Applying a scrpupture left-handedly . . . (bruised reeds-reprint)

I tend to think left-handedly.  That's just my way of saying "weirdly."

For some reason Paul's question and answer in Romans just kept popping up in my mind:

 

 Rom 3:1-2 (ESV)

 

(Rom 3:1) Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?  2) Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.

 The problem is that it keeps popping up as I think and pray about we bruised reeds. 

It goes like this:

 

"What advantage has the (insert diagnosis)?  What is the value of treatment/therapy?  Much in every way!"

No, I'm not trying to put a happy face on this!  I'm serious.

What advantage?

We know suffering.  We know it like few others can.  We look OK and most of the time we act OK but we're different - we suffer.

We suffer from not being able to know the simple joys most others take for granted.

We suffer from wanting to weep when everyone else is laughing.

We suffer from others fearing us or at leasat being uncomfortable around us.

We suffer not being understood except by a very few.

We suffer a perverse sort of pity.

We suffer rejection and isolation.

What advantage is this?  Well, we can see Christ in a way others usually can't.  For us, and so many who are different, the hope of His coming is more than just some airy fairy hope of heaven.  For us it is a hope of wholeness and acceptance and peace.  Advantage?  Yes - or at least possibly.  Our hope in Him is not only salvific but it is truly a loosing from bondage - a freeing from suffering - it is also ultimate acceptance.

This gives us a unique perspective on all things God.  We wrestle with His sovereignty like most others don't.  We wrestle with His encouragement like most others don't.  We really wrestle with Him.  The, "why me," fight is the fight we fight.  The, "please love/accept me," is the plea we plea.  The, "my light is mostly shadows," is the truth of our ever day.

If we accept our suffering (I don't mean like it) we will see that the perspective of life and all things God that it enables us to have is mighty.  We know better than most that there is life at the end of the tunnel becasue we live in the tunnel all the time.  Our hope is tenatious, even obnoxious, becasue it fights every moment of every day to stay alive.  We know and it is the knowledge that sustains us becasue the feeling just isn't there.

What value?

We spend a great deal of time dealing with our selves.  I don't mean self-absorbtion but rather self-examination.

We examine or thoughts

We examine our past.

We examine our wants.

We examine our wounds.

We examine our fear.

We examine our hope.

We examine our impulses

(Rom 12:2) Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

 

(2Cor 13:5) Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?-unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

(1Thess 5:21) but test everything; hold fast what is good.

 2Cor 12:7-9 (ESV)   7) So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.   8) Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.  9) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

 

 There is indeed much advantage and value.  We, unlike many, are not afraid to wrestle with God - to question - to bug - to ittitate (if that's possible).  We live with our, "yeah but....."  We face our, "if he really loved me......"  We never get rid of our, "why me......."

 

 We are not victims we are fighters.  The mere fact that you're sitting there reading this proves you're a fighter.  We are not survivors - that's somebody on a desert island - we're victors - we've victoriously made it to another day by His grace and providence.

 

 I am NOT trying to "cheer you up!"  If you're like me there's not much "feeling" there (and if there is it's more of a "Yeah sure..." than a "Cool!"

 

 What I want you to see is simply the facts . . . .and we are not alone.............................

 

 I want you to read the two following verses.  They are from the same person, in the same letter, to the same audience.  See anything interesting or curious about them??

2Cor 1:8  (ESV) For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.

 2Cor 4:8-10 (ESV)  8) We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9) persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;  10) always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm    Any thoughts???

Sometimes others can't give us the grace we need. (bruised reeds reprint)

Sometimes others can't give us the grace we need.

We're different.  we have very low lows and very high highs or maybe we do things that they see as strange. 

 

 They feel overwhelmed, insufficient, challenged and even repelled.

 

 They feel they can't handle us and "our thing."

 

 Of course then can't.  Heck, we can't.  We feel the same way they do, but they don't get that part.

 

 So what can we do?  The only thing I've found that keep my between the lines is to give the grace they don't seem to be able to.

 

 I give that grace to them and to myself.

 

 For me, depression and all that means is NORMAL.  For them it isn't

 

 For me the ups and downs (or downs and downers) is me.

