Sreedhar's Journey

The poet of the Song of Solomon continues to express his love to the bride with praise for her beauty. The part about "better than wine" sticks out for me. I have seen too many occasions that drunk men act inappropriately under the influence, especially towards women.  The Song of Solomon 4:10 How fair is your love, My sister, my spouse! How much better than wine is your love, And the scent of your perfumes Than all spices! Guys, let's respect the ladies as sisters. In this respect the poet refers to the bride as a sister a number of times. They need our protection. Open doors for them. Walk on the outside. Be alert to their needs. The other observation is the fact that the poet is full of praise and detailed. Mrs Tom Hill, the wife of Mr Tom Hill the founder of Character First , says that in the past she used to look for the bad and scold it. Now she looks for the good in her children and praises it. Are we ready to refocus our observations and be ...

When you see a young man and women fall in love with each other it is easy to see how they are lost in each other's eyes.  They are oblivious to others and cannot get enough of each other.  Time to together is limitless and, today with free messaging services, uncountable text messages. The Song of Solomon 3:4 Scarcely had I passed by them, When I found the one I love. I held him and would not let him go, Until I had brought him to the house of my mother, And into the chamber of her who conceived me. As I read today's chapter I was not sure how to add to its very direct message of the need for the bride to wait with eagerness for her groom. It is clear that because the groom is Solomon, much admiration and good words are recorded. How about us men who have either already gone through our marriage vows and those who might do it in the future? Would our bride say the same things and be as joyous as the bride here? Especially those already married. What abo...

Yet again the poetry is incredible. It uses plants and fruits to describe the beauty of the relationship between a man and a woman. And ends by using well chosen animals to describe the expression of the love. Well thought out and well written. The Song of Solomon 2:14 “O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the secret places of the cliff, Let me see your face, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your face is lovely.” This chapter continues the appearance of it being used in a public ceremony. Again demonstrating how marriage is viewed within a God honoring process. If this kind of a relationship experience is maintained, there is no reason why marriages cannot last till "death do us apart". I pray that all reading this, including myself and Lee Yen, will continue to see what a beautiful thing God has created. Father, your example of love demonstrated on the cross needs to be replicated in our marriages.

Welcome to a great new book, The Song of Solomon. Much has been said of it. I know a non-Christian, from years past, that admires the presentation of this book and has used it in his notes to his girlfriend. No, it was not me. :) I am glad this book is here in the Bible to help us understand that God created this relationship between a man and a woman within the bounds of marriage to experience the emotions and feelings for each other. It is a sacred God ordained experience for His glory. The way it is written shows that it was used in a ceremony with parts for the bride, others and the bridegroom. Quite explicit language you may say for public hearing. But nevertheless nothing odd when done in a God honoring manner.  The following is an example: The Song of Solomon 1:9-10 I have compared you, my love, To my filly among Pharaoh’s chariots. Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments, Your neck with chains of gold. I like the very genuine remarks that reflect the ...

Everything will one day come to an end.  Do we know for certain what happens to us after death?  I know for sure.  It does not come trivially.  It requires the intervention of a person that exists outside time and space.  It requires us to be in a reconciled relationship with this person, God.  He is ever ready to accept every "friend request", and He has.  :) Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. The last chapter gives acknowledgement to the writer for giving this collection of great sayings of wisdom. It starts by encouraging all of us to start early in getting serious with God before it is too late.  You must read the chapter to see how he describes a person going through death.  It is to late to consider God when you are dead. Do not wait! ...

I remember going through Business School and doing all kinds of business cases.  You learn in theory what you need to analyze to find the right solution.  However, the world is not perfect and information is never complete.  I am reminded that there are many uncertainties in life.  However, there is one thing I am certain of.  "He will take care of it", is the word. Who?  God!   Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days.  The writer of Ecclesiastes says things in this chapter in jest. At least that is what I observe it to be. How can bread on water find its way back.  This is a great illustration of how one is to trust God. Verse 4 says, "He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap." Absolutely!  There are many things we cannot see and understand. But guess what. God will take care of it. But don't be having the mind of a youth wher...

