Growing Stronger Together: Tues.7.28.15...Forgotten Heroes...Eccles.9

Tues.7.28.15...Forgotten Heroes...Eccles.9

He was such a celebrated American hero that he was given a ticker tape parade in New York. Then just three years later, his second act of peace time heroism brought him a second ticker tape parade. Wow! Two ticker tape parades for such a great man! Of course you know who I’m talking about; it was none other than Captain George Fried. Who???

“Even the memory of [the dead] is forgotten” Eccles.9:5

Inside the heart of all men is the desire for their lives to count, to make an impact, to leave a lasting legacy, to be remembered for doing something significant with their lives. Ben Franklin gave some pithy advice about having such an impact.

"If you would not be forgotten when you are dead and rotten,

either write something worth reading or do things worth writing."

But truth be told, even great heroes who have been greatly honored are still forgotten. Captain George Fried is a good example. He was celebrated with a ticker tape parade for his valiant rescue of the crew from a sinking British steamship in 1926. Then three years later, he and his crew, though once again having to battle icy, stormy conditions, rescued the crew from a sinking Italian steamship. He was so admired that New York honored him with another ticker tape parade. He became all the more known through his syndicated column, "My Thirty Years at Sea" which ran in hundreds of newspapers in 1929. Even though he fulfilled Ben Franklin’s advice by doing things worth writing and writing things worth reading, he still has largely become forgotten in less than 100 years. Solomon was right, even the memory of the dead is forgotten.

Yes, I know this seems pretty depressing. But that is exactly the point Solomon is seeking to make in this pre-evangelistic, "under the sun" book. Life is meaningless, confusing, frustrating, unfair and so temporary. Death is approaching. Time is running out as people run busily about.

“And you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking,
Racing around to come up behind you again.
The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older,
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death.” Time by Pink Floyd

In addition to death closing in and being forgotten with our passing, Ecclesiastes chapter 9 highlights a few more frustrating things about life, but I’ll let you discover them.

Eccles.9:7-10 is like the chorus that a song comes back to. Solomon comes back to his repeated advice earlier in the book to enjoy life in the midst of this meaningless life. He is not advocating the thought that the foolish farmer had, whom we read about yesterday; “Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry” Luke 12:19. God called him a fool because he lived life apart from devotion to God’s will. Solomon is calling people to thankfully enjoy the good gifts of God in this present moment. “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.” by Family Circus cartoonist, Bil Keane. May you enjoy this gift called the present.

1.- Read Eccles 9 and share one verse you picked out and some of your thoughts regarding such.

If we live to be remembered by people, we will likely be forgotten as was Captain Fried. But if we live to please God, we will be remembered and honored by him eternally. Nehemiah wanted God to remember him for his work on rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. He closed his book praying, "Remember me with favor, O my God" Neh.13:31. He built up the city walls. How much better now to build up the lives of others. You are doing that as you are pursuing GREAT things each day- Sharing God's life transforming word with others, Recruiting others, Encouraging one another, Attacking in prayer and doing Acts of kindness and Telling others of Transformation. What a GREAT life you are building. What a ticker tape parade such GREAT men deserve in glory.

2.- Some wise person gave good advice for being eternally remembered- “Carve your name on the hearts of people, not on granite. So write more about your epitaph. What do you want to be remembered for by God? (If nothing has changed from yesterday, you can repeat it, but see if you can refine it.)

Speaking of epitaphs, walls and the chorus of a song, I am reminded of another haunting song from my empty high school days. It was called, Epitaph by King Crimson (1969). So haunting are the lyrics, that evangelist/apologist Ravi Zacharias quoted from them in one of his messages. Here are some excerpts from Epitaph.

The wall on which the prophets wrote is cracking at the seams

Upon the instruments of death the sunlight brightly gleams...

Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules
The fate of all mankind I see is in the hands of fools.

Confusion will be my epitaph as I crawl a cracked and broken path.
If we make it we can all sit back and laugh,
But I fear tomorrow I'll be crying,

Yes I fear tomorrow I'll be crying.

