The Cracked Acorn: The Unseen is Seen

Many years ago, where we worshipped, the Church was trying to reach people moving into the area; in small ways, it worked; in a shifting population, the total effect is always unknown.  It was a time of new houses, people, and church buildings with new names.

I have lived in this County for 35 years and have seen much growth: schools, shopping places, restaurants, and buildings to meet every need…physically, mentally, and spiritually; churches with new names: The Father’s Way, Freedom Worship Center, The Black Stockings (Two by Twos), Trinity Church, Monterey Church, Spirit Care/Support Ministry Center, House of Nanak, Home Church, The New Church, and the World Church.

Why does this happen over and over again? Is the answer in Proverbs 16:21!

If one could talk to all these congregations, the answer would be, “We felt that we needed our own name and church building.” One person I know told me their group thinks playing horns adds greatly to the service.”

If I went into a nice restaurant and only ordered black beans and rice, I would want to receive black beans and rice.  If the waitress boasted of adding two other kinds of beans to the black beans and maybe chopped ham, and the rice was given a ‘kick’ from the hot sauce, chopped onions, and garlic.

Well, how about trying to buy a nice men’s suit, and the owner comes out with a clown’s outfit with the red bulb nose and a flaming red hat with the tiny bells…well, maybe I have gone too far, in the end. We are on prongs of modern times that can’t get anything broken or fixed.  What you are wearing this season will not be there next season.

I finally visited the home attic; lots of stuff in boxes that had a purpose once up upon a time; a friend at McDonald’s, when he heard of my attic visit, invited me to his acreage and a barn filled with whatever…he said he was afraid to go near the barn!

The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction. The proverb describes the wisdom of the heart, for which others will call you prudent. Note two things – this wisdom is in the heart, not the head and the effect is prudence, not brilliance. The wisdom here is not head knowledge but the understanding of a discerning heart. The result is prudence and practical wisdom for happy and successful living.

If you have practical wisdom in your heart, you may not know how to communicate it to others to gain their trust, calm their fears, satisfy their questions, or change their minds. There are men and women with discernment and prudence who leave no mark on the world because their abrupt, calloused, insensitive, or rude communication turns others off. This is a great waste, for the wisdom that could serve others never gets to them.  (Biblical Concordance)