Speaking Ze Gibberush

The time was early and the place was ancient. There were native tongues and foreign ones too, and some people could speak many tongues; it was a gift, to speak to imports in the language they understood, in order to share the Good News. Imagine going to Russia, and telling Russians, Jesus is the Saviour, without ever having to be taught their syntax, pronunciation, or official terminology! What about Icelandic? Have you ever heard a citizen of Iceland speak? Try to replicate that, genius. Sometimes, when I am feeling clever, I will try out my south African accent, but I fall short of sounding anything like the people that were born and raised in south Africa. In all my trips to Italy, I preferred to communicate non-verbally when possible, knowing that I sounded like a simpleton, when I attempted to parlay Italiano vero: "It is better to be silent and thought the fool, than to speak, and remove all doubt."

In Corinth, many a Christian was given the gift of speaking in tongues, meaning they were able to communicate with visitors that did not speak Greek, or when travelling abroad, they were enabled to share the gospel with words understandable to the listener. This is a uniquely wonderful gift, meant to establish a firm foundation of faith, because dear reader:

Romans 10:17

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Periodically, I speak Guacamolian, you know, avocado, red onion, cilantro, zest of lime, jalapeño, salt, cumin, sometimes tomato. When I speak Guacaomlian, people lick their lips, and start thinking along the lines of salsa and corn chips: that is when I know we speak the same language!

Here is what the apostle Paul taught the cocky Corinthians about speaking in tongues: 

Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine:? And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without significance. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. Wherefore let him that epeaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful (1 Corinthians 14:5-14).

Oooga booga, ooooooga booga! 

One of the reasons I did not attempt to speak Italian while in Italy, was my fear of sounding like an idiot. My proficiency in the English language, even if I decide to fabricate, may give me an air of intelligence to a listener. When attempting to speak another language in a land filled with speakers of that language, most of us will shy away from deep and meaningful conversation; the self-conscious among us may decide to simply learn the basics, as in, Where is the bathroom? and, May I have sugar for my cappuccino? The majority of travellers, most certainly do not feel comfortable speaking on subjects that require the use of ten or twenty five cent words, like existentialism. The Corinthians, on the other hand, were bright and shiny new Christians, and God gave them the ability to speak Kingdom and Christ language, to teach, to preach, to edify, for the saving of souls, and the glorification of God, without them having to use a translator, a dictionary, or be taught in a classroom. The gift was bestowed, and how marvellous a gift this would be, wouldn't you agree?

Now this brings us to what I do believe happened long ago... and far away. There are charlatans that weave their way in and amongst Christian circles, and there always will be. The apostle Paul pointed out that it is useless, and unfruitful, if you and I speak our foreign tongue to a stranger, while they look at us, head half cocked, listening without comprehending the meaning of a single word. How foolish is it, dear one, to talk and talk, without making sense? What sort of gibberish is this, a listener may ask, that sounds like mumbo jumbo, oooga booga, but does nothing for my mind, heart, or soul? 

The speaking in tongues gift has been distorted, and turned into a mockery of the official biblical meaning of the ability. Words have significance, and are meant to convey messages; gibberish is not a language, and neither is speaking in tongues if the one making the sounds, hasn't a clue what they are saying, and if anyone nearby, is also clueless when listening. 

I think a smartie pants sneaky person, came up with the brilliant idea, to pretend to speak a heavenly foreign language, that supposedly only God and angels could understand, to bamboozle people hearing them into believing, that they had a special gift bestowed from the Almighty, making them a favourite of heaven. Reading scripture simplifies the matter: speaking in tongues isn't senseless muttering, it is the ability to speak languages foreign to you and I, to speak the gospel, for the salvation of souls. 

God is not weird or silly. God condescends to us, we do not rise to him. God speaks clearly from his word, and it behooves each Christian to study scripture daily to ensure they understand what God is teaching us, so that we can be stewards of his word, and forward the learning to budding Christians. 

Words, do recall, have significance:

Romans 10:17

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Racist Translator

Snow Glitters

Snow glitters and glows, tiny specks reflect light. The gleam is a happy surprise for the eyes. I see out my front window, how the sun brightens the snow on the garage roof. How very delightful. 