3. Optional: For my lovers of thought and reflection. The songwriter is certainly giving us an "under the sun" view of life. What do you think he may have been alluding to in the first few lines of Epitaph?

In light of time running out for lost people, it's vital that we be looking for opportunities to share the good news with others. Sam did that recently. He wrote, "I gave a mini-movie card and a New Life card to my insurance agent." Way to go Sam!

I was at Aldi's and ended up giving a card to a JW, which she thanked me for. I went away smiling because I know they are not allowed to accept "apostate literature." If she only knew! :)

What do Captain Kirk of Star Trek and the Three Stooges remind us of when we delve into Eccles.10? You'll discover that tomorrow.

103 comments:

Elake1July 28, 2015 at 5:25 AM
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

Sinning always destroys

2 I can't think of anything to add.
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T. Roger VinlasacaJuly 28, 2015 at 5:33 AM
1. Eccl. 9:18 "Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good."
What a great privilege we have as believers because we have access to that great wisdom that only comes from God with which me can build and encourage people rather than destroy them like the sinner does.
2. Same as yesterday.
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UnknownJuly 28, 2015 at 6:41 AM
It's hard to just pick one verse :)

Ecclesiastes 9:14-15
14 There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it. 15 Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.

Sad but true, people get forgotten, regardless of how great they were or did but if you do something for God you will be eternally remembered. Lets not dwell if we will remembered here on earth. I pray that we push forward and forcefully advance the kingdom of God.

I would probably add that I was a loving husband and father.
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UnknownJuly 28, 2015 at 7:29 AM
Rcc.9.2. "All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. As it is with the good, so with the sinful; as it is with those who take oaths, so with those who are afraid to take them." The most important destiny we will face is judgement from God. Thank you lord Jesus for your precious blood that makes us clean.

2. Captain George pulled some people from burnig flames but led many people to Christ and where saved from the eternal flames.
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Dave DeBoerJuly 28, 2015 at 7:52 AM
1.Ecclesiastes 9:10 NIV
[10] Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
I love this cause it give me direction to work hard at work for it own sake.
2. Dave DeBoer: " Was so in love with Jesus, the rest of us fell in love with Him too."
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EddieJuly 28, 2015 at 8:36 AM
1.Ecc.9:10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

Making the most of every opportunity to enjoy life and work at whatever we do with all our might. Because when our time is up, these opportunities are no more.

2. Loved God. Loved People. Making the most of every opportunity to point people to God with his life, by doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with his God.
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Osiris AldayJuly 28, 2015 at 8:43 AM
1. Ecclesiastes 9:9 "Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun." This verse jumped off the page at me, because it speaks to a very recent matter in my life. Just this weekend, after a week of being in the dog house, my wife and I sat down to discuss a serious problem in our marriage: I am not giving my marriage the time it deserves. I'm not squandering my time with friends or playing games. I am not out until the odd hours of the night; on the contrary, I'm a real homebody, but even when I am at home, I am busy working. It is clear that I have an addiction to my work. My wife understands that I always give everything I do 110%, but why not her? Why not our marriage?

A MANLY man gives his wife his very best, and not just the rest, and yet I have not lived up to this standard. I made it a purpose this weekend to make time for my wife. I finally enjoyed our pool with her (she knows I'm not a big fan, but I know she enjoys the pool). I took the time to sit with her and listen to her without distractions. Just yesterday, I took a short snooze with her after a long day at work that turned out to be a long nap. With all the work that needed to get done, you'd think I woke up in a panic, fretting the time I'd lost, but I felt the greatest peace and renewed vigor. The work still got done, my wife's language of love had been satisfied, and I was rested from a long day. Time spent with my wife is the lot for a hard day's work. Rather than come home from work to work, I should be coming home to enjoy my wife. At the end of the day, I will not be remembered for my work. My coworkers probably won't even make my funeral. My wife, on the other hand, will have only the memories of the time I devoted to her to remember me by.

