I closed Saturday’s blog, A Tale of Two (metaphorical) Women, with this quote by author David McCasland, reflecting on the life of Joseph (Genesis 37, 39 – 50):

You always have a choice. It always makes a difference.

Besides Joseph, no one exemplifies this better than Daniel. I was reflecting on the Daniel 6 story we all think of as “Daniel in the Lion’s Den.”

The story sets up at the end of chapter 5:

That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old. (Daniel 5.30, ESV)

Like Joseph in Genesis, Daniel’s success as a leader is marked by his integrity:

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. (Daniel 6.1 – 3, ESV)

The officials “should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss.” But the officials didn’t like that! Corruption in government is always with us, apparently.

Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. (Daniel 6.4, ESV)

How many government officials, or officials of any kind (church!?) are faithful with no error or fault…an excellent spirit? For example, in our area, the pastor of a well-known church has just stepped down over integrity issues.

Back to Daniel, these corrupt government officials got Darius to sign a law forbidding prayer to anyone except the king. Too bad the king forgot to consult Daniel, who obviously wasn’t among the group that got the law passed.

Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction. (Daniel 6.9, ESV)

Daniel’s response?

When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. (Daniel 6.10, 11, ESV)

Of course, Daniel was reported to the king who had no choice but to follow his own law:

Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” (Daniel 6.16, ESV)

And we all know the outcome:

As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. (Daniel 6.20 – 23, ESV)

Blameless before God…blameless before the king. Silly things happen when governments pass unnecessary laws. What harm is there to Darius if Daniel prays three times a day? What harm is there to anyone if Jack Phillips refuses to bake a cake? There are other bakeries. The same applies to today’s gender confusion. Why do we need laws telling people how they can talk?

PRAY for good government. It’s hard to come by. In fact, there’s only one good one:

Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.” (Daniel 6.25 – 27, ESV)

“His kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end.” Therefore, “tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever.”

And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever. (Daniel 2.44, ESV)

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. (1 Timothy 2.1, 2, ESV)

Your Kingdom come. (from the Lord’s prayer, Matthew 6.10)

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe. (Hebrews 12.28, ESV)

PS Daniel’s response, to ignore the king’s injunction against prayer is one of four possible responses to change, all in the book of Daniel. Stay tuned.

I’ve mentioned that we’re in the process of moving and downsizing, requiring us to get rid of A LOT of stuff. In my case, that means books, theological and otherwise, that I’ve carried around for years. As an example, I have my dad’s collection of commentaries by Harry Ironside, a very popular preacher in his day. I don’t like commentaries in general but I do like Ironside – practical, not technical.

Hence, what to do? It seemed a shame to send them the way of my World Book Encyclopedia! I included some in a box of books I sent to my friend Josh Good who serves with Christian Endeavor, an international youth discipleship organization. I wrote to my friend Jason, the executive pastor of The Ascent Church to see if anyone there wanted them. Jason said that Jonathan, the youth pastor, was interested, but several days went by, no hear.

In the meantime, last Friday I walked up the street where our neighbors were having a garage sale to ask if I could put some things out with their stuff. While we were visiting, a guy came and bought a few books. As he left, I asked him what he was looking for. “Oh, just some books for my kids.” I said, “You’re in luck! I’m moving, and I have kids’ books. Come to my house.”

As we were walking in, I asked what he did. “I’m a preacher.” “Really? Where?” “The Ascent Church.” Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding! It wasn’t Jonathan who had expressed interest, it was Joel who had seen my email but hadn’t paid much attention to it. To make a long story short, he left not only with some books for his kids and their cousins, but with two boxes of my theology books, including all of my Ironside.

You can’t make this stuff up, and I couldn’t have orchestrated it any better. As I wrote yesterday, “You give stuff away, you make people happy.” And these are books that could go only to a very small target population.

God has gone before us each step of this move, and this is another example.

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. (Isaiah 30.21, NKJV)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3.5, 6, NKJV)

Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day. (Psalm 25.4, 5, NKJV)

Proverbs 11 records great promise for the generous person. We’re in the middle of a downsizing move, and there’s a lot to get rid of. I have a chance to be generous! As my son Matt said, “You give stuff away, you make somebody happy.” Unlike my World Book Encyclopedia set, some of my stuff has value, but I’m pretty sure it’s not worth the time and energy to sell it for that value. So I get to be generous, for which there are rewards.

