PROVERBS 26

Another beautiful day in Oregon!  What a great day we had in church yesterday.  Two families joined the church, we had people saved and baptized, and a wonderful spirit in the service.  How blessed we are as a people.  Today, I started reading in Proverbs 26 and so I'm writing about this chapter.  In less than an hour, I will be heading to the airport to fly to San Francisco, and from there to London, and from there to Johanesberg, South Africa, and from there to Livingston, Zambia, Africa.  It will be a long journey, but a good one hopefully.  I read this morning how a flight going to France from Brazil it turbulance and has not been heard from again.  (over 200 on board)  I'm trusting that doesn't happen to my flight, but I'm ready for whatever, whenever.... He is my guide! Prov. 26 discuss three kinds of people.  Each is to be avoided.  The FOOL is found in verses 1-12.  A fool does not respond to correction.  They hear truth, but it runs out the other ear!  In verse 2 it says: "the curse causeless shall not come".  What that means is that curses do not happen without a cause!  Trouble comes for a reason.  The second group is the SLOTHFUL.  In verses 13-16 we have the slothful man or sluggard.  His wiser in his own conceit... he knows it all but doesn't do any of it!  God's Word is so descriptive; listen to how bad a sluggard can be:  "The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth."  So lazy, they want to be fed!  How terrible... let us not be slothful in God's work!  The Third group of people is the TALEBEARER.  This is a trouble maker of greatest perportion.  The fool and the sluggard cause grief in their lives; the talebearer causes grief in many lives!  He is like one who "taketh a dog by the ears".  He is going to stir up trouble!  God hates this action, and warns him:  "Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein;"    Even when the talebearer "speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart."  He is wicked through and through.  Let us not be like these three groups of people.  Let us ask God to help us avoid these pitfalls in our own lives. Well, I will hopefull get to update some things from Africa.  God bless!! Pastor Mike Mutchler