2. I wouldn't change much to the epitaph I posted yesterday, but here's another I've considered: "...and when he gets to heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: Just another soldier reporting, Sir. I've served my time in hell."
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UnknownJuly 28, 2015 at 9:45 AM
1 "Enjoy life with your wife whom you love all the days of this meaningless life, that God has given you under the sun, all of your meaningless days;. For this is your lot in your life and in your toil some labor under the sun." ECC 9:9
Life is fleeting so enjoy it as 1 flesh with your wife as you strive for Jesus like perfection to advance the Kingdom of God
2. Add Godly leader of many
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UnknownJuly 28, 2015 at 10:00 AM
1. “For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.” ‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭9:12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This verse explains why we should always be ready for death. No man knows when it is his time. Don't let evil over take you. Stay sharp in your faith and continue to seek him on a regular basis so you are always prepared for death.

2. I would keep it the same.
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Robert RomanJuly 28, 2015 at 12:08 PM
1. " So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded." Ecclesiastes 9:16
Reminded me of Exodus 1:8 "Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt." Eventually, we'll be forgotten by men but not by our Creator.
2. Epitaph "Well done, good and faithful servant! Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:21
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UnknownJuly 28, 2015 at 1:15 PM
9;4 Anyone who is among the living has hope-even a live dog is better off than a dead lion...... if you still breathing you still can do some good for your life or somebody else
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UnknownJuly 28, 2015 at 2:56 PM
1: Ecclesiastes 9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

2: Picked up his cross and followed god into eternal life.
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Marcos EstradaJuly 28, 2015 at 4:42 PM
1.- The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.

I learned at an early age that I need to listen more than I should speak. My dad once told me “You have 2 ears and only 1 mouth for a reason……”
In addition, another life lesson taught me that, those who that ask for attention by being loud are usually the ones that you should pay least attention to.

2.- As a child, I remember attempting to describe a pair of shoes to my father. It was a type of shoes that he and my grandfather would wear; Stacey Adams. For the life of me, I could not remember the shoes’ name but when I described them to my dad and the image came over him, he said “Son, you have a way with words.” My father never complimented me. I was about 6-years old when he told me that but I feel that he spoke into my life on that day. Since that day, I have been told that countless times while serving as a formal instructor and coach but never have resonated with me as the way it did when my dad told me. I would love for God to remember me for what I say.
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UnknownJuly 28, 2015 at 5:08 PM
1. Eccles 9:12. You Never Know When Your Time Is Coming. Like birds suddenly caught in a trap, like fish caught in a net, we are trapped at some evil moment when we least expect it.
No one knows when misfortune or death will hit.
2. No Change from yesterday .
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UnknownJuly 28, 2015 at 5:22 PM
1- Ecclesiastes 9:17New Century Version (NCV)
17 The quiet words of a wise person are better
than the shouts of a foolish ruler.

A great verse. I am really getting some great insight out of Ecclesiastes. Like proverbs it gives great advice. I have been talking to a co-worker at my Job about God and he came to New Life this Sunday and really liked it. It feels good to be a part of a great church.

2- A man after God. Loving and forgiving to everyone he came across.
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UnknownJuly 28, 2015 at 7:34 PM
1) “Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭9:15‬ ‭

2) a man of great faith
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UnknownJuly 28, 2015 at 7:59 PM
1. Ecclesiastes 9:2 It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath.

We are all the same in God's eye's. He does not favor one over the other. We must continue to do God's holy work and spread the gospel.

2. I will try to do my best to walk faithfully. I'm born a sinner but with God's grace everyday i will be working on a transformation top better my walk. Is it easy? By no means but i will leave a legacy!
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AnonymousJuly 28, 2015 at 8:00 PM
1 Ecclesiastes 9: 5 . For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even their name is forgotten.

If there is no God then what are we living for. Like the verse says, we enjoy all this things but then we die and we are forgotten. There is a God which is why we need to live by Gods standards. This life is a test and to pass the test we need to obey Gods commands.

2. His greatest accomplishment was finding Christ.

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UnknownJuly 28, 2015 at 9:38 PM
1) But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard. Ecclesiastes 9:16

I kept think how Dave put it carve your name in the hearts not granite. For the wise man too was forgotten.
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UnknownJuly 28, 2015 at 9:58 PM
1) Ecclesiastes 9:12 Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so people are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them.

