Life Support - April 18, 2006
SETTING YOUR OUTLOOK
An important attitude to take seriously in 2005 is OPTIMISM. I believe in optimism. I believe that there is great power in an optimistic attitude; especially when it is grounded in reality. The following forgot that important ingredient.
A man who fell off a skyscraper was heard to say as he passed the 12th floor, "So far, so good!" One might say he was an optimist. I rather think he was a victim of wishful thinking!
The late Brian Johnston, a well known British broadcaster, demonstrated the power of an optimistic outlook. He delighted millions of listeners with his radio programs. He was also a top class cricket commentator and enthusiast for the game. He once said: "I am a great optimist. Every time I go to a cricket match, I think it is going to be the best game I have ever seen. Of course, it never is, but what pleasure it gives me in anticipation!"
Is he simply playing silly mind games? I don't think so. Imagine how much more we might enjoy a meal, a book, an outing, a concert, a holiday -- if we think these just may be the best we have ever experienced! A strong, positive outlook can make all the difference.
Think about it � You are the only one who can really make a difference in your own life. The paradigm of your mental attitude determines your thoughts and actions. If you expect the best from life and work in that direction that is what you will achieve. And as you work in that direction you still can�t loose with the exhilaration of effort.
Set your mental outlook to always expect the best. You will often get exactly what you expect! And even if you don't, you will still get to enjoy the pleasure of anticipation.
-- Some of the above article taken from Life Support
An important attitude to take seriously in 2005 is OPTIMISM. I believe in optimism. I believe that there is great power in an optimistic attitude; especially when it is grounded in reality. The following forgot that important ingredient.
A man who fell off a skyscraper was heard to say as he passed the 12th floor, "So far, so good!" One might say he was an optimist. I rather think he was a victim of wishful thinking!
The late Brian Johnston, a well known British broadcaster, demonstrated the power of an optimistic outlook. He delighted millions of listeners with his radio programs. He was also a top class cricket commentator and enthusiast for the game. He once said: "I am a great optimist. Every time I go to a cricket match, I think it is going to be the best game I have ever seen. Of course, it never is, but what pleasure it gives me in anticipation!"
Is he simply playing silly mind games? I don't think so. Imagine how much more we might enjoy a meal, a book, an outing, a concert, a holiday -- if we think these just may be the best we have ever experienced! A strong, positive outlook can make all the difference.
Think about it � You are the only one who can really make a difference in your own life. The paradigm of your mental attitude determines your thoughts and actions. If you expect the best from life and work in that direction that is what you will achieve. And as you work in that direction you still can�t loose with the exhilaration of effort.
Set your mental outlook to always expect the best. You will often get exactly what you expect! And even if you don't, you will still get to enjoy the pleasure of anticipation.
-- Some of the above article taken from Life Support
Are We To Judge? - April 7, 2006
Just about every bible critic will tell you that Jesus said not to judge. When
under pressure of one form or another, even the most hardened unbelievers will
be heard to quote, "Judge not!" Well Jesus did say "Judge not." No one can deny
that. However to make this brief, curt statement as though it is some universal
prohibition against judging is simply wrong.
The simple fact is, we cannot make this statement without taking into consideration both the words that come before and after this statement, as recorded in Matthew 7:1: Judge not, that you be not judged. The statement is not a prohibition against judging; it is a warning that those who do judge will have their deeds stacked up against the same judgment criteria that they use on others. Listen to the rest of Jesus' words: For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:3)
The Jewish leaders that were condemned by the Sermon on the Mount were men who loved to judge others but who lived by double standards. The things that they required of others they would not so much as lift a finger to do themselves. (cf. Matthew 23:3-4) They were long in speeches but short on performance. Jesus was pointing out the hypocrisy of their actions when He said, Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (Matthew 7:3-5) It is not wrong to remove a speck from a brother's eye, but it is hypocritical to do so while having a log in one's own eye! That is the immediate context of Matthew 7:1. In looking at the larger context of Jesus' teachings, He certainly never prohibited universally the practice of judging others. He limited the character of those who would judge, and in so doing, limited the character of the judgments rendered.
We do violence to the word of God when we lift statements out of their contexts to prove a point. God never said that we should not judge; He merely limited the types of judgments we should render. We must be careful to see that we render righteous judgments!
The simple fact is, we cannot make this statement without taking into consideration both the words that come before and after this statement, as recorded in Matthew 7:1: Judge not, that you be not judged. The statement is not a prohibition against judging; it is a warning that those who do judge will have their deeds stacked up against the same judgment criteria that they use on others. Listen to the rest of Jesus' words: For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:3)
The Jewish leaders that were condemned by the Sermon on the Mount were men who loved to judge others but who lived by double standards. The things that they required of others they would not so much as lift a finger to do themselves. (cf. Matthew 23:3-4) They were long in speeches but short on performance. Jesus was pointing out the hypocrisy of their actions when He said, Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (Matthew 7:3-5) It is not wrong to remove a speck from a brother's eye, but it is hypocritical to do so while having a log in one's own eye! That is the immediate context of Matthew 7:1. In looking at the larger context of Jesus' teachings, He certainly never prohibited universally the practice of judging others. He limited the character of those who would judge, and in so doing, limited the character of the judgments rendered.
We do violence to the word of God when we lift statements out of their contexts to prove a point. God never said that we should not judge; He merely limited the types of judgments we should render. We must be careful to see that we render righteous judgments!
Today's Little Lift - April 3, 2006
But now in Christ Jesus you who once
were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself
is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the
dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its
commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man
out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of
them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came
and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
(Ephesians 2.13-17; emphasis author's)
The word "far" is a relative word. It
expresses distance between two or more things or ideas, so to be far away is to
be a great distance apart. To be near is the opposite of far away and indicates
close proximity of things or ideas. In the text just cited, Paul wrote of people
who were far away, not as in a measure of miles, but far away as in closeness of
fellowship & oneness. The folks to whom he addressed this letter had been
far away, that is, a great distance from God. They had been "excluded from the
citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without
hope and without God in the world." (Ephesians 2.12). When it comes to such
matters, any distance between oneself and God is much too great, but to be far
away from God is to be in a hopeless & destitute condition. Such were the
people to whom this epistle was addressed; and if truth be told, us as
well.
But thanks be to God that we did not
have to remain far away from Him. The distance between us and God is as
unbearable for Him as it is us. Therefore, because of his great love for us,
God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in
transgressions it is by grace you have been saved. No longer need we feel far
away from our Heavenly Father. We can have an intimate personal relationship
with Him now, and very soon live at His bosom side for all eternity. Praise God
for this indescribable gift!
(Contributed)
(Contributed)