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A lot of "good" but simple men and women run into many common but easily avoidable troubles in life (relationship drama, financial issues, marital problems, divorce, single parents, venereal diseases, endangerment, etc) and have no idea why they ran into these failures. They often are surprised when it happens yet scripture shows us the results are 100% predictable based on the paths in life they chose and are avoidable with just a little bit of active wisdom and discernment applied along their way as they make life's choices. In Part 1 of Chapter 7 we deal with the Simple Man and how to avoid his traits that lead to his inevitable yet avoidable failures. Proverbs 7 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. 2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. 3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. 4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman: 5 that they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words. 6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, 7 and beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, 8 passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, 9 in the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: 10 and, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. 11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: 12 now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) 13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, 14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. 15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. 16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. 17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. 19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: 20 he hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed. 21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. 22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; 23 till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. 24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. 25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. 26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. 27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

I was just making a post in another area when this thought hit me, that I feel enslaved by technology. I want to disconnect everything but find I cannot for fear of being isolated. does this make sense? People come to our home when we invite them for dinner or lunch and yet it does not seem that anyone just stops by anymore for the sake of friendship. When we do get together with family and friends no one actually has discussions, references are to funny utube videos, or a movie, or some recent sporting game mostly they just sit around looking at their phone, texting one another while the person they are texting is in the room. In the last two years I have not had more that 3 or 4 meaningful conversations with anyone under 30 years of age unless I am teaching and a question comes up. How is that we can be so "connected" and yet so isolated? I go to church and (I love our church and pastor and our church family) it seems when the last amen is said everyone over 40 disappears we have a large congregation for a city of twenty thousand. I get the feeling something is wrong but I can't put my finger on it. We grow by 20 people per year, we have soul winning and special days, we are often told we are one of the friendliest churches in our area. Our pastor is a tremendous preacher and teacher and yet with all these positives. I do not sense the same corporate power of God today I sensed 40 years ago. I believe that technology is always calling for our attention right now and consequently we never have the time to get alone with God for a couple of hours, to dwell on what God wants to speak to us about one on one, to read the scriptures for an hour instead of reading a couple of verses and a 300 word devotion so we can get back to our friends who never come by to spend an afternoon or evening talking about the Lord. I saw a picture on Facebook a few days ago that kind of summed up todays understanding of God and salvation. The caption stated "yep I am on my way to heaven, I clicked "like" on a picture and typed Amen!" I am not sure if people under 40 truly understand what "true fellowship" is? I am not complaining per se just wondering how old I really am. I realize I cannot go back 40 years but should I have to go back if we are a New Testament church? Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.