I saw a brown and black caterpillar yesterday, crawling ever so slowly on the Springbank Park path. Where O where, was he going? I picked a stick and placed it before him, and waited for him to climb aboard. He did, and once I knew he had a good grip, I air-lifted him to the grass. What was he doing out and about? It was 1 degree, the last day of February, and he was strolling through the park with the rest of us! 

The caterpillar doesn't have a calendar, and I see as I type that I haven't a clue about caterpillars, or their cycle of life; how pray tell, are they sustained in the harshest of winters, the coldest of days, and even the days when you and I can leave our winter coats and boots in the closet, and wear lighter gear for a brisk walk, when the weather is kind and welcoming. The caterpillars fur coat, is clearly warm enough to have him brave the chill, but what he could not see as a threat to his existence, were all the feet and wheels that could trample or roll over him, squishing life from his hairy frame. 

How many times have you and I been air-lifted out of harms way? How many times have we seen the glory of God displayed in his creation, and passed them by without noticing their God glow; the spectacular on display, to brighten the flames in our own hearts? 

A bunny made me cheerful the other day. He was nibbling on something just below the snow on the front lawn. Have you ever wondered where bunnies and squirrels go for shelter, when the skies open, sending sleet and hail to pummel the earth? How do they keep warm, and what food can they find? Surely, I can internet search the answers to these questions, but dear reader, some of us cower in our homes when lightning threatens to strike, and in the meanwhile, furries haven't a choice about where to lay up, until storms pass. We are "smarter than" animals, and yet, God has gifted them with life that endures, come what may, while living out of doors! 

I guess it is all marvellous. 

God is marvellous! 

When you go walking today, look for caterpillars on the path of life... they are vulnerable to heavy feet, and could benefit from a little air-lifting to safety! 

When searching for an image of this adorable thick and furry crawler, I found this wonder inspiring information: 

Fat, furry, and rumoured to be able to predict the weather: that’s the woolly bear caterpillar in a nutshell.

Rust-and-black banded woolly bears are the larvae of Isabella tiger moths. They’re born completely black. Their orange-brown middle sections appear as they get older and grow longer (up to 5 cm)

So how do these caterpillars foresee the future? Allegedly, a caterpillar with a wide rust-coloured midsection and narrow black bands at either end of its body forecasts a mild winter; a caterpillar with the opposite colouration predicts a long, harsh winter. In reality, the thickness of the caterpillar’s rust or black bands has to do with its age and growth rate. Each time a woolly bear moults, the rust-coloured portion of its body gets longer.

Woolly bears are most noticeable in fall, around the time that we’re hit with the first frosts. Look for them inching across roads and driveways, on their way to find a spot to overwinter in the leaf litter or under rocks and rotting logs. Look, but don’t touch—unless you’re willing to risk a rash. Woolly bears may appear fluffy, but their coats have tiny barbs at the tips that can break off and irritate your skin.

Rapacious

I accuse this morning, one member of the body, as rapacious. This one member has far too much say, and indeed, usually has the very last say, in all that starts and sometimes ends, a domino effect of disaster. I speak of the mouth as rapacious. Aggressively greedy and grasping, I tell you the mouth must not have the first and last say, and today we address this culprit.

Think with me about your habits. If you take a moment to look down at the area below and above your belly button, you may instantly spot evidence there, of your mouth having had far too much say in how your midsection presents itself. Conversely, your flat and fit looking upper and lower abdomen, may be reflective of what happens upstairs, in your brain department. My point, is this: the mouth must not be the one that makes all of the decisions for the rest of the body; the mouth must not be permitted to pleasure itself, at the expense of insulting and injuring all the members that make up the rest of the system, that ought to run like a well oiled flesh and blood creation, of the most high God. 

