Filters

I am waiting for information through e-mail from a new source. I have a spam filter on my e-mail, so a large amount of spam goes into a folder that can be set for immediate deletion. I’ve changed that for a while to be certain my new information doesn’t get deleted.

So, every once in a while I go check the spam folder and manually delete. It is so laughable to look over those messages!!

One today says it’s from the FBI stating they know that someone in Nigeria has contacted me and that the contact is 100% legitimate. Now, that’s nice to know, isn’t it? In addition to Viagra, there’s a message offering me youthfulness. Another from Burkina-Faso, a country I didn’t know had changed its name from Upper Volta (which I always thought of as being near Russia, confusing with Volga.)

Forget keeping up with names of rock groups, I can’t even keep us with changing countries. I grew up with Rhodesias in Africa, Burma in Asia. They’ve gone the way of Basutoland, Ceylon, Czechoslovakia, Sikkim, Tanganyika and Zanzibar. Those are just a few. Maps change.

Back to filtering – I do appreciate having that option within my e-mail. I also have the option of filtering what goes into my mind on the telly. I can filter what books I read. And the Bible has given me the criteria for such a filter:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8 KJV)

But this is close to the end of Paul’s letter. He has other requests in this very chapter:

Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. (Philippians 4:1 KJV)

Do we? Stand fast in the Lord?

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4 KJV)

Do we? Rejoice in the Lord?

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6 KJV)

Do we? Requests be made known unto God?

Somehow, I doubt that we make every request known to our Lord. And I’m almost positive that we don’t do it with prayers and supplications and thanksgiving. We may try it with some of the same tricks as our spammers – give me this and I’ll give You that. Make me this and I’ll work for You. Sorry, but I don’t find in the Bible anything about God being in the trading business.

We’ve been given our duty:

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13 KJV)