Guard Your Heart

Proverbs 4:23

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Recently – I was scanning the different news stations – trying to find some information about the most recent results from the Iowa caucuses. I came across several stations that were giving completely different reports on the caucuses results – at least it seemed so to me. Some said this first election was very important – some saying it had no bearing on the election this fall or even for this party’s eventual candidate. Some were calling the results a historic win for the candidate that won – by a landslide – greater than ever – and some were not even reporting on it or allowing the winning candidate to be aired as he gave his victory speech. Some were calling it the beginning of this candidate’s rise to the office of President – while the others were saying his election would be the end of democracy and our nation. I got the feeling – that if I didn’t believe their truth – I was wrong and ignorant. There were no reports of the facts and allowing me to interpret them for myself. I thought of this proverb – urging me to guard my heart.

Apparently – these were not news stations – but rather programs with an agenda – a predetermined worldview of what they were going to report. If the news didn’t fit the narrative they desired – they would form it to that narrative. Gone are the days of Walter Cronkite or Paul Harvey – people who would tell us the news or a straight forward account of the events of the day. We need to guard our hearts these days – not only from the devil who tries to tempt us – but from those who would try to give us their insights and expect us to fall in line with them. Some seem to want Lemmings or mindless bots. Lemmings by-the-way – are real animals that seem to follow the crowd. They were also part of an early computer game – following the leader off a cliff – seemingly without any effort to divert from the leader’s plan or direction – think the followers of Jim Jones drinking cool-aid. Sisters and brothers – guard your heart.

Thanksgiving Day 2023

Colossians 2:6-7

⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving Day as I write this. The weather should be sunny and in the 50’s by mid day. It should be a good day so we will be able to get out some and visit family and friends. I will probably work some more in the yard on Thanksgiving morning – blowing some leaves – trimming some branches and maybe even cutting the grass (mulching leaves mainly). I fired up our wood furnace recently and am ready for the cold weather. I’d love a foot of snow (at one time) this winter! How about you? I’d like to be snowed in for a few days.

How will you spend your day today? I have some Christmas music playing right now as I’m at my desk doing my devotions. What does your Thanksgiving morning look like? What will your day include? Will you be spending some time with family? We have some family members sick this year – so we’re trying to come up with a plan to still see each other – if at all possible.

I stumbled onto this passage a few years ago and use it today – it touched my heart. Let’s look at it in partial context. Colossians 2:6-10 – ⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  ⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. ⁹ For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰ and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.

The Inspired Word of God

Luke 11:28

Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.

Our denomination has a number of issues. One of the issues we seem to have is a different understanding of the Bible. For me – it is very clear – the Bible is the inspired – inerrant – infallible Word of God.

For some – the Bible is a good book where God’s Word can be found. Those who believe this way also think new revelations – new experiences – can supersede the Bible. The Mormons – for instance – believe the Book of Mormon supersedes the Bible. Others believe that the Holy Spirit is giving new revelation that supersedes the written Word. Of course – I do not agree with these understandings. I believe that the Holy Spirit will help us understand the written Word of God and that no revelation from the Holy Spirit will conflict with the written Word of God. The Holy Spirit will remind us of the teachings of Jesus and continue to teach us – but not in a new revelation that is contrary to the written Word.

I was communicating on social media the other day with someone who sees things different than I do. This person used to attend a church where I served. We have remained friends over the years – even though we differ – a great deal – on certain positions of the church.

The Bible is the Word of God. John records Jesus putting it this way – John 14:26 – But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

God Has Spoken

Psalm 23:6

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Yesterday morning – I was a bit taken back by the number of Christians – even Pastors – even people from my own congregation – who were so excited and celebrating a Senate runoff the night before. It continued this morning too! One person posted – the people have spoken. Yet – some of these same persons didn’t say the people had spoken when their favorite candidate or political party didn’t win. It seems – when a person’s worldview isn’t supported – it isn’t the voice of the people. When it fits their narrative – than the people have spoken. We need to be better than this – folks!

It reminded me of the 2019 Special General Conference of the United Methodist Church. Leading up to this event – Bishops – clergy – and others were calling for Holy Conferencing. They were calling for the Holy Spirit to descend upon the conference – to fill the delegates. When the vote on the floor didn’t go their way – or fit their worldview or narrative – they denied that the Holy Sprit was present. They began to methodically and deliberately act in ways that went against the results of the Holy Conferencing that had just happened. Therefore – the United Methodist Church is in chaos and schism today. The majority voted one way – and it didn’t fit the worldview of those who opposed it – and instead of yielding to the majority – the minority decided to disobey the law of the church and call it Holy Protest. We need to be better than this – folks!

Thanksgiving Day 2020

Colossians 2:6-7

⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

It doesn’t feel like Thanksgiving weather this year. It hasn’t felt like Thanksgiving weather for a few years. Today is supposed to get up around 65 degrees. I will work some more in the yard – blowing some leaves – trimming some branches and maybe even cutting the grass (mulching leaves mainly). My weather app says it will be highs in the 50’s & 60’s the rest of the week with lows in the 40’s – maybe the 30’s by weekend. I fired up our wood furnace this week again – because it was chilly – and the house is just right.

How will you spend your day today? I have some gospel music playing and I’m at my desk doing my devotions. What does your Thanksgiving morning look like? What will your day include? Will you be spending some time with family – or – will the pandemic keep your gatherings to video?

I stumbled onto this passage and it touched my heart.  Let’s look at it in partial context. Colossians 2:6-10 – ⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  ⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. ⁹ For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰ and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.