GRUKS

A few Gruks

Below is a few of Piet Hein's "Grooks", as his poems were known.
He wrote in several languages.  This from Esperanto.

T.T.T
Put up in a place
where it's easy to see
the cryptic admonishment
T.T.T.
When you feel how depressingly
slowly you climb,
it's well to remember that
Things Take Time.

NAIVE
Naive you are
if you believe
life favours those
who aren't naive.

PROBLEMS
Problems worthy
of attack
prove their worth
by hitting back.

THE ROAD TO WISDOM
The road to wisdom? - Well, it's plain
and simple to express:
Err
and err
and err again
but less
and less
and less.

A PSYCHOLOGICAL TIP
Whenever you're called on to make up your mind,
and you're hampered by not having any,
the best way to solve the dilemma, you'll find,
is simply by spinning a penny.
No - not so that chance shall decide the affair
while you're passively standing there moping;
but the moment the penny is up in the air,
you suddenly know what you're hoping.

ARS BREVIS
There is
one art,
no more,
no less:
to do
all things
with art-
lessness

AN ETHICAL GROOK
I see
and I hear
and I speak no evil;
I carry
no malice
within my breast;
yet quite without
wishing
a man to the Devil
one may be
permitted
to hope for the best.

A WORD TO THE WISE
Let the world pass in its time-ridden race;
never get caught in its snare.
Remember, the only acceptable case
for being in any particular place
is having no business there.

MEETING THE EYE You'll probably find
that it suits your book
to be a bit cleverer
than you look.

Observe that the easiest
method by far
is to look a bit stupider
than you are.

LIVING IS -
Living is
a thing you do
now or never -
which do you?

 

UNDERSTANDING

He who foolishness

only foolishly takes,

and seriousness

only seriously,

misunderstands them both

completely.

 

CONSOLATION GROOK

Losing one glove
is certainly painful,
but nothing
compared to the pain,
of losing one,
throwing away the other,
and finding

the first one again.

Work Is A Gift From God

Work is a Gift from God

Wisdom from God: OT + NT = Bible. God speaks to us.

"Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor--this is the gift of God. For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart." Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

1. It is right to work and make money.

"So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.'" Luke 19:13

"And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned ten minas.' And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.'" Luke 19:15-17

A mina (pound) was about three months wages. Jesus teaches us to use our resources and abilities wisely and to make a profit. The same is true of the Lord’s church. It is Jesus Himself who is the Gospel Truth we take to the world.

"For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him." Luke 19:26

2. Not a workaholic or a religious fanatic.

"...then you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.' And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day." Deuteronomy 8:17-18

"Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself? Do not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time?" Ecclesiastes 7:16-17

"Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." Matt 16:6

"Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations-- "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," which all concern things which perish with the using-- according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh." Col 2:20-23

3. God gives some great wealth.

"For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind." Ecclesiastes 2:26

"Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity." Ecclesiastes 2:18-19

4. The right way to live.

"Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. I returned and saw under the sun that-- The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all. For man also does not know his time: Like fish taken in a cruel net, Like birds caught in a snare, So the sons of men are snared in an evil time, When it falls suddenly upon them." Ecclesiastes 9:9-12

"Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart,
And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, And put away evil from your flesh, For childhood and youth are vanity." Ecclesiastes 11:9-10

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

What Does The Bible Say

What Does The Bible Say?

This is my Bible.

God is speaking to me.

I read about God.

I read about myself.

I read about sin & salvation.

I read about Eternal Life.

I read about faith and hope and love.

1. Newspaper

a) Read to understand. "So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him." Acts 8:30-31

"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price." Isaiah 55:1

"Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." John 4:13-14

"They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Rev 7:16-17

b) Not to argue. "Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers." 2 Tim 2:14


2. Letter from God

"Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this." Rev 1:19

"For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." Romans 15:4

"So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement." Acts 15:30-31

"Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me." John 14:23-24



3. Mystery revealed "Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith-- to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen." Romans 16:25-27

"And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." 2 Cor 6:16

"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?" 1 Cor 10:16

"Communion: At the Communion (Lord’s Supper) there is real participation in the Body and Blood of Christ. Just as Christ’s human body is united to Him, so we are united to Him. As many grains become one loaf, those who take communion become one in Christ." Wallerstedt

"Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Rev 21:1-4

Godly Sorrow Produces Repentance

Godly sorrow produces repentance.

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:12-13

"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." Acts 17:30-31



1. God wants us to change our hearts and lives.

The inspired writers wrote in Greek. Note how the translators use words to bring out the meaning of the original text.

"When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life." Acts 11:18 (NKJV)

"When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, "We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life." Acts 11:18 (NLT)

"Once the apostles and other believers heard this, they calmed down. They praised God and concluded, "So then God has enabled Gentiles to change their hearts and lives so that they might have new life." Acts 11:18 (CEV)

[Campbell said to repent meant to reform.]

2. Godly sorrow brings us to God.

"And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'" Luke 18:13 

Some mistakenly think of repentance as the sorrow of the mourner’s bench and confuse it with James 5:1. One young man said if you did not weep and howl your baptism was not valid.

