February 5

THE SMALLEST HANDCUFF IN THE WORLD

If you like it then you should've put a ring on it.

Is that not the mantra of most unmarried girls today?

So they get all gussied up for their boyfriend, shower themselves with perfume, and apply their make-up like a cosmetic perfectionist.

Then they get married.

Suddenly they stop going to the gym. They wear jammies, burp in their husband's face as a joke, and don't wear make-up except when they leave the house. There's no threat any more, the ring is secure…so why not relax?

The only problem is, that's like tricking your husband into marrying you. You let yourself go because now you have "a ring on it," but your husband's ring has become the smallest handcuff in the world.

The reason I say all this is because it's interesting to note that in Proverbs 31, we're told nothing about the noble woman's physical appearance. Yet in verse 22, we're told that she dresses in purple and silk. Purple was linked with kings, and silk was linked with nobility. She dresses like royalty, showing her family's high standing.

She dresses in royal gowns, not in jammies.

I highly doubt the virtuous woman picks her nose, burps, and stops trying to be attractive for her husband. She clothes herself like a queen.

Have you let yourself go because you've got the ring on your finger, or do you still try for him, as if you're still attempting to win your husband over? Do you continue to get gussied up and smell good for him?

If you do this, you will help guard your husband against sexual temptation. And you'll make him one happy man.

Dress like royalty for him. Put on purple and silk.

Be his queen.

Adornment is never anything except a reflection of the heart.
- Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel

February 4

WHEN LOGIC IS FORCED TO EMBRACE THE ILLOGICAL

I love reading philosophical books. I am hooked by any treatise or story that offers some sort of meaning to existence. Sometimes life seems pointless to me, and I have a hard time understanding what I'm doing on this planet. I have a hard time understanding what anyone's doing on this planet. What is our point? That's probably why my favorite book right now is Ecclesiastes. Solomon addresses so many of the questions I grapple with.

The older I get, the more my exclamation points turn into question marks. I have far less emphatic answers than I did at 17, but the three or four answers I do have now are infinitely stronger and more verifiable than the zillion answers I thought I had at 17.

When I was a 17 year old, I would believe something simply because a famous guy said it. Or I'd affirm a truth merely because tradition affirms it. Then I found out both are frequently wrong. Now I long to own objective truth. I want to own truth so much that even if everyone else in the world disagreed with me, I'd still have no doubts.

The problem is, in my search for objective truth and substantial answers to life, I'm finding out there are certain truths I simply cannot understand. No matter how hard I try, there are certain verifiable realities I cannot wrap my mind around.

Like the idea of infinity, for example…

When I look up at the night sky and consider the universe, I cannot fathom it going on forever and ever. It's got to stop somewhere. How can it just have no ending?

But if it does have an ending, what lies beyond its walls? There can't just be nothing after it stops. There's got to be something that exists beyond its borders.

So I do the math. 2 plus 2 equals 4. An infinite universe is illogical. A finite universe is illogical. That means, mathematically speaking, the universe cannot exist.

But the problem is not with the universe.

The problem is with my 3 pound brain.

The same is true with God. I can't grasp the idea that He's eternal. If He's finite, then something must have birthed Him. But if something birthed Him, who created His Creator?

But if He was not birthed, how could He just exist from the beginning? He has to start somewhere! He had to start building Himself at some point. But what birthed His origins so that He could build Himself?

The idea of God is illogical.

Does that mean He does not exist?

No, it means the problem lies within my 3 pound brain (Proverbs 3:5).

If we doubt the existence of God because He is "illogical," then on those same grounds we must doubt the existence of the universe, because it too is "illogical."

There is one idea more illogical than God. And that is the idea of evolution. If a big bang really occurred, what created the seed that birthed the universe? Something had to birth the seed. And whatever birthed the seed had to be birthed by something else.

This is where Science and Math fall apart. It cannot explain the idea of infinity. Therefore, to try and prove infinity scientifically is a contradiction in terms.

Sometimes logic means embracing the illogical.