I take you to Egypt, and Pharaoh, incensed when asked by Moses, to let God's people go. Not wanting to give up power, Pharaoh demanded that the enslaved Israelites make more bricks, without the provision of necessary straw: in other words, work harder, make more, and come up with your own materials. The mouth can be like Pharaoh, a cruel dictator that shouts to the rest of the crew, Stop your moaning and groaning. Deal with the suffering, and get the job done, you ingrates. I am in charge here.  

Food is treated like a plaything, a form of entertainment, a way to reward, and then distract from and dodge, the responsibility of being accountable for the havoc it wreaks in the body. Drink is treated similarly, and I ask you, What makes the mouth the most important member? Why does it have free rein, as though it is sovereignly speaking for the entire creature, that often times suffers for the mouths indulgences? Who gave the mouth the right to speak for all the members, disregarding their input, dismissing their complaints, and degrading them by throwing them on mute, in favour of instant and short lived gratification, that must be repeated often, because do recall, that the mouth is rapacious. 

Think with me of all the big bass (the fish) loud mouths that speak for entire countries. When I consider some of the governmental leaders that talk on behalf of Canadians, I draw back and recoil. They do not speak as my representatives to the world; they do not think or behave in ways that would have me be proud of them as agents that I can relate to. I didn't vote for them, I don't want to know them or hear what ushers from their mouths, and yet, they have taken the helm, and they steer the ship toward jagged rocks, that surely will tear the bottom out of the boat they presume to captain. 

The mouth is either a primitive partner that hasn't been trained in the ways of the Lord, or a profoundly brilliant professor of all that is good and true, speaking Holy Love for the sake of itself and its members. The mouth when fed mind or food nonsense, is like a petulant demanding child, never truly satiated, always wanting more, and forever dissatisfied, with greedy green eyes that look for their next fix. 

There was a garden, and a snake, and a naked lady that had many a tree to sample. The words from the serpents mouth, matched the curiosity and craving in the ladies soul, and with a quick and dirty verbal exchange of twisted words and meaning, an agreement was struck. The mouth corrupted, and the mouth has continued to rule with impunity, at the expense of all its members, ever since. 

The Word became flesh, and dear reader, what we say and eat, becomes flesh too, sometimes too much flesh, because the body asks for one thing, and the mouth says, I want it all, whenever and however I want. Shut up stomach, shut up eyes, ears, nose, temples, fingers knees and toes. I don't care how this hurts, I will have my demands met, and to hell with you bellyachers. 

There comes a point in time when it no longer suffices to complain about an issue that prevails in our thinking, and takes up space in our physical world. There comes a point in time when what we say we want, matters more than what the mouth says it wants. The mouth must not be permitted to take liberties at the expense of all the other members of the body; whether it be individual you and me, or whether it be global leaders that shoot out words like darts aimed at heads and hearts, there must be accountability for outcomes, and that requires a significant investment of time in thinking, and thinking some more, to stop mindless activities that maim mercilessly.  

Your mouth must not be the boss of you. You have a working brain, that processes information rapidly, and can assess, what is good for you, and what is hazardous: reason must rule the day, so that your night time is restful and restorative. What we eat affects how we think. What we think affects what ushers out of our mouths, and shows up on our bodies. If your body is burdened, then might I suggest to you, that it is time for you to have a sit down honest conversation with yourself or a trusted confidante, and address what hasn't been spoken of that needs to be aired? 

Solutions:

1. Read scripture

2. Pray

3. Journal

4. Go for a walk

5. Lift weights, dance, do pilates, get physical

6. Eat food you have prepared

7. Resolve to refrain from the consumption of fake fast "food"

8. Drink water all the live long day

9. Weigh yourself daily, and journal your calories

10. Eat most of your calories early in the day, and be done with food by 5 p.m

Know you will not starve to death as you take the reins from your mouth and placed them where they belong, in your more than capable thinking centre, known as the thought generator, your mind. You owe it to yourself to do things that work for you to keep you bright and shiny like a brassy penny! 

It makes cents (a little play on words here), dear reader, to take very good care of yourself, and I sure hope that today is the first day of the rest of a most healthy and wholesome life for you, and all your members. 

