white, black, brown, whatever, both progressive and conservative.  He’s African-American Coordinator for the Presbyterian Church in America.  And he’s not talking about race, per se.  Although the root of racial prejudice is self-righteousness.  Brave man, taking on the Christian establishment, but preaching very biblically, seems to Dave.  Hope his job’s not in jeopardy. Scary sermon.…

unless a Christian or nonChristian is wise in his own eyes, leaning on his own understanding, confident-he-knows-what’s-best, so as to judge others and self, so as to feel worthier/superior. –ShepherdDave/JudgeDave, consumed with his own worthiness, except when freshly convicted of the sin of worldliness/self-righteousness, so he’s momentarily DumbSheepDave, enjoying everyone just as they are, and…

War against enemies seems right.  Competition seems right — hoping the opposition fails, seems right.  Judging/critiquing others seems right.  Feeling worthier/superior seems right.  Forcing my values on others through legislation, seems right.  To an adultlike/independent/confident-he-knows-what’s-best, wise in his own eyes, leaning on his own understanding. –ShepherdDave, who claims to follow Jesus, but ignores the teachings…

Biblical wisdom causes me to be distrustful of my own wisdom to find happiness.  Biblical wisdom is believing that I have no wisdom worth leaning on, but that Jesus does.  Biblical wisdom causes me to ASK Jesus about everything, and THANK Jesus about everything just as it is, and everyone just as we are.  Biblical…

“The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways [pay attention to their thoughts, feelings, reactions as they go through their day], “but the folly of fools is deception.” [self-deception about our independence/pride/confidence-we-know-what’s-best, not to mention others-deception, by being less than transparent, or worse]. We independents are fools.  The wise, however, are…

including ministry success, parenting success, because it’s addictive.  Success ain’ta bad thing, but it’s very dangerous.  It strokes us in wanting more.  And more.  Never satisfied.  Bottomless pit of need in the ambitious, hard-worker.  And homemaker.  And the worst part, is the unrelenting pressure 24/7.  Self-imposed pressure.  Unrecognized pressure.  It’s such a part of one’s…

is the chief encourager – positive thinker.  “You can do this, my secular friend.”  The next best is the chief expert — overwhelming with Scripture.  The next best is the chief accuser – helping others see the sin to which they are blind.  But the best – the one most likely to be used of…

Independents never experience the peace that surpasses understanding-idolatry.  Independents who claim to follow Jesus are to be pitied above all humans.  They don’t experience the benefit of Jesus.  Only dependents are dead to their flesh, dead to their own worthiness, dead to all the idols/addictions that charm their flesh.  But alive to Jesus. —DumbSheepDave, enjoying…

So what if I’m admired by thousands, or millions?  So what if I’m envied by all humans everywhere?  Domatter.  “All labor and all achievement spring from man’s envy of his neighbor.” Eccl 4:4  Human worthiness is meaningless.  Domatter.  The only worthiness that matters in this life, is the imputed worthiness of Jesus.  When DAVE’S worthiness…

Jesus said to Simon Peter and Andrew, “Come, follow Me. And I will make you fishers of men.”  If I’m not a fruitful fisher of men, I’m not following Jesus.  I’m only kidding myself.  I’m actually following ME.  The key to reproduction — to being seed fallen on fertile soil that produces a hundred, sixty…