“As Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said, ‘Here is truly an Israelite. There is nothing false in him.’"
Nathanael asked, "How do you know me?"
Jesus answered, "I saw you when you were under the fig tree, before Philip told you about me."
Then Nathanael said to Jesus, "Teacher, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
Jesus said to Nathanael, "Do you believe simply because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than that." And Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and 'angels of God going up and coming down’ on the Son of Man." (John 1: 47 – 51 New Century)
“Spirituality:” what is it to you?
In a day when vampires top the charts of books to read or movies to see and Harry Potter’s wizardry captures the imaginations of millions it has become just about anything a person wants it to be.
It’s always been that way.
Nathanael was amazed by Jesus’ clairvoyance and ecstatically declared Him to be Divine, and the King Israel had been hoping and praying for since the days of David. Jesus response is telling. “You think that’s something? You’re about to see far more impressive phenomena! With me you will see Heaven open. You will see angels ascending and descending around the Son of Man.”
The phenomenal is about to be displaced by the Celestial! A man will live a “Heaven bathed life.” For the first time since Adam man and God will work together up close and personal for the entire duration of a human life.
With only one exception Jesus called Himself the “Son of Man.” As He did so He confirmed that He is the “Hope” of humanity; the “Anointed;” “THE ONE!” Read His story as told by the New Testament Biographers and you will see the Divine living in flesh. One drama after another; wisdom beyond the human; commanding storms and schools of fish; paying taxes in paranormal fashion; raising the dead; sending shock waves through the nether world by His command of the demonic; this Man is the One we’ve been waiting for!
Something greater than all of this is happening though. It involves you the Christ-follower. Jesus preached that His coming inaugurates a true spirituality. Luke explains this in his book about Jesus. Responding to His detractors Jesus declares, “if it’s God’s finger I’m pointing that sends the demons on their way, then God’s Kingdom is here for sure.” (Luke 11 THE MESSAGE) “The Kingdom of God does not come visibly – with signs to be observed – … because the Kingdom of God is within you.” The “rule of God is now accessible to all.” (Mark 1:15) The Son of Man has inaugurated a collaboration between God and humanity that will last forever. Heaven has been opened. Followers of Jesus “will receive power when the Spirit envelopes and fills” them. (Acts 1: 8) “Whoever believes in me will do the same things that I do,” Jesus said. In fact, “Those who believe will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (See John 14:12.) From His restored place on the Throne of Heaven He gave the Spirit of God to His Followers and His union with Heaven became theirs.
True Spirituality is you, a human person, filled with God’s Spirit, in partnership with Heaven, now living your ordinary, day-by-day life extraordinarily, influentially.
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
The Vicarious Self 11. What are You Thinking When You're Not Thinking?
“Do not eat the food offered to you by a stingy man. Do not crave the delicacies of a miser, for as he thinks in his heart so is he. ‘Eat! Drink!’ He says to you and you’re flattered by all the attention. But his heart is not with you. He’s fretting over what it’s costing him to feed you.” (Proverbs 23:6&7.)
What are you thinking about when you’re not thinking?
If you’re reading this you probably are using a computer or some sort of device that gives you access to the Internet. You’re likely familiar with the process of installing software or “apps.” Usually, at some point during the process you’re given a choice between a “default,” and “custom” version of the product. The “default” option is the easiest. The designers/manufacturers have decided what will best meet the needs of people using their product and programmed it accordingly. Click “default” and the product will work the way they think is best for you. With the “custom,” option you are presented choices and get to decide how you want the tool to serve your purposes.
I was talking about this with a group of people recently. One woman said, “I just choose ‘default. I don’t want to be bothered with all the details.”
Is this the way you approach thinking?
What are your “default” thoughts? How do they affect your heart? What are you thinking in those mindless situations of your life? Do you worry? Are most of your “unthinking” thoughts anxious? Do you see a neighbor’s new car and think, “It must be nice?” Do you replay the putdowns and denigrating things you’ve heard until you’re incorrigibly self-deprecating? Dr. Amen, the “Brain” guy says that we all have “ANTS” in our brains. These Automatic Negative Thoughts are universal and universally damaging.
