Month: October 2016

The November 8 edition of Forbes Magazine arrived in the mail yesterday. As I took a quick flip through it walking into the house from the mail box I noticed a full page picture of a woman standing in a library setting with a large stack of books balanced on her head. The thought that immediately came to my mind was, “balancing the weight of thought.” An alternative response which followed was, “balancing the accumulation of thought.”

To what extent do we consider the value and importance of our thoughts. There are segments of society which place high value on the cost of accumulating knowledge. The picture in Forbes Magazine was part of an advertizing promotion for a certification program for management accountants. There is certainly significant costs to attain some form of a degree as part of an upgrade in knowledge in the educational system.

Beyond the piece of paper and the increase in information at the end of an “educational process,” how much emphasis has actually been placed upon the importance of thought itself? If we do not give consideration to the implementation of knowledge and information within the context of how we apply it with wisdom, what is the real value we have gained?

The last page of this same Forbes Magazine has some “Thoughts On Great Ideas.” George Bernard Shaw is quoted as saying, “One man that has a mind and knows it can always beat ten men who haven’t and don’t.” The quote from Isaac Newton was, “If I have done the public any service, it is due to patient thought.”

The Apostle Paul was known for his ability to express his thoughts in ways that impacted people. In Acts 17:16-21 we read, “While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. {17} So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. {18} A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, ‘What is this babbler trying to say?’ Others remarked, ‘He seems to be advocating foreign gods.’ They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. {19} Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, ‘May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? {20} You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.’ {21} (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)” Verse 20 of this passage was also included on the last page of the Forbes Magazine.

Thinkexist.com quotes Bryan Adams as saying, “Thoughts are things; they have tremendous power. Thoughts of doubt and fear are pathways to failure. When you conquer negative attitudes of doubt and fear you conquer failure. Thoughts crystallize into habit and habit solidifies into circumstances.”

Ralph Waldo Trine wrote, “Thoughts are forces, and each creates of its kind, whether we realize it or not. The great law of the drawing power of the mind, which says that like creates like, and that like attracts like, is continually working in every human life, for it is one of the great immutable laws of the universe.”

Our thoughts matter because they will impact our actions which determine outcomes in our life. The quality of our thoughts and the value we place on them will impact the degree to which we achieve our full potential. How are you balancing the accumulation of your thoughts?

We live in a noisy world. We are continuously being bombarded by noise from a variety of sources. But beyond the stuff which comes into our lives through our ears, there is the constant noise, voices and chatter that is internally created. The subconscious and conscious minds of most people goes on and on. This chatter from the past and the stressors on the present and the anxiousness about the future drive out any real chance of peace.

A significant number of people look to external input whether it be drugs, prescription or over the counter, or alcohol, or some other even more life altering options in an attempt to quiet the noise and get some peace, or even simply a good night’s sleep.

Many think they can attain some semblance of happiness it will bring peace, but happiness is unsustainable and temporary even if it is found. When the happiness fades the thought of peace is quickly lost, because of all the external and internal pressures which mount up and become overwhelming.

When we set increased peace as a goal and begin a process of eliminating the noise, voices and chatter which erode our faith and confidence we begin a journey towards finding peace, which is more sustainable than happiness.

In this moment of time, how much peace can you handle? How comfortable are you with the concept of being quiet with yourself. What would it be like for you if you truly experienced peace and quietness?

The Apostle Paul wrote about peace in Philippians 4:7-9. He wrote, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. {8} Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. {9} Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

In these verses Paul indicates there are things which we can chose to focus towards which will aid us in the process towards becoming more peaceful. He also indicates that we do not need to feel like we are in this alone. The God of peace knows just what we need and will be with us through the journey if we are willing to invite Him into the process.

Peace is an important component in the process of being able to move forward in becoming the best version of yourself possible.

In the world in which we live today there is much talk and noise about what is really important to success in life. There are about as many suggestions as there are people making them. This is true in the spiritual realm as well.

Different groups emphasize different conditions which must be met in order to live a life which pleases God, or is declared to be necessary to achieve a certain level of spirituality, or righteousness. Some people believe the answer to achieving the ultimate spiritual goal as they define it is found in the keeping of a set of rules or regulations. Keep the rules and you are in, break the rules and you are out, is their opinion.

When I look at what the Scriptures have to say, the requirements set out by God do not include a long list of do’s and don’ts. There are many who make it look that way and seek to enforce a list to facilitate their own agenda. But we read in Micah 6:8, “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Jesus distilled the requirements down to a basic simplicity as recorded in Mark 12:30-31, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength and love your neighbour as yourself.”

What we find in these verses is not a list of rules to keep, but a few principles to live by in order to be successful. It is about the what you think and what you believe and what you say and the intentions of your heart. These things will determine your actions which produce the outcomes in your life. A commitment to act justly, to be merciful, to live with proper humility and to love both God and others is an heart intention which will manifest itself in a lifestyle which will produce a harvest of proper character bringing the blessings and favour of God into your life.

