The Floogie Bird

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith. (1 Timothy 1:3-7; 18-19 ESV). I have truly entered the 21st Century! I know how and have used the GPS and navigation feature of my IPhone! For the longest time I have been very bad with directions. Consequently I frequently have printed directions from the maps feature on my computer. I must say that it is must simpler and safer to use my phone application. All that is necessary to program it is to locate where you want to go and use your “current location” and just follow the directions on the display and you’ll arrive at the correct place! The phone even speaks to you in one of several “voices” according to your preselected menu allowing you not to be forced to look at the map. I always love the countdown of the directions in miles ultimate to 100’s of feet! Technology still amazes me. Our reading this morning gives instructions to Timothy to direct the course of the church. The same principles apply in our lives individually also. Paul wrote of the importance of holding on to "faith and a good conscience." We can do that by carefully reading and following the directions in God's Word, depending on the Spirit's leading and moment-by-moment help, and listening to the wise counsel of concerned Christian friends. Harry S. Truman said, “Men who live in the past remind me of a toy I'm sure all of you have seen. The toy is a small wooden bird called the ‘Floogie Bird.’ Around the Floogie Bird's neck is a label reading, ‘I fly backwards; I don't care where I'm going. I just want to see where I've been.’” Don’t be a Floogie Bird! How are you doing? Are you on course or in danger of being lost? Determine right now to live in faith and holiness, staying on course until you are safely home.