3.14-"Never interupt you opponent when he is busy destroying his own argument."

3.14-

My dad's birthday is coming up on March 13 so I wanted to post something a little early about my memory of him.

My dad loved to talk and laugh and tell funny stories. He was a hard worker, but made a way to find joy in his work. He did not appreciate the people who told lies and made up big stories that weren't true. He called them "Wind Jammers". I'm sure he didn't want to be that kind of man. He got more quiet and reserved in his speech as he got into his 70's and 80's it seems to me.

We could ride for long distances to the Doctor's appointments with total quietness and he would make some observations about the weather or the wheat growth or "look at those beautiful horses."
He sometimes would make observations about things in politics and life that were times that he had put a couple of things together that were wrong. At times he had an awareness that things were happening regarding national or local politics that were bad. "There is a skunk in the woodpile there somewhere." He did not put his ultimate trust in mankind, but in God.

The verse that got me thinking about him this way was from Proverbs 9.
He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself,
And he who reproves a wicked man gets [e]insults for himself.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you,
Reprove a wise man and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser,
Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

When you try to give wisdom to someone who is busy "shooting himself in the foot" there is some waste in your energy. Jesus did much of his teaching to people who were completely broken down and therefore needing and ready for some help.