old draft rediscovered

The conference behind me I am now thinking of turning my thoughts towards real plans for the proposed 8-week Scotland trip.
Topics for thought-provoking conversations over the past week while we have had the McLachlan family camping out in the (cold) cabin included further delving into the often-returned to (for me) subject of self-deception. I know how a non-believer can decieve himself (and BE decieved) but (and this connects with Ecclesiastes 5) how can believer decieve himself and when he HAS how can there be rescue for him. The very fact that he is decieved means you can't even TELL him he's in the wrong. The very fact that *I* might be decieved means you can't even tell ME I'm wrong - that's scary. In fact, it seems that the only way you can be corrected is if you are not convinced you are right. there are quite a few people who file into our average evangelical church each sunday morning - I've often wished I could stand at the door and, while shaking their hand, ask each person, as they enter, 'and why have YOU come here this morning'. It's not that I think that my motives for coming there are pure - even most of the time. It's just that if God is REAL then surely He must want REAL worship (as well as real lives, but that's a different issue..) and we must consider whether what we are bringing to God IS real worship if we're there for such reasons as (merely)"this is my local evangelical church", "I expect to hear a 'good' sermon", "I'm an evangelical", "I've been doing this for 50 years". Of course what an individual might SAY need not be their true motivation for coming to the same building as I attend on a Sunday morning - though it might...
Now how about this : a man might go to a church because he's always done it and likes listening to good sermons, giving his lungs an airing, and the rest of the week might not be thinking about glorifying God from dawn to dusk in the way he works, relates (or not) and speaks. This I can understand.
A new potential for self-deception which I could never have imagined is a MINISTER preaching one of these 'good sermons', in a 'good church' each week and not only NOT thinking about glorifying God from dawn to dusk in the way he works, relates (or not) and speaks BUT is engaging in activities which are expressly or implicitly shown, in Scripture, to be SIN!!! And it has happened (and, for all I know, may still be happening).
If we have a sovereign God (and we do) then all this mess is under His control and will bring praise to His Name and will be used to extend His kingdom and however things appear on the outside they be better or worse than that in reality but if it is a mess it is 'God's mess' (thanks Ali Mclachlan for that insight).
Pressing on to implement a walk which is by FAITH and not by sight and seeking to bring Glory to God in all areas of my life which I am 'in control' over, I shall try and be less superficial in my assessment of people and situations I encounter (after all, it might be BETTER than it seems!!!!) I'll also try and have my ears open to those wise people who might be able to help me to get more on track.