Even if I wasn't a Christian, I would be forced to believe there's a God of some kind. Not because God is logical. But because He is less illogical than evolution. And the least illogical solution is usually the right one.

It's like what Churchill said about democracy: it's the worst form of government except all the others. It's not the best. It's just the least illogical. And that's why he believes in it.

And that's precisely why I believe in God.

To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.
- St. Thomas Aquinas

February 3

ENTERTAINING GREATNESS

Once there was a girl who was sick in bed. She was dying of a disease that couldn't be cured, and it painfully racked her body.

One day a man went to visit her. He brought along with him a book of comfort and cheer, a funny book. When he gave it to her, she said, "Thank you sir, but I know this book."

He asked, "You've read it?"

She said, "I wrote it."

We often underestimate people. We focus on their weakness, but fail to see their greatness.

Therefore, keep your eyes peeled for the hidden greatness in others today - especially in those who appear weak. You may just find that the sick girl you visited was an angel in disguise (Hebrews 13:2), or the author of the book you were reading in the waiting room.

The wings of angels are often found on the backs of the least likely people.
- Eric Honeycutt

February 2

LIFE IS LIKE AN ONION

Life is like an onion. The more layers you pull back, the more tears you shed. After all, doesn't the old proverb say, "A wise man is never happy"? The deeper you delve into the meaning of life, the more unhappy you'll be.

Solomon, something of an existentialist philosopher himself, proclaimed that his wisdom only brought him grief (Ecclesiastes 1:18). Philosophy (which means "the love of wisdom") has been rightly defined as a way of making man unhappy more intelligently.

The very origin of humanity's sorrow can be traced back to wisdom. It was when Adam ate the fruit of knowledge that grief flooded the earth. The more knowledge we've gained, the more gloomy we've become.

When sad King Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes, as he embarked on his own philosophical journey to discover the purpose of our existence, he used the phrase "under the sun" 29 times. He used this expression to denote our finite view of life.

So long as you focus only upon that which is under the sun, you'll be an atheistic existentialist who views life as meaningless and the universe as hostile. You'll discover that history is repetitive. Man is mortal. Humans are no different than animals, for we both return to the same dust from which we came. As the pig dies, so shall I. Under the sun, we find death and rape and injustice and genocide.

Under the sun, there is nothing but grief.

It's only when we look to the One who dwells over the sun, that life under the sun begins to make sense.

Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal.
- Author Unknown

February 1

THE ENJOYABLE FIERY TRIAL

My Dad has always taught that trials do not make or break us, they merely reveal us.

He's often used the analogy of a sponge. When you look at the sponge in your sink, you have no idea what's inside of it. It's only when you squeeze it that what's inside is revealed, whether it be milk or rat poison or Windex.

So too, it's only when we're squeezed by trials that who we really are comes spilling out.

But there are such things as pleasurable trials. Enjoyable squeezes. Proverbs 27:21 says, "The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise." Talk about a pleasant fiery trial! Here Solomon writes that being praised is a fiery test that displays what's truly inside of you.

When people cling to you, just like when one clings to a sponge, your true nature comes spilling out. When people cleave to you, hold onto you a little too tightly, and squeeze, you'll be able to see what's really in your heart.

When you get applause, what's your response? Do you believe your own press? Do you get cocky? Do you expect people to treat you like a diva? Their praise is not making or breaking you. It's revealing you.

Paul and Barnabas were revealed when they were worshipped as gods by the people of Lystra. They ripped their garments. They didn't bask in it…they grieved over it! The squeeze of adoration unveiled their greatness.

You're not going to find many Paul and Barnabas'. They're extremely hard to find. Legitimately humble celebrities are rare birds. There've been multiple celebrities I've looked up to who started their careers with such charming personalities.

But then they started getting praised a little too much.

Suddenly they became conceited. Easily irritated. A little too confident. And, in some cases, even a little weird.

I used to think the praise changed them.

It didn't.

It just exposed them.

