I have long said I have an uncanny ability to offend people without trying. I have even often thought of that as something of a gift. (Yes, definitely tongue-in-cheek.) I recently had a friend, who I consider to be above average in spiritual insight explain that ability to me. He said, "You have the ability to make people see the shortcomings in themselves." I am mulling that. I have no idea what I do, how I do it, or even if I really do do it. For the time being, I am assuming my friend is correct. If there are any opinions on this out there, I would be grateful to hear them.
That would explain something else too. A few times, fewer than half a dozen I guess, I have been accused of being arrogant. I looked up the word on dictionary.com. So we are on the same page, here is the definition. 1. making claims or pretensions to superior importance or rights; overbearingly assuming; insolently proud: an arrogant public official. I do not think I fit that definition. Am I in denial? Anyone? You know you can make an anonymous comment on the blog? Here is the thing about that definition, I do not see how anyone could possibly say anyone else is any of those things. People who act that way usually do so out of insecurity or feelings of inferiority. Might it be that a person who would call another arrogant may believe himself (or herself) to be inferior to the person he is accusing?
I remember the first person and the first time I was accused of arrogance. I thought at the time one person should never accuse another of arrogance--at least not without a Godly sorrow for the person they are accusing of arrogance. Since that time I have met a man who I consider to be arrogant. He is an unGodly man, a genius, who built a small fortune in business--and seems to feel he is entitled above other people. Is he really arrogant or is that just my perception? Perhaps he is hiding some insecurity behind his intelligence and now his worldly riches. I am mulling that as well.
Just for fun, I also looked up "arrogant" in the Bible. That is what guys like me do. There are two different words translated "arrogance". Both of them are found in the Old Testament. The King James version has it as "arrogancy" if you are interested. The two words mean different things and show two different facets of what it means to be arrogant. The first one actually means to be of worth or value. The second one means to be hard or unyielding. Put them together and we have something that looks kind of like our English definition. It would be an attitude we might describe as, " being great and knowing it."
None of that necessarily negates the idea that someone may think I am arrogant. However, if we return to the assumption that my friend is right, a person who considers me to be arrogant would be in a psychological state identified as projection. He or she would be projecting arrogance upon me which is, in fact, resident in himself. (Ouch!) He would be saying words to the affect of, "You think you are better than me, but you are not. Because I know this, I am better than you." Being as honest as I know how to be though, I think the person is actually saying, "I think you are better than I am so you must think that too." That seems to me like such a sad way to live, thinking others are better than oneself--for whatever reason.
Having said all that, let me hasten to add that I have a unique package of gifts from God. I need that unique package to do what God has called me to do. However, my package of gifts is no more impressive than yours is. You have a unique package of gifts that will allow you to become everything God has in mind for you. Perhaps the only difference right now is that I have finally come to understand what I am supposed to be doing and have started to do it. I am still mulling that as well. I know part of it, but certainly not all of it. The Bible tells us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling because it is God who works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13). Are you doing that? I am, but I know there is still work to be done in that area.
I have probably said enough about that. At the rate I have been writing, this might be the last post for the year. I think there may be one more coming soon. In any event, God bless you as you work out your salvation. If we can help in any way, please let us know.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
A Kingdom Dynamic
The Holy Spirit gave me a picture in the wee hours this morning. It was part catalyst, part confirmation of something I had been working on for at least a few weeks now. Sometimes it takes me awhile. That is why I try to never make snap decisions. I am going to try and describe something to you that works better as a picture, but since I do not know how to do pictures here, you may have to do some work to understand it.
I have been mulling a situation (I wish I could say "meditating" but I have really just been mulling, i.e., soul vs. spirit.) The situation has to do with a Christian relating to his superiors in the workplace. The perspective here is from the employee's side, but if you have employees, please do not stop reading.
Let me describe the picture I saw and hopefully you can see it too. Think of two people side by side (I think in stick figures because that's all I can draw.) one is head and shoulders above the other, but they are about the same height. Each figure is enclosed in an oval so it is like they are floating in the air, next to each other, one higher than the other, showing authority in the workplace. Now if you have the picture in your mind, keep reading.
In the workplace, for whatever time that entails, "the boss", as we will call him or her for convenience sake, floats a little higher. That is the way business works. That is the way it has to work. With greater responsibility comes greater authority. However, we are talking about employment-related, worldly, soulical situations here. ("Soulical" is the word Watchman Nee uses to describe the activites of the soul in distinction from those of the spirit.)
In the Kingdom of God, no one "floats" higher than anyone else. Do not confuse the Kingdom of God with The Church here. We usually use the term, "The Church" in these pages to indicate all believers, but in this instance we are making a further distinction and calling The Church the groups of people gathering together. The Church on earth has to operate like a business in this one respect--someone has to be responsible and that person has to be in charge. That person has been, hopefully, placed in that position of authority by God. But listen. That person still "floats" at the same level in the Kingdom of God as everyone else. This is the point Jesus was making when He said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet is shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to be great among you, let him be your servant" (Matthew 20:25-26)
If you work for someone else, meaning you have a superior at your place of employment, you have only one responsibility. You are responsible to do what that person requires of you, to the best of your ability. It does not matter what it is you are asked to do. If it is legal and ethical, it is your duty to do it--to the best of your ability. Remember, we are not discussing the other person's responsibility here. That is between them and God. You are obliged to do your job as well as you can.
The point of what I am trying to describe here is outside, but corollary to, our employment relationships. It is greater because it is spiritual. None of us have had perfect bosses. There are none. Each of them can use some growth in one or more areas. That does not mean you are called to be the fertilizer. It does mean they are people we are inclined to spend quite a bit of time and energy with during the course of any given week. We must see that as a God-ordained situation. While we are obligated to take orders from them, we also have something to add to their lives. The words of Jesus come to mind here that we should be, "...wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." (Matthew 10:16) Most people do not particularly enjoy being challenged with regard to their weaknesses. You boss is certainly not an exception.