There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself. (Proverbs 11.24, 25, NKJV)

This reminds me of a verse in my favorite psalm:

He scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever…  (Psalm 112.9, NIV1984)

And that verse is quoted in the classic New Testament passage on generosity:

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9.6 – 11, NIV1984)

Amen.

I don’t usually write about cultural issues or criticize particular news media, but I can’t resist…

You’re Either One or the Other is the title of a children’s book written by Joy Wilt in 1980. I found it while sorting books for our upcoming move. Here is chapter one (one sentence per page, sometimes with pictures):

You’re a person, and because that’s true…you’re either male or female. A male person can be either a boy or a man. A female person can be either a girl or a woman. A boy is a male child. A boy grows up…and becomes a man. A man is a male adult. A girl is a female child. A girl grow up…and becomes a woman. A woman is a female adult. So you are either one or the other. Which are you?

The book goes on to describe boys and girls, men and women, using all sort of non-stereotypical examples, such as, “Some boys like to play sports…others would rather read books…some girls like to play sports, but Helen likes to spend her time doing other things.”

In short, You’re Either One or the Other is a common-sense book that explains the anatomical differences between the sexes as well as celebrates the differences within the sexes.

It’s a common sense book that is now heresy in some circles. Here’s CNN’s breathless headline on a recent Supreme Court decision:

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for trans minors in a blockbuster ruling that will bolster efforts by conservative state lawmakers to pass and preserve other divisive laws targeting transgender Americans. – Devan Cole and John Fritze, June 18, 2025

It’s hard to know where to start…

• It’s not “gender-affirming,” it’s gender denying
• It’s not “care,” it’s harm

The CNN news article, NOT an editorial, contrasts with a balanced report from World, a conservative Christian news magazine that actually quotes people from both sides of the issue.

Ironically, the same day this report came out, I received this advertisement from CNN:

Stand with the facts. Your subscription fuels trusted journalism in a time when it matters most.

Here’s the fact on this issue:

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1.27, NIV)

Do you remember World Book Encyclopedia?

I threw our set away a few days ago. We bought it around 1980 when we had four young children, and we’ve kept it all these years. Four moves during that time, two after the kids were gone. But it’s not going to make the move we’re into right now (downsizing to a one-level house).

It still looked great on the shelf. The books were still like new. Some of the information in them is still valid, but some is not – you figure out which! But the value? Worthless. It doesn’t matter how much the set cost or its pristine condition. What matters is, hardly anyone uses paper encyclopedias anymore. All the information in any encyclopedia and MUCH MORE is available online instantly and free.

What an age to live in.

One day ALL of our possessions will have the value of my now tossed out World Book Encyclopedia.

• The things of earth will dim and lose their value
• If we recall they’re borrowed for a while.
• And things of earth that cause the heart to tremble
• Remembered there will only bring a smile. – From “Until Then” by Stuart Hamblen, 1958

…you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. (Hebrews 10.34, ESV)

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. (1 Timothy 6.6 – 8, ESV)

PS I’m shocked to find out that World Book still publishes paper encyclopedias:

As the only general reference encyclopedia still published today, this set provides authoritative content on almost every topic to learners of all ages, from school-age readers to adults.

Whether you are looking up information to understand a subject, writing a research report, or checking a fact for a homework assignment, tens of thousands of index entries make it easy to find information. Abundant colorful photos, illustrations, and maps supplement the easy-to-read text. – from https://www.worldbook.com/world-book-encyclopedia-2025

Yours for only $1,175.00

Nonetheless, my 1980 version has no value.

We’re coming to the end of the Introduction to Proverbs. Chapter 10 begins a long section of the famous “one-liners” like…

A wise son makes a glad father, But a foolish son is the grief of his mother. (Proverbs 10.1, NKJV)

Chapter 9 echoes the CHOOSE theme from chapter 8 using two metaphorical women:

Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars… (Proverbs 9.1, NKJV)

The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing. (Proverbs 9.13, NKJV)

Or, as Eugene Peterson puts it in The Message: Lady Wisdom and Madame Prostitute (see Proverbs 9.1, 13, MSG).

