Ep.972: What’s Your Hurry?
The deep biblical meaning of patience and how to achieve it
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CHAPTERS
Theme Scripture: Hebrews 10:36
We are not patient. Not anymore. It used to be just a few decades ago that when you needed to talk to someone far away, you waited until the day ended, went home, had dinner and then you tried to call them. Several decades before that, you thought about what you wanted to say, wrote them a letter, sent it and waited… Now we simply and instantly text them and usually get a pretty instant answer as well. Not only do we not have patience, we have a hard time teaching it to others. Our children have the privilege and problem of instant access, instant answers and instant fun which leads them to instant frustration when something doesn’t go as expected. Patience – Jesus told us “in your patience possess ye your souls.” Turns out that there is much more to that statement than meets the eye! What is the Bible’s real message regarding patience for Christians?
The first thing to realize about patience is that there are a whole lot of applications for it. Patience in its simplest form is waiting – we really want that cup of coffee – we really need that cup of coffee but it needs to brew – it won’t be rushed, so you simply need to wait. This is probably the most common understanding of patience and when you think about it, it really shouldn’t be all that hard to master. After all, we know that things sometimes just take time, yet in spite of that knowledge we still get frazzled! Interestingly, the Bible has little to say about this kind of patience. It’s almost like it is too basic to even comment on.
The Bible begins to have something to say as we look at a deeper kind of patience. To be patient (according to Scripture) is to "be appropriate," and this is so much harder than simply waiting. Think about it: You are a parent and your teenager is in one of those adolescent, verbally-destroy-everything-in-their-path moods. You have already had a long and trying day and the second you walk in the door – bam! You are the enemy. You feel like snapping back – but you don’t because you understand that you are the adult here and you have an opportunity to set a great example! So, you respond with appropriateness – you respond with grace and understanding. Wait, that’s not how you would respond? Well, then that’s just one of many great reasons to listen to this podcast, but more on that in a minute.
The Bible identifies two other types of patience that go far beyond simply waiting for something and being appropriate in circumstances that are common. As a matter of fact, the deeper the type of patience, the more the Bible has to say about it. Without going into details now on these deeper and more significant brands of patience, we already have a lesson before us that is profound: As Christians we are expected to be able to master the most basic type of patience, and we really need to learn and master the deeper kinds as they are necessary for our faithfulness.
Learn how with us! Check out our May 29, 2017 podcast, “What’s Your Hurry?” and see what might be missing in your patience arsenal. Who knows – understanding all of this might even help with your blood pressure!
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Ep.971: How Sweet is Revenge?
Learning to focus the emotions of revenge for good
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CHAPTERS
Theme Scripture: Romans 12:17
Revenge – the desire for it can be a powerful and even overwhelming emotion. Sadly, thinking about revenge can be a fun, motivating and bonding experience. It occupies our minds with creative and often diabolical means with which to carry out our purpose. It is amazing how the development of such a negative action can spur such positive feelings. So wait – if all of these positive feelings come from planning revenge, can we rightfully label it as wrong? Absolutely! Just because something makes you feel good or empowered or focused doesn’t mean you are becoming a better person Remember, Satan felt good and was empowered. He was definitely focused when he rebelled against God. We all know how THAT will turn out! Can revenge ever be good? How do we recognize, manage and direct these feelings?
Thoughts of revenge
Psychological studies clearly indicate that the human brain responds positively to thoughts of revenge. When the brain produces the chemicals that tell us something is good or desirable, we obviously are attracted to it (revenge in this case) on a subconscious level. This creates a real problem for us if we are trying to “walk the high road” and put thoughts of getting even away. Our physiological “instinct” is to seek retribution...and that “instinct” is deeply persistent. What do we do?
What if...?
The first thing is to follow this “what if” equation of revenge out to its theoretical conclusion. If planning it brings desirable reactions, what about actually following through and getting it? What does your brain tell you now? Well, it tells you the exact opposite! Psychological studies indicate that the act of revenge produces a negative response in our brains. The findings indicate that carrying out such an act helps the original trauma for which we sought revenge in the first place to take a deeper residence in our brains, producing persistent negative feelings. Essentially, getting revenge only makes the whole trauma worse and its negative effects more lasting and powerful!