"For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death." 2 Cor 7:10

"For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death." 2 Cor 7:10 (NLT)

"Feeling sorry is not enough. Heartfelt godly sorrow produces repentance and diligence. True repentance (change your heart and mind) cleanses us from sin and alienation, and diligence zealously pursues holiness and reconciliation. We hereby continue on the path of salvation to eternal life. The sorrow of the world is feeling sorry we were caught. It centers upon ourselves (selfishness), our embarrassment over the predicament we find ourselves in. It stops short of repentance and reconciliation with God." Wallerstedt

3. Confident Desperation.

"O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin." Romans 7:24-25

"I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." Gal 5:16-18

"By the flesh, Paul does not mean the body. The flesh here is a general term for evil actions, the depraved will, the slothful and careless soul - things that are under one’s control, not part of human nature. The flesh is crucified with Christ (verse 24). It is not human nature that is mortified, but its evil deeds." Wallerstedt

"Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Gal 6:1-2

"So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment." James 2:12-13

Wallerstedt on James 2:8-13. "The true standard of judgment is perfect faith manifested in perfect works. The royal law (verse 8), the law of liberty (verse 12), is the second great commandment of Christ: love your neighbor (John 13:34). The standard by which we judge is that by which we will be judged. The mercy we give will be the mercy we receive."

4. God’s Great Plan.

"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." John 6:37

"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me." John 6:44-45

THE EGYPT PRINCIPLE

The Egypt Principle

"God works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform." Old proverb.

"Say, for example, He wants you to go to Egypt. If that’s the case, He will provide you with 11 jealous brothers, and they’ll sell you into slavery." Rich Mullins

"But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." Genesis 50:20

1. Joseph continued to trust God.

In moments of crisis, we can base our actions on how we have sensed God moving, and also on the God-given faith we find within ourselves.

"Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday." Psalms 37:5-6

"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." Phil 4:11-12

a) Life seemed very unfair and destructive.

"Consolation is understood not as happy feelings, but that which opens us up to God and others. Even difficult circumstances can lead to consolation if we sense God in them."

Consolation: "comfort received by a person after a loss or disappointment; encouragement."

b) Joseph continued to do right things.

Slavery;

Potiphar’s wife;

prison;

prophecy;

obedience.

c) God raised Joseph up to be second to Pharaoh in command of Egypt. Joseph prepared Egypt for the coming world famine.

d) God brought Jacob and all his family to Egypt. God’s promise to Abraham was being fulfilled. The Jews became a great nation as slaves. They were being prepared for Canaan.

"And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect."

Gal 3:17

2. God is at work in our world today.

"I don’t think God’s plan for you has to be complicated. God’s will is that you love Him with all your heart and soul and mind, and also that you love your neighbor as yourself. Get busy with that, and then, if God wants you to do something unusual, He’ll take care of it." Rich Mullins

"Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." James 4:13-15

"Without forgetting the deep differences that divide us, now as never before we are called to stand and work together for the cause of Christ in a broken world." WYD


"And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment." 1 John 3:22-23

3. Sons and daughters of encouragement.

"And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet." Acts 4:36-37

"Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch." Acts 11:22-26

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

BEFORE YOU CALL I WILL ANSWER

Before you call, I will answer!

"It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear." Isaiah 65:24

"God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I'm an open book to You; even from a distance, You know what I'm thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I'm never out of Your sight. You know everything I'm going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and You're there, then up ahead and You're there, too—Your reassuring presence —coming and going." Psalms 139:1-5 (MSG)

1. God hears our prayers.

"Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God, yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering." Dan 9:20-21

"An answer was immediately sent to Daniel's prayer, and it is a very memorable one. We cannot now expect that God should send answers to our prayers by angels, but if we pray with fervency for that which God has promised, we may by faith take the promise as an immediate answer to the prayer; for He is faithful that has promised. Daniel had a far greater and more glorious redemption discovered to him, which God would work out for his church in the latter days. Those who would be acquainted with Christ and his grace, must be much in prayer. The evening offering was a type of the great sacrifice Christ was to offer in the evening of the world: in virtue of that sacrifice Daniel's prayer was accepted; and for the sake of that, this glorious discovery of redeeming love was made to him." — Henry

"About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!" And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?" So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God." Acts 10:3-4

"His devotion did not make him a Christian, but his prayers and alms came up 'for a memorial before God.' God rewarded his devotion by bringing Peter to him to explain more fully the way of Christ." Wallerstedt

"Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake." Rev 8:3-5

God is responding to their prayers (Rev. 6:9-11). The martyrs are to have patience until God's Plan has completed His Purpose.

2. God understands us.

"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."
Romans 8:26

The Holy Spirit not only brings us strength, He empowers us in our weakness, especially by helping us to pray, even when we cannot find words to speak. Setbacks and difficulties there will be (John 16:33), but God will continue to help us.

"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Heb 4:15-16

"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." 1 John 5:14-15

"What about those fellow Christians who are not living righteously? John says God will forgive them if fellow Christians pray for them. Sin leading to death - that which is beyond our prayer - is willful, continual disbelief in the grace of the Holy Spirit toward us. (See Matt. 12:28-32; Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:26-31). Wallerstedt on 1 John 5:14-17.

3. Times of testing.

"Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth." Rev 3:10

"When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:13-14