The Plumbline

All of Scripture is God-breathed;  in its  inspired  voice, we hear  useful teaching, rebuke, correction,  instruction, and  training for a life that is right so that God’s people may be up to the task ahead and have all they need to accomplish every good work. ( 2 Timothy 3:16-17   VOICE ) Ever wonder why we were given scripture? It was because we needed to be "up to the task" of accomplishing every (not just some) good work. It so amazing to consider just how the words penned within the pages of our Bible actually came to be. Sixty six books, written by at least 40 authors, over 1600 years in the writing, all under the authority of the Holy Spirit and anointed by God for the task of recording these teachings we have before us today. It is the one book which has been translated into more than 1200 languages and is given away more often than any other book we could receive. As our text points out today, ALL of scripture is God-breathed, but we are ...

Nelson Mandela said, "A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination." There is another quote I like which kind of dovetails on this idea: "Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye." (H. Jackson Brown, Jr) There are times when the head has everything thought out so "perfectly", but something is "lost in translation" when it comes to the heart taking action which supports those thoughts! Good thoughts that never materialize in good deeds are pretty much worthless - for intended actions are not really actions at all. The heart has to be part of the equation because it is what helps us to actually put "experience" into the mix.  Without heart taking action upon the thoughts we might imagine, we will simply stand still and never make any forward progress in our walk, relationships, or personal growth.  There must be "integrity" between the two - conduct must conform to the standard one envisions. Who...