"God blesses those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
Matthew 5:6 (New International Version)
I recently finished a book by Pastor Andy Stanley called "The Principle Of The Path." In the book, Stanley lays out a simple formula for living that I thought was one of the most obvious things I have ever read. But it was still something I needed to be taught so I could focus on what is most important in my life. It is often the obvious things that we overlook. So there we need to focus. How is a life centered upon a Christian worldview to be lived?
The formula Stanley presents: Attention determines direction. Direction determines destination.
Not exactly rocket science, but it is something we need to be thinking about and applying to our lives in order to be effective, happy and prosperous Christians. The thing about the formula is that it must be followed exactly as laid out. Its parts are not interchangeable or can the order be modified.
Attention determines Direction. Direction determines destination.
If I am going to call myself Mr.Obvious, I'm going to call Pastor Stanley Captain Obvious. And as we look at today's beatitude from Jesus, I'm going to say that he is the Lord Obvious.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness...now that is obvious! No...you say? Listen to what John Wesley another Pastor Obvious and founder of the Methodist movement thought about what it meant to hunger and thirst for righteousness:
"Righteousness as observed before, is the image of God, the mind
which was in Christ Jesus. It is every heavenly and holy temper
in one; springing as one; springing from as one will as terminating
in, the love of God as our Father and Redeemer, and love of all
men for His sake.
Translation from me, Mr Obvious: To hunger and thirst for righteousness means to "seek the kingdom of God and live righteously and He will give you everything you need (Matthew 6:33)." I got that straight from Lord Obvious...Jesus Christ.
Hunger and thirst are the strongest of all our bodily appetites. When we are hungry for food and thirsty for water, we will go on a mission to satisfy those needs. When we need food and drink, even things like money, fame and possessions will not suffice. We would not trade to satisfy our physical hunger or thirst. We satisfy those needs or we die.
Jesus knew this and used these words to try and shake up our priorities. What if our primary appetite was for God? What if our hunger and thirst were not directed to food and drink, but to our faith in God? It seems impossible...but it is obvious in the lesson Jesus is teaching. If we put God first we will pay attention to holy things and find our direction and destination for our lives.
Now...this is really not about trading in food and drink for God. Although fasting can be an effective spiritual discipline, it certainly can't be done 100% of the time. Jesus is simply trying to get us to change the way we think about His place in our lives.
"Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing and perfect
will."
Romans 12:2 (New International Version)
We get that scriptural gem from the obvious apostle Paul. How we think will determine to what we will be paying attention. What we pay attention to will determine our direction in life, which will lead us to our destination. If we pay attention to the right stuff, we find good direction. If we don't our lives can end up in ruins. I know...I have been on the wrong end too many times dealing with depression, discouragement and despair because I paid attention to things that were not of God. If the eye is truly the window to the soul, pass me some Windex. But if we can re-orient ourselves to seeking God first in our lives, he can sustain our primary appetite. We will find it easier to get on the right direction in our lives. It's obvious: our path...bad direction and questionable destinations...but God's path...good direction...healing, wholeness and blessings. Pretty obvious... right? If it is so obvious how come we fail at it so often? We need to re-orient our attention back torwards God in our lives. There really is no other way to live a blessed life.
So...how do we know when we are hungry and thirsty for God, or our being led by ouw own appetites and seeking our own way? How do we avoid crashing and burning until we get to that place of blessing in our lives.
It is obvious...we measure our appetities by way of our faith.
1. The first thing we need to do is ask ourselves whether what we are hungry and thirsty for...what we are paying attention to or acting on...is it in God's Word? The Bible contains all the things we need to know about God and it contains the rule of faith and the values and direction for our lives. If what we are doing is not to be found in scripture, we are probably paying attention to worldly stuff first and are off running in our own directions and headed for an unhealthy and unholy destination.
2. Does the direction we are traveling contradict God's Word? If we are breaking commandments and putting our own pleasures first, we are not hungering or thirsting for righteousness. But just as an aside...if we are to measure what we do and avoid contradicting God's Word, we have to know God's word. Biblical literacy is crucial to the life of Christians and we must spend a lot of time in God's word. There are hundreds of reading plans out there. Check out the You Version of the Bible on line or download it as a phone application. The point is that we must immerse ourselves in God's Word.
3. We must ask ourselves if our attention and direction is harmful to ourselves or others. A lot of times we play innocent about this point. We say we didn't want to hurt ourselves or others, but this is a deception of denial. It is obvious. We have been given enough common sense by God to know if we are after His will or our own. We need to use our common sense. Is what we are paying attention too, what we are doing, is the direction we are taking in line with our common sense of right and wrong? We may avoid asking ourselves this, but deep down inside, we know if what we are doing and how we are living passes the smell test.
So remember the formula: Attention determines direction. Direction determines Destination and ask yourself where your appetites lay. Are they for God or are they for you?
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012
Humility: The Secret To Faith
Blessed are the humble, for they shall inherit the earth."
Matthew 5:5 (New Living Translation)
We are always believing that there is some secret plan, formula or product that can bring us the wholeness and happiness we seek.
I wake up every morning at 5:00 a.m. and turn on the television. Usually there is not much on except infomercials offering everything under the sun as the secret to a better life. There is the brazilian butt lift offering the gluts that will get you noticed by the other sex. There is the ultimate juicer that will allow you to concoct recipes as potent as the fountain of youth. There are a number of programs offering financial success through home business opportunities. The thing about all these infomercials is that they tell you just enough to get you to buy. They imply that once you buy, you will receive the secret formula you need for success.
But I have learned that there are really no secrets to life. We all inherently know the secret to weight loss: eat less. We all know to look better we need to exercise. We all know that financial success can only come through hard work and dedication. I'll say it right now, sprinkling Sensa on your ice cream will probably not help you to lose an ounce of weight. Drinking juice will not take away your aches and pains and most cures that come in capsule form not approved by the FDA are probably not good for much. Especially when after they show you the great bodies and testimonials of wealth, they provide a block of small print saying that the results seen in the infomercial are "not typical for all users."