There are two circumstances in which you may find limited duration to your employment when you challenge your boss to be better. First, your boss may not recognize your spiritual authority to do so. He or she may not realize that you have, "...come to the kingdom for such a time as this." (Esther 4:14) If you do not challenge him or her in a manner in which he or she can accept it as a challenge rather than as a bad attitude, you have lost before you started. Secondly, some people sincerely do not think they have anything that needs to be changed. In the recovery industry we call that "denial." Pray for them. And pray for me. I think I have probably gotten myself into enough trouble for one post. God bless.
I have been mulling a situation (I wish I could say "meditating" but I have really just been mulling, i.e., soul vs. spirit.) The situation has to do with a Christian relating to his superiors in the workplace. The perspective here is from the employee's side, but if you have employees, please do not stop reading.
Let me describe the picture I saw and hopefully you can see it too. Think of two people side by side (I think in stick figures because that's all I can draw.) one is head and shoulders above the other, but they are about the same height. Each figure is enclosed in an oval so it is like they are floating in the air, next to each other, one higher than the other, showing authority in the workplace. Now if you have the picture in your mind, keep reading.
In the workplace, for whatever time that entails, "the boss", as we will call him or her for convenience sake, floats a little higher. That is the way business works. That is the way it has to work. With greater responsibility comes greater authority. However, we are talking about employment-related, worldly, soulical situations here. ("Soulical" is the word Watchman Nee uses to describe the activites of the soul in distinction from those of the spirit.)
In the Kingdom of God, no one "floats" higher than anyone else. Do not confuse the Kingdom of God with The Church here. We usually use the term, "The Church" in these pages to indicate all believers, but in this instance we are making a further distinction and calling The Church the groups of people gathering together. The Church on earth has to operate like a business in this one respect--someone has to be responsible and that person has to be in charge. That person has been, hopefully, placed in that position of authority by God. But listen. That person still "floats" at the same level in the Kingdom of God as everyone else. This is the point Jesus was making when He said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet is shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to be great among you, let him be your servant" (Matthew 20:25-26)
If you work for someone else, meaning you have a superior at your place of employment, you have only one responsibility. You are responsible to do what that person requires of you, to the best of your ability. It does not matter what it is you are asked to do. If it is legal and ethical, it is your duty to do it--to the best of your ability. Remember, we are not discussing the other person's responsibility here. That is between them and God. You are obliged to do your job as well as you can.
The point of what I am trying to describe here is outside, but corollary to, our employment relationships. It is greater because it is spiritual. None of us have had perfect bosses. There are none. Each of them can use some growth in one or more areas. That does not mean you are called to be the fertilizer. It does mean they are people we are inclined to spend quite a bit of time and energy with during the course of any given week. We must see that as a God-ordained situation. While we are obligated to take orders from them, we also have something to add to their lives. The words of Jesus come to mind here that we should be, "...wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." (Matthew 10:16) Most people do not particularly enjoy being challenged with regard to their weaknesses. You boss is certainly not an exception.
There are two circumstances in which you may find limited duration to your employment when you challenge your boss to be better. First, your boss may not recognize your spiritual authority to do so. He or she may not realize that you have, "...come to the kingdom for such a time as this." (Esther 4:14) If you do not challenge him or her in a manner in which he or she can accept it as a challenge rather than as a bad attitude, you have lost before you started. Secondly, some people sincerely do not think they have anything that needs to be changed. In the recovery industry we call that "denial." Pray for them. And pray for me. I think I have probably gotten myself into enough trouble for one post. God bless.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
There Really is a Religious Spirit Working Here
"In order for you to impact your city you must identify and break down the ruling principalities that may be hindering the Gospel there. The more common principalities in the western world would include the religious spirit, mammon, pride, and freemasonry to name a few. Ask God to give you wisdom and discernment as you prepare to deal with local and regional principalities." (Os Hillman, "The Queen of Heaven" November 1, 2010)
Occasionally, as regular readers know, we are questioned as to whether we know what we are doing in this blog. The questions range anywhere from, "What makes you think there is a religious spirit over the Santa Maria valley"? to "Why do you think you have the authority to challenge a ruling spirit anyway?" Then sometimes we come across a quote like the one above that seems to answer both questions. We are not so naive as to believe that those who read these words will embrace the battle, or even change their minds about the battle. However, this is something that needs to be said to remind believers and skeptics alike (and us too) that we are fighting a real fight and things will not be quite right until the enemy is put to flight.
We think we have our facts right about the following observations. If you have better information, please comment here or contact us another way. We participated in a prayer walk of repentance with the Pentecost Walk ministry several weeks ago. It was a rainy, but not too cold afternoon when something like 200 of us walked from the Santa Maria Foursquare Church to city hall to participate in the prayer. Tom Demaree was restarting his ministry after a hiatus due to various circumstances. He felt Santa Maria was the place he needed to do the restart. He did. We did. That was it as far as we know.
Then just a couple weeks ago, Tom repeated the event in southern San Luis Obispo county. The estimate I heard of the number of people who participated went as high as possibly 3,000 people. Yes, ten times or so the number of people who participated in Santa Maria. Any guesses on why there was such a dramatic difference in the numbers? We could give some credit to the weather. It was nicer the second time. Perhaps it was because it was the second time and the prayer walks had begun to gather momentum? We would like to suggest the possibility, just for your consideration, the difference might it have to do with a religious spirit keeping a lid on anything spiritual going on here.