ME, ME, ME!
Our next stop in understanding and defeating this desire is to look at it in comparison to actual justice. This is a revealing place to stop and think, because revenge and justice are entirely different. Revenge is all about ME. It is all about retaliating in such a way as to make myself feel better. I plan and do things that I feel will not necessarily even the score but will make a statement of my own strength or resiliency. Justice is simply about doing that which is right – it is about an appropriate reaction to a wrong and not an emotional reaction to a hurt. Thinking about it may be fun, but following justice is right. Boring? Maybe. The best answer? Always!
There is so much more to this. Not only does the Bible emphatically teach us to run away from revenge, it also teaches us how to refocus its energy towards appropriate and positive responses. Check out our May 22, 2017 podcast, “How Sweet is Revenge?” and see for yourself how our thoughts and feelings can be transformed! You never know, listening may help you change your thinking!
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Ep.970: Does Your Mind Have Fraud Protection?
Applying "fraud prevention principles" to living a Christian Life
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CHAPTERS
Theme Scripture: Luke 16:10
So, have you ever been or have you ever known someone who has been a victim of fraud? You know, had their credit card number stolen or their bank account hacked or their social security number breached? It is all quite real and it is all quite unsettling. Now, have you heard the term “fake news”? Think about it – fake news is fraud as well, since in its reporting we are led to believe something is true that isn’t. This phenomena is quite real and it is quite unsettling. Now, have you ever taken something from work that is not yours or “padded” an expense report or “forgotten” some income on your tax return? These things are also fraud – they are quite real and they are quite unsettling. The bottom line is, fraud is everywhere and we as Christians can be victims of it and we can also perpetrate it. So, what do we do? How do we keep fraud from being a part of our lives?
As a Christian, thinking about fraud is disturbing enough but thinking about being a perpetrator of fraud should really make us ask how this can be so. How is it that I need to be on my guard against doing something that is so far removed from my Christian principles? The answer to these questions can be easily summed up in one word...subtlety. Because we have access to so much with such ease, because we have the ability to be pretty much anywhere in the virtual world with anonymity and because our culture has made most everything acceptable, we are faced with the opportunity to be fraudulent in a thousand ways with almost no external accountability. Subtle.
In the fraud prevention world there are three basic steps that should be taken by consumers who seek protection. They are MONITOR, COUNSEL and RESTORE. Many companies tell us that if we trust them for our fraud protection they will enact these steps on our behalf. These three steps are not only in place to help prevent fraud, but they assume fraud will happen and are in place to fix an inevitable problem, as every fraud prevention company knows that no one can prevent all fraud.
What if we took these three steps and applied them to our personal experiences? What if we decided to MONITOR – to look into and around our decision making and determine where weaknesses might be lurking that would tempt us to engage in some action that compromises our highest values? What if we decided to seek COUNSEL – to look outside of our own thinking and interpretations to find solid input and advice that can “keep us honest"? What if we decided to RESTORE - to be truly committed to making and keeping our actions on a level of the highest integrity?
Check out our May 15, 2017 podcast, “Does Your Mind Have Fraud Protection?” and not only learn what three ingredients need to be in place to perpetuate fraud but more importantly learn the many ways we can truly protect ourselves from getting into fraudulent situations in the first place. MONITOR, COUNSEL and RESTORE – why not start now?
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Ep.969: Will God’s Vengeance Squash Us Like Bugs?
What God's vengeance means - how it works and why it happens
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CHAPTERS
Theme Scripture: Zephaniah 3:8
Vengeance, indignation, burning anger and jealousy. These are some of the words the Bible uses to describe God’s reactions to this present evil world. To put it mildly, God is not happy. Can you blame Him? Look at us – look at what this world does, what it stands for and how we treat one another! God will not allow such sin and corruption to continue. He will act and when He does, there will be no mistaking His response. The Bible emphatically describes what look like world ending events – these events are called “The Day of Vengeance,” “Armageddon,” “The Time of Trouble,” “The Day of Wrath”… So wait! We are always talking about God being a God of love – how could this vengeance of God possibly be interpreted as an act of love? Is God so vengeful and angry that He is going to squash us like bugs or is there another way to understand what His vengeance is, how it works and what it accomplishes?
