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Published: 22 June 2018

An idea is “something someone thinks, knows or imagines.”  An idea may or may not be true.  It may not even be rational!  Nevertheless, ideas are very powerful because ideas are the source of our attitudes and actions.  If I am hungry and I am watching TV, I might see an ad about a place that “has the meats.”  Suddenly, I will have an idea.  My idea is to drive to that place and get one of those giant meaty piles of deliciousness to satisfy my primal carnivorous appetite.  That may or may not be a bad idea depending on the state of my health.  Here is another illustration; what if I had the idea that my worth as a person depends on my success as a pastor?  What if my idea of success means keeping everybody happy? Now, what if people become unhappy?  Does this mean I am a failure?  And if I am failing to keep everyone happy, does that mean I am worthless as a person?  You might think that sounds silly but irrational logic like that gets used and abused by us all the time.  Here is the bad news; that kind of thinking is worldly.  Here is the good news, Christ came to deliver us from the wrong ideas of this world but that starts with right thinking.  No wonder He told people to repent.  Our ideas can either be a source of stability and blessing or instability and burden.  What’s driving you today?  Maybe a better question would be, “Is anything driving you into despair?”  Is there any possibility that “thing” is rooted in a wrong idea?  Where did you get that idea anyway?  More on this subject from Galatians 4 on Sunday.

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Published: 15 June 2018

Identity is a complicated matter.  Identity theft is brutal.  It’s bad enough when people use your vital information to steal your stuff but when the enemy steals who you really are through deceit, it’s virtually intolerable.  When we allow our identity to get wrapped up in what we do for a hobby or a vocation, we set ourselves up for bitter disappointment down the road.  There will come a day when our jobs will be over and our hobbies will be too hard to do (unless your hobby is watching T.V.).  Along the way we hear things from people that cut to the heart.  We may even start to think that we are who others say we are and then start living down to those expectations.  Friends, if we don’t remember that we are who God says we are—nothing more and nothing less, we’ll be in for a life of hardship.  We’re going to look at a lengthy passage in Galatians on Sunday that concludes with a reminder of who are in Christ.  I trust our worship of the Living God and His truth this week will be the fuel your inner life needs to rejoice in the wondrous provision of God through Christ and His Spirit.