"The Interlude"

 "The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools." (Ecclesiastes 9:17 KJV)

  "If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don't cover up the truth with boosting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind if wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness." (James 3:13-18 NLT)

 Call it a little pause, where you have a chance to ponder what was being said, applying what is most important to your life, and trying to understand the heart of God. In the King James, this would be shown as, "Selah", as in Psalms 66 it is used to get the reader to think about what was said, and picture it as if it were happening. Such as verse 4 says, "All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah." This pause is meant to have to reader envision what that might look like, and to experience a little glimpse of what has been said. 

 In several other translations, it is called, "Interlude", which, although very similar in nature, where one might mean to pause and reflect, interlude is more of an event between segments of a theme or event, much like an intermission. In the case of what this might mean to someone who is wanting to know what is being said, it is more like what you might think about between portions of a story. Like, if they stopped the show, to allow people to use the facilities or get refreshment, which also allows those interested to think about what was just performed, wondering what might be coming next. 

 In essence, this is the meaning of Solomon's point of the words of wise men being heard in quite; because in quite there comes an opportunity to understand, to discern, to harken, and to obey! Sometimes it really counts to just sit and listen as you pray and petition God, considering what He is wanting, focusing less upon your wants and needs. 

 With that, I will share that which is pressing hard upon my heart. My current position with my work has been lacking for several months; and I fear that it is either one of two things: First of which is my desire to retire from working with Termites and take an opportunity to take my wife out on the road, making our story known and trying to motivate couples to stay together, no matter what. 

 Secondly, there is this matter of dealt. I have no desire to rollover and suffer whatever might happen if I turn away from being responsible, in paying off my debt; but I do also believe that with God's help and another year or so of work, I could get this debt taken care of and paid off: Lord willing! 

 Therefore, I have laid out a fleece before the Lord, that if things have changed for the better by the middle of this month, I will hold off retirement, (66 and 8 months,) until I am 68, making this business the best that I possibly can; training someone to take over and continue it serving others; just as I have always tried to do. 

 I know it might sound strange, but I do believe that my wife is still with us for a reason, and I am very sure that our life's situation can minister to others, especially in our age group. The Baby Boomers are in that stage; born in the years of 1946 to 1964, we are quickly leaving this earth; more and more every day! 

 Anywho, that's my Interlude; my pause to reflect what has been and what might be to come! By the way, James has some very good experience in this thing called, "jealousy," as he grew up with Jesus, jealous of the attention He received, the work He performed during His ministry, and the unbelief he had against the person He claimed to be. Wow, what a change the cross and resurrection made upon his life!

 What a change it should also make in ours...

"The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. As the Scriptures say, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent." So where does that leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world's brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it's all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength." (1 Corinthians 1:18-25 NLT)