False Conception

I am a Christian 

There is a false conception, a standard applied to professing Christians, that turning the other cheek requires us, the professors, to take a beating. Not so, not so. 

There is an abundance of room for forgiveness. Forgiveness is spacious, awe inspiriting, love embracing, and soulful. Forgiveness is especially edifying following requests of the like, that sound something like this: I have done you wrong. I am so sorry for causing you pain, for being a source of your suffering. I ask that you forgive me. 

As a Christian, there is nothing I appreciate more than sincere apologies, except for sincere forgiveness! I love to forgive! It is one of my all time favourite experiences. Misunderstandings are marvellous opportunities for heart to heart exchanges that can lead to clarifying conversations, and confirmation too, that love remains, when two are willing to own the role they played in the misalignment. This having been said, it is quite a drastically different story, when someone purposefully, and repeatedly offends, maligns, and injures another, and expects to be treated as a loved and trusted person. 

I have apologized many a time over the years. There are some people I have thought about tracking down and asking for forgiveness. The idea makes me happy, but last names escape my memory, making it difficult to accomplish this duty. How about you, dear reader, are there people you would like to reconnect with so that you can speak these words: I am sorry; please forgive me?

God forgives, yes indeed he does, and so should you and I. The trouble starts with the person that refuses to own their badness, refuses to confess their sinful words and activities, and refuses to acknowledge the pain and suffering they cause when they cling to their ways, at the cost of relationship. God doesn't tolerate nonsense, and neither do professing Christians - a repeat offender that does not feel the sting of regret, ought to be put in jail, or, in the case of those that are petty thought criminals that we sometimes have to suffer, put in a timeout, away from the general population, cuz they just cannot be trusted. 

Distrust destroys relationship, now that there is a fact. Christians are entitled to choose their company, and bad company, according to scripture, does this: 

1 Corinthians 

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 

Psalm 1:1-4

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth fruit in his season: his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

God forbid we do not forgive the repentant: that would be ungodly. The question is, Do I/Do you, forgive someone that isn't sorry, that does what they do, regardless of the impact their doings have on others? My answer, is yes, I forgive them, even if they aren't sorry, even if they never speak the words, Please forgive me, but dear reader, it does not mean I white wash the situation, and pretend all is good between us; it means I acknowledge how things have been, how they are, and how they will most likely continue, if this person refuses to see the harm they cause, and if they continue to be unwilling to humble themselves, ask God for strength to change their ways, and seek forgiveness. 

I know that if a person prefers their pet sin in favour of relationship, then their pride prevents them from being meek before God and their fellow man. Pride is a preservative for the boastful, it shields them from ever admitting wrongdoing, and sets their heart in an encasement of concrete. If they will not bow down before the living God, what makes you and I think that they will be meek and mild enough to try to make amends with us, by admitting guilt? 

Not a chance, I tell you. 

Christian. you don't have to take a beating from abusive people that show no signs of conscience. Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world, and, he will judge the quick and the dead, and separate out, the repentant and saved, from the reprobates and self-obsessed. He knows who is sorry and who is not, and so do you and I. Sorry people stop saying and doing terrible things : the proud in our midst continue to embrace their pet sins, and are none the wiser all the days of their lives. 

My last note while we are together. You know you encounter a difficult sin soaked person if in your mind you start to hate them, have terrible thoughts about them, mutter and complain about them throughout the day. This type of person temps us to sin and be similar to them, and this is the challenge faced: to remain holy no matter the people we deal with, and regardless of the circumstances. 

Jesus did not repay evil with evil, and we must ask for his strength, to bless those that curse us, and continue to pray for their salvation and redemption, through Christ our LORD. 

A Fate Worse Than Hate

What could possibly be worse than being hated, dear reader? What is your answer? Here are some possibilities for your consideration: despised, disregarded, displaced, demeaned, dismissed. I say hatred, as compared to the sentiments discovered in the five d words I used, is preferable, because with hate, there is passion, and with passion, love co-exists. 

To not care, to be detached and disabled from being disturbed by, or inclined toward, interacting with someone, is a sign of complete and utter... freedom, from the ties and holds and used to be's of another. Freedom, from a grip they had, that is no longer.