When you get right down to it, there are no secrets to the healthy and fulfilled life. The answers are out there for us to plainly discover and put into practice in our lives. The products and shortcuts offered are merely distractions that stop us from finding and working at long term solutions. There are no secrets recipes or formulas that will give us the quick fixes we want.
Usually there is one answer that will work for us. Faith in God, common sense and humility. I think more blessings come from being humble than any other plans or secret formulas I have tried before. When I had my weight loss surgery, a part of me thought it would be a quick fix. They surgically create a smaller stomach, you eat less and you lose weight. The problem with that is that it is exactly the opposite. Restrictions, dietary planning, using supplemental vitamins, chewing every bite properly and swallowing carefully make what Jennifer Hudson is doing a walk in the park. When it came right down to it, I had to surrender my will to the system. For a control freal like me that was the hardest part. I had to admit I was powerless to succeed without following the post surgical plan laid forth by my doctors, dietician and other professionals. That took humility, and only when I did that I really began to succeed and move forward with my weight loss. 160 pounds later, I still find humility is the secret to success. Everytime I deviate even slightly from the system, I find myself in trouble.
I think a lot of us are afraid of humility because it is viewed by our culture as a weakness and not a virtue. Amamzing success stories in our culture always seem to come from people who are control freaks and type A personalities. But I have found that these types of successes are few and far between. Most successful people I know are humble and credit their achievement to hard work and doing the basics well.
The problem is that in our sinful nature we reject humility and strive for control, power and selfish ambition. More often than not these approaches cause us to fall short and wind up making us feel bitter and discouraged. Humility really means simplicity. When we surrender to doing the basics and trusting God to put us on the right path, that is when we begin to be truly blessed with success. Humulity is an attitude where we admit there is no secret but God and our response to his leading. People who practice humility steer clear of infomercials, power grabs and quick fixes and merely work at the basics.
The most important aspedct of humility is believing that following the leading of God is the key to every success. Sometimes it is that simple. We start a humble jouney with nothing more than belief in God's power to make a difference. Sometimes belief is all we really need. God will supply the rest.
Tertullian was a 2nd century theologian and leader in the early church who was constantly arguing with Christians who felt that there were secrets about God that had to be unlocked by special knowledge to be applied to life, They were called "gnostics" or those seeking knowledge.
Tertullian railed against these knowledge seekers by telling them that belief and faith are what we need...not knowledge. Tertullian argued that that once one has found out the truth of Christianity, one should abandon any further search for truth. He felt that the Christian who is seeking truth beyond faith actually lacks faith, He wrote, "You are to seek until you find, and once you have found you are to believe. Thereafter, all you have to do is hold to what you believe. Besides this, you are to believe that there is nothing further to believe, nor anything elsed to be sought."
That is humility. Believe and follow. Seek first the kingdom of God and what you need will be provided to you. Why is it so hard for us to accept this kind of humility? Tertullian is right. Simple belief brings humility and humility opens us up to the power and leading of God. Here are a few points about humility:
1. Humility is a strength not a weakness. Many say lead, follow or get out of the way. The humble follow and are blessed by where God takes them.
2. Humility means confidence. First in God...then in ourselves.
3. Humility brings virtue to our lives because it leads us away from selfishness and trying to control every situation in our lives. It also leads us away from trying to control the people around us.
4. Humility focuses our lives on the basic actions we need to take to be healthy and happy.
5. Humility leads us away from trying to concoct secret formulas or shortcuts to good living.
6. Humility blesses us because only when we are humble can God be in first position in our lives.
Matthew 5:5 (New Living Translation)
We are always believing that there is some secret plan, formula or product that can bring us the wholeness and happiness we seek.
I wake up every morning at 5:00 a.m. and turn on the television. Usually there is not much on except infomercials offering everything under the sun as the secret to a better life. There is the brazilian butt lift offering the gluts that will get you noticed by the other sex. There is the ultimate juicer that will allow you to concoct recipes as potent as the fountain of youth. There are a number of programs offering financial success through home business opportunities. The thing about all these infomercials is that they tell you just enough to get you to buy. They imply that once you buy, you will receive the secret formula you need for success.
But I have learned that there are really no secrets to life. We all inherently know the secret to weight loss: eat less. We all know to look better we need to exercise. We all know that financial success can only come through hard work and dedication. I'll say it right now, sprinkling Sensa on your ice cream will probably not help you to lose an ounce of weight. Drinking juice will not take away your aches and pains and most cures that come in capsule form not approved by the FDA are probably not good for much. Especially when after they show you the great bodies and testimonials of wealth, they provide a block of small print saying that the results seen in the infomercial are "not typical for all users."
When you get right down to it, there are no secrets to the healthy and fulfilled life. The answers are out there for us to plainly discover and put into practice in our lives. The products and shortcuts offered are merely distractions that stop us from finding and working at long term solutions. There are no secrets recipes or formulas that will give us the quick fixes we want.
Usually there is one answer that will work for us. Faith in God, common sense and humility. I think more blessings come from being humble than any other plans or secret formulas I have tried before. When I had my weight loss surgery, a part of me thought it would be a quick fix. They surgically create a smaller stomach, you eat less and you lose weight. The problem with that is that it is exactly the opposite. Restrictions, dietary planning, using supplemental vitamins, chewing every bite properly and swallowing carefully make what Jennifer Hudson is doing a walk in the park. When it came right down to it, I had to surrender my will to the system. For a control freal like me that was the hardest part. I had to admit I was powerless to succeed without following the post surgical plan laid forth by my doctors, dietician and other professionals. That took humility, and only when I did that I really began to succeed and move forward with my weight loss. 160 pounds later, I still find humility is the secret to success. Everytime I deviate even slightly from the system, I find myself in trouble.
I think a lot of us are afraid of humility because it is viewed by our culture as a weakness and not a virtue. Amamzing success stories in our culture always seem to come from people who are control freaks and type A personalities. But I have found that these types of successes are few and far between. Most successful people I know are humble and credit their achievement to hard work and doing the basics well.
