When I was a kid, the ice cream truck would drive through our neighborhood several time each summer day. The driver was called "The Good Humor Man." I don't ever remember being sad when I gave him my nickel for ice cream on a stick! The Good Humor Man made me smile.
The man in the ice cream truck didn't do much to get me to smile, just drive by and take my nickel. He didn't tell me funny stories, try to get me to laugh or even laugh himself. By his presence and by providing something I liked very much, he brought joy to my life.
Good humor, joy, prevents hardening of the arteries so to speak. Joy brings life to our mind, to our will and to our emotions, especially in hard times.
That ice cream on a stick brought me joy but it disappeared quickly. After a few minutes savoring the ice cream, I had to begin looking for other things to bring me joy, or at least what I thought was joy. A new bike, cap pistols, candy and other things were on my list.
As I grew older I continued to search for things that made me happy. Alcohol, work and fleeting affairs replaced the ice cream on a stick. But like the ice cream, the joy I thought they brought disappeared quickly.
When I was 45, I finally realized there was only one sure source of joy in my life, His name is Jesus Christ. Don't get me wrong, life didn't suddenly turn into a rose garden! Like a small child, I had to learn how to tap into the resources we can have in Him. I'm still learning but I know we can have joy unspeakable that is everlasting! We can have good humor by One Man and it doesn't cost a nickel!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
How Do You "Know?"
In my last blog, I wrote about our propensity to be right, even at the cost of lying and deceiving others. Today we'll drill a little deeper; we'll focus on why some of us can't help ourselves!
The key can be found in the word "perceive." The American Dictionary of the English Language (Webster's 1828 Edition) offers these definitions: "To know; to understand; to observe" and "To have knowledge or receive impressions of external objects through the medium or instrumentality of the senses or bodily organs." The underlying question is how do we "know" something?
Scientific studies have shown our senses filter through our brains. Smells, tastes, sounds often trigger memories of past events in our lives. Our brains store information that, when remembered, can direct the actions of our bodies as well as our emotions. Interestingly, The Heart Math Institute has conducted scientific studies that show our hearts have certain memory capabilities that may be comparable to our brains! In fact, some of their studies have shown the heart is the primary organ controlling our actions and reactions. If we can accept this research, we realize we can "know" in our minds and "know" in our hearts.
So, to the root of the problem. We can easily access our minds for the information stored in our brains. Only a small percentage of mankind can perceive what is in their hearts. The result is we rely mostly on the information stored in our minds to conduct our lives. This information is "what we believe." Unfortunately, we think what we believe in our minds is who we are and it becomes our identity. As human beings, we will defend our identity (our belief systems) at any cost, even lying and deceiving others. When we "have made our minds up" we are no longer open to hearing new information and to sensing our heart reactions.
When we operate out of only what we know in our minds, we are simply "carnal man." Webster defines carnal as being in the natural state, unregenerate, lecherous, lustful and given to sensual indulgence. What we think is right in our minds may not be! The only truth is what we can find in our hearts where we can hear the still, small voice of God. In an old New Jerusalem Translation of the Bible, Proverbs 3:5-8 states it this way: "Trust wholeheartedly in Yahweh, put no faith in your own perception; in every course you take, have him in mind: he will see that your paths are smooth."
The key can be found in the word "perceive." The American Dictionary of the English Language (Webster's 1828 Edition) offers these definitions: "To know; to understand; to observe" and "To have knowledge or receive impressions of external objects through the medium or instrumentality of the senses or bodily organs." The underlying question is how do we "know" something?
Scientific studies have shown our senses filter through our brains. Smells, tastes, sounds often trigger memories of past events in our lives. Our brains store information that, when remembered, can direct the actions of our bodies as well as our emotions. Interestingly, The Heart Math Institute has conducted scientific studies that show our hearts have certain memory capabilities that may be comparable to our brains! In fact, some of their studies have shown the heart is the primary organ controlling our actions and reactions. If we can accept this research, we realize we can "know" in our minds and "know" in our hearts.
So, to the root of the problem. We can easily access our minds for the information stored in our brains. Only a small percentage of mankind can perceive what is in their hearts. The result is we rely mostly on the information stored in our minds to conduct our lives. This information is "what we believe." Unfortunately, we think what we believe in our minds is who we are and it becomes our identity. As human beings, we will defend our identity (our belief systems) at any cost, even lying and deceiving others. When we "have made our minds up" we are no longer open to hearing new information and to sensing our heart reactions.
When we operate out of only what we know in our minds, we are simply "carnal man." Webster defines carnal as being in the natural state, unregenerate, lecherous, lustful and given to sensual indulgence. What we think is right in our minds may not be! The only truth is what we can find in our hearts where we can hear the still, small voice of God. In an old New Jerusalem Translation of the Bible, Proverbs 3:5-8 states it this way: "Trust wholeheartedly in Yahweh, put no faith in your own perception; in every course you take, have him in mind: he will see that your paths are smooth."