I think of the abuse cycle and the honeymoon phase. Abusers blanket blame their victims, and when the victim reproaches the abuser by standing up for themselves, the abuser resorts to insinuating it was the victims fault in the first place, and that while the victim "asked for it", the villain will try their best to not meed out punishment earned. The villain has been here before, with the old trick of bait and switch, and in the victims weakened state, they want to win over the approval of the haranguer and alas, they agree once again, to forget what has gone before. A fresh start... Or a sad and sick repeat of a repeat?

Patterns are immensely helpful. It behooves us to discover our own auto-pilot unconscious patterns, in order to break them, and remake new ones that are helpful and healthy, for us. We can, I am sure you have heard repeatedly, only change ourselves, and when someone pretends to promise change in order to re-initiate their own sick and perverse patterns, it is vitally important for the new you, to recognize their well worn and travelled tracks, and make new ones for yourself. In other words, don't fall in line once again, thinking somehow this time will be different, because the sicko in your life suggests, without committing, that it will be so. 

I have had people in my life that I wish I had never met: some were completely unavoidable, but that does not mean I am without choices. Relationship is always chosen: does this sound accusatory to you, dear reader? For instance, if a man or woman suffers emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, or physically, at the hands of someone they are in relationship with, is it their choosing, and therefore their fault when they are mistreated? 

How do you, answer this question?

I knew a woman that left her violent husband. She stated once, He said he is going to kill me. He did, he shot her dead on the front lawn of her house, and then shot himself, leaving their two children orphaned. What say you? Did she do the right thing leaving him? even though in the end, he stole her life, and left their offspring bereft and brutalized in the aftermath, of homicide and self-murder. She could not live with him, and he made sure she would not live without him. This case is the extreme, and chances are high that you and I are dealing with different, and perhaps petty crime, kinds of criminally minded creeps. 

Here is my driving point: We either complain, or we do something about the situations we find ourselves in. There comes a point in time when the mistreated, decide they will care more about their own well-being, their own important goals and mission in life, than subsisting and constantly trying to navigate a sicko that could care less about others, because they lack empathy, feel no pain for the suffering one, and do nothing to alleviate the burdens they impose so casually, so caustically, so so... criminally! I use this word often in this writing because it is criminal to be mistreated by another, and dear reader, if I am describing what you have experienced, or you are currently experiencing, you get to choose to not care anymore about the thoughts, feelings, and fate, of the one that mistreats maliciously. 

What, is a fate, worse than hate for the wrongdoer? 

It is this: No one cares for them anymore... no one wants to hear them, see them, relate to them... caring is killed and with a spin of the table, they become the ones that act like victims, and wonder how others can be so so very cruel to them...

What a twisted world we live in, dear one. Walking the straight path is a choice. Being honest and sincere is a choice. Wanting the best for others and living with integrity are choices. And breaking free from a brutalizer is a choice. 

The woman I mentioned earlier was a brave soul. She would not cower in her home, afraid of a murderous husband. People that utter threats must be taken seriously, and unfortunately, this man did what he said he would do, because he just could not stand her freedom. Isn't this a horrifying thought, dear one? Some people cannot stand your freedom, and they work hard to steal it from you. Let this idea sink in, and act as a warning for you, when next, your patterned oppressor, attempts to malign and manipulate you, into being their little play thing puppet. 

The villain will not change, dear one, but it is a must, that you do some things differently, otherwise, you will suffer the regret of letting someone else manage your inner world, all of your live long, or short, life.

Spare the Bulldozer

Spare the bulldozer, bloat the conceited: this is my version of spare the rod, spoil the child. 

There is a certain amount of soul shattering humiliation that rattles the mind and races the heart, when a man or woman of conscience is caught, in wrong doing. The shame filled become red faced in embarrassment, even when all alone, at the thought of having committed moral and ethical crimes. The intrinsic value of being alright before God and man, gets dinged when we do what ought not to be done. 

Does God have the right to chasten, dear reader? 