This verse reminds me that our true home is not in this world. We should guard ourselves against getting too comfortable with living here. We have become pilgrims in this world and are now traveling through it with a mission to accomplish. We have been told to expect evil times because it is a wicked world ruled by a cruel enemy. It is not a safe place for anyone, yet for so many this is all they know and live for. John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

2) An epitaph to strive to live up to and deserve: He loved and served the Lord his God with all his heart, soul, mind and strength and was a good and faithful servant to his family, Christ's Church and to those who were his neighbors.
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UnknownJuly 28, 2015 at 10:01 PM
1. Ecc 9:18 says "Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good." --- divine wisdom can accomplish so much more than all the killing in a war. Wisdom can do what no material force can effect, and often produces results which all the implements of war could not. But one sinner destroys much good. The happy consequences which the wise man's counsel might accomplish, or has already accomplished, may be overthrown or rendered useless by the villain or bad sinful man. Take Adam, for example, just look at the chaos he brought into the world, by willfully sinning against God.

2. Same as yesterday:)
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UnknownJuly 28, 2015 at 10:12 PM
1. - Ecclesiastes 9: 7 Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.

2. Epitaph

“A fisherman of MANLY men” or “A MANLY man who lived by the Word of God”
“A man who make an impact in people’s hearts”

Same as yesterday,
“A man who served with his heart”
1 Peter 4:10, Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

“A man who fought the good fight”
1 Timothy 6:12, Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
OR 2 Timothy 4:7, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

“A man who lived a righteous life”
Proverbs 23:24, the father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
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UnknownJuly 28, 2015 at 10:25 PM
1) Ecclesiastes 9:4 "Anyone who is among the living has hope —even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!"

2) I think I'd probably keep it mostly the same. However, I'd like to add a verse to it. I'm not sure which verse yet though.
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UnknownJuly 28, 2015 at 10:31 PM
1.Ecclesiastes 9:17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of the ruler of fools.

2. Phil Raymond. ... In the business of saving lives!
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UnknownJuly 28, 2015 at 10:32 PM
1 – Ecclesiastes 9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. This reminds me of an old friend and how much damage sin can cause. He’s cheated on his wife with a married woman, not only did the sin destroy his marriages it also destroyed her family and several friendships.

2 – I couldn’t think of anything to add to my epitaph so I did a google search for ideas. Below are a few I found interesting.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God
Jack (no last name) - A Gentle Man And A Gentleman
Ayrton Senna - Nothing can separate me from the love of God
Johnny Ramone - If a man can tell he's been successful in his life by having great friends, then I have been very successful.
Mel Blanc (voice of Porky Pig) - "That's all, folks!"
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UnknownJuly 28, 2015 at 10:57 PM
1.http://bible.com/111/ecc.9.6.niv Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun.
it really puts it in perspective to me that although I don't want to live as such (on the above verse) I want to live a life that has been tranformed, impacted by Christ. Question is how do I want to live my life?

2. A father, a brother, a son, a friend who perused after Gods own heart.
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UnknownJuly 29, 2015 at 12:04 AM
1) Ecclesiates 9:11 “I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.”
‭
It stood out to me on how it illustrates that no matter what gifts we have been given over others, everything ultimately effects us the same.

2) Yesterday, I had put "Devoted Husband, Imitator of Christ. Lived to show man the love of His Savior." I know that some good I strongly have a heart for is helping people get through things and Hang ups that keep them from having a close relationship with God. That is even for the believers too. Sometimes over thinking and over complicating is easy to get trapped in. Sometimes it is applying too much gray to areas God has called black or white. I try to bring an understanding to that person, so my epitaph would hopefully read more like,

"Devoted Husband, Imitator of Christ. Lived to break down barriers that kept men from a life giving, intimate relationship with the Lord"

3) Yikes, I will be first to admit this is pretty difficult to decipher what the singer is alluding to in the song. My best figure is He was alluding to the Cold War, the doomsday fear at that time. The first line alluding to the "writing on the wall". The next of the doomsday nuclear weapons ready and waiting. The idea of knowledge and espionage upon a population with no restrictions being deadly. The fate of mankind's existence in the hands of (at times) foolish politicians who can destroy the world in a moment with the above mentioned weapons.