 

 They want to fix it.  It frightens them.  It ought to.  I want to fix it.  It frightens me.

 

 My depression is irritating - sometimes downright infuriating but it's there and it's not going away.

 

 Try  this sometime.  Put a smudge of ash or dirt on your face.  Not a big one but one that is visible.  Then note people's reactions.  Some will ignore it.  Most will either wipe if away or tell you about it so you can.  We aren't supposed to have smudges on our faces or unbuttoned buttons of mis-buttoned buttons or sock that don't match.  But at some time or other we do - and this bothers people.

 

 I had a friend from New Zealand - he was different.  He'd wear stripped pants, a paisley shirt and a checkered coat  He wasn't making a fashion statement, he was just wearing clothes.  To us it was a fashion catastrophe.  To him is was not going naked.  People often commented that someone should teach him how to dress - but he was dressed.

 

 Supposed to be -----.  that is a ridiculous idea.  If you're depressed you're suppose to be bummed out, feel hopeless, have anxiety.  Just like if you're tall you're supposed to look down on short people.

 

 I'm tired, and I'm sure a lot of you are, of people not realizing that I'm OK - just depressed.  Sometimes I'm real depressed but I'm still OK.  I've been real depressed before and I'm still here.

 

 I don't like - but I do understand and appreciate- other people being anxious about my being depressed.  I think they take it and themselves too seriously but I do understand.  So I give them the grace they are not yet able to give me.  It kind of puts me in a position to feel a little more in control of my relationships.  I'm not the poor depressed guy that needs their sympathy.  I'm the depressed guy who is saddened by their anxiety and who wishes they'd let me help them overcome it.

 

 We seem to forget, to our injury, that manure is just organic fertilizer.  It smells bad, we don't want to step in it or touch it but farmers spread it all over the food we will eat to make it grow.  Let their manure be your fertilizer.

 

 I'm gracious and understanding of their kindly meant cruelty.  You know, that's when they say things like, "Get a grip on yourself." "cheer up," and "it will be ok."  My favorite is , "I can't handle your depression."  Like I can?????  Or, when they say, "I can't understand why>,"   As though I do?  It's that sense we get that they think we're struggling with our condition just to make them suffer.

 

 Ever notice what you get when you have a room full of depressed, anxious or OCD people?  My experience is that if you can get these folks to talk about "the others,"  you get laughter.  All of a sudden those who don't struggle with our conditions seem nuts.  Of course we all know depression, anxiety, OCD etc. is contagious - right?  ;-}

 

 Give them the slack they can't give you.  If they can't handle it and go away it's not about you - it's about them.  Of course they'll want to make it about you - but just be gracious and let them go.  It will hurt for a while - but soon enough you'll feel a sense of relief because the pressure is off - they are just one more bag of expectations off your back.

 

Michael

 

"bruised reeds" group

Meeting the second Wednesday of each month @ Caribou Coffee @ Friendly Center in Greensboro, NC  7pm

“bruised reeds” quite simply is a pastoral ministry to men and women who are dealing with circumstances, issues and/or conditions that are constant, constricting and conflicting.

These are men and women who are seeking professional help with their circumstances and also desire to live out their faith as fully, effectively and joyfully as they can.

“bruised reeds” actually began as part of the after-care component of the WINGS treatment program at Charter Hospital. 

Fundamental to “bruised reeds” is the assurance found in 2 Peter 1:2&3

May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, (2Pe 1:2-3)

The application of this includes many extra-biblical/extra-church resources including medical and mental health professionals.  They, from my perspective, are as much part of His provision as are pastors, the Word and the Spirit.  To not take advantage of those believers called to that work is to severely hinder one’s growth and development.

 “bruised reeds”  DOES four things.

