Some people say this, obviously in a negative sense: "They're just trying to get into my head ...uh, I can't stand it the way they're trying to mess with my head!"

Now, we are not talking about a mild version of this ...with dental work.  And we are not talking about the more severe case of a frontal lobotomy. 

The thoughts that come into my head ...or brain ...or mind, however you want to phrase it.  Just like saying something from the heart doesn't depict active cardiac functions ...this is also the mind, though, at certain times, our heart does beat faster.

The Holy Spirit provides us discernment ...while it may be difficult to discern when it is the Holy Spirit who provides us with certain insights or discernment.

 Others may discern that I am merely arrogant.

Who is right??

Do we perceive ourselves correctly the way we are, or do others view us correctly??

Neither.

Though some people may be a better judge of character than others ...it is clear that we are not to judge others, nor be too difficult on ourselves.

Only God perceives us exactly how we are. And the Holy Spirit is always right and true. But, back to the other question ...yes, how do we discern what is of the Holy Spirit, of God, and what is not??

Is there anything we can count on to give us the confidence to answer ourselves this question??

Our confidence should rest in the Bible ...

Most people are familiar with John 3:16 ...yet, at this time let's look at another 3:16.

2 Timothy 3:16, says "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness ..."

Yet, how do we deal with the fact that there are so many interpretations of the same text ...of the same Bible??

When can we trust an interpretation??  Which also begs the question of 'who' can we trust??

I think it is much healthier to study the Bible with others, than just do it ourselves.  But, we should definitely do it ourselves, and sometimes others are not that good an influence. 

Yet, again, we ourselves are not always that good an influence on ourselves ...and how to discern what comes into our head.

So, yes, I believe it is healthy to attend a fellowship of believers ...and most of us believers do.  We may look to certain ones in those congregations or fellowships ...as leaders.  I like what Pastor Tom has always said ...to not just take what he says as the final word, but to go to the Word of God, the Bible.

Yes, I remember saying that going to the Bible ourselves can still give us a variety of interpretations. So, yes, I find conversations healthy ...if they are conducted in a cordial manner. Warning flags to me, are when people are hesitant to look at the full Bible ...and they jump around to select verses to serve their narrative. That is not to say, that looking at different Books in the Bible is jumping around ...it just means, that when we go to those various verses, we don't just read them and move on.  As pastor Myron always said ...we should read a good portion of the before & after with the verse.

Other warning flags to me, are when people get a bit defensive with the discussion ...and actually never really bring themselves to answer the question put forth.  Don't participate in a game of dodgeball ...but, nonetheless, keep the ball rolling.  Keep the conversation rolling (unless it is beginning to get ugly) until the questions are answered ...not change the subject to list of things that bring your point of view to the forefront of regalness.

And this, of course, leads me to mention another warning flag, which I've already begun to mention.  It is the exclusiveness of any congregation, or denomination ...to set themselves apart, not with the standards that God has set us apart for, but to add more qualifications of esteem.  We are saved through Jesus ...and none of us can boldly state the condition for which Jesus said, "I never knew you ..." (Matthew 7:23).  But, since God knows all of us, and all about us ...well, I believe the reference to 'knew' here, is a two-way 'knowing'.  We need to know Him, for who He is ...and the best way to know that, is by reading the Bible.

Jesus says He and the Father are One, and He said He was sending the Comforter ...also within that One, which many of us call the Trinity.  (I don't exactly understand it, and if I tried, I may just make it more confusing ...so, yes, the entire Bible is the only way to even begin to understand and I am not going to reduce it to the equivalent of Tweet.)

I think we have failed greatly ...not with making the Word of God available, but in living what it says. Now, none of us live it to extent that we should ...but, we should not change what it says, or doubt the authority of it.

And we seem to be entering an age ...where we don't read much, but get our 'like's from Facebook and our digs from Twitter.  It gives us a false confidence, and we keep ourselves plugged in.  We do well with keeping the gadget charged, so we can continue to use it ...but, our confidence relies upon how well someone else has communicated something.

I'm not saying that we shouldn't Facebook, or Tweet ...as there is some good that does come out of it, and many people feel better about themselves, and connected.

We just also need to be connected to God's Word.

I certainly am not so diluted that I can't see how often I'm connected to 'blogging' ...but, whatever I say here is subject to all sorts of influences, and admittedly that can only be an opinion, not fact.  Yet, I do believe that God's Word is factual, and I just hope that I am also influenced by God in a big way. My relationship with God ...yes, I can feel it, and am grateful for it.  But, I realize that the relationship is not a perfect relationship ...as it is perfect from His end, but certainly not mine.

I hope I can continue to glorify God ...that is, represent Him accurately to others, and view Him in my mind's heart for who He is.

Romans 1:25, says that they changed the truth of God into a lie, and served the created more than the Creator.  And verse 28, continues, "Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done."

Furthermore, verses 10 & 11, of 2nd Thessalonians, reads, "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish,; because they received not the love of the truth, that they may be saved; and for this cause God shall send them a strong delusion that they should believe a lie ..."

The thing that is always easy to find in our home ...is a Bible. Of all the valuables that we have ...the Bible is the best thing we can hand down to our children.

Remembering how we looked over some things Grandma Shocklee had written ... and the value of books, and our own legacy. I showed Josiah where some of my things were ...which were things Cindy didn't think were quite as valuable as they were to me. And I understand that ...as no one has listened to me as much as she has throughout the years. I'd think it best that any future generations, who never knew me, would not perhaps benefit as much as family ...to discover some Dead Steve Scrolls.

I'd hope to think every person knows deep inside what is right. But, because of many other things that may not be right ...the right thing is often sought among all the wrongs, where it cannot be found. The only thing available to be found, is more wrong ...disguised as solutions.

When each mind which has no mind for God, feels it is able to act and survive independently ...it perhaps also believes it has evolved to a new level, of which I still call arrogance (or ignorance, you can choose which one is least offensive).

And I believe that arrogance (or ignorance) is often just a step away from not surviving ...as it believes that its own thinking is not in danger.

(I know I am not without guilt here ...yet, I know my mind can only find 'right' with God. Without Him, I am very ignorant ...and without Him, I could consider myself wise, but I would be otherwise.)