But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you . . . (Acts 1:8).
Now when Simon say that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the Apostles hands, he offered them money . . . (Acts 8: 18).
And we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit ( II Corinthians 3:18).
This last week, the lovely and gracious Helen and I had occasion to go to the Christian bookstore in Sioux City. While browsing the book shelves, I read a book title, "How to Tap into the Power of the Holy Spirit." I have read that phrase and heard it by radio and TV evangelists so much that it made me want to throw up. The book lost all credibility with me just in the title!
The Christian sensationalist preachers and teachers want you to believe that the power of the Holy Spirit is available on command. They are the modern-day simonists who seek to profit from the Holy Spirit's power by implying that the right technique will connect you to Holy Spirit's power--turn on the right switch and Holy Spirit's power is yours. Peter would tell them just as he told Simon, Your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for you heart is not right before God (Acts 8: 20-21).
The promise of God in his word is that when a person comes to faith in Christ and is baptized (Acts 2:38), not only would that person's sins be forgiven, but he would receive Holy Spirit as an indwelling presence. This presence of the Spirit needs no tapping into or turning on. It is simply a matter of relationship with God. If we are in Christ, we can expect Holy Spirit to be working in our lives changing us to become more and more like Christ.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Friday, June 29, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
IS CHURCH A SAFE PLACE?
Come to me all who labor and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).
The lovely and gracious Helen and I spent last week at Christian Service camp as dorm parents to 5th and 6th grade, 11 and 12 year old, girls and boys. It is our short-term mission that we do each year. The boys come from all different kinds of homes, some from highly functioning Christian homes to homes where there is abuse, addictions and divorce. So, our last night of the week, one of the boys came to me, telling me that he wished camp was not nearly over because, he said, "I feel safe here." As we talked together, abuse at home was not indicated. But, this set me to thinking about church being a safe place. Providing a safe place for change is essential as people make themselves vulnerable to the life-changing power of God through Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit.
God is not safe, He is dangerous, calling us to do things that we had never imagined ourselves doing. Loving our enemies, selling our fortunes and following Jesus, going to far-away lands to take the gospel, serving as a medical missionary, apologizing to a bitter foe, teaching 5th and 6th graders, etc. Talk about danger and adventure! Being a Christian is both safe and dangerous. Are you ready for the challenge?
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
The lovely and gracious Helen and I spent last week at Christian Service camp as dorm parents to 5th and 6th grade, 11 and 12 year old, girls and boys. It is our short-term mission that we do each year. The boys come from all different kinds of homes, some from highly functioning Christian homes to homes where there is abuse, addictions and divorce. So, our last night of the week, one of the boys came to me, telling me that he wished camp was not nearly over because, he said, "I feel safe here." As we talked together, abuse at home was not indicated. But, this set me to thinking about church being a safe place. Providing a safe place for change is essential as people make themselves vulnerable to the life-changing power of God through Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit.
God is not safe, He is dangerous, calling us to do things that we had never imagined ourselves doing. Loving our enemies, selling our fortunes and following Jesus, going to far-away lands to take the gospel, serving as a medical missionary, apologizing to a bitter foe, teaching 5th and 6th graders, etc. Talk about danger and adventure! Being a Christian is both safe and dangerous. Are you ready for the challenge?
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Thursday, June 14, 2012
AUTUMN LIGHT
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).
Summer has only just begun and yet I am already writing about autumn. What triggered my thinking about autumn was when I was scouting my crops I was imagining what they would look like when September comes. September and October are the most beautiful months of the year. The maturity of the crops, the changing of colors, but to me, the quality of the sunlight changes too, the sunlight is more golden. That has to do with the tilt of the earth towards the sun, I suppose, but it seems to me that autumn light has a quality that is not duplicated by any other season of the year. Autumn light is the most beautiful light.
Then my thoughts turned to the seasons of life. I am past the mid-point of my life expectancy, being officially a senior citizen, I am in the "autumn" of my life. The light of our world is filtered through past experiences and relationships that tend to add color to that light. The light of the seniors world can be harsh and bitter or it can be golden and peaceful, it depends on the eyes. The eyes of faith make all the difference in how one sees the light: "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness" (Matthew 6:22,23).