As we pursue understanding what it means to experience the vengeance of God we really need to ask some other far less obvious questions – how important is God’s vengeance in relation to the rest of His plan? Is God’s anger the paramount factor in biblical teaching? Obviously you will get a variety of answers depending upon who you ask, but consider the following as a starting point: Christians all believe that Jesus is the centerpiece of the Bible’s message. This means that we would cling to his teachings and example as the centerpiece of our lives. That being the case, how often did Jesus focus us on God’s vengeance? How much of a central theme was the "Day of Wrath” in his teachings? The answer is...not much at all. Outside of the prophecy he gave about his own return and the conditions surrounding it, the vengeance of God did not seem at all important.
We can draw a profound lesson from this. The prophecy of the Day of Vengeance and all that it stands for, while noteworthy, does not rise to the point of being a centerpiece of God’s plan. Why is it not a centerpiece? Because it is a specific prophecy about a specific and short period of time - simply a small piece in the puzzle of God’s grand plan for the human race. Having said that, the Day of Vengeance IS coming and our understanding of it should be clear. For most of us it is not. Most of us assume the worst Hollywood depictions of a God whose furious and uncontrollable anger swoops down upon this sinful world to vengefully destroy it and all who abide there.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
God’s vengeance is NOT like our vengeance, for God’s character is above our human propensities for emotional outbursts and revenge-based actions. To know what the Day of Vengeance is REALLY about, how it happens and what its results are can be an enormous awakening. Check out our May 8, 2017 podcast, “Will God’s Vengeance Squash Us Like Bugs?” and follow along with us as we put God’s wrath, sin, the ending of social orders and what comes next into perspective. You just might be surprised!
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Ep.968: Why Can’t I Just Be Happy?
Revealing the secrets of living a truly happy Christian life
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CHAPTERS
Theme Scripture: Philippians 4:12
You want to be happy. I want to be happy. Everyone wants to be happy, I mean, who wouldn’t want to be happy? The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America talks about “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” as being unalienable rights of humanity. What can we conclude from all of this? Happiness is a central objective and desire that belongs to all. Having said that...why aren’t we happy? Why are so many of us frustrated, disappointed and anxious about our lives? Why do we overeat, binge, eat chocolate, shop or do any number of other things to hide from our lack of happiness? Why can’t we just be happy? Why can’t we stop comparing, stop wishing, stop regretting, stop rationalizing and just start living today for the glory of it being our present? There is hope because happiness is attainable! We just need to know where and how to look for it and how to recognize it when we see it.
The first thing we need to figure out about our pursuit of happiness is what kind of happiness we are truly looking for? Do we want the kind that you get when you open a gift or have a day off or you get a bonus check? That kind of happy is around and has the possibility of being attained periodically according to circumstances. The issue is, that kind of happy comes with circumstances and then it goes with circumstances, so it is enjoyable but not enduring. The other kind of happy is a different story, for when it comes, it tends to stay and positively affect your everyday life. Though much more desirable, this kind of happy is more elusive, for it needs to be found in spite of our circumstances and is therefore often hidden from our everyday observations. So, how do we find it?
We find it by not looking for it. We find it by realizing that it comes to us by way of our desire, determination and ability to be content. Great! I want to be happy but I shouldn’t try and find happiness because it will find me if I am content. So what does it mean to be content? Does it mean that I should stop striving to better myself or my circumstances or my habits? Does being content mean I should give up on the future and just accept whatever the present is? I’m confused and being confused doesn’t make me happy or content!
Okay, let’s regroup. The problem here is that most of us view happiness and contentment as things you put on and not as things that grow from the inside out. The Bible defines contentment in a very unique way, and once we begin to understand contentment through this biblical lens the whole equation changes. We begin to see how to think, what to do and why, so we can achieve a life of contentment and therefore invite happiness in as a permanent life fixture. Check out our May 1st, 2017 podcast, “Why Can’t I Just Be Happy?” and learn what the secret of contentment is. Take some solid steps towards making your life a truly happy one!
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