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.   (1Th 5:14)

ADMONISH = “warn”	the idle = “irregular/unruly”
ENCOURAGE = “admonish in order to incent’” calm & console	the fainthearted = “puny souled”
HELP = cleave to/hug/hold	the weak = “infirm”
BE PATIENT	with all

But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.   (Tit 2:1)

Michael Sanders. BTh, MA, QRAT

336-549-2081

ms@ec4v12.org

Newsletter/Blog 

http://community.icontact.com/p/ec4v12?in=all

and/or

http://dontgiveupthesheep.blogspot.com/

Loving 3

Jesus was asked about whom our neighbors are whom we are to love.  His answer was fundamentally everyone.  It is curious that He wasn’t asked who our enemies are.  I really wish someone had thought to ask Him.

But in the context of His teaching it is not a big leap to grasp that our enemies are our neighbors, our families, and Satan.

Now what I mean is that as far as we are concerned everyone is our neighbor (even family) but among that everyone we have enemies. 

Mmmmmm.

It is clear from His teaching that I am not to “hate,” anyone.  The word “hate,” is the Greek word:  μισέω     miseō

Thayer Definition:

1) to hate, pursue with hatred, detest

2) to be hated, detested

 

But for me to hate, detest, etc. anyone would be to murder them – right?    Welllllll – not quite.

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

(Luke 14:26)

“Houston, we have a problem!”  Jesus uses the same work for hate here that He uses elsewhere.  But perhaps we can clarify a little.

 

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

(Mat 6:24)

Same word for hate.  Uhhhhhhhhhh?

 

But this does give us a hint.  Anything and by extension anyone who seeks to hold a greater place in my life that the Christ is – my enemy.  If I compare my love and loyalty to the Christ with my love and loyalty to anything (one) else my affection for the “other” should look like hate.  If I am to make a choice using the terms love and hate – then I must love Jesus and hate everyone (thing) else.  NOTE:  If I MUST choose!

 

Anyone and anything that seeks to claim my loyalty over my loyalty to Him is my enemy and I must hate it/them.  But they are also my neighbor so …….

To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."   (Rom 12:20)

I really hope this makes you as nutz as it does me!!!  This is tough – or is it?

 

Loving my “neighbor” while hating my “enemy,” seems to be a conflict, especially when they are the same people.  Well, it is!  Actually, it’s not gonna happen unless I really lean on Him.

 

I don’t want to engage in silly sophistry but I had to work this out in my own head and I will share my thinking with you.

 

I have neighbors.  I am to love them.  I don’t get to make a choice, they are ALL my neighbors!

That is what he tells me.

 

Now, some of my neighbors will take a stand (and even action) that threatens or even harms me.  That is their choice.  They have chosen to be or at least act like enemies toward me.  Not my problem (maybe my pain but not my problem).  I am not called to make them friends but I am called to treat them as neighbors – to (ouch) love them.

 

I try to keep it straight in my head this way.  You may choose to act like or even be an “enemy” towards me.  BUT, I don’t get to act like of be and “enemy” towards you.  I don’t get to designate myself as an enemy of anyone.  They can designate themselves as an enemy towards me but I do not get to reciprocate.

 

That to me is what all the cheek slapping stuff is about.  My enemy slaps me (literally or figuratively) so I offer the other cheek (or cheeks if you want to be earthy ;0).  I get to love them – period.

 

But we have to also consider that people will choose to be our enemies for reasons other than our faith.  OK.  We love them too.  We do what honors God in our relationship with our enemies.  We may want and even try to make friends of them but that is secondary to honoring God and it is sometimes just not possible to be “friends” because that will require a compromise that hinders our honoring God.

 

I have an enemy (ok – probably moiré than one) who has made it plain they are my enemy.  I have to live with that.  Yes, I have tried to reason with then concerning the issue for which they are my enemy.  I have lovingly tried to help them see that what they think I believe about their lifestyle does not make me their enemy but they hold that if I am not for them I am their enemy.  (Sound familiar?? Mat 6:24) 

 

So what do I do?  Well first I pray for them.  Second (and in some cases it’s the most loving thing you can do) I avoid them completely.

 

There is the wife of an old friend.  For at least 9 years she has chosen to be my enemy.  I have seen her in public a lot and I really believe that I could set myself on fire and she would not acknowledge me.  Once, in all that time, in a social situation where civility and propriety demanded it, she spoke to me.  She has chosen to be my enemy.  Her husband is not allowed to have contact with me and we have been (or had been??) friends for almost 20 years. 

