Deathbed confessions of a food snob- redux

Posted on February 15, 2026 by Don Merritt

There are some things in life that aren’t worth the effort or the money they cost; lousy food is one thing that comes to mind…

Food is necessary to sustain life, food costs money, food takes time and effort to prepare and food can be something that adds zest and variety to life:  Food is important.  People in Western countries put a lot into food.

I wouldn’t think that any of this comes as news to you, dear reader…

The great question of this or any other age is: Why would we settle for lousy food if we don’t have to?  Yes, friends it is upon such great questions that the fate of civilization rests.  In connection with this great issue, I must now confess that somehow I have slipped into snobbery; I am a food snob!

Since I must eat to live, I’d prefer to eat good stuff.  If I am going out to eat, I would prefer a place that serves good food to one that slings the hash or tosses the burgers… and I am unrepentant on this point. As an old boss once (maybe more than once, come to think of it) said to me: “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.”

Why accept mediocrity?  Why settle for average?  If we have the power or the ability to do better, shouldn’t we do better?  You see this really isn’t about food at all, it’s about not settling for second best.   Martin Luther King once said that if you are a street sweeper, be the best street sweeper you can be.  Doesn’t this apply to all areas of our daily lives?  I think it does, and I think that it is a firm Biblical concept. It isn’t about showing off or being a hot-shot or arrogant or prideful, it’s about having a great testimony for Christ.

Let’s say you are at work and there is a Christian among your co-workers.  This person wants to tell everybody about God and church and that person is a slacker, a sand-bagger and a lazy worker.  How do they reflect upon God? Not well!

Back to true confessions: God has provided us with the physical need to eat, and the means to eat well (hopefully). Why eat lousy food?  Why not do the best we possibly can within our means, giving glory, thanks and praise to God all the while?

Final note:  There is no deathbed; nobody is even sick.  But if you’re going to write a title, why not make it a good one?

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Sunday Reflection: February 15, 2026

Posted on February 15, 2026 by Don Merritt

The wise store up knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.

Proverbs 10:14 

Chapter 10 of Proverbs, the first chapter of this section of the Book, has 32 verses. Of those 32, 11 are about the kinds of things we either say or do not say: Clearly, human speech is a very big deal.

Notice here, that we are faced with a contrast between a wise person and a fool – and knowledge and ruin. Nothing is mentioned about the wise person’s speech, but for the fool, his mouth invites his ruin. In my lifetime, I have met a great many people of all backgrounds and personality types. Many of them were wise, some very wise. Many more were less than wise, and some of those were fools. It has often struck me how easy it is to spot a fool; you only need to listen to what they say, and they will tell you what a fool they are. Often, you can tell from across the room; wise people don’t usually shout in a social setting, but fools like to talk over everyone else.

Scripture teaches us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. If reverent respect (fear) is where wisdom begins, then the next stop is taming our tongues and getting rid of the foolish talk.

It’s something to think about, something to pray about, and I’ll see you next time, got another Sunday Reflection.

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Shopping Frenzy

Posted on February 14, 2026 by Don Merritt

Saturday is shopping day at my house; my favorite.

Now in truth, going to the market is necessary; kind of a necessary evil. After all, we do need provisions and supplies, and going to the store is how you get them these days… oh how I loathe shopping!

Now as a ‘typical male’ (whatever that means) I have a list of what I need to get, I grab a cart and proceed as quickly as my little feet will carry me to get my stuff and get out!  Sometimes I must confess, I even check my watch to see if I can break my all-time speed record for grocery shopping. (13 minutes if you must know)

Now of course there are other people in the store who seem to have different ideas… They want to see if they can handle each and every item on the shelf I’m trying to get to.  They bring their kids and make a family outing of it; they compare prices and values between this one and that one.  They stroll leisurely down the isles, humming a little tune like it’s a Sunday afternoon stroll in the park.  Sometimes they are even chatting on the phone… and they are always in the way!  Don’t they realize I’m trying to beat 13 minutes???

Thank you dear Lord for answering my prayer to learn patience.  Thank you for helping me slow down and see the wonders around me, and thank you for showing me that always being in a rush isn’t always the best way to live!

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Introduction to the first section

Posted on February 13, 2026 by Don Merritt

The first subsection in the “proverbs of Solomon” is chapters 10-12. Most of the subsections within this unit begin with the words “a wise son” as found in 10:1and 13:1. This first subsection contains maxims that are antithetical in their construction, meaning that each one contains a statement that illustrates a life of wisdom, and then an opposite statement that shows the principle in the life of folly. It is as if Lady Wisdom and Ms Folly are still debating their two sides of each issue, or more correctly, the results of their respective ways of life. As you will notice when you read these maxims, they are both powerful and practical for life’s application of their lessons.

