“…there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.” Mark 7:1-23  A few days ago I was eating a bag of Pepperidge Farm cheese flavored goldfish. As I reached the end of the bag I noticed a whole in the bottom of the bag. Immediately I was uncertain whether I had purchased the bag that way and simply didn’t notice or if I had placed them down someplace where something (or perhaps a wonder dog) could have tried to get at them. Either way I was pretty grossed out. It took me a spell before I accepted the fact that my body would get rid of anything it didn’t need including what I believed to be contaminated goldfish! However, I realized what is much more complex,  is getting rid of those contaminated emotions within me that cause me to do or say things that cause pain or hardship for someone else. God’s favor upon us is by his grace and mercy. So too his favor upon us requires that we must be willing to show grace and mercy. Far better is it to place our  emotional ills at the altar rather than allow them to defile our heart against one another and subsequently against God.