Archive for June, 2009

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Should Christians Follow or Ignore “The Law of Attraction”?

Posted by Timothy
June 9, 2009

Trick question.

But I think it is one that Christian leadership ignores.

The stock-ready answer is, "Of course Christians should ignore it.  It gives men the power instead of God and encourages self-centeredness."

Good, stock answer to make a Christian proud.

But what is missingis peeling back and meeting people where they are.  Why are they looking at the Law of Attraction?  We’ve painted ALL of them as simply mindless consumers who want a BMW.  And they need to just stop pursuing this "heretical thought" and make God the center of their lives.

I’m sorry, but that is often a huge jump which leaves a vaccuum that is being filled by lies, while we stand idly by literally condemning and judging those who are seeking to fill an emptiness in their lives.  Yes, you could say that emptiness is consumerist, but in a consumer-driven society, why should we expect any differently?  When the human condition is to be like a "sheep," why do we choose to run rather than shepherd?

Over the past 12 months, where has search for "the law of attraction" on mighty Google been highest relative to other searches in that region?  In Beverly Hills?  In Silicon Valley?

No.

It’s Kenya.

In 1996, ranked as the 17th poorest country.  45% of the population is Protestant. 

I don’t know how accurate Google’s data is on this search term, or what does it mean, other than people are seeking this stuff out because it is hitting them where they hurt.  Oprah, The Secret, the Law of Attraction, MLM — all of these things are tapping into real needs and desires, and I believe that if we don’t meet them and form a bridge to what true Abundant Living is through the truth of the gospel in a way that doesn’t require them to be understand complete doctrine from the beginning, then we have failed.

The data from Google has been normalized, which means that because Kenya ranks ‘100′ in searching for ‘law of attraction’ is 3 times as many as people searching on it relative to other terms in the United States which has a rank of ‘37.’ 

Shouldn’t we be offering a true alternative?  The truth in the Bible gives a handbook and a call to live an "abundant life" — I think we’d be remiss to fail to win the mindshare and allow these other half-truths to prevail.

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I recall all you have done

Posted by Timothy
June 8, 2009

11Our LORD, I will remember

   the things you have done,

   your miracles of long ago.

    12I will think about each one

   of your mighty deeds.

    13Everything you do is right,

   and no other god

   compares with you.  (Psalm 77:11-13 Contemporary English Version)

One of the best ways to strengthen our faith and refresh our soul after the exercises we’ve done for the past several days is to recall what God has done for you so far.

The natural tendency when we are facing a challenge or a seemingly unattainable goal is to forget that God, in even the smallest of ways, has been working for you.  But in this way we can strengthen our faith and increase focus on what he can still do for us.

If there has been a valley in your past, how did you rise from it?  Can you recall — even if it was a really long time ago — an aspect of your life where you needed God — finance, relationship, health — and he came through?

Big or small, what work has he done in you and in those around you?  Those who are in relaly tough spots or who haven’t had a relationship with God might find this exercise hard.  But God’s hand is in *everyone’s* life and the power and challenge comes from recognizing where it might be.  It is a powerful way for us to end the section on the "Mind" and here are some "ticklers" to maybe remind you:

Recall each one of God’s "mighty deeds" and I know your Mind will be strengthened in God’s work in you to experience abundant living.

Prayer

God, bring to my mind things you’ve done in my life.  Fill my mind with the memory and feelings of "all you have done."

Actions

Write at least one area where you’ve seen God’s hand in a difficult spot.  Write down: "God, I see how you’ve performed that miracle, so I trust that you will see me through my struggles to achieve this:" and describe what abundant living looks like to you!

Praise

God, I recall all you have done, everything you do is right!

Have you heard of "The Secret"? But you are a Christian?  Check out this link!

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Strike five or six times!

Posted by Timothy
June 3, 2009

 17 Then he commanded, “Open that eastern window,” and he opened it. Then he said, “Shoot!” So he shot an arrow. Elisha proclaimed, “This is the Lord’s arrow, an arrow of victory over Aram, for you will completely conquer the Arameans at Aphek.”

 18 Then he said, “Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the ground.” So the king picked them up and struck the ground three times. 19 But the man of God was angry with him. “You should have struck the ground five or six times!” he exclaimed. “Then you would have beaten Aram until it was entirely destroyed. Now you will be victorious only three times.”  2 Kings 13:17-19 (New Living Translation)

The king struck the ground three times then quit.

And as a result, the king would not defeat his opponent.

The prophet instead said if he had struck the ground “five or six times” he would be victorious. What is happening here?

Even when victory is given to us, if we allow ourselves to limit, to not strike with the full force of effort, even with God’s guidance we may fall short of the goal.

Notice how this was before the battle even began that the outcome was determined!

How many times will you “strike the ground” with initiative, force, and confidence to take one bold step out in faith for your plan?

Will you take action and then quit, just short of total victory?

Let’s begin with this third-section of “Strength” confident from our renewed mind and empowered by faith and God-given plans of action. Let’s strike the ground hard and fast, “five or six times” and be warned of just hitting with some of what we’ve got and then quitting!

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Allow God to Search your Deceitful Heart

Posted by Timothy
June 2, 2009

8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
      with roots that reach deep into the water.
   Such trees are not bothered by the heat
      or worried by long months of drought.
   Their leaves stay green,
      and they never stop producing fruit.