Have you ever said anything negative about a person?  Did that person hear of it?  What was the consequence of them hearing it?  Did you have a big repair job?  Or, are you living with that bitter experience for years after? Yes, be careful in thinking ill of people. The information will carry and you will regret it.  I apologize for stating the obvious. Ecclesiastes 10:20 Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter. Wisdom and fools are again compared in this chapter. It is crucial that we understand that this wisdom is speaking of God's wisdom. This wisdom will allow rulers and ordinary people to do what is right. Even in secret all things will be done right. Father, help me today to successfully operate in your wisdom.

Entropy is a measure of disorder, and the Second Law of Thermodynamics states that all closed systems tend to maximize entropy. Reversing this ever increasing tendency toward disorder requires the input of energy.  So, you may ask what is this "mambo jumbo"?  Unless you put in work, many things get into disorder.  The easiest place to look is your desk.  My table starts orderly, but becomes disorderly over time unless I spend time to reorganize it.  I need to put in some work to get things orderly again. Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going." These are strong words but good advice. We need to use our God given resources well. Waste not.  Investing our time in good work is important. However, we should only work with might and effort, we should also work smartly.  There are many ways to solve a math problem.  T...

As humans we are constantly trying to rationalize the reason for how things work around us.  This curiosity has helped to start many fields of study and much money goes into these studies.  Researchers, research institutions and universities are constantly chasing grants to support their efforts for these research studies.  Much has been discovered over the years but there is still a lot more we do not know.  There is a quotation attributed to Aristotle,“The more you know, the more you know you don't know.” Ecclesiastes 8:17, then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. For though a man labors to discover it, yet he will not find it; moreover, though a wise man attempts to know it, he will not be able to find it. The writer gives his observation that the wise and the wicked both seem to enjoy each other's consequences for their actions. This question is repeated many times over. Why do good people suffer? An...

Are you oppressed or do you see injustice through corruption?  These are some of the worst evils in the world.  I simply cannot understand why people can be so mindless and greedy.  They love to gain at the expense of another human being.  It has no long term benefit.  Truly your sin will find you out. Ecclesiastes 7:7 Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason, And a bribe debases the heart. The chapter starts with, "A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth". Sounds fatalistic. Giving up? But really what it means is that all that can go wrong has been accounted for. No further challenges can mar the persons reputation.  Needless to say it is wise that we continuously pursue to do the right and preserve a good name throughout our lives. Our lives are full of challenges and we apply our knowledge and wisdom to them. A fool will only make things fail. In verse 11 and 12 it says that wi...

In February of 2016 I watched or read about what people did to survive some personal calamity. The first was the movie " The 33 " which recollected the true story of 33 miners trapped in a mine in Chile for 2 months. The second was the tragedy of an airplane crash in the Andes and how the rescued 16 people survived. The survivors were rescued 2 months after the crash. The third is the devastating Winston cyclone that left a trail of destruction in Fiji with some families having now to sleep in caves. Ecclesiastes 6:12, For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun? Everything seems to be vanity, is what the writer says again. Whether you have wealth, many children or wisdom, you cannot have a difference in your life. You cannot enjoy them. So what is the point?   When people come to me with their challenges, I say that it could be much worse an...

We are challenged on every side day by day to have enough resources to live our days on earth. There always seems to be an expense here and there.  We resort to debt to help cover for those things, and sometimes it is easy to access consumer debt like credit cards and that small unsecured overdraft.  All too dangerous and becomes a stronghold.  The writer of Ecclesiastes makes an interesting observation. Ecclesiastes 5:12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, Whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep. There is comparison made here between the rich and the poor. One has much but has difficulty enjoying the wealth that he has. The other has little but sleeps well. But the chapter ends by saying enjoy what you have.  The problem with man is that once you have enjoyed much (in your "rich" life) it is difficult to reduce. As I reflect on this I sense that the message is to be contented. There is no way to...