Where to go from there? We can give you all the logical and reasonable arguments as to why the presence of a religious spirit is the only possible answer. That still would not satisfy those who do not want to embrace the idea. We wonder if it is even worth making the following points, but we do have the space so why not?
Maybe there were so many more people at the walk because there are some large churches in southern San Luis Obispo county, including a legitimate mega-church with thousands of attendees weekly. Use that rationale and you are making our point. We do not have any really prominent ministries. That is not to say they are not significant in God's economy. All of them are. I wonder how many of those ministries are even known outside Santa Barbara county? Perhaps some of them would be had we already broken the back of the religious spirit.
There is only a quarter-mile, wide riverbed separating the counties. Why would we have a religious spirit and they do not? Spirits, evil or good, are always in subjection to the rules of man, including to the boundaries we draw. We do not know what the ruling spirits might be in San Luis Obispo county. That is not really our business. There is not any point in concerning ourselves with what someone else is or is not doing.
We have often said the worst thing that can happen to a person is to be right and to have the majority, or anyone else, convince him he is wrong. Absent any evidence to the contrary, we are standing firm in the belief that a religious spirit is affecting every individual church and Christian ministry in northern Santa Barbara County--TheChurchInSantaMariaCA. Ultimately we will win. Agreement always helps, but if you cannot agree, why argue about about it? Truth always proves itself.
Occasionally, as regular readers know, we are questioned as to whether we know what we are doing in this blog. The questions range anywhere from, "What makes you think there is a religious spirit over the Santa Maria valley"? to "Why do you think you have the authority to challenge a ruling spirit anyway?" Then sometimes we come across a quote like the one above that seems to answer both questions. We are not so naive as to believe that those who read these words will embrace the battle, or even change their minds about the battle. However, this is something that needs to be said to remind believers and skeptics alike (and us too) that we are fighting a real fight and things will not be quite right until the enemy is put to flight.
We think we have our facts right about the following observations. If you have better information, please comment here or contact us another way. We participated in a prayer walk of repentance with the Pentecost Walk ministry several weeks ago. It was a rainy, but not too cold afternoon when something like 200 of us walked from the Santa Maria Foursquare Church to city hall to participate in the prayer. Tom Demaree was restarting his ministry after a hiatus due to various circumstances. He felt Santa Maria was the place he needed to do the restart. He did. We did. That was it as far as we know.
Then just a couple weeks ago, Tom repeated the event in southern San Luis Obispo county. The estimate I heard of the number of people who participated went as high as possibly 3,000 people. Yes, ten times or so the number of people who participated in Santa Maria. Any guesses on why there was such a dramatic difference in the numbers? We could give some credit to the weather. It was nicer the second time. Perhaps it was because it was the second time and the prayer walks had begun to gather momentum? We would like to suggest the possibility, just for your consideration, the difference might it have to do with a religious spirit keeping a lid on anything spiritual going on here.
Where to go from there? We can give you all the logical and reasonable arguments as to why the presence of a religious spirit is the only possible answer. That still would not satisfy those who do not want to embrace the idea. We wonder if it is even worth making the following points, but we do have the space so why not?
Maybe there were so many more people at the walk because there are some large churches in southern San Luis Obispo county, including a legitimate mega-church with thousands of attendees weekly. Use that rationale and you are making our point. We do not have any really prominent ministries. That is not to say they are not significant in God's economy. All of them are. I wonder how many of those ministries are even known outside Santa Barbara county? Perhaps some of them would be had we already broken the back of the religious spirit.
There is only a quarter-mile, wide riverbed separating the counties. Why would we have a religious spirit and they do not? Spirits, evil or good, are always in subjection to the rules of man, including to the boundaries we draw. We do not know what the ruling spirits might be in San Luis Obispo county. That is not really our business. There is not any point in concerning ourselves with what someone else is or is not doing.
We have often said the worst thing that can happen to a person is to be right and to have the majority, or anyone else, convince him he is wrong. Absent any evidence to the contrary, we are standing firm in the belief that a religious spirit is affecting every individual church and Christian ministry in northern Santa Barbara County--TheChurchInSantaMariaCA. Ultimately we will win. Agreement always helps, but if you cannot agree, why argue about about it? Truth always proves itself.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Leaders Are Not Always Right
There have now been too many interrelated events this morning for me to not write this post. I was way more productive yesterday than I had intended to be and I am a little tired from all that. If that is too cryptic, I spent way more time than I would have liked to at two home improvement stores, maintained the fireplace, organized part of the garage, and for good measure, replaced a leaking garbage disposal. So I thought maybe I could get a bit of a day off today. And then...
The Holy Spirit said, "Leaders are not always right." I had not even finished mulling that when my wife asked, "In Romans 12 it says that we are to do what is right in the sight of everyone. Wouldn't that make us man-pleasers?" I gave her the best answer I could, but at that point I was still not making any connection. Then I opened my email. The last headline on the list was the notification of a comment by "Anonymous" on my blog. I was still okay. Of course I had to read the comment. You can read it for yourself, (I do not seem to be able to get the link in here right now, but the comments are on the post entitled, "Heart of a Warrior") but my understanding of the sense of it is that there is more than one way to pursue spiritual warfare and he/she (?) is not sure I am using the correct approach. Okay. No problem. I appreciate the input. Were that as far as it went, I can live with that. How many of you know, the Holy Spirit is not going to let something like that rest?
Let me put those things together for us. Please read the whole context before deciding I am wrong or even being a little harsh. I am just reporting. Wherever a religious spirit has any measure of control, the leaders are the problem. We cannot live our lives to please people who are themselves problems, or participants in the problems. The clear teaching of Romans 12 (and various other Bible passages) is that we each have our own jobs to do if the body of Christ on earth is to be victorious over our enemies. I obviously cannot speak for anyone else, but I am confident I am doing what I am supposed to do.