Wanna know who you are? See what you do next time you get praised.

Flattery is a counterfeit money which, but for vanity, would have no circulation.
- François de la Rochefoucauld

January 31

THE PAST IS A CRYSTAL BALL OF THE FUTURE

Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 says, "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, 'Look! This is something new'? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time."

The past is a crystal ball of the future, showing us what shall be. Everything done by our ancestors will be done by our children, for the saying is true, the one thing we learn from history is that we don't learn from history.

For this reason, the study of history is one of the most important tasks one can undertake. The study of the past gives the reader foresight. If you wish to know the general course your life will take, all you must do is study the biographies of the past, for our generation will tread the same trail our ancestors walked. Indeed, we're all performers on the stage of time, repeating the stories of our fathers. The actors may change from one generation to the next, but the plot never does.

The script is stock.

After all, what of our deeds can we look to and say, "See, this is new"? The more cognizant we become of history, the more we agree with the all-too-true maxim, "The ancients have stolen all our ideas!" Is there anything being done under the sun which hasn't already been practiced by our forebears before us?

This is not to say humans are not unique. We do indeed develop our own mixture of inspiration, but all our ideas find their genesis in the same old places. We may churn our own butter, but we're all milking the same cows.

Isn't the axiom true, that originality is merely "the art of concealing your sources"?

This is why the wisest sages are often of a melancholy disposition. They see nothing new, or exciting. They know history, and consequently know the basic layout of the future. Because they've cultivated their hind-sight, they have keen fore-sight. They are well aware that history is an ancient mirror of what shall come, and therefore are surprised by nothing.

Perhaps the task of studying history seems daunting to you. Might I suggest that's because you're attempting to study subjects that don't inspire you?

What historical character does intrigue you? Read about him, and as you follow your curiosity, he will lead you to new characters and new histories. For example, you may find Alexander the Great inspiring. Study him, and you'll discover one of his inspirations was Achilles. Who was Achilles, this strange hero from the past? Well, you must turn to the Iliad to find out. And who mentored the great conqueror? Aristotle. You'll then find that Aristotle was mentored by Plato who was mentored by Socrates. Before you know it, you're reading Homer and Socratic dialogue and Platonic philosophy all because you found Alexander the Great interesting.

If the future is a secret you wish to unlock, you must first find the key of history. Only then will you know what shall be.

As we gaze into the crystal ball of history, perhaps we shall find ourselves capable of avoiding the dishonorable qualities of mankind, and emulating the more graceful deeds instead.

They that came after us will see nothing new, and they who went before us saw nothing more than we have seen.
- Marcus Aurelius

January 30

HOMETOWN BUFFET

Sometimes we treat the Bible like Hometown Buffet.

When you're at Hometown, you're selective with your food. You gladly take on mashed potatoes and gravy, but the Jello looks a little weird, so you pass it up. You happily fill your bowl with swirly ice cream, but broccoli isn't your style, so you pass on it.

In the same way, we feast on some commands of the Bible but we pass on others. We gladly put "Love your neighbor" on our plate, but when it comes to "Love your enemy," we pass it up. We're happily fed by "Love the LORD your God" but we're not so keen on gobbling up "Love your wife."

How foolish we are! If we fail to take in all the words of God, we'll be imbalanced and lack nutrition. Deuteronomy 8:3 teaches that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Every word. Not half, not most, but all.

Feast on all the words of God, for only then will you have a well-balanced diet and be a healthy Christian.

The true follower of Christ will not ask, "If I embrace this truth, what will it cost me?" Rather he will say, "This is truth. God help me to walk in it, let come what may!
- A.W. Tozer

January 29

AUGUSTUS CAESAR

Augustus Caesar once said to his soldiers, "Young men, hearken to me, an old man, whom old men hearkened unto when I was but young."

It's fascinating to study the early years of the world's most powerful leaders. You'll often find that those who were renowned for their sagacity as old men possessed wisdom beyond their years as youths. When they were but juveniles, older thinkers were impressed by their insights.

