Jenifer gilley "Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly." Author unknown AIM: jenibear1998 msn [log in to unmask] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Linda Gosse" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 7:32 AM Subject: The Word For Today: Wednesday July 18th > "GOD HATH NOT GIVEN US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR; BUT OF POWER, AND OF LOVE, AND > OF A SOUND MIND." ( 2 TIMOTHY 1:7 ) > > A SOUND MIND (1) > > In Victor Hugo's Les Miserables, there's a line regarding the priest > Myriel, who "was fated to undergo the lot of every newcomer to a little > town where there were many mouths that speak, but fe heads that think." > The undisciplined mind becomes a lazy mind. And that's dangerous because > it easily succumbs to the culture and influences around it. Little of > value is ever learned through one way monologue, be it a sermon or a > lecture. There are many eloquent speakers today who are relentless in > offering their opinions on just about every issue, who weave a spell of > thought that relieves the individual of exploring things for themselves. > In the Book of Acts we read that the Bereans "examined the Scriptures > every day to see if what Paul said was true" ( Acts 17:11 NIV ). Asking, > "Why? How? Who says so?" is not an act of rebellion; it's godly wisdom! > One walks around today knowing full well that an inappropriate response to > a political comment, a doctrinal issue or a matter of > social policy can lose you friends, a reputation, or even a job. The godly > mind, however, resists this cookie cutter approach to thought. It weights > every question and asks if Scripture speaks directly or indirectly to the > matter. It examines it in the light of history; how have God's people > faced this before? It measures the matter in terms of its ability to > reflect the redeeming love of Christ. It requires, "Will this bring > credibility or shame to the Kingdom of God, which I represent?" > > > > Linda("The Prayerwarrior/Angel") (\o/) > email: [log in to unmask]