The problem is that in our sinful nature we reject humility and strive for control, power and selfish ambition. More often than not these approaches cause us to fall short and wind up making us feel bitter and discouraged. Humility really means simplicity. When we surrender to doing the basics and trusting God to put us on the right path, that is when we begin to be truly blessed with success. Humulity is an attitude where we admit there is no secret but God and our response to his leading. People who practice humility steer clear of infomercials, power grabs and quick fixes and merely work at the basics.
The most important aspedct of humility is believing that following the leading of God is the key to every success. Sometimes it is that simple. We start a humble jouney with nothing more than belief in God's power to make a difference. Sometimes belief is all we really need. God will supply the rest.
Tertullian was a 2nd century theologian and leader in the early church who was constantly arguing with Christians who felt that there were secrets about God that had to be unlocked by special knowledge to be applied to life, They were called "gnostics" or those seeking knowledge.
Tertullian railed against these knowledge seekers by telling them that belief and faith are what we need...not knowledge. Tertullian argued that that once one has found out the truth of Christianity, one should abandon any further search for truth. He felt that the Christian who is seeking truth beyond faith actually lacks faith, He wrote, "You are to seek until you find, and once you have found you are to believe. Thereafter, all you have to do is hold to what you believe. Besides this, you are to believe that there is nothing further to believe, nor anything elsed to be sought."
That is humility. Believe and follow. Seek first the kingdom of God and what you need will be provided to you. Why is it so hard for us to accept this kind of humility? Tertullian is right. Simple belief brings humility and humility opens us up to the power and leading of God. Here are a few points about humility:
1. Humility is a strength not a weakness. Many say lead, follow or get out of the way. The humble follow and are blessed by where God takes them.
2. Humility means confidence. First in God...then in ourselves.
3. Humility brings virtue to our lives because it leads us away from selfishness and trying to control every situation in our lives. It also leads us away from trying to control the people around us.
4. Humility focuses our lives on the basic actions we need to take to be healthy and happy.
5. Humility leads us away from trying to concoct secret formulas or shortcuts to good living.
6. Humility blesses us because only when we are humble can God be in first position in our lives.
Monday, June 4, 2012
That Old Good Feeling Again
God Blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (New Living Translation)
Have you ever seen one of those Loreal hair color commercials with model Andie McDowell where at the end of the commercial she says, "Why not? After all...we're worth it.
That seems to be the prevailing sentiment in our world today. We believe that we are worth every bit of preening and pampering we can get. Whether it is hair or clothes, or a might out on the town, a new car, drinking to excess or getting high on our drug of choice, we spend a good bit of time seeking that which makes us feel good. It is that old good feeling which most of us can't help but avoid chasing after. It is the main reason why most of us overeat, overdrink, over sex, overshop, overspend and just plain old over do it. We want to feel that good feeling over and over again.
Seeking out that good feeling is all that keeps many of us functioning from day to day. We want that good feeling by having an edge at work. We yearn for the approval of others and of course, we all want to be liked. All these things serve as time well spent in the hot tub that is the pleasure principle of life.
We live in a world where our happiness always has to come first. We want that good feeling all the time.
When I was morbidly obese and eating without restraint, it was one of the few good feelings I would get. The feeling of not only swalling huge bites of pizza and subs were pleasurable, but feeling full was a sort of fix that I needed to have everytime I ate. I went for all the comfort foods, chips and dip, pizza, subs, chocolate and ice cream. I was so sunk in depression from leaving ministry that in a couple of years I went from weighing 195 pounds to topping out at 320.
It wasn't the food and the weight as it was the type II diabetes, the high blood pressure and the sleep apnea that convinced me that something needed to change. Even though my mood had improved, the anti-depressants I was taking added side effects that only led to more weight gain. I never felt worse in my whole life.
I learned something about all my excesses. I had never really ever taken the time to mourn the loss of my ministry at Lawrence Park UMC and had simply been unable to come to terms with what had happened to me. I lost not only my church, but my career, my calling, my home and my position in the community. In a very real sense, I had lost my life, but never really allowed myself to mourn what happened. I simply tried to fill in the hole I had in my heart with food.
Being stuck in depression is not the same is being in mourning. Depression is more of us feeling helpless and overwhelmed by the crisis we have been through. Depression causes us to surrender to the pain and despair in our lives.
With all the health problems I was developing due to being so overweight, I knew I could not return to the food for comfort any longer. I decided that I had to make a bold move to get my life in order. I decided to have gastric by-pass surgery which, my doctors felt, would enable me to lose about 130 pounds. In doing so, I needed to change my whole approach to living. Especially with food. The question was: Why do I always overeat even when I'm not hungry? My answer: Because it feels so damn good.
But as I lost 160 pounds, I learned how to approach food anew. I learned to look at food as fuel I needed to have for nutrition. Yes, I still wanted pizza, chips and dip and burgers and fries, but I would only eat a fraction of the food and then I was satisfied. I learned to stop eating before I was full and to leave that good feeling behind. Besides overeating would only make me sick.
I still find myself seeking a good feeling. We all do. Some of us find it a strip bars and by looking at internet pornagraphy. Some of us look forward to it through relationships other than our marriages. Many seek that good feeling through slavery to drugs and alcohol. Some find that good feeling at the mall...buying clothes and pulling out credit cards. Some find it in fancy cars and expensive houses. No matter who we are, we are looking for that good feeling.
The problem is that a lasting good feeling will not come from these things. They are momentary, cheap and shallow and at the end of the day, the distraction we thought would please us so much has brought us right back to where we started. We want a good feeling. We want something to fill the hole that we have in our lives. These things will not give us what we are missing in our lives.
I would argue that the hole we have in our lives operates at a subconscious level and we are not always aware of what it is. The first step is coming to terms with what we are missing and mourn that loss in our lives. It is only when we take the time to mourn over the fact that we have lost loved ones, that our marriages aren't working, that we are in financial trouble or we just have emotional hurt and baggage that there is a chance for healing. A good, lasting happiness will not grace our lives until we mourn what is at the root of our search for a quick, cheap good feeling.
