When Christ came into my life, He gave me a purpose for living. Let me explain: Before I met Christ I had some purposes, but I didn’t have the faculty to discern my true purpose, and I settled for purposes of my best understanding. Most of my problems stemmed from just not understanding the design of the playing field (of life). Then, I had not a clue as to what equipment was available and necessary for the “game” on that field. So, to run with this illustration, I had no hash marks, no out of bounds lines, and most of all, no goal line. There were no “first down markers” to measure my progress, no scoreboard to keep track of my accomplishments, no referees to monitor correct conduct required for this contest. Back then, before I met my Savior, every person and purpose wore the same color on their…
Healing at the Cross Posts
We scarcely know all that we have been delivered from, fellow believers. James Masterson lists ten “capacities” of the self life, in his book,”The Personality Disorders.” Among these we find the capacity for: spontaneity, one for entitlement: to appropriate experiences of mastery and pleasure and the entitlement to environmental support for these. the power for maintaining self-image, the power for commitment, the power for intimacy, the power for creativity. Masterson sees these as inherent in every man and also there are more listed. The problem that we have with these “capacities” lies in the truth which places them in that part of man which was crucified with Christ. The self. Dr. Stevens teaches in his booklet called, “A Living Faith,” “we may very well have an orthodox faith but not a correct faith. We may have the words of faith but a faith without the tune of grace. We may…
Yes, where are we now since a killer virus surfaced to destroy lives? Most have tried to adapt, but easier said than done for many. Frustration seems to abound. The highways near my home have become racetracks, shopping pains us to go, restaurants are too risky, professional sports have no longer home and away games — all is fan-less and fun-less — rebellious people spew hatred in newly invented ways. Blame has become popular, as has varied verbal sewage — slander, jealousy, envy, threats. Many unfortunately have shown their true colors and have declined in popularity with the general public, hearts are being revealed — some ugly ones but also some beautiful have come out of their closets. Coping and adaptability also go up and down the grid. Depression rising, so it’s ill effects of addictions and suicide are gaining in number. A true Christian seeks communion with The Divine.…
Martha was cumbered about with much serving. Distracted she was away from Jesus words. She had found serving the physical needs of the Savior a more important thing than simply receiving His discourse. Mary was contented to sit at Jesus feet. Luke 10:40-41 Two value systems display themselves here: One, the magnification of external impositions; but two, the priority of internal peace. The believer in Christ must maintain peace within and peace serves as a buffer against the forced authority of outside levying or intrusion. Sadly, folks divide their soul by entertaining the pressures. A person with a divided heart is a person with misplaced priorities. “Priority” is a person’s hierarchy of values within himself. The divided man has esteemed certain troublesome things above the high priority of a unified soul so he sacrifices his harmonious soul which consists of: a mind kept in it’s executive position — with emotion…
The “Twilight Zone” featuring Rod Serling’s “from another world” commentary, peaked TV interest in a forgotten childhood. The Twilight Zone is an American media franchise based on the anthology television series created by Rod Serling. The episodes are in various genres, including fantasy suspense, science fiction, horror, and psychological thriller and fantasy tropes. The original series, shot entirely in black and white, on CBS for five seasons from 1959 to 1964. Wikipedia Dun dun dun da — dun dun dun da — dun dun dun da — the mysterious and unique-sounding background music, set the tone for suspense. The series sparked fear in me — many times. Why did we keep watching? Forbes offers this, “A handful of theories offer explanations why. One is what I’ll call the controlled-environment theory, which says that when we watch scary movies, we’re intentionally triggering our fight-or-flight response in an environment where we control the variables. This theory is similar to the thinking…
From a mere sociological view, “Man’s answers to the problem of his existence are in large measure fictional.” ‘His notions of time, space, power, the character of his dialogue with nature, his venture with his fellow man, his primary heroism — all these are embedded in a network of codified meanings and perceptions that are in large part arbitrary and fictional.” “This begins at earliest childhood and it occurs as Adler said: as a reaction to the child’s impossible situation.” Becker “…anthropology has taught us that when a culture comes up against reality, on certain critical points in it’s perceptions, then that culture is indeed eliminated…” Ludwig von Bertalanffy Christians are privileged to know this reality in the Person of Jesus Christ. However, fiction based cultures seem to maintain for long periods before reality sets in. Why? “…because the earth has been so bounteous. There has been plenty to…
The Spirit came, a rushing mighty wind; filling us and flowing out of our belly a river of living water. The enemy comes in like a flood, the narrows hinder flow; then the Spirit of God lifts up a standard, He flits away the mighty waters. Martin Luther wrote in song, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” And of our enemy he wrote — “One little Word shall fell him.” “Peace be still,” Jesus commanded the storm at sea. “And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39 “Lord, we are weak and frail, Helpless in the storm Surround us with your angels Hold us in your arms. Our cold and ruthless enemy His pleasure is our harm Rise up, oh Lord, and he will flee Before our Sovereign God” “Our Great…
How does Joy fit into the scheme of Christian living? “.. on March 18 Mr. Chollet locked the garage door of his New Hampshire house, climbed into his BMW, and turned on the engine. He left behind a note that read, “Please forgive me, but the thought of going through the torture of living is just too much to bear.” “Some successful entrepreneurs have a fear that they won’t be able to reproduce or sustain earlier achievements. Gerald Kraines, a psychiatrist who treated Chollet, said, “They’re on a treadmill where they can never savor their success, because they have to keep working harder. Many Christians feel the same way. They think that they must keep working harder for the Lord and forget to spend time with Him.” ministry127 Nehemiah 8:10 tells us: “neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” They were rebuilding, and saw favor…
Self-Esteem, a much overused designation, finds its roots in cultural thinking. Earnest Becker, in his book, “The Birth and Death of Meaning,” addresses the subject: He says, “…when people do not have self-esteem, they cannot act, they break down.” “When the inner-newsreel begins to run consistently negative images of one’s worth, the person gives up.” “When the child poses the question, ‘who am I,’ he is really asking…that he be recognized as an object of primary value in the universe. Or, “where do I rank as a hero?” Becker says that sibling rivalry is common and also ‘competitiveness’ due to the drive for self-esteem. But, here comes an exposing, glaring, fact based on all said so far, “Cultural-heros have to have available to them some kind of heroic action system in which to realize their ambitions, and this symbolic system is what we call ‘culture.’” “Culture is a structure of…
John was beckoned to “come up hither” as he saw a door. The voice was like a trumpet. Immediately, in the spirit, John saw the throne. He saw a person, Jasper and Sardius stone emanated from the person, red, justice and pure white, holiness. A rainbow of emerald encompassed all, mercy. Green surrounded the throne, a lifting to new beginnings. All things are made new! Justice, our understanding and ability to differentiate; Purity, our foundation for wisdom, both rest in a brand new existence, to which we are birthed as mercy upholds it all. John discovered the above life. Free from Law’s judgement, one of condemnation, we find our discernment of fleshly deeds, leads now to “no condemnation,” through mercy. Yes the Law brought a sting, but sin died, so went the sting. Justice now guards the soul from all inhibitors preventing practical mercy’s life giving. Holiness, freedom from the…