 9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,
      and desperately wicked.
      Who really knows how bad it is?
 10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts
      and examine secret motives.
   I give all people their due rewards,
      according to what their actions deserve.” (NLT)

In this phase, asking and focusing on our "heart’s desires" gets us to the plan, the purpose, the goals that we can partner with God.  It can be in areas such as health, finances, relationships, or community impact — all can fall under the "abundant life."  So if I am advocating that God will give you the desires of your heart, why do I bring the verse "the heart is the most deceitful of all things"?

Because it is.  Achieving your true desires means examining what those true desires are and getting them aligned with God. 

Let God search through your heart.  This is important.  I, myself, have witnessed what has happened when I have goals and dreams fueled by hurt and lack, revenge and loneliness.  Those aren’t sustainable.  Even if what is desired is actually what God has put on your heart, you’re looking at and experiencing those desires through a tainted lens.

More typically, what you may be perceiving as your "heart’s desire" may be coming from a place reacting to "secret motives" that can come from some of the areas we’ve touched upon earlier.  It is very related to getting the right mindset and digging into the heart-felt desires.

Check: is the desire powered by "love" and if so, the love of what?  "God is love" and it may sound hokey, but it is absolutley practical.  As you’re going through this, what is powering your desire will affect your effectiveness with God.  Would you rather hold onto the "deceitful" vision of your hearts desire and fail, or are you willing to let it go and have one shaped by God and get your "due reward"?

This requires deep honesty with yourself: often times, we can deceive ourselves into making a selfish goal one aligned with God!

"I need the $10M networth because then I will give to God" — but you heart is in the $10M, not the giving.  This is still a legitimate desire if it is honest (but it takes work to ask yourself where it’s coming from).

"I need to get into Harvard Medical School because only then can I do God’s ministry" — check that.

"I want to get married this year because that way I can have a Godly life."

These could all be legitimate desires, but they could also be masking want, low-self-esteem, pride, and loneliness.  But be honest with them.  Perhaps spending time with God and looking at it really will allow you to change your heart while the statements are the same.  But consider and be open that the specific desire itself changes:

"I want to give to God’s kingdom whatever I have, and don’t need the money for myself, but honestly believe the more I have, the more I can give."  I find this to be the hardest to be honest about, and we will continue to spend time on it.

"I really do want to serve the sick, and in my brokenness I think the Harvard name will make a difference, but I want to go to the best school to be the most impactful to heal the sick."

"I want to rely solely on my relationship with Jesus, yes I am lonely and haven’t filled the emptiness, so please fill that emptiness with You because I believe then I can rightly attract, serve, and love the person you have for me."

These aren’t perfect revisions.  I want to use them as examples.  But preface everything with, "God, search my heart."

Prayer (in your own words)

God, search my heart to root out any evil desires, but let me see plain and clear the true desire of my heart.  I will know when it makes me thankful and dependent on you, and when the desire is powered by Love.  I can still ask for and desire material things, things that I truly want, because you love to give gifts, but make sure there is no "evil" in these desires.

Action

Write down what you believe your heart desires are.  Exactly, pour them out, what you are longing for, aching for, dreaming about, from the small to the big.  Pour our your heart’s desires as a request to God (e.g. I want, I need, please give me)

Praise

Remember from Day 11 that God does want to give you the desires of your heart and thank Him for that.

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Right thinking leads to peace while wrong leads to death

Posted by Timothy
June 1, 2009

The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.[c] So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

 5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

 9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) 10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life[d] because you have been made right with God. (Romans 8:3-10 (NLT))

And:

3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,[a] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.[b] And so he condemned sin in sinful man,[c] 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

 5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man[d] is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind[e] is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

 9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. (Romans 8:3-10 (New International Version))

I’ve provided context but the actual verse to focus on is Romans 8:6: "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;"

It defines the sinful nature as having minds set on what "nature desires" or think about "sinful things" — this exercise isn’t to condemn, it’s to help cleanse.  What are some areas that we should identify, acknowledge, and then replace with one that is controlled by the Spirit rather than "hostile to God."

Some areas that can get in the way of us achieving success, abundance, and most importantly, peace where our sinful nature can take over.  Review and just check off the areas that affect you, and write others that may be missing.  But wrestle with this, maybe take time to think over the moments when you are least productive, or most angry and fearful, and capture those:

Write down others and write down, "I will submit my (x) to God’s law and let it be controlled by the Spirit."

In other words, don’t fight it yourself.  Yes, you should take the thoughts captive, but I wrestled myself with how much willpower to end those thoughts.  We need the willpower to be aware, to acknowledge it, to take them captive; but replace it with good thoughts (as we’ll see) and let our mind be controlled by the Spirit to experience peace.  It takes willpower to actively, consciously will to submit and be controlled, but read the passage and look at the choices. 

One choice leads to death.  The other leads to peace.

Prayer:

In you own words, ask, "God let your spirit control my mind.  Bring peace.  Bring to light the sinful thoughts, the sinful desires, because my mind perversely enjoys these thoughts.  But I will "submit" those thoughts and allow the Spirit to control and bring peace."

Actions

Review the words you’ve indicating and describe what does the "peace" of the Spirit bring to you in terms of images, feelings, and physical results in the world around you such as the way your day would be different.  Write it down.

Praise

Be thankful there’s a way out of the craziness of going into your sinful thoughts.  Be thankful there is there choice that we can make of Life or Death, abundance or scarcity, peace or worry.

Learn more and how this is more powerful than the heavily marketed Law of Attraction!

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