Welcome to Weekday Word with Pastor Eric

Proverbs 31:10-31 , NRSV Today, I simply offer a different way to read this well-known passage in Proverbs.  Proverbs, as we have noted before, was most likely written for men to read.  So, in that context, it is understandable that when talking about an ideal spouse, the text would describe a wife.  However, all the…

Proverbs 31:1-9, The Message The words of King Lemuel,     the strong advice his mother gave him: “Oh, son of mine, what can you be thinking of!     Child whom I bore! The son I dedicated to God! Don’t dilute your strength on fortune-hunting women,     promiscuous women who shipwreck leaders. “Leaders can’t afford to…

Proverbs 30:24-28, The Message – There are four small creatures,     wisest of the wise they are—         ants—frail as they are,             get plenty of food in for the winter;         marmots—vulnerable as they are,             manage to arrange for rock-solid homes;         locusts—leaderless insects,             yet they strip the field like an army…

Proverbs 30:1-9, New Living Translation The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message. I am weary, O God;     I am weary and worn out, O God. I am too stupid to be human,     and I lack common sense. I have not mastered human wisdom,     nor do I know the Holy…

Proverbs 27:17, CEB – As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens a friend.        Today I share the insights of Gordon MacDonald about the people we chose to spend time with.  Years ago, he wrote a book called Renewing Your Spiritual Passion where He classifies the five types of people with whom we spend time. …

Proverbs 26:20-21, CEB – Without wood a fire goes out; without gossips, conflict calms down. Like adding charcoal to embers or wood to fire, quarrelsome people kindle strife.                 When I was growing up, we had a fireplace.  I learned over time how to tend a fire and unlike other chores assigned to me, I…

Proverbs 24:1-6, CEB – Don’t envy evil people,     and don’t long to be with them. Their hearts are focused on violence,     and their lips speak of trouble. By wisdom a house is built;     by understanding it is established. By knowledge rooms are filled     with all precious and pleasant wealth. A wise…

Proverbs 22:24-25, CEB – Don’t befriend people controlled by anger; don’t associate with hot-tempered people; otherwise, you will learn their ways and become trapped. There is nothing inherently bad about getting angry.  Jesus got angry.  The Bible has many accounts of God getting angry.  So why do we have a proverb instructing us to avoid…

Proverbs 20:22, NLT Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.”     Wait for the Lord to handle the matter. Human beings seem to be born with a injustice detector.   Almost as soon as we can speak more than a few words, we string together the words, “it’s not fair!”  This is especially true…

Proverbs 18:24, CEB – There are persons for companionship, but then there are friends who are more loyal than family.                 Today, I simply hold up the supreme value of a real friend.  These people are rare.  As the proverb implies, there are lots of people who you can simply pass the time.  These companions…