Now of course I have to clarify the previous paragraph. All the leaders are not the problem. I am not indicting your pastor or my pastor or the leaders of any of what we call "paraChurch" ministries in the Santa Maria valley. I am only writing about the ones who are participating with the religious spirit by seeking their own and controlling and/or otherwise keeping the flock of God from "...attaining the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:13) Listen, even the ones who are causing the problem are doing it ignorantly. They are good men and women. If they understood what they were doing, they would not do it. Do not let anything written here inspire you to ignore Hebrews 13:17, "Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account..." (Hebrews 13:17)
As for the question, my wife posed, our responsibility as Christians is to do the right thing. The only people we are required to please in any endeavor are those who, "...see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16)
That would have been all I had to say except that there is a fourth occurrence today that probably set the three we have already mentioned in motion. Tom Demaree, whom we have mentioned before, is relaunching Pentecost Walk in Santa Maria. The culmination is a prayer walk this very afternoon from the Foursquare Church to City Hall. (I really hope I have all that right. Do not make your plans to attend until you check with someone else to be sure.) Tom is a man we greatly respect and support prayerfully and financially. Tom is doing spiritual warfare a different way than we are. When I worked at FedEx, we would have given him an award called, "Bravo Zulu" for fulfilling his call to ministry with all his spirit, soul, and body. You go Tom!
I am about to hit the "Publish Post" button knowing that I might have to un-post and re-post this. We are almost out the door to hear Pastor Jack Hayford speak at a local church. Jack was our pastor for several years, quite a few years ago. He is a giant among pastors and theologians. He always has a word from God. He might say something today that needs to be stated or clarified here, but for now...
The Holy Spirit said, "Leaders are not always right." I had not even finished mulling that when my wife asked, "In Romans 12 it says that we are to do what is right in the sight of everyone. Wouldn't that make us man-pleasers?" I gave her the best answer I could, but at that point I was still not making any connection. Then I opened my email. The last headline on the list was the notification of a comment by "Anonymous" on my blog. I was still okay. Of course I had to read the comment. You can read it for yourself, (I do not seem to be able to get the link in here right now, but the comments are on the post entitled, "Heart of a Warrior") but my understanding of the sense of it is that there is more than one way to pursue spiritual warfare and he/she (?) is not sure I am using the correct approach. Okay. No problem. I appreciate the input. Were that as far as it went, I can live with that. How many of you know, the Holy Spirit is not going to let something like that rest?
Let me put those things together for us. Please read the whole context before deciding I am wrong or even being a little harsh. I am just reporting. Wherever a religious spirit has any measure of control, the leaders are the problem. We cannot live our lives to please people who are themselves problems, or participants in the problems. The clear teaching of Romans 12 (and various other Bible passages) is that we each have our own jobs to do if the body of Christ on earth is to be victorious over our enemies. I obviously cannot speak for anyone else, but I am confident I am doing what I am supposed to do.
Now of course I have to clarify the previous paragraph. All the leaders are not the problem. I am not indicting your pastor or my pastor or the leaders of any of what we call "paraChurch" ministries in the Santa Maria valley. I am only writing about the ones who are participating with the religious spirit by seeking their own and controlling and/or otherwise keeping the flock of God from "...attaining the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:13) Listen, even the ones who are causing the problem are doing it ignorantly. They are good men and women. If they understood what they were doing, they would not do it. Do not let anything written here inspire you to ignore Hebrews 13:17, "Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account..." (Hebrews 13:17)
As for the question, my wife posed, our responsibility as Christians is to do the right thing. The only people we are required to please in any endeavor are those who, "...see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16)
That would have been all I had to say except that there is a fourth occurrence today that probably set the three we have already mentioned in motion. Tom Demaree, whom we have mentioned before, is relaunching Pentecost Walk in Santa Maria. The culmination is a prayer walk this very afternoon from the Foursquare Church to City Hall. (I really hope I have all that right. Do not make your plans to attend until you check with someone else to be sure.) Tom is a man we greatly respect and support prayerfully and financially. Tom is doing spiritual warfare a different way than we are. When I worked at FedEx, we would have given him an award called, "Bravo Zulu" for fulfilling his call to ministry with all his spirit, soul, and body. You go Tom!
I am about to hit the "Publish Post" button knowing that I might have to un-post and re-post this. We are almost out the door to hear Pastor Jack Hayford speak at a local church. Jack was our pastor for several years, quite a few years ago. He is a giant among pastors and theologians. He always has a word from God. He might say something today that needs to be stated or clarified here, but for now...
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Let Go
I was not going to write another post today, but then I was inspired by something I read. Let's back up thirty plus years and take a running start at this.
When we were married, we were associate pastors at a church in Ventura, CA. Two blocks down the street from that church there was a Pussycat Theatre. For those of you who do not know about those theatres, you can probably guess from the name what kind of movies they show. On the marquee of that theatre, the title "The Joy of Letting Go" once appeared. My wife thought that would be good sermon title. Some times it takes a while for me to catch up. Did I mention that was thirty some years ago?
In an effort to not bore you too badly before I come to the point of this post, I will not give you all the details, but I found out my nephew who is ten years old is on Facebook. I pulled up his profile. He has more friends than I do. I am trying to get past that inequity. Anyway, I looked at his friends who come up on the profile page and some of them are considerably older than he is. On one profile I saw activities of "hunting and fishing and 10 others." Intrigued as to what kind of woman likes hunting and fishing, I wondered what the 10 others were. The last one struck me. It read, "You'll never find the right person if you don't let go of the wrong one." I could not tell if that were an original quote so I sent a message and asked if I could use it. She graciously responded in the affirmative. So the quote is used with permission of Rachel Morris of Denton, TX. Hey wait. I think I was there last month. Sorry. Mental break. I am back.