 

It is tempting to attack – to give as good as I get.  To disparage them both at every opportunity.  The situation hurts – badly – especially since the reason for the situation is based upon an utterly false belief.  But what do I do?

 

Pray – pray – hurt – pray some more AND commit myself to being there should they ever need me.  Oh, it’s tempting to just wait anxiously for something to happen in their lives over which I could gloat.  It’s tempting to join into critical conversations about them.  It’s tempting to arrogantly dismiss them as insignificant.  But, well, I just don’t get to do those things.  I’m tempted and have all sorts of rationalizations for sinning against them in retaliation but – well – I just don’t get to do that.  Wanting to do that?  I wrestle with that and pray about that and reject that.  But, yeah, the thoughts creep in sometimes.  I just say, “No!”

 

Enemies – you don’t get to have ‘em.  They may be there but they have chosen to view and treat you as an enemy – you don’t get to do the same. 

 

Ok – one more point.  Just because someone sins against you does not make then an enemy.  It just makes them someone who sins against you.  We should expect and not be shocked when unbelievers do this, it’s what they do.  We are correctly shocked when a brother or sister in Christ sins against us – but, again, it happens. 

 

An enemy is someone who has decided to pursue you, detest you and hate you with all the accompanying actions and attitudes.  An enemy can be your neighbor.  An enemy can be a family member.  An enemy can be a brother or sister in Christ.  But you and I don’t get to make that choice.  Like POGO – actually to paraphrase POGO, “I have met my enemy and it is me.”

 

Loving them??????  Well the fundamental question is, “How do I bring glory to God in relation to this person (or these people) who has decided to be my enemies?” 

 

That’s a tough one.  The answer is always PRAY for and about them.  But our response can range all the way from praying for them as we utterly avoid them to praying for them as they press the barrel of the gun to our heads and pull the trigger. 

 

Jesus and Stephen – Mmmmmmmmm?!?   There ya go!

 

Hope this helps you think.  Any questions?  ms@ec4v12.org

Love 2

Loving  2

I quoted Paul’s admonition in Philippians 4:8-9 in the last issue on Loving.  I am particularly focused on the statement:

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice!!!!

Even more specifically I want us to consider the word, “practice.”

Πράσσω   prassō

Thayer Definition:

1) to exercise, practice, to be busy with, carry on

1a) to undertake, to do

2) to accomplish, perform

2a) to commit, perpetrate

3) to manage public affairs, transact public business

3a) to exact tribute, revenue, debts

4) to act

 

An earthy way of stating this is, “Keep on Keeping on!” 

 

Now we also need to consider that concept of “practice,” as we commonly use it.  When we desire to learn something new (and loving this way is definitely something new) and become proficient in it we have to – practice.  This means we have to be appreciative of several things.

1.    We may have little idea of how.

2.    We may need to be “taught.”

3.    We will be pretty bad at it at first.

4.    We will need to expend time and effort.

 

1 and 2 are addressed in the above admonition from Paul.  It is in the example of Ruth, David, the Prophets, Jesus, Stephen, Paul and others throughout the history of the church that we learn the how and are taught.  In reading, really thinking about and praying about their stories, the examples we see, we can translate their experience into our own.

 

Now let me give a warning here.  It is not about getting a list of “don’ts.”  What love Is Not won’t help you.  When we lay a foundation of “nots” we are just setting ourselves up for a fall.  Why?  Well it’s the danger of the default. 

 

We all have our ways of relating; some good and some not so much.  If we lay out a list of “don’t do’s” we have accomplished little.  If that’s all we have then when we are faced with a challenge we will “default” back to what we know.  But if we carefully and prayerfully build a list of “do’s” then the danger of the default is greatly weakened. 

 

I suspect that’s why Jesus said to love our enemies.  The default is hate.  For us as fallen creatures it’s, well, normal.  It’s what we do and is encouraged to do.  So He tells us, “love” them.  We only need to determine what that looks like.