Proverbs 21:2-3 is translated in “The Message” this way, “We justify our actions by appearances; God examines our motives. {3} Clean living before God and justice with our neighbours mean far more to God than religious performance.”

Rules and regulations bind and limit people creating a sense of control and bondage. When we chose to live by the principles of God’s Word we open up the possibilities of living in freedom. When speaking to a set of Jewish religious leaders focussed on the keeping of rules and regulations as a means to connecting to God, it says in John 8:31-32, “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. {32} Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”

I suspect there are many people who have rejected God and His Word because they have not been introduced to the truth about principled living and have only been subjected to legalistic bondage. I encourage you to successfully demonstrate the principles so others can make an informed decision about the truth of God’s Word and access its power to create transformation in their lives.

The religious leaders agitated by Jesus found a way to have Him arrested and brought to immediate trial before Pilate, the Roman governor. The goal of the accusers was to have Jesus executed, something they did not have the power and authority to do, thus the trumped up charges in a Roman court.

We read in John 18:28-38 the account of the events which took place. “Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. {29} So Pilate came out to them and asked, ‘What charges are you bringing against this man?’ {30} ‘If he were not a criminal,’ they replied, ‘we would not have handed him over to you.’ {31} Pilate said, ‘Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.’ ‘But we have no right to execute anyone,’ the Jews objected. {32} This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled. {33} Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ {34} ‘Is that your own idea,’ Jesus asked, ‘or did others talk to you about me?’ {35} ‘Am I a Jew?’ Pilate replied. ‘It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?’ {36} Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.’ {37} ‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’ {38} ‘What is truth?’ Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, ‘I find no basis for a charge against him.’”

The question asked by Pilate at the end of his interrogation of Jesus is a question which has been repeated down through the centuries. “What is truth?” Despite his conclusion, “I find no basis for a charge against him,” he order the execution of Jesus. Why? Expedience! Pilate believed it was more advantageous and advisable on practical grounds to avoid a confrontation with the Jewish leaders that might lead to an uprising or rebellion of the nation against Rome. The morality of condemning an innocent man and upholding truth was not as important as avoiding conflict in his opinion. This was an opinion held by many people while the Jewish people were slaughtered by the Nazis.

When we look around the world today we see truth being set aside for the same reasons as it was when Pilate was governor over the Jewish nation. Expedience continues in many circles to reign supreme. This does not however make it right. It just makes it popular. It would be a good thing for us to remember there are consequences when truth is set aside. What we sow, we will reap. This is a universal principle, which is also a Biblical principle.

I woke up yesterday with the thought running through my mind, “When you begin to think you are old, then your energetic capacity begins to shrink and become smaller.” I wondered as I stood to my feet, what’s that all about.

I proceeded to go into the office and pick up the book I am reading containing 365 meditations for making each day a success produced by the Napoleon Hill Foundation. What caught my attention was a quote from the American clergyman and author Tyrone Edwards who said, “Age does not depend upon years, but upon temperament and health. Some men are born old, and some never grow so.” I immediately thought of the thinking and energy of Ed Foremen who not only teaches about having a terrific day, every day, but also exemplifies it by how he lives. Ed is in his eighties and full of life. It was about seven months ago I came across Ed sitting on a bench at a resort in Cancun. He had taken a fall and received a cut on his head shortly before heading to the airport to fly to Cancun and was waiting for the doctor to check the situation out. Many people, half Ed’s age would have simply made an excuse and not even flown to Cancun, but not Ed. When he saw me, he tapped the bench and said, “Come and sit and chat a while.” For me, this invitation and opportunity was a real privilege and honour.

Ed carried on that weekend and fulfilled his commitments and speaking engagements with enthusiasm and energy. It was amazing and a true blessing to witness.

Having finished my reading and meditation time I turned to Face Book and at the top of my page was a video of Florence, “See See” Rigney who is still working as a nurse in a hospital at the age of 91. To watch this inspiring video go to: https://www.facebook.com/EricJohnsonKOMO/videos/1200483176679873/. “See See” does not consider herself as old. She does not act like she is old and her co-workers testify to the fact other workers half her age struggle to keep up with her.

My morning continued with a trip to the county nursing home to lead a church service. What a difference between “See See” and those who gathered for church. Most of those present were significantly younger than her, but believed they were old and acted like they were old. When you begin to think you are old then your energetic capacity begins to shrink and become smaller and you think and act like you are old.

From my waking moments through the series of following events I was being made aware of the power of our thoughts, beliefs, words and intentions. John records in his Gospel the words of Jesus who declared, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). What do you believe about your age? Do you view it as a limitation that defines you and your future, or do you see it as nothing more than a set number of years in a process stretching forward in a life lived to the full?