You'll never find the right person if you don't let go of the wrong one. That sounded interesting to me. Then it sounded important, then it sounded essential. I have no idea how important it really is. My mind is still running wild, working on that one.
I work with people in recovery from substance abuse. One of the first things a person in recovery has to do is change who he associates with, where he goes, and what he does. Obviously that is not the only group of people who hold onto things they should not. Any time any of us wants to make a change for the better we have to let go of something.
It now occurs to me that most of us cannot change because we cannot let go of something or someone. We feel we need that other person, thing, house, car, church, job, etc. to make us feel worthy, valuable, whatever. We want to be wanted, but we need to be needed. We tend to think we will lose something if we make a change. The truth is that when we make the proper changes, in obedience to God's will, we have a net gain because He adds more than we give up. I do know whereof I speak. My life was turned upside down about two years ago by a lie. The difference in my life now did not seem possible before that. I am a little embarassed to admit, I did not even realize God wanted me to make some changes until I was forced to make them. I am now seeing the difference.
My maternal grandfather was a good man. He was not, probably, the most intelligent man on earth, but he worked hard at a lot of different jobs and had his own business for several years. I believe he was just seventy years old when one day he was complaining about the aches and pains that often come with age. I told him he would probably live another ten years. He said he did not know if he wanted to. He was not of any use to anyone. I am not sure he believed me when I told him he had value to lots of people including me. Come to think of it, maybe he did. He lived another fourteen years, if I am not mistaken.
We are about to get Biblical and spiritual here, just so you know. The writer of Hebrews encourages us to, "...lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1) The question, then, is what ensnares us? The obvious answer for people in recovery is drugs or alcohol. It seems most people do not understand that most often (if you need a number for "most often", I am guessing well in excess of 80%) people who abuse any substance are trying to fill a need in their lives. The need can be as complex as a physical, brain malfunction or as simple as peer pressure. There is something the person feels he or she is missing and they they try to compensate with something else.
Those of us who do not abuse substances simply substitute something else for the substances. It might be work or some other kind of service. It could be the things we possess. Perhaps your football team has your focus to the point of obsession. Maybe you know people who live for their children or their pets. At some point we feel the need to control other people so our universe stays intact. (Wow, this is getting heavy.) I know I just stepped on a lot of toes. That is kind of my job here. I picked mine up off the floor as I started to type the paragraph because I just had a feeling about what was coming.
How about we just skip to the bottom line and avoid any additional bruises to our egos? God has more for you than you can imagine. Yes, I have scripture on that, 1 Corinthians 2:9. You will never appropriate the promises and the blessings of God while you hold onto the things that are now weighing you down and ensnaring you. They may be good things, but they are not the best things. You may think you have all you want and need, but now that I have gone to meddling, there is a nagging in your spirit that you are not walking in all the fullness God has for you. I would apologize for initiating that nagging, but I would be being disingenuous were I to do that. That, also, is part of my job. And yes, I have scripture on that too, Colossians 3:16, or if you prefer, Hebrews 3:13.
With that, I am done. God bless!
When we were married, we were associate pastors at a church in Ventura, CA. Two blocks down the street from that church there was a Pussycat Theatre. For those of you who do not know about those theatres, you can probably guess from the name what kind of movies they show. On the marquee of that theatre, the title "The Joy of Letting Go" once appeared. My wife thought that would be good sermon title. Some times it takes a while for me to catch up. Did I mention that was thirty some years ago?
In an effort to not bore you too badly before I come to the point of this post, I will not give you all the details, but I found out my nephew who is ten years old is on Facebook. I pulled up his profile. He has more friends than I do. I am trying to get past that inequity. Anyway, I looked at his friends who come up on the profile page and some of them are considerably older than he is. On one profile I saw activities of "hunting and fishing and 10 others." Intrigued as to what kind of woman likes hunting and fishing, I wondered what the 10 others were. The last one struck me. It read, "You'll never find the right person if you don't let go of the wrong one." I could not tell if that were an original quote so I sent a message and asked if I could use it. She graciously responded in the affirmative. So the quote is used with permission of Rachel Morris of Denton, TX. Hey wait. I think I was there last month. Sorry. Mental break. I am back.
You'll never find the right person if you don't let go of the wrong one. That sounded interesting to me. Then it sounded important, then it sounded essential. I have no idea how important it really is. My mind is still running wild, working on that one.
I work with people in recovery from substance abuse. One of the first things a person in recovery has to do is change who he associates with, where he goes, and what he does. Obviously that is not the only group of people who hold onto things they should not. Any time any of us wants to make a change for the better we have to let go of something.
It now occurs to me that most of us cannot change because we cannot let go of something or someone. We feel we need that other person, thing, house, car, church, job, etc. to make us feel worthy, valuable, whatever. We want to be wanted, but we need to be needed. We tend to think we will lose something if we make a change. The truth is that when we make the proper changes, in obedience to God's will, we have a net gain because He adds more than we give up. I do know whereof I speak. My life was turned upside down about two years ago by a lie. The difference in my life now did not seem possible before that. I am a little embarassed to admit, I did not even realize God wanted me to make some changes until I was forced to make them. I am now seeing the difference.
My maternal grandfather was a good man. He was not, probably, the most intelligent man on earth, but he worked hard at a lot of different jobs and had his own business for several years. I believe he was just seventy years old when one day he was complaining about the aches and pains that often come with age. I told him he would probably live another ten years. He said he did not know if he wanted to. He was not of any use to anyone. I am not sure he believed me when I told him he had value to lots of people including me. Come to think of it, maybe he did. He lived another fourteen years, if I am not mistaken.
