And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him or knows him . . . (John 14:16-17).
I was looking around in my library, trying to break writer's block, when I stumbled on this quotation from Dr. William Glasser's book, "Control Theory". I thought it worth repeating. Notice that Glasser uses "depressing" rather than depression. We think that depression is a illness that happens to us, and in a few cases, it is. However, Glasser's use of "depressing" is an attempt to communicate that, for the vast majority of cases, depression is something we do.
Depressing, painful as it is, is the most powerful way that human beings have found to ask for help without begging. Many of us have become so skilled at the "art" of depressing that we are able to depress just enough to get help without asking--to choose to depress more would be to suffer needlessly.
Depressing, therefore, allows us to plead for help and at the same time maintain our self-esteem by denying that we need it.
Often, the help we need and the help we want are two different things. Our heavenly Father has supplied us with a counselor who will walk with us and strengthen us to face the challenges of this life. He wants you to ask.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Friday, November 30, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
EUCHARIST MEANS THANKSGIVING (A Communion Meditation)
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night which he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks , he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me" (I Corinthians 11:23-25 emphasis mine).
Eucharist is not usually associated with the Lord's Supper, but it should be one of the most often used titles of the memorial by which we remember the greatest sacrifice made on our behalf. In the original language Eucharist means thanksgiving. In this scripture the verb for of Eucharist is used revealing to us that Jesus had an attitude of gratitude throughout the most difficult of his times on this earth. Jesus knew well that the time of his humiliation, torture and death was very near and yet he gave thanks as he instituted this memorial. Since Jesus is our example, it is obvious that we too should be thankful even when we are facing the most difficult times of our lives.
What benefits Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection have given us ought to inspire us to praise and thanksgiving! These benefits were poured out on both sides of the cross, both before and after, and therefore, these words from Psalms 103: 1-5 are appropriate: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Call the Lord's Supper, Eucharist, because not only does it mean thanksgiving, but because of what Jesus has done for us, there is so much for which to give thanks!
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Eucharist is not usually associated with the Lord's Supper, but it should be one of the most often used titles of the memorial by which we remember the greatest sacrifice made on our behalf. In the original language Eucharist means thanksgiving. In this scripture the verb for of Eucharist is used revealing to us that Jesus had an attitude of gratitude throughout the most difficult of his times on this earth. Jesus knew well that the time of his humiliation, torture and death was very near and yet he gave thanks as he instituted this memorial. Since Jesus is our example, it is obvious that we too should be thankful even when we are facing the most difficult times of our lives.
What benefits Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection have given us ought to inspire us to praise and thanksgiving! These benefits were poured out on both sides of the cross, both before and after, and therefore, these words from Psalms 103: 1-5 are appropriate: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Call the Lord's Supper, Eucharist, because not only does it mean thanksgiving, but because of what Jesus has done for us, there is so much for which to give thanks!
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Saturday, November 17, 2012
A TRUTH ABOUT ECONOMICS
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? (Matthew 6:30).
This is not an original thought of mine,* but I think it is worth repeating given the financial peril that our country faces. In times of stress and corruption these sayings hold true:
Those close to the kitchen get the food.
Those close to the bank get the money.
The farther one is from the kitchen, the less likely he is to get good food. And the farther one is from the central bank, the less likely one is to get good money because it becomes worth less the farther it is distributed.
In these times, as children of the King, it is good to know that we will be taken care of in any case.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
*From a financial newsletter I read. Perhaps these thoughts are not self-explanatory as there are some complexities involved, nevertheless, they are worth pondering.
This is not an original thought of mine,* but I think it is worth repeating given the financial peril that our country faces. In times of stress and corruption these sayings hold true:
Those close to the kitchen get the food.
Those close to the bank get the money.
The farther one is from the kitchen, the less likely he is to get good food. And the farther one is from the central bank, the less likely one is to get good money because it becomes worth less the farther it is distributed.
In these times, as children of the King, it is good to know that we will be taken care of in any case.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
*From a financial newsletter I read. Perhaps these thoughts are not self-explanatory as there are some complexities involved, nevertheless, they are worth pondering.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
RELATIONSHIPS TAKE A LOT OF ORDINARY TIME
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven . . . a time for love, and a time to hate (Ecclesiastes 3:1&8).
Perhaps I should have included all eight verses of Ecclesiastes chapter three because they all have to do with the times of our lives on this earth--I was just too lazy to write them all out.
For the last 40 years in popular psychology there has been this notion that quality time is all that is required to have a relationship. But to have quality moments with a person, a lot of ordinary time is required. The notion of "quality time" is a symptom of the narcissism of the age, we text message so that we do not have to waste time talking on the phone, we do speed dating so that we do not waste time with the wrong people, etc. The idea that "hell is other people" is truly the philosophy of my generation and, as a result, the bitterness of the political divide and that divorce is rampant should not surprise us.