Study the early years of the greatest Sage to ever live. When He was just 12, He was impressing older scholars with His insightfulness (Luke 2:46-47). Therefore, by the time He was full grown, He was uttering wiser sayings than any the world had ever heard before (John 7:46).

We tend to reserve wisdom for the elderly, and deem sagacity beyond our grasp because we're just kids. This is foolish, because age is irrelevant. If you're not wise beyond your years now, what makes you think you'll be wiser than your peers when you turn 75?

Augustus, an old leader, had the authority to command young men to listen to him because his elders were listening to him when he was still young! He was a leader of men as an elder because he was a leader of men as a youth.

Perhaps you're planning on being a wise leader when you get into your 70's. Therefore, you intend to pick up the clicker today and the book tomorrow. Reverse that. Procrastinate watching TV, and prioritize good reading, for if you don't strive for wisdom in youth, what makes you think you'll ever get around to it when you're older? We are not defined by our intentions for tomorrow…

But by our deeds today.

The two rules of procrastination: 1) Do it today. 2) Tomorrow will be today tomorrow.
- Author Unknown

January 28

SOREN KIERKEGAARD

Soren Kierkegaard is one of the most intellectually complex Christians in Church history. A Danish thinker from the 19th century, Kierkegaard was a founder of the existentialist philosophy. Although he was a profound man, a genius, and often melancholy in disposition, he'd sometimes pretend to be a stupid, quirky kook. He bluntly confessed his desire to be a famous author, yet he'd write many books under a false name to protect himself from becoming an egomaniac who merely sought celebrity. He was quite a paradox, which is rather ironic, because he believed that the one unchanging factor in his day was the paradox (a paradox is an idea which seems self-contradictory, but if you examine the idea more closely, you'll find it to be well-founded and not conflicting at all).

Kierkegaard is considered to be the first existentialist, even though this tends to be an atheistic philosophy. Existentialism is the belief that human existence cannot be explained, and that we live in a universe that doesn't care about us, or is perhaps even unfriendly towards us. The human experience is a lonely one. However, even though humanity may be in a hopeless condition, we have what it takes to perform great feats of personal heroics. We have the opportunity for bravery even in the face of meaninglessness. The existentialists also emphasize that man is a free agent who must take responsibility for the ramifications of his deeds.

In his book The Sickness Unto Death, Kierkegaard proposed that we are all afflicted by a malady, namely, despair. It is only when we acknowledge that we are sick, hopeless, and meaningless creatures that we come to the Great Physician to be cured of our fatal disease. The Danish philosopher suggests that everyone has this sickness, but not everyone is willing to acknowledge it. Some people bury their awareness of despair under escapism, but it dwells within them nonetheless, even if they seem to be the happiest individuals.

Perhaps you tend to be of the existentialist's mindset. You opt for subjective truth and tend to be suspicious of popular opinions and widespread dogma. You believe differently - you don't swallow "truth" just because everyone else is drinking the Kool-aid. You're a free thinker. Yet with your freedom has come a profound sense of loneliness. Take heart! King Solomon felt the same way. He confronted his readers with the existential philosophy in the first chapter of Ecclesiastes. He concludes all things to be meaningless, all humans to be transitory, and all acts to have been already performed under the sun. He grew very wise, but with his growing enlightenment came despair (Ecclesiastes 1:18).

If you have a predisposition towards depression, it's probably because you're an intellectually aware individual. You are conscious of your sickness unto death, because you've had the courage to delve into philosophy. But do not upbraid yourself for failing to find the meaning of things! Your existential mindset is a blessing! Simply go the Great Physician with your malady, and you just watch how He will combat your despair with an invincible hope.

Only the Doctor of Souls can cure you of the sickness unto death.