 

#3 is just common sense.  Remember, loving as he calls us to is predominantly His problem.  We are not going to do it on our own.  But he has provided everything we need for life and godliness – we just need to learn to use it and to practice so we may use it well.

 

NOW – this means that in the early stages, we ARE GOING TO DO IT BADLY.  LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN LOUDER >>>>  WE  ARE  GOING  TO  DO  THAT  BADLY !!!!!!!!!!!!  Got it?  Say it again:  WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT BADLY!!!!!!!!!!!! 

 

Accept that – embrace it.  He knows – He’s not going to be shocked when we do it badly but I think He will smile (really really big) as He sees us working to do it well. 

 

#4  time and effort.  Loving as He has called us to love is WORK.  It is hard work.  It rubs us

the right way but it rubs us.  It is not easy and it is not fun.  We have to study, think, pray and

seek counsel.  We have to examine our mess-ups and our successes.  We have to THIINK and

think biblically.

 

Prepare:  That’s prayer and study and seeking council if needed.

Plan:  Don’t try to love everyone all at once.  Start where you are doing it and work from there.

Practice:  Being bad at it is normal.

Persevere:  this does not mean push yourself over the edge.  It just means keep going.  It does not matter if you sprint, run, jog, hop, skip or crawl on your belly – FOLLOWING THE MASTER IS FOLLOWING THE MASTER >> PERIOD!!!!!!!!

 

He has set the goal.  Love as He loves.  But between where you are and where He will take

you; there’s lots of room for you to think, plan, evaluate and mess-up.  Make it good for you –

it will never be easy but the idea of “not pain, no gain,” does not mean you damage yourself.

Yes, there will be pain – but do not push through it – respect it – rest and heal.

 

There is no “sell by” date on your salvation.  There is no deadline.  There is no PERT chart or

schedule.  We are to press on toward the goal.  He is the one who will get us there.

 

Next, “MY ENEMIES.”

 

 

Love 1

Loving

I have always been intrigued by the conversation Jesus and Peter have in John 21.  It begins with:

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."   (John 21:15)

There’s an exciting play on words happening throughout the whole conversation.  The words are αγαπας (agapas) and φιλω  (philo or phileo).

The difference between these words is not to be seen in terms of good and bad but rather good and better.

Jesus asks Peter if Peter loves Him αγαπας (agapas).  Peter responds with, I love you, φιλω (philo or phileo).  These are not two different types of love as much as they are different degrees of love.

Phileo is a brotherly/comradely type of love.  It is not some fussy bunny love.  It is a love that carries not only a natural affection but a personal commitment as well.  There is a bond, perhaps inexplicable but a bond none-the-less.  There is also a commitment to the one loved.  So it should never be seen as a deficient sort of love.  Though this love comes with its own set of expectations of the lover and beloved it is not an uncommon love.  We could say it is natural and common.  It is a love that ‘happens” between people but it is also a love that grows and matures over time.  It’s a good love.

Agapas (or agape) is a better love.  It has within it and may very well begin with phileo but it goes further.  It has been defined as a love that demands nothing of the loved but I see a danger in this definition.  It is a love that always seeks the best for the loved one – even if the loved one doesn’t agree that it is love.

Here’s the way I define it for myself.  Agape is love on purpose.  The purpose is to glorify god in my relationship with the beloved.  It has nothing to do with the beloved except as God can be glorified in the relationship. 

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  (1Cor 13:4-7)

Is/Does Not	Is/Does
Envy or Boast	Patient & Kind
Arrogant/Rude	Rejoices (with truth)
Insist on its own way	Bears
Irritable/Resentful	Believes
Rejoice in wrongdoing	Hopes
	Endures

This is not a love that just happens!  There are clear expectations of a claim to this kind of love and they are tough.  A person does not just decide to love this way and then jump in – OK maybe they do – but they’re in for a burn!

When we are commanded to “love one another” this is the love we are called to have.  To me this is the horizontal equivalent of, “be Holy as I am Holy.”  In and of my own efforts, this is just not gonna happen.  Ever.