I don't know. Just my thoughts on it. :)
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nicpalJuly 29, 2015 at 12:14 AM
1. “This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭9:
All that evil and insanity that men plague upon the world. In the end they are dead and forgotten.

2. sorry a little fluffy yesterday. I want live free from sin and help others be free. I want to soak in my days. I want to experience new things and all that life has to offer. Enjoy the good. I want to be remembered as a loving father and husband. A dad my kids will never forget and tell their kids stories about me. My faith, my humor, my heart even my failures and quirks. I hope my kids won't despair much and have many great memories to hold onto and that they would live for Jesus too. I hope I can be the first or second link in a righteous chain or line of Palhegyi's.
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UnknownJuly 29, 2015 at 11:17 PM
7/28/15
Hey Guys! Sorry this was done in parts over the last couple of days and I wanted to post it up. Finally got my CPU back today as well.
1.- (Ecc. 9: 2-3 NASB) It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and for the unclean; for the man who offers a sacrifice and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the good man is, so is the sinner; as the swearer is, so is the one who [c]is afraid to swear. 3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead.
I recently was talking with an atheist who what was offended, annoyed, and combatant about my position as a believer in God. “You have no proof, nothing to stand on, and all your arguments are not addressing physical evidence for anyone with a mind to believe.” I wanted to say “I can prove to you that you and I will die, as said in the Bible, but would rather not test that experiment.”
2.- So write more about your epitaph. What do you want to be remembered for by God? (If nothing has changed from yesterday, you can repeat it, but see if you can refine it.)
I would want to be remembered as someone who pointed to God out of Desperate Hope. Hope is what I hold onto. Hope in Christ, Hope in the spirit that lives in me, to calm the raging waters of my mind, and life. Hope in God and His promise to us. For it all started as hope, but turned to obsession, to denial to fear- now is Hope. I hope for my family, friends, and people I meet. I want to show them in waves the way God’s hope will change their lives. And meet them dead-stop, right where they need to be met.
3. The wall on which the prophets wrote is cracking at the seams
Upon the instruments of death the sunlight brightly gleams...
Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules
The fate of all mankind I see is in the hands of fools.

Line 1 “the wall on which the Prophets wrote.” Alluding to the wailing wall of the temple. The physical crack that is breaking it and how in time even that will have broken it.
Line 2 “instruments of death- Sunlight gleams” Referring to the literal instrument of the Nuclear bomb and it’s detonation
Line 3 Figurative: “Knowledge is a deadly friend”… could even be ‘Tree of knowledge of Good and Evil’ where the rules were set and now having- Now we have knowledge and are doomed to death for it.
Line 4: The fate of all mankind- in the hands of fools- . Kind of a universal true-ism for the depravity of humanity. – but in respect to God: 1 Cor 1:18 “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” – Clearly separating those who are the perishing- as we have been made alive in him.
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UnknownJuly 29, 2015 at 11:25 PM
1) 9;18 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much good.

They are both forces of influence with great potential. It is much easier to destroy then to enhance.

2) Dont remember. What I do remember is, The great need to do something important. Learning more and more that what I do is less important that who I do it to and how they are impacted; God for instance. I find I am less and less impressed with what men think of me and more and more concerned with what God knows of me. Particularly the things I am blind to. But let it be said of me He was a Christian with out reserve.
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Armando HernandezAugust 15, 2015 at 8:55 PM
1.- Ecc. 9:7
Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.

God here is encouraging us to just enjoy life, just as Jesus tells us in;

Matt. 6:34 to set aside our worries about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

In essence to stay focus on God and let him take your burdens of life.
Only in God does life have meaning and true pleasure. Without him nothing satisfies, but with him we find satisfaction and enjoyment. True pleasures come only when we acknowledge and revere God.

Remember that God is our Shepherd and will lead us to his Kingdom of Heaven if we faithfully trust and abide in Him!

2.- No change on Epitaph

3.- Not sure, is he saying that the deterioration of our society is taken to the worst and that there are no honorable men left as the prophets were once in the pass, and that humanity is being mislead by the wicked.
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