Renewal

Scripture

Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.

~Romans 12:2, NET

Quote

Everyone, no matter what their upbringing, has been influenced by the world.

~Charles F. Stanley

Stanley is right, we have all been influenced by the world. This influence may have been subtle, but it is there whether you are aware of it or not. I saw my grand girls wearing their shirts half tucked and I ask what they were doing? They said, “Granddaddy, this is the style.” Who dictates styles and fashions? Is there something in scripture that tells us to wear our shirts half tucked, or holes in our jeans, or color in our hair {or substance}? Of course not, this is the influence of the world; it is what the world is doing. We are simply conforming to its standard. We are allowing them to press us into their mold. We are even trying to look like them. Are you kidding me! I don’t give a rip what the world is doing. As my mother use to tell my sister when she would protest by saying, “Everyone else is doing it!” Mother’s reply was always the same, “If everyone else decides to jump off a cliff, are you going to jump with them?” I stopped worrying about fashion years ago: I could care less what the world thinks. I wear my hair short with no substance: my own wife doesn’t like it. As far as I know, no one likes it…I don’t care! I wear bell bottom shirts because they fit my figure and cover the bulging gut that I can’t shake. They are cool and comfortable and yes, I don’t really concern myself with who likes them. Ty, Ryder and Landon like them and I’m good with that: they will get a bonus every time they get a real hair cut but that is up to them. I had just as soon keep my money. All I am saying is be honest, be yourself and stop conforming to this world? Hey, I revel in my difference. I am not like anyone you know. God doesn’t want us to mimic others: He wants us to be ourselves, so stop playing pat-a-cake with the world.

How can you win this victory over the highly influential and seductive world? Don’t think for a minute that I am uninfluenced by its seductive charm. I fight the same battle you do, just perhaps on another front. Some fifteen or twenty years ago, I was reading through the NT in the NIV and I came across Romans 12:1-3 and it changed my life. Actually it was verse one that got my attention…Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. But verse two is equally important…Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect. Our minds were damaged by the fall. Our thinking stinks. We are like computers corrupted by a malicious software {malware}. Our minds have to be reprogramed and this is done by a daily study of God’s word. It is impossible to renew the mind otherwise. Stay in the word; feed on it daily. If you don’t, the world will conform you to their image.

EXTRA

I got to the office early for a Saturday and none of my electrical plugs were working except the one that runs the A/C. I had no desk light and no computer. It has taken me an hour to get things up and going. I have put in a call to my electrician, John Harold Hayes. Big John will figure it out! Going to try to do some outreach visitation today before it rains. Some good news: the Brewer football coach brought in a speaker yesterday and they had 16 professions of faith. REVIVAL make be breaking out at Brewer. Wouldn’t that be great. Josh baptized 13 from Brewer High last Sunday. Something is up!

REVIVE NOW YOUTH RALLY

AUGUST 8 @6:00 PM

Brewer Gym

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