1. We mourn when we are open to God and those around us about the pain we feel. We can't claim any healing grace from God until we name what we are mourning over. True healing only happens when we admit what is wrong and take it to God in prayer. God has a special place in his heart to heal any who mourn. The sermon on the mount makes it clear. We cannot expect God to heal our hearts and bless our lives when we are living in denial of what we mourn. That is why sharing and listening to the people closest to us in life is so important. Their support and perspective can help pull us out of denial and face what we need God to fix.
2. Blessings always come on the heals of denial. It is when we come to terms with what we mourn over that God's blessing and healing can begin to work in our lives. He will give us a shot of love. The rest depends on what we do from there. Do we continue to pray and see what the scriptures say about our issue? Do we tell Christian friends so they can build a wall of prayer for our lives? Do we develop a real action plan realizing that there are things we need to do to overcome the problem and move from mourning to healing? I believe that we have to be courageous here. Many times what we mourn is embarrassing, personal or sinful. But we have to believe that only honesty and openness are necessary to healing. Those around us are probably more willing to help then we might believe. Even if the issue is ongoing and reoccuring. It must be the nature of all Christians to forgive and provide compassion and help to those who earnestly and honestly seek it.
3. Real healing from what we mourn can only come by seeking companionship with Christ. Building a life with Christ at the center is the only way to stop from relapsing back into mourning. That means worship, Bible reading, prayer and focus. We have to continue to attack our issues in ways that honor Jesus. He will not usually heal us in a flash of a moment. Usually Jesus' healing happens over time with his grace and our responsibility. The two work hand in hand.
Remember...God loves us no matter what weaknesses, mistakes or deficiencies there are in our lives. He wants to take our sadness away. Nothing we have done is too much or too bad for God to bless and help fix. It all starts with opening our hearts to His love and going from there.
Have you ever seen one of those Loreal hair color commercials with model Andie McDowell where at the end of the commercial she says, "Why not? After all...we're worth it.
That seems to be the prevailing sentiment in our world today. We believe that we are worth every bit of preening and pampering we can get. Whether it is hair or clothes, or a might out on the town, a new car, drinking to excess or getting high on our drug of choice, we spend a good bit of time seeking that which makes us feel good. It is that old good feeling which most of us can't help but avoid chasing after. It is the main reason why most of us overeat, overdrink, over sex, overshop, overspend and just plain old over do it. We want to feel that good feeling over and over again.
Seeking out that good feeling is all that keeps many of us functioning from day to day. We want that good feeling by having an edge at work. We yearn for the approval of others and of course, we all want to be liked. All these things serve as time well spent in the hot tub that is the pleasure principle of life.
We live in a world where our happiness always has to come first. We want that good feeling all the time.
When I was morbidly obese and eating without restraint, it was one of the few good feelings I would get. The feeling of not only swalling huge bites of pizza and subs were pleasurable, but feeling full was a sort of fix that I needed to have everytime I ate. I went for all the comfort foods, chips and dip, pizza, subs, chocolate and ice cream. I was so sunk in depression from leaving ministry that in a couple of years I went from weighing 195 pounds to topping out at 320.
It wasn't the food and the weight as it was the type II diabetes, the high blood pressure and the sleep apnea that convinced me that something needed to change. Even though my mood had improved, the anti-depressants I was taking added side effects that only led to more weight gain. I never felt worse in my whole life.
I learned something about all my excesses. I had never really ever taken the time to mourn the loss of my ministry at Lawrence Park UMC and had simply been unable to come to terms with what had happened to me. I lost not only my church, but my career, my calling, my home and my position in the community. In a very real sense, I had lost my life, but never really allowed myself to mourn what happened. I simply tried to fill in the hole I had in my heart with food.
Being stuck in depression is not the same is being in mourning. Depression is more of us feeling helpless and overwhelmed by the crisis we have been through. Depression causes us to surrender to the pain and despair in our lives.
With all the health problems I was developing due to being so overweight, I knew I could not return to the food for comfort any longer. I decided that I had to make a bold move to get my life in order. I decided to have gastric by-pass surgery which, my doctors felt, would enable me to lose about 130 pounds. In doing so, I needed to change my whole approach to living. Especially with food. The question was: Why do I always overeat even when I'm not hungry? My answer: Because it feels so damn good.
But as I lost 160 pounds, I learned how to approach food anew. I learned to look at food as fuel I needed to have for nutrition. Yes, I still wanted pizza, chips and dip and burgers and fries, but I would only eat a fraction of the food and then I was satisfied. I learned to stop eating before I was full and to leave that good feeling behind. Besides overeating would only make me sick.
I still find myself seeking a good feeling. We all do. Some of us find it a strip bars and by looking at internet pornagraphy. Some of us look forward to it through relationships other than our marriages. Many seek that good feeling through slavery to drugs and alcohol. Some find that good feeling at the mall...buying clothes and pulling out credit cards. Some find it in fancy cars and expensive houses. No matter who we are, we are looking for that good feeling.
The problem is that a lasting good feeling will not come from these things. They are momentary, cheap and shallow and at the end of the day, the distraction we thought would please us so much has brought us right back to where we started. We want a good feeling. We want something to fill the hole that we have in our lives. These things will not give us what we are missing in our lives.
I would argue that the hole we have in our lives operates at a subconscious level and we are not always aware of what it is. The first step is coming to terms with what we are missing and mourn that loss in our lives. It is only when we take the time to mourn over the fact that we have lost loved ones, that our marriages aren't working, that we are in financial trouble or we just have emotional hurt and baggage that there is a chance for healing. A good, lasting happiness will not grace our lives until we mourn what is at the root of our search for a quick, cheap good feeling.
1. We mourn when we are open to God and those around us about the pain we feel. We can't claim any healing grace from God until we name what we are mourning over. True healing only happens when we admit what is wrong and take it to God in prayer. God has a special place in his heart to heal any who mourn. The sermon on the mount makes it clear. We cannot expect God to heal our hearts and bless our lives when we are living in denial of what we mourn. That is why sharing and listening to the people closest to us in life is so important. Their support and perspective can help pull us out of denial and face what we need God to fix.
