GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue 748 March 5, 2003 - Magpie    The magpie is a bird that people either love or hate. There are a number of species around the world, but here in Alberta we have the black-billed magpie. Each magpie seems to have its own unique personality, some seem playful, other noisy and quarrelsome. Watching them interact can be quite amusing at times. Magpies are pretty, their bright white chests contrast to their black bodies. The long black tail feathers make them look very graceful in flight. When the sun hits their feathers in just the right light, the black can show as an iridescent purple or even green at times making the magpies look like jewels. Magpies are great imitators. They can duplicate the sounds of songbirds and I have even read reports of magpies in captivity being able to duplicate human speech and develop vocabularies similar to parrots. There have been times when I've heard birds singing or a cat meowing and turned to see it was only a magpie in a nearby tree. With their pretty looks, their skills as imitators and their individual personalities they can make for joyful hours of watching. There is another side to magpies though. As members of the crow family, they are part of God's clean up crew and will aggressively eat anything dead or alive that they can hunt down. Human garbage seems to be high on their list of delicacies as they quickly learn to move from neighbourhood to neighbourhood based on garbage day. No plastic bag or can with a loose lid is safe from their strong beaks. Like many members of the crow family, magpies are quite intelligent and resourceful and can problem solve. If there's a way to get at the garbage, they will find it and leave it strewn across the neighbourhood. While their forays into the garbage can make them a nuisance, they really do serve a niche in the overall scheme of things. There's another great imitator out there that we need to be vigilant about. It can look pretty; it is often intelligent and resourceful. Unlike the magpie, I'm not so certain it has any redeeming qualities. That imitator is the false teacher. They look like Christians, they talk like Christians, but they teach things that aren't Biblical and often manipulate people and situations for their own benefit. Scripture warns us of their danger  "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. "Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Matthew 7:15-23 NIV We need to be discerning about who and what we follow. If teaching doesn't match up to Scripture, avoid it. Christ and His Word need to be the standard we measure against. If the teaching doesn't hold up in the light of Scripture it is suspect at best. Check the Scripture references for yourself. Don't just look up the verse being quoted, but read the verses around it. Is it being used in context? Is it being cited out of context just to make a point? A person can quote Bible verses out of context and make them "prove" virtually anything. Ask the questions. Is that what the Bible really says? Is that what that verse really means? What else does the Bible say on that subject? There is a treasure trove of good Bible teaching out there and easily available. There is also some real debris disguised as biblical teaching. It sounds vaguely biblical and may even quote Scripture, but it can be very dangerous. Even Satan can quote Scripture. Until next time, may you be discerning and learn to tell good biblical teaching from bad.  Be blessed  Hallelu Yah (Praise God)!  Kevin  YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you are cared for.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 NIV Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. You have value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. Did you know God's forgiveness and unconditional love is available for anyone who asks? If you want to know how that's possible simply email us and we'll send you some Bible verses that will explain it to you Don't take my word for it. Look at the verses I'll send you and compare them to what the Bible really says and decide for yourself.  You can simply begin the relationship by honestly and completely opening your heart, admitting you need God's help, and saying a prayer along the lines of: Jesus: I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I have sinned. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you Lord. Amen If you pray this prayer for the first time let me know so I can rejoice with you. Did you know that at Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential? Your comments, your questions and your joys are shared with the prayer team, to keep me accountable as the head of the ministry and to encourage them as they see God at work in your life. As with prayer all these things are kept confidential within the Gleanings team. To share your questions, comments, thoughts, prayer concerns and praise reports email us If you enjoyed this issue of Gleanings From The Word, email it, in its entirety, to a friend. For information on use of Gleanings in your church newsletter or other situations please visit the permissions page . You can write to us at  Gleanings From The Word Ministries International 114 Oak St Sherwood Park, AB Canada T8A 0V8 © 2001-2006 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin Gleanings From The Word Minististries International - All Rights Reserved