Randy Wray’s Blog

Wisdom is a peculiar thing.  Not many young people are wise people. Not every old person is a wise person. 

Wisdom is an odd thing.  By making the right decisions I can learn and become wise.  But, I can also learn and become wise from bad decisions.

Wisdom is a necessary thing.  The intentional pursuit of wisdom makes it possible for me understand respect for the Lord.  The intentional pursuit of wisdom reveals that I know God.

Wisdom, according to Solomon, is a gift God gives along with knowledge and understanding. 

I especially like the way Proverbs 2:10 reads in the Spanish NIV.  It says:

"Wisdom will come to your heart and knowledge will sweeten your life."

Now, more than ever, I could use heavenly wisdom and the kind of knowledge that leaves a sweet taste.

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I’m looking for some movie suggestions to add to my Netflix Queue.

Your suggestions should fall into one of these two categories: 

1.  Movies we can watch with the kids.

2.  Movies we would not watch with the kids but would not be embarrassed to say we watched.

Greg, don’t even bother suggesting Robin Hood, Men In Tights.

At all costs please avoid the following category:

3.  Movies that stole two hours of my life.

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Some of our Monday Night Football gang drove up to Seattle Sunday afternoon to attend the Seahawks / Packers game.  A couple of weeks ago they extended an invitation for me to accompany them.  I’m not in a place right now (work wise) that I can take three days off - not to mention that I like to be with my family if I’m going to have that kind of time off.

Still, I know it would have been fun.  The road trip with the guys always produces many fond memories and stories.

Yet, as I tuned into the broadcast last night from the comfort of my home, I was glad I had declined the invitation.

Snow, snow and more snow.

Not only that, my compadre from the office is a Packers fan. 

The ride home today will probably be chilly.

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We had a good time together.

"It was good, real good."

We had fun playing video games, basketball, foursquare, which has made a comeback, and playing drums in the garage.

"It’s the best."

Staying up late watching movies, sleeping in, and eating pumpkin pie for breakfast.

"It’s fantastic!"

I know that the holidays can be a stressful time of year.  So many family dynamics are magnified and exaggerated.  All those personalities in tight spaces is quite often a recipe for disaster.

When it clicks, when you survive, when you want to do it all over again is a pretty good sign that you did something right.

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Each year we talk about having a different menu for Thanksgiving.  

Mexican?  Chinese?  Italian?

In the end, like every other year, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie win the day.

I hope you enjoy a thankful day.

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The 5th graders were in charge of chapel today.  Their teacher, Mr. Frank, has his work cut out for him with 12 boys and 2 girls in the class.  Those girls are going to be tough gals when they grow up.  On a side note, all of the boys live in fear and awe of one of the girls.  She flexes and they scatter.  It is an amusing sight.

Mr. Frank worked with the kids and they wrote, produced and presented a sock puppet show to show the importance of values.  It was all you could expect from sock puppets.  Reese provided the comedy with a few jokes from a puppet with a French accent.

Sample joke . . . "Why did the turkey cross the road?"  "Because the chicken had the day off."

Good stuff.

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I enjoyed some good quality garage time yesterday.  For those of you unfamiliar, garage time is when you get to piddle and putter around in the garage uninterrupted for a few hours. 

My task was to finish the organization of the garage.  This was necessary (and extremely important) so as to locate the pallets of Christmas decorations and other artifacts in preparation for the season of Christmasfying the house.  I have the Christmas things sorted and placed in the triage area.

I also set up my drum set.  That took a while to tweak and position everything just right.  My personal drum philosophy is to set up as many drums and cymbals as possible.  It looks cool and is bound to make people think you know what you are doing.  Pool tables and Ping Pong tables are nice in a garage, sure, but there’s nothing like a full trap set in your garage to endear you to your neighbors.

Reese hung out with me for an hour or so –  laying on the treadmill — watching Nacho Libre.  Good garage time is wonderful thing.  When the house is full of people an even better thing.

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My office aquarium is up and running.  Tank inhabitants include two bala sharks, an oscar, a plecostomus, a three zebra tetras.  Make that two zebras. 

NOTE:  The zebras were in the tank, as starter fish, to enzyme and slime the tank.  They’ve done their job and have dwindled in numbers. 

The oscar is approximately 1 inch from tail to snout.  It appears he got hungry over the weekend and decided to eat one of the zebras.  The zebra, though small, is not that small.  Half of the zebra is sticking out of the mouth of the oscar.  Talk about biting off more than you can chew!

Wouldn’t it be interesting if it were that obvious for us whenever we take on more than we can handle?  I guess for some people it is just that obvious.

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This Sunday we will be working through the conflict narrative in Mark 3 regarding the proper observance of the Sabbath.  I’ve heard both sides and understand specific points and principles regarding the proper observance (today) of the Sabbath.  Ever feel like you can’t find time to rest?

I believe there is a dynamic equivalent applicable for us today.  God’s wisdom for his creation to rest does not suddenly become unwise because of our technological, time-saving advancements.  But what classifies as true rest?  What is a day (or period) of rest that captures the spirit and intent of a weekly Sabbath.

You will receive a deduction in points if you say Sunday is a day of rest.  Those in full-time paid and unpaid ministry understand that Sundays can be the worst day of the week. 

I’ve heard people say that a day of the week where you do something you don’t get paid for can be your Sabbaths rest.  Still, I’m not sure about that.  I’ve never really found a day in the week that truly works for me as a day off.  Maybe I should work it out to take Sunday off! 

Is there wisdom in observing a Sabbath rest today? And, what would a Sabbath rest look like in our überbusy lives?

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Right now, at the Stockton Best Buy, people are standing in line.  More accurately they are sitting in line.  The line began to form on Tuesday and those brave warriors plan to be there until the store opens Friday morning.  The reason for the insanity?  The Playstation III goes on sale Friday morning.

I’d stand in line to feed my family. 

I’d stand in line to get a job to feed my family.

I’d stand in a short line to see a movie or ride a thrill ride at an amusement park.

I’d stand in line to read just a few more words about Chipper.

I’d stand in line if the Guitar Center was giving away expensive guitars. 

I can’t see standing in line for four days (taking the days off I presume) to purchase a video game system. 

I do realize that what is important to one person is not important to another.  Then again, I’m just an old fuddy dud. 

It might be fun to guess what it would take for each of us to stand in line.

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