2. Blessings always come on the heals of denial. It is when we come to terms with what we mourn over that God's blessing and healing can begin to work in our lives. He will give us a shot of love. The rest depends on what we do from there. Do we continue to pray and see what the scriptures say about our issue? Do we tell Christian friends so they can build a wall of prayer for our lives? Do we develop a real action plan realizing that there are things we need to do to overcome the problem and move from mourning to healing? I believe that we have to be courageous here. Many times what we mourn is embarrassing, personal or sinful. But we have to believe that only honesty and openness are necessary to healing. Those around us are probably more willing to help then we might believe. Even if the issue is ongoing and reoccuring. It must be the nature of all Christians to forgive and provide compassion and help to those who earnestly and honestly seek it.
3. Real healing from what we mourn can only come by seeking companionship with Christ. Building a life with Christ at the center is the only way to stop from relapsing back into mourning. That means worship, Bible reading, prayer and focus. We have to continue to attack our issues in ways that honor Jesus. He will not usually heal us in a flash of a moment. Usually Jesus' healing happens over time with his grace and our responsibility. The two work hand in hand.
Remember...God loves us no matter what weaknesses, mistakes or deficiencies there are in our lives. He wants to take our sadness away. Nothing we have done is too much or too bad for God to bless and help fix. It all starts with opening our hearts to His love and going from there.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Is Independence a Virtue?
This is the beginning of a series of 8 refelctions of the beatitudes from Jesus' teachings from the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5.
"God blesses those who are poor and recognize their need for him, For the Kingdom of God is theirs."
Those who wait on Jesus are blessed.
I remember the day I got my drivers licesnse. For a sixteen year-old this was an incredible rite of passage. I felt an incredible sense of independence. I could go where I wanted, when I wanted and for as long as I wanted. There would be no more begging for rides or hoofing it to where I needed to go. I was finally becdoming a man with the responsibility and independence to make my own decisions and be in control of my own life. To say I was excited would have been the understatement of the century.
That excitement lasted about 10 minutes when my father, Mr. subtle in these kinds of matters, dropped a nuclear bomb on me which totally destroyed the moment. To drive and experience the independence of the open road, I would need to pay for my own gas and contribute quarterly to my own insurance. The worst part was that I would have to share our second car with both my mother and my 17 year-old brother. The wind sort of came out of my sails. I did the math. It would take almost every dime from my job at the record store to cover the gas and insurance nut. There would be little left over for fun and games.
I wasn't nearly as independent as I thought I was. If I wanted to use the car, I actually had to fill out a voucher with the date, time and reason for approval from my parents. And this is taking into account that I was third on the list. But still, this was the most independent I had ever felt in my entire life. I was worth the crap I would have to go through. I immediately began making plans for a second job so I could save up money for my own car.
Now, let's move forward in time some 30 years. About two years ago my elderly 86 year-old father in law came with us to live. He had just lost his wife of 65 years to heart disease and he himself suffered from heart disease and kidney failure. Since he was wheel chair bound and severely limited in his mobility, we built an in -law appartment onto our house with a ramp to the drive way and a handicap sitting shower so he could have as much independence as possible. We got him a scooter chair so he could zip up the drive way and sidewalks and attend to the garden boxes we set up for him in the backyard.
At 86 years-old, Barney was an independent spirit who didn't like the restrtictions age and health had placed upon him and he wanted to still do things his own way. Several hospital stays, broken bones and bruises, got him to understand that his own limitations put restrictions on his independence. When Barney was living in his hometown of New Castle, he knew everybody, was a member of 3-4 social clubs, ate breakfast with the gang down at the city diner and pretty much did what he wanted. The change in his life style from New Castle to Erie was completely opposite and threw him into a great depression. He had never had to depend on anybody but himself for anything and now even my two teenage sons were more independent.
Day by day, Barney's independence took more hits. Soon he was not able to dress or bathe himself. He also lost the ability to help himself use the bathroom. It got to the point where it became simply too much for Anne and I to handle, so Barney became a resident at a local Presbyterian run nursing home. He adjusted quickly and lived their happily for about 18 month until his recent death.
Look...independence is the most sought after aspect of human life. The toddler wants out of the playpen, the school kid wants a later curfew, and every teenager dreams of driving their dream car. Young adults want to choose their own spouse or significant other. Middle aged people want more power and autonomy at work. It goes on and on and on. Independence is the most sought after value in our society today. Nobody wants to be dependent on others.
One reason for this is our dreadful lack of patience. We want what we want now and are unwilling to let natural circumstances play out. We want the independence even to make bad and destructive decisions for our lives. I mean it is our life to mess up...isn't it. Most people would rather sink their own ship than ride as crew on someone elses. We have become terrible in our culture of balancing independence and responsibility. Independence we want....responsibility we would rather avoid.
But I have learned a valuable lesson that to truly experience independence you have to be good at giving in to dependence on others. I like to make my own decisions, but I usually don't until I discuss them with Anne. I would love to drive a mustang, but have settled for a Dodge Caravan because it is practical. I would like to make independent decision about money buying comic books, music and stuff for my iphone and Kindle Fire. But I have two kids who depend on me for support.
Independence and dependence are completely woven together. You can't achieve one without paying mind to the other. This is why the first real teaching Jesus gave from the mount, and the first of the 8 beatitudes is about independence and dependence and how we live with these two things in balance.
Maybe the beatitude should read, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, who realize that the only true independence comes from being dependent on God, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."
But make no mistake this beatitude is not a blessing upon just poor people as many in the social gospel movement would have us think. Jesus definitely had a soft spot for those who were destitute, but mainly because they were in a better position to receive the gospel at face value. They had nothing better in which to place their hope and trust. They knew they needed God...period. In our world today many things promise independence. Whether it is diets, excercise programs, get rich quick schemes, self- help programs or on-line dating services, or even facebook. Nothing can fill the hole in our lives but God.
Independence is probably the most sought after quality in life today. Young children want freedom from parents to play and watch television as long as they want. Teenagers want the independence to drive and go where and when they want. Middle-agers want frreedom and independence from their work and financial and family obligations. The elderly want to live free of interference from their children and other caregivers. Everybody wants to be independent.
The problem with too much independence is that it has a way of getting us in trouble. We are broken human beings with broken wills and broken lives. So when we push for more and more independence we risk going on a journey that can take us even further from God.
