Week Thirty-Eight, 2025

It’s not good to eat too much honey, and it’s not good to seek honors for yourself (Proverbs 25:27).

The book is a great read. A Man and His Ship is the story of a young boy who is obsessed with building ocean liners. He was born about the time propeller-driven ships hit the waters of the Atlantic, opening a whole new world of travel between the United States and Europe. Speed was a factor, as week-long or more voyages shrunk to three days or less.

The prize for the fastest crossing was a blue ribbon, known as the Blue Riband, an unofficial accolade given to the passenger liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean in regular service with the record highest average speed.

It was interesting ocean history to see how ships jockeyed over a more than fifty-year quest for the ribbon. William Francis Gibbs is considered to be America’s greatest naval architect. He kept building faster and faster ships in competition with the British. The ribbon passed from country to country.

Gibbs’ final achievement was the design and building of the world’s then greatest ocean liner, the United States. In 1952, it took the ribbon from the Queen Mary, never to lose the ribbon.

Interestingly, as air travel replaced sea travel, the S.S. United States ceased operating and rusted away in a naval yard in Philadelphia before being towed to Florida to be sunk as a diving reef.

Gibbs’ obsession plagued him for all of his life, causing him to give up much, like family, to achieve his goal. While the world acclaim focused on what he did, there was little mention of the cost of his goal. While what he did was important, what he gave up was precious.

A good breakfast food is biscuits and honey, and it is wonderful in small amounts, but too much honey will make you sick. Honor is like that too. Honor is desirable in the right dosage. Recognition of a job well done, the respect a child gives to a parent, the appreciation of your friends, these are honors we gladly receive.

But when we taste honor and then seek it as an end in itself, we are wrong. Another Scripture says to let others praise you, not ourselves. When we seek our own praise, it is our pride showing. When others praise us, honor us, we should receive that honor humbly. If not, it is tainted by pride.

We live in a world that emphasizes the wrong things.

What ribbons are you chasing?

Sometimes True Stories

The Lord is my Shepherd —– that’s a Relationship!

I shall not want —– that’s Supply!

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures —- that’s Rest!

He leadeth me beside the still waters —– that’s Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul —– that’s Healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness —– that’s Guidance!

For His name sake —– that’s Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death — that’s Testing!

I will fear no evil —– that’s Protection!

For Thou art with me —– that’s Faithfulness!

Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me —– that’s Discipline!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies — that’s Hope!

Thou annointest my head with oil —– that’s Consecration!

My cup runneth over —– that’s Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life —- that’s Blessing!

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord —– that’s Security!

Forever —– that’s Eternity!

Face it, God loves you!

What is most valuable is not what we have in our lives, but WHO we have in our lives!

Quotes You Can Use

Charity, like the sun, brightens every object on which it shines. Hugh Blair

How blessed are we to love and be loved by such a great God! Dan Shock

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has. Epictetus

Conquering others takes force, conquering yourself is true strength.

It’s not about who you are, but who you are becoming.

God’s desire for us is that we bear fruit.

You are defined by what you desire.

Focus your mind on things of the spirit.

Social media is killing people one click at a time. As you think of someone, look in the mirror.

We learn godliness by practicing godly skills and habits.

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