Where am I? Who am I? How did I come to be here? What is this thing called the world? How did I come into the world? Why was I not consulted? And If I am compelled to take part in it, Where is the director? I want to see him.
- Soren Kierkegaard

January 27

THE BEAUTY OF INDEPENDENT PEOPLE

One of my favorite moments in life is when I see a person who's really cool, a young leader who could call a million different friends and they would love to hang out with him, but he opts for being alone. He's intelligent and has a charming personality and is looked up to, but he chooses to read a book in a park alone. Or go on long walks alone. Or runs errands by himself. Or sits behind his computer for hours not to watch YouTube but to write. I can't help but be inspired by that.

When I was in high school I needed to be around people. I found my security in how many friends I could hang out with. But now that I'm in my 20's, I really want to spend time by myself. I love being independent. I love reading books. And practicing writing by myself. And going on walks by myself. And visiting a waterfall or Redwoods all alone. Because the people who inspire me do that, I want to follow their example.

And it just so happens I have the most fun being by myself. I do like hanging out with people in moderation, but not too much. People are too fickle. One day they're nice. The next day they're a jerk face. It is what it is. But no one can hurt you when you're alone.

The most confident people don't feel the need to be around people 24/7. I've noticed that sometimes the most looked up to people will sit alone at church. They don't need to surround themselves with a posse. They're their own person and don't need to find their identity in how many people they can surround themselves with.

The greatest Bible characters were so attractive because they knew how to be alone. Jesus could be all by Himself for 40 days straight (Luke 4). Moses was in a desert for 40 years before he became the leader of the masses. When David was to be anointed king, they had to fetch him because he was all alone with his sheep.

The greats need alone time.

Language . . . Has created the word "loneliness" to express the pain of being alone. And it has created the word "solitude" to express the glory of being alone.
- Paul Johannes Tillich

January 26

THE COURAGE OF LEGENDS

The most repeated commandment in the Scriptures is, "Do not be afraid." God tells His people to be brave hundreds of times in the Bible. Which is perfect, because the one emotion all creatures share is fear.

Understand - being brave doesn't mean you're not scared. It means you're scared to death, but you do the brave deed anyways. Bravery means your feelings tell you to flee from the blood and screams of battle…but your actions charge the front lines.

Doing the very thing that scares you most - that is courage.

However…

It is possible to purge your emotions of fear as well.

Only the greats know how to do this. Only the legends know how to master their senses so completely that they don't even let themselves feel the emotion of fear.

How do they do this?

By bringing their worst fears upon themselves, they overcome fear itself.

If you do what you're afraid to do on a daily basis, bringing your worst fears upon yourself regularly, you will have the courage of legends. When you keep on doing the things that scare you most, you'll stop fearing them. You'll find that you actually survive your fears. They're not invincible after all. You're still standing.

David, one of the bravest men of history, put it this way, "Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart" (Psalm 27:4). As you perform the action of bravery (be of good courage), the emotion of courage will come as a by-product (your heart will be strengthened).

If you can train your emotions to not even feel scared, then no one can stop you. Purge yourself of fear, and you'll be made of the stuff legends are made of.

Every day, do what terrifies you.

Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence in the doing.
- Author Unknown

January 25

THE GUY WHO SHOWS UP IN EVERY WAR MOVIE

Wise people aren't surprised by anything.

Fools are shocked by everything.

A fool experiences grief or glory as if he's the first human to ever encounter such emotions. He gets overly giddy in times of glory as if he's the first man to experience victory, then panics in times of perturbation as if he's the first man to chance upon defeat. Every event in his life is entirely unforeseen by those amateur eyes of his!

Experienced sages like Solomon, however, know better. They know that everything which happens to them has already happened to their fathers before them (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10). Why be surprised by anything, then? After all, there's nothing new under the sun. They know that every emotion they encounter in 2011 has already been experienced by cavemen multiple millennia ago, so they'll treat grief and glory as two familiar acquaintances, unsurprised by each.

A perfect picture of this unsurprised wise man is found in the veteran soldier who shows up in every war movie. He's the guy who's been around the block. He's seen heads roll. He's seen bloodshed. He's heard the shrieks and horrors of battle. He's unafraid. By his 100th battle he's a pro, totally relaxed, because he's seen it all already.

