DEVISE

Definition:
concoct; to create or think of by clever use of the imagination

Synonyms:
invent – – – construct – – – design – – – produce – – – manufacture
contrive – – – come up with – – – think up – – – conceive
fabricate – – – drum up – – – hatch – – – cook up – – – make up
envision – – – imagine – – – trump up – – – improvise – – – visualize
dream – – – coin – – – vision – – – fantasize – – – daydream
extemporize – – – picture – – – ad-lib
– – –
How many of those synonyms seem to apply in America today . . . ?

+ politically—
Reread the list, with politics in mind.
invent – – – construct – – – design – – – produce – – – manufacture
contrive – – – come up with – – – think up – – – conceive
fabricate – – – drum up – – – hatch – – – cook up – – – make up
envision – – – imagine – – – trump up – – – improvise – – – visualize
dream – – – coin – – – vision – – – fantasize – – – daydream
extemporize – – – picture – – – ad-lib

+ culturally—
Reread the list, thinking about the cultural tsunami wiping out everything in its path.
invent – – – construct – – – design – – – produce – – – manufacture
contrive – – – come up with – – – think up – – – conceive
fabricate – – – drum up – – – hatch – – – cook up – – – make up
envision – – – imagine – – – trump up – – – improvise – – – visualize
dream – – – coin – – – vision – – – fantasize – – – daydream
extemporize – – – picture – – – ad-lib

+ morally—
Reread the list, observing the moral freefall today.
invent – – – construct – – – design – – – produce – – – manufacture
contrive – – – come up with – – – think up – – – conceive
fabricate – – – drum up – – – hatch – – – cook up – – – make up
envision – – – imagine – – – trump up – – – improvise – – – visualize
dream – – – coin – – – vision – – – fantasize – – – daydream
extemporize – – – picture – – – ad-lib

+ spiritually—
Reread the list, in light of the ‘no man’s land’ with eroding spiritual foundations.
invent – – – construct – – – design – – – produce – – – manufacture
contrive – – – come up with – – – think up – – – conceive
fabricate – – – drum up – – – hatch – – – cook up – – – make up
envision – – – imagine – – – trump up – – – improvise – – – visualize
dream – – – coin – – – vision – – – fantasize – – – daydream
extemporize – – – picture – – – ad-lib

+ financially—
Reread the list, and wonder what we’ve really created.
invent – – – construct – – – design – – – produce – – – manufacture
contrive – – – come up with – – – think up – – – conceive
fabricate – – – drum up – – – hatch – – – cook up – – – make up
envision – – – imagine – – – trump up – – – improvise – – – visualize
dream – – – coin – – – vision – – – fantasize – – – daydream
extemporize – – – picture – – – ad-lib

– – –

I came up with this ‘word for thought’ as I was reflecting on how many Americans ‘revise’ Jesus’ words about money.
I thought to check out if ‘devise’ was a real word that might fit.
WOW !
Fits all over today.

YOU HAVE A BABY !

You have a baby inside, now !
Your baby started living before you knew it.
Your baby started living from conception.
Your baby started growing since conception.
Your baby will keep growing until it is ready to come out.
Your baby will keep growing after it is born.
Your baby will keep growing until it is an adult.
– – –
YOU HAVE A BABY !
– – –
You have a choice,
What do you want ?
– – –
Do you want a living baby ?
– – –
Do you want a dead baby ?
– – –
You have a living baby now.
KEEP YOUR BABY ALIVE !

– – –

(Inspired listening to Jeff Shreve on American Family Radio 3-8-24)

“IT’S NOT ABOUT MONEY” ?

I’m amazed once again to hear financial advisors consistently, at all cost, avoid applying Jesus’ comments about giving it all away.

“That does not literally apply to us.”
“It’s not your money that I want—it’s your heart.”
—–Jesus’ words explained, revised, devised.

So, it’s not about money ?
It’s about heart ?
Really ?

I thought Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart WILL BE also.”

+ Sounds like money and heart are tied at the hip.
+ Sounds like any attempt to separate is not Biblical.
Can I say my heart is right, and selectively apply only some things God says about money, that confirm my plans ?
+ Sounds like if Jesus told American Christians the one thing they lack is to give it all away to the poor to follow Him, they would “go away sad, because they have great possessions”.
How about sermons on that ! ? ! X
– – –
But you’ll never get anywhere telling them to change their comfortable message about money.

Daddy didn’t get anywhere telling church people what Jesus said about money.

Jesus didn’t get anywhere telling successful (politically, financially), religious leaders to change their ideas about money.

May I strongly suggest reading what Jesus said about money in the Bible—straight from your Bible—not what someone says the Bible says.
– – –
+ Current, American Christian financial teaching . . . is a very narrow, selected part of the Christian experience, at best.
+ Current, American Christian financial teaching . . . applies, at best, to a very narrow slice of Christianity, historically, and worldwide today.