How do husbands and wives learn to trust each other? How do children learn to trust their parents? It takes time to know the true values of the other in real life. It is in the everyday conversations, watching each other as we respond to different situations, that we learn each other's language and the values they hold most dear. It takes a lot of ordinary moments in order to have quality time.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Perhaps I should have included all eight verses of Ecclesiastes chapter three because they all have to do with the times of our lives on this earth--I was just too lazy to write them all out.
For the last 40 years in popular psychology there has been this notion that quality time is all that is required to have a relationship. But to have quality moments with a person, a lot of ordinary time is required. The notion of "quality time" is a symptom of the narcissism of the age, we text message so that we do not have to waste time talking on the phone, we do speed dating so that we do not waste time with the wrong people, etc. The idea that "hell is other people" is truly the philosophy of my generation and, as a result, the bitterness of the political divide and that divorce is rampant should not surprise us.
How do husbands and wives learn to trust each other? How do children learn to trust their parents? It takes time to know the true values of the other in real life. It is in the everyday conversations, watching each other as we respond to different situations, that we learn each other's language and the values they hold most dear. It takes a lot of ordinary moments in order to have quality time.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Friday, November 09, 2012
HOW DID YOU HELP?
Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and all in the region who were two years and under . . . (Matthew 2:16).
The election did not turn out as many of us hoped and just as many who were disappointed are still searching for reasons why conservatives could not defeat a failed and ineffective administration. I am not going to pretend to have the answers, but I do know that three million Republicans sat on their hands and did not vote at all. I'm sure that there was at least another million conservative independents who did not show up at the polls either. I'm sure they could all give an answer, but the question is, how did they help?
If the Republicans would have been elected our tax dollars would not support planned parenthood, the biggest abortion provider. It may be that some babies would have been spared death if our tax money weren't providing for abortion on demand. How did the non voters help them? Three million plus votes in the right places would have gone a long way to tipping the election towards conservatism.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
The election did not turn out as many of us hoped and just as many who were disappointed are still searching for reasons why conservatives could not defeat a failed and ineffective administration. I am not going to pretend to have the answers, but I do know that three million Republicans sat on their hands and did not vote at all. I'm sure that there was at least another million conservative independents who did not show up at the polls either. I'm sure they could all give an answer, but the question is, how did they help?
If the Republicans would have been elected our tax dollars would not support planned parenthood, the biggest abortion provider. It may be that some babies would have been spared death if our tax money weren't providing for abortion on demand. How did the non voters help them? Three million plus votes in the right places would have gone a long way to tipping the election towards conservatism.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Monday, November 05, 2012
GOVERNANCE IS A MESSY BUSINESS, BUT OUR RESPONSIBILITY
When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass sprout from the earth (II Samuel 23:3-4).
These verses in the King James Version were some of the lyrics to the song by Randal Thompson called, "The Last Words of David," a song which the select Northwest Iowa Chorus, of which I was a member, sang in concert more than forty years ago. It was that song that led me to select the above text in the Revised Standard Version as the basis for my comments.
The election is finally here. I would like to say that the campaigning will finally be over, but these days campaigning goes on for the full term. Is there a perfect candidate? No, but I do believe some are better that others. In any case, when it comes to voting for a candidate, one votes for the lesser of two evils. As James 2:10 reminds us, For whoever keeps the whole law, but has failed in one point has become guilty of all of it. All of us are guilty. The lesser of two evils is still evil, but providing the best governance possible for American citizens is the responsibility that God has placed on the shoulders of every voting-age citizen.
Romans 13:1 tells us, Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. In the case of the United States of America, the governing authority instituted by God is the Constitution. The Constitution expects the participation of the citizens of the USA in its governance. God has not directly placed Obama in the presidency of the United States, it was people, acting as citizens under the constitution, that placed him there. The character of the president is a reflection of the character of the citizens of the United States. God has His finger in the authorship and the adoption of the U.S. Constitution.* Our selection of the officials of governance are a reflection of our national character.
Actually, it is difficult for a citizen not to participate in government. Some may say, "Don't blame me. I didn't vote." However, the apathetic non vote is a vote for the most incompetent candidate, enabling him/her to gain office and bring hardship to the nation. Not voting can also be an act of passive aggression, but it is pretty hard to quantify what the passivity means so little value can be drawn from it. If one wants to have a voice, voting, and persuading as many others as possible to vote in the same way, is one of the ways to make it heard.
In America, God expects you to vote.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
*The Constitution reflects the Christian values of its authors, the vast majority of them being Christian. Thus, the Constitution rules in the fear of God and is the rule of law. Those government officials who shred the Constitution, who make unConstitutional law, are not legitimate officials, they have violated their oath to protect and defend the Constitution. It is our duty as American citizens to use every legal means to remove them from office.
