Service

Spare the rod and spoil the child

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Back in 1985 Dr. Benjamin Spock, an American pediatrician, the author of  the best-selling 1946 book titled Baby and Child Care, advised in a new edition of his book that spanking “taught children that the larger, stronger person has the power to get his way whether or not he is in the right.”  He further suggested that the “American tradition of spanking” might contribute to violence in the United States. After that many parents refrained from corporal punishment and the results were that violence increased–just the opposite from what Dr. Spock predicted. Though not a biblical phrase, “Spare the rod and spoil the child” is
a rephrasing of the biblical admonition found in Proverbs 13:24:

“He who spareth the
rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him correcteth him betimes.” (KJV)

As with anything
else in the Bible, this is to be properly understood. A parent who loves his or
her child will not beat the child, but apply punishment sensibly and lovingly. When I was growing up, I was spanked and it taught me that disobedience was not
tolerated.

Faith

God works in mysterious ways

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I
know that we have all heard this saying, probably all our lives, and know how
true it is. Sometimes His help comes from a source that we would least expect. God
can use anything or anybody to fulfill his purpose and do his will. In the
Bible He used a pagan king, a prostitute, and even a donkey. When
I was a young man I had money provided miraculously more than once.

Uncategorized

The best things in life are free

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This
proverb means that things which cost money should not be prioritized ahead of
relationships with friends and family, health and peace of mind. The root of
this teaching is ancient. Jesus emphasized the importance of love for God and
our fellow man above material assets. Democritus, who loved in Greece circa 400
BC, made the statement:

 “Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul.” 

This
exact expression, however, was coined in a song by this title written by Buddy
DeSylva and Les Brown with melody by Ray Henderson, which debuted in the 1927
musical Good News, describing the
experience of finding out that a bond formed with another person is one of the
best things in life. Lyrics include:

“The best things in life are free                                   

Now that I have discovered                                                                What you mean to me                                                                                 The best things in life are free.”

Sir Stan St.

Proverbs

Thank God for small favors!

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In my books and newspaper columns I examine common
expressions and try to find how long they have been around and their most
likely origin. As God’s children and warriors it is our privilege
to thank Him for all things, both great and small, and even those situations
which we don’t understand. Sometimes abbreviated as TGFSF, this phrase is now
primarily an American idiom stating one’s thankfulness that some good came out
of a bad situation. It is also used to express relief that an unfortunate
circumstance is over. The earliest version is ‘Thank heaven for small mercies,’
used in both the U.S. and the U.K., a form which is still viable at times
today.

faith

A fool and his money are soon parted

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This is a
principle that Christians should be well aware of. This speaks of
the folly of putting one’s entire hope and effort into obtaining money and the
things it will buy, while leaving out love of family and faith in God, as
outlined in the Bible stories of rich men who demanded more and more and died,
taking nothing with them. A proverb from
the ‘wisdom of the ancients,’ this thought was well known by the late 16th
century when it was brought to light in poetry by Thomas Tusser in Five Hundreth Pointes of Good Husbandrie
in 1573. “A foole
and his money,                                                                                        
             be soone at debate:                                                                                            
             which after with sorrow                                                                                
                  repents him to late.”

This exact
wording of the saying is dated at 1587 in Dr. John Bridges’ Defence of the Government of the Church of
England. “If
they pay a penie of two pence more for the reddinesse of them… let them look to
that, a foole and his money are soone
parted.”

I pray that we
will all realize that only God can bring us true peace of mind.

Faith

As honest as the day is long

By |

This is an interesting saying that I have heard practically all my life. Partly because my precious parents were very honest and expected nothing less of me. I heard them both use it about good people when I was growing up back in the 1950s and ‘60s. I have done research on words and phrases for many
years, because I was curious and wanted to know how they got started

The online forum, ‘Phrase Finder’ claims that this
cliché is likely of recent origin and according to James Rogers’ Dictionary of Clichés, 1985 is first
found in print in The Shark was a Boojum (1941).   

But this is much older.

Service

It’s better to light a candle than curse the darkness

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I used a close form
of this in my newspaper column this week, but it is very appropriate her as
well. In today’s world
almost every day we hear or see in print or on television where someone is
lashing out against someone else because they don’t agree with them. Often
folks complain about the evil deeds and darkness in the world. All of that
bothers me too. A lot.

Service

People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care

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This proverbial saying
has been utilized by numerous authors and leadership experts. John C. Maxwell,
Zig Ziglar, Jack Canfield, Ryan C. Lowe, Anthony Robbins, and numerous others
have used it in books. Then there was Coach Vince Lombardi who latched on to
it. In fact, it has become one of the most oft-quoted proverbs of modern times. It has been quoted repeatedly by sales organizations to emphasize the
importance of knowing one’s product or service ‘inside out’ before attempting
to present it to prospective buyers.

Service

The spirit is willing but the flesh is week

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This cliché is
taken directly from the Bible, from
the words of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane the night of his arrest when he
found the disciples sleeping when he had told them to sit and wait while he
went to pray. The passage appears in the parallel Gospels in Matthew 26:41 and Mark 14:36, the latter being an exact quote of the last portion in
the King James Version, 1611:

 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into
temptation. The spirit is willing, but
the flesh is weak.”

It is used when
someone has expressed good intentions and failed to follow through. Even as soldiers
in the army of the King of Kings, there are times when we fail. In order to
better serve our Savior we need the encouragement and fellowship of our brothers
and sisters.

Faith

Move heaven and earth

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This hyperbolic idiom means to do everything in one’s power to make something happen. A major online dictionary states that this term was ‘first recorded in 1792.’ Actually they are almost 150 years late. The earliest citation in print is in The History of the Government of France: Under the Administration of the Great Armand Du Plesis, Cardinal and Duke of Richlieu and Chief Minister of State of that Kingdome, 1657:                                                                                                                                            “…we are come to wonder at the blindneffe of Grandees, who turmoil themfelves in extremity, who move heaven and earth by their broils, and all for thofe things, which death, and the inconftancy of humane affairs caufe to vanifh in a moment.”

As soldiers in
the army of the King of Kings, we know that God is the only one able to move
heaven and earth. We also know that as his earthly band of brothers, He has
given us the power to call upon Him to do so. “Prayer is the key to heaven and
faith unlocks the door.”

Each day we have
new opportunities to put on the whole armor of God and use the Sword of the
Spirit to move mountains for others.