When I was 12 years-old I will never forget a classmate saying you have the stamina and endurance to run long distances.  That gave me confidence to build an ambition to be a good long distance runner in spite of my nonathletic physique.  I could have trained well to become a top notched long distance runner.  My best run was when I was 16 and came out third in a 4 km race at school.  This verse reminds me of my willingness to be contented.  If I had trained aggressively, I would have had to sacrifice other goals. Ecclesiastes 4:6 Better a handful with quietness Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind. Two is better than 1. Three is even better. A person works hard but gets great trouble in the process. Many want to get ahead in life and so they work hard. There is great wisdom in working in pairs or even in a threes. You become stronger as a team. When one fails the others are there to support. Loneliness in leadershi...

Everyday is a new day and we should cherish it.  There are no short cuts to success, and so we do the best we can each day to yield the best outcome possible for the day and build on it for the following day.  Yes, we can plan, but ultimately it is the Almighty that controls the complete outcome.  We may get nervous with this situation but God's Word is clear.  No fear! He only desires good things for us. Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. There is a time for everything is the message in this chapter. Nothing escapes God and we cannot control time. It makes no sense for us to be anxious about anything. Just savor the moment and allow God to work all things good to those who love him. Father, into Your hands do I commit my life. Reflection from February 2016: As I reflect on this and given my season in ...

Do we find meaning in the work of our hands.  Many times we labor all day and we have nothing to show for it.  No smiles. No pat on the back. No added monies. No benefit to even the organization that we are doing it for. It is truly time for some introspection. Ecclesiastes 2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun. Vanity, vanity and vanity. These are the words repeated throughout the chapter. Ecclesiastes 2:14 says, "The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them." The writer is truly perplexed about what is going to give gain. Every strife and toil seems to be meaningless for him. In verses 24-26 he acknowledges that God is the one that gives all these blessings of riches and wisdom. But it is all vanity for the writer. In...

It is amazing how the earth and universe came into being. Everything is in good balance, otherwise we would be in a totally harsh and erratic environment.  Or, perhaps we are and not realizing it.  Man's understanding of creation was clear from ancient times.  The writer of Ecclesiastes knew that everything about the world is a circle and cycle.  How can this be without a great Creator? Ecclesiastes 1:5-6 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, And hastens to the place where it arose. The wind goes toward the south, And turns around to the north; The wind whirls about continually, And comes again on its circuit. A new book today. This is a continuation of Solomon's wisdom for us, as introduced at the beginning of this chapter. However, Solomon puts down his wisdom. He says more wisdom, more sorrow.  As referred above, One key observation that I made was how he described the wind and the sun. Round and round he says. He seems to imply...

Lee Yen and I are in our 28th year of marriage.  I have a dear friend Dr John Edmund Haggai whose marriage lasted 74 years before the Lord took Christine, his wife, home to Jesus.  All great women after God's own heart and exemplify the kind of woman mentioned in the book of Proverbs.  Proverbs 31:10-11 Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain. The final chapter of proverbs has two clear set of messages. One for the son, the ruler, and the other for a woman. Great pieces of advice that I have read many times over before. My wife and daughter have also studied the message for women quite a lot as well under different study materials. Be always of sound mind, able to think straight and fair. Drunkenness will not help in this area. Our older 3 children are either done with college or finishing. Much partying goes on in their college residential areas to th...

When I was a student we had to make sure we finished studying all the relevant textbooks for the subjects that we were going to be examined on.  I remember when the curriculum for our subjects were published we would buy them to make sure we knew everything listed.  A lot of cramming was done.  However, it was finally a supernatural intervention that got me through. Proverbs 30:5-6 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. Incredible wisdom presented in a nutshell in this chapter. Though the writer starts very modestly, to the point of belittling himself, he displays insightful observations of things around him.  He starts by acknowledging the need to honor God and not do things that would make him at odds with the Lord. There is an interesting request in this chapter not to make him rich or poor. Thereby helping him to stay right with God. ...