It will certainly be a bother. But you have a choice. You can “customize” your thinking. Your “default thoughts” can be re-programmed. Dr. Amen believes and encourages it. So does Scripture.
“As he thinks in his heart, so is he,” the Wise Man says.
When you choose to think well your heart – what matters most to you … the direction of your life – is well.
John tells us that when Jesus appeared He was like His Father, “full of grace and truth.” Son of Man that He is these qualities had to be developed in Him. As a young Jewish boy He studied the Scriptures. By His Bar-Mitzvah (See Luke 2) He was impressively familiar with them. There are compelling reasons to believe He had memorized most of the Sacred Writings of His people. He was a true “Psalm 1 man.” He found delight in every word of Scripture because He knew it was His Father’s word to Him about the meaning and purpose of His now human life. He “meditated on it – thought about it - day and night.” His life became fruitful. He grew to know the right course for His life because God had “charted the road He was to take.” He simply followed the Scriptures. He was convinced they were His Father’s map.
“THINK GREAT THOUGHTS!”
Or, as Dr. Amen says, “Once you learn about your thoughts, you can chose to think good thoughts and feel good or you can choose to think bad thoughts and feel lousy. You can train your thoughts to be positive and hopeful or you can just allow them to be negative and upset you. That's right, it's up to you!”
Of all people you, a Child of God, can train your thoughts to be positive and hopeful! God – your Father – has spoken to you! Meditate on what He’s said! Think about it day and night! In time, even when you’re not thinking, you’ll be thinking what your elder Brother thinks … TRUTH!
What are you thinking about when you’re not thinking?
If you’re reading this you probably are using a computer or some sort of device that gives you access to the Internet. You’re likely familiar with the process of installing software or “apps.” Usually, at some point during the process you’re given a choice between a “default,” and “custom” version of the product. The “default” option is the easiest. The designers/manufacturers have decided what will best meet the needs of people using their product and programmed it accordingly. Click “default” and the product will work the way they think is best for you. With the “custom,” option you are presented choices and get to decide how you want the tool to serve your purposes.
I was talking about this with a group of people recently. One woman said, “I just choose ‘default. I don’t want to be bothered with all the details.”
Is this the way you approach thinking?
What are your “default” thoughts? How do they affect your heart? What are you thinking in those mindless situations of your life? Do you worry? Are most of your “unthinking” thoughts anxious? Do you see a neighbor’s new car and think, “It must be nice?” Do you replay the putdowns and denigrating things you’ve heard until you’re incorrigibly self-deprecating? Dr. Amen, the “Brain” guy says that we all have “ANTS” in our brains. These Automatic Negative Thoughts are universal and universally damaging.
It will certainly be a bother. But you have a choice. You can “customize” your thinking. Your “default thoughts” can be re-programmed. Dr. Amen believes and encourages it. So does Scripture.
“As he thinks in his heart, so is he,” the Wise Man says.
When you choose to think well your heart – what matters most to you … the direction of your life – is well.
John tells us that when Jesus appeared He was like His Father, “full of grace and truth.” Son of Man that He is these qualities had to be developed in Him. As a young Jewish boy He studied the Scriptures. By His Bar-Mitzvah (See Luke 2) He was impressively familiar with them. There are compelling reasons to believe He had memorized most of the Sacred Writings of His people. He was a true “Psalm 1 man.” He found delight in every word of Scripture because He knew it was His Father’s word to Him about the meaning and purpose of His now human life. He “meditated on it – thought about it - day and night.” His life became fruitful. He grew to know the right course for His life because God had “charted the road He was to take.” He simply followed the Scriptures. He was convinced they were His Father’s map.
“THINK GREAT THOUGHTS!”
Or, as Dr. Amen says, “Once you learn about your thoughts, you can chose to think good thoughts and feel good or you can choose to think bad thoughts and feel lousy. You can train your thoughts to be positive and hopeful or you can just allow them to be negative and upset you. That's right, it's up to you!”
Of all people you, a Child of God, can train your thoughts to be positive and hopeful! God – your Father – has spoken to you! Meditate on what He’s said! Think about it day and night! In time, even when you’re not thinking, you’ll be thinking what your elder Brother thinks … TRUTH!
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