Song of Solomon

My notes were brief from the short book of Song of Solomon.

It is the story of a love story between a man and a woman.  Each always spoke of praise and positive words about the lover and the woman to her friends did so too.  The had a great desire for each other. 

Why didn't God revewal more of himself to us in the Bible?

These are my notes from reading this chapter in the book Talking With Your Kids About God by Natasha Crain.

The Bible does tell us what we need to know.  That does mean it tells us what we need to know.  Read 2 Timothy 3:15-7. 

We aren't God.  We were created in His image, not to be him.  It would not be good for us to know all that God knows.  If we knew all the answers we wouldn't need to develop a relationship with God through prayer and study.  We wouldn't get to know him on a personal level through time with him.  This forces us to trust him; rely on him, and have faith.  Read Proverbs 3:5.

Ecclesiastes

I finished Ecclesiastes this morning in my morning reading.

• Things don't change; people are still human and the Earth is still the Earth
• The person who gains more knowledge also gains more sorrow; more wisdom = more disappointment
• Useless
• Having fun doesn't accomplish anything
• "There is nothing to gain from anything we do here on Earth."
• Wisdom > foolishness
• Wise & fools die
• A time for everything
• Dead > living; never been born even better because they haven't seen the evil of the Earth
• Be content with what you have
• Strength with each other (family/friends)
• Fame & power are useless
• Think before you speak
• Bad dreams come from worry
• Keep your promises or don't make promises
• Don't mistreat poor
• Work hard = peaceful sleep
• Can't take materials with you at death
• Enjoy life
• Wise think of death; fools think of fun
• Be patient
• Don't reminisce about why good old days were better - that is unwise
• No one knows what tomorrow may bring
• God made us good; we find ways to be bad
• There is a right time and way, but we get confused
• Enjoy life and do the hard work God gives us
• We cannot understand God's ways
• We all die and can no longer participate in Earthly ways
• Enjoy life; time & chance happen to us
• Calmness solves problems
• No one knows the future
• Invest in more than 1 thing for return for you don't know what the results will be
• God will judge everything we do
• Old age will come with problems, then you will die
• Too much study will make you tired; be ware of other teachings
• Honor & obey God - He will judge everything we do, even things done in secret

A few other thoughts from my reading of Ecclesiastes.

• We can't find meaning to our life on our own
• We do not have control; we have free will
• Death is equal, it comes to us all for judgement

More Proverbs

As I read about adulterous women tempting men; it was hard to read.  It seemed that women seemed to be the cause and evil that led the men to them.  It read is if the men didn't have the will power to say no; they made a choice as well to take part.

I'm not wealthy by American standards, but from the world's standards; I would be.  I do rely on my money some.  I have some savings that can help us and protect us, but I must never be confused with my true salvation through Jesus.  I can't buy that salvation. 

Proverbs

Yesterday I finished reading the book of Proverbs.  Here are my notes from my reading.