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Are We Becoming a Nation of Liars and Deceivers?
I'm fed up with the politics of compromise, deal-making, party agendas, hypocrisy, lies and deception. The art of politics has become never answering "yes" or "no" to a question. Party lines have divided this country and each of us, our children and grandchildren will pay financially, morally and socially...unless our "blinders" are removed.
I think it was Hitler who said, "Tell a lie long enough and the people will believe it as the truth." Sad to say, but the perceptions of many people of this nation has become their truth. Politicians, business leaders, news reporters, ministers, blue collar workers and, yes, even you and me, have made our perceptions our god.
Attending a church that split years ago, I witnessed the offense of the senior pastor produce lies about the circumstances in his later books. He believed his perception to be truth. He has no pulpit now.
I observed the president of a developing company nearly destroy it because he perceived anyone with different perceptions to be his enemy. His life became a lie. His bad life experiences were his truth and he feared that these experiences would be repeated. What he greatly feared has now come upon him and he is about to lose that which he created.
CEOs of investment funds, state attorney generals, senators and members of congress, pastors of large churches, White House press secretaries, presidents, treasury secretaries have lied and deceived the public. For some, there appear to be no consequences on earth; for others there are.
But it's easy to be "the pot calling the kettle black." It's easy for me to defend my perceptions by pointing at the faults of others. The question I have to ask frequently of myself is "What is my reason for offense?" Is it about me or them? My reasons should be more about the future and well-being of others than about my being offended by their behavior. My motives should be to see their lives changed for the better, not my being right.
A few minutes ago, I received a call from someone about an old situation in which I confronted a liar and deceiver. I realized I had given up on the person's behavior ever changing and that I just wanted him punished! Here's the truth: God's ways are not ours! He has made a way for the worst to be made clean through Jesus Christ! After all, He saved a wretch like me!
I think it was Hitler who said, "Tell a lie long enough and the people will believe it as the truth." Sad to say, but the perceptions of many people of this nation has become their truth. Politicians, business leaders, news reporters, ministers, blue collar workers and, yes, even you and me, have made our perceptions our god.
Attending a church that split years ago, I witnessed the offense of the senior pastor produce lies about the circumstances in his later books. He believed his perception to be truth. He has no pulpit now.
I observed the president of a developing company nearly destroy it because he perceived anyone with different perceptions to be his enemy. His life became a lie. His bad life experiences were his truth and he feared that these experiences would be repeated. What he greatly feared has now come upon him and he is about to lose that which he created.
CEOs of investment funds, state attorney generals, senators and members of congress, pastors of large churches, White House press secretaries, presidents, treasury secretaries have lied and deceived the public. For some, there appear to be no consequences on earth; for others there are.
But it's easy to be "the pot calling the kettle black." It's easy for me to defend my perceptions by pointing at the faults of others. The question I have to ask frequently of myself is "What is my reason for offense?" Is it about me or them? My reasons should be more about the future and well-being of others than about my being offended by their behavior. My motives should be to see their lives changed for the better, not my being right.
A few minutes ago, I received a call from someone about an old situation in which I confronted a liar and deceiver. I realized I had given up on the person's behavior ever changing and that I just wanted him punished! Here's the truth: God's ways are not ours! He has made a way for the worst to be made clean through Jesus Christ! After all, He saved a wretch like me!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Why Can't I Do What I Want To Do?
Don't you want to be better person? I don't mean that we're bad people, but that we desire to grow and develop our character. Do you like who you are? I like me a lot more now than I did 40 years ago! Do you have a list of things you'd like changed? Here are a few of mine:
Sin dwelling in us! Not me! How about you? This is the reason we need a Savior! We can't accomplish lasting changes in our character by our own strength. Change begins on the inside, not the outside. Only Jesus Christ can change our hearts!
- I can still get angry when offended. Clear thinking doesn't result from anger! I'd like to rise above anger.
- I don't like traditional approaches to anything. Maybe because I'm an auditor, or because of my rigid upbringing, I challenge everything. I'd like to be able to accept some things.
- My love and respect for others is conditional. Behave badly and I'll judge you. I have no right to do that. Hurt me and I want to hurt you back.
- Justify yourself like I used to, or like how I still want to, and I can tell you what's wrong with your life! That's called pride.
- I can't identify very well with the needs of others. I have a mental understanding but I don't often feel much empathy. I'd like to put the needs of others first.
Sin dwelling in us! Not me! How about you? This is the reason we need a Savior! We can't accomplish lasting changes in our character by our own strength. Change begins on the inside, not the outside. Only Jesus Christ can change our hearts!
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