The Plumbline

We've all probably heard a saying about it taking a special person to make a house a home, or lots of love to make a house into a  home, right?  This is quite true, as houses are nothing without those who live within them.  Those who dwell within actually create the "culture" of the home - they give a unique atmosphere to the home environment.  The one who dwells within the walls of the house has a special way of making that house their own - by decorating it as they like, opening it to visitors, and often creating a family within those walls.  Now, think about that a little differently - your body as a house of sorts. Your body houses the Spirit of God and as such, the atmosphere of your life changes, does it not?  The one who "dwells within" the house makes a difference in the "culture" or atmosphere of the "house".   A house is built by wisdom  and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled  with all sor...

There are times in life when it just seems like bad people seem to being doing so much better than the good people in this world.  It seems like evil just runs rampant and we cannot seem to regain the ground we have lost.  In those moments when we begin to ponder how easily things seem to be going for those bent on doing wrong, we almost wonder why things can't be that easy for us, getting ourselves all worked up into this frenzy we call envy.  It is amazing what we can get worked up over - stuff we probably don't want to be involved in anyway, but because we see some advantage to the other guy, we get ourselves all in a twitter about the issue.  Evil people cannot help us stay on the right path - in fact, they can even get us off it without even trying very hard simply because our tendency is to follow what moves our feelings rather than what keeps our spirit on the up and up.  To get caught up in the talk and the ruckus of their madness is to end up in a trul...

As little babies, we are fascinated with all things sparkly and bright colored. The slightest hint of gleam and we direct our attention toward the object.  It is part of our make-up to be drawn to that which pleases our senses, isn't it? Smell the wonderful aroma of freshly baked bread and your mouth begins to water for the enjoyment of savoring a warm slice lathered in rich butter.  See the shiny new car you have been dreaming of and you can see yourself behind the seat cruising down the street.  Hear the tender notes of some melody and your toes will start tapping with the beat.  Our bodies respond to stimulus from without, but that response begins on the INSIDE in response to the thing we are "taking in" through one of our senses.  Ever eaten one too many slices of luscious warm bread smothered in fresh butter?  How about going into debt to buy the shiny automobile you really could not afford?  Or perhaps listening to music in lieu of doing the one...