A Man of Science ( by Carley Evans )

Bewildered by Christians who condemn or at the very least disdain the pursuit of scientific knowledge? I am.

“God gives Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom is greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He speaks three thousand proverbs and his songs number a thousand and five. He describes plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also teaches about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. Men of all nations come to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who hear of his wisdom.” (1 Kings 4:29-30, 32-34, NIV)

Solomon sounds like the Stephen Hawking of his day.

Numbering Days ( by Carley Evans )

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12, KJV)

Wanting to understand what the psalmist means by the exhortation to number my days, I searched the internet. I discovered Noah Millman’s D’var Torah: “Teach Us To Number Our Days” which I recommend you at least skim or speed read, particularly the part about the omer and the counting of days. I can’t begin to explain this practice, but this article adds light to the verse beyond the obvious interpretation — i.e. that we should recognize we are finite and make good use of our time.

Dew, Rain, and Young Lions ( by Carley Evans )

Early morning, springtime, dew shimmers on the grass like tiny angels. Mid-afternoon, summer rains fall in waves like translucent bloodstreams. Evening, fall; young lions roam “among the beasts of the forest” “mauling and mangling as [they] go.” (Micah 5:8, NIV)

None of these “wait for man or linger for mankind.” (Micah 5:7) Instead they are “in the midst of many peoples,” and “among the nations.” (Micah 5:8) They are the remnant prepared by the Lord, who says:

“I gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I drove them and bring them back to their pasture, where they can be fruitful and increase in number. I place shepherds over them who tend them, and they are no longer afraid or terrified, nor are any missing.” (Jeremiah 23: 3-4)

“So too, at the present,” writes Paul, “there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works, if it were, grace would no longer be grace.” (Romans 11:5)

As part of God’s remnant, I function as the dew, as the rain shower, and as the young lion : gentle and cooling like dew on the morning grass, sharp and cleansing like the summer rain on a sweltering afternoon, strong and decisive like the young lion with its prey — a prey “no one can rescue.” (Micah 5:8)

Dear Heavenly Father, give me the wisdom to know when and with whom to be the dew, the rain, or the lion. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Not Lapdogs

God doesn’t want us — by us, I mean Christians — to be His lapdogs. I don’t believe He wants followers who wag their tails in His presence and have no thoughts in their brains. Yes, God expects loyalty, devotion, trust — qualities often found in a dog. But, He doesn’t desire an empty head. (Calm down, dog lovers — I know dogs have brains.) God creates Christians to think about and speak of Him with intelligence.

God calls us to excellence. He calls us to the wisdom that emerges from our awe (or fear) of the Lord.

“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?” (Proverbs 1:22, ESV)