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Falcon Lodge Chapel |
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A small church with a BIG heart... |
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DAY 14: Wednesday 1 April WISE OR FOOLS
Good morning – it’s April 1st
Proverbs 1:7, NLT: "Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."
One headline this morning is that this year Google will not be running their usual April Fool’s hoax features because of the Coronavirus pandemic. But no doubt other social media will be filled with pranks, lies and hoaxes.
Many of you may remember the famous 1957 BBC Panorama April 1st hoax story - ‘The Spaghetti Harvest’. If you want to watch again or if you weren’t around 63 years ago, here’s the link >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVo_wkxH9dU
· Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. (Plato) · Wise men don’t need advice. Fools won’t take it. (Benjamin Franklin) · He who writes for fools always finds a large audience. (Arthur Schopenhauer) · He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose (Jim Elliot [missionary martyr]) · A fool knows the price of everything and the value of nothing · Fools rush in where angels fear to tread · A fool and his money are soon parted · A wise man checks the facts before speaking; a fool hears only part then makes up the rest of the story to gossip with others · Fools talk too much and say too little · A fool is made more of a fool when their mouth is more open than their mind. · Any fool can criticise, complain, and condemn—and most fools do. · The antics of fools are applauded by multitudes but the wisdom of the wise is only revealed after they have died
The Bible makes many references to ‘Fools’ with the book of Proverbs full of them. Proverbs has 31 chapters and it is recommended to read one chapter in Proverbs each day of the month and start again the same in the following month. Here’s a couple - Proverbs 18:2 - Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions. Proverbs 14:3 - Proud fools talk too much; the words of the wise protect them
And Jesus also occasionally referred to fools - Matthew 7:26 - And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand Luke 12:16-20 - And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’
NEWS · Whilst we are delighted at the safe return of Chris & Katie from New Zealand, continue to remember others with family members overseas – Joy with Richard in Australia; Linda & Jennings family with Hannah in Spain/Gibraltar; Andrew & Jane Groves with both of Jane’s brothers in Australia; Marilyn & Lynne with Andrea in Australia; Sally Coulson with Edward & family in New Jersey; Ken & Janet with family in California; Sue & Mike Kemble with family in Cyprus; and probably many others who have momentarily slipped my memory. · Just as important too that we don’t forget all those with family not abroad but in this country and yet because of the current restrictions are so distant and separated. · Continue to pray for Anne, Natalie and Ellen and all the other NHS workers through these tough times
MAKE YOU SMILE - The following sent from Linda Lord – The preacher was preoccupied with thoughts of how, after the service, he was going to ask the congregation to come up with more money than they were expecting for repairs to the church building. At the church he was annoyed to find that the regular organist was off sick and a substitute had been brought in at the last minute. The substitute asked to know what to play. “Here’s a copy of the service” the minister said impatiently “but you’ll have to think of something to play after I make the announcement about the finances.” At that moment in the service the minister paused, then said “Brothers and sisters, we are in great difficulty with the roof repairs costing twice as much as we expected and we need £4000 more. Any of you who can pledge £100 or more, please stand up”. At that moment the substitute organist played the National Anthem which is how the substitute became the regular organist!
Some of you are appreciating Coronavirus parody songs such as yesterday’s from Sound of Music, here’s another - different genre but enjoy >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE-mArqqHAA
Finally, an interesting observation from Peter Green – for most Jewish communities across the world, this year will be the first time since the Exodus (approx. 3600 years ago) that they will celebrate Passover without being allowed to go outside.
That’s enough for today – stay safe, stay indoors, and stay blessed
Wesley & Karen
There is no situation so chaotic that God cannot, from that situation, create something that is surpassingly good. He did it at the Creation, He did it at the Cross. He is still doing it today. (Handley C G Moule)
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