WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

Next Sunday I have been asked to speak at both services at our church. Our pastor will be absent. He has been spending a few Sundays speaking about the fundamentals of marriage, gay marriage and homosexuality. In the process he has referred to Romans 12:1-2.

Verse 2 of Romans 12 has been going through my mind for a couple weeks. And especially the part of verse 2 that says, "be transformed by the renewing of your mind". So for a few blog entries, I will be mentioned some of these thoughts "for what its worth." I will also use this phrase from Romans 12:2 as the basis for the message next Sunday.

One question that has come up in my mind is, "Is there a difference between the brain and the mind." Or are they just different names for the same thing? My conclusion so far is that there is a definite difference. The brain is a tangible physical part of my body. My mind is who I am...or soul...or self-consciousness. Since I am a spiritual being having a physical experience on planet earth, what goes on in my mind is regulated, and maybe controlled, by the brain. In a sense, my mind (self) is limited by my brain. This is similar to all my physical body. Being a spiritual being in a physical body limits what I can do. I am thankful that some day, I will be conformed to the image of Christ. As the Bible says in I John 3:1-2..."we will be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."

So in the same way that I am limited by my physical body in that I cannot instantly transport myself from one location to another, my mind is limited by the physical brain. The brain determines my actions. It orders my body to perform. It also determines my thoughts.

So when I am told I can be transformed (sanctified) by the renewing of my mind, I realize that my mind (my thinking) is greatly controlled by what goes on in my brain. I am bombarded by thoughts that originate in the brain that controls my actions. Is it possible to control what enters my brain so that my thoughts are what they should be, so that I can be "transformed by the renewing of my mind?"

I will explore this further in another blog time.