These verses in the King James Version were some of the lyrics to the song by Randal Thompson called, "The Last Words of David," a song which the select Northwest Iowa Chorus, of which I was a member, sang in concert more than forty years ago. It was that song that led me to select the above text in the Revised Standard Version as the basis for my comments.
The election is finally here. I would like to say that the campaigning will finally be over, but these days campaigning goes on for the full term. Is there a perfect candidate? No, but I do believe some are better that others. In any case, when it comes to voting for a candidate, one votes for the lesser of two evils. As James 2:10 reminds us, For whoever keeps the whole law, but has failed in one point has become guilty of all of it. All of us are guilty. The lesser of two evils is still evil, but providing the best governance possible for American citizens is the responsibility that God has placed on the shoulders of every voting-age citizen.
Romans 13:1 tells us, Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. In the case of the United States of America, the governing authority instituted by God is the Constitution. The Constitution expects the participation of the citizens of the USA in its governance. God has not directly placed Obama in the presidency of the United States, it was people, acting as citizens under the constitution, that placed him there. The character of the president is a reflection of the character of the citizens of the United States. God has His finger in the authorship and the adoption of the U.S. Constitution.* Our selection of the officials of governance are a reflection of our national character.
Actually, it is difficult for a citizen not to participate in government. Some may say, "Don't blame me. I didn't vote." However, the apathetic non vote is a vote for the most incompetent candidate, enabling him/her to gain office and bring hardship to the nation. Not voting can also be an act of passive aggression, but it is pretty hard to quantify what the passivity means so little value can be drawn from it. If one wants to have a voice, voting, and persuading as many others as possible to vote in the same way, is one of the ways to make it heard.
In America, God expects you to vote.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
*The Constitution reflects the Christian values of its authors, the vast majority of them being Christian. Thus, the Constitution rules in the fear of God and is the rule of law. Those government officials who shred the Constitution, who make unConstitutional law, are not legitimate officials, they have violated their oath to protect and defend the Constitution. It is our duty as American citizens to use every legal means to remove them from office.
Thursday, November 01, 2012
MORE ON HOLY SPIRIT
And take . . . the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication (Ephesians 6:17-18).
In my "stack of stuff" I found the remnants of a post by S.M. Hutchens that is eloquent in its expression of the presence and working of Holy Spirit. It coincides with my thinking, so I wanted to share the following paragraph with my faithful readers:
But I am more confident now that the Holy Spirit, while mysterious, infinitely subtle, and often counter-intuitive is for all that no fool. The gabbling of enthusiasts is not his favored means of communication, nor is he a private gentleman. If he has a message for one who speaks for him, it meets what he has already placed in many of his own, and agrees. He is a friend of reason because he invented it, a friend of counsel, because he is eternally in counsel himself (some would even say, and not without reason, that he is Counsel), and a friend to the wisdom of age and experience, for he is the one who has given it, presumably for use toward his ends. (The presence of these virtues in the church virtually eclipses, I believe, the need for much of what is commonly regarded as charismatic gift. Since they are themselves part of the concrete and enduring telos of the Spirit's work, there is good reason to suspect that the overuse and overvaluation of charismata--which may indeed be from God--is also, in whatever age and in whatever church they appear, a sign of spiritual infantilism.)
Throughout church history, there have been many who felt, and thus were convinced, that the Spirit was speaking to them when the Spirit was saying nothing, they were victims of their own delusions. Hutchens' words are sound teaching that agrees with the teaching of the Bible.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
In my "stack of stuff" I found the remnants of a post by S.M. Hutchens that is eloquent in its expression of the presence and working of Holy Spirit. It coincides with my thinking, so I wanted to share the following paragraph with my faithful readers:
But I am more confident now that the Holy Spirit, while mysterious, infinitely subtle, and often counter-intuitive is for all that no fool. The gabbling of enthusiasts is not his favored means of communication, nor is he a private gentleman. If he has a message for one who speaks for him, it meets what he has already placed in many of his own, and agrees. He is a friend of reason because he invented it, a friend of counsel, because he is eternally in counsel himself (some would even say, and not without reason, that he is Counsel), and a friend to the wisdom of age and experience, for he is the one who has given it, presumably for use toward his ends. (The presence of these virtues in the church virtually eclipses, I believe, the need for much of what is commonly regarded as charismatic gift. Since they are themselves part of the concrete and enduring telos of the Spirit's work, there is good reason to suspect that the overuse and overvaluation of charismata--which may indeed be from God--is also, in whatever age and in whatever church they appear, a sign of spiritual infantilism.)
Throughout church history, there have been many who felt, and thus were convinced, that the Spirit was speaking to them when the Spirit was saying nothing, they were victims of their own delusions. Hutchens' words are sound teaching that agrees with the teaching of the Bible.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
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