But, like God’s call to holiness, His call to love is not impossible.  He’d be an awful silly god if He called us to something utterly beyond us.  But, as with the holiness He commands so too with the love He commands – He makes it possible.  As with holiness, love of this nature demands His provision and our attention.  His effort and our effort.  His commitment and our commitment.  AND He has provided, expended a fulfilling effort and He is utterly committed.  Our turn!!!!

Here’s why we need Him – duhhhhhh.  We are called to love our neighbor AND to love our enemy and it’s this degree of love we are to express to both.  My first and regular reaction is still, “Yeah, right, like that’s gonna happen.”  That’s just the truth.  My first impulse with my enemies is to “Gibbs smack ‘em.”   That’s a weakening vestige of my nature and nurture.  Someone opposes you – attacks you, you don’t defend, you annihilate them physically (thanks Dad!) or emotionally (thanks Mom!).  Remember, if you’re raised on a hog farm you get used to the smell – when you’re raised in bedlam, nutz seems normal.

I don’t want to love my enemies (do you, really?).  But I do want to love Him.  So I must decide, against my nature (fallen) and nurture (insane) to love them.  I know my knee jerk is going to be to jerk them – so it doesn’t shock me.  But is doesn’t control me either.  It’s a part (a weakening part – praise God) of me.  I don’t rebuke it, attach it or beat myself up about it.  I just don’t do it!!!!!  Instead I go to Him and wink – He knows my struggles and He’s not surprised either.  But, both He and I do not want me to yield to that stuff.  He WANTS me to love and He provides what I don’t have to do it.

So, what’s my end of the stick?  What can I do to cooperate with His desire for me?  Huh?  See, that’s the wonderful thing about our Covenant Lord.  He lets us actually take an active part in what He wants to see in us.  He knows we aren’t dummies – He knows that (with what he provides) we can do a lot to engage His provision, to use it!

Three basic admonitions help me – but they take work – a lot of hard and consistent work.  But remember, what I do is only my part; it is not the whole solution.  I have to believe that nothing I do of myself will ever accomplish this and I have to believe that what He does in me is absolutely and utterly essential.

Admonition 1:

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.  (Rom 12:1-2)

I can, resist the world’s desire to mold me and I can renew my mind.  Simply put I say “No” to the world’s answers and definitions and “Yes” to His.  Both of these take work.  We can’t just sing, “Have Thine own way Lord,” and then sit like fungus on a log.

Admonition 2:

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, (2Cor 10:5)

Ok, I’m stretching the context of this verse but that does not mean the application is wrong.  I have to take every thought captive.  That means I have to be aware of my thoughts (and the thoughts of others that enter my mind).  I have to grab ‘em before they sink in and I have to wring them out.  They are leaven and they will leaven the whole loaf!  I must work to control my thoughts and the thoughts that I am bombarded with daily. 

Not loving as I am called to comes from arguments and lofty opinions raised against the knowledge of God.  Period.  I have to stop them dead in their little neural tracks.  I have to (and sometimes I do it out loud) say “NO!”  I don’t argue with them, I don’t try to defeat them. I just need to arrest them – to lock them up (or out).

Admonition 3:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.  (Php 4:8-9)

Think about these things!  We like to concentrate on the adjectives in this passage and well we should BUT that’s not the key.  The key is:

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice!!!!

It is not having sweet thoughts that is key; it is having biblical thoughts – sound theological/doctrinal thoughts.  HUH???????

John Frame (and you ought to get and read his books!) defines theology as follows:

I would suggest that we define theology as “the application of the Word of God by persons to all areas of life.”   The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God, p. 81.

Notice that john uses the word, “persons” and not the words theologians, bible scholars, preachers. Etc.   It is persons, you and I.  By this definition, theology is not something you know, it’s something you do based upon something you know – and what you need to know is

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice!!!!

I’d say Paul would have little problem agreeing with this definition of theology.  It is the practice of the biblical truths we know and the consistent growth in both the knowing and the doing.

That’s the only way I know of that we will grow in our ability to love as God has called us to love.  Just sitting like fungus on a log waiting for God to do His thing is not service/worship, it’s just a waste. 

OK – that’s a start.  Any questions?  I know there have to be – or at least need to be.  What are they?