Here are the first three of these, Proverbs 10:1-3, and a few thoughts of mine…

1 The proverbs of Solomon:

A wise son brings joy to his father,
    but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

We can begin to see Solomon’s approach right off the bat, here in the first verse. A wise son, and the result or blessing of his wisdom, versus the foolish son and the curse his foolishness has brought upon his poor mother. Although Solomon is painting with a broad brush in many of his wise sayings, they are true to life even after millennia have passed.

Here’s the next one, verse 2:

2 Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,
    but righteousness delivers from death.

This one represents a common theme in Scripture: The short-term gain of disreputable behavior, versus the life-long, even eternal benefit of righteous living. Money and treasure cannot last; it can be lost, stolen, burned, or used up. Righteousness does not suffer these perils.

3 The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,
    but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

Our last one for today brings another common theme from Scripture: God blesses the righteous, He sees the righteous through difficulty: He has their backs. The wicked are on their own in a dog-eat-dog world.

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Parable of the Weeds

Posted on February 13, 2026 by Don Merritt

Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

“‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

Matthew 13:24-30

The last thing anybody wants when they are planting seeds is to discover later that their seeds included the seeds of weeds, so seed providers are very careful to ensure that their seed packages are clear of such an infestation. In this parable, a farmer had good wheat seeds, free of weeds, but his enemy came into the field under cover of night and infested the man’s fields with weeds− nice guy.

Jesus began the story by saying that the Kingdom of Heaven is like that. I’m sure I don’t really need to explain this to anybody, but obviously, the Gospel is represented by the seeds, the enemy is Satan, and the weed seeds are the notions, cares and philosophies of this world. As the Gospel message begins to grow inside a person, the weeds of the enemy grow and seek to choke out the pure message of hope. In the end, when the time has come for harvest, the Harvester will pull out the weeds so they can be burned, and the wheat will be harvested.

You might want to take note of the apocalyptic implications of this, for when Jesus returns, those weeds in the harvesting fields will be separated from the harvest and burned.

We might also note, considering the previous passage, that the parables Jesus is using to explain the Kingdom are really not very hard to follow, unless of course, you just don’t want to follow them.

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Parable of the Growing Seed

Posted on February 12, 2026 by Don Merritt

He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

Mark 4:26-29

When I was in school, I was pretty good at science. When it was time for the test on seeds and plants and how plants grow, I could recall all the answers to the questions. I could say that the cells in the plants grow and divide, and that the DNA of the plant determines how they will grow and what parts form and all of that, but can I say that I understand how all of this happens; really understand? No.

Maybe you understand it, but I don’t, even though I could explain what I learned about it. Maybe you noticed the subtle difference between knowing about and understanding…

In this parable, Jesus is talking about the Kingdom; after all, He is on the Kingdom Tour… He’s talking up the Kingdom.  I know a lot about the Kingdom, and even though there are those who know more about it than I do, I know more than most. Yet can I say I fully understand it? No, not at all, for there is a component within the Kingdom that I cannot begin to understand fully, even though I know about it: The life power of God.

Down through the years, I have planted a great many seeds, maybe that’s why I do this blogging thing… maybe that’s why you do it, too. I’m not sure that I fully understand it, but I know that if you and I plant enough seeds, a crop will grow, and if we keep our eyes and ears open, we will see and hear evidence that tells us that a portion of the crop is ready for harvest. Hopefully, we’ll decide to get involved in that harvest and help to bring some of it in, along with unknown numbers of others all around the globe, for this is how the Kingdom works. I have harvested many in whom others planted the seeds, and many others have brought in a harvest from seeds I planted; it’s all good!

This is what Jesus is trying to teach here: Plant seeds, lots of seeds. Pay attention and bring in the harvest when and where the time is ripe. We don’t really need to understand every detail; we just need to plant, pay attention and harvest.

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An Interesting Challenge

Posted on February 12, 2026 by Don Merritt

Blogging through the Proverbs provides an interesting challenge, unique in my experience.  We have completed the first major section, chapters 1-9, and now we enter the second major section, chapters 10-22. This section, called the “proverbs of Solomon”, contains 375 maxims that are loosely organized and more or less disconnected from each other; each one can just as easily stand alone. Thus, the challenge is: How does one “blog through” something like that?

This question has been banging through my mind since January when I decided to take this project on, and I’ve been hoping for a brilliant idea by the time I arrived at this juncture, but sadly none has come my way. I have consulted the writings of others on the subject, and what I have largely found is that they “force” their way through these chapters as though there was something more cohesive to write about, but the best of the lot simply divided things up along the lines of its loose structure and then paraphrase each proverb, making them more complicated than they really are. Since I do not have a publisher demanding a commentary that includes Proverbs to complete a larger commentary set, I am free to reject this approach… and I have.

