A Time for Wisdom
Pastor Jason On Sunday, I encouraged everyone to read Ecclesiates 7. It has some great advice.
Want to know if the way you smell will affect your reputation?
A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.
And the day you die is better than the day you are born. (v.1, NLT)
Should you go to the wedding or the funeral?
Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties.
After all, everyone dies—so the living should take this to heart. (v.2, NLT)
When you hear that bad joke and you want to know if you should laugh or cry?
Crying is better than laughing.
It blotches the face but it scours the heart.
Sages invest themselves in hurt and grieving.
Fools waste their lives in fun and games. (v.3-4, The Message)
When you struggle with criticism from a teacher…
Better to be criticized by a wise person
than to be praised by a fool. (v.5, NLT)
The giggles of fools are like the crackling of twigs
Under the cooking pot. And like smoke. (v.6, The Message)
When you realize you could charge more than you should?
Extortion turns wise people into fools,
and bribes corrupt the heart. (v.7, NLT)
When you wonder if you should finish what you started…
Endings are better than beginnings.
Sticking to it is better than standing out. (v.8, The Message)
When you feel yourself start of get angry…
Don’t be quick to fly off the handle.
Anger boomerangs. You can spot a fool by the lumps on his head. (v.9, The Message)
And About those good old days…
Don’t long for “the good old days.”
This is not wise. (v.10, NLT)
You want some advice when you wonder why bad things happen to good people?
Enjoy prosperity while you can,
but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God.
Remember that nothing is certain in this life. (v. 14, NLT)
Want to know what to do during an election when there are two sides with very different opinions?
It’s best to stay in touch with both sides of an issue. A person who fears God deals responsibly with all of reality, not just a piece of it. (v.18, The Message)
Take some time this week to read Ecclesiates 7 in several different translations. And wander into the chapters before and after. There’s some great wisdom throughout this book. You might even get to that wise passage in chapter 3 and be reminded of that classic hit by The Byrds:
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
Did You Miss Sunday’s Message?
Read or listen to Sunday’s message Back in the Day: A Matter of Perspective – John 5
Trunk or Treat/Fall Celebration
Sunday, October 28th, 4:00 -6:00 pm
Bring your car, add some Fall decorations, and greet the children in our community for our Trunk or Treat/Fall Celebration; we are collecting bags of candy and prizes for games for this event in the hallway next to the office; we also need folks to sign up to bring their cars and open their trunks with goodies, we also serve Robie’s famous chili…it’s gonna be a fun night for all ages!
This Week at Hood
Tuesday, October 23, 9:00 am -2:00 pm – DUMA Food Pantry
Wednesday, October 24 – 1:30 – 2:30 pm – Prayer & Inspiration Small Group
Wednesday, October 24, 6:00 pm – Choir Practice
Thursday, October 25 – 6:15-7:15 pm – Thursday Evening Small Group
Sunday, October 28 – 11:00 am Worship; 4:00-6:00 pm Trunk or Treat Fall Celebration (see information below)