Through what kind of eyes are you viewing the world? Faith in Christ, or belief in something else? Don't miss the autumn light.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Summer has only just begun and yet I am already writing about autumn. What triggered my thinking about autumn was when I was scouting my crops I was imagining what they would look like when September comes. September and October are the most beautiful months of the year. The maturity of the crops, the changing of colors, but to me, the quality of the sunlight changes too, the sunlight is more golden. That has to do with the tilt of the earth towards the sun, I suppose, but it seems to me that autumn light has a quality that is not duplicated by any other season of the year. Autumn light is the most beautiful light.
Then my thoughts turned to the seasons of life. I am past the mid-point of my life expectancy, being officially a senior citizen, I am in the "autumn" of my life. The light of our world is filtered through past experiences and relationships that tend to add color to that light. The light of the seniors world can be harsh and bitter or it can be golden and peaceful, it depends on the eyes. The eyes of faith make all the difference in how one sees the light: "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness" (Matthew 6:22,23).
Through what kind of eyes are you viewing the world? Faith in Christ, or belief in something else? Don't miss the autumn light.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Thursday, June 07, 2012
YOU CANNOT DRAW ON RESOURCES YOU DO NOT HAVE
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be mad know to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).
In the May/June issue of Psychology Today, in an interview with psychologist, David Schnarch, writer Pamela Weintraub reports: And when you become your own person within a relationship, you leave room for someone else to do the same. Instead of depending on a partner to help you manage your own feelings and maintain your equilibrium, you are free to be with your partner. "You can offer your partner a hand instead of just your needs." Schnarch goes on to emphasize, You have to learn to sooth your own discomfort, regulate your own emotions, and pursue your own goals. To stop being a drain on your partner and to handle problems on your own.
I liked the article and would recommend its reading, nevertheless, as a Bowenist*, Dr. Schnarch should understand that learning to sooth one's own discomforts is almost impossible. I know that skills can be taught, but when stress levels increase, people will return to their old selves. One cannot draw on resources he does not have. That is the problem with a lot of approaches to therapy, people are asked to draw on resources they do not have. Purpose and meaning cannot be drawn out of thin air. Soothing one's own anxieties demands resources that one cannot generate within himself when stress becomes unbearable.
Generally, psychologists do not regard faith as being a legitimate approach to therapy, but trusting in God has helped many, many people deal with difficult marriages, anxiety, depression and addictions. God is the source of the resources needed to sooth your own feelings and maintain your equilibrium so that you can be the kind of marriage partner who can help your spouse grow and your marriage flourish.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
*I respect Dr. Bowen's work, but as an atheist, ultimately, he does leave those with a lot of undifferentiated ego mass without any real resources to deal with their problems. Bowen does, for me, provide a good lense through which to diagnose and even to design treatment, but there has to be a resource from which strength is drawn, otherwise during periods of high stress a person will revert to his original condition.
In the May/June issue of Psychology Today, in an interview with psychologist, David Schnarch, writer Pamela Weintraub reports: And when you become your own person within a relationship, you leave room for someone else to do the same. Instead of depending on a partner to help you manage your own feelings and maintain your equilibrium, you are free to be with your partner. "You can offer your partner a hand instead of just your needs." Schnarch goes on to emphasize, You have to learn to sooth your own discomfort, regulate your own emotions, and pursue your own goals. To stop being a drain on your partner and to handle problems on your own.
I liked the article and would recommend its reading, nevertheless, as a Bowenist*, Dr. Schnarch should understand that learning to sooth one's own discomforts is almost impossible. I know that skills can be taught, but when stress levels increase, people will return to their old selves. One cannot draw on resources he does not have. That is the problem with a lot of approaches to therapy, people are asked to draw on resources they do not have. Purpose and meaning cannot be drawn out of thin air. Soothing one's own anxieties demands resources that one cannot generate within himself when stress becomes unbearable.
Generally, psychologists do not regard faith as being a legitimate approach to therapy, but trusting in God has helped many, many people deal with difficult marriages, anxiety, depression and addictions. God is the source of the resources needed to sooth your own feelings and maintain your equilibrium so that you can be the kind of marriage partner who can help your spouse grow and your marriage flourish.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
*I respect Dr. Bowen's work, but as an atheist, ultimately, he does leave those with a lot of undifferentiated ego mass without any real resources to deal with their problems. Bowen does, for me, provide a good lense through which to diagnose and even to design treatment, but there has to be a resource from which strength is drawn, otherwise during periods of high stress a person will revert to his original condition.
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