The shameless do not feel humiliated before God or man; the shameless transgress, injuring others, without the sense that it is God's laws they bend and break when they inflict pain. 

Sin, when acknowledged, invites conscience to speak, and when conscience informs the misbehaved, it acts like a bulldozer, rolling over the guilty, flattening them out, while squishing every bit of pride, self-aggrandizement, arrogance, and conceit, right out of the rotter. The end result, you ask? the degenerate is red faced, humiliated, and embarrassed before God, and willing to make amends with man. Sounds painful, doesn't it?

Yes, it is painful to see ourselves as not good humans, fallen from any semblance of grace and dignity, as troublemakers too selfish to see past our own needs and desires, to the wants and necessities of others. It is a horror to watch our own video tape play backs, and hear in our heads our own soundbites, that rub abrasively like hot sand and burning salt, onto souls. I cover my eyes with long strands of hair, not wanting to see or hear my own major faux pas. Alas, they are inescapable, when I want to be forgiven and blessed by God, as a penitent sinner redeemed.  

Self worship is idolatry, and dare I say that when a person decides to go against God's will, it is their own spirit, their own mind and heart, that they hold nearer and dearer, then the God that made them. It is a simple formula of Me first, rather than God Always. Now where o where does this mentality get the self-obsessed, I ask you?

Look no further than yourself for the answer to the question above. Where, o where, have you found yourself, after breaking God's code, his rules to live by, his honour system, his command over you and all creation? We can break the laws, but ultimately, we never really get away without being charged as offenders. Think with me, about being an offender before the living God, each time we willfully sin. Willful sin is always a choice... and nothing gets past God dear reader!

When looking up bulldozer images, I got a little frightened, seeing how huge some of them are... now picture Almighty, ever present, all knowing, everywhere God, the creator of the unfathomable universe, and you will see teeny tiny you and me as little itty bitty ants that can be flicked, crushed, flattened, and buried with the batting of his all seeing eye. 

Hebrews 4:13

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 

The following verse makes a lot of sense to the humble hearted:

Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Only the stubbornly stupid among us, are fearless before the Sovereign. 

Reprobates & Regulars

Reprobates & Regulars, and how to tell them apart.

A reprobate hasn't an ounce of regret

A regular gets that I am a low-down-dirty-rat feeling

A reprobate does as they please

A regular thinks of consequences

A reprobate blanket blames others

A regular is responsible 

A reprobate cries alligator tears

A regular weeps with remorse

A reprobate can't stir up compassion

A regular feels the pain they witness in others

A reprobate and empathy are oil and water; they don't mix

A regular cries salty tears for the injured and mistreated

A reprobate is beyond reach

A regular can be pulled near

A reprobate loves to hate

A regular loves to love

A reprobate will not concede

A regular always admits

A reprobate wants, demands, insists on being honoured

A regular shrinks from selfish-desire, imposing, and shies away in humility

A reprobate just can't do it; they just cannot give in and give way. The price of pride demolished is too costly.

A regular must do it; they must try and try again, extending the olive branch, making repair bids, hoping for unity and resolution. The regular looks the reprobate in the eyes, and states, There is a way, if you are willing...

Nah, says the reprobate, I am fine the way things are. The regular responds, in resignation, So be it. You have sealed our mutual fate, and we part ways, here, and now. 

The reprobate sets their steely eyes on the horizon of time. They mark their own way on a path that is never deviated from, no matter the who or the what or the how of their encounters. 

The regular has tender eyes, softened by the Saviour. Their way is marked by a path that winds in and around and back again, engaging with reprobates and eventually, finding a way to circumvent them, and their friends liars, cheats, thieves, and murderers. The regular spots other regulars, and they exchange looks that speak volumes without a single syllable spoken. 

Reprobates cannot see or hear the regulars. Reprobates only see themselves, and think themselves very, very good...

2 Corinthians 17:5

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Reprobates have not Christ; there is no room for him in all their bigness.

Regulars prefer Christ over anyone and any one thing; there is no room for a regular when Christ is the be all, end all, centre of all of life. 

Examine yourselves : This we must do.