| LIFE Thought for the Day

[XXL TideFan]

For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity. - Wisdom of Sirach 2:5

 

[TerryP]

For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity. - Wisdom of Sirach 2:5

Interesting you didn't credit King Solomon.

 

[alabama mike]

"It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself."

Eleanor Roosevelt

 

[XXL TideFan]

Interesting you didn't credit King Solomon.

Sirach may have been earlier. My favorite book in the OT. Orthodox Christians use the Septuagint. A translation over 300 years BC. The KJV uses a translation based on the Masoretic texts which were rewritten & entire books tossed out by Jewish leaders/scholars in response to Christ. It was the beginning of Rabbinical Judaism which is quite a bit younger than Christianity.

 

[TerryP]

Sirach may have been earlier

I don't know the answer to that...planned on looking it up later.

 

[XXL TideFan]

I don't know the answer to that...planned on looking it up later.

Actually Solomon is much older but commonality exists. Note the name of the author. May have been a reason of tossing it along with generally not adhering to The Laws of Moses. The excerpt below was from a Roman Catholic source.

Sirach was written by a Jewish scribe who lived in Jerusalem in the early third century BC. His name was Jesus, son of Eleazar, son of Sirach. He is often called simply "Ben Sira." The book has taken several different titles including "The Wisdom of Jesus Ben Sira" and "Liber Ecclesiasticus" (Church book). Ben Sira wrote in Hebrew, but his grandson later translated the book into Greek. Most Bibles include the grandson's preface even though it is not canonical. The Hebrew of Sirach was lost about a thousand years ago, but in the late 19th century and early 20th century Hebrew fragments of Sirach were found which comprise about two-thirds of the book. Sirach is a deuterocanonical book of wisdom literature.



Sirach is very similar to Proverbs in that the majority of the material is presented in short sayings. The sayings are generally grouped by theme, so the book is loosely organized. Ben Sira speaks in the first person, sometimes giving autobiographical details (34:11; 38-39). In 1:1-42:14, He calls on his readers to seek wisdom and offers sayings on many issues. 42:15-43:35 is a song of praise to God the Creator, which is followed by a long section that honors the heroes of Israel's history (44:1-50:29). The book concludes with a song of praise and thanks (51).



Sirach addresses many issues related to human life including money, relationships, worship, business and even table manners! Its focus is to help the reader know how to live within the covenant, how to be faithful to God even in the small things. Ben Sira has much to say about choosing friends, dealing with practical problems of life and watching one's words carefully. Like other authors of wisdom literature, he praises wisdom and personifies it as a virtuous woman to be earnestly sought (4; 14-15). Much of the book is couched in terms of a father giving advice to his son. Some scholars think that the book was used to train young Jewish men for positions of leadership. Ben Sira wrote in a time when Jewish identity was threatened by the extensive influence of Greek culture. His writing invites his contemporaries to return to their spiritual and scriptural roots.



The reader faced with Sirach may get very frustrated by trying to read it too quickly, looking for an all-encompassing intent. While the book is not organized by a central argument, it does propose a radical new idea that reinterprets the earlier wisdom books. That is, it identifies wisdom with the Law of Moses (24:22-27). This important idea shapes the way Ben Sira understands wisdom in relation to Israel's history and destiny. The wisdom he offers is not simply good advice, but it is an explanation of the Law of Moses. Like the Law, Sirach reaches its fulfillment in the life of Jesus.

 

[TerryP]

Actually Solomon is much older but commonality exists

I don't know why. I just knew it as a Solomon quote.

 

[alabama mike]

“Death ends a life, not a relationship. All the love you created is still there. All the memories are still there. You live on- in the hearts of everyone you have touched and nurtured while you were here.”

Morrie Schwartz

From the book, Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

 

[XXL TideFan]

"So great an evil is envy. For not against strangers only, but even against our own, is it ever warring."
- St. John Chrysostom

 

[TerryP]

From the book, Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

I enjoyed that book.

 

[alabama mike]

I enjoyed that book.

I am reading it again now. Mitch Albom has some excellent books.

 

[alabama mike]

"A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool."

William Shakespeare

 

[TerryP]

Life should be a lot of experiments launched from a secure base.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

Life should be a lot of experiments launched from a secure base.

Life involves risk. You can't steal second with your foot on first.

 

[alabama mike]

"Efficiency is concerned with doing things right. Effectiveness is doing the right things."

Peter F. Drucker

 

[alabama mike]

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops."

Henry Adams

I received a very nice letter from a student this morning. Sometimes, I wonder if I really am making a difference or just spinning my wheels. This mornings letter confirmed once again, I do make a difference for some students. Humbled.

 

[TerryP]

I received a very nice letter from a student this morning. Sometimes, I wonder if I really am making a difference or just spinning my wheels. This mornings letter confirmed once again, I do make a difference for some students. Humbled.

I see this every year with my mom. A couple of weeks ago she was digging through yearbooks looking to see how one of her students looked like back in the '70's.

It makes you realize what an impact one person can make, on 100's, if not 1000's. In a feeble way, I try to do that here: just to make someone laugh.

 

[rick4bama]

WE HAVE REACHED A POINT WHERE PEOPLE ARE SO OPEN MINDED THAT THEIR BRAINS HAVE FALLEN OUT!

Got it off FB so no telling who came up with this? This is so true.

 

[Sid Youngleman]

If Walmart sold Pacemakers, they'd come in packs of three. -- S. Youngleman

 

[alabama mike]

"The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision."

Helen Keller