• Proverbs teaches wisdom knowledge begins with respect for the Lord
• Don't be tempted by evil, sinners will fall in their own trap
• Wisdom speaks to others, but some will not listen and will fail
• Trust, respect, kindness, & help to others & the Lord will give you peace & comfort from fear
• Wisdom is very important and a guide to your life that grows and shines
• Hold on to your learning and understanding, treasure it!
• Men commit to your wives and don't stray or be tempted by adulterous women
• Foolishness is dangerous; don't be proud, don't lie; don't kill or make evil plans; don't start arguments with families
• Don't commit adultery; it'll ruin you
• Lack of wisdom in men lead them toward adulterous women who lie & tempt & bring men in - this leads to death
• God created wisdom before Earth, we should respect it
• Wisdom = life; foolishness = death
• Solomon shares wise word
• Wise = life; lazy = poor
• Talkative fool = ruin
• Good people provided for
• Wicked = violence, short life
• Hatred = trouble; love = forgiveness
• Talking a lot leads to sin; wisdom keeps you quiet
• Pride = shame; humility = wisdom
• Honesty, right living = freedom
• Words can destroy
• Gossips can't be trusted
• Avoid co-signing loans
• Look for the good
• Accept correction and advice from friends
• Don't tell lies
• Be careful what you say
• Work hard
• Pride leads to arguments
• Spend time with the wise & you'll become wise
• Correct your children in love
• Stay away from fools, work at being right
• Strangers don't share your joy
• Be kind to the poor and needy
• Have patience & peace of mind
• Words have power they can offer healing & life or crush the spirit
• Wise people seek more knowledge, foolish seek more foolishness
• Quick tempers cause trouble
• Hates evil thoughts, pleased with kind words
• Allow yourself to be corrected - leads to understanding
• We make plans but only God can see them through
• Our hearts intentions in our actions matter!
• Don't be proud; pride destroys
• Wisdom & understanding are better than gold & silver
• May your words be pleasant
• Don't gossip
• Gray hair is an honor, earned with good life
• Control your temper
• Be kind to the poor
• Don't argue
• Don't brag
• A friend loves at all times, brothers help in times of trouble
• Fools & foolish words = ruin (gossip too & it spreads)
• No hard work is like destroying things
• Rich people trust their wealth to protect them
• You can't live with a broken spirit
• One side of a story isn't truth or enough
• Your words matter; your words have power
• Don't act without knowledge
• Be patient
• Be kind to the poor
• Correct & teach your children
• Accept correction!
• Don't get drunk
• Don't fight & quarrel
• Don't expect results if you don't do the work!
• Get advice for your plans
• Avoid people who talk too much, gossips
• The Lord will make things right
• The reason you do something is judged
• Help the poor
• Love of pleasures will make you poor
• Better alone than with a quarreling wife
• Be careful what you say, keeps you from trouble
• Don't be lazy
• Give without holding back
• To be respected is better than being wealthy
• Heed danger
• Teach your children
• Punishment removes foolishness in children
• Other wise sayings
• Listen to the wise; keep the teachings in your mind
• Don't spend time with those with bad tempers for you will be like them
• Don't pay someone else's loan
• Don't eat too much
• Don't drink too much
• Punish your children
• Seek wise people who give good advice, seek advice
• God is watching you, knows you; He notices everything
• Seek wisdom, stay away from evil
• Don't celebrate enemy's defeat
• Don't envy evil; they've no where to go/hope for
• Be a fair judge, don't take sides
• Be honest
• Prepare your fields first, then home (income/provisions first)
• Don't get even
• Don't rest so much your work isn't done
• More wisdom of Solomon's sayings
• Don't share your arguments
• Don't bother neighbors too much
• Don't hire a fool or a passerby
• Don't play dirty jokes
• Gossip grows quarreling
• Don't be lazy
• Don't praise yourself
• Don't complain
• Friends can help too
• People can help improve each other
• Your mind shows what kind of person you are
• Repent = mercy
• Don't mistreat the poor
• Don't give false praise
• Correct your children
• Don't have a quick temper
• Wise words from Agur
• God's word is true
• Keep me honest
• Let me be not rich or poor but enough for each day - easier to honor you then
• Don't stir up anger
• Wise Words of King Lemuel
• Don't drink & forget the law
• The good wife
• Proverbs 31 Woman

God

"God isn't just a better version of our human selves; he's truly in a class of his own."  - Natasha Crain

Statistics About Science & God

From all the learning I've done over the years; I've learned to become very skeptical of statistics.  I've found that they can be skewed to support your argument.  Things can be rephrased or represented different ways from the same data just to support your hypothesis or argument.  Not to mention how often they are just misquoted in general. 

This chapter in the book Talking with Your Kids About God touches on this too.  It refers to many studies that have been done over the years showing this high percentages of scientists that don't believe in God.  Other studies show different results, but still commonly compared to the general population, less scientists believe in God. 

However, I think the public can misinterpret that data.  We need to remember that correlation does not equal causation.  Further studies show that scientists were not raised in religious homes.  

Now, there are no studies I read on this, but in my mind as I think through this, do you think scientists seek science to fill a void they have from not being raised in a religious home?  Science can't fill the void, only God?  But sciences helps them explains what they couldn't understand. 

"What scientist believe about God ultimately has no bearing on whether God exists."  - Natasha Crain

(Thoughts from my reading of Talking with Your Kids About God by Natasha Crain.)