Happy Thursday folks. You guessed it right; The word coleslaw meant cabbage salad. It was usually made with shredded cabbage, that the Dutch people when coming to the US began growling cabbage along the Hudson River in order to make coleslaw, they mixed butter, vinegar, with mayonnaise. There were a varied number of adaptations, however, shredded cabbage is always the primary ingredient.
Do you know how many elevators that the Empire State building has? Yes, that's right believe it or not it has 73 elevators.
Hey do you know; Why dogs make terrible dance partners? Well of course because they have 2 left feet ! Ha! ha
Thursday 9/14
Eccl. 4:14 "Such a youth could rise from poverty and succeed, He might even become king, though he has been in prison."
This verse is talking about the previous verse, the poor, and yet wise youth who was aware of his lack of learning, so he listened to the wise voice of experience. Due to the fact that he had been imprisoned he was in need of the experience given to him first of all from God.
When we realize that our simple opinion is very limited, in comparison to our mighty God. When we stop to think about where to go for wisdom, we realize that the experience, understanding, and limited insight that is ours, then we in turn come to realize the importance of listening, reading, and learning from our eternal God in His written words.
Once we come to that realization, that we are poor, unlearned, and in need, then He can fill our minds with His thoughts, and His instructions.
So in reality who is better prepared for leadership? (A) The poor, dependent (on God), inexperienced child or (B) the self absorbed, haughty, all knowing, proud even elder experienced king? So what is your answer?
The next few verses lay out the comparison, and the results of both leaders.
Do you remember a time in your life when you thought you knew everything? You questioned the wisdom of your parents? You were sure that if you were only given control you were certainly better prepared for taking control?
Solomon here is lending us a hand, to not think too highly of our own personal ability, but rather to stop and give ourself to the eternal guidance that He (God) can give us.
I remember a time when I tried to convince my dad that I knew best in a decision. We were lifting a large concrete road tiles and moving them. We were evaluating just how to place the cable to lift them, they weighed several thousand pounds, and the wench truck we were using was lighter than these tiles, so to lift it improperly would raise the front of the truck off of the ground and cause the truck to lose control. Dad wanted to put a snatch block around the smaller tile we had just moved, for counter balance, my thought was that this would take too much time and I had the ability to hold the tile in place with the brake being used to balance it.
I remember our discussion, him wanting to take the extreme time & effort to attach the front of the truck to the move tile, while my much easier, faster plan would be better. So dad said OK you are convinced your plan is better, so lets go ahead. As I slowly lifted the concrete and all went well, until the front of the truck lifted off the ground, then I could no longer control it. Then the cable shifted, slid off the concrete tile and the boom on the truck lost control & it came lose causing the boom to swing forward and as a result losing the load.
But I was so sure, and had we taken the time to safe guard the load we would then would have been able to move the load, but, now we had an entire day in front of us to just free the truck of the concrete tile & then begin again. That was the last time that I didn't keep in the back of my head the thought to remember, "That Father Knows Best".
I do remember the way that dad continued with this task. Rather than chiding me with the words "I knew it, or I told you so" he said well son now how should we proceed. The front of the truck was suspended in the air, the boom had landed on the roof of the truck, and I had no clue just how to counter this predicament. Dad said, well son what do you think about this plan, he then set out to assist me with an effective plan.
I learned that day that my quick plan was definitely not the shorter approach. As we painstakingly began to bring control back & move the concrete tile, I was reminded of my incomplete plan. And until we retired that truck, each time I would walk by the dented roof of the boom truck, I was again reminded of that fact.
My lesson was, to take the time to collaborate with others, go through the pain staking effort of reasoning out the best most beneficial approach by engaging all viewpoints. We see Solomon, came to this lesson. Just because you have experience, even many past accomplishments, he learned this important truth don't cut short the most important step of leaning on His (Our heavenly Father's) thoughts.
Even today as I go to you tube & investigate ways to properly acheive some task, I sure wish dad were here.
So Go With God for He has insights that go beyond any of our experiences, He knows all truth. Rest in His ways and He will cause it to "come to pass". If you have time to look at two instances when God intervened: Amos 8:9; Zechariah. 13:2. We learn, as we go with Him He will cause our ways to be blessed.