Listen to the Apostle Paul, He Knew it well:
"The trouble is with me, for I am a slave to sin. I don't really
understand myself, for I want what is right, but I don't do it. Instead,
I do what I hate...So I am not the one who is doing wrong it
is sin that lives inside me...And I know that nothing good lives
within me, that is in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right,
but I can't. I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to
do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don't
want to do, I am not really the one who is doing wrong; It is
sin living in me that does it...I have discovered this principle of life
when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.
I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another power
at work in my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin
that is still within me. Oh what a miserable person I am! Who
will free me from this life that is dominated by death and sin?
Thank God, the answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see
how it is: in my mind I really want to obey God's law, but in my
sinful nature, I am a slave to sin."
Romans 14 various verses
(New Living Translation)
So Paul makes it clear that total independence is not necessarily a great thing for you and me. Maybe a little is good, but entire independence in life is spiritually impracticle and will only end up making us miserable and will probably be our undoing. The truth is that we thrive best when there is independence with accountability to God and others around us. We rely on our routines, having the same people in our daily lives, doing similar work functions and otherwise limiting what we do and the chances we take. To live a totally independent life would do exactly what Paul said: it would turn us into slaves of sin.
In the first beatitude the blessing does not go to the independent it goes to those who are so poor in their spirit, that they have come to make dependence on God the most important thing in their lives.
For it is out of dependence on God that every other blessing is made available to us. If we are not looking to God in our daily lives, how can He possibly bless what we are doing. Dependence on God shows us how limited and fallible we can be because total independence makes us vulnerable to being selfish, greedy, needy, mean, spiteful, envious and other sinful attitudes. We want what we want when we want it. Pure independence gives us the mentality of small children. Meeting our every whim becomes all that matters.
So what does dependence on God do to make our lives better and more meaningful:
1. It takes the pressure off. When we carry the load for ourselves and everyone around us we will be crushed. We simply can't solve every problem, need and want of our own or those around us. We have to resign as general managers of the universe and let God take over. This is very tough for control freaks and type A personalities. When we turn over our deepests needs and wants to God and pray over them daily and check them with the scriptures and with other Christians we trust, we will gain better perspective. We will be able to focus on what we can control and let go of what we can't. Independence and control are really the same thing. We cannot simply have it all when we want it. That would be a life of chaos. Let God set your priorities. When you spend enough time in prayer and reflection you will find that you will be led to the things that are most important for your life. Not what you want, but what God wants for you.
2. Dependence on God keeps sin under control in our lives. When everything is about us we are on a slippery slope. There are not enough drugs, strip bars, cash money, expensive clothes, cars and houses to satisfy us. But our total independence will have us off chasing things that will only end up being harmful to our lives. I'm not saying we would all go that route, but the temptations would certainly call our name. But when we are dependent on God we will work to please God. We will honor our committments, vows and responsibilities because we know we answer to a higher being.
3. Dependence on God keeps us aware of what is good and bad and what is right and what is wrong. With God things are pretty black and white. It is when we try to interpret God's Word or water it down that things get complicated. People who depend on God are tied to His Word and look to it for most of the answers to life. It's not a rule book. It is the book of life. It shows us how to avoid many of the pitfalls of people that have come before us. From the tower of Babel, to the cross, to the second coming, God's Word makes it clear that God is in control of our destiny. The destiny is there...we just need to work with God to find it. There is a life mate, life work, honest friendships and secure living made available to all of us. We just have to go God's way until he leads us to it. This takes wisdom and patience and we will not master those blessings overnight.
A life of unfettered independence will lead us to disaster, but a life of total dependence on God will lead us to the wholeness of life we seek so badly. Let's all agree to give it a better chance.
"God blesses those who are poor and recognize their need for him, For the Kingdom of God is theirs."
Those who wait on Jesus are blessed.
I remember the day I got my drivers licesnse. For a sixteen year-old this was an incredible rite of passage. I felt an incredible sense of independence. I could go where I wanted, when I wanted and for as long as I wanted. There would be no more begging for rides or hoofing it to where I needed to go. I was finally becdoming a man with the responsibility and independence to make my own decisions and be in control of my own life. To say I was excited would have been the understatement of the century.
That excitement lasted about 10 minutes when my father, Mr. subtle in these kinds of matters, dropped a nuclear bomb on me which totally destroyed the moment. To drive and experience the independence of the open road, I would need to pay for my own gas and contribute quarterly to my own insurance. The worst part was that I would have to share our second car with both my mother and my 17 year-old brother. The wind sort of came out of my sails. I did the math. It would take almost every dime from my job at the record store to cover the gas and insurance nut. There would be little left over for fun and games.
I wasn't nearly as independent as I thought I was. If I wanted to use the car, I actually had to fill out a voucher with the date, time and reason for approval from my parents. And this is taking into account that I was third on the list. But still, this was the most independent I had ever felt in my entire life. I was worth the crap I would have to go through. I immediately began making plans for a second job so I could save up money for my own car.
Now, let's move forward in time some 30 years. About two years ago my elderly 86 year-old father in law came with us to live. He had just lost his wife of 65 years to heart disease and he himself suffered from heart disease and kidney failure. Since he was wheel chair bound and severely limited in his mobility, we built an in -law appartment onto our house with a ramp to the drive way and a handicap sitting shower so he could have as much independence as possible. We got him a scooter chair so he could zip up the drive way and sidewalks and attend to the garden boxes we set up for him in the backyard.
At 86 years-old, Barney was an independent spirit who didn't like the restrtictions age and health had placed upon him and he wanted to still do things his own way. Several hospital stays, broken bones and bruises, got him to understand that his own limitations put restrictions on his independence. When Barney was living in his hometown of New Castle, he knew everybody, was a member of 3-4 social clubs, ate breakfast with the gang down at the city diner and pretty much did what he wanted. The change in his life style from New Castle to Erie was completely opposite and threw him into a great depression. He had never had to depend on anybody but himself for anything and now even my two teenage sons were more independent.
