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| TO OUR CYBER-VISITORS: In the past we've occasionally received WRAPs from opinionated, intolerant individuals who have pages up on the web; but nothing like we have been receiving the past few weeks. Almost without fail, these WRAPs have something in common: i.e., they give the impression that they feel they are talking for God and that anyone who disagrees with what they have to say are numbskulls and probably in leagues with the devil. As we've repeatedly said, we chose the name "doweknow" for our web site because we understand that when we came to Christ, we came to Him an imperfect being that knew very little about the things of the Lord. Since then, the Lord has impressed upon us that everyone who comes to Him brings "baggage" that is contrary to what the Lord would have us to be; and part of the growing process is working with the Holy Spirit to remove this "baggage." We are confident that we have put up our site in obedience to the Lord's will, but we are also aware that, like every son of Adam, our understanding of the things of the Lord has to come through our imperfect mindset. In fact, as B'Ann often says, we're convinced that no writings of man, other than the penning of the Scriptures, are without error. This doesn't relieve us of the call on our life to do what we're doing, but it does help us to keep what we consider to be a proper perspective. It was this understanding that helped prompt us to start our WRAP AROUND feature--that our visitors might share their gleanings from the Scriptures with us and others of the Body of Christ so that we might all more perfectly understand the things that God has left for us in His Word. True, the Bible does say "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding" (Prov. 3:5). But it also says:"Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [therefore] get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding" (Pro 4:7). So, we're not instructed to be without understanding, only that we are not to be relying upon our "own understanding." Also, to the carnal Christians at the church in Corinth who were squabbling because of the confusion over "tongues" in their midst, Paul wrote:
So, it is important that we do have understanding. Let me share with you an experience that became part of my "understanding." Some years back B'Ann and I were helping a body of believers to establish a Christian school. Part of my contribution was teaching high school students. One day, during the time set aside for Bible study, a young boy was reading his Bible when he jumped up from his seat and came to my desk in a flush of excitement. "I just got a revelation from the Bible that no one has ever had before!" he exclaimed. He then read from the Bible and proudly shared his new revelation. Even as he was speaking, Scriptures came to my mind that contradicted his freshly acquired understanding. I shared the Scriptures with him and he saw that the revelation had problems. The student went back to his desk and continued reading the Bible. In a few moments, he again jumped up with another "new revelation" and again I showed him Scriptures that contradicted that revelation. This happen once more and then the boy gained understanding. He had come to realize that the Bible meant it when it said to try the spirits to see if they be of God; and he also learned that one of the ways that seducing spirits work is to pump up one's ego with "new revelations" given to make one feel "special." I share this experience in the way of understanding of why there are so many contradictory, confusing prophetic sites on the web--as well as the many differing doctrines being taught in the churches. To those of you who have been sending your special revelations, I hope you won't take his WRAP as a "put down," but as a call to "test the spirits" by checking the Scriptures to see if they will uphold your conclusions. Remember, we are in the time when "every wind of doctrine" will be blowing from the pulpits, and we all would do well to be cautious as to what we teach. In the past we have put some of your "new revelations" up on our WRAP AROUND feature with Scriptures that we felt did not support their ideas. But in the future, we will adhere to our original format for the WRAP AROUNDS: i.e., the sharing of faith and of understanding gleaned from the Scriptures that produce faith and love one for another. Job wrote: "But [there is] a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding" (Job 32:8). But there is also a spirit of confusion at work and most agree that we are in the days of confusion and every wind of doctrine. Therefore, if ever there was a time to "test the spirits," today is the day. And the test for others and for ourselves is simple. Jesus put it this way:
So, we are to know one another by our fruit, but what fruit is Jesus talking about? Paul spells it out for us in his epistle to the Galatians.
May the Lord grant us all the wisdom to be busy pulling the beam out of our own eye, and leave the splinter in our brothers' to His grace. And also, may He allow us to walk in His understanding, and not our own. |
| Through the Internet, B'Ann has renewed acquaintances with some old alumni and
found some long-lost relatives. They love to send one another jokes, comics, and
sage sayings. In the next two WRAPs, we're sharing a couple of those sayings. From Joann to B'Ann: Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch. Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence. One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days work" he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?" "Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll go him one better. See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence - - an 8-foot fence -- so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore." The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you." The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge -- a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work handrails and all -- and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched. "You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done." The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother. "I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but, I have many more bridges to build." __________________________________ We will add this Scripture:
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Lloye in Seattle shares: THE TROUBLE TREE I hired a plumber to help me restore an old farmhouse, and after he had just finished a rough first day on the job, a flat tire made him lose an hour of work & his electric drill quit, his ancient one ton truck refused to start. As I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. Upon opening the door he had undergone an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss. Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do at the little tree. "Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, those troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home and ask God to take care of them. Then in the morning I pick them up again. Funny thing is," he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick them up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before." _______________________ We will add this Scripture:
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| From Joann to B'Ann: This one speaks for itself...
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