THE HEART
Sketching’s by Leonardo da Vinci – Year: 1512
“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:13
Hi Men:
I pray this week you have had “heart-felt” reflection on who you are “in” Christ.
I received a text from a friend who had a heavy heart as he looked across the landscape of what’s taking place in our country and around the world. He lamented that many Christians today no longer seem to take God seriously. They crave autonomy, wanting to be accountable to no one, especially God, and often scoff at His commandments as if they no longer matter.
I mentioned to him George Barna’s latest research from the Cultural Research Center, which is deeply sobering:
Only 4% of U.S. adults now hold a biblical worldview – down from 6% just a few years ago and 12% some years before that. Scary indeed!!
What we discussed seemed to parallel what Jerry Bangert wrote in his book, The Discipline of Delusion – How Secular Ideas Became the New Idolatry. Secular ideologies have seduced much of the church into listening to the culture rather than the Bible. This has produced what Jeremiah called a “Discipline of Delusion.” If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it. (Here’s the Kindle Edition)
PHOTO ABOVE
First of all, let me give you a little history There were plenty of guys prior to Leonardo da Vinci that studied the heart, but da Vinci was the first to draw detailed 3-demensional drawings from multiple angles and determined it to be a 4-chambered heart. He did these anatomical drawings around 1512, but ……..
During the Inquisition the Roman Catholic Church cloistered “new thought” and would not allow him to publish his works. These drawings remained hidden for 300 years.
Well, let’s get to the heart of the matter 🤠 What about our heart?
Basic Heart Facts:
- The heart is a muscle that beats 100,000 times a day and pumps through 60,000 miles of blood vessels! That’s 2.5 times around the Earth at the equator.
- Over your lifetime (to age 75) your heart beats over 2.5 billion times w/o ever pausing for a new fan belt or visiting a Jiffy Lube………… and it never rusts
- Every minute the heart pumps about 1.5 gallons of blood or 2100 gallons a day. It would fill an Olympic-sized pool in a year and a couple super-sized oil tankers in your lifetime.
- As most of you know, the heart has its own electrical supply (it can continue to beat even when removed)
- Your heart is not just waiting for the brain to bark orders. It has its own internal nerve network! An intrinsic cardiac nervous system, that helps regulate rhythm and function. Scientists sometimes call it the heart’s “little brain.”
- The miracle at birth. Did you ever think what happens when a baby is born. By God’s marvelous design the baby emerges from its watery home and breathes the air without a glitch. Blood begins pumping to the lungs to absorb oxygen without a moment’s delay. The complexities of everything that happens in this short window, will take you to your knees.. Note: Regular heart rhythm is present very early in embryonic development, around day 28
- A few Bible verses: Ezekiel 36:26, Jeremiah 17:9, Matthew 5:8, Hebrews 4:12
There are so many verses in the Bible about the heart. The heart is cited over 800 times!
“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
(Ezekiel 36:26)
IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD
Ely was working at the T-Mobile booth as I walked past her at Sam’s Club. She said I love your mustache and I said thank you and kept walking. Then, as I was about to exit, that small voice said go back and talk to her.. no kidding! …. so i turned around and went back.
We then ended up having the best conversation. She’s a solid believer, evangelistic, believes in the inerrant word of God and appeared to have a great understanding of it. She loved all the stuff I had, so I gave it all to her and even went back to my car and pretty much emptied out my glove box which had a lot in it. I went back and gave it all to her and you would think I gave her a million bucks…. which I did 🤠
The Million Dollar Gospel of John
She wants to meet my wife because none of her family live in Las Vegas. She loved the tracks that I gave her in Spanish and I told her I will give her as many as she needs, plus one of Ray Comfort’s Evidence Bibles, which she got very excited about as I explained it to her. It was a precious Divine appointment!
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
(Matthew 5:8)
Thank you Jesus for being “gentle and lowly in heart”
Dan
Men: Now more than ever, thinking to some extent, may be a thing of the past. Why? With the advent of OpenAI, etc – you can have it think for you. Even come up with Bible answers and devotionals that sound pretty good……. but where is the Holy Spirit?
The devotional below was written over 14 years ago. Please give some reflection to it. Are you MEDITATING on God’s Word? You might also review the Friday letter dealing with “Are You Teachable”
Refusing to Think – Red Book Day 140
The purpose of these devotionals is to help you think Biblically
Solomon said, “As a man thinks, so is he”
PDF – Send to a friend
Men:
There is so much stuff out there to help you to witness effectively to Muslims. Using the Living Word of God is the most effective with Muslims. Many Muslims harbor a spirit of hate. What an incredible witness to be able to share the Love of Christ with them.
Here is a short but very good article by Living Waters:
LivingWaters.com/how-to-share-the-gospel-with-a-muslim-without-offending-them/
PDF – Send to a friend
ON RAINBOW WINGS
ON RAINBOW WINGS is an unforgettable exploration of God’s artistry and creative power that occurs only when a hovering hummingbird and the sun are perfectly aligned. These flashing displays of prismatic colors are wonders of creation and celebrations of life on Earth. The ultra-slow motion footage in this short video may be unique in the history of wildlife photography. (YouTube 7 Minutes)
Who are your Leaders?
by Chris Martin | May 19, 2026 |
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.” (Hebrews 13:17)
Men:
Do you believe the above verse? If yes, then who is that man (or men) that watch over your soul. Do you submit to them?
Read this excellent article from MIMworldwide.com (3 Minute Read)
Life In The Presence of God
ON A LIGHTER NOTE 🤠
AUTOMATED TRASH CANS
I thought you guys would get a kick out of This Video. It was sent by my son Mark in North Carolina. (YouTube 38 Seconds)
Here Is The Technology behind this amazing invention.
ARE YOU SHARING YOUR FAITH IN JESUS?
Luke 6:26, “Woe to you when all men speak well of you……” If everyone speaks well of us, it probably indicates that our version of the gospel has little to say about their sin…. (J.C. Ryle)
The cross is the only God-given means of salvation from death, and we will bear criticism as long as we cling to its frame. It is only for a season – some day we will exchange it for a crown. In the meantime, let our faith in Jesus be spoken of throughout the whole world whether it be with a smile or a frown. The praise of men is a volatile minefield of pleasant flowers. In a moment it can swing from a fragrant “Hosanna!” to an explosive “Crucify Him!” Ask any baseball hero who has had a bad season. God’s approval, however, is eternal.
PRAYER: Essential
This verse always takes me to my knees:
It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray,
and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.
Luke 6:12
Samuel Chadwick was born in northern England into a devout Methodist family and began working 12-hour shifts in a cotton mill at just 8 years old.
Can you imagine an 8 year old today working a 12-hour shift? Maybe working on his iPhone for 12 hours!
A Couple Good Quotes
“Enthusiasm for politics and false religion soon opened men’s mouths. Shall love for Christ shut ours?”
“As much as we treasure our spouse and family, and even our own life, there should be no one whom we love and value more than God, no one who takes precedence in our life. To place love for another, including ourselves, above God….. is IDOLATRY”