Day by day, Barney's independence took more hits. Soon he was not able to dress or bathe himself. He also lost the ability to help himself use the bathroom. It got to the point where it became simply too much for Anne and I to handle, so Barney became a resident at a local Presbyterian run nursing home. He adjusted quickly and lived their happily for about 18 month until his recent death.
Look...independence is the most sought after aspect of human life. The toddler wants out of the playpen, the school kid wants a later curfew, and every teenager dreams of driving their dream car. Young adults want to choose their own spouse or significant other. Middle aged people want more power and autonomy at work. It goes on and on and on. Independence is the most sought after value in our society today. Nobody wants to be dependent on others.
One reason for this is our dreadful lack of patience. We want what we want now and are unwilling to let natural circumstances play out. We want the independence even to make bad and destructive decisions for our lives. I mean it is our life to mess up...isn't it. Most people would rather sink their own ship than ride as crew on someone elses. We have become terrible in our culture of balancing independence and responsibility. Independence we want....responsibility we would rather avoid.
But I have learned a valuable lesson that to truly experience independence you have to be good at giving in to dependence on others. I like to make my own decisions, but I usually don't until I discuss them with Anne. I would love to drive a mustang, but have settled for a Dodge Caravan because it is practical. I would like to make independent decision about money buying comic books, music and stuff for my iphone and Kindle Fire. But I have two kids who depend on me for support.
Independence and dependence are completely woven together. You can't achieve one without paying mind to the other. This is why the first real teaching Jesus gave from the mount, and the first of the 8 beatitudes is about independence and dependence and how we live with these two things in balance.
Maybe the beatitude should read, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, who realize that the only true independence comes from being dependent on God, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."
But make no mistake this beatitude is not a blessing upon just poor people as many in the social gospel movement would have us think. Jesus definitely had a soft spot for those who were destitute, but mainly because they were in a better position to receive the gospel at face value. They had nothing better in which to place their hope and trust. They knew they needed God...period. In our world today many things promise independence. Whether it is diets, excercise programs, get rich quick schemes, self- help programs or on-line dating services, or even facebook. Nothing can fill the hole in our lives but God.
Independence is probably the most sought after quality in life today. Young children want freedom from parents to play and watch television as long as they want. Teenagers want the independence to drive and go where and when they want. Middle-agers want frreedom and independence from their work and financial and family obligations. The elderly want to live free of interference from their children and other caregivers. Everybody wants to be independent.
The problem with too much independence is that it has a way of getting us in trouble. We are broken human beings with broken wills and broken lives. So when we push for more and more independence we risk going on a journey that can take us even further from God.
Listen to the Apostle Paul, He Knew it well:
"The trouble is with me, for I am a slave to sin. I don't really
understand myself, for I want what is right, but I don't do it. Instead,
I do what I hate...So I am not the one who is doing wrong it
is sin that lives inside me...And I know that nothing good lives
within me, that is in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right,
but I can't. I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to
do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don't
want to do, I am not really the one who is doing wrong; It is
sin living in me that does it...I have discovered this principle of life
when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.
I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another power
at work in my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin
that is still within me. Oh what a miserable person I am! Who
will free me from this life that is dominated by death and sin?
Thank God, the answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see
how it is: in my mind I really want to obey God's law, but in my
sinful nature, I am a slave to sin."
Romans 14 various verses
(New Living Translation)
So Paul makes it clear that total independence is not necessarily a great thing for you and me. Maybe a little is good, but entire independence in life is spiritually impracticle and will only end up making us miserable and will probably be our undoing. The truth is that we thrive best when there is independence with accountability to God and others around us. We rely on our routines, having the same people in our daily lives, doing similar work functions and otherwise limiting what we do and the chances we take. To live a totally independent life would do exactly what Paul said: it would turn us into slaves of sin.
In the first beatitude the blessing does not go to the independent it goes to those who are so poor in their spirit, that they have come to make dependence on God the most important thing in their lives.
For it is out of dependence on God that every other blessing is made available to us. If we are not looking to God in our daily lives, how can He possibly bless what we are doing. Dependence on God shows us how limited and fallible we can be because total independence makes us vulnerable to being selfish, greedy, needy, mean, spiteful, envious and other sinful attitudes. We want what we want when we want it. Pure independence gives us the mentality of small children. Meeting our every whim becomes all that matters.
So what does dependence on God do to make our lives better and more meaningful:
1. It takes the pressure off. When we carry the load for ourselves and everyone around us we will be crushed. We simply can't solve every problem, need and want of our own or those around us. We have to resign as general managers of the universe and let God take over. This is very tough for control freaks and type A personalities. When we turn over our deepests needs and wants to God and pray over them daily and check them with the scriptures and with other Christians we trust, we will gain better perspective. We will be able to focus on what we can control and let go of what we can't. Independence and control are really the same thing. We cannot simply have it all when we want it. That would be a life of chaos. Let God set your priorities. When you spend enough time in prayer and reflection you will find that you will be led to the things that are most important for your life. Not what you want, but what God wants for you.
2. Dependence on God keeps sin under control in our lives. When everything is about us we are on a slippery slope. There are not enough drugs, strip bars, cash money, expensive clothes, cars and houses to satisfy us. But our total independence will have us off chasing things that will only end up being harmful to our lives. I'm not saying we would all go that route, but the temptations would certainly call our name. But when we are dependent on God we will work to please God. We will honor our committments, vows and responsibilities because we know we answer to a higher being.
3. Dependence on God keeps us aware of what is good and bad and what is right and what is wrong. With God things are pretty black and white. It is when we try to interpret God's Word or water it down that things get complicated. People who depend on God are tied to His Word and look to it for most of the answers to life. It's not a rule book. It is the book of life. It shows us how to avoid many of the pitfalls of people that have come before us. From the tower of Babel, to the cross, to the second coming, God's Word makes it clear that God is in control of our destiny. The destiny is there...we just need to work with God to find it. There is a life mate, life work, honest friendships and secure living made available to all of us. We just have to go God's way until he leads us to it. This takes wisdom and patience and we will not master those blessings overnight.
A life of unfettered independence will lead us to disaster, but a life of total dependence on God will lead us to the wholeness of life we seek so badly. Let's all agree to give it a better chance.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Alone With A Scizophrenic?