No matter what the situation or who is right, it is always important to keep your composure and speak less.  Arguments get you no where.  They will only escalate the problem and bring you or your organization to a point of no return or recovery. Proverbs 29:11 A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back. Proverbs 29 gives further truths about the benefits of walking in God's ways. Truly there is life and the people are glad when they are with people who are righteous. These views are repeated here. Verse 25 says,  "The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe." In my daily affairs I need to remind myself about this. Yes, I am safe in the Lord. Whatever happens, the Lord is with me. Verse 26 continues in the same vein, "Many seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the Lord that a man gets justice." Do not look elsewhere. Look to the Lord. Father, help me always look to You.

Am I speaking too much?  Am I speaking before I think?  I like this saying, "Seek to understand before being understood".  There are no shortcuts to receiving good understanding.  Time and patience is needed.  So how do you get this?  Is there a model we can follow?  Mine is Jesus Christ.  The writer of Proverbs shows us this kind of behavior and Jesus exemplifies it very well. Proverbs 28: 14 Happy is the man who is always reverent, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. The chapter continues the comparison of the wicked and the righteous. How ill gotten gains will be lost, while the righteous will be victorious in the end. However there are 2 verses that jump out at me. Verse 12 says, "When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, people hide". There is peace and stability when a righteous man rules or is in charge. Verse 28 says, "When the wicked rise, people hide themselves, but whe...

Continuing on this theme of arguments and the need to move away from it, we need to also recognize that differences of opinions can have a fruitful end.  New information.  New perspectives.  Paradigm shifts resulting in new discoveries that help improve the state of a situation or person.  The discovery may be a little painful or uncomfortable, but it results in an improvement. Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. This chapter focuses on human relationships and finishes with the importance of gainful employment or a business to look after the well being of your family.  The community around us is important. And so our recognition comes from the community, and not from self. We live in community and therefore the neighbor next door is more important for our well being than a brother far away. The writer uses the analogy of sheep and goats business to speak of the need to give effort in looking aft...

There is little point in getting into an argument.  It is early indication that the other person is not prepared to consider your ideas or point of view.  Or perhaps, you are not prepared to receive new points of view.  Whatever the case the book of Proverbs gives us clear advice on the matter and it is wise to pull back and allow the matter to pass.  Don't answer a fool.  Fools are those who appear wise in their own eyes.  Sounds familiar. Proverbs 26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes. The rest of Proverbs 26 speaks very plainly and bluntly about characters that we have experienced in the past.  Honor is not fitting for a fool.  Instead there should be a rod for the back of fools.  Fools cannot use proverbs.  They will mess it up. Next comes the lazy person who achieves little and admires himself in his own eyes.  Playing into his own deception that he is okay. Next comes the "satay s...

I have seen many over the years trying to get ahead by jockeying for position with those in influence.  What a sad motive to get close to a senior person.  For one, I would be very stressed if I was the one trying to do this.  There must be more to life than just being where important people are going.  Do it because you have a genuine interest in their welfare.  If I were the person of influence, I would rather have genuine friends than friends who are only interested in getting something out of me.  Those in authority would agree with this statement. Proverbs 25:7 For it is better that he say to you, “Come up here,” Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen. Proverbs 25  focuses on relationships between us and those in authority and our neighbors.  We need to deal wisely with those in authority.  Do not be given to hurriedly pursuing an audience with them in matters of disputes with ne...

Have you ever sat with an older man?  They are rich in experience.  If they are transparent with you, they have much to tell about both their successes and failures.  Their wise decisions and their mistakes.  What is the benefit?  You learn from their experiences, instead of waiting to learn (sometimes painfully) from your own.  And, hopefully your learning will support wise actions for the future.  The book of Proverbs is like that. Proverbs 24  continues to emphasize the need for us to avoid associating with the wicked and how we must also point out the wrong committed. We cannot envy the success of those around us.  Focus on doing right in God's ways and the blessing is so much greater. God given wisdom, understanding and knowledge will supply the riches needed. Proverbs 24:11-12 warns us to look out for those who are drawn to death.  We need to do something. Yes, I am the person that needs to stand in the gap in prayer for them ...