My plan through these chapters is to introduce each subsection briefly and choose a proverb from each chapter (at minimum) and post my reflections on it in a morning post. No attempt will be made on my part to cover each and every one of the 375 maxims in this section, so those of you who may have favorites along the way will likely not have any comments from me on them, unless you drop me a note to request one in particular. If you do so, then that’s the one I’ll pick. If all of you send in requests, if time permits, I’ll do all that are requested. In addition, there are a couple of “bonus posts” on Proverbs that I’d like to add into the mix as time goes on, and I’ll do that as well.

That’s it for now, see you next time!

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Photo of the Week: February 11, 2026

Posted on February 11, 2026 by Don Merritt
1114 046

This is Montpelier, the home of James Madison near Orange, Virginia on December 31, 2013.

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Parable of the Sower

Posted on February 11, 2026 by Don Merritt

Jesus tended to tell parables in bunches, and this is the beginning of the first of those bunches. You will notice that each of these texts is broken into two parts, with verses missing in between. Those are the verses we covered in our Introduction because they give Jesus’ reason for speaking in parables. Recalling that the reason He gave was that people with eyes that see and ears that hear will get the meaning, and the rest will not, you can easily see His application of that principle in these texts. Thus, we can say that Jesus anticipated that most people will choose not to hear His true message.

Mark 4:1-9; 13-20

Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”

Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

—

Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

Matt. 13:1-9; 19-23

 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

—

Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Luke 8:4-8; 11-15

While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”

When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

—

 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

In Matthew’s Gospel, this event takes place right in the middle of a section that recounts the growing Jewish opposition to Jesus. Increasingly, Jesus is really only preaching to His disciples, and you can see that in this case. In Mark’s account, this is a time when Jesus is still teaching about the Kingdom, but problems are growing.

It’s important to note here that each of the four Gospels is aimed at a different audience. Matthew is writing primarily to a Jewish audience and ties the story of Jesus into the larger context of Jewish history and prophecy. Mark is writing to a largely Roman audience, who take little notice of Jewish tradition, and concentrate on action and deeds. Luke is writing to a largely Greek readership and brings in mostly straight history. John, who doesn’t record any parable per se, is writing from a heavenly viewpoint, and gives the spiritual and strategic view of things.

These distinctions are often very subtle.

Notice that the real point Jesus is making here, is that, for whatever reason, most people are not going to receive His message. In our time, preachers and even teachers tend to emphasize the obstacles to receiving the message; a preacher might preach a sermon on rocky soil, for example. It has been a long time since I heard a sermon about good soil, and the results of the seed falling there. A disciple who makes disciples, multiplying 30 times, or 60 times or 100 times.

Jesus is teaching that lesson, and it would seem that only His disciples are likely to take His point. Thus, for a disciple of Christ, this is a rather important teaching in troubled times.

“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

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Wisdom: A Better Way

Posted on February 11, 2026 by Don Merritt

Proverbs 8

In the last chapter we saw a steamy scene in which folly, represented by a wayward woman, leads a young man away from the paths of righteousness into a slippery slope that leads to his ultimate destruction. Now as we begin the twelfth discourse, another woman, Lady Wisdom, seeks to lead us toward the paths of wisdom, a road that goes to a much better place.

She is pictured at the place where the paths meet near the city gate, calling out to all mankind urging them to listen to her message. (1-5) She tells the people that her words are trustworthy, true, right and just, as she contrasts them with what is wicked, crooked or perverse; her teachings are right. She will provide knowledge and wisdom which are better than silver, gold or rubies. (6-11)

Next, she tells us about herself: She dwells with prudence and has knowledge and discretion. (12) She abhors pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech because she fears the LORD and that is to “hate evil.” (13) Then she tells us what she has to offer:

Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
    I have insight, I have power.
By me kings reign
    and rulers issue decrees that are just;
by me princes govern,
    and nobles—all who rule on earth. (14-16)

She loves those who love her and those who seek her will find her, and when they do, they will receive riches and honor. (17-18) Switching metaphors, she compares herself to a tree (cf. 3:18) that yields superior fruit. This tree of wisdom yields fruit that is better than the purest gold or silver, for it yields righteousness and justice; treasures better than mere earthly riches can ever be. (19-21)

In verses 22-29, Lady Wisdom tells the people that she has been around since the very beginning of time before the creation was complete, and then she says something very interesting:

Then I was constantly at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
    rejoicing always in his presence,
rejoicing in his whole world
    and delighting in mankind. (30-31)

This reminds me of the way that Adam and Eve lived in the Garden. They walked and talked with God, they enjoyed His presence, and they delighted in Him and He in them. Of course, they eventually took a different path, the path of folly. In our passage, here is Lady Wisdom calling humanity to return to the paths of God: Who will heed her call?

The chapter ends with wisdom’s exhortation to follow her ways, to receive her gifts, to follow the paths of righteousness and the ways of life; to reject the ways that lead to death. Does this remind you of someone?

For those who find me find life
    and receive favor from the Lord.

Proverbs 8:35

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