what makes the news on a daily basis. Sure, it makes interesting conversation, but how much lying can one take and why isn’t it easier to tell the truth?
I believe the first two verses signify our society in general:
Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts.
In America, I would ask are you of the belief that your word is your bond or is it better to stretch the truth so none gets hurt? As for our leaders in America, have we become so blind that loyalty in telling the truth is not needed to be voted in office?
Where is the faith that we vote in Christian leaders who place their first interests in Biblical principles, laws, commandments and statutes?
Look no further than in the news where man turns against man for Jesus says in Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV) “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Folks, Jesus has provided the answer to love your neighbor as yourself for he knew man and his behavior toward others which included self-pride and lies spread by his fellow man.
It may seem as though that the faithful have vanished and that trust in our fellow man has eroded, but even in a world of deceitfulness, God has and will provide us with believers for strength and support, but we must first ask and seek God’s help.
If you think you are alone, please refer to Elijah in 1 Kings 19:1-18 to read about the 7,000 who would not bow down to Baal in Israel and escape death for Elijah felt so lonely that he could die.
Isaiah 57:1 tells us that the righteous perish and no one ponders it in his heart and that devout men are taken away and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.
Let us pray that we are to be spared from evil for this is what we need to pray when we pray the Lord’s prayer so we may be spared from the evils that beseech us daily.
As we pray, pray for those who have been affected from the evils that the devil has laid upon our relatives, friends and acquaintances.
I’m sure we have all met those who flatter with their lips and yet would put a knife in your back when you are no longer in their midst. We see this on a daily basis when we turn on the news and can cite examples of this despicable behavior.
Think about this, is this what we are teaching our children to both lie and be boastful and proud in what we have done to our neighbor?
But the psalm goes further for God cares for the weak and the needy—Do you? Again, is this not one of the Ten Commandments which includes to love thy neighbor, to protect the downtrodden and to confront those who have oppressed the downtrodden?
God will hold us accountable for our actions which include helping those who need a hand and caring for those who have been trampled or persecuted which include our missionaries throughout the world.
Deception, liars and flatters have been the norm in our society, but like oil rising to the top of water, being sincere and truthful will always prevail for these are traits that we as Christians want to be known for in our daily lives.
If we do our part and pray for discernment and ask God to lead us away from evil, then when the situation arises as to lying or telling the truth, then the decision will be easy.
Yes verse 8 says the wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men, but life is short and all will be held accountable.
The question is simple – Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV) “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
The gate of eternal life and the broad road—Your choice—Will you choose the road of freely strutting about when what is vile is honored among men or will you arise and go down the narrow road that leads to eternal life by resisting to lie, be boastful and deceitful.
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
