Boastful people drive me crazy!

I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. (2 Corinthians 12:5 NIV)

What a great verse! I hear so many people brag about themselves. In education, part of our evaluation process is bragging about what you do. It's not a place to be humble. I always feel uncomfortable sitting in front of my evaluator talking about how great I am. I guess in that situation you have to do dome bragging. Yet, I know teachers appear to enjoy bragging. They view themselves as the greatest thing since teaching began. I see there posts on social media saying what great and cool things they are doing with their students. In fact they are good teachers. Yet, why do they feel it's necessary to boast like that. What ever happened to a humble spirit? Even a statement like "I should get teacher of the year...." in jest, is not what I consider humble. Politicians do the same thing. They can never admit their faults and do everything to share their "wonderfullness". Social media provides a tool that many use to build themselves up and to tear others down, If you have to tell someone of your greatness, you're probably not that great! I am confident that we are all sinners and fall WAY short of the glory of God!

Boasting about someone else is another matter. It is good to build others up with words. We need to be careful that it is deserved and not hollow praise. It's the same things with your kids. Give praise, "where it's deserved", to your kids. Praise Godly behavior, praise serving others, praise sacrficial giving, and praise hard work are all great with our kids, and others as well. My best advice, boast on others, keep praise for yourself inside your heart.

Dear Lord, help me have a humble spirit. I will boast on you and on other a Godly people. I will keep my self pride in check because I realize, I'm not that great. I am a sinner, I have rejected you on many occasions. I am embarassed to say how truly weak I am. Yet, I love you more and more each day. You are awesome Lord and I praise you for your wondeful grace and patience with me.

Loud Mouths!

Revelation 13 (The Message)

 ^5-8The Beast had a loud mouth, boastful and blasphemous. It could do anything it wanted for forty-two months. It yelled blasphemies against God, blasphemed his Name, blasphemed his Church, especially those already dwelling with God in Heaven. It was permitted to make war on God's holy people and conquer them. It held absolute sway over all tribes and peoples, tongues and races. Everyone on earth whose name was not written from the world's foundation in the slaughtered Lamb's Book of Life will worship the Beast.^9-10Are you listening to this? They've made their bed; now they must lie in it. 


Every sporting event has them. Every school has them. You will know exactly what I'm talking about. THE LOUD MOUTH! I have attended and hosted hundreds  of Sporting Events from the elementary/youth level all the way up to Professional Level. You know what I'm talking about when I say some people have big mouths. Their are people you could hear in the middle of a Tornado. Their are people who have a voice that just bellows above the noise of the rest of the crowd.

I was at a jv football game this year at another school.  The home team was destroying the visiting team. The home team had a loud mouth!  Out of the general quiet of the home crowd, I heard this loud mouth yell at the top of his lungs "C'mon White, Keep it going!" I heard complete silence and then a huge roar of laughter. (For those of you who are athletically challenged, he was, inadvertently, cheering for the visiting football team. They were wearing white! Not only did this guy yell at the team, he also yelled at his son the whole game. He would sometimes yell positive support, but most of the time he would hell negatively. He would often berate his own son quite boisterously, in front of the crowd. Everyone could hear him. As an Athletic Administrator, I was so glad it wasn't one of my fans. It was a small amount of justice that this guy's loud mouth finally got him in trouble.

The "Beast" is also in for a big surprise. He is ranting against Heaven, God, and God's people. He is proud, boisterous, bold, and boastful. But, his loud mouth is going to catch up to him. Just when he thinks he is in the clear and he is the ruler of the world, the final judgement will occur. We are much the same way. We are so bold in our boasting. We are so proud of our accomplishments. We are proud of our money, our homes, our inventions, our athletic ability, and our successes. How much of it did we do on our own? Is their anything created that is not a gift from God. We are nothing, yet we build ourselves to be equal to God. If we don't change, If we don't realize the gifts we've been given and the gift giver, we will perish. Just like the Beast, "They've made their bed; now they must lie in it."  


Dear Lord, Forgive us our loud, boastful voices. We know that all gifts and all power come from you. We are nothing without the gifts you have granted. Thank You for those gifts. Thank you for caring for us, loving us so much that you sent your son to save us! If I boast of anything I should boast of that. If I am boisterous about anything I should be bold and boisterous about you! Amen!