What’s fascinating is that the same language is used for each:

“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him…” (Proverbs 9.4 and 16, NKJV)

But the messages are quite different:

• Wisdom: …Forsake foolishness and live. And go in the way of understanding.
• Folly: Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

But Folly’s message isn’t true. The chapter ends with:

But he does not know that the dead are there, That her guests are in the depths of hell. (Proverbs 9.18, NKJV)

It’s a common theme in scripture:

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live… (Deuteronomy 30.19, NKJV, emphasis mine)

And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24.15, NKJV, emphases mine)

You always have a choice. It always makes a difference. – Author David McCasland in his book about Joseph

I wrote Monday about the fallacy of thinking that just because there are things that only God can do that we have no part. As I was meditating on those thoughts, I read Proverbs 8, a call to choose wisdom. Choosing wisely is something that we can and must do.

The personification of wisdom invites us to choose wisdom over wealth:

Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold; For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. (Proverbs 8.10, 11, NKJV)

Wisdom reminds us:

Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth. (Proverbs 8.14 – 16, NKJV)

Again, CHOOSE! Wisdom is better than gold and silver.

I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me. Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver. (Proverbs 17 – 19, NKJV)

Choose wisdom, and choose wisdom daily:

Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD. (Proverbs 8.32 – 35, NKJV)

That’s why I urge you (and myself!) to begin each day in the Word.

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. (Psalm 19.7 – 10, ESV)

It’s Juneteenth, now a federal holiday…

Juneteenth has a rich history in the foundation of the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, announcing the end of slavery. This came 2.5 years after Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, finally freeing 250,000 enslaved people in Texas. 

The first Juneteenth celebrations began in 1866, led by Black communities with parades and church gatherings. Juneteenth marks America’s “second Independence Day,” symbolizing true freedom for all. It honors Black resilience and the ongoing fight for equality. In 2021, activism by figures like Opal Lee helped make it a federal holiday. – Shrey Banerjee, June 11, 2025

I support the sentiment of Juneteenth, equality for all, and I wish “all” meant “all.” Just a couple of weeks ago, someone who lived near me in the Pikes Peak region (El Paso County) went up to Boulder and set fire to people just because they were Jews. Here’s the initial FBI report. We have a long way to go.

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place… (Acts 17.24 – 26, ESV)

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7.9, 10, ESV)

Proverbs 7 opens:

My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you. Keep my commands and live, And my law as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” And call understanding your nearest kin, That they may keep you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words. (Proverbs 7.1 – 5, NKJV)

Then it goes into detail about how the immoral woman works.

For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice, And saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, A young man devoid of understanding, Passing along the street near her corner; And he took the path to her house In the twilight, in the evening, In the black and dark night, and there a woman met him… (Proverbs 7.6 – 10, NKJV)

You see where this is going…

So she caught him and kissed him; With an impudent face she said to him: “I have peace offerings with me; Today I have paid my vows. So I came out to meet you, Diligently to seek your face, And I have found you. I have spread my bed with tapestry, Colored coverings of Egyptian linen. I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love until morning… (Proverbs 7.13 – 18, NKJV)

And how it ends…

…Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter…He did not know it would cost his life. (Proverbs 7.22, 23, NKJV, emphasis mine)

Chilling.

The solution is clear, as outlined here in chapter 7 as well as Proverbs, chapter 5:

1. Keep my commands and live. (Proverbs 5.2, NKJV – see the entire introduction above)
2. Drink water from your own cistern, And running water from your own well. Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, Streams of water in the streets? Let them be only your own, And not for strangers with you. Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice with the wife of your youth. As a loving deer and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; And always be enraptured with her love. (Proverbs 5.15 – 19, NKJV)

God didn’t say, “NO. You can’t have sex. Naughty.” What God said was, “You can have all the sex you want…with your own spouse.” What a blessing!

I don’t write this stuff…I just report it.

…let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband…Do not deprive one another… (1 Corinthians 7.2, 3, 5, NKJV)

Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. (Hebrews 13.4, NKJV)

I’m trying to put Seth Godin into practice: “Lock up the candy” that I wrote about last Thursday. I started the day reading Proverbs first. Email off. Internet off. I landed on Proverbs 6.6 – 8, and because it was first in my day, meditated on it all day.

Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. (Proverbs 6.6 – 8, NKJV)

It’s a text I’ve read many times, but this time I focused on “…having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer…”

No leader, just self discipline to do the right thing when it needs to be done. Actually, for the ant it’s “instinct,” but for us it has to be self-discipline. We have the capacity to take responsibility, work hard and wisely. But we must choose to do so. Hence the command:

Consider the ant and be wise.

Train yourself for godliness. (1 Timothy 4.7, ESV)