My Dad once pointed out to me the amusing contrast between this veteran and the rookie soldier. The vet's helmet is unbuckled and falling off the side of his head. His gun's dangling loosely at his side. A cigar's hanging out of his mouth. He's cool as a cucumber. The rookie soldier, however, has his helmet buckle strapped tightly to his chin, grips his gun with two sweaty hands, triple checks his rounds, and is throwing up before battle. When he and his men engage the enemy, he's bewildered by the screams and cannons and cannot believe such horror could exist! He's jumpy and sweaty and surprised by everything that happens to him.

Which soldier are you?

Do you behave as if you've never fought a battle in your life? Are you astonished when you see a little blood? Or do you accept that life is bloody and that being a coward isn't going to help you or anybody else? Have you learned to anticipate both glory and grief and not be shocked when either of them comes?

Death will come. Heads will roll. The victories will be many. And so will the defeats. Expect it all.

If you can learn the art of never being surprised by anything, if you can learn to relax, you'll be a vet in the war of life.

How ridiculous and what a stranger he is who is surprised at anything which happens in life.
- Marcus Aurelius

January 24

THE LEGENDARY ARMY OF MACEDON

The legendary army of Macedon is perhaps the most deadly force to ever set foot on the field of battle. Under Alexander's leadership, they successfully embarked on the conquest of the world. Even today, more than 2 millennia after their heroic adventures, their feats still fascinate the modern reader. But a large reason why they became great (a large reason Alexander was ever called "The Great") was because of his father, King Philip.

For over 2 decades, Philip had been preparing his men for battle. His requirements were great, for to be a soldier in his army you had to be tough. You had to be brave, for Philip would position horsemen behind the battle line to chop down any coward who ran away from the battle. You had to possess endurance, for Philip's officers were made to march 30 miles in the summer or carry 30 days’ worth of flour on their backs. You could not be a man who needs your woman with you, for females were not allowed to come into camp. You could not cherish comfort, for once Philip scolded a Macedonian for bathing in warm water because warm baths were only for women who had just given birth.

Conditions were adverse for the Macedonian warriors, yet look at how hardy their adversities made them - look at what they were capable of accomplishing!

If you wish to be heroic and fight epic battles, you must master the art of toughness. You must learn to embrace discomfort, stand your ground (Ephesians 6:13), and never complain like a coward (Philippians 2:14). You must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3) and beat your body until it becomes your slave (1 Corinthians 9:27). You must master fear (Isaiah 41:10) and be of good courage (Psalm 27:14). Only then you will accomplish deeds of daring that may just rival a man of Macedonia.

For a tree to become tall it must grow tough roots among the rocks.
- Friedrich Nietzsche

January 23

XERXES

Once, when Xerxes, king of Persia, beheld his enormous army, he wept, for he knew that within a hundred years’ time, every one of his men would be dead.

The cruel reality of human impermanence is most saddening. Man is but a breath, returning to the dust the moment he starts to learn how life ought to be lived. Swiftly does humanity rise and fall. During every baby shower celebration, a grown baby is in a morgue, being mourned. Every time a human is born in a hospital, another human is dying upstairs.

This is a most vain vanity!

Ecclesiastes 1:4 says, "Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever." We are but transient folk, pilgriming through the world, headed toward an inevitable grave. Yet the earth, being something of a living creature itself, lives on. Even though it feels no emotion, and does not care whether it lives or dies, it has a far greater lifespan than we emotional beings do, who wish for immortality.

Plato considered the planet to be an animate being of sorts, with trees serving as it's hair, rivers as veins and rocks as bones. The earth is a creature which endures forever, yet our hair and veins and bones will be in a coffin within a few short years.

Reflect on your transience today, and live accordingly.

For the more you think about death, the more fully you will live life.

Mere man is but the dream of a dream, but the generations of a fancy, but an empty vanity, but the curious picture of nothing, a poor, feeble, unable, dying flash.
- John Trapp