There is a famous British Rock Album by David Bowie contemporary Ian Hunter, who also wrote the classic"All The Young Dudes" entitled "You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic." This bespeaks one of the most ignorant stigmas that those who suffer with Scizophrenia face: How many personalities do you have? We all remember Sally Fields as Cybil the woman with multiple personalities in the film of the same name.
But the idea of people with Schizophrenia having multiple personalities is more mythology than science. We are not two faced. We are not pretending to be someone from another time. And we are certainly not demon possessed. More on that later.
The most well known of the symptoms of schizophrenia are auditory and visual hallucinations. The fact that most of us are psychotic doesn't mean we are like Charles Manson who has been declared sane time after time in his appeals to get out of prison. Psychotic simply means that for a period of time we have lost contact with reality. We hear and see things that are not there and we have an impaired insight into what is going on around us.
In my case, I hear voices that try to give me discouraging thoughts about myself. I hear voices that tell me God doesn't love me and no one else should. It is mainly self negation. It is mainly a call to devalue myself in my own eyes.
The problem is that most schizoophrenics are also paranoid. They believe the self- negation and most importantly, they think other people feel the same way. Paranoia is a disorder that all of us have to one degree or another. "Is that police car following me" or "is that guy ogling the clothes I'm wearing?" Most paranoia is completely irrational and without any basis is fact. People with intense paranoia are sure that people are paying undue attention to them.
Paranoid Schizophrenics always believe there are conspiracies at work against them. They believe they are being set apart for persecution, that others are making false accusastions against them. They feel followed, hounded and under constant scrutiny.
Along with Paranoia, Schizophrenics also often have disorganized speech and thinking. They can't focus, keep thoughts in order, and often sound as if they are speaking in ways that are mixed up and don't make sense to the conversation others are having.
In my case, I'm Scizo affective, so my schizophrenia is cojoined with my bi-polar depression. Sometimes I am way down low. I can't manage the energy to get out of bed or get off the couch, while other times I feel like going a million miles an hour. I bounce between two poles: depressive and manic. No, I do not rapid cycle like many. My periods of mania are few and far between and I spend most of my time in deep depression, self-negation, feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness. That is my number one symptom above any of the others, that may come and go during times.
These episodes are triggered by events in our lives. I go to talk therapy to try and learn my triggers and alter my life so. For me it was the loss of ministry and the desire to become active in congregational life again. I can go to church and worship with no problem, but as soon as I try to go beyond that, symptoms always seem to appear. I know I will never pastor again and I'm O.K. with that.
Right now, my goal is to be husband to my wife, father to my children and the most faithful and loyal friend I can be. That's it. That is my life. I could probably find some employment where I would not have to have any interpersonal contact with others, but good luck finding that. My job is to follow my doctor's treatment plan and stay symptom free for as long as possible.
Whether I pastor or not, I still believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, my salvation and the promises and teachings of God's Word. I walk 12 miles daily where I listen to books and praise and worship music, and try to be there whenever Anne and the boys need me. Schizophrenia is a real illness, but it is not a death sentence....not for me at least...I know my healings will continue to come from the Lord.
My next sharing will be aabout anxiety disorder and how debilitating it and its fears and phobias can be.
But the idea of people with Schizophrenia having multiple personalities is more mythology than science. We are not two faced. We are not pretending to be someone from another time. And we are certainly not demon possessed. More on that later.
The most well known of the symptoms of schizophrenia are auditory and visual hallucinations. The fact that most of us are psychotic doesn't mean we are like Charles Manson who has been declared sane time after time in his appeals to get out of prison. Psychotic simply means that for a period of time we have lost contact with reality. We hear and see things that are not there and we have an impaired insight into what is going on around us.
In my case, I hear voices that try to give me discouraging thoughts about myself. I hear voices that tell me God doesn't love me and no one else should. It is mainly self negation. It is mainly a call to devalue myself in my own eyes.
The problem is that most schizoophrenics are also paranoid. They believe the self- negation and most importantly, they think other people feel the same way. Paranoia is a disorder that all of us have to one degree or another. "Is that police car following me" or "is that guy ogling the clothes I'm wearing?" Most paranoia is completely irrational and without any basis is fact. People with intense paranoia are sure that people are paying undue attention to them.
Paranoid Schizophrenics always believe there are conspiracies at work against them. They believe they are being set apart for persecution, that others are making false accusastions against them. They feel followed, hounded and under constant scrutiny.
Along with Paranoia, Schizophrenics also often have disorganized speech and thinking. They can't focus, keep thoughts in order, and often sound as if they are speaking in ways that are mixed up and don't make sense to the conversation others are having.
In my case, I'm Scizo affective, so my schizophrenia is cojoined with my bi-polar depression. Sometimes I am way down low. I can't manage the energy to get out of bed or get off the couch, while other times I feel like going a million miles an hour. I bounce between two poles: depressive and manic. No, I do not rapid cycle like many. My periods of mania are few and far between and I spend most of my time in deep depression, self-negation, feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness. That is my number one symptom above any of the others, that may come and go during times.
These episodes are triggered by events in our lives. I go to talk therapy to try and learn my triggers and alter my life so. For me it was the loss of ministry and the desire to become active in congregational life again. I can go to church and worship with no problem, but as soon as I try to go beyond that, symptoms always seem to appear. I know I will never pastor again and I'm O.K. with that.
Right now, my goal is to be husband to my wife, father to my children and the most faithful and loyal friend I can be. That's it. That is my life. I could probably find some employment where I would not have to have any interpersonal contact with others, but good luck finding that. My job is to follow my doctor's treatment plan and stay symptom free for as long as possible.
Whether I pastor or not, I still believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, my salvation and the promises and teachings of God's Word. I walk 12 miles daily where I listen to books and praise and worship music, and try to be there whenever Anne and the boys need me. Schizophrenia is a real illness, but it is not a death sentence....not for me at least...I know my healings will continue to come from the Lord.
My next sharing will be aabout anxiety disorder and how debilitating it and its fears and phobias can be.
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