We are about to get Biblical and spiritual here, just so you know. The writer of Hebrews encourages us to, "...lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1) The question, then, is what ensnares us? The obvious answer for people in recovery is drugs or alcohol. It seems most people do not understand that most often (if you need a number for "most often", I am guessing well in excess of 80%) people who abuse any substance are trying to fill a need in their lives. The need can be as complex as a physical, brain malfunction or as simple as peer pressure. There is something the person feels he or she is missing and they they try to compensate with something else.
Those of us who do not abuse substances simply substitute something else for the substances. It might be work or some other kind of service. It could be the things we possess. Perhaps your football team has your focus to the point of obsession. Maybe you know people who live for their children or their pets. At some point we feel the need to control other people so our universe stays intact. (Wow, this is getting heavy.) I know I just stepped on a lot of toes. That is kind of my job here. I picked mine up off the floor as I started to type the paragraph because I just had a feeling about what was coming.
How about we just skip to the bottom line and avoid any additional bruises to our egos? God has more for you than you can imagine. Yes, I have scripture on that, 1 Corinthians 2:9. You will never appropriate the promises and the blessings of God while you hold onto the things that are now weighing you down and ensnaring you. They may be good things, but they are not the best things. You may think you have all you want and need, but now that I have gone to meddling, there is a nagging in your spirit that you are not walking in all the fullness God has for you. I would apologize for initiating that nagging, but I would be being disingenuous were I to do that. That, also, is part of my job. And yes, I have scripture on that too, Colossians 3:16, or if you prefer, Hebrews 3:13.
With that, I am done. God bless!
Heart of a Warrior
Occasionally we write about men in the program at the mission. Unlike some of the television dramas that change the names to protect the innocent, we have never done that. We will not make an exception this time. Then again we do not really have anyone there who is innocent.
Let me tell you how the title for this post came about. It is a two-part explanation. It was probably about two months ago. I can never be sure of time frames longer ago than vacation, but that seems about right. We were having devotions at the mission. I was saying something, which I am certain was scintillating, and looking at the men as I did. I looked at CJ and the Holy Spirit said, "That man has the heart of a warrior." I said that out loud to the group. One day the next week, CJ told the group he really wanted to have the heart of a warrior. So then this morning--about 5:00 the Holy Spirit spoke this title to my spirit. (Yes, it is Saturday. I have mentioned how I feel about these early morning wake-ups before.)
If you google the phrase, "dysfunctional family" you will see a picture of CJ's family. (Obviously not true in case you have not googled yet.) Suffice it to say, CJ had no idea how to live a normal life before coming to the mission. Now that I type that, I am not sure we are helping him figure out whatever a "normal" life is, but that is all right. We are still giving him some things he can use when he completes the program.
You could ask any of the other men in the program who is the most "spiritual" man in the program right now and they will tell you it is CJ. They know "spiritual" when they see it because they get it hammered into their heads on a daily basis. In case you are wondering, "spiritual" is usually about 180 degrees off what we "think" is right. (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25) Is CJ perfect? That depends on your understanding of perfect. He was lost and depressed when he came to the mission over four months ago. He did not know where he belonged. Now he is redeemed by the blood of Jesus. He has been baptized in water. His mind is pretty much 180 degrees from where it was when he first showed up in my office. He knows he is where is supposed to be. He is helping other men in their Christian walk and this post is evidence that he is teaching me something by the way he is living.
I tell people CJ is my first choice if I need someone to guard my back. Did I mention he is about five feet nine inches tall and weighs around 300 pounds? He could probably stand to lose a few pounds, but I have never seen calves as thick as his. Aside from all that, I would trust him to guard my back--to be behind me. He has the heart of a warrior.
Most of us know someone who is a U.S. Marine. I use the verb "is" because I am told "once a Marine, always a Marine." In his autobiography, Roger Staubach writes about being at the Naval Academy. He writes that he could always tell which cadets were going to be Marine officers because they wore combat boots and ran when they did not have to. In his words they were, "gung ho". They were not only dedicated to what they were doing as the other midshipmen were, they were enthusiastic about it. Being a Marine is more of an attitude than anything one does. Being a warrior is pretty much the same thing.
Right now a group of us are in training to defeat the religious spirit over the Santa Maria valley. Many of us do not even know we are being trained. We do not recognize the Lord's discipline in our lives. I even have one man (intentional understatement) in the program who avoids the discipline he knows he needs. He is typical of those who do not have God's vision for their lives. (Proverbs 29:18)
We are still dealing with people who think we are making all this religious spirit stuff up as though we are looking for a purpose or our destiny in the wrong place. This whole blog thing is intended to raise the awareness of the church--the called out ones--in the Santa Maria valley and anywhere else people would encourage and support us in prayer. Be sure the battle is real. We have already seen a few, minor victories. Those keep us encouraged. When we see men like CJ making progress as he is, we can say with the Psalmist, "This was the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes." (Psalm 118:23)
Let me tell you how the title for this post came about. It is a two-part explanation. It was probably about two months ago. I can never be sure of time frames longer ago than vacation, but that seems about right. We were having devotions at the mission. I was saying something, which I am certain was scintillating, and looking at the men as I did. I looked at CJ and the Holy Spirit said, "That man has the heart of a warrior." I said that out loud to the group. One day the next week, CJ told the group he really wanted to have the heart of a warrior. So then this morning--about 5:00 the Holy Spirit spoke this title to my spirit. (Yes, it is Saturday. I have mentioned how I feel about these early morning wake-ups before.)
If you google the phrase, "dysfunctional family" you will see a picture of CJ's family. (Obviously not true in case you have not googled yet.) Suffice it to say, CJ had no idea how to live a normal life before coming to the mission. Now that I type that, I am not sure we are helping him figure out whatever a "normal" life is, but that is all right. We are still giving him some things he can use when he completes the program.
You could ask any of the other men in the program who is the most "spiritual" man in the program right now and they will tell you it is CJ. They know "spiritual" when they see it because they get it hammered into their heads on a daily basis. In case you are wondering, "spiritual" is usually about 180 degrees off what we "think" is right. (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25) Is CJ perfect? That depends on your understanding of perfect. He was lost and depressed when he came to the mission over four months ago. He did not know where he belonged. Now he is redeemed by the blood of Jesus. He has been baptized in water. His mind is pretty much 180 degrees from where it was when he first showed up in my office. He knows he is where is supposed to be. He is helping other men in their Christian walk and this post is evidence that he is teaching me something by the way he is living.
I tell people CJ is my first choice if I need someone to guard my back. Did I mention he is about five feet nine inches tall and weighs around 300 pounds? He could probably stand to lose a few pounds, but I have never seen calves as thick as his. Aside from all that, I would trust him to guard my back--to be behind me. He has the heart of a warrior.
Most of us know someone who is a U.S. Marine. I use the verb "is" because I am told "once a Marine, always a Marine." In his autobiography, Roger Staubach writes about being at the Naval Academy. He writes that he could always tell which cadets were going to be Marine officers because they wore combat boots and ran when they did not have to. In his words they were, "gung ho". They were not only dedicated to what they were doing as the other midshipmen were, they were enthusiastic about it. Being a Marine is more of an attitude than anything one does. Being a warrior is pretty much the same thing.
Right now a group of us are in training to defeat the religious spirit over the Santa Maria valley. Many of us do not even know we are being trained. We do not recognize the Lord's discipline in our lives. I even have one man (intentional understatement) in the program who avoids the discipline he knows he needs. He is typical of those who do not have God's vision for their lives. (Proverbs 29:18)
We are still dealing with people who think we are making all this religious spirit stuff up as though we are looking for a purpose or our destiny in the wrong place. This whole blog thing is intended to raise the awareness of the church--the called out ones--in the Santa Maria valley and anywhere else people would encourage and support us in prayer. Be sure the battle is real. We have already seen a few, minor victories. Those keep us encouraged. When we see men like CJ making progress as he is, we can say with the Psalmist, "This was the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes." (Psalm 118:23)
Monday, September 27, 2010
An Introvert's Vacation, Part 2
For the sake of brevity and because those of you who read this blog are some of the smartest people around, we are going to pick up right where we left off in Part 1.
Art was not done by the time I got back to Portales. I ended up getting there something like 18 hours before I had planned to. That was going to be perfect. We would be able to get away from Portales a few hours earlier that we had originally thought and could make a contact in Moriarty, NM. Unfortunately, The legal system was determined to make sure they had their pound of flesh for an indiscretion Art had committed over a decade ago. So not only was I 18 hours early, he ended up being over 24 hours later than we had expected.
So much for a no agenda vacation. Lesson 1: If you go on a "no agenda" vacation, the people you are visiting have to understand that. Otherwise it is not fair to them since your agenda might not fit with theirs. It ends up making it "all about me" rather than "not about me at all" and that may satisfy something in us, but does not meet our deepest, spiritual need. I did pull it off one time though--sort of almost anyway. I mentioned I was also early to Prosper, TX. I have a friend I used to work with who now lives in a nearby town. I gave Eraldo a call and visited with him on the telephone for ten minutes or so. Had I wanted to see him face to face that would not have worked, but it was good to catch up with him a little.
I did mention Portales is not a place people go on purpose. There I was with 24 hours before I could leave. I had passed a Bed and Breakfast on the way into town. I have never been to one of those so I thought I would check it out since I needed a place to stay anyway. I looked them up on the internet and called. Pastor Jerry's voicemail answered telling me he would get back to me when he picked up the message. A couple hours later I decided to just drive over there and see if they had a room. I was met with a freshly poured, concrete, front porch and a pile of lumber. A young man hanging gutters or something told me he thought they were out of town. FYI, Jerry left me a voicemail about ten days later telling me they had just returned from Germany, but if I was ever in Portales again to please keep them in mind. Did I mention Portales is not a place anyone goes on purpose?
What to do? What to do? I should have taken more time between Lubbock and Portales. Better yet, I should have accepted the invitation to stay another night in Prosper, TX. Some say hindsight is 20/20. Do not believe it, but it is better than foresight. Lesson 2: When someone wants to offer you hospitality, even if it does not fit your plans, accept it. I even have scripture on that. It is Matthew 10:11 if you want the reference. I even knew that. I am beginning to think I am better when I have someone around to remind me of things I know, but do not think of at the right time. My wife would be happy to do that, but everyone knows God cannot talk to you through your wife. (Oh, please, it's a joke folks.)
There is a fairly new Holiday Inn Express on the edge of Portales. Do not ask me why. They must see something there I do not. Well, both the older motels in town are in really bad shape. At this point, I am still not sure if I even need to spend the night. Art might get out any time. So I check at the desk. King suite $99.00. I do not need to spend $99.00 for a night in a motel. Next door to the Holiday Inn Express is a Super 8 motel or one of that ilk anyway. $59.00 for the night. That is more like it. Well, except for the fact I know the Holy Spirit is telling me not to check in there. But it's $40.00 cheaper. Not only less expensive, cheaper. Within about half an hour I am in a full-blown crisis. It's $40.00 less to stay at the Super 8. I have pretty much realized I am going to have to spend the night. I am not supposed to be having a crisis. I am supposed to be doing whatever I want to do. I am having a crisis anyway.
I text message a friend I know is available and tell him about the crisis. He throws words I have told him back in my face. I hate when that happens. Not really, but it makes better reading. He texts, "It is never a problem to know what God wants when you get yourself out of the way." Lesson 3: Do not text people who might remember something you told them. (said sardonically).
I go back to the desk at the Holiday Inn Express and check in. Why am I here God? The Super 8 is $40.00 cheaper. Lesson 4: God wants to bless me (and you) more than I understand. $40.00 is nothing to Him. Holiday Inn Express is a nicer chain than Super 8. Oh, and the breakfast is much better as well.
To make a long story short, if it is not already too late, we got on the road the next day about 6:30 PM, again a full 24 hours later than we had intended. It was dark before we got to Albuquerque. It was just before dawn when we went through Flagstaff, AZ. I pretty much missed Arizona both directions. Oh, well, I may make it back again sometime. The trip was almost without incident. The deer I hit on the way down the mountain from Flagstaff was feeling no pain since he had been hit sometime earlier and there was not much for me to hit except a small pile of--well, you know.
There are several other lessons we might take from the trip, but they seem almost silly. Fill your gas tank in Arizona rather than California. You will save at least 70 cents a gallon. Do not order hamburgers at McDonald's at breakfast time. They do not serve them then. Do not be in a hurry on Highway 166 on a Saturday afternoon. Some people are not. I am sure there are others, but none come to mind right now.
Art was not done by the time I got back to Portales. I ended up getting there something like 18 hours before I had planned to. That was going to be perfect. We would be able to get away from Portales a few hours earlier that we had originally thought and could make a contact in Moriarty, NM. Unfortunately, The legal system was determined to make sure they had their pound of flesh for an indiscretion Art had committed over a decade ago. So not only was I 18 hours early, he ended up being over 24 hours later than we had expected.
So much for a no agenda vacation. Lesson 1: If you go on a "no agenda" vacation, the people you are visiting have to understand that. Otherwise it is not fair to them since your agenda might not fit with theirs. It ends up making it "all about me" rather than "not about me at all" and that may satisfy something in us, but does not meet our deepest, spiritual need. I did pull it off one time though--sort of almost anyway. I mentioned I was also early to Prosper, TX. I have a friend I used to work with who now lives in a nearby town. I gave Eraldo a call and visited with him on the telephone for ten minutes or so. Had I wanted to see him face to face that would not have worked, but it was good to catch up with him a little.
I did mention Portales is not a place people go on purpose. There I was with 24 hours before I could leave. I had passed a Bed and Breakfast on the way into town. I have never been to one of those so I thought I would check it out since I needed a place to stay anyway. I looked them up on the internet and called. Pastor Jerry's voicemail answered telling me he would get back to me when he picked up the message. A couple hours later I decided to just drive over there and see if they had a room. I was met with a freshly poured, concrete, front porch and a pile of lumber. A young man hanging gutters or something told me he thought they were out of town. FYI, Jerry left me a voicemail about ten days later telling me they had just returned from Germany, but if I was ever in Portales again to please keep them in mind. Did I mention Portales is not a place anyone goes on purpose?
What to do? What to do? I should have taken more time between Lubbock and Portales. Better yet, I should have accepted the invitation to stay another night in Prosper, TX. Some say hindsight is 20/20. Do not believe it, but it is better than foresight. Lesson 2: When someone wants to offer you hospitality, even if it does not fit your plans, accept it. I even have scripture on that. It is Matthew 10:11 if you want the reference. I even knew that. I am beginning to think I am better when I have someone around to remind me of things I know, but do not think of at the right time. My wife would be happy to do that, but everyone knows God cannot talk to you through your wife. (Oh, please, it's a joke folks.)
There is a fairly new Holiday Inn Express on the edge of Portales. Do not ask me why. They must see something there I do not. Well, both the older motels in town are in really bad shape. At this point, I am still not sure if I even need to spend the night. Art might get out any time. So I check at the desk. King suite $99.00. I do not need to spend $99.00 for a night in a motel. Next door to the Holiday Inn Express is a Super 8 motel or one of that ilk anyway. $59.00 for the night. That is more like it. Well, except for the fact I know the Holy Spirit is telling me not to check in there. But it's $40.00 cheaper. Not only less expensive, cheaper. Within about half an hour I am in a full-blown crisis. It's $40.00 less to stay at the Super 8. I have pretty much realized I am going to have to spend the night. I am not supposed to be having a crisis. I am supposed to be doing whatever I want to do. I am having a crisis anyway.
I text message a friend I know is available and tell him about the crisis. He throws words I have told him back in my face. I hate when that happens. Not really, but it makes better reading. He texts, "It is never a problem to know what God wants when you get yourself out of the way." Lesson 3: Do not text people who might remember something you told them. (said sardonically).
I go back to the desk at the Holiday Inn Express and check in. Why am I here God? The Super 8 is $40.00 cheaper. Lesson 4: God wants to bless me (and you) more than I understand. $40.00 is nothing to Him. Holiday Inn Express is a nicer chain than Super 8. Oh, and the breakfast is much better as well.
To make a long story short, if it is not already too late, we got on the road the next day about 6:30 PM, again a full 24 hours later than we had intended. It was dark before we got to Albuquerque. It was just before dawn when we went through Flagstaff, AZ. I pretty much missed Arizona both directions. Oh, well, I may make it back again sometime. The trip was almost without incident. The deer I hit on the way down the mountain from Flagstaff was feeling no pain since he had been hit sometime earlier and there was not much for me to hit except a small pile of--well, you know.
There are several other lessons we might take from the trip, but they seem almost silly. Fill your gas tank in Arizona rather than California. You will save at least 70 cents a gallon. Do not order hamburgers at McDonald's at breakfast time. They do not serve them then. Do not be in a hurry on Highway 166 on a Saturday afternoon